A file photo of JD(S) national president and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda at an election rally in Channapatna Assembly constituency where his grandson Nikhil Kumaraswamy is contesting as the NDA candidate.
| Photo Credit: K. BHAGYA PRAKASH

Stating that he will not rest till he gets rid of the Congress government in the State, former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, whose family has been taunted by Congress leaders for weeping in public, on Friday said his family has “inherited tears because the family has come up from poverty”.

“I will not say anything to those who are taunting us. We are aware of the problem of farmers and the poor. Those who respond to problems will have the heart of a mother. Our family understands poverty and problems,” the former Prime Minister told presspersons at Pandavapura in Mandya district, recalling his early years of poverty. “When a farmer is in trouble, we weep.”

Targeting Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, he alleged that the former had “worked for underworld don Kotwal Ramachandra for ₹100 but is now the president of the party that had been presided over by people like Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi.”

His reaction came after former Bengaluru Rural MP D.K. Suresh taunted the family for shedding tears in public for the sake of votes, and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that NDA candidate for the Channapatna Assembly seat byelection Nikhil Kumaraswamy has been tutored to “continue with the family’s tradition of weeping”.

Silence over Prajwal

The Chief Minister had also questioned the silence of the former Prime Minister’s family over the sexual assault cases allegedly involving former MP Prajwal Revanna, and had sought to know why Mr. Gowda, Mr. Nikhil Kumaraswamy, and Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy had not shed tears for the sexual assault victims.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath addresses a public meeting for Ghaziabad UP Assembly seat bye-elections, in Ghaziabad, on November 8, 2024.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Uttar Pradesh Chief Yogi Adityanath on Friday (November 8 2024) addressing election rallies in Kundarki, Meerapur and Ghaziabad Assembly seats requested voters to give a clear message in the country that goons and rioters have no place in electoral politics and nationalist people who respect farmers, daughters and sister should be elected. He alleged that wherever the Samajwadi Party (SP) workers are seen daughters are scared. 

“Samajwadi Party (SP) is a party that plays with public faith and public safety. While our double engine government is working with commitment to protect the honor of every daughter and sister, extending development to every village, street and neighbourhood and to uplift every poor person, on the other hand the SP has a tendency to cheat. They cheat the people, cheat the youth, cheat the farmers, cheat the poor, it is the time to teach such people lessons in electoral politics,” Mr. Adityanath said in Ghaziabad.

Earlier addressing a rally in Kundarki Assembly segment under Moradabad district, he accused the SP of corruption in recruitment examinations. “When recruitment was announced in their rule, Saifai’s list used to be there in that recruitment. Now any youth from the 25 crore population of Uttar Pradesh gets a job on the basis of merit without any discrimination,” he asserted. 

Nine Assembly seats including Sisamau in Kanpur, Katehri in Ambedkar Nagar, Kundarki in Moradabad, Ghaziabad in Ghaziabad, Majhwan in Mirzapur, Karhal in Mainpuri district, Khair in Aligarh, Phulpur in Prayagrah and Meerapur in Muzaffarnagar district are going for byelections on November 20, in place of earlier declared date of November 13. 

Image used for representation only.
| Photo Credit: K. K. Mustafah

As the tea industry in the country continues to grapple with quality issues the Indian Tea Association (ITA) on Friday emphasised on the introduction of a statutory scientific quality grading system from one leaf to five leaf marks on tea retail packets to enhance market competitiveness and consumer trust.

The proposal was made during the 141 Annual General Meeting of the Indian Tea Association where ITA chairperson Hemant Bangur floated the proposal during his speech.

Speaking on the issue of quality and compliance as far as tea is concerned, Mr. Bangur emphasized that the industry is committed to ensuring safe tea consumption through rigorous maximum residue limits (MRL) compliance. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has set maximum residue limits (MRLs) for pesticides used in tea.

“The proactive measures taken by Assam and West Bengal State Governments and the Tea Board to foster an ecosystem of compliance, which is crucial for enhancing the brand equity of Indian teas, was commended.” the ITA chairperson said.

During the AGM, the stakeholders of tea industry highlighted the challenges faced by the industry which included the “unsustainable increase in costs” amidst “unremunerative prices” with “adverse weather conditions across Assam and Bengal” further aggravating the situation. 

