To counter the growing menace of digital financial fraud, Mr. Shah officially launched a dedicated Security Operations Centre (SOC) designed to deliver 24/7 cyber surveillance and threat response for cooperative banking institutions. The initiative is backed by a strategic partnership between the National Urban Co-operative Finance and Development Corporation (NUCFDC) and the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU), formalization of which was marked by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed at the event.

In addition to inaugurating the new NUCFDC office building in Mumbai’s Fort area, the Minister launched the innovative ‘Bank In A Box’ initiative to accelerate digital transformation, alongside releasing a commemorative coffee table book and felicitating six pioneering cooperative banks.

“Capital markets alone cannot drive holistic prosperity; we must build a robust parallel engine of self-employment,” Mr. Shah stated, stressing that cooperative banks are driven by public aspirations rather than pure profit generation.

Highlighting that Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, and Karnataka collectively house 70% of the nation’s urban cooperative banks, Mr. Shah announced plans to relocate the NUCFDC headquarters from Delhi to Maharashtra to better serve the core of the sector.

In a message shared on the seventh anniversary of the constitutional changes of August 5, 2019, the Prime Minister said the day marked a decisive new chapter in the journey of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

He said that since then, the lives of the people in the two Union Territories have undergone significant change, with improvements in infrastructure and greater opportunities in education, healthcare, entrepreneurship and sports.

The Prime Minister said that women and marginalised communities, who were deprived of several constitutional rights for decades, have been empowered following the full implementation of the Constitution of India in the region.

Highlighting the significance of this year’s anniversary, Modi said it coincides with the nation’s observance of the 125th birth anniversary of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee. He said Dr. Mookerjee’s lifelong commitment to national unity continues to inspire generations and that his vision found historic fulfilment on August 5, 2019.

Reaffirming the Centre’s commitment to the development of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, the Prime Minister said every citizen should have the opportunity to dream big, achieve success and contribute towards building a “Viksit Bharat.”

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday promised that “more strict” action would be taken against paper leaks as the CJP-led protests continue over the alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG 2026 examination.
In a self-recorded video shared on X, the Prime Minister announced that the Union Cabinet will take up a draft Bill providing for Fast-Track Courts and stringent punishment for offenders. he said, “I have issued directions to departments to set up Fast-Track Courts”The Opposition has been demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and a detailed discussion on the NEET paper leak issue in the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament, with the controversy triggering protests inside and outside the House.Along with the video, the Prime Minister wrote, “More strict actions against paper leaks to come in today’s Cabinet!”In the video, Modi said, “Friends, I know that paper leaks are not an ordinary matter. For lakhs of students and their parents, it is extremely painful.”He said the government had acted swiftly following the paper leak incidents. “And that is why, in the last two and a half months since the paper leak incidents, several major steps have been taken. The culprits have been caught; they are currently in jail,” he said.Highlighting the government’s efforts to ensure students did not lose an academic year, the PM said, “Our most important responsibility was to ensure that a whole year for the students is not wasted. It was very important to conduct the exams immediately. The government used its full strength to arrange exams for nearly 22 lakh students in the shortest possible time. And just five or six days ago, on the 19th, the results were also announced. News of the happiness of successful students is coming from all over the country.”Stressing that the government was not stopping there, PM Modi said, “”However, we are not among those who are satisfied with just that. And therefore, today I have issued directions to the departments to set up Fast-Track Courts. The departments worked tirelessly and, late last night, provided me with a draft. This draft, which includes provisions for Fast-Track Courts and stringent punishments, will be discussed in the Cabinet tomorrow,” he said.The PM further said, “After incorporating suggestions from Cabinet colleagues, it will be given a final shape. Efforts will be made to get this Bill passed in the House as soon as possible, as the second week of the Parliament session begins on Monday.”Modi said, “Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth! Those who try to harm the future of our youth will not be spared.”Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke his silence on the controversy, announcing that the government would establish fast-track courts to ensure swift punishment for those involved in examination paper leaks.
Agencies

Rahul Gandhi demanded the resignations of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and union Home Minister Amit Shah, accusing the Centre of being responsible for the alleged police action against students during Monday’s protest. The leaders also sought the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over paper leaks.

