The New Indian Express Wishes its Readers a Our offices and press will remain closed today & there will be no issue of the paper on Thursday vijayawada l wednesday l august 27, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 16 l late city EDITION One-third school students take pvt coaching: Centre’s survey The survey on education found that nearly 70% of students in urban areas are enrolled in private schools, with 30.7% relying on private coaching Trend more prevalent in rural areas Education costlier in urban, pvt schools The Centre’s Comprehensive Modular Survey (CMS), released on Tuesday, noted that the trend of taking private coaching was more common in urban areas than in rural areas (25.5%). The CMS education survey is part of the 80th round of the National Sample Survey and is focused on household expenditure for currently enrolled students in school education education during the current academic year in government schools was estimated at `2,863 against `25,002 in private schools ■ The average annual household expenditure on private coaching per student was estimated at `3,988 in urban areas and `1,793 in rural ■ The average per-student expenditure made by households on school Govt Scholarships first major source of education funding for 1.2% students 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 Chenab, Tawi, Ujh, Ravi in spate; bridges in Jammu damaged 11 killed, 7 on landslide-hit Pakistan Vaishno Devi route Srinagar Jammu Ardhkuwari , Katra India Rescue and relief operations by CRPF personnel after a landslide near Adh Kuwari in Katra | IANS 155.6 mm rainfall in Kathua in 24 hrs Telecom network down across J&K Kathua recorded the highest 24-hour rainfall at 155.6 mm, followed by Bhaderwah (99.8 mm), Jammu (81.5 mm) and Katra (68.8 mm), according to the met department Communication blackout total due to network outage across all telecom operators in J&K. The operators attributed it to optical fibre damages, disrupting both voice and data services A van swept away as raging river damaged a road, in Manali on Tuesday | PTI Rare recusal Higher judiciary pressure, says NCLAT judge Express News Service @ New Delhi IN a rare incident, a judicial member of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) has recused himself from hearing a case after he was allegedly “approached by one of the most revered members of the higher judiciary”. “We are anguished to observe, that one of us, Member (Judicial), has been approached by one of the most revered members of the higher judiciary of this country for seeking an order in favour of a particular party,” said the NCLAT order dated August 13. The order was passed by a two-judge member bench of the NCLAT, headed by Justice Sharad Kumar Sharma, who recused from hearing the case. “I recuse to hear the matter. Place before the chairperson for nomination of an appropriate bench,” Justice Sharma said in the order. The other technical member of the NCLAT’s two-judge bench at the Chennai-based bench of the appellate tribunal was Jatindranath Swain. The NCLAT bench was hearing an appeal filed by A S Reddy, suspended director of Hyderabad-based KLSR Infratech which is facing Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code. Express News Service @ Jammu At least 11 people were killed and several others injured on Tuesday as relentless heavy rain wreaked havo c a c ro s s Ja m m u a n d Kashmir, triggering landslides, flash floods and widespread damage to public and private property . Among the casualties, seven pilgrims died and 14 were injured when a massive landslide hit near Ardhkunwari on the pilgrimage route to the Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district. The incident occurred around 3 pm near the Inderprastha Bhojnalaya, halfway along the 12-km trek to the shrine atop Trikuta Hills. Officials said the yatra had already been suspended on the Himkoti route in the morning, and the old track was closed by 1.30 pm due to worsening conditions. Four more deaths were reported from Doda district in separate rain-related incidents, taking the total toll to nine. The Jammu division witnessed flooding, infrastructure damage, and traffic paralysis, prompting the administration to suspend the Jammu-Srinagar and Kishtwar-Doda highways and multiple interior roads. More than two-do zen houses and bridges were damaged, and most rivers, including the Chenab, Tawi, Ujh, and Ravi, crossed danger levels, submerging lowlying areas and roads across the region. In Kathua district, the Modhopur barrage crossed the one lakh cusecs mark, causing flooding in areas along the Ravi. All educational institutions and non-essential offices have been ordered shut across Jammu division. The weather office forecast very heavy rainfall over the next 40 hours in Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Reasi, Udhampur, Rajouri, Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar. It warned of flash floods, cloudbursts, and landslides in high-altitude areas. Help turn 1 lakh women into entrepreneurs: CM to banks E x p r e s s N e