Bengaluru: Karnataka's school education and literacy minister, Madhu Bangarappa, announced on Friday that state board schools will not hold common assessments for classes 5, 8, 9, and 11 this academic year. Instead, summative assessment-2 will be conducted for classes 5, 8, and 9. This decision follows the state’s recent withdrawal of exam notifications in three districts, a move that came after a reprimand from the Supreme Court during hearings on appeals against the Karnataka High Court’s decision to uphold the exams last year.

Bangarappa explained that although board exams were introduced for these classes to reduce fear and anxiety, the case is currently pending in the Supreme Court, and the state will comply with its final order. Initially, the Karnataka government had announced common assessments, with question papers prepared by the Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board and evaluations at the taluk level. However, private schools opposed the move and approached the courts, leading to a series of legal proceedings, including an interim stay by the Supreme Court in March this year.

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.



Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) (PTI): India batter Shreyas Iyer became the most expensive player in the history of IPL as Punjab Kings broke the bank to buy him for Rs 26.75 crore in the tournament's mega auction here on Sunday.

Iyer surpassed the record held by Australian pacer Mitchell Starc, who was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for Rs 24.75 crore in the last auction.

Among others, Left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh's consistency earned him a massive bid of Rs 18 crore, also from Punjab Kings via the Right to Match card, while South African speedster Kagiso Rabada was bought for Rs 10.75 crore by Gujarat Titans.

Iyer, the former Kolkata Knight Riders captain, started with a base price of Rs two crore.

Delhi Capitals had the bid at Rs 26 crore for him but PBKS raised the amount to get the player.

Chennai Super Kings started with the first bid for Arshdeep, whose base price was also Rs two crore.

Eventually, after an intense bidding war, the seamer was bought back by Punjab, who exercised the right to match option to complete the deal, having released him earlier.

This is the second time an IPL auction is being held outside the country after last year's event in Dubai.