The brilliant diving catch taken by Indian women’s cricketer Harleen Deol to dismiss England’s Amy Jones in the India W vs England W first T20I was highly praised by fans, players and cricket pundits all over the world.

While ‘God of Cricket’ Sachin Tendulkar described it as the best catch of the year, veterans like Harbhajan Singh and VVS Laxman claimed to have become fans of Harleen.

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also took to social media to hail Harleen’s outstanding on-field efforts. The Government of India shared a video of Harleen’s catch on its Instagram profile which has already gone viral.

PM Modi on Saturday shared the screenshot of the post as his Insta story with a caption, “Phenomenal! Well done @deol.harleen304.”

While posting the video of Harleen’s catch on social media, the Government of India wrote, “YOU ABSOLUTELY CANNOT MISS THIS! India’s Harleen Deol took one of the most stunning catches in the history of women’s cricket to dismiss England’s Amy Jones during the 1st T20I at Northampton. Take a bow!”

Former Indian all-rounder Suresh Raina, who is hailed as one of the best all-time fielders in the world, also posted the video on Twitter and wrote, “This is terrific, what a brilliant catch @imharleenDeol Way to go, the country is so proud of you! Keep shining & inspiring others #INDvENG.”

Batting first in this match, England scored 177/7 in 20 overs. Chasing 178 for the win, India scored 54 runs in 8.4 overs for loss of 3 wickets when the weather hit the match and after that not a single ball was bowled.  In the end, England were declared winners by the umpires by 18 runs via Duckworth-Lewis method.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit his parliamentary constituency Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh on July 15, ANI reported. The PM is likely to inaugurate a total of 75 development projects worth around Rs 736.38 crores in the city.  

Modi is scheduled to inaugurate Rudraksh International Convention Centre at Sigra in Varanasi during his visit. The Convention Centre, which was built with the help of Japan, will be inaugurated by the PM along with the Ambassador of Japan to India, as per the news agency. 

Apart from the Convention Centre, PM Modi will unveil a 100-bedded Model Maternal and Child Health (MCH) wing at Sir Sunderlal Hospital, BHU. The other projects that the PM is likely to inaugurate, a three-lane flyover on Varanasi-Ghazipur Road, 80 residential flats for teachers in BHU, Girls Hostel at Primary School Katari and Cholapur, among others. 

For tourism development in the state, the PM will launch ro-ro ferry service in the city. He will also launch cruise boat operations from Rajghat in Varanasi to Assi Ghat. In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the PM will unveil PSA Oxygen Generation Plants in various hospitals and health centers. 

Meanwhile, projects whose foundation stone will be laid by PM Modi include:

1.Central Petrochemicals Engineering and Technical Institute

2. Mango and Vegetable Integrated Packhouse at Karkhianv, Varanasi

3. A shooting range in Varanasi

4. Foundation stone for tourism development and beautification works of Ashram at Manikarnika Ghat

5. Sitara Automation Work of Water Supply Projects in Trans-Varuna Region

6. Installation of 2 MW Solar Power Plant at Water Treatment Plan, Bhelupur

7. Foundation stone for renovation and repair works of many rural roads

The PM’s visit becomes significant as Uttar Pradesh is all set to witness high-profile Assembly elections next year. BJP, the current ruling party in the state, is looking for a comeback with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath vying for a second tenure. BJP’s spirits seem high with its win in recently concluded Block Pramukh Chief elections and Zila Panchayat chairperson election. 

(With agency inputs)

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New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday described as “landmark” the decision to include retail and wholesale trade as MSMEs, which will allow traders the benefits of priority sector lending, and said his government is committed to empowering the community.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari had on Friday announced the inclusion of retail and wholesale trade under MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises) as per which the traders will now get the benefit of priority sector lending under RBI guidelines.

In a tweet, the prime minister said, “Our government has taken a landmark step of including retail and wholesale trade as MSME. This will help crores of our traders get easier finance, various other benefits and also help boost their business. We are committed to empowering our traders.”

Official sources said the move will have an immediate impact on smaller retailers and wholesalers with businesses up to Rs 250 crore of turnover in availing immediate-term finance as part of various schemes announced under “Atmanirbhar Bharat” programme.

This landmark decision will have a structural impact for the sector, helping it get formalised by giving better finance options for businesses that want to get structured, they said, adding it will give retail MSMEs the support they need to “survive, revive and thrive”. Also Read: Facebook actioned 30 million content pieces during May 15-June 15

Retail and trade associations have welcomed the move, saying it will enable traders to get access to much-needed capital having been impacted greatly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Also Read: LIC HFL cuts home loan rates to all-time low of 6.66%, check eligibility and application process

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday during his meeting with the Council of Ministers advised them to work towards creating an atmosphere in the country wherein everyone follows Covid-19 protocols diligently and takes the vaccine without any hesitation in order to stop the third wave.

While underlining the fact that Covid hasn’t gone anywhere, he stated that the vaccination should be done on a war footing.

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PM Modi chaired the meeting of the Union Council of Ministers and asked them to ensure that the projects for which they have laid the foundations are completed and inaugurated by them. He also asked them to keep track of the projects and ensure these are not delayed, PTI report quoted sources.

The prime minister sought suggestions from the ministers on how to expedite the economic growth of the country post-pandemic. He urged the leaders to work on mission mode in their respective ministries.

