SATURDAY PUSHBACK AGAINST TAG ON CALLS FROM 140/1600 SERIES AS SPAM 11 JULY, 2026 epaper.morningstandard.in TRAI tells Trucaller caller ID applications or telecom operators cannot tag calls originating from 140 and 1600 number series as spam facebook.com/TheMorningStandard X.com/TheMornStandard ‘CEASEFIRE OVER’ AGREED TO MORE IRAN TALKS: TRUMP The US president said on Friday he had agreed to further negotiations with Iran, even as he repeated his assertion that the ceasefire was over. PAGE 9 ‘Law is not a script’: HC jails Yadav for 3 months U D AYA N K I S H O R E @ New Delhi ACTOR Rajpal Yadav gets a three-month jail term in seven cheque-bounce cases after the Delhi High Court held that he repeatedly failed to honour his undertakings to repay dues, observing that “law is not a script that can be rewritten at the will of an actor”. The court also refused to release him on probation, calling him “undeserving”, and granted him two months to challenge the order before a higher court. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma awarded the sentences, which will run concurrently The court said the . actor was given multiple opportunities to honour his undertaking and clear his debt to complainant Murli Projects Pvt Ltd but failed to do so despite assurances. The HC passed the order on revision petitions filed by Yadav and his wife, Radha Rajpal Yadav, challenging a 2019 sessions court decision that upheld their conviction by a magistrate’s court in April 2018 in the chequebounce cases. The magistrate had sentenced the actor to six months’ imprisonment. The HC had later suspended Yadav’s sentence after his counsel assured the court that the dispute would be settled. But the court said he failed to make the payments despite several assurances. ‘ONLY CUSTOMERS CAN BLOCK PROMO CALLS’ A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS  NEW DELHI J8.00  PAGES 12 Mileage 5% low but E20 blend only option: Govt RELENTLESS AND UNSTOPPABLE Kylian Mbappe and Co beat Morocco to book a spot in thirdconsecutive semifinal. A look... Oil ministry cites logistical constraints to rule out E10, pure petrol R A K E S H K U M A R @ New Delhi THE Union petroleum ministry on Friday acknowledged that the use of E20 (20% ethanolblended petrol) can reduce vehicle mileage by up to 5%, but ruled out offering consumers a choice between pure petrol, E10, and E20, citing logistical a n d i nv e s t m e n t - r e l a t e d constraints. In a detailed explainer, the ministry said stocking three different grades of petrol at over 1 lakh retail outlets across the country would create enormous logistical challenges, raise handling costs, complicate inventory management, and cut operational efficiency . The ministry also pointed to the massive investments made in India’s ethanol ecosystem. It said public sector banks have financed nearly `1 lakh crore annually for ethanol production and related infrastructure, including dedicated ethanol plants, distilleries, storage facilities and logistics networks. “If, after creating this capacity, we were to arbitrarily revert to E10, what happens to these investments? What happens to the surplus production capacity? What happens to thousands of crores invested by farmers, cooperatives, entrepreneurs, financial institutions and public sector companies in good faith based on a national policy?” it said. It maintained that E20 is Ethanol programme saved `1.90 lakh cr in forex: Govt The government on Friday said the ethanol-blended petrol programme has helped the sugar economy, boosted farmer income, and saved the country over `1.90 lakh crore in foreign exchange since 2014-15. Joint Secretary in the food ministry Ashwani Srivastava said ethanol has become central to the agricultural economy by creating new markets for surplus crops and reducing India’s dependence on imported crude oil cleaner and more efficient than both pure petrol and E10. However, it acknowledged that E20 is currently more expensive to produce than pure petrol when international crude oil prices are around $70 per barrel. It becomes more economical only if crude prices rise to $120-130 per barrel, as ethanol is procured at a relatively stable price of about `71 per litre. The ministry’s explanation comes as global crude prices have largely remained in the $70-80 per barrel range over the past year, except for a brief spike to around $125 per barrel during the West Asia conflict. India’s crude basket averaged $70.99 per barrel in FY26, fall- HASINA ing to $62.20 per barrel in December and $63.03 per barrel in January . “Nearly 20% of every litre of petrol sold in India today is domestically produced ethanol. That ethanol is procured at around `71 per litre, a price that does not fluctuate every morning with Brent crude, geopolitical conflicts or shipping disruptions,” it added. The ministry said the transition to higher ethanol blending was undertaken after extensive consultations with automobile manufacturers. The roadmap for E20, prepared by an InterMinisterial Committee, has been in the public domain since 2021. Ethanol blending has risen steadily from 8.1% in the 202021 ethanol supply year to 10% in 2021-22, 12.1% in 2022-23, 14.6% in 2023-24, 19.2% in 202425, before achieving the 20% target in the current ethanol supply year. To counter concerns over vehicle compatibility, the ministry cited field data from automakers. It said Maruti Suzuki serviced 2.84 crore vehicles in FY26, including 1.5 crore nonE20-compliant vehicles, without reporting E20-related corrosion, abnor mal wear or reduced component life. Hero MotoCorp has reported similar field experience. “This real-world evidence is far more reliable than isolated anecdotes,” the ministry