SATURDAY 28 MARCH, 2026 epaper.morningstandard.in facebook.com/TheMorningStandard X.com/TheMornStandard TRADE WAR MILITARY HARDWARE BUY WORTH `2.38 L CR CLEARED CHINA OKAYS PROBE INTO US SANCTIONS The Rajnath Singh-led Defence Ministry on Friday cleared a massive capital acquisition package meant for the Indian Air Force and the Army China has launched two investigations into US trade practices, signalling its resolve to push back against Trump’s tariffs ahead of his visit in May MEDIUM AIRCRAFT TO REPLACE AN-32 FLEET A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS PAGE 9 DGCA tightens VVIP flight rules after Pawar crash, pilots have last say S L A L I T H A @ New Delhi CAG FLAGS SHORTAGE OF UNIV TEACHERS The list of VVIPs has been expanded to include Lok Sabha Speaker, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson, Union and state cabinet ministers, Chief Justice of India, governors, CMs and Z category protectees. No exemption will be given to VVIPs as per the new rules. said operators must confirm the availability of suitable helipads or airstrips at least 24 hours in advance. “This needs to be backed by written validation from district authorities. Landing permission or NOCs from district authorities will be mandatory the order said. ,” No exemption will be given to VVIPs, and baggage screening prior to loading has been made mandatory. DGCA also called for load and trim sheets before every flight. Twin-engine aircraft with a minimum of two members is mandatory , the order added. The list of VVIPs has been expanded to include Lok Sabha Speaker, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson, Union and state cabinet ministers, Chief Justice of India, governors, CMs and Z category protectees. The national audit body has highlighted that three state universities in Delhi had teacher vacancies of up to 60 per cent in the 2018–2023 period | P3 NEW DELHI J8.00  PAGES 12 West Asia situation dynamic, needs constant monitoring to evolve adaptive strategies: PM R A J E S H K U M A R T H A K U R @ New Delhi ADVISORY TO STATES States with citizens in West Asia should activate helplines, appoint nodal officers, and establish district-level support systems for affected families Engage continuously with industry and MSMEs to address concerns Coordination mechanisms needed at all levels, including regular reviews by Chief Secretaries and district-level monitoring for quick response to evolving situations Cabinet Secretary presents overview of situation, outlines recommendations for the states PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Friday sought to kindle the spirit of Team India in the wake of the West Asia flare-up, in a virtual meeting with chief ministers of all states and Union territories except those facing polls. The Centre and the states should work harmoniously to ensure economic and trade stability energy , security strengthen industry and supply chains, , as also safeguard citizens’ interests, as they did during the Covid pandemic, he said. Modi emphasised the need for advance planning in the agriculture sector, particularly in monitoring fertiliser storage and distribution. “There is the need for robust coordination mechanisms at all levels to enable quick response to evolving situations,” the PM said. Placing special emphasis on border and coastal states, he highlighted the need to address emerging challenges related to shipping, essential supplies and maritime operations. Modi advised all participants to be on alert and cautioned against the spread of misinformation and rumours, underlining the importance of sharing accurate and credible information. He also urged the CMs to take strict action against hoarding and profiteering. Referring to the situation in West Asia, the PM observed that India has prior experience in handling similar global disruptions. He recalled the collective response during the Covid pandemic, when the Centre and states worked together as Team India to mitigate impacts on supply chains, trade, and daily DAY life. The same spirit of cooperation remains India’s greatest strength in navigating the current circumstances, he said. The present situation, he added, is dynamic and requires continuous monitoring and adaptive strategies. Modi informed the participants that an Inter-Ministerial Group has been operational since March 3, reviewing developments daily and taking timely decisions. Highlighting the critical role of states, the PM noted that effective implementation occurs at the state level. He called for constant communication and coordination between the Centre and states, along with timely information sharing and joint decision-making to ensure swift and well-aligned responses. 28 State of the economy 74,904.91 SENSEX DIPS 73,583.22 73,534.41 74,883.79 Previous close: 75,273.45 (-2.25%) Market cap: Market capitalisation of BSE-listed companies slumped `8.86 lakh cr to `422.15 lakh cr RUPEE NEARS 95/$ `8.86 lakh cr Erosion in investors’ wealth March 23 March 24 March 25 March 27 93.90 93.88 93.96 94.85 (-89 paise) COMMERCIAL LPG: Allocations raised from 50% to 70% Priority sectors for LPG allocation: Steel, automobile, textile, dye, chemicals, plastics Excise duty on petrol, diesel cut to help OMCs R A K E S H K U M A R @ New Delhi AMID energy supply disruptions due to the Iran war, the Centre on Friday announced a `10 cut in central excise duty on petrol and diesel for domestic consumption and slapped fresh export levies on key petroleum products to ensure domestic availability . According to the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell, the special additional excise duty was `10 per litre on diesel and `13 per litre on petrol. So, the `10 cut brings down the special duty petrol to `3 and diesel to zero. However, the duty cuts are unlikely to lower retail prices of petrol and diesel as the move is to ease the burden of oil marketing companies (OMCs), which have been absorbing the rise in global crude prices. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the excise duty cut would shield consumers from rising fuel prices. Brent crude prices have surged sharply since the conflict escalated, rising from $6570 per barrel to a peak of $119— an increase of 75%. As of Saturday 12.30 am, the price stood at $112.50 per barrel. Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said the government has taken a substantial hit to its tax revenues to offset losses borne by OMCs. After the duty cut, the government is likely to incur a revenue loss of `5,500 crore every fortnight. The finance ministry also imposed export duties on diesel at `21.5 per litre and on aviation turbine fuel at `29.5 per litre to discourage outbound shipments and prioritise domestic usage. ‘1st close your eyes, I’ve a gift for you’: She bulldozed her way into Yogi’s heart Married man’s live-in relation not illegal, says Allahabad HC N A M I TA B A J PA I @ Lucknow N A M I TA B A J PA I @ Lucknow OBSERVING that it was not an offence if a married man stayed with an adult in a live-in relationship with the consent of the other person, the Allahabad High Court asked the authorities concerned to provide protection to them. Emphasising that morality and law must be kept separate, the HC’s bench, comprising Justices J J Munir and Tarun Saxena, stated social opinions and moral views cannot dictate the court when it came to providing protection to citizens. The observation was made by the judges in an order dated March 25, 2026, while hearing a petition seeking protection to a live-in couple facing threats from the woman’s family . The woman’s family had lodged an FIR claiming that the man, who is the first petitioner in the case, is married and had lured away the 18-year-old woman, who is the second petitioner. The family argued that because he was married, living with another woman constituted a crime. The court rejected the argument saying, “There is no offence of the kind where a married man, staying with an adult in a live-in relationship, by consent of the other person, can be prosecuted for any offence, whatsoever. Morality and law have to be kept apart. If there is no offence under the law made out, social opinions and morality will not guide the action of the court for protecting the rights of citizens.”  Modi kindles Team India spirit VVIP list expanded to include House heads IN view of the safety lapses following the Baramati plane crash that killed then Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has tightened safety norms for nonscheduled flight operators transporting VVIPs, giving pilots power to decide on whether to undertake risky trips. Written consent from local authorities where airstrips are located, screening of VVIP baggage, and better aircraft have been made mandatory in an order issued by the DGCA. “Flight crew must not be subjected to undue pressure for undertaking a flight which may impact safety of operations,” the order said. “The planning and conduct of the flight are professional responsibilities that must remain under the sound judgment of the flight crew and maintenance engineers. They should be free from any external pressure or undue influence,” it said. Last-minute changes in operations must be routed through organisational management and the operating crew should not be directed to carry them out, DGCA said. To avoid risks related to remote landing sites, the order  The package includes 60 medium transport aircraft, five additional S-400 long-range air defence system squadrons and four squadrons of remotely piloted strike aircraft, artillery, ammunition, and networked systems. The acquisition of 60 medium transport aircraft, pegged at around `1 L crore will help replace the ageing Soviet-origin AN-32 fleet | P7 POWER HANDOVER Nepal’s new Prime Minister Balendra Shah hugs outgoing interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki during his swearing-in ceremony, in Kathmandu on Friday | PTI | P9 “CLOSE your eyes!” commanded four-year-old Yashasvini Singh from Kanpur, a grin spreading across her face. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath obliged—and moments later, found a tiny toy bulldozer in his hands. Laughter erupted all around as the little girl proudly announced to Yogi, “You like bulldozers, so I brought this as a gift for you.” The girl probably had no idea that her innocent gift for the chief minister was a playful reminder of the real bulldozers in Uttar Pradesh making headlines—and occasionally raising eyebrows in court. On this day, however, it was A nursery student at Gorakhnath Temple Yashasvini, a nursery student at Pratap International School in Kanpur, had gone to the Gorakhnath Temple in Gorakhpur with her parents to seek blessings of the presiding deity. The CM noticed the family during a routine Janata Darbar at the temple premises. all smiles. Yashasvini, a nursery student at Pratap International School in Kanpur, had come with her parents, Abhay Singh Rajawat and Priyadamba Singh, to seek blessings at the Gorakshpeethadheeshwar. The CM noticed the family Refurbished Chinnaswamy ready for IPL @ Bengaluru WHEN is a game more than just a game? The one at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday evening is one that has a lot riding on it. Sure, 40 overs separate two points from the