Page 9 - Upsc

Coaching centre deaths: Fire services faced many challenges during rescue

The Delhi Fire Services faced multiple challenges during the rescue operation at a coaching centre where three civil services aspirants died after the basement of the centre was flooded following rain in central Delhi, officials said on Sunday. "It was around 7.10 pm, when we got a call from the area magistrate about the rescue operation. Though it was not a fire-related incident, we rushed five fire tenders on humanitarian grounds," DFS chief Atul Garg told PTI. Garg further said that the major challenge was to pump out the water from the basement. "Our pumping machines can pump the water out... But due to heavy rain, the water level on the road and the basement was equal. When we started pumping out the water, it again gushed at the same location," Garg said. He further said the fire fighters had to wait more than half an hour to drain the water accumulated on the streets due to heavy rain. As the water on the streets got drained naturally, fire fighters immediately launched the

Failure of basic maintenance: Delhi LG Saxena on coaching centre deaths

Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena on Sunday directed the divisional commissioner to submit a report on the incident at a coaching centre in Rajinder Nagar where three civil service aspirants were killed due to rain-induced flooding in the basement. The LG said the incident points to "criminal neglect" and lack of "basic maintenance" by concerned agencies. Saxena said he is deeply anguished by the incident of death of the civil services aspirants. "That this should happen in the Capital of India is most unfortunate & unacceptable," he said in a post on X. "Reportedly 7 other citizens have died due to electrocution in the past few days. My deepest condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives. You are in my thoughts and prayers," he said. Saxena said he has been keeping a close watch over the situation and has monitored the rescue operations by Delhi Police and the fire department personally. "These incidents clearly points towards criminal neglect & failure of basic

UPSC to revamp exams with new tech, CCTV surveillance amid Puja Khedkar row

Aadhaar-based fingerprint authentication, facial recognition, and QR codes on admit cards are some of the measures the UPSC has proposed to overhaul the exam process

Maha Court extends police custody of Khedkar's mother till July 22

A court in Maharashtra's Pune district on Saturday extended till July 22 the police custody of Manorama Khedkar, mother of IAS probationer Puja Khedkar, in a case concerning alleged criminal intimidation tied to a land dispute. Police booked Puja's parents Manorama and Dilip and four others after a video surfaced showing her allegedly threatening some persons with a gun over a land dispute at Dhadwali village in the district's Mulshi tehsil in 2023. The prosecution told the court that they had recovered the pistol used in the crime. The Paud police in Pune rural had booked the Khedkar couple and other accused under IPC sections, including 307 (attempt to murder), 144 (unlawful assembly armed with deadly weapon), 147 (rioting) and 506 (criminal intimidation) besides invoking the Arms Act. Manorama was apprehended on Thursday morning from a lodge, where she was hiding, at Hirkaniwadi village near Mahad in Raigad district. Public Prosecutor Amar Nanaware told the court on Saturday th

Nudged out amid current controversy: Cong on UPSC chairman resignation

With the UPSC chairman Manoj Soni resigning citing personal reasons, the Congress on Saturday said he apparently "nudged out" given the current controversy in which the UPSC is involved. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh also said the sanctity and autonomy of all Constitutional bodies have been badly damaged since 2014 -- the year Narendra Modi became prime minister. Soni has resigned citing personal reasons before the expiry of his tenure in May 2029, official sources said on Saturday. His resignation is "not in any way connected to controversies and allegations surrounding the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) after probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar issue came to the fore," they said. Reacting to the development, Ramesh said, "The sanctity, character, autonomy, and professionalism of all Constitutional bodies have been badly damaged since 2014. But at times even the self-anointed non-biological PM is forced to say enough in enough." He ad

UPSC chairman Manoj Soni tenders resignation, cites 'personal reasons'

Manoj Soni resigned as UPSC chairman two weeks ago, but the top brass has yet to accept his resignation, sources reveal

Pune court grants Puja Khedkar's father interim protection from arrest

Dulip Khedlar filed an anticipatory bail plea in court on Friday

UPSC chairman Soni resigns before tenure completion, cites personal reasons

UPSC chairman Manoj Soni has resigned citing personal reasons before the expiry of his tenure in May 2029, official sources said on Saturday. His resignation is "not in any way connected to controversies and allegations surrounding the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) after probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar issue came to the fore," they said. "The UPSC chairman had tendered his resignation citing personal reasons over a fortnight back. It is yet to be accepted," a source said. Eminent educationist Soni, 59, took over as a member of the Commission on June 28, 2017. He took oath as the UPSC chairman on May 16, 2023 and his term was to end on May 15, 2029. Sources said Soni was not keen on becoming the UPSC chairman and had requested to be relieved. However, his request was not accepted then, the sources said. They said Soni has now desired to devote more time to "socio-religious activities." The development assumes significance as the UPSC on Friday said it has lodged a

