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The Supreme Court has set a three-month deadline for the Centre to implement food safety norms that make it mandatory to display key information about packaged food items on containers. Hearing a Public Interest Litigation, the bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan said the Centre must decide amendments to the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020 within three months.

Hearing the matter, Justice JB Pardiwala said, “You all have grandchildren? Let the order on petition come. You will know what Kurkure and Maggi are and how their wrappers should be. The packets have no information.”

During the hearing, the Centre drew the court’s attention to the affidavit filed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. It said the authorities have received 14,000 comments on the new rules and have decided to amend the regulations. The court disposed of the PIL after setting a three-month deadline for the Centre. The PIL had sought directions to the Centre and states to make the Front of Package Warning Label mandatory.

In June 2024, the FSSAI approved a proposal to display nutritional information, including total sugar, salt and saturated fat in bold letters and prominent font size on labels of packaged food items.

The amendment, a government statement said, is aimed at empowering consumers to better understand the nutritional value of the product they are consuming. Following this, the draft notification was put in the public domain for suggestions and objections.

“The information regarding per serve percentage (%) contribution to Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) would be given in bold letters for total sugar, total saturated fat and sodium content. Regulation 2 (v) and 5(3) of FSS (Labelling and Display) Regulation, 2020 specifies requirements to mention serving size and nutritional information on the food product label, respectively,” the government statement said.

“Along with empowering consumers make healthier choices, the amendment would also contribute towards efforts to combat the rise of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and promote public health and well-being. The prioritisation of the development of clear and distinguish labelling requirements would help in the global effort to combat NCDs,” it added.

India will buy 26 Rafale M fighter jets – i.e., the marine variants – for the Navy in a record government-to-government deal worth over Rs 63,000 crore, sources told NDTV Tuesday.

These will be the first major fighter jet upgrade for the country’s naval forces. The purchase had been first considered in July 2023, when the Defence Ministry contacted its French counterpart.

The deal will also include a comprehensive package for fleet maintenance, logistical support, personnel training, and indigenous manufacturing of components under offset obligations.

The agreements will likely be signed later this month, when French Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu visits India. Deliveries are expected five years after the deal is confirmed, sources said.

The fleet is, therefore, not likely to be fully inducted before 2031.

The Rafale M is widely considered one of the world’s most advanced naval fighter jets.

It is equipped with Safran Groups’ reinforced landing gears – regarded as one of the best for carrier-compatible aircraft – and also features folding wings, and a reinforced undercarriage to withstand harsh conditions, deck landing, and tailhooks.

NDTV Explains | Significance Of Rafale Boost For Navy’s Fighter Fleet

The jets – 22 single-seater and four twin-seater variants – will be deployed primarily on board indigenously-built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, as India looks to strengthen maritime strike capabilities, given the need to keep a watch on Chinese activities in the Indian Ocean region.

“We are tweaking our strategy to “negate” any infringement in its area of operations and is “ready to tackle threats from all neighbours”, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi said in December.

The Navy’s new Rafales will also help enhance the Air Force’s capabilities, including upgrading the ‘buddy-buddy’ aerial refuelling system, i.e., which allows one jet, equipped with a refuelling pod, to act as a fuel tanker for another, which allows the fighters to stay airborne longer.

The Navy’s new Rafales will complement the existing fleet of MiG-29Ks, which will likely continue to operate from INS Vikramaditya, India’s second (and older) aircraft carrier.

The Navy is also planning to induct indigenous, fifth-gen fighter jets that are being developed by the Defence Research and Development Institute, or DRDO.

NDTV Exclusive | First Look At Futuristic Variant Of India’s Tejas Fighter

These – styled as twin-engine, deck-based fighters – will be the naval counterpart of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft, or AMCA, being developed for the Air Force.

The Air Force operates 36 Rafale jets – the ‘C’ variant – out of two bases in the north.

