Who is Naresh Pal Gangwar? New education secretary appointed amid CJP protest
Protests led by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) in Delhi are demanding the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan over allegations of examination irregularities. Amid these protests, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has appointed IAS officer Naresh Pal Gangwar as the new secretary of the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education. Gangwar, a 1994-batch Rajasthan cadre officer, is currently serving as the secretary of the animal husbandry and dairying department. He replaces Vineet Joshi, a 1992-batch officer who has been transferred to the Department of Panchayati Raj. Gangwar has a Bachelor of Technology in Electronics and Communications from IIT, Roorkee, a Master’s degree in Communication and Radar Engineering from IIT, Delhi, and a Master's degree in Economics from the University of Rajasthan. Previously, he served as the joint secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and as the Principal Secretary in the Government of Rajasthan. Meanwhile, the CJP continues its protest at Jantar Mantar, where activist Sonam Wangchuk recently ended a 26-day hunger strike after meeting with Union ministers.
Nisarga Adhikary, a 19-year-old cybersecurity researcher known for exposing vulnerabilities in the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)'s On-Screen Marking (OSM) portal, has joined the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. His participation in the demonstration marked a notable moment during the ongoing seven-week-long protest, which continues to demand the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Adhikary posted a photograph on X with CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and Nationalist Congress Party (SP) spokesperson Anish Gawande, captioning it with the phrase, “The energy here is truly crazy.” His presence drew enthusiastic responses from younger protesters, many of whom celebrated his arrival as a symbolic endorsement of the movement. Adhikary became prominent in early 2024 when he revealed security flaws in the CBSE's OSM system, including a hard-coded “master password” linked to the government’s Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In). He claimed these vulnerabilities allowed unauthorized access to the examiner's dashboard, enabling the viewing and editing of student scores. Initially, the CBSE dismissed his findings, suggesting they stemmed from a test environment rather than the live evaluation system. However, subsequent investigations confirmed the existence of the flaws, leading to internal changes within the board. Adhikary, while maintaining anonymity through the use of a mask, gained widespread attention for his revelations, which were amplified by media coverage and public interest. Following his exposure of the CBSE vulnerabilities, Adhikary was recruited by IIT Kanpur’s cybersecurity initiative, C3iHub, as a threat intelligence engineer. Despite receiving a contract-based role, he expressed dissatisfaction with the compensation, noting it fell short of earnings he achieved through freelance work with U.S.-based clients. His involvement in the protest reflects broader tensions surrounding the NEET-UG paper leak scandal, which has placed additional pressure on Pradhan. The CJP, initially a satirical social media group formed in response to remarks made by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, evolved into a significant political force demanding systemic reform in India’s examination processes. The protest has drawn support from multiple political entities, including the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), and the Nationalist Congress Party (SP), among others. Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who initiated a 26-day hunger strike on June 28, recently concluded his fast following discussions with Union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh. His decision to end the strike followed assurances from the government regarding potential legal actions against those implicated in the NEET-UG paper leak. Meanwhile, the CJP has continued to press for Pradhan’s resignation, despite recent administrative changes, including the replacement of CBSE leadership and the appointment of a new Union education secretary. Naresh Pal Gangwar, a 1994-batch IAS officer from Rajasthan, has been appointed as the new secretary of the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education. Gangwar replaces Vineet Joshi, who previously served as the education secretary and was also the head of the CBSE and the National Testing Agency (NTA). Gangwar holds a Bachelor of Technology in Electronics and Communications from IIT Roorkee, along with a Master’s degree in Communication and Radar Engineering from IIT Delhi and a Master’s in Economics from the University of Rajasthan. His prior roles include positions in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and as principal secretary in the state government of Rajasthan. The CJP protest has remained a focal point of political discourse, with ongoing negotiations between the party and government officials. A recent meeting between CJP representatives and Union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh lasted approximately two hours, marking the second such engagement this week. While the CJP insists the government has not conceded on the demand for Pradhan’s resignation, there have been indications of tentative agreements on other issues raised by the protesters. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pledged to expedite judicial proceedings and impose harsher penalties for those found guilty of leaking examination papers, signaling a potential shift in how such cases are handled moving forward.
