NEW DELHI: Power distribution companies in Mumbai, Delhi and Noida emerged as the top performers in 2024-25 among all electricity utilities surveyed by the ministry of power.Adani Electricity Mumbai Limited (AEML), Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (TPDDL) in the capital, and Noida Power Company Limited (NPCL) in Uttar Pradesh grabbed the top spots in the distribution utilities ranking. Dakshini Gujarat Vij Company Limited and Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport were placed fourth and fifth, respectively.Delhi’s three power utilities – BSES Rajdhani, BSES Yamuna and TPDDL – remained on top in the consumer service rating of discoms, followed by Adani Electricity Mumbai Limited and Tata Power Company Limited (Maharashtra).Both reports were released on Friday at the Bharat Electricity Summit 2026.Though there are 76 state-run and private power discoms in the country, 66 were evaluated for the two surveys as the remaining 10 failed to submit the required documents. For the CSRD report, the discoms were graded into six different categories based on their response to customers. The discoms were evaluated on four parameters: operational reliability; metering, billing and collection; fault rectification and grievance redressal; and connections and other services.The performance of six discoms was categorised as A+, 21 were rated in the A category, and 27 were rated B+. While 10 were placed in the B category, one each was placed in the C+ and C categories. No discom was categorised as D in the rating.“This tiered grading is intended to stimulate healthy competition and encourage continuous improvement in service quality,” the govt said in a statement.Officials said the CSRD report aims to craft a comprehensive strategy to elevate consumer satisfaction and foster cross-disciplinary learning. “It examines a range of consumer-centric services, uses electricity rules’ service standards to assess discoms across key areas, and monitors and evaluates their compliance with and implementation of these rules,” an official said.For the distribution utilities ranking report, a comprehensive and objective assessment of the performance of power distribution utilities was carried out using a multi-dimensional evaluation framework, including institutional capability, financial sustainability, operational efficiency and service delivery outcomes.Officials said the surveys are conducted every year and past performance of discoms is also taken into account while drawing up the final ranking. The report shows where the discoms stood in the last evaluation, whether their performance improved, and the number of places these utilities jumped or slipped compared with the previous survey.

NEW DELHI: Brace yourself for steeper domestic airfares as airlines will now be able to pass on their hugely escalated operating costs to passengers from next week. The domestic airfare cap of Rs 18,000 (UDF, passenger security fees & taxes extra) that was imposed on Dec 6, 2025, during the IndiGo crisis will be lifted from Monday (March 23).While the aviation ministry order removing fare caps says “excessive or unjustified surge in fares during periods of peak demand, disruptions, or exigencies, will be viewed seriously” and that fare caps or other interventions can be re-introduced “if required in public interest,” airline are facing their biggest crisis since Covid six years back. Their dollar-denominated costs have skyrocketed with the rupee plunging to new all time lows on a daily basis during the ongoing Israel-Iran war, and aviation turbine fuel (ATF) pricing going ahead remains a big concern.International airfares have already been very high since the Iran-Israel war as operating airlines’ capacity to and from the west has shrunk and the big three Gulf carriers are flying very few flights.Since airlines have not got any fiscal relief on ATF excise (from Centre) or VAT (from some places like Delhi and Mumbai), they had categorically asked the govt to cap airfares if their costs can be similarly capped too. While IndiGo and Tata Sons’ Air India group have deep pockets, most of the other Indian airlines are struggling to remain afloat. Unable to get any fiscal relief on ATF pricing so far, the aviation ministry removed fare caps while asking airlines to “exercise pricing discipline and act responsibly.” With IndiGo flight schedule fully restored now and “with restoration of capacity and normalisation of operations across the sector, it has been decided that fare cap shall stand withdrawn with effect from March 23, 2026…. Airlines shall ensure that fares remain reasonable, transparent and commensurate with market conditions, and that passenger interests are not adversely impacted.”Airlines say while costs have gone through the roof, there is a limit to fare hikes as that affect demand. “The financial impact of this crisis is yet to be fully felt, as although the spot price of jet fuel has more than doubled, most of the impact will only hit us from next month. We, like other Indian carriers, have already imposed a fuel surcharge on new tickets to help mitigate this imminent cost increase, but not every customer is willing to pay higher airfares so there is a limit to how high we can price before demand drops,” Air India CEO Campbell Wilson said in his weekly message to employees Friday.

