Morning Digest: ECI to accept Bihar SIR claims until last date of Assembly polls nominations; Trump claims India has offered to reduce tariffs to zero, ‘but it’s getting late’, and more

Will accept Bihar SIR claims until last date of nominations: Election Commission of India

Even as the deadline for filing claims and objections to the draft electoral rolls of Bihar ended on Monday (September 1, 2025), the Election Commission of India (ECI) said that, as per the June 24 special intensive revision (SIR) order, applications for inclusion and exclusion would still be accepted till the last date of nominations before the Assembly polls. However, these claims, if accepted, would not make it to the final list to be out on September 30, but would be addressed as separate additions later.

‘Overwhelmingly’ more requests for exclusions than inclusions after August 22: ECI

An Election Commission of India (ECI) note submitted on Monday (September 1, 2025) in the Supreme Court showed that requests to delete/exclude names from the Bihar draft electoral roll “overwhelmed” claims for inclusion by almost six times between August 22 and August 30, 2025. August 22, 2025, was when the court enabled voters to use Aadhaar as a standalone document to file their respective forms of claims or objections in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.

Trump claims India has offered to reduce tariffs to zero, ‘but it’s getting late’

U.S. President Donald Trump claimed on Monday that India had offered to reduce tariffs to zero, suggesting the alleged offer had come very late, as he described the India-U.S. relationship as a “one-sided disaster”. Mr. Trump’s post on Truth Social came hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the fringes of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China.

Incessant rain and flood disrupt life in northern India

As unprecedented rainfall continue to batter Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh since last week, normal life has been severely disrupted across the region. In Punjab, as many as 29 lives have been lost between August 1 and September 1 on account of rain-related incidents. Punjab Revenue Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian on Monday (September 1, 2025) said incessant rains and floods have affected almost the entire State causing unprecedented damage to human lives, crops, livestock and infrastructure.

PM Modi departs for home after concluding ‘productive’ China visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (September 1, 2025) concluded a “productive” visit to China during which he attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit and held bilateral talks with world leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin. The Prime Minister, who was in China on the final leg of his two-nation visit, said in a social media post that he emphasised India’s stand on “key global issues” in Tianjin.

SCO leaders adopt Tianjin Declaration which ‘strongly’ condemns Pahalgam attack

The 10-member Shanghai Cooperation Organisation on Monday (September 1, 2025) “strongly condemned” terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including the April 22 Pahalgam attack, and the attacks on Jaffer Express and Khuzdar in Pakistan. The Tianjin Declaration, signed and adopted by all members including India, Pakistan, and Russia, also called for an end to “cross-border movement” of terrorists. The declaration reaffirmed the bloc’s “firm commitment to fight against terrorism, separatism, and extremism”, and stressed the inadmissibility of attempts to use terrorist, separatist, and extremist groups for “mercenary purposes”.

Bombay High Court pulls up Maratha quota protesters for bringing Mumbai to a ‘standstill’

In a rare three-hour urgent hearing held during the ongoing Ganesh festival vacation, the Bombay High Court on Monday (September 1, 2025) pulled up the Maratha quota protesters in Mumbai led by activist Manoj Jarange Patil and directed the State government to clear all protesters from Mumbai’s streets by Tuesday (September 2, 2025) noon. The court ordered authorities to prevent more agitators from entering the city and to ensure Mr. Jarange receives medical care if his health deteriorates.

Revelations on ‘vote theft’ will be as explosive as hydrogen bomb: Rahul Gandhi

Leaders of the INDIA bloc demonstrated solidarity on the final day of the alliance’s Voter Adhikar Yatra (voter rights rally) against the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar on Monday (September 1, 2025). The rally, which was launched on August 17 in Sasaram of Rohtas district, ended in Patna, with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Legislative Assembly Tejashwi Yadav, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Trinamool Congress MP Yusuf Pathan, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut, CPI(M) general secretary M.A. Baby, Vikassheel Insaan Party chief Mukesh Sahani, CPI(ML) general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya and other leaders of INDIA bloc joining in.

