Environment minister Bhupender Yadav (PTI photo/ File)

NEW DELHI: Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav on Monday welcomed the Supreme Court‘s direction to stay its order on the “new definition” of the Aravalli range that was widely criticised across the spectrum.The minister said the government was “committed to extending all assistance sought from MOEFCC (Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change) in the protection and restoration of the Aravalli range”.“I welcome the Supreme Court directions introducing a stay on its order concerning the Aravalli range, and the formation of a new committee to study issues. We stand committed to extending all assistance sought from MOEFCC in the protection and restoration of the Aravalli range. As things stand, a complete ban on mining stays with regards to new mining leases or renewal of old mining leases,” the minister wrote on X.The minister’s comments come days after he held a press conference amid outrage over the “new definition” of the Aravali hills, where he said no new mining leases would be permitted in core, protected and ecologically sensitive areas, including the NCR.Speaking on the Supreme Court’s acceptance of the “new definition” of Aravalli, the minister had said: “The ruling recognises and endorses the Government of India’s sustained efforts to protect the Aravalli range through scientific assessment, strict safeguards and initiatives such as the Aravalli Green Wall Project.”The controversy erupted after the Supreme Court, in November, agreed with a proposal by the central government on how the Aravalli hills should be officially identified. The court said that only those hills that rise at least 100 metres above the surrounding land, or groups of such hills located close to each other, will be considered part of the Aravalli range for regulatory purposes.In the ruling, the Supreme Court had accepted a “standard definition” proposed by the central government to identify what qualifies as the Aravalli Hills. While the move was intended to bring clarity to long-standing disputes, the definition’s limited ecological lens raised fresh concerns about environmental protection and sustainable development.

Akshaye Khanna‘s exit from ‘Drishyam 3’ has become the talk of the town. As per the reports, the actor left the project over remuneration issues. And now, the film’s producer, Kumar Mangat Pathak, has shared that the production house will take a legal route over this issue. Let’s learn more about it.

‘Drishyam 3′ makers to send legal notice to Akshaye Khanna

According to the NDTV report, producer Kumar Mangat Pathak announced Jaideep Ahlawat as the replacement of Akshaye Khanna in the third installment of the Hindi ‘Drishyam’ franchise. Apart from this announcement, the producer also stated that the production company is in the process of sending a legal notice to Akshaye over this issue.

Reasons Akshaye Khanna left the project

In the same conversation, Kumar Mangat Pathak revealed the reason Akshaye Khanna parted ways from the film, apart from the remuneration issue. The producer shared that his fees were negotiated thrice; however, after that, the actor stopped responding to the calls.Pathak further stated that differences between the film team and the actor over his hairstyle were also the reasons behind this exit.Earlier, Bollywood Hungama reported that the actor demanded Rs 21 crore after his consecutive successful work in ‘Chhaava’ and ‘Dhurandhar’. A source told the publication that Akshaye Khanna demanded to wear a wig, while the makers were not okay with it.

More about ‘Drishyam 3’

Abhishek Pathak is helming the project, with Ajay Devgn headlining it. The movie has been slated to hit theaters on October 2, 2026.

More about ‘Dhurandhar’

In ‘Dhurandhar’, Akshaye Khanna played the role of Rehman Dakait, which received appreciation from all quarters. One of his dance sequences in the movie went viral on the internet.The movie was released on December 5, 2025, and went on to earn over Rs 1000 crore at the global box office. The second part of the film is set to release on March 19, 2026.

NEW DELHI: Unnao rape case survivor on Monday said that she would ensure “death sentence” for the convict and expelled Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar. She also hailed the Supreme Court‘s decision which stayed Delhi HC’s move to suspended life sentence of Sengar.“I am very happy. I had faith in the Supreme Court. I will ensure that he is given a death sentence,” she said speaking to the reporters.

