NEET Row in Background, PM Modi's Mann Ki Baat Spotlights Kargil and Defence Growth

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the 136th episode of his monthly radio programme "Mann Ki Baat" on Sunday, a day after Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned following weeks of student protests over the NEET-UG paper leak.

Modi began by marking Kargil Vijay Diwas, observed on July 26, paying tribute to soldiers who fought in the 1999 Kargil War. He referred to the "Shaurya Vijay Yatra," a motorcycle rally that began on July 14 from the National War Memorial in Delhi and is set to conclude at the Kargil War Memorial in Drass.

He then spoke on India's defence achievements, noting that DRDO had successfully tested the Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket and the Kusha missile this month. He also referred to an agreement on BrahMos and Astra missiles signed during his visit to Indonesia earlier in July, saying it reflected growing international confidence in India's defence production and exports.

The Prime Minister also highlighted several achievements from different states. He mentioned Dr Ronaldo Laishram, a Manipur-born astrophysicist working in Japan who was part of a team that discovered a cluster of young galaxies named the "Loktak proto-cluster" after a lake in Manipur. He referred to a "Waste to Wealth" initiative in Sitamarhi, Bihar, entrepreneurship among women in Uttar Pradesh, a school in Kerala combining Sanskrit lessons with football training, and a tree-plantation drive in Ahmedabad's Bhadaj area that set a record for saplings planted within an hour. He urged citizens to plant at least one tree. He also referenced a recent survey stating the programme has reached 100 crore listeners, with 96 percent awareness nationwide.

The episode came against the backdrop of continuing political fallout from the NEET paper leak controversy. Pradhan's resignation followed sustained protests led by student groups, including demonstrations at Jantar Mantar in Delhi that were met with police action. Opposition leaders continued to raise the issue after the broadcast. Tejashwi Yadav warned of a "massive protest" if detained students were not released, while a Karnataka minister criticised the Centre over the NEET paper leak. Congress reiterated its claim that repeated paper leaks have affected crores of students nationwide.

BJP leaders, meanwhile, described Pradhan's resignation as reflecting "the highest standards of integrity," and several Chief Ministers were seen listening to the broadcast publicly. The episode's focus on defence achievements and grassroots initiatives unfolded alongside the ongoing political debate over accountability in India's examination system.