HYDERABAD l friday l may 02, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 36 l LATE CITY EDITION Gross GST collections clock all-time high of `2.37 lakh crore GST collections rose 12.6% YOY to an all-time high of `2.37 L cr in April, which the Centre said was owing to ‘cooperative federalism’ domestic revenue rises to `1.9 lakh crore ‘overall outlook remains optimistic’ GST revenue from domestic transactions rose 10.7% to about `1.9 lakh crore, while revenue from imported goods was up 20.8% to `46,913 crore. “The figures showcase the resilience of the Indian economy and the effectiveness of cooperative federalism,” Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, while expressing her gratitude to the taxpayers | P10 ■ ■ Central GST collection from domestic transactions stood at `48,634 crore in April, while state GST mop-up was `59,372 crore While a moderation in absolute GST collections is anticipated next month due to the global economic climate, the overall outlook for Indian economy is optimistic, said EY Tax Partner Saurabh Agarwal 2.09 lakh crore is the net gst collection after refunds 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 Hegseth backs India’s right to defend itself WAVES will serve as a major platform where creativity meets coding, software blends with storytelling, and art merges with augmented reality Pahalgam attack was barbaric and merciless... PM Narendra Modi is a fighter. He will meet any challenge... He will bring peace in J&K and glory to our country Veteran stars Mohanlal, Rajinikanth, Hema Malini, Chiranjeevi, Akshay Kumar and Mithun Chakraborty at the WAVES summit on Thursday | X Global community needs to call out Pak’s heinous terror acts: Rajnath to US def secy MAYANK SINGH @ New Delhi Rajnath Singh and Pete Hegseth Shah vows to hunt down all terrorists Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday vowed to hunt down each and every terrorist involved in the Pahalgam attack and said all of them will be made answerable for the heinous act. Shah assured the government will not spare any terrorist destabilising the region. “The world can no longer turn a blind eye to terrorism,” the defence minister told his American counterpart, while urging the global community to “explicitly and unequivocally condemn and call out” heinous acts of terrorism. Hegseth’s call to Rajnath comes after US Secretary of State Mark Rubio spoke to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar urging India to de-escalate tensions in the South Asian region. SC: Don’t demoralise forces during crisis S u c h i t r a K a lya n M o h a n t y @ New Delhi THE Supreme Cour t on Thursday refused to examine a PIL seeking a judicial probe into the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, saying such petitions could demoralise the d e f e n c e fo rc e s f i g h t i n g terrorism. A bench of justices Surya Kant and Justice N Kotiswar Singh also castigated the petitioners for seeking a commission headed by a retired SC judge saying judges are not experts in investigation. The plea was filed by Mohammad Junaid, a resident of Kashmir, along with Fatesh Kumar Sahu and Vicky Kumar. “Be responsible before filing such PILs. You have some duty towards the country also. This is the way you are trying to demoralize the forces in this hour of crisis and Naga Chaitanya KS Chithra Shreya Ghoshal MM Keeravani Shah Rukh Khan Deepika Padukone Alia Bhatt Aamir Khan Rajinikanth, Veteran star Shantanu Narayen, Adobe Orange economy to make waves: PM juncture?” the bench said. Refusing to pass any orders on the PIL, the bench said: “Tell us, since when have retired High Court and Supreme Court judges become experts in investigation? We only decide disputes… Don’t ask us to pass orders on such kinds of petitions. Don’t ask to pass orders for the Supreme Court judge to investigate.” The SC asked the petitioners to realise the sensitivity of the issue and not make any prayer in the court that may demoralise the forces. “This is a crucial hour when every Indian has joined hands to fight terrorism,” it said. The counsel for the petitioner, then, pleaded for directions to protect Kashmiri stud e n t s s t u dy i n g o u t s i d e Jammu and Kashmir. The bench was unmoved and declined to entertain the plea, but allowed the petitioner to withdraw the plea. S u d h i r S u r ya w a n s h i a n d Pa r v e z S u lta n @ Mumbai/ New Delhi Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday exuded optimism about the growth of India’s creative economy, saying it will in future hold a significant share in the country’s GDP or Gross Domestic Product. He was addressing the crème de la crème among artists and creators, policymakers and world leaders from the media and entertainment industry at , the inaugural of the first edition of the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) in Mumbai. “Today, in Mumbai, artists, innovators, investors, and policymakers from over 100 countries have gathered under one roof. Together, they are laying the foundation for a global ecosystem that