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Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat, in his Dussehra address on Sunday, touched upon several important issues, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the Citizenship (Amendment) Act , and the Ram temple at Ayodhya . The RSS sarasanghachalak's Dussehra address at Nagpur is an important part of the organisation's annual calendar, and it is used by the organisation to make its views known on a range of topics. This year, the Vijayadashami address was broadcast online and only 50 volunteers attended the main function in view of the coronavirus threat. Here is an overview of Bhagwat's statements during his address on Sunday: COVID-19 outbreak Bhagwat hailed the government for its response to the coronavirus pandemic and said, "The damage done by COVID-19 is relatively lesser in India as country's administration alerted people in advance. Precautionary measures were taken and rules were made. People took extra precautions as there was fear of the coronavirus i

Washington: Slamming President Donald Trump for his comment on India's air pollution, former vice president and Democratic Party's presidential nominee Joe Biden on Saturday said he and his running mate Kamala Harris deeply value America's partnership with India. "President Trump called India 'filthy'. It's not how you talk about friends and it's not how you solve global challenges like climate change," Biden said in a tweet, two days after Trump during a presidential debate accused China, India and Russia of not taking care of their "filthy" air. President Trump called India "filthy." It's not how you talk about friends—and it's not how you solve global challenges like climate change. @KamalaHarris and I deeply value our partnership—and will put respect back at the center of our foreign policy. https://t.co/TKcyZiNwY6 — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) October 24, 2020 "Look at China, how filthy it is. Look at Russ

Nagpur: A BJP functionary was arrested on Saturday in Nagpur for allegedly posting objectionable tweets earlier about Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and his son and cabinet colleague Aaditya Thackeray, police said. BJP IT Cell member Sameet Thakkar was told by the court to appear before VP Road police station in Mumbai on 5 October in connection with the issue but he allegedly slipped out without submitting his mobile phone or laptop as mandated, an official said. A local Shiv Sainik had also filed a case against Thakkar in Sitabuldi police station here. Thakkar was arrested by a joint team of Nagpur and Mumbai police personnel, the official informed. from Firstpost India Latest News https://ift.tt/35zWQL4 Press Trust of India

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday addressed a poll rally in LJP founder Ram Vilas Paswan's native Alauli assembly seat but refrained from speaking anything either against the party or its president Chirag Paswan who has been attacking him regularly. After dissociating his party from the ruling NDA in Bihar, Chirag has been hitting out at the chief minister almost on a daily basis in his election meetings as well as in the social media, but Kumar has chosen not to react to him. Kumar maintained the same approach and avoided making any reference either about Chirag or his party at his rally in Alauli during the day. Alauli reserved seat includes Paswan's birth place Saharbbani village in the Khagaria district. Ram Vilas Paswan had started his political innings by winning from Alauli constituency on Samyukta Socialist Party (SSY) in 1969. His younger brother Pashupati Kumar Paras, presently Lok Sabha member from the family pocket borough Hajipur, kept contact with

As the COVID-19 recovery rate in India rose to 89.78 percent on Saturday, the Union health ministry said that 61 percent of the total number of recovered patients is reported from six states and Union Territories. Maharashtra, one of the worst-affected states in terms of the spread of COVID-19, topped the chart with over 20 percent of the national tally of recoveries. It is followed by Andhra Pradesh at 10.9 percent, Karnataka at 9.9 percent, Tamil Nadu at 9.4 percent, Uttar Pradesh at 6.1 percent, and Delhi at 4.1 percent. However, as cases of COVID-19 also continued to rise in Maharashtra, former chief minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said that he had tested positive for the infection. "I have been working every single day since the lockdown but now it seems that God wants me to stop for a while and take a break! I have tested #COVID19 positive and in isolation. Taking all medication and treatment as per the advice of the doctors," Fadnavis said, ad

