Over 4.56 crore persons have filed their income tax returns (ITRs) as the deadline of September 15 draws closer, and the number of returns being submitted is increasing.

According to senior income tax department officials, people “should not wait till the last-minute” to file their forms because doing so causes inconvenience.

Tax return filing has been made simple, and the following is the straightforward procedure for individuals to file their own returns:

• Enter your PAN or Aadhaar and password to access incometax.gov.in.
• Select Income Tax Return > File Income Tax Return under → e-File.
• Choose AY 2025–2026.
• Select the appropriate form.
• Examine the pre-filled information (bank interest, TDS, and salary).
• Choose the tax regime (Old/New) and add any missing income or deductions.
• Send in your return

Every year, the Income Tax Department releases a variety of ITR forms to accommodate different taxpayer groups. Making the right form choice is crucial since submitting the wrong form could result in a flawed return. The following forms apply to individuals and small companies who are not audit taxpayers for FY 2024–25 (AY 2025–26):

For Salaried People, ITR-1 (Sahaj)

According to the Income Tax Department, a taxpayer who receives income from their employer in the form of a salary, wages, allowances, perquisites, or pension is considered a salaried individual and is subject to the “Income from Salary” charge.

For individuals or HUFs (those without business or professional income), ITR-2

Individuals are natural individuals who are subject to personal taxes on their income from capital gains, business or profession, pensions, salaries, and other sources.

According to income tax legislation, HUFs (Hindu Undivided Families) are distinct legal entities made up of all individuals who are directly derived from a common ancestor, including their spouses and unmarried daughters. Under the Income Tax Act, a HUF is taxed as a separate “person” and may receive income from real estate, businesses, or other sources.

If the return is submitted after the deadline, there is a late filing fee. For returns submitted after the deadline, a charge of Rs 5,000 is required. However, the late fee is limited to Rs 1,000 in situations when the total revenue is less than Rs 5 lakh.

In addition to the late filing cost, there is a monthly interest rate of 1% on the outstanding tax amount for late filing. In the meantime, ITR submissions increased by more than 25% between AY 2022–2023 and AY 2024–2025.

According to data made public by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), ITR files have steadily increased over time, indicating an expansion of the tax base and more compliance. As of July 31, 2024, a record 7.28 crore ITRs have been filed for AY 2024–25, up 7.5% from 6.77 crore in AY 2023–2024 over the previous year.

The plot of “The Bengal Files” centers on the Great Calcutta Killings and the Noakhali riots of 1946, portraying the bloodshed and its aftermath as a genocide and asserting that these historical events were purposefully overlooked or concealed.

The film’s cast includes Rajesh Khera, Puneet Issar, Priyanshu Chatterjee, Dibyendu Bhattacharya, Sourav Das, Mohan Kapur, Pallavi Joshi, Darshan Kumar, Simrat Kaur, Anupam Kher, Saswata Chatterjee, Namashi Chakraborty, and Mithun Chakraborty.

After The Tashkent Files and The Kashmir Files, Agnihotri’s The Files Trilogy, which is based on contemporary Indian history, concludes with The Bengal Files.

Anupam Kher, a veteran actor, wished the team well and referred to the film as an “important film of our times.” He wrote: “To the entire team of #TheBengalFiles and @vivekagnihotri, @pallavijoshiofficial, and @abhishekofficl, congratulations and best wishes on the film’s release today. It is a significant film of our era. Kindly head to the theaters to see it!

In an open letter to Indian President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday, Pallavi Joshi begged her to uphold her constitutional rights and permit the peaceful screening of “The Bengal Files” in West Bengal.

“Respected Madam President,” she wrote. I am reaching out to you with a heavy heart, asking for protection rather than favors.

On September 5th, the last book in the Files Trilogy, The Bengal Files, will be published. It recounts the atrocities of Noakhali, the anguish of Partition, and the long-suppressed truth of the Hindu genocide of Direct Action Day.

Since then, police have blocked our trailer, fabricated FIRs have been filed, and even publications have stopped running advertisements. Political party employees threaten my family every day,” she continued.

Joshi stated in her letter that “The Bengal Files” is subject to an “unofficial ban” in West Bengal, even if there isn’t an official ban.

