April 22, 2026

ECI flags off Phase-II of International Election Visitors’ Programme NEW DELHI: Delegates from 17 countries, including representatives from their foreign missions in Delhi, will witness polling in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu on Thursday as part of the Election Commission’s International Election Visitors’ Programme (IEVP) 2026.This is the second leg of the programme; the first phase had seen 43 delegates from 23 countries experiencing the polling process first-hand in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry on April 8 and 9.Chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar inaugurated the second edition of IEVP at the Indian International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) on Tuesday. As many as 34 delegates from 17 countries, including representatives from their foreign missions here, and a representative of International IDEA are participating in this phase.The delegated will visit Tamil Nadu and West Bengal from April 22 to April 23, 2026. They will visit the dispatch and distribution centres and other facilities, including district control rooms and media monitoring centres. On April 23 morning, the delegates will witness the polling as it happens.The delegates were on Tuesday given a demonstration of the EVM at IIIDEM. They took part in the mock poll using the machines, getting a hands-on experience of the voting process. The international visitors evinced keen interest in the technological interventions and administrative safeguards for the election process in India. An interactive session had experts clarifying the doubts/queries of delegates.IEVP is a flagship program of the ECI for international cooperation and engagement with the election management bodies (EMBs) of other countries and international organizations.The programme provides a comprehensive overview of India’s electoral framework, institutional mechanisms, and operational architecture, besides familiarising foreign EMB delegates with best practices and innovations in election management.About the AuthorBharti JainBharti Jain is senior editor with The Times of India, New Delhi. She has been writing on security matters since 1996. Having covered the Union home ministry, security agencies, Election Commission and the ‘prime’ political beat, the Congress, for The Economic Times all these years, she moved to TOI in August 2012. Her repertoire of news stories delves into the whole gamut of issues related to terrorism and internal strife, besides probing strategic affairs in India’s neighbourhood.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosAllahabad HC Judge Recuses Himself From Rahul Gandhi’s Dual Citizenship CaseCong Submits Breach of Privilege Against PM Modi; Trump Pushes Iran Talks Amid Ceasefire TensionsIndian Army Sends Strong Warning to Terror Groups Ahead of Pahalgam Terror Attack AnniversaryPappu Yadav Faces Notice After Claiming 90% Women Need ‘Leaders’ Bedrooms’ To Enter PoliticsNida Khan Faces Arrest After Nashik Court Rejects Interim Bail In BPO CaseBJP Leader Nazia Elahi Khan Applies Tilak At Lenskart Store Amid Dress Code RowSupreme Court Raises Alarm Over Digital Arrest Scams, ₹2.5 Cr Fraud Case HighlightedKashmir On Alert As SOG Carries Out Search Ops Before Pahalgam AnniversaryGun, Kirpans, Pepper Spray: Clash Inside Germany Gurdwara Leaves 11 WoundedIndia, Korea Discuss Global Tensions, Stress Peace, Security And Stronger Multilateral Cooperation123Photostories5 largest birds in the world worth travelling forDo you unconsciously ‘insult’ your child? 5 mistakes that can ruin their mental health5 places that are perfect to visit in MayAnushka Sharma-inspired simple kurta looks perfect for summer 2026Animals you might see in your backyard in AustraliaA dazzling night in Chandigarh over good food and even better mood7 baby names that mean love and affectionWorld’s top 5 most expensive real estate markets10 habits that instantly make you attractive, as per psychologyAnimals in India that can fly — and they’re not birds: Where to find them123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingUK School New RulesHS Result 2026Tamil Nadu Assembly Polls 2026Arvind kejriwal CaseYusuf PathanYogi AdityanathJKBOSE class 10 result 2026Allahabad High CourtIPL Orange CapUK Electricity Price

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ECI flags off Phase-II of International Election Visitors’ Programme NEW DELHI: Delegates from 17 countries, including representatives from their foreign missions in Delhi, will witness polling in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu on Thursday as part of the Election Commission’s International Election Visitors’ Programme (IEVP) 2026.This is the second leg of the programme; the first phase had seen 43 delegates from 23 countries experiencing the polling process first-hand in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry on April 8 and 9.Chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar inaugurated the second edition of IEVP at the Indian International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) on Tuesday. As many as 34 delegates from 17 countries, including representatives from their foreign missions here, and a representative of International IDEA are participating in this phase.The delegated will visit Tamil Nadu and West Bengal from April 22 to April 23, 2026. They will visit