nagapattinam l thursday l december 05, 2024 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l city EDITION Reserve bank increases UPI Lite’s per-transaction limit to `1,000 The Reserve Bank of India also enhanced the on-device wallet’s total limit at any point in time from `2,000 at present to `5,000 Move to widen Scope of offline payments The central bank on Wednesday amended the ‘offline framework’ issued in January 2022 to facilitate small-value offline digital payments. Till now, the upper limit for a UPI Lite transaction was `500 and the maximum amount of money you could hold on your on-device wallet was `2,000. The RBI had announced its decision on raising the limits in October ■ 516 mn Aim is to encourage digital transactions ■ ■ Transaction and wallet limits are being raised to encourage wider adoption of the popular instant payment system UPI Lite payments don’t require an Additional Factor of Authentication like a PIN or a password and transaction alerts are not sent in real-time UPI Lite was introduced in 2022 with a per transaction limit of `200 is the Average number of daily UPI transactions in November 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 Mahavishnu effect: Tamil Nadu for rigid rules for school events Su b a s h i n i V i j aya k u m a r @ Chennai Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde with BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis and NCP chief Ajit Pawar share a light moment during a press conference, in Mumbai on Wednesday | pti Swearing-in today; November 25 tnie report said he was the likely cm pick Ajit Pawar to be dy chief minister; suspense continues over Shinde Fadnavis to be Maha CM ‘bjp-led govt will help state grow’ Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, BJP’s central observer for the legislature party meet, said on Wednesday that BJP governments in Maharashtra and the Centre will help the state become a greater economic powerhouse in the country No room for tainted leaders, allies told According to BJP sources, Fadnavis wants to have leaders with clean image in his cabinet so that his government can deliver on the poll promises. Alliance partners Shiv Sena and the NCP have reportedly been told not to recommend ‘tainted and painted’ MLAs as ministers | P8 S U DHI R S U R YAWANSHI @ Mumbai ENDING days of speculation, Devendra Fadnavis was on Wednesday unanimously elected the leader of Maharashtra BJP Legislative Party, paving the way for his swearing in as chief minister. This newspaper had on November 25 reported that Fadnavis was likely to be picked as Maharashtra chief minister. Fadnavis will take oath on Thursday at 5.30 pm, after Governor C P Radhakrishnan invited him to form the new government in the state. Two deputy chief ministers, including NCP leader Ajit Pawar, will also be sworn in at the ceremony at the sprawling Azad Maidan in south Mumbai on Thursday . There is no clarity on whether Shiv Sena leader and outgo- ing CM and Eknath Shinde will be a part of the new government, though Fadnavis said he has requested him to join. In the joint press conference with Fadnavis and Pawar, Shinde said he has offered his support to the new government to be led by Fadnavis, but he refused to clarify whether he will become deputy chief minister. Shinde said he needs time to think over it and he will take the decision by consulting his people. Meanwhile, Shinde is also facing pressure from his party to join the government. “We are hopeful Shinde saheb will listen to us and be part of the government,” said Shiv Sena MLA and former minister Uday Samant Sources said Shinde has demanded the home portfolio with an added condition that there should not be any interference in his ministry Shinde . has also handed over the list of names for ministers from Shiv Sena to Fadnavis, who said he would consult the BJP’s top leadership and get back on the demands. “There is pressure over Shinde by his own MLAs and former ministers to be part of the new government. The BJP is offering urban development revenue ministry instead of home ministry We are confi... dent that he will accept the deal,” said a BJP leader. This is the third time in 10 years that Fadnavis is becoming the chief minister of Maharashtra. In 2014, he made history as the state’s first Brahmin chief minister in nearly 40 years. In 2019, he managed to form government with the help of Ajit Pawar but it lasted only a few days. projs launched Forces trying to exploit woes of people: CM A state-level committee and district-level committees will be formed to approve school events. The proposed guidelines will be applicable to all schools, including private and CBSE schools, across Tamil Nadu ing external entities. According to the new guidelines, any new organisation that wants to engage with a school for any philanthropic or other activity must get antecedent clearance from the intelligence