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UPSC prelims date to be decided on Jun 5

New Delhi (NVI): The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) today said that the date for this year’s civil services preliminary examination is likely to be decided on June 5.

The prelims exam, which was supposed to be held on May 31 was deferred due to Covid outbreak and subsequent lockdown.

In a special meeting held today, the commission took notice of the extension of several restrictions and decided that it will not be possible to resume examinations and interviews, for the present.

The Commission, however, took note of the progressive relaxations being announced by the Central Government and various States and has decided to review the situation once more, after the fourth period of lockdown.

“With a view to giving some clarity to candidates of various examinations and interviews, which have been deferred over the last two months, the Commission will issue a revised schedule of examinations in its next meeting to be held on June 5, 2020,” UPSC said in a statement.

Details of the new calendar of examinations will be published on the UPSC website, after the Commission’s meeting on June 5, 2020.

Govt extends PMVVY social security scheme for senior citizens by 3 yrs

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New Delhi (NVI): In good news for senior citizens, the Union Cabinet today approved the extension of Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY) up to 31st March 2023, for a further period of three years.

The government had extended the scheme up to March 2020 in the Union Budget 2018-19. The decision in this regard was taken by Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, today. The scheme is aimed at welfare and to enable old age income security for Senior Citizens.

The approval will allow initially an assured rate of return of 7.40 % per annum for the year 2020-21 per annum and thereafter to be reset every year, the Ministry of Finance said in a statement.

The Cabinet has also given its approval for annual reset of assured rate of interest with effect from April 1st of financial year in line with revised rate of returns of Senior Citizens Saving Scheme (SCSS) upto a ceiling of 7.75% with fresh appraisal of the scheme on breach of this threshold at any point.

The income security scheme for senior citizens is implemented through the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC).

It intends to give an assured minimum pension to senior citizens (60 years and above) based on an assured return on the purchase price/subscription amount.

The minimum investment has also been revised to Rs 1,56,658 for pension of Rs.12,000/- per annum and Rs.1,62,162/- for getting a minimum pension amount of Rs.1000/- per month under the scheme.

Konark town, Sun Temple in Odisha to be 100% solarised

New Delhi (NVI): The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) today said that the Central Government has launched a scheme for 100 per cent solarisation of Konark Sun Temple and Konark town in Odisha.

R K Singh, Union Minister of State for Power, new and renewable energy, said, “Government of India launched the Scheme with an objective to take forward the Prime Minister’s vision to develop the historical Sun temple town of Konark in Odisha as ‘Surya Nagri’, to convey a message of synergy between the modern use of solar energy and the ancient Sun Temple and the importance of promoting solar energy.”

Under the scheme, a 10 MW grid-connected solar project will be set up. Various solar off-grid applications like solar trees, solar drinking water kiosks, off-grid solar power plants with battery storage etc will be set up with a 100% Central Financial Assistance (CFA) support of around Rs 25 Crores from Centre through Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) will fun, read an official statement.

Implementation of this project will be done by Odisha Renewable Energy Development Agency (OREDA), the ministry said.

1,773 ‘Shramik Special’ trains ferried over 23.5 lakh migrants home: Railways

New Delhi (NVI): A total of 1773 “Shramik Special” trains have been operationalised from various states across the country since May 1, carrying more than 23.5 lakh passengers back home, the Ministry of Railways said today.

“These 1773 trains were originated from various states like Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chandigarh UT, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Puducherry UT, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal,” the Ministry said in a statement today.

Yesterday, a record 205 Shramik trains were run by the Railways from various states across the country with more than 2.5 lakh passengers, the Ministry said.

These trains were terminated in various States like Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal.

The Rail ministry said that proper screening of passengers is ensured before boarding the train. During the journey, passengers are given free meals and water, it added.

Class 10, 12 board exams exempted from lockdown measures: Amit Shah

Amit Shah meets farmer leaders
File Photo: Union Home Minister Amit Shah

New Delhi (NVI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah today said that considering the interest of a large number of students, the Government has exempted Class 10 and 12 board exams from lockdown measures, although social distancing must be adhered to for safety purpose.

Taking to Twitter, the Home Minister wrote: “Taking into consideration the academic interest of large number of students, it has been decided to grant exemption from the lockdown measures to conduct Board examination for classes 10th & 12th, with few conditions like social distancing, face mask etc, for their safety.”

In this regard, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a letter to Chief Secretaries of all states informing about the government’s decision to allow holding of the board exams for students of Class 10 and Class 12 under certain conditions.

The Ministry has stated that states will be required to arrange for special buses to take students to and from examination centres.

