Dead or alive? Satna officials under probe for fraudulent claims

Dead or alive? Satna officials under probe for fraudulent claims

 Amarjeet.Singh1@timesofindia.com 06.11.2025

Bhopal : In a shocking case of corruption, officials in Satna's Rahikwara village allegedly showed living people as dead to claim funds meant for their last rites and ex-gratia payments under state govt's Sambal scheme -meant for the welfare of labourers in the state. After two such labourers turned up alive, officials have now ordered a detailed probe. The scam points to the collusion of panchayat officials who allegedly siphoned off lakhs of rupees meant for the families of poor labourers. 

According to the complaint, three cases have surfaced so far. In the first, Sajjan Chowdhary, 65, was shown dead on January 10, 2021, and a total of Rs 2.05 lakh — Rs 2 lakh as ex-gratia and Rs 5,000 as last rites assistance — was withdrawn in his name, though he is very much alive. In the second case, Ganpat Kushwaha, 64, was also falsely declared dead, and Rs 2.05 lakh was withdrawn on January 14, 2020. In the third instance, Ramcharan Chowdhary, who actually died on April 12, 2020, had his Rs 2.05 lakh benefit diverted to another person’s account instead of reaching his family. “I am a farmer and didn’t know I was declared dead. Pension and assistance were being credited -but to other accounts,” 65-year-old Sajjan Chowdhary told TOI , adding that officials visited his house on Wednesday to verify the claim. 

Nagaud Janpad panchayat member Ram Sewak Pal, who exposed the scam, said, “When a widow complained she hadn’t received aid, we checked and found payments already claimed. Then we found two living men shown dead — Sajjan and Ganpat.” District panchayat CEO Shailendra Singh said, “The matter has come to the knowledge of the district collector and a probe has been launched following his instructions. As of now, there are three cases as per the complaint. Teams were sent to the village to get all the details and probe it from all aspects. Appropriate action would be taken as per the findings.”

Record high: K’taka sees 120% surge in NIOS enrolment

Record high: K’taka sees 120% surge in NIOS enrolment

 SruthySusan.Ullas@timesofindia.com 02.11.2025

Bengaluru : The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) has recorded an unprecedented surge in enrolments for class 10 and 12 exams in Karnataka, with numbers increasing by 120% compared to last year. For the April 2025-26 session, 10,100 students have registered compared to 4,715 during 2024- 25. Historically, student participation has been lower, with 4,477 candidates in 2023-24 and 4,369 in 2022-23. 

During the Covid-affected year of 2021-22, as many as 5,566 students appeared for the exams. NIOS, which offers education up to the PU level through open and distance learning, conducts examinations twice a year—April and Oct. The last date for April exam applications was in Sept. According to NIOS officials, the sharp rise in enrollments this year is largely due to strategic collaborations with govt departments through several memorandums of understanding (MoUs). 

Swaminathan V, regional director of Bengaluru, said, “We have signed three MoUs with the Karnataka govt. One is with the department of minority welfare. Under this, over 5,172 students from madrasas have registered for the exams.” Jeelani H Mokashi, director of the department of minority welfare, added, “This is a 1.5-year programme conducted in over 100 madrasas across the state, providing training in English, Kannada, science, and maths alongside religious education. These students will now appear for the Class 10 exams in April.” Another MoU, with the rural development panchayati raj department, aims to leverage revamped gram panchayat libraries to support NIOS learners. “Students can choose six subjects in Kannada medium at the secondary level. Library staff will be trained to guide learners and provide hard copies of NIOS study materials,” said Swaminathan. Additionally, NIOS has partnered with Samagra Shikshana Karnataka to facilitate enrollment of out-ofschool children. 

The programme ensures that selected students receive structured education, including practical classes, examinations, and personnel contact programmes (PCP) conducted by qualified teachers at designated study centres. These initiatives reflect NIOS’s efforts to expand access to education for diverse student groups, particularly marginalized communities and those outside the formal schooling system. With the support of govt departments and targeted outreach programmes, NIOS is making distance learning a viable and inclusive option for students statewide. 02/11/2025, 08:12 Times of India ePaper bangalore - Read Toda

How to dodge an exam: Two students fake principal’s death

How to dodge an exam: Two students fake principal’s death 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 17.10.2025

Indore : What do you do when you are not prepared for an exam? Two students at a science college in Indore, MP, spread the word that their principal had passed away. It took a series of calls—made to “condole” her “death”—for the hapless principal to wake up to the situation and take steps. 

Two BCA students of Govt Holkar Science College were booked on Thursday for spreading the false message about principal Anamika Jain. The FIR was registered on Wednesday following a written complaint by Jain. A case was registered under Section 336 (4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for forgery, intending that the document forged shall harm the reputation of any party, police said. 