Referring to the Tea Board data Mr. Bangur pointed out that there has been drop of tea production across north India, and as of September 2024 the crop decline stands ar 63 million kilograms

“With a low compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of tea prices (2.88%) compared to rising input costs (10-12% CAGR), tea industry in the last decade has been in a perpetual state of crisis,” the ITA chairperson said.

There has been some silver lining on the export side with an increase by 31 million kilograms till August 2024. The ITA chairman also urged for enhanced incentives to support the production of orthodox teas, which are highly sought after in international markets.

The ITA also emphasised that the Darjeeling tea sector needs a financial relief package which has the endorsement of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce.

Nelamangala police arrested a man for allegedly assaulting a woman police sub-inspector.

According to the police, the accused, identified as Madhusudhan, and his mother, went to the police station after a dispute. She had filed a complaint against him at the station.

When the duo started to quarrel again, the woman police allegedly slapped Madhusudhan, who hit her back, the police said.

Following the incident that took place on Thursday night, the police registered a case and arrested Madhusudhan.

SEBI chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch. File
| Photo Credit: PTI

Anti-corruption watchdog Lokpal on Friday (November 8, 2024) sought an explanation from the chief of India’s stock market regulator, Madhabi Puri Buch, on the conflict of interest charges levelled against her in three separate complaints that cited a recent report from the U.S.-based shortseller firm, Hindenburg Research.

The order, issued by a Bench led by Lokpal chairperson Justice A.M. Khanwilkar, stressed that this was only a procedural direction and does not explicitly name Ms. Buch. However, it implies that Ms. Buch is required to file an affidavit within four weeks from the receipt of the order, and the Lokpal Bench will take up the mater for further consideration on December 19.

Also Read: SEBI chief Madhabi Puri Buch skips Parliament’s PAC summons, citing personal reasons

Hindenburg Research, which had alleged malfeasance and stock price manipulation by the Adani group of companies in early 2023, published a report this August stating that the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) had drawn a blank in its probe into the Adani group due to a reluctance “to follow a trail that may have led to its own chairperson”; apart from regulatory “conflict or capture”.

Following the research firm’s report, SEBI, as well as Ms. Buch and her spouse Dhaval Buch, who was also named in the report, had issued separate statements in a bid to clarify those charges.

Complaint filed in Aug.

A complaint was filed in the matter with the Lokpal on August 13, 2024, naming the public servant [Ms. Buch] against whom action was sought under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act for allegedly having committed an offence punishable under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Another plaint was submitted with similar charges on September 11, followed by a third one on October 14.

Having gone through the complaints, the Lokpal issued an order on Friday, stating: “For the present, without expressing any opinion on the relevance and admissibility of the allegations/contents of the complaint (s) and the explanatory affidavit (s), including about the correctness of the plea taken therein by the respective complainant, we deem it appropriate to call upon the said RPS (respondent public servant) to offer explanation qua the allegations made against her in the respective complaint and elaborated in the concerned explanatory affidavit.”

“We also make it amply clear that since the allegations are primarily against the named RPS being a public servant and implicit reference is made to other persons, coupled with the fact that the complainant (s) themselves have primarily prayed for action under the Act against the named RPS, the opportunity to offer explanation is being limited to the named RPS in the respective complaint at this stage,” it said.

Earlier, the Lokpal had asked the first two complainants in the matter to clarify certain issues in an order dated September 20, following which they had filed explanatory affidavits. “In other words, we are now called upon to consider not only the allegations noted in the original complaints but also the contents of the explanatory affidavit (s) filed to delineate justification as to why action against the public servant ought to proceed,” Friday’s Lokpal diktat noted.

In its September order, the Lokpal noted that the complainants had pointed to “certain extremely serious personal allegations” against the public servant made by Hindenburg Research. Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra was one of three complainants against the SEBI chief, and had alleged “quid pro quo arrangements, which potentially threaten national interests”.

The National Education Policy 2020 has given a new focus to the entire education sector. To keep up with the recommendations, CISCE has identified major thrust areas such as curriculum development and transaction, capacity building, assessment reform and enabling ecosystem. Compatible with the 21st Century requirements, the global competitiveness should be maintained. The assessment should shift from a content oriented assessment to competency oriented assessment. We are now launching more Center of Excellences to teach teachers — such as the one in Hyderabad — in five cities: Bangalore, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai and Chandigarh. Chennai and other emerging areas will be in the second phase.

