visakhapatnam l saturday l february 21, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 14 l late city EDITION No cash payments at national highway toll plazas from April Starting April, cash transactions may not be accepted at NHAI toll plazas, aiming to create a fully digital National Highway toll ecosystem will aid transparency, says centre The ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH) on Friday said the transition will help to enhance ‘Ease of Commuting’ for highway users by improving lane throughput, reducing congestion at fee plazas and bringing greater consistency and transparency in toll transactions. Users are most likely to only be allowed to pay the road toll through digital or UPI mode ■ 1,150 looking at cutting cash transactions ■ As per current National Highway fee rules, vehicles entering a toll plaza without a valid, functional FASTag are charged twice the applicable user fee, if paid in cash, and 1.25 times from UPI mode These initiatives have collectively advanced the objective of reducing dependency on cash transactions and digitizing the toll framework toll plazas across the country are likely to be affected 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 SC strikes SC directs use of judicial officers in Bengal SIR down Trump’s global tariffs s u c h i t r a k a lya n m o h a n t y Trinamool says it’s a blow to eci @ New Delhi US President denounces the adverse ruling, announces new 10% global tariff P u s h p i ta De y & J aya n t h j a c o b @ New Delhi IN a landmark judgment with significant implications for India’s trade outlook, the US Supreme Court has ruled that President Donald Trump acted beyond his legal authority in imposing sweeping global tariffs under emergency powers. The court held that tariffs are effectively taxes and the Constitution assigns taxation powers to the Congress, not the President. In a 6-3 decision authored by Chief Justice John Roberts, the court held that the use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to introduce broad-based tariffs lacked Congressional authorisation. The justices ruled that IEEPA did not grant the power to the President to impose tariffs on trading partners. The court emphasized that the law of imposing tariff is only meant for use in national emergencies. Trump reacted furiously alleging that the , court was influenced by “foreign interests”. He also announced a 10% “global tariff ” under a trade law known as Section 122. In light of the US court ruling, more than half of the Indian exports will not have to pay even the 18% tariff and, therefore, India may choose not to rush to sign the Bilateral Trade Agreement, say experts. “Removal of reciprocal tariffs will free about 55% of India’s exports to the US from the 18% duty, leaving them subject only to standard MFN (most favoured nation) tariffs. On the remaining exports, Section 232 tariffs will continue — 50% on steel and aluminium and 25% on certain auto components — while products accounting for roughly 40% of export value, including smartphones, petroleum products and medicines, will remain exempt from US tariffs,” said Ajay Srivastava, founder of Global Trade Research Initiative. “The US had agreed to reduce reciprocal tariffs on India to 18%, which shall no longer remain relevant following the Court’s decision. This is also likely pave the way for potential refunds of tariffs collected without adequate legal basis,” said Manoj Mishra, partner and tax controversy management leader at Grant Thornton Bharat.  (With agency inputs) I’m ashamed of certain members of the court, absolutely ashamed, for not having the courage to do what’s right for our country Donald Trump Refunds could be a mess The Treasury had collected more than $133 billion from the import tariffs Trump imposed. But Supreme Court did not clarify whether companies that paid tariffs can get a refund Critics welcome SC ruling Opponents of the tariffs are cheering it. ‘We Pay the Tariffs’ a coalition of businesses, called it a tremendous win IN a dramatic turn of events, the Supreme Court on Friday directed for deployment of judicial officers, including retired judges, for easy and smooth conduct of the special intensive revision (SIR) exercise in West Bengal, after noting that there was a clear lack of cooperation between the State government and the Election Commission of India (ECI). The court said it had to pass the “extraordinary order” due to “extraordinary circumstances.” The court requested the Calcutta High Court Chief Justice Sujoy Paul to allot serving We are left with hardly any option but to request Calcutta HC CJ to spare serving judicial officers along with former judicial officers who can aid in disposal of claims under logical discrepancy list — SC and former judicial officers in the rank of district judges or above for SIR duties. Chief Justice Paul has been asked to convene a meeting on Saturday, to be attended by Chief Secretary, DGP, official from the EC, Advocate General MHA invokes Official