BHUBANESWAR l monday l june 01, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l late CITY EDITION SATWIK AND CHIRAG CAPTURE SINGAPORE OPEN CROWN bwf/badminton photo FIRST TITLE IN OVER TWO YEARS India doubles specialists rally to overcome Indonesia pairing of Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Fikri in men’s doubles final on Sunday The Indian pair, after going behind initially, fought back to win 18-21, 21-17, 21-16. This is massive outcome for the World No 4 combo as they had waited for over two years to come this far. Their last title on BWF World Tour was the Thailand Open, which had arrived in May 19, 2024. They incidentally became first pair from India to clinch the Singapore crown ■ Third happy dance, fitting celebrations ■ As was evident in their celebratory dance, this victory meant the world to them as they had endured many difficult moments, both on and off the court, in the last two years or so One of the highlights of this week was their victory over World No 1 pairing of Seo Seung Jae and Kim Won Ho in the last-four stage | P11 super 750 title bagged by the Indian pair 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 back-to-back B’luru brilliance Nepal squatting on Indian land, admits PM Shah go m e s h s @ Ahmedabad Says both sides agreed to rope in historians, surveyors and experts to seek resolution P r e s s T r u s t o f In d i a @ Kathmandu Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah was on Sunday quite candid about his country encroaching territories in India, in his response to questions in Parliament on the long-running border dispute. This was his first intervention in Parliament after taking over as prime minister. Shah said both countries have agreed to take the help of historians, surveyors and experts to seek resolution, adding that Kathmandu has also held diplomatic discussions on the issue with China and the UK. Nepal and India have an old boundary dispute over Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura, with both countries claiming sovereignty over them. India maintains that the territories are part of Uttarakhand and has said the issue should be addressed through bilateral dialogue. “The Nepal government has officially sent a diplomatic note to India, mentioning the issue of encroachment of territories by India, including Lipulekh, and we have already received their response,” Shah told Parliament. “Both the countries have agreed to resolve the issue sitting together with the help of historians, surveyors and concerned experts through diplomatic means.” He, however, added that it is not only India that has “encroached” land in Nepal, the latter too had done the same with India. “You will be surprised to know about a fact, which I have learnt recently only after becoming the Prime Minister. India has not only encroached Nepalese territories, but Nepal has also encroached India’s territories in many places,” said Shah. “Now both countries should study the facts and sit together as friends and resolve the issue.” Shah said Kathmandu also held diplomatic discussions on the issue with China — the three places are located near the trijunction of India, Tibet and Nepal — and the United Kingdom. He said he took up the matter with the UK because it dates back to a period when the British Raj ended. Earlier this month, Nepal’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lok Bahadur Chhetri said the country is committed to resolving the border issue with India through diplomatic channels. Chhetri’s comments had come days after India firmly rejected Nepal’s objection to the upcoming Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via the long-established Lipulekh Pass, dismissing Kathmandu’s territorial claims over the region as an “unilateral artificial enlargement” that New Delhi finds untenable. Modi showcases ‘Bela Pana’ in Mann Ki Baat Odisha’s traditional summer beverage ‘Bela Pana’, a refreshing drink made from the juice and pulp of wood apple, on Sunday found its moment in the sun with Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighting its benefits during his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat | P3 After becoming prime minister, I came to know that not only has India encroached on Nepal’s land, but Nepal has also encroached on India’s land in multiple places Balendra Shah, Nepal PM Former envoy raps Shah Former Nepalese ambassador to India Nilambara Acharya said Shah has “no information regarding Indian territories being encroached by Nepal”. He added that 97% of the border disputes between the two countries have already been resolved Missing pillars in border areas There are reports about some Nepalese citizens using land in India and some Indians using land in Nepal because of missing border pillars in some areas, but the Nepal government as such has not encroached India’s territory, former Ambassador Acharya said Royal Challengers Bengaluru players celebrate with the trophy after winning the final in Ahmedabad on Sunday | bcci Odisha govt to introduce AI-integrated General Raja Subramani exam system, own ranking framework takes charge as 3rd CDS Sudarsan Maharana @ Bhubaneswar Amid growing concerns over question paper leaks in national-level exams, the state government is planning to reform and strengthen its examination and evaluation process by introducing artificial intelligence (AI)-integrated systems and reducing human interventions at different levels. State Higher Education department authorities revealed the plans at the two-day vicechancellors conference which kicked off at Lok Bhavan here on Sunday. The conference was inaugurated by Governor and Chancellor of Universities Hari Babu Kambhampati in presence of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. DHE officials said the move is aimed at enhancing transparency strengthening secu, rity mechanisms and improving the overall efficiency of the examination process. The proposed reform will explore the use of AI-driven tools for question paper management, examination monitoring and automated evaluation of answer scripts. As part of a broader transformation agenda, the state government also plans to introduce its own institutional ranking framework ‘Odisha Institutional Ranking Framework’ to promote quality, competitiveness and excellence among higher education institutions. The DHE has set a target of ensuring accreditation for 50 per cent of institutions by 2029 by improving performance in National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) assessments and the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF). The roadmap further envisages conversion of five existing universities into multidisciplinary institutions, establishment of digital universities at Ravenshaw and Odisha State Open University and creation of a purpose fund involving industry and both public and private universities to support innovation and research. The state also aims to drive internationalisation of higher education through an EduCity masterplan while extending green energy infrastructure and OSWAN broadband connectivity to all campuses, creating a modern and technology-enabled higher education ecosystem. Addressing the conference, G ove r n o r K a m b h a m p at i called upon universities to evolve into globally competitive, socially responsible and technologically advanced institutions while remaining dee ply rooted in Indian Continued on P5 values.  