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NEW DELHI: Supreme Court on Tuesday said trials in UAPA cases investigated by National Investigation Agency must be concluded within one year by additional exclusive special courts to allay misgivings about long pendency and consequent denial of bail for years.A bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said the Centre and states must take steps to depute a dedicated public prosecutor for these special courts to expedite pending trials.Identify how many special NIA courts needed for speedy trial: SC to statesThe advocates general of 17 states, where more than 10 cases are pending, expressing the willingness of each state to avail of the central funding to set up exclusive NIA courts.“The state govts must identify how many such exclusive special courts are required to be established for trial of NIA-investigated cas-es on a day-to-day basis with a categorical commitment that each trial must be completed in all circumstances within a year,” the bench said.Seeking the states’ response to this within four weeks, the bench asked the HCs to take necessary steps for adequate number of court staff for these special courts.“The prosecuting agency, Centre and states must take steps to appoint a dedicated public prosecutor, and notify special PP where sufficient PPs are not available in the cadre, to each of these special courts,” the bench said.Since the opinion of the HCs is required for some of the issues relating to establishment of special NIA courts, the registrars general will present their views before the court during the next date of hearing, it said.Additional solicitor general Aishwarya Bhati informed that the ministry of home affairs has written to the states that “in view of the security concerns, it is not advisable to construct a separate court complex for this purpose. It is, however, suggested that state govts may earmark one existing court for setting up a special court, exclusively for trial of NIA cases”. Bhati also had informed the court about the central funding for setting up of NIA courts.Delhi has the highest number of NIA cases pending at 59, followed by J&K (38), Assam, Kerala and Gujarat (33 each), Punjab and West Bengal (32 each), Jharkhand (28), Karnataka (27), TN (23), Telangana (22) and Maharashtra (21).Bhati had informed the court that the Centre has taken a decision to grant Rs 1 crore one-time grant for establishment of special NIA courts and bear a recurring expenditure of Rs 1 crore annually.Additional solicitor general S D Sanjay said the Narcotics Control Bureau is in the final stages of preparing a policy for establishment of special courts for cases under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. He said in Delhi 14 more special courts would come up in Rouse Avenue Court complex for MCOCA and UAPA cases.
Mumbai: Aditya Birla Group, The Times of India Group, Bolt Ventures, and Blackstone have signed a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) franchise that will include both the men and women’s teams.The Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Women’s Premier League (WPL) franchises are being acquired from United Spirits Limited (USL), a subsidiary of Diageo plc. The transaction has valued the franchise at US$1.78b (approx. INR 16,600 crore).
The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including the approval from BCCI, the IPL governing council and other authorities.The franchise, under its new ownership structure post the 2026 edition, will see Aryaman Vikram Birla, director at Aditya Birla Group serve as chairman while Satyan Gajwani of the Times of India Group will be the vice-chairman.“Over the past 2 decades, the IPL has morphed to become a global sporting powerhouse that has changed the face of Indian cricket creating enormous value for India. RCB, as one of the most compelling franchises in modern sport, offers the Aditya Birla Group a distinctive platform to extend its legacy of institution-building into the arena of global sport. We are delighted to become custodians of this asset and committed to further building this extraordinary legacy,” said Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman of the Aditya Birla Group.
File photo of Kumar Mangalam Birla of the Aditya Birla Group.
Times Internet Limited’s Gajwani said in a media note, “RCB is the reigning champion and the most popular brand in the IPL. As The Times of India Group, together with our partners, we will build RCB into a global sporting institution, while remaining rooted in Bengaluru and Karnataka and its incredible fanbase. We are committed to the people who built this championship-winning culture – the players, coaches, the leadership team, and the fans. We look forward to supporting the team as they take the pitch on Saturday to defend RCB’s title.”
File photo of Satyan Gajwani of the Times of India group.
Adar Poonawalla of the Serum Institute of India, Ranjan Pai of Manipal Hospitals, private equity firms EQT, TPG and Temasek and the Glazer family that owns the Manchester United club were among the other interested bidders when Diageo Plc had first initiated the process to sell RCB.In 2008, when the BCCI floated IPL, United Spirits had submitted a winning bid of US$111.6m (approx Rs 485 cr) to acquire the Bangalore franchise. In 2023, the RCB management had paid another Rs 901 crore to acquire the WPL team. In 2024, RCB won the WPL and followed it up with their first-ever IPL title win in 2025.The franchise has featured some of T20’s greatest icons including Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers, Shane Watson, Anil Kumble, Glenn Maxwell, Yuvraj Singh and Faf du Plessis among others.
