Category Archives: National

National, Politics

Special status demand triggers political slugfest in Bihar

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PTI, Patna, July 12, 2024 : The ruling NDA in Bihar and the opposition Mahagathbandhan on Friday crossed swords over the demand for special status to the state, which seems to have intensified ahead of the Parliament’s budget session.
    
The demand was first made soon after the creation of Jharkhand robbed the state of its mineral wealth, though the Centre has been of the view that the grant of special status was no longer possible since the provision was scrapped by the 14th Finance Commission.

Senior Congress leader and former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, whose party is a part of the opposition coalition in the state, took potshots at the BJP-JD(U) combine.

She said, “There could not be a greater irony that the BJP, which rules the Centre, is not accepting the demand raised by the JD(U) despite being dependent on the ally.”

The allusion was to the JD(U), headed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, passing a resolution at its national executive meeting held last month seeking special category status, or, adequate assistance in the form of a special economic package.

The Congress leader also took a swipe at the JD(U) supremo and said, “The PM should show some respect for his ally who has realigned with him after ditching us and making umpteenth volte-face”.

The CM, who had helped the formation of the INDIA bloc, returned to the BJP-led NDA in January this year.

Kumar’s deputy Vijay Kumar Sinha, who belongs to the BJP, was asked about a meeting, in Delhi a day ago, between Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Samrat Choudhary, another Bihar Deputy CM who holds the finance portfolio and is understood to have submitted before her the state’s expectations from the upcoming budget.

Evading a direct reply, Sinha said, “The PM has made it clear that he wants a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (developed India). That is possible only when Bihar, too, is developed. All that is needed for growth of each and every state, will be done.”

Choudhary, who also heads the state BJP, returned from the national capital in the evening, and asserted, “The prime minister has always been concerned about the development of Bihar and we look forward to full cooperation from the PM and the Union finance minister.”

He also ducked pointed queries about the demand for special status raised vehemently by the JD(U), saying “all works that are pending in Bihar will be completed with central help”.

Meanwhile, state minister and senior JD(U) leader Shravan Kumar alleged that the demand for special status was “ignored” by the previous Congress-led UPA government at the Centre and hoped that Modi would give Bihar its due.

Earlier, NDA partner Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) headed by Union minister Chirag Paswan had also come out in support of the demand.

The party’s MP Arun Bharti had told PTI-Video, “Our party has been in support of special status to Bihar since the very beginning. We are confident of some assistance, in the form of either special status or a special package.”

However, the RJD, which helms the Mahagathbandhan, lashed out at the NDA claiming that the ruling coalition was trying to hoodwink the people.

RJD MLA Bhai Virendra said, “The BJP and the JD(U) share power in the Centre as well as in the state. Yet, instead of taking the necessary steps, they are raising demands. Do they think the people are fools?”.

The RJD leader, whose party was ruling Bihar when it was bifurcated in 2000, pointed out that the demand for special status was first raised by the Rabri Devi government.

“I do not wish to create much controversy by taking names. But the NDA was in power, at the Centre, at the time and its leaders deliberately denied Bihar special status fearing that my party would get the credit,” claimed Bhai Virendra.
National, Politics

Delhi police file FIR under new criminal laws against Trinamul MP Mahua Moitra

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Sources said Mahua had been booked under Section 79 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), which deals with gestures or acts intended at outraging a woman’s modesty

Imran Ahmed Siddiqui, TT, New Delhi, 08.07.24 : Delhi police on Sunday filed an FIR under the new criminal laws against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra over her “derogatory” remarks against National Commission of Women chief Rekha Sharma.

Sources said Mahua had been booked under Section 79 of the Bharatiya Nyay

Sanhita (BNS), which deals with gestures or acts intended at outraging a woman’s modesty. Sources said Mahua was the first politician to have been booked under the new BNS, which has replaced the Indian Penal Code.

The commission had earlier sought an FIR against the MP.

Mahua had on July 4 commented on a video posted on X that showed a man holding an umbrella over Sharma’s head and walking behind her during the commission chief’s visit to the site of the Hathras stampede.

Several social media users felt that having someone else hold an umbrella over one’s head was “insensitive”, especially at the site of a tragedy, and asked why Sharma could not hold the umbrella herself.

“She is too busy holding up her boss’s pajamas,” Mahua had posted on X. She later deleted the post.

On July 5, the women’s commission put up a post on X saying: “The National Commission for Women has taken suo mot(u) cognizance of the derogatory remark made by Ms. Mahua Moitra, Member of Parliament, against Ms. Rekha Sharma, Chairperson, NCW. The crude remarks are outrageous and a violation of a woman’s right to dignity.”

It added: “The Commission observed that this remark attracts Section 79 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, 2023. NCW strongly condemns these defamatory remarks and requests strict action against Ms. Moitra. An FIR should be registered against Ms. Moitra and a detailed action report should be communicated to the Commission within 3 days.”

Responding to the commission’s post, Mahua wrote: “Come on Delhi Police please take action immediately on these suo mot(u) orders. Am in Nadia in case you need me in the next 3 days to make a quick arrest. I Can Hold My Own Umbrella.”

In another post, Mahua shared screenshots of past posts, allegedly from Sharma’s account, that she said passed “crude” comments against political leaders such as Sonia Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal and Lalu Prasad.

Mahua wrote: “Also Delhi Police while you’re at it can you please register an FIR against another serial offender under your new Act.”

