Mastercard can’t issue new cards from July 22

Mastercard can’t issue new cards from July 22

RBI Clampdown Over Local Data Storage Norms

Mayur.Shetty@timesgroup.com

Mumbai:15.07.2021

Flexing its muscles on the issue of data localisation, the Reserve Bank of India on Wednesday barred Mastercard from onboarding any new domestic customer from July 22.

The directive bars the USbased network from issuing either prepaid, credit or debit cards to new customers under its network in India. The RBI said the order would not impact existing customers of Mastercard.

Mastercard is the secondlargest credit card issuer (after Visa) in India and the central bank’s tough stance could have implications on foreign relations. The RBI has been pushing all regulated entities to store data relating to Indian customers on Indian soil since April 2018.

Disappointed by RBI stance: Mastercard

Notwithstanding lapse of considerable time and adequate opportunities being given, the entity has been found to be non-compliant with the directions on storage of payment system data,” the RBI said in a statement.

While it is banks and finance companies that issue cards, they partner either Mastercard, Visa or RuPay for network usage. Whenever a card is swiped, the processing takes place on the payment network cloud. Mastercard has been directed to advise all card-issuing banks and non-banks to conform to these directions.

“Mastercard is fully committed to our legal and regulatory obligations in the markets we operate in. Since the issuance of the RBI directive requiring on-soil storage of domestic payment transaction data in 2018, we have provided consistent updates and reports regarding our activities and compliance with the required stipulations. While we are disappointed with the stance taken by the RBI in their communication dated July 14, we will continue to work with them to provide any additional details required to resolve their concerns,” the company said.

In terms of the number of employees, India ranks second among all markets for Mastercard. The company has invested $1bn in India and has announced plans to invest $1bn more.

Mastercard is the third US company to face an RBI ban after American Express and Diners Club, which faced similar restrictions in April. Amex has said that while it is not accepting fresh applications, it is committed to complying with all regulations.

The RBI’s directive appears to have come as a surprise for Mastercard. As recently as July 8, Mastercard announced the launch of a ‘One Mumbai Metro Card’ in partnership with Axis Bank and Mumbai Metro. Others in the industry were also shocked as Master-Card had agreed to comply.

NEET panel files report, says ‘most don’t want it’

NEET panel files report, says ‘most don’t want it’

15.07.2021

Justice A K Rajan panel appointed by TN to study the impact of NEET in medical admissions submitted a 165-page report to chief minister M K Stalin on Wednesday. While Justice Rajan did not reveal the contents of the report, sources said the panel has pointed out how rich students living in cities have a better chance of getting medical seats under NEET, the lack of level-playing field under the test for students with poor access to facilities such as internet, and how the test undermines students’ performance in Class12 exam.

The report was prepared after looking into 86,000 representations from stakeholders, a majority of whom said they “don’t want NEET,” Justice Rajan told reporters at the secretariat. The impact of NEET on aspirants and several sections of society has been dealt with and the report is completely based on data and not on personal opinions, he said answering a question.

Two TN ministers, meanwhile, said the government will continue training students for NEET-2021 until the state gets an exemption from the test. “As of now MBBS admissions is NEET based,” health minister Ma Subramanian said. TNN

Cabinet lifts freeze on DA, increases it to 28% from 17%

Cabinet lifts freeze on DA, increases it to 28% from 17%

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:15.07.2021

The government on Wednesday announced an increase in the dearness allowance for central government employees and dearness relief for pensioners to 28%, from the current 17%, lifting the 18-month suspension to cover inflation.

The freeze that had been imposed in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak was expected to help the Centre save ₹38,000 crore — a little more than the ₹35,000 crore budgeted for the current fiscal year for vaccinating against coronavirus.

“The increase reflects the additional instalments arising on 1 January, 2020, 1 July, 2020 and 1 January, 2021. The rate of dearness allowance/dearness relief for the period 1 January, 2020 to 30 June 2021 shall remain at 17%,” an official statement said.

The development that was being closely watched by central government employees, immediately saw them pulling out calculators to work out the impact on their salaries and allowances.

A large section, however, was not pleased with the announcement. Some argued that “their contribution” in helping the Centre fight Covid-19 should be recognised by the government.

Others said that those who retired during the last few months would have lost out on some leave encashment and pension-related benefits.