“The thirdsemester students circulated the fake notice on the college letterhead claiming the college would remain closed on Oct 15 and 16 following the demise of the principal,” Bhanwarkuan police station incharge Rajkumar Yadav said. The letter was circulated on WhatsApp on Oct 14. The entire campus was abuzz with the misinformation. Jain said, “The students have been suspended for 60 days. 

Further action will depend on the outcome of the police investigation and court proceedings. As soon as the matter came to our notice, the administration clarified through the official website and class groups. The students admitted they had circulated the notice to delay the online test conducted every three months

All benefits as per statutes for Calicut varsity V-C: Arlekar

All benefits as per statutes for Calicut varsity V-C: Arlekar

The Hindu Bureau

Kozhikode 12.10.2025

The office of Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, who is also the Chancellor of State universities, has issued an order clarifying that P. Raveendran, Vice-Chancellor (V-C), University of Calicut, “shall have all the authorities, powers, duties, and responsibilities, conferred on V-Cs, in terms of the acts and statutes of the university.”

This comes in the wake of the explanations sought by the Kerala State Audit department related to the appointment of certain staff in his office and official bungalow and the use of his official quarters in his capacity as Professor, Department of Chemistry. Mr. Raveendran, originally a Professor in the department, was given full charge of the V-C in July 2024 by the then Governor Arif Mohammed Khan. He was not selected to the post by a search-cum-selection committee as mandated by the University Grants Commission. The Audit department’s actions followed a complaint raised by P.P. Sumod, Left Democratic Front MLA, who is a Syndicate member of the university.

Mr. Sumod pointed out in his complaint that Mr. Raveendran, who has been holding the additional responsibilities as V-C, was not entitled to use the official bungalow. He was also not supposed to appoint staff in the office. Mr. Sumod also alleged that Mr. Raveendran was not discharging his duties in the Department of Chemistry.

The Chancellor’s office, however, clarified in the order issued on October 8 that he should not be treated as an “officer in charge” or “in any manner inferior to the regularly appointed V-Cs”. He shall not be obliged to perform his normal duties attached to his original post during the tenure of his appointment, and he has the discretion to decide on the issue. He shall be eligible for a furnished accommodation as admissible to the V-C, notwithstanding the staff accommodation available to him. Mr. Raveendran is also entitled to other benefits such as an official vehicle with a driver, medical allowances, and leave travel allowance, the order said.

The order shall have retrospective effect from the date of notification of his appointment. However, the order also said that he shall not have any claim for continuance or permanency in the post.

NEET cut-offs for MBBS, BDS drop after 2nd round of counselling

NEET cut-offs for MBBS, BDS drop after 2nd round of counselling

SEAT MATRIX 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 03.10.2025

Chennai : At the end of second round of counselling for MBBS/BDS admissions, cutoffs in NEET-UG 2025 came down by two to four marks in govt medical colleges compared to first round, and up to 10 marks in govt quota seats in self-financing colleges. While the last mark for a student to get into a medical college (state private university) was 354, the cut-off scores in BDS dropped by up to 100-222 marks in round 2 of counselling.

At the end of round 2, cutoffs dropped in almost all categories, although there was no major difference in ranks. For instance, the OC (open category) cut-off for govt colleges plummeted from 650 in 2024 to 534 in 2025. In 2024, NEET cutoff for a student to get into any college in any category at the end of round 2 was 403 marks. In BDS, the cut-off was 245.

The drop in cut-offs doesn’t indicate an easing of admissions, experts say. “There is only a marginal difference in the ranks of students, though we see big differences in scores,” said student counsellor Manickavel Arumugam. “Students, including many repeat candidates, found the NEET 2025 tougher. Overall performance dropped across India. There was no perfect score, and the top score was 686,” he said.

Students who were allotted seats must join colleges of their choice before deadline, or they will have to take part in the round 3 of counselling for colleges of their choice. 

The National Medical Commission allowed St Peter’s Medical College Hospital to take 100 more students by increasing total seats to 250, while Vivekananda Medical College Hospital and Research Institute will add 50 seats. These seats, along with 50 more in BDS, will be added to seat matrix once the state medical university grants affiliation, said selection committee officials.

Another KGMU doctor resigns, set to join private hosp

Another KGMU doctor resigns, set to join private hosp 

BRAIN DRAIN

Mohsin  Usmani TNN 02.10.2025

Lucknow : With neurologist Prof PK Sharma submitting his resignation on Wednesday, King George’s Medical University lost another senior faculty member. Sharma will serve a threemonth notice period before joining a private medical institute in Alambagh. Prof Sharma cited personal reasons for his exit but said his years at KGMU gave him “immense recognition.” His resignation follows that of Prof Kshitij Srivastava from neurosurgery and Prof Adarsh Tripathi from the psychiatry department. The series of exits widened recently when four doctors — Dr Manu Agarwal (psychiatry), Dr Tanvi Bhargava (anaesthesia), Dr Ashok Kumar Gupta (plastic surgery) and Dr Karan Kaushik (cardiac anaesthesia) — resigned together.

