FRIDAY WOMEN CONTINUE TO HOLD FAR FEWER TOP MANAGEMENT ROLES 14 Latest data submitted in Parliament shows that women held only 17.2% of senior management positions in corporate India in 2025–26 | P10 AUGUST, 2026 Last 3 epaper.morningstandard.in facebook.com/TheMorningStandard X.com/TheMornStandard FINANCIAL YEARS WERE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT TO COMPILE THE DATA HARVARD UNIVERSITY US COURT REJECTS TRUMP LAWSUIT A US federal court on Thursday threw out a Trump administration lawsuit against Harvard University accusing it of permitting anti-Semitism PAGE 9 ONLY NINE WOMEN CEOS IN INDIA’S 500 LISTED FIRMS A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS  NEW DELHI  J8.00  PAGES 12 Badal survives Stormy Parliament session ‘kirpan’ attack ends with poor productivity in Maharashtra WOMEN HOLD ONLY 29% OF DIRECTOR POSTS Of the 2,52,103 senior management roles that financial year, women held 43,331 positions, while men accounted for 2,08,772, government data in Parliament showed. There were only nine women CEOs leading the country’s top 500 listed firms Women held 10,36,694 director posts against 25,09,619 director posts held by men, which is about 29% of the total as of June 30, 2026. However, women in senior management rose from 34,879 in 2022–23 to 43,331 in 2025–26 SAFETY FIRST Air India makes dope test must for all pilots P R E E T H A N A I R @ New Delhi Man in ‘Nihang’ attire stabs him in Nanded gurdwara; SAD chief injured, out of danger S U D H I R S U R YA W A N S H I & H A R P R E E T B A J W A @ Mumbai / Chandigarh SHIROMANI Akali Dal president and former Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal was on Thursday attacked with a kirpan (ceremonial dagger) inside Mata Sahib Gurdwara in Nanded, Maharashtra. Badal was injured and rushed to a nearby private hospital, where he received three stitches on his right hand. His condition is stable. The attacker, identified as Jaspal Singh, was arrested. Police said Singh, around 60 years old, was working as a sewadar (volunteer) at the gurdwara. The motive behind the attack was not immediately known. “A Nihang (member of a martial order of Sikhs) attacked Badal with a kirpan inside the gurdwara. The assailant has been taken into custody,’’ said Nanded SP Neelabh Rohan. The attacker is a resident of Pune and has a law degree, the SP added. According to police sources, the attack took place when Badal, accompanied by his spouse Lok Sabha MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, was walking down the stairs after offering prayers at the gurdwara in the afternoon. Taking advantage of the rush at the gurdwara, Singh, who was in ‘Nihang’ attire, tried to stab Badal in the Sukhbir Singh Badal with a cloth stomach. wrapped around his injured hand | PTI Police officer Santosh Kendre, who was part of Attacker hails from Pune Badal’s special protection unit, quickly intervened and Jaspal Singh, the man who confronted the attacker. Durattacked SAD chief Sukhbir Singh ing the physical skirmish, Badal, hails from Pune. For the Kendre was injured. past two years, he has been Prime Minister Narendra serving as a volunteer in the Modi had a telephonic congurdwara. According to reports versation with Harsimrat quoting eye-witnesses, he said: Kaur to enquire about “I surrender, I surrender” after Badal’s health and asked if attacking Badal with a ‘kirpan’ she needed any help. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered a detailed investigation into the attack. He also spoke to Nanded Superintendent of Police Neelabh Rohan and directed him to investigate the motive behind the attack. “During preliminary questioning, he referred to the drug menace in Punjab but his exact reasons for attacking Badal were yet to be ascertained. The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad is also conducting a probe into the matter,” said Rohan. Badal has Z-plus security cover. On December 4, 2024, he survived an assassination attempt outside the Golden Temple in Amritsar when a former Khalistan militant fired shots. Nanded is one of Sikhism’s holiest pilgrimage centres and home to Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Sahib, one of the faith’s five Takhts, where Guru Gobind Singh spent his final days and declared the Guru Granth Sahib the eternal Guru. Badal had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this month, triggering intense speculation about the possibility of SAD joining hands with the BJP again ahead of the Punjab assembly elections . EXPRESS READ 3 workers dead as water enters tunnel Three workers were killed and another remained trapped after water and debris entered an underconstruction tunnel of the Vishnugad-Pipalkoti hydroelectric project in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district. Twenty-two workers were inside the tunnel when the incident occurred near Mayapur in Pipalkoti. DUSU polls to be held on Sept 18 The Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) polls for the 2026–27 session will be held on September 18, with counting of votes scheduled for September 19, according to a notification issued by Delhi University. September 10 is the last date for filing nomination papers. L A L I T H A S @ New Delhi ONE of the most tumultuous and unproductive sessions in recent parliamentary history drew to a close on Thursday, with both Houses adjourned sine die after weeks of disruptions, protests and acrimony In . the finale, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah attended