visakhapatnam l friday l january 30, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l late city EDITION Maharashtra bids a tearful adieu to Ajit Pawar ‘dada’ a rich legacy turns into a memory As thousands gathered to pay their last respects, Pawar’s sons, Parth and Jay, lit the funeral pyre in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Pawar’s extended family. Sharad Pawar, Ajit’s uncle, sat quietly watching a legacy he helped build become a memory. The former deputy CM and four others had perished in a plane crash in Baramati Wednesday The 66-year-old NCP chief was cremated with full state honours at the Vidya Pratishthan college ground in Baramati on Thursday | P8 thackerays, bjp top brass pay tribute ■ ■ Ajit Pawar’s cousin Supriya Sule, NCP (SP) Lok Sabha member, stood with his wife Sunetra Pawar, a Rajya Sabha member, to console her Shiv Sena (UBT) head Uddhav Thackeray and MNS chief Raj Thackeray offered floral tributes at Ajit Pawar’s home. The entire top brass of the BJP, led by Amit Shah, was in attendance at the funeral 16,500 hours was the combined flying experience of the pilots of the jet 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 Policy prescriptions Tariff impact Focus on building national capabilities and economic sovereignty in the face of shrinking space for rules-based trading, anti-immigrant stance, weaponisation of energy and export controls 2% Costly freebies Direct cash transfers to voters ahead of elections ­— a new strategy adopted by political parties — have long-term viability risks. Aggregate spending on such transfers would be `1.7 lakh crore in FY26, it warned Cool inflation Retail inflation is unlikely to cause any major worries for the economy, supported by favourable supply-side conditions and the gradual pass-through of GST rate cuts. Inflation is likely to average 2% this fiscal. The new CPI series, due to kick in on Feb 12, will have implications for inflation assessment, warranting careful interpretation of price dynamics G RAM G vs MGNREGS Learning outcome The VB-G RAM G Act, 2025 was brought in because there was a notable decline in work under MGNREGS, the Survey said. Since its enactment in 2005, MGNREGS provided wage employment, stabilised rural income, and created basic infrastructure, but the nature of rural employment requirements transformed overtime. VB-G RAM G is a comprehensive statutory overhaul of the earlier scheme, it said Elementary school enrolment is near universal, but learning outcomes remain weak. National assessments show many upper primary students struggle with basic reading and arithmetic. Although India accounts for 27% of the global population in the relevant age group, its expected years of schooling is only 13, compared to 15.5 in China and Germany, and 15.9 in the US 27% Economic Survey 2025-26 Despite trade risks and global volatility, national GDP to grow at 6.8-7.2% for FY27, says Chief Economic Advisor India to keep fastest growth tag P U SHPITA D E Y @ New Delhi INDIA’s economic engine is revving up and is expected to enter the next financial year at full throttle, the Economic Survey 2025-26 tabled in Parliament on Thursday signalled as it projected a real GDP growth rate 6.8%-7.2% for FY27. This outlook follows a strong performance in FY26 where the economy is estimated to grow at 7.4%, reinforcing India’s position as the world’s fastestgrowing major economy for the fourth consecutive year. The Survey upgraded India’s medium-term potential growth rate to 7% from the previous estimate of 6.5%. However, it flagged global uncertainties and warned of a 2008-like crisis in 2026. Given the potential risks, having a strong and sustained manufacturing growth would be the need of the hour, the finance ministry said. “First Advance Estimates place real GDP growth at 7.4% with growth largely driven by domestic demand. Private consumption and capital formation continue to support expansion, while services remain the key contributor on the supply side,” the Survey said. Higher tax collection, better export market, lower inflation and better employment will contribute to the growth momentum. The Survey tabled by , Finance Minister Nir mala Sitharaman in both Houses on Thursday, highlighted how internal resilience has helped create a buffer for the economy against external headwinds. The Survey highlighted the tax reforms – both in direct and indirect taxes – during the previous year, and noted that these helped India make a calibrated fiscal strategy, anchored in credible deficit reduction leading to resilient revenue mobilisation, and better spending toward capital formation. The Survey listed strong fiscal indicators – revenue receipts rising from 8.5 % of GDP in the pre-pandemic period (FY16-FY20) to 9.1% in FY22FY25, moderation of revenue expenditure from 13.6% of GDP in FY22 to 10.9 % in FY25, and halving of fiscal deficit from India is indeed an oasis of macro stability in an otherwise turbulent world. Numbers speak for themselves — Chief Economic Advisor V Anantha Nageswaran Economic Survey highlights investment reforms of AP and decline in inflation S V i s w a n at h @ Vijayawada Investment refor ms of Andhra Pradesh, construction of Capital Amaravati, and reduction in inflation were highlighted in the Economic Survey 2025-26. It was mentioned that Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala not only enhanced their business environments by integrating sustainability measures but also reduced the time taken for environmental clearances for industries through the Business Reform Action Plan (BRAP). It was noted that Andhra Less weightage for food items in inflation basket D i pa k m o nd a l @ New Delhi FOOD items, often blamed for sharp volatility in inflation, will carry significantly lesser weightage in determining consumer price index (CPI) levels under the new series to be launched in February 2026.   