Nagpur University's Home..: April 2011

B.ED (NAGPUR UNIVERSITY) NEW SYLLABUS 2011

B.ED (NAGPUR UNIVERSITY) NEW SYLLABUS

Sr.No.	SUBJECTS	PRICE	WRITER

1.	UDAYONMUKH BHARTIYA SAMAJATIL SHIKSHAN UNDER PRINT	80/-	BALWANT DESHMUKH
	UDAYONMUKH BHARTIYA SAMAJATIL SHIKSHAN UNDER PRINT	80/-	BALWANT DESHMUKH

2.	ADDHYANARTHINCHA VIKAS	70/-	BALWANT DESHMUKH

3.	SHAIKSHANIK TANTRADHHNYAN WA MULYAMAPAN	40/-	BALWANT DESHMUKH

4.	BHARTATIL SHAIKSHANIK PRANALICHA VIKAS	75/-	BALWANT DESHMUKH

Date of B.Ed entrance exam of Nagpur University 2011

Till now the date of B.ED. entrance examination for university is not published, you will get the information Soon.

good luck for examination.

Nagpur University - Bachelor of Education (BEd)

Course Title

BEd

Course Duration

1 year

Faculty / School / Department / Center offering the course

Faculty of Education

Eligibility Criteria / Entry Requirements

Degree Exam

Full Time/Part Time

Full Time

CORRIGENDUM FOR THE MASTER OF ARTS (PERSIAN) PART-II EXAMINATION

CORRIGENDUM FOR THE MASTER OF SCIENCE (MATHEMATICS) II (NEW) EXAMINATION

M.Com. 2011 CORRIGENDUM FOR THE MASTER OF COMMERCE PART-I & PART-II EXAMINATION

Syllabus of Master of Computer Science (M.Sc.) Nagpur University

Syllabus of Master of Computer Science (M.Sc.) Nagpur University

Duration : 2 Years

Minimum Qualification : B.Sc. with Computer Science or B.Sc. with Post B.Sc. Dip. in Computer Science and Applications

Medium of Instruction : English

The examination of Master of Computer Science shall comprise of following papers :

M.Sc. ( Part I ):

Paper	Description
Paper I	Discrete Mathematics and Graph Theory
Paper II	Visual C++
Paper III	Software Engineering
Paper IV	VB.Net
Paper V	Database Architecture and Administration

Total Marks : 500

M.Sc. ( Part II ) :

Paper	Description
Paper - I	Computer Network & Network Security
Paper - II	Computer Graphics & Image Processing
Paper – III	Theory of Computation
Paper - IV	Client Server Computing
Paper – V	Elective-I Distributed Operating System
	Elective-II Software Testing
	Elective-III Design and Analysis of Algorithms
	Elective-IV Artificial Intelligence and Expert System Design
	Elective-V Mobile Communication
	Elective-VI Embedded System

Total Marks : 500

Nagpur University : Syllabus of Master of Computer Application (MCA)

Nagpur University : Syllabus of Master of Computer Application (MCA)

Duration : 3 Year (Bi-annual Pattern)

Eligibility : Any graduate with 50 % marks (5 % relaxation for B. C. Candidates) and Mathematics up to 12^th Standard.

Medium of Instruction : English

Admission Procedure : Admission through Entrance test conducted by Central Admission Committee, Nagpur University, Nagpur

The examination of MCA courses shall comprise of following

M C A - First Year

Sem - 1
1CSA-1	Computer Organization & Architecture
1CSA-2	Object Oriented Programming using C++
1CSA-3	Operating System
1CSA-4	Digital Electronics & Microprocessor
1CSA-5	System Analysis & Design
1CSA-6	Practical - I (Based on C++)
1CSA-7	Practical - II (Based on Microprocessor)

Sem - 2
2CSA-1	Data Structures
2CSA-2	Database Management Systems
2CSA-3	Discrete Mathematics & Graph Theory
2CSA-4	Java Programming
2CSA-5	Statistics & Numerical Mathematics
2CSA-6	Practical - I ( Based on Java)
2CSA-7	Practical - II ( Based on Data Structures & Statistics & Numerical Mathematics using C++)
2CSA-8	Project - I (using C++ or Java & Application area related to one of the subject studied till now)

