Marks boom and killing cut-offs: Time to rexamine exam system

BY INVITATION

Marks boom and killing cut-offs: Time to rexamine exam system

ANITA RAMPAL

12.09.2021

These are strange times indeed. The number of students this year with over 95% marks in the CBSE Class 12 Board examination is over 70,000; before the pandemic, in 2019, it was 17,000. During the Covid-19 lockdown, in 2020 this figure was 38,000. Almost all (99.4%) have passed. Similar benevolence can be seen in other state boards. In Maharashtra, 99.6% (from among 13 lakh candidates) passed the Class 12 examination; 98% (from among 26 lakh candidates) passed in Uttar Pradesh; and 100% (all 8 lakh) in Tamil Nadu. So what is happening? Why is the crushing pandemic and prolonged school closure inflating students’ marks? Without going to school, without a Board examination, with barely a quarter able to access ‘online’ lessons (not a substitute for education), most seem to have been gifted with a marks bonanza. Does this signal that school does not matter, or that marks do not have much value?

Perhaps the Boards, knowing that the majority had no access to education, did not wish to ‘fail’ or hold back students. This may be an important consideration for an unprecedented year, but the questionable doling out of marks has been happening for many years now, without improving the quality of learning for the majority, and needs to be seriously addressed before the examination system completely loses its relevance.

This year there’s another catch. At Delhi University, there are 69,554 seats on offer through what is called the ‘merit-based’ admission process. This central university draws students from different Boards and from across the country who aspire to study in this central university. The first ‘cut-offs’ for undergraduate courses are predicted to be staggering, with many crossing 97% (an aggregate of a student’s best four subjects) and very few close to 90%. In some courses, seats are expected to get filled as soon as the first list is out, but for others, through further lists, the cut-off is still expected to remain unreasonably high.

So what happens to a young person’s aspirations and opportunities, if with over 90%, she does not have the ‘merit’ to apply for admission to a course that could nurture her calling? What about her sense of self-worth? There are also concerns about the selfimage and arrogance of those with hugely inflated marks who enter higher education, where they are required to think and learn with more reflection, rigour and humility.

Moreover, if even those among the privileged bracket of the CBSE examination — the 5.5% candidates getting over 95% marks (or the 12% candidates getting over 90%) — have to grapple with a sense of uncertainty and ‘failure’ in what they want from higher education, what does it tell us of the majority of all our children? Most do not reach the level of Class 12. A large number is pushed out before they complete Class 8 (despite their Right to Education), while the official data shows that 30% of secondary students (Class 9-10) do not transition to the senior secondary stage (class 11-12).

We are currently faced with significant questions about the value of marks, the quality of ‘merit’ attached to them, and the scarcity of opportunities for meaningful higher education. Michel Sandel wonders why we continue to trust the “meritocratic tournament” that college admissions have now become to better our life chances, even when studies show that higher education in the US does very little to promote upward mobility. An elite private college like Harvard enrols very few poor students so barely 1% go up from the bottom to the top of the income scale. The countries with the highest mobility are indeed those with the greatest equality; the ability to rise depends on access to good quality education, health care and basic resources to support people through life.

Questioning notions of ‘success’ in his book ‘Outliers’, Malcolm Gladwell notes that Nobel Prize winners mostly come from ‘good enough’ colleges, not necessarily from high-ranking ones. He says that research about learning and intelligence shows that ranking higher education institutions ‘like runners in a race, makes little sense’. There are advantages of being in a more amiable environment where a good student gets a chance to be supported by peers and teachers, rather than being lost in a competitive cut-throat swarm of ‘high achievers’.

Sometimes bizarre results can propel us to see the irrelevance and damaging implications of a situation we have been tolerating as ‘normal’. This is that critical juncture. Hopefully, not just people working in education but all those watching or tacitly experiencing it will be compelled to call for a major change. We owe it to the millions of our youth, whose agency and ability during their most critical, creative years is sacrificed at the altar of such ‘terminal’ competitive examinations, at an ‘exit’ or ‘entrance’ stage.