the dispatch and distribution centres and other facilities, including district control rooms and media monitoring centres. On April 23 morning, the delegates will witness the polling as it happens.The delegates were on Tuesday given a demonstration of the EVM at IIIDEM. They took part in the mock poll using the machines, getting a hands-on experience of the voting process. The international visitors evinced keen interest in the technological interventions and administrative safeguards for the election process in India. An interactive session had experts clarifying the doubts/queries of delegates.IEVP is a flagship program of the ECI for international cooperation and engagement with the election management bodies (EMBs) of other countries and international organizations.The programme provides a comprehensive overview of India’s electoral framework, institutional mechanisms, and operational architecture, besides familiarising foreign EMB delegates with best practices and innovations in election management.About the AuthorBharti JainBharti Jain is senior editor with The Times of India, New Delhi. She has been writing on security matters since 1996. Having covered the Union home ministry, security agencies, Election Commission and the ‘prime’ political beat, the Congress, for The Economic Times all these years, she moved to TOI in August 2012. Her repertoire of news stories delves into the whole gamut of issues related to terrorism and internal strife, besides probing strategic affairs in India’s neighbourhood.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosAllahabad HC Judge Recuses Himself From Rahul Gandhi’s Dual Citizenship CaseCong Submits Breach of Privilege Against PM Modi; Trump Pushes Iran Talks Amid Ceasefire TensionsIndian Army Sends Strong Warning to Terror Groups Ahead of Pahalgam Terror Attack AnniversaryPappu Yadav Faces Notice After Claiming 90% Women Need ‘Leaders’ Bedrooms’ To Enter PoliticsNida Khan Faces Arrest After Nashik Court Rejects Interim Bail In BPO CaseBJP Leader Nazia Elahi Khan Applies Tilak At Lenskart Store Amid Dress Code RowSupreme Court Raises Alarm Over Digital Arrest Scams, ₹2.5 Cr Fraud Case HighlightedKashmir On Alert As SOG Carries Out Search Ops Before Pahalgam AnniversaryGun, Kirpans, Pepper Spray: Clash Inside Germany Gurdwara Leaves 11 WoundedIndia, Korea Discuss Global Tensions, Stress Peace, Security And Stronger Multilateral Cooperation123Photostories5 largest birds in the world worth travelling forDo you unconsciously ‘insult’ your child? 5 mistakes that can ruin their mental health5 places that are perfect to visit in MayAnushka Sharma-inspired simple kurta looks perfect for summer 2026Animals you might see in your backyard in AustraliaA dazzling night in Chandigarh over good food and even better mood7 baby names that mean love and affectionWorld’s top 5 most expensive real estate markets10 habits that instantly make you attractive, as per psychologyAnimals in India that can fly — and they’re not birds: Where to find them123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingUK School New RulesHS Result 2026Tamil Nadu Assembly Polls 2026Arvind kejriwal CaseYusuf PathanYogi AdityanathJKBOSE class 10 result 2026Allahabad High CourtIPL Orange CapUK Electricity Price


Delegates from 17 countries to witness West Bengal, Tamil Nadu polling under ECI programme
ECI flags off Phase-II of International Election Visitors’ Programme

NEW DELHI: Delegates from 17 countries, including representatives from their foreign missions in Delhi, will witness polling in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu on Thursday as part of the Election Commission’s International Election Visitors’ Programme (IEVP) 2026.This is the second leg of the programme; the first phase had seen 43 delegates from 23 countries experiencing the polling process first-hand in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry on April 8 and 9.Chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar inaugurated the second edition of IEVP at the Indian International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) on Tuesday. As many as 34 delegates from 17 countries, including representatives from their foreign missions here, and a representative of International IDEA are participating in this phase.The delegated will visit Tamil Nadu and West Bengal from April 22 to April 23, 2026. They will visit the dispatch and distribution centres and other facilities, including district control rooms and media monitoring centres. On April 23 morning, the delegates will witness the polling as it happens.The delegates were on Tuesday given a demonstration of the EVM at IIIDEM. They took part in the mock poll using the machines, getting a hands-on experience of the voting process. The international visitors evinced keen interest in the technological interventions and administrative safeguards for the election process in India. An interactive session had experts clarifying the doubts/queries of delegates.IEVP is a flagship program of the ECI for international cooperation and engagement with the election management bodies (EMBs) of other countries and international organizations.The programme provides a comprehensive overview of India’s electoral framework, institutional mechanisms, and operational architecture, besides familiarising foreign EMB delegates with best practices and innovations in election management.



