11 July, 2013

IIT entry turns into a lopsided ‘board game’, 80% candidates from 3 boards

For long, when it came to getting into an Indian Institute of Technology, signing up with the right coaching centre was what mattered more than which school board you attended. But the new entrance exam system, which gives weightage to class XII scores of candidates, has changed the rules of the game in one fell swoop.

The list of candidates selected last week for the IITs showed that a vast majority of the successful candidates - more than 8,000 out of 9,700 - or over 80% came from just three school boards: the CBSE, Andhra Pradesh and Punjab state boards.

Veteran Luxembourg PM Juncker resigns in spy scandal

Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, Europe's longest-serving leader, tenders his resignation on Thursday in a scandal involving the tiny nation's secret services, alleged to have indulged in misconduct on his watch.

Govt in favour of quota in higher judiciary

The government seems to be in agreement with Chief Justice of India-designate P Sathasivam on having reservation in the higher judiciary.

We have to give representation to OBCs,SCs/STs and other minorities in the appointment of judges to high courts and the Supreme Court. Though there is no reservation rule, the selection or appointing authority must keep this in mind. In a country like ours, where different communities, cultures are there, we have to give some latitude to them and fill up those pores," Justice Sathasivam had said.