Sonam Wangchuk ends 26-day hunger strike as PM Modi announces tougher measures against paper leak

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Thursday evening (July 24) ended her 26-day hunger strike at a hospital in the presence of Union Health Minister JP Nadda and Union Minister Jitendra Singh, marking a major development amid ongoing nationwide protests over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak.

Visuals from the hospital showed Wangchuk sipping from a cup assisted by two Union ministers. His wife Gitanjali Angmo was also present.

The breakthrough came as the Center stepped up efforts to engage protesting students and announced a series of measures to combat exam cheating.

PM Modi promises tougher action

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PM Modi has announced the setting up of fast track courts specifically to deal with cases of exam paper leaks and other malpractices in public examinations, ensuring speedy trials and severe punishments.

Sonam Wangchuk ended her hunger strike after Prime Minister Modi announced stricter measures against the paper leak, indicating progress in addressing the ongoing protests over the NEET-UG paper leak.

With immediate effect, the fast-track courts will exclusively hear criminal cases related to the leakage of examination papers under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Fraudulent Means) Act 2024, which aim to speed up justice.

While the government has taken steps to address the issue, some student groups believe that the root causes of the paper leak remain unresolved and insist that accountability is still required from leaders such as the education minister.

The Delhi High Court has appointed a special fast-track court to deal with criminal cases related to document leaks to speed up judicial responses and hold accountable public examination malpractice cases.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi released a nearly three-minute video message on Thursday, his second public statement on the issue in a single day, promising stronger action against paper leaks.

“Friends, I know that paper leakage is not a common problem. It is very painful for thousands of students and their families. That is why many steps have been taken in the last two and a half months,” Modi said.

The Prime Minister had earlier announced that the government would set up fast-track courts to ensure speedy trials and severe punishments for those involved in the paper leak. He also said that further measures against paper leakage will be discussed by the Union Cabinet.

Delhi HC sets up fast track court

Hours after PM Modi’s announcement, the Delhi High Court designated a special fast-track court to exclusively hear criminal cases related to examination paper leaks and other malpractices in public examinations.

Court Clerk Anu Grover Baliga’s trial has been notified as a “Specially Designated Fast Track Court” under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Fraud) Act 2024 and will operate from the Rouse Avenue Court Complex.

Reconstruction of the Ministry of Education

In another major development, the Center has reorganized the top bureaucracy in the education ministry amid ongoing controversy.

Education Minister Vineet Joshi was dismissed and Naresh Pal Gangwar was appointed as the new Education Minister.

Centre, CJP ready for talks

In a government outreach, a delegation of the Janta Cockroach Party (CJP) is scheduled to meet Union ministers on Friday, July 24 at 12:30 pm to discuss the ongoing impasse over examination irregularities. The venue has not yet been announced.

On Thursday, Union Minister Jitendra Singh appealed to the protesting students to engage in dialogue and said the government had invited representatives of the CJP for talks several times in the last 24 hours.

“Our doors are open,” Singh said, adding that the discussions would be led by Union Health Minister JP Nadda and could cover the issue of NEET and all related issues.

“We are ready to spend as much time as is needed… Without discussion there is no solution and without a solution we cannot plan a way forward,” he said.

Singh also said that Prime Minister Modi was “deeply sensitive” to students’ concerns and that the government’s recent statements were only the beginning of a wider crackdown on exam cheating.

Wangchuk appeals for peace

Before ending his fast, Wangchuk called on the protesters to maintain peace.

“Peace is peace and only peace. While protests remain peaceful at Jantar Mantar, I am pained to note that elsewhere some anti-social elements are using peaceful protests to incite violence,” he wrote on X.

“No matter what the other side does, our response must be only flowers. Please uphold this tradition at all costs,” he added.

The opposition is increasing the pressure

Meanwhile, opposition leaders intensified their protests in Delhi over the alleged paper leak.

Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi along with Congress and INDIA Bloc MPs held a vigil at the Gandhi Smriti at Tees January Marg and remembered the students who reportedly lost their lives or were injured during the protests.

Holding the national flag and a copy of the constitution, Gandhi and other MPs watched the vigil with mobile phone flashlights and demanded responsibility for resolving the NEET paper leak controversy.