It was further stated that students will have to mandatorily follow some conditions – such as social distancing, the use of hand sanitisers and the wearing of face masks.

The government has, however, said that no exam centres will be permitted in containment zones.

As opening of schools had been prohibited under the guidelines on lockdown measures, the annual board examinations being conducted by various Boards for Class 10 and 12 had been suspended earlier.

Coronavirus cases exceed 26,000 in Bangladesh; 386 dead

(Image source: United News of Bangladesh)

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of deaths from coronavirus in Bangladesh has reached 386 after 16 more people lost their lives in the last 24 hours, according to United News of Bangladesh.

The total number of coronavirus infections rose to 26,738 after 1,617 new infections were reported during this period.

In the last 24 hours, 43 coronavirus testing laboratories across the country tested 10,207 samples.

Meanwhile, 408 coronavirus-infected people were reported to have recovered in the country in the last 24 hours.

Bangladesh has been recording an increasing number of cases over the past few weeks. The first cases were announced on March 8 and the health authorities confirmed the first death on March 18.

492 new Covid-19 cases reported in Afghanistan, total at 8,145

New Delhi (NVI): Afghanistan witnessed a rise in coronavirus cases with 492 new cases, taking the overall tally to 8,145 across the country, according to Afghan media reports.

In the last 24 hours, 10 COVID-19 patients have died, bringing the total deaths in the country to 187.

Of the 482 new cases, 262 were reported in Kabul, 59 in Herat, 33 in Balkh, 30 in Baghlan, 28 in Takhar, 14 in Jawzjan, 10 in Paktia, 10 in Nangarhar, 6 in Logar, 2 in Ghazni, 9 in Parwan, 4 in Farah, 9 in Panjshir, 5 in Kapisa, 7 in Kunar and 4 in Sar-e-Pul.

Kabul, the Afghan capital, recorded its worst day after 262 of 522 tests came back positive. The city is the country’s worst affected by COVID-19 and, despite a government authorised lockdown, streets are still crowded, as per media reports.

The country’s Health Ministry said, over 25,700 samples have been tested so far, which analysts say is too low a number when compared to the country’s population.

So far, 930 patients have been cured or discharged across the country.

J&K: 2 BSF jawans killed in terrorist attack in Srinagar

Kashmir
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Abid Bashir 

Srinagar (NVI): Two BSF jawans were killed in a terrorist attack in the Soura area on the outskirts of Srinagar in Kashmir today, a police official said.

The incident took place at 5.30 pm, the police official said, adding that terrorists targetted two BSF men deployed for enforcing lockdown, close to SKIMS Soura hospital. They were shifted to the same hospital after getting hit, he said.

SKIMS medical superintendent Dr Farooq Jan said that both the soldiers succumbed to their wounds, as they had multiple bullet injuries.

Police sources said that their service rifles were also snatched.

Meanwhile, top police officials have rushed to the spot to assess the situation and the area has been sealed. A search operation has been launched to nab the attackers.

COVID-19 deaths exceed 1,000 in Pakistan; tally rises to 46,915

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of positive coronavirus in Pakistan has increased by more than 2,000 cases, taking the overall tally to 46,915 with at least 1,003 fatalities recorded so far.

Looking at the breakdown of cases, Sindh province has reported 18,964 coronavirus cases, highest among all the provinces, while Punjab has 16,685 positive cases.

On the other hand, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has recorded 6,554 cases, Balochistan is at 2,885, Gilgit-Baltistan at 556, Islamabad at 1,138 and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is at 133 cases so far, according to Geo News.

So far 13,101 patients have recovered from the virus, according to the country’s Health Ministry.

Pakistan has started easing in phases the coronavirus lockdown and partially resumed its domestic air services.

Nepal’s COVID-19 tally rises to 427 with 25 new cases

New Delhi (NVI): 25 new COVID-19 cases have been registered in Nepal today, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 427, local media reports said.

According to the country’s Ministry of Health and Population, Kapilvastu district alone has witnessed 13 new cases today.

Likewise, six new cases were identified in Banke district aged between 17-27 years, five in Dhankuta including a woman aged 24 and one in Nawalparasi (west). Among the newly infected cases, 18 are males while seven are females.

Meanwhile, eight coronavirus patients from Udayapur of Province 1 have recovered and have been discharged from the Koshi Hospital in Biratnagar, the reports said.

With this, the number of recovered cases in the country has reached 45, as per media reports.

Apart from this, 2,280 samples have been tested through the PCR method in the last 24 hours, the Nepal ministry has said.

So far, two persons have died of the disease in the country.

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