Residents of Russian-controlled Crimea faced fuel rationing on Wednesday, 10 June after a series of Ukrainian drone strikes disrupted supply routes from Russia, according to a Reuters witness.

More than four years after launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia is contending with near-daily Ukrainian attacks on its energy infrastructure. The strikes come as Western sanctions continue to increase the cost and complexity of Russian oil exports, while Moscow presses ahead with its military campaign in Ukraine.

Ukraine has increasingly targeted the two main supply corridors linking Russia to Crimea: the overland route through Russian-occupied areas of southeastern Ukraine, and the Kerch Strait crossing that connects the peninsula to Russia's Taman Peninsula.

According to a Reuters witness, the supply disruptions have had a noticeable impact on daily life. Some stores recently reported shortages of sugar and imposed limits on purchases of buckwheat, a staple food in Russia. While shelves have since been restocked and there are no signs of panic buying, restrictions remain in place for fuel purchases.

Motorists have reportedly faced queues at petrol stations, where purchases are capped at 20 litres per person. Fuel sales are also being monitored through QR codes linked to vehicle registration numbers.

"The 20-litre limit is still in effect," Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Russian-installed governor of Sevastopol, said on Telegram. "I appeal to motorists who go to refuel today: before going to the gas station, check the availability of fuel."

The latest disruption follows another wave of Ukrainian strikes. Local authorities said drones hit a historic museum in Sevastopol overnight, while rail operators reduced the number of trains running during night hours as a precaution.

Crimea has remained at the centre of the conflict since Russia seized control of the peninsula in 2014 following the ousting of Ukraine's pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych. Moscow subsequently annexed Crimea after a referendum that Ukraine and most Western countries regard as illegitimate. Though Russia considers Crimea part of the Russian Federation, the annexation is recognised by only a handful of countries.

The peninsula carries deep historical significance for both Russia and Ukraine. It was incorporated into the Russian Empire under Catherine the Great in the 18th century and remained within the Russian Soviet Republic until 1954, when Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev transferred it to the Ukrainian Soviet Republic.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has repeatedly rejected any proposal that would involve surrendering occupied territory and has maintained that Crimea must ultimately be returned to Ukrainian sovereignty.

With agency inputs

The Madhya Pradesh government has constituted a one-member judicial commission to investigate the cruise boat accident at Bargi Dam in Jabalpur district that claimed 13 lives last month.

The decision was announced on Sunday, with retired high court judge Sanjay Dwivedi appointed to head the inquiry. The commission has been directed to submit its findings to the state government within three months.

The tragedy occurred on 30 April when a cruise boat operated by the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Department capsized in the reservoir. Thirteen people, including women and children, lost their lives, while 28 others were rescued.

According to officials, the commission will examine the circumstances that led to the accident and assess whether adequate rescue and relief measures were in place at the time of the incident. It will also determine responsibility for any lapses.

Beyond investigating the mishap, the panel has been tasked with reviewing safety standards governing boats, cruises and water sports activities under the Inland Vessels Act, 2021, as well as the National Disaster Management Authority’s Boat Safety Guidelines issued in 2017.

The commission is also expected to recommend standard operating procedures for the operation and maintenance of such services and suggest mechanisms for establishing Quick Response Teams at locations where water-based tourism activities are conducted.

Officials said the inquiry commission carries greater institutional credibility and public confidence than a routine departmental investigation, particularly in cases involving loss of life.

With PTI inputs

Delhi-NCR is set to endure an intense spell of heat this week, with temperatures likely to touch nearly 46 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue an orange alert for the region.

The weather agency warned that prolonged heatwave-like conditions are expected to persist across Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh over the coming days. It also flagged unusually warm nights in parts of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha, where temperatures are expected to remain abnormally high even after sunset.

On Tuesday, Delhi recorded its hottest day of the season so far, with the Safdarjung observatory — the city’s official weather station — logging a maximum temperature of 45.1 degrees Celsius, nearly 4.7 degrees above normal.

Several parts of the national capital experienced even harsher conditions. The Ridge station recorded the highest temperature at 46.5 degrees Celsius, while Ayanagar touched 45.5 degrees and Lodhi Road registered 45.2 degrees Celsius.