“The Bengal Files is the cry of Maa Bharati, scarred yet unbroken, a story of survival and hope,” she continued, referring to the movie as the “cry of Maa Bharati.” Only you, as a woman who ascended from the periphery to the highest constitutional office, can fully comprehend what it means to bear such suffering and use it for motivation.

Pallavi said, “Madam President, I do not ask for a favor for a movie, but rather for the freedom to express art, truth, and Maa Bharati’s soul without fear.” My only hope is you. Please uphold our constitutional rights and allow West Bengal to calmly view The Bengal Files. With gratitude and respect, Pallavi Joshi, The Bengal Files’ producer.

FM Nirmala Sitharaman stated that the GST rate reduction would boost economic expansion and counteract the negative effects of the US tariff increase on Indian exports.

She added that since crude was the most expensive item on India’s import bill, the country will keep purchasing Russian oil for economic reasons.

In a media interview, Sitharaman stated that the government’s primary focus would now be on making sure that the GST rate reductions on a variety of goods and services, which will take effect on September 22, are passed on to customers.

“After September 22, we have a lot of work to do. We are certain that the average person would profit from this significant exercise in vigilance,” the finance minister said.

Additionally, FM Sitharaman stated that all industry leaders supported lowering product costs so that consumers may benefit from the GST rate fall and that the government was communicating with various stakeholders and parties to monitor the rate reduction.

The Minister of Finance stated, “After the GST Council decided to cut GST rates, MPs are also taking up the responsibility of monitoring the rate reduction on the ground.”

The cost of most products and services will be reduced by the two-slab GST system, which features rates of 5% and 18%, replacing the previous rates of 12% and 28%.

Simultaneously, a 40% tax on luxury and sinful items, including tobacco, pan masala, aerated beverages, expensive automobiles, yachts, and private planes, ensures equity and revenue balance.

Additionally, the burden on businesses—particularly MSMEs and startups—has been lessened by the simplification of registration and return filing, the speed at which refunds are processed, and the reduction of compliance expenses.

Sitharaman added that she had been contacted eight months prior by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss ways to update the GST system.

She noted that PM Modi had emphasized the need to streamline the system with a particular emphasis on reducing the burden on the middle class. She also said that GST 2.0 was created to reduce disagreements and guarantee clarity for states and enterprises alike.

In honor of Teachers’ Day on September 5, Bollywood actress Bhagyashree thanked her Teachers on social media. Additionally, she posted stills from her film Sajni Shinde Ka Viral Video, in which she played a school principal.

“Jis school ke tum padhte ho, uski mein Principal hoon!” was the caption she wrote. (You attend the same school where I am the principal.) A film called #sajnishindekaviralvideo revealed a whole different side of me as a performer. The honorable principal who would do whatever it took to preserve her school’s reputation, even if it meant playing the devil.

Expressing gratitude to her Teachers, she further stated, “But that apart, I have had the highest regard for teachers, who spend their entire lives laying the foundation, building the values on which our children follow. One of the most significant aspects of my life has been and continues to be my own school, @jamnabai.narsee.school. Just as you should never forget your roots, you should also never forget your mentors. I therefore want to wish a very happy Teacher’s Day to all of my teachers as well as those of my kids!

On Teachers’ Day, playback singer Papon—known for songs like “Bulleya,” “Jiyein Kyun,” and “Moh Moh Ke Dhaage”—reflects on the lessons he learned from his gurus.

In addition to honoring academic mentors, Papon views Teachers’ Day as an opportunity to consider his parents, whose creativity and modesty helped mold him into the musician he is today.

According to him, his journey is a continuation of their heritage since their impact can still be heard in every ghazal, folk ballad, and romantic melody he sings.

When asked about this, Papon replied, “My greatest teachers were my parents: my father, Khagen Mahanta, known across Assam as the ‘King of Bihu’, and my mother, Archana Mahanta, whose voice carried the devotion of our folk traditions.”

“Their melodies filled our home from the time I was a child, not just in notes, but in every breath I took,” he added. They showed me the soul behind each song rather than pressuring me. I honor them on this Teachers’ Day, not only for the music they gave the world, but also for the lessons they taught me. Every note I sing and every performance I give carries their legacy. My greatest blessing is that I carry their lessons with me as I move forward.

’12th Fail’ filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra received a poignant birthday greeting on social media on Friday from actor Vikrant Massey.

