India News 22 August Live Updates: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to visit Russia on August 23

NIA raids were conducted at two locations in Anantnag as part of a terror probe. Interpol has issued a Red Corner Notice against fugitive Shariq Sata in the Sambhal violence case. Meanwhile, the Ram Mandir Trust meeting, rising sugar prices and Rajasthan’s school infrastructure crisis remain key developments.

22 Aug 2026, 05:01 · The Indian Express · Join

During the visit, Jaishankar will co-chair the 27th session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC).

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will visit Russia on August 23-24 at the invitation of Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov. During the visit, Jaishankar will co-chair the 27th session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation.

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.

Interpol issues Red Corner notice against alleged Sambhal violence mastermind

Interpol has issued a Red Corner Notice against fugitive gangster Shariq Sata, who is accused of being the alleged mastermind behind the November 2024 violence in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal, police said. Sambhal SP Krishna Kumar Bishnoi said Sata had earlier been declared a fugitive offender by a court, with proceedings also initiated to attach his property. The notice comes as authorities continue efforts to trace and bring Sata back to India.

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Ram Mandir Trust meeting: Nine-page letter puts focus on management ahead of CEO selection

A nine-page letter detailing the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, legal battles and construction of the Ayodhya temple has created a buzz ahead of the September 3 meeting of the Ram Janmabhoomi Trust. The meeting is expected to choose the Trust’s first chief executive officer amid the ongoing donation theft row.

The letter, dated August 18, has not been made public. It is widely believed to have been written by former Trust general secretary Champat Rai, though he has neither confirmed nor denied it. The letter also highlights the role of temple construction committee chairman Nripendra Misra, describing him as the final authority on construction-related decisions.

Sugar prices soar ahead of festive season as production, stocks fall

Sugar prices have risen sharply ahead of the festive season, with Dussehra and Diwali still weeks away. The all-India modal retail price of sugar rose to Rs 65 per kg on Friday from Rs 45 on July 21 and Rs 50 on July 31, according to the Department of Consumer Affairs. Ex-factory prices have also climbed sharply in major sugar-producing states, including Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka. The rise has been attributed to lower-than-expected sugar production and stocks at a nine-year low. Indian Sugar & Bio-energy Manufacturers Association had estimated gross domestic sugar production for the 2025-26 season at 343.5 lakh tonnes. After diversion of 34 lakh tonnes for ethanol production, net output was projected at 309.5 lakh tonnes.

CJP team attacked on way to inspect Rajasthan government school

Rajasthan has 611 government schools running without buildings, including 38 in state capital Jaipur, according to state government data. Of the 64,484 government schools with their own buildings, 2,047 lack toilet facilities and 1,049 do not have drinking water. Against this backdrop, a Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) team led by co-convenor Ashutosh Ranka was allegedly attacked while on its way to inspect a government school in Bagru near Jaipur on Friday.

The team was visiting the school following allegations that classes were being held in a cowshed. The school building was declared unsafe and closed last year, after which students were shifted to a temporary enclosure that allegedly also houses buffaloes. The incident has brought renewed attention to the condition of government school infrastructure in Rajasthan.

Live Updates
Aug 22, 2026 02:23 PM IST
Congress leader Amin Patel accuses ABVP of trying to disrupt Rahul Gandhi's Pune event

Ahead of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's Chhatron ki Goonj programme in Pune, Congress leader Amin Patel accused ABVP of attempting to disrupt the event and cause harm to the programme.

Patel said the city was an important place for the event. “From here, the Chhatron Ki Goonj will gain more strength and find a new path,” he said.

Aug 22, 2026 01:31 PM IST
BJP passes resolution on ‘historical legacy’ of Vande Mataram

The Bharatiya Janata Party has passed a resolution calling for the honour and protection of the “historical legacy of Vande Mataram”.

The BJP resolution condemned the Congress Working Committee’s August 19 decision to reaffirm its 1937 resolution and restrict the singing of Vande Mataram to its first two stanzas at Congress programmes.

The party said it “unequivocally opposes” the Congress decision and resolved to reject what it described as “every attempt to subordinate the National Song to communal pressure, political appeasement or narrow vote-bank considerations.”

