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‘I had to stay calm for 140 crore people’: Tilak Varma reflects on Asia Cup final heroics

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Hyderabad, Sep 30: India batter Tilak Verma reflted on his heroics in the Asia Cup 2025 final against Pakistan and stated that he had to remain calm under pressure during the tense chase, reminding himself that he was batting not just for himself but for 140 crore people.

Tilak, who returned to Hyderabad on Monday, received a rousing reception by fans at Shamshabad Airport and later felicitated by Telangana Sports Authority Chairman Shivsena Reddy and Managing Director Soni Bala Devi.

“There was a lot of pressure and nerves in my body. A lot was going on in my mind. In my mind and heart, I thought that whatever I do, I will give my life for the country. If I am under pressure and fail, I am not just bringing myself down, I am bringing down 140 crore people. To do that, I had to stay calm. I have learnt the basics from my childhood, and I have had this habit since I was a kid — to be calm and execute everything in my mind,” Tilak told reporters on Tuesday.

In the summit clash, India suffered major blows in the powerplay as their top-order batters- Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Suryakumar Yadav- walked back to the dugout, leaving the team in distress. Then, Varma rose to the occasion under immense pressure with an unbeaten 69 and guided India to a five-wicket victory over arch-rivals Pakistan to win the Asia Cup for the ninth time.

The left-hander admitted the situation was tense and said, “In the first three wickets, there was a lot of pressure. After that, it started getting harder. At that time, I was batting and there was a lot of pressure on me. If I had hit another wrong shot, I would have brought my country down. So I told myself, I have to be calm, follow the basics and not give answers in the middle of the match.”

The 22-year-old batter further revealed that partnerships were the key to India’s comeback. “The wicket was not that easy for batting. As soon as we came back, we won the game by building a partnership. That is the quality of India,” he said, referring to his match-winning stand with Shivam Dube.

Reacting to the high-voltage atmosphere of an India–Pakistan clash, Tilak said, “Pakistan always tries to distract the players. A lot of things happened when I was batting, but I can’t tell you on camera. It happens in India-Pakistan matches — we say a lot of things in the middle of the game. But the real answer is when you win the match. That’s what I had to do, and I did it.”

Varma signed off by crediting his long-time coaches for shaping his career. “At this stage, everyone remembers me as Tilak Varma. But when Tilak Varma was not there, Salam sir and Prithvi sir were behind me. They worked very hard with me. All credit goes to my mother, father, and my coaches.”

National News

UGC NET June 2026 answer key released; candidates can raise objections till August 18

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New Delhi, Aug 16: The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Sunday released the provisional answer key for the UGC NET June 2026 examination.

Candidates who appeared for the examination can now access their recorded responses and question papers online through the official UGC NET website at ugcnet.nta.nic.in.

The release of the provisional answer key allows candidates to match their responses with the answers provided by the NTA, estimate their probable scores and raise objections if they find any discrepancies or incorrect answers in the key.

Candidates have been given time until August 18 to submit challenges against the provisional answer key.

Candidates raising objections will be required to pay a processing fee of Rs 200 for every question challenged.

The objections submitted within the prescribed deadline will be examined by the concerned authorities before the final answer key is prepared and released.

According to the official notice issued by the NTA, provisional answer keys have been uploaded for 84 subjects, and candidates can now check their responses and question papers along with the answer key. However, the provisional answer keys for three subjects — English, Commerce and Sociology — will be released separately.

The NTA stated in its official notice, “In respect of the three remaining subjects, namely English, Commerce and Sociology, a committee was constituted to look into the complaints received regarding various types of errors in the question papers. Based on the recommendations of this committee, a public notice with regard to these 3 subjects is being issued separately, later today.”

Candidates who appeared for the UGC NET June 2026 examination can access the provisional answer key by visiting the official UGC NET website. On the homepage, they need to click on the link related to the UGC NET June 2026 Answer Key to proceed with the login process.

After clicking on the relevant link, candidates will be required to enter their application number along with their password or date of birth, depending on the login option available.

Once the credentials are successfully submitted, candidates will be able to view their provisional answer key, recorded response sheet and question paper online.

Candidates are advised to carefully compare the answers marked in their recorded response sheet with those mentioned in the provisional answer key.

They can use the information to calculate their expected or probable scores before the declaration of the final results.

If candidates believe that an answer provided in the provisional key is incorrect or notice any discrepancy, they can submit an objection through the designated online process within the given deadline. The challenge fee of Rs 200 per question will have to be paid while submitting each objection.

