FRIDAY RESTRICTING TEMPLE ENTRY BY DENOMINATION HARMS HINDUISM: SC 10 Hinduism will be adversely impacted if temples and mutts restrict entry on grounds of separate denominations inside a religion, SC said on Thursday APRIL, 2026 epaper.morningstandard.in facebook.com/TheMorningStandard X.com/TheMornStandard RUSSIAN SUBS UK, NORWAY DETER SPY SUBMARINES The UK and Norway conducted a military operation to deter Russian spy submarines near undersea cables in the North Atlantic, UK defence chief said ‘STATE CAN STEP IN UNDER ARTICLE 25(2)(b)’ A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS PAGE 9  NEW DELHI  J8.00  A nine-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant was responding to submissions of senior advocate C S Vaidyanathan that Article 26(b) supersedes Article 25(2)(b). The SC did not agree with the argument of supremacy. Justice Nagarathna said the State can step in under Article 25(2)(b) to ensure access to temples for all sections | P7 PAGES 12 Race to secure 78.27% 85.51% 89.87% energy supplies Democracy wins with record voting amid ceasefire MASSIVE K E R A L A A S S A M TURNOUT PONDY The SIR, which reduced the total number of voters in Kerala by a little over seven lakh, appears to have had a bearing on the voting percentage S O V I V I D YA D H A R A N , P R A S A N TA M A Z U M D A R & D E B J A N I D U T TA @ T’puram/Guwahati/Puducherry India sends petroleum minister Puri to Qatar, external affairs minister Jaishankar to UAE DAY 41 BATTING FOR LEBANON Turkey, Russia and Germany said the West Asia ceasefire should include Lebanon, which has been pummelled by ongoing Israeli attacks Pakistan praised the “restraint demonstrated by all sides” in the West Asia war, but condemned ongoing Israeli attacks on Lebanon IMF expects nearterm demand of up to $50 billion in financial aid from countries affected by the West Asian war Iran rules out any restrictions on its enrichment of uranium, saying the demand by the US and Israel “won’t come true” Lebanese PM declared Thursday a national day of mourning Navigation in the Strait of Hormuz must be ensured with no payment or toll whatsoever... International law provides for the freedom of navigation European Union Petroleum minister Hardeep Singh Puri with Ambassador Vipul and a QatarEnergy official in Doha on Thursday | X J AYA N T H J A C O B @ New Delhi IN a diplomatic push amid shifting geopolitical currents in West Asia, India has dispatched two senior ministers to the Gulf, leveraging the narrow opening created by the US-Iran ceasefire. Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri arrived in Qatar on Thursday for a two-day visit, while External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is scheduled to visit the United Arab Emirates from April 11 to 12. Puri’s visit to Qatar reflects India’s urgency to stabilise vital supply lines as regional tensions disrupt established trade flows. A key energy partner, Qatar’s role has come into sharper focus amid shipping uncertainties, with discussions expected to ‘prioritise reliability and continuity of supplies’ rather than routine engagement, officials pointed out. India’s energy security is tied to West Asia, as half of the natural gas demand is met by LNG imports—55 % of which transit through the Strait of Hormuz, which has become a chokepoint during the war. Qatar is the single largest supplier, contributing 40% of India’s LNG imports (11.2 million tonnes in 2024-25, met through long-term deals with QatarEnergy as well as spot purchases). Dependence is similarly high for LPG, with imports meeting 60% of the demand and 90% of which also pass through Hormuz and Qatar again is the leading supplier. QatarEnergy’s declaration of force majeure has disrupted supply commitments. Along with Indian envoy to Qatar, Vipul, Qatar Energy officials too was present to receive Puri on his arrival. India’s diplomatic outreach is also anchored in protecting its vast diaspora and reinforcing strategic ties in a region that has become volatile. Over 10 million Indians reside across the Gulf, making their welfare a central concern. Jaishankar’s upcoming visit to the United Arab Emirates will aim to review bilateral cooperation and deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. EXTREMELY high voter enthusiasm became the main talking point across Kerala, Assam and Puducherry, which went to polls on Thursday, giving all major players bragging rights to anticipate a good outcome. Kerala recorded its fourthbest tally at 78.27%, with all three fronts — the Left Democratic Front (LDF), the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) — claiming the surge reflected a mandate in their favour. The state had seen higher tur nouts in 1960 (85.70%), 1987 (80.53%) and 1977 (79.20%). The previous assembly election, which broke a four-decade-long trend of voting out incumbent governments, had recorded a turnout of 76%. The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which reduced the total number of voters in the state by a little over seven lakh, appears to have had a bearing on the voting percentage. Constituencies that had recorded some of the lowest voter participation in 2021 — particularly in Thiruvananthapuram’s urban areas — wit- Voters at the Matha Nagar Public School near Kadavanthara in Kochi during Kerala assembly polls; (R) people queue up in large numbers to cast their votes at a polling station in Guwahati for