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With SC likely to pass verdict on J&K special status soon, Mehbooba Mufti drives to arch-rival Farooq for ‘guidance’

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9 years ago

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Mehbooba Mufti

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]With the Supreme Court set to declare whether or not Article 35A that grants a special status to J&K among all Indian states should be quashed, chief minister Mehbooba Mufti stunned everyone by calling on National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah triggering rumours once again that all’s not well in her PDP-BJP coalition

In a move that has surprised political observers and common folk alike, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, on Tuesday evening, drove to the residence of her principal political rival in the state – National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah – instead of meeting senior leaders in her alliance partner, the BJP, to discuss the crisis over the legality of Article 35A that grants a special status to her strife-torn state.

Article 35A is a provision in the Indian Constitution which saved the ‘pre-existing State Subject Law’ of permanent residents of the state and their special rights and privileges. It was added through the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 1954, issued under Article 370 in 1954. According to the law, there is a complete ban on the acquisition of immovable property by the non-permanent residents of the state, like in Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, and some other states. The law defines permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir, confers on them the special rights and privileges and also imposes restrictions on non-residents acquiring any property in the state.

The prevailing crisis over the legality of Article 35A – the abrogation of which Mehbooba has repeatedly warned against claiming that if such a decision is taken “there will be no one left in Kashmir to hold the Indian flag” – began when two Kashmiri women approached the Supreme Court in 2014 seeking quashing of the special provision as it had “disenfranchised their children”. The apex court is likely to pronounce its verdict in the case next month.

Farooq Abdullah

What seems to have triggered Mehbooba to make the hitherto unthinkable journey to Farooq Abdullah for his counsel is the Union government’s recent submission in the Supreme Court during a hearing in the case.

On July 17, Attorney General KK Venugopal had told a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court comprising Chief Justice JS Khehar and Justice DY Chandrachud that the petition against Article 35A raised “very sensitive” questions that required a “larger debate”, following which the court referred the matter to a three-judge Bench and set six weeks for final disposal.

Venugopal’s submission of the necessity of a ‘larger debate’ on the issue of abrogation of Article 370 was a departure from the stand that earlier governments – usually non-BJP – have taken on the sensitive subject as this was the first time that the Union was willing to put the matter up for a discussion instead of outrightly siding with the J&K government.

The Centre’s submission had immediately drawn criticism from political leaders of the National Conference and the Congress while Mehbooba had, in a belated reply, warned that any move to dilute Article 370 or quash it altogether would be the proverbial “last nail” in the Kashmir crisis and ensure that no Kashmiri ever holds the Indian tricolour.

That Venugopal naturally was communicating to the court the stand of the BJP government – a party with which Mehbooba is running an always-on-the-edge coalition in J&K – is the reason being ascribed to the PDP chief’s gesture towards her NC rival.

Abdullah has suggested to the chief minister that she should consult other parties with an aim to create a wider consensus among “like-minded parties in the battle to prevent Article 35A from being struck down in the Supreme Court.”

After her meeting with the NC president, Mehbooba said: “Dr Abdullah sahib is the senior most leader of our state and I went to him to seek his guidance and support on the issue of special status of our state which is under serious threat”.

“It (the case over Article 35A in SC) is a challenge for all political parties in J&K, who swear by J&K Constitution and the Constitution of India. There is hardly anything left in our special status and if Article 35(A) is tampered with, we will cease to exist,” Mehbooba added.

The NC president’s son and former chief minister Omar Abdullah – who on several earlier occasions has hit out at Mehbooba Mufti – said: “We cannot afford to have Article 35A remove… we believe that there is an urgent need to create a wider consensus among parties to fight this battle together,” after the PDP chief met Farooq Abdullah.

The Congress too came out in support of Mehbooba’s initiative with former union minister and senior poarty leader Saifuddin Soz asserting the same line as Mehbooba and Omar – of drawing a consensus on the legality of Article 35A and not repealing it.

With the threat of abrogation of Article 35A uniting the PDP, NC and Congress, political observers from the state wonder: Will the three parties along with other regional players who are anti-BJP come together to save the special status and state subject law. If developments in the Valley are any indicator, it is quite likely to happen as the anger against the mainstream political players is spreading like wildfire, especially in the past year that has seen prolonged widespread violence return to the region and an aggressive Indian Army willing to go to any extent to deal with civilians protesting on the streets.

Sources said Mehbooba had told her top party leaders that they should be ready for any eventuality if the article is struck down in the Supreme Court. That could well mean the end of the BJP-PDP alliance in the state.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Parliament Monsoon Session 2026: Bill against paper leaks to be introduced in Lok Sabha today

The Lok Sabha will introduce and consider the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, proposing stricter punishment, fast-track courts and stronger safeguards against paper leaks.

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2 hours ago

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July 27, 2026

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The Lok Sabha is set to take up the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 for consideration and passage on Monday as the Centre moves to tighten laws against paper leaks and examination-related fraud.

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh will seek the House’s permission to introduce the Bill before moving it for consideration and passing during the day’s legislative business.

The proceedings of the Lok Sabha are scheduled to begin at 11 am with the Question Hour, during which ministers will respond to listed oral questions.

Bill proposes stricter action against paper leaks

The proposed amendment aims to strengthen transparency and integrity in the public examination system through stricter legal provisions while safeguarding the interests of students.

