The southwest monsoon is advancing, but the news it brings with it is mixed. As of 29 June 2026, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has confirmed that favourable conditions are in place for the monsoon to push further into Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, the remaining parts of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Bihar, and some parts of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand over the next three to four days. By mid-July, it is widely expected to cover the entire country.

That is the good news. The rest of the story is more complicated — and for the millions of Indian farmers who depend on the four-month June-to-September rainy season, considerably more worrying.

A Below-Normal Season

The IMD’s updated long-range forecast, issued in late May 2026, indicates that this year’s seasonal rainfall is most likely to be below normal — estimated at between 90 and 95 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA). While that may sound like a modest shortfall, the geographic distribution matters as much as the headline number: below-normal rainfall is projected across most parts of the country, with only Northwest and Northeast India, the eastern fringes of peninsular India, and isolated pockets of east-central India expected to receive normal to above-normal precipitation.

The monsoon core zone — the agricultural heartland encompassing the rain-fed farmlands of central and peninsular India — falls squarely within the at-risk area for deficits. Crops like kharif rice, soybean, groundnut, and pulses are planted and nurtured entirely through monsoon rainfall, making the coming weeks critical for sowing decisions across millions of small and marginal farms.

The Climate Signal Behind It

The IMD has flagged the potential development of El Niño conditions during the southwest monsoon season as a key risk factor. El Niño, the warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, historically suppresses Indian monsoon rainfall by disrupting the large-scale atmospheric circulation that draws moisture inland from the Indian Ocean. The IMD’s Monsoon Mission Climate Forecast System is currently tracking weak La Niña-like conditions in the Pacific — but models suggest El Niño-like conditions could develop before the season ends.

Adding to the uncertainty is the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), a separate but influential climate pattern. The IMD has reported neutral IOD conditions at present, with forecasts suggesting a shift towards positive IOD towards the tail end of the monsoon season — a development that, if it materialises, could partially offset the El Niño suppression and provide some rainfall boost to southern and eastern India in September.

What It Means for Farmers, Cities, and Power

The consequences of a below-normal monsoon ripple well beyond rainfall records. Reservoir levels — which feed both irrigation networks and hydroelectric plants — are determined over the course of the season, and below-normal inflows risk carrying deficits into the dry season of 2027. Several states including Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan have already activated contingency protocols for drought-prone districts, directing agricultural extension workers to promote shorter-duration, drought-tolerant crop varieties as an insurance measure.

For urban India, the concern is somewhat different. Heat wave conditions persisted across parts of central and east India through late June, with the Vidarbha region recording temperatures 3 to 5 degrees above normal on multiple days. The IMD’s week-two forecast (2 to 8 July 2026) anticipates widespread rainfall with heavy to very heavy falls along the western coast — Gujarat, Konkan, Goa, coastal Karnataka, and Kerala — as well as normal to above-normal rainfall across the country overall in the short term.

That near-term forecast is encouraging. But meteorologists are quick to caution that a good July does not guarantee a good season, and that the true test of the 2026 monsoon’s character will arrive in August, historically the month most sensitive to El Niño disruption.

The IMD’s Recommendation

The department has urged the agricultural sector to avoid transplanting rice during episodes of heavy rainfall and to use its early warning advisories for sowing decisions. Given the projected seasonal deficit, water resource authorities have been advised to prioritise conservation and downstream planning well ahead of the withdrawal of the monsoon, typically expected in October.

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India Logs Driest June in 146 Years as Monsoon Finally Stirs Over Gujarat and UP

June 2026 will be remembered in Indian meteorological history — and not for welcome reasons. The country is on course to record its driest June in more than a century, with a rainfall deficit approaching levels last seen during major historical drought years, as the southwest monsoon spent most of the month stalled well short of the country’s farming core.

The India Meteorological Department confirmed in a 26 June press release that heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected over northeast India and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim this week, bringing some relief to the eastern extremities of the country. But across the vast agricultural belt that feeds India’s economy, the picture remains bleak. Conditions for the monsoon to advance further into parts of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand were assessed as favourable over the next three to four days — a cautious signal at best.

The numbers behind the deficit are stark. Between 4 June and 22 June, India received just 53.1 mm of rainfall against a normal of 97.6 mm, leaving a shortfall of 46 per cent, according to IMD data. For individual states, the situation is considerably worse. Maharashtra recorded an 85 per cent shortfall; Gujarat, 84 per cent. Madhya Pradesh — which sits at the centre of the country’s monsoon core zone and produces enormous quantities of wheat, soybean and pulses — ran a 58 per cent deficit. Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand each registered deficits of 71 per cent, while Meghalaya, typically among the wettest regions on earth, came in 81 per cent below normal.

