chennai l friday l october 24, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 40 l late city EDITION Digital payments made up 99.7% transactions by volume in 2024 Digital payments accounted for 99.7% of total transactions by volume and 97.5% by value in 2024, the RBI said in a report on Thursday Trend continues in first half of 2025 UPI accounts for 85% of transactions There were 20,849 crore digital transactions in 2024, up from 3,248 crore in 2019, the RBI said in its half-yearly Payment System Report. In terms of value, `2,830 lakh crore was transacted through digital payment systems in 2024, up from `1,775 lakh crore in 2019. The transaction volume for the first half of 2025 stood at 12,549 crore, amounting to `1,572 lakh crore ■ ■ In terms of volume, UPI accounted for the largest share at 85% during the first half of 2025. Digital payments include NEFT, IMPS, RTGS, NACH, debit and credit cards, prepaid instruments and UPI Payments using debit cards have declined since 2019. In contrast, the value of credit card transactions have surged nearly 200% `143.3 lakh cr the value of all UPI transactions made in the first half of 2025 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 AI faces 250 seat faults each month S L al i t h a @ New Delhi AN average of 250 passenger seats on Air India flights develop faults every month, posing persistent challenge for the Tata group as it works to modernise the ageing fleet it acquired from the government in January 2022. According to airline insiders, the main hurdle lies in the non-availability of spare parts for older aircraft, many of which are 15-20 years old. In several cases, even the original manufacturers of seat components have shut down. “Seat maintenance was never a priority earlier,” said a senior Air India source. “A seat includes not just the cushion but also trays, in-flight entertainment screens, and fittings. Sometimes, passengers themselves cause damage during travel, and immediate repairs aren’t possible if the aircraft is due for a quick turnaround.” While travellers have long voiced concerns over poor cabin conditions, a recent social media outcry by a business class passenger Retrofitting work on Air India sources say complaints about broken and malfunctioning seats will stop once the retrofit project is complete. Till then, however, passengers may have to put up with uncomfortable seats brought renewed scrutiny The . passenger, flying AI 187 from Delhi to Toronto laimed he was asked to sign a consent form acknowledging his seat’s broken tray before boarding. Air India sources admitted such incidents are “not isolated”, add- ing multiple solutions are offered to affected passengers. “At check-in, travellers are informed about seat issues and asked if they wish to continue with that seat. If not, they can opt for the next available flight,” the source explained. The airline, however, insists that a large-scale retrofit and modernisation plan is already in motion. All 26 A320 aircraft have been upgraded, featuring new seats and interiors. The first Boeing 787 is currently being retrofitted in the US. Once completed, work will begin on the Boeing 777 fleet. Tejashwi is INDIA bloc’s CM face, Sahani deputy Announcement after Gehlot-Lalu meet; no word yet on seat-sharing R A M A S H A N K A R @ Patna ASEAN-India Modi speaks to Malaysian PM, to virtually address meet J aya n t h J a c o b @ New Delhi India and Malaysia announced on Thursday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will join the ASEAN-India summit in Kuala Lumpur on October 26 virtually after a telephonic conversation between Modi and Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim. “I had a warm conversation with my dear friend, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia. Congratulated him on Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship and conveyed best wishes for the success of the upcoming Summits. Look forward to joining the ASEAN-India Summit virtually and to further deepening the ASEANIndia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” Modi said on X. Ibrahim said he respected M o d i ’s d e c i sion, adding that Malaysia remained committed to advancing bilateral and Narendra Modi ASEAN-India cooperation for a “more peaceful and prosperous region”. While the Indian statement did not cite reasons for Modi’s decision to skip the regional gathering, it is learnt that the upcoming Bihar assembly elections and the absence of immediate breakthroughs in trade talks with the US influenced the move. US President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Malaysia for the summit. This newspaper had reported that Modi was unlikely to attend the summit and would address the event virtually At the . summit, both sides will review progress in ASEAN-India relations and discuss new initiatives under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will represent India at the 20th East Asia Summit in Kuala Lumpur on October 27. WITH THIS ISSUE CHENNAI’S BEST WEEKEND GUIDE 40 PAGES, INCLUDING 24 OF INDULGE (TABLOID) After weeks of hectic parleys, the opposition INDIA bloc on Thursday declared Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav its chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming Bihar elections. Cong ress leader Ashok Gehlot announced the decision at a press meet in Patna, a day after he and party’s state incharge Krishna Allavaru met RJD chief Lalu Prasad and Tejashwi to end the stalemate over seat-sharing and ‘friendly fight’ in a few seats. However, in the press meet, there was no announcement of any seat-sharing deal. Gehlot, who has been camping in Patna since Wednesday, said Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) chief Mukesh Sahani will be the alliance’s deputy CM face. He said more deputy CMs would be appointed if INDIA bloc comes to power. Tejashwi, Sahani, CPI-ML (Liberation)’s Dipankar Bhattacharya, and state Congress president Rajesh Ram addressed the press meet along with Gehlot. “Tejashwi is a young and dynamic leader. We are also declaring Mukesh Sahani, an EBC lead- Vikassheel Insan Party chief Mukesh Sahani, CPI-ML leader Dipankar Bhattacharya, and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav during a press conference in Patna on Thursday | PTI People won’t forget ‘jungle raj’ for 100 yrs: Modi Referring to the RJD rule in the past as ‘jungle raj’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said people won’t forget it for another 100 years. Modi said the opposition alliance is not a ‘gathbandhan’ but a ‘lathbandhan’ (coalition of criminals) as its leaders are out on bail er, who has struggled to rise to this position, as the deputy CM face. Sahani is a messiah of his (Mallah) community After we . win the elections, some people from other sections of society could also be made deputy CMs,” Gehlot said. Tejashwi thanked his father Lalu, Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Mallikarjun Kharge for reposing faith in him. “I alone will not become CM but everyone from Bihar will become Change Makers (CMs),” he remarked. He claimed if a government is formed un- How it works 1 First, calcium carbide goes into the hole 2 Next, water added, produces acyteline gas ‘Cannon’ Bore Cannon Drum Igniter 3 Igniter burns gas, creates a big bang ‘Carbide gun’ partially blinds at least 14 in MP A n u r aa g S i n g h @ Bhopal A ‘desi firecracker gun’ landed as many as 122 Deepawali revelers in hospitals across Madhya Pradesh, at least 14 of whom have partially lost their eyesight. Better known as a ‘carbide gun’, the contraption got humongous traction on social media and became a must have ‘equipment’ for children and teenagers looking for a big bang. Priced at `150–200, they were sold as toys despite the possibility of misfire. By the time the state government banned it on October 18, they had already entered many homes. Vidisha, which neighbours Bhopal, is the worst-hit among all districts. The Vidisha district police have arrested six persons for the illegal sale of the guns. “I can’t see anything since the carbide gun we bought on Deepawali exploded. One of my eyes has burnt completely,” recounted 17-year-old Neha, who is currently recuperating at the state government’s Hamidia Hospital in Bhopal. Of the 122 patients, 26 are under treatment at Hamidia Hospital. Some teenagers attempted to make them at home using plastic or tin pipes, filling them with gunpowder, matchstick heads and calcium carbide. One such teen Raj Vishwakarma said, “I attempted to make it at home. That was when it went off on my face, resulting in loss of sight in one of the eyes.” Damage to retina Its explosion results in emission of metal fragments and carbide vapour, both dangerous to the retina Patients have ruptured their pupils, in many cases leading to permanent blindness — Dr Manish Sharma, Bhopal district chief medical and health officer TN objects to UPSC’s choice of candidates for DGP post E x p r e ss N e ws S e r v i c e @ Chennai The Tamil Nadu government has objected to the three names shortlisted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for the post of state Head of Police Force (HoPF/DGP). Chief Secretary N Muruganandam has written a letter to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) explaining the reasons for the state’s objection, Minister for Natural Resources S Regupathy said. In a statement on Wednesday , Regupathy rejected the allegations of Leader of Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami over the delay in appointing a fulltime chief to the force and said, “A government that respects state’s rights cannot remain silent like Mr Palaniswami.” The minister claimed that the UPSC did not accept the views of the govt, which is responsible for maintaining law and order in the state. The TN government had objected to the names proposed at the meeting conducted by the UPSC for selecting a panel of three names. The UPSC, however, did not accept the state’s views and had sent its shortlist. The state is yet to receive a response for the letter sent by the chief secretary Regupathy