NEWS & VIEWS|||SARASIJ|||25-08-2026

 

NEWS & VIEWS|||SARASIJ|||25-08-2026

TUESDAY| VOL—IV/2026/AUGUST

OPINIONATED, FOR FREE CIRCULATION.

“बन्धुरात्मात्मनस्तस्य येनात्मैवात्मना जितः ।

अनात्मनस्तु शत्रुत्वे वर्तेतात्मैव शत्रुवत्” ॥ ६ ॥

BHAGABAD GEETA—CHAPTER 6, VERSE-6

TRANSLATION (BY ME): "For those who have conquered the mind, it is their finest friend. But for those who have failed to do so, the mind remains the greatest enemy."

INDIA: (GOI, SWARAJYA, VISHWAMITRA, HINDU POST, INDIA TODAY).

Prime Minister called upon freshly selected  diplomats to build strong grassroots-level engagement in their countries of posting and deepen India’s connection with local communities, while  interacting with the Officer Trainees of the 2025 Batch of Indian Foreign Service IFS at Seva Teerth.

The three-day National Conclave on Tribal Languages and Museums began on 24 August 2026 at Hotel Southern Star in Mysuru, Karnataka, and will continue till 26 August 2026.

UP Cabinet clears 180 days maternity leave twice in career rule for female state government employees. I think the  the earlier requirement of keeping two years’ gap between two maternity leaves was good for Mother and Foetus.

Andhra Pradesh State government gives its approval for establishing green artificial intelligence data centre in Visakhapatnam, where AM AI Factory Pvt Ltd will set up a 512 MW integrated AI data centre facility. The project involves an investment of ₹31,387 crore plus and is proposed at Amanam village in Bheemunipatnam mandal.

Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya M Scindia  launched the revamped Dak Sewa App and Dak MITRA App at a function in New Delhi.

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said, India will amend existing regulations and introduce new rules over the next two months to address concerns raised by companies seeking to set up manufacturing operations in the country.

NITI Aayog’s Skill Development, Labour and Employment Division released the report Reimagining Skilling for Viksit Bharat@2047 in August 2026. The report examined India’s vocational training system, youth employability, labour market alignment, and skilling finance.

BENGAL FILES:

Footpath Milk Row: BJP leaders firmly backed West Bengal Minister Agnimitra Paul following severe backlash over a video showing her rebuking a homeless family for heating milk on a Kolkata footpath. TMC tried to catch POLITICAL FISH in disturbed water. Chief Minister Shuvendu Adhikari mockingly suggested that opposition leader Mamata Banerjee should "keep the woman at her residence". FOOTHPATH DWELLING CAN’T BE ACCEPTED. Government has schemes for them.

TMC leader Mahua Moitra filed an urgent plea before the Supreme Court challenging her forcible midnight eviction.

House Arrest Threats Alleged: Mamata Banerjee took to social media to condemn Adhikari, claiming he openly threatened to curtail her freedom of movement by vowing to place her under house arrest. She characterized the statement as a dangerous authoritarian escalation.

Tourism & Industry: 1,000 Amenity Centres Planned: West Bengal Tourism Minister Shankar Ghosh announced a comprehensive state layout to build 1,000 tourist amenity centres to aggressively bridge basic infrastructure deficits across tourist circuits. The project will be completed primarily utilizing corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds.

"Arjun Bahini" Disaster Response Force: Chief Minister Shuvendu Adhikari announced that West Bengal is creating a specialized, modern disaster-response force named the "Arjun Bahini", modelled closely after the NDRF.

23,000 CAA Certificates Issued: Chief Minister Shuvendu Adhikari announced that West Bengal has officially processed and issued over 23,000 citizenship certificates under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The state has received a total of 2.3 lakh applications so far, and Adhikari confirmed that the local verification hearings are rapidly nearing completion.

Inter-State Water Disputes--Farakka Barrage Gate Standoff: The Bihar government issued an urgent administrative plea to West Bengal, demanding the immediate opening of all sluice gates at the Farakka Barrage. Bihar officials reported that a rapid rise in the Ganges' water levels upstream is posing severe flooding threats to its low-lying districts if the barrage drainage isn't cleared immediately.

