May 21, 2026
NEW DELHI: The Employees Provident Fund Organisation is focusing on getting subscribers to withdraw unclaimed money lying in inoperative accounts.Nearly a quarter of the inoperative accounts, which are Aadhaar verified, may soon get cleared of the idle balances as the EPFO is working to develop an auto-settlement facility which will allow account holders to receive the unclaimed money in their bank accounts without filing for claims, an official told TOI. The facility is slated to deal with nearly 8.1 lakh Aadhaar verified inoperative accounts, amounting to Rs 5,200 crore, of which nearly 14,000 have more than Rs 5 lakh lying unclaimed. Another 38,000 Aadhaar-verified inoperative accounts have Rs 1-5 lakh lying unclaimed, and 41,000 accounts have between Rs 50,000 and Rs 1 lakh. “In the last meeting, the central board of trustees (CBT) cleared auto-settlement of such inoperative accounts, with an unclaimed balance of Rs 1,000 or less, to registered bank accounts. Israel Iran WarUS-Israel-Iran War News Live Updates: Iran vows tit-for-tat strike after Trump’s 48hr ultimatum, threatens to hit US-Israel energy facilityWatch: Missile strike rocks Israel’s ‘Little India’ as Iran attack injures over 40; videos show chaosOver 100 injured in Israel amid Iran’s missile attack; Netanyahu calls it ‘difficult evening in battle for future’Based on the learnings from this project, a separate initiative is planned to design a strategy for other accounts. Members who joined after Oct 2017 will be given priority,” the official said. An inoperative account in EPFO is one that has stopped earning interest and mainly belongs to members who have retired after 55 years of age and no contribution is made for three years. However, for those under 55 years, the account will keep earning interest until the subscriber turns 58. As of Feb 2026, there were 31.8 lakh inoperative accounts, with Rs 10,181 crore lying unclaimed. Of these, nearly 7 lakh accounts are older than 20 years, while 1.8 lakh are between 10-20 years old. Nearly 13 lakh inoperative accounts are between 5-10 years old.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosPakistan Tops Global Terrorism Index With Highest Death Toll, Raises Global Alarm‘Was Tortured’: Wife Of Deceased PWC Official Seeks Bhullar’s Arrest Before Post-MortemSanjay Raut Fires ‘Jhola Uthaiye’ Salvo At Narendra Modi Over inflation, Rupee CrashFirst China-Bound Russian Oil Tanker Reaches India After US Sanctions WaiverNarendra Modi Reviews Energy Security As Middle East Crisis Deepens8931 Days In Office: PM Modi Becomes Longest-Serving Head Of Govt Overtaking Pawan Kumar Chamling‘Zelenskyy Regime Core Exporter Of Instability’: Russia Reacts To NIA Arrest Of Ukrainians In India‘Selective Narrative’: 275 Ex-Officials, Judges Slam USCIRF Over ‘Disturbing’ Report On IndiaLPG Tanker ‘Pyxis Pioneer’ With Over 47,000 Tonnes Of Fuel From US Arrives At New Mangalore PortSeveral Injured In Dimona As Iranian Missile Hits Israel’s ‘Little India’; Videos Show Chaos123Photostories5 nutrient-rich vegetable peels you should never throw awayHow to make Dhaba-style Paneer Butter Masala at homeIn pics: India’s sea-based deterrent triad – INS Arihant, Arighaat & AridhamanTV friendships that defined a generation: From ‘Friends’ to ‘The Big Bang Theory,’ the bonds we never got overTOISA 2025 winner list (part 1): Mithali Raj, Shubman Gill, Harmanpreet Kaur, and more win bigConstant urge to pee but little output? A urologist explains what your body might be telling you5 factors to consider before investing in real estateTOISA 2025 celebrates India’s sporting excellence with Smriti Mandhana and Samrat Rana leading the honoursCan’t stop overthinking conversations before bed? What your brain is doing and how to break the cycleWho is Leena Nair? From Kolhapur to leading Chanel’s Rs 360 crore empire123Hot PicksIran newsGautam SinghaniaStrait of HormuzGold rate todayIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays March 2026Bank Holidays MarchTop TrendingBihar board result 2026Air India Boeing 77760% free seat ruleQatar LNG ExportsMojtaba KhameneiJames GraceySpring EquinoxDiesel price hike8th Pay CommissionPremium Petrol Price Hike

