DR KULANDAIVEL WRITES ON HUMAN ELEPHANT CONFLICT SALT LAKE POINT SCHOOL: PRINCIPAL SPEAKS 16 MARCH 2025 www.thestatesman.com PAGE 13 X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 LAKSHYA SEN KNOCKED OUT OF ALL ENGLAND OPEN 2025 PAGE 10 PAGE 16 SINCE 1818 PAGES 16 |` 5.00| LC KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR WEATHER POSSIBILITY OF VERY LIGHT RAIN/DRIZZLE. STRONG SURFACE WINDS(SPEED 25-35 KMPH). THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 32 AND 17 DEGREES CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. RBI has assured depositors that IndusInd Bank remains financially stable RAINFALL: Trace RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 72% TEMPERATURE Max: 33.0˚C (+4.1) SUN RISES 06:28 hrs MOON RISES 20:40 hrs RBI: IndusInd Bank is well-capitalised Min. 48% STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Min: 18.7˚C (+ 3.6) SUN SETS 18:30 hrs MOON SETS 07:50 hrs T MUMBAI, 15 MARCH THUMBNAILS Border Security Force personnel play Holi in Jammu on Friday. nANI BIS cracks down on e-commerce platforms selling unsafe non-certified products: To curb the distribution of noncompliant products through e-commerce platforms, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has carried out search and seizure operations at multiple warehouse locations of leading e-commerce platforms, including Amazon and Flipkart, in cities like Lucknow, Gurugram and Delhi. he Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has assured depositors of IndusInd Bank there is no need to panic due to speculative reports in the media and asked the IndusInd Bank board on Saturday to complete remedial action by 31 March 2025, after making required disclosures to all stakeholders. “The bank’s financial health remains stable, and is being monitored closely by the Reserve Bank,” the Reserve Bank of India said in an official statement. On 10 March the bank had disclosed a discrepancy in its accounting with an estimated impact of 2.35 per cent of its net worth of Rs 64,000 crore as of 31 December 2024. Experts had estimated the accounting lapses at approximately Rs 2,100 crore (especially derivatives positions in forex trading and forex deposits) in the bank’s net worth. After this disclosure, the bank’s share price witnessed a massive meltdown of more Accounting Discrepancy: IndusInd Bank disclosed an accounting discrepancy impacting 2.35 per cent of its ₹64,000 crore net worth, with an estimated loss of ₹2,100 crore, primarily due to forex trading and deposits. Remedial Action Deadline: The bank’s board must complete corrective measures by 31 March, 2025, after making necessary disclosures. Strong Financial Position: Despite concerns, the bank remains wellcapitalised with a Capital Adequacy Ratio of 16.46 per cent, Provision Coverage Ratio of 70.20 per cent, and a Liquidity Coverage Ratio of 113 per cent, against the requirement of 100 per cent. than 40 per cent. “There has been some speculation relating to IndusInd Bank in certain quarters, perhaps arising from recent events related to the bank. The board and the management have been directed by RBI to have the remedial action completed fully during the current quarter (Q4FY25), after making required disclosures,” the Reserve Bank of India stated. “The Reserve Bank would like to state that the bank is well-capitalised and the financial position of the bank remains sat- ECI calls meeting for discussion on linking EPIC and Aadhaar STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 15 MARCH Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar has called a meeting for discussion on the linking of Election Photo Identity Card (EPIC) and Aadhaar on 18 March, sources said on Saturday. In the meeting scheduled to be held at the ECI, Mr Kumar will hold discussions with the Union Home Secretary, Legislative Department’s Secretary and Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) CEO in this regard, as per the sources. Notably, the latest development came days after the ECI sought suggestions from all national and regional political parties by 30 April in a bid to further strengthen the electoral processes, in the wake of the Opposition's demand in Parliament for a comprehensive discussion on alleged discrepancies in the voter list. “The ECI has invited suggestions from all national and state political parties by April 30 for any unresolved issues at the level of ERO, DEO or the CEO, as the case may be. In an individual letter issued to political parties Stock Price Impact: Following the disclosure, IndusInd Bank’s share price plummeted by over 40 per cent. today, the Commission also envisaged an interaction with the party presidents and senior members of the party, at a mutually convenient time, to further strengthen electoral processes in accordance with the established law,” the poll panel had said in a statement. The ECI had also noted that the Representation of the People Act 1950 and 1951; Registration of Electors Rules, 1960; Conduct of Election Rules, 1961; orders of Supreme Court and Instructions, Manuals and Handbooks issued by it from time to time have established a decentralised, robust and transparent legal framework for holding free and fair elections. It may be mentioned that in the wake of criticism from Opposition parties, including Congress, over the duplication in EPIC numbers, the ECI had earlier said that this “long pending” issue will be resolved