Brief Summary
This news bulletin covers a range of topics, from Prime Minister Modi's reflections on the Chola Empire and the growth of India's space startups, to weather forecasts and sports updates. Key highlights include Modi's praise for the Chola dynasty's influence on modern India, the success of Operation Sindur attributed to seamless logistics, warnings of heavy rainfall in Gujarat and Rajasthan, Shubman Gil's record-breaking century in cricket, and the FIDE Women's World Cup final going to a tiebreak.
- PM Modi sees the Chola Empire as a blueprint for modern India.
- India's space startups have grown five-fold in five years.
- Heavy rainfall is expected in Gujarat and Rajasthan.
- Shubman Gil set records with his fourth century in the test series.
- The FIDE Women's World Cup final will be decided by a tiebreak.
Chola Empire's Enduring Influence
Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the contributions of Raja Raja Chola and Rajendra Chola as symbols of a unified India, praising the Chola dynasty's cultural and architectural achievements at the Adi Thiroaday festival in Tamil Nadu. He highlighted the economic and strategic advancements during the Chola era as a source of inspiration for modern India, noting their progress in commerce, maritime routes, and the promotion of art and culture. Modi also mentioned Rajendra Chola's Ganga Kunda Cholauram temple, recognised globally as an architectural marvel, and announced the installation of statues of Raja Raja Chola and Rajendra Chola in Tamil Nadu, releasing a commemorative coin in their honour.
India's Space Startup Growth and Scientific Achievements
Prime Minister Modi expressed pride in India's scientific progress, highlighting Indian Air Force group captain Shubhanchi Shukla's return from space and the rapid growth of space startups, which have increased from fewer than 50 to over 200 in the last five years. He also praised Indian students for their success at the International Chemistry Olympiad in Dubai, where they won three gold, two silver, and one bronze medal. Additionally, Modi noted India's strengthened position in mathematics and mentioned that Mumbai will host the Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiad, with participants from over 60 countries.
Swadeshi Movement and Cleanliness Recognition
The Prime Minister spoke about the Swadeshi movement, which began on 7 August 1905, and its impact on local products, particularly handloom, emphasising that textiles represent India's cultural diversity. He praised Naven Kumar, a weaver from Bihar, and highlighted Panaji's achievement as the cleanest city in India among towns with a population between 20,000 and 50,000 in the Swachh Survekshan 2024-25, acknowledging the city's innovative waste segregation practices. Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant expressed gratitude for the recognition of Panaji's cleanliness efforts, attributing it to the women leading waste management initiatives.
Defence Logistics and Railway Transformation
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh credited seamless logistics management as a key factor in the success of Operation Sindur, speaking at the convocation ceremony of Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya in Vadodara. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted the transformational changes in Indian railways over the past 11 years and encouraged graduating students to contribute to India's development, emphasising the importance of innovation in the sector. A total of 194 students received degrees in various disciplines.
Parliamentary Discussions and Arrests in Uttar Pradesh
The Lok Sabha will hold a special 16-hour discussion on Operation Synindur, focusing on the recent terrorist attack in Beahelgam and India's response, with a similar discussion scheduled in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. In Uttar Pradesh, Kushinagar police arrested eight individuals, including two women, for allegedly converting Hindu girls, following a complaint about kidnapping and forced conversion. The police safely recovered the victim and arrested the accused.
Supreme Court Hearing and Temple Stampede
The Supreme Court will hear petitions challenging the Election Commission's decision to conduct a special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, with petitioners arguing it could lead to voter disenfranchisement before the 2025 Assembly elections. The Election Commission states the revision aims to ensure clean voter rolls by removing ineligible names. President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed sorrow over a stampede at the Mansa Devi temple in Haridwar, which resulted in at least six deaths and 20 injuries. The Uttarakhand Chief Minister ordered an inquiry and announced compensation for the deceased and injured.
Weather Forecast and Cricket Update
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall in Gujarat and East Rajasthan. Heavy rainfall is expected to continue over northeastern parts of the country. Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Chandigarh, West Uttar Pradesh, and West Rajasthan are also expected to experience heavy rainfall. In cricket, India were 347 for 4 in their second innings against England, with Shubman Gill scoring his fourth century of the series, breaking records as the first batter to hit four centuries in his debut test series as captain.
FIDE Women's World Cup Final
The second game of the all-India final match between Koneru Humpy and Divya Deshmukh of the FIDE Women's Chess World Cup ended in a draw, leading to a tiebreak. The tiebreak will consist of two rapid matches, and the winner will secure a spot in next year's FIDE Women's Candidates Tournament, with the opportunity to challenge Ju Wenjun for the world championship title.
