• Now, single entrance test for IITs, NITs and IIITs; class XII results to count

NEW DELHI: From 2013, aspiring candidates for IITs and other central institutes like NITsand IIITs will have to sit under new a format of entrance test which will also take plus two board results into consideration. 
The announcement was made today by HRD minister Kapil Sibal after chairing a meeting of the joint councils of IITs, NITs and IIITs. 
Emphasising that there was no "dissent" among the councils about the move, he acknowledged there "was a lot of resistance during the consultation process from the IIT system". IIT senates especially the faculty federation had been opposing the new format. 
But Sibal said the selection of the candidates for the IITs and other central institutes would be different even as all the aspirants will have to go through all the steps under new format. This system will replace the IIT-JEE and AIEEE. 
Students will sit for a main test and an advance test conducted on the same day. 
For admission to all the centrally funded institutes, there would be 40 percentage weightage for performance in class XII (after normalisation of marks), 30 per cent weightage to performance in main and 30 per cent in the advanced test. 
In case of IITs, there would be a filtering process involved. The board results and the main test will be given 50 per cent weightage each. Only the top 50,000 students will be selected for the advance test after taking into account their performance in the board results and the main result. 
"The merit only in advanced examination will be considered for admission" to the IITs, Sibal said. 
At the same time, he added, the IIT council has agreed to move to the other system by 2015. 
Explaining the selection of candidates under the new format for the IITs, one of the IIT directors said results of advance test of only those students who have crossed the "barrier" of the 50 per cent weightage to board marks and mains will be counted while preparing the merit list. 
Even as the process of selection to the IITs would be different then other institutes, he said the counselling to IITs and other institutes will be done jointly and allotment of seats will be done together. 
"I as a student will get a rank in IIT and also get a rank for NIT and IIIT. I will give my choice in both and depending on which is my first choice in either, I will get a seat," he explained. 
While the main test shall be multiple type paper, he nature and modalities of the advanced shall be determined by the joint admission board (JAB) of the IITs. 
Sibal made it clear that JAB of the IIT system would have complete control on matters such as paper setting, evaluation and preparation of merit list over the advanced test while CBSE will provide administrative support for conduct of the examination. 
For conduct of the main examination, an expanded joint admission board will be constituted including the NIT, other centrally funded institutes and state government representatives. 
Noting that state boards would have the flexibility to adopt the new format the determine their own relative weightages, the minister said Maharashtra, Gujarat and Haryana have evinced interest adopting the new format.

• Now, single entrance test for IITs, NITs and IIITs; class XII results to count

NEW DELHI: From 2013, aspiring candidates for IITs and other central institutes like NITsand IIITs will have to sit under new a format of entrance test which will also take plus two board results into consideration. 
The announcement was made today by HRD minister Kapil Sibal after chairing a meeting of the joint councils of IITs, NITs and IIITs. 
Emphasising that there was no "dissent" among the councils about the move, he acknowledged there "was a lot of resistance during the consultation process from the IIT system". IIT senates especially the faculty federation had been opposing the new format. 
But Sibal said the selection of the candidates for the IITs and other central institutes would be different even as all the aspirants will have to go through all the steps under new format. This system will replace the IIT-JEE and AIEEE. 
Students will sit for a main test and an advance test conducted on the same day. 
For admission to all the centrally funded institutes, there would be 40 percentage weightage for performance in class XII (after normalisation of marks), 30 per cent weightage to performance in main and 30 per cent in the advanced test. 
In case of IITs, there would be a filtering process involved. The board results and the main test will be given 50 per cent weightage each. Only the top 50,000 students will be selected for the advance test after taking into account their performance in the board results and the main result. 
"The merit only in advanced examination will be considered for admission" to the IITs, Sibal said. 
At the same time, he added, the IIT council has agreed to move to the other system by 2015. 
Explaining the selection of candidates under the new format for the IITs, one of the IIT directors said results of advance test of only those students who have crossed the "barrier" of the 50 per cent weightage to board marks and mains will be counted while preparing the merit list. 
Even as the process of selection to the IITs would be different then other institutes, he said the counselling to IITs and other institutes will be done jointly and allotment of seats will be done together. 
"I as a student will get a rank in IIT and also get a rank for NIT and IIIT. I will give my choice in both and depending on which is my first choice in either, I will get a seat," he explained. 
While the main test shall be multiple type paper, he nature and modalities of the advanced shall be determined by the joint admission board (JAB) of the IITs. 
Sibal made it clear that JAB of the IIT system would have complete control on matters such as paper setting, evaluation and preparation of merit list over the advanced test while CBSE will provide administrative support for conduct of the examination. 
For conduct of the main examination, an expanded joint admission board will be constituted including the NIT, other centrally funded institutes and state government representatives. 
Noting that state boards would have the flexibility to adopt the new format the determine their own relative weightages, the minister said Maharashtra, Gujarat and Haryana have evinced interest adopting the new format.

