INDIAN EXPRESS DATED 15th AUG 2026

Summary of Important News Items Editorials-432

INDIAN EXPRESS DATED 15th AUG 2026.

(for reading Indian Express News items from 1 to 431 please visit –

web.prernaforias.com)

1. President Murmu on Student Protests: Public Examinations Are Gateways to Opportunity

In her address to the nation on the eve of the 80th Independence Day, President Droupadi Murmu referred to the recent student protests over NEET-UG irregularities and stressed that safeguarding students’ present and future is a collective responsibility of government and society. She described public examinations as “gateways to opportunities”, thereby recognising that examination integrity directly affects equality, social mobility and trust in institutions. The government, she said, is undertaking comprehensive reforms in the examination system. The logic is that paper leaks cannot be treated merely as isolated criminal offences because they disproportionately harm candidates who invest years, money and emotional effort in competitive examinations. Reform therefore requires secure question-setting, digital and physical safeguards, accountability of officials and speedy grievance redress. The broader stand is conciliatory rather than dismissive of youth concerns. The gist is that India’s demographic dividend depends upon young citizens believing that merit, rather than manipulation or connections, determines access to opportunities.

2. Editorial: BCI’s NALSAR Action Was Illegal, Arbitrary and a Threat to Free Speech