Meteorologists said Tuesday marked Delhi’s fourth heatwave day of the year after similar conditions on 23, 24 and 25 April.

The IMD has forecast daytime temperatures hovering around 44 degrees Celsius till 25 May, accompanied by strong surface winds during afternoon and evening hours.

The soaring temperatures also pushed Delhi’s air quality into the “poor” category. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) rose to 208 by 4 pm on Tuesday — the worst reading since 28 April.

Following the deterioration in air quality, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) imposed Stage 1 restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

Authorities have advised residents to avoid prolonged outdoor exposure during peak afternoon hours, stay hydrated and remain alert to symptoms of heat-related illnesses such as dehydration and heatstroke.

With IANS inputs

The Assam government on Monday introduced the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill in the Assembly, proposing a common legal framework governing marriage, divorce, succession and live-in relationships while exempting Scheduled Tribe communities residing in the state from its ambit.

The Bill, tabled by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Atul Bora on behalf of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma during the first Assembly session of the BJP-led NDA government's third term, seeks to prohibit polygamy, make registration of marriages and divorces compulsory and introduce mandatory registration of live-in relationships.

Opposition parties, including the Congress, Raijor Dal and Trinamool Congress, opposed the legislation and demanded wider consultations with stakeholders before its introduction. The Bill is expected to be taken up for discussion on Wednesday, the final day of the five-day Assembly session.

In the Statement of Objects and Reasons attached to the legislation, Sarma said the proposed law aims to “consolidate and simplify laws governing marriage, divorce, succession and live-in relationships” while creating a uniform legal framework for all residents irrespective of religion.

The Bill retains the minimum marriage age at 21 years for men and 18 years for women and expressly prohibits polygamy. At the same time, it allows marriages to continue being solemnised according to existing religious and customary practices, a provision the government says protects Assam's cultural diversity.

Live-in relationships brought under legal framework

One of the most significant provisions of the Bill is the creation of a formal legal framework for live-in relationships.

Under the proposed law, couples in live-in relationships would be required to register their relationship within one month. Failure to do so could attract imprisonment of up to three months, a fine of up to Rs 10,000, or both. Concealing material facts or furnishing false information during registration could also invite imprisonment and monetary penalties.

The government argues that mandatory registration would ensure legal recognition and protection for partners as well as children born from such relationships.

Uniform inheritance rules proposed

The legislation also seeks to overhaul succession laws by introducing uniform and gender-neutral inheritance provisions.

Under the proposal, spouses, children and parents would be treated equally as Class-I heirs in cases of intestate succession. The Bill also grants every adult of sound mind the legal right to execute a written and witnessed will.

According to the government, the changes are intended to ensure equitable distribution of property and provide greater legal clarity in inheritance matters.

Stringent penalties

The Bill prescribes a range of penal provisions for violations.

Bigamy and polygamy would attract imprisonment of up to seven years under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Fraudulent marriages involving force, coercion or concealment could similarly invite imprisonment of up to seven years along with fines.

Illegal divorce procedures may attract imprisonment of up to three years and fines, while compelling a divorced individual to fulfil unlawful conditions before remarriage could lead to a three-year prison term and a penalty of Rs 1 lakh. Marriages within prohibited relationships, except where protected by valid customs, may attract imprisonment of up to six months and fines of up to Rs 50,000.

The Bill also imposes penalties for failure to register marriages or divorces within 60 days and for submission of forged documents during the registration process.

Existing law to be repealed

According to a government note on the proposed legislation, the UCC would repeal the Assam Compulsory Registration of Muslim Marriages and Divorces Act, 2024, as part of an effort to streamline the state's legal framework. However, the Bill contains a savings clause protecting polygamous marriages solemnised before the new law comes into force.

Invoking Article 44 of the Constitution, which directs the state to endeavour towards securing a Uniform Civil Code, the government said the legislation was aimed at promoting legal clarity, social justice and equal rights while establishing a common civil framework across communities in Assam.

The Rajasthan High Court on Wednesday upheld the life imprisonment sentence awarded to self-styled godman Asaram in a case involving the sexual assault of a minor student at his Jodhpur ashram.