The BJP also announced a nationwide campaign through its Karyakartas to take the history, meaning, national significance and legacy of Vande Mataram to people across the country.

Aug 22, 2026 01:09 PM IST
Dr S Jaishankar to visit Russia on August 23-24 for trade, strategic talks

Aug 22, 2026 12:21 PM IST
Special NIA court rejects bail plea of Pulwama terror attack accused Insha Jan

A special NIA court in Jammu has rejected the bail plea of Insha Jan, an accused in the 2019 Pulwama terror attack that killed 40 CRPF personnel. The court said sufficient material existed to presume that the allegations against her were prima facie true

It also held that the bar under Section 43-D(5) of the UAPA prevented her release on bail at this stage. Jan, who was arrested in March 2020 along with her father, is facing trial under the UAPA, Arms Act, Explosive Substances Act and the erstwhile Ranbir Penal Code. The NIA has accused her of being part of the terror conspiracy and providing food, shelter and logistical support to Jaish-e-Mohammed operatives.

Aug 22, 2026 12:08 PM IST
Mallikarjun Kharge questions govt over rising sugar prices, low stocks and ethanol policy

Congress president and Member of Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday questioned the Modi government over rising sugar prices, declining stocks and the decision to divert sugarcane towards ethanol production. Kharge said sugar stocks were at a nine-year low despite India being the world's largest sugar producer and exporter. He questioned why exports were halted and one million tonnes of sugar was allowed to be imported duty-free. Kharge also asked who was responsible for the sharp rise in sugar prices ahead of the festival season.

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Aug 22, 2026 12:06 PM IST
Gujarat spurious liquor tragedy: Death toll rises to 9, three critical

The death toll from the consumption of spurious liquor in Gujarat's Bhavnagar district rose to nine on Saturday, with one more victim dying during treatment. Three of the 17 people still undergoing treatment remain in critical condition, district officials said.

The victims consumed liquor containing methanol, a highly toxic substance. Seventeen patients have been discharged, while 18 others have sought medical consultation. Police have arrested 13 of the 21 accused named in the FIR registered at Vartej police station.

Aug 22, 2026 11:39 AM IST
Telangana pharma plant blast: 2 killed, 9 seriously injured in Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri

Two people were killed and nine others seriously injured after an explosion at Hazelo Lab Pvt Ltd in Dotigudem village of Telangana's Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri district, officials said. The blast occurred around 10.30 pm on Friday at the pharmaceutical company in Pochampally mandal. The bodies of the deceased were shifted for post-mortem examination, while the injured were taken to hospital for treatment. A fire official said a reactor may have exploded, but the exact cause of the blast was still being investigated.

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Aug 22, 2026 11:08 AM IST
3 steel factory employees die in fire at Ramgarh plant in Jharkhand

At least three employees of a steel factory in Jharkhand's Ramgarh district died and another was injured after a fire broke out at the plant, police said on Saturday. The fire broke out at the factory's captive power plant in Helal around midnight on Friday and later spread. Four employees suffered severe burn injuries and three died during treatment at a hospital, Ramgarh SP Mukesh Kumar Lunayat said. The deceased were identified as Sanjeev, Vinit and Abhishek. Police said the exact cause of the fire is being investigated.

Aug 22, 2026 10:56 AM IST
BJP chief Nitin Nabin holds first meeting with new national team

BJP national president Nitin Nabin on Saturday held his first meeting with the party's newly appointed national office-bearers to discuss poll strategy and grassroots outreach. The meeting focused on preparations for upcoming Assembly elections, grassroots mobilisation and communicating government initiatives to the public. The BJP's new national team has 65 office-bearers, including 51 new faces. The team includes 13 national vice presidents, including Vasundhara Raje Scindia and Ram Madhav. Former Union minister Smriti Irani has been appointed a national general secretary.

Aug 22, 2026 10:47 AM IST
NIA raids two location in Kashmir's Anantnag

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday conducted raids at two locations in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district as part of its probe into a terror case. Officials said the searches were underway as part of the ongoing investigation.

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