NEW DELHI: The Employees Provident Fund Organisation is focusing on getting subscribers to withdraw unclaimed money lying in inoperative accounts.Nearly a quarter of the inoperative accounts, which are Aadhaar verified, may soon get cleared of the idle balances as the EPFO is working to develop an auto-settlement facility which will allow account holders to receive the unclaimed money in their bank accounts without filing for claims, an official told TOI. The facility is slated to deal with nearly 8.1 lakh Aadhaar verified inoperative accounts, amounting to Rs 5,200 crore, of which nearly 14,000 have more than Rs 5 lakh lying unclaimed. Another 38,000 Aadhaar-verified inoperative accounts have Rs 1-5 lakh lying unclaimed, and 41,000 accounts have between Rs 50,000 and Rs 1 lakh. “In the last meeting, the central board of trustees (CBT) cleared auto-settlement of such inoperative accounts, with an unclaimed balance of Rs 1,000 or less, to registered bank accounts. Israel Iran WarUS-Israel-Iran War News Live Updates: Iran vows tit-for-tat strike after Trump’s 48hr ultimatum, threatens to hit US-Israel energy facilityWatch: Missile strike rocks Israel’s ‘Little India’ as Iran attack injures over 40; videos show chaosOver 100 injured in Israel amid Iran’s missile attack; Netanyahu calls it ‘difficult evening in battle for future’Based on the learnings from this project, a separate initiative is planned to design a strategy for other accounts. Members who joined after Oct 2017 will be given priority,” the official said. An inoperative account in EPFO is one that has stopped earning interest and mainly belongs to members who have retired after 55 years of age and no contribution is made for three years. However, for those under 55 years, the account will keep earning interest until the subscriber turns 58. As of Feb 2026, there were 31.8 lakh inoperative accounts, with Rs 10,181 crore lying unclaimed. Of these, nearly 7 lakh accounts are older than 20 years, while 1.8 lakh are between 10-20 years old. Nearly 13 lakh inoperative accounts are between 5-10 years old.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosPakistan Tops Global Terrorism Index With Highest Death Toll, Raises Global Alarm‘Was Tortured’: Wife Of Deceased PWC Official Seeks Bhullar’s Arrest Before Post-MortemSanjay Raut Fires ‘Jhola Uthaiye’ Salvo At Narendra Modi Over inflation, Rupee CrashFirst China-Bound Russian Oil Tanker Reaches India After US Sanctions WaiverNarendra Modi Reviews Energy Security As Middle East Crisis Deepens8931 Days In Office: PM Modi Becomes Longest-Serving Head Of Govt Overtaking Pawan Kumar Chamling‘Zelenskyy Regime Core Exporter Of Instability’: Russia Reacts To NIA Arrest Of Ukrainians In India‘Selective Narrative’: 275 Ex-Officials, Judges Slam USCIRF Over ‘Disturbing’ Report On IndiaLPG Tanker ‘Pyxis Pioneer’ With Over 47,000 Tonnes Of Fuel From US Arrives At New Mangalore PortSeveral Injured In Dimona As Iranian Missile Hits Israel’s ‘Little India’; Videos Show Chaos123Photostories5 nutrient-rich vegetable peels you should never throw awayHow to make Dhaba-style Paneer Butter Masala at homeIn pics: India’s sea-based deterrent triad – INS Arihant, Arighaat & AridhamanTV friendships that defined a generation: From ‘Friends’ to ‘The Big Bang Theory,’ the bonds we never got overTOISA 2025 winner list (part 1): Mithali Raj, Shubman Gill, Harmanpreet Kaur, and more win bigConstant urge to pee but little output? A urologist explains what your body might be telling you5 factors to consider before investing in real estateTOISA 2025 celebrates India’s sporting excellence with Smriti Mandhana and Samrat Rana leading the honoursCan’t stop overthinking conversations before bed? What your brain is doing and how to break the cycleWho is Leena Nair? From Kolhapur to leading Chanel’s Rs 360 crore empire123Hot PicksIran newsGautam SinghaniaStrait of HormuzGold rate todayIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays March 2026Bank Holidays MarchTop TrendingBihar board result 2026Air India Boeing 77760% free seat ruleQatar LNG ExportsMojtaba KhameneiJames GraceySpring EquinoxDiesel price hike8th Pay CommissionPremium Petrol Price Hike