With input from agencies

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NEW DELHI: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday urged members of the minority community to remain united and not be misled by political provocations, amid growing unrest over the implementation of the Waqf Act, 2025.
Banerjee said the Waqf Act will not be implemented in Bengal.
Mamata also said she would protect minority communities and their property, while speaking at a ‘Navkar Mahamantra Divas’ programme in Kolkata.
“I know that you are pained by the Waqf property issue, but have faith that there will be no divide and rule in Bengal,” Banerjee said. “Please remember, Didi will protect you and your property. You should give the message of live and let live. It is our duty to protect all those living in Bengal.”
She added a cautionary note, urging community members not to fall into political traps. “If anyone provokes you to assemble politically, please don’t do it. If we stay together, then we can conquer the world.”
“See the situation in Bangladesh. This (Waqf Bill) should have not been passed now,” Banerjee said.
Banerjee accused the Centre of trying to divide the nation through “jumla” politics.
Earlier, the Bengal CM also took a jibe at BJP-led Centre, accusing it of pursuing a divisive agenda. “The jumla party’s only point is to divide the country. First learn to respect the Constitution, and then talk about taking away someone’s rights,” she said, rejecting the Waqf Act as part of a broader “divide and rule policy”.
Violent protests erupt in Murshidabad
Shortly after the Act came into force on Tuesday, violent protests broke out in Murshidabad, where demonstrators allegedly torched a police vehicle. The administration reportedly throttled internet access in the area to prevent the spread of misinformation.
BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya shared videos of the unrest—unverified by independent sources—and blamed Banerjee’s “politics of Muslim appeasement” for the situation. “The West Bengal Police is struggling to rein in the violent Islamist mob… possibly under instructions from home minister Mamata Banerjee herself,” he claimed in a post on X.
He further alleged that the protesters raised slogans rejecting the Constitution and demanded Banerjee’s resignation. “Her inflammatory speeches have directly contributed to the current unrest,” Malviya added.
Centre’s stand on Waqf Act
The Waqf Act, 2025, aims to streamline the management of Waqf properties through updated definitions, digital integration, and greater transparency. While the Centre defends it as a necessary reform, opposition leaders, including Banerjee, view it as a targeted law meant to curtail minority rights.
Protests against the Act were also reported in Manipur on Tuesday, where members of the Muslim community took to the streets opposing the Centre’s move.

Continuing his economic onslaught, US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Washington is planning to announce a “major” tariff on pharmaceutical imports soon. India’s pharmaceuticals sector, one of the most dependent domestic industries on trade with America, could be significantly impacted by the move.

Speaking at an event at the National Republican Congressional Committee, America’s commander-in-chief said the tariff will incentivize drug companies to move their operations to the US. Previously, the Trump administration had kept pharmaceuticals and semiconductors away from the ambit of its reciprocal tariff policy.

How Could India Be Impacted? 

America is India’s largest export market for pharmaceutical goods. In FY 24, of India’s $27.9 billion worth of pharma exports, 31 per cent or $8.7 billion to the US, according to the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India, an industry body.

Per reports, India supplies over 45 per cent of generic and 15 per cent of biosimilar drugs used in the US. Firms like Dr Reddy’s, Aurobindo Pharma, Zydus Lifesciences, Sun Pharma and Gland Pharma reportedly earn anywhere from 30-50 per cent of their total revenues from the American market.

India-US Both Will Be Impacted

Experts have warned that higher US tariffs on pharmaceutical imports could severely impact both Washington and New Delhi as they will raise production costs, eroding price competitiveness for manufacturers and higher prices for customers. 

“In case the US starts imposing tariffs on the pharma sector, it will impact both countries,” the HDFC Securities analysts told financial daily Mint.

They explained that America depends on low-cost generics manufactured in India, and higher tariffs would lead to price hikes, inflation and drug shortages in the country. Meanwhile, Indian companies, operating on thin margins in the US generics space, may struggle to absorb costs and end up passing them on to US consumers or insurers.

Gujarat Titans spinner Rashid Khan has struggled for wickets and the impact as he once used to. (Image: X)

The most distinguished characteristic of Rashid Khan’s bowling is his ability to hit the nagging length consistently and outsmart batters with his variations, with a dash of mystery. An absolute giant of the format and the Indian Premier League (IPL), the Afghan maestro has found it tough to get going in the ongoing edition.
He has been Gujarat Titan’s go-to man since 2022 but in the four games he has played this season, Rashid has picked up a solitary wicket and has conceded runs at 10.21 per over. The 26-year-old has gone wicketless in three consecutive matches, only the second time in his IPL career, and both these sequences have occurred in his last eight IPL games. In IPL 2024, Rashid Khan, who was returning from lower back surgery, snapped only 10 wickets at an economy rate of 8.40.
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The approach of opposition batters became a bit predictable as the season progressed and they were happy to see his four overs off and feed on the rest of the attack. This year, however, Rashid has leaked plenty of runs and has lacked the control he is known for in this unforgiving format.
He had a back surgery post 2023 ODI World Cup and former Australia all-rounder Shane Watson feels it could well be a reason for his sombre outing in this year’s IPL.
“It has been very interesting to see the decline in the impact that Rashid Khan has had,” Watson said in a media interaction.
“He’s been slightly off his best. He hasn’t been as consistent with his length, which is always one of his huge strengths. He very rarely bowled a short ball, or a full ball that you could really get under. So whether it’s his body, he’s still working through coming back after that back injury he had.
“He’s still managing how to consistently execute his ball variations from that really good length he’s accustomed to bowling. He’s just going to take a little bit of time to find his groove now that he’s had to work through his injury issues. But he is a champion. You never write off a champion,” he added.
Rashid was out of action for around four months after the surgery and although it has been a year since he made his comeback, TimesofIndia.com understands he could still be away from peak fitness. While the GT physios haven’t picked an anomaly yet, Rashid has been on the road non-stop since returning to competitive cricket.
Be it for Afghanistan in the 2024 T20 World Cup, in the IPL, Major League Cricket (MLC) in the USA, the Hundred, Afghanistan’s domestic T20 competition Shpageeza Cricket League, and SA20, the crafty spinner has been plying his trade in different parts of the world which involves hectic travel too.
Former India Strength and Conditioning (S&C) coach Ramji Srinivasan explains the importance of rehab after a sportsperson undergoes back surgery.
“It is very difficult to generalise. One may come back after back surgery in 2 to 3 months, or even longer. It also depends on the intensity of the surgery. Lower back surgery recovery can range from 3 months to 6 months to 8 months to 1 year,” he explains.

