India Startup Digest

Raksha Bandhan 2025 falls on August 9, with prime time for tying Rakhi from 5:47 AM to 1:24 PM IST. The most auspicious Abhijit Muhurat lasts between 11:59 AM and 12:53 PM. The Pooja Thali, central to the ceremony, calls for carefully chosen traditional items. City-wise Muhurat timings can differ by a few minutes.

Prof. Ajit Kumar Chaturvedi, an IIT Kanpur professor and former IIT Roorkee Director, has been appointed as the new Vice-Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University. Chaturvedi, who once taught at BHU in the 1990s, returns with decades of experience to lead the university after a seven-month top-job vacancy.

Timex Group Luxury Watches BV will offload up to 15% stake in Timex Group India through an Offer for Sale at ₹175 per share, undercutting the previous close by 7%. The offer opens to non-retail and retail investors on June 25 and 26, respectively. The move follows a 5% drop in Timex shares and could significantly reduce the promoter’s holding.

Three men have been arrested in Pilibhit after a daring pickup truck robbery. Police unraveled the plot where robbers posed as customers to book and loot a vehicle. The incident has stirred debates about safety, and authorities credit swift detective work for solving the case.

PM Modi has inaugurated Kartavya Bhavan in New Delhi, a landmark building designed to modernize India's governance. The high-tech, eco-friendly complex will house key ministries and streamline government operations. This move highlights a major shift from colonial-era offices to a more efficient, unified, and sustainable future for India's administration.

The RBI has kept the repo rate steady at 5.5% in August 2025. Home loan borrowers aren’t stuck—options like balance transfers, prepayments, or renegotiating rates can help lower EMIs. With inflation easing and growth forecasts adjusted, banks may still pass on benefits to borrowers who act smartly.

Aamir Khan addresses speculation about his relationship with Fatima Sana Shaikh after working together in Thugs of Hindostan. He dismisses rumors and clarifies they share neither a father-daughter nor romantic bond. Fatima discusses her close friendship with Ira Khan, Aamir’s daughter.

Raghu Thakur has taken a direct jab at politicians who blame EVMs only when they lose elections, sparking a fresh round of debate about the reliability of voting machines in India. The issue of EVM credibility is back in the spotlight amid ongoing political tensions.

The revered Chhari Mubarak procession, symbolizing Lord Shiva, started its final journey to the Amarnath cave shrine on August 4, 2025, under watchful eyes of thousands of security personnel. This year saw added significance with Kashmiri Pandit participation and high-profile stops at historic temples, concluding on Shravan Purnima.

Six years after Article 370 was revoked, Jammu and Kashmir is seeing more tourists and new roads but still faces high unemployment and ongoing security debates. Central government schemes aim to boost jobs, yet local businesses feel squeezed. The Supreme Court backed the move, but tensions over autonomy and development persist.