Updates: Modi promises new law on paper leaks in midnight video, higher education secretary replaced

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a video late on Thursday night that a bill providing for fast-track courts and stricter penalties for exam paper leaks will be discussed in a Cabinet meeting on Friday.

Efforts will be made to make sure that the bill is passed in Parliament as soon as possible, Modi said. The prime minister said that several government departments “worked tirelessly late into the night” and submitted a draft proposal to him.

Modi made the statement even as young protesters continued their agitation against alleged irregularities in competitive examinations at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.

More strict actions against paper leaks to come in tomorrow’s Cabinet! pic.twitter.com/NRysBukk5U— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 23, 2026

Here’s more on this and other updates:

Higher Education Secretary replaced amid protests

• The Union government on Thursday shifted Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi to the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, The Indian Express reported. Naresh Pal Gangwar has been appointed as the new Higher Education Secretary while TK Anil Kumar will be the secretary of Department of School Education and Literacy.
• Political campaign Cockroach Janta Party has said that the government has reached out to them to hold talks on Friday, ANI reported. The discussion will be held at the Constitution Club of India, CJP spokesperson Saurav Das said. He said that CJP will put...

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