The BNS came into effect on July 1, replacing the Indian Penal Code.
Education, Health, National

SC to hear on July 8 plea on free sanitary pads for class 6-12 girl students

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PTI, 6 July 2024 : The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on July 8 a plea seeking directions to the Centre and states to provide free sanitary pads to girl students of class 6-12 and ensure separate female toilet facilities in all government-aided and residential schools.
A bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J P Pardiwala and Manoj Misra is scheduled to hear the plea of Congress leader and social worker Jaya Thakur in which she has highlighted the difficulties faced by adolescent females from poor backgrounds in the schools.
During the last hearing of the matter on February 5, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati informed that the Centre is in the process of collating all necessary material to form a national policy on the distribution of menstrual hygiene products to school-going girls in terms of the orders dated April 10, 2023, and November 6, 2023.
On June 13, the Union education ministry, in an advisory to schools, said girl students should be allowed to take necessary restroom breaks during board exams for classes 10 and 12 and free sanitary napkins must be made available at all examination centres.
The Supreme Court is set to reopen on July 8 after summer vacation.
On November 6, the top court directed the Centre to lay down a national model for building toilets commensurate with the number of girl students in all government-aided and residential schools across the country.
While emphasising uniform procedure, it also asked the Union government about the policy it has formulated for the distribution of sanitary napkins to female school students nationally.
During the hearing, the Centre informed the apex court that a draft national policy for the distribution of sanitary napkins free of cost to school-going girls has been formulated and sent to stakeholders to elicit their comments.
The top court earlier warned the states, which had not submitted their response to the Centre on formulating a uniform national policy on menstrual hygiene for girls studying in schools, that it would take recourse to the “coercive arm of the law” if they failed to do so.
On April 10, the apex court appointed the secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) as the nodal officer to coordinate with states and UTs and collect relevant data for formulating a national policy.
It noted that MoHFW, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Jal Shakti have schemes on menstrual hygiene management.
The court also ordered all states and UTs to submit their menstrual hygiene management strategies and plans that are being executed with the help of funds provided by the Centre or through their own resources to the Mission Steering Group of the National Health Mission within four weeks.
The apex court said the states and UTs shall also indicate to the Mission Steering Group of the National Health Mission the appropriate ratio of female toilets for residential and non-residential schools in their respective territories.
It asked all states and UTs to also indicate the steps which have been taken to provide low-cost sanitary pads and vending machines in schools and their appropriate disposal.
The plea filed by Congress leader Thakur has said adolescent females from poor backgrounds between the ages of 11 and 18 years face serious difficulties in receiving education, a constitutional right under Article 21A of the Constitution.
“These are adolescent females who are not equipped with and are also not educated by their parents about menstruation and menstrual hygiene.
“The deprived economic status and illiteracy lead to a prevalence of unhygienic and unhealthy practices which have serious health consequences, increase obstinacy and lead to eventual dropping out from schools,” the petition said.
Crime, National

New laws intend to establish justice oriented system based on spirt of Constitution: Expert

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PTI, July 04, 2024, Mumbai : The new criminal laws that came into force nationwide on July 1 are intended to establish a justice oriented system based on the spirit of the Constitution, speakers at a workshop said here on Thursday. 

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BAS) have replaced the British-era Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure and Indian Evidence Act, respectively. 
The workshop, organised by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), also highlighted salient features of the new laws, which include the enhanced use of technology, streamlining of victim protection and permitting audio-video recording of victim’s statement.
“The new criminal laws are intended to overhaul the colonial era Indian Penal Code and establish a justice-oriented system based on Indian thinking and spirit of the Constitution. They focus on justice rather than punishment and are to ensure victim centric justice,” said Deputy Director of Maharashtra Police Academy Kakasaheb Dole, who was the keynote speaker at the event. 
The BNSS gives citizens the right to file an FIR through oral or by electronic communication (e-FIR), and further, irrespective of the area where the offence or crime is committed, a citizen can file an FIR anywhere in the country, Dole added., the police officer said. 
“Now, citizens can appear as an accused, victim or witness through audio-video conferencing for the purposes of examination. Rape victims can now record e-statement online and they need not necessarily visit police stations,” Dole said. 
It will take some time before everyone gets used to the new laws, adding that community service for petty crimes is an important aspect of these new laws, said advocate Abhineet Pange.
Crime, National

Alertness while filing e-FIR

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Meghashree Poddar, EOI, 23 July 2024 : On July 1st 2024, new criminal regulations were supplanted with the Indian Reformatory code. On Monday, the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, all three of India’s new criminal laws went into effect. These regulations will supplant the provincial period Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Strategy and the Indian Proof Demonstration, individually.
New laws have made it easier for residents to get in touch with the police now. From July 1, they can record a First Data Report (FIR) online through entryway. Moreover, wrongdoings can be accounted for from outside the city through a zero FIR. These progressions expect to guarantee reasonableness with compulsory sound and video accounts of methodology like pursuit, seizure, and addressing. 
In addition, specific deadlines for police procedures are set by the new laws to ensure accountability and avoid unnecessary delays. Police across the nation are ready for the rollout because they have officers trained in the new Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNSS)and Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS),which replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). Till June 24,upwards of 36,716 police had been prepared. We have now made auxiliary preparation units, which will prepare cops at the region level. A senior officer in Delhi stated, “This exercise will continue until every cop has been trained in the new laws.” Preparing go on at the locale level to guarantee all officials  are knowledgeable in the new guidelines.
To meet BNS requirements, the police are considering purchasing tablets for investigating officers. e-FIRs and online chargesheets will be made easier with these tablets, which are connected to the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) and come equipped with the police app e-praman. Officials will utilize these gadgets to catch recordings and photographs of crime locations with GPS and time-labeling, guaranteeing credibility.” 
There is accentuation on guaranteeing that the proof gathered is true and that the examining official is available at the crime location. A senior police officer stated, “The hash value of this digital evidence will be preserved to rule out any tampering and guarantee that unaltered evidence reaches the court.” Officers will be able to upload videos directly to CCTNS using the new app and tablets, putting the integrity of digital evidence first. Hash values will be utilized to affirm the validness of advanced records, with any progressions demonstrating altering. A backup of the case files and evidence will also be provided by the cloud-based service. As a capable resident, we ought to move towards however with alert. 
The following are the given moves toward do an e-fir safely:-
Law Commission Recommendations for Secure Online Complaint Filing in e FIR
The complainant could be verified by requiring the upload of a valid ID, like Aadhaar, and verifying the mobile number with an OTP. The name of the suspect on the unified public gateway is to be gotten until thee FIR is endorsed by the complainant.
Meaning of Regulation Commission’s e FIR 
Suggestions for Wrong doing
Announcing:
*It guarantees free wrongdoing enrollment with programmed receipt age.
*The complaint’s nature and contents will continue to be accurate.
*The Commission suggests e-FIR for all cognisable offenses with obscure denounced.
*Features the important job of police associations in settling blind wrongdoings.
*Problems with Implementing the Law Commission’s Recommendations for e-FIR Procedures The commission did not explain what an “e-FIR” is.
*Confirmation of gotten data by the police headquarters before recommended design in three days or less. In different cases (culpable with over three years of detainment), the traditional strategy endorsed under the Indian Reformatory Code (IPC)should be followed.
*The cop is expected to get the mark of the complainant in somewhere around three days to enlist an e FIR. Any other way, it will not be enrolled.
*Only in cases in which the accused is known is the procedure provided.
*However the Commission referenced that eight States (Delhi, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand)are dwelling an e-FIR, it didn’t talk about any of the models to be taken on by those States.
*No utilization of the ‘e-validation procedure or computerized signature’ as characterized in the Data Innovation (IT) Act, 2000, for marking grievances. 
Just situations where human connection can be deferred for a restricted period without unfavorably affecting the case might be allowed to be enlisted electronically. It would be smarter to utilize e-confirmation methods that are commanded for the check of the complainant, and an e FIR is enlisted right away. 
(The views of the author are personal)
Education, National

