TODAY NEWS ON  August 11, 2026

News Headlines for CAT, CLAT and IPM aspirants
Source: The Hindu , Indian Exp

Colombia earthquake: at least 111 people killed; President declares emergency

Colombia on Monday (August 10, 2026) declared a state of emergency following a powerful earthquake that caused at least 111 deaths and flattened dozens of buildings, trapping more victims underneath. The 7.4-magnitude quake struck western Colombia at 7:34 a.m. (1234 GMT) and triggered a frantic search for survivors in several cities.

Jharkhand student protest: BJP calls for bandh over police crackdown against protesting aspirants

The Jharkhand BJP, on Monday (August 10, 2026), announced a ‘Jharkhand bandh’ (statewide shutdown) on Tuesday (August 11, 2026) in protest against the lathi-charge on students by the Hemant government. BJP State President Aditya Sahu made this announcement during a joint press conference held at the State party office alongside the Leader of the Opposition Babulal Marandi.

Activists question Tamil Nadu Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar’s participation in ‘pro-life’ rally

Activists have criticised Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar for participating in the ‘March for Life’, a ‘pro-life’ rally held at Stella Maris College in Chennai on Saturday (August 8, 2026) and Sunday (August 9, 2026). The event, which advocates the “protection of human life from conception to natural death”, saw Mr. Prabhakar participate in a campaign that activists have criticised for promoting a fundamentalist position on abortion and reproductive rights. Activists questioned the participation of a constitutional office-holder in such a programme and raised concern over the message this could send on women’s reproductive autonomy and access to safe and legal abortion.

11 new entry points added for foreigners to enter India: Home Ministry

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has expanded the number of international ports through which foreign nationals holding e-visas can enter the country, adding 11 new entry points, including nine land ports and two airports. The move is aimed at facilitating travel and boosting the attractiveness of the electronic visa regime. The MHA said the newly notified entry points comprise the airports at Bhopal and Tirupati, and the land ports of Agartala, Darranga, Gede, Ghojadanga, Haridaspur, Jaigaon, Dawki, Moreh and Attari (Road).

Panel reaches Jammu to study demographic changes near border

Four members of the High-Level Committee on Demographic Changes (HLCDC) arrived in Jammu on Monday (August 10, 2026) as part of their first-ever field visit to study demography changes in border areas, as mandated by the Union Home Ministry. The committee is led by former Supreme Court judge Justice Prakash Prabhakar Naolekar (retd.), who is not part of the visit.

Exclusive | Not turbulence: Air India A320 suffered rare flight-control event before 300-foot altitude drop

The “momentary loss in altitude” of the Air India Phuket-Delhi flight on August 4, 2026 – which injured 17 people onboard – was preceded by a cascade of failures involving the aircraft’s hydraulic and flight-control systems, said multiple sources familiar with the matter contradicting the airline’s initial attribution of the incident to turbulence. Flight AI 2379, an Airbus A320neo, experienced technical failures at cruising altitude nearly two-and-a-half hours after takeoff. An Airbus team is expected to arrive on Tuesday to assist with an Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) probe, while France’s aviation safety investigation authority, the Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety, will also join the investigation. The AAIB has classified the episode as a serious incident.

UPI will remain free for consumers, Nirmala Sitharaman tells Rajya Sabha

Amid the Opposition walkout, the Rajya Sabha passed the Bankers’ Books Evidence Bill and returned the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill on Monday (August 10, 2026). Countering the Opposition’s charge that the Taxation Bill proposed further burden on small traders and consumers by imposing a tax on Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said they would remain free for consumers. She added that once the Bill was passed, the National Payments Corporation of India could finalise the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR), which would be applied to to certain categories of merchant transactions. The Upper House had witnessed disruptions and adjournments in the morning too.

Hundreds of Syrian Kurds head back to border town after years of displacement

A first group of Syrian Kurds were headed for the northeastern border town of Ras al-Ain on Monday (August 10, 2026) following years of displacement, months after an integration deal between the Kurds and Damascus. The January agreement on merging Kurdish forces and civil institutions into the state included the return of displaced Kurds but residents of Ras al-Ain had still been waiting, prompting appeals to authorities for assistance.

Imran Khan’s supporters to protest across Pakistan if he is not allowed to meet party colleagues

Supporters of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan would stage protests across the country if the jailed leader is not allowed to meet his party colleagues this week, a senior leader of Mr. Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, said on Monday (August 10, 2026). Sohail Afridi, the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a province governed by Mr. Khan’s party, said in a press conference that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and key ministers in his cabinet will be held responsible if anything happens to 73-year-old Mr. Khan in prison.

