Feb 23 News Live | Modi, EPS to address joint rally in Madurai on Mar 1
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Here is the top, trending news of Monday, February 23, 2026, including Indian politics, states' politics, geopolitics, federal issues, economics, development issues, sports, entertainment, and so on.
Read updates below.
Live Updates
- 23 Feb 2026 4:27 PM IST
JU sets up probe after campus clash injures teachers, students
Jadavpur University has constituted an inquiry committee after a violent clash between two student groups on February 20 left two teachers and several students injured. Vice-Chancellor Chiranjib Bhattacharya condemned the assault on faculty as “utterly unacceptable” and said strict disciplinary action would be taken against those found responsible. He appealed for calm and assured steps to prevent a recurrence.
The clash reportedly broke out between members of SFI and WTI (We The Independent) near the Science and Arts buildings. Around 12 to 15 teachers intervened and initially managed to disperse the groups, but tensions escalated, with some students allegedly hurling abuses and tearing rival posters and banners.
The Jadavpur University Teachers’ Association (JUTA), which held an emergency general body meeting, alleged that four to five students and outsiders arrived in a university ambulance and joined the clash. It claimed Professor Rajyeshwar Sinha was punched repeatedly, breaking his spectacles, and Professor Lalit Mahakudh was also assaulted. Both were hospitalised and later discharged.
JUTA leaders Partha Pratim Biswas and Partha Pratim Roy also flagged what they described as a deteriorating academic atmosphere, acute staff shortages and the university’s poor financial condition. Roy alleged that a small section of students, along with outsiders, had earlier confined and harassed security personnel when they tried to stop the consumption of alcohol and cannabis on campus.
The association further claimed that some students and outsiders regularly consume alcohol and drugs in parts of the campus, including near the Subarna Jayanti premises, Open Air Theatre, Analytical Chemistry building, green zones, lakeside areas and playgrounds. The administration reiterated that the university’s legacy of dialogue and intellectual freedom must be upheld while ensuring a safe campus environment.
- 23 Feb 2026 3:58 PM IST
In Tamil Nadu, war is between Vijay and Stalin: TVK chief
Launching another attack on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) founder Vijay on Monday (February 23) alleged that the DMK president's real friends are "bribe, corruption, and eyeing political gains." Vijay, who has been mounting sharp attacks against the DMK and Stalin in particular, dared the CM to declare his assets disclosing the financial status before he stepped into politics.
Addressing a meeting of party functionaries in Vellore, Vijay termed the Assembly polls as a "surprising election" as all parties in the state are allegedly teamed up against him and reiterated that the contest was between the DMK and TVK only.
Flaying the DMK's poll narrative of polls as a fight between "Tamil Nadu and Delhi--NDA," he said the battle was actually between the state's people and corruption and alleged that the DMK government was "inept." The Assembly election is "a war between Vijay and Stalin," he said, and reiterated his refrain that TVK is a "pure force" and accused the DMK yet again as an "evil force".
“In the Tamil Nadu elections, the competition is between Vijay and Stalin," Vijay said, adding, “Tamil Nadu is Vijay, Vijay is Tamil Nadu. The war is between TVK and DMK."
- 23 Feb 2026 1:54 PM IST
IDFC First Bank's stock tumbles 20 per cent after Rs 590 crore fraud
Shares of IDFC First Bank tumbled 20 per cent on Monday (February 23) after the private sector lender disclosed a Rs 590-crore fraud committed by its employees and others in accounts held by the Haryana government.
The stock nosedived 19.99 per cent to Rs 66.85 - also its lower circuit limit - on the BSE.
The move came after the Haryana government de-empanelled AU Small Finance Bank, along with IDFC First Bank, from undertaking any government business over alleged fraudulent opening of accounts.
In addition, shares of AU Small Finance Bank plunged 7.62 per cent to hit an intra-day low of Rs 950.50 apiece on the exchange.
- 23 Feb 2026 1:12 PM IST
Rajkot begins demolition of 1,400 illegal structures
The Rajkot civic body on Monday launched a mega drive to demolish more than 1,400 illegal settlements over a 2.5-km area in the city under tight security, officials said.
More than 65 earth-excavating machines, along with tractors, dumpers and other heavy machinery, were deployed in the Jangleshwar area along the Aji riverbed, officials added.
The Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) launched the demolition drive in the Jangleshwar area following the orders of Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi.
Since the illegal properties are spread across a 2.5-km stretch, the demolition is expected to continue for three days, Rajkot Zone-1 Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Hetal Patel said.
Authorities had been assisting residents who voluntarily vacated their properties over the past two days. Notices had been issued to ensure residents were prepared, and water and electricity connections were disconnected before the demolition began, she said.
"Over 2,500 police personnel, including local police, surveillance teams, drone surveillance units, Special Operations Group personnel, Quick Response Teams (QRT) and State Reserve Police Force, have been deployed and will jointly operate at the site during the demolition process," Patel said.
The demolition is being supervised by more than 1,000 municipal corporation staff at the site. The move, however, has sparked anguish among residents, who lived in the locality for decades.
- 23 Feb 2026 1:07 PM IST
Kerala inks Rs 2,000 crore PSU pacts for Vizhinjam hub
The Kerala government on Monday signed MoUs with three central public sector undertakings to implement a Rs 2,000 crore logistics master plan at Vizhinjam International Seaport, aiming to reshape the state’s maritime sector. The agreements were executed at the Legislative Assembly Building in the presence of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, a CMO release said.
The initiative seeks to transform the port into a comprehensive economic hub while keeping critical infrastructure under public sector oversight, even as the port operates under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. The partnership includes Vizhinjam International Seaport Limited (VISL) and three central PSUs — IOCL, CONCOR and CWC — to prevent cargo monopolisation, ensure fair pricing and safeguard national maritime interests.