They deposited three months’ salary in lieu of notice, which allowed immediate release. Dr Bhargava joined SGPGIMS, Dr Gupta moved to RMLIMS while Dr Kaushik and Dr Agarwal accepted a private hospital post. In the past month, KGMU also saw the departure of Prof Ajay Verma (respiratory medicine), who joined RMLIMS as head of department, Prof Srivastava, who shifted to a private hospital in Alambagh, and Prof Tripathi, who is serving notice. Senior faculty members have attributed the resignations to mismanagement and administrative lapses. Another factor is the pay gap. 

Salaries for govt medical teachers range between Rs 1.25 lakh at the assistant professor level and about Rs 3 lakh for professors. Private hospitals are offering salaries upwards of Rs 10 lakh a month, along with incentives. Faculty have also raised uniform pay across departments, which places super-specialists, despite longer training and heavier clinical load, on the same scale as non-clinical faculty. Meanwhile, the KGMU Teachers’ Association has sought govt intervention and demanded a policy should be framed for doctors trained in govt institutions.

Govt considers autonomy for BJMC, two medical colleges

Govt considers autonomy for BJMC, two medical colleges

Institutions Can Plan Courses And Update Their Curricula

Sarfaraz.Ahmed@timesofindia.com 2.10.2025

Nagpur : In a push towards academic autonomy in the medical sector, the state govt is considering granting deemed university status to three of its oldest medical colleges, namely JJ Hospital’s Grant Medical College in Mumbai, BJ Medical College in Pune, and Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Nagpur. This would be the first time govt-run medical colleges in the state are accorded autonomy, a privilege largely enjoyed by private medical institutions. The most notable autonomous medical college in the public sector is AIIMS New Delhi, though it is supported financially by the union govt.

The proposal, submitted by the three colleges to the Department of Medical Education and Research (DMER), has been placed before the state govt, and a decision could be taken by the year-end. When contacted, DMER Director Dr Ajay Chandanwale said the proposal is in its nascent stages. Autonomy would empower these institutes to design their own courses, update curricula, and strengthen research facilities. At present, govt medical colleges in Maharashtra fall under the purview of DMER, while the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS), Nashik, conducts examinations and awards degrees.

With autonomy, these colleges would gain independence from both bodies, opening the door to quicker decision-making and academic innovation. Explaining the significance, GMCH Nagpur Dean Dr Raj Gajbhiye said, “Autonomy would enable us to run our own courses, hold examinations, and take decisions at the institute level. One of the biggest advantages would be financial freedom, as we would be able to access and utilise our own funds instead of waiting for approvals from DMER.” Officials believe autonomy will not only accelerate institutional development but also benefit students and patients. There could be more postgraduate seats, specialised research centres, and upgraded infrastructure. “The idea is for the state govt to initially support the three colleges financially and then let them come up with proposals or services to boost their revenues,” said a highly placed govt official. Meanwhile, GMCH Nagpur will soon offer heart and liver transplants at its super specialty hospital.

Dean Dr Gajbhiye said the facility now has modular operation theatres where kidney transplants have already started. “Preparations for heart and liver procedures are in the final stages,” he added. Heart and liver transplants cost over Rs 15–22 lakh in the private sector. “But they are now covered under the revised scheme,” said Dr Gajbhiye.

HC: Don’t share info with anyone, except for probe

HC: Don’t share info with anyone, except for probe 

Justice Govindaraj noted that while Section 29 restricts divulging of Aadhaar information, Section 33 allows it on a high court order, as is the case here. 

“What is required to be ascertained here is whether the said Aadhaar card was used by the son of the petitioner or someone else, and the location of the said usage,” he said. 

The court directed UIDAI to provide police with location details where the card was used and instructed cops not to share them with anyone except as required for probe. HC to UIDAI: Share Aadhaar location data to trace missing man

Bengaluru : Karnataka HC has directed UIDAI to share Aadhaar location details to help trace a man who has been reported missing from Hubballi since Dec 2019. Allowing a petition filed by Hubballi resident Krishnamurthy, whose elder son, Vijay Krishnamurthy Sangeet, is missing since Dec 19, 2019, Justice Suraj Govindaraj ruled that the authorities requiring the use or authentication of an Aadhaar card during a probe must approach the high court under Section 33 of the Aadhaar Act, 2016. Vijay, an adult, remains untraceable despite attempts by the police to locate him. Krishnamurthy came to know on June 20, 2023, that his son’s Aadhaar card had been used for the purpose of authentication. Police and the petitioner then sought Vijay’s Aadhaar authentication history from UIDAI. With the Central agency refusing to share the details, the petitioner moved Karnataka high court for redressal.

CM cannot have any role in VC appointments’: Kerala Governor moves Supreme Court

CM cannot have any role in VC appointments’: Kerala Governor moves Supreme Court

 Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar has moved the Supreme Court seeking to exclude Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan from the process of appointing vice-chancellors to APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University and Kerala Digital University.

