West Asia conflict: Panic booking triggers LPG rush; distributors report supply strain in Delhi
New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) With the widening West Asia conflict disrupting energy supplies, panic booking of LPG cylinders amid fears of shortage has triggered long queues and a rush at distribution centres across parts of Delhi.
Several distributors say the sudden spike in demand has created a temporary crisis in the local market.
Many distributors said the demand for cylinders has risen sharply in the past few days, forcing them to ask customers to wait as their available stock is unable to match the sudden surge in bookings.
A representative of Kiran Gas Services in Khan Market said the demand has increased by nearly 50 per cent over the past few days.
"We are receiving so many calls that we are afraid to take any more. People are also coming to the agency in person, but due to the increased demand and limited stock, we are asking customers to wait for two days or so," he said.
Another distributor at Gole Market, Kayson Enterprise, said even customers who had received a cylinder a week or 10–12 days earlier were approaching the agency again for fresh bookings.
"There are customers who already have two cylinders but are still approaching us. In such cases, we as distributors are also facing a crisis because we receive stock depending on the demand we project," he said.
The distributor added that to get gas cylinder stock at his agency, he has to write to the companies and they take time to supply. Now with the sudden spike in demand, the agency is facing a crisis of limited stock and is also trying to ensure that its regular customers do not go to other distributors.
The government has revised the priority order for allocating domestically produced natural gas, placing LPG production alongside CNG and piped cooking gas at the top.
At Jhandewalan, customers were seen standing in queues outside an agency with empty cylinders. In Malviya Nagar, a large crowd gathered when a cylinder delivery van arrived at a distribution point.
P N Seth, president of the All India LPG Distributors' Association, said the rush was largely driven by panic among consumers.
"Customers are worried that they may not get a cylinder amid the situation in the market and are ordering in panic. Consumers can get cylinders in a gap of 25 days after they get once but now they are booking in 10 days. However, there is no shortage of LPG in the country as of now," Seth said.
Kamlesh, a resident of Vikaspuri who was waiting outside a distribution agency with an empty cylinder, alleged that booking requests were not being accepted.
"It has been more than two weeks now. We have been coming every day and they keep saying we will get it tomorrow. Now they are also taking empty cylinders.
"From where should we pay Rs 100 as fare every day? And who has so much time to come in the heat and stand in the crowd only to be told to come tomorrow? What should we do? Where should the poor go?" she said.
Another customer, Rajkali, said she had been waiting since morning but had not received a cylinder.
"I came at 10 am and now it is 1 pm, but I still have not received a cylinder. How will we cook now?
"There is no alternative for us. We cannot afford electric appliances and cannot cook on wood. How many days can we survive on outside food?" she said.
Following US-Israeli strikes inside Iran and Tehran's sweeping retaliation across the region, maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has sharply declined, insurance premiums have surged and energy markets have responded with immediate volatility. Roughly one-fifth of the world's seaborne oil and nearly a third of global LNG shipments pass through this narrow channel linking the Gulf to global markets.
A distributor in Vikaspuri said part of the problem along with technical issues was confusion among customers regarding booking cycles.
The main problem is that customers are not aware that their bookings are valid for 25 days. Secondly, they are facing trouble while booking because of server issues, which is making them anxious, he said.
"If a household runs out of gas, they obviously need a refill, but we can supply cylinders only after the booking is completed and a slip is generated. There are some server problems and time constraints. Earlier, people could take two bookings in a month when cylinders ran out, but now many customers are not aware of the new system," he added. PTI SHB SHB KSS
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IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers resigns
New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers resigned on Tuesday, citing personal reasons, and the country's largest airline has relieved him with immediate effect, a development that comes three months after massive operational disruptions triggered widespread public outrage and regulatory actions.
Co-Founder and Managing Director Rahul Bhatia will manage the affairs of IndiGo on an interim basis till a new person is appointed, which the airline said is expected shortly.
The resignation of Elbers, who has been at the helm of IndiGo as CEO since September 6, 2022, has come abruptly, and while citing personal reasons for the decision, he had also requested the airline to waive the notice period.
"With immediate effect, Pieter Elbers will be stepping down as InterGlobe Aviation Limited's (IndiGo) CEO," InterGlobe Aviation said in a release on Tuesday and thanked him for his contribution and service, as well as wished him well in his future endeavours.
In his resignation letter, Elbers, a Dutch national, said it has been both an honour and a privilege to serve as the CEO for the past few years, since September 2022, and being a part of the great IndiGo family, “it’s a beautiful growth story and the steps we have made together in this”.
"If the company so desires, obviously, I will be available for any handover or transition otherwise. I would like to thank you personally, and IndiGo's Board, for the support extended to me," he said.
The resignation comes three months after the airline faced massive operational disruptions, especially between December 3 and 5 last year -- a period during which 2,507 flights were cancelled, and 1,852 flights were delayed, impacting over 3 lakh passengers at airports across the country.
In January, aviation watchdog DGCA slapped penalties totalling Rs 22.20 crore for the massive flight disruptions in December, and had warned Elbers and two other senior executives for non-compliance.
The regulator had also directed the airline to furnish a Rs 50-crore bank guarantee to ensure long-term systemic corrections.
According to the airline, Bhatia shall, in the interim, assume management of the affairs of the airline until such time that the Company announces the arrival of a new leader, which is expected in short order.
In the release on Tuesday, Bhatia said that having founded and nurtured IndiGo for twenty-two years, "I feel a deep sense of personal commitment and responsibility towards our nation, and towards the airline's customers, employees, shareholders and all other stakeholders".
"While placing culture, service excellence and stakeholder trust at the forefront of its operations, IndiGo will continue to sharpen its strategic focus on serving India and her people with an airline that is professionally managed, operationally reliable and globally respected," he said in the release. PTI RAM IAS DRR
Air India orders probe into video of former cabin crew sitting in aircraft cockpit
New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) Air India has started an internal probe regarding a video showing a former cabin crew member seated inside the cockpit of an airborne aircraft.
"We are aware of a video circulating on social media that shows a former Air India cabin crew member seated inside the cockpit," the airline said in a statement on Tuesday.
In the video, widely shared on social media, the cabin crew in uniform is sitting in the cockpit of the aircraft and another person is recording the cabin crew, inside of the cockpit and the outside view.
A source said the cabin crew member left the airline last month.
"While we are verifying the authenticity of the video, we have initiated an internal investigation to establish the facts and circumstances surrounding the video," the airline said.
Air India also said that it would take appropriate action based on the outcome of the investigation to ensure complete adherence to all safety and operational protocols.
Cabin crew are not allowed to sit in the seat of pilots or cockpit crew, especially when an aircraft is airborne.
"Air India has strict protocols governing access to the cockpit, and any deviation from these standards is treated with utmost seriousness," the airline said. PTI RAM IAS HVA
BJP takes dig at Shivakumar's silence over K'taka Budget presented by Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru, Mar 10 (PTI) Opposition BJP leaders took a dig at Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar in the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, questioning his absence during the pre-budget meetings and his silence over the state budget presented by CM Siddaramaiah last week.
Leader of Opposition R Ashoka and senior BJP MLA Sunil Kumar's remarks on Shivakumar's alleged silence over the budget seemed aimed at mocking the power tussle between him and Siddaramaiah over the CM issue, amid speculation about a leadership change after the ongoing budget session.
It all began when Ashoka attacked Siddaramaiah's budget presentation, calling it an "empty trunk" or "Khaali Chambu" (empty vessel), and asked Shivakumar why he suddenly went to New Delhi on Sunday.
The Deputy CM retorted by questioning, "Should we call the budget presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman an empty drum then?"
Pointing at the BJP's protest by holding a 'Khaali Chambu' on Budget day, Shivakumar further said, "Even before the budget was presented, you (BJP) had kept the Chambus ready. If you had got it after the budget presentation it was fine, but you had planned it earlier. It shows your thinking."
Kumar said, "You (Shivakumar) did not attend the pre-budget meetings with the chief minister. I went through newspaper coverage on the next day of the budget. There is not even a single comment of yours. I did not understand what was happening. You did not attend pre budget meetings of both your departments (water resources and Bengaluru Development). There is no comment of yours in papers saying whether the budget is good or bad."
Reacting, Shivakumar said, "I have said whatever I have to."
To this Ashoka retorted, "He (Shivakumar) had said whatever he had to (to the Congress high command) when he went to Delhi."
Shivakumar's visit to New Delhi on Sunday had once again triggered speculation, linking it to a possible leadership change in the state, after the Budget Session of the Legislature. PTI KSU KH
Cold stoves, skeletal menus: Uncertain future for restaurants as LPG shortage hits industry
New Delhi/Chennai, Mar 10 (PTI) Shrinking menus, cold stoves and dining out suddenly not so easy. The West Asia conflict is knocking at restaurant doors across India with the looming threat of commercial LPG shortage forcing eateries to innovate -- quickly -- or face a shutdown.
As the expanding war disrupts global fuel lifelines, including India's LPG supplies, the government has prioritised domestic cooking gas supply to households, leading to a supply crunch for hotels and restaurants which use commercial LPG.
The prospect of shuttered kitchens, lost jobs and many people dependent on outside food forced to think about where they will get their next meal is very real, said industry insiders as they prepare to tackle the crisis.
Closure could be just days away for many establishments.
Desperate make do measures include low fuel menus, food that can be cooked on electrical appliances and limiting sales of everyday staples like pooris, dosas, tea and coffee. From Delhi to Chennai and Mumbai to Kolkata, the stories came in from all over.
Many restaurateurs in Tamil Nadu, for instance, expected their existing stock of LPG to last for one or two days and said they were forced to cut down on their menu.
"It is like a second COVID-19-enforced lockdown for us… For dosa, tea or coffee, the stove should receive LPG supply non-stop," the head of a popular restaurant chain told PTI on condition of anonymity about the popular dishes that keep his business going.
"We expect to run for one or two days with existing stock. If there is no supply of commercial LPG cylinders, we have no other option but to close down operations,” he added.
Another popular hotel in Chennai has also tweaked its menu.
"We have stopped preparing fried rice, side dishes, and appam as these items require more LPG. We do not know how long this (supply crisis) will continue," said an executive.
Indian Hotel & Restaurant Association (AHAR) president Vijay Shetty said 20 per cent of hotels in Mumbai have closed due to the short supply of LPG cylinders.
Maharashtra Food and Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal warned in a statement that “commercial LPG supply may decrease in the coming days as oil companies have been directed by the Centre to prioritise domestic consumers”.
Piyush Kankaria, head of the National Restaurant Association of India’s Kolkata chapter, told PTI that the city has nearly 5,000 restaurants and a quick survey among members indicated that many establishments are already running out of cooking fuel.
"About 40 per cent of restaurants have indicated there will be immediate disruption, while another 30-40 per cent said they can run operations only for a few more days as they have limited stock," he said.
In Delhi, Joy Singh, co-founder of restaurant chain Raasta, told PTI the situation in the city appears relatively stable compared with some other major cities but it has started exploring alternatives to reduce LPG dependence.
“We have started making arrangements and are buying electrical appliances for cooking. We may also make a few changes in the menu so that we can save as much gas as possible,” he said.
Restaurant operators in the national capital also noted that outlets using piped natural gas have not yet faced major disruption but pressure has reduced from about 20 per cent to 18 per cent and it may decrease further.
Arjun Sagar Gupta of The Piano Man added that restaurants may have to temporarily adapt by relying more on electric equipment wherever possible.
“However, that transition is not always seamless, as some cooking techniques and menu items are specifically designed for gas-based cooking,” he said.
Amit Gupta, joint secretary of the New Delhi Traders’ Association, agreed. He also added that eateries may also have to remove certain dishes from their menus as not all cuisines can be prepared using electrical appliances.
Indian dishes like dal makhni, rajma, biryani, nihari, and qorma, for instance, are slow-cooked for hours on low heat to bring out their flavours.
In Bengaluru, where the Bangalore Hotels Association warned on Monday that many restaurants were facing closure, hotelier Chandrashekhar Hebbar said the situation was serious.
"It has reached that level now -- to the point where closure is being considered. For now, everyone is trying to manage by reducing gas consumption and adjusting things, but that can be done only for a day or two. After that, it will not be possible," Hebbar told PTI.
He said several items were already being curtailed to conserve gas. "We have stopped serving some items. Things like pooris have been controlled. The government must take immediate action on this," he added.
Similar sentiments were shared by restaurant owners in major city centres, including Kolkata, Puducherry, Lucknow and Bhubaneswar.
Deepti Pandey, owner of Lucknow-based Kakke Di Hatti, admitted that they were about to run out of commercial gas supply.
"I think we may barely have enough reserves to last a couple of days after which we too may have to temporarily close down," Pandey said.
Kishor Kumar, owner of Durga Ma Gas agency in Lucknow's Gomtinagar told PTI that dozens of restaurants had already closed down temporarily or are about to do so. “My phone is ringing continuously but what can we do," he said.
Some hotels in Puducherry have moved to “low fuel” menus.
"We have now introduced sales of coffee, tea or juice only between 4 pm and 7 pm instead of usual sales of tiffin items," said a restaurant owner in the seaside town.
In Odisha, the Hotel & Restaurant Association of Odisha (HRAO) sought Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri's intervention.
If the situation continues, it may lead to closure of hotel operations, cancellation of bookings, and severe inconvenience to tourists and visitors, warned HRAO chairperson J K Mohanty. About 50,000 persons working in the industry in Odisha could also lose their jobs, he told reporters.
On the other side of the restaurant eco-system are those who depend on it for their daily meals.
India consumes about 31.3 million tonnes of LPG annually. As much as 87 per cent of this is in the domestic sector i.e. household kitchens, and the rest in commercial establishments such as hotels and restaurants.
Of this total requirement, as much as 62 per cent is met through imports. The US-Israel's attacks on Iran and Tehran's retaliation have shut the Strait of Hormuz, a key sea route through which India gets 85-90 per cent of its LPG imports from West Asian nations, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar. PTI TEAM MAH MIN MIN
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Murder accused flees from govt hospital in Rajasthan's Baran; action initiated against five cops
Kota, Mar 10 (PTI) A murder accused lodged at Chhabra jail in Rajasthan's Baran district allegedly escaped from a government hospital in the district late on Monday, police said.
While multiple teams have been constituted to trace the accused, disciplinary action and inquiry proceedings are being initiated against five police personnel deployed with the inmate, they added.
According to police, Bablu Jat, a resident of Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh, had been on the run for 19 years in connection with a murder case registered at the Chhipabarod police station in Baran district.
He was recently arrested by a special team from Gwalior after a month-long extensive search operation. Following his arrest, he was handed over to the Chhipabarod police and later lodged in Chhabra Jail.
Police said the accused was admitted to Baran District Hospital on Monday after he complained of health issues, and police personnel and prisoner escort guards were deployed with him for the period of treatment.
However, late on Monday, the accused allegedly escaped by breaking a window of the hospital room and evading the escort guards on duty, police said.
Baran Superintendent of Police Abhishek Andasu said disciplinary action and preliminary departmental inquiry has been initiated against a head constable and four escort guards who were deployed with the inmate at the hospital.
Police have formed special teams to trace the absconding accused, and raids are being conducted at possible hideouts, he added.
Officials said Bablu Jat had been living in Gwalior for the past 19 years, frequently changing his identity and appearance to avoid arrest. PTI COR ARB
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Atul Kirloskar to retire as Chairman of Kirloskar Oil Engines
New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) Kirloskar Oil Engines on Tuesday said its Chairman Atul Kirloskar will retire effective March 31, 2026 on reaching the retirement age.
Kirloskar has been involved in the company for over 43 years in executive and non-executive roles.
He joined the company in 1983.
As part of the succession planning, the company's board has appointed Rahul Kirloskar, currently a non-executive director of the company, as the Chairperson.
The board has also appointed Gauri Kirloskar as Vice Chairperson. She will also continue as the Managing Director of the company. PTI MSS HVA
West Asia crisis may take dosa, uttapam off menu at Pune eateries due to LPG supply crunch
Pune, Mar 10 (PTI) Popular breakfast staples like dosa and uttapam may soon disappear from the menus of restaurants and eateries in Pune as they face a severe shortage of commercial LPG cylinders following a supply disruption triggered by the West Asia crisis, industry representatives warned on Tuesday.
Hotels and restaurants in the city are left with barely two to three days of LPG stock, and once the reserves run dry, a large number of establishments will be forced to down their shutters, leaving customers with little choice at the table.
"Dosa and uttapam require more gas than most other dishes. If the supply of commercial LPG cylinders is not restored immediately, these items will simply go off the menu. We may be left serving only what we can manage with the limited fuel available," said Ganesh Shetty, President of the Pune Hoteliers' Association.
The government had issued the notification halting commercial LPG cylinder supply without taking the hospitality industry into confidence, leaving eateries in a lurch, he said.
"There was no prior consultation, no timeline given for normalisation of supply. The food industry cannot be forced to close down like this," Shetty said.
He pointed out that nearly 85 per cent of hotels and restaurants in Pune depend on commercial LPG for their daily operations. With the government offering no clarity on when supplies would resume, the situation was rapidly turning critical.
The crisis has already begun to bite in Bengaluru, where several hotels and restaurants have shut down following a similar supply squeeze, Shetty noted.
He urged the government to immediately introduce a rationing mechanism for commercial LPG so that at least partial operations could continue.
"We will curtail our menus, we will manage. But give us some supply. Switching to induction is the only alternative, and that cannot happen overnight. Using wood is not an option," Shetty said.
Customers visiting their favourite eateries may soon find a sharply reduced menu or, in many cases, locked doors - unless the government steps in urgently to restore the supply chain.
Ajinkya Udane, spokesperson of National Restaurants Association of India (NRAI) (Pune chapter), said the association has already written to the Centre seeking some relief.
"We are also writing to the state government and requesting them not to snap the commercial gas cylinder supply completely, instead the supply can be rationed so that the operations can continue to some extent," he said.
The US and Israel's attack on Iran and Tehran's retaliation have shut the Strait of Hormuz - the conduit through which India got 85-90 per cent of its LPG imports from countries like Saudi Arabia. As alternate sources are being scouted, the limited supplies available meant the government prioritising supplies to the domestic sector, and in the process, the commercial establishments have suffered. PTI SPK NP
Murder accused shot dead in Delhi's Madangir
New Delhi, Mar 11 (PTI) A 30-year-old man who was previously involved in a murder case was shot dead in south Delhi's Madangir area, police said on Tuesday, suspecting it to be a case of revenge killing.
The victim, Nikhil Nagar alias Nikki, had allegedly been involved in a murder case and had come out of jail around one-and-a-half months ago, they said.
Police suspect the attack may have been carried out to avenge that killing, though they said all angles are being probed.
The incident occurred around 8.30 pm on Monday when Nikhil was standing outside his chicken shop near his residence in Ambedkar Nagar.
Motorcycle-borne assailants arrived at the spot and opened fire at him before fleeing the area, police said.
Nikhil sustained multiple bullet injuries and collapsed on the spot. Family members and locals rushed him to the AIIMS Trauma Centre, where he was declared dead, they said.
Senior police officers, along with the crime team and forensic experts, reached the spot after receiving information about the firing. A case of murder has been registered and CCTV cameras installed in the vicinity are being scanned to identify the attackers and track their movement.
Babita, a neighbour and relative of the victim, said she heard the gunshot before residents rushed out of their homes.
"I was inside when I heard a gunshot. Then we rushed outside. Vicky is around 30 years old. The incident happened around 8.50 pm. He lives with his family including a brother and sister. His parents are no more. He was nice to everyone in the locality and spoke nicely," she said.
Another resident, Bhushan Kumar, said Nikhil was standing outside a shop when the attackers fired at him.
"We do not know what exactly happened but he was a good person. Two months back only his father had expired," Kumar said.
Police said Nikhil lived with his younger brother and sister in Madangir and ran a chicken shop near his house.
Efforts are underway to identify and apprehend the attackers. PTI SSJ NB
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Woman dies by suicide after inter-caste marriage in Andhra's Nandyal district
Nandyal (Andhra Pradesh), Mar 10 (PTI) A 21-year-old woman allegedly died by suicide a day after entering into an inter-caste wedlock at Mahanandi in Nandyal district, a police official said on Tuesday.
The woman, identified as Swapna (21), married Shiva Kumar (22) on Monday.
After the wedding, both returned to their respective homes, the official said.
"Swapna died by suicide a day after entering into an inter-caste marriage in Nandyal district," the official told PTI.
Following the marriage, both of them returned to their respective homes, but later Swapna came to know that Kumar had attempted to die by suicide at his house. However, Kumar was taken to a hospital by family members, and he survived.
Swapna thought that he had died and she left her home on Monday evening. She was found hanging to a tamarind tree near Mahanandi approach road on Tuesday morning, the official said.
Police have registered a case under Section 194 of the BNSS (unnatural death). PTI MS STH KH
Reliance says will maximise LPG production at refinery, divert D6 gas to priority sector
New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) Billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries on Tuesday said its giant Jamnagar oil refining complex will maximise cooking gas LPG production, while gas from Bay of Bengal KG-D6 fields will be diverted to the priority sector with a view to aid Indian economy overcome West Asia war related disruptions.
This came after the government redirected supplies of liquefied petroleum gas (LNG) away from industrial users to households, in a bid to shield the common man from the impact of the war in the Middle East. It has also ordered refineries to maximise LPG production to help meet domestic demand.
"At a time when global energy markets are experiencing volatility, ensuring uninterrupted access to essential fuels for Indian households remains a national priority," the firm said in a statement.
Reliance said it is taking "proactive steps and in line with the government guidelines, to maximize LPG production from our refining and petrochemicals complexes at Jamnagar - the world's largest integrated refining hub. Our teams are working around the clock to optimize refinery operations and enhance LPG output so that supplies to the domestic market remain stable and reliable."
Also, the natural gas produced from the KG-D6 Basin will be diverted to support supply to priority sectors, in line with national energy priorities and government guidelines.