M C A - Second Year

Sem - 3
3CSA-1	E-Commerce
3CSA-2	Data Communication & Network
3CSA-3	Design & Analysis of algorithm
3CSA-4	Operation Research
3CSA-5	Database Administration
3CSA-6	Practical -I ( Based on Oracle)
3CSA-7	Practical - II ( Based on Operation Research using C++)

Sem - 4
4CSA - 1	Computer Hardware Interfacing
4CSA - 2	Distributed Database Management System
4CSA - 3	Computer Graphics
4CSA - 4	Distributed Operating System
4CSA - 5	C# & Dot net
4CSA - 6	Practical - ( based on C# & Don net)
4CSA - 7	Practical - II (Based on Computer Graphics C++)
4CSA - 8	Project - II (using C++, C# or Java & Application area related to one of the subject studied till now.)

M C A - Third Year

Sem -5
5CSA -1	Data Warehousing and Data Mining
5CSA -2	Embedded Systems
5CSA -3	Network Security
5CSA -4	Elective - I	(a) Legal Aspects of IT
		(b) Software Engineering
		(c) System Management
5CSA -5	Elective - II	(a)VB.NET
		(b)ASP.NET
5CSA -6	Practical - I ( Based on Embedded Systems, Network Security & Data Warehousing & Data Mining)
5CSA -7	Practical - II ( Based on Elective - I or Elective- II)

Sem-6
6CSA-1	Topic Synopsis Seminar	50 Marks
	a) Defining & Outlining of the topic	50 Marks
	b) Literature Survey	50 Marks
	c) Tool to be using for carrying out the work	50 Marks
6CSA-2	Mid term Seminar for evaluating the progress	150 Marks
6CSA-3	End Semester evaluation of the project work	200 Marks

Note : All the evaluation for project work mentioned at 1,2,&3 will be done by Internal Guide & External Examiner.The External Examiner for 6CSA-1, 6CSA-2 & 6CSA-3 will not be same.

Certification Course of any one of the following
01	Sun Certification	500
02	CISCO Certifications	500
03	Microsoft Certification	500
04	ORACLE Certification	500

All India Pre Medical Test (AIPMT)

After Supreme Court's green signal to Medical Council of India to go ahead with a single entrance exam for all medical courses in the country, many students from Maharashtra board were worried. Students thought they would miss out on the MHT-CET which is due to be held in May. But as TOI reported on March 18, this academic session will not see single medical entrance exam being implemented.

Students that TOI spoke to on Sunday were appearing for both AIPMT and MHT-CET and they realized that this could well be the last time they were doing so. "From next year, they will probably implement the single entrance. For state board students, AIPMT is very difficult but I am appearing to help me prepare well for MHT-CET," said Radhika, a Bhandara resident currently studying in the city. According to most State board students, today's paper was tough and many did not attempt questions for the fear of negative marking.

director of technical education (DTE) Needs coopration for Maharashtra Health and Technology-Common Entrance Test (MHT-CET) 2011

The joint director of technical education (DTE) for Pune region has asked all technical institutions to extend their full cooperation to the district-level committees assigned to execute the seating arrangement for the Maharashtra Health and Technology-Common Entrance Test (MHT-CET) 2011.

The MHT-CET 2011, which is the combined entrance examination for admissions to the first-year degree courses for engineering, pharmacy and health sciences, is scheduled for May 12. The test is also meant for effecting admissions to the first-year degree course in veterinary sciences and animal husbandry. Close to 2.25 lakh students from across the state and outside Maharashtra appear for the exam every year and it is conducted simultaneously at centres in the district headquarters across the states.

The state director for medical education and research (DMER) is the competent authority for conducting the test while the post-CET allotment of seats for engineering and pharmacy courses is done by the DTE and for health science courses by the DMER.

The registrar of the Nagpur-based Maharashtra University for Animal and Fisheries Science effects the seat allotment for B.VSc & AH course.

