FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms Vol. XLII No. 261 | INDORE | FRIDAY | FEBRUARY 27, 2026 | Pages 18 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. 38281/83 FREE www.freepressjournal.in iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: INDORE UJJAIN MONEY Sports NOW, INDIA EYE WINDIES ESTD-1983 P.18 PRESS PUNE BHOPAL NASHIK MUMBAI E-paper Edit Much ado about names India to grow between 6.8-7.2% in FY27: EY Economy Watch Cinema Making forever official P.16 CRACKDOWN | All soft & hard copies of Class 8 Social Science textbook with chapter on judicial corruption to be seized, compliance report filed. Showcause notices against officials issued Heads must roll: SC bans NCERT textbook FP News Service NEW DELHI The Supreme Court on Thursday imposed a blanket ban on a Class 8 Social Science textbook published by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) that carried a section on “corruption in judiciary”, issued contempt notices to senior officials, and ordered the immediate seizure and takedown of all copies, physical and digital. A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi said the publication appeared to be the result of a “deep-rooted, well-orchestrated conspiracy” to undermine the judiciary and warned that “heads must roll”, Bar & Bench and Live Law report. During the hearing, the CJI remarked, “We need to find who is responsible, and we will see who are there. Heads must roll! We will not close the case.” He added, “They fired the gunshot. Judiciary is bleeding today.” The top court also directed the NCERT director to furnish names and credentials of members of the National Syllabi Board who prepared the offending chapter and to produce the original minutes of the meetings where the chapter was deliberated and finalised The Court issued showcause notices under the Contempt of Courts Act to the Secretary of School Education, Ministry of Education, and NCERT Director Dr Dinesh Prasad Saklani, asking why suitable action should not be initiated against them or those responsible for the offending chapter. “The NCERT, in coordination with the Union and State Education Depts is directed to ensure that all copies of the book (hard or soft) currently in circulation, whether held in storage, retail outlets, or educational institutions, are seized and removed from public access. Compliance be filed,” the Court ordered. PTI India sets store by BoP, Gaza Peace Plan, IMEC NEW DELHI Ashwin Ahmad Modi is leader with most Insta followers NEW DELHI PM Narendra Modi has crossed the milestone of 100 million followers on Instagram, becoming the first world leader and politician to achieve this feat on the platform, officials said on Thursday. Modi joined Instagram in 2014, and over the past decade his account has evolved into one of the most engaging digital spaces among global leaders, officials said. Among major global leaders, Modi now has the highest number of Instagram followers. He has more than twice as many followers as US President Donald Trump on the social media platform. Trump holds the second spot with 43.2 million followers. 4Continued on | P8 India and Israel elevated their relationship to a Special Strategic Partnership from a Strategic Partnership on Friday. The upgrade took place during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to Israel on February 25-26, a visit that saw him hold talks with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, and President Isaac Herzog. Modi, the first Indian PM to address the Knesset, on Wednesday had spoken about how India and Israel could work together in different formats. “We will also work closely in different formats such as the India-Middle-Europe Econ- FP News Service FP News Service MUMBAI Canada has said it no longer believes India is linked to violent crimes on its soil, in a significant shift ahead of PM Mark Carney’s visit to India, even as both countries prepare to hold talks aimed at restoring normal ties. The revised assessment was conveyed by senior Canadian officials during a media briefing in Ottawa ahead of Carney’s visit, according to a report in the Toronto Star. Carney will land in Mumbai on Friday. “We have a very robust diplomatic engagement, including between national security advisers, 4Continued on | P8 It directed that no instruction be imparted to students based on the book. “It shall be the personal responsibility of the NCERT Director and the principal of every school where the book has reached to effectuate immediate seizure and sealing of all copies of the book in their premises, and submit a com- Role play explained “Defence and security is another pillar of the partnership. In November last year, we signed an MoU on Defence Cooperation. In today’s uncertain world, a strong defence partnership between trusted partners like India and Israel is of vital importance." On Thursday, India and Israel signed a total of 17 documents during the visit. AI, agriculture, science, and trade were some of the items of interest with an MoU in cooperation in AI and a Letter of Intent on the establishment of Indo-Israel Cyber Centre of Excellence in India. An MoU on cooperation in the fields of Fisheries and Agriculture Board of Peace: Misri spoke about India seeking a role for itself under Trump’s Gaza Peace Plan. This suggests that India sees itself as a rebuilder of infrastructure of hospitals and homes that have been damaged by the war. Such a role would allow employment of Indian workers. Israeli reports say around 75,000 foreign workers are needed to replace Palestinian workers. IMEC: India