The survivor’s mother has asked for security for her family and advocate saying, “My family needs security. Our advocates need security. I request that the government keep us all safe.”SC stayed a Delhi high court order that had suspended Sengar’s life sentence and granted him bail in the 2017 Unnao rape case.“I am very happy with this decision. I have got justice from the Supreme Court. I have been raising my voice for justice from the very beginning,” PTI quoted the survivor saying.“I do not make any allegations against any court. I have faith in all courts, but the Supreme Court has given me justice and will continue to do so,” she said.The survivor’s mother also welcomed the verdict and said that the SC “has done justice to me.”“I want to thank the Supreme Court for this verdict. The Supreme Court has done justice to me. I always used to say that I had faith in the Supreme Court. The two judges of the High Court did us an injustice. They broke my faith in the high court,” she said.Earlier, the high court had put the life imprisonment sentence on hold and allowed Sengar bail while his appeal was pending. Sengar, a former Unnao legislator, was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in a case that sparked nationwide outrage and reignited debate over crimes against women and political accountability.“Issue notice. We have heard Solicitor General Tushar Mehta for CBI and Senior Advocate for the convict… Counter will be filed in four weeks. We are conscious of the fact that when a convict or an undertrial has been released, such orders are not ordinarily stayed by this court without hearing such persons. But in view of peculiar facts where the convict is convicted for a separate offence, we stay the operation of the Delhi high court order dated December 23, and thus the respondent shall not be released pursuant to the said order,” ordered the bench.In 2019, a Delhi trial court convicted Sengar of offences under the Indian Penal Code and the Pocso Act, sentencing him to imprisonment for the rest of his natural life.The Unnao rape survivor, who was a minor at the time, was allegedly abducted and sexually assaulted by Sengar between June 11 and 20, 2017. She was later sold and subsequently rescued from the Maakhi police station.

So far this year, silver has surged 181%, outperforming gold. (AI image)

Silver price today: After a stunning rally, silver prices for the MCX Silver March futures crashed sharply on Monday, dropping by a huge Rs 21,000 per kg in just an hour of afternoon trade. MCX Silver march futures dropped to an intraday low of Rs 2,33,120 per kg as investors rushed to lock in gains.According to an ET report, the decline in silver prices came after the white metal had rallied to a record high of Rs 2,54,174 earlier in the session. Globally, silver saw heightened volatility, briefly crossing the $80 per ounce threshold for the first time on Monday before reversing course and sliding below $75.

Why have silver prices crashed suddenly?

So far this year, silver has surged 181%, outperforming gold, supported by its classification as a critical mineral in the US, constrained supplies and depleted inventories against the backdrop of rising industrial usage and investor interest.Today’s pullback in silver price rally was driven by profit taking and reports suggesting progress in discussions between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky over a possible peace agreement, according to ET.Trump said on Sunday that he and Zelensky were “getting a lot closer, maybe very close” to an agreement to end the war in Ukraine.The sharp correction in silver prices also reflects a wider bout of profit booking across the bullion market, as easing geopolitical risks have dented safe haven demand. Additional pressure has come from a margin increase announced by the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, which runs key derivatives platforms including CME, COMEX, CBOT and NYMEX, effective from today.The exchange has increased the initial margin requirement for the March 2026 silver futures contract to around $25,000, compared with $20,000 earlier this month.Jigar Trivedi, senior research analyst at Reliance Securities, said the broader outlook for silver remains constructive but marked by sharp swings, adding that the Rs 2.4 lakh level is emerging as an important near-term support.US financial services firm BTIG has cautioned that the rally in precious metals has turned “parabolic,” a pattern it says typically ends with a swift and sharp reversal rather than a gradual correction. “Parabolas only end one way, with an equal and opposite downside reaction. They do not correct through time,” the firm said.From a technical perspective, silver is currently trading about 89% above its 200-day moving average. BTIG noted that, apart from the Hunt Brothers driven squeeze in 1979, instances where silver traded even 60% above its 200-DMA were followed by significantly lower prices 20, 30 and 40 days later. “Even if the underlying fundamentals are different this time, the 174% year-to-date rally appears to have already factored in much of the positive narrative,” the firm said.Silver surged more than 10% on Friday, marking one of its biggest single-session gains on record. BTIG analyst Jonathan Krinsky pointed out that the last comparable move, when prices rose 10% while reaching a multi-month high, occurred in 1987 and was followed by a drop of about 25% in the weeks that followed.Manish Banthia, chief investment officer for fixed income at ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund, said historical patterns show that such dramatic advances in silver seldom conclude smoothly.“History offers some stark reminders. During 1979-80, silver climbed from $6 to $49 an ounce before plunging by over 90%. In 2011, prices peaked close to $48 and subsequently declined by more than 75%. In both episodes, silver had already risen multiple times before the downturn set in. Since the pandemic lows, prices have increased more than six times, and over the past year alone they have nearly tripled,” he said according to the ET report.Past market cycles indicate that once the upward momentum fades, silver prices can correct sharply, often by 50% or more, the report added.(Disclaimer: Recommendations and views on the stock market, other asset classes or personal finance management tips given by experts are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India)