New Delhi: The Election Commission has the requisite powers to take strict measures like banning rallies and cancelling polls for violation of COVID-19 guidelines during campaigning , but it will be an uphill task to ensure compliance, according to former chief election commissioners. Campaigning is on for Bihar Assembly polls as well as for by-elections in other states, and the EC has already cautioned parties that penal provisions can be invoked against them by district authorities for violations. While most of the former CECs said implementing health guidelines during campaigning is not easy given the number of candidates, parties and voters involved, two of them said the EC could take "demonstrative action" such as postponing polls in a few constituencies and banning rallies to show that it means business. The Election Commission has taken a serious view of "utter violation" of social distancing norms during poll campaigning and leaders addressing public mee

TS EAMCET 2020: The Telangana State Council of Higher Education (TSCHE) released the TS EAMCET provisional seat allotment list today (24 October) on its official website - tseamcet.nic.in . Candidates whose names have been mentioned in the provisional allotment list will have to pay tuition fee and self-report through website between 24 to 28 October. According to a report by Scroll , this year TS EAMCET counselling process will be conducted online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Seats are allotted merit-wise. A 75 percent weightage has been given to a student's TS EAMCET score while drawing up the merit list. The remaining 25 percent is reserved for marks acquired in group subjects like mathematics or biology, physics, chemistry of the qualifying examination, reports said . The counselling process began on 9 October with online filing of basic information, payment of processing fee and slot booking for selection of helpline centre, date and time to attend for certificate verif

Srinagar:  National Conference president Farooq Abdullah was on Saturday unanimously chosen as the chairman of the recently-floated Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration while PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti will be his deputy, the amalgam said. CPM leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami is the convenor of the alliance, while Sajad Lone of People's Conference has been named as the spokesperson. The amalgam leaders, who met at the residence of Mehbooba Mufti for the first time after its formation, adopted the flag of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir as its symbol. The alliance will come out with a white paper within a month on governance in Jammu and Kashmir over the past one year since the abrogation of Article 370, Lone told reporters after the meeting. "The white paper will not be rhetoric. "It will be based on facts and figures to present the reality to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and around the country... An impression is being given that all the corruption had

Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (MPPEB) has released online application for the recruitment of 4,000 constables in the Madhya Pradesh Police. Willing and eligible candidates can apply for the MP Police constable post at peb.mp.gov.in from 24 December to 7 January 2021. Of the total MP Police constable posts, 138 vacancies are for Constable (Radio) and 3,862 are for Constable (GD). The MP Police constable recruitment exam will be conducted on 6 March 2021. The details of the recruitment will be released on the official website on 25 November. According to a report by Hindustan Times , the minimum age limit of applicants should be 18 years, whereas, the maximum age for candidates (male) belonging to the general category is 33 years. The upper age limit for women belonging to the unreserved category applying for the post is 38 years. Steps to apply for MP Police Constable recruitment 2020-2021 Step 1: Once the online application link gets activated, go to the MPPEB

Dussehra or Vijiayadashami is one of the most important autumnal festivals in India. It marks the end of the nine-day Navratri celebrations as well as the five day Durga Puja festivities. This year Dussehra has fallen on 25 October. According to Drikpanchang , the Vijay Muhurat for Dussehra falls between 1:58 pm and 2:43 pm on 25 October (Sunday). In West Bengal, the Aparahna puja time for Vijayadashami is from 1:13 pm to 3:28 pm on 26 October (Monday). It is believed that on the day of Dussehra or Vijayadashami, Lord Rama defeated King Ravana in his quest towards rescuing his wife Sita. This is also the day when Goddess Durga slayed the buffalo demon Mahisasura. The common theme that runs through both festivals is the triumph of good over evil. In many places in Northern India, effigies of Ravana are burnt to symbollically celebrate the demolition of eveil inside human beings and artists too take part in a play based on Tulsidas' Ramcharitmanas in the famed Ramlila. While

