SATURDAY 13 JUNE, 2026 epaper.morningstandard.in facebook.com/TheMorningStandard X.com/TheMornStandard Double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker pays tribute to her coach Jaspal Rana in Dehradun. Rana died in Delhi on Friday | PTI INDIAN SHOOTING’S FATHER FIGURE JASPAL RANA PASSES AWAY A RECORD TAYLOR SWIFT IN HALL OF FAME One of the shooters responsible for putting India on the global map in the sport, died following cardiac complications after a heart attack Champ shooter, coach: Man of many hats The singer became the youngest woman ever inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, a milestone in the 36-yr-old pop star’s record-breaking career. A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS PAGE 9 Retail inflation at 16-month high, touches 3.93% in May  NEW DELHI Signing ceremony may be held in Geneva as early as Sunday A G E N C I E S @ Dubai/Washington RETAIL inflation rose to a 16-month high of 3.93% in May primarily due to the in, crease in fuel prices and cost of services such as restaurants and accommodation, data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) on Friday showed. Despite the uptick, inflation remained well within the Reserve Bank of India’s target of 4%. According to MoSPI, the rise in headline inflation was driven by higher prices in food and beverages, personal care, social protection, restaurants and accommodation services, as well as tobacco and intoxicants. While rural inflation rose to 4.25% in May from 3.85% in April, urban inflation increased to 3.53%. Food inflation, measured by the All India Consumer Food Price Index, touched 4.78%. Soumya Kanti Ghosh, group chief economic advisor at State Bank of India, attributed the increase to higher fuel prices and supply-side disruptions. “The impact of increased petrol and diesel prices was visible, with transport inflation rising by 176 basis points to 1.8% in May, while a slight LPG shortage pushed inflation in eateries and accommodation services up by 154 basis points to 5.7% from 4.2% in April.” He said the impact of exchange-rate fluctuations and external shocks is beginning to reflect in CPI. Debopam Chaudhuri, chief economist at Piramal Finance, said indications are that retail inflation could move above 5% in June. THE White House is signaling optimism about a prospective peace deal with Tehran, voicing confidence that it will wrap up the deal with support from Iran and Israel after weeks of negotiations on the most intractable issues, including the future of Iran’s nuclear program. A senior US administration official, on condition of anonymity, said the deal was 80% to 85% done and that the US side believes “most of the people who have authority” in the Iranian government want to sign onto the deal. Sources say a signing ceremony could be held in Geneva, Switzerland, as early as Sunday. A signed proposal would trigger a 60-day period for “technical” negotiations on how to implement the deal and resolve remaining issues, according to a US official. Plans for the next round of peace talks are already underway . Separately Pakistan’s Prime Minister Sheh, baz Sharif said Friday that the final text of a US-Iran peace deal had been agreed upon. Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi had suggested progress in the negotiations, saying the “Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding has never been closer”. “Pending its finalisation, the media should refrain from entering speculation about its content,” he said in a social media post, without providing any details. President Trump shared Araghchi’s post on his own social media timeline, but without giving further details. P9 TODAY'S MATCHES (IST) (Jun 14, Sunday) Group B: Qatar vs Swiss 12.30am; Group C: Brazil vs Morocco 3.30am; Haiti vs Scotland 6.30am; Group D: Australia vs Turkiye 9.30am Donald Trump, US President Abbas Araghchi, Iran Foreign Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan PM We can now confirm that a final, agreed upon text of the peace deal has been reached... Peace has never been this close as it is now Shehbaz Sharif PAGES 12  J8.00 US-Iran deal close P U S H P I TA D E Y @ New Delhi SAMBA BOYS IN SPOTLIGHT With a foreign coach in charge of the team at the World Cup for the first time ever, five-time champions Brazil begin their campaign today. Experienced Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti will hope that his side can make a perfect start against Morocco. Brazil boast some big talents but Morocco, led by captain Achraf Hakimi, won’t be pushovers.  