how to motivate your spouse to get healthy

It’s a familiar story. One partner decides to get healthy, but the significant other still stocks the kitchen with tempting food. How does one motivate the spouse to get healthy too? What do you do if your idea of a healthy weekend is cooking a healthy breakfast, rushing off to your spin class, then spending the rest of your day upbeat and brimming with things to do, while your partner wakes up by noon, pops open a beer, and spends the rest of the day in front of the tv? Imagine how much you two would have in common if he or she were a health nut too. Here are some tips on how to motivate your spouse to get healthy.

Lead by example – If she’s not convinced about your lifestyle change, instead of talking about what you will do, do it, and show her how much better your life is thanks to your new lifestyle. If you lose weight, look great in everything you wear, receive all the compliments, feel healthier, and fall sick less, there’s no doubt that the person closest to you will get convinced easier than ever.

Don’t nag – Nagging does not work, especially in the touchy area that is health and weight management. Instead, try and lead your life to the fullest, play, sprint, work out, eat healthy, and enjoy your efforts towards great health. By nagging, all you will achieve is an annoyed spouse with his heels dug even more into the ground than ever before.

Empathize – Chances are you weren’t born a fitness buff, but somewhere along the way you became one, by experimenting with workouts you loved, or getting addicted to those post workout endorphins, or simply enjoying healthy food. So if your spouse is remotely convinced but does not know how to start, be supportive and empathise. Listen and be patient with his or her attempt at making changes in their lifestyle and food habits.

Plan some healthy bonding activities – As a couple, there are a lot of healthy things you can do together. Instead of spending your Sunday mornings sprawled in front of the tv, sign up for some sports training. If she loves dancing, sign up for dancing classes, she is not going to say no to that one.  If you are the one making the compromises, do it, as it’s important that the activities you plan are enjoyable to both of you.

Cook delicious healthy food – Cook meals that are healthy or ensure that you get recipes for super healthy meals so that your spouse does not think that he or she is missing out on much. If you deny yourself great food by being on a diet that is lacking in any taste and nutrition, there is no way you will convince your spouse to do the same. If you feel you are missing out by trying to be healthy, that feeling will translate to your spouse and there will be no motivation there. Instead prove that healthy food can be delicious by enjoying it to the fullest and being smart about what you cook.

Try out these tips so that you and your spouse can spend quality time, live life to the fullest, and live long and happy lives.

how to motivate your spouse to get healthy

It’s a familiar story. One partner decides to get healthy, but the significant other still stocks the kitchen with tempting food. How does one motivate the spouse to get healthy too? What do you do if your idea of a healthy weekend is cooking a healthy breakfast, rushing off to your spin class, then spending the rest of your day upbeat and brimming with things to do, while your partner wakes up by noon, pops open a beer, and spends the rest of the day in front of the tv? Imagine how much you two would have in common if he or she were a health nut too. Here are some tips on how to motivate your spouse to get healthy.