is very keen for IMEC to succeed as it views it as a counter to China’s BRI. What Misri is stating with his remarks of certain countries activating “components of IMEC” 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 pliance report. Ensure that no instruction is imparted based on the subject book. Principal Secretaries of all states are to comply. Compliance to be sent within 2 weeks.” As an abundant precaution, the Bench imposed a complete ban on further publication, reprinting or digital dissemination of the book. “Any attempt to circumvent this order through electronic means or altered titles shall be seen as direct interference, willful breach and defiance of directions,” it said. 4Continued on | P8 Pradhan promises action on drafters PTI JAMSHEDPUR/NEW DELHI Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday said, “I am very sad at what has happened and express regret... There was no intention to insult the judiciary. An inquiry will be conducted and accountability fixed. Action will be taken against those involved in drafting the chapter. As soon as we got to know (about it), the circulation of the textbooks was put on hold.” “In a democratic country like India, the judiciary is supreme, and we have utmost respect for it. We have taken the issue very seriously. The court's directives will be complied with,” he said. NCERT on Wednesday also apologised for “inappropriate content” after facing the Supreme Court’s ire over. Pradhan was in Jamshedpur to take part in a ceremony where President Droupadi Murmu laid the foundation stone for a Jagannath spiritual centre PANIC IN RAOJI BAZAR AFTER AMMONIA GAS LEAK Several taken ill Our Staff Reporter INDORE Panic swept through Raoji Bazar police station area on Thursday night after several residents were taken ill after inhaling what is believed to be ammonia gas, and had to be hospitalised. According to officials, the incident occurred late in the evening when fumes from a leaking gas cylinder began spreading in the densely populated area. Within minutes, people in nearby houses and shops started complaining of breathlessness, irritation, and vomiting. As the pungent smell intensified, chaos gripped the neighbour- hood. At least five individuals, whose condition deteriorated due to exposure to the fumes, were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. Eyewitnesses said residents, passersby, and even police personnel on duty covered their mouths and noses with handkerchiefs to shield themselves from the toxic air in the vicinity. Many families stepped out of their homes in fear, trying to assess the gravity of the situation. Preliminary investigation revealed that the gas leak originated from scrap dealer Shahzad Khan s shop in the area. Shehzad had purchased a gas-filled cylinder weighing around 18-20 kgs from one Raja, a resident of Macchi Bazaar. 4Continued on | P8 Speaker reconstitutes panel Cong creates ruckus over Dhirauli coal block issue NEW DELHI India ‘no longer’ linked to crime, says Canada omic Corridor and the I2U2 framework between India, Israel, UAE and the US,” the PM had said in his address. P.12 Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has reconstituted the threemember panel formed to probe allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma, replacing a retiring member with the Chief Justice of the Bombay HC. The committee will now include Justice Shree Chandrashekhar, Chief Justice of the JUSTICE VARMA PROBE Bombay HC, in place of Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava of the Madras HC, who is set to retire on March 6, Bar & Bench reports. The panel was originally constituted on August 12, 2025. It comprised Supreme Court judge Justice Aravind Kumar, Madras HC Chief Jus- Man sentenced to death for killing 6 Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL The district and sessions court, Mandla has awarded capital punishment in the Maneri c ase in which six people, including two minor children, were killed over a family dispute. ADJ Pravin Sinha passed the order. The incident took place at Maneri village in Mandla district in July 2020. The accused Harish Soni, 36 and Santosh Soni, 34, were both residents of Maneri village. In a dispute over ancestral land, they first attacked their cousins Rajendra Soni and Vinod Soni’s families with swords and later attacked other relatives and villagers. The accused threw chilli powder in the eyes of the victims before attacking them with swords. Police arrested Harish Soni while Santosh Soni died in police firing. The deceased included Rajendra Soni, 47, his daughter Priyanka Soni, 25, his brother Vinod Soni, 45, Vinod Soni’s five-year-old son Om, his three-year-old daughter Shreyansh Soni and their relative Dinesh Soni, 49. 4Continued on | P8 tice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Senior Advocate B Vasudeva Acharya. The Supreme Court recently rejected a plea by Justice Varma to quash the Speaker’s decision to constitute the three-member committee. On August 07, the Supreme Court also dismissed his plea against the in-house committee report and former CJI Sanjiv Khanna’s recommendation for his removal. 