UPSC issues notice to cancel IAS selection of officer Pooja Khedkar

Pooja Khedkar, 32, came to the spotlight after it was alleged that she misused her privileges while being posted as a trainee IAS officer in Pune, Maharashtra

What is the disability quota in UPSC exams? Here's all you need to know

UPSC's sanctity is in question nowadays after the case of IAS Pooja Khedkar's disability quota surfaced. Here's all about disability quota in UPSC exams

Puja Khedkar lodges complaint against Pune collector for harrasment

Probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar has lodged a complaint of harassment against Pune district collector Suhas Diwase with Washim police, an official said on Tuesday. Khedkar is under the scanner for her claims on her disability as well as OBC certificates while clearing the IAS and for her conduct when she was posted in the Pune collector's office. "Women police personnel visited Khedkar at her residence in Washim on Monday when she lodged a complaint of harassment against Pune district collector Suhas Diwase," the official said. Earlier in the day, Khedkar refused to elaborate on the purpose of the visit by police personnel while speaking to TV news channels. "I had called female police personnel because I had some work," she had said. Amid the row, the government on Tuesday put on hold the 'district training program' of Khedkar as she was summoned back to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration for "necessary action".

IAS Pooja Khedkar has 7% locomotor disability: Pune-based private hospital

Controversial trainee IAS Pooja Khedkar is accused of forging documents to claim disability and OBC reservation quota to secure UPSC seat

Govt puts IAS officer Puja Khedkar's district training programme on hold

The government on Tuesday put on hold the district training programme of controversial IAS officer Puja Khedkar, who is under the scanner for allegedly forging disability certificates to clear the Civil Services examination. She has been asked to report back to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration by July 23, a state government official said. The academy has decided to recall her for further necessary action, the official said. A letter by Additional Chief secretary of Maharashtra, Nitin Gadre said the academy has decided to put Khedkar's district training programme on hold and has immediately recalled her for further necessary action. You are hereby relieved from the district training programme of the state government of Maharashtra. You are instructed to join the academy at the earliest but not later than 23rd July 2024 under any circumstance, the letter said. Khedkar, 34, came into the limelight after reports about her alleged demands for a separate office

Pune police unable to track Puja Khedkar's mother in land dispute case

The Pune police have not been able to get in touch with Manorama Khedkar, mother of controversial probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar, in connection with a case registered against her over a land dispute, a senior official said on Monday. The police have registered a first information report (FIR) against Manorama and her husband Dilip Khedkar besides five others, after a video showing her allegedly threatening some persons with a gun over a land dispute emerged. A team with a senior officer of the Pune Rural police have been visiting Manorama's bungalow at Baner Road in the city but has not been able to track her down, the official said. "We visited the house on Sunday and today, but have not been able to enter the premises. Her mobile phone is also switched off. Once we find her, an enquiry will be set up and legal action will be taken," the official said. Pune Rural Police have booked the Khedkar couple and five others under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS

Trainee IAS officer Pooja Khedkar may be dismissed if quota claims false

The Centre on Thursday constituted a single-member panel to look into controversial trainee IAS officer Pooja Khedkar's candidature documents and other claims

'Fake' disability, OBC claims: Trainee IAS Pooja Khedkar is in big trouble

Pooja Khedkar, who secured an all-India rank of 841 in the Union Public Service Commission exam in 2023, is accused of misusing her powers as a trainee IAS officer

Coal India to offer Rs 1 lakh to eligible UPSC aspirants: How to apply?

As part of Centre's 'Mission Karmayogi', the state-owned Coal India is powering a CSR initiative to offer Rs 1 lakh financial assistance to eligible UPSC candidates

UPSC CSE Prelims 2024: Results out at upsc.gov.in; know how to check yours

The UPSC has declared the results of the Civil Services (Preliminary) Exams 2024. Candidates who showed up for the exam can view their results on the official UPSC website at upsc.gov.in upsv

Amid NEET, NET row, UPSC moots AI-based CCTV surveillance to curb cheating

Amid the raging controversies involving alleged irregularities in NEET, NET exams, the country's premier recruitment body UPSC has decided to use facial recognition and Artificial Intelligence-based CCTV surveillance system to prevent cheating and impersonation in its various tests. It has recently floated a tender to invite bids from experienced public sector undertakings to devise two tech solutions -- "Aadhaar based fingerprint authentication (else digital fingerprint capturing) & facial recognition of candidates and QR code scanning of e-admit cards" and "Live AI-based CCTV surveillance service"-- to be used during the examination process. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), a Constitutional body, conducts 14 major exams -- including the prestigious civil services examination to select officers of Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and Indian Police Service (IPS) -- besides a number of recruitment tests, interviews every year for ...

UPSC CSE Prelims 2024 admit card expected to be out today; more details

The admit card for UPSC CSE Prelims 2024 is likely to be released today. The prelims examination will take place on June 16. Here's all you need to know