Virat Kohli led the Royal Challengers Bengaluru team before Rajat Patidar took over. (Photo Credit- X/RCB)
In 2013, after Kohli took over as captain of the IPL, the franchise’s popularity catapulted from being just one among the eight teams to becoming one of the most popular and sought-after properties in the tournament.Kohli’s rise as Team India captain and cricket’s most authoritative brand coincided with RCB’s rise as one of IPL’s most followed teams. Despite the lack of a title win in 17 years, the franchise acquired mass following among fans in Karnataka, across the country and social media.As of 2026, RCB remains right on top where its social media reach and general popularity across broadcast media is concerned.In 2025, Brand Finance had listed RCB as IPL’s second most valuable brand after Mumbai Indians and among the top three strongest IPL brands alongside Mumbai and Chennai. The same year, global investment bank Houlihan Lokey had also listed the RCB as IPL’s foremost brand.
NEW DELHI: Upending past pattern in the Civil Service Examinations (CSE), candidates of other backward classes (OBC) trumped those from economically weaker sections (EWS) in the final merit list for 2025, despite trailing in the interview round.The final 2025 cut-off (Mains + interview) for EWS is 926 while that for OBCs is 931. The cut-off in the Mains exams alone was 706 for EWS and 717 for OBCs. Cut-off marks are the minimum qualifying score for a social bloc availing of quota, and they vary across SC, ST, OBC, and EWS categories. The final scores marked a reversal of a trend where EWS had been finishing ahead of OBC quota beneficiaries due to higher scores in the interview round. That OBCs should this year not only trump EWS, but do so despite continuing weaker performance at the interview stage suggests an interesting development.‘OBCs’ high written scores result in better cut-off than that of EWS’Shashank Ratnoo, an advocate specialising in issues concerning OBCs and reservation, said, “Despite a certain drag in OBCs’ marks in interviews, their marks in written exams were so high that it has resulted in better final cut-off than that of Economically Weaker Section.”The EWS quota was carved out in 2019 to provide 10% reservation to financially weaker individuals among the ‘general’ communities, while the Mandal quotas for backwards has been in operation since 1995.In 2023 and 2024, Economically Weaker Section trailed the backward classes in the Mains examinations. But the dynamic of competitiveness between the two reserved categories proved complex, as the forwards prevailed in the ultimate test by virtue of greater score in interviews.In CSE-2024, the cut-off for EWS in the Mains exams was 696 marks as compared to 702 for OBCs. But in the final results after the interview, EWS had a cut-off merit of 917 marks, against 910 for OBCs.The year before that, in the Mains part, OBCs scored a cut-off of 712 as compared to 706 for EWS. But in the final, OBCs trailed with a cut-off of 919 to EWS which had 923 as the minimum marks.Shashank Ratnoo said, “Higher interview marks for EWS in such a short time of introduction of its reservation raises a question mark over the need, percentage and strictness of the criteria for this category.”Interestingly, the contrast in the merit list for OBCs and EWS in the CSEs has been a see-saw. In the wake of the fresh EWS quotas introduced in 2019, OBCs dominated the Mains and the final both in 2019 and 2020.While it was surprising that EWS, which has groups with less social handicaps, trailed behind OBCs, it was seen as teething troubles of a new quota regime, with the wider eligible umbrella unaware of its procedures and criteria. Later, EWS overhauled the gap with OBCs and came to score higher in the examinations.