NEET-UG row: SC to hear batch of pleas on July 8

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PTI, New Delhi, Jul 2, 2024 :  The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on July 8 a batch of pleas related to the controversy-ridden NEET-UG, including those alleging irregularities in the examination held on May 5 and seeking a direction that it be held afresh.
According to the cause list for July 8 uploaded on the apex court’s website, the batch of 26 petitions would come up for hearing before a bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra.
The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and other related courses in government and private institutions across the country.
The NEET-UG, 2024 was held across 4,750 centres on May 5 and around 24 lakh candidates appeared in it.
Initially expected on June 14, the results were announced on June 4 due to an early completion of answer-sheet evaluation.
Allegations of irregularities, including paper leaks, have led to protests in several cities and sparring between rival political parties.
On June 11, hearing a plea seeking that the exam be held afresh on the grounds of alleged question paper leak and other malpractices, the top court observed that the sanctity of the NEET-UG has been affected and sought responses from the Centre and the NTA on the petition.
It, however, refused to stay the counselling of the successful candidates for admissions to MBBS, BDS and other courses.
On June 20, the top court sought the responses of the Centre, the NTA and others on a slew of petitions, including those seeking the scrapping of the NEET-UG and a court-monitored probe amid a mounting outrage over the alleged irregularities in the conduct of the all-India medical entrance test.
Hearing separate pleas on the exam on June 18, the apex court said even if there was “0.001 per cent negligence” on the part of anyone in the conduct of the examination, it should be thoroughly dealt with.
The Centre and the NTA had, on June 13, told the court that they had cancelled the grace marks awarded to 1,563 candidates.
They were given the option to either take a re-test or forgo the compensatory marks awarded for loss of time.
The NTA announced the revised rank list on Monday after issuing the results of the re-test held on June 23.
A total of 67 students had scored a perfect 720, unprecedented in the NTA’s history, with six from a Haryana centre figuring in the list, raising suspicions about irregularities in the examination held on May 5. It has been alleged that grace marks contributed to 67 students sharing the top rank.
The number of candidates sharing the top rank in the NEET-UG reduced to 61 from 67 as the NTA announced the revised results on Monday. 

Education, National

NEET-PG likely to beheld mid-Aug: Sources

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PTI, New Delhi, Jul 2, 2024 :  The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Post Graduate (NEET-PG) 2024 is likely to be held mid-August, sources said on Tuesday.
    
The revised date for the medical entrance exam is expected to be announced this week.
    
A meeting was held in the Union home ministry on Monday, in which officials from the health ministry, National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), along with its technical partner Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), and Cyber Cell officials discussed the preparedness for the NEET-PG, which is to be held online.
    
“Besides the NEET-PG, the meeting was held to evaluate the robustness of the system for the conduct of the Foreign Medical Graduates Examination, which is scheduled for July 6,” a source said.
    
Monday’s meeting was held to check the “robustness” of the system for the conduct of the exam in the coming days, the sources added.
    
It was learnt that the TCS top brass briefed the meeting about the various aspects of the exam procedure.
    
On June 22, the Union health ministry postponed the NEET-PG entrance examination, scheduled to be held on June 23, as a “precautionary measure” in the wake of allegations on the integrity of certain competitive exams.
    
The health ministry had said it will undertake a thorough assessment of the robustness of the processes of the NEET-PG, conducted by the NBEMS along with its technical partner TCS for medical students.
National

Lonavala incident : Five Lives Lost in waterfall mishap: govt to ban entry of tourists at certain spots

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https://www.kalimpongnews.in.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Pune-incident.mp4

Agencies, 2 July 2024: Following the tragic incident in which five members of a family lost their lives near Maharashtra’s Bhushi Dam near Lonavala on Sunday, the Pune district collector Suhas Divase has brought out strict guidelines for tourists and local authorities. The instructions aim to ensure safety in tourist spots and avert similar instances in the future.

A safety survey will soon be conducted in various areas around the Western Ghats including Maval, Khed, Mulshi, Bhor, Junnar, Ambegaon and Velha, which experience tourism activity and yet have the potential for hazards. Officials will also visit various dams, waterfalls, rivers, lakes, forest areas and forts around the region to inspect safety measures. These are the safety instructions issued for tourists and local authorities by the administration:


Police said the spot where the incident took place is a “restricted area” under the jurisdiction of Indian Railways and the Forest Department. A day after five persons including four children were swept away in a waterfall located in a “restricted area” approximately 2 kilometres from Bhushi Dam in Lonavala.

National, Politics

BJP seeks CM Mamata’s resignation over ‘severe deterioration’ of law and order in state

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PTI, New Delhi, Jul 01 2024 : The BJP called for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s resignation on Monday over a “severe deterioration” in the state’s law and order after a video of a man flogging a couple in public in West Bengal surfaced on social media.

