THE HEADLINES:-
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi flags off ‘Made in India’ battery electric vehicle ‘E-Vitara’ and inaugurates hybrid battery electrodes plant in Gujarat; Calls it the beginning of new chapter in country’s Make in India journey.
- Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan says India’s own Iron Dome Sudarshan Chakra will protect strategic sites, acting both as shield and sword.
- Indian Navy to commission its two advanced stealth frigates, Udaygiri and Himgiri, in Visakhapatnam today.
- ED conducts raids at former Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj’s residence in case related to Delhi Hospital construction scam.
- Monsoon rain wreaks havoc in Jammu region, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, as major rivers are in spate; Authorities sound flood alert and advise people to move to safer places.
- Sensex tanks over 500 points after US notifies 25 per cent additional tariffs on India.
- Hockey India announces free entry for Men’s Asia Cup matches in Rajgir, Bihar.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that a new chapter is being added to India’s Make in India journey, marking an important day in the nation’s goal of ‘Make in India’ and ‘Make for the World’. Addressing a gathering after inaugurating the production of hybrid battery electrodes at the TDS Lithium-Ion Battery Plant in Gujarat, the Prime Minister said the occasion also gives a new dimension to the friendship between India and Japan.
Mr. Modi said India has the strength of democracy, the advantage of demography, and a large pool of skilled workforce. He pointed out that companies like Maruti Suzuki have become brand ambassadors of Make in India.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the deepening partnership between India and Japan, reaffirming Japan’s role as a key development partner in India’s journey towards achieving self-reliance by 2047.
Earlier Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the Made in India battery electric vehicles (BEVs) ‘E-Vitara’ from Hansalpur in Gujarat. The vehicles will be exported to over 100 countries, including key markets like Europe and Japan. Taking a giant leap towards self-reliance in clean energy, the Prime Minister also launched the next phase of India’s battery ecosystem with the start of local production of hybrid battery electrodes. The plant, is a joint venture of Toshiba, Denso and Suzuki, which will boost domestic manufacturing and clean energy innovation. More than eighty percent of the battery value will now be manufactured within India.
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Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan has said that India’s own Iron Dome ‘Sudarshan Chakra’, will protect strategic, civilian and nationally important sites, acting both as a shield and a sword.
While addressing the ‘RAN SAMWAD-2025’, a two-day Tri-Service dialogue on war, warfare and warfighting at the Army War College in Madhya Pradesh today, General Chauhan said the system will entail the development of robust infrastructure and processes for the detection, acquisition, and neutralisation of the enemy’s air vectors, including the use of soft skills and hard skills.
General Chauhan said Operation Sindoor was a modern conflict that offered many lessons, several of which have already been implemented, while others are under way.
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The Indian Navy will commission two of its advanced stealth frigates, Udaygiri and Himgiri, in Visakhapatnam, today. The P-17A frigates displace about 6,700 tonnes, making them slightly larger than their predecessor Shivalik-class frigates. They feature an improved hull design to reduce radar cross section. The ceremony will be presided over by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. A report:
“The launch ceremony at Visakhapatnam will be more than a naval ritual; it will be a celebration of India’s journey towards a robust and self-sufficient maritime defence ecosystem. INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri are follow-on ships of the Project 17 (Shivalik) class frigates incorporating significant improvements in design, stealth, weapon and sensor systems and are capable of executing a full spectrum of maritime missions. INS Udaygiri, built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd., Mumbai, and INS Himgiri, constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers, Kolkata, showcase the nation’s growing shipbuilding prowess, as well as, the synergy between India’s premier defence shipyards. Henry, Akashvani News, Visakhapatnam.”
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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is conducting search operations at 13 different locations across Delhi-NCR including the residence of former Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj in a case related to Delhi Hospital Construction Scam. The ED is conducting search operations in the alleged irregularities in hospital construction projects sanctioned during the Aam Aadmi Party government’s tenure. Earlier, the Anti-Corruption Branch of Delhi Police had registered an FIR against Saurabh Bhardwaj, along with private contractors and government officials in this regard.
Meanwhile, The Aam Aadmi Party critisiced the ED raids at their party leader Saurabh Bharadwaj’s residence, calling it a politically motivated action orchestrated by the BJP.
