30/05/2010
DiCaprio wants to save tigers
London: Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio has launched a campaign to protect the tigers.
(GOOD TO SEE HIM DOING THIS, TITANIC TEAM HAS MADE A ANIMATION MOVIE RECENTLY NAMED'AVATAR'...SOUNDING HINDI...IT HAS ALL CHARACTER OF BLUE SKINNED AND WITH JATTA-JUTE ON HEAD, JUNGLE PEOPLE...SOMETHING LIKE LORD SHIVA OF NEEL KAANTH AVATAR.THIS IS WHAT I GATHER FROM PROMOS SHOWN ON TV....GOOD TO HIGHLIGHT WILD LIFE AND RAISE VOICE FOR THEM)
"Tigers are endangered and critical to some of the world's most important eco-systems. Key conservation efforts can save the tiger from extinction, protect some of the planet's last wild habitats and help sustain the local communities surrounding them," contactmusic.com quoted him as saying.
The "Titanic" star has joined hands with the World Wildlife Fund to create "Save Tigers Now" with a view to raise $20 million for the cause.
DiCaprio, who is currently in Asia learning about the declining number of the species, hopes to double the population of the big cats by 2022.
Source: IANS
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
Dalai Lama inaugurates Buddha Smriti Park in Patna-28/5/10
Dalai Lama inaugurates Buddha Smriti Park in Patna
Posted: 28 May 2010 11:04 AM PDT
Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Thursday inaugurated the Buddha Smriti Park, a sprawling 22 acre park dedicated to Lord Buddha in the heart of the city, on the occasion of Buddha Purnima.
PATNA: Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Thursday inaugurated the Buddha Smriti Park, a sprawling 22 acre park dedicated to Lord Buddha in the heart of the city, on the occasion of Buddha Purnima.
The inauguration of the Buddha memorial park was an international event attended by delegations from four predominantly Buddhist countries –Sri Lanka, Burma, Japan and Thailand.
The Dalai Lama thanked Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar for inviting him to inaugurate the memorial park built to commemorate the 2,554 th birth anniversary of Gautam Buddha and described his visit to the state as a pleasant one.
The foreign delegations attended the prayer ceremony during the inaugural function. They brought consecrated Buddha urns and gifts, which were kept at the memorial park by the Dalai Lama.
The spiritual leader also planted a sapling of the tree under which Lord Buddha is believed to have attained enlightenment in Bodh Gaya. A branch of the original Mahabodhi tree is believed to have been taken to Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka by Emperor Ashok’s son Mahendra.
The Sri Lankan delegation had brought a sapling from this tree to be planted at the Buddha Smriti Park.
Bihar governor D. Konwar and the chief minister, along with his cabinet colleagues and top officials, were present during the ceremony.
The park is located near the Patna railway junction and is spread over 22 acres of prime land located in the heart of the city. The project is estimated to have cost more than Rs.125 crore.
Posted: 28 May 2010 11:04 AM PDT
Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Thursday inaugurated the Buddha Smriti Park, a sprawling 22 acre park dedicated to Lord Buddha in the heart of the city, on the occasion of Buddha Purnima.
PATNA: Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Thursday inaugurated the Buddha Smriti Park, a sprawling 22 acre park dedicated to Lord Buddha in the heart of the city, on the occasion of Buddha Purnima.
The inauguration of the Buddha memorial park was an international event attended by delegations from four predominantly Buddhist countries –Sri Lanka, Burma, Japan and Thailand.
The Dalai Lama thanked Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar for inviting him to inaugurate the memorial park built to commemorate the 2,554 th birth anniversary of Gautam Buddha and described his visit to the state as a pleasant one.
The foreign delegations attended the prayer ceremony during the inaugural function. They brought consecrated Buddha urns and gifts, which were kept at the memorial park by the Dalai Lama.
