The Supreme Court on Monday questioned the CBI and Enforcement Directorate over allegations of disproportionate assets against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Justice Joymalya Bagchi asked the agencies, “If it is so serious, why has your agency kept quiet?” The court directed the Allahabad High Court to defer its August 20 hearing until the Supreme Court considers Gandhi’s challenge. It also ordered the CBI and ED not to submit any probe report to any authority in the meantime. Gandhi is challenging an Allahabad High Court order directing the agencies to verify the allegations. His lawyer Kapil Sibal called the proceedings a “witch-hunt” and questioned the petitioner’s legal standing. (PC: NDTV)

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said security forces dismantled the alleged Pakistan-based, ISI-backed Shahzad Bhatti Network ahead of Independence Day, foiling plans for subversive attacks. The Home Ministry said a coordinated operation on August 12 led to 253 detentions across 14 states and more than 80 FIRs. Officials linked the network to grenade, IED and petrol-bomb attacks, targeted killings and espionage. Security agencies recovered IEDs, grenades bearing Pakistan Ordnance Factory markings, pistols, ammunition and CCTV cameras. Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of detentions at 62, followed by Haryana with 52 and Delhi with 51. The Centre said the crackdown reflected its zero-tolerance policy on cross-border terrorism. (PC: HT)

Restaurants and bars in Kolkata may be allowed to operate for longer hours during festivals if the state government accepts a proposal from the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI). The association has sought automatic permission for licensed establishments to serve customers until 2am, instead of the current midnight limit for alcohol service. It has also proposed allowing service until 4am on occasions such as New Year’s Eve, Christmas Eve and other notified celebrations. NRAI said longer hours could boost tourism, spending and government revenue. The state will examine the proposal, particularly its impact on revenue and law and order. (PC: X)

Chief Economic Advisor V Anantha Nageswaran has suggested making E10 petrol available for older vehicles while newer vehicles continue using E20 fuel. He said India has around 75-80 million two-wheelers designed for E10, and some may face compatibility issues with higher ethanol blends. Nageswaran said restoring E10 at fuel pumps could reduce public concerns and protect older vehicles while retrofitting or replacement continues. He also rejected claims that E20 causes a 30% energy loss, estimating the impact at around 6-7%. The ethanol industry opposed any rollback, saying E20 is important for India’s energy security and reducing crude oil imports. (PC: NDTV)

A 45-year-old farmer was allegedly killed by a tiger near Valmikinagar in Bihar’s West Champaran district, triggering angry protests and violence. Vijay Haldar was attacked while working in an agricultural field near the Valmiki Tiger Reserve. After his death, villagers blocked a highway and confronted forest officials and police. Some protesters allegedly assaulted 2 forest personnel and a policeman and damaged an official vehicle. Authorities later brought the situation under control. The incident is the third reported human death linked to tiger attacks in the area in recent weeks, highlighting growing man-animal conflict around the reserve during the monsoon. (PC: HT)

Two Air India group pilots have tested non-negative in mandatory psychoactive substance screening, sources told India Today. Their samples have been sent for confirmatory testing, with final results awaited. A non-negative initial screening result does not confirm that a pilot consumed a prohibited substance. Confirmatory tests will determine whether the pilots actually tested positive. The airline group introduced mandatory screening for all pilots from August 13 after the Phuket-Delhi flight fiasco involving an Air India pilot. Sources said around 300-400 pilots have undergone screening so far, while the testing process remains underway across the airline group. (PC: NDTV)

Protesting students in Jharkhand burnt effigies of Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Ranchi on August 16, marking the 23rd day of their agitation over alleged irregularities in government recruitment examinations conducted by JPSC and JSSC. Demonstrations and effigy-burning were also reported in other districts, with protesters accusing the JMM-led government of ignoring their demand for a CBI probe. Students said Congress had promised to withdraw support from the State government if their demand was not addressed by August 15. Amid the continuing protest, the Jharkhand government has called protesters for a fourth round of talks. The agitation centres on alleged recruitment examination irregularities and demands for an investigation. (PC: PTI)

At least seven people were killed and several injured after a stampede at Ashok Dham Temple in Bihar’s Lakhisarai on Monday, amid a massive rush of devotees during the third Monday of Shravan. Preliminary reports suggested an electric pole may have fallen, with rumours of electrocution triggering panic. However, Lakhisarai District Magistrate Shailendra Kumar said an unprecedented crowd, intensified by two trains arriving around 6.30–6.45 am, caused barricading outside the temple to collapse, resulting in people falling over one another. Around 50,000 devotees were reportedly present. Police, district officials and medical teams launched rescue operations, while ambulances transported the injured. Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary expressed condolences and ordered prompt treatment for the injured.

Chief Economic Adviser V Anantha Nageswaran and Department of Economic Affairs consultant Akash Poojari have proposed restoring E10 petrol for older two-wheelers alongside E20, amid continuing concerns over ethanol’s impact on ageing vehicle components. In a column published in The Indian Express, they argued that India’s ethanol policy should look beyond whether E20 works in older vehicles and assess the broader food-versus-fuel trade-off. They said higher ethanol blending could require more agricultural land and water, potentially affecting food and feed production and other agricultural uses. The economists urged India to carefully weigh these trade-offs before increasing ethanol blending beyond 20%, highlighting the need to balance energy goals with agricultural and resource priorities. (PC: India Today)

Twenty blackbucks, including 15 females and five males, were rewilded in Gujarat’s Banni grasslands on India’s 80th Independence Day. The Gujarat Forest Department carried out the translocation with support from Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (GZRRC)-Vantara. The animals were moved from Vantara’s Jamnagar facility after approvals from the Central Zoo Authority and Gujarat’s Chief Wildlife Warden. The process followed veterinary checks, health screening, quarantine, disease surveillance and humane transportation protocols. The initiative aims to rebuild Banni’s native herbivore community, restore predator-prey relationships and strengthen grassland resilience. Blackbucks historically formed part of Banni’s herbivore base alongside chinkara, nilgai and wild boar. Officials said sustained scientific management and community participation will be crucial for long-term conservation success.