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court observed on Tuesday that while SIR has been conducted smoothly in other states, it is West Bengal that has generated a spate of litigation relating to electoral roll revision.“There are many competitive complex issues in other states. Yet, SIR has been conducted so smoothly despite equally complicated issues. But there has not been any such spate of litigation. There are states – Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh – where the deletion rate is much higher,” a bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said.Allow voter list additions till 7 days before polls: WB to SC The court stuck to its view that West Bengal was a case apart in the SIR exercise despite senior advocate Kalyan Banerjee saying the ‘logical discrepancy’ ground was not applied in other states.“A recent article said except West Bengal, in every other state governed by different political parties, the SIR has gone on smoothly,” the bench said.SC had exercised its extraordinary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to deploy judicial officers from West Bengal, Jharkhand and Odisha, under the supervision of the Calcutta HC Chief Justice, as electoral officers to adjudicate claims for inclusion in the voter list of those names under ‘logical discrepancy’ or ‘unmapped’ categories. Appearing for West Bengal, senior advocates Shyam Divan, Kalyan Banerjee and Menaka Guruswamy said of the 60 lakh claims, only 27 lakh have been adjudicated by the judicial officers.The balance appears unlikely to be decided before April 6, the last date of nomination for the first phase of polling on April 23, and April 9, the last date of nomination for constituencies going to polls in second phase on April 29, they said.It would be better if the publication of supplementary voter lists, containing names of those cleared after scrutiny, is extended till April 16 and April 22 respectively for the two-phase voting, they said, requesting that the voter lists should not be frozen on the last date of filing of nominations.The bench said the judicial officers are working day and night without taking a single day leave and suggested that the improvements in carrying out the scrutiny work be better placed before the Calcutta HC CJ.The bench said the election commission could help the Calcutta HC CJ and the judicial officers in first taking up adjudication of claims relating to the constituencies going to polls in the first phase and thereafter those in the second phase. However, it said the petitioner’s grievance about 14 candidates nominated to contest elections by different political parties featuring in doubtful voter category could be given priority adjudication.Senior advocate D S Naidu, appearing for EC, told the SC that it has been suggested to the Calcutta HC CJ that the names cleared for inclusion in the voter list could be published daily through a supplementary voter list. SC posted further hearing on April 1.When Banerjee said the judicial officers must give reasons for rejection of claims to the affected persons, the bench said the reasons cannot be supplied as of now. Supreme Court also said the EC could use available spaces in WB judicial academy to house the tribunals headed by former HC judges to hear appeals against exclusion of names.
Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday urged CM Devendra Fadnavis to allow appointment of leader of the opposition in the state legislature.Citing the example of Vithalrao Hande of Peasants and Workers Party, who served as leader of the opposition in the legislative council from 1988-1990 despite not having the requisite number of members, Thackeray said in his farewell address to the council, “I would urge you to check the numbers and if I am right, I appeal to you to do [now] what was done then.” The post has been vacant since Aug 2025 in the council and since Dec 2024 in the assembly. In both Houses, no single opposition party has hit the threshold of having 10% of the total strength. The council held a farewell ceremony for eight other members who are set to retire in May—deputy chairperson Neelam Gorhe, NCP (SP)’s Shashikant Shinde and Amol Mitkar, and BJP’s Ranjitsinh Mohite-Patil, Dadarao Keche, Sanjay Kinekar and Sandip Joshi, Congress’s Rajesh Rathod. Recounting the achievements of the MVA govt led by him, Thackeray said the work done during the pandemic, especially in a slum like Dharavi, was termed as ‘the Mumbai model’ and was acknowledged by WHO. He said he ensured waiver of farm loans of up to Rs 2 lakh without anyone asking for it. “And then Covid happened, and we could not give the incentive that’s being given now.” He said work on all infrastructure projects continued during the pandemic.Fadnavis likened Thackeray to his father, the late Balasaheb Thackeray, saying his core nature was not of a typical politician. “If he takes a decision, he doesn’t back out,” he said in his address. Thackeray said the CM had described him aptly, adding that his nature is that of an artist. Deputy CM Eknath Shinde wished him good health and a long life. Thackeray threw a jab at them: “Aisi kaun si baat thi kisi aur ka haath pakadna pada (what was it that made you hold someone else’s hand?)”
NEW DELHI: Maruti Suzuki on Tuesday approved investment of Rs 10,189 crore to add capacity of 2.5 lakh vehicles per year at its upcoming manufacturing facility in Gujarat, as the country’s largest carmaker looks to meet growing domestic demand including exports.
