October 24, 2019 - meraapnabihar

How Bihar PSC cleaned its act: Codes, late choices.

Source – indianexpress.com

Long wrestling with allegations of corruption and nepotism, the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) has introduced radical reforms over the past 18 months, the most important of them concealing the identity of a candidate through a code system. Public Service Commissions of at least seven states have approached the BPSC seeking to replicate the system, while others have expressed interest.

Recently, the BPSC held prelims for its 65th combined services exam for 2019 vacancies, thus putting on track a schedule that had been running behind by years.

Under the new system, each candidate is allotted a code, which is then placed on his/her answersheet instead of the roll number. The evaluation is done under CCTV surveillance, and an examiner cannot leave the premises till checking for the day is done. Even the BPSC Chairman and the Controller of Examination do not know the questions, and the former randomly selects a question set from among seven sets.

The interviewers too receive only the code number of a candidate, with no details of his or her name and family details, nor are they allowed to ask any questions regarding this. The composition of the interview panel is decided just half an hour before an interview.

The BPSC, like the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission), now includes former diplomats, retired bureaucrats, and ex-IPS officers, including generals, CBI, CRPF and IB, RAW directors, as members. Its seven members, including the chairman, are selected by the Governor in consultation with state government. In the existing body, three members retired recently.

BPSC Chairman Shishir Sinha said, “The commission had been witness to several protests and litigations. We needed a completely transparent system.”

In 2009, the Patna High Court ordered had rescheduling of the BPSC’s 52nd prelims exam following a plea alleging anomalies. Earlier, in 2005, former BPSC chairman Ramsinghasan Singh and eight others had been arrested on the allegation that 184 candidates had been elevated to the Bihar Administrative Services.

Haryana and Odisha are among seven states which are keen to replicate the BPSC reforms, and chairmen of their PSCs recently visited Bihar. Earlier, a former chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Service Commission had visited the BPSC.

Sinha said their first challenge was to regularise examinations, using the same workforce and resources. Between April 2018 and October 2019, the BPSC released pending results of its 56th to 59th combined services examinations, while simultaneously conducting examinations for 60th to 62nd lists and releasing the final results. Last week, it announced the final results of its 63rd examination, with a Madhya Pradesh resident emerging as the topper. The written test for the 64th exam has been conducted and the interview would be held in the coming two months, while the BPSC just held the prelims for the 65th exam.

“Earlier, the chairman decided the members of an interview panel. We introduced a software with names of the experts, and while we call all of them an hour before the interview, the names for the panel are picked by the software with half an hour to go. The panel gets a sealed envelope with codes of 10 candidates. This ensures that till the last moment, neither candidates nor panelists nor any other staff of the commission knows who is interviewing whom,” Sinha said, adding, “The printer alone knows the questions selected, and can be held responsible for a leak.”

The BPSC’s evaluation rooms and its entrance are monitored by 30-plus CCTV cameras, while the strongroom holding the answer sheets is now just next door, to minimise human involvement in transfer of papers. The rooms are being further fortified.

As it places its house in order, the BPSC has seen a change in the profile of applicants, with many of them graduates from IITs, NITs and BITS-Pilani, the BPSC said. Administrative services are now the first preference against police services earlier. Over 20,000 applicants were from Delhi alone for the 65th prelims.

Admitting that they faced initial resistance from within, but “zero interference”, the Chairman said, “Why should interviewers know a candidate’s surname and family details? This has got us praise from the UPSC.”

BPSC Secretary Keshav Ranjan Prasad recounted his own experience, saying while he gave the prelims in 1984, he got a job only four years later. “I can understand the pain and frustration of a candidate through the prolonged process. We are aiming at completing the entire process in a year. We are pretty close to doing so.”

In the last fully completed exam (the 63rd), 90,697 candidates appeared for the prelims, 4,277 cleared the exam, 4,161 gave the written test, 924 appeared for the interview, and 355 got through. This process was completed in 15 months.

IBPS PO Prelims Result 2019 to be out soon: Check scores @ ibps.in

Source – indiatoday.in

BPS PO Prelims Result 2019: The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) is expected to declare the results of Probationary Officers (PO) and Management Trainee preliminary examination 2019 soon. All the candidates who appeared for the IBPS PO Prelims Exam 2019 can check their results on the official website, the link for which is ibps.in . The IBPS PO 2019 preliminary exam was held on October 12, 13 and 18 at various test centres across the nation.

