Archive · 25 Aug 2026
Noon Briefing Covers Gurugram Floods, Census Changes, Technology and More
This news roundup shares several important stories from India and beyond.
Heavy rain caused flooding and traffic problems in Gurugram.
Some school buses became stuck, and children had to wait for hours.
India’s next census will reportedly group beggars and vagrants under “others.”
A Mumbai writer says she and her late husband lost ₹2.20 crore in an alleged fraud involving property and vehicles.
OpenAI added a feature that lets ChatGPT mobile users make sticker packs from prompts.
Singtel is seeking permission to start satellite communication services in India.
Karnataka acted against online platforms over the sale of datura, which can be dangerous when sold as food.
The roundup also includes criticism of India’s hockey leadership, speculation about actress Hania Aamir, Odisha’s giant Rakhi tradition, and a visit to Hyderabad’s Charminar.
Heavy rain flooded Gurugram, trapping school buses and leaving children stranded near Subhash Chowk for hours.
Census 2027 will reportedly place beggars and vagrants under “others” instead of listing them separately.
Police registered an FIR after writer Mallika Gharde alleged a ₹2.20 crore property and vehicle fraud in Mumbai.
OpenAI launched ChatGPT sticker packs, while Singtel sought approval to offer satellite communication services in India.
Karnataka suspended licences over datura listings, while sports, entertainment and cultural stories also featured in the roundup.
- Who
- Gurugram residents, Census officials, writer Mallika Gharde, OpenAI, Singtel, Karnataka regulators, hockey player PR Sreejesh, actress Hania Aamir, and cultural and political figures mentioned in the reports.
- What
- A daily roundup covering flooding, a census classification change, an alleged fraud case, technology and business developments, a food-safety action, sports criticism, entertainment speculation, and cultural events.
- When
- The roundup refers to Monday’s Gurugram rainfall, an FIR registered on August 22, 2026, and Raksha Bandhan on August 28, 2026; other developments are not given a specific date.
- Where
- Gurugram, Mumbai, Karnataka, India, Odisha, Hyderabad, and Pakistan are among the locations mentioned.
- Why
- The digest is intended to present major developments in a concise, straightforward format.
- Gurugram flooding
- School buses were trapped in deep water at Subhash Chowk, and children were stranded for hours.
- Census classification
- Census 2027 will reportedly move the “beggars, vagrants” category into “others.”
- Earlier census figures
- The roundup says Census 2011 recorded about 3.8 lakh non-worker beggars and vagrants, compared with 6.3 lakh in 2001.
- Alleged fraud
- Mallika Gharde alleged losses of ₹2.20 crore involving a Juhu flat, a Lonavala farmhouse, and car deals.
- ChatGPT Stickers
- Mobile users can create packs of up to nine stickers using text prompts, 18 visual styles, and emoji remixes.
- Singtel proposal
- Singapore Telecommunications Limited has sought Indian foreign direct investment approval for satellite communication services.
- Datura listings
- Karnataka ordered platforms to remove datura listings and suspended licences over alleged sales as food.