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NEET-PG admissions: SC allows counselling with 27% OBC and 10% EWS quota

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The Supreme Court on Friday cleared the decks for postgraduate medical counselling and admissions, including the Other Backward Classes (OBC) and economically weaker sections (EWS) reservations for the current academic year, 2021-22.

A bench headed by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and A.S. Bopanna upheld the constitutional validity of 27 per cent reservation for OBC and 10 per cent EWS for the NEET-UG and NEET-PG. However, the top court added that it would decide on the rationale of criteria of Rs 8 lakh income for EWS category in March this year.

On Thursday, after conducting a day-long hearing on petitions challenging the validity of EWS quota in postgraduate medical admissions and the Centre’s argument favouring the quota, the court said there is a situation, where in national interest, the counselling has to begin, which was also a key demand of protesting resident doctors.

A bench comprising Justices D.Y. Chandrachud and A.S. Bopanna said: “We are in a situation, where in the national interest the counselling has to begin.”

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, argued that all candidates eligible for the EWS quota, as per existing criteria, have got their certificates for registration and added that seats in all the government colleges have been increased to accommodate the EWS quota.

“So, this will not harm the chances of general category students…”, he added.

Mehta also clarified that super-speciality courses have no reservation and none of the judgments remotely suggests that there cannot be reservation in PG courses. On the aspect of the EWS quota, he said there was a study, application of mind, and wide consultation when the government decided to fix the Rs 8 lakh income limit.

The Centre has accepted the report of a three-member panel constituted to revisit the EWS criteria. The panel, in its report, said: “Firstly, the EWS’s criteria relates to the financial year prior to the year of application whereas the income criterion for the creamy layer in OBC category is applicable to gross annual income for three consecutive years.”

The panel added: “Secondly, in case of deciding the OBC creamy layer, income from salaries, agriculture, and traditional artisanal professions are excluded from the consideration whereas the Rs 8 lakh criteria for EWS includes that from all sources, including farming. So, despite being the same cut-off number, their composition is different and hence, the two cannot be equated.”

After hearing the parties in the matter, the top court reserved its judgment on the petitions challenging the 27 per cent reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBC) and 10 per cent reservation for EWS in all-India quota seats for postgraduate medical courses.

As many as 15 per cent seats in MBBS and 50 per cent seats in MS and MD courses are filled through all-India Quota from the candidates selected through the NEET.

National News

Western Railway Announces 4-Hour Jumbo Block Between Vasai Road & Virar On September 20-21 Night

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To carry out maintenance work of tracks, signaling and overhead equipment, a Jumbo Block of four hours will be taken on UP and DOWN slow lines between Vasai Road and Virar station from 00.15 hrs to 04.15 hrs during the intervening night of Saturday/Sunday, 20th/21st September, 2025.

According to Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, Vineet Abhishek during the block period, all Slow lines suburban trains will be run on fast lines between Vasai Road and Virar station.

Some suburban trains will remain cancelled during the block. Detailed information to this effect is available with concerned Station Masters.

*Therefore, there will be NO BLOCK in DAY TIME over Western Railway suburban section on Sunday, 21st September, 2025.*

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National News

Palghar: 12 Year Delay Over Extra High-Voltage Substation In Chikhal Dongre; Activists Raise Concern

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Palghar: While the Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company Limited (MSETCL) has been allocated the plot at Chikhal Dongre, virar west, to build an Extra High Voltage (EHV) sub-station, it’s been around five years since the ownership is still with the state government.

MSETCL officials confirmed that the tender process for the EHV substation has already been initiated and that efforts are underway to formally take over the plot. However, the delay has raised eyebrows, especially since the project has been pending for over 12 years. Activists allege that the long delay in setting up the EHV has put enormous stress on existing feeders, which are running at full capacity and frequently overloaded.

They also point out that several construction approvals (thousands of new meter connections) in Virar were granted based on this proposed EHV station, making the project crucial for the area’s growing residential and commercial needs.

In September 2013, MSETCL planned a 220/22 kV substation at Chikhal Dongre, Virar West, costing around 12.34 crores. In January 2020, they were allocated a 23000 square meter plot, but ownership remains with the state government, according to Yogesh Vaidya from Swaraj Abhiyan NGO.

He claims the delay in erecting substations has led to excessive load on existing infrastructure due to increased connections in Virar West. A senior MSETCL officer stated that a work order has been issued and the process for obtaining plot ownership is underway, with plans to commission the substation.

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Mumbai Press Exclusive News

Peaceful protest at Mumbai Handiwali Mosque, Muslims are ready to die for their Holy Prophet PBUH, case against Muslim youths should be withdrawn: Raza Academy

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he streets and mosques of Mumbai and Maharashtra echoed with the slogans of “Come, Muhammad” when a case was registered in UP for hanging a banner of “Come, Muhammad”. Throughout Maharashtra, lovers of the Prophet staged a peaceful protest, during which police arrangements were also deployed. After a case was filed against 25 Muslim youth for hanging a banner of “Come, Muhammad” on Eid Milad-un-Nabi (PBUH) in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, the name of Muhammad (PBUH) is trending on social media around the world. Muslims in Mumbai and Maharashtra also held peaceful protests after Friday prayers against this action of the UP police. In this protest, Muslims have demanded that the action taken by the police is wrong and that they should withdraw the case and apologize to the Muslim youth. Here, in the Handi Wali Mosque, the preacher and Imam Maulana Ijaz Kashmiri said that the name of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is famous in the world and Muslims follow their master. The way an FIR has been registered in UP for writing the name of Muhammad (peace be upon him) is completely unfair and now the police is trying to give it a different color. The police have declared it a separate case to divert attention from it, which is not right. Kashmiri said that the FIR registered by the police against the Muslim youth should be withdrawn and they should apologize because the police have tried to spoil the atmosphere by taking this action. He said that Muslims love the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) immensely, that is why they shower their lives on him. After that, Durood Pak and The slogan of “I Love Muhammad” was raised. The devotee of Rasool showed his devotion and love for the Prophet (peace be upon him) by raising the slogan of “I Love Muhammad” in Mumbai and Maharashtra. The police had made strict security arrangements during this time. In Govindi, Mumbai, MLA Abu Asim Azmi also protested with a placard of “I Love Muhammad” along with this, he said that the most popular and pious personality in the world is Muhammad Mustafa (peace be upon him). The way a case has been registered in UP for writing “I Love Muhammad”, that is why we are protesting peacefully. He said that communal elements object to everything, in such a situation, a conspiracy is also being hatched to spoil the atmosphere of the country, this needs to be paid attention to.

Saeed Noori, head of Raza Academy, said that a Muslim can tolerate everything but cannot tolerate the disrespect of his Prophet and for this he will not hesitate to sacrifice his life because the Holy Prophet (PBUH) is the part of the faith and belief of Muslims. Therefore, we demand that the police immediately withdraw the case registered against the Muslim youth.

Similarly, protest demonstrations were also held in Aurangabad, Mumbra, Nanded, Bhiwandi, Osmanabad in Maharashtra. In the protest demonstration, the lovers of the Prophet (PBUH) held a placard of Come, Muhammad (PBUH) and raised the slogan of Come, Muhammad. Not only that, a memorandum was given to the collector in Nanded and Jantur. In addition, the lovers of the Prophet demonstrated at the square in Beed.

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