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CBSE Class 10, 12 board exam: Union Education Minister to announce the schedule today

By
Shivani Negi
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Union Education Minister Ramesh Pohkriyal ‘Nishank’ will be announcing the schedule for class 10 and 12 board exams of the Central Bureau of Secondary Education(CBSE) at 6 pm on Thursday. 

“The exams, as and when they are conducted, will be in the written mode and not in online mode. The exams will be conducted following all COVID protocols,” the CBSE had said earlier this month. 

“Dear students & parents! I will announce the date of commencement for #CBSE board exams 2021 on Dec 31,” the Union Education Minister had tweeted on Wednesday.

The minister had earlier ruled out the possibility of holding online examinations for the students amid the pandemic situation in the country. Notably, in person classes have been resumed in various states after being shut for months as per the guidelines released by local governing bodies.

Nishank earlier told ANI, “Based on suggestions by parents and schools, we will discuss dates related to CBSE exams on 31st December and end suspense over the board exams. We will try to announce dates for future exams. Right now, we are not considering the option of online exams.”

The CBSE Class 10 and 12 exams are usually held in the month of March. However, owing to the pandemic this year, the exams may get postponed as classes remained shut during the lockdown. To add to the students’ comfort, CBSE had earlier announced to cut off some syllabus from each subject.

From Alia Bhatt to Kareena Kapoor Khan, here’s how Bollywood beauties bid goodbye to 2020

By
Shivani Negi
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The New Year is just around the corner and everyone is reflecting how this year turned out to be while hoping for a better 2021. While some achieved new feats, many suffered personal losses in this unprecedented year. Now that the new beginnings are near here, just like us, our B-town beauties are also in anticipation for 2021 and are living off their best lives irrespective of griefs, losses and sufferings this year showered upon us.

Actress Alia Bhatt is all set to ring in the New Year with family and boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor in Jaipur. She took to Instagram to share a few pictures from yearending settings wherein she is seen relishing a plate of Aloo Paratha while she reads Harry Potter. Later, she also posted a picture of herself which appears to be from their bonfire-dinner in Ranthambore. In the picture, Alia could be seen holding a drink in her hand, donning a pink dress and a trench coat over it. Alia captioned the post, “And to whatever lies ahead of us.. cheers!”

Kareena Kapoor Khan dropped some adorable pictures on Instagram with ” the boys” Saif Ali Khan and Taimur Ali Khan. The picture showed the family of three being their mushy self while they posed for the lens. Wishing her fans a Happy New Year, the actress wrote, “Ending the year snuggling and cuddling trying to force the boys into a perfect picture…2020 would not have been possible without the two loves of my life… marching ahead… to new beginnings. Stay safe my friends… Love and hope from us.. We love you all…Happy new year”

Gauri Khan shared a throwback picture with her husband Shah Rukh Khan as as she extended early New Year Wishes. She captioned the image, “FINALLY…2021. Happy new year.”

Karisma Kapoor also took to social media to share what’s she up to on the last day of the year. Taking to Instagram and sharing a picture, she wrote, “Soaking up the sun on the last day of the year..”

Malaika Arora posted a cute photo with sister Amrita Arora’s pet Axl, and wrote: “Kisses n cuddles ….. #uncontitionallove❤️ #axl …… last day of the year , make it count.”

Kiara Advani has flown to Maldives with rumoured boyfriend Sidharth Malhotra to welcome the New Year. She took to Instagram to share a picture of herself in a golden backless dress, posing against the crystal clear waters. Sharing the photo, she wrote, “Lookin at you 2021.”

Earlier, Priyanka Chopra had shared a picture of herself on the last Monday of 2020 and written, “Reflecting. On the last Monday of 2020. Excited to turn the page on this year, and hopeful for what 2021 will bring. What about you?”

Covid-19 vaccine dry run across all states to begin from Jan 2

By
Shivani Negi
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After conducting dry run for covid-19 vaccine across 4 states successfully, the Centre on Thursday announced the same for all states on Saturday, that is, January 2. The development comes amid various promising statements from dignitaries that India will have a vaccine in “few days”.

The Central government has reportedly placed orders for procurement of nearly 83 crore syringes along with inviting bids for nearly 35 crore syringes. “These will be used for Covid-19 vaccination and also for the Universal Immunization Programme,” the Central government said.

The decision was made in a high-level meeting with all states and Union Territories chaired by Union Health Secretary.

