HYDERABAD l friday l April 03, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 36 l LATE CITY EDITION Amid tighter visa norms, Indian student count in U.S. falls 6.2% Over 3.52 lakh Indians are studying in the US as of February 2026, down from 3.78 lakh last year, the government told Parliament on Thursday ai generated Indians impacted by trump’s visa policy: mos ‘Govt raising student concerns with U.S.’ The Trump administration expanded screening and vetting for all visa applicants on June 18, 2025. The Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said this tougher filtering, including increased scrutiny and compliance requirements, had an impact on the number of US student visas issued to Indian nationals ■ ■ “The new US guidance mentions that every visa adjudication is a national security decision and calls on all applicants to credibly establish their eligibility for the visa sought,” Singh said The government has been regularly raising all issues being confronted by Indian students with the US authorities, he said 8.92 lakh Asian students in the United States as of March 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 HC okays Navy radar project, to monitor afforestation T G Nai d u @ Hyderabad The Telangana High Court has permitted the Indian Navy to proceed with its Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) radar project in Damagundam, located in Vikarabad district, while retaining oversight of environmental compliance. A bench of Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice GM Mohiuddin clarified that there would be no restriction on execution of the project. However, the PIL will remain pending for six m o n t h s t o r ev i e w t h e progress of compensatory afforestation undertaken by the Forest department. The matter is scheduled for further hearing on October 5. The PIL, filed in 2020 by the Damagundam Forest Protection JAC, challenged the allocation of nearly 2,900 acres of reserve forest land for the project. The court had earlier appointed amicus curiae Vivek Jain to inspect afforestation sites and submit a status report. Based on field visits to Thippapur in Vikarabad and Amangal in Rangareddy district, the report indicated a satisfactory level of plantation growth and survival. The Forest department, in its additional affidavit, reported an overall plant survival rate of 89.88%, with over 8.23 lakh saplings surviving out of more than 9.16 lakh planted during 2024–26. The affidavit further outlined plans to replace approximately 92,000 dead plants in the upcoming monsoon and to undertake fresh plantation across additional areas in the next two years. The court also took note of assisted natural regeneration efforts across degraded forest land. At UK-led talks, India SC stinker as for unimpeded transit mob gheraoes 60+ nations join Hormuz meet on safe passage options day 34 J aya n th J a c o b @ New Delhi India on Thursday called for immediate de-escalation in West Asia, warning of risks to global energy flows and maritime security, while highlighting that it is the only country to have lost mariners in recent attacks on merchant shipping in the Gulf. Representing India at a highlevel virtual meeting convened by UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said the crisis could only be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue. The meeting, attended by representatives from over 60 countries including France, Germany, Italy, Canada and the UAE, focused on the deteriorating security situation in key international waterways, particularly the Strait of Hormuz. In his remarks, the Foreign Secretary talked about “the importance of the principles of freedom of navigation and unimpeded transit through international waterways.” an official readout said. Misri stressed that “the way out of the crisis consisted of de-escalation and a return to the path of diplomacy and dialogue among all concerned parties,” signalling India’s preference for a political solution over military escalation. The meeting took place amid heightened tensions after US President Donald Trump suggested that ensuring the security of Hormuz should be the responsibility of nations that rely on it. The US did not participate in the meeting. The strait remains a critical artery for the global economy, line up the craft for trans-lunar injection burn Historic moonshot begins A g e n c ies @ Cape Canaveral Four astronauts embarked on a high-stakes flight around the moon, humanity’s first lunar voyage in more than half a century in , the wee hours of Thursday . The mission is a leadoff in NASA’s push toward a landing in two years. Carrying three Americans and one Canadian, the 32-storey rocket rose from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre where tens of thousands gathered to witness the historic event. After being placed in an earth orbit, the astronauts made manoeuvres to line up the craft for its trans-lunar injection burn. Food onboard includes tortillas, mango salad, spicy green beans and granola with blueberries. There are also more than 10 types of beverages, ranging from coffee to a mango-peach smoothie and a strawberry breakfast drink. “On this historic mission, you take with you the heart of this team, the daring spirit of the American people and our partners across the globe,” launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson told the crew. Customs duty off S UC H I T R A K A LYA N MO H A N T Y @ New Delhi Full customs duty exemption granted on critical petrochemical products for three months till June 30. Will help industries like plastics, packaging, textiles, pharma, chemicals, automotive components etc. Revenue loss pegged at `1,800 crore Don gives no timeline US President Donald Trump claims Israel and US were close to completing their key objectives in the war against Iran, adding the conflict would soon be over, but doesn’t provide an exact timeline Iran’s pushback Iran threatened “crushing” attacks on the US and Israel, firing missiles at Tel Aviv and US bases after Trump vowed to bomb the Islamic Republic “back to the Stone Ages” judges in WB Videograb of a strike on an IRGC missile base in Iran’s Baharestan, Isfahan | X handling nearly 20% of the world’s oil and LNG shipments and its ongoing blockade sent oil prices soaring above $100 per barrel. Two Indian seafarers had lost their lives since the beginning of the war. Cooper accused Iran of disrupting global trade. “We have seen Iran hijack an international shipping route to hold the global economy hostage,” she said, warning of ripple effects across energy fertiliser and fuel , supply chains worldwide. European countries, initially reluctant to commit naval forces, are now exploring a coordinated approach amid rising energy costs. Officials said the meeting marked the first step toward forming a coalition to restore safe passage. Initial plans include clearing mines from the waterway and ensuring protection for commercial vessels, with further consultations involving military planners expected in the coming weeks. THE Supreme Court on Thursday came down heavily on the West Bengal government for its inaction over the gherao of judicial officers in Malda district during the special intensive revision (SIR) drive, ordering an independent probe by the CBI or NIA. “We direct the ECI to entrust the enquiry /investigation to either the CBI or NIA. The compliance report shall be submitted to this court. The agency shall be obligated to submit a preliminary enquiry report