within the next three months. PM Modi’s 3-hour podcast with AI researcher Lex Fridman to be released today STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE isfactory. As per auditorreviewed financial results of the bank for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, the bank has maintained a comfortable Capital Adequacy Ratio of 16.46 per cent and Provision Coverage Ratio of 70.20 per cent. The Liquidity Coverage Ratio of the bank was at 113 per cent as on March 9, 2025, as against regulatory requirement of 100 per cent,” the Reserve Bank of India stated. The RBI emphasised that the current situation at IndusInd Bank is not a crisis but a one-time accounting discrepancy. The bank is taking corrective measures to address the issue, it said. The RBI noted that IndusInd Bank has engaged an external audit team to review its systems and assess the impact of recent developments. The bank’s Board and management have been directed to complete all necessary remedial actions within the current quarter (Q4 FY25) and ensure proper disclosures to stakeholders, the RBI said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had an engaging and thought-provoking conversation with renowned podcaster and AI researcher Lex Fridman in a threehour long podcast that is due to be released on Sunday. The discussion covered diverse topics, including Prime Minister Modi’s childhood, his formative years spent in the Himalayas, and his journey in public life. “This much-anticipated three-hour podcast with renowned AI researcher and podcaster Lex Fridman is set to be released tomorrow, 16 March, 2025," the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said on Saturday. AGENCIES In a controversial move that has sparked a strong pushback from the BJP, the Congress government in Karnataka has given the go ahead for a 4 per cent reservation for Muslim contractors in government tenders, among other items, at its meeting held on Saturday. The clearance for the proposal for reservation for contractors from the minority community that had already been mooted in the budget speech of Chief Minister S Siddaramaiah, who also holds the finance portfolio, came at Friday’s cabinet meeting that also considered many other proposals including one to encourage the startup ecosystem with a special fund of Rs 100 crore. But, the moment the news of the Cabinet nod for the reservation proposal broke out, the BJP launched a strong protest ~ from Karnataka to New Delhi ~ with all its leaders attacking the minority appeasement policy of the Congress. For- mer Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that “the Congress learnt no lessons despite losing many elections.” Lashing out at the party, he said, even though the issue is of Karnataka, the decision has national implications and it also signals the mentality of the Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi. The BJP is completely against reservation on religious grounds and will continue to oppose this, the former union minister said. The Karnataka Cabinet has approved an amendment to Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act, introducing a 4 per cent reservation for Muslim contractors in government tenders. The move aims to enhance minority representation AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 15 MARCH The Indian government proposes to build 18 more nuclear power reactors with a cumulative capacity of generating 13,800 MW of electricity and five sites have already been given in-principle approval, as per official documents. The installed capacity of nuclear power plants in Tamil Nadu comprises of MAPS-1 & 2 (2X220 MW) at Kalpakkam and KKNPP-1 & 2 (2X1,000 MW) at Kudankulam. Together, the installed nuclear power capacity is 2,440 MW, which is around 30 per cent of the country’s total installed capacity of 8,180 MW. At present, nuclear power reactors are located at 24 sites, including those in Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. A Department of Atomic An internal memo cited in media reports is said to list a total of 41 countries that will be affected by the travel ban. Among this, one group of 10 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Cuba and North Korea among others, would be set for a full visa suspension. tion. The New York Times first reported on the list of countries. The move harkens back to President Donald Trump's first term ban on travellers from seven majority-Muslim nations, a policy that went through several iterations before it was upheld by the BENGALURU, 15 MARCH NEW DELHI, 15 MARCH WASHINGTON, 15 MARCH for a partial suspension of US visa issuance if their governments "do not make efforts to address deficiencies within 60 days,” according to the memo. A US official was quoted as saying that the list is not final and that it was yet to be approved by the administra- LAKSHMANA VENKAT KUCHI Supreme Court in 2018. Mr Trump issued an executive order on 20 January requiring intensified security vetting of any foreigners seeking admission to the USA to detect national security threats. That order directed several cabinet members to submit by 21 March a list of countries and address socio-economic disparities, though it has sparked a political debate. Clarifying on the issue, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said that 4 per cent reservation was not for Muslims alone but for all minority entrepreneurs. An announcement on the cabinet decisions was made by MB Patil. First off the blocks in attacking the Congress for its appeasement policy was the articulate young MP from South Bengaluru, Tejaswi Surya, who said: “This govt hand-out to Muslims is an attack on the Constitution and an act of incentivising conversion. When giving reservations, social and economic backwardness rather than religion has alwaus been the norm. But this new gimmick for electoral gains is equal to undoing the very purpose of reservation.” The MP hit out against the Siddaramaiah government for “misusing its power, public resources for its vote bank politics and turning our economy into a playground for political opportunism.” 