FAQs For Officer Selection At Indian Army

Candidates interested in applying as Officer in the Indian Army can visit the official website of the Indian Army for detailed information. The following are some of the important FAQs for Officer selection at Indian Army.

Q) My Qualification is B.com/M.com/CA, am I eligible for Army?
It will be considered as graduation/post graduation however where specific subjects are being sought by Recruiting Directorate, such equivalence will not be valid.
 

Q) Can I apply without Aadhar number?
You may apply, but you are advised to obtain the same at the earliest and update it in your profile for ease in biometric identification during recruitment/selection.
 

Q) I had qualified in Combined Defence Sevices Examination (CDSE). When is my date of interview?
After the declaration of result by UPSC, the interviews are normally conducted after 45 to 60 days. you can see your SSB interview details on this website.
 

Q) I am doing 10+2. How can I apply to be an Army Officer?
See the advertisement published by UPSC for National Defence Acadamy (NDA) in Apr/Sep every year and for 10+2 TES Entry in leading news papers in Nov/Dec and May/June every year.
 

Q) I had given the address of Delhi in the application. Now I shifted to Kanpur?
Check details of your SSB interview on this website. You can download the instructions and report to the concerned Selection Centre. Write an application to the ADG Rtg, Rtg-6, West Block-III, RK Puram, New Delhi regarding change of address.
 

Q) I met with an accident and my right elbow got hair line cracks. Can I get a second chance?
Send your request along with proof to the Selection Centre from where you got your call. We will give you second chance for interview.
 

Q) I am having problem in my eye sight. Am I eligible for the Service Selection Board (SSB) interview?
The medical standards for joining Armed forces are laid down. They are different for different categories. For details please visit websitewww.joinindianarmy.nic.in .
 

Q) I haven't received the regular call letter. Now I receive the absentee call up letter and I couldn't attend the interview on the date scheduled. Do you give another date immediately.
No, further date is given after absentee batch. To avoid such eventualities you are advised to visitwww.joinindianarmy.nic.in to see details about SSB interviews well in advance.
 

Q) The documents of my son were deposited in the College or University. You are telling that he should bring the original documents for the interview. What can we do?
You are advised to get photocopy duly attested by Gazetted Officer while coming for SSB interview. However originals will have to be produced at the time of joining the Academy.
 

Q) I had deposited my certificates in the counseling centre. As per earlier clarification I approached them to give bonafide certificate and they have denied. What can I do now?
You are advised to get photocopy duly attested by Gazetted Officer while coming for SSB interview. However originals will have to be produced at the time of joining the Academy.
 

Q) What are the avenue available to me to become officer at intermediate level?
National Defence Acadamy (NDA) and 10+2 TES entries are available. Visit our websitewww.joinindianarmy.nic.in for complete details.
 

Q) What are the avenues available to me to join army at Graduate level?
Following entries are available
IMA
OTA
NCC Spl Entry Scheme
TGC
UES. For complete details visit our website https://ift.tt/qOBoC5V.

Q) What are the avenues available to me to join army as a technical graduate?
Technical Graduate course and UES course for Permanent commission and Short Service Commission are available. For details visit websitewww.joinindianarmy.nic.in.

Q) Is there minimum percentage laid down for National Defence Academy (NDA) and Combined Defence Service (CDS) examination?
No, you have to pass your minimum education qualification and appear for the examination conducted by the UPSC.

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Apple Sued By Consumers In US Over "Carbon Neutral Watches" Claim

Apple has been sued by consumers who said its claim that three versions of Apple Watches are "carbon neutral" and environmentally friendly is false and misleading.

In a complaint filed on Wednesday in San Jose, California federal court, seven purchasers of the green-tagged Apple Watch Series 9, SE and Ultra 2 said they would not have bought their watches or would have paid less had they known the truth.

Apple, also known for the iPhone, launched the watches in September 2023, saying they would be carbon neutral through a combination of lower emissions and purchases of carbon offsets.

But the plaintiffs--from California, Florida and Washington, D.C.--said two carbon offsetting projects on which Apple relied to meet its corporate emissions target did not provide "genuine" carbon reductions.

They said much of the land in Kenya's Chyulu Hills Project lies within a national park protected from deforestation since 1983, while land for China's Guinan Project was heavily covered by trees even before the project began in 2015.

"In both cases, the carbon reductions would have occurred regardless of Apple's involvement or the projects' existence," the complaint said. "Because Apple's carbon neutrality claims are predicated on the efficacy and legitimacy of these projects, Apple's carbon neutrality claims are false and misleading."

The plaintiffs also said 70% of U.S. and Canadian consumers consider environmental sustainability crucial when making purchases, citing a study by the National Retail Federation and IBM.

Apple did not immediately respond on Thursday to requests for comment.

The Cupertino, California-based company has aimed to be carbon neutral by 2030, including in its supply chain.

Wednesday's lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and an injunction blocking Apple from marketing the three watches as carbon neutral.

The case is Dib et al v Apple Inc, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 25-02043.

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Iran's Near-Bomb-Grade Uranium Stock Jumps: UN Nuclear Watchdog IAEA Report

Iran's stock of uranium close to weapons-grade has jumped since it announced a dramatic acceleration in enrichment in December and there has been no progress on resolving outstanding issues, two reports by the UN nuclear watchdog said on Wednesday.

The stock of uranium enriched to up to 60% fissile purity, close to the roughly 90% of bomb-grade, has been a long-standing concern for Western powers, which say there is no civil justification for enriching uranium to such a high level. Iran says it seeks only peaceful nuclear energy.

While US President Donald Trump's administration has said it plans to pressure Iran over its nuclear programme, the International Atomic Energy Agency has said time is running out for diplomacy to impose new restrictions on Iran's activities.

"The significantly increased production and accumulation of high enriched uranium by Iran, the only non-nuclear weapon state to produce such nuclear material, is of serious concern," the International Atomic Energy Agency said in a passage that, unusually, was included in both its quarterly reports on Iran.

Those confidential reports, sent to member states on Wednesday and both seen by Reuters, showed that while the stock of 60% material grew by half, there was no real progress on resolving long-running outstanding issues including the unexplained presence of uranium traces at undeclared sites.

The stock of uranium refined to up to 60% in the form of uranium hexafluoride grew by 92.5 kg in the past quarter to 274.8 kg, one of two confidential IAEA reports said.

That is enough in principle, if enriched further, for six nuclear bombs, according to an IAEA yardstick. There is enough for more weapons at lower enrichment levels.

Where before its latest acceleration Iran was producing between 6 and 9 kilograms (13 and 20 pounds) of uranium enriched to up to 60% per month, now that figure is between 35 and 40 kg, a senior diplomat said. This is just short of the 42 kg that is enough in principle for one bomb, if refined further.

One of the reports spelled out the lack of progress on the outstanding issues such as explaining the uranium traces, which the IAEA has been asking the Islamic Republic to do for years.

"Iran states that it has declared all of the nuclear material, activities and locations required under its Safeguards Agreement. This is inconsistent with the Agency's assessments," it said.

"The Agency is, therefore, at an impasse with regard to resolving these outstanding safeguards issues."

During his first, 2017-21 term as president, Trump withdrew the United States from a landmark deal between Iran and major powers that placed strict limits on Tehran's nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. After Trump pulled out in 2018, Iran breached and far surpassed those limits.

With the deal now largely in tatters, European powers are seeking to either have the US help agree new limits on Iran's nuclear programme or use a mechanism in the deal to re-impose all sanctions before the deal expires in October.