Talking about the upcoming Parliament session, Modi asked his ministerial colleagues to prepare themselves with facts and figures to counter any changes made by the opposition, sources said according to PTI. During the meeting which lasted nearly five hours, Member (Health) of NITI Aayog V K Paul made a presentation on the coronavirus pandemic.

He suggested the ministers follow COVID-19 protocols and wear masks while visiting their constituencies. Modi also said several “myths” were created during the pandemic and that these should be countered PTI reported. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation for the 78th time today through his monthly radio program ‘Mann Ki Baat’. The Prime Minister started the Mann Ki Baat program by talking about the Tokyo Olympics.

Prime Minister Modi urged people to participate in the ongoing quiz on the Olympics on the MyGov app. Along with this, he paid tribute to legendary sprinter Milkha Singh.

READ | Mann Ki Baat: PM Modi Dismisses Rumours Related To Covid Vaccine, Requests Villagers Not To Be Hesitant

“When talking about the Olympics, how can we not remember Milkha Singh Ji. When he was hospitalised, I got a chance to speak to him, I had requested him to motivate the athletes going for Tokyo Olympics,” said Modi.

Along with this, Prime Minister Modi also appreciated and discussed the struggle and hard work of the athletes, ready to take part in the Tokyo Olympics. He appreciated how athletes did not let their preparations get affected even in the absence of facilities. PM Modi also appealed to the countrymen to encourage the players. He urged everyone to not create any kind of pressure on the athletes.

“Pravin Jadhav of Satara district in Maharastra is an outstanding archer. His parents work as labourers and now Jadhav is going to participate in his first Olympics in Tokyo,” he said.

“Every player going to Tokyo has had one’s own share of struggle, and years of toil. They are going not only for themselves but for the country. Friends, there are numerous such names, but in Mann Ki Baat, today I have been able to mention only a few,” said Modi.

PM Modi shifted focus to the world’s largest vaccination drive being conducted in India and speaks to people who have been influenced by rumours.

“Rumour mongers will keep spreading it but we’ve to save lives, countrymen. Don’t remain under the delusion that COVID19 has got over, it is a kind of disease in which the virus keeps changing its form. We must have confidence in our scientists who developed vaccines”, said PM Modi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday highlighted how he was inspired by track legend Milkha Singh and spoke about the upcoming Tokyo Olympics during his monthly radio programme “Mann Ki Baat”.

“We are talking about Tokyo Olympics, so how can one forget about such a legendary athlete like Milkha Singh. Some days back, we lost Milkha Singh as he lost his battle to COVID-19. When he was in the hospital, I had a chance to talk to him. I told him that he led our contingent in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and that is why you need to talk to our contingent who would head to the Tokyo Olympics this year. I told him that he needs to motivate them,” said PM Modi during the programme.

“Milkha Singh was devoted towards sports and so he agreed to what I said. But unfortunately, destiny had something else in store. I still remember he had come to Surat in 2014 and we had inaugurated a night marathon. That time, we had a chat about sports and I really got inspired by that. We all know that the entire family of Milkha Singh is devoted towards sport,” he added.

Tokyo Olympics were slated to be held last year, but were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and now it will be held from July 23-August 8 this year.

Milkha Singh had lost his battle to COVID-19 last week, and his demise was condoled throughout the world. Milkha was aged 91.

PM Modi on Olympics

Further talking about the Olympics, PM Modi said: “When talent, dedication, determination and sportsman spirit come together, then you get a champion. In our country, athletes come out of small towns, villages, and districts. All our Olympic-bound athletes can be seen as an inspiration.”

Earlier, Kiren Rijiju, the Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, had reiterated that India’s Olympic-bound athletes are national heroes and he also urged the people to extend support to these players in the same way they follow cricketers in the country.

The number of Indian athletes participating in the Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games has seen a steady rise in the past three editions. Over 100 athletes have already made the cut so far and many more are expected to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics.

New Delhi: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked all universities, colleges and technical institutions to put up banners thanking Prime Minister Modi for “starting free vaccination for 18 years and above age group”, sources said Monday.

The revised guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination announced by the Prime Minister earlier this month came into effect on Monday. Under these guidelines, those aged 18 and above are eligible for free vaccination.

In a WhatsApp message sent to various university officials Sunday, UGC Secretary Rajnish Jain also asked the institutions to share the banners on their social media pages.

While he did not respond to calls seeking his comments, officials of at least three universities confirmed having received the “directive”.

“The Government of India is starting free vaccination for 18 years and above age group from tomorrow–21st June, 2021. In this regard, universities and colleges are requested to kindly display these hoardings and banners in their institutions.

“The approved design (creatives) of hoardings and banners in Hindi and English, as provided by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, are attached for your ready reference,” reads Jain’s purported text message.

The poster has a picture of the Prime Minister with “Thank you PM Modi” written on it.

Institutions such as Delhi University, Hyderabad University, LNCT University in Bhopal, Bennett University, Northcap University in Gurgaon, among others shared the banners on their social media pages with hashtag “ThankyouModiji”.

The move drew sharp reactions from several quarters including academicians, student bodies and politicians.

Swaraj India President and former UGC member Yogendra Yadav said on Twitter, “As a former member of the UGC, I am mortified. Things were rotten at the UGC even then (2010-12), but such servility was unimaginable. Everyday, we discover a new low.”

