The HRD Ministry is prepared to conduct the pending board examinations for classes 10 and 12 for 29 crucial subjects at the first possibility, officials said. The ministry has also directed states to start the evaluation process for the exams already conducted and facilitate the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in evaluation of answer sheets. "We are prepared to conduct board exams for class 10 and 12 pending due to lockdown in wake of the COVID-19 situation in the country. The exams will be conducted for 29 subjects crucial for promotion and admissions to undergraduate courses, at the first possibility. The students will be given at least 10-days notice before exams are conducted," a senior ministry official said.

"States have been asked to start the evaluation process for the exams already conducted and have been advised to facilitate evaluation of answer sheets. CBSE will also issue instructions for marking or assessment of non-important subjects not included in the list of 29 subjects," the official said. HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' had on Tuesday interacted with education ministers of states. Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had suggested that students be marked on basis of internal assessment as it is not feasible to conduct the pending exams now.

Sisodia, who is also the education minister, said students of Delhi will be more effected due to delay in conduct of exams as different states have their own boards, while the national capital only follows CBSE. Education ministers from different states also put forward deliberations being made about their respective state boards.
The Bihar board has already announced results for three streams of class 12 and is in the process of evaluation of class 12 exams. The Uttar Pradesh board is yet to begin the evaluation and will take a call in this regard soon.

¿Recently there has been lot of speculation regarding CBSE board exams. It is reiterated that board's decision to take board exams for 29 subjects of class 10, 12 stands the same as announced earlier,¿ the CBSE clarified in a tweet on Wednesday. According to the HRD ministry officials, as of now there are plans to conduct competitive exams including JEE and NEET in June for admission to engineering and medical colleges.

For other undergraduate admissions, the University Grants Commission (UGC) is working on an alternative calendar for the new academic session which will notify the timeline within a week. A seven-member panel set up to study the issue has recommended that the undergraduate admission process be started in July-August and the new session for freshers be started from September. However, no final decision has been taken in this regard yet.

The CBSE has already announced that it will not be conducting any exams for students in foreign countries. Universities and schools across the country have been closed since March 16 when the Centre announced a countrywide classroom shutdown as one of the measures to contain the COVID-19 outbreak.

Later, a nationwide lockdown was announced on March 24, which has now been extended till May 3.

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Karan Wahi turned to his rapper buddies for help to play a DJ in the web series, Hundred. His quirky character, Mad-E, arrives from Haryana to make it big in Mumbai's music industry. He also doubles up as a police informer. Wahi did a lot of prep to figure out his character's body language on the Hotstar show. Rapper Raftaar also helped him. "I sat down with Raftaar paaji and took several inputs as I was working with him on a reality show at that time," says Wahi. "But the stuff he wrote was way too good for a DJ rapper like Mad-E," he points out."

It seems actors today are finding different and unique ways to get into the skin of their characters and will not leave any stone unturned to do justice to their roles. The web-series has been getting a good response from the viewers so far and that has surely elated Karan.

Taking to his Instagram account, he shared a video from the same and in case you haven't seen it yet, it will help you know the character and its crux. Have a look right here:

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

Thankyou I’ll remember u for LIFE...🤗🤗🤗🤗 Talking the talk to walking the walk. Meet me, @karanwahi ➡️ Manohar Dahiya a.k.a. Rapper Mad-E, in Hotstar specials presents #Hundred! All episodes streaming now only @DisneyplusHSVIP . . . #HotstarSpecialsHundred #DoKhilaadiProblemBhaari #ManoharDahiya #Mad-E @ruchinarain @itstahershabbir @ashutoshunlimited

A post shared by Karan Wahi 💜 (@karanwahi) onMay 3, 2020 at 8:31am PDT

Watch Hundred if you haven't so far, the actor may impress you with his performance!

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As many as 918 COVID-19 cases and 34 deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of such cases to 8,447 in the country, the Union Health Ministry said on Sunday, while asserting that the government is "extra prepared" if there is an exponential rise in the number of coronavirus patients.

Addressing a press briefing, Health Ministry's Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal said the government is expanding the COVID-19 testing capacity in state-run as well as private medical colleges. "The total number of COVID-19 cases has risen to 8,447. A total of 918 new cases and 34 deaths have been reported since Saturday. The good news is that 716 people have recovered and have been discharged so far. Seventy-four people have been cured since Saturday. The government is extra prepared if the number of cases rises exponentially," he said.

"We are working on an urgent basis to expand the capacity for COVID-19 testing in government and private medical colleges across the country. Fourteen mentor institutes, including the AIIMS and NIMHANS, have been identified to mentor the medical colleges and expand the coronavirus testing capacity," Agarwal added.