How to check IBPS PO Prelims Result 2019:

Log on to the official website of IBPS
On the homepage, search for the link which says,” IBPS PO Preliminary 2019 result”
PDF file names of selected candidates for the next round i.e. IBPS PO Mains 2019 will be displayed
Check your name/roll number in the list
Download it and take print out of the same for future reference.

IBPS PO 2019: Selection procedure

All the candidates will be selected for IBPS PO 2019 on the basis of the following:

Prelims exam
Main exam
Interview round

IBPS PO Recruitment 2019: Vacancy details

Total posts: 4,336

Name of the post:

Union Bank of India – 644
Corporation Bank – 62
Bank of India – 899
Allahabad Bank – 500
Bank of Maharashtra – 143
Indian Bank – 201
UCO Bank – 500
Oriental Bank of Commerce – 122
Canara Bank – 203

Important dates to remember:

Results of IBPS PO Prelims 2019: October/ November 2019
Call letter for online exam Main: November 2019
Online examination Main: November 30, 2019
Declaration of main exam result: December 2019
The download of call letters for interview: January 2020
Conduct of interview: January / February 2020
Provisional Allotment: April 2020

About IBPS:

The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) is a recruitment body started with an aim to encourage the recruitment and placement of young graduates in public sector banks (PSBs) in India, other than the State Bank of India. It also provides standardised systems for assessment and result processing services to organisations.

JPSC Recruitment 2019 for Assistant Engineer (Electrical) Posts, Apply Online from 24 October.

Source – jagranjosh.com

JPSC Recruitment 2019: Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) has invited applications for recruitment to the post of Assistant Engineer (Electrical). Interested candidates can apply to the posts through the prescribed format on or before 24 October 2019.

Important Dates

Starting date online application submission: 24 October 2019
Last date for submission of online application for Assistant Engineer: 15 November 2019

JPSC Recruitment 2019 Vacancy Details

Assistant Engineer (Electrical) – 6 Posts

JPSC Assistant Engineer (Electrical) Recruitment 2019 Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification: Candidate must be a Graduate in Electrical Engineering from a recognized University.

JPSC Assistant Engineer (Electrical) Recruitment 2019 Age Limit – Minimum 21 years and Maximum 35 years

Backward Class (Schedule 2), Extremely Backward Class (Schedule 1) – 37 years
Women (Unreserved Backward Class (Scheduled-ii) / Extremely Backward Class (Schedule-i)– 38 years
SC/ST (Men and Women) – 40 years

JPSC Assistant Engineer (Electrical) Pay Scale – Rs. 9300-34800 grade pay 5400

Selection Procedure for JPSC Recruitment 2019
The final selection of the candidate will be done on the basis of his/her performance in Written and Personality Test. The Written Examination will have two sections. i.e. Section 1 and Section 2.

Section 1 will consist of objective type of questions and Section 2 will have conventional papers. Those who will qualify in the written test will be called for Personality Test which will carry a maximum of 200 Marks.

How to apply for JPSC Recruitment 2019
Interested candidates can apply to the posts of Assistant Engineer through the online mode. The online application for JPSC Recruitment 2019 Assistant Posts will be filled from 24 October to 15 November 2019.

Application Fee for JPSC Recruitment 2019

Unreserved Extremely Backward Class (Schedule-I) and Backward Class (Schedule II) – Rs. 600/-+ Bank Charge
SC/ST – Rs. 150/- + Bank Charge

Bihar seeks legal opinion on EPF benefits to teachers.

Source – hindustantimes.com

After the Patna High Court order and letter from the additional central provident fund commissioner (Bihar and Jharkhand) Rajib Bhattacharya to the additional chief secretary (education) RK Mahajan, the state government has finally sought legal opinion on extending EPF coverage to its nearly four lakh teachers.

“The government has sought legal opinion from the advocate general on how to go about it. Once the opinion arrives, the government will initiate the process,” said a senior official of the education department.

Interestingly, while the teachers are yet to get PF facility, it is already there for nearly 19,000 tola sevaks and nearly 9,000 volunteers of Talimi Markaz, who were deployed on a fixed salary to being out-of-school children to schools.

On October 16, the Bihar Education Project Council also issued directive for deduction of EPF amount from resource teachers and other employees.

In his letter, a copy of which has also been sent to chief secretary Deepak Kumar, the additional commissioner, EPFO, has stated that the matter needed to be resolved immediately as the HC might initiate contempt proceedings if the timeline of 60 days stipulated for compliance of its order and extension of PF benefits to teachers were not adhered to. Nearly a month has already lapsed since the order was passed.