The district collectors are assigned the responsibility of conducting the exam on behalf of the DMER and the latter constitutes a district-level committee for making arrangements.

On April 8, joint DTE D N Shingade mailed a letter to all government-run, aided and unaided colleges for engineering, pharmacy, architecture, hotel management and catering technology and MBA/MCA institutes to make sure that they extend their cooperation to the district committees.

No aid will be issued unless earlier grants audited for economically backward class (EBC), DTE tells to colleges

The government has adopted a tough stance against those unaided professional colleges which have failed to submit audited statements of the state grants received towards 50 per cent reimbursement of tuition fees for economically backward class (EBC) students.

Such colleges will not receive the EBC grants for academic years 2009-10 and 2010-11, unless they furnish the audited statements for the previous grants, joint director of technical education D N Shingade has said in a letter sent to principals of all colleges falling under the Pune region. Apart from Pune district, the region covers colleges in Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara and Solapur districts.

It may be noted that reimbursement of tuition fees for students from socially and economically backward classes, to enable them pursue higher and professional studies, remains one of the flagship initiatives of the state government.

For EBC students, the government has committed reimbursement of 50 per cent of their tuition fees every year. Once the grant is extended to the institution concerned, the latter is expected to furnish an audited statement of distribution of such grant.

Shingade has stated in his letter, "A substantial number of colleges, which are into offering pharmacy, hotel management and catering technology (HMCT), architecture degree and diploma courses and post-graduate management studies, have not submitted their audited statements for the period between academic year 2006-07 and 2009-10."

Shingade stated, "The colleges have failed to meet this key requirement, despite repeated reminders and letters to them in the past." The DTE has now planned specific sessions for such colleges to get their financial statements for the EBC grants audited at the office of the joint DTE at Bahirat Patil chowk in Shivajinagar, Pune.

Pharmacy, architecture and HMCT degree and diploma institutions, which have to get their statements audited, are required to report to the joint DTE office between April 18 and 20. Similarly, PG management institutions (MBA/MCA) have to report on April 21, and between April 25 and 27, the letter stated.

The representatives of such colleges have been told to ensure that they bring along with them the Shikshan Shulka Samiti`s (fee regulatory authority) letters of approval of fees and merit list for the academic year concerned and the list of students for whom the EBC grant was cleared.

Nagpur University's (NU) : board of studies (BoS) elections refuses to die, various factions have started campaigning for the polls

According to NU observers, the main fight would be between Secular Panel led by Dr Ved Prakash Mishra and Young Teachers' Association (YTA) of Baban Taywade. Though a new entrant in NU politics, Secular Panel had convincingly won the senate elections held in January by outsmarting other heavyweights who had a stronghold over the university politics including Shikshan Manch and Nagpur University Teachers Association ( NUTA).

This time, however, NU watchers believe YTA has an upper hand in the polls which would be held for 73 boards across nine faculties. The counting would be done on April 20 at 73 polling centres. In fact, on many boards, candidates have already been elected unopposed. Registrar Mahesh Yenkie, who is returning officer for the polls, has already ruled out any deferment of the polls date against the backdrop of various controversies that rocked the process.

One of them also saw resignation by assistant returning officer Vilas Ramteke who cited blackmailing and threats by faction leaders following his recommendation to disqualify some candidates. PRO Sanjay Bahekar will now assist Yenkie after Ramteke was relieved of his election duties. The polls have already been delayed much beyond schedule. Unless the BoS are constituted, none of the statutory bodies could be set up. Even deans could not be appointed and research recognition committees for awarding PhDs could not be set up. The delay has already compounded many problems not only for the NU but also for the students' community as they are suffering unnecessarily.

Nagpur police, a BIG house of corruption

The student said that inspired by Anna Hazare, he had decided to get the cop caught while accepting bribe but his parent intervened and advised him not to invite their wrath. He then quietly paid Rs 1,000 to the cop and got the routine procedure completed.

It is just a tip of the iceberg. Police remain among the most corrupt departments anywhere. Manoj Purandare, a resident of north Nagpur, claimed that even basic work like reporting a theft could not be done without bribing the officials or using some influence. Purandare said that recently his neighbour had gone to a police station to lodge a complaint when he lost valuables including mobile phone to a pickpocket. The police were just not ready to register the complaint but when offered a bribe, they did.