DELHI BJP REJIG 75% office-bearers may be replaced with young faces US diplomat summoned for 2nd time A N U P V E R M A @ New Delhi THE Delhi BJP is all set for a major organisational reshuffle in the wake of MoS Harsh Malhotra’s recent appointment as the party’s state unit head. The proposed changes are expected to cover several key organisational posts, including vice-presidents, general secretaries, and secretaries. Sources said that about 75% of the party’s state office-bearers are likely to be replaced by fresh and young faces. According to party sources, the BJP leadership is preparing for a comprehensive overhaul of its Delhi organisation, aimed at strengthening the party structure after a year of its return to power and ahead of the crucial next years’ municipal polls. After taking over the party’s reins last month, Malhotra had said, “We expect to complete the reorganisation and the appointment of officebearers in the next two months.” Party insiders said the reshuffle is being viewed as an effort to align the Delhi unit with the BJP’s broader organisational strategy of promoting fresh leadership while bala n c i n g s o c i a l a n d re g i o n a l representation. It also aims to remove several deadwoods, who have been holding onto the positions despite lagging on performance. J AYA N T H J A C O B @ New Delhi US President Donald Trump on Friday blamed Iran for the attacks on Indian ships leaving the Strait of Hormuz, describing the incident as “totally unacceptable.” In a post on Truth Social, he said: “....Their (Iran’s) totally rebuffed drone attack last night against Indian ships leaving the Hormuz Strait is TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE.” Trump’s remarks came hours after New Delhi summoned US Chargé d’Affaires Jason Meeks for the second time on Friday to lodge a strong protest over recent attacks on vessels that killed three Indian seafarers off the coast of Oman. The government conveyed its deep concern and reiterated India’s opposition to the use of force against civilian shipping. The developments added a new layer of diplomatic complexity, with Washington publicly blaming Iran while India has raised concerns with the US over the attacks. 3 killed, 2 critical in pre-dawn inferno N I T I N R A W AT @ New Delhi 28-yr-old’s final act A 70-year-old woman and her two maternal grandchildren died, while two other family members were left critically injured after a fire broke out in a residential building in southeast Delhi’s Govindpuri area early Friday . The Govindpuri police station received infor mation about the fire at 2.31 am. According to the Delhi Fire Services (DFS), a call reporting the blaze at a building in Gali No. 1 near Naya Tara Apartment in Tughlakabad, Okhla, was received at 2.25 am. Six fire tenders and a quick response vehicle rushed to the spot. The fire was brought under control around 3.45 am and completely extinguished by 4 am. DFS personnel climbed to the terrace and, after cutting open the terrace gate lock, entered the building. Two young women who had taken refuge on the terrace to escape the smoke were rescued and rushed to hospital. Eight people were rescued from the building. “Eight residents trapped by heavy smoke were evacuated and rushed to Safdarjung Hospital and AIIMS Trauma Centre. Three people have died in the incident and two remain critical,” DCP (Southeast) Hemant Tiwari said. The deceased were identified For 28-year-old Pankaj, the Govindpuri fire ended with a final act of courage. Neighbours said he was rescued from the building but kept asking about his mother and sisters. Before anyone could stop him, he ran back inside to save them. Pankaj, the family’s sole breadwinner, climbed back inside before thick smoke overwhelmed him. He died alongside his grandmother and sister. His mother and younger sister remain critically injured. P3 Charred remains of two-wheelers and bicycles after the fire on Friday | EXPRESS as Sushila Devi (70), her maternal grandson Pankaj (28), and Pankaj’s sister Soni (20). Pankaj’s mother Guddi Devi (50) and her daughter Moni (18) remain in critical condition. The fire broke out in three scooters, two motorcycles and a bicycle parked on the ground floor of the building. Fire and thick smoke rapidly travelled through all five floors. The ground, first and second floors were completely gutted, while the remaining floors were partially affected. “Initial probe reveals the fire seems to have been initiated by an electrical short circuit on the ground floor. The fire engulfed seven parked two-wheelers, including an electric scooter that was charging. This seems to be a probable cause,” the DCP said. While an electrical short circuit is being considered the likely cause of the blaze, both police and the fire department said the exact cause would be determined