The man seen in the video beating up a couple with a bamboo stick was allegedly a local TMC leader from Chopra in Uttar Dinajpur district, where the incident occurred following a kangaroo court decision.
The accused, Tajmul alias JCB, was arrested.
BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia highlighted the flogging incident and questioned the chief minister’s commitment to justice and governance.
During a press conference, he condemned the act as a grave violation of dignity and fundamental rights and criticised Banerjee’s silence.
“It is a shame that she has not spoken a word on this. As a woman and a chief minister, she should be the first to come out and condemn this incident,” Bhatia asserted.
He also alleged that the perpetrator was a leader from Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress (TMC) party.
“What makes the matter worse is the fact that the accused happens to be a TMC leader. This is a blatant miscarriage of justice,” the BJP leader claimed.
Bhatia also attacked Banerjee over West Bengal’s governance, accusing the chief minister of failing to maintain law and order.
“Law and order have completely collapsed in West Bengal. Mamata Banerjee should resign forthwith as she is unable to ensure the safety and security of citizens,” he said.
Bhatia also highlighted a controversial statement by TMC MLA Hamdulillah, who allegedly justified the incident by referring to justice systems in certain Islamic nations.
“He justified it by saying this kind of justice prevails in Islamic nations, thus endorsing a Talibani style of dispensing justice in a country that believes in the Constitution of India,” Bhatia said.
He also questioned the silence of prominent opposition leaders on the issue.
“Where is Mallikarjun Kharge? Where is Sonia Gandhi? Where is Lalu Prasad Yadav? None of them have made any statement condemning this ghastly incident. Such is their belief in the Constitution of India, or rather, in the Talibani rule of law imposed by the TMC on the citizens of West Bengal,” he said.
Assuring the people of West Bengal and India, Bhatia said, “Our national president JP Nadda has raised this issue and, on behalf of the party, I assure every citizen that we will stand shoulder to shoulder with the victims. We believe in the Constitution of India and will ensure that this Talabani kind of government does not exist for another day.
National, Politics

Criminal laws passed ‘forcibly’, INDIA will not allow ‘bulldozer’ justice in par system: Cong

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PTI, NEW DELHI, JULY 1, 2024 :  Three new criminal laws came into effect in the country on Monday, bringing far-reaching changes in India’s criminal justice system. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) take into account some of the current social realities and modern-day crimes. 

The new laws replaced the British-era Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure and the Indian Evidence Act, respectively. From Monday, all fresh FIRs will be registered under the BNS. However, cases filed earlier will continue to be tried under the old laws till their final disposals. 
The new laws brought in a modern justice system, incorporating provisions such as Zero FIR, online registration of police complaints, summonses through electronic modes such as SMS and mandatory videography of crime scenes for all heinous crimes. 
The new laws have tried to address some of the current social realities and crimes and are going to provide a mechanism to effectively deal with these, keeping in view the ideals enshrined in the Constitution, official sources said. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who piloted the laws, had said the new laws would give priority to providing justice, unlike the colonial-era laws that gave primacy to penal action.”
These laws are made by Indians, for Indians and by an Indian Parliament and marks the end of colonial criminal justice laws,” Shah had said. 
The Home Minister had further said the laws were not just about changing the nomenclature but bringing about a complete overhaul. 
“Soul, body and spirit” of the new laws is Indian,” he had said. Justice is an umbrella term that encompasses both the victim and the culprit, the Home Minister had said and added these new laws would ensure political, economic and social justice with an Indian ethos. 
According to the new laws, judgment in criminal cases has to come within45 days of completion of trial and charges must be framed within 60days of first hearing. Statement of rape victims will be recorded by a woman police officer in presence of her guardian or relative and medical reports have to come within seven days. 
Organised crimes and acts of terrorism have been defined, sedition has been replaced with treason and video recording of all search and seizures made mandatory. 
A new chapter on crimes against women and children has been added, buying and selling of any child made a heinous crime and there is a provision for death sentence or life imprisonment for gang rape of a minor. 
Offences against women and children, murder and offences against the State have been given precedence in the new law. 
With the new laws coming into effect, the Congress on Monday accused the Union government of getting them “forcibly” passed in Parliament after suspending 146 MPs and asserted that going forward, the INDIA bloc will not allow such “bulldozer justice” to prevail in the country’s parliamentary system. 
In a post in Hindi on X, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said: “After the political and moral shock in the elections, Modi ji and the BJP are pretending to respect the Constitution, but the truth is that the three laws of the criminal justice system which are being implemented from today, were passed forcibly after suspension of 146MPs.” “INDIA will no longer allow this ‘bulldozer justice’ to prevail in the parliamentary system,” he asserted. 
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also took a swipe at the government after the first FIR was lodged under the new laws. “The first FIR has already been filed under Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita 2023. 
It is by Delhi Police against a street vendor for obstruction, after he was earning his daily livelihood under a foot-over bridge of New Delhi Railway Station, “Ramesh said. Delhi Police registered its first FIR under provisions of the new criminal code the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against a street vendor selling water and tobacco products from a cart that allegedly obstructed a public way in central Delhi’s Kamala Market area on Monday, officials said.
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram also slammed the government as the new criminal laws came into effect and said it was another case of “bulldozing” existing laws and replacing them with three new bills without adequate discussion and debate. 
In a post on X, Chidambaram said: “90-99 per cent of the so-called new laws are a cut, copy and paste job. A task that could have been completed with a few amendments to the existing three laws has been turned into a wasteful exercise.” 
“Yes, there are a few improvements in the new laws and we have welcomed them. They could have been introduced as amendments. 
On the other hand, there are several retrograde provisions. Some changes are prima facie unconstitutional,” he said. MPs, who were members of the standing committee, pored over the provisions and wrote detailed dissent notes to the three Bills, the senior leader said. Chidambaram added the government did not rebut or answer any of the criticisms in the dissent notes and there was no worthwhile debate in Parliament. “Law scholars, bar associations, judges and lawyers have in numerous articles and seminars pointed out the grave deficiencies in the three new laws. No one in government has cared to answer the questions,” he said. Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said the Congress’ concern was that the bills were passed without discussion.
“Something as important and as far reaching as this. Many of us had called for an overhaul of the IPC but we wanted a discussion and the discussion never took place and that is something very regrettable in a democracy like ours,” he told reporters outside Parliament. 
National

Airport canopy collapses bare faults, structural engineers challenge ‘rain’ narrative

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Each airport canopy collapse — Jabalpur, Delhi and Rajkot — was preceded by or occurred during heavy rainfall. But engineers say the excessive rainwater would by itself have, at its worst, exacerbated the underlying issues of concern that resulted in the catastrophic structural failures
Parked vehicles damaged by the collapse of a canopy at Delhi airport on Friday.: PTI picture

G.S. Mudur, TT, New Delhi, 30.06.24 : The structural failures that have triggered the back-to-back airport canopy collapses in Jabalpur, Delhi and Rajkot demand detailed investigation, sections of structural engineers said on Saturday, challenging the narrative blaming the failures on excessive rainfall.

