VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html ‘Glaciers, floods don’t travel with visas’: Nepal PM asks India, China to join Himalayan warning network Cambridge narrows probe into late professor Jason Arday’s hiring, drops plagiarism focus | World News ‘Do I change the channel?’: Nani says he chooses films he won’t ‘CRINGE’ over when son Arjun watches at 15 Watch: PM Modi grooves at a ‘bhajan clubbing’ event in Delhi Pakistan govt crackdown forces PTI retreat? Imran’s party likely to postpone Sept 27 Islamabad march Current Bharat NCAP phase remains valid until Sept 30, 2027, with proposed introduction of Bharat NCAP 2.0 from Oct 2027 Bharat NCAP 2.0, planned for October 2027, will look beyond what happens when a car crashes. The proposed system will examine the entire safety chain: from how a vehicle helps avoid a collision to how well it protects occupants, pedestrians and other vulnerable road users, and what happens after an accident.Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari announced the proposed timeline at the SIAM Annual Convention in September 2026. The second phase is being planned as the first phase of Bharat New Car Assessment Programme, or Bharat NCAP, approaches the end of its current cycle.According to the ministry of road transport and highways’ draft AIS-197 Revision 1, the first phase of Bharat NCAP began on October 1, 2023 and is valid until September 30, 2027. The draft revision has been prepared as the framework for Bharat NCAP 2.0.The proposed changes could make the safety rating a much broader measure of a car’s performance, not just in a crash, but before, during and after one.About Bharat NCAPWhat is Bharat NCAP?Bharat NCAP is India’s own vehicle crash-testing and safety-rating programme. It was formally launched by the ministry of road transport and highways in August 2023 and became operational from October 1, 2023.The programme applies to type-approved passenger vehicles in the M1 category with a gross vehicle weight of less than 3.5 tonnes. It is voluntary, which means manufacturers can offer eligible vehicles for assessment.The programme is anchored by the Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT), while testing is carried out through designated agencies with the required infrastructure.At its core, Bharat NCAP gives car buyers a common safety benchmark. A vehicle must already meet mandatory regulatory requirements to be sold in India. Bharat NCAP goes a step further by putting eligible vehicles through specified tests and awarding them a rating of between one and five stars.India’s own car safety assessment programmeThe idea is fairly simple: instead of looking only at a car’s price, design or features, buyers get an additional reference point to understand how the vehicle performs in standardised safety tests.The government has also positioned the programme as a way to encourage manufacturers to improve vehicle safety and strengthen the safety standards of cars made in India.How does the current Bharat NCAP system work?The existing programme broadly assesses three areas:Adult Occupant Protection (AOP)Child Occupant Protection (COP)Safety Assist Technologies (SAT)Vehicles are subjected to prescribed crash tests and other assessments. Their performance across these parameters is then used to arrive at the overall star rating.The current framework includes a 64 kmph offset frontal impact test, a 50 kmph side movable deformable barrier test and a pole side impact test, among other checks prescribed under AIS-197.The assessment therefore goes beyond simply asking whether the passenger compartment remains intact.Adult Occupant Protection examines the risk of injury to adults in different crash conditions and seating positions. Child Occupant Protection looks at the protection offered to younger passengers, including the use and installation of child restraint systems.Safety Assist Technologies, meanwhile, covers technologies designed to help prevent crashes or reduce their severity.QuoteWhy are adult and child safety assessed separately?A car may offer different levels of protection to adults and children, so Bharat NCAP evaluates the two separately.The adult assessment focuses on occupant protection during prescribed crash scenarios, while the child assessment considers how effectively younger occupants are protected and how child restraint systems work within the vehicle.This also means that a car’s overall star rating is not simply a score from one crash test. It reflects performance across several safety parameters.For consumers, the individual scores can therefore provide more information than looking at the star rating alone.Who tests the cars?Bharat NCAP is anchored by CIRT, with testing carried out through designated testing agencies that have the required facilities.The wider automotive testing ecosystem includes agencies such as the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) and the International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT).Manufacturers submit eligible vehicles for assessment under the programme. The existing framework specifies procedures around the variant selected for testing, including provisions concerning the base variant of a model.That distinction matters when reading a Bharat NCAP result. A rating should not automatically be assumed to apply to every variant of a model unless the official assessment covers those variants.Four assessments of NCAPBharat NCAP ratingsBharat NCAP ratings range from one to five stars. A higher rating indicates stronger performance under the programme’s prescribed assessment criteria.But a five-star rating is not a guarantee that occupants will escape injury in every real-world crash. NCAP testing is conducted under standardised conditions and is intended to provide a basis for comparing vehicle safety performance.It is also important to distinguish Bharat NCAP from the mandatory certification requirements for selling a vehicle in India.Bharat NCAP is voluntary and is designed to provide consumers with additional information beyond the mandatory regulatory framework. A vehicle being tested or rated under Bharat NCAP should therefore not be confused with regulatory approval.Since its launch, Bharat NCAP has increasingly become part of the safety conversation around new car launches. The ratings have also become a factor in how manufacturers present their vehicles to consumers, particularly as safety becomes a more visible consideration in the passenger-vehicle market.What do the stars represent?So, what changes with Bharat NCAP 2.0?This is where