Veteran Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir has issued a stern warning to India opener Abhishek Sharma after the batter registered three consecutive ducks at the start of the T20 World Cup 2026. Before India’s high-profile clash with Pakistan last Sunday in Colombo, Amir had labelled Abhishek a “slogger,” and the batter’s early struggles have now drawn further scrutiny. In India’s final Group A match against the Netherlands on Wednesday, Abhishek fell on the third ball of the first over to Aryan Dutt. Trying to play a pull shot, he was beaten by the pace as the ball skidded through and hit the stumps. This dismissal marked his third duck in as many games, with just eight deliveries faced across the three matches.

With this, Abhishek equalled the record for the most ducks by an Indian in T20 World Cups, joining Ashish Nehra. Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi and Sri Lanka’s Tillakaratne Dilshan top the overall list with five ducks each. Speaking on the Pakistani show Game on hai, Amir drew parallels between Abhishek’s early struggles and those faced by Pakistan opener Saim Ayub during his initial PSL campaigns. He stressed that young batters are quickly tested by quality bowlers who spot technical flaws. “Saim had the same issue when he came to play the PSL a few years back. He was new and was hitting no-look shots. Nobody knew his weakness because most of his shots were on the leg side. Now, if you bowl at the third or fourth stump line, he struggles to decide. Even in his last two matches, he was dismissed playing on the off side. Unless he improves his off-side game, he cannot progress. Strong bowlers will always test your weakness and push you out of your comfort zone,” Amir said. He added specifically about Abhishek: “Same for Abhishek. He wants every ball in the slot so he can hit. But at the bigger stages, or in ODIs, har ball lapete mein nahi le sakte (you cannot slog every ball in pressure cricket). Salman Agha and Aryan Dutt got him out in similar fashion. International cricket will expose you.” India will be hoping that Abhishek overcomes this poor run of form and regains his rhythm ahead of the Super 8 stage of the tournament.

“Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor,” Buckingham Palace said last year. His elder brother King Charles III’s decision to strip him off the royal titles came in the wake of scandal surrounding his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. It began with a photograph. In March 2001, he was pictured in London with Virginia Giuffre — then known as Virginia Roberts — and Ghislaine Maxwell, in an image allegedly taken by convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. At the time, the photo drew little public attention. That would change years later, as Epstein’s criminal history resurfaced and allegations against powerful associates intensified.

Image credit: Nina (@ShakeLS X account) Scrutiny deepened in December 2010 when Andrew was photographed walking with Epstein in New York’s Central Park, shortly after Epstein’s release from prison following a sexual offence conviction. The image triggered backlash in Britain. In 2011, the Daily Mail published an interview with Giuffre alongside the 2001 photograph. Although the article stopped short of directly accusing Andrew of misconduct, it propelled allegations into mainstream. Days later, Andrew allegedly emailed Epstein saying “we’re in this together” and “we’ll play some more soon,” referencing the negative press — messages that would later resurface in court filings, ABC news reported. The controversy escalated in January 2015, when allegations that Andrew had sex with a minor were made public as part of a US lawsuit involving Epstein. That same month, the Daily Mail identified Giuffre as the alleged victim and detailed the claims. Andrew repeatedly denied wrongdoing. Matters intensified again in July 2019 when Epstein was arrested on sex trafficking charges. After Epstein was found dead in his jail cell in August 2019, attention shifted sharply to his high-profile connections.

Andrew decides to step back from public duties

In November 2019, Andrew sought to quell the storm with a lengthy television interview on the BBC, denying the sexual abuse allegations, questioning the authenticity of the 2001 photograph and asserting that he had cut ties with Epstein in December 2010. The interview was widely criticized. Within days, Andrew announced he would step back from public duties “for the foreseeable future,” acknowledging that his association with Epstein had become “a major disruption” to the royal family.

