FRIDAY 14 JUNE 2024 www.thestatesman.com Pages 12 |` 5.00|LC X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 INDIA’S NATIONAL NEWSPAPER SINCE 1818 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR GST COUNCIL TO MEET ON 22 JUNE NON-BAILABLE WARRANT AGAINST YEDIYURAPPA P4 SENSEX 76,810.90204.33 WEATHER Partly cloudy sky. Possibility of rain/thundershower towards night. Maximum and minimum temperatures likely to be around 35 °C and 27 °C respectively. P5 NIFTY 23,398.9075.95 Max: 35.0°C (+0.5) SUN RISES 04:52 hrs MOON RISES 10:50 hrs PARMOD KUMAR NEW DELHI, 13 JUNE mid the allegations over irregularities in conducting the NEET-UG 2024 for admission to medical colleges, the National Testing Agency (NTA) on Thursday told the Supreme Court that the scorecards of 1,563 NEET-UG candidates who were given ‘grace marks’ for loss of time will be cancelled, and they will be given an option to take a re-test. Appearing for the NTA, advocate Kanu Agrawal, told a vacation bench comprising JusticesVikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta that a decision was taken by the NTA to hold a re-test for A those awarded ‘grace marks’ on account of loss of time at a few exam centres. Reiterating that the counselling for admission to medical colleges across the country will not be put on hold, the bench said: “Counselling will go on and we will not stop it. If the exam goes then everything goes in totality so nothing to fear.” The NTA told the court that those candidates who choose to take the re-test, their present scores would be cancelled and their new score, after the re-test, will be counted for admission to medical colleges. For those who choose not to take the retest, their original scores would remain but will not include the grace marks STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE KOLKATA, 13 JUNE food items and would streamline the buyers-sellers interaction. Miss Banerjee is also said to have assured the industrialists that the state government would extend its full cooperation to ensure the success of the event, and reiterated that nothing would come in the way of investment in the state. The chief minister, at the meeting, also stressed on the need to put more thrust on core sectors like food processing. The state would set up four to five economic corridors to expand its industrial footprint, Miss Banerjee was reported as saying. She also said there is no problem of land, pointing out that the state has a land bank to provide land ensuring justice to them. Twenty-four lakh students have successfully taken the NEET examination. There is no paper leak, no proof has been found so far,” he said. “There is no corruption in connection with the NEET examination in which 24 lakh students appeared,” he said. awarded to them earlier. The court took on record the NTA’s statement that re-test of 1,563 students will be notified today itself and it would be held on 23 June and results would be declared prior to 30 June so that counselling, which is set to begin on 6 July, is not affected. The notification was issued later in the day. The bench was told that a committee has been con- stituted to review the results of the 1,563 candidates who were awarded “grace marks” to compensate for loss of time suffered while appearing for NEET-UG 2024. “The Committee has taken a decision to cancel the score-cards of 1563 NEET-UG 2024 candidates who were given grace marks and these students will be given an option to take a re-test,” the NTA said. for industry. Buoyed by her party’s victory in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, in which the state-sponsored flagship schemes, particularly Lakshmir Bhandar, played their part in scripting a continued success story for the ruling Trinamul Congress, Miss Banerjee met the captains of industry at Nabanna Sabhaghar in a bid to attract more investment for the state. The meeting, which lasted for nearly two hours, was attended by industrialists like Harsh Neotia, Sanjay Budhia and many more leaders of industry. After the National Democratic Alliance's allies aired their grievances over the appointment of ‘Agniveers’ under the Agnipath scheme, the Centre has expressed its willingness to address the lacunaeand also promised to make amends in the short-term recruitment to the Armed Forces. It is now learnt that the BJP-led NDA government has formed a panel of secretaries, from at least 10 ministries to review the scheme and also to deliberate on how to make it more lucrative and rewarding for the young recruits. The group of secretaries is expected to give their recommendations on making the short-term recruitment programme under the Agnipath scheme, more attractive. The scheme became a key election issue in the poll campaign with Opposition parties vowing to revoke it, if voted to power. The panel of secretaries is expected to give a final presentation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after he returns from the G7 Summit in Italy. A detailed presentation may be made before the Prime Minister Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir with National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and other senior officials, government sources said. The PM was given a full overview of the securityrelated situation in Jammu and Kashmir and the counter-terror efforts being undertaken. During the meeting, Mr. Modi emphasised the importance of deploying the full spectrum of India's counter-terror capabilities. He also spoke to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and discussed the deployment of security forces and counter-terror operations. The PM told Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to take stock of the situation and was briefed on the efforts being India on Thursday rejected “unwarranted references” to the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir in the joint statement issued by China and Pakistan during Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's recent visit to Beijing. “We have noted unwarranted references to the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir in the joint statement between China and Pakistan of 07 June 2024.” “We categorically reject such references. Our position on the issue is consistent and well known to the concerned parties. The