the proposed second phase takes a much wider approach.The draft AIS-197 Revision 1 divides Bharat NCAP 2.0 into five safety verticals:Safe drivingCrash avoidanceCrash protectionVulnerable road user protectionPost-crash safetyThe change is significant because the current system focuses mainly on occupant protection and safety-assist technologies, while the proposed framework looks at the complete safety chain.The draft framework uses a 100-point assessment structure, with Crash Protection accounting for 55% of the assessment. The remaining weightage covers the other safety areas.In other words, the crash itself will still be a major part of the rating, but it will no longer be the only part of the safety story.Five crash tests in the proposed new frameworkBharat NCAP 2.0 proposes expanding the Crash Protection assessment to five mandatory crash tests:64 kmph offset frontal impact against a deformable barrier50 kmph frontal impact against a full-width rigid barrier50 kmph lateral impact against a mobile deformable barrier32 kmph oblique side impact against a rigid pole50 kmph rear impact against a mobile rigid barrierAdult and child occupant protection will continue to be assessed separately.The addition of full-width frontal and rear-impact tests means the proposed system will examine crash scenarios beyond the core tests in the existing framework.That gives the second phase a wider testing footprint and allows different types of impacts to form part of the overall safety assessment.Not just about surviving crashOne of the biggest differences in Bharat NCAP 2.0 is that the programme is designed to look at what happens before a crash as well.Crash Avoidance is one of the five proposed verticals. It focuses on technologies and vehicle characteristics that can help prevent a collision or reduce its severity.Your guide to safer carsSafe Driving is another proposed category, widening the assessment beyond the vehicle’s passive protection features.Together, these categories shift the focus from simply asking, “How well does this car perform when it crashes?” to a broader question: “How does this vehicle contribute to safety across different stages of a road incident?”Bharat NCAP 2.0 also proposes a separate Vulnerable Road User Protection category. This brings pedestrians and other vulnerable road users more directly into the safety assessment.The proposed framework also asks a different question: what happens once the collision has taken place?Post-Crash Safety is one of the five proposed assessment areas. Minister Gadkari described Bharat NCAP 2.0 as covering the entire safety chain, including post-crash evacuation and care. “We are going to evaluate the entire crash chain,” Gadkari said, adding that new technologies developed globally as well as by startups would be considered under the programme.This means the assessment is intended to extend beyond the instant of impact and examine safety considerations in the period immediately after a crash.It adds another layer to the programme’s approach: avoiding the crash where possible, protecting people during the impact, and addressing safety after the collision.What does Bharat NCAP mean for car buyers?For buyers, Bharat NCAP offers an additional way to compare cars beyond mandatory safety requirements.A consumer can look at a vehicle’s overall rating as well as its adult and child protection performance and the safety technologies considered in the assessment.The rating is not meant to replace other factors involved in buying a car. Price, size, fuel efficiency, features, driving requirements and other considerations remain relevant, but the proposed 2.0 framework would expand that information further.Buyers could eventually have a broader picture of how a car performs across crash protection, crash avoidance, safe driving, vulnerable-road-user protection and post-crash safety.Bharat NCAP is one part of a much larger road-safety challenge, focusing on the structure of vehicles. Vehicle design and safety technology can influence the outcome of a crash, but they cannot address every reason why accidents happen.The ministry has identified several factors associated with road crashes, including speeding, mobile-phone use, drunken driving, wrong-side driving, lane indiscipline, jumping red lights and failure to use helmets and seat belts. Vehicle condition, road conditions and weather can also play a role.Several countries have their own NCAPSGovernment data recorded 1,68,491 road accident fatalities in 2022.Bharat NCAP therefore addresses one part of this wider equation: the safety performance of vehicles. Its proposed second phase would broaden that role by looking at what a vehicle can do to help avoid crashes, how it protects people when a crash occurs, how it protects vulnerable road users and what happens afterwards.The bottom lineThe current Bharat NCAP phase remains valid until September 30, 2027. The government has proposed introducing Bharat NCAP 2.0 from October 2027, with the draft AIS-197 Revision 1 serving as the framework for the next phase.The proposed transition would take India’s vehicle safety-rating system from a relatively focused crash and occupant-protection programme to a broader safety assessment.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe familiar one-to-five-star rating would remain the consumer-facing language of vehicle safety, but the assessment behind it is set to become much more comprehensive.The bigger shift is in the question Bharat NCAP is trying to answer. Instead of looking only at how a car performs when it is involved in a crash, the proposed system would examine the vehicle’s safety journey from avoiding a collision to protecting occupants and vulnerable road users, and supporting safety after the crash.That could give Indian car buyers a wider set of safety information to consider when choosing their next vehicle.