Ex-prince stripped off military titles, royal patronages

Legal pressure mounted in September 2021 when Giuffre filed a civil sexual assault lawsuit against Andrew in the United States. Although British police said in October 2021 they would take no further action after reviewing available evidence, a US judge in January 2022 rejected Andrew’s attempt to dismiss the civil case. Shortly afterward, he was stripped of his honorary military titles and royal patronages, though he retained his status as a prince and the Duke of York.In 2022 he agreed to pay Giuffre millions of dollars to settle her civil sexual assault lawsuit against him. The fallout continued in subsequent years. In 2024, reports emerged that Andrew would have to personally fund the upkeep of the 30-room Royal Lodge if he wished to remain there. Later disclosures in 2025 of court documents revealing an email stating “we’re in this together” — believed by British media to have been sent by Andrew — reignited scrutiny.

Giuffre dies

The death of Virginia Giuffre in April 2025, described by her family as a “fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse and sex trafficking,” closed a tragic chapter but did little to quiet debate over Andrew’s conduct and the monarchy’s handling of the scandal. Taken together, the sequence of allegations, legal battles and public missteps gradually eroded Andrew’s official role within the royal family.Andrew was arrested on Thursday, his 66th birthday, on suspicion of misconduct in public office as part of an investigation linked to his association with Jeffrey Epstein. He is believed to be the first senior member of the modern British royal family to be taken into police custody. Born in 1960, Andrew was the second son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, while his older brother Charles was heir to the throne. Like many younger royal sons before him, Andrew followed a traditional path into military service, only to be stripped off those titles later. While he remains a prince by birth, the Epstein saga effectively ended his public career — a dramatic fall precipitated not by a single event, but by years of mounting controversy.The ongoing police inquiry comes after newly released files connected to Jeffrey Epstein indicating that Andrew may have shared official government documents with the financier during his time as a trade envoy. He has not been charged with any offence and has consistently denied any wrongdoing in relation to his ties to Epstein.

Undated photo, released and redacted by the US DoJ as part of Epstein files. Andrew leaning over an unidentified person (Image credit: AP)

Here are the top five news:

Former royal prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested amid Epstein row

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, brother of King Charles III, was arrested by Thames Valley Police on suspicion of misconduct in public office, becoming the first senior British royal to be detained in modern history. The arrest came days after the release of files linked to the Jeffrey Epstein case by the US Justice Department, prompting searches at properties in Berkshire and at the Sandringham estate in Norfolk.UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that “nobody is above the law” as officers carried out raids on Andrew’s 66th birthday. The development marks a dramatic escalation in scrutiny over his alleged links to the Epstein files. Read full story here

Stock market crash: Sensex falls over 1,200 points, Nifty below 25,500

Indian equity markets witnessed a sharp sell-off on Thursday, with the BSE Sensex plunging 1,236 points to close at 82,498.14 and the Nifty50 falling 365 points to end below 25,500. The decline came after three straight sessions of gains, with heavy intraday losses reflecting broad-based selling pressure.The market downturn wiped out nearly Rs 7.55 lakh crore in investor wealth, dragging the overall market capitalisation of the Bombay Stock Exchange to around Rs 464 lakh crore. The sharp fall raised fresh concerns about volatility in the near term. Read full story here

Supreme Court flags ‘freebies culture,’ warns states on fiscal strain

The Supreme Court expressed concern over the growing culture of distributing freebies, cautioning that extending benefits to all without targeting the needy could harm state finances and long-term development.Hearing a plea by Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Ltd, which plans to provide free electricity to all consumers regardless of their financial status, the court said welfare measures are justified for the poor, but extending them to everyone may turn into an “appeasing policy” and weaken economic discipline. It urged states to strike a balance between social support and fiscal responsibility. Read full story here