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

NEW DELHI: The Employees Provident Fund Organisation is focusing on getting subscribers to withdraw unclaimed money lying in inoperative accounts.Nearly a quarter of the inoperative accounts, which are Aadhaar verified, may soon get cleared of the idle balances as the EPFO is working to develop an auto-settlement facility which will allow account holders to receive…

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Mar 23, 2026, 05:00 IST

Mar 23, 2026, 05:00 IST

Vamsikrishna05 mins mins

India’s Abhishek Sharma (ANI Photo) Abhishek Sharma entered the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup as the No.1-ranked batter, expected to dominate with his aggressive strokeplay after a breakthrough 2025 season. However, the tournament turned into an early struggle for the 25-year-old, who began with three consecutive ducks and added a few more low scores, leading…

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West Asia work largely unaffected: L&T

West Asia work largely unaffected: L&T

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

MUMBAI: Construction and engineering giant Larsen & Toubro, which has been operating in West Asia (WA) for over three decades, said a small portion of its regional projects has been affected by the ongoing geopolitical crisis. Deputy managing director Subramanian Sarma said 5% of L&T’s West Asia projects, mainly those near sensitive areas such as…

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Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone pose for selfies post lunch date as they celebrate ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ box office success

Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone pose for selfies post lunch date as they celebrate ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ box office success

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

As the internet went into a meltdown questioning Deepika Padukone’s silence on her husband, Ranveer Singh’s box office blockbuster, ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’, the couple made a calm and cool appearance in the city. While the film shattered box office records at the domestic and international box office, Ranveer and Deepika were spotted enjoying a quiet…