India’s selectors are set to prioritise current domestic form over past reputation while finalising the squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand starting January 11, 2026. The shift in thinking has placed Rishabh Pant at risk of missing out, while significantly boosting the chances of Ishan Kishan to serve as the backup wicketkeeper behind KL Rahul.

The move underlines a broader selection philosophy focused on rewarding players delivering consistent results in domestic cricket, particularly as India build towards the 2027 ODI World Cup.

Ishan Kishan’s domestic surge strengthens his case

Kishan has been one of the standout performers across India’s domestic season, making a compelling argument for national recall. He topped the run charts in the 2025 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, leading Jharkhand to their maiden title and capping the campaign with a memorable century in the final.

He has carried that momentum into the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy, smashing a blistering 33-ball century that signalled peak form. The innings has drawn particular attention because Kishan has not played an ODI since October 2023, yet appears sharper, more confident and tactically evolved than before.

Selectors reportedly value not just his numbers, but his consistency and intent, especially at the top of the order—attributes seen as crucial in modern ODI cricket.

Rishabh Pant’s ODI future under scrutiny

Pant, meanwhile, has not featured in an ODI since August 2024 against Sri Lanka. Although he was named in the squad for the South Africa series, he did not get a game, and reports suggest selectors are now considering moving on from him for the New Zealand ODIs.

The concern centres on his inconsistent domestic performances, particularly in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he has struggled to string together reliable contributions. While Pant remains an X-factor batter with proven match-winning ability, selectors appear unconvinced about his current rhythm and reliability at a time when India are tightening combinations ahead of the next World Cup cycle.

How the wicketkeeper race stands?

A snapshot of the current contenders highlights why Kishan is edging ahead:

• Ishan Kishan – Last ODI: October 2023 | Recent highlights: Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 title for Jharkhand, Vijay Hazare century | Strengths: Aggressive opener, sustained domestic form
• Rishabh Pant – Last ODI: August 2024 | Recent highlights: Squad inclusion vs South Africa but no appearance | Strengths: Explosive batting, elite keeping skills

Reports indicate Kishan has moved ahead of alternatives like Sanju Samson and Jitesh Sharma, making him the likely second-choice keeper for the series.

Also READ: Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya to get break as India plan rotation for New Zealand ODIs

KL Rahul’s role remains unchanged

First-choice keeper-batter stays firm

Despite the debate around the backup spot, KL Rahul remains India’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batter in ODIs. The competition is purely for the reserve role, but it represents an important test of India’s rotation policy- one that increasingly favours in-form domestic performers over established names going through lean patches.

Also READ: Top 5 contenders for the 2025 ICC Cricketer of the Year Award

NEW DELHI: Bhutan’s Sonam Yeshey etched his name into cricket history on Friday by becoming the first bowler ever to claim an eight-wicket haul in T20 Internationals, delivering a spell that will be remembered as one of the format’s most extraordinary feats.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The 22-year-old left-arm spinner achieved the milestone during the third T20I against Myanmar in Gelephu, producing magical figures of 8 for 7 in four overs, including a maiden, at a staggering economy rate of 1.80. Bhutan Cricket hailed the performance as “a spell for the ages” on social media.