The spiritual leader also planted a sapling of the tree under which Lord Buddha is believed to have attained enlightenment in Bodh Gaya. A branch of the original Mahabodhi tree is believed to have been taken to Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka by Emperor Ashok’s son Mahendra.
The Sri Lankan delegation had brought a sapling from this tree to be planted at the Buddha Smriti Park.
Bihar governor D. Konwar and the chief minister, along with his cabinet colleagues and top officials, were present during the ceremony.
The park is located near the Patna railway junction and is spread over 22 acres of prime land located in the heart of the city. The project is estimated to have cost more than Rs.125 crore.
Delhi’s water woes begin as mercury soars
Delhi’s water woes begin as mercury soars
May 6th, 2009 - 6:06 pm ICT by IANS -
By Pupul Dutta
New Delhi, May 6 (IANS) With the onslaught of summer that is pushing temperatures to new highs, the capital’s water woes have also started, sending people to queue up with their buckets at neighbourhood taps or make frantic calls to water tankers.
And like in the past, people complain that the Delhi Jal Board, the primary supplier of water in the capital, continues to maintain that it is well equipped to handle the situation - almost bordering on a denial.
“May has just begun but the problem has increased. Supply is erratic. Sometimes there is no supply at all,” said S.K.S. Kanwar, president, residents’ welfare association in one of the blocks at Vasant Kunj, among the largest residential colonies in Asia.
“Our complaints have fallen on deaf ears. Water board officials have not even paid a visit once to check the status of pumps in the area,” Kanwar told IANS. “It’s nothing new, we have now become totally dependent on water tankers.”
Home to over 16 million people, this city has been plagued by acute water shortages for several decades during summers. Studies point out that ageing infrastructure and dripping pipes have only added to the problem.
As per a recent report of the Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham), the city’s daily water requirement is around 4,275 million litres, while the supply is only around 3,375 million litres.
Almost half this supply is lost due to leakage and theft, which stands at a whopping 47 percent in Delhi compared to Bangalore’s 39 percent and Mumbai’s 30 percent. Therefore, 27 percent of the city’s homes get tap water for less than two hours a day, says Assocham.
The capital’s water board, however, downplayed the crisis.
“There is no scarcity so far. We are meeting the demand,” said board chief executive Ramesh Negi. He told IANS that about 3,200 million litres were sourced from the Ganga and that the Uttar Pradesh government was also supplying water.
Negi said Uttar Pradesh has helped in another way.
Last month, the Uttarakhand government planned to plug supplies from April 15 for a fortnight to clean up parts of the Upper Ganga Canal near Haridwar for the Maha Kumbh festival in 2010.
But the Uttar Pradesh government, which manages the canal even though it originates from Uttarakhand, spiked the proposal, ensuring uninterrupted supply of around 1,000 litres of water per day to Delhi.
Delhi gets its water from several sources such as the Ganga, Yamuna, the Bhakra Nangal dam on the Sutlej river in Himachal Pradesh as also 53 underground reservoirs. “Another 20-25 reservoirs will be constructed in about two years,” Negi said.
He maintained that the Sonia Vihar Reservoir Project in Delhi to address the capital’s water problems, which did not receive water till a couple of years ago, now gets regular supply from the Tehri dam in Uttarakhand.
But like Kanwar, Chittaranjan Park resident Polly Sanyal disagrees with Negi. “It seems that I am paying a price for staying in a good neighbourhood in south Delhi. There is no water. Private tankers fleece us, but we have no choice.”
On an average, water from a private tanker costs Rs.130 for 750 litres and Rs.200 for 1,000 litres. In other words, if an average family has to survive on the supplies from tankers, the cost would come to Rs.3,900-Rs.6,000 per month.
Though the Delhi Jal Board also has 25 emergency tankers, these seldom reach on time during crises, residents complain. “I’ve never seen one,” said Sanyal.
What has exacerbated matters is the growing number of Delhi’s floating population and hotels that account for 52 litres of per capita water consumption. Rainwater harvesting has also not really caught on, though Delhi receives on an average 611 mm of rain per year.