A Division Bench of the Jodhpur Bench, comprising justice Arun Monga and justice Yogendra Kumar Purohit, dismissed Asaram’s appeal against his 2018 conviction while acquitting co-accused Shilpi and Sharatchand.

Asaram, who is currently out on interim medical bail, has now been directed to surrender before the authorities.

The case dates back to August 2013, when Asaram was arrested following allegations that he had sexually assaulted a minor girl studying at his ashram in Jodhpur. In April 2018, a Special POCSO Court found him guilty and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

The High Court heard the appeal through daily proceedings between February and April 2026. After reserving its judgment on 20 April, the court delivered its verdict on Wednesday.

During the hearings, Asaram’s legal team argued that the case had been fabricated and cited alleged inconsistencies in the statements made by the victim’s parents. The defence also claimed there was no call record evidence establishing communication between Asaram and the victim on the night of the incident.

The lawyers further contended that since some co-accused had been acquitted on the basis of the same evidence, Asaram should also receive similar relief.

Opposing the appeal, the prosecution and the victim’s counsel argued that under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the testimony of the survivor alone can be sufficient to secure a conviction, a principle consistently upheld by the Supreme Court.

The prosecution also referred to alleged attacks on and killings of witnesses linked to the case, arguing that these incidents reflected attempts to influence proceedings and destroy evidence.

Asaram is already serving another life sentence in a separate sexual assault case involving a female devotee at his Gujarat ashram. He was convicted in that case by a Gandhinagar court in January 2023.

The 86-year-old has repeatedly sought bail on medical grounds, citing his age and deteriorating health. Acting on Supreme Court directions, the Rajasthan High Court had earlier granted him interim medical bail, which was extended several times.

Following the latest ruling, he is now required to return to custody.

With IANS inputs

The US Central Command on Monday rejected Iranian claims that it had struck an American naval vessel, even as Washington stepped up efforts to restore commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, where traffic has been severely disrupted by the ongoing conflict.

The US military said “no US Navy ships have been struck”, countering reports by Iranian media that Tehran had targeted a vessel near its southeastern coast and forced it to retreat.

US begins guided transit for merchant ships

US officials said two American-flagged merchant vessels had successfully passed through the strait under naval escort, marking the first such movement since hostilities intensified.

Guided-missile destroyers operating in the Persian Gulf are assisting in securing maritime routes as part of a new initiative aimed at restoring global shipping flows.

The US military described the operation as part of “Project Freedom”, under which naval assets are being deployed to facilitate safe transit for commercial vessels.

UAE issues missile alert

Shortly after the US announcement, authorities in the United Arab Emirates issued an emergency missile alert, urging residents to seek shelter.

It marked the first such alert since a ceasefire in the Iran war came into effect in early April. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

Iran disputes US narrative

Iranian news agencies, including Fars and the Iranian Labour News Agency, had earlier claimed that Iranian forces struck a US vessel for allegedly violating maritime norms.

The reports suggested the vessel was forced to turn back, but US officials dismissed the claims as inaccurate.

Tehran has also criticised the US initiative to escort ships, calling it a violation of the fragile ceasefire that has held for over three weeks.

High-stakes maritime standoff

The US plan, announced by Donald Trump, could involve significant military resources, including guided-missile destroyers, over 100 aircraft and around 15,000 personnel.

A US-led maritime coordination centre has advised ships to transit through Omani waters under enhanced security arrangements.

However, uncertainty remains over whether shipping companies and insurers will resume operations, given repeated Iranian attacks and threats targeting vessels in the waterway.

Strategic pressure point in global energy supply

Iran’s control over traffic in the Strait of Hormuz — through which a significant portion of global oil and gas passes — has emerged as a key strategic lever in the conflict.

By disrupting shipping, Tehran has been able to exert pressure on global energy markets despite facing superior military force from the US and its allies.

The evolving maritime confrontation underscores the fragile nature of the ceasefire and the risk of renewed escalation in one of the world’s most critical energy corridors.

Rahul Gandhi on Saturday intensified his attack on the Centre over the alleged NEET-UG paper leak, demanding the immediate removal of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and accusing the government of failing millions of students.

In a post on X, the Congress leader said nearly 22 lakh NEET aspirants had been betrayed and questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence on the controversy.