In a statement, the Centre said that the aim of the activity is to ensure effective preparedness for the vaccine rollout among the general public while adding that the dry run be conducted in three session sites across all states and UTs.

“With the objective of gearing up for the roll-out of Covid-19 vaccine across the country, the Central Government has asked all States and UTs to ensure effective preparedness for the vaccine roll-out. Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan today chaired a high-level meeting to review the preparedness at session sites for Covid-19 vaccination with Pr. Secretaries (Health), NHM MDs and other health administrators of all States/UTs through video conference,” Centre added.

“Dry run will be conducted by all the state and UT governments on January 2, 2021. The activity is proposed to be conducted in all State Capitals in at least 3 session sites; some states will also include districts that are situated in difficult terrain or have poor logistical support,” it added.

This is India’s second dry run, the first was held on December 28 and December 29 in four states.

Meanwhile earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that even as daily infections in the country have seen sharp decline in the past few days, one should not let his/her guard down and continue to adhere to guidelines released by the Central government.

Speaking after laying the foundation stone of the AIIMS in Rajkot through video conferencing, he introduced a new mantra for 2021 while assuring that India is about to roll out world’s biggest vaccination drive against coronavirus.

“I used to say ‘jab tak davai nahi dhilai nahi’ but now our mantra for 2021 should be: Davai bhi, kadaai bhi (yes to medicine and yes to caution),” the Prime Minister said.

Assam Govt passes bill to close govt run Madrasas

By
Harshit
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Amid rising protest by the opposition legislature in Assam. The state assembly has passed the Assam Repealing Bill 2020, seeking to abolish the Assam Madrassa Education (Provincialisation) Act, 1995 and the Assam Madrassa Education (Provincialisation of Services of Employees and Re-Organisation of Madrassa Educational Institutions) Act, 2018.

The state Education and Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma introduced the bill on Monday and said that the bill was brought to make the academic environment of the state “secular”.

Sarma later in a tweet said: “Glad that the Bill pertaining to repeal of Provincialisation of Madrassas has been passed, even as Congress and AIUDF expectedly staged a walkout in Assembly. All Madrassas, being run under government stands, converted into regular educational institute wef April 1, 2021.”

The minister also said that the state government would pass another bill to regulate private madrasas as well.

“We are in the process of drafting a bill whereby Qawmi (private) madrassas would have to be registered with the state government and they will be given registration if and only if they teach science, mathematics etc along with religious education,” he said.

Deep Dasgupta: Jadeja and Stokes are now on same page

By
Harshit
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The star Indian al-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is now in the same page with English veteran Ben Stokes says former Indian wicket-keepr batsman Deep Dasgupta.

Jadeja has played a vital role in India’s emphatic victory against Australia in the boxing day Test match.

He returned in the Test squad in the second test afer injury and backed 3 wickets and scored 57 runs when the team was in a trouble. He stood with the captain Ajinkya Rahane for a 100 plus partnership which was match defining.

“As of now the way he’s batting he definitely is (in the same bracket as Ben Stokes). Even during the IPL, I actually said why not him at No. 4 for CSK. He’s got a couple of triple hundreds in domestic cricket, getting runs there is not easy,” Dasgupta told Sports Today.

“For Saurashtra, he bats at No. 4 but for India, he comes in at 7 or 8. Somehow I felt that he never took his batting seriously enough. In 2017, he was dropped from the side but and I think what kind of prompted him was the fact that he wanted to make himself more useful to the team, not just with the ball but with the bat as well.”

Dasgupta aserted that Jadeja is a skillful batsman and he performed for Saurastra at No.4 over the times and now it’s more difficult to get him out.

Actor-Politician Manoj Tiwari blessed with a baby girl

By
Shivani Negi
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Actor and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Manoj Tiwari has been blessed with a daughter. He took to Twitter to share the news on Thursday.

Posting a photo of himself and the newborn, Tiwari wrote, “मेरे घर आयी एक नन्ही परी… I am blessed with a baby girl… जय जगदंबे”

https://twitter.com/ManojTiwariMP/status/1344334234509406209

This is the BJP MP’s second daughter. He has a daughter with his first wife whom he divorced in 2011, after 11 years of marriage.

Meanwhile, ever since he tweeted about it, congratulations are in order for the actor on the birth of a little angel.

Filmmaker Manish Sharma, former Bigg Boss contestant and actor Dolly Bindra, Supreme Court advocate Prashant Patel Umrao, BJP member Harish Khurana were among others who congratulated Manoj Tiwari on Twitter.