Little wonder Assocham says the capital’s water crisis can get more complex and lead to more inter-state conflicts if prompt measures are not taken to tackle the problem. “The capital could run out of water by 2015.”
May 6th, 2009 - 6:06 pm ICT by IANS -
By Pupul Dutta
New Delhi, May 6 (IANS) With the onslaught of summer that is pushing temperatures to new highs, the capital’s water woes have also started, sending people to queue up with their buckets at neighbourhood taps or make frantic calls to water tankers.
And like in the past, people complain that the Delhi Jal Board, the primary supplier of water in the capital, continues to maintain that it is well equipped to handle the situation - almost bordering on a denial.
“May has just begun but the problem has increased. Supply is erratic. Sometimes there is no supply at all,” said S.K.S. Kanwar, president, residents’ welfare association in one of the blocks at Vasant Kunj, among the largest residential colonies in Asia.
“Our complaints have fallen on deaf ears. Water board officials have not even paid a visit once to check the status of pumps in the area,” Kanwar told IANS. “It’s nothing new, we have now become totally dependent on water tankers.”
Home to over 16 million people, this city has been plagued by acute water shortages for several decades during summers. Studies point out that ageing infrastructure and dripping pipes have only added to the problem.
As per a recent report of the Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham), the city’s daily water requirement is around 4,275 million litres, while the supply is only around 3,375 million litres.
Almost half this supply is lost due to leakage and theft, which stands at a whopping 47 percent in Delhi compared to Bangalore’s 39 percent and Mumbai’s 30 percent. Therefore, 27 percent of the city’s homes get tap water for less than two hours a day, says Assocham.
The capital’s water board, however, downplayed the crisis.
“There is no scarcity so far. We are meeting the demand,” said board chief executive Ramesh Negi. He told IANS that about 3,200 million litres were sourced from the Ganga and that the Uttar Pradesh government was also supplying water.
Negi said Uttar Pradesh has helped in another way.
Last month, the Uttarakhand government planned to plug supplies from April 15 for a fortnight to clean up parts of the Upper Ganga Canal near Haridwar for the Maha Kumbh festival in 2010.
But the Uttar Pradesh government, which manages the canal even though it originates from Uttarakhand, spiked the proposal, ensuring uninterrupted supply of around 1,000 litres of water per day to Delhi.
Delhi gets its water from several sources such as the Ganga, Yamuna, the Bhakra Nangal dam on the Sutlej river in Himachal Pradesh as also 53 underground reservoirs. “Another 20-25 reservoirs will be constructed in about two years,” Negi said.
He maintained that the Sonia Vihar Reservoir Project in Delhi to address the capital’s water problems, which did not receive water till a couple of years ago, now gets regular supply from the Tehri dam in Uttarakhand.
But like Kanwar, Chittaranjan Park resident Polly Sanyal disagrees with Negi. “It seems that I am paying a price for staying in a good neighbourhood in south Delhi. There is no water. Private tankers fleece us, but we have no choice.”
On an average, water from a private tanker costs Rs.130 for 750 litres and Rs.200 for 1,000 litres. In other words, if an average family has to survive on the supplies from tankers, the cost would come to Rs.3,900-Rs.6,000 per month.
Though the Delhi Jal Board also has 25 emergency tankers, these seldom reach on time during crises, residents complain. “I’ve never seen one,” said Sanyal.
What has exacerbated matters is the growing number of Delhi’s floating population and hotels that account for 52 litres of per capita water consumption. Rainwater harvesting has also not really caught on, though Delhi receives on an average 611 mm of rain per year.
Little wonder Assocham says the capital’s water crisis can get more complex and lead to more inter-state conflicts if prompt measures are not taken to tackle the problem. “The capital could run out of water by 2015.”