Delhi University Professor and former Executive Council member Rajesh Jha said, “This is unprecedented. Universities cannot be used for propaganda of the government.

“Universities are not extended arms of the government that they can be used for such things. By tweeting something from the official handle, Delhi University is projecting a single opinion which is not the scenario since there are differing opinions and viewpoints within the university,” he said.

His views were echoed by Abha Dev Habib of Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA), who alleged institutions are being used to run propaganda for the PM.

In a Facebook post, she said free vaccination is a right, funded by the taxpayers’ money, and any delay in rolling it out is a blame the government cannot escape.

“UGC demanding real relief in terms of compensation, death gratuity and scholarship for students… nothing on that. We have written for development of medical facilities to the MoH… nothing on that. Ok is a Poster as a virus to overwrite all of that!” she said.

JNU Teachers’ Association (JNUTA) Secretary Moushumi Basu said, “Why does it always have to be about the Prime Minister? Even the vaccination certificates have his mugshot. Isn’t it our right to be vaccinated for free after all the mess that they have created?

“Even if we have to thank, why can’t we thank the healthcare workers. To be told by the UGC how we have to thank is just not done. There is certainly a problem. It is all quite bizarre.”

DU professor Hansraj Suman said, “It is quite condemnable. No other government has used an autonomous body like the UGC for its propaganda. Instead of using money for such government promotion, that money can be used to give mobile phones to students who are facing difficulties in accessing online classes.”

Earlier in the day, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had alleged that the Centre government is putting pressure on officials in Delhi to issue advertisements thanking the Prime Minister for free COVID-19 vaccines.

Neeraj Kundan, the national president of the Congress-affiliated National Students’ Union of India, said, “It is hilarious that students haven’t yet been vaccinated and they are being asked to thank our PM. Students would have been thankful had the government announced fee waivers or student loan waivers for them.”

“Instead, many students have lost an entire academic year and their foreign university prospects have been affected since students were not vaccinated on time. Even after all this, the government is thinking about its promotion, which is a joke,” he said.

Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union vice president Saket Moon alleged, “The government is trying to use the situation for its propaganda which is not good.”

 

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New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched six Customized Crash Course programme for COVID-19 frontline workers via video conferencing. 

Union Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Mahendra Nath Pandey was also present on the occasion.

PM said that the government is working towards preparing 1 lakh frontline workers in the country

The programme aims to skill and upskill over one lakh COVID warriors across the country. The training will be imparted to COVID warriors in six customised job roles namely Home Care Support, Basic Care Support, Advanced Care Support, Emergency Care Support, Sample Collection Support, and Medical Equipment Support.

The programme has been designed as a special programme under the Central Component of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 3.0, with total financial outlay of Rs. 276 crore, the PMO said.

Lucknow: In a major damage control exercise, all ministers in the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh have been asked to reach out to people ahead of the 2022 assembly elections in the state.

The ministers have been asked to camp in development blocks in districts under their charge in June and July 2021, connect with party workers at the grassroots level, obtain feedback about government schemes, attend International Yoga Day programmes there on June 21 and join the booth level workers in listening to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Maan Ki Baat” programme at booths on June 27.

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The directives were communicated to them at a meeting of the council of ministers, chaired by Yogi Adityanath.

UP BJP president Swatantra Dev Singh, who was present at the meeting, briefed the ministers about the details of the outreach programme.

The ministers have also been asked to review the preparations for the speculated third wave and visit the families of those who may have died of Covid-19. He said ministers would take feedback whether the government relief had reached them.

The exercise is also being seen as a move to muster support for the BJP in the upcoming zila panchayat elections.

According to UP minister Siddhartha Nath Singh, “Minister in charges will camp at the blocks in districts under their charge in June and July 2021. The ministers will try to cover most of the blocks in the districts under their charge and will cover about two blocks every day. The ministers will visit ration shops, PHCs (primary health centres), CHCs (community health centres) and hospitals, attend plantation drives, along with making spot visits, and reviewing the implementation of development schemes.”

Singh said ministers have been asked to hold organisational meetings in smaller groups, keeping in view the Covid protocol. He said there would also be programmes, especially plantation drives from June 23 to July 6.

During the meeting, the minister of medical education Suresh Khanna and the minister of health Jai Pratap Singh made a presentation on the state government’s Covid management. Animal husbandry minister Chaudhary Laxmi Narain spoke about the arrangements made at the cow shelters in the state.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke at the G7 Summit on Saturday in a session titled ‘Building Back Stronger – Health’, and sought the support of the member countries to lift patent protections for Covid-19 vaccines.

In his address, PM Modi sought the support of the G7 countries for a proposal moved at the WTO by India and South Africa, for patent waiver on Covid related technologies.

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“The prime minister committed India’s support for collective endeavours to improve global health governance. He sought the G7’s support for the proposal moved at the WTO by India and South Africa for a TRIPS (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) waiver on Covid related technologies,” the statement said.

India and South Africa have proposed WTO for Covid patent rules waiver 

In October 2020, India and South Africa had submitted the first proposal suggesting a waiver for all WTO members on the implementation of certain provisions of the TRIPS Agreement in relation to the prevention, containment, or treatment of COVID-19.

