KOLKATA’S COFFEE CARTOONIST 23 JUNE 2024 www.thestatesman.com Twitter.com/TheStatesmanLtd Facebook.com/thestatesman A BOOK ABOUT BANGALIYANA PAGE 15 GAUTAM GAMBHIR TIGHT-LIPPED ON PROSPECTS OF BEING COACH PAGE 12 PAGE 14 India’s National Newspaper since 1818 PAGES 16 | `5.00 | LC KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR WEATHER Generally cloudy sky. Light Rain / Thundershower likely to occur in some areas. Maximum and Minimum Temperature most likely be around 33°C and 27°C respectively. RAINFALL: 1.5 mm RELATIVE HUMIDITY NTA head Subodh Kumar Singh removed; NEET-PG exam postponed Min.75% Max: 33.1°C (+0.1) SUN RISES 04:53 hrs MOON RISES 19:1 hrs Min: 27.8°C (+1.0) SUN SETS 18:24 hrs MOON SETS 04:42 hrs TEMPERATURE STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 22 JUNE THUMBNAILS Members of the All Assam Students Union stage a protest against the alleged irregularities in NEET 2024 exam results, in Guwahati on Saturday. ANI The committee, led by former ISRO chairman K Radhakrishnan which also includes Dr. Randeep Guleria, Former Director, AIIMS Delhi, will make recommendations on reform in the mechanism of the examination process, improvement in data security protocols and structure and functioning of NTA. Death toll rises to 53 in Kallakurichi Hooch tragedy: The death toll in the Kallakurichi Hooch tragedy has risen from 50 to 53, officials said on Saturday. Kallakurichi District Collector MS Prasanth said that out of the total 193 patients, who consumed illicit liquor, 140 are currently safe."193 people who have consumed illicit liquor have come to the hospital. Out of the 193, 140 are currently safe, while few of them are on ventilators. Right now, 53 people have passed away," he said. Meanwhile, in the wake of the deaths in Kallakurichi in Tamil Nadu, 250 litres of illicit liquor were seized and disposed off in the state's Tiruchirapalli district (Photo). Services provided by Indian Rlys like platform tickets exempted from GST STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 22 JUNE Services provided by the Indian Railways to common man, sale of platform tickets, facility of retiring rooms and waiting rooms, battery operated car services are being exempted from GST, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said while addressing a press conference after 53rd GST Council meeting on Saturday. Further, intra-railway supplies are also being exempted. Another key announcement that the minister made is that now hostels which are for students but are not in educational institutions are also getting exempted. The minister said that the service by way of hostel accommodation is presently not exempted, which are provided to students if they are outside of educational institutions. If they are within the educational institutions, then they are already exempted. Hostels which are for students which are within an educational institutions are already exempted. The Finance Minister further said: "Council recommended to prescribe a uniform rate of 12per cent on all milk cans meaning steel, iron, aluminium which are irrespective of the use. They are called milk cans but wherever they are used that will be the rate applicable so that no disputes arise out of it.” The council also recommended to prescribe a uniform GST rate of 12per cent on all carton boxes and cases of both corrugated and noncorrugated paper or paper board. (More on Page 8) The committee will analyse the end-to-end examination process and suggest measures to improve the efficiency of the system and to forestall any possible breach. It will also conduct a thorough review of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)/Protocols of the NTA. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 22 JUNE he Ministry of Education on Saturday said it has formed a high-level committee of experts, headed by former ISRO chief K Radhakrishnan, to ensure transparent, smooth and fair conduct of examinations through the National Testing Agency (NTA). The decision comes amid the ongoing crisis around irregularities in holding competitive examinations. In a late night development, the government also shunted out the NTA’s director general, Subodh Kumar T Singh. The Ministry of Personnel announced that retired Indian Administration Service officer Pradeep Singh Kharola, who is the chairman and managing director of the India Trade Promotion Organisation, has been given additional charge as director general of the NTA till the appointment of a regular incumbent. In another development, the Union Health Ministry on Saturday announced that the NEETPG entrance exam scheduled to be held on Sunday has been postponed and a new date will be notified at the earliest. In a statement, the Health Amid the ongoing row over the alleged malpractices in conducting the NEET and UGC-NET examinations, the Centre has notified the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, to prevent paper leaks and cheating. The Act, passed in February this year, prohibits disclosing exam-related confidential information before time, and unauthorised people from entering exam centres to create disruptions. According to the new stringent law which came into effect on 21 June, any Ministry said: “Taking into consideration the recent incidents of allegations regarding the integrity of certain competitive examinations, Ministry of Health has decided to undertake a thorough assessment of the robustness of processes of NEET-PG entrance examination, conducted by the National Board of Examination for medical students.” The NTA is facing criticism over alleged irregularities in this year's National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate) exam, even as the UGC-NET exam was cancelled due to apprehensions that its integrity had