Secrets Act to secure note printing press HQ m u k e s h r a n j a n @ New Delhi All about OSA THE Centre has designated the headquarters of the Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited (SPMCIL) in the national capital as a “prohibited place” under the provisions of the Official Secrets Act, 1923. The decision is aimed at reinforcing security at the strategic installation and preventing any unauthorised access that could compromise sensitive information or cause damage to the premises, officials said. They said that the move is preventive in nature and intended to strengthen safe- Under the OSA, areas designated as prohibited are subject to heightened security restrictions. Unauthorised access, photography, sketching, or collection of information in such premises can attract stringent penal provisions under the Act guards around the facility and noted that any breach of information or harm to the headquarters could potentially be exploited by forces inimical to India’s interests. By bringing the premises under the ambit of the Official Secrets Act, authorities have Officials discuss strategy for accurate collection of Census data Vijayawada: Deputy Registrar General of India VVLN Sharma has urged the District Collectors, who are the District Principal Census Officers, to play a key role in the census collection. Issues related to the conduct of Census-2027 were discussed at a State-level meeting on Friday | P5 HRD Minister calls for setting up State Central Library in Amaravati Vijayawada: Minister for HRD and IT Nara Lokesh has said the State Central Library to be constructed in the people’s capital Amaravati should be a symbol of the history and culture of Andhra Pradesh. He made several suggestions after going through the design of Central Library building | P4 E x p r e s s Ne w s Se r v i c e @ Vijayawada @ New Delhi 7pm: New Zealand vs Pakistan(Colombo) WB government and the ECI. Now the process is stuck at the stage of claims and objections SHIRTLESS PROTEST eXPR E SS N E WS S E RVIC E @ New Delhi A group of Indian Youth Congress workers on Friday staged a bizarre, shirtless protest at the India AI Impact Summit, shouting slogans against the government and the India-US trade deal before being confronted by members of the public and escorted away by security personnel. The protesters were seen waving white T-shirts printed with images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump. Police said they had registered online and obtained QR codes to enter the venue. They allegedly concealed the T-shirts under their jackets and pulled them out dramatically when they reached Hall No. 5. The protest drew a sharp reaction from the BJP with party , spokesperson Sambit Patra saying, “For the Congress, I have just three words—topless, brainless and shameless.” IYC national president Uday Bhanu Chib defended the action, saying, “Peaceful protest is our right in a democracy, and we will continue to raise the voice of the youth.” AP signs seven pacts at AI Impact Summit Express news service Today’s Match sought to create a stronger legal deterrent against trespassing, espionage or other security violations. The order also clarified that it supersedes an earlier notification dated February 15, 2022, except in cases where actions have already been taken under the previous directive. The notified premises comprise the SPMCIL Headquarters Office located in Tower-G of the World Trade Centre at Nauroji Nagar in Delhi. A wholly owned Schedule ‘ ’ A Miniratna Category-I company , SPMCIL was incorporated on January 13, 2006, and manufactures currency notes coins. e x p r e ss r e a d India joins US-led ‘Pax Silica’ alliance INDIA on Friday for mally joined the Pax Silica coalition, which seeks to ensure strengthen strategic technology and supply chain cooperation between India and the US, while addressing China’s dominance in the critical minerals sector. The alliance is expected to bolster India’s growing role in the semiconductor sector. “The semiconductor industry will require one million new skilled professionals, and this is a very big opportunity for India,” said Minister of Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw. In a joint statement, India and the US said they plan to deepen cooperation under the Pax Silica framework to support future supply chains. “The initiative seeks to reduce overconcentration in global supply chains, prevent economic coercion,” a government P9 statement said.  of the state, Additional Solicitor General of the Centre and Registrar General of the high court on the issue. “There is an unfortunate blame game of allegations and counter allegations which shows trust deficit between the Hailing the SC order to deploy judicial officers for SIR exercise, the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) said that it is a blow to the Election Commission, which has failed in discharging its constitutional responsibilities. “SC just delivered the knockout punch... all logical discrepancy