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Business Standard
3 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Hold NEET-PG exam in single shift instead of two: Supreme Court to NBE
According to a LiveLaw report, the court in its ruling said that conducting the exam in two shifts creates arbitrariness, adding that NBE should make arrangements to hold it in a single shift Swati Gandhi New Delhi The Supreme Court (SC) on Friday ordered the National Board of Examination (NBE) to conduct the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Post Graduate (NEET-PG) 2025 exam in one shift, instead of two shifts. According to a LiveLaw report, the SC in its ruling said that conducting the exam in two shifts creates "arbitrariness", adding that NBE should make necessary arrangements to hold the exam in a single shift and to ensure transparency. The court in its order stated, "Holding examination in two shifts creates arbitrariness and also does not keep all the candidates at the same level. Any two question papers can ever be said to be of an identical level of difficulty or ease. There has to be a variation." The court rejected the argument made by NBE that there are not enough centres to hold the exam in a single shift. The apex court ruled, "The exam is to be held all over the country, not just in one city. We are not ready to accept that in the entire country, and considering the technological advancements in this country, the examining body could not find enough centres to hold the examination in one shift." When questioned why the exam for NEET-PG has to be conducted in two shifts, when the same is not the case for NEET-UG, which has more applicants, NBE stated, "The exam is held online. In 2024, NEET UG had to be cancelled due to malpractice. For the online exam, there are limited centres. All important examinations in which a large number of candidates appear are held like this." Petitioners' counsel argued in the court that the double-shift exam gives priority to "luck" over "merit". It further claimed that conducting the exam in two shifts violates the rights of the candidates under Article 14 of the Constitution. The plea also referred to the 2024 NEET-PG exam, which was conducted in two shifts and resulted in a case before the apex court.
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Business Standard
3 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Kashmir's separation issue ended with Article 370 abrogation: Salman Khurshid
Khurshid's recent remarks mark a departure from his earlier position. In 2019, he had argued that Article 370 was not a barrier, but a bond that linked Jammu and Kashmir to the rest of India Swati Gandhi New Delhi A day after Congress MP Shashi Tharoor spoke about the 2016 and 2019 surgical strikes on Pakistan, Congress leader Salman Khurshid spoke about the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and how it brought prosperity to the Valley while addressing Indonesian think tanks and academia. Khurshid, a member of the all-party delegation visiting partner countries, highlighted India's zero-tolerance stance on terror and referenced Operation Sindoor during a visit to Indonesia. He said, 'Kashmir had a major problem for a long time. Much of that was reflected in the thinking of the government in an article called 370 of the Constitution, which somehow gave the impression that it was separate from the rest of the country. But Article 370 was abrogated, and it was finally put to an end.' He added, 'There was an election with 65 per cent participation. There's an elected government in Kashmir today, and therefore, for people to want to undo everything that has happened—the prosperity that has come to Kashmir…' Article 370 granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir until it was abrogated by the BJP-led central government on August 5, 2019. Khurshid's changing stance on Article 370 Khurshid's recent remarks mark a departure from his earlier position. In 2019, he had argued that Article 370 was not a barrier, but a bond that linked Jammu and Kashmir to the rest of India. Congress' evolving position on Article 370 Over the past few years, the Congress party has gradually shifted its stance on the abrogation. At the time of the move, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) strongly opposed the decision, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of bypassing democratic norms. On August 4, 2019, Congress joined other Jammu and Kashmir parties, including the National Conference (NC) and the People's Democratic Party (PDP), in defending Article 370 and preserving the region's special status. However, by November 2020, the party had distanced itself from the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD)—a coalition seeking restoration of Articles 370 and 35A—after criticism from Home Minister Amit Shah. In 2023, the Supreme Court upheld the Centre's decision to revoke Article 370. Congress accepted the ruling from a legal standpoint but criticised the manner in which the decision was implemented.
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Business Standard
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
TN govt moves SC against Centre, alleges funds blocked over NEP issue
Stalin govt opposed the National Education Policy, which proposed a three-language formula, under which the student learns a third language, other than English, and the regional language Swati Gandhi New Delhi The Tamil Nadu government, led by Chief Minister M K Stalin, has moved the Supreme Court against the Central government, accusing the latter of blocking funds worth ₹2,151 crore. The state government has alleged that the blocking of funds happened after it did not implement the National Education Policy (NEP). The move marks another tussle between the Centre and the Tamil Nadu government over the language row, NDTV reported. The Stalin government opposed the NEP, which proposed a three-language formula, under which the student learns a third language, other than English, and the regional language. According to the Stalin-led DMK government, the move aims to push Hindi in the southern states. Rejecting the allegations levelled by the Tamil Nadu government, the Centre claimed that the three-language formula aims to revive Indian languages. Tamil Nadu govt's plea in the Supreme Court The state government, in its plea, informed the apex court that the Centre has not released ₹2,151 crore under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme. It is an integrated scheme for school education from pre-school to Class 12th. It gives support for the implementation of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 and is aligned with suggestions of the National Education Policy. The Stalin government added that the project approval board of the Central government met on February 16, 2024 and was satisfied with the former's compliance with the requirements mandated under the scheme. It also added, 'The glaring reason for such non-disbursement is that the Defendant has linked the release of Samagra Shiksha Scheme funds with the implementation of 'National Education Policy' and 'NEP exemplary PM SHRI Schools' Scheme, despite the fact that these policies/schemes are separate schemes.' Also read: The DMK government also alleged that the withholding of the funds is aimed at compelling the state to implement NEP. The petition filed by the Stalin government comes a month after the apex court gave a verdict in favour of the state government in a case against Governor RN Ravi over his decision to withhold assent to ten bills, which were cleared by the state government.
