India news Live Updates, 16 August 2026: Jharkhand student protest enters day 23 over alleged exam irregularities

Jharkhand student protest entered its 23rd day in Ranchi as aspirants sought SSC-JPSC-CGL exam cancellation, a CBI probe and exam reforms.

Jharkhand’s student protest entered its 23rd consecutive day in Ranchi on Saturday, with aspirants demanding the cancellation of the SSC-JPSC-CGL exam, a CBI probe and examination reforms. Student leader Ravindra Paswan said there had been no response from the government so far, and urged Chief Minister Hemant Soren to heed the students’ concerns rather than those around him. “If you take a decision in the interest of the students today, the entire student community will stand by you,” Paswan said.

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Delhi wildlife NGO accused of poacher nexus after leopard skins seized

A leading Delhi wildlife NGO has been accused of staging a poaching seizure to take credit for it, with officials alleging it has a nexus with the very poachers it claims to fight. Two staff members have been arrested for poaching and have named the organisation’s CEO, Kartick Satyanarayan, who has been served notice to join the investigation — a case that has shaken India’s conservation community.

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Former Bengal deputy speaker found dead at TMC office

Former West Bengal deputy speaker and TMC MLA Ashish Banerjee has been found dead under mysterious circumstances at a TMC party office in Kolkata, with police launching a probe into the circumstances of the death.

Uttarakhand tunnel rescue: Blue drums used as rafts as trapped workers awaited

Rescuers improvised blue drums as flotation devices to reach 22 workers trapped inside an under-construction tunnel in Chamoli after water and debris gushed in following a landslide. The rescue operation has illustrated both the ingenuity and the precariousness of emergency response in high-altitude Uttarakhand.

India courts to decide on Sheikh Hasina’s extradition, talks on for a new approach

India has indicated that the extradition of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will be decided by its courts, even as diplomatic talks are under way to find a different course that avoids a direct confrontation with Dhaka — a delicate balance for New Delhi as it tries to manage a bilateral relationship that has been strained since Hasina’s ouster.

Pakistan’s new recruits are Indian teenagers

Pakistan’s intelligence networks are increasingly targeting Indian teenagers for radicalisation and recruitment — young people who never need to cross the border, but who are being reached through social media, encrypted messaging and online gaming platforms in a shift in tactics that Indian security agencies are scrambling to counter.

SRK, Ajay Devgn, Tiger Shroff get FDA notices over Vimal ad

Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff have received show-cause notices from Maharashtra’s FDA over their endorsement of the Vimal Elaichi brand, in an exclusive reported by The Indian Express — the most high-profile action yet in a crackdown on celebrity advertising of products associated with tobacco substitute use.

India dominate Day 1 in Galle; Day 2 begins with Padikkal and Pant at crease

India put two years of spin woes behind them with a dominant Day 1 at Galle, with KL Rahul and Devdutt Padikkal resuming Day 2 at the crease after a partnership that gave India a strong platform in the first Test against Sri Lanka.

Live Updates
Aug 16, 2026 11:18 AM IST
Britain's first Sikh fighter pilot since World War II: 'I want my success to inspire others'

Divya Goyal from Ludhiana reports that 28-year-old Flight Lieutenant Arshdeep Singh Dang has made history by becoming the first Sikh to graduate as a fighter pilot in the British Royal Air Force (RAF) since World War II. Born in Chandigarh and raised in Southall, England, Dang earned his wings on August 14, 2026, following an extensive training path that began in 2022. He attributes his achievement to his parents' encouragement and the steadfast maintenance of his Punjabi roots and Sikh values, expressing a desire for his success to inspire other members of his community. His milestone follows a legacy of notable Sikh aviators who served with distinction in the British military during the World Wars, including "Flying Sikh" Hardit Singh Malik and WWII hero Squadron Leader Mohinder Singh Pujji.

Aug 16, 2026 11:16 AM IST
PM Modi thanks Israeli counterpart Netanyahu over greetings on Independence Day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu for his greetings on India's 80th Independence Day.

In a post on X, PM Modi called for stronger India-Israel strategic ties and deeper people-to-people links.

"Thank you, Prime Minister Netanyahu, for your warm wishes. May the India-Israel Special Strategic Partnership grow even stronger, unlocking new opportunities and forging deeper people-to-people connections between our nations," he said.

Netanyahu extended his greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on India's Independence Day, describing the friendship between both nations as "boundless."

"Congratulations to India and to my dear friend

Narendra Modi on your 80th Independence Day. India and Israel achieved independence one year apart. We are two ancient nations that seize the future together to bring a better life for our people. Our innovation and friendship are boundless. The best is yet to come," Netanyahu said.

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Aug 16, 2026 11:08 AM IST
Jharkhand student protest: Babulal Marandi urges talks with aspirants

Jharkhand Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi called on the state government to pay attention to the students' demands and hold talks with the protesters "without any delay".

"The government should not remain adamant on its stance. It should pay attention to the students' demands... The government should hold talks with the students without any delay," Marandi said.

Aug 16, 2026 10:56 AM IST
Jharkhand student protest enters day 23

Jharkhand’s student protest entered its 23rd consecutive day in Ranchi on Saturday, with aspirants demanding the cancellation of the SSC-JPSC-CGL exam, a CBI probe and examination reforms. Student leader Ravindra Paswan said there had been no response from the government so far, and urged Chief Minister Hemant Soren to heed the students’ concerns rather than those around him. “If you take a decision in the interest of the students today, the entire student community will stand by you,” Paswan said.

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