UPSC to reimburse to-and-fro airfares of candidates appearing for civil services interview
New Delhi: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has decided to reimburse to-and-fro airfares of civil services aspirants appearing for the personality test in Delhi as train services are "not fully functional" due to COVID-19 curbs, according to an official statement issued on Monday.
The Commission will also help the candidates with their lodging and transport requirements, it said.
"As train services are not fully functional, the Commission, as a one-time measure, has decided to reimburse the lowest 'to and fro airfare' to the candidates coming for the PTs (personality tests). State Governments have been requested to allow the candidates holding e-summon letters for PTs to move in/out of the restricted zones for the purpose of attending the same," the statement issued by the UPSC said.
The UPSC was in the midst of conducting the personality tests/interviews for 2,304 candidates for the civil services examination, 2019 (CSE-2019) when the government decided to impose a lockdown in late March to contain the spread of COVID-19, it said.
The Commission then decided to defer the interview of the remaining 623 candidates, the UPSC said.
"With the gradual lifting of the lockdown, the Commission has decided to hold the PTs for the remaining candidates from 20th to 30th of July, 2020 and all the candidates have been suitably informed in advance, it said.
On reaching the Commission, all candidates will be provided a 'sealed kit' consisting of a face mask, face shield, a bottle of sanitizer, and hand gloves, it said.
The civil services examination is conducted by the UPSC annually in three stages -- preliminary, main and personality test or interview -- to select candidates for Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and Indian Police Service (IPS ), among others.
In order to address the safety and health concerns of the candidates, expert advisers, and staff of the Commission, suitable arrangements have been put in place, the UPSC said.
"Since the Interview Boards generally comprise senior advisers, the Commission has taken all precautionary and safety measures for contact-less PTs in order to shield the interviewers and the interviewees appropriately, it said.
The Commission's staff involved in the conduct of the PTs will also be equipped with suitable protective gear, the statement said.
Arrangements have been made for regular sanitization of all the rooms, halls, furniture and equipment, it said.
"Seating arrangements for the candidates at all venues will ensure safe physical distancing. Protocol/guidelines to be followed by the candidates for appearing in the interview have been communicated to them, the UPSC said.
The Commission is committed to ensuring the highest standards of health safety even as it fulfills its constitutional mandate for selecting the most suitable candidates through its examinations, the UPSC added.
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.
Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
===================
The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
