Author: Supriya Jena

  • IIT Madras Launches New Admission Route for Science Olympiad Winners

    IIT Madras Launches New Admission Route for Science Olympiad Winners

    The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has started a new way for students to get into its undergraduate programs. This program, called ‘Science Olympiad Excellence’ (ScOpE), is for students who have done very well in national and international science competitions.

    Starting from the academic year 2025-2026, students can apply for admission without going through the regular JEE (Advanced) exams. This is similar to how some students get admitted through sports and fine arts.

    Each program will have two extra seats just for these applicants, and one seat will be reserved specifically for female students. To apply, candidates must have completed Class 12, just like those applying through JEE (Advanced). The age limit and other rules will also be the same. However, students who have studied at an IIT before cannot apply.

    Eligible candidates need to be Indian citizens or have an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) or Person of Indian Origin (PIO) card that was issued before March 4, 2021. They also need to have participated in at least one major science competition in the last four years, such as:

    – Mathematics: International Mathematical Olympiad Training Camps (IMOTC) organized by Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE).
    – Physics, Chemistry, Biology: Orientation-cum-Selection Camps (OCSCs) organized by HBCSE.
    – Informatics: International Olympiad for Informatics Training Camp (IOITC) organized by the Indian Association for Research in Computer Science (IARCS).

    The director of IIT Madras, Prof. V. Kamakoti, said that this new program is about inviting students who are curious and creative thinkers. He believes that real breakthroughs come from exploring ideas rather than just memorizing facts.

    Admission to programs through ScOpE will depend on a special ranking list called the ScOpE Rank List (SRL), based on each candidate’s performance in five Olympiads: Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Informatics, and Biology. More details on how the ranking will be created will be available on their website.

  • Odell Beckham Jr. Speaks Out on Diddy Lawsuit Allegations

    Odell Beckham Jr. Speaks Out on Diddy Lawsuit Allegations

    Odell Beckham Jr. is in the news after being named in a serious lawsuit with Sean “Diddy” Combs. A woman has accused Odell and others, including comedian Druski and singer Jaguar Wright, of sexual assault, drugging, and kidnapping. The lawsuit was first filed last October, but it was recently updated to include Odell’s name. The woman is asking for $50 million as compensation for her claims.

    On social media, Odell, who is 32 years old, expressed his shock at these accusations. The woman claims the attack made her feel powerless and unable to move. Both Odell and Druski deny the allegations. Odell responded to Druski’s post on X (formerly Twitter), expressing his disbelief and faith in God, saying, “This world makes no sense. I know who I am and who you are. Stay strong. The truth will come out.”

    Druski, 30, added that he was not a well-known person back in 2018 when the alleged incident happened. He said he was poor and lived with his mom, which makes the accusation seem ridiculous. Druski said, “My heart goes out to real victims of abuse, but I’m sure the proof will show that this is false and that people are trying to take advantage of the legal system.”

  • JEE Mains 2025 Session 2: Exam Schedule Revealed

    JEE Mains 2025 Session 2: Exam Schedule Revealed

    The National Testing Agency (NTA) has announced the official dates for the JEE Mains 2025 Session 2 exams. This information was shared on Monday, March 10, 2025. If you registered for the JEE Mains 2025 Session 2, you can find the exam schedule on their official website: jeemain.nta.nic.in.

    Here are the key details:
    – Exam Dates: The JEE Mains Session 2 will take place from April 2 to April 9, 2025.
    – Paper 1 (B.E/B.Tech):
    – First Shift: 9 AM to 12 PM
    – Second Shift: 3 PM to 6 PM
    – Paper 2A (B.Arch) and Paper 2B (B.Planning):
    – First Shift: 9 AM to 12:30 PM

    The NTA will also soon share details about where students will take their exams and release the admit cards. The exam city slip will tell you the location of your exam center, so you can plan your travel. However, you do not need to bring this slip on exam day.

    The admit card is important; it will have your exam center’s name and address. Remember, you must bring your admit card and other required documents on the exam day.

