Police in Gurugram, Haryana, have detained six Muslim laborers from Malda, West Bengal, suspecting them of being Bangladeshi nationals. According to family members and rights activists, the men are being forced to work at the police station and are only being fed once a day. There are fears they may be forcibly pushed into Bangladesh. In response, the Migrant Workers' Solidarity Platform and several departments of the West Bengal government have called for immediate intervention. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee condemned the incident, saying, “Speaking Bengali alone is becoming a reason for harassment under the label of ‘Bangladeshi’.”

India’s Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has resigned, citing health concerns and medical advice as the reason. He submitted his resignation to the President, bringing his tenure to an early end. Dhankhar, elected in August 2022, was previously the Governor of West Bengal. In March, he was hospitalized due to a heart condition. In his letter, he thanked Prime Minister Modi and other ministers for their support and expressed gratitude for witnessing India’s development and economic progress during his term.

Indian Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has resigned from his post citing health issues. On Monday night, July 21, he submitted his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu. On the opening day of the Parliament’s monsoon session, he abruptly suspended Rajya Sabha proceedings amid controversy surrounding the Pahalgam incident and did not return. In his resignation letter, Dhankhar thanked the President, Prime Minister, ministers, and MPs for their support. He had served as Vice President since 2022 and previously held the post of Governor of West Bengal.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic crash of a Bangladesh Air Force trainer aircraft in Uttara that left many dead and injured, including students. In a condolence message, he extended his sympathies to the families of the deceased and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. Modi also pledged full support to Bangladesh and offered all possible assistance. The aircraft crashed into the school just 12 minutes after takeoff, injuring more than 160 people, including 164 students.

Former Indian Foreign Secretary and ex-High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Harsh Vardhan Shringla, was sworn in as a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha on the first day of the Indian Parliament’s Monsoon Session. Alongside him, historian Meenakshi Jain and educationist Sadanand Master also took oath. The session began with tributes to recent tragedy victims and ended with condolences for deceased former members. Birthday greetings were extended to several political leaders including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.

The Mumbai High Court has acquitted all 12 individuals previously convicted in the 2006 train bombings that killed 189 and injured 800. A special court in 2015 had sentenced five to death and seven to life imprisonment. However, the High Court ruled that the prosecution failed to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt, citing inconsistencies in witness testimonies and investigative flaws. The court has ordered their release unless they are held in connection with other cases.

BJP leader Nishikant Dubey sparked controversy by stating in a podcast interview that Indira Gandhi made a mistake by creating Bangladesh. He claimed Bihar is paying the price for this decision and suggested that if Bangladesh had to be created, it should have been done separately for Hindus and Muslims. Dubey also remarked that while BJP needs Narendra Modi, Modi does not need BJP. The remarks have drawn widespread criticism since the video clip went viral.

India’s NCERT has revised eighth-grade textbooks for 2025-26, portraying Mughal emperors Babur, Akbar, and Aurangzeb as both patrons of culture and ruthless rulers. The changes depict Akbar as a temple destroyer and Aurangzeb as a symbol of religious persecution, igniting debate over historical accuracy versus political motives. Critics argue this revision downplays Muslim contributions and fuels communal distrust. This move continues a trend since 2014 to reshape history textbooks to emphasize Hindu nationalism, raising concerns about fostering intolerance and rewriting India’s pluralistic past.

Renowned Telugu film actor and comedian Fish Venkat passed away on July 18 in Hyderabad due to complications related to kidney and liver failure. He was 53 years old.

With a career spanning over two decades, Venkat began his journey in the Telugu film industry with the 2001 hit Khushi. Over the years, he acted in more than 150 films and earned a loyal fanbase for his comedic timing and character roles. His final appearance was in the film Coffee with a Killer.

Despite the critical nature of his illness, Venkat's family reportedly struggled to raise the ₹50 lakh needed for his treatment. According to the family, they were misled by a fraudster who claimed to be an assistant of superstar Prabhas and promised financial support. The claim turned out to be false, and due to delays in receiving a kidney transplant, his condition deteriorated beyond recovery.

Fish Venkat's death has sparked conversations in the Telugu film industry about the need for better support systems for veteran artists facing health and financial crises.

In Illinois, USA, an Indian woman was caught shoplifting items worth approximately ₹1.1 lakh from a daily shopping store. According to NDTV, the woman wandered inside the store for seven hours before attempting to leave without paying, when staff stopped her. The incident’s video and police bodycam footage have gone viral. A police officer was seen asking her, “Is theft legal in your country?” Following the incident, the US Embassy has issued a warning to Indian nationals, stating that such offenses could lead to visa cancellation and future bans, emphasizing that crimes abroad can also impact passport and visa statuses.

More than 100 schools in Delhi and Bengaluru have received bomb threats via email. Around 50 schools in Delhi and at least 40 in Bengaluru were targeted with emails titled “Bomb Inside School,” which included violent language and details about alleged explosives. Delhi has received similar threats for four consecutive days. Bengaluru police have launched extensive searches across affected campuses. Authorities believe the emails were sent using VPNs and encrypted networks, making it difficult to trace the source. Police are treating it as a dark web-based cyber threat.

India’s merchandise trade deficit is projected to rise to $300 billion in the 2025–26 fiscal year, up from $287 billion last year, driven by sluggish exports and robust import growth. According to an ICICI Bank report, weaker demand in major global markets—excluding the U.S.—has slowed export momentum. U.S. demand remains relatively high due to advance orders ahead of potential tariffs. Meanwhile, strong domestic consumption is expected to boost imports further, potentially widening the trade imbalance.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has vowed to speak more in Bengali in defiance of what she claims is increasing harassment of Bengali speakers in several Indian states. Speaking at a Trinamool Congress rally, she alleged that in BJP-ruled states, Bengalis are being detained as “illegal immigrants” and that voters from the Bengali community are being removed from electoral rolls in Maharashtra and Bihar. She warned that a similar agenda could be pursued in West Bengal. Challenging the central government directly, Banerjee said, “If they have the courage, let them arrest me.” She also condemned claims labeling Bengalis as Rohingyas, calling such accusations baseless and offensive.

Following the deadly June crash of an Air India Boeing 787 in Ahmedabad, India’s aviation regulator has directed all airlines to inspect the fuel switch locking systems on Boeing 737 and 787 aircraft. While Boeing and the FAA assure the system is safe, India and other countries are conducting precautionary checks. Air India has already inspected most of its affected fleet, with no issues found so far. Investigators noted previous FAA guidance on the switches and discrepancies in cockpit communication before the crash.

The Chinese Embassy in India has described the issue of selecting the Dalai Lama’s successor as a "thorn" in India-China relations. Chinese spokesperson Yu Jing stated that matters related to Tibet are purely internal affairs of China and have become a burden for India. China’s frustration grew after Indian ministers attended the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday and following remarks from the Tibetan spiritual leader. While China emphasizes its role in selecting the successor, Indian Minister Kiren Rijiju said the Dalai Lama’s office will decide on the reincarnation, prompting objections from Beijing. The issue has gained diplomatic significance ahead of Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar’s upcoming visit to China.