Each airport canopy collapse — Jabalpur on Thursday, Delhi on Friday and Rajkot on Saturday — was preceded by or occurred during heavy rainfall. But engineers say the excessive rainwater would by itself have, at its worst, exacerbated the underlying issues of concern that resulted in the catastrophic structural failures.
Authorities have sought to link the failures to heavy rainfall. The Jabalpur airport director Rajeev Ratna Pandey, for instance, told the PTI news agency that the canopy had collapsed after water accumulated over it because of the rain. “It ripped under the weight of the water and the water fell with great force on a car.”

Structural engineers, however, believe there are lessons to be learned from each of the three failures.

“Rain or water load should not be a challenge for either steel or concrete structures,” Sangeeta Wij, a former vice-president of the Indian Association of Structural Engineers (IASE), an apex professional body, told The Telegraph.

Large structures are typically constructed from steel sections with fixed or hinged joints and one possible line of investigation, she said, would be to focus on the joints. There are multiple ways to execute the joints — through welding, bolts or connectors.

“Joints need to be executed with perfection — execution needs to match the original design intent. And lack of appropriate execution can make the joint vulnerable,” she added.

Under heavy rain or strong wind conditions, Wij said, a vulnerable joint may be unable to absorb the ballooning effect from the wind and could cause structural instability that could lead to a collapse.

Poor maintenance is another possible source of trouble, said another structural engineer who is an associate professor of civil engineering in a government academic institution.

“Imagine a situation where a joint section is rusted or damaged in some other way. Heavy rain might then push the damage beyond its tipping point,” the engineer, who requested anonymity, told this newspaper.

“Rainwater is not directly responsible but it could act on an already weak area. Adequate maintenance and timely repair could prevent such failures.”

Wij and others in the structural engineering community are hoping the airport canopy failures would prompt greater introspection about what to prioritise during construction projects that they say are increasingly executed through engineering procurement construction (EPC) contracts and in exceedingly tighter time schedules.

“Sometimes, under EPC contracts, the focus seems to be first on the cost, then on aesthetics, and then on structural safety,” said Wij.

Damaged roof of the Indira Gandhi International Airport’s Terminal- 1, in New Delhi, Saturday, June 29, 2024. Operations at the Terminal 1 have been suspended following a roof collapse incident on Friday that killed one person and injured six others.:PTI

Some engineers say the absence of regulatory oversight on the practice of structural engineering keeps a window open for “unscrupulous engineers” to prioritise the contractors’ demands over structural safety.

The IASE, in a quarterly newsletter titled Crosfall (Confidential Reporting of Structural Failures and Lessons Learnt), has since July 2022 analysed several incidents — the failure of a precast arch over an expressway, the collapse of a canopy over a railway platform, and the collapse of a 95m bridge, among others.

“In our country, more often than not, the system of review of structural designs and drawings by senior structural engineers is missing,” an anonymous engineer had flagged two years ago in Crosfall.

The analyses in Crosfall have identified poor structural design, a mismatch between design and execution, and hasty construction among the causes of the various failures studied.

“Most developed and developing countries have set up regulatory bodies such as engineering councils for their structural engineers. Engineers need to pass an exam and obtain licences, and undergo periodic trainingto maintain their licences,” Wij said.

“We don’t have this. A much-awaited Engineers Bill will bring greater accountability and recognition to the profession, ensuring greater emphasis on structural safety.” 
National

NTA announces new exam dates for postponed UGC NET, CSIR-UGC NET

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National Common Entrance Test (NCET) for admission to the four-year Integrated Teacher Education Programme (ITEP), which was postponed hours before its scheduled commencement on June 12, will now be conducted on July 10

PTI, 29.06.24 : Amid a raging row over alleged irregularities in the conduct of competitive exams, the National Testing Agency (NTA) Friday night released fresh dates for cancelled and postponed examinations, announcing the UGC-NET will now be held from August 21-September 4.

The University Grants Commission–National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET) was cancelled a day after being conducted on June 18 as the education ministry received inputs that the integrity of the exam was compromised.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had said the question paper was leaked on the darknet and circulated on the Telegram app. The matter is being probed by the CBI.

The UGC-NET is a test to determine the eligibility for the award of Junior Research Fellowship, for appointment of assistant professors and admission to PhD courses.

In a shift from the earlier pattern, the exam was conducted in offline mode this year and on a single day. However, the rescheduled exam will be conducted according to the earlier pattern of Computer Based Test (CBT) spread across a fortnight.

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) UGC-NET, which was postponed as a preemptive measure amid the row over alleged irregularities in the conduct of exams, will now be held from July 25-July 27.

The CSIR UGC-NET is accepted for PhD admissions in Chemical Sciences, Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences, Life Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, and Physical Sciences.

The National Common Entrance Test (NCET) for admission to the four-year Integrated Teacher Education Programme (ITEP), which was postponed hours before its scheduled commencement on June 12, will now be conducted on July 10.

The test is held for select central and state universities or institutions, including IITs, NITs, RIEs, and government colleges.

In the line of fire over the alleged irregularities in medical entrance examination NEET-UG and PhD entrance NET, the Centre had last week notified a panel to ensure transparent, smooth and fair conduct of examinations through the NTA.

While the NEET is under scanner over several alleged irregularities, including paper leak, the UGC-NET was cancelled as the ministry received inputs that the integrity of the exam was compromised.

Two other exams — CSIR-UGC NET and NEET-PG — were cancelled as a preemptive step.
National, Politics

Opposition forces repeated adjournments in Parliament over NEET issue

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PTI, New Delhi, Jun 28, 2024 :  The opposition caused repeated disruptions in Parliament Friday over the NEET paper leak issue, with both Houses being adjourned for the day without transacting much business apart from the Rajya Sabha taking up the Motion of Thanks for the President’s address amid protests including by the BJD, which almost always supported the BJP in the previous Lok Sabha.