In May this year, a revised proposal was submitted by 62 co-sponsors, including India, South Africa, and Indonesia.

The agreement on TRIPS came into effect in January 1995. It is a multilateral agreement on intellectual property (IP) rights such as copyright, industrial designs, patents, and the protection of undisclosed information or trade secrets.

Why is the waiver needed?

All vaccine makers have struggled to rapidly scale up capacity. These include Pfizer, its partner BioNTech, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson that have received billions of dollars in advance purchase agreements from wealthy nations. India is one of the most affected countries in the second wave of Coronavirus and though the downward trend has begun, the country is still facing a shortage of vaccine. The waiver will allow countries to manucfacture Covid vaccine within the country, thus reducing the cost of import  which ramp up vaccine production.

The proposal was opposed by pharmaceutical firms and some European countries that argued the problem was US restrictions on the export of jabs and raw materials, which has led to a shortage of drugs like Remdesivir. India’s point is that the situation over the last one year, with poorer countries struggling to source treatments, makes the waiver crucial.

 

New Delhi: Former Union Minister and Congress leader P Chidambaram on Monday had attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and claimed that no state had asked the Centre that it should be allowed to procure vaccines directly from manufacturers. However, Chidambaram has backed down from his previous statement after a February letter by West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee started doing rounds on social media and said that he was ‘wrong and stands corrected’. 

“I told (news agency) ANI ‘please tell us which state government demanded that it should be allowed to directly procure vaccines’. Social media activists have posted the copy of the letter of CM, West Bengal to PM making such a request. I was wrong. I stand corrected,” Chidambaram said on micro-blogging site Twitter.

In this letter to PM Modi, Mamata Banerjee wanted Bengal to be allowed to procure vaccines on its own to fulfil its requirements for the vaccine.

In the letter which has surfaced online, Mamata Banerjee had written to PM Modi, “We would request you to kindly take up the matter with appropriate authority so that State government is able to purchase the vaccines from designated point(s) on top priority basis because the West Bengal government wants to provide vaccination free of cost to all the people,” Banerjee said in her February 24 letter. It is a point that she reiterated in subsequent months as well.”

However, the letter couldn’t be verified by ABP News.

Chidambaram had criticised PM Modi on Monday and said, “Nobody, but nobody said that [the] Centre should not procure vaccines. He (PM) now blames state govt saying – they wanted to procure vaccines so we allowed them. Let us know which CM, which state govt, on what date demanded that he should be allowed to procure vaccines.”

Mamata Banerjee was also one of those who took a jibe at the PM after his address but she did not comment on the letter which has appeared on social media. Instead, She said, “Took him (PM) 4 months but after much pressure, he has FINALLY listened to us & implemented what we’ve been asking all this while.”

In a major announcement, the Prime Minister on Monday announced that from June 21 onwards the Centre will provide free vaccine to all Indian citizens above 18 years of age.

PM Modi informed that the Centre will buy 75 per cent of the total production of the vaccine producers and provide to the states free of cost. He also said that the system of 25 per cent vaccines being procured directly by the private hospitals will continue. 

Kolkata: The tussle between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal CM Mamta Banerjee doesn’t seem to end anytime soon. This time over the COVID-19 vaccine certificate. In Bengal, a person got the vaccination certificate with the image of Mamata Banerjee on it instead of PM Modi.

As soon as the third phase of the vaccination program starts in Bengal, the certificates with photos of Banerjee are being given to people in the age group of 18-44 years.

It may be recalled that even during the recent assembly elections in the state, TMC had complained to the Election Commission regarding the picture of PM Modi on the vaccination certificate.

TMC had alleged that PM’s picture is a violation of the election code of conduct. Not only this, but CM has also raised questions on the central government’s vaccine policy.

Apart from this, Mamta has also questioned the central government many times for delayed delivery of the vaccine. Banerjee had said that Rs 600 to Rs 1200 are being spent for each vaccine. The vaccine has been given to 1.4 crore people.

Therefore, the central government should fulfil the demand for vaccine in the state. CM Mamta Banerjee had urged various industrial chambers to fund the disaster department of the state government, and in return, the government would give them the vaccine.

CBSE Board Exams:  Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday in a surprise move joined a session with CBSE students organized by the Union Education Ministry regarding the CBSE class 12 evaluation criterion. Earlier on June 1, after a high-level review meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the central government announced the cancellation of the CBSE class 12 board exams 2021 keeping in view the prevailing covid-19 pandemic. 

PM Modi interacted with parents during the meeting and had a conversation with them on their issues and concerns regarding the objective criterion based on which the students of the CBSE class 12 board will be evaluated.

Also Read: Class 12 Board Exam 2021 Cancelled: Here’s A List Of Boards Which Have Cancelled Class 12 Exams

Following the CBSE decision to cancel the class 12 board, various other state boards such as Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and many others have decided to cancel the class 12 board examinations. 

After the announcement of the cancellation of the CBSE 12th board exams, PM Modi had directed the CBSE board officials to come up with the objection criterion to prepare the results of the CBSE class 12 students in a “fair and time-bound manner.”

Also Read: CBSE Class 12 Evaluation 2021: Will Take Upto Two Weeks To Form Evaluation Criteria, Says Anurag Tripathi

“Government of India has decided to cancel the Class 12 CBSE Board Exams. After extensive consultations, we have taken a decision that is student-friendly, one that safeguards the health as well as future of our youth,” PM Modi tweeted on June 1, 2021. 