Uttar Pradesh BJP chief Swatantra Dev Singh has been caught on camera showering flower petals on the party's Bairia MLA Surendra Singh, days after serving him a notice for his statements supporting the main accused in the firing incident at Durjanpur village here. The video which went viral on Saturday shows Swatantra Dev Singh participating in a 'bhumi pujan' programme of a Krishna temple at Kathauda village in Sikanderpur area. Both the leaders are seen sitting side by side in the footage. The state BJP chief is seen showering flower petals on Surendra Singh, who acknowledges it with folded hands. On being asked about the video, BJP's Salempur MP Ravindra Kushwaha, who was also present at the event on Friday, told reporters that only Swatantra Dev Singh can elaborate on his actions. Earlier this week, the state unit of the BJP had issued a show cause notice to MLA Surendra Singh for issuing statements in support of Dhirendra Pratap Singh, a local party leader who

New Delhi: In a relief to borrowers at the onset of the festive season, the government on late Friday night announced waiver of interest on interest for loans up to Rs 2 crore irrespective of whether moratorium was availed or not. The Department of Financial Services came out with operational guidelines in the backdrop of Supreme Court's direction to implement the interest waiver scheme, which is likely to cost the exchequer Rs 6,500 crore. The apex court on 14 October directed the Centre to implement "as soon as possible" interest waiver on loans of up to Rs 2 crore under the RBI moratorium scheme in view of the COVID-19 pandemic saying the common man's Diwali is in the government's hands. As per the guidelines, the scheme can be availed by borrowers in specified loan accounts for a period from 1 March to 31 August, 2020. "Borrowers who have loan accounts having sanctioned limits and outstanding amount of not exceeding Rs 2 crore (aggregate of all facil

Chennai: DMK chief MK Stalin on Saturday slammed Chief Minister K Palaniswami over the 7.5 percent quota for government school students in medical courses and asked if it was fair for him to be in the top position and still not persuade Governor Banwarilal Purohit to clear the bill envisaging reservation. Presiding over a protest demonstration by his party to seek nod for the quota Bill that is pending with Governor, Stalin reiterated his party's opposition to the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test. "We are against the NEET. When Kalaignar (late DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi) and late chief minister J Jayalalithaa held power, there was no NEET in Tamil Nadu," he said. The national test was implemented in the state since Palaniswami was "subservient" to the Centre, he alleged. "As soon as the DMK is voted to power, we will fully involve ourselves in scrapping NEET through legal avenues and we will emerge victorious," he said after citing aspects

New Delhi: The BJP hit out at the Congress on Saturday over a case of alleged rape and murder of a six-year-old girl belonging to a migrant family from Bihar in Punjab, as it asked Opposition party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra why had they not paid a visit to the family of the victim yet. Union minister and BJP leader Prakash Javadekar accused Rahul and Priyanka of going on a "political tour" to Hathras in Uttar Pradesh, where a Dalit girl was raped and who succumbed to her injuries later. He questioned the lack of a similar reaction from the two leaders to "ghastly" crimes against women in Punjab and Rajasthan, which are ruled by the Congress. They go to these places for "photo-ops", Javadekar said, referring to the Congress leaders' visit to Hathras in the BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh. "A six-year-old girl coming from a Dalit migrant family from Bihar was raped and murdered in Punjab's Tanda. Former Union minister Vijay Sam

TS EAMCET 2020 provisional allotment result is expected to be declared today (24 October) by Telangana State Council of Higher Education (TSCHE). Once released, students who have registered for counselling will be able to check and download the result on its official website - tseamcet.nic.in. Candidates whose names have been mentioned in the provisional allotment list will have to pay tuition fee and self-report through website between 24 to 28 October. According to a report by Scroll , this year TS EAMCET counselling process will be conducted online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The counselling process began on 9 October with online filing of basic information, payment of processing fee and slot booking for selection of helpline centre, date and time to attend for certificate verification. The process of certificate and document verification was done till 20 October. Steps to check TS EAMCET 2020 provisional allotment result Before students check their results, they are advise

JMI Admissions 2020 | Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) University has released the B.Tech and B.Arch round one seat allotment results on its website jmicoe.in. Candidates whose have applied for the admission to both the undergraduate courses in the University can check the cut off and their shortlisting status on the website. According to a report by NDTV , candidates who names have been mentioned in the list will have to apply for the courses between 26 October and 2 November. The second merit list will be released on 7 November if the seats remain vacant. Students have been shortlisted in phase one of JMI seat allotment round on the basis of the marks obtained by them in Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) Main. To confirm admission, students will have to pay the required fee. The documents required to complete JMI admission 2020 process include JEE Main 2020 admit card, six passport size photographs, marksheet/ passing certificate for qualify exam. Students will also have to provide proof of