    
At one point, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge too entered the Well of the House to join the opposition protest.

The Lok Sabha was first adjourned minutes after it assembled at 11 am, and then when it reassembled around 12 noon, it was adjourned till Monday amid the opposition’s demand for a discussion on the issue.

Rajya Sabha also witnessed a series of disruptions before being adjourned for the day around 6 pm. But even during the time the House functioned, much of the time was taken up by the Opposition parties registering their protest by rasing slogans and entering into the Well of the House.

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar expressed anguish over Kharge trooping into the Well, saying it is for the first time that a person occupying the post has engaged in such a conduct.

The opposition was relentless in their protest in Lok Sabha also which led to its first adjournment of the day minutes after the members assembled.

When the House reassembled at 12 noon, opposition members continued with their demand for a discussion on matters related to the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET).

Speaker Om Birla and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju told opposition members that they can discuss the matter during the course of the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address.

Birla said there are certain norms of Parliament that have to be followed and committees have to be formed, to which Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said students are not aware of it. They are only demanding justice.
    
As members from the Congress, TMC and DMK stormed into the Well, Rijiju said it is for the first time that the opposition is seen demanding a discussion on an issue before the House takes up the Motion of Thanks.

“There is a difference between protest on the road and protest inside the House… You (Opposition) don’t want House to run? You don’t want to discuss NEET during Motion of Thanks discussion?” Birla said.

As the House continued to see uproar, Birla adjourned the proceedings till Monday.

Amid din, TMC member S K Nurul Islam took oath as a Lok Sabha member from his seat as he was visibly unwell.

Earlier when the House met in morning, opposition members were up on their feet seeking the acceptance of an adjournment motion to suspend all business and discuss matters related to NEET.

However, Birla said he would first take up the obituary references to 13 former members, including ex-Lok Sabha speaker and ex-Maharashtra chief minister Manohar Joshi.

When the obituary references were over, the opposition members were on their feet again.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said the NEET issue is a very important for the whole country and they want a dedicated discussion in the House on the matter. Hence, the adjournment motion should be accepted, he said.

However, Birla said he could not allow it as the House was about to take up the discussion on the Motion of Thanks for the President’s address to the joint sitting of Parliament on Thursday.

Back in the Rajya Sabha, BJD members joined other opposition parties in their protests.

In the previous Lok Sabha, the BJD was seen siding with the BJP. But after losing to the BJP in the just-held assembly elections in Odisha and failing to open its account in the Lok Sabha, the BJD has joined hands with other opposition parties in targeting the BJP.

Soon after laying of the listed papers on the table of the House during the morning session, Dhankhar informed that he has not accepted 22 notices by the opposition leaders to suspend the scheduled business of the day and take up discussion on the alleged irregularities in the NEET.

This led to protest by opposition MPs. They started raising slogans and several of them entered into the Well.

When Kharge joined his colleagues in the Well, Dhankhar said, “I am pained and surprised that Indian parliamentary tradition will stoop to such low that the leader of the opposition will troop into the Well,” he said, before adjourning the proceedings till 2 pm.

The House later took up the discussions on the Motion of the Thanks before adjourning for the day around 6 pm.

Earlier, when the Rajya Sabha reassembled at 2:30 pm, DMK member Tiruchi Siva informed the House that Congress MP Phulo Devi Netam, who had fainted earlier, had high blood pressure.

In response, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said, “I have taken all steps, suspended the working of the House. All arrangements were made and that was the most that could be done. Everything is being taken care of.”

However, the opposition was apparently not satisfied and started sloganeering. Soon after, they staged a walkout and were also joined by members of the Biju Janta Dal (BJD). 
National, Politics

Rahul meets Speaker, says reference to Emergency could have been avoided

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PTI, New Delhi, Jun 27, 2024 :  Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi met Speaker Om Birla on Thursday and voiced his displeasure over the reference to Emergency made by the chair, saying it was “clearly political” and could have been avoided.

    
It was a courtesy call during which Gandhi also raised the issue of Emergency being invoked by the Speaker in the House, Congress general secretary K C Venugopal told reporters after the meeting in the Parliament House.

“It was a courtesy call. The Speaker declared Rahul Gandhi as the Leader of Opposition and after that, he along with other INDIA bloc partner leaders met the Speaker,” he said.

Asked whether Gandhi discussed the issue of Emergency being raised in the House, Venugopal said, “We discussed so many things about Parliament functioning. Of course, this issue also came up.”

“Rahul ji, as Leader of Opposition, informed the Speaker about this issue and said it could have been avoided from the Speaker’s reference. That is clearly a political reference, it could have been avoided,” the Congress leader said.

Separately, Venugopal also wrote to Birla, expressing the party’s displeasure over the bringing of the resolution on the Emergency as his first task after assuming office.

“I am writing this in the context of a very grave matter impacting the very credibility of the institution of Parliament. Yesterday, that is 26 June 2024, at the time of offering felicitations on your election as Speaker Lok Sabha, there was a general camaraderie in the House as such occasions generate,” he said in his letter to the Speaker.

“However, what followed thereafter, which is a reference from the Chair after your acceptance speech, in regard to the declaration of Emergency half a century ago, is deeply shocking. Making such a political reference from the Chair is unprecedented in the annals of the history of Parliament. This coming from the Chair as one of the ‘first duties’ of a newly elected Speaker assumes even graver proportions.

“I, on behalf of the Indian National Congress, express our profound concern and anguish over this travesty of Parliamentary traditions,” Venugopal said in his letter to the Speaker.

Soon after his election as Lok Sabha Speaker, Birla had on Wednesday set off a firestorm by reading out a resolution condemning the imposition of Emergency as an attack on the Constitution by then prime minister Indira Gandhi, an act that triggered vociferous protests by Congress member in the House.
    
Birla recalled that it was on June 26, 1975, that the country woke up to the cruel realities of Emergency when the Congress government jailed opposition leaders, imposed many restrictions on the media and also curbed the autonomy of the judiciary.
    