Students who will not be satisfied with their class 12 marks will be provided an opportunity to appear for the examination only after the conditions will become conducive to hold the examinations, a government statement post the meeting said. 

Note: Students are advised to keep visiting the official website of the CBSE Board regularly for the latest updates regarding the CBSE class 12 board examinations. 

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CBSE Board Exams:  Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday in a surprise move joined a session with CBSE students organized by the Union Education Ministry regarding the CBSE class 12 evaluation criterion. Earlier on June 1, after a high-level review meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the central government announced the cancellation of the CBSE class 12 board exams 2021 keeping in view the prevailing covid-19 pandemic. 

PM Modi interacted with parents during the meeting and had a conversation with them on their issues and concerns regarding the objective criterion based on which the students of the CBSE class 12 board will be evaluated.

Also Read: Class 12 Board Exam 2021 Cancelled: Here’s A List Of Boards Which Have Cancelled Class 12 Exams

Following the CBSE decision to cancel the class 12 board, various other state boards such as Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and many others have decided to cancel the class 12 board examinations. 

After the announcement of the cancellation of the CBSE 12th board exams, PM Modi had directed the CBSE board officials to come up with the objection criterion to prepare the results of the CBSE class 12 students in a “fair and time-bound manner.”

Also Read: CBSE Class 12 Evaluation 2021: Will Take Upto Two Weeks To Form Evaluation Criteria, Says Anurag Tripathi

“Government of India has decided to cancel the Class 12 CBSE Board Exams. After extensive consultations, we have taken a decision that is student-friendly, one that safeguards the health as well as future of our youth,” PM Modi tweeted on June 1, 2021. 

Students who will not be satisfied with their class 12 marks will be provided an opportunity to appear for the examination only after the conditions will become conducive to hold the examinations, a government statement post the meeting said. 

Note: Students are advised to keep visiting the official website of the CBSE Board regularly for the latest updates regarding the CBSE class 12 board examinations. 

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Class 12 Board Exam 2021 Cancelled: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has canceled the CBSE class 12 board examination 2021 in view of the covid-19 pandemic. The decision was taken after a high-level review meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the prospects of the class 12 board examination was held on Tuesday evening.  

“Government of India has decided to cancel the Class 12 CBSE Board Exams. After extensive consultations, we have taken a decision that is student-friendly, one that safeguards the health as well as future of our youth,” PM Modi tweeted after the meeting. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the anxiety amongst students, parents, and teachers regarding the class 12 board examination must be put to an end. 

PM Modi has also directed the CBSE to come up with an objective criterion based on which the students of CBSE class 12 boards will be evaluated. 

Following the CBSE decision to cancel the CBSE class 12 board examination 2021, various state boards have also decided to cancel the class 12 board examinations.

Here’s a look at the boards which have canceled the class 12 board examinations 2021: 

Haryana: The Haryana Education Minister Kanwar Pal on Tuesday announced that the state government has decided to cancel the class 12 state board examination 2021. The decision has been taken as a precautionary measure in view of the covid-19 pandemic. Education Minister Pal said that the state board will soon devise an evaluation criterion to prepare the results of the Haryana Board class 12 examination 2021. Read more

CISCE: The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) on Tuesday canceled the ISC board exams for Class 12 students soon after the Central government announced the cancellation of the CBSE Class 12 board exams. Speaking about the same, Dr. G Immanuel, Chairman, Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) to news agency ANI that Indian School Certificate (ISC) Board examinations (Class 12) have been canceled, but the final decision on compiling results is yet to be taken. Read more

Gujarat: The Gujarat Education Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama on Wednesday announced that the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) has decided to cancel the GSEB class 12 board examination 2021. The decision has been taken as a precautionary measure in view of the covid-19 pandemic. Read more

Madhya Pradesh: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday decided to cancel the MP Board Class 12 Examination 2021. The decision has been taken as a precautionary measure in view of the covid-19 pandemic. Read more

 

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Class 12 Board Exams 2021: With the Centre to take a call on conducting Class 12 board exams within two days, an RSS-affiliated body on education on Monday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to ensure that the exams are held and suggested various options including changing the pattern to objective and allowing students to solve question papers at home or take exams of only 2-3 subjects.

The organisational secretary of Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas (SSUN), Atul Kothari, in a letter to both Modi and Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, favoured holding of exams in the respective schools in different shifts with teachers coming from outside. He also asked them to consider holding open book exams.

Underlining that the studies of a large number of students have been impacted due to COVID, he said they should be allowed a gap year or exams can be conducted twice.

Emphasising the importance of Class 12, Kothari said, “While keeping the future of students in mind, Class 12 board exams should be conducted. Some options may be given to students due to the unforeseen circumstances.”

Also Read: Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank Hospitalised Due To Post COVID Complications

Describing the board exams during the pandemic as a “big challenge” in front of the country’s education system, the SSUN suggested four options for conducting exams. While three favoured offline exams with the physical presence of students, one was for online exams, though it did express reservations on it citing the digital divide in the country.

The first option suggested by SSUN is to simplify the entire exam process by taking exams of only two-to-three subjects. And for formulating marks, it suggested that 40 percent weightage can be given to class 10 score and 30 percent weightage each to marks obtained in class 11 and class 12 board exams.

