SATURDAY NO CASH PAYMENTS AT NATIONAL HIGHWAY TOLL PLAZAS FROM APRIL 21 FEBRUARY, 2026 epaper.morningstandard.in facebook.com/TheMorningStandard X.com/TheMornStandard NUCLEAR DEAL Cash transactions may not be accepted at NHAI toll plazas to create a fully digital NH toll ecosystem BETWEEN US AND IRAN TO BE READY Will aid transparency, says Centre Iran’s foreign minister said a draft proposal for a deal with Washington would be ready in a matter of days amid fresh threat of attack from the US A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS PAGE 9  NEW DELHI  J8.00  PAGES 12 The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) on Friday said the transition will help to enhance ‘Ease of Commuting’ for highway users by improving lane throughput, reducing congestion at fee plazas and bringing greater consistency and transparency in toll transactions. Users are most likely to only be allowed to pay the road toll through digital or UPI mode. 1,150 TOLL PLAZAS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE LIKELY TO BE AFFECTED US SC strikes SC directs use of judicial officers in Bengal SIR down Trump’s global tariffs S U C H I T R A K A LYA N M O H A N T Y TRINAMOOL SAYS IT’S A BLOW TO ECI @ New Delhi US President denounces the adverse ruling, announces new 10% global tariff P U S H P I TA D E Y & J AYA N T H J A C O B @ New Delhi IN a landmark judgment with significant implications for India’s trade outlook, the US Supreme Court has ruled that President Donald Trump acted beyond his legal authority in imposing sweeping global tariffs under emergency powers. The court held that tariffs are effectively taxes and the Constitution assigns taxation powers to the Congress, not the President. In a 6-3 decision authored by Chief Justice John Roberts, the court held that the use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to introduce broad-based tariffs lacked Congressional authorisation. The justices ruled that IEEPA did not grant the power to the President to impose tariffs on trading partners. The court emphasized that the law of imposing tariff is only meant for use in national emergencies. Trump reacted furiously alleging that the , court was influenced by “foreign interests”. He also announced a 10% “global tariff ” under a trade law known as Section 122. In light of the US court ruling, more than half of the Indian exports will not have to pay even the 18% tariff and, therefore, India may choose not to rush to sign the Bilateral Trade Agreement, say experts. “Removal of reciprocal tariffs will free about 55% of India’s exports to the US from the 18% duty, leaving them subject only to standard MFN (most favoured nation) tariffs. On the remaining exports, Section 232 tariffs will continue — 50% on steel and aluminium and 25% on certain auto components — while products accounting for roughly 40% of export value, including smartphones, petroleum products and medicines, will remain exempt from US tariffs,” said Ajay Srivastava, founder of Global Trade Research Initiative. “The US had agreed to reduce reciprocal tariffs on India to 18%, which shall no longer remain relevant following the Court’s decision. This is also likely pave the way for potential refunds of tariffs collected without adequate legal basis,” said Manoj Mishra, partner and tax controversy management leader at Grant Thornton Bharat. (With agency inputs) India joins US-led ‘Pax Silica’ alliance EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ New Delhi INDIA on Friday for mally joined the Pax Silica coalition, which seeks to ensure strengthen strategic technology and supply chain cooperation between India and the US, while addressing China’s dominance in the critical minerals sector. The alliance is expected to bolster India’s growing role in the semiconductor sector. “The semiconductor industry will require one million new skilled professionals, and this is a very big opportunity for India,” said Minister of Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw. In a joint statement, India and the US said they plan to deepen cooperation under the Pax Silica framework to support future supply chains. “The initiative seeks to reduce overconcentration in global supply chains, prevent economic coercion,” a government statement said. P7 Today’s Match 7pm: New Zealand vs Pakistan(Colombo) I’m ashamed of certain members of the court, absolutely ashamed, for not having the courage to do what’s right for our country Donald Trump Refunds could be a mess The Treasury had collected more than $133 billion from the import tariffs Trump imposed. But Supreme Court did not clarify whether companies that paid tariffs can get a refund Critics welcome SC ruling Opponents of the tariffs are cheering it. ‘We Pay the Tariffs’ a coalition of businesses, called it a tremendous win IN a dramatic development, the Supreme Court on Friday directed for the deployment of judicial officers, including retired judges, for easy and smooth conduct of the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, after noting that there was a visible absence of cooperation between the state government and the Election Commission of India (ECI). The court said it had to pass the “extraordinary order” due to “extraordinary circumstances.” The court requested the Calcutta High Court