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Check Schedule For CA Mock Test Paper Series For May 2025 Exam

For students appearing in CA Foundation Course for May 2025 and September 2025 examinations, the Board of Studies is commencing Mock Test Papers Series – I from April 22, 2025 and Series II from May 5, 2025.
The schedule for the same is as follows:

Series 1
April 22, 2025- Paper 1:  Accounting
April 23, 2025- Paper 2: Business Law
April 24, 2025- Paper 3: Quantitative Aptitude
April 25, 2025- Paper-5: Business Economics

Series 2
May 5, 2025- Paper-1: Accounting
May 6, 2025- Paper 2: Business Law 
May 7, 2025- Paper 3: Quantitative Aptitude
May 8, 2025- Paper-4: Business Economics
 

Intermediate classes
Intermediate classes will be held in virtual sessions as per the following schedule: 
Series I from March 20, 2025 and Series II from April 8, 2025
March 20, 2025, Thursday (11am) -- Paper 1 Advanced Accounting
March 21, 2025, Friday (11 am) -- Paper 3 -Taxation (Section A : Income Tax Laws)
March 22, 2025, Saturday (11 am) -- Paper 4 - Cost & Management Accounting
March 24, 2025, Monday (11 am) -- Paper 6 - (Section A - Financial Management)

March 20, 2025, Thursday (2 pm) -- Paper 2 - Corporate and Other Laws
March 21, 2025, Friday (2 pm) --  Paper 3 - Taxation (Section B :Goods & Services Tax)
March 22, 2025, Saturday (2 pm) -- Paper 5 - Auditing and Ethics
March 24, 2025, Monday (2 pm) -- Paper 6 - (Section B - Strategic Management)

Series 2
April 08, 2025, Tuesday (11 am)--Paper 1 - Advanced Accounting 
April 09, 2025, Wednesday (11 am)--Paper 3 - Taxation (Section A : Income Tax Laws)
April 11, 2025, Friday (11 am)-- Paper 4 - Cost & Management Accounting
April 14, 2025, Monday (11 am)-- Paper 6 - (Section A - Financial Management)

April 08, 2025, Tuesday (2 pm)-- Paper 2 - Corporate and Other Laws
April 09, 2025, Wednesday (2 pm)-- Paper 3 - Taxation (Section B : Goods & Services Tax)
April 11, 2025, Friday (2 pm)-- Paper 5 - Auditing and Ethics
April 14, 2025, Monday (2 pm)-- Paper 6 - (Section B - Strategic Management)

CA Final 
March 24, 2025 (11 am) -- Paper-1: Financial Reporting
March 25,2025 (11 am)-- Paper-3: Advanced Auditing, Assurance and Professional Ethics
March 26, 2025 (11 am)-- Paper-5: Indirect Tax Laws 
March 24, 2025 (2 pm) -- Paper-2: Advanced Financial Management
March 25,2025 (2 pm)--  Paper-4: Direct tax Laws & International Taxation
March 26, 2025 (2 pm)-- Paper-6: Integrated Business Solutions (Multidisciplinary Case Study  with Strategic Management)

April 16,2025 (11 am) Paper-1: Financial Reporting
April 17,2025 (11 am) Paper-3: Advanced Auditing, Assurance and Professional Ethics
April 18,2025 (11 am) Paper-5: Indirect Tax Laws 
April 16,2025 (2 pm) Paper-2: Advanced Financial Management
April 17,2025 (2 pm) Paper-3: Paper-4: Direct tax Laws & International Taxation
April 18,2025 (2 pm) Paper-6: Integrated Business Solutions (Multidisciplinary Case Study with Strategic Management)
 

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For Children Of Jammu And Kashmir, Amit Shah's Message Of Peace

"Naya Kashmir" is evolving rapidly and is moving towards peace and development, and with the help of young people, the government aspires to make it a place where no one dies due to terrorism, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said today. Kashmir, once was badly affected by bomb blasts and terrorism, has undergone a remarkable transformation in the last decade, he added.

"Over the last 10 years, not only the level of violence but also the number of civilian killings have dropped by 80 per cent," the minister said while addressing 250 children from Jammu and Kashmir who were visiting Delhi as part of the programme "Apne watan ko jano (Know your motherland)".

"Incidents of stone throwing, bomb blasts and terrorism have been eliminated, allowing schools to function smoothly. Infrastructure development, including roads, hospitals, and universities, has progressed rapidly. Moreover, 36,000 elected public representatives now have their rightful authority at the Panchayat and Municipality levels, strengthening grassroots democracy in the region," he told the gathering.

When terrorism comes to an end, there will be no need for the deployment of police or security forces, the minister said. 

"That day is not far when there will be no weapons in anyone's hands, and there will be no need for police or army with weapons... When there is peace, no police will be required," Mr Shah added.

He tasked the children with going back to their villages and talking to their families and friends about peace, harmony, and development. "When you go home, tell your friends, neighbours that the entire country is living in peace and the people of Jammu and Kashmir should also live in peace," Mr Shah said.

Data from the ministry shows that over the last three decades, 38,000 people have been killed in Kashmir due to violence.

His audience included 250 children from weaker sections of Jammu and Kashmir -- 62 girls and 188 boys in the age group of 9-18 years. The group had earlier visited Jaipur, Ajmer and Delhi under "Watan Ko Jano" programme organized by Social Welfare Department of the J&K government in coordination with Union Home Ministry.

So far, 2,868 young people have participated in "Watan Ko Jano" programme. Ministry officials say the participants are mainly picked from the orphanages located in the districts.

"Preference is given to children from terrorism affected families, destitute children and children from weaker sections," a senior official said.

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Steel Authority Of India Hiring Doctors, Monthly Salary Up To Rs 2.5 Lakh

SAIL Recruitment 2025: The Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) is accepting applications for MBBS doctor positions. Eligible candidates can apply via the official website. Additionally, an advance copy of the application in the prescribed format may be emailed to ispcf01@sail.in with the subject line "Consultants (Doctors in Medical Disciplines) at IISCO Steel Plant (ISP), Burnpur" by March 1, 2025.

Selection Process

Candidates will be selected through a walk-in interview as per the schedule in the official notification. Those planning to appear should prepare accordingly.

Vacancy Details

SAIL, a Maharatna company under the Government of India, is offering a government job opportunity for medical professionals. Vacancies are available for consultants (doctors in medical disciplines) at IISCO Steel Plant (ISP), Burnpur Hospital.

Post-Wise Vacancies

Post    Vacancies

• Specialist - Microbiology    01
• Specialist - Obstetrics & Gynaecology    03
• Specialist - Pulmonary Medicine    01
• Specialist - Anesthesiology    01
• Specialist - Pathology    01
• Specialist - Medicine    02
• Specialist - Orthopedics    01
• Specialist - Ophthalmology    01
• Specialist - Radiology    01
• Specialist - Public Health    01
• General Duty Medical Officer (GDMO)    05
• General Duty Medical Officer (GDMO) - OHS    01
• Specialist - Pediatrics    01

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates applying for Specialist or GDMO positions must hold an MBBS degree along with a PG Diploma, PG Degree, or DNB in the relevant specialty. Applicants must also be registered with the Medical Council of India (MCI), National Medical Commission (NMC), or State Medical Council (SMC) and possess a valid license to practice medicine in India. Further details are available in the official notification.

Age Limit And Salary

Maximum Age: 69 years as of February 19, 2025

Salary Range: Rs 90,000 to Rs 2,50,000 per month (post-dependent)

Selection Process & Interview Schedule

SAIL will conduct walk-in interviews as per the following schedule:

Specialist Positions: March 5-6, 2025
GDMO Positions: March 7-8, 2025

Walk-in Interview Venue And Reporting Time

Candidates must report between 10am and 4pm at:
CMO I/C (M&HS), Burnpur Hospital, Burnpur-713325, District Paschim Bardhaman, West Bengal

        Remuneration

         Qualification                                        Monthly Consolidated Salary

• GDMO - MBBS                                        Rs 90,000
• Specialist - MBBS with PG Diploma        Rs 1,20,000
• Specialist - MBBS with PG Degree         Rs 1,60,000
• Specialist - MBBS with DM / MCh/ DNB Rs 2,50,000

Check detailed notification here

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"Folly To Be Wise...": Shashi Tharoor's Cryptic Post Amid Congress Rift Buzz

Amid the buzz of a rift between him and the Congress over his recent praise of certain policies of the Pinarayi Vijayan-led CPI(M) government in Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor has put up a cryptic post on X, stating, that being wise is sometimes a mistake.

Sharing a quote from English poet Thomas Gray's poem 'Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College', Mr Tharoor wrote, "Though of the Day: "Where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise."

Thought for the day! pic.twitter.com/hXDxn9p0rv

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) February 22, 2025

Mr Tharoor has been at the receiving end of criticism from Kerala Congress leaders for his praise of some of the CPI(M) government's policies in the state and the PM's US visit. 

Mr Tharoor defended his praise for PM Modi's US visit and said that he spoke with India's interests in mind and that "we cannot always speak only in terms of party interest." He noted that PM Modi being the fourth world leader to meet Trump after he took office underscored India's growing importance on the global stage.

Following his praise for Prime Minister Modi, he appreciated the entrepreneurial growth of CPI(M)-led Kerala in an article. The Left party welcomed the Congress MP's validation, terming Mr Tharoor's comments as recognition of Pinarayi Vijayan's administration's achievements.

"As a Member of Parliament from Kerala, I wrote this article focusing on a specific issue -- the transformation of the industrial landscape through the growth of the startup sector. As a Congress worker, I take pride in acknowledging that it was former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy who initiated this change," he wrote in Malayalam.

He credited Chandy's policies for laying the foundation for Kerala's startup ecosystem, citing initiatives like the 'Startup Village' and the 'Kerala Startup Mission', which have been continued by the current government.

