MUMBAI: The Worli police have taken a Lamborghini in custody after a video of it was uploaded on a social media platform a couple of days ago showing its speed as more than 200 km/h. The viral video shows shows the Lamborghini weaving through traffic on the sea link, overtaking multiple cars at high speed.Investigators said the vehicle was identified through its registration number visible in the footage.The Lamborghini was reportedly driven on the Bandra Worli sea link where the speed limit is 80 km/h. Police are verifying the documents of the car owner and the car dealer.Suzuki Hayabusa crashIn a separate incident, a motorcyclist suffered injuries on Sunday morning while allegedly trying to speed past another vehicle on NH-8 near Ambience Mall in DLF-3. Footage recorded on a fellow rider’s helmet camera shows a Suzuki Hayabusa accelerating aggressively seconds before the collision.According to police, the rider lost control during a risky overtake, causing him to be thrown off the bike and tumble repeatedly on the highway. The superbike slid several metres before coming to a halt. The clip went viral online, drawing criticism over reckless biking on the busy Gurgaon expressway.A patrol team reached the location and took the injured motorcyclist to Narayana Superspeciality Hospital, where he is undergoing treatment.Officers said a case was not registered as the rider admitted he was speeding and overtaking improperly, and declined to file a complaint. “The video clearly showed the violation,” the SHO of DLF Phase 3 said.Police said the Swift car seen in the clip has since been traced and its driver identified, but initial investigation suggests the biker triggered the crash.Authorities noted that NH-8 continues to report numerous accidents linked to speeding, aggressive overtaking and lane indiscipline. Traffic officials once again urged commuters to maintain speed limits, especially around the Ambience Mall stretch, which is notorious for congestion and frequent mishaps.

The proposed $100,000 fee for fresh H-1B workers by Trump could severely impact IT outsourcing and staffing sectors. (AI image)

US President Donald Trump’s crackdown on immigration and H-1B visas will hit Indian IT firms, particularly Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Infosys, analysis suggests. According to a Bloomberg News study, the impact would be particularly significant for international staffing organisations serving as intermediaries for companies seeking H-1B talent, including firms like Tata Consultancy Services Ltd., Infosys Ltd., and Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp.The proposed $100,000 fee for fresh H-1B workers recruited from abroad by President Donald Trump could severely impact IT outsourcing and staffing sectors. This substantial levy represents the most stringent limitation yet imposed by the Trump administration on skilled foreign worker employment.

The H-1B programme, which serves as the main entry point for foreign professionals holding at least a bachelor’s degree into US employment, has traditionally been utilised extensively by major technology and IT organisations. These firms secure the majority of the 85,000 available visa positions annually.Legislators from both major political parties have suggested that organisations utilise the programme to avoid hiring American workers at higher costs, although H-1B regulations require employers to pay industry-standard wages, and entry-level H-1B professionals typically receive compensation above the US median salary.Analysis of data by Bloomberg News reveals that international applicants from abroad, rather than recent international university graduates already present in the US, represented over 40% of new H-1B approvals during the previous four-year period.

Why TCS, Infosys Bear Brunt of H-1B Fee Hike

For TCS, Infosys and Cognizant, approximately 90% of their new H-1B appointments between May 2020 and May 2024 received approval at US consulates. Had this fee been in place, each organisation would have incurred additional expenses in the hundreds of millions.The Bloomberg analysis indicates that Infosys would have needed to pay the $100,000 fee for over 10,400 workers, which is more than 93% of their new H-1B appointments during this period, potentially resulting in visa charges exceeding one billion dollars.TCS would have been required to pay this fee for 6,500 workers, affecting 82% of their newly approved H-1B staff, whilst Cognizant would have faced charges for more than 5,600 employees, comprising 89% of their new H-1B recruits.

H-1B visa burden

What’s the future on H-1B visas?

