Railways faces hike in power costs after Supreme Court rules on qualifying as ‘consumer’ India News
Indian Railways facing high electricity prices after Supreme Court Last week ruled that the National Transporter qualifies as a “consumer” under the Electricity Act. As a result, Railways will remain liable to pay Cross-Subsidy Surcharge (CSS) and additional surcharge while purchasing power through open access for their own consumption, thereby impacting the operating ratio of the Railways.Due to this, the power purchase expenditure of Railways is likely to increase. It had argued that the Railways should not be treated as a traditional consumer as it distributes power across its vast operational network. However, the SC rejected this argument and clarified that the Railways purchases power through open access “exclusively for self-consumption”, and hence, falls under the definition of consumer under the Electricity Act, 2003.The order passed by a two-judge bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Satish Chandra Sharma said, “For the reasons stated hereinabove, it is clear that the appellant does not pass muster as a deemed distribution licensee under the (Indian Railways) Act, and he cannot under any circumstances avoid payment of cross-subsidy surcharge and additional surcharge as a consumer of electricity through open access.”The court directed the state power distribution companies to calculate the outstanding CSS and additional surcharge payable by the appellant and issue a detailed statement. It states that the calculation should clearly specify the amount based on the area of supply and the period during which open access was used. “The appellant shall be given reasonable opportunity and time to respond to the said counts,” it said.The controversy arose when the Railways sought to purchase 100 MW of power through inter-state open access for its traction substations in Maharashtra. The Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company refused connectivity, leading the Railways to seek a declaration from the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) that it is a deemed distribution licensee (DDL) exempt from surcharge.The CERC ruled in favor of the railways in 2015, but it was challenged by several state electricity regulatory commissions (SERCs) and discoms. The Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL) in its final judgment dated February 12, 2024, set aside the CERC order saying that Railways is a consumer and not DDL.Railways challenged these orders in SC.
MSU to conduct online ethics exam for PhD scholars on May 12 Vadodara News
Vadodara: Maharaja Sayajirao University (MSU) will conduct an online examination on ‘Research and Publication Ethics’ (RPE) for 206 PhD scholars on May 12 through MKCL platform, a digital initiative that provides e-learning.The exam is being conducted as per the UGC PhD Regulations 2022, which mandate a two-credit RPE course for all doctoral candidates.The course was offered by the university’s Center for Publication Ethics and was attended by scholars during April 2026.Before the final exams, the university will conduct a mock test on May 11 to familiarize students with the online portal and help them resolve potential technical issues.University officials said the final examination will be a mandatory online proctored examination for all registered scholars. All 206 candidates have been instructed to register on the MKCL portal using their credentials and appear for the examination as per the schedule.The university said the exams will be conducted under a comprehensive digital monitoring system to ensure academic integrity and prevent malpractices.Professor Karanam Pushpanadham, officer on special duty for PhD programmes, said the mock test has been scheduled to help students understand the examination process and address technical challenges in advance. He said the monitoring system has been designed to maintain the credibility of the examination while ensuring a student-friendly approach.
‘Stop this crazy Indian migration’: Controversy over University of Pennsylvania hiring H-1B worker at $79,584 annual salary
A new H-1B filing by the University of Pennsylvania has sparked controversy after details of a $79,584 data analyst role circulated on social media this week.American commentator Chris Brunet, referring to the case on X, wrote that the institution had appointed a foreign employee for the post. “This morning, the University of Pennsylvania (@Penn) filed a notice of intent to hire an H-1B data analyst. Salary: $79,584,’ Brunet wrote.According to the filing, the position is in the Department of General Internal Medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine. The annual salary is listed as $79,584.75, this role will start on December 23, 2025 and run through December 22, 2028.Work locations include multiple sites in Philadelphia, among them 423 Guardian Drive and 3600 Civic Center Boulevard, with remote arrangements in Philadelphia and Wynwood, Pennsylvania.The university’s notice said the labor condition application was submitted in compliance with U.S. Department of Labor requirements for H-1B hiring. It also confirmed that a candidate had already been selected, adding that the notice was “not a posting for an open position.”It warns that “Complaints alleging misrepresentation of material facts in a labor status application and/or failure to comply with the terms of a labor status application may be filed with any office of the Wage and Hour Division of the United States Department of Labor.”Because the University of Pennsylvania is a border-exempt institution, it can hire H-1B workers without going through the annual visa lottery that most private companies must use. US government records show the university has submitted dozens of H-1B applications in the 2026 fiscal year. These applications are usually approved after officials confirm that the employer is following wage and labor regulations designed to protect American workers.This filing sparked controversy over the use of the H-1B program, particularly in higher education. Conservative television host Laura Ingraham has previously criticized the system, calling it an “obscene” scam, arguing that it hurts American workers. James Fischbach, Nalin Haley, Priya Patel and many other MAGA bigots have doubled down on this anti-H-1B stance.“All state universities in our great nation that receive public funding should not be allowed to hire, train, enroll, or educate foreigners,” one social media user wrote.Another comment said, “Ridiculous. There are many Americans who are capable of doing this job. We must stop this crazy Indian immigration nonsense. Especially since we know many of them bought their degrees and certificates and are unqualified for their positions. No!”
