$60 BILLION WAS INDIA-RUSSIA’S RECORD TRADE IN 2024 DESPITE EXTERNAL CHALLENGES FRIDAY 28 MARCH, 2025 epaper.morningstandard.in facebook.com/TheMorningStandard X.com/TheMornStandard 6 KILLED PUTIN ACCEPTS MODI’S INVITATION TO VISIT INDIA; WORK UNDERWAY TOURIST SUB SINKS OFF EGYPT COAST RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SERGEY LAVROV SAID ON THURSDAY THAT PRESIDENT PUTIN HAS ACCEPTED PM NARENDRA MODI’S INVITATION TO VISIT INDIA Six people died on Thursday, two of them minors, when a tourist submarine carrying dozens of Russian visitors sank off Egypt’s Red Sea coast. LAVROV LAUDS INDIA FOR BALANCED STANCE A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS PAGE 9  NEW DELHI  J8.00  PAGES 12 Lavrov praised India’s balanced approach to the Ukraine crisis, including advocating for resolving the issue through dialogue. He said Russia fully shares India’s concerns and has been expressing its readiness to hold talks from the moment the stand-off started. Both sides didn’t indicate any date for the visit, maintaining it will take place at the earliest | P7 Auto sector safe Shastri ‘betting’ ad may attract censure from MIB but parts to feel US tariff heat S W A R O O P S W A M I N AT H A N @ Chennai Trump signs executive order to impose 25% import duty on automobiles and auto parts WHAT IT MEANS FOR INDIA No big impact on Indian auto sector, but Tata Motors’ luxury car subsidiary JLR to be hit India’s auto parts exports to US stand at around $2 bn, attracting just 2.5% duty. This will increase 10 times on April 3 Imports of automobiles and certain automobile parts threaten to impair national security Donald Trump D I PA K M O N D A L @ New Delhi THE Trump administration on Wednesday announced a 25% import duty on completely builtup automobiles and certain auto parts, with effect from April 3. While the decision has sent shockwaves through the global auto industry, the reaction in India has been mixed. At first look, the broader Indian auto industry seems largely insulated, but the auto component sector, which currently attracts just 2.5% duty will , feel the tariff heat in the short term. India exported $2.6 billion worth of automobiles and auto components to the US in FY24, accounting for 13% of the country’s total auto and auto ancillary exports of $21 billion. Of this, passenger car exports to the US stood at just $8.9 million, compared to $6.98 billion in global car exports, meaning only 0.13% of India’s car exports are US-bound. Moreover, the 25% duty is still lower than the 70-100% tariffs that could result from reciprocal tariff measures. Trade analysts say India need not be concerned, given the relatively small volume of its car and bike exports to the US. Saurabh Agarwal, tax partner at EY India, says the limited implications for India’s auto industry mean the Indian government may not aggressively seek exemptions from the tariff. Ajay Srivastava, founder of the Global Trade Research Initiative, even discourages India from reducing its own import duties in response. He warns that lowering tariffs on passenger cars could be counterproductive, citing Australia’s experience—where import duties were slashed from 45% to 5% in the late 1980s, leading to the collapse of its domestic auto manufacturing industry. With the auto sector contributing one-third of India’s manufacturing GDP policymakers will tread cautiously , . Mrunmayee Jogalekar, an analyst at Asit C Mehta Investment Intermediates, said Tata Motors could face challenges as its subsidiary Jaguar Land Rover sells a significant number of cars in the US. HONEY TRAP MINISTER SON CLAIMS ATTEMPT ON LIFE EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Bengaluru THE Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has started investigation into the case in which Karnataka Cooperation Minister KN Rajanna had alleged that attempts were made to honeytrap him. A top official confirmed that the CID has begun the probe based on a “petition forwarded from the state police chief ’s office to conduct an enquiry”. However, no FIR has been registered. Rajanna, who had said in the Assembly that he had fallen victim to a honeytrap, also claimed that over 48 politicians cutting across party lines, had been similarly trapped. Rajanna on Tuesday had submitted a petition to Home Minister G Parameshwara. On Thursday Rajan, na’s son and Congress MLC Rajendra claimed that there was an attempt to murder him a day before his daughter’s birthday velebrations in November last year. He, however, clarified that no honey trap attempt had been made on him and that he had only received phone calls. A Ravi Shastri advertisement where the cricketer-turnedpundit seemingly endorses a betting company could come under the scanner of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB). Over the last 11 months or so, Shastri has used X (formerly Twitter) to promote Stake, a betting company. He did the same on March 21, one day be- S U C H I T R A K A LYA N M O H A N T Y @ New Delhi A three-judge probe panel on ‘cash burn’ comprising Karnataka High Court judge Anu Sivaraman (left), Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Sheel Nagu (middle), and Himachal Pradesh High Court Chief Justice G S Sandhawalia leave the Haryana Guest House after a meeting with the Delhi Fire Services chief | PTI EXPRESS READ TN House resolution against Waqf Bill The Tamil Nadu Assembly on Thursday unanimously adopted a resolution urging the Centre to withdraw the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, arguing it would affect Muslims. All political parties, including AIADMK, supported the resolution, while BJP MLA Vanathi Srinivasan opposed it and led her party MLAs to a walkout. | P5 ‘Foundation day of every state to be celebrated’ Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday announced in the Assembly that the foundation days of every state of India would be celebrated in the national capital as people from all states live in the city. Her announcement came while responding to the Budget discussion. 