NEW DELHI: Two major railway PSUs – Rail Vikas Nigam (RVNL) and Ircon International – are set to be merged as part of a move to create a bigger entity that can take up larger domestic and international projects, instead of competing with each other, top officials said Tuesday.This marks the second PSU merger after finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the merger of PFC and REC in her Budget on Feb 1. The details of the RVNL-Ircon merger will be worked out by the railways brass in the coming days, the official said.People aware of the development said that railway has initiated the process, which will eliminate duplication, pooling of resources, and enhancing the ability of the merged entity to bid for mega infrastructure projects. They added that the process would be lengthy as this would require approvals from different departments and then from the Cabinet.As on Tuesday, the market capitalisation of RVNL was Rs 53,877 crore, while that of Ircon was Rs 11,159 crore, according to BSE data. Officials said the combined order book of the two entities is likely to be more than Rs 1.5 lakh crore. Ircon shares rose 2.9% on BSE to close at Rs 119, while RVNL closed 3.3% higher at Rs 258.“After merger, the new entity will become a bigger player and share value will also increase. The need for merging the two has been felt for a long time. It will increase pool of manpower and capability. The merged entity can give competition to other major players in infrastructure sector and it can handle larger order books,” said an official.
After Zimbabwe’s Blessing Muzarabani and Sri Lanka’s Dasun Shanaka, South African fast bowler Ottniel Baartman could be the third foreign player to ditch the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and join an Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise.The 33-year-old right-arm fast bowler withdrew from the PSL last week and Pakistani news outlet Geo Super reported on Monday that the PSL franchise Hyderabad Kingsmen are weighing up their options to replace Baartman.
As per the Geo Super report, the PSL franchise has approached Sri Lankan spinner Maheesh Theekshana to join the tournament.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) has emerged as a frontrunner to rope in Baartman after Nathan Ellis was ruled out of the season.The Aussie fast bowler was ruled out due to a Hamstring injury and Baartman could be the like-for-like replacement for the CSK.However, it is not clear yet why Baartman withdrew from the PSL, nor is there any reliable information so far on him joining any of the IPL franchises.Earlier, Sri Lanka T20I skipper Dasun Shanaka was on Monday confirmed as a replacement for the injured England all-rounder Sam Curran in the Rajasthan Royals camp for IPL 2026.Shanaka will join the Rajasthan Royals (RR) for Rs 2 crore. Shanaka’s move to RR made him the second international player after Zimbabwe’s Blessing Muzarabani to leave the Pakistan Super League for a stint in the Indian Premier League.After going unsold in the IPL auction, Shanaka was roped in by the PSL team Lahore Qalandars.Rajasthan Royals will begin their IPL 2026 with a home game in Guwahati against Chennai Super Kings on March 30.
MUMBAI: Your next bottle of soft drink could cost you more and chances are that you will get lesser value out of the pack of biscuits or chips you buy. Consumer goods companies are implementing a mix of selective price hikes and grammage cuts to pass on some of the steep rise in input costs to consumers. Some firms are also looking at the option of smaller packs to make products more accessible for consumers. The West Asia conflict, which has now entered its fourth week, has triggered a surge in crude oil prices, shooting up raw material costs for companies. Crude oil has a direct bearing on packaging and logistics costs. Besides, crude derivatives are also used to manufacture several household products. “Some price corrections were already overdue over the past two years. Given the current environment, we have advanced this decision and will be implementing selective price increases effective April 1. In certain larger SKUs (stock keeping units), the increase may be slightly higher as there was some flexibility available through trade margin adjustments,” said Nikhil Doda, co-founder and chief operating officer at Lahori Zeera.Parle Products is looking to take selective price actions or grammage adjustments, said chief marketing officer Mayank Shah. “A more immediate and critical concern at this stage is the availability of fuel itself. It is important that policymakers differentiate between industrial users, with priority given to sectors linked to essential commodities like food to ensure there is no disruption in supply,” Shah said. Dabur will take price hikes wherever necessary, a company spokesperson said without sharing additional details. For FMCG companies, which had been betting on GST cuts to spur consumption after a long spell of sluggishness, the war risks slowing the pace of demand recovery just when revival was in sight. Firms had underlined improving consumption trends in their Q3 earnings. AWL Agri Business is pushing a wide range of pack sizes to the retail shelves starting from 200 ml. “If inflationary pressures continue, smaller pack sizes may help consumers manage their monthly household budgets more efficiently,” said managing director & CEO Shrikant Kanhere.“Household staples from soaps to packaged foods face margin pressure as petrochemical inputs rise. FMCG firms are weighing price hikes vs pack reduction-balancing margin protection with consumer demand,” said analysts at The Knowledge Company, who estimate packaging costs to have surged by 15%-20% on higher crude prices.
