THURSDAY 23 JULY, 2026 epaper.morningstandard.in facebook.com/TheMorningStandard X.com/TheMornStandard F R A N C E H E AT WAV E 2010 5,764 EXCESS DEATHS, HIGHEST SINCE 2003 The country’s health authorities on Wednesday described the excess mortality among people aged 15 and older as “unprecedented”. A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS PAGE 9 DJB to double STP capacity with over 50 projects  NEW DELHI  J8.00  LALIT MODI MOVED TO LONDON AFTER BCCI SUSPENDED HIM IN 2010 PAGES 12 AFTER MAJOR LEGAL VICTORY, LALIT MODI PLANS INDIA VISIT Former IPL commissioner, Lalit Modi, who has been living away from the country for over 15 years, ‘wants to move on in my life’ after relief RELIEF FROM APPELLATE TRIBUNAL Tribunal sets aside penalties imposed by ED over long-running case with respect to SAFEMA ACT over conducting IPL in South Africa in 2009. It held that the foreign remittances in question were current account transactions and did not require prior RBI approval. It also ruled that Lalit Modi was not responsible for ensuring the BCCI's compliance with FEMA | P7 Lok Sabha Speaker asks parliamentary affairs minister to issue a statement following repeated House disruptions over police action against student protesters, urges Opposition MPs to engage in debate instead of creating ruckus D AY ’ S D E V E L O P M E N T S 1 CJP made it clear that it will hold talks with the Centre only at or near Jantar Mantar 2 Don’t waste court time, says CJI; Delhi HC asks cops to keep CCTV footage of alleged brutality 3 ACP injured in fresh clashes at Jantar Mantar; cops deploy additional forces, teargas fired 4 Delhi Police is using facial recognition system to identify suspects at the protest site 5 A total of 17 metro stations, including Rajiv Chowk, were shut citing security issues 6 Centre has shifted 20 additional CRPF companies from West Bengal to Delhi amid protests A D I T I R AY C H O W D H U R Y upgradation projects, two have already been awarded, while tenders have been reDELHI Jal Board plans to set ceived for the remaining sevup more than 50 new and up- en, the official records show. graded sewage treatment The largest component plants (STPs) by January 2028, of the expansion plan is according to sources. the construction of 29 decenThe proposed expansion, tralised STPs, which are excomprising decentralised pected to add 170 MGD of plants in Delhi’s outer areas, treatment capacity in outer new facilities at major drain areas. The projects are estioutfalls and catchmated to cost `3,151.51 ment areas, and upcrore, with contracts grades to existing for 13 projects plants, is expected to already awarded. raise the sewage treatThe decentralised ment capacity from plants are proposed at the existing 814 milMitraon, Kakrola, lion gallons per day Kanganheri, Dichaon STPs to be Kalan, Jafarpur, Has(MGD) to 1,506 MGD. upgraded Official details acanpur, Ghevra, Kancessed by this newsThe DJB is jhawala, Jaunti, Bajitpaper show that the upgrading pur Thakran, Khera expansion plan comnine existing Khurd, Sungarpur, prises 29 decentralSTPs at Tajpur Khurd, Biised STPs in the outer Yamuna Vihar, jwasan, Ghitor ni, areas, 13 new STPs at Keshopur, Fatehpur Beri-Asola, drain outfalls and Okhla, Mehrauli Rangpuri, Tikri Kacatchment areas unand Vasant lan and Nayabans. der the National MisKunj, among The DJB has prosion for Clean Ganga other locations, posed 13 new STPs (NMCG) and nine with a cost of with a cumulative asprojects to upgrade `1,244 crore. sessed treatment caexisting STPs. The pacity of 331.5 MGD projects are targeted for com- under NMCG. Estimated to pletion between December cost `5,340 crore, the proposed 2027 and January 2028. plants are planned at Jagriti, Delhi has 37 sewage treat- Kondli, Rohini, Delhi Gate ment plants. Of these, 28 up- Phase-III, Pappan Kalan Camgraded plants with a capacity pus, Coronation Pillar Camof 735 MGD are operational, pus, Keshopur, Rithala, Nilothi while nine are undergoing up- and Burari, among other locagradation works which are tions. Detailed project reports scheduled for completion by have already been submitted January 2028. Among the nine to the NMCG. @ New Delhi I F R A H M U F T I @ New Delhi Members of the Opposition stage a protest on the ongoing NEET controversy in the Lok Sabha during the Monsoon Session in New Delhi on Wednesday | PTI P R E E T H A N A I R @ New Delhi AS Parliament remained paralysed for the third consecutive day over the NEET controversy , the government on Wednesday said it is prepared for a detailed discussion in the Lok Sabha, even as the Opposition refused to relent unless Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns. As proceedings in the Lower House were disrupted as soon as it reassembled at noon following an earlier adjournment, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla asked Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju to issue a statement. However, Congress leader K C Venugopal intervened to reiterate the Opposition’s demand for Pradhan’s resignation. “Our demand is simple. When the entire nation is feeling the pain of our students, all other business of the House should be set aside and this Anurag Jain appointed new NITI Aayog CEO Anurag Jain, 1980-batch IAS officer, has been appointed