SATURDAY 20 HINDI FILM HOMEBOUND IS INDIA’S OFFICIAL ENTRY FOR 2026 OSCARS SEPTEMBER, 2025 epaper.morningstandard.in facebook.com/TheMorningStandard X.com/TheMornStandard O L I S AY S DIDN’T GIVE FIRING ORDERS ON ‘GEN Z’ Nepal’s deposed Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli on Friday denied that he had given any shooting orders during the ‘Gen Z’ protests. PAGE 9 MASTER PLAN `57K cr fixed to rid capital of waterlogging & drainage woes A N U P V E R M A @ New Delhi UNION Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Friday launched Delhi’s new drainage master plan to address the city’s waterlogging and sewage challenges in the next three decades. The plan seeks to reshape the city’s drainage network at an estimated cost of `57,000 crore, with the Centre pledging financial assistance to support its rollout. The plan has divided the city into three basins—Najafgarh, Barapullah and Trans-Yamuna—and hired consultants to redesign the drainage network. “The Central government will be helping the state to implement the drainage master plan,” said Khattar. The last comprehensive drainage master plan was prepared in 1976 when Delhi had a population of 60 lakh. Now, with the population touching nearly 2.5 crore, the city’s drainage system is facing increasing pressure. The national capital has approximately 18,958 km of drainage network under the jurisdiction of eight civic agencies and departments, including PWD, irrigation and flood control, MCD, DDA, NDMC etc. The new drainage master plan targets 30-year solution for urban flooding. The consultants have analysed factors like slopes, depressions, and the existing old and insufficient infra to improve drainage efficiency After the . DPR is approved, the agency will start the process of inviting tenders from private companies to carry out the work on the ground. Feasibility study has been done on micro and macro level. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said, “We have been visiting legacy waterlogging points. We do not work from air-conditioned rooms.” “The drainage master plan is a guarantee card of no waterlogging,” said Water Minister Parvesh Verma. The film by Neeraj Ghaywan is India’s official entry for the 2026 Academy Awards in the Best International Feature category 24 FILMS WERE IN THE RACE TO REPRESENT INDIA A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS PLAN MEET TO AVOID UNILATERAL CURBS The US President said he would meet the Chinese Prez at a summit to take place at the end of Oct in South Korea and will visit China early next year. | P9 NEW DELHI ADVANCE TAX COLLECTIONS Corporate tax *Noncorporate tax ALL FIGURES IN ` CRORE 3,31,844.88 1,04,410.94 96,783.94  J8.00  PAGES 12 PRICE WAR VROOMS MAHINDRA JOINS MARUTI IN PRICE CUTS AFTER GST RATIONALISATION, ADDS BENEFITS TOTALLING `2.56 LAKH 6.11% 3,52,128.60 -7.3% A R S H A D K H A N @ New Delhi FY 2024-25 (as on 17.09.2024) FY 2025-26 (as on 17.09.2025) *Includes advance tax paid by individuals, HUFs, firms, local authorities, etc Corp tax mop-up rises, individual collections drop Higher income tax exemption limit brings down personal advance tax collections D I PA K M O N D A L @ New Delhi ADVANCE personal income tax collections for FY26 fell 7.3% to `96,784 crore as of September 17, compared to `1,04,411 crore in the same period last fiscal. The decline is attributed to the higher income tax exemption threshold—raised from `7 lakh to `12 lakh in this year’s Budget—and the revised tax slabs. In contrast, corporate advance tax collections grew 6.11% to `3,52,129 crore. Consequently total advance tax collections reg, istered a modest 2.9% growth to `4,48,913 crore. “The drop in advance tax collection is primarily because of slab changes, and due to lower tax liabilities for salaried individuals,” said Riyaz Thingna, tax partner, Grant Thornton Bharat. He noted that some of the shortfall could be made up by October-end, when individuals with business income file reNon-corporate turns and pay self-assessment tax. advance taxes Despite the dip in advance personal tax, overfell 7% due to all direct tax collections remain buoyant. Net tax reliefs direct tax collections (after refunds) rose 9.18% Vivek Jalan, year-on-year to `10,82,579 crore, against `9,91,512 partner, Tax crore in FY24-25. Net corporate tax collections Connect Advisory increased 4.93% to `4,72,297 crore, while net Services personal income tax collections surged 13.67% to `5,83,685 crore. Securities transaction tax was largely flat at `26,306 crore. A key driver of this growth was a steep fall in refunds—down 24% to `1,60,527 crore from `2,10,858 crore last year—reflecting tighter scrutiny of claims and quicker assessments. “Non-corporate advance taxes have declined by around 7% due to massive tax reliefs in FY26,” said Vivek Jalan, partner, Tax Connect Advisory Services. “At the same time, stricter monitoring of deductions and enhanced disclosures in ITRs led to refunds falling to nearly a third of last year’s level.” With nominal GDP growth slipping to 8.8% in Q1 from about 10% a year ago, analysts caution that weaker economic momentum could weigh on tax collections, the fiscal deficit, and corporate earnings in the coming quarters. PRICE wars among