35 students found with wrist cuts in Chhattisgarh school; probe ordered

At least 35 students from classes 6 to 8 at a government middle school in Chhattisgarh’s Dhamtari district were found with healed cut marks on their wrists, sparking concern among parents and authorities. The injuries, believed to be 20–25 days old, came to light after a parent raised the issue with the school principal.Following the discovery of similar marks on several students, the education department ordered a probe to determine the cause and circumstances. Officials are now investigating how so many students sustained comparable injuries without earlier detection. Read full story here

Shivam Dube credits MS Dhoni after match-winning performance against the Netherlands

Shivam Dube credited former India captain MS Dhoni for guiding him after he scored a match-winning 67 against the Netherlands in the T20 World Cup. Dube said Dhoni’s advice helped him refine his approach, especially against pace bowling.He revealed that Dhoni emphasised strike rotation and smart shot selection over constant big hitting, which improved his confidence and performance under pressure. The guidance, Dube said, played a key role in shaping his maturity as a batter. Read full story here

Britain’s King Charles III on Thursday said “the law must take its course” following the arrest of his younger brother, former prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, on suspicion of misconduct in public office amid the mounting heat over his links with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The monarch expressed his “deepest concern” but stressed that the investigation would follow “the full, fair and proper process” by the appropriate authorities. “I have learned with the deepest concern the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and suspicion of misconduct in public office. What now follows is the full, fair and proper process by which this issue is investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities,” Charles said in a statement, according to BBC, adding, “In this, as I have said before, they have our full and wholehearted support and co-operation. Let me state clearly: the law must take its course.” He also noted that it would not be right to comment further as the process continues.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who turned 66 on Thursday, was arrested by Thames Valley police at his residence on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, eastern England.According to The Guardian neither King Charles or Buckingham Palace was informed in advance of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest.The former prince, stripped of his royal titles in 2022 over his links to Epstein, remains in police custody. The force confirmed it had opened an investigation into the alleged offence but did not name the suspect in line with standard UK procedures.Thames Valley police previously said they were “assessing” reports that Mountbatten-Windsor, during his tenure as Britain’s special envoy for international trade, sent confidential trade documents to Epstein in 2010. These reports were among millions of pages of documents released last month by the US justice department as part of its investigation into Epstein, according to AP.Mountbatten-Windsor’s links to Epstein have long shadowed the royal family. He was forced by the late Queen Elizabeth II to give up royal duties and charitable work in 2019 after a controversial BBC interview attempted to address the relationship. Last year, further revelations in a book and the release of court documents prompted King Charles to strip him of the title “prince” and ask him to leave his Windsor home.Assistant chief constable Oliver Wright of Thames Valley police said, “Following a thorough assessment, we have now opened an investigation into this allegation of misconduct in public office. We understand the significant public interest in this case, and we will provide updates at the appropriate time.”Unmarked police vehicles and plainclothes officers were reportedly seen outside Andrew’s Norfolk residence earlier this week. Buckingham Palace confirmed its readiness to cooperate fully with authorities investigating Mountbatten-Windsor’s links to Epstein.

HYDERABAD: An in-depth investigation into biryani restaurant chains in Hyderabad has blown the lid of a larger tax evasion scam in the food and beverages industry that runs into thousands of crores.By analysing 60 terabytes of transactional data of a pan-India billing software used by more than one lakh restaurants, the Income Tax department‘s Hyderabad investigation unit has revealed that these eateries suppressed sales turnover worth at least Rs 70,000 crore since the 2019-20 financial year.Officials are yet to calculate the tax with penalty on the suppressed income. They added the software they tracked controls about 10% of the total restaurant billing software market.Investigators used big data analysis and AI tools, including Generative AI, to crunch the data spanning 1.77 lakh restaurant IDs. Across India, the software provider recorded post-billing deletions totalling Rs 13,317 crore out of the Rs 70,000 crore. In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana alone, the suppression of sales reached Rs 5,141 crore.Also read: The great billing heist: How powerful ‘delete’ software feature helped restaurants hide crores from tax net; invoice of Rs 2,784 ‘altered’ to Rs 27Detailed physical and digital inquiries in a sample of 40 restaurants in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana detected suppression of about Rs 400 crore.