Kerala Congress vs Shashi Tharoor

The row escalated after, Veekshanam Daily, the Congress party's mouthpiece in Kerala, published an editorial criticising Congress leader Shashi Tharoor -without naming him.

It urged him not to betray the expectations of thousands of party workers ahead of the upcoming local body elections.

The strongly worded editorial stated that an anti-incumbency wave was prevalent in the state and that attempts to suppress it by those responsible for fuelling it represented a 'distorted' political practice.

A day later, Mr Tharoor withdrew a poster from his Facebook, reportedly from the Kerala Congress Committee, which referred to members of the CPI(M) as "cannibals".

Hours after sharing the controversial poster commemorating Kripesh and Sarathlal, the Youth Congress workers who were killed in Periya in Kasaragod district, by CPI(M) workers five years ago, Mr Tharoor made another post, sharing their photos but without any reference to the CPI(M).

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Kerala Railway Division Withdraws Order Banning Soft Drink, Mouthwash For Loco Pilots

The Thiruvananthapuram division of the Southern Railway has withdrawn a circular that had banned the consumption of certain dietary items that produced false breathalyser test reports, impacting crew deployment and smooth train operations.

A written communication on February 20 from the division to the authorities concerned said "the extraordinary circular on breath analyser test" dated February 18 has been withdrawn.

Railway sources said the loco pilots' union resented the division's decision as it was legally unjustifiable.

The said extraordinary circular issued by the division on February 18 said the presence of alcohol in the exhaled air detected by the breath analyser at the time of starting or completing the duty is on the rise and the reasons cited for such unwarranted occurrences by the crew are mainly the consumption or use of homoeopathic medicines, soft drink, tender coconut water, some kind of plantain fruits, cough syrup, mouthwash etc.

While analysing the blood samples taken in such cases at the Chemical Examiner's Laboratory owned by the government, almost all samples were found with no content of alcohol, the circular said.

However, the false breathalyser test created a disturbance and directly affected smooth train operations.

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Astronomers Detect Flares From Milky Way's Black Hole

Astronomers have observed a flare of light near Sagittarius A, the supermassive black hole at the centre of the Milky Way galaxy. These bursts happen daily; some last seconds, others shine for a bit longer.

Using the James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers got the most detailed look at this black hole activity. The study builds on previous findings that show Sagittarius A is highly energetic, as per CNN.

Black holes are invisible, but the light comes from a spinning disk of hot gas and dust called the accretion disk. The findings published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters state that this disk sits just outside the event horizon, the point where gravity is so strong that nothing can escape, not even light.

Astronomer Yusef-Zadeh explained that flares are expected in all supermassive black holes, but Sagittarius A is unique. Unlike others, it is constantly active and never settles into a steady state. Observations made throughout 2023 and 2024 revealed changes every time, with each viewing showing something new.

Using Webb's NIRCam instrument, Yusef-Zadeh and his colleagues observed Sagittarius A for 48 hours every eight to 10-hours over the course of a year. The team spied five to six big flares a day as well as smaller flashes of light in between. 

According to Mr Zadeh, the black hole's changing activity is likely caused by the unpredictable flow of material into the accretion disk.

The team suggests that the short bursts of light result from small, turbulent shifts within the disk, which may compress hot, energetic gas known as plasma and trigger flashes of radiation.

The larger and longer flares may be caused by magnetic reconnection events, where two magnetic fields near the black hole collide and release high-energy particles, moving close to the speed of light, said Mr Zadeh.

Mark Morris, a distinguished research professor in physics and astronomy at UCLA, said the new study confirmed the black hole experienced continuous changes, a pattern previously observed. 

Although he was not involved in the research, Mr Morris noted that X-ray astronomers have found strong evidence suggesting that within the past few hundred years, at least one or possibly two massive flares have occurred. These flares were 10,000 to 100,000 times more intense than anything detected in the last 25 years of close monitoring of Sagittarius A.

The cause of these powerful flares remains a mystery. However, astronomers speculate that the black hole may have gobbled up a planet a few hundred years ago, said Mr Morris.

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Delhi Police Arrest 3 Men With Heroin Worth Over Rs 50 Crore In Major Inter-State Drug Bust

Three men have been arrested from Manipur with 10 kilograms of high-grade heroin worth over Rs 50 crore in the international market, an official said on Thursday.

The Special Cell of the Delhi Police has claimed to dismantle an inter-state narcotics syndicate with the arrest of -- Mitralal Khatiwoda alias Manoj (45), Krishna Neopani (21), and Akash Karki (25) -- all residents of Manipur.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) (Special Cell) Amit Kaushik said the Special Cell unit had been tracking an inter-state drug network operating across Manipur, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi-NCR.

The syndicate was actively involved in smuggling heroin from Myanmar into India via Manipur and further distributing it across different states, Kaushik said.

He said investigators spent more than four to five months gathering intelligence through technical and manual surveillance. During this period, police teams visited West Bengal and Manipur multiple times to track the movement of the traffickers and develop local sources.

On January 23, a raiding team was formed based on a tip-off about Mitralal and Akash, who were planning to deliver a heroin consignment in Delhi's Mangolpuri Industrial Area, the officer said.

The two arrived at the designated spot in an e-rickshaw along with their associate Krishna and as soon as they were identified by the informer, police apprehended all the three suspects, he added.

A thorough search led to the recovery of 10 kilograms of high-quality heroin, hidden inside their belongings, he said, adding that a case was registered an investigation was launched.

During interrogation, the accused revealed that they were part of a well-organised drug syndicate that smuggled heroin from Myanmar into India, DCP Kaushik said.

The operation began with raw opium being procured from the Myanmar border, which was then processed into heroin in Thoubal, Manipur, police said.

The drug was subsequently transported via carriers to Dimapur (Nagaland), Guwahati (Assam), and Siliguri (West Bengal), before reaching Delhi-NCR, officials said.

Traffickers concealed heroin in secret cavities within trucks to evade detection, making it nearly impossible to spot during routine checks, police said.

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"Being In WhatsApp Groups Doesn't Indicate Criminality": Umar Khalid To Court

Activist Umar Khalid on Thursday argued in the Delhi High Court that his mere presence in WhatsApp groups was not enough to attribute any criminality to him and the police equated staging protests and attending meetings with terror.

Senior advocate Trideep Pais, while representing Khalid, argued before a bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Shalinder Kaur and sought bail for his client in an Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) case related to the February 2020 riots.

Pais opposed the prosecution's claim that Khalid created "communal" groups on WhatsApp to mobilise and instigate students and to plan a "disruptive" chakka jam (blockades), saying he was not even an active member of these groups.

"I have been added to the groups. I have not posted a single message. I am not even chatting. I have been roped in by somebody. Merely being in a group is not an indicator of any criminal wrong," argued Pais, responding to the police's submissions.

"(Offences under) UAPA are not made out against me. They are equating protest and attending a meeting to terror," he added.

Pais said co-accused Devangana Kalita and others were also part of such groups and faced "far more serious allegations" in the violence but were granted bail in the case.

He said nothing was recovered from Khalid aside from the fact that there was "nothing criminal about what he said" in his speeches and the statements of protected witnesses against him were hearsay.

Pais underlined his client's incarceration saying Khalid had spent 4.5 years in jail and the delay in trial was a ground to release him on bail.

"(There are) 800 witnesses and (case pending since) five years. Charges are yet to be framed. We can quibble over who is at fault ..but (the trial court record shows) that while the others did not wish to go on with their arguments on charge, I wanted to. The prosecution itself moved the high court and obtained a stay for six months stating that they were unwilling to give hard copies of documents," he said.

Khalid, who was arrested by the Delhi Police in September 2020, challenged a trial court order refusing to grant him bail in the case for the second time.

Aside from Khalid, several others were booked in the case of the February 2020 riots, which left 53 people dead and over 700 injured.

The violence erupted during the protests against the CAA and NRC.

Pais previously questioned the "basis" on which the city police made him an accused in the UAPA case when no criminality was alleged against many others who allegedly attended the supposed conspiratorial meetings.

Delhi Police opposed the bail plea, saying the speeches by Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and others created a sense of fear after a common reference to CAA-NRC, Babri mosque, triple talaq and Kashmir.

It argued that statements of several protected witnesses establish that the accused persons were not "innocent bystanders" who merely organised protest sites, but planned to cause violence through WhatsApp groups, resulting in registration of 751 FIRs related to the riots.

Bail pleas by other co-accused - including Sharjeel Imam, are pending in high court.

The matter would be heard on March 4.

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Bill Gates Warns US Foreign Aid Cut Could Put "Millions" At Risk

Elon Musk's aggressive cost-cutting measures in the US government will put "millions" at risk, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has warned. If aid funding from the world's largest economy continues to dwindle, lives will be on the line, the philanthropist added.

