TIRUCHY l saturday l march 21, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 14 l late city EDITION maximum space debris from pslv rockets, most in low earth orbit As of March, 129 space debris originating from Indian satellite missions are in orbit, mostly from PSLV rockets, Parliament was informed bullish on zero debris creation by 2030 expert studies in place for mission The management of space debris has become a concern. According to a written reply in Parliament by the Centre, the debris includes 23 defunct satellites in low earth orbit and 26 in geostationary orbit. In addition, there are rocket debris from PSLV (40), GSLV (4) and LVM3 (3). It is in this backdrop that India is aiming for zero debris creation by 2030 ■ ■ As a step to achieve zero debris mission, ISRO has institutionalised the process to ensure extra fuel margins for both spacecraft and launch vehicles, during mission design and project initialisation phase Studies are being undertaken for robotic arm, rendezvous and proximity operations that are precursors to active debris removal 35,000 trackable debris objects are currently in space worldwide CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI Steepest single-day New National Dental Commission rupee dive in 4 years formed to reform dental education Import costs may soar as currency falls 82 paise over Wasia tension B ENN K O C HUVEE D AN @ Mumbai The rupee on Friday logged its steepest single-day decline in four years, closing at a record low of 93.71 against the dollar, down 82 paise, as escalating tensions in West Asia kept crude oil prices elevated. The currency opened at 93.15 and remained under pressure through the session. During intraday trading, it weakened 1.1% to touch 93.7350 (down 103 paise), breaching its previous record low of 92.63 hit earlier this week. The rupee eventually settled at 93.71, marking a weekly decline of about 1.3%— the sharpest since late 2022. With this, the rupee has earned the dubious distinction of being the worst-performing currency in Asia, depreciating over 5.5% so far this year. Over the past year, the currency has weakened by around 8% against the dollar compared with an average annual fall of 4.2% in recent years. The continued slide poses risks to India’s macroeconomic goals, including its ambition to become a $5-trillion economy . A weaker rupee raises the cost of imports across the board, not just crude oil. India imports nearly 85% of its crude oil and over 60% of its natural gas requirements, making it particularly vulnerable to currency depreciation. According to RBI estimates, a $10 per barrel rise in crude prices typically pushes up inflation by about 30 basis points. Crude is currently trading above $110 per barrel. For the domestic economy, the impact of a prolonged conflict extends beyond currency weakness. The combination of CJI recuses from hearing plea on panel picking CEC ‘Re may breach 95-mark’ Rupee vs Dollar 92.28 (+2p) 92.25 (-24p) 92.30 (-5p) 92.40 (-12p) 92.89 (-49p) day 21 93.71* (-82p) March 12 March 13 March 16 March 17 March 18 March 20 *Provisional (Inverted Scale) Premium petrol, industrial diesel prices raised The West Asia war has begun to affect petrol and diesel prices, with OMCs raising premium petrol prices by up to `2.35 per litre from Friday. The latest hike applies only to premium variants such as BPCL’s Speed, HPCL’s Power fuel and Indian Oil’s XP95, while regular petrol prices remain unchanged. OMCs have also raised bulk diesel prices for industrial users by `22 per litre. In Delhi, bulk diesel prices have increased from `87.67 to `109.59 per litre a depreciating rupee and elevated crude prices could fuel imported inflation, especially in fuel and commodities, raise input costs for businesses, and increase the burden on consumers—prompting monetary policy action by RBI. With no signs of ease in the West Asia conflict, the rupee remains vulnerable. Several global brokerages, including Goldman Sachs and UBS, expect the Indian currency to weaken further and breach the 95-mark in the near term A sustained spike in oil prices could also dampen growth in one of the world’s largest oilimporting economies. Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) have already pulled out over $8 billion from Indian equities this month—the highest outflow since January 2025—adding further pressure on the rupee. In 2025, FPIs had sold equities worth $18.9 billion. Domestic equity markets, however, showed resilience. After a sharp fall of 3% on Thursday benchmark indices Sensex , and Nifty recovered modestly on Friday rising 0.5%. , With Iran-US tensions simmering, concerns over crude supply disruptions are mounting. Officials in Saudi Arabia have warned that oil prices could touch $180 per barrel if the war goes on till late April, raising fears of a prolonged energy shock. ljk gets green light Shah’s push seals BJP-AINRC deal in Pondy Ud aya n K i s h o r e @ New Delhi NDA pact in 4 days: EPS A day after meeting Shah, AIADMK chief EPS on Friday said the party will finalise seat-sharing with BJP and other NDA allies and announce constituencies allocated to them in 4 days The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Puducherry was formally finalised on Friday with 16 of the 30 Assembly seats being allotted to the All India NR Congress (AINRC). The deal was reached after Chief Minister and AINRC chief N Rangasamy, following a compromise with the BJP leadership on Friday agreed to include the Lak, shya Jananayaga Katchi (LJK) in the coalition. Rangasamy said the new party was included based on Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s advice and the decision would strengthen the alliance. After holding discussions with Rangasamy at a hotel on Friday Union Minis, ter Mansukh