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court Friday stayed the decision of the AAP government asking 12 Delhi University colleges, fully funded by it, to pay outstanding salaries to staffers from the Students Society Fund. Justice Navin Chawla passed the order on a plea by Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) which said the students fund cannot be used for any other activity other than for students welfare. DUSU's counsel said the fund cannot be used for paying teachers salaries. The students' petition was also supported by the advocate Aakanksha Kaul, representing the Delhi University. DUSU has challenged the 16 October order of Delhi government asking the 12 colleges to pay the salaries of over 1500 staff — both teaching and non-teaching — from the students fund and the amount should be released within two weeks. The college staff are not paid for the last three months. The 12 colleges which are affiliated with the Delhi University and are fully funded by the Delhi government are

BITSAT 2020: BITSAT third iteration result has been released by the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani on its official website —  bitsadmission.com . Candidates whose names have been mentioned in the list will be allotted seats in the participating institutes. "Iteration-3 result for admissions in First Degree Programmes at BITS Pilani is announced," a notification on the website said. Reports said that the BITSAT iteration results have been prepared on the basis of the performance of students in the admission test and choices locked by them. Candidates in the wait list in the third iteration will have to pay fee by 28 October. The BITS admission exam was conducted in computer-based test (CBT) mode between 16 to 23 September. The BITSAT 2020 result was declared on 29 September after which the first and second round of iteration was declared by the institute. BITS Pilani will be releasing BITSAT 2020 iteration 4 result on 31 October. Steps to check

Editor's Note: This story is part of a campaign called Biodiversity by the Bay , run by Mumbai's Ministry of Magic. The campaign is a citizen-driven environmental initiative to protect the rich biodiversity that lives in, or makes a stop in Mumbai on its migratory path elsewhere. The story is one in a series – An Architecture Student’s Vision for Building a Greener Mumbai – in which young architecture and urban planning students pen down their ideas for a sustainable future for development in Mumbai.  In India, historically water was an utmost significant resource for the communities as their religious, social & economic activities were truly dependent on the banks of a river. Ghats along the rivers were expressions of both social and cultural richness of cities. Whereas some cities, palaces, forts, and capitals were planned along river banks. Most of these cities could develop a distinct identity   with the river, guided by geography, climate, local resources & hist

Washington: The US is closely monitoring the border row between India and China and does not want the situation to escalate, a senior Trump administration official has said. The official told the reporters during a conference call on Friday, ahead of the next week’s 2+2 India-US Ministerial in New Delhi, that the Trump administration was providing support to India through defence sales, joint military exercises and information sharing. "We as a government are covering the situation in the Himalayas closely, and understandably. We certainly want to ensure that the situation doesn't escalate," the official said. "These are all areas where we cooperate with the Indians on, and not just as it relates to the tensions in the Himalayas," the official said. India and China are locked in a bitter border standoff in eastern Ladakh since early May that has significantly strained the bilateral ties. Both sides have held a series of diplomatic and military talks to res

KEAM 2020 | Kerala Engineering Architecture Medical (KEAM) entrance exam 2020 second round of allotment list has been released by the Commissioner for Entrance Examinations (CEE), Kerala, on its official website - cee.kerala.gov.in. The first phase allotment to Architecture courses has also been published by CEE, Kerala on its official website. According to a report by The Indian Express , a total of 56,599 students qualified for admission to the engineering stream and 44,390 students for the pharmacy stream. They will now have to participate in the counselling process. Students who will have been allotted seats will be required to pay a fee of Rs 10,000 to secure it. They can also opt out of accepting the seats allotted to them and wait for the subsequent allotment list. Those who accept the seats allotted to them will have to report to the college for verification of document. As per the official notification , students who have got allotment as per the second phase allotment t