wing of the police. Only those NGOs and chief guests who are part of a proposed state-approved list can be invited for events in schools. @ Chennai Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra at the Ghazipur border on Wednesday | PTI Rahul stopped from visiting Sambhal P r e e t h a n a i r @ New Delhi A Congress delegation led by Rahul Gandhi was on Wednesday stopped by the Uttar Pradesh police from visiting the violence-hit Sambhal district where prohibitory orders were in place. “We want to go to Sambhal and see what happened there. We want to meet the people but I’m not being allowed my constitutional right. This is a new India where attempts are on to end Ambedkar’s Constitution,” he added. Congress leaders, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and general secretary K C Venugopal, were sent back to Delhi after a two-hour standoff at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border. Holding up a copy of the Constitution in his hand at the Gazipur border, Rahul termed the police action as undemocratic. Rahul said though he was ready to go alone to Sambhal in BJP slams rahul The BJP on Wednesday flayed Rahul Gandhi for trying to visit Sambhal without giving prior intimation to authorities a police vehicle, the police did not heed his request. “I said that I am ready to go alone, I am ready to go with the police, but they did not accept that either. Now they are saying that if we come back in a few days, they will let us go”. Violence erupted in Sambhal on November 24 over a courtordered survey of a mosque, killing four people and injuring several others. “He is different from other people. He cannot be stopped. He has the constitutional right to go and meet the victims, he should be allowed,” Wayanad MP Priyanka said. Adani firm may win first TNEB bid for smart meters S G U R U VANMIKANATHAN @ Chennai Police in plain clothes subdue a man (in black pants)who tried to shoot Sukhbir Singh Badal | PTI The suspect being taken away by the police | PTI Sukhbir Badal narrowly escapes assassination bid other police personnel, Jasbir Singh and Parminder Shiromani Akali Dal Singh, overpowered him and (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh the bullet hit a wall.” Badal on Wednesday narrowBhullar said 175 police perly escaped an assassination sonnel in plain clothes were attempt outside the Golden deployed at the site. The fore Temple in Amritsar. was headed by an AIG-level Badal was performing the officer. Chaura was arrested duty of ‘sewadar’ at at the spot and his the main gate of the gun was seized by the shrine when a former police. He was alBabbar Khalsa Interready facing charges We demand a national terrorist in 30 cases, including high court Narain Singh Chauone under the Explomonitored ra tried to shoot him probe into the sives Act. around 9.30 am, but entire incident Pronouncing to unmask the missed. ‘tankhah’ (religious entire Standing a few mepunishment) for Suconspiracy ters away from Badal, khbir Singh Badal behind it Chaura took out a and other leaders for pistol and tried to the “mistakes” comBikram Singh shoot Badal, but was mitted by his governMajithia, SAD quickly subdued by ment in Punjab from leader the security person2007 to 2017, the Akal nel in plain clothes. A bullet Takht had on Monday directwas fired, which missed ed Badal to wash dishes and Badal and hit a wall. clean shoes at the Golden Detailing the incident, Temple in Amritsar as a Amritsar Police Commis- ‘sewadar’. sioner Gurpreet Singh BhBadal has a Z-plus security ullar said, “One of the police cover, which means both the personnel Rashpal Singh saw Punjab Police and the cenChaura and followed him. As tral forces are part of his prohe tried to fire at Badal, two tection detail. dark side of sport India cricketers heckled and body-shamed in Adelaide E x pr e s s N e w s S e r v i c e @ Chennai Perhaps, the organisers never expected such a crowd. The open nets session for India at Adelaide before the second day and night Test match against Australia turned carnivalesque. Almost. It turned into chaos. About 3000 (some put that figure to 5000) spectators descended at the practice wickets at Ad- elaide to watch their favourite stars going through their practice rituals. According to reports, the crowd started to laugh and tease players whenever they got out or were missing the ball. On the other hand, Australia team practice did not see a turnout of more than 100 people. Things started to turn ugly as some of the spectators started to request for selfies, even while batting, and if reports are to be believed, some were even doing Facebook live from the practice centre. Reports also in- It can be recalled that after the Mahavishnu incident, Chief Minister MK Stalin directed the department to issue guidelines promoting progressive and scientific values in programmes organised in school. But concerns have now been raised about the difficulty that civil society organisations with genuinely progressive ideas may face in engaging in constructive activities in schools. As per the new guidelines, accessed by TNIE, a state-level committee and district-level committees will be formed to approve the events. The state committee, led by the School Education Secretary, will include the member-secretary of model schools and directors of elementary education.  