Mandaviya said the BJP’s share of 14 seats would be further distributed among its allies ---- the AIADMK and the newly formed LJK. Mandaviya also confirmed that Rangasamy will lead the NDA in Puducherry again, and expressed confidence that the alliance would form the next government under his leadership. The alliance has worked out a common action plan for the elections, while allowing individual parties to retain their own programmes, he added. Without much clarification, the minister said that AINRC seeking statehood for Puducherry was the individual desire of the party. Mandaviya also announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah may visit Puducherry to campaign for the Assembly elections. Expressing confidence that the NDA would win and form a stable government, Rangasamy indicated that the alliance would launch its election campaign after all constituent parties complete their nomination processes. Final discussion is under way regarding the seats on which individual parties will contest, the CM said. IN a major reform aimed at improving the quality of dental education and aligning it with global standards, the Centre on Friday announced the constitution of the National Dental Commission (NDC). To support the functioning of the Commission, three autonomous bodies have also been constituted. The Commission will introduce essential and long-overdue regulatory reforms in dental education, and enhance access to affordable oral healthcare across the country . The notifications in this regard were issued on March 19. The NDC framework will now replace the Dental Council of India (DCI), which regulated DMK slams Delhi meet DMK chief Stalin on Friday took a swipe at the AIADMK chief for holding seatsharing talks in Delhi with the BJP, claiming that it proves the “election is between Tamil Nadu and Delhi” Assembly elections DMK eyes win in tiruchy west I P6 ECI starts tracking sales in tasmac I P4 dental education and profession throughout the country. The new Commission has come into effect from March 19. The Commission will frame regulations to implement the provisions of the Act; will conduct rating and assessment of dental institutions; evaluate human resources and promote dental research; frame guidelines for fee regulation in private dental colleges; and establish standards for community dental care, education, research, and professional ethics. “This historic reform marks a decisive shift towards a regulatory framework that is transparent, quality-driven, and accountable; replacing the earlier elected structure,” the Union Health Ministry said in a statement. Key mandate of NDC The commission will frame rules, conduct rating and assessment of dental institutions. It will evaluate human resources and promote dental research, frame guidelines for fee regulation in private dental colleges and establish standards for ethics T h e t h re e a u t o n o m o u s boards are — Undergraduate and Postgraduate Dental Education Board, which will oversee dental education; Dental Assessment and Rating Board, which will regulate accreditation and institutional assessment; and the Ethics and Dental Registration Board, which will govern professional con- 8 killed as bus jumps median due to suspected brake failure in Salem E x p r e s s N e w s S e r v i c e @ Salem EIGHT people, including a baby and a pregnant woman, were killed after a driver lost control of government bus due to a suspected brake failure, and the vehicle veered into the opposite lane and mowed down two oncoming vehicles at Ariyanoor near Uthamasolapuram on the Coimbatore-Salem National Highway on Friday . Six of the victims were from a same family heading to a temple in a mini truck for the ear-piercing ceremony of a baby . The Salem-bound Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) bus from Erode had over 40 passengers on board at the time of the accident. CCTV footage from the area shows the bus suddenly entering the wrong lane and colliding head-on with the truck, and then ploughing through a two-wheeler carrying 19-year-old Manikandan, a second-year college student, and his mother, 38-year-old Irusayee, killing them on the spot. E x p r e s s N e w s S e r v i c e @ Puducherry Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Friday recused himself from hearing a batch of petitions challenging a 2023 law that removed the CJI from a committee mandated to appoint the chief election commissioner to the poll panel, citing “conflict of interest”. The court was hearing a batch of PILs challenging the constitutional validity of certain provisions of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act. The CJI said it would be appropriate for the case to be listed before a bench where no judge was in line to become the chief justice. Else, “I will be accused of conflict of interest,” the CJI said. The December 2023 law came months after a SC order that a panel comprising the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, and the CJI appoint election commissioners. The bench had said the system would remain in force till a law was enacted. Under the 2023 Act, however, the selection committee consists of the PM, a Union minister nominated by the PM and the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha. K a v i ta B a j e l i - D at t @ New Delhi The mangled remains of the mini truck that was carrying 11 people | Express Eleven members of a family from Neikarapatti in Salem were travelling in the tempo for the function at the time of the crash. Five of them escaped with injuries. The deceased were identified as Murugan (45), Amudha (30), Sathya (25), Selvaraj (52), Nivisha (5), and 11-month-old Jeevika whose ear-piercing function was planned on Friday . Authorities of a private hospital located