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Student protests against repeated examination paper leaks have intensified across India, with growing anger among young people and an increasingly active anti-government campaign on social media. Thousands of students marched toward Parliament in New Delhi on July 20, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The demonstration reportedly turned tense as police and protesters clashed, with reports claiming that more than 100 students suffered injuries during the unrest. Police officials have rejected allegations that officers used excessive force against the protesters. However, several videos recorded by students and shared widely on social media appear to show police personnel using batons and tear gas and dealing harshly with demonstrators. The footage has further fueled public anger and drawn attention to the growing student movement. The protests have since spread beyond the capital, with demonstrations reported in cities including Mumbai, Bengaluru, Patna, Lucknow and Aizawl. Student groups say they will continue their campaign until the authorities address their concerns and meet their demands. The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which is leading the student movement, has called for sustained protests over the issue. The group has demanded the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, assurances that authorities will not file cases against students who took part in the demonstrations, and financial compensation for the families of students who allegedly died by suicide after examination papers leaked. The controversy has also gained significant momentum online. Young Indians have turned to memes, short videos and satirical posts to criticize the government and question its handling of examination leaks. Social media discussions have also included calls for the education minister to step down, with some posts targeting the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the issue. The protests come amid wider concerns about the integrity of competitive examinations in India, where millions of students rely on national and state-level tests for admission to universities and access to government jobs. Repeated allegations of paper leaks have raised questions about examination security and fairness, while students have expressed frustration over the disruption to their academic and career plans. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also responded to the growing protests. In a post on X, he addressed the issue for the first time and said that nothing matters more than the welfare and future of the country’s young people. The student movement continues to put pressure on the government, as protesters demand stronger measures to prevent examination paper leaks and greater accountability from officials. With demonstrations spreading to multiple cities and the issue gaining traction on social media, the controversy has emerged as a significant challenge for the Indian government.

  The Indian government has requested time until tomorrow afternoon to respond to the demands put forward by protesting youth,  Following a meeting with government representatives, the party rejected Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s position and announced that the protests would continue until the Minister of Education resigns. Speaking to the media after discussions with government officials, the CJP spokesperson said that the government had asked for additional time to formulate its response. However, the party made it clear that it had already informed the authorities that the resignation of the Education Minister remained its primary demand. The spokesperson warned that if the minister does not step down, the protests will intensify across the country. “The government has sought time until tomorrow afternoon to respond,” the spokesperson said. “We have clearly conveyed that unless the Education Minister resigns, the movement will continue to grow. If there is no resignation, we will have no option but to call for nationwide demonstrations.” The party specifically demanded the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, holding him responsible for the issues that have fueled the youth-led protests. The spokesperson expressed hope that the government would take immediate action by dismissing the minister in order to ease public anger and restore confidence among students and young people. According to the spokesperson, government representatives also indicated their willingness to address some of the protesters’ other demands. These include providing financial compensation to the families of students who allegedly died by suicide and withdrawing First Information Reports (FIRs) registered against young protesters who participated in a march held on July 20. The announcement came as political tensions continued to rise in India. Opposition parties extended their support to the protesting youth and raised the issue in Parliament, criticizing the alleged use of force against demonstrators. Members of the opposition attempted to voice concerns over police action against students, but government lawmakers responded with loud protests and disruptions inside the House. The uproar eventually led to the suspension of parliamentary proceedings. Meanwhile, the Chief Justice of India came under criticism after declining to view videos that allegedly showed police violence against students. Responding to the controversy, the Chief Justice explained that no constitutional petition had been formally filed before the court regarding the matter. He stated that the judiciary had only received a letter from a lawyer and that the issue could not be taken up without following the proper legal process. In a separate development, the Indian government’s request for an urgent hearing into allegations of foreign funding behind the student protests was accepted the day after Justice Surya Kant declined to consider the videos of the alleged police action. The decision has added another dimension to the ongoing controversy, with critics questioning the differing levels of urgency applied to various aspects of the case. The protests continue to attract widespread public attention, with demonstrators insisting that accountability, justice, and meaningful reforms are necessary before they end their movement. As the government prepares its official response, all eyes remain on whether it will address the protesters’ key demands, particularly the call for the resignation of the Education Minister, or whether the demonstrations will expand into a larger nationwide movement.

  MADRID: Spain has declared a national emergency after a series of fast-moving wildfires spread across areas near Madrid and the neighboring province of Ávila, forcing more than 10,000 residents to flee their homes. The fires, fueled by extreme heat and dry conditions, have overwhelmed emergency services and prompted one of the country’s largest wildfire responses in recent years. The Spanish Interior Ministry announced the emergency declaration late Thursday, citing the simultaneous outbreak of multiple wildfires, challenging weather conditions, and the need to coordinate large-scale resources from various government agencies. Officials said the combination of several active fire fronts had significantly complicated firefighting operations and civil protection efforts. Authorities explained that placing the situation under a national emergency allows the central government to take direct control of the response. Under Spain’s National Civil Protection System, the Interior Minister now oversees the coordination of firefighting teams, emergency services, and military support. Officials noted that this is the first time a wildfire has led to such a declaration under the current emergency framework. The regional government of Madrid described the situation as one of “extreme gravity” and requested immediate assistance from the national authorities. Officials warned that active wildfires burning in Villa del Prado, San Martín de Valdeiglesias, and Almorox, located in the neighboring region of Castilla-La Mancha, were spreading rapidly and could exceed the current firefighting capacity. Another major blaze in Burgohondo, in the province of Ávila, was also moving toward the Madrid region due to strong winds and unfavorable weather conditions. As a precaution, more than 10,000 people have been evacuated from several communities, including Villa del Prado, San Martín de Valdeiglesias, Pelayos de la Presa, and Aldea del Fresno. Emergency shelters have been established to accommodate displaced residents, while authorities continue to monitor the movement of the fires and issue evacuation orders where necessary. To combat the crisis, more than 270 emergency personnel and at least 40 ground firefighting units have been deployed across the affected regions. Specialized teams from Spain’s Military Emergency Unit (UME) have also joined the operation, providing additional manpower, equipment, and logistical support to local firefighters battling the flames. Spain, along with many other countries in southern Europe, has experienced increasingly severe wildfire seasons in recent years. Scientists attribute the growing intensity of these fires to climate change, which has contributed to prolonged heatwaves, drought conditions, and unpredictable weather patterns. Experts also note that unusually heavy rainfall during the spring encouraged abundant vegetation growth. As temperatures soared during the summer, this vegetation dried out, creating vast amounts of highly combustible fuel that has allowed fires to spread rapidly. The environmental impact has already been devastating. More than 100,000 hectares of land have burned across Spain so far this year, roughly matching the country’s average annual burned area over the past decade. The current wildfire season has also become one of the deadliest in recent history, with 13 people losing their lives. Authorities have urged residents in high-risk areas to follow evacuation orders and remain alert as firefighters continue working around the clock to contain the blazes. Weather conditions remain challenging, raising concerns that the fires could continue to spread in the coming days despite the large-scale emergency response.