In many cases, the complainants were forced to report that their valuables had gone missing when in reality they were stolen. Victims are even threatened if they insist on lodging complaints. "Even if a case somehow gets registered, police do not take any action," alleged a resident who did not wish to be named.

There are many things for which men in khakhi demand gratification. One is to speed up investigations. Complainants claimed cops did not move against suspects unless palms were greased. Otherwise, they do not even spare the grieving families for completing inquest panchanama of a person who had committed suicide. Cops are known to encash the opportunity if someone even goes to report accident case. Besides, the police often torture people until a 'confession' is obtained to save influential and wealthy offenders.

The traffic cops are infamous for exploiting citizens. They demand and accept bribes from not only traffic violators but also allow illegal vendors to do business on busy roads. For instance, vendors at busy Variety Square are always blocking the road under the patronage of traffic cops.

A senior police official admitted it was really a matter of shame for the department. The fact is that there were many black sheep who were not ashamed to demand money for little things, he said. "These characters bring a bad name to entire department which otherwise is doing well," he said. Besides, many cops were nabbed by Anti-Corruption Bureau while demanding and accepting bribes. Many also faced suspension.

Ways To Eradicate Corruption

Overtime for cops: One reason for corruption in police is that policemen are underpaid and overworked. Cops often put in more than eight hours and sometimes work round the clock. Still, they never get overtime. If they get paid better, there will be less corruption to some extent

Impartial agency: Corruption within the police is often investigated by the cops themselves who are naturally lenient towards their colleagues. An impartial agency to investigate police corruption may help

Stringent action: Strict action like summary dismissal of corrupt cops could go long way in curbing bribery

Ban torture: The use of 'third degree' must be banned and police officer engaging in it must be punished. Fear of torture leads many innocent people to bribe cops instead of fighting the case on merit

Surprise checks: Senior officials should carry out surprise checks of police stations and spots. They should also be accessible by common people and hear public's grievances

Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) most corporations including

NMC staff have earned ill-repute for not performing their duties unless citizens greased their palms. Even for essential services like water supply, citizens are having to pay through their nose. Siraspeth resident Kailas Ghumre told TOI that people living in his lane collected money during summer to pay to NMC valve operators. "Unless we pay them, they simply do not open the valves for our lane. We have complained to our corporator and officials concerned many times but in vain," he said.

A 52-year-old man approached NMC on Wednesday to lodge a complaint against irregularities in garbage collection before his shop in Giripeth. Requesting anonymity, he alleged, "The ghanta gadi operators have not been collecting garbage from our area for the past many days. The sanitary workers have been asking for Rs 200 per shop per month. Only then will they collect garbage and sweep streets regularly," he said. He refused to pay the bribe as a result of which there is pile of garbage gathered at his premises and strong stink is emanating from it.

Rupesh Shroti (name changed), a resident of Mahal, complained that a staffer from Gandhibagh zone demanded bribe from him to issue death certificate. He wondered how the corporation staff could demand bribe even from bereaved family members. "It goes to show how insensitive they have become," he said.

Citizens experience corruption at almost every department in NMC and are made to run from pillar to post if they refuse to oblige. People complain that the town planning department is one of the corrupt in NMC. From sanctioning a building plan to issuing occupancy certificates, no task is achieved without paying bribe. Everyone from Class IV employee to engineer demands bribes to move the files and sanction applications.

Octroi department is also infamous for bribery. If the staffers work honestly, they can help boost revenue of civic body. The earnings of the department would double, pointed Dilip Khandelwal, a trader. Private contractors, requesting anonymity, also complained about corruption in finance and accounts department. They pointed out that here the officials never clear their bills unless appeased. Contractors are always found making rounds of the accounts department to get their bills cleared.

The happiest lot in NMC is in enforcement department. Their poor performance can be gauged by increasing number of unauthorised constructions in all areas. Corruption rules in health, education and property tax departments too.

