TIRUNELVELI  MONDAY  AUGUST 31, 2026  `9.00  PAGES 12  CITY EDITION OVER 2.63LAKH APPEAR IN NEET-PG, RE-TEST AT TWO CENTRES IB JAIPUR NEET-PG 2026 was successfully conducted across the country on Sunday, but not at two centres in Jaipur due to an internal power failure ACTION AGAINST TECHNICAL PARTNER The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has scheduled a re-examination for the affected candidates in Jaipur at 3 pm on September 5, while also calling an immediate meeting to decide the course of action against the technological partner and agency responsible for ensuring adequate infrastructure at the examination centres ■ 2,445 BIOMETRIC AUTHENTICATION AT ALL CENTRES ■ As part of the measures to further strengthen examination security and prevent impersonation, Aadhaar-based authentication of candidates was successfully undertaken at the examination centres The examination for admission to PG medical courses was conducted by NBEMS in computer-based mode in one shift from 9 am-12.30pm CANDIDATES FROM JAIPUR WILL APPEAR FOR RE-TEST ON SEPT 5 CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOGGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI Justice Bhuyan calls for hiring top jurists as SC judges S U C H I T R A K A LYA N M O H A N T Y @ New Delhi SUPREME Court judge Justice Ujjal Bhuyan on Sunday strongly favoured appointing distinguished jurists as judges of the top court, saying such a move would diversify the bench and enable reputed scholars to contribute to decision-making. Speaking at the 13th convocation of National Law University, Delhi, Justice Bhuyan said Article 124(3)(c) of the Constitution specifically provides for this category. Yet, in more than 76 years, no one other than high court judges or practising lawyers have been elevated to the Supreme Court. “It is regrettable that this provision has remained one of our Constitution’s unused mandates,” he said. Either the Centre and the Collegium believe Indian academia lacks sufficient depth for serious consideration, or the provision has simply not been explored properly, he said. Justice Bhuyan dismissed the common argument that legal scholars lack practical experience as a “very shallow objection”. He pointed out that distinguished academics routinely serve as judges of constitutional courts in the United States, Britain, Canada and Kenya. The purpose of the “distinguished jurist” clause, he said, was to bring in judges whose academic scholarship would free them from rigid technical constraints and equip them better to handle complex public law issues. Further, he said that the right to question is central to democracy, adding that students cannot be threatened when they express a different viewpoint. Indo-Uzbek uranium pact in works Bilateral ties elevated to strategic partnership; 11 agreements signed; $5-bn trade target set J AYA N T H J A C O B @ New Delhi INDIA and Uzbekistan on Sunday agreed to establish a longterm arrangement for uranium supplies from Uzbekistan to India as part of their civil nuclear cooperation, while elevating bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The decision was taken during talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Tashkent, where the two sides also set a target of increasing annual bilateral trade to $5 billion by 2030. The two sides also signed 11 agreements covering areas including trade, investment, infrastructure, critical minerals, mining, defence, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, information technology, education and digital public infrastructure. Uranium emerged as a key new area of cooperation in the civil nuclear energy sector. During delegation-level talks, Modi said the two countries would establish a long-term arrangement for uranium supplies from Uzbekistan. “We will also establish a longterm arrangement for the supply of uranium,” Modi said, adding that India and Uzbekistan should develop a roadmap to fully realise the potential of their partnership. Secretary (West) in the MEA Sibi George later said discussions on uranium supplies had S G U R U V A N M I K A N AT H A N @ Chennai Prime Minister Narendra Modi attends the delegation-level talks with Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Tashkent | PTI 1 2 3 Uzbekistan will remove visa requirements for Indian citizens for stays of up to 30 days, which will encourage tourism, business travel and wider people-topeople contact. Indians travelling to Uzbekistan would be able to use UPI-enabled applications within a year In the joint statement, India and Uzbekistan “unequivocally condemned terrorism, including cross-border terrorism, in all forms and manifestations” and reiterated zero tolerance to terrorism. Both sides called for action against terror outfits and their financing networks Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with Uzbekistan’s highest state honour. Modi described the recognition as a moment of “great pride” and dedicated it to the 140 crore Indians, saying it reflected the strength and depth of India-Uzbekistan