THE HEADLINES:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, India built a transparent, responsive and citizen-centric governance model in past 11 years; Inaugurates Kartavya Bhavan, as part of Common Central Secretariat buildings in New Delhi.
- New Delhi hits out after the United States announces additional tariffs on Indian imports; Asserts, India will take all necessary actions to protect its national interest.
- In Uttarakhand, around 190 people rescued so far from flash flood-hit Dharali village of Uttarkashi district; Relief and rescue operations in full swing.
- IMD forecasts heavy rainfall over Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh for next six days.
- National Security Advisor Ajit Doval holds a meeting with senior Russian officials in Moscow to discuss bilateral defence and security cooperation.
- Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha witness uproar over various issues including electoral roll revision drive in Bihar; Parliament passes ‘Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2025’.
- Nine Naxalites surrender in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that India built a transparent, responsive and citizen-centric governance in the past 11 years. Mr Modi was addressing public programme at Kartavya Path in New Delhi.
The Prime Minister said, August is the month of revolution, and ahead of the 15th of August, the country is witnessing a series of historic milestones related to the building of a modern India.
Mr Modi highlighted that this is just the first Kartavya Bhavan that has been completed, and the construction of many more Kartavya Bhavans is progressing rapidly. He added that once these offices shift nearby, it will lead to a better work environment and convenience for employees. The Prime Minister said that essential facilities will be available, overall work output will increase, and the government will also save 1,500 crore rupees currently being spent on rent annually.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi inaugurated Kartavya Bhavan-3 at Kartavya Path in the National Capital. Kartavya Bhavan-3 is part of the broader transformation of the Central Vista. It is the first among several upcoming Common Central Secretariat buildings that aim to streamline administrative processes and enable agile governance.
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New Delhi today hit out after United States announced additional tariffs on Indian imports. This comes after US President Donald Trump imposed a additional tariff of 25 per cent on India. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs asserted that India will take all necessary actions to protect its national interests. Highlighting that the United States has recently targeted India’s oil imports from Russia, the Ministry said that New Delhi has already made clear its position on these issues, including the fact that country’s imports are based on market factors and done with the overall objective of ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion people of India. The Ministry said that it is extremely unfortunate that the US should choose to impose additional tariffs on India for actions that several other countries are also taking in their own national interest. The United States has in recent days targeted India’s oil imports from Russia.
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National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval today held a meeting with senior Russian officials to discuss bilateral defence and security cooperation in Moscow. Mr Doval’s visit to Russia comes at a time when US President Donald Trump has increased tariffs on Indian goods because of New Delhi’s oil purchases from Russia. The NSA is also likely to hold talks on defence industry cooperation.
India has a long standing and wide-ranging cooperation with Russia in the field of defence. As time-tested partners, both countries have been involved in several bilateral projects, including the supply of S-400, licensed production of T-90 tanks and Su-30 MKI production of AK-203 rifles in India and BrahMos missiles.
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India and Russia today reaffirmed their strategic partnership and shared commitment to deepen industrial and economic cooperation. The two sides welcomed enhanced engagement in aluminium, fertilisers, and railway transport, alongside capacity building and technology transfer in mining sector equipment, exploration, and industrial and domestic waste management. The discussion was held during the 11th Session of the India-Russia Working Group on Modernisation and Industrial Cooperation held in New Delhi under the framework of the India-Russia Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation.
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Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami today said around 190 people have been rescued from disaster-hit Dharali village of Uttarkashi district after a devastating cloudburst yesterday triggered massive flash floods over Kheer ganga river in the region. Mr Dhami met with the affected people the disaster-hit region and inquired about their well-being. Talking to media, the Chief Minister assured that both the Centre and the state government are fully committed to assisting the victims.
Relief and rescue operations are in full swing in the district. Both central and state agencies are engaged in relief efforts. More from our correspondent-
“The administration has set up relief camps at Inter College Harsil, Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam and Jhala. Efforts are being made on a war footing to restore electricity and communication services in the region. The Nehru Institute of Mountaineering and the SDRF are engaged in the construction of a temporary bridge at Limchagad. Rapid efforts are also underway to clear blocked roads. Meanwhile, the Health Department has reserved beds for disaster-injured patients at Doon Medical College, Coordination District Hospital and AIIMS Rishikesh. Additionally, specialist doctors have been dispatched to Uttarkashi. In another incident, two women lost their lives in Buransi village of Pauri Tehsil after a residential house was damaged due to heavy rainfall. Due to the continuous downpour, the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra has been temporarily suspended until the situation normalizes. Sakshi Singh, Akashvani News, Dehradun.”
