India news Live Updates, 20 August 2026: Karnataka CM assures only 5 TMC Cauvery water to be used for drinking, rest for TN

On the Mekedatu Dam issue, Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said, "Tamil Nadu and Puducherry shall rest assured; Mekedatu dam to be built for you, not us."

shivakumar, karnataka, cauvery, mekedatu dam,Speaking to the media, Karnataka CM D K Shivakumar said he has assured Union Home Minister Amit Shah that Tamil Nadu and Puducherry's interests will be protected. (File photo)

On the Mekedatu Dam issue, Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who is currently in Chennai, said the dam will be built keeping in mind the interests of both Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. He also said Karnataka will use only 5 TMC Cauvery water for drinking purposes and the rest will be for Tamil Nadu.

Meanwhile, in a big development, former Supreme Court judge R Subhash Reddy will head a High Powered Inquiry Committee set up by Supreme Coury to probe issues, including alleged use of excessive force against protestors during the Jantar Mantar protests held last month.

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Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired meeting with 4 CMs

Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired the 31st Southern Zonal Council meeting at a seaside resort in Kovalam on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram, bringing together the chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala — Chandrababu Naidu, DK Shivakumar and VD Satheesan respectively — along with Telangana’s Deputy CM Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka. The Southern Zonal Council comprises Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana and the Union Territories of Puducherry, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep.

Express investigation: Noida workers jailed 53 days on average before courts stepped in

An Indian Express investigation has found that workers arrested during the April protests in Noida were jailed for an average of 53 days before courts intervened, granting bail in 84 per cent of cases involving substantive allegations. Judges held that “mere presence is not enough to deny bail” and that workers could not be equated with instigators. However, bail has offered cold comfort to many families who face debt and fear of re-arrest, while some protesters had bail denied after the NSA was invoked and books and articles cited as evidence of dangerous intent.

Ministers handed social media report cards after Cabinet meeting

Each Union minister was handed a sealed envelope after the Cabinet meeting containing a detailed assessment of their social media performance from May 1 to August 15 — covering X, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn — with the government asking them to step up engagement with Gen Z, in what amounts to one of the most formal internal digital accountability exercises the BJP has run.

NTA to cut experts’ tenures to prevent compromise, stagger information spread

The NTA is overhauling its system by shortening the tenures of subject experts, staggering the spread of question paper information and introducing air-gapped systems — steps the agency says are necessitated by the existence of “a big mafia that tries to get experts compromised,” according to an NTA official, in a candid admission of the scale of the threat to examination security.

How India plans to count caste — and what went wrong before

India’s plan for a caste census involves open-ended enumeration — a method that has historically produced messy, contested and politically charged data, with problems ranging from self-reporting inconsistencies to the challenge of mapping thousands of sub-castes onto a usable administrative framework. An explainer lays out the method and its risks.

Structures outside Pakistan High Commission demolished in Delhi

Unauthorised structures outside the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi have been demolished — a routine administrative action, but one whose timing, in the post-Operation Sindoor diplomatic environment, has not gone unnoticed.

Live Updates
Aug 20, 2026 08:26 PM IST
Election Commission to hold special SIR drives in Haryana on next two weekends

The Election Commission of India will organise a special campaign across Haryana on August 22, 23, 29 and 30 as part of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Under the campaign, Booth Level Officers (BLO) will be present at their respective polling stations from 9 am to 5 pm on these dates to receive claims and objections from eligible voters.

Haryana Chief Electoral Officer A Sreenivas appealed to people to check the draft electoral rolls and ensure that it includes their names as well as the names of eligible members of their family.

Eligible citizens whose names are missing from the draft electoral rolls can apply for inclusion by submitting the Form 6, attached with prescribed documents and declaration. PTI

Aug 20, 2026 08:13 PM IST
UP: Waterlogging suspends train operations at Rambagh station in Prayagraj

Train operations originating and terminating at the Rambagh station here have been temporarily shifted to Jhunsi station due to waterlogging on the tracks after heavy rains in the city, officials said on Thursday.

"Prayagraj city is flooded following heavy rainfall over the last 24 hours. Rambagh station is located in a low-lying area and water has accumulated in its yard. Efforts are being made to drain the water, but it is flowing back," North Eastern Railway Chief Public Relations Officer Sumit Kumar told PTI.

