Srinagar, May 14: Jammu and Kashmir Health and Education Minister Sakina Itoo on Thursday called for a transparent investigation into the alleged ‘NEET-UG paper leak’ incident. The minister said all those involved in the fraud must face strict punishment, irrespective of their influence or position. Talking to reporters, Sakina Itoo said the alleged fraud has deeply affected students who worked tirelessly for years to qualify one of the country’s most competitive examinations. “This is unfortunate because children work very hard and put immense effort into qualifying this examination,” she said. She said any malpractice in such examinations amounts to playing with the future and careers of deserving students. “The investigation should be conducted properly and in a transparent manner. Whoever is involved should face strict action and severe punishment,” she said. Responding to a question regarding downsizing of government vehicles and related measures announced by the administration, the minister said everyone should contribute if any step helps reduce the country’s problems. “If there is any problem in the country and if we can help in reducing it in any way, then we should also play our role,” she said. Asked about reports of a possible shift to virtual education in view of recent developments, the minister said no such decision has been taken so far.

New Delhi, May 12: A massive protest organised by the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) broke out near the Shastri Bhawan on Tuesday, against the alleged paper leak in NEET-UG this year. The exam was held on May 3, following which allegations of paper leak surfaced, triggering investigations by the Rajasthan Special Operations Group (SOG) and central agencies. Earlier, the National Testing Agency (NTA) announced the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026, and said the examination will be re-conducted on dates to be notified separately. In a statement, the NTA said the decision was taken with the approval of the Government of India in the interest of maintaining transparency and preserving trust in the national examination system.

New Delhi, May 12: The National Testing Agency on Tuesday announced the cancellation of the NEET (UG) 2026 examination conducted on May 3, citing serious concerns over the integrity and transparency of the examination process. In a post on its official X handle, NTA said the decision was taken with the approval of the Government of India (GoI) after inputs examined by the agency in coordination with central agencies and findings shared by law enforcement authorities indicated that the examination process “could not be allowed to stand.” In an official statement, NTA said the examination would now be re-conducted on fresh dates to be notified separately. The revised schedule, including issuance of fresh admit cards, will be communicated through the agency’s official channels in the coming days. The development comes days after NTA, on May 8, referred matters related to alleged irregularities in the examination to central agencies for independent verification and necessary action. The Government of India has also decided to hand over the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation for a comprehensive inquiry into the allegations surrounding the examination. NTA said it would extend full cooperation to the investigating agency and provide all records and materials required for the probe. NTA said the decision was necessary to safeguard the credibility of the national examination system and acknowledged that conducting the examination afresh would cause “real and significant inconvenience” to candidates and their families.  However, NTA said that allowing the present examination to stand would have caused “greater and more lasting damage” to public trust in the system. The exam conducting body further clarified that registration data, candidature details and examination centres selected during the May 2026 cycle would remain valid for the re-conducted examination. It said no fresh registration process would be required and no additional examination fee would be charged from candidates. In a significant relief to students, NTA also announced that the examination fees already paid by candidates would be refunded, while the re-conducted examination would be organised using the agency’s internal resources. NEET (UG), the country’s largest entrance examination for undergraduate medical courses, is taken annually by lakhs of students seeking admission to MBBS, BDS and allied medical programmes across India. NTA has advised candidates and parents to rely only on official communication channels for updates regarding the revised examination schedule and to avoid unverified information circulating on social media.

Bhubaneswar, May 7: A 19-year-old NEET aspirant in Odisha’s Bhadrak district was found hanging in his house on Thursday, police said. His family alleged that the teen took his life, fearing that he would not clear the exam he appeared on May 3. The deceased has been identified as Jyoti Prakash Barik, a resident of Nunda village under Tihidi block. According to police, he was found hanging from the ceiling of their rented house in Bhadrak town police station area. Though he was taken to Bhadrak District Headquarters Hospital, doctors declared him dead on arrival, police said. While Bhadrak Town Police registered a case of unnatural death and launched an investigation into the matter, his family members said he was under intense mental stress after appearing in the exam on Sunday. Jyoti Prakash had failed to crack the NEET examination last year and was optimistic of clearing it this time. The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) is a national-level entrance exam for undergraduate medical courses, including MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and BSc Nursing, conducted annually. His father runs a tea stall to earn his livelihood and spent around Rs 3 lakh for his son's coaching, family members claimed. "Fearing another failure, he might have died by suicide," his father said. Speaking to reporters, the family members said Jyoti Prakash was alone at home last night when the incident occurred. (PTI)