He hopes some of the measures introduced by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) will be reversed.

"I'm hopeful that some significant portion of that can be reversed and preserved," the billionaire said in a PBS interview. "Elon, of all the elimination he's done, 99 per cent of it is these employees at USAID who work overseas in very tough circumstances. They allow the US, in addition to our military power, to get out there and help with famine relief and HIV medicines."

Earlier this month, Mr Gates said Trump seemed open to discussions on continuing USAID support. But with Musk and Trump now halting USAID's work - placing staff on leave, freezing spending, and reducing the agency's workforce from thousands to just 300 - those discussions are nowhere in the picture.

"I know a lot of those workers, I know that work," Mr Gates said. "A very, very high percentage of it is stuff every taxpayer would be proud of."

He specifically spoke of the importance of PEPFAR (President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) which has saved over 26 million lives through HIV and AIDS prevention with $110 billion in funding since its inception two decades ago.

Mr Gates claimed Musk acknowledged potential missteps in DOGE's approach. Last week, when asked about a $50 million aid payment for condoms in Gaza that was allegedly blocked by mistake, Musk admitted to errors. The payment was reportedly intended for HIV prevention in Mozambique's Gaza region, not the conflict zone in Palestine.

Asked how many lives were at risk if these health programmes weren't reinstated, Mr Gates said the number was "definitely in the millions."

He said that PEPFAR has kept over 20 million alive with HIV drugs. "It was started by President Bush and continued on a bipartisan basis literally up to the day Elon decided it wasn't a good organisation," he said.

"Keeping people alive from HIV - the US has done a great job. Even if we have to reduce that sum, an abrupt withdrawal is a terrible thing."

When the White House announced its 90-day pause on foreign aid, it highlighted that the US spends around $40 billion a year on such funding. But this is a small fraction of total government spending - just 1.6 per cent of the $2.44 trillion spent since October.

Among the aid programs scrapped by DOGE was a $21 million USAID grant to boost voter turnout in India. Trump defended DOGE's budget cuts, saying the agency had already saved over $55 billion by eliminating what he called wasteful government spending.

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Delhi Pollution Control Panel Submits Yamuna Rejuvenation Plan To PM's Office

With the change in government in the national capital, an action plan to rejuvenate the Yamuna river has been submitted to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), focusing on boosting sewage treatment capacity and other critical measures, officials said on Wednesday.

The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) under the Department of Environment presented a document to the PMO last week regarding the cleaning and rejuvenation of the Yamuna.

The plan, accessed by PTI, also outlines key measures, including tapping of major drains, setting up new sewage treatment plants (STPs), connecting drainage system in JJ clusters, trapping all drains, upgrading common effluent treatment plants (CETPs), removing encroachments from floodplains and beautifying the riverfront.

Cleaning of the Yamuna was at the centre of politics in the run-up to the Delhi assembly polls with the BJP slamming the then ruling AAP for failing to rejuvenate the river during its 10-year rule.

The BJP, which has come to power winning 48 out of the 70 assembly seats in the recent polls, has said cleaning of the Yamuna will be among the top priorities of its government in Delhi.

According to the document sent to PMO last week, the DPCC has highlighted that the 48-km stretch of the Yamuna from Palla to Asgarpur village in the city has been classified as a "Priority-1" (top priority) polluted stretch.

A key concern raised in the document is the high Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) levels, which remain far above the desired standard of 3 mg/l. To improve water quality, the document has emphasised the need for a minimum environmental flow (E-flow) of 23 cumecs (437 MGD).

However, due to existing water shortages, the current flow into Delhi is nearly nil. Pending dam projects, including Renuka, Lakhawar and Kishau, could help address this gap, it said.

The plan to curb pollution includes a 100 per cent sewage treatment initiative, which involves upgrading 37 existing STPs and constructing new ones.

The city's sewage treatment capacity is set to increase from 792 MGD (million gallons per day) in 2023 to 964.5 MGD by December 2026, with a new STP planned at Delhi Gate and 40 new decentralised STPs (DSTPs) being prepared.

Additionally, 14 existing STPs are scheduled for upgradation by December 2026.

Efforts are also being made to trap and divert 22 drains that flow into the Yamuna.

According to the DPCC's document, 10 drains have already been tapped, two are partially tapped and eight remain untapped.

Five major drains -- Najafgarh, Shahdara, Barapullah, Maharani Bagh and Mori Gate -- are yet to be addressed to divert 48.14 MGD of waste water by December 2025.

The plan also focuses on expanding the sewerage network in unauthorised colonies and JJ clusters, with 1,799 unauthorised colonies currently undergoing work. The target for completion is December 2026.

Addressing concerns over encroachment, the report states that over 1,500 acres of floodplain have been cleared in the past 31 months, with drone surveys assisting in further removal.

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has been tasked with restoring riverfront areas, developing biodiversity parks and removing construction debris. A drone survey is also being conducted to assess and clear further encroachments, the plan stated.

For the beautification and restoration of the Yamuna riverfront, the plan includes the development of 11 biodiversity parks and wetland areas covering approximately 1,600 hectares.

The restoration of historical ghats is also a key focus, with Vasudev Ghat already developed and DDA working to conserve the old ghats.

Additionally, the removal of construction waste and debris from the floodplains is being prioritised, with the DDA coordinating efforts to clear materials left from bridge, metro and rail projects.

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Last Chance To Watch Planetary Parade Until 2040: Check Details

The so-called planetary parade which started last month is heading towards its grand finale. For a brief moment on February 28, all planets in our solar system will appear in the night sky - a celestial phenomenon that scientists have described as rare.

After Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune aligned in the night sky between January 21 and 29, it will be the last time until 2040 that all seven planets, including Mercury, will align to create a spectacular night sky.

What is planetary alignment?

Astronomers use planetary alignment to describe the phenomenon when planets gather closely on one side of the Sun at the same time. Any number of planets, ranging from three to eight constitutes an alignment. Five or six planets showing up together is known as a large alignment, with five-planet alignments significantly more frequent than six. However, seven-planet alignments are the rarest of all.

Unlike diagrams and illustrations, the planets will not be visible in a queue. Planets orbit the Sun in different orbits in three-dimensional space which makes it almost impossible for them to come together in a straight line.

"While it's true that they [planets] will appear more or less along a line across the sky, that's what planets always do. That line is called the ecliptic, and it represents the plane of the solar system in which the planets orbit around the Sun," NASA explains.

"This is, incidentally, why we sometimes observe planets appearing to approach closely to each other on the sky, as we view them along a line while they careen around the cosmic racetrack."

Also Read | Planetary Parade 2025: How And Where To See This Rare Celestial Event In India

How to view the planetary parade?

To witness the parade of planets, get far away from city lights to an open area or hill. If the weather is clear, you will be able to see most planets to the naked eye, bar Neptune and Uranus. A telescope might help you witness these two planets.

Notably, Mars will appear in the east, Jupiter and Uranus in the southeast, and Venus, Neptune, and Saturn in the west. While January was special due to the Quadrantid meteor shower and the partial planetary parade, February has the ingredients to be even more special, owing to the rare alignment.

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IIM Raipur Invites Applications For PhD Programme, Check Details

IIM Raipur Admission 2025: IIM Raipur has opened the application process for admission to its PhD programme in Management for the academic year 2024-2025. Eligible and interested candidates can apply by visiting the official website, iimraipur.ac.in.

The four-year PhD program is designed for management students, offering a blend of scholarly learning and managerial, entrepreneurial, and professional expertise to enhance their academic careers.

Key Dates

Application Deadline: May 10, 2025
Personal Interview (PI): May 26 to 28, 2025
Result Declaration: June 5, 2025
Onboarding and Commencement of Classes: June 22, 2025

The official notification states: "The PhD Programme of IIM Raipur aims to admit individuals with exceptional academic backgrounds, strong motivation and discipline, and the potential to become excellent researchers at the international level. IIM Raipur will be happy to welcome research scholars from diverse academic backgrounds, including social sciences, humanities, physical and mathematical sciences, engineering, and other disciplines."

Areas of Specialisation

• Economics & Public Policy
• Finance and Accounting
• Information Systems
• HRM & OB
• Humanities & Liberal Arts, including Business Communication
• Marketing Management
• Operations and Quantitative Techniques
• Strategic Management

Program Duration

The program is typically completed within four years. However, extensions may be granted in exceptional circumstances.

