New Delhi, Sep 17 (PTI) Following are the top stories at 9.15 pm: NATION DEL76 2ND LD PM-BDAY

PM Modi turns 75, lauds rise of New India as world leaders, eminent personalities praise his leadership New Delhi, Sep 17 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned 75 on Wednesday with a host of prominent personalities, including world leaders, lauding his leadership, while the ruling BJP organised welfare initiatives under the fortnight-long "Sewa Pakhwada" to mark the birthday of its preeminent leader.

DEL67 PM-BDAY-INITIATIVES AND EVENTS

PM Modi turns 75: Highlights of initiatives launched by BJP, events held in several states New Delhi: As Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned 75 on Wednesday, BJP-ruled states and the party organisation in different places started or have lined up an array of outreach, welfare and awareness programmes like health camps, cleanliness drives and fairs to promote indigenous products.

DEL84 DELHI-LD PM-BDAY

Projects worth Rs 1,723 Cr unveiled on PM Modi's birthday, CM says Centre 'lifeline of Delhi' New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched 17 projects and schemes of the Delhi government worth Rs 1,723 crore on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday on Wednesday, with Chief Minister Rekha Gupta calling the Centre the "lifeline" of the national capital.

BOM43 MP-PM-BDAY-SINDOOR

World saw Pak terrorist crying, recounting plight, says PM after JeM commander video on losses Dhar/Hyderabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said Indian soldiers brought Pakistan to its knees “in the blink of an eye” during Operation Sindoor and the world saw a terrorist crying, comments coming after terror outfit JeM's commander admitted losses suffered by the family of its chief.

DEL74 PM-BDAY-DL-2NDLD SHAH

Cong held rally to protect infiltrators, wants to win polls with their help: Amit Shah New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah slammed the Congress on Wednesday, accusing the opposition party of organising the "Ghuspaithiya Bachao" yatra to "protect infiltrators" in a bid to win elections with their support.

DEL82 RAHUL-FLOODS-LD PUNJAB

Rahul writes to PM Modi on Punjab floods, says crisis demands bolder response New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Punjab floods demanding quick assessment of the damage and a comprehensive relief package for those affected.

DEL86 DL-UP-DISHA PATANI-ENCOUNTER-DEAD

Disha Patani Bareilly home firing: Two shooters killed in encounter New Delhi: Two active members of the Rohit Godara-Goldy Barar gang, allegedly involved in firing outside Bollywood actress Disha Patani's residence in Bareilly, were shot dead in an encounter near Tronica City in Ghaziabad on Wednesday, officials said.

DEL83 PM-EU

PM Modi, EU's von der Leyen reaffirm commitment to conclude FTA by year-end New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday reaffirmed their commitment to conclude negotiations for the much-awaited free trade deal between India and the European Union (EU) by December.

DEL54 DL-SIR-ELECTORAL ROLLS

Delhi poll panel begins preparations for rollout of SIR in national capital New Delhi: The voters of Delhi will have to present an identity proof if their names do not appear in the voter list of 2002, as the poll panel begins preparations for the rollout of the SIR exercise in the national capital, the dates of which will be announced later.

DEL73 JK-PILGRIMAGE-LD VAISHNO DEVI

J-K: Vaishno Devi pilgrimage restarts after 22-days pause, halted again due to bad weather Katra/Jammu: After a 22-day suspension due to a deadly landslide and continuous heavy rainfall, the pilgrimage to revered Mata Vaishno Devi shrine atop Trikuta hills in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district resumed on Wednesday, bringing smiles on the faces of the devotees.

DEL60 EC-EVM-PHOTO

EVMs to have colour photos of candidates New Delhi: Starting from Bihar assembly elections, the Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) will now have colour photographs of candidates.

DEL58 QS RANKINGS-B SCHOOLS

IIMs Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Calcutta among world's top 100 B-schools: QS Global MBA Rankings New Delhi: Three Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs)-- Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Calcutta-- have figured in world's top 100 B-schools, according to QS Global MBA, Online MBA and Business Master's Rankings 2026.

BUSINESS DEL64 BIZ-GST-RATES

Centre notifies CGST rates for goods effective Sep 22 New Delhi: The Union Finance Ministry has notified Central GST (CGST) tax rates for goods, which will be effective from September 22.