On the film front, he was last seen in the Bhojpuri film Devra Bhail Deewana in 2014 and is also known for his stint in Bigg Boss 4 in 2010.

He became a BJP member in 2013 and was elected the Delhi BJP President in 2016.

Premier League officials says no chance of delaying the tournament

By
Harshit
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The Premier League officials has stated that they are in “full confidence” with Covid-19 protocols. They asserted that the fixtures will be remained as scheduled after Tottenham Hotspur’s game against Fulham was postponed and that was the third time this happened.

“The Premier League Board has consulted its medical advisors and the decision to postpone the game has been taken as a precaution and with the health of players and staff as the priority. The group will now be re-tested immediately,” the league said in a statement.

“With low numbers of positive tests across the overwhelming majority of clubs, the Premier League continues to have full confidence in its COVID-19 protocols and being able to continue to play our fixtures as scheduled.”

Earlier this month Aston Villa’s match against Newcastle United was the first to get postponed the surge of Covid-19. Later Manchester City’s away game at Everton was rescheduled on Monday.

Anushka Sharma flaunts baby bump in her latest maternity photoshoot, see pics

By
Shivani Negi
-

Actor and producer Anushka Sharma will soon be the newest mother in the town. The gorgeous actress recently shared some pictures flaunting her baby bump on the latest issue of Vogue Magazine and it is trending on the internet.


The PK actress shared one of the photos from the Vogue magazine on Instagram and captioned it with, “Capturing this for myself , for life ! @vogueindia , this was fun.” In the picture, she is seen wearing a bralette and a pair of flared pants along with a large, cream-coloured coat. The other picture shows her wearing an oversized white shirt while she gently holds her baby bump. In one of the gorgeous pics, she can be seen flaunting her baby bump in a crop sweatshirt while she is dressed in an all black costume for another alluring pics.

See her scintillating pictures here:

Along with posing for the prestigious magazine, the actress also spilled some beans about her pregnancy experience and post pregnancy plans. She opened up about her hopes for the baby, support she got from her husband and how she managed the balance between worldview.


While, talking to Vogue magazine she revealed that, “The pandemic has been a weird blessing in a way. Virat was around and I could keep it a secret. We only left to go to the doctor’s clinic. No one was on the streets so we couldn’t be spotted,” Anushka also added those initial days of her pregnancy, when she was in the middle of Bulbbul promotions in a Zoom call when she suddenly felt unwell and nauseous. “I quickly turned off my video and messaged my brother (Karnesh Sharma, co-producer), who was also on the call, to stall them for ten minutes. If I had been on set or in a studio, everyone would have known,” during the lockdown her husband, cricketer Virat Kohli was by her side and no one realised that she was pregnant as they were staying indoors.


Well, the cricketer and the actress both were busy in designing perfect neutral baby nursery for their baby. Talking about the same she said, “I don’t believe that boys have to wear blue and girls pink. The nursery has all colours,” she says. The nursery is themed around animals. “Both Virat and I love animals and we want our baby to have that bond too. They are a big part of our lives and we really believe they can teach kindness and compassion to children.”
When NH-10 actress is asked about how she will bring up her child, she said she doesn’t want to ‘raise brats’. “There are so many similarities in the way we are as people and the way we approach life. So I do think that will work for us. I’ve been thinking about it before I even became a parent. Conditioning is the most important role in how we see the world. I come from a progressive background, so that will always be a part of our home. Love is the underlying factor in our home, and what’s important to us is that our child be respectful of people. You have to create that value structure. We don’t want to raise brats.”
For the uninformed, Anushka is due in January. She has said that after her delivery, she will return to work from May.

Chinese billionaire Zhong Shanshan overtakes Mukesh Ambani to become Asia’s richest man

By
Shivani Negi
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Zhong Shanshan is now the richest man of Asia. A Chinese billionaire, Zhong Shanshan has overtaken India’s Mukesh Ambani to achieve this feat. Reportedly, his net worth has reached $77.8 billion from $70.9 billion this year. With his newest achievement, Zhong has managed to rank eleventh in Bloomberg’s World Billionaires Index.

Zhong is 66-year-old and unlike other rich families, he has no connection as well as interest in politics. He is locally known as the “Lone Wolf.” Acquiring the top position in the world’s most populous continent is an extraordinary achievement considering that he was hardly a known figure outside his own country.