Financial Support

During the first and second years, a stipend of Rs 50,000 per month is provided. In the third and fourth years, this amount increases to Rs 55,000 per month upon the successful completion of the Comprehensive Exam. Additionally, a total of Rs 2,00,000 is allocated for participation in international and national conferences, as well as doctoral colloquiums, over the entire four-year period. A one-time contingency grant of up to Rs 50,000 is also provided for the purchase of a laptop or PC.

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Clips Of Women's Check-Up At Gujarat Hospital Shared On YouTube, Probe Ordered

After horror stories from changing rooms in hotels and malls with hidden cameras, several videos of women being examined at a maternity hospital in Gujarat have been uploaded to YouTube and Telegram channels, putting a question mark on the security of women at an institution widely considered to be safe.

The CCTV clips - showing nursing staff administering injections to women patients - from Rajkot's Payal Maternity Home were widely shared online and eventually came to the notice of Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Police.

When the hospital's director was questioned, he claimed that the CCTV server was hacked.

"I don't know how the hospital videos went viral. Our CCTV server seems to have been hacked. However, we are also unaware of why this happened and will inform the police. We will also lodge a complaint and cooperate with the police in investigating all the issues," Dr Amit Akbari, who works at the hospital, said.

A case has also been filed by the Rajkot Cyber Crime Police. The team has been interrogating the entire hospital staff, including doctors.

"The content of the videos is being investigated. We are investigating who took these videos and for what purpose. We will file a case under sections 66E, 67 of the Cyber Crime IT Act," police said.

- With inputs from Mahendra Prasad.

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Local AAP Leader, Girlfriend Arrested Over His Wife's Murder In Punjab

Police on Monday arrested a local AAP leader, his girlfriend and four alleged contract killers in connection with the murder of his wife, who is also a party leader.

Lipsy Mittal (33), wife of Anokh Mittal, was killed on Saturday by robbers near a village here, officials said.

Anokh and his wife Lipsy were returning home after having dinner at a hotel on the Ludhiana-Malerkotla road, police had said.

He had initially told the police that robbers intercepted them on Saturday, attacked the couple with sharp-edged weapons and fled with their car.

Police Commissioner Kuldeep Singh Chahal said that the key conspirator of the murder turned out to be the woman's husband.

He said that the police have arrested her husband and local AAP leader Anokh Mittal (35), also a businessman and his 24-year-old girlfriend.

Police said that Anokh's wife had discovered that her husband had an extramarital affair following which he hatched the plan to his wife with the girlfriend.

The commissioner said that besides Anokh and his girlfriend, four contract killers -- Amritpal Singh alias Balli (26), Gurdeep Singh alias Manni (25), Sonu Singh (24) and Sagardeep Singh alias Teji (30) -- have also been arrested.

He added that Amritpal, Gurdeep and Sonu are from nearby village Nandpur and Sagardeep is a resident of Dhandari Kalan.

Meanwhile, the kingpin of the contract killers' gang, Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi, is still on the run, he said.

Anokh had promised to pay Rs 2.5 lakhs to the contract killers and paid Rs 50,000 in advance, the police officer said.

Further investigations were in progress, police said.

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Taiwan Considering Multi-Billion Dollar Arms Purchase From US: Report

Taiwan is exploring buying arms worth billions of dollars from the United States, sources briefed on the matter said, hoping to win support from the new Trump administration as China continues to apply military pressure on the island.

Three sources familiar with the situation, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity given the sensitivity of the situation, told Reuters that Taiwan is in talks with Washington.

The package is meant to demonstrate to the United States that Taiwan is committed to its defense, one of the sources said.

A second source said the package would include coastal defense cruise missiles and HIMARS rockets.

"I would be very surprised if it was less than $8 billion. Somewhere between $7 billion to $10 billion," the source added.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. However, US national security adviser Mike Waltz has said he wants to speed delivery of weapons to Taiwan.

Taiwan's defense ministry declined to comment on specific purchases but said it is focused on building its defenses.

"Any weaponry and equipment that can achieve those goals for building the military are listed as targets for tender," it said.

China claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control. Taiwan strongly objects to China's sovereignty claims and says only the island's people can decide their future.

TRUMP-TAIWAN RELATIONS

US President Donald Trump unnerved chip powerhouse Taiwan on the election campaign trail by saying the island stole American semiconductor business. This month, he threatened tariffs on chip imports.

But his administration maintained diplomatic support for the Chinese-claimed island.

Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba issued a joint statement on February 7 opposing any attempt to change the current situation in the Taiwan Strait through force or coercion. The U.S. State Department also removed language on its website that it does not support Taiwan independence, a move praised by the island's government. China has urged the US to "correct its mistakes".

Taiwan plans to propose a special defense budget that prioritizes precision ammunition, air-defense upgrades, command and control systems, equipment for the reserve forces and anti-drone technology, a third source familiar with the matter said.

During his 2017-2021 term, Trump established regular arms sales to Taiwan, including multi-billion dollar deals for F-16 fighter jets. The Biden administration continued these sales, though often with smaller price tags.

Taiwanese officials see encouraging signs from Trump's administration even as tariff threats weigh on that optimism.

Taiwan does not believe Trump is looking to make a "grand bargain" with Chinese President Xi Jinping to sell out Taiwan's interests, one of the sources said. Trump is more concerned with putting tariffs on semiconductors, the source said.

In another sign of US commitment to Taiwan, the top US diplomat in Taiwan, Raymond Greene, will retain his post, three sources told Reuters, even as other US diplomatic postings undergo major reshuffles.

The US State Department did not immediately respond to a question about Greene's job status.

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US Plane Carrying 2nd Batch Of 116 Indian Immigrants Lands In Amritsar

A plane carrying 116 Indians arrived from the United States at Punjab's Amritsar airport on Saturday, the second such arrival in a span of 10 days, as part of the Donald Trump administration's crackdown and decision to deport illegal immigrants.

The first round of deportation had taken place on February 5, when a US military plane transported 104 Indians to Amritsar. A third plane with 157 deportees is expected to land in India on Sunday. 

The C-17 Globemaster aircraft of the US Air Force landed at the Amritsar International Airport close to 11:40 pm on Saturday. 

Of the total deportees, 65 are from Punjab, 33 are from Haryana, eight from Gujarat, two each from Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Maharashtra and Rajasthan, and one each from Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. The families of some of them reached the airport to receive them.

Earlier, those deported were from Haryana (33), Gujarat (33), Punjab (30), Maharashtra (3) Uttar Pradesh (3), and Chandigarh (2). They were sent back on the same military aircraft that took off from San Antonio, Texas.

The deportees were shackled and restrained throughout the flight, only to be freed upon arrival in India - a move that triggered a political storm in India, and led to an uproar in both Houses of Parliament during the then ongoing Budget session.

Amid criticism, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the Centre is engaging with the US to ensure the deportees are not mistreated. He also said the US' deportation of illegal migrants is not a new development and has been going on for years. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was in the US earlier this week, said India will take back any of its citizens living illegally in the US. He, however, emphasised that efforts need to be made to end human trafficking. 

"Our bigger fight is against that entire ecosystem, and we are confident that President Trump will fully cooperate with India in finishing this ecosystem," he said. 

In its defense, the US Embassy in India said "enforcing our nation's immigration laws is critically important to the national security and public safety of the United States". "It is the policy of the United States to faithfully execute the immigration laws against all inadmissible and removable aliens," an embassy spokesperson said.

India is the third source of undocumented immigrants in the US after Mexico and El Salvador.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann visited the Amritsar airport earlier in the day and said his government has made arrangements to take the residents of Punjab from among the second batch of deportees to their hometowns.

The deportees who hail from other states will head to Delhi from Amritsar in a flight on Sunday morning and then they will be taken to their respective places, he said.

Mr Mann also attacked the Centre over the landing of the planes at the Amritsar airport and asked it not to make the holy city a "deport centre".

Most of the deportees belonging to Punjab earlier said they wanted to migrate to the US for a better life for their families. However, their dreams were shattered when they were caught on the US border and sent back in shackles.

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All Special Trains To Prayagraj To Run From Platform 16 At New Delhi Station

A day after the tragic stampede incident at New Delhi railway station, Northern Railway enforced a number of measures to avoid any such untoward incident in the days to come.

The Ministry of Railways has announced that all special trains in the direction of Prayagraj will be run from platform number 16.

"Therefore, all the passengers wanting to go to Prayagraj shall come & go from Ajmeri Gate side of New Delhi railway station. Regular trains will continue to be operated from all platforms as the regular practice is. This is a step in the direction of avoiding peak hour rush getting accumulated in one platform," the Ministry said in an official statement.

