NEW DELHI — The online portal for passport applications will be shut for the next five days for a maintenance exercise, the government said on Thursday. No new appointments will be scheduled during this period and appointments booked earlier will be rescheduled. Those who have already scheduled appointments for Friday, August 30, 2024, will have […]
Tag: India
Centre allows UPSC to utilise Aadhaar-based authentication to verify candidates’ identities
NEW DELHI — In an unprecedented move, the Centre has allowed the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to utilise Aadhaar-based authentication to verify candidates’ identities voluntarily, both at the time of registration and during several stages of examinations and recruitment. The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievanves and Pensions said, “In pursuance of sub-clause (ii) of […]
India’s student suicide rate surpasses population growth rate: Report
NEW DELHI — Incidents of student suicides in India have grown at an alarming annual rate, surpassing the population growth rate and overall suicide trends, according to a new report. Based on the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, the “Student suicides: An epidemic sweeping India” report was launched on Wednesday at the Annual IC3 […]
Jay Shah elected unopposed as Independent Chair of ICC
NEW DELHI — Jay Shah has been elected unopposed as the next Independent Chair of the International Cricket Council (ICC). Shah, who has served as the BCCI Honorary Secretary since October 2019 and Chair of the Asian Cricket Council since January 2021, will assume this prestigious role on December 1, 2024. Shah was the sole […]
Waqf bill aims to destroy Waqf Board, properties instead of protecting them: Owaisi
HYDERABAD — AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi on Sunday attacked the BJP-led NDA government on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill alleging that the proposed law instead of protecting Waqf properties aims to destroy them. Addressing a press conference here, the Hyderabad MP wanted Prime Minister Narendra Modi to withdraw the proposed legislation. “In this bill, instead of […]
School Principal, PE Teacher among eight arrested for sexual harassment of 12-year-old girl in Pune
PUNE — A teacher of physical education and seven others have been arrested in connection with the sexual harassment of a 12-year-old girl student at a private school in Pimpri Chinchwad in Pune, police said on Saturday. Based on a complaint lodged by the girl’s parents at Nigdi police station, the police arrested the accused […]
Waqf Amendment Bill is unconstitutional, undemocratic & unfair: Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind
NEW DELHI — The Muslim organisation on Thursday criticised the Union government over the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024, calling it unconstitutional, undemocratic and unfair as it goes against the freedom of religion guaranteed by the Constitution. “Amendment bill being brought to Waqf is unconstitutional, undemocratic and unfair. The proposed amendments to the Waqf Act are […]
Kolkata Rape and Murder: SC asks WB Police to not disrupt peaceful protests, CBI probe to continue
NEW DELHI — The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the West Bengal Police not to disrupt the peaceful protests in the wake of the horrific incident at Kolkata’s R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, where a trainee doctor was raped and murdered earlier this month. “We categorically reaffirm that peaceful protests shall not be disturbed […]
Over 65 lakh students failed class 10, 12 exams in 2023; higher failure rate in state boards: MoE
NEW DELHI — Over 65 lakh students did not pass class 10 and 12 board exams across the country last year with the failure rate being higher in state boards than the central board, according to Ministry of Education (MoE) officials. An analysis of class 10 and 12 results of 59 school boards, including 56 […]
151 sitting MPs and MLAs face cases of crimes against women, 16 charged with rape: ADR
NEW DELHI — As many as 151 sitting MPs and MLAs have declared cases related to crimes against women in their election affidavits, with West Bengal having the highest number of lawmakers facing such cases, according to a recent report by a poll rights body. For the report, the Association for Democratic Reforms examined 4,693 […]