Besides, many viewed the increase for the last six-month period to be inadequate, arguing that retail inflation had shot up and the price of auto fuel, edible oil and several pulses had soared to record levels.

Government officials had justified the freeze on DA, arguing that central government employees and pensioners too needed to contribute during a health emergency, which had resulted in companies slashing salaries.

NEET MDS 2021 - Announce Counselling Dates Within One Week; Delay Affects Students' Future, Supreme Court To Centre

NEET MDS 2021 - Announce Counselling Dates Within One Week; Delay Affects Students' Future, Supreme Court To Centre

Srishti Ojha

12 July 2021 4:14 PM

"Imagine what a loss to India by not allowing a whole batch of PG students to complete their education for 1 year", the bench orally observed.

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to announce the counselling dates for NEET-MDS 2021 within a week.

A bench comprising Justices DY Chandrachud and Hrishikesh Roy observed that the delay in counselling will lead to serious consequences to the students, who have been waiting after the test results were announced on December 31, 2020.

The Court passed the following order :

"Prima facie we have heard Senior Advocate Vikas Singh for petitioners and ASG Mr KM Natraj appearing for Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. On the request of ASG we grant one week's time for a response to the grievance set out in petition.

We expect that an expeditious decision will be taken within course of next week and court be informed when Union Government proposes to hold counselling for students whose MDS NEET results were declared on 31 December 2020. We hope that the Union Government would be conscious of the serious consequences which will be faced by these students as a result of long delay in completing the counselling".

Courtroom Exchange:

During the hearing, the Bench asked ASG KM Nataraj " these petitioners appeared in NEET MDS and results were declared in December. Merely because NEET PG has been postponed how can you stop counselling for MDS?"

Senior Counsel Vikas Singh appearing for petitioners submitted that, "This exercise has to be done virtually... so this can be done. When you talk about controlled environment you can always have covid appropriate behaviour. There's likelihood of third wave only when there is covid inappropriate behaviour".

Singh added that " I don't understand why one batch has been suffering. And no body is giving any thought of it. I can understand Kumbh mela, election rallies happening or tourists flocking without masks, but these are completely regulated environments. There's no justification why counselling can't take place."

ASG Natraj submitted, "We want to hold counselling and its our duty. The issue is different, regards to some reservation. Recently Madras High Court passed an order to provide reservation under All India quota and Committee was constituted to work out modalities".

Forced Deduction From Pension To CM's Relief Fund Not Permissible : Kerala High Court

Forced Deduction From Pension To CM's Relief Fund Not Permissible : Kerala High Court: Contribution to Chief Minister's Relief Fund can't be a matter of compulsion or forced compliance, the High Court held.

'நீட்' வினாத்தாளில் மாற்றம்; முதன்முறையாக 'சாய்ஸ்' கேள்வி

'நீட்' வினாத்தாளில் மாற்றம்; முதன்முறையாக 'சாய்ஸ்' கேள்வி

Updated : ஜூலை 14, 2021 04:04 

https://www.dinamalar.com/news_detail.asp?id=2802196

சென்னை : 'நீட்' தேர்வுக்கான, 'ஆன்லைன்' பதிவு நேற்று துவங்கியது. இந்த ஆண்டு, நீட் வினாத்தாள் அமைப்பில் மாற்றம் செய்யப்பட்டு, வினாக்களின் எண்ணிக்கை அதிகரிக்கப்பட்டு உள்ளது. 'சாய்ஸ்' அடிப்படையில் பதில் அளிக்கும் முறை அறிமுகமாகியுள்ளது.

மருத்துவ படிப்புக்கான நீட் தேர்வு, செப்., 12ல் நடக்கும் என, மத்திய கல்வி அமைச்சர் தர்மேந்திர பிரதான், நேற்று முன்தினம் அறிவித்தார். இதையடுத்து, நீட் தேர்வுக்கான, ஆன்லைன் பதிவு நேற்று துவங்கியது. அடுத்த மாதம், 6ம் தேதி வரை ntaneet.nic.in/ என்ற, இணையதளத்தில், மாணவர்கள் தங்கள் விபரங்களை பதிவு செய்யலாம் என, அறிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