File photo of Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan.

“It also depends on many other variables. For example, the operation may be successful, but the rehab and strength and conditioning may not be performed effectively. And also the nutrition aspect and the mindset. See, many factors are involved. So, one has to be very mindful to have the best support staff to return to play as quickly as possible,” added the expert.
On the much used term “workload management”, Ramji retierated why it’s a “big concept”.
“Workload management is a big concept. Very few have understood its true meaning. It’s not only the strength and conditioning domain. It’s a domain for the coaches, the physio, the players, the recovery specialists, and massage therapists. Everyone has to be involved,” says Ramji.
An injury timeline

Just a bad phase

Raees Ahmadzai, former Afghanistan assistant coach, who is currently working with Afghanistan’s U-19 team, feels it is just a bad phase for Rashid Khan.
“He is tough as nails. He is going to grind it out of this phase. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have also gone through such bad phases. Cricketers of such stature know how to get out of such situations,” says Ahmadzai .
“The Rashid I know must have watched all his 16 overs several times with the team’s video analyst. I am sure he will figure out what is missing in his bowling,” he adds.

Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Ajinkya Rahane was once again visibly disappointed with the nature of the Eden Gardens pitch and lamented over lack of help for spinners after the team’s second loss at home. However, the seasoned campaigner chose his words carefully when the contentious topic of ‘home advantage’ was brought up, saying any comment from him could trigger a “bawal” (controversy). On a night when spin was expected to play a crucial role, Lucknow Super Giants edged past the defending champions by four runs, handing Rahane’s KKR their second loss in three home games this season. “Firstly, there was no help for the spinners, let me clear that,” Rahane said after the game.

LSG posted 238/3 before limiting KKR to 234/7. Rahane’s decision to bowl seemingly backfired as the rival batters outsmarted KKR’s plans, scoring runs to the longer side of the ground.

“They used the boundary really well, you know, bowling to the longer end, I mean longer boundary, they did that really well, our bowlers tried as well, but again, (Nicholas) Pooran and Mitchell Marsh batted really well in between, they took their chances which came off really well for them.

“It was a lovely wicket, we all saw that, scoring almost 500 runs on this track, hard for the bowlers, but again, they used the conditions and used the boundary really well.”

While the LSG spin duo of Digvesh Rathi and Ravi Bishnoi went for 80 runs from their eight overs combined but managed to pick two crucial wickets, their KKR counterparts — Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy — returned wicketless, conceding over nine runs per over.

Narine, in fact, didn’t even complete his full quota of four overs.

This prompted the inevitable question: does ‘home advantage’ even exist in the IPL anymore? “See, there’s been enough talk about the wicket. Aap logon ne bahut usko yeh kar diya hai. Toh agar main abhi kuch bolunga na, toh bawal ho jayega. (You people have already hyped it up a lot. So if I say anything now, it will create a big controversy),” Rahane said with a wry smile.

When pressed further, he took a veiled attack on the curator Sujan Mukherjee who had earlier said he does not pay heed to any home team requests.

“Jo hamare curator hai, unko bahut publicity mila. I think he’s happy with that publicity. Home advantage ke baare mein aapko jo likhna hai, aap likh sakto, jo laga. (Our curator has got a lot of publicity. I think he’s happy with that publicity. You can write whatever you feel like about the home advantage).”

“If I have any concern, I would probably convey it to the IPL rather than speaking about it here.”

Several franchises this season have voiced concerns over the absence of a typical ‘home’ advantage, with Lucknow Super Giants joining KKR and Chennai Super Kings in expressing frustration over pitch conditions.

