States

The proclamation ceremony of the ‘Murajapam-Lakshadeepa’ festival at Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple was held in Thiruvananthapuram. Actor Mohanlal read the proclamation, announcing the 56-day ritual from November 20 to January 14, culminating in ‘Lakshadeepam’ when one lakh lamps illuminate the temple

A Ghaziabad woman lodged a complaint against her husband and in-laws for dowry harassment, body-shaming, forced abortion, and physical assault. She alleged they demanded she maintain a figure like Bollywood actor Nora Fatehi, denied her food, and subjected her to torture

The Delhi High Court criticised civic authorities over clogged sewer lines in Tihar Jail, saying judges were “reduced to municipal commissioners.” The bench pressed PWD officials on delays, ordering urgent cleaning by August 25 and full sewer connection within four weeks

Haryana notified a new definition of “forest,” requiring 40% canopy density and minimum 2–5 hectares. Experts warn this excludes much of the Aravallis’ scrub and open forests from Forest Conservation Act protection, risking further exploitation under mining and development projects

Delhi Police booked Rajesh Bhai Khimji Bhai Sakariya under attempt to murder and other BNS sections for attacking CM Rekha Gupta during a Jan Sunvai. Preliminary probe shows he conducted recce, has a criminal record, and is under interrogation

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told Parliament that the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project has completed 406 km of foundation work, 127 km track laying, and 8 station foundations. With Rs 78,839 crore spent, land acquired, and contracts awarded, tunnelling and bridge works advance

Five members of a family, including two boys, were electrocuted after touching a live wire set up around farmland in Jalgaon’s Varkhedi village to deter wild animals. A toddler survived, while police registered a case and launched investigations

A CPI(M) branch committee in Eloor, Kochi, mistakenly hoisted the Congress party’s flag instead of the national flag during Independence Day celebrations. The mix-up by an elderly leader lasted about 10 minutes before being corrected, but images went viral online

Singareni Collieries Company Limited has secured its first critical mineral exploration licence for gold and copper blocks at Devadurga, Karnataka. The move marks a historic milestone in SCCL’s diversification, with exploration expected to be completed within five years

Ministry cautions against fraudulent claims of government-designated account

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

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

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

A seven-year-old girl, Nafisath Misriya, died after falling from a scooter and being run over by a bus in Kerala’s Palakkad district. The accident, blamed on pothole-ridden roads, sparked local protests. Her father survived with minor injuries

A Balasore family alleged they received the wrong body of their kin, who died in Bengaluru, due to mislabelling of a coffin. The mix-up was discovered after opening the casket, forcing an ambulance en route to Siliguri to return

At least 25 girls escaped unhurt after a fire broke out in a hostel room at Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya in Jharkhand’s Latehar district. Beds and study materials were gutted; officials suspect a short circuit triggered the blaze

Sensex and Nifty surged in early trade on Monday, driven by GST reform plans and S&P’s sovereign rating upgrade for India. Auto, consumer discretionary and cement stocks led gains, while select IT and infrastructure stocks lagged amid global mixed cues

Twenty tourists were stranded in Ranthambore National Park after their safari vehicle broke down and the guide left to fetch help. Videos of heated exchanges surfaced, prompting officials to bar three drivers and the guide pending an inquiry

A 20-member NCC expedition team, comprising equal male and female cadets, will attempt to scale either Mt Yunam in Himachal Pradesh or Mt Shalang Dhura in Uttarakhand post-monsoon. The mission, promoting youth adventure, follows NCC’s successful Everest summit in May

Chief Justice of India B R Gavai inaugurated the Bombay High Court’s new circuit bench in Kolhapur, easing the burden on litigants from six districts. The bench, functional from August 18, includes one division bench and two single benches

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Delhi sections of Dwarka Expressway and Urban Extension Road-II worth ₹11,000 crore. The projects will ease congestion, cut travel time, boost NCR connectivity, and uniquely utilise repurposed waste for sustainable infrastructure development

Two people died and over 300 were injured during ‘Dahi Handi’ celebrations in Mumbai and Thane. Injuries occurred while forming human pyramids, with some critical cases reported. Authorities confirmed casualties, hospitalisations, and widespread injuries among children and youth

A trainee nurse was found dead at a private hospital in Singur, Hooghly. Her family alleged rape and murder, accusing police of negligence and demanding a CBI probe. Two people, including the nursing home owner and her lover, were arrested