Month: June 2024

The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 which aims to prevent unfair means in public examinations and common entrance tests held across the country came into effect on Friday.

This comes amid the massive row over the alleged malpractices in conducting the NEET and UGC NET examinations.

A gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions said, “In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 1 of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 (1 of 2024), the central government hereby appoints the 21st day of June 2024, as the date on which the provisions of the said Act shall come into force.”

The Bill was passed by the two Houses of Parliament in the Budget session which concluded on February 10. It seeks to prevent the use of “unfair means” in public examinations and bring “greater transparency, fairness and credibility”.

On February 13, President Droupadi Murmu gave her nod to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means), Bill, 2024, which aims to check cheating in government recruitment exams.

The public examinations in the Act refer to examinations conducted by authorities notified by the central government. These include the Union Public Service Commission, Staff Selection Commission, Railway Recruitment Board, National Testing Agency, Institute of Banking Personnel Selection, and Departments of the central government and their attached offices for recruitment.

The Act also prohibits disclosing exam-related confidential information before time, and unauthorised people from entering exam centres to create disruptions. The offences will be punishable with imprisonment between three and five years, and a fine up to Rs 10 lakh.

All offences under the Bill will be cognisable, non-bailable, and non-compoundable.

The NEET-UG 2024 exam was conducted on May 5 and its results were declared on June 4, ahead of its scheduled announcement date of June 14.

The NEET-UG examination, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), paves the way for admission to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and other related courses in government and private institutions across the country.

On June 13, the NTA informed the Supreme Court that the scorecards of 1563 candidates who were awarded “grace marks” in the NEET-UG 2024 exam would be cancelled and these candidates would have an option to reappear for the exam on June 23, the results of which will be declared before June 30, or forgo the compensatory marks given for the loss of time. (ANI)

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The annual Ambubachi Mela at the historic Kamakhya Temple in Assam’s Guwahati is all set to begin on June 22.

The preparations for the Annual Ambubachi Mela have been completed and the fair is to commence on Saturday.

The Ambubachi Mela is an annual Hindu mela (fair) held at Kamakhya Temple and it is the celebration of the yearly menstruation course of goddess Maa Kamakhya.

The Assam government and Kamakhya Temple Management Committee have made all arrangements for the Ambubachi Mahotsav.

Security arrangements have also been made.

Assam Tourism Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah said that all concerned departments have made preparations for the annual festival.

“The state government and various departments are working on it. There will be no VIP passes to visit Kamakhya temple on June 26 and 27 when the temple door will be opened,” Jayanta Malla Baruah said.

The Assam government and Kamakhya Temple Management Committee have made all arrangements for the Ambubachi Mela.

Earlier, Kabindra Prasad Sarma-Doloi (head priest) of the historical temple told ANI that, this year’s Ambubachi Mela’s Pravritti will be performed at 8-45 am on June 22 and after Pravritti the main door of the temple will be closed for three days and three nights.

“The Ambubachi Mela’s Nivritti will be performed on June 26 and the main door of the temple will be opened on June 26 morning. All rituals and puja will be performed after Nivritti. The Assam government and district administration have also extended their support including security, transportation, food etc. Last year, around 25 lakh devotees visited the temple during the Ambubachi Mela and we hope the number will be increased this year,” Kabindra Prasad Sarma said.

Kamakhya Temple located atop Nilachal Hills is one of 51 Shaktipeeths in the country. (ANI)

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Long lines of people were seen queuing up on Saturday to fetch water from tankers across parts of the national capital, as the city continued to sizzle in the summer heat.

Morning visuals showed people from Chilla Gaon of Mayur Vihar area, Sanjay Colony, Okhla area, and Geeta Colony area standing in queues, holding onto cans and buckets and crowding around water tankers amid water shortage in the national capital this summer.

Amid soaring temperatures, these scenes have become a daily occurrence in the national capital in many areas since the start of the summer season this year.

Meanwhile, amid the political tug-of-war on the water crisis, Delhi’s Water Minister Atishi sat on an indefinite hunger strike on Friday, alleging that the Haryana government is not releasing Delhi’s share of water.

She was accompanied by Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh and other members of the party at Bhogal, near Jangpura where she sat on the hunger strike.

She paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat before heading to Bhogal.

In the meanwhile, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s wife Sunita Kejriwal read a message from the Chief Minister, who is under judicial custody and said Arvind Kejriwal is hurt to see Delhi’s public suffering from water scarcity.

Sunita Kejriwal stated, “Kejriwal says that when I see on TV, the way Delhi people are suffering due to water scarcity, it hurts me. I hope Atishi’s ‘tapasya’ will succeed and residents of Delhi will get relief. I wish all the best to Atishi, may God protect her.”