Rahul Gandhi’s meeting with the Speaker was the first after he assumed charge as the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
    
He was accompanied by Samajwadi Party’s Dharmendra Yadav and Dimple Yadav, DMK’s Kanimozhi, NCP’s (SP) Supriya Sule, RJDs Misa Bharti and TMC’s Kalyan Banerjee, RSP’s N K Premachandran and some others.
International, National, Politics

Buzz: Indian drones and ammunition used by Israel in Gaza arsenal

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 ‘Indians always remind us that Israel was there for them during the Kargil War. Israel was one of the few countries that stood by them and provided them with weapons’
An Israeli soldier on a tank near the Israel-Gaza border on Monday. There is no suggestion that the tank was provided by India.: Reuters picture

Anita Joshua, TT, New Delhi , 26.06.24 : A former Israeli ambassador to India has said speculation in the international media about Indian drones and ammunition being used by Israel in Gaza may well be true considering the gratitude New Delhi feels towards Tel Aviv for its assistance during the Kargil War 25 years ago.

“Indians always remind us that Israel was there for them during the Kargil War. Israel was one of the few countries that stood by them and provided them with weapons. The Indians don’t forget this and might now be returning the favour,” Daniel Carmon told Israeli news network Ynetnews.

Iran was quick to pick on this and the official news agency, IRNA, flashed it on Sunday as “India sent great deal of arms to Israeli regime: Zionist media”.

While there has been some chatter about India sending weapons to Israel for a while now, the decision of Spain to prevent a cargo ship originating from Chennai from docking at one of its ports en route Israel in May has added fuel to the fire.

“The ship, originating from the city of Madras in India, was carrying 27 tonnes of munitions destined for the IDF (Israel Defence Forces), against the backdrop of the war with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah on the Lebanon border. The incident highlights the fact that India has been providing significant military assistance to Israel since October 7,” the Ynetnews report said.

Before this report, the South China Morning Post had quoted analysts as saying that the shipment on the Danish-flagged ship, the Marianne Danica, which had sought permission to dock at Cartegana, Spain, was most likely from a “third-party vendor”.

In February, Shephard News, which specialises in global defence news, had reported that “the first private UAV manufacturing facility in India has delivered more than 20 Hermes 900 medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) UAVs to Israel”.

“Hyderabad-based Adani-Elbit Advanced Systems India Ltd, a joint venture company between India’s Adani Defence and Aerospace and Israel’s Elbit Systems, became the first entity to manufacture the UAVs outside of Israel,” it added.

Ynetnews, quoting an Indian news report, said India was supplying Israel with advanced Hermes 900 drones manufactured in Hyderabad. “The report said the factory, established by Israel to supply these drones to the Indian military, converted 20 of them specifically for the IDF due to the shortage created during the war.”

In both these instances there was no official confirmation or comment from India and Israel.

In March, Israeli newspaper Haaretz had reported that the IDF used 70-year-old munitions and shells intended for training in India in Gaza. Faced with weapons shortages, the IDF, according to the report, has been using munitions dating back to the 1950s.

“Then there was the case of ‘the Indian munitions’. No one is sure why they earned this moniker. Legend has it that these were American munitions that came from emergency storehouses in India. Some of these left the factory in 1953, a decade before the first M109. Whatever their source, ultimately the soldiers had to try to accurately fire 70-year-old munitions. According to the US army, the maximal shelf life for such explosives is 40 years in optimal storage conditions of up to 30 degrees Celsius,” Haaretz reported.
National, Politics

Om Birla vs K Suresh: First LS Speaker election as INDIA puts forth nominee

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 Opposition candidate K Suresh will be contesting against NDA’s Om Birla, in a first-ever election for the Speaker post since independence

PTI, New Delhi, Jun 25, 2024 : The ruling BJP-led NDA on Tuesday maintained its streak of continuity in its third term by fielding previous Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla for the crucial parliamentary position again, but its bid for a consensus was thwarted by the opposition which forced an election by nominating Kodikunnil Suresh as its candidate.

    The opposition’s last-minute decision to go for a rare contest came after senior BJP leaders did not agree to its precondition that the INDIA bloc must be offered the post of Deputy Speaker in lieu of supporting Birla, who is the clear favourites in case of an election.
    A brief interaction involving Congress leader K C Venugopal and DMK’s T R Baalu from the opposition side and Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah and J P Nadda, who is also the BJP president, at Singh’s office in Parliament to evolve a consensus ended in acrimony as both sides stuck to their position.
    Both opposition leaders walked out, with Venugopal accusing the government of not following the “convention” of an opposition candidate for the Deputy Speaker’s position and announcing the decision to field a candidate against Birla.
    Union ministers Piyush Goyal of the BJP and Lalan Singh of the JD(U) accused the opposition of resorting to pressure politics and putting forth preconditions despite senior ministers’ assurance that its demand will be considered when the time to pick the Deputy Speaker comes.
    “There can be no pressure politics,” Union minister and JD(U) leader Lalan Singh told reporters, while Goyal said democracy cannot be run on preconditions.
     The scheduled day for picking the Speaker is Wednesday and if an election occurs, it will be only the third time in Lok Sabha’s history, official sources said.
    With the NDA having 293 MPs in its kitty and the INDIA bloc 233, numbers clearly favour Birla in Lok Sabha, which currently has 542 members after Rahul Gandhi resigned from one of the two seats he was elected from. At least three independent members also support the opposition.
     The NDA is hopeful that some unaligned parties, including the YSR Congress having four MPs, will also back Birla.
    BJP sources claimed that the Congress has been the main aggressor on the issue and some other INDIA bloc members are not very keen on a contest.
    If Birla, the BJP MP from Kota, is elected, it will be fifth time that a Speaker would serve beyond the tenure of one Lok Sabha. Though Congress leader Balram Jakhar is the only presiding officer to have served two complete terms extending seventh and eighth Lok Sabha.
    A third-term MP, Birla is also a three-term former Rajasthan MLA and has risen through the ranks in the BJP. Suresh, his rival for the Speaker’s post, is a eighth-term MP from Kerala and hails from a Dalit community.
    If a division of votes takes place in Lok Sabha on Wednesday, then paper slips will be used as the electronic system is not operational yet in the new Lok Sabha where members are still in the process of being allocated their seats.
    Seasoned BJP leader Rajnath Singh had taken the lead in reaching out to opposition parties over the issue as Birla emerged as the NDA’s consensus choice and met its senior leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
    Suresh said it is not about winning or losing, but about a convention that Speaker will be of ruling party and deputy speaker from the opposition.
    “Last two Lok Sabhas, they denied us deputy speaker’s post because they said you are not recognised as the opposition. Now we are recognised as the opposition, (and) deputy speaker post is our right. But they are not ready to give us. Till 11.50, we were waiting for reply from government’s side but they did not give any reply,” he told reporters.
    Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said this has come barely 24 hours after the prime minister advocated consensus in running the country.
    “Convention has been that the Speaker is elected unanimously and the deputy speaker’s post goes to the opposition,” Ramesh said.
    He accused Prime Minister Modi of breaking this tradition.
    “It is actually no surprise. He has still not woken up to the reality of the 2024 poll verdict which was a PPM defeat for him–personal, political and moral,” he posted on X.
    Sources said more than 10 sets of nominations (called notices for motion) were filed in support of Birla’s candidature, including from Prime Minister Modi, Union ministers Shah, Singh and Nadda, and members of BJP allies like TDP, JD(U), JD(S) and LJP (R).
    Three sets of nominations were filed in support of Suresh.
    Known of its knack of springing surprises, the BJP leadership chose to stick to Birla in line with its decision to retains its old hands in key positions.
    Though the Speaker is independent of political and executive control, realpolitik considerations are often the driving force behind the choice for the Chair which is the nerve centre of Parliament’s functioning.
Crime, National