relations been “positive” and that the two countries were close to signing an agreement shortly . He said the upgraded strategic partnership would include a foreign minister-level coordination group and elevate the existing ‘joint commission mechanism’ from secretarylevel to ministerial. The two sides called for concerted action against terrorist organisations and their financing networks, safe havens and infrastructure, while stressing that those responsible for terrorism, as well as their backers, facilitators and affiliates, must be brought to justice. Cooperation in intelligence-sharing, law enforcement, countering violent extremism, organised crime, illicit drug trafficking and cyber threats will also be strengthened. Defence cooperation is another area where the two countries intend to move beyond traditional exchanges. Modi said India and Uzbekistan would encourage their defence industries to establish direct linkages and pursue co-development and co-production of military equipment. Highlighting Uzbekistan’s strategic importance, Modi said: “Uzbekistan is at the heart of Central Asia and is at the heart of India’s engagement in the re gion,” describing a stronger bilateral partnership as a “powerful force for peace, progress and prosperity in Central Asia.” DESPITE the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) directing Karnataka to ensure a flow of 9,000 cusecs to Tamil Nadu for 15 days from August 25, inflows into the Mettur Dam have remained below the stipulated level for four consecutive days from August 27 to 30, raising concerns among delta farmers ahead of the dam’s opening for irrigation on September 1. The CWMA direction requires Karnataka to release water from its reservoirs and ensure that 9,000 cusecs is realised at Biligundlu. On August 25, Karnataka began releasing water as directed. However, data accessed from Water Resources Department Cauvery water received at (WRD) showed that Mettur Biligundulu point (in tmcft) Dam got 10,405 cusecs on Quantity as August 26, 7,454 cusecs on Month per SC order Received Shortfall August 27, 7,094 cusecs on June 9.19 2.915 6.275 August 28, 6,702 cusecs on July 31.24 0.7138 30.5262 August 29 and 6,887 cusecs on August 30. Even ac- August 40.021 21.9516 18.0694 till 27 counting for transmission 80.451 25.5804 54.8706 loss of 1%-2%, the short- Total fall has raised concerns. The latest CWMA direction modified a prior direction as per which Karnataka was to release 12,000 cusecs a day for 15 days from August 12. The water year is recorded from June 1 and Tamil Nadu had already seen a severe shortfall of its share as dictated under the SC-modified water-sharing schedule, with the state only receiving 25.58 tmcft at Biligundlu against the 80.45 tmcft prescribed by August 27. The shortfall of 54.87 tmcft means the state received less than one-third of the scheduled quantity during the period. As per the latest CWMA direction, TN is supposed to receive 11.66 tmcft over a 15-day period beginning August 25. The state, which was unable to open the Mettur Dam for delta irrigation on June 12 as customary has , P5 announced that it would open the dam on September 1. Nepal toll nears 800, rescue ops intensify 68.8 tonnes Indian aid EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ New Delhi EXPRESS READ ‘Cong mins to quit if TVK rejects Rahul as PM face’ Kanniyakumari: TN Tourism Minister S Rajesh Kumar on Sunday said the two Congress ministers would withdraw from the state govt if TVK disagrees with Congress’s stand that Rahul Gandhi should be the prime ministerial candidate for the 2029 Lok Sabha polls. For Congress cadre Rahul remains the party’s face, he added | P4 Despite CWMA order, inflow to Mettur below 9K cusecs for four days SNAKE BOAT RACE Palliyodams (large snake boats) set out from Sathra Kadavu in Aranmula during the ceremonial Uthrattathi boat race organised as part of the Onam celebrations at the Parthasarathy Temple in Aranmula, Keralam, on Sunday | SHAJI VETTIPURAM INIDA has stepped up its rescue and relief operations in flood-hit Nepal, deploying tunnel engineers, doctors, paramedics and forensic experts as rescuers race against time to reach people feared trapped in hydropower tunnels on the fifth day of the disaster. Nepal’s disaster authority said 781 people had died and 2,502 remained missing. Across the border in China’s Gyirong County authorities reported 16 , deaths. Bodies have been recovered from eight affected districts as security forces and specialist teams continue clearing debris and searching inundated areas. As of 5:30 pm on Sunday 149 , Indian nationals had been rescued, an update from the government said. India has so far provided 68.5 tonnes of relief material and deployed specialised technical and forensic teams. A fourth Indian flight carrying 11 tonnes of assistance reached Nepal on Sunday . The latest consignment includ- India has so far provided 68.5 tonnes of relief material and deployed technical and forensic teams. A fourth Indian flight carrying 11 tonnes of aid