News
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Supreme Court keeps hanging as the method of execution
The HinduArchived
The Supreme Court on 18 August dismissed a 2017 petition by Rishi Malhotra seeking to replace hanging with lethal injection, shooting, electrocution or a gas chamber. Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta declined to send the 1983 Deena decision to a larger bench. Section 354(5)
Rahul asks NTA leadership to answer for three NET retests
Hindustan TimesArchived
Rahul Gandhi on 17 August said NTA cancelled UGC-NET papers in English, Commerce and Sociology nearly two months after the June exam. He wrote that thousands who paid fees and travelled must sit again in September. He asked whether papers were leaked and said NTA leadership must
Bar Council chief cannot also speak as party MP
Times of IndiaArchived
NALSAR students opposed inviting Chief Justice Surya Kant as convocation chief guest. On 13 August, Bar Council of India chairman Manan Kumar Mishra directed state bar councils not to enrol the 2026 batch until further orders. The council later withdrew the ban. Mishra is also a
Vijay apologises after minister names Karunanidhi without title
Times of IndiaArchived
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on 17 August apologised after Forest Minister R.V. Ranjithkumar named former chief minister M. Karunanidhi without the customary honorific. DMK members protested. Vijay stopped the minister and said the manner of reference was wrong. He s
Sixteen Indian sailors refuse Strait of Hormuz transit
FirstpostArchived
Sixteen Indian crew of Marshall Islands-flagged AM Pioneer have refused to transit the Strait of Hormuz. Captain Anil Raj said the ship reached Ras Al Khaimah for a survey and was then told to proceed. The Forward Seamen's Union of India said owners were pressuring the master. It
Gadkari says Mumbai-Pune Expressway remains pothole-free
India TodayArchived
Union minister Nitin Gadkari on 17 August said the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, built 27 years ago, remains pothole-free. He spoke at Symbiosis International University in Pune. He said criticism after a July landslide on the Missing Link ignored that the stretch was a Maharashtra gov
Tarapith hotel fire kills nine including Meghalaya family
The HinduArchived
A fire at Hotel Bideshini in Tarapith, Birbhum, killed nine people after starting around 4.30 a.m. on 17 August. Five members of one Garo Hills family, including two children, died. Three others were from Alipurduar. Forty-three people were in the hotel; 34 were discharged. Polic
Hyderabad starts one-way traffic around KBR Park
The HinduArchived
Hyderabad Traffic Police began one-way movement around KBR National Park at 6 a.m. on 18 August. Vehicles from Road No. 3 had to turn left. Queues formed on Road Nos. 14, 12 and 10 and spilled into Srinagar Colony and Yousufguda. About 200 personnel were deployed. Police said the
Odisha floods affect 7.85 lakh people in six districts
The HinduArchived
Floods had affected 7.85 lakh people in six Odisha districts by 17 August, the Special Relief Commissioner said. Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj and Kendrapara were hit. More than 2.77 lakh people were evacuated to about 531 camps. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majh
Modi offers skill training and names dimagi Naxals
The HinduArchived
Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered his thirteenth Independence Day address from the Red Fort on 15 August. He promised skill training for one crore youth, free online coaching for competitive exams, and work on quantum technology, space, robotics and data centres. He also spo
State SIT hands Ayodhya donation theft report to Trust
The HinduArchived
The Uttar Pradesh Home Department on 17 August handed the first SIT's final report on alleged Ram temple donation theft to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The panel, headed by Lucknow commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, was set up on 13 June. People familiar with the
Athawale invites Dipke to join Republican Party of India
RediffArchived
Union minister Ramdas Athawale on 17 August invited Cockroach Janta Party convenor Abhijeet Dipke to join the Republican Party of India (Athawale), an NDA ally. In Nagpur he called Dipke a young Ambedkarite and said joining would help fulfil B.R. Ambedkar's dream. Dipke had not r
Bhogapuram airport handles 52 flights on opening day
The HinduArchived
Bhogapuram's Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport began commercial operations on 17 August with 52 planned movements. IndiGo flight 6E 6408 from Hyderabad arrived at 6.45 a.m. Air India, Air India Express, Scoot and IndiaOne also flew. Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ramm
ED searches 21 sites in KPSC veterinary recruitment case
The HinduArchived
The Enforcement Directorate on 18 August searched 21 premises in Karnataka and Ahmedabad over alleged irregularities in KPSC recruitment of veterinary officers. Sites included the Bengaluru office, suspended chairperson Shivashankarappa S. Sahukar, member Shanta Hosmani, alleged
Supreme Court stays High Court assets probe reports
NDTVArchived
The Supreme Court on 17 August told the Allahabad High Court to defer a petition alleging disproportionate assets against Rahul Gandhi. Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana barred the CBI, ED and other authorities from filing any report under the 20
Suthar and Jadeja take seven as Sri Lanka fold
Telegraph IndiaArchived
India bowled Sri Lanka out for 284 on day three of the first Test in Galle on 17 August, taking a 178-run first-innings lead. Manav Suthar took 4 for 76 and Ravindra Jadeja 3 for 57. Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna took one wicket each. Spinners claimed eight of
Australia drops Weatherald, recalls Renshaw for Mackay
Cricket AustraliaArchived
Australia on 18 August named a 13-player squad for the second Test against Bangladesh, dropping opener Jake Weatherald and recalling Matthew Renshaw. Weatherald scored 23 and a duck as Australia lost by nine wickets in Darwin. The Mackay match at Great Barrier Reef Arena begins o
CERT-In warns Chrome users to install a high-risk patch
Times of IndiaArchived
CERT-In issued a high-severity advisory for desktop Chrome on Windows, macOS and Linux. Builds before 151.0.7922.137 or .138 on Windows and macOS, and before 151.0.7922.137 on Linux, are affected. Attackers could run code or read data if a user opens a crafted page. Google has re
IT Ministry clears Rs 7,877 crore component projects
The HinduArchived
The electronics ministry on 17 August approved projects worth Rs 7,877 crore under the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme. S. Krishnan said 31 proposals should yield Rs 82,243 crore of production and close to 10,000 jobs. Ashwini Vaishnaw handed over the approvals. The tr
Jio brings back Prime with a one-year price lock
Telegraph IndiaArchived
Reliance Jio is relaunching Prime membership with a one-year price guarantee after Bharti Airtel discontinued cheaper 1.5 GB daily data packs. Sources said existing prepaid and postpaid users can join for Rs 300. Customers on other networks may enrol by porting or taking a new co
Soren cancels JSSC-CGL and TDPL-run exams
NDTVArchived
Chief Minister Hemant Soren on 17 August said a special Cabinet meeting had cancelled the JSSC-CGL exam and all tests, results and selections tied to Lucknow-based TSR Data Processing Private Limited. He told students the CID would probe exam mistakes since 2014. A reforms commit
BJP retains Vasundhara Raje as national vice-president
NDTVArchived
BJP president Nitin Nabin on 17 August announced a new national team retaining former Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia as vice-president. She thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Nabin on X. The list names 13 vice-presidents and eight general secretaries, incl
CBI files chargesheet in Twisha Sharma death
Times of IndiaArchived
The CBI on 17 August filed a Bhopal chargesheet naming Samarth Singh and retired district judge Giribala Singh in Twisha Sharma's death. She was found dead at her marital home in Katara Hills on 12 May. The agency invoked BNS provisions on cruelty, abetment of suicide and common
Naidu says Mega DSC had no backdoor entry
NDTVArchived
N. Chandrababu Naidu told the Assembly that Mega DSC teacher selections had no backdoor entry, favouritism or manipulation. He said even unsuccessful candidates accepted that the process was fair. Nara Lokesh said the government issued offer letters, trained teachers and deployed
Greater Hyderabad has 43 lakh names in ASDD list
Times of IndiaArchived
Greater Hyderabad accounts for 43 lakh of Telangana's 73.3 lakh ASDD electors, 58.6 percent statewide, despite 33.8 percent of the electorate. CEO C. Sudarshan Reddy said the three metro districts drove most of the cut to the 17 August draft. Hyderabad district placed 19.4 lakh n
Bengaluru father and son found dead at home
NDTVArchived
A man identified as Abhinandan and his young son were found dead at their Chikkabanavara home in Bengaluru on 17 August. His wife Harini called the 112 helpline after the family returned from a relative's house the previous evening. Police found bruise marks and no stab wounds. T
Kabini releases 13,600 cusecs amid Mandya protests
Times of IndiaArchived
Kabini released 13,600 cusecs again while inflow was about 7,747 cusecs. The level stood at 2,280.02 ft against a 2,284 ft maximum. Officials said the release served downstream needs, including Tamil Nadu. An MLA said KRS water was only for drinking. Mandya has seen protests afte
MP probe links leopard skins to NGO staff
NDTVArchived
Ten leopard skins were seized in Agra from alleged poacher Bhagwan Singh, who used the name Salim. PCCF-Wildlife Samita Rajora said the accused had links to Delhi-based Wildlife SOS. Nine people have been arrested in a joint probe by Uttar Pradesh forests, the State Tiger Strike
Odisha floods affect eight lakh as CM tours villages
Times of IndiaArchived
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on 17 August travelled by boat through inundated Jajpur panchayats and later walked waterlogged stretches to meet residents. A government statement said more than 8 lakh people have been affected since 13 August and 2.79 lakh evacuated. Over 82,0
Haryana blocks farmers' march at Khanauri
NDTVArchived
Haryana Police stopped 51 farmers of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) at the Khanauri-Data Singhwala border on 16 August. The group had begun a 228-km Kisan Bachao Padyatra toward Jantar Mantar, due on 29 August. Jind police cited Section 163 BNSS and said the march had no p
Rahul questions NTA after three NET retests
Times of IndiaArchived
Rahul Gandhi on 17 August said NTA had cancelled UGC-NET papers in English, Commerce and Sociology nearly two months after the June exam. He wrote that thousands who paid fees and travelled must sit again in September. He asked whether papers were leaked and said NTA leadership m
Next leap depends on delivering Sapta Dhara
New Indian ExpressArchived
Prime Minister Narendra Modi used the 80th Independence Day address to set out Sapta Dhara, seven streams toward Viksit Bharat by 2047. An editorial said the next leap depends on delivery, not architecture alone. The areas are manufacturing, agriculture, technology, Gati Shakti,
CEA asks for E10 to return beside E20
Times of IndiaArchived
Chief Economic Adviser V. Anantha Nageswaran wrote that restoring E10 alongside E20 would calm most public concern. Since 1 April, E20 has been the only petrol variant at pumps nationwide. He co-wrote the column with consultant Akash Poojari and marked the views as personal. LastBar Council chief cannot also speak as party MP
Times of IndiaArchived
NALSAR students opposed inviting Chief Justice Surya Kant as convocation chief guest. On 13 August, Bar Council of India chairman Manan Kumar Mishra directed state bar councils not to enrol the 2026 batch until further orders. The council later withdrew the ban. Mishra is also a
Mehbooba says she is a dimaagi Naxal
Times of IndiaArchived
Former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti wrote on X that she supports Article 370 and is a dimaagi Naxal. She replied to Union minister Kiren Rijiju, who said Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not call opposition leaders dimaagi Naxals. Rijiju listed Article 370 supporters among those
Agencies detain 253 in 14-state network sweep
NDTVArchived
Security agencies detained 253 people across 14 states on 12 August in a coordinated operation against the Pakistan-based Shahzad Bhatti Network. Union Home Minister Amit Shah said more than 200 operatives were arrested ahead of Independence Day. Uttar Pradesh recorded 62 detenti
Irani returns as BJP general secretary in charge of UP
Times of IndiaArchived
The BJP on 17 August named Smriti Irani a national general secretary and in-charge for Uttar Pradesh in Nitin Nabin's new office-bearer list. Piyush Goyal was appointed national treasurer. Ram Madhav returned as a national vice president. Nabin said the team mixed experience and
Supreme Court tells Karnataka to comply on Cauvery releases
NDTVArchived
