India News Live Updates, 23 August 2026: ISRO chief recalls India’s space journey from carrying rocket parts on bicycles to Chandrayaan-3

NDA puts joint polls for 22 states with Lok Sabha 2029 on the table. Three rescued from Chenab in Akhnoor. Panama ship sinks off Odisha. Professor uses endoscope camera to leak Chhattisgarh agriculture exam.

India News: Three men stranded on the Chenab river in Akhnoor, Jammu and Kashmir, following a sudden rise in water levels caused by heavy rains in the catchment area, were rescued in a joint operation by the police, Army and SDRF on Saturday night, PTI reports. Separately, heavy rain lashed parts of Delhi through Sunday morning, bringing temporary relief from heat but causing waterlogging in several areas.

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NDA puts joint polls for 22 states with Lok Sabha 2029 on the table

The NDA is considering advancing the One Nation One Election timeline, with a plan emerging to hold joint polls for 22 states and union territories alongside the 2029 Lok Sabha election — well ahead of the 2034 timeline currently in the Bills passed by Parliament. The House panel chief says the decision ultimately rests with NDA chief ministers, making it as much a political as a constitutional question.

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Panama ship sinks off Odisha coast with 24 crew members on board

A Panama-flagged ship has sunk off the coast of Odisha with 24 crew members on board, with rescue operations underway. Further details on the condition of the crew and the cause of the sinking are awaited.

Professor used endoscope camera to leak agriculture exam paper in Chhattisgarh

A professor in Chhattisgarh was arrested for using an endoscope camera and a needle to photograph and leak an agriculture exam question paper, in a case that reveals how technologically sophisticated exam fraud has become in India. Six people have been arrested in connection with the leak.

ED books J&K Deputy CM’s brother in PMLA case

The Enforcement Directorate has booked the brother of Jammu and Kashmir’s Deputy Chief Minister in a money laundering case — a development that will add political pressure to the National Conference-led government and test its ability to hold together in an already complex post-Article 370 political environment.

Maharashtra drafts law to rein in coaching centres after NEET leak

Maharashtra, which was at the centre of the NEET paper leak, is drafting legislation to regulate coaching centres — the first state-level attempt to formally bring the country’s vast and largely unregulated coaching industry under a statutory framework in the aftermath of the scandal.

Rahul Gandhi in Pune: ‘Boys can abuse but PM gets cultural shock if girls do it’

Rahul Gandhi, addressing a rally in Pune, attacked Prime Minister Modi over his remarks about young women protesters during the CJP demonstrations, accusing the PM of applying a double standard — one for boys who “abuse” and another for girls who do the same.

Live Updates
Aug 23, 2026 10:17 AM IST
PM Modi says dream bigger; hails Chandrayaan-3 Moon landing

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday greeted people on National Space Day. Modi urged Indians to “dream even bigger, innovate more” and explore new frontiers.

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Aug 23, 2026 09:42 AM IST
ISRO chief recalls humble beginnings of India’s space programme

ISRO Chairman Dr V Narayanan said India’s space programme began with rocket parts being moved on old bicycles. Speaking at the 3rd National Space Day celebrations in Ahmedabad, he said India has now reached the number one position in nine areas. He also highlighted Chandrayaan-3’s soft landing near the Moon’s south pole and said its scientific data has been shared with researchers worldwide.

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Aug 23, 2026 09:40 AM IST
15-year-old swept away in Delhi drain while retrieving kite

A 15-year-old boy was swept away in a drain in Delhi’s Jasola area while trying to retrieve a kite. A search operation is underway to locate the teenager.

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