Rediff

Clashes erupted between police and students in Jharkhand protesting alleged irregularities in recruitment exams, even as the high court provided interim relief by staying notifications cancelling appointments for Child Development Project Officers and those recruited through JSSC-CGL tests.

Veteran politician Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has been sworn in as Bangladesh's 23rd President, following a contested parliamentary election that saw him defeat Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmed. Alamgir, a longtime secretary general of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), will serve a five-year term.

Delhi Police detained several anti-reservation protesters at Jantar Mantar who were demanding that economic criteria be prioritised over caste for government support and reservation. The protest, mobilised via social media by 'Reservation Hatao Andolan', proceeded despite police denying permission for Jantar Mantar and offering Ramlila Ground as an alternative venue. Demonstrators called for a review of the existing reservation system and the introduction of a creamy-layer criterion.

Noted scientist Prof V Ramgopal Rao highlights India's significant progress in higher education and research but points out a critical gap in converting scientific discoveries into market-ready technologies. He advocates for a robust institutional framework, multidisciplinary collaboration, and stronger academia-industry ties to foster innovation and translate research into practical products.

Meghalaya is experiencing escalating tensions marked by arson and petrol bomb attacks on government properties, following violence during a Khasi Students' Union rally. The incidents are linked to an inter-state taxi standoff with Assam, leading to deployment of central forces and calls for peace from chief ministers.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has stated that the recent Jantar Mantar protests in Delhi, sparked by issues like NEET irregularities, signify 'failures' in the system rather than merely corruption. RSS leader C R Mukunda emphasised the need for the government to address these broader administrative and institutional shortcomings, calling for collaborative efforts between society and the government to bring about constructive change.

Clement Vandenkerckhove, a 26-year-old Belgian car salesman, has been formally recognised as the son of Prince Laurent of Belgium, ending a long-standing paternity dispute. This recognition grants him royal status and a share of his father's estate, though he plans to keep his mother's surname.

A domestic dispute over a mobile phone tragically led to the deaths of three family members in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra. A 19-year-old son, upset after an argument, climbed a hill. His parents followed to persuade him to return, but a desperate attempt to save the son from falling resulted in the father and son plunging to their deaths. The mother, witnessing this, then jumped herself.

A spurious liquor tragedy in Gujarat's Bhavnagar district has resulted in eight deaths and left 61 persons affected, with 25 still undergoing treatment. Police have arrested 13 individuals in connection with the incident, which involved methanol-laced alcohol sold under a popular brand name. The State Monitoring Cell is investigating the source and distribution network of the illicit brew.

The Supreme Court has waived the remaining life sentence of 105-year-old murder convict Rasik Chandra Mondal, allowing him to live as a free man. The decision was made considering his advanced age and health issues, making his interim bail absolute.

Successful candidates of recruitment examinations cancelled by the Jharkhand government staged a demonstration outside the state secretariat, demanding justice and the withdrawal of the cancellation decision, while the high court has stayed some of the government's notifications.

Locals in Rampura Kanwarpura village, Jaipur, allegedly pushed a Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) team out of their village during an inspection of a government primary school, claiming the school could be repaired locally and funds were sanctioned.

A 62-year-old physically-challenged man died after allegedly being pushed out of a moving local train in Mumbai by a fellow passenger following an argument over seating. The incident occurred between Mahim and Bandra railway stations. The accused was apprehended by other passengers and a murder case has been registered. This marks the third such fatal incident on Mumbai local trains this year.

A 46-year-old woman was tragically killed by a train in Bhadohi while attempting to save her 20-year-old son, who was trying to die by suicide after she refused him money for liquor. The son sustained injuries and was hospitalised.

Congress-ruled states, including Karnataka, Kerala, and Telangana, are preparing to challenge the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026, in the Supreme Court. They allege the new law undermines states' rights by restricting their powers to levy taxes on mineral resources, a claim the Centre denies, stating it aims for uniform mineral rates.

