NEWS & VIEWS|||SARASIJ|||24-08-2026

 

NEWS & VIEWS|||SARASIJ|||24-08-2026

MONDAY| VOL—IV/2026/AUGUST

OPINIONATED, FOR FREE CIRCULATION.

श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुण: परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् |

स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेय: परधर्मो भयावह: ||

This  verse appear twice in GEETA—first in Chapter 3, Verse 35 and later reiterated in Chapter 18, Verse 47.

Explanation: Lord Krishna teaches Arjuna that being successful  in an artificial, copied life leaves the soul completely hollow.

 Conversely, following your own true path brings genuine spiritual evolution and peace.

INDIA: (GOI, SWARAJYA, VISHWAMITRA, HINDU POST, INDIA TODAY).

PM Modi urges private space sector to build global aura of innovation as India celebrates National Space Day.

Ministry of Tribal Affairs to organize a three-day National Conclave on Tribal Languages and Museums till Wednesday in Mysuru, Karnataka. The Conclave will bring together a national dialogue on the documentation, preservation and revitalization of tribal languages.

The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and Cultus Education have announced the launch of a nationwide cloud and Artificial Intelligence skilling initiative in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS).

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has clarified that no new strain of H1N1 commonly known as Swine flu, has been identified and there is no cause for panic, assuring that current vaccines remain effective. According to senior scientists at the ICMR, these viruses have been in circulation since the year 2025.

The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through Sikkim’s Nathu La route concluded today with 464 pilgrims completing the pilgrimage in 10 batches. The yatra, which began on 20th June, concluded with the return of the final batch of pilgrims to Gangtok.

BENGAL FILES:

Annapurna Yojana Protests: West Bengal BJP president Shamik Bhattacharya attributed the severe delays in disbursing benefits under the Annapurna Yojana scheme to "system problems" and alleged "attempts at sabotage".

Law and Order Mandate: West Bengal Panchayat Minister Dilip Ghosh declared that the state government has given a free hand to the police to tackle local gangsters, asserting that the state's notorious "threat culture" is officially a thing of the past.

Demands for Municipal Action: BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul met with district leaders at the Asansol Circuit house to formally request Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to swiftly appoint Member, Mayor-in-Council (MMICs) and Borough In charges for the Asansol Municipal Corporation to restart delayed local development work.

Gorkha Issue Resolution: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has officially formed a dedicated panel to draft a final agreement to provide a "permanent political solution" to the long-standing  Darjeeling hill issues.

Nationalism Mandate: Chief Minister Shuvendu Adhikari sparked political debates by stating that anyone living in West Bengal must sing 'Vande Mataram', while reinforcing plans to table comprehensive CAG audit reports inspecting the previous administration's spending.

Campus Tensions & Law Enforcement: Jadavpur University Clashes: Tensions remain high at Kolkata's Jadavpur University following severe clashes between the Left student unions (SFI) and the ABVP. The appointed chief of the university's internal inquiry panel has declined the position due to intense opposition from RSS-affiliated groups. National Security Arrests: The West Bengal Special Task Force (STF) arrested three individuals in Cooch Behar, including a local political leader's brother, over suspected links to Pakistan's ISI intelligence agency.

Economic Strategy Discussions: Experts and stakeholders addressed Bengal's long-term economic revitalisation, stressing the urgent need to rebuild educational infrastructures and draw "iconic investments" to reverse the historic economic decline.

WORLD: (REUTER, AP, AFP, BLOOMBERG, CNN, WP)

BrahMos Aerospace has formally presented its missile systems to the United Arab Emirates and submitted a detailed proposal, marking a significant step towards India’s first potential BrahMos sale in the Gulf region.  The UAE is actively considering the offer as part of its broader  defence diversification strategy following recent regional conflicts.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has reached Moscow for a two-day visit to Russia. The Minister will co-chair the 27th Session of India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation with Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov.

 In the United States, the California State Assembly has adopted a resolution recognising November 8 this year as Diwali Day and urging people across the state to join in the celebrations.

The BRICS Youth Alliance organised the BRICS RI Debate 2026 under the theme “BRICS and the Global South: Reforming Global Governance or Reproducing Existing Inequalities?”

