Now Reading: Today in India: 27 August 2026
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Today in India: 27 August 2026
Exam paper leaks and recruitment scams dominate the news as arrests and protests hit Jharkhand, Bihar and Maharashtra. India and China agree on eight border management measures including new military hotlines. Prime Minister Modi calls on space startups to make India a global talent magnet.
Jharkhand exam scam kingpin confesses seats sold for Rs 10 lakh
Abhay Tiwari, former marketing manager at outsourcing firm TDPL and prime accused in the Jharkhand recruitment exam scam, told the CID-SIT that almost all general category seats in the 2026 CDPO examination were rigged for out-of-state candidates paying at least Rs 10 lakh each. He alleged rates of Rs 5 lakh for clearing the preliminary civil services exam and Rs 40-60 lakh for final selection. Investigators have questioned over 100 candidates and issued notices to 20 more based on his information.
4 sources, 2 neutral, 2 sensationalist
38 booked for molesting activist during Jharkhand exam protest
Police on Tuesday filed a case against 38 people, eight named and 30 unidentified, for allegedly molesting a female member of the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch during a protest in Ranchi on August 21. The victim filed the complaint accompanied by BJP Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi. The incident occurred near Albert Ekka Chowk as protesters burned effigies of Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over recruitment examination irregularities. Marandi condemned the attack by 'JMM goons'.
5 sources, 1 government-critical, 4 neutral
Brokers tip Jindal Steel, Karur Vysya, Anthem Biosciences
Several brokerages released stock recommendations for trading on 26 and 27 August 2026. Somil Mehta of Mirae Asset ShareKhan recommended buying Jindal Steel, Bajaj Auto, Engineers India, and NMDC, citing bullish chart patterns. Sumeet Bagadia of Choice Broking tipped City Union Bank, NIIT, DCB Bank, Allied Blenders, and Gokul Agro Resources for 26 August, and Rossell Techsys and Yatharth Hospital for 27 August. MarketSmith India picked Karur Vysya Bank and Gokul Agro Resources.
4 sources, 4 neutral
India, China agree eight measures to add hotlines, improve border management
India and China have reached an eight-point consensus to improve border management, including two new military hotlines in the Eastern and Middle sectors and two additional meeting points for senior commanders. The understanding came at the 25th round of Special Representatives talks in Beijing on August 25, led by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The two sides held a candid and in-depth exchange on the boundary question. Both sides agreed to advance boundary delimitation discussions with an early and substantial outcome.
2 sources, 2 neutral
More from today
Haryanvi singer Ankit Balyan shot 20 times outside gym
Haryanvi singer and YouTuber Ankit Balyan, 35, was shot dead by four assailants outside a gym in Shamli, Uttar Pradesh, on Wednesday evening. Police said attackers on two motorcycles fired around 20 rounds, killing him on the spot. The Gogi gang claimed responsibility, saying Balyan had contacted their enemies and composed a song about a gang incident. Police are reviewing CCTV footage and probing old rivalry and possible links to upcoming panchayat polls. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav condemned the killing.
2 sources, 1 neutral, 1 sensationalist
Six arrested in MPSC Drug Inspector question paper leak
Six people were arrested on August 26, 2026, for leaking the MPSC Drug Inspector, Group-B question paper. Those arrested include three MPSC officials and a coaching academy director. Police say a separate question set was prepared and illegally distributed before the March 22 screening test. The MPSC has cancelled the entire recruitment process and will hold a fresh examination for eligible candidates at no extra cost. The arrests followed a complaint from a candidate after a relationship breakup, according to sources. The accused have been remanded in police custody.
3 sources, 1 government-critical, 1 neutral, 1 sensationalist
Bihar students break barricades in Patna over BPSC exam row
Bihar students broke through police barricades in Patna on Tuesday, marching from Gandhi Maidan towards Raj Bhavan to demand cancellation of the 70th BPSC examination over alleged irregularities and paper leaks. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP-led state government of using police to evade accountability, questioning inaction on recruitment exam fraud. Police stopped the march but said dialogue with senior officials was positive, with DSP Kamakhya Narayan Singh expressing hope students would agree to talks. The protest also demands changes to the Teacher Recruitment Examination.
