Morning Digest: NTA orders re-test for 3 UGC-NET papers over question errors; Jharkhand Govt invites protesters for talks today, and more

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Job aspirants and students protest against the Jharkhand government, demanding a probe into alleged recruitment exam irregularities conducted by the JPSC and JSSC at Albert Ekka Chowk, in Ranchi, on August 16, 2026. | Photo Credit: PTI

The National Testing Agency (NTA) is reconducting the UGC-NET exams for English, Sociology, and Commerce following multiple complaints from candidates about errors in the question papers for these subjects. The NTA stated that while the English and Commerce re-exams will be conducted on September 9, the Sociology re-exam will be conducted on September 10.

The Congress on Sunday (August 16, 2026) strongly rebutted Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s charge that the party had insulted the National Song Vande Mataram , asserting that it has always respected the song and accusing the BJP of trying to manufacture a political controversy. The fresh exchange came a day after a row erupted during Independence Day celebrations at the All India Congress Committee headquarters in New Delhi, where Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi was seen gesturing towards party president Mallikarjun Kharge while Vande Mataram was being sung.

An ASI-rank CISF official was allegedly involved in a scuffle with passengers inside a Delhi Metro coach after a woman accused him of photographing her, police sources said on Sunday (August 16, 2026). A video of the incident, which took place around 1 p.m., has surfaced online. In the video, the woman can be seen confronting the official over the issue inside a metro coach, they said. A senior CISF officer said the official has been suspended.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay on Sunday night strongly condemned the killing of three Tamils in the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary in Chamarajanagar district by the Karnataka Forest Department. In a post on X, Mr. Vijay said Anthony Sami, John Rose Peter and Kumar, who hail from Tamil Nadu, had been living in Hanur taluk of Karnataka. “They were shot dead by Karnataka Forest Department personnel in the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary area in the early hours of August 15. I strongly condemn this killing. The explanation given by the Karnataka Forest Department regarding the incident is unacceptable,” he said.

Three persons were arrested on Sunday (August 16, 2026) after the father of a Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) volunteer died on Saturday (August 15, 2026) of injuries suffered in an attack on Thursday (August 13, 2026) in West Bengal’s Bankura. The CJP has claimed that local Bharatiya Janata Party workers attacked Janab Mafik, father of Shaik Abdul Hafeez, the CJP volunteer.

Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his ‘dimagi naxal’ remark and said, “I am proud to be a dimagi naxal”. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said that PM Modi’s remark was not aimed at Opposition leaders . In a post on X, Mr.