hyderabad l saturday l march 21, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 16 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 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 ■ 35,000 expert studies in place for mission ■ 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 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 life insurance cover of `5l for 1.5 cr families breakfast scheme for students Bhatti focuses on welfare Facts and Figures Revenue Expenditure Capital Expenditure Loans and Advances Public Debt Repayment Budget overview INS I DE CJI recuses from hearing plea on CEC pick U d ayan K i s h o r e @ New Delhi 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. Outlay for education up 15% to `26,674 cr I P2 Expenditure breakdown Total outlay `3,24,234 crore 405.82 `2,34, re cro ₹ 241,263.58 ₹ 82,970.42 `47,267 crore `19,536.01 crore `22,924.89 crore n Revenue expenditure n Capital expenditure n Loans & advances n Capital disbursements Year-on-Year comparison n Revenue receipts n  Capital receipts Fiscal indicators Revenue surplus `6,857.76 crore Fiscal deficit `58,458.71 crore Debt (FRBM) Government guarantees Total liabilities Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka arrives at the Assembly to present the state Budget for FY 2026-27 `3,01,835 crore New schemes `35,730.2 crore Indiramma Family Life Insurance Scheme Breakfast scheme (pre-primary to Intermediate) Employees’ Accident Insurance Scheme Midday Meal Scheme (Intermediate students) Telangana Public Schools Scholarship for ATC trainees B E N N K OCHUVEED A N @ 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 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. 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. ‘` may breach 95-mark’ Rupee vs Dollar n Cashless Health Protection Scheme n CM Overseas Employment Programme n2 lakh new pensions under Cheyuta Allocations for new schemes Name of the scheme Indiramma Family Life Insurance Allocated amount Key Features `4,000 crore Life insurance cover of `5 lakh for 1.5 crore families Accident insurance up to `1.2 crore `1,056 crore (+ additional `2 crore for air accidents) `50 crore Overseas employment facilitation for youth `800 crore Breakfast scheme with milk and ragi malt `500 crore Public school model with integrated campuses `100 crore Midday meals extended to Intermediate students `80 crore Monthly stipend of `2,000 for ATC trainees Health coverage for 23.51 lakh employees and `14,891 crore dependents Cashless Health + Accident Insurance CM Overseas Employment Programme Breakfast scheme Telangana Public Schools Midday Meal (Intermediate) ATC Scholarships Cheyuta (incl. new pensions) Unaddressed promises `2,500 a very small dose of cure for HYD I P3 monthly assistance for women `4,000 Futuristic, perfectly balanced: CM I P4 Envoy-designate Woman abandons critical Doraiswami has husband at crematorium Chinese name Debt Distress P r e s s T r u s t o f In d i a @ Beijing N a v e e n K u m a r Ta l l a m @ Jagtial In utter disregard for humanity, a woman allegedly left her seriously ill husband at a crematorium in Jagtial town on Friday . Endrikayala Sridhar, a native of Chintakunta area, had returned from Dubai three months ago after developing a serious kidney ailment. Medical tests indicated that both his kidneys were severely damaged, leaving him in urgent need of treatment. With no income and mounting medical expenses, the family was already under strain. Their situation further worsened when the landlord reportedly asked them to vacate the rented house. His wife, citing the burden of his illness and financial hardship, left for her maternal home along with her children after abandoning Sridhar at the Gandhinagar crematorium. Sridhar, too weak to walk or 2025–26 n Budget outlay n Revised outlay 2026–27 outlay increase: n +6.15% over BE 2025–26 n +15.3% over RE 2025–26 `8,64,198 crore Debt-to-GSDP ratio: 29% 2026–27 `24,116 crore 2026–27 `11,161.45 crore 2025–26 RE `11,161.45 crore 2025–26 RE `31,618.77 crore `5,62,363 crore n Grant-in-aid n  Non-tax revenue 2025–26 BE 2025–26 BE `22,782.5 crore Great expectations `2.81 lakh crore (–7.56%) `2,41,263.58 crore `82,970.42 crore `3.04 lakh crore `22,924.89 crore. @ Hyderabad Revenue receipts are estimated at `2,41,263.58 crore and capiFinance Minister Mallu Bhat- tal receipts at `82,970.42 crore. ti Vikramarka presented the The Budget for 2025–26, initially Budget for 2026–27 with an out- pegged at `3.04 lakh crore, was