The second option is to change the pattern of the exams to objective type with each student being given a personal kit which will include a question paper and answer sheet. It will reduce the time and ease the process of both conducting and evaluating the board exams, the letter states.

Also Read: CBSE Class 12 Exam Date: Education Minister Likely To Announce Date & Format On Tuesday | All You Need To Know

The third option is to conduct exams in two phases — in the first phase, which will have 80 percent weightage, students can collect their question paper and solve it at their homes, while the second phase, which could be optional, can take place in schools with 20 percent weightage, according to the letter.

On the option of conducting online exams, SSUN said it would be difficult to hold it across the country due to the digital divide.

The online exams should be like “on-demand exams” conducted by the National Institute of Open School. Students should have the freedom to choose any three subjects and any time slot for appearing for the exams.

Also Read: Class 12 Exams More Important Than Class 10 Boards, Maharashtra Govt Tells Bombay HC

Besides all these options, SSUN suggested that open exams should also be considered though students and teachers in India are not fully trained for this pattern.

Earlier in the day, the Centre informed the Supreme Court it will take a final decision within the next two days on whether to conduct class 12 board exams amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

The CBSE had on April 14 announced the cancellation of class 10 exams and postponement of class 12 exams in view of the surge in coronavirus cases.

The Ministry of Education had recently sought detailed suggestions from the states and Union Territories on the proposals discussed in a high-level meeting held on the issue.

The CBSE had proposed conducting the exams between July 15-August 26 and the result to be declared in September.

The board had also proposed two options: conducting regular exams for 19 major subjects at notified centres or conducting shorter duration exams at respective schools where students are enrolled.

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New Delhi:  Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi by sharing the same poster which were put up in Delhi to allegedly criticise the PM for vaccine shortage. Delhi Police have arrested 25 people in the case. 

Arrest me too,” Rahul Gandhi tweeted today in both English and Hindi, along with the “white Hindi words on black background” poster that led to the arrests. It read: “Modi ji, why did you send vaccines meant for our children, abroad?”

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After Rahul Gandhi, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, P Chidambaram,  Congress spokesperson Randeep Single Surjewala also changed their Twitter profile picture and used the same poster. 

Other Congress leaders also took to Twitter and used the same poster to slam Prime Minister Modi.

The Delhi police have said it had also registered around 25 cases under the Defacement of Public Property Act & Section 188 in the matter relating to the posters.

On May 12, the police were informed about posters criticising PM Modi were put up across the city. It is being said that police recovered around 800 such posters and banners and removed all of them by May 13.  According to a media report, those arrested include a 19-year school dropout, a 30-year e-rickshaw driver, a 61-year-old wage laborer.

Police said that an FIR was registered in North Delhi and one person was arrested. This person has claimed that he was given 500 rupees for putting up three posters. Another case was registered in Shahdara, where police recovered CCTV footage of the incident and tried to apprehend the people involved in the incident.

Who directed to put up these posters?

The Delhi police is probing the matter to find out who instructed these people to put up the posters by giving them money, however, they have not been able to find the main culprit and are questioning the 25 people arrested in the case so far.

The arrests were made by four different divisions of the police – eastern range, east, central  and northeast – suggesting the operation was a coordinated action.

 

New Delhi: The Delhi Police have arrested 25 people over posters allegedly criticizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi related to the management of the Coronavirus crisis in the country. These posters were put up in many parts of the national capital with messages like: “Modi ji, aapne humare bacchon ki vaccine videsh kyu bhej diya?” (Modi ji, why did you send vaccines meant for our children, abroad?).

The police have registered more than 25 First Information Reports or FIRs under sections of the Defacement of Public Property Act besides other laws.

On May 12, the police were informed about posters criticising PM Modi were put up across the city. It is being said that police recovered around 800 such posters and banners and removed all of them by May 13.  According to a media report, those arrested include a 19-year school dropout, a 30-year e-rickshaw driver, a 61-year-old wage laborer.

Police said that an FIR was registered in North Delhi and one person was arrested. This person has claimed that he was given 500 rupees for putting up three posters. Another case was registered in Shahdara, where police recovered CCTV footage of the incident and tried to apprehend the people involved in the incident.

Who directed to put up these posters?

The Delhi police is probing the matter to find out who instructed these people to put up the posters by giving them money, however, they have not been able to find the main culprit and are questioning the 25 people arrested in the case so far.

The arrests were made by four different divisions of the police – eastern range, east, central  and northeast – suggesting the operation was a coordinated action.

Covid 19 in India: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation today after releasing the 8th installment of financial benefit under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) and stated that  the country is fighting an invisible enemy.

PM Modi also said that the government is working in war-footing mode to fight the second wave of COVID-19 and expressed confidence in winning the battle.

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“After 100 years, such a terrible pandemic is testing the world at every step. We have an invisible enemy in front of us, which is in multi-form… We are overcoming obstacles in resources in the fight against second wave of coronavirus rapidly and efforts are being made to work on war-footing mode,” PM Modi said.

PM Modi said that he grieved over the loss the citizens are facing amid the second Covid wave and said, “The pain that the countrymen have endured for some time, the pain that many people have gone through, I have felt the same pain: I am feeling the same.”

