The Morning Standard - April 17, 2025

In this issue

April 17, 2025

Choice Of Acting Head Out Of Sync With The UGC Act

A recent decision by the Union Ministry of Education to appoint the Secretary of Higher Education, Dr Vineet Joshi, as the acting Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC), has stirred controversy, with legal experts and insiders flagging a potential violation of the UGC Act.

2 mins

CJI Khanna recommends Justice Gavai as successor

THE Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna on Wednesday sent a proposal to the Union law ministry recommending Justice B R Gavai as his successor.

1 min

HC notice to Pinarayi, daughter in CMRL case

THE Kerala High Court on Wednesday directed the Centre to submit the names of individuals listed in the Interim Board for Settlement of Income Tax report relating to alleged financial fraud by Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) and issued notices to 19 respondents, including Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his daughter Veena Thaikkandiyil, to hear their side of the matter.

1 min

Guv Sends Muslim Quota Bill in Govt Contracts to Prez

WITH the opposition protesting against the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Amendment Bill, which provides 4% reservation for Muslim contractors in government tenders, Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has reserved the bill for consideration and assent of the President of India, citing the Supreme Court's judgments and stating, \"Reservation cannot be on the basis of religion.\"

1 min

Interim SC order curbing parts of Waqf Act likely

3-judge bench led by the CJI gives the govt additional day to present its case

2 mins

Running out of money on train, rlys set to launch onboard ATM facility

PASSENGERS may shortly be able to withdraw cash from ATMs inside running trains.

1 min

Ayushman card distribution to be expedited: CM

CHIEF Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday announced a major push to expedite the distribution of Ayushman Arogya cards across the city, aiming to ensure that every eligible citizen benefits from the Ayushman Bharat Yojana.

1 min

Funds approved for 27 decentralised STPs, new prison

Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) of Delhi government on Wednesday approved projects worth ₹3400 crore which include construction of 27 decentralised Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs).

2 mins

Address civic issues with action plan for 100 days

CHIEF Minister Rekha Gupta has issued a series of directives aimed at enhancing the efficiency of the revenue department and addressing key civic issues across the capital.

1 min

MCD Invites E-Tenders for Surface Parking

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has invited e-tenders for 32 authorised surface parking lots across the city, under a newly introduced monthly license fee structure.

1 min

Energy storage system at Kilokari to be operational

POWER Minister Ashish Sood on Wednesday reviewed the progress of India's first commercially approved and South Asia's largest standalone Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) being developed in Kilokri, South Delhi.

1 min

Dwarka court evacuated after bomb threat, nothing suspicious found

DWARKA court in southwest Delhi was briefly evacuated on Friday after receiving a bomb threat via email, prompting a swift response from Delhi Police.

1 min

Woman, 27, arrested for kidnapping infant from Safdarjung Hospital

A 27-year-old woman was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly stealing a newborn from Safdarjung Hospital.

1 min

Delhi One of the Top States to Pay Highest Minimum Wages, Says Kapil Mishra

DELHI Labour Minister Kapil Mishra on Wednesday announced that the hiked minimum wage rates will benefit over 40 lakh workers and will be mandatory across all private and government establishments.

1 min

AAP Councillors Stage Protest at MCD for House Tax Relief

AAP councillors staged a protest outside the MCD Commissioner's office on Wednesday, demanding the implementation of proposals to regularise 12,000 temporary employees and provide relief on house taxes.

1 min

Man Arrested for Selling Pirated NCERT Books

A 33-year-old man was arrested for allegedly storing and selling pirated NCERT books in northwest Delhi's Samaypur Badli area, a police official said on Wednesday.

1 min

Three agents arrested over fake passports

THREE travel agents have been arrested for allegedly trying to send a man to Canada using a fake passport, police said on Wednesday.

1 min

Court seeks answers over Michel's safety

A Delhi court has asked for a detailed explanation from Tihar Jail authorities after Christian Michel James, a British national and accused in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam, raised fresh concerns about his safety and living conditions in prison.