after a detailed technical and forensic investigation. The incident comes days after a massive fire at the Flourish Stay bed-and-breakfast facility in Hauz Rani, Malviya Nagar, which claimed 23 lives. The DFS has written to the government seeking to make smoke detectors and sprinkler systems mandatory in all residential buildings, saying such measures could reduce fire-related deaths by up to 97%. On average, around 100 people lose their lives in fire-related incidents in Delhi every year. “If every household is equipped with detectors and O RN sprinklers, the HOTEL INFE DEATH IN ED TO number of 21 CHARR deaths could fall TMS from around reported 100 to just three on June 4, 2026 annually an of,” ficer said. P3 AY THURSD 04 NO LESSONS LEARNT With a series of fire incidents, including at Flourish Stays B&B in Malviya Nagar on June 3 which claimed 23 lives, the capital’s infrastructure has come under major criticism. It appears that the authorities have learned no lessons. JUNE epaper.m , 2026 n orningstandard.i gStandard .com/TheMornin facebook X.com/TheMornS KUWA tandard PO IT AIR RT KILLED INDIAN STRIKES IN IRAN ted a strong promp India n from The death ng condemnatio the wideni ies hted ting hostilit and highlig of escala region. impact the Gulf across PAGE 9 S OF NEW  HI NEW DEL  J8.00  Locals try 12 PAGES to douse fire at the hotel in Malviya Nagar on Wednes day | PTI have r didn’t s VIEW iya Naga oritie in Malv A CAPITAL civic auth Stay B&Bignored by s Flourish s found N: Rescuer window s, dead fire safety norm ILATIO sealed among r on NO VENT covered , with cy exits nationals Jan orde OF FIRE front facadeion and no emergen foreign Delhi HC’s were ANATOMY started no ventilat Fire than and 12 : Six bodies ted . More and 8.40 am: rey Flourish TRAP nt first, then gram j arres uished MENT ed BASE from the baseme at five-stoin Hauz Rani from Guru esh Baja als fully extingwere rescu upper floors d e hospit Lovk ces family recovere moved clearing Stay B&B Servi 40 peopl to nearby 21 peoreceive 8 of a Owner Fire rescuers ing orted Of them, Police has two receiv at transp the fire ent. nt,” the 8.48 am: fire NoC ground The Delhi after : The building S nt and call about for treatm the incide the fire and said that in 25 ROOM the baseme five rooms (DFS) ation about ment at Delhi fire tenhas ple died @ New has been Fire depart fire rooms each upper floor inform 8.50 am, seven As the R A W AT DCP said.said a case es of 8.51 am: ing d hes sevento 15 floor, every four rooms ched. charg igaaroun , includ dispat nt became dispatc ed Police building terrace has s, increas ered under Invest 21 people foreign naincide ders were es and IS: The tender regist le homicide. the estabd, of the AT least DEBR in the fire, with s and 12 and sevscale onal vehicl ls Fire stoppe d ERED sed, taked that its licence additi nine Indian their lives injuries mobili fire ten- culpab SCATTextensiv e damage burnt materia 10.50 am: ion initiate reveal ed s, lost ned fast tions ed clear, nel were r of operat tional sustai d glass and suffered Break dengulf ent obtain person total numbe cooling lishm the Bed and rescued Accor eral others ating fire s Malvidebris, shattere ing the d from ed to 17. devast 35 people in in the vicinity relief e in 2024. under after a in south Delhi’ morn11.20 am: search and schem the property nel ders deploy were rescue ed strewn sday ased and , (B&B) person a hotel on Wedne , Lovkesh ion continu Six people floors to police was purch ent. Fire operat ya Nagar hotel owner ed hours oc- ing Hauz Rani father in 1987. the basem to the upper led ating ing. The been arrest by Bajaj’s als revea later movedued evacu ed has Offici estab lishrescu Bajaj, fled the scene. were resand contin Those the he ting ts. hosA after that ng were nine people cupan e MALVIY was opera Forty- shifted to nearby licenc the buildi y hospiment NAGAR Of them, from a B&B m d to nearb touris cued and treatment. es. Eight under shifte by the for ls said. did Modi, rged pitals of their injuri officia issued But it to offidischa per- tals, Narendra ment. ding ing 21 died d were police depart s a fire No ObAccor Prime Minister injure . the build of the d and ent. Ten not posses (NOC) a baseinicate als cials, rises floor after treatm also injure Certif hotel staff the s. The l were al. Offici in comp a groun d civil and Police, rescue sonne to a hospit storie floor jection said the about killed ment, d fire Police upper owner Investigaof those nationals shifted are on d the eveand five and groun ng. dozen n teams spot. . ent , while said a were foreig . forme the morni reports that the and Africaat basem two rooms five rooms fire in examining remained s have the fire