4Continued on | P8 Seeks JPC probe, stages walkout Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL The Congress on Thursday created ruckus in the Assembly over the issue of Singrauli’s Dhirauli coal block allotted to Adani Group. It demanded formation of Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe compensation-related matters among other things. When the government did- n’t accept the JPC demand, it staged a walkout. Earlier, the Speaker had adjourned the house twice due to pandemonium. Leader of Opposition, CJI VOWS Anandpur Trust encroached REGISTRY upon govt land: Revenue Min REFORMS Trust hogged Trust has over FP News Service NEW DELHI CJI Surya Kant on Thursday promised reforms in the Supreme Court Registry after discovering that a petition, which had earlier been dismissed by a three-judge bench, was listed again before another bench. Calling it a serious issue, the CJI said he would undertake a deeper administrative probe and question Registry officials who “think they are permanent”, Bar & Bench reports. 4Continued on | P8 limelight after PM’s visit Our Staff Reporter 2,100 hectares in its possession in Ashoknagar BHOPAL Revenue Minister Karan Singh Verma, in a written reply, informed the House on Thursday that the Anandpur Trust had encroached upon the government land. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Anandpur in April last year. The trust hogged the limelight after Modi’s trip. Afterwards, there have been several disputes about the trust. Verma said the trust had encroached upon 0.618 hectares of the revenue department in the Basakhedi area, Ashoknagar, and 3.52 hectares of the forest department in the Isagarh area. The trust has over 2,100 hectares in its possession in Ashoknagar. It also purchased land belonging to the SC/ST communities. A dispute over the Anandpur Trust recently cropped up in the district. According to reports, a complaint made by the trust led to the transfer of the collector of Ashoknagar, but the trust denied filing such a complaint. There are allegations of exploitation by the trust. After the government’s confirmation about encroachment upon the government land by the trust, it is clear that its activities are controversial. The trust has an empire, which is barricaded, and one can go there only with the permission of its officials. breathless India pulverise Zim to stay alive Only one in 3 kids can run without panting Tina Khatri INDORE Zimbabwe’s Brian Bennett and Brad Evans share a handshake with the Team India after their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 Group 1 match ANI Abhishek Sharma’s 55 powered India to a record 256/4 and a 72-run win over Zimbabwe at MA Chidambaram Stadium. Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma’s late blitz sealed it. (Detail Report on Sports Page) Tell a classroom of children to touch their toes and most will manage. Ask them to hold a plank, and many will succeed. But ask them to keep running — and nearly two out of three will run out of steam. The latest national fitness assessment shows that only 34 per cent of children meet healthy standards for aerobic endurance. Experts say the reason is not inactivity, but fragmentation — children are active in short bursts, not sustained stretches that build cardiovascular capacity. Dr. Vijay Krishnamurthy, sports researcher, calls it a structural problem. “Activity has become fragmented,” he said. “Short PE periods, occasional sports practice, bursts of play — that is not enough to build cardiovascular capacity. Endurance requires progression and consistency. Without that, stamina declines.” Overall fitness levels suggest recovery on the surface. In 2020, 70.5 per cent of children were classified as fit. That number dropped sharply to 56.2 per cent in 2022 during prolonged pandemic dis- ruptions. By 2025, overall fitness rose to 84.8 per cent, exceeding pre-pandemic levels. But endurance has not recovered at the same pace. Aerobic fitness stood at 27.5 per cent in 2023, improved to 32.8 per cent in 2024 and reached 34.4 per cent in 2025 — a gradual rise, but still leaving two-thirds of children below healthy benchmarks. “Aerobic endurance is closely linked to long-term heart health and metabolic stability,” sports physiotherapist Dr Ankush Agrawal said. He added that persistently low stamina in childhood increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and lifestyle disorders later in life. In rapidly urbanising cities such as Bhopal and Indore, shrinking open spaces, increased screen exposure and mounting academic pressure have reduced prolonged outdoor play, Agrawal added. 4Continued on | P8 Umang Singhar, raised the issue during Question Hour. He said a paltry compensation has been given to tribals despite government claiming that they (the tribals) would Rs 50 lakh. It was alleged that the tribals were not getting more than Rs 2 to Rs 3 lakh. Out of eight villages, only five were acquired. Alleging anomalies in compensation, he said money has been given even to non-stakeholders. 4Continued on | P8 CBI books new case against Anil Ambani Somendra Sharma MUMBAI The CBI has registered a fresh case against Reliance Communications (RCOM), its promoter and former chairman Anil Ambani, and others on a complaint by Bank of Baroda, alleging conspiracy, cheating and criminal misconduct under the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act in connection with an alleged Rs 2,220 crore bank fraud. Reliance Communications, a private telecom service provider, had established a panIndia integrated wireless and wireline network and owned IP-enabled connectivity infrastructure, including an extensive fibre optic cable system. According to the CBI, Bank of Baroda suffered losses exceeding Rs 2,220 crore due to loans availed by RCOM that were allegedly diverted and misused through fictitious transactions with related parties. The agency said the company’s books were manipulated to conceal irregularities. The account had been declared a non-performing asset in 2017.