Reportedly, Zhong gained massive success in two fields. He first managed vaccine maker Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy Enterprise Co public in April and later saw massive boom in his bottled water maker business by Nongfu Spring. While Nongfu’s shares have jumped 155 per cent since their debut, Wantai’s have increased by more than 2,000 per cent. Zhong’s firm, Wantai, is also among those developing a Covid-19 vaccine.

Ambani, who has now escalated to the second position, had a remarkable year, too. From partnership with foreign groups to taking over the e-commerce platforms with JioMart, Ambani saw his business expanding in more than one way.

Zhong’s success comes at a time when Chinese government has increased scrutiny which have led to the downfall of many companies. However, Zhong’s business only saw unexpected boom. He also surpassed Chinese tycoon Jack Ma, who was earlier the second-richest person of Asia.

India to have vaccine against covid-19 within days: AIIMS director

By
Shivani Negi
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AIIMS Delhi director Dr Randeep Guleria on Wednesday said that India will have a vaccine against covid-19, which has killed over 149k people in the country, will be available within days. Terming the approval for Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine for use in the UK as a “big step forward”, he said that after roubust data, their Indian counterpart Serum Institute will also receive the regulatory approval soon.

“This is very good news that AstraZeneca got approval for its vaccine by UK regulatory authorities. They have robust data and in India and the same vaccine is being developed by the Serum Institute of India. This is a big step forward not only for India but many parts of the world,” Dr Guleria told ANI in an interview.

“This vaccine can be stored at two to eight degrees centigrade. Therefore it would be easy to store and transportation. Storage can be done using a simple fridge rather than what is required in the Pfizer vaccine of minus 70 degrees centigrade,” All India Institute Of Medical Sciences, New Delhi Director Dr Guleria said.

Further talking about India’s vaccination drive, he said, “India to roll out COVID-19 vaccines for a large part of the country and therefore we will see the vaccine available in our country in the very near future.”

, “Now, we have a data, and Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine has been approved based on the studies in UK, Brazil and South Africa. There is also data from Serum Institute of India (SII). I think, once the data is shown to the regulatory authority, we should get approval for the vaccine in the county within a few days. I would say days rather than weeks or months.” Dr Guleria, who is a member of the national task force on Covid-19 management, said that the country has a “robust plan as far as the vaccination is concerned”.

Meanwhile, Pune-based SII has sought emergency approval for their vaccine candidate –Covishield– developed in collaboration with drug maker giant AstraZeneca and Oxford University.

On Monday, Adar Poonawakka had said that 40-50 million doses of covishield are ready to be rolled out in market for public use.

Indians named in New York’s honour list for their effort in COVID Response

By
Harshit
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Few members of the Indian Community in the United Kingdom who were engaged in the COVID response have been named in the New York Honours List 2021 which was released on Thursday and Prime Minister Boris Johnson hailed their efforts and said they have been outstanding.

Johnson said, “In a year when so many have made sacrifices to protect our National Health Service (NHS) and save people’s lives, the outstanding efforts of those receiving honours today are a welcome reminder of the strength of human spirit, and of what can be achieved through courage and compassion.”

“The 2021 New Year Honours offer us an opportunity to salute their dedication and recognise many who have gone above and beyond in their contribution to our country. As we begin a new year and continue to come together to fight this virus, may their service and stories be an inspiration to us all,” he added.

The linked Indians with COVID response includes Manoj Varsani, founder of the company that provides vital PPE in the capital London, Mrunel Sisodia, who served children and young people with their needs and disabilities in the pandemic.

Ashwin surpasses Muralitharan and became most successful bowler against left handers

By
Harshit
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Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has surpassed Sri Lankan legend Muttiah Muralitharan when it comes to sending off the left-handers in Test cricket.

Earlier Muralitharan was the most successful bowler against left-handers but now it’s Ravichandran Ashwin who took the record from the Sri Lankan legend.

Muralitharan has picked 191 wickets of left-handers in his career while Ashwin is now at the top spot with 192 wickets and Muralitharan is second now followed by England’s veteran fast bowler James Anderson (186), Australia legends Glenn McGrath (172) and Shane Warne (172) and former India captain Anil Kumble (167).

Ashwin has been brilliant with the bowl in both the matches last match he picked 5 wickets in both innings in total.

Authority imposes night curfew in Delhi ahead of New Year

By
Jyoti B
-

The Delhi Disaster Management Authority Thursday announced a curfew in the city on New Year’s Eve, restricting more than five people to assemble at a public place.

