PM reaches out to students; Sonam Wangchuk ends fast

Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was on a hunger strike demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET irregularities, ended his fast late on Thursday (July 24, 2026) night. The move came even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a late-night video message posted on his X and Instagram accounts, promised that the government would discuss NEET paper leaks in Friday’s (July 24) Cabinet meeting and would bring a Bill in Parliament next week. “More strict actions against paper leaks to come in tomorrow’s Cabinet [meeting],” Mr. Modi said in his post.

U.S. slaps 10% tariffs on goods imported from India over issue forced labour

The U.S. imposed 10% tariffs on goods purchased from India and 16 other countries over the issue of the use of forced labour in the production of such items. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer announced the new tariffs on 60 countries under Section 301 of the Trade Act on Friday (July 24, 2026), a day before the expiration of 10% additional levies on all countries. The USTR statement said that Mr. Greer had taken the final action, at President Donald Trump’s direction, under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 by imposing tariffs on 60 economies for their failure to impose and effectively enforce a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labour.

Over 6.17 lakh Waqf properties approved on UMEED portal

The Ministry of Minority Affairs informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday (July 22, 2026) that more than 6.17 lakh Waqf properties have been successfully validated and approved on the UMEED Central Portal-2025 as part of the government’s ongoing initiative to digitise and streamline Waqf property records. Responding to an unstarred question raised by All India Trinamool Congress MP Sajda Ahmed, Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju stated that 7,99,978 Waqf properties had been initiated for uploading to the UMEED portal as of July 17, 2026.

No debate without Pradhan’s resignation, Opposition tells govt. as it hits the streets

Maintaining pressure on the government both inside and outside Parliament, the Opposition refused the government’s offer of a debate on paper leaks, arguing that any discussion must be preceded by the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Later in the evening, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi led INDIA bloc MPs in a symbolic march to Gandhi Smriti on Tees January Marg, where Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated, expressing solidarity with students protesting against paper leaks.

Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman invited to BRICS summit in Delhi

Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has been invited to participate in the BRICS summit that will be held here on September 12 and 13, according to Shama Obaid, Bangladeshi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. Mr. Rahman has received an invitation from the Indian government to be a guest at the BRICS summit, Ms. Obaid told journalists in Dhaka on Thursday (July 23, 2026).

Activist on hunger strike over Ken-Betwa river link project ends fast after 18 days

Activist Amit Bhatnagar, who had been on a hunger strike against the Ken-Betwa river linking project for 18 days, suspended his fast on Thursday (July 23, 2026) after the government’s assurance to include the people left out of the rehabilitation process. After breaking his fast, Mr. Bhatnagar said that he took the decision as several tribal women who had been part of the protest had also stopped eating since July 19, when the police forcibly took him to a hospital and dismantled the demonstration site on the banks of the Barana river in Kupi village of Madhya Pradesh’s Chhatarpur district. He had been in the Chhatarpur district hospital since then and continued his fast.

U.S. unveils new tariffs on 60 partners as Trump rebuilds trade agenda

The United States said Thursday (July 23, 2026) that it would impose new tariffs on 60 trading partners over forced labour concerns, replacing an expiring global duty rolled out by President Donald Trump earlier this year. The levies, which take effect Friday (July 24, 2026), range from 10% to 12.5% and impact major economies like China, India and the European Union.

U.S. House of Representatives again passes resolution seeking to halt military action in Iran as some Republicans defect

The House on Thursday (July 23, 2026) narrowly passed a resolution to halt U.S. military action in Iran, sending a warning to President Donald Trump for the second time as the war has escalated and the future of the conflict is increasingly uncertain. The 214-208 vote requiring congressional approval for the war comes as the Senate is expected to consider a similar resolution later Thursday (July 23) morning. Though the votes forced by Democrats are largely symbolic, they are meant as a strong signal to the Republican President that his support on Capitol Hill is chipping away as the war drags on and lawmakers in both parties have questioned his administration’s endgame.

International waterways must remain safe and unimpeded: S. Jaishankar

Participating in the 21st East Asia Summit in Manila, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Thursday (July 23, 2026), that the global maritime channels “must remain safe and unimpeded”. In the meeting, Mr. Jaishankar also called for dialogue and diplomacy in dealing with the crisis in the Persian Gulf region and for finding a “political solution” to the civil conflict in Myanmar, where Ethnic Armed Organisations (EAOs) have been challenging the authority of the military junta that took power in February 2021.

Published - July 24, 2026 06:36 am IST