On Budget day, TOI breaks down key terms and concepts, helping readers quickly understand how govt finances, spending, and deficits are structured and explainedWhat are receipts?Receipts show the money the govt receives. This includes the money the govt earns, and money it obtains through borrowings or loan recoveries from states.What do Capital Receipts entail?Capital Receipts are funds that either reduce the govt’s assets or increase its debts. This includes money from sale of assets such as shares in public sector companies, and money received through borrowings or recovery of loans.What is the relation between Revenue Receipts & govt’s assets or debts?Revenue Receipts are the money the govt collects without affecting its assets or debts. These include earnings from taxes and other sources.What does Capital Expenditure mean?Capital Expenditure is spending that leads to the creation of assets or reduction of liabilities. This includes money used to build infrastructure.What is termed as Revenue Expenditure?Revenue Expenditure is govt spending that does not create assets or reduce liabilities. This includes salaries, pensions, subsidies, interest payments, and administrative expenses.How is Net Borrowing calculated?Net Borrowings refer to the total amount the govt borrows in a year after subtracting repayments of existing loans.What is unpaid debt called?Outstanding Debt is the total amount borrowed by the govt in the past that remains unpaid. The figure for a year indicates the debt outstanding at the end of that year.Why Fiscal Deficit matters?Fiscal Deficit occurs when the govt’s expenditure exceeds its receipts. It shows how much the govt needs to borrow during the year. If receipts exceed expenditure, there is a surplus.Difference between revenue and receiptsRevenue Deficit is the difference between revenue expenditure and revenue receipts. It indicates how much the govt needs to borrow for non-capital (non-asset-creating) expenses.What is Effective Revenue Deficit?Effective Revenue Deficit is the revenue deficit minus grants given for the creation of capital assets.How is Primary Deficit calculated?Fiscal deficit minus interest payments. It shows the borrowing requirement excluding the interest obligations.What is the main account for govt expenditures?Consolidated Fund of India contains all govt receipts and is the main account from which govt expenditures are madeWhat expenditure needs Parl nod?Voted Expenditure includes spending that must be approved by Parliament through the Demands for GrantsWhat does Finance Bill include?Finance Bill is introduced along with the Budget and contains the govt’s taxation and financial proposals for the coming yearWhat does Appropriation Bill authorise?Appropriation Bill authorises the govt to withdraw money from the Consolidated Fund. It is passed after the Demands for Grants are approved

Sometimes, the most interesting stories are written by people who choose to change the direction of their own lives. A few years ago, Ajit Menon was working in corporate boardrooms, shaping strategy and leading teams at senior levels. At the same time, Anil Verma was building a career in India’s advertising industry, creating campaigns and establishing a reputation in the field. Both had stable careers that many spend years striving towards. Then something unexpected happened — they chose to step away. Not because their careers were failing, but because they wanted to focus on storytelling. The decision surprised friends and colleagues; leaving a corporate or advertising career to become a writer is not a common move. But Ajit and Anil decided to pursue writing more seriously. Both authors come from middle-class families where discipline and hard work shaped their upbringing. Like many Indians, they spent their early years building stable careers and fulfilling responsibilities. Writing remained a personal interest – until they chose to give it more time and attention. Five years later, that decision has evolved into a collaborative partnership in India’s publishing space. The duo has written four books, published by leading publishing houses. Their works have also featured in Top 15 Must-Read lists for two consecutive years. Their writing has drawn attention for its cinematic style. Written in simple English, their stories move with the pace of film narratives — visual scenes, dialogue-driven storytelling, and chapters that often end on moments of tension. Many readers say their books feel like watching a film unfold. As Ajit explains, “In a world where attention spans are shrinking, storytelling must evolve. We write cinematically so that readers remain engaged.” Some have compared their partnership to that of Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar, combining complementary strengths. Beyond novels, they also work on screenplays, songs and music, often shaping stories with potential for screen adaptation. Their work spans genres — crime fiction, thrillers, courtroom drama, paranormal, horror, slice-of-life and espionage. Their latest novel, The Dealer — part of the six-part Panther’s Ghosts series — explores global espionage and geopolitical intrigue, with ambitions of building a long-form franchise. For two writers who stepped away from established careers, their journey continues to evolve — with future stories likely to move beyond print into visual media.