Senior citizen and social activist Umesh Choubey blamed corporators for this. Choubey said, "With the connivance of both bureaucrats and public representatives, NMC officials are having a field day. NMC has failed miserably on every front. Civic services have touched a nadir and problems of cleanliness and sanitation, health and education have worsened due to corruption."

He asked why corporators shielded corrupt officials. Corporators did not work for the development of the city and only planned schemes to grab public money, he charged. "The root of the problem is apathy, callousness and profligacy in spending public money. Corruption in NMC has become so commonplace that it hardly registers on the public consciousness," he pointed.

Another resident Vijay Bangar blamed the corporators for the mess. He pointed out that despite frequent exposes of wrongdoings by NMC officials, no action is taken. The employees carry on with their illegal 'businesses' as usual. He cited many examples wherein NMC officials were caught red-handed while demanding and accepting money but the NMC's general body never supported investigating agency including Anti-Corruption Bureau in probe against officials.

Absence of punishment is one reason behind the rise in corruption, said social activist Raju Wagh. "Public servants here have little regard for the laws," he said. NMC corporator Manoj Sangole admitted that corporators were responsible for corruption. He claimed that corporators were well aware of corruption but do nothing for their vested interests.

Nagpur Improvement Trust

Corruption is rampant in almost all services provided by the Nagpur Improvement Trust too. Residents wondered how corruption continues to rule even after many high-ranking officials were trapped while accepting bribe.

Cleansing NMC

Prosecute effectively: Due to lack of conviction, corruption has increased. Prosecution of those caught in corruption cases should be effective

E-governance: Online tender, online tax and online registration of works in corporation will curb graft

Performance appraisals: Linking pay of staff to quality of service rendered will also help

Independent review: An independent agency should be formed to review developmental works in every part of the city

No interference: Public representatives should not be allowed to interfere in matters related to corruption

The education department office in Nagpur is synonymous with the corruption, department is no stranger to graft

the new deputy director of education Mahesh Karajgaonkar himself is facing criminal charges on this account. Karajgaonkar is in the thick of many controversies with series of allegations of his involvement in graft cases. According to a secretary of a society running a renowned school in Nagpur, this was just the tip of the iceberg. No file moved in the department without paying bribe. "It is not much in news when compared to NMC or RTO but the corruption here is no less and bribes being paid are in lakhs.

You have to pay money right from a peon to top official for any work," he lamented. The department oversees over 15,000 school and junior colleges in six districts of Nagpur division. The society office bearer said for every appointment in governmentaided schools, the school authorities need a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the department and also approval for the selected candidate. "In both cases, officials demand huge money. They openly ask the schools to recover the money from the candidate.

In fact, the candidates are made to bid for the teachers' post. Those who pay the highest price are selected without verifying their ability to teach," he stated. Nitin Choudhary, who runs an NGO Lok Adhikar Manch, disclosed that the department officials demand money for allowing shifting of a school. "In fact, the lower rung officials illegally use rights of deputy director to grant approval for shifting and demand money for the same. I've lodged a police complaint in this regard and also filed a case in court. They seem to enjoy political clout as nothing happens to them. Their illegal activities continue unabated," he charged. Another key person from school management disclosed that department officials insisted on creating of fake section in many government-aided schools by illegally inflating the number of students. "They do this for getting extra grants from the government.

They even take money from teachers for their appointment. The officials then show the appointed teacher as surplus after three years and transfer him to any big school where vacancies exists," he said. Choudhary had lodged a FIR in this case too. Datta Shirke, a social activist, said department officials were biggest beneficiaries of all government grants that come under big projects like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and midday meal scheme. "Cross-checking should be done to verify whether the children really benefited. A study should be conducted on how and where these grants are spent," he remarked.