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Army rescues ailing woman in a hilly village Chill | Representative image (AI generated) JAMMU: In a swift, humanitarian response, the Army successfully evacuated a critically ill woman from a remote village, Chill, at an altitude of 7,500 feet in Dudu-Basantgarh of Udhampur district in the Jammu division on Monday.Lieutenant colonel Suneel Bartwal, PRO (Defence) in Jammu, said, “At around 8 pm on April 18, a villager came to the military operating base seeking urgent medical assistance for his wife, Sheetla Devi, who was suffering from seizures. Responding promptly, our troops mobilised under challenging night conditions and reached their residence, where immediate first aid was administered, stabilising the patient in austere field conditions.“At first light on April 19, a carefully planned evacuation was undertaken to shift the patient to the nearest road head at Ghar Katiyas. The evacuation involved traversing nearly 3km of rugged, forested terrain marked by steep gradients and the absence of any motorable track. Army personnel carried the patient on a stretcher for nearly three hours, ensuring her safe evacuation. The patient was later taken by road to the PHC at Dudu, where she is presently stable and receiving medical care,” Col Bartwal added.Early this year, on Jan 29, Army troops successfully provided emergency medical assistance to a 24-year-old woman, Ashu, suffering from post-labour issues in a remote, snow-bound village in Udhampur district, as all roads leading to the nearest hospital, Ayushman Arogya Mandir Primary Health Centre in Latti, were blocked due to heavy snowfall.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosAllahabad HC Judge Recuses Himself From Rahul Gandhi’s Dual Citizenship CaseCong Submits Breach of Privilege Against PM Modi; Trump Pushes Iran Talks Amid Ceasefire TensionsIndian Army Sends Strong Warning to Terror Groups Ahead of Pahalgam Terror Attack AnniversaryPappu Yadav Faces Notice After Claiming 90% Women Need ‘Leaders’ Bedrooms’ To Enter PoliticsNida Khan Faces Arrest After Nashik Court Rejects Interim Bail In BPO CaseBJP Leader Nazia Elahi Khan Applies Tilak At Lenskart Store Amid Dress Code RowSupreme Court Raises Alarm Over Digital Arrest Scams, ₹2.5 Cr Fraud Case HighlightedKashmir On Alert As SOG Carries Out Search Ops Before Pahalgam AnniversaryGun, Kirpans, Pepper Spray: Clash Inside Germany Gurdwara Leaves 11 WoundedIndia, Korea Discuss Global Tensions, Stress Peace, Security And Stronger Multilateral Cooperation123PhotostoriesExclusive – Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah actors Kuldeep Gor and Dharti Bhatt, aka Ratan and Roopa on their new saree shop, their bond with the cast, and a special gift for Daya Bhabhi5 largest birds in the world worth travelling forDo you unconsciously ‘insult’ your child? 5 mistakes that can ruin their mental health5 places that are perfect to visit in MayAnushka Sharma-inspired simple kurta looks perfect for summer 2026Animals you might see in your backyard in AustraliaA dazzling night in Chandigarh over good food and even better mood7 baby names that mean love and affectionWorld’s top 5 most expensive real estate marketsAnimals in India that can fly — and they’re not birds: Where to find them123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingUK School New RulesHS Result 2026Tamil Nadu Assembly Polls 2026Arvind kejriwal CaseYusuf PathanYogi AdityanathJKBOSE class 10 result 2026Allahabad High CourtIPL Orange CapUK Electricity Price

Army rescues ailing woman in a hilly village Chill | Representative image (AI generated) JAMMU: In a swift, humanitarian response, the Army successfully evacuated a critically ill woman from a remote village, Chill, at an altitude of 7,500 feet in Dudu-Basantgarh of Udhampur district in the Jammu division on Monday.Lieutenant colonel Suneel Bartwal, PRO (Defence) in Jammu, said, “At around 8 pm on April 18, a villager came to the military operating base seeking urgent medical assistance for his wife, Sheetla Devi, who was suffering from seizures. Responding promptly, our troops mobilised under challenging night conditions and reached their residence, where immediate first aid was administered, stabilising the patient in austere field conditions.“At first light on April 19, a carefully planned evacuation was undertaken to shift the patient to the nearest road head at Ghar Katiyas. The evacuation involved traversing nearly 3km of rugged, forested terrain marked by steep gradients and the absence of any motorable track. Army personnel carried the patient on a stretcher for nearly three hours, ensuring her safe evacuation. The patient was later taken by road to the PHC at Dudu, where she is presently stable and receiving medical care,” Col Bartwal added.Early this year, on Jan 29, Army troops successfully provided emergency medical assistance to a 24-year-old woman, Ashu, suffering from post-labour issues in a remote, snow-bound village in Udhampur district, as all roads leading to the nearest hospital, Ayushman Arogya Mandir Primary Health Centre in Latti, were blocked due to heavy snowfall.