Despite potential legal interventions to stop the H-1B fee implementation, sector analysts expect a significant reduction in visa applications and increased overseas staff deployment.“We’re already seeing that happen,” said immigration attorney Jonathan Wasden, who represents many IT employers. “The fear is that if you have truly exceptional talent overseas, those people are definitely going to be missing out,” he told Bloomberg.Several organisations indicate that the immediate impact of the fee on their activities will be minimal.“The recently announced Proclamation is expected to have limited near-term impact on Cognizant’s operations,” said Cognizant spokesman Jeff DeMarrais. “Over the past several years, we have significantly reduced our reliance on visas, using them only for select technology roles that supplement our US workforce.”IT companies took advantage of the online lottery system established in 2020, enabling H-1B worker registration with minimal fees and simplified petitions. The registration numbers increased significantly, reaching 758,000 eligible submissions for fiscal 2024.The Biden administration’s DHS officials identified IT consultancies’ manipulation of the system, leading to lottery modifications. The newly implemented $100,000 fee serves as a stringent measure to restrict these companies’ programme participation.Taylor Rogers, White House spokesperson, stated it would provide greater certainty to American companies seeking skilled workers whilst preventing organisations from “spamming the system and driving down wages.”The US Chamber of Commerce and various states have mounted separate legal challenges to the fee implementation. A forthcoming hearing will address the motion to suspend the fee or determine its validity.Companies are revising their recruitment strategies without awaiting legal outcomes. The IT consultancy sector has reduced new H-1B applications since 2024, and the fee increase will result in additional offshore recruitment, according to Steve Hall, chief AI officer at Information Services Group Inc.He anticipates increased corporate investment in India, the primary source of H-1B workers, over the next five years, stating, “If you want to access the world’s best talent, you have to go where the talent is.”Infosys referenced CEO Salil Parekh’s October statement, noting limited sponsorship requirements for US staff. Parekh assured continued client service delivery “without any disruption to their services today and into the future.”IBM Corp., which recruited 88% of its H-1B workers internationally, has modified its skilled immigration approach, according to spokesperson Miki Carver, who stated, “Our focus remains on ensuring we have the right skills to meet clients’ evolving needs.”The increased fee represents a positive development, although employers will discover ways to adjust, according to Ron Hira, a Howard University political scientist who has criticised the H-1B programme. He indicated that the visa lottery in April will serve as an initial indicator of the measure’s effectiveness.“Will that be a higher skill, higher wage cohort? That’ll be the first sign,” Hira said.According to Finn Reynolds, director of market research at legal technology startup Lawfully, major H-1B employers intend to avoid registering workers requiring consular visa processing in the lottery. He noted this recruitment adjustment would likely spread across industries until there is clarity regarding the $100,000 fee.Lawfully forecasts that these additional expenses, alongside Trump’s proposed lottery modifications, could reduce next year’s lottery entries by 30% to 50%. Reynolds explained that organisations must evaluate both the fee expenses and candidates’ chances under the revised selection process.“The Trump administration’s $100,000 fee, combined with the weighted-lottery rule, has created an entirely new set of incentives that will reshape market behavior vis-a-vis the H-1B lottery,” he said.

Parliamentary panel recommends pen-and-paper format to improve reliability in national exams

The parliamentary standing committee on education, women, children, youth and sports has recommended a stronger focus on pen-and-paper exams for major national tests, highlighting recurring disruptions in computer-based examinations conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). The committee, chaired by Congress MP Digvijaya Singh, reviewed the security, administration and financial functioning of the NTA in a detailed report tabled in Parliament.The report assessed 14 competitive examinations conducted by the NTA in 2024 and noted that at least five faced significant issues. UGC-NET, CSIR-NET and NEET-PG were postponed, while NEET-UG faced instances of paper leaks, and CUET (UG/PG) results were deferred. In early 2025, the report stated that in JEE (Main) 2025 held in January, at least 12 questions had to be withdrawn due to errors in the final answer key.Pen-and-paper exams and computer-based testingThe committee examined both pen-and-paper and computer-based test (CBT) formats. It found that pen-and-paper exams “offer more opportunities for paper leaks,” whereas CBTs “can be hacked in a manner that is difficult to detect.” Despite these concerns, the committee recommended a stronger focus on pen-and-paper exams, citing the proven reliability of CBSE and UPSC systems. It further advised that CBTs, when conducted, should only take place in government or government-controlled centres and “never in private centres.”Issues with vendors and administrationThe report highlighted ongoing problems with private vendors involved in paper setting, administration and correction. Several firms blacklisted by certain organisations or state governments continued to secure contracts elsewhere. The committee stated that “such blacklisted firms must not be engaged for any entrance test by the NTA or the state governments.” It recommended creating a nationwide blacklist of firms and associated individuals to prevent repeated involvement in exam-related malpractices.Financial review and capacity-buildingOver six years, the NTA collected an estimated Rs 3,512.98 crore and spent Rs 3,064.77 crore, leaving a surplus of Rs 448 crore. The committee suggested this corpus could be used to strengthen the agency’s capabilities to conduct tests independently, enhance regulatory oversight, and improve monitoring of vendors. Funding could also support better security measures for both pen-and-paper and computer-based exams.