2 sources, 1 government-critical, 1 neutral
Rahul Gandhi mimicry row exposes gendered political discourse divide
Rahul Gandhi criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for calling young women using expletives at the Cockroach Janta Party protests a culture shock, asking why Modi singled out women when male protesters also swore. Gandhi made the remarks at a Pune student gathering, saying the mindset reflected patriarchy. The protests, seeking education reforms after exam paper leaks, saw police action and a 15-year-old girl who apologised for her language facing online trolling and threats. Gandhi also mimicked Modi and Amit Shah as a political performance, drawing BJP accusations.
2 sources, 2 neutral
PM calls on space startups to make India a global talent magnet
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 23 urged 20 Indian space startups to build an ecosystem that attracts global talent and investment. Speaking on National Space Day, marking the second anniversary of Chandrayaan-3's Moon landing, he said India should create an aura that makes it a destination for careers in the sector. He highlighted cost competitiveness and urged startups to work with agriculture and dairy sectors. Separately, ISRO chief V. Narayanan told the US-India Space Business Forum in Bengaluru that India's space programme was built for cooperation.
2 sources, 1 pro-government, 1 neutral
Kejriwal challenges BJP to compare 1,000 schools in Punjab and Gujarat
AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal has challenged the BJP to compare 1,000 government schools each in Punjab and Gujarat, claiming Punjab's education system has improved sharply under his party. He proposed a joint inspection covered by the media. Kejriwal said the BJP, in power in Gujarat for 30 years, was using doctored AI videos to target Punjab's schools. He claimed of Punjab's 19,700 government schools, 19,200 had been transformed and work was on at the remaining 500. He said Punjab ranked 28th when AAP took over in 2022 but had since improved.
2 sources, 2 neutral
Useful today
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Onion supply comfortable, government begins buffer stock release
The government said onion availability is comfortable for the coming months. Consumer affairs secretary Nidhi Khare announced the calibrated release of buffer stocks ahead of the festive and wedding seasons. The first Kanda Express carrying onions left Nashik for New Delhi. The all-India average retail onion price stood at Rs 37.87 per kg on August 26, down 13% from Rs 43.53 on August 24. However, in Indore, retail onion prices have touched Rs 70 per kg in some areas.
3 sources, 2 neutral, 1 sensationalist
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FSSAI slaps notices on JW Marriott, Andaz Delhi for hygiene violations
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has issued notices to JW Marriott and Andaz Delhi after inspections found serious hygiene violations. At JW Marriott, inspectors found cockroaches, fruit flies, fungal-affected food, unclean utensils, and improper food storage. At Andaz Delhi, inspectors found active cockroaches near freezers, houseflies, spider webs, a gutka packet inside the bottling plant area, and about 87 kilograms of expired sweets. The regulator also flagged deficiencies in licensing, labelling, temperature control, and sanitation.
3 sources, 3 neutral
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Compare fixed deposit rates across 16 Indian banks
A comparison of fixed deposit rates from 16 Indian banks up to Rs 1 crore, based on data from each bank's website on 24 August. DCB Bank offers the highest one-year-plus rate at 7.50%. Among smaller lenders, Suryoday Small Finance Bank tops the table with 8.25% for five years. Utkarsh SFB pays 8.10% for 666 days and Unity SFB pays 8% for 501 days. Business Today advises investors that high headline rates should be weighed against lock-in terms.
2 sources, 2 neutral
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NDMC chief apologises for Delhi waterlogging, vows drainage overhaul
NDMC chairman Manoj Kumar Dwivedi apologised on Wednesday for waterlogging that hit central Delhi after 72 mm of rain fell in under two hours on Tuesday. Water took over an hour to drain in at least three to four locations, including Connaught Place and Shivaji Stadium. Dwivedi said the intensity was unexpected, but added, 'This cannot be an excuse.' NDMC's drainage system is designed for about 15 mm of rain, while Safdarjung recorded 64.5 mm. Officials said 80% of desilting of a key PWD drain was completed.
The closing thought
Today's stories track an India caught between breakdown and ambition. Exam scams in Jharkhand, Bihar and Maharashtra erode trust in public recruitment, while protesters in Ranchi and Patna demand accountability with mixed success. The China-India border agreement offers a rare diplomatic opening worth watching for implementation details. On the brighter side, PM Modi's call to space startups signals long-term economic bets, and onion prices have eased ahead of the festive season. The Haryanvi singer murder and the gendered political row over protests remind us that law and discourse both need repair. Watch for action on the MPSC and BPSC cases.
This digest is refreshed through the day at indianopinion.org/today.
This digest was compiled and written by AI from the day’s Indian Opinion coverage.