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosAllahabad HC Judge Recuses Himself From Rahul Gandhi’s Dual Citizenship CaseCong Submits Breach of Privilege Against PM Modi; Trump Pushes Iran Talks Amid Ceasefire TensionsIndian Army Sends Strong Warning to Terror Groups Ahead of Pahalgam Terror Attack AnniversaryPappu Yadav Faces Notice After Claiming 90% Women Need ‘Leaders’ Bedrooms’ To Enter PoliticsNida Khan Faces Arrest After Nashik Court Rejects Interim Bail In BPO CaseBJP Leader Nazia Elahi Khan Applies Tilak At Lenskart Store Amid Dress Code RowSupreme Court Raises Alarm Over Digital Arrest Scams, ₹2.5 Cr Fraud Case HighlightedKashmir On Alert As SOG Carries Out Search Ops Before Pahalgam AnniversaryGun, Kirpans, Pepper Spray: Clash Inside Germany Gurdwara Leaves 11 WoundedIndia, Korea Discuss Global Tensions, Stress Peace, Security And Stronger Multilateral Cooperation123PhotostoriesExclusive – Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah actors Kuldeep Gor and Dharti Bhatt, aka Ratan and Roopa on their new saree shop, their bond with the cast, and a special gift for Daya Bhabhi5 largest birds in the world worth travelling forDo you unconsciously ‘insult’ your child? 5 mistakes that can ruin their mental health5 places that are perfect to visit in MayAnushka Sharma-inspired simple kurta looks perfect for summer 2026Animals you might see in your backyard in AustraliaA dazzling night in Chandigarh over good food and even better mood7 baby names that mean love and affectionWorld’s top 5 most expensive real estate marketsAnimals in India that can fly — and they’re not birds: Where to find them123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingUK School New RulesHS Result 2026Tamil Nadu Assembly Polls 2026Arvind kejriwal CaseYusuf PathanYogi AdityanathJKBOSE class 10 result 2026Allahabad High CourtIPL Orange CapUK Electricity Price

Vamsikrishna 0
. NEW DELHI: A petition in the Supreme Court challenging the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026 — likely to come before a CJI-led bench on April 27 — highlights the “complete legislative erasure of trans men and trans masculine identities and other gender-diverse identities from the definition of transgender person”.Steered by transgender rights activists Manveer Yadav and Vishwanath Maithil — who identify as transmen — the petition states the 2026 amendment law introduces sweeping changes to the 2019 law and is in “complete derogation of principles” laid by SC in its landmark 2014 ‘National Legal Services Authority v. Union of India’ case that recognised “transgender” as an umbrella term encompassing wide and diverse range of identities, including trans men and trans masculine identities, trans women, non-binary persons, genderqueer individuals, and socio-cultural groups including hijras, kinnars, aravanis, and jogtas, and held that the criterion for recognition must be the ‘Psychological Test’, not the ‘Biological Test.’The two other petitioners are transgender rights activists and trans women Abhina Aher and Vinshi Shahi.The petitioners said the 2026 law replaces an identity-based, self-determination framework with a categorical list of externally verifiable biological markers and named trans-feminine socio-cultural communities, none of which encompasses trans men.Highlighting that the Trans Rights Act, 2019, before the amendments, defined “transgender person” to include trans men and trans women irrespective of medical intervention, persons with intersex variations, genderqueer persons, and named socio-cultural communities. Also, it guaranteed the right to self-perceived gender identity. “Together, this framework operationalised the constitutional mandate of NALSA. The 2026 amendment law systematically dismantles it,” they emphasised.The petition goes on to cite that the 2026 Amendment Act, firstly, replaces the open, identity-based definition of “transgender person” under the 2019 Act with a categorical and exhaustive list confined to: persons with named socio-cultural identities (kinner, hijra, aravani, jogta, & eunuch); persons with intersex variations defined through biological and chromosomal criteria; and persons forcibly compelled to assume a transgender identity through bodily modification.”Further, a proviso declares that the definition shall “not include, nor shall ever have been so included, persons with different sexual orientations and self-perceived sexual identities.”Besides this, the petitioners express concern as they highlight that “the right to self-perceived gender