"india-news"

SEBI has proposed easing FPI norms to allow resident Indians and mutual funds greater access to foreign funds via IFSC-based schemes. The move aims to boost investment diversification, with public feedback invited until August 29

On the first anniversary of her daughter’s rape and murder, the RG Kar victim’s mother alleged police manhandled her during a Nabanna protest march in Kolkata. Police denied the claims, but tensions flared as leaders traded political accusations

Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh confirmed that the Indian Air Force shot down six Pakistani aircraft, including an AWACS, during Operation Sindoor. Precision strikes on terror hubs in Pakistan and PoK followed the Pahalgam attack, showcasing India’s air defence and strike capabilities

The Income Tax Department has released the ITR-5 Excel utility for AY 2024-25, enabling partnership firms, LLPs, and other eligible entities to file returns. Updates include MSME, startup, and crypto reporting provisions, with a September 15 deadline for non-audit cases

J&K Congress chief Tariq Karra began a hunger strike in Srinagar demanding restoration of statehood. The protest, part of the ‘Hamari Riyasat, Hamara Haq’ campaign, will be held across districts till August 21, awaiting developments in Parliament on the issue

A controversy broke out in Madhya Pradesh’s Raisen after a convent school allegedly distributed Hindi alphabet charts with Islamic references. The principal admitted an “inadvertent” error as authorities launched an inquiry, citing guidelines against religious content in school study materials

Sharad Pawar backed Rahul Gandhi’s “vote theft” claims, urging the Election Commission to hold a detailed probe to protect electoral integrity. Pawar criticised the EC for seeking an oath from Gandhi and said Opposition parties will march to the EC office

Four helicopters evacuated 287 more people from disaster-hit Uttarkashi on Saturday, taking the total rescued to over 1,000. Four deaths confirmed, 49 missing, and road restoration underway with Bailey bridge construction to reconnect flood-hit Dharal

Indian Railways has launched a discounted ‘Round Trip Package’ for the 2025 festive season, offering a 20 per cent rebate on return fares. The scheme applies to confirmed tickets in both directions and aims to ease festival travel congestion

Elon Musk’s Starlink will store Indian user data within the country, with no traffic routed abroad, Parliament was informed. The company has received key approvals and is preparing to roll out satellite-based internet services while meeting national security requirements

Uddhav Thackeray lashed out at the Modi government over rising US tariffs, alleged foreign policy failures, and ties with Pakistan and China. He questioned the PM’s silence on key issues and accused the BJP of weakening democracy and ignoring national crises

Rescue teams have saved 409 people from flood-hit areas in Uttarkashi. Of these, 274 are currently safe in Harsil, while 135 have been moved to Uttarkashi and Dehradun. Relief operations are ongoing with support from multiple armed, medical, and disaster agencies.

The Election Commission has initiated a large-scale revision of electoral rolls for the 2025 Bihar Assembly polls, capping voters per booth at 1,200 and increasing polling stations, BLOs, and volunteers to ensure a smoother, more accessible voting process

The Lok Sabha passed the Merchant Shipping Bill, 2024, which replaces the 1958 Act and empowers the Centre to detain stateless vessels. The bill aims to modernise maritime law, even as Opposition protests over Bihar electoral rolls continued

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Kartavya Bhavan, the first of 10 planned Common Central Secretariat buildings under the Central Vista project. It will house several ministries, replacing outdated structures to streamline government operations and enhance administrative efficiency

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit Japan and China later this month. The trip includes summit talks in Japan and potential participation in the SCO summit in China, marking his first visit there since the Ladakh standoff

Paytm is now fully Indian-owned after Ant Group exited by selling its residual 5.84 per cent stake. The move marks a major shift in the company’s ownership structure, aligning with its long-standing vision of building a homegrown tech champion

WhatsApp has rolled out a ‘Safety Overview’ feature to protect users from being added to unknown groups, as part of a broader anti-scam push. Over 6.8 million scam-linked accounts were banned, with operations disrupted across Southeast Asia

India and Russia have reaffirmed their defence partnership as Deputy Defence Minister Aleksandr Fomin met Ambassador Vinay Kumar in Moscow. The talks come amid tensions with the US over India’s Russian oil imports and Trump’s proposed tariff hikes

Infosys has inaugurated a new Centre for Advanced AI, Cybersecurity, and Space Technology in Hubballi, Karnataka. Part of its global Living Labs network, the facility enhances digital innovation and pushes its local workforce beyond 1,000 employees