Several vital parliamentary committees, including those dealing with ethics, rules, and financial matters, are yet to be formally reconstituted. This delay affects the functioning of the Lok Sabha and the oversight of government operations.

Banaras Hindu University (BHU) has received approximately Rs 15 crore in funding from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for six biomedical research projects. These projects aim to address critical national health priorities, including cancer detection, antimicrobial resistance, and pediatric septic shock, fostering advanced research and improving patient care.

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, secretary general of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and a close ally of former premier Khaleda Zia, has been elected as Bangladesh's new President in the first contested poll for the post in 35 years.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the nation from the Red Fort on Independence Day, declared that India is undergoing a rapid transformation across various sectors and is firmly on track to become a developed nation by 2047.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his 80th Independence Day address, expressed strong confidence that India will become a developed nation by 2047, urging citizens to dream big and work towards this goal.

For the first time, 'Vande Mataram' was rendered at the Red Fort during Independence Day celebrations, marking 150 years of the national song's legacy. The event, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, featured floral decorations depicting the national flag and 'Vande Mataram', an Army band performance, flag hoisting, and an aerial flower petal shower. The article also details the song's historical significance, its composition by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, adoption as the national song, and its f

President Droupadi Murmu on Friday approved 78 gallantry awards, including 13 posthumously, to the personnel of the defence forces and central armed police forces on the eve of 80th Independence Day.

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the licences of 14 food business establishments linked to online platforms such as Blinkit, Zepto and Instamart after a state-wide inspection drive found safety and hygiene violations, officials said on Friday.

Underlining that students are the architects of India's future, President Droupadi Murmu on Friday said the government is taking comprehensive steps to reform public examinations to completely curb paper leaks and unfair means, making the system transparent, secure, and trustworthy.

A 5.5 magnitude earthquake struck Leh in Ladakh early Thursday morning, according to the National Centre for Seismology. The tremor occurred at a depth of 10 km, with further details on damage or casualties pending.

Legal experts are divided on whether an FIR can be lodged against former Allahabad High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma, who resigned after a Lok Sabha-appointed panel found him guilty of charges related to unexplained cash found at his residence.

The Centre is reportedly considering moving forward with the impeachment process against Justice Yashwant Varma in the upcoming Winter session of Parliament, despite his resignation. A Lok Sabha Speaker-constituted panel has found him guilty of possessing unaccounted cash and disturbing evidence.

Four student protesters in Ranchi, on hunger strike against alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations, are in stable condition at Sadar Hospital. Two state ministers, Irfan Ansari and Shilpi Neha Tirkey, visited the students, urging them to end their fast and assuring government intervention, while students continue to demand resolution for alleged exam scams.

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the food business licences of four Domino's Pizza outlets, including three in Mumbai, and several other chain restaurants like KFC and Pizza Hut, citing alleged violations of food safety and hygiene norms during a special drive.

An accused in the devastating 2011 Mumbai serial bomb blasts has been granted bail by a special MCOCA court, primarily due to his prolonged incarceration of nearly 15 years and the principle of parity with co-accused.

Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke has announced a 'Season 2 of Jantar Mantar' protest, alleging that the party faced pressure from the ruling BJP, including threats to hall owners, while trying to secure a venue for a volunteers' meeting in Delhi.

Former US President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Iran, stating that and quot;nothing will get through and quot; unless a deal or and quot;total surrender and quot; is achieved, amid escalating tensions and conflicting reports on direct negotiations.

Karnataka's two-month-old government saw its first cabinet expansion with 19 MLAs sworn in as ministers, leading to immediate discontent and the resignation of one Congress legislator over his exclusion.

Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor secured a significant victory in the Bankipur assembly bypoll, defeating the BJP candidate by over 19,000 votes. Kishor attributed his win to support from disgruntled members of major parties and potentially Gen Z protests, while firmly rejecting any future political alliances. He claimed the mandate was a wake-up call for the BJP-led government in Bihar and its Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, giving his party its maiden presence in the state assembly.

