New Delhi Apr 26 PTI The CBSE class 10 and 12 board exams for the second term began on Tuesday across India and abroad after two years of pandemic-induced disruptionsThe first-term exams were conducted in November in a truncated format with multiple-choice questions The exam duration was one-and-half hoursOn Tuesday class 12 had exams on entrepreneurship and beauty and wellness while for class 10 exams on six subjects -- Painting Rai Gurung Tamang Sherpa and Thai -- were heldThe class 10 examination will be conducted for 29 days concluding on May 24 The class 12 examination will be held for 51 days and will be over on June 15In class 10 CBSE will conduct examination for 75 subjects and in class 12 114 subjects The total subjects for examination conducted by the CBSE would be 189 a senior board official saidThe official added that while over 2116 lakh candidates will appear for class 10 board exams at 7406 centres 1454 lakh candidates will appear for class 12 board exams at 6720 exam centresThe number of students permitted in each classroom has been capped at 18 and schools have been asked to provide separate rooms to students suffering from COVID-19CBSE has made elaborate arrangements for the conduct of examinations in India and 26 countries Since the exams are being conducted after Covid the board has made all arrangements for its smooth conduct Because of Covid these examinations are being conducted in April May and June 2022 the official saidThe board has also decided that for students who were absent in their first-term exams their results will be based on the second term It is still working on modalities for computing the results of those who missed both term examsAs of now these students will have to appear next year either as a regular or private candidates but we are still working on modalities to see if any solution can be provided to such students the official addedThe CBSE is paying Rs 5000 to each examination centre for buying an infrared thermometer It is also paying Rs 5 per candidate each day for sanitization of school every day and also for arranging masks sanitisers and soaps to ensure cleanliness at the examination premisesThe board has written to the students and parents to follow the Covid protocols strictly To ensure that all important information conducting the examinations is communicated to all responsible officials at the centres it conducted a webinar on Monday which was attended by over 26000 schools the official addedThe second term exams of CISCE class 10 began on Monday The boards class 12 exams began on Tuesday PTI GJS NSD

New Delhi Feb 23 PTI The New Delhi Municipal Council is set to redevelop roads into smart ones that are aesthetically evolved and designed to ensure user convenience and experience without compromising with safety officials said on WednesdayThe roads which will be resurfaced include Tilak Marg KG Marg Dr Zakir Hussain Marg Pandara Road Tolstoy Marg Hailey Road Tansen Marg and Babar RoadThe total cost of the project is Rs 725 croreIt has been observed that the condition of some roads has deteriorated and completed the five-year period It has been decided that strengthening and resurfacing of these avenue roads is required with cold milling process for improving their riding quality and for maintaining the existing level of roads a senior NDMC official saidThe New Delhi Municipal Council NDMC is developing smart roads that are not only aesthetically evolved but also designed to ensure user convenience and experience without compromising their safety The council has approved two projects for resurfacing of roads he saidThe NDMC has also approved the detailed estimate amounting to Rs 5079 lakh with 5 per cent contingencies for supplying installation testing and commissioning of all mechanical and filter parts of Sewage Treatment Plants for the capacity 100 KLD with two years running and maintenance costIt has also proposed to celebrate the Aazadi ka Amrit Mahostav and planned a series of 12 events for thisThe NDMC has embarked on an ambitious journey of shifting to a 100 per cent renewable energy municipal body of the countryIt has decided to not renew its power purchase agreement with thermal power generating stations after its expiry Parallelly the NDMC is taking up fresh purchase agreements with only renewable power providers the official saidAccordingly the council approved the procurement of 142 MW hydropower from Teesta-III on a medium-term basis that is for three years and extendable up to two years through Ms PTC India Ltd at a rate of Rs 503kWh he said PTI GJS NSD

New Delhi Oct 27 PTI Parents in the national capital have mixed reaction to the DDMAs move to allow reopening of schools for all classes from Monday with some calling it necessary to make up for the learning loss and others raising concerns about Covid risk amid festivities and pollution levelsThe Delhi Disaster Management Authority DDMA on Wednesday decided that schools will reopen for all classes from November 1 with 50 per cent student strength though classes will continue in the hybrid mode and no student will be forced to attend them offlineSchools have been closed for over nineteen months because of the pandemicRohit Gupta a Chartered Accountant said This was very much needed We know by now that we have to learn to live with Covid It was necessary now that schools reopen as there has been unprecedented learning loss and this is the only way to make up for itAshok Agarwal of President All India Parents Association AIPA believes that schools should have reopened for all classes earlierLoss of studies suffered by students particularly those in the public education system can not be compensated Better late than neverTripti Jaidev who has two school-going children said I agree that further closure of schools would have been detrimental for students But what about logistical issues Not all schools which reopened for classes 9 to 12 have been providing transport services Parents are supposed to pick and drop students which is kind of impractical Parents also raised concerns about the timing of the decisionIt has been long but the timing is not right There will be a huge rush amid festivals as well as the risk of Covid Before the pandemic also schools had to be briefly closed in November every year due to alarming pollution levelsSo maybe schools should have remained closed for a few more weeks said Himanshu a digital marketing expertAprajita Gautam the president of the Delhi Parents Association said At a time when a few states are reporting a rise in cases and the situation is turning worse in different countries due to new variants the Delhi governments decision to reopen schools does not seem to be a wise one The government should have waited for a few more weeks The Delhi government had earlier announced the reopening of schools for classes nine to 12 colleges and coaching institutions from September 1 following a marked improvement in the COVID-19 situation in the national capitalHowever this is the first time that schools will reopen for all classes after the outbreak of the epidemic PTI GJS NSD