 Published on:

 04 Sep 2025, 11:44 am 

Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar, in his capacity as Chancellor of state universities, has approached the Supreme Court seeking modification of its August 18 order that allowed Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to be part of the process of appointing vice-chancellors (VCs) to APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU) and Kerala University of Digital Sciences, Innovation and Technology (DUK).

According to The Hindu, the rules governing these universities do not envisage any role for the Chief Minister in VC appointments. “The Chief Minister being the executive head of the state is connected with the number of government colleges, managed by the government and affiliated to the university. Therefore, as per UGC regulations he cannot have any role whatsoever in the appointment of Vice Chancellors,” his application stated.

The plea sought modification of the Supreme Court’s August 18 order, which had appointed former Supreme Court judge Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia as chairperson of the search-cum-selection committees. The order, passed by a Bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan, also directed that “recommendations made by the search-cum-selection committee, duly endorsed by the learned chairperson, shall be put up before the chief minister (and not the minister-in-charge of a department) for necessary consideration.”

The court had further said, “In case the Chief Minister, state of Kerala, has reasons to believe that any shortlisted person is unsuitable for appointment as vice-chancellor, the remarks to this effect along with the supporting material and the original record of the recommendation made by the search-cum-selection committee, shall be put up before the learned chancellor within two weeks. The Chief Minister shall be entitled to recommend the shortlisted names in order of preference for appointment as vice-chancellors.”

The Governor, however, said that introducing such a role for the Chief Minister disregards UGC Regulations, which highlight the “independence and autonomy of the universities by excluding any role of the state government.” “Both the University Acts do not provide any role for the minister or the Chief Minister in the matter of selection and appointment of the vice-chancellors,” the plea stressed.

He also sought a judicial direction to implead the UGC in the case, arguing that there is a mandatory requirement to include a nominee of the UGC chairperson in search committees. The Governor submitted, “As per UGC Regulations the Chancellor is having the prerogative to select the Vice Chancellor from the list submitted by the search Committee.” The list, he maintained, should not be a ranked list but a panel of three to five suitable names, leaving the final choice to the Chancellor.

The plea reminded the apex court that in 2023, while dealing with VC appointments at KTU, the Court had “very categorically held that UGC Regulations 2018 shall prevail for appointment of vice chancellors.” It warned that the August 18 order, by introducing a new mechanism involving the Chief Minister, would amount to “a complete disregard to the orders of the coordinate bench of this Hon’ble Court.”

The UGC itself, in a separate application, requested to be made a party to the proceedings. It noted that though the Kerala High Court judgment, against which the current appeal was filed, had quoted extensively from the UGC Act and Supreme Court decisions, the UGC had not been impleaded. “When the UGC regulation is in question, it is mandatory that the UGC should be a party to the deliberations as to whether the UGC Regulations will apply or not,” the Commission said.

The Governor’s move comes against the backdrop of years of tussle between Raj Bhavan and the state government over VC appointments, particularly after the Supreme Court in 2022 quashed the appointment of Rajasree as KTU VC for violating UGC norms. Interim appointments since then have triggered disputes between the Chancellor and the state government, with the Kerala High Court terming some of the Governor’s unilateral actions “illegal.”

Photocopying docs in this MP village? Pay ₹2,000 per page

Photocopying docs in this MP village? Pay ₹2,000 per page 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 31.08.2025

Bhopal : What could be the cost of photocopying one page -Rs 5 ? And, cost of a single brick – Rs 5 ? If you were in Shahdol, a backward tribal district in MP, you might have to shell out Rs 2,000 for every page to get photocopied and pay Rs 50 for every brick you buy. 

While a village panchayat in Shahdol district has claimed to be have paid Rs 4,000 as photocopy charges for two pages, another panchayat paid Rs 1,25,000 for just 2,500 bricks. In Madhya Pradesh, funds for village panchayats come from both the Centre and state govt. These allocations move from the state treasury to district panchayats, then to “janpad panchayats” (headquarter of a clutch of villages), and finally reach gram panchayats. 

Apart from this, gram panchayats receive money under the Centre-sponsored schemes like MGNREGA and PMAY, along with small revenues from local taxes and fees, said sources, adding that after all, it is all taxpayers’ money. When photocopy bills, incurred by the Kudri gram panchayat in Shahdol district – copies of which are with TOI – surfaced on social media, the amount spent sparked an outrage.

The bills were signed by the sarpanch and panchayat secretary.A probe by Shivani Jain, CEO of Jaisinghnagar janpad panchayat – under which Kudri gram panchayat falls, however, concluded that the bills look “inflated” as a result of negligence in filling up the amount and number of pages photocopied. “While the actual number of pages photocopied was 2,000 – at the rate of Rs 2 per page – the person filling the form wrote two pages at the rate of Rs 2,000 per page,” the report said.