Impacts of pen-and-paper exams

Implications for students and school curriculumA separate central panel has proposed reforms to reduce students’ dependence on coaching centres. It is considering conducting national exams such as JEE, NEET and CUET as early as Class XI. The plan aims to ease academic pressure in Class XII and limit daily coaching hours to two or three, down from five to six in many private centres.Officials said a hybrid assessment model could combine board marks with aptitude-based testing, strengthening classroom learning and internal assessments while reducing coaching reliance. NCERT has been tasked with coordinating with CBSE and state boards to compare Class XI and XII syllabi with entrance exam requirements, aiming to align school curricula and minimise disparities.Logistical challenges and exam conductTransitioning to pen-and-paper exams will require increased logistical efforts, including printing, secure transportation, invigilation, and manual evaluation. Despite these demands, pen-and-paper tests are expected to reduce technical errors, answer key issues and cyber vulnerabilities. Government-controlled centres and robust vendor oversight are considered essential to successful implementation.While the parliamentary committee did not mandate a full return to pen-and-paper testing, its recommendations emphasise the format as a reliable alternative. The decision on whether exams such as JEE Main, CUET and UGC NET will revert to pen-and-paper will depend on the government’s response and implementation of the committee’s findings.

NEW DELHI: Congress leader and former Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on Wednesday refused to apologise for his remarks on Operation Sindoor, saying the Constitution gives him the right to ask questions.“Why will I apologise? It is out of the question. The Constitution gives me the right to ask questions,” Chavan said when asked whether he would apologise for his remarks.This comes a day after Chavan stirred controversy by claiming that India was “completely defeated” on the first day of Operation Sindoor, while questioning the conduct of the military operation.Also read: Former Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan questions need for large Indian militarySpeaking to reporters in Pune, Chavan alleged that India suffered setbacks on the first day of the operation.“On the first day (of Operation Sindoor), we were completely defeated. In the half-hour aerial engagement that took place on the 7th, we were fully defeated, whether people accept it or not. Indian aircraft were shot down. The Air Force was completely grounded, and not a single aircraft flew. If any aircraft had taken off from Gwalior, Bathinda or Sirsa, there was a high probability of being shot down by Pakistan, which is why the Air Force was fully grounded,” Chavan said.The Congress leader further alleged that Operation Sindoor involved only aerial and missile warfare and saw no ground movement by the armed forces.“Recently, we saw during Operation Sindoor, there was not even a one-kilometre movement of the military… Whatever happened over two or three days was only an aerial war and missile warfare. In the future too, wars will be fought in the same way. In such a situation, do we really need to maintain an army of 12 lakh soldiers, or can we make they do some other work?” Chavan said.‘Insulting the army has become the hallmark of the Congress’Reacting strongly, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla accused the Congress of repeatedly disrespecting the Indian Armed Forces and undermining national security operations.Poonawalla said the statements made by the former Maharashtra chief minister were “shocking” and targeted the Air Force and the armed forces.“Insulting the army has become the hallmark of the Congress party… This is not just Prithviraj Chavan’s statement; Rahul Gandhi has also made similar statements,” Poonawalla said.All these statements reflect Rahul Gandhi’s mindset, which is why Rahul Gandhi or the Congress party does not take any action against such leaders… These statements reveal their anti-army mentality,” he added.Union minister Giriraj Singh also launched a broadside against Chavan and said that no one has the right to “insult the valour of the Armed Forces.”“No one has the right to insult the valour of the Armed Forces. Those who do so can never think of the nation’s interest….It has become Congress’s habit to insult the Armed Forces,” Giriraj Singh said.Operation Sindoor was launched by India on May 7, targeting terror infrastructure deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The operation was carried out in retaliation for the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, in which 26 civilians were killed.