According to an order, no celebratory events, congregations and gatherings at public places are permitted from 11 pm of December 31 to 6 am of January 1, 2021. However, the order exempts licensed premises.

The restrictions come after 20 fresh cases of new coronavirus variants were found among the returnees from the UK to India. The government authorities are imposing stringent coronavirus curbs amid the COVID-19 new strain scare. 

A detailed assessment of the situation in Delhi has been made, the DDMA order said. “Considering the threat posed by the mutant UK strain of Covid-19 virus and after overseeing the local incidents of Covid-19 pandemic in GNCT, Delhi, it is apprehended that gatherings, congregations and public celebrations of New Year pose a considerable threat of the spread of the virus,” it said.

It “may cause a setback to the appreciable gains” made in the suppression of chain of transmission of Covid-19 cases in Delhi, the order added. There will no restrictions on the interstate and intrastate movement of persons and goods during the curfew period.

“All district magistrates of Delhi and their counterpart district deputy commissioners of police and all authorities concerned shall ensure strict compliance of this order and shall adequately inform and sensitize the field functionaries about these instructions for strict compliance in letter and spirit,” the DDMA letter said.

Apart from Delhi, Punjab, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Rajasthan have also imposed night curfew to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

India reported 21,821 new Covid-19 cases, 26,139 recoveries, and 299 deaths in last 24 hours, as per health ministry. Total cases now stand at 1,02,66,674. Active cases have reached 2,57,656. Total recoveries in India are 98,60,280. Meanwhile, the death toll has jumped to 1,48,738.

Soon after joining BJP, party kicked out Gujjar 

By
Jyoti B
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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was left red-faced on Wednesday after it inducted 23-year-old Kapil Gujjar who was arrested earlier this year for opening fire at Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh during the protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

Gujjar joined the BJP but soon after his induction his membership was cancelled by the party.

District BJP functionaries said they were not aware of Gujjar’s identity and he had come with a group of people desirous of joining the party. Speaking to TOI later, Gujjar said, “I don’t know why I was expelled, but that doesn’t matter because my Hindutva ideology aligns with that of BJP. I will keep on working for the party from outside. I want to work for Hindus.”

Functionaries of the BJP said Gujjar joined the party together with his supporters at the city unit’s office in the Nehru Nagar area in a ceremony where sweets were distributed and his admission to the party was cheered.

“Today, Kapil Gujjar joined with hundreds of his supporters and he has influence in his area. The youth have joined the party as they like our party’s policies; the way our Prime Minister works; the way our chief minister Yogi Adityanath ji works and also the way our state president Swatantra Dev Singh ji is working to strengthen the party,” Sanjeev Sharma, president of the BJP’s city unit, told reporters.

In videos of the February 1 incident, which went viral on social media, Mr. Gujjar could be heard saying, “In our country, only Hindus will prevail, none else.” He fired two-three shots in the air before being nabbed by the police. He is out on bail.

When his shooting videos had first emerged, the BJP had said Mr. Gujjar’s family had links with the Aam Aadmi Party.

AAP on Wednesday said Mr. Gujjar’s induction into the BJP clearly exposed that “the party’s plan was to create a riot in Delhi”.

Deadline to file income tax returns extended further

By
Jyoti B
-

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has extended the due date for furnishing Income Tax Returns for FY2019-20 to January 10, 2021. The earlier deadline to file the tax returns was December 31, 2020.

“In view of the continued challenges faced by taxpayers in meeting statutory compliances due to outbreak of COVID-19, the government further extends the dates for various compliances,” said the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs in a statement. 

The due date for furnishing of Income Tax Returns for the Assessment Year 2020-21 for the taxpayers (including their partners) who are required to get their accounts audited and companies [for whom the due date, as per the provisions of section 139(1) of the Income-tax Act,1961, was 31st October, 2020 and which was extended to 30th November, 2020 and then to 31st January, 2021) has been further extended to 15th February, 2021.

The due date for furnishing of Income Tax Returns for the Assessment Year 2020-21 for the taxpayers who are required to furnish report in respect of international/specified domestic transactions [for whom the due date, as per the provisions of section 139(1) of the Income­ tax Act,1961,was 30th November, 2020 and which was extended to 31st January, 2021) has been further extended to 15th February, 2021.

The date for furnishing of various audit reports under the Act including tax audit report and report in respect of international/specified domestic transaction for the Assessment Year 2020-21 has been further extended to 15th January, 2020.

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