The Prime Minister also urged people to get vaccinated when their turn comes and said that the centre is making efforts to make sure that maximum people were vaccinated.

“So far, around 18 crore vaccine doses have been given. Government hospitals are giving free shots across the country. So please do get the vaccine when it is your turn,” PM urged.

He said medical professionals, scientists and armed forces are working day and night to fight against COVID-19, adding that supply of medicines is being increased through domestic production and imports.

The government is setting up oxygen plants, he stated.

“India is not a country to lose courage. We will fight and win,” he said.

Further, he asked states government to crack down on black-marketing of medicines and oxygen cylinders.

Expressing concern over COVID-19 is reaching to villages, the Prime Minister asked people to follow all the protocols such as wearing masks and taking tests in case of having symptoms.

India reported 3.43 lakh new cases – a dip since yesterday – but the number of deaths remained above 4,000 for the third straight day.

Beijing: China on Wednesday accused the Quad of being an “exclusive clique” against Beijing as it defended its Bangladesh Ambassador’s warning to Dhaka against joining the US-led alliance, saying the envoy has made the country’s position “clear” on the issue.

China’s Ambassador in Dhaka Li Jiming China on Monday warned Bangladesh against joining the four-nation group comprising the US, Australia, Japan and India, saying that Dhaka’s participation in the anti-Beijing “club” would result in “substantial damage” to bilateral relations.

The provocative remarks by the Ambassador were described as “very unfortunate” and “aggressive” by Bangladesh foreign minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Tuesday. “We are an independent and sovereign state. We decide our foreign policy,” Momen had said, adding that Bangladesh has been following a “non-aligned” and “balanced” foreign policy and the country would decide what to do in line with that principle.

Asked for her reaction to Momen’s comments, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told the media here that she has not seen the minister’s remarks. 

“China and Bangladesh are very friendly close neighbours. We have grown our ties on the basis of the five principles of peaceful coexistence. We always treat each other with mutual respect and firmly support one another on issues bearing on respective core interests and major concerns,” she said.

“We all know what kind of mechanism the Quad is. China opposes certain countries’ efforts to form an exclusive clique, portray China as a challenge, and sow discord between regional countries and China,” Hua said in updated comments posted on the website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Replying to a question in the light of Momen’s assertion that Bangladesh is a sovereign country and decides its own foreign policy, how China would respond to criticism that it is aggressively pushing its stand on issues on smaller countries, Hua said Beijing always treats other countries as equals.

“I’m not sure if your information on the statement from the Bangladesh foreign minister was an accurate quote or if further clarification is needed. But one thing is clear. China always treats other countries as equals, especially small and medium ones,” she said. “As I said, China and Bangladesh have very friendly relations,” Hua asserted.

In South Asia, she said, it is definitely not China that is interfering in other countries’ domestic affairs. China was, is and will remain committed to this principle.

“As to the Quad, I think India knows more clearly its intention. Isn’t it intended as a small clique against China? Remarks expressing opposition to this mechanism are not about interference but about expressing opposition to small cliques and bloc politics. They also reflect the aspiration for maintaining regional peace and stability,” she said.

Initiated in 2007, the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue or Quad is an informal grouping of the US, India, Australia and Japan.

The Quad member countries have resolved to uphold a rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific amid growing Chinese assertiveness in the strategically vital region.

The first summit of the Quad leaders was hosted by US President Joe Biden on March 12 and the virtual meeting was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.

The four Quad leaders have vowed to strive for an Indo-Pacific region that is free, open, inclusive, healthy, anchored by democratic values, and unconstrained by coercion, sending a clear message to China against its aggressive actions in the region. 

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New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who on Wednesday chaired a high-level meeting to review the availability and supply of oxygen and medicines to tackle Covid, was informed that the government is in regular touch with the manufacturers to enhance the production of medicines and extend all help needed.

The Prime Minister was also apprised that the production of all drugs including Remdesivir has been ramped up significantly in the last few weeks. He was told that states are being provided medicines in good quantities with the Centre in regular touch with the manufacturers to enhance their production and extend all help needed.

The Prime Minister’s Office on Wednesday said that the supply of oxygen is now more than three times what it was during the peak of the first COVID-19 wave. 

The Prime Minister was told that the government is actively monitoring the supply of drugs being used in the management of Covid as well as mucormycosis.

PM Modi said, “India has a very vibrant pharma sector and the government`s continued close coordination with them will ensure proper availability of all medicines.” He also took stock of the situation on oxygen availability and supply in the country.

The Prime Minister was briefed about the operations of Oxygen Expresses and sorties by IAF planes. He was also informed about the status of procurement of oxygen concentrators, oxygen cylinders as well as the status of PSA plants being installed across the country.

He also remarked that states should be asked to operationalise ventilators in a time-bound manner and resolve technical and training issues with the help of the manufacturers.

About reports of ventilators lying unused in some states and local authorities blaming quality issues in a few cases, PM Modi said that states should be asked to operationalise them in a time-bound manner and resolve technical and training matters with the help of manufacturers. 

(With Agency Inputs)

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday (May 8) over the COVID-19 related situation and praised the state’s efforts to fight the virus. 

According to a statement from the CMO, Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the call enquired about Maharashtra’s efforts in the fight against COVID and said that the state was fighting a good battle against the second wave.

The Chief Minister informed PM Modi about the state government’s planning to face the third wave of novel coronavirus. 