Delhi University UG admission 2020: The Delhi University Joint Admission Test (DU JAT) 2020 rank list has been released by the varsity on its official website —  du.ac.in . The DU JAT 2020 rank list mentions shortlisted candidates' name, application form number, roll number, score (in percentage), best four scores, final score, category-wise ranks. Reports said that the final score of students is calculated as a 65:35 weighted mean of the Shift-Adjusted Mark and the 'Best 4'. The Best 4 is the average marks secured by the students on four subjects including English and Mathematics in their Class 12 examination. Students will be allotted colleges on 26 October. Pratik Ganguly has secured the first position with a final score of 90.18, the DU JAT 2020 rank list showed . To check DU JAT 2020 rank list, candidates can click here . Once the window opens, press Ctrl+F and type your name or roll number to check your rank in the list. The entrance examination is conducted f

New Delhi: Delhi's air quality remained in the "very poor" category on Saturday with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 346. Government agencies said the air quality will deteriorate further in the evening and on Sunday. Areas like Mundka, Wazirpur and Alipur recorded "severe" levels of air pollution, authorities said. Government agencies have forecast that the air quality will deteriorate further in the next two days. The AQI was recorded at 366 on Friday while it was 302 the previous day. An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered "good", 51 and 100 "satisfactory", 101 and 200 "moderate", 201 and 300 "poor", 301 and 400 "very poor", and 401 and 500 "severe". The Ministry of Earth Sciences' air quality monitor System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) said a significant increase in the stubble-fire count was observed around Haryana, Punjab and other neighbouring regi

Winter is coming. And Delhi’s air is hazardous again. From Bawana to Jahangirpuri, Shahdara, Anand Vihar and Dwarka, the level of PM10 pollution at every bustling hub in the National Capital was between 350-700 last night. While Delhi’s little slumland factories, huffing trucks, and an inordinately large number of private vehicles must take the blame, the biggest contributor to this invisible poison is stubble burning. Smoke from croplands, mainly from Punjab, accounted for 44 percent of Delhi’s pollution, according to reports. The Centre and Delhi governments have flagged this with Punjab, while holding numerous meeting with their Haryana and Uttar Pradesh counterparts. Both the Supreme Court and the Delhi High Court have again issued strict edicts burning of crop residue. The Haryana government is appealing to gram sabhas to stop this. The Uttar Pradesh government has resolved to stop the practice. But Congress-ruled Punjab has continued to look the other way or find puerile excu

The UPSC Prelims 2020 results have been declared by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on its official website - upsc.gov.in. Candidates who have appeared for the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary exam on 4 October can check their score and qualifying status on the official website. The Commission has also released the Indian Forest Service Preliminary Examination 2020 result. As per the notification by the Commission , candidates who have qualified the preliminary exam will now have to fill the Detailed Application Form-I (DAF-I) to appear for the Civil Services Main examination. The DAF-I form will be available at upsconline.nic.in from 28 October to 11 November up to 6 pm. The Commission will conduct the UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination 2020 on 8 January 2021. The e-admit card along with the time table for the UPSC Civil Services Main Exam 2020 will be uploaded on the Commission's website 3-4 weeks before the commencement of the exam. According to a report by H

Mumbai: An FIR was registered against four journalists of the news channel Republic TV on Friday for allegedly defaming the Mumbai police and trying to cause "disaffection" among members of the police force. Republic TV termed it as an "assault on media rights" and said it will fight every "strongarm tactic". The FIR, registered at NM Joshi Marg Police Station in the city, pertained to a report run by the channel about a 'revolt' against the city police commissioner by senior officers, an official said. The first information report was filed under section 3(1) of the Police (Incitement to Disaffection) Act, 1922, along with IPC section 500 (defamation) on a complaint by sub inspector Shashikant Pawar of the Special Branch, he said. It named anchor and deputy news editor Shivani Gupta, anchor and senior associate editor Sagarika Mitra, deputy editor Shawan Sen and executive editor Niranjan Narayanswami. The accused aired a report on Thursday b

