NEWS

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday searched several ex-IAS officials and former district magistrates in connection with illegal arms license case in Jammu & Kashmir, sources told India Today.

Former IAS officers Sajad Ahmed Khan, Baseer Ahmad Khan, M Raju and G Parasanna Ramaswami along with the then district magistrate of Poonch Nisar Ahmed Wani, MH Malik and the then district magistrate of Kulgam Farooq Ahmed Khan (retired) are the prominent persons who were searched by the CBI in this case.

At least 82 per cent of people above 18 years have antibodies against Covid-19 and over 40 per cent of children in the 5-17 age group are exposed to the virus in Kerala, said the latest seroprevalence survey conducted by the state government.

The survey report was tabled in the state assembly by health minister Veena Goerge on Monday. Since the Covid-19 vaccine was not given to children below 18 years, the presence of antibodies may be due to recovery from infection, said experts. The survey was conducted in the first week of July and August wherein 13,000 samples were collected from different parts of the state.

Prime minister Narendra Modi has congratulated Professor CNR Rao for receiving the International Eni Award 2020 for research in renewable energy sources and energy storage, the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) said on Tuesday.

Stating that the Eni Award is considered the Nobel Prize in energy research, the institute said that the award will be presented on October 14.

“Prof Rao has been working on hydrogen energy as the only energy source for the benefit of mankind.”

The highlights of his work are: hydrogen storage, photochemical and electrochemical production of hydrogen, solar production of hydrogen and non-metallic catalysis.

In an important move in school education, Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy directed the officials of the education department to take measures to get CBSE affiliation for all state government schools and ensure all students write CBSE exams in 2024.

During the review meeting held at the camp office here on Monday, the chief minister also said every school should have a playground and directed the officials to map schools that do not have playgrounds. The officials have been told to acquire required lands and allot playgrounds to those schools.

A detailed review of prevailing conditions in schools after the pandemic, COVID preventive measures in schools and attendance of the students was also undertaken during the meeting.