Of the total investment, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd will invest about Rs 700 crore to establish large-scale bunkering facilities to fuel mother ships, positioning Vizhinjam as an Indian Ocean energy hub. The Container Corporation of India will commit around Rs 600 crore to develop rail-linked infrastructure, including inland container depots and container freight stations.
The Central Warehousing Corporation will invest about Rs 700 crore to build a 50-acre multimodal logistics park with cold storage and export-oriented units, without burdening the state exchequer. The event was attended by Ports Minister V N Vasavan, Ports Secretary Dr A Kowsigan IAS, VISL MD Dr Divya S Iyer IAS, and senior PSU officials.
- 23 Feb 2026 1:05 PM IST
No systemic issue in IDFC First Bank fraud case, says RBI Governor
The RBI is watching the development around the Rs 590 crore fraud at IDFC First Bank and there is no systemic issue, Governor Sanjay Malhotra said on Monday (February 23).
IDFC First Bank had on Sunday disclosed a Rs 590-crore fraud committed by certain employees and others at a particular branch in Chandigarh in a specific set of Haryana state government accounts.
"We are watching the development, there is no systemic issue," Malhotra told reporters at a press briefing after the customary post-budget address by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to the Central Board of Directors of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
IDFC First Bank had said that the fraud is "confined to a specific group of government-linked accounts within Haryana government" operated through the said branch in Chandigarh" and stressed that it does not extend to other customers of the Chandigarh branch.
- 23 Feb 2026 1:02 PM IST
Four die after consuming ‘adulterated’ milk in Rajamahendravaram
Four people died in the past 48 hours after allegedly consuming adulterated milk supplied by an unauthorised vendor in Rajamahendravaram, East Godavari district, police said on Monday. Two deaths were reported on Sunday and two on Monday.
“Four persons died over the past two days after consuming adulterated milk supplied by an unauthorised vendor in the city,” Deputy Superintendent of Police (North Zone) Y Srikanth told PTI. Preliminary investigations suggest the contaminated milk led to kidney (renal) failure, causing sudden urinary blockage and death.
All four victims had procured milk from the same vendor, who sourced supplies from nearly 40 cattle and local farmers before distributing it to households. Officials said milk was supplied to 106 households, and samples were collected from 75 people.
Food Safety authorities have sent milk samples for laboratory testing, while teams are conducting field inspections and medical surveillance. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu reviewed the situation, directing officials to ensure the best medical care for those under treatment and ordering strict action against the vendor.
- 23 Feb 2026 11:52 AM IST
Drone found inside school campus in Jammu; sent for forensic examination
A drone was found on the lawns of a private school in Domana area of Jammu on Monday, officials said.
The drone was found by a security guard, who informed the local police station, officials said.
A police party rushed to the spot and seized the drone, they said, adding that preliminary investigation suggests it is a toy drone.
The drone has been sent to a forensic laboratory for further analysis.
Meanwhile, police have launched a hunt for four persons who snatched a private car near Rakh Barotian in Vijaypur area in Samba district early Monday.
The car, bearing Punjab registration number, was on its way to Jammu when it was reportedly snatched by unidentified persons before they fled in the vehicle towards Ring Road Jammu, the officials said.
A high alert has been sounded and a hunt launched to nab the accused and recover the vehicle.
- 23 Feb 2026 11:51 AM IST
EU diplomats to meet Gaza Board of Peace chief amid rift
European Union foreign ministers will meet Board of Peace director Nikolay Mladenov in Brussels on Monday, as divisions persist over engagement with U.S. President Donald Trump’s Gaza initiative. The talks, led by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, will also cover Ukraine and fresh sanctions on Russia.
The EU, which has close ties to Israel and the Palestinians, oversees the Rafah border crossing and is the largest donor to the Palestinian Authority. While Hungary and Bulgaria are full members of the board — alongside Turkey, Kosovo and Albania — 12 other EU states attended its Washington launch as observers, with the EU flag displayed.
French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declined to join, though Commissioner Dubravka Šuica attended as an observer. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said the Commission “should never have attended”, adding it “must scrupulously respect European law and institutional balance”. A von der Leyen spokesperson responded: “It is in the remit of the Commission to accept invitations.”
Trump’s plans for the board range from rebuilding Gaza into a futuristic hub to challenging the UN Security Council’s conflict role. Yet ambitions may be constrained by ground realities, with only limited progress so far in advancing a fragile ceasefire.
- 23 Feb 2026 11:27 AM IST
VP Radhakrishnan to attend Tripura University convocation
Vice President C P Radhakrishnan will preside over and inaugurate the 14th convocation ceremony of Tripura Central University at Suryamaninagar in West Tripura on March 8, an official confirmed on Monday.
Governor Indrasena Reddy Nallu, Chief Minister Manik Saha, Chancellor Ahmed Javed, and Acting Vice Chancellor Prof Shyamal Das are slated to attend the event.
"Vice President CP Radhakrishnan is scheduled to inaugurate Tripura Central University's 14th convocation at Suryamaninagar in West Tripura on March 8. Governor Indrasena Nallu Reddy, Chief Minister Manik Saha and Chancellor of the varsity Ahmed Javed will also remain present in the programme," said acting Registrar, Prof Sameer Kumar Shil.
"Gold medals will be awarded to the first-place students in undergraduate and postgraduate courses in 2024-2025 at the convocation ceremony. Altogether 145 students of 2024 and 138 students of 2025 will be honoured," he added.
"The convocation ceremony was not held in the last two years, 2024 and 2025. As a result, the students of the state are facing problems. Certificates will be given to the students through the convocation ceremony to solve their problems," he said.