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘Made In UP’ Missiles Giving Pakistan Sleepless Nights: Amit Shah On BrahMosOmar Abdullah Moves Full Statehood Resolution In J&K Assembly, BJP Protest Sparks House UproarThird Bihar Harassment Case In A Week: Minor Girl Targeted In Banka, Video Surfaces’You Cannot Keep Playing’: CJP’s Dipke Challenges Opposition Over Alleged Election Rigging“Terror, Theatrics Won’t Repay Loans”: India Hits Back At Pakistan At UNHRCBJP’s ₹529 Crore Poll Spending Revealed; Bengal Alone Accounted For ₹287 Crore, EC Data ShowsAjeet Bharti Faces Arrest Heat As Delhi HC Rejects Bail In Chandrashekhar Azad CaseIIT-Bombay Death Row: Parents Question CCTV Leak, Demand CBI Probe And Action Against OfficialsAnother Sexual Assault Case from Bihar: 4 Arrested In Samastipur After Video Surfaces OnlineRahul Gandhi Demands Gyanesh Kumar’s Resignation, Alleges ‘Vote Chori’ After ECI Rift Emerges123Hot PicksWeather tomorrowBank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysTN programmePunjab school holidayMadurantakam bypollDr MonishCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingAsian Games Medal TallyRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court Sep 25, 2026, 20:06 IST ‘Jailer 2’ second single ‘One Sun One Moon’ out now; fans react to Anirudh’s ‘Hukum’-level song for the Rajinikanth starrer 30 rescued after fire breaks out in multi-storey building housing Haldiram’s outlet in Delhi’s Model Town A Michigan family lost a home assessed at $194,400 over a disputed $2,242 property-tax bill; the county sold it for $76,008, the buyer resold it for $195,000, and the Supreme Court vacated the lower ruling in 2026 Vijay targets DMK family over women remarks NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay turned his attack on the “DMK family” on Friday, taking issue of “derogatory” remarks against women and declaring that he would not let them pass.Addressing supporters ahead of the October 6 Chengalpattu assembly bypoll, TVK supremo Vijay said he had ignored remarks made against his own mother but drew the line when comments were directed at “my sisters and mothers in Tamil Nadu”.The TVK chief accused the DMK and the “DMK family” of making such remarks and alleged that DMK party head and former CM MK Stalin and his family had allowed such language.”This cannot be tolerated,” Vijay said.Vijay also alleged that Stalin and other DMK leaders had spoken in a “defamatory” manner about former Tamil Nadu chief minister Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesJayalalithaa.His remarks came as he stepped up his attack on the DMK ahead of the bypoll, while also targeting the AIADMK and BJP.Vijay accused the three rival parties of having a “secret understanding, collusion”, suggesting that they were working together on issues despite being political opponents.The TVK chief also referred to the controversy surrounding industrialist Veeramani and alleged that a complaint in a POCSO case had been buried during the previous DMK regime.”What was the deal, Tamil Nadu is asking. Stalin sir, open your mouth, joining hands with you the AIADMK is also not opening its mouth; should there be a collusion even in this issue, will you not open your mouth by having an understanding even in this matter,” he said.On the issue of crimes against women and children, Vijay said those involved should face punishment regardless of their influence.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAbhishek MishraAbhishek Mishra is a Digital Content Producer at The Times of India, working with the news desk. He writes with a keen eye on foreign policy, defence developments, and the shifting currents of geopolitics-and yes, Indian politics always finds a way onto his radar too.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosOmar Abdullah Moves Full Statehood Resolution In J&K Assembly, BJP Protest Sparks House UproarThird Bihar Harassment Case In A Week: Minor Girl Targeted In Banka, Video Surfaces’You Cannot Keep Playing’: CJP’s Dipke Challenges Opposition Over Alleged Election Rigging“Terror, Theatrics Won’t Repay Loans”: India Hits Back At Pakistan At UNHRCBJP’s ₹529 Crore Poll Spending Revealed; Bengal Alone Accounted For ₹287 Crore, EC Data ShowsAjeet Bharti Faces Arrest Heat As Delhi HC Rejects Bail In Chandrashekhar Azad CaseIIT-Bombay Death Row: Parents Question CCTV Leak, Demand CBI Probe And Action Against OfficialsAnother Sexual Assault Case from Bihar: 4 Arrested In Samastipur After Video Surfaces OnlineRahul Gandhi Demands Gyanesh Kumar’s Resignation, Alleges ‘Vote Chori’ After ECI Rift Emerges’Justice Must Be Served’: Ladakh Marks One Year Since Deadly Leh Violence | Watch123Hot PicksWeather tomorrowBank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysTN programmePunjab school holidayMadurantakam bypollDr MonishCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingAsian Games Medal TallyRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court Sunita Ahuja says ‘kuch Rakshas’ are ruining her life; appeals to Gen Z for support amid Govinda – Komal Rani Swarnkar rumours: ‘Mera ghar toot raha hai’ Weekly Astrology News Alert, 28th September – 4th October, 2026: Mars in Leo, Mercury in Scorpio Make This a High-Stakes Week for Love, Money and Career “You could even see the differences”: Patrick Mahomes opens up on Chiefs’ new strategy after impressive Week 1 and 2 wins A Kentucky woman spent 35 years turning 45 acres into a nature preserve; now a nearly $40 million sewer project has secured seven easements across her land through eminent domain, triggering fresh county scrutiny Bengal BJP chief backs Gyanesh Kumar, says he deserves ‘at least Padma Bhushan’ NEW DELHI: West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya has come out strongly in support of chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar amid a growing Congress-led campaign against him. Bhattacharya said that Kumar deserves “at the very least, the Padma Bhushan” for overseeing peaceful elections and changes to the electoral rolls in the state.Bhattacharya also took a swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, claiming that even members of his own party do not take his statements seriously.”The fact is, even the Congress party itself doesn’t heed Rahul Gandhi’s words; they don’t take him seriously… Gyanesh Kumar deserves, at the very least, the Padma Bhushan,” Bhattacharya said while speaking to reporters.Praising the conduct of elections in West Bengal, the BJP leader said voters were able to cast their ballots without fear or intimidation.”The people of West Bengal are delighted that, after so long, intimidation was kept at bay. There were no incidents of murder, and people were actually allowed to cast their votes. Furthermore, in a border state like this, Gyanesh Kumar took the initiative to remove the names of Bangladeshi infiltrators from the voter lists,” he added.Bhattacharya said the measures taken by the Election Commission had received broad public support.”The people of West Bengal have rarely witnessed an election like this. Therefore, the general public of West Bengal fully supports Gyanesh Kumar…” he said.His remarks came as Congress stepped up its protests against the Election Commission across the country, with party