identity that is constitutionally protected, has been entirely omitted without any legitimate rationale”. “The combined effect of such an amendment is to strip trans men and trans masculine identities of all statutory recognition and protection,” they add.”Furthermore, every named socio-cultural community in the definition is, without exception, a trans-feminine community of persons assigned as male at birth. Trans men and trans masculine identities have no equivalent named community formation in India; their structural invisibility is itself a defining feature of their experience,” the petition states.It is further highlighted that the “legislature’s privileging of community-visible, trans-feminine identities over self-perceived identities is not a neutral classification, it is a prejudice of visibility encoded in statute.”Raising various issues, the petitioners also draw attention to how the 2026 Amendment Act restructures the certificate regime under the Trans Rights Act 2019, “converting a facilitative, self-declaration-based process into one of administrative adjudication and compulsory State surveillance over gender transition”.”Under the 2026 Amendment Act, the district magistrate is now required to examine the recommendation of a medical board and, where considered “necessary or desirable,” to seek the assistance of other medical experts before issuing a certificate of identity. This directly reintroduces the Corbett Biological Test expressly rejected in the NALSA case and produces a chilling effect on gender expression,” the petitioners state.They further highlight a Parliamentary Standing Committee report that cautioned against precisely this kind of “medical gatekeeping” and seek the intervention of the top court to protect the rights of the community, and urge the SC to declare the right to self-perceived gender identity a fundamental right protected under the Constitution of India.”The medical institutions are mandated to furnish details of any person who has undergone gender-affirming surgery to the district magistrate and the designated authority, without consent, purpose limitation, or data protection safeguard. This violates the right to informational privacy, decisional autonomy, and bodily autonomy under Article 21; breaches doctor-patient confidentiality; conflicts with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023; and creates a state-controlled surveillance architecture over gender transition that is manifestly arbitrary and disproportionate under Article 14,” the petition states.”The protection that a change in gender shall not affect existing rights and entitlements under the Act has been omitted, removing a critical statutory safeguard and leaving transitioning persons without protection of their entitlements,” it further states.In this backdrop, the petitioners seek the intervention of the top court to protect the rights of the community and urge the SC to declare the right to self-perceived gender identity a fundamental right protected under the Constitution of India.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosAllahabad HC Judge Recuses Himself From Rahul Gandhi’s Dual Citizenship CaseCong Submits Breach of Privilege Against PM Modi; Trump Pushes Iran Talks Amid Ceasefire TensionsIndian Army Sends Strong Warning to Terror Groups Ahead of Pahalgam Terror Attack AnniversaryPappu Yadav Faces Notice After Claiming 90% Women Need ‘Leaders’ Bedrooms’ To Enter PoliticsNida Khan Faces Arrest After Nashik Court Rejects Interim Bail In BPO CaseBJP Leader Nazia Elahi Khan Applies Tilak At Lenskart Store Amid Dress Code RowSupreme Court Raises Alarm Over Digital Arrest Scams, ₹2.5 Cr Fraud Case HighlightedKashmir On Alert As SOG Carries Out Search Ops Before Pahalgam AnniversaryGun, Kirpans, Pepper Spray: Clash Inside Germany Gurdwara Leaves 11 WoundedIndia, Korea Discuss Global Tensions, Stress Peace, Security And Stronger Multilateral Cooperation123PhotostoriesExclusive – Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah actors Kuldeep Gor and Dharti Bhatt, aka Ratan and Roopa on their new saree shop, their bond with the cast, and a special gift for Daya Bhabhi5 largest birds in the world worth travelling forDo you unconsciously ‘insult’ your child? 5 mistakes that can ruin their mental health5 places that are perfect to visit in MayAnushka Sharma-inspired simple kurta looks perfect for summer 2026Animals you might see in your backyard in AustraliaA dazzling night in Chandigarh over good food and even better mood7 baby names that mean love and affectionWorld’s top 5 most expensive real estate markets10 habits that instantly make you attractive, as per psychology123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingUK School New RulesHS Result 2026Tamil Nadu Assembly Polls 2026Arvind kejriwal CaseYusuf PathanYogi AdityanathJKBOSE class 10 result 2026Allahabad High CourtIPL Orange CapUK Electricity Price

