THE HEADLINES:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the nation at 5 this evening.
- New GST rates to come into effect midnight tonight; Reduced rates across a wide spectrum of consumer goods to bring relief to common man.
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to embark on a two day visit to Morocco today.
- US President Donald Trump demands to regain control over Bagram air base in Afghanistan; Taliban rejects.
- Festival of Mahalaya being observed in different parts of the country.
- In Sports, Anand Kumar Velkumar bags gold in 42km marathon at World Speed Skating Championships in China.
- In Asia Cup T20 Cricket, India to take on Pakistan in Super 4 stage clash in Dubai.
<><><>
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation at 5 PM today. The Prime Minister’s address will be broadcast Live by all stations of Akashvani and Doordarshan. It will also be live streamed on Akashvani News 24×7 and entire network of Prasar Bharati. In view of this, the news bulletins of 5 pm and 5.05 PM stands cancelled.
<><><>
On this Independence Day, from the ramparts of the Red Fort, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the next generation of GST reforms. His vision was realized on the 3rd of this month, when the GST Council reduced tax rates in many sectors to ease the lives of citizens. A report:
“The Council has simplified the indirect tax system into a two-tier structure of 5 percent and 18 percent from a four-tier structure of 5 percent, 12 percent, 18 percent, and 28 percent. An additional slab of 40 percent has been introduced for selected items, including tobacco and luxury items. The GST Council approved rate rationalisation with a focus on the common man, labour-intensive industries, farmers and agriculture, health, and key drivers of the economy. Under the new structure, food items including ultra-high-temperature milk, chhena, paneer, pizza bread, and chapati will attract 0 tax. GST on agricultural equipment like tractors, harvesting machinery, and composting machines has been reduced from 12 percent to 5 percent, marking a significant step in the agricultural sector. The government has also reduced the GST on two-wheelers up to 350 cc from 28 percent to 18 percent. The reduction in GST will bring relief to lower middle class families, young professionals, and gig workers who depend on affordable transport for their livelihood and daily needs. Small cars, which previously were part of the 28 percent slab, have also been slashed down to 18 percent under the next generation GST reforms. Talking to Akashvani News, Abhay Pratap, a Delhi resident, has welcomed the reforms. He said that this decision will help the middle class in fulfilling their dreams.
The new tax rates will come into effect from tomorrow. Shivang, Akashvani News, Delhi.”
<><><>
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura tomorrow. During the visit, Mr Modi will inaugurate multiple development projects worth over five thousand one hundred crore rupees. In Arunachal Pradesh, he will lay the foundation stone of two major hydropower projects worth over three thousand 700 crore rupees. In Tripura, the prime minister will inaugurate the development work of the Mata Tripura Sundari Temple Complex at Matabari under the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive scheme.
<><><>
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will embark on an official visit to Morocco, beginning today. This will mark the first-ever visit of a Raksha Mantri to the North African nation, highlighting the growing strategic convergence between India and Morocco. In a social media post, Mr Singh said, during the visit he will hold a bilateral meeting with his Moroccan counterpart, Abdeltif Loudiyi to strengthen defence, strategic, and industry cooperation. He will also attend the inauguration of Tata Advanced Systems Maroc’s new manufacturing facility for the Wheeled Armoured Platform at Berrechid. This facility is the first-ever Indian defence manufacturing plant in Africa.
<><><>
The US Chamber of Commerce has raised concerns after President Donald Trump increased the application fee for H-1B visas to hundred thousand dollars. The department in a statement said, they are concerned about the impact of new H1B visa rules on employees, their families, and employers. It said, they are working with the Administration and its members to understand the full implications and the best path forward. Earlier, the White House had issued a major clarification regarding the new H-1B visa policy that caused confusion and panic in the tech industry, saying that a one hundred thousand dollar fee will be a one-time payment imposed only on new applicants. It said those who already hold H-1B visas and are currently outside of the country right now will not be charged one hundred thousand dollar fee to re-enter. It will also not affect renewals or current visa holders.
<><><>
Meanwhile, India has said it is examining the implications of the US decision to impose a hundred thousand dollars fee on H-1B visa applications but stressed that the measure could have humanitarian consequences. Meanwhile, the Government has advised all its Missions and Posts to extend all possible help to Indian nationals who are travelling back to the US in the next 24 hours or so.
<><><>
Guided by the mantra of Seva and Sushasan, that is, Public Service and Good Governance, the Government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been working tirelessly to bring transformation and progress. Today, in this Special Series- ‘Seva Parv’, we bring to you how the Modi government has *led the UPI revolution, making digital payments seamless, secure, and accessible for all.
“Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has witnessed a profound transformation driven by technology. At the heart of this transformation is UPI-the Unified Payments Interface. Launched in 2016 by the National Payments Corporation of India, UPI has revolutionized the nation’s payment ecosystem by integrating multiple bank accounts into a single mobile application. This system enables seamless fund transfers, merchant payments, and peer-to-peer transactions. In his Independence day address this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about the power of UPI.
The scale of UPI today is remarkable. In August 2025 alone, UPI has crossed 20 billion transactions. A juice vendor from Delhi, Rohit hailed the features of the UPI saying that it has made money transactions seamless and reduced the dependency to visit banks.
India’s digital payments revolution is now gaining international momentum. Currently UPI is operational in countries including UAE, Singapore, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, France, and Mauritius. By offering a seamless, secure, and accessible platform for both individuals and businesses, UPI has played a pivotal role in promoting financial inclusion and accelerating the nation’s shift towards a cashless economy.
<><><>
The festival of Mahalaya is being observed in different parts of the country today. Mahalaya marks the end of Pitru Paksha Shradh and the beginning of Durga Puja festivities. Mahalaya is considered to be the day Goddess Durga defeated the demon Mahishasura. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have extended their wishes on the occasion. A report:
“Mahalaya heralds the beginning of Durga Puja festivities for the Bengali community, as the Devi paksha follows the end of Mahalaya . People thronge at the ghats of the rivers and ponds to pay homage to their predecessors which is known as Tarpan. The dawn began with the Akashvani Kolkata’s iconic Mahisasur Mardini, collection of mantras and songs rendered in the iconic voice of Birendra Krishna Bhadra. Commemorating the mythical moment when Goddess Durga was invoked to descend to Earth and vanquish the demon king Mahishasura-a powerful symbol of the triumph of good over evil. Sandipon Dasgupta, Akashvani News, Kolkata.”
<><><>
Afghan officials have sharply rejected US threats to reclaim Bagram Air Base, emphasising that any attempt to reestablish a foreign military presence would be met with unyielding resistance. Afghan Defence Minister Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid in a statement said that if the US don’t want to leave and want more bases then they should be ready to fight for another 20 years. The statement comes after US president Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Afghanistan, demanding the return of the Bagram air base to the United States.
<><><>
United States President Donald Trump has threatened Venezuela with incalculable consequences if the country does not immediately take back immigrants. President Trump issued the threat in a social media platform yesterday. The US President’s outburst came a day after he announced another strike against alleged drug vessels from Venezuela in the Caribbean that killed three men he described as male narcoterrorists.
<><><>
The last solar eclipse of the year is set to take place today. The eclipse will begin at 1:29 pm according to Eastern Daylight Time and 10:59 PM according to India Standard Time and will be visible in southern hemisphere, across the parts of Australia, Antarctica, the Pacific Ocean and other areas, while India would not be able to witness it.
<><><>
India’s Anand kumar Velkumar clinched gold in the men’s 42km marathon and made history at the 2025 World Speed Skating Championships in China. he won two golds and a bronze. It is his third medal at the ongoing event.
Velkumar’s journey began on a cement badminton court near his home, with humble beginnings that fueled a 15-year dream.
<><><>
India and Pakistan are set to renew cricket’s fiercest rivalry tonight in the Super Four stage of the DP World Asia Cup 2025 at the Dubai International Stadium. The match begins at 8:00 pm India time. A report –
“India go into tonight’s Super Fours clash with a dominant record against Pakistan in T20 internationals, 11 wins from 14 matches, including the commanding seven-wicket victory in the Group A match on September 14. The road to this stage has been contrasting. India cruised through Group A unbeaten, while Pakistan scraped into the Super Fours with the win over UAE. For India, a win tonight would put directly to the September 28 final. For Pakistan, it’s simple, they must win to stay alive in the tournament. The build-up has carried its share of drama. PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi demanded the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft over what he called interference in the toss process. But the ICC has stood firm, and Pycroft will remain in charge for this high-stakes showdown. Conditions at the Dubai International Stadium look perfect for cricket. Clear skies, temperatures hovering around 35 degrees, and little chance of dew. The pitch is expected to favor the batters, and history leans India’s way , having won six of the ten T20 internationals at this venue. This is Vinod kumar for Akashvani from Dubai.”
<><><>
THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the nation at 5 this evening.
- New GST rates to come into effect midnight tonight; Reduced rates across a wide spectrum of consumer goods to bring relief to common man.
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to embark on a two day visit to Morocco today.
- US President Donald Trump demands to regain control over Bagram air base in Afghanistan; Taliban rejects.
- Festival of Mahalaya being observed in different parts of the country.
- In Sports, Anand Kumar Velkumar bags gold in 42km marathon at World Speed Skating Championships in China.
- In Asia Cup T20 Cricket, India to take on Pakistan in Super 4 stage clash in Dubai.
<><><>