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NEW DELHI: Power and road transport ministries have been asked for clarity on recovery of penalties imposed on carmakers for failing to meet the Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) norms. CAFE, a mandatory regulatory standard, sets limits on average CO2 emissions or fuel consumption for the entire fleet of vehicles sold by a carmaker.It’s learnt that the PMO has asked the stakeholder ministries to address the issue considering that the next phase of CAFE (CAFE 3.0) will have stricter norms for compliance.On March 17, TOI had reported that going by the presentation made by power ministry to PMO, out of the top five carmakers (80% market share), only Tata Motors would be able to meet the target for all five years – FY28 to FY32. Israel Iran WarUS-Israel-Iran War News Live Updates: Iran vows tit-for-tat strike after Trump’s 48hr ultimatum, threatens to hit US-Israel energy facilityWatch: Missile strike rocks Israel’s ‘Little India’ as Iran attack injures over 40; videos show chaosOver 100 injured in Israel amid Iran’s missile attack; Netanyahu calls it ‘difficult evening in battle for future’Officials had also said that the proposed regime would end up levying high penalty in case of non-compliance.”In such a condition, the responsibility of evaluation, approval and recovery of penalty must be defined properly. The PMO’s concern is valid considering that there has been no recovery of penalty from companies that didn’t meet CAFE 2.0 requirements,” said an official.Around Rs 8,800 crore of penalties have been levied on 10 major carmakers for failing to meet CAFE 2.0 targets up to FY23. Officials said that while Bureau of Energy Efficiency has carried out the calculation of penalty for each carmaker, they can be recovered by the adjudicating officer under State Electricity Regulatory Commission, as per the Energy Conservation Act, 2001.A person familiar with the developments said, “Ideally, the ministry or department which enforces an Act, frames norms for assessment and makes the penalty formula should implement the task of recovering the penalty.”End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosPakistan Tops Global Terrorism Index With Highest Death Toll, Raises Global Alarm‘Was Tortured’: Wife Of Deceased PWC Official Seeks Bhullar’s Arrest Before Post-MortemSanjay Raut Fires ‘Jhola Uthaiye’ Salvo At Narendra Modi Over inflation, Rupee CrashFirst China-Bound Russian Oil Tanker Reaches India After US Sanctions WaiverNarendra Modi Reviews Energy Security As Middle East Crisis Deepens8931 Days In Office: PM Modi Becomes Longest-Serving Head Of Govt Overtaking Pawan Kumar Chamling‘Zelenskyy Regime Core Exporter Of Instability’: Russia Reacts To NIA Arrest Of Ukrainians In India‘Selective Narrative’: 275 Ex-Officials, Judges Slam USCIRF Over ‘Disturbing’ Report On IndiaLPG Tanker ‘Pyxis Pioneer’ With Over 47,000 Tonnes Of Fuel From US Arrives At New Mangalore PortSeveral Injured In Dimona As Iranian Missile Hits Israel’s ‘Little India’; Videos Show Chaos123Photostories5 nutrient-rich vegetable peels you should never throw awayHow to make Dhaba-style Paneer Butter Masala at homeIn pics: India’s sea-based deterrent triad – INS Arihant, Arighaat & AridhamanTV friendships that defined a generation: From ‘Friends’ to ‘The Big Bang Theory,’ the bonds we never got overTOISA 2025 winner list (part 1): Mithali Raj, Shubman Gill, Harmanpreet Kaur, and more win bigConstant urge to pee but little output? A urologist explains what your body might be telling you5 factors to consider before investing in real estateTOISA 2025 celebrates India’s sporting excellence with Smriti Mandhana and Samrat Rana leading the honoursCan’t stop overthinking conversations before bed? What your brain is doing and how to break the cycleWho is Leena Nair? From Kolhapur to leading Chanel’s Rs 360 crore empire123Hot PicksIran newsGautam SinghaniaStrait of HormuzGold rate todayIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays March 2026Bank Holidays MarchTop TrendingBihar board result 2026Air India Boeing 77760% free seat ruleQatar LNG ExportsMojtaba KhameneiJames GraceySpring EquinoxDiesel price hike8th Pay CommissionPremium Petrol Price Hike