He said efforts to drain the water were continuing and the four passenger trains that normally originate and terminate at Rambagh were, for the time being, being operated from Jhunsi. PTI

Aug 20, 2026 07:44 PM IST
Karnataka ‘poacher’ killings: Forensics indicate men shot from close range, witness goes ‘missing’

He is reminded of the time Veerappan ruled the roost in the area 20 years ago, says Perinayaka, 78. With his son Anthony Swamy among the three alleged poachers killed in an encounter in Hanur in the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, he says: “There was violence then and fear, bullets prevailed… Now, after two decades, it is haunting us again. We fear for our lives.”

All the three who were killed, in the wee hours of August 15 – Anthony, 50, his brother-in-law Sebatian David Kumar, 35, and John Rose Peter, 43 – belonged to Mariyamangala, a small hamlet with less than 25 houses located on the fringes of the wildlife sanctuary. The one who survived and a witness to the incident, Joseph Mahima Das, was found admitted to a hospital later, and is now “missing”.

Read the full report here

Aug 20, 2026 06:49 PM IST
Man stabbed to death in Delhi's Dayalpur, old rivalry suspected

A man was stabbed to death in the Dayalpur area here on Thursday, with police suspecting an old rivalry behind the killing, police sources said.

They identified the deceased as Aakash, a resident of Karawal Nagar.

Police said they received information around 6:30 am that a man was lying injured near Sher Chowk, rushed a team to the spot and found Aakash in a pool of blood.

He was taken to GTB Hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead, said the source.

Preliminary investigation suggested that Aakash had suffered a single injury to his neck caused by a sharp-edged weapon. The exact motive behind the killing is yet to be ascertained. PTI

Aug 20, 2026 06:23 PM IST
US Ambassador Sergio Gor arrives in Ladakh on maiden visit, undertakes river rafting

US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, on his maiden tour of Ladakh, undertook a river-rafting activity on Thursday at the confluence of the Zanskar and Indus rivers at Sangam, officials said here.

His Ladakh itinerary focused on experiencing the Union Territory's distinctive landscape and rich cultural heritage.

The US envoy arrived in Srinagar earlier on Wednesday and called on Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at his residence. During a joint media briefing, the US envoy described Jammu and Kashmir as an important part of India and praised the region for its natural beauty.

Gor also said that the US would reconsider its travel advisories concerning Jammu and Kashmir in view of measures taken by the central government and the Omar Abdullah-led administration to improve the security situation and make the region safer for visitors. PTI

Aug 20, 2026 06:09 PM IST
UGC caste discrimination guidelines under review: Centre to Supreme Court

The Centre on Thursday told the Supreme Court that it is reconsidering the controversial University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations aimed at preventing caste discrimination in higher education institutions — rules that have put the government in a politically difficult position by drawing objections from both upper-caste groups and sections of Dalit and OBC communities.

Read the full report here

Aug 20, 2026 05:54 PM IST
Expired products, non-permitted colours found in food establishments at Railway stations

A special inspection conducted by the Food Safety and Drug Administration department of Karnataka at food establishments in 36 railway stations on Thursday revealed the suspected use of non-permitted colours in sweets, expired dairy products and food items, and fungal growth in vegetables.

The inspection was conducted at 112 food establishments at Bengaluru City Railway station (KSR), Yeshwanthpura, Krishna Raja Puram, Yelahanka, Kolar, Mysuru, Haveri, Udupi, Koppal, Gadag, Davanagere, Bagalkote, Karwar, Yadgiri, Berur and Kadur junction, Ballari, Hospet, Hubaballi and Mangaluru, a statement from the food safety department said.

The teams inspected the railway pantry, railway hotel and food served on the train. PTI

Aug 20, 2026 05:43 PM IST
Centre's policies affecting every section of country, says Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren says, "Centre's new policies are affecting every section of the country including issues such as paper leaks, amendments to MMDR law, and delimitation in the state."

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Aug 20, 2026 05:38 PM IST
Made commitment in Amit Shah''s presence to protect interests of TN, Puducherry: Karnataka CM Shivakumar

Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday said that he has given a commitment in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah that the interests of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry will be protected in the proposed Mekedatu dam issue.

Speaking to reporters after taking part in the southern CMs meeting, Shivakumar said he has favoured a separate meeting to amicably settle water-sharing issues.

Except for using 5 TMC for drinking water requirements, the rest of the water stored in the proposed Mekedatu dam will be for Tamil Nadu, he said.