After reviewing the challenges raised by candidates, the NTA will take the necessary action and prepare the final answer key.

Candidates are advised to download and save copies of their provisional answer key, recorded response sheet and question paper for future reference and for calculating their probable scores before the final results are announced.

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Crime

Four convicted in two NDPS cases in Delhi; over 1.4 kg ganja recovered

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New Delhi, Aug 16: Four accused have been convicted in two separate cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act registered at Palam village police station, with Delhi Police highlighting the speedy conclusion of the trials and recovery of more than 1.4 kg of ganja.

According to a press release issued by the South-West District of Delhi Police on Sunday, the four accused were convicted by the court of Saurabh Goyal, JMFC First Class, Dwarka Courts, Delhi.

In FIR No. 130/26 under Section 20 of the NDPS Act, accused Anuj Kumar and Vishal alias Sampi were convicted through an order dated August 10. Police said the conviction was secured within 133 days of the offence and after 45 days of trial.

In the second case, FIR No. 66/26 under Section 20 of the NDPS Act, accused Sanjay Sharma and Rafiq Ahmed were convicted through an order dated August 3. The conviction came within six months of the offence and after 119 days of trial, according to police.

The press release stated that “cases were effectively presented before the Court through the coordinated efforts of the investigating teams and the Prosecution Branch”. It added that Assistant Public Prosecutors Vikas Kharb and Sudhanshu Saini presented the prosecution’s cases, evidence and facts before the court, resulting in the conviction of all four accused.

In the first case, police said Sanjay Sharma was apprehended on February 4, allegedly carrying 442 grams of ganja. Following his disclosure, Rafiq Ahmed was arrested, and another 400 grams of ganja was allegedly recovered from his possession. The chargesheet was filed before the court on April 6 after receipt of a positive Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report confirming the nature of the substance.

In the second case, Anuj Kumar was apprehended on March 29 with 545 grams of alleged ganja. Following his disclosure, police arrested Vishal alias Sampi and recovered another 68 grams. The chargesheet was filed on June 26 after the FSL report confirmed the recovered substance.

Deputy Commissioner of Police, South-West District, Amit Goel said the convictions reflected the “sincerity, professionalism, coordinated effort and resolve” of Delhi Police and the Prosecution Branch.

Police said the outcome also highlights the role of scientific investigation and reaffirmed their resolve to curb drug-related offences and ensure speedy justice.

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National News

Shravani Mela Special train coach derails in Jharkhand; no injuries reported

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Ranchi, Aug 16: A major rail accident was narrowly averted in the early hours of Sunday on the Silli-Bokaro railway section in Jharkhand after a coach of the Shravani Mela Special train, travelling towards Madhupur, suddenly derailed, officials said.

A large number of Kanwariyas were travelling on the train when the incident occurred. All passengers aboard the train were reported to be safe, with no casualties reported in the derailment, according to the officials.

The railway officials stated that Train No. 08895, the Madhupur Shravani Mela Special, was proceeding towards Madhupur at around 2:30 a.m. on Sunday when its third coach from the engine suddenly went off the tracks near pole number 354/SA4.

The sudden derailment brought the train to an abrupt halt with a loud noise, briefly triggering panic among the passengers travelling on board.

Soon after receiving information about the incident, railway officials, along with teams of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP), rushed to the spot to assess the situation and begin relief operations.

A technical team was also deployed at the site and immediately started rescue and restoration work. The derailed coach was subsequently brought safely back onto the railway tracks.

However, railway authorities decided not to allow the coach to continue the remaining part of its journey as a precautionary measure.

For safety purposes, the affected coach was stationed at the Muri yard, while the Kanwariyas travelling in it were safely evacuated.

The derailment, however, disrupted rail traffic on the section for some time, leading railway authorities to alter the routes of several trains operating through the affected stretch.

The railway’s technical team simultaneously began repair and restoration work on the damaged portion of the track.

After sustained efforts by railway staff and technical personnel, the repair work on the affected track was completed at approximately 5:15 a.m. on Sunday.

Following the completion of the restoration work, train operations on the Bokaro section resumed, and normal rail movement was gradually restored.

Railway authorities have initiated an investigation into the incident to establish the exact cause of the derailment and determine the circumstances that led to the coach going off the tracks.

Officials are examining the condition of the track and other technical aspects as part of the inquiry.

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