The Government of Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test Cell has on Wednesday released the MHT CET 2017 official notification on the official website dtemaharashtra.gov.in and the entrance test will be held on May 11.

The registration process for MHT CET 2017 has already started and will continue till March 23.

The test is conducted for admission to full-time UG courses in Engineering, Technology (BE/BTech) and Pharmacy (BPharm/Pharm D) in the government, government-aided, University Managed, University Departments and Unaided Institutes in the Maharashtra state.

Aspiring candidates should at least pass Class Xii exam from a reognised state board/university and should have obtained a minimum aggregate of 50 per cent marks in physics, chemistry and mathematics (45 percent for SC/ST/OBC candidates).

The registration process for Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive Examination (BCECE) was announced on February 14 and the filling up of the application form will continue till March 6.

Interested candidates can get themselves registered at the official website www.bceceboard.com.

Aspirants should have passed Class XII or equivalent exam with chemistry, physics and mathematics or biology as compulsory subjects and candidates who are appearing for Class XII board or equivalent examination in 2017 are also eligible to apply.

To get qualified for admission, candidates have to pass both the stages of the entrance test.

The BCECE exam is conducted every year for admission in various UG courses in the field of engineering, pharmacy and agriculture offered by the colleges located in Bihar.

The registration process for Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive Examination (BCECE) was announced on February 14 and the filling up of the application form will continue till March 6.

Interested candidates can get themselves registered at the official website www.bceceboard.com.

Aspirants should have passed Class XII or equivalent exam with chemistry, physics and mathematics or biology as compulsory subjects and candidates who are appearing for Class XII board or equivalent examination in 2017 are also eligible to apply.

To get qualified for admission, candidates have to pass both the stages of the entrance test.

The BCECE exam is conducted every year for admission in various UG courses in the field of engineering, pharmacy and agriculture offered by the colleges located in Bihar.

AIADMK General Secretary VK Sasikala, convicted for corruption, on Wednesday surrendered before a trial court set up in the prison complex in Bengaluru.

Sasikala gave herself up at the Central Jail on the city's southern outskirts with her relatives Elavarasi and VN Sudhakaran after reaching from Chennai by road.

One official said Sasikala underwent a medical check-up.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday convicted Sasikala in a disproportionate assets case. She and two of her relatives will be lodged in the Parappana Agrahara Central Jail to serve the remainder of their term.

The apex court on Wednesday rejected a plea by Sasikala seeking more time to surrender after it upheld her conviction in the disproportionate assets case by a trial court.

A bench headed by Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose declined the plea as senior counsel KTS Tulsi mentioned it before the court.

The apex court on Tuesday, while holding Sasikala and two others guilty of amassing disproportionate assets, had directed her to surrender to the trial court to undergo her remaining sentence.

AIADMK General Secretary VK Sasikala, convicted for corruption, on Wednesday surrendered before a trial court set up in the prison complex in Bengaluru.

Sasikala gave herself up at the Central Jail on the city's southern outskirts with her relatives Elavarasi and VN Sudhakaran after reaching from Chennai by road.

One official said Sasikala underwent a medical check-up.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday convicted Sasikala in a disproportionate assets case. She and two of her relatives will be lodged in the Parappana Agrahara Central Jail to serve the remainder of their term.

The apex court on Wednesday rejected a plea by Sasikala seeking more time to surrender after it upheld her conviction in the disproportionate assets case by a trial court.

A bench headed by Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose declined the plea as senior counsel KTS Tulsi mentioned it before the court.

The apex court on Tuesday, while holding Sasikala and two others guilty of amassing disproportionate assets, had directed her to surrender to the trial court to undergo her remaining sentence.

Telecom regulator Trai has set up a joint committee consisting of industry representatives to examine and identify regulations and tariff orders that are out of sync with times.

"We have formed a joint committee with industry representatives, which will identify regulations and tariff orders that have become obsolete. The committee will give its advice to us, and we will take it up along with other issues that have been identified for this year," Trai Chairman RS Sharma said.

The committee includes Ravi Gandhi (Bharti Airtel), Sundeep Kathuria (Vodafone India), Kapoor Singh Guliani (Reliance Jio Infocomm), Rahul Vatts (Idea Cellular), and Anil Verma (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd) and is headed by Sanjeev Banzal, Advisor – Networks, Spectrum and Licensing, Trai.

Explaining the mandate of the newly-formed committee, Sharma cited the example of paging services where related regulations may have become outdated or are no longer relevant.