"For Reliance, India's energy security and the well-being of millions of Indian families always come first. We will continue to work closely with the Government of India and remain fully compliant with all national guidelines and allocation priorities, ensuring that energy supplies reach the sectors and communities that need them the most," the statement said.
Reliance will stand firmly with the nation in its time of need. "In times of global uncertainty, we remain committed to doing everything possible to support India's energy security and ensure reliable access to essential fuels for the country." PTI ANZ HVA
Chhattisgarh cabinet clears bill to curb forced religious conversions
Raipur, Mar 10 (PTI) The Chhattisgarh cabinet on Tuesday approved the draft of a bill aimed at preventing religious conversion through force, inducement, fraudulent means or misrepresentation.
The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai at the premises of the Legislative Assembly in Nava Raipur Atal Nagar, where the budget session is currently on.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao said the cabinet approved the draft of the Chhattisgarh Dharm Swantantraya Vidheyak, 2026 (Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Bill, 2026), which seeks to effectively curb conversion from one faith to another through force, allurement, undue influence or false representation.
The bill is likely to be introduced in the ongoing budget session of the assembly.
Currently, the Chhattisgarh Dharm Swantantraya Adhiniyam (Freedom of Religion Act), 1968, is in force in the state, which came into existence on November 1, 2000.
The cabinet also approved withdrawal of 13 cases related to political protests, a decision based on the recommendations of a ministerial sub-committee formed to review such matters, Sao stated.
In another decision, the cabinet gave nod to a proposal to determine grant rates for projects and plants based on non-conventional energy sources, he said.
Under the proposal, the Chhattisgarh State Renewable Energy Development Agency (CREDA) will provide a state subsidy of Rs 1.5 lakh for solar high-mast plants in 2024-25 and 2025-26. For 2026-27 and subsequent years, the subsidy will be 30 per cent of the tender rate or Rs 1.5 lakh, whichever is lower, Sao informed.
For domestic biogas plants with a capacity of 2 to 6 cubic metres, a subsidy of Rs 9,000 per unit has been proposed for 2024-25 and 2025-26, and the same amount for all capacities from 2026'-27 onwards, he stated.
Among other decisions, the cabinet cleared drafts of the Chhattisgarh Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Bill, 2026 and the Chhattisgarh Housing Board Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
It also approved the Chhattisgarh Staff Selection Board Bill, 2026, under which a staff selection board will be set up to conduct examinations and select candidates for technical and non-technical Group C and Group D posts in various state government offices.
The cabinet also cleared the draft of the Chhattisgarh Public Recruitment and Professional Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2026, aimed at ensuring greater transparency, fairness and credibility in public examination systems, he added.
It approved the draft of the Chhattisgarh Cess (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which will abolish the cess levied on property registration.
It may be noted that in 2023, an additional cess of 12 per cent - over and above the applicable stamp duty on property transfer - was imposed to finance the Rajiv Gandhi Mitan Club scheme launched by the then-Congress government.
As the scheme is currently not operational, it has been decided to remove the additional cess on registration, Sao added. PTI TKP RSY
Tribal couple sell infant son for Rs 1.5 lakh in T'gana, baby rescued
Hyderabad, Mar 10 (PTI) A month-old baby boy was rescued on Tuesday after he was allegedly sold by his parents in Medak district to a childless couple for Rs 1.5 lakh, police said.
A case was registered against six people in this connection, they said.
The incident occurred on March 4, when the tribal couple sold their infant son through two mediators.
The matter came to light after the baby's mother stopped visiting the Anganwadi centre for nutritious food, following which a teacher enquired and found that the couple had left after locking their house in Lingasanipally Thanda, police said.
Subsequently, an ICDS incharge officer was informed about it.
On March 9, the ICDS officer noticed the couple near Chegunta bus stop and alerted the police.
The police questioned the couple, who revealed that they sold their infant son to a childless couple in Kamareddy district due to financial problems, a police official at Havelighanpur police station said.
The police then interrogated the mediators, who disclosed that the baby was sold to their relatives in Kamareddy district after which a police team rescued the infant.
A case was registered against six persons--baby's parents, two mediators and the childless couple, police said.
The infant along with his mother were handed over to 'Sakhi Centre', while five others were taken into custody. Further investigation is on. PTI VVK VVK ROH
Murder accused flees from govt hospital in Rajasthan's Baran; action initiated against five cops
Kota, Mar 10 (PTI) A murder accused lodged at Chhabra jail in Rajasthan's Baran district allegedly escaped from a government hospital in the district late on Monday, police said.
While multiple teams have been constituted to trace the accused, disciplinary action and inquiry proceedings are being initiated against five police personnel deployed with the inmate, they added.
According to police, Bablu Jat, a resident of Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh, had been on the run for 19 years in connection with a murder case registered at the Chhipabarod police station in Baran district.
He was recently arrested by a special team from Gwalior after a month-long extensive search operation. Following his arrest, he was handed over to the Chhipabarod police and later lodged in Chhabra Jail.
Police said the accused was admitted to Baran District Hospital on Monday after he complained of health issues, and police personnel and prisoner escort guards were deployed with him for the period of treatment.
However, late on Monday, the accused allegedly escaped by breaking a window of the hospital room and evading the escort guards on duty, police said.
Baran Superintendent of Police Abhishek Andasu said disciplinary action and preliminary departmental inquiry has been initiated against a head constable and four escort guards who were deployed with the inmate at the hospital.
Police have formed special teams to trace the absconding accused, and raids are being conducted at possible hideouts, he added.
Officials said Bablu Jat had been living in Gwalior for the past 19 years, frequently changing his identity and appearance to avoid arrest. PTI COR ARB
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West Asia crisis may take dosa, uttapam off menu at Pune eateries due to LPG supply crunch
Pune, Mar 10 (PTI) Popular breakfast staples like dosa and uttapam may soon disappear from the menus of restaurants and eateries in Pune as they face a severe shortage of commercial LPG cylinders following a supply disruption triggered by the West Asia crisis, industry representatives warned on Tuesday.
Hotels and restaurants in the city are left with barely two to three days of LPG stock, and once the reserves run dry, a large number of establishments will be forced to down their shutters, leaving customers with little choice at the table.
"Dosa and uttapam require more gas than most other dishes. If the supply of commercial LPG cylinders is not restored immediately, these items will simply go off the menu. We may be left serving only what we can manage with the limited fuel available," said Ganesh Shetty, President of the Pune Hoteliers' Association.
The government had issued the notification halting commercial LPG cylinder supply without taking the hospitality industry into confidence, leaving eateries in a lurch, he said.
"There was no prior consultation, no timeline given for normalisation of supply. The food industry cannot be forced to close down like this," Shetty said.
He pointed out that nearly 85 per cent of hotels and restaurants in Pune depend on commercial LPG for their daily operations. With the government offering no clarity on when supplies would resume, the situation was rapidly turning critical.
The crisis has already begun to bite in Bengaluru, where several hotels and restaurants have shut down following a similar supply squeeze, Shetty noted.
He urged the government to immediately introduce a rationing mechanism for commercial LPG so that at least partial operations could continue.
"We will curtail our menus, we will manage. But give us some supply. Switching to induction is the only alternative, and that cannot happen overnight. Using wood is not an option," Shetty said.
Customers visiting their favourite eateries may soon find a sharply reduced menu or, in many cases, locked doors - unless the government steps in urgently to restore the supply chain.
Ajinkya Udane, spokesperson of National Restaurants Association of India (NRAI) (Pune chapter), said the association has already written to the Centre seeking some relief.
"We are also writing to the state government and requesting them not to snap the commercial gas cylinder supply completely, instead the supply can be rationed so that the operations can continue to some extent," he said.
The US and Israel's attack on Iran and Tehran's retaliation have shut the Strait of Hormuz - the conduit through which India got 85-90 per cent of its LPG imports from countries like Saudi Arabia. As alternate sources are being scouted, the limited supplies available meant the government prioritising supplies to the domestic sector, and in the process, the commercial establishments have suffered. PTI SPK NP
Chhattisgarh cabinet clears bill to curb forced religious conversions
Raipur, Mar 10 (PTI) The Chhattisgarh cabinet on Tuesday approved the draft of a bill aimed at preventing religious conversion through force, inducement, fraudulent means or misrepresentation.
The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai at the premises of the Legislative Assembly in Nava Raipur Atal Nagar, where the budget session is currently on.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao said the cabinet approved the draft of the Chhattisgarh Dharm Swantantraya Vidheyak, 2026 (Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Bill, 2026), which seeks to effectively curb conversion from one faith to another through force, allurement, undue influence or false representation.
The bill is likely to be introduced in the ongoing budget session of the assembly.
Currently, the Chhattisgarh Dharm Swantantraya Adhiniyam (Freedom of Religion Act), 1968, is in force in the state, which came into existence on November 1, 2000.
The cabinet also approved withdrawal of 13 cases related to political protests, a decision based on the recommendations of a ministerial sub-committee formed to review such matters, Sao stated.
In another decision, the cabinet gave nod to a proposal to determine grant rates for projects and plants based on non-conventional energy sources, he said.
Under the proposal, the Chhattisgarh State Renewable Energy Development Agency (CREDA) will provide a state subsidy of Rs 1.5 lakh for solar high-mast plants in 2024-25 and 2025-26. For 2026-27 and subsequent years, the subsidy will be 30 per cent of the tender rate or Rs 1.5 lakh, whichever is lower, Sao informed.
For domestic biogas plants with a capacity of 2 to 6 cubic metres, a subsidy of Rs 9,000 per unit has been proposed for 2024-25 and 2025-26, and the same amount for all capacities from 2026'-27 onwards, he stated.
Among other decisions, the cabinet cleared drafts of the Chhattisgarh Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Bill, 2026 and the Chhattisgarh Housing Board Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
It also approved the Chhattisgarh Staff Selection Board Bill, 2026, under which a staff selection board will be set up to conduct examinations and select candidates for technical and non-technical Group C and Group D posts in various state government offices.
The cabinet also cleared the draft of the Chhattisgarh Public Recruitment and Professional Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2026, aimed at ensuring greater transparency, fairness and credibility in public examination systems, he added.
It approved the draft of the Chhattisgarh Cess (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which will abolish the cess levied on property registration.
It may be noted that in 2023, an additional cess of 12 per cent - over and above the applicable stamp duty on property transfer - was imposed to finance the Rajiv Gandhi Mitan Club scheme launched by the then-Congress government.
As the scheme is currently not operational, it has been decided to remove the additional cess on registration, Sao added. PTI TKP RSY
Jaishankar discusses West Asia crisis with German, South Korean counterparts; focus on energy security
New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday spoke to his German and South Korean counterparts as New Delhi ramps up diplomatic efforts to navigate the fallout of the West Asia crisis, especially on the energy supplies.
Global oil and gas prices have surged after Iran virtually blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow shipping lane between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, that handles roughly 20 per cent of global oil and LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas).
Following his conversation with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, Jaishankar said the ongoing conflict in West Asia was discussed.
"Exchanged views with FM @JoWadephul of Germany on the ongoing conflict in West Asia," he said on social media.
Jaishankar said he and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun discussed the situation in West Asia, including its implications on the energy sector.
"Discussed advancing our bilateral agenda. As also the situation in West Asia, including its energy implications," the external affairs minister said.
In a post on X, Cho hoped that this year's high-level exchanges would elevate Korea-India relations to a new level.
South Korean President Lee Jae-Myung is expected to visit India within next two months.
"Minister Jaishankar agreed and said we should work together to expand strategic economic cooperation between Korea and India, which has significant potential and strong complementarity," Cho said.
"We also discussed the situation in the Middle East, which is having a major impact on global security and the economy, and agreed to maintain close communication on measures to ensure the safety of our nationals as the situation develops," he said. PTI MPB ZMN
Air India, Air India Express to levy fuel surcharge on tickets
New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) Air India and Air India Express will start levying a fuel surcharge of Rs 399 on each domestic flight ticket from March 12 and also hike the charge for international bookings due to a steep rise in jet fuel prices amid the Middle East conflict.
The new fuel surcharges will be implemented in a phased manner.
In the first phase, a fuel surcharge of Rs 399 per domestic flight ticket would be imposed from March 12, and the same will also be applicable for SAARC flights, a statement said on Tuesday.
For West Asia flights, the fuel surcharge will be USD 10 and hiked by USD 30 to USD 90 for Africa flights, and by USD 20 to USD 60 for Southeast Asia services.
All these changes will be effective from March 12, including for flights to and from Singapore. Currently, there is no fuel surcharge for the Singapore services.
"Air India group today announced a phased expansion of a fuel surcharge on its domestic and international routes, necessitated by the steep rise in jet fuel prices arising from the geopolitical situation in the Gulf region," the statement said. PTI RAM HVA
India has made significant strides in climate protection under Modi: Environment minister
New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) India has made significant strides in climate protection with a "whole-of-government" approach adopted by the Narendra Modi-led government, Union minister Bhupender Yadav said, asserting that the number of protected areas and wildlife reserves has increased substantially since 2014.
Replying to a debate on the working of his ministry in the Rajya Sabha, the Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change asserted that the Modi government was committed to protecting and conserving the Aravalli ranges.
He also claimed that environmental clearances for industrial projects are now being given within 90 days, against the earlier almost three-year period.
He said that the number of protected areas in the country has increased from 757 in 2014 to 1,134 in 2026. The total protected area has expanded from 1,68,838.37 sq km to 1,87,162.91 sq km, Yadav said.
Highlighting conservation efforts, he said the number of tiger reserves has increased from 47 in 2014 to 58 now, elephant reserves from 26 to 33, and the Asiatic lion population has risen from 523 to 891. "Around 70 per cent of the world's tigers in the wild are in India," he said.
Yadav further said that India has enhanced its tree cover from 92,572 sq km to 1,12,014 sq km and created additional carbon sinks as part of its climate commitments.
The minister also stated that due to the digitisation of the environmental clearance process through the PARIVESH portal, the time taken to grant clearances has reduced.
“Before 2014, it used to take around 600 days to get an environmental clearance in this country… If somebody wanted to start an industry, it would take him about three years to get the environmental clearance… Now, we have ensured that an environmental clearance is given within 90 days… This has happened through the government's effort to expand digital empowerment by bringing PARIVESH in 2018,” he said.
Launched on August 8, 2018, PARIVESH (Pro Active and Responsive Facilitation by Interactive and Virtuous Environmental Single-window Hub) is a single window portal for environment clearance, forest clearance, wildlife and coastal regulation zone (CRZ) clearances.
The minister said that PARIVESH 2.0, which was launched two years ago, helped project proponents -- parties carrying out a project -- to track their environment clearance applications.
He noted that the government has also framed rules on construction and demolition waste, electronic waste, fly ash disposal and single-use plastics to tackle pollution.
Amid a raging debate over last year's Supreme Court ruling, in which it accepted the government-recommended 100-metre criterion for classifying the Aravalli hills, Yadav accused the earlier Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government in Rajasthan of encouraging illegal mining in the hills.
He said, "The Supreme Court took cognisance because of rampant illegal mining in Aravalli during Ashok Gehlot's regime. In 2012, when Gehlot's government in Rajasthan was resorting to illegal mining in Rajasthan, I had raised this issue at the time.”
The minister asserted that the Modi government has in no way encouraged illegal mining in the Aravalli hills, and it was banned in several places, including Delhi, Faridabad and Gurugram.
He assured that the government was positive on the issue of setting up a High Powered Committee as directed by the apex court.
The Supreme Court in February asked the environment ministry and other stakeholders to suggest names of domain experts for the panel which would define the Aravalli hills and ranges, and observed that only lawful mining would be allowed in the region.
Participating in the debate, Congress member Neeraj Dangi raised concerns over deforestation, air pollution and the impact of infrastructure projects on ecosystems and tribal communities.
"I want to express the pain of people who are suffering from air pollution. Jungles are being cut, and the future is being threatened by climate change," he said.
The Opposition staged a walkout after Congress leader Jairam Ramesh accused Yadav of using objectionable words and sought an apology from him. Several Congress and other opposition party members stood up in Ramesh's support. PTI AO RSN ALC SKC DRR
MeT forecasts wet spell across Himachal till March 15
Shimla, Mar 10 (PTI) The Shimla meteorological office on Tuesday issued an alert cautioning of thunderstorm accompanied with lightning and gusty winds (40-50 kmph) in five districts Wednesday onwards.
The weather office forecast a wet spell across Himachal Pradesh till March 15, issuing an alert Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, and Shimla districts for Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday (March 11, 12 and 14).
Meanwhile, the weather remained dry across the state in the 24 hours since Monday evening, amid heatwave conditions recorded in Sundernagar, Bhuntar and Solan.
There was no significant change in minimum and maximum temperatures and Una was hottest during the day at 34.7 degrees Celsius, while Tabo recorded the coldest night at 2.2 degrees Celsius.
Himachal Pradesh has received no rainfall during the pre-monsoon season from March 1 to 10 against a normal 34.9 mm, a 100 per cent deficit. PTI BPL ARB
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Japan's necessity for cooperation with US rising due to deteriorating security configurations: Envoy
Nagpur, Mar 10 (PTI) Minister of Political Affairs at the Embassy of Japan in New Delhi, Noriaki Abe, on Tuesday called the United States of America an ally of Japan, and said his country's necessity for cooperation with the US has been increasing due to the deteriorating security configurations.
He also said the Japan-US alliance is a lifeline for deterrence and response to any emergency situations in Japan's territory and in its vicinity.
Abe was interacting with the students of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Nagpur at its Indo-Japan Research Center (IJRC) during his visit to the institute.
IIM Nagpur's IJRC is one of the few dedicated academic centres in the country focused on translating the India-Japan strategic partnership into actionable research and cross-cultural corporate leadership.
Responding to a question by a student about Japan's leadership emphasising on a strong alliance with the Donald Trump administration, Abe said, "Japan has one ally, which is the United States. Our bilateral alliance is the key for the survival of our country. I have to be very honest and straightforward. Japan-US alliance is a lifeline for deterrence and as well as response to any emergency situations in our territory and in the vicinity."
"So we - most of the Japanese people - think the alliance with the United States has an edge here for the security and prosperity of Japan as well as the region...Sometimes a bilateral relationship has some friction, like trade and negotiations and the security posture under the alliance. But we try to find a mutual solution to every single challenge. So, Japan was one of the first countries that completed a trade agreement with the US and the Trump administration," Abe said.
"The necessity to cooperation with the United States has been increasing because...in proportion of the deteriorating security configurations, " he added.
Japan seeks a better relationship with China through dialogues and conversations. But China does not necessarily respond to our request to solve the problem through dialogues and conversations, he said.
Japan's position is firm that any unnatural attempt to change the status quo shall not be allowed. So the message is very loud and clear to any countries that pose a security threat to Japan, he added.
India has just hosted the AI Impact Summit in Delhi, he said, adding that Japan and India are committed to enhancing cooperation in the AI sector involving business sectors. Besides, semiconductors are becoming a shining example of bilateral relations.
Abe also said that with Japan's average age standing at 44 years and India's at just 22, a golden door of opportunity is opening for young Indians looking to build global careers.
Japan has successfully achieved its recent 5-trillion-yen investment target in India and has now boldly upscaled the goal to 10-trillion-yen in private investment, he said.
"This 10-trillion-yen target is not just a number on a screen. It represents thousands of new businesses, startups, and high-paying career opportunities for Indian professionals in the coming years. So, where are these jobs opening up?" he said, outlining specific areas of expansion by moving beyond traditional manufacturing.
Through newly-launched frameworks like the 'AI Cooperation Initiative (JAI)' and 'Digital Partnership 2.0', Japan is aggressively seeking Indian talent and collaboration in booming emerging fields such as AI, semiconductors, space exploration, and clean energy, Abe said.
He also called Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Japan for the 15th Annual Summit a historic milestone.
The recent summit resulted in over 170 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) signed by private entities, directly paving the way for corporate hiring and collaboration, he said.
"Japan's corporate culture is undergoing structural changes, making it much more welcoming for Indian youth," Abe said.
Echoing PM Modi's sentiment from the recent summit, he affirmed that these agreements have laid a "strong foundation for a new golden chapter" between the two nations.
Abe also praised IIM Nagpur and the IJRC for playing a valuable role in building these bridges and preparing students to take advantage of these global shifts. PTI CLS NP
Punjab Assembly passes resolution condemning Cong MLA Khaira over derogatory remarks on women
Chandigarh, Mar 10 (PTI) The Punjab Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution condemning Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira over his derogatory comments on women celebrating the "Mukh Mantri Mawan Dhian Satkar Yojana", under which the state government will provide Rs 1000 per month to eligible beneficiaries.
Reacting to the uproar in the House, Khaira said that the women dancing to the announcement of the scheme is a “scripted dance arranged by the AAP, which is known for its theatrics”. He also asserted that he stands by what he said on social media, as the initiative is a “vote-seeking stunt”.
Four women MLAs from the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), including Amandeep Kaur Arora and Saravjit Kaur Manuke, protested in the Well of the House, demanding an apology from Khaira.
They said the alleged comment was made on social media about women beneficiaries who are receiving Rs 1,000 per month under the state government scheme, which was announced in announced on Sunday in the budget.
The Punjab State Women's Commission also took notice of Khaira's remark and asked him to appear in its office on March 12.
The issue was raised during the Zero Hour of the ongoing Budget session by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema.
Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa expressed regret over Khaira's post on Facebook.
The House was adjourned for half an hour when AAP MLAs protested against the comments. After the proceedings resumed, Manuke demanded that Khaira should not be allowed to sit in the House until he tenders an apology.
She moved a condemnation motion against Khaira, which was seconded by the finance minister.
The motion was moved despite the Congress MLAs' urging that Khaira be allowed to give his clarification when he comes to the assembly on Wednesday. Khaira was not present in the House on Tuesday.
Khaira, in a post on X, said that he is aware that the AAP created ruckus in the Vidhan Sabha over his post, "where a YouTuber questioned the morality of @AAPPunjab volunteer women dancing on the announcement of Rs 1,000 recently."