The top five states where evasion was detected were Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, Maharashtra and Gujarat.Karnataka logged the highest instances of deletion at roughly Rs 2,000 crore, followed by Telangana (Rs 1,500 crore) and Tamil Nadu (Rs 1,200 crore). Officials said, some restaurants did not even bother to delete their records even as they under-reported sales in their income tax returns. Based on a sample estimate, officials have concluded that 27% of total sales were suppressed.Working from data accessed at the billing software provider company’s centre in Ahmedabad, officials analysed transactions at the department’s digital forensic and analytics lab in Ayakar Bhavan, Hyderabad.Inside the playbook: deletion, edits, and under-reportingInvestigators said restaurants typically enter all sales – card, UPI, and cash – into the software to prevent internal manipulation by servers, cashiers, and managers.Documents accessed by TOI revealed that one pattern flagged was the selective deletion of cash invoices, where restaurants allegedly retained only a portion of cash entries and deleted the rest to reduce income tax and GST exposure.Another pattern was bulk deletion, wiping bills clean for a chosen date range, including up to 30 days of billing, followed by filing returns that reflected only a fraction of the actual sales.Across six financial years from 2019–20 to 2025–26, the dataset covered billing of about Rs 2.43 lakh crore.The probe used high-capacity systems, while AI tools, including Generative AI, were used to quickly map GST numbers to restaurants using open-source information and publicly available online material.Initially, searches were conducted in Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, and other towns in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, which revealed that the software was being used for suppressing sales. The Central Board of Direct Taxes then decided to expand the probe to the rest of India. Officials believe their current findings are only the tip of the iceberg, noting multiple billing platforms operate in the sector and could face similar backend scrutiny.

The Manuka Oval in Canberra bore witness to a masterclass in modern T20 power-hitting on February 19, 2026, as Australia Women secured a commanding 19-run victory over India Women. With the series hanging in the balance, the hosts turned up the heat, led by a sensational performance from young sensation Georgia Voll. The win gives Australia a 1-1 equaliser in the series, further cementing their status as the team to beat in international cricket.

Georgia Voll’s stunning assault headlines Australia’s innings against India

After being put into bat, Australia’s intentions were clear from the first delivery. The opening duo of Georgia Voll and Beth Mooney dismantled the Indian bowling attack with clinical precision. Voll, in particular, was in a league of her own, playing the role of the aggressor while Mooney anchored the other end with a steady 46 off 39 balls.

Australia raced to 50 runs within the Powerplay, reaching the milestone in just 6.1 overs. Voll’s dominance was evident as she brought up her half-century in just 31 deliveries, laced with eight boundaries. The pair put on a massive 128-run opening partnership, leaving the Indian captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, searching for answers.

Voll’s innings finally ended at 88 off 57 balls, featuring seven fours and a towering six, falling to Arundhati Reddy in the 17th over. Despite a late flurry of wickets, including two run-outs in the final over, Australia finished at a formidable 163/5. While Reddy claimed 2/30, the Indian bowlers struggled to contain the run flow during the middle overs, setting a steep target of 164 for their batters.

India’s chase falters despite strong start against disciplined Australian bowling

India’s pursuit of 164 began with a spark, as Shafali Verma (29) and Smriti Mandhana (31) utilized the Powerplay effectively, guiding the visitors to 54/0 after six overs. However, the momentum shifted dramatically when Sophie Molineux trapped Verma LBW in the seventh over, a decision that stood even after a desperate DRS review from the batter.

The Australian bowling unit, known for its discipline, tightened the screws immediately. Ashleigh Gardner turned the game on its head with a brilliant spell of 3/22, removing the dangerous Jemimah Rodrigues and later cleaning up the lower order. While Harmanpreet fought a lonely battle with a valiant 36 off 30 balls, the required run rate climbed steadily.

