Author: Supriya Jena

  • VP Dhankhar: Everyone in Public Service Is Replaceable, Fairness is Key

    VP Dhankhar: Everyone in Public Service Is Replaceable, Fairness is Key

    On Saturday, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar spoke at animportant conference in Bengaluru. He shared his thoughts about public service jobs and the importance of fairness in recruiting people for these roles.

    He mentioned that extending someone’s job after retirement can be unfair to those in line for their positions. “No one is so important that they can’t be replaced,” he said. Dhankhar believes that all individuals have talent and no one should feel indispensable. He emphasized that appointments in public service should be based on merit, not personal connections.

    He also criticized hiring retired employees for new roles because it goes against what the founders of our country intended. “This happens in some states where workers never really retire. They get new temporary titles instead,” he explained. He stressed that everyone should have equal chances, as required by law.

    The Vice President also expressed concern about cheating during exams, stating that “paper leakage” has become a major issue. “This must stop,” he declared, and praised the government’s new law to prevent unfair practices in public exams.

    Dhankhar acknowledged that for India to succeed, we need a peaceful political environment. He noted that our politics is currently divided and that we need more communication among political groups. He urged leaders from all parties to work together and have open discussions to solve problems.

    Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also spoke at the event, highlighting that Public Service Commissions help strengthen democracy by choosing qualified individuals for government roles. He shared that Karnataka has a strong tradition in public administration, starting with the Mysore Civil Services examination in 1892.

    Siddaramaiah also said that fixing issues like paper leaks is a top priority in Karnataka. He stressed using technology, like artificial intelligence, to make recruitment clearer and free from corruption.

    Among those present at the conference were Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, UPSC Chairwoman Preeti Sudan, and Karnataka Public Service Commission Chairman Shivashankarappa S. Sahukar.

  • Gujarat Halts Solar Project to Protect Asiatic Lions’ Habitat”

    Gujarat Halts Solar Project to Protect Asiatic Lions’ Habitat”

    Ahmedabad: Gujarat government recently decided to pause a 25 MW solar power project proposed by the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) near Gir National Park. This decision came after many environmentalists and wildlife lovers expressed worries about the impact on the habitat of the Asiatic lions, which are found only in this region.

    A senior government official explained, “After looking closely at the project’s benefits and drawbacks, we have decided to put it on hold.” This official spoke anonymously. A forest department official noted that large solar projects are usually not allowed in sensitive wildlife areas, but this one was being considered as an exception.

    The NTPC proposed a total of 200 MW of solar projects, with the 25 MW plan set for Ghodasan village, which is part of the corridor connecting Gir to Girnar. The other 175 MW was planned for areas outside the lion habitat. Approval from the forest department has been delayed, leading NTPC to think about moving the 25 MW project to another location.

    Initially, NTPC wanted to build a 60 MW project in the eco-sensitive zone around Gir, asking for 125 hectares of land. However, due to opposition from wildlife experts, they reduced the plan to 25 MW, which now would use around 40 hectares. An NTPC official chose not to comment on this situation.

    The government has released draft guidelines to better protect the environment near the lion sanctuary, but some critics say that the government is also pushing for big commercial projects in these same areas. Political leaders have accused the state of being unfair, applying strict environmental rules to regular people while allowing companies to bypass them.

    The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Pravin Ram pointed out the inconsistency during a rally, asking how the government can prioritize environmental protection while allowing this solar project to move forward in a place where commercial activities were banned since 2011.

    Wildlife experts and photographers, including Bhushan Pandya, have also reached out to the government, highlighting the importance of keeping wildlife corridors safe. He stated that the forest department had previously raised concerns about this project two times.

    Parimal Nathwani, a member of the Rajya Sabha, shared concerns on social media that the solar project could block the movement of Asiatic lions and is calling on both the state and central governments to stop it. Environmentalists warn that projects like this can disturb habitats crucial for the lions, who already face challenges from habitat loss.

