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Nearly 47% of ministers in India have declared criminal cases against themselves, according to a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). Of these, 174 ministers face serious charges such as murder, kidnapping, and crimes against women. ADR analyzed affidavits of 643 ministers from state assemblies, Union Territories, and the Union Council of Ministers, revealing the concerning prevalence of criminal records among elected leaders. This revelation came days after the Centre proposed bills to remove ministers arrested for 30 consecutive days on serious criminal charges.
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In the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2025, Telangana's universities excelled: University of Hyderabad (UoH) was ranked 18th among universities, 26th overall, and 3rd for NALSAR University of Law in law education. Osmania University moved up to 7th among state public universities, and IIT-Hyderabad secured the 7th position in Engineering. NIPER Hyderabad achieved 5th in Pharmacy, highlighting Telangana’s rising profile in higher education and research.
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India's GST underwent a major reform in 2025, simplifying the tax structure from four slabs (5%, 12%, 18%, 28%) to two main slabs of 5% and 18%, effective September 22, 2025. Additionally, a steep 40% GST rate was introduced for select luxury and demerit goods like high-end cars and cigarettes. This reform aims to reduce the tax burden on essentials, boost disposable income for consumers, and promote economic growth. It also simplifies compliance and is part of a longer journey towards a unified GST rate for transparency and ease of doing business in India.
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IIT Madras has topped the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) India rankings 2025, leading the engineering category for the seventh consecutive year and marking its 10th time at the top. The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru leads the University and R&D rankings. IIM Ahmedabad remains number one in management, AIIMS Delhi ranks first in medical education, and National Law School of India University, Bengaluru, tops law school rankings. IITs dominated engineering with six of the top ten slots, highlighting the concentration of premier technical education in these institutes
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Madras Day is celebrated every year on August 22 to commemorate the founding of the city of Madras (now Chennai) in 1639. The day marks the historic purchase of Madrasapatnam by the British East India Company from local Nayak rulers, which laid the foundation for the city and the British Empire’s expansion in South India. Initiated in 2004 by historians and journalists, Madras Day has grown into a month-long celebration featuring heritage walks, exhibitions, lectures, and cultural events that highlight Chennai’s rich history, diverse culture, and transformation into a cosmopolitan metropolis.
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A U.S. District Court Judge Amit Mehta ruled that Google must share its search data with qualified competitors to foster competition in online search, addressing Google's monopoly status. However, the judge did not require Google to sell off its widely used Chrome browser, rejecting the U.S. Department of Justice's bid for a structural breakup. The court also placed limits on Google's exclusive distribution agreements that made it the default search engine on many devices. Despite this, Google's dominant position remains strong due to its extensive real-time user data and AI advancements, which give it a new competitive edge in search and AI-powered answer engines.
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A "double-bagel defeat" in tennis refers to a match where one player wins two sets with a score of 6-0 in each set, meaning the opponent fails to win a single game in both sets. The term "bagel" is used because the zero in the score resembles a bagel, and a "double bagel" signifies an even more dominant performance with two such sets. It is a rare and humiliating loss for the defeated player and highlights a significant level of dominance by the winner.
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The Centre, Manipur government, and Kuki-Zo groups, representing 23 underground outfits, have signed a new Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement aimed at restoring peace in Manipur by maintaining territorial integrity, ensuring free movement along National Highway-2, relocating militant camps, and establishing strict oversight through a Joint Monitoring Group, ahead of PM Narendra Modi’s expected visit on September 13, 2025. This pact marks a significant step toward reducing violence and promoting dialogue in the state.
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