Sudarshan Reddy, Former SC Judge, Opposition's Pick for Vice-President Election
INDIA bloc decided to commonly field retired Supreme Court judge B. Sudarshan Reddy as the candidate for the upcoming Vice President elections.
The decision was taken unanimously, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge told.
Justice (Retd.) Reddy served as a Supreme Court judge between 2007 and 2011, for four-and-a-half years. He had rendered several landmark judgments on various branches of law, in particular on issues of criminal jurisprudence, Constitution, taxation, service law and human rights.
He served as Goa's first Lokayukta, but subsequently resigned within seven months. He had also served as the Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court until he became a Supreme Court judge.
Rajyatantr Launches Arthashastra: India's First Fully Integrated AI Political Campaign Platform
Rajyatantr, a leader in political campaign management that has more than a decade of experience in delivering electoral success in South and East India, launched Arthashastra, the first fully integrated AI-powered election campaign platform in India.
Arthashastra is a product that is targeted at political parties, independent candidates, and campaign managers across the country and is a step in the right direction in the way Indian elections are planned and implemented. The combination of centuries-old principles of political strategy and the latest data analytics, AI modelling, and omnichannel communication allows the platform to provide end-to-end solutions to winning campaigns.
The newest offering by Rajyatantr aims to democratise access to world-class campaign intelligence so that leaders at every level, including grassroots candidates and national contenders, can compete with speed, precision, and relevance in an increasingly digital battlefield.
Aug 18, 2025
Ajay Kumar Bhalla Appointed Nagaland Governor with Additional Charge
In a constitutional development, Ajay Kumar Bhalla, the current Governor of Manipur, was given the additional charge as the Governor of Nagaland. This move follows the demise of Nagaland Governor La Ganesan. The announcement was made through an official communiqué from the President of India.
Ajay Kumar Bhalla is a seasoned civil servant and administrator, currently serving as Governor of Manipur since 2024. A retired IAS officer, Bhalla has held several senior roles in the Ministry of Home Affairs, including as the Union Home Secretary. Known for his administrative acumen, his temporary appointment to Nagaland is seen as a move to maintain political and administrative stability in the region.
BJP Names Maharashtra Governor C. P. Radhakrishnan as NDA's Vice Presidential Candidate
The BJP announced Maharashtra Governor C. P. Radhakrishnan, a former president of the party's Tamil Nadu unit and RSS veteran, as the ruling NDA's candidate for the Vice Presidential election to be held on September 9.
A former Lok Sabha MP who previously served as the Governor of Jharkhand, Radhakrishnan is credited for laying the foundation of the party in the south during his tenure as the Tamil Nadu BJP president from 2004 to 2007.
Aug 17, 2025
India Hosts 10th AITIGA Review Meeting in New Delhi
India hosted the 10th Meeting of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) Joint Committee and related sessions at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi. The gathering brought together delegates from all ten ASEAN member states to push forward the review of the 14-year-old trade pact.
The meetings, held in a hybrid format, were co-chaired by Nitin Kumar Yadav, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, and Mastura Ahmad Mustafa, Deputy Secretary General (Trade), Ministry of Investment, Trade & Industry, Malaysia.
Representatives from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam attended.
At the heart of the discussions was the ongoing review of AITIGA, aimed at improving its effectiveness, accessibility, and trade facilitation capabilities. This review builds on the progress from eight previous rounds of negotiations.
Aug 16, 2025
PM Modi Announces Events for Social Reformer Jyotiba Phule's 200th Birth Anniversary
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the 200th birth anniversary of social reformer Mahatma Jyotiba Phule will be commemorated with events aimed at transforming lives.
Mahatma Jyotirao Phule was a renowned Indian social activist, reformer, and writer from Maharashtra. Born in 1827, in Satara, Maharashtra, he is best known for his tireless efforts to eradicate the caste system, promote women's education, and empower the oppressed.
He, along with his followers, formed the Satyashodhak Samaj (Society of Seekers of Truth) to attain equal rights for peasants and people from lower castes.
Phule is regarded as an important figure in Maharashtra's social reform movement. He and his wife, Savitribai Phule, were pioneers of women's education in India.
Narendra Modi Sets Record with Longest Independence Day Speech in India's History
On August 15, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made history by delivering a 103-minute Independence Day address from the historic Red Fort, marking the longest such speech by any Indian Prime Minister to date. This speech not only surpassed his own previous records but also set new milestones in the annals of India's Independence Day celebrations.
This speech surpassed his 2024 record of 98 minutes and reaffirmed his penchant for using the Red Fort platform to present his government's achievements, share his vision for the future, and speak directly to the people of India. The 2025 speech marks the 12th consecutive Independence Day address by Modi, placing him second only to India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, who delivered 17 consecutive speeches.
Aug 15, 2025
Green & Digital Maritime Corridors Dialogue
The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) and the Indian Ports Association (IPA), under the aegis of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), organised the "Leaders' Dialogue on Green & Digital Maritime Corridors" in Mumbai, setting the stage for India Maritime Week in October, 2025. The event brought together over 300 delegates including senior government officials, international dignitaries, industry leaders, key maritime stakeholders from India and abroad.
India and Nigeria Discuss Defence Ties in New Delhi Bilateral Meeting
Raksha Rajya Mantri Sanjay Seth held a bilateral meeting with Nigeria's Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Mohammed Matawalle, in New Delhi, focusing on deepening the growing defence cooperation between the two nations. The discussions centered on advancing military engagements across multiple domains, including counter-terrorism training, research and development, maritime cooperation, hydrography, anti-piracy efforts, and defence industry collaboration.