    The population of Asiatic lions has grown from 523 in 2015 to 674 in 2020, according to the last census. But only about 300–325 lions live in the 1,412 sq km Gir sanctuary; the rest depend on surrounding areas for survival.

    Two wildlife experts, Jalpan Rupapara and Purvesh Kacha, who have over 20 years of experience in lion conservation, stated that big solar projects can harm the habitat. They pointed out that clearing land for these projects can hurt both plant and animal life, causing more conflict between humans and wildlife.

    In August, local authorities even demolished illegal solar panels that had been placed in the eco-sensitive area without the necessary permissions. These panels occupied more than 419,000 square meters of land.

    According to government rules, small renewable energy projects can be approved in eco-sensitive zones for local communities, but larger projects are closely watched due to their environmental impact. In the last six months, at least three big solar projects in the area have been put on hold

  • SBI SCO Interview Admit Card 2024: Download Now

    SBI SCO Interview Admit Card 2024: Download Now

    State Bank of India (SBI) has released the SBI SCO Interview Admit Card for 2024! If you’re ready to interview for Specialist Cadre Officer positions, you can easily download your admit card from SBI’s official website, sbi.co.in.

    The admit card will be available until January 31, 2025. Here are some important dates you should know:
    – Deputy Manager interviews: January 17, 2025
    – Assistant Manager interviews: January 20, 2025

    How to Download Your SBI SCO Interview Admit Card:
    1. Visit the SBI website at sbi.co.in.
    2. Click on the “Careers” link on the main page.
    3. Find and click on the link for “SBI SCO Interview Admit Card 2024.”
    4. A new page will open. Enter your login information and click “Submit.”
    5. Your admit card will show up. Check the details and download it.
    6. Make sure to print a copy for your records.

    For the Deputy Manager position, the interview will be scored out of 100 marks, and the bank will determine the passing marks later. The interview process might have several steps, and the bank will decide these details.

    For the Assistant Manager position, specific numbers of candidates will be invited for interviews based on how well they did on the Written Test. This interview is worth 25 marks, and the bank will also set the minimum passing scores.

    This recruitment drive aims to fill 1,497 positions within the bank. For more information, please visit the official SBI website

  • Taliban Rejects Girls’ Education Summit as Malala Speaks Out

    Taliban Rejects Girls’ Education Summit as Malala Speaks Out

    The Taliban government in Afghanistan did not attend an important meeting about girls’ education held in Pakistan. Pakistan’s education minister, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, said they sent an invitation to the Taliban, but nobody came. He stated, “We invited Afghanistan, but no one from their government showed up.”

    This summit gathered education leaders from many countries where most people are Muslims, but Afghanistan was absent. Currently, Afghanistan is the only country in the world that does not allow girls to go to school.

    In his speech at the summit, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized that not letting girls have an education takes away their freedom and future opportunities. “Denying education to girls is like denying their voice,” Sharif said.

    Since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021, they have stopped girls from getting an education after sixth grade. They have also made it hard for women to work and go outside. The Taliban has rules saying women must cover their bodies completely in public and cannot pray out loud in front of each other.

    Nobel Prize winner Malala Yousafzai has come to Pakistan to speak at this meeting about girls’ education. She was shot by the Taliban in 2012 for going to school and has only visited Pakistan a few times since then. Malala plans to talk about the importance of girls’ rights to education and why leaders should hold the Taliban responsible for how they treat Afghan women and girls

  • Crocodiles Rescued During Tax Raid on Ex-BJP MLA’s Property in Madhya Pradesh”

    Crocodiles Rescued During Tax Raid on Ex-BJP MLA’s Property in Madhya Pradesh”

    In Madhya Pradesh’s Sagar district, two out of four marsh crocodiles were rescued from a pond at the home of Harvansh Singh Rathore, a former MLA from the BJP. This happened while the Income-Tax (I-T) department was searching his property on Friday. The other two crocodiles are set to be rescued on Saturday.

