Amid tighter visa norms, Indian student count in U.S. falls 6.2% kottayam l friday l april 03, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 14 l city EDITION Over 3.52 lakh Indians are studying in the US as of February 2026, down from 3.78 lakh last year, the government told Parliament on Thursday The Trump administration expanded screening and vetting for all visa applicants on June 18, 2025. The Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said this tougher filtering, including increased scrutiny and compliance requirements, had an impact on the number of US student visas issued to Indian nationals “The new US guidance mentions that every visa adjudication is a national security decision and calls on all applicants to credibly establish their eligibility for the visa sought,” Singh said The government has been regularly raising all issues being confronted by Indian students with the US authorities, he said 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 At UK-led talks, India for unimpeded Hormuz transit Over 60 countries join the virtual meet on safe passage options J aya n t h J a c o b @ New Delhi India on Thursday called for immediate de-escalation in West Asia, warning of risks to global energy flows and maritime security, while highlighting that it is the only country to have lost mariners in recent attacks on merchant shipping in the Gulf. Representing India at a high-level day virtual meeting convened by UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said the crisis could only be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue. The meeting, attended by representatives from over 60 countries including France, Germany, Italy, Canada and the UAE, focused on the deteriorating security situation in key international waterways, particularly the Strait of Hormuz. In his remarks, the Foreign Secretary 34 talked about “the importance of the principles of freedom of navigation and unimpeded transit through international waterways.” an official readout said. Misri stressed that “the way out of the crisis consisted of de-escalation and a return to the path of diplomacy and dialogue among all concerned parties,” signalling India’s preference for a political solution over military escalation. The meeting took place amid heightened tensions after US President Donald Trump suggested that ensuring the security of Hormuz should be the responsibility of nations that rely on it. The US did not participate in the meeting. The strait remains a critical artery for global economy han, dling nearly 20% of world’s oil and LNG shipments and its ongoing blockade sent oil prices soaring above $100 per barrel. Videograb of a strike on an IRGC missile base in Iran’s Baharestan, Isfahan | X Don gives no timeline US President Donald Trump claims Israel and US were close to completing their key objectives in the war against Iran, adding the conflict would soon be over, but doesn’t provide an exact timeline LDF & UDF release manifestos as campaigning for April 9 polls enters the final stretch Left guarantees jobs for all `25L insurance, 5L houses: Kerala-educated students UDF push for welfare, infra E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Kozhikode Major promises Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Job guarantee for Thursday released the LDF election all students educated manifesto, pledging to raise welfare in Kerala pension to `3,000, fix the support Enhancement of price of coconut at `35 and guaranwelfare pension to tee jobs for all students educated in L3,000 the state. A curious element in the manifesJob opportunities to is the assertion that the state govfor 50% of women ernment would establish a medical Support price for institution “better than the All India coconut L45, paddy Institute of Medical Sciences L35, rubber L300 (AIIMS) by collecting funds from the public.” High-speed rail, metro The proporal is widely seen as a rail in Kozhikode and protest against the Centre’s delay in T’Puram sanctioning AIIMS for Kerala, which is one of the campaign themes in the assembly election. The manifesto places strong emphasis on health, education, and infrastructure — pillars central to Kerala’s social model. Acknowledging the state’s ageing population, it promises focused measures to ensure a healthy dignified life for senior citi, zens, including enhanced care for the bedridden. It also proposes insurance coverage for the “missing middle” — those currently excluded from existing schemes. It promises interest-free loans for educated entrepreneurs and plans to foster innovation through college-based hacka● More on P6 thons and incubators.  SC stinker as mob gheraoes judges in WB S U CHITRA K A LYA N M OHA N TY @ New Delhi THE Supreme Court on Thursday came down heavily on the West Bengal government for its inaction over the gherao of judicial officers in Malda district during the special intensive revision (SIR) drive, ordering an independent probe by the CBI or NIA. “We direct the ECI to entrust the enquiry /investigation to either the CBI or NIA. The compliance report shall be submitted to this court. The agency shall be obligated to submit a preliminary enquiry report directly to this court,” said a bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant during an urgent hearing on Thursday morning. T h e court took suo motu c o g n i sance after it received a letter from the Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court detailing how the judicial officers, including three women, were held captive for nine hours without food or water by protesters who claimed their names were deleted from the voter list. The incident occurred during the SIR exercise in the Kaliachowk area of Malda district. “We have never seen such a polarised state. Unfortunately, in your state, each one of you speaks political language. That is the most unfor tunate thing. We have never seen such a polarized state,” the CJI told West Bengal’s Advocate General. HOLIDAY: Our offices will remain closed today on account of Good Friday. There will be no issue of the paper tomorrow. E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @Kochi The UDF on Thursday unveiled its manifesto for the April 9 assembly elections, promising a monthly stipend of `1,000 for college-going girl students and a `25 lakh ‘Oommen L25 lakh health Chandy Health Insurance’ cover for insurance to all every family The 89-page document . families outlines a mix of welfare measures, infrastructure projects and economFree KSRTC bus ic revival plans. travel for women Leader of the Opposition V D Welfare pension to Satheesan released the manifesto in be hiked to L3,000 the presence of Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and other L5 lakh interestUDF leaders, highlighting the front’s free loans for young focus on social security employment , entrepreneurs and inclusive growth. The UDF has promised to hike welfare pensions to `3,000 per month and provide free travel for women on KSRTC buses. It also proposes to construct 5 lakh houses over the next five years and time-bound solution for issues faced by settler farmers. As per the manifesto, the daily wage of ASHA workers will be increased to `700. The manifesto assured a procurement price of `35 per kg for paddy and a minimum support price of `300 per kg for rubber. Interest-free loans of up to `5 lakh have been promised for young entrepreneurs, along with financial and technological support ● More on P6 for MSMEs with turnover up to `100 crore. L1,000 monthly stipend for collegegoing female students