Junior Digest

New Delhi, Jul 23,2026: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday announced that the government will establish fast-track courts to ensure the speedy trial of paper leak cases, asserting that safeguarding the interests and future of students remains the government’s highest priority and warning that those responsible for compromising the future of the country’s youth “will not be spared.”

In a post on social media platform X, the Prime Minister said the decision was aimed at ensuring swift justice and stringent punishment for those involved in examination paper leaks, which have triggered widespread concern over the integrity of competitive examinations and recruitment tests.

“Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth!” Modi said, adding, “We have decided to set up fast-track courts to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in paper leaks. Have directed the concerned authorities and officials to take all necessary steps in this regard. This continues our series of steps for safeguarding the interests of students.”

Reiterating the government’s resolve to crack down on those responsible for such offences, the Prime Minister said, “Those who try to harm the future of our youth will not be spared.”

In his Hindi post, Modi said, “The welfare and future of the country’s youth are our highest priority. To ensure that those guilty in all paper leak cases receive strict punishment at the earliest, fast-track courts will be constituted for the speedy disposal of these cases. Directions have already been issued to the concerned departments to ensure the necessary action.”

He described the move as “an important step” in the series of measures being undertaken by the government to protect the interests of students and reiterated that “anyone who tampers with the future of the youth will not be spared.”

The announcement comes amid heightened political and public focus on examination irregularities and paper leak incidents, with concerns over the credibility of recruitment and entrance examinations dominating public discourse in recent months. The issue has sparked protests by students and criticism from opposition parties, which have accused the government of failing to prevent repeated examination leaks.

The Centre has maintained that it is committed to protecting the interests of students through legislative, administrative and technological measures to strengthen the examination system. The proposed fast-track courts are expected to expedite the prosecution of those accused in paper leak cases and reinforce the government’s efforts to deter such offences through quicker judicial proceedings and stricter punishment.

New Delhi, July 6,2026: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday paid glowing tributes to Syama Prasad Mookerjee on his 125th birth anniversary, describing him as one of India’s foremost nation-builders whose contributions to education, industry, humanitarian service and national unity continue to inspire the country’s progress towards a developed India.

In a post on social media platform X, the Prime Minister said, “Today, on the 125th Jayanti of Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee, I bow to one of India’s most remarkable nation-builders, whose life was defined by scholarship, courage and an unwavering commitment to national service. He dedicated himself to the cause of India’s unity, dignity and progress.”

Highlighting Mookerjee’s multifaceted legacy, Modi said his contributions extended across diverse fields, including education, governance and industrial development.

“Dr Mookerjee’s contributions spanned diverse spheres. He was an outstanding thinker and educationist, who supported innovation and futuristic learning. As Industries Minister, he laid the foundations of industrial self-reliance while ensuring that traditional sectors and livelihoods flourished. His humanitarian efforts during the Bengal Famine reflected his profound compassion for those in distress. Above all, his steadfast commitment to the unity and integrity of India remains an enduring source of inspiration,” the Prime Minister said.

Referring to the government’s vision of building a developed nation, Modi added, “As we move forward in our journey towards a Viksit Bharat, his vision continues to illuminate our path.”

In another post on X, the Prime Minister said he had written an opinion article on Mookerjee’s life and legacy, underlining his contributions in several capacities, including as an academic administrator, union Minister and political leader.

“Penned an Op-Ed on Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s life, emphasising his diverse accomplishments, be it Vice Chancellor, Minister, political leader and more. Highlighted his unparalleled efforts in boosting India’s unity. The removal of Articles 370 and 35(A) in 2019 remains a fitting tribute to his efforts,” Modi said.

Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee, born on July 6, 1901, was a prominent educationist, parliamentarian and statesman who served as the Minister for Industry and Supply in independent India’s first Cabinet before resigning over policy differences. He later founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh in 1951, the political predecessor of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Mookerjee is widely remembered by the BJP for his campaign against Jammu and Kashmir’s special constitutional status under the erstwhile Articles 370 and 35A. The Narendra Modi government revoked the provisions in August 2019, describing the move as a step towards greater national integration and fulfilment of Mookerjee’s vision of “One Nation, One Constitution.”

The Prime Minister’s tribute came as the BJP and its affiliated organisations across the country commemorated Mookerjee’s 125th birth anniversary through a series of events, remembering his role in shaping India’s political discourse and his enduring emphasis on national unity, self-reliance and public service.