However, the Bharatiya Janata Party has continued to attack the Delhi government over the water crisis.

BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj alleged the crisis has been “orchestrated” by the AAP government to “encourage corruption.”

“It almost seems that this crisis, which is not a natural crisis, has been orchestrated by the Kejriwal government to encourage their own corruption as well as to encourage the illegal tanker mafia,” Bansuri Swaraj told ANI.

“Delhi is in a dire state. The entire city is parched and the Kejriwal government is indulging only in theatrics. Delhi minister Atishi instead of working on the ground and instead of taking any adequate steps is now indulging in mere theatrics and is now threatening Delhiites with anshan (fast),” she added. (ANI)

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The death toll in the Kallakurichi Hooch tragedy has risen from 50 to 53, officials said on Saturday.

Kallakurichi District Collector MS Prasanth said that out of the total 193 patients, who consumed illicit liquor, 140 are currently safe.

“193 people who have consumed illicit liquor have come to the hospital. Out of which 193, 140 are currently safe, while few of them are on ventilators. Right now, 53 people have passed away,” he said.

“So far, seven people have been arrested in the case. The case has been given to the CBI CID branch of Tamil Nadu Police. The patients are being given best treatment. Special doctors were mobilised in the initial stage. About 56 doctors were brought in from different medical colleges. Many patients who had respiratory problems, have recovered too,” the Kallakurichi Collector said.

Meanwhile, in the wake of the deaths in Kallakurichi in Tamil Nadu, 250 litres of illicit liquor were seized and disposed off in the state’s Tiruchirapalli district.

The action was taken by Tiruchirapalli District Collector, Pradeep Kumar and Superintendent of Police, Varun Kumar, based on intelligence input on Friday night, police said

The district Collector Pradeep Kumar spoke with locals and made them aware of the harmful effects of illicit liquor. He also made them take an oath that they would not consume illicit liquor.

Addressing a session in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, Chief Minister MK Stalin said the state government will take care of the entire education and hostel expenses of children who have lost either one or both of their parents in the Kallkurichi tragedy.

There was a ruckus in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, as opposition AIADMK members raised slogans demanding discussion on the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy. (ANI)

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Actor Shraddha Kapoor, who is often known for her impeccable style, has once again left fans in awe with a series of stunning pictures.

Shraddha, on Thursday, took to her Instagram account to drop a couple of pictures where she looked gorgeous.

In the images, the ‘Stree’ actress donned a crochet bralette paired with a floral pantsuit, showcasing her fashion-forward sense.

Kapoor’s caption for the post read, “Kis kis ko baarish pasand hai ???” (Who loves rain?).

Recently the actress took to Instagram account to make her relationship with Rahul Mody official.

Kapoor shared a sun-kissed selfie capturing a tender moment with Mody, accompanied by a heartfelt caption.

“Dil rakh le, Neend toh vaapis de de yaar,” Kapoor wrote on her Instagram stories, adding ‘Neend Churayee Meri’ from the film ‘Ishq’ as the background song.

Speculations of the duo’s romance first surfaced earlier this year when Kapoor and Mody were spotted together on multiple occasions. Further fueling the speculation was Kapoor seen sporting a necklace with the initials ‘R’ in a laid-back selfie post on Instagram.

Meanwhile, Shraddha is coming back with ‘Stree 2’, which also stars RajKummar Rao and Aparshakti Khurana.

The film sequel directed by Amar Kaushik, will hit theatres on August 15, the Independence Day. The horror-comedy will face a big clash with Akshay Kumar’s ‘Khel Khel Mein’ and Allu Arjun’s ‘Pushpa 2’ at the box office.

‘Stree’ was released in 2018 and was declared a blockbuster hit. ‘Oo Stree Kal Aana’, a phrase from the movie to date has been repeatedly used in memes.

The film’s music also gained significant attention, especially with tracks like ‘Milegi Milegi’ and ‘Aao Kabhi Haveli Pe’. (ANI)

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Actor Priyanka Chopra’s former restaurant Sona in New York is going to close its doors.

The restaurant, which is known for infusing a modern touch into Indian cuisine, will serve its final brunch service on June 30.

The restaurant on Wednesday took to its Instagram account to announce the end of its chapter.

The announcement read, “After more than three remarkable years, Sona will be closing. We have immense gratitude for everyone who walked through our doors. It’s been our greatest honour to serve you”.

“SONA’s final service will be brunch on Sunday, June 30,” it added.

The news comes nearly a year after the ‘Barfi’ actress ended the partnership with the establishment.

