As per the draft guidelines, a College to which these Rules apply shall be declared to be fit to receive grants from the Central Government, the University Grants Commission (UGC), or any other Organization receiving funds from the Central Government, only if the UGC is satisfied that the college fulfils the following conditions.

The College has valid accreditation from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC)

OR

National Board of Accreditation (NBA) accreditation for at least 60% of the total eligible programes for accreditation for the Colleges offering more than three programmes. In case the number of programmes being offered is less than three, then each of the eligible programme must have been accredited.

OR

Ranked in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) ranking in the respective category (thrice after participating 5 times/twice after participating thrice).

Application for recognition under clause 12B of the UGC Act, 1956

The College, fulfilling the eligibility criteria specified in these Rules may apply ‘online’ to the University Grants Commission for considering the application for its recognition under Section 12B of the UGC Act, 1956 along with the processing fee as decided by the University Grants Commission from time to time.

Efficient land use, minimum congestion, a focus on dharamshalas and homestays, and upgrading the infrastructure while retaining the historical and cultural character of the city are some of the highlights of the plan, the report added.

“Ayodhya is anticipated to become a global tourism destination with a focus on spiritual, cultural, heritage assets and events as the city is likely to grow manifold with a significant demand in hospitality and allied industries.

“The city is envisaged to be developed as a mega centre for tourist, economic and religious activities. More than three lakh devotees are expected to visit Ayodhya daily within the next three-four years,” Kukreja was quoted as saying.

Indian Army’s Chinar Corps said the police and army recovered the IED and subsequently destroyed it.

“Chinar Warriors and J&K Police averted a major terror incident today by recovering and in-situ destroying an IED on Langate – Watergam Road,” the Indian Army said in a post on social media platform X.

Police said the IEDs were in the form of three cylinders which were found on roadside, linked to each other with wires, in north Kashmir’s Handwara district.

A road-opening party of security forces, which scans highways for hidden explosives, got suspicious on seeing the cylinders. The small cylinders were hidden, using bushes, near a crossing.

Traffic was immediately stopped and alarm raised by the security personnel.

Police and Army rushed security reinforcements to the site.

“There was no loss of life or property in the incident,” an Army officer said.

Traffic was reopened after the objects were destroyed.

She will be the first woman in that post in the 105-year-old history of Indian Railways.

“The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Jaya Verma Sinha, Indian Railway Management Services (IRMS), Member (Operations & Business Development), Railway Board to the post of Chairman & Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Railway Board,” a government statement read.

Sinha, who will succeed Anil Kumar Lahoti, will assume charge on September 1.

Sinha is scheduled to retire on October 1 this year, but will be re-employed the same day for the remainder of her tenure, which will end on August 31, 2024.

She was the Railways’ public face in the media interactions after the horrific triple-train Balasore accident at Bahanaga Bazar in June.

As Member (Operations and Business Development), Sinha explained the complex signalling system after the tragedy which killed nearly 300 people.

An alumnus of Allahabad University, Sinha joined Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS) in 1988 and worked in three railway zones — Northern Railway, South Eastern Railway and Eastern Railway.

During her four-year tenure as Railway Advisor in the High Commission of India in Bangladesh, Sinha played a key role in the inauguration of Maitree Express, which connects Kolkata and Dhaka.

ASP Bhagwat Singh Hingad told IANS that at around 3 pm on Sunday, Aavishkar Sambhaji Kasle (16), a resident of Latur (Maharashtra), died by suicide by jumping from the sixth floor of a coaching institute in Kota. Kasle had been residing in the city’s Talwandi area for the past three years and was preparing for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). He came to the coaching centre earlier in the day to appear for the test.

In the second incident, 18-year-old Adarsh from Bihar was found hanging in his room at around 7 pm on Sunday. Adarsh had been living in Kota’s Kunhadi area for the past four months with his brother and sister and was also preparing for NEET. According to the ASP, after taking the test on Sunday, Adarsh came home and went straight to his room. At around 7 pm when his sister came to call him for food he did not respond.

Soon, the sister was joined by their other brother and they continued to knock on the door for a while. When they broke open the door, they found Adarsh hanging. He was rushed to a hospital but could not be saved.

According to an initial investigation, Adarsh was regularly scoring low in the tests of the coaching institute. The ASP said no suicide note had been found.

According to news agency PTI, the Southern Railway said that an “illegal gas cylinder” on board led to the fire. The passengers of the “private party coach” had arrived from Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh.

The fire broke out at 5:15 amand the fire service personnel who arrived at the spot half an hour later put down the blaze by 7:15 am, a Southern Railway release said.

“This is a private party coach that was attached at Nagercoil Junction yesterday (Aug 25) by train no. 16730 (Punalur-Madurai Exp). The party coach was detached and kept at Madurai Stabling line. The passengers in the private party coach have….smuggled gas cylinder and this has caused the fire,” the release said.

The party coach had started the journey from Lucknow on August 17, scheduled to return to Chennai on Sunday and return to Lucknow from there, it added.

“While the coach was stabled/parked, some members of the party in the private party coach were using the illegally smuggled cooking gas cylinder unauthorisedly for preparing tea/snacks, which caused the fire in the stabled/parked coach. Most of the passengers could get out of the coach on noticing fire. Some passengers had already got down at platform also before detachment of coach,” it added.

