India News LIVE Updates, 22 June 2026: Uddhav calls all-party meeting after 6 rebel MPs join Eknath faction

India News Today's LIVE Updates, 22 June 2026: Get the latest breaking news on the first high-level US-Iran talks in Switzerland, the Qatar gas terminal explosion, the end of the NEET retest ordeal for students, and more, along with top headlines, politics, business, sports, entertainment and city updates from India and around the world.

India News LIVE updates: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has called a meeting of all party MLAs and MLCs after six of the party’s Lok Sabha MPs decided to back the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. The six MPs, Sanjay Dina Patil, Sanjay Deshmukh, Sanjay Jadhav, Bhausaheb Wakchaure, Nagesh Ashtikar and Omprakash Raje Nimbalkar are expected to appear with Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde later on Monday and formally announce their support.

The United States and Iran reached several key understandings during their first high-level talks in Switzerland, agreeing on a 60-day timeline to finalise a deal, setting up a High Level Committee to oversee the negotiations, and establishing communication mechanisms for the Strait of Hormuz, despite a tense start and a brief walkout by Iranian negotiators. After the first session of technical talks with the United States, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said major progress had been made to end the “Lebanon war,” describing it as the “first real test.” However, the talks were expected to continue into the early hours of Monday, according to a US official. Tensions briefly flared during the negotiations, with President Trump issuing a sharp threat to the Iranian delegation over Hormuz before talks resumed.

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Explosion At Qatar’s Natural Gas Hub: 54 Injured, 18 Missing

An explosion at Qatar’s Ras Laffan Industrial City natural gas hub has left at least 54 people injured and 18 missing, with search and rescue operations underway at the critical energy facility.

If you are just joining us, this is The Indian Express Realtime breaking news blog – where we bring you the latest news updates of the day in real time. Scan the top headlines of the day here, or keep scrolling to see the latest updates stream in. This blog is curated by Richa Shrivastava and Sneha Sharma.

NEET Retest Ends: Relief, Lingering Nerves

For students and parents, the NEET retest marked the end of a long ordeal, with most expressing relief even as some remained nervous about the outcome after weeks of uncertainty triggered by the original paper leak.

More Trouble For TMC As BJP Mulls Tabling CAG Reports

The TMC’s troubles look set to deepen further, with the BJP government reportedly considering tabling CAG reports from the last four years, adding a fresh layer of scrutiny to the party already grappling with defections. Separately, as regional parties splinter, the BJP is seeking to isolate Congress and reshape the Opposition landscape.

Qatar Explosion Adds To Gulf Energy Jitters

The blast comes at a sensitive moment for Gulf energy security, even as tensions over the Strait of Hormuz played out in parallel during the Switzerland talks, underscoring how fragile the region’s energy infrastructure remains.

Live Updates
Jun 22, 2026 01:30 PM IST
Viral video showing vehicle speeding up to 251 kmph recorded before crash

Mohammed Thaver in Mumbai reports that the Thane police on Monday confirmed that a viral video showing a BMW convertible reaching 251 kmph was recorded shortly before the car crashed on the Panvel-Vadodara highway near Badlapur early on Sunday, killing two people. Police identified 26-year-old Angad Gill, the sole survivor who remains in critical condition in hospital, as the driver of the car. An FIR has been registered against Gill on charges including culpable homicide not amounting to murder, rash and dangerous driving, overspeeding and driving without wearing a seat belt, police said.

Jun 22, 2026 12:48 PM IST
1 lakh govt vacancies says Bengal Finance Minister in first BJP budget

West Bengal Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta presented BJP's budget. Sweety Mishra and Atri Mitra in Kolkata report that all running schemes of the Bengal government will continue. The state government has under taken an initiative of ‘Apnar Sarkar Apnar Pashe (your govt by your side). Toll free numbers have been issued where grievances can be registered. Bengal finance minister pledged to fill up 1 lakh govt vacancies, 33 per cent of which will be for women. Bengal finance minister Swapan Dasgupta announced raising MLA local area development funds from annual Rs 70 lakh to Rs 1 crore.

Jun 22, 2026 12:29 PM IST
Arvind Kejriwal says he will visit Ayodhya's Shri Ram Temple

AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal in a post on X said that every Sanatani is deeply saddened by the alleged theft of offerings at Ayodhya's Shri Ram Temple. He said that he will visit the temple on Friday to offer prayers.

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Jun 22, 2026 11:51 AM IST
NEET aspirant detained for allegedly cheating during NEET retest

Sreenivas Janyala in Hyderabad reports that an 18-year-old NEET aspirant has been detained for allegedly cheating during NEET retest on Sunday. The student’s questioning revealed that he managed to smuggle a mobile phone into the exam centre, but a long toilet break gave him away, police have said. He went to the centre – Ragannaguda Zilla Parishad High School at 7 am, an hour after the police sanitised the premises and scaled the school’s compound wall, approached the washroom and placed a mobile phone near the ventilator. He then returned home, freshened up and came to the centre to take the test.

Jun 22, 2026 11:14 AM IST
Uddhav Thackeray calls for all party meeting after 6 MPs declare to join Eknath faction

Vallabh Ozarkar in Mumbai reports that Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has called a meeting of all party MLAs and MLCs after six of the party's Lok Sabha MPs decided to back the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. The six MPs, Sanjay Dina Patil, Sanjay Deshmukh, Sanjay Jadhav, Bhausaheb Wakchaure, Nagesh Ashtikar and Omprakash Raje Nimbalkar are expected to appear with Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde later on Monday and formally announce their support. The development is seen as Uddhav Thackeray's biggest setback since the Shiv Sena split in 2022.

Jun 22, 2026 11:06 AM IST
Indian markets swing high, Rupee falls by 9 paise now at 94.42

Indian share markets swung higher ​on Monday as Iranian negotiators said progress had been made in peace talks with the United States. The Nifty 50 climbed 0.5 per cent to 24,129, while the Sensex gained 0.51 per cent to 77,190.36. Rupee falls 9 paise to 94.42 against US dollar in early trade on Monday amid ongoing talks between the US and Iran in Switzerland.

Jun 22, 2026 10:42 AM IST
Mahayuti alliance wins Maharashtra Legislative Council elections

Alok Deshpande in Mumbai reports that the ruling Mahayuti alliance won 16 of the 17 seats in the Legislative Council elections in Maharashtra, while a BJP rebel candidate secured the remaining seat by defeating a candidate from ally Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.

Jun 22, 2026 10:36 AM IST
2 dead, 16 injured in bus accident in Andhra Pradesh

An APSRTC Ultra Deluxe bus collided with a lorry in Andhra Pradesh's Kadapa district killing two people, including a child and a student and leaving 16 others injured. Around six seats on the right side of the bus were badly damaged in the collision. Police said about 27 passengers were travelling in the bus at the time of the accident.

Jun 22, 2026 10:27 AM IST
3 killed in shooting at high school in Philippines

Three people were killed and five others injured in a shooting at a school in the central Philippines on Monday. The incident took place at around 9 am inside San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, in Leyte province. Police said one suspect has been arrested, while another remains at large. The injured victims were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.

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