NEW DELHI, May 4 : Government’s net direct tax collections grew 5.12 per cent to over Rs 23.40 lakh crore in 2025-26, but missed the revised budgeted target set for the fiscal year that ended March 2026.
In the revised estimates (RE) for the fiscal year (2025-26), the government projected its direct tax collection at Rs 24.21 lakh crore. This included a corporate tax of Rs 11.09 lakh crore and personal income tax (including STT) of Rs 13.12 lakh crore.
According to the data released by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), net corporate tax mop-up was Rs 10.99 lakh crore, and personal income tax, including Securities Transaction Tax, was about Rs 12.41 lakh crore.
Net direct tax collection (including corporate and non-corporate tax) came in at Rs 23.40 lakh crore in FY26, registering a 5.12 per cent growth over Rs 22.26 lakh crore collected in FY25.
Refund issuance dipped 1.09 per cent year-on-year to Rs 4.71 lakh crore in 2025-26.
Gross direct tax collection during the recently concluded fiscal stood at about Rs 28.12 lakh crore, up 4.03 per cent from the 2024-25 fiscal. (PTI)
PUDUCHEERY, May 4 : Chief Minister and AINRC leader N Rangasamy on Monday won from Thattanchavady and Mangalam, the two seats from where he contested the April 9 Assembly elections in this union territory.
While the CM trounced Neyam Makkal Kazhagam rival E Vinayagam by 4441 votes in Thattanchavady, his pocket borough seat, Rangasamy emerged victorious in Managalam too, defeating DMK’s SS Rangan by 7050 votes.
This is not the first time that Rangasamy has sought to contest from two seats.
He contested in Yanam and Thattanchavady in the 2021 Assembly polls. He however was trounced in Yanam and was successful in Thattanchavady.
NEW DELHI, May 4 : About 22.35 billion transaction were carried out through the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in April, Department of Financial Services said on Monday.
In volume terms, UPI transactions grew 25 per cent in April 2026 over the April 2025 when it was 17.89 billion.
The UPI transactions had touched a record high of 22.64 billion in volume terms in March, up from 20.39 billion recorded in February.
“UPI achieves 22.35 Bn transaction count in April’26!,” Department of Financial Services said in a post on X.
UPI combines the ease of use with strong security while following the RBI’s two-factor authentication rule. This first factor is the mobile number linked to the user’s bank and the second is the UPI PIN, making transactions quick and safe from unauthorised access.
Today, UPI accounts for about 85 per cent of all digital transactions in India. Its impact goes beyond national borders, powering nearly 50 per cent of global real-time digital payments.
UPI is already live in eight countries, including the UAE, Singapore, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, France, Mauritius, and Qatar. This allows Indians travelling or living there to pay seamlessly without the usual hassles of foreign transactions.
NPCI, an initiative of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Indian Banks’ Association, is an umbrella organisation for operating retail payments and settlement systems in India (IBA).
It runs the UPI used for real-time payments between peers or at merchants’ end while making purchases. (PTI)
HYDERABAD, May 4: Namdhari FC boosted their survival hopes by securing a 3-0 victory against 10-man Real Kashmir FC in the Indian Football League here on Monday.
Goals from Manvir Singh, Manish Chaudhary and Najib Fuseini Ibrahim sealed the win for Namdhari FC, with Real Kashmir reduced to 10 men in the second half after goalkeeper Furkan Ahmad Dar was sent off.
The result takes Namdhari to third in the relegation stage with 10 points, above Gokulam Kerala who have played a match less while Real Kashmir remain second on 11 points.
Real Kashmir began on the front foot, asserting control through sustained possession and a direct approach into the final third, with Marius Obekop and Ateeb Ahmed Dar looking to stretch play and supply Mohammad Inam and Shedrack Charles. With survival within reach if they secured a point, the urgency in their play was evident.
However, Namdhari struck first against the run of play in the 13th minute. Manvir rose to meet a cross and his header, aided by an awkward bounce in front of Furkan, slipped into the net to hand the visitors the lead.
