The Bihar Assembly has passed a bill to prevent paper leaks in government recruitment exams
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A new law was introduced
The Bihar Assembly on Wednesday approved the Bihar Public Examination (Prevention of Improper Means) Bill, 2024. The bill introduced by Parliamentary Affairs Minister 'Vijay Kumar Chaudhary' is aimed at curbing question paper leaks and malpractices in government recruitment exams.
Severe punishment was imposed
In this bill, 3 to 5 years of imprisonment and a fine of ₹10 lakh have been made mandatory for the persons involved in the misconduct.
Service providers found guilty of organized fraud face 5 to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to ₹1 crore and a four-year ban from service. It also includes confiscation of assets and recovery of costs from criminals.
National and regional context
This law is in line with anti-paper leak measures recently implemented by the central government and states like Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand. Jharkhand has passed a bill in 2023 with life imprisonment and a fine of ₹10 crore.
Recent exam scams in Bihar
There have been many exam controversies in Bihar, including NEET 2024 paper leak and cancellation of BPSC teacher recruitment exam and Bihar Constable recruitment exam due to leaks.
DRDO Tested Phase-II Ballistic Missile Defense System
Demonstration of advanced defense capabilities
The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) on Wednesday successfully flight-tested its Phase-II Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) system. The test demonstrated India's ability to defend against ballistic missiles with a range of up to 5,000 km.
Progress from Phase I
Phase I of the BMD system, which can intercept ballistic missiles with a range of up to 2,000 km, has already been deployed. Initial testing of the Phase-II BMD system took place in November 2022.
Test details
During the test, a target missile was launched from the LC-IV Dhamra at 16:20 hrs, which was an imitation of an enemy ballistic missile.
The missile was detected by surface-based weapon system radars, which then activated the Air Defense (AD) interceptor system. This successful test marks a significant advance in India's indigenous missile defense capabilities.
Ketamine pills offer hope for treatment-resistant depression, but also risks
Success in treating depression
A new slow-release ketamine tablet has demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of treatment-resistant depression, providing a viable alternative to conventional, cumbersome clinic-based therapies.
Ketamine, which was initially used as an anesthetic and is known for its acute antidepressant effects, is usually administered intravenously or via nasal spray, which can cause both significant side effects and Monitoring is required in the clinic.
Results of clinical trials
Developed by Paul Glue and his team, the extended-release tablet, R-107, has been tested on 231 volunteers from New Zealand, Australia, Singapore and Taiwan.
After an initial five-day treatment phase, 168 participants entered a double-blind study, where they were given either a placebo or one of four doses of R-107.
The results showed that the highest dose (180 mg) produced the most significant improvement in depression symptoms with the least side effects.
Benefits and challenges
The tablet's extended-release formulation allows home administration, making treatment more accessible, especially in underserved areas.
However, concerns remain about potential abuse and the need for further research to ensure safety and efficacy. Dr. Glu's team has made R-107 harder to abuse, but ongoing studies will be important to address these concerns and assess the long-term effects of the tablet on patients.
