The first look of Mumbai’s iconic Lalbaugcha Raja was unveiled on Sunday, August 24, ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations starting August 27. The idol, dressed in striking magenta attire, left devotees spellbound. Located in Putlabai Chawl, Lalbaugcha Raja is one of Mumbai’s most visited Ganesh mandals, attracting lakhs of devotees, including celebrities, every year. The ten-day Ganeshotsav is celebrated across Maharashtra and India with rituals, prayers, music, and cultural events, ending with a grand visarjan. The Lalbaugcha Raja mandal, established in the early 1900s, continues to symbolize faith, devotion, and the cultural spirit of Mumbai during Ganesh Chaturthi.

BJP leader and Hamirpur MP Anurag Thakur told schoolchildren in Una, Himachal Pradesh, that Lord Hanuman could be seen as the “first astronaut.” Speaking at a PM Shri School on National Space Day, he asked students to “look beyond textbooks” and connect with India’s traditions. Thakur later shared the video on X, writing, “Pawansut Hanuman Ji… the first astronaut.” He said Hanuman’s journey showed India’s ancient knowledge and culture. “If you look at our traditions, you will find many things,” he added. His comments came as India celebrates new achievements in space exploration this year. (PC: HT)

Police in Greater Noida arrested Sans Dayawati, mother-in-law of 28-year-old Nikki Bhati, who was killed in a dowry attack. Her arrest came hours after Nikki’s husband, Vipin Bhati, was shot in the leg while fleeing police custody. Vipin, accused of setting Nikki on fire, has been sent to 14-day judicial custody. Nikki’s six-year-old son witnessed the attack, saying his father poured liquid on her and set her ablaze. Video clips showed Nikki being beaten and dragged. Her father said repeated dowry demands, including a Scorpio, Bullet bike, and even a Mercedes, led to constant harassment. (PC: India Today)

The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced that documents for 98.2% of Bihar’s 7.24 crore electors have been received during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. With eight days left before the September 1 deadline, only 1.8% remain pending. Verification is underway by 243 Electoral Registration Officers and 2,976 Assistant EROs. The Supreme Court is monitoring the process after 65 lakh names were excluded in the August 1 draft. The ECI has uploaded omitted names online and is accepting claims with valid ID documents. Final rolls will be published on September 30. The Commission emphasized legal compliance and dismissed voter fraud allegations as baseless. (PC: The Hindu)

In Greater Noida, Vipin Bhati, accused of burning his wife Nikki alive over dowry demands, was shot in the leg while trying to flee police custody. Police said he attempted to snatch a pistol from an officer when taken to recover bottles of inflammable liquid used in the crime. Despite warnings, he tried to escape near Sirsa Chauraha, forcing police to fire. Vipin was caught and taken to hospital. Nikki’s father welcomed the action, calling Vipin a criminal and demanding punishment for all accused. Police confirmed recovery of bottles used to set Nikki on fire. Further probe is underway. (PC: India Today)

Bollywood author Twinkle Khanna weighed in on the Supreme Court’s revised August 11 order regarding stray dogs — mandating sterilisation and vaccination before release while excluding aggressive or rabid animals. She noted that the move became deeply personal, as her own building unofficially adopted several vaccinated but unsterilised dogs, including “Coco”. In her Times of India column, she critiqued the surge of “armchair protestors”, pointing to a broader hypocrisy in human nature. “Morality tastes better when served with a McDonald’s hamburger,” she wrote, urging a balanced path that protects both people and stray animals. (PC: AFP)

In Greater Noida, 28-year-old Nikki Bhati was burnt alive by her husband Vipin Bhati after years of torture over dowry. Nikki’s family said they had given a car, motorcycle, and gold, but demands never stopped. Her 6-year-old son saw the brutal killing and recounted how his mother was set on fire. Nikki’s sister Kanchan, also married into the same family, was beaten for recording the assault. Vipin tried to pass the death off as suicide on social media but was arrested after being shot while escaping custody. Police have booked Vipin and his family for murder and conspiracy. (PC: HT)

The Ladakh administration has revoked the 40-year land allotment (about 1,076 kanal and 1 marla) granted to the Himalayan Institute of Alternative Learning (HIAL), citing non-establishment of a legal university on the site . Founded by environmental activist and education reformist Sonam Wangchuk, HIAL’s founders and the region’s Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) condemned the move as politically motivated suppression—labeling it a “witch-hunt” . LAB and KDA vowed legal action, while Wangchuk called the cancellation an assault on Ladakh’s development and dissent. (PC: PTI)

In Ahmedabad’s Chandlodia neighborhood, a distressing video showed a stray dog being tied to a motorcycle, beaten, and dragged through the streets before being abandoned near the Gota railway crossing—sparking widespread public outrage . Police arrested the accused, identified as Ramesh Patel, following the clip going viral. An FIR has been filed under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita . The dog's condition remains unknown. Animal rights activists condemned the act, called for legal action, and emphasized humane alternatives amid ongoing debates over stray dog management in the city.

On August 23, 2025, India successfully conducted the maiden flight test of its Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) off the coast of Odisha, the DRDO announced . This advanced system combines Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missiles (QRSAM) for medium-range threats, VSHORADS for close-in defence, and a high-power laser-based Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) to neutralize various aerial threats, including drones, fighter aircraft, and cruise missiles . Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hailed the test as a significant stride towards a self-reliant, multi-tiered air-defence infrastructure. (PC: X)