Meanwhile, the Indian Army has said that one Junior Commissioned Officer and 8 Jawans are still missing after the devastating cloudburst in Uttarkashi.
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Ongoing monsoon rains across most parts of Himachal Pradesh have severely disrupted normal life. We have a report:
“Due to heavy rainfall in Himachal Pradesh, incidents of landslides have increased, resulting in the closure of four national highways and 533 connectivity roads. According to the landslide monitoring report by the State Disaster Management Department, 21 sensitive locations in Mandi, Kangra, Shimla, and Solan districts are under continuous surveillance for potential landslide activity. Meanwhile, in the tribal district of Kinnaur, more than 400 devotees who were stranded at Milling Khatta and other locations during the sacred Kinner Kailash Yatra due to continuous rainfall were rescued safely by the district administration using a temporary rope bridge at Kangyarang. The administration has also confirmed the death of two devotees during the yatra. Ritesh Kapoor, Akashvani News, Shimla.”
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The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy rainfall over Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh for the next six days. The weather agency predicted very heavy rainfall in parts of Bihar, Jharkhand, Sikkim, Coastal and South Interior Karnataka, Sub Himalayan West Bengal, Kerala and the North-eastern region tomorrow.
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Proceedings of both the Houses of Parliament were disrupted today after uproar by Opposition parties over various issues including Special Intensive Revision (SIR) drive of electoral roll in Bihar, leading to adjournment of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha for the day.
When the Lok Sabha assembled at 2 PM after the second adjournment, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said that the government is ready for discussion on every issue as per the constitutional and parliamentary procedures and rules. The Minister said, SIR is under sub-judice in the Supreme Court and it cannot be discussed in the House. Amidst the noisy scene, the House passed the Merchant Shipping Bill 2024.
As the ruckus continued, the Presiding Officer adjourned the House for the day.
Similar scenes were witnessed in the Rajya Sabha as well. Amid the din, the Chair adjourned the House for the day.
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The Parliament has passed the Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2025, with the Rajya Sabha approving it today. The Bill has already been passed by the Lok Sabha. The Bill seeks to replace the Indian Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 1925. The Act establishes the responsibilities, liabilities, rights, and immunities in case of goods carried from a port.
The legislation empowers the central government to issue directions for carrying out provisions of the Bill, and amend the schedule specifying rules applicable to bills of lading.
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In Chhattisgarh, nine Maoists surrendered before the security forces in Bijapur district today. Among them, six maoists were carrying a total reward of twenty-four lakh rupees. The Maoists who surrendered were given an incentive amount of fifty thousand rupees each under the rehabilitation policy of the state government. Meanwhile, a Maoist was killed in an encounter with security forces in the Gangalur region of the district today.
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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) today kept the repo rate unchanged at 5.5 per cent, maintaining a neutral stance. The decision was announced this morning by RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra after the three-day meeting of its six-member Monetary Policy Committee.
Consequently, the standing deposit facility rate will be at 5.25 percent and the marginal standing facility rate and the Bank Rate at 5.75 per cent.
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Benchmark domestic equity indices ended with modest losses for second straight session today. Sensex dropped 166 points to close at 80 thousand 544. Nifty dipped 75 points to settle at 24 thousand 574.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:-
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, India built a transparent, responsive and citizen-centric governance model in past 11 years; Inaugurates Kartavya Bhavan, as part of Common Central Secretariat buildings in New Delhi.
- New Delhi hits out after the United States announces additional tariffs on Indian imports; Asserts, India will take all necessary actions to protect its national interest.
- In Uttarakhand, around 190 people rescued so far from flash flood-hit Dharali village of Uttarkashi district; Relief and rescue operations in full swing.
- IMD forecasts heavy rainfall over Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh for next six days.
- National Security Advisor Ajit Doval holds a meeting with senior Russian officials in Moscow to discuss bilateral defence and security cooperation.
- Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha witness uproar over various issues including electoral roll revision drive in Bihar; Parliament passes ‘Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2025’.
- Nine Naxalites surrender in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh.
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