LEGAL LGD38 SC-WOMEN ARMY OFFICERS-PC

SC frowns upon 'arbitrariness' in criteria appointment of women Army officers New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday frowned upon the 'arbitrariness' in the consideration of 'criteria appointment' for Short Service Commission (SSC) women Army officers seeking permanent commission as compared to their male counterparts.

LGD32 SC-KERALA-AYYAPPA SANGAMAM

SC dismisses pleas against global conclave of Ayyappa devotees in Kerala New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to entertain the pleas against the Kerala High Court order which dismissed petitions challenging the decision of the Travancore Devaswom Board to conduct a global conclave of Ayyappa devotees on September 20.

LGD29 DL-HC-KARAN JOHAR

Delhi HC to pass interim order on Karan Johar's plea to protect personality rights New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday indicated that it would pass an order granting interim injunction in favour of filmmaker and producer Karan Johar seeking protection of his personality and publicity rights.

LGD27 DL-COURT-LD BMW ACCIDENT

BMW accident: Court extends judicial custody of accused woman New Delhi: A Delhi court on Wednesday extended till September 27 the judicial custody of the woman who drove the BMW car involved in a crash that left a senior finance ministry official dead and his wife injured in Dhaula Kuan here.

LGD35 DL-HC-LD DUSU

DUSU polls: Delhi HC bans victory procession after results New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday barred candidates and student organisations of Delhi University from taking out victory processions anywhere in the national capital after the results of DUSU polls on September 19.

LGD33 DL-HC-MCD-HOTELS

Imposition of higher property tax rate on luxury hotels by MCD not arbitrary: HC New Delhi: Imposition of a higher rate of property tax by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi on luxury hotel establishments cannot be construed as "arbitrary or capricious", keeping in mind the economic profile of the clientele these establishments are designed to attract, the Delhi High Court has said.

LGD30 DL-COURT-ADANI DEFAMATION

Exact defamatory content against AEL not shown: Guha Thakurta's lawyer to court New Delhi: The counsel for journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurta argued before a Delhi court on Wednesday that the exact defamatory content published by him against Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL) was not shown.

FOREIGN FGN40 PM-BDAY-LD PUTIN

Putin greets Modi on 75th birthday, lauds his role in strengthening India-Russia ties Moscow, Sep 17 (PTI) Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday greeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his 75th birthday and lauded his “enormous personal contribution” to strengthening partnership between Moscow and New Delhi. By Vinay Shukla

FGN38 US-TRUMP-DRUGS

Trump names Afghanistan, India, China, Pakistan among major drug transit, illicit drug producing countries New York/Washington: President Donald Trump has named China, Afghanistan, India and Pakistan among 23 major drug transit or major illicit drug producing countries, saying that by manufacturing and trafficking illicit drugs and precursor chemicals, these nations are threatening the safety of the US and its citizens. By Yoshita Singh

FGN31 UK-ANDHRA

Andhra Pradesh pitches for UK investments at London roadshow London: The government of Andhra Pradesh made a pitch for UK investments across tech and energy sectors with a London roadshow, positioning the southern state as one of India's fastest-growing and most compelling destinations for long-term international partnerships. By Aditi Khanna

FGN28 NEPAL-LD MOURNING

Nepal observes ‘national day of mourning’ in honour of those killed in Gen Z protests Kathmandu: All government offices and educational institutions remained closed across Nepal on Wednesday as the country observed “national day of mourning” in honour of those killed during Gen Z protests. By Shirish B Pradhan

PTI MPL MPL

GST rate notification updates CGST rates for goods; arbitrariness concerns arise over women Army officers' commission criteria. Union Finance Ministry notified Central GST rates for goods, creating a regulatory change in CGST collection and compliance. The Supreme Court flagged arbitrariness in criteria applied to Short Service Commission women officers seeking permanent commission compared to male counterparts. Reported court actions include an indicated interim measure for personality and publicity rights, a ban on victory processions after student poll results, validation of higher property tax rates for luxury hotels as non-arbitrary, extension of judicial custody in a crash case, and procedural disputes in a defamation matter.