    How to Download the Exam Schedule:
    1. Go to the official NTA JEE Mains website: jeemain.nta.nic.in.
    2. On the home page, click on the link that says “Examination Schedule for JEE (Main) 2025 Session 2.”
    3. A PDF of the exam schedule will appear. Download it and keep a printed copy for your reference.

  • Maharashtra’s Budget: Building Memorials to Honor Legendary Leaders

    Maharashtra’s Budget: Building Memorials to Honor Legendary Leaders

    Maharashtra’s Finance Minister Ajit Pawar presented his 11th state budget in the assembly on Monday. He announced plans to build several memorials in Maharashtra and beyond, highlighting the state’s tourism policy that aims to invest Rs 1 lakh crore in the tourism sector over the next 10 years.

    One notable project is a grand statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, which will be built in Agra. This location is special because it is where Shivaji Maharaj famously escaped from Aurangzeb’s captivity in 1666, an event that boosted his legendary status.

    In Pune, Rs 50 crore will go towards the Shivsrushti project, which will honor Shivaji Maharaj by creating a cultural and educational site in Ambegaon. Another memorial for his son, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, will be built in Sangameshwar, where he battled the Portuguese and Mughals before he was captured and killed.

    Pawar also mentioned that a memorial in Panipat, Haryana will honor the Maratha warriors who fought bravely in the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761, helping to remember their sacrifices. Additionally, funding will be given for a special international memorial for Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar at Chaityabhoomi in Mumbai.

    Moreover, a grand memorial for former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will be built in Mumbai as part of his birth centenary celebrations. The second phase of the Balasaheb Thackeray National Memorial in Mumbai will receive Rs 220 crore.

    Finally, a memorial and a women’s training center will be set up at Savitribai Phule’s birthplace in Naigaon, Satara. Funding will also be allocated for a memorial in honor of Sahityaratna Lokshahir Annabhau Sathe at Wategaon, Sangli district.

  • Mining Shares Decline: Highlights and Insights from Today’s Market

    Mining Shares Decline: Highlights and Insights from Today’s Market

    In New Delhi, mining company stocks fell on Monday. The biggest winner was Madhav Marbles & Granites Ltd., which went up by 5.68%. Unfortunately, other companies faced losses. KIOCL Ltd. dropped by 5.22%, Ashapura Minechem Ltd. went down by 4.71%, and MOIL Ltd. fell by 3.99%. Other companies also lost value, including Aro Granite Industries Ltd. (down 3.72%) and Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation Ltd. (down 2.73%).

    The stock market indices were not doing well either. The NSE Nifty50 index decreased by 92.21 points, ending at 22,460.3. The BSE Sensex dropped by 217.41 points, closing at 74,115.17.

    On a positive note, some companies in the Nifty pack saw gains. Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd. went up by 3.04%, while Hindustan Unilever Ltd. rose by 1.96%. Infosys Ltd. increased by 0.92%, and SBI Life Insurance Company Ltd. climbed by 0.56%. However, other companies didn’t fare as well. Oil And Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. saw a drop of 4.17%, Trent Ltd. fell by 4.01%, and IndusInd Bank Ltd. declined by 3.87%.

  • Tragic Death of Young Traveler in Hampi: A Call for Tourist Safety

    Tragic Death of Young Traveler in Hampi: A Call for Tourist Safety

    A young traveler named Bhibas Nayak, who was only 26 years old, sadly lost his life after being pushed into a canal. This incident is linked to a terrible crime in Hampi, Karnataka. Nayak’s cousin shared that he loved to explore new places, meet new people, and go on adventures. Whenever he had time off work, he would plan trips—usually four times a year. His funeral took place on Sunday in his hometown in Odisha’s Kandhamal district.

    What Happened in Hampi?
    On the night of March 6, two women, one of whom was from Israel, were attacked by three men near a historical site in Hampi. A brave 29-year-old woman, who ran a homestay, was one of the victims who managed to survive the horrible experience. She said the men approached them while they were enjoying a night of music and stargazing, asking for petrol. When the victims refused to give them more money, the situation turned violent.

    The woman described how the men took her bag, which had two mobile phones and ₹9,500 in cash. “While we were yelling for help, they rode away on their motorcycle,” she reported.

