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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi started a three-day visit to India on Monday, meeting External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, NSA Ajit Doval, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He and Doval will hold the 24th round of boundary talks, though no breakthrough is expected, Firstpost reported.

Recent steps like resuming the Kailash-Mansarovar yatra, visas, and flights have signaled easing, but experts caution these are tactical gestures, not a strategic thaw. Core issues—boundary disputes, trade gaps, and mistrust—persist, keeping ties far from normal despite speculation of closer alignment.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday issued a red alert for Mumbai, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and gusty winds. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) ordered all schools closed, including afternoon shifts, as waterlogging disrupted traffic and daily activities across several areas, Firstpost reported.

The red alert—the highest in IMD’s warning system—covered Borivali, Thane, Kalyan, Mulund, Powai, Santa Cruz, Chembur, Worli, Navi Mumbai, and Colaba. Authorities urged residents to stay indoors unless necessary and follow official safety guidelines.

The IMD also warned of a flash flood risk in Mumbai and its suburbs until early August 19, while other parts of Maharashtra remain under yellow and orange alerts, according to Firstpost.

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro has called on India to stop purchasing Russian crude, warning that these imports are funding Moscow’s war in Ukraine and weakening global sanctions. In an opinion piece in the Financial Times, he accused India of acting as a “clearinghouse” for Russian oil, converting embargoed crude into high-value exports that provide dollars to the Kremlin.

India, the world’s second-largest buyer of Russian oil after China, gets over 30 percent of its fuel from Moscow. Earlier this month, President Donald Trump imposed 50 percent tariffs on Indian goods over the issue. In response, Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed on Independence Day to protect Indian farmers and stand firm against US trade pressure, Al Jazeera reported.

India aims to slash taxes on small cars and insurance premiums as part of a sweeping reform of its goods and services tax (GST), a government source said on Monday, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's plan sparked a rally in stock markets, Reuters reported.

Modi's administration revealed plans of the biggest tax overhaul since 2017 over the weekend, and consumer, auto and insurance companies are likely to emerge as the biggest winners when product prices drop from October, once the reform is approved.

The federal government has suggested lowering GST on small petrol and diesel cars to 18% from the current 28%, said the source who is directly involved in the matter. The GST on health and life insurance premiums may also be lowered to 5% or even zero from 18% currently, the same source said.

Indian markets climbed on Monday, with the benchmark Nifty index trading 1.3% higher, on course for its best day in three months. Auto stocks also rallied, according to Reuters.

India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has nominated C.P. Radhakrishnan, the current governor of Maharashtra, as its candidate for vice president. The election is scheduled for September 9, Xinhua reported.

If elected, Radhakrishnan would become India’s 15th vice president. The BJP leads the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

A long-planned visit by a US team to New Delhi for trade negotiations has likely been cancelled, according to an official. The delegation, led by Assistant US Trade Representative Brendan Lynch, was due to arrive on 25 August for the sixth round of discussions on a proposed bilateral trade agreement. “No new date is decided yet,” said the official, The Economic Times reported.

Five rounds of talks have been completed so far. The sixth was expected to be crucial, coming just as additional US tariffs were set to come into force.

The negotiations were scheduled from August 25-29. "This visit is likely to be rescheduled," the official, who did not wish to be named, said, according to Economic Times.

India on Saturday welcomed the Alaska summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, emphasizing the world’s hope for an early end to the Ukraine conflict, Firstpost reported.

The Ministry of External Affairs praised the leaders’ efforts, calling progress through dialogue and diplomacy “highly commendable.”

While the summit did not yield a ceasefire, Trump plans to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington to pursue a full peace agreement, with European leaders backing further talks and potential sanctions against Russia, according to Firstpost.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit India from Monday to Wednesday for talks on the disputed Himalayan border, Beijing confirmed on Saturday.

It will be only the second high-level meeting since the deadly 2020 clash between Indian and Chinese troops. Relations have recently improved after an agreement last October eased the long-running standoff that strained trade and travel, according to Reuters.

The visit comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s trip to China later this month, where he is expected to meet President Xi Jinping during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit — his first visit to China in seven years.

At least 60 people have died and over 200 remain missing after a cloudburst struck Chositi village in Kishtwar district, Indian-controlled Kashmir, on Thursday.

The sudden downpour triggered a landslide, destroying roads and bridges and hindering rescue efforts. Authorities described the situation as challenging, with teams working to reach those affected in the remote area, according to Xinhua.

The disaster occurred about 290 km southeast of Srinagar, the region’s summer capital.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday urged greater self-reliance in manufacturing, from fertilizers to jet engines and EV batteries, while vowing to protect farmers amid rising trade tensions with Washington, according to Reuters.

In his Independence Day address, Modi promoted “Swadeshi” goods, announced lower GST rates from October, and said India would soon launch homegrown semiconductor chips and boost critical mineral exploration.

The remarks follow US President Donald Trump’s steep new tariffs — up to 50 percent on some Indian exports — over New Delhi’s continued Russian oil imports. The move hit key sectors like textiles and jewellery and came after trade talks collapsed over farm and dairy market access. While avoiding direct mention of the US, Modi pledged to shield farmers from any harmful policy, Reuters reported.

Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba has extended best wishes to the Indian government and the people there on the occasion of the 79th Independence Day of India. 

Mentioning her Indian counterpart Dr S. Jaishankar on social media, she has stated that Nepal gives high value to its long and sustainable partnership with India. 

"On India's Independence Day, we wish for the prosperity, unity, and harmony of the Indian people to continue, and may India remain a shining example of democracy, inspiring countries around the world,” the Foreign Minister wrote on X.

New Delhi is gearing up for India’s 79th Independence Day on Friday, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hoist the national flag and deliver his 12th consecutive address from the historic Red Fort. This year’s celebrations follow the theme ‘Naya Bharat’, reflecting the government’s vision of a developed India by 2047, Firstpost reported.

The Prime Minister will be received by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, MoS Sanjay Seth, and Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. Flying Officer Rashika Sharma will assist in the flag hoisting, after which flower petals will be showered from two Indian Air Force Mi-17 helicopters, one carrying the national flag and the other the flag of Operation Sindoor, whose success is expected to be celebrated.

Around 5,000 guests, including winners of international sports events, the Special Olympics 2025 contingent, and Khelo India Para Games gold medalists, will attend the event. According to Firstpost, ahead of Independence Day, the Ministry of Culture also launched the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign, encouraging citizens to bring the national flag into their homes as part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.

India and China are discussing resuming border trade five years after it was halted, foreign ministry officials on both sides have said, as US tariffs disrupt the global trade order. Past trade across the icy and high-altitude Himalayan border passes between the neighbours was usually small in volume, but any resumption is significant for its symbolism. The two major economic powers have long competed for strategic influence across South Asia, AFP reported.

But caught in global trade and geopolitical turbulence triggered by US President Donald Trump’s tariff regime, the countries have moved to mend ties. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is expected for talks in New Delhi on Monday, according to Indian media, after his counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar visited Beijing in July. That, as well as agreements to resume direct flights and issue tourist visas, has been seen as an effort to rebuild a relationship damaged after a deadly border clash in 2020 between their nations’ troops.

“For a long time, China-India border trade cooperation has played an important role in improving the lives of people living along the border,” China’s foreign ministry said in a statement to AFP on Thursday. It added that the two sides have “reached a consensus on cross-border exchanges and cooperation, including resumption of border trade.”

New Delhi’s junior foreign minister, Kirti Vardhan Singh, told parliament last week that “India has engaged with the Chinese side to facilitate the resumption of border trade.” No restart date was given by either side. Successive US administrations have seen India as a longstanding ally with like-minded interests when it comes to China. India is part of the Quad security alliance with the United States, as well as Australia and Japan, according to AFP.

But ties between New Delhi and Washington have been strained by Trump’s ultimatum for India to end its purchases of Russian oil, a key source of revenue for Moscow as it wages its military offensive in Ukraine. The United States will double new import tariffs on India from 25 percent to 50 percent by Aug 27 if New Delhi does not switch crude suppliers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to Indian media, might also visit China in late August. It would be Modi’s first visit since 2018, although it has not been confirmed officially. Beijing has said that ‘China welcomes Prime Minister Modi’ for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit opening on Aug 31, AFP reported.

India plans to allow private companies to mine, import, and process uranium, ending decades of state monopoly, Reuters reported. The move aims to attract investment and support the government’s goal to expand nuclear power capacity and its expansion twelvefold by 2047.

The government will still manage spent fuel reprocessing and plutonium waste. Private firms may also supply critical equipment for nuclear plants. Domestic uranium covers only about 25 percent of future demand, so imports and expanded processing are needed.

The policy, expected this fiscal year, requires changes to five laws, including mining, electricity, and foreign investment regulations. Experts call it a “major and bold” step, though legal and political challenges remain.

Several major Indian companies are already planning investments, according to Reuters.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has warned that Washington could increase secondary tariffs on India, BBC reported.

He said the decision would depend on the outcome of President Donald Trump's meeting with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday.

"We've put secondary tariffs on Indians for buying Russian oil. And I could see, If things don't go well, then sanctions or secondary tariffs could go up," Bessent said in an interview to Bloomberg TV on Wednesday. 

Earlier this month, Trump imposed a 25% penalty on India in addition to 25% tariffs for buying oil and weapons from Russia, according to BBC.

The Kathakali Dance was performed in Birgunj on Wednesday evening on the eve of the Indian Independence Day. 

The program was organized by the Embassy of India in Kathmandu and India's Consulate General based in Birgunj.  

Nine Indian performers from Kerala performed this very popular Indian dance, which is based on the story of the Mahabharat.  

The event was attended by Minister for Sports and Social Welfare of Madesh Province, Pramod Jaiswal, Mayor of Birgunj Metropolitan City Rajesh Man Singh, Indian Consul General Devi Sahai Meena and others. 

On the occasion, Minister Jaiswal said that the centuries old cultural and people to people ties between Nepal and India should be further strengthened and mutual goodwill and harmony should be established. 

Likewise, Consul General Devi Sahai Meena recalled the remarkable contributions made by Nepal in the Indian Independence Movement. 

He said India was committed to further strengthening the cultural ties between Nepal and India.