2 mins

Parents protest outside DoE office over fee hike, demand rollback

A day after Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced that the government would adopt a zero-tolerance policy against fee hikes, several parents staged a protest outside the Delhi Directorate of Education office on Wednesday.

1 min

HC stalls trial in Patkar's defamation suit against L-G, citing pending plea

THE Delhi High Court has instructed a lower court to postpone proceedings in a long-standing defamation case filed by Narmada Bachao Andolan activist Medha Patkar against the city's Lieutenant-Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena.

1 min

Fire safety certificate denied to LNJP hospital due to major safety lapses

DELHI government's largest public hospital, Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP), has failed to secure a renewal of its fire safety certificate after the Delhi Fire Services (DFS) flagged multiple violations across its buildings during a recent inspection.

2 mins

No Breakthrough in Sexual Assault at Private Hospital

The Gurugram Police is yet to make a breakthrough in an alleged sexual assault case involving a 47-year-old flight attendant at a private hospital in Gurugram.

1 min

HC raps DPS Dwarka for 'inhuman' treatment to students over fees

Judge expresses concern over students locked in school library, denied access to classes

2 mins

Pesticide-laced water found in T'gana school

A potential tragedy was averted at a government school in Dharmapuri village, Echoda mandal, after staff found pesticide-laced water in the midday meal kitchen on Tuesday morning.

1 min

Pinarayi seeks aid of political, religious leaders

THE state government will roll out a mega campaign aimed at creating awareness against drugs by June and the focus will be on students and youths, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Wednesday.

1 min

Shed caste tag from names of edu institutions

IN a significant ruling, the Madras High Court has ordered removal of caste tags from school and college names within four weeks.

1 min

APMC facing serious challenge as fake docs misusing name & forging registration certs

THE Andhra Pradesh Medical Council (APMC) is grappling with a growing crisis as fake doctors in several states misuse its name and forge registration certificates.

1 min

Madras HC Imposes Blanket Ban on 28 Plastic Items in Western Ghats

THE Madras High Court has imposed a blanket ban on 28 plastic items, including pet bottles, cups, tumblers, plates, carry bags and plastic films used for food wrapping, throughout the Western Ghats, from the Nilgiris to the Agathiyar Biosphere in Kanniyakumari district.

1 min

EPS refutes Shah, rules out AIADMK, BJP coalition govt

BREAKING his silence on Union Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks regarding AIADMK and BJP sharing power in the NDA coalition government in Tamil Nadu after the 2026 Assembly elections, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Wednesday asserted that Shah had not said anything to that effect.

2 mins

Early release for Graham Staines murder convict for 'good conduct'

Dara's aide was sentenced to life imprisonment for burning alive Staines and his two sons

2 mins

No tree should be felled: SC says restore green cover of land near Hyd university

MAKING it clear that \"not a single tree\" in the 400 acres adjacent to the University of Hyderabad should be felled, the Supreme Court on Wednesday sought a plan on restoration of the ecology in the 100 acres that were denuded of green cover recently.

1 min

Trust of sanitation workers in Kochi to field candidates in 74 divisions of corporation

PULLING a surprise ahead of the local body elections scheduled to be held later this year, the Kochi Corporation Sanitation Workers Charitable Trust has announced that it will field its own candidates in some of the civic body's 74 divisions and back independent candidates in others.

1 min

The Signal From Signalgate

SIGNALGATE sounds pointedly scandalous. But does it have the cachet of the earlier 'gates'? Here are some consequential ones—Watergate, Murdochgate, Abu Ghraibgate, Bibigate, Cablegate, Gaetzgate, Contragate, Choppergate and Coalgate (the last two from India).

3 mins

The Brave New Universe Of Social Media

Whether it comes from the Left or the Right, we must create safe spaces for airing criticism. Modernity depends on it. Intermedial hermeneutics offers a way out

4 mins

Day II: ED grills Vadra for 5 hrs in land deal case

BUSINESSMAN Robert Vadra on Wednesday appeared before the ED for the second round of questioning in connection with the probe into a case under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) linked to a 2008 Haryana's Gurugram land deal.