Market experts anticipate sideways trading in Indian markets due to the lack of significant short-term catalysts. (AI image)

Stock market today: Nifty50 and BSE Sensex, the Indian equity benchmark indices, opened flat in trade on Wednesday. While Nifty50 was above 25,850, BSE Sensex was near 84,700. At 9:16 AM, Nifty50 was trading at 25,864.25, up 4 points or 0.016%. BSE Sensex was at 84,705.43, up 26 points or 0.030%.Market experts anticipate sideways trading in Indian markets due to the lack of significant short-term catalysts.Dr. VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Investments Limited says, “Recent sharp fall in the rupee and crude has been attracting the attention of investors. Decline in crude, on poor demand from China and the US, is good news for India’s macros, which are already in a Goldilocks setting. However, sustained fall in the rupee is accelerating FII outflows, thereby hurting the market. This kind of sharp depreciation in the rupee was not expected particularly after the November trade data showed a sharp decline in trade deficit at $24.5 billion vs $41.5 billion in October. One possible reason for the RBI’s non-intervention in the currency market to stem the rupee slide is that the rupee depreciation is not hurting the economy. With very low CPI inflation of 0.71% in November, there is no threat of imported inflation. On the other hand, rupee depreciation is a boost for India’s exports which were impacted by the Trump tariffs.” “With the ongoing weakening of the AI trade, FIIs are likely to turn buyers in India sometime in 2026. If, along with this, a US-India trade deal happens, FIIs will turn buyers in India. There is a likelihood of rupee strengthening in H1 2026. Therefore, while FII selling is depressing stock prices now, investors should buy in anticipation of a 2026 rally.”US stock market indices showed varied results on Tuesday afternoon, with Nasdaq finishing higher, whilst the S&P 500 and Dow Jones declined due to losses in healthcare and energy sectors.Asian equities followed US markets lower at opening, showing modest declines after underwhelming US employment data failed to strengthen expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts.Oil prices rose significantly on Wednesday following US President Donald Trump’s declaration of “a total and complete” embargo on all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, heightening geopolitical concerns amidst existing demand uncertainties.Foreign portfolio investors conducted net sales of shares amounting to Rs 2,381 crore on Tuesday. Domestic institutional investors maintained net purchases at Rs 1,077 crore.(Disclaimer: Recommendations and views on the stock market, other asset classes or personal finance management tips given by experts are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India)

Oil prices rose sharply on Wednesday after US President Donald Trump ordered “a total and complete” blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, stoking fresh geopolitical tensions at a time when markets are already wary about weak global demand.Brent crude futures climbed 57 cents, or 0.9%, to $59.50 a barrel by 0135 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained 59 cents, or 1%, to $55.86 a barrel.

The rebound came a day after oil prices settled near five-year lows, pressured by progress in Russia-Ukraine peace talks. A potential deal could lead to easing of Western sanctions on Moscow, increasing supply in an already well-supplied market.Earlier on Tuesday, Trump ordered a blockade of sanctioned oil tankers linked to Venezuela and said he now regarded the country’s rulers as a foreign terrorist organisation. The move could disrupt about 0.4–0.5 million barrels per day of supply and lift prices by $1–2 per barrel, according to a US oil trader.“In regard to pricing impacts, we should see the prompt physical premiums reacting more than flat price, especially natural Merey replacements in the Gulf Coast like Canadian and Colombian Castilla blends, though the total loss of supply would be less than 200,000 barrels per day for the Chevron equity cargoes,” Matias Togni, analyst at oil market insights firm Next Barrel, told Reuters.Another analysts said that the oil market is currently well supplied, but warned that if the blockade remains in place for an extended period, crude prices could move higher.It remains unclear how the US will enforce the blockade or whether it will deploy the Coast Guard, as it did last week. In recent months, Washington has moved warships into the region.Trump’s latest move follows the US seizure of a sanctioned oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast last week, stepping up pressure on the government of President Nicolas Maduro, whom Trump has accused of allowing drugs to enter the US.Since the seizure, Venezuela’s crude exports have fallen sharply. While many tankers lifting oil from the country are under sanctions, others transporting Venezuelan crude, as well as oil from Iran and Russia, remain unsanctioned. Tankers chartered by Chevron are also shipping Venezuelan crude to the US under a prior authorisation from Washington.