Former Indian batters Cheteshwar Pujara and Mohammad Kaif joined hands to pick the Gujarat Titans’ probable playing XI ahead of the upcoming IPL season in 2026. The duo conveniently left out the legendary South African pacer Kagiso Rabada from the XI.

The Gujarat Titans entered the IPL mini-auction in 2026 and retained 20 players from the previous season. They then went on to make five signings, and four of them were nothing but seamers. They picked two overseas and two Indian seamers.

One of their signings, Jason Holder, seemed the finest pick. He was bought for INR 7 crores, and then the all-rounder went on to make a massive contribution to the West Indies’ limited success in the ICC T20 World Cup. Tom Banton remained the only backup middle-order batter.

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There is no discussion about the top three- Cheteshwar Pujara

Former Indian batters Cheteshwar Pujara and Mohammad Kaif picked the Gujarat Titans’ probable playing XI for the upcoming season of the IPL. The duo surprisingly left out the South African veteran Kagiso Rabada.

During a discussion on Star Sports, Pujara chose Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, and Jos Buttler to most definitely form the top 3 for the Gujarat Titans. He also sided with New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips for a full-season middle-order spot in the Titans XI.

“There is no discussion about the top three. Glenn Phillips is at No. 4, and then Washington Sundar is at No. 5 because they use him as a floater. So they would want to keep him at No. 5 for now, and Washington will be there in the playing XI for sure,” he said.

I would want to play an Indian seamer in his place- said Pujara on Kagiso Rabada’s poor form

The former Indian cricketer picked out Jason Holder to be the all-rounder who could be used carefully in a dual role by the Gujarat Titans. Rabada was the only overseas seamer in the squad until Luke Wood and Jason Holder were picked in the mini-auction.

“Then Rahul Tewatia at No. 6. Tewatia is important for me, and I don’t know whether Kaif bhai would agree or not, but a slightly weird playing XI, Rabada, since his form is not good, I would want to play an Indian seamer in his place, and you should play Jason Holder because his form has been very good. He can bat at No. 7, and it gives you another bowling option,” Pujara observed.

Holder can be the third seamer in the IPL, while they will also have two frontline spinners in the side, alongside Washington Sundar and Glenn Phillips, backing them as a replacement.

Jason Holder receives massive backing in Gujarat Titans ahead of IPL 2026

Mohammad Kaif also backed Cheteshwar Pujara’s statement about Jason Holder’s presence in the Gujarat Titans’ probable playing XI for the upcoming IPL season. He highlighted that the red soil at Ahmedabad could facilitate a seamer like Holder.

“I agree with Holder because his recent form has been fantastic. His bowling will be very useful on the red-soil pitch there. He releases the ball from a height. You will get the option of Rashid Khan, Tewatia and Shahrukh Khan in the middle,” he said in the same discussion.

He also added that Sai Kishore might also not be part of the frontline playing XI. “Holder is there, and Rabada might not play there. Sai Kishore might also not play at the start. He is a left-spinner. However, Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj will play, and you can add Holder to that, and that will make it your XI,” he observed.

Playing XI: Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler, Glenn Phillips, Washington Sundar, Rahul Tewatia, Jason Holder, Shahrukh Khan, Rashid Khan, Prasidh Krishna, and Mohammad Siraj.

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Cameron Green of Australia during a nets session at Lord’s Cricket Ground on June 09, 2025 in London, England. (Photo/Getty Images)

Ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season, former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin raised concerns over player workload and suggested that franchises should have the option to reduce payments if contracted roles are not fulfilled.His comments came in the context of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) all-rounder Cameron Green, who was bought for Rs 25.20 crore and will be part of the side’s campaign starting against Mumbai Indians on March 29 in Mumbai. Green’s form and bowling workload in recent months have been limited, drawing attention ahead of the tournament.During the T20 World Cup, Green scored 24 runs in three innings with a highest score of 21. He bowled three overs across two matches and picked up one wicket. In a recent Sheffield Shield match for Western Australia against New South Wales, where he scored a century, he did not bowl.In the T20I series against Pakistan before the World Cup, Green bowled four overs in two matches and took one wicket. During the 2025/26 The Ashes, he picked up four wickets, bowling 61.5 overs across five matches and nine innings, averaging 70.75.Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin said, “There is a question about Cameron Green. Will Cricket Australia allow him to bowl all four overs? That is also a possibility. In this scenario, the Australian board is saying to Green that he can play in the IPL, but Test cricket is very important for us, so you can play only this much of workload,” said Ashwin, as cited by news agency ANI.Ashwin added that franchises should be allowed to adjust payments if players are unable to meet expectations, especially with the ball.“IPL teams also should have an opportunity where if he bowls only two overs, then they should deduct 2 crores. Why not? If he is not able to deliver his four overs, then you should have the right to cut their money, right? When you came into the IPL auction, the expectation was that you would bowl all four overs, and also bat. If there is no restriction on bowling, then great, but if there is restriction, the team should be allowed to cut from the contract money,” he said.“Imagine if you are Shah Rukh Khan, and you have paid 25 crores for a player. But then he comes and says that, ‘Sir, I will bowl only one over today, or bowl only 10 balls a day’. How will you feel?” he added.

In the ongoing Iran war, the United States and Israel have together lost more than two dozen aircraft along with several high-value military systems, including advanced radar networks and key assets, as Iran’s strikes begin to mount both operational and reputational costs for Washington.In just 21 days of conflict, Iran is assessed to have shot down or damaged at least 17 aircraft and targeted multiple high-profile assets, including THAAD radar systems, an F-35 stealth fighter jet, and even the USS Gerald R Ford aircraft carrier, though not all incidents were caused directly by enemy fire.While the US and Israel have inflicted heavy damage on Iran’s military capabilities, the scale and nature of their own losses have drawn attention, particularly as relatively low-cost Iranian systems appear to have successfully targeted some of the most advanced and expensive military equipment in the US arsenal.Before the war began, few analysts expected Iran, constrained by years of sanctions and operating an ageing air force, to inflict such damage. However, Tehran has demonstrated that even billion-dollar platforms can be vulnerable to unconventional and cost-effective tactics.

Mounting aircraft losses

Since the start of the conflict, the US suffered damage to 16 aircraft, including 12 MQ-9 Reaper drones, which have been extensively used in West Asia operations.Each MQ-9 Reaper drone costs up to US$56.5 million, indicating losses exceeding US$500 million in drones alone. These drones have been central to US surveillance and strike operations in the region.In addition, three F-15 Strike Eagle fighter jets were lost in Kuwait on March 2, reportedly due to a friendly fire incident that remains under investigation.The US Air Force also lost a KC-135 refuelling tanker over Iraq on March 12, killing all six crew members on board. Another KC-135 aircraft was damaged in the same incident.In a development that could have far-reaching consequences, Iran reportedly struck a US F-35 stealth fighter jet over its airspace on March 19. The US Central Command confirmed that the aircraft made an emergency landing and that the pilot was stable, though it did not specify the cause.If confirmed, this would mark the first instance of a country successfully hitting the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter, one of the most advanced and expensive military programmes in history, with life-cycle costs exceeding US$2 trillion.The F-35, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, is the world’s most widely produced stealth fighter, with nearly 1,300 units delivered so far.A successful strike on the F-35 could have implications beyond the Middle East, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region, where countries such as Japan, South Korea, and Singapore operate the aircraft. It could also offer valuable tracking data to adversaries such as China and Russia.Meanwhile, Israel has reportedly lost over a dozen drones in Iranian airspace, bringing the combined aircraft losses of the US and Israel to 28.

High-value radar systems targeted

Beyond aircraft, Iran’s strikes have focused on degrading the US missile defence network in the region by targeting high-value radar systems.According to claims by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, up to four AN/TPY-2 radars associated with THAAD systems have been hit.One such radar was reportedly destroyed in Jordan early in the conflict. Two others are believed to have been targeted in the UAE, including one at Al-Ruwais Industrial City, while another may have been struck at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.Each AN/TPY-2 radar is estimated to cost between US$300 million and US$500 million.Globally, there are only 10 THAAD systems, of which the US operates seven, while the UAE and Saudi Arabia operate the remaining three. Reports suggest that up to four of these systems may now be inoperable due to the conflict.Separately, Iran has claimed to have struck an AN/FPS-132 Block 5 Upgraded Early Warning Radar at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.This radar, valued at around US$1.1 billion, is a long-range ballistic missile detection system capable of tracking threats up to 5,000 kilometres and supporting integrated defence systems such as THAAD, Patriot, and Aegis.Qatar has confirmed that the radar was hit and damaged. There are only six such systems in operation globally.The targeting of these radars represents a significant challenge to the US’s layered missile defence architecture in the region.The IRGC said that the destruction of these systems has effectively expanded Iran’s offensive capability, stating that “the missile hand of the Islamic Republic of Iran has been opened for successful target hits.”

