Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint.. I’m Nelson John and here are today’s top stories.

India flexed its defence muscle by successfully test-firing the Agni-5 ballistic missile from Odisha’s Chandipur range. With a 5,000-km range, it can strike deep into Asia—including northern China—and even parts of Europe. Developed by DRDO, an upgraded 7,500-km version is in the works. The Agni-5 family, now equipped with MIRV tech that can deliver multiple nuclear warheads, sits atop India’s deterrence strategy. PM Modi hailed it as another leap in defence modernisation.

In just seven minutes, the Lok Sabha passed one of the toughest gaming laws in the world. The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, bans all money-based online games—from fantasy cricket to poker and rummy. Operators face up to three years in jail and fines of ₹1 crore; advertising carries its own penalties. With 450 million users and ₹31,000 crore in annual revenues, the industry calls it a “death knell” for 400 startups, 200,000 jobs, and ₹20,000 crore in tax revenues. Critics warn it could drive players to offshore sites, while the government insists e-Sports remain untouched. The bill now heads to the Rajya Sabha.

High drama in Parliament as Amit Shah introduced three bills to disqualify the PM, CMs, or ministers if jailed for over 30 days on charges carrying a minimum five-year sentence. Pitched as an anti-corruption measure, the Opposition erupted—calling it unconstitutional, warning it undermines the principle of “innocent until proven guilty.” With memories of Kejriwal and Soren’s arrests fresh, fears of political misuse loom large. The bills are now with a Joint Parliamentary Committee, due to report back in November.

Even as US tariffs pile up, Moscow assured India its oil supply is safe. “We have a very special mechanism,” said Russian officials, confirming crude flows to India’s Vadinar refinery remain unaffected by EU sanctions. India now sources nearly 40% of its crude from Russia. On defence, Moscow reminded Delhi it remains the “partner of choice,” citing BrahMos and the S-400’s “successful battle test” in May. With trade at $68.7 billion but a $60 billion imbalance, Russia pledged to ease access and hit $100 billion by 2030. Putin is expected in India later this year.

Five years after walking away, India is reconsidering the world’s biggest trade bloc—RCEP. With Trump’s tariffs biting and China easing curbs on exports to India, Delhi is reassessing the costs and benefits of joining the 15-nation pact. Officials want assurances from China and ASEAN for greater market access, especially for pharma and IT. Studies highlight untapped export potential of $161 billion to China, mostly in high-tech goods. With Modi heading to Beijing for the SCO summit, the signals are clear: India is warming up to the East again, even as it faces pressure from the West.

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