holders, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, or 2024 finalists, Sunrisers Hyderabad. But it doesn’t seem right to view the opener to the Indian Premier League’s (IPL) 19th edition through the conventional prism of batters, bowlers, boundaries and team news. That feeling was reestablished after spending less than 30 min- utes inside the city’s largest sporting arena. There was ongoing developmental work and infrastructure was either coming up or existing infra was being upgraded. To supplement new changes, almost all of it to enhance safety and security measures following last June’s stampede outside the Stadium gates, some 400-450 AI cameras were in place. Any small inconvenience and the cameras will alert authorities. Blinking neon light warning systems are a go. The paying public — most of whom were subjected to ticket checks and long queues outside the Stadium — would now be RCB captain Rajat Patidar during nets session on Friday | SHASHIDHAR BYRAPPA brought inside before ticket verification. The tragedy which claimed 11 lives in June 2025 jolted the establishment. Since EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ New Delhi THE Delhi Police has registered a first information report (FIR) in connection with an alleged ticket-for-money case against individuals linked to the Congress. It was alleged in the complaint that the money was demanded on the pretext of assuring an poll ticket in the Haryana assembly election in 2024. Media reports claimed that the case stems from a complaint filed by Suchitra, former general secretary of Haryana Mahila Congress. The FIR was lodged after Suchitra and her husband Gaurav appeared before investigators with their complaint claiming that they paid `7 crore to secure a Congress party ticket for Suchitra. The amount was reportedly given through multiple transactions, including bank transfers and cash payments. However, it was alleged that neither a ticket was provided nor was the money returned. The FIR was registered by the North Avenue police station. Among those allegedly named in the complaint were Congress general secretary K C Venugopal, MP K Suresh and Shahab Khan, the reports said. The charges came ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in four states and one Union territory . While speaking with media persons, the complainant said he has provided all details to the Delhi Police. He also mentioned that while he was going to Delhi to protest, the police stopped his vehicle and assured that all necessary action would be taken to address the grievance. According to police sources, the FIR was registered by the North Avenue police station under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, under various sections, including 61(2), 318(4) and 316(2). The complaint was filed earlier this month. The police said all facts and evidence were being thoroughly examined. ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS BJP BENGAL MANIFESTO LIKELY TODAY I P8 EVICTED ASSAM RESIDENTS FIGHT FOR RIGHTS I P8 EPS RETAINS 45 OF 65 SITTING MLAS I P5 3-WAY FIGHT AMID SHADOW OF KARUR TRAGEDY I P5 EXPRESS READ STAMPEDE & AFTER S W A R O O P S W A M I N AT H A N during a routine Janata Darbar on the premises of Gorakhnath Temple in Gorakhpur on Friday morning. He called her over, gave her a chocolate, and had a brief chit chat when she gave him the gift. Her parents watched proudly as their daughter’s gesture lit up the Janata Darbar. Earlier, the chief minister performed his annual ‘kanya poojan’ at the Gorakshadham Temple for the Chaitra Navratri festival, worshipping young girls as living forms of the Goddess. Adityanath noted that the better, more secure atmosphere in the state reflected the ideals of Ram Rajya, where positive energy is nurtured and development is guaranteed. Haryana poll ticket-for-cash FIR against Cong big shots that awful day RCB, the Karna, taka State Cricket Association (KSCA) and other stakeholders have taken baby steps towards bringing cricket back in some way, shape or form to this historic venue. Domestic games without crowds. A statement there. A permanent plaque. A tribute in a press conference. A message online. Something to remember the victims by On Saturday the . , rapid work put in place by the association will finally see the light of day After being envel. oped by grief for months, the city will have the chance to rise as one to remember the departed souls. P11 FM meets Rubio, Canadian counterpart at G7 External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held bilateral meetings with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand on the sidelines of the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in France. The G7 talks are focussing on the security of the Strait of Hormuz, a global energy corridor through which nearly 20 per cent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies transit. P7 5 killed in avalanche strike at Zoji La Focus on social media followers of gangsters At least five people, including two women and a child, were killed and six others injured, after multiple passenger vehicles were struck by a snow avalanche at Zoji La on Srinagar-Leh highway on Friday. The rescue teams pulled out six survivors from snow. The Kargil CMO said those who suffered minor injuries were discharged after treatment. The Punjab Police will keep a watch on the youth who follow the social media accounts of gangsters. The move has come after senior officers realised that the gangsters’ online popularity motivated state’s impressionable youth to emulate gangster behaviour. The police feel it can prevent indoctrination if youth can be tracked early on. P8