    Police later arrested the third suspect in Chennai and took him to Karnataka. Koppal’s Superintendent of Police, Ram Arasiddi, stated that all legal processes would be followed, and the man might be taken into custody for questioning.

    Government Response
    Karnataka’s Minister HK Patil called the incident very unfortunate and promised to improve safety for tourists in the area. He said, “It’s very sad that such a crime happened in Hampi. The government is taking serious actions to hold those responsible accountable and to support the victims.”

  • Global Outage on X! Users Report Issues Everywhere

    Global Outage on X! Users Report Issues Everywhere

    Many users of the social media platform X reported that they couldn’t access the website or the app all around the world. At about 3:10 PM, there was a big jump in reports on Niftystat, showing that many people were facing the same problem. As of now, Twitter hasn’t said anything about why the platform is having these issues.

  • Vape Battery Explosion: Dorset Woman’s Painful Journey to Recovery

    Vape Battery Explosion: Dorset Woman’s Painful Journey to Recovery

    A 35-year-old woman named Kerri Absolom from Dorset had a very scary and painful experience when a vape battery exploded in her pocket. It happened one morning right before she was about to go to work. Kerri noticed smoke coming from her clothes and, when she checked, she saw sparks flying from the battery. Shocked, she realized she had a severe burn on her leg.

    Kerri’s husband, Christopher, tried to help her pull her pants off as the situation got worse. Suddenly, the battery fell onto their dog’s bed and melted through it into the carpet below. They heard hissing sounds as the hot battery caused more problems. Christopher quickly called for an ambulance.

    Firefighters arrived and took Kerri outside to cool her burning leg with water. They also removed the still-hot battery from the house to prevent a bigger fire.

    Doctors later found out that the battery exploded because it touched Kerri’s keys, which acted like a conductor. She had to go to the hospital with third-degree burns and received strong pain medicine to help her through the pain. Kerri had to stay in the hospital for a week.

    While healing, she had a skin graft to help her recover and reduce scarring. But the recovery was very painful, making it hard for Kerri to even shower. She also had allergic reactions to her medication and struggled to sleep because of her ongoing pain and fear.

    This whole experience made it difficult for her mentally, leading to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). She had to take time off work to heal and recover from both her physical and emotional injuries.

  • Hardik Pandya Leads India to Champions Trophy Victory

    Hardik Pandya Leads India to Champions Trophy Victory

    Dubai – Hardik Pandya stepped up to bowl for India in the Champions Trophy when Jasprit Bumrah was not available. Despite his new role, he kept his fighting spirit and adjusted well. In the tournament, India relied mainly on spinners, so Pandya only bowled 24.3 overs in five matches, taking four wickets. He commented, “Bowling will take care of itself. This year was all about learning and facing challenges. I never run away from tough situations. If challenges come, I face them head-on. As long as I stay in the game, I have a chance.”

    After India’s victory, Pandya expressed that he has been quietly working hard to improve his game. “I always believe in myself and know that hard work pays off. The way you prepare shows in your performance,” he stated. Winning this tournament also helped him forget the disappointment of losing to Pakistan in the 2017 edition, where he was also a player. He said, “Today, I feel like a long-hidden dream has come true. Eight years is a long time, and many things have changed, but winning for India means everything to me. It’s not just about me; it’s about the team’s success that matters most.”

  • Man Shot Dead in East Delhi: Family Protests for Justice

    Man Shot Dead in East Delhi: Family Protests for Justice

    A 32-year-old man named Rohit was shot and killed near the Phool Mandi area on National Highway-24 in East Delhi, police said on Monday. Rohit, who lived in Ghazipur village, was found with a serious gunshot wound. He was quickly taken to LBS Hospital, but sadly, he did not survive.

    The shooting happened in a busy place close to the Phool Mandi, which is a well-known market. After hearing the news, Rohit’s family and local people held a protest near the Delhi-Ghazipur border. They demanded strict action against the person responsible for his death, causing heavy traffic jams in the area.

    So far, the police have arrested two people in connection with this incident. More information about the case is being gathered.