Former diplomat Navdeep Suri, who represented India as ambassador to the UAE and Egypt and High Commissioner to Australia, has highlighted difficulties faced during Punjab’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Suri revealed that volunteers informed him that some of his details did not match records from 2003, creating problems in establishing his citizenship despite his long public service career. Sharing his experience on social media, Suri questioned procedural inconsistencies in the voter verification process. The incident has sparked debate over the implementation of SIR in Punjab, with concerns that ordinary citizens may encounter similar hurdles while updating or verifying their electoral records. (PC: X)

A breakfast outing at Paul’s restaurant in Horizon Centre, Gurugram, turned disturbing after diner Sulabh Mathur spotted a live worm crawling over meat inside a partially eaten sandwich. Mathur shared a video of the incident on Instagram, raising serious concerns about food hygiene at the upscale restaurant. His group had reportedly ordered six to seven dishes around 11 am before discovering the worm. The viral video quickly gained around 1.3 million views, prompting users to question how contaminated food reached customers. Many expressed shock and said the incident made them reconsider dining at the restaurant. (PC: India Today)

The Maharashtra government has announced a new welfare policy ensuring lifelong care for retired police dogs. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis directed that dogs completing their 10-year service will no longer be sent to third-party adoptive homes. Instead, they will remain with the police force and their long-time handlers. The Home Department will cover their food, medical treatment and daily upkeep throughout retirement. The decision follows concerns that some dogs experienced distress after separation from familiar handlers and surroundings, with reports of some refusing food. Police dogs play vital roles in detecting explosives and narcotics, tracking criminals and rescue operations. (PC: ANI)

A 30-year-old pregnant Defence Ministry officer was found dead at her home in Delhi’s Dwarka, with her family alleging mental and physical harassment by her husband and in-laws. Nazia Khanam, an assistant section officer, had married Azam Ali Khan four months ago and was three months pregnant. Her family alleged that she had repeatedly complained of abuse and threats. Her husband told police that she died by suicide after an argument. The family, however, suspects foul play and has sought legal action. Police have registered a case and said further action will depend on the post-mortem report and evidence. (PC: NDTV)

Three FIRs have been filed against 28 named and more than 900 unnamed people following clashes between police and protesting job aspirants in Jharkhand’s Giridih and Hazaribag. Two cases were registered in Giridih after clashes on August 21 and 22, while another was filed in Hazaribag over allegations of obstructing government work and assaulting police personnel. The protests were linked to alleged irregularities in Jharkhand recruitment examinations. Earlier, Ranchi police had also registered three FIRs against 14 named and 200 unidentified people following similar clashes. Thousands of students had joined the protests demanding accountability over the recruitment process. (PC: The Indian Express)

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has accused the Centre of making “empty promises” and betraying young people, warning that another Jantar Mantar-style protest could follow if commitments made after the NEET agitation are not fulfilled. The group said the government has yet to act on promises related to withdrawing FIRs against protesters, compensation for families of students who died by suicide, and exam reforms. CJP will meet on August 24 to decide its next steps, saying it will not rest until every commitment to India’s youth is honoured. (PC: HT)

India is reviving centuries-old water systems as groundwater depletion and climate change worsen water scarcity. Communities across the country are restoring stepwells, johads, tankas and ponds to capture rainwater and recharge underground aquifers. In Rajasthan’s Alwar, the restored Moosi Rani Sagar stepwell now holds water year-round after decades of neglect. Thousands of johads have also helped revive wells and rivers. India, home to 18% of the world’s population but only 4% of its freshwater resources, is increasingly turning to traditional systems alongside modern infrastructure to improve water security and build resilience against erratic rainfall. (PC: BBC)

The debate over Vande Mataram has returned during the song’s 150th anniversary celebrations. Congress has reaffirmed its 1937 decision to sing only the first two stanzas, citing concerns over religious references in later verses. The BJP-led Centre, however, has moved to give the full six-stanza song greater official protection. Parliament amended the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act in July, making obstruction or disruption of its singing punishable by up to three years in jail. The Centre has also issued protocols for singing the complete song at official functions, reviving a decades-old political and cultural debate. (PC: NDTV)

Indian Air Force officers advised the makers of Netflix’s Operation Safed Sagar to portray fighter pilots realistically rather than as cinematic heroes. During research, pilots reportedly asked creators to avoid stereotypical slow-motion scenes of officers stepping out of fighter jets. They explained that pilots are often exhausted and drenched in sweat after demanding sorties, sometimes losing significant weight during missions. The show’s creators said they consulted serving IAF personnel extensively to preserve authenticity and focus on the human experiences behind the Kargil War. The series depicts the IAF’s Golden Arrows squadron and its challenging missions during Operation Safed Sagar. (PC: HT)

Assam has achieved a major milestone in indigenous cattle breeding with the birth of the world’s first female calf produced through in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) from the state’s Lakhimi breed. The calf, named Sabhyata, Sanskriti and Srijan, marks a significant advancement in reproductive biotechnology and conservation of indigenous cattle genetics. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma hailed the development as a historic achievement, highlighting its potential to strengthen scientific livestock breeding and preserve native cattle breeds. The breakthrough is expected to support improved productivity, genetic conservation and sustainable dairy development while demonstrating Assam’s growing capabilities in advanced animal reproductive technologies. (PC: X)