The middle-order collapse proved fatal for India. From a comfortable position, they slumped as Gardner and Annabel Sutherland (2/18) struck at regular intervals. India managed to cross the 100-run mark in the 14th over, but the loss of Harmanpreet and Richa Ghosh in quick succession ended any hopes of a comeback. India eventually finished at 144/9, falling 19 runs short. Voll was rightfully named Player of the Match for her 88-run blitz, a knock that effectively took the game away from the Women in Blue.

Also READ: Beth Mooney breaks Meg Lanning’s all-time record to reach pinnacle of Australia Women’s T20I cricket in Canberra vs India

Here’s how fans reacted:

– 79(54) in WPL 2026 Final.
– 88(57) in 2nd T20I Vs India.

GEORGIA VOLL – THE FUTURE OF AUSTRALIA & RCB. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/nvXD8SSZYe

— RCBian (@EhDiya) February 19, 2026

Georgia Voll vs India this T20I series:

18(10) in the first T20I

88(57) in the 2nd T20i
11 fours & 1 six pic.twitter.com/AillBZj8d2

— RCB Xtra (@Rcb_Xtra) February 19, 2026

GEORGIA VOLL WON THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH IN 2ND T20IS #INDvsAUS pic.twitter.com/OzflQORZUT

— Somesh Jangra (@CelebrityGalax) February 19, 2026

India were 6 runs ahead in comparison after 6 powerplay overs but finished their 20 overs 19 runs in arrears.

Georgia Voll 88 PotM

Crowd announced as 6,362@footyindustryAU pic.twitter.com/SNgpBPVknH

— John C Moriarty (@JohnCMoriarty) February 19, 2026

– 79(54) in WPL 2026 Final.
– 88(57) in 2nd T20I Vs India.

GEORGIA VOLL – THE FUTURE OF AUSTRALIA & RCB. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/XT7Ul9k3hG

— Praveen kumar (@Naninaidu98) February 19, 2026

– 79(54) in WPL 2026 Final.
– 88(57) in 2nd T20I Vs India.

GEORGIA VOLL – THE FUTURE OF AUSTRALIA & RCB. 🔥❤️ pic.twitter.com/YcRMAjAEHW

— PANKAJ DAUNAWAT (@pankajmeen75939) February 19, 2026

Australian openers Georgia Voll and Beth Mooney are the standout batters from the first innings! 🇦🇺#AUSWvINDW #T20Is pic.twitter.com/aUkaTPmGm2

— KooL07 (@KooL077) February 19, 2026

Absolute top-class knock from Georgia Voll! 👏🇦🇺

Beth Mooney solid as always at the other end. That opening partnership set the perfect platform for Australia. 💥

Tough chase ahead for India, but never impossible! 🇮🇳✨ pic.twitter.com/RrIxlSlytn

— Kanak Kumari (@KanakKu64995524) February 19, 2026

Georgia Voll. 88(57). Pure class. 🇦🇺🏏🔥
An absolute masterclass at a strike rate of 154.4! She came, she conquered, and she left the crowd wanting more. What a knock! 👏✨🌟 pic.twitter.com/o7y4voSDqh

— Puneet Awasthi (@PuneetA77622712) February 19, 2026

– 79(54) in WPL 2026 Final.
– 88(57) in 2nd T20I Vs India.

GEORGIA VOLL – THE FUTURE OF AUSTRALIA & RCB. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/MEpdJ2BegC

— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) February 19, 2026

Georgia Voll is unstoppable ❤️ pic.twitter.com/AxoEHMiUa1

— 𝐊𝐨𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭!𝟎𝐧_👑🚩 (@bholination) February 19, 2026

Also READ: Arundhati Reddy’s fiery bowling powers India to emphatic win over Australia in rain-hit first Women’s T20I

This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.

