Skip next section What you need to know
What you need to know
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Modi announces task force to reform India’s examination system
- Indian Home Minister Amit Shah says youth and students more important for BJP than any post
- India has a new education minister in Bharatiya Janata Party veteran Pralhad Joshi
- Cockroach Janta Party’s founder says party has ‘a long way to go’
Here are the biggest headlines from India on Sunday, July 26:
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Skip next section Modi announces exam reform task force after protests07/26/2026July 26, 2026
Modi announces exam reform task force after protests
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced a special task force to overhaul the country’s examination system after days of student-led protests over alleged exam paper leaks.
“Our examination system should be trustworthy, should be transparent and the system should make maximum use of technology,” Modi said on Instagram, adding that new legislation to deal with paper leaks would be introduced in Parliament on Monday.
Modi added the government would set up a “high-powered task force” focused on examination reform.
The panel will be led by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani.
The demonstrations drew thousands to New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar site and became one of the largest anti-government protests in India in recent years.
The movement, organized by the social media-driven Cockroach Janta Party, led to the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Protest organizers called off the demonstrations on Saturday following his departure.
https://p.dw.com/p/5HmyFSkip next section Vessel with 4 Indians struck at Ukraine’s Odessa port07/26/2026July 26, 2026
Vessel with 4 Indians struck at Ukraine’s Odessa port
A merchant vessel named MG AVN Ragnar, carrying four Indian nationals, was struck at Ukraine’s Port of Odessa, the Indian Embassy in Ukraine said on Sunday.
Two of the four Indian sailors were confirmed safe but information was awaited on the other two, the statement said.
“Search and rescue operations are underway. The Embassy is in constant touch with the concerned authorities,” it read.
On Saturday evening, Kyiv’s transport minister Mykola Kalashnyk said on Telegram that Russia had twice hit a civilian vessel carrying almost 2,800 tons of corn as it left the port of Odessa. While he did not mention the name of vessel, he said it was a Palau-flagged ship — the same as the MG AVN Ragnar.
The ship caught fire and seven crew members and a Ukrainian pilot had to be rescued, but two other crew members were missing, he had said.
The port has frequently come under attack since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
Meanwhile, India’s Ministry of External Affairs released an advisory for “Indian nationals undertaking employment on commercial vessels operating in Black Sea region.”
The advisory asked Indian sailors to asses the risks before accepting contracts there.
https://p.dw.com/p/5HmJGSkip next section Prahlad Joshi takes charge as India’s new education minister07/26/2026July 26, 2026
Prahlad Joshi takes charge as India’s new education minister
63-year-old Bharatiya Janata Party veteran, Prahlad Joshi, takes charge as India’s new education minister on Sunday.
The minister accepted the responsibility “with a deep sense of duty,” he said in a post on X, which included images of him attending a meeting.
Joshi was appointed yesterday, within hours of Dharmendra Pradhan’s exit.
What do we know about Prahlad Joshi?
Joshi was already India’s minister for consumer affairs, food and public distribution — and for new and renewable energy — prior to taking on a third and more senior portfolio as of Saturday.
He is a five-term member of the Lok Sabha parliament and Hindu nationalist known for his activism on the disputed region of Kashmir in his younger days.
He is known as a behind-the scenes organizational leader, who has been integral to BJP’s journey in Karnataka. He was also the southern state’s BJP President from 2014 to 2016.
Joshi was a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, according to the BJP webiste, which is a large network with millions of followers.
The RSS presents itself as the guardian of Hindu values, while critics widely classify it as a paramilitary organization. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who himself has deep roots in the RSS, its influence reaches to the highest levels of political power.
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https://p.dw.com/p/5HmDmSkip next section Scenes from the protest site, late last night07/26/2026July 26, 2026
Scenes from the protest site, late last night
At about 8:30 p.m. on Saturday evening, the Cockroach protest site at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi was dwelling in residual euphoria.
Hours earlier, the education minister had resigned and soon after the protest had been concluded. The instant celebration had been loud. Now, many had left, some remained and others walked in.
For some working youths, who had been banking on the weekend to show their support, the news of Pradhan’s resignation came a little too early. Robbed of their chance to be a part of the movement, they had decided to witness the last of the celebrations.
At one end of the site, volunteers dismantled the stage where activist Sonam Wangchuk had been on hunger strike for over 20 days. It was the same stage where students sat in protest when Wangchuk had been removed without his consent, where CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke broke down in tears and where he first heard word on Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.