While posting a video of some women dancing over the announcement, Khaira said these women have probably forgotten the "brutality inflicted upon Punjabis, farmers, employees, including women and seem very happy over this meagre amount of money, which is less than minimum hourly wages in developed countries."
"According to me, this was a scripted dance arranged by @AamAadmiParty, which is known for its theatrics and is in no manner an organic reaction by the brave womenfolk of Punjab,” he said in the post.
Khaira said that women in Punjab idolise the bravery and courage shown by Mai Bhago (Mata Bhag Kaur) when she valiantly fought the Mughals in the battle of Mukatsar in 1705.
He asserted that he stands by what he said or shared on social media because this Rs 1,000 is nothing but a "vote-seeking stunt".
The Congress MLA said that had the AAP government been genuinely serious about implementing its promise, it should have done it in the first budget and not the last.
Earlier in the House, when Cheema criticised Khaira for his remarks, Congress MLA Partap Bajwa said, "We have already said sorry."
The finance minister urged all members of the House to stand united against the "irresponsible and misogynistic attitude" displayed by Khaira.
"The House must send a strong message that disrespect towards the women of Punjab will never be tolerated," Cheema said. He even dared Congress MLAs to clearly state whether they supported Khaira's comment.
Congress MLA Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa said Khaira should be allowed to explain regarding his comments before passing any resolution against him. AAP MLA Inderjit Kaur Mann rejected the suggestion and demanded that the condemnation resolution be passed.
Participating in the discussion on the resolution, Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said such objectionable comments reflect a feudal mindset. He said that Khaira, who is the Congress legislator from the Bholath seat, stood by his remarks.
When the speaker asked Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Ganieve Kaur Majithia to participate in the debate, she alleged that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has also made derogatory remarks about women.
Majithia said the AAP women MLAs and other members who claim to stand for women's dignity and respect should first clarify whether they will condemn the language used by the chief minister in his speeches.
She also raised the issue of the recent protests by Anganwadi workers and questioned the state government over the treatment meted out to the workers during their agitation.
Manjithia asked whether the manner in which the workers were handled could be described as respect for women.
During the proceedings, when the speaker allowed Majithia to speak, some members sitting on the treasury benches allegedly began laughing. Objecting to this, she said there was no reason for the AAP MLAs to begin laughing if the speaker had allowed her to speak.
She questioned whether this was the way women were respected inside the assembly.
Congress MLA Aruna Chaudhary said Khaira should be given a chance to explain his position, and targeted the AAP government for using force against protesting teachers.
The Speaker conducted the voice voting for passing the resolution thrice after Cabinet Minister Aman Arora pressed for getting a response from the Congress MLAs over the resolution. PTI CHS OZ
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Bill introduced in Uttarakhand Assembly to create data repository of welfare scheme beneficiaries
Gairsain, Mar 10 (PTI) A Bill was introduced in in the Uttarakhand Assembly on Tuesday to ensure effective implementation of welfare schemes by creating an integrated household-level data repository of beneficiaries.
The 'Devbhoomi Family Bill 2026', introduced by Uttarakhand Parliamentary Affairs Minister Subodh Uniyal, provides for the creation of an integrated and verified family-based database called "Devbhoomi Family" in the state, with the name of the eldest female member of the family above 18 years of age as the head of the family.
It aims to make the implementation of schemes more effective and transparent with coordination between various departments on beneficiary data as well as to make transparent assistance to beneficiaries.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the Bill "will prove to be a milestone towards good governance. It will increase administrative efficiency, better utilise resources, and ensure that the benefits of welfare schemes reach the residents of Uttarakhand more effectively."
Currently, various state departments use separate beneficiary databases for their respective schemes, which often leads to problems such as duplication of beneficiary data, complex re-verification processes, difficulty in coordination between departments.
This puts additional strain on administrative resources but also hinders the review and effective implementation of schemes, as per the Bill.
The Bill will establish an integrated household-level data repository in the state, which will serve as a reliable source of beneficiary-related information for various departments and agencies.
It aims to ensure better targeted implementation of schemes and ensure more effective delivery of government assistance to needy families.
In addition, it proposes to establish an appropriate institutional mechanism for effective management, protection of the data management system, ensuring secure and regulated data exchange between departments.
The system will in accordance with the provisions of the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, ensuring consent, transparency, and security of individuals' data, according to the Bill. PTI DPT SKY
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PM hails cabinet decisions on boosting rail, road connectivity
New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hailed the Union Cabinet's decisions on boosting rail and road connectivity, saying the move will improve logistics while supporting economic growth particularly in tribal regions.
Modi also complimented the cabinet's approval of the extension of Jal Jeevan Mission up to December 2028 with an enhanced outlay of Rs 8.7 lakh crore for the rural drinking water supply project.
"Boosting rail connectivity and capacity in eastern India! Cabinet has approved multitracking projects covering 5 districts of West Bengal and Jharkhand. These projects will enhance efficiency, reduce congestion and strengthen connectivity across these states. They will also improve freight movement, support economic activity and advance sustainable, low-carbon transport," he said in a post on 'X'.
The prime minister said the government is going to boost connectivity and development through next-generation infrastructure.
"Cabinet has approved the development of a 4-lane corridor on the Badnawar-Petlawad-Thandla-Timarwani section of NH-752D. This project will reduce travel time and improve logistics while supporting economic growth particularly in tribal regions," he said.
Modi said the cabinet decision on Jal Jeevan Mission marks a major step towards ensuring sustainable and reliable tap water supply for rural households across India.
"It shifts the focus from only infrastructure creation to citizen-centric service delivery supported by strong local governance and digital monitoring. The move will strengthen water security, improve health outcomes and empower rural communities, especially our Nari Shakti," he said.
The prime minister said a significant step has been taken for Tamil Nadu’s growth and connectivity with the approval of the Union Cabinet to declare Madurai Airport as an international airport.
"This will boost tourism, trade and economic opportunities across Southern Tamil Nadu in particular. Madurai, a city celebrated for its timeless culture and spiritual heritage, is set to strengthen its global connect," he said. PTI ACB ACB KVK
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UK condemns religious hatred as ‘abhorrent’ after ‘thugs’ target Holi event
London, Mar 10 (PTI) The UK government has condemned any form of religious hatred as “abhorrent” after the targeting of a group of British Hindus gathered for a Holi celebration in north-west London was raised in Parliament.
Opposition Conservative Party MP Bob Blackman asked the Labour government to intervene to “cool community tensions” after a group of “thugs” disrupted an annual celebration of Holi at an old Civic Centre car park site in his constituency of Harrow last week.
Blackman, who chairs the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for British Hindus, called for an official statement in the House of Commons to reassure his constituents.
“This event has been run for many years. It is a joyful occasion, and more than a thousand people attended," Blackman told MPs.
“However, thugs from the Central Mosque left the mosque and then decided to disrupt proceedings by pulling over the speakers and disconnecting the audio system. They were then chased away by stewards. That was bad enough.
“They then came back with 20 more thugs and attempted to attack the people celebrating. This is in Harrow where we have excellent community relations, and I hope this will not happen anywhere else or again. But the sad reality is community tensions are rising because of various different things across the world, and it is our responsibility as politicians to cool things down," he said.
Blackman called on the Leader of the Commons, Alan Campbell, for tangible steps to ensure that people can “celebrate in peace and harmony”.
“I am sad to hear of the disruption that happened at celebrations in Harrow,” responded Campbell.
He declined to comment directly on the incident, which took place last Tuesday, because it is under investigation by the Metropolitan Police.
“However, any form of religious hatred is abhorrent and has no place in our society, wherever it happens. I absolutely agree... on the importance of the language we use as politicians inside and outside this House.
“I will consider his request about social cohesion and see what we can do in the next few weeks to address his very real concern,” he said.
The Met Police had been called to the incident and confirmed a 14-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of “affray”.
“The Hindu community deserves transparency, honesty and protection. Hindus celebrating their festival should never feel unsafe in Britain," INSIGHT UK, a diaspora advocacy group, has said. PTI AK GRS GRS
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UK's new definition, tsar to tackle ‘anti-Muslim hostility’
London, Mar 10 (PTI) The UK has adopted a new definition of "anti-Muslim hostility" and will appoint a special representative to support the government's action to tackle hate crimes targeted at the community.
UK Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Steve Reed tabled the definition alongside a social cohesion strategy in the House of Commons in London on Monday.
He told MPs the new definition will be non-statutory, or without legal backing, and is designed as a crackdown on “unacceptable prejudice, discrimination and hatred directed at Muslims or those perceived to be Muslim”.
“The definition safeguards our fundamental right to freedom of speech — about religion in general or any religion in particular — and ensures that concerns raised in the public interest are protected,” Reed told Parliament.
“We are committed to appointing an anti-Muslim hostility tsar, who can advise and be a critical friend to the government in doing the work that we need to do.
“We will engage widely across local government, schools, universities, broadcasters, the NHS [National Health Service] and others to agree on how we can best utilise the definition in order to support the Muslim community," he said.
The definition, which had been opposed by some British Hindu and Sikh groups for fear of choking out legitimate free speech, has been dubbed a "working" tool for the government and organisations to better “understand, measure, prevent and address" such hostility.
The full definition reads: “Anti-Muslim hostility is intentionally engaging in, assisting or encouraging criminal acts – including acts of violence, vandalism, harassment, or intimidation, whether physical, verbal, written or electronically communicated – that are directed at Muslims because of their religion or at those who are perceived to be Muslim, including where that perception is based on assumptions about ethnicity, race or appearance.
“It is also the prejudicial stereotyping of Muslims, or people perceived to be Muslim including because of their ethnic or racial backgrounds or their appearance, and treating them as a collective group defined by fixed and negative characteristics, with the intention of encouraging hatred against them, irrespective of their actual opinions, beliefs or actions as individuals.
“It is engaging in unlawful discrimination where the relevant conduct – including the creation or use of practices and biases within institutions – is intended to disadvantage Muslims in public and economic life.”
The Commons heard that over 40 per cent of all recorded religious hate crimes target British Muslims, which the minister described as being “wildly out of proportion with the number of Muslims” in the UK.
Hindu Council UK was among the organisations to caution against “unintended consequences” of definitions of this nature, which tend to be enforced not through courts but through institutional policies.
The Network of Sikh Organisations (NSO) had also previously expressed concerns over the “extremely vague” nature of the definition.
On the legal front, discrimination of an individual due to their religion or belief is already unlawful under the UK's Equality Act. PTI AK GRS GRS
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Pakistan, China call for de-escalation in West Asia
Islamabad, Mar 10 (PTI) Pakistan and China on Tuesday called for de-escalation in West Asia and emphasised the need to pursue dialogue and diplomacy in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter to address differences.
On February 28, the US and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Syed Ali Khamenei and several top commanders. Iran's retaliation escalated the war to the entire Gulf region.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held a telephonic conversation with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and exchanged views on the evolving regional situation and broader global developments, according to a statement by the Foreign Office.
Dar shared Pakistan's perspective and underscored the urgent need to ease tensions in the Middle East and the wider region, while Wang appreciated Pakistan's constructive efforts aimed at promoting de-escalation and stability in the region, it said.
“The two leaders stressed the importance of de-escalation and emphasised the need to pursue dialogue and diplomacy in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter,” the statement said.
It said that both sides also reaffirmed the enduring strength of the Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership, reiterated their shared commitment to further deepening bilateral cooperation, and agreed to remain in close contact.
Separately, Pakistan condemned Israel's continued military aggression against Lebanon, resulting in the death of hundreds of civilians and the displacement of nearly half a million people.
In a separate statement, the Foreign Office said that the Israeli actions, which are in contravention of international law, are undermining the efforts of the government of Lebanon to ensure peace and stability in the country and have the potential to further exacerbate the ongoing security and humanitarian crises in the region.
“We urge the international community to take urgent action to end the Israeli military aggression, the indiscriminate targeting of civilians, and the continued violations of Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity,” it said.
Pakistan also called for Israel’s withdrawal from all “occupied Lebanese territories immediately, fully, and unconditionally”. PTI SH ZH
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Pakistan PM Shehbaz congratulates Iran's new supreme leader
Islamabad, Mar 10 (PTI) Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has sent a letter to the new Iranian Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, conveying condolences on the death of his father, while also congratulating him on assuming the new responsibilities.
Mojtaba, the son of late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was appointed as his successor by the 88-member Assembly of Experts, a body responsible for selecting the new supreme leader, Iranian state TV announced on Monday. His father was assassinated in an attack by the US and Israeli forces.
According to a statement, the Prime Minister reiterated the “deepest condolences and prayers of the people of Pakistan at this solemn moment for the brotherly people of Iran and the wider Muslim Ummah”.
He noted that the “martyrdom of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei had deeply saddened the people of Pakistan, who stand in solidarity with the leadership and people of Iran during this difficult time”.
While congratulating the new leader on assuming this responsibility, the Prime Minister expressed the hope that his leadership would guide Iran towards peace, stability, dignity and prosperity in the years ahead.
He underscored that relations between Pakistan and Iran are anchored in shared faith, history, culture and language.
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to continue working closely with Iran to further strengthen bilateral cooperation across all spheres of mutual interest for the benefit of the two brotherly peoples. PTI SH ZH
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Following are the top foreign stories at 2030 hours
FGN56 NEPAL-RSP-2NDLD INDIA
**** RSP to pursue 'development diplomacy' to boost Nepal-India ties: Chairman Lamichhane
Kathmandu: Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) chief Rabi Lamichhane has said he looked forward to strengthening Nepal-India ties through “development diplomacy” as he thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for wishing him on the party's electoral success. ****
FGN58 UN-INDIA-LD AFGHAN
**** 'Hypocritical', 'flagrant violation': India slams Pakistan's airstrikes on Afghanistan during Ramadan
United Nations: India has strongly condemned Pakistan's airstrikes on Afghanistan as a “flagrant violation" of international law, saying it is “hypocritical” to invoke Islamic solidarity while carrying out attacks that have killed civilians during Ramadan. ****
FGN63 CHINA-INDIA-HIGHWAYS
**** China to strengthen highways in border regions with India under 15th 5-year plan
Beijing: China plans to further strengthen its strategic transport network in sensitive border regions with India over the next five years to fortify its remote frontiers during the 15th Five-Year Plan beginning this year. ****
FGN65 NEPAL-BALEN-INDIA
**** Nepal's Balen says will work with India to further strengthen bilateral ties
Kathmandu: Rastriya Swatantra Party's (RSP) prime ministerial candidate Balendra Shah on Tuesday expressed confidence in further deepening "historic" Nepal-India ties and making them more "outcome-oriented". ****
FGN52 RUSSIA-PUTIN-TRUMP
**** Trump dials Putin, discusses Iran, Ukraine
Moscow: US President Donald Trump dialled his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin late Monday night amid global energy disruption caused by American-Israeli strikes on Iran, leading to the virtual closure of the Strait of Hormuz.****
FGN67 BANGLA-INDIA-FUEL
**** Bangladesh receives diesel from India via pipeline
Dhaka: Bangladesh has begun receiving diesel from India, with an initial supply of 5,000 tonnes expected by Wednesday, an official said on Tuesday, amid growing concerns about a fuel shortage due to the ongoing crisis in West Asia. ****
FGN48 ISRAEL-IRAN-NETANYAHU
**** Israel can help Iranians 'cast off the yoke of tyranny' but they must act: Netanyahu
Jerusalem: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel can help enable Iranians to “cast off the yoke of tyranny”, but any political change in the country would ultimately be up to its people.****
FGN29 LANKA-FUEL-CRISIS
**** Sri Lanka hikes fuel prices amid panic buying
Colombo: Sri Lanka has increased retail fuel prices by over 8 per cent with effect from midnight Monday in a bid to curb hoarding and panic buying amid rising global crude oil prices, officials said on Tuesday.****
FGN25 NEPAL-POLL-RESULTS
**** Direct vote count concludes in Nepal; RSP eyes majority govt with 125 seats
Kathmandu: The Rastriya Swatantra Party has won 125 of the 165 seats under direct voting in Nepal's parliamentary polls as vote counting under the first-past-the-post (FPTP) system concluded on Tuesday, putting RSP in a position to form a majority government.****
FGN24 UK-LD MINISTER
**** Commonwealth can solve uncertainties by coming together: MoS Kirti Vardhan Singh
London: The disruptions to the world order due to ongoing conflicts can be overcome by the Commonwealth as the largest gathering of democratic countries by pooling its resources to move forward together, Union Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh has said.****
FGN1 SAFRICA-MINISTER-INDIA
**** India has major role to play in remaking of world order: South African minister
Johannesburg: India has a major role to play in the remaking of the post-World War II world order, which is on the brink of collapse, South African Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Zuko Godlimpi told a gathering of captains of industry, academics and policy makers in Pretoria on Monday.**** PTI GRS GRS
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Bangladesh receives diesel from India via pipeline
Dhaka, Mar 10 (PTI) Bangladesh has begun receiving diesel from India, with an initial supply of 5,000 tonnes expected by Wednesday, an official said on Tuesday, amid growing concerns about a fuel shortage due to the ongoing crisis in West Asia.
"We have started receiving diesel from Monday afternoon at Parbatipur depot in (northwestern) Dinajpur from Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) in Assam through the Bangladesh-India Friendship Pipeline,” a Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) spokesman said.
He said it could take nearly 45 hours to pump the 5,000 tonnes of diesel, meaning the process might continue until Wednesday evening.
"We are pumping about 113 tonnes of oil here every hour" he added.
Earlier, Bangladesh said India would send 5,000 tonnes of diesel under a long-term agreement and as part of an annual arrangement to deliver 180,000 tonnes.
The supply began shortly after Indian High Commissioner Pranay Kumar Verma said New Delhi was actively considering Bangladesh's request for additional diesel as Dhaka sought to enhance its fuel reserves amid ongoing energy supply concerns.
"Bangladesh is a very important friend of India, and we want to provide all possible support for its progress," he said when asked about India's response to Dhaka's request for extra diesel supplies.
The envoy said India was “reviewing the request positively".
The Bangladesh-India Friendship Pipeline is about 131-km long and stretches from Siliguri Marketing Terminal in India to the Parbatipur Depot in Dinajpur. Diesel is transported directly through the pipeline. The pipeline was inaugurated in March 2023 during the deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s government.
According to officials, the pipeline has the capacity to transport around 200,000 tonnes of diesel annually, and it would reduce both transportation time and costs. Bangladesh previously used to import diesel from Numaligarh Refinery through railway wagons.
Under an agreement, India is supposed to supply Bangladesh 180,000 tonnes of diesel annually through the pipeline. India was scheduled to supply 120,000 tonnes of diesel in 2026.
During a meeting of Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury with Verma on Sunday, discussions were held on a proposal to supply an additional 50,000 tonnes of diesel over the next four months through the pipeline.
The Indian envoy on Monday again met with Chowdhury and Energy Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku, who expressed interest in receiving supplies from the existing optional quantity of 60,000 tonnes under the agreement.
The development came as officials recently said Bangladesh was on the lookout for increased fuel imports from multiple alternative sources to address the ongoing energy supply crisis.
Junior Foreign Minister Shama Obaed Islam on Monday told reporters that Dhaka expected cooperation from India on several bilateral issues since India said it wanted to “develop warm ties with Bangladesh after the assumption of the new government”.
"We want diesel, we want water from them...Let's see what their response to our needs is," she said.
According to the energy ministry data, in 2023 India supplied Bangladesh 35,718 tonnes of diesel; 28,204 tonnes in 2024 and 124,216 tonnes in 2025.
Bangladesh has also imported jet fuel, furnace oil and octane from India at different times.
Diesel accounts for some 65 to 70 per cent of total fuel demand, while Bangladesh imports over nearly 95 per cent of its oil and gas needs.
Bangladesh on Thursday asked citizens to minimise “unnecessary travels” as panic buying hit filling stations in the capital in the wake of the war in West Asia. PTI AR ZH
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Wasteful India bow out of AFC Women's Asian Cup with 1-3 defeat to Chinese Taipei
Sydney, Mar 10 (PTI) A profligate India bowed out of the AFC Women's Asian Cup with a 1-3 defeat to Chinese Taipei in their must-win last group stage fixture here on Tuesday, paying a heavy price for the lack of finishing touches.
Despite dominating large portions of the game and creating numerous opportunities, India's inability to convert chances in the final third proved costly, leading to an early exit after they qualified for the prestigious tournament on merit for the first time.
Manisha Kalyan scored India's lone goal in the 39th minute, the winger unleashing a powerful shot from about 30 yards to find the target.
Chinese Taipei took the lead in the 12th minute when Y H Su slotted the ball inside an empty goal post after a poor back pass from Sanju to J W Chen. Indian custodian Elangbam Panthoi Chanu had come off her line hoping to stop Chen, who successfully squared the ball to Su.
India struck back after that, but just before half time (45+8), Y. Y. Hsu's shot hit the upright corner of the post and deflected off Panthoi and into the India post.
This was after Pyari Xaxa handled the ball inside the box and referee pointed to the spot.
The contest was as good as over when Yu-Chin Chen struck Chinese Taipei's third goal in the 77th minute, getting the better of Panthoi after a run down the right side.
India had earlier lost to Vietnam and Japan, and to make the next stage of the tournament, the Blue Tigress needed to beat Chinese Taipei by minimum two goals on Tuesday and Japan to prevail over Vietnam.
While Japan beat Vietnam 4-0, India could not get the job done in their match.
Earlier, the Blue Tigresses began with intent, and a Manisha corner almost put them in the lead in the second minute. Soumya Guguloth had her header saved from the corner before Xaxa pounced on the rebound, causing confusion in the Chinese Taipei defence before it was cleared.
Chinese Taipei countered immediately with Chen Jin-wen pulling the trigger from inside the Indian box, but it went inches wide of the far post.
India had a similar chance at the other end, when Nirmala played it to Manisha, who threaded it through to Soumya, who also dragged her shot inches wide.
India goalkeeper Panthoi made a smart save off of a YC Chen shot in the 10th minute, but was left stranded a couple of minutes later, when a double error at the back gifted Chinese Taipei the lead.