Weather experts tracking the season say the root cause was a prolonged failure of moisture transport from the Arabian Sea. Satellite imagery released by IMD on 22 June showed cloud activity concentrated over the Bay of Bengal and eastern India, while large parts of central and western India remained essentially cloud-free for days. The absence of organised monsoon systems prevented rain-bearing currents from advancing inland. In technical terms, the Arabian Sea branch of the monsoon — which ordinarily drives rainfall across western and central India — simply ran out of steam.

There are signs, tentative but real, that this is beginning to change. Deep-layer monsoonal moisture has been reported reaching Mumbai and adjoining regions, with moist winds also spreading into south Gujarat, including Surat. Weather maps indicate strengthening moisture transport at mid-levels of the atmosphere, suggesting the Arabian Sea branch is regaining some energy. Rainfall is expected to increase gradually over Maharashtra, Gujarat and central India in the coming days.

The economic consequences of a delayed monsoon are never isolated to the fields. Kharif sowing for paddy, pulses and sugarcane has been disrupted, depressing immediate demand for seeds and fertilisers. Tractor and two-wheeler sales in rural markets — which typically account for 40 per cent of standard motorcycle volumes — have weakened as farmers hold back spending. Analysts tracking the fast-moving consumer goods sector warn of a double squeeze: commodity costs are rising just as rural household budgets tighten.

The wider picture for the full monsoon season (June to September) is also subdued. The IMD’s updated long-range forecast projected seasonal rainfall at 90 per cent of the Long Period Average, with an 84 per cent probability of below-normal or less rainfall for the country as a whole. El Niño conditions are expected to develop during the monsoon season, compounding the uncertainty. Neutral Indian Ocean Dipole conditions are likely to persist, offering limited compensating support.

For now, agriculture ministries in deficit states are being urged to accelerate contingency crop planning, promoting shorter-duration varieties that can be sown even with delayed monsoon onset. The IMD has indicated it will continue issuing twice-weekly extended range forecasts through July. The next fortnight, as the monsoon tests its advance into the Gangetic plains, will be decisive for the kharif season and, by extension, for food inflation numbers that India’s policymakers are already watching closely.

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Fifty-one years after Indira Gandhi’s government imposed a National Emergency on India, the episode has found its way into the country’s Class 9 social science curriculum — and the timing is anything but coincidental.

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has introduced a detailed section on the 1975–77 Emergency in its newly revised Class 9 textbook, Understanding Society: India and Beyond, marking the first time the subject has been formally taught at this grade level. The chapter describes the period as “one of the major challenges to democracy in India,” covering the suspension of fundamental rights, mass arrests of political opponents, press censorship, and the constitutional stress placed on Indian institutions during those 21 months.

An NCERT official confirmed the inclusion is new. Previously, the Emergency featured only in Class 12 political science materials, limiting its reach to students who took that elective stream. By moving it to Class 9 — a core, mandatory subject — the council is ensuring the episode reaches virtually every student in the Central Board of Secondary Education system.

June 25 is observed each year as Emergency Day, marking the night in 1975 when then-President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed proclaimed a National Emergency under Article 352 of the Constitution, acting on the recommendation of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The proclamation followed the Allahabad High Court ruling that found Gandhi guilty of electoral malpractice, which threatened her position in power.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, speaking at a function in Chandigarh on 25 June to mark the anniversary, defended the NCERT decision firmly. He said future generations must understand the period’s history to ensure such circumstances do not recur. PM Narendra Modi, in his own remarks on the occasion, characterised the Emergency as “a direct assault on the Constitution.”

The Congress party has pushed back. Senior leaders K.C. Venugopal and CPI(M)’s John Brittas have raised concerns about what they describe as selective historical framing — arguing that the new curriculum represents political motivation rather than a neutral educational exercise. Critics have also drawn comparisons to what they see as the current government’s own record on press freedom and civil liberties, though those arguments remain contested.

What is not contested is the historical record itself. The Emergency lasted from June 1975 until March 1977, when Gandhi called general elections — and lost decisively to the Janata coalition. The period saw thousands of activists, journalists, and political figures detained without trial, with civil liberties effectively suspended under extraordinary executive powers.

For educators, the new chapter presents both an opportunity and a responsibility. Teaching the Emergency to 14 and 15-year-olds requires contextual care — the textbook will need to present the facts of the period without reducing a complex political moment to a partisan lesson. Whether NCERT has achieved that balance will become clearer once teachers and parents get their hands on the full material.

