FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms FREE PRESS Vol. 15 No. 227 | BHOPAL | FRIDAY | JANUARY 30, 2026 | Pages 16 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. mpeng/2010/35815 www.freepressjournal.in ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: BHOPAL MONEY Sports SUNDAY SHOWDOWN P.16 India gets trade edge in Turkiye via EU FTA UJJAIN PUNE INDORE NASHIK Cinema Prince chooses being real P.14 AT 6.8-7.2%, INDIA TO RETAIN WORLD-BEATING GDP GROWTH PTI HIGHLIGHTS India's economy is projected to grow by 6.8-7.2 per cent in the fiscal year starting April, the government's pre-Budget Economic Survey said Thursday, reaffirming the country's status as the world's fastestgrowing major economy despite trade risks and global volatility clouding the outlook. The forecast for 2026-27 is slower than the 7.4 per cent projection for the current financial year, driven by consumption and investment. "The cumulative impact of policy reforms over recent years appears to have lifted the economy's medium-term growth potential closer to 7 per cent", from 6.5-6.8 per cent earlier, the annual report card on the economy said. "The outlook, therefore, is one of steady growth amid global uncertainty, requiring caution, but not pessimism." While the current year GDP growth estimate of 7.4 per cent is higher than the 6.3-6.8 per cent range that the survey had forecast last year, the projection for the next year retains India's world-beating economic expansion despite trade tensions with the US. India, which has been slapped with the highest 50 per cent tariffs on goods it sends to the US, remains one of the few large fp Briefs BARAMATI Ajit Pawar cremated Grief swept through Baramati in Pune district on Thursday as Maharashtra bid farewell to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who lost his life in a tragic plane crash, with his last rites performed with full state honours. The Civil Aviation Ministry on Thursday said the "black box" (comprising the Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder) of the Learjet aircraft has been recovered. See Nation NEW DELHI Decision on strays reserved The SC on Thursday reserved its verdict in the suo motu case concerning stray dog management in public spaces across the country. A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and N.V. Anjaria reserved its decision after hearing the final round of submissions. See Nation Govt aims to attain fiscal deficit target of 4.4 pc of GDP in FY26 Chief Economic Adviser V Anantha Nageswaran India, which has been slapped with the highest 50 per cent tariffs on goods it sends to the US, remains one of the few large economies that is yet to sign a trade deal with Washington Survey pitches for policy to reshape terms of work for gig workers Calls for promoting simpler devices for children, such as basic phones or education-only tabs, with content filters Bats for marketing ban on ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) from 6 am to 11 pm, and restrictions on the marketing of infant and toddler milk and beverages Track commissioning more than doubled post-2014 compared to previous decade A warning as US-China rivalry escalates India must urgently recalibrate its global strategy amid a deepening US-China confrontation, the Economic Survey 2025–26 warns, calling on the country to pursue "strategic indispensability" or risk being sidelined in a world rapidly reorganizing around AI, semiconductors, and critical minerals. At the center of this global realignment is what the Survey calls "Pax Silica," a US-led initiative that seeks to dominate the AI value chain by securing energy sources, rare earth elements, chip manufacturing, and control over software models economies that is yet to sign a trade deal with Washington. In response to the labour-intensive sector-hurting tariffs, the Modi government has unleashed policy and tax reforms, including cutting GST rates, raising the bar for levy of income tax, an overhaul of labour laws to ease compliance burden on businesses, and concluded four free trade agreements since May 2025, including a mega deal with the European Union. While inflation is low, bal- ance sheets of firms and households are healthier, and consumption demand remains resilient, US tariffs have led to the rupee falling 5 per cent, and it is now "punching below its weight". "The rupee's valuation does Sanjay Kumar named Bhopal CP, 14 IPS officers shifted Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL Balaghat Inspector General (IG) Sanjay Kumar has been posted as commissioner of police, Bhopal, as state government on Thursday ordered transfer of 14 IPS officers. Kumar replaced Harinarayanchari Mishra, who has been posted as IG, State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB), Bhopal. Additional Director General (ADG), Ujjain range, Umesh Joga, has been appointed transport commissioner. Rakesh Gupta, Director of Sports and Youth Welfare, is new ADG of Ujjain range. Lalit Shakyavar has been posted as IG, Balaghat range, while Chaitra N will take charge as IG, Shahdol range. Anshuman Yadav has been appointed new Director of Sports and Youth Welfare. Pankaj Shrivastava, currently Special Director General, Anti-Naxal Operations, has been posted as Special DG, CID. K P Venkateshwar Rao replaced him as Special DG, Anti-Naxal Operations. 4Continued on | P8 OBC Mahasabha, state govt clash over presence in SC hearing on 27% quota Next hearing on February 4 Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL The OBC Mahasabha and Madhya Pradesh government clashed over their presence in Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday during the hearing on 27% OBC reservation. The SC has scheduled the next hearing for February 4. Lawyers from both sides claimed representation issues in court. Advocates for OBC Mahasabha said no lawyer from the state government was present. Senior Advocate Anoop George, appearing for the Mahasabha, said, “In today’s hearing, no lawyer represented the state, prompting the SC to express regret over its indifferent attitude. The state has been publishing recruitment advts with 27% OBC reservation, yet 13% of posts are being held illegally.” Representatives of the OBC community included June Choudhary, Rameshwar Singh Thakur and Varun Thakur. 4Continued on | P8 Sanjay rewarded for wiping out Naxals, 4th TC in two years Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL The government has rewarded Sanjay Kumar for wiping out Maoists from the state by appointing him the commissioner of Bhopal. Kumar was earlier posted in the police headquarters of Bhopal. On the other hand, the government posted the fourth transport commissioner in two years. After Sanjay Jha, DP Gupta, Vivek Sharma, Umesh Joga was posted as transport commissioner (TC). Joga was appointed deputy transport commissioner two years ago. Since Joga had some issues with the then TC, he was sent to Ujjain as ADG. Joga has been posted in the transport department twice in the past two years. Similarly, the sports director, Rakesh Gupta, was transferred in less than a year. Gupta remained in the department only for ten months. Anshuman Yadav and Datla Sreenivasa Verma got posting after three months of their return from deputation. Harinarayanchari Mishra, who was shifted from the post of Bhopal commissioner, was given a less important post after a long time. Mishra has always been in the mainstream of administration. Navy wins best marching contingent award R-DAY PARADE PTI NEW DELHI Indian Navy has earned the best marching contingent award among the three wings of the armed forces at this year's Republic Day Parade, with the naval force terming this "exemplary performance" a result of tireless effort, dedication and discipline. Maharashtra won the top prize in the category of states and Union Territories for its tableau showcasing Ganeshotsav, while the Culture Ministry's float celebrating the 150-year legacy of 'Vande Mataram' 4Continued on | P8 E-paper Edit Equity can’t deepen divisions P.6 ECONOMIC SURVEY | Forecast for 2026-27 is slower than 7.4% projection for the current financial year, driven by consumption and investment NEW DELHI MUMBAI India a ray of hope for world: Modi PTI NEW DELHI not accurately reflect India's stellar economic fundamentals," the survey said, even though the "undervalued" currency "offsets, to some extent, the impact of higher American tariffs on Indian goods". The macroeconomic conditions, however, "provide resilience against external shocks and support the continuation of growth momentum", it said. The International Monetary Fund forecasts 6.2 per cent growth in the coming financial year, if steep tariffs remain in place. The Economic Survey, authored by Chief Economic Adviser V Anantha Nageswaran, said the "ongoing trade negotiations with the United States are expected to conclude during the year, which could help reduce uncertainty on the external front". One of the tools the survey suggested to counter global trade and other headwinds was the implementation of 'Swadeshi' as a disciplined strategy. Stating that while not all import substitution is either feasible or desirable, it said Swadeshi is inevitable and necessary in the wake of export control and technology denials by developed nations. It called for a 'National Input Cost Reduction' strategy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asserted that the country was emerging as a "ray of hope" for the world and pointed to the free trade pact with the European Union, saying it for an "ambitious India" and manufacturers should seize this opportunity to enhance capacities. Addressing the media at the beginning of the Budget session of Parliament, Modi said India was moving rapidly on the Reform Express and thanked parliamentarians for contributing their positive energies to the unveiling of reforms. Modi said even his critics acknowledge the government's focus on last-mile delivery and this tradition will continue with the next generation reforms. India's democracy and demography, he said, offer great hope for the world. "In this temple of democracy, India has the opportunity to send a message of strength, commitment to democracy, and respect for decisions taken through democratic processes â?" messages welcomed and accepted globally," Modi said. He asserted that the present time is not for disruption but for solutions, not for obstacles but for resolution. 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 Becoming a regressive society, says SC Puts UGC’s new equity rules on hold PTI NEW DELHI In a significant development, the Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the recent UGC equity regulations on preventing caste-based discrimination on campuses, saying the framework is "prima facie vague", can have "very sweeping consequences" and may end up dividing society with a "dangerous impact". The top court also sought responses by March 19 of the Centre and the UGC on three pleas against the University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026 on the grounds that castebased discrimination is defined strictly as discrimination against members of the SCs, STs and OBCs. "If we do not intervene it will lead to dangerous impact, will divide the society and will have grave impact... Prima facie we say that the language of the regulation is vague and experts need to look into for the language to be modulated so that it is not exploited," a bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said. While keeping at abeyance, Prima facie we say that the language of the regulation is vague and experts need to look into for the language to be modulated so that it is not exploited Supreme Court the "non-inclusionary" definition of caste-based discrimination that excluded general categories from institutional protection under rule 3(1)(c), the bench revived the UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2012. "In exercise of our powers under Article 142, we direct that the 2012 Regulations shall continue in force till further orders," the bench ordered, noting that the repeal of the earlier framework would otherwise leave students without any remedy. "Issue notice returnable on March 19. The Solicitor General accepts notice. 4Continued on | P8