reached Nepal on Sunday. It includes a tunnel technical team and equipment for search and rescue 10,000 Nepali troops A woman carries essentials as she walks along a muddy road in the aftermath of recent flash floods at Belkotgadhi in Nuwakot district of Nepal on Sunday | PTI 10,000 Nepali troops are involved in the wider rescue operation, alongside specialist teams from India and China. With hundreds missing, the priority remains gaining access to isolated and debris-covered areas before trapped survivors run out of time ed a tunnel technical team and equipment for search-and-rescue operations, forensic equipment for DNA analysis and essential relief supplies. The supplies included blankets, sleeping bags, tarpaulin, plastic sheets and hygiene kits. An 11-member Indian technical team, comprising doctors, paramedics and tunnel engineers, in Kathmandu conducted reconnaissance of hydro- Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police has been working since Friday night to clear debris and reach those believed to be trapped. On Sunday, Nepal’s military airlifted heavy machinery to the remote site, with rescuers reaching the entrance of one tunnel. Oxygen supplies and cameras are being prepared for deployment once a P9 safe passage is created. power tunnels in the flood-hit Trishuli area of Nuwakot district. The team carried out an aerial survey of Chilime and Langtang before beginning work around the tunnel sites. The rescue effort is focused on the Upper Trishuli hydropower complex, where authorities received information that around 350 people could be trapped inside a tunnel. An 82-member joint team of the No true Hindu rejects Muslims in India: RSS chief 4 children playing by roadside fatally knocked down by milk van in Dindigul RAJESH KUMAR THAKUR Five -point plan @ New Delhi RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday called upon the Indian diaspora in the US and across the world to contribute to both their “janmabhoomi” and “karmabhoomi” with the loyalty and values India has given them. Addressing a packed gathering at New York’s Madison Square Garden during the Universal Oneness Celebration, Bhagwat said no nation is merely a piece of land. “All nations have a destiny to fulfil. This is the Bharat’s destiny Let . us awake, as Bharatiyas, to that destiny and fulfil our duties in our Karmabhoomi as well as our Janmabhoomi.” RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat in New York on Sunday | PTI He told the diaspora that their primary duty is to their place of work. Serving the motherland is desirable but not obligatory. “Your Janmabhoomi expects you to live the values it has imparted on you.” Bhagwat underlined unity in The gathering, which attracted delegates from 853 cities across 39 US states, opened with 180 religious leaders from 30 countries presenting a fivepoint resolution rejecting the use of religion to justify hatred or violence, which was formally submitted to Bhagwat diversity as India’s DNA. Defining dharma as the principle that unites, upholds and balances everything without causing rifts, he said diversity must be celebrated and respected even as the feeling of oneness is kept alive. Quoting Swami Vivekananda, he said Bharat’s mission is to realise and make the world realise this unity in diversity . In a strong message on inclusiveness, Bhagwat declared that anyone who calls himself a Hindu but believes there should be no Muslim in India cannot be considered a Hindu. “If any Hindu thinks that there should be no Muslim in Bharat, he is not a Hindu. If you want to call yourself Hindu, you must believe that all paths are leading to the same goal and that every human has dignity”. Earlier, speaking on ‘One World One Humanity’, Bhagwat said the RSS stands for global unity and the dignity of every human being. EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Dindigul FOUR children, including two sisters, were killed after a speeding milk supply van ploughed into them while they were playing near a road in Vedasandur in Dindigul district on Sunday afternoon. The deceased were identified as N Yogavarshini (11), her sister N Ananya (6), J Dhanushree (5), and her relative C Moshikaran (6), all natives of Vadamadurai. According to police sources, the incident occurred when the children were playing near a single stretch of road at Kana- N Yogavarshini, C Moshikaran, J Dhanushree, N Ananya | EXPRESS 4 of Chennai family killed as auto rams lorry, 2 injured Chennai: Four members of a family from Chennai were killed and two others sustained injuries after the auto they were travelling in hit a lorry near Panpakkam in Tiruvallur late on Saturday. Police suspect the auto driver may have dozed off at the wheel | P4 vai Medu, located within Kollampatti Samathuvapuram in Vadamadurai Town, with pasture lands on either side. The milk van on routine duty driv, en by K Saravana Kumar (28) of Kurundampatti, hit the children from behind around 2.30 pm, sources said. The victims, who sustained severe head and chest injuries, P5 died on the spot.