"There are services that do not exist anymore… like the paging industry… so, those we should remove from the tariff orders and regulations… Similarly, there may be some regulations that relate to technology… maybe, the service remains, but the technology underlining the service has changed, but we still have regulations that bind the services and technology together… they need to be identified," Sharma said.

Sharma also said the committee's suggestions will be taken up by the regulator along with other issues identified for review in 2017.

Trai will be carrying out public consultation in areas such as developing a new framework for tariffs in evolving the communication sector, next-generation public protection and disaster relief communication networks, review of national numbering plan, review of USO fund and exploring combining data from different sources.

Sources said Trai has already written to committee members to provide, by the end of February, their initial inputs on obsolete regulations in the telecom sector.

Telecom regulator Trai has set up a joint committee consisting of industry representatives to examine and identify regulations and tariff orders that are out of sync with times.

"We have formed a joint committee with industry representatives, which will identify regulations and tariff orders that have become obsolete. The committee will give its advice to us, and we will take it up along with other issues that have been identified for this year," Trai Chairman RS Sharma said.

The committee includes Ravi Gandhi (Bharti Airtel), Sundeep Kathuria (Vodafone India), Kapoor Singh Guliani (Reliance Jio Infocomm), Rahul Vatts (Idea Cellular), and Anil Verma (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd) and is headed by Sanjeev Banzal, Advisor – Networks, Spectrum and Licensing, Trai.

Explaining the mandate of the newly-formed committee, Sharma cited the example of paging services where related regulations may have become outdated or are no longer relevant.

"There are services that do not exist anymore… like the paging industry… so, those we should remove from the tariff orders and regulations… Similarly, there may be some regulations that relate to technology… maybe, the service remains, but the technology underlining the service has changed, but we still have regulations that bind the services and technology together… they need to be identified," Sharma said.

Sharma also said the committee's suggestions will be taken up by the regulator along with other issues identified for review in 2017.

Trai will be carrying out public consultation in areas such as developing a new framework for tariffs in evolving the communication sector, next-generation public protection and disaster relief communication networks, review of national numbering plan, review of USO fund and exploring combining data from different sources.

Sources said Trai has already written to committee members to provide, by the end of February, their initial inputs on obsolete regulations in the telecom sector.

Polling in Uttarakhand went on at a brisk pace on Wednesday with around 53 per cent of the electorate exercising their franchise by 3 pm, officials said.

Haridwar led the rest of the districts recording the highest polling percentage of 62, followed by Uttarkashi and Udhamsingh Nagar which recorded a 60-per cent voter turnout each at 3 pm, the state election office said here.

Chief minister Harish Rawat is contesting from two seats — Haridwar (Rural) and Kichha in Udhamsingh Nagar district.

Polling in Uttarakhand went on at a brisk pace on Wednesday with around 53 per cent of the electorate exercising their franchise by 3 pm, officials said.

Haridwar led the rest of the districts recording the highest polling percentage of 62, followed by Uttarkashi and Udhamsingh Nagar which recorded a 60-per cent voter turnout each at 3 pm, the state election office said here.

Chief minister Harish Rawat is contesting from two seats — Haridwar (Rural) and Kichha in Udhamsingh Nagar district.

AIADMK General Secretary VK Sasikala, convicted for corruption, arrived at the Central Jail in Bengaluru on Wednesday to surrender, according to an official.

"Sasikala arrived in the jail premises with her relatives Elavarasi and VN Sudhakaran from Chennai," the official said.

She will formally surrender before a trial court set up in the prison complex.

As she left by road to Bengaluru to surrender even as an MLA accused her of abducting him, she vowed to return to politics.

As supporters flashed the "V" sign, the beleaguered Sasikala looked pensive as she was driven in a motorcade after a quick visit to the Marina Beach memorial of her mentor, the late J Jayalalithaa.

Hitting the floor thrice with her right hand, Sasikala took a pledge that she would come back after defeating the "betrayers" in the AIADMK.

It was an apparent reference to acting Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, who claims the support of some 40 of the 135 AIADMK MLAs and alleges that most legislators housed in a resort near here were being forcibly held.

Sasikala supporters claim the support of a majority of AIADMK legislators and insist that all of them are at the resort on their free will.

Sasikala later went to AIADMK founder late MG Ramachandran's house at Ramavaram here and paid her respects before his picture and also meditated for some time.

At both places, hundreds of Sasikala supporters gathered, most of them looking grim.

