Latest news with #NFSC
The Hindu
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Over 60 SC scholars lose NFSC fellowship after NSFDC publishes revised list
A section of Scheduled Caste students, who were awarded the National Fellowship for Scheduled Castes (NFSC) in March, have approached the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) for reinstatement of this fellowship after a revised list was released with their names removed. Their complaint is currently under process with the commission. Students say their financial and mental well-being has been affected due to the last-minute cancellation of the award. Some 60 students from the UGC-NET June 2024 batch have been affected after the National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC) published a revised list citing 'discrepancies in the (earlier) list and candidates' representations'. In March, the NSFDC published a list of 865 students on its website and issued award letters to them. However, in a letter dated May 2, 2025, the NSFDC said that due to discrepancies in the list and candidates' representations, the NTА has provided the rectified/revised list of 805 Students. 'In this regard, in pursuance of MoSJ&E's directives, the earlier list of 865 students stands cancelled, and the award letters issued on 18.03.2025 are withdrawn', the notice by NSFDC said. A candidate whose name did not appear on the revised list says that many students like him took admissions for Ph.D. programmes based on the first list, which assured their selection for the fellowship. 'After almost two months, we are told that we are no longer receiving the fellowship', he said. The notice by NSFDC says that the NTA has been providing the list of students (up to the slots allowed annually under the NFSC Scheme) from the UGC NET and CSIR UGC NET examinations for the NFSC Scheme. In March 2025, the NTA provided the list of 865 students selected from the UGC NET June 2024 examination. After due approval of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, the NSFDC published the list of 865 Students on its website and issued award letters. R. Sachithanantham, MP, Dindigul Lokshabha Constituency, in a letter to Virendra Kumar, Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Department, urged for his intervention to ensure the implementation of the first selection list which was released in March. 'I am concerned to note that the Country's highest Testing Agency is so casual and depresses the aspirations of poor and downtrodden SC candidates without any reason', said Mr. Sachithanantham in the, letter. The Hindu reached out to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for comments, but didn't receive a reply.
Arab News
26-01-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan interior minister denies attending anti-China function in US
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday rejected reports he had attended an event in Washington this week where he met people aligned with a political movement that are opposed to the Chinese state, describing the reports as 'propaganda.' News reports this week stated Naqvi attended an event in Washington by the New Federal State of China (NFSC), a political movement opposed to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), during his ongoing trip to the US. China is a major ally and investor in Pakistan that has pledged over $65 billion in investment in road, infrastructure and development projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) infrastructure project. 'This is absolute propaganda, neither have I attended any anti-Chinese state function nor did I go there,' he said. "I attended a function by Gunster [Strategies] which they tried to link it as an anti-China event," the minister added, referring to the international public relations firm, Gunster Strategies. The Pakistani interior minister said the main purpose of his visit to the US was to formulate a comprehensive plan with American politicians to combat 'terrorism.' 'See the main purpose of my visit this time [to the US] was to make a comprehensive plan against terrorism with the politicians here,' Naqvi said. 'The terrorism that we are suffering is not just our fight, it is everyone's fight,' he added. The interior minister said that though 2023 and 2024 were 'bad years' for Pakistan as far as militancy was concerned, those who took up arms against the state would be defeated. Pakistan has faced a surge in militant attacks in its western provinces bordering Afghanistan since November 2022, ever since its truce with the Pakistani Taliban broke down. Islamabad blames Afghan rulers for providing sanctuaries to militants to launch attacks against Pakistan, charges the Taliban government vehemently denies. Islamabad and Washington have shared a complicated history when it comes to bilateral ties. Both countries shared close defense and security cooperation in the past, particularly during the Cold War after the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and post-September 11, 2001 attacks. However, more recently, US officials criticized Pakistan for not sufficiently supporting their military efforts against the Taliban following the 9/11 attacks. Islamabad denies sheltering Taliban fighters and helping them regain control of Afghanistan in August 2021.
