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Annual FASTag pass to make highway toll payment easier: This is how

Annual FASTag pass to make highway toll payment easier: This is how

An annual pass for non-commercial private vehicles will make FASTag payments easier and economical when it is launched on August 15, said the government.
The FASTag Annual pass costs Rs 3,000. A new policy will allow private vehicle owners to make up to 200 toll-free trips on national highways within one year of activation, said Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on X. The pass will be valid either for a full year or till the user completes 200 trips, whichever happens earlier.
The policy will help benefit frequent travellers who have to pay at toll plazas located within 60 km of each other, an issue that has long been a source of frustration.
Where and how to activate FASTag Annual Pass
The pass will be available on the Rajmarg Yatra App, along with official websites of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).
A dedicated link for activation and renewal will be provided soon.
Only private, non-commercial LMVs like cars, jeeps and vans are eligible. FASTag Annual Pass launch date: August 15, 2025
Key benefits of the FASTag Annual Pass
Nationwide access: Valid for all national highways

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Why Bombay HC upheld arbitral awards directing BCCI to pay over Rs 538 crore to Kochi Tuskers Kerala owners
Why Bombay HC upheld arbitral awards directing BCCI to pay over Rs 538 crore to Kochi Tuskers Kerala owners

Indian Express

time28 minutes ago

  • Indian Express

Why Bombay HC upheld arbitral awards directing BCCI to pay over Rs 538 crore to Kochi Tuskers Kerala owners

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday (June 17) rejected two pleas by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to quash the arbitral awards of over Rs 538 crore granted to owners of Kochi Tuskers Kerala, the now-defunct Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise. The two companies are Rendezvous Sports World (RSW), which was co-owned by Sunanda Pushkar, the late wife of Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, and Kochi Cricket Private Limited (KCPL). As reported by The Indian Express earlier, Pushkar had in April 2010 surrendered her shares in RSW. The dispute and legal trail that reached Bombay HC The Bombay HC passed a verdict on two pleas filed by BCCI challenging arbitral awards passed on June 22, 2015. Kochi Tuskers took part in only one season of the IPL in 2011, under a consortium led by RSW and later operated by KCPL. The dispute arose after the BCCI terminated the franchise in September 2011, citing an alleged breach of agreement. The agreement was signed between BCCI and RSW on April 11, 2010, pending the incorporation of the joint venture company KCPL. The KCPL had entered into an agreement with the BCCI on March 12, 2011. On September 19, 2011, the BCCI wrote to KCPL and RSW and terminated agreements with them, claiming that the two firms had failed to deliver the requisite bank guarantee on or before March 2011. The aggrieved firms initiated arbitration proceedings against the termination. On June 22, 2015, the arbitrator directed BCCI to pay Rs 384.83 crore to KCPL along with interest at the rate of 18 % from date of termination in 2011 till the date of award. Through another decision passed on the same day, the arbitrator directed BCCI to pay Rs 153.34 crore to RSW together with 18 % interest from the date of termination until the date of the arbitral award. In total, the arbitrator ordered an award of Rs 538.17 crore in favour of Kochi IPL franchise owners. Three months later, the cricketing body challenged the two awards before the Bombay High Court under section Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. Based on the BCCI's interim plea, the High Court in April 2018 granted unconditional stay on the award in favour of KCPL, which the Supreme Court next month modified and directed the BCCI to deposit Rs 100 crore in the court. The High Court in April 2018, while dealing with the BCCI's challenge of the award in favour of RSW, had passed an order of stay on a condition that the BCCI deposited 50% of the awarded amount with interest. BCCI's contentions The BCCI argued that the arbitral awards were 'contrary to the agreements, patently illegal and prejudicial to the cricket board's rights.' The Board said that the arbitrator's observation that the non-availability of a brand new stadium in Kochi — which the team owners had cited as one reason why they could not get the bank guarantee — was a breach on the part of BCCI was 'ex facie materially contrary to the terms of governing contracts/documents'. The BCCI argued that the KCPL had requested that they be allowed to play at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi till Kerala Cricket Association made an alternative site for the new stadium. The BCCI also addressed the matter of then IPL commissioner Lalit Modi putting out tweets about Pushkar and others' ownership of Kochi Tuskers. It argued that the arbitrator's finding that the Board was bound by the consequences flowing from the tweets, made in April 2010, was 'erroneous.' The Board said that Modi's posts were made in his personal capacity and there was no evidence to suggest he made those posts in the course of his duties as the Chairman of the Governing Council of the IPL. It said that the KCPL raised the issue for the first time in 2012 as an 'afterthought'. The BCCI further claimed that the KCPL's failure to provide the bank guarantee was a breach of the franchise agreement and the damages awarded to the owners of the team for loss of profits and wasted expenditure were in excess of the agreements, and as the arbitrator acted 'beyond the terms of the contract,' the impugned decisions were flawed and should be set aside. The respondents KCPL and RSW claimed that the termination of the franchise was 'wrongful, malafide' and was done 'without giving reasonable notice to remedy the so-called breach' by them. They submitted that the time of furnishing guarantee was extended from time to time by the BCCI but abruptly brought to an end, which was unjust. For failing to furnish the bank guarantee by March 2011, the KCPL referred to the non-availability of a new stadium in Kochi, shareholding approvals, and a sudden reduction in the number of IPL matches. They further argued that the arbitrator rightly concluded that the BCCI had wrongfully invoked the bank guarantee, which amounted to 'repudiatory breach' of the franchise agreement. High Court ruling A single-judge Bench of Justice Riyaz I Chagla in its June 18 verdict held that the 'BCCI's dissatisfaction as to the findings rendered in respect of the evidence and/or the merits cannot be a ground to assail the Award.' What next The HC has permitted the KCPL and RSW to withdraw amounts deposited by the BCCI after six weeks. The HC had initially allowed withdrawal after four weeks. But on BCCI's request, so as to file an appeal before the Supreme Court, Justice Chagla extended the period by another two weeks.

