Seven workers dead, 14 injured as water, debris enter tunnel in Uttarakhand’s ChamoliAt least seven people died and 14 others sustained injuries on Thursday (August 13, 2026) after water and debris entered a tunnel under construction at a hydroelectric project site in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, officials said.According to preliminary information shared by the officials, 22 workers were trapped inside the tunnel. Twenty one people have been brought out of the tunnel. Of them, seven were declared dead, while 14 others have sustained injuries and are undergoing treatment at a nearby hospital. Information about the remaining two workers was not immediately available.Supreme Court quashes hate speech case against Rahul Gandhi over Savarkar remarks after U.P. govt. refuses sanctionThe Supreme Court on Friday (August 14, 2026) quashed a hate speech case against Leader of Opposition (LOP) in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, over his alleged remarks about Hindutva ideologue V.D. Savarkar after the Uttar Pradesh government failed to grant sanction for his prosecution.The private complaint was filed by a Lucknow resident Nripendra Pandey against Mr. Gandhi, accusing the latter of making derogatory comments against the Hindutva ideologue during the Congress leader’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ in Maharashtra in 2022.‘What’s wrong in it?’: Supreme Court stays Madras HC verdict quashing govt. jobs order to kin of Karur stampede victimsThe Supreme Court on Friday (August 14, 2026) gave relief to Tamil Nadu government by staying a Madras High Court decision to strike down the grant of government. The Madurai Bench of the High Court had quashed the government orders granting jobs to the victims’ family members on compassionate grounds on July 27.Justice J.B. Pardiwala asked what was wrong with the government reaching out to give “some succour to the families who have suffered such a tragedy”.India in U.S. crosshairs again — White House report cites countries ‘enabling’ China’s tariff evasionsIndia is once again in the U.S.’ crosshairs, this time for allegedly allowing China to evade U.S. tariffs by routing its exports through the country. The latest allegations are part of a new White House report called ‘The Great Transhipment Scam’.In particular, the U.S. has named the Pune-Gujarat-Chennai belt as one of the areas “enabling” China to evade tariffs to the detriment of supply chains in the U.S.‘Who is the BCI to come between the students and me?’: CJI condemns NALSAR enrolment freeze circularThe Supreme Court on Friday (August 14, 2026) strongly condemned the Bar Council of India’s (BCI) now-withdrawn circular directing all State bar councils not to enrol any 2026 batch graduate of NALSAR University of Law as advocates, saying students have a right to protest.Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said the BCI had no business playing havoc in the futures of NALSAR students, adding that he himself has been a student and a political one. “Who is the BCI to come between the students and me? The Bar Council of India has no business to order such inquiries against students,” CJI Kant said categorically.Kharge seeks Govt. answers over alleged increased Chinese activity on Arunachal Pradesh borderCongress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday (August 14, 2026) sought answers from the Narendra Modi government over reports of an alleged expansion of Chinese presence in sensitive areas of Arunachal Pradesh, questioning whether the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) had expanded its presence near Taksing and whether India had lost regular access to a designated Patrolling Point.“After Galwan, now Arunachal Pradesh?” Mr. Kharge said in a post on X, describing reports that China was attempting to “push further” into areas of Arunachal Pradesh as disturbing and demanding immediate answers from the government.Census 2027 to have 40 questions, including details of caste, COVID vaccination, ID proofsThe Union Government on Friday (August 14, 2026) notified 40 questions, which among others asks will ask the respondents to record their “caste” during the Population Enumeration exercise, the second phase of Population Census 2027. This is the first time caste will be enumerated in Independent India, other than that of Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Caste.Question number 10 on the Census schedule reads “Scheduled Caste (SC)/ Scheduled Tribe (ST)/Caste.” Officials said that the enumerator will record the caste as declared by the respondent as it is an open column.BJP MP apologises for remarks on Netaji after booked by Bengal policeNagendra Roy alias Ananta Maharaj, a Rajya Sabha MP nominated by the Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP), on Friday (August 14, 2026) expressed an apology for his objectionable remarks directed at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.“I am saying this by expressing my respect towards Netaji, that if anyone has been hurt by my unwarranted comments against Netaji then I am expressing my deepest regret for the same,” the MP said in a video statement.India vs Sri Lanka: Ahead of first Test, Gill stresses need to qualify for WTC finalA slew of milestones will be registered when the first Test featuring India and Sri Lanka commences at the Galle International Stadium here on Saturday (August 15, 2026). This would be India’s 600th Test, the picturesque venue’s 50th Test and also Shubman Gill’s 10th Test as the Indian skipper!Within this array of numbers, Gill is conscious of one challenging reality: the need to qualify for the ICC Test Championship final. Addressing the media on Friday (August 14, 2026), Gill said: “The main goal is to play the World Test Championship final next year. We have to win around six or seven to have a chance of qualifying. In terms of that, this is a very important series.”Supreme Court quashes criminal proceedings against comedian Samay Raina, four others over disability remarksThe Supreme Court on Friday (August 14, 2026) quashed criminal proceedings against comedian Samay Raina and four others for their remarks about people with disabilities and appreciated their efforts in spreading awareness and promoting dignity of such people.Besides Mr. Raina, the apex court quashed the FIRs and criminal proceedings against Vipul Goyal, Balraj Paramjeet Singh Ghai, Sonali Thakkar and Nishant Jagdish Tanwar.