New Delhi, Apr 29 (PTI):  The Congress on Wednesday alleged that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh gave a "shameful clean chit" to Pakistan while speaking at an SCO meeting in Bishkek, and claimed that his shocking statements were "anti-national". Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh also alleged that this "new stance" in relation to Pakistan is all part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policy of "appeasement" of the US and "calibrated capitulation" to China. Ramesh shared a video clip of Singh speaking in Bishkek in which he said, "We must not forget that terrorism has no nationality and no theology. No grievance, real or supposed, can become an excuse for terrorism and humanitarian loss." In his post on X attacking Singh, Ramesh said, "Yesterday, the Defence Minister, obviously with the approval of and at the instance of the Prime Minister, gave a shameful clean chit to Pakistan while speaking in Bishkek." Is Pakistan not the epicentre of terrorism, Ramesh asked. "Are there no terrorist camps in Pakistan with India as their target? Is there no ideological anti-India indoctrination in Pakistan? Were not the Mumbai and Pahalgam terror attacks masterminded and executed by terrorists from Pakistan?" the Congress leader said. "Clearly this new stance in relation to Pakistan is all part of the PM's policy of appeasement of the US and calibrated capitulation to China," Ramesh said. "The Defence Minister's shocking statements are as anti-national as the PM's bizarre clean chit to China on June 19, 2020," he alleged. Singh, in an address at a conclave of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Bishkek, had also said Operation Sindoor demonstrated India's firm resolve that "terror epicentres" are no longer immune to "justifiable punishment". Singh had also called on the influential grouping to not lose sight of "state-sponsored" cross-border terrorism and that there should not be any place for any "double standards" in combating the menace. (PTI)

Kolkata, Apr 29: A total of 18.39 per cent of 3.21 crore voters exercised their franchise in the first two hours of polling to 142 constituencies in the second and final phase of West Bengal assembly elections, a senior EC official said. Till 9 am, Purba Bardhaman district recorded the highest turnout at 20.86 per cent, followed by Hooghly at 20.16 per cent, he said. Nadia recorded 18.5 per cent turnout, followed by North 24 Parganas (17.81 per cent), Kolkata Uttar (17.28 per cent) and South 24 Parganas (17.25 per cent), Kolkata Dakshin (16.81 per cent), he elaborated. "Polling is underway peacefully, barring some minor incidents in certain areas. We have sought reports from the officials concerned," he told PTI. Voting is underway in 142 constituencies in the second and final phase of the West Bengal assembly elections amid unprecedented security arrangements. Polling began at 7 am with voters lining up outside booths across Kolkata, Howrah, North and South 24 Parganas, Nadia, Hooghly and Purba Bardhaman -- districts that together form the political and electoral core of the state. A total of 3,21,73,837 electors, including 1,64,35,627 men, 1,57,37,418 women and 792 third-gender voters, are eligible to cast their votes in this phase of polling held at 41,001 stations, all of which have been covered by webcasting. (PTI)

Srinagar, Apr 27: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi dealt a decisive blow to terrorism by taking bold steps like abrogation of Article 370, surgical strikes and Operation Sindoor. Addressing an election rally in West Bengal, Shah said that PM Modi crushed terrorism which no previous leader or regime could. "Operation Sindoor after the Pahalgam terror attack sent a clear message to the adversary that terrorism won’t be tolerated. The government had acted firmly against terrorism and crushed it with an iron fist," he said. He also attacked West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing her government of being soft on terrorism. “The PM Modi led regime has taken decisive action against terror, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said. Shah cited the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, stating that the move had strengthened the country’s fight against terrorism and integrated Jammu and Kashmir more closely with the Union. The Union Home Minister said the Centre’s approach marked a shift from previous governments, asserting that strong measures had been taken to counter terror threats. “Modi Ji ended Article 370, which was protected by the Congress and its ally TMC. Modi Ji dealt a decisive blow to terrorism through a surgical strike, airstrike, and Operation Sindoor. But the TMC and the Congress fed biryani to terrorists when they were in power,” Shah said. He also hit out at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge over remarks against PM Modi. “PM Modi who ended terrorism, Congress’s president calls him a terrorist. Due to his proximity to Rahul Gandhi, the public conduct of Kharge Ji has deteriorated. Form a BJP government in West Bengal, and we will end terrorism here too,” he said. “Kharge Ji, the more you abuse Modi Ji, the more the lotus will bloom,” Shah added. The Home Minister said there is a strong wave in favour of the BJP and once voted to power, it would “push back all infiltrators”. (KNO)