In August last year, People Magazine confirmed that Priyanka Chopra is no longer associated with SONA, the restaurant that opened in 2021. The news was disclosed to the magazine by Priyanka’s spokesperson.

The spokesperson said, “Priyanka [Chopra] has stepped away from her partnership at Sona. Bringing Sona to life will invariably be a proud and significant moment in her career. Priyanka has always endeavoured to bring Indian culture to the fore through storytelling, whether that’s via engaging content for film and TV or a beautifully plated dish that embodies the haute cuisine of India. Stepping away from Sona allows her to broaden these ambitions on a more global scale, and she’s excited about the possibilities that await.”

Meanwhile talking about Priyanka’s work front, the actress gears up for her upcoming cinematic venture, ‘The Bluff,’ directed by Frank E Flowers.

The movie is set in the 19th-century Caribbean and follows the story of a former female pirate, played by Priyanka, who must protect her family when the sins of her past catch up to her.

Produced by Russo Brothers’ banner AGBO Studios and Amazon MGM Studios, ‘The Bluff’ promises to be a thrilling adventure. (ANI)

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Actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam president Vijay on Thursday visited Kallakurichi to meet the victims of the hooch tragedy in Tamil Nadu.

At least 34 people died and over 60 people were hospitalized after allegedly consuming illicit liquor in the Kallakurichi district last night.

Reacting to the incident, earlier in the day, Vijay expressed his condolences.

In a post on X, he wrote, “The news of the death of more than 25 people after consuming fake liquor in Karunapuram area of Kallakurichi district is shocking and heartbreaking.”

Thalapathy Vijay also called out the “indifference” of the government administration and urged the Tamil Nadu government to take strict precautionary measures.

“The fact that such an incident has occurred again shows the indifference of the government administration when it has not yet fully recovered from the tragedy of losing many lives due to the same incident last year,” Vijay said.

“I strongly request that the Tamil Nadu government should take strict precautionary measures to prevent such incidents from happening in the future,” he added.

Director CS Amudhan reacted to the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy.

“The scale of the Kallakurichi tragedy boggles the mind & should never be allowed to happen again. This is clearly the product of organized crime with collusion from various officials including the police. This government should demonstrably bring all those culprits to book,” he wrote on X.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has announced Rs 10 lakh each to the kins of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for those undergoing treatment.

Stalin has announced an inquiry commission to submit a report on the Kallakurichi Hooch tragedy.

Following the incident, the Tamil Nadu government announced the transfer of District Collector Sravan Kumar Jatavath and suspended Superintendent of Police Samay Singh Meena. MS Prasanth and Rajat Chaturvedi were named as their replacements. (ANI)

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Ahead of actors Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal’s rumoured wedding, veteran star and Sonakshi’s father, Shatrughan Sinha was seen posing with Zaheer.

Both, Zaheer and Shatrughan Sinha were seen smiling as they posed for the camera.

Sonakshi was also seen in a white coloured outfit.

Earlier, a fun-filled picture of Zaheer was doing the rounds, showing the groom-to-be and his friends posing for the camera.

Taking to his Instagram account on Wednesday, Zaheer’s friend and Huma Qureshi’s brother Saqib Saleem dropped a group picture in which Zaheer can be seen posing with his boy squad.

In the picture, the men can be seen smiling for the camera.

Along with the picture, Saqib added a caption that read, “Boys boys boys ye pagal ladke!”

Zaheer also re-shared the picture along with a heart emoji.

Just a couple of days back, the couple enjoyed their bachelor and bachelorette parties with their close friends.

Sonakshi Sinha shared glimpses from a party hosted by her friends.

Sonakshi took to her Instagram Stories on Monday to drop several pictures that hinted at a bachelorette party. In one selfie, the ‘Mission Mangal’ actress can be seen flaunting her look with kohl-rimmed eyes, nude lips, and hair tied in a bun.

One of the pictures showed Sonakshi posing with Huma Qureshi. Sonakshi donned a sparkling black outfit while Huma looked stunning in a black cutout dress.

Zaheer also enjoyed a night out with his close buddies, sharing celebratory photos. Actor Saqib Saleem, Huma Qureshi’s brother, was also part of the festivities.

As per a source close to Sonakshi, she is expected to tie the knot with actor Zaheer Iqbal on June 23 in Mumbai.

Amid the wedding buzz, interestingly, an audio invite of Sonakshi and Zaheer went viral. In the leaked invite, the duo reportedly confirmed the news of their marriage by saying that they are ready to arrive at ‘the moment’ which would turn them each other’s ‘definite and official husband and wife.’