PM’s climate change council clears National Water Mission-28/5/10
PM’s climate change council clears National Water Mission
May 28th, 2010 - 11:14 pm ICT by IANS -
Manmohan Singh New Delhi, May 28 (IANS) The Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change Friday gave in principle approval to the National Water Mission and suggested that its basic approach should be to make water conservation a peoples’ movement in the country.
The council meeting, which was chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, discussed steps to make available all data on water in the public domain so as to mobilise citizens, local and state governments for focused action on water conservation and augmentation.
An official spokesman said that the meeting decided to raise efficiency of water use by 20 percent through the promotion of water-positive and water-neutral technologies.
The prime minister highlighted the need to create a general consciousness about the need to use water in the most sustainable manner.
He said that political leadership at the local and state levels and civil society organisations need to be involved in activities of the Water Mission and an integrated approach based on basin development planning should be evolved.
The meeting decided that the first step in the direction of involving political leadership at various levels would be to prepare a comprehensive water data base in the public domain and assess the impact of climate change on water.
Action would be focused on vulnerable areas, where ground water is overexploited.
Members felt that a structure of incentives should be created for using water in a sustainable manner and focus should be on research and development requirements of the mission.
Many members also stressed the need to use the opportunities provided by Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme as it prioritises community-level water security.
The National Water Mission is among the eight national missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change released in 2008.
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, Water Resources Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal, Non-Conventional and Renewable Energy Resources Minister Farooq Abdullah, Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister (Independent Charge) Kumari Selja, Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh were among those present at the meeting.
May 28th, 2010 - 11:14 pm ICT by IANS -
Manmohan Singh New Delhi, May 28 (IANS) The Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change Friday gave in principle approval to the National Water Mission and suggested that its basic approach should be to make water conservation a peoples’ movement in the country.
The council meeting, which was chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, discussed steps to make available all data on water in the public domain so as to mobilise citizens, local and state governments for focused action on water conservation and augmentation.
An official spokesman said that the meeting decided to raise efficiency of water use by 20 percent through the promotion of water-positive and water-neutral technologies.
The prime minister highlighted the need to create a general consciousness about the need to use water in the most sustainable manner.
He said that political leadership at the local and state levels and civil society organisations need to be involved in activities of the Water Mission and an integrated approach based on basin development planning should be evolved.
The meeting decided that the first step in the direction of involving political leadership at various levels would be to prepare a comprehensive water data base in the public domain and assess the impact of climate change on water.
Action would be focused on vulnerable areas, where ground water is overexploited.
Members felt that a structure of incentives should be created for using water in a sustainable manner and focus should be on research and development requirements of the mission.
Many members also stressed the need to use the opportunities provided by Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme as it prioritises community-level water security.
The National Water Mission is among the eight national missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change released in 2008.
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, Water Resources Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal, Non-Conventional and Renewable Energy Resources Minister Farooq Abdullah, Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister (Independent Charge) Kumari Selja, Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh were among those present at the meeting.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
IIT results: Sahal Kaushik, 14, is the toast of Delhi
IIT results: Sahal Kaushik, 14, is the toast of Delhi
2010-05-26 22:20:00
Last Updated: 2010-05-27 10:05:17
There is life beyond IIT & JEE
New Delhi: Fourteen-year-old Sahal Kaushik, who holds the 33rd rank at all-India level in the IIT JEE exam, emerged the Delhi region topper in the entrance examination.
At the press conference to honour the toppers, Sahal, who was too shy to speak on stage, handed the mike over to his mother Ruchi Kaushik. But that was just for a while, off the stage, the boy giggled with his friend and answered media questions quite comfortably.
'He mixes where he wants to. He has participated in competitions at the international level and mixed very well with everyone,' says Ruchi. A doctor by profession, Ruchi was her son's first teacher.
'His basic schooling was mostly at home and I looked after his studies,' Ruchi said.
'We got him admitted for Class 10 boards at the Vandana International School in Dwarka. He did all his studies for Class 11 and 12 from Narayana Institute,' she informed the media persons.