. NEW DELHI: A petition in the Supreme Court challenging the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026 — likely to come before a CJI-led bench on April 27 — highlights the “complete legislative erasure of trans men and trans masculine identities and other gender-diverse identities from the definition of transgender person”.Steered by transgender rights activists Manveer Yadav and Vishwanath Maithil — who identify as transmen — the petition states the 2026 amendment law introduces sweeping changes to the 2019 law and is in “complete derogation of principles” laid by SC in its landmark 2014 ‘National Legal Services Authority v. Union of India’ case that recognised “transgender” as an umbrella term encompassing wide and diverse range of identities, including trans men and trans masculine identities, trans women, non-binary persons, genderqueer individuals, and socio-cultural groups including hijras, kinnars, aravanis, and jogtas, and held that the criterion for recognition must be the ‘Psychological Test’, not the ‘Biological Test.’The two other petitioners are transgender rights activists and trans women Abhina Aher and Vinshi Shahi.The petitioners said the 2026 law replaces an identity-based, self-determination framework with a categorical list of externally verifiable biological markers and named trans-feminine socio-cultural communities, none of which encompasses trans men.Highlighting that the Trans Rights Act, 2019, before the amendments, defined “transgender person” to include trans men and trans women irrespective of medical intervention, persons with intersex variations, genderqueer persons, and named socio-cultural communities. Also, it guaranteed the right to self-perceived gender identity. “Together, this framework operationalised the constitutional mandate of NALSA. The 2026 amendment law systematically dismantles it,” they emphasised.The petition goes on to cite that the 2026 Amendment Act, firstly, replaces the open, identity-based definition of “transgender person” under the 2019 Act with a categorical and exhaustive list confined to: persons with named socio-cultural identities (kinner, hijra, aravani, jogta, & eunuch); persons with intersex variations defined through biological and chromosomal criteria; and persons forcibly compelled to assume a transgender identity through bodily modification.”Further, a proviso declares that the definition shall “not include, nor shall ever have been so included, persons with different sexual orientations and self-perceived sexual identities.”Besides this, the petitioners express concern as they highlight that “the right to self-perceived gender identity that is constitutionally protected, has been entirely omitted without any legitimate rationale”. “The combined effect of such an amendment is to strip trans men and trans masculine identities of all statutory recognition and protection,” they add.”Furthermore, every named socio-cultural community in the definition is, without exception, a trans-feminine community of persons assigned as male at birth. Trans men and trans masculine identities have no equivalent named community formation in India; their structural invisibility is itself a defining feature of their experience,” the petition states.It is further highlighted that the “legislature’s privileging of community-visible, trans-feminine identities over self-perceived identities is not a neutral classification, it is a prejudice of visibility encoded in statute.”Raising various issues, the petitioners also draw attention to how the 2026 Amendment Act restructures the certificate regime under the Trans Rights Act 2019, “converting a facilitative, self-declaration-based process into one of administrative adjudication and compulsory State surveillance over gender transition”.”Under the 2026 Amendment Act, the district magistrate is now required to examine the recommendation of a medical board and, where considered “necessary or desirable,” to seek the assistance of other medical experts before issuing a certificate of identity. This directly reintroduces the Corbett Biological Test expressly rejected in the NALSA case and produces a chilling effect on gender expression,” the petitioners state.They further highlight a Parliamentary Standing Committee report that cautioned against precisely this kind of “medical gatekeeping” and seek the intervention of the top court to protect the rights of the community, and urge the SC to declare the right to self-perceived gender identity a fundamental right protected under the Constitution of India.”The medical institutions are mandated to furnish details of any person who has undergone gender-affirming surgery to the district magistrate and the designated authority, without consent, purpose limitation, or data