TODAY NEWS ON August 13, 2026

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

 

India’s first ‘private, branded’ train to run as ‘Sprite’ Tejas Express

India’s first ‘private, branded’ train, launched by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) between Lucknow and Delhi, will run as the ‘Sprite’ Tejas Express. After IRCTC awarded advertisement rights through train branding of the Lucknow-Delhi-Lucknow Tejas Express to M/s Sprite for a period of six months, the North Eastern Railway was told that Train 82501/82502 Lucknow-Delhi-Lucknow IRCTC Tejas Express should be announced as the ‘Sprite’ Tejas Express from August 19, 2026 to November 11, 2026, sources in the Railways said.

FCRA Bill sent to JPC amid Opposition protests; Rijiju challenges parties to cite provision against minorities

The Lok Sabha on Wednesday (August 12, 2026) passed a motion to refer the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, to a 31-member Joint Committee of Parliament for further scrutiny, amid strong Opposition protests and demands for its withdrawal. The motion, moved by Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai amid sloganeering by Opposition MPs demanding the presence of Home Minister Amit Shah in the House, provides for a committee, comprising 21 members from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha.

Centre softens stance on FCRA Bill following appeals by minority groups

The first indication of the Union Government’s softening of stance on the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, emerged on August 9, when several Christian organisations launched coordinated appeals on YouTube, Facebook and WhatsApp, urging the Centre to either refer the Bill to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) or withdraw it altogether. The appeals were seen as an attempt to provide the government with an honourable route to step back from pushing the legislation through Parliament.

Justice Varma’s withdrawal from probe cannot end statutory inquiry, says Lok Sabha panel

The three-member committee constituted to investigate the discovery of ‘burnt currency notes’ at the official residence of Justice Yashwant Varma has said that the former judge withdrew from the committee’s proceedings too late. The committee’s report, in a way, responds to questions in the public domain such as why it chose to continue its work and submit the report to Parliament even after Justice Varma ceased to be a judge with his resignation, with immediate effect, on April 9.

China says border with India ‘generally stable at the moment’

The India-China border is “generally stable at the moment”, China’s Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday (August 12, 2026), in response to queries about recent reports of rising tensions in Arunachal Pradesh’s eastern sector. When asked about these reports on Tuesday (August 11), India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said that the maintenance of peace and tranquillity in border areas was of “utmost importance”. He did not deny the reported rise in tensions since late July, in an area where both sides have been patrolling, with overlapping claims.

Kashmiri Pandit killings: J&K Police’s special cell reopens 1990 case; searches multiple locations

The Jammu and Kashmir Police’s special cell on Wednesday (August 12, 2026) carried out searches of terror suspects in the Union Territory (UT) and started reinvestigating a case of double murder of a Kashmiri Pandit father and son in 1990. Officials said multiple locations in south Kashmir’s Dooru in Anantnag district were raided to investigate the killing of Kashmiri Pandit writer Sarwanand Koul Premi and his son Virender Koul. According to the First Information Report (FIR), the bodies of the victims were found hanging from a tree in Kokernag, Anantnag, in 1990.

Former A&NI Chief Secretary said Shompen tribe must ‘adopt modern lifestyle’ brought by GNI project, alleges Tribal Council

Tribal leaders have accused the Andaman and Nicobar island administration of seeking to drag the Shompen, an isolated indigenous community into a “modern lifestyle” as part of the controversial Great Nicobar Island development project. The project includes a proposed power plant at Galathea, located near Shompen settlements.

Rape survivors don’t need court approval to terminate pregnancies up to 24 weeks: Madhya Pradesh High Court

Rape survivors, with pregnancies up to 24 weeks, do not require the permission from a court to seek a legal termination of pregnancy, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has said. A Single Bench of Justice Sandeep N. Bhatt in Indore on August 11 made the remarks hearing a petition filed by the father of a 16-year-old sexual assault survivor who sought the court’s approval for the girl’s 18-week pregnancy. The petition cited extreme mental trauma for the survivors to continue with the pregnancy.

