Mumbai: Applications for professional courses under the NRI quota in private colleges across the state plunged from 1,392 in 2024-25 to just 173 this academic year — a near 90% drop — after Maharashtra govt tightened norms to ‘curb misuse’ of the category, showed data from the state’s CET cell. This quota allows students who do not manage to secure seats in general category, to use NRI status or sponsorship to get admission by paying substantially higher fees.Maharashtra is probably the first state in the country to significantly narrow the eligibility under this quota to students who are themselves NRIs, whose parents are NRIs, or whose legal guardians, appointed under the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890, are NRIs. Earlier, students could seek admission under the quota if they were sponsored by NRI relatives such as siblings, grandparents or even uncles and aunts.The change in the definition of ‘NRI’ in Maharashtra in June 2025, mooted under the guidance of higher and technical education minister Chandrakant Patil, has had an immediate impact on admissions in this academic session. In the previous admission cycle, 603 of the 1,392 applicants were admitted under NRI quota. This year, the number stands at just 38 so far, though a marginal increase is expected after PG medical admissions conclude. The vacant seats under the category are converted into management seats, where the fees are comparatively lower.CET cell data showed that applications under the NRI quota are largely concentrated in courses such as engineering and postgraduate medical programmes, the latter having a limited number of seats and intense competition.The Centre’s Medical Counselling Committee, which oversees medical admissions under the all-India quota as well as in central and deemed universities, continues to follow a broader framework that allows extended family members, too, to sponsor candidates. TOI had reported that 811 candidates had ‘changed their nationality’ from Indian to NRI to get seats in the third round of the PG medical admissions, of which only 113 were NRIs or children of NRIs and the rest were sponsored by first- or second-degree relatives.Dileep Sardesai, CET cell commissioner, said they had noticed that most of the students taking advantage of the NRI quota were sponsored by relatives and distant relatives. “For the NRI quota, private medical colleges are allowed to charge up to five times the fees fixed by the Fee Regulatory Authority (FRA). The revised rules bring in transparency and will also benefit students in the long run,” said Sardesai. Data from the cell shows that the highest number of applications under NRI category are historically received for BE/BTech, followed by PG medical admissions. Last year, of the 1,392 applicants, 633 were engineering aspirants and 577 were aspiring for PG medical seats. This year, after the numbers declined, the trend remains similar. Sudha Shenoy, a parent representative, however, said that engineering colleges not only reserve seats for foreign nationals, but also for children of Indians working in Gulf countries, which could be contributing to the higher numbers.The amendment was challenged in court in four separate cases. While two of the matters have been dismissed by the Bombay High Court and its Aurangabad bench, two are still pending. Special Counsel for state and CET Cell, Pralhad Paranjape, said the Aurangabad bench of the HC dismissed the challenge, thereby upholding the state policy, which is also in accordance with the Supreme Court judgment in PA Inamdar v/s State of Maharashtra case.Shenoy said that genuine students with higher merit scores, whose first-degree blood relatives were NRI, were benefiting from the earlier policy, but are now denied the opportunity. She said the competition is intense when it comes to PG medical admissions. A Tamil Nadu-based activist, Meeran, however, said that with the Centre lowering the eligibility criteria to zero percentile in NEET-PG, merit is no longer a bone of contention. The fact that students can benefit economically is important now, he added.

