Politics
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Pune police allow Rahul Gandhi student event with 30 curbs
The HinduArchived
Pune police have permitted Rahul Gandhi's Chhatron Ki Goonj programme on 22 August 2026 from 4.30 pm to 9.30 pm at SSPMS College ground near RTO Chowk, with 30 conditions. The event is aimed at female students on education and careers. Police expect 8000 to 10000 people. Congress
Centre denies Telangana CM political clearance for US leg
NDTVArchived
On 21 August 2026, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy's office said the Ministry of External Affairs denied political clearance for the United States leg of his TelanganaRising tour. The CMO quoted the line that clearance from political angle is denied. Reddy, already in Lo
Tharoor calls new Parliament a soulless conference centre
New Indian ExpressArchived
On 20 August 2026, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor told a New Delhi book event that the new Parliament building feels like a soulless conference centre. The four-time Thiruvananthapuram MP said high ceilings and a fan-shaped layout created distance among members, unlike the coziness o
Border-state collectors to decide CAA citizenship files
Times of IndiaArchived
On 19 August 2026 the Union Home Ministry notified the Citizenship Third Amendment Rules, naming district collectors in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, West Bengal, Assam except tribal areas, Tripura except tribal areas, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh as the competent authority for Cit
Karnataka CM says Mekedatu surplus would go south
Deccan HeraldArchived
After the 20 August 2026 Southern Zonal Council meeting, Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said he had told Tamil Nadu, in Union Home Minister Amit Shah's presence, that water stored at the proposed Mekedatu dam would go south except 5 TMC for drinking needs. He said the da
Court names five-member panel on NEET protest force
TelegraphArchived
On 20 August 2026, the Supreme Court named a five-member enquiry committee headed by former judge R Subhash Reddy to examine alleged police excesses during NEET-UG marches. Members include former Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Ravi Shankar Jha, former Delhi High Cour
Tamil Nadu CM raises delimitation NEET and Cauvery with Shah
Times of IndiaArchived
On 20 August 2026 at the 31st Southern Zonal Council, Chief Minister Joseph Vijay told Home Minister Amit Shah that population-based delimitation could cut the South's share of Lok Sabha seats. He asked for a legislative assurance that states which stabilised population would notBorder-state collectors to decide CAA citizenship applications
Times of IndiaArchived
On 19 August 2026 the Union Home Ministry notified the Citizenship Third Amendment Rules, naming district collectors in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, West Bengal, Assam except tribal areas, Tripura except tribal areas, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh as the competent authority for Cit
Rahul Gandhi invokes Swaraj at Rajiv Gandhi anniversary event
National HeraldArchived
On 20 August 2026 in New Delhi, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi spoke at Hara Bhara Swaraj, marking Rajiv Gandhi's birth anniversary. He told students their expression had come out and could not be stopped, and asked them to use that energy to change education, work and politic
Former judge Reddy to head CJP Parliament march inquiry
Times of IndiaArchived
On 20 August 2026 the Supreme Court made public an order constituting a five-member High-Powered Enquiry Committee led by former judge R Subhash Reddy to probe the 20 July Cockroach Janta Party march toward Parliament. Members are former judges Ravi S Jha and Shalinder Kaur, form
Fadnavis calls Congress Vande Mataram limit appeasement
Times of IndiaArchived
On 20 August 2026 in Nagpur, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis criticised the Congress Working Committee decision to sing only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram at party programmes. He called the move appeasement and said it openly defied a law enacted by Parliame
Delhi Police denies permit for August 21 reservation protest
NewsDrumArchived
On 20 August 2026, Delhi Police said no permission had been granted for a protest at Jantar Mantar on 21 August over reservation. Police called social media videos claiming approval false and misleading. Prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhi
Court keeps 1978 industry test only for pending disputes
