FOLLOW US: @TheStatesmanLtd @thestatesmanltd thestatesman1875 www.thestatesman.com People’s Parliament, Always in Session India’s National Newspaper since 1818 | Pages 12 | ` 5.00 | KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | MUMBAI | BHUBANESWAR | LUCKNOW Page 10 Building IP awareness Page 9 Page 6 PM warns of prolonged energy crisis, assures adequate oil supply SHAHID K ABBAS New Delhi, 24 March P underscored the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, where shipping disruptions have intensified amid escalating hostilities involving Iran, Israel and the United States. The narrow maritime corridor, which carries roughly a fifth of the world’s crude oil, has seen multiple vessels stranded, including ships with Indian crew members on board. “Many ships from around the world are stranded… and a large number of Indian crew members are on them. This is a significant concern for India,” Modi said, while stressing that attacks on commercial shipping and disruptions in international waterways are “unacceptable.” With nearly 10 million Indians living and working across Gulf nations, the Prime Minister said safeguarding their lives and livelihoods remains a top priority. He revealed that more than 375,000 Indians have already been brought back safely since the conflict began, including over 1,000 evacuated from Iran alone. “The safety President Trump calls PM Modi, underlines importance of keeping Strait of Hormuz open United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday telephoned Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed the ongoing war in West Asia. “Received a call from President Trump and had a useful exchange of views on the situation in West Asia. India supports de-escalation and restoration of peace at the earliest. Ensuring that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, secure and accessible is essential for the whole world. We agreed to stay in touch regarding efforts towards peace and stability,’’ PM Modi later wrote on X. According to US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, the two leaders discussed the situation in West Asia and emphasised the importance of keeping open the Strait of Hormuz. The telephonic conversation between the two leaders came Received a call from President Trump and had a useful exchange of views on the situation in West Asia. India supports de-escalation and restoration of peace at the earliest. NARENDRA MODI, PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA as the war in US-Israel war against Iran entered its fourth week with no sign of hostilities coming to an end. The war has greatly affected global energy markets, impacting supply lines of key commodities like crude oil, gas and fertiliser, to India and all nations in the region. Page 12 of Indians, both at home and abroad, is our top priority in times of crisis,” he said, while acknowledging that some Indian nationals have lost their lives in the violence. Modi said India is actively pursuing diplomatic engagement to de-escalate tensions, holding multiple rounds of talks with leaders across West Asia and maintaining constant contact with Gulf countries as well as Iran, Israel and the United States. “Our goal is to restore peace in the region through dialogue and diplomacy,” he said, adding that India has pushed for reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ensuring safe maritime movement. Even as the crisis continues to roil global energy markets, the Prime Minister sought to reassure the country on fuel security. “India has sufficient crude oil storage and arrangements for continuous supply,” he said, pointing to expanded energy sourcing. LS passes Transgender Persons Rights Amendment Bill New Delhi: The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill by voice vote amid protests from Opposition parties. The Congress, DMK, NCP, Shiv Sena (UBT), RJD, SP, and AITC opposed the Bill, stating that it violates the basic principles of the right to human dignity laid down in the NALSA judgment. The BJP and allies argued that self-identification could allow individuals to claim a transgender identity to access reservations (if introduced) and other benefits. Trans rights activists termed the Bill “regressive, anti-transgender, and highly unacceptable.” India on high alert, Defence Minister leads West Asia review PARWINDER SANDHU New Delhi, 24 March With the West Asia conflict grinding into its fourth week and tensions showing no signs of easing, the Centre has moved into sharper crisis-monitoring mode. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday convened a high-level meeting with the top military brass to review the rapidly evolving situation, signalling the government’s heightened alert as develop- New Delhi, 24 March The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday held that a Scheduled Caste person can belong only to the Hindu, Sikh or Buddhist faiths, and that those who convert to other religions — Christianity in the present case — lose that constitutional and statutory protection. A Bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Manmohan said, “…for a person to be recognised as a member of a Scheduled Caste, he must profess the Hindu religion or such other religions (Sikhism and Buddhism) as are expressly recognised under the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950.” The Court made these observations while upholding the Andhra Pradesh High Court order quashing criminal proceedings initiated by AGRAJ PRATAP SINGH New Delhi, 24 March Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday presented a Rs 1,03,700-crore budget in the Delhi Assembly for the financial year 2026-27, saying this time it is based more on a green approach, focusing on environment protection and overall development of the city by upgrading the infrastructure to give a push to economic growth. According to Rekha Gupta, the capital expenditure has been increased giving a further boost to infrastructure development across the city. She emphasised that every policy in the budget has been taken keeping in mind its impact on the environment. 21 per cent of the total budget has been allocated for “green budget” with environment THE COURT MADE THESE OBSERVATIONS WHILE UPHOLDING THE ANDHRA PRADESH HIGH COURT ORDER QUASHING CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS INITIATED BY CHINTHADA ANAND, WHO CLAIMED TO BELONG TO THE SCHEDULED CASTE MADIGA COMMUNITY DESPITE HAVING CONVERTED TO CHRISTIANITY AND SERVING AS A PASTOR. ANAND HAD FILED A COMPLAINT AGAINST SIX PERSONS UNDER THE SCHEDULED CASTES AND SCHEDULED TRIBES (PREVENTION OF ATROCITIES) ACT, 1989 AND THE INDIAN PENAL CODE. Chinthada Anand, who claimed to belong to the Scheduled Caste Madiga community despite having converted to Christianity and serving as a pastor. Anand had filed a complaint against six persons under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 and the Indian Penal Code. The Court held that once the appellant converted to Christianity, the caste status he had earlier enjoyed as a member of the Madiga community stood eclipsed in the eyes of the law. Noting that Anand had converted to Christianity and was functioning as a pastor—and that it was not his case that he had reconverted or been accepted back into the Madiga community—the judgment, authored by Justice Mishra, stated: “Once the appellant (Chinthada Anand) converted to Christianity, the caste status which he earlier enjoyed as a member of the Madiga community stood eclipsed in the eyes of law.” Rejecting Anand’s contention that caste status is determined solely by birth and continues despite conversion, the Court reiterated that recognition ments in the region grow increasingly unpredictable. The meeting was attended by the three service chiefs: General Upendra Dwivedi, Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Air Marshal AP Singh, along with Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, DRDO Chief Dr Samir V Kamat, and Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. While reviewing the West Asia situation and its effect on India’s defence preparedness, the defence minister directed that operational and technological lessons of the ongoing conflict should be studied continuously in order to improve India’s preparedness. “We need to formalise a comprehensive integrated roadmap for the next decade factoring in the lessons learnt, challenges and opportunities going forward whilst ensuring Aatmanirbhar and operational readiness across all fronts,” he said. protection initiatives. In her budget speech in the Assembly, CM Gupta stated that as every city has a unique identity, the national capital is known for its ability to continuously reinvent itself. According to her, the city doesn't get bogged down by challenges. Instead, it gains strength from them and moves ahead with a greater pace. The aim is to develop the city without leaving behind any part and give a push to the economy by taking it forward with people coming from all the sections of society. The budget estimates for 2026-27 is Rs 3,700 crore higher as compared to the previous year, which was Rs 1,00,000 crore. Gupta noted that 70.3 per cent of the budget has been allocated for revenue expenditure while 29.7 per cent has been New Delhi: The government on Tuesday said that two LPG carriers, Pine Gas and Jag Vasant, have safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz and are on their way to India. Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, said during an inter-ministerial briefing that the Pine Gas vessel will arrive at New Mangalore port on March 27, which carries 45,000 metric tonnes of LPG. “Jag Vasant will arrive at Kandla port on March 26, carrying 47,600 metric tonnes of LPG. Twenty Indian-flagged vessels remain to the west of the Strait of Hormuz,” Sinha informed. New Delhi, 24 March sises equality among all believers. Endorsing the High Court’s view, the Supreme Court further noted that the allegations of wrongful restraint, hurt, and criminal intimidation were based solely on Anand’s statement, with no independent witness attributing any specific overt act to the accused persons. earmarked for capital expenditure. She shared that the government’s plan is to focus on strengthening fiscal discipline and increase capital investment during the upcoming financial year. Notably, the Rs 1,03,700 crore budget is proposed for 2026-27 to be financed from the components that include Revenue Receipt of Rs 74,000 crore from own tax revenue, including, GST Rs 43,500 crore, VAT Rs 8,500 crore, Stamp & Registration Fees Rs 11,000 crore, State Excise Rs 7,200 crore, Taxes on Vehicles Rs 3,800 crore. From own tax revenue, it will be Rs 900 crore, Rs 3931.16 crore from Centrally Sponsored Scheme, Rs 968.01 crore as Normal Central Assistance, and Other Grants from MHA, around Rs 591 crore from Central Road Funds, Rs 1,500 crore from Government of India under National Mission Clean Ganga, Rs 100 crore from National Disaster Management Authority, and Rs 1.90 crore for NeVA project for the Vidhan Sabha. Harish Rana, first to get passive euthanasia nod in India, dies STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE as a Scheduled Caste is contingent upon professing one of the religions specified under the 1950 Order. The Court also observed that Christianity, by its theological foundation, does not recognise or incorporate caste distinctions. Referring to Christian doctrine, it noted that the New Testament empha- Two ships carrying LPG on way to India from Hormuz: Delhi CM Rekha Gupta presents `1,03,700-crore budget for 2026-27 with focus on protection of environment SC rules Scheduled Caste status lost on conversion to Christianity PARMOD KUMAR Wednesday, 25 March 2026 Payne replaces Edwards at SRH; KKR pick left-armer Dubey for injured Akash BUSINESS EDITORIAL PAGE New Delhi, 24 March | Stock market rebounds, Sensex up nearly 1400 pts Why Trump blinked on Iran STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE SILIGURI SPORTS WORLD rime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday briefed the Rajya Sabha that the ongoing conflict in West Asia has triggered a “serious energy crisis” globally and could have long-term consequences, even as he assured that India has sufficient crude oil reserves and is taking urgent steps to secure supplies and protect its citizens. Speaking during the ongoing Budget Session of Parliament, Modi said the war, now in its fourth week, has begun disrupting critical trade routes and the supply of essential commodities such as petrol, diesel, gas and fertilisers. “This war is affecting our trade routes. The regular supply of essential commodities… is being disrupted,” he said, adding that the situation is “a matter of concern for India.” The Prime Minister | Harish Rana, the first person in India permitted passive euthanasia, passed away at AIIMS Delhi, according to sources on Tuesday. On March 11, the Supreme Court of India permitted the withdrawal of medical treatment for 32-year-old Harish Rana from Ghaziabad, who had been in a vegetative state for 13 years with almost no chance of recovery. Ashok Rana, father of Harish Rana said, “We have been fighting for this. No parents would ever want such a situation for their son. We have been pursuing this case for the past three years. He will be taken to AIIMS. He was a topper at Punjab University.” Passive euthanasia is the act of withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining medical treatment, allowing a patient with no realistic chance of recovery to die naturally. On March 11, the Supreme Court of India directed the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, to admit Rana and facilitate the process of withdrawing the life support system with full medical support. A bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Vishwanathan permitted the withdrawal of clinically assisted nutrition and hydration (CANH) for Harish Rana, who has been in a vegetative state since a fall from a building in 2013. Following the Supreme Court’s verdict, Advocate Manish Jain stated that under Article 21, the court recognized Rana’s right to euthanasia. Outlining the next steps, the advocate said on March 11 that within a week, Rana would be moved to AIIMS, where all life-support tubes would be removed, allowing him to pass away naturally without further medical intervention. The advocate said that this decision follows the 2018 guidelines laid down in the Common Cause v. union of India ruling, which outline how individuals in a palliative state with complete immobility should be treated. He added that while passive euthanasia is more widely practiced globally, the ruling represents a modest yet meaningful advancement in India, noting that the Supreme Court of India has also instructed all state Chief Medical Officers to set up primary and secondary euthanasia review boards and to submit regular reports to their respective ministries.