K’taka yet to trace 175 UK returnees

K’taka yet to trace 175 UK returnees

Bengaluru:  01.01.2021

The Karnataka home department, which is continuing its efforts to trace the missing UK returnees in the state, is yet to find 175 of them, including 80 foreigners. Thirty returnees have tested positive for Covid-19, and seven of them for the new strain.

As of Wednesday evening, the state was looking for 199 people and found 24 late Thursday. Officials said returnees have fallen off the radar mainly because of wrong or inactive mobile numbers.

Health minister K Sudhakar said: “Four contacts of the UK returnees have tested positive. Now, 30 returnees and their four contacts are in isolation at government facilities and all their contacts are under surveillance.” TNN

Will find them: Min

Of the missing UK returnees, 80 are not Indian citizens. This means we do not have their contact details. But the home department is pursuing the matter and will find them soon,” health minister K Sudhakar said. Experts told TOI that governments must be cautious about the new variant even though not many cases have come to the fore yet. It is important to isolate the imported cases and test all those who have come in contact with them, they added.

CBSE to hold Class X, XII board exams from May 4 to June 10

CBSE to hold Class X, XII board exams from May 4 to June 10

Practical Exams From March 1; Results To Be Declared By July 15

Manash.Gohain@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:  01.01.2021

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will conduct the Class X and XII board exams of 2021 between May 4 and June 10 and the results will be declared by July 15, education minister Ramesh Pokhriyal announced on Thursday. CBSE will hold the practical exams from March 1.

TOI had first reported in October that board exams of 2021will be delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Usually practical exams are conducted in January and the written exams begin in February and conclude in March.

“The date sheet for both the classes will be issued soon,” Pokhriyal announced.

In view of disruption of the regular classes due to the pandemic, CBSE had reduced the syllabus by 30% earlier to make up for the academic losses.

The board is also working on a solution for conducting the exams in over 25 countries where CBSE has a presence.

“This is a prudent decision by the government given that the students are under tremendous pressure due to disruption of the academic activities. The deferred exams and rationalisation of syllabus will help the students,” said Swati Jain, editor, Oswal Books.

With no clarity on the board exam dates so far, several schools have already conducted pre-board exams online to keep the students prepared. CBSE had earlier this month ruled out holding board exams in 2021 online.

Schools across the country were closed in March to contain the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. They were partially reopened in some states from October 15.

The board exams this year had to be postponed mid-way in March. They were later cancelled and the results announced on the basis of an alternative assessment scheme.

The ministry of education had earlier announced that JEE (Main) for admission to engineering colleges will be held four times a year, starting 2021, to offer flexibility to students and a chance to improve their scores.

The first edition of the Joint Entrance Examination-Mains (JEE-Main) will be held from February 23 to 26, followed by rounds in March, April and May.

Full report on www.toi.in

EXAM TIME: The Central Board of Secondary Education is also working on a solution for conducting the examinations in over 25 countries where it has a presence

Revamped IRCTC site with ‘one click’ theme from today

Revamped IRCTC site with ‘one click’ theme from today

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: 01.01.2021

The experience of booking train tickets through IRCTC website and IRCTC Rail Connect Mobile App will change from Friday. The concept of “one click” forms the theme of the revamped IRCTC website, with several details such as availability of trains, booking of meals, retiring room, hotels and last transaction now displayed at the click of a mouse.

Regular or favorite journeys can be booked easily through the autofill feature. In the new website, the availability for all classes will be displayed along with respective fares for all trains and probability of confirmation will also be displayed.

In the earlier version, each train seat availability and fares could be seen only after clicking on that train individually and the probability of confirmation had to be checked for each waitlist status separately.

In the website, availability for other dates can be toggled on the page itself. On average 40 lakh people logged into the IRCTC website per day before the pandemic and it has even booked 26,000 tickets in a minute, which is a record.

Currently, this e-ticketing website has more than six crore active users and more than eight lakh tickets are purchased daily. Around 83% of the total reserved railway tickets are booked through this online system.

Full report on www.toi.in

Suneet Sharma is new rly board chief

The government on Thursday appointed former Eastern Railway general manager Suneet Sharma as the new chairman and CEO of the railway board. Sharma is a special class railway apprentice officer of the 1978-batch. He has discharged responsibilities at various levels, including zonal railways, workshops and diesel loco sheds, in his over 34 years in the Indian Railways, the railway ministry said. The extended one-year tenure of Sharma’s predecessor, Vinod Kumar Yadav, who also became the restructured board’s first CEO, ended on December 31. TNN

Stalin, TTV ask TN to withdraw cases against govt staff

 Stalin, TTV ask TN to withdraw cases against govt staff

Chennai:  01.01.2021

DMK president M K Stalin and AMMK general secretary T T V Dhinakaran on Thursday asked the state government to immediately withdraw cases filed against government employees and teachers for taking part in the strike early this year. They had withdrawn the strike and returned to work after a request by chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami but are facing trouble as the cases have not been withdrawn, the two leaders said.