“Modi ji, sack Dharmendra Pradhan ji now,” Rahul Gandhi wrote.

The NEET-UG examination conducted on 3 May was cancelled following allegations of large-scale irregularities and paper leaks. The government has announced a re-test on 21 June.

‘Paper circulated on WhatsApp’

Addressing reporters, Rahul Gandhi alleged that the NEET question paper had been circulated on WhatsApp two days before the examination.

“Twenty-two lakh students worked day and night for two years to prepare for this examination, and their hard work has gone to waste,” he said.

The Congress leader accused the Education Minister of refusing to accept responsibility for the controversy.

“Dharmendra Pradhan ji says he has nothing to do with this. A committee had made recommendations, but they threw it in the dustbin,” Gandhi alleged.

He also criticised the Centre over the functioning of educational institutions and alleged ideological interference in appointments.

‘RSS-BJP nexus destroyed education system’

Rahul Gandhi claimed that a nexus involving the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the Bharatiya Janata Party and university administrators had damaged India’s education system.

“This is a nexus — RSS, BJP, and their colleagues at universities. There exists a money-making nexus between them and they have destroyed Hindustan’s education system,” he alleged.

He further claimed that appointments of Vice Chancellors were allegedly based on ideological alignment rather than merit or academic competence.

“The whole country knows that if you want to become a Vice Chancellor, you don’t need subject knowledge or experience. If you are from RSS, then you can become Vice Chancellor,” Gandhi alleged.

‘Paper leaks ruined future of youth’

Linking the NEET controversy with repeated examination leaks across the country, Rahul Gandhi claimed that paper leaks had occurred around 80 times and had affected the future of nearly two crore young people.

He demanded strict action against those responsible for the alleged leak and reiterated his demand that Dharmendra Pradhan be removed from office.

“Those who are guilty should be arrested and sent to jail,” he said.

A female employee of Tata Consultancy Services’ Nashik unit, accused in a case involving alleged religious coercion and sexual harassment of colleagues, has been arrested after remaining untraceable for several weeks, police said on Friday.

Nida Khan was detained in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar on Thursday by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the Nashik police, Police Commissioner Sandeep Karnik confirmed.

Khan is among the accused named in a case registered at Deolali Camp police station and is being investigated as part of a wider probe into multiple allegations involving employees at the IT company’s Nashik office.

The SIT is currently examining nine separate complaints related to alleged molestation, workplace harassment and attempts to pressure women employees into religious conversion.

So far, eight people — including a female operations manager — have been arrested in connection with the investigation.

According to police, Khan had allegedly been absconding while investigators searched several locations across Maharashtra. She is accused of targeting colleagues through a WhatsApp group, where employees were allegedly pressured to offer prayers and consume non-vegetarian food.

The FIR also alleges that Khan encouraged women employees to dress and behave according to Islamic customs. Some complainants claimed they were subjected to sustained pressure to adopt certain religious practices, including changes in diet and the use of religious symbols.

In addition to charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to sexual harassment and defamation, Khan has also been booked under provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, as one of the complainants belongs to a Scheduled Caste community.

Last month, Khan approached a Nashik court seeking anticipatory bail and interim protection from arrest, citing her pregnancy. However, her plea was rejected on 2 May.

TCS has stated that it maintains a long-standing zero-tolerance policy towards harassment and coercion in the workplace. The company also confirmed that employees accused in the case have been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.

With PTI inputs

Maharashtra NCP (SP) leader Rohit Pawar on Saturday criticised Chief Justice of India Surya Kant over his remarks comparing some unemployed youth to “parasites” and “cockroaches”, calling the comments “unacceptable” and reflective of intolerance towards dissent and questioning.

The Karjat Jamkhed MLA said while he had the highest respect for the judiciary, such observations from a Constitutional authority were deeply hurtful and appeared to mock an entire generation struggling with unemployment, broken promises and shrinking opportunities.

The remarks were made on Friday, 15 May by a bench comprising CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi while hearing a matter related to the conferment of senior advocate designation.

During the hearing, the bench pulled up a lawyer for allegedly “pursuing” a senior advocate designation and observed that society already had enough “parasites” who attacked the system. The CJI further remarked that some unemployed youngsters later “become” members of the media, social media activists and RTI activists and begin attacking the system.

