Top News / The Times of India
Rahul Gandhi's 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in Bihar, a 16-day campaign across 25 districts, aimed to protect voters' rights. Gandhi alleged that the BJP and Election Commission disenfranchised 65 lakh voters. The yatra, joined by INDIA bloc leaders, showcased opposition unity. It concluded in Patna, framing the campaign as a fight for electoral justice.
Former vice-president Jagdeep Dhankhar has vacated his official residence following his resignation and temporarily relocated to a farmhouse in Chhatarpur owned by INLD leader Abhay Chautala. This arrangement will continue until he receives a Type-VIII government residence, which he is eligible for as a former vice-president.
Recent political events include PM Modi's meetings with Putin in China and at the SCO summit, followed by a car ride and conversation. Rahul Gandhi has threatened a major expose on alleged vote chori. Meanwhile, the Army dismantled a TMC stage in Kolkata, citing a violation of time limits, leading to accusations of political vendetta.
B Sudershan Reddy, the opposition's vice presidential candidate, criticized C P Radhakrishnan for his silence. Reddy expressed his desire for a healthy conversation with his rival. He also voiced concerns about the Election Commission's functioning. Reddy warned that democracy could be in danger if the current trend continues. He highlighted the support he received from the Aam Aadmi Party.
In a remote Rajasthan village, a 55-year-old woman has given birth to her 17th child, sparking both celebration and concern. The delivery highlights the challenges of poverty, lack of education, and limited access to healthcare in tribal-dominated areas.
Prime Minister Modi concluded his China visit, attending the SCO Summit and engaging in key bilateral meetings with Presidents Xi and Putin. Modi emphasized cooperation with China for global welfare and unity against terrorism, subtly criticizing Pakistan and China's BRI. The SCO condemned the Pahalgam attack, and Modi invited Putin to India for the annual summit, strengthening the strategic partnership.
The US Embassy in India affirmed the strong US-India ties, highlighting it as a defining relationship of the 21st century. Despite this positive outlook, trade tensions persist due to recent tariffs imposed by the US, citing trade deficits and India's Russian oil purchases.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of attempting to steal votes in the upcoming Bihar assembly elections. He asserted that the NDA's double-engine government would soon be ousted, replaced by a government representing the poor, backward communities, and Dalits. Kharge also criticized Bihar CM Nitish Kumar's alliance with the BJP-RSS, questioning his socialist principles.
Rahul Gandhi, leader of opposition, has accused the BJP of vote chori and promised a new expos, a hydrogen bomb, following claims of similar electoral malpractices in Mahadevpura. He asserted that PM Modi would be unable to face the public after this revelation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin engaged in an extended private discussion on Monday, taking place within Putin's Aurus limousine following the SCO summit. According to PTI reports, Putin offered Modi a ride, using the opportunity to continue their one-on-one talks for nearly an hour before their scheduled formal bilateral meeting.
Patna Police halted the Congress' 'Gandhi se Ambedkar' march, led by Rahul Gandhi, at Dak Bungalow Crossing, citing it as a restricted area. The march, part of the 'Vote Adhikar Yatra' which began on August 17, aimed to highlight alleged voting rights violations. Opposition leaders including Mallikarjun Kharge, Hemant Soren, and Tejashwi Yadav participated, addressing supporters before being stopped.
A parliamentary committee urges the government to broaden price controls on cancer drugs, encompassing vaccines, immunotherapy, and oral chemotherapy, citing that many medications remain unaffordable due to regulatory gaps. The committee also emphasizes the need for stringent quality monitoring of generic drugs to encourage their prescription by medical professionals, addressing existing hesitancy.
As Prime Minister Modi met President Xi, Congress criticized the government's approach to China, citing the Galwan Valley incident and alleged Chinese support for Pakistan. Jairam Ramesh questioned if the government was legitimizing Chinese aggression by pursuing reconciliation without restoring the border status quo. He also raised concerns about a Chinese hydel project and the government's response to China-Pakistan cooperation.
In Tianjin, Narendra Modi met with Cai Qi, a prominent member of China's Politburo Standing Committee and a close associate of Xi Jinping. Modi conveyed his aspirations for bilateral relations and requested Cai's backing to achieve the shared vision of both leaders.
On the sidelines of the SCO summit, PM Modi met Myanmar's leader Min Aung Hlaing, expressing India's support for a fair and inclusive electoral process in Myanmar. Discussions also covered defense cooperation and border management. Modi emphasized India's commitment to a Myanmar-led peace process through dialogue, highlighting the importance of bilateral ties within India's regional policies.
During a meeting with President Xi Jinping, PM Modi addressed cross-border terrorism, particularly referencing the Pahalgam attack, and requested China's support in combating the threat. Foreign Secretary Misri indicated that India received China's understanding on the matter during the SCO summit. The upcoming Tianjin Declaration is expected to strongly condemn terrorism, reflecting this cooperation.
In response to the devastating heavy rainfall, floods, and landslides, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has formed inter-ministerial central teams to assess the damage in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, and J&K.
Torrential monsoon rains have triggered flash floods and landslides in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, severely disrupting transportation and trade. Key highways, including national routes, are blocked, leaving farmers in Lahaul-Spiti facing significant losses due to disrupted apple markets.
In Bihar, over two lakh objections have been filed against the draft electoral roll, primarily from individuals who submitted enumeration forms while already registered elsewhere. This surge follows notices issued to prominent figures for holding multiple voter IDs.
PM Modi highlighted J&K's progress, citing Pulwama's first day-night cricket match and Srinagar's Khelo India Water Sports Festival as signs of change. He praised Mohsin Ali, a kayaking gold medalist, for his Olympic dream, emphasizing the potential of J&K's youth. Modi also acknowledged recent natural disasters and lauded rescue efforts.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has apprehended Amit Agarwal for allegedly orchestrating a money laundering scheme, funneling 697 crore to Hong Kong and Singapore via shell companies. Agarwal purportedly used fabricated documents to register these entities and open bank accounts. The ED is investigating the involvement of bank officials who may have overlooked due diligence procedures.
Amid strained India-US relations and global trade concerns, PM Modi and President Xi Jinping met to strengthen cooperation on trade, terrorism, and regional issues, emphasizing their roles as development partners, not rivals. They reaffirmed strategic autonomy, aiming to resolve border disputes peacefully and boost economic ties while maintaining border tranquility.
In a late-night raid in Jammu & Kashmir's Poonch district, police apprehended two terror suspects, Tariq Ahmad Sheikh and Riyaz Ahmad. Following interrogation, authorities recovered two AK-47 rifles from a rented room in Jallian village, Mandi. A case has been registered, and an investigation is currently underway to determine the suspects' affiliations and intended use of the seized weapons.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju assured that tribals in the northeast and other regions would be exempt from the proposed Uniform Civil Code, allowing them to maintain their social systems. Speaking at an event, Rijiju highlighted the government's commitment to UCC while respecting tribal autonomy.
Consumers are facing a double blow as ethanol-blended petrol (E20), despite its higher price, reduces vehicle mileage by 2-6%. Delhi-based engineer Surender Pal Singh experienced a significant drop in his car's mileage, prompting concerns shared by other users on social media.
President Xi Jinping proposed suggestions for a healthy China-India relationship, emphasizing that the border issue shouldn't define the overall bilateral ties. However, PM Modi stressed that the boundary situation impacts relations, highlighting the need for border peace. Both leaders acknowledged the importance of their relationship for global stability, with discussions also involving future cooperation.
Transparency activist Anjali Bhardwaj's RTI queries to the Election Commission regarding the basis for the nationwide special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls have yielded surprising responses. The EC claims no files exist on the decision-making process and provided a 2025 order when asked about Bihar's 2003 roll revision, raising concerns about transparency and potential information concealment.
During a meeting at the SCO summit in Tianjin, Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping addressed cross-border terrorism, recognizing its impact on both India and China. PM Modi emphasized the necessity of mutual understanding and support in combating this shared threat. He also highlighted the importance of peace along the border for fostering India-China relations based on trust and respect.
Prime Minister Modi's China visit after seven years signals a potential reset in relations amidst global trade tensions. Discussions with President Xi Jinping focused on enhancing mutual trust, maintaining border peace, and expanding bilateral trade and investment. Both leaders emphasized strategic autonomy and the need for cooperation on global issues, viewing each other as development partners, not rivals.
Educate Girls, an Indian non-profit, receives the 2025 Ramon Magsaysay Award. The organisation has enrolled over two million girls in school. They support remedial learning for over 2.4 million children. Safeena Husain's personal experiences inspired her mission. The organisation addresses cultural stereotypes through education. Educate Girls aims to expand its reach to ten million learners.