18 nuclear power plants planned to generate 13,800 MW: Govt data Trump administration weighs travel ban on dozens of countries The Trump administration is said to be considering issuing sweeping travel restrictions for citizens of dozens of countries as part of a new ban, according to news agencies. An internal memo cited in media reports is said to list a total of 41 countries that will be affected by the travel ban. Among this, one group of 10 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Cuba and North Korea among others, would be set for a full visa suspension. Five other countries ~ Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar and South Sudan - would face partial suspensions that would impact tourist and student visas as well as other immigrant visas, with some exceptions. Another 26 countries that includes Belarus, Pakistan and Turkmenistan among others would be considered Minority quota in K’taka government contracts sparks BJP pushback from which travel should be partly or fully suspended because their "vetting and screening information is so deficient." Mr Trump's directive is part of an immigration crackdown that he launched at the start of his second term. He previewed his plan in an October 2023 speech, pledging to restrict people from the Gaza Strip, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen and "anywhere else that threatens our security." Energy document indicated that nuclear power projects under construction include Rawatbhata in Rajasthan with a capacity of 2x700 MW. The project, with a sanction cost of over Rs 22,900 crore is expected to be completed in the current financial year itself. In Tamil Nadu, three units at Kundankulam and Kalpakkam, with a collective capacity of 2,500 MW, are under construction and are likely to be completed in phases between 2026 and 2028. A nuclear plant with two 700 MW units is also being built in Haryana’s Gorakhpur at a cost of over Rs 20,000 crore. The project is likely to be completed by 2031-32. Union Minister Jitendra Singh, who is in charge of the Department of Atomic Energy, recently said, “The process of identification of potential sites for locating future nuclear power plants is an ongoing activity, carried out by the Standing Site Selection Committee (SSSC) of the Department of Atomic Energy." Five new sites for new nuclear power plants, that have been accorded in-principle approval, include Andhra Pradesh’s Kovavada (6 units of 1,208 MW each), Maharashtra’s Jaitapur (6x1,730 MW), Gujarat’s Mithi Virdi (2x1,000 MW), Madhya Pradesh’s Bhimpur (4x700 MW), and West Bengal’s Haripur (6x1,000 MW). Indian student ‘self-deports’ from USA after visa revoked over Palestine protests AGENCIES NEW YORK, 15 MARCH An Indian student who participated in pro-Palestine protests in the USA has “selfdeported” herself after her student visa was revoked, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has announced. The Department said on Friday that Ranjani Srinivasan “was involved in activities supporting Hammas, a terrorist organization” and left the USA on 11 March after her student visa was revoked by the State Department. A citizen of India, she was a doctoral student in urban planning at Columbia University, the Ground Zero of student protests in support of Palestine and against Israel over Gaza that swept the US last year. The university saw the violent takeover of a campus building, and scores of students were arrested when the university called in the police to quell the protests. Ms Noem said that it was “a privilege” to study in the USA, but “when you advocate for violence and terrorism that privilege should be revoked, and you should not be in this country”. The Homeland Security Department said that it obtained a video of Srinivasan using an app of the Customs and Border Protection (CPB) agency to “self-deport”. “I am glad to see one of the Columbia University terrorist sympathisers use the CBP Home app to self-deport", Ms Noem said. She posted a video of Ms Srinivasan at an airport. It was not clear if Ms Srinivasan had been arrested in the protests or if she had expressed sympathy for Hamas because many of the protesters were only against Israel's attack on Gaza in retribution for the Hamas terrorist attack on it. Self-deporting ~ or leaving voluntarily before authorities take action ~ avoids the risk of her being put on a US military aircraft and sent home like the three planeloads of deportees who arrived in India. Ms Srinivasan was doing research at Columbia’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation. According to the school, she has a bachelor’s degree from CEPT University in Ahmedabad and got her master’s degree from Harvard with Fulbright-Nehru and Inlaks Scholarships.