NEW DELHI: The National Medical Commission has introduced a non-refundable one-time registration fee of Rs 2 lakh plus 18% GST for institutions seeking to start new MBBS colleges or increase undergraduate seats from the 2026–27 academic year. It has also cleared around 450 additional postgraduate (PG) medical seats for 2025–26 through the appeal process and removed the cap that limited MBBS seat expansion applications to 100 seats at a time.Explaining the new fee, Dr M K Ramesh, president of the Medical Assessment and Rating Board, said the move is aimed at ensuring serious intent and accountability, stressing that establishing a medical college cannot be treated as a routine business decision. He said the registration fee is separate from the existing application fee of Rs 5 lakh for 50 MBBS seats, which rises with higher intake, and only partly offsets the cost of inspections, including travel and stay for three to five assessors conducting multi-day assessments. “The fee applies equally to government and private colleges, generates a unique registration number for tracking applications, and is payable again only if an institution applies in a subsequent academic year, as reapplication is not permitted within the same year,” he said. On MBBS expansion, Dr Ramesh said the earlier 100-seat cap was withdrawn because it had no explicit backing in existing regulations and could not be legally sustained. While the cap was intended to prevent sharp jumps from 50 directly to 250 seats, it was removed after being found unsupported in law. The official said new medical colleges can apply for up to 150 MBBS seats, while existing colleges with 150 seats can expand up to 250, with applications considered on an all-or-nothing basis. Inspections will be intensified for institutions seeking large, single-cycle expansions.On postgraduate admissions, he said PG seat approvals by the first appeal committee are cumulative and ongoing. While earlier notices cited 171 and later 262 additional seats, the total PG seats cleared through appeals so far is around 450, with further additions possible. The additional PG seats—mostly incremental increases of one to four seats per programme—span high-demand specialties including general medicine, radiodiagnosis, dermatology, paediatrics, orthopaedics, obstetrics and gynaecology, psychiatry and general surgery, across medical colleges nationwide. According to the available list, most of these seats have gone to private medical colleges, though some government institutions are also included.The MARB has directed counselling authorities to include the newly sanctioned PG seats without waiting for individual Letters of Permission (LoPs), treating the consolidated list uploaded on the NMC website as a valid document for counselling. Officials said publishing consolidated appeal approvals online was introduced to speed up admissions and improve transparency.

Joburg Super Kings host Paarl Royals in the 17th match of SA20 2025-26 at The Wanderers Stadium on January 8, 2026. Both teams sit near the top of the points table, with JSK in second place after three wins in five games and Paarl Royals showing strong recent form including three straight victories.​

Joburg Super Kings hold second position with 15 points from five matches, featuring wins like a Super Over triumph against Durban’s Super Giants and a 28-run victory earlier. Paarl Royals rank third with four matches played and recent successes, including a five-wicket win and Lhuan-dre Pretorius‘ explosive 98. JSK seeks a rebound after a recent loss, while PR aims to extend their winning streak.​

JSK vs PR, SA20 2025-26: Match Details

• Date and Time: January 8 (Thursday); 4:30 pm IST / 11:00 am GMT / 1:00 pm LOCAL
• Venue: Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

JSK vs PR, Head-to-Head Record (SA20):

Matches played: 6 | Joburg Super Kings won: 2 | Paarl Royals won: 4 | No result: 0

Wanderers Stadium Pitch Report

The Wanderers Stadium has earned its reputation as a batter-friendly venue, thanks to its high altitude and lightning-quick outfield that help the ball fly off the bat. The pitch generally provides even bounce, encouraging free-flowing stroke play, although the iconic bullring can offer sharp bounce and a hint of lateral movement for pacers in the early overs. Recent SA20 matches here have regularly produced totals above 180, making big scores commonplace. While the surface tends to stay reliable across both innings, history suggests teams prefer to bowl first, as chasing becomes slightly more comfortable under lights once the early seam movement fades. Captains winning the toss are therefore expected to opt for bowling first to take advantage of any early moisture on offer.