    Aseem Srivastava, the Head of Forest, said they will file a case under the Wildlife Protection Act after investigating the situation. He explained that they learned about the crocodiles from the I-T department, who initially said there were none at Rathore’s home. However, the story changed when a video of the crocodiles went viral online.

    Before being released into a nearby dam, the rescued crocodiles will get checked by vets, but they need court approval first. Rathore’s family has distanced themselves from the pond where the crocodiles were found, saying it was given to temple priests many years ago. They also claimed they had asked the forest department to remove the crocodiles, sending a letter as long ago as 2014.

    The forest department is looking into the ownership of the pond. If Rathore’s family did ask for help, they’ll still need the forest department to take responsibility.

    The I-T department was at Rathore’s home investigating a possible tax scam involving a businessman named Rajesh Kesharwani. They found gold and cash at the homes of Rathore’s family members and relatives. The raid brought to light a tax evasion racket, along with documents about other properties that weren’t registered properly.

    Rathore, who used to be the MLA from Banda in Sagar, also wanted to be the BJP district president. His father was a minister in the previous state government. So far, authorities say they have discovered assets worth over Rs 200 crore, including 14 kg of gold and Rs 3.8 crore in cash. While the search at Rathore’s place has wrapped up, the I-T department is still looking into Kesharwani’s properties. The investigation continues

  • California Wildfires: 11 Lives Lost and Evacuations in Full Swing”

    California Wildfires: 11 Lives Lost and Evacuations in Full Swing”

    At least 11 people have died because of wildfires in Southern California, according to NBC News. Firefighters got a short break as strong Santa Ana winds calmed down, but those winds are expected to return.

    The New York Times reported that at least 18 people have been arrested for crimes like stealing and identity fraud during this crisis. The Los Angeles Fire Department declared a mandatory evacuation order. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass posted on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “A mandatory evacuation order is now in effect for the Palisades Fire area!” This covers the region from Sunset Blvd North to Encino Reservoir and from the 405 Freeway West to Mandeville Canyon.

    California Governor Gavin Newsom announced plans for an independent investigation after concerns arose about firefighters not having enough water during their efforts. This situation is considered very serious. The largest fire, called the Palisades Fire, is just 8% contained, which means firefighters have managed to stop it from spreading in some areas. The Eaton Fire, east of there, is only 3% contained. Both fires are now among the top five worst fires in California’s history.

    In a separate update, President Biden warned that while winds have calmed down, they could still cause problems until next week. He shared that he and Vice President Kamala Harris received updates from California officials and emphasized that their team will be working around the clock to help contain the fires.

  • Samantha Ruth Prabhu: Recovering from Chikungunya & Health Challenges

    Samantha Ruth Prabhu: Recovering from Chikungunya & Health Challenges

    Samantha Ruth Prabhu, the popular actor, has been facing health issues lately. On Friday, she shared on Instagram that she is recovering from chikungunya, a viral infection that can cause fever and joint pain. In her post, she included a short video of herself working out at the gym, wearing a purple outfit. She humorously wrote, “Recovering from chikungunya is so fun (with unamused face emojis). The joint pains and all.”

    Earlier, Samantha revealed she had suffered a concussion while filming her show Citadel: Honey Bunny, where she forgot names and experienced memory loss. She expressed concern that no one helped her get medical attention at the time.

    In 2022, Samantha was diagnosed with myositis, an autoimmune disease which made her very weak. She felt pressured to speak about her health publicly to promote her film, even though she wasn’t feeling her best. She mentioned that she didn’t want to go public but felt she had no choice.

