Rajeev Kumar (activist)

Rajeev Kumar is a Professor at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. After a tenacious struggle during which he was suspended from his job, Kumar was instrumental in introducing greater transparency into the Joint Entrance Examination system by which the prestigious IITs admit undergraduate students. He is the recipient of the National RTI Award, 2010. In 2011, a Supreme Court judgement called him "one of the many unsung heroes who help in improving the system."

Since 2006, Rajeev Kumar has been using the Right to Information Act(RTI) to gain information about how the JEE exam decides on its admission criteria. After a "protracted legal struggle" involving several aspects of IIT administration, in 2010, this led to the Delhi High Court ordering the IITs to release such information. Since 2012, every candidate gets a carbon copy of his paper, and the various cutoffs are announced.

Suspension for whistleblowing

In 2011, Kumar was suspended for damaging the reputation of IIT Kharagpur by reporting the massive copying that goes on in the institute, and for exposing a scam in the purchase of laptop computers. The institute had also illegally accessed Kumar's phone records. This led to noted Supreme Court lawyer and activist Prashant Bhushan asking the MHRD Minister Kapil Sibal to ensure that whistleblowers like Rajeev should not be harassed. Despite letters from the MHRD and the Central Vigilance Commission in 2013, IIT Kharagpur did not revoke the suspension. In July 2012, the registrar of IIT wrote to the ministry "saying the withdrawal of suspension of Prof. Kumar and resumption of duties would adversely affect the academic atmosphere of the institute."

Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2005

Hero Honda Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2005 was a reality series, an extension of the famous Sa Re Ga Ma Pa programme that was first aired in 1995 on Zee TV. With the new "Challenge" series, Zee TV brought 48 potential singers that are living in India.

Synopsis

Elimination rounds

The process had started with elimination rounds by the four mentors: Aadesh Shrivastava (Baghban fame), Himesh Reshammiya (Tere Naam & Aashiq Banaya Aapne fame), Jatin-Lalit (Pehla Nasha fame) and Ismail Darbar (HDDCS fame). The mentors picked one girl and one boy amidst 4 boys and 4 girls who took part during the course of a month. Hence, 16 contestants out of the 48 were eliminated. The 32 remaining contestants consists of 16 boys and 16 girls.

Gharanas

The 32 remaining contestants were later put into different Gharanas (or Groups). Each Gharana had to pick 8 contestants in total from the contestants selected through the auditions, elimination rounds and wildcard entries.

Aadesh Shrivastav's group was the Jai Ho Gharana, Himesh Reshammiya's group was Jai Mata Di Let's Rock Gharana, Jatin Lalit's group was the Dum Gharana and Ismail Darbar's group was the Yalgaar Gharana.

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Latest News for: rajeev kumar

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48 JKAS officers shifted

Hindustan Times 02 Apr 2025
Chander Parkash, additional secretary to the government, school education department, has been transferred and posted as ADC Rajouri, vice Rajeev Kumar Khajuria who shall report to the general administration department, for further posting.
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'Kab inka-hamara haath mil jaye': Akhilesh's ally warning to BJP ahead of Bihar polls

The Times of India 02 Apr 2025
JD(U) MP Sanjay Jha highlighted Nitish Kumar’s 19 ... Party leader Rajeev Ranjan added that a Muslim delegation had met Kumar to express concerns, which were raised in the Joint Parliamentary Committee.
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Centre to table Waqf Amendment Bill tomorrow, INDIA bloc unanimously decided to oppose - Top points

The Times of India 01 Apr 2025
As long as Nitish Kumar is in politics, the interests of the people will be protected.'Party spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan stated, 'A delegation of the Muslim community met Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and ...
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₹100-crore Zirakpur land grab case: Trial against 16 to begin on May 5

Hindustan Times 31 Mar 2025
... Rajesh Kumar Gaba, Manoj Kumar, Sarabjeet Singh, Rajender Kumar, Vikas Kumar, Umeshveer Vikram Singh, Neeraj Kumar Singhal, Kavita, Paramveer Singh, Rajeev Kumar Gaba, Amit Redu and Harjit Singh.
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Training program enhances healthcare services in Himachal Pradesh prisons

The Times of India 30 Mar 2025
State AIDS Control Society Project Director Rajeev Kumar informed on Sunday that the training aimed to strengthen healthcare services in prisons by enhancing the capacity of medical personnel to tackle infectious diseases.
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2 more arrested in Auraiya groom’s murder case

The Times of India 28 Mar 2025
Shankar stated that Sahar police station chief Pankaj Mishra and SWAT team in-charge Rajeev Kumar spotted two suspicious persons on a motorcycle during early Friday checks.'When the police attempted ...
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‘Ensure sanitation near temples ahead of Navratri’

The Times of India 28 Mar 2025
During the VMC's executive meeting on Thursday, mayor Ashok Kumar Tiwari ... The proposal for advertising bylaws was presented by AMC Rajeev Kumar Rai, categorising the city into three categories.
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Varanasi civic body to shut meat shops during Chaitra Navratri, ban cigarette sales near temples

The Times of India 28 Mar 2025
The proposal for advertising bylaws was presented by Additional Municipal Commissioner Rajeev Kumar Rai, categorising the city into three categories ... Executive member Suresh Kumar Patel inquired about fogging for mosquito prevention.
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4 children die, over dozen fall sick at Lucknow rehab; probe on

Hindustan Times 27 Mar 2025
Dr Rajeev Kumar Dixit, Medical Superintendent of Lok Bandhu Raj Narayan Combined Hospital, told PTI Videos that around 20 children were brought to the hospital Tuesday evening from the rehabilitation centre ... ....
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17-year-old NEET aspirant from Nalanda dies by suicide in Kota

The Times of India 26 Mar 2025
It's a slap on the govt's face,' Rajeev said.Meanwhile, a 16-year-old engineering aspirant, Sandeep Kumar Kurmi, from Nalanda district, died by suicide at his PG room in Kota in July last year, while ...
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In Punjab’s Dhudike village, literary conclave to honour ‘writer of movements’ Jaswant Singh Kanwal

The Times of India 24 Mar 2025
... and celebrated the innate dignity of fellow beings.Rajeev Kumar, principal of Govt College, Dhudike, said the event could someday become a recurring feature in the literary calendar of the state.
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Musician Sharreth on completing 35 years in the industry: Whether it's ‘Kshanakkathu’ or my ongoing work, I approach each project as if it were my first

The Times of India 24 Mar 2025
In a fun chat with ETimes, he shared his excitement about hitting the 35-year mark in the industry!“Oh wow! Is it really 35 years?” he exclaimed, genuinely surprised by our question. “It just feels like a number to me ... Rajeev Kumar, featuring Mohanlal.
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Stocks that will see action today: March 21, 2025

Business Line 21 Mar 2025
Aditya Birla group chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla has said the group’s flagship Hindalco will invest ... Bajaj Finance on Thursday named Anup Kumar Saha as its managing director, replacing Rajeev Jain.
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