In addition to wishing Chopra Teacher’s Day, Vikrant posted a behind-the-scenes photo of himself with the director on his official Instagram account, writing: “Happiest Birthday Sir…I appreciate you being my lighthouse. Teachers ought to be like this. I cherish you.Also, happy Teachers’ Day.

Famous filmmaker, actor, author, and producer Nandita Das has honored her aunt Kusum, who taught her at Delhi’s Sardar Patel Vidyalaya school, on this Teacher’s Day.

Nandita Das shared images of her cherished Teacher with her on her Instagram profile, writing, “Happy Teachers’ Day! We are all aware of the profound influence our professors have had on our lives.The seeds for the topics we like (or not) and the person we have become (or not) were planted in early school. This Teacher’s Day, I would want to dedicate it to my dear Kusum aunt. During our early childhood and elementary school years at Sardar Patel Vidyalaya in Delhi, where I completed my education, she was a mother figure and a friend to all of us. I can still clearly remember her stories, her humor, and her unsuccessful attempt to be harsh with us.

In his remembrance of his “constant friend and teacher,” filmmaker Subhash Ghai acknowledged that Osho had influenced his ideas for more than 40 years.

The caption said, “Listen to me but do not follow me.” Subhash wrote, “My constant friend n my teacher osho who entertains me everyday since 40 years with all kinds of philosophy of life -people n energies n truth behind truth who says.” N simply take a look at yourself. Happy Teacher’s Day! Osho will create a fresh, clear school of thought in India. Today, I suppose.

The trailer for “AJEY: The Untold Story of a Yogi,” which was released by the film’s creators, depicts the remarkable transformation of a young guy from impoverished origins to a spiritual seeker.

The Monk Who Became Chief Minister, Shantanu Gupta’s best-selling book, served as the inspiration for the movie. The film, which stars Anantvijay Joshi, Paresh Rawal, Dinesh Lal Yadav, and Ajay Mengi, is scheduled for release on September 19.

Shots of Garhwal, Ajay’s family, and early acquaintances are shown in the teaser before his pivotal decision to take sanyas.

In a country run by bahubali politicians and thugs, it ignites his spiritual quest. As he opposes a corrupt system, peace quickly turns to confrontation. He goes from spiritual rites to determined leadership and reform.

Both the chaos of an unruly region and the profundity of Ajay Anand’s inner journey are depicted in the teaser.

The movie blends drama, inspiration, and spirituality as it follows the ideological shift and personal sacrifices that influence Ajay’s metamorphosis.

AJEY was written by Dilip Bachchan Jha and Priyank Dubey, directed by Ravindra Gautam, and produced by Ritu Mengi. Meet Bros. provided the moving soundtrack. The production designer is Udai Prakash Singh, the photography director is Vishnu Rao, and the associate producers are Itihasa Academy and B-Live Productions (Suuraj Sinngh).

“AJEY is a story of transformation, resilience, and vision, capturing the journey of a simple young man from the hills of Uttarakhand to a life devoted to service and leadership,” expressed Ravindra Gautam.

The movie “explores conviction, sacrifice, and leadership, showing both the public and private life of the protagonist and the choices that shaped his journey,” according to producer Ritu Mengi.

The 22nd Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, is the subject of the biography The Monk Who Became Chief Minister. Indian author and political analyst Shantanu Gupta is the author. The book was published on August 25, 2017.

NABARD Chairman Shaji KV stated on Thursday that the government’s decision to restructure the goods and services tax (GST) system with two main slabs of 5% and 18% will increase rural residents’ incomes as prosperity in the remote areas grows.

“People are prepared to advance, and you are aware of India’s rising trajectory. In addition, there is a favorable monsoon and an additional 8% of harvested land. Therefore, the environment was ideal, and the reduction in the GST is giving rural residents more money,” the chairman of NABARD stated.

According to him, rural prosperity is already being felt, and the most recent NABARD rural attitude survey demonstrated that more individuals are borrowing from formal sources, which has led to more formalization and lower credit-access costs. Additionally, inflation feeling is mild.

The chairman stated that most farm equipment will become less expensive due to the new GST reforms since they will be included in the 5% slab, and many of them will continue to be tax-free.

“Therefore, the people will have more money. They will now invest more in capacity increase because mechanization costs are declining, which bodes good for future output as well,” Shaji said.