India finally levelled the score when they got a free-kick some 25 yards out. Huang Ke-sin's off-the-ball push on Soumya in the 38th minute got the Video Assistant Referee into action, as a possible red card offence was being checked.
However, the VAR deemed the referee's original decision of a yellow card to Huang was correct.
A minute later, Manisha produced a thunderous free-kick that struck the underside of the crossbar and bounced out of play, before being cleared. The VAR was once again called upon, and a goal was soon awarded to India, who had levelled the score.
Panthoi, who has made numerous saves in the Asian Cup, pulled off another blinder in the first- half injury-time, when YC Chen's powerful effort struck the onrushing India goalkeeper on the face.
While the immediate danger was averted, disaster struck a minute later, when Chinese Taipei were awarded a penalty. YY Hsu, who stepped up, however, only managed to hit the woodwork.
However, the ball struck the back of Panthoi, who had dived in the correct direction, and rolled over the line for Chinese Taipei to take the lead once more.
India started the second half with the greater intent once again, as Rimpa Haldar replaced Soumya Guguloth. Manisha, who drifted wide on the right, cut inside and pulled the trigger, only to see it sail wide.
At the other end, captain Sweety Devi Ngangbam made a crucial block off a YH Su shot, minutes before Panthoi pulled off a brilliant save once again, this time denying the attacker, who was through on goal.
However, India's repeated attempts to get back on level terms ended up being their undoing. YY Hsu played YC Chen through behind the India back-four, as the latter rounded Panthoi and scored in an empty goal.
Panthoi, while charging at Chen, collided with Sweety, and both players had to be stretchered off.
India had a few chances in the closing stages, with Sanfida having her 86th-minute volley blocked by Teng Pei-lin, while Manisha's 89th-minute free-kick took a deflection before substitute goalkeeper Chen Ssu-yu swiped it away.
The Chinese Taipei substitute keeper, in the last minute of regulation time, had to make yet another save off of a Manisha free-kick. PTI AH AH TAP
Nepal's Balen says will work with India to further strengthen bilateral ties
Kathmandu, Mar 10 (PTI) Rastriya Swatantra Party's (RSP) prime ministerial candidate Balendra Shah on Tuesday expressed confidence in further deepening "historic" Nepal-India ties and making them more "outcome-oriented".
The 35-year-old rapper-turned-politician is all set to become Nepal's first Madhesi prime minister and also the Himalayan nation's youngest elected executive head.
Shah made the remarks in a social media post while thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his wishes on the party's electoral success.
"Thank you for the good wishes honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji," he said in the post.
"I express my confidence that we will work together to further strengthen, deepen and make more outcome-oriented the historic, close, and multi-dimensional relations existing between Nepal and India in the coming days," he said.
The RSP, formed in 2022, has won 125 of the 165 seats under direct voting in Nepal's parliamentary polls as vote counting under the first-past-the-post (FPTP) system concluded on Tuesday, putting it in a position to form a majority government.
Modi on Monday congratulated RSP chief Rabi Lamichhane and senior party leader Shah for their election victory, and conveyed India's commitment to work with them for the mutual prosperity, progress and well-being of the two countries.
Shah defeated four-time prime minister K P Sharma Oli by a huge margin in the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) stronghold Jhapa-5 constituency in Nepal.
In his social media post, Shah also extended congratulations to the Indian government and the Indian people for "successfully winning the World Cup title for two consecutive times."
India won the T20 World Cup on Sunday, defeating New Zealand by 96 runs in the final held in Ahmedabad, while also becoming the first side to win it on three occasions.
The House of Representatives (HoR) in Nepal has a total of 275 seats.
While 165 members are elected through the FPTP or direct voting system, 110 members are elected through proportional representation (PR), counting of votes under which is still underway and is expected to conclude by Tuesday night.
However, a few more days would be required to declare the final results under the PR system and formally allocate seats to candidates of different parties, according to the Election Commission.
Under the PR system, the RSP has secured 4,974,957 votes, followed by Nepali Congress with 1,685,722 votes, CPN-UML with 1,402,157, Nepali Communist Party with 763,633 votes, Shram Sanskriti Party with 350,809 and Rastriya Prajatantra Party with 323,744 votes.
Based on the current trend, the RSP is likely to secure at least 50 seats under the PR system, which would take its total tally in HoR to around 175 seats, experts said.
It would allow the party to form a majority government under Article 76 (1) of the Constitution of Nepal. PTI SBP GRS GRS
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Sweety Devi, Panthoi Chanu suffer injuries, hospitalised
Sydney, Mar 10 (PTI) Indian football team captain Sweety Devi and goalkeeper Panthoi Chanu were taken to a hospital after getting injured during the side's 1-3 defeat to Chinese Taipei in their last group league fixture of the AFC Women's Asian Cup here on Tuesday.
The defeat ended India's campaign in the prestigious continental tournament, having lost their first two matches to Vietnam and Japan.
"Elangbam Panthoi Chanu and Sweety Devi Nganbam have been taken to hospital after sustaining injuries during today's match. Further assessment is awaited," the All India Football Federation (AIFF) said in a statement.
The two Indian stars got injured in the 83rd minute when Panthoi charged out to stop a Chinese Taipei attack and collided with her teammate Sweety Devi. Both players were stretchered off the field.
Panthoi suffered a massive swelling on her face after being struck by Sweety's knee, while the latter briefly remained motionless on the ground before medical staff intervened.
Both players were taken to a nearby hospital soon after the incident for further tests, after which the severity of the injuries will be known.
In the match, despite dominating large portions of the game and creating numerous opportunities, India's inability to convert chances in the final third proved costly, leading to an early exit after they qualified for the tournament on merit for the first time. PTI AH AH TAP
China to strengthen highways in border regions with India under 15th 5-year plan
Beijing, Mar 10 (PTI) China plans to further strengthen its strategic transport network in sensitive border regions with India over the next five years to fortify its remote frontiers during the 15th Five-Year Plan beginning this year.
One project involves building a 394 km highway linking the northern and southern sides of the rugged Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang, Uygur Autonomous Region, reported the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post, quoting the draft report of the 15th Five-Year Plan.
The plan has been placed for approval of China’s national legislature, the National People’s Congress (NPC), currently in session here.
The route will run parallel to a strategic road built through the disputed Aksai Chin area to improve military mobility following the 1962 Sino-Indian border war.
Construction of the Dushanzi-Kuqa Highway in central Xinjiang began in September and is expected to finish by 2032.
The plan also proposes upgrading the three existing highways running into Tibet.
The 15th Five-Year Plan, stated to be the most consequential for China’s future placing more emphasis on AI and new productive forces like E-vehicles and batteries to boost the sagging economy, has already been approved by the ruling Communist Party.
The NPC, regarded as the rubber-stamp parliament, is set to approve it in its current session.
China completed the 14th Five-Year Plan last year, during which it initiated the construction of the world’s largest dam in Tibet over the Brahmaputra near the Indian border.
Last July, China started constructing the USD 170 billion dam, stated to be the world’s biggest infrastructure project. It evoked concerns in riparian countries India and Bangladesh for its ability to hold massive amounts of water, altering its flow.
China has been upgrading border infrastructure with India, building massive roads and high-speed rail networks in Tibet close to the disputed border.
In August, Beijing established the Xinjiang-Tibet-Railway Company to oversee the construction of a strategic 1,980 km artery between Lhasa in Tibet and Hotan in Xinjiang, the Post reported.
Perched on the Karakoram plateau, the Hotan region includes the Galwan Valley region, the hotly contested area at the centre of the bloody war in 1962, and the deadly clashes between the troops in 2020, which resulted in a five-year complete freeze in relations between the two countries.
The relations improved after a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping during the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, in 2024, followed by the SCO summit in Tianjin last year.
Both countries are currently in a normalisation process involving direct flights, increase in the issuance of visas and government-level interactions.
Commenting on China’s plans for road networks, Liu Zongyi, director of the Centre for South Asian Studies at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, said both economic development and strategic stability were driving China to expand infrastructure in border areas.
Chinese leaders have long embraced the idea that “building roads is the first step to prosperity” and see improved transport links as key to boosting economies in border regions that lag behind the more developed coastal provinces.
“Infrastructure holds significant strategic and economic value,” Liu told the Post.
“In the event of an emergency, personnel and resources could be deployed more quickly to frontier regions, which is crucial for border stability and national defence,” he said.
Under the 15th plan, which outlines China’s policy priorities for the rest of the decade, Beijing aims to complete two highways spanning all nine of its land-border provinces and “advance” construction of the National Coastal Highway along its east coast that links the port city of Dandong, near North Korea, with Dongxing on the border with Vietnam, the Post report said. PTI KJV GRS GRS
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Indian High Commission screens films as part of Singapore’s International Women’s Day observation
Singapore, Mar 10 (PTI) The Indian High Commission in Singapore is joining the International Women's Day observation with the screening of Alia Bhatt-Vicky Kaushal-starrer "Raazi" on March 15 as part of an extended annual Indian Film Festival.
Additional screening of Mani Ratnam's "Roja" and Suriya-starrer "Soorarai Pottru" are also planned on April 5, 2026 at Festive Arts Theatre.
“On the occasion of International Women’s Day, an additional screening of the movie ‘Raazi’ is also being organised on 15 March 2026 at Golden Village, Suntec City as part of Indian Film Festival 2026. Additional screening of two movies – 'Roja' and 'Soorarai Pottru' are also planned to be screened on 05 April 2026 at Festive Arts Theatre, Our Tampines Hub,” said the High Commission in a statement on Tuesday.
As part of its annual promotion of cultural activities and people-to-people ties between India and Singapore, the High Commission holds film screening in the city state.
“Building on the success of Indian Film Festival (IFF) 2025, which marked the inaugural edition of the festival, High Commission of India in Singapore, in collaboration with Singapore Film Society, organised the Indian Film Festival 2026 from 23 January – 8 March 2026,” said the High Commission.
This year’s festival showcased a thoughtfully selected lineup of 21 films across eight Indian languages – Hindi, Tamil, Marathi, Manipuri, Gujarati, Odia, Assamese and Malayalam.
These movies ranged from timeless classics to popular blockbusters and acclaimed regional films.
On popular demand and overwhelming response of the audience, the High Commission organised additional screenings of 3 movies – "Boong", "3 Idiots" and "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge" at Festive Arts Theatre March 8. "Boong" recently won the BAFTA award.
“Today, the two countries enjoy a strong diplomatic, trade, cultural and people-to-people connect,” said a diplomatic observer, pointing out the importance of such developments between India-Singapore, the first of which began more than century ago with the founding the island as a colonial British outpost out of Calcutta. PTI GS
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Atul Kirloskar to retire as Chairman of Kirloskar Oil Engines
New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) Kirloskar Oil Engines on Tuesday said its Chairman Atul Kirloskar will retire effective March 31, 2026 on reaching the retirement age.
Kirloskar has been involved in the company for over 43 years in executive and non-executive roles.
He joined the company in 1983.
As part of the succession planning, the company's board has appointed Rahul Kirloskar, currently a non-executive director of the company, as the Chairperson.
The board has also appointed Gauri Kirloskar as Vice Chairperson. She will also continue as the Managing Director of the company. PTI MSS HVA
Reliance says will maximise LPG production at refinery, divert D6 gas to priority sector
New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) Billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries on Tuesday said its giant Jamnagar oil refining complex will maximise cooking gas LPG production, while gas from Bay of Bengal KG-D6 fields will be diverted to the priority sector with a view to aid Indian economy overcome West Asia war related disruptions.
This came after the government redirected supplies of liquefied petroleum gas (LNG) away from industrial users to households, in a bid to shield the common man from the impact of the war in the Middle East. It has also ordered refineries to maximise LPG production to help meet domestic demand.
"At a time when global energy markets are experiencing volatility, ensuring uninterrupted access to essential fuels for Indian households remains a national priority," the firm said in a statement.
Reliance said it is taking "proactive steps and in line with the government guidelines, to maximize LPG production from our refining and petrochemicals complexes at Jamnagar - the world's largest integrated refining hub. Our teams are working around the clock to optimize refinery operations and enhance LPG output so that supplies to the domestic market remain stable and reliable."
Also, the natural gas produced from the KG-D6 Basin will be diverted to support supply to priority sectors, in line with national energy priorities and government guidelines.
"For Reliance, India's energy security and the well-being of millions of Indian families always come first. We will continue to work closely with the Government of India and remain fully compliant with all national guidelines and allocation priorities, ensuring that energy supplies reach the sectors and communities that need them the most," the statement said.
Reliance will stand firmly with the nation in its time of need. "In times of global uncertainty, we remain committed to doing everything possible to support India's energy security and ensure reliable access to essential fuels for the country." PTI ANZ HVA
Air India, Air India Express to levy fuel surcharge on tickets
New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) Air India and Air India Express will start levying a fuel surcharge of Rs 399 on each domestic flight ticket from March 12 and also hike the charge for international bookings due to a steep rise in jet fuel prices amid the Middle East conflict.
The new fuel surcharges will be implemented in a phased manner.
In the first phase, a fuel surcharge of Rs 399 per domestic flight ticket would be imposed from March 12, and the same will also be applicable for SAARC flights, a statement said on Tuesday.
For West Asia flights, the fuel surcharge will be USD 10 and hiked by USD 30 to USD 90 for Africa flights, and by USD 20 to USD 60 for Southeast Asia services.
All these changes will be effective from March 12, including for flights to and from Singapore. Currently, there is no fuel surcharge for the Singapore services.
"Air India group today announced a phased expansion of a fuel surcharge on its domestic and international routes, necessitated by the steep rise in jet fuel prices arising from the geopolitical situation in the Gulf region," the statement said. PTI RAM HVA
India's textile recycling market projected to reach USD 3.5 bn by 2030, may add 1 lakh jobs: Report
New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) India's textile recycling market could reach USD 3.5 billion by 2030, with the potential to generate around one lakh green jobs, according to a report released on Tuesday by Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh.
The report titled "Mapping of Textile Waste Value Chain in India" provides a comprehensive assessment of textile waste generation, recovery pathways, recycling technologies and opportunities to strengthen circularity across India's textile value chain.
The minister said that India's textile sector, one of the largest in the world, has significant potential to lead the global transition towards sustainable and circular production systems.
He stated that India's textile industry continues to expand rapidly, and it is important that this growth is aligned with sustainability goals.
The study report maps both pre-consumer and post-consumer textile waste streams, identifies recycling practices across clusters, documents emerging technologies and outlines policy recommendations to strengthen India's circular textile ecosystem.
It estimates that India generates approximately 70.73 lakh tonnes of textile waste annually. Of this, 42 per cent originates from pre-consumer sources such as manufacturing waste, while 58 per cent arises from post-consumer disposal.
Cluster analysis shows that Panipat is emerging as a major hub for mechanical textile recycling, with waste from several textile clusters transported there for processing.
The report notes that developing recycling infrastructure at the cluster level across textile hubs could significantly improve efficiency and enable recycling closer to the source of waste generation.
According to the report, more than 70 per cent of the total textile waste is currently recovered and routed into recycling, upcycling, downcycling or reuse streams.
The findings further indicate that around 95 per cent of pre-consumer textile waste is recovered, reflecting the strength of recovery networks across the value chain.
The report highlights that the spinning sector has established a benchmark for closed-loop operations, with nearly 100 per cent of spinning waste reintegrated in situ into production.
Soft waste generated during spinning is immediately reused within the same process due to homogeneous waste streams, proximity between generation and processing and established quality standards for recycled inputs.
The analysis also notes that about 55 per cent of India's post-consumer textile waste is diverted from landfills, largely through an extensive informal collection and sorting network.
This ecosystem sustains around 40-45 lakh livelihoods, predominantly women from marginalised communities engaged in the collection, sorting and redistribution of used textiles. PTI RSN HVA
B Srinivas appointed as Managing Director and CEO of VE Commercial Vehicles
Mumbai, Mar 10 (PTI) VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV) on Tuesday announced the appointment of B Srinivas as the Managing Director and CEO with effect from April 1 to spearhead the next phase of the company's growth.
Srinivas will replace Vinod Agarwal, who is also the vice chairman of Eicher Motors Limited (EML), the company said.
Agarwal has been appointed as the Chairman of the Board at VECV from April 1, it said.
VECV is a joint venture between Swedish automobile major Volvo Group and Eicher Motors.
Agarwal has led VECV for 16 years and will step down from his current role as MD & CEO. Agarwal will take over from Sofia Frandberg, who completes her three-year term as the Chairperson and a nominee of AB Volvo, VECV said.
Sofia will continue to serve on the Board of VECV, as per the company.
Srinivas has spent more than three decades at Eicher, managing diverse responsibilities across various business lines, and in strategy, sales, marketing and operations.
Since 2024, Srinivas has served as the Chief Operating Officer of VECV, it said.
He was the head of product strategy and purchasing from 2022 to 2024. while Between 2018 and 2022, Srinivas led Eicher's bus business at VECV.
"Srinivas' appointment strengthens our well-calibrated, long-term strategy and continuity at VECV. He is a thoughtful and courageous leader, and is willing to make changes and strategic shifts towards achieving the company's long-term goals. I believe the company will benefit tremendously from his leadership - combining his customer-focused approach, technological acumen and collaborative style," said Siddhartha Lal, Chairman of Eicher Motors Ltd.
Lal also said that Agarwal has 43 years of outstanding service at Eicher Group, including as Group CFO of Eicher Motors, and has been running VECV for close to two decades as the CEO and later as its Managing Director.
The company also announced that Deputy CEO and Chief Transformation Officer at VECV, Rajinder Singh Sachdeva, on his superannuation, has been nominated to the Board of VECV as a nominee of EML, replacing Raul Rai, who steps down as Director of VECV.
"My best wishes to both Srinivas and Vinod as they step into their new roles. I look forward to supporting our collective efforts to drive the company's next chapter of growth," said Frandberg, Chairperson, VECV and Senior Leader, Volvo Group. PTI IAS HVA
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Govt set to launch new version of PM KUSUM scheme focusing on agri solar PV component
New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) The government is likely to launch a new version of PM KUSUM Yojana, which would enable farmers to generate renewable electricity while carrying out farming on the same land, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Tuesday.
Launched in 2019 with an outlay of Rs 34,422 crore in 2019, the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) aims to encourage the use of renewable energy in the agriculture sector and help farmers reduce irrigation costs by adding 34,800 MW solar capacity by March 2026.
Under the scheme, more than 10 lakh standalone solar agricultural pumps have been installed, and over 13 lakh grid-connected agricultural pumps have been solarised across the country.
"The deadline of the scheme is nearing. I have requested the Prime Minister for PM KUSUM 2.0," Joshi, the Minister for New and Renewable Energy, said at the 4th National Agro-RE Summit in the national capital.
The second version is expected to be introduced with higher targets and outlay, the minister told PTI.
Several states are engaging with the MNRE and seeking support for PM KUSUM scheme, the minister added.
The minister informed that the government is preparing PM-KUSUM 2.0, which will include a dedicated 10 GW agri-PV component to promote the co-location of solar panels with crops.
This initiative will enable farmers to generate electricity while continuing agricultural activities on the same land, creating a new model for decentralised renewable energy generation in rural India, the ministry said in a statement. PTI ABI HVA
RBI caps banks' dividend at 75 pc of PAT from FY27
Read More'Main Hoon Naa': IndiGo Co-Founder Rahul Bhatia tells staff after Elbers exit
New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) IndiGo Co-Founder and Managing Director Rahul Bhatia on Tuesday told the staff that he would be managing the airline's affairs with a deep sense of responsibility and also mentioned that what happened last December should never have taken place.
Pieter Elbers, who has been the CEO of IndiGo for more than three years, abruptly resigned on Tuesday.
"I step into my expanded role of managing the affairs of IndiGo with a deep sense of responsibility -- not only to the company's customers and its shareholders, but to every employee who powers this airline... I remain, as I have always been, fully committed to strengthening our culture, reinforcing Operational Excellence, and ensuring that we continue to deliver exceptional service and value to our customers," Bhatia said in the message.
He signed off in the message as 'Rahul alias Main Hoon Naa'.
'Main Hoon Naa' was a Bollywood blockbuster starring Shah Rukh Khan that was released in 2004.
Elbers' departure came three months after the massive operational disruptions at the carrier that resulted in public outrage and strict regulatory actions.
"What happened last December should never have taken place .... Our customers didn't deserve it, and nor did all of you, especially the frontline employees who bore most of the brunt for no fault of theirs ....
"I wish to place on record my indebtedness to all my colleagues who carried the company's cross with grace and dignity, and ploughed through sleepless nights to restore IndiGo's operational integrity. You are indeed the living spirit of IndiGo!," Bhatia said.
With more than 400 planes, IndiGo operates over 2,200 flights daily. The airline had a domestic market share of 63.6 per cent in January. PTI RAM IAS DRR
Indian Potash inks pact with Odisha govt to revive Badamba Sugar mill with investment of Rs 360 cr
New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) Indian Potash Ltd (IPL) on Tuesday said it has signed an agreement with the Odisha government for the modernisation and expansion of Badamba Sugar Mill with an estimated investment of Rs 360 crore.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by IPL managing director P S Gahlaut and state cooperation department commissioner-cum-secretary Rajesh Prabhakar Patil in the presence of Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on March 6, the company said in a statement.
As part of the MoU, the Odisha government will provide 112 acres of land on a long-term lease basis to IPL for the establishment of the mill and associated infrastructure.
Badamba Cooperative Sugar Mill -- which has remained shut for more than 15 years -- is expected to commence operation within one year and will have a capacity of 3,500 TCD (tonnes cane per day).
It will also consist of a 16 megawatt cogeneration power plant, a 10-tonne-per-day bio-CNG plant, and a state-of-the-art cold storage facility.
The project is expected to directly benefit around 10,000 farmers of the Badamba block of the Cuttack district by reviving sugarcane cultivation in the state, enhancing farmer income and generating employment in the region.
Based on the successful turnaround of three sick sugar mills in Gujarat, IPL, now under the guidance of the Union Cooperation Ministry, took up the project for the revival of Badamba Cooperative Sugar Mill.
