Nearly 4.9 lakh candidates to appear for TNPSC group II, IIA prelims on November 1

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Chennai, Oct 28 (IANS) Nearly 4.9 lakh candidates will appear for the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission’s (TNPSC) Group II and Group IIA preliminary examination on November 1, competing for 846 vacancies across government departments.

A total of 4,89,885 candidates are scheduled to take the examination at 1,647 centres across Tamil Nadu. The number of applicants translates into approximately 579 candidates for every notified vacancy, underscoring the scale of competition in the recruitment exercise.

Chennai alone will account for 51,721 candidates, with 173 examination centres designated in the city. The capital thus represents slightly more than a tenth of the total candidates scheduled to appear statewide.

The commission issued the recruitment notification in August, inviting applications for posts under the Group II and Group IIA categories.

The notified positions include Assistant Inspector and Probation Officer, besides Tamil Nadu Secretariat Assistant and Trade Union Supervisor posts. Hall tickets have already been released for candidates who applied for the examination.

With the preliminary test scheduled for Sunday, the recruitment process has now moved from the application stage to the first examination stage. The preliminary examination will serve as the initial screening stage for applicants seeking appointment against the notified vacancies.

The 846 posts together form the vacancy pool for the recruitment exercise covering both categories. Of the candidates scheduled to appear, 1,84,131 are men, and 35 are transgender persons. Women constitute the majority of the overall candidate pool, accounting for more than three-fifths of those expected to take the examination.

The statewide arrangements extend well beyond Chennai. Excluding the capital, 4,38,164 candidates are scheduled to write the examination at 1,474 centres elsewhere in Tamil Nadu, accounting for the bulk of those participating in the preliminary test. Across the state, the announced figures work out to an average of approximately 297 candidates per examination centre.

In Chennai, the corresponding average is about 299 candidates per centre, broadly in line with the statewide figure. The ratio of nearly 579 applicants per vacancy is an overall calculation based on the total number of candidates and notified posts. It does not indicate the competition for any individual position or either recruitment category separately.

Sunday’s examination will bring together applicants for a range of administrative and departmental roles, with nearly half a million candidates entering the preliminary stage of the selection process for these government vacancies.

–IANS

aal/dpb

Related Posts

Gandhis should apologise for contempt of court in National Herald case: TN BJP

Chennai, April 16 (IANS) Tamil Nadu BJP spokesperson and senior leader A.N.S. Prasad called upon Congress leaders, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, to apologise for their contemptuous remarks about the courts in the National Herald case.

He said the Congress party’s attempts to portray court judgments as a vendetta by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will no longer deceive the public. “Their malicious propaganda won’t shield them from the law’s consequences. The party’s misinformation campaign aims to tarnish the government’s efforts towards India’s unity and sovereignty,“ said Prasad.

The senior leader called upon the Congress party to stop its contemptuous behaviour towards the judiciary. They continue to act against the principles of the Indian Constitution, he said.

Prasad also said the Congress party’s recent claim that the Enforcement Directorate’s charge sheet against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case is a result of the Prime Minister and Home Minister’s vendetta politics is malicious and condemnable. Congress should refrain from making unsubstantiated claims against the judiciary and government officials, he said.

The senior BJP leader said the Enforcement Directorate’s charge sheet against Congress leaders in the National Herald case, filed under Sections 44 and 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, alleges serious financial irregularities. He said, “Specifically, the agency accuses Gandhis and others of money laundering, acquiring properties worth over Rs 2,000 crore through dubious means.“

ANS Prasad said the Congress allegations of “vendetta politics” by the Prime Minister and Home Minister lack merit as the case is proceeding based on court orders. The Congress party’s attempts to portray themselves as victims are unjustified, given the gravity of the allegations, he said.

He called upon Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to cooperate with the investigation and allow the legal process to unfold without making public statements that could be seen as contemptuous. The BJP senior leader said the Enforcement Directorate’s recent charge sheet against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and other Congress leaders underscores the party’s long history of corruption and financial impropriety. He said that as per the charge sheet, the Gandhi family and their associates engaged in money laundering, acquiring properties worth over Rs 2,000 crore through dubious means.

