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Skip next section What you need to know
What you need to know
- Rahul Gandhi criticizes Modi over ‘cultural shock’ remark on girls’ language
- Police report filed against Abhijeet Dipke over school inspection
- Modi government mulls simultaneous elections for 22 states
- Mahatma Gandhi’s notes go for record price at Mumbai auction
- Rising sugar prices raise alarm ahead of festive season
Here are some of the top headlines out of India on Saturday and Sunday, August 22-23, 2026:
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Skip next section Delhi issues public health advisory over swine fluAugust 23, 2026
Delhi issues public health advisory over swine flu
The Delhi government has issued a public health advisory following a recent spike in cases of H1N1, also known as swine flu.
Nearly 1,800 cases have been reported this season, the Hindustan Times reported, citing government health officials. This is more than seven times the number reported during the same period last year, according to public data.
The government urged residents to wear masks, wash their hands frequently and avoid close contact with people with respiratory infections.
People were also advised to seek medical attention if flu-like symptoms become severe or persist.
The Delhi government said it has ensured the availability of adequate beds, doctors, medicines and medical equipment in hospitals.
“At the same time, there is a special focus on the early identification of patients and timely treatment,” authorities said on X.
H1N1 is a subtype of the influenza A virus that causes respiratory illness. Its symptoms include fever and chills, and it has seen higher fatality rates among healthy young adults than seasonal influenza.
https://p.dw.com/p/5JHLf
Skip next section Police complaint filed against Abhijeet Dipke over school inspectionAugust 23, 2026
Police complaint filed against Abhijeet Dipke over school inspection
A police complaint has been filed against Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke in Maharashtra for allegedly entering a government school without permission, disrupting official work and threatening teachers, media reports said.
The complainant alleged that Dipke and his associates entered the school, sat among students and questioned them, disrupting educational and government work.
Dipke responded on X by sharing a clip from a Bollywood film song loosely translating to “Such is life.”
The CJP recently launched a nationwide campaign urging citizens to inspect government schools, document deficiencies and pressure local authorities to address basic infrastructure needs.
Separately, CJP’s co-convener Ashutosh Ranka alleged that police had taken no action even 48 hours after a CJP team was attacked by what he claimed were “outsiders sent by the BJP [Bharatiya Janata Party]” in Rajasthan.
The CJP team was on its way to inspect a school “running in a buffalo shed” when it was attacked on Friday in Rampura, Kanwarpura, Ranka had said.
“Why has the police not arrested these goons yet?” Ranka asked in a post on X.
https://p.dw.com/p/5JH4h
Skip next section Modi government mulls simultaneous elections for 22 statesAugust 23, 2026
Modi government mulls simultaneous elections for 22 states
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) coalition is considering advancing the first simultaneous national and state elections to 2029 from the 2034 timeline proposed in the One Nation, One Election bills, The Indian Express reported on Sunday.
The plan could involve dissolving the assemblies of 22 NDA-ruled states and Union territories before their terms expire, provided the alliance retains power in those states over the next two years, the report said.
Eleven of the 22 NDA-ruled states and UTs are due to hold elections before the 2029 Lok Sabha polls, while Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Odisha already hold their assembly elections alongside national polls.
The parliamentary committee examining the bills is expected to submit its report during the winter session, according to the newspaper.
The move could shorten the terms of several assemblies. The terms of Goa, Gujarat, Manipur, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand could be cut by about three years, while those of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Rajasthan and Tripura could be shortened by four years, the Express report said.
https://p.dw.com/p/5JH17
Skip next section Cricket: India at 173-2 after lunch in second test against Sri LankaAugust 23, 2026
Cricket: India at 173-2 after lunch in second test against Sri Lanka
India reached 173-2 after 47 overs on the opening day of the second and final test against Sri Lanka on Sunday after winning the toss and electing to bat.
At the crease, Captain Shubman Gill was at 47 alongside Devdutt Padikkal who top-scored with 60 not out.
Earlier, Yashasvi Jaiswal scored 45 before being bowled by Asitha Fernando, while KL Rahul made 18 before falling to Lahiru Kumara.
India lead the series 1-0 after a 165-run win in the first test in Galle.
https://p.dw.com/p/5JH0s
Skip next section WATCH: When a forest isn’t a forest — saving Delhi’s green spacesAugust 23, 2026
Tejprakash Bhardwaj|Tabea Mergenthaler
New Delhi’s green spaces are hubs of biodiversity and help cool the city. But many are in danger because they lack legal forest status, prompting a fight to protect them.