Also see: Meet IIT-JEE topper | Advice for the IIT-obsessed | More on IIT-JEE 2010
Asked how she felt about her son performing so well at such a young age, Ruchi said: 'He was always a very bright child, so it was not a surprise.'
The boy also has to his credit two Asian Physics Olympiad medals -- silver for 2009 and bronze for 2010. Sahal was also a member of Asia School Camp at Japan in 2009 and is a scholar of the prestigious Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana.
Talking about his interest, Sahal said: 'I want to do research.'
'I will either go for the integrated M.Sc. at IIT Kanpur or for the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research,' he says.
Ruchi supports her son, saying: 'He can do what he likes. We have never pressurised our children for anything.'
His mother says that Sahal is apart from other children not only in his performance but also in his interests and hobbies. Sahal is interested in reading historical books and listening to old songs. Asked about his favourite singer, Sahal said: 'It is hard to say who is my favourite but I like Kishore Kumar.'
Sahal also breaks the myth of toppers scoring 90 plus in board exams. This topper scored a modest 76 percent in Class 10 and 73 percent in Class 12 board exams.
'He has a sharp brain, does calculations very fast, but fails to express very well on paper. Perhaps that is why he scored less in CBSE exams,' Ruchi said.
2010-05-26 22:20:00
Last Updated: 2010-05-27 10:05:17
There is life beyond IIT & JEE
New Delhi: Fourteen-year-old Sahal Kaushik, who holds the 33rd rank at all-India level in the IIT JEE exam, emerged the Delhi region topper in the entrance examination.
At the press conference to honour the toppers, Sahal, who was too shy to speak on stage, handed the mike over to his mother Ruchi Kaushik. But that was just for a while, off the stage, the boy giggled with his friend and answered media questions quite comfortably.
'He mixes where he wants to. He has participated in competitions at the international level and mixed very well with everyone,' says Ruchi. A doctor by profession, Ruchi was her son's first teacher.
'His basic schooling was mostly at home and I looked after his studies,' Ruchi said.
'We got him admitted for Class 10 boards at the Vandana International School in Dwarka. He did all his studies for Class 11 and 12 from Narayana Institute,' she informed the media persons.
Also see: Meet IIT-JEE topper | Advice for the IIT-obsessed | More on IIT-JEE 2010
Asked how she felt about her son performing so well at such a young age, Ruchi said: 'He was always a very bright child, so it was not a surprise.'
The boy also has to his credit two Asian Physics Olympiad medals -- silver for 2009 and bronze for 2010. Sahal was also a member of Asia School Camp at Japan in 2009 and is a scholar of the prestigious Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana.
Talking about his interest, Sahal said: 'I want to do research.'
'I will either go for the integrated M.Sc. at IIT Kanpur or for the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research,' he says.
Ruchi supports her son, saying: 'He can do what he likes. We have never pressurised our children for anything.'
His mother says that Sahal is apart from other children not only in his performance but also in his interests and hobbies. Sahal is interested in reading historical books and listening to old songs. Asked about his favourite singer, Sahal said: 'It is hard to say who is my favourite but I like Kishore Kumar.'
Sahal also breaks the myth of toppers scoring 90 plus in board exams. This topper scored a modest 76 percent in Class 10 and 73 percent in Class 12 board exams.
'He has a sharp brain, does calculations very fast, but fails to express very well on paper. Perhaps that is why he scored less in CBSE exams,' Ruchi said.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Interview with Shah Faisal from kupwara, UPSC Topper-2010
Interview with Shah Faisal, UPSC Topper
IAS Toppers Interview 2010
shah Interview with Shah Faisal, UPSC Topper
He could “not have asked for a better birthday gift.” Just 10 days before he turns 27. Shah Faisal became the first Kashmiri and only the fourth Muslim (after Independence) to top the civil services. And this in his first attempt. Excerpts from a chat with the topper from Saugam (Kupwara) Kashmir:
Your thoughts at this moment.