3-day govt doc strike in Bihar hits OPD services OPD services in government hospitals across Bihar came to a standstill on Thursday following a three-day agitation launched by doctors in support of their various demands, including biometric attendance, administrative harassment and severe staff shortage, officials said. Blockbuster cast at Marxist meet IN a unique blend of politics and entertainment, the 24th Congress of the CPM in Madurai will roll out the red carpet for top film stars and directors. The five-day meeting, scheduled from April 2 to 6 at Tamukkam Convention Centre, will feature famed actors Vijay Sethupathi, Samuthirakani and Prakash Raj to share their perspectives on everything politics. Vijay Sethupathi, known for his critically acclaimed performances, will join the Congress on April 4, along with Samuthirakani, who has made a mark in the Tamil film industry as an actor and director. Vijay Sethupathi and Prakash Raj Prakash Raj, a veteran actor with a penchant for socially relevant films, will address the gathering on April 5. The party has also invited acclaimed filmmakers Rajmurugan, Sasikumar, Vetrimaaran, T S Gnanavel and Mari Selvaraj to share their insights. The meet will be a celebration of India’s cultural diversi- as the commentator may still be liable. “This specific advertiser appears to be a betting platform,” Manisha Kapoor, secretary-general of the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), told this daily. “Betting is a violation of law, hence adding any disclaimer does not make it okay to advertise. ASCI is reporting such cases to the MIB.” Under Indian law, games of chance — betting — are banned save a few exemptions as it’s a state subject under the Public Gambling Act. “Any operator,” sports lawyer Vidushpat Singhania told this masthead, “who claims an international license, cannot offer a betting product without a license from an authority in India. They would also need GST registration in India. A celebri- ty before endorsing a brand is required to do a diligence check, otherwise a celebrity can be held liable under consumer protection laws.” Shastri didn’t respond to queries raised by this daily . Indian cricket has been no stranger to betting advertisements in recent years. In 2022, to stop the encroachment of surrogate advertisements, the Union government had issued a strongly-worded advisory . Bar leaders urge SC collegium to withdraw transfer of judge Varma MADURAI CONGRESS PA R V E Z S U LTA N @ New Delhi fore the start of the IPL’s 18th edition. “Witness the Ultimate Cricket Extravaganza,” he posted to his 2m followers. “Early six? Early wicket? What’s your stake? @Stake” There was also a video message to his followers. He also added a disclaimer: “This content is not intended for the Indian region. Visitors must be 18+ of age to proceed.” This daily has learned that the disclaimer may not be applicable for the purposes of legality ty, with performances by renowned artists and cultural groups from Kerala, Karnataka, TN, and Telangana. The event will feature a seminar on federalism to examine challenges and propose ways to strengthen it. Senior party leaders, including party coordinator Prakash Karat and Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, will address the delegates on April 6, on issues facing the nation, economic polic i e s, s o c i a l j u s t i c e, a n d secularism. The event will conclude on April 6 with a “Red Flag Procession,” where cadres will carry the party flag through Madurai, symbolising the party’s commitment to the working-class solidarity . LEADERS of Bar associations from six high courts met Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna and four other Supreme Court collegium members on Thursday, urging them to withdraw the recommendation to transfer Delhi High Court judge Yashwant Varma amid a ‘cash burn’ controversy . After the meeting with the CJI and justices B R Gavai, Surya Kant, Abhay S Oka and Vikram Nath, Allahabad HC Bar Association president Anil Tiwari said, “The CJI assured us to consider our demands...” Bar associations of Allah a b a d , G u j a r a t , Ke r a l a , Jabalpur, Karnataka, and Lucknow had sought the meeting. Tiwari said the collegium assured that each and every point raised by them will be considered within the premises of law. “This is a big statement...,” he added. The collegium’s recommendation to transfer Justice Varma to Allahabad HC triggered an indefinite strike by the state bar association since March 25. A fire at Justice Varma’s official residence on March 14 led to the alleged detection of wads of burnt cash. Justice Varma has denied the charges. Subsequently, CJI Khanna formed a three-member panel to probe the allegations. The SC is slated to hear on Friday a plea seeking a direction to the Delhi Police to lodge an FIR over the incident. The PIL was filed jointly by three lawyers — senior advocate Mathews J Nedumpara, Hemali Suresh Kur ne and Rajesh Vishnu Adrekar — and a chartered