FOLLOW US: @TheStatesmanLtd @thestatesmanltd thestatesman1875 www.thestatesman.com People’s Parliament, Always in Session India’s National Newspaper since 1818 | Pages 16 | ` 5.00 | KOLKATA LC | NEW DELHI | MUMBAI | BHUBANESWAR | LUCKNOW | Prominent voices urge Modi, Sharif to restore ties US, Iran launch new round of mediated Doha talks to push MoU forward PERSPECTIVE 2027 delimitation must go beyond North-South talk Page 11 Modi-Takaichi summit could see new Indo-Pacific defence, economic shield JAYANTA ROY CHOWDHURY New Delhi, 1 July W both New Delhi and Tokyo to rethink long-held assumptions about globalisation. The result is likely to be a summit focused on insulating their economies from external shocks and an attempt to build defence cooperation between the two powers. Officials in both capitals have signalled that discussions will centre on semiconductors, artificial intelligence, critical minerals, clean energy, investment, innovation and digital infrastructure, as also on defence and a possible Yen-Rupee trade deal. Despite impressive economic growth, India remains heavily dependent on imported technologies and vulnerable supply chains. Japanese investment and technological expertise offer an opportunity to accelerate domestic manufacturing in sectors that have become strategically indispensable. Cooperation on semiconductor production, critical minerals and advanced digital technologies fits neatly with Govt asks Meta not to roll out WhatsApp username feature, seeks explanation STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 1 July The Central government has issued a notice to the US-based Meta, which owns and operates several prominent social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, asking it not to roll out its planned "usernames" feature on WhatsApp in India until after consultations “to the satisfaction of the government”. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology said that the "usernames" feature may enable "impersonation and identity spoofing," and asked Meta to furnish a detailed explanation within three days. The notice stated: “It is felt that the feature may materially increase the incidence of online fraud, phishing, digital arrest scams and impersonation attacks, by enabling bad actors to solicit and message victims. Furthermore, this feature may facilitate impersonation and identity spoofing, including impersonation of individuals, public authorities, financial institutions, and government agencies, by permitting the adoption of usernames closely resembling those of genuine persons or institutions." "Accordingly, you are directed to explain why regulatory action ought not to be initiated under the Information Technology Act, 2000 (IT Act), the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 (IT Rules, 2021) and other laws as may be applicable for launching a feature that may increase cybercrimes. You are directed to furnish a detailed explanation, supported by relevant documents, on this new feature, within three days of its receipt. You are also directed not to roll out this feature until the consultation on this point is achieved to the satisfaction of the Government," the ministry’s notice said. WhatsApp announced the new feature on Monday, saying it would give people the option to go by usernames instead of phone numbers. It has already begun allowing users to reserve unique usernames, which can be used to contact other users when the feature launches later this year. India’s broader ambition to become an alternative manufacturing hub as multinational companies diversify away from over-dependence on China. Energy security has become an equally pressing concern for both nations. The recent crisis surrounding the Strait of Hormuz exposed just how vulnerable both India and Japan remain to disruptions in West Asian energy supplies. With both economies heavily dependent on imported hydrocarbons, coordinating energy planning has become a strategic necessity. That explains why discussions are expected to include contingency planning, LNG cooperation and market intelligence-sharing. The summit also marks an evolution in the India-Japan partnership on the matter of defence cooperation. “There is a strong chance of a two way collaboration in defence manufacturing,” said Dr Rajaram Panda, formerly of the Institute of Defence Studies. Officials said Ms Takaichi, who has already held talks with her Australian counterpart, can also be expected to raise the possibility of a Quad or Quad-like architecture for the Indo-Pacific with Mr Modi. “Under the late Shinzo Abe, the (India-Japan) relationship acquired a strategic character. Abe championed the concept of a ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific’, revitalised the Quad and positioned India as an indispensable partner in balancing China’s influence across Asia,” officials said. Ms Takaichi inherited that strategic framework, “but appears intent on giving it greater economic substance,” analysts say. This week’s discussions are expected to deepen cooperation in defence manufacturing, strategic technologies and interoperability between their armed forces. “Maritime security, freedom of navigation and resilience against economic coercion are also likely to feature prominently,” said officials. JPC likely to retain 30-day custody clause for removal of PM, CM STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 1 July The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) examining the 130th Constitution Amendment Bill is expected to adopt its report on 17 July, with indications that it will retain the Bill's most debated provision mandating the automatic removal of the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers and Union or state ministers from office if they are arrested and remain in judicial custody for 30 consecutive days in cases involving serious offences. A meeting of the committee was held today, with another meeting called on 17 July, according to sources. The committee is unlikely to recommend dropping the contentious clause despite concerns raised by many stakeholders during deliberations. However, the report is expected to include safeguards aimed at preventing the provision from being misused for political vendetta or motivated prosecutions. The proposed amendment has triggered a sharp political debate, with supporters arguing that it would strengthen accountability in public office, while critics have warned that it could be exploited to destabilise elected governments through politically motivated investigations and arrests. The JPC is expected to finalise and adopt its report at its meeting on 17 July before submitting it to Parliament. Delhi notifies EV Policy 2026: Subsidies, scrapping benefits to begin immediately STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 1 July Buyers of electric vehicles (EVs) in Delhi can now start availing subsidies and scrapping incentives immediately after purchasing an EV, following the notification of the Delhi EV Policy 2026 by the Rekha Gupta-led government. The policy came into effect on 1 July 2026, after receiving the approval of the Lieutenant Governor, and will remain in force until 31 March 2030. Under the new framework, eligible applicants will receive subsidies and other benefits within 60 days of submitting their applications through a dedicated digital portal. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the policy aims to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles across the national capital, improve air quality, reduce dependence on conventional fuels, expand charging and battery-swapping infrastructure, and create a robust electric mobility ecosystem. To regulate incentives, the Transport Department will establish a Model Approval Committee to assess the eligibility of EV models. The committee will evaluate vehicles based on prescribed technical standards, eligibility criteria and operational guidelines. Only approved models will qualify for government subsidies and incentives. For charging infrastructure, Delhi Transco Limited (DTL) has been designated as the nodal agency. It will oversee the planning of public charging stations, coordinate implementation across departments, establish technical standards, operate the digital portal, and Thursday, 02 July 2026 facilitate the phased expansion of public and community charging networks. DTL will also simplify the installation of charging stations through a singlewindow clearance system. To ensure effective implementation, the government will constitute a High-Level Committee under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary. The committee will include representatives from the Transport, Energy, Planning, Environment and Finance Departments, Delhi Transco Limited, power distribution companies (DISCOMs), and other relevant agencies. It will regularly monitor the policy's implementation and coordinate inter-departmental efforts. The Delhi Electric Vehicle Apex Committee will supervise the overall implementation of the policy, take decisions on key operational issues, recommend amendments when necessary, and advise the government on the future adoption of hydrogen and other clean-fuel technologies. The composition and terms of reference of both committees will be notified separately after approval by the Chief Minister. The policy cites the latest report of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), submitted to the Supreme Court, which identifies vehicular emissions as the single largest contributor to air pollution in Delhi, accounting for about 23 per cent during winter. The report notes that two-wheelers make up nearly 67 per cent of Delhi's total vehicle fleet, making their rapid electrification essential for reducing emissions. It also highlights that three-wheelers, commercial cars and N1 category goods vehicles have high daily usage and contribute disproportionately to urban pollution, underscoring the need for their priority electrification. In a major policy shift, the government has announced that from 1 April 2028, only electric two-wheelers will be registered in Delhi, marking a significant step towards cleaner urban mobility and improved air quality. Mbappé scores twice to tie Messi for World Cup lead with 6 goals, France beat Sweden 3-0 Page 16 Page 9 Page 5 hen Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds his summit meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who flew in on Wednesday, what the world will look out for will be whether Asia’s “Big 2” can create an architecture of economic security and defence cooperation in an era of uncertain geopolitics disrupting markets and supply chains. Unlike earlier India-Japan summits that revolved around infrastructure projects or broad strategic declarations, this meeting comes amid a series of cascading global crises that have blurred the line between economics and national security. The Trump administration’s erratic tariffs, recurring conflict in the Gulf, increased vulnerability of maritime trade routes, and China’s growing strategic and economic heft have forced | SPORTS WORLD NATION SILIGURI Annapurna Yojana: Bengal govt transfers money to over 1 cr women STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Kolkata, 1 July The West Bengal government on Wednesday transferred money directly to the bank accounts of over 1 crore beneficiaries of the Annapurna Yojana, a flagship welfare scheme aimed at the economic and social empowerment of women, and announced that a dedicated online portal will be started soon to ensure greater transparency in its implementation. Addressing a gathering after the formal launch of the scheme at the Netaji Indoor Stadium here, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said: “The scheme is a government initiative and not linked to any individual or political party.” “This is not anyone’s personal or party money. It is government money, and we believe that only eligible beneficiaries should receive the assistance,” he said. According to the state government, more than 1.6 crore women have already submitted Family Level Data Collection forms under the scheme. The data has been uploaded to the official portal after scrutiny and digital verification. The CM said the process initially covered around 27 lakh applications before being expanded to over 16 million verified applicants. He said that 26 lakh applications had been rejected after verification. “Of the remaining applicants, financial assistance was released to 1,09,92,378 women from 1 p.m. today through direct bank transfers. It is really important that 122,628 women from the hill regions had received benefits under the scheme,” the Chief Minister said. Mr Adhikari also announced that refugees from Bangladesh who have applied under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), as well as applicants whose citizenship-related cases are pending before tribunals, would continue to receive benefits under the scheme until their cases are finally decided. Referring to the previous Trinamul Congress government’s Lakshmir Bhandar scheme, Mr Adhikari said: “The verification has revealed irregularities, including the inclusion of non-Indian beneficiaries, duplicate entries and payments made to around ten lakh men. I cannot understand how funds meant for women have been transferred to male beneficiaries.” The state government also announced that a dedicated online portal for the scheme will be launched soon. Chief Secretary Manoj Agarwal said the portal, to be developed by the Department of Women and Child Development, will provide comprehensive information related to the scheme. According to Mr Agarwal, people will be able to access the portal to check the list of beneficiaries in their respective areas. The portal will also allow citizens to raise objections if they believe any listed beneficiary is ineligible to receive financial assistance under the scheme. The government believes the new system will strengthen transparency while helping identify and remove fake or ineligible beneficiaries. Officials said public participation in the verification process would further improve the accuracy of the beneficiary database. The state has already scrutinised and rejected a large number of applications during the verification process. (Photo by Biswajit Ghoshal)