I was expecting a poor rank, but didn’t see this coming. I am overwhelmed and miss my father the most.
What significance does this achievement hold for you?
My success has broken a stereotype about my community. I hope I have set a precedent far the people of my State and helped inspire more Kashmiris to appear for civils.
How do you plan to use this opportunity?
I would like to serve my state by reducing the gap between the people and administration. My first preference will be IAS, then IPS and lFS. I have been a victim of insurgency and understand Kashmir’s problems. My father (Gulam Rasool Shah), a schoot teacher, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in 2002, just three days before my pre-medical exam.
Who would you give credit for your success?
I haven’t had any formal training. No coaching institute can use my picture or take credit for my success. My father, my biggest role model, and my mother, who was my rock after my father passed away, deserve all the credit.
You are a doctor. How and when did you decide to pursue civil services?
I pursued medicine as that’s the trend in Kashmir. I even topped my university (Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences). But I wanted something more challenging. I appeared for the prelims soon after finishing my MBBS. I moved to Delhi and prepared for the exam.
How will you celebrate?
I return to my family in Srinagar tomorrow. The first thing I’ll do is hug my mother.
* Shah Faisal: UPSC Civil Services Exam 2009 Topper
IAS Toppers Interview 2010
shah Interview with Shah Faisal, UPSC Topper
He could “not have asked for a better birthday gift.” Just 10 days before he turns 27. Shah Faisal became the first Kashmiri and only the fourth Muslim (after Independence) to top the civil services. And this in his first attempt. Excerpts from a chat with the topper from Saugam (Kupwara) Kashmir:
Your thoughts at this moment.
I was expecting a poor rank, but didn’t see this coming. I am overwhelmed and miss my father the most.
What significance does this achievement hold for you?
My success has broken a stereotype about my community. I hope I have set a precedent far the people of my State and helped inspire more Kashmiris to appear for civils.
How do you plan to use this opportunity?
I would like to serve my state by reducing the gap between the people and administration. My first preference will be IAS, then IPS and lFS. I have been a victim of insurgency and understand Kashmir’s problems. My father (Gulam Rasool Shah), a schoot teacher, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in 2002, just three days before my pre-medical exam.
Who would you give credit for your success?
I haven’t had any formal training. No coaching institute can use my picture or take credit for my success. My father, my biggest role model, and my mother, who was my rock after my father passed away, deserve all the credit.
You are a doctor. How and when did you decide to pursue civil services?
I pursued medicine as that’s the trend in Kashmir. I even topped my university (Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences). But I wanted something more challenging. I appeared for the prelims soon after finishing my MBBS. I moved to Delhi and prepared for the exam.
How will you celebrate?
I return to my family in Srinagar tomorrow. The first thing I’ll do is hug my mother.
* Shah Faisal: UPSC Civil Services Exam 2009 Topper
CAT topper from IIT-Madras-2010
CAT topper from IIT-Madras
Shyam Ranganathan
Varun Mangamoori is already on the IIM-Ahmedabad waitlist
‘I did not expect to be in the 100th percentile’
Server crashes after rush to access results
Varun Mangamoori
CHENNAI: Varun Mangamoori, a student of the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras, has emerged the topper in the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2009, having scored in the 100th percentile in the results announced on Sunday.
Of the waitlists for the interviews to the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) announced, he is already on the IIM-Ahmedabad waitlist but not on the IIM-Shillong one, Mr. Mangamoori told The Hindu .
On a day when the server played truant and many reported problems accessing the results website, Mr. Mangamoori, a final year dual degree student in the Department of Engineering Design, said he was surprised to see the result as he had done “reasonably well, but did not expect to be in the 100th percentile.”
A native of Hyderabad, where he did his schooling before joining IIT-Madras, Mr. Mangamoori said he has also applied to universities in the United States including MIT, the University of Michigan, University of Texas and Columbia.