Monday July 20, 2026: Former Manchester Mayor, Andrew Burnham, was appointed Prime Minister of the U.K. on Monday (July 20, 2026), its seventh in a decade. Mr. Burnham described the moment as a “circuit breaker”, as he promised to usher in a new political and social model for the country, taking power out of London and spreading it across the regions of the U.K.
The outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who had made history two years ago, when he led the Labour Party in one of the largest victories in modern times, made history again on Monday, but this time for becoming the U.K.’s shortest serving Labour Prime Minister.
“I go with good grace, I go with a smile, and I go proud of everything that we have achieved,” Mr. Starmer said in brief remarks outside on Downing Street, as he wished his successor “every success”.
The 56-year-old Mr, Burnham is pro-European; he has said previously that he hopes to see the U.K. back in the E.U. during his lifetime although he said he would not act to bring that about during his term in office. He apologized in recent days for Labour’s initial position on the Israel-Gaza conflict and has promised firmer actions against Israel. He appears to be pro-NATO and has indicated he will be bound by Mr. Starmer’s £15 billion defence investment plan which was announced in recent days. Mr. Burhnam recently said that British support for Ukraine “will not waiver” and that the U.S. was the county’s most important security ally. The new Prime Minister has committed to keeping Jonathan Powell in post as the U.K.’s national security adviser.

Mysuru,July 12,2026: Veteran playback singer S. Janaki, who sang thousands of songs across films in South Indian languages, died at the age of 88 in Mysuru in Karnataka on Saturday (July 11, 2026). Her mortal remains are placed at Maharaja’s College Grounds in Mysuru city for the public to pay their last respects. The last rites would take place later on Sunday evening (July 12, 2026).
With a versatile voice, Janaki crossed boundaries of ages and time and sang for almost every music director in South India — from S. Rajeswara Rao, K.V. Mahadevan, M.S. Vishwanathan, P. Dakshina Murthy, Ilayaraja to A.R. Rahman.
In the 1980s, when there was a massive influx of South Indian production houses into Bollywood, remaking South Indian hits into Hindi, Janaki emerged as a pan-Indian voice.
S. Janaki, was a playback vocalist who recorded over 48,000 songs in 17+ languages, winning four National Awards.

New Delhi, Jul 20,2026: The Monsoon Session of Parliament got off to a turbulent start on Monday, with repeated disruptions and adjournments in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha as Opposition members raised slogans over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, alleged irregularities in donations to the Ram Temple, and other issues, preventing normal legislative business from proceeding.

The day’s proceedings began with obituary references in both Houses, after which members paid tributes to former members and eminent personalities who had passed away since the previous session. Following the obituary references, both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were adjourned till 12 noon.

When the Houses reassembled, they were again engulfed in noisy protests, forcing fresh adjournments amid persistent sloganeering by Opposition members.

In the Lok Sabha, proceedings resumed with the Question Hour after the initial adjournment. However, Opposition MPs immediately raised slogans over the alleged NEET paper leak and allegations relating to the handling of donations at the Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya, disrupting the proceedings.

Appealing to members to allow the House to function, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said the opening day of a parliamentary session should not begin with disruptions.

“The House should function smoothly. If the House does not function on the very first day of the session, it will set a bad precedent,” Birla said, urging members to return to their seats and participate in debates through established parliamentary procedures.

Despite repeated appeals from the Chair, the slogan shouting continued, compelling the Speaker to adjourn the House again till 12.30 pm.

The Rajya Sabha witnessed similar scenes. Soon after official papers were laid on the Table of the House, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge sought to raise the issue of the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, describing it as a matter affecting the future of lakhs of students.

“This concerns the future of lakhs of students. Thousands of students have reached Jantar Mantar, and they were lathi-charged,” Kharge said amid loud protests.

“The government is trying to beat them down and suppress the issue,” he alleged, as Opposition members rose from their seats and shouted slogans of “shame, shame.”

Chairman C P Radhakrishnan urged members to maintain order and allow the House to function. However, as the uproar continued, he adjourned the Rajya Sabha till noon. After the House reassembled, disruptions persisted, leading to another adjournment till 12.30 pm.

The Opposition also referred to protests taking place at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar over the NEET controversy, accusing the government of attempting to suppress the voices of students demanding accountability over the alleged examination irregularities.

