New Delhi, May 15: India can play a “greater role” for peace in West Asia, Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi Thursday said.

Addressing a press conference here, he said there is no military solution to anything related to Iran.

He also said Iran is ready to help pass all vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, adding the situation in Strait of Hormuz is very complicated now.

Araghchi, who is in New Delhi to attend a BRICS conclave, said there can’t be any solution other than a negotiated settlement on the West Asia crisis.

“We will welcome any constructive role by India,” he said.

On negotiations with the US, he said these are “suffering from trust”.

“Iran has every reason not to trust US while Americans have every reason to trust us,” he said.

According to Araghchi, mediation by Pakistan has not failed yet. He also asserted Iran has never wanted nuclear weapons.

New Delhi, May 15: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday announced that the NEET-UG re-examination will be held on June 21, and said the medical entrance exam will be computer-based test from next year onwards as part of reforms in view of allegations of irregularities linked to it.

Addressing a press conference, Pradhan said students’ future remains the government’s topmost priority, adding that there will be “zero tolerance” for any irregularities found in the conduct of the NEET-UG. Strict action is being taken, he said.

National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) held on May 3 was cancelled following allegations of irregularities in the examination process.

Informing that the duration of the re-test has been extended by 15 minutes, Pradhan said the candidates will also get to choose their preferred test cities again and that they will get their admit cards by June 14, he said.

The central government will also coordinate transport arrangements for the students with the state governments, he said.

“Our topmost priority is the future of the students. I want to appeal to society, especially to all students, to appear for the examination without fear. The government stands with you. We will not let malpractice happen this time,” he said.

“We did not want any mafia conspiracy or money power to snatch away your seat. We did not want that to happen. That is why we had to take a tough decision. As guardians, as officials entrusted with responsibility, and as a minister, we are all deeply saddened and concerned by what has happened,” the minister said.

The minister said after irregularities surfaced last time, the Radhakrishnan Committee was constituted, and its recommendations were implemented.

“Despite that, this incident occurred. Therefore, our first step was to cancel the examination,” he said.

“To those creating fear and disturbances, I want to say through you: stay away from the upcoming examination process. Otherwise, they will have to face punishment,” Pradhan added.

The education minister explained that the issue came to light after objections were received through the NTA grievance system regarding alleged overlaps with “guess papers”, following which a preliminary inquiry was initiated.

“The examination was conducted on May 3. By May 7, objections were received through the NTA’s grievance redressal system stating that certain questions appearing in the alleged ‘guess papers’ had also appeared in this year’s question set.

“Immediately, discussions were held, and both the NTA and the government, along with the Higher Education Department, initiated a preliminary inquiry,” he said.

Pradhan said then the matter was then handed over to the concerned agencies of the Government of India.

“The process effectively began on the night of May 7 and continued from May 8 onward. Within three to four days… on the 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th… when we received clarity and became certain that questions had indeed been leaked under the guise of ‘guess papers’, we took action on May 12 in the interest of students.

“We did not want any deserving student to be deprived of their rights because of the conspiracy of education mafias or because an undeserving candidate benefited through unfair means,” the minister said.

He said the government has handed over the case to the CBI and expressed confidence in the probe. “CBI has rightly said… no one will be spared. Whether someone is within the NTA or outside it, no one will be spared,” he said.

“CBT mode of exam is comparatively better than OMR. It is a bit protected. Cybercrime has become a big world in itself. There are challenges, however, we will have to trust the system of our country,” Pradhan said.

The minister said students will also be given the option to select the cities they want to appear for the re-test in. “The NTA has decided to give students one week to choose their preferred examination city for re-test,” he said, adding NTA has decided to extend the examination duration by 15 minutes.

“The exam, which was scheduled from 2 pm to 5 pm, will now continue till 5.15 pm,” he said.

He said the admit cards for this examination will be issued to all candidates by June 14. The minister said the Centre will coordinate with states for transport arrangements and he will personally speak to the chief ministers.

“The Government of India will speak to the states regarding the arrangement of transport facilities,” he said, adding that NTA is also considering weather-related contingency arrangements for June 21.

The press conference by Pradhan comes after a high-level meeting was held late on Thursday evening at the minister’s residence to review preparations for conducting the exam afresh.

Abu Dhabi, May 15: India is ready to extend all possible support for the earliest restoration of peace and stability in West Asia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday, as he condemned the attacks on the UAE while praising the Gulf country’s leadership for its handling of the situation with restraint.

During his meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed in Abu Dhabi, Modi also assured him that India stands shoulder to shoulder with the UAE in every situation and will continue to do so in the future.