accountant, Mansha Nimesh Mehta. House disposes of pending probes against babus A N U P V E R M A @ New Delhi THE Assembly on Thursday disposed of all pending investigations by the Privileges Committee and Petitions Committee of the previous AAP government. The resolution brought relief to many bureaucrats whom the committees investigated in the last few years. Most of the complaints had been filed by members of the previous ruling party against offic- ers of the Delhi government. BJP MLA Abhay Verma submitted a proposal that “no further action should be taken on the pending cases sent to the Petition Committee, Privilege Committee, Question and Reference Committee during the sixth and seventh assembly and they should , be considered settled”. The House passed the proposal. The investigations disposed of relate to top serving and retired bureaucrats, including Anshu Prakash, Shurbir Singh, JB Singh, G Narender Kumar, Maisha Saxena, M M Kutty, Varsha Joshi, Amjad Tak, Amit Singla, Sanjiv Khirwal, Amit Singla, Jaidev Sarangi, Rupesh Thakur, Nidhi Srivastava, etc. Sources said there was also an attempt to target officers by forwarding their names to these committees. Some cases have been pending since 2016 and no meetings have been held. In a meeting on December 4 last year, the 7th Legislative Assembly passed three resolutions requiring the Eighth Legislative Assembly’s respective committees to examine the incomplete work of the Committee on Privileges, the Committee on Petitions, and the Committee on Questions and References under Rule 183. Free NEET, CUET coaching to govt school students, 1.63L to get benefit I F RA H M U F T I @ New Delhi IN what could be a good news for the government school students who cannot afford expensive NEET and CUET coaching, the Delhi Education Department is preparing to offer free coaching to Class 12 students of city government schools. The Directorate of Education on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bharat Innovation Global Pvt Ltd to provide free online coaching to Class 12 students of government schools, preparing for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and Common University Entrance Test (CUET UG). Bharat Innovation Global Private Limited (BIG) is a collaboration between the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) International, the Union Ministry of Skill Devel- Physics, chemistry, math The course will cover subjects such as Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, General Aptitude, and English. PDF notes for revision, regular tests, and a doubt resolution portal will be made available. opment and Entrepreneurship, and ed-tech company Physics Wallah Limited. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who attended the MoU signing at the Assembly, said the initiative would help over 1.63 lakh students of Delhi gover nment schools to secure admission to medical colleges and Central universities. “With this support, more students will have the opportunity to pursue their dreams of becoming doctors and securing admissions in top universi- ties,” she added. The Physics Wallah, based in Noida, has been roped in to provide classes for 30 days from April 2. Students will attend six hours of classes every day, which will run until May 5. The course will cover subjects such as Physics, Chemistry Biology , , Mathematics, General Aptitude, and English. PDF notes for revision, regular tests, and a doubt resolution portal will be made available. Also, a subject-wise study plan will guide students through the preparation process. The previous AAP government had launched the Jai Bhim Mukhyamantri Pratibha Vikas Yojana to provide free coaching to SC/ST, OBC and EBC students for entrace and competitive exams but was discontinued in 2022 due to funding issues. KATHUA 2 TERRORISTS, 3 COPS DEAD IN ENCOUNTER Two JeM terrorists and three policemen were killed and seven others, including a DSP, were injured in a fierce day-long gunfight in a remore forested area of J&K’s Kathua, officials said on Thursday. | P8 RWA fined for occupying Lodhi-era monument S U C H I T R A K A LYA N M O H A N T Y @ New Delhi EXPRESSING its displeasure with the Defence Colony Residents Welfare Association (RWA) occupying a Lodhi-era monument — Gumti of Shaikh Ali — for more than six decades, the Supreme Court has recently directed it to pay `40 lakh as compensation. “It will be appropriate if com- pensation of `40 lakh is paid by the RWA to the Department of Archaeology, Delhi, entrusted with the task of conservation of the monument,” a two-judge bench, led by Ju s t i c e S u d h a n s h u Dhulia and also comprising Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah, has said. The SC has said that the compensation was imposed as the RWA, which occupied the tomb in 1960s, had been justifying its action by saying “anti-social elements would have damaged it”. The SC was hearing an appeal filed by a Defence Colony resident, Rajiv Suri, seeking the court’s directions to declare the structure as a protected monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archeological Sites and Remains Act of 1958. Earlier, Suri had moved Delhi HC, which refused to pass any directions in 2019, forcing him to approach SC. Suri referred to historical records stating that the structure found a mention in a survey conducted in 1920 by Maulvi Zafar Hasan, a Britishera archaeologist. The bench on Thursday directed the archaeology department to form a panel for the monument’s restoration. P3