Committed to justice for protesting youth; those guilty of irregularities to face strict action, says Jharkhand CM

Talks of the seven-member delegation from the JPSC-JSCC reform Manch with the State government’s committee on Sunday (August 9) concluded after one hour. “We are hopeful of a positive outcome over our demand of cancelling the 14th Jharkhand PSC Civil Services Examination and reforms in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC),” a student leader said earlier before the meeting..

JNU cancels auditorium booking for discussion on Umar Khalid’s book: Students’ Union

A book discussion on “Fractured Communities: Adivasi Histories and the Politics of Power,” authored by Umar Khalid, scheduled for Monday (August 10, 2026) at Jawaharlal Nehru University, has been shifted from its originally designated venue, the students’ union said on Sunday (August 9, 2026). “The discussion on the book authored by former Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student Mr. Khalid is still on. It was supposed to take place in the auditorium of the School of Social Sciences, but the venue has now been cancelled. The programme will take place at another venue,” the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) general secretary said.

You will have to answer for this crime: Rahul to Shah on police ‘brutalities’ against students

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday (August 9, 2026) questioned Home Minister Amit Shah’s silence over alleged police brutalities against protesting students and asserted that sooner or later, the BJP leader would have to answer for “this crime” .Mr. Gandhi said a student told him during his “Chhatron ki Goonj” event in Prayagraj on Saturday (August 8, 2026) that he has “no options left now”. “This is exactly what a student told me in Prayagraj yesterday. Years of preparation, selling the family land, parents burdened with debt and yet, nothing to show for it,” Mr. Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on X.

BJP MP lists private Bill on social media ban for children

The debate over whether a social media ban for under 13- or 16-year-olds should be implemented or not, and amid the Union government’s standoff with Meta, an interesting intervention appeared in the Lok Sabha last week, with a private members’ Bill listed in that House by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Baijayant Panda, throwing a little light on what such a move could look like in its legislative form. The ‘Safeguarding Healthy Internet Environments for Little Digital-Natives (Shield) Bill, 2025’ was listed on Friday (August 7, 2026) but could not be tabled as both Houses of Parliament adjourned early.

UPI stays free for users, vast majority of transactions to remain free for merchants as well, says government

The government sought to shut down speculation on plans to impose fees on the country’s ubiquitous digital payments network, saying on Saturday (August 8, 2026) that consumers will not have to pay transaction charges for using UPI, while the vast majority of merchant transactions will also remain free. The government said any future merchant discount rate (MDR), if introduced, would apply only to a limited set of merchant transactions above a specified threshold and at a nominal rate, which would be lower than typical debit and credit card MDRs.

Mamata visits residence of Trinamool worker who died in police custody, faces protests

Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday (August 9, 2026) visited the residence of a Trinamool Congress (TMC) worker at Halisahar in North 24 Parganas who was found dead in police custody. Ms. Banerjee faced protests from locals who raised slogans against her and attacked the vehicle in which she was travelling. The Trinamool Congress chairperson stated that bricks were thrown at her vehicle by Bharatiya Janata Party supporters and blamed the police for the attack. Ms. Banerjee was accompanied by Trinamool Congress MPs Kalyan Banerjee and Dola Sen.

Supreme Court collegium recommends elevation of four judges as Chief Justices of different HCs

The Supreme Court collegium has recommended the elevation of four judges as Chief Justices of different high courts. The collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, decided in a meeting held on August 6. Justice V. Kameswar Rao, presently posted at the Delhi High Court, has been recommended for elevation to the Patna High Court as Chief Justice, while Justice Ravindra V. Ghuge, who is a judge at the Bombay High Court, has been recommended for elevation to the Calcutta High Court as its Chief Justice.

Mayawati opposes ‘creamy layer’ for SCs, STs in reservation, hits out at RSS

BSP supremo Mayawati on Sunday (August 9, 2026) opposed the ‘creamy layer’ concept in reservations for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, arguing that affirmative action was linked to their social transformation, economic emancipation and self-respect and criticised the RSS for politicising the issue. In a post on X, Mayawati said reservation was an “extremely important and sensitive” issue for SC, ST and OBC communities, particularly for SCs and STs who have faced discrimination, exploitation and deprivation for centuries.

Nepal PM Balendra Shah to meet Indian, Chinese envoys on August 10

Prime Minister Balendra Shah ‘Balen’ is set to hold separate bilateral meetings focusing on bilateral relations with the Indian and Chinese ambassadors to Nepal on Monday (August 10, 2026), the first such one-on-one diplomatic engagements after more than 100 days in office. After meeting the Indian envoy first, followed by the Chinese counterpart, Mr. Shah will also meet with the U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires on Tuesday (August 11, 2026).

Netanyahu vows Iran will ‘not have nuclear weapons’ with or without deal

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said on Sunday (August 9, 2026) they would not reopen the Strait of Hormuz, vital to the world economy, until the United States met Tehran’s conditions set out the day before, including compensation for war damages.Iran has imposed an effective blockade of the strait since the United States and Israel attacked in late February, and wants to charge tolls for passage, striking ships it accuses of attempting to circumvent its preferred route.

Published - August 09, 2026 06:15 pm IST