MUSSOORIE: Padma Shri award-winning travel writer Hugh Gantzer passed away at his Mussoorie home late Monday evening at the age of 95. Apart from one of India’s highest civilian honours, Hugh, along with his wife Colleen Gantzer (who passed away in 2024 at age 90), was recognised with six national awards, the National Tourism Lifetime Achievement Award, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the All India Anglo-Indian Association, and two gold awards from Pacific Asia Travel Association.In 2017, the couple also received commendation from the Prime Minister’s Office for their pioneering contributions to travel writing.The couple began their career after being commissioned to write a book on Kerala for the India Tourism Development Corporation. Over the next five decades, the Gantzers produced 52 documentaries for Doordarshan, authored more than 30 books, and wrote travel columns for several leading English newspapers.“My father was a passionate man, defined by his love of writing and deep curiosity about the world. He lived with great pride in what he had built and gratitude for the blessings he had received. He and my mother were inseparable, spending their lives weaving together their love for one another with their zeal for travel. I can only hope they are together again now, at peace,” said Peter Gantzer, the author’s son.The burial will be held on Wednesday at Camel’s Back Cemetery in Mussoorie.Hugh Gantzer served in the Indian Navy as Commander and Judge Advocate of the Southern Naval Command. Since 1990, he had been a member of the monitoring committee constituted by the Supreme Court to track environmental issues in Doon Valley and Mussoorie.Gantzer, who was born and brought up in Mussoorie, hailed from an influential Danish family. His great-great-grandfather was an officer in the Danish court who came to India in the early 19th century. His father, Joseph Francis Gantzer, served as the director of survey in Bihar and Orissa under the British govt and, after retirement, chose to settle in Mussoorie.In 1941, Joseph was elected chairman of Mussoorie Municipal Council (MMC) and later served as its administrator.As news of Hugh’s death spread, residents gathered to bid a tearful farewell to a writer who had chronicled India with rare warmth and wit.

Transactional Model Of Relationship

NEW DELHI: The India-US trade deal allows both sides to get the relationship back on to an even keel, but whether it can lead to long-term stability in ties remains open to question.The importance of the agreement, even if conditional, cannot be overstated as it allows India and the US to avert an immediate crisis. India just managed to rid itself of an albatross around its neck that was threatening to smother cooperation with its most important strategic partner even in other areas. However, the estrangement with the US since Donald Trump’s return to the White House has not been about trade alone. There are several other friction points.The first is the India-Pakistan re-hyphenation Trump has brought upon India through his courting of Rawalpindi. It is here US ambassador to India Sergio Gor, who seems to have found a way out of the trade impasse within weeks of arrival, may have an important role to play. Suspense still looms over his dual role as Trump’s special envoy for south Asia and any false move bracketing India with Pakistan, let alone playing sheriff, will be met with resistance.Bilateralism has been the leitmotif of India’s Pakistan policy and, as far as India is concerned, there’s no Nobel Peace Prize for any third party to win.The second concern is related to the US commitment to the Indo-Pacific under Trump, who wants to engage his counterpart Xi Jinping for a “stable peace, fair trade and respectful relations”. Trade differences between India and the US were seen as blocking any forward movement by Quad and a US-India reset must surely clear the ground for a summit meeting. While the US 2026 National Defence Strategy underlines the goal of a balance of power in the Indo-Pacific , it makes no mention of Quad or India.Thirdly, India’s strategic autonomy will likely continue to act as a limiting factor. India will continue to use the same to navigate geopolitical complexities, especially in its relations with the US, Russia and China. India may have, according to Trump, promised to stop buying Russian oil but it will continue to work closely with Moscow in defence and in forums like the SCO and BRICS. India would like Russia to see its energy pivot as a blip caused by market conditions, not as an ebbing of its strategic autonomy.For India, the structural shift in how the US handles the H-1B visa programme remains a major irritant that it hopes Washington will address.Finally, India will also be concerned about the transactional relationship that the US under Trump seeks with India. Many claims made by Trump in his announcement India saying no to Russian oil, agreeing to buy energy and other products worth $500 billion from the US, zero tariff on US products have not yet been confirmed by Indian govt, suggesting there might be a devil in the details. India will hope that some of Trump’s claims are just political signalling, not an ultimatum.

In a low-scoring encounter at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, England successfully defended a modest total to defeat Sri Lanka by 12 runs. Despite a middle-order collapse sparked by a vintage performance from Dushmantha Chameera, the English lions roared back through the unexpected bowling heroics of Jacob Bethell and Will Jacks.

Dushmantha Chameera decimates England’s batting line-up in the first innings

The third and final T20I began with high drama as Sri Lanka’s pace spearhead, Chameera, produced one of the most devastating spells of his career. Opting to bowl first, the Sri Lankan attack exploited the early moisture in the Pallekele surface. Chameera struck with his second delivery, trapping Ben Duckett lbw for a duck.

