India

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

A study by SRM Institute revealed that just one hour of scrolling social media reels can trigger significant eye fatigue, greater than reading or video viewing. Prolonged smartphone use links to eyestrain, sleep disorders, and psychophysiological issues like anxiety and exhaustion

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged all parties, including the Opposition, to support NDA’s vice-presidential nominee CP Radhakrishnan for a unanimous election. Lauding his clean public life, Modi introduced him to NDA MPs. Radhakrishnan will file nomination on Wednesday; Opposition likely to contest

Punjab Police’s Counter Intelligence arrested BKI operatives from Rajasthan, recovering a hand grenade. Investigations reveal involvement of foreign-based masterminds and plans to target government and police establishments, following recent foiled terror plots across Punjab.

PM Modi met IAF Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, India’s first astronaut at the ISS, discussing his mission, experiments, and preparations for the Gaganyaan programme. The PM jokingly asked about the “homework” Shukla had completed in documenting his space mission.

Heavy rains in Maharashtra have killed eight people and displaced hundreds, with Mumbai, Thane, and Palghar under red alert. Rivers have crossed danger levels, crops damaged, and authorities urge residents to avoid travel as relief operations continue.

OpenAI introduces ChatGPT Go in India at Rs 399/month, offering higher message limits, GPT-5-powered image generation, file uploads, and UPI payments. India, OpenAI’s second-largest market, could soon become its largest, reflecting rapid AI adoption.

Daily Horoscope: Your stars are bringing good tidings for you. Check out your astrological predictions for Aug 19, 2025. May the day bring you happiness

Mumbai continues to reel under torrential rain for the fourth day, with waterlogging disrupting roads, homes, and public transport. Red alerts remain in place, schools are closed, and authorities warn of more heavy downpours over the coming days.

At its Salem conference, CPI leaders D. Raja and R. Mutharasan accused BJP-RSS of eroding democracy and vowed to resist “fascist tendencies,” while rejecting AIADMK’s criticism and alliance suggestions