The digital invitation is styled like a magazine cover with a headline. The invitation featured a photo of Zaheer and Sonakshi in a snow-covered setting, with Zaheer planting a kiss on Sonakshi’s cheek.

However, Sonakshi and Zaheer have been tight-lipped about their relationship since their dating rumours surfaced. They have also not publicly addressed their wedding news. Sonakshi and Zaheer starred in the 2022 film Double XL. While they have not confirmed their relationship yet, their Instagram feed is filled with photos of each other. (ANI)

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At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina arrived in India on Friday to pay a State visit from June 21 to 22.

Newly-appointed Minister of State (MoS) Kirtivardhan Singh welcomed the visiting Bangladesh PM at the airport.

This visit will give a “major boost” to India-Bangladesh ties, Official Spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Randhir Jaiswal said in a social media post.

“PM Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh arrives in New Delhi on a State Visit to India. Warmly welcomed by MoS @KVSinghMPGonda at the airport. Bangladesh is a key partner and trusted neighbour of India. The visit will give a major boost to this celebrated bilateral partnership,” read Jaiswal’s post on X.

This is the first incoming bilateral State Visit after the formation of the government in India following the 18th Lok Sabha elections, MEA said in a press release a day ago.

“During the visit, apart from holding bilateral consultations with the Prime Minister, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to call on the President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar,” the release added.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is scheduled to call on the Prime Minister of Bangladesh.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was among the international leaders who attended the swearing-in ceremony of the Prime Minister and the Union Council of Ministers on June 9.

Over the years, India and Bangladesh have forged a multifaceted relationship, marked by a shared history, culture, and geographical proximity. The two neighbours enjoy warm ties, which have further expanded under the leadership of PM Modi and Sheikh Hasina.

The year 2023 witnessed a spur of bilateral activities between both countries as an embodiment of the strength of the relationship. Both Prime Ministers jointly inaugurated the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline on 18 March in a virtual format.

PM Sheikh Hasina also participated virtually in the Inaugural Session of the Voice of the Global South Summit on 11 January 2023 and the second Virtual Voice of the Global South Summit on 17 November 2023.

As a Guest Country invited to India’s G20 Presidency in 2023, Bangladesh participated under various tracks at the Ministerial level including the former Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, AK Abdul Momen in the G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting and G-20 Development Ministers Meeting in March 2023 and June 2023 respectively.

Both Prime Ministers jointly inaugurated three Indian-assisted development cooperation projects in Bangladesh on 1 November 2023 virtually.

The projects are the Akhaura-Agartala cross border rail link, Khulna-Mongla Port rail line and Unit II of Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant, according to the MEA. (ANI)

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The Supreme Court on Friday again declined to stay the process of counselling in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate) 2024 and has issued a notice to the National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts the examination.

A vacation bench of Justices Vikram Nath and SVN Bhatti of the apex court has tagged the fresh pleas along with pending petitions and posted them for hearing on July 8.

On Thursday, the top court issued a notice on a plea filed by the NTA seeking the transfer of petitions relating to the NEET-UG, 2024 examination from the High Courts to the apex court.

A vacation bench has also stayed proceedings before different high courts.

The vacation bench was hearing pleas due to allegations of question paper leaks and other malpractices.

The apex court reiterated that it will not stop the counselling process.

The Supreme Court has also issued a notice to the Centre and NTA on a petition filed by some students who appeared in the Meghalaya centre for NEET-UG exam and allegedly lost 45 minutes and prayed they should be a part of the 1563 students who got grace marks and were given the option to appear for re-exam on June 23.

The Supreme Court has posted the pleas for hearing on July 8.

The NEET-UG 2024 exam was conducted on May 5 and its results were declared on June 4, ahead of its scheduled announcement date of June 14. Protests were held alleging irregularities and paper leaks as the results showed that as many as 67 students had topped the exam with a perfect score of 720.

Petitions have been filed in courts by students seeking a re-test. The Supreme Court has allowed a re-test of over 1,500 students who were awarded “grace marks.”

The NEET-UG examination, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), paves the way for admission to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and other related courses in government and private institutions across the country.

On June 13, the NTA informed the Supreme Court that the scorecards of 1563 candidates who were awarded “grace marks” in the NEET-UG 2024 exam would be cancelled and these candidates would have an option to reappear for the exam on June 23, the results of which will be declared before June 30, or forgo the compensatory marks given for the loss of time.

On Tuesday, the apex court emphasized that any negligence, even as small as 0.001 per cent, in the conduct of the NEET-UG 2024 examination would be addressed thoroughly.

A vacation bench told advocates representing the Centre and the National Testing Agency (NTA) that any such negligence must be dealt with seriously. (ANI)

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