1 min

Amid Trump Tariff Talk, Vance Will Meet Modi During 3-Day India Visit

US Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha Vance will embark on a week-long visit to Italy and India from April 18 to 24, White House announced on Wednesday.

1 min

Consumption pattern: Diesel slows down, petrol up

INDIA witnessed a marked slowdown in diesel consumption growth during the financial year 2023-24, with demand rising by just 2% — a significant drop compared to the 4.3% growth recorded the previous year, shows the data from the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) of the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

1 min

Buzz of Cabinet expansion in May after PM-Prez meet

Some ministers may be dropped due to their age or performance

2 mins

BJP, Cong slugfest over Herald case

The Congress on Wednesday attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Centre, alleging that the Enforcement Directorate's (ED's) chargesheet in a money laundering case related to the National Herald newspaper is to cover up its failed foreign policy and prevailing economic crisis in the country.

2 mins

Renewable energy records higher output rates than thermal: Report

INDIA's nuclear, renewable, and hydro energy production rates have registered higher growth compared to that of coal-based thermal power plants in recent years, according to a report.

1 min

India says regional representation sole criterion for UNSC expansion

INDIA has strongly objected to proposals introducing religion or faith as criteria for representation in a reformed United Nations Security Council (UNSC), emphasising that such parameters are inconsistent with the long-established principle of regional representation.

1 min

Furore over ex-RAW chief's Abdullah story

A political storm has erupted in J&K over the revelations by ex-RAW chief AS Dulat in his new book that National Conference president and former J&K chief minister Farooq Abdullah backed the Centre's move to abrogate Article 370 in private and was also willing to align with the BJP.

1 min

Post-tariff, Punjab Basmati cultivation may drop

The prospect of looming American tariffs and growing Iran-US tensions affecting the price of aromatic, premium rice variety of Basmati this year is giving rise to apprehensions that farmers of Punjab might prefer shifting to non-Basmati paddy.

1 min

2 Maoists dead in encounter in C'garh district

TWO cadres of the CPI (Maoist), carrying a combined bounty of ₹13 lakh, were killed in an encounter with security forces at the Kilam-Bargum forests in Chhattisgarh's Kondagaon district on Wednesday.

1 min

Rahul Makes Moves, Unveils Gujarat Cong Revamp Plans

The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Wednesday, announced new organisational guidelines, promising that electoral candidates will \"not be imposed from the top\" and performance alone will be the criterion for ticket-seeking workers and ministry-seeking legislators.

1 min

Army saves jawan stuck in communal clashes, forms helpline for others

THE Indian Army has established a soldiers' helpline and dispatched a Quick Reaction Team (QRT) in Murshidabad following an SOS call from a soldier in the West Bengal town which has witnessed violence over the Waqf legislation.

1 min

Didi smells conspiracy in riots

Amid simmering tension, CM comes down heavily on 'pre-planned' attacks

2 mins

Row over trans rights: UK court rules definition of 'woman' based on sex at birth

BRITAIN's Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that the legal definition of a \"woman\" is based on a person's sex at birth, a landmark decision with far-reaching implications for the bitter debate over trans rights.

1 min

France Urges Release of Russian Journalists

FRANCE on Wednesday urged Russia to immediately release four journalists sentenced to long prison terms for their association with the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

1 min

Israeli defense minister says troops will be in Gaza, Lebanon & Syria indefinitely

ISRAEL's defense minister said Wednesday that troops will remain in so-called security zones in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon and Syria indefinitely, remarks that could further complicate talks with Hamas over a ceasefire and hostage release.

1 min

Harvard Is a Joke, Undeserving of US Federal Funding: Don

PRESIDENT Donald Trump called Harvard a \"joke\" on Wednesday and said it should lose its government research contracts after the top US university refused to accept demands to come under outside political supervision.