Times of IndiaArchived
On 20 August 2026, a nine-judge Supreme Court Bench said the 1978 Bangalore Water Supply triple test for industry remains valid for pending disputes under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The Bench said the test covers organisations, including government public works, temples,
Sajjan Kumar dies while serving 1984 riots life terms
NDTVArchived
Former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar died on 20 August 2026 after being brought from Tihar Jail to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi. Hospital sources said he arrived around 11 am and was declared dead at 12:30 pm. NDTV said he was 80; another report cited 84. He was serving concurrent lif
Kerala offers Tamil Nadu all water from new Mullaperiyar dam
The HinduArchived
Kerala's V.D. Satheesan told the Southern Zonal Council at Mahabalipuram that Kerala would give Tamil Nadu all water from a proposed new Mullaperiyar dam. He said Kerala would pay the full cost while Tamil Nadu would decide design, construction and location. The existing Idukki s
BJP names Udaipur MP to head national ST Morcha
NDTVArchived
BJP president Nitin Nabin appointed Udaipur MP Mannalal Rawat as national president of the party's Scheduled Tribe Morcha. Rawat, a first-time MP, won the 2024 Udaipur seat by 2,61,608 votes. The choice was reported against the rise of the Bharatiya Adivasi Party in southern Raja
Supreme Court keeps 1978 industry test off new labour code
The HinduArchived
A nine-judge Supreme Court Bench held that the 1978 Bangalore Water Supply reading of industry will not anchor Section 2(p) of the Industrial Relations Code, 2020. Surya Kant said the Code must be read in its text and context. The 1978 triple test still governs pending disputes u
Bombay Bar Association asks BCI chairman to resign
The HinduArchived
The Bombay Bar Association wrote that BCI chairman Manan Kumar Mishra ought to have resigned after directing State Bar Councils not to enrol NALSAR's 2026 graduating batch. The Standing Committee met on 17 and 18 August. It said his 15 August apology was belated because he still
Supreme Court acquits two staffers in Rs 20 bribe case
NDTVArchived
On 19 August 2026, the Supreme Court acquitted a Gujarat talati-cum-mantri and a peon in a 1996 bribery case over an alleged Rs 20 payment. Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Atul S Chandurkar set aside the 1999 trial conviction and the 2015 High Court affirmation. The student complainant
Muzaffarnagar judge awards 22 death sentences in four months
LawBeatArchived
Additional District and Sessions Judge Ravi Kumar Diwakar has sentenced 22 convicts to death in 10 cases at a Muzaffarnagar fast-track court since April 2026. The cases include murders dated from 1999 to 2019. Diwakar ordered the 2022 Gyanvapi videography survey while posted in V
Cabinet reviews ministers social media report cards
NDTVArchived
At the Union Cabinet meeting on 19 August 2026, ministers received individual social media report cards for 1 May to 15 August. The window overlapped the NEET protests. Rankings used average daily posts, total and per-post engagement, likes and follower counts on Instagram, X, Fa
Collectors in eight states may grant CAA citizenship
The HinduArchived
On 19 August 2026, the Home Ministry notified the Citizenship Third Amendment Rules, 2026, naming District Collectors as the competent authority in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, West Bengal, Assam except tribal areas, Tripura except tribal areas, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. Pend
Amit Shah chairs Southern Zonal Council in Tamil Nadu
Times of IndiaArchived
On 20 August 2026, Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired the 31st Southern Zonal Council meeting at Kovalam in Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay hosted as vice-chairman. Chief ministers DK Shivakumar, N Chandrababu Naidu, VD Satheesan and A Revant
Nine-judge Bench modifies 1978 industry definition test
LiveLawArchived
On 20 August 2026, a nine-judge Supreme Court Bench modified by 5-4 the triple test used since 1978 to define industry under Section 2(j) of the Industrial Disputes Act. Chief Justice Surya Kant said some elements of Bangalore Water Supply versus Rajappa needed reformulation. Fou
BJP names national office-bearers under Nitin Nabin
NDTVArchived
On 17 August 2026, BJP president Nitin Nabin announced a national team of 13 vice-presidents, eight general secretaries and 16 secretaries. Piyush Goyal was named treasurer and BL Santhosh retained as general secretary organisation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the