the Lok Sabha for the first time during the session, as the House met only briefly before being adjourned. As soon as the Lok Sabha convened for the day on Thursday, all six stanzas of the national song Vande Mataram were played in the presence of Modi and Shah. Speaker Om Birla then adjourned the House sine die, bringing the curtains down on a session that was largely washed out by a prolonged confrontation between the government and the Opposition over the student agitation, alleged police action against protesters, and demands for accountability from the Union home minister. Significantly, Birla did not deliver the customary valedictory address in which the Speaker usually highlighted DAYS after the captain of an Air India flight from Phuket to New Delhi tested positive for marijuana in a confirming drug test, the airline has begun mandatory screening of all its pilots to ensure they have not consumed any substances or medications that violate regulations. The larger aim is to safeguard passenger safety and restore trust in the airline. Air India and Air India Express together employ nearly 5,000 pilots, and the testing is mandatory for all, according to an airline source. In an internal communication to its pilots, Air India Group management said: “Air India already fully complies with all regulatory requirements prescribed by the DGCA, which are similar to those practised in other major aviation jurisdictions including Europe and the United States. We nevertheless now feel it is important to go further. Accordingly we have decided to un, dertake a full screening of all Group pilots for any substances or medications that are not permitted under prevailing regulations. This testing is mandatory and starts today August 13.” , The communication added that the initiative goes beyond regulatory requirements, reflecting the airline’s determination to uphold the highest standards of safety and professionalism. Under current DGCA rules, only 10% of pilots and air traffic controllers are required to be checked randomly The rules came into effect in 2022. . Urine samples are tested for six categories of substances — amphetamines and amphetaminetype stimulants, opiates and metabolites, cannabis (tetrahydrocannabinol), cocaine, barbiturates, and benzodiazepines. Lok Sabha MPs stand at attention during the rendition of Vande Mataram | PTI Major climbdown While 12 bills were passed by the Lok Sabha, the government had to retreat on some of its legislative plans. The biggest climbdown came on the contentious FCRA bill, which was referred to the JPC following stiff resistance from the Opposition parties, church leaders and civil society organisations the House’s performance and p r o d u c t iv i t y d u r i n g t h e session. According to data from PRS Legislative Research, the Lok Sabha recorded one of its low- 400 VENTILATORS, 910 O2 CONCENTRATORS UNUSED AT GTB HOSP; HC UPSET U D AYA N K I S H O R E @ New Delhi Machines from top firms The division bench of the High Court observed, “Equipment appears to be manufactured by globally well-known companies, and it is unclear as to why such equipment is being permitted to lie unused.” THE Delhi High Court has taken note of expensive equipment lying unused in government hospitals in Delhi. It expressed “shock” on 400 ventilators and 910 oxygen concentrators reportedly lying unused at Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Hospital. A bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora are hearing a suo motu case, in which it routinely monitors healthcare services in the city’s government hospitals. The situation at the Delhi State Cancer Institute is no different, where a very large number of equipment meant for cancer diagnosis and treatment lied unused, the court was informed. It noted that Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital and Chaudhary Brahm Prakash Ayurved Charak Sansthan also faced a similar situation, in which all their equipment and machines were reported to be lying unused. The court was informed by GTB Hospital that the ventilators and oxygen concentrators were procured or donated during Covid-19 and were now surplus. They are part of a wider list of critical medical equipment lying idle in 26 government hospitals, the bench was told. est productivity levels in two decades, with only two sessions since 2004 witnessing less functioning. Question Hour could not be completed even once during the session. Amid the protests, as many as 12 Bills were passed by the Lok Sabha, including two that had earlier been cleared by the Rajya Sabha. Of these, only two saw a debate, while the remaining Bills were passed without discussion. The session began on July 20 and witnessed vociferous protests over the NEET paper leak and alleged donation theft at the Ram temple. Later, the Opposition demanded Shah’s response on the police action on student protesters. August 4 mishap’s aftermath The August 4 mishap when an Air India flight suffered a loss in altitude by 300 feet forced the new checks on pilots. A total of 17 on board, including four cabin crew members, were injured in the accident. On August 12, the result of the second test for psychoactive substances for the Pilot-inCommand was released and sources said he tested positive for marijuana Bar Council of India chair’s flip-flop on fiat against NALSAR Univ grads U D AYA N K I S H O R E @ New Delhi BAR Council of India (BCI) chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra on Thursday said no student who graduated from