TUESDAY 24 FEBRUARY, 2026 epaper.morningstandard.in facebook.com/TheMorningStandard X.com/TheMornStandard B A F TA ‘ONE BATTLE’ BAGS BEST FILM AWARD Paul Thomas Anderson’s ‘One Battle After Another’ won the top prize at the BAFTAs on Sunday. The film also won the most prizes, with a tally of six. PAGE 9 74 lakh voters deleted from TN electoral rolls after SIR T M U R U G A N A N D H A M @ Chennai THE total number of voters in Tamil Nadu stood at 5.67 crore after the conclusion of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Tamil Nadu. This is around 74 lakh voters (or 11.5%) fewer than the 6.41 crore voters on the rolls when the exercise began in the state on October 27, 2025. When the draft rolls were published on December 19 after the SIR enumeration period, 97.34 lakh names were dropped from the electoral rolls. Addressing a press conference, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Archana Patnaik on Monday said that after the claims and objections period for the SIR got over on January 30, 2026, 27.53 lakh voters were added to the electoral rolls and 4.23 lakh names were deleted. This resulted in the net addition of around 23 lakh to the 5.44 crore voters in the draft SIR rolls. After the SIR exercise was first completed in Bihar in September 2025, the process was initiated in three UTs and nine states, including TN. Of these, only Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal are yet to release the final SIR rolls. Among the states where the final SIR rolls are out, TN has the highest number of deletions. In percentage terms, Gujarat has the highest at 13.4%, compared to TN’s 11.5%. Today’s Match 7pm: England vs Pakistan (Pallekele) A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS  NEW DELHI ZERO TOLERANCE 1st counter-terror policy to cut fund, arms, safe havens M U K E S H R A N J A N @ New Delhi THE government on Monday announced the country’s first counter-terror policy, ‘Prahaar’, which addresses evolving threats through prevention, coordinated response and capacity building while adhering to the rule of law. The document released by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) noted that instability in India’s immediate neighbourhood has often created ungoverned spaces, adding that a “few countries in the region have sometimes used terrorism as an instrument of state policy”. However, the MHA said India does not associate terrorism with any religion. “India does not link terrorism to any specific religion, ethnicity, nationality or civilization,” it said while emphasising that the country has always denounced terrorism “unambiguously and unequivocally” and that its policy is guided by a principled approach of ‘zero tolerance’ against terror. The strategy flows from India’s commitment to stand by the victims of terrorism. It is predicated on prevention of terror attacks, swift and proportionate responses, aggregation of internal capacities through a whole-of-government approach, ensuring human rights and ruleof-law-based processes, attenuating conditions that enable terrorism, aligning and shaping global efforts to counter terror, and strengthening recovery and resilience through a whole-of-society approach. Highlighting the transnational nature of terrorism, the MHA said international partnerships remain critical through intelligence sharing, extradition arrangements and cooperation frameworks. Going forward, the policy envisages enhanced cooperation among agencies, periodic legal reforms and further capacity building of state counter-terror units so as to deny terrorists access to funds, weapons and safe havens, while investing in technology and partnerships to counter future threats. Building consensus on terror and its victims To build consensus on the understanding of terrorism and the rights of victims of terrorism, India will continue to work for a comprehensive framework on international terrorism while pursuing its counter-terrorism policy and strategy ‘Prahaar’, which aims to criminalise all terrorist acts and deny access to funds, weapons and safe havens to the terrorists, their financiers and supporters There is a need to associate legal experts at every stage of investigation, right from the registration of the first information report to its culmination in prosecution New policy  J8.00  PAGES 12 EDWIN LUTYENS MAKES WAY FOR RAJAJI’S BUST IN BID TO SHED ‘COLONIAL MINDSET’ President Droupadi Murmu pays tributes to C Rajagopalachari at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday. Better known as Rajaji, he was the first and only Indian governor general of Independent India. His bust replaced the statue of British architect Edwin Lutyens, who designed Rashtrapati Bhavan—part of the govt’s exercise to “shed the remnants of a colonial mindset” | P7 IAF grounds its entire Tejas fleet Launches technical review to find out how an Mk1 overshot the Guj runway during takeoff J A V A R I A R A N A @ New Delhi THE Indian Air Force (IAF) has grounded its entire Tejas fleet as a precautionary measure following a runway incident earlier this month, even as Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on Monday described the episode as a “minor technical incident”. According to defence sources, the IAF has initiated a comprehensive technical review across critical systems to determine the cause of the