Real Kashmir continued to dominate the ball but lacked incision, with Charles largely isolated and clear chances limited against a compact Namdhari block. The visitors remained dangerous in transition, creating openings through quick forward breaks and set-pieces.
After a series of warnings, most notably from Seilenthang Lotjem, Namdhari doubled their lead in first-half stoppage time.
Manish spotted Furkan Ahmad Dar off his line and produced a superb long-range strike that curled into the net, capping a clinical half from the visitors.
Despite holding 78 per cent possession, Real Kashmir went into the break 2–0 down, while Namdhari made their moments count with far greater efficiency.
Real Kashmir resumed with the same attacking intent but once again found it difficult to break down Namdhari’s well-organised defensive shape. Basit Ahmed Bhat attempted to create openings from wide areas, but the visitors remained alert to the danger.
The contest tilted decisively in the 58th minute when Real Kashmir were reduced to 10 men. Furkan was shown a straight red card after a reckless challenge on Lotjem outside the box, further compounding their deficit.
Even with a numerical disadvantage, Real Kashmir persisted with their approach, committing bodies forward in search of a breakthrough.
Inam forced Niraj Kumar into a sharp save with a low effort, while substitute goalkeeper Sayad Bin Abdul Kadir produced a fine stop to deny Rohit at the other end.
However, the pattern remained unchanged, Real Kashmir pushing, Namdhari absorbing and threatening on the counter. The hosts’ best chance fell to Christian Moses late on, but his close-range effort lacked conviction and was comfortably saved.
Namdhari put the result beyond doubt in stoppage time. With Real Kashmir stretched, Manvir released Ibrahim with a precise through ball, and the forward calmly slotted past Kadir to seal a comprehensive 3–0 victory. (PTI)
Commandant 1st Women Battalion, RC Kotwal, pinning rank on newly promoted police personnel.
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 4: A piping ceremony was held at the 1st Women Battalion, Channi Himmat, where 15 personnel were promoted to higher ranks.
As per a statement, 11 Assistant Sub-Inspectors were elevated to the rank of Sub-Inspectors, while 4 Head Constables were promoted as Assistant Sub-Inspectors.
The promotees were adorned with their new ranks by the Commandant (SSP) RC Kotwal in the presence of senior officers.
On the occasion, officers congratulated the promotees and wished them success in their new responsibilities.
Addressing the gathering, the Commandant stressed the need for dedication, integrity and professionalism in the discharge of duties and urged the personnel to uphold high standards of service.
The ceremony concluded on a note of pride and celebration.
MLA Arvind Gupta posing along with others during a function in Jammu.
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 4: A vibrant family get-together of the members of CRWWA was held here today.
Welcoming the guests, president M Sadiq Nargal highlighted that such programmes are regularly organised to strengthen bonding and foster a sense of community among CRWWA members.
He also emphasized that along with senior citizens, the youth are equally encouraged to adopt healthy habits and actively participate in community bonding initiatives.
Two eminent Dogri artists, Padma Shri Romalo Ram and his daughter Saras Bharti, captivated the audience with their soulful singing and graceful dance performances.
The event also marked a significant milestone for CRWWA, as it was dedicated to its official registration.
The registration number was formally unveiled by MLA Arvind Gupta along with president M Sadiq Nargal.
Children of CRWWA members showcased their talent through delightful stage performances, which were highly appreciated by the audience.
They were later honoured with medals for their participation.
The programme was elegantly anchored by talented and versatile Bhoomi Thapar, who conducted the proceedings with remarkable poise and confidence.
A special highlight of the evening was the release of the CRWWA theme song by vice president Sandeep Gupta.
The song, centred on the theme of care and compassion for elders in society, received immense appreciation and resounding applause.
Vice president Sudershan Gupta graciously interacted with the women guests, ensuring their comfort and participation throughout the event.
Overall, the programme was a grand success and was received with an overwhelmingly positive response from all members.
Organising Secretary Rajinder Gupta presented the vote of thanks.
NEW DELHI, May 4 : India and Canada on Monday started second round of negotiations for a free trade agreement aimed at boosting two-way commerce and investments, an official said.
