Jharkhand CGL exam controversy escalates, students to stage protest in Ranchi tomorrow

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Ranchi, Dec 15 (IANS) The controversy surrounding Jharkhand’s Combined Graduate Level (CGL) examination has further deepened. Students demanding the cancellation of the exam results have announced plans to gherao the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) office in Ranchi on Monday.

Thousands of students from across the state are expected to join the protest. In anticipation of the massive protest demonstrations, the state police have put in place tight security measures at key locations, including Raj Bhavan, the Chief Minister’s residence, the Secretariat, and the JSSC office.

Several barricades have been set up in the area and a large number of police personnel have been deployed around the JSSC premises as well.

The JSSC has called 2,231 shortlisted candidates to its office for certificate verification between December 16 and December 20.

Meanwhile, Devendra Nath Mahato, leader of the Jharkhand Loktantrik Kranti Morcha (JLKM), has vowed to halt the document verification process at any cost.

In a press statement, JLKM announced that students from all 24 districts have already reached Ranchi and will gather to gherao the JSSC office starting at 9 a.m. on Monday. Many students are reportedly staying overnight in lodges, hostels, and relatives’ homes in the city.

However, police have been instructed to prevent protesters from reaching the JSSC office.

Reports say that vehicles carrying students from various districts have been stopped en route to Ranchi. Security deployment includes 1,500 state police personnel, three companies of the Rapid Action Force (RAF), five Deputy Superintendents of Police, and eight inspectors.

The JSSC CGL examination, conducted on September 21–22 across 823 centers in the state, aimed to fill approximately 2,000 government posts. Over 3.04 lakh candidates appeared for the examination.

The controversy began shortly after the exam, with allegations of a paper leak and repeat questions from canceled exams surfacing. Protests erupted in cities including Ranchi and Hazaribagh.

On December 10, protesters in Hazaribagh blocked a highway for nearly four hours before being dispersed after they were lathicharged.

A committee formed by the JSSC to investigate the allegations concluded that in the examination no irregularities took place. However, two days ago, Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced a CID investigation into the claims, signaling continued scrutiny of the exam process.

–IANS

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MP CM to inaugurate Sarsi resort in Shahdol, 200-bed hospital in Mauganj today

Bhopal, Dec 14 (IANS) Chief Minister Mohan Yadav will on Saturday inaugurate the Sarsi Island Resort that has been built and developed by the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Department in Shahdol district.

Located in the middle of the Son river, the Sarsi Island Resort is entirely surrounded by water and can only be accessed via boat services from Itma Ghat and Markandeya Ghat.

The Sarsi Island Resort features 10 eco-friendly huts.

“These beautiful huts are designed to offer visitors an experience of a lifetime and the accommodations are a perfect amalgam of comfort with sustainability,” a senior official of the tourism department said.

The resort is located near prominent tourist destinations, most prominent among them being the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve (BTR).

The tiger reserve is of vital importance considering its diverse flora and fauna and is known for the healthy population of tigers and a wide variety of herbivores.

It is unique from the point of biodiversity, as it comprises hills, rivers, marshes and meadows and consequently, a diverse vegetation.

Apart from tigers, as many as 34 species of mammals have been listed and nearly 260 species of birds and 70 species of butterfly can be found there. It will be a major attraction for the tourists staying at the island resort.

Set on the picturesque backwaters of the Bansagar Dam in Shahdol district of the state, the Sarsi Island Resort has been built with modern facilities to attract all class of tourists.

Beside a gym, a library, and a kid’s play zone, a conference room has also been built where business meetings and other events can also be organised.

Officials said the Sarsi resort has been developed to draw tourists along with boosting regional tourism that will support the local economy in turn.

Later in the day, Chief Minister Yadav will visit Mauganj district to inaugurate a newly-built 200-bed hospital and will also lay the foundation of several other projects in the area.

Notably, Mauganj, which was a part of Rewa district, was made a separate district last year.

The Madhya Pradesh government has promised to provide all facilities to the new district to aid in its development.

–IANS

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India’s coal imports dip as domestic production rises

New Delhi, Dec 19 (IANS) India’s coal imports declined by 3.1 per cent to 149.39 million tonnes (MT) during April-October period of FY 2024-25 from 154.17 MT in the same period of the previous year due to the increase in domestic production, according to an official statement issued on Thursday.

Additionally, the Non-Regulated Sector (other than power) witnessed a more significant drop of 8.8 per cent, during April-October 2024 as compared to the same period of last year.

Despite possessing the fifth-largest coal reserves globally, India faces a significant shortfall in certain coal types, particularly coking coal and high-grade thermal coal, which are not adequately available from domestic sources.

This gap in supply necessitates coal imports to sustain key industries, including steel production, and to meet the growing energy demand.

Although there was a significant growth of 3.87 per cent in coal-based power generation from April 2024 to October 2024 compared to the same period last year, imports for blending purposes by thermal power plants decreased substantially by 19.5 per cent during the same period, the Coal Ministry statement said.

This decline underscores India’s steadfast commitment to achieving self-sufficiency in coal production and reducing reliance on imports, the statement explained.

The increase in coal imports for the power sector is attributed to the imported coal-based power plants. These plants are designed to utilise only high-grade imported coal and their imports increased to 30.04 MT during this period, from 21.71 MT in the corresponding period of the previous year, which represents a growth of 38.4 per cent.

Domestic coal production during April-October 2024 increased by 6.04 per cent to 537.57 MT compared to 506.93 MT in the same period of FY 2023-24.

This upward trend reflects the government’s ongoing efforts to streamline coal usage and enhance domestic production, the statement said.

The Ministry of Coal continues to implement strategic initiatives aimed at bolstering coal production and improving availability. These efforts are not only focused on safeguarding foreign reserves but also on enhancing the nation’s energy security.

The proactive measures taken by the government to increase domestic coal output will ultimately reduce dependence on imports and contribute to the overall sustainability of India’s energy landscape, the statement added.

–IANS

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