Delhi High Court seeks clarity over Meta’s policy on access to Rights Manager

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday (August 12, 2026) sought clarity from Meta over its policy governing access to its Rights Manager tool, after concerns were raised that fraudulent actors have allegedly exploited the platform’s copyright-protection mechanism to target original content.

Seven dead, many injured in Mumbai landslip

At least seven people died, and several others were injured after a landslip struck Mumbai’s Ghatkopar area in the early hours of Wednesday (August 12, 2026) following heavy rains. Rescue operations are underway to trace one person believed to be trapped under debris. Mumbai’s civic body, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), reported it as a Level-II incident — a serious incident requiring additional resources and coordination beyond the immediate ward — that occurred at 3:48 a.m. at Gaushiya Chawl in Chirag Nagar of Ghatkopar West. The soil and debris from the hillside collapsed onto two to three houses nearby, according to BMC Mayor Ritu Tawde, who visited the site to inspect operations.

Former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji, who pushed reforms and India ties, dies of illness at 97

Zhu Rongji, the former Premier of China who played a key role in driving China’s economic reforms and transforming the country into a global economic power, died on Wednesday (August 12, 2026), aged 97. Zhu passed away in Beijing from illness, the State-run Xinhua news agency said, adding that an obituary issued by the ruling Communist Party “extolled Zhu as an excellent Party member, a time-tested and loyal communist fighter, and an outstanding proletarian revolutionist, statesman and leader of the Party and the State.”

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, youngest person to hold role, to leave at month’s end

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, the youngest person to hold the role, will leave at month’s end, U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday (August 12, 2026). Ms. Leavitt, 28, just recently returned to the White House after taking a brief leave for the birth of her second child in May. Ms. Leavitt has been one of the most visible advocates of Mr. Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement. The Republican president described her as one of his “most trusted aides” in a social media post announcing her departure.

Total darkness, then sunset as full eclipse wows spectators in Spain

Spectators across Spain watched in wonder, some whipping off their protective ‌glasses and rising to their feet in unison, as a rare total solar eclipse swept across the ​north of the country on Wednesday (August 12, 2026) evening, plunging it into darkness. Spain deployed a massive police contingent ⁠and set up special viewing spots across rural areas that offered the best views of the spectacle.

The marathoner technocrat who gave new direction to Tata Group

Natarajan Chandrasekaran, the chairman of Tata Sons, who announced his exit from the position at the end of his tenure in February next, will be known for giving new directions to the Tata Group and putting big bets on high technology-oriented businesses after taking over the reins in 2017.

Delimitation: Tamil Nadu Assembly adopts Govt’s resolution to freeze Lok Sabha seats at 543

Amid opposition from some political parties, the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on Wednesday (August 12, 2026) passed a resolution urging the Union government to freeze the number of Lok Sabha seats at the existing 543 and retain the current proportion of inter-State distribution of seats. The resolution also emphasised maintaining the current Lok Sabha-Rajya Sabha ratio of 2.2:1, while simultaneously implementing 33% reservation for women in the 2029 Lok Sabha based on the existing 543 seats and subsequent Assembly elections without any delay.

North Korea launches another missile towards sea ahead of U.S.-South Korean military drills

North Korea on Wednesday (August 12, 2026) performed its second ballistic missile test in less than a week, its neighbors said, a likely protest of the upcoming South Korea-U.S. military drills that North Korea views as an invasion rehearsal. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said a ballistic missile fired from the North’s eastern coastal Wonsan area around 6 a.m. flew more than 700 km. It said South Korea remains ready to repel any provocations by North Korea in cooperation with the United States.

Thai Government vows tougher gun controls after 2 deadly shootings near Bangkok

The Thai Government on Wednesday (August 12, 2026) pledged to tighten gun controls and crack down on illegal firearms after two deadly shootings near Bangkok in less than a week, renewed pressure on authorities to curb gun violence. The country has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in Asia despite its fairly restrictive gun laws. The two recent shootings, both in Nonthaburi province, northwest of the capital Bangkok, have intensified calls for tougher enforcement and tighter controls on firearms.