• The Lok Sabha passes by voice vote Bill for the creation of Uttaranchal State.

• Government appoints Lt.-General S. Padmanabhan the new Chief of Army Staff. He will succeed General V.P. Malik on 1 October.

• Urdu Poet Ali Sardar Jafri passes away.

• At least 21 people, including 11 Amarnath pilgrims, are gunned down near Pahalgam in Jammu & Kashmir.

• Militants gun down over 100 people in Jammu &Kashmir.

• Lok Sabha passes by voice vote Bill for the creation of Jharkhand State.

• Reserve Bank of India simplifies non-discretionary and non-discriminatory guidelines for compromise settlement of non-performing assets up to Rs.5 crore for uniform implementation by banks.

• India and Nepal agree to work closely to fight the "scourge of terrorism" and pledge that their respective territories are not permitted for use by terrorists operating against either government and people.

• Talks between Central Government and Hizbul Mujahideen commanders begin in Srinagar.

• Internet subscriber base in the country crosses 1.4 million as on June 30.

• Government clears 26 foreign direct investments proposals worth Rs.118 crore.

• Independent India's first cricket team's captain Lala Amarnath, 88, passes away in New Delhi.

• Old Delhi Railway Station enters Guinness Book of World Records for acquiring capability to handle the maximum number of trains at any station in the world with largest route relay interlocking system.

• The Governments of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka agree to most of the demands made by outlaw Veerappan for the release of Kanada film icon Rajkumar and three other hostages.

• Oscar winner British actor Sir Alec Guinness, 86, passes away in England.

• Hizbul Mujahideen calls off its unilateral cease-fire in Kashmir announced on 24 July.

• Former Karnataka Chief Minister S. Nijalingappa, 98, passes away.

• Over 2,000 militants have surrendered in the North-Eastern states under Central Rehabilitation Programme launched in 1998.

• Government announces drastic reduction in the issue price of wheat under the Open Market Sale Scheme by Rs.100-150 per quintal.

• Rajya Sabha okays Chhattisgarh Bill.

• Cabinet clears a proposal allowing the Indian partner of a telecom sector licensee to acquire the share-holding of its foreign partners at the time of restructuring the company's equity.

• Cabinet approves the reconstitution of the Law Commission for a period of three years from 1 September to 31 August 2003.

• India recommences sugar exports after a gap of three years.

• At least 13 persons, including a Hindustan Times photographer are killed in a car bomb blast in Srinagar.

• India pulls out of the Sahara Cup cricket series in Toronto due to Pakistan's support to cross-border terrorism.

• Rajya Sabha okays Uttaranchal Bill.

• Prime Minister launches new insurance scheme for the weaker sections of society.

• Actor and Dadasaheb Phalke awardee P. Jairaj, 91, passes away in Mumbai.

• Veteran Gandhian, Dr. Usha Mehta, 80, passes away.

• Rajya Sabha okays Jharkhand State Bill.

• Lok Sabha passes bill to impose the advertisement and programmes codes on all television channels and make it mandatory for cable operators to show at least three Doordarshan channels.

• President gives his assent to the Insecticides (Amendment) Bill, 2000.

• Union Telecommunications Minister announces norms for the opening up of the STD sector to private players.

• Centre agrees to Election Commission's proposal to procure an additional 1.5 lakh electronic voting machines.

• President K.R. Narayanan addresses the nation on the eve of Independence.

• Government announces 139 Gallantry awards. These include one Mahavir Chakra, two Kirti Chakras, three Vir Chakras and 22 Shaurya Chakras.

• Twenty-eight employees of Central and State Public Sector Undertakings are selected for Prime Minister's Shram Awards for the year 2000 in recognition of their distinguished per formances.

• President Mr. K.R. Narayanan honours 22 scholars of Sanskrit, Pali, Arabic and Persian in recognition of their contributions to the growth of these languages.

• India's boxing heavyweight and Dronacharya awardee, Captain Hawa Singh, passes away in Bhiwani, Haryana.

• Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee addresses the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the occasion of Independence Day.

• Government releases draft rules and regulations for IT Act 2000.

• Former Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, is sentenced to nine years jail on charges of sodomy.

August 13

• Pop singer Nazia Hassan passes away in London at the age of 35.

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