lay of `3.24 lakh crore, placing revised down to `2.81 lakh crore, emphasis on welfare and devel- a decline of 7.56%. The current opment despite financial con- outlay reflects an increase of straints. Allocations were made 6.15% over the Budget estimates for existing flagship schemes, and 15.3% over the revised estiwhile nine new initiatives were mates of the previous year. The deputy chief minister announced covering employees, students, youth and household projected a revenue surplus of `6,857.76 crore and a fiscal defisecurity . The most prominent among cit of `58,458.71 crore. While the new measures is the In- grant-in-aid from the Union diramma Family Life Insurance government was budgeted at Scheme. Announcing the `22,782.5 crore in 2025–26 and rescheme, Vikramarka said that it vised to `11,161.45 crore, it is eswould be implemented from timated at `24,116 crore for June 2 and provide life insur- 2026–27. Non-tax revenue is projected at `35,730.2 crore, ance cover of `5 lakh to compared with a Budgeach of 1.5 crore famiet estimate of `31,618.77 lies in the state. The crore and revised estideputy chief minister mate of `11,161.45 crore allocated `4,000 crore While giving priority to in 2025–26. for this scheme. The state’s outstandHe also introduced a development and welfare, we are ing public debt under breakfast scheme for also giving FRBM limits is estimatstudents from pre-priimportance to ed to rise from `5,03,905 mary to Intermediate, fiscal discipline besides a midday meal without indulging crore in 2025–26 (rescheme for students in extravagance vised) to `5,62,363 crore in 2026–27. Outstanding pursuing Intermediate Mallu Bhatti government guaraneducation in government junior colleges. Vikramarka, Dy CM tees stand at `3,01,835 crore. Combined liabiliApart from these, the other new measures included ties are projected at `8,64,198 the Telangana Public Schools, a crore by the end of the next fiCashless Health Protection nancial year, with total debt at . Scheme for employees, an Em- 29% of GSDP Despite allocating `50,713 ployees’ Accident Insurance Scheme, the CM Overseas Em- crore for six guarantees, the ployment Programme, scholar- Budget did not mention timeships for ATC trainees, and lines for certain promises, insanction of two lakh new pen- cluding `2,500 monthly assistance for women and sions under Cheyuta. Of the total outlay of `3,24,234 enhancement of pensions to crore, revenue expenditure is `4,000 under Cheyuta. Describing the Budget as a estimated at `2,34,405.82 crore and capital expenditure at “lamp of hope for the people of `47,267 crore. The capital outlay Telangana”, Vikramarka said it marks an increase of `10,786.41 was framed to balance developcrore, or 29.5%, over the revised ment and welfare without placestimates of 2025–26. The re- ing additional tax burden on maining expenditure gap is to citizens. He added that the state be met through loans and ad- was progressing despite finanvances of `19,536.01 crore and cial pressures and was laying a strong economic foundation. capital disbursements of Man d a Ra v i n d e r R e d d y ₹ 234,405.82 ₹ 47,267.28 ₹ 19,536.01 ₹ 22,924.89 Steepest single-day rupee dive in 4 years Endrikayala Sridhar, a kidney patient, lies on the ground near a crematorium at Chintakunta in Jagtial district on Friday seek help, was noticed by locals at the site. Moved by his hapless situation, they alerted emergency services, and a 108 ambulance shifted him to the Government Hospital in Jagtial, where he is currently undergoing treatment. Meanwhile, the woman’s decision to leave her ailing husband at a crematorium has drawn widespread criticism from townsfolk. 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 ambassador to China Wei Jiameng, and stands ready to provide every convenience for him to take up his post Vikram Doraiswami in China,” he said. According to Chinese scholars, the loose translation of the name in Mandarin is Wei, a common Chinese surname that phonetically matches “Vi” in Vikram. Long ago, Wei was a powerful state during the Warring States period in Chinese history . “Jia” stands for “auspicious or praiseworthy”, “Meng” means “alliance”. Broadly, Jiameng means auspicious/praiseworthy ally the scholars said. , Pension increase under Cheyuta 92.28 (+2p) 92.25 (-24p) 92.30 (-5p) day 21 92.40 (-12p) 92.89 (-49p) 93.71* (-82p) March 12 March 13 March 16 March 17 March 18 March 20 *Provisional (Inverted Scale) 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