The Supreme Court earlier rejected her plea seeking more time to surrender, a day after it upheld her conviction for corruption, a prison term of 10 years and fine of Rs 10 crore.

Also convicted in the case were former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, who died on December 5, and two Sasikala relatives. All of them lived with the late Jayalalithaa at her Poes Garden residence.

A bench headed by Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose declined the plea by senior counsel KTS Tulsi, who said Sasikala wanted some time to surrender due to personal reasons. 

Sasikala then left for Bengaluru followed by scores of supporters in a dozen cars.

Before leaving Chennai, she appointed a nephew, TTV Dinakaran, as the AIADMK Deputy General Secretary, triggering resentment among old-timers.

Meanwhile, hundreds of police personnel reached the resort where AIADMK MLAs backing Sasikala are housed after one legislator accused her of abduction.

SS Saravanan, an MLA from Madurai South, slapped the complaint against both Sasikala and E. Palanisamy, who was elected leader of the AIADMK legislature wing in her place after she got legally entangled.

Saravanan landed up at Panneerselvam's residence here on Monday and told the media that he scaled a wall at the resort and jumped down to escape.

He said he had to disguise himself to get away from the resort where he alleged he was held against his wishes.

Many pro-Sasikala legislators told the media on Wednesday that they were not being held forcibly as alleged by the Panneerselvam camp.

But after Saravanan's complaint, a large number of police personnel reached the resort.

One of the legislators, Thenarasu, told the media that the legislators would vacate the resort once the Tamil Nadu Governor invited their leader to form a government.

He said the legislators could also vacate the resort if Palanisamy told them to do so.

Thenarasu said the police made some enquiries and had left. But others at the site said they were still massed outside the complex.

AIADMK General Secretary VK Sasikala, convicted for corruption, arrived at the Central Jail in Bengaluru on Wednesday to surrender, according to an official.

"Sasikala arrived in the jail premises with her relatives Elavarasi and VN Sudhakaran from Chennai," the official said.

She will formally surrender before a trial court set up in the prison complex.

As she left by road to Bengaluru to surrender even as an MLA accused her of abducting him, she vowed to return to politics.

As supporters flashed the "V" sign, the beleaguered Sasikala looked pensive as she was driven in a motorcade after a quick visit to the Marina Beach memorial of her mentor, the late J Jayalalithaa.

Hitting the floor thrice with her right hand, Sasikala took a pledge that she would come back after defeating the "betrayers" in the AIADMK.

It was an apparent reference to acting Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, who claims the support of some 40 of the 135 AIADMK MLAs and alleges that most legislators housed in a resort near here were being forcibly held.

Sasikala supporters claim the support of a majority of AIADMK legislators and insist that all of them are at the resort on their free will.

Sasikala later went to AIADMK founder late MG Ramachandran's house at Ramavaram here and paid her respects before his picture and also meditated for some time.

At both places, hundreds of Sasikala supporters gathered, most of them looking grim.

The Supreme Court earlier rejected her plea seeking more time to surrender, a day after it upheld her conviction for corruption, a prison term of 10 years and fine of Rs 10 crore.

Also convicted in the case were former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, who died on December 5, and two Sasikala relatives. All of them lived with the late Jayalalithaa at her Poes Garden residence.

A bench headed by Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose declined the plea by senior counsel KTS Tulsi, who said Sasikala wanted some time to surrender due to personal reasons. 

Sasikala then left for Bengaluru followed by scores of supporters in a dozen cars.

Before leaving Chennai, she appointed a nephew, TTV Dinakaran, as the AIADMK Deputy General Secretary, triggering resentment among old-timers.

Meanwhile, hundreds of police personnel reached the resort where AIADMK MLAs backing Sasikala are housed after one legislator accused her of abduction.

SS Saravanan, an MLA from Madurai South, slapped the complaint against both Sasikala and E. Palanisamy, who was elected leader of the AIADMK legislature wing in her place after she got legally entangled.

Saravanan landed up at Panneerselvam's residence here on Monday and told the media that he scaled a wall at the resort and jumped down to escape.

He said he had to disguise himself to get away from the resort where he alleged he was held against his wishes.

Many pro-Sasikala legislators told the media on Wednesday that they were not being held forcibly as alleged by the Panneerselvam camp.

But after Saravanan's complaint, a large number of police personnel reached the resort.

One of the legislators, Thenarasu, told the media that the legislators would vacate the resort once the Tamil Nadu Governor invited their leader to form a government.

