India News Live Updates, 19 August 2026: Jharkhand protestors ask state government to reinstate exam anomaly whistleblower

India News Live Updates, 19 August 2026: Latest Breaking News From India, Delhi, Mumbai & Around the World

Students protesting against alleged irregularities in Jharkhand recruitment exams on Wednesday suspended their 26-day agitation and gave a 2-month ultimatum to the state government to resolve issues. They also demanded the government to withdraw FIRs against agitators and reinstate whistleblower of job exam anomalies Santosh Mastana to finance department.

Meanwhile, a tense situation prevailed at the Jharkhand Secretariat on Wednesday after a large number of successful candidates, rendered jobless following the government’s cancellation of recruitment examinations, forcibly entered the campus in defiance of a prohibitory order, an official said.

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In Gujarat, at least two people died and 19 others were hospitalised after allegedly consuming spurious liquor at a party in Kharakadi village of Bhavnagar district, officials said. The liquor was suspected to have been illegally brought from Madhya Pradesh. The incident occurred on Tuesday during a celebration for a participant who had secured a job. Bhavnagar SP Nitesh Pandey said the victims were admitted to five hospitals. The State Monitoring Cell has joined the probe, with its chief SP Mayur Chavda meeting senior police officials in Bhavnagar.

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.

Ex-Delhi minister Satyendar Jain produced in Court

Former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain and five others were produced before the Rouse Avenue Court on Wednesday, a day after his arrest by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) over alleged irregularities in the tendering process for the upgradation of Delhi Jal Board sewage treatment plants. The ACB has accused him of manipulating tender conditions and entering into a criminal conspiracy.

ED raids Jauhar Trust, university linked to Azam Khan

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) searched premises linked to SP leader Azam Khan’s Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust and university in Uttar Pradesh to trace alleged proceeds of crime and collect financial records and digital evidence related to the alleged diversion of government funds. The trust, headed by Khan, runs the Muhammad Ali Jauhar University and a public school in Rampur.

Bengal Hotel Fire

Nine people, including a child, were killed and six others injured after a fire broke out at a four-storey hotel on Free School Street in central Kolkata around 2 am on Wednesday. Most of the guests were asleep when the blaze broke out and smoke quickly engulfed the building. Firefighters, who rushed to the spot from the nearby state Fire Services headquarters, used ladders to break open windows and rescue guests. Nine people were taken to Calcutta Medical College and Hospital, where they were declared brought dead. Police are working to establish the identities of the deceased.

Lucknow Sawan fair accident

A Ferris wheel accident at a Sawan fair in Lucknow left two girls, aged 16 and 14, injured on Tuesday evening, police said. The girls had come to the fair with their friends and were sitting beneath the ride when a rod fell from above and struck them.

Live Updates
Aug 19, 2026 06:02 PM IST
EC revises Maharashtra SIR schedule, final voter list on November 4

Election Commission revises Maharashtra's SIR schedule; final voter list to be published on November 4. PTI

Aug 19, 2026 05:56 PM IST
Death tool in Gujarat hooch tragedy rises to 4

Death toll due to consumption of spurious liquor rises to four in Gujarat's Bhavnagar district; 18 hospitalised: Officials. PTI

Aug 19, 2026 05:56 PM IST
Union Education Minister reviews PM Modi's free online coaching initiative for competitive exams

Union Education Minister Prahlad Joshi said he held a meeting with senior officials of the Department of Higher Education to review the implementation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiative to provide free online coaching to youngsters preparing for competitive examinations. The minister said the meeting focused on developing a "robust national platform" that would give students across the country access to quality learning content, expert guidance and structured preparation.

Aug 19, 2026 05:32 PM IST
National medical body questions in SC adequacy of NTA's measures to curb exam paper leaks

The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) has questioned before the Supreme Court the adequacy of measures enumerated by the National Testing Agency (NTA) to curb examination paper leaks.

FAIMA, which filed its response to an affidavit filed by NTA, contended that the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Act, 2026 must specifically address an eventuality where persons including paper setters, paper vetters and other authorised personnel misuse that access by copying, sharing, transmitting or disclosing the material to an unauthorised person.