said. EXPRESS READ No pink card, no free rides in buses from Aug 1 TO RETURN IN DEC TO REVIVE AWAMI LEAGUE Bangladesh’s deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who is living in India after she fled Dhaka following the collapse of her government, is preparing to voluntarily return to Dhaka by December to revive her Awami League party | P9  In a press note on Friday, TRAI said under Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulation, any tagging, blocking or filtering calls originating from 1600 series numbers is not permitted. It also said customers have the right to allow or block promotional calls from 140 series numbers by registering their preference on the DND registry | P10 RESCUE OP A police officer, assisted by locals, rescues children after flash floods hit Mendhar in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday | PTI Women in Delhi will not be able to travel for free in DTC buses from August 1 if they do not carry Pink Saheli smart cards. The government has made it mandatory for such travels now. Concerned over the slow adoption of the card among women commuters, the Delhi Transport Corporation has also launched a drive across its buses advising women to get the cards. | P3 Les Bleus march on Three Lions face Haaland threat Live on Unite8 and Zee5 (IST Sunday*) Today’s matches England’s quest to end 60 years of WC pain will face another test when the team takes on Erling Haaland’s Norway. They have Harry Kane but England would hope to overcome defensive deficiencies Norway vs England @ Miami Stadium | 2.30 AM* M U K E S H R A N J A N @ New Delhi THE Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has clarified that state songs must be played or sung first in government functions, followed by the National Song (Vande Mataram) and National Anthem (Jana Gana Mana), in that order. Issuing fresh directions to all state governments, Union Territory (UT) administrations and central ministries, the Union home ministry directed the states and the UTs to strictly adhere to the sequence. “In some of the States, State Song is also sung and played along with National Anthem/National Song. It is stated that whenever State Song is sung or played with National Song/National Anthem, both the National Song and National Anthem shall be sung or played together; and National Song will be sung or played first followed by National Anthem,” the MHA said in its order dated July 9. Further clarifying the protocol to be observed in functions that play a state song along THE Delhi government has asked the Ministry of Road T ranspor t and Highways (MoRTH) to declare South Delhi’s Mandi Road a national highway and hand over its development to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). The proposal aims to improve connectivity across Delhi-NCR and ease traffic on one of the capital’s key roads. In a letter to Minister Nitin Gadkari, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta pointed out that the 8.8-km-long Mandi Road is a strategically important transport corridor. The road connects Mehrauli-Gurugram Road (NH-148A) near Chhatarpur Metro Station with the Gurugram-Faridabad Road at the Delhi-Haryana border. It serves as a vital link between Delhi and the neighbouring economic hubs of Gurugram and Faridabad, while also carrying heavy interstate traffic. If the Centre approves the proposal, it is expected to improve road connectivity between Delhi, Gurugram and Faridabad and ease traffic movement on one of South Del- hi’s major arterial roads. Gupta also said the Governing Body of the Unified Traffic and Transportation Infrastructure (Planning & Engineering) Centre, during its 68th meeting on September 27, 2023, recognised the importance of Mandi Road and backed its widening and development. She said the road’s importance, rising traffic demand and direct connection with NH-148A make it a strong candidate for inclusion under the NHAI’s jurisdiction. According to her, the project would provide smoother travel for thousands of daily commuters, strengthen connectivity across Delhi-NCR, and support regional economic growth. Gupta said the BJP governments at both the Centre and in Delhi have created a favourable environment for taking up major infra projects. Messi chases another WC semifinal After a high-intensity contest against Egypt, Lionel Messi’s Argentina will want to bring their A game vs Switzerland in the last quarterfinal Argentina vs Switzerland @ Kansas City Stadium | 6.30 AM* State song first, then Nat’l Song in govt events: MHA Govt seeks NH status for Mandi Road, Gupta writes to Gadkari A N U P V E R M A @ New Delhi Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele were on target as France surged past Morocco 2-0 to book their place in the World Cup semifinals on Thursday. The win sends the 2018 champions into last four for the third straight World Cup. They will play the first semifinal on Tuesday with the National Song/Anthem, an official said: “In such cases, state songs should be sung first followed by the National Song and the National Anthem.” The latest MHA directive also called for strict adherence to the correct script and text, and diction and pronunciation while playing or singing the National Song and National Anthem. To facilitate compliance, the MHA said the authentic text as well as the correct pronunciation of the National Song and the National Anthem is available on the ministry’s website. The MHA said its orders contain an exhaustive list of occasions during which the National Anthem / National Song “shall be played or sung” as well as occasions where they “may be sung or played”. The MHA requested all state governments, UT administrations and central