NEW DELHI: Power and road transport ministries have been asked for clarity on recovery of penalties imposed on carmakers for failing to meet the Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) norms. CAFE, a mandatory regulatory standard, sets limits on average CO2 emissions or fuel consumption for the entire fleet of vehicles sold by a carmaker.It’s learnt that the PMO has asked the stakeholder ministries to address the issue considering that the next phase of CAFE (CAFE 3.0) will have stricter norms for compliance.On March 17, TOI had reported that going by the presentation made by power ministry to PMO, out of the top five carmakers (80% market share), only Tata Motors would be able to meet the target for all five years – FY28 to FY32. Israel Iran WarUS-Israel-Iran War News Live Updates: Iran vows tit-for-tat strike after Trump’s 48hr ultimatum, threatens to hit US-Israel energy facilityWatch: Missile strike rocks Israel’s ‘Little India’ as Iran attack injures over 40; videos show chaosOver 100 injured in Israel amid Iran’s missile attack; Netanyahu calls it ‘difficult evening in battle for future’Officials had also said that the proposed regime would end up levying high penalty in case of non-compliance.”In such a condition, the responsibility of evaluation, approval and recovery of penalty must be defined properly. The PMO’s concern is valid considering that there has been no recovery of penalty from companies that didn’t meet CAFE 2.0 requirements,” said an official.Around Rs 8,800 crore of penalties have been levied on 10 major carmakers for failing to meet CAFE 2.0 targets up to FY23. Officials said that while Bureau of Energy Efficiency has carried out the calculation of penalty for each carmaker, they can be recovered by the adjudicating officer under State Electricity Regulatory Commission, as per the Energy Conservation Act, 2001.A person familiar with the developments said, “Ideally, the ministry or department which enforces an Act, frames norms for assessment and makes the penalty formula should implement the task of recovering the penalty.”End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosPakistan Tops Global Terrorism Index With Highest Death Toll, Raises Global Alarm‘Was Tortured’: Wife Of Deceased PWC Official Seeks Bhullar’s Arrest Before Post-MortemSanjay Raut Fires ‘Jhola Uthaiye’ Salvo At Narendra Modi Over inflation, Rupee CrashFirst China-Bound Russian Oil Tanker Reaches India After US Sanctions WaiverNarendra Modi Reviews Energy Security As Middle East Crisis Deepens8931 Days In Office: PM Modi Becomes Longest-Serving Head Of Govt Overtaking Pawan Kumar Chamling‘Zelenskyy Regime Core Exporter Of Instability’: Russia Reacts To NIA Arrest Of Ukrainians In India‘Selective Narrative’: 275 Ex-Officials, Judges Slam USCIRF Over ‘Disturbing’ Report On IndiaLPG Tanker ‘Pyxis Pioneer’ With Over 47,000 Tonnes Of Fuel From US Arrives At New Mangalore PortSeveral Injured In Dimona As Iranian Missile Hits Israel’s ‘Little India’; Videos Show Chaos123Photostories5 nutrient-rich vegetable peels you should never throw awayHow to make Dhaba-style Paneer Butter Masala at homeIn pics: India’s sea-based deterrent triad – INS Arihant, Arighaat & AridhamanTV friendships that defined a generation: From ‘Friends’ to ‘The Big Bang Theory,’ the bonds we never got overTOISA 2025 winner list (part 1): Mithali Raj, Shubman Gill, Harmanpreet Kaur, and more win bigConstant urge to pee but little output? A urologist explains what your body might be telling you5 factors to consider before investing in real estateTOISA 2025 celebrates India’s sporting excellence with Smriti Mandhana and Samrat Rana leading the honoursCan’t stop overthinking conversations before bed? What your brain is doing and how to break the cycleWho is Leena Nair? From Kolhapur to leading Chanel’s Rs 360 crore empire123Hot PicksIran newsGautam SinghaniaStrait of HormuzGold rate todayIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays March 2026Bank Holidays MarchTop TrendingBihar board result 2026Air India Boeing 77760% free seat ruleQatar LNG ExportsMojtaba KhameneiJames GraceySpring EquinoxDiesel price hike8th Pay CommissionPremium Petrol Price Hike

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

NEW DELHI: Power and road transport ministries have been asked for clarity on recovery of penalties imposed on carmakers for failing to meet the Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) norms. CAFE, a mandatory regulatory standard, sets limits on average CO2 emissions or fuel consumption for the entire fleet of vehicles sold by a carmaker.It’s learnt…

Read More
Libra Horoscope Today, March 23, 2026: Drive slowly, and delay any big decision

Libra Horoscope Today, March 23, 2026: Drive slowly, and delay any big decision

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

Libra, financial burdens are set to lighten as old debts fade into the background, but remain prepared for unexpected disappointments. Emotions will run high in familial relationships, urging you to take a step back before making any decisions. Clear and honest conversations will strengthen your connections. Professionally, concentrate on minor enhancements that are within your…

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US issues worldwide travel alert for American citizens abroad amid Iran escalation

US issues worldwide travel alert for American citizens abroad amid Iran escalation

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

US issues worldwide travel alert for American citizens amid Iran escalation. The US State Department Sunday issued a worldwide alert for American citizens asking them to exercise caution. Warning of possible periodic airspace closures, travel disruptions, the alert asked Americans abroad to follow the security alerts issued by the local US embassy or consulate. “The…