"Since such a person has been entrusted with extremely confidential material and has abused a position of trust, the law may treat such conduct as an aggravated offence carrying stricter punishment and penalties which are not included in The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Act, 2026," FAIMA said.

FAIMA added, "While (the) UOI (Union of India) has constituted a High-Powered Task Force on examination reforms under the chairmanship of Shri Nandan Nilekani, it has not provided sufficient or any reasoning at all on the fact as to why the recommendations of the earlier constituted High-Level Committee of Experts headed by Dr K Radhakrishnan were not followed in letter and spirit." PTI

Aug 19, 2026 05:27 PM IST
Jharkhand protestors ask government to reinstate whistleblower of job exam anomalies

Withdraw FIR against agitators, reinstate whistleblower of job exam anomalies Santosh Mastana to finance department: Protesters tell Jharkhand government

Aug 19, 2026 05:20 PM IST
Delhi HC reserves verdict on plea to include homeless, displaced voters in SIR

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday reserved its verdict on a plea seeking steps to ensure that homeless persons and those displaced by demolition drives are not left out of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the national capital.

A Division Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia said that "everything cannot be thrust upon courts" and observed that the Election Commission of India (ECI) should consider how best to address the issue.

The PIL, filed by Indu Prakash Singh, seeks a mechanism to ensure the enrolment and retention of eligible homeless and displaced persons in the electoral rolls despite the absence of a fixed address.

Senior advocate Satyakam, appearing for the petitioner, said the house-to-house SIR exercise could create difficulties for people who had lost their homes or been displaced due to demolition drives. ANI

Aug 19, 2026 04:43 PM IST
Protesting students give Jharkhand government 2 months time to resolve issues

Students protesting job exam irregularities halt stir, give 2-month ultimatum to Jharkhand government to resolve issues. PTI

Aug 19, 2026 04:24 PM IST
Amit Shah to chair meeting of southern CMs on Thursday in Tamil Nadu

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will chair the 31st meeting of the Southern Zonal Council on August 20 at Mamallapuram near here, and the chief ministers of southern states and UTs will take part, the government said on Wednesday.

The Southern Zonal Council comprises the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Keralam, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, and the Union Territories of Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep.

The council serves as an excellent forum for resolving issues and disputes between the Centre and the member States/Union Territories, the union government said.

River water sharing disputes between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and Keralam are among the ongoing disputes.

In an official release, the Centre said that the council meetings also discuss broad issues of national importance.

Amit Shah is expected to arrive here by 7.45 PM on Wednesday and proceed to Kovalam near Mamallapuram on the city's outskirts where the meeting is scheduled to take place. PTI

Aug 19, 2026 04:19 PM IST
Police step in after claims that 2 Kashmiris studying in Bhopal faced pressure to vacate rented home

Allegations of harassment, intimidation and threats against two Kashmiri pharmacy students in Bhopal prompted the Madhya Pradesh police to intervene.

The Jammu & Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) has written to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav seeking his immediate intervention into allegations of harassment, intimidation and threats against two Kashmiri students pursuing pharmacy studies in Bhopal under the Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS).

Full report here

Aug 19, 2026 03:34 PM IST
CBI arrests internal financial advisor of I&B ministry for graft

The CBI has arrested a deputy controller of accounts posted in the information and broadcasting ministry as internal financial advisor (IFA) for allegedly accepting a Rs 10 lakh bribe through his wife for clearing a renewal file of a private company handled by him, officials said Wednesday.

It is alleged that Sandeep, an officer of the 2020 batch of Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS), demanded a bribe of Rs 15 lakh from a businessman for processing the renewal file, they said.

"After negotiation, the accused agreed to accept a bribe of Rs 10 lakh from the complainant to expeditiously process the renewal file for the private company's contract, which was pending before him," the CBI spokesperson said in a statement.