been compromised. This has led to protests across the country with protesters and political parties demanding to disband the NTA. Dr. K. Radhakrishnan, who heads the newly appointed seven-member committee, is former chairman, ISRO and chairman BoG, IIT Kanpur. The committee, which also includes Dr. Randeep Guleria, former director, AIIMS Delhi, will make recommendations on reform in the mechanism of examination process, improvement in data security protocols and structure and functioning of the NTA. The committee will submit its report within two months. (More on Page 5) ‘Passed without proper debate’: Cong backs call to defer implementation of new criminal laws STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 22 JUNE The Congress on Saturday said the implementation of the three new criminal laws should be deferred and added that they were passed "without" proper debate and discussion in Parliament. The demand came after Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to defer the implementation of the three criminal laws ~the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 which will replace the India Penal Code, 1860, the Code of Criminal Procedure,1973 and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 respectively, and will come into effect on 1 July. Congress General Secretary in-charge of Communications Jairam Ramesh in a post on X wrote: “On December 25, 2023, the President of India had NEW DELHI, 22 JUNE person or persons found guilty of leaking a paper or tampering with answer sheets will receive a minimum jail term of three years. This can be extended to five years with a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh. “In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 1 of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 (1 of 2024), the central government hereby appoints the 21st day of June 2024, as the date on which the provisions of the said Act shall come into force,” a gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions said. New Moon on 06 July An artist with his decorated camel arrives to take part in the camel decoration competition organised on the occasion of World Camel Day in Bikaner on Saturday.  ANI ASHOK TUTEJA New stringent ‘anti-paper leak’ law comes into effect DAMAGE CONTROL Max. 92% India, Bangladesh sign 10 major accords, aim to bolster defence partnership Govt sets up panel to reform exam process given her assent to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023,the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023. The three far-reaching Bills had been bulldozed through Parliament without proper debate and discussion, and at a time when 146 MPs had been suspended from the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.” Mr Ramesh said: “Earlier the Bills had been ‘bulldozed’ through the Standing Committee on Home Affairs without detailed interactions with stakeholders across the country and completely ignoring the written and very detailed dissent notes of a number of MPs belonging to different political parties, including the Indian National Congress, who were members of the Standing Committee.” “The three new laws are to come into effect from July 1 2024. The Indian National Congress is of the firm opinion that this date should be deferred so as to enable a thorough review and re-examination by the reconstituted Standing Committee on Home Affairs which should have more extensive and meaningful consultations with various legal experts and organisations who have serious concerns on the three laws as they stand ~ thereafter by the 18th Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha as well,” he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday reassured his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina of India’s commitment to realising ‘Bangabandhu’ Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s vision of a stable, prosperous and progressive Bangladesh as the two neighbouring nations signed ten major accords in diverse fields, including defence. The two sides also announced the launch of a new train service between Rajshahi and Kolkata and a bus service between Chittagong and Kolkata. “We had extensive discussions on further strengthening defence cooperation, from defence production to modernisation of armed forces. We have decided to strengthen our engagement on counter-terrorism, de-radicalisation and peaceful management of borders. We share a common vision for the Indo-Pa- cific Oceans Initiative,” Mr Modi said at a joint media interaction with Sheikh Hasina after wide-ranging talks between the two leaders. The Bangladesh PM is the first top foreign leader to pay a state visit to India after the formation of a government by Mr Modi for the third successive time. The Indian leader said the two countries have prepared a futuristic vision for cooperation in new areas.The youth of both countries will benefit from the consensus reached on coopera- The Central govt on Friday partially notified the Telecommunications Act, 2023, intended to replace century-old colonial laws, making sections 1, 2, 10 to 30, 42 to 44, 46, 47, 50 to 58, 61 and 62 of the new law effective from 26 June. NEW DELHI, 22 JUNE With the partial notification of the Telecommunications Act, 2023, starting from 26 June, the central government will have the authority to control any telecommunications services or networks during emergencies. The Central government on Friday partially notified the Telecommunications Act, intended to replace centuryold colonial laws, making sections 1, 2, 10 to 30, 42 to 44, 46, 47, 50 to 58, 61 and 62 of the new law effective from 26 June. Among other key provisions,Section 20 of theTelecommunications Act 2023 stated that the central government of a state government will