w s S e r v i c e @ Vijayawada Revealing that the State government has evolved an action plan to turn one lakh women into entrepreneurs by March 8, 2026, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday sought the support of bankers to realise the target. Chairing the 232rd State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC) meeting at the Secretariat, Naidu said he promoted the ‘One Family - One Software Engineer’ concept in the past, and now laid emphasis on ‘One Family - One Entrepreneur’ giving priority to women’s empowerment. DWCRA women have achieved economic growth by availing bank loans. Now, banks should come forward to extend loans to women entrepreneurs as the State government has decided to develop MSME parks in all 175 Assembly segments, he said.  P4 RSS Centenary lecture series Uniformity not needed for unity: RSS chief Bhagwat wat stated, “Those who believe in the following their faith, respect Amid sharp political polarisation those of others, and work together across the country, RSS chief Mo- for the Rashtra are Hindus.” han Bhagwat on Tuesday conveyed Explaining the objectives of the a message of moderation and unity Sangh, he said it does not seek uni, pointing out that having different formity for unity “The Sangh be. ideologies is not a crime. lieves that to be united we do not Inaugurating a three-day need uniformity We have a . lecture series to mark the culture of living together in Sangh’s centenary, he said, harmony Bhagwat said, as ,” “For 40,000 years, the DNA he stressed the importance of people in Akhand Bharat o f i n cl u s ive n at i o n a l is the same. Our culture and development. worldview is same — of livThe only way to make the ing in coordination and Vascountry great once again is u d h a i v a Ku t u m b a k a m Mohan Bhagwat through qualitative develop(World is one family)”. ment of the society and its He went on to state that “The nat- participation in national progress, ural religion of Bharat is coordina- he said. The goal, he explained, is to tion, not conflict, and Hindus have elevate the country to the status of the tradition of walking together. “Vishwaguru” (global teacher), addWe all have a collective responsibil- ing the time for India to make its ity towards the country .” contribution to the world has Defining who is a Hindu, Bhag- arrived. RA J ESH K U M AR T HA K U R @ New Delhi GoM on ‘housing for all’ set up India braces for impact as 50% tariffs kick in Industry seeks urgent relief; RBI, govt offer credit, financial support P U SH P I TA DEY @ New Delhi jay Malhotra pledged financial relief for affected sectors. Dashing hopes of a last-minute Experts say these measures are reprieve, the Trump administra- not enough. S C Ralhan, president tion on Tuesday confirmed that the of Federation of Indian Export Oradditional 25% tariff on Indian ganisations, warns 55% of India’s goods will kick in on August 27, tak- shipments to the US — worth $47-48 ing the total levy to 50%. billion — now face a 30-35% pricing According to a notice issued by disadvantage against exporters the US Customs and Border Protec- from China, Vietnam, Cambodia, tion, the additional duties will cov- and other Asian economies. er a wide range of InSeveral associations dian exports including have urged fiscal relief textiles, gems and jewuntil trade terms are ellery, leather, machinrenegotiated under the ery, furniture and map ro p o s e d b i l at e r a l rine products. trade pact with the US. The tariffs are being Mithileshwar Def talks amid imposed under US Thakur, secretary-gentrade tension President Donald eral, AEPC, said the Trump’s executive orsector urgently needs India and US held der of August 6, anadditional funds, mora2+2 Intersessional nouncing a punitive torium on loan repayDialogue on August 25% levy on India for ments, among others. 25 to review key buying Russian oil. Rakesh Mehra, chairstrategic priorities The impact will be man, Confederation of and discuss ways severe for labour-intenIndian Textile Industry , to advance defence sive sectors such as texsaid finding new marand security tiles, apparel, gems & kets and clients can’t cooperation, the jewellery, and marine be done overnight. Ministry of External products, with effective The Gem & Jewellery Affairs said in a duties climbing as high Export Promotion statement | P9 as 64% once existing Council has sought remost-favoured nation imbursements coverrates are factored in. However, ing 25-50% of additional tariff. steel, copper, aluminium, smartFor smaller firms, the Indian phones, semiconductors, and auto- SME Forum flagged structural mobiles have been spared. gaps in access to global trade data. Exporters seek urgent relief in It urged the government to operathe form of interest subvention tionalise the Global Market Intelschemes and easier access to ex- ligence System to help identify export credit. The commerce minis- port opportunities and set up try has assured industry of credit International Trade Desks to guide support while RBI Governor San- MSMEs in emerging markets.  