In a telephonic conversation with CM Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray, the Hon’ble PM @narendramodi sought details about Maharashtra’s fight against COVID and commended its efforts in countering the second wave.

— CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) May 8, 2021

“The Prime Minister and the Union government have been guiding the state in the war against coronavirus from the very beginning and it is being put to good use by the state government,” Thackeray said during the conversation, news agency ANI reported.

Earlier, Thackeray has also written to the Central government seeking permission to develop a separate app for COVID vaccination in the state. In a letter, he described various issues including complaints of frequent glitches in CoWIN platform.

Meanwhile, according to the Union Health Ministry, Maharashtra was among the ten states that reported 71.81 per cent of new COVID-19 cases in the country on Friday.

The state reported the highest daily new cases at 62,194. The state was among the twelve states that cumulatively accounted for 81.04 per cent of India’s total active cases and had 6,41,281 active cases of the virus.

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Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren held a telephonic meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday over the Covid situation in the state and after the phone call Soren took a dig at the PM citing the conversation as PM’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’, instead of business.

Soren’s reaction came after PM Modi spoke to him and the chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Telangana about the COVID-19 situation on Thursday.

“Today the respected Prime Minister called. He only spoke his “Mann Ki Baat”. It would have been better if he would have talked business and heard the issues,” the Jharkhand chief minister said in a tweet.

According to PTI, Soren was unhappy as he was not allowed to present the issues concerning his state before PM Modi and instead, it was only the prime minister who talked about the COVID-19 situation.

The chief minister has been critical of the Centre in the past over handling of several issues, including migrant workers. 

Hence, the Jharkhand Chief Minister called the conversation as ‘Mann Ki Baat’ which is the monthly radio programme of the Prime Minister.

Jharkhand reported 133 COVID-19 fatalities on Thursday, taking the number of deaths due to the viral disease in the state to 3,479, while 6,974 cases pushed the state”s infection tally to 2,70,089.

The mortality rate in the state remains higher at 1.28 per cent against the national mortality rate of 1.10 per cent. According to a bulletin issued by the state health department, the recovery rate of COVID-19 patients is 76.26 per cent in Jharkhand as against the national average of 82 per cent

Mumbai: The results of the assembly elections in West Bengal have been announced where the Trinamool Congress (TMC) party won by a huge margin. On 5^th May, Mamata Banerjee took the oath of Chief Minister for the third consecutive time.

Meanwhile, there were reports of violence in many places in Bengal. Though BJP alleged that TMC activists were responsible for this violence, Mamata Banerjee’s party kept a clean edge. Many people including some actresses have reacted to these reports of violence in Bengal including Kangana Ranaut, Payal Rohatgi and others.

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Kangana Ranaut tweeted in support of the BJP after the violence in Bengal. But Twitter suspended her account. Actress Payal Rohatgi also spoke out about the violence in West Bengal and shared a video on her Instagram. She can be seen in tears in the video. Payal also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to save the women who are being gang-raped and molested in the state.

The ‘Bigg Boss 2’ contestant said in the video, “What is the government doing, Modi ji, you are the Prime Minister of our country, isn’t it? Amit Shah, you are the Home Minister of our country, are you not? Why are they trying to harm innocent Hindu people, who supported you. You did not come to power, Mamata Banerjee became the Chief Minister of Bengal, but what is the fault of innocent people who supported you.”

Payal Rohatgi also came out in support of Kangana Ranaut in her video after the latter’s Twitter account got suspended. While sharing the video, Payal wrote, “Save Hindus in Bengal @narendramodi @amitshahofficial ji #payalrohatgi #savehinduism”

On a related note, Payal Rohatgi’s Twitter account got suspended for the second time last year in the month of July.

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Stay tuned for more updates.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday termed the virtual sumit with his British counterpart PM Boris Johnson as ‘fruitful and productive’. PM Modi said the ambitious Roadmap 2030 was adopted during the summit to expand India-UK relations to a ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’.

Taking to Twitter, PM Modi said that the duo reiterated commitment to climate action to meet Paris goals and discussed ongoing cooperation on the current grim Coronavirus situation in both countries. 

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“We welcomed launch of an Enhanced Trade Partnership as a roadmap to a comprehensive FTA, with a target to more than double the bilateral trade by 2030. We also agreed upon several new initiatives in health, technology, energy, etc,” the prime minister tweeted.

According to a statement from Johnson’s office,”more than 6,500 new jobs will be created around the UK thanks to the one billion pounds of new UK-India trade and investment announced by the Prime Minister today.”

The two nations also declared an enhanced trade partnership, termed as “another big-ticket announcement” by the Ministry of External Affairs. The Ministry said that the major achievement of the Modi-Johnson summit is the introduction of ‘Roadmap 2030’ to further strengthen India-UK relations as it opened a new chapter in bilateral relations.

Earlier in the day, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is on a four-day visit to the UK, signed a migration and mobility partnership agreement with British Home Secretary Priti Paten.

“A fruitful meeting this morning with Home Secretary @pritipatel. Signed the Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement that would facilitate legal travel and encourage talent flows. The living bridge between India andthe UK will get stronger as a result,” he tweeted.

During the meeting, the two leaders also discussed the extradition of Indian economic offenders Vijay Mallay and Nirav Modi.