automakers have intensified following the government’s decision to slash GST rates. A day after Maruti Suzuki cut prices by up to 24%, leading SUV manufacturer Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) announced revised ex-showroom prices incorporating the GST reduction, along with additional benefits of up to `1.29 lakh on its petrol and diesel vehicles. The combined impact of the GST cut and additional benefits will allow customers to save up to `2.56 lakh, M&M said. Bolero Neo leads the line-up with a maximum total benefit of `2.56 lakh, comprising a `1.27 lakh reduction in ex-showroom price and additional benefits worth `1.29 lakh. The popular subcompact SUV, the XUV3XO, follows closely with total savings of `2.46 lakh. Among larger SUV models, the XUV700, Scorpio-N, and Scorpio Classic offer total benefits ranging between `1.96 lakh and `2.24 lakh. Meanwhile, the Thar and Thar ROXX receive total benefits of `1.55 lakh and `1.53 lakh, respectively . The price cut, over and above the GST benefit, is expected to boost competitiveness in the market, giving buyers a wider choice bracket. M&M’s pricing moves also reflect carmakers’ strategies to retain strong positioning in India’s growing SUV segment, especially as the country’s largest player, Maruti Suzuki, targets leadership in the high-volume, midsize SUV space with the launch of its Victoris model. The additional incentives come at a time when the indus- try is burdened with high inventory as vehicle sales slowed sharply since mid-August following reports of an overhaul in the GST rate structure. Puneet Gupta, director for India and ASEAN Auto Markets at S&P Global Mobility said the on, going discounts are a result of the cess component being removed after September 22. “Cess, which is around 20% for large SUVs, will no longer apply under GST 2.0. However, dealers have already paid this amount and are facing potential losses. To mitigate the impact, they are working with OEMs to offer discounts and clear inventory he explained. Gupta add,” ed Maruti Suzuki’s decision to cut prices would fuel sales in the struggling mini car segment as buyers looking to upgrade from two-wheeler to fourwheeler will look to cash in on the discounts. THE ABVP secured a decisive victory in the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) election 2025, winning three of the four key posts. The BJP’s student wing won the posts of president, secretary, and joint secretary, while the Congress-backed NSUI claimed the vice-president position. ABVP’s presidential candidate Aryan Maan got 28,841 votes, leaving NSUI’s candidate far behind with 12,645 votes. WINNERS Recently, the ABVP had sprung a surprise victory in the Panjab University students’ union elections. Maan, from Bahadurgarh, Haryana, is a graduate of Hansraj College and is currently pursuing his MA in Library Sciences. A football player, he has been at the forefront of several key student movements, such as fee hikes and lack of infra, organised by the ABVP . The vice-president post went to NSUI’s Rahul Jhansla who won 29,339 votes while ABVP’s Govind Tanwar secured 20,547. President: Aryan Maan (ABVP) J AYA N T H J A C O B @ New Delhi IN a key step towards mending diplomatic ties, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval held bilateral security consultations with his Canadian counterpart Nathalie Drouin in New Delhi on Thursday . The high-level dialogue comes nearly two years after diplomatic relations between the two nations were rocked by Canadian allegations over the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The meeting also marked the first major engagement between the two countries’ security establishments since both sides appointed new High Commissioners in August, following months of diplomatic chill. Doval and Drouin’s meeting is also seen as a follow-up to the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney PART OF REGULAR BILATERAL TALKS Jaiswal said the NSA-level talks on Thursday were part of regular bilateral security consultation with Canada. The officials also followed up on discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian PM Mark Carney on the sidelines of G7 in Alberta, Canada in June this year on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis this June. “This is part of the regular bilateral security consultations that happen between the two countries,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a media briefing on Friday . The talks took place against the backdrop of renewed threats from the US-based Kha- Responsibility to ensure security of Indian diplomatic premises lies with the host government Randhir Jaiswal listani outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), which announced a “siege” outside the Indian Consulate in Vancouver on September 18. The group circulated threatening posters targeting India’s new High Commissioner to Canada, Dinesh Patnaik, sparking fresh concerns. “As and when there is a concern, we do take it up with the concerned side, in this case PARVEEN NEGI The SFI-AISA secured 4,163 votes. For the secretary post, ABVP’s Kunal Chaudhary bagged 23,779 votes, defeating NSUI’s Kabir, while SFI-AISA’s candidate Abhinandana made a relatively stronger