"In addition, the deployment of RPF & GRP forces in New Delhi Railway station has been increased. These personnel are assisting the passengers by helping them guide towards the platform in which their train is scheduled to depart. In addition to the focus on increased operational efficiency in rush hours, Northern Railways ran three special trains by evening 7 pm to clear the additional rush in the direction of Prayagraj. This includes one special train to Darbhanga via Prayagraj and two more special trains towards Prayagraj. Besides regular trains towards prayagraj one more special Train is scheduled to depart at 9 pm to cater to the peak evening hour demand. Given the unprecedented crowd of travellers wanting to go in the direction of Prayagraj, Indian Railway has scheduled five more special trains Tomorrow, i.e. 17/02/205 for Mahakumbh devotees," the statement added.

The Ministry said that in order to avoid any untoward incident in future, Indian Railways appeals through media outlets to the public at large, "not to fall prey to rumours" as it was witnessed in the unfortunate incident at New Delhi railway station yesterday.

"All the travellers are requested not to change platforms on hearsay and strictly follow the official announcement. Indian Railway seeks cooperation of passengers by adhering to operational planning of Indian Railways. This will go a long way & help zonal railway authorities to smoothly execute planned regular & special train services for the commuters," it added.

"Railways Helpline no 139 continues to serve for the people to reach out for any enquiry and passenger support during ongoing rush situations. Indian Railways has received more than 130 calls relating to yesterday's unfortunate incident on this helpline number by 5 PM today. Further, Indian Railway personnel assisted the families of each deceased by accompanying them to their Homes and & took part in their final rites," it said.

Earlier in the day, Indian Railways announced compensation of rupees 10 lakh to the relatives of all the 18 who died. An amount of rupees 2.5 lakh to grievously injured passengers and a compensation of rupees 1 lakh for passengers with minor injury were distributed to the 15 injured, during the day.

The two-member high-level committee announced to probe yesterday's untoward incident has begun its work. The committee comprises Pankaj Gangwar, Principal Chief Security Commissioner & Nar Singh, Principal Chief Commercial Manager, Northern Railway, both Higher Administrative Grade officers.

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BRICS Summit Planned For July In Rio de Janeiro: Brazil

Leaders of the countries known as BRICS will hold a summit in Rio de Janeiro in July, the current chair Brazil announced Saturday.

Other members of the trading bloc include Russia, India, China and South Africa and others.

Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira said on the social media platform X that the summit will be held July 6-7 and feature leaders of 20 countries with full or associate status in the bloc.

At this meeting "we will make very important decisions for the development of all these countries, for cooperation and for improving the living conditions of all their inhabitants," Vieira said.

US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose 100 percent tariffs on the BRICS countries if they undercut the US dollar.

At a BRICS summit in October in Russia, the member countries discussed boosting non-dollar transactions and strengthening local currencies.

The government of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has said that under the Brazilian presidency the BRICS bloc will focus on strengthening cooperation with developing nations of the so-called Global South and on reforming multilateral institutions.

He said Brazil's priorities for the bloc include "developing means of payment" to encourage trade and investment among member states.

Last month, Brazil's chief negotiator for the BRICS group, Eduardo Saboia, told AFP there is no concrete plan to replace the dollar but rather talks on using local currencies in transactions.

The BRICS group has expanded significantly since its inception in 2009, and now includes countries such as Iran, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.

Altogether the BRICS coalition accounts for a significant minority of the world's economic output.

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HSBTE: Haryana State Board Of Technical Education Releases Results For Diploma Courses

The Haryana State Board of Technical Education (HSBTE) has announced the semester results for various diploma courses conducted in December 2024. The HSBTE Result 2025 is available online on the official website, hsbte.org.in.

Candidates who appeared in the exams can visit the official website of the SBTE to check the results. They will be required to enter login credentials such as roll number to access the results. The HSBTE results include subject-wise marks, overall scores and qualifying status. 

Steps to check the results: 

Step 1: Visit the official website of the university - hsbte.org.in
Step 2: Select 'Examination' and click on 'Result'.
Step 3: Click on the 'Result June 2024 Exam' link
Step 4: Fill in the required information and click on 'Show'.
Step 5: The result PDF will appear on the screen
Step 6: Check the results and download the PDF for future reference.

Candidates not satisfied with the results can apply for re-evaluation or re-assessment of paper. In reassessment, the examiner looks over the answer sheet and, if necessary, provides new marks.

The Haryana State Board of Technical Education has been constituted by the Government of Haryana vide Haryana Act No.19 of 2008 to Impart Diploma Education in the field of Engineering & Technology, Architecture, Pharmacy, Management, Accounts, Applied Art & Crafts. The board was established in 2008 to cater for the increasing needs of affiliated institutions and their students. It designs and implements diploma, post diploma and advanced diploma programs for affiliated institutions. At present 191 numbers of Polytechnics are affiliated with the State Board Of Technical Education.

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"Life Bigger Than Exam": Gautam Adani After UP Student Dies By Suicide

Gautam Adani, the Chairman of the Adani Group, on Thursday said that failure is never the final destination, adding that life always gives a second chance.

He wrote a post on X about an 18-year-old girl in Uttar Pradesh's Gorakhpur who suicide after failing to clear the JEE exams.

"I have just this request to all of you - never consider failure as the final destination. Because life always gives a second chance…!" the Adani Group Chairman said on X.

अपेक्षाओं के बोझ तले दबकर एक होनहार बेटी का यूं चले जाना हृदयविदारक है।

जीवन किसी भी परीक्षा से बड़ा होता है- यह बात अभिभावकों को खुद भी समझनी होगी और बच्चों को भी समझानी होगी।

मैं पढ़ाई में बहुत सामान्य था। पढ़ाई एवं जीवन में कई बार असफल भी हुआ, लेकिन हर बार जिंदगी ने नया… https://t.co/3s1WnINLcb

— Gautam Adani (@gautam_adani) February 13, 2025

Expressing sadness over the death of the student, Mr Adani said: "It is heartbreaking to see a promising daughter go away under the burden of expectations".

The teen had left a note for her parents stating that she was "sorry" for "not fulfilling their dreams".

Sharing the lesson of life, he also advised parents to keep pressures away from themselves and their children.

"Life is bigger than any exam – parents will have to understand this themselves and also explain it to their children," Gautam Adani said.

Further, the Adani Group Chairman also opened up about his personal failures and how he came out of them.

"I was very normal in my studies," he said, adding that he "failed many times in studies and life".

"But every time life showed me a new path," Gautam Adani said.

Meanwhile, to help students fare well in their lives and reduce their exam-related stress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the eighth edition of "Pariksha Pe Charcha' has also discussed mental health and wellbeing.

During the session, the Prime Minister shared valuable lessons on nutrition and wellness; mastering pressure; challenging oneself; the art of leadership; beyond books – 360-degree growth; finding positives and more.

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$10 Million Settlement For Family Of Black Woman Shot Dead By US Police

The family of a Black woman shot dead in her home by a police officer in the US state of Illinois has reached a $10 million settlement with the local sheriff's department and county board.

Sonya Massey, 36, a mother of two, was killed by a sheriff's deputy last July in a case that drew national attention and prompted then-president Joe Biden to say she "should be alive today."

Massey, who had received treatment in the past for mental health issues, called the 911 emergency line to report a possible intruder in her home and two Sangamon County sheriff's deputies arrived shortly after midnight.

Police body camera footage showed Massey talking to the officers and searching through her purse after they asked her for identification.

Sheriff's deputy Sean Grayson then asked her to check on a pot of boiling water on the stove, saying "we don't need a fire while we're here."

When Grayson stepped back into the living room, Massey asked why, and he responded with a laugh: "Away from your hot steaming water."

Holding the pot, Massey calmly responded "Oh, I rebuke you in the name of Jesus" -- prompting the deputy to draw his weapon and say: "You better fucking not. I swear to God I'll fucking shoot you in your fucking face."

Apologizing, Massey crouched behind a counter as the officer screamed "drop the fucking pot" and fired three shots, killing Massey with a bullet to the face.

The Sangamon County Board approved a $10 million settlement with Massey's estate at a meeting on Tuesday.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who has represented the families of other African American victims of police violence, welcomed the agreement at a Zoom press conference on Wednesday, calling it a "first step in getting full justice for Sonya Massey."

"It is very bittersweet that on what would have been her 37th birthday, we announce this historic settlement, which is only the first step in the journey for justice," Crump said.

Antonio Romanucci, another family attorney, said "Sonya reached out to law enforcement for help and instead received brutal, horrific treatment.

"When Sonya called 911 she didn't know it but that was her death sentence," Romanucci said. "She called in her own death when she called for help."

Grayson, who is white, faces murder charges and has pleaded not guilty.

The United States was rocked by protests in 2020 following the murder of George Floyd, a Black man, by a white police officer in Minnesota.

Floyd's death revived scrutiny of race relations and sparked calls for police reform.