Srinagar, Mar 31: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on Tuesday approved a series of high-level appointments and transfers of IAS officers across key ministries of the Government of India, as per a release issued by the Secretariat of the ACC. As per the order, Nivedita Shukla Verma Secretary Department of Chemicals and Petro-Chemicals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, as Secretary, Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, with additional charge of the post of Secretary, Department of Pensions and Pensioners Welfare, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. Chanchal Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, as Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, vice Sanjay Jaju, upon his appointment as Secretary, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region. Narendra Bhooshan, presently in the cadre, as Secretary, Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development. Chandra Sekhar Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs, as Chief Executive Officer, National Rainfed Area Authority, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, in the rank and pay of Secretary to the Government of India. Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, as Secretary, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, vice Chanchal Kumar, upon his appointment as Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. Srivatsa Krishna, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, as Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs, vice Chandra Sekhar Kumar, upon his appointment as Chief Executive Officer, National Rainfed Area Authority, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. Tejveer Singh, presently in the cadre, as Secretary, Department of Chemicals and Petro-Chemicals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, vice Ms. Nivedita Shukla Verma, upon her appointment as Secretary, Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, with additional charge of the post of Secretary, Department of Pensions and Pensioners Welfare, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. Sanjay Lohiya, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Mines, as Special Secretary, Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, by temporarily upgrading a vacant post of Joint Secretary in the Department. The officer will take over as Secretary, Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, vice Shri Nagaraju Maddirala, upon his superannuation on 31.05.2026. Rohit Kansal, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, as Secretary, Department of Rural Development, Ministry of Rural Development, vice Shri Shailesh Kumar Singh upon his superannuation on 31.03.2026. Bharat Harbanslal Khera, Additional Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, as Officer on Special Duty, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, in the rank and pay of Secretary to the Government of India. The officer will take over as Secretary, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, vice Shri Subhas Chandra Lal Das, upon his superannuation on 30.04.2026. Abhishek Singh, Director General, National Informatics Centre, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, as Director General, National Testing Agency, Ministry of Education, in the rank and pay of Secretary to the Government of India by temporarily upgrading the post. Bhuvnesh Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, Unique Identification Authority of India, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, as Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, vice Srivatsa Krishna, upon his appointment as Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs. The ACC has also approved in-situ upgradation of the following officers to the level of Special Secretary in the rank and pay of Secretary to the Government of India as a measure personal to them by temporarily upgrading the posts held by them: Sanjay Rastogi, Director General, National Archives of India, Ministry of Culture, as Director General, National Archives of India, Ministry of Culture, in the rank and pay of Secretary to the Government of India. Sajjan Singh Yadav, Additional Secretary, Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, as Special Secretary, Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance.

New Delhi, Mar 13: Opposition MPs have submitted notices in both Houses of Parliament seeking a motion for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, sources said on Friday. As many as 130 Lok Sabha MPs and 63 Rajya Sabha MPs have signed the notice, a source said. The signatories include members from all the INDIA bloc parties, the source said, including the Aam Aadmi Party, which has also backed the move despite no longer being formally part of the opposition alliance, the source said. Some independent MPs have also signed the notice, and several others have expressed interest in joining the initiative, the source added. This is the first time a notice has been moved seeking the removal of the CEC. According to sources, the notice lists seven charges against Kumar, including alleged “partisan and discriminatory conduct in office”, “deliberate obstruction of investigation of electoral fraud” and “mass disenfranchisement.” The opposition parties have accused the CEC of aiding the ruling BJP on several occasions, especially with the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which they alleged aims to help the saffron party at the Centre. (Agencies)