Specifically, Associated Journals Limited (AJL), the publisher of the National Herald newspaper, acquired properties valued at over Rs 2,000 crore through questionable means, which were subsequently taken over by Young Indian, a company where Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi hold significant stakes, Prasad charged.

He said that investigation reveals that AJL’s properties were acquired for a mere Rs 50 lakh, far below their actual value, raising suspicions of money laundering and financial irregularities.

The BJP leader said, “Furthermore, the ED has uncovered evidence of fake donations and rent agreements worth crores being used to create bogus proceeds and launder money. These allegations are serious and warrant a thorough investigation.“

He said that given the gravity of the allegations, the Gandhi family and Congress leaders must be held accountable for their actions. The investigation should be allowed to run its course without interference or bias, ensuring that all transactions are legitimate and above board.

Prasad said that transparency was crucial, and the Congress party must provide clarity regarding its financial dealings. Considering the severity of the allegations, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi should consider resigning from their positions until the investigation is complete, he said. Those who have committed corruption and plundered public property should return the money and apologise to the people for their actions.

The Tamil Nadu BJP spokesperson said that instead, the Congress party was staging its usual drama, portraying themselves as victims. The case is proceeding based on the court’s orders, and the party’s criticism of the court’s actions, implying that the court is taking revenge, is unjustified, he said. The BJP leader called upon Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi to explain to the public whether such behaviour was fair.

The Congress party’s continuous criticism of the court’s actions and implication of vendetta motives without evidence undermines the judiciary’s authority, he charged. He said that it was essential for the party to respect the court’s decisions and proceedings, avoiding unfounded criticisms. If found guilty, the accused should apologise to the public for any wrongdoing and take responsibility for their actions…The Congress party’s actions are a clear example of contempt of court, which can be defined as willful disobedience to court orders or interference with the administration of justice, Prasad said.

The BJP leader said the Indian Constitution, under Articles 129 and 215, empowers the Supreme Court and High Courts to punish for contempt of court. The Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, further explains the types of contempt, including civil contempt, which involves willful disobedience to court orders, and criminal contempt, which involves publishing material that scandalises or lowers the authority of the court, he said.

Prasad said the ED’s charge sheet was a significant step towards uncovering the truth behind the National Herald case. It’s crucial to demand strong action against corruption and ensure that those in power are held accountable for their actions.

The BJP leader said the public expects nothing but fairness and transparency from political parties, and it’s time for the Congress party to demonstrate its commitment to these values. “The Congress party needs to take concrete steps to restore public trust … including ensuring transparency in financial dealings, cooperating fully with investigations, and holding accountable those found guilty of wrongdoing. Only through such actions can the party begin to rebuild its reputation and demonstrate a genuine commitment to accountability and good governance, he said.

The BJP leader concluded by saying that justice must be served, and those found guilty should be punished accordingly. He said, “The Gandhi family and Congress leaders must be answerable to the public, and their actions should reflect a commitment to transparency, accountability, and the rule of law…By prioritising these values, India can move towards a more just and equitable society where corruption is not tolerated.”

–IANS

aal/dpb

Six crore trees, welfare camps among Gujarat govt’s plans for Modi govt’s 12-year milestone

Gandhinagar, May 27 (IANS) The Gujarat government will organise a statewide series of welfare, environmental, and outreach programmes next month to mark 12 years of the Narendra Modi-led Union government, including large-scale plantation drives, ‘Jan Kalyan’ camps, natural farming workshops, and visits to major development projects across the state.

State government spokesperson and minister Jitu Vaghani announced the programme after a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.

He said the celebrations would be held under the theme “12 Years: Of Trust, Development and Public Welfare”.

Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, Vaghani said the completion of 12 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership represented “not merely years of governance, but years of trust, development and public welfare”.

“The celebrations would begin nationally in Delhi on June 8 and 9 with media interactions involving the BJP national president and members of the Union Council of Ministers. In Gujarat, Chief Minister Patel and members of the state Cabinet will meet media representatives on June 11 and 12 to discuss the transformation and development works undertaken during the period,” he said.