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Tulsi Gabbard Confirmed As Trump's Director Of National Intelligence

The US Senate has confirmed Tulsi Gabbard as the new Director of National Intelligence (DNI) under the Trump administration.

Although she has never served on an intelligence committee, as a former Representative from Hawaii, Gabbard brings a distinctive combination of legislative and military experience to the role. Her service in the US House of Representatives, which spanned from 2013 to 2021, was marked by her commitment to various causes. Additionally, her time in the Hawaii Army National Guard, including deployments to Iraq and Kuwait, has earned her recognition.

In her new position, Gabbard will oversee the United States' intelligence community, coordinating operations among various agencies to ensure national security and effective information-sharing. This role comes with significant responsibility, as the DNI plays a critical part in advising the President on intelligence matters.

Gabbard's appointment has raised some eyebrows due to her lack of direct experience in intelligence oversight. Furthermore, her past remarks on US adversaries, including Russia and Syria, have sparked controversy.

Some senators have expressed concerns about Gabbard's stance on Russia's invasion of Ukraine and her 2017 visit to Syria, where she met with then-President Bashar al-Assad while he was under US sanctions. Her previous defence of former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden has also been cited as a point of contention.

Despite these concerns, Gabbard has pledged to bring transparency and efficiency to the intelligence community. Her military background and congressional experience will undoubtedly influence her approach to this complex role. As she assumes the position of Director of National Intelligence, Gabbard will oversee 18 intelligence agencies with a budget of approximately $100 billion, advising President Trump on critical intelligence matters.
 

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Scientists Warn Of Climate Threat To Chocolate

Climate change drove weeks of crop-withering temperatures last year in the West African countries that underpin the world's chocolate supply, hitting harvests and likely further stoking record prices, researchers said Wednesday.

Farmers in the region -- which account for some 70 percent of global cacao production -- have struggled with heat, disease and unusual rainfall in recent years, which have all contributed to falling production.

That has caused an explosion in the price of cocoa, which is produced from the beans of the cacao tree, and is the main ingredient in chocolate.

A new report found that "climate change, due primarily to burning oil, coal, and methane gas, is causing hotter temperatures to become more frequent" in Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon and Nigeria.

The study, by the independent research group Climate Central, found the trend was particularly marked in Ivory Coast and Ghana, the two biggest cacao producers.

Using observational data from 44 cacao-producing areas in West Africa and computer models, the researchers compared today's temperatures with a counterfactual of a world without the effects of climate change.

They looked at the likelihood of these regions facing temperatures in excess of 32 degrees Celsius (89.6 Fahrenheit) -- above levels considered optimum for cacao trees.

The report calculated that over the last decade, climate change had added an extra three weeks of above 32C heat in Ivory Coast and Ghana during the main growing season between October and March.

Last year, the hottest year globally on record, they found that climate change drove temperatures above 32C on at least 42 days across two thirds of the areas analysed.

Researchers said that "excessive heat can contribute to a reduction in the quantity and quality of the harvest".

Many other factors were also potentially harming cacao trees and boosting prices, they noted, including mealybug infestations, rainfall patterns, smuggling and illegal mining.

Christian Aid published separate research on Wednesday on the vulnerability of chocolate and cacao farmers to weather changes and extremes driven by global warming.

The UK charity said conditions in West Africa have whiplashed from extreme rainfall and spoiled crops during the dry season in 2023 to drought in 2024.

"Growing cocoa is a vital livelihood for many of the poorest people around the world and human caused climate change is putting that under serious threat," said Osai Ojigho, director of Christian Aid's policy and public campaigns.

'Existential threat'

Failed harvests helped drive a meteoric rise in cocoa prices since late 2023 on the London and New York markets where this commodity is traded.

New York cocoa prices were above $10,000 a tonne on Wednesday, below a peak of over $12,500 in mid-December.

New York prices have largely hovered between $2,000 and $3,000 a tonne for decades.

In January, Swiss chocolate maker Lindt & Spruengli said it would raise prices again this year to offset rising cocoa costs.

Narcisa Pricope, a professor at Mississippi State University, said the crop faces an "existential threat" largely because of increasingly dry conditions in cacao-producing regions.

Pricope was part of recent research from the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification that found more than three-quarters of the Earth's landmass has become drier over the past 30 years.

The emissions of planet-heating greenhouse gases are the biggest driver of this aridity, she said in a commentary on the Conversation on Monday, but practices that degrade soils and nature also play an important role.

"Collective action against aridity isn't just about saving chocolate -- it's about preserving the planet's capacity to sustain life," she said.

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Gaza Ceasefire Will End If Hostages Are Not Returned By Saturday: Netanyahu

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday said Israel would resume "intense fighting" in Gaza if Hamas did not return hostages by Saturday noon, without specifying whether he was referring to all captives.

"If Hamas does not return our hostages by Saturday noon, the ceasefire will end, and the IDF (Israeli military) will resume intense fighting until Hamas is decisively defeated," Netanyahu said in a statement issued after a meeting with his security cabinet.

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Water From Toilet Tap Used For Cooking At Medical College? Video Sparks Outrage

A video from Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Medical College in Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur has sparked outrage after it allegedly showed water from a toilet tap being used for cooking during a national medical conference last week.

A national-level medical conference, attended by doctors and medical experts from across the country, was held at the medical college on February 6. During the event, food was arranged for participants. However, a viral video now circulating on social media appears to show water being filled from a toilet tap and then being used for cooking.

Amid the uproar, the medical college's administration has issued a clarification. The college's dean, Navneet Saxena said that the water was only being used to clean dirty utensils and not for cooking. He claimed that the context of the video was being misrepresented.

The health department has called for an investigation. Dr Sanjay Mishra, Chief Medical Officer, said, "The conference was organised in the New Academic Block and food is sometimes cooked in open spaces behind it. While the video shows water from a toilet tap being used, the information we have suggests it was meant only for washing utensils. However, since this has been brought to our notice, I have written to the dean for an official investigation."
 

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'Remove Any Kuki Tribes From ST List, Help Organise Peace Talks': Thadou Body Meets Manipur Governor

A top body of Manipur's Thadou tribe met Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla and requested for deletion of 'Any Kuki Tribes' from the Scheduled Tribes' (ST) list in the violence-hit state.

In a memorandum, which included suggestions for a peace restoration roadmap, the Thadou Inpi Manipur said the government must remove the "vague and ambiguous 'Any Kuki Tribes' from the Scheduled Tribes list of Manipur, as it is not only a threat to the integrity and unity of Manipur, but also a threat to national security from illegal immigrants."

The Thadou Inpi Manipur in the memorandum said the Manipur government "in a significant step forward to right a wrong" wrote to the Tribal Affairs Ministry in February 2023 to delete 'Any Kuki Tribes' from the ST list.

'Any Kuki Tribe' was added to the ST list in 2003 under the then Congress government in Manipur.

"Moreover, it [Any Kuki Tribe] cannot be changed to Kuki tribe simply because there is no such thing as Kuki tribe. There is baseless, false and deceitful propaganda by some ignorant or unscrupulous people that this 'Any Kuki Tribe' of 2003 is the same as the already deleted 'Any Kuki Tribe' of 1951-56," the Thadou Inpi Manipur said in the memorandum.

"The fact is that the tribes of Manipur were broadly grouped into 'Any Naga Tribe', 'Any Kuki Tribe' and 'Any Lushai' in 1951 as a temporary arrangement for the time being only for five years during the process of the linguistic survey of individual tribes of Manipur...

"Whereas Thadou is an indigenous tribe with its own distinct language, costumes, culture, traditions and rich heritage and history, the fake Kuki tribe (Any Kuki Tribe) was created in 2002, and fraudulently added to the Scheduled Tribes list of Manipur in 2003, so that their leaders could exploit this separatist movement for their own personal wealth creation and political control," the Thadou Inpi Manipur, which says it is the highest body of Manipur's recognised distinct Thadou tribe, said in the memorandum submitted to Governor Bhalla on Saturday, a day before Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned.

The Thadou tribe organisation said all indigenous ethnic groups and tribes that call Manipur home should live in harmony and respect one another instead of battling over who is an illegal immigrant and who is an indigenous person.

"People who identify as 'Any Kuki Tribe' but are not illegal immigrants need not be alarmed since they can return to their original tribe if they are Indian citizens or members of one of Manipur's indigenous tribes and are not illegal immigrants or foreigners," the Thadou Inpi Manipur said.

The Thadou Inpi Manipur also requested for insertion of a clause in the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement to include "respect for Thadou human rights", alleging an alarming rate of human rights violations and persecution faced by the Thadou tribe at the hands of Kuki militants, "which has significantly eroded, suppressed, and subdued distinct Thadou identity in Manipur."

