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 | NEW DELHI | MUMBAI | BHUBANESWAR | LUCKNOW | SILIGURI ‘People were tired of corruption’ WORLD EDITORIAL PAGE Trump meeting aides for ‘final determination on Iran deal’ Page 9 Page 8 BRIEFLY Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar assumes charge as 48th Vice Chief of Naval Staff: New Delhi: Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar on Friday assumed charge as the 48th Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, bringing over 37 years of distinguished service in the Indian Navy. Commissioned on 1 July 1988, the Gunnery and Missile Systems specialist has commanded INS Nashak, INS Vibhuti, INS Kirpan and stealth frigate INS Trikand, besides leading aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya during operationalisation of its air wing. He held key appointments at Naval Headquarters before serving as Assistant Controller of Carrier Projects and commanding the Western Fleet. He also served as Commandant of the National Defence Academy, Chief of Staff of Western Naval Command and Commanderin-Chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command. Page 6 Shivakumar set to take over as K’taka CM; CLP meet today New Delhi, 29 May K arnataka is poised for a major political transition with Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar expected to be formally elected leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) at a crucial meeting in Bengaluru on Saturday, 30 May, which would pave the way for his elevation as the state’s 24th Chief Minister. The Congress Legislature Party has officially convened a meeting at 4:00 p.m. at the Vidhana Soudha where party legislators are expected to endorse Mr Shivakumar’s candidature in the presence of senior All India Congress Committee (AICC) observers K C Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala. The meeting will also record appreciation for outgoing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, whose resignation earlier on Thursday triggered the carefully choreographed leadership transition within the ruling Congress. Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has already accepted Mr Siddaramaiah’s resignation and dissolved the Council of Ministers, while requesting him to continue as caretaker Chief Minister until the new government is sworn in. Mr Shivakumar, widely regarded as one of the Congress party’s most influential organisational strategists in southern India, spent Friday in New Delhi holding a series of high-level meetings with the party’s top leadership, including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. Sources within the party described the discussions as “final consultations” regarding the new government's structure, Cabinet composition and the timing of the swearing-in ceremony. “The CLP meeting is a constitutional and organisational formality now. The leadership transition has effectively been decided,” a senior Congress functionary familiar with the deliberations said. The oath-taking ceremony is expected either on Sunday, 31 May, or Monday, 1 June, depending on consultations with the Congress high command and the availability of senior party leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Mr Shivakumar is believed to be keen on ensuring a high-profile swearing-in event that signals both unity and continuity within the Karnataka Congress. Leo Messi in Argentina’s World Cup squad as coach Scaloni calms injury fears Page 16 Page 12 SHAHID K ABBAS Saturday, 30 May 2026 SPORTS SATURDAY INTERVIEW Fractured healthcare | SC pulls up NTA over NEET row, cites UPSC’s clean track record STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 29 May The Supreme Court on Friday questioned the National Testing Agency (NTA) over the NEET-UG paper leak controversy, asking how such a serious breach could take place despite the existence of monitoring mechanisms and oversight committees. Drawing a parallel with the UPSC, the court noted that the country's premier civil services examination had not witnessed such incidents and said the NTA must take cues from the safeguards and systems adopted there. “The real problem won't stop till actual accountability arises,” a Bench of Justices P S Narasimha and Alok Aradhe observed. The Bench said it is “actually very traumatic” if something like this happens, not just for the students, but also for their families. “Accountability will be effective only when you know on whose shoulders, Pradhan confirms proposal for IAF role in NEET paper transport: New Delhi: In the wake of the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak controversy, the Centre is planning to deploy the Indian Air Force (IAF) for secure transportation of examination question papers ahead of the reexamination scheduled next month. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the government has sought assistance from the Air Force solely for logistical support to ensure safe and time-bound delivery of question papers across the country. Mr Pradhan said the military would not play any role in conducting the examination itself. “There is no requirement for the armed forces to conduct the examination process. Our discussions with the Defence Ministry were limited to a specific logistical challenge because we have a short window before the NEET-UG re-examination on 21 June,” the minister said. which individual shoulders, the responsibility lies,” it said. The observations came during the hearing of the NEET-UG paper leak case, in which Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appeared on behalf of the NTA and the High-Level Committee headed by former ISRO chairman Dr K Radhakrishnan. The court took on record the affidavits filed by the NTA and Dr Radhakrishnan and granted the Centre additional time to submit its response. Solicitor General Mehta told the court that the government is seriously concerned about the concerns of the youths and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is personally supervising the situation so that “there is no lacunae”. All illegal nationals staying in India Govt constructing a ‘leak-proof security grid’ in every respect: Shah will be dealt with as per law: MEA NIKHIL VYAS New Delhi, 29 May A day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah said people leaving voluntarily would not face legal proceedings from the West Bengal government, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday reiterated that all illegal nationals staying in India will be dealt with as per the law. Addressing his weekly media briefing here, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: “All illegal nationals staying in India will be dealt with as per the law.” “In the case of Bangladesh, as I had informed you earlier, we have referred more than 2,680 cases to the Bangladeshi side for verification of the nationality of those people whose names we have shared with them. Once this nationality verification is completed, we will be in a position to deport these Bangladeshi nationals,” Mr Jaiswal stated. “In many cases, as I had told you earlier, this verification has been pending for more than five years or so. We expect that we will receive an early response from Bangladesh on this issue so that, based on the bilateral arrangement between the two countries, these people staying here can be sent back or deported to Bangladesh,” he added. Earlier, speaking at a public function in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar district on Thursday, the Union Home Minister had stated that infiltrators should return to their countries on their own, adding that those STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 29 May who voluntarily go