Is the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill dissolving federalism in education?

Few pieces of legislation put forth brimming ambition on the table and evoke deep constitutional unease. Such is the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025. It has been introduced in the Lok Sabha amid vocal opposition resistance, the bill seeks nothing less than a full-scale demolition and reconstruction of India’s higher education regulatory architecture. By repealing the University Grants Commission Act, 1956, the All India Council for Technical Education Act, 1987, and the National Council for Teacher Education Act, 1993, the government is proposing a singular, centralised command structure in the name of efficiency, coherence, and reform.On paper, the bill aligns itself firmly with the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020, a document that promised transformation, autonomy, and innovation. In practice, however, the legislation raises a more uncomfortable question: Does this reform strengthen India’s higher education system, or does it hollow out the federal compact that underpins it?

The new architecture: One apex, three councils, absolute authority

At the heart of the bill lies the creation of an umbrella regulator, the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan, tasked with providing direction for the “comprehensive and holistic growth” of higher education. Beneath it will operate three distinct bodies: A regulatory council, an accreditation council, and a standards council.The design appears streamlined, even elegant. Years of complaints about overlapping mandates, duplicative inspections, and bureaucratic gridlock have given policymakers a compelling case for simplification. The bill’s Statement of Objects and Reasons explicitly cites overregulation and duplication as systemic failures requiring urgent correction.Yet the devil, as always, is in the detail.

Appointments, accountability, and the concentration of power

Every significant authority under the proposed framework, the chairperson of the apex body, its 12 members, and the presidents and members of all three councils, will be appointed by the President of India, based on recommendations from Union government-led search-cum-selection committees.Formally, this adheres to the constitutional process. Substantively, it places the entire higher education regulatory ecosystem firmly within the Union government’s sphere of influence. There is no institutionalised role for state governments in appointments, despite education being a subject that has long occupied a delicate space between the Union and the states.This centralisation becomes starker under Clauses 45 and 47, which grant the Union government overriding policy authority. Any disagreement over whether a matter constitutes “policy” will be resolved unilaterally by the Centre, its decision final and binding. The government may also direct the bodies to perform “such other functions as it deems fit,” an open-ended clause that leaves little room for autonomous regulatory judgment.

The power to supersede: Regulation by remote control

Perhaps the most contentious provision is the Union government’s power to supersede the commission or councils. If the Centre forms the opinion that a body has defaulted in its functions or failed to comply with its directions, it may dissolve that body, force its members to vacate office, and assume full control until reconstitution.This is not merely administrative oversight, it is executive dominance. Regulatory independence, a cornerstone of credible academic governance, is rendered fragile when the regulator exists at the pleasure of the government it is meant to advise, audit, or occasionally resist.

Funding flows and fiscal dependence

Financial autonomy, too, appears limited. The proposed Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Fund will be financed primarily through Union government grants, along with receipts and deposits from states or other authorities. While pooled funding can enhance coordination, it also deepens fiscal dependence on the Centre, further narrowing the operational space for dissent or decentralised decision-making.

Federalism at stake: A structural, not symbolic, concern

Opposition parties have framed their objections around two axes: Overcentralisation and federal erosion. These concerns are not rhetorical flourishes. Higher education institutions, particularly state universities, operate within diverse linguistic, social, and economic contexts. Regulatory uniformity imposed from New Delhi risks flattening this diversity in pursuit of a one-size-fits-all model.The criticism of the bill’s Hindi nomenclature may seem cosmetic to some, but it feeds into a broader anxiety: Whose vision of “Viksit Bharat” is being institutionalised, and at whose expense? In a federal polity, symbolism and structure often travel together.