He said the legislators could also vacate the resort if Palanisamy told them to do so.

Thenarasu said the police made some enquiries and had left. But others at the site said they were still massed outside the complex.

With just six PSUs listed in eight years, the government plans to fix strict timelines for all profit making, large and medium sized state-owned firms to launch IPOs and list on stock exchanges.

The government is very clear in its approach of getting all profit making central public sector enterprises (CPSEs) listed in a time-bound manner to open them up for public scrutiny and higher transparency, DIPAM Secretary Neeraj Gupta said in an interview.

Towards this end, he said, CPSEs should set their house in order by meeting all listing requirements like audited accounts for last three years and fully constituted board with requisite number of independent directors.

Although he did not indicate the time-frame the government is looking at for listing them, another senior official said the process "should not take more than one to two years, at max, three years".

The Union Budget 2017-18 has given a clear "focus and direction" to listing of CPSEs, said the Secretary, Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) which was earlier known as Department of Disinvestment)

"Profit making large and medium sized CPSEs — no point listing small CPSEs — should list. They should open up for public scrutiny and higher transparency. They should compete in the market and establish themselves for whatever worth they can command in the market," he said.

In the process, they will have access to capital market for expansion of business activity and not rely merely on their own resources, which is government investment, he said.

"This policy clearly indicates that government has intention to complete these processes in a time bound manner," he said, adding that the listing process has two parts — internal process and the actual transaction ie initial public offering (IPO) and listing.

The administrative ministries, he said, will have to shoulder responsibilities in getting the companies ready for listing, which has to be done "prudently and at the right time".

The CPSEs to be listed would be selected based on their turnover, profitability and net worth thresholds, guidelines for which will be issued shortly, he said.

"Time bound means what should be a reasonable time-frame for creating a draft red herring prospectus (DRHP)… Once the books of accounts have been audited and approved how much time should they take in filing a DRHP? 6 months?…. Some time-frame would be stipulated after discussing with everyone," he said.

With just six PSUs listed in eight years, the government plans to fix strict timelines for all profit making, large and medium sized state-owned firms to launch IPOs and list on stock exchanges.

The government is very clear in its approach of getting all profit making central public sector enterprises (CPSEs) listed in a time-bound manner to open them up for public scrutiny and higher transparency, DIPAM Secretary Neeraj Gupta said in an interview.

Towards this end, he said, CPSEs should set their house in order by meeting all listing requirements like audited accounts for last three years and fully constituted board with requisite number of independent directors.

Although he did not indicate the time-frame the government is looking at for listing them, another senior official said the process "should not take more than one to two years, at max, three years".

The Union Budget 2017-18 has given a clear "focus and direction" to listing of CPSEs, said the Secretary, Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) which was earlier known as Department of Disinvestment)

"Profit making large and medium sized CPSEs — no point listing small CPSEs — should list. They should open up for public scrutiny and higher transparency. They should compete in the market and establish themselves for whatever worth they can command in the market," he said.

In the process, they will have access to capital market for expansion of business activity and not rely merely on their own resources, which is government investment, he said.

"This policy clearly indicates that government has intention to complete these processes in a time bound manner," he said, adding that the listing process has two parts — internal process and the actual transaction ie initial public offering (IPO) and listing.

The administrative ministries, he said, will have to shoulder responsibilities in getting the companies ready for listing, which has to be done "prudently and at the right time".

The CPSEs to be listed would be selected based on their turnover, profitability and net worth thresholds, guidelines for which will be issued shortly, he said.

"Time bound means what should be a reasonable time-frame for creating a draft red herring prospectus (DRHP)… Once the books of accounts have been audited and approved how much time should they take in filing a DRHP? 6 months?…. Some time-frame would be stipulated after discussing with everyone," he said.

After bagging the Euro 8.78 billion deal for 36 Rafale fighters to strengthen the IAF fleet, French aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation is now eying the naval contract of 57 aircraft that is up for grabs.

The navy issued a 'Request for Information' last month seeking response from various manufacturers to equip its aircraft carriers with fighter jets, shelving the original plan to go in for the naval version of the indigenous Tejas.

Eric Trappier, CEO of Dassault Aviation, said the French aviation company will pitch for the naval contract.

"We are the only company to have strictly the same aircraft for our air force and for our navy. Our Rafale for the navy and the air force are same," he told.