It has roped in National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Limited and SBI Capital Markets Limited for a detailed technical and financial feasibility study.
"By restoring this mill, we aim to create sustainable opportunities for farmers, encourage sugarcane cultivation, generate employment, and contribute to the economic development of the region," Gahlaut added.
IPL is engaged in the import, distribution, and marketing of fertilizers and agri-inputs. Over the years, IPL has also diversified into agro-industrial ventures and currently owns 11 sugar mills spread over Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Odisha. PTI LUX HVA
Telecom tower makers express concern over stoppage of LPG supply
New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) Telecom tower manufacturers on Tuesday expressed concern over the stoppage of LPG supply, which may impact the continuity of mobile and internet services across the country.
LPG supplies for telecom tower manufacturers have been stopped by oil firms following a government order to provide it solely to domestic LPG consumers, digital infrastructure industry body Digital Infrastructure Providers Association (DIPA) said.
The telecom tower infrastructure has expressed apprehension that the fuel crisis due to the current geopolitical development may impact the continuity of mobile and internet services across the country, and sought government intervention to prioritise power supply for the sector.
The digital infrastructure industry body has written to Telecom Secretary Amit Agarwal for his urgent intervention in the matter.
"LPG supplies to telecom tower manufacturing companies from Oil Marketing Companies have been discontinued with effect from 05 March 2026, following the Order issued by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas directing that LPG procured by public sector OMCs be supplied solely to domestic LPG consumers," DIPA said in a response to a PTI query.
The industry body said that suspension of LPG supplies has created a serious operational challenge for tower manufacturing units, as galvanization operations used in tower production are largely LPG or LNG-fired.
"To prevent damage to galvanization plants and maintain zinc in molten form, some manufacturing partners have shifted to low-flame operations. However, if the disruption continues, plants may be forced to remove molten zinc and shut down operations entirely. Restarting these facilities requires significant time, which could lead to prolonged disruption in tower manufacturing," DIPA said.
The industry body, whose members include Indus Towers, Ascend Telecom Infrastructure, Vodafone Idea, Gentari India etc, said a continued halt in LPG or LNG supplies is likely to impact the telecom tower manufacturing supply chain and may delay ongoing and planned tower deployment.
"This could affect network expansion and efforts to strengthen telecom connectivity, particularly in uncovered and capacity-constrained areas," DIPA said.
DIPA has requested DoT to take up the matter with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas so that LPG and LNG supplies to telecom tower manufacturing units may be exempted from the Order dated 05 March 2026 and restored at the earliest.
The industry body has also raised concerns regarding the dependence of mobile towers on diesel generator sets during grid outages.
"Telecom towers form the backbone of India's telecom networks and digital public infrastructure, and any disruption in fuel availability could affect network uptime and the continuity of essential digital services," it said.
DIPA said uninterrupted telecom connectivity is critical for voice and data services, 5G networks, national security operations, emergency and disaster response systems, digital governance platforms, financial transactions, healthcare and telemedicine, and other mission-critical services.
"DIPA has also requested the Department of Telecommunications to take up the matter with the Ministry of Power and advise State utilities and DISCOMs to ensure priority electricity availability for telecom infrastructure and mobile tower sites across the country," the industry body said. PTI PRS DRR
Birla Institute of Management inks pact with Hexalog to set up centre on logistics
Mumbai, Mar 10 (PTI) Birla Institute of Management Technology (BIMTECH) on Tuesday announced signing a three-year pact with Hexalog Technologies to establish a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for supply chain and logistics at its campus.
The facility is expected to introduce industry-aligned micro-credentials and certificate programmes in areas such as AI in logistics, supply chain analytics, and digital freight management, BIMTECH said.
The partnership will result in real-world industry engagements for students through on-the-job training, internships, live consulting assignments, and opportunities to pitch ideas to real investors.
Additionally, nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit, this collaboration will also facilitate structured entrepreneurship bootcamps under the mentorship of industry practitioners, it said. PTI IAS HVA
'Homebound', 'Black Warrant' lead Critics' Choice Awards 2026 nominations
Mumbai, Mar 10 (PTI) Neeraj Ghaywan's "Homebound" and Vikramaditya Motwane's crime thriller "Black Warrant" have emerged as the front-runners at the 8th Critics' Choice Awards, with six and seven nominations respectively, the Film Critics Guild announced on Tuesday.
The annual awards, presented in association with WPP Motion Entertainment, cover feature films, web series, short films, and documentaries, with voting conducted by 56 film critics from across the country.
In feature films, "Homebound" leads with six nominations, followed by Rohan Parashuram Kanawade's Sundance-winning "Sabar Bonda" and Raam Reddy's "Jugnuma" with three nominations each.
Anusha Rizvi's "The Great Shamsuddin Family", Mari Selvaraj's "Bison Kaalamaadan", and the BAFTA-winning Manipuri film "Boong" received two nominations apiece.
The Best Film category features ten contenders including "Homebound", "Boong", "Sabar Bonda", "Jugnuma", "Sthal", "Ponman", "Su from So", and "The Great Shamsuddin Family", among others.
On the acting front, Vishal Jethwa ("Homebound"), Mammootty ("Kalamkaval"), Basil Joseph ("Ponman"), Mounesh Nataranga ("Hebbuli Cut") and Abhishek Banerjee ("Stolen") compete for Best Actor, while Priyanka Bose ("Agra"), Geetha Kailasam ("Angammal"), Yami Gautam Dhar ("Haq"), Amruta Subhash ("Jarann"), and Sharmila Tagore ("Puratawn") are in contention for Best Actress.
The Best Director race features Lakshmipriya Devi ("Boong"), Ghaywan ("Homebound"), Aranya Sahay ("Humans in the Loop"), Reddy ("Jugnuma"), and Jayant Digambar Somalkar ("Sthal").
For Best Supporting Actor, Pasupathy ("Bison Kaalamaadan"), Akshaye Khanna ("Dhurandhar"), Dhritiman Chatterjee ("Putulnacher Itikatha"), Dileesh Pothan ("Ronth"), and Boman Irani ("The Mehta Boys") are in the running.
The Best Supporting Actress category sees Shalini Vatsa ("Homebound"), Anita Date ("Jarann"), Lijomol Jose ("Ponman"), Sandhya Arakere ("Su From So"), and Shreya Dhanwanthary ("The Great Shamsuddin Family") competing for the honour.
In the web series category, "Black Warrant" dominates with seven nominations, trailed by "Paatal Lok Season 2" with five and Aryan Khan's "The Ba***ds of Bollywood" with four.
Jaideep Ahlawat ("Paatal Lok" S2) and Manoj Bajpayee ("The Family Man" S3) headline the Best Actor race alongside Zahan Kapoor ("Black Warrant"), Roshan Mathew ("Kankhajura"), and Amit Sial ("The Hunt - The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case").
The Best Actress field includes Shabana Azmi ("Dabba Cartel"), Surveen Chawla ("Criminal Justice" S4), Monika Panwar ("Khauf"), Girija Oak Godbole ("Perfect Family"), and Priyamani ("The Family Man" S3).
In the Best Director category, Motwane and his co-directors ("Black Warrant"), Pushkar Sunil Mahabal ("Black, White & Gray - Love Kills"), Pankaj Kumar and Surya Balakrishnan ("Khauf"), Avinash Arun Dhaware ("Paatal Lok S2"), and Aryan Khan ("The Bads of Bollywood") are nominated.
The Best Supporting Actor field includes Anurag Thakur, Paramvir Singh Cheema, and Rahul Bhat - all from "Black Warrant" - alongside Manoj Pahwa ("Perfect Family") and Raghav Juyal ("The Bads of Bollywood").
For Best Supporting Actress, Nimisha Sajayan ("Dabba Cartel"), Geetanjali Kulkarni and Shalini Vatsa (both from "Khauf"), Tillotama Shome ("Paatal Lok S2"), and Seema Pahwa ("Perfect Family") are nominated.
The documentary category features "Chaar Phool Hain Aur Duniya Hai", a portrait of late Jnanpith Award-winning author Vinod Kumar Shukla, alongside Hot Docs winner "I, Poppy".
In short films, "Aasmaani Jhoola" and "Maaybaapache Aashirwaad" lead with five nominations each.
The ceremony, which will broadcast on Sony LIV, will also confer the Extraordinary Contribution to Cinema Award on veteran actor Farida Jalal.
Guild Chairperson Anupama Chopra said the range and ambition of submissions this year made deliberations "both challenging and immensely fulfilling."
"Each year, the Critics’ Choice Awards offer a snapshot of where Indian storytelling truly stands, beyond box office numbers or algorithms.
"From intimate personal narratives to bold, genre-defying work across films, series, documentaries, and short films, these nominations reflect voices that are pushing the medium forward and reminding us why criticism, curiosity, and conversation matter," she said. PTI RB RB
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Amol Palekar to receive META Lifetime Achievement Award
New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) Veteran actor and thespian Amol Palekar will receive the META Lifetime Achievement Award at the 21st edition of the Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards here, recognising his extraordinary contribution to Indian theatre and cinema", the organisers announced on Tuesday.
"Over a career spanning several decades, Palekar has been celebrated for his distinctive artistic voice and his commitment to storytelling across stage and screen. His work as an actor, director, and creative visionary has left a lasting imprint on contemporary Indian performance," read a statement from META.
Known for his "boy-next-door" persona, Palekar rose to stardom in the 1970s with films like "Chhoti Si Baat", "Chitchor", "Baaton Baaton Mein", and "Gol Maal".
"We are honoured to present the Lifetime Achievement Award to Amol Palekar, whose extraordinary contribution to theatre, cinema and the arts has inspired generations. Through META, we remain committed to supporting artists and providing a platform where diverse voices and narratives can be experienced, celebrated and shared with wider audiences," Jay Shah, Vice President and Head - Cultural Outreach, Mahindra Group, told PTI.
The 21st edition of the theatre festival and awards will stage 10 shortlisted productions at Kamani Auditorium and Shri Ram Centre Auditorium from March 19-25.
The week-long festival will explore themes ranging from mythology and devotion to gender, identity, politics, and social change.
META will present awards in 13 competitive categories, including production, direction, stage design, sound and music design, light design, costume design, actor in lead role (male and female), actor in support role (male and female), original script, ensemble, and choreography.
“Every year, META brings together stories from across India, blending classical theatre traditions with contemporary practice. The 10 shortlisted productions for 2026 showcase extraordinary creativity, experimentation, and courage. It is a joy to present these productions to audiences in Delhi, fostering a shared appreciation for theatre as a space for dialogue, reflection, and celebration of our cultural diversity,” Sanjoy K Roy, managing director of Teamwork Arts, said.
This year's jury comprises renowned theatre director Amal Allana; theatre director and academic Anuradha Kapur; acclaimed stage and screen actor Rajit Kapur; celebrated playwright, director and actor Satish Alekar; and veteran actor, singer and theatre personality Ila Arun.
The winners of the awards will be announced on March 25 during a grand finale at Kamani Auditorium. PTI MAH MAH RB
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‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ sees strong buzz, 1.5 lakh tickets sold for paid previews
New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) A week before "Dhurandhar" returns on the big screen with part two, the film is generating strong interest among audiences with over 1,50,000 tickets booked for paid preview shows, a senior executive of PVR INOX Limited said on Tuesday.
The second part, titled "Dhurandhar: The Revenge", is set to be released in theatres on March 19, coinciding with the festivals of Gudi Padwa, Ugadi, and Eid. The movie is directed by Aditya Dhar and stars Ranveer Singh in the lead.
Gautam Dutta, CEO – Growth and Revenue at PVR INOX Limited, said they are expecting the film's preview shows to run at "full capacity".
"'Dhurandhar: The Revenge' is the kind of film that truly comes alive on the big screen, where the scale, sound, and emotion of the story can be experienced at their best.
"The buzz around the paid previews has been extremely strong, with advance bookings at PVR INOX already crossing 150,000 tickets and several preview shows expected to run at full capacity," Dutta told PTI.
Paid previews are limited screenings held before a film's official release, where audiences buy tickets like regular shows, with the collections counted towards the film’s box office.
The early shows are priced from around Rs 300 and go up to as much as Rs 2,200 in certain parts of the country, depending on the location and format of the screening. The first part, "Dhurandhar", was released on December 5 and performed exceedingly well at the box office, grossing Rs 1,300 crore, out of which Rs 1,000 crore came from the Indian market alone.
Unlike the first part, which was only released in Hindi, "Dhurandhar: The Revenge" will also be available in four more languages -- Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam.
Dutta said the response to the movie beyond the Hindi markets is encouraging as well.
"With the film available in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam, audiences across southern regions are also showing strong interest. It’s exciting to see this kind of nationwide enthusiasm, and we look forward to welcoming audiences across the country for what promises to be a memorable cinematic experience," he said.
Set in Lyari town of Karachi, an area known for its history of gang wars and violent turf battles, "Dhurandhar" revolved around covert intelligence operations at the background of geopolitical and terror events like Kandahar plane hijack, 2001 Parliament Attack and 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
The sequel will chart the rise of Ranveer Singh’s character Hamza Ali Mazari in the Karachi underworld while also delving into his origins as Jaskirat Singh Rangi, tracing the journey of the young man who eventually transforms into the covert operative.
Actors R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, Sara Arjun and Rakesh Bedi are also returning for the second part.
In a statement, Ashish Saksena, COO - Cinemas, BookMyShow, said the anticipation for "Dhurandhar: The Revenge" is quite strong and reflects clearly in the paid previews numbers.
"The booking momentum has also been widely spread across markets. While Hyderabad and Mumbai are leading the trend, cities such as Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru and Chennai have played a significant role, with encouraging traction visible across a diverse range of markets nationwide.
"The early turnout for paid preview screenings highlights the continued audience affinity for the franchise," Saksena said. PTI RB
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Indian High Commission screens films as part of Singapore’s International Women’s Day observation
Singapore, Mar 10 (PTI) The Indian High Commission in Singapore is joining the International Women's Day observation with the screening of Alia Bhatt-Vicky Kaushal-starrer "Raazi" on March 15 as part of an extended annual Indian Film Festival.
Additional screening of Mani Ratnam's "Roja" and Suriya-starrer "Soorarai Pottru" are also planned on April 5, 2026 at Festive Arts Theatre.
“On the occasion of International Women’s Day, an additional screening of the movie ‘Raazi’ is also being organised on 15 March 2026 at Golden Village, Suntec City as part of Indian Film Festival 2026. Additional screening of two movies – 'Roja' and 'Soorarai Pottru' are also planned to be screened on 05 April 2026 at Festive Arts Theatre, Our Tampines Hub,” said the High Commission in a statement on Tuesday.
As part of its annual promotion of cultural activities and people-to-people ties between India and Singapore, the High Commission holds film screening in the city state.
“Building on the success of Indian Film Festival (IFF) 2025, which marked the inaugural edition of the festival, High Commission of India in Singapore, in collaboration with Singapore Film Society, organised the Indian Film Festival 2026 from 23 January – 8 March 2026,” said the High Commission.
This year’s festival showcased a thoughtfully selected lineup of 21 films across eight Indian languages – Hindi, Tamil, Marathi, Manipuri, Gujarati, Odia, Assamese and Malayalam.
These movies ranged from timeless classics to popular blockbusters and acclaimed regional films.
On popular demand and overwhelming response of the audience, the High Commission organised additional screenings of 3 movies – "Boong", "3 Idiots" and "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge" at Festive Arts Theatre March 8. "Boong" recently won the BAFTA award.
“Today, the two countries enjoy a strong diplomatic, trade, cultural and people-to-people connect,” said a diplomatic observer, pointing out the importance of such developments between India-Singapore, the first of which began more than century ago with the founding the island as a colonial British outpost out of Calcutta. PTI GS
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Randeep Hooda, Lin Laishram welcome first child
New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) Actor Randeep Hooda and his wife, actor-entrepreneur Lin Laishram, have announced the birth of their first child, a baby girl.
The couple shared a collaborative post on their respective Instagram handles on Tuesday. The first picture featured Hooda's father holding the newborn, followed by a close-up picture of the child's hand. She was born on the same day as Hooda's father.
"Happy birthday to grandfather and granddaughter. Today, as I become a father, my appreciation for you has only grown deeper, Papa. And most importantly - Lin, thank you for making me a father and for bringing our little girl into this world. A little girl, and a lifetime of love," read the caption.
Hooda, known for featuring in projects such as “Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster”, “Rang Rasiya”, “Highway” and “Sarbjit”, dated Laishram for several years before making their relationship official on Instagram in 2022.
The duo married in 2023 in Chumthang Sanapung in Imphal.
The wedding was performed in traditional Meitei rituals, which featured the bride circling in dignified movement around a seated groom for seven times and the bride and groom garlanding each other with a floral garland made of a variety of Jasmine flowers (kundo) amidst cheers from the guests. PTI ATR
Hooda last featured in "Jaat", which released in 2025. Laishram last appeared in the 2023 film "Jaane Jaan" alongside Kareena Kapoor Khan. PTI ATR ATR
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'Pulp Fiction' star Rosanna Arquette criticises Quentin Tarantino's use of N-word, director fires back
Los Angeles, Mar 10 (PTI) Quentin Tarantino has slammed his "Pulp Fiction" star Rosanna Arquette for criticising his use of N-word in the 1994 hit.
"Pulp Fiction", starring John Travolta, Samuel L Jackson, Uma Thurman, Tim Roth and Bruce Willis, featured Arquette in the role of Jody. It went on to receive an Oscar at the 67th Academy Awards for Best Original Screenplay.
In an interview with The Times U K, the actor said she hated the overuse of the word in the film, which was used around 20 times in it. "It's an iconic, a great film on a lot of levels. But personally, I am over the use of the N-word...I hate it," she said.
"I cannot stand that he (Tarantino) has been given a hall pass. It’s not art, it’s just racist and creepy," the actor, 66, said.
Tarantino, who is often scathing in his takedown of people and films and most recently hit headlines for calling Paul Dano a weak actor, slammed Arquette for her criticism.
The 62-year-old filmmaker, also known for "Kill Bill", "Jackie Brown", "Reservoir Dogs", "Inglourious Basterds" and "Django Unchained", said he gave her work and she took money only to trash him later.
"I hope the publicity you're getting from 132 different media outlets writing your name and printing your picture was worth disrespecting me and a film I remember quite clearly you were thrilled to be a part of," Tarantino said in a statement, shared by entertainment news outlet Deadline.
"Do you feel this way now? Very possibly. But after I gave you a job, and you took the money, to trash it for what I suspect is very cynical reasons, shows a decided lack of class, no less honor. There is supposed to be an esprit de corps between artistic colleagues. But it would appear the objective was accomplished. Congratulations, Q," he added.
Tarantino's frequent use of the racial slur has often been criticised by filmmakers and audiences
In 1997, Spike Lee criticised Tarantino for using the word, saying, "I'm not against the word, and I use it, but not excessively. And some people speak that way. But, Quentin is infatuated with that word. What does he want to be made — an honorary Black man?"
Director Lee Daniels also hit out at Tarantino for his decision to use the word in his films and his response to the criticism. Tarantino said audiences should see something else if they had an issue with his creative choices.
“That’s not the right answer,” Daniels said. PTI ATR BK
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Aneet Padda not attached to Madhubala project, says YRF Talent spokesperson
New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) A spokesperson of YRF Talent on Tuesday dismissed reports that "Saiyaara" star Aneet Padda has been cast in the role of cinema icon Madhubala in an upcoming movie.
There have been reports claiming that Padda, who broke out with YRF's 2025 romance blockbuster, will be starring in the biographical movie from filmmaker Jasmeet K Reen, known for Alia Bhatt Vijay Varma-starrer "Darlings".
A spokesperson of YRF Talent, the management agency of the actor, issued a clarification and said the reports are "untrue".
The Madhubala project was announced by Sony Pictures International Productions in March 2024. It is a co-production between Sony Pictures International Productions, Brewing Thoughts Pvt Ltd and Madhubala Ventures, which is headed by Madhubala's younger sister Madhur Brij Bhushan, and Arvind Kumar Malviya.
Madhubala, one of the leading actors from Hindi cinema's golden era, appeared in classics like "Mr. & Mrs. 55" (1955), "Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi" (1958), "Kala Pani" (1958), and "Howrah Bridge" (1958), during her brief lifetime, becoming one of the highly regarded personalities in the industry.
Her career defining role was as Anarkali in the 1960 historical epic drama "Mughal-e-Azam" where she featured alongside Dilip Kumar's Salim and Prithviraj Kapoor's Akbar.
Madhubala died in 1969 at the age of 36.
Padda is set to headline "Shakti Shalini", the next instalment of producer Dinesh Vijan's ambitious Maddock Horror Comedy Universe (MHCU).
Her entry was announced with the release of Ayushmann Khurrana’s 2025 film “Thamma”, which is also a part of the MHCU.
"Shakti Shalini" will release in cinema halls on December 24. PTI RB BK
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Jeff Daniels boards 'The Morning Show' season five
Los Angeles, Mar 10 (PTI) Hollywood veteran Jeff Daniels has joined the cast of hit Apple TV series “The Morning Show” for its upcoming fifth season.
The 70-year-old actor, best known for HBO drama “The Newsroom”, will play Lukas, the billionaire founder of an investment company, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
He joins the show’s ensemble cast that includes Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston, Billy Crudup, Mark Duplass and Jon Hamm.
Season five of “The Morning Show” will pick up after the dramatic events of the previous season, which saw Witherspoon’s character Bradley detained in Belarus while a group of characters exposed a UBN executive involved in a cover-up.
Showrunner Charlotte Stoudt has previously said the upcoming season will further explore the dynamic between Bradley and Cory, played by Crudup.
“The Morning Show” is showrun and executive produced by Stoudt and directed and executive produced by Mimi Leder. Michael Ellenberg and Lindsey Springer serve as executive producers for studio Media Res.
Witherspoon executive produces the show with Lauren Neustadter for Hello Sunshine, while Aniston and Kristin Hahn executive produce for Echo Films. Zander Lehmann and Micah Schraft also serve as executive producers.