Former Maldives Foreign Minister Abdullah Shahid has hailed a major milestone in the Greater Male Connectivity Project, describing it as a reflection of the enduring friendship and shared progress between India and Maldives.

The government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the M23 rebel group have agreed on a roadmap for peace negotiations, outlining a series of sequenced steps and timelines for future talks.

In Pakistan, the party of former Prime Minister Imran Khan has filed a contempt petition against the government after authorities sent him to a state-run hospital instead of the private facility ordered by the top court.

More than 70 British Parliamentarians have written to the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urging intervention over the worsening situation in Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir (PoJK). They have called for an end to the bloodshed caused by Pakistani forces and measures to protect civilian lives.

Kazakhstan votes in parliamentary election under new constitution.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has said Canada will match the United States’ new tariffs dollar-for-dollar to protect Canadian workers, farmers, families and businesses, after trade negotiations between the two countries collapsed.

GULF WAR:

The Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission has backed a draft law, according to which ships of countries permitted to pass through the Strait of Hormuz will pay for services provided by Iran.

Iran’s security chief, Mohsen Rezaei, says any state joining United States sanctions against Iran will be considered an enemy, and Tehran will target its interests in retaliation.

US President Donald Trump has reposted a map marking the Strait of Hormuz as “NEW US Territory” on his Truth Social account, a day after he told a rally that he views the strait as “American territory”.

Netanyahu says Gaza will not return to its pre-October 7 status and promised to intensify operations in areas where attacks on Israeli forces continue.

A Syrian delegation led by Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani met Israeli officials in Jordan, with US mediation, according to a Syrian diplomatic source quoted by the country’s state news agency, SANA.

Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority says vessels repeatedly violating its passage rules through the Strait of Hormuz will face restrictions on future trips.

Iran’s security chief, Mohsen Rezaei, has warned that if Trump’s “economic war” continues, Tehran will halt all oil exports from the Gulf and treat any country’s support for US sanctions as “an act of war”.

Commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has remained at reduced levels over the past 48 hours, according to the latest report by United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

BALOCH FILES:

Drone Attacks & Casualties: Mastung Strike Condemned: The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) issued a strong condemnation following a reported Pakistani military drone strike in the Khandkocha area of Mastung. The strike hit an orchard, killing four civilian labourers and injuring three others. The BYC termed the attack "state terrorism" and noted that it follows a severe aerial offensive in Surab days prior.

Frontier Corps Attrition: Local and independent media channels monitored reports of heavy military attrition, with Baloch sources claiming that a coordinated Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) ambush in Mastung killed up to 13 Frontier Corps (FC) personnel, including nine officers.

Hindu Trader Targeted: In Noshki town, unidentified gunmen shot and killed a local Hindu trader named Rakesh Kumar inside his shop after he resisted a robbery or raid. Lawmakers and local communities strongly condemned the killing as an attack on Balochistan's historic pluralistic identity.

Human Rights & Missing Persons Protests--6,335 Days of Protest: The Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) marked its 6,335th consecutive day of a continuous protest camp outside the Quetta Press Club. Chairman Nasrullah Baloch reiterated demands for the state to present missing persons before courts rather than subjecting their families to lifelong psychological torment via extrajudicial detentions.

New Enforced Disappearances: The human rights organization Paank reported that Pakistani security forces allegedly abducted multiple young men, including two brothers, during armed raids in Turbat and the Jiwani area of Gwadar. This follows an outcry over the suspected disappearance of two women and two young children from Quetta.

Independence Assertions & Renaming Campaigns: The De-Pakistanisation Process: Prominent Baloch nationalist activist Mir Yar Baloch announced an official campaign to gradually remove Pakistan-associated names and symbols across the region. Roads, public buildings, and infrastructure are being symbolically renamed after indigenous heroes to restore a local national identity.

Global Recognition Push: Social media platforms trended heavily with the "Republic of Balochistan" banner. Activists formally appealed to the United Nations and the international community to recognize their sovereign claims, tracing back to the brief independence of the princely state of Kalat on August 11, 1947

LAW, CRIME & PUNISHMENT:

Delhi Police has clarified that no permission has been granted to any individual or organization for holding a protest or gathering at Jantar Mantar yesterday.

