Mumbai Grapples with Heavy Monsoon Rains; Red Alert Issued
Mumbai and its surrounding areas were hit by relentless heavy rainfall, leading to widespread waterlogging, significant disruptions in transport services, and flight delays. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a 'red alert' for the city and neighboring districts, forecasting extremely heavy showers. As a precautionary measure, schools and colleges in Mumbai were closed on August 19, 2025, and authorities urged citizens to avoid unnecessary travel. The city received 177 mm of rain within a few hours on Monday, prompting Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to advise people to stay indoors.
Opposition INDIA Bloc Considers Impeachment Motion Against CEC
The Opposition INDIA bloc is reportedly considering moving an impeachment motion against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. This decision was made during a meeting of the INDIA bloc's floor leaders on Monday, amidst the intensifying 'Vote Chori' row.
Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Meets Prime Minister Modi
Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, who recently returned to India after his historic 18-day visit to the International Space Station (ISS) on the Axiom 4 mission, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. During their meeting, Shukla discussed India's maiden human spaceflight program and presented PM Modi with the official mission patch from the Axiom-4 Space Mission.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi Visits India Amidst Trade Pressures
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrived in India for a two-day visit, holding talks aimed at rebuilding and normalizing relations between the two Asian giants. Wang Yi met with India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, with discussions focusing on the India-China boundary question and efforts to maintain peace and stability. The visit comes as both nations face pressure from the United States, including tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on India's purchases of Russian oil, which is reportedly encouraging New Delhi to improve ties with Beijing.
Parliament Passes Indian Ports Bill 2025
The Rajya Sabha on Monday passed The Indian Ports Bill, 2025. This legislation aims to consolidate laws related to ports, promote integrated port development, facilitate ease of doing business, and ensure the optimum utilization of India's coastline. The Bill had previously been passed by the Lok Sabha on August 12.
NDA Names Vice-Presidential Candidate; Other Key Developments
Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan has been named as the National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) Vice-Presidential candidate. In other news, a District Reserve Guard (DRG) Jawan was killed and three personnel were injured in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district after an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by Maoists detonated. Furthermore, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who briefed him on his recent meeting with US President Donald Trump, affirming the close ties between India and Russia despite external pressures.