A mild earthquake measuring 3.8 on the Richter scale struck Maharashtra’s Nashik district in the early hours of Thursday, according to the National Center for Seismology (NCS). The tremor was recorded at 2:37:41 am IST and originated at a depth of 5 kilometres beneath the surface.

NCS shares earthquake details

The National Center for Seismology said the earthquake’s epicentre was located at latitude 20.448° North and longitude 73.708° East. The agency shared the information in a post on X, confirming the magnitude, location and depth of the seismic event.

“EQ of M: 3.8, On: 30/07/2026 02:37:41 IST, Lat: 20.448 N, Long: 73.708 E, Depth: 5 Km, Location: Nashik, Maharashtra,” the NCS said in its update.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage to property following the earthquake.

Why shallow earthquakes can be more damaging

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), earthquakes can occur at depths ranging from the Earth’s surface to about 700 kilometres underground. These are generally classified into three categories based on depth: shallow, intermediate and deep earthquakes.

Shallow earthquakes are typically considered more hazardous because seismic waves travel a shorter distance before reaching the Earth’s surface. This can result in stronger ground shaking, increasing the likelihood of structural damage and casualties, depending on the earthquake’s magnitude and the affected area’s infrastructure.

India’s public examination system requires structural reforms that prevent paper leaks instead of relying solely on stricter punishments after the damage is done, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said while participating in the Lok Sabha debate on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026.

Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, the Thiruvananthapuram MP said millions of students and their families invest years of effort, financial resources and emotional commitment into competitive examinations, making the credibility of the examination process critical.

Tharoor says students deserve a fair and secure examination system

Tharoor said students appearing for examinations such as NEET, JEE and UGC-NET carry far more than an admit card into the examination hall.

He noted that families often spend significant savings on education, coaching and study material while students devote years of preparation in pursuit of professional opportunities. According to him, a paper leak undermines not only an examination but also the hard work and sacrifices made by candidates and their families.

While acknowledging the proposed legislation’s tougher penalties, including lengthy imprisonment and heavy financial penalties for those involved in paper leaks, Tharoor argued that punishment comes only after students have already suffered the consequences.

Calls for reforms beyond stricter penalties

The Congress leader said every paper leak points to deeper weaknesses within the country’s examination system rather than being an isolated incident.

He stressed that Parliament’s objective should be to prevent such incidents altogether through stronger safeguards instead of focusing primarily on punitive measures.

Tharoor also questioned whether the judicial system would be able to consistently deliver speedy trials under the proposed fast-track provisions included in the legislation.

Suggests multiple exam attempts through computer-based testing

Advocating long-term reforms, Tharoor proposed moving away from the existing model in which a student’s future often depends on a single high-stakes examination.

He suggested introducing continuous computer-based entrance examinations with multiple attempts during the year, allowing candidates to submit their best score for admissions. According to him, such a system could reduce stress, accommodate emergencies, strengthen examination integrity and minimise the risk of paper leaks.

Raises concern over competition and student mental health

Highlighting the intense competition for professional education, Tharoor said the large gap between the number of aspirants and available seats contributes to the pressure surrounding entrance examinations.

He also expressed concern over student suicides, saying these figures represent individual lives and families affected by the immense stress associated with competitive examinations.

Calling for broader educational reforms, Tharoor said India needs more quality institutions, increased professional education seats and multiple pathways to higher education so that a single examination does not determine a student’s future.

Concluding his remarks, he said the responsibility of students is to prepare sincerely, while the responsibility of the system is to ensure that their preparation is rewarded through a fair, credible and secure examination process. He added that although the proposed legislation is likely to be passed, broader reforms are necessary to restore confidence in India’s public examination system.

Delhi Police have issued notices to several X (formerly Twitter) accounts, including some associated with news portals, over posts containing abusive remarks targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and security forces during recent student protests in Delhi and other locations.

According to police sources, the notices seek information about individuals who allegedly used abusive language in social media posts. The exact number of X accounts that have received notices has not been disclosed.

The action comes after authorities reviewed content shared during and after the protests, examining posts, videos and comments across multiple social media platforms for possible violations of law and their potential impact on public order.

Police continue social media monitoring

Delhi Police said its social media monitoring team has been continuously tracking online platforms for content related to the protests. Officials stated that notices are being issued to social media intermediaries whenever objectionable or abusive content is identified, directing them to remove such material.

According to the police, multiple posts containing abusive language directed at the Prime Minister surfaced during the student protests at Jantar Mantar and following the violence linked to the July 20 ‘Sansad Chalo’ march.

Officials said several comments and videos flagged by the police have already been removed after notices were served to the respective platforms.

Police had earlier flagged Pakistan-linked accounts

Earlier, Delhi Police said it had identified more than 400 social media handles allegedly linked to Pakistan that were circulating fake narratives, rumours and deepfake videos related to the protests.

The police said cyber and social media teams are continuing to monitor online activity connected to the demonstrations. Authorities said the exercise is aimed at identifying additional content that may violate applicable rules and taking appropriate action where necessary.