 “It is a case of negligence on the secretary’s part — he should have checked the bills before uploading. I will be recommending action against him in my report,” Jain told TOI. Similarly, in Bhatia village panchayat under Budhar janpad panchayat, a bill went viral showing Rs 1.25 lakh approved for procuring 2,500 bricks, a rate 10 times higher than the market price. The cost of each brick varies from Rs 5 to Rs 15 depending on the quality. The controversy deepened as images of the documents circulated online. But the probe ordered by the district collector and conducted by SDM Amrita Garg pointed to an error in documentation. “It is a case of clerical error. If the bill is studied carefullt, the rate is mentioned as Rs 5 per piece and quantity as 2,500, whereas the total is shown as Rs 1.25 lakh. 

Actually, instead of 25,000 bricks, 2,500 got written. The bricks were purchased for construction of an anganwadi, and physical verification with engineers confirmed 25,000 bricks at Rs 5 each. “Cash book entries also reflect the same. Thus, it was a clerical error that went viral,” Garg told TOI . These cases follow a series of irregularities that repeatedly put Shahdol in the limelight. In May, bills worth nearly Rs 85,000 for dry fruits, milk and snacks were passed for a choupal under the Jal Ganga Samvardhan Mission in Bhadwahi village. The event, attended by about two dozen people including senior officials, showed purchases of six kg cashew, three kg each of raisins and almonds, nine kg of fruit and 30 kg of snacks for a meeting that lasted barely an hour. 

Earlier, a school whitewashing exercise was billed as employing 168 labourers and 68 masons despite using only four litres of paint. In another case, 20 litres of paint was shown to require 275 workers and 150 masons.

Karnataka's RGUHS asks colleges to play Naada Geethe, National Anthem at all events

Karnataka's RGUHS asks colleges to play Naada Geethe, National Anthem at all events

 Playing of the Naada Geethe and National Anthem during public events is part of the protocol prescribed by the state government. RGUHS officials admitted that some of the colleges had not been following the protocol, prompting them to issue the circular.

DHNS Last Updated : 26 August 2025, 03:30 IST Follow Us :

RGUHS has issued a circular mandating that each event commence with the playing of the Naada Geethe and conclude with the rendition of the National Anthem. Bengaluru: In a circular issued each of its affiliate colleges, the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) has directed the institutions to compulsorily sing or play the ‘Naada Geethe’ at the commencement of any event, and ensure it concludes with the rendition or playing of the National Anthem.

Playing of the Naada Geethe and National Anthem during public events is part of the protocol prescribed by the state government. RGUHS officials admitted that some of the colleges had not been following the protocol, prompting them to issue the circular. The varsity also aims to instil values of patriotism among both students and staff by having the songs played at public events.

RGUHS Vice-Chancellor Dr B C Bhagawan, while conceding that the varsity boasted a diverse student body representing various states across the country, said that it was important for them to become acquainted with the culture of Karnataka. Furthermore, the VC has instructed affiliate colleges to put a stop to the tradition of honouring either him or other varsity officials with bouquets, shawls, garlands and other paraphernalia, and instead present them with medical books. “We need to have medical books in the libraries of several medical colleges. Books gifted to officials can, in turn, be donated to the government medical colleges. My advise to other guests would be to donate books received as gifts to medical college libraries,” Dr Bhagawan said.

 “The Vice-Chancellor will not accept traditional gifts, instead he may be presented with a set of textbooks. These books will be gifted to deserving students from economically weaker sections studying in government colleges,” read the circular.

Fake NRI admissions racket in medical education: The new red lines on who is and who isn’t a guardian

Fake NRI admissions racket in medical education: The new red lines on who is and who isn’t a guardian 

A massive fake NRI-quota admissions scam exposed by the Enforcement Directorate has revealed how fabricated guardians, forged certificates, and counterfeit notary stamps were used to secure nearly 18,000 medical seats in West Bengal and Odisha. In response, authorities have enforced stricter rules—tightening guardianship definitions, disallowing extended family sponsorship, mandating embassy-issued certificates, and limiting validity to one year to prevent misuse.

TOI Education

Aug 26, 2025, 15:41 IST

Medical education 

The fake NRI-quota admissions racket laid bare by enforcement agencies recently has revealed how “sponsors” and “guardians” were manufactured to buy medical seats, turning loopholes into a thriving shadow market. According to a TNN report, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), aided by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Indian missions abroad, has uncovered that nearly 18,000 MBBS and PG seats in private medical colleges across West Bengal and Odisha were secured through forged NRI certificates, counterfeit US notary stamps, and fabricated family trees—with agents and college promoters colluding to generate huge illicit proceeds. 