Union Territory of undertaken by the local administration. There has been a series of terror attacks in the Jammu and Kashmir region over the past few days, with three significant attacks at Reasi, Kathua, and Doda. In the Reasi incident, nine people died after terrorists fired on a bus carrying pil- BJP likely to retain Speaker’s post in 18th Lok Sabha NEW DELHI, 13 JUNE After the allocation of portfolios in the new BJP-led NDA government under Modi 3.0, the focus has now shifted to the election of the Lok Sabha Speaker. Sources suggest that the BJP is set to retain the key position in the Lower House of Parliament as a saffron party MP is expected to be elected for the important role. Sources further indicated that the name of the new Speaker for the 18th Lok The committee may suggest tweaks in the recruitment process and recommend additional monetary benefits for the Agniveers. on 17 or 18 June, sources said. The committee may suggest tweaks in the recruitment process and recommend additional monetary benefits for the Agniveers, currently selected for a four-year period. The Indian Army is also believed to be conducting an internal assessment of the scheme and is likely to submit its report before the government. As per those privy to the assessment, the Army is likely to suggest certain tweaks which include enhancing the training period for Agniveer recruits and also their retention percentage in the Armed forces. It may recommend retaining about 60-70 per cent of Agniveers, as against the existing 25 per cent. The Prime Minister's Office is likely to take a final call on the changes after taking into account all the recommendations and feedback from all stakeholders. CMYK Jammu and Kashmir and the Union Territory of Ladakh have been, are and will always remain integral and inalienable parts of India. No other country has the locus standi to comment on the same,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. The joint statement said China and Pakistan oppose any “unilateral action” for the resolution of outstanding issues in South Asia after Mr Sharif 'briefed' the Chinese leadership on the situation in Kashmir. grims, causing the vehicle to plunge into a gorge. PM leaves for Italy Prime Minister Narendra Modi left for Italy on Thursday to attend the G-7 Outreach Summit in its Apulia region on 14 June at the invitation of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Uttarakhand forest fire claims lives of four firefighters ALMORA, 13 JUNE STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Agnipath scheme under review, panel formed NEW DELHI, 13 JUNE STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 13 JUNE Dismissing allegations of paper leak in medical entrance exam NEET-UG, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said here on Thursday that no proof has been found of paper leak. Talking to mediapersons, Mr Pradhan pointed out that 24 lakh students have successfully taken the NEET examination. “I want to assure the students and their parents that the government of India and the NTA are committed to ‘Showcase West Bengal’ this year, not BGBS AGENCIES STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 13 JUNE STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 13 JUNE THUMBNAILS Chief minister Mamata Banerjee said at a meeting with captains of industry held at Nabanna Sabhaghar on Thursday that there would be no Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS) this year. Instead a ‘Showcase West Bengal’ event would be held from 20 September to 6 October at the Biswa Bengal Convention Centre. Announcing this at the meet, the chief minister said that the exhibition would showcase the pride of Bengal like handicrafts, textiles and BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 81.050.36 India rejects reference to J&K in China-Pakistan joint statement No proof found of paper leak in NEET: Dharmendra Pradhan New Moon on 22 June Ajit Doval stays as NSA, PK Mishra as principal secy to PM: Ajit Doval and P K Mishra were on Thursday reappointed as National Security Adviser (NSA) and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister respectively. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the appointments of these key confidants of the Prime Minister with effect from 10 June. Both Mr Doval and Dr Mishra have been assigned the rank of Cabinet Minister in the Table of Precedence. P12 SILVER 90,700600 GOLD 72,160 The candidates, 1,563 in number, will have the option of taking a re-test, agency tells SC Min: 27.9°C (+0.7) SUN SETS 18:22 hrs MOON SETS 23:37 hrs People fill their buckets from a water tanker as Delhi’s water crisis continues, in New Delhi on Thursday. ANI ‘DIFFERENT GAME’: ROHIT ALL PRAISE FOR YADAV NTA cancels grace marks Deploy all counter-terror capabilities in J&K,says PM of NEET-UG candidates Min. 66 % TEMPERATURE P10 ` vs $ 83.245 PAISE RAINFALL: 0.1 mm RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 87 % PEMA KHANDU SWORN IN AS ARUNACHAL CM FOR 3RD TERM Sabha will be deliberated upon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi returns from Italy. In the Modi government's first term, Sumitra Mahajan, a BJP MP from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, served as the Lok Sabha Speaker, while in the second term, Om Birla, a BJP MP from Kota, Rajasthan, held the position. Dismissing media reports suggesting that BJP's allies had demanded the Lok Sabha Speaker's post, a senior party leader said the matter would be first considered internally before discussing it with NDA allies to reach a consensus. As the BJP does not hold a majority as it did in 2014 and 2019, speculation was rife that the TDP and a JD(U) MP were vying for the Speaker's post. Four firefighters lost their lives and four others sustained serious injuries while battling a blaze in the Binsar forest in Almora district of Uttarakhand. Forest ranger Manoj Sanwal said that the deaths took place due to the strong wind. “Today at 3 o'clock, on receiving the information about the fire in Binsar, a team of eight people went to the spot, and due to the strong wind, the fire took a terrible form due to which 4 people died on the spot and 4 people are seriously injured,” Sanwal said. ANI
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