India News in 5 Minutes | Your next IPL tickets are getting expensive
05 September 2025 | 101st edition
Good morning. It's Friday. A very happy teachers day to our teachers, professors and gurus. They are the guiding light of the new India, working silently to build a resilient India. And a very happy Onam and Eid-e-Milad.
India today is in a state of turmoil. North India is under distress due to flooding, there is potential peace hope in the north east, IT jobs are in danger in the IT hubs and political theatre is in full swing in the west.
Here are today's essential stories.
Absolutely Essential to Know 🚨:
Peace Pact Inked in Manipur Ahead of PM Visit
Markets to trade on Sept 5, to be closed on Sept 8
Nepal Bans Instagram, X, and Other Social Media Platforms
And many more, read on…
Our structure is simple:
The blue blocks are quick factual summaries, and you can keep reading for the context (our expert analysis). Remember, our opinions aren't facts, so don't go quoting us in your next debate!
Click "🔗" for a randomly selected source article. We check a bunch of sites to keep our facts straight and our news unbiased, but hey, you know how the internet is. Just be a little skeptical of whatever you find on the other side.
Also, all our images are just for laughs. They're silly, satirical jokes and not meant to represent anyone, living or, well you get the idea. Now go on, be informed and have a good laugh.
🌊 North India Swamped as Monsoon Unleashes Fury
Dozens dead across northern states; Punjab confirms 37 fatalities due to severe flooding.
Major rivers, including the Yamuna in Delhi and the Jhelum in Srinagar, breach danger levels, inundating low-lying areas.
Mass evacuations underway; schools closed across Punjab, Haryana, and Jammu.
The Deeper Take: An annual tragedy playing out in fast-forward. Climate change provides the torrential rain, but decades of chaotic urban planning and choked rivers deliver the devastating floods. This is a disaster we consistently fail to prevent.
🕊️ Peace Pact Inked in Manipur Ahead of PM Visit
A tripartite Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement signed between the Centre, Manipur government, and Kuki-Zo groups.
Key terms include upholding Manipur's territorial integrity and reopening the critical National Highway-2.
Militant camps to be relocated; comes ahead of the PM's first visit since the violence began.
The Deeper Take: The timing is… convenient. A peace deal signed just days before the Prime Minister’s first visit since the ethnic violence erupted looks great on paper. The real test isn't the signing ceremony, but whether it holds on the ground after the cameras leave.
🥊 Bihar Politics Heats Up Over Alleged Insults
The ruling NDA coalition holds a five-hour 'Bihar bandh' to protest alleged abuses directed at PM Modi's late mother during a Congress rally.
The RJD and Congress hit back, accusing the NDA of political opportunism and distracting from real issues.
The row is framed as an appeal to women voters ahead of the state's assembly elections.
The Bottom Line: Welcome to election season in Bihar, where policy debates take a backseat to high-decibel outrage theatre. This isn't about defending honour; or accusing / recognising distraction from issues; it's about weaponising emotion to consolidate a vote bank, from all sides. The real issues, as ever, are patiently waiting in the wings.
🤝 India and Singapore Deepen Strategic Ties
PM Modi and Singaporean PM Lawrence Wong meet in New Delhi, outlining a new roadmap for their strategic partnership.
Discussions focus on expanding cooperation in trade, technology, defence, and digital connectivity.
Both leaders jointly inaugurated Phase-2 of the Bharat Mumbai Container Terminal.
Why It Matters: This is more than a friendly handshake. As the global order gets shakier, India is shoring up its alliances in the Indo-Pacific. Singapore is a key economic and strategic hub, making this partnership a crucial pillar in India's "Act East" policy.
📉 IT Sector Hits the Brakes on Hiring
India's IT services firms report a significant hiring slowdown, with a 10% dip in August compared to July.
Staffing firms cite global economic uncertainty, US tariff hikes, and a drop in discretionary spending by clients.
Demand for legacy tech roles is at a three-year low, though hiring for AI and cybersecurity skills remains strong.
The Deeper Take: The great Indian IT dream is recalibrating. The era of mass hiring for generic coding jobs is fading, replaced by a fierce demand for niche, high-end skills. It’s a painful but necessary evolution from being the world's back office to its brain trust.
📡 J&K to Get New Radars for Better Weather Forecasts
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) will install four additional weather radars in Jammu and Kashmir.
The move, part of 'Mission Mausam', aims to provide more accurate, district-level weather forecasts and early warnings.
This decision follows the recent spell of severe weather and flooding that has battered the region.
The Deeper Take: A classic case of technology playing catch-up with tragedy. After devastating floods, the system is finally getting an upgrade. Better late than never, but it underscores a reactive rather than proactive approach to disaster management.
🚜 Rajasthan Assembly Session Starts with Tractor Protest
Opposition MLAs in Rajasthan arrived at the Assembly on tractors to protest various government policies.
The session began dramatically with uproar and sloganeering from the opposition benches.
Despite the chaos, the government passed three bills, including one to increase factory working hours.
The Bottom Line: Political protest as performance art. While the tractor parade makes for great television, the real action happened inside, where significant labour law changes were pushed through amidst the noise. The spectacle often serves to distract from the substance. Miss the era of intellectual debates; the era that never arrived.
🇮🇪 Ireland Launches Economic Panel to Boost India Ties
Ireland's government has launched a new "Ireland-India Economic Advisory Panel" to deepen economic ties.