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From 1 July, that changes — at least partially, and with a time limit attached.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is launching what it calls the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge: a short-term federal demonstration programme that will give eligible Medicare Part D beneficiaries access to certain GLP-1 weight-loss drugs for a flat $50 copayment per monthly supply. The programme runs through 31 December 2027, and it operates entirely outside the standard Part D payment system — meaning enrollees do not need to check whether their specific plan’s formulary includes the drugs, and Part D insurers carry no financial risk for drugs dispensed under it.

Three drugs are covered. Wegovy, the semaglutide injection and tablet made by Novo Nordisk, is included in all formulations. Zepbound, Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide product, is included but only in the KwikPen version — the single-dose vials and single-dose pens are not covered under the Bridge. A third drug, Foundayo — an oral GLP-1 pill also from Eli Lilly that received FDA approval earlier this year, making it the first once-daily GLP-1 tablet approved for weight management — is covered in all formulations. Notably absent are Ozempic and Mounjaro, which are GLP-1 medications prescribed primarily for diabetes rather than weight loss specifically, and Saxenda.

The BMI thresholds for eligibility are tiered. Beneficiaries with a BMI of 35 or above qualify on that basis alone. Those with a BMI of 30 or above may qualify if they also have specific cardiovascular or kidney conditions. Those with a BMI of 27 or above may qualify with conditions including prediabetes or particular cardiovascular risk factors. There is an important detail for patients who have already been taking GLP-1 drugs and have lost weight as a result: CMS has said eligibility will be assessed based on BMI at the time therapy was initiated, not current BMI. So a patient who started Wegovy with a BMI of 37 and has since reached 34 through the treatment would still qualify.

Beneficiaries do not need to register or opt into the programme — access happens through a prescribing provider and a pharmacy. The process does require a prior authorisation request from the provider, submitted to a central processor being administered by Humana on CMS’s behalf. Those prior authorisation requests cannot be submitted before 1 July, so some delays are expected in the first days of the programme.

GLP-1 receptor agonists have become one of the most significant drug classes of the past several years. Originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes by lowering blood sugar levels, researchers found they also powerfully regulate appetite, slow digestion, and produce substantial weight loss. Clinical trials showed patients losing significant proportions of their body weight on sustained treatment. KFF research found that one in eight American adults currently uses a GLP-1 medication, and one in five has tried one at some point. The cash-pay price for a monthly supply of Wegovy, without coverage, runs well above $1,000.

The Bridge programme exists because a more comprehensive long-term solution fell through. CMS had announced a multi-year demonstration called the BALANCE Model — intended to allow Part D plans to opt into GLP-1 obesity coverage from January 2027. In May 2026, CMS announced indefinitely that the Part D portion of the BALANCE Model would be delayed. The Bridge was extended to cover 2027 as a result, providing continuity while the longer-term programme is redesigned.

The situation for Medicare patients is improving. For those on private insurance, the picture is more mixed. Several private insurers have moved in the opposite direction in 2026, cutting coverage for GLP-1s used for weight loss — while retaining it for diabetes — as the drugs’ costs hit plan budgets hard. Others have added prior authorisation requirements or step therapy, requiring patients to demonstrate they have tried and failed other treatments first. Patient assistance programmes from both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly exist for those without coverage, and pharmacists can check formularies and contact insurers directly. Whether the broader trend in private insurance reverses will partly depend on how the Medicare programme goes — the data CMS collects from the Bridge will feed into the design of whatever replaces it in 2028.

Changing the underlying Medicare exclusion on weight-loss drugs permanently requires an act of Congress. No such bill has cleared both chambers.

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“Those who are familiar with me understand that we do not leave any operation unfinished,” Shinde told reporters on Sunday evening, his characteristic confidence underscored by the results. The remark was as much a warning to the remaining UBT loyalists as it was a celebration of the defections already secured.

The Operation Tiger Playbook

The term “Operation Tiger” — a reference to the Shiv Sena’s election symbol — has been used by media and party insiders to describe Shinde’s systematic campaign to attract UBT representatives to his faction:

The Approach: Shinde’s team identified UBT Lok Sabha MPs who were most vulnerable to defection — typically those representing constituencies where the BJP-Shinde alliance controls the state government machinery. The pitch was straightforward and effective: join the ruling side and gain access to government funds, ministerial support, and the resources needed to deliver development in your constituency. Stay in opposition and watch your political relevance diminish with each passing month.

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The Trigger: Ashtikar’s Facebook Live announcement cited the inability to carry out development work while in opposition as the primary reason for defecting. This is the core of Shinde’s strategy — making the practical case that opposition politics in India offers diminishing returns for constituency-focused MPs. The argument is difficult to counter because it is, in many constituencies, demonstrably true.