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Business Standard
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
No radiation leak from Pak nuclear facility, says atomic energy watchdog
The IAEA response negating any radiation leak in Pakistan follows social media buzz that claimed Indian forces hit nuclear sites of the country during 'Operation Sindoor' Swati Gandhi New Delhi The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the global nuclear watchdog, denied reports claiming that there was a radiation leak from nuclear facilities in Pakistan, following the recent military conflict with India. News agency PTI, citing an IAEA spokesperson, said, 'Based on information available to the IAEA, there has been no radiation leak or release from any nuclear facility in Pakistan.' The response came after several social media users claimed that the nuclear facilities in Pakistan were hit by the Indian armed forces during ' Operation Sindoor ', a coordinated missile strike launched on May 7 in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. The claims of attacking Pakistan's nuclear facility in Kirana Hills were previously denied by the Indian Air Force (IAF) Air Marshal A K Bharti, Director General of Air Operations, in a briefing on Monday. The speculations were made after India's missile strikes hit an airbase in Sargodha in Pakistan's Punjab province, following which reports surfaced that the base is linked to an underground nuclear storage facility in Kirana Hills. What makes Kirana Hills so secretive? Located near Sargodha in Pakistan's Punjab province, Kirana Hills has long been associated with Pakistan's nuclear ambition. It is considered to be Pakistan's most secretive military zone. Since the 1980s, Pakistan has been developing its nuclear capabilities in response to the regional security dynamics, according to The Times of India report. From 1983 to 1990, the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) was reportedly using Kirana Hills to conduct subcritical nuclear tests, which were kept confidential to avoid detection by international surveillance. The tests were crucial for Pakistan to improve its nuclear designs without the need for large sites. India dismisses the possibility of nuclear war Randhir Jaiswal, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, dismissed the speculations of a 'nuclear war' made by US President Donald Trump. Jaiswal on Monday said, 'The military action was entirely in the conventional domain. There were some reports that Pakistan's National Command Authority will meet on 10 May. But this was later denied by them. Pakistan FM has himself denied the nuclear angle on record.' He further said, 'As you know, India has a firm stance that it will not give in to nuclear blackmail or allow cross-border terrorism to be conducted invoking it. In conversations with various countries, we also cautioned that their subscribing to such scenarios could hurt them in their own region.'
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Business Standard
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Encounter breaks out in Awantipora, second clash in Kashmir in 48 hours
Security forces in Jammu and Kashmir engaged terrorists in Awantipora days after Operation Keller in Shopian, where three were killed following the April 22 Pahalgam attack Swati Gandhi New Delhi An encounter broke out between the security forces and terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Awantipora on Thursday. Kashmir Zone Police shared the information on X and said, "Encounter has started at Nader, Tral area of Awantipora. Police and security forces are on the job." #Encounter has started at Nader, Tral area of #Awantipora. Police and security forces are on the job. Further details shall follow. @JmuKmrPolice — Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) May 15, 2025 The encounter is the second such in the last 48 hours. Earlier, on 13 May, three terrorists were killed in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district. Operation Keller was carried out based on intelligence input. Taking to X, the Indian Army wrote, "On 13 May 2025, based on specific intelligence of a #RashtriyasRifles Unit, about the presence of terrorists in the general area of Shoekal Keller, #Shopian, #IndianArmy launched a search and destroy Operation. During the operation, terrorists opened heavy fire, and fierce firefight ensued, which resulted in the elimination of three hardcore terrorists (sic)." The encounters in the Valley come just days after both India and Pakistan agreed on an"understanding to stop all firing and military action", following the unrest which ensued after India's 'Operation Sindoor', launched on 7 May in response to the 22 April Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 people, mostly tourists. On 13 May, Jammu and Kashmir Police also released images of the three terror suspects for their alleged involvement in the Pahalgam terror attack and announced a reward of ₹20 lakh. 11 military personnel killed, claims Pakistan On 13 May, Pakistan claimed that 11 of its military personnel were killed and 78 others were injured during the recent military confrontation, news agency PTI reported. The Pakistani military, in a statement, also claimed that as many as 40 civilians were killed and 121 were injured when India launched Operation Sindoor. Operation Sindoor On the intervening night of 6 and 7 May, Indian armed forces launched coordinated missile strikes on terrorist infrastructure at nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Following the missile strikes, tensions escalated between the two nuclear-armed neighbours as diplomatic ties between the two were also worsening. Pakistan also resorted to heavy shelling in border areas across the Line of Control (LoC), resulting in the death of at least 16 civilians. The fiery exchange continued for at least four days before the two neighbours agreed to an understanding and stopped all firing and military action.
