thursdAY 20 august, 2026 epaper.morningstandard.in facebook.com/TheMorningStandard X.com/TheMornStandard Pa k i s ta n India and Pakistan players high five before (left) and after the match | ap/screengrab Imran Khan meets wife and sister India beat pakistan in world cup, advance to next phase of competition Jailed former Pakistan PM Imran Khan met his wife Bushra Bibi and sister Noreen Niazi at Adiala Jail after the SC allowed weekly family meetings ■ ■ A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS Page 9 2047 roadmap Govt to notify Master Plan of Delhi today Pa r v e z S u lta n @ New Delhi The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs is likely to notify the new Master Plan of Delhi 2047 on Thursday setting out a , 20-year blueprint for the capital’s planned g rowth and infrastructure. The plan, cleared by the Delhi Development Authority last week, has received final approval from the housing and urban affairs minister, sources said. It aims to accommodate an estimated population of 32 million by 2047. The plan will allow more high-density and vertical development in Delhi. The new rules will permit redevelopment in existing planned areas, higher floor area ratio, less ground coverage and more floors. These changes are expected to help build about four million new homes. The plan also focuses on developing compact, mixed-use neighbourhoods around Metro and other mass-transit routes. Under the Centre’s revised transit-oriented development rules, high-density development is allowed within 500 metres of Metro corridors. l New Delhi l J8.00 Sergio Gor says security situation in J&K improved, US travel advisories likely to be reviewed F AYAZ WANI @ Srinagar IN a major diplomatic boost for India, US ambassador Sergio Gor on Wednesday described Jammu and Kashmir “an important part of India” and said the US would revise its travel advisory in view of the improved security situation. Gor arrived in Srinagar on a one-day visit in the afternoon and met J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. The meeting lasted for an hour, during which the duo discussed the economic, developmental and other issues concerning the region. Talking to reporters after the meeting, Gor said Jammu and Kashmir is an important part of India and that he is visiting the region for the first time. “It is an incredibly beautiful place... I’m thrilled to be here, thrilled to see this place.” Gor’s statement is significant as it amplifies India’s stand that “J&K is an integral part of India”, dealing a blow to Pakistan’s narrative. On the possibility of Washington revisiting its travel advisory for J&K, Gor said: “I can’t US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor speaks to the media as he arrives at the residence of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, in Srinagar | pti make any big announcements here today, but it is something we’re going to look at.” Noting the steps taken by the Centre and J&K administration to address security concerns, he said: “New Delhi, the chief minister here, the government here… have made some incredible steps to keeping this area safer. So we will be looking at if the travel warning P r e e t h a n a i r @ New Delhi ‘Homemaker’ gender neutral, says K’taka HC Express News Service @ Bengaluru The Karnataka High Court defined that the word “homemaker” is gender-neutral; a homemaker can be male or female and also covers a working person, breadwinner or wage earner. Justice Chillakur Sumalatha passed the order, allowing partly the appeal filed in 2018 by Pampalal from West Bengal while enhancing the compensation granted by the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal in 2018 by `1.96 lakh to her. She suffered injuries while travelling in a KSRTC bus. Her counsel contended that if it is taken that the claimant was not working as a lecturer on the date of accident, in the light of the disability she established, which is permanent in nature, taking her services as home maker, compensation is required to be awarded. Even a working woman or a professional can be considered to be a homemaker, the court said. PAGES 12 teams exchange pre-match high fives Jammu & Kashmir is an important Indian stocks now part of India, says US ambassador least preferred in imposed and recommended by the United States is something that should be downgraded.” Terming the meeting with Gor “very good”, Omar said: “We had an opportunity to discuss the relations between our two countries but with specific focus on what the US can do with J&K. There are obviously certain legacy issues that over time we will be working to re- CWC for 25-year freeze on Lok Sabha’s strength The Congress on Wednesday called for a constitutional freeze on the current strength of the Lok Sabha for another 25 years while implementing the 33 per cent reservation for women from the 2029 elections, and decided to launch a nationwide campaign on issues facing students and the alleged corruption at the Ram Temple and the E20 issue. The party’s stand came at a