According to ICMR officials, a total of 1,86,906 samples have so far been tested across the country, of which 7,953 have been found positive for COVID-19. "In the last five days, on an average, 15,747 samples were tested per day and 584 of those were found to be positive per day," an Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) official said at the press briefing. Responding to a question about development of vaccines, he said, "There are 40 plus candidate vaccines that are under development but none of them has reached the next stage."

Relief distribution pictures banned

District magistrate, Srinagar, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary has banned circulation of photos and videos showing distribution of relief on social media sites.

'Bengal not fighting a communal virus'

The Centre and the West Bengal government on Saturday pressed a confrontationist button over the Union Home Ministry writing to the state chief secretary and the director general of police seeking action against the 'dilution' of lockdown measures in the state, and over permission for religious gatherings given by the state cops. Hitting back, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hinted that the Centre had a communal stand and said her government was now busy fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and not any "communal virus".

AP govt introduces apps for food delivery

The Arunachal Pradesh government has introduced various Apps including 'U Tell Us' and 'Dukan Dada' to ensure essentials reach at the doorsteps of the people, officials said on Sunday. Besides the AP government, other state governments of the northeastern region have taken some fresh measures to maintain supply of essentials for effective enforcement of the lockdown.

No food, woman throws kids in river

In a shocking incident on Sunday, a woman threw her five children into the Ganga river in Jeghangirabad in Uttar Pradesh's Bhadohi district. As soon as the police were informed, senior officers reached the spot and divers were pressed into service to locate the kids. The woman has been arrested. Sources, meanwhile, said that the woman had earlier said that she and her children were not getting food in the lockdown.

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Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan on Monday re-imagined India for the "post-COVID world" and suggested measures across different sectors, including an "epidemic preparedness budget" for the health sector.

"While there are concerns, it's worth praising how this crisis is setting a precedent with state governments coming together and co-operating with each other as well as with the Centre. I sincerely hope this becomes a norm and help overcome perennial battles like the water crisis, pollution, migrants' woes, women's safety, communal violence, healthcare etc," Haasan said on his Twitter account.

"The last full-scale war India fought was almost half a century ago, but poor healthcare is an everyday war leading to 1.6 million deaths annually. Yet, year after year our Defence budget overshadows the healthcare budget," Haasan stated and added that it's a "pity that India continues seeing Defence as a more newsworthy proposition compared to healthcare".

He suggested that India needs to earmark an "epidemic preparedness budget with immediate effect".

"We are under threat a lot more from within than from outside our borders. Our priority towards Health needs to be reimagined with a handsome budget to match," Haasan said.

The Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) President later went on to talk about the Agriculture sector and said that India requires a 'Green Plus' revolution that firstly converts part of our agricultural land for an allied enterprise like processing, logistics, etc.

"Secondly, we need to accelerate productivity maximization on a war footing. Boosting agro based MSMEs will help retain youth in the sector and build a sustainable and prosperous future for farming. This will also solve the problem of seasonal lack of work for farmers," Haasan said.

He also suggested bringing India's vast informal sector into the formal fold.

"Bringing India's informal workers under the formal fold must become the biggest national exercise that the government needs to undertake in the near future. Other than boosting the morale of this segment and paving way for its growth, it will also mean enhanced tax collection, a lot of which can be ploughed back to improve infrastructure and offer welfare to the same workers," Haasan said.

"There is also a need to change our outlook towards the vast majority of women who toil their lives away under the status of 'housewife'. Women engaging in housework must be accorded job status. They have little or no savings and a Universal Income Guarantee will give a boost to their savings. Savings always help during any kind of crisis," he added.

Haasan even suggested correction in income inequality and poverty alleviation.

He added, "COVID-19 has shown us that poverty still remains India's most critical challenge. In a crisis, the rich will take a hit but they will not starve to death. Our leaders must learn to integrate the poor man's life in how they plan the running of the country. Relief measures are mere afterthoughts."

In conclusion, Haasan said, "It's time we reinvent the word superpower, India's pipe dream for decades. Let's be a universal thought leader, to put it in parlance a Vishwa-Guru and for all the right reasons."

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Australia's limited-overs captain Aaron Finch feels the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic might lead to a postponement of this year's T20 World Cup by up to three months.

The T20 World Cup is scheduled in Australia from October 18 to November 15. Finch doesn't see that holding up given the current health crises affecting lakhs of people worldwide. "I think we might have to get our heads around a T20 World Cup that might be postponed for a month, two months, three months, whatever it has to be," Finch told 'SEN Radio'. Finch said he wouldn't mind seeing the game resuming without fans once the pandemic is brought under control.

