GoM on rate rationalisation approves Centre’s two-rate GST proposalThe Group of Ministers (GoM) on Rate Rationalisation, formed by the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council, has decided to accept the Centre’s two-rate structure proposal for GST and will be recommending this to the GST Council, the chairperson of the GoM and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary said on Thursday. “It was the Centre’s proposal to end two slabs of GST, the 12% and 28% slabs,” Mr. Choudhary told reporters. “We discussed that proposal and have supported it. We have recommended it, and now the GST Council will decide on this.”INDIA bloc Vice President nominee B. Sudershan Reddy files nominationINDIA bloc’s Vice-Presidential nominee and former Supreme Court Judge B. Sudershan Reddy filed his nomination on Thursday in the presence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi. NCP (SCP) chief Sharad Pawar, Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav, DMK MP Tiruchi Siva, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut and several other leaders of the alliance were also present. Earlier, Reddy expressed hope of receiving support across party lines, framing the election as a contest of ideology rather than numbers.Real money gaming ban Bill passes Rajya SabhaThe Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, passed the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, clearing the Union Cabinet and both Houses of Parliament within 72 hours, as the government moves to quickly ban real money games (RMGs). The law is now headed to President Droupadi Murmu’s desk for her signature, after which it will become an Act. “It is the responsibility of the government and Parliament to take strict action against malpractices in society, like chit funds,” Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw said in the Upper House of Parliament, urging MPs across party lines to support the law.Nazara Technologies stock crashes 10% after Lok Sabha passes Bill on online gaming; Delta Corp falls 2%Nazara Technologies Limited’s stock on Thursday crashed 9.70% at about noon, a day after the Lok Sabha passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025. The company’s stock fell to ₹1,103.15 under selling pressure. The Bill proposes to prohibit all pay-to-play online games, including both games of skill and chance. It will also halt operations of regulated Real Money Gaming (RMG) platforms in the country.Very soon, someone from our own soil will travel to space in our own rocket: Shubhanshu ShuklaExcited after a successful mission to the International Space Station (ISS), Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla on Thursday hoped someone would very soon travel to space "from our own capsule, from our rocket, from our soil." Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Group Captain Shukla said the first-hand experience from the ISS mission was invaluable and a lot better than any training. On his Axiom-4 Mission, Mr. Shukla said the experience from the ISS mission would be very useful for India's own Gaganyaan mission, and he learnt a lot in the past year as part of his mission.No bilateral sporting ties with Pakistan, but cricket team for Asia Cup won’t be stopped: Sports MinistryIndia and Pakistan won’t engage in any bilateral sporting clash, but the cricket team will not be stopped from playing the multi-lateral Asia Cup next month, the Sports Ministry said on Thursday. The Ministry unveiled the new policy with regard to India’s international engagements with emphasis on Pakistan. Sources said it is effective immediately. “India’s approach to sports events involving Pakistan reflects its overall policy in dealing with that country,” states the Ministry policy.It’s DMK vs TVK in 2026 Assembly election, says VijayTaking part in the second State-level conference of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), founded by 51-year-old actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay at Parapathi in Madurai district on Thursday, thousands of TVK cadres and fans of Vijay have thronged from various parts of Tamil Nadu at the venue since Wednesday night. The venue where seating arrangements have been made for over 1.5 lakh persons started to fill up since early morning to catch a glimpse of and listen to the party president, Vijay. Four Calcutta University students assaulted after being called ‘Bangladeshi’ in heated exchange near Sealdah stationFour Calcutta University (CU) students were allegedly assaulted near the Sealdah railway station in the heart of Kolkata and were reportedly called “Bangladeshi” for speaking in Bengali on Wednesday (August 20) night. One of the students, a resident of the Carmichael Hostel of CU, had reportedly visited a mobile shop under the Sealdah bridge on Wednesday night to buy mobile accessories. The student alleged that while bargaining, the argument intensified and the seller called him a “Bangladeshi” for speaking in Bengali. Centre argues against fixing timeline for Governors, says it’s the job of parliamentThe Supreme Court’s five-Judge Constitution Bench, for the third consecutive day, heard a Presidential Reference seeking clarity on whether fixed timelines could be imposed on Governors and the President while dealing with bills passed by the State legislatures. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Centre, concluded his arguments by strongly advocating against prescribing a timeline for President and Governors to decide on the Bills passed by legislatures. Senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul starts his argument on behalf of Madhya Pradesh. The CJI agrees with him that more than one option given to Governor in Article 200 meant he has discretion, but within the four options. Cancer should be declared notifiable disease across States, Union Territories: Parliamentary panelA Parliamentary Committee has recommended that cancer should be declared a notifiable disease across all States and Union Territories. Headed by Narain Dass Gupta, the Committee on Petitions, Rajya Sabha, in its 163rd report presented on Wednesday, said reliable data is vital for assessing public health issues, particularly cancer, where comprehensive information is essential to track trends, design policies and plan infrastructure.Mahadevapura electoral roll row: Plea in Supreme Court seeks probe into allegations of fake entriesA petition was filed in the Supreme Court seeking a direction to probe allegations of “vote-value dilution” arising out of the addition of fictitious entries in the electoral roll of Mahadevapura Assembly constituency, which is part of the Bengaluru Central Lok Sabha seat. The petition echoed the apprehensions raised by Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, who has said the alleged fraud affected the very foundations of electoral democracy and integrity of the electoral roll.At least 5 Delhi schools receive bomb threats, third such incident in four daysAt least five schools in the Capital have received bomb threats over email on Thursday, prompting police and other emergency agencies to launch a search operation. Calls regarding the bomb threat were received between 6.35 a.m. and 7.48 a.m. in five schools in the capital. These include BGS International Public School in Dwarka Sector 5. Police teams, along with fire personnel and bomb disposal squads, rushed to the premises immediately.Pakistan Supreme Court grants bail to Imran Khan in May 9 violence casesPakistan’s Supreme Court on Thursday granted bail to incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan in eight cases related to the May 9 violence. Imran Khan’s supporters resorted to vandalism and violence on May 9, 2023, after he was detained by law enforcement authorities in Islamabad. Several cases were launched against Khan and leaders of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party for their alleged role in the riots.10 hurt, 90 arrested as match abandoned following fan violence in ArgentinaTen people were injured and 90 arrested on Wednesday after violent clashes between rival fans during a Copa Sudamericana match involving Argentina’s Independiente and visiting Universidad de Chile in Buenos Aires, club officials and police said. A stun grenade was among the objects hurled by fans as the last-16 second-leg encounter in the regional competition at the Libertadores de America stadium was initially suspended shortly after half time and eventually abandoned.U.S. should treat India as ‘prized free, democratic’ partner: Nikki HaleyThe U.S.’s priority should be to reverse the “downward spiral” in ties with India, Republican leader Nikki Haley has said, stressing that New Delhi must be treated as a “prized free and democratic” partner. The Indian-American leader’s remarks in an opinion piece in the Newsweek magazine on Wednesday came amid strain in ties between the two countries following President Donald Trump slapping 50% tariff on Indian goods.Indian team for women’s Asia Cup hockey announcedThe Indian women’s hockey team will be hoping to overcome tough opposition and injury setbacks as it chases a World Cup spot at the Asia Cup in Hangzhou from September 4 to 15. The 20-member squad named for the continental event on Thursday had two conspicuous absentees — goalkeeper and veteran Savita Punia and experienced midfielder Sushila Chanu — both out with major injuries. While Savita has an ankle injury that got aggravated during training recently, Sushila has been struggling with recurring knee injury.