showing. The joint secretary post followed a similar pattern, with ABVP’s Deepika Jha beating NSUI’s Lavkush Bhadana. Z UBEEN Garg, the 52-year-old cultural icon of Assam and a hear tthrob of the younger generation, passed away on Friday in Singapore, leaving behind a rich legacy . Known for his superlative rendition of ‘Ya Ali’ and countless other hits, Garg remained WHY The Delhi High Court issued notices to seven candidates, including newly elected president Aryan Maan and secretary Kunal Chaudhary, over alleged violations of luxury cars used in its order banning victory processions. The HC condemned the use of luxury cars campaign, asks HC like Ferraris, Bentleys and Rolls-Royces during the campaign | MORE REPORTS ON P3 Vice President: Rahul Jhansla (NSUI) Zubeen Garg 18 NOV 1972 - 19 SEPT 2025 Bolero Neo `2.56 L XUV 3XO `2.46 L XUV 700 `2.24 L Scorpio N `2.15 L Scorpio Classic `1.96 L Thar `1.55 L Thar ROXX `1.53 L * SHOWROOM DISCOUNTS + ADDITIONAL BENEFITS Secretary: Kunal Chaudhary (ABVP) “We received a call from Zubeen’s manager informing us that he had met with an accident and had been rushed to Singapore General Hospital,” said Shyamkanu Mahanta, chief organiser of the festival, in a statement. “We later learned that a few members of the local Assamese community had taken him on a yacht visit, of which we had no prior knowledge. This is a mon- Canada, to ensure there is adequate security for our diplomatic premises,” Jaiswal said SFJ’s announcement coincided with the anniversary of former Canadian premier Justin Trudeau’s explosive statement in September 2023, where he alleged that Indian agents may have been involved in Nijjar’s killing—a charge strongly and consistently refuted by India. Nijjar, a designated terrorist by India, was gunned down outside a gurdwara in British Columbia on June 18, 2023. Indian officials used Thursday’s talks to raise concerns over the safety of their diplomats and premises in Canada, the activities of pro-Khalistan elements operating from Canadian soil, and long-pending extradition requests. Canadian authorities, in turn, flagged their own worries over transnational criminal networks with links to India, sources said. Pak airspace to remain shut for Indian airlines @ New Delhi Joint Secretary: Deepika Jha (ABVP) Zubeen Garg of ‘Ya Ali’ fame dies in Singapore scuba diving accident a multifaceted talent — a singer-songwriter, composer, lyricist, music director, actor, film producer, director, screenwriter, and philanthropist — who captured hearts across Assam, Bengal, and beyond. While in Singapore to attend the 4th Northeast India Festival, Garg suffered breathing difficulties during a private scuba diving excursion not linked to the festival. BOLERO NEO LEADS THE LINE-UP WITH A MAXIMUM TOTAL BENEFIT OF `2.56 LAKH* E X P R E SS N E WS S E R V I C E NORTHEAST’S OWN P R A S A N TA M A Z U M D A R @ Guwahati Fat savings K-point in India, Canada NSA talks ABVP sweeps DUSU polls, wins 3 of 4 key posts; prez wins by over 16k votes I F R A H M U F T I @ New Delhi DON, XI  A total of 24 films in different languages were in contention for representing the country at the Oscars, selection committee chairperson N Chandra said. Homebound tells story of two childhood friends from a small north Indian village who chase a police job. The film, backed by Martin Scorsese, stars Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor | P7 umental loss,” the statement read. Born Zubeen Borthakur on November 18, 1972, Garg mostly sang in Assamese, Bengali and Hindi-language film and music industries. His mother Ily Borthakur was a singer while his father Mohini Mohan Garg was a music enthusiast. He is survived by his wife Garima Saikia, a fashion designer. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among scores of leaders who mourned his passing. “Shocked by the sudden demise of popular singer Zubeen Garg. He will be remembered for his rich contribution to music,” the PM posted on X. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said Assam lost one of its favourite sons. “I am at a loss for words to describe what Zubeen meant for Assam. He has gone too early .” PAKISTAN has once again extended its closure of airspace for Indian aircraft and airlines for another month, now till the morning of October 24. This marks the sixth time the neighbouring country has extended its airspace restrictions. India is yet to respond to this move. A fresh NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) was issued by the Pakistan Airports Authority on Friday. The existing airspace closure by both countries ends at 5.29 am on September 24. In the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attacks in Kashmir on April 22 in which 26 people were killed, both the countries closed their air space for each other. The reciprocal closure has been extended every month by India and Pakistan before the expiration of the deadline. Asked about India’s stance, an official in the Aviation Ministry said, “We have not received any directive as of now (Friday late night).” India is expected to reciprocate the gesture shortly with its own NOTAM. A NOTAM is a notice containing information that is essential for personnel involved in flight operations.