Early last year, a team from France had given a detailed presentation to senior navy officers on various aspects of the naval version and the benefits it would offer with two arms of defence forces using Rafale fighter jets.

"In case we have the new contract for the navy, we will benefit from the local implementation of the Rafale production (for the air force)," Trappier said.

The air force is also looking to procure fighter jets to replenish its aging fleet. Dassault has already begun manufacturing the initial lot of the 36 Rafale jets for the Indian Air Force.

Like other defence companies vying for the multi-billion dollar contract, Dassault too has offered to set up a manufacturing line in India.

"We started to think seriously about producing Rafale in India a long time ago. We will start production of parts of Rafale, which is a part of the exisiting contract.

"It will not only be Rafale, but parts of Falcon (fighter jet) will be produced in India. We want to have a serious footprint under the Make in India programme.

"If we get new contract for more Rafale jets, it will help us to develop more capabilities and we will have an assembly line in India," Trappier said.

After bagging the Euro 8.78 billion deal for 36 Rafale fighters to strengthen the IAF fleet, French aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation is now eying the naval contract of 57 aircraft that is up for grabs.

The navy issued a 'Request for Information' last month seeking response from various manufacturers to equip its aircraft carriers with fighter jets, shelving the original plan to go in for the naval version of the indigenous Tejas.

Eric Trappier, CEO of Dassault Aviation, said the French aviation company will pitch for the naval contract.

"We are the only company to have strictly the same aircraft for our air force and for our navy. Our Rafale for the navy and the air force are same," he told.

Early last year, a team from France had given a detailed presentation to senior navy officers on various aspects of the naval version and the benefits it would offer with two arms of defence forces using Rafale fighter jets.

"In case we have the new contract for the navy, we will benefit from the local implementation of the Rafale production (for the air force)," Trappier said.

The air force is also looking to procure fighter jets to replenish its aging fleet. Dassault has already begun manufacturing the initial lot of the 36 Rafale jets for the Indian Air Force.

Like other defence companies vying for the multi-billion dollar contract, Dassault too has offered to set up a manufacturing line in India.

"We started to think seriously about producing Rafale in India a long time ago. We will start production of parts of Rafale, which is a part of the exisiting contract.

"It will not only be Rafale, but parts of Falcon (fighter jet) will be produced in India. We want to have a serious footprint under the Make in India programme.

"If we get new contract for more Rafale jets, it will help us to develop more capabilities and we will have an assembly line in India," Trappier said.

Veteran actress Rekha along with Maharashtra Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao will honour Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan with the Yash Chopra Memorial Award here later this month.

The fourth edition of the event, which commemorates the late filmmaker Yash Chopra by honouring excellence in various spheres of cinema like acting and music, will be held on February 25, the organisers said in a statement.

Shah Rukh has been part of the Hindi film industry for over two decades and has worked in films like Darr, Dil To Pagal Hai, Veer-Zaara and Jab Tak Hai Jaan, helmed by Chopra.

The award jury comprised of Pamela Chopra — widow of Yash Chopra — and Bollywood luminaries like Hema Malini, Boney Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, Simi Garewal and Padmini Kolhapure.

All-rounder Glenn Maxwell on Wednesday suggested that the best way to tackle the onslaught from India skipper Virat Kohli during the four-match Test cricket rubber will be to "trigger a doubt" in the Delhi batsman's technique.

The 28-year-old Kohli has hit a purple patch, becoming the only batsman in the game to score double tons in four consecutive series, giving sleepless nights to the Australians ahead of the first Test, starting February 23 in Pune.

Maxwell feels that the India right-hander is on top of his game at the moment and the best way to get him is by shattering his confidence with a silly run-out or an unfortunate dismissal.

"I don't think it's anything particular as far as technique or anything like that, I just think he's so on top of his game at the moment," Maxwell was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.

"Guys can go through a run of form like that where they just get on a roll and everything seems to click for them, and that's happened for him at the moment."

"The thing with that is it can take only one bit of bad luck or an unfortunate dismissal where he's run out or something, and that can sometimes trigger a little bit of indecision or doubt."

"So hopefully in the first couple of Tests we can create that doubt and get him wondering about his technique," he added.

Hailing Kohli's level of consistency, Maxwell said: "We've obviously been watching him play over the last few months and just admired the way that he's gone about it."

"He's been extremely consistent and he's gone on to score big hundreds, which is something he didn't do very much in the early part of his career but now he's making big double-hundreds and really winning the game for India," he added.