The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has revealed that the weight of food and beverages in the inflation basket has been reduced to 36.75% from 54.18% in the current series. In the new basket, food will have a weight of 34.77%, while beverages will account for 1.77%. At present, food makes up 44.6% of the combined CPI, which tracks retail inflation. The revised CPI basket is based on the latest Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) 2023–24. According to the survey the share of food , expenditure has declined from 52.90% in 2011–12 to 47% in rural areas, and from 46.62% to 40% in urban areas. Other components of the basket have also been reweighted to reflect changing consumption patterns. Pradesh, in BRAP 2024, implemented single-window industrial clearances, online land registration, and e-environmental approvals. Now, Andhra Pradesh has expanded its Online Consent Management & Monitoring System, allowing firms to apply for consent, and track approval digitally, reducing delay and enhancing data transparency between industry and the Pollution Control Board. With regard to the construction of Capital Amaravati, the Economic Survey mentioned that urban living space needs to be designed from scratch in the greenfield city . This provides a rare window of opportunity, where growth can still be shaped deliberately , rather than retrofitted after congestion, informality, and service deficits set in. Tirupati and Vijayawada figured among the top 10 Ease of Living Cities in India. The existing Ease of Living Index by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs defines ease of living by measuring quality of life across the parameters of education, health, housing, water and sanitation, waste management, mobility, safety, and P4 recreation. Tirupati, V’wada in top 10 Tirupati and Vijayawada figured among the top 10 Ease of Living Cities in India. Notably, the cities in this list are largely newer or tier-2 urban centres that have not yet been subjected to population pressure Express read ACB unearths assets worth `20 cr in raids on Home Guard Vizianagaram: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Thursday conducted raids on the properties of Home Guard N Srinivasa Rao. Disproportionate assets worth `20 crore, including two flats, a building, four house sites, 23½ cents of wet land, 166 grams of gold, `7.07 lakh bank balance, a car and a bike, were unearthed during raids | P5 Free power for pit & power looms in State from April 1 Vijayawada: The State government has announced the rollout of a major welfare measure for weavers, fulfilling a key NDA poll promise. From April 1, 200 units of free electricity will be provided for pit looms, and 500 units for power looms, benefiting 1,03,534 families in the State, said Minister for Handlooms S Savitha | P4 Was animal fat found in ghee supplied to TTD? Here is what SIT concluded E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Tirupati The Supreme Court-appointed, CBI-led Special Investigation Team (SIT), which stated that the ghee supplied to the TTD between 2019 and 2024 was adulterated, produced two laboratory reports as part of its probe into the presence of animal fat. One report was from the National Dairy Development Board Centre for Analysis and Learning in Livestock and Food (NDDB CALF), Anand in Gujarat, and the other from the ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute (ICAR-NDRI), Karnal in Haryana. After examining the NDDB CALF report, the SIT observed that the chances of the pres- ence of tallow, lard and fish oil were very low, and concluded that the TTD ghee samples were primarily a mixture of palm oil and or palm stearin with palm kernel oil. The ICAR-NDRI analysed the samples using a PCR-based method (Ref. No. NDRI/DC/ VS/SOP-I) with a limit of detection of more than 10 per cent and did not detect lard in any of the four samples. In its supplementary chargesheet, the SIT stated that the ghee supplied under the label of ‘Agmark Special Grade Cow Ghee’ was in fact a blend of refined palm oil, refined palm kernel oil and refined palmolein with a minimal quantiP4 ty of ghee.  Scam value estimated at `234 cr The SIT stated that a large network of private dairy firms, chemical suppliers, middlemen and officials supplied fake and synthetic ghee to the TTD for the preparation of Srivari laddu. The value of the scam was estimated at over `234 cr 9.2% in FY21 to 4.4% in FY26. The Survey advocated for more de-regulation to create a self-reliant (Swedeshi) Indian economy. At turbulent times when the “trade is no longer reciprocal” and “markets are no longer neutral”, Swadeshi-oriented policies will be empirical to Indian economic growth. Chief Economic Advisor V Anantha Nageswaran said Swadeshi Ecosystem could be achieved through deregulation, wh o l e - o f - g ove r n m e n t ap proach, and cluster-led growth, input costs reduction including removal of inversion and crosssubsidisation. And thus, having an entrepreneurial mindset is much needed to have a risktaking attitude. Vague, capable of misuse SC stays UGC fiat on campus equity S U CHITRA KALYA N MOHA N T Y @ New Delhi THE Supreme Court on Thursday stayed till March 19 the University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, notified on January 23 after hearing a batch of pleas challenging the Commission’s controversial order. The new Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Regulations, 2026 had revised measures to tackle castebased discrimination in campuses by restricting grievance mechanisms only for SC, ST and OBC categories. “The 2026 UGC regulations on what amounts to castebased discrimination shall be kept in abeyance. The 2012 Regulations will continue. The provisions are prima facie vague and capable of misuse,” the court said. A two-judge bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi passed the order noting that the court was prepared to examine the constitutionality of the new regulations. The petitions before the court alleged that the UGC adopted a non-inclusive definition of caste-based discrimination and excluded certain categories from institutional protection. Several pleas challenged the regulations for excluding ‘general category’ students from the g rievance redressal mechanism. The court orally observed that if it does not intervene in the matter, it “will lead to a dangerous impact” and “divide the society”. In strong remarks during the hearing, the Chief Justice questioned Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, asking whether the country was becoming regressive. It also questioned why ragging had been left out of the scope of the new regulations, though it is a common form of harassment within educational institutions. Referring to provisions in the new regulations that contemplate separate hostels for different castes, the court said, “For God’s sake, don’t do this. We all used to stay together.” The Centre, UGC and others have been asked to file their detailed responses by March 19.