Prime Minister Modi's Diplomatic Engagements Take Center Stage
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been actively engaged in high-level diplomatic efforts over the past 24 hours. He held a telephonic conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during which he reaffirmed India's consistent position on the peaceful settlement of the conflict and reiterated support for efforts aimed at restoring peace.
Following this, Prime Minister Modi arrived in Tianjin, China, for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, marking his first visit to China in seven years. Discussions at the summit are expected to include critical issues such as US tariffs on India and Russia's oil trade. A significant highlight of his visit is the anticipated meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, with an aim to restore and deepen India-China ties, building on mutual respect and interest for regional stability.
Earlier, during his visit to Tokyo, PM Modi also met with the Governors of 16 Japanese prefectures, reinforcing India's commitment to strengthening bilateral ties through grassroots and regional collaborations.
India Bids for Commonwealth Games 2030
In a major development for sports and national pride, the Union Cabinet has approved India's bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad. This decision is expected to provide a significant boost to infrastructure, business, and national prestige.
Economic Landscape and Trade Discussions
Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal commented on the need for Indian businesses to look beyond their "cosy comfort zone" of the domestic market and venture globally, particularly in light of concerns regarding the impact of high US tariffs on the Indian economy. Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) Anantha Nageswaran assured that the government is actively working to cushion the export sector from these US tariffs.
Focus on Energy Efficiency
The State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEI) 2024 was released on August 29, 2025, by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) in collaboration with the Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE). The index, which assesses 36 States/UTs across 66 indicators, identified Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, and Tripura as top performers in their respective groups. The report also highlighted India's energy vulnerabilities due to its significant dependence on crude oil and gas imports, particularly from Russia, emphasizing the need for energy sovereignty.
Other National News
In political news, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav joined Rahul Gandhi's 'Vote Adhikar Yatra' in Bihar. In other significant events, the CBI arrested an Airports Authority of India official for alleged embezzlement of ā¹232 crore. Furthermore, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) announced financial aid of ā¹25 lakh each to the families of victims who tragically lost their lives in a stampede outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. The West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC) also published a list of 1,804 ineligible candidates following a Supreme Court directive in a cash-for-jobs scam.