Chief Justice Sujoy Paul to allot serving We are left with hardly any option but to request Calcutta HC CJ to spare serving judicial officers along with former judicial officers who can aid in disposal of claims under logical discrepancy list —SC and former judicial officers in the rank of district judges or above for SIR duties. Chief Justice Paul has been asked to convene a meeting on Saturday, to be attended by Chief Secretary, DGP, official from the EC, Advocate General of the state, Additional Solicitor General of the Centre and Registrar General of the high court on the issue. “There is an unfortunate blame game of allegations and counter allegations which shows trust deficit between MHA invokes Official Secrets Act to secure note printing press HQ M U K E S H R A N J A N @ New Delhi All about OSA THE Centre has designated the headquarters of the Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited (SPMCIL) in the national capital as a “prohibited place” under the provisions of the Official Secrets Act, 1923. The decision is aimed at reinforcing security at the strategic installation and preventing any unauthorised access that could compromise sensitive information or cause damage to the premises, officials said. They said that the move is preventive in nature and intended to strengthen safe- Under the OSA, areas designated as prohibited are subject to heightened security restrictions. Unauthorised access, photography, sketching, or collection of information in such premises can attract stringent penal provisions under the Act guards around the facility and noted that any breach of information or harm to the headquarters could potentially be exploited by forces inimical to India’s interests. By bringing the premises under the ambit of the Official Secrets Act, authorities have sought to create a stronger legal deterrent against trespassing, espionage or other security violations. The order also clarified that it supersedes an earlier notification dated February 15, 2022, except in cases where actions have already been taken under the previous directive. The notified premises comprise the SPMCIL Headquarters Office located in Tower-G of the World Trade Centre at Nauroji Nagar in Delhi. A wholly owned Schedule ‘ ’ A Miniratna Category-I company , SPMCIL was incorporated on January 13, 2006, and manufactures currency notes coins. EXPRESS READ Love marriage notifications to be sent to girl’s parents on WhatsApp The Gujarat government has floated a controversial proposal on love marriages. It stipulates that once a couple applies for marriage, the girl’s parents will automatically receive details on WhatsApp. The marriage certificate would be issued only on the 40th day after application made by the couple. P8 Court asks Kuldeep Sengar’s brother to surrender to jail authorities The Delhi High Court has directed expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Sengar’s brother Jaideep to surrender. He was convicted in the custodial death case of the father of the rape survivor, for whose sexual assault Sengar is serving a sentence. Jaideep was given interim bail in July 2024. P3 Hailing the SC order to deploy judicial officers for SIR exercise, the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) said that it is a blow to the Election Commission, which has failed in discharging its constitutional responsibilities. “SC just delivered the knockout punch... all logical discrepancy cases will be handled by judicial officers,” said TMC’s Kalyan Banerjee the WB government and the ECI. Now the process is stuck at the stage of claims and ob- SHIRTLESS PROTEST E X P R E S S N E W S S E R V I C E @ New Delhi A group of Indian Youth Congress workers on Friday staged a bizarre, shirtless protest at the India AI Impact Summit, shouting slogans against the government and the India-US trade deal before being confronted by members of the public and escorted away by security personnel. The protesters were seen waving white T-shirts printed with images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump. Police said they had registered online and obtained QR codes to enter the venue. They allegedly concealed the T-shirts under their jackets and pulled them out dramatically when they reached Hall No. 5. The protest drew a sharp reaction from the BJP with party , spokesperson Sambit Patra saying, “For the Congress, I have just three words—topless, brainless and shameless.” IYC national president Uday Bhanu Chib defended the action, saying, “Peaceful protest is our right in a democracy and , we will continue to raise the voice of the youth.” P7 & P10 Death sentence to UP couple for sexually exploiting 33 minors N A M I TA B A J PA I @ Lucknow A POSCO court in Banda district of Bundelkhand region in Uttar Pradesh on Friday awarded death sentence to two child predators—a man and his wife-for assaulting 33 minors. The victims, all boys, were in the age group of three to 10 years. The court awarded the sentence to Rambhawan, 50, a former junior engineer of the UP Jalkal department, and his wife, Durgawati, 47, for various offences, including unnatural sex, aggravated penetrative sexual assault, using minors for pornography, storage of pornographic material involving children, and criminal conspiracy, under sections of the Indian