Shivam Dube said guidance from former India captain MS Dhoni helped shape his batting approach after he played a match-winning 67-run knock in the last group-stage match of the T20 World Cup against Netherlands at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Wednesday.Dube said he had struggled against pace bowling early in his career, but advice from Dhoni on strike rotation and controlled intent helped him improve in pressure situations.

“When I first came into the IPL, I struggled against fast bowlers and wasn’t striking the ball cleanly. I realised that if I want to dominate at this level and I have the power, I needed to work on that aspect. I put in significant effort during the off-season. Mahi bhai told me that it’s not necessary to hit sixes every time. Boundaries and strike rotation are equally important.“That clarity has helped me. If I get a good ball, I look for a boundary or rotate strike. In the death overs, I will naturally go harder, but early in the innings, my focus is on smart intent,” Dube told Jio Hotstar, as cited by news agency IANS.Speaking about pressure situations, Dube said his focus is on batting according to the match scenario and staying till the end if required.“I don’t feel pressure; I focus on the situation. If wickets fall, my responsibility is to bat deep. If I stay till the end, I know I can add 10–15 crucial runs in the final over. I avoid taking unnecessary risks in the middle overs. If the situation demands stability, I rotate strike. If the platform is set, I’m ready to attack from the first ball,” he said.Dube walked in to bat when India were 69 for 3 after nine overs and stabilised the innings with a 66-run knock off 31 balls.He also contributed with the ball, taking two wickets for 35 runs in three overs. For his all-round performance, he was named player of the match.

You don’t have permission to access “http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/at-india-ai-summit-jeet-adani-says-ai-will-redefine-sovereignty-11070714” on this server.

Reference #18.adf5d217.1771502756.331fe963

https://errors.edgesuite.net/18.adf5d217.1771502756.331fe963

What happens when a man decides to quit his high-paying IT job to become a farmer? But this is not another quit-your-job and get-rich-fast story. This is a story that began on a small terrace in Delhi where moringa seeds sprouted beside household greens turned the world of an engineer upside down and how. These moringa seeds were planted by Jitender Mann which did it as a small experiment to take care of his health. But then, he did not know his experiment would turn him into an entrepreneur and earn him name, fame and of course money.Today, Jitender along with his wife Sarla Mann is running a successful moringa farming and related products business from their ancestral village in Mehmudpur, Sonipat, Haryana. With this, the couple is generating nearly ₹30 lakh a year. They are selling organic products across India, the USA, and the UAE. But success has no shortcuts. To reach here, they worked hard every day and believed in themselves on the hardest days to keep going.Journey from techie to farmerBefore switching his career, Jitender used to work at one of India’s largest IT firms which earned him a steady salary (around a lakh per month). He worked there for over a decade and was comfortable. But as he entered his 40s, the city-life took a toll on his body. He started suffering from high blood pressure, continuous joint pains, and a chemical-rich food.“I was healthy in theory,” he later reflected in an interview in The Better India, “but what I consumed and how I lived was slowly breaking me. I am not an expert, but I believe everything is related to the food we eat.”Jitender had lived in cities like Chennai, Bengaluru, and Delhi. He observed one thing which was concerning: thyroid disorders and high blood pressure was a common issue everywhere. He, himself, was suffering from lifestyle diseases. “My blood pressure was 160. It was a wake-up call for me,” he added.This is when he decided to grow his own food and planted vegetables and moringa on his terrace. And moringa turned out to be a game changing idea. This drought-resilient tree is known among nutrition scientists for being rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.Two years without returns and zero chemicals