The Supreme Court has directed local bodies to order water and power disconnection of bulk waste generators over violation of Solid Waste Management Rules.

A government school principal Lal Chand Meena,  in Alwar, Rajasthan, was suspended after a video of him bathing with girl students in a dam went viral.

The government-run Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (IGKV), Raipur, has cancelled the B.Sc. Agriculture first-year Plant Pathology examination held on August 7 after a police investigation into a separate case confirmed that the paper had been leaked.

MISHAPS: -

Cargo Ship Sinks in Bay of Bengal: The Panama-flagged cargo vessel MV Ocean Winner, carrying over 72,000 metric tonnes of iron ore fines, sank roughly 240 nautical miles off the coast. The Indian Coast Guard immediately launched a massive search and rescue operation using naval assets and vessels like Varad, Anmol, and Vijay to look for the 24 missing crew members (primarily Chinese, Myanmarese, and Bangladeshi nationals).

ENVIRONMENTAL:

In Japan, 40 people were injured after a 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck Ibaraki Prefecture, northeast of Tokyo, earlier yesterday.

WEATHER:

Monsoon Low-Pressure Alert: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed that a fresh low-pressure area formed over the Northwest Bay of Bengal. Moving North Westward toward Gangetic West Bengal, it brings rough sea warnings and squally weather winds up to 60 kmph, prompting immediate safety warnings for local fishermen.

As per IMD—mostly all over India will experience Rainfall in next 3 days.

GAMES & SPORTS

East Bengal FC won the 2026 Durand Cup by defeating their arch-rivals Mohan Bagan Super Giant 4-1 in a high-octane Kolkata Derby final. Edmund Lalrindika completed a spectacular, historic derby hat-trick just before the halftime whistle. East Bengal FC lifted the Durand Cup for a record-equaling 17th time.

East Bengal entered the main draw of the AFC Women’s Champions League 2026-27 by beating Malaysia’s Sabah Football Club 2-0 in their final Group A preliminary-stage match in Kota Kinabalu.

In wrestling, Indian women wrestlers added three more medals to the country’s tally at the Under 20 World Championships in Slovakia, with Mansi Lather winning silver and Tanvi Gundesh Magdum and Komal securing bronze medals.

In Cricket, India were 300 for 5 in their first innings against hosts Sri Lanka at stumps on Day 1 of the second and final Test in Colombo. Dhruv Jurel and Saransh Jain remained unbeaten. 

MEDICINE, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY:

DRDO is advancing Project VEDA as a mobile satellite launch capability designed to give India operational flexibility in contested space environments. The system is a road-mobile, canister-launched vehicle derived from the K-4 submarine-launched ballistic missile technology.

The Ministry of  Defense has achieved a significant milestone by successfully indigenising more than 15,700 defense items. This accomplishment has resulted in an estimated import substitution value of about ₹9,000 crores, underscoring the scale of India’s self-reliance drive in the defence sector.

 DAS KAPITAL:

DALAL STREET: Will open today. Last closed values listed below:

BSE SENSEX: Ended virtually unchanged with a marginal gain of 3.11 points (0.00%) to close at 77,540.83.

NIFTY 50: Settled with a small gain of 20.15 points (0.08%) to secure the 24,252.00 mark.

NIFTY Bank: Outperformed the major benchmarks, finishing 0.46% higher at 57,761.95.

BULLIONS:

National Retail Gold--IBJA Spot (24 Carat)₹161,030/-per 10 grams

National Retail Silver--IBJA Spot (999 Purity)₹246,670/-per kg 

CURRENCY:

US Dollar (USD to INR): ₹95.70/-

Euro (EUR to INR): ₹111.77/-

British Pound (GBP to INR): ₹128.15./-

The Yuan has experienced steady appreciation against the Rupee this year. It is currently hovering just under its annual lifetime high of ₹14.31/- 

1 CNY = ₹14.24 - ₹14.26 INR.

 

 

THE END.