a few km from the accident site said that of the 11 brought to the hospital, six were declared brought dead. “Sathya, who was pregnant, could not be revived despite CPR. Four oth- ers, including a two-year-old with minor injuries, are undergoing treatment.” All the eight bodies were sent to Salem Government Hospital for postmortem. The bodies were later handed over to their families. Police are investigating the exact reason for the crash. Passengers on the TNSTC bus sustained only minor injuries. The bus driver, identified as Aiyandurai, has been arrested. According to the police, preliminary investigations revealed brake failure. They clarified that the driver was not intoxicated at the time of the crash. The bus has been taken to the Kondalampatti police station where a case was registered. TNSTC officials would inspect the vehicle to determine the exact cause of the accident, sources said. Venkatachalam, an eyewitness, said, “There were no vehicles near the bus, and there was no disturbance. At the exact point where the bus veered into the opposite lane, there is a cut for the service road.”  P5 E x p r e ss R e a d Sasikala, Ramadoss team up for elections Vellore mayor’s car seized for ‘MCC breach’ Vellore: A car in which Vellore Mayor Sujatha Anandakumar (DMK) was travelling was seized by Sathuvachari police on Friday in connection with an alleged poll code violation over distribution of sports kits. According to police, the vehicle was taken to the police station for further investigation Mumbai: Raymond Group CMD Gautam Hari Singhania suffered minor injuries in a speedboat accident in the Maldives and is currently recovering in Mumbai, his spokesperson said on Friday. According to a report from the Maldives, a speedboat carrying tourists capsized near V Felidhoo early on Friday. Avian flu kills 40 birds; zoo in Guindy closed SV K RISHNA C HAITANYA @ Chennai AN outbreak of avian influenza claimed the lives of around 40 birds of multiple species last week inside the Guindy Children’s Park, prompting authorities to shut the facility to visitors from Friday until further notice. However, the adjacent Snake Park will remain open. While the risk to visitors is considered low, authorities are still keeping a close watch on wild and migratory bird activity in and around the park. Officials said the closure is part of containment measures as disinfection and monitoring activities are intensified within the premises. Yogesh Kulal, a wildlife warden, told TNIE that the first signs of trouble emerged on March 13, when the Vedanthangal aviary recorded a sudden mass mortality event. “On March 13, we observed the death of 30 birds, including 24 herons and six pelicans. The deaths mostly occurred overnight,” he said. Subsequent days saw additional casualties.  Raymond boss injured during Maldives trip Villupuram: V K Sasikala, founder of the All India Puratchi Thalaivar Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, and PMK founder S Ramadoss on Friday signed an agreement to form a coalition for the upcoming Assembly election. Ramadoss announced that the alliance will contest in all 234 seats in the state duct and re gistration of dentists. Dr Sanjay Tewari has been appointed as the Chairperson of the Commission, while Dr. Mousumi Goswami will be a part-time member. Dr Chandrashekhar Janakiram has been appointed as the president of the Undergraduate and Postgraduate Dental Education Board. Dr. Shailesh Madhav Lele will be the whole time member. Lt Gen (Retd) Nanda Kishore Sahoo is the president of the Dental Assessment and Rating Board while Dr Himanshu Aeran is a whole time member. Lt Gen (Retd) Tapas Kumar Bandyopadhyay has been appointed as the whole time member of the Ethics and Dental Registration Board. Arindam Modak will head the Secretariat as Secretary to the NDC. Guindy Children’s Park was closed from Friday until further notice | Martin Louis Stands for laudable ally Envoy-designate Vikram Doraiswami has an interesting Chinese name, Wei Jiameng P r e s s T r u s t o f I n d i a @ Beijing India’s newly appointed Ambassador to China Vikram Doraiswami has a Chinese name: Wei Jiameng, which denotes auspicious or praiseworthy ally Doraiswami, a 1992-batch . IFS officer, was appointed India’s new envoy to China on Thursday . Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian told a media briefing on Friday that he noticed that the Indian envoy has chosen a Chinese name for himself: Wei Jiameng. “China welcomes India’s new history “Jia” stands for “auspi. ambassador to China Wei Jia- cious or praiseworthy”, “Meng” meng, and stands ready to pro- means “alliance”. Broadly Jia, vide every convenmeng means auspiience for him to take cious/praiseworthy up his post in China,” ally the scholars said. , he said. It can be said as “one According to Chiwho forms an excellent nese scholars, the alliance”, according to loose translation of one Chinese scholar, the name in Mandarin which carries diplois Wei, a common Chi- Vikram Doraiswami matic significance in nese sur name that the present context of phonetically matches “Vi” in India-China relations. Vikram. Long ago, Wei was a Lin said China hopes that afpowerful state during the War- ter assuming his duties, Doring States period in Chinese raiswami will make positive contributions to the sustained improvement and development of China-India ties. Doraiswami’s appointment evoked considerable interest in the Chinese official media and the strategic community. A Mandarin speaker, he served both in Hong Kong and Beijing in his early career as a diplomat. He served as Third Secretary in Hong Kong, where he earned an elective diploma in Chinese from the New Asia Yale-in-Asia Language School before moving to Beijing in 1996 for a four-year tenure.