pic: icc KOZHIKODE l monday l february 03, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l city EDITION India u19 women’s team on top of the world The Niki Prasad-led side beats South Africa in the final to successfully defend their title... All-round Trisha stands out for champions She was already a World Cup winner in 2023, but this time, G Trisha was the key architect behind India’s success story. With 309 runs and seven wickets, she was instrumental in India’s unbeaten run to the final. Even in summit clash, she took three wickets and scored an unbeaten 44 to help India get the better of South Africa by nine wickets on Sunday. Fittingly, she was the Player of the Match in the final and the Player of the Tournament Second title for coach Nooshin ■ ■ Revered coach Nooshin Al Khadeer added another trophy to her cabinet having won the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2023 She, along with captain Niki Prasad, had been with this batch of players for several months in the lead up to the WC with several camps and domestic tournaments being the key to putting together a strong squad 17 with 17 scalps, Vaishnavi Sharma was the leading wicket-taker 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 US starts tariff war with Mexico, Canada, China; India spared j aya n t h j a c o b @ New Delhi US President Donald Trump late on Saturday imposed broad tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada, and China, sparking swift retaliation from North American neighbours. India was notably exempt despite Trump frequently labelling the country as a “tariff king.” India contributes only 3.2% of America’s overall trade deficit, but has a $35 billion trade surplus with the US. China, Mexico, and Canada are the top contributors to the US trade deficit, with Asian giant contributing the highest at 30.2%, Mexico 19%, and Canada 14%, according to the Research and Information System (RIS). Trump said a levy of 25% on Canadian and Mexican imports as well as an additional 10% tax on Chinese goods would come into effect on Tuesday . “We have big deficits with all three of them,” Trump said. In response, both Canada and Mexico said they were prepar- ing similar tariffs on US goods, while China said it would take “necessary countermeasures” to defend its interests. Amid ongoing tariff threats, India has emphasised that its economic ties with the US are special and highlighted the established mechanisms between the two countries to discuss trade matters and related issues. “India-US relationship is very strong, multifaceted and the economic ties are something which is very special...We have established mechanisms between the US and India to discuss any matter or trade matters or matters related to trade,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said last week. India has been making the right noise to improve its trade relations with the US, with the the Union Budget announced a reduction in customs duties on imported motorcycles. India has also taken steps to open the nuclear sector to private investment as part of a strategic move. Will collect more taxes in FY26: FinMin official is levied on income. The income threshold was increased from The government is confident `7 lakh to `12 lakh, making any of achieving the income tax col- income up to `12.75 lakh tax free lection target for FY26 despite (after including the standard demassive tax cuts offered in the duction of `75,000). Budget 2025-26—a move that The new tax slab also signifiwill result in a revenue loss of cantly reduces the tax burden `1 lakh crore . As per the Budget on all with the highest tax rate estimate, personal inof 30% applicable on income tax collections come over `24 lakh from could be `14.38 lakh the earlier `18 lakh. The crore in FY26, a 14.4% new tax slab also inincrease over the recreases the basic exvised estimate of `12.57 emption limit from `3 lakh crore for FY25. The lakh to `4 lakh, which FY25 budget estimate means the first `4 lakh for tax collection was ‘Tax cut to would attract no taxes. stimulate All these changes have `11.87 lakh crore. growth’ The FY26 tax collecbeen made under the tion target is achieva- The income tax new tax regime. ble, says a top finance The finance minister relief will ministry official, addhas said that her instimulate ing: “Our estimate for come tax proposals demand and income tax collection in propel growth would lead to a revenue FY26 is conservative.” loss of `1 lakh crore. in the next According to the offi- financial year, The move to increase cial, with the tax slabs the income tax threshEconomic being revised and tax old to `12 lakh would Affairs rates having been low- Secretary Ajay also result in one crore ered for most in the ex- Seth said in an taxpayers going out of isting slabs, individuals the tax net. interview to earning over `12 lakh PTI on Sunday Meanwhile, the fibut avoid paying taxes, nance ministry official would like to come unmentioned earlier says der the tax net. that with the announcements, On Saturday, Finance Minis- more taxpayers might shift to ter Nirmala Sitharaman an- the new tax regime. According nounced a slew of sops to ease to the official, 78% taxpayers the burden on the taxpayers. have already opted for the new Her personal income tax pro- tax regime, and with the latest posals include an increase in changes, more taxpayers would the threshold up to which no tax join the new system. D i pa k M o n d a l @ New Delhi pic: pti Needed to convince officials about efficiency in collection and honest taxpayers’ voice Nirmala Sitharaman PM backed tax cut plan, took time to convince officials: FM E X PRESS NEWS SER V ICE @ New Delhi PRIME Minister Narendra Modi was fully behind the idea to cut taxes for the middle class but it took time to convince the bureaucrats, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Sunday . Presenting her eighth straight budget on Saturday, Sitharaman raised the personal income tax exemption to `12 lakh from `7 lakh earlier, and also rejigged the tax brackets in such a way that those earning higher could save up to `1.1 lakh. In an interview to PTI on Sunday, she said while Modi was quick to agree to the tax relief, it took a bit of convincing to get on board the officials in the finance ministry and the Central Board of Direct Taxes who are tasked to ensure revenue collection to meet welfare and other schemes. “We have heard the voice of the middle class” who had been complaining about their aspirations not being met despite being honest taxpayers, she said. Explaining the thought that went behind the big announcement, Sitharaman said the tax cuts were in the works for some time. She said the new rates would “substantially reduce the taxes of the middle class and leave more money in their hands, boosting household consumption, savings and investment”. express read Min’s ‘upper caste’ remark courts row Thrissur: Union Minister of State Suresh Gopi courted controversy on Sunday with his remark that persons from “upper castes” should be put in charge of tribal affairs portfolio. The actor-politician, however, withdrew his remarks later in the day following criticism from various corners. P4