workers demanding Kumar’s resignation over the poll body’s functioning and the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.In Delhi, the Indian Youth Congress marched from Raisina Road to Jantar Mantar, raising slogans against the CEC and demanding his resignation.The protests also spread across several states. In Patna, police used water cannons to disperse Congress workers demonstrating against Kumar. In Chandigarh, similar scenes were reported as police used water cannons against protesting Congress workers, some of whom climbed onto police vans.Congress workers also held demonstrations in Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Manipur.In Shimla, Congress leaders and workers protested outside the State Election Commission office over issues concerning the Election Commission. Protesters also blackened the official board outside the office.In Manipur, Congress workers led by PCC president Okram Ibobi Singh and Congress Legislature Party leader Keisham Meghachandra Singh marched towards the chief electoral office at Lamphelpat. Protesters demanded Kumar’s arrest and prosecution and burnt an effigy of the CEC.The protest later turned tense, with demonstrators scuffling with police. Security personnel fired tear gas shells to disperse the protesters.In Jammu, heavy police deployment was reported outside the Election Commission office, while Congress MLAs in Srinagar protested inside the Legislative Assembly, carrying banners demanding Kumar’s resignation. Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesDemonstrations were also held in Lucknow, Guwahati and Kolkata.The nationwide protests are part of Congress’ campaign against the functioning of the Election Commission and its handling of the SIR exercise.The political confrontation has intensified following an Indian Express report that election commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections at least 14 times over 10 months regarding decisions and procedures related to electoral rolls and access to election databases.The Election Commission has rejected the allegations, saying decisions related to the SIR were taken unanimously and that written notes, observations and differing views were part of its internal deliberations.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAbhishek MishraAbhishek Mishra is a Digital Content Producer at The Times of India, working with the news desk. He writes with a keen eye on foreign policy, defence developments, and the shifting currents of geopolitics-and yes, Indian politics always finds a way onto his radar too.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘Made In UP’ Missiles Giving Pakistan Sleepless Nights: Amit Shah On BrahMosOmar Abdullah Moves Full Statehood Resolution In J&K Assembly, BJP Protest Sparks House UproarThird Bihar Harassment Case In A Week: Minor Girl Targeted In Banka, Video Surfaces’You Cannot Keep Playing’: CJP’s Dipke Challenges Opposition Over Alleged Election Rigging“Terror, Theatrics Won’t Repay Loans”: India Hits Back At Pakistan At UNHRCBJP’s ₹529 Crore Poll Spending Revealed; Bengal Alone Accounted For ₹287 Crore, EC Data ShowsAjeet Bharti Faces Arrest Heat As Delhi HC Rejects Bail In Chandrashekhar Azad CaseIIT-Bombay Death Row: Parents Question CCTV Leak, Demand CBI Probe And Action Against OfficialsAnother Sexual Assault Case from Bihar: 4 Arrested In Samastipur After Video Surfaces OnlineRahul Gandhi Demands Gyanesh Kumar’s Resignation, Alleges ‘Vote Chori’ After ECI Rift Emerges123Hot PicksWeather tomorrowBank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysTN programmePunjab school holidayMadurantakam bypollDr MonishCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingAsian Games Medal TallyRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court Sep 25, 2026, 19:38 IST Ambika and Radha: From sisters who ruled 1980s Tamil cinema to a Rs 46 crore bitter property dispute rocking their family 10 baby names that symbolise honesty, truth and integrity Peshawar seeks revival of Dilip Kumar’s ancestral home as heritage landmark A Nebraska couple lost a mortgage-free home assessed at $59,759 after a $588.21 tax debt grew to $5,268.32; the US Supreme Court sent the case back and Nebraska’s top court revived the compensation claim A security patrol in Manipur NEW DELHI: The Centre has extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (Afspa), in specified areas of Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur for another six months from October 1, according to Gazette notifications issued on Friday.The extension follows a review of the law and order situation in the affected areas of the three northeastern states.The Afspa, which grants special powers to the armed forces, will remain in force in these areas for six months from October 1, unless withdrawn earlier, according to the notification.The government order cited Section 3 of the act, which empowers the Centre to declare specified areas as “disturbed areas.”Which are these ‘disturbed areas’In Manipur, the ministry of home affairs has extended the “disturbed area” declaration across the state, excluding areas under the jurisdiction of 13 police stations in five districts.The excluded areas are those under Imphal, Lamphel, City, Singjamei, Patsoi and Wangoi police stations in Imphal West district; Porompat, Heingang and Irilbung police stations in Imphal East; Thoubal police station in Thoubal district; Bishnupur and Nambol police stations in Bishnupur district; and Kakching police station in Kakching district.In Nagaland, the Afspa has been extended to nine districts — Dimapur, Niuland, Chumoukedima, Mon, Kiphire, Noklak, Phek, Peren and Meluri — which have been declared “disturbed areas” under Section 3 of the Act.The notification also covers areas under the jurisdiction of 21 police stations in five other districts of Nagaland: Kohima, Mokokchung, Longleng, Wokha and Zunheboto.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesIn Arunachal Pradesh, the Afspa has been extended to Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts.The order also covers areas under the jurisdiction of Namsai, Mahadevpur and Chowkham police stations in Namsai district, bordering Assam.Among the northeastern states, Afspa has been completely withdrawn from Mizoram, Meghalaya, and Tripura, while it remains in force in select areas of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, and Nagaland.