26 Fellows of Zakat India Foundation clear UPSC exams
New Delhi: When the results for the UPSC exams came out on Friday, it was a proud moment for Zafar Mahmood, President of the Zakat Foundation of India and everyone associated with the organisation. Out of the 990 successful candidates, 26 owed all their achievements to the efforts of the Foundation, which had funded almost all their hostel and tuition fees to help them prepare for the exams.
Talking to Twocircles.net, Mahmood said people have realised that this is the only way to reclaim their rights.
“This mission is continuing since last 10 years and we are thankful to Allah that we were able to make a difference. The number of students who are also qualifying the exams is also seeing an increase in last few years which is a good news for the community,” he told TwoCircles.net.
The Fellowship is given to students after conducting a written test and an interview held in Delhi.
Once selected, the Foundation provides a hostel in Delhi at a subsidised rate of Rs 2,000 per month and pays up to 90% of the tuition fees that the students need to pay for IAS coaching.
The candidates are also provided the joint guidance and supervision of Zakat Foundation of India, Aishabai Trust and Interfaith Coalition for Peace in order to help them properly prepare for the Preliminary, Mains, and Interview for Personality Test for the UPSC Civil Services Examination. People who wish to apply for the scholarship to prepare for UPSC exams to be held in 2018 can visit this page for more information.
Also, continuing its legacy of providing quality coaching to students, 25 students from Jamia Millia Islamia Residential Coaching Academy also made their entry into the civil services. Last year, 27 students had cleared the exams.
Courtesy: TwoCircles.net.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Parliament passes Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025
New Delhi (PTI): Parliament early Friday passed the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, after it was approved by the Rajya Sabha.
The Lok Sabha had on Thursday approved the Bill after over a 12-hour debate.
In Rajya Sabha, the Bill got 128 votes in its favour and 95 against after all the amendments moved by the opposition were rejected.
In the lower house, the bill was supported by 288 MPs while 232 voted against it.
Participating in a debate in the Rajya Sabha, Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the Bill was brought with a number of amendments based on suggestions given by various stakeholders.
"The Waqf Board is a statutory body. All government bodies should be secular," the minister said, explaining the inclusion of non-Muslims on the board.
He, however, said the number of non-Muslims has been restricted to only four out of 22.
Rijiju also alleged that the Congress and other opposition parties, and not the BJP, were trying to scare Muslims with the Waqf Bill.
"You (opposition) are pushing Muslims out of the mainstream," he added.
He said for 60 years, the Congress and others ruled the country, but did not do much for Muslims and the community continues to live in poverty.
"Muslims are poor, who is responsible? You (Congress) are. Modi is now leading the government to uplift them," the minister said.
According to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, Waqf tribunals will be strengthened, a structured selection process will be maintained, and a tenure will be fixed to ensure efficient dispute resolution.
As per the Bill, while Waqf institutions' mandatory contribution to Waqf boards is reduced from 7 per cent to 5 per cent, Waqf institutions earning over Rs 1 lakh will undergo audits by state-sponsored auditors.
A centralised portal will automate Waqf property management, improving efficiency and transparency.
The Bill proposes that practising Muslims (for at least five years) can dedicate their property to the Waqf, restoring pre-2013 rules.
It stipulates that women must receive their inheritance before the Waqf declaration, with special provisions for widows, divorced women and orphans.
The Bill proposes that an officer above the rank of collector investigate government properties claimed as Waqf.
It also proposes that non-Muslim members be included in the central and state Waqf boards for inclusivity.