Underlining that the impact of the volatile situation in West Asia is being felt across the globe, Modi said India has always given priority to dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the issues.

“India is ready to extend all possible support for the restoration of peace and stability at the earliest,” the Prime Minister said.

Prime Minister Modi also conveyed India’s clear position in favour of ensuring safe transit passage and unimpeded navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, which is vital for enduring regional peace and stability, as well as energy and food security.

He said that keeping the Strait of Hormuz free, open and safe is our highest priority and added that adherence to international laws is essential.

Iran shut down the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, following the launch of the US-Israeli attacks on February 28.

The UAE, which hosts a US military base, has been at the receiving end of Iranian strikes during the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran.

Modi and Mohamed bin Zayed held a series of detailed discussions, during which the Prime Minister reaffirmed India’s strong condemnation of the attacks on the UAE, as well as its solidarity with the leadership and the people of the Gulf country.

“We strongly condemn the attack that took place in the UAE. The way the UAE was targeted is unacceptable in any form,” Modi said, without naming any country.

Last week, three Indian nationals were injured after a fire broke out on the Fujairah Petroleum Industries Zone (FOIZ) in the UAE following a drone strike. The UAE’s Ministry of Defence blamed Iran for the attack.

“In these difficult circumstances, the restraint, courage and wisdom demonstrated by you are highly commendable,” Modi told the UAE president.

Modi also thanked him for taking care of the Indian community like members of his own family in such challenging times.

The ongoing conflict in West Asia has heightened concerns in India over potential disruptions to crude oil and gas supplies, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz.

The conflict has severely destabilised global energy markets, primarily due to Tehran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20 per cent of the world’s total petroleum supply flows.

New Delhi, May 15: Likening some unemployed youngsters to cockroaches, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on Friday said they go on to “become” media, social media and RTI activists and start attacking the system.

The comments came while a bench of CJI Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi was pulling up a lawyer for “pursuing” a senior advocate designation. It said there were already “parasites” in society who attack the system and asked the petitioner whether he wanted to join hands with them.

“The entire world may be eligible to become senior (advocate), but at least you are not entitled,” the bench told the petitioner lawyer.

A visibly anguished CJI observed that if the Delhi High Court would confer senior advocate designation upon the petitioner, the apex court would set that aside seeing his professional conduct.

The CJI also referred to the kind of language used by the petitioner on Facebook.

“There are already parasites of society who attack the system and you want to join hands with them?” he said.

“There are youngsters like cockroaches, who don’t get any employment or have any place in profession. Some of them become media, some of them become social media, RTI activists and other activists and they start attacking everyone,” he said.

The bench also asked the petitioner whether he did not have any other litigation.

“Is this the conduct of a person who seeks to be designated as a senior advocate?” the bench asked.

It said senior advocate designation is something that is conferred on a person and is not to be pursued.

“You are pursuing it. Does it look proper?” the top court said, asking whether a senior advocate designation was a status symbol to be kept ornamentally.

It also observed that it wanted to ask the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to verify the degrees of many of those who were wearing black robes as there were serious doubts over the genuineness of their degrees.

It said the Bar Council of India would never do anything on this issue as they “need their votes”.

The petitioner apologised to the bench and sought permission to withdraw the petition. The bench allowed the withdrawal of the petition.

New Delhi, May 15: India and Iran on Wednesday agreed to expand cooperation in the economic, political and energy sectors, saying continued dialogue is important for securing common interests and strengthening regional stability and security.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who was in New Delhi in connection with the BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting, held wide-ranging discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval on the current security scenario in the Gulf and matters of mutual interest.

Mr Araghchi also met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the meeting and apprised him of Iran’s position on the Strait of Hormuz and the ongoing peace negotiations with the United States.

The BRICS foreign ministers exchanged views on bilateral relations, regional developments and multilateral cooperation during the meeting in New Delhi.

Araghchi thanked India for hosting the BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting and said “very good discussions and meetings” had taken place during the event, according to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency.

The Iranian foreign minister, during his meeting with Jaishankar, further apprised him of the latest developments following the 40-day conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel, and the course of negotiations related to ending the war.

Referring to the historic and friendly ties between Tehran and New Delhi, Araghchi described continued consultations and close cooperation between the two countries as important for securing common interests and strengthening regional stability and security.

He stressed the need for effective action by the international community to stop the conflicts and prevent the spread of instability in the region.

During his meeting with NSA Ajit Doval, Araghchi expressed concern over the continuing tensions and conflict in the region and emphasized the importance of preserving regional stability and security.

He also conveyed India’s readiness to help restore security in the region and support efforts aimed at ending the conflict.