Lead by example – If she’s not convinced about your lifestyle change, instead of talking about what you will do, do it, and show her how much better your life is thanks to your new lifestyle. If you lose weight, look great in everything you wear, receive all the compliments, feel healthier, and fall sick less, there’s no doubt that the person closest to you will get convinced easier than ever.

Don’t nag – Nagging does not work, especially in the touchy area that is health and weight management. Instead, try and lead your life to the fullest, play, sprint, work out, eat healthy, and enjoy your efforts towards great health. By nagging, all you will achieve is an annoyed spouse with his heels dug even more into the ground than ever before.

Empathize – Chances are you weren’t born a fitness buff, but somewhere along the way you became one, by experimenting with workouts you loved, or getting addicted to those post workout endorphins, or simply enjoying healthy food. So if your spouse is remotely convinced but does not know how to start, be supportive and empathise. Listen and be patient with his or her attempt at making changes in their lifestyle and food habits.

Plan some healthy bonding activities – As a couple, there are a lot of healthy things you can do together. Instead of spending your Sunday mornings sprawled in front of the tv, sign up for some sports training. If she loves dancing, sign up for dancing classes, she is not going to say no to that one.  If you are the one making the compromises, do it, as it’s important that the activities you plan are enjoyable to both of you.

Cook delicious healthy food – Cook meals that are healthy or ensure that you get recipes for super healthy meals so that your spouse does not think that he or she is missing out on much. If you deny yourself great food by being on a diet that is lacking in any taste and nutrition, there is no way you will convince your spouse to do the same. If you feel you are missing out by trying to be healthy, that feeling will translate to your spouse and there will be no motivation there. Instead prove that healthy food can be delicious by enjoying it to the fullest and being smart about what you cook.

Try out these tips so that you and your spouse can spend quality time, live life to the fullest, and live long and happy lives.

Yes, we kill party rebels: CPM leader

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A Freudian slip from a district-level leader has embarrassed the CPM. The party's Idukki district secretary M M Mani's remark that the CPM would never hesitate to kill its political rivals has created ripples across the country.
" Yes, we have killed the enemies of the CPM. We have shot, stabbed and beaten them to death. A hit-list of party enemies was prepared and each of them was executed in that order," said Mani, a close confidant of CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan, on Friday night.

On Sunday, the CPM went into a damage control mode. Pinarayi said Mani had violated the party policies by making such a statement. "It was wrong. He shouldn't have made such a statement. I had urged the leaders earlier to avoid public statements. I'm repeating again that the leaders should avoid making controversial statements in public," he said.
Pinarayi alleged that there was a calculated effort from various quarters to attack the party. Claiming that the CPM has itself often been at the receiving end of violence, he said, "The party has never encouraged political violence and we have not grown by political killings."

CPM leader V S Achuthandandan rubbished Mani's remarks, saying that the latter's revelations about three political murders committed by the CPM in Idukki in the 1980s were untrue. "I was the state committee secretary then and Mani was not even a district-level leader. Hence, I can say with authority that the CPM had not committed any such murders," VS said.
Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi said the CPM was speaking the language of terrorists and Maoists. "When leader of a political party says that we murder our political rivals, it is dangerous to our democracy. Where is the NHRC (National Human Rights Commission)? We should raise our voice against such acts. Our workers keep giving their lives in Kerala," Modi said.

Yes, we kill party rebels: CPM leader

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A Freudian slip from a district-level leader has embarrassed the CPM. The party's Idukki district secretary M M Mani's remark that the CPM would never hesitate to kill its political rivals has created ripples across the country.
" Yes, we have killed the enemies of the CPM. We have shot, stabbed and beaten them to death. A hit-list of party enemies was prepared and each of them was executed in that order," said Mani, a close confidant of CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan, on Friday night.

On Sunday, the CPM went into a damage control mode. Pinarayi said Mani had violated the party policies by making such a statement. "It was wrong. He shouldn't have made such a statement. I had urged the leaders earlier to avoid public statements. I'm repeating again that the leaders should avoid making controversial statements in public," he said.
Pinarayi alleged that there was a calculated effort from various quarters to attack the party. Claiming that the CPM has itself often been at the receiving end of violence, he said, "The party has never encouraged political violence and we have not grown by political killings."

