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 | SILIGURI | Friday, 22 May 2026 SPORTS WORLD Cuba condemns US indictment of Raul Castro NATION Page 9 Coalition era returns to TN; AIADMK rebels miss out Aston Villa clinch first European title after 30 years with maiden Europa League trophy Page 4 Page 12 EDITORIAL The freebie trap Page 6 PM Modi chairs high-level governance review meeting amid global concerns STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 21 May P rime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday chaired a high-level review meeting involving Union Cabinet ministers, ministers of state with independent charge, and ministers of state, shortly after returning from his five-nation diplomatic tour spanning the UAE, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Italy. The extensive meeting, which stretched for several hours in the national capital, focused on governance performance, economic preparedness, welfare delivery, and the possible impact of the escalating West Asia conflict on India’s economy and energy security. The meeting, viewed within government circles as a major mid-term stocktaking exercise of the Modi government’s third consecutive term, brought together the entire ministerial leadership for detailed presentations on the performance of their respective ministries and flagship programmes. Ministers were instructed to remain in Delhi for the review, underlining the importance attached to the deliberations at a time of growing global uncertainty. According to sources familiar with the proceedings, the Prime Minister reviewed implementation progress across key sectors including infrastructure, rural development, healthcare, education, housing, employment generation, digital governance, and welfare delivery. Ministries presented report cards highlighting achievements, pending challenges, and future action plans aimed at improving administrative efficiency and last-mile delivery of government schemes. A major portion of the discussions reportedly focused on the evolving crisis in West Asia and its implications for India’s economy. The meeting reviewed the impact of ongoing tensions involving Iran and wider regional instability on global crude oil prices, maritime trade routes, inflationary pressures, and supply chains. Particular concern was expressed over the security of maritime transit through the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz, through which a substantial portion of the world’s oil shipments pass. The review took place amid rising fuel prices across India India-Africa Forum Summit postponed due to Ebola outbreak STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 21 May The Fourth India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS IV), initially scheduled to take place in New Delhi on 28-31 May, has been postponed due to the evolving health situation in parts of Africa while new dates for the Summit and its associated meetings will be finalised through mutual consultations and communicated in due course, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday. The decision was taken after extensive consultations between the Indian government, the Chairperson of the African Union (AU), and the African Union Commission regarding the holding of the summit and associated activities. The move follows the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring Ebola virus outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) due to the risk of further transmission. According to the MEA, India and the African Union, who had been working closely on convening IAFS IV, exchanged views on the evolving health situation in parts of Africa. They reaffirmed the importance of continued cooperation in strengthening public health preparedness and response capacities across the continent, including support to Africa CDC and relevant national institutions. “India reaffirmed its solidarity with the peoples and Governments of Africa and expressed its readiness to contribute to Africa CDC-led efforts aimed at addressing the evolving health situation, in line with the shared commitment to an Africa-led response,” the MEA said in a statement. “Recognising the importance of ensuring the full participation and engagement of African leaders and stakeholders, and mindful of the emerging public health situation on the continent, consultations were held between the Government of India, the Chairperson of the African Union, and the African Union Commission regarding the holding of the Summit and associated activities,” the statement said. Following these consultations, the two sides agreed that convening the Fourth India-Africa Forum Summit at a later date would be advisable, the MEA stated. “New dates for the Summit and its associated meetings will be finalised through mutual consultations and communicated in due course,” the statement said. following volatility in global energy markets. Earlier this week, petrol and diesel prices were increased for the second time in less than a week. In Delhi, petrol prices rose by 87 paise to Rs 98.64 per litre, while diesel prices climbed by 91 paise to Rs 91.58 per litre. Similar increases were recorded in Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata. The hikes followed an earlier increase of Rs 3 per litre on 15 May, amid elevated crude oil prices linked to tensions stemming from the US-Israel-Iran conflict earlier this year. Sources said the review also assessed progress on flagship welfare schemes and infrastructure projects that have formed the backbone of the government’s governance narrative over the past decade. Ministries were expected to present timelines for upcoming initiatives and strategies to improve delivery outcomes at the grassroots level. Infiltrators to be handed directly to BSF: CM Adhikari STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Kolkata, 21 May Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday announced a stringent new protocol to deal with illegal infiltration in the state, declaring that undocumented entrants detained at Howrah Railway Station would be handed directly over to the Border Security Force (BSF) instead of being routed through prolonged judicial procedures. The announcement came after a high-level administrative meeting in Howrah attended by senior police and civil administration officials. Addressing the media later, the Chief Minister said the state government was determined to curb infiltration and had already put in place a new operational framework in coordination with central guidelines. Issuing what he described as a clear instruction to the Howrah City Police commissionerate, Mr Adhikari identified Howrah station as one of the principal transit points allegedly used by infiltrators entering different parts of the state. “I have clearly instructed the commissioner that if any infiltrator is caught at Howrah station, there is no need to first produce them before court. They will be properly looked after and then handed directly to the BSF through Bongaon,” the Chief Minister said. According to Mr Adhikari, the state formally operationalised a direct “pushback” mechanism on Wednesday in line with recent