‘Please expedite my returns’: Rahul Gandhi’s response to his ‘BJP-supporting’ financier wins the Internet | india news
The conversation started when X user Muthukrishnan Dhandapani, in a detailed post, claimed that Gandhi had been his client for mutual fund investments since 2013, when the Congress-led UPA government was in power.Dhandapani, whose bio identifies him as an AMFI-registered mutual fund distributor, said he had publicly supported Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP consistently between 2014 and 2024, but alleged that Gandhi and his staff never let political differences affect their professional relations.“Rahul or his office staff never brought that subject up with me,” he wrote. “Gandhi addressed me with respect and never behaved arrogantly,” he wrote.He also claimed that Gandhi had sought his professional input while selecting a major professor a few years ago.Dhandapani wrote, “I wanted to post this to show how mainstream media and IT cells of parties can completely dehumanize someone.”Responding to the post, Gandhi humorously replied: “Muthu ji, your political views are your own – but please accelerate the returns on my investment. 😃”The reaction quickly gained popularity online. By the time the report was filed, Gandhi’s reply had received over 1.5 million views with over 31,000 likes, 5,600 reposts and over 1,000 comments.Dhandapani later replied, “Pleasantly surprised by your response.”Many users appreciated the civility and humor of this exchange.One user wrote, “I don’t vote for your party, but this tweet made me laugh.”Another commented, “Professionalism transcends politics. People are generally more nuanced than what we see on the screen.”However, some users questioned whether it was professionally appropriate to publicly disclose the client relationship.One user wrote, “Such conversations are very rare in the political circles of new India, but I still believe it was not professional to be the first to share the customer’s name.”Others continued the humor, with one quipping: “Even Rahul depends on Modi supporters for his ‘hard-earned’ investments!”
IPL 2026: Golden Duck! Virat Kohli equals unwanted IPL milestone against Mumbai Indians | cricket news
Virat Kohli He suffered another rare batting failure after getting out for a golden duck in IPL 2026 Mumbai Indians During Royal Challengers Bangalore’s chase in Raipur on Sunday.The former RCB skipper lasted just one ball before being dismissed by Deepak Chahar, who delivered a major breakthrough for Mumbai soon after the innings break.
While attempting to loft the ball over mid-off, Kohli failed to catch the shot as the ball bounced a little higher than expected. The ball hit the bat high and went towards Raj Bawa, who dived forward to complete a sharp catch.This dismissal is Kohli’s second consecutive zero innings in the tournament. In RCB’s previous match against Lucknow Super Giants, Kohli was clean bowled by Prince Yadav for a duck in two balls.This is only the second instance in Kohli’s IPL career where he has registered a duck in consecutive innings. The first time in the 2022 season was against LSG and Sunrisers Hyderabad.Mumbai’s success also added an unwanted record for Kohli against MI.Most wickets by Virat Kohli against an IPL opponent3 vs Mumbai Indians3 vs Sunrisers Hyderabad2 vs Lucknow Super GiantsChahar continued his brilliant spell by striking again in the third over, removing Devdutt Padikkal soon after Kohli’s dismissal, putting RCB under pressure early.Earlier in the evening, Mumbai Indians recovered from a poor start to post 166/7 after being asked to bat first on a difficult Raipur surface. Bhuvneshwar Kumar Ryan Rickelton starred with an old new ball spell, dismissing Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav Inside powerplay to leave MI at 28/3.But Tilak Verma made a brilliant comeback by scoring 57 runs in 42 balls, while Naman Dheer added a crucial 47 runs. Mumbai ultimately finished with a competitive total on a surface that offered uneven bounce and assistance to the seamers.