The agency laid a trap on Tuesday and caught the accused officer for accepting a bribe of Rs 10 lakh through his wife, the spokesperson said. PTI

Aug 19, 2026 03:16 PM IST
SP leader among 14 sentenced to life imprisonment in Raebareli murder case

A district court here has sentenced 14 people, including a former Samajwadi Party district president, to life imprisonment in the 2019 murder case of a man, while acquitting two others for lack of evidence, prosecution officials said on Wednesday.

District Judge Amit Pal Singh also imposed a fine of Rs 35,000 each on the 14 convicts, who were subsequently sent to jail, they said.

According to the prosecution, Aditya Singh, a resident of Sikandarpur in Maharajganj, had gone with his friends to a roadside eatery on October 9, 2019. His body was subsequently found near Garhi Khas the following morning.

The police had accused the eatery owner, his son and several others of involvement in the murder.

After investigation, police filed a charge sheet against 16 people, including eatery owner Suresh Yadav, his son Arkit Yadav, former SP district president and 2022 Vidhan Sabha candidate RP Yadav, Harshit Verma, Ramesh Yadav, Atul Tiwari, Gaya Baksh Singh, Manu Bari, Jaichand alias Jhuraha, Ram Sumer alias Sumer, Lavkush, Vinod, Sachin Soni, Saurabh Sharma, Ramkrishna Yadav and Abhitej Pratap Singh. PTI

Aug 19, 2026 03:09 PM IST
Man sentenced to life for sister-in-law's murder committed at 16

A man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering his 26-year-old sister-in-law in 2020, when he was just 16 years and two months old, with the court directing that the sentence be governed by provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act.

The special court in Bahraich convicted the accused of murder, criminal conspiracy and causing disappearance of evidence in the 2020 killing of Hasreen, whose headless body was found near a canal in the district.

Special Public Prosecutor Sant Pratap Singh said the court of Juvenile Court/Additional Sessions Judge Arvind Kumar Gautam convicted the accused under IPC sections 302/34 (murder), 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 201/34 (causing disappearance of evidence).

He was sentenced to life imprisonment and fined Rs 1.20 lakh. PTI

Aug 19, 2026 03:02 PM IST
Two women held for allegedly cheating 67-year-old through dating app

Two women have been arrested for allegedly cheating a 67-year-old man of Rs 1.30 lakh after befriending him through a dating app, stealing his mobile phone and using it to transfer money from his bank accounts in southwest Delhi, police said on Wednesday.

The accused allegedly created a fictitious dating profile to establish contact with the elderly complainant, while her associate later met him by impersonating the woman whose profile he had interacted with online, they said.

The accused have been identified as Jyotsna (26), who allegedly operated the fictitious profile, and Manshi (21), both residents of Delhi, a senior police officer said in a statement.

According to the police, the complainant came in contact with a woman through a dating app and later communicated with her on a messaging application. He subsequently met the woman and her associate in Defence Colony.

"On July 24, the complainant met both women at a restaurant in Defence Colony and had dinner with them. While leaving the restaurant, his mobile phone was allegedly stolen," a senior police officer said. PTI

Aug 19, 2026 02:48 PM IST
Foreign national dies at Surat RPF post after being deboarded from train

A foreign national died while being questioned at an RPF post at Surat railway station after he was deboarded from the Golden Temple Express following an alleged altercation with co-passengers, officials said. The man, believed to be around 45, was travelling from Mumbai to Delhi when he allegedly fought with passengers and sprayed a fire extinguisher during the incident. He was taken to the RPF post after the train reached Surat, where he suddenly became unconscious and died. (PTI)

Aug 19, 2026 02:10 PM IST
Tejashwi Yadav detained as RJD protests AK-47 firing, student crackdown

Political tension bubbled over in Patna Wednesday after police detained RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav while he was leading protests against the use of an AK-47 assault rifle at a students-led protest in Siwan district last month. Yadav was detained near the Income Tax office while marching towards Lok Bhavan. He was subsequently taken away in a police vehicle. The protest was linked to the broader student agitation in Bihar over the alleged NEET paper leak and the police action against the protesters. Read

Aug 19, 2026 01:22 PM IST
Tejashwi Yadav leads foot march in Patna over paper leaks, unemployment

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav led a foot march in Patna towards Lok Bhavan, demanding TRE-4 vacancies for 32,000 teachers and a domicile policy.