Central directives. Under the revised procedure, police authorities will transfer detained infiltrators directly to the BSF, which will then coordinate with the Border Guard Bangladesh under international protocols for their repatriation. The announcement, however, triggered concerns among sections of the Matua community and other refugee groups who had migrated from Bangladesh over several decades and feared possible harassment under the new framework. Seeking to dispel apprehensions, the Chief Minister asserted that persons protected under the Citizenship Amendment Act would not face detention or deportation. Mr Adhikari said Hindus and other minority communities from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan who had entered India after facing religious persecution would continue to receive legal protection and would be eligible for Indian citizenship through due process. Govt ‘actively working’ to address sharp depreciation of rupee against dollar: Goyal STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 21 May Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday said the government is actively working to address the sharp depreciation of the Indian rupee against the US dollar. The minister said multiple measures currently are under consideration to stabilise the domestic currency. "All arms of the government are functioning in coordination to deal with the evolving economic situation. We are monitoring the situation. All the arms of government are working as a team. Several steps are under consideration,” the minister said while speaking with the media at the Annual Leadership Summit of the American Chamber of Commerce. In Thursday trade, the rupee witnessed a sharp recovery towards 96.15, gaining around 65 paise or 0.68 per cent. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is also set to conduct a USD 5 billion USD-INR buy and sell swap auction on 26 May to inject long-term liquidity in the banking system. The swap is in the nature of a simple buy/sell foreign exchange swap from the RBI side. Under the arrangement, a retail bank can sell US dollars to the Reserve Bank and simultaneously agree to buy the same amount of US dollars at the end of the swap period. India's foreign exchange reserves have declined by nearly $38 billion since the outbreak of the Iran War. Reports indicate the RBI has held a series of internal meetings to discuss possible actions to curb the falling rupee. Options for raising interest rates are also being explored. The RBI is also aiming to deploy aggressive Forex Market Intervention with measures like heavy pre-market dollar sales and liquidity tightening to curb excessive volatility. Asked whether the government was considering curbs on non-essential imports to reduce pressure on the trade deficit, Mr Goyal said there were no such plans at present. “No such plans of that sort right now, but we have of course made an appeal to all the citizens of India to be more conscious about their spending on products which are import dependent and it's just very natural that every Indian who trusts Prime Minister Modi has taken cognisance of that and is helping the country in every smaller big way with their own actions. I'm really proud of every Indian who has taken Prime Minister Modi's appeal to heart and is contributing to nation-building,” he said. The minister also said US trade officials are expected to visit India next month to continue bilateral trade discussions. Ahead of ‘nautapa’, plains simmer; some respite likely around 29 May VIBHA SHARMA New Delhi, 21 May Nautapa ~ the traditional nine-day period of extreme summer heat in India ~ is still a few days away, but temperatures across the plains are already breaking records. The annual period, recorded when the Sun enters the Rohini Nakshatra, is considered the hottest period of the year. It carries astrological as well as cultural significance, including for predicting the monsoon. This year, nautapa falls between 25 May and 2 June. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), heatwave to severe heatwave conditions are likely to continue over the plains of north-west and central India, and adjoining eastern regions in the coming week. The IMD has also forecast isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, and parts of north-east and adjoining east India on several days but mostly it is the back-to-back heat days in the plains that are making the waves. Maximum temperatures in recent days have ranged between 40°C and 47°C across north-west, west, central, adjoining east, and north peninsular India. Night temperatures, too, remain appreciably above normal in many areas. Meteorologists say hot and dry conditions are expected to persist, though some relief may arrive around 29 May. According to Mahesh Palawat of Skymet Weather Services, the situation is further aggravated by low humidity and hot, dry winds blowing from desert regions. “The absence of weather systems and clear, cloudless skies are allowing unobstructed solar radiation to rapidly heat the dry land surface. Winds such as the ‘loo’ from northwest India and Pakistan are bringing extremely hot, arid air that suppresses local cloud formation and rainfall,” he said. “The lack of pre-monsoon rainfall has depleted soil moisture. When the ground is dry, the sun’s energy goes entirely into raising air temperature rather than evaporating moisture. Rapid concrete-heavy urbanisation and declining green cover are trapping heat in cities and preventing natural cooling. Some respite may come around 29 May, when western disturbances or pre-monsoon showers could bring temporary relief in some areas,” Mr Palawat said. April and May usually witness intense heat due to increased solar radiation, dry continental winds, and the formation of low-pressure heat zones over Rajasthan and neighbouring Pakistan. However, meteorologists say the intensity and spread of the current heatwave have been amplified by both domestic and global climatic factors, turning large parts of the subcontinent into fiery shades of red, orange and deep red on IMD maps. As it is, the IMD’s seasonal outlook this year is indicating below-normal rainfall. The weather office has projected rainfall at 92 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA), with a model error margin of ±5 per cent. The LPA, based on data from 1971 to 2020, stands at 87 cm. Meteorologists say weak La Niña-like conditions over the equatorial Pacific are gradually transitioning towards ENSO (El Niño Southern Oscillation)neutral conditions. The Monsoon Mission Climate Forecast System (MMCFS) has indicated the possibility of El Niño conditions developing later in the season. A key positive factor, however, is the neutral Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) condition over the Indian Ocean. Climate models suggest positive IOD conditions may develop towards the latter part of the season. A positive IOD is generally considered favourable for the monsoon as it creates warmer sea surface temperatures in the western Indian Ocean, increasing moisture transport towards the Indian subcontinent and often offsetting the drying impact of El Niño conditions.