Ranchi CID arrests cyber criminal from UP in Rs 8.52 crore forex trading scam. Ranchi News
Ranchi: The CID on Saturday arrested a 26-year-old alleged cyber criminal from Uttar Pradesh in connection with a fraud of Rs 8.52 crore by promising high profits from forex trading.CID said on Sunday that accused Brajesh Singh was caught from Mirzapur with the help of UP Police.A mobile phone, SIM card, credit card and a check book were seized from him.The CID said the victim was added to a WhatsApp group in the name of forex trading and persuaded to invest in various bank accounts. After realizing that he was cheated, the victim registered a case on March 10.
Indian-American Tina Shah sparks controversy after saying in viral video that she is ‘the only Democrat who is pro-Israel’
The club reignited a debate inside the Progressive Party on ongoing tensions in the Middle East, including the Gaza war and conflict with Iran.Tina Shah is a physician and former White House advisor during the Obama administration. She is running in the Democratic primary for New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District. In an April 26 recording, she said she is a “pro-Israel candidate” who supports “unconditional aid” to Israel, and also said she is “the only candidate” in New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District race who supports Israel unconditionally.The audio clip went viral on social media platforms including X and TikTok, drawing strong reactions from both progressive activists and pro-Israel Democrats and deepening divisions within the party over foreign policy. This comes as the Gaza Health Ministry estimates that 70,000-75,000 Palestinians have been killed since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023.Shah’s comments come at a time when political debate continues in Washington over the Israel-Gaza conflict as well as rising tensions between Israel and Iran. The war in Gaza has drawn international concern over civilian casualties and humanitarian conditions.This issue has become a major fault line within the Democratic Party. Progressive lawmakers such as Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have criticized US military aid to Israel and have pushed for greater protections for civilians in Gaza. Sanders has called for a ban on arms transfers, while Ocasio-Cortez has supported efforts such as the “Bomb Block Act”.At the same time, other Democrats have maintained strong support for Israel. John Fetterman has defended continued military aid and opposed an immediate ceasefire, while Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer has also supported Israel, calling for increased humanitarian aid.
2 Indians safe after hantavirus scare on cruise ship near Spain india news
Passengers of the cruise ship MV Hondius infected with hantavirus after arriving at the port of Granadilla in Teneriffe, Canary Islands, Spain
New Delhi: The Indian Embassy in Madrid on Sunday said two Indian crew members aboard the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius are healthy and have no symptoms, after the ship had to anchor off Spain’s Canary Islands due to Hantavirus.The ship, carrying about 150 people, arrived in Spain amid international health surveillance over a hantavirus outbreak on board the ship. Passengers were allowed to disembark following protocols set by the World Health Organization and Spanish authorities.According to the embassy, both the Indians, who were working as crew members on the ship, have now been flown to the Netherlands where they will undergo quarantine and health monitoring as per security protocols.“Both Indian nationals are healthy and have no symptoms,” the embassy said in a statement issued on May 10.The embassy said Indian officials are in close touch with the Spanish authorities and are regularly monitoring the situation to ensure the well-being and safety of Indian nationals.The development comes amid increased global attention on hantavirus infections following reports linked to a cruise ship, prompting European health agencies to take precautionary measures.Hantavirus is a rodent-borne viral disease that can cause severe respiratory illness in rare cases.However, experts have said there is no immediate public health concern for India at present.
WFH, postpone foreign travel, use metro: PM Modi’s 9 suggestions to reduce impact of global crisis india news
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged citizens to adopt sweeping changes in lifestyle and consumption as part of a national effort to conserve foreign exchange and mitigate the economic impact of the ongoing conflict in West Asia and the global energy crisis. These include cutting fuel use, giving priority to public transport and postponing foreign travel etc. Addressing a public event in Secunderabad, PM Modi said rising global energy prices and supply chain disruptions require ‘collective restraint’ and a ‘duty-first’ approach from citizens.“But friends, when the supply chain continues to be in crisis, no matter what measures we take, the difficulties are only increasing. Therefore, now we have to fight unitedly keeping the country and Mother India first. We must remember that patriotism does not just mean dying for the country. To live for the country and perform one’s duties towards the country is also patriotism.” Here are nine suggestions given by PM Modi:
Use petrol and diesel sparingly
PM Modi stressed the need to reduce dependence on imported energy and called for immediate moderation in fuel consumption.He said, “In this time of global crisis, we have to take a resolution keeping the duty paramount and fulfill it with full dedication. A big resolution is to minimize the use of petrol and diesel. We have to curb the use of petrol and diesel.”
