GST Council approves two-rate tax slab effective September 22
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council, during its 56th meeting, decided to revamp the tax structure into a primarily two-rate system as proposed by the Central government, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced on Wednesday (September 3, 2025). She added that the decisions would come into effect from September 22 for most items. Only tobacco and tobacco-related products will move to the new structure at a date to be specified by the Finance Minister.
Rain fury claims dozens of lives across northern States
Heavy rain and floods continued to batter States in northern India on Wednesday (September 3, 2025), causing severe damage to life and property. In Himachal Pradesh, 11 people died in the past 24 hours, during which rain triggered landslides. In Punjab, the swollen Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi rivers caused widespread devastation, with the State government pegging the death toll in recent rain-related incidents to 37. In Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), two people were killed and hundreds were rescued following a heavy downpour. The Jhelum and Chenab rivers were flowing above the danger mark.
Even three months may be too long, Governors must decide on bills ‘forthwith’: Opposition-ruled States argue in Supreme Court
Opposition-ruled States argued in the Supreme Court on Wednesday (September 3, 2025) that even a three-month deadline given in the Tamil Nadu Governor case judgment may be too long, and State Bills presented to Governors for clearance must be assented to by these “titular heads” forthwith. West Bengal, Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh said the will of the people, which the proposed laws manifest, cannot be sacrificed on the altar of the whims and fancies of Governors.
Maratha quota row: ‘Who are you to give Kunbi certificates,’ Bhujbal questions his own government
Maharashtra Minister and OBC leader Chhagan Bhujbal on Wednesday (September 3, 2025) questioned his own government over the issuance of the orders on the implementation of Hyderabad Gazette, facilitating Kunbi certificates to Marathas.
Nearly 100 outposts along Pakistan border affected by rain and floods
Nearly 100 border outposts of the Border Security Force (BSF) and around 110 km of fencing along the Pakistan border in Jammu and Punjab have been affected due to the unprecedented rain and floods in the region, a senior government official said on Wednesday (September 3, 2025). The official said the BSF personnel are deployed on “high ground” and are taking the help of drones and surveillance tools to keep a check on activities along the International Boundary.
Foreign firms halted India projects worth ₹2 lakh crore in Q1, 1,200% more than last year
Tariff-related uncertainty pushed foreign companies to pull the plug on nearly ₹2 lakh crore worth of projects in India in the first quarter of this financial year, more than 1,200% higher than the same quarter last year. An analysis by The Hindu of data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) shows that foreign private companies dropped projects worth ₹1.97 lakh crore in Q1 of 2025-26, the highest amount since at least 2010, the earliest date for which there is data, and 570% higher than the long-term quarterly average.
Union government exempts Sri Lankan Tamil refugees who came before January 9, 2015 from penal provisions
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has exempted undocumented members of six minority communities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan from penal provisions and possible deportation if they entered India before December 31, 2024. Sri Lankan Tamil refugees who came to India before January 9, 2015 have also been exempted from penal action if they are found to be without valid passports, travel documents or visa.
Jaishankar pushes for EU-India FTA with visiting German FM
India and Germany committed on Wednesday (September 3, 2025) to doubling trade and expediting efforts to complete the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) under negotiation, amidst uncertainty over whether Europe would follow the United States in imposing secondary sanctions on countries for buying Russian oil.
Allahabad HC reserves order on Rahul Gandhi’s plea against Varanasi court orders on his remarks on Sikh community
The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday (September 3, 2025) reserved its order on the plea filed by Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, against a Varanasi court’s order against him over his remarks on Sikh community made during his visit to the U.S. last year. A special court in Varanasi on July 22 had directed a magistrate court to re-hear a plea seeking registration of an FIR against Mr. Gandhi over his alleged remarks on Sikhs.
Rift among Indian scientists as International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics bans Israel from future editions
A sharp divide has emerged within India’s scientific community after the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) decided to ban Israel from the event starting in 2026. The Olympiad, hosted this year in Mumbai from August 11 to 21, is a competition for high school students.
Kavitha decides to quit as MLC and from primary membership of BRS after suspension; not to join any party
A day after the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leadership suspended MLC K. Kavitha from the party, she has decided to resign as the MLC by sending a letter to the Legislative Council Chairman in the proper format. Ms. Kavitha also announced that she is quitting from the primary membership of the party.
Second infant, bitten by rats at Indore’s govt hospital, dies of septicaemia
Another infant, who was gnawed upon by rats at government-run Maharaja Yashwantrao (MY) Hospital in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore, passed away on Wednesday (September 3, 2025), officials said, claiming that the cause of death was septicaemia. Dr. Jitendra Verma, MY Hospital’s Deputy Superintendent, said that the newborn girl child, who had been bitten by rats on her left hand recently, was suffering from intestinal malformation and other congenital deformities and had been operated upon a week ago.
At least 15 killed, 18 injured as Gloria funicular, Lisbon’s landmark streetcar, derails
An electric streetcar that is one of Lisbon’s landmarks and a big draw for tourists derailed on Wednesday (September 3, 2025), killing 15 people and injuring 18 others, emergency services said. Five of the injured are in serious condition and a child is among the injured, the National Institute for Medical Emergencies said in a statement. An unknown number of the injured are foreigners, it said.
Putin offers to meet Zelenskyy in Moscow; Ukraine says no
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday (September 3, 2025) that he was ready to hold talks with Volodymyr Zelenskyy if the Ukrainian president came to Moscow, but said it remained to be seen whether such a meeting was worthwhile. However, the Kyiv government said Mr. Putin’s proposal is unacceptable. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that at least seven countries, including Austria, the Vatican, Switzerland and three Gulf states, were ready to host the meeting.
India killed U.S. with tariffs, now offers ‘no tariffs’: Trump
India “kills” the U.S. with tariffs and the country has now offered “no tariffs”, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed amid New Delhi’s escalating tensions with Washington over trade and tariffs. “They have tariffs against us. China, which kills us with tariffs. India kills us with tariffs. Brazil kills us [with tariffs],” Mr. Trump told a radio show on Tuesday (September 3, 2025).
U.S. trading firm Jane Street files case against SEBI, document shows
Jane Street on Wednesday (September 3, 2025) filed a case against India’s markets regulator which has accused the U.S. high-frequency trading giant of market manipulation, according to a case document reviewed by Reuters. The case has been filed in the Securities Appellate Tribunal, the first point of appeal against regulatory orders.
Asia Cup | Wasteful India escapes with a draw against Korea in its first Super 4s fixture
If missed chances could write a story, they would write a glorious one for the Indian men’s hockey team. Instead, the players would have been left ruing the multitude of opportunities they wasted in a hard-fought 2-2 draw with defending champion Korea in its first Super 4s game of the Asia Cup at the Rajgir Sports Complex on Wednesday (September 3, 2025).