The Supreme Court on 17 August asked Karnataka to ensure compliance with Cauvery Water Management Authority directions on releases to Tamil Nadu. Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta listed the matter for 24 August so an updated status can be filed. The bench told Tamil Nadu it
Poonawalla quits BJP, citing money, persons and middle class
NDTVArchived
BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on 17 August asked president Nitin Nabin to relieve him of that post and primary membership. He cited pressing financial and personal circumstances and a move to the private sector. A 30 July letter had not been accepted. He said certa
CJI says he never consented to NALSAR convocation invite
Times of IndiaArchived
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said on 17 August he never consented to be chief guest at NALSAR University of Law's convocation, so the question of attending does not arise. He spoke after addressing national-law-university vice-chancellors in Jodhpur. NALSAR had said it invit
Seven die in early-morning fire at Tarapith hotel
India TodayArchived
Seven guests died and several others were injured in a fire at Hotel Bideshinii in Tarapith, Birbhum, on 17 August. First reports put the toll at five or six; police later said seven. The blaze began around 4.30 to 5 am on the ground floor while most pilgrims were asleep. Injured
Two more Air India pilots return non-negative screens
Telegraph IndiaArchived
Two more Air India pilots have returned non-negative preliminary drug screens in the group's one-time test of about 5,000 cockpit crew. They were taken off flying duties pending confirmatory reports expected in 24 to 48 hours. Nearly 400 pilots had been tested since 13 August. Th
Seven women die in Lakhisarai temple crowd crush
ReutersArchived
At least seven women devotees died and more than a dozen were injured on 17 August at Ashok Dham temple in Bihar's Lakhisarai. Early wire reports put the toll at six. The crush came around 6.40 am on the third Monday of Shravan, as people brought water for Shiva. Families receive
Rijiju cites 2006 Singh line on Maoists in Dimagi row
The HinduArchived
Union minister Kiren Rijiju on 17 August said Congress must apologise to the family of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He quoted Singh's 13 April 2006 remark that Naxalism was the single biggest internal security challenge India had faced. The post followed P. Chidambaram's
Karnataka launches QR code for food and drug complaints
The PrintArchived
Karnataka Health Minister U.T. Khader launched a QR code for food and drug safety complaints, to be displayed outside hotels, pharmacies and on social media. He said the state was the first to use this route. Thirty inspection teams had checked 63 three-star and five-star hotels,
Police use tear gas as Morcha calls Punjab bandh
The HinduArchived
Chandigarh Police on 15 August used tear gas, water cannons and drone-dropped shells to stop Qaumi Insaaf Morcha protesters at the Mohali border. The march was aimed at Governor Gulab Chand Kataria's residence. The Morcha then called a Punjab bandh on 21 August for the release of
Telangana publishes SIR 2026 draft electoral rolls
The HinduArchived
Telangana's draft electoral rolls after the Special Intensive Revision enumeration were published on 17 August. PDFs are on the Chief Electoral Officer's site under SIR Draft Rolls-2026, by district, constituency and part. Claims and objections run from 17 August to 16 September.Kanwaria walks 105 km, seeks exam cancellation at Deoghar
New Indian ExpressArchived
A kanwaria from Bihar reached Baba Baidyanath Dham in Deoghar after a 105-km walk from Sultanganj, carrying a placard asking Lord Shiva to cancel JPSC and JSSC exams and order a CBI inquiry. Kanwariya Shreyansh said thousands of students would offer jalabhishek if the government
CMO calls Vijay's first 100 days Governance for Generations
The PrintArchived
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay's office on 17 August released a 100-day report titled Governance for Generations. The TVK government took charge on 10 May 2026. Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar told the Assembly the period marked a historic transformation. The CMO cited women'
Odisha shuts schools in four flood-hit districts
Telegraph IndiaArchived
Authorities closed government and private schools in Bhadrak, Keonjhar, Jajpur and Mayurbhanj on 17 August after an IMD red alert. The order covered all boards. About 5.15 lakh people have been affected across 947 villages, with nearly 2.37 lakh evacuated to about 293 relief camp