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Government Ends Practice of Inflating Pass Rates and GPA-5 Scores: Mahdi Amin

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  Government Ends Practice of Inflating Pass Rates and GPA-5 Scores: Mahdi Amin The government has moved away from the long-standing practice of artificially increasing examination pass rates and the number of GPA-5 achievers, Prime Minister's Adviser for Education and Primary and Mass Education Mahdi Amin said today. He said the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examination results now reflect a more transparent, objective and merit-based assessment of students. Mahdi Amin also announced that students who failed in one or two subjects would be given an opportunity to retake the examinations within a month. A comprehensive answer-script re-evaluation system, similar to the one used in the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations, has also been introduced. He made the remarks at a press conference held at the Ministry of Education's conference room at the Secretariat. Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon formally announ...
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Protesters in India Demand Election Chief’s Resignation

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Protesters in India Demand Election Chief’s Resignation

Protesters gathered in New Delhi on Friday demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the revision of voter lists. Police deployed large numbers of personnel and detained hundreds of demonstrators as authorities restricted access to the protest area.

The demonstrations followed reports raising questions about the Election Commission’s large-scale Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. An investigation published last month reported that two Election Commissioners had raised objections on multiple occasions over aspects of the revision process and related procedures.

The Election Commission has rejected allegations of wrongdoing and said that differences of opinion among commissioners are part of its decision-making process. The commission has maintained that its decisions were taken collectively.

Opposition parties have accused the Election Commission of allowing voter names to be removed improperly and have questioned its handling of the revision process. They have also alleged that the changes could affect voters in ways that benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party. The government and the Election Commission have denied such allegations.

At Jantar Mantar and surrounding areas in New Delhi, police placed barricades and prevented protesters from reaching the designated demonstration site. Mobile internet services were also suspended in parts of the area, while several political leaders, student activists and civil society members were detained.

The demonstrations took place on October 2, Gandhi Jayanti, a national holiday marking the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Protesters said they were invoking Gandhi's principles of peaceful protest.

Many demonstrators carried Indian flags and called for Kumar to step down.

Nineteen-year-old Delhi University student Nidhi Sharma said she was concerned about the future of voting rights.

Another protester, Mina Giri, said her name had been removed from the electoral rolls even though she had lived in Delhi for years and previously voted in elections.

An 18-year-old protester identified as Imran said his family members had also been left off the voter list and that the situation was creating difficulties in obtaining official documents and accessing government benefits.

Protests Spread to Mumbai

The issue also triggered a major demonstration in Mumbai led by the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party, or CJP. Hundreds and thousands of supporters gathered to demand Kumar's resignation and raise concerns about the voter-list revision.

The CJP began as a satirical online movement and later developed into a youth-led protest group. Its founder, Abhijeet Dipke, has called for further demonstrations if Kumar does not resign.

The group has announced plans for another protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on October 10.

India's opposition parties have also announced further demonstrations. A joint protest march to the Election Commission in New Delhi is planned for October 6, with additional rallies expected in other parts of the country.

Meanwhile, the controversy over the voter-roll revision is also facing legal scrutiny. India's Supreme Court has agreed to hear a petition challenging aspects of the Election Commission's functioning and the nationwide SIR process.

The Election Commission continues to reject allegations of misconduct, while opposition parties and protest groups are demanding greater transparency and accountability in the voter-registration process.

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