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NEW DELHI: Supreme Court judge Justice Ujjal Bhuyan on Sunday said in merit-based selections, women secure more than 50% of judicial officers’ posts across states, but in the collegium’s subjective assessment criteria, only a minuscule get selected as judges of high courts and SC.Addressing the Supreme Court Bar Association’s first national conference at Bengaluru, Justice Bhuyan said that judicial services across states had a very good representation of women, some even crossing the 50% mark. “But has it been replicated in constitutional courts? That is the question. That is where the scrutiny of the collegium system comes in. Why is it that when the assessment becomes subjective, women do not make the grade? Out of 287 SC judges since 1950, we had a total of only 11 women judges.Israel Iran WarUS-Israel-Iran War News Live Updates: Iran vows tit-for-tat strike after Trump’s 48hr ultimatum, threatens to hit US-Israel energy facilityWatch: Missile strike rocks Israel’s ‘Little India’ as Iran attack injures over 40; videos show chaosOver 100 injured in Israel amid Iran’s missile attack; Netanyahu calls it ‘difficult evening in battle for future’ Why? Starting with Fathima Beevi and now Justice Nagarathna, it is some 2%,” he said.Justice Bhuyan said women made up only 14% of HC judges. “In the 25 HCs, we have only two women chief justices (CJs) – Gujarat and Meghalaya. One more will become CJ in a month’s time. That is also highly inadequate, three out of 25 HCs,” he said. “My research shows that whenever the recruitment process is objective, more women enter the judicial space. When India becomes a developed nation (Viksit Bharat by 2047), there should be more parity in gender representation in judiciary. SC must be a rainbow institution, truly reflecting the diversity of the nation,” Justice Bhuyan said.Former CJI B R Gavai said there were multiple SC rulings that stated if the name of a person recommended for judgeship in an HC was returned for reconsideration by govt and reiterated by the collegium, govt had no option but to appoint them. “But there are many instances where even after repeated reiterations, the persons have not been appointed,” he said, adding, “The collegium is not a perfect system but at least for the time being, it is best suited for the country.”He said the judiciary had been criticised mainly for its inability to tackle arrears and backlogs, delay in disposal of cases at various levels, lack of transparency in administrative decision-making (appointment of judges), long vacations, and lack of diversity, particularly representation of women in constitutional courts.The former CJI said SC had erred on many instances, including in the first major judgment related to right to life in the A K Gopalan case to the Emergency-era A D M Jabalpur case. “Criticism is important for any institution, including the judiciary,” he said.He recalled the first speech of the first CJI, Harilal Jekisondas Kania, who had said SC must operate independent of the legislature and the executive while interpreting the Constitution as a living document.Justice Bhuyan said, “SC must earn the respect of citizens, not demand it… Judicial power relies not just on law but trust and legitimacy. Accountability, integrity and transparency must be made essential for the judiciary to function effectively in a democratic society. The judiciary neither has the purse nor the sword. Its only asset is the goodwill of people, which is the core of judicial strength.”He said in a developed nation, institutions must have functional autonomy. “Investigating agencies as well as the media should be able to discharge their duties without any political interference or control. Development should be in accordance with directive principles of state policy and no one should be left out of development, especially those who have been historically neglected.”End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosPakistan Tops Global Terrorism Index With Highest Death Toll, Raises Global Alarm‘Was Tortured’: Wife Of Deceased PWC Official Seeks Bhullar’s Arrest Before Post-MortemSanjay Raut Fires ‘Jhola Uthaiye’ Salvo At Narendra Modi Over inflation, Rupee CrashFirst China-Bound Russian Oil Tanker Reaches India After US Sanctions WaiverNarendra Modi Reviews Energy Security As Middle East Crisis Deepens8931 Days In Office: PM Modi Becomes Longest-Serving Head Of Govt Overtaking Pawan Kumar Chamling‘Zelenskyy Regime Core Exporter Of Instability’: Russia Reacts To NIA Arrest Of Ukrainians In India‘Selective Narrative’: 275 Ex-Officials, Judges Slam USCIRF Over ‘Disturbing’ Report On IndiaLPG Tanker ‘Pyxis Pioneer’ With Over 47,000 Tonnes Of Fuel From US Arrives At New Mangalore PortSeveral Injured In Dimona As Iranian Missile Hits Israel’s ‘Little India’; Videos Show Chaos123Photostories5 nutrient-rich vegetable peels you should never throw awayHow to make Dhaba-style Paneer Butter Masala at homeIn pics: India’s sea-based deterrent triad – INS Arihant, Arighaat & AridhamanTV friendships that defined a generation: From ‘Friends’ to ‘The Big Bang Theory,’ the bonds we never got overTOISA 2025 winner list (part 1): Mithali Raj, Shubman Gill, Harmanpreet Kaur, and more win bigConstant urge to pee but little output? A urologist explains what your body might be telling you5 factors to consider before investing in real estateTOISA 2025 celebrates India’s sporting excellence with Smriti Mandhana and Samrat Rana leading the honoursCan’t stop overthinking conversations before bed? What your brain is doing and how to break the cycleWho is Leena Nair? From Kolhapur to leading Chanel’s Rs 360 crore empire123Hot PicksIran newsGautam SinghaniaStrait of HormuzGold rate todayIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays March 2026Bank Holidays MarchTop TrendingBihar board result 2026Air India Boeing 77760% free seat ruleQatar LNG ExportsMojtaba KhameneiJames GraceySpring EquinoxDiesel price hike8th Pay CommissionPremium Petrol Price Hike