The Scale: Six UBT Lok Sabha MPs have submitted a merger letter to Speaker Om Birla. Nimbalkar and Ashtikar are the first two to publicly confirm their switch, with the remaining four expected to follow in the coming days.

The Anti-Defection Calculation

The legal framework around the defections is crucial:

Related: India Heatwave 2026: Temperatures Soar Past 47 Degrees Celsius in Maharashtra as IMD Warns of Below-Normal Monsoon

Two-Thirds Threshold: Under the Anti-Defection Law (Tenth Schedule), if two-thirds of a party’s legislators merge with another party, the merger is legally protected. The six defecting MPs need to constitute two-thirds of the UBT’s Lok Sabha strength for the merger to be valid without risking disqualification.

Speaker’s Role: The letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla requesting permission for the merger places the decision in the Speaker’s hands. Given the BJP’s alliance with Shinde’s faction, observers widely expect the merger to be approved — a process that critics describe as the weaponisation of constitutional provisions against opposition parties.

Impact on Uddhav Thackeray

For Uddhav Thackeray, “Operation Tiger” represents another devastating chapter in a political decline that began in June 2022:

The Timeline: Shinde’s original rebellion in June 2022 took the bulk of the undivided Shiv Sena’s MLAs. The 2024 Lok Sabha elections reduced the UBT’s parliamentary presence. And now, the defection of Lok Sabha MPs threatens to erase the faction’s footprint in national politics entirely.

Sanjay Raut’s Isolation: Multiple defecting MPs have cited Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut’s abrasive leadership style as a factor in their departure. Raut, the UBT’s most prominent spokesperson, now finds himself increasingly isolated — his combative approach having alienated the very MPs the party needed to retain.

Shinde’s “Operation Tiger” is not just a political manoeuvre — it is a systematic dismantling of a party that once dominated Maharashtra politics. Whether it represents political pragmatism or the erosion of democratic opposition depends entirely on where you stand.

Also Read

• Shiv Sena UBT Crisis: ‘Operation Tiger’ — 5 Rebel MPs May Defect to Shinde Camp, Uddhav Faces 2022 Replay
• Shiv Sena (UBT) Split Deepens: Nimbalkar and Ashtikar Formally Defect to Eknath Shinde Faction
• Shiv Sena (UBT) Crisis: 6 Rebel MPs Set to Join Eknath Shinde Faction Today
• Monsoon Marches On: IMD Says Southwest Monsoon to Cover Maharashtra, Bihar by June 23
• Maharashtra’s Alphonso Mango Trade Devastated by Heatwave, El Niño and Iran War — King of Mangoes Faces Worst Season in Decades

The post Eknath Shinde Declares ‘Operation Tiger’ Successful as Shiv Sena (UBT) Crumbles Further appeared first on Daily Tips.

The fire, which reportedly broke out in the evening when the coaching centre was at peak occupancy, raged for over an hour before firefighters could bring it under control. By then, the damage was catastrophic — bodies were recovered from stairwells, classrooms, and the building’s entrance, suggesting that escape routes had been blocked or inadequate.

How It Happened

Preliminary investigations and eyewitness accounts paint a grim picture of a disaster that was both devastating and, in the view of safety experts, entirely predictable:

The Building: The commercial structure in Aliganj housed multiple businesses across several floors, with the animation training centre and coaching institute occupying the upper levels. Survivors described narrow staircases, locked emergency exits, and the absence of basic fire safety equipment — a combination that turned a manageable fire into a mass-casualty event.

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The Blaze: The fire reportedly started on one of the lower floors and spread rapidly through the building, fuelled by the combustible materials common in commercial establishments — furniture, paper, plastic fittings, and electrical wiring. The speed of the fire’s spread left students on the upper floors with no viable escape route downward, forcing the desperate scenes captured on witnesses’ mobile phones.

The Jumps: The most haunting images from the incident show young students leaping from first-floor windows, with some landing on hard surfaces below. Others were seen climbing down wires and drainpipes in scenes reminiscent of the 2019 Surat coaching centre fire that killed 22 students. The parallels between the two incidents — and the failure to implement the safety reforms promised after Surat — have drawn sharp criticism.

The Arrests and Suspensions

Lucknow Police moved quickly to make arrests in the aftermath of the tragedy:

Related: Noida University Ragging Case: Viral Video of Female Students Slapping and Harassing Junior Sparks Nationwide Outrage and Campus Safety Debate

Four Arrested: The arrested individuals include the building owner and operators of the coaching centre. They face charges under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder — charges that carry substantial prison sentences if convicted. Police have indicated that further arrests are possible as the investigation expands.