CPM leader V S Achuthandandan rubbished Mani's remarks, saying that the latter's revelations about three political murders committed by the CPM in Idukki in the 1980s were untrue. "I was the state committee secretary then and Mani was not even a district-level leader. Hence, I can say with authority that the CPM had not committed any such murders," VS said.
Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi said the CPM was speaking the language of terrorists and Maoists. "When leader of a political party says that we murder our political rivals, it is dangerous to our democracy. Where is the NHRC (National Human Rights Commission)? We should raise our voice against such acts. Our workers keep giving their lives in Kerala," Modi said.

22 killed in Maharashtra bus accident

Mumbai: At least 22 people were killed when a stationery private mini-bus was rammed from the rear by a tempo on the Mumbai-Pune highway near Khalapur early Monday, officials said.

According to the state highway police control, the accident occurred shortly after midnight when the ill-fated bus had halted for rectifying some technical problem.

Suddenly, a speeding tempo rammed it from the rear, instantaneously killing many of the occupants who were sleeping in the bus at that hour.
The bus, carrying members of a marriage party from Ghatkopar suburb of northeast Mumbai, was returning to Pune when the gruesome accident occurred near Khalapur village, officials said.

Six injured passengers have been rushed to hospitals in Mumbai and Thane.

22 killed in Maharashtra bus accident

Mumbai: At least 22 people were killed when a stationery private mini-bus was rammed from the rear by a tempo on the Mumbai-Pune highway near Khalapur early Monday, officials said.

According to the state highway police control, the accident occurred shortly after midnight when the ill-fated bus had halted for rectifying some technical problem.

Suddenly, a speeding tempo rammed it from the rear, instantaneously killing many of the occupants who were sleeping in the bus at that hour.
The bus, carrying members of a marriage party from Ghatkopar suburb of northeast Mumbai, was returning to Pune when the gruesome accident occurred near Khalapur village, officials said.

Six injured passengers have been rushed to hospitals in Mumbai and Thane.

CPM has a history of handling political rivals: MM Mani 2012 Thodupuzha: CPM Idukki district secretary MM Mani said that CPM has a history of handling political rivals. Those to be killed will be killed again, Mani said. The party eradicated Balan who had killed party worker Ayyappa Das at Peerumedu. We killed those who rebelled against the party at Shanthan Para in Idukki as well. And, that will be done in future too,' Mani said  He was speaking in public meeting in Thodupuzha here on Saturday. He said if the party men had killed some one, the party would accept that. However, Mani refused party workers having any connection with the murder of CPI-M rebel T P Chandrasekharan on May 4. Mani said that the murder case of TP Chandrasekharan is not the first such case happening in Kerala.  He criticized VS Achuthanandan for calling TP a genuine communist and also hit out at V S for attending the funeral Chandrasekharan. Mani added that those who rebel against the party can never be genuine communists

CPM has a history of handling political rivals: MM Mani 2012 Thodupuzha: CPM Idukki district secretary MM Mani said that CPM has a history of handling political rivals. Those to be killed will be killed again, Mani said. The party eradicated Balan who had killed party worker Ayyappa Das at Peerumedu. We killed those who rebelled against the party at Shanthan Para in Idukki as well. And, that will be done in future too,' Mani said  He was speaking in public meeting in Thodupuzha here on Saturday. He said if the party men had killed some one, the party would accept that. However, Mani refused party workers having any connection with the murder of CPI-M rebel T P Chandrasekharan on May 4. Mani said that the murder case of TP Chandrasekharan is not the first such case happening in Kerala.  He criticized VS Achuthanandan for calling TP a genuine communist and also hit out at V S for attending the funeral Chandrasekharan. Mani added that those who rebel against the party can never be genuine communists