Three state-aided schools in West Bengal’s Howrah district have been issued a show cause notice by the school education department for students’ participation in a rally during school hours. The rally was held in protest of the rape and murder of a thirty-one-year-old postgraduate trainee doctor at Kolkata’s R G Kar Medical College. Teachers and non-teaching staff reportedly accompanied students, violating regulations. The schools must respond within twenty-four hours. The notice follows a directive banning school students from engaging in political activities. The state has seen widespread protests demanding justice for the victim.

The Indian central government has approved the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS), set to launch on April 1, 2025. This scheme will offer assured pension, family pension, and a minimum pension to about 23 lakh government employees. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that employees can choose between the UPS and the National Pension Scheme (NPS). The scheme will cost Rs 6250 crore in its first year and will apply to those retired under the NPS from 2004. Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the scheme’s role in ensuring financial security and dignity for employees.

In the Kolkata doctor rape case, accused Sanjay Roy broke down in court after agreeing to a lie-detector test. Roy, who maintains his innocence, cried when asked why he consented to the polygraph, stating, “I haven’t committed any crime. I’m being framed. Maybe this test will prove that.” The district court approved the test, which will be conducted in prison for Roy and at the agency's office for others, including former RG Kar principal Sandip Ghosh. A team from Delhi’s Central Forensic Science Laboratory will conduct the tests. The CBI had previously reported tampering with the crime scene.

In Amritsar's Daburji area, Sukhchain Singh, an NRI recently returned from the US, was shot at his residence on August 24, 2024. Two armed men entered his home and fired at him from close range while his wife and child pleaded for his life. Singh suffered two bullet injuries but is now stable. The attackers fled after their pistols jammed, as recorded by CCTV. Singh's family suspects his ex-wife’s relatives are behind the attack. An FIR has been lodged, and the opposition has criticized the AAP government over law and order issues in Punjab.

Security forces in Jammu and Kashmir repelled a terrorist attack on a police post in Sopore's Watergam area on Saturday. Terrorists fired on a joint Indian Army and J&K police team. One terrorist was killed in retaliatory fire, and two others are believed to be trapped. The area has been cordoned off, and searches are ongoing. Kashmir Zone police confirmed the operation, stating that further details would follow. This incident highlights the ongoing challenges in the region as security forces remain vigilant against extremism.

A private helicopter, en route to Hyderabad from Mumbai's Juhu, crashed near Paud village in Pune district on Saturday. The helicopter carried four people, including Anand Captain, Deep Bhatia, Amardeep Singh, and SP Ram. While three passengers are in stable condition, the captain sustained injuries and was hospitalized. The helicopter belongs to Global Vectra, a private aviation company. Pune Rural Police Superintendent Pankaj Deshmukh confirmed the incident, stating that there were no fatalities. The area witnessed heavy rainfall, which may have contributed to the crash.

Nari Hira, the founder of the magazine Stardust and a key figure in Indian media, died on August 23 at the age of 86. Hira was a prominent film producer and owner of Magna Publishing, responsible for popular magazines such as Stardust, Savvy, Showtime, Society, and Health. His work significantly impacted the Indian publishing industry. His family issued a statement expressing deep sorrow over his passing, highlighting his role as a pioneer in print media and a dedicated family man. Hira’s contributions to journalism and publishing are remembered for their influence on the Indian media landscape.

Sukhchain Singh, a non-resident Indian (NRI) who recently returned from the US, was shot by two unidentified assailants at his home in Daburji village on Saturday. The incident happened in front of his wife and two children from his first marriage. Singh was going for a morning walk when the motorcycle-borne attackers stopped him outside his residence. They forced him back inside his house and demanded the registration papers for his luxury car before shooting him. Police are currently investigating the case, and the suspects are still at large.

Hyderabad authorities are demolishing actor Nagarjuna's N-Convention Centre following allegations that it encroached on the Full Tank Level (FTL) area and buffer zone of Thammidikunta Lake. The FTL is the maximum spread of a water body where construction is prohibited, and the buffer zone is meant to protect against encroachments. The demolition comes after the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) formed lake protection committees to address the city's growing issue of water body encroachment. A recent report by the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) revealed that Hyderabad's lakes have shrunk by 61% between 1979 and 2024.

African cheetahs will be released into the wild at Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh, after the monsoon season. The Cheetah Project Steering Committee decided to release the big cats in phases, starting with adults, followed by cubs and their mothers after December. This decision comes after a year of health monitoring in enclosures and field visits by officials to assess conditions at Kuno. The release marks a significant step in the world's first intercontinental translocation of big cats, aimed at reintroducing cheetahs to India.