FirstUp: Nirmala Sitharaman to attend key meet on GST reforms and other top news

It is a busy Wednesday.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will attend an important meeting of a state ministerial panel today to present the Centre’s plan for major GST changes.

BJP-led NDA nominee CP Radhakrishnan will file his nomination today for the upcoming Vice Presidential election.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert in Mumbai for today.

The UN Security Council (UNSC) is likely to meet today for a briefing on a report about the threat from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh).

Google will launch its new flagship smartphone, the Pixel 10, today.

Here’s a look at the events:

Nirmala Sitharaman to attend key GoM meeting

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will attend an important meeting of a state ministerial panel today to present the Centre’s plan for major GST changes that aim to cut tax rates and lower prices of everyday goods.

The panel will discuss the Centre’s proposal to bring GST into a simpler structure by reducing the number of tax slabs to two, 5 and 18 per cent, with a higher 40 per cent rate on a few selected items, sources told PTI.

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By Diwali (October 2025), the government is looking to introduce this two-rate system to boost demand and ensure steady revenue in the long run.

Nato defence chiefs to meet to discuss Ukraine

The defence chiefs of all 32 Nato countries will meet virtually today to discuss the diplomatic efforts to secure peace in Ukraine, reports the BBC.

They will be briefed by US Air Force Lt Gen Alexus Grynkewich on the outcome of the Alaska summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin held last week.

“As diplomatic efforts to secure peace in Ukraine progress,​ looking forward to his update on the current security environment,” Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, the chairman of Nato’s military committee, posts on X.

CP Radhakrishnan to file nomination as NDA’s VP candidate

Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan will file his nomination today as the Vice Presidential candidate for the BJP-led NDA.

“All NDA floor leaders and members of Parliament will issue signatures,” Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said.

Meanwhile, the opposition-led INDIA bloc has named former Supreme Court judge Justice B Sudershan Reddy as its candidate for the Vice Presidential election.

The Election Commission has said voting for the Vice President will be held on September 9, and counting will take place the same day.

Orange alert in Mumbai

Mumbai has seen very heavy rain over the past few days. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for the city today.

Thane, Palghar and Ratnagiri are also under orange alert, while Raigad has been placed under a red alert for Wednesday.

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Since Friday, the continuous rain has disrupted life in Mumbai, leaving roads flooded and slowing down traffic.

Train services, the city’s main mode of travel, are running on waterlogged tracks, and flights have been delayed or diverted because of the downpour.

Key UNSC meeting on ISIL terror threats

The UN Security Council (UNSC) is expected to meet today for a briefing on the Secretary-General’s 21st biannual report on the threat from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh).

The report says that ISIL and its affiliates continued to pose a major threat during the reporting period, showing resilience and adaptability despite ongoing counter-terrorism efforts.

Like earlier reports, it points to Africa as the centre of ISIL activity, with groups such as the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) widening their reach and increasing propaganda.

Google Pixel 10 launch

Google is ready to launch its new flagship smartphone, the Pixel 10, today.

The Pixel 10, which follows the Pixel 9, is expected to come with big improvements in performance, design and AI features.

Live from NYC, it's #MadeByGoogle '25!

Tune in on August 20th at 1pm ET to catch our latest products and celebrate 10 generations of Pixel with all these special guests & more 👀

Are you ready to get outside your comfort phone? https://t.co/3qmNQCXzzo pic.twitter.com/9IA1pO9G6F

— Made by Google (@madebygoogle) August 15, 2025

The launch event will also feature the Pixel 10 lineup along with the Pixel Watch 4 and Pixel Buds 2a.

Viewers can watch the Made by Google event live on the company’s official YouTube channel. The stream begins at 10 AM PT, which is 10:30 PM IST in India.

With inputs from agencies