India

A BJP delegation from Mizoram’s three autonomous district councils has urged the Centre to expedite the 125th Constitution Amendment Bill, 2019, pending in Parliament. Union minister Nityanand Rai assured the delegation of early action and a meeting on the Bill

Sukhbir Singh Badal’s meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi has triggered political reactions in Punjab, with Congress alleging BJP seeks to weaken regional parties. BJP leaders dismissed alliance speculation, while the meeting fuelled fresh discussion over the SAD-BJP relationship

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay chaired a meeting of MPs on the Centre’s proposed delimitation exercise on Saturday, but the DMK and AIADMK boycotted it. The opposition parties called the meeting a “farce” and “drama”, questioning its necessity

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said early delimitation using the latest Census figures would be needed to implement women’s reservation in the 2029 elections. His remarks came amid an exchange with Rahul Gandhi over the legislation and its implementation timeline

The Indian Air Force Band will perform at the National War Memorial in Delhi on Sunday evening to mark Independence Day and celebrate 150 years of the national song Vande Mataram. The one-hour event will feature 40 musicians, including Agniveervayu women, led by Master Warrant Officer A Srihari.

Thirty judges, including 20 advocates and 10 judicial officers, were appointed to four high courts on Saturday. The Madras High Court received 15 judges, Calcutta eight, Karnataka six and Madhya Pradesh one, according to the Union Law Ministry

Birju Keot, husband of former Trinamool Congress councillor Jenny Sharma Keot, died in police custody at Halisahar police station in North 24 Parganas. His family alleged custodial torture, while police sources suggested a possible heart attack.

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Saturday stressed that effective legal aid must prioritise dialogue, dignity and inclusion, ensuring people are heard and treated respectfully. He also said court backlogs have declined significantly, with technology-driven measures helping speed up case disposal

Intelligence agencies have issued a high alert in Punjab ahead of Independence Day, warning of possible symbolic attacks and intensified online propaganda by pro-Khalistan elements. Authorities are closely monitoring SFJ activities and alleged efforts to revive the separatist movement

Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Saturday said the state has a zero-tolerance policy against human trafficking. He highlighted Naya Savera 3.0, rescue and rehabilitation efforts, while police said 7,150 victims were rescued and 2,698 traffickers arrested since 2022

Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge on Saturday said the government would act against the RSS within the legal framework, asserting that the organisation is outside it. He said authorities were studying its history and declined to reveal details of proposed action

Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah urged urban cooperative banks to change their perception of the RBI, citing its recent support for the sector. He also called for all 1,400 UCBs to join NUCFDC, highlighting its benefits in technology, compliance and cybersecurity

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged IIT Delhi graduates to question accepted ideas, seek solutions and remain lifelong learners. Addressing the institute’s 57th convocation, he linked youth empowerment with Viksit Bharat, highlighting opportunities in AI, semiconductors, space, quantum computing and other emerging sectors

DMK Deputy General Secretary Kanimozhi Karunanidhi defended the party's boycott of a delimitation consultation and challenged Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to act against Karnataka's proposed Mekedatu dam, including by leading a State delegation to the Union government

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi arrived in Prayagraj on Saturday for a student interaction focused on education, unemployment and recruitment exam issues. His programme comes amid student protests over paper leaks, with posters around the venue highlighting jobs, education and accountability

Malayalam superstar Mohanlal apologised after missing a scheduled stage show in Sydney because he did not receive an Australian visa. Expressing disappointment, he took responsibility for the cancellation, thanked organisers for their efforts and promised to return with his team

Former TMC MLA Sanat Dey was arrested in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district over allegations of extortion, land grabbing and post-poll violence, police said. Dey, who represented Naihati, was arrested from Dattapukur and faces allegations involving BJP workers

More than 77,000 people remain sheltered in relief camps across Assam as the flood situation continues to be monitored closely. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said rehabilitation and restoration efforts were being intensified, while authorities remained alert to further deterioration

Vice President C P Radhakrishnan began a two-day visit to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where he will participate in Har Ghar Tiranga events and the 150th anniversary commemoration of Vande Mataram. He will also visit Cellular Jail and Netaji Island

Continuous rainfall left several parts of Delhi-NCR and Haryana battling severe waterlogging and traffic congestion on Saturday. The IMD issued an Orange Alert for Delhi, while rising Yamuna levels prompted NDRF deployment as commuters faced major disruptions across the region

The US Senate's approval of a bill allowing tariffs of up to 100 per cent on major importers of Russian energy has raised concerns over Indian engineering exports. EEPC India warned that additional levies could affect the competitiveness of Indian shipments

US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Michael Boulos arrived in Kochi on Saturday for a private visit, accompanied by US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor. Kerala government sources denied reports of a meeting with Chief Minister V D Satheesan

The student agitation over alleged JPSC-JSSC exam irregularities entered its 15th day in Ranchi as a second round of talks with the Jharkhand government ended without a breakthrough. Students remained firm on demanding cancellation of the disputed examinations

The Tamil Nadu government has launched a two-day special e-KYC drive at fair price shops across the State on August 8 and 9. The campaign aims to complete Aadhaar-linked biometric verification for remaining ration card beneficiaries and achieve full coverage