P14 New U.S. Sectoral Tariffs on Indian Goods applicable (in percent) Smart phones 0% on Pharma, Shrimps 50% ( 0 | 50) Petroleum products 6.9% ( 6.9 | 0) Organic chemicals 54% Textile, made up 59% ( 9 | 50) Diamonds, gold & products 52.1% ( 2.1 | 50) ( 4 | 50) Steel, Copper, aluminium Carpets ( 1.7 | 50) 52.9% ( 2.9 | 50) Apparel; Knitted 63.9% ( 13.9 | 50) Apparel; woven 60.3% ( 10.3 | 50) 51.7% Vehicles,& parts 26% ( 1 | 25) Machinery, mechanical appliances 51.3% ( 1.3 | 50) Source: GTRI U.S. MFN Tariff (%) New Trump Tariff (%) The State government has constituted a Group of Ministers (GoM) to oversee the implementation of the Housing for All programme Vanpic to face trial in Jagan quid pro quo case T G N a i d u @ Hyderabad The Telangana High Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition filed by Vadarevu and Nizampatnam Industrial Corridor (Vanpic) Projects Pvt Ltd seeking quashing of prosecution in the CBI’s quid pro quo case. Justice EV Venugopal rejected the plea filed by the company, represented by its general manager PK Ravi, challenging the criminal proceedings before the Principal Special Judge for CBI cases, Nampally. The corporate entity had questioned the CBI court’s decision to take cognisance of offences attributed to it. Vanpic Projects Pvt Ltd, floated by industrialist Nimmagadda Prasad during the tenure of former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy is ac, cused of investing in companies owned by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy in return for land allotm e n t s. T h e C B I f i l e d a chargesheet against 14 accused, including the company and Prasad, for cheating, criminal conspiracy and related offences. In July 2022, the High Court had quashed the case against the company on the ground that it was an artificial person. The CBI challenged the decision in the Supreme Court, which remanded the matter for fresh hearing. On rehearing, the High Court upheld the prosecution. With the latest order, Vanpic will face trial before the P4 CBI Special Court. Navy commissions advanced stealth frigates INS Udaygiri & INS Himgiri U s h a P e r i @ Visakhapatnam “I want to reiterate that Operation Sindoor is not over, it is merely a pause,” said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. He was speaking at the commissioning of two advanced stealth frigates INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri at the Easter n Naval Command Headquarters in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday . The Defence Minister presided over the ceremony which marked , the first time two frontline surface combatants built at different shipyards, were commissioned simultaneously . Addressing the gathering, Singh reaffirmed the Centre’s commitment to self-reliance in defence manufacturing. “INS Tamal was the last foreign order for the Indian Navy No fu. ture ship for the Indian Navy will be built abroad. All will be constructed in India,” he asserted. The Defence Minister described the commissioning of the two frigates as an important step toward enhancing indigenous capabilities. He reiterated India’s policy of restraint while asserting readiness to defend national security . “When our security is threatened, we know how to give a befitting reply. Innocent civilians were killed in Pahalgam. We gave an effective, measured Advanced stealth frigates INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri being commissioned at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday | express and precise response through Operation Sindoor,” he said. Singh reaffirmed the government’s firm commitment to strengthening the Armed Forces with a futuristic approach, describing it as a significant achievement of the Aatmanir- bhar Bharat campaign. “Today , we are safeguarding not only land, sea and air, but also space, cyberspace, economic space and social space. Self-reliance is no longer just a slogan but is becoming a reality, thanks to the relentless efforts of our scientists,,” he added. In his address, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi termed the double commissioning of INS Himgiri and INS Udaygiri a testament to India’s growing maritime power and self-reliance, noting that both warships have over 75% indigenous content. Highlighting the Navy’s capability to deliver decisive force from the sea, he cited Operation Sindoor as an example of swift deployment and deter- rence. The two frigates are follow-on ships of the Shivalikclass (Project 17) and incorporate improved stealth, advanced weapons, sensors, and modern propulsion systems. Both vessels are capable of performing a full range of maritime operations in bluewater conditions. INS Udaygiri was constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL), Mumbai, while INS Himgiri was built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata. The ships were designed inhouse by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau (WDB), with Udaygiri being 100th warship designed by it, marking a key milestone in five decades of inP4 digenous design efforts.