NEET Crisis, Oil Shock, and Education Scandals: July 24 Digest

NEET crisis deepens as activist ends fast

Activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his hunger strike late Thursday after two Union Ministers gave him a written assurance that the government would withdraw cases against non-violent students and consider compensation for families of suicide victims. The move came hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted a late-night video promising that the Cabinet would discuss the NEET paper leak issue on Friday and that a Bill would be brought in Parliament next week. The government also transferred Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi to the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, a sign of the pressure it faces.

The opposition has refused to debate in Parliament unless Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns. In Karnataka, the BJP accused the state Congress government of using the NEET issue as a diversion from its own troubles with the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC).

Houthi attacks push oil past $100

Houthi militants in Yemen claimed they attacked two Saudi-flagged tankers in the Red Sea on Thursday. The attacks targeted the Encelia and the Layla, a Very Large Crude Carrier. Saudi Arabia confirmed the projectile attack on the Encelia, saying the crew was safe. Brent crude surged past $100 a barrel, a 7% jump from the previous close of $94. The escalation comes as the Strait of Hormuz faces constraints, pushing Saudi oil to the Red Sea route via Yanbu. For India, a major importer of crude from the region, this adds a new layer of risk.

Karnataka education system under scrutiny

Two separate scandals have hit Karnataka's education sector. The Department of Collegiate Education ordered criminal cases against 249 guest lecturers who submitted fake PhD certificates to secure jobs. More than 700 other certificates from other states are under investigation. Separately, hundreds of candidates protested outside Vidhana Soudha alleging irregularities in the KPSC recruitment for Veterinary Officers. They claimed that a candidate related to a top KPSC official figured in the final list despite being a repeater, and that some aspirants were taken to resorts where question papers were given in advance. The KPSC chairman has already been suspended by the Governor on nepotism charges.

In a lighter but local note, the Health Department issued fresh directions to regulate pigeon feeding in public places, citing risks of lung damage from feathers. Feeding is now restricted to designated areas between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., away from hospitals and schools.

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