Many think ICSE offers a rigorous academic curriculum, is it just a misconception?

It is a misconception. For example, in 1958 when CISCE was formed, the children of notable people went to such schools and it became a perception that getting into such schools were very difficult. From then, this misconception has remained. CISCE is one of the best in the country or in the world, and there is absolute freedom for these schools to implement this curriculum in their own way. The pass percentage of the students is also very high but people think that it’s a very tough curriculum. This is the board that contributes the maximum number of students into prominent colleges. Our objective is to meet the learning requirements of every learner, every person. Hence, to facilitate this there will be tailor-made specialised curriculum for sports personnel to be able to excel at both.

There is a view that ICSE can be taken up only if students plan to go abroad for further studies? Is that true?

It is the public perception because CBSE, being the government board, was responsible for conducting medical and engineering examinations. When CBSE started conducting competitive examinations, the public perception changed that CBSE syllabus is more tuned to crack these entrance examinations and that gave an indirect support to CBSE in expanding its base. Various universities in Europe and America have started giving credits to our students. It is because of the language proficiency and skill set that they don’t need to take up foundational courses. The CISCE curriculum has this advantage. It’s an edge obtained by the CISCE students. It’s not an offer from the Council. It’s because of the merit.

In Tamil Nadu, CBSE still seems to be the preferred board and not many schools offer ICSE. Why has there been a delay in embracing this board?

Anybody who thinks about the quality of education thinks about CISCE. It’s also the ease of doing business. CISCE facilitates and supports its affiliated schools. It is the strength of the curriculum and its transaction. Education should help the learner to lead a decent life. It also looks at the management vision. The attitude, aptitude and values, everything is properly inculcated in a CISCE ecosystem.

Also, the schools which offer CISCE collect much higher fees, compared with CBSE schools. Why?

The fee has to commensurate with the facilities. If the school wants only 30 students in the classroom, they would require more classrooms, teachers, facilities. The vision and mission with which you work has to be accounted for. We are willing to offer our affiliation to government schools provided they meet our standards of teachers ability and the competency of the teachers to learn to transact this curriculum, then the infrastructure of the school. It’s a call to be taken by the respective governments. All these schools are independent institutions. We don’t exercise any control on institutions, fee regulation and other things. It has to be a practical thing.

While ICSE prepares students for a smooth transition to study abroad, the scope to prepare for competitive exams in India such as NEET and JEE is minimal as these examinations rely on NCERT syllabus. How does the CISCE plan to tackle this?

Again, it’s a misconception. The country, whether it is CISCE or State board, follows a common curriculum for science and mathematics. This has started from 2011 when we initiated the common medical entrance examination. We felt the need of it in science and mathematics. The methodology could be different for science and mathematics. Assessment pattern could be different, but curriculum content is the same for all the boards. For answering such questions in the competitive exams, you need practice. The percentage of CISCE students getting selected is more. Look at the percentage, not volume.

After graduating out of a CICSE school, students joining city colleges find it tough to manage the conventional teaching methods. Are there any plans to prepare them better?

The grooming in a CISCE school to develop adaptability to any situation will help the children to survive in any area. Whether they go to Oxford, Cambridge, Stanford or such universities or they go to the local colleges, they will survive in any situation and any area. Some cultural shock could be there, but they will be able to adjust.

In the board exams, this year the question paper for psychology went missing. How are we ensuring that such instances do not happen again as it puts students in a tough spot?

We have already implemented a tracking system that will track the question paper at every point. A mobile app has been created and whoever accesses to this confidential material, they have to click a photo and upload it. Further, to avoid malpractice, we have also made CCTV cameras mandatory in examination halls. We will use technology to avoid such instances.

Published – November 08, 2024 10:38 pm IST

East Godavari District Collector P. Prasanthi inspecting a sand reach in Kovvur Revenue Division in East Godavari district on Saturday (November 09).
| Photo Credit: BY ARRANGEMENT

RAJAMAHENDRAVARAM

As many as 89 boatmen associations are not carrying out the sand excavation from the Godavari River in the East Godavari district reportedly due to the low payment fixed by the government under the new sand policy. As many as 119 boatmen associations have been permitted to carry out the sand excavation from the river Godavari for sale along the banks of river Godavari. 

