Political and Social Developments
India’s political landscape is buzzing with activity today. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced a 12-hour strike across West Bengal in response to a police crackdown on a protest march in Kolkata. The march was protesting the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor. Tensions remain high as riot police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse the demonstrators.
Meanwhile, in the national capital, the first meeting of the Modi 3.0 Council of Ministers is scheduled for August 28. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has retained four key ministers – Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nirmala Sitharaman, and S Jaishankar – in his new government. These ministers form the critical Cabinet Committee on Security, which is led by the Prime Minister.
Business and Finance
The business world is abuzz with IPO activity today. Ecos India Mobility & Hospitality, the chauffeur-driven car rental service provider, is set to launch its Initial Public Offering (IPO) after raising ₹ 180.36 crore through anchor investors. The allocation of equity shares to anchor investors was finalized at ₹ 334 per share.
Orient Technologies shares are making their stock market debut today, following strong demand from investors during their initial public offering (IPO). The IPO allotment was finalized on August 27.
Sports and Entertainment
The sporting world is gearing up for the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Paralympic Games in Paris. Scheduled for today, the event will see 4,400 athletes competing for 549 medals across 22 sports. The ceremony will take place at the historic Place de la Concorde. India is sending its largest-ever team to the Paralympics.
Golfing enthusiasts will enjoy the inaugural India Legends Championship, featuring iconic golfers like former US Open champion Michael Campbell. The tournament, held at a Greg Norman-designed course, includes 64 senior golfers from 17 countries competing for a $500,000 prize. Indian legends Jeev Milkha Singh and Jyoti Randhawa will lead the home challenge.
Science and Technology
SpaceX is set to launch its delayed Polaris Dawn mission today. The mission, which aims to carry astronauts on a multi-day journey to low Earth orbit, was delayed due to a helium leak. The launch is now scheduled for liftoff from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Other
The All India Bank Employees Association has called for a nationwide strike today in protest against chargesheets issued to union members by Bank of India. The chargesheets were served after union members attended a conference in Kerala last month, escalating tensions between bank management and employees.
In Pakistan, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has called for a nationwide strike today, protesting against soaring inflation and high electricity prices. The strike aims to put pressure on the government to provide relief to the public, with JI leaders warning of potential unrest.
A Delhi court will consider an appeal from Rau’s IAS Study Circle seeking access to its Old Rajender Nagar premises, which was closed following the deaths of three UPSC aspirants due to flooding. The institute argues that reopening the premises is essential for continuing students’ education.
The Madras High Court is set to hear former Tamil Nadu Minister V. Senthil Balaji’s appeal against a lower court’s decision to deny him bail in a money laundering case. Balaji was arrested in June in connection with a scam involving cash-for-jobs during his tenure as Transport Minister.