cases will be handled by judicial officers,” said TMC’s Kalyan Banerjee Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu holds a meeting with a delegation from Adobe, led by Shantanu Narayen, Chair and Chief Executive Officer, at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi on Friday | Express On a day-long visit to the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu placed education firmly at the centre of Andhra Pradesh’s artificial intelligence ambitions. The Chief Minister oversaw the signing of seven MoUs and Letters of Intent, most of them directly focused on higher education, advanced skilling and school transformation. Andhra Pradesh has chosen to build its AI future through students. The Gover nment of AP signed a Letter of Intent with IBM India Private Limited to skill one lakh learners over the next three to five years in Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecu- rity and Quantum Computing. The collaboration will explore access to IBM’s global digital learning platforms, enabling learners from AP to gain industry aligned, future ready skills and strengthening the State’s emerging tech workforce pipeline. A Letter of Intent was also signed with the United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC) to establish a Centre of Excellence for AI and Quantum at Amaravati Quantum Valley in 2026. In a significant higher education milestone, the State signed an MoU with the National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology (NIELIT) to establish the first NIELIT Deemed to be University campus in South India, dedicated to Quantum and AI education.P4 India assumes chair of IONS, to focus on CORE principles U s h a Pe r i @ Visakhapatnam India assumed the chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) from Thailand during the 9th Conclave of Chiefs held in Visakhapatnam on Friday, marking its return to the leadership of the forum after 16 years. Announcing this, Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, said, “India as- sumed the chair after 16 years. Being the founder nation of IONS, it headed the chair in 2008 and has now assumed the chair again. Speaking on the sidelines of the conclave, Vice Admiral Sobti asserted that India is prepared to take on greater responsibility in promoting peace, stability and maritime security in , the Indian Ocean Region. He noted that maritime challenges Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi assumes IONS Chairmanship from Admiral Pairote Fuangchan, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Navy, in Vizag on Friday | Express were shared by many countries and required better interoperability structured communica, tion, and coordinated responses among navies. In his address, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi said the Indian Ocean was a shared strategic space that required collective efforts to ensure safety and stability. “The 21st century is widely regarded as a maritime of the persons who have been included in the logical discrepancy list,” said a three-judge bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipin Pancholi. Directing to appoint judicial officers to adjudicate claims and objections in the SIR process in WB, the top court clarfied that it was left with no other option but to involve the state judiciary for conclusion of the SIR exercise in Bengal. The court was hearing a batch of pleas challenging the ECI’s exercise of electoral rolls in West Bengal, where ECI submitted that they were not being provided well-qualified officers to conduct SIR. century and increasingly as an Indian Ocean Century The In. dian Ocean is not merely a geostrategic space but a shared strategic zone whose stability supports global growth and collective well-being,” he stated. He said India would focus on strengthening the CORE principles of IONS namely, Cooperation, Operational awareness, Resilience, and Sustained P4 Engagement.  TTD ghee row: Dinesh to head one-man panel S V i s w a n at h @ Vijayawada The State government on Friday issued orders, appointing retired IAS officer Dinesh Kumar (1983 batch) as the OneMan Committee to examine the allegations of supply of adulterated and substandard ghee to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD). After the Supreme Court-appointed SIT, led by the Central Bureau of Investigation, which investigated the supply of adulterated ghee to the TTD, submitted its report, the gover nment had decided to constitute a One-Man Committee to study the lapses and take action against the officials responsible. The One-Man Committee has been tasked to examine the Self-Contained Note and recommend initiation of suitable action as deemed fit against erring committee members and senior officials of TTD for lapses, omissions, and failures in the relaxation as well as enforcement of ghee tender norms. The Terms of Reference of the Committee are to assess administrative lapses, omissions or failures in relaxation and enforcement of tender conP4 ditions.