Daniels won two Primetime Emmy Awards for his performances in “The Newsroom” and the Netflix limited series “Godless”.
The actor has also starred in popular films such as “Dumb and Dumber”, “The Martian” and “Good Night, and Good Luck”, and recently appeared in Apple TV comedy series “Shrinking”.
Daniels is also a Tony-nominated stage actor and the founder of Michigan’s Purple Rose Theatre Company. PTI RB RB
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Varun Dhawan's ‘Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai’ shifted to June 12
Mumbai, Mar 10 (PTI) It is always healthy when filmmakers support one another rather than compete unnecessarily, the makers of Varun Dhawan's upcoming movie "Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai" said on Tuesday while announcing a new release date for the film.
The move comes after Kannada superstar Yash's new film "Toxic" was postponed to June 4 due to escalating tensions in West Asia.
"Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai", directed by Varun's father David Dhawan, was set to be released in theatres across the country on June 5 but will now come out a week later on June 12. It also stars Mrunal Thakur and Pooja Hegde.
Producer Ramesh Taurani's banner Tips Films shared the news of the movie's new release date in a statement posted on its social media pages.
"We would like to clarify that our film 'Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai' was originally scheduled for release on 5th June, a date we had announced several months ago. However, after recent developments and considering the prevailing situation, we felt it would be more appropriate to shift our release.
"We strongly believe that it is always healthier for the industry when filmmakers support one another rather than compete unnecessarily on the same date. In that spirit of solidarity, we have decided to move the release of 'Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai' to 12th June and bring our film to the audiences a week later," read the statement.
Last week, there were reports claiming that the makers of "Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai" were unhappy with "Toxic" team for shifting their movie to June 4 without even informing them.
"Toxic", directed by Geetu Mohandas and billed as an action-thriller saga that unfolds in Goa between the early 1940s and the 1970s, was earlier set for release on March 19. It would have competed with Ranveer Singh's "Dhurandhar: The Revenge". In a statement on March 4, Production banner KVN Productions and Yash's Monster Mind Creations announced the new date for the movie.
The two companies had said the film was "conceptualised with the vision to create cinema for a global audience" and that the decision to postpone was driven by "the current uncertainty, especially in the Middle East" which has "created a situation that impacts our goal to reach and connect with the widest possible audience."
"Therefore, in the interest of our partners and our audience, we have made the difficult but carefully considered decision to reschedule our release. We thank you for your understanding and patience and look forward to your continued love and support," the statement read. PTI RB BK
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Arnold Schwarzenegger teams up with Christopher McQuarrie for new 'Conan' movie
Los Angeles, Mar 10 (PTI) Hollywood action icon Arnold Schwarzenegger is set to reprise one of his most iconic roles as director Christopher McQuarrie has been attached to write and direct "King Conan" for 20th Century Studios.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, McQuarrie, who helmed the four most recent entries in Tom Cruise's "Mission: Impossible" franchise, will helm the project that would see Schwarzenegger return to the sword-and-sorcery role he first played in the 1982 fantasy film "Conan the Barbarian" and its 1984 sequel, both based on the character created by author Robert E Howard.
Schwarzenegger made the announcement at the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio over the weekend, describing the film's premise to the assembled crowd.
"It's a great story where Conan was 40 years king and he gets complacent, and now he gets forced out of the kingdom, slowly," the actor said, adding that the story would involve "all kinds of madness and violence and magic and creatures."
The 77-year-old star noted that modern visual effects technology and studio resources would allow the project to be realised on a far grander scale than its predecessors.
The project has had a long road to the screen. Universal Pictures had previously held the rights to the character in the early 2010s, with "Fast & Furious" writer Chris Morgan developing an "Unforgiven"-style story for Schwarzenegger's older Conan.
Besides "King Conan", Schwarzenegger revealed he has been in discussions with director Dan Trachtenberg -- who revived the "Predator" franchise with 2022's "Prey" and last year's "Predator: Badlands" -- about a possible return to that series.
The Austrian-born star also disclosed that he has received a script for "Commando 2", which would see him return as Colonel John Matrix, the role he originated in the 1985 action film. PTI RB
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European Union to join Sikkim International Film Festival as programme partner
Gangtok, Mar 10 (PTI) The European Union is set to join the Sikkim International Film Festival (SIFF) 2026 as a programme partner, marking an important step towards strengthening cultural collaboration and artistic exchange between Europe and India, an official said.
The SIFF will be held from March 19 to 22 in Gangtok.
A statement from Yougan Tamang, press secretary to the chief minister, said that this milestone reflects the leadership and continued encouragement extended to artists and creative communities in Sikkim by CM Prem Singh Tamang Golay, who has consistently championed the growth of arts, cinema, fashion, and cultural expression in the state.
As the minister-in-charge of the Information and Public Relations Department, Government of Sikkim, Tamang's commitment to nurturing creative talent and building global cultural connections has opened new avenues for artists and filmmakers from the region.
The statement said that the collaboration with the European Union aligns with the broader agenda of strengthening people-to-people engagement and cultural ties between Europe and India, as envisioned during the EU–India Summit earlier this year.
Through this partnership, audiences in Gangtok will experience diverse cinematic voices and perspectives from across Europe, fostering dialogue and deeper cultural understanding through the medium of film.
Representatives from at least 10 EU filmmaking countries are expected to participate, with around ten films from member nations scheduled to be screened at various venues in Gangtok during the four-day film festival.
The Sikkim International Film Festival is an official initiative of the Information and Public Relations Department and the Sikkim Film Promotion Board. The initiative has been supported by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India and NFDC.
Envisioned as a curated international platform in the Himalayan region, SIFF 2026 aims to bring distinguished global cinema to audiences in Sikkim and the North-Eastern region while simultaneously promoting local storytelling and creative exchange.
By bringing filmmakers, artists, and industry professionals from around the world to Gangtok, the festival will not only celebrate cinema but also place Sikkim more prominently on the global cultural and film tourism map, opening new opportunities for collaboration, creativity, and the growth of the state's creative economy, said the statement. PTI COR RG
Gujarat govt earmarks Rs 1,331 crore for sports; to make Ahmedabad 'Olympic-ready' city
Gandhinagar, Mar 10 (PTI) The Gujarat government has made a "historic" budgetary provision of Rs 1,331 crore with an aim to transform the state into a sports hub and develop Ahmedabad as an "Olympic-ready" city, cabinet minister Jitu Vaghani informed the legislative assembly on Tuesday.
Participating in a discussion on the budgetary demands of the Sports, Youth and Cultural Activities Department, he noted that the total allocation for the department exceeding Rs 2,000 crore reflects the BJP government's strong commitment to building Olympic-level sports infrastructure and nurturing youth talent.
Vaghani, who handles the agriculture portfolio, said Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel's government has undertaken a series of ambitious projects to create world-class sporting facilities and promote sports culture across the state.
"This year, a total provision of Rs 2,006 crore has been made for sports, youth and cultural activities, which is significantly higher than allocations made in previous years. Out of this, Rs 1,331 crore has been earmarked specifically for the sports sector," the minister said.
He was speaking on behalf of Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, who handles the Sports, Youth and Cultural Activities portfolio.
On several occasions in the past, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has expressed India's resolve to host the 2036 Olympic Games.
Earlier this year, Shah expressed confidence that Ahmedabad city will bag the hosting rights for the 2036 Olympic Games. His remarks followed after Ahmedabad was officially awarded the hosting rights for the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
Vaghani declared Ahmedabad will be developed as an "Olympic-ready" city with an investment of around Rs 500 crore as part of the state's broader vision to host and support international-level sporting events in the future.
As part of this initiative, the government plans to develop the SVP Sports Enclave around the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Spread across 335 acres, the enclave will house multiple Olympic-standard facilities, he told the assembly.
The facilities will include an aquatic centre with a seating capacity of 12,000, a tennis centre with a capacity of 24,000 spectators and a state-of-the-art indoor arena that can accommodate 18,000 people, said the minister.
"These facilities will not only support major international competitions, but will also function as high-performance training centres for athletes after such events," Vaghani emphasised.
He announced that a modern Olympic Games Village with accommodation capacity for around 17,500 athletes will be built on 135 acres at Bhat village near Ahmedabad.
In addition, a new athletics stadium with a seating capacity of 50,000 and a modern shooting range are being constructed on 143 acres of land at the Gujarat Police Academy campus in Karai near Gandhinagar, Vaghani stated.
To strengthen sports infrastructure across the state, the government has proposed a provision of Rs 165 crore for the development of new complexes in various districts. Another Rs 100 crore has been earmarked for developing Olympic-level sports facilities at Karai, while Rs 90 crore will be spent on constructing a world-class hockey stadium in the state, the minister said.
Highlighting the government's efforts to promote sports, Vaghani said the Khel Mahakumbh (mega sports event) initiative has witnessed massive growth since its launch in 2010.
"The number of participants in Khel Mahakumbh has increased from around 16.5 lakh in 2010 to nearly 72 lakh in 2025-26. This reflects a major shift in the sports culture of Gujarat," he insisted.
The minister said the government is also focusing on grassroots-level training for young athletes.
Under the "In-School" training programme, more than 1.29 lakh children are receiving sports training in 230 schools across the state. At an annual cost of around Rs 95 crore, over 5,300 promising athletes are being trained and prepared for national and international competitions, he said.
"These athletes have collectively won 170 medals at the national level and 1,938 medals at the state level," Vaghani told the assembly.
Apart from sports, the minister stressed the government is also investing in intellectual and cultural development of youth.
A provision of Rs 187 crore has been made for the modernisation of libraries across the state. Under this initiative, 12 new libraries will be built, while 16 solar-powered reading rooms will be set up in tribal areas, he said. PTI PJT PD RSY
Wasteful India bow out of AFC Women's Asian Cup with 1-3 defeat to Chinese Taipei
Sydney, Mar 10 (PTI) A profligate India bowed out of the AFC Women's Asian Cup with a 1-3 defeat to Chinese Taipei in their must-win last group stage fixture here on Tuesday, paying a heavy price for the lack of finishing touches.
Despite dominating large portions of the game and creating numerous opportunities, India's inability to convert chances in the final third proved costly, leading to an early exit after they qualified for the prestigious tournament on merit for the first time.
Manisha Kalyan scored India's lone goal in the 39th minute, the winger unleashing a powerful shot from about 30 yards to find the target.
Chinese Taipei took the lead in the 12th minute when Y H Su slotted the ball inside an empty goal post after a poor back pass from Sanju to J W Chen. Indian custodian Elangbam Panthoi Chanu had come off her line hoping to stop Chen, who successfully squared the ball to Su.
India struck back after that, but just before half time (45+8), Y. Y. Hsu's shot hit the upright corner of the post and deflected off Panthoi and into the India post.
This was after Pyari Xaxa handled the ball inside the box and referee pointed to the spot.
The contest was as good as over when Yu-Chin Chen struck Chinese Taipei's third goal in the 77th minute, getting the better of Panthoi after a run down the right side.
India had earlier lost to Vietnam and Japan, and to make the next stage of the tournament, the Blue Tigress needed to beat Chinese Taipei by minimum two goals on Tuesday and Japan to prevail over Vietnam.
While Japan beat Vietnam 4-0, India could not get the job done in their match.
Earlier, the Blue Tigresses began with intent, and a Manisha corner almost put them in the lead in the second minute. Soumya Guguloth had her header saved from the corner before Xaxa pounced on the rebound, causing confusion in the Chinese Taipei defence before it was cleared.
Chinese Taipei countered immediately with Chen Jin-wen pulling the trigger from inside the Indian box, but it went inches wide of the far post.
India had a similar chance at the other end, when Nirmala played it to Manisha, who threaded it through to Soumya, who also dragged her shot inches wide.
India goalkeeper Panthoi made a smart save off of a YC Chen shot in the 10th minute, but was left stranded a couple of minutes later, when a double error at the back gifted Chinese Taipei the lead.
India finally levelled the score when they got a free-kick some 25 yards out. Huang Ke-sin's off-the-ball push on Soumya in the 38th minute got the Video Assistant Referee into action, as a possible red card offence was being checked.
However, the VAR deemed the referee's original decision of a yellow card to Huang was correct.
A minute later, Manisha produced a thunderous free-kick that struck the underside of the crossbar and bounced out of play, before being cleared. The VAR was once again called upon, and a goal was soon awarded to India, who had levelled the score.
Panthoi, who has made numerous saves in the Asian Cup, pulled off another blinder in the first- half injury-time, when YC Chen's powerful effort struck the onrushing India goalkeeper on the face.
While the immediate danger was averted, disaster struck a minute later, when Chinese Taipei were awarded a penalty. YY Hsu, who stepped up, however, only managed to hit the woodwork.
However, the ball struck the back of Panthoi, who had dived in the correct direction, and rolled over the line for Chinese Taipei to take the lead once more.
India started the second half with the greater intent once again, as Rimpa Haldar replaced Soumya Guguloth. Manisha, who drifted wide on the right, cut inside and pulled the trigger, only to see it sail wide.
At the other end, captain Sweety Devi Ngangbam made a crucial block off a YH Su shot, minutes before Panthoi pulled off a brilliant save once again, this time denying the attacker, who was through on goal.
However, India's repeated attempts to get back on level terms ended up being their undoing. YY Hsu played YC Chen through behind the India back-four, as the latter rounded Panthoi and scored in an empty goal.
Panthoi, while charging at Chen, collided with Sweety, and both players had to be stretchered off.
India had a few chances in the closing stages, with Sanfida having her 86th-minute volley blocked by Teng Pei-lin, while Manisha's 89th-minute free-kick took a deflection before substitute goalkeeper Chen Ssu-yu swiped it away.
The Chinese Taipei substitute keeper, in the last minute of regulation time, had to make yet another save off of a Manisha free-kick. PTI AH AH TAP
Sweety Devi, Panthoi Chanu suffer injuries, hospitalised
Sydney, Mar 10 (PTI) Indian football team captain Sweety Devi and goalkeeper Panthoi Chanu were taken to a hospital after getting injured during the side's 1-3 defeat to Chinese Taipei in their last group league fixture of the AFC Women's Asian Cup here on Tuesday.
The defeat ended India's campaign in the prestigious continental tournament, having lost their first two matches to Vietnam and Japan.
"Elangbam Panthoi Chanu and Sweety Devi Nganbam have been taken to hospital after sustaining injuries during today's match. Further assessment is awaited," the All India Football Federation (AIFF) said in a statement.
The two Indian stars got injured in the 83rd minute when Panthoi charged out to stop a Chinese Taipei attack and collided with her teammate Sweety Devi. Both players were stretchered off the field.
Panthoi suffered a massive swelling on her face after being struck by Sweety's knee, while the latter briefly remained motionless on the ground before medical staff intervened.
Both players were taken to a nearby hospital soon after the incident for further tests, after which the severity of the injuries will be known.
In the match, despite dominating large portions of the game and creating numerous opportunities, India's inability to convert chances in the final third proved costly, leading to an early exit after they qualified for the tournament on merit for the first time. PTI AH AH TAP
Indian youth boxers shine with 5 wins in Futures Cup
Bangkok, Mar 10 (PTI) Five Indian youth boxers registered wins on the third day of the World Boxing Futures Cup here on Tuesday.
In the morning session, Chandrika Pujari (50kg) secured a convincing 5-0 unanimous decision win over a Venezuelan boxer, while Joyshree Devi (54kg) continued her strong run with a Referee Stopped Contest (RSC) victory in the third round against her Kazakh opponent.
In the men’s division, L. Ambekar (50kg) also advanced with a dominant 5-0 win over his rival from Ecuador.
The evening session saw Gunjan (48kg) edge past her Italian contestant in a close 3-2 win, while Prachi (60kg) delivered a commanding performance to defeat the competitor from Ecuador with an RSC victory in the first round. PTI APA TAP
Mandhana retains top spot in women's ODI rankings
Dubai, Mar 10 (PTI) Swashbuckling Indian batter Smriti Mandhana retained the top spot in the latest women's ODI batting ranking released here on Tuesday.
Mandhana was joined by her captain Harmanpreet Kaur who remained static on eighth spot.
However, Jemimah Rodrigues dropped a rung to 12th after India lost the three-match ODI series 0-3 against Australia.
A host of New Zealand's best white-ball stars have been the big winners on the latest update.
The White Ferns have been in superb form at home having opened up an unassailable 2-0 lead over Zimbabwe in the three-match ODI series and it's no surprise that new skipper Melie Kerr is leading the way with both bat and ball.
Kerr collected four wickets in the opening match of the series and then backed that up with a magnificent seven-wicket haul during the second contest in Dunedin when she became just the seventh player overall to collect seven wickets or more in a women's ODI.
That effort saw Kerr jump five places to 11th overall on the list for ODI bowlers, while the talented 25-year-old also climbed one place to fifth on the list for ODI all-rounders.
Kerr wasn't the only New Zealander to make gains following the opening two matches of the series against Zimbabwe, with Brooke Halliday (up eight rungs to 11th) and Maddy Green (up four spots to equal 22nd) both jumping the ODI batter charts following impressive performances with the bat.
Halliday smashed an unbelievable innings of 157* from just 117 balls in the series opener to display her qualities, while Green hit 67 in the same match and followed that up with an unbeaten 27* in the second fixture.
There's also some change on the latest T20I rankings, following the completion of the West Indies' three-match series at home against Sri Lanka and less than three months out from the start of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup hosted by England and Wales.
Left-hander Hasini Perera hit an unbeaten half-century to help Sri Lanka clinch the series in the third and final game in St George's and the opener was rewarded on the latest rankings for T20I batters as she rose 15 spots to 28th overall.
Inexperienced right-hander Imesha Dulani (up 17 rungs to equal 72nd) also made gains on the list for T20I batters following an unbeaten 34* in the series finale, while Sri Lankan teammate Kavisha Dilhari made gains on the rankings for T20I bowlers (up three spots to 21st) and all-rounders (up two places to 11th).
The big mover for the West Indies was Afy Fletcher, with the veteran spinner climbing four rungs to seventh overall on the list for T20I bowlers following three wickets from the final two games of the series against Sri Lanka. PTI APA AH
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Record field of 57 players assembles for 5th Leg of Hero Women's Pro Golf Tour
Gurugram, Mar 10 (PTI) A record field of 57 players led by Ridhima Dilawari and Tvesa Malik will tee off in the fifth leg of the Women's Pro Golf Tour here on Wednesday.
The record number of 57 entries includes eight amateurs and 49 professionals. The event will carry a whopping Rs 18 lakh prize purse.
Ridhima has won two of the four events held this season, while Tvesa and Jasmine Shekar have one each. All four are in the field this week.
Ridhima has had the best season so far with two wins and one runner-up finish this year. She was Tied-7th in the other start and leads the Hero Order of Merit race.
Sneha Singh and Amandeep Drall are also in the large field as is Neha Tripathi.
Some of the other strong challengers will include Seher Atwal and Anvitha Narender, who was tied second in the third leg.
The eight amateurs in the field are Alysha Dutt, Riddhima Singh, Lavanya Gupta, Priya Kumari, Ceerat Kang, Aradhana Manikandan, Mahreen Bhatia and Rashi Mishra. PTI COR APA
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Arif urges sports ministry to build world-class skiing infrastructure in Gulmarg
New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) Two-time Winter Olympian Arif Mohammad Khan has urged the sports ministry to develop proper skiing infrastructure in Gulmarg so that Indian athletes can train for global competitions and aim for medals at the Asian level.
Arif, who achieved the country's best show in men's slalom race at the recently-concluded Winter Olympics in Italy, said India need at least one fully developed training facility on the slopes of Kangdoori in Gulmarg, with a long competitive season, to help the country's top skiers prepare for international events.
"We need at least one fully-developed infrastructure in Gulmarg that can function for a good five months," he said.
A full season of "at least five months till April-end" is needed to train and compete on the slopes of Kangdoori in Gulmarg to prepare Indian athletes, said Arif, who recently finished 39th in Milano-Cortina Games.
"I can guarantee we will win medals at the top Asian level in 10-15 years," added Arif.
Arif's how bettered Kishore Ratna Rai's performance by 10 places that was achieved at the 1988 Winter Olympics, Calgary.
Arif also hailed the government's flagship winter sports initiative.
"Six editions of the Khelo India Winter Games have provided an incredible platform to athletes but now we have to look at ways of winning medals at major global competitions," he said.
Arif further said his performance had helped put India "in the global ski map".
He said the country now needs to invest more strategically in winter sports infrastructure and support systems.
Since 2020, all six editions of the Khelo India Winter Games have been held in Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir, while Leh in Ladakh has been hosting the ice events since 2024.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has already announced that the 2027 edition of the Khelo India Winter Games will be expanded into a 15-day event in a bid to develop Gulmarg as a global winter sports destination.
Arif, who learnt his skiing on the slopes of the Pir Panjal mountains, welcomed the plan, saying combining sports with tourism could boost winter sports in the country.
"We have the athletes and there are ones who can be better than me. But we are missing infrastructure, coaches and funding.
"Given the government's intention to develop winter sports, I can see better things in the future."
The 36-year-old also said his Winter Olympics result should inspire youngsters to take up winter sports seriously.
"Saying his finish at the Winter Olympics should inspire youngsters to take up winter sports as a career, Arif felt that a national federation was required immediately to understand the requirement of athletes.
"The government is doing a lot through its policies to streamline governance in sports bodies. Winter sports like skiing needs immediate government intervention and full support," he said.
Arif is currently training three young skiers -- two from Jammu and Kashmir and one from Himachal Pradesh -- and believes the country has enough talent in the hill regions.
"There are a lot of talented athletes in the hilly states and Union Territories. Some skiers are also emerging from South India but the availability of year-round facilities is a major handicap.
"At least, skating has all-weather facilities in Dehradun and Leh, Gulmarg can be a priority now," Arif pointed out. PTI TAP AH
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Double delight for Krishna Nagar at para badminton National
Hyderabad, Mar 10 (PTI) Paralympic champion Krishna Nagar delivered a dominant performance to clinch two gold medals in the SH6 category of the 7th Senior National Para Badminton Championship here on Tuesday.