The collapse continued as Chameera dismantled the English batting spine. He finished with staggering figures of 5/24, removing heavy hitters like Sam Curran and Jamie Overton during the death overs. England found themselves reeling at 47/5 after Jos Buttler fell for 25. It was only through a gritty, calculated 58 off 48 balls from Curran that England managed to crawl to a total of 128/9. While the total seemed subpar for the modern era, the sluggish nature of the pitch hinted that the chase would be anything but straightforward.

Also READ: SL vs ENG, 3rd T20I: Here’s why Phil Salt is not playing in today’s match

Jacob Bethell and Will Jacks stifle Sri Lanka to complete the sweep 

Sri Lanka’s pursuit of 129 started with characteristic flair as Pathum Nissanka raced to 23 off 12 balls. At 46/2 after the powerplay, the hosts looked comfortably on track to wrap up the series. However, the introduction of England’s part-time spinners completely flipped the script.

Will Jacks initiated the squeeze, bowling with incredible discipline to finish with 3/14 in his four overs. His scalps included the dangerous Kusal Mendis (26) and Kamindu Mendis, effectively removing the engine room of the Sri Lankan middle order. As the required run rate climbed, the pressure became palpable.

The final nail in the coffin was hammered in by Jacob Bethell. In a career-defining spell, Bethell tore through the lower order, finishing with incredible figures of 4/11 in just 3.3 overs. He triggered a sensational collapse where Sri Lanka lost their final four wickets for just four runs. From 112/6, the hosts were bundled out for 116 in 19.3 overs.

England’s ability to defend 128 serves as a tactical masterclass in white-ball cricket. By trusting the spin of Jacks and Bethell over traditional pace options in the late stages, Harry Brook’s side proved that adaptability is their greatest weapon.

Also READ: Tom Banton steers England to series-clinching win over Sri Lanka in 2nd T20I

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NEW DELHI: You can loosen your purse strings a little more abroad. Travellers flying into India will now have enhanced duty-free limit, which for resident Indians has been hiked from Rs 50,000 to Rs 75,000. What’s more, duty-free import of one laptop for passengers above 18 years has now been allowed under Baggage Rules, 2026, which came into effect from Feb 2. No general duty-free allowance is available for passengers entering India through land borders, regardless of nationality.Jewellery allowance has also been simplified. “Special allowances for jewellery have been prescribed solely on weight basis by removing outdated value caps, under which eligible returning residents/tourists of Indian origin (after stay abroad for more than one year), are allowed duty-free jewellery purely on a weight basis,” a govt statement said. Men are allowed to import jewellery up to 20 gram duty-free while female passengers can import up to 40 gram.The transfer of residence benefits has also been simplified and modernised by having only a single rationalised list of duty-free articles, with an overall value cap as per eligibility.Duty-free allowance for resident Indians, tourists of Indian origin and foreigners with an Indian visa (other th-an tourist) is now Rs 75,000. For tourists of foreign orig-in, it’s Rs 25,000. For crew me-mbers, the same is Rs 2,500.“The facility of issuance of temporary baggage import certificate or export certificate for temporary carriage of goods brought in or taken out, respectively, have been envisioned for hassle-free clearance,” the govt statement added.Used personal effects like clothes and travel souvenirs are duty-free. New goods like gifts purchases abroad qualify according to new limits. Goods above the duty-free limit are dutiable under normal customs provisions unless specifically exempted by the law. These allowances apply only to goods carried on the passenger’s person or in bona fide baggage.Some items are not part of duty-free allowances and have separate conditions or limits. These include alcohol and spirits beyond specified volumes, tobacco products beyond allowance threshold, gold or silver in forms other than jewellery, and large electronic goods like televisions.