RBI issues project finance norms for banks, NBFCs
RBI issues project finance norms for banks, NBFCs

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RBI issues project finance norms for banks, NBFCs

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Daily subject-wise quiz : Economy MCQs on automobile loading terminals of the Indian Railways, FASTag and more (Week 115)
Daily subject-wise quiz : Economy MCQs on automobile loading terminals of the Indian Railways, FASTag and more (Week 115)

Indian Express

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Daily subject-wise quiz : Economy MCQs on automobile loading terminals of the Indian Railways, FASTag and more (Week 115)

UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Attempt today's subject quiz on Economy to check your progress. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for May 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at With reference to the FASTag, consider the following statements: 1. It is managed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). 2. It was launched in 2014 as a pilot project and made mandatory at every toll plaza in the country in 2021. 3. In its new annual pass scheme, there is no limitation on the number of trips. How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None Explanation — The Minister of Road Transport and Highways introduced an annual FASTag-based permit of Rs 3,000 for 'hassle-free highway travel.' — FASTag is an electronic toll collecting system operated by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). A FASTag sticker is typically placed on the windscreen of a vehicle. Hence, statement 1 is correct. — It was established as a trial initiative in 2014 and will become required at all toll plazas in the country by 2021. Hence, statement 2 is correct. — The new annual pass plan, enabled on the FASTag, will let private cars, jeeps and vans to pass via National Highway (NH) and National Motorway (NE) pay plazas for the specified term without incurring per-trip user fees. — Once the Annual Pass has completed 200 travels or one year from the date of activation, it will automatically return to a regular FASTag. However, after the 200-trip limit is reached, the user may repurchase the Annual Pass, even if the one-year validity period has not yet expired. Hence, statement 3 is not correct. — The pass is not transferable and is only valid for the vehicle to which the FASTag is affixed and registered. Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer. With reference to the Strait of Hormuz, consider the following statements: 1. Around one-fifth of global liquid petroleum fuel consumption and global liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade transits through the strait. 2. It is a critical narrow waterway between Iran and Kuwait. 3. It connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. 4. India's LNG imports from Qatar do not come through the Strait of Hormuz. How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four Explanation — The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman that connects the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, and the Arabian Sea. Hence, statement 2 is not correct and statement 3 is correct. — The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) refers to it as the 'world's most important oil transit chokepoint,' with the strait handling around one-fifth of worldwide liquid petroleum fuel usage and liquefied natural gas (LNG) traffic. Hence, statement 1 is correct. — Much of India's oil comes from significant West Asian sources such as Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE and is transported to Indian ports via the Strait of Hormuz. The majority of India's LNG imports, which are primarily from Qatar, also pass through this critical choke point. Hence, statement 4 is not correct. Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer. With reference to the automobile loading terminals of the Indian Railways and region associated, consider the following pairs: 1. Chitpur – Eastern Railway 2. Hirakud – East Coast Railway 3. New Tinsukia – Northeast Frontier Railway How many of the pairs given above are correctly marked? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None Explanation — Amid a campaign to reduce carbon emissions in the automobile sector, the Indian Railways' share of passenger vehicles shipped has climbed to more than 20% of total car production in the country in 2024-25, up from 1.7% in 2014-15. This has created a fresh opportunity for the railways to increase revenue while also fulfilling India's net zero emission objective by 2070. — The Ministry of Railways has also added many automobile loading terminals in recent years namely Chitpur (Eastern Railway), Penukonda (South Western Railway), Nasrala (Northern Railway), Nautanwa and Bakshi ka Talab (North Eastern Railway), Mesra (East Central Railway), Hirakud (East Coast Railway), Champaner and Chharodi (Western Railway), Baihata, Salchapra, Furkating, New Tinsukia, Jirania, Agthori (Northeast Frontier Railway), Loni, Khadki, AJNI, Vilad (Central Railway) etc. Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer. The French military aircraft and business jet maker Dassault Aviation will manufacture its best-selling business executive jet—the Falcon 2000—at Nagpur in partnership with: (a) Tata Advanced Systems Limited (b) Mahindra Aerospace (c) Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (d) Reliance Aerostructure Limited Explanation — Dassault Aviation, a French military aircraft and business jet manufacturer, will produce its best-selling business executive jet, the Falcon 2000, in Nagpur in collaboration with Reliance Group company Reliance Aerostructure Ltd (RAL). — At the Paris Air Show, the two firms announced a strategic cooperation for this goal, stating that the first Falcon 2000 plane built in India will be ready in 2028. — Dassault Aviation will construct Falcon 2000 jets outside of France for the first time in the company's long history. This pioneering endeavour will position India as a strategic hub for high-end business jet manufacture. — It is a momentous time for the Indian aerospace and manufacturing industries, as the landmark agreement allows India to join the elite club of countries building next-generation business jets, which includes the United States, France, Canada, and Brazil. Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer. As of May 2025, what is the correct chronological order of these countries in terms of economy from top to bottom? 1. United States 2. Germany 3. China 4. India 5. Japan Select the correct answer using the codes given below: (a) 1—2—3—4—5 (b) 1—3—5—2—4 (c) 1—5—4—3—2 (d) 1—3—2—4—5 Explanation — BVR Subrahmanyam, CEO of Aayog, announced that India had surpassed Japan to become the world's fourth largest economy. — Subrahmanyam, citing International Monetary Fund (IMF) figures, stated that India is now larger than Japan. Until 2024, India was the world's fifth largest economy. 'It is only the US, China and Germany which are larger than India, and if we stick to what is being planned and what is being thought through, in 2.5-3 years, we will be the third largest economy,' Subrahmanyam told the crowd. — In its April World Economic Outlook (WEO) report, the IMF predicted that India would be the world's fourth largest economy by 2025, with a GDP of USD 4.19 trillion, ahead of Japan. — The IMF forecasts India's nominal GDP for 2025 (FY26) to be USD 4.187 billion, slightly higher than Japan's probable GDP of USD 4.187 billion. According to IMF figures, India's per capita income has doubled, from USD 1,438 in 2013-14 to USD 2,880 in 2025. Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer. Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 114) Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 115) Daily subject-wise quiz — Science and Technology (Week 115) Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 114) Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 114) Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 114) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.

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