UP Board: Now, personal hygiene of students, behaviour towards teachers to be evaluated

Under the new National Education Policy- 2020, there will be a holistic assessment of the students studying in around 27,735 schools affiliated to UP Board. Changes have also been made in the report card and school diary, new formats of which have finally been released by the board and are being sent to the principals of the schools.

Ram Navami celebration: Slugfest over DJ ban in Bihar; cops on high alert

Bihar government has banned the playing of DJs during the Ram Navami procession, which has taken political overtones with the opposition BJP questioning the decision. The state police have been put on high alert and have been asked to keep a tab on suspected troublemakers to ensure a peaceful celebration. Traffic restrictions have been put in place in Patna, with over 500 police officers and jawans deployed.

Vehicles torched amid clash between groups in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar: Police

Clashes between two groups in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar resulted in torching of vehicles. Police deployed additional forces including SRPF, riot control and quick response force. The brawl broke out following a bike accident and an FIR is being lodged. Police are monitoring CCTV cameras and the City Police Commissioner has warned law violators.

Bengaluru civic body bans sale of meat on Ramanavami

BBMP has imposed a blanket ban on sale of meat within its administrative limits ahead of the Hindu festival Rama Navami, which marks the birth of Lord Ram. This is similar to the ban imposed on the occasion of Janmashtami last year and other religious events like Basava Jayanti, Maha Shivratri, Gandhi Jayanti, Sarvodaya Day. This ban has led to a row over halal versus jhatka meat in Karnataka last year.

Delhi riots case: Court dismisses bail plea of accused who pointed gun at cop

Delhi court dismisses bail plea of Shahrukh Pathan, accused in 2020 Northeast Delhi riots. Additional sessions judge Amitabh Rawat noted there was no reason to grant bail and that the accused had repeatedly violated jail rules and filed applications for bail for the same. The court proposed to hold day-to-day trial once another accused is declared a proclaimed offender.

Voter apathy: EC chooses midweek day for polling so it doesn't become part of long weekend

The Election Commission has come up with an innovative idea to combat voter apathy by holding the Karnataka assembly poll on a Wednesday to prevent people from clubbing the poll-day holiday with the weekend break. The Commission is also making interventions to create awareness in schools, colleges, organisations and RWAs and holding 'Electhons' to boost voter participation.

Bihar hooch tragedy: Police files charge sheet against 15 accused

In Bihar, the Siwan police have filed a charge sheet against 15 people in the January 2023 hooch tragedy case, which claimed 8 lives. The charge sheet names 15 accused, including Dipak alias Sonu Kumar Chouhan, and alleges that ethyl alcohol mixed with methyl alcohol was used in making hooch. Viscera examination reports of victims showed alcohol intoxication, and the FSL team found ethyl alcohol mixed with methyl alcohol from blood samples. This is the first hooch incident reported in the state in 2023.

Bombay HC quashes complaint against Salman Khan in journalist ‘assault’ case

The Bombay High Court on Thursday quashed a 2019 complaint lodged against actor Salman Khan by journalist Ashok Pandey alleging misbehaviour and assault. The HC also quashed the process issued to Khan and his bodyguard Nawaz Shaikh by a lower court last year. Khan had argued there were contradictions and improvisations in Pandey's complaint and that he had not said anything to Pandey at the time of the alleged incident.

Panic grips border region in Kathua after blast, searches launched

Residents of villages along the Pakistan border in Kathua district were left in a panic after a loud blast was heard Wednesday night. No casualties or property damage have been reported so far. Police are investigating the incident.

Spice of Life: Turning 65, time to tick off the bucket list

Celebrating his 65th birthday, the author reflects on the privilege of growing older and the anxiety of having less life left. He talks about his newfound passion for golf and encourages others to make the most of the weekends left by pursuing their passions.

Not possible to cater to Bihar’s 100% emergency cases: AIIMS-Patna

AIIMS Patna's medical superintendent Dr CM Singh said that despite plans to increase its emergency and ICU capacity, the hospital will not be able to cater to all emergency cases of Bihar due to the state's population of 120-130 million. The hospital has 90 beds in the emergency ward, 121 ICU beds, and 960 in-patient beds, and has seen its OPD footfall more than double since the pre-Covid days.

Delhi govt to hold meeting amid spurt in Covid-19 cases

Delhi reports 300 Covid-19 cases, two fatalities for first time since August 31 last year. The Delhi government will hold a meeting on Thursday to review the Covid-19 situation in the national capital amid a surge in cases. The positivity rate has risen to 13.89% and the city's infection tally has increased to 20,09,361, while the death toll stands at 26,526.

‘Cong-JD(S) have struck a deal in Hyderabad’: alleges Karnataka CM Bommai

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday accused the Congress and the JD(S) of striking a deal for the upcoming Assembly elections, which was rejected by JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy. Bommai said the BJP will start releasing its list of candidates for the polls in a week. Kumaraswamy denied the allegations and said that the JD(S) will contest all 224 Assembly segments and form the government on its own.

Goa budget focussed on infrastructure, renewable energy, irrigation

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has presented a Rs 26844 crore budget for 2021-22, focussing on infrastructure, renewable energy and irrigation, with plans to make Goa India's carbon credit capital. Despite a Rs 800 crore shortfall due to the discontinuation of GST compensation, Sawant expects to receive Rs 1000 crore from the mining sector. Opposition leader Yuri Alemão criticised the budget for its lack of focus on inflation, unemployment and businesses.

AAP releases its Karnataka assembly poll manifesto in Bengaluru

AAP has released its manifesto for Karnataka polls, promising 300 units of free electricity, 80% reservation to locals in jobs, 33% reservation to women, 2 lakh jobs every year, free city bus transport, free health care services, and more. AAP also promised to make government schools better than private schools, and to provide empowerment allowance to BPL women.

'BJP committed to boosting growth of Karnataka, to seek support based on development agenda': PM Modi

PM Modi expresses confidence in BJP's victory in Karnataka Assembly polls, citing party's development agenda. Polls to be held on May 10, with 5.21 crore voters and 16,976 100-plus voters. BJP has 119 MLAs, Congress 75, and JD(S) 28 seats.