Reacting to the comments, Pawar said even if the observations were made in the context of petitions involving fake degree holders and senior advocate designation, clubbing unemployed youth, RTI activists and media representatives together was inappropriate.

“Comparing the youth of India, RTI activists, media representatives, and those who express differing opinions to parasites or cockroaches is absolutely unacceptable. Such language reflects extreme intolerance towards critics and those who ask questions,” he said.

Pawar said RTI activists exposing corruption, journalists raising questions about transparency and students speaking truth to power were among the strongest pillars of democracy.

The NCP (SP) leader also argued that rising unemployment among young people was not a matter of choice but the result of economic failure and political inefficiency.

“Despite grand speeches about employment and development, lakhs of educated young people are struggling for dignity, jobs and survival. They seek accountability and a platform to voice their concerns,” he said.

Pawar urged the judiciary to exercise sensitivity, restraint and constitutional wisdom while speaking about young people and dissent. “If institutions are afraid of questions raised by the youth, then the problem does not lie with the youth, but with the system,” he added.

With PTI inputs

Police have registered a case against the executing agency and contractor involved in the construction of a bridge over the Betwa river in Uttar Pradesh’s Hamirpur district, where a concrete slab collapse killed six labourers and left three others injured, officials said on Saturday, 30 May.

The accused have been booked on allegations of negligence and lapses in the execution of government work, police officials said.

The FIR was lodged late Friday at Kurara police station based on a complaint submitted by Dilip Kumar, deputy project manager of the State Bridge Corporation. The complaint names executing agency owner Pawan Pratap Singh and contractor Nitish Kumar.

The police action comes as scrutiny intensifies over the circumstances surrounding the collapse and the safety standards followed at the construction site.

According to officials, the incident took place around 3.00 am on the intervening night of 28 and 29 May during severe weather conditions. A slab of the bridge under construction between Parsani and Kandaur villages suddenly collapsed, trapping workers beneath the debris.

Several labourers associated with the project were reportedly sleeping on the upper section of the structure when the slab gave way. Six workers died in the incident, while three others sustained injuries.

The bridge is being built across the Betwa river, around 25 km from Hamirpur town, as part of infrastructure works intended to improve connectivity in the region.

Authorities have already initiated administrative action following the incident. An assistant engineer linked to the project has been suspended on charges of negligence pending further investigation.

The collapse has once again drawn attention to worker safety and oversight practices at infrastructure construction sites, particularly in projects that continue through adverse weather conditions or overnight shifts.

While officials said the collapse occurred during a severe storm, investigators are expected to examine whether weather alone caused the failure or whether construction quality, structural stability, site management or safety protocols may also have played a role.

Bridge collapses and construction-related accidents have periodically raised concerns across India over adherence to engineering standards, contractor accountability and monitoring mechanisms in public works projects.

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath has announced financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each for the families of those killed in the collapse and Rs 50,000 each for the injured.

Police said further investigation is underway to determine responsibility for the incident and assess whether additional action is warranted against those connected with the project.

With PTI inputs

The government's explanation for recent disruptions in the CBSE revaluation portal — a “malicious attack” involving alleged unauthorised access by around 50 students as per 'sources' — has introduced a new dimension to an already widening controversy surrounding the education board’s digital systems and vendor selection process.

The sources have attributed abnormal fee displays on the portal, ranging from around Re 1 to nearly Rs 68,000 in some cases, to manipulation linked to the HDFC payment gateway when the system went live. Officials said the issue affected a limited number of users and prompted a broader technical response, including the addition of payment gateways from four public sector banks, scrutiny by experts from IIT Madras and IIT Kanpur, and infrastructure support through Amazon Web Services.

The technical explanation has surfaced at a time when attention was increasingly turning to a separate and politically sensitive question: whether CBSE altered tender conditions in ways that benefited education technology firm COEMPT.

Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Friday amplified allegations made by 17-year-old Sarthak Sidhant, whose blog argues — using comparative readings of CBSE tender documents — that the board modified elements of its selection framework to favour COEMPT over Tata Consultancy Services.

