"india-news"

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told Parliament there is no proposal to restore the Old Pension Scheme for central government staff under NPS. Instead, the Unified Pension Scheme offers defined retirement benefits while ensuring fiscal sustainability. Household net financial position has improved

Starting August 15, Andhra Pradesh will offer free bus travel under the ‘Stree Shakti’ scheme for all girls, women, and transgender persons with domicile status. The initiative covers select APSRTC services and aims to improve mobility, education, and employment access

PM Modi humourously noted women prefer Bengaluru Metro over Karnataka’s free bus scheme during Yellow Line inauguration. The Rs 7,160 crore project marks a key step in Metro expansion, with Modi also laying foundation for Phase 3’s Orange Line

Nine days after Bihar’s draft electoral rolls were published, the Election Commission reports no objections from political parties. The list remains open for claims till September 1 amid opposition protests. The final roll will be published by September 30

Union minister Sukanta Majumdar said over 60 railway projects in West Bengal remain stalled due to land availability issues. He urged the state government to cooperate and proposed renaming Sealdah station after Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee.

The RBI has proposed standardised forms and uniform procedures for settling claims related to deceased customers’ accounts and lockers within 15 days, including compensation for delays, to streamline processes and improve customer service across all banks

Air India Express has launched its ‘freedom sale’ to mark India’s 79th Independence Day, offering 50 lakh seats starting at Rs 1,279 for domestic and Rs 4,279 for international flights. The sale runs until August 15 for travel up to March 2026

The Petroleum Ministry has set up an expert committee to review 2019 petrol pump licensing rules, aiming to boost market efficiency, support alternative fuels, and align with India’s decarbonisation and electric mobility goals. Public feedback is invited by August 20

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.