WORLD: (REUTER, AP, AFP, BLOOMBERG, CNN, WP)

China–India diplomatic activity — Reports say Chinese President Xi Jinping may visit India with a large delegation, potentially his first such visit in seven years.

25th round of Special Representatives talks on the India-China boundary question is scheduled in Beijing today on 25 August 2026. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval is in Beijing for a two-day visit, and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is set to co-chair the boundary meeting as China’s Special Representative.

US–Canada trade tensions rise — President Trump has threatened new 50% tariffs on Canadian vehicles, auto parts and steel and urged Canada to “fall in line.”

Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement (MJDA) at Al-Safa Palace in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. This development is an example of how the security dynamics of West Asia are developing. The agreement revolves around the principle of collective defence, which means that if one country suffers an armed attack, it will be considered an attack on all three countries. INDIA DELAYED POK SETTLEMENT.

France moves ahead with school phone for children under 15.

Donald Trump's administration on Monday released a proposed a new regulation to codify on new H-1B visas for highly skilled foreign workers. GULF WAR UPDATES:

Netanyahu says Gaza will not return to its pre-October 7 status and promised to intensify operations in areas where attacks on Israeli forces continue.

A Syrian delegation led by Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani met Israeli officials in Jordan, with US mediation, according to a Syrian diplomatic source quoted by the country’s state news agency, SANA.

Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority says vessels repeatedly violating its passage rules through the Strait of Hormuz will face restrictions on future trips.

Iran’s security chief, Mohsen Rezaei, has warned that if Trump’s “economic war” continues, Tehran will halt all oil exports from the Gulf and treat any country’s support for US sanctions as “an act of war”.

Commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has remained at reduced levels over the past 48 hours, according to the latest report by United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

Egypt’s General Intelligence Service chief, Hassan Rashad, has met with a Palestinian Authority (PA) delegation led by Vice President Hussein Al-Sheikh to discuss unifying efforts related to Palestine, according to Egyptian government broadcaster Al-Qahera News.

The diplomatic push coincides with a sharp rise in Israeli settlement activity and settler violence in the West Bank. Israel has opened bidding for 1,234 new housing units in the E1 area, part of a wider 3,401-unit plan linking East Jerusalem with the Israeli Maale Adummim settlement. The UN Human Rights Office said this month that settler violence against Palestinians had reached intolerable levels.

BALOCH NEWS UPDATE:

BLA Ambush in Mastung: Fighters from the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) launched a massive coordinated ambush on a Pakistani military convoy in Khadkocha. An explosion completely destroyed one large armoured vehicle and damaged another, with field sources reporting up to 13 military personnel killed. Following the severe attack, the Balochistan Home Department clamped an indefinite, strict curfew across the region.

Town Seizure and Sabotage: In the Pishin district, the BLA claimed to have taken "complete control" of Saranan town. Fighters reportedly seized large caches of weapons from a local police station, blew up the building with explosives, and set fire to several government infrastructure offices, including the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).

Turbat Border Attack: A separate BLA offensive targeted a Frontier Corps (FC) road-search team in the Hairabad area of Turbat. Six armed men on motorcycles launched a grenade and firearm attack, leading to intense retaliatory fire.

Targeted Killings & Extrajudicial Recoveries Targeting of Non-Local Labourers: Unidentified gunmen opened fire at an active construction site in Saranan town, killing five Punjabi labourers. Separatist groups have historically targeted workers originating from Pakistan's Punjab province to disrupt state infrastructure initiatives.

Human Rights violations & Global Campaigns--Enforced Disappearances in Gwadar: The Baloch human rights watchdog Paank issued an emergency condemnation regarding the enforced disappearance of two brothers. The young men, working as labourers in the Kantani area of Gwadar, were intercepted by military forces while traveling and have since gone missing.

The "Republic of Balochistan" Push: Mass independence demonstrations broke out on the streets, with heavy online trends showcasing a proposed national flag. Activists formally petitioned the United Nations to recognise the Democratic Republic of Balochistan as a sovereign state, citing decades of economic exploitation and military repression by Islamabad.

Talks Denounced as Defeatism: Analysts labelled recent central government offers for political dialogue as a desperate attempt to contain the uprising. This follows statements from Army Chief General Asim Munir, who brushed off the indigenous Baloch resistance by labelling the fighters as "foreign-sponsored proxies".