back will not face any legal action in India. Mr Shah said the BJP government in West Bengal had taken swift action on border-related issues, including the creation of detention centres and land transfers for border fencing work. “The 121-hectare land of Chicken Neck has also been SC allows Vinesh Phogat to appear in Asian Games trials STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi/Chandigarh, 29 May The Supreme Court on Friday paved the way for Olympian wrestler Vinesh Phogat to compete in the upcoming Asian Games selection trials after dismissing a challenge filed by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) against a Delhi High Court order granting her permission to participate. The trials, scheduled to be held in New Delhi on 30 and 31 May, will determine India's wrestling contingent for the Asian Games set to take place in Japan later this year. The WFI had approached the apex court seeking a stay on the High Court's decision that allowed Phogat to enter the selection process. Hearing the matter, a bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe said that while sporting regulations must be respected, it would not be appropriate at this stage to prevent the wrestler from competing. The court observed that Phogat had earned recognition through her achievements for India and should be allowed to prove herself in the trials while the legal dispute continues. The bench underlined that courts should remain cautious while intervening in sporting selections, as such interference can affect schedules and preparations. At the same time, it noted that denying an athlete a fair opportunity without fully examining the circumstances could also lead to injustice. The Delhi High Court had earlier ordered that the trial process be conducted under independent supervision and recorded on video to ensure complete transparency. Observers nominated by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) are expected to oversee the proceedings. Arguing for the WFI, counsel contended that Phogat had allegedly failed to comply with certain anti-doping obligations, including whereabouts requirements, and therefore should not have been allowed to participate. The federation maintained that eligibility norms must be applied uniformly and warned that overlooking established regulations could create an undesirable precedent. Representing Phogat, senior advocate Madhavi Divan told the court that the wrestler was not seeking any preferential treatment but only a fair chance to compete. entrusted to the Indian government... Now, the infiltrators are going back on their own. The West Bengal BJP government has built Detention Centres, but we all want the infiltrators to go back on their own... Our government has taken the pledge to identify and expel every intruder from the country,” Mr Shah further said. Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi led government is constructing a ‘leak-proof security grid,’ and wherever physical fencing is difficult, an impenetrable security cordon by deploying technological fencing is being established. Mr Shah noted that the gap in the security grid existed in the incomplete fencing along the West Bengal border, and while geographical conditions cannot be altered, previously there were difficulties in acquiring land even in areas where the terrain permitted the construction of border fencing, but now with the BJP government coming in power, within a week of assuming office, CM Suvendu Adhikari took a decision in principle to allocate land for border fencing. He added that some of the land for this purpose has already been handed over, asserting that once the fencing is done, infiltration will be successfully curbed. Mr Shah informed that work on installing technological fencing is being expedited in forested regions and along riverine channels to prevent infiltration through such routes. Mr Shah, who inaugurated Border Security Force’s G-7 and G-13 Border Out Posts at India- Pakistan border in Bhuj on Friday, said that the government is considering to assign additional areas of responsibility to the border guarding force. He stated that in the 60th year of the BSF's establishment, a decision has been taken to completely transform the force’s concept of border security, and in the days to come, a quadrangular security grid will be established and the concept of 'territorial security' will be introduced to replace the traditional approach of mere border security. Mr Shah also spoke about securing Sir Creek and Harami Nala, stating that once sensitive from a security perspective, the region will be permanently secured within in two years. He said that upon assuming office as the Union home minister, a review of the BSF had revealed that the Harami Nala and Sir Creek region lagged somewhat behind in terms of security preparedness. He noted that a comprehensive action plan was formulated to establish a 'leak-proof' security grid in every respect, initiating work on watchtowers, connecting roads, drinking water supply, medical facilities, accommodation arrangements, and new fencing. Despite El Niño conditions, the monsoon can still be normal or above normal VIBHA SHARMA New Delhi, 29 May Almost since the beginning of the year, social media platforms have been flooded with discussions around so-called “Super El Niño”, with many using the term to make alarming predictions about the Southwest Monsoon ~ the lifeline of India ~ in 2026. Weather experts, however, clarify that there is no official scientific or meteorological classification called “Super El Niño”. And also that despite El Niño conditions, India can still receive normal or even abovenormal monsoon rainfall. “There is definitely an El Niño threat to the monsoon this year. But there is no official meteorological term or definition called ‘Super El Niño’. People sometimes use the phrase informally to describe a strong El Niño event,” according to weather expert Mahesh Palawat. Besides, historical data also show that El Niño does not always translate into droughtlike conditions in India. “In general, during El Niño years, there is around a 60 per cent chance of below-normal rainfall. That is why Skymet has forecast monsoon rainfall at 94 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA), while the India Meteorological Department projected it at 90 per cent of the LPA,” he said. Mr Palawat pointed out that in 1997, despite a very strong El Niño, India received 102 per cent rainfall. In contrast, 2004 witnessed weak El Niño conditions, but rainfall dropped sharply to 87 per cent of the LPA. Similarly, in 2006, another weak El Niño year, rainfall was close to normal at 99 per cent. In 2023, despite moderate-tostrong El Niño conditions, India recorded 94 per cent rainfall. “So, there is considerable variability. A strong El Niño does not automatically mean drought-like conditions in India,” he.says. This year the IMD has projected below-normal rainfall at 92 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA), with a margin of error of ±5 per cent. The LPA, based on data from 1971-2020, is 87 cm. The fact is, other climatic factors, particularly the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), also play an important role in influencing the monsoon. For example, in 1997, despite a strong El Niño, the IOD was strongly positive, which offset the adverse impact of El Niño on the monsoon. This year, however, the IOD is expected to remain only slightly positive and may not provide strong support to the monsoon. "We may see longer dry spells between good spells of rainfall, and some regions could face rainfall deficiencies. But overall, there are no indications of droughtlike conditions,” according to Mr Palawat.