Here is a look at the tightened NRI admissions guidelines—who qualifies as a bona fide sponsor or guardian, who doesn’t, and why these distinctions now matter more than ever. Who can sponsor under the NRI quota To begin with, an applicant must be an Indian national holding a valid Indian passport and must have completed more than 182 days of stay in their country of residence to obtain an NRI certificate. Only then do the following categories qualify for NRI-quota educational benefits: NRIs themselves. Children of NRIs. Wards of NRIs—but only if the ward is a minor under the NRI’s bona fide guardianship. Evidence of guardianship must be produced before the Indian Mission/Post; merely “looking after” a student does not make someone a guardian. An affidavit to this effect must be filed with the Mission/Post.

This is the fulcrum of the system: The only third-party sponsor allowed is an NRI who is the legal, bona fide guardian of a minor. Anything looser will fail scrutiny. 

Who is not a guardian (no matter how close the family) 

The guidelines shut the door on precisely those family relationships that agents had exploited to secure MBBS and PG admissions for aspirants. The following are explicitly excluded as “bona fide guardians” for NRI-quota admissions—even if they are NRIs and reside abroad: Real brother or sister of the student (first-degree relatives other than parents). Uncle and aunt on the father’s side. Maternal uncle and maternal aunt on the mother’s side. Grandparents on either side. First-degree maternal or paternal cousins. Translation: Extended family sponsorship is out. If an agent is pitching “your Dubai-based uncle can sponsor,” that is non-compliant by definition. The one-year clock on certificates 

Another guardrail that kills document recycling: Every NRI Certificate issued by an Indian Mission/Post is valid for one year only, and renewal needs proof of continued stay abroad, subject to other conditions being met. This applies to the parent/candidate whose NRI status is being used. For Overseas Citizen of India (OCI)/Person of Indian Origin (PIO) cases, Missions may issue similar certificates for educational benefits, explicitly noting OCI status; passport number and “period of stay” may be omitted because they are irrelevant to OCIs/PIOs. Paperwork that will be checked—physically The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has spelled out what must be on the table for NRI-seat choice and what happens next: NEET scorecard. Self-attested declaration that the candidate is NRI/OCI/PIO or a child of NRI parents (format provided). OCI/PIO card, if applicable. Embassy-issued NRI Certificate of the parent or candidate. Crucially, original documents of all candidates will be checked at the allotted college at the time of reporting.

The declaration warns that if any information is false or frivolous, the seat will be cancelled and the candidate will face punitive/legal action. Why these red lines matter The ED’s casework shows the exact weak points exploited by the agent–college nexus: Rented sponsors, photocopied family trees, affidavits notarized without the supposed NRI even being in India, and the same sponsor pack recycled across candidates. The new rules answer each tactic: Tight definition of guardianship, family-relationship exclusions, embassy-fronted certification, and one-year validity to stop document laundering.

Govt online pind daan scheme sparks dissent in Gaya

Govt online pind daan scheme sparks dissent in Gaya

 Abdul Qadir TNN 26.08.2025

Gaya : A recent initiative by Bihar’s tourism department to introduce an online Pind Daan service has sparked strong opposition from traditional stakeholders in Gaya, including the Gayawal Pandas (priests) and VHP. The scheme, aimed at facilitating remote participation in the sacred Pitrapaksh rituals, has been criticised for undermining religious traditions. Under the new scheme, people unable to visit Gaya in person can opt for Pind Daan rituals by paying a one-time fee of Rs 23,000. Local priests perform the rites on behalf of absentee devotees, and a video recording of the ceremony is provided via a pen drive. The department has also launched an online portal to book these services ahead of Pitrapaksh, which begins on Sept 6. However, the move has drawn sharp criticism. Gaya Town MLA and cooperative minister Prem Kumar acknowledged the concerns raised by the Pandas and assured that their sentiments would be respected. He said the matter would be reviewed at the appropriate level. VHP district president Mani Lal Barik condemned the concept, citing religious texts such as the Garuda Purana, which stipulate that only a son or male descendant can perform Pind Daan in person. “The rituals must be conducted at sacred altars like Vishnupad, Falgu, and Akshay Vat. Performing them remotely contradicts the scriptures,” Barik said, adding that he has formally registered his opposition. Echoing similar sentiments, Mahesh Lal Guput, a respected Panda with religious clients across Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Nepal, questioned the authenticity of online rituals.

ED unearths NRI quota admission racket in private medical colleges

ED unearths NRI quota admission racket in private medical colleges 

18,000 PG/UG Seats Involved Fake Documents & Stamps Of Notaries

Pradeep.Thakur@timesofindia.com 25.08.2025

New Delhi : An investigation by ED, assisted by the ministry of external affairs (MEA) and its foreign missions and embassies, has unearthed a massive NRI admission racket, in which private medical colleges were found offering admissions on about 18,000 reserved MBBS UG and PG seats under the quota by using forged documents of nonresident Indians. India’s foreign missions have verified that the NRI certificates, seized by Enforcement Directorate (ED) from several private medical colleges and used to offer admissions, were fake, and counterfeit stamps of notaries in the US were provided against these admissions. 