When a forest isn’t a forest — saving Delhi’s green spaces
https://p.dw.com/p/5JGlo
Skip next section Two rescued, 22 missing after cargo ship sinks off OdishaAugust 23, 2026
Two rescued, 22 missing after cargo ship sinks off Odisha
Two Chinese sailors were rescued after a Panama-flagged cargo ship sank off the Odisha coast, officials said as India’s Coast Guard and Navy continued a search-and-rescue operation on Sunday for the 22 missing crew members.
The MV Ocean Winner, carrying 24 people, sank about 240 nautical miles off the coast after developing a list on Friday, the rescued sailors said
The missing crew include 18 Chinese nationals, three from Myanmar and one Bangladeshi, according to the Indian Coast Guard.
The vessel had departed Paradip port in India’s eastern Odisha state carrying iron ore on Friday and was bound for Singapore. The cause of the sinking was not immediately known.
The Coast Guard deployed three vessels, while the Navy redeployed a patrol aircraft to search the area. Nearby merchant vessels have also been alerted to assist with the operation.
Read more here.
https://p.dw.com/p/5JGlM
Skip next section Rahul Gandhi says Modi ‘cultural shock’ remark exposes patriarchyAugust 23, 2026
Rahul Gandhi says Modi ‘cultural shock’ remark exposes patriarchy
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for describing it as a “cultural shock” to hear girls use abusive language during recent Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led protests in New Delhi.
At an event in Pune, Gandhi said both boys and girls had used abusive language during the agitation, but argued that Modi’s singling out of girls reflected societal patriarchy.
Gandhi played a video of Modi in which the prime minister said, “It is a cultural shock to us that how can our daughters use this language,” before adding that he wanted to forgive them.
“If boys abuse, there is no problem, and it is allowed, but if a girl abuses, it is a cultural shock,” Gandhi said.
He also played clips of other leaders from the nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), including former Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who Gandhi said had claimed that “80% of rapes happen because of women.”
Gandhi called on women to challenge patriarchy and fight for their place in society.
In a post on X, he described women as “the strength of India — its foundation, its present, and its future.”
https://p.dw.com/p/5JGgB
Skip next section Welcome to our coverageAugust 23, 2026
Welcome to our coverage
Hello!
This is Shakeel from DW’s New Delhi Bureau bringing you the top news updates from across India on this drizzly morning.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for calling it a “cultural shock” to hear girls use abusive language during a recent Jantar Mantar protest. Gandhi said both boys and girls had used such language, but Modi’s singling out of women reflected society’s patriarchy.
Meanwhile, India’s Coast Guard and Navy are continuing search-and-rescue operations off the eastern coast after a Panama-flagged cargo vessel carrying 24 crew sank.
For all this and more, follow our live blog!
https://p.dw.com/p/5JGbb
Skip next section We are pausing our coverageAugust 22, 2026
We are pausing our coverage
That’s the end of your ride with me (Seerat) this evening, as I set off in search of some chai and cake, but stay tuned as we will bring you the latest from India in the morning!
https://p.dw.com/p/5JFOl
Skip next section Is India falling short on sugar supplies ahead of festive season?August 22, 2026
Is India falling short on sugar supplies ahead of festive season?
While the mammoth Indian festivals of Dussehra and Diwali are still weeks away, a sharp rise in sugar prices is setting off alarm bells. That’s despite the government’s assurances that it is taking measures to assuage concerns.
The all-India modal retail price of sugar rose to Rs 65 per kilogram on Friday from Rs 45 on July 21 and Rs 50 on July 31, according to the Department of Consumer Affairs. The rise has been attributed to lower-than-expected sugar production and stocks at a nine-year low.
Indian Sugar & Bio-energy Manufacturers Association had initially estimated gross domestic sugar production for the 2025-26 season at 343.5 lakh tons, the Indian Expressreported. After diversion of 34 lakh tons for ethanol production, net output was projected at 309.5 lakh tons.
Sugarcane farming fuels water crisis in Maharashtra
Opposition Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government over rising prices and declining stocks, highlighting the decision to divert sugarcane toward ethanol production.
India is one of the world‘s largest sugar producers and exporters. However, current exports have been halted, and the government has allowed the duty-free import of 1 million tons of sugar.
https://p.dw.com/p/5JFOZ
Skip next section Neeraj Chopra back with second place at Lausanne Diamond LeagueAugust 22, 2026
Neeraj Chopra back with second place at Lausanne Diamond League
Indian javelin superstar Neeraj Chopra snagged second place at the 2026 Lausanne Diamond League, close behind Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage.
The Sri Lankan took the top spot with a throw of 88.14 meters, nine centimeters ahead of Chopra’s season-best throw of 88.05.
“I didn’t realise it was only nine centimetres (apart), it was really close, but I’m happy with the 88-metre throw,” the Indian Express quoted Chopra as saying after the competition on Friday night. “To be honest, it didn’t feel like it went 88 metres because I felt very relaxed. I tried really hard and later focused on my technique. With every competition, I feel that I’m coming back.”
