TODAY NEWS ON September 16, 2025

News Headlines for CAT, CLAT and IPM aspirant

Source: The Hindu  Indian Express and others

Supreme Court refuses to stay Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025 in its entirety

The Supreme Court of India on Monday (September 15, 2025) declined to stay the entire Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, noting that presumption is always in favour of the constitutionality of a law passed by the legislature. “It is only in the rarest of rare cases, the court can grant stay of the law challenged. We have found that the case was not made out to stay the entire statute,” a Bench of Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai and Augustine George Masih observed.

NH-2 in Manipur not to reopen till agreement is reached with Meitei people: Kuki-Zo Council

Two days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded his Manipur visit, the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC), which signed an agreement on September 4, 2025 with the Union Home Ministry for the reopening of National Highway-2, rescinded the pact on Monday (September 15, 2025). It said that it will not declare the reopening of the highway till a settlement is reached between the two communities. Ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, which erupted in May 2023, led to the shutdown of the highway.

Nepal’s interim Cabinet expanded with inclusion of Rameshore Khanal, Kulman Ghising and Om Prakash Aryal

Nepal President Ram Chandra Poudel administered the oath of office to three newly inducted Ministers in the interim Cabinet led by Prime Minister Sushila Karki on Monday (September 15, 2025). Two days after her appointment, Ms. Karki on Sunday (September 14) formed the Cabinet with Rameshore Khanal, Kulman Ghising, and Om Prakash Aryal as Finance Minister, Energy Minister, and Home Minister, respectively.

U.S. chief negotiator to visit India on September 16 for trade talks

As a “continuation” of trade talks between India and the U.S., India will host U.S. chief negotiator Brendan Lynch for a one-day meeting with India’s chief negotiator Rajesh Agrawal, Mr. Agrawal said on Monday (September 15, 2025). “The chief negotiator of the U.S. is visiting India tonight (September 15) and tomorrow we will be holding talks through the day,” Mr. Agrawal, who leads the negotiations with the U.S. on India’s behalf, said at a press briefing.

UGC gets 8 weeks to include norms on tackling caste bias

The Supreme Court on Monday (September 15, 2025) directed the University Grants Commission (UGC) to consider the suggestions received from stakeholders on tackling caste-based discrimination on higher education campuses and to incorporate them into the University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2025, within eight weeks.

U.S. won’t hit China with tariffs over Russian oil unless Europe goes first: Treasury chief Bessent

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Monday (September 15, 2025) the Trump administration would not impose additional tariffs on Chinese goods to halt China’s purchases of Russian oil unless European countries hit China and India with steep duties of their own. Mr. Bessent told Reuters and Bloomberg in a joint interview that European countries needed to play a stronger role in cutting off Russian oil revenues and bringing its war in Ukraine to an end.

Qatar’s Emir accuses Israel of working to ‘ensure Gaza is no longer livable’

Qatar hosted a summit of leaders of Arab and Islamic nations on Monday (September 15, 2025) in the hopes of presenting a united response to Israel’s attack on Hamas leaders in Doha last week. But the group has few ways to restrain Israel as its war in the Gaza Strip grinds on. Qatar’s ruling Emir opened the summit by accusing Israel of not caring about its hostages held in Gaza and instead only working to “ensure Gaza is no longer liveable”. Israel has said the goals of its war include bringing all the hostages back and defeating Hamas.

Trump suggests deal reached over the future of TikTok

President Donald Trump has posted on his social media site that a meeting between the U.S. and Chinese officials went well and that a deal was reached regarding “a ‘certain’ company that young people in our Country very much wanted to save.” Mr. Trump’s comment suggests that the company is TikTok, the social media company associated with China, which U.S. law requires to be sold or else cease operations.

Exports up 6.7% to $35.1 billion in August, imports drop by 10%

India’s exports rose by 6.7% to $35.1 billion in August, while imports declined by 10.12% to $61.59 billion, according to official data released on Monday (September 15, 2025). Exports were worth $32.89 billion in August last year and imports stood at $68.53 billion. Trade deficit during August 2025 was $26.49 billion as against $35.64 billion in the year-ago month. During April-August 2025-26, exports stood at $184.13 billion, while imports were at $306.52 billion.

ITR filing deadline extended by a day to September 16

The Government on Monday (September 15, 2025) extended the due date for filing Income Tax Returns (ITRs) for Assessment Year 2025-26 by a day to September 16 as technical glitches disrupted filings on the last day. A record over 7.3 crore ITRs were filed till September 15, surpassing last year’s 7.28 crore, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) said in a post on X.

Vaishali wins Grand Swiss, qualifies for the Candidates tournament

R. Vaishali became the champion once again at the FIDE Grand Swiss. In one of the most prestigious events in the chess calendar, the 24-year-old from Chennai showed her class. She was a surprise winner in the women’s section of the last edition of the tournament on the Isle of Man in 2023. This time around, in the Uzbek city of Samarkand, she retained her title and thus booked a ticket for next year’s Candidates tournament, the qualifying event for the World championship.