TODAY NEWS ON August 16, 2026

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

‘Attempt to stigmatise dissent’: Opposition hits out at PM Modi over ‘dimagi Naxal’ jibe

Opposition leaders on Saturday (August 15, 2026) hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his “dimagi Naxals” reference in his Independence Day address, accusing him of using labels to target dissent, while also tearing into his appeal to parties to implement women’s reservation and questioning the linking of it with delimitation.

Jharkhand job exam protesters take out ‘Tiranga Yatra’ in Ranchi; Devendra Mahto ‘not allowed’ to leave hospital

Students protesting alleged irregularities in Jharkhand’s recruitment examinations took out a ‘Tiranga Yatra’ in Ranchi on Saturday (August 15, 2026) to mark India’s 80th Independence Day. On the 22nd day of the agitation seeking reforms in the State’s recruitment examination process, the ‘Tiranga Yatra’ was organised from the protest site of Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium to Albert Ekka Chowk.

PM’s I-Day speech — Reforms, AI skilling for youth, free online coaching and a warning on ‘dimagi Naxal’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day address from the ramparts of the Red Fort on Saturday (August 15, 2026) was replete with a seven-point reform plan called ‘Saptadhara’ along with an outreach to Gen Z youth in terms of AI skilling and free online coaching in an attempt to address the anxieties related to the post-globalisation economy.

Indonesia earthquake kills at least 38, topples buildings; tsunami warning lifted

A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia early Saturday, killing at least 38 people, collapsing buildings and homes as well as causing panic in a region prone to deadly quakes. Authorities said more than a dozen residents were injured.

BCI chairman apologises to law students amid enrolment ban controversy

Days after the Bar Council of India (BCI) tried to prevent NALSAR students from enrolling with State Bar Councils before a backlash forced it to recant, BCI chairman Manan Kumar Mishra on Saturday (August 15, 2026) apologised to law students for any hurt caused by his words or communications. In a three-page letter issued on Independence Day, Mr. Mishra — who is also a senior advocate and BJP MP — said he regretted and apologised for any of his statements or directives that may have hurt students.

Iran fires back at Trump’s threat to declare Hormuz a U.S. territory

Iran on Saturday (August 15, 2026) fired back at U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that he would soon declare the Strait of Hormuz part of U.S. territory, saying the crucial energy waterway it has blockaded “will remain Iranian”. Mr. Trump has repeatedly said the strait, which Tehran effectively closed at the start of the West Asia war in late February, is under U.S. control, an assertion the Islamic Republic denies. “The Strait of Hormuz has been Iranian, is Iranian, and will remain Iranian,” Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said on X.

Jharkhand students demand CM Soren’s resignation, ask Congress to ‘withdraw support’ from JMM coalition

Students, protesting against alleged irregularities in Jharkhand recruitment examinations, on Saturday (August 15, 2026), accused the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and the Congress of playing politics over their issues and announced that they would gherao Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s residence in Ranchi on August 20, demanding his resignation. The protesters also demanded that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi withdraw support from the JMM-led coalition if the “CM is not listening” to him.

With slogans and tears, Ujjain schoolgirls protest plan to shift government schools far away

Hundreds of school girls in Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain have come out in protest against plans to merge and shift various government schools in which they study to Daudkhedi, a location about six-10 kilometres from their respective schools, and out of the city limits. At least six middle and secondary schools from areas including Sarafa, Mahakal Maidan, Maharajwada, and Jaisinghpura are likely to be impacted under the State government’s ongoing measures to merge smaller schools into larger schools, such as the Sandipani schools, earlier known as the flagship CM Rise schools.

Magnitude 6.0 earthquake strikes Minahassa Peninsula; third to strike Indonesia

A ‌magnitude 6 ​earthquake ⁠struck Minahassa Peninsula, ‌Indonesia, ‌on ‌Sunday (August 16, 2026), ⁠the ⁠German Research ​Centre ‌for Geosciences said. This comes as a magnitude 6.5 quake struck Indonesia on Saturday afternoon (August 15, 2026), hours after a devastating 7.7-magnitude quake in the morning killed more than 40 people, CBS News reported.

Lebanon reports 11 dead in strikes that Israel says targeted Hezbollah

Lebanon said Israeli strikes on the south killed 11 people, including three children, on Saturday (August 15, 2026), the deadliest raids since deals in June eased hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. Lebanese leaders condemned the strikes, which Israel’s military said were in retaliation for an attack by the Iran-backed militant group, with one targeting a Hezbollah commander it accused of using his family as “human shields”. The strikes came as Israel and Lebanon were set to hold an eighth round of U.S.-sponsored direct negotiations early next month in Rome.

Death toll in Zimbabwe ferry capsizing rises to 68: police

The death toll after a ferry capsized on Zimbabwe’s Lake Kariba this week has risen to 68 after more bodies were recovered on Saturday, the police said. The overloaded passenger ferry run by the government’s Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA) overturned on Tuesday (August 11, 2026) in choppy waters. The police “advises Zimbabweans and relevant stakeholders that the death toll in the Kariba RIDA boat accident is now 68 following the recovery of 22 bodies” on Saturday, they said in a short statement.

Ukraine attacks Russia’s Samara industrial site as Kyiv ramps up long-range strikes

A large-scale Ukrainian attack struck industrial infrastructure in Russia’s southwestern Samara region Saturday (August 15, 2026), a Russian official said. Ivan Noskov, head of the region’s capital, Samara, said air defence forces had repelled a “massive” missile attack, with “localised damage” to the city’s industrial sites. He also said that medical assistance had been provided to those injured in the attack but did not give further details.

Street rallies held as Taliban government marks five years ruling Afghanistan

The Taliban government celebrated five years of ruling Afghanistan on Saturday (August 15, 2026), with supporters taking to the streets, while critics decried tightening restrictions in all areas of daily life. Afghans packed into cars decorated with flags and drove around Kabul on a day that government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said “will be written in golden lines in the history of Afghanistan”.