3 reports
Hindustan TimesIndependentCenterFactual 85Objective 8513 days ago
Nisarga Adhikary, a 19-year-old cybersecurity researcher known for exposing vulnerabilities in the CBSE's On-Screen Marking (OSM) portal, recently joined the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. His involvement drew attention from other young protesters, who celebrated his presence. Adhikary had previously revealed security flaws in the OSM system, allowing unauthorized access to examinees' marks, which led to significant controversy and scrutiny of the CBSE. Despite the board's claims that the issues were contained, Adhikary gained national recognition and was later hired by IIT Kanpur’s cybersecurity team. The CJP protest, now in its seventh week, demands the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and broader reforms in the examination system, amid ongoing tensions related to the NEET-UG exam scandal.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information about a cybersecurity researcher joining a protest against the education ministry, without overtly favoring any side. It includes quotes from the individual involved and provides context about the protests and their demands, maintaining neutrality in tone and
Why factuality (85): Article discusses the government's stance on Pradhan's potential resignation, citing internal discussions and the influence of activist Sonam Wangchuk. It references specific events and statements from government officials, aligning with reported developments.
Why objectivity (85): The article presents the government's position and the protesters' demands in a balanced manner, avoiding biased language. It reports on the evolving situation without taking sides.
Hindustan TimesIndependentCenterFactual 70Objective 6013 days ago
Protests led by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) in Delhi are demanding the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan over allegations of examination irregularities. Amid these protests, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has appointed IAS officer Naresh Pal Gangwar as the new secretary of the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education. Gangwar, a 1994-batch Rajasthan cadre officer, is currently serving as the secretary of the animal husbandry and dairying department. He replaces Vineet Joshi, a 1992-batch officer who has been transferred to the Department of Panchayati Raj. Gangwar has a Bachelor of Technology in Electronics and Communications from IIT, Roorkee, a Master’s degree in Communication and Radar Engineering from IIT, Delhi, and a Master's degree in Economics from the University of Rajasthan. Previously, he served as the joint secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and as the Principal Secretary in the Government of Rajasthan. Meanwhile, the CJP continues its protest at Jantar Mantar, where activist Sonam Wangchuk recently ended a 26-day hunger strike after meeting with Union ministers.
Bias read (Center): The article provides factual information about the appointment of Naresh Pal Gangwar and the ongoing protests by the CJP without showing clear bias toward either side. It includes details about the background of Gangwar and the context of the protests but does not present any overtly biased language
Why factuality (70): The article accurately reports on PM Modi's outreach to students through a selfie video and his assurances regarding the government's response to the NEET paper leak. It does not directly address the primary source's claim about police using excessive force but provides context on the broader politi
Why objectivity (60): The article presents PM Modi's outreach efforts in a positive light, emphasizing his connection with Gen Z. However, it does not explore the allegations of police misconduct, potentially leaving the reader with an incomplete picture of the situation.
NDTVParty-alignedCenterFactual 65Objective 7013 days ago
The article mentions Vineet Joshi, who has been removed as Education Secretary, previously served as the head of the Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE) and the National Testing Agency (NTA). Joshi holds a B.Tech degree in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Kanpur and an MBA from the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) in New Delhi.
Bias read (Center): The article provides factual information about Vineet Joshi's professional background and his previous roles without any apparent ideological framing or biased language. It does not present opinions or emphasize any particular political stance.
Why factuality (65): The article provides basic biographical information about Vineet Joshi, including his educational qualifications. However, it lacks specific details about the event in question (his removal as Education Secretary and role at CBSE/NTA) and does not provide context or sources for these claims. Since n
Why objectivity (70): The tone is neutral and informative, presenting facts without apparent bias. The article focuses on professional background rather than taking sides or expressing opinion, maintaining a relatively objective stance.
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