Squads 

Joburg Super Kings: Faf du Plessis (c), James Vince, Rilee Rossouw, Donovan Ferreira, Shubham Ranjane, Rivaldo Moonsamy (wk), Akeal Hosein, Richard Gleeson, Reece Topley, Imran Tahir, Nandre Burger, Matthew De Villiers, Prenelan Subrayen, Daniel Worrall, Wiaan Mulder, Duan Jansen, Dian Forrester, Steve Stolk, Janco Smit, Neil Timmers, Jarren Bacher

Paarl Royals: Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Asa Tribe, David Miller (c), Sikandar Raza, Delano Potgieter, Rubin Hermann, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Bjorn Fortuin, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Nqobani Mokoena, Ottneil Baartman, Vishen Halambage, Dan Lawrence, Hardus Viljoen, Gudakesh Motie, Okuhle Cele, Nqabayomzi Peter, Eshan Malinga, Thomas Rew, Keagan Lion Cachet

Also WATCH: Matthew Breetzke plucks a screamer to dismiss Dewald Brevis in SA20 2026

JSK vs PR, SA20 2025-26: Today’s Match Prediction

Case 1:

• Joburg Super Kings wins the toss and bowls first
• Paarl Royals’ powerplay score: 45-55 (6 overs)
• Paarl Royals’ total score: 170-185

Case 2:

• Paarl Royals wins the toss and bowls first
• Joburg Super Kings’ powerplay score: 50-60 (6 overs)
• Joburg Super Kings’ total score: 175-195

Match result: Team bowling first to win the contest

Also WATCH: Dewald Brevis and Sherfane Rutherford unleash a flurry of sixes on MI Cape Town bowlers in SA20 2025-26

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (Pic credit: ACC)

NEW DELHI: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s extraordinary surge through age-group and domestic cricket has reached a point where even seasoned internationals are struggling to put it into words. At just 14, the teenage opener has forced the cricketing world to sit up and take notice — and few reactions have captured the scale of the moment better than Ravichandran Ashwin‘s widely shared social media posts.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Ashwin, a veteran of Indian cricket, laid out Sooryavanshi’s recent numbers in stark fashion, allowing the statistics to tell their own story. “171(95), 50(26), 190(84), 68(24), 108(61), 46(25) & 127(74) today. These are just some of Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s scores in the last 30 days across domestic & U19 cricket,” Ashwin wrote, before adding in Tamil-inflected admiration: Enna thambi, indha adi podhuma, illa innum konjam venuma? Translation ( what’s all this brother? Is this sample enough or are you going to raise the bar further ). You can’t explain in words what this kid is doing at 14.”

The post came on the back of another breathtaking performance from Sooryavanshi, who marked his first assignment as India Under-19 captain with a scintillating 63-ball century against South Africa in the final Youth ODI at Benoni. His 127, studded with 10 sixes and nine fours, powered India to a mammoth 393/7 and set up a crushing 233-run win that sealed the series 3-0.Ashwin also turned his gaze to what lies ahead, framing the next few months as a defining stretch in the teenager’s journey. “With the U19 WC round the corner where he’s expected to be the showstopper, followed immediately by the leap to the IPL for his first full season as an opener stepping into the big shoes of Sanju, the next four months of #VaibhavWatch is going to be exciting, telling us everything about his temperament, hunger & character.,” he wrote.On the field, Sooryavanshi backed up the hype with all-round contributions. After India’s batters laid the platform, the bowlers dismantled South Africa for 160, with Kishan Singh leading the charge and Sooryavanshi himself chipping in with a wicket to claim the final dismissal.Across the three-match series, the young captain topped the run charts with 206 runs at a strike rate north of 187. Overall, he now has 973 runs in 18 Youth ODIs at an average above 54, with three hundreds already to his name.

NEW DELHI: At around 1 am on Wednesday, a demolition drive by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) near Faiz-e-Ilahi Mosque in Turkman Gate, close to Ramlila Maidan, turned tense as some individuals resorted to stone-pelting, injuring multiple police personnel.Delhi Police have registered an FIR against unknown persons in connection with the incident, and approximately 10 people have been detained for questioning. Officials said four to five suspects have already been identified, with CCTV and body-camera footage being analysed to initiate further legal action.