Congress CWC sets four-issue nationwide campaign
Telegraph IndiaArchived
The Congress Working Committee met for four hours on 19 August 2026 at Indira Bhawan and named four campaign fronts: paper leaks, alleged Ram temple donation theft, Chinese incursion reports in Arunachal Pradesh, and delimitation. KC Venugopal said Chhatron Ki Goonj would go to n
Supreme Court acquits two in Rs 20 bribe case
VerdictumArchived
On 19 August 2026, the Supreme Court acquitted a former Gujarat talati-cum-mantri and a gram panchayat peon in a 1996 bribery case over Rs 20. Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Atul S Chandurkar set aside convictions under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The case is Rafikmiya Ahmedmiya
Satyendar Jain tells court he was in jail during tender
NDTVArchived
Satyendar Jain told a Delhi court on 19 August 2026 that the Delhi Jal Board tender was floated in December 2022, after he lost his portfolio following a 30 May 2022 arrest. The Anti-Corruption Branch had arrested him on 18 August with five others over sewage-plant tender allegat
Krishnanagar court issues arrest warrant for Mahua Moitra
ScrollArchived
On 19 August 2026, the 3rd judicial magistrate at Krishnanagar ordered an arrest warrant against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra for not appearing in a case over June social-media remarks. The court directed that an execution report be filed by 28 August. The judge had asked h
Congress Working Committee keeps two-stanza Vande Mataram
The HinduArchived
After a four-hour meeting on 19 August 2026, the Congress Working Committee said only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram would be sung at party events. General secretary K.C. Venugopal said the stand follows the 1937 decision. He confirmed it would be the first two stanzas. T
ED asks Punjab police to act on Mann aide letter
NDTVArchived
The Enforcement Directorate wrote to Punjab's DGP seeking action against officials linked to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's office, including OSD Rajbir Singh Ghuman. Mann said his government would not act against officials merely on a Central agency demand. He alleged the Centre
ED searches ten sites linked to Jauhar University trust
NDTVArchived
On 19 August 2026, the Enforcement Directorate searched 10 premises linked to the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust and University of Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan. Teams covered Rampur, Saharanpur and Delhi's Jamia Nagar under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Officials
Young advocates call protest after NALSAR enrolment row
Times of IndiaArchived
The All India Young Advocates Association called a 10 am protest on 20 August 2026 against Bar Council of India chairman Manan Kumar Mishra after a withdrawn order on NALSAR's 2026 batch. Cockroach Janta Party spokesperson Saurav Das said he supported the peaceful demonstration a
Court tells Odisha to decide Dara Singh remission
Times of IndiaArchived
On 19 August 2026, the Supreme Court told Odisha to decide Dara Singh's remission plea. He is serving life for the 1999 killing of Graham Staines and his two sons. Justices Manoj Misra and Vijay Bishnoi listed the case for 2 September. The Bench said if the State Sentence Review
Supreme Court ready to quash student protest FIRs
The HinduArchived
On 18 August 2026, the Supreme Court said it would use Article 142 to quash FIRs against students named in NEET-UG protest cases. Chief Justice Surya Kant, heading a three-judge Bench, asked for a list of FIRs in which only students were named. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta agre
Rijiju denies Chinese incursion into Arunachal
News18Archived
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday dismissed reports of a Chinese incursion into Arunachal Pradesh, saying Chinese forces have not captured any Indian village and that patrolling by the Army and ITBP has been strengthened along the border. He rejected specific claims that C
Yogi Adityanath seen as top Modi successor
Financial TimesArchived
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath continues to be widely discussed as a leading contender to succeed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to recent political analysis, though no formal succession process exists within the Bharatiya Janata Party. The head priest of t
Envoy says US may revise Kashmir travel warning
The Indian ExpressArchived
