Medical seats were sold before NEET, says Nadda
NEW DELHI: Health Minister JP Nadda on Friday defended the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), which is under the scanner over paper leak cases, saying medical education had become an open business before the NEET was introduced and PG seats were sold for Rs 8 crore-13 crore each.
The minister intervened during a discussion on a private member resolution moved by DMK Rajya Sabha member M Mohmed Abdulla on the NEET. The minister said corruption was rife in medical education before the NEET was brought in during his first stint as health minister.
“Medical education had become the den of a business. When I was health minister and was bringing NEET, one seat of post graduation was sold for Rs 8 crore each and if you had to opt for a discipline like radiology then it was Rs 12-13 crore,” Nadda said.
He said that before the NEET came in, students had to travel across the country for medical exams. The minister said that beside the money and time spent, the students also had to deal with huge corruption in the medical education system.
“The admission list used to be put up for 30-45 minutes and afterwards it use to be said students did not come, therefore, we are using these seats at our discretion. It had become a business. There was a vested interest. The matter was pending before the Supreme Court for long time,” Nadda said.
Railways offers baby berths on trial basis to help mothers
Railways provided two baby berths in Lucknow Mail on trial basis to facilitate ease of travel for mothers travelling with babies, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Rajya Sabha.
Vaishnaw was responding to questions raised by BJP MP Sumer Singh Solanki, who wanted to know if the government is considering installing baby berth seats in train coaches.
“To facilitate ease of travel for mothers travelling with their babies, two baby berths were provided as attachment to two lower berths in one coach of Train No. 12229/30 Lucknow Mail on trial basis,” the minister said.
“Initial passenger feedback appreciated the effort,” he added.
‘Vande Bharat introduced without replacing existing train services’
New Vande Bharat trains were introduced without replacing the existing trains, Ashwini Vaishnaw said in the Rajya Sabha. Vaishnaw was responding to the questions raised by AIADMK MP CVe Shanmugam who wanted to know if Vande Bharat trains will replace all Super Fast Trains like Rajdhani and others.
“102 Vande Bharat train services are running across the Indian Railways, connecting states having Broad Gauge electrified network. These Chair Car variants are presently being operated up to a distance of 760 km,” Vaishnaw said.
He added, “The new Vande Bharat services were introduced without replacement of existing services.”
Will continue supply of subsidised fertilisers, says Agri Min
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday said the Centre is committed to providing remunerative prices of crops to farmers as well as urea and DAP fertilisers at subsidised rates.
The Centre provides extra budget, if required to ensure that farmers continue to get crop nutrients at an affordable rate, Chouhan said . In 2013-14, he said, the fertilisers subsidy was meagre Rs 71,280 crore, while it was Rs 1,95,420 crore in 2023-24.
Heatstroke took 374 lives till Jul 27, UP worst-affected: Health Ministry
A total 374 deaths due to heatstroke and 67,637 cases of suspected heatstroke were reported in the country between March 1 to July 27, Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel told the Lok Sabha.
Uttar Pradesh was the worst-affected state with 52 deaths, followed by Bihar, which recorded 37, and Odisha and Delhi, which logged 26 and 25 deaths each, according to the data shared by the minister.
Parl report on staggered vacation for judges sent to SC, HCs: Govt
The government has forwarded recommendations of a parliamentary panel on staggered vacation for judges to the secretary general of the Supreme Court and registrars general of 25 high court for ‘appropriate consideration’.
Instead of all judges going on vacations, all at one time, individual judges should take their leave at different times of the year so that the courts are constantly open and they are always present to hear cases, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said quoting the panel’s report.