directly to this court,” said a bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant during an urgent hearing on Thursday morning. The court took suo motu cognisance after it received a letter from the Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court detailing how the judicial officers, including three women, were held captive for nine hours without food or water by protesters who claimed their names were deleted from the voter list. The incident occurred during the SIR exercise in the Kaliachowk area of Malda district. The bench said the incident exposes the ‘complete failure of the state administration’. “We have never seen such a polarised state. Unfortunately in your state, each one of you speaks politi, cal language. That is the most unfortunate thing. We have never seen such a polarized state,” the CJI told West Bengal’s Advocate General. The bench also asked the election commission to deploy adequate central forces for the safety of judicial officers in the poll-bound state. Didi blames it on EC Mamata Banerjee distanced herself from the incident saying “EC failed to protect the judicial officers”. “My powers have been taken away; Bengal defamed,” she said This incident is a brazen attempt not only to browbeat judicial officers but challenge authority of this court Supreme Court Kolkata: Hours after the SC order, the Election Commission of India handed over the probe into the gherao of the seven judicial officers in West Bengal’s Malda district to the NIA. A top official of the poll body said the NIA team would reach West Bengal on Friday. The gherao happened when the officers were engaged in adjudicating cases of voters whose names had been marked “under adjudication” in the draft electoral rolls. The protesters initially sought a meeting but then resorted to a prolonged gherao NGT rejects plea against Musi project T G Nai d u @ Hyderabad eye on the future Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy inspects the ongoing construction works of the Future City Development Authority (FCDA) and Young India Skill University at Mirkhanpet on Thursday A letter to the PM sets off a churn within state BJP I re d d y S ri n i v as R e d d y @ Hyderabad The Telangana unit of the BJP was abuzz on Thursday after reports that a complaint, in the form of a letter, has been sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The letter, party sources say names against two influen, tial leaders from the state who are believed to hold sway at the national level. But it is not just who the complaint was lodged against that has stirred the unit but also who are rumoured to have signed it. Sources say that the letter was signed by five to six MPs, six to seven MLAs, along with several other senior leaders, including present and former leg- EC hands over case to NIA; probe team to reach today islators. The complaint is said to be directed at a Union minister and a senior MP, both accused of effectively running the state unit at their discretion. One of the supposed signato- ries has denied any involvement. The denial, however, has only added to the buzz, with sections within the party reading it as proof that the letter exists. Party insiders say the complainants have flagged concerns over the functioning and conduct of the leadership, alleging that initiatives meant to energise cadre against the ruling Congress have not found backing. There is also unease over the party’s failure to project itself as a credible alternative ahead of the next Assembly elections. The discontent appears to have spilled into organisational matters. Some MPs have objected to the selection of candidates for local body elections, including the upcoming Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) polls. According to sources, they have conveyed that they will pick candidates within their constituencies and take charge of electioneering. MLAs, too, are said to have raised similar concerns. A section of them maintains that their victories came despite strong contests from the BRS and Congress, with limited support from the party leadership. The reported scale of backing for the letter has kept it in steady circulation within party circles. Even as some leaders acknowledge its existence, they have distanced themselves from claims of having signed it.  continued on P4 The NGT on Thursday dismissed an application filed by Patlola Kartik Reddy challenging the Musi Riverfront Development Project, holding the plea to be premature. The NGT observed that the issues raised by the petitioner were already covered within the Terms of Reference issued by the State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority for conducting the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). The petitioner contended that state authorities had commenced construction activities without obtaining a valid Environmental Clearance (EC) and sought directions to halt further works and impose penalties for alleged violations. Additional Advocate General Tera Rajinikanth Reddy submitted that the EC process had already been initiated and that all ongoing activities were in compliance with the ToR. He argued that the application was premature and politically motivated. After considering the submissions, the Tribunal held that since the concerns raised were already addressed within the ToR framework, interference at this stage was unwarranted, leading to dismissal of the application. Star campaigner From sidelines to spotlight: How Tharoor shapes poll scene K S S R E E J I T H @ T’Puram TILL a few weeks ago, he was ignored and isolated by his own party in Kerala. But now, as the poll heat in Kerala has breached tolerance levels, the same Congress leaders are vying with each other to get his date. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor now has no time to rest, as United Democratic Front (UDF) candidates carry him from one campaign site to the next, hoping his charismatic persona and suave communication skills will draw voters. In the run-up to the assembly elections — Kerala goes to polls on April 9 — Tharoor has emerged the most sought-after star campaigner of the Congress, after Rahul Gandhi. Sources say every UDF candidate wants Tharoor to campaign, banking on h i s p o p u l a r ap p e a l among urban voters and the wider electorate. The dramatic change in the attitude of leaders is hard to miss. In a recent road show Tharoor shared stage with Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan, once a staunch adversary of the Thiruvananthapuram MP drawing signifi, cant public attention. “The requests for his participation exceed what can be accommodated. Leaders who once asked him to quit the party are now requesting his prese n c e, ” s a i d a leader. To campaign in 56 constituencies Tharoor is expected to cover 56 constituencies. In the first leg, from March 21 to April 1, he visited 37 constituencies. From April 2 to 6, he will participate in various programmes, including road shows with candidates After his entry into politics in 2009, Tharoor campaigned for Congress candidates in the 2011 and 2016 assembly elections. However, the KPCC leadership did not officially acknowledge his efforts. This came when his relationship with the Gandhi family appeared strained, and there were apprehensions among Kerala leaders about his possible bid for the CM post. However, following a meeting between Tharoor and Rahul in February, relations between the state Cong ress leadership and the Parliamentarian improved.