"... Thadou Inpi Manipur seeks to include a clause in the SoO agreement, if extended, which had elapsed in February 2024, that would mandate that SoO groups, specifically the Kuki militant groups, respect the rights of the Thadou indigenous tribe as this would also promote a more inclusive and peaceful coexistence among communities in Manipur," the Thadou body said.

While submitting the memorandum, members of the Thadou Inpi Manipur conveyed to the Governor to facilitate a meeting of Meitei and Thadou tribe leaders for community understanding. It said warring groups have unintentionally impacted numerous non-Kuki tribes in the Manipur crisis. The Thadou Inpi Manipur appealed to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Manipur Governor and other leaders to facilitate holding a meeting between the Meitei community and the Thadou tribe as soon as possible.

"The Thadou tribe will be represented by the Thadou Inpi Manipur. The Thadous have suffered rampant persecution and human rights abuses and are being forced to reject our own identity, our indigenous tribal name, Thadou," it said in the memorandum.

The memorandum was signed by leaders of the Thadou Inpi Manipur, Thadou Students' Association, Thadou Chiefs' Council, Thadou Elders' Association, and Thadou Human Rights Advocacy.

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UPSC Civil Services Prelims On May 25: Apply By Feb 18, Check Exam Pattern

UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2025: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has extended the application deadline for the Civil Services Preliminary Examination (CS(P)-2025) and the Indian Forest Service Preliminary Examination (IFoS(P)-2025). Candidates can now apply until February 18, 6pm, through the official website. The application correction window will be open from February 19 to February 25. Earlier, the last date to apply was February 11.

The UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2025 will be conducted on May 25 to fill 979 vacancies, including 38 seats reserved for candidates with benchmark disabilities.

UPSC Civil Services Exam Structure

The Civil Services Examination consists of two stages:

Preliminary Examination (Objective Type) - A screening test for the Main Examination.

Main Examination (Written + Interview/Personality Test) - Determines the final selection.

Preliminary Examination

• Two papers, each carrying 200 marks (total 400 marks).
• Objective type (MCQs), two hours per paper.
• General Studies Paper-2 is qualifying, with a minimum 33% required.

Negative marking: 1/3rd marks deducted per incorrect answer.

Main Examination

Written Test (9 Papers, 1750 Marks) + Personality Test (275 Marks).

Two qualifying papers: One Indian language (300 marks) & English (300 marks).

Merit papers include:

• Essay (250 Marks)
• General Studies I-IV (250 Marks each)
• Optional Subject (2 Papers, 250 Marks each)

Candidates will be ranked based on their written test and interview scores. The final allocation will depend on their rank and service preferences.

The government encourages women candidates to apply, promoting gender balance in the workforce.

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No Files, Documents To Be Moved Out Of Secretariat: Delhi Lt Governor

With Assembly poll results pointing at a regime change in the capital, the general administration department of Delhi government on Saturday said in an order that no files, documents or computers will be moved out of Delhi Secretariat without its prior permission to ensure the safety of records.

On the instruction of Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena, the general administration department (GAD) has issued an order directing all the departments, agencies, and camp offices of the council of ministers not to remove any records or files without the prior permission from the department.

As per the latest trends, the BJP is all set to stage a comeback in Delhi after more than 26 years, sweeping the AAP away from the national capital in another big win to extend its saffron footprint in the country.

The GAD order issued to various department heads and in-charges said that no files, documents, computer hardware etc. can be taken outside the Delhi Secretariat complex without its prior permission.

"It is therefore directed that necessary instructions may be issued to the branch in-charges under the departments and offices situated in Delhi Secretariat to ensure the safety of records, files, documents, electronic files etc. under their sections and branches," the order said.

The Secretariat is functioning in a normal manner as before, and it is being ensured that no official papers, files, records, data, laptops and computes, among other such items, are removed by anyone from any of the offices in the complex, a statement from the directorate of information and publicity said.

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Carbs Or Fats? Twin Brothers Battle It Out to Find The Ultimate Fitness Diet

Planning to start your fitness journey and confused about what kind of diet you want to consume? This is the question that most beginners face and so, two identical twins, set about to answer the question. Hugo and Ross Turner, 36, professional adventures who live in the UK, were asked by their followers to understand whether a low-carb or low-fat diet was "better" for strength, fitness, and aesthetics.

To determine the outcome as scientifically as possible, sports scientists at the University of Loughborough were involved who monitored the duo. The 12-week programme saw Ross take on a strict carbohydrate diet while Hugo stuck to a fat meal plan.

Prior to the experiment, both of them balanced carbs and fats in their diets, and for the real deal, they ate about 3,500 calories each day, 2,500 from three meals and two snacks from a food delivery service called Frive. There was only a 500-calorie difference between the twins' allowance, with Hugo eating 500 calories from fat and Ross getting his final calories on the board through carbs.

Hugo's low-carb diet included high-fat foods such as olive oil, butter, nuts, eggs, and avocado while Ross' "balanced" meal plan had high-carb foods such as pasta and rice, while avoiding high-fat foods.

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Study findings

The study results published last month showed that Hugo's strength increased by 59 per cent thanks to the fat-rich diet while Ross' increased by 56 per cent. Additionally, Hugo gained 3 kg of muscle compared to 1 kg gained by his brother, Ross.

Despite gaining more strength and mass, Hugo told Business Insider that he performed "worse and felt more fatigued during intense exercise".

"I just never felt good. I was eating at least six times a day and never felt full or satisfied, hence I was constantly hungry. But equally, I didn't have the crashes that I would probably associate with a higher-carb diet," said Hugo.

Meanwhile, Ross on his high-carb diet lost a little more fat but performed better in cardiovascular tests. As per research, fat contains nine calories per gram whereas carbs (and protein) contain four. So you can eat more carbs for the same number of calories as a smaller portion of high-fat food.

Based on the study results, the Turners said although a balance of balance of protein, carbs, and fat was required for day-to-day activities, tweaking the diets before particular expeditions going forward could also be beneficial.

The brothers cited that upping carbohydrates ahead of high-intensity activities that raise the heart rate, such as cycling, running, or kite skiing should work fine while a higher fat diet can work while going on a walking expedition or something slower-paced.

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Explained: BJP's Delhi Election Performance In Numbers

The BJP victory in the Delhi Assembly Election 2025 might have taken almost three decades to come, but its scale and reach have turned ideas about the party's acceptability among several caste and religious groups on its head. Delhi being an India in microcosm, the results also bring hope to many for the party's chances among these groups in their home states.

The BJP's acceptability among the Scheduled Castes and Other Backward Castes have been questioned resolutely by the Congress, which backed it up with its demand for caste census. The BJP, in the past, has gone a long way to win back the OBCs, especially in Maharashtra and a few other states. 

Delhi results show that of the BJP's 22 OBC candidates, 16 have won. The party has also won all seven seats that have more than 10 per cent OBC population. 

Candidates from Haryana and Purvanchal also appeared to have wide acceptance. Of the 14 Haryanvi candidates, 12 won and of the six Purvanchali candidates, four won. 

Of the 13 seats with more than 5 per cent Haryanvi voters, the BJP won 12. Moreover, of the 35 seats with more than 15 per cent Purvanchali voters, the BJP won 25 seats, prompting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to thank the Purvanchali voters "as an MP from Purvanchal". 

The party, which lost the last assembly election in Punjab, also won three of the four seats that have more than 10 per cent Sikh voters. Of the 28 seats with more than 10 per cent Punjabi voters, the BJP won 23.

Its strike rate on seats with a chunk of Valmiki and Jatav voters, however, left room for improvement. Of the nine seats with more than 10 per cent Valmiki voters, the BJP won four and of the 12 seats with more than 10 per cent Jatav voters, the party won six.

Of the 12 Scheduled Caste BJP candidates, four have won. 

The BJP has also made huge inroads in the seats that border the two neighbouring states it rules -- Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Out of a total of 22 seats that share borders with the neighbouring states, BJP won 15 -  seven of 13 seats that border UP  and nine of 11 seats that border Haryana.

The election in Delhi, though, has been unmarked by rhetoric on caste. The national capital draws people from all states, castes and economic strata who come in search for a better future - a factor that can override their other identities. 

The BJP's huge victory is thus seen as a sign of widespread acceptance and a reflection of Delhi's desire for better governance as much as its disenchantment with AAP.

In his victory speech to party workers today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the results in Delhi is a victory of "development, vision and trust (Vikas, Vision Vishwas)". 

"Delhi has given us love and I want to assure them that your love will get returned in the form of development. Their love, trust on us is a responsibility which Delhi's double engine government will fulfill," he added.

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