US Ambassador Sergio Gor said Washington periodically re-evaluates its travel warnings and indicated the advisory for Kashmir could be downgraded, after meeting Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at his Srinagar residence on Wednesday. Gor said New Delhi and the state
US envoy calls Kashmir important part of India
NDTVArchived
US Ambassador Sergio Gor, on his first visit to Jammu and Kashmir since Operation Sindoor, called the region an important part of India after meeting Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar on Wednesday. Gor said Washington regularly reviews its travel advisories and indicated t
ED searches Azam Khan trust and university premises
Deccan HeraldArchived
The Enforcement Directorate on 19 August 2026 searched about 10 premises in Rampur, Saharanpur and Delhi linked to the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust and Mohammad Ali Jauhar University. Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan is a key trustee. The Lucknow office acted under the Preve
BJP names poll in-charges for UP, Punjab, Gujarat
The HinduArchived
BJP president Nitin Nabin on 18 August 2026 named Vinod Tawde poll in-charge for Uttar Pradesh, Satish Poonia for Punjab and Tarun Chugh for Gujarat. National secretary Jagdish Ishwarbhai Patel is co-in-charge for Uttar Pradesh. The party said the appointments take effect at once
Kharge challenges government over Vande Mataram law
The News MinuteArchived
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said on 18 August 2026 that if singing the two-stanza Vande Mataram used by his party is an offence, the government should file a case against Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Vallabhbhai Patel. He spoke in Goa ahead of a Working Committe
Supreme Court to name panel on CJP Parliament march
Times of IndiaArchived
The Supreme Court said on 18 August 2026 it will form a committee led by a retired Supreme Court judge, with a former High Court chief justice and a senior police officer, to inquire into the 20 July CJP march toward Parliament. A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant said the
Opposition calls Ram Temple SIT report an eyewash
The HinduArchived
Opposition leaders on 18 August 2026 called the SIT report on Ram Temple donation theft an eyewash. They said sources had cleared former trust general secretary Champat Rai. Congress and the Samajwadi Party asked for the full report to be made public and for a Supreme Court-monit
Goa asks Supreme Court to raise Tejpal sentence
ScrollArchived
The Goa government on 18 August 2026 moved the Supreme Court seeking life imprisonment for former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal in the 2013 rape case. It does not seek to reopen the Bombay High Court's 6 August conviction. That bench had set aside a 2021 acquittal and awarded 10 yeBJP names poll in-charges for UP, Punjab, Gujarat
The HinduArchived
BJP president Nitin Nabin on 18 August 2026 appointed Vinod Tawde as in-charge for Uttar Pradesh, with national secretary Jagdish Ishwarbhai Patel as co-in-charge. Satish Poonia was named in-charge for Punjab and Tarun Chugh for Gujarat. The party said the appointments take effec
Vijay office shift draws tender questions from opposition
NDTVArchived
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay plans to move the Chief Minister's Office from Fort St George to Namakkal Kavignar Maaligai. A tender of about Rs 5.5 crore has been floated for the shift. BJP leader C R Kesavan cited reports that work began before the tender. Minister AaSupreme Court ready to quash student protest FIRs
The HinduArchived
The Supreme Court on 18 August 2026 said it would use Article 142 to quash FIRs against students who joined NEET-UG protests. Cases against people with serious criminal records would be decided separately. Chief Justice Surya Kant asked for a list of FIRs that name only students.
BJP replaces Malviya as social media convenor
The HinduArchived
BJP president Nitin Nabin replaced Amit Malviya with Deepak Mhaskey as social media convenor in the 17 August 2026 organisational list. Malviya had held the information-technology and social media brief since 2015. He wished Mhaskey well in a public post. Nabin said the wider resDelhi ACB arrests Jain over jal board tenders
Times of IndiaArchived
Delhi's Anti-Corruption Branch on 18 August 2026 arrested former minister Satyendar Jain and five others over alleged irregularities in Delhi Jal Board sewage-plant tenders. Those held include former DJB chief executive Udit Prakash Rai. AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal said the arre