l Asia place each had floor had rooms on Official tors are the site and from Centra nt took (Bed and four been spoken were ry upper visited time. rts, The incide B&B were also of which directed which te he for someseized passpo s to and ensure There ish Stay moda e, two there to laptop Hauz Rani, Flour have ning to accom the terrac ate fast) in Malviya Nagar Police ents and hotel used immedi When Break y sugthe the remai . the docum l aid, broke out. smoke s being , while from being used other e rooms medica falls underinitial inquir h victim the fire the ered are as storag The and hotel, saw of the the day recov to guests out on and a thoroug area. this ses. These deceased e heroes in front of the and took out the two served broke floors that many had come premi rities probe into t their ts becam gested at the hotel fy the shop The fire and second ning his shop ent of identi injured. Autho inate g ry residen a mattresses he opened the ground outside tragic inciden d, first stayin treatm relatives. Ordina g, The remai and to that they lly groun ng. ly coord for the Singh them on “Realising he said. , who runs the buildin critica sies to buildi quent d by heat Delhi members and Taranjit ng hoArman L-G ng from for sale, placingother locals. sses,” showi the of the were affecte claim ed the will subse tive embas es. Sandhu, billowi of mattre family s emerged y afrespec s’ famili affloors Sourc es ng from the help t out the sses stocked shortl . Visual - with the victim weeks brough mattre structure with begun ants jumpi themselves. quickly inform nt comes fire in a on smoke have d at the restau tel occup to save jump, I burning and hour fire may arrive floors was seen The incide Vihar claimed have to In this d floor upper n national might Vivek y buildng ter a chefthe groun electr ical our govt ter the buildi victims beof grief firmly A foreig e of a nearb the ntial igarant on . the stands invest reside & P4 hed on the terrac to escape t Mittal with the lives, withdeath. P3 switc ent. However, to ascering d nine ) Anan ed inford to ing, trying extend affecte equipm underway ed and S ing charre . We DCP (South receiv 8.48 am are Nagar, police fire at cause. successfamilies tions sies concern exact remain perthe embas said that fire in MalviyaSingh visited A family n police be- tain the fire has been about with the ng the ted to ng Vardha . mation sday Local and of foreign commit “The g is in touch nce followiAffairs Kirti injured, includi ss ls providin e d the spot The MEA on Wedne “Expre nationa those ary assista External l reache ions. kar said, he met all necess MoS for sonne every possibl hangs from operat to ent. Jaishan lives.” kar said. and AIIMS, where support d of gan rescue the B&B as Jaishan al oing treatmat the loss those impacte Max Hospit als underg ences window tragedy nation t condol by this fire engulfs ed devisforeign my deepes had directan action the building Rekha Gupta, tion” The court expedi Chief Minister the safety ing “with in place incidents New Delhi put ORE @ that fire plan to N KISH of Malviya res so d. U D AYA hotels ava on Janu. By nearby be seen Bharg ur- measu avoide High Court d outside luggage could area in ya Nagar was may be ate Arpit n in the afities to Delhi d it the rns s unfolde THE in Malvi ed author Advoc the petitio e losing ly left with their distres she had a fire 1 pm, we realise hotel 7 direct ss the conce h said of ainty and several guests others hurried d d to the had ary had filed of 25 peopl fire in addre fire safety Uncert aroun lub e, while Madhya Prades days as one l. th where We rusheeveryone tal. gently inadequate, restaurants terma Nagar, on the roadsid from in a nightc 2025. He, them. a hospita past eight told ishg Hospi about hotels ber 6, he sent for the treatment at their lives standin shelters. A woman res in and were d to Max of them hotels ality establ Decem oing measu of l. Howof the Goa on claimed that to the out all Delhi search been shifte at one other hospit capita ders er, been underg ned @ New the e said. we found a and rs had concer or- howev MUFTI across of the ed remin been staying Then last a relativ described membe IFRAH ments authorities repeat secret ary the sed to with the her family had died,” relative h hoschief government, the er ever, theto comply was suppo. A family ated Anoth search throug to enyet er of associ Delhi while THE trip tried d a few ate ission chairpershort i- are the counsel desper ors. “We ish comm only a said. ram packe the der, to but author Flour corrid w its Bed the case of Chief MCD and from Gurug ed intoin Malviya who pital burn ward, were mostly with the NDMC ly withdra ing under check hotel ter the us there m family son