Penal Code and POCSO Act, said Special Public Prosecutor of Banda Kamal Singh Gautam. On the intervention of Interpol, the CBI took over the case in 2020. The couple used to sell pornographic content thus pro- CBI registered FIR after Interpol’s intervention The convicted couple Rambhawan and his wife Durgawati used to sell pornographic content involving children on the dark web across 47 countries. The CBI registered an FIR in the case in October 2020 after Interpol intervened in the matter. The CBI submitted in its charge sheet that many minor victims of the convicts suffered injuries to their private parts. The court accepted CBI report. duced on the dark web across 47 countries. Additional District Judge (POCSO), Banda, P K Mishra, pronounced the sentence against the accused under relevant POCSO Act sections. The court also directed the state to pay a compensation of `10 lakh to each of the victims. The court further ordered the distribution of the cash amount seized from the house of the accused among the victims in equal proportion. Some of the victims suffered injuries to their private parts during the assault, many of whom remained hospitalised. According to the public prosecutor, the CBI had registered the FIR on October 31, 2020. “The court relied heavily on the medical reports given by medical experts roped in by the CBI during the investigation, digital evidence and also the testimonies of the 25 minors to classify the offence as ‘rarest of rare’,” he added. City tops UGC list of fake universities with 12 entries, keeps tag for 3rd time S L A L I T H A @ New Delhi DIPLOMATIC TIES Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake took stock of India-Lanka relations on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit on Friday in New Delhi | PTI | P7 THE University Grants Commission (UGC) has released a list of 32 fake universities operating across the country Delhi . continues to top this infamous list with 12 such universities, which are spread across as many states. Under the UGC Act, 1956, these universities do not have the authority to award degrees. The commission has cautioned students from taking admission in them stating the degrees do not have any professional value. The following 12 universities in Delhi figure in the fake category: World Peace of United Nations University (Pitampura); 18 fake institutions In 2025, the UGC had released a list of 22 fake universities, and Delhi had 10 of them. In 2023, the list had 20 entries, and Delhi topped the list with eight names. Institute of Management and Engineering (Mubarakpur); All India Institute of Public & Physical Health Sciences State Government University (Alipur); Commercial University (Daryaganj); United Nations University; Vocational University; ADR Centric Juridical University (Rajendra Place); Indian Institute of Science and jections of the persons who have been included in the logical discrepancy list,” said a three-judge bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipin Pancholi. Directing to appoint judicial officers to adjudicate claims and objections in the SIR process in WB, the top court clarfied that it was left with no other option but to involve the state judiciary for conclusion of the SIR exercise in Bengal. The court was hearing a batch of pleas challenging the ECI’s exercise of electoral rolls in West Bengal, where ECI submitted that they were not being provided well-qualified officers to conduct SIR. Engineering, New Delhi; Viswakarma Open University for Self-Employment (Sanjay Enclave); Adhyatmik Vishwavidyalaya (Rohini); National Institute of Management Solution (Janakpuri); and Mountain Institute of Management and Technology (Nehru Place). In October 2025, the UGC had released a list of 22 fake universities, and Delhi had 10 of them. In March 2023, the UGC had released a list of 20 fake institutions, and Delhi topped the list during that time with eight of them. The number of fake universities shot up by 12 within nearly three years. Uttar Pradesh holds the second spot with four such universities. TAMIL NADU Book minister on basis of ED complaint: HC E X P R E S S N E W S S E R V I C E @ Chennai THE Madras High Court on Friday asked the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) to register a case, without delay based on the informa, tion shared by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding the alleged cash-for-jobs scam in the Municipal Administration and Water Supply (MAWS) Department headed by state minister K N Nehru. Nehru said that he will fight the case and prove that he has not done anything wrong. Passing orders on a writ petition filed by AIADMK MP IS Inbadurai, a bench of Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G Arul Murugan held that once information discloses the commission of a cognisable offence, registration of an FIR is mandatory. “It is not a case where they have received a bare complaint which necessitated the state to conduct an inquiry through the vigilance department. It is a detailed source information provided by the ED with voluminous set of evidence prima facie disclosing a cognisable offence. When a preliminary inquiry ought to have been done within 14 days, the state is only finding ways and means to delay registering the case,” the court noted.