said. , The state had sent the names of Seema Agrawal, Rajeev Kumar and Sandeep Rai Rathore, the senior-most in contention, and G Venkatraman, Vannia Perumal, Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal, Vinit Wankhede and Sanjay Mathur, who are eligible as per the union government rules. P7 der his leadership, he would do all the development works the NDA could not do in 20 years, in just 20 months. Taking a dig at the NDA for not announcing its CM face, Tejashwi said, “Why did the NDA not declare Nitish the CM face? We have been saying that the BJP will not make Nitish the CM. Ami Shah has also clearly said it the elected MLAs will take a decision on this… You (the BJP) have always declared a CM face. Why not this time?” Gehlot also targeted Shah, saying: “Your contention that Nitish will lead the NDA in the polls has no meaning.”  P10 e x p r e ss r e ad 10L tonne paddy bought in 50 days, says Udhaya Senthamangalam MLA dies of cardiac arrest Elephant pushes down EB pole, electrocuted chennai: Rejecting the charges of delay in paddy procurement, Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin said a record 10 lakh tonnes of paddy has been procured in the last 50 days | P4 Namakkal: K Ponnusamy (74), Senthamangalam MLA and DMK leader, passed away due to cardiac arrest on Thursday. He won from the constituency, reserved for ST candidates, in the 2021 poll | P4 Coimbatore: A 25-year-old wild elephant was electrocuted on Thursday in a farm in Coimbatore forest division after it pushed down an electric pole and the cable snapped and fell on it | P2 openers guide india into WC semis Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal scored a century each and shared a 212-run first wicket partnership as hosts India defeated New Zealand by 53 runs via DLS method to storm into the semifinals of the Women’s ODI World Cup on Thursday | PTI | P15 HC: Can’t use temple funds to Chennai sanitary staff to get free meal at worksite build commercial complexes 5 9 c r f o r f i r st y e a r 29K to benefit, entire tn will be covered soon E x p r e ss N e ws S e r v i c e @ Chennai The state government has issued a Government Order (GO) to implement the free one-meala-day scheme for 29,455 sanitary workers within the Chennai Corporation limits, including staff working under private contractors, at a cost of `59.29 crore for the first year. The free meal initiative was among six special welfare schemes announced by the government on August 14 this year, following large-scale protests against the privatisation of waste management operations in two zones of the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC). According to the order issued by the Municipal Administra- The scheme, which will cover 29,455 staff in Chennai Corporation, is among six welfare programmes announced by the state on August 14 after large-scale protests by the staff against privatisation of waste management in two zones of the GCC. Entire TN will be covered soon Sanitary workers staging a protest near TN Secretariat, Chennai | file picture tion and Water Supply Department on October 14, the GCC will hire a catering agency on a three-year contract to prepare food in designated kitchens. The meals will be packed in tiffin boxes and distributed to sanitary workers at their respective workplaces. Of the total workforce, 22,886 workers are engaged in the morning shift from 6 am to 2 pm and will receive lunch between 1.30 pm and 2 pm. Around 1,410 workers on the 2 pm to 10 pm shift will be provided dinner between 9.30 pm and 10 pm, while 5,159 workers on the night shift from 10 pm to 6 am will be given breakfast. The order stated that the total cost of implementing the scheme would be `186.94 crore over three years — including a 5% cost escalation in the second and third years — covering food preparation and distribution charges. The project has been accorded administrative sanction by the state government and will be implemented directly by the GCC using grants from the Sixth State Finance Commission.  P7 E x p r e ss N e ws S e r v i c e @ Chennai Holding that temple funds cannot be utilised for constructing commercial or residential buildings, the Madras High Court on Thursday directed the Commissioner of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department to issue circulars to all temple authorities in this regard. The first bench of Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G Arul Murugan issued the directive while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) petition filed by A B Palani of Villivakkam, Chennai. The petitioner sought a direction restraining the authorities from constructing commercial or residential complexes on lands owned by the deity Muthukumaraswamy , of Kandhakottam, using the temple’s funds. Counsel for the petitioner submitted that the court had earlier ruled that surplus temple funds should not be diverted for construction of commercial complexes and that such funds may be used only for purposes expressly provided under Section 66 of the HR&CE Act, 1955.  P7