Four Officials Suspended: The Lucknow Municipal Corporation has suspended four civic officials responsible for building safety inspections in the Aliganj area. The suspensions acknowledge what residents and safety advocates have long known: that building safety regulations in India are frequently ignored, with inspections either perfunctory or non-existent.

India’s Coaching Centre Crisis

The Lucknow fire has reignited a national conversation about the safety of coaching centres — the sprawling, largely unregulated industry that has become central to India’s education system. Millions of students attend coaching institutes for competitive examinations like NEET, JEE, and UPSC, often in buildings that were never designed or certified for educational use.

The pattern is tragically familiar: the 2019 Surat fire killed 22 students; the 2023 Old Rajinder Nagar flooding in Delhi killed three UPSC aspirants in a basement library; and now Lucknow adds another entry to a growing list. After each incident, there are investigations, arrests, promises of reform, and new safety guidelines. And after each incident, the fundamental problem — thousands of coaching centres operating in buildings without adequate fire safety, emergency exits, or regulatory oversight — persists.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered a comprehensive investigation and announced compensation for the families of the deceased. But for the 15 families who lost their children in a building that should never have been allowed to operate as an educational facility, the compensation and the investigations come too late. The Lucknow coaching centre fire is not just a tragedy — it is an indictment of a system that has consistently failed to prioritise the safety of India’s students.

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• Delhi Malviya Nagar Hotel Fire Kills 21 Including 17 Foreign Nationals — Owner Arrested as Safety Violations Emerge
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• Massive Fire Breaks Out on Delhi-Bound Rajdhani Express in Kota as 68 Passengers Rescued Safely From Burning Coach

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The formal defections come days after all six rebel MPs reportedly submitted a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking permission to merge with the Shinde-led Shiv Sena — a move that, if approved, would provide legal protection under the Anti-Defection Law and formalise the most significant split in the party’s history since 2022.

Ashtikar’s Facebook Live: The Grievances

Nagesh Patil Ashtikar’s decision to announce his defection through a Facebook Live video — addressing his constituents directly rather than through traditional media — was both unconventional and revealing:

Fund Crunch: Ashtikar, the Lok Sabha MP from Hingoli, cited an inability to carry out development work in his constituency as the primary reason for leaving the UBT faction. “Being in the opposition means having no access to government funds, no ministerial support, and no ability to deliver on promises made to voters,” Ashtikar said. The complaint speaks to a fundamental reality of Indian politics: in many constituencies, the MP’s effectiveness is directly tied to their proximity to the ruling dispensation.

Related: 13 Killed and 20 Injured as Engagement-Bound Tempo Collides With Container Truck on Mumbai Ahmedabad Highway in Palghar Maharashtra

Sanjay Raut Factor: In a pointed attack that will sting the UBT leadership, Ashtikar cited Sanjay Raut’s “insults” as a trigger for his departure. Raut, the Rajya Sabha MP and UBT’s most prominent spokesperson, has been accused by multiple party members of alienating allies and colleagues with his combative and uncompromising style. Ashtikar’s public criticism suggests that Raut’s approach has become a liability for the faction.

Nimbalkar’s Calculated Move

Omraje Nimbalkar, the MP from Osmanabad, confirmed his switch through more conventional channels but with equally significant implications:

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Political Calculus: Nimbalkar’s constituency in the Marathwada region has been a traditional Shiv Sena stronghold. His defection to the Shinde faction is seen as a pragmatic response to ground-level political realities — where the Shinde-BJP alliance’s control of the Maharashtra government gives defecting MPs access to resources, patronage, and political support that the opposition UBT faction simply cannot match.

Timing: The formal announcement on June 22 — a day after the NEET retest dominated national headlines — ensured that the political story received sustained media coverage without competing with the examination news cycle. The timing suggests careful strategic planning by the Shinde camp.

Where Do the Other Four Stand?

Of the six rebel MPs who submitted the merger letter to Speaker Birla, Nimbalkar and Ashtikar are the first two to publicly confirm their switch. The remaining four are expected to formalise their positions in the coming days, though UBT leader Sanjay Raut has claimed that some rebels are “having second thoughts” — a claim that the Shinde camp has dismissed as “desperate posturing.”

The Anti-Defection Law’s provisions require careful navigation. If the six MPs constitute two-thirds of the UBT’s Lok Sabha strength, their merger with the Shinde faction would be legally protected. If they fall short of this threshold, they risk disqualification from Parliament — a prospect that adds legal urgency to the political manoeuvring.