The disruptions came despite repeated appeals by Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier in the day for all political parties to ensure a productive and constructive Monsoon Session. Addressing the media before the commencement of the session, the Prime Minister had called upon Members of Parliament to engage in meaningful debates, saying Parliament should become a platform for discussions that strengthen democracy and contribute to national development.

The Monsoon Session, scheduled to continue until August 13, is expected to witness an intense confrontation between the government and the Opposition. The Opposition has indicated that it will seek discussions on several issues, including the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, price rise, unemployment, the situation in Jammu and Kashmir following recent floods, and other matters of public importance.

The government, meanwhile, has lined up an ambitious legislative agenda, including the introduction and consideration of several important Bills across both Houses. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has expressed hope that all parties will cooperate to ensure smooth functioning of Parliament and facilitate meaningful discussions on issues concerning the country.

With both Houses witnessing repeated adjournments on the opening day itself, the Monsoon Session began on a confrontational note, signalling that the weeks ahead are likely to see sharp exchanges between the Treasury and Opposition benches over a range of political and public issues.

Sriharikota (AP), July 18,2026: India’s first privately developed orbital-class rocket, Vikram-1 was sucessfully launched in its intended orbilt in its maiden flight on Saturday, marking a major milestone in the country’s space programme and the next decisive step in India’s journey to becoming a global spacefaring nation.

Developed by Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace, the first test flight, named Mission Aagaman (Arrival), took off from the First Launch Pad at 1205 hrs from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre here at 1205 hrs.

After a 36 hours smooth countdown, the 22 m tall rocket, with a lift off mass of 40 tonnes, witnessed a glitch after the automated launch sequence was initiated.

After the glitch was rectified, a fresh countdown of 20 minutes was initiated for final check of all systems after which the rocket took off majestically at 1205 hrs from the First Launch Pad amid cloudy skies.

After a flight duration of 15 minutes and ignition and separation of all stages, the rocket precisely reached its intended orbit at a height

of 450 km and at an inclination of 60 degrees, as joyous scenes were witnessed at the Mission Control Centre with ISRO Chairman

Dr.V.Narayanan exchanging pleasantries with other scientists.

“Vikram-1 Mission successfully accomplised”, ISRO said after the rocket reached its orbit.

Among the mission’s symbolic payloads is a handwritten postcard from Prime Minister Narendra Modi bearing the words “Vande Mataram”.

Ahead of the launch, Mr Modi hailed the Vikram-1 mission as a historic new frontier in India’s space journey. This mission highlights

the talent, determination and entrepreneurial spirit of the country’s youth and also shows how India’s space-sector reforms are unlocking new opportunities for innovation and enterprise.

“Among the payloads on Vikram-1 Test Flight-1 is something truly special—a handwritten postcard from Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi with the words ‘Vande Mataram’,” the company said.

The launch heralded a new era for India’s space sector by becoming the country’s first privately developed orbital-class rocket to attempt an orbital mission, opening the door for greater private sector participation in India’s expanding space programme.

ISRO said Mission Aagaman is more than a launch. It marks the arrival of a new chapter for India’s private space ecosystem. Vikram-1 represents the next decisive step in India’s Journey to becoming a global spacefaring nation.

Vikram-1 carred international and domestic technology demonstrators as payloads, including an 18K gold rocket containing micro-sculptures of Nobel Laureate Sir C. V. Raman, Dr Vikram Sarabhai, and former President and distinguished space and missile scientist, Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, smaller than a grain of rice, a diamond jewellery piece, and Skyroot’s own SCOPE satellite.

The microart gold rocket payload, created by Telangana’s Ajay Kumar Mattewada, features sculptures measuring 700 microns by 980 microns. The artwork honours three figures central to India’s scientific and space heritage, including Sarabhai, after whom the Vikram- 1 rocket was named.

The Cosmic Bloom, developed by Karnataka-based Cosmos Diamonds, is a 16.95 carat diamond lotus jewellery piece shaped like a blooming flower. Payloads also include SOLARAS, a 1U CubeSat from Karnataka-based Grahaa Space; Embrace, an in-orbit robotic arm demo from Telangana-based Cosmoserve Space; and uD3PP and mD3PRN, in-orbit demonstration payloads from Germany’s DCubed.