Rampal is professor and former dean, Faculty of Education, Delhi University

FLYING HIGH: Those with inflated marks may also get inflated egos, and an exaggerated sense of self-worth

CMs should stop dragging their feet on school opening

Times of India 

SWAMINOMICS

CMs should stop dragging their feet on school opening

SWAMINATHAN S ANKLESARIA AIYAR

12.09.2021

Covid has been both a health and educational disaster. All schools were closed without debate when Covid struck. Cautious re-opening has begun at higher school levels but primary and upper primary schools have remained closed for over 500 days. Economists have shown that human capital — skilling, starting with schooling — is more important than financial capital. Yet even as India attracts billions of dollars into stock markets and start-ups, its human capital has been eroded by school closure.

Young children have not just failed to learn for 500 days but forgotten what they knew earlier, and many have lapsed into illiteracy. The problem is worse for the poor, in rural areas, Dalits, and tribals. The well-off have managed with private tutors and online help. This has worsened disparities and robbed the masses of gaining the ability to rise. A new survey report titled ‘Locked out — Emergency Report of School Education’ by Jean Dreze, Reetika Khera, Nirali Bakhla and Vipul Paikra, shows that 97% of parents in rural households want school re-opening, not to mention educators and economists. Yet chief ministers have dragged their feet.

School re-opening must be a top priority. Children below 12 are very unlikely to fall seriously ill with Covid. Teachers and other school staff are vulnerable but should all have been vaccinated by now. With safety guidelines, all schools should open, aiding not just learning but nutrition and the social benefits of children of all castes and religions going to school together. Maintenance and repairs of school buildings and equipment should have been done already, but have they?

Private schools tried to survive by switching to online education and raising their fees. This led 26% of poorer students enrolled in higher quality private schools to switch to lower quality (and often moribund) government schools.

School closure also meant the end of school mid-day meals. State governments were supposed to offer free food and cash to make up for this. But 20% of urban and 14% of rural families said they had received nothing. This could be due partly to free food being given quarterly. Some families may get their arrears soon.

Covid has worsened a problem already flagged by many educators: automatic promotion without exams. It makes little sense to promote those who can barely read to a higher class: they will fall further and further behind, and eventually drop out. The research study says automatic promotion means students are being promoted from Class 4 to 5 when school closure has eroded their skills to the Class 3 level. Those in Class 1 who cannot read at all because of school closure will nevertheless be promoted to Class 2 and be expected to understand textbooks in English! Learning English is no doubt an important skill much neglected by state governments in the past. But it must be preceded by a firm grounding in reading ability in the mother tongue. Otherwise, students will just be bewildered by a new, difficult language.

The researchers surveyed almost 1,362 children in classes 1-8. School closure drove many students to alternatives like tuition, online education, videos, or help from parents and friends. Some motivated teachers innovated small-group teaching in the open or in private homes, sometimes even the teacher’s home. But such individual heroics cannot make up for mass closure. The researchers found that only 47% of urban and 28% of rural students were studying regularly, while 19% and 37% respectively did not study at all. Just 42% of urban students and 48% of rural ones can read more than a few words.

Only 8% of rural parents and 23% of urban ones felt their children had adequate access to online education, which schools are supposed to offer to compensate for school closure. Many children had no access to smartphones, data, or understanding of how to use online facilities. Of those not studying regularly despite having smartphones, 43% of rural and 14% of urban students said they got no online material at all from their schools. As many as 57% of urban and 65% of rural online users complained of connectivity problems, showing how weak the broadband infrastructure is.

The researchers highlighted the need for an extended transition to help teachers and students overcome the scars of Covid. A “business as usual” approach risks dooming entire age groups to functional illiteracy. School opening is a must but should be followed by a completely new transitional approach to help students make up for the 500 lost days. This is new ground with no precedents. It requires careful planning, ample funding and flexibility to adjust to difficulties that arise.