"The dam will be built only for you, not us," he said, addressing Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. PTI

Aug 20, 2026 05:05 PM IST
Protests intensifies in Cauvery basin over release of water from KRS to Tamil Nadu

Protests intensified in the Cauvery basin, especially in Mandya on Thursday, as farmers alleged that a huge amount of water is being released from the KRS dam to Tamil Nadu.

The Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) had upheld the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee's (CWRC) recommendation of releasing 12,000 cusecs of water for 15 days starting from August 12.

The Tamil Nadu government has approached the Supreme Court seeking a direction for Karnataka to respect the CWMA's order, sources said.

At Sanjay Circle in Mandya, farmers staged sit-in demonstration. Kannada Sena activists extended support to the farmers' organisation's protest and blocked the old Bengaluru-Mysuru highway. PTI

Aug 20, 2026 04:52 PM IST
Jharkhand HC stays cancellation of 11th–13th JPSC exams, protects appointments

The Jharkhand High Court stays the Hemant Soren government’s decision to cancel the 11th–13th Jharkhand Combined Civil Services examination.

This came days after the state government decided to cancel 21 exams – including the 11th–13th JPSC – over alleged irregularities, leading protestors to call off the 26-day agitation and hunger strike.

This means that the high court has stayed the operation of notifications cancelling appointments of govt employees hired through 11th to 13th JPSC exams.

Aug 20, 2026 04:42 PM IST
SC sets up 5-member probe panel to investigate 'use of excessive force' against Jantar Mantar protestors

A High-Powered Inquiry Committee has been set up by the Supreme Court to probe the alleged used of excessive force on protestors during the Jantar Mantar agitation last month. The five-member committee will be headed by former Supreme Court judge R Subhash Reddy. The panel will also include former Punjab and Haryana Chief Justice Ravi Shankar Jha, former Delhi High Court judge Shalinder Kaur, former CBI Director Rishi Kumar Shukla and retired Meghalaya DGP L R Bishnoi.

Aug 20, 2026 04:33 PM IST
Leopard dies after caught in trap set for wild boar in Keralam

A leopard that fell into a trap set on an agricultural land for wild boars died after an attempt to rescue the animal at Maloor here on Thursday.

According to Forest officials, the incident took place on the agricultural land of Ramakrishnan in KPR Nagar, Maloor.

The trap was set after wild boars repeatedly raided crops in the area.

However, in the early morning, locals noticed an unusual noise and, upon checking the area, found a leopard caught in the trap.

The Kottiyoor Forest Range Office was soon informed, officials said.

By afternoon, forest officials darted the animal to tranquilise it before freeing it from the trap.

However, the leopard, which had sustained injuries, succumbed upon being shifted to the nearby forest station, they said. PTI

Aug 20, 2026 04:21 PM IST
Punjab bandh on Friday: Schools, markets, roads likely to be affected

Punjab is likely to witness disruptions on Friday as the Qaumi Insaaf Morcha has called a seven-hour bandh from 7 am to 2 pm demanding the release of Sikh prisoners, or "bandi Singhs", who remain in jails despite completing their sentences.

The bandh has received support from several farmer and Sikh organisations, including the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) and two breakaway factions of the Shiromani Akali Dal.

Aug 20, 2026 03:50 PM IST
Himanta discusses Assam flood rehabilitation with Modi, PM offers full support

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday discussed rehabilitation measures for flood victims with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who reiterated his commitment to give full support to overcome the crisis.

Sarma met Modi in New Delhi during the day and also discussed other issues on completion of 100 days of his second term in office.

"Throughout the #assamfloodresponse, Adarniya Modi Ji remained in constant touch, closely reviewing the situation and extending every possible assistance," Sarma said in a social media post.

The CM said he shared with Modi the Assam government's roadmap for the next phase -- rebuilding affected areas, restoring livelihoods and ensuring a comprehensive recovery. PTI

Aug 20, 2026 03:49 PM IST
Cancer therapy breakthrough: Vaccine cuts skin cancer recurrence risk in landmark trial

For much of modern medicine, vaccines have been associated with preventing infections. Cancer presents a very different challenge: it is not an invading virus or bacteria but a body’s own cells that have gone rogue. Scientists are now trying to turn that very fact to their advantage and hunting them down.

Full report here

Aug 20, 2026 03:34 PM IST
Indian caregiver killed in Israel, employer's grandson arrested

A 31-year-old man has been arrested by Israeli authorities for the killing of an Indian national last month, with officials saying an investigation is underway to establish the full facts and circumstances. A 40-year-old nursing caregiver from West Bengal’s Kalimpong was stabbed to death on July 23 at the house of his employers in Jerusalem.