ED had conducted searches at various medical colleges in West Bengal and Odisha over the last few months, through which it seized crucial evidence. The agency then sent the seized NRI certificates to respective Indian embassies and missions for authentication or verification. Most of them were found to be forged or fake. The probe further revealed that these medical colleges were paying agents to have fake NRI documents prepared. The agents also prepared fake family trees of NRIs, wherein these unrelated NRIs were shown as relatives of students to help secure admissions under the NRI quota. In some cases, the agents and medical colleges used documents of one NRI for admissions of multiple candidates, who were unrelated to the NRI sponsor and to each other. 

The MEA too has issued fresh guidelines to its embassies and missions abroad, for strict due diligence in issuance of NRI certificates, outlining the eligibility criteria and clearly delineating ‘first degree’ and ‘second degree’ relatives in respect of whom NRIs can get certificates for admissions under the quota in India. “The agents approached and obtained credentials of unrelated NRIs by paying money to them,” the investigation found. 

The existing rules specify that the fees of the NRI student must be paid by the NRI sponsor. However, the investigation found that in majority of the cases fees were paid by the family of the student and not the NRI sponsor, thereby defeating the very purpose of the policy, which is to earn foreign exchange, sources said. “Probe revealed many NRI sponsors were not present in India on the dates their affidavits were notarised and signed here. 

It implies that affidavits with forged signatures of NRI sponsors have been made to show that NRI sponsors are related to NRI quota students,” a senior official said.

Passenger slapped on IndiGo flight, goes missing in Kolkata

Passenger slapped on IndiGo flight, goes missing in Kolkata 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

02.08.2025

Silchar/New Delhi/Kolkata: 

A youth from Assam’s Cachar district slapped by a co-passenger on a Mumbai-Kolkata IndiGo flight on Friday, while apparently experiencing a panic attack, missed his connecting flight to Silchar and remained untraceable late into the night. 

The victim’s family, waiting for him at Silchar airport, are distressed as his phone was unreachable. The assaulter was handed over to security agencies in Kolkata by the airline. There was no word on whether the victim was taken into protective custody by airline or Kolkata airport authorities for medical attention or investigation purposes. The youth works at a gym in Mumbai and was returning home to Katigorah, in Assam’s Cachar district, when the incident occurred. “When we didn’t find him on the Silchar flight we contacted the local authorities and even went to Udharband police station, near Silchar airport. But we received no concrete information about his whereabouts,” said a relative. The victim’s father, who is battling cancer, was very worried. “He was working hard in Mumbai to support us and was returning home. I saw the video this morning and now I don’t know where my son is,” he said.

MBBS Internship: 'You Make Them Work For 18-19 Hours & Pay No Stipend?' : Supreme Court Asks Army College To Clear Arrears Of 2022 Batch

MBBS Internship: 'You Make Them Work For 18-19 Hours & Pay No Stipend?' : Supreme Court Asks Army College To Clear Arrears Of 2022 Batch 

Gursimran Kaur Bakshi 1 Aug 2025 2:40 PM

Listen to this Article The Supreme Court today(August 1) directed the Army Medical College Sciences to pay stipend arrears, calculated at Rs.25,000 per month, to the MBBS interns of 2022.

There was an order passed in September 2023 to pay a monthly stipend of Rs. 25,000 to medical students from the batches from October 2023.

At the outset, a bench comprising Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Aravind Kumar questioned Senior Advocate R Balasubramanian, for the Army College, why they failed to disburse the stipend even after three years had passed.

 Advocate Tanvi Dubey, for the petitioners, informed the Court that three subsequent batches have received a stipend of Rs. 25,000. Another advocate appearing for petitioner Abhishek Yadav said, "They have already given their services in the mandatory internship program. This order says that the present batch commencing from today should get stipend of Rs. 25,000. We are the ones that approached the Court. We have already interned and given our services and we have not been given any sought of arrears.

Balasubramanian responded that the College is run by a society and it's not government-funded. Justice Dhulia however said that since these students worked for the College, they must be paid the stipend.

The Court passed an order: "Advocate R Balasubramanian, who appears for Army Medical College Sciences has made a very fair statement that Army College will give the same stipdent of Rs. 25,000 to all the interns. A three-judge bench of this Court on the same matter had passed the following orders giving stipend to the interns who are similarly situated as the petitioners batch commencing from 1 October 2023, for whom a stipend of Rs. 25,000 was fixed. 

We are informed that this stipend has been given. As regarding previous batch, it was said as follows. We are of the opinion that the same benefit ought to be given to the previous batch as well. Since nothing has come from the Respondent as to the amount, consequently we direct that interns of 2022, who had done their internship with Army Medical College, that also be paid an amount of Rs. 25,000. Let the same be calculated and paid within eight weeks."

Counsel for Petitioners: Mr. Somdev Tiwari, Ms. Kokila Kumar, Ms. Shefali Munde, Vansh Shrivastav.