‘Light but tight,’ or tight and heavy?

The government insists that the bill reflects the NEP’s promise of a “light but tight” regulatory framework, minimal interference combined with strict accountability. Yet the expansive discretionary powers vested in the Union government complicate this claim. Autonomy without institutional safeguards quickly becomes conditional autonomy, granted and withdrawn at the Centre’s discretion.Efficiency, undeniably, is a legitimate policy goal. India’s higher education system has long suffered from regulatory congestion. But efficiency achieved through excessive central control carries its own democratic cost.

Reform or rupture?

The decision to send the bill to a Joint Parliamentary Committee is both prudent and revealing. It acknowledges, implicitly, that the legislation’s implications extend beyond technical reform into constitutional terrain. The committee’s deliberations will determine whether this bill evolves into a balanced reform, or hardens into a blueprint for centralised command.The question, ultimately, is not whether India’s higher education system needs reform, it does. The real question is whether reform must come at the expense of federalism, pluralism, and institutional autonomy.If the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill redraws the lines of educational governance too sharply, it risks converting cooperative federalism into administrative compliance. And that would be a transformation far more consequential than any regulatory overhaul.

NEW DELHI: Dense smog continued to blanket the national capital on Wednesday, sharply reducing visibility and keeping air quality in the very poor to severe range, even as authorities stepped up curbs to rein in pollution. Delhi’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood near 350, a marginal improvement from day earlier, but conditions remained hazardous. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board showed that 11 of the city’s 40 monitoring stations — including Jahangirpuri, Mundka and Wazirpur — recorded ‘severe’ AQI levels.

The Delhi government announced that vehicles without a valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate will not be allowed to purchase petrol or diesel in the city. It also said only BS-VI–compliant vehicles will be permitted to operate in Delhi, with older vehicles facing restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). Fog disrupts flights, airlines issue advisories Poor air quality combined with dense fog continued to disrupt air traffic. IndiGo issued a late-night travel advisory, warning of reduced visibility and slower flight movements across parts of North and East India on Wednesday morning. “In the interest of safety, some flights may experience delays or adjustments,” the airline said, advising passengers to plan ahead, allow extra time to reach airports and check flight status before leaving home. IndiGo also cautioned that foggy conditions could slow road traffic, affecting access to airports. Earlier, Indira Gandhi International Airport issued a fog advisory, saying operations were steadily recovering but warning that disruptions could persist for certain arrivals and departures due to low visibility. Non-BS VI vehicle ban sparks commuter anxiety The Delhi government’s decision to bar non-BS VI vehicles from entering the city from Thursday has triggered concern across the NCR, where lakhs depend on daily cross-border travel. Official data indicates that over 2 lakh vehicles in Gurgaon, more than 4 lakh in Noida and around 5.5 lakh in Ghaziabad fall below BS-VI standards and could be affected. Traffic police teams have been deployed at Delhi-NCR borders, with violators facing fines and vehicle seizure. Residents described the move as abrupt and impractical, arguing that Delhi and its neighbouring cities function as a single economic unit. They warned the restrictions could disrupt daily work, strain public transport and add pressure on already crowded metro services. Officials defended the decision, saying it was necessary to tackle toxic air. “The restrictions are in line with GRAP norms. Our aim is to reduce emissions during severe pollution episodes,” an NCR transport official said. Slight relief, but pollution to persist Meteorological factors brought limited relief on Tuesday, with higher wind speeds helping disperse pollutants and push AQI down from the severe zone. The India Meteorological Department reported shallow fog across most parts of the city, though visibility remained poor in the early morning. Experts said stronger winds over the next few days could further improve air quality, but warned that AQI is likely to remain in the ‘very poor’ category till the end of the week, according to the Centre’s Air Quality Early Warning System. With fog, pollution and travel disruptions expected to continue, authorities have urged residents to limit outdoor activity, use public transport where possible, and stay alert to official advisories.