There are many rules and regulations associated with air travel. These rules and regulations include no carrying of sharp objects, no carrying of large quantities of liquids, and no carrying of inflammable items. However, some rules and regulations seem unusual. The case of carrying coconuts is one such case. Coconuts are commonly found and are associated with religious, food, and everyday activities. However, there is a restriction on carrying coconuts on an aircraft.What makes this restriction particularly interesting is that it combines multiple safety concerns rather than just one. From chemical properties to practical handling challenges, coconuts fall into a grey area where everyday items intersect with strict aviation safety protocols.Many people face difficulties and are surprised when they are not allowed to carry coconuts during air travel. The seemingly harmless item poses many risks and hazards. The risks associated with carrying coconuts in an aircraft include the risk of fire and pressure. The reasons behind this restriction will show how ordinary items can pose risks and hazards.

Why are coconuts considered a safety risk

The main reason for this restriction on coconuts in flights is that they are high in oil. Dry coconuts are also known as copra, and they are high in oil, which is highly flammable. In certain conditions, this oil may catch fire in front of sparks or in hot conditions. According to international aviation safety standards set by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), materials that are flammable or capable of self-heating are restricted on flights, and dried coconut can fall into this category due to its high oil content.The cargo area and cabin area in flights are strictly regulated, and any small fire risk is taken seriously. As part of aviation safety, we focus more on preventing rather than reacting.

The risk of fire and self-heating

It is not only flammable but may also have the ability to produce heat on its own in certain circumstances. Some materials have the ability to produce heat due to their oil content and may even catch fire after a series of slow chemical reactions.This is one of the reasons why dried coconut is considered a dangerous material in the guidelines related to air travel.

Pressure and structural concerns

Another lesser-known reason has something to do with the air pressure. It is already known that during a flight, the air pressure may affect objects with liquid or air pockets. A coconut has both.As the pressure differs, there is a small possibility that the shell of the coconut might crack or leak. Although it does not seem like a big deal, any unexpected leak of the coconut shell might cause complications during the flight.

Security and scanning challenges

Airport security also makes extensive use of X-ray scanning to detect possible threats. However, the hard outer covering of coconuts makes it hard for X-ray scanners to get a good view of what is inside them.This lack of visibility may also spark suspicion, as it is hard for authorities to easily ascertain whether the item is safe or not. In places like airports, which are highly sensitive, any item that cannot be scanned easily may be forbidden.

Could coconuts be used as a physical hazards

Besides chemical hazards, coconuts are also solid and heavy objects. When in situations such as turbulence, anything that is loose and hard could become a threat.The hard shell of coconuts could also become a source of damage should it suddenly change position. Although this may not be the main reason for banning coconuts, it is just another reason for aviation authorities to worry about.

Are coconuts allowed in any form

There are a few exceptions depending on the airlines’ rules and regulations. In some cases, carrying coconuts is allowed as long as they are cut into small pieces and packed in the checked baggage.However, carrying whole coconuts and dried copra is not allowed in either the cabin baggage or the checked baggage. The best advice that a traveller should follow is not to carry coconuts at all.