வழக்கமாக நீட் வினாத்தாளில், 180 கேள்விகள் இடம்பெறும். ஒவ்வொரு கேள்விக்கும் தலா, 4 மதிப்பெண்கள் வீதம், 720 மதிப்பெண் வழங்கப்படும். இந்த வினாத்தாள் முறையில், இந்த ஆண்டு மாற்றம் செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது. முதன் முறையாக, சாய்ஸ் முறை அறிமுகம் செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது. இதன்படி, ஒவ்வொரு பாடத்திலும், 'ஏ' பிரிவில், 35; 'பி' பிரிவில், 15 என, நான்கு பாடங்களுக்கு தலா, 50 கேள்விகள் வீதம், மொத்தம், 200 கேள்விகள் இடம் பெற உள்ளன. இவற்றில், 180 கேள்விகளுக்கு மட்டும் பதில் அளித்தால் போதும்.

அதாவது, இயற்பியல், வேதியியல், தாவரவியல் மற்றும் விலங்கியல் என, ஒவ்வொரு பாடத்திலும், 'ஏ' பிரிவில் உள்ள, 35 கேள்விகளுக்கும் விடை அளிக்க வேண்டும். 'பி' பிரிவில், 15 கேள்விகளில், சாய்ஸ் அடிப்படையில், தங்களுக்கு நன்றாக விடை தெரிந்த, 10 கேள்விகளுக்கு மட்டும், பதில் அளித்தால் போதும் என, அறிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. இதன்படி, தலா, ஐந்து கேள்விகள், மாணவர்களின் விருப்பத்திற்காக வழங்கப்பட்டுள்ளன.

விடைத்தாளில் தவறான விடையை தேர்வு செய்தால், 'மைனஸ்' மதிப்பெண்ணாக, ஒரு மதிப்பெண் கழிக்கப்படும். பதில் அளிக்காவிட்டால், அதற்கு, 'நெகட்டிவ்' மதிப்பெண் கிடையாது என, முந்தைய நடைமுறையே தொடரும் என்றும், விதிகளில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.

மலையாளம், பஞ்சாபி சேர்ப்பு!

'நீட்' தேர்வு, தமிழ், ஹிந்தி, உருது, ஆங்கிலம், அஸ்ஸாமி, பெங்காலி, குஜராத்தி, தெலுங்கு, கன்னடம், மலையாளம், மராத்தி, ஒடியா மற்றும் பஞ்சாபி என மொத்தம், 13 மொழிகளில் நடக்க உள்ளது. கடந்த ஆண்டு வரை, 11 மொழிகளில் மட்டுமே தேர்வு நடந்தது. இம்முறை மலையாளமும், பஞ்சாபியும் புதிதாக சேர்க்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

ஆங்கிலம், ஹிந்தி, உருது ஆகிய மொழிகளில், எதை தேர்வு செய்தாலும், அனைத்து மாநிலங்களிலும் அந்த மொழிகளில் வினாத்தாள் வழங்கப்படும். பட்டியலில் உள்ள மற்ற மொழிகளை தேர்வு செய்தால், அந்தந்த மொழிகளை தாய்மொழியாக கொண்ட மாநிலங்களில் மட்டுமே அனுமதிக்கப்படும். மாநில மொழியை தேர்வு செய்யும் மாணவர்களுக்கு, ஆங்கிலமும், அவர்கள் தேர்வு செய்த மாநில மொழியும் இணைந்த வினாத்தாள் வழங்கப்படும்.

Admission to engg raises eyebrows

Admission to engg raises eyebrows

This meant that learning mathematics or physics in Class 12 is not mandatory to join engineering.

Published: 14th July 2021 05:11 AM 

By Subashini Vijayakumar

Express News Service

ERODE: While All India Council for Technical Education’s is yet to clarify whether mathematics and physics subjects are mandatory to get an admission in engineering courses, several private colleges in the State have started inducting students from non-science majors. This move, educationalists say, will affect the future of students.

The AICTE, in line with the New Education Policy, has provided an array of options for students from diffrent groups to pursue courses in engineering and technology with guidelines for the universities to offer suitable bridge courses.

This meant that learning mathematics or physics in Class 12 is not mandatory to join engineering. However, AICTE also clarified that it is an option given by the council which is not binding on the states or universities and entrance exams like JEE and CET. “In future when NEP shall be implemented, this option can be effected in its letter and spirit,” the council said.

Meanwhile, a few colleges affiliated with Anna University too have started admitting students from non-science groups, said sources.