USS Gerald R Ford incident raises concerns

The USS Gerald R Ford, the US Navy’s most advanced aircraft carrier, has also been rendered temporarily inoperable, though not due to direct enemy action.A fire broke out aboard the carrier, requiring over 30 hours of firefighting efforts by crew members. The vessel is now set to undergo repairs at the Naval Support Activity Souda Bay in Crete.The incident has prompted an investigation into its cause, with US media reports suggesting the possibility of deliberate sabotage.According to International Business Times (UK), “the US Navy is investigating whether sailors aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford deliberately started the fire that tore through the aircraft carrier’s main laundry spaces on 12 March.”“The investigation explicitly includes the possibility of deliberate sabotage by crew members, with one theory suggesting the fire was intentionally set to interrupt the carrier’s lengthy and repeatedly extended mission.”The USS Gerald R. Ford has been deployed for nearly ten months, far exceeding standard deployment durations. Its mission had already been extended multiple times, contributing to fatigue among crew members.Originally deployed in June last year, the carrier was later reassigned to multiple theatres, including the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. Its prolonged deployment has delayed scheduled maintenance and upgrades at the Newport News Naval Shipyard in Virginia.Even if the fire was accidental, the strain on the vessel and its crew due to repeated extensions may have played a role.

Rising financial cost of war

Apart from equipment losses, the war is imposing a heavy financial burden on the United States.According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the cost of munitions alone exceeded US$12 billion in the first six days of the conflict, while the Pentagon estimated it at US$11.3 billion for the same period.This translates to a daily expenditure of nearly US$2 billion on munitions.For instance, each Tomahawk missile costs around US$3.5 million, and the US has already used over 300 of them, amounting to more than US$1.2 billion.To sustain the war effort, the Pentagon has reportedly requested over US$200 billion in additional funding from Congress to replenish depleted stockpiles and increase weapons production.The Washington Post reported, citing senior US officials, that the funds would be used to boost production of critical weapons systems after extensive use in strikes against Iranian targets.The scale of expenditure and depletion of munitions stocks could have broader strategic implications, potentially affecting US preparedness in other theatres, including a possible conflict scenario involving China or Russia.

Claims and counterclaims on Israeli aircraft

Amid the escalating conflict, Iran has also claimed to have struck an Israeli F-16 fighter jet over central Iran.“An F-16 hostile enemy fighter jet belonging to the Zionist regime was struck at 3:45 am in central Iran.”However, Israel has denied that any damage occurred, stating that one of its aircraft was targeted by a surface-to-air missile during operations but remained unharmed.The Israeli military said that “no damage was caused to the aircraft.”There is currently no independent verification of whether the aircraft was hit or sustained operational damage, and no evidence of a crash or wreckage has emerged.The competing claims highlight the fog of war and the difficulty in independently verifying battlefield developments.

Strategic implications

The Iran war has not only resulted in material losses but has also exposed potential vulnerabilities in some of the US military’s most advanced systems.From MQ-9 Reaper drones and F-35 fighters to THAAD missile defence systems and high-value radar networks, several frontline assets have come under pressure.At the same time, Iran’s ability to target these systems using comparatively inexpensive methods could reshape perceptions about modern warfare, particularly regarding cost asymmetry.As the conflict continues, both the operational and strategic consequences of these losses are likely to be closely studied by military planners around the world.

Pakistan on Friday rejected US claims that its nuclear arsenal and missile capabilities pose a threat to America, while highlighting India in its rebuttal. Islamabad insisted its nuclear program is “centred on deterrence” with respect to its neighbour and nuclear-armed India.The Pakistani government also dismissed Israeli envoy to New Delhi Reuven Azar’s description of the country as a “rogue state.”