incident. There has been no official statement from the IAF so far on either the incident or the temporary grounding. It also remains unclear whether the airframe of the jet Mk1, Mk1-A deliveries behind schedule that skidded off the runway will be written off. It is reliably learnt that the grounding comes after an incident in early February at Naliya Air Base in Gujarat, where a Tejas MK1 overshot the runway during take off. Sources said the jet slid into a nearby mud patch softened by prior rainfall while still in the acceleration phase of take-off. The pilot sustained injuries but is reported to be safe. HAL sought to downplay it, stating that there had been no HAL is yet to complete delivery of the IAF’s Tejas Mk-1 order. Of the 40 aircraft contracted, only 38 have been delivered so far. The delays extend to the larger Tejas Mk-1A programme as well, where deliveries of 180 aircraft are running over two years behind schedule incident involving the LCA Tejas beyond a “minor technical issue” on the ground. It further added that Tejas MK1 continues to maintain one of the world’s best safety records among contemporary SC seeks govt response on shifting coal-based industries out of Del-NCR S U C H I T R A K A LYA N M O H A N T Y @ New Delhi THE Supreme Court on Monday asked for the Centre’s response to a proposal to relocate coal-based industries from Delhi-NCR in order to improve air quality . Seeking responses from stakeholders on the efficacy of measures the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) suggested to tackle dust generated from construction and demolition activities, the SC said that it would also take up the issue of vehicular air pollution, based on suggestions made by the commission at the next hearing on March 12. The bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi directed Uttar Pradesh, Harya- Air pollution Ir order to check severe air pollution in Delhi-NCR, the SC said that it would also take up the issue of vehicular air pollution, based on suggestions made by the Commission for Air Quality Management at the next hearing on March 12. na and Rajasthan to invite suggestions and objections from all stakeholders, including coal-based industries located in NCR. The states will have to submit an “Action Taken Plan” detailing the responses received. The bench also sought responses from the Ministries of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Petroleum and Natural Gas, and Power regarding a proposal to refrain from setting up new coal-based thermal power plants within a 300km radius of Delhi. The ministries are to submit a joint proposal to phase out coalbased industries in NCR, given the dire state of pollution. “The proposal should first identify the industries concerned and determine what alternative fuel sources can be provided to them,” the court said and directed the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) to submit a specific action plan for implementing the long-term solutions suggested by CAQM. The bench further stated, “The Commission has identified the concerned agencies from whom action is expected. Hence, we direct the Delhi Government to come up with a proposed action plan to make these measures effective.” Clash at JNU after ‘Equality March’ against V-C as ABVP, Left fight it out I F R A H M U F T I @ New Delhi VIOLENCE broke out at Jawaharlal Nehru University after a protest march over alleged remarks by Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit escal at e d i n t o cl a s h e s, w i t h Left-affiliated student unions and ABVP accusing each other of triggering the unrest. The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) called for an “Equality March” on Sunday night seeking the V-C’s resignation over what it described as “casteist” re m a rk s m a d e d u r i n g a February 16 podcast. The JNUSU cited comments on the University Grants Commission’s equity regulations. Left-backed unions said that thousands of students assembled for the march when ABVP members allegedly began pelting stones and bricks at the JNUSU encampment on the SLSIS lawns. The JNUSU said several “unarmed students” were attacked with sticks, forcing many to take shelter inside the central library and other campus buildings. It alleged that the administration did not engage with protesters and in- stead permitted ABVP members to confront them. The ABVP denied the allegations and accused Left unions of orchestrating the violence and attempting to deflect responsibility Pravin Kumar Piy. ush, secretary of ABVP’s JNU unit, claimed that 400-500 masked individuals carrying sticks, rods and stones marched from Sabarmati T-Point to the V-C’s residence and later entered school buildings where students were studying. The administration said it had taken “serious cognisance” of the incident and alleged that students had locked academic buildings and intimidated others into joining stir. Acting on the administration’s complaint, an FIR has been lodged. MEXICO BURNS AS DRUG LORD KILLED A bus set on fire by a mob in Mexico’s Jalisco state following the killing of the country’s most-wanted drug lord, Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera, on Sunday by the army. At least 25 Mexican troops were killed in the subsequent clashes | AFP | P9 Marriage refusal after sex citing kundli mismatch a crime: HC EPSTEIN FORMER UK ENVOY U D AYA N K I S H O R E @ New Delhi TO US ARRESTED London police on Monday arrested Peter Mandelson, amid allegations over his ties to disgraced US financier Jeffrey Epstein. Images on UK TV appeared to show Mandelson being driven away from his north London home, after police raided his properties. | P9 REFUSAL to marry citing hor, oscope mismatch after establishing physical relationship, does not absolve one from prosecution for sexual intercourse through deceitful means, the Delhi High Court has held. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma made the observation while refusing to grant bail to a man, observing that he established physical relations with the woman over a period of time on the basis of repeated assurance to her that there was no impediment to their marriage, including ‘kundali’ matching. Therefore, at this stage, his conduct would attract the offence under Section 69 (sexual intercourse through deceitful means) of the BNS. In an order passed on February 17, the judge noted that the first complaint by the woman was lodged in November 2025 but was withdrawn “only on the assurance of marriage allegedly given by the accused and his family and there was ,” a subsequent refusal to marry on the ground of non-matching of ‘kundalis’. The accused had sought bail on the ground that rape on the false pretext of Repeated assurances of marriage The high court refused to grant bail to a man, saying that he established physical relations with the woman over a period of time on the basis of repeated assurance to her that there was no impediment to their marriage, including ‘kundali’ matching. marriage wasn’t made out since the relationship was consensual, and the parties had known each other for eight years. The accused was in judicial custody since January 4. But the court held the sequence of events showed that it wasn’t a mere case of “relationship turning sour” but of repeated assurances of marriage despite the applicant being aware of the insistence of his family on “kundali” matching. “There can be no quarrel with the proposition that criminal law cannot be invoked merely because a relationship fails or marriage does not materialise. But the present case, at this stage, stands on a different footing,” the judge said. The judge said that the subsequent refusal to marry on the ground of non-matching of kundalis, despite earlier assurances to the contrary, “prima facie raises a question as to the nature and genuineness of the promise extended by the applicant.” Such conduct, at this stage, would attract the offence under Section 69 of the BNS, the judge said. fighter aircraft. However, if the crash is confirmed, this would mark the third loss involving the Tejas MK1. The first loss of a seriesproduction jet occurred in March 2024, when a fighter crashed near Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, shortly after participating in the tri-services exercise Bharat Shakti. The second incident took place in November last year at the Dubai Airshow, where Wing Commander Namansh Syal was killed while in an aerobatic display . Tejas is a single-engine fighter jet that is designed to undertake operating in high-threat air environments. It capabilities include air defence and maritime reconnaissance. Don warns of more tariffs for those who ‘play games’ P U S H P I TA D E Y @ New Delhi JUST days after the US Supreme Court struck down the tariff regime imposed by his administration, US President Donald Trump has threatened to levy significantly higher tariffs, or take tougher steps, against countries that try to “play games” with the ruling. In a social media post on Monday, Trump said, “Any country that wants to ‘play games’ with the ridiculous Supreme Court decision, especially those that have ‘Ripped Off ’ the US for years, and even decades, would be met with a much higher tariff, and worse, than that which they just recently agreed to.” The remarks came after the European Parliament decided on Monday to postpone for a second time a vote on the European Union’s trade deal with the US. The delay follows Trump’s imposition of a new blanket 15% import tariff and discussions within the EU on slowing the ratification process of the proposed trade pact. In India, the Ministry of Commerce said on Saturday that it is still analysing the situation. A visit by the Indian negotiating team to the US, scheduled for February 23, has been cancelled for now. Trade experts say that India need not rush to conclude a deal with Washington amid growing tariff uncertainty. Following Trump’s latest comments, uncertainty has deepened among Indian exporters over the possibility of fresh tariff hikes. On Saturday Trump also said , that he would raise a temporary tariff on US imports from all countries from 10% to 15% for 150 days. The new tariff is expected to come into force from February 24. EXPRESS READ Air ambulance crashes in J’khand, 7 missing An air ambulance carrying seven people from Ranchi to Delhi crashed near Simaria in Jharkhand’s Chatra district on Monday, Ranchi airport Director Vinod Kumar said. There was no confirmation about casualties. P8 Snooker fight turns ugly, MP boy stabbed 27 times A 16-year-old Class X student was reportedly stabbed 27 times by two batchmates in a snooker club in Bhopal recently. The student is admitted to a hospital.