of with the order, ted. AfA bench Upadhyaya t bags, spend d to official ts operat be y modes decide ed to hunwould s of a Gurugra at hosp die shmen eDK ties toldnationals admit I found Karia compl avail. Inn, a and plann Justic sts, ment has all establi said. ”Action licence. If n e Tejas that Eight member ailing father , on as no g the few govern foreig see review Justic ters ined reque Mishra of the Nagar a PIL but to d walkin came to al where g terms The Delhi st policy and the inacti r Kapil running ac- and hearing ’s daugh the hotel. ter repeat seekin Ministe violating the their time s to a hospit . They is found ”, he claime was r said. Ter ming der of Vivek did the staff floor of Goyal and and Breakfa , Tourism the issue, a compre- thfound first remin the scheme the ministe lete apathy dred metre father waited with e.” d one Only then of raised i Lal on the the scheme operators “comp sent the last May 5, “behome mistak to streng lation red under cancelled,” morside. es Jhumr d at aroun an elderly a return d, Wednest registe edge the the AIIMS will be - formu e action plan Relativ Goyal arrive unaware that he ities on taken against ted y with shmen knowl licence and Instea a fire that author expec sleep, hensiv standards. ed of red every to compl light any establi rooms, its t to the news. At Max gathe relatives a Kamla went to already bearsix ng them had dispos Delhi better ions in the en safety grief ng brough and left the 20 4 am and er was more than s direct tuary, More than day YoungWhen ing the NDMC seechi nts in lives The bench . day morni . direct that disast on them. rooms beeight the court’l fire incide to and where through the plea, erased shattered. MCD down entasevera d s”. those ers tried . the scarce 47, a charment, repres arrive e of ed ing erupted, month memb e was family Agarwal, e elders govern the PIL as a opriat travell fire past few solabl between er family trap. Escap ess. Vivek tant, had Tarini, incon to treat take an “appr . sly came a was mercil sion gave ition” endles coordinatsteady tered accoun his wife (17) and tion and with exped moved ls with Angel and time later, confu happened on with Some officia ata to Delhi ters decisi Hours dures ies as . “It all to Vivek r Preml facilit horror ly proce their daugh mothe Radhe way to nly. I spoke his fadeath ncy (20), his His father, e and effec. ed about Pearl es. late sevto impos on imports so sudde g to ask family saw cold efficie al, in his to Max and relativ India failed e a ban last evenin ne in the ng about , calling Agarw ted enforc Shyam was admit never got tively to forced labour le and ther. Someo this morni , sonab alert family enties linked da, 3 a news ce unrea under Sectal. The see him. h Cana Hospi the practi actionable e to Act. two rooms Pak, EU, 10% bunc s ago. g it Trade Delhi s in the chanc booked decade makin of the India said it are not had Y @ New other three jee, Mama l They I TA D E ed tariffs ack, signed hek Baner seek tion 301(b) ive genera the US PUSHP sentat , Riaz The propos olders can Abhis w and partytely proIn its pushb ed with the Seced Repre Sinha ns engag part of propos Trade final. Stakeh in public ranath Mallik, Piya ate ta’s nephe had separa date as as remai and on 54 THE USon Wednesday The coman ani ary, matter Roy, Chand to particip June 22, tariff ) secret loyalist candirejected on the proceedings. that India , Ushar in, Gulsh July s by (USTR onal 12.5% India, for a ary symnts by Hossa hearing t Mitra scanposed that letter was ry said tion 301 comme Suraji Abdul Aziz. ed with tariff an additi including forced lably secret the keys rgery the minist written ies, a t 12.5% bare LoP, butsignature-fo . d over Baner- Pal, merce parallelly engag work l and The assem countr to enforce frame ion lays rout in Monda 6. As agains 53 other er to lly hande ition under ed amid a being probed striking nced is also to finalise a and bolica chamb failing mool’s Kolkata t prohib The rebell n is deannou elecon India ies, USTR propos LoP’s impor AITI @ y sectio rashion bears the US ent as was and in act of Trina Bengal out dal now from to the NDU M hours. journe econom on imports th bour n 301. The unfair foreign t West The situat to the “Maha SUBHE within begun our just 80 to- fallou agreem ary 2, 2026 statement s -up that Ekna jee Sectio ition rities it won the recen 10% levy Ecuador, EU, to addres commerce.imthe n ve shake the Trisimila on Febru with a joint 7. “We have sible oppos governwhere l”, when , signed ing massi within , Pakista ng US our most ce y extions, Canada the IN a ted to snatch from its tra mode a revolt the backcordan on February said, the alread of sia, Mexico as a respon oppose acts affecti 294 seats. and