Counsel for College: Col. R. Balasubramian

Two-year-old bites cobra, toddler faints, snake dies

Two-year-old bites cobra, toddler faints, snake dies 

27.07.2025

Patna : If little Krishna (Govinda) slayed Kaliya Naag in the Yamuna, two-year-old Govinda bit a cobra to death with his tiny teeth, scripting a surreal parallel, reports Kshitiz. The toddler from a hamlet near Bettiah in Bihar’s West Champaran district fell unconscious after the hair-raising duel on Friday but was saved from the snake’s venom, thanks to quick medical intervention. The incident unfolded when Govinda was playing near his home in Majhaulia area’s Bankatwa village. The ever-curious Govinda, son of one Sunil Sah, spotted the reptile and threw a piece of brick at it in play.

Then, the snake struck back, coiling itself around the child’s hands. But instead of screaming or running, the little boy sank his teeth into the snake’s flesh, biting it so hard that it died on the spot.

2-year-old bites cobra, toddler faints, snake dies

2-year-old bites cobra, toddler faints, snake dies 

Kshitiz@timesgroup.com 27.07.2025

Patna : If little Krishna (Govinda) slayed Kaliya Naag in the Yamuna, two-year-old Govinda bit a cobra to death with his teeth, scripting a surreal parallel. The toddler from a hamlet near Bettiah in Bihar’s West Champaran district fell unconscious after the hair-raising duel on Friday but was saved from the snake’s venom, thanks to quick medical intervention. The eerie parallel between the divine legend and the child’s real-life encounter that left many stunned unfolded when Govinda was playing near his home in Majhaulia area’s Bankatwa village. The ever-curious Govinda, son of one Sunil Sah, spotted the reptile and, perhaps unaware of its lethal nature, threw a piece of brick at it in play. Then, the snake struck back, coiling itself around the child’s hands. But instead of screaming or running, the little boy sank his teeth into the snake’s flesh, biting it so hard that it died on the spot. Recalling the jaw-dropping moment, Govinda’s grandmother Mateshwari Devi said: “When we saw the snake in the child’s hand, everyone rushed towards him, but in the meantime, he already bit the snake.” The bite caused Govinda to faint instantly. He was rushed to a local health centre and then to Government Medical College Hospital (GMCH) in Bettiah where doctors described the case as “highly unusual”. According to the doctors, it appears the cobra died from trauma to the head and mouth inflicted by the child’s bite. By contrast, the venom’s effect on Govinda was relatively mild, enough to knock him unconscious, but not enough to be fatal. “Timely treatment saved Govinda’s life. The child’s condition is currently stable. Our medical team is providing continuous medication and he is under observation,” said GMCH doctor Saurabh Kumar. Bankatwa village is under observation, too, from far and wide. Little Govinda has catapulted the sleepy hamlet into the spotlight, evoking amazement and admiration in equal measure with his daredevil fight and survival.

2 final-year MBBS students drown in Odisha waterfall 27.07.2025

2 final-year MBBS students drown in Odisha waterfall 27.07.2025

Sambalpur : Two final-year MBBS students of VSS Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (Vimsar) in Odisha’s Sambalpur district drowned while bathing in the Deojharan waterfall on Saturday, reports Priti Suna . Monika Meena from Rajasthan and Sandeep Puri from New Delhi, both 24, were part of a group of six students who had gone to the waterfall. Subdivisional police officer (Rairakhol) Prasanta Meher said, “They were bathing in the waterfall when the volume of the stream increased due to heavy rainfall. While four students came out of the water, two drowned.” Firefighters and police brought them out and rushed them to the Jujumura community health centre where they were declared brought dead.

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has also clarified that sponsorship letters will no longer be accepted for NRI quota admissions

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has also clarified that sponsorship letters will no longer be accepted for NRI quota admissions

Centre issues new guidelines for NRI medical admissions, sponsorship letter no longer valid

Updated: Jul 26th, 2025

The Central Government has issued new and stricter guidelines regarding admissions under the NRI (Non-Resident Indian) quota in medical colleges across India.

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has also clarified that sponsorship letters will no longer be accepted for NRI quota admissions. Only candidates who are themselves NRIs or whose parents hold valid NRI status, certified by the Indian Embassy or the Ministry of External Affairs, will be eligible to apply under the NRI quota.

According to the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), the following documents are now mandatory for NRI quota admissions:

NEET Score Card issued by the National Testing Agency (NTA)

Self-Attested Declaration stating that the candidate is an NRI/OCI/PIO or the child of NRI parents (as per the prescribed format)

OCI/PIO Card of the candidate, if applicable

The NRI status must be confirmed through a certificate issued by the Indian Mission or Embassy abroad. The submission of this document is mandatory at the time of admission reporting. These certificates will be scrutinised by the MCC and then sent to the respective embassies for verification.