Impact on Uddhav Thackeray

For Uddhav Thackeray, the formal confirmation of defections is another chapter in a political nightmare that began in June 2022 when Eknath Shinde led the first wave of departures from the undivided Shiv Sena. The loss of Lok Sabha MPs — elected on UBT tickets and representing the party’s presence in national politics — diminishes the faction’s bargaining power within the opposition INDIA alliance and raises existential questions about its future as a viable political force in Maharashtra.

Also Read

• Shiv Sena UBT Crisis: ‘Operation Tiger’ — 5 Rebel MPs May Defect to Shinde Camp, Uddhav Faces 2022 Replay
• Shiv Sena (UBT) Crisis: 6 Rebel MPs Set to Join Eknath Shinde Faction Today
• Monsoon Marches On: IMD Says Southwest Monsoon to Cover Maharashtra, Bihar by June 23
• TMC Split: 20 Trinamool MPs Break Ranks with Mamata Banerjee, Signal Support for NDA — Party Faces Existential Crisis
• Maharashtra’s Alphonso Mango Trade Devastated by Heatwave, El Niño and Iran War — King of Mangoes Faces Worst Season in Decades

The post Shiv Sena (UBT) Split Deepens: Nimbalkar and Ashtikar Formally Defect to Eknath Shinde Faction appeared first on Daily Tips.

The irony is devastating: the NEET-UG 2026 retest was conducted specifically because the original May 3 examination was compromised by question paper leaks. The retest deployed unprecedented security — Delhi Police, sniffer dogs, biometric verification, and a nationwide Telegram ban affecting 150 million users. Yet in Lakhisarai, a sophisticated cheating network managed to breach these defences, raising the question: if this happened at one centre, how many others escaped detection?

How the Racket Worked

The Lakhisarai operation was a classic proxy examination scam — a format that has plagued Indian competitive examinations for years but rarely on this scale during a retest designed to prevent exactly this kind of fraud:

The Solvers: The arrested group included professional exam “solvers” — individuals with medical knowledge who were hired to sit the exam in place of genuine candidates. These solvers were provided with fake identification documents, doctored admit cards with their photographs replacing the original candidates’ photos, and detailed instructions on how to behave at the centre to avoid detection.

Related: NEET-UG 2026 Retest Underway: 22 Lakh Students Appear Amid Unprecedented Security

The Insider Connection: For proxy candidates to enter an examination centre, some level of insider access is typically required. Bihar Police are investigating whether centre staff, invigilators, or administrative personnel facilitated the entry of proxy candidates — a line of inquiry that could expose a much larger network than the 24 individuals currently arrested.

The Scale: Twenty-four arrests at a single centre is an unusually large number, suggesting that this was not an isolated case of one or two individuals attempting to cheat but an organised operation involving recruiters, solvers, identity document forgers, and potentially corrupt officials.

The “Munnabhai” Comparison

Indian media have immediately drawn comparisons to the 2003 Bollywood film Munna Bhai M.B.B.S., in which the protagonist — a gangster with no medical qualifications — sends a proxy candidate to sit his medical entrance exam. The comparison, while entertaining, understates the seriousness of the situation:

Related: Telegram Ban Ends June 22: What Happens Next for India’s 150 Million Users After NEET Retest

In the film, the proxy scheme is played for comedy. In Lakhisarai, it represents a criminal conspiracy that potentially deprives genuine, hardworking NEET aspirants of medical college seats — seats that represent not just career opportunities but, for many families, generational economic mobility. The human cost of examination fraud in India is measured not in laughs but in destroyed dreams.

Security Gaps Exposed

The Lakhisarai bust exposes critical vulnerabilities in the NEET examination security framework:

Biometric Limitations: While several centres implemented biometric verification, the system is only effective if the biometric data in the database is accurate. If proxy candidates managed to register their own biometric data in advance — through insider access to the registration system — the technology becomes useless as a fraud prevention tool.

Human Element: No security system is stronger than its weakest human link. The Lakhisarai case suggests that some individuals within the examination infrastructure were willing to facilitate cheating — undermining the multi-crore security apparatus deployed for the retest.

Legal Consequences

The 24 arrested individuals face charges under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code and potentially the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act. If convicted, they could face significant prison time and fines. Bihar Police have indicated that the investigation is ongoing and further arrests are expected as the network’s full extent is mapped.