A few meters away, people formed little circles around those who still danced in celebration. On the sides, protesters with witty placards proudly posed for those taking pictures, showing their creativity once more before putting it away.
Beyond the barricades, some congratulated strangers with water, words or hugs. Others leaned over ice cream carts which had finally made their way in.
And about two hundred volunteers still worked tirelessly, either to control the celebrating crowd, to show people the way out or to sweep the roads. Once in a while their eyes met, and a smile broke out on their faces.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Hm8wSkip next section “Cockroach Janta Party has a long way to go,” says Dipke07/26/2026July 26, 2026
“Cockroach Janta Party has a long way to go,” says Dipke
A day after the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) ended its 36-day protest in central Delhi, founder Abhijeet Dipke said he finally slept a full night’s sleep without worry and panic.
The protest was concluded on Saturday evening after a round of talks between the government and CJP spokespersons. At this time, the government had accepted all of the party’s core demands including education minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over exam paper leaks.
“What I went through in the last 37 days was really, really difficult. It was not easy, not just for me, but for all of our team,” Dipke said.
The youth leader was recently diagnosed with typhoid, over a month after he camped at the historical protest site of Jantar Mantar with other “cockroaches,” in the middle of India’s monsoon season.
Dipke thanked protesters across the nation for making the movement a success. He also thanked his critics who questioned the satirical party’s abilities and methods. The 30-year-old said the critics had helped the CJP improve.
“Cockroach Janata Party has a long way to go, and for sure we will go a long way. This is just the beginning. Jai Hind,” he said.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Hm74Skip next section WATCH: Education minister concedes to ‘Cockroach’ demands, resigns07/26/2026July 26, 2026
WATCH: Education minister concedes to ‘Cockroach’ demands, resigns
India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned after nationwide youth-led protests over alleged irregularities in major exams.
Demonstrators organised by the social media-driven Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) demanded education reforms, compensation for affected students and the withdrawal of cases against protesters.
After renewed talks, the government accepted the group’s demands, prompting CJP to end the demonstrations. The protests have been one of the most significant challenges to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration since the 2021 farm protests.
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https://p.dw.com/p/5Hm2XSkip next section Pradhan’s ‘tenure is a testament to his dedication’ says Home Minister Amit Shah07/26/2026July 26, 2026
Pradhan’s ‘tenure is a testament to his dedication’ says Home Minister Amit Shah
India’s Home Minister Amit Shah defended fellow party leader Dharmendra Pradhan in a social media post hours after he resigned as India’s education minister, giving in to nationwide youth led protests.
“For BJP workers, the country, our youth, and students are far more important than any position. Today, the resignation of Union Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan ji from his post exemplifies this very principle,” Shah said on X.
“The Modi government respects the sentiments of the country’s youth and is committed to implementing the necessary reforms against paper leaks,” he said adding that the government’s upcoming legislature to strengthen anti-paper leak laws would help ensure “complete justice.”
Shah went on to count Pradhan’s “reforms” as education minister. “His efforts toward making the examination system more inclusive and student-centric have also been noteworthy. His tenure is a testament to his dedication to the resolve of making India a developed nation,” he said.
Shah’s post was one among many from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party leaders which highlighted similar intiatives and Pradhan’s “integrity.”
In his resignation announcement on Saturday, Pradhan said he had acknowledged responsibility of the medical entrance exam’s paper leak from the very first day.
He said was now resigning because he did not want “anti-national forces” to take advantage of the situations and wanted the youth to once again focus on their education and careers.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Hm3tSkip next section Welcome to our coverage07/26/2026July 26, 2026
Welcome to our coverage
Kieran Burke Editor | Mahima Kapoor
Hello and welcome to DW’s India blog!
This is Mahima Kapoor, reporting from a cloudy New Delhi where the slowness of the Sunday is both welcome and needed after a week of fiery protests ending in a key resignation.
Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan gave up his post on Saturday afternoon under pressure from India’s Cockroach movement and youth-led protesters over national exam paper leaks.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party has defended Pradhan’s efforts and integrity towards his work and the nation.
The government was also quick to install a veteran and low-profile leader Pralhad Joshi in Pradhan’s place.
With their core demands met, the Cockroach Janta Party leaders and youth “cockroaches” have vacated the protest site in central Delhi which was cleaned and sanitized overnight.
Most people have one question on their minds — What’s next? Be it for India’s education system, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke or India’s Generation Z which is enjoying mass popularity among masses right now.
Stay tuned!
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