Yeshey’s devastating burst dismantled Myanmar’s chase of 128, bowling them out for just 45 in 9.2 overs and handing Bhutan a thumping 82-run victory. The result also sealed Bhutan’s dominance in the five-match series, giving them an unassailable 3-0 lead.Before Yeshey’s effort, the best figures in men’s T20 Internationals stood at seven wickets. Malaysia’s Syazrul Idrus had taken 7 for 8 against China in 2023, while Bahrain’s Ali Dawood claimed 7 for 19 against Bhutan earlier in 2025. Even across all men’s T20 cricket, no bowler had ever gone beyond seven wickets in an innings, making Yeshey’s achievement unprecedented.

Who is Sonam Yeshey?

Born on December 3, 2003, Sonam Yeshey rose through the ranks of Bhutan cricket, representing the under-19 side before making his senior international debut in July 2022. He is a slow left-arm orthodox spinner and bat right-handed.The young spinner has been in impressive form throughout the series, picking up 12 wickets from four matches so far.Since making his T20I debut against Malaysia, Yeshey has taken 37 wickets in 34 matches at an average of 17.37 and an economy rate of 5.69, underlining his growing stature in Bhutan cricket.Incidentally, he has scored just 37 runs in those 34 matches.

Bhupendra Yadav and Jairam Ramesh (ANI images)

NEW DELHI: The Indian National Congress on Monday welcomed the Supreme Court’s directive regarding the redefinition of the Aravalli Hills and demanded the resignation of union environment minister Bhupendra Yadav.Congress leader Jairam Ramesh in a post on X wrote, “In light of this decision, the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change should resign immediately. This ruling dismisses all the arguments they were making in favor of changing the definition.”

This comes after the Supreme Court put on hold its earlier decision of November 20, which had accepted the Central Environment Ministry’s definition of the Aravalli Hills and the Aravalli Range. The November order had effectively exposed large parts of the Aravalli region to potential regulated mining and other commercial activities, raising concerns about ecological degradation and loss of natural barriers against desertification.Reacting to the top court’s order, Ramesh further wrote, “The Indian National Congress welcomes the directives issued by the Supreme Court on the Modi government’s attempts to alter the definition of the Aravalli.” The Congress leader also stated that the matter requires further study, highlighting that the proposed changes have already faced opposition from the Forest Survey of India and the Supreme Court’s Central Empowered Committee. He added that the top court’s order has sparked ‘a ray of hope’. “A more detailed study of this issue will now be conducted. It is essential to remember that the opposition to this new definition had also come from the Forest Survey of India itself, the Supreme Court’s Central Empowered Committee, and the court’s amicus curiae. For now, this has certainly provided some temporary relief, but the struggle against the Modi government’s conspiracies to open up the Aravalli for mining, real estate, and other activities must be continued relentlessly and with greater strength. Today, the Supreme Court’s directives have sparked a ray of hope, ” Ramesh added. The apex body’s order emphasized that the matter requires a more detailed and comprehensive study. The court observed that earlier expert reports and its own observations had been “misconstrued” in some quarters and directed that a new high-powered committee of domain experts be constituted to conduct a thorough “multi-temporal examination” of the Aravalli Hills and Ranges. This committee will assess the structural and ecological integrity of the hill range, which serves as the only natural barrier preventing the Thar Desert from advancing into the fertile Gangetic plains.The Supreme Court has also issued notices to the Centre and the four states through which the Aravalli range passes Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana and Delhi seeking their responses in the suo motu case titled In Re: Definition of Aravalli Hills and Ranges and Ancillary Issues.Environmentalists have highlighted that over 1,200 mining leases are currently active in Aravalli districts across Rajasthan, underlining the importance of an independent and detailed review to protect water security, air quality and the overall ecological balance in the region.

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