Important LANDMARKS IN NAGPUR

LANDMARKS IN NAGPUR

Sadar	Civil lines, Sadar, Mangalwar bazar, Katol Road, Chaooni, Jaripatka, Byramji Town, Mount Road, Mt Rd Extn., Gaddigodam, Mohan Nagar, Seminary Hills.
Sitabuldi	Main Railway Station,,Sitabuli ,Maharajbagh, Jhanshi Rani sq.
Dhantoli	Yeshwant Stadium, Dhantoli, Congress Nagar.
Ramdaspeth	Ramdaspeth, Lendra park, Kachipura, Rahate colony.
Wardha Road	Ajni sq, LIC colony, Surendra nagar, Sawarkar Nagar, Ramkrishna Nagar, Vivekanand Nagar, Samartha Nagar, Hindustan Colony, Chatrapati Nagar, Narendra Nagar, Sneh Nagar, Somalwada, Airport, Khapri, Khamla ,NEERI Tatya Tope Nagar.
Pratap Nagar	Swavlambi Nagar, Deendayal Nagar, Trimurti nagar.
Dakshin Ambazari Road	Laxmi nagar, Bajaj nagar ,Abhankyar nagar, Shradhnandpeth.
Wadi	Amravati road.
Dharampeth	Shankar nagar, Ambazari, Corp. Colony, Gandhi nagar, Shivaji nagar ,VRCE, Dharampeth, Gokulpeth, Ramnagar, Bharat nagar, Amravati Road.
Kamptee Road	Moti bagh ,kadbi chowk, Panchpaoli, Indora ,bezan bagh, kamptee road.
Cotton market	Santra market, mayo hospital ,bhagwaghar, bajeria, cotton market ,ghat road ,subhash road, ganeshpeth, new cotton mkt.
Gandhibagh	Central avenue, gandhi bagh.
Itwari	New Itwari Road, kirana oil ,lal imli, maskasath ,itwara bhandara road, GJ Road.
Bagadganj	Wardhaman nagar, bagadganj small factory area, kalamna ,gangabai ghat road, nandanwan ,ganesh nagar.
Mahal	Ruikar road ,chitar oli, tilak road ,chitnispura ,new shukrawari ,rajabaksha, sakkardara, ganesh nagar, medical college, rambagh ,hanuman nagar, raghuji nagar, umred road, nandwan.
Kalmeshwar	It is situated near 24 Km. from main Nagpur
Butobori	It is an Industrial State near 50 Km. from main Nagpur. It is one of the biggest Industrial State in Asia.

RBSE first to conduct Teachers' Eligibility Test

The state government on Friday issued an order to the board to conduct the test according to the guidelines of the National Council for Technical Education (NCTE). The board has decided to complete the first test within two months to provide 50,000 eligible candidates prior to the new academic year beginning June.

Last month, the NCTE had issued an order to conduct eligibility test for teachers on the pattern of National Eligibility Test for college lecturers conducted by the UGC. The state government on Friday nominated the education board to conduct the test.

The board has started planning to conduct the first test in May. "It is a tough task because of the board exams. We plan to make different cell and office for TET. The aim is to provide 50,000 eligible teachers to the state before June," Subash Garg, chairman of the board, said.

He said according to guidelines, there will be two categories for eligibility -- the first will be for teachers from Class I to V and the other for teachers from Class VI to VIII. "The paper will be in two shifts and we will ask for online applications from candidates and issue TET certificates until May 30," added Garg.

CBSE launches eligibility test for teachers central teacher eligibility test (CTET)

Well, CBSC Has desided that now central teacher eligibility test (CTET) will be conducted on June 26 by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). This test will be the qualifying exam for people intending to teach Classes I-VIII of central government-run schools where CBSE syllabus is taught.

The National Council for Teachers' Education (NCTE) had mandated a single eligibility test be held for teachers across the country. Clearing this test will now be mandatory for applicants who wants to teach at central government-run schools like Kendriya and Navodaya Vidyalayas. This was made mandatory under the Right To Education act (RTE) and the CBSE was asked to conduct the exam.

Private schools following CBSE syllabus may or may not insist on it. Also, existing teachers need not take it. It is only for new entrants. CBSE said in its website, "it is desirable to ensure that quality requirement for recruitment of teachers is not diluted at any cost. It is therefore necessary to ensure that persons recruited as teachers possess the essential aptitude and ability to meet the challenges of teaching at the primary and upper primary level."