Kolkata: The depression over north Bay of Bengal has begun moving away from the West Bengal coast on Friday afternoon, lessening the possibility of heavy rainfall in the metropolis and its neighbouring districts during the Durga Puja days, the Met office said. Light to moderate rain is likely in isolated pockets, it said. "The depression over Northwest Bay of Bengal off Odisha coast moved north-northeastwards with a speed of 22 km/hour during past hours. It now lay centred over Northwest Bay of Bengal off West Bengal-Bangladesh coasts, about 50 km southeast of Sagar Islands (West Bengal)," a Met department official said. The system is likely to move further north-northeastwards and cross Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal coasts around afternoon hours, reducing the possibility of heavy downpour across south Bengal. However, fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea on Friday as well. The weatherman had on Thursday forecast heavy rain in the city and seve

TS ICET Result 2020 | The Telangana State Council of Higher Education (TSCHE) will declare the Telangana State Integrated Common Entrance Test (TS ICET 2020) result and final answer key on 2 November at 3.30 pm, reports said. The Hyderabad-based TSCHE announced the date on its website. Once released, candidates can check their score and qualifying status at the offiical website icet.tsche.ac.in. According to a report by Careers 360, the TS ICET 2020 result was earlier scheduled to be released today (23 October), but it has now been postponed. The entrance exam is conducted by Kakatiya University, Warangal, on behalf of the TSCHE. The University has not disclosed the reason for the delay in the announcement of the result. As per a report by NDTV, students will have to secure a minimum of 25 percent (50 marks) of the total marks to qualify for the TS ICET. The total marks of the entrance exam was 200. Those seeking admission to MBA and MCA courses will have to obtain a minimum of 5

AP PGECET 2020:  The AP PGECET result 2020 has been declared on Friday (23 October) by the Andhra University, Visakhapatnam on the official website — sche.ap.gov.in/PGECET . Candidates who have appeared for the Andhra Pradesh Post Graduate Engineering Common Entrance Test (AP PGECET) 2020 can check their score and qualifying status on the official website. According to reports , to qualify AP PGECET 2020, students are required to obtain 25 percent, or 30 marks, out of the total 120 marks. There is no clause of minimum qualifying marks for candidates belonging to SC/ST category. Step 1: Go to Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education (APSCHE) official website - sche.ap.gov.in. Step 2: Click on the AP PGECET - 2020 link on the homepage. Step 3: You will be directed to a new page, where you will have to opt for the "Results" link. Step 4: Enter your registration number and PGECET admit card number. Step 5: Press the View Result button. Step 6: Your AP PGECET

The BPSC 65th combined competitive main exam will be conducted on 25, 26 and 28 November. The written exam will be held in offline mode. The schedule of the exam was declared by the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) on its official website -  bpsc.bih.nic.in . The official notification said that BPSC 65th combined competitive main exam admit card will be available for download on the website a week before the test. The Commission has informed that it will not be sending the hall tickets by post. According to a report by Hindustan Times, the exam on 25 November will be held in two shifts, while on the other days it will be held in one shift. The paper for General Hindi will be conducted on 25 November from 10 am to 1 pm, while General studies paper -1 exam will be on the same day from 2 pm to 5 pm. General studies paper-2 will be held on 26 November and exam for optional paper will be on 28 November. The exam will be from 12 pm to 3 pm. The recruitment drive is being carried

The National Testing Agency (NTA) responsible to conduct the entrance exams of various institutes, including the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), announced that it will be reconducting the entrance exam for admission to MPhil and PhD in Historical Studies at JNU on 28 October. Some candidates, according to the officials, had faced some technical issues while attempting the computer-based exam while taking the test in the evening shift on 6 October. According to Hindustan Times , the testing agency sent out text messages to every student informing them of the retest. The message read, “Dear candidate, due to technical reason the Computer Based Test (CBT) for the programs of study of JNUEE 2020, MPhil and PhD Historical Studies... requires re-examination. While we regret the inconvenience, we intend to provide a fair and equal opportunity again to all candidates who appeared for the above-mentioned programs of study.” The note also talked about a revised admit card that will be nece