An amount of Rs 10 lakh was being paid to each of the family of those who died, it said.

Southern Railway also announced two helpline numbers for information related to the fire incident and causalities– 9360552608, 8015681915.

Notably, six people were killed in clashes that broke out in Muslim-majority Nuh on July 31, when a Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) procession was attacked by mobs. The dead included two home guards and a cleric.

Kumar tweeted that the Gurugram Police acted against ‘Hindu activists’ due to pressure from the Qatar-based Al Jazeera news channel. He alleged that the foreign media outlet has been making calls to Gurugram Police Commissioner Kala Ramachandran, asking her to take action against Hindus in connection with the communal riots.

Gurugram Police termed Kumar’s post as “baseless, false, and misleading” before registering a case against him under relevant sections of the IT Act.

Responding to the FIR, Sudarshan News reported that Kumar had gone to Mewat to help Hindu activists. The channel claimed that Kumar was kidnapped by “goons” from his car in Gurugram’s Sector 17. “This arrest is totally illegal and wrong. Sudarshan News stands by Mukesh Kumar ji and considers the arrest an attack on media freedom,” the channel tweeted.

Sudarshan News’ editor-in-chief Suresh Chavhanke, in a long post on social media, raised questions about Kumar’s arrest.

“Why didn’t the police arrest Mukesh Kumar in uniform? Is the Haryana government bowing down to the ego of an officer? Where are the organisations of journalists and human rights?”

He even warned the Gurugram Police that he would make a “big announcement” on Saturday if they did not release Kumar.

The accused RPF constable, identified as Chetan Kumar, has been arrested.

“Four casualties, including the ASI, have been reported in the firing incident inside the Jaipur Express train (12956). The accused has been arrested. DCP North GRP has been informed,” news agency ANI quoted Railway Protection Force as saying.

The accused, RPF constable opened fired on his colleague and escort duty in-charge, ASI Tika Ram Meena, with his automatic weapon at 5.23 am after an argument over some personal and professional issues in B5 coach of the Jaipur Express train (12956). After killing his senior, the constable went to another bogie and shot dead three passengers, news agency PTI said, quoting officials.

He then jumped out of the train near Dahisar station and caught by police at Mira Road with the help of Government Railway Police and RPF officials, the reports added.

“In an unfortunate incident on 31st July, 2023, in Train No 12956 Jaipur – Mumbai Superfast Express escorting staff constable Chetan Kumar shot at his colleague escort incharge ASI Tika Ram. The constable upon shooting his colleague, initially held passengers at gunpoint. It is regretted that ASI Tika Ram and three passengers were shot at. Constable Chetan Kumar got down near Dahisar and tried to flee after Alarm Chain Pulling. But, was arrested by RPF/Bhayandar along with the weapon,” the Western Railway spokesperson said.

The reason behind the incident was not known yet.

Majumdar, 43, secured the seat for the Conservative Party with 15,803 votes, while Liberal candidate Elliot Weinstein came in second with 3,463 votes, the Global News reported.

After the results, Weinstein took to twitter to congratulate Majumdar on his victory and said: “I know you will represent me and all the constituents of Calgary Heritage with honour and respect. I wish you good luck, and I look forward to working together for the betterment of our community”.
In response, Majumdar said that it was an honour to share ballot with Weinstein.

“Our democracy is enriched by the participation of strong candidates. Thank you @elliot4heritage for bringing forward your vision for Calgary Heritage in this by-election. It was an honor to share a ballot with you and I look forward to representing all of our great community.”
Majumdar is a former policy adviser to Harper and former Conservative Foreign Minister John Baird. He currently works with Harper’s international consulting firm.
After Conservative MPs Tim Uppal and Jasraj Singh Hallan, Majumdar has become the third Conservative MP of South Asian origin.

Born and raised in Calgary, Majumdar, son of Indian-origin immigrants, has served in leadership roles promoting democratic reform in Afghanistan and Iraq.

In 2002, he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal for his impact in fighting human trafficking.

This year, he was conferred with the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal for his service in Iraq and Afghanistan, and for advancing Canadian interests abroad in a disrupted world.

According to his website, his experience led him to work with Harper in government and business over the last 12 years, and before that as foreign policy advisor to both him and Baird.

“He is determined to make Pierre the next Prime Minister of Canada, and serve as a strong voice for Calgarians and Albertans,” the website bio reads.

Addressing the annual general meeting of the Sikkim State Civil Service Officers’ Association (SSCSOA) here, he said changes will be made in the service rules to provide the benefit. This benefit will help government employees to take better care of their children and families.  The details will be notified soon, he added, PTI reported.

According to the Maternity Benefit Act 1961, a working woman is entitled to 6 months, or 26 weeks, of paid maternity leave.

The Himalayan state has the lowest population in India at around 6.32 lakh.

Tamang said the officers are the backbone of the state administration, contributing significantly to the growth and development of Sikkim and its people. He said there has been a significant focus on streamlining the promotion process for civil services officers, leading to an increase in the number of promotions.