"But as long as we can get live sport up and running. Whether that's with crowds or not, I don't think that makes any difference to the players. "We played one ODI against New Zealand with no crowd (and it) was really strange for first four or five overs, but then you got into your work," he said. Apart from the T20 World Cup, Australia is also set to host India for a bilateral series which includes a four-Test rubber. The ICC's Chief Executives Committee (CEC) is meeting on Thursday to discuss the financial implications of COVID-19 and also the contingency planning for all ICC global events, including the T20 World Cup, over a conference call. Finch feels authorities will need to be "creative" while rejigging the international schedule.

"I think we might have to get a little bit creative with how we do that (as part of a new-look schedule). Whether that's setting up and playing two Test matches in one hub or something like that," he said. Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood had suggested that the entire Border-Gavaskar Trophy be held at one venue -- the Adelaide Oval -- to ensure that the rubber does go ahead. Cricket Australia is exploring options to save the series in the wake of the pandemic which has led to global travel restrictions as well.

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India cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar enjoyed a fine snack prepared by his daughter Sara, 22, and happily shared his experience on social media.

Sara prepared a plate of beetroot kebabs for her father on Thursday and he simply loved them. Sachin shared this picture on Instagram, holding up a plate full of beetroot kebabs (left). Alongside, he posted another picture (right) of the plate, but this time it was empty. "Gone in 60 seconds! Thanks for the fabulous beetroot kebabs @saratendulkar," Sachin captioned his post that went on to receive nearly one million 'likes' within a few hours.

In an Instagram story, Sachin added that Sara also prepared a Tabbouleh (a Lebanese vegetarian salad), which was also a hit with the family, who are currently in lockdown at their Bandra home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "This was over before we could say Tabbouleh," wrote Sachin.

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Rural hospitals face unique challenges in the fight against COVID-19. However, timely diagnosis and treatment can save millions of lives from deadly coronavirus.

Workshops based on the psychology of behavior change and disaster preparedness done in a face-to-face manner can be used to prompt households to take

In January of this year I visited the Mexican state of Tabasco– a state crossed by rivers and facing the Gulf of Mexico. The state’s population has doubled over the past 30 years and its economy relies heavily on oil and natural gas resources. It has its challenges as well: unemployment, poverty and a lack of resources.

On 6 January 2017, public comments were invited on draft examples prepared as part of the follow-up work on the interaction between the treaty provisions of the report on BEPS Action 6 and the treaty entitlement of non-CIV funds. The OECD is grateful for the input and now publishes a compilation of the comments received.

Imports (Bop) - Prepared And Packaged Seafood Products in Canada increased to 224.20 CAD Million in March from 203.60 CAD Million in February of 2020. Imports (Bop) - Prepared And Packaged Seafood Prod in Canada averaged 132.27 CAD Million from 1988 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 251.10 CAD Million in September of 2016 and a record low of 43.80 CAD Million in April of 1990. This page includes a chart with historical data for Canada Imports of (bop) - Prepared And Packaged Seafood.

OECD insights blog: Francesca Colombo, Head of the OECD Health Division, discusses the issues related to health systems and an ageing population.

Exports of Prepared Foodstuffs Beverages & Tobacco in South Africa increased to 3490.92 ZAR Million in March from 2608.19 ZAR Million in February of 2020. Exports of Prepared Foodstuffs Beverages & Tobacco in South Africa averaged 2920.53 ZAR Million from 2014 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 4194.88 ZAR Million in October of 2018 and a record low of 1704.27 ZAR Million in January of 2015. This page includes a chart with historical data for South Africa Exports of Prepared Foodstuffs Beverages & Tobacco.

Exports of Prepared Foodstuffs CMLV in South Africa increased to 8211.67 ZAR Million in March from 4721.24 ZAR Million in February of 2020. Exports of Prepared Foodstuffs CMLV in South Africa averaged 17455.80 ZAR Million from 2014 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 39028.74 ZAR Million in December of 2019 and a record low of 1704.27 ZAR Million in January of 2015. South Africa accounts for Exports of Prepared Foodstuffs using cumulative values for each year (CMLV). This page includes a chart with historical data for South Africa Exports of Prepared Foodstuffs CMLV.

