New Delhi: The Central Board of Secondary Education on Friday issued a revised board exam date sheet for a few subjects, including mathematics, commerce and physics, for classes 10 and 12.

For class 10, the science exam has been deferred to May 21. Earlier, it was scheduled for May 15. The mathematics exam which was scheduled for May 21, will now be held on June 2, according to the latest date sheet.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) said that for class 12-science stream, the May 13 physics exam will now be held on June 8.

Exams for mathematics and applied mathematics, which were earlier scheduled for June 1, will now be conducted on May 31 for class 12 science and commerce streams, it said in the revised date sheet.

The board has revised the date for the June 2 geography exam of the arts stream and it will now be held on June 3.

The exams for classes 10 and 12 will begin from May 4 and conclude on June 10.

Usually, practical exams are conducted in January and written exams begin in February and conclude in March. However, the exams are delayed in this session due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Schools across the country were closed in March last year to contain the spread of COVID-19. They were partially reopened in some states from October 15.

The board exams last year had to be postponed mid-way in March. They were later cancelled and the results announced on the basis of an alternative assessment scheme.

Leader of Opposition and BJP MLA Devendra earlier demanded to hand over this sensitive case to the central government agency National Investigative Agency (NIA).

After the death of Scorpio owner whose vehicle was abandoned stockpiled with gelatin sticks near India’s richest man Mukesh Ambani’s residence Antillia, Maharashtra Home minister hand over this case to Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) on Friday.

Leader of Opposition and BJP MLA Devendra earlier demanded to hand over this sensitive case to the central government agency National Investigative Agency (NIA). However, Maharashtra Home minister Anil Deshmukh said that Maharashtra police is competent to probe this case.

The dead body of Mansukh Hiren the owner of this said Scorpio vehicle was found at Mumbra, Thane on Friday. Devendra Fadnavis said Scorpio owner is one of the key witnesses in this case, is now found dead that increases the suspect and mystery deepen the further.

He also claimed that Mansukh in his statement earlier said that he had come to Crowford market in South Mumbai for some personal work when a bomb scare happened near Mukesh Ambani residence. As per police, his vehicle was parked under the bridge at Mankhurd and from this place, it was stolen by an unknown person.

“We want to know why Scorpio owner came to Crawford market? Whom did he meet there? All of these questions need to be investigated. We also got information that this same person had also called Sachin Waze who is investigating officer (IO) of this case twice in June and July of last year. Sachin Waze and Hiren’s What’s app chat record also need to be checked because the terror angle is involved here. Therefore, this case needs to be given to NIA for a fair probe,” he demanded.

Fadnavis said that in this case, the IO Sachin Waze is from Thane, the dead body was also found in Thane and the along with Scorpio, another vehicle Innova which had come on bomb scare day was also from Thane.

“When the the incident happened near Mukesh Ambani residence that time also, before the local police, Sachin Waje reached first. Our suspect has been increasing in this case even though we do not cast any doubt on any particular individual,” Fadnavis said.

Sachin Waze refuted all allegations of Leader of Oppositions. Waze said Fadnavis is free to speak anything. “On that particular day, before me, several police officers went to the spot. All details are in the police record,” Waze said refused to speak more.

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha will be given three seats. Of the 291 TMC candiates, 114 are new faces, which works out to over 39%.

KOLKATA: The Trinamool Congress on Friday announced candidates for 291 of the 294-Assembly seats, fielding young and new faces including actors and sportspersons. TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee will fight from Nandigram in East Midnapore district. The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha will be given three seats. Of the 291 TMC candiates, 114 are new faces, which works out to over 39%.

The decision to give women more tickets is a calculated strategy to tap the rise in women vote share. “According to the final list released by the Election Commission, women voters in Bengal form 49% of the total. The gender-ratio improved from 956 in 2019 to 961,” said a TMC leader Notably, the number of minority candidates has been reduced to 40 from 57 in 2016.

But at the same time, the party has given 79 tickets to those hailing from the scheduled caste (SC) community even though only 68 seats are reserved for the category. It means, SC candidates will contest on TMC tickets in 11 Assembly constituencies, which are not reserved for any category. Fielding SC candidates in unreserved seats will send a message to Dalit voters and those belonging to the Matua community, whom the BJP is desperately trying to woo, said a leader.

The BJP had enjoyed Matuas support in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. “Since the saffron camp failed to fulfil the promise of giving Matuas citizenship by implementing the CAA, Mamata took this move to bring back Dalit support,” said a leader of the ruling party. Seventeen candidates from scheduled tribe (ST) community have also been given tickets against 16 seats reserved for STs. Tribal film actor Birbaha Hansda will contest from Junglemahal’s Jhargram constituency, which is not a reserved seat.

Non-performers in 2019 Lok Sabha polls ignored, ruling party rewards Congress defectors with Assembly tickets. The BJP on Friday unveiled its first list 70 candidates for the Assam ssembly elections, denying tickets to 11 incumbent legislators, largely on the grounds of not cooperating in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections,  non-performance and to make space for the turncoats.The BJP’s North-east “Sherpa” and Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is learnt to have bagged tickets for a good number of his followers in the first list.