Marginal increase in unemployment rate April-June quarter: PLFS

The unemployment rate for persons aged 15 years and above rose to 5.4% in the April-June 2026 quarter, up 0.4 percentage points from the previous quarter, according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) released by the Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation on Monday (August 10, 2026). The rural unemployment rate was 4.8% (4.3% in January-March) while the urban rate edged up to 6.7% from 6.6%. Among rural males, the unemployment rate was 4.8%, and for rural females, it was 4.7%. Among urban females, the unemployment rate was 8.7%, compared to 6.1% among males.

UEFA, Concacaf, AFC keep pressure on Gianni Infantino to resign

Disappointed with FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s performance as a “custodian of the game,” three powerful confederations called on him ​to resign from his position on Monday. UEFA (Europe), Concacaf (North America, Central America ‌and the Caribbean) and the AFC (Asia) joined together to ​release an open letter signed by the president ⁠and general secretary of each organisation.

Protestors reach State Assembly premises; police use tear gas, water cannons

Police used water cannons, lobbed tear gas shells, and lathi-charged job aspirants as they breached barricades and attempted to reach the State Assembly, protesting the recruitment exam irregularities. Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who has been on a hunger strike for nine days in protest against exam irregularities, also joined the march, despite losing 10.5 kg. He was seen carrying a portrait of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren.

Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2026 passed in LS without discussion

The Lok Sabha on Monday (August 10, 2026) passed the 'Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2026’, without discussion, amidst heavy sloganeering by the Opposition MPs. The Rajya Sabha returned the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 through a voice vote. Earlier, the upper house passed The Bankers’ Books Evidence Bill, 2026’, through a voice vote.

Not turbulence: Air India A320 suffered rare flight-control event before 300-foot altitude drop

The Phuket–Delhi flight that experienced a “momentary loss in altitude” on August 4, injuring 17 people on board, was preceded by a cascade of failures involving the aircraft’s hydraulic and flight-control systems, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter, contradicting the airline’s initial attribution of the incident to turbulence. Nearly 2.5 hours after taking off from Phuket at 6.56 a.m., Air India flight AI 2379 operated on an Airbus A320neo was hit by a cascade of technical failures at 9.32 a.m. IST, involving the aircraft’s hydraulic and flight-control systems.

Russia’s share in India’s oil imports jumps to all-time high of 48%, even as U.S. readies 100% tariffs

At a time when the U.S. looks all set to enact legislation to impose a tariff of up to 100% on India for its Russian oil imports, an analysis of the latest data shows Russia’s share in India’s oil imports rose to an all-time-high of 48% in June 2026. At a time when the U.S. looks all set to enact legislation to impose a tariff of up to 100% on India for its Russian oil imports, an analysis of the latest data shows Russia’s share in India’s oil imports rose to an all-time-high of 48% in June 2026.

Tamil Nadu Assembly adopts resolution for ‘Tamil Thai Vazhthu’ to be sung first at events

The Tamil Nadu Assembly on Monday (August 10, 2026) unanimously adopted a resolution for Tamil Thai Vazhthu to be mandatorily sung first before the commencement of programmes in all educational institutions, universities, government offices, public sector undertakings, and other public institutions in the State. The government resolution, moved by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, emphasised that Tamil Thai Vazhthu was an expression of respect for the Tamil language and Tamil culture.

Supreme Court agrees to Tamil Nadu government’s plea for early hearing of Cauvery water dispute

The Tamil Nadu Government, headed by Chief Minister Joseph Vijay on Monday (August 10, 2026) sought an early hearing of its application over the Cauvery water allocation dispute with neighbouring Karnataka. Appearing before Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, senior advocate C.S. Vaidyanathan, for Tamil Nadu, highlighted the deficit in allocation of the river water has left farmers in a perilous situation.

SC proposes special courts to exclusively hear CBI, NIA cases on Manipur ethnic violence

The Supreme Court on Monday (August 10, 2026) proposed Special Courts to exclusively hear Manipur ethnic violence cases investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the National Investigation Agency (NIA). A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant made a request to the Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court to constitute Special Courts, separately to hear CBI and NIA cases linked to the 2023 Manipur violence on a day-to-day basis.

Iran ties Strait of Hormuz reopening to U.S. concessions on several demands

Iran said it was nearing a final pact with Oman to define new shipping lanes between them through the Strait of Hormuz, but reiterated that the U.S. must meet other conditions, including compensation and an end to sanctions and military threats, before the strategic waterway is reopened. A U.S. official told Reuters on August 7, 2026, that Iran and Oman were close to a deal that ⁠could pave the way for restoring safe passage through the strait, a major conduit for oil and gas shipping before Iran blocked Hormuz in response to U.S. and Israeli attacks on Tehran that began in late February.