    Her last role was in Citadel: Honey Bunny, where she played a secret agent. The show, written by Sita R Menon and directed by Raj & DK, premiered on Prime Video on November 7 last year and also featured actors like Varun Dhawan and Kay Kay Menon

  • Ayodhya’s Ram Janmabhoomi Temple to Celebrate First Anniversary this Month

    Ayodhya’s Ram Janmabhoomi Temple to Celebrate First Anniversary this Month

    Ayodhya is excited to celebrate the first anniversary of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony at the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple. The district administration is ready for the three-day celebration that starts today. Police Commissioner Gaurav Dayal said that everything is set for the event, which will be graced by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

    The Chief Minister will kick off the festivities by performing a special ceremony for Ram Lalla. Last year, on January 22, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened the temple, and more than 200,000 visitors prayed at the temple on January 1 this year.

    Acharya Satyendra Das, the chief priest, said that the annual event is being celebrated with great joy, much like a festival. The celebrations are similar to how everyone celebrates Diwali, as the Chief Minister mentioned.

    In December, Nripendra Misra, head of the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple Construction Committee, said that the temple’s construction is moving along quickly and should be done by mid-2025. He noted that January is an important month, not only because of the anniversary but also because of the upcoming Maha Kumbh festival in Prayagraj, which will bring many visitors to Ayodhya.

  • Karnataka SSLC & PUC 2 Exam Dates 2025 Released – Check Now!

    Karnataka SSLC & PUC 2 Exam Dates 2025 Released – Check Now!

    The Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board (KSEAB) has announced the final timetable for the SSLC (Class 10) and PUC 2 (Class 12) exams for the year 2025! If you’re a student planning to take these exams, you can check the dates on the official KSEAB website at kseab.karnataka.gov.in.

    Here’s what you need to know:

    – Class 10 Exams: These will start on March 21 and end on April 4, 2025. All exams will be held in the morning, from 10 AM to 1:15 PM. The first languages and core subjects will follow this schedule, while the second and third languages will be tested from 10 AM to 1 PM. The Math and Science for MSFQ subjects will be from 10 AM to 12:15 PM.

    – Class 12 Exams: These will take place from March 1 to March 20, 2025. Like Class 10, the exams will also be in a single shift from 10 AM to 1 PM. It begins with Kannada and Arabic papers, and the last day concludes with the Hindi paper.

    How to Check the Dates:

    To download the exam timetable:
    1. Go to the KSEAB official website: kseab.karnataka.gov.in.
    2. Click on the link for the “Karnataka SSLC, PUC 2 Exam 2025 Final Datesheet” on the homepage.
    3. A new PDF file will open with the exam dates. Download it and keep a copy for your reference.

    Model Papers Released!

    KSEAB has also shared model question papers for various subjects like First Language, Second Language, Third Language, NSQF subjects, Mathematics, Science, and Social Science. You can find these papers on the KSEAB website too.

    For more updates and details, make sure to visit the official KSEAB site!

  • Biden Critiques Meta’s Fact-Checking Shift, Brazil Demands Answers

    Biden Critiques Meta’s Fact-Checking Shift, Brazil Demands Answers

    President Joe Biden spoke out against Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram, for changing its fact-checking system. He said this change is “completely contrary” to American values. Biden emphasized that telling the truth is very important.

    Biden’s comments came after a letter from the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) warned that not having good fact-checking could lead to serious problems in other countries. These problems could be things like political chaos, violence, or even worse, such as genocide.

    The IFCN disagreed with Meta’s founder, Mark Zuckerberg, who claimed that fact-checkers were too biased. They said this is not true and that fact-checkers have done a good job in the past.

    In a recent interview, Zuckerberg argued that the old fact-checking program was not useful anymore and compared it to George Orwell’s book “1984,” suggesting it was too controlling. He also mentioned that the program made people lose trust, especially in the U.S.

    The UN’s Volker Turk commented that controlling harmful content should not be seen as censorship and warned that ignoring this could have serious real-world consequences.

    Meanwhile, Brazil has given Meta 72 hours to explain its new fact-checking policy. Brazilian Attorney General Jorge Messias said that if the company does not respond, they might take legal action.