News Flash (24th July 2020): Top 10 Stories Of The Day

1. JEE (Main and Advanced) & NEET pushed to September due to the pandemic

HRD minister has announced that the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main and National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET 2020) will now be conducted in September. This will push the JEE Advanced back. The decision to postpone the examination was taken considering the current pandemic situation. The JEE Main will now be held between September 1 to 6. While the NEET will be held on September 13.

2. Women officers of Indian Army now granted Permanent Commission by Govt

The ministry of defense has now marched on to offer women officers Permanent Commission (PC). This will allow women officers eight more branches in the Army. That includes Army Air Defence (AAD), Signals, Engineers, Army Aviation, Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME), Army Service Corps (ASC), Army Ordnance Corps (AOC) and Intelligence Corps.

3. Afghanistan’s Hindus & Sikhs will get visas amidst rising attacks says Ministry Of External Affairs

Amid reports of a recent spur of attacks on Hindus, Sikhs in Afghanistan. The Indian Embassy situated in Kabul is offering people of these communities necessary visas to fly to India and once they reach here, their requests will be examined and acted upon based on existing rules and policies, said MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava. 

4. Railway to now allow contactless tickets with the help of QR Code

The Railway Board Chairman VK Yadav has announced tickets that allow contactless entry to board trains and stations. The tickets would come with a QR code that would ensure safe and contact-free travel. He further added that the use of paper tickets would not go completely. However, plans are made to reduce its use.

5. BMC to allow only 5 people for the immersion of Lord Ganesh idols

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has declared the presence of only five people for immersion processions of domestic Lord Ganesh idols during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. All while maintaining the safe distance of two feet. It has also added that children and the elderly would not be allowed given the current pandemic situation.

6. In a span of 6 hours, 3 earthquakes occur in Maharashtra, J&K and UP

Three low-intensity earthquakes took place in different regions in India within a span of mere six hours, the National Centre for Seismology said. An earthquake of magnitude 3.1 struck Maharashtra’s Palghar at 12:26 am, while an earthquake of magnitude 3.0 struck 89 km east of Katra, J&K at 5:11 am.

7. A 75-ft long dead whale washes up on the Indonesian shore

A giant 75 foot-long (23-metre) whale briefly washed up near an Indonesian beach but the reason for its death couldn’t be ascertained. The bloated carcass washed back to sea before it could be brought to shore for examination. The curious onlookers stood at the shore of Kupang city to get a glimpse of the carcass.

8. Android 11’s internal dessert name revealed to be ‘Red Velvet Cake’

The soon to be released Android 11 has now been given the crown name of “RVC” (Red Velvet Cake), Android Engineering VP Dave Burke revealed in a podcast. Since 2009, Google had been giving its products a delicate dessert-themed name. Names such as Cupcake, Donut, Eclair, Froyo and Pie. Who can complain? It can never get too sweet!

9. Hundreds gather in protest against the Thailand government amidst the pandemic

Hundreds of young people marched together against the Thailand government demanding the government to dissolve its parliament. The protestor claimed the government didn’t support their rights and freedom. One protestor claimed that the present government was formed from the 2004 military coup.

10. No employee will be fired says Air India

On thursday, Air India reviewed its decisions regarding rationalization of staff cost in a meeting with the Ministry of Civil Aviation. The airline said that there would be no reduction in basic pay, DA and HRA of any employee and no employee will be laid off.