Read full report here

Aug 20, 2026 03:18 PM IST
Manipur government will move to discuss NRC in forthcoming assembly session: CM

Manipur Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh on Thursday said his government will move to discuss the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state in the upcoming assembly session beginning on September 2, an official statement said.

Singh gave the assurance during a meeting at the Chief Minister's Secretariat here with a student delegation, which demanded the implementation of NRC before conduct of Census 2027.

The students demanded that Singh pressurise the Centre to implement NRC before the conduct of the Census for detection of illegal immigrants. The delegation also urged the CM to initiate a discussion on the issue in the forthcoming assembly session, it said. PTI

Aug 20, 2026 03:15 PM IST
CRPF forms 'core group' of top officers to prevent suicides incidents

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has constituted a 10-member 'core group' comprising its senior officers to work on preventing incidents of "self-harm" among its personnel, after the country's largest paramilitary force recorded 59 suicides in 2025 -- the highest in the last five years. PTI

Aug 20, 2026 03:14 PM IST
Delhi Police arrests interstate arms smuggler, recover 10 illegal firearms

An interstate arms smuggler was arrested by the Delhi Police Special Cell, and 10 illegal firearms were recovered from his possession, an officer said on Thursday.

The accused, Prem Singh Rathod, 33, was allegedly working as a carrier for an arms syndicate operating from Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh. He was supplying firearms to criminal gangs and prospective buyers in Delhi-NCR and other states, he said.

Rathod was arrested on August 8 near Shankar Vihar Bus Stand on National Highway-48 while he was on his way to deliver a consignment of weapons, he said, adding that firearms were recovered during his search.

The recovered weapons include a 9-mm Zigana pistol, four 7.65-mm semi-automatic pistols and five (dot)315-bore single-shot pistols, police said.

A team developed intelligence about the syndicate and laid a trap after receiving specific information about the movement of the consignment, said the police officer.

An FIR was registered at the Special Cell police station, and further investigation is underway. PTI

Aug 20, 2026 03:07 PM IST
Rajnath, Koizumi agree to enhance cooperation in maritime security, sign pact on Maritime Security Cooperation

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Japanese counterpart Shinjiro Koizumi agreed on Thursday to enhance operational cooperation in maritime security. This includes strengthening coordination between the two nations to protect the Sea Lines of Communication. A Memorandum of Arrangement on Maritime Security Cooperation was signed by the Ministry of Defence of Japan and the Ministry of Defence of India.

The Memorandum provides a framework for further advancing cooperation between the two countries on maritime security and includes the strengthening of cooperation between the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Indian Navy, including information sharing in the field of Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA), as well as enhanced cooperation in areas such as Search and Rescue (SAR) and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR).

Aug 20, 2026 02:13 PM IST
52 arrested in 12 cases linked to alleged Shahzad Bhatti network

Uttar Pradesh Police have registered 12 cases and arrested 52 people in connection with an alleged Shahzad Bhatti network, officials said on Thursday. The network is accused of radicalising youths through social media and encouraging attacks on religious and political leaders and sensitive establishments. According to police, the network allegedly operated on the directions of Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI and Pakistani gangster Shahzad Bhatti. Police said the network recruited Indian youths through social media by offering money and work before allegedly radicalising them. The ATS and STF, along with central agencies, examined around 175 suspects during coordinated operations on May 26. Police said pistols, live cartridges, knives, inflammable liquid and objectionable posters were recovered during the investigation.

Aug 20, 2026 02:02 PM IST
Daylight shooting in posh Lucknow area: Man kills wife, sister, himself

A man shot his wife, a private bank official, dead in Lucknow’s Gomti Nagar area in a daylight shooting on Thursday, before allegedly shooting his sister and himself minutes later, police said.

Aug 20, 2026 01:56 PM IST
Amit Shah calls Congress decision to sing 2 stanzas of ‘Vande Mataram’ anti-national

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday criticised the Congress for deciding to sing only two stanzas of ‘Vande Mataram’, calling the move “anti-national” and an “open defiance of law”. Shah alleged that Congress had fragmented ‘Vande Mataram’ into two parts in 1937 for “appeasement”. He accused the party, under Rahul Gandhi's leadership, of following the same path for vote-bank politics. Shah said the country had suffered the consequences of the earlier decision and urged people to oppose what he described as Congress's “appeasement” politics.