#watch | Patna | Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav leads a foot march in Patna towards Lok Bhavan, raising issues of paper leaks, unemployment and problems faced by students and youth in Bihar pic.twitter.com/p74DaBdxkR
— ANI (@ANI) August 19, 2026

Aug 19, 2026 12:32 PM IST
Tamil Nadu MLAs get Rs 1 lakh allowances for cars, assistants

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has announced government vehicles for all MLAs to enable them to work in their constituencies. They will also get a monthly vehicle allowance of Rs 75,000 and an assistant allowance of Rs 25,000 to carry out office work.

CM Vijay also said that the annual coverage under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme will be hiked from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 25 lakh. Acknowledging medical care as a fundamental right, he said the government aims to remove barriers to quality healthcare irrespective of the income or location of citizens. Read

Aug 19, 2026 12:28 PM IST
Two dead, 19 hospitalised after consuming spurious liquor in Gujarat's Bhavnagar

At least two people lost their lives while 19 are said to be hospitalised in Bhavnagar district of Gujarat after consuming suspect tainted liquor that had been illegally brought across state lines from Madhya Pradesh. Bhavnagar SP Nitesh Pandey confirmed the deaths and the other were admitted to five different hospitals.

The incident took place in Kharakadi village of Ghogha taluka of Bhavnagar on Tuesday afternoon during a party to celebrate one of the participants getting a job.

Aug 19, 2026 12:23 PM IST
Ex-Delhi minister Satyendar Jain produced in Court over Jal Board tender irregularities

Former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain was produced before the Rouse Avenue Court on Wednesday, a day after his arrest by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) over alleged irregularities in the tendering process for the upgradation of Delhi Jal Board sewage treatment plants. The ACB has accused him of manipulating tender conditions and entering into a criminal conspiracy.

Aug 19, 2026 11:31 AM IST
CCTV project to sewage tenders: The cases AAP’s against Satyendar Jain

Former Delhi minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Satyendar Jain, who was among six arrested by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) on Tuesday in a multi-crore sewage treatment plant (STP) tender fraud case, has faced multiple cases of alleged corruption and money laundering over the years. The latest case is from 2022 when the AAP leader served as the Delhi Water Minister. It originated from a complaint filed by the Directorate of Vigilance, alleging serious irregularities, manipulation of tender conditions and a criminal conspiracy in the upgradation work of sewage treatment plants in the Capital. The FIR was lodged in May 2024 under sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act among others. In 2025, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is also probing the case, had filed a chargesheet against Jain and 13 others. Read

Aug 19, 2026 10:14 AM IST
Lucknow Sawan fair accident

A Ferris wheel accident at a Sawan fair in Lucknow left two girls, aged 16 and 14, injured on Tuesday evening, police said. The girls had come to the fair with their friends and were sitting beneath the ride when a rod fell from above and struck them. (PTI)

Aug 19, 2026 10:14 AM IST
Bengal hotel fire

Nine people, including a child, were killed and six others injured after a fire broke out at a four-storey hotel on Free School Street in central Kolkata around 2 am on Wednesday. Most of the guests were asleep when the blaze broke out and smoke quickly engulfed the building. Firefighters, who rushed to the spot from the nearby state Fire Services headquarters, used ladders to break open windows and rescue guests. Nine people were taken to Calcutta Medical College and Hospital, where they were declared brought dead. Police are working to establish the identities of the deceased.

Aug 19, 2026 10:14 AM IST
ED raids Jauhar Trust, university linked to Azam Khan in Uttar Pradesh

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) searched premises linked to SP leader Azam Khan’s Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust and university in Uttar Pradesh to trace alleged proceeds of crime and collect financial records and digital evidence related to the alleged diversion of government funds. The trust, headed by Khan, runs the Muhammad Ali Jauhar University and a public school in Rampur.

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