The BJP also unveiled seat adjustments with allies Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL), which will contest 26 and eight seats, respectively. The BJP will contest in 92 of the 126 seats in Assam. Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Sarma, and BJP state chief Ranjeet Kumar Dass will contest from Majuli, Jalukbari and Patacharkuchi,  respectively. BJP national general secretary Arun Singh explained that the party has a tradition of changing faces in elections.

However, sources said “a few of the sitting MLAs were punished for not working for BJP’s Lok Sabha candidates in the 2019 elections, which included the likes of Silchar Parliamentary constituency”. The BJP dropped Hills Area Development Minister Sum Ronghang, Rituparna Barua from Lahowal, Amar Chand Jain from Katigorah, Ashok Sarma from Nalbari, Joyram Engleng from Howraghat, Mansing Rongpi from Baithalangsu, BB Hagzer from Haflong, Dilip Paul from Silchar, Kishore Nath from Borkhola, Debananda Hazarika from Bihpuria and Nabanita Handique from Sonari constituency. 

Turncoats from the ranks of the Congress, who bagged the BJP symbol included former legislators Bidya Sing Engleng (former chief of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council), Jayanta Malla Barua, Ajanta Neog and Gautam Roy, known as “King of Barak Valley”. Dorsingh Ronghang, of Left pedigree, was also fielded in the elections. Dilip Paul, former Assembly deputy Speaker, and businessman Dwipayan Chakraborty also got the BJP nod to contest the polls. 

Sonowal exuded confidence of victory. “We’ve ensured peace and development, and people will bless us with another mandate”. To his earlier claims of not contesting elections, Sarma said it was the decision of the BJP leadership that he should be in the electoral ring. Along with Dass, this troika in the elections is giving rise to speculations of a post-poll re-think in the party for the post of chief minister.

• BJP will field candidates in 70 of the 126 Assembly seats in Assam. Its allies Asom Gana Parishad and United People’s Party Liberal will contest in 26 and 8 seats, respectively
• Trinamool Congress has named eight personalities from the world of movies and TV serials as candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections in West Bengal. Popular film director Raj Chakraborty heads the list

Kolkata: Trinamool Congress MLA Samir Chakraborty has said he would not contest the West Bengal Assembly elections. “I have informed Mamata Banerjee that I don’t want to contest elections. I will  campaign for the party,” Chakraborty said in a Facebook post. He is an MLA  from Taldangra constituency in Bankura district and a familiar face in vernacular television news channel talk shows.

Guwahati: Four prominent personalities, including cricketer and first-time voter Riyan Parag, were on Friday chosen as ‘icons’ to encourage people to exercise their franchise during the Assam assembly polls. Besides Parag, who plays for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, actor Kopil Bora, singer Anindita Paul and para-cyclist Rakesh Banik were selected as ‘icons’ to motivate voters, officials said.

NEW DELHI:  External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said India viewed Bangladesh as a valued partner not only in South Asia, but also in the broader Indo-Pacific region. Stressing on India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ and ‘Act East’ policies, Jaishankar said,

“We see Bangladesh as a key neighbour and a valued partner not only in South Asia but also in the broader Indo-Pacific region. Every achievement in our relationship resonates through this region. It is no secret that we cite it to others as an example,” Jaishankar said during his joint press conference with Bangladeshi foreign minister AK Abdul Momen.

The external affairs minister arrived in Dhaka for a day-long visit during which he met Momen and held wide-ranging discussions. He is also expected to meet Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Jaishankar’s visit is being seen as a precursor to PM Modi’s visit to Dhaka later this month, when he is likely to flag-off a direct passenger train between Dhaka and New Jalpaiguri.

“Our comfort levels are now so high that we have shown that there is no issue that we cannot discuss and resolve through amicable dialogue,” he added.

Jaishankar said it was a matter of satisfaction that the pandemic did not prove to be a hurdle between Indo-Bangladesh interactions.

“Even the pandemic provided an opportunity to re-affirm our friendship. Bangladesh is the largest recipient of Indian-made vaccines. It is really appropriate that Bangladesh received our largest gift of 2 million vaccines,” he said.

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission has sought a report from the West Bengal chief electoral officer on the Trinamool Congress’ complaint that the picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the COVID-19 vaccination certificate violates the model code.

A functionary said on Thursday that the state CEO has been directed to file a report to verify the veracity of the TMC’s complaint.

Based on the CEO’s report, the poll panel would decide the future course of action, the functionary explained.

The ruling TMC in West Bengal had on Tuesday approached the poll panel about the PM’s image on vaccination certificates generated through the Co-Win platform being a violation of the model code of conduct in Bengal and other poll-bound states.

It had termed the picture a misuse of official machinery by the prime minister.

The model code came into force on February 26, the day the Election Commission had announced assembly polls in Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry.