The BJP downplayed the impact of US tariffs on India, emphasizing the nation's strong domestic consumption, contributing significantly to its GDP. Syed Zafar Islam highlighted India's resilience amidst global economic challenges, contrasting it with higher inflation rates in the US and UK. He credited PM Modi's policies for strengthening India's economy, citing positive outlooks from international rating agencies.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla announced the availability of simultaneous interpretation in all 22 languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, completing the list with the addition of Kashmiri, Konkani, and Santhali. This advancement ensures smoother communication, reflecting India's linguistic diversity in parliamentary proceedings. BJP MP Dr.

Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav appealed to Bihar voters. He wants them to support Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for Prime Minister in 2029. Yadav aims to defeat the National Democratic Alliance in the upcoming state elections. He criticized Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's government. Yadav accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of voter disenfranchisement.

The vice-presidential election heats up as the opposition nominates former Supreme Court judge B Sudershan Reddy, challenging NDA's CP Radhakrishnan. This «South vs South» contest puts regional parties like DMK, YSRCP, and BRS in a bind. With NDA holding a comfortable majority in both houses, the election outcome hinges on potential defections.

Maharashtra is grappling with severe flooding due to incessant rains, claiming at least six lives and displacing hundreds. Mumbai and other districts are on high alert as the IMD forecasts more intense rainfall. Authorities are evacuating vulnerable areas, with the NDRF and Army assisting in rescue operations. Farmland is submerged, and infrastructure is severely damaged, disrupting connectivity across the state.

The BJP has strongly criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi after a video surfaced allegedly showing his car running over a police constable during the 'Vote Adhikar Yatra' in Bihar. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla shared the video, claiming the officer was critically injured and Gandhi did not stop to check on him.

Mallikarjun Kharge announced that former Supreme Court judge B Sudershan Reddy is the INDIA bloc's candidate for the Vice Presidential elections on September 9. Kharge praised Reddy as a distinguished jurist and champion of social justice, highlighting his pro-poor judgments and commitment to the Constitution. Reddy will file his nomination on August 21, with opposition parties uniting in support.

Sanjay Kumar from Lokniti-CSDS apologised for a post about Maharashtra election data. The post incorrectly showed a voter decrease in two constituencies. BJP criticised Kumar, alleging bias. The apology occurred amid tensions between the India bloc and the Election Commission of India. Rahul Gandhi accused the ECI of vote theft.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi again criticised Jawaharlal Nehru for the Indus Water Treaty, claiming it favored Pakistan and harmed Indian farmers. He stated Nehru himself admitted the treaty's lack of benefit. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi countered, accusing Modi of evading responsibility by blaming past leaders after being in power for 11 years.

During his visit, CM Dhami said that he «appeals to the tourists coming to Devbhoomi Uttarakhand to spend 5 per cent of their travel expenses on the purchase of local products» on the call made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

NSA Ajit Doval met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, highlighting the positive impact of the Modi-Xi meeting in Kazan on bilateral relations. Doval noted improved border conditions and increased engagement. Jaishankar emphasized the importance of maintaining peace at the border and preventing differences from escalating into disputes during his meeting with Wang Yi.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will visit Russia. The visit is scheduled from August 19 to 21, 2025. He will co-chair the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission meeting. The meeting will focus on trade, economic, scientific, and cultural cooperation. Jaishankar will also address the India-Russia Business Forum in Moscow. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this month.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently met Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla. Shukla shared his experiences from the NASA Axiom-4 mission. He highlighted global enthusiasm for India's Gaganyaan mission. Discussions included the challenges of space travel and experiments with food. Modi emphasized the need for more Indian astronauts. Shukla stressed the importance of government support for space research.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in New Delhi, emphasizing the need for candid and constructive dialogue to improve bilateral relations after a challenging period. Jaishankar stressed maintaining peace and de-escalation at the border as crucial for positive momentum. He raised concerns about trade restrictions and terrorism, advocating for global economic stability.

The INDIA bloc is set to announce its vice-presidential candidate, with discussions focusing on figures like scientist Mylswamy Annadurai and Dalit intellectual Tushar Gandhi. The decision to field a candidate aims to challenge the BJP's nominee and potentially revive memories of APJ Abdul Kalam.

Samajwadi Party (SP) accused the Election Commission (EC) of falsely claiming the party didn't submit affidavits regarding voter deletion in Uttar Pradesh. Akhilesh Yadav alleged targeted removal of backward class voters, who support SP, at the BJP's behest. SP leaders presented affidavits as evidence, protesting voter roll irregularities and accusing the EC of favoring the BJP.

The Election Commission has announced that individuals in Bihar who were omitted from the draft electoral roll published on August 1st can submit their claims using Form 6, along with a copy of their Aadhaar, before September 1st. Objections regarding ineligible electors can be filed in Form 7 within the same timeframe.

The NDA's choice of C P Radhakrishnan for vice-president has placed DMK in a dilemma. While rejecting a Tamil Nadu native could be seen as disrespecting Tamil pride, supporting a BJP candidate clashes with DMK's stance against the Centre. AIADMK and BJP leaders are urging DMK to support Radhakrishnan, emphasizing the opportunity for a Tamilian to hold high office.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is actively seeking support for NDA's Vice-Presidential candidate, C P Radhakrishnan, by reaching out to key political figures like M K Stalin and Naveen Patnaik. Devendra Fadnavis has appealed to Maharashtra's regional parties, including Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP, to support Radhakrishnan, highlighting his connection to the state as a voter.

The Supreme Court upheld the Bombay High Court's decision to dismiss a petition challenging the validity of the previous Maharashtra assembly elections based on alleged bogus voting. The High Court had rejected the plea due to a lack of evidence and the improper filing of a writ petition instead of an election petition.

Mumbai and surrounding areas faced severe disruption due to 500 mm of torrential rain over 84 hours, prompting a red alert and school closures. The heavy downpour led to two deaths, widespread flooding, and significant transportation delays, impacting rail, road, and air travel.

Himachal Pradesh experienced a mild tremor in Kangra on Monday night, measuring 3.9 on the Richter scale, with a depth of 10 kilometers. This occurred shortly after Assam was hit by its seventh earthquake this month. The Assam quake, with a magnitude of 4.3, struck Nagaon earlier in the day, marking the third tremor in the district this month.