Mangaluru: Rasha Fathima, a student of the 2022–2025 batch of St Aloysius (Deemed to be University), has secured Worldwide 10th rank and All India 3rd rank in the December 2025 examination of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) in the subject of Advanced Financial Management.

The achievement has brought recognition to the university, especially its School of Commerce, Finance and Accountancy. The ACCA examination is known for its high standards and global competition in the fields of accounting and finance.

By securing a place among the top rank holders in the world, Rasha has demonstrated strong command over advanced financial concepts and strategic financial management. The Worldwide 10th rank highlights her academic performance in one of the most demanding professional accounting examinations.

The management of the university, along with the Vice Chancellor, faculty members, staff and students, congratulated Rasha Fathima on her success. They expressed pride in her accomplishment and wished her well in her future professional journey.

Her success has added to the academic reputation of the institution and is expected to encourage other students to aim high in professional courses.

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Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has accused the EC of "double standards" and "bias" after it sought details on the state’s guarantee schemes in Davanagere and Bagalkot districts, where bypolls are scheduled for Thursday.

In a post on 'X' on Wednesday, Siddaramaiah said the Election Commission of India had asked the Karnataka government for information on fund releases under five ongoing guarantee schemes in the constituencies going to polls.

The polls were necessitated following the deaths of senior Congress MLAs Shamanur Shivashankarappa and H Y Meti, respectively.

The schemes are Gruha Jyothi, which provides 200 units of free electricity to every household; Gruha Lakshmi, offering Rs 2,000 to women heading families; and Anna Bhagya, supplying 10 kg of rice per month to each member of BPL families.

In addition, Yuva Nidhi grants Rs 3,000 to unemployed graduates and Rs 1,500 to unemployed diploma holders aged 18–25 for two years, while Shakti enables women to travel free of charge within Karnataka on government non-luxury buses.

Siddaramaiah alleged that the ECI had remained silent when similar cash transfer schemes were announced in Maharashtra and Bihar ahead of elections, calling the scrutiny of Karnataka’s schemes a "clear case of bias".

"In states like Maharashtra and Bihar, cash transfer schemes were announced or fast-tracked just before elections, directly benefiting voters. Yet the ECI remained silent. This is not neutrality—it is complicity," he said.

The CM accused the BJP and NDA governments of "a double standard", noting that when they act, the ECI "looks the other way", but when Karnataka fulfils its promises, it faces "intense scrutiny".

He added that targeting the state’s guarantee schemes is "not just political but anti-poor, anti-women, and anti-Karnataka."

Siddaramaiah clarified that these schemes were not launched in connection with the bypolls but are ongoing programmes implemented as part of the Congress government’s commitments from the 2023 Assembly elections.

Funds are transferred regularly to beneficiaries in a transparent and structured manner, he added.

"The guarantees are part of governance—a direct investment in human dignity, household stability, and economic participation, not inducement," he said.

He also accused the BJP of "hypocrisy", saying that while it criticises Karnataka’s schemes as "freebies", it rolls out similar programmes in states it governs.

"The Karnataka model has set a benchmark for the country. What is deeply concerning, however, is the ECI’s selective approach," Siddaramaiah added.