The pact is officially known as the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and negotiations will cover trade in goods, services, and other mutually agreed policy areas.
“The five-day talks started on May 4 here,” the official said. The first round was held in March.
This round is important as Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will visit Canada by end of this month to give an impetus to the negotiations.
The negotiations mark the resumption of talks, as the two countries had earlier engaged in a similar exercise, but Canada paused it in 2023. Now, they decided to resume talks from the beginning as a lot has changed on the global trade front during these two years.
The negotiations are important as the two sides have fixed a target to increase the bilateral trade to USD 50 billion by 2030. It stood at USD 8.66 billion in 2024-25 (USD 4.22 billion exports and USD 4.44 billion imports).
Canada represents a market of 41.65 million people (2025) and a GDP of USD 2.34 trillion at purchasing power parity.
Key exports from India to Canada include pharmaceuticals, iron and steel, seafood, cotton garments, electronic goods and chemicals, among others. Key imports include pulses, pearls and semi-precious stones, coal, fertiliser, paper and petroleum crude.
India’s main services sector exports include telecommunications, computer and information services, and other business services.
Canada is also home to over 425,000 Indian students and a strong Indian community.
Joint Secretary in the Department of Commerce, Brij Mohan Mishra, is the chief negotiator from the Indian side. Bruce Christie is Canada’s chief negotiator. (PTI)
NEW DELHI, May 4 : Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday hailed the BJP’s victory in the West Bengal assembly polls, calling it a “historic” and “decisive” mandate and a reflection of people’s trust in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The BJP is on course to form its government in West Bengal as it raced ahead in more than 200 seats, well past the majority mark, ending the TMC’s 15-year rule. The party is also set to retain power in Assam, while the NDA is poised to return to power in Puducherry.
In a post on X, Pradhan said the “sacred land of West Bengal has created a new history by giving a massive and decisive mandate, enabling the lotus to bloom in the state for the first time. I extend heartfelt gratitude and congratulations to every citizen for this unparalleled victory.”
This monumental success is a testament to the unwavering faith the people have placed in the people-centric policies of the central government under the visionary leadership of the PM Modi, he said.
“The dedicated organisational strength, relentless hard work, and unwavering resolve have brought this moment of pride to life,” he added.
The minister said women, youth and people from all sections had “fearlessly triumphed over injustice, anarchy and an atmosphere of fear” and chosen the path of trust, development and good governance.
This mandate will serve as a firm foundation for building a “Sonar Bangla” in line with the vision of Syama Prasad Mookerjee, he added.
Pradhan also congratulated Prime Minister Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and party leaders and workers on the victory.
In another post, Pradhan said, “I express my heartfelt gratitude and congratulations to the divine public of Assam, who have once again bloomed the lotus by granting a resounding majority for the third consecutive time in the Assam Assembly elections.”
“The aware public of Assam has clearly rejected the Congress’s divisive politics, appeasement, and anti-development mindset, and for the third time, has given resounding support to the ‘Double Engine’ government’s resolve for development and public welfare,” he added. (PTI)
MOHALI, May 4 : The BJP should forget that it will ever assume power in Punjab, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said on Monday as he accused the saffron party of meting out “step-motherly treatment” with the border state.
Mann’s remarks came as the BJP is set to register a big win in West Bengal, ousting the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government and is also set to retain power in Assam, while the NDA looks to make a comeback in Puducherry.
The saffron party can win from any state in the country but it should never dream of winning from this land of great gurus, saints, seers, prophets and martyrs, Mann said after inaugurating 250 rural sport grounds in the state.
The people of Punjab are well aware of the dubious character of the BJP and they will definitely teach it a lesson, as Punjabis can never forget how the food growers of the state were “humiliated” during the protest against the farm laws, he said.
The hands of the BJP were drenched with the blood of more than 700 farmers who attained “martyrdom” during the agitation, he said.
