New Delhi [India], March 3 (ANI): The Jawaharlal Nehru University’ Vice-Chancellor Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar on Wednesday said some people don’t want JNU to progress as they don’t want any association with National Testing Agency (NTA).
“Some people don’t want JNU to progress as they don’t want any association with National Testing Agency. As part of the National Education Policy, most entrance exams will be conducted by NTA. I fail to understand their logic in opposing the move,” said Kumar while speaking to ANI.
Kumar further said that NTA has made the admission process transparent and accessible for students.
“Few JNU faculty members have been spreading distorted facts in media, speaking against our admission process. It’s important to clarify. After NTA took responsibility for entrance exams, the process has become transparent and accessible for students,” said JNU VC.
Established in November 2017, National Testing Agency (NTA) is a government agency that has been established as a premier, specialist, autonomous and self-sustained testing organization to conduct entrance examinations for admission/fellowship in higher educational institutions. (ANI)

Vadodara (Gujarat) [India], March 3 (ANI): In a tragic incident, six members of a family allegedly attempted suicide by consuming pesticide in the Sama area of Vadodara, police said on Wednesday.
Three of the them died on the spot while the other three are undergoing treatment.
The neighbours of the deceased have alleged that they were struggling financially.
“Three of them have died, while others are undergoing treatment at a hospital. Their neighbours said their financial condition was weak,” said Superintendent of Police of Vadodara Police, Bharat Rathod.
The police did not find a suicide note from the residence.
An investigation into the matter is underway, he said. (ANI)

Bankura (West Bengal) [India], March 3 (ANI): Urging people to vote for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the forthcoming West Bengal Assembly polls, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday took a jibe at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee saying pressing the button of the lotus will create the ‘current’ that will blow the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief “2 feet above her chair”.
Addressing a rally at Joypur in Bankura district, Gadkari said, “Wake up in the morning on the day of polls. Remember your God and go to polling centres. Press the button of Lotus. Aisa current lagega ki Mamata ji apni kursi se 2 foot upar uth jaaegi (the current will blow Mamata ji 2 feet above her chair)”.
He further questioned Banerjee over her ‘outsider’ remark against BJP.
“Mamata ji says that we (BJP) are outsiders. BJP was formed based on the ideology of Jan Sangh, whose founder and our inspiration Shyama Prasad Mukherjee was born in West Bengal. Then how are we outsiders?” stated Gadkari.
Asserting the BJP’s victory in the upcoming Assembly polls in West Bengal, the union minister said, “Poribortan will happen on May 2. ‘Lotus’ will win. BJP will get a majority. On May 3, our leader will be elected. On May 4, BJP’s chief minister will take the oath. No one can stop it now.”
“This poll is not about the future of BJP, TMC, Congress and CPM. It is not about the future of Modi ji, Amit Shah, Nadda ji, Rahul Gandhi or Mamata ji. It is about the future of Bengal’s people. We want to change Bengal’s image and make India a superpower,” added Gadkari.
The TMC and BJP have been at loggerheads ahead of the Assembly polls in Bengal. There has been an exodus of leaders from TMC to BJP in recent months.
Elections for the 294 Assembly seats in West Bengal will begin on March 27. The state is set to witness eight-phase Assembly polls this year. (ANI)

Kochi (Kerala) [India], March 3 (ANI): Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday sent a notice to KM Abraham, CEO of the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), asking him to appear before its Kochi office on March 5.
ED also sent a notice to KIIFB’s Deputy Managing Director Vikramjit Singh, asking him to appear before its Kochi office tomorrow, March 4.
Yesterday, ED registered a case against KIIFB for external borrowings through Masala Bonds without the permission of the union government. (ANI)

Chandigarh [India], March 3 (ANI): Aiming to balance the aspirations of the consumers, manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers and the government, Chandigarh Administration on Wednesday approved the new Excise Policy for 2021-22.
As per an official release, in order to promote the low alcoholic contents, a new category of Beer — Super Mild Beer containing alcoholic content up to 3.5 per cent vis-a-vis has been introduced.
“The Excise Policy for the year 2021-22 would help to earn revenue approx Rs 700 crores. The allotment of licensing units will continue to be made through the complete e-tendering system for more transparency and a complete online system for issuance of permits and passes to facilitate Trade and Industry,” the administration said.
The number of liquor vends has been increased from 94 to 96. “To curb the menace of cartelization and monopolistic practices, a single entity of firms/companies/individuals will be entitled to allotment up to a maximum of 10 vends only.,” it added.
In order to boost the hospitality industry and tourism in Chandigarh, the administration said there is no increase in the license fee of the hotels/bars/restaurants.
“The facility of Mini Bar is allowed in three-star and four-star hotels in addition to five-star or above category of hotels. In order to promote the low alcoholic contents, a new category of Beer –Super Mild Beer containing alcoholic content up to 3.5 per cent v/v has been introduced. The facility of kegging of beer in Kegs of 50 litre capacity (manufactured in microbreweries of Chandigarh) is also allowed to microbrewery licensee and a licensee can sell draught beer against Excise Permits to bars/restaurants and clubs licensees by following proper standard safety measures. The licensee, shall not pack beer in bottles, cans or pouches for sale,” the administration said.
The administration made the ‘Alcometer facility’ mandatory for taverns (Ahatas), and further to promote low alcoholic contents beverages like beer, wine and particularly to boost the Indian wine industry the license fee and excise duty have not been increased.
Excise duty on country liquor has also not been increased by the administration, however, excise levies on Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) have been increased by approximately 6 per cent.
“The basic quota of IMFL has been increased from 100 lacs PL to 110 lacs PL, the basic quota of country liquor is increased from 8 lacs PL to 12 lacs PL and the quota of foreign liquor (Bio Brand Whisky) has been increased from 3.30 lacs PL to 3.50 lacs PL. The quota of country liquor and IFL shops have been rationalized keeping in view of the differential demands in city shops and village shops,” it added.
The administration said the Cow Cess will continue, and added that no new bottling plant license will be granted during this Excise Policy Year 2021-22. (ANI)

Nellore (Andhra Pradesh) [India], March 3 (ANI): Andhra Pradesh Police on Tuesday evening arrested a person for allegedly killing a 50-year-old man in Mahimaluru village of Atmakuru Mandal in Andhra Pradesh’s Nellore district.
The accused was produced before the court today.
“The accused Mamillapalli Jayaramaiah and the victim Thota Venkata Narasaiah, both are the residents of Mahimaluru village. Jayaramaiah allegedly murdered Narasaiah on February 27,” Atmakuru circle inspector Somaiah told media.
“Jayaramaiah is into the illegal liquor business. Special Enforcement Bureau police had raided on the house of Jayaramaiah for illicit liquor on February 27. Jayaramaiah suspected that Venkata Narasaiah might have given information about him,” the inspector said.
“Both of them had a clash in the evening but the villagers pacified the matter for the time being. But Jayaramaiah allegedly stabbed Venkata Narasaiah who was sleeping in front of his house with a knife on the same day,” he said.
“Jayaramaiah ran away from the village after the incident. The police caught him on Tuesday evening at nearby village,” he added. (ANI)