Imports of Prepared Foodstuffs CMLV in South Africa increased to 7844.80 ZAR Million in March from 5232.91 ZAR Million in February of 2020. Imports of Prepared Foodstuffs CMLV in South Africa averaged 15470.38 ZAR Million from 2014 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 33740.12 ZAR Million in December of 2019 and a record low of 2037.38 ZAR Million in January of 2016. South Africa accounts for Imports of Prepared Foodstuffs using cumulative values for each year (CMLV). This page includes a chart with historical data for South Africa Imports of Prepared Foodstuffs CMLV.

Imports of Prepared Foodstuffs Beverages & Tobacco in South Africa increased to 2612.43 ZAR Million in March from 2292.20 ZAR Million in February of 2020. Imports of Prepared Foodstuffs Beverages & Tobacco in South Africa averaged 2502.29 ZAR Million from 2014 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 3674.84 ZAR Million in October of 2019 and a record low of 1707.09 ZAR Million in June of 2014. This page includes a chart with historical data for South Africa Imports of Prepared Foodstuffs Beverages & Tobacco.

In January of this year I visited the Mexican state of Tabasco– a state crossed by rivers and facing the Gulf of Mexico. The state’s population has doubled over the past 30 years and its economy relies heavily on oil and natural gas resources. It has its challenges as well: unemployment, poverty and a lack of resources.

Imports Intra Eu - Vegetable, Fruit, Nuts, Plant Parts Prepared in the United Kingdom decreased to 192.86 GBP Million in February from 212.25 GBP Million in January of 2020. Imports Intra Eu - Vegetable, Fruit, Nuts, Plant P in the United Kingdom averaged 123.78 GBP Million from 1996 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 254.15 GBP Million in October of 2019 and a record low of 57.46 GBP Million in September of 1997. This page includes a chart with historical data for the United Kingdom Imports of Intra EU - Vegetable, Fruit, Nuts, Pla.

Imports Intra Eu - Residues & Waste From Prepared Food Inds. in the United Kingdom decreased to 112.62 GBP Million in February from 124.91 GBP Million in January of 2020. Imports Intra Eu - Residues & Waste From Prepared in the United Kingdom averaged 615 GBP Million from 1996 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 85253.80 GBP Million in March of 2015 and a record low of 20.61 GBP Million in May of 1999. This page includes a chart with historical data for the United Kingdom Imports of Intra EU - Residues & Waste from Prepa.

Imports Intra Eu - Meat, Fish & Crustaceans & Aquatics Prepared in the United Kingdom increased to 180.31 GBP Million in February from 170.38 GBP Million in January of 2020. Imports Intra Eu - Meat, Fish & Crustaceans & Aqua in the United Kingdom averaged 99.52 GBP Million from 1996 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 205.96 GBP Million in March of 2019 and a record low of 30.19 GBP Million in February of 1997. This page includes a chart with historical data for the United Kingdom Imports of Intra EU - Meat, Fish & Crustaceans &.

Imports - Vegetable, Fruit, Nuts & Plants Parts Prepared in the United Kingdom decreased to 220.92 GBP Million in February from 248.63 GBP Million in January of 2020. Imports - Vegetable, Fruit, Nuts & Plants Parts Pr in the United Kingdom averaged 159.74 GBP Million from 2000 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 295.67 GBP Million in October of 2019 and a record low of 69.44 GBP Million in February of 2001. This page includes a chart with historical data for the United Kingdom Imports of Vegetable, Fruit, Nuts & Plants Parts.

The Brazilian forward, who joined the French champions for a world record fee of £198million in 2017, has been constantly linked with a return to Nou Camp over the past 12 months.

New Zealand radio personality Megan Papas and her husband Andrew had just caught a boat to the Fijian island of Matamanoa when Cyclone Sarai struck.

29-year-old winger Costa featured under Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich during his spell in Bavaria, but has largely fallen out of favour in Turin this season.

The former Liverpool midfielder has failed to make much of an impact at the Nou Camp since his £145m transfer from Liverpool back in 2018. He is currently out on loan at Bayern Munich.

Stacey Solomon, 30, took to Instagram to reveal the Jurassic Park-themed packed lunch she created for her seven-year-old son Leighton. The Sun reported the amount of food was criticised online.

There will be few grounds in the country this weekend where you will spot home and away fans drinking together ahead of the game, but then there are no stadiums facing a situation like St Andrew's.

Roger Stone, the self-described Republican ‘political dirty trickster’ and supporter of President Donald Trump, says he is ‘prepared’ in case he is indicted by Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

F1 world champion Sebastian Vettel said the drivers are prepared to pull out of this weekend's Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne - effectively cancelling the event - due to coronavirus fears.

The fashion designer, 45, took to her Instagram stories on Tuesday night to show off the delicious-looking dinner cooked by her youngest child