Among its major provisions are:

  • Imprisonment of up to 10 years for those found guilty.
  • A fine of up to Rs.10 crore.
  • Confiscation of assets of convicted offenders.
  • A mechanism to ensure verdicts in such cases are delivered within three months through fast-track courts.

The proposed changes follow the Union Cabinet’s approval of the legislation and related measures aimed at tackling paper leaks and examination fraud with stricter punishment and expedited trials.

Supreme Court judges amendment Bill also on agenda

Apart from the anti-paper leak legislation, the Lok Sabha is also scheduled to consider the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026.

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal will move the Bill for consideration. It seeks to further amend the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956.

Ministers to present implementation reports

Several Union ministers are also expected to place statements before the House on the implementation of recommendations made by various Parliamentary Standing Committees.

Among them:

  • Gajendra Singh Shekhawat will present an update on recommendations related to the Ministry of Tourism.
  • Jayant Chaudhary will report on recommendations concerning the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
  • Pankaj Chaudhary will table a statement on recommendations relating to the Ministry of Finance.
  • Suresh Gopi will present implementation updates on recommendations made by the Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Gas.

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Who are the experts in Nandan Nilekani-led PM Modi’s exam reform task force?

PM Modi has constituted a six-member task force led by Nandan Nilekani to recommend reforms for the National Testing Agency. Here’s a look at the experts on the panel.

Published

3 hours ago

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July 27, 2026

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Following the announcement of a high-powered task force to reform India’s examination system, the Centre has brought together experts from technology, space research, intelligence, education, cybersecurity and logistics to recommend structural changes for the National Testing Agency (NTA).

The panel, led by Infosys co-founder and technology expert Nandan Nilekani, was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi a day after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned amid nationwide protests over the alleged NEET paper leak.

In a video message shared on social media, the Prime Minister said the government aims to make examinations more reliable, transparent and technology-driven. He said the task force would submit recommendations to improve the credibility of upcoming examinations at the earliest.

Nandan Nilekani to lead the panel

Nandan Nilekani, co-founder and non-executive chairman of Infosys, will head the task force. Widely recognised for leading the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) and playing a key role in the development of Aadhaar, Nilekani is expected to contribute his expertise in technology, digital infrastructure and data security to the examination reform process.

Former ISRO chief S Somanath

Former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman S Somanath, an aerospace engineer, is also part of the panel. During his tenure, ISRO successfully carried out the Chandrayaan-3 mission. His experience in executing complex, high-precision missions is expected to help strengthen quality control and multi-layered verification processes in examinations.

Former IB director Tapan Deka

Former Intelligence Bureau Director Tapan Kumar Deka has been included for his experience in intelligence and security. A former IPS officer with a postgraduate degree in Physics, he is expected to provide inputs on strengthening intelligence gathering and cyber monitoring to curb organised examination fraud and paper leak networks.

IIT Madras Director V Kamakoti

V Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, is another member of the panel. A computer science academic, he has led initiatives related to microprocessor development and information security at the institute. His expertise is expected to support measures aimed at enhancing cybersecurity and protecting examination software and digital infrastructure.

Former Education Secretary Anita Karwal

Former Education Secretary Anita Karwal brings administrative and academic policy experience to the task force. A retired IAS officer from the Gujarat cadre, she is expected to contribute recommendations on examination policies, answer-key mechanisms, evaluation standards and improvements in the functioning of examination centres.

Logistics expert Amrit Lal Meena

Retired bureaucrat Amrit Lal Meena, who previously served as Bihar’s Chief Secretary and as Special Secretary (Logistics) in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, completes the six-member panel. His expertise in supply chain management is expected to help strengthen the secure printing, storage and transportation of question papers through tamper-resistant logistics systems.

The multidisciplinary panel has been tasked with recommending structural reforms aimed at improving transparency, security and reliability in India’s examination system.

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Amit Shah praises Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, says Nation above post

Amit Shah hailed Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation as Union Education Minister, saying BJP places the nation and students above any position while highlighting the government’s commitment to examination reforms.

Published

1 day ago

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July 26, 2026

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Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday praised Dharmendra Pradhan’s decision to step down as Union Education Minister, saying the move reflected the Bharatiya Janata Party’s commitment to placing the nation and students above any political position.

In a post on X, Shah said that for BJP workers, the country, its youth and students are more important than any office. He described Pradhan’s resignation as an example of the party’s guiding principle of prioritising national interest over personal ambition.

Shah highlights government’s focus on exam reforms

Amit Shah said the Narendra Modi-led government respects the sentiments of students and remains committed to strengthening the examination system following concerns over alleged paper leaks.

He said the Centre has introduced strict measures to ensure severe punishment for those involved in examination paper leaks and expressed confidence that these steps would deliver justice to students who cleared the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET).

Praises Pradhan’s work as Education Minister

Recalling Dharmendra Pradhan’s tenure, Shah highlighted several initiatives undertaken during his time in the Education Ministry. He credited Pradhan with helping implement the National Education Policy (NEP), expanding PM SHRI schools, promoting digital education, strengthening skill development and improving coordination between industry and academic institutions.

Shah also said Pradhan worked towards making examinations more inclusive and student-centric, adding that his tenure reflected his commitment to the vision of a developed India.

Resignation follows NEET controversy

Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation comes amid nationwide protests over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and growing demands for accountability.

The resignation has triggered political reactions across party lines. While opposition parties have described the development as a result of sustained student protests, BJP leaders have projected it as an example of accountability and commitment to national interest.

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