Nobel laureate economist Amartya Sen has criticized attempts to disenfranchise citizens in the name of revising India’s national voter list. Speaking at an event, Sen asserted: “The right to vote cannot be taken away under the pretext of voter list correction. This is non-negotiable.”

Referring to reports that Bengali speakers could be sent to Bangladesh, he said wryly: “If I knew French, would I be sent to France? It’s absurd.”

He further added: “Many citizens lack proper documents. That doesn’t mean they can be stripped of their voting rights. Somewhat improving a process should not come at the cost of causing enormous damage.”

Jokingly, Sen remarked that he would not object to being sent to Bangladesh, as his family roots were there and they once had a house in Dhaka. The event also marked the reprint of his grandfather Kshitimohan Sen’s book “Joint Endeavors of Hindus and Muslims in India.”

At the India-Russia Business Forum in Moscow, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar emphasized the urgent need to finalize the long-discussed India-Russia Free Trade Agreement. Calling for greater Russian participation in India’s expanding economy, Jaishankar said, “India is moving rapidly towards urbanization and modernization, creating new demand across sectors. This presents a significant opportunity for Russian companies in our market.”

Highlighting areas of collaboration, he noted that Russian firms could play a pivotal role in supplying essential industrial and agricultural goods such as fertilizers and chemicals. He expressed optimism that the free trade deal would help remove existing trade barriers.

Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov reaffirmed Moscow’s commitment to maintaining oil supplies to India and expanding cooperation in natural gas.

Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi has launched a blistering attack on the Indian government, saying if it is serious about deporting illegal Bangladeshis, it should “start with Sheikh Hasina.”

Owaisi urged New Delhi to recognize Bangladesh’s recent popular uprising and build ties with the new government.

He criticized the treatment of poor Bengali-speaking citizens in West Bengal, who are being picked up from Pune, flown to Kolkata, and dumped in no man’s land without verification of nationality.
“Anyone speaking Bengali is branded a Bangladeshi. This paranoia is unacceptable,” Owaisi said, condemning the exclusion of Muslims from voter rolls.

India has successfully tested its indigenously developed Agni-5 missile, capable of carrying nuclear warheads, from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, Odisha.

The medium-range ballistic missile can strike targets up to 5,000 kilometers away and is the most advanced in India’s Agni series. Weighing 1.5 tons, it is equipped with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology, allowing it to deliver multiple warheads to different targets with a single launch.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs confirmed the test met all operational and technical standards, marking a major boost to the country’s strategic defense capabilities.

India’s government has introduced a constitutional amendment bill in the Lok Sabha that would remove the Prime Minister, Union Ministers, Chief Ministers, or Union Territory ministers from office if they remain in custody for 30 consecutive days on serious charges. The ruling party says it will deter corruption, but the opposition warns it could be used to target rival leaders. Political experts fear risks to federalism and judicial independence. Heated protests suggest stormy debates ahead in Parliament.

Chaos unfolded at Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s residence during her weekly “Jan Sunwai” (public hearing) when an individual suddenly attacked her under the pretense of handing over papers.

According to PTI, stones were hurled at Gupta, and she was physically assaulted—slapped and pulled by the hair. Following the attack, she was hospitalized, though her injuries are not reported to be severe.

Her security personnel immediately detained the attacker and handed him over to police for questioning. BJP leaders claimed that Gupta sustained head injuries, while Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa alleged a political conspiracy behind the attack.

The Congress condemned the incident, simultaneously raising concerns about women’s safety in Delhi.

Renowned Bollywood actor Achyut Potdar, best known for his role as a professor in Rajkumar Hirani’s blockbuster 3 Idiots, has passed away at the age of 90.
His daughter, Anuradha Paraskar, confirmed the news, stating that he breathed his last at Jupiter Hospital in Thane, Mumbai.
Potdar’s illustrious career included acclaimed performances in films such as Aakrosh, Ardh Satya, Tezaab, Parinda, Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman, Dilwale, Rangeela, Vastav, Hum Saath Saath Hain, Parineeta, Lage Raho Munna Bhai, Dabangg 2, and Ventilator.

Indian police in Hyderabad have rescued a Bangladeshi teenager who was trafficked and forced into sex work.

Authorities confirmed this was not an isolated case. In recent years, Bangladeshi women have been rescued from brothels in Khairatabad, Chaderghat, and Bandlaguda. Victims also come from Uzbekistan, Russia, Ukraine, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.

An Indian official explained that trafficked women from Bangladesh often cross the border illegally with the help of agents, either by land or river. “The trafficking networks are powerful, operating on both sides of the border, preying on poverty and luring victims with false promises of livelihood,” the official said.

A study by the Childline India Foundation (CSWB) revealed that 2.7% of women subjected to commercial sexual exploitation in India are Bangladeshi nationals.

Amid rising tensions over tariffs, the U.S. has canceled a scheduled trade mission to India, originally set for August 25–29, according to NDTV.

The visit was expected to pave the way for discussions on a bilateral trade agreement. India is currently grappling with tariff burdens of up to 50 percent, with new duties set to take effect on August 27.

Negotiations were underway to finalize a trade deal by September–October. Officials suggest the talks may be rescheduled, but no new dates have been announced.

India has welcomed the Alaska meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling the initiative in pursuit of peace “highly commendable.” The leaders held nearly three hours of talks, but no agreement was reached on the Ukraine conflict. Trump emphasized that the next steps depend on Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, who plans to meet Trump in Washington. India highlighted that global peace can only be achieved through dialogue and diplomacy, without commenting on U.S. tariffs on Indian goods.

India’s rice prices surged nearly 14% in just two days following Bangladesh’s announcement of duty-free rice imports. Major Indian traders quickly exported rice to Bangladesh, creating a temporary supply-demand imbalance in India. Prices of popular varieties like Sarna, Miniket, Ratna, and Sona Masuri saw significant increases. Bangladesh’s duty withdrawal aims to stabilize domestic prices and curb inflation, while Indian exporters benefit from new demand, helping offset global price declines and boosting their profits.

Delhi’s iconic 16th-century Mughal monument, Humayun’s Tomb, has partially collapsed, sparking fears that several people may be trapped under the debris. Authorities confirmed that 12 people have been rescued so far, with five fire engines deployed to the scene.
The collapse occurred at the historic mausoleum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and popular tourist destination. Humayun, the second emperor of the Mughal Empire, ascended the throne in 1530 after the death of his father, Babur.
According to Indian media reports, at least 10 people were initially believed to be trapped. The Delhi Fire Service received an emergency call around 4:30 p.m., and rescue operations are ongoing.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has warned that if peace talks between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin fail, India could face additional secondary tariffs.
The US has already imposed a 25% fine and a 25% tariff on India for purchasing oil and weapons from Russia. Bessent urged European nations to join in on secondary sanctions, saying they should “stand together” in pressuring Russia. Today’s Trump-Putin meeting in Anchorage, Alaska, will focus on a Ukraine ceasefire.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has condemned an incident in Noida where a man and his child were denied hotel accommodation for speaking Bengali.
“This man was not from Bangladesh, but from West Bengal. Yet he was refused a room,” Banerjee said, questioning why respect for languages is not mutual. She praised the sweetness of the Bengali language and urged people never to forget their mother tongue or Bengal’s historic role in India’s independence and social reforms.

A sudden cloudburst in Kishtwar district’s Chashoti village, Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, has triggered flash floods, killing at least 46 people. Over 200 remain missing, and the toll is expected to rise.
Within an hour, more than 100 mm of rain fell, sweeping away pilgrims heading to the Machail Mata temple. Search and rescue operations are ongoing in the disaster-hit area.