as the CEO of NITI Aayog. Nidhi Chhibber, Director General of NITI Aayog’s Development Monitoring & Evaluation Office, is currently holding the post after ex-CEO B V R Subramaniyam’s tenure expired in February. Policeman on Amarnath Yatra duty shot dead F AYA Z W A N I @ Srinagar IN the first terrorist attack in Kashmir since last year’s Pahalgam massacre, a policeman posted on Amarnath Yatra security duty was shot dead in Anantnag on Wednesday . The police said a gunman fired from close range at head constable Ashiq Hussain Qureshi in the Lal Chowk area of Anantnag around 12.30 pm. Qureshi was shot from behind. He was rushed to the Government Medical College, Anantna g, where doctors deAshiq Hussain Qureshi clared him brought | ZAHOOR PUNJABI dead. The Resistance Front (TRF), an off-shoot of Lashkar-e-Toiba, has claimed responsibility for the attack. Soon after the attack, the security forces launched a massive anti-terror crackdown across the Valley detaining over , 2,000 suspected overground workers. The attack was caught on CCTV. In the video grab, a gunman wearing a black cap is purportedly seen firing on a policeman. A major manhunt is on to locate the attacker. Spotlight on Commonwealth Games Pared-back edition of quadrennial international multisport event to begin with Opening on Thursday Weightlifting, a medal-rich discipline for the country, could be the main source for gold this time thanks to the likes of Mirabai Chanu, India’s flag-bearer for the Opening Ceremony. In athletics, Neeraj Chopra is bound to grab eyeballs | P11 Passing the baton to India India will receive Games’ flag during the Closing Ceremony as they are the next hosts in 2030 (Ahmedabad). Prime Minister Narendra Modi may attend Closing Ceremony INDIA’S STRENGTH NO. OF ATHLETES 78 MEN Rahul: 152 exam paper leaks, no convictions Nadda: Don’t indulge in selective outrage Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday accused the government of destroying India’s education system saying that there was not one conviction though 152 cases of paper leak happened in past 10 years. Gandhi said the education system is not only rigged, but also unaffordable Union minister J P Nadda on Wednesday accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of playing politics over the NEET paper leak. “Why are you so selective. Why did you not discuss about the paper leaks that took place in the Congress and INDI alliancegoverned states?” he said burning issue should be top priority for Parliament,” Venugopal said. Referring to the alleged police action against the protesting students on Monday, Venugopal said their demand is that Pradhan should resign first. After the minister’s resignation, the issue can be discussed through an ad- 48 WOMEN DATES: JULY 23 TO AUGUST 2 | 10 SPORTS, 6 PARA SPORTS IN 4 VENUES | 215 MEDAL EVENTS journment motion, he said. In his response, Rijiju said the government is willing to debate the NEET paper leak issue in detail. He said the Speaker would hold consultations with floor leaders of political parties to decide the rule under which the discussion would take place, along with its date and duration. Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav expressed displeasure that while BJP and Congress members were allowed to speak, he was not given an opportunity . He maintained that when the interests of youth and students are affected, the Opposition is justified in taking the protest to the streets as well. “This is not an issue of Congress, SP BJP , ... this is an issue of students, youths. The way the government has behaved... students were thrashed. We were compelled to hold a protest outside the PM’s residence. Why can’t the PM give a statement in the House when he can make statements outside?” he asked. In the House, Birla said he had heard the views of all sides and noted the government’s willingness to discuss the issue with an open mind. He urged Opposition MPs to participate in a debate instead of disrupting proceedings. P3 & P7 SONAM Wangchuk wrote to Union Ministers J P Nadda and Jitendra Singh on Wednesday, saying he would continue his indefinite fast unless the government gives a written assurance that no punitive or retaliatory legal action would be taken against students who participated in protests by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). In the letter, Wangchuk thanked the two ministers for assuring him that the government would positively consider adequate compensation for the NEET aspirants who had taken their lives and a meaningful discussion in Parliament to ensure accountability, including the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Referring Sonam Wangchuk to the July 20 march, he described it as peaceful despite what he termed the “disproportionate use of force” by police. “I sincerely hope that this faith in democratic institutions is not further undermined by any legal cases, harassment or vindictive action against those participating,” read his letter. He also said that around 65 MPs from different political parties had written to him, with many of them meeting him in person and urging him to end his fast. However, he maintained that he could not do so without an assurance protecting the students who took part in the movement. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke also requested Wangchuk to end his hunger strike. Trump threatens 200% tariff on generic drugs P U S H P I TA D E Y @ New Delhi Nation’s eyes on weightlifting & athletics 13 DISCIPLINES Cockroach Janta Party supporters surrounded by a haze of tear gas late on Wednesday night during the protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi | PARVEEN NEGI Govt offers NEET talk in Lok Sabha, Oppn says sack edu minister first EXPRESS READ TERROR ATTACK Wangchuk to break fast if no legal action on protesters US President Donald Trump on Wednesday threatened to impose tariffs of up to 200% on generic pharmaceutical imports unless manufacturers shift production of those drugs to the US. Under the proposed pharmaceutical tariff regime, generic drug exporters worldwide have been given two years to shift production to the US, failing which a 100% tariff will be imposed from August 2028 and 200% from August 2029. “Effective August 1, 2026, all Generic Drugs being brought into the United States will continue to have a tariff of zero percent for a two-year period, after which the tariff will be raised to 100% for a one-year period, and 200% thereafter. This is done in order to re-shore Generic Pharmaceutical Production into America, with a penalty to those Companies that decide not to build Plant and Equipment within the stated period of time given to them,” Trump said in a social media post. In September last year, the Trump administration had announced plans to impose a 100% tariff on imported branded and patented medicines. However, the proposal was later revised. In April this year, the Trump administration announced tariffs of up to 100% on specified branded medicines and key pharmaceutical ingredients under the Section 232 national security framework, while exempting generic medicines. Trump’s latest announcement, aimed at boosting domestic manuf acturing, has raised concerns among In- dian drug manufacturers, which are among the largest exporters of generic medicines to the US market. In its initial response to the development, the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance said tariffs alone will not help build a sustainable generic drug manufacturing base in the US. According to Dr Reddy’s Laboratories’ CEO Erez Israeli, the move will increase drug prices in the US and it is not practical to move operations there. India exported pharmaceuticals worth $25.8 billion in 2025, of which drugs worth $9.7 billion were shipped to the US. Peace along LAC a pre-requisite for Vijay’s final act sparks box office frenzy normal relations, India tells China JANA NAYAGAN RULES S U B A S H I N I V I J AYA K U M A R & P R A B H A K A R TA M I L A R A S U @ Chennai CHIEF Minister C Joseph Vijay’s Jana Nayagan was meant to be his last act before the transition from cinema to politics. Instead, after months of delay, the megastar’s 69th and final film is arriving as a cinematic celebration of a man who has already conquered the ballot box. After delays in obtaining certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), which pushed its release date, originally slated for January 9, and an online leak of the film, Jana Nayagan will be released in around 1,000 screens across Tamil Nadu on Thursday . Tickets sold out within minutes of bookings opening on online platforms, with several theatres opening reservations in the wee hours. While Vijay now helms the state, one familiar feature of his film releases appears unchanged, at least in Chennai: black-market ticket sales. Several fans took to X to allege that some theatres were selling tickets for `500 to `800, while blackmarket prices ranged from `1,000 to `2,000. Many also alleged that several theatres released only a limited number of tickets online and sold the rest on the black market. While advance sales have crossed the `15-crore mark domestically, trade analysts project a massive Day 1 collection of `50-`60 crore across India. J AYA N T H J A C O B @ New Delhi EXTERNAL Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) remains the “pre-requisite” for normal India-China ties, even as he called for addressing long-standing concerns over market access, trade imbalance and supply chain predictability . The meeting, held on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit (EAS) and ASEAN Regional Forum in Manila, came as New Delhi and Beijing contin- S Jaishankar meets Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Manila, Philippines | PTI ue efforts to stabilise bilateral relations following the prolonged military standoff in eastern Ladakh. Reviewing the trajectory of ties since the October 2024 meeting between Prime Minis- ter Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping in Kazan, Jaishankar said relations had been “gradually normalising”. “Peace and tranquility in the border areas is obviously the pre-requisite for normal ties. Since October 2024, both sides have engaged to ensure that this important objective is met. This will continue to need our constant attention,” he said. He said important economic issues still needed attention. “Fair market access and a trade balance rank high in that regard. There are also concerns about predictability of supply chains,” Jaishankar said.