The panel includes senior India-based business leaders like Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and Noel Tata.
Bilateral trade is currently valued at approximately €16 billion annually, with significant potential for growth.
Why It Matters: With rising global uncertainty and rising right wing politics, Ireland is aggressively diversifying its trade partnerships beyond the UK. India, with its massive market and burgeoning tech sector, is a prime target. This isn't just about trade; it's a strategic move by Dublin to carve out its own space on the global stage.
🏦 Markets to trade on Sept 5th, to be closed on Sept 8th
The Reserve Bank of India cancelled the public holiday scheduled for 5 September in Maharashtra.
A new holiday has been declared for 8 September on account of Eid-e-Milad.
Financial market transactions and settlements will now be paused on Monday, 8 September, instead of Friday.
The Bottom Line: It's a reminder of how intertwined public holidays and market operations are.
🎟️ IPL Tickets to Get More Expensive from 2026
Good news for cricket fans' wallets, for a change: GST on international cricket tickets has been reduced from 28% to 18%.
However, the party's over for IPL fans, as the GST rate for the league has been hiked from 28% to 40%.
This places the IPL in the highest tax bracket, alongside casinos and horse racing.
The Bottom Line: The government has effectively labelled the IPL as a 'demerit' good, taxing it like gambling. It’s a clear signal distinguishing the national sport from its glitzy, commercial cousin. Your wallet will feel the difference.
The Brighter Side
… because we always need to look for happiness in life.
🏑 Indian Hockey Teams Secure Key Wins in Asia Cup
The Indian men's hockey team took a commanding 4-1 lead against Malaysia in the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup. 🔗
Indian men’s national hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh won his 250th cap for the Indian team.
Meanwhile, the Indian women's hockey team is set to kick off its Asia Cup campaign against Thailand in Hangzhou.
The women's team has a dominant record against Thailand, winning all seven previous encounters.
Why It Matters: After decades in the wilderness, Indian hockey is consistently performing at a high level again. These tournaments are crucial for maintaining momentum and solidifying India's status as a global hockey powerhouse ahead of bigger world events.
⚽ India Kicks Off U-23 Asian Cup Qualifiers with a Win
The Indian football team began its AFC U-23 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers campaign with a 2-0 victory over Bahrain.
The match was held in Doha, Qatar.
This win gives India a strong start in its group as it vies for a spot in the prestigious continental tournament.
The Deeper Take: A positive result for Indian football, a sport that carries the hopes of a billion people but often struggles for consistent success on the Asian stage. Every win like this is a small but vital step in building the confidence and experience needed to compete.
❤️ India's Infant Mortality Rate Hits Historic Low
India's Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) has dropped to a record low of 25 deaths per 1,000 live births.
This marks a dramatic 37.5% decline from 40 in 2013 and an 80% fall from 129 in 1971.
Kerala and Tamil Nadu are the first large states to achieve the UN's Sustainable Development Goal target for IMR.
Why It Matters: Amidst the daily political noise, this is a quiet, monumental victory. It's a direct reflection of better healthcare, nutrition, and sanitation slowly but surely reaching more people. A genuine, data-backed reason for optimism.
🤝 25-Year-Old Cremates 3,000 Unclaimed Bodies
Jas Kalra, a 25-year-old from Gurugram, has taken on the mission of providing dignity in death to the forgotten.
He has personally performed the last rites for over 3,000 unclaimed bodies.
He also runs The Earth Saviours Foundation, which has rescued over 1,500 abandoned people from the streets.
The Deeper Take: Why this story is included in this brief? Because stories like these are important reminders that life is supposed to be a celebration of humility and kindness. This is an extraordinary story of compassion in the face of societal indifference.
The World at a Glance
… because everything is connected, from global to local.
🇺🇦 Ukraine Strikes Russian Refineries; Russia Pounds Kyiv
Ukraine has conducted deep strikes on Russian oil refineries, hitting key facilities and worsening Russia's domestic petrol shortages.
In response, Russia launched one of its largest aerial attacks on Kyiv, killing 26 people, including four children.
The tit-for-tat strikes mark a brutal escalation in the long-running conflict.
The Bottom Line: In the end, affected are humans on both sides, wether by direct strikes and growing fear of such strikes or through economic turmoil and rising prices.
🇫🇷 26 Countries Pledge Troops for Ukraine 'Reassurance Force'
French President Emmanuel Macron announced that 26 countries have pledged troops for a potential "reassurance force" in Ukraine.
This force would deploy after a ceasefire is agreed upon to ensure security.
Both Macron and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy said the plan has the backing of the United States.
The Deeper Take: This is a significant strategic shift. European leaders are moving from solely providing aid to planning a physical, post-conflict presence. It's a message to Moscow that Europe is preparing for the long-term security of Ukraine.
🇳🇵 Nepal Bans Facebook, X, and Other Social Media Platforms
Nepal's government has decided to ban 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and YouTube.
The official reason cited is their failure to comply with local registration requirements.
The move has sparked concerns about freedom of expression and access to information in the country.
The Bottom Line: This is a classic authoritarian move dressed up in bureaucratic language. "Failure to register" is a convenient excuse used by governments worldwide to regulate platforms they cannot control, effectively silencing dissent. Some people speaking on the ban said that the government is shooting itself in the foot… well, doesn’t look like the ‘government’ has much standing.
Stay sharp,
The OneRead Team
P.S. Like what you're reading? Share it with a friend. They might finally start thinking you’re smart too.