IANS/PTI
Never used ‘encrypted’ question papers to prevent leaks — CBSE
New Delhi, May 2 (PTI): The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) today clarified that no”encrypted” question papers were used in conducting any board examination this year as a measure to avoid leaks. The clarification by the CBSE comes following reports that the board resorted to the method after reports of leaks of economics (Class 12) and mathematics (Class 10) question papers. “While a number of measures were adopted to make exams fool-proof, no ‘encrypted’ format question papers was used in conduct of any board examination this year,” a senior CBSE official said. The CBSE had conducted the economics retest on April 25, nearly a month after it was leaked, triggering widespread outrage and confusion among students across India. The committee has to submit its report by May 31 to the Human Resource Development Ministry.
Rain brings respite to Delhi from hot weather
New Delhi, May 2 (IANS): Delhi residents received a respite from the heat on Wednesday as rain and thunder showers were experienced in different parts of the city bringing an immediate drop in temperature by as many as 14 degrees Celsius during the late evening. While the temperature dropped to 20 degrees Celsius immediately after the showers at around 8.30 p.m,, however the maximum temperature for the day was recorded at 38.3 degrees Celsius, the season’s average. It was around 33-34 degrees just before the rain. The weather office said the respite is likely to continue with more showers expected on Thursday.
One dead, three civilians injured in J&K clash
Srinagar, May 2 (IANS): A civilian died while three others were injured on Wednesday in clashes with the security forces near a gunfight site in Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian district, police said. Police said security forces laid cordon around Turkawangam village in Shopian following information about the presence of a group of militants there, but came under fire from the hiding militants, sparking a gunfight. “At this, youth resorted to heavy stone pelting on the security forces to break the cordon. Tear smoke shells and pellets were used to quell the protests,” a police officer said. Internet services have been snapped in south Kashmir again as security sources said top militant commander Saddam Paddar is among the holed-up militants where the gunfight is still on.
Over 40,000 lightning bolts kill 14 in AP
Amaravati (AP), May 2 (PTI): As many as 14 people were killed in 41,025 lightning strikes in different districts of Andhra Pradesh, the state Disaster Management Department said today. Yesterday, Guntur district recorded the highest number of deaths at six, followed by Vizianagaram (3), West Godavari (2), Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam and East Godavari (one each), a release from the department said. Cloud-to-ground strikes happened in 11 out of 13 districts till 11.40 pm on May 1, the release said, citing reports from Earth Networks, which operates weather and climate sensor networks worldwide. Nellore recorded the highest number of lightning strikes at 11,955, Prakasam (4,725), Srikakulam (4,703), Guntur (4101), Vizianagaram (3901), East Godavari (3216), Krishna (2925), Visakhapatnam (2698), Chittoor (1706), West Godavari (768) and Kadapa (327), the release said.
Rly. contractor fined INR 1 lac. after viral video over toilet water use in tea/coffee
Hyderabad, May 2 (PTI): A vending contractor has been slapped with a fine of Rs one lakh by the Railways after a video surfaced suggesting a mix of water from a train toilet in tea/coffee, the South Central Railway (SCR) here said today. In the video in circulation in social media in the past few days, a vendor was seen coming out of a train toilet with tea/coffee cans, conveying that water was being mixed in the cans inside the toilet, it said. The incident had occurred in December last year onboard Chennai Central”Hyderabad Charminar Express at Secunderabad railway station here, a release said days after the video surfaced and went viral. The Commercial Department of the SCR has been carrying out extensive drives against unauthorised hawking at Secunderabad railway station in the last few months, during which all such hawkers, including the two involved in the incident, had been removed, SCR Chief Public Relations Officer M Umashankar Kumar said. A strict vigil was continuously being kept at various levels to ensure that no such incidents recur in the SCR Zone, the official added.
Home ministry starts Padma award nomination process
New Delhi, May 2 (PTI): The process of honouring people with Padma awards next year for their works of distinction and exceptional achievement in different fields has begun with the Union home ministry inviting nominations. The last date for receipt of the nominations for the top civilian honours is September 15, 2018, according to a notification issued by the ministry yesterday. The awards seek to recognise commendable works and exceptional achievements in fields and disciplines such as art, literature and education, sports, medicine, social work, science and engineering, public affairs, civil service, trade and industry. The nominations or recommendations for the awards will be received online only on the Padma portal www.padmaawards.gov.in. All citizens can make nominations or recommendation, including self-nomination. The nominations or recommendations should contain all relevant details specified in the format available on the website, including a citation in a narrative form not exceeding 800 words clearly bringing out the distinguished and exceptional achievements, the notification said. Nominations have been invited from central ministries, departments, states/Union Territory governments, Bharat Ratna and Padma Vibhushan awardees, institutes of excellence and others to enable broad-based consideration. Government servants including those working with public sector undertakings, except doctors and scientists, are not eligible for the Padma awards. Instituted in 1954, these awards are announced on the eve of the Republic Day every year.