He asserted that the government action will increase both present and future output. He emphasized that the growing need for rural income will lead to increased production, bolstering the manufacturing sector.

“It means Atmanirbhar Bharat is actually playing out well in rural areas and the government has taken right steps to give it a boost with the current GST rate cuts,” he said.

Tractors and other farm equipment will become more affordable, and their running costs will decrease as well.

He stated that “because the productivity has to catch up to the levels of international productivity, we are now focusing on building capacities.“

On Wednesday, ChatGPT users worldwide experienced interruptions as the OpenAI-developed AI chatbot briefly went down. Numerous users complained that they couldn’t retrieve responses; others even said that their previous chats had vanished.

The outage peaked at 12:44 PM, with over 500 reports originating from India alone, according to Downdetector, a website that monitors online service interruptions.

Similar grievances were filed by other nations. Users of the app also encountered issues accessing ChatGPT, however the internet version was the most severely affected.

Regarding the bug, OpenAI has not yet issued an official statement. The chatbot has previously had outages, including two that occurred in July and impacted both professionals who depend on the service on a daily basis and casual users.

Social media was used by users to vent their frustration. “There is a glitch in ChatGPT today,” one user remarked. Its responses have vanished from every conversation!

“ChatGPT is down,” someone else joked. Some folks won’t be around today. Some people voiced their concerns, claiming that without the chatbot, they would be unable to complete their tasks.

In the meantime, OpenAI declared earlier Tuesday that it will include parental controls for ChatGPT following allegations that the app had reportedly pushed a kid to think about ending their life.

According to the firm, parents will soon be able to add age-appropriate guidelines to the chatbot’s responses and link their accounts with their teen’s accounts.

If the system determines that a teen is in severe distress, parents will also be notified.

According to a blog post by OpenAI, “parents will be able to control how ChatGPT responds to their teen within the next month.” The company also stated that its reasoning models are more dependable in adhering to safety protocols.

According to an X user, “ChatGPT services seem to have been restored for the time being, and users can log back in and continue using the platform.“

India and Germany will endeavor to double their bilateral trade amid major and profound shifts in the global strategic landscape. S. Jaishankar, the External Affairs Minister (EAM), stated on Wednesday that they all wanted the discussions for the free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the EU to come to a definitive end as soon as possible.

Following their discussions in New Delhi on Wednesday, EAM Jaishankar and his German colleague Johann Wadephul told reporters that the relationship between Germany and India is still “very steady” and that its importance and weight are increasing. Johann Wadephul, his German colleague, had expressed his confidence that “we would be doubling our trade” with India.

The EAM said, “We have important strategic relationships with a number of countries,” in response to a question about Germany’s role in India’s balancing of strategic partnerships with several countries. Furthermore, maintaining and optimizing each of these ties is a fundamental aspect of modern global politics and strategy.

Accordingly, Germany as a whole and as the largest member of the European Union are, in my opinion, crucial to the calculations and the relationships that exist in the globe. We are two nations that are also part of the G4 and are working to reform the UN and the Security Council. However, if you look at it by almost any metric, I mean whether it is political or economic, we were among the other things we didn’t get to mention here, except for what Johann said at the end of his remarks.

“This bond is really significant to us. This relationship is becoming more meaningful, and I can see that it truly has more worth during this uncertain time. This partnership is incredibly stable. It is a partnership in which the majority of our agreements and policies stay consistent and predictable. Predictability is therefore extremely valuable in today’s world politics. Therefore, I do believe that this friendship is only becoming stronger and more valuable, and that’s part of the reason we’ve spoken to each other and met so frequently over the past several months,” he said.

According to EAM Jaishankar, both countries have made good strides in mobility and education. In order to further encourage student exchanges, he said, the two countries have now agreed on free visas for brief school and college trips.

“We have witnessed positive advancements in mobility and education. I think that Indian students currently make up the majority of international students studying in Germany. During my past two trips there, I heard people from all political parties in Germany praising the role of our community. The German government’s skilled labor plan provides an excellent framework for mutual gain. To further encourage student exchanges, we have also decided to grant free visas for brief trips to schools and colleges.”

More than 200 German businesses operate in India, which is Germany’s main commercial trading partner, according to Wadephul.

He reaffirmed Berlin’s full support for concluding the free trade agreement between India and the European Union, calling India a “rising economic powerhouse” with a “special importance” on the international scene.