protection safeguard. This violates the right to informational privacy, decisional autonomy, and bodily autonomy under Article 21; breaches doctor-patient confidentiality; conflicts with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023; and creates a state-controlled surveillance architecture over gender transition that is manifestly arbitrary and disproportionate under Article 14,” the petition states.”The protection that a change in gender shall not affect existing rights and entitlements under the Act has been omitted, removing a critical statutory safeguard and leaving transitioning persons without protection of their entitlements,” it further states.In this backdrop, the petitioners seek the intervention of the top court to protect the rights of the community and urge the SC to declare the right to self-perceived gender identity a fundamental right protected under the Constitution of India.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosAllahabad HC Judge Recuses Himself From Rahul Gandhi’s Dual Citizenship CaseCong Submits Breach of Privilege Against PM Modi; Trump Pushes Iran Talks Amid Ceasefire TensionsIndian Army Sends Strong Warning to Terror Groups Ahead of Pahalgam Terror Attack AnniversaryPappu Yadav Faces Notice After Claiming 90% Women Need ‘Leaders’ Bedrooms’ To Enter PoliticsNida Khan Faces Arrest After Nashik Court Rejects Interim Bail In BPO CaseBJP Leader Nazia Elahi Khan Applies Tilak At Lenskart Store Amid Dress Code RowSupreme Court Raises Alarm Over Digital Arrest Scams, ₹2.5 Cr Fraud Case HighlightedKashmir On Alert As SOG Carries Out Search Ops Before Pahalgam AnniversaryGun, Kirpans, Pepper Spray: Clash Inside Germany Gurdwara Leaves 11 WoundedIndia, Korea Discuss Global Tensions, Stress Peace, Security And Stronger Multilateral Cooperation123PhotostoriesExclusive – Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah actors Kuldeep Gor and Dharti Bhatt, aka Ratan and Roopa on their new saree shop, their bond with the cast, and a special gift for Daya Bhabhi5 largest birds in the world worth travelling forDo you unconsciously ‘insult’ your child? 5 mistakes that can ruin their mental health5 places that are perfect to visit in MayAnushka Sharma-inspired simple kurta looks perfect for summer 2026Animals you might see in your backyard in AustraliaA dazzling night in Chandigarh over good food and even better mood7 baby names that mean love and affectionWorld’s top 5 most expensive real estate markets10 habits that instantly make you attractive, as per psychology123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingUK School New RulesHS Result 2026Tamil Nadu Assembly Polls 2026Arvind kejriwal CaseYusuf PathanYogi AdityanathJKBOSE class 10 result 2026Allahabad High CourtIPL Orange CapUK Electricity Price

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NEW DELHI: Taking a dig at carmakers lobbying for the next phase of fuel efficiency norms, CAFE-3, road transport minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday said they have been trying behind the scenes to influence policy and don’t get exposed like political leaders.He also indicated some parity in norms for flex-fuel hybrid cars with EVs.Speaking at the Indian Federation of Green Energy’s Green Transport Conclave, Gadkari said, “The file (on CAFE-3) will come to me in the next 15 days. I don’t want to say what has happened. There have been controversies. In politics, we get exposed because we are 100% open. Industries don’t get exposed as they campaign behind.”Meanwhile, TOI has learnt that the auto industry body, SIAM, has written to power secretary Pankaj Agarwal seeking an increase in derogation or supercredit of four for EVs, three for range extended electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and 1.5 for flex-fuel Vehicles. Carmakers have also urged the government to allow carry over the credit points for meeting the emission and energy efficiency targets of the first three years to the next block of two years.CAFE-3, which will be effective for five years, proposes pooling of compliance across manufacturers and carry-forward of credits within blocks — three years initially and then two years. Any surplus credits will lapse at the end of each block.So far, carmakers have officially maintained that they are aligned with the latest version of the government’s proposal of CAFE-3.