Krishna first secured the men’s singles SH6 title, defeating Sudarsan M S in the final with a 21-10, 21-19 victory.
Displaying strong attacking play and composure throughout the match, Nagar lived up to his top billing to claim the national crown.
He then went on to secure his second gold medal in the mixed doubles SH6 event, partnering Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan.
The pair defeated Sudarsan M S and Shreya Kumari 21-7, 21-11.
SH6 is a classification in para-badminton for players of short stature, usually caused by conditions such as dwarfism. PTI TAP BS
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Bumrah Workload: With focus on 2027 World Cup, pace spearhead to play more ODIs than T20Is
New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is likely to play more 50-over games instead of T20I bilateral series over the next 18 months to ensure his preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup remain on track.
T20Is will be a low priority leading up to October-November 2027, despite a heavy schedule of bilateral series and the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, where Suryakumar Yadav is expected to lead the side.
It is understood that Bumrah, like many senior Indian players, is very keen on playing the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, which will be held in the T20 format, but ODIs will be his primary white ball format till the 2027 World Cup.
India's ODI World Cup preparation will start in earnest after a gruelling two months of Indian Premier League where Bumrah is set to headline the Mumbai Indians pace attack.
By the end of IPL, it is understood that the national selection committee, the Centre of Excellence headed by VVS Laxman and the team management represented by Gautam Gambhir and Shubman Gill, will prepare the blue-print for the next phase, and the most important aspect will be Bumrah's workload management.
It is understood that the World Test Championships (WTC) matches are non-negotiable for the 32-year-old legend and it is believed that his workload management will be somewhat similar to the 2023-2026 phase during which he didn't play a single ODI.
Since November 19, 2023, when the last ODI World Cup final was held against Australia, Bumrah played 42 games, which included 21 Test matches and an equal number of T20Is.
"Obviously Bumrah's fitness is as always key to any of India's global campaign and hence the Indian team management will have to be very careful and prioritise the formats. Keep Test cricket aside, which he will obviously play, but in the 50-over World Cup cycle, he will concentrate more on ODIs.
"There will be around 30-35 odd games and one can't take chances," a BCCI source privy to the development told PTI.
India's pace bowling pool in terms of ODI cricket isn't a big one but it is understood that the core will comprise Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana (whenever he gets fit). PTI KHS KHS AH
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Wasteful India bow out of AFC Women's Asian Cup with 1-3 defeat to Chinese Taipei
Sydney, Mar 10 (PTI) A profligate India bowed out of the AFC Women's Asian Cup with a 1-3 defeat to Chinese Taipei in their must-win last group stage fixture here on Tuesday, paying a heavy price for the lack of finishing touches.
Despite dominating large portions of the game and creating numerous opportunities, the India's inability to convert chances in the final third proved costly, leading to an early exit after they qualified for the prestigious tournament on merit for the first time.
Manisha Kalyan scored India's lone goal in the 39th minute, the winger unleashing a powerful shot from about 30 yards to find the target.
Chinese Taipei took the lead in the 12th minute when Y H Su slotted the ball inside an empty goal post after a horrible back pass from Sanju to J W Chen. Indian custodian Elangbam Panthoi Chanu had come off her line hoping to stop Chen, who successfully squared the ball to Su.
India struck back after that, but just before half time (45+9), Y. Y. Hsu's shot hit the upright corner of the post and deflected off Panthoi to enter the India goal.
This was after Pyari Xaxa handled the ball inside the box and referee pointed to the spot.
The contest was as good as over when Yu-Chin Chen struck Chinese Taipei's third goal in the 77th minute, getting the better of Panthoi after a run down the right side.
India had earlier lost to Vietnam and Japan, and to make the next stage of the tournament, the Blue Tigress needed to beat Chinese Taipei by minimum two goals on Tuesday and Japan to prevail over Vietnam.
Japan beat Vietnam 4-0. PTI AH AH APA
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ICC books individual commercial flights for WI, SA players after charter flight cancellation
Kolkata, Mar 10 (PTI) The ICC on Tuesday booked separate commercial flights for the stranded West Indies and South Africa teams after their charter flight scheduled to take off from Kolkata " was cancelled due to logistical issues".
"All the West Indies and South African players have been booked on individual commercial airline flights. Obviously, all can't be booked on same airlines but ICC has taken care of individual bookings. ICC chairman Jay Shah has personally spoken and assured players of a safe journey back home," an ICC source privy to the development told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
"It must be mentioned that Darren Sammy is already on his way home having left on Monday night," the source also informed.
The two teams that played their final games in Kolkata (West Indies in Super 8s on March 1 and South Africa on March 4 in semi-final) have not been able to fly out due to the disruption that has been caused by International airspace restrictions across parts of West Asia following American and Israeli strikes on Iran.
The situation has forced multiple airlines to avoid routes through the Gulf region. ICC's airline partner is Emirates and they are unable to operate due to shutdown of Dubai airspace.
The restrictions severely complicated outbound travel from India towards the Caribbean and Africa, forcing cricket authorities to explore alternative routes and charter arrangements.
Earlier, in a communication conveyed on Tuesday evening, both teams were scheduled to leave Kolkata on a shared charter flight to Johannesburg on Tuesday afternoon.
From there, the West Indies contingent was to continue onward to Antigua, while the South Africans were expected to disperse for their respective commitments.
However, the flight arrangement was called off hours before the scheduled departure because of some "logistical issues", an official of the Cricket Association of Bengal told PTI.
"As per a latest development on Tuesday afternoon the ‘chartered flight was cancelled and no further information regarding this is received’, read a message communicated to the West Indies and South Africa teams.
"Due to logistical issues the chartered flight may have been cancelled at the last minute so now maximum players are making their own arrangements," the local official told PTI.
The West Indies squad has been stranded in Kolkata since March 1 after being knocked out of the T20 World Cup by India, who defeated them by five wickets in their Super Eight match at Eden Gardens on March 1.
South Africa's campaign had ended a few days later when they lost the first semifinal to eventual runners-up New Zealand at the same venue on March 4, leaving them caught in the same boat.
At the time of this report, around 12 West Indies players along with 10 members of the support staff remain in India, while the South African contingent includes 12 players and two support staff.
West Indies head coach Sammy had earlier expressed his frustration over the delay on social media, posting that he "just wanna go home".
A few South African players had already departed earlier due to upcoming commitments.
Keshav Maharaj, George Linde and Jason Smith have travelled to New Zealand ahead of a bilateral series against the hosts beginning March 15.
Earlier, Cricket West Indies had said it was working with the International Cricket Council to arrange safe travel for the team amid the complex situation caused by airspace restrictions.
"While the situation remains complex and fluid due to international airspace restrictions arising from security concerns in the Gulf region, CWI assures the public that every precaution is being taken to ensure the safe return of the team to the Caribbean,” the CWI had said.
It is likely that some of the West Indies players will stay back to join their respective IPL franchises. The IPL is slated to begin this month-end.
Rovman Powell is part of Kolkata Knight Riders, whose camp begins on March 18, while Sherfane Rutherford represents Mumbai Indians.
Shimron Hetmyer plays for Rajasthan Royals and Romario Shepherd is with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who are expected to start training from March 15. PTI TAP KHS TAP KHS
Murder accused flees from govt hospital in Rajasthan's Baran; action initiated against five cops
Kota, Mar 10 (PTI) A murder accused lodged at Chhabra jail in Rajasthan's Baran district allegedly escaped from a government hospital in the district late on Monday, police said.
While multiple teams have been constituted to trace the accused, disciplinary action and inquiry proceedings are being initiated against five police personnel deployed with the inmate, they added.
According to police, Bablu Jat, a resident of Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh, had been on the run for 19 years in connection with a murder case registered at the Chhipabarod police station in Baran district.
He was recently arrested by a special team from Gwalior after a month-long extensive search operation. Following his arrest, he was handed over to the Chhipabarod police and later lodged in Chhabra Jail.
Police said the accused was admitted to Baran District Hospital on Monday after he complained of health issues, and police personnel and prisoner escort guards were deployed with him for the period of treatment.
However, late on Monday, the accused allegedly escaped by breaking a window of the hospital room and evading the escort guards on duty, police said.
Baran Superintendent of Police Abhishek Andasu said disciplinary action and preliminary departmental inquiry has been initiated against a head constable and four escort guards who were deployed with the inmate at the hospital.
Police have formed special teams to trace the absconding accused, and raids are being conducted at possible hideouts, he added.
Officials said Bablu Jat had been living in Gwalior for the past 19 years, frequently changing his identity and appearance to avoid arrest. PTI COR ARB
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Murder accused shot dead in Delhi's Madangir
New Delhi, Mar 11 (PTI) A 30-year-old man who was previously involved in a murder case was shot dead in south Delhi's Madangir area, police said on Tuesday, suspecting it to be a case of revenge killing.
The victim, Nikhil Nagar alias Nikki, had allegedly been involved in a murder case and had come out of jail around one-and-a-half months ago, they said.
Police suspect the attack may have been carried out to avenge that killing, though they said all angles are being probed.
The incident occurred around 8.30 pm on Monday when Nikhil was standing outside his chicken shop near his residence in Ambedkar Nagar.
Motorcycle-borne assailants arrived at the spot and opened fire at him before fleeing the area, police said.
Nikhil sustained multiple bullet injuries and collapsed on the spot. Family members and locals rushed him to the AIIMS Trauma Centre, where he was declared dead, they said.
Senior police officers, along with the crime team and forensic experts, reached the spot after receiving information about the firing. A case of murder has been registered and CCTV cameras installed in the vicinity are being scanned to identify the attackers and track their movement.
Babita, a neighbour and relative of the victim, said she heard the gunshot before residents rushed out of their homes.
"I was inside when I heard a gunshot. Then we rushed outside. Vicky is around 30 years old. The incident happened around 8.50 pm. He lives with his family including a brother and sister. His parents are no more. He was nice to everyone in the locality and spoke nicely," she said.
Another resident, Bhushan Kumar, said Nikhil was standing outside a shop when the attackers fired at him.
"We do not know what exactly happened but he was a good person. Two months back only his father had expired," Kumar said.
Police said Nikhil lived with his younger brother and sister in Madangir and ran a chicken shop near his house.
Efforts are underway to identify and apprehend the attackers. PTI SSJ NB
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2 killed after truck falls into roadside ditch in Jharkhand's Hazaribag
Hazaribag/ Chatra, Mar 10 (PTI) Two persons were killed after a truck fell into a roadside ditch in Jharkhand's Hazaribag district on Tuesday, police said.
The accident happened around 8.30 am on NH-2 in the Danua Bhanua Ghati in the Chouparan police station area, they said.
The deceased were identified as Pankaj Kumar (35) and Satish Kumar (20). They were the driver and helper of the truck.
The truck was heading to Bihar after loading iron rods from Bokaro, police said.
In Chatra district, a motorcyclist was run over by a grader machine engaged in road construction work.
The incident happened on Anantpur Road in the Pratappur police station, police said.
The victim was identified as Shankar Yadav, a resident of Imamganj in Bihar's Gaya district.
Following the incident, an irate mob thrashed the driver before police took him into custody. PTI CORR BS SOM
Jharkhand: 4 minors rescued at railway stations, Bihar man held
Ranchi, Mar 10 (PTI) RPF personnel have rescued four minors, including a girl from Odisha, and arrested a man hailing from Bihar's Lakhisarai in separate incidents in Jharkhand, officials said on Tuesday.
At Hatia railway station, Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel on Monday rescued three boys who were allegedly being trafficked by the accused, Arun Ram (38), to Tiruppur in Tamil Nadu on the pretext of providing employment, they said.
The man was nabbed during a checking drive after the arrival of the Alappuzha Express at Hatia railway station.
"We rescued three boys, who were being trafficked to Tiruppur in Tamil Nadu, during a routine check. Upon questioning, their answers were not found to be satisfactory. Due to the arousal of suspicion, all of them were deboarded from the train," the RPF said in a statement.
During interrogation, the accused said the minors were being taken to Tiruppur, on the pretext of providing jobs offering Rs 10,000 salary, it said.
RPF personnel seized a mobile phone, a general railway ticket, and other documents from his possession and handed him over to the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU), Kotwali, for further action. The three rescued minor children were entrusted to Balashray.
In another incident, a 13-year-old girl from Odisha was rescued by RPF at Ranchi station on Sunday.
The girl was seen sitting alone on platform number 2 of the station. The girl has been kept at a 'one-stop centre' after a written order issued by the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Ranchi. PTI RPS RPS ACD
Gujarat private varsity evacuated after bomb threat email; hoax messages target passport offices
Ahmedabad, Mar 10 (PTI) A private university based in Vadodara was evacuated following a bomb threat email on Tuesday, while similar online messages were also received by multiple passport and post offices across Gujarat, but no suspicious devices were found during searches, police said.
All bomb threat emails later turned out to be a hoax, they said.
The Parul University in Vadodara received a bomb threat email, prompting evacuation of the entire campus in the morning, police said.
At around 10 am, police reached the university along with a Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS), dog squad, Local Crime Branch, Special Operation Group (SOG) personnel and launched an extensive search of the sprawling premises, but nothing suspicious was found, an official from the Vaghodia police station said.
The varsity has a total student population exceeding 65,000, including over 5,500 international pupils from more than 75 countries, according to its official website.
Moreover, post and passport offices in Ahmedabad, Surat, and Rajkot also received bomb threat mails.
Ahmedabad’s University area Police Inspector SR Bawa confirmed that security checks were carried out at the Regional Passport Office (RPO) located in the Gulbai Tekra area followed by a bomb threat, but nothing suspicious was found.
The Surat RPO also received a similar mail.
"A mail was received at 8.45 am at the Regional Passport Office in Surat from alexpaulmenon@outlook.com of ‘Madras Tigers,Coimbatore’. The mail demanded evacuation of the passport office by 1.10 pm or it will be bombed via an IED blast with five cyanide containers," ACP V R Malhotra told PTI.
The entire complex was evacuated after local police and BDDS reached the spot. Later, the threat mail was declared a hoax, he said.
Rajkot Main Post Office also received a bomb threat at 12 pm after which BDDS, dog squad, SOG, and local police conducted checks, but did not find anything suspicious, the city's DCP (Zone 2), Jagdish Bangarwa, informed.
Bangarwa noted that usually, hoax bomb threat mail senders target several offices at one go.
Searches were also conducted at post offices in Godhra, Morbi, Navsari, Bardoli, Valsad, Amreli and several other cities, who were targets of bomb threat mails, according to police. PTI KVM RSY
Bomb threat email prompts evacuation, searches at passport offices across Rajasthan; proved hoax
Kota/Jaipur, Mar 10 (PTI) Extensive searches were carried out at passport offices, seva kendras and post offices in several Rajasthan cities on Tuesday after the authorities received an email threatening of bomb blasts at several such locations statewide, police said.
Police and security agencies swung into action following a bomb threat email to the Regional Passport Office in Jaipur on Tuesday morning. The regional office and passport seva kendras operating in post offices across the city were evacuated and thorough searches were conducted at the premises, a senior official said.
"Entry to the offices was immediately suspended, and those inside were removed. Security teams conducted thorough inspections in and around the office premises," a senior Jaipur Police official said.
However, nothing suspicious emerged during the checks, he added.
The police also relayed a bomb threat alert to every district, prompting extensive search operations at passport seva kendras statewide.
Checking was conducted at seva kendras across districts including Banswara, Bikaner, Sikar, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Jhunjhunu, Sriganganagar.
Post office premises in Kota and Jhalawar cities were evacuated following an alert from CID Intelligence, Jaipur, regarding a bomb threat to passport offices, and thorough searches were carried out, police said.
Nothing suspicious was found during the search, they said.
On receiving the alert, passport offices at Nayapura and Vigyan Nagar in Kota were evacuated on Tuesday noon and a search operation was launched.
Bomb disposal units and dog squads were called to the spot and thorough checking of the passport office building was undertaken, Nayapura Circle Inspector Vinod Kumar said.
The Regional Passport Office located under Vigyan Nagar police station area was also evacuated as a precautionary measure. A search of the office building and surrounding premises was carried out, and vehicles parked nearby were also inspected, police said, adding that no suspicious object was found.
Similarly, a post office in Jhalawar city was evacuated after the bomb threat alert.
The Jhalawar post office received an email from the Jaipur head office around 12:40 pm, informing about a bomb threat to passport seva kendras operating within post offices, Assistant Superintendent of Jhalawar Post Office Ravi Sharma said.
Police rushed to the site and conducted thorough checks but nothing suspicious was found, Jhalawar Circle Inspector Mukesh Meena said.
Earlier, bomb threat emails were received by the high court, lower courts and multiple schools across Rajasthan, trigger panic and searches by security personnel, but all of them were found hoax. PTI COR SDA ARB
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Punjab: 3 cyber fraudsters using voice-changing software to dupe women held
Chandigarh, Mar 10 (PTI) A gang of cyber fraudsters, who used voice-changing software to dupe women, was busted in Punjab with the arrest of three of its members, police said on Tuesday.
Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said the accused used voice-changing software to pose as women using fake social media profiles and gain the trust of their targets, particularly women.
"They would then extort money by threatening to circulate AI-generated objectionable videos of the victims on social media," he said.
Sharing details of the operation, Special Director General of Police (Special DGP) Cyber Crime V Neeraja said that a case was registered following a complaint by one of the victim's father.
The victim was cheated of Rs 3.10 lakhs between 2023 and 2025, when she was residing in Canada, Neeraja said in a statement.
She said that the investigation led by SHO State Cyber Crime Police Station Amandeep Singh under the supervision of SP Jaspinder Singh revealed that the kingpin, Aakash Bhargav, had devised this modus operandi two years ago under which they were targeting innocent people using fake social media profiles and cheating them by impersonating as fake religious gurus or astrologers.
During interrogation, the accused disclosed that they have earned almost Rs 40 lakh using this method, she said.
Neerja said that investigation is in progress to ascertain the involvement of other persons and additional victims who may have fallen prey to such cyber frauds.
Those arrested have been identified as brothers Abhishek Bhargav, Aakash Bhargav alias Aman, and Lucky Bhargav, natives of Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan and presently residing in Sector 70, SAS Nagar (Mohali).
Police teams have effected a huge recovery of cash amounting to Rs 3.49 lakhs, USD 500 dollars, 29 mobile phones, one laptop, one dongle, one tablet, and 38 empty boxes of mobile phones from their possession.
An FIR has been under various provisions of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and under the IT Act at Police Station State Cyber Crime, Mohali.
Neeraja advised that social media users, especially women, should beware of soothsayers and other such persons who offer solace services on the social media platforms.
She said that personal details and information should not be shared on the social media platforms at any cost as these can be misused.
In case anyone threatens to misuse the information shared including photographs and videos the victim should not panic and advised them to call the cyber helpline number 1930 immediately or register an online complaint at cybercrime.gov.in. At no cost should money be transferred to any one on the social media, she said.
However, if the money to such an account has been transferred it should be immediately reported to 1930 so that the transfer can be aborted for lien marking in the suspect bank account, she said. PTI SUN NB
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Man working at talathi office held for taking Rs 5,000 bribe
Thane, Mar 10 (PTI) The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Tuesday arrested a man working at a government office in Maharashtra's Thane district for allegedly taking Rs 5,000 bribe after he promised to provide land-related records in exchange, police said.
The accused has been identified as Nilesh Hanuman Pawar (35), a resident of Murbad taluka in the district, who worked at the talathi office at Ambivali in Kalyan, an official said.
The accused was caught red-handed while accepting the bribe amount during a trap laid by the anti-corruption agency, inspector Sharmila Patil of the ACB Thane unit said.
A landholder had sought certified copies of alteration records and related documents concerning his property. The application was later forwarded to the talathi office in Ambivali, she said.
On February 17, 2026, when the complainant met Pawar at the office, the latter demanded Rs 5,000 to get the old record and forward the file to the tehsildar's office without delay.
Following the complaint, the ACB conducted a verification and then laid a trap. The team arrested Pawar while taking the money, Patil said, adding that a case was registered against the accused and further investigation is underway. PTI COR NP
Inside Punjab Police's war room: Leveraging digital tools in battle against organised crime
Chandigarh, Mar 10 (PTI) In a secure operations room in Punjab, screens glow with call records, digital maps and intel alerts, while phones buzz with field updates from districts across the state.
For the officers inside, it is the nerve centre of a relentless battle against organised crime – one that aims to stop gang violence before the first shot is fired, using the latest digital tools.
Over the past few years, Punjab Police has moved toward intelligence-led policing, combining human intelligence with technology, to track gangster networks that operate across states and even continents, an official statement said on Tuesday.
Many of the state's most notorious gangs now function through decentralised cells, with foreign-based handlers issuing instructions and local operatives executing shootings or extortion, it said.
To counter this evolving threat, investigators are turning to digital tools that allow them to piece together fragments of information into actionable intelligence.
One of the most significant initiatives has been the use of data-driven criminal databases and voice recognition systems.
Recently, Punjab Police compiled more than 72,000 voice samples of criminals and suspects into the Punjab Artificial Intelligence System (PAIS), a mobile-based application designed to quickly identify individuals behind extortion and threat calls, the statement said.
Such technology is critical because extortion rackets have become a major arm of gangster activity in Punjab.
Investigators say many threats are issued through internet-based calls or encrypted messaging apps, often from overseas numbers, while local shooters are recruited to intimidate victims, the statement said.
“Every call, every message leaves a digital trail. Our job is to connect those dots quickly to prevent the crime,” a senior police officer said.
According to the statement, in one case, intelligence gathered by the police led to the arrest of two operatives linked to a foreign-based gangster, who had been tasked with carrying out a targeted killing in Punjab.
Acting on the tip-off, police teams intercepted the suspects before the attack could take place and recovered a pistol and ammunition from them.
The arrests were the culmination of surveillance that tracked communications between gang handlers and local recruits, a pattern that investigators say is becoming increasingly common, the statement said.