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Aug 20, 2026 12:59 PM IST
CJP chief Abhijeet Dipke demands Maharashtra minister's resignation over govt school conditions

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) convenor Abhijeet Dipke on Thursday demanded the resignation of Maharashtra School Education Minister Dada Bhuse, alleging that government schools were in a poor condition. Dipke made the remarks after visiting a Zilla Parishad school in Ujani village in Latur's Ausa tehsil. He alleged that several government schools lacked basic facilities, including proper classrooms, benches, toilets and safe access roads. Dipke said elected representatives and ministers should be held accountable for the condition of government schools. He also urged ministers and MLAs to send their own children to government schools to understand the problems faced by students.

Aug 20, 2026 12:36 PM IST
17 alleged Bangladeshi infiltrators stopped from entering Assam

Assam Police prevented 17 alleged Bangladeshi infiltrators from entering the state in the early hours of Thursday, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. Sarma said those entering Assam legally were welcome, but people attempting to enter without valid documents would be sent back. The chief minister did not specify where the 17 people were intercepted. Assam has maintained a high alert along the India-Bangladesh border to prevent illegal entry. The BSF has also intensified surveillance along the 1,885-km India-Bangladesh border in the Northeast.

Aug 20, 2026 12:00 PM IST
Prayagraj rains: Train operations shifted from Rambagh to Jhunsi

Train operations originating and terminating at North Eastern Railway's Rambagh station in Prayagraj have been temporarily shifted to Jhunsi due to waterlogging after heavy rains. Four passenger trains that normally operate from Rambagh are currently being run from Jhunsi, officials said. North Eastern Railway said Rambagh is located in a low-lying area and water has accumulated in its yard. Efforts are underway to drain the water, but officials said it was flowing back. There was no waterlogging reported at Prayagraj Junction, Naini or Prayagraj Chheoki stations, where trains were running as scheduled.

Aug 20, 2026 11:14 AM IST
Bhubaneswar drivers' protest: 113 arrested, 354 vehicles seized over violence

Odisha Police have arrested 113 people for their alleged involvement in violence during a protest by app-based cab and auto-rickshaw drivers and motorcycle riders in Bhubaneswar. Another 60 detained protesters were released on bonds of good behaviour, police said. A total of 354 vehicles were also seized for alleged violations. Seven FIRs have been registered at Kharvel Nagar police station in connection with the violence. The protesters had begun a cease-work on August 17, demanding fare hikes, lower app fees, social security and other benefits. The agitation turned violent after protesters allegedly pelted police with stones and vandalised three police vans and several buses. At least 13 police personnel were injured in the clashes, including the inspector-in-charge of Capital police station in Bhubaneswar.

Aug 20, 2026 11:02 AM IST
Kerala Governor reacts to Kerala University VC's ‘cockroaches’ and ‘lions’ remarks

Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on Thursday reacted to remarks by Kerala University Vice-Chancellor Dr Mohanan Kunnummal, who had used the terms "cockroaches" and "lions" while addressing students. Arlekar said he was unaware of the context in which Kunnummal had made the remarks. The Governor also used the analogy while speaking about what people should aspire to become, saying he did not want to be like "other cockroaches". Arlekar clarified that his remarks were not related to the ongoing student protests at Jantar Mantar. Kunnummal had earlier urged students to reject the description of young people as "cockroaches" and instead see themselves as "lions" representing the strength of the country.

Aug 20, 2026 10:55 AM IST
Amit Shah chairs 31st Southern Zonal Council meeting in Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday chaired the 31st Southern Zonal Council meeting in Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan and Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka attended the meeting. The meeting brought together senior leaders from the southern states to discuss key regional issues.

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Aug 20, 2026 10:47 AM IST
India urges UN Security Council to avoid politicising terror sanctions

India has urged the UN Security Council not to allow its membership by nation states to pursue narrow political interests or "legitimise" terrorists through the sanctions process. Speaking at a Security Council open debate on working methods, India's Charge d'Affaires at the UN, Ambassador Yojna Patel, called for greater transparency and objectivity in the listing and de-listing of terrorists and terror groups. Patel said terrorists should not be removed from sanctions lists, or other entities added to them, solely on political considerations and without objective criteria or supporting evidence. India has repeatedly raised concerns over the opaque decision-making process of UNSC sanctions committees.

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