P5 lowest bidder H a rpr e e t B a j w a @ Chandigarh E x pr e s s N e w s S e r v i c e Chief Minister M K Stalin, who laid the foundation for 79 new projects worth `1,383 crore under the Vada Chennai Valarchi Thittam at an event held on Wall Tax Road in Chennai on Wednesday said the preven, tive measures taken by the government had minimised losses due to Cyclone Fengal but certain political forces are trying to exploit people’s suffering for their gain. Unlike the 2015 floods under the previous administration where Chennai was left submerged, the DMK government has taken decisive action. They may continue their negative politics, but our focus is to serve the people, Stalin said. Relief measures are on in Cuddalore, Villupuram, Kallakurichi and other districts that faced heavy rainfall and damage, the CM added. Inaugurating 29 completed projects at the event held near Elephant Gate, the CM said, “Since the launch of the Vada Chennai Valarchi Thittam on March 14 with an allocation of `2,096 crore for 87 projects, the scope of the scheme has expanded to cover various sectors encompassing 252 projects at a total estimated cost of `6,309 crore. Currently, a total of 29 projects have been completed, and work will begin on 79 new projects valued at `1,383 crore.”  P5 Three months after the school education department faced criticism for allowing self-proclaimed spiritual speaker Mahavishu to deliver controversial speeches in government schools, the department has come up with detailed guidelines on who can be invited for events in schools, including private and CBSE schools, across the state. The guidelines include the formation of state and district-level vetting committees. However, in its attempt to prevent unsavoury incidents, the department seems to have gone for overkill. Clearance from the intelligence wing of the police has been made mandatory for school events involv- police nod must dicated that players were even laughed and mocked at. The crowd also seemed to have gone personal, attacking certain player for fitness. What really irked the team was that the vociferous crowd distracted them and concentration while batting was getting difficult. “It was complete chaos. During the Australian training session, not more than 70-odd peo- ple turned up but during India’s session, 3000 came. No one expected so many fans to turn up,” a senior Indian cricket board official told a news agency. The anonymity cricketers held may be in the last century is slowly changing with more engagement from the South Asian communities in Australia. The BCCI has banned all net sessions after this. P11 The Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) is likely to award the first package of the muchawaited smart metering project to Adani Energy Solutions Limited (AESL), an Adani Group company since it has emerged , as the lowest bidder, according to highly placed sources in the board. A report by AESL showed Tamil Nadu as one of its key target states for the project, with the highest number of meters to be installed among states and with the initial budgetary support under the Union government’s Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) expected to be around `19,000 crore. AESL has emerged as the L1 bidder in the first package of the project, which is in the financial bid opening stage as per the state government’s official website for tenders. Officials, however, said a final decision on the award of the contract is yet to be made. TNEB floated tenders for the project in August 2023 in four packages, with each package covering different districts, to install a total of around three crore smart meters across the state under RDSS. Tamil Nadu has the highest number of sanctioned smart meters under the scheme. Each package will involve the installation of around 80 lakh meters.  P5 express read ESA’s Proba-3 launch postponed to Thursday Chennai: The launch of European Space Agency’s Proba-3 mission, scheduled on Wednesday, has been postponed to December 5 due to a technical issue. The mission, set to launch aboard ISRO’s PSLV-XL rocket, will now lift - off from Sriharikota at 4.04 pm on Thursday | P5 3 killed as jeep crashes into stationary lorry Vellore: Three people died and one more was injured after their jeep collided with a stationary lorry on the Chennai-Bengaluru NH near Konavattam bridge at 3.45 am on Wednesday. The four men from Chennai were on their way to Bengaluru | P5