Highlighting the party’s record in Punjab, the CM said though the BJP is buoyed over electoral gains in some states, as far as Punjab is concerned, there is a “long saga of injustice and step-motherly treatment”. He alleged the BJP wants to “deprive” Punjab of Panjab University, Chandigarh, Bhakra Beas Management Board and every legitimate right, and has stalled the legitimate share of grants of the state just to jeopardise its development.
Dismissing the BJP’s prospects in the state, he said, “Rather than building castles in the air, the BJP leadership should forget that it will ever assume power in Punjab as its sins against the state and its people are unpardonable, and with what face will it come to Punjab when its leaders have never raised the issues of the state and its people, as the brave and wise people of Punjab will never forget these misdeeds and will teach them a befitting lesson.”
On accountability and ‘beadbi’ (sacrilege), CM Mann claimed the people have taught a befitting lesson to such “arrogant” leaders who never cared for the common man and remained confined within their grand residences, and those who sought votes in the name of ‘Gurbani’ committed grave disrespect as incidents of ‘beadbi’ of Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji took place during their tenure without action against the culprits.
“The government has passed the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Amendment Act 2026 unanimously, which provides harsher punishment and will end such incidents in the future by ensuring no one dares to commit this heinous crime, as these acts were part of a deep conspiracy to disturb peace, brotherhood and communal harmony,” he said.
Mann said while he will undertake a ‘Shukrana Yatra’ from Sri Anandpur Sahib from May 6 to May 9 to pay obeisance at Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib, Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Damdama Sahib, Mastauana Sahib, Gurdwara Dukh Niwaran Sahib and Sri Fatehgarh Sahib to thank the Almighty. (PTI)
KOLKATA, May 4 : The defeat of Senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury – one of the most enduring and combative faces of the grand old party in West Bengal – in Baharampur possibly positions him as a fading stalwart, rather than a challenger to the BJP in West Bengal.
Chowdhury was vanquished by BJP’s Subrata Maitra, who retained the Baharampur assembly seat by marginally improving on his 2021 performance, by a margin of 17,548 votes.
The Congress leader’s nomination from his home turf of Baharampur in Murshidabad was widely viewed as a “comeback bid” to the state’s political arena after a gap of three decades.
His loss comes at a time when the party he leads continues to struggle to maintain relevance in the state, managing just two wins amid the ongoing saffron surge, although it has at least managed to avoid a complete wipeout, breaking the jinx of the performance in the previous elections.
A five-time MP from Baharampur, Chowdhury rose from grassroots politics in Murshidabad to become a central figure in both state and national politics.
Known for his outspoken style and organisational grip over pockets of central Bengal, he once “single-handedly steered the Congress boat” in the state during periods of decline, emerging from the shadow of stalwarts like Pranab Mukherjee to build his own political base.
Chowdhury’s career has spanned decades, beginning with early political activism in the 1970s before formally joining the Congress during the Rajiv Gandhi era.
He first entered the Bengal assembly in 1996 and later made a breakthrough in the 1999 Lok Sabha elections by winning Baharampur, a seat long considered out of reach for the Congress. Over the years, he has held several key positions, including Minister of State for Railways in the UPA government and, more prominently, Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha from 2019.
In West Bengal, Chowdhury has been both a strategist and a survivor. He served multiple terms as president of the West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee, and played a central role in forging alliances, including the Congress-Left understanding in the 2021 assembly elections.
A staunch critic of TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, he has consistently targeted her government on issues ranging from governance to electoral integrity, positioning himself as an independent pole of opposition distinct from the BJP.
However, recent years have tested his political standing. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Chowdhury suffered a major setback, losing his long-held Baharampur seat to TMC candidate Yusuf Pathan by a significant margin, prompting his resignation as state Congress chief.
Despite this, he had sought to reassert his relevance, returning to assembly politics in 2026 after nearly three decades, and contesting from Baharampur amid a three-cornered fight, which he has now lost.
Chowdhury’s political persona is defined by his combative rhetoric, deep-rooted local networks, and a reputation as a grassroots mobiliser.
He now faces the challenge of reviving a diminished Congress base.
But, more importantly, it’s his own uncertain political career he needs to tend to stay afloat in the turbulent waters of national and state politics. (PTI(