2020 riots: Delhi High Court to pass order on bail pleas of Sharjeel Imam, Umar Khalid, others

The Delhi High Court is likely to pronounce on Tuesday (September 2, 2025) its verdict on bail pleas of activists Sharjeel Imam, Umar Khalid and others facing prosecution in a UAPA case linked to the alleged conspiracy behind the February 2020 riots. A Bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Shalinder Kaur, which reserved its order on July 9 after hearing the arguments on behalf of the prosecution and various accused, is scheduled to pass the order at 2:30 p.m.

Supreme Court issues notice to Centre after T.N. says Samagra Shiksha funds delinked from RTE reimbursements

The Supreme Court decided to step in after Tamil Nadu complained on Monday (September 1, 2025) about having to bear over ₹3,000 crore in reimbursements to private schools for admissions to economically disadvantaged students under the Right to Education (RTE) Act, after the Centre refused to part with its share under the Samagra Shiksha scheme. A Bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath issued formal notice to the Centre on an appeal by the State against a Madras High Court decision of June 10, which delinked the reimbursements under the RTE Act from the Centre’s financial obligations to Tamil Nadu under the scheme.

Supreme Court refuses to entertain plea against roll-out of 20% ethanol-blended petrol nationwide

The Supreme Court on Monday (September 1, 2025) dismissed a petition challenging the nationwide rollout of 20% ethanol-blended petrol (E20), which alleged that millions of motorists were being compelled to use fuel unsuited to their vehicles without the option of availing ethanol-free petrol. A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran refused to entertain the petition after the Union government defended the ethanol-blending programme as a measure to bolster the income of sugarcane farmers and conserve foreign exchange.

Can minority-run schools be exempted from RTE law, Supreme Court refers question to larger Bench

The Supreme Court on Monday (September 1, 2025) referred to a larger Bench the question of whether minority educational institutions are entirely exempt from the purview of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009. A two-judge Bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Manmohan made the reference in a judgment based on a batch of civil appeals questioning school education departments’ insistence on faculty clearing the Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) in minority institutions.

Supreme Court seeks response to transgender-inclusive sex education plea

The Supreme Court on Monday (September 1, 2025) sought responses from the Union Government, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), and several States on a petition seeking the integration of transgender-inclusive comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) into school curricula across the country. A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Bhushan R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran issued notice on the petition filed by Kaavya Mukherjee Saha, a 16-year-old student from Delhi, and directed the respondents to file their replies within six weeks.

Dissanayake visits Katchatheevu, pledges to safeguard Sri Lankan territory

Sri Lanka’s President Anura Kumara Dissanayake — who was on Monday (September 1, 2025) in the northern Jaffna district to launch development projects — made a quick, unannounced visit to Katchatheevu, after vowing to safeguard “seas and islands” around the country and resist any “external pressure”. Jaffna media was caught by surprise as the President’s trip to the island, by a naval speed boat according to local news reports, was not mentioned in his official itinerary.

Nestle sacks CEO over ‘undisclosed romantic relationship’ in office

Swiss food giant Nestle on Monday (September 1, 2025) dismissed Laurent Freixe as chief executive with immediate effect over an “undisclosed romantic relationship with a direct subordinate”. The multinational behind Nespresso coffee capsules and KitKat chocolate bars said Mr. Freixe’s dismissal followed an investigation. In a swift move, Nespresso CEO Philipp Navratil was appointed to take over by his fellow board members.

Trump says he’s awarding former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani the Presidential Medal of Freedom

U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday (September 1, 2025) he’s awarding former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani the Presidential Medal of Freedom, announcing the honour two days after his political ally was badly injured in a traffic accident. Mr. Trump in a statement on social media called Mr. Giuliani, who was heralded for his leadership following the September 11, 2001, attacks but has sometimes drawn controversy for his defence of Mr. Trump, the “greatest Mayor in the history of New York City, and an equally great American Patriot”.

New Delhi to host next Badminton World Championships in August 2026

New Delhi has been chosen as the host city of the next Badminton World Championships in August 2026, the sport’s global governing body BWF announced on Monday (September 1, 2025). The Badminton World Federation’s (BWF) most prestigious tournament will return to India after 17 years, with Hyderabad hosting it first way back in 2009. The announcement was made during the closing ceremony of the 2025 championships in Paris, where a handover took place between BWF president Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul, Frank Laurent, chief of the Federation Francaise de Badminton, and general secretary of Badminton Association of India Sanjay Mishra, who promised that the country will carry forward the standards of “excellence and grandeur” that Paris has showcased.