“It is improper on part of the state government to not to drop disciplinary and departmental level inquiries launched against them and it is affecting their promotions, salary and retirement benefits,” Stalin said. “The cases must be withdrawn since more than 5,000 employees are affected,” Dhinakaran said in his statement. TNN

Heavy rain lashes central TN

Heavy rain lashes central TN

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Trichy:  01.01.2021

2020 has ended on a good note on the climate front as heavy rain lashed the central districts for several hours from Wednesday night and throughout the day on Thursday, throwing normal life out of gear. According to India meteorological department (IMD), a cyclonic circulation over southwest Bay of Bengal caused rainfall in several parts of Tamil Nadu.

The coastal districts witnessed heavy rainfall in the early hours with Nagappattinam receiving 30.7mm in the 24 hours ending 8.30am. Despite the rain, fishermen set out to sea. Thanjavur recorded the second highest rainfall of 14.1mm while Tiruvarur realized 11.5mm.

The rain brought worries to farmers as hundreds of acres of paddy crops suffered in the havoc caused by cyclones Nivar and Burevi last month. The sharp showers wet the crops a day after the central team completed the damage assessment in the delta districts. After weeks, Trichy city received substantial rainfall in the early hours of Thursday. The city that registered a deficit northeast monsoon had an average of 10-11mm rainfall in the morning with the moderate showers continuing till noon.

The suburbs of the city including Samayapuram and Lalgudi road received good rain. Already facing a 30% deficit monsoon, Trichy is very likely to have a dry week ahead according to the IMD forecast. Ariyalur and Perambalur districts recorded 9.6mm and 8.33mm of rain while Karur and Pudukottai had 0.4mm and 0.6mm.

Pongal hamper is for family, not individuals, TN tells HC

Pongal hamper is for family, not individuals, TN tells HC

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:  01.01.2021

The Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday informed the Madras high court that ₹2,500 Pongal cash gift is meant for the entire family holding ration cards and not for individuals. Therefore, disabled persons cannot claim a 25% hike in the gift as provided in the law, the state said.

Advocate-general Vijay Narayan made the submission while opposing a PIL moved by the Tamil Nadu Association for the Rights of All Types of Differently Abled and Caregivers (TARATDAC).

Recording the submission, a vacation bench of Justice R Mahadevan and Justice Anita Sumanth directed the state to file a detailed counter and adjourned the plea to January 5.

According to the petitioner, as per the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act, disabled persons are entitled to get 25% higher in any scheme announced by the state for the welfare of the people.

As per the act, the quantum of assistance to the persons with disabilities under social welfare schemes and programmes shall be at least 25% higher than similar schemes applicable to others, advocate Karal Marx said, representing the petitioner.

Relying on the act, the petitioner said, “As per section 24 of the act, the appropriate government shall formulate necessary schemes and programmes to safeguard and promote the rights of persons with disabilities for an adequate standard of living to enable them to live independently or in the community:”

Claiming that the mandatory provision of the act has not been complied with by the state while announcing the Pongal cash gift, the petitioner wanted the court to direct the state to implement the law and increase the gift amount for disabled persons.

Kaanum Pongal: Can’t visit beaches

Kaanum Pongal: Can’t visit beaches

Chennai:01.01.2021

Tamil Nadu government has banned entry of people to Marina Beach and other beaches in in the state on Kaanum Pongal day on January 16 to prevent another wave of Covid-19.

Lakhs of people converge at the Marina during the festival with family and friends.

“The ban on visiting beaches is only on the Kaanum Pongal day,” chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami said on Thursday after holding a review meeting with medical experts.

The government, however, has lifted time restriction in places of worship, and has given relief to film and television industries by doing away with the cap in number of people allowed at shooting venues. Standard operating procedures, however, would be strictly followed in all such places. TNN

Avoid social gatherings: CM

Workers can be engaged, without restriction, for both indoor and outdoor shootings. But they have to follow safety procedures,” the CM said.

The statement said 50% of the total capacity (of indoor facilities) or a maximum of 200 people would be allowed in community halls and sports complexes from January 1. Same is applicable to religious and political programmes in indoor facilities. Prior permission from collectors in districts and from police commissioners in Chennai city was mandatory for such programmes, the CM said.

Palaniswami has urged public to follow the guidelines to help the government bring down Covid-19 cases, which is already declining in the state. He urged people to avoid gatherings.

The CM said that e-registration for people entering Tamil Nadu from neighbouring states, restrictions on containment zones and the Central government’s ban on travel to and from certain countries were still in force.