(With PTI inputs)Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorKaran ManralKaran Manral is a journalist at the Times of India. He covers politics, social issues, and international affairs, exploring stories that affect people’s everyday lives. He also writes explainers to make these stories easier for readers to follow.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosOmar Abdullah Moves Full Statehood Resolution In J&K Assembly, BJP Protest Sparks House UproarThird Bihar Harassment Case In A Week: Minor Girl Targeted In Banka, Video Surfaces’You Cannot Keep Playing’: CJP’s Dipke Challenges Opposition Over Alleged Election Rigging“Terror, Theatrics Won’t Repay Loans”: India Hits Back At Pakistan At UNHRCBJP’s ₹529 Crore Poll Spending Revealed; Bengal Alone Accounted For ₹287 Crore, EC Data ShowsAjeet Bharti Faces Arrest Heat As Delhi HC Rejects Bail In Chandrashekhar Azad CaseIIT-Bombay Death Row: Parents Question CCTV Leak, Demand CBI Probe And Action Against OfficialsAnother Sexual Assault Case from Bihar: 4 Arrested In Samastipur After Video Surfaces OnlineRahul Gandhi Demands Gyanesh Kumar’s Resignation, Alleges ‘Vote Chori’ After ECI Rift Emerges’Justice Must Be Served’: Ladakh Marks One Year Since Deadly Leh Violence | Watch123Hot PicksWeather tomorrowBank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysTN programmePunjab school holidayMadurantakam bypollDr MonishCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingAsian Games Medal TallyRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court Updated: Sep 25, 2026, 19:11 IST ‘Hanuman Ansh’ director Vishal Chaturvedi reveals Mushtaq Khan was set to star in his next film, mourns actor’s death: ‘What a legacy’ Shoe Rack Makeover: Shoe rack makeover: How replacing a bulky shoe stand with a sleek entryway table can save space and elevate your home décor ‘Totally unacceptable’: Trump, Xi talked about China ‘helping Iran’, says US envoy A Texas oil geologist first saw McKittrick Canyon in 1921, later bought the land for a private retreat; 38 years later he donated 4,942 acres and his home, helping create Guadalupe Mountains National Park Indian Medical Parliamentarians’ Forum organises National Policy Summit on ‘Swasth bharat se saksham bharat’ to reimagine MedTech access in India | India News Abhijeet Sawant says Arijit Singh’s rise to fame was pure destiny: ‘If you compare him and me at that time, I was very popular, but he wasn’t’ Veeramani child rape case: Vijay slams previous DMK govt’s failure to take action, asks “what kind of a deal was struck, sir?’ ‘Media coverage is important’: Pope Leo XIV backs press freedom amid Trump-US news outlets clash The flag-in ceremony was held at Kartavya Bhavan-2 in New Delhi, in the presence of the defence minister and other senior officials. NEW DELHI: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Friday welcomed the first ascent mountaineering expedition team, which successfully summited 20 previously unclimbed peaks above 6,000 meters in Ladakh in just 23 days.The flag-in ceremony was held at Kartavya Bhavan-2 in New Delhi, in the presence of the defence minister and other senior officials.The flag-in ceremony was held at Kartavya Bhavan-2, New DelhiAccording to the defence ministry, the expedition was carried out by a team of 20 highly skilled climbers from the National Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports (NIMAS), Dirang, led by Col Ranveer Singh Jamwal.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesSpeaking with the team, Rajnath praised the climbers’ courage and determination in achieving this historic feat, calling the expedition a reflection of India’s excellence and leadership in mountaineering and adventure sports.Rajnath praised the climbers’ courage and determination in achieving this historic featHe described the climbers as a source of inspiration, noting that their successful ascents had set new benchmarks and would motivate young mountaineers across the country to take up adventure and exploration while bringing pride to the nation.First-ever recorded summits of 20 unclimbed peaks in Chamser-Lungser, Gyama Nala and ⁠Chokula areas in Ladakh Range.The ministry applauded the expedition group’s planning, technical skill, endurance and teamwork, and said it highlighted the country’s high-altitude mountaineering capabilities and reinforced its standing on the global mountaineering map.Rajnath described the climbers as a source of inspirationThis is the first-ever recorded summit of 20 unclimbed peaks in Chamser-Lungser, Gyama Nala, and ⁠Chokula areas in Ladakh Range,” the ministry said.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosOmar Abdullah Moves Full Statehood Resolution In J&K Assembly, BJP Protest Sparks House UproarThird Bihar Harassment Case In A Week: Minor Girl Targeted In Banka, Video Surfaces’You Cannot Keep Playing’: CJP’s Dipke Challenges Opposition Over Alleged Election Rigging“Terror, Theatrics Won’t Repay Loans”: India Hits Back At Pakistan At UNHRCBJP’s ₹529 Crore Poll Spending Revealed; Bengal Alone Accounted For ₹287 Crore, EC Data ShowsAjeet Bharti Faces Arrest Heat As Delhi HC Rejects Bail In Chandrashekhar Azad CaseIIT-Bombay Death Row: Parents Question CCTV Leak, Demand CBI Probe And Action Against OfficialsAnother Sexual Assault Case from Bihar: 4 Arrested In Samastipur After Video Surfaces OnlineRahul Gandhi Demands Gyanesh Kumar’s Resignation, Alleges ‘Vote Chori’ After ECI Rift Emerges’Justice Must Be Served’: Ladakh Marks One Year Since Deadly Leh Violence | Watch123Hot PicksWeather tomorrowBank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysTN programmePunjab school holidayMadurantakam bypollDr MonishCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingAsian Games Medal TallyRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court Vadivelu clarifies Dhanush fallout after joining ‘D56’ cast after a ‘long gap’, says ‘third person’ caused the rift: ‘It’s because of some misunderstanding’ 15,000 km from home, Indian scientists make snow Bappa in Antarctica for Ganesh Chaturthi; see viral video From Ukraine to Africa, drone dog fights now a reality Volunteers reveal 2,000-year-old Iron Age Deepdale Bridge Settlement in England’s Lake District, revealing roundhouses occupied into the Roman era | World News BJP chief Nitin Nabin NEW DELHI: BJP national president Nitin Nabin on Friday urged young people to focus on becoming “good citizens”, saying it is “more important” than becoming a good engineer or doctor.“One may become a good engineer or doctor, but becoming a good citizen is more important,” PTI quoted Nabin as saying at a ‘Yuva Samvad’ programme at Birla Auditorium in Jaipur.He further advised youngsters not to fear failure and to avoid shortcuts in life, saying this would lead them to the right destination.