The Union Cabinet had approved setting up of NTA to conduct entrance examinations such as NET,NEET,JEE (Mains) for higher educational institutions.
The NTA would also conduct National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) and Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test(GPAT).
So far, The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) conducted NEET on behalf of the Medical Council Of India and the Health Ministry and NET on behalf of the University Grants Commission (UGC).
The NTA would work as an autonomous and self-sustained premier testing organisation to conduct entrance examinations for higher educational institutions.
It will be chaired by an educationist appointed by Human Resource Development Ministry
DigiLocker
Ministry of Railways approves digital Aadhaar and Driving Licence from Digital Locker as proof of identity of passengers for undertaking journey by Train.
The documents are accepted only if a passenger shows the Aadhaar/Driving Licence from the ‘Issued Documents’ section by logging into his/her DigiLocker account.
However, the documents uploaded by the user himself/herself (i.e. the documents in ‘Uploaded Documents’ section will not be considered as a valid proof of identity.
DigiLocker is a secure cloud based platform for storage, sharing and verification of documents & certificates launched by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
International Round Table Conference
The Ministry of Statistics &Programme Implementation (MoSPI) is organising a two-day International Round Table Conference “Data for New India” at New Delhi during 9-10th July, 2018.
The objective of the Round Table Conference is to identify innovative ideas for improving the statistical system in India, taking cue from the best practices followed in advanced countries like Canada, UK and Australia.
Such a Conference is being organized in India for the first time, the conference is expected to suggest measures paving way for initiating the reform process in the Indian Statistical System.
Cellular Jail
The Vice President of India as visited the infamous Cellular Jail in Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
Valiant freedom fighters were confined solitarily and meted out most inhuman treatment by the British in the cellular jail.
The purpose of solitary confinement was to demoralise freedom fighters, keep them in small, solitary cells without any scope to interact with fellow prisoners and local people.
INS Trikand
India's latest frontline warship INS Trikand has reached Sri Lanka in a goodwill visit.
INS Trikand is a state-of-the-art warship of the Indian Navy equipped with a versatile range of weapons and sensors capable.
It can address threats in all three dimensions - air, surface and sub-surface.