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosAllahabad HC Judge Recuses Himself From Rahul Gandhi’s Dual Citizenship CaseCong Submits Breach of Privilege Against PM Modi; Trump Pushes Iran Talks Amid Ceasefire TensionsIndian Army Sends Strong Warning to Terror Groups Ahead of Pahalgam Terror Attack AnniversaryPappu Yadav Faces Notice After Claiming 90% Women Need ‘Leaders’ Bedrooms’ To Enter PoliticsNida Khan Faces Arrest After Nashik Court Rejects Interim Bail In BPO CaseBJP Leader Nazia Elahi Khan Applies Tilak At Lenskart Store Amid Dress Code RowSupreme Court Raises Alarm Over Digital Arrest Scams, ₹2.5 Cr Fraud Case HighlightedKashmir On Alert As SOG Carries Out Search Ops Before Pahalgam AnniversaryGun, Kirpans, Pepper Spray: Clash Inside Germany Gurdwara Leaves 11 WoundedIndia, Korea Discuss Global Tensions, Stress Peace, Security And Stronger Multilateral Cooperation123PhotostoriesExclusive – Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah actors Kuldeep Gor and Dharti Bhatt, aka Ratan and Roopa on their new saree shop, their bond with the cast, and a special gift for Daya Bhabhi5 largest birds in the world worth travelling forDo you unconsciously ‘insult’ your child? 5 mistakes that can ruin their mental health5 places that are perfect to visit in MayAnushka Sharma-inspired simple kurta looks perfect for summer 2026Animals you might see in your backyard in AustraliaA dazzling night in Chandigarh over good food and even better mood7 baby names that mean love and affectionWorld’s top 5 most expensive real estate markets10 habits that instantly make you attractive, as per psychology123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingUK School New RulesHS Result 2026Tamil Nadu Assembly Polls 2026Arvind kejriwal CaseYusuf PathanYogi AdityanathJKBOSE class 10 result 2026Allahabad High CourtIPL Orange CapUK Electricity Price

NEW DELHI: Taking a dig at carmakers lobbying for the next phase of fuel efficiency norms, CAFE-3, road transport minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday said they have been trying behind the scenes to influence policy and don’t get exposed like political leaders.He also indicated some parity in norms for flex-fuel hybrid cars with EVs.Speaking at the Indian Federation of Green Energy’s Green Transport Conclave, Gadkari said, “The file (on CAFE-3) will come to me in the next 15 days. I don’t want to say what has happened. There have been controversies. In politics, we get exposed because we are 100% open. Industries don’t get exposed as they campaign behind.”Meanwhile, TOI has learnt that the auto industry body, SIAM, has written to power secretary Pankaj Agarwal seeking an increase in derogation or supercredit of four for EVs, three for range extended electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and 1.5 for flex-fuel Vehicles. Carmakers have also urged the government to allow carry over the credit points for meeting the emission and energy efficiency targets of the first three years to the next block of two years.CAFE-3, which will be effective for five years, proposes pooling of compliance across manufacturers and carry-forward of credits within blocks — three years initially and then two years. Any surplus credits will lapse at the end of each block.So far, carmakers have officially maintained that they are aligned with the latest version of the government’s proposal of CAFE-3.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosAllahabad HC Judge Recuses Himself From Rahul Gandhi’s Dual Citizenship CaseCong Submits Breach of Privilege Against PM Modi; Trump Pushes Iran Talks Amid Ceasefire TensionsIndian Army Sends Strong Warning to Terror Groups Ahead of Pahalgam Terror Attack AnniversaryPappu Yadav Faces Notice After Claiming 90% Women Need ‘Leaders’ Bedrooms’ To Enter PoliticsNida Khan Faces Arrest After Nashik Court Rejects Interim Bail In BPO CaseBJP Leader Nazia Elahi Khan Applies Tilak At Lenskart Store Amid Dress Code RowSupreme Court Raises Alarm Over Digital Arrest Scams, ₹2.5 Cr Fraud Case HighlightedKashmir On Alert As SOG Carries Out Search Ops Before Pahalgam AnniversaryGun, Kirpans, Pepper Spray: Clash Inside Germany Gurdwara Leaves 11 WoundedIndia, Korea Discuss Global Tensions, Stress Peace, Security And Stronger Multilateral Cooperation123PhotostoriesExclusive – Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah actors Kuldeep Gor and Dharti Bhatt, aka Ratan and Roopa on their new saree shop, their bond with the cast, and a special gift for Daya Bhabhi5 largest birds in the world worth travelling forDo you unconsciously ‘insult’ your child? 5 mistakes that can ruin their mental health5 places that are perfect to visit in MayAnushka Sharma-inspired simple kurta looks perfect for summer 2026Animals you might see in your backyard in AustraliaA dazzling night in Chandigarh over good food and even better mood7 baby names that mean love and affectionWorld’s top 5 most expensive real estate markets10 habits that instantly make you attractive, as per psychology123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingUK School New RulesHS Result 2026Tamil Nadu Assembly Polls 2026Arvind kejriwal CaseYusuf PathanYogi AdityanathJKBOSE class 10 result 2026Allahabad High CourtIPL Orange CapUK Electricity Price

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