“I have applied for MS/PhD in Operations Research, which I took as my minor, and am waiting for the results,” he said. Mr. Mangamoori also has a job offer from ITC and has to think about that as well now, he added, even as he prepares for the interview process for the IIMs to begin.
IIT-Madras has done well in CAT 2009, with two of Mr. Mangamoori’s friends scoring in the 99.96th percentile and another in the 99.7th percentile, he said.
Earlier, the results were announced in the afternoon, but many complaints said they were not accessible. S. Balasubramaniam, director, T.I.M.E, Chennai, said the servers were down till 6.45 p.m., after which results came back online. But complaints over the servers being slow persisted, he said.
Problems in the new online examination process had earlier forced a re-examination for affected students. There were also delays in the announcement of results, initially scheduled for the third week of February.
Along with the IIMs, a number of other management institutions will be using CAT scores for their admissions process.
Manas Dasgupta reports from Ahmedabad:
The announcement of the results of the first online CAT on Sunday ended the anxiety of over 2.1 lakh candidates who appeared for the exam in November-December 2009.
While the results were posted on the official CAT website, IIM-Ahmedabad and IIM-Shillong have already put up the selection list.
An IIM-A spokesman said that unlike previous years, no separate score card would be sent to candidates either by post or e-mail this year. A print out from the website would be considered the official result. Candidates were asked to call the toll-free number for further clarifications. But a heavy rush to open the website compelled the IIM authorities to close it down for over three hours on Sunday evening.
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Shyam Ranganathan
Varun Mangamoori is already on the IIM-Ahmedabad waitlist
‘I did not expect to be in the 100th percentile’
Server crashes after rush to access results
Varun Mangamoori
CHENNAI: Varun Mangamoori, a student of the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras, has emerged the topper in the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2009, having scored in the 100th percentile in the results announced on Sunday.
Of the waitlists for the interviews to the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) announced, he is already on the IIM-Ahmedabad waitlist but not on the IIM-Shillong one, Mr. Mangamoori told The Hindu .
On a day when the server played truant and many reported problems accessing the results website, Mr. Mangamoori, a final year dual degree student in the Department of Engineering Design, said he was surprised to see the result as he had done “reasonably well, but did not expect to be in the 100th percentile.”
A native of Hyderabad, where he did his schooling before joining IIT-Madras, Mr. Mangamoori said he has also applied to universities in the United States including MIT, the University of Michigan, University of Texas and Columbia.
“I have applied for MS/PhD in Operations Research, which I took as my minor, and am waiting for the results,” he said. Mr. Mangamoori also has a job offer from ITC and has to think about that as well now, he added, even as he prepares for the interview process for the IIMs to begin.
IIT-Madras has done well in CAT 2009, with two of Mr. Mangamoori’s friends scoring in the 99.96th percentile and another in the 99.7th percentile, he said.
Earlier, the results were announced in the afternoon, but many complaints said they were not accessible. S. Balasubramaniam, director, T.I.M.E, Chennai, said the servers were down till 6.45 p.m., after which results came back online. But complaints over the servers being slow persisted, he said.
Problems in the new online examination process had earlier forced a re-examination for affected students. There were also delays in the announcement of results, initially scheduled for the third week of February.
Along with the IIMs, a number of other management institutions will be using CAT scores for their admissions process.
Manas Dasgupta reports from Ahmedabad:
The announcement of the results of the first online CAT on Sunday ended the anxiety of over 2.1 lakh candidates who appeared for the exam in November-December 2009.
While the results were posted on the official CAT website, IIM-Ahmedabad and IIM-Shillong have already put up the selection list.
An IIM-A spokesman said that unlike previous years, no separate score card would be sent to candidates either by post or e-mail this year. A print out from the website would be considered the official result. Candidates were asked to call the toll-free number for further clarifications. But a heavy rush to open the website compelled the IIM authorities to close it down for over three hours on Sunday evening.
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