travel by metro
PM Modi urged citizens in urban areas to give priority to mass public transport systems like metro networks to reduce fuel usage. He encouraged behavioral change towards shared and efficient mobility options in cities with metro connectivity. He said, “In cities with metro lines, we should decide to travel by metro only.”
carpooling
PM Modi also suggested carpooling as a practical way to reduce fuel consumption when a personal vehicle is necessary.He emphasized that shared travel can significantly reduce the pressure on fuel demand. “If we have to use a car, we should try to carpool,” PM Modi urged.
use electric vehicles
Highlighting clean mobility options, PM Modi urged citizens who have electric vehicles to make maximum use of them.He said EV adoption should be encouraged as part of broader efforts to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. “People who own electric vehicles should try to use them as much as possible,” PM Modi requested.
work from home
Recalling pandemic-era practices, PM Modi urged institutions and citizens to revive work-from-home arrangements where possible.He said the remote working system helps in reducing travel, fuel consumption and overall economic pressure. “During the Corona period, we developed many systems of working from home, online meetings and video conferencing and we also got addicted to them. Today, the need of the hour is such that if we start these systems again, it will be in the interest of the country. We must re-prioritize work from home, online conferences and virtual meetings,” he said.
online meetings
PM Modi also promoted the use of online meetings and digital coordination tools to reduce physical travel.He said such systems, widely used during the COVID-19 pandemic, remain relevant even in the current global crisis.
video conference
PM Modi stressed the continued importance of video conferencing for official and business communications.He said digital platforms can help maintain productivity while reducing transportation and fuel requirements.
foreign exchange savings
Linking domestic consumption to national economic stability, PM Modi urged citizens to reduce imports and conserve foreign exchange.“We should also focus on saving foreign exchange as petrol and diesel have become very expensive globally… He said, “It is our responsibility to save the foreign exchange spent on purchasing petrol and diesel.” PM Modi made a direct appeal to limit discretionary spending on gold, saying that this puts pressure on foreign exchange reserves.“Gold purchasing is another area where foreign exchange is used extensively. In national interest, we should resolve not to buy gold for a year,” he said. He described edible oils and fertilizers as key sectors where lower consumption can strengthen the economy.PM Modi urged, “If every household reduces the use of edible oil, it is a huge contribution to patriotism.”
Postpone foreign travel
PM Modi urged citizens, especially the middle class, to postpone tourism and non-essential foreign travel, including foreign weddings.He said such travel patterns put additional pressure on foreign exchange reserves at a time of global uncertainty.“There is a growing culture among the middle class of having foreign weddings, traveling abroad and spending holidays abroad. We have to decide that in this time of crisis, we should postpone foreign travel for at least a year.” The US-Iran war has already hit India due to increased oil prices, limited arrival of raw materials and volatility in global energy markets as tensions around the Strait of Hormuz are disrupting one of the world’s most important shipping routes.The Strait of Hormuz is an important sea route through which a significant portion of India’s crude oil imports flow. It remains a major pressure point in the conflict, with disruptions driving up freight costs, insurance premiums and global benchmark crude oil prices.
After the shooting in Canada, Indian-origin Jaskaran Saroye was arrested in a case related to extortion violence.
A 27-year-old man of Punjabi origin has been arrested and booked against him after a shooting incident in Surrey, Canada. Police say it is linked to ongoing extortion-related violence in the area.The accused was identified as Jaskaran Saroye and was taken into custody by the Surrey Police Service Extortion Response Team following the execution of a search warrant at a residential property in the city.According to police, the incident occurred shortly before 3 a.m. on April 13 near 94A Avenue and 127 Street, when shots were fired into an occupied home. The house was damaged, but no one was injured.In a statement, Surrey Police said investigators were able to identify a suspect vehicle, which led to further inquiries and ultimately the issuance of a court-approved warrant. The arrest was made with the assistance of the Lower Mainland District Emergency Response Team and other SPS units.Saroye has been accused of recklessly dumping the gun at a location without knowing whether anyone was present inside. He remains in custody and is scheduled for a bail hearing.Chief Constable Norm Lipinski of Surrey Police described the incident as serious and warned of the dangers posed by such attacks.Lipinski described the shootings as an “extremely serious crime” and said shootings into occupied homes pose a significant threat to public safety.Police have also publicly released Saroye’s photograph and said it could help identify others linked to the extortion network operating in the area. According to Indian Panorama, Surrey has seen an increase in extortion-related violence in recent years, with members of the South Asian community, particularly those of Indian origin, often targeted.