four-hour-long Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting chaired by party president Mallikarjun Kharge. The meeting at Indira Bhawan was attended by Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, K C Venugopal and Jairam Ramesh, among others. The party also decided to adhere to its historic 1937 position of singing only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram at party events. Briefing reporters after l Goals flowed as a brace from Harmanpreet Singh and Abhishek helped the men’s hockey team to a big 5-3 win over neighbours Unlike in cricket, the hockey teams have generally traded customary pre-match pleasantries. Before pushback, both teams exchanged high fives, as is the norm in the sport | p11 Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and K C Venugopal attend the CWC meeting at Indira Bhawan on Wednesday | Parveen Negi the meeting, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Ramesh said that regarding delimitation, the Congress is in favour of keeping the current number of Lok Sabha seats—543—the same for the next 25 years. “At the same time, we demand the implementation of women’s reserva- tion on this very number,” Ramesh said. The party will also hold nationwide protests on the alleged corruption involving the donation to Ram Temple. “Ram Mandir chanda chori is not only the issue of Ram Mandir now, but it has also become an issue of the sentiments of the people,” par ty leader KC Venugopal said. As for the education reforms, Kharge called for a comprehensive and time-bound “Education-to-Employment Roadmap”. The CWC asked Congress chief ministers to prepare state-specific reports within one month on the reforms required in the education sector. In its resolution, the CWC alleged that paper leaks had reached “epidemic proportions”, claiming at least 152 instances since 2014, and accused the Centre of failing educated youth on employment. It also condemned the police action against students protesting NEET-UG leak and calling for the Union education ministers’ resignation. Concerns were also raised about the rollout of E20 petrol, including questions over fuel contamination and the environmental impact of diverting sugarcane and maize for ethanol production. solve, but we look forward to taking this conversation further.” He said this is a conversation that will take place both between Ambassador Gore and Washington, and “between me and the Government of India in New Delhi, but we are very hopeful and optimistic that the engagement between US and J&K will both widen and deepen in the years ahead.” Ahead of his meeting with the US envoy, Omar had said the problems of J&K are to be solved by the Central government and not by Washington. Hours after Gor’s statement, Pakistan’s Foreign Office summoned the US Charge d’Affaires in Islamabad and lodged a “strong demarche” over the “irresponsible” comments made by Gor, who is also the Trump administration’s Special Envoy to South and Central Asia. “Pakistan strongly condemned and categorically rejected the characterisation of Jammu and Kashmir as a ‘part of India’,” the Pakistan Foreign Office’s statement issued in the evening read. 5 B’deshi nationals among 9 charred to death Nine people, including five Bangladeshis, were killed in a fire at a hotel in a busy area in Kolkata on Wednesday, two days after nine pilgrims died in a hotel fire in Birbhum | P8 Asia: BofA survey ARS H A D K H AN @ New Delhi cern in August, against 16% in the July survey . INDIA has earned the dubious In comparison, sentiment todistinction of becoming Asia’s wards Indonesia improved, least-preferred stock market with 27% being underweight, among global fund managers, down from 32% in July . according to Bank of America’s Taiwan and Japan continued (BofA) August 2026 survey . to be the most preferred marIn BofA’s July poll, the fund kets among investors. managers surveyed had indiIn 2026 so far, Taiwan and Kocated Indonesia as the rean equity benchleast favoured market. marks are up more The absence of clear than 50% each while AI exposure and weak Japan has surged more growth are the chief than 26%. India’s Nifty reasons why fund manmeanwhile, is down agers are ‘underweight’ nearly 8%. (having lower expectaA total of 98 panelTaiwan tions) on India, the latlists managing $272 bilfavourite est survey notes. lion in assets particimarket The pessimism about pated in the BofA the Indian equity mar- The Bofa survey survey that was conket comes as foreign said Taiwan is ducted between August the most institutional investors 7 and August 13. preferred continue to dump loThe survey findings cally listed shares amid market in Asia align with the decline Pacific for a huge underperformin Indian stocks over investors in ance of BSE Sensex the past two weeks deAugust, with and NSE Nifty, comspite an improving 55% of the pared to major global earnings outlook, sugrespondents indices. gesting investors reAmong the survey being positive, main wary of the marfollowed by respondents, 32% were ket even when its ‘underweight’ on India. Japan at 50% f u n d a m e n t a l s a r e and South In other words, the prostrong. Korea at 23% portion of fund managThe local market, afers concerned about ter a brief recovery in the lack of artificial intelli- July, has again come under gence play increased to 32% in pressure with the benchmark August from 28% in the month- indices shedding 2-3% each in ago period. the past two weeks. They also cited lack of reThe last time BofA termed forms and elevated valuations Indian stocks the least prefor their bearish view on Asia’s ferred was in May, when a fourth-largest market, with sharp rise in crude oil prices 18% of the fund managers flag- due to the Iran war put presging ‘lack of reforms’ as a con- sure on the economic outlook. 