“Life is precious. If you face failure, you should not immediately go in the wrong direction or put your life at stake. If we have been given this life, we should do something meaningful for our parents and for this land,” the BJP chief added.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesNabin also called for greater youth participation in politics, saying it gives “direction to the country” and that leadership is not merely about making policies but also about bringing people together.During the interaction, several young participants shared their views and suggestions on issues including the constructive use of artificial intelligence, keeping young people away from drugs, and the role of youth clubs in schools and colleges in building a developed India by 2047.Nabin’s remarks come at a time when political parties are reaching out extensively to young people, particularly the “Gen Z” demographic, following youth protests that led to the resignation of then Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan in July. Pradhan resigned amid the controversy over the NEET paper leak in May and other issues concerning the education sector.Gen Z is expected to make up a significant section of India’s young population by the time the country holds its next Lok Sabha elections in 2029.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorKaran ManralKaran Manral is a journalist at the Times of India. He covers politics, social issues, and international affairs, exploring stories that affect people’s everyday lives. He also writes explainers to make these stories easier for readers to follow.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosOmar Abdullah Moves Full Statehood Resolution In J&K Assembly, BJP Protest Sparks House UproarThird Bihar Harassment Case In A Week: Minor Girl Targeted In Banka, Video Surfaces’You Cannot Keep Playing’: CJP’s Dipke Challenges Opposition Over Alleged Election Rigging“Terror, Theatrics Won’t Repay Loans”: India Hits Back At Pakistan At UNHRCBJP’s ₹529 Crore Poll Spending Revealed; Bengal Alone Accounted For ₹287 Crore, EC Data ShowsAjeet Bharti Faces Arrest Heat As Delhi HC Rejects Bail In Chandrashekhar Azad CaseIIT-Bombay Death Row: Parents Question CCTV Leak, Demand CBI Probe And Action Against OfficialsAnother Sexual Assault Case from Bihar: 4 Arrested In Samastipur After Video Surfaces OnlineRahul Gandhi Demands Gyanesh Kumar’s Resignation, Alleges ‘Vote Chori’ After ECI Rift Emerges’Justice Must Be Served’: Ladakh Marks One Year Since Deadly Leh Violence | Watch123Hot PicksWeather tomorrowBank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysTN programmePunjab school holidayMadurantakam bypollDr MonishCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingAsian Games Medal TallyRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court India vs Panama Live Score: Khalid Jamil’s India take on Panama in Bengaluru ‘The hero’s wife doesn’t like you’: Taapsee Pannu recalls the ‘worst reason’ for being replaced in a film despite locking dates Chuando Tan: This Singaporean man looks 30 but is actually 60 years old! Inside the diet and unique lifestyle of model Chuando Tan Latin Pop: What the Birth Numbers of Shakira, Karol G and Other Stars Reveal About Their Creative Energy A painting seized from a Munich banker’s widow during Nazi persecution has been returned to her US heirs after decades of uncertainty; provenance researchers traced the 1892 work through wartime records and museum archives Japan’s first named ankylosaur, Nipponopelta yezoensis, was more closely related to North American and European nodosaurids 96-94 million years ago | World News Dipke urges opposition parties to boycott elections over alleged rigging; Air India suspends intoxicated Zurich-Delhi flight pilot. Air India has suspended the pilot found unfit to fly due to intoxication before a Zurich-Delhi flight, prompting the DGCA to seek tighter checks.CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke has asked opposition parties to stop contesting elections if they truly believe the process is rigged.The Delhi high court has ordered police protection for a woman and the takedown of an alleged deepfake photo of her with PM Modi, posted by CJP leaders.Imran Khan’s son has warned PTI supporters against marching to Adiala jail on September 27, fearing it could be used as a pretext to endanger his father’s life.14 Kazakh servicemen have died after being swept into the Caspian Sea during a naval exercise, prompting the detention of five defence officials.Here are the top 5 news stories of the dayAir India pilot found tipsy just before operating Zurich-Delhi flight, suspendedAir India has suspended the pilot found tipsy ahead of operating a Zurich-Delhi flight on September 6, forcing the flight to be rescheduled until alternate crew was arranged. The Swiss aviation authority alerted India’s DGCA about the incident, which has since asked the airline to improve its checks and balances following similar issues in recent months. Read full story’You will be handed a few wins’: Amid SIR row, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke asks opposition parties to stop contesting in ‘rigged’ pollsCockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke has urged opposition parties to boycott elections if they believe the process is rigged, arguing that continued participation legitimises polls they themselves question. In a post on X on Friday, Dipke said parties couldn’t claim rigging while still contesting. Read full storyDelhi high court orders removal of deepfake pics showing woman with PM Modi; notice issued to CJP leaders, copsThe Delhi High Court has granted police protection to a woman who alleged CJP leaders Saurav Das, Abhijit Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka and Ratna Singh posted a deepfake picture of her with PM Modi, leading to threats against her. The court ordered immediate takedown of the photos, noting it concerned both the woman and the Prime Minister. Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesRead full story’Could endanger his life’: Imran Khan’s son warns against Adiala jail protestImran Khan’s son Kasim Khan has urged PTI supporters not to march towards Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail during the party’s planned September 27 protest, warning that authorities could use such a move as a pretext for a “counter” assault on the prison, endangering his father’s life. Imran Khan is currently held there. Read full story14 Kazakh military personnel killed during naval exercise, five naval officers detained over negligence suspicion14 Kazakh military personnel were killed after being swept away by the Caspian Sea while disembarking from a patrol boat during a naval exercise on Thursday, with three others rescued from the total of 17 washed away. Authorities detained five defence officials on Friday in connection with the incident. Read full storyGet the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorPranjal PandeyPranjal Pandey is an intern at The Times of India. He holds a PG Diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication and covers Real Estate, Defence, and International Relations, among other beats.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosOmar Abdullah Moves Full Statehood Resolution In J&K Assembly, BJP Protest Sparks House UproarThird Bihar Harassment Case In A Week: Minor Girl Targeted In Banka, Video Surfaces’You Cannot Keep Playing’: CJP’s Dipke Challenges Opposition Over Alleged Election Rigging“Terror, Theatrics Won’t Repay Loans”: India Hits Back At Pakistan At UNHRCBJP’s ₹529 Crore Poll Spending Revealed; Bengal Alone Accounted For ₹287 Crore, EC Data ShowsAjeet Bharti Faces Arrest Heat As Delhi HC Rejects Bail In Chandrashekhar Azad CaseIIT-Bombay Death Row: Parents Question CCTV Leak, Demand CBI Probe And Action Against OfficialsAnother Sexual Assault Case from Bihar: 4 Arrested In Samastipur After Video Surfaces OnlineRahul Gandhi Demands Gyanesh Kumar’s Resignation, Alleges ‘Vote Chori’ After ECI Rift Emerges’Justice Must Be Served’: Ladakh Marks One Year Since Deadly Leh Violence | Watch123Hot PicksWeather tomorrowBank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysTN programmePunjab school holidayMadurantakam bypollDr MonishCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingAsian Games Medal TallyRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court ‘No such commitment’: Finance ministry denies agreeing to 5-day bank week ahead of strike, says report Motivational quote of the day by Johnny Depp: “I was angry and frustrated until I started my own family and my first child was born. Until then, I didn’t really appreciate life,” an anecdote on personal growth by the American actor 5 green flags that matter more than chemistry Who is Kimi Antonelli’s father? Marco Antonelli once again goes viral for giving Mercedes star a helping hand at Azerbaijan Grand Prix Tamil H-1B man with disability reaches out to Indian-origin Democrat leader after being fired; Suhas Subramanyam shuts trolls, says ‘Yes I help everyone’ Chaudhary Devi Lal, the former Haryana chief minister and deputy prime minister, who turned down the Prime Minister’s post in 1989 in favour of VP Singh. NEW DELHI: On December 1, 1989, the newly elected Janata Dal parliamentary party gathered in Parliament’s Central Hall to decide who would lead the government that was about to replace Rajiv Gandhi’s Congress. The leadership contest had already become a tug-of-war between VP Singh and Chandra Shekhar, with neither side willing to concede the top job.Then came an extraordinary political manoeuvre.VP Singh proposed Chaudhary Devi Lal’s name. Chandra Shekhar seconded it. Devi Lal was declared elected as leader of the Janata Dal parliamentary party. And then the 75-year-old Haryana veteran stood up and proposed VP Singh for the Prime Minister post.Within minutes, the man who had just been chosen to lead the government had handed the job to someone else.VP Singh was elected leader and would become India’s seventh Prime Minister. Devi Lal became deputy Prime Minister.The episode, one of the more remarkable leadership reversals in political history, has been recounted in several accounts of the 1989 transition. But this story is about Chaudhary Devi Lal, a man whose influence was built far from Delhi’s power corridors and whose appeal rested heavily on Haryana’s farmers and rural voters.The Central Hall manoeuvreThe drama of December 1 was the culmination of days of uncertainty following the 1989 Lok Sabha election, which had ended Rajiv Gandhi’s five-year tenure and produced a fractured mandate.The National Front, led by the Janata Dal, was in a position to form the government with outside support from the BJP and the Left parties. But before the government could be formed, the Janata Dal had to settle its own leadership question.VP Singh was the obvious national face of the anti-Congress campaign, having broken with Rajiv Gandhi and built his reputation around allegations of corruption in the previous government. Chandra Shekhar, meanwhile, had his own ambitions and was deeply reluctant to accept Singh as the party’s leader.Devi Lal sat at the centre of the equation.A detailed account of the episode in journalist Neerja Chowdhury’s ‘How Prime Ministers Decide’ describes a political formula worked out at Odisha Bhavan shortly before the parliamentary party meeting. The plan was simple but dramatic: Singh would propose Devi Lal’s name, Devi Lal would then withdraw and propose Singh, and Chandra Shekhar would be persuaded to second Devi Lal’s nomination.Chandra Shekhar agreed to second Devi Lal’s name after being told that Devi Lal would be the candidate. He did not, however, know the full plan.When the meeting began in Central Hall, the arrangement played out almost exactly as planned. Singh proposed Devi Lal. Chandra Shekhar seconded him. But after Devi Lal’s nomination, the Haryana leader proposed Singh instead. The assembled parliamentarians broke into applause and Singh was declared leader of the Janata Dal Parliamentary Party.Chandra Shekhar was furious.According to the account, he believed he had been assured that Devi Lal would become Prime Minister. After the meeting, he reportedly warned that the episode would have consequences for the future.That warning proved prescient. Less than a year later, Chandra Shekhar and Devi Lal would join forces against VP Singh, helping bring down the government they had helped create.The OG ‘Tau’Born on September 25, 1914, in what was then Punjab, Devi Lal entered politics through the freedom movement and went on to become one of Haryana’s most influential leaders.He served as Haryana chief minister twice, from 1977 to 1979 and again from 1987 to 1989, before becoming deputy Prime Minister at the Centre.His political persona was very different from that of the Delhi establishment. Devi Lal cultivated the image of a rustic, accessible farmer leader and became popularly known as ‘Tau’, or elder uncle.Former IAS officer Ram Varma, who spent more than