Vikram-1 is a seven-storeyed tall multi-stage rocket that featured an all-carbon composite structure and reliable solid fuel boosters and advanced 3D-Printed Liquid Engines. The rocket was designed to carry small satellites weighing up to 350 kg into a LEO and inject them at about 450 km altitude, and satellites up to 260 kg to Sun-synchronous Orbit.

This is the second mission for Skyroot after the successful launch of the suborbital launch vehicle Vikram-S, India’s first privately built rocket to space on November 18, 2022. Vikram- 1 is its maiden suborbital test flight, which was launched from Sriharikota.

This historic mission, named Prarambh (“The Beginning”), marked the first-ever private rocket launch from India. The single-stage solid rocket reached an altitude of about 89.5 km in 155 seconds, as planned. This sounding rocket carried three payloads, ISRO said. The payloads are BAZOOMQ Armenia, Space Kidz India, and N-Space Tech India.

Following a nominal ascent phase, the vehicle completed its mission profile, splashing down 125 km downrange in the Bay of Bengal.

The mission validated key technologies for the Vikram-series of orbital launchers, including solid propulsion systems, carbon composite structures, avionics, and telemetry. This successful demonstration has paved the way for the orbital launch vehicle, Vikram-1.

According to Skyroot, the primary objective of Mission Aagaman is to gather critical in-flight performance data across all major systems of the Vikram-1 rocket, including propulsion, stage separation, guidance, navigation, control, and overall vehicle performance. The data will be used to validate the vehicle’s design and support the development of a reliable, high-frequency commercial launch programme.

New Delhi, Jul 17,2026: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday flagged off India’s first indigenously developed hydrogen-powered passenger train from Jind railway station in Haryana, marking a significant milestone in the country’s transition towards clean and sustainable transportation. Officially named the NaMo Green Rail, the zero-emission train places India among a select group of nations that have adopted green hydrogen technology for passenger rail operations.

The Prime Minister inaugurated the train during his visit to Haryana, where he launched a series of development projects aimed at strengthening clean mobility, connectivity, healthcare and cultural heritage. The hydrogen-powered train will operate on the 89-km Jind-Sonipat route, covering the journey in around two hours with stoppages at 12 intermediate stations.

In a post on social media platform X, Modi said, “Happy to be in Jind. Speaking at the launch of projects that strengthen clean mobility, connectivity, healthcare and cultural heritage. Together, they will improve ‘Ease of Living’ and accelerate Haryana’s development.”

In another post, the Prime Minister underscored the importance of transport infrastructure, saying, “Connectivity not only enhances convenience but also multiplies the pace of development.”

The 10-coach train has been developed using indigenous technology and represents a major step in Indian Railways’ efforts to adopt environmentally sustainable transport solutions. Unlike conventional diesel-powered trains, the hydrogen-powered train generates electricity onboard through hydrogen fuel cells, where hydrogen reacts chemically with oxygen to produce electrical energy. The only direct emission from the process is water vapour, making the train completely free of carbon emissions during operation.

Designed to accommodate around 2,600 passengers, the train will initially operate at a speed of 75 kmph, while its design permits speeds of up to 110 kmph. The project is expected to demonstrate the viability of hydrogen fuel technology in India’s railway network and pave the way for wider adoption of green mobility solutions.

The launch is seen as a significant boost to the Indian Railways’ long-term strategy of achieving net-zero carbon emissions while reducing dependence on fossil fuels. Green hydrogen has emerged as a key component of India’s clean energy transition, with the government promoting its use across sectors including transport, industry and power generation under the National Green Hydrogen Mission.

Hydrogen-powered trains are considered an emerging alternative for rail routes where full electrification may not be economically viable. Fuel-cell technology enables the trains to produce electricity onboard without relying on diesel engines or overhead electric lines, while significantly lowering greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution.

The inauguration of the NaMo Green Rail also reflects the government’s broader emphasis on modernising railway infrastructure, improving regional connectivity, and adopting cleaner technologies. Officials believe the successful deployment of the hydrogen-powered train will provide valuable operational experience and support future expansion of hydrogen-based rail services across the country.

The hydrogen train was among several development initiatives launched by the Prime Minister during his Haryana visit, with the projects collectively aimed at enhancing infrastructure, improving public services and accelerating economic growth in the state while advancing India’s clean energy and sustainable mobility ambitions.