The two-time Olympic medalist spent nine months out of the sport over an injury before making a comeback at the Doha Diamond League in June this year, where he finished fourth.
https://p.dw.com/p/5JFJL
Skip next section Indian foreign minister S. Jaishankar set for Russia visitAugust 22, 2026
Indian foreign minister S. Jaishankar set for Russia visit
India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, is set to make an official visit to Russia on August 23-24, the ministry said in a statement.
In addition to co-chairing a session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation, he is also expected to meet his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov during the trip.
India and Russia share a relationship that spans decades and is deeply rooted in history, trade and defense. Since Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, India has been under pressure from Kyiv’s Western allies over its unwillingness to disengage with Moscow.
In June, Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking to reporters at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, called India a “great country” and a “reliable partner.”
India’s special relationship with Russia explained
https://p.dw.com/p/5JF5g
Skip next section Confusion surrounds Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman’s reported visit to IndiaAugust 22, 2026
Confusion surrounds Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman’s reported visit to India
Bangladesh has not decided whether Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will visit India later this month, his press secretary said Friday, after Indian media reported he was expected in New Delhi on August 23-25.
Press secretary Saleh Shibly told Reuters “no decision has yet been made on the visit,” saying Dhaka is waiting on New Delhi’s response to requests for the extradition of former PM Sheikh Hasina and other “absconding offenders.”
India’s foreign ministry spokesperson said he had nothing to share on the visit.
Adding to the confusion, Rashtrapati Bhavan, the official residence of the President of India, published a statement on Friday afternoon canceling Saturday’s routine Change of Guard ceremony for rehearsals tied to Rahman’s “ceremonial welcome,” the Indian Express reported.
As the visit was not formally confirmed, the office withdrew the statement less than an hour later without explanation.
This would be Rahman’s first India visit since taking office in February after his party’s landslide win.
It comes as the neighbors try to rebuild ties that became strained after Hasina fled to India following her 2024 ouster after a student-led uprising. Dhaka has repeatedly sought her extradition; India says the request is under review.
Last week, Rahman’s government signaled that conditions needed to improve before the trip, especially after Hasina held a press event which Dhaka condemned.
Hasina was sentenced to death in absentia in November over the deadly crackdown on 2024 protests. She denies the charges and has said she’ll return to Bangladesh in December.
https://p.dw.com/p/5JF71
Skip next section Gandhi’s personal notes sell for $1.7 million, setting auction recordAugust 22, 2026
Gandhi’s personal notes sell for $1.7 million, setting auction record
A collection of handwritten notes by Mahatma Gandhi has sold for $1.7 million in Mumbai, the highest price ever paid for an Indian historical document at auction, auction house Saffronart said.
The 688 notes were written by Gandhi to his close associate Anand Hingorani between 1944 and 1946, following the death of Hingorani’s wife, Vidya. Later compiled into a book titled “A Thought for the Day,” the writing touched upon a number of themes including truth, God and non-violence, offering personal insights on principles that Gandhi was closely associated to publicly.
The collection, preserved by Hingorani’s family, was sold under the title “Gandhi: From the Collection of Anand T Hingorani.” Gandhi’s portable spinning wheel, notes on the discipline of spinning, manuscripts, letters, photographs and other personal items were also part of the auction.
Hingorani first met Gandhi in 1930 and later joined him on the Salt March, a campaign of peaceful resistance against Britain’s salt monopoly.
“What makes this collection particularly compelling is the opportunity to see one of the most significant figures in India’s history through the lens of a close, personal relationship,” Saffronart co-founder Dinesh Vazirani said.
Gandhi led India’s non-violent struggle for independence from British rule and influenced similar movements worldwide. He was assassinated in January 1948.
https://p.dw.com/p/5JF1C
Skip next section Welcome to our coverageAugust 22, 2026
Welcome to our coverage
Hello! This is Seerat Chabba from DW’s Studio Delhi, bringing you the latest from across India.
After a night of incessant rain in the capital, I am back in the hot seat, but not making nearly enough to buy a collection of notes by India’s “Father of the Nation,” Mahatma Gandhi, which was sold for a record $1.69 million (about €1.47 million) at a Mumbai auction.
Meanwhile, New Delhi and Dhaka have been offering mixed signals about Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s reported visit.
India is grappling with a potential sugar shortage ahead of the upcoming festive season, as prices soar and production as well as stocks fall.
Arguably one of India’s favorite athletes, Neeraj Chopra, seems to be regaining his mojo, finishing second behind Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage at the men’s javelin event at the 2026 Lausanne Diamond League.
For all this and more, follow our blog.
https://p.dw.com/p/5JExV
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