Dalit and Adivasi organizations have announced a nationwide 'Bharat Bandh' on August 21, demanding stronger representation and protection for marginalized communities. The call for the strike follows a recent Supreme Court verdict on Scheduled Caste (SC) reservations, which these groups believe undermines the framework established by the landmark Indira Sawhney case. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Congress, and the Rashtriya Janata Dal have expressed support for the bandh. The National Confederation of Dalit and Adivasi Organisations (NACDAOR) opposes the Supreme Court's recent judgment, arguing it conflicts with previous rulings regarding reservation policies.

Following the rape and murder of a woman doctor in Kolkata, the Karnataka government has established a task force to improve the safety of doctors. Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao announced this decision after a meeting with medical organizations and health department officials at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru. The task force is charged with reviewing and recommending safety measures for doctors within a month, including legal protections. Rao underscored the government's commitment to safeguarding medical professionals, particularly women, in the state. The move aims to address growing concerns about the security of healthcare workers.

Internet services were restored in Badlapur, Maharashtra, after being suspended due to tensions over the sexual assault of two young girls by a school sweeper. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) will investigate the case. The assault occurred on August 13 in a school toilet, involving two girls aged three and four. The incident was reported to authorities on August 16 when one of the girls told her parents. Akshay Shinde, the accused, was arrested on August 17. Local train services on the Ambernath-Karjat route resumed after being halted for 10 hours due to a protest at Badlapur railway station.

A 47-year-old government school teacher, Pramod Sardar, was arrested in Akola district for allegedly showing pornographic content to six girl students and sexually abusing them for months. The victims, Class 8 students, reported the incident to their parents and a toll-free helpline, leading to an investigation and the teacher's arrest. An FIR has been registered against Sardar, who is accused of showing porn videos and inappropriately touching the girls for four months. The case highlights the need for vigilance and prompt action to protect students from sexual abuse.

The ‘Reservation Bachao Sangharsh Samiti’ has called for a Bharat Bandh on Wednesday to protest a recent Supreme Court ruling allowing further sub-classification within Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Dalit and Adivasi groups argue the decision threatens constitutional rights and demand a reversal. Support for the bandh includes political parties BSP, JMM, and RJD. The shutdown will impact public transport in Rajasthan, Kerala, and Uttar Pradesh, but emergency services, hospitals, and educational institutes will remain operational. No official announcements on the status of banks or government offices have been made.

Protests in Badlapur, Maharashtra, turned violent after two kindergarten girls, aged three and four, were sexually assaulted by a school attendant. Demonstrators vandalized the school and disrupted train services. Police responded with a lathicharge to clear the tracks, and internet services were suspended in the area. The accused was arrested under the POCSO Act and other charges. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde promised strict action and a fast-tracked trial. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) is investigating the delay in registering the FIR and the school's role in the incident.

In response to the recent rape-murder case at RG Kar Medical College, West Bengal has decided to bolster security across all government medical colleges and hospitals. The state government will deploy retired police, military, navy, and air force officers to oversee security. The move follows a Supreme Court directive to strengthen hospital security infrastructure. Police have been instructed to compile a list of eligible retired officers, who must apply by August 24. The Supreme Court has also proposed forming a task force to ensure safety and address violence within healthcare facilities.

Nationwide protests continue in response to the brutal rape and murder of a young doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College. Celebrities like Bhumi Pednekar, Nandita Das, and Babul Supriyo have expressed their outrage. Bhumi Pednekar called for stricter laws, stating, "We need to set examples." Nandita Das highlighted the deep disturbance caused by such violence, while Babul Supriyo, a TMC minister, urged for swift justice and supported capital punishment for the culprits. The case has sparked widespread condemnation, with citizens across India demanding an end to such barbaric acts.

Massive protests erupted in Badlapur, Maharashtra, after two four-year-old girls were sexually assaulted at a school by a contracted cleaner. The accused, Akshay Shinde, was arrested after parents insisted on filing a complaint. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the case. Three police officers were suspended for delaying the FIR. Protests turned violent, blocking railway tracks, and forcing the school to suspend the principal. The case will be expedited in a fast-track court, and senior lawyer Ujwal Nikam was appointed as the special public prosecutor.

The Supreme Court criticized West Bengal police for "running away" during the vandalism at Kolkata's RG Kar hospital. The vandalism followed nationwide protests over the rape and murder of a trainee doctor. Senior advocate Aparajita Singh informed the court that women doctors at the hospital were threatened after the attack, forcing some to leave. Chief Justice DY Chandrachud called the police's behavior "very serious" and questioned their actions during the incident. Representing the Bengal government, Kapil Sibal claimed the mob outnumbered the police, but the Chief Justice remained unconvinced, pressing for accountability.