celebrates talent, creativity, and innovation on an international scale... India is emerging as a global hub for film production, digital content, gaming, fashion, music and live concerts... This is the dawn of the Orange Economy in India,” said Modi. Orange economy is a global phrase that encapsulates the creative sector. Modi said India’s Orange Economy stands on three strong pillars — content, creativity and culture. In , Crème de la crème of creative sector in attendance Veteran actor Anupam Kher outlined the vision behind the WAVES initiative. Singers M M Keeravani, Shreya Ghoshal and Mangli performed the welcome song. WAVES advisory board members, including Mohanlal, Hema Malini, Kartik Aaryan, S S Rajamouli, Rajinikanth, Anil Kapoor, Bhumi Pednekar, Ranbir Kapoor, Aamir Khan, Reliance chairman Mukesh Ambani and Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen shared their thoughts during the event the coming years, the country’s creative economy will hold a significant share in the GDP . This newspaper was the first to report in July last year that the government planned to host WAVES on the lines of the annual World Economic Forum held in Davos to establish India as a global content hub. The global animation market is currently worth over $430 billion and is expected to double in the next 10 years. The WAVES summit will open new doors of success for India’s animation and graphics industry, he said, adding this was the right time for “create in India, create for world”. Modi underscored India’s deep-rooted artistic and spirit- CM to Centre: Form GoM, use TG census data M a n da Rav i n d e r R e d dy @ Hyderabad Following the Union government’s decision to conduct a caste census across the country, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has urged the Centre to constitute a Group of Ministers (GoM) and an expert committee. He proposed that the committee consult with state governments, political parties and stakeholders to decide on the roadmap for the census. He also called on the Centre to collect information from states that have already conducted caste census and to use that data to formulate a comprehensive framework. “The state government is ready to cooperate with the Centre and share our experience and data,” he said adding, “Telangana has become a role model for the rest of the country in this regard.” Speaking to reporters at his r e s i d e n c e o n T h u r s d ay, Revanth pressed the prime minister to clarify when the Centre would initiate and complete the caste census process. He emphasised the need for consultation with the state governments and political parties over potential challenges. He suggested that the entire process be completed within a year. Revanth underlined that once the Union government conducts the caste census, the resulting data will become standardised and authenticated. He said: “In the absence of national data, state data will be a standard. But if the Centre comes forward with new data, it will take precedence,” he stated. The chief minister recalled that during the UPA regime, efforts were made to conduct a nationwide caste census and a report was prepared. However, in the past 11 years, the BJPled Union government had not taken any steps in that direction.  Continued on P4 ual heritage. Indian mythology has always expressed divinity through music and dance, he said, citing Lord Shiva’s damru (drum) as the first cosmic sound, Goddess Saraswati’s veena as the rhythm of wisdom, Lord Krishna’s flute as an eternal message of love, and Lord Vishnu’s shankha (conch) as a call for positive energy . “In India, growth has been witnessed in the OTT platform. The screen size may be getting smaller but the scope is infinite. The screen is getting micro, but the message is mega so youth can play a major role,” the prime minister said, adding there are no boundaries or baggage in the youth’s spirit and working style. New lessons ahead TGCHE revamps UG curricula in line with NEP AARTI KASHYA P @ Hyderabad CM A Revanth Reddy addresses the media at his residence on Thursday | Vinay Madapu CM writes to kharge for view on maoists Hyderabad: Favouring the idea of holding talks with Maoists, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has sought the advice and stand of the Congress high command. According to sources, the CM wrote a letter to AICC president Mallikarjuna Kharge on the matter. It may be recalled that a delegation led by Peace Dialogue Committee Convener Justice Chandra Kumar recently met the chief minister, urging him to take the initiative in facilitating talks between the Maoists and the Centre. Following that meeting, the CM approached the party high command for guidance | P4 RETHINK STRIKE CALL, REVANTH URGES TGSRTC EMPLOYEES | p2 Express Re a d AMID rising tensions between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, the US on Thursday assured India that Washington supports New Delhi’s right to defend itself. The US stands in solidarity with India, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth told Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday during a telephonic conversation. During the call, the two leaders discussed the Pahalgam terror attack, in which terrorists shot dead 26 people. “The US Secretary of Defense Pete He gseth called Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to express his sympathies and condolences for the tragic loss of innocent civilian lives in the recent dastardly attack by terrorists in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir,” the Ministry of Defence said. “During the conversation, the Defence Minister told US Defence Secretary that Pakistan has a history of supporting, training and funding terrorist organisations,” it added. Singh told Hegseth that Pakistan has been exposed as a rogue state, fuelling global terrorism, and Allu Arjun Given the size and breadth of the creative opportunity that AI unlocks, it’s fair to say that India’s next growth will not be in software code but in creativity DRI officials seize 3.5 kg gold at RGIA, arrest 3 SCs lose benefits if they convert, says AP HC Hyderabad: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence seized 3.5 kg of smuggled gold at RGIA on Wednesday. An Indian passenger who had travelled from Dubai to Hyderabad via Muscat was arrested, along with two ground handling staff members accused of assisting him in the smuggling operation | P3 Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh High Court has ruled that individuals belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC) lose their SC status immediately upon converting to any other religion, thereby forfeiting protections under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act | P5 The Telangana Council of Higher Education (TGCHE) has initiated a comprehensive revision of undergraduate curricula across the state, aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the directives of the University Grants Commission (UGC). In response to a letter dated April 29 by the UGC directing all the V-Cs of universities and principals of colleges across the country to overhaul their cur ricula in accordance with the NEP, the Council announced on Thursday that it had proactively begun this process two months ago. In an official statement, TGCHE affirmed its alignment with the UGC’s vision of curriculum modernisation, highlighting its leadership in revising UG courses to integrate skill development, multidisciplinary learning and experiential education as emphasised in NEP 2020. Continued on P2 2,000-yr-old inscription with damaru & trident among 11 found in Peddapalli S i d d h a r d h a G at t i m i @ Hyderabad The inscription found in Peddapalli In a remarkable development that deepens the historical narrative of Telangana, the Epigraphy branch of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has documented 11 ancient inscriptions dating from the 1st century BCE to the 6th century CE. These newly recorded etchings strengthen the theory that the region was once part of Asmaka — one of the 16 Mahajanapadas mentioned in early Indian texts. Carved into a rock locally known as Sitammalodi near Gattusingaram village in Peddapalli, the inscriptions open a rare window into the socio-political and cultural landscape of the early Deccan, especially during the Satavahana period. The survey was conducted on April 29 and 30 under the leadership of ASI director (Epigraphy) K Munirathnam Reddy with the support of local Forest department. Munirathnam Reddy told TNIE that the Epig raphy branch had earlier confirmed Telangana’s connection to Asmaka through an inscription found in Mukkataraopeta, Karimnagar district, about three years ago. “This latest discovery adds further weight to that historical link,” he remarked. Among the newly discovered inscriptions, one found at the Gundavaram rock shelter is particularly intriguing. Opening with a trident and a damaru — symbols traditionally associated with a religion — it marks the first known appearance of such iconography in an early inscription in South India. Written in Brahmi script and Prakrit language, the inscription states that the land east of the hill was under the control of Siri Devarana, a mahatalavara. “This blending of religious symbols is unique and calls for deeper scholarly exploration,” Munirathnam Reddy noted. Another notable inscription from the same site mentions a donor from the Haritiputra lineage, likely linked to the Chutu dynasty, who was a friend of Kumara Hakusiri — a Satavahana prince. This figure is credited with commissioning the excavation of a cave for the benefit of Buddhist monks. The reference suggests a cordial relationship or possible alliance between the Chutus and the Satavahanas, shedding new light on the power dynamics and patterns of religious patronage in the early Deccan. According to Munirathnam Reddy, the first Telugu inscription, which belonged to 575 CE, was found in Kalamalla village of Kadapa district. He expressed gratitude to the Telangana government for facilitating the ASI team’s forest survey, which made these important discoveries possible.