India is expected to receive above-normal rainfall in September, exacerbating the already extreme monsoon season. The IMD warns of potential disruptions like landslides and floods, particularly in Uttarakhand and other regions. Northwest and South Peninsular India have already experienced unusually heavy rainfall, leading to devastating floods and landslides in several states.
Pawan Khera alleged that the Election Commission dismissed approximately 89 lakh complaints of irregularities raised by Congress's Booth Level Agents during Bihar's Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Khera questioned the EC's intentions, claiming that BLAs' complaints were rejected with the directive that only individual complaints would be accepted, not those from political parties.
Amidst global trade tensions, PM Modi and President Xi emphasized partnership over rivalry, focusing on peaceful ties and inviting Xi to the 2026 BRICS summit. Simultaneously, an American journalist criticized US tariffs on India's Russian oil trade as disrespectful. Elsewhere, Pakistan grapples with severe floods, and a tragic murder occurred in Krishnanagar.
Entities involved in tree plantation can earn Green Credit after five years of restoration, achieving a 40% canopy density. Each surviving tree over five years old earns one credit. These credits, while tradable for specific purposes like compensatory afforestation and CSR, are non-transferable except within parent-subsidiary companies, promoting environmental responsibility.
The Bihar CEO refuted media reports of widespread duplication in the draft electoral rolls (SIR 2025), deeming the claims premature and speculative. He clarified that the draft rolls are open for public scrutiny, inviting objections and verification.
Punjab is grappling with severe flooding, prompting Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to request Prime Minister Modi to release Rs 60,000 crore in pending state funds. The floods, triggered by heavy rains and dam water releases, have devastated seven districts, submerging farmland and impacting livelihoods. The state government has extended school closures and seeks revised disaster relief compensation norms for farmers.
Sadhguru triumphantly completed the Kailash Yatra on his motorcycle, returning to a grand welcome at the Isha Yoga Center in Coimbatore. This feat comes just 18 months after undergoing emergency brain surgeries. He attributed his successful journey to the power of yoga, stating it connects individuals to their inner source of creation, effortlessly overcoming challenges.
Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping, during the SCO Summit in Tianjin, affirmed India and China as development partners, not rivals, emphasising the need to prevent differences from escalating into disputes. They acknowledged their crucial role in stabilising global trade amid US tariffs and discussed expanding bilateral trade, investment and reducing the trade deficit. PM Modi invited Xi to the BRICS summit in India in 2026, highlighting strengthened bilateral relations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Cai Qi and Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss strengthening India-China cooperation, emphasising deeper political engagement. Modi affirmed India's commitment to advancing ties based on mutual trust and respect. Xi Jinping highlighted the significance of India-China friendship, noting that their partnership benefits both nations.
Manish Tewari, excluded from the Congress's speaker list for the Operation Sindoor debate, stated the party might not have considered him the ideal candidate. Despite this, the Chandigarh MP, a 45-year Congress veteran, expressed no regrets and affirmed his belief in the party's necessity for India.
Prime Minister Modi addressed the nation in the 125th episode of Mann Ki Baat, expressing sorrow for the havoc caused by incessant rains and highlighting the contributions of disaster response forces. He also mentioned achievements in Jammu and Kashmir, including a cricket match in Pulwama, and spotlighted athletes from the Khelo India Water Sports Festival.
Justice Vikram Nath humorously acknowledged the global attention he received after his bench overturned a ruling on stray dogs in Delhi-NCR. He expressed gratitude to CJI BR Gavai for assigning him the case, noting the widespread recognition, even from dogs.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi affirmed India's commitment to fostering ties with China based on mutual trust, respect, and sensitivity during talks with President Xi Jinping in Tianjin. Discussions focused on resetting bilateral relations amidst global economic volatility and followed recent measures to ease tensions after the Ladakh border row. PM Modi landed here last evening from Japan in the second leg of his two-nation trip. It is the Indian prime minister's first trip to China after the eas
Entities involved in tree plantation can earn Green Credit after five years of restoration, achieving a 40% canopy density. Each surviving tree over five years old earns one credit. These credits, while tradable for specific purposes like compensatory afforestation and CSR, are non-transferable except within parent-subsidiary companies, promoting environmental responsibility.