WHAT EMERGE:

1.0  BALOCH  are fighting for LIBERATION from oppressions and exploitations of Pakistan, since 1947, which got intensified during last 10 years. .

2.0  PAKISTAN tried to restrict it even by aerial Bombing.

3.0  Large area of Baloch Province in under Baloch administration.

4.0  Asim Munir says this is a ‘violence sponsored by outside agencies’.

5.0  UNO is Deaf, Dumb, And Blind on this issue.

LEGAL, CRIME & PUNISHMENT:

Indian agencies have brought back three absconding gangsters linked to the Bambiha Gang apprehended in Malaysia.

 *3-year practice requirement for judicial exams reduced to 1 year* : The Supreme Court has modified its earlier rule and reduced the minimum legal-practice requirement for candidates appearing for entry-level judicial service examinations from 3 years to 1 year. THIS IS DIALUTION OF QUALIFICATION.

 The Supreme Court advised Tamil Nadu on August 24, 2026, to approach the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) regarding its demand for a proportionate share of water from Karnataka.

20 rebel TMC MPs' disqualification issue reaches Supreme Court.

TERRORRISM:

UN peacekeepers killed in South Sudan — Two UN peacekeepers were killed and seven people injured in an ambush, according to UN officials.

ENVIRONMENTAL: -MONSOON:

Month-by-Month Sessional Timeline:

June (The Dry Start): The season began with a staggering 35.4% nationwide rainfall deficit due to a severely delayed and weak monsoon onset.

July (Brief Reprieve): Heavy, concentrated downpours over Central India provided a brief turnaround, ending July with a marginal 1% surplus that temporarily masked the wider crisis.

August (The Weakening): The monsoon completely lost momentum, with August rainfall tracking roughly 15% below normal so far. Weather models show early signs of an premature monsoon retreat from northwestern India.

WEATHER:

IMD issued an orange colour warning for  very heavy rainfall over Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh today. The forecast is also for heavy rainfall over East and North East India, Uttar Pradesh, South Interior Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe, and Vidarbha and Madhya Maharashtra today.

GAMES & SPORTS:

India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test, Day 2:--IND: 503/9 d (138 overs) SL: 8/2 (3 overs). India is in absolute control. Devdutt Padikkal scored 117 and Dhruv Jurel finished unbeaten on 115. Sri Lanka lost two early wickets to Manav Suthar and Prasidh Krishna.

India knocked out of Hockey World Cup: India's men's team lost 3–5 to Argentina, ending their hopes of reaching the semifinals.

Women's hockey: India were eliminated after a 0–0 draw against Australia.

MEDICINE, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY:

DAS KAPITAL:

DALAL STREET:

Benchmark Indices Summary:

BSE SENSEX: Slipped 171.72 points (0.22%) to settle the session at 77,369.11.

NIFTY 50: Declined by 32.95 points (0.14%) to finish near the psychological baseline at 24,219.05.

NIFTY Bank: Suffered heavier selling pressure, dragging 236.00 points (0.41%) lower to close at 57,525.95.

Market Breadth: The broader sentiment leaned bearish, with roughly 2,278 shares declining.

BULLIONS:

National Retail Gold: IBJA Spot (24 Carat) ₹1,62,175/- per 10 grams, Lifetime High

National Retail Silver IBJA Spot (999 Purity) ₹2,49,430 / kg, Lifetime High.

Note: Retail spot rates vary across cities and exclude localized 3% GST and store making charges.

CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATES:

Large-scale slides past the psychological ₹96.00 mark are currently being checked by localized Reserve Bank of India (RBI) intervention. The central bank continues to supply dollars into the interbank ecosystem, leaning on India's massive $716.90 billion foreign exchange reserves to curb speculative volatility.

US Dollar to Rupee: USD / INR₹95.74📈 Up 0.03%

Euro to Rupee: EUR / INR₹111.70📉 Down 0.02%

British Pound to Rupee: GBP / INR₹130.56📈 Up 0.04%

Chinese Yuan to Rupee: CNY / INR₹14.25➡️ Flat

Note: Over-the-counter (OTC) retail rates handled by commercial banks, digital multi-currency forex cards, or airport booths will include distinct transactional markup fees ranging between 0.5% and 3.5% over these interbank benchmarks.

 

THE END.