In a post on X, Gandhi said Sarthak had exposed how CBSE “manipulated its own selection process” using the board’s own documents and claimed the findings had undercut Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s denials. Renewing his demand for an independent judicial inquiry, the leader of Opposition asked who the government was “protecting, and why”.

The significance of Sarthak’s allegations lies in their documentary nature. Rather than relying primarily on political claims, the blog compares successive CBSE tenders and points to specific changes in eligibility and technical requirements.

Among the changes highlighted are reported revisions to technical benchmarks, including capability requirements such as CMMI certification levels, alterations to clauses dealing with blacklisting and poor performance, and changes involving project qualification, infrastructure and software conditions. The broader argument advanced in the blog is that these revisions cumulatively widened or preserved COEMPT’s eligibility.

Whether those changes amount to deliberate favouritism remains contested. Procurement frameworks are frequently revised after failed rounds, restrictive criteria or market feedback. The central question is whether the modifications can be justified on operational grounds or whether they disproportionately advantaged a particular bidder.

It is against this backdrop that the “malicious attack” explanation is likely to invite closer examination.

The public conversation, which had increasingly focused on vendor selection, tender design and COEMPT’s role, is now also being shaped by a cyber-technical narrative involving alleged intrusion, payment gateway vulnerabilities and infrastructure fixes.

That does not, by itself, make the new explanation a distraction or a counter-narrative. Large-scale education platforms do experience technical failures, and payment integration issues, scaling problems and security vulnerabilities are not implausible in high-volume digital systems.

But the emergence of the new storyline raises its own questions. Was there an actual external intrusion, a software flaw, a payment integration failure, or some combination of these? What precisely do officials mean when they say students “manipulated” the system? And will technical logs, forensic findings or independent audit conclusions be placed in the public domain?

The key point is that the two controversies need not be mutually exclusive. A genuine procurement dispute and a genuine technical incident can coexist.

Yet once an institution facing scrutiny over tender processes introduces a cyber-security explanation for operational disruption, the demand for transparency deepens rather than diminishes. The debate is no longer only about portal glitches or political accusations, but about whether the systems, procurement decisions and explanations surrounding one of India’s most consequential education bodies can withstand sustained public scrutiny.

With PTI inputs

The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Tuesday cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 examination conducted on 3 May following allegations of a paper leak and other irregularities, with the Union government ordering a comprehensive investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The examination, held for admission to undergraduate medical courses across the country, will now be conducted again on dates that are yet to be announced.

In a statement issued on X, the NTA said the decision had been taken after reviewing inputs received in coordination with central agencies and findings shared by law enforcement authorities.

According to the agency, the material gathered during the preliminary inquiry indicated that the integrity of the existing examination process had been compromised, making it impossible for the results to stand.

The NTA said the cancellation and re-conduct of the examination had been approved by the Government of India in order to preserve transparency and maintain public confidence in the national examination system.

The agency also confirmed that the matter had been formally referred to the CBI for a detailed investigation into the alleged irregularities linked to the examination process.

The NTA said it would extend full cooperation to the central agency and provide all necessary documents, records and logistical support required for the inquiry.

Acknowledging the disruption caused to students and their families, the agency said the decision to cancel the examination had not been taken lightly but was necessary to avoid long-term damage to the credibility of the testing system.

The agency clarified that candidates who had registered for the May 2026 examination would not need to apply again. Existing registration details, candidature records and examination centre preferences would automatically be carried forward for the fresh examination cycle.

It also announced that no additional examination fee would be charged and that fees already paid by students would be refunded. The re-conducted examination, the agency said, would be organised using the NTA’s internal resources.

Fresh dates for the examination and the revised admit card schedule are expected to be announced through official channels in the coming days.

The NTA urged students and parents to rely only on verified updates released by the agency and avoid misinformation circulating online.

The development comes days after the NTA publicly defended the conduct of the examination, stating that strict security protocols had been followed during the May 3 test. According to the agency, question papers were transported in GPS-enabled vehicles carrying traceable watermark identifiers, while examination centres were monitored through AI-assisted CCTV surveillance from a central control room.

The agency had earlier stated that information regarding suspected malpractice was received on the evening of 7 May, four days after the examination, and was subsequently escalated to central authorities for independent verification and further action.

With PTI inputs