be able to take control of any telecommunications services or networks in times of emergency after the implementation of the Act. On the occurrence of any public emergency, including disaster management, or in the interest of public safety, “the Central Government or a State Government or any officer specially authorised in this behalf by the Central Government or a State Government can take temporary possession of any telecommunication service or telecommunication network from an authorised entity; or provide for appropriate mechanisms to ensure that messages of a user or group of users authorised for response and recovery during a public emergency are routed on priority,” according to the Sector 20 of the Act.Any telecom player who wants to establish or operate telecommunication networks, provide services or possess ratio equipment will have to be authorised by the government. “The Telecommunications Act, 2023 aims to amend and consolidate the law relating to development, expansion and operation of telecommunication services and telecommunication networks; assignment of spectrum and for matters connected therewith,” said the Department of Communication (DoT). The Telecommunications Act, 2023 seeks to repeal existing legislative frameworks like Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 and IndianWireless Telegraph Act, 1933 owing to huge technical advancements in the telecom sector and technologies.The Act also provides measures for protec- tion in many areas such as Green partnership, Digital Partnership, Blue Economy, Space and 'Maitri Satellite'. Mr Modi said the two countries have decided to start negotiations at the technical level for the renewal of the 1996 Ganga Water Treaty. He said the two countries also propose to take their economic relations to new heights and have agreed to start negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Sheikh Hasina, on her part, described India as a major neighbour, trusted friend and regional partner of Bangladesh. “Bangladesh greatly values our relations with India, which were born during our war of liberation in 1971. I pay homage to the brave, fallen heroes of India who sacrificed their lives during our war of liberation in 1971,” she said. Briefing reporters on the meeting between the two leaders, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said a technical committee has been constituted to look at the Teesta Water restoration Project. The committee's mandate has more to do with the management of water flow than water sharing. On the decision to enhance defence cooperation between the two countries, Mr Kwatra said India will help Bangladesh’s armed forces in modernisation and capacity-building. India will also see how it can fulfil the needs of the Bangladeshi forces. The MoU between the two countries, he said, pertains to cooperation concerning military education in the field of strategic and operational studies. Mr Kwatra said the two leaders agreed to give an impetus to bilateral and subregional cooperation in a vision document that seeks to realise India's vision of a 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047 and Bangladesh's vision of a 'Smart Bangladesh' by 2041. (More on Page 10) DEVOTION Devotees perform Snan Yatra at the Jagannath temple in Puri in Odisha on the occasion of Deva Snana Purnima, on Saturday.  ANI New Telecom Act: Central government can take control of telecom networks during emergency AGENCIES PM Narendra Modi with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina upon her arrival for the ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on Saturday.  SUBRATA DUTTA tion of users from unsolicited commercial communication and creates a grievance redressal mechanism. When it comes to the Right of Way (RoW) framework, public entities shall be obligated to provide right of way except in special circumstances.“The fee for right of way would be subject to a ceiling.The Act provides a complete framework for RoW in respect of private property based on mutual agreement. The Act also provides that the RoW to be granted shall be non-discriminatory and as far as practicable on a non-exclusive basis,” said the DoT. It also provides that telecommunication infrastructure shall be distinct from the property it is installed on. This will help reduce the disputes when property is sold or leased. BIS introduces new standards to enhance safety of E-vehicles STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 22 JUNE The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has introduced two new standards, IS 18590: 2024 and IS 18606: 2024, aimed at enhancing the safety of electric vehicles in the L, M, and N categories. These standards focus on the critical component of electric vehicles ~ the powertrain ~ ensuring it meets stringent safety requirements. Additionally, they emphasize the safety and performance of batteries, ensuring they are both powerful and secure. However, the shift to electric mobility extends beyond cars and trucks. E-rickshaws and E-Karts are gaining popularity across India. To address this, BIS has introduced IS 18294: 2023, which establishes safety standards specif- These standards cover various aspects, from construction to functionality, ensuring the safety of both drivers and passengers. ically for these vehicles. These standards cover various aspects, from construction to functionality, ensuring the safety of both drivers and passengers. With these new standards, BIS has raised the bar, now having a total of 30 Indian Standards dedicated to electric vehicles and their accessories, including charging systems. These standards are crucial in driving the transition to a more sustainable, environmentally friendly, and an efficient transportation system in the country.