In 2024–2025, Germany ranked as India’s eighth-largest commercial partner. In 2023–24, it ranked as India’s 12th largest trading partner, and in 2022–23, it ranked 11th.

Germany has invested $15.11 billion in India between April 2000 and March 2025, making it the ninth-largest foreign direct investor in the country.

Delhi’s 14-year-old Madhav Gopal Kamath became the first Indian to win a major World Youth Scrabble Championship (WYSC) 2025. This victory was historic for Indian Scrabble.

Madhav, the current national champion and top-ranked Scrabble player in India, defeated 218 under-18 players from 18 nations in the 20th edition of the World English-Language Scrabble Players Association’s (WESPA) annual tournament, which was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Madhav finished with an outstanding 21 wins from 24 rounds, securing the title in the penultimate round.

Twelve of India’s top young Scrabble players, seven boys and five girls, accompanied by coach and player Neeta Bhatia from Mumbai, sent a sizable delegation to WYSC as they do each year.

With 17 victories, 15-year-old Bengaluru native Suyash Manchali, who finished second in the previous year’s competition in Sri Lanka, took fifth place.

The Essar Foundation, in collaboration with Wordaholix and the Scrabble Association of India (SAI), provided support for the Indian delegation.

“Madhav’s victory is a historic milestone for Indian Scrabble and a proud moment for the entire community,” stated Harvinderjit Bhatia, President of the Scrabble Association of India. Our young players have demonstrated tremendous promise over the years, and this world championship confirms India’s rising prominence in the Scrabble world. We are grateful to the Essar Foundation for helping to establish the foundation for these accomplishments and for supporting Team India at WYSC 2025.

“Being the first Indian to win a world Scrabble title is a dream come true,” Madhav stated in response to his triumph. I hope this encourages many more young players in India to take up the game and think they can compete at the greatest level. I am thankful for the support of my teammates, coaches, and family.

Madhav won the 25th National Scrabble Championship in Mumbai earlier this year, making him the youngest national champion ever. He is currently ranked eighth in the world for all ages. This historic victory is his and India’s first worldwide Scrabble championship, following their recent close calls at the WYSC and the Asia Cup Youth Championship.

When Madhav was just six years old, he began playing Scrabble. He is now among the best players in the world thanks to his exceptional skill and creativity on the board, and he could make it into the top five before he turns 15.

It is anticipated that his WYSC triumph will significantly increase young Scrabble participation in India and encourage a new generation of players to compete in the game.

These accomplishments demonstrate the enormous potential of the competitive young Scrabble circuit in India, where the game is still becoming more and more popular as a sport.

The Scrabble Association of India thanked Black Panther for creating the team shirts, Assembly Travel for supplying backpacks, and the Essar Foundation for their collaboration.

Electronics and IT Secretary S. Krishnan stated that the Center is getting set to start the second phase of the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), with nearly all of the funding for the first phase now provided.

Speaking at Semicon India 2025 in New Delhi, Krishnan stated that just “two to three straggling projects” were still pending finalization, indicating that financing for ISM 1.0 was mostly committed.

“We are in the final stages of preparing ISM 2.0, which will soon be placed in the public domain,” he stated.

The Secretary stated that almost $30 billion in fiscal support is expected to be provided by the federal and state governments to strengthen the semiconductor sector.

He highlighted the benefits of India, pointing out that the country employs more than 20% of the world’s semiconductor design engineers and produces over 1.1 million STEM graduates annually.

He also mentioned the rapid expansion of the mobile phone industry and the growing importance of chips in space and defense as justifications for foreign companies to work with India.

At the launch of “Semicon India 2025” earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that the world now has faith in India and is prepared to work with it to shape the semiconductor industry’s future. He also mentioned that the government will shortly begin the next wave of reforms in the semiconductor sector.

India is expected to play a crucial role in the trillion-dollar semiconductor industry, PM Modi said, highlighting the nation’s expanding presence in the global chip market.

“Investments of $18 billion are being made in 10 semiconductor projects approved since 2021,” he stated.

“The world believes in India, the world trusts India, and the world is ready to build the semiconductor future with India,” the prime minister said, adding that although oil influenced the previous century, chips will shape the future.

The prime minister noted that India will play a significant role in the global semiconductor sector, which is now valued at $600 billion and is expected to surpass $1 trillion in the near future.