India

The India Junior International Series 2025, a BWF-sanctioned tournament, begins August 20 at Gopichand Academy, Hyderabad, featuring 350 players from eight countries with ranking points at stake

Aligning the vision of high-ambition bloc with the development needs of primary producer nations is the way forward to ending plastic pollution

Rashmika Sahgal clinched the junior women’s 10m air pistol gold at the Asian Shooting Championship in Shymkent, while Manu Bhaker earned bronze, boosting India’s tally to five gold medals overall

India announced a strong 25-member squad led by Tanvi Sharma, Unnati Hooda and Bhargav-Viswa pair for the BWF World Junior Championships 2025 in Guwahati, aiming to add to its medal tally

The Sixteenth Finance Commission must ensure fair devolution across Union, State, and Local governments

Indian airlines cancelled 5,706 flights in the first half of 2025 due to regulatory and geopolitical issues, Parliament was told. Despite cancellations, domestic air travel grew 7.34 per cent. Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet and others reported varying cancellations

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis said eight people died in flood-hit Nanded district, while Mumbai recorded 300 mm rainfall, disrupting suburban trains and prompting evacuations. Crops across 12–14 lakh acres were damaged, as the government put NDRF and SDRF on high alert

The government also reported Rs 17,811 crore disbursed under the Modified Interest Subvention Scheme for crop loans

Ministry cautions against fraudulent claims of government-designated account

With numbers rising from 6.48 crore in FY20 to 8.56 crore in FY25 officials attribute the surge to digitisation, policy reforms, and compliance measures

An anonymous devotee has pledged 121 kg of gold, valued at about Rs 140 crore, to Lord Venkateswara Swamy, Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu announced. The donation follows the devotee’s entrepreneurial success, after earning USD 1.5 billion from his company

The dialogue comes ahead of Prime Minister Modi’s visit to China for the SCO Summit later this month

Rahul Gandhi’s absence from a Parliament discussion on astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla’s ISS mission drew sharp criticism from the BJP, which called it “unfortunate.” Congress defended him, citing his Bihar yatra, while reiterating support for Shukla’s historic achievement

MakeMyTrip has introduced a new AI-powered feature to simplify booking of hotels and homestays around more than 100 national parks in India. The platform now offers park details, entry gate proximity, and travel tips to enhance wildlife tourism experience

Kerala High Court proceedings were briefly adjourned after a civet cat, known locally as the toddy cat, caused a foul stench inside Chamber 1. The incident mirrors similar disturbances faced by CM Pinarayi Vijayan and LoP V D Satheesan

The Krishna and Godavari rivers in Andhra Pradesh are witnessing heavy flood inflows due to incessant rains from a depression over the Bay of Bengal. Officials issued a first flood warning, with up to 5 lakh cusecs expected at Prakasam Barrage

The government has waived the 11 per cent duty on raw cotton imports till September 30 to ease supply pressures on the textile industry. The relief coincides with Indian exporters facing a steep 50 per cent tariff in the US

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge announced former Supreme Court judge B Sudhershan Reddy as the joint INDIA bloc candidate for the Vice-Presidential polls. Reddy, also Goa’s first Lokayukta, was unanimously chosen, with Kharge calling it a significant democratic achievement

ISRO chief V Narayanan announced plans for a 40-storey rocket capable of launching 75,000 kg into low Earth orbit. Upcoming missions include NAVIC, N1 rocket, GSAT-7R for the Navy, and US satellite launch, alongside tripling India’s satellite fleet by 2029

President Droupadi Murmu gave assent to the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, a landmark reform in sports administration. The law establishes a National Sports Board, Tribunal, and Election Panel, narrows RTI scope, eases eligibility rules, and strengthens oversight of federations

Assam Rifles signed an MoU with IIIT Manipur to advance drone technology for defence and security. The collaboration launched an Advanced Drone Training and Refresher Course, focusing on flight operations, maintenance, and DGCA-certified training, emphasizing defence-academia cooperation and indigenisation of drone systems

Opposition leaders, led by Mallikarjun Kharge, staged a protest in Parliament against the Election Commission over Bihar’s voter roll revision, alleging “Silent Invisible Rigging.” Carrying banners with commissioners’ photos, they accused the EC of disenfranchising voters ahead of state elections

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in New Delhi for Special Representatives-level talks on the boundary issue. Discussions focused on de-escalation, trade, connectivity, and restoring trust as both nations seek to stabilise ties and manage differences.

Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority chief Prakhar Jain warned that up to five lakh cusecs of flood inflows may reach Vijayawada’s Prakasam Barrage due to heavy rains. Authorities may issue the first warning, urging riparian residents to stay cautious