FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms FREE PRESS Vol. XLII No. 272 | INDORE | WEDNESDAY | MARCH 11, 2026 | Pages 18 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. 38281/83 DAY www.freepressjournal.in Sports Numbers that defined a classic P.16 ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: INDORE MONEY Govt eases FDI norms for China, other neighbouring countries UJJAIN PUNE BHOPAL NASHIK Cinema HC protects Shilpa’s personality rights P.18 Centre steps in on LPG crisis FP News Service Naval escort for ships in Strait of Hormuz? India has moved to prioritise household cooking gas supplies and tighten distribution controls after disruptions in energy shipments from West Asia triggered a nationwide shortage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), government officials said on Tuesday. The crisis follows the closure of the Strait of Hormuz after military escalation involving Iran, Israel and the United States, choking one of the world’s most critical oil and gas shipping lanes and threatening supplies to major energy importers, including India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday held highlevel discussions with Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to assess the impact of the QUICK MEASURES n ECA invoked to regulate LPG supply n Refineries told to boost LPG output n Domestic production up ~10% n Household supply prioritised conflict on India’s fuel supply chain and review emergency measures to stabilise LPG availability. Officials said the government has activated a strategic plan aimed at shielding domestic n Hospitals given priority n Gas diverted to CNG, PNG n Commercial LPG supply cut n Refill gap extended to 25 days n Panel monitoring supplies consumers from the impact of the West Asia conflict, even as businesses that depend on commercial LPG cylinders face tightening supplies. India imports about 62 per cent of its LPG requirements, with nearly No need to step on gas: CM Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Tuesday assured that there is no need to panic over the supply of food items, cooking gas or fuel in Madhya Pradesh despite the evolving conflict situation in the Gulf region. Chairing a review meeting on the issue, the Chief Minister said the state has adequate supplies and arrangements in fp Briefs NEW DELHI LS takes up Birla motion The Lok Sabha on Tuesday took up an opposition resolution seeking the removal of Speaker Om Birla from office for his alleged bias towards the ruling party, amid a heated debate on who will preside over the House while the motion is taken up. Congress legislator Mohammad Jawed read out the notice seeking to move the resolution to remove Birla from office. NEW DELHI 85–90 per cent of those imports passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow maritime corridor linking the Persian Gulf to global shipping routes. 4Continued on | P8 State panel to monitor impact place to meet demand. A three-member committee comprising ministers and senior officials has been formed to closely monitor the situation and ensure smooth supply across the state. “The Central government is closely monitoring the situation and there is no disruption in supplies in Madhya Pradesh,” Yadav said, adding State has 5–7 days LPG stock Officials from the Food and Civil Supplies Department said there is no immediate concern regarding the availability of petrol, diesel, LPG or CNG in the state. Commissioner Karamveer Sharma said petrol and diesel stocks are sufficient The Madhya Pradesh government on Tuesday constituted a Council of Ministers to continuously monitor the situation in the state amid the ongoing tensions in West Asia. The panel will review developments from time to time and oversee measures to address issues affecting residents of the state living in Gulf countries. 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 Cabinet okays 4-lane Ujjain link on Delhi-Mumbai e-way IANS NEW DELHI The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday approved the development of a 4-lane corridor on the BadnawarPetlawad-Thandla-Timarwani section of National Highway752D, which stretches across a length of 80.45 kilometres with a total capital cost of Rs 3,839.42 crore. The approved corridor will provide connectivity from Ujjain to the Timrawani interchange on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway. The primary purpose of the SC orders appellate tribunals for exclusions IndiGo CEO Elbers quits IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers resigned on Tuesday, citing personal reasons, and the country's largest airline has relieved him with immediate effect, a development that comes three months after massive operational disruptions triggered widespread public outrage and regulatory actions. As ships with oil and gas supplies remain stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, India is considering sending warships to escort them, according to reports. This comes even as Pakistan is already using navy ships to guide two of its vessels home. Iran has choked the strategic Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Sea after being attacked by the US and Israel on February 28 BENGAL SIR FP News Service NEW DELHI The Supreme Court on Tuesday said it would “not tolerate” attempts to question the integrity of judicial officers deployed for SIR of electoral rolls in West Bengal and directed that appellate tribunals be constituted to hear appeals against exclusions from the voters’ list. A Bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and R Mahadevan said the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, Sujoy Paul, may constitute appellate tribunals comprising former High Court Chief Justices and judges to hear appeals arising from the SIR process, Bar & Bench and Live Law report. The Bench took strong ex- ‘Time for UCC’ The Supreme Court on Tuesday observed that the time has come for a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) as it termed a plea seeking striking down of provisions of the Shariat law of 1937 for being discriminatory to Muslim women as a "very good case" which advisably only the legislature should look into proposed four-lane project corridor is to improve travel efficiency with a reduction in travel time by about one hour. 4Continued on | P8 Property dealer robbed of Rs 55L at knifepoint Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL ception to applications raising concerns over claims pending before judicial officers conducting the exercise. “Your application is premature, and it shows as if you don’t have trust. How did you dare such applications are filed? No one should dare question the judicial officers. A property dealer was robbed of Rs 55 lakh in cash at knifepoint by scooter-borne miscreants on Smart City Road under Shyamla Hills police station limits on Saturday night. Police have registered a case and launched a search to trace the accused. Additional DCP (Zone-3) Shalini Dixit said the victim, Divyang Barot, a resident of Chunabhatti, works as a property dealer. According to the complaint, Barot was returning home with his brother after collecting the cash related to his business from the Old City area. They were travelling on a motorcycle and reached Smart City Road around 9.30 pm when the accused intercepted them on two scooters. 