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In Jammu and Kashmir, continuous heavy rainfall over the past 24 hours has triggered a critical flood situation across Jammu division, with water levels in several major rivers and tributaries rising sharply. The Met department has predicted more rain in the coming hours, raising fears of further inundation in low-lying areas. The Tawi River in Jammu was flowing at 24.97 feet in the morning. In view of the inclement and adverse weather conditions, all Government and Private schools across the Jammu Division are closed today for the second consecutive day. More from our Correspondent:-
“Incessant rain has swollen most rivers, streams and seasonal waterways in Jammu division, and major rivers like Tawi and Ravi are flowing above the danger mark. In Jammu city, the Residents of these areas have been advised to remain alert and take necessary precautions. The traffic on the 250 km strategic Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was suspended this morning. All the affected districts, various departments have been on high alert, and evacuation exercises for affected people to safer locations have been started. Helplines have been set up. Emergency contact numbers have been issued by the Jammu district administration. This is N. Gulshan Raina For Akashvani News from Jammu.”
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Continuous rain in many parts of Punjab for the last couple of days and flowing down of rainy water from Himachal Pradesh to rivers in Punjab has put the border state on alert. The swollen rivers including Beas, Ravi and Satluj have inundated many parts of Fazilka, Ferozepur, Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur and Pathankot throwing normal life out of gear and flattening the standing crops. We have a report:-
“Continuous rain in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh and opening up of gates of Bhakra, Pong and Ranjit Sagar Dams to secure the dams have caused floods in many parts of Doaba, Majha and Malwa regions of the state. Helpline numbers have been issued to contact during any emergency. Fazilka and Pathankot administrations have sounded an alert and have issued instructions to move to relief camps or other safer places. Situation in border district Pathankot is alarming. District Police Chief Diljinder Singh said arrangements are being made to airlift the villagers with the help of Army and NDRF teams have also been requisitioned. Weather department has issued an Orange alert for today with rain in most parts of the state.”
Due to heavy soil erosion and flash flood in Chakki River in Pathankot, the rail traffic has been temporarily suspended between Pathankot Cantt – Kandrori section in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. Consequently, Pathankot – Jalandhar City Passenger train has been cancelled.
Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra – New Delhi Vande Bharat Express has been diverted to run via Pathankot – Gurdaspur – Amritsar – Beas – Jalandhar Cantt. instead of Pathankot Cantt – Mukerian – Bhogpur Sirwal.
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The intermittent rain in Himachal Pradesh has badly affected normal life. The rivers and streams are overflowing due to the continuous rain and incidents of landslides are being reported at many places. The Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for heavy rain in two districts of the state, Kangra and Chamba, while a yellow alert has been issued for some other areas for today.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on an official visit to Japan on Thursday. Mr Modi will be in Japan on the 29th and the 30th of August to hold the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit with the Prime Minister of Japan, Shigeru Ishiba. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi today, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that the annual summit will give both Prime Ministers opportunity to do in-depth review of bilateral ties and take stock of progress.
Following te visit to Japan, the Prime Minister will visit Tianjin, China, for the 25th meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Council (SCO) on the 31st of this month and 1st of the next month at the invitation of President Xi Jinping of China.
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Benchmark domestic equity indices, Sensex and Nifty, were trading over 0.6 per cent down during afternoon trade today. The Sensex lost 521 points, to 81 thousand 123, while Nifty declined 157 points, to 24 thousand 810, when reports last came in.
The market sentiment was severely affected after the draft notice published by the United States Homeland Security Department revealed that US President Donald Trump plans to go ahead with 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods, starting from tomorrow.
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Hockey India has announced that entry to all matches of the Men’s Asia Cup 2025, to be held in Rajgir, Bihar, will be free of cost. The tournament is scheduled from 29th of August to 7th of September at the newly built Rajgir Hockey Stadium.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:-
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi flags off ‘Made in India’ battery electric vehicle ‘E-Vitara’ and inaugurates hybrid battery electrodes plant in Gujarat; Calls it the beginning of new chapter in country’s Make in India journey.
- Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan says India’s own Iron Dome Sudarshan Chakra will protect strategic sites, acting both as shield and sword.
- Indian Navy to commission its two advanced stealth frigates, Udaygiri and Himgiri, in Visakhapatnam today.
- ED conducts raids at former Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj’s residence in case related to Delhi Hospital construction scam.
- Monsoon rain wreaks havoc in Jammu region, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, as major rivers are in spate; Authorities sound flood alert and advise people to move to safer places.
- Sensex tanks over 500 points after US notifies 25 per cent additional tariffs on India.
- Hockey India announces free entry for Men’s Asia Cup matches in Rajgir, Bihar.
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