NALSAR University can be enrolled by state bar councils until further orders. Following an uproar, the order was withdrawn Serious matter: Mishra within hours. The development followed the In the first circular, BCI chief Hyderabad-based university’s Manan Kumar Mishra had said the students reportedly opposing NALSAR matter was “serious” the participation of Chief Jus- while accusing teachers there of tice of India Surya Kant at the “nasty politics.” He had asked the university to furnish the details institution’s convocation. of all students part of the CJI “After thorough disboycott. cussion, the members are of unanimous view that as per the latest repart in the move of disreport, vast majority of the spect. Accordingly, the students of NALCouncil modiSAR (2026 pass out fies the order students) are inof Chairman. nocent and they All students were not inwill be entiManan Kumar Mishra clined to take tled to get enrolled with the State Bar Councils of their choice,” the subsequent circular said. The initial circular, within moments after being reported, was castigated online. The second circular said that “as reported by some reliable sources a handful of teachers and outsiders were instrumental in instigating the innocent students”, and said that the council will wait for an inquiry report from Vice-Chancellor. In the first circular, Mishra had also sought a report from NALSAR Vice-Chancellor on students who allegedly “mobilised a campaign” to not invite CJI Kant for the convocation, saying, “ student of law is not A expected to be a responsible or sensible advocate, teacher or a judge.” Mishra later said in his revised order that BCI will wait for the V-C’s report for the next step. Dwarka to get 5-star hotel At 51, Tamil Nadu man pursues medical dream in L-G’s economic push GOVT COLLEGE SEAT S I N D U J A J A N E @ Chennai A 51-YEAR-OLD with a doctorate degree hailing from Nagapattinam district has fulfilled his childhood dream of becoming a doctor by securing a medical seat under the Special Category (Persons with Disabilities quota) during the Tamil Nadu online medical counselling, which commenced here on Thursday . A Suresh Kumar, a father of two children, began his career as a medical representative after completing a Diploma in Pharmacy in 1996. He subsequently added a BBA degree and PhD to his name, before securing 192 marks in the NEET-UG exam conducted in June. He has been allotted an MBBS seat in the Government Medical College Nagapattinam. Asked why he did not want to leave the medical seat for younger candidates, Suresh, who lives in Chennai with his A Suresh Kumar (left) at the online medical seat counselling for an MBBS seat MBBS, BDS counselling commences The counselling for MBBS and BDS admissions for 2026-27 began on Thursday. Health Minister K G Arunraj distributed allotment orders to students, including those who secured seats under the 7.5% quota family, said some doctors completed their MBBS in government colleges but went abroad after graduation, leaving their obligations to their country unmet. Unlike them, he said, he was prepared to work even without a salary if posted to hilly or remote locations. “My happiness lies in serving the people in remote areas till my last breath. I’m ready to resign my job as vice president at a diagnostic company where I am drawing a lucrative salary,” he said. This was Suresh’s second attempt at NEET after 2022. “In 2022, I read about a senior citizen who qualified under NEET and was set to take the medical seat. I have all those news clippings to keep myself motivated,” he said. However, when he took the test in 2022, he was unaware that he could apply for a seat under the PwD quota — a leg fracture from a 2019 road accident left him with a 40% (benchmark) disability . “Since 2022, I have been checking NEET question papers, and revising biology lessons from my sons’ textbooks. Finally, this year, when I gained enough confidence, I wrote NEET again,” he said. Suresh said he chose to take up a seat in Nagapattinam as he wishes to spend time with his mother. EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ New Delhi THE Delhi Development Authority (DDA) will develop a five-star hotel in Sector 23, Dwarka. The project will be executed by private firm Juniper Hospitality as a licencee. It is likely to create direct employment opportunities for around 800 people and involve a capital investment of more than `1,000 crore. The hotel is scheduled to become operational by 2030 The project is part of the development plan being pushed by Lieutenant-Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu to make Dwarka as an investment hub. Observers say it will add to Dwarka’s hospitality infrastructure and cater to the growing demand from business travellers, visitors and tourists. The hotel will overlook Dwarka Golf Course, the country’s longest 18-hole park. Its proximity to the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre and the Dwarka Sports Complex is likely to provide further business opportunities in the area. The hotel is also set to be among the first hospitality facilities to cater to the proposed diplomatic enclave, which will come directly opposite the site. Over the 55-year license period, the hotel is projected to generate more than `6,000 crore in revenue for the DDA. This project is one of four special license-fee projects the DDA auctioned in the past year and marks the first instance in which the urban development body has formally executed such a licensing agreement.