NEW DELHI: Supreme Court judge Justice Ujjal Bhuyan on Sunday said in merit-based selections, women secure more than 50% of judicial officers’ posts across states, but in the collegium’s subjective assessment criteria, only a minuscule get selected as judges of high courts and SC.Addressing the Supreme Court Bar Association’s first national conference at Bengaluru, Justice Bhuyan said that judicial services across states had a very good representation of women, some even crossing the 50% mark. “But has it been replicated in constitutional courts? That is the question. That is where the scrutiny of the collegium system comes in. Why is it that when the assessment becomes subjective, women do not make the grade? Out of 287 SC judges since 1950, we had a total of only 11 women judges.Israel Iran WarUS-Israel-Iran War News Live Updates: Iran vows tit-for-tat strike after Trump’s 48hr ultimatum, threatens to hit US-Israel energy facilityWatch: Missile strike rocks Israel’s ‘Little India’ as Iran attack injures over 40; videos show chaosOver 100 injured in Israel amid Iran’s missile attack; Netanyahu calls it ‘difficult evening in battle for future’ Why? Starting with Fathima Beevi and now Justice Nagarathna, it is some 2%,” he said.Justice Bhuyan said women made up only 14% of HC judges. “In the 25 HCs, we have only two women chief justices (CJs) – Gujarat and Meghalaya. One more will become CJ in a month’s time. That is also highly inadequate, three out of 25 HCs,” he said. “My research shows that whenever the recruitment process is objective, more women enter the judicial space. When India becomes a developed nation (Viksit Bharat by 2047), there should be more parity in gender representation in judiciary. SC must be a rainbow institution, truly reflecting the diversity of the nation,” Justice Bhuyan said.Former CJI B R Gavai said there were multiple SC rulings that stated if the name of a person recommended for judgeship in an HC was returned for reconsideration by govt and reiterated by the collegium, govt had no option but to appoint them. “But there are many instances where even after repeated reiterations, the persons have not been appointed,” he said, adding, “The collegium is not a perfect system but at least for the time being, it is best suited for the country.”He said the judiciary had been criticised mainly for its inability to tackle arrears and backlogs, delay in disposal of cases at various levels, lack of transparency in administrative decision-making (appointment of judges), long vacations, and lack of diversity, particularly representation of women in constitutional courts.The former CJI said SC had erred on many instances, including in the first major judgment related to right to life in the A K Gopalan case to the Emergency-era A D M Jabalpur case. “Criticism is important for any institution, including the judiciary,” he said.He recalled the first speech of the first CJI, Harilal Jekisondas Kania, who had said SC must operate independent of the legislature and the executive while interpreting the Constitution as a living document.Justice Bhuyan said, “SC must earn the respect of citizens, not demand it… Judicial power relies not just on law but trust and legitimacy. Accountability, integrity and transparency must be made essential for the judiciary to function effectively in a democratic society. The judiciary neither has the purse nor the sword. Its only asset is the goodwill of people, which is the core of judicial strength.”He said in a developed nation, institutions must have functional autonomy. “Investigating agencies as well as the media should be able to discharge their duties without any political interference or control. Development should be in accordance with directive principles of state policy and no one should be left out of development, especially