ministries to issue suitable instructions to institutions and organisations under their jurisdiction to ensure strict adherence to the prescribed norms. GROWTH PATH 8.8-km-long Mandi Road strategic transport corridor in Delhi-NCR Connects Mehrauli-Gurugram Road near Chhatarpur metro station with the GurugramFaridabad Road at the DelhiHaryana border Serves as vital link between Delhi and economic centres of Gurugram and Faridabad Expected to ease traffic congestion between Delhi, Gurugram and Faridabad POLL REFORM ‘One Nation, One Election’ mechanism by ’29: JPC head P R E E T H A N A I R @ New Delhi A Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) examining the proposed legislation on simultaneous elections is working to create a mechanism that could make the ‘One Nation, One Election’ reform fully operational by the 2029 general elections, said panel head P P Chaudhary on Friday . Addressing reporters on the sidelines of the panel’s two-day meeting in Goa, Chaudhary said that nearly 99% of civil society stakeholders consulted so far have backed the proposal, which aims to curb an estimated `7 lakh crore economic loss caused by frequent polls. On the timeline for implementation, he said the committee was examining vario u s o p t i o n s, indicating that the refor m could become operational by P P Chaudhary the time the next general elections are due in 2029. He said there is also a possibility of bringing some states into alignment before 2029 if political parties and the chief ministers of those states voluntarily agree to synchronise their electoral cycles. Highlighting the economic rationale behind the proposal, Chaudhary cited findings placed before the high-level committee headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind. He quoted a study submitted to the Kovind panel estimating that holding polls separately across the country results in an economic loss of nearly `7 lakh crore, while synchronised elections could generate equivalent gains for the economy . 3 tiny roars mark big conservation win, happy time at zoo as lion count now 6 Small notes, big pain: Donation counting staff quit RAM TEMPLE N I T I N R A W AT @ New Delhi THREE tiny roars have echoed through the National Zoological Park (NZP), ushering in a heartwarming new chapter in Delhi Zoo’s conservation story . Asiatic lioness Mahagauri has given birth to three healthy cubs, delighting wildlife lovers. The NZP announced on Monday the three Asiatic lion (Panthera leo leo) cubs were born on July 7 to Mahagauri and breeding male Maheshwar. The birth follows the pair’s earlier success last year, when Mahagauri gave birth to two cubs on April 27—a male, Kar- tik, and a female, Karni. Both youngsters are thriving at the zoo, making the latest arrivals yet another encouraging step in the Park’s mission to conserve the endangered Asiatic lion. For now, the three newborns are tucked away in a secure maternity enclosure, where they are being raised in a calm, undisturbed environment that gives them the best possible start in life. Under the watchful care of their mother, the cubs are being closely monitored by the zoo’s veterinary and animal care teams through CCTVs to ensure their health during these crucial early weeks. With the latest additions, the NZP is now home to six Asiatic lions—three males, Sundaram, Maheshwar, and Kartik, and three females, Mahagauri, Shailja, and Karni. The newest trio now begins its journey as the park’s youngest residents. The cubs carry the future of a vulnerable species on their small paws, every little roar of theirs a roar of hope. N A M I TA B A J PA I @ Lucknow AS many as 23 people hired from an external agency by the State Bank of India branch in Ayodhya for counting donations at the Ram Mandir there resigned en masse on Friday amid the ongoing investigation into the alleged embezzlement of offerings, reducing the strength of counting personnel to a little more than a dozen. Earlier, there were 40 counting personnel at the temple. Those who quit said the counting at the temple had become more time consuming and tedious as the number of `10 and `20 denomination notes be- ing offered by devotees had increased significantly after the donation theft came to light. As per sources, the counting staff, deputed by SBI, had a common refrain that they used to collect 70 to 80 bundles of `500 notes earlier, allowing quick completion of the counting process. Now, they barely manage 15 bundles of `500 notes a day. Earlier, the work was carried out in two shifts. The employees said each staff member earlier worked a six-hour shift, but the system has now been changed to a single shift from 9 am to 6 pm. While their salaries have remained unchanged, their work- SC TO HEAR DONATION THEFT CASE ON JULY 13 The Supreme Court will hear on July 13 a batch of PILs seeking an independent and time-bound investigation into irregularities in donations collected for the Ram temple in Ayodhya. The petitioners have urged the court to order an SIT inquiry or a courtmonitored probe into claims of diversion of temple funds, citing lack of transparency in the collection and accounting process ing hours have increased, prompting them to resign, they said. They further said that while donations were earlier counted on tables and chairs, the exercise is now conducted while sitting on the floor. Security and vigilance at the counting centre have been tightened considerably . Sources said the Ram temple trust is now preparing to introduce QR code-enabled identity cards with digital security features, a common uniform for all outsourced employees at the temple and a digital entry-exit tracking system to maintain a record of every employee’s movement.