For the NTA and the government, the Lakhisarai bust is both a vindication — the security measures detected the fraud — and an embarrassment — the fraud was attempted despite those measures. The incident will intensify calls for fundamental reforms to India’s examination system, including the adoption of computer-based testing, randomised question papers, and AI-powered proctoring that could make proxy examination schemes significantly harder to execute.

Also Read

• NEET 2026: Lakhs of Students Set to Appear for Medical Entrance Exam on May 3 Under AI Surveillance and Zero Leak Policy as NTA Deploys Unprecedented Security
• NEET 2026 Paper Leak: Cockroach Janta Party Protests at Jantar Mantar Demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Resignation
• NEET UG 2026 Paper Leak — Supreme Court Slams NTA, Says ‘Lessons Not Learnt’ as Re-Exam Set for June 21
• NTA Cancels NEET UG 2026 Examination After Paper Leak Allegations in Rajasthan as Centre Orders CBI Probe and Re-Exam
• NEET 2026 Admit Card Released by NTA on neet.nta.nic.in: Exam on May 3 With Download Steps and Key Instructions

The post Real-Life Munnabhai: NEET Proxy Exam Racket Busted in Bihar, 24 Arrested at Lakhisarai Centre appeared first on Daily Tips.

The development, which has been building for weeks, follows the rebels’ defiance of the party whip and their skipping of a crucial parliamentary party meeting in New Delhi — actions that triggered disciplinary proceedings from the Uddhav Thackeray leadership but failed to bring the dissidents back into line.

Who Are the Rebel MPs?

The six Lok Sabha MPs who are expected to formally switch allegiance represent some of the party’s most significant parliamentary constituencies in Maharashtra. Their departure would leave the Shiv Sena (UBT) with a dramatically reduced presence in the Lok Sabha — undermining the party’s claim to be the legitimate inheritor of the Thackeray political legacy.

The rebels have reportedly recorded video statements and photographed their letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, explaining their reasons for leaving the party. Sources indicate that the MPs will cite “ideological differences,” dissatisfaction with party leadership’s direction, and a belief that the Shinde faction better represents the Shiv Sena’s founding principles.

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Why This Split Is Different

Maharashtra has witnessed multiple political splits and realignments in recent years, but the June 21 Shiv Sena (UBT) rupture is qualitatively different from previous defections:

Scale: Six MPs switching allegiance simultaneously constitutes a mass defection rather than individual crossings. The Anti-Defection Law’s provisions for splits require at least two-thirds of the parliamentary party to cross over for the defection to be legally protected. Whether the six MPs meet this threshold will determine the legal consequences of their move.

Timing: The split comes at a time when the Uddhav Thackeray faction was attempting to rebuild and consolidate its position after the 2022 political crisis that saw Eknath Shinde lead a majority of MLAs out of the original Shiv Sena. The loss of six MPs would represent a second wave of departures that could prove terminal for the party’s national political ambitions.

Related: Maharashtra’s Alphonso Mango Trade Devastated by Heatwave, El Niño and Iran War — King of Mangoes Faces Worst Season in Decades

Symbolism: For Uddhav Thackeray, the departure of elected legislators — people who won seats on tickets issued by his faction — is a personal political blow. It raises questions about his ability to hold the party together and maintain the loyalty of remaining office-bearers and ground-level cadre.

The Shinde Strategy

Eknath Shinde’s decision to orchestrate a grand induction event reflects a calculated political strategy. By publicly welcoming the rebel MPs with ceremony and media coverage, Shinde aims to:

Demonstrate Momentum: The induction creates the impression that the political tide in Maharashtra is flowing irreversibly towards the Shinde faction — potentially encouraging further defections from the Thackeray camp.

Strengthen Parliamentary Numbers: The additional MPs strengthen Shinde’s claim to represent the “real” Shiv Sena in parliamentary proceedings, committee assignments, and political negotiations with the BJP-led NDA alliance.

What Happens Next

The legal and political implications of the split will unfold over the coming weeks. The Uddhav Thackeray faction has already initiated disciplinary action against the rebels, and the matter is likely to reach the Lok Sabha Speaker’s office and potentially the courts. For Maharashtra politics — already the most fluid and unpredictable in India — June 21 marks another seismic shift in a state where political loyalty has become the most expendable commodity in public life.

Also Read

• Shiv Sena UBT Crisis: ‘Operation Tiger’ — 5 Rebel MPs May Defect to Shinde Camp, Uddhav Faces 2022 Replay
• AIADMK on Verge of Split as 30 Rebel MLAs Led by SP Velumani Back Vijay TVK Government Ahead of Crucial Tamil Nadu Floor Test
• Monsoon Marches On: IMD Says Southwest Monsoon to Cover Maharashtra, Bihar by June 23
• TMC Crisis: 20 Rebel MPs Merge With NCPI, Seek Separate Bloc in Lok Sabha to Back NDA
• TMC Split: 20 Trinamool MPs Break Ranks with Mamata Banerjee, Signal Support for NDA — Party Faces Existential Crisis

The post Shiv Sena (UBT) Crisis: 6 Rebel MPs Set to Join Eknath Shinde Faction Today appeared first on Daily Tips.