Punjab Police has also expanded its specialised units to focus exclusively on organised crime. The Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) now operates with statewide jurisdiction and a dedicated police station and specialised force, enabling officers to pursue investigations across districts without procedural delays, the statement said.
Within these units, analysts monitor criminal networks much like intelligence agencies track security threats. Call data records, financial transactions and travel patterns are examined to identify links between gang members, financiers and facilitators, it said.
The effort extends beyond India's borders. Police estimates suggest that around 60 Punjab-linked gangsters are currently based abroad, particularly in Canada and the US, where they continue to orchestrate criminal activities through local associates.
Tracking such networks requires coordination with the Central agencies and international law enforcement bodies. Punjab Police has established fugitive tracking cells to monitor these overseas operators and pursue their extradition, the statement said.
Alongside technology, traditional policing methods remain crucial, as informant networks and anonymous tip-offs continue to provide the first clues about impending crimes, it said.
According to the statement, Punjab Police has also introduced a dedicated helpline allowing citizens to report gangster activity confidentially, ensuring information flows directly to the specialised anti-gangster units.
“This blend of human intelligence and digital analysis is changing the nature of policing in Punjab. Instead of responding only after violence occurs, investigators are now increasingly aiming to dismantle the planning stage itself by identifying shooters before they reach their targets and intercepting weapons before they are used," the statement said. PTI SUN ARI
Postgraduate dental student ends life in Mumbai; her boyfriend, named in 6-page note, held
Mumbai, Mar 10 (PTI) A 24-year-old Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) student allegedly committed suicide in Mumbai and left behind a six-page note in which she has alleged mental harassment by her boyfriend, a police official said on Tuesday.
The postgraduate student, Stuti Sonawane, was found hanging at her home in the Antop Hill area on Monday, he said, adding her boyfriend Fazal Mohammad Khan (31), an insurance agent, was arrested from Lower Parel in central Mumbai.
According to the note, the woman's friends knew about her troubles with her boyfriend and would often joke and say, "We don't want to see you in the fridge", police stated.
The Antop Hill police station official said the deceased left behind a six-page purported suicide note in her room in which she has mentioned the name of Khan and accused him of constant harassment.
Based on her parents' complaint, the accused was arrested under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including 108 (abetment of suicide), he said.
Police, quoting the note found in Sonwane's room, said the MDS student was in a relationship with Khan, who would suspect her of cheating and make hurtful remarks about her character.
The suicide came to light when Sonawane did not step out of her room till about 11 am on Monday. Her worried parents called out to her, but got no response. They then broke open the room's door and found their daughter hanging from the ceiling, said police.
She was rushed to a hospital, where doctors declared her dead, they said.
During probe, police found that the victim and the accused, a resident of Worli, met via a dating application and were in a relationship since last one year.
Further investigation was underway, the official added. PTI ZA RSY
Odisha: Man, sister-in-law die by jumping in front of train
Balasore, Mar 10 (PTI) A 35-year-old man and his teenage sister-in-law allegedly ended their lives by jumping in front of a train in Odisha's Balasore district, police said on Tuesday.
The two were suspected to be in an illicit relationship, and the 18-year-old woman was pregnant, they said.
The incident happened near Jaleswar station on Monday, they added.
An investigation into the incident has been started, police said. PTI COR AAM AAM SOM
Plea for ASI survey of Gyanvapi wazukhana: Allahabad HC posts matter for Apr 15
Read MoreAllahabad HC briefly hears cleric's bail plea in Bareilly violence case, next hearing on Mar 12
Prayagraj, Mar 10 (PTI) The Allahabad High Court on Tuesday briefly heard the bail plea of Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan in connection with last year's violence case in Bareilly and posted the matter for further hearing on March 12.
Justice Ashutosh Srivastava passed the order after hearing arguments for some time on behalf of the applicant. Raza is currently in jail in the case.
According to the police, on September 26, 2025 Raza allegedly called upon members of the Muslim community to assemble at Islamiya Inter College in Bareilly.
Despite prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), around 200-250 people gathered and proceeded from Maulana Azad Inter College towards Shyamganj Chauraha.
Police said the crowd, holding placards and raising provocative slogans, ignored warnings and became aggressive. Members of the mob allegedly hurled brickbats, stones and acid bottles at the police and also fired gunshots.
According to the FIR, two police officers were injured and the incident created panic in the area, forcing police to open fire in self-defence after attempts to disperse the crowd failed. PTI COR RAJ KIS ZMN
Kerala HC dismisses plea against CMO messages to officials
Kochi, Mar 10 (PTI) The Kerala High Court on Tuesday dismissed a plea seeking to restrain messages sent by the CMO to officials regarding grants of DA and house building allowance (HBA), saying that such communications cannot be regarded as a political campaign even if elections are imminent.
Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas said the nature of messages sent relates to the salary and other perquisites or benefits of the government employees or officials and can be viewed as "a measure of good governance" in a social welfare state.
The court order, which comes as a relief for the state government, also said that the messages cannot "by any stretch of imagination" be regarded as a political campaign or as something done for an illegitimate purpose.
"Such a step cannot be branded as illegal or for any illegitimate purpose, even if elections are on the anvil," it said.
The court further held that there was no material to indicate that any data was transferred to the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) nor that the CM or his office had any access to the same.
"... there is no merit in this writ petition. The message sent by Kerala State Information Technology Mission (KSITM) informing details about DA and HBA cannot be regarded as violating the right to privacy of the recipients of those messages. Hence, this writ petition is dismissed," it said.
The order came on the plea by Dr Rasheed Ahammed, an associate professor at a college in Malappuram, and Anil Kumar K M, a clerical assistant at the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, who claimed that sending such messages amounts to an election campaign.
The petitioners had alleged that the messages were sent by accessing private data provided on the Service and Payroll Administrative Repository for Kerala (SPARK) for intimating the credit of the monthly salary and benefits.
They had also claimed that data from the KSMART (Kerala Solutions for Managing Administrative Reformation and Transformation) system was also taken for sending the messages.
SPARK is an e-governance initiative under the Finance Department of Kerala and has been operational since 2007, aimed at digitalising HR-related services and salary data of government employees.
Rejecting the allegations, the state government said that the WhatsApp messages informing employees about the grant of Dearness Allowance (DA) arrears and the reinstatement of HBA were budgetary assurances and cannot be termed to be political in nature.
It also claimed that since the Whatsapp message contained no reference to any political party and had only contained factual administrative data, it cannot be regarded as access to any personal data of the government employees for any illegal or illegitimate purposes. PTI HMP ROH
Frame no-fault compensation policy for serious adverse events after Covid vaccination: SC to Centre
New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Centre to frame a no-fault compensation policy for those who suffered serious adverse events following Covid vaccination.
The apex court said the existing mechanism for monitoring adverse events following immunisation shall continue and relevant data be periodically placed in the public domain in accordance with the observations made by the apex court in its May 2022 verdict in the Jacob Puliyel case.
"No separate court appointed expert body is considered necessary in view of the existing mechanism for scientific assessment of adverse events following immunisation," a bench of justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta said.
While pronouncing the judgement, Justice Nath clarified that its verdict shall not preclude any person from pursuing such other remedies as may be available in law.
"Equally, the formulation of the no-fault framework shall not be construed as an admission of liability or fault on the part of the Union of India or any other authority," the bench said.
The top court delivered its verdict on pleas, including the one which alleged that two women lost their lives in 2021 after taking the first dose of the Covishield vaccine.
The plea, while alleging that both of them suffered from severe adverse effects following immunisation, had also sought a direction to the authorities to grant monetary compensation to the petitioners which would be donated by them to organisations working on social issues.
When the bench was hearing the matter in November last year, the counsel appearing for the Centre had referred to data about Covid-19 vaccination in India up to December 2024.
"The total doses administered in India is 220 crores. Total AEFI (adverse effects following immunisation) cases reported is 92,697, in percentage it is 0.0042," the Centre's counsel had said, adding the total deaths reported was 1,171 which was 0.00005 per cent.
The Centre's lawyer had said that minor cases were 89,854 and severe or serious cases were 2,843.
The Centre had earlier told the top court that Covid pandemic was "a disaster like no other" and vaccination saved people's lives.
In its May 2022 verdict on a plea filed by Jacob Puliyel, the top court had observed that bodily integrity was protected under Article 21 of the Constitution and no individual can be forced to be vaccinated against Covid.
It had asked the Centre to make public data on the immunisation's adverse events.
The top court, however, had said in the interest of protection of communitarian health, the government was entitled to regulate issues of public health concern by imposing certain limitations on individual rights, which were open to scrutiny by constitutional courts. PTI ABA ZMN
SC upholds Bharti Telecom’s share capital reduction
New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a batch of appeals filed by minority shareholders of Bharti Telecom Limited (BTL), upholding the company’s decision to reduce its share capital and ease out individual investors.
A bench of Justices Sanjay Kumar and K Vinod Chandran said that the valuation of shares is an expert exercise and that the company had followed the due process of law under the Companies Act provision.
The matter pertains to a 2018 decision by Bharti Telecom, a closely-held company and promoter of Bharti Airtel Limited (BAL), to reduce its share capital by cancelling shares held by minority investors (representing about 1.09 per cent of the total shareholding).
The company initially offered Rs 163.25 per share. While the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) later increased this to Rs 196.80 per share by removing a tax deduction, a group of 35 shareholders moved the apex court.
They alleged that the valuation was a "sham", the price was "arbitrarily low", and the notice for the meeting was "tricky".
“We cannot but reiterate that the appellants herein are not wary investors, cautious retirees or mere speculators, but seasoned retail investors who blend in equal measure prudence with quite calculation,” the bench said rejecting the appeals.
"Far from the bullish and bearish trends that regulate the flexible share value of listed companies in a volatile market, the appellants held on to the shares of BTL; with zero listing, zero marketability, zero dividend payment, zero exit options also declining purchase offers, with the stoic resolve of a feline waiting patiently for its prey," the bench added. PTI MNR MNR KVK
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SC to watch videos of Sonam Wangchuk's speeches, reserves order on his detention on Mar 17
Read MoreWill summon defence, finance secretaries if decision not taken on benefits to disabled cadets: SC
New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Tuesday warned that it could summon the defence and the finance secretaries if their concerned ministries fail to take a decision on extending monetary benefits to military cadets who became unfit due to disability suffered during their training period.
A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan was hearing a suo moto case related to the difficulties faced by cadets who were boarded out due to injury or disablement during training.
“Having regard to the fact that sufficient time has already been granted to the concerned ministries by us, we are constrained to observe that in case no progress is made in the matter, we would be constrained to direct the presence of the defence secretary and the finance secretary before this court," the court said.
The bench said that six weeks were granted by the court to the authorities to decide on the issue, but no response was given by the defence or the finance ministry.
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati urged the bench to grant some more time to the ministries for taking a decision on the issue, and submitted that she had tried her best to resolve the matter.
She informed the court that all three chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force had made recommendations on measures to improve the condition of the cadets, but the concerned ministries have not taken any decision in the matter.
Justice Nagarathna said the issue needs coordination between both the defence ministry and the finance ministry, and suggested that a joint meeting could help resolve the matter.
"The monetary allocation required should have been part of the Budget. The Finance Act has not yet been passed, so there is time," she said.
The court noted that the Finance Act, 2026, is under consideration and makes this the best time to analyse the funds required to meet the monetary needs of these cadets.
"Having regard to the fact that the Finance Act 2026 is under consideration, this is the most appropriate period for taking note of the expenditure required for meeting the monetary requirements of the outboarded cadets," the court said, and listed the matter for further hearing on March 24.
On August 18 last year, the top court had said that it wants defence forces to have "braveheart cadets" who should not be deterred by injuries or disabilities suffered during training, and directed the Centre to explore the possibility of providing them with insurance covers for such exigencies.
It had sought the response of the Centre and the defence forces in a suo motu case on difficulties faced by cadets, who were medically discharged from military institutes on account of disabilities suffered during training programmes.
The Centre, the top court said, should explore the possibility of granting an insurance cover like group insurance to the cadets undergoing rigorous training in different military institutes to deal with any exigency of death or disabilities.
It also asked Bhati to seek instruction on enhancing the current lumpsum amount, which stands at Rs 40,000 for cadets disabled during the training programme, to meet their medical needs.
The top court was informed that a file relating to granting them Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) cover had been cleared by the ministry, but not implemented.
The top court also asked the Centre to explore a scheme for the rehabilitation of the disabled candidates into desk jobs or any other work related to defence services, after their treatment was over.
On August 12 last year, the top court had taken suo motu cognisance of a media report, which flagged the issue of these cadets.
They were stated to be once a part of training at the nation’s top military institutes, such as the National Defence Academy (NDA) and the Indian Military Academy (IMA).
According to a report, there were around 500 officer cadets who were medically discharged from these military institutes since 1985, due to varying degrees of disability incurred during training, and are now staring at mounting medical bills with an ex-gratia monthly payment that's far short of what they need. PTI MNL SKM MNL ARI
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Janakpuri Biker death: Delhi court sends main contractor to one day judicial custody
New Delhi, March 10 (PTI) A Delhi court on Tuesday remanded the contractor to one day's judicial custody, who was arrested in connection with the bank employee's death after his bike fell into a pit in Janakpuri.
The contractor, Himanshu Gupta, had been evading arrest and was held in Rajasthan's Udaipur on Tuesday morning after a rigorous manhunt by the police, officials said.
The Delhi Police produced Gupta before Duty Magistrate Anuradha Sonkar, who sent him to one day's judicial custody.
The case pertains to the death of Kamal Dhyani, who worked as an assistant manager at the Rohini branch of HDFC Bank, on the night of February 5, after his motorcycle fell into a 15-foot-deep sewage pit allegedly left open during work being carried out by the Delhi Jal Board in Janakpuri.
Last month, the Delhi High Court refused to grant anticipatory bail to two contractors, Himanshu Gupta and Kavish Gupta, observing that public roads cannot be allowed to turn into death traps. PTI SKM SKM SHS
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Telangana phone tapping case: SC grants anticipatory bail to former IPS T Prabhakar Rao
New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted anticipatory bail to former Telangana Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB) chief T Prabhakar Rao, who is an accused in a phone tapping case.
A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and R Mahadevan granted the relief to the former IPS officer.
“...We dispose of the appeal by making absolute the interim protection which was granted to the accused,” the bench said.
On December 19 last year, the apex court had extended till December 25 the police custody of Rao. The court had said Rao would be released after interrogation on December 26 and no coercive action be taken against him till it heard the case on the next date of hearing.
On January 16 this year, the court said it will hear the matter on March 10 and extended the interim protection to Rao till then.
During the proceedings on Tuesday, senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, appearing for Telangana, said the investigation was almost complete, and that an additional chargesheet will be filed against the former IPS officer in the coming days.
Rao said that he had cooperated with the investigation and complied with the court’s orders.
He had moved the top court challenging an order of the Telangana High Court, which dismissed his plea seeking anticipatory bail.
On May 22, a Hyderabad court issued a proclamation order against Rao in the phone-tapping case.
A suspended DSP of SIB was among four police officials who were arrested by the Hyderabad Police since March 2024, for allegedly erasing intelligence information from various electronic gadgets as well as for alleged phone-tapping during the previous BRS regime. They were subsequently granted bail.
The accused are part of the alleged conspiracy in which they “misused” the resources of SIB for political purposes by putting citizens from different walks of life under surveillance, the police had said.
Those named as accused in the case and others had allegedly developed profiles of several persons without authorisation and were accused of monitoring them secretly and illegally and using them in a partisan manner to favour a political party at the behest of some persons.
They are also accused of a conspiracy to destroy records and evidence of their crimes, according to the police. PTI MNR MNR KVK
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Pune Porsche accident: SC grants bail to minor's father in blood sample swapping case
New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted bail to the father of the minor alleged to have been driving the Porsche car under the influence of alcohol in 2024 in Pune that killed two persons.
The incident dates back to May 19, 2024, when the Porsche car allegedly driven by the 17-year-old boy under the influence of alcohol fatally knocked down two IT professionals in Pune's Kalyani Nagar area.
A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan granted bail to Vishal Agarwal, who is accused of hatching a conspiracy to swap blood samples of the minor to ensure the occupants of the car get a 'Nil Alcohol' report.
The top court observed that the case reflects the mindset of Indian society, where people want to get the better of the law.
Justice Nagarathna also questioned the role of educational institutions in instilling constitutional values among children.
The top court noted that the co-accused persons in the case have been granted relief and the accused has been in jail for the past 22 months.
"We note that the appellant herein has been in jail for the last 22 months. The appellant has made out a case for bail. Bail granted subject to terms and conditions to be imposed by the trial court," the bench ordered.
During the hearing, the Maharashtra government opposed the grant of bail and submitted that the ground of parity with other co-accused will not apply to the case of Agarwal.
The top court, however, restrained Agarwal from contacting any witnesses in the case and directed the trial court to conclude the trial expeditiously.
"The petitioner shall not make any attempt to contact the witnesses either directly or indirectly. Any violation of the conditions shall entitle the state to seek cancellation of the bail. We also direct the concerned trial court to conclude the trial at the earliest," the bench ordered.
Justice Nagarathna said that the action of Agarwal cannot be the basis to curtail his liberty before the conviction.
"All this is a reflection of the mindset of Indian society. That everybody wants to get out and to get the better of the law.
"Now, the question is, if this is the mindset of Indian society, then does a man have to lose his liberty until he is convicted?" she told lawyers, appearing for different parties.
The counsel for the state government said that the principle of parity cannot be applied in this case as Agarwal has arranged Rs 5 lakh through his wife to bribe officials to manipulate blood samples and secure a favourable medical report.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Agarwal, submitted that the minor was driving the car but a driver had also been provided and was present in the vehicle.
Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for the father of one of the victims, opposed the grant of bail and argued that the case involved a conspiracy to subvert the justice system after the accident.
"Thousands of road accidents happen in this country every day. Many involve intoxicated drivers and minors. This case is not about the accident and death of my child.
"It is about subversion of justice. Immediately after the incident, there were a series of phone calls made by this man as a ring leader of a conspiracy," he submitted.
Justice Nagarathna observed that the prosecution must secure a conviction through the trial process.
Sankaranarayanan argued that witnesses had stated that they were used in the alleged conspiracy and Agarwal had managed to influence other families of children involved in the case.
He submitted that a strong message needs to be sent to society. Justice Nagarathna said bail cannot be denied just to send a message to society and it cannot be at the cost of a man losing his liberty.
"These are all symptoms of the problems which are there in society. When a matter comes to the Supreme Court, we can't just say that the trial court has denied the relief and the high court has denied the bail and, therefore, we would also deny it," she said.
On February 27, the top court granted bail to a doctor arrested for allegedly tampering with the blood samples of the minor, accused of crashing a Porsche car into a motorcycle in Pune and killing two persons.
The court, on February 2, granted bail to three accused in the case, while observing that parents are to blame for such incidents involving juveniles as they do not have control over their children.
The Bombay High Court, on December 16 last year, rejected the bail pleas of eight accused in the case.
The Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) had granted bail to the minor accused on lenient terms, sparking nationwide outrage.
The bail conditions included writing a 300-word essay on road safety. As bail to the accused juvenile triggered outrage, the Pune Police approached the JJB to review its decision.
The board then modified the order and sent the juvenile to an observation home.
The high court subsequently ordered the release of the juvenile.
While the juvenile involved in the case was released from an observation home, 10 accused, including his parents Vishal Agarwal and Shivani Agarwal, doctors Ajay Tawre and Shreehari Halnor, Sassoon Hospital's staffer Atul Ghatkamble, Sood, Mittal and Arun Kumar Singh, were sent to jail in the blood sample-swapping case. PTI MNL KSS
KSS
'Go sell some sweaters': SC junks AI-drafted PIL of Ludhiana cloth trader
New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Tuesday junked a PIL filed by a Ludhiana-based cloth trader after he admitted to using artificial intelligence tools to draft the petition and could not explain the complex legal terms used in it.
“‘Jaao, Ludhiana mein 2-3 aur sweater becho… Jin logo ka kaam hai aisi petition file karna, woh nuksaan kardengay apka costs lagwa ke’ (Go and sell 2-3 more sweaters in Ludhiana... If you continue filing such petitions through others, they will end up having costs imposed upon you),” Chief Justice Surya Kant said while dismissing the PIL.
The bench, also comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and R Mahadevan, became suspicious when Rajnish Sidhu, a hosiery trader with a Class 12 education, stood up to argue his plea regarding the PM CARES Fund.
The moment Sidhu started his arguments by reading from the written text, the CJI began questioning his educational and other backgrounds.
When the petitioner said that he did not file any petition in the past and directly came to the top court to file his first plea, the CJI sarcastically said, “‘Bada bahaduri ka kaam kiya, seedha Ludhiana se chalke aagaye’ (Very brave of you to come straight from Ludhiana to the Supreme Court)."
"I will take your English exam right here," the CJI said, adding, "If you manage to score even 30 per cent, I will believe you drafted this plea."
The moment of truth came when the CJI asked Sidhu to explain “Fiduciary Risk of Corporate Donors”, a term used in the PIL.
A stumped Sidhu was unable to define the term and tried to read from his notes.
“Mr Sidhu, this has been written and given to you by some advocate. You are just reading the script," the CJI interjected and warned that he would order an investigation by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau.
The petitioner then took the name of a typist working on the apex court premises as the person who initially helped him draft the PIL.
“The typist was very helpful… I gifted him four jackets. He was asking for Rs 1,000 per hour,” Sidhu said, adding, “But I have not used his petition and drafted my own.”
Eventually, he admitted to using three to four artificial intelligence (AI) tools to draft the petition because he could not afford a lawyer.
The bench trashed the PIL with the warning that any such attempt in future will invite penal and financial consequences.
On Monday, the CJI-led bench trashed five “frivolous” PILs filed by a single lawyer, including one seeking a scientific study on whether onion and garlic contained “tamasic” (negative) energy, and asked if he drafted them in the middle of the night. PTI SJK MNL ARI