New Delhi, Mar 13: The Centre has approved Rs 1,912.99 crore in additional financial assistance to five states and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir affected by floods, flash floods, cloudbursts, landslides and cyclone ‘Montha’ in 2025, an official statement said on Friday. The decision was taken by a high-level committee (HLC) chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, it said. According to the statement, the five states are Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, and Nagaland. “Of the total amount, Rs 341.48 crore has been approved for Andhra Pradesh, Rs 15.70 crore for Chhattisgarh, Rs 778.67 crore for Gujarat, Rs 288.39 crore for Himachal Pradesh, Rs 158.41 crore for Nagaland and Rs 330.34 crore for Jammu and Kashmir,” it said. This assistance is over and above the funds already released to states under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), it said. During the Financial Year 2025-26, the Centre has released Rs 20,735 crore to 28 states under the SDRF and Rs 3,628.18 crore to 21 states under the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), it said. In addition, Rs 5,373.20 crore has been released to 23 states from the State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF), while Rs 1,189.56 crore has been provided to 21 states under the National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF), it said. “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Government of India is standing shoulder to shoulder with the State Governments during natural calamities and disasters and providing all necessary support,” it said. (PTI)

New Delhi, Mar 13: AAP convenor and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday sought to know from Prime Minister Narendra Modi if Iran has given an assurance that Indian ships would be allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. His remarks came after Prime Minister Modi on Thursday night spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian over the phone and discussed the "serious situation" in West Asia. The prime minister told the Iranian President that the safety and security of Indian nationals, along with the need for unhindered transit of goods and energy, remain India's top priorities. In a post on X, the AAP chief asked whether Indians would soon get a reprieve from the serious situation arising out of the West Asia conflict. "Prime Minister, has the President of Iran assured you that they will allow our ships to pass through Hormuz? Will the countrymen soon be rid of this serious crisis?" Kejriwal said in the post in Hindi. Notably, Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping passage through which India's substantial energy imports come. Three days back, a bulk oil carrier sailing to India was fired upon by Iranian forces as it was trying to cross through the Strait of Hormuz.

New Delhi, Mar 10: The oil ministry has constituted a committee to examine supply issues after a sudden shortage of commercial LPG cylinders alarmed the hospitality sector, with restaurant associations warning that eateries could shut down within days if supplies are not restored. As the widening conflict in the Middle East disrupted fuel lifelines, including India's LPG supplies, the government has prioritised domestic cooking gas supplies to households. This has led to supply crunch for hotels and restaurants which use market priced commercial LPG. "For LPG supply to other non-domestic sectors, a committee of three Executive Directors (EDs) of Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have been constituted to review the representations for LPG supply to restaurants/hotels/other industries," the ministry said in a post on X. India consumed some 31.3 million tonnes of LPG annually. As much as 87 per cent of this is in the domestic sector i.e. household kitchens, and the rest in commercial establishments such as hotels and restaurants. Of this total requirement, as much as 62 per cent is met through imports. The US and Israel attack on Iran and Tehran's retaliation has shut the Strait of Hormuz - the conduit through which India got 85-90 per cent of its LPG imports from countries like Saudi Arabia. As alternate sources are being scouted, the limited supplies available meant the government prioritising supplies to the domestic sector, and in process the commercial establishments have suffered. Industry sources say the disruption has already begun affecting operations in Mumbai and Bengaluru, as hotels and restaurants struggle to secure cooking gas. Vijay Shetty, president of the India Hotels and Restaurant Association, said the shortage is spreading rapidly and could soon paralyse the sector. While maintaining that the country has adequate fuel stocks, the ministry in recent days directed refineries to maximise LPG output by curtailing petrochemical streams and extended the LPG refill booking cycle to 25 days from 21 days. "In light of current geopolitical disruptions to fuel supply and constraints on supply of LPG, the ministry has issued orders to oil refineries for higher LPG production and using such extra production for domestic LPG use," the ministry said in the post on X. "The ministry has prioritised domestic LPG supply to households and introduced a 25 day inter-booking period to avoid hoarding/black marketing." Non domestic supplies from imported LPG are being prioritised to essential non domestic sectors such as hospitals and educational institutions, it said. (PTI)