Instant messaging app WhatsApp temporarily put multiple accounts, including those in India, under review for 24 hours, blocking all app features. This disruption prompted numerous affected users to voice their concerns on social media, while a WhatsApp spokesperson acknowledged the issue, stating they are working to resolve it quickly.

Students in Jharkhand are protesting alleged irregularities in various recruitment examinations, including JPSC and JSSC. A student leader has launched an indefinite hunger strike, demanding a federal probe and cancellation of the 14th JPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination. The Cockroach Janta Party has extended support, and a march to the Assembly is planned for August 7.

The Bharatiya Janata Party's decision to replace six-time MLA Narottam Mishra with a rookie candidate in the Datia Assembly bypoll in Madhya Pradesh led to a significant defeat, with the Congress retaining the seat. This loss is seen as a major setback for the BJP's image of discipline, with the party indicating possible disciplinary action against those who defied the central leadership's choice.

Umar Ganie captures the blooming lavender fields, often called India's Purple Paradise, in Ganderbal, central Kashmir.

Prashant Kishor's stunning Bankipur victory has broken the BJP's three-decade dominance in one of its safest urban strongholds, signalling a major political shift in Bihar.

A female teacher in Faridabad was brutally stabbed to death by a masked man inside a private school. Police arrested the accused, Amit, within hours, who confessed to the crime, which preliminary investigation suggests was an act of revenge after the teacher had previously complained of molestation and harassment.

A parliamentary standing committee on Information Technology has demanded a personal apology from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg for the temporary removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's video from Facebook. The committee also discussed potential legal action and the withdrawal of safe harbour protection, while questioning Meta officials on algorithmic bias and accountability.

Political strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party has secured its first seat in the Bihar Assembly, with Kishor winning the Bankipur bypoll in his electoral debut, stunning the BJP in its long-held bastion.

The Supreme Court of India has expanded the scope of Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code, ruling that the provision dealing with cruelty by a husband or his relatives also applies to partners in live-in relationships. This landmark decision clarifies that a man in a live-in relationship can be prosecuted for cruelty if the relationship is in the nature of marriage, aiming to prevent domestic violence and ensure legal protection for women in such unions.

The Supreme Court has directed the Centre to ensure all roads have properly demarcated, encroachment-free spaces for pedestrians, emphasising that the right to walk on a footpath is a fundamental right.

Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan announced that the death toll from rain-related incidents has reached 15, with seven people still missing. He confirmed that the overall situation is under control, except for a few areas in Pathanamthitta, as the state intensifies rescue and relief operations. The CM detailed the deployment of rescue teams, functioning relief camps, and immediate compensation measures for victims and affected families, while also cautioning against rumours regarding dam water

Kangana Ranaut has sparked fresh controversy by declaring her intention to convert to an awakened Hindu ideology, aligning with BJP and RSS.

The Supreme Court is reviewing a Public Interest Litigation challenging Jantar Mantar's suitability as a protest site in New Delhi, citing inconvenience to local residents and disruption of essential services. The court has issued notices to the Centre and other parties to address concerns about access and movement in the area.

The Tamil Nadu government has filed a petition in the Supreme Court regarding the Cauvery water dispute with Karnataka, alleging that the water quantum allocated by the CWRC and released by Karnataka is insufficient. The state seeks its due share of water, citing Karnataka's ample reservoir storage.

Amidst opposition protests, the Lok Sabha has successfully passed a crucial bill to expand the Supreme Court's judicial strength from 34 to 38 judges.

The Supreme Court has dismissed a review petition challenging its earlier decision that no cognisable offence was made out against BJP leaders Anurag Thakur and Parvesh Verma for their alleged hate speeches during the 2020 anti-CAA protests in Delhi.