“It is requested that nodal officer for each district as well as state coordinator may be nominated at the end of this month by the department of education to work with EPFO’s nodal officers for initiating action as per the EPF & MP Act, 1952. The compliance of the court is possible only when the department initiates the process,” he wrote.

Hearing a writ petition filed by two teachers from Maner and Nalanda, the bench of Justice Anil Kumar Upadhyay had last month directed the regional PF commissioner to see that the petitioners were benefited by the EPF scheme. “Necessary action in terms of the provisions of the Act must be taken by the officer at the earliest, preferably within a maximum period of 60 days from the date of receipt/production of a copy of this order,” the bench observed.

Regional PF commissioner RW Syiem said the additional commissioner had held meetings with Mahajan in the light of the Patna HC order for timely compliance. “The department has sought legal opinion from AG, but so far we have not been apprised of it. We have also written to the executive director of the Bihar Education Project Council, as a large number of teachers are under it,” he said.

Syiem said the EPFO has been consistently approaching the government for extension of PF coverage to all teachers. “We have also written to the district education officers (DEOs). We are serious about it,” he said.

A senior education department official said the huge backlog had created a difficult situation for the government, as PF was a statutory requirement. “When even tola sevaks have been extended the PF facility, why were teachers kept out of it for so long? Perhaps the AG will suggest a way out,” he said.

Double murder: two arrested from Bihar.

Source – thehindu.com

Two men were arrested from Bihar for allegedly killing a financier and his employee over a monetary dispute, the police said on Wednesday.

Accused Naveen Vashisth (32) and Rajnish (31), both residents of Bawana, were nabbed from Patna on Monday when they were about to board a bus for Nepal.

On October 14, 30-year-old Amit Hooda and his employee Nikhil Gulati (39) were shot dead and their bodies had been dumped in the Bawana Canal.

Unable to repay the borrowed money, Naveen hatched a plan to eliminate Amit. He recruited his friend Rajnish and Vikar, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Joy Tirkey.

They hosted a liquor party at Naveen’s flat in Rohini Sector 24. When Amit arrived with Nikhil, the accused offered then liquor with an entire strip of sleeping pills mixed in, the officer said.

When the victims passed out, the accused bundled them up in Amit’s car and drove to an isolated patch near the canal. They took them out of the vehicle and shot them, the officer added. They then threw the bodies in the canal and buried the pistols in Rajnish’s farmland in Harewali village and parked Amit’s car in a residential area in Rohini. They called up a friend in Patna and boarded a train to Bihar where they had been hiding ever since, the DCP said.

Efforts are on to nab the third accused, he said.

“During interrogation, the accused admitted to their involvement in the killings. Naveen said that a few years ago, he was a property dealer. But his business was not doing well. Aout a year ago, he started a factory in Shahbad Dairy. He was short of cash and borrowed ₹3 lakh from Amit,” the officer said.

However, his factory suffered losses and he was unable to pay back the money to Amit, who had started pestering him for the cash.

On one occasion, Amit had visited his house in his absence and had misbehaved with his father, the officer added.

Ex-hockey captain lauds Jharkhand sports talent.

Source – dailypioneer.com

In 2014 Lok Sabha polls, it was ‘chai pe charcha’ that took the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to newer avenues of power, the State BJP in similar and new avtar on Wednesday carried out ‘Coffee with Youths’ the party’s new strategy to connect with youths.

Targeting youths ahead of year-end Assembly election, the State BJP on Wednesday carried out Coffee with Youths at RIMS auditorium, which was attended by ace hockey player and former Indian Hockey team captain Sandeep Singh.

Last month Olympic medalist Yogeshwar Dutt, Commonwealth gold medalist Babita Phogat and former Indian Hockey captain Sandeep Singh joined the BJP ahead of Haryana Assembly elections.

Sandeep, who is a BJP candidate from Pehowa Assembly seat in Haryana during an hour long interaction with youths talked about politics, sports and the values which a youth should have. Sandeep interacting with youths said, “Before casting the vote one should keep it in their mind that my first vote is for Country. There is no issue bigger than nationalism.” On a query posed by a youth on prospects of sports in Jharkhand, Singh said, “Jharkhand has always remained as sports hub of country. The State is known for giving finest sportspersons to the country. Everyone knows about MS Dhoni one of the finest sportspersons, but at the same time Jharkhand has given 65 international Hockey players many of whose statues are installed in England.”