Delhi Capitals produced a dominant all-round performance to book their place in a fourth straight Women’s Premier League final, beating Gujarat Giants by seven wickets in the Eliminator on Tuesday.After choosing to bowl, Delhi’s disciplined attack kept Gujarat to a competitive but manageable 168 for 7. The Capitals struck early through Chinelle Henry, who removed Sophie Devine and later returned to finish with 3 for 35. Nandini Sharma made an immediate impact in her first over, dismissing Anushka Sharma and captain Ashleigh Gardner off successive deliveries to leave the Giants in trouble. Spinners Minnu Mani and Sneh Rana tightened the screws through the middle overs, restricting the flow of runs and forcing Gujarat to rebuild.Beth Mooney held the innings together with a composed unbeaten 62 off 51 balls, hitting six boundaries. She found support from Georgia Wareham, who played a lively 35-run knock as the pair added 61 for the fifth wicket. Mooney later combined with Kashvee Gautam for a late flourish, helping Gujarat add valuable runs in the final overs after struggling for momentum earlier.In reply, Delhi made light work of the chase thanks to a blistering opening partnership. Shafali Verma and Lizelle Lee came out attacking, smashing 89 runs without loss in just a few overs. Verma struck 31 off 21 balls while Lee made 43 off 24, peppering the boundary and putting Gujarat on the back foot. Although Wareham briefly revived Gujarat’s hopes by dismissing both openers in the same over, the damage had already been done.Laura Wolvaardt and skipper Jemimah Rodrigues calmly guided the chase through the middle phase, ensuring there were no further hiccups. Rodrigues scored a fluent 41 while Wolvaardt remained unbeaten on 32. Marizanne Kapp eventually hit the winning runs as Delhi reached the target in just 15.4 overs.The comprehensive win underlined Delhi Capitals’ consistency in the league and set up a final clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Thursday.

PM Modi with US President Donald Trump (File photo)

NEW DELHI: A day after announcements by PM Modi and US President Donald Trump that the two sides had reached a trade agreement, the govt asserted that sensitive sectors such as agriculture and dairy have been protected and labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, leather, marine products and gems & jewellery stand to benefit from the deal, which is expected to be finalised in the coming weeks.“We all know how PM Modi is worried about the interests of our farmers, those in animal husbandry and dairy, and has always secured their interest. He has never allowed their interests to be compromised… even in the US trade deal, India’s sensitive sectors, agriculture and dairy, have been protected,” commerce minister Piyush Goyal said.As a result, cereals, maize, soybean and genetically modified food may be kept out of the bilateral trade agreement, which has been in the works since last Feb.

Textiles, Leather, Gems & Jewellery Among Sectors Set To Benefit

Goyal said that Modi had managed to secure a very good deal for India, which was better than what US had offered to some other competing countries. Indian and American officials are currently engaged in drafting a joint statement which is expected to be finalised in the next few days.Late Monday, Trump and Modi had announced that a deal had been finalised and tariffs on Indian imports will be slashed from 50% to 18%. Trump had gone on to claim that India will import oil, coal, technology and farm products to the tune of $500 billion from the US. The numbers came as a surprise given that in 2024-25, India’s overall goods imports added up to $721 billion.People familiar with the discussions said that goods imports from the US are projected at $100 billion annually over the next five years, compared with $46 billion last year. Some tariff concessions to the US will be phased over a period of time, with some items likely to be allowed through import quotas, as is the case under the recent FTAs with the EU, New Zealand and the UK.India expected to hike imports of oil, high-tech goods from USIndia had come under pressure from Trump administration to open up its dairy and agriculture sectors by reducing duty. Modi govt didn’t agree, and Goyal’s statement suggests India managed to persuade the US negotiators not to let this become an obstacle.Going forward, India is expected to step up imports of oil, LNG, high-value chips, equipment for data centres, aircraft and its components and nuclear equipment, some of which were allowed to be imported duty free in Budget. Given India’s demand for coking coal, chips and aircraft, some of the imports are already taking place, with some substitution likely.In return, lower duty access to US for Indian goods will help labour-intensive sectors and MSMEs, which had been impacted by steep tariffs imposed by Trump last Aug.“So, actually our exports will pick up now, that is my expectation… along with having found new markets where they will continue to be sold,” FM Nirmala said.