1 min

Trade deficit with China swells to $100 billion in FY25

Growing gap between 2 nations is due to fall in India's exports to China

1 min

Global trade could slide in 2025: WTO

THE World Trade Organisation on Wednesday said the volume of trade in goods worldwide is expected to fall by 0.2% this year on account of US President Donald Trump's shifting tariff policies and a standoff with China.

1 min

Gold crosses ₹95,000 mark amid tariff woes

THE continuing weakness of the dollar coupled with the rising trade tension between the US and China -- with the former hiking import duties on shipments from the latter to 245% from 125% -- has led to the safe haven asset gold hitting a new high, going past the $3,300/ounce-mark in the global markets and scaling past the ₹95,000/10 gram mark (for 24 carat) in the domestic market on Wednesday.

1 min

BluSmart Halts Services After Sebi Curbs on Gensol

ELECTRIC vehicle (EV)-only ride-hailing platform BluSmart has temporarily suspended bookings in major cities, including Delhi-NCR and Bengaluru, following financial turmoil at its key backer and fleet provider, Gensol Engineering Ltd (GEL).

1 min

Trump to launch housing project in Gurugram

SMARTWORLD Developers and Tribeca Developers are bringing back Trump-branded residential project in Gurgaon.

1 min

Wipro profit rises 26%; outlook weak

AMID uncertainty and macroeconomic headwinds, IT services firm Wipro expects clients to take a more measured approach, especially on large transformation programmes and discretionary spending.

2 mins

FM's visit 'triggers' flow of investment from UK; to firm up economic ties

AMID uncertain economic and business conditions globally, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's recent UK visit assumes significance with both the countries committing greater investment and cooperation.

1 min

Musk's Starlink may soon get license to operate in India; co officials meet Goyal

ELON MUSK-led Starlink is likely to receive a license soon to launch satellite broadband services in India, as company representatives met with commerce minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday to discuss future investment plans in the country.

1 min

Starc difference in Delhi win

RAJASTHAN Royals and Delhi Capitals served up a feast for the ages in their Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter on Wednesday.

1 min

Smoking gun: Suruchi Singh, India's latest golden girl in shooting

LATE on Tuesday, pistol shooter Suruchi Singh nailed her second gold medal in as many weeks.

3 mins

Canada, Nigeria join India as contenders to host 2030 CWG

INDIA is not alone in showing interest in hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games.

1 min

PSG Keep CL Bid Alive, Barcelona Survive Scare

PARIS Saint-Germain's bid to win a first Champions League crown remains on course but the French giants only just survived a bumpy ride against Aston Villa on Tuesday as old ghosts almost came back to haunt them.

1 min

Shedding 7kg: Manpreet's weight loss journey

AFTER the Paris Games, Manpreet Singh let himself go. There were celebrations every other day. After refusing to go within a mile of anything sugary for years, the two-time Olympic medallist 'lost control'.

2 mins

Goal: Produce One Sensation a Year

PBKS general manager Tuli gives a lowdown on process involved while unearthing talent

3 mins

Spirit of the Season

How NCR's cocktail havens are redefining summer sips with cocktails that are no longer merely beverages but curated experiences, steeped in craft and a touch of theatre

3 mins

Read all stories from The Morning Standard

The Morning Standard Newspaper Description:

The Morning Standard is an English-language newspaper published by Express Network Private Limited in India. The newspaper is published in six Indian cities: New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chennai, and Hyderabad.

The Morning Standard covers a wide range of news and topics, including:

* National and international news: The newspaper covers the latest news from India and around the world, including politics, business, sports, and entertainment.
* Opinion and analysis: The newspaper features opinion pieces and analysis from leading experts on a variety of topics.
* Features: The newspaper also features features on a variety of topics, such as lifestyle, culture, and travel.

The Morning Standard is known for its in-depth reporting and insightful analysis. It is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to stay informed about the latest news and events from India and around the world.