Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday conducted an aerial survey of areas affected by floods, cloudbursts, and heavy rains in Punjab. He later held an official review meeting in Gurdaspur to assess damage and ongoing relief and rehabilitation measures.

During the visit, PM Modi announced financial assistance of Rs. 1,600 crore for Punjab, in addition to the Rs. 12,000 crore already available with the state. Advance release of the second instalment of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and funds under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme was also assured.

The Prime Minister emphasized a multi-dimensional approach to restore the region and support affected communities. Measures include rebuilding homes under the PM Awas Yojana, restoring national highways, reconstructing schools, providing relief through the PM National Relief Fund (PMNRF), and distributing mini kits for livestock.

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy will on Monday lay the foundation stone for the Godavari Drinking Water Scheme (GDWS) Phases II and III, aimed at filling Osmansagar and Himayatsagar with Godavari water as part of the Musi Riverfront Development Project.

The project, estimated to cost Rs 7,360 crore, will be taken up in Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM), with the state government bearing 40% of the cost and the remaining 60% to be mobilised by the executing agency. The government plans to complete the scheme in two years and will raise its Rs 2,944 crore share through a loan from the Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO).

As part of the project, 20 tmc of water will be lifted from the Mallannasagar reservoir in Siddipet district under the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme. Of this, 2.5 tmc will be used for rejuvenating the Musi, while 17.5 tmc will meet Hyderabad’s drinking water needs. The government’s target is to ensure daily household tap water supply in the state capital by December 2027.

The Uttar Pradesh government, on Monday, ordered a comprehensive investigation into the recognition and admission processes of all courses offered by universities –both private and state -- degree colleges, and educational institutions across the state.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took the decision to this effect in a meeting with the officials concerned on Monday.

The CM said that for the probe of universities and degree colleges, a special team of officials would be set up in each district of the state.

The team of officials would comprise senior administrative and police officials, along with the education department authorities. The sources privy to the meeting said that all the divisional commissioners were directed to supervise the investigation in the colleges in districts under their jurisdiction.

Dubai, September 8 – Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, today unveiled the UPI–UPU Integration project at the 28th Universal Postal Congress in Dubai, calling it a landmark step to transform cross-border remittances and expand financial inclusion worldwide.

The initiative, developed jointly by the Department of Posts, NPCI International Payments Limited and the Universal Postal Union (UPU), integrates India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with the UPU Interconnection Platform, combining the reach of the postal network with the speed and affordability of UPI.

Calling it “more than a technology launch, but a social compact,” Scindia said the partnership would allow families across borders to transfer money instantly, securely and at lower cost, while reinforcing the postal sector’s role as a trusted provider of community services. The minister also announced that India will commit USD 10 million during this cycle to support innovation, e-commerce and digital payments, alongside training and capacity building. He confirmed India’s candidature for the UPU’s Council of Administration and Postal Operations Council, underscoring its commitment to building a connected, inclusive and sustainable global postal system.

India and Russia have a long history of diplomatic, strategic, and trade relations. These ties are growing stronger by the day. Two major military exercises are being conducted to further strengthen strategic cooperation. One is being held in Russia, called Zapad, while the Indra exercise will take place in India next month. Significantly, for the first time since Operation Sindoor, the Indian and Pakistani armies will participate in the same military drill in Russia during Zapad. More than 20 countries, including China, are taking part in this multinational exercise.

Belarus, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Congo, Mali, India, Iran, Niger, and Tajikistan are the participants, while Cambodia, China, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nicaragua, North Korea, Pakistan, Serbia, Thailand, the UAE, and Uzbekistan are observers. A 70-member team from India is travelling to Russia for Zapad.

The 3rd round of trilateral consultations between India, Iran and Armenia was held in Tehran Yesterday. During the meeting, the three sides emphasized on fulfillment of the goals set to secure mutual interests and promote prosperity and welfare in the region. The meeting emphasized on expanding and deepening cooperation in the fields of connectivity, including the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and Armenia’s Crossroads of Peace project. The sides also reviewed the initiatives aimed at developing relations in economic, trade, and other areas of mutual interest. The next rounds of consultation will be held in Armenia next year.

India and Sri Lanka signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the construction of an Accident and Emergency Unit at the District General Hospital in Mannar, backed by a grant of 600 million Sri Lankan Rupees. The MoU was signed by Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha and Health Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe in the presence of Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa. The project will see the construction of a two-storey unit and supply of medical equipment, addressing a critical gap in emergency care. It is expected to save lives by enabling timely treatment and easing overcrowding in the hospital. The initiative is part of India’s wider cooperation in Sri Lanka’s health sector, which includes the Suwa Seriya 1990 ambulance service, hospital upgrades in the North and East, and the 150-bed hospital at Dickoya.

National Democratic Alliance (NDA) nominee CP Radhakrishnan has been elected as Vice President of India, defeating INDIA bloc candidate Justice B Sudershan Reddy in the election held on Tuesday.

Radhakrishnan secured 452 first preference votes, while Justice Reddy received 300. Fifteen votes were declared invalid. The Rajya Sabha General Secretary, PC Mody, announced the results after the counting. The elections witnessed a turnout of 98.20 per cent, with 767 MPs casting their vote out of 781. Thirteen MPs abstained, including seven from the Biju Janata Dal, four from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi, one from Shiromani Akali Dal and one independent MP.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Radhakrishnan on his election. In a post on X, he said, “Congratulations to Thiru CP Radhakrishnan Ji on winning the 2025 Vice Presidential election. His life has always been devoted to serving society and empowering the poor and marginalised. I am confident that he will be an outstanding VP, who will strengthen our Constitutional values and enhance Parliamentary discourse.”

Telangana High Court on Tuesday (September 9, 2025) directed the Telangana State Public Service Commission (TGPSC) to re-evaluate the answer sheets of the main examination of the Group-I services.

Justice Namavarapu Rajeshwar Rao of the High Court, disposing of a batch of writ petitions challenging evaluation of the Group-I services main examination papers, said the bench would not hesitate to cancel the entire Group-I exam conducted by the TGPSC if its orders were not complied with. The judge said in his order that re-evaluation of the answer scripts should be done by adopting moderation method.

This moderation method should be followed in terms of the judgement in Sanjay Singh and another versus the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission case. Based on these results, steps should be taken to fill up the 563 posts. If the re-evaluation was not completed, the TGPSC should re-conduct the entire Group-I main examination within eight months, the judge said.

Sankarshan Thakur, the Editor of The Telegraph and one of the pioneers of literary journalism in the country, died at a Gurgaon hospital on Monday after a prolonged illness. He was 63.

Thakur is survived by his wife Sona, son Ayushmann and daughter Jahan.

Several politicians, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, party leader Jairam Ramesh, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and RJD leader Manoj Jha paid tributes and recalled his formidable contribution to journalism.