The application forms for the exam will be available from April 15 and it can be submitted online till May 10. The exam will be on June 26 and results will be declared by July 27. There will be two tests held, Paper-I and Paper-II, on the same day. Paper-I will be for people who intend to teach classes I-V, and Paper-II for people who intend to teach classes VI-VIII. People wanting to be able to teach Class I-VIII will have to appear for both. There will be no negative marking.

Only candidates securing 60% and above will be issued the CTET certificate. The CTET will be held annually and its certificate will be valid for seven years. There are seven examination centres in Maharashtra with two being in Vidarbha (Nagpur and Amravati). The CBSE has also made it clear that schools owned and managed by the state government/local bodies and aided schools should consider the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) conducted by the respective. However, a state government may make use of CTET scores for its schools if it wanted.

Students Says IIT-JEE 2011 easy paper happy for that

Pranjali Dudhe of Ambedkar College said, "It was very easy compared to what I was expecting. I could complete both the papers on time as I had practised a lot by solving many question papers at my coaching class". Pranjali is a student of the Maharashtra State board and still she found the test easy. She is not alone, Vakas Danish, from Akola, who found the exams easy, is also a student of the State board. Danish said, "I never went to any coaching classes but used to solve sample question papers. I found Paper II a bit hard, but overall I would say that the test was very easy".

The timing for Paper-I was from 9am - 12pm while Paper-II was scheduled from 2pm - 5pm. Majority of students said that the time limit was adequate to complete all the questions.

Sandeep Singh, a CBSE student from Kamptee, who had prepared for the exam after attending coaching classes, found both papers 'equally easy'. He added that there were no surprises in the test. "There is a general feeling about how tough it is to crack IIT-JEE but I found today's paper really easy and am very confident that I would get through".

According to coaching centres the reason for this is the lesser number of questions that carry negative markings. Nisha Kothari, owner of a private coaching class, said, "In Paper-I only half of the questions had negative marking, while in Paper-II only 24 (out of 60) questions carried negative marking. Exams are becoming easier for IIT and I believe the quality of IIT exams are going down like anything".

A team from IIT-Powai had arrived in Nagpur to officiate the exams. They however refused to share details on Sunday's exam saying they were not authorized to speak with the media.

This year the exams were conducted by IIT-K and the results of Sunday's exam will be declared on May 25.

Increase DTH connections in Amravati

The number of customers choosing DTH ( Direct To Home) over cable connections has increased by a huge margin this year. Since last few years more and more people have chosen DTH over cable connection, as can be seen from the mushrooming dish antennae atop homes.

With DTH companies announcing new facilities almost every other day, people tend to choose DTH connections these days. The entertainment tax department data says that number of DTH customers in Amravati division have increased from 90,084 last year to around 1.29 lakh this year. This means there has been an increase of over 39,000 subscribers this year. On the other hand, while last year there were 1.20 lakh subscribers of cable TV, this year there has been an increase of only 10,000 subscribers.

The government has recovered Rs 11.34 crore entertainment tax, of which around Rs 4.21 crore was collected from the DTH subscribers while Rs 3.42 crore was collected from cable TV connections

New SSC books priced Raised increased price of SSC books, Price of SSC Book Maharashtra

New SSC books priced Raised increased price of SSC books, Price of SSC Book Maharashtra -

Maths-I, a 186-page book, is now almost double the price of one it replaces at Rs 63. Maths-II, a 212-page book, has also witnessed a 184 per cent jump in price at Rs.71. These books have been prescribed by the State Board as part of upgrading the syllabus. The syllabus is being brought at par with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).

Also, instead of two science books, there is now just one. This 178-page book costs Rs 75, almost 18 per cent higher than the combined price of the books it replaces. Book shop owners say that students usually buy these books from mid-May. Still a few customers had started coming in early this year.

"This time, may be due to syllabus having changed, kids are wanting to start early" said Gautam Chopra, a bookstore owner. Since this is the first year of the new syllabus there are no second-hand books available. Students have no option but to buy the books at high prices.

Stall owners say the input costs for printing a book have increased quite a lot. In addition, these new books have a lot of illustrations and are overall a better quality product.