three decades in Haryana’s administration and worked under all three of the state’s famous political Lals, provides an insider’s account of Devi Lal in his 2017 memoir ‘Life in the IAS: My Encounters with the Three Lals of Haryana’.Varma describes Devi Lal as having the “aura of a kingmaker” and as a “leader of farmers”, while portraying him as a warm and genial personality with an exceptionally strong mass following.Varma’s description also places Devi Lal in the distinctive political tradition of Haryana’s three Lals. In the book’s foreword, he notes that Bansi Lal was the only one of the three to possess a university degree, while Devi Lal and Bhajan Lal acquired their political education through the “rough and tumble” of village-level politics. He records that Devi Lal had earlier served as parliamentary secretary under Punjab CM Partap Singh Kairon, giving him administrative experience before Haryana was created in 1966.That combination of grassroots politics and governmental experience helped turn Devi Lal into a formidable political operator.From Haryana’s farmer leader to national kingmakerDevi Lal’s influence had grown sharply by the late 1980s, when opposition parties were attempting to unite against Rajiv Gandhi’s Congress.He became one of the principal forces behind the formation of the Janata Dal and helped bring disparate opposition groups into a common political platform. His enormous rural base in Haryana gave the anti-Congress coalition an organisational strength that leaders in Delhi could not easily ignore.His political stature was also on display in September 1989, when his 75th birthday became the occasion for a massive opposition rally in Delhi. VP Singh and several other opposition leaders attended, underlining the importance of Devi Lal in the emerging National Front coalition.Yet the relationship between the two men was more complicated than their public alliance suggested.VP Singh was the face of the anti-Rajiv Gandhi campaign at the national level, while Devi Lal possessed something Singh lacked: a formidable rural organisation and an established mass base in north India.By the time the election results were out, the question was no longer simply whether the opposition could form a government. It was who would control it.The shifting dynamicsAt around 7 pm on December 1, 1989, VP Singh met President R Venkataraman at Rashtrapati Bhavan with the documents establishing his election as leader of the National Front parliamentary party, along with letters of support from the BJP and Left parties. Venkataraman invited Singh to form the government and set December 2 for the swearing-in.The following day, VP Singh took oath as Prime Minister and Devi Lal took oath as deputy Prime Minister.But the political bargain did not bring lasting peace.The relationship between Singh and Devi Lal deteriorated rapidly as their competing political interests collided. Devi Lal became increasingly critical of the Prime Minister and emerged as the most powerful internal challenger to Singh.In August 1990, Singh removed Devi Lal from the Union cabinet. The following months saw the Janata Dal split, the BJP withdraw support and the VP Singh government fall.On November 9, 1990, Chandra Shekhar became Prime Minister with Devi Lal once again serving as deputy Prime Minister.Legacy that became a political dynastyDevi Lal’s influence did not end with his death. It flowed into one of Haryana’s most prominent political families.His son Om Parkash Chautala became one of Haryana’s most consequential politicians and served as CM five times. Devi Lal’s political legacy was subsequently carried through the Indian National Lok Dal, the party associated with the Chautala family.The next generation entered politics as well. Om Parkash Chautala’s sons Ajay and Abhay Chautala became prominent leaders, while Ajay’s sons Dushyant and Digvijay Chautala also entered electoral politics.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesBut the family eventually split politically. Ajay Chautala and Dushyant Chautala broke away and formed the Jannayak Janta Party in 2018, while the INLD remained with Om Parkash Chautala and Abhay Chautala.The split fractured what had once been a formidable political inheritance. In the 2024 Lok Sabha election, neither the INLD nor the JJP won a seat in Haryana, while the BJP and Congress won five seats each in the state.The contrast with Devi Lal’s own era is striking. The man whose political clout once helped determine who would become India’s Prime Minister left behind a family whose branches now operate through separate political formations.Devi Lal died in New Delhi on April 6, 2001, aged 86, after a political career that had taken him from the freedom movement and Haryana’s villages to the centre of national coalition politics.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorPallaviNews desk journalist, digital, at The Times of India, with a focus on Indian politics. Over a decade of chasing stories, taming headlines and arguing with commas like they’re part of the opposition. Tracks elections, policy pivots, party drama and the fine print of power, where every word can tilt the narrative. Believes good journalism is clarity under pressure, ideally filed before the next breaking alert crashes in. Powered by deadlines, context, sharp edits and a steady supply of strong tea.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosOmar Abdullah Moves Full Statehood Resolution In J&K Assembly, BJP Protest Sparks House UproarThird Bihar Harassment Case In A Week: Minor Girl Targeted In Banka, Video Surfaces’You Cannot Keep Playing’: CJP’s Dipke Challenges Opposition Over Alleged Election Rigging“Terror, Theatrics Won’t Repay Loans”: India Hits Back At Pakistan At UNHRCBJP’s ₹529 Crore Poll Spending Revealed; Bengal Alone Accounted For ₹287 Crore, EC Data ShowsAjeet Bharti Faces Arrest Heat As Delhi HC Rejects Bail In Chandrashekhar Azad CaseIIT-Bombay Death Row: Parents Question CCTV Leak, Demand CBI Probe And Action Against OfficialsAnother Sexual Assault Case from Bihar: 4 Arrested In Samastipur After Video Surfaces OnlineRahul Gandhi Demands Gyanesh Kumar’s Resignation, Alleges ‘Vote Chori’ After ECI Rift Emerges’Justice Must Be Served’: Ladakh Marks One Year Since Deadly Leh Violence | Watch123Hot PicksWeather tomorrowBank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysTN programmePunjab school holidayMadurantakam bypollDr MonishCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingAsian Games Medal TallyRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court