Consumption taxes cut to boost demand after tariff blow
The Central government has slashed Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates on hundreds of consumer items to spur demand after United States President Donald Trump’s tariffs threatened economic slowdown.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the four-tier GST has been simplified to two slabs – 5 per cent and 18 per cent. Levies on essentials like toothpaste and shampoos drop to 5 per cent, while small cars and appliances fall to 18 per cent.
Effective Sept 22, the cuts will cost the government Rs480 billion (S$70.3 billion).
30 killed, 350,000 affected: Punjab shuts schools till Sept 7
Punjab has extended the closure of all schools, colleges, and universities until Sept 7 as devastating floods continue to disrupt life.
Thirty people have died, and over 350,000 residents are affected as swollen rivers Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi overflow following heavy rainfall in northern catchments.
The government earlier ordered closures until Sept 3, but worsening conditions forced an extension across the state.
US trade deal likely to be clinched by November
India aims to finalise a trade agreement with the United States by November, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said at an investor conference. He noted progress in talks with the European Union and easing tensions with China.
Mr Goyal highlighted India’s trade pacts with the UK, UAE, and Australia. However, ties with Washington remain strained following its recent 50 per cent tariff hike on Indian exports.
Commercial chip production to begin by 2025
India will start producing semiconductors commercially by late 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced at the Semicon India conference.
Micron and Tata test chips are already underway, with 10 major projects worth US$18 billion under development.
India’s semiconductor market is projected to hit US$100 billion by 2030. Mr Modi called the initiative a crucial step in making India a global chip hub.
IIT Madras professor named among TIME’s 100 AI influencers
TIME magazine has named IIT Madras associate professor Mitesh Khapra among its 100 most influential people in AI in 2025.
Recognised for his pioneering work in natural language processing, Prof Khapra co-founded AI4Bharat, developing open-source datasets to support Indian languages. His team’s efforts have been crucial for Indian startups building voice tech.
Unlike industry leaders, Prof Khapra focuses on academic research, bridging gaps for underrepresented languages across nearly all of India’s 22 official tongues.
Gangster-turned-politician freed on bail after 17 years
Gangster-turned-politician Arun Gawli, 76, walked out of Nagpur Central Jail after the Supreme Court granted him bail in a 2007 murder case.
Gawli, serving life for the killing of Shiv Sena corporator Kamlakar Jamsandekar, had been in prison for over 17 years.
A former MLA and founder of the Akhil Bharatiya Sena, he rose to prominence from Mumbai’s Dagdi slum. The top court’s bail ruling includes strict trial court conditions.
Rs102-crore penalty on actress in gold smuggling case
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence has fined Kannada actress Ranya Rao Rs102 crore (S$14.9 million) in a gold smuggling case after she was caught with 14.8kg of gold at Bengaluru airport in March.
Additional penalties target hotelier Tarun Kondaraju and jewellers Sahil Sakaria Jain and Bharat Kumar Jain.
Ranya, stepdaughter of senior police officer K. Ramachandra Rao, was sentenced in July to one year of imprisonment under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act.
5 businessmen killed in Bihar car-truck collision
Five businessmen from Patna and nearby districts in Bihar were killed when their speeding car rammed into a truck on the Patna-Gaya-Dobhi Highway near Suiya Mor around 12.45am on Sept 4.
The crash was so severe the car’s front lodged into the truck. Police used gas cutters and cranes to retrieve the bodies after two hours.
The victims, engaged in pesticide and agro-business, were returning from Fatuha.
UP woman jumps from roof after husband’s dare
A woman in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, was hospitalised after leaping off her two-storey terraced house following her husband’s repeated dare, captured in a chilling video.
The incident occurred in Dakauli village, Gonda area. Police said she suffered injuries, and her statement has been recorded.
Disturbingly, the footage shows her husband urging her to jump, after which she crashes to the ground and is thrashed again, as a child cries nearby.
Delhi Zoo shut after bird flu detected in storks
Delhi Zoo has been closed indefinitely after two storks tested positive for the H5N1 bird flu virus, authorities confirmed on Aug 30.
Biosecurity measures have been stepped up, and another sample from a dead captive bird is under testing. Officials are conducting intensive surveillance to prevent transmission to other animals or humans.
The zoo will reopen only after clearance from experts.
Badminton World Championships return to India after 17 years
The Badminton World Federation has confirmed New Delhi as host of the World Championships in 2026, marking the tournament’s return to India after 17 years.
Previously held in Hyderabad in 2009, the global event crowns champions in all categories and offers top-ranking points.
The announcement, made at the 2025 World Championships closing ceremony in Paris, also confirms Asia’s hosting of the showpiece after eight years.