Singh, whose biopic Soorma, which hit the silver screens last year, also praised Chief Minister Raghubar Das’ effort for promotion of sports in State along with sports policy. He said, “The Jharkhand sports policy is finest as inspired with Chief Minister’s vision of setting up sports academy in Jharkhand I too set up sports academy in my state for promotion of sports in my State.” Singh said, “In State earlier, stadiums were lying unused but now these stadiums witness sports activities, which is State level to national and even international level.” Urging the youths to once again support BJP Government in State, he said, “A State can progress only if there is stable Government.

The State has witness development but it needs five years more to make Jharkhand a progressive State.”

The ace Hockey player also asked youths to say no to junk food, mobiles and speeding bikes saying that these things distract youths. He also asked the youth to elect corruption free Government.

The function was also attended by BJP leader Tarun Jung, Ranchi MP Sanjay Seth among others. Large number of youths which included college and RIMS students attended the function.

Jharkhand Food: Check 3 Must-try Delicacies From The State.

Source – republicworld.com

Jharkhand food is famous across the nation for its traditional and spicy taste. Jharkhand is an Eastern-Indian State, which is popular for quite a few reasons like beautiful temples, massive national parks, and serene waterfalls. It is the home-town of the well-known Indian cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni as well. Take a look at some of the must-have dishes from the State.

Jharkhand: Top three must-have dishes from the state

1. Litti Chokha

Litti chokha is undoubtedly one of the most popular main-course dishes of Jharkhand, which has gained a lot of popularity in the entire nation for its flavoursome taste. Litti is a whole wheat flour oval-shaped balls, which are stuffed with pickled sattu or gram flour. They are grilled in a tandoor, or at very high temperature in an oven. Chokha, on the other hand, is a normal mashed brinjal sabzi with a few masalas in it. If you’re haven’t had litti chokha before, then you must give it a try this festive season.

2. Pitha

Pitha is a very saleable stuffed-dessert in Jharkhand. Even though it did not originate in the state and has been adapted by the Bengali cuisine, still, it remains as a celebrated dish in Jharkhand. One can find several varieties of pitha’s in the state, from milk pitha to aloo ka chokha pitha. There is absolutely no dearth in the variety of pitha’s which are available on streets of Jharkhand. They are cute looking rice flour cylindrical-shaped balls, which are stuffed in the middle, and can be a great option for a Diwali dinner with family and friends.

3.Dhuska

It is a staple street food item in the state of Jharkhand, especially in its capital city Ranchi. Dhuskas are deep-fried flattened circles, that somewhat look like pakoras in terms of appearance. Dhuskas are made up of rice, urad dal, chana dal, and masalas. They are served best with mint green chutney or aloo-chana sabzi. The street food is very popular amongst college students, as it is very affordable and filling in nature.

Delhi will come to halt if Bihar immigrants stop work: Nitish Kumar.

Source – indiatoday.in

Bihar Chief Minister and Janta Dal United President Nitish Kumar has said that the capital will come to a halt if immigrants from Bihar stop working.

He criticised Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s statement that people from Bihar come to the capital for free treatment. “Delhi belongs to all, it was an absurd statement,” he said addressing party workers at a meeting in Badarpur to kickstart preparations for assembly polls.

“If people from Bihar stop working then Delhi will come to a halt,” Nitish Kumar said.

He came down heavily on political opponents for not recognising the contribution of immigrants from Bihar to Delhi’s progress. He took on Kejriwal for his jibe that people from Bihar board a Rs 500 train for Rs 5 lakh treatment in the capital.

He said that the Aam Admi Party (AAP) Government has failed to provide basic infrastructure to residents of Delhi.

“A large population of Delhi still lives in unauthorised colonies, Government should run a campaign to provide relief,” he said. “There is no safe drinking water for people, Delhi Govt should ensure this, we are running a scheme in Bihar to provide water to every household tap,” he added.

Addressing party workers, mostly immigrants from Bihar and Eastern UP, the JDU chief said that liquor consumption is a menace and Delhi too needs prohibition to check it. He said that earlier there used to be jungle raj in Bihar but now law and order is under control. “We do a lot of work but don’t publicise much, in fact we spend least on publicity,” said Nitish Kumar.

JDU workers meet in Badarpur is being seen as an attempt by the party to woo immigrants from Bihar in the national capital.

The party intends to field candidates in all constituencies in the upcoming assembly polls slated to be held early next year.

The party has been trying to make woo voters from Bihar and its bordering districts of UP settled in the capital using Nitish Kumar’s popularity in the previous assembly and municipal polls without much impact so far.