those who have been historically neglected.”End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosPakistan Tops Global Terrorism Index With Highest Death Toll, Raises Global Alarm‘Was Tortured’: Wife Of Deceased PWC Official Seeks Bhullar’s Arrest Before Post-MortemSanjay Raut Fires ‘Jhola Uthaiye’ Salvo At Narendra Modi Over inflation, Rupee CrashFirst China-Bound Russian Oil Tanker Reaches India After US Sanctions WaiverNarendra Modi Reviews Energy Security As Middle East Crisis Deepens8931 Days In Office: PM Modi Becomes Longest-Serving Head Of Govt Overtaking Pawan Kumar Chamling‘Zelenskyy Regime Core Exporter Of Instability’: Russia Reacts To NIA Arrest Of Ukrainians In India‘Selective Narrative’: 275 Ex-Officials, Judges Slam USCIRF Over ‘Disturbing’ Report On IndiaLPG Tanker ‘Pyxis Pioneer’ With Over 47,000 Tonnes Of Fuel From US Arrives At New Mangalore PortSeveral Injured In Dimona As Iranian Missile Hits Israel’s ‘Little India’; Videos Show Chaos123Photostories5 nutrient-rich vegetable peels you should never throw awayHow to make Dhaba-style Paneer Butter Masala at homeIn pics: India’s sea-based deterrent triad – INS Arihant, Arighaat & AridhamanTV friendships that defined a generation: From ‘Friends’ to ‘The Big Bang Theory,’ the bonds we never got overTOISA 2025 winner list (part 1): Mithali Raj, Shubman Gill, Harmanpreet Kaur, and more win bigConstant urge to pee but little output? A urologist explains what your body might be telling you5 factors to consider before investing in real estateTOISA 2025 celebrates India’s sporting excellence with Smriti Mandhana and Samrat Rana leading the honoursCan’t stop overthinking conversations before bed? What your brain is doing and how to break the cycleWho is Leena Nair? From Kolhapur to leading Chanel’s Rs 360 crore empire123Hot PicksIran newsGautam SinghaniaStrait of HormuzGold rate todayIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays March 2026Bank Holidays MarchTop TrendingBihar board result 2026Air India Boeing 77760% free seat ruleQatar LNG ExportsMojtaba KhameneiJames GraceySpring EquinoxDiesel price hike8th Pay CommissionPremium Petrol Price Hike

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

NEW DELHI: Supreme Court judge Justice Ujjal Bhuyan on Sunday said in merit-based selections, women secure more than 50% of judicial officers’ posts across states, but in the collegium’s subjective assessment criteria, only a minuscule get selected as judges of high courts and SC.Addressing the Supreme Court Bar Association’s first national conference at Bengaluru, Justice…

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‘India-EU trade pact to better tech access’

‘India-EU trade pact to better tech access’

Vamsikrishna01 mins mins

NEW DELHI: The proposed India-EU free trade agreement (FTA) is expected to improve access to technology and create new opportunities for localisation and exports, Skoda Auto Volkswagen India MD and CEO Piyush Arora told TOI. “The FTA strengthens our strategy of developing products in India for the Indian market, while also creating opportunities for exports……

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Virgo Horoscope Today, March 23, 2026: Set a strict limit before investing

Virgo Horoscope Today, March 23, 2026: Set a strict limit before investing

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

Virgos, embrace a day of clarity and confidence as Mercury and the Moon align. Opportunities flow, bringing a lighter mood and smoother evenings, especially with children’s contributions. Relationships blossom with Venus’ warmth, encouraging simple, present moments. Students and professionals will find focus and support, with discipline yielding rewards. Calculated financial risks are advised, but with…

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