“Barely 30 boatmen associations are engaged in the sand excavation activity while 89 associations are yet to turn up to accept the work order for the excavation of sand,” said East Godavari Collector P. Prasanthi. 

On Saturday (November 09), Ms. Prasanthi and Joint Collector S. Chinna Ramudu and officials from the Revenue, Irrigation and Groundwater departments inspected the open sand reaches, where they found that many of the permitted boatmen associations were not active in the Kovvur Revenue Division. 

Investigation

Joint Collector S. Chinna Ramudu told The Hindu: “We are studying the challenges of the boatmen associations to carry out sand excavation. We are preparing to cancel the permission of the boatmen associations that have failed to complete the work order given to them as per the requirement and sand policy.”

Each boatmen association comprises at least nine to 10 workers, who dive into the river and collect the sand manually and load it into the boat. A majority of the workers working in the sand excavation are from the Central India. Of the 13 open sand reaches, only six are in operation due to inactive boatmen associations.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma. File
| Photo Credit: PTI

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on Saturday (November 9, 2024) said that Congress has been in government the most in the last 70 years since independence, making “owners of the country beggars as the beggars became prosperous”.

“Whenever elections come, the Congress spreads lies, wants to divide people on the basis of caste and religion,” he said while addressing an election rally in Jhunjhunu Assembly constituency where bypoll will be held on November 13. He was seeking votes for party candidate Rajendra Bhamboo.

He said that the BJP came to power in Rajasthan 11 months ago and started working on the promises made in the election manifesto from day one.

“Congress has been in power for most of the 70 years but Congress made the owners of the country beggars and those who were beggars became prosperous.

“You, the owners of the country, wake up and identify who can do good for you,” he said.

The CM said that the State government will fulfill all the promises made to the people. “BJP does what it says.” “We formed SIT for paper leak cases after coming to power. Today, about 200 people who are accused in paper leak cases are in jail,” he said.

BJP State President Madan Rathore, also part of the rally, said that the party is committed to the welfare of the people and the development of the State and the nation.

टेक्नो ने भारत में एक और किफायती फोन Tecno Pop 9 5G को लॉन्च कर दिया है. कंपनी ने इस फोन को 10 हज़ार रुपये से कम दाम के शुरुआती कीमत पर पेश किया है. ये फोन हाई रेजोलूशन कैमरा और NFC जैसे सपोर्ट के साथ आता है. कंपनी ने अपने लेटेस्ट फोन Tecno Pop 9 5G को तीन अलग-अलग कलर-ऑरोरा क्लाउड, एज़्योर स्काई और मिडनाइट शैडो में पेश किया है. इसके अलावा फोन के साथ दो कॉम्प्लीमेंट्री स्किन भी दी जाएंगी. आइए जानते हैं कैसे हैं इसके सभी फीचर्स…

फीचर्स की बात करें तो Tecno Pop 9 5G में 120Hz रिफ्रेश रेट के साथ एक LCD स्क्रीन दी जाती है, और ये मीडियाटेक डाइमेंशन 6300 SoC चिपसेट से लैस है, जो 4GB रैम और 128GB तक के इंटरनल स्टोरेज के साथ आती है. ये फोन एंड्रॉयड 14 ऑपरेटिंग सिस्टम पर काम करता है.

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कैमरे के तौर पर इस स्मार्टफोन में 8 मेगापिक्सल सेल्फी कैमरे के साथ 48 मेगापिक्सल का Sony AI कैमरा सेटअप मिलता है. पावर के लिए Tecno Pop 9 5G में 5,000mAh की बैटरी मिलती है जो 18W वायर्ड चार्जिंग को सपोर्ट करती है. कनेक्टिविटी ऑप्शन के तौर पर इसमें डुअल सिम (नैनो + नैनो), एक 3.5mm का हेडफोन जैक, USB-C टाइप, Wifi, ब्लूटूथ और NFC शामिल हैं.

फोन का वजन 189 ग्राम है, और इसे धूल और पानी से बचाने के IP54 की रेटिंग दी जाती है. बेहतर ऑडियो एक्सपीरिएंस के लिए इस फोन में डॉल्बी एटमॉस के साथ डुअल स्पीकर मिलता है.

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कब है फोन की पहली सेल?
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