supe led rs to adng ed Indone s amoun Congr ess Shind . We will wrong for the of With two MLAs ature party jee, the releas securi MLAs and “The failure g partneof goods tank GTRI exceed ol Sena, of er day when it is legisl e and which ta Baner good t tradin tation probe the ity namo Mama Think Shiv deals , the l of ment it does portan impor r unacat 78, of bly Speak ireport s to impos a major twont USTR which when the founde labor is l Assem ised a 58ing of ally the contro g the jee told ed its pelled th stands more than curre 60 nation of 301, ss barriers, e a prohib port it dress leavin prostreng rebel ure of s a dynam ,” Baner claim 60. with forced West Benga enting eventu wing, battling for d the sday recogn “real Trively enforc goods The the scope t-acce US impor ts create people made rs are repres group ative backe marke the reach . effecti the import of le. This worke - 58, on Wedne bloc as the nted ex, have ata. labour that with ers. Thewould soon ly on ceptab American is legisl t leadership . on what . P10 legisla rebel old thirds Ritabr appoi jee tion forced th on MLA and not where thresh fire- paren al legitimacy immediate where compete global said led by using streng l senior TMC Mukhobased ol” and ata Baner camp two-thirds - ic to namo g field,” rep- duced t action is legal politic ta, the and from ition. Severa ing Samar Rathi n retain forced MLA Ritabr That is the l playin . curren trade d that For Mama not merely of the Roy, pelled r of the Oppos th Bose l as it the anti-defecallege igation r tors, includ an unleve Greer, US ent. critica t nge is ned, and invest report ay, Arup son as Leadeer Rathindrana by the agains sustai to challe post of Leade bly—a Khan statem USTR a padhy Javed initiwall The and if , Speak a letter signed lly rec30 Jamie ative in USTR the Assem ing the Ghosh Banerjee, joined tion law,allow the rebels ed the ition in which onlypre- resentMarch 12, the into the fail’s n mer and forma accept s Oppos t claim On would Prasu ent camp MLAs jee, a first-ti on for igation rebel for mally mool name positi are required—bu over th. ity the dissid ated invest d Baner Purba, as leader Trina its iconi c author and of streng present ognise MLAs political ria party, . P8 g and n show g others phool’ from Ulube ative servin zzama Amon bly were ture party legisl ‘jora ghasl t h a t Assem legisla n, of the minister Akhru camp o in the a Ya s m i rebel s y m b t a d e - the r forme whip. The leadership a Golam Sabin Mam Panja, i as chief ed a newlegislature BANERJEE Samir Iman RITABRATA ani, also unveil for the tors Javed Rabb Hamidur ure s, struct n legislaepan Saha, Biswa an, Dinen . Vetera Saha party Khan, Sande Shiuli d s. Raham Ahme Yasmin and leader Sabina as deputy serve would NITIN of lives The loss a fire in due to Nagar Malviya My is tragic. to nces condole have those who loved lost their a ones. Wishing recovery speedy injured to the out er brings lives save shop own Saviour on sale to help s mattresse No work HC’s done on ety saf fire M, THE Jan order on SEE HI ME TO EM FIRST THEY CA HED TH AC FIRE RE From Uttarakhand, he burst into the limelight as a teen at the Asian Games in 1994. His rich medal hauls inspired his peers to achieve similar feats. Then, he donned the role of coach-cum-mentor to ready India’s next generation of shooters. Manu Bhaker, who won two Olympic medals in 2024, was a protege of Rana’s. He also oversaw India’s junior programme | P11 r s, Jaishanka embassie nationals gn touch with MEA in ises help to forei prom EXPRESS READ Free education from KG to PG in Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday announced that education from kindergarten (KG) to post-graduation (PG) would be made completely free in Odisha. The decision, the CM said, will go a long way in ensuring universal access, especially for students from economically weaker sections. “The idea is to make education free and universal, and this is perhaps a first-of-its-kind step in the country,” he said, adding the government has planned four new universities. P5 Probe into MBBS student’s cadaver remarks Mumbai’s KEM Hospital has ordered an inquiry into remarks made by MBBS student Sejal Pawar during comedian Pranit More’s recent stand-up show, with Dean Dr Harish Pathak saying action would be taken based on the findings. Pawar faced backlash after a video of her comments about cadavers went viral on social media. The dean termed the comments “completely unacceptable and intolerable”. Cabinet secretary reviews NEET-UG re-test prep PA R V E Z S U LTA N & S L A L I T H A @ New Delhi FOUR weeks after the NEET-UG paper leak forced its cancellation, the government on Friday signalled it was leaving nothing