UGC U-turn on PhD scholars’ Aadhaar details

New Delhi: Nearly two months after it asked universities to make public the details of PhD scholars, including their Aadhaar numbers, the University Grants Commission (UGC) on Monday directed them not do so. “It is informed that the Aadhaar Act, 2016 prohibits publishing and displaying the Aadhaar number publicly. Therefore, you are requested not to publish it,” the UGC said in a fresh communication. PTI 

Radio-frequency tags to track rail wagons 

New Delhi: The Railways will use radio-frequency identification tags (RFID) for tracking of wagons, coaches and locomotives to ensure effective and transparent functioning. There are about 2.25 lakh wagons, 50,000 coaches and 9,000 locomotives in the railways. Railways have sanctioned Rs 57 crore for the first phase of rollout of the system. Currently, such data is maintained manually, which leaves scope for errors. Each tag will cost Rs 1,000. PTI

People wanting to change religion up in Maha 

Mumbai: Maharashtra witnessed a three-fold rise in the number of people opting for religious conversion in last three years, reply to an RTI query has revealed. Filed by activist Anil Galgali, the reply showed 247 people opted for religion change in 2014, 615 in 2015 and 797 last year. “Revenue earned from the religion change applications was Rs 65,581 in year 2014, Rs 2,61,714 in 2015 and Rs 3,43,031 in 2016,” the reply said. PTI