Even LSG mentor Zaheer Khan, in a lighter vein, joked after their game against Punjab Kings that it seemed like “Punjab (Kings) curator” had prepared the Ekana wicket.” As for his own game and the possibility of an India comeback, Rahane preferred to stay grounded.

“I’m really enjoying my cricket at the moment, firstly playing for KKR and playing at the Eden. For me, it’s all about staying in the moment, enjoying my cricket, enjoying my batting, and that’s it.

“I don’t want to think far too ahead,” said the 36-year-old, who last played for India in 2023.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

At least 79 people were killed and over 160 injured in the roof collapse of Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The incident occurred during a packed merengue concert in the early hours of Tuesday.
The popular venue was hosting hundreds, including top athletes, politicians, and artists. Rescue operations are ongoing as crews search for survivors. Among the dead are notable public figures, including former MLB stars, reported Associated Press.
What happened
The collapse happened around 12:44 am local time. Witnesses described sudden chaos as the roof gave way, sending hundreds scrambling for safety.
Videos shared on social media show parts of the ceiling starting to fall moments before the full collapse. Rescue teams rushed to the scene and worked for hours, pulling survivors from under heavy rubble.
Some were still being found nearly 12 hours later.
Who are the victims?
The dead include well-known names in Dominican public life. Octavio Dotel, a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for 13 teams and won a World Series, died in the collapse. He was 51. His death was confirmed after earlier reports had said he was rescued.
Tony Blanco, another professional baseball player who played in Japan and the US, also lost his life. Nelsy Cruz, governor of Monte Cristi province and sister of former MLB player Nelson Cruz, was also killed.
Among the injured is Bray Vargas, a national lawmaker. Rubby Pérez, the merengue singer performing that night, is still unaccounted for. His saxophonist was confirmed dead.

Cause unknown
Prosecutor Rosalba Ramos told local TV channel CDN that although the public is eager to understand what caused the collapse, the priority right now is to rescue those still trapped under the rubble.The club released a statement saying it is cooperating fully with the authorities. It also mentioned that the owner, Antonio Espaillat, was abroad at the time of the incident and returned late on Tuesday.
President Luis Abinader shared on social media platform X that all rescue teams are working non-stop to help the victims. “We deeply regret the tragedy that occurred at the Jet Set nightclub. We have been following the incident minute by minute since it occurred,” he posted.

MUMBAI: RBI began its rate-cutting cycle in Feb with a 25 basis point reduction in the repo rate, but deposit rates have largely remained unchanged. While banks have passed on the benefit to home loan borrowers, the impact on depositors has been limited.
According to RBI data, the weighted average domestic term deposit rate (WADTDR) stood at an eight-year high of 6.91% in 2024-25. For Feb, the WADTDR touched a nine-year high of 7.02%. Only a few banks, including Bank of Baroda, HDFC Bank, and Yes Bank, have reduced rates by 15 to 40 basis points. However, this has not translated into a wider cut in fixed deposit rates across the sector. The absence of a broad-based reduction is evident in both the weighted average deposit rate and the marginal cost of lending rate, which influences bank lending to businesses.

The central bank is expected to announce another 25 basis point cut in the repo rate at the end of its three-day monetary policy committee meeting on Wednesday. However, the transmission of this cut into banks’ cost of funds may be delayed. This lag is partly due to changing depositor behaviour, with more investors shifting to stock markets and moving surplus funds from savings accounts to fixed deposits.”The present market volatility-whether it will result in a behavioural change among retail investors-is something that will have to be seen over a longer period and not immediately. But there has to be a significant narrowing of the gap between savings account and fixed deposit rates for the share of current and savings account to rise,” said Anil Gupta, senior vice president, ICRA.
“We are not expecting a steep reduction in FD rates because of the pressure on the liquidity coverage ratio for banks. We believe that the rate cut will be higher for wholesale deposits. So if we assume a 75 basis point reduction in the repo rate in the current cycle, we think that the funding costs will go down by 30-35 basis points,” Gupta added.
Madan Sabnavis, chief economist, Bank of Baroda, said, “Transmission is the tricky issue which will depend on how individual banks are placed. With liquidity normalizing and likely to remain calm for some time, there is a higher possibility of banks lowering deposits rates now, though not in a commensurate manner. This can move the Marginal Cost of Funds-based Lending Rate (MCLR) and overall lending rates.”
“Presently the External Benchmark Lending Rates (EBLR) move along the repo rate path, though the MCLR-based loans get linked with the deposit rates. Hence we can expect a higher degree of transmission this time if the RBI lowers rates further considering that liquidity is comfortable,” said Sabnavis.
Banks may be more willing to reduce rates if the RBI shifts its policy stance to accommodative from neutral. A change in stance would indicate a readiness to ease further if financial markets face volatility.