National News: Latest India Updates

Naxal means people who want to change system; nothing wrong in it, says Trinamool MP

IANS | August 17, 2026 4:59 PM

Kolkata, Aug 17 (IANS) Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy on Monday defended former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti after she described herself as a "dimagi Naxal", arguing that the term "Naxal (Maoist)" refers to people who want to "change the existing system" and questioning why such views should be considered objectionable in a democratic country.

Shivraj Singh Chouhan to lead ‘Sapt Dhara of Shakti’ pledge

IANS | August 17, 2026 4:14 PM

New Delhi, Aug 17 (IANS) Union Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan will administer a pledge to officials of both ministries at the Pusa campus in the national capital on Tuesday, following the 'Sapt Dhara of Shakti' initiative outlined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day address, according to an official statement issued on Monday.

'Their hearts never truly beat for nation': Sadhvi Ritambhara criticises Sonia Gandhi over ‘Vande Mataram’ row

IANS | August 17, 2026 4:10 PM

Mathura, Aug 17 (IANS) Padma Bhushan Sadhvi Ritambhara on Monday slammed Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi over an alleged incident during the rendition of the National Song ‘Vande Mataram’ at the Congress headquarters in New Delhi on Independence Day, saying that it amounted to a grave insult. She further said that their hearts have never truly beat for the nation.

Nothing could be more shameful: BJP, JD(U) slam Congress, Sonia over 'objections' to full recitation of Vande Mataram

IANS | August 17, 2026 3:59 PM

New Delhi, Aug 17 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and JD (U) leaders came down heavily on the Congress party as well as Sonia Gandhi over objecting to the recitation of the National Song Vande Mataram, during the Independence Day celebrations at Indira Bhavan, the party headquarters. Taking objection to their conduct, the ruling alliance leaders said that nothing could be more shameful than this.

BJP President Nitin Nabin unveils new team, Vasundhara Raje among Vice Presidents, Smriti Irani General Secretary

IANS | August 17, 2026 3:53 PM

New Delhi, Aug 17 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Nitin Nabin on Monday unveiled his new team, with former Chief Ministers Vasundhara Raje (Rajasthan) and Tirath Singh Rawat (Uttarakhand) and Ram Madhav among the Vice Presidents and former Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb and former Union Minister Smriti Irani among the General Secretaries.

Delhi cops arrest AAP leader from Gwalior for ‘encroaching’ Dalit colleague’s property

IANS | August 17, 2026 3:48 PM

New Delhi, Aug 17 (IANS) Aam Aadmi Party's National Council Member Sri Chand Vohra was arrested by Delhi Police from Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, for alleged encroachment of the property of his party’s Dalit worker in south-east Delhi’s Jaitpur Extension, sources said on Monday.

Destroyed ISI-backed Shahzad Bhatti Network ahead of I-Day, arrested 200 operatives: HM Amit Shah

IANS | August 17, 2026 3:46 PM

New Delhi, Aug 17 (IANS) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday announced that the Indian security forces dismantled the ISI-backed Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN) ahead of Independence Day, by thwarting the terror group's plan of carrying out attacks.

Amid rising public debt, Maharashtra strives to chase $1 trillion economy target

Sanjay Jog | August 17, 2026 3:30 PM

Mumbai, Aug 17 (IANS) Maharashtra’s ballooning public debt reaching Rs 9.37 lakh crore, has placed it second in absolute terms behind Tamil Nadu.

BJP hits back at Chidambaram over 'Dimagi Naxal' remark, says Modi govt decisively eradicated Maoism

IANS | August 17, 2026 3:22 PM

New Delhi, Aug 17 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a scathing attack at senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram on Monday, over his remark that he was "proud to be a dimagi Naxal", asserting that the Maoism problem, which the Congress-led UPA governments had failed to eradicate, was brought decisively under control under Narendra Modi government.

World Bank warns Pakistan over diverting funds meant for flood-hit poor in Balochistan

IANS | August 17, 2026 3:21 PM

New Delhi, Aug 17 (IANS) Expressing serious displeasure, the World Bank has warned the Pakistan government that redirecting funds from a multi-billion-rupee resilient housing programme for the flood-affected population in Balochistan to infrastructure projects would further aggravate poverty in the state, according to a report in the Pakistani media.

national

Naxal means people who want to change system; nothing wrong in it, says Trinamool MP

Shivraj Singh Chouhan to lead ‘Sapt Dhara of Shakti’ pledge

'Their hearts never truly beat for nation': Sadhvi Ritambhara criticises Sonia Gandhi over ‘Vande Mataram’ row

Nothing could be more shameful: BJP, JD(U) slam Congress, Sonia over 'objections' to full recitation of Vande Mataram

BJP President Nitin Nabin unveils new team, Vasundhara Raje among Vice Presidents, Smriti Irani General Secretary

Delhi cops arrest AAP leader from Gwalior for ‘encroaching’ Dalit colleague’s property

Destroyed ISI-backed Shahzad Bhatti Network ahead of I-Day, arrested 200 operatives: HM Amit Shah

Amid rising public debt, Maharashtra strives to chase $1 trillion economy target

BJP hits back at Chidambaram over 'Dimagi Naxal' remark, says Modi govt decisively eradicated Maoism

World Bank warns Pakistan over diverting funds meant for flood-hit poor in Balochistan

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