In a post on X, Gandhi said Congress leaders had marched to the Prime Minister’s residence to seek answers over what he described as the “brutalities against young students.”

“We have marched to PM Modi’s house to demand answers from him for the brutalities against young students yesterday. The Government doesn’t want to take any accountability, or does it want to have a debate on it in Parliament.

PM and HM must resign for destroying the future of India’s youth.”

The protest comes a day after thousands of people took part in a march to Parliament organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) over alleged NEET irregularities.

Several confrontations broke out between protesters and police in central Delhi. The Delhi Police has faced criticism over its handling of the protest, which was stopped from proceeding to Parliament from Jantar Mantar.

This is the first time an Opposition leader has staged a protest outside the Prime Minister’s high-security official residence.

Rahul Gandhi accused the Centre of using police force to suppress students raising genuine concerns over the education and examination systems. “The entire country knows the education system and testing system are broken; it has ceased to exist. The testing system has been hollowed out by termites. That is all they are saying. We have been saying it too. I have been giving presentation after presentation about this. Why is the Prime Minister silent?” Gandhi told reporters outside Parliament.

UNI

The plea was mentioned before a Division Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela on Monday. Declining an urgent hearing, the Bench orally observed, “Don’t drag the Court into all this. It will come up tomorrow.”

Delhi Police said five FIRs have been registered over the alleged violence, stone-pelting and vandalism during the Cockroach Janta Party’s “Sansad Chalo” march. Police said the accused are being identified using video footage from the affected areas.

The Cockroach Janta Party is a satirical social media movement that emerged after remarks by the Chief Justice of India during a court hearing, later clarified to refer to people with fake degrees. Its social media accounts were subsequently suspended.

UNI

As soon as the two Houses assembled for the day, Opposition members were on their feet raising slogans and pressing for suspension of the listed business to take up what they described as urgent matters of public importance. Several MPs entered the Well of the House, leading to disruptions despite repeated appeals from the Chair to maintain order.

In the Lok Sabha, Speaker Om Birla urged members to allow the House to function and stressed that Parliament was the appropriate forum for discussion and debate. However, with the protests continuing, the proceedings were adjourned till 12 noon.

The Rajya Sabha witnessed similar scenes, with Opposition members insisting on an immediate discussion on the NEET-UG controversy, the alleged use of force against students protesting the issue on July 20 and the alleged irregularities in Ram Mandir donations. Amid persistent sloganeering and disorder, the Chair adjourned the Upper House till 12 noon.

The disruptions came on the second day of the Monsoon Session, with the Opposition continuing to press the government for discussions on issues it says are of immediate public concern.

Opposition parties have maintained that the alleged NEET-UG paper leak, which they say has affected the future of lakhs of students, as well as the alleged lathicharge on protesting students, requires a detailed discussion in Parliament. They have also sought debates on the allegations relating to Ram Mandir donations.

The government has maintained that it is willing to discuss issues in accordance with parliamentary rules while urging Opposition members to allow the Houses to function and transact scheduled legislative business. The proceedings in both Houses are scheduled to resume at 12 noon.

UNI

Official sources said the searches were carried out at around eight premises in and around Bengaluru under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The agency is investigating the suspected flow of funds, financial transactions and assets allegedly linked to individuals accused of radicalising and recruiting youths for the banned terrorist organisation Islamic State (ISIS).

The money laundering case is based on an FIR registered by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which has been probing an alleged module accused of indoctrinating vulnerable youths, facilitating their recruitment into ISIS and raising funds to support extremist activities.

Sources said the ED is examining whether proceeds of crime were generated or channelled through bank accounts, cash transactions or other financial networks to sustain the alleged radicalisation activities. Digital devices, financial records and other documents were being scrutinised during the searches.

The raids come as central agencies intensify efforts to dismantle the financial ecosystem allegedly supporting terror recruitment and radicalisation in the state.

The ED had not issued an official statement on the outcome of the searches till the filing of this report. The investigation is continuing.

UNI