to chance, with the Cabinet Secretary chairing yet another review and the NTA quietly rolling out a series of candidate-friendly changes for the June 21 re-examination. Cabinet Secretary T V Somanathan, who has now held three rounds of preparatory meetings since June 1, reviewed examination readiness with NTA Director General Abhishek Singh and warned that wrongdoers would face the full force of law. “The full might and weight of law will fall on any person trying in any manner to distort, disrupt, or tamper with the integrity…of the re-examination,” he said. Central and state governments, district administrations and central armed forces are all being co-opted for the exercise, a note from the government said. The MHA has specifically asked CRPF and CISF to guard question paper consignments in transit. For its part, the NTA has made quiet but meaningful changes to the exam format. Rough sheets per booklet have been doubled from two to four, with the additional sheets now split between the front and back portion of the booklet. This was done keeping in mind nearly 15% of candidates who are left-handed and who previously struggled with sheets bunched at the booklet’s end. Based on feedback from students, the exam will run 15 minutes longer, from 2 pm to 5.15 pm, with PwDs getting 4 hours and 20 minutes. Women make up 58%, or 13.31 lakh of the 22.79 lakh, registered candidates. The full might and weight of law will fall on any person trying in any manner to distort, disrupt, or tamper with the integrity… of the re-examination” T V Somanathan, Cabinet Secretary More rough sheets in exam Explaining the rationale behind changing the paper layout by splitting the rough sheets, a top official said, “A little over three lakh who attempt June 21 exam will use their left hand to write it. This puts them at a disadvantage. We decided to double the rough sheets.” scramble , people in area ive blaze ers After mass native shelt to find alter Longer wait for final AI-171 crash report Rebels S L A L I T H A @ New Delhi Family members of the AI 171 crew, who died in the air crash, pay tribute during a memorial service on the first anniversary of the tragedy, in Mumbai on Friday; and (inset) a distraught relative | PTI EXACTLY a year after Air India flight 171 crashed during takeoff at Ahmedabad, killing 260 passengers and crew, there was no closure for the family members of the victims as the much-awaited final probe report remained elusive. Instead, the Aircraft Accident Investigations Bureau put out an interim statement, saying “The Final Report will be released upon completion of all investigative activities and the requisite international review and consultation processes prescribed under ICAO (International Civil Aviation w ata’s rest Mam ool Trinam n after be withdraw minister policy to City B&B dy, says tourism trage iff on more tar erns oses 12.5% r conc US prop er forced labou India ov Significant progress in probe, claims AAIB AAIB’s interim statement claimed significant progress in the examination and analysis of AI-171’s systems, flight recorder data, engine-related components, maintenance and operational records, and other relevant evidence. “The evidence gathered and the results of various examinations are currently being analysed” Organisation) Annex 13.” The final report will take two-three more months for wrap-up, said a source familiar with the developments. Asked about ICAO’s recommendation on the final probe report into any major accident within 12 months of the incident, the source said, “It only encourages the submission of the report. It is not binding on us. Interim reports also can be submitted or statement on the progress too can be furnished, which is what we have done.” When asked what part of the report was pending, the source said since there was massive condemnation after the preliminary report was released on July 12, 2025, which attrib- uted the accident to human error, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had decided to carry out an inspection of the Boeing’s Fuel Control Switch (FCS) in the US to be doubly sure as multiple reports and experts repeatedly spoke of its malfunctioning. AI-171’s fuel switch moved to OFF shortly after take-off, resulting in the crash. Another Air India Boeing flight AIC 132 was grounded on Feb 2, 2026, after pilots reported that the FCS slipped from RUN to CUT OFF when pushed slightly as it did not lock securely “The DGCA visit . will happen soon,” he added. LEPROSY FIVE STATES ACCOUNT FOR 50% OF INDIA’S BURDEN Despite achieving leprosy elimination in 2005, states such as Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh account for 50% of India’s leprosy burden.