1 minister, 1 univ scheme Union ministers get social media scorecard amid govt’s Gen Z outreach RA J ES H K U M AR T H A K UR @ New Delhi At the Union cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday the , social media performance of Cabinet ministers was a key point of discussion, with each of them presented with a detailed assessment of their traction as well as efforts to amplify the government’s schemes through online platforms. As part of the Gen Z outreach, it was also decided that one Union minister will visit one university each day to engage with the youth. During these day-long visits, the ministers must communicate to students about the government’s schemes, development policies and achievements across sectors as well as gather their perspectives on issues facing the country . Education Minister Pralhad Joshi and Youth Affairs Minis- Modi tops ranking for online presence Sources said Prime Minister Narendra Modi topped the social media performance assessment rankings for the period from May 1 to August 15. The assessment considered ministers’ visibility on social media platforms, like Instagram, X, Facebook and LinkedIn ter Mansukh Mandaviya will coordinate these visits. All the Cabinet ministers were presented with an assessment card outlining their digital performance from May 1 to August 15. The assessment took into account the frequency of ministers’ posts, engagement with citizens, amplification of government schemes and achievements, the average number of posts shared on various sub- jects, the success of government projects, initiatives and outreach programmes, as well as follower counts and the number of likes received on posts between May 1 and August 15. Sources said that a slew of suggestions were also shared on ways to further increase visibility and reach across digital platforms, which have gained wider acceptance among young audiences and the public in general. “This seems to be aimed at acquainting the emerging younger generations with thegovernment’s commitments, policies and achievements as Gen Z is set to become firsttime voters in the next few years. Those who are now 14 to 15 years old will be 18 to 19 by 2029-30,” a BJP source said. The move comes as organisations like the Cockroach Janata Party are trying to attract Gen Z and youngsters over various issues. Hard Strike Student leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who ended his hunger strike after 16 days on Tuesday, celebrates with job aspirants on Wednesday in Ranchi after the Jharkhand Cabinet cancelled 45 recruitment examinations | PTI | P8 3 CNG station staff killed, 3 injured as truck cylinder explodes at fuel pump n i t i n r a w at @ New Delhi Three CNG station employees were killed and three others injured after a cylinder of a truck exploded while it was being refilled at a filling station near Tikri Kalan Metro Station in northwest Delhi on Wednesday . The Delhi Fire Services received information about the blast at 3.37 pm and rushed six fire tenders to the spot. According to police, the explosion occurred around 3.20 pm while CNG was being refilled in a truck. The blast damaged the truck, a car, a scooter and machines kept at the CNG filling station. Six people were injured and taken to CD Global Hospital in Mundka. Three of them— Manish, 25, Brahmjeet, 34, and Sunny, 30—died. Surjeet, Sanjay and Vipin were undergoing treatment, a senior police officer said. Police are examining CCTV footage from the station and recording statements of eyewitnesses. Crime and forensic teams collected evidence from the site. Police are also trying to establish whether all prescribed safety measures were being followed at the time the CNG was being refilled into the truck. To determine the exact cause of the blast, Delhi Police has called experts and technicians from Indraprastha Gas Limited to assist in the investigation. Necessary legal action is being taken and further probe is underway . The incident comes months after a similar accident at a CNG filling station on Najafgarh-Mitraon Road in Dwarka in April. A CNG cylinder had exploded there, injuring four people, one critically, and triggering an emergency response. Experts said CNG cylinders are required to undergo hydrotesting every three years under the prescribed rules.