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 prized booty Rs 131 cr reward for world champions PTI NEW DELHI Days after scripting history in Ahmedabad, Suryakumar Yadav's T20 World Cup-winning squad has received a reward fit for champions. The BCCI on Tuesday announced a whopping Rs 131 crore cash reward for the Indian team following their triumphant rize money jumps Rs 6 crore from 2024 as Board celebrates historic title defence and third T20 World Cup crown. P campaign. The numbers reflect both success and inflation—in the best possible way. The latest purse is a Rs 6 crore increase from the Rs 125 crore awarded to Rohit Sharma's team after the 2024 title win in Barbados. The Statistic: 131 Crore, 15 Players, 96 Runs Covers 15 players, coaching staff, and support staff Players are expected to receive the lion's share, with support staff amounts decided as per hierarchy Victory margin: 96 runs in the final against New Zealand — the largest in a T20 World Cup final The breakdown of glory: Rs 131 crore total cash reward 4Continued on | P8 E-paper Edit Whom to trust, EAM or FM? P.6 ACTION MODE | PM holds meeting as govt invokes Essential Commodities Act to regulate supplies, prioritise household cooking gas, tighten distribution checks MUMBAI MUMBAI Govt eases FDI norms for China, nations sharing borders with India PTI President Donald Trump said that the US campaign against Iran would end “very soon”, defining victory as the point at which Tehran no longer has the capacity to develop weapons that could threaten the United States, Israel, or its allies. Trump boasted about his leadership style, saying no other US president could do the things he has done. Hormuz Strait threat US President Donald Trump centred his latest warning to Iran on the Strait of Hormuz, saying any attempt to block or disrupt the vital oil route would trigger overwhelming American retaliation. ‘Don’t get eliminated’ A top Iranian security official has threatened US President Donald Trump in an online message. Ali Larijani wrote: “The sacrificial nation of Iran doesn't fear your empty threats. Even those bigger than you couldn't eliminate Iran. Be careful not to get eliminated yourself.” MP’s youth initiative to monitor schemes NEW DELHI THE WAR Iran war may end soon: Don GOOD GOVERNANCE INITIATIVE Our Staff Reporter The government on Tuesday eased foreign direct investment (FDI) norms for China and other countries sharing land borders with India by allowing overseas firms having up to 10 per cent shareholder from these nations to invest in the country without mandatory approval. Earlier, overseas firms with shareholders from these nations owning even a single share had to seek mandatory approval to invest in India in any sector. However, other conditions of FDI norms, including sectoral caps and entry routes, will be applicable to these investments. Also, these investments will be subjected to prior reporting of information/details to the DPIIT (department for promotion of industry and internal trade). The government has amended the press note 3 of 2020 in this regard. The decision was taken in a meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The amendment in the press note provides for a definition and criteria for the determination of 'Beneficial Ownership' that is widely used by the investing community, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Rules, 2003. The beneficial ownership test will be applied at the level of the investor entity. See also Money BHOPAL The Madhya Pradesh Cabinet on Tuesday approved the Chief Minister Young Interns for Good Governance Programme, under which 15 youths will be appointed in every block of the state to gather feedback on the implementation of government schemes. The programme will run for three years and aims to strengthen monitoring of welfare schemes at the grassroots level. Selected interns will receive an honorarium of Rs 10,000 per month, and the state government has earmarked Rs 190 crore for the implementation of the programme. The youths will be appointed on a one-year contractual basis. The Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Good Governance and Policy Analysis will handle the recruitment process and monitor the programme. The interns will assess the impact of various government schemes and assist in data collection and field-level feedback to improve governance and service delivery. Professional tax relief extended The Cabinet also approved the extension of professional tax exemption for persons with disabilities until March 31, 2030. Schemes worth Rs. 33,240 Power sector decision Under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), the Cabinet decided that SGST payable on the Centre’s share for strengthening power distribution infrastructure will be converted into equity capital for state power distribution companies instead of a grant. A loan amount of Rs 887.91 crore provided till November 2024 will now be converted into equity capital for the discoms. crore to continue The Cabinet approved the continuation of seven government schemes for up to five years, with a total financial provision of Rs 33,240 crore. Boost for traditional products To support traditional crafts under the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative, the Cabinet approved Rs 37.50 crore to prepare and implement detailed project reports for the next five years. The initiative will cover traditional products such as: » Zari-Zardozi work of Bhopal » Carpets of Sidhi district » Bagh print of Dhar district » Wooden toys of Sehore district 4Continued on | P8