Vaghani said the state government had planned the programmes with the spirit of “Sarvajan Hitay, Sarvajan Sukhay”, adding that the objective was to take “12 years of continuous good governance, service and nation-building works” to the people through public service initiatives.

“The ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign would be expanded across Gujarat from June 5, observed as World Environment Day, following the Prime Minister’s call for environmental conservation. Under the initiative, around six crore trees will be planted with participation from schools, universities, and social organisations at mandal and taluka levels across the state,” he said.

A statewide cleanliness campaign focusing on plastic waste management will also be held from June 8 to 14 in both rural and urban areas.

From June 12 to 20, the government will organise ‘Jan Kalyan Camps’ across the state on the model of the Seva Setu programme to provide doorstep services to citizens.

“On-the-spot registration and guidance would be provided for schemes including Ayushman Bharat, PM Surya Ghar Yojana, Lakhpati Didi and PM SVANidhi,” he said.

He also announced a ‘Pragatipath Yatra’ from June 8 to 14, during which visits would be conducted to major development projects and high-priority schemes across Gujarat.

During the campaign, exhibitions showcasing the achievements of the Modi government will be held for three days in each district, and public feedback will also be collected.

Vaghani also said that special meetings would be organised with doctors, engineers, educationists, and social media influencers to ensure the campaign developed into a wider public movement rather than remaining confined to the government level.

He added that “outreach efforts would focus on tribal communities, Scheduled Castes, OBCs, farmers and youth”.

“Chief Minister Patel had laid special emphasis during the Cabinet meeting on expanding Prime Minister Modi’s Mission Natural Farming initiative to protect soil health and promote better health for future generations,” he noted.

According to Vaghani, more than 1,000 workshops and demonstrations on natural farming will be organised for farmers across Gujarat.

Arrangements will also be made for farmers to visit locations where natural farming is practised successfully to address misconceptions about the method.

“The government will additionally facilitate special sales centres at public places and provide online marketing support for agricultural produce cultivated through natural farming practices,” he said.

The statewide programme will conclude on June 21, International Yoga Day, when mass yoga sessions will be organised at taluka headquarters across the state in coordination with the Gujarat State Yog Board.

–IANS

mys/dan

FSSAI slaps Swiggy Instamart with 9 notices following consumer complaints

New Delhi, July 11 (IANS) The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued nine notices to Swiggy Instamart over consumer complaints alleging multiple violations, the food regulator said on Saturday.

Taking to the social media platform X, FSSAI said that the complaints alleged the supply of expired, spoiled, rotten, contaminated and otherwise unsafe food products through the quick commerce platform.

Among the key observations, the regulator said eggs were allegedly marketed under a brand name that was not covered under the product categories approved in the existing FSSAI licence. The Food Business Operator (FBO) was directed not to market the product unless it was covered under a valid licence and to apply for a licence modification, if required.

The notices also cited complaints alleging that products such as ‘Healthify 100 per cent Whey Protein 1 kg’ and ‘Noice Homestyle Madras Mixture with Peanuts’ were supplied after their expiry dates.

In another instance, an ‘Akshayakalpa Organic Egg’ was reportedly found expired, rotten, emitting a foul odour and showing signs of contamination, rendering it unfit for human consumption.

Similarly, Kakke da Paratha was reportedly found spoiled and emitting a foul odour, making it unfit for human consumption.

FSSAI also said no corrective action was taken by the FBO despite the complaint being escalated.

It also alleged that an infant food formulation was found in a deteriorated and unsafe condition and was re-supplied to the consumer after the defective product had been returned.

Meanwhile, the regulator has directed the Food Business Operator to submit a detailed explanation addressing the alleged non-compliances and the circumstances leading to the reported incidents.

It has also sought details of the company’s food safety systems, quality assurance measures, corrective actions and steps taken to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

The FSSAI has directed the company to furnish the required explanation and compliance report within the stipulated period, failing which appropriate action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, may be initiated.

–IANS

ag/