Bid to strike balance in DKS govt R a m a k r i s h n a B a d s e s h i @ Kalaburagi STRESSING the need for caution as Karnataka Assembly elections are two years away Congress president , Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday said the party remains non-committal on composition of the state’s new cabinet under Chief Ministerdesignate D K Shivakumar, and that all decisions would be taken only after the June 3 swearing-in ceremony . Addressing reporters in Kalaburagi, Kharge said discussions were underway on ministers, deputy chief ministers and key appointments, but nothing formal had been placed before the Congress high command. “No proposal has come yet. Once it comes, discussions will be held on how many ministers and deputy chief ministers should be appointed,” he said. On a phased expansion, Kharge indicated that 8-10 ministers may be sworn in alongside Shivakumar on Wednesday, with remaining slots filled within a fortnight or a month. “We have to think of many things while creating deputy chief minister posts too. The high command is considering all facts and everything will be known by Wednesday .” On the search for a new president of the state unit after Shivakumar vacates the post, Kharge said the party high command was looking for someone who could “work very fast and bring everyone together as well.” brush with death Paralysed man escapes over 2-hr snake coil unhurt E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Berhampur A 55-year-old paralysed man had a horrifying brush with death after finding himself wrapped around by a venomous snake at his house in Boudh district on Saturday night. The ordeal lasted for around two hours. The incident occurred at Adenigarh village under Boudh’s Harabhanga block. Sources said Krushna Chandra Sahu had been suffering from paralysis for several years, leaving one side of his body largely immobile. FAIRYTALE finishes are hard to come by in sport. As much as one hopes for it, such moments do not happen to every sporting legend. Virat Kohli chased it for 18 years in the Indian Premier League (IPL) before the Royal Challengers Bengaluru came together to win their first title in 2025. On Sunday, in Ahmedabad, Kohli had his moment. Again. With an unbeaten 75 off 42 balls — also his fastest IPL fifty (25) in 19 years — the former captain took RCB to their second title, beating Gujarat Titans in front of 90000 fans who were cheering for him. However, the chase and title were possible because of their bowling attack, led by Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who removed Shubman Gill and B Sai Sudharsan early to break the contest. They were reduced to 115/6, and from thereon, despite Washington Sundar’s fighting fifty that took GT to 155/8, it was RCB’s game to lose. For the first 15 years, RCB remained a batting dynasty led by Kohli, AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle. Over the years, almost every batting superstar, especially overseas, would have turned up for the franchise. They headlined victories while bowlers remained in the shadows. Now, the batters aren’t the lead protagonists anymore. It was the Kumars, Hazlewoods and Krunals who won them their first IPL title. And it is they who made P11 the fairytale possible for Kohli.  As per his family members, Sahu was asleep in his room when the reptile reportedly entered the house through an open window. Unaware of the danger that crept in, Sahu continued to rest until he felt a slithering movement on his body . When he checked what it was, to his horror, Sahu found that a venomous snake had climbed up onto him and resting on his body . Unable to move freely owing to his physical condition, he was left in a helpless situation as any movement could have provoked The snake coiled around Sahu’s arm and the chair, at his house in Boudh’s Adenigarh village the snake into attacking him. The 55-year-old then carefully attempted to sit upright, resting his body against a chair nearby . However soon after, the snake tightened its grip around his arm and coiled itself around the chair, trapping him in an inescapable position. Eventually, family members heard his distressed cries and rushed to the room only to be greeted by the spine-chilling scene that awaited them. Fearing for his life, they refrained from taking an hasty step and instead tried to calm Sahu while exploring ways to safely remove the Continued on P5 reptile.  J a v a r i a R a n a @ New Delhi In a twin change of guard at the helm of India’s defence establishment, China-Pakistan expert General N S Raja Subramani on Sunday took charge as the third Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and Admiral Krishna Swaminathan as the 27th Chief of the Naval Staff. Gen Subramani succeeds Gen Anil Chauhan, whose tenure ended on Saturday. He takes charge at a time when the armed forces are pushing ahead with the theatre command reforms, tri-service integration and accelerated modernisation. Speaking to reporters, Gen Subramani said his primary focus will be transformation of the armed forces and organisational reforms to “enhance jointness, synergy and integration”. On modernisation, he said, “Greater collaboration between the military industry academia, , , startups and the research ecosystem will be the key enabler.” He had been serving as Military Adviser at the National Security Council Secretariat. He Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani Admiral Krishna Swaminathan was commissioned into the 8th Battalion of the Garhwal Rifles in 1985 and served as Vice Chief of the Army Staff from July 2024 to July 2025. Meanwhile, Adm Swaminathan succeeded Adm Dinesh K Tripathi, who retired on Sunday . Speaking to reporters after taking charge, Adm Swaminathan said his top priority will be to ensure the Navy maintains the highest level of operational readiness and combat effectiveness. Adm Swaminathan, who joined the force on July 1, 1987, is a specialist in communication and electronic warfare. He takes charge as the Navy aggressively pursues indigenous warship construction, submarine induction, carrier battle group operations, and unmanned systems amid growing tensions in the Indo-Pacific region.