the Assam assembly elections | A SANESH/PTI nessed a marked rise in polling, with increases ranging between 7 and 11 percentage points. In Assam, the voter turnout at 8 pm stood at 85.51%, better than 82.42% in 2021 and 84.72% in 2016. The final tally is expected to creep up further. The ruling BJP and the Congress were upbeat after the unprecedented turnout on a rain-soaked day when polling was by and large peaceful. In 2016, the NDA had wrested power by dislodging the 15-year-old Cong ress government. Pointing out that the voter participation at many polling KOZHIKODE TOPS KERALA POLLING PERCENTAGE Data released by the Election Commission in Kerala after 8 pm showed Kozhikode district recorded the highest polling percentage at 81.02%, followed by Palakkad with 80.47%. Pathanamthitta at 70.75% was the laggard. The polling process was largely smooth and peaceful across the state EVEN as the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) remains without a full-time chairperson and several key members, the body has quietly reopened its office after months of closure, functioning in a limited capacity, underscoring the administrative vacuum it still faces. More than two years after Swati Maliwal demitted office in January 2024 following her nomination to the Rajya Sabha, the DCW is still headless, with interim charge being given to Rashmi Singh, secretary Wom, en and Child Development. Five key posts remain vacant, raising serious concerns on its ability to function as the statutory body for women’s rights. A visit by the reporter to the DCW office at Vikas Bhawan revealed the extent of the scaled-down operations. A handful of members were seen working out of a single room, arranging the complaint documents for the concerned heads. The phone numbers displayed CAPF law in force after Prez assent M U K E S H R A N J A N @ New Delhi THE government on Thursday notified the Central Armed Police Forces (General) Administration Act after President Droupadi Murmu’s assent and published it in the gazette. The new law seeks to establish a uniform system governing the recruitment and service conditions of Group A General Duty officers and other personnel across various CAPFs, including the Central Reserve Police Force, the Border Security Force, the Central Industrial Security Force, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, and the Sashastra Seema Bal. It provides a legal structure to regulate recruitment, promotions, and service conditions of officers in a unitary form, instead of maintaining fragmented rules for each of the forces, which was the norm earlier. The need for the law arose from the distinct nature of CAPFs compared to other government organisations. ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS MODI, DIDI RAISE CROSSBORDER INFLUX I P8 HC allows copyright plea for AI art TDP backs women’s bill, says South won’t lose out on delimitation U D AYA N K I S H O R E @ New Delhi CAN artificial intelligence be recognised as an author and granted copyright over its artwork? The Delhi High Court on Thursday directed the Copyright Office to decide the issue within eight weeks. Justice Tushar Rao Gedela issued the direction while hearing a plea filed by American AI researcher Stephen Thaler, who is seeking copyright registration for an artwork “A Recent Entrance to Paradise”, generated by an AI model. Thaler, who is known for testing whether AI can be recognised as an author, told the court that the artwork was created autonomously by his AI system DABUS (Device for the Autonomous Bootstrapping of Unified Sentience). He claims the system is designed to simulate creative processes. Thaler filed his copyright application in 2022. During the examination, objections were raised that only a natural person can be recognised as an author. Thaler argued that AI-gene r at e d wo rk s f a l l u n d e r “computer-generated works”, where authorship may vest in the person who causes the work to be created. He approached the high court seeking appropriate directions to the authorities to decide his application. The court disposed of the petition after noting that the Copyright Office has scheduled a hearing for April 27. It directed the Registrar of Copyrights to conclude the proceedings expeditiously . Thaler has filed similar applications in multiple countries seeking recognition of AI systems as inventors or authors. In December 2023, the UK Supreme Court upheld decisions rejecting his application to name AI as an inventor. The US Supreme Court declined to consider whether AIgenerated art can be copyrighted, after lower courts ruled that such works are not eligible for copyright protection because they lack a human creator. DCW headless, helplines defunct, works with trimmed staff I F R A H M U F T I @ New Delhi booths had crossed 95%, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma described it as historic. His bete noire and Assam Congress president, Gaurav Gogoi, was equally optimistic. He expressed gratitude to people for turning out in “unprecedented numbers to vote for a change”. Puducherry saw its highestever voter turnout of 89.87%; the previous highest of 85.57% was recorded in 2011, when N Rangasamy led the All India NR Congress (AINRC) to power. He was back in the saddle after the NDA wrested power in the 2021 polls. UNIFORM SERVICE on the notice board, meant for people, were found to be nonfunctional when dialed. The notice board