Canva

In the year 2017, Jitender and Sarla decided to leave Delhi for good and move to their ancestral village. They gave up their life in the city and modern comforts along with a ₹1 lakh-per-month to grow their moringa. On their two acres of land, they planted moringa, not for money, not for fame, only for soil health and personal conviction. But what happened next was the turning point. For two years straight, they had no earnings at all.But the couple was adamant to not use chemicals and pesticides or any kind of synthetic fertilisers on their farm. Instead, they took care of the soil. They started working with nature. Some of the soil preparation practices they adopted are known for regenerative agriculture techniques. These techniques are now getting popular on an international level. “We were clear: this had to be chemical-free,” Sarla said, underlining that soil health was more important than anything else. So the couple embraced slow returns, no rush, no hurry, no pesticides.Two years later, they began harvesting leaves. They would dry them carefully, and make moringa powder under their brand, Husband Wife Farm. Initially, the sales were decent and mostly were from word of mouth. Their friends and neighbors were supportive of their cause. But their business expanded in urban wellness circuits in Delhi, Gurugram, Bengaluru and Mumbai, to name a few.What worked

Canva

What worked for them was unlike other moringa brands who were competing for low cost, Jitender and Sarla talked about quality products which are not bitter, chemical free and fully traceable organic. They started selling leaf powder and capsules to beetroot mixes, all under the premium product section.By fiscal year 2024, the turnover was of around ₹30 lakh (domestic and international). Another remarkable aspect of their business was they never hired big marketing agencies. Most customers found them through honest testimonials and genuine changes in digestion and immunity.Today, Jitender is not only leading a business, he is leading a dialogue and changing narratives.

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday raised serious concerns over the growing culture of ‘freebies’ across states , warning that indiscriminate distribution of such benefits could hamper economic development and strain state finances. The top court also cautioned states and asked whether such a culture, without drawing a distinction between the haves and the have-nots, would amount to an “appeasing policy.”Hearing a plea by Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Ltd, which plans to provide free electricity to all consumers regardless of their financial status, the court said welfare measures are justified for the poor, but extending them to everyone could weaken development efforts.Why SC flagged freebiesA bench led by Chief Justice India Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi, pointed out that many states already face revenue deficits yet continue to announce large-scale free schemes.“Most of the states in the country are revenue deficit states and yet they are offering such freebies” overlooking development, the bench said.The judges stressed that excessive spending on freebies could slow economic progress and reduce funds available for infrastructure, jobs, and long-term growth.“The economic development of the nation will be hampered by this kind of largesse distribution. Yes, it is the State’s duty to provide, but the ones who are enjoying freebies… is it not something that should be looked at?” Chief Justice of India Surya Kant verbally observed.The CJI also questioned whether states were using their revenue wisely.“States are running into deficit but still giving freebies. See, 25 per cent of the revenue you collect in a year, why can it not be used for the development of the State?”Concern over impact on work culture &financesThe bench warned that indiscriminate distribution of benefits could affect productivity and reduce incentives to work.“What kind of culture are we developing in India? It is understandable that as part of the welfare measure you want to provide to those who are incapable of pay the electricity charges,” the bench asked.“But without drawing a distinction between those who can afford and those who cannot, you start distributing. Will it not amount to an appeasing policy,” the CJI asked.The court also questioned the timing of the Tamil Nadu power firm’s proposal.“The states should work to open avenues for employment. If you start giving free food from morning to evening then free cycle, then free electricity then who will work and then what will happen to the work culture,” the CJI said.JusticeBagchi added that states must properly justify such spending in their budgets.“It’s not one State we are talking about, it’s about all States. It is planned expenditure. Why don’t you make Budget proposals and give justification that this is my outlay on unemployment of people?”Court issues notice but clarifies wider concernDespite its sharp observations, the Suprme Court issued notice to the Centre and other parties on the petition filed by the DMK government-run power utility challenging electricity rules.The court clarified that its concern was not limited to Tamil Nadu but applied to all states offering similar schemes without proper financial planning.Freebies: New currency of political power?A report by Aequitas Investments noted that freebies have increasingly become a major electoral strategy.“As political parties compete in what appears to be a race to the bottom, welfare schemes and ‘freebies’ have evolved from mere campaign promises to the new currency of political power,” the report said.