Panaji: The All India Football Federation’s own football academy has been barred from participation in the U-18 Elite League due to age manipulation.Minerva Academy FC had complained that the AIFF FIFA Talent Academy based in Odisha – famously launched by Arsenal’s legendary manager Arsene Wenger — fielded more than five players who failed the U-16 TW3 or bone density test, “contrary to the eligibility framework that has otherwise been enforced upon all the other participating clubs.”The Chandigarh-based club argued through counsels Shivam Singh and Yoshit Jain that the guideline issued by AIFF clearly provides that a maximum of five players who do not fall in the bone density category can be moved from Junior League to play in the Elite League, provided that the team is participating in both the leagues.AIFF FIFA Talent Academy had a team only in the Elite League.AIFF fielded players who are below the restricted age group category of those born between Jan 1, 2008, and Dec 31, 2009, in violation of Article 9.1.(a) of the AIFF Elite Youth League 2025-26 Regulations. There were 18 players below the age of 16 on the premise that such players failed the bone density test and possess a bone age rating above 16.2.“While AIFF guidelines permit a maximum of five players who fall outside the age category but meet the 16.2 bone age criteria, this exception is strictly contingent upon the team participating in both relevant categories (Junior League and Elite League). As AIFF FIFA Talent Academy participates only in the Elite League, the said relaxation is not applicable or available to the team,” the disciplinary committee said in its order.The four-member committee chaired by Justice (Retd) Vineet Saran said Minerva Punjab’s complaint has “merit” and the AIFF was “legally bound by the age specifications set forth in the tournament regulations, which apply to all the participants equally.”In a statement late on Thursday, AIFF said the academy fielded a younger squad (primarily U-16 players) in an U-18 competition, as part of a deliberate high-performance development pathway designed to expose talented young players to stronger and old competition“This developmental approach has already demonstrated positive results,” said AIFF. “During the previous season, when the academy’s younger team competed against older players in the AIFF Elite Youth League, and won the majority of its matches, progressing deep into the competition despite the age disadvantage. The same developmental philosophy had continued this season, with young players competing against older age groups to accelerate their growth.”

MUMBAI: Malabar Court, an over 70-year-old Art Deco building in tony Malabar Hill, will soon give way to a boutique luxury residential tower.JSW Realty, the real estate arm of JSW Group, has signed a development agreement with the Patel family to redevelop the five-storey property. “Malabar Court has been home to the Patel family for over seven decades and holds a distinctive place in the neighbourhood’s residential fabric,” said a JSW spokesperson.Malabar Court was built by Salina Sassoon, from the family of merchant-philanthropist David Sassoon, and designed by eminent architect David William Ditchburn, who came to Mumbai after World War I, according to Art Deco Mumbai, which chronicles and documents Art Deco neighbourhoods.Ditchburn later merged his practice with Mistri & Bhedwar after the demise of the last surviving partner to form the architectural firm Ditchburn, Mistri & Bhedwar.Redevpt project ‘to draw from the Art Deco legacy’Sprawling across just under an acre, the plot is located adjacent to the Malabar Hill Club. The project draws from its Art Deco legacy while adopting a contemporary design approach.“Planned as a boutique luxury residential tower, the development is expected to generate a top line of over Rs 2,000 crore. It will offer exclusive residences, including single floor homes, duplexes and a signature penthouse,” said JSW Realty. “The project is also expected to feature a curated suite of wellness and lifestyle amenities designed to offer residents a private and tranquil retreat within the city,” it said.Sujal Shroff, CEO, JSW Realty, said, “Malabar Court is envisioned as a rare offering shaped by continuity rather than reinvention. Over the last five years, we have meticulously built a portfolio that prioritizes quality and architectural integrity. With Malabar Court, we strengthen our commitment to developments that honour legacy of the neighbourhood while delivering enduring institutional value.”Bombay adopted the Art Deco style after it emerged in the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris. Since the 1930s, Mumbai has perhaps the world’s largest collection of Art Deco buildings (1,528), though many have been demolished. Atul Kumar, founder trustee of Art Deco Mumbai, said, “Malabar Hill is being reimagined. Malabar Court, a magnificent Art Deco building in fine condition, is the latest to fall under pressure of redevelopment. Low-rise neighbourhoods are giving way to ultra-high rises. The sense of dismay and loss is palpable.”