still carries an old newspaper clipping of Maliwal conducting raids at shelter homes. There have been no fresh updates since 2023. Yet, in a partial revival, the DCW office has recently resumed operations. A handful of members are receiving complaints through newly set up help desks, supported by just two counsellors. Sources said complaints have RECRUITMENT UNDERWAY AFTER HC REBUKE A source said the appointment process for the DCW staff is underway and operations have seen some improvement under interim chairperson Rashmi Singh. In February this year, the Delhi High Court had sought an explanation from the Delhi government over the prolonged vacancies, highlighting the critical role of the commission. begun to pour in since the reopening in January, often overwhelming the limited staff. “We are receiving a lot of complaints daily. We have started afresh. Not many people even know the office has reopened, but those who do are coming in directly a source said. ,” While walk-in complaints are being entertained, the lack of operational helplines and outreach mechanisms has restricted the Commission’s reach, especially for women in urgent distress. mounting Opposition criticism that the proposed changes IN a significant endorsement linked to the rollout of the of the Centre’s push to pass the Women’s Reservation bill could amendments to the Women’s widen the gap between the Reservation Bill, the NDA’s key more populous northern states ally Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and their southern counteron Thursday dismissed con- parts. Opposition parties have cerns that the South would be argued that states like UP disadvantaged by the would gain disproporproposed delimitation tionately, increasing exercise, asserting that the seat differential a proportional increase with states such as in Lok Sabha seats Tamil Nadu and potenwould maintain the extially diluting the isting balance of South’s influence in representation. Parliament. Speaking to this paThe TDP’s remarks per, TDP parliamentary came a day after the Unp a r t y l e a d e r L av u ion Cabinet’s clearance Krishna Devarayalu of a draft bill to inThe South had said that with a pro- argued against crease Lok Sabha seats posed 50% expansion population being from 543 to 816, with 273 the sole basis. in Lok Sabha strength, reserved for women, the relative share of Now narrative is ahead of the 2029 genchanging. each state would reeral elections. Both Governance main unchanged. “Afwomen’s quota and decannot be ter the increase, the limitation will be based delayed percentage of a state’s on the 2011 Census, indefinitely in representation in the rather than waiting for the name of stabilisation Lok Sabha will stay the fresh population data. same. For instance, Dismissing allegaKerala now accounts for 3.6% tions of inadequate consultaof the total 543 seats in Lok Sab- tion with the opposition, Deha. After a 50% increase, Kera- varayalu said they were given la will retain the same percent- ample opportunity. “As far as age with 30 seats,” he said, our state is concerned, we made dispelling fears of political a detailed presentation to the marginalisation in the South. Union home minister and our His remarks come amid concerns were addressed.” P R E E T H A N A I R @ New Delhi FOG OF WAR Army steps up info-warfare game, psy-ops after Operation Sindoor lessons J A V A R I A R A N A @ New Delhi THE Indian Army has operationalised a dedicated Information Warfare Organisation and is in the process of expanding its psychological and cyber units down to the Corps level after absorbing lessons from Operation Sindoor, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi confirmed on Thursday . Speaking at the Ran-Sanwad tri-services dialogue in Bengaluru on Thursday the Army , chief said the new organisation comprises a Psychological Defence Division and a Command Cyber Operations Wing. “The Psychological Defence Division under a Brigadier is playing a very pivotal role,” Gen Dwivedi said, adding the Command Cyber Operations Wing would also go down to the Corps headquarters later. This means, the Army’s 14 Corpslevel formations will have their own info-warfare capabilities. The Army chief was candid that this is the beginning of a longer journey “This is phase . 1. Based on this, we will move on to phase 2 and phase 3.” The phased rollout mirrors Army’s recognition that information warfare is not a monolithic challenge. Domestic operations carry a different character from what expeditionary forces face when deployed in unfamiliar territory “When the expedi. tionary forces go, they have a different concept because they are going to an alien area. They don’t even know the culture of that area,” he said, underlining the layered complexity of per- ception management in foreign operational environments. A key operational decision during Operation Sindoor was to shut down all Army social media handles, leaving only the official ADG Strategic Communication channel active. “We closed on all other social media handles... so there was a single source of truth, which went from the soldier to the top- man to everybody looking to get the infor mation,” Gen Dwivedi said. This centralisation prevented adversaries from exploiting a fragmented information environment. The Army is also expanding its communication footprint, including on Instagram, to create a clear and authoritative infor mation pipeline for personnel.