Amid NEET, NET exam mess, UPSC moots AI-based CCTV surveillance to prevent cheating

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PTI, Jun 24, 2024 : Amid NEET and NET exam controversies, UPSC plans to implement AI-based CCTV surveillance and facial recognition to prevent cheating. It has invited bids for solutions including Aadhaar-based fingerprint authentication, facial recognition, and QR code scanning of e-admit cards, along with live AI CCTV monitoring during exams. 

Amid the raging controversies involving alleged irregularities in NEET, NET exams, the country’s premier recruitment body UPSC has decided to use facial recognition and Artificial Intelligence-based CCTV surveillance system to prevent cheating and impersonation in its various tests. It has recently floated a tender to invite bids from experienced public sector undertakings to devise two tech solutions — “Aadhaar based fingerprint authentication (else digital fingerprint capturing) & facial recognition of candidates and QR code scanning of e-admit cards” and “Live AI-based CCTV surveillance service”– to be used during the examination process.
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), a Constitutional body, conducts 14 major exams — including the prestigious civil services examination to select officers of Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and Indian Police Service (IPS) — besides a number of recruitment tests, interviews every year for induction to Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’ posts of the central government.
An estimated 26 lakh candidates are expected to appear in such recruitment, conducted at a maximum of 80 centres in Leh, Kargil, Srinagar, Imphal, Agartala, Aizawl and Gangtok, among other major cities.
“The UPSC attaches great importance to the conduct of its examinations in a free, fair and impartial manner. In its endeavor to fulfill these objectives, the Commission intends to make use of the latest digital technology to match and cross-check the biometric details of the candidates and to monitor various activities of the candidates during the examination to prevent cheating, fraud, unfair means and impersonation,” read the tender document dated June 3, 2024.
Accordingly, the Commission has desired to incorporate Aadhaar-based fingerprint authentication (else digital fingerprint capturing) and facial recognition of candidates, scanning of QR Code of e-admit cards and monitoring through live AI-based CCTV video surveillance, it said.
The move is aimed at strengthening the examination process and eliminating the possibility of malpractices by the candidates.
The selected service provider will use the data provided by the UPSC for Aadhaar-based fingerprint authentication of candidates and facial recognition during the exam, according to the scope of work mentioned in the tender document.
“Provision should be made for a real-time attendance monitoring system through secured web server. System should have provision for real time monitoring of the enrolment activity along with GPS coordinates against every enrolment and time stamp to ensure that enrolment is done during the stipulated shift,” it said.
The Commission said that facial recognition should be performed in a completely stateless transaction of two images — one provided during the online registration and the other captured on the day of the exam.
The UPSC said that it has decided to implement CCTV/video surveillance with recording and live broadcast systems to monitor various activities of the candidates and other persons deployed to conduct the Commission’s examinations at the various centres/venues across the country under a secure environment.
“The service provider has to install adequate number of CCTV colour cameras in every classroom (minimum 1 CCTV camera for 24 candidates), entry/exit gate and control room (where pre-examination sensitive material will be kept and opened and post-examination sensitive material will be packed) of every examination venue,” the document said.
The UPSC said that the service provider will install one CCTV camera for every 24 candidates at each exam hall/room “subject to the condition that at least 1 CCTV camera is installed in every room irrespective of candidates being less than 24.”
In case of the exam hall/room having more than 24 candidates, one CCTV camera for every 24 candidates shall be installed ensuring that the CCTV camera to candidate ratio is not less than 1:24 and that there are zero blind spots, it added.
The AI-based video system need to be capable of generation of alerts “if any movement is detected at entry/exit gates during examination,” and “if the furniture inside the classrooms is not properly arranged.”
It will also alert the authorities “if the cameras are offline or are tempered (sic) by masking or black screen,” “if there is any movement in classrooms 1 hour before or after the exam” and “if Invigilator is not moving even after the specified time/inactivity is detected in Invigilator’s movement,” the tender document said.
The AI should raise red flags at incidents which would indicate cheating, unfair means, absence of invigilators etc, it added.
The date of closure of the bid document is July 7, 1 pm. The bid will be opened on the same day at 1.30 pm.
The development by the UPSC assumes significance as the Central government faces heat over the alleged irregularities in the conduct of UGC-NET — (University Grants Commission-National Eligibility Test) — which determines the eligibility of Indian nationals for Assistant Professor and Junior Research Fellowship — and in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate) or NEET-UG, a medical entrance.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is looking into the allegations of malpractice in both the UGC-NET and NEET-UG exams conducted by the National Testing Agency.