The exam, which runs from 2:00 PM to 5:15 PM, replaces the original May 3 examination that was cancelled after allegations of question paper leaks through the Telegram messaging platform — which remains banned across India until tomorrow. The National Testing Agency (NTA) has declared itself “fully prepared” for the smooth and secure conduct of the retest.

Fortress-Level Security

The security apparatus deployed for today’s NEET retest is extraordinary by any standard — and unprecedented for a civilian examination:

Police and Paramilitary: Delhi Police and state police forces across all 551 cities have deployed dedicated teams to examination centres. In several states, paramilitary personnel have been stationed at larger centres. Frisking units with metal detectors are screening every candidate before entry, while sniffer dog squads have swept centres for electronic devices and contraband.

Related: NTA Cancels NEET UG 2026 Examination After Paper Leak Allegations in Rajasthan as Centre Orders CBI Probe and Re-Exam

Air Force Support: In what may be a first for any examination globally, the Indian Air Force has been involved in the logistical chain for question paper distribution. Papers were transported under armed escort with GPS tracking and tamper-evident packaging, with a shortened chain of custody designed to minimise leak risk.

Digital Lockdown: The Telegram ban — affecting 150 million Indian users — remains in effect through the examination period, ensuring that the platform that facilitated the original paper leak cannot be used. The ban will be lifted tomorrow, June 22.

Biometric Verification: Several centres have implemented biometric verification to prevent proxy candidates — a cheating method that has plagued Indian competitive exams for years. Candidates’ photographs on admit cards are being cross-referenced with physical appearance at multiple checkpoints.

Inside the Examination Centres

Reports from centres across India paint a picture of nervous anticipation mixed with relief:

Related: Supreme Court Refuses to Stay NEET Retest on June 21, Defers Hearing to July — 22 Lakh Students in Limbo

Student Reactions: Candidates who have spoken to media outside centres describe feeling both anxious and optimistic. Many said the visible security presence — while initially intimidating — actually provided reassurance that the exam would be conducted fairly. “Last time, we didn’t know if the paper was already leaked before we opened it. Today, at least we know they’ve tried everything,” one candidate in Delhi told reporters.

Parent Vigils: Outside centres across India, thousands of parents are maintaining anxious vigils, many of them having travelled hundreds of kilometres to accompany their children to the exam city. The scene outside major centres — with parents praying, exchanging anxious looks, and refreshing news feeds — captures the emotional weight that NEET carries for Indian families.

The Exam Pattern

The NEET-UG 2026 retest follows the standard pattern: 200 questions across Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (Botany and Zoology), with candidates required to attempt 180 questions over a three-hour duration. Each correct answer carries 4 marks, with 1 mark deducted for each incorrect response. The total marks remain 720.

Education experts note that the retest paper is expected to maintain a comparable difficulty level to the original May 3 exam, ensuring that candidates are neither advantaged nor disadvantaged by the re-examination.

After the Exam

Results are expected within four to six weeks, with the counselling process for approximately 1.1 lakh MBBS and BDS seats to follow shortly after. The Supreme Court has deferred larger questions about NTA reforms to a July hearing, but this is expected to address systemic improvements rather than challenge the retest results.

For the 22 lakh students currently sitting in examination halls across India, the next three hours will determine the trajectory of their medical careers. The government, the NTA, and the nation are watching — hoping that the extraordinary security measures will deliver what the original exam could not: a fair, credible, and leak-proof examination.

Also Read

• NEET 2026: Lakhs of Students Set to Appear for Medical Entrance Exam on May 3 Under AI Surveillance and Zero Leak Policy as NTA Deploys Unprecedented Security
• NEET-UG 2026 D-Day Tomorrow: 22 Lakh Students Face High-Security Retest on June 21
• NEET-UG 2026 Retest in 2 Days: 22 Lakh Students Prepare for June 21 Amid Legal, Security Uncertainty
• NEET 2026 Paper Leak: Cockroach Janta Party Protests at Jantar Mantar Demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Resignation
• NEET UG 2026 Paper Leak — Supreme Court Slams NTA, Says ‘Lessons Not Learnt’ as Re-Exam Set for June 21

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