A small group of individuals attempted to disrupt the drive, prompting officers to respond with measured and minimal force, including controlled use of teargas to disperse the crowd. The confrontation resulted in minor injuries to five police officials, who were promptly treated.The demolition targeted illegal constructions, including a dispensary and a community hall adjoining the mosque, which the Delhi High Court had declared unauthorised.Deputy commissioner of police (central) Nidhin Valsan added, “The action is still ongoing. We deployed our staff for security. Four to five officers suffered minor injuries. As soon as we get the CCTV camera footage, ground footage, and body camera footage, we will identify the miscreants and take legal action.”Deputy commissioner Vivek Agarwal of the city SP Zone said the operation covered approximately 36,400 square feet. “Senior police officers were present throughout the night, and an adequate police force was provided. The land belonging to the mosque remained unaffected. There was an incident of stone-pelting at night, but our teams were fully prepared. No member of the demolition staff was harmed. We used 32 JCBs, four excavators, pneumatic hammers, and several trucks to carry out the operation,” he added.The drive commenced shortly after midnight, with around 17 bulldozers, along with excavators and other heavy machinery, pressed into service. Authorities had undertaken extensive planning in advance, dividing the locality into multiple zones under the supervision of senior officers. Rapid Action Force personnel were stationed at key points, while additional police teams were deployed to ensure law and order.Traffic authorities issued advisories ahead of the operation, warning commuters of potential congestion around Ramlila Maidan and adjoining roads, while traffic diversions were implemented to ensure smooth movement.Delhi Police emphasised that the situation in Turkman Gate remains under control and reiterated their commitment to implementing judicial directives professionally and sensitively while ensuring the safety of personnel and residents.

NEW DELHI: Isro will usher in the new year with the first launch of 2026 — PSLV C62 mission — on Monday (January 12) at 10.17 am from the first launchpad at the Sriharikota spaceport. The rocket will launch an advanced earth observation satellite EOS-N1 (codenamed ‘Anvesha’), another ‘eye in the sky’ that will boost India’s surveillance powers from space. Besides the primary payload EOS-N1, PSLV will also be carrying an European demonstrator satellite and 17 other satellites belonging to Indian and foreign agencies.EOS-N1 is a hyperspectral imaging satellite developed primarily for the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It is capable of “seeing” in hundreds of wavelengths to identify materials on the ground—making it a high-priority asset for national security and surveillance. It will help India secure its borders because of its advanced remote sensing capabilities and will also be used in various fields such as agriculture, urban mapping and environmental observation.Besides EOS-N1, 18 secondary payloads, including Europe’s Kestrel Initial Demonstrator (KID), will piggyback on the primary satellite and will be placed in space. The KID mission will feature an experimental re-entry of a small capsule in collaboration with a Spanish startup, with a planned splashdown in the South Pacific Ocean. Other secondary payloads are cubesats from Indian startups and universities, including OrbitAID’s AayulSAT, CV Raman Global University’s CGUSAT-1, Dhruva Space’s DA-1, Space Kidz India’s SR-2, Assam Don Bosco University’s Lachit-1, Akshath Aerospace’s Solaras-S4 and Dayanand Sagar University’s DSAT-1.Bengaluru-based space startup OrbitAID Aerospace is set to make history with AayulSAT, India’s first on-orbit satellite refuelling payload. AayulSAT aims to extend satellite lifespans by enabling refuelling and servicing in orbit, addressing space debris and sustainability challenges.The upcoming PSLVC62 mission is also seen as a comeback for the PSLV programme following the earlier setback with PSLV-C61 in May 2025. The earlier PSLV-C61 mission had failed to launch EOS-09 earth observation satellite due to a technical issue in the rocket’s third stage, specifically a drop in chamber pressure, preventing the satellite from reaching its intended sun-synchronous polar orbit. While the first two stages performed normally, the anomaly in the third stage led to the mission failure.