Meet your governor: R N Ravi, an officer, and tough gentleman

Meet your governor: R N Ravi, an officer, and tough gentleman

Prabin.Kalita @timesgroup.com

12.09.2021

Ravindra Narayan Ravi, the new governor of Tamil Nadu, is a man to watch. Here’s why: The 69-yearold IPS officer who retired seven years ago as the special director of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) before he was appointed the Nagaland governor, is moving from Kohima to Chennai, two capitals so removed geographically, culturally and politically, but what may remain unchanged would be his image of being a no-nonsense administrator.

Born in Patna, the Kerala cadre IPS office took to journalism for a short while before he joined the administrative service in 1976 after completing his post-graduation in physics. While he was in the IB, most in government circles would say, “Ravi knows the northeast like the back of his hand.” His appointment as the PMO’s emissary for the Naga peace process by Narendra Modi in 2014 was seen as a recognition of his knowledge of the region, whose boundaries stretch from Bhutan, Tibet and Myanmar to Bangladesh.

Five years later, Ravi was appointed governor of Nagaland, which earned him the rare distinction of being the first incumbent constitutional head of a state to double up as a peace interlocutor in the country. Within a year, he convinced the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) to sign the first preliminary agreement. This is considered as a culmination of more than 80 rounds of peace talks between the Centre and the Naga organisation within and outside of India since1997.

Ravi has to his credit bringing the insurgent groups hostile towards India to the negotiating table. What stood between him and success was the NSCN (IM)’s demand for a separate flag and constitution for the Nagas. In 2020, he wrote to the Nagaland Democratic People’s Party-BJP government that he would invoke Article 371 (A) (1) (b) and take control of law and order in the state if it failed to stop rebel outfits from carrying extortions and violent activities.

In his letter, Ravi brought to the notice of chief minister Neiphiu Rio the presence of “dozen organised armed gangs” and rampant extortion by “armed gangs who are running a parallel government.” On the other hand, NSCN (IM) and seven other groups (who call themselves Naga National Political Groups) said they were merely collecting ‘legitimate taxes” and “contributions” from people.

Defending its position, the Nagaland government said Ravi’s assessments of law and order “do not appear to be factual.” A few months later, a mellowed state government asked all its employees to declare and give details if any of their family members are part of any underground insurgent group. Before his assignments as an interlocutor and governor, Ravi was the chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee in the PMO. In 2018, he also served as deputy National Security Adviser.

Over 60% Candidates Are Girls

After online prep, 1.1L appear for NEET today

Over 60% Candidates Are Girls

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:12.09.2021

Aspirants writing the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) 2021 on Sunday are a wary lot as most of the coaching they got was online. Experts say many students miss the face-to-face coaching and peer learning and performances could dip this year.

Many coaching centres and schools prepared the students one last time by giving them mock tests on Saturday afternoon, which they wrote wearing masks and gloves. Along with their knowledge and skill, Sunday’s exam is likely to test the endurance of students as the first batch will have to enter exam halls by 10.30am for the 2pm start because of Covid protocols.

From Tamil Nadu 1,10,971 students are scheduled to appear for the exam at 225 exam centres. In Chennai,17,992 students will appear at 33 exam centres.

J S Dharani, a medical aspirant from Ayanavaram, said preparation in online mode was a new experience and difficult. “The coaching institute and school guided us constantly. On a positive note, faculty members were available till 9.30pm to clarify our doubts,” she said.

She said the staggered entry timing and wearing masks for four to five hours inside the exam halls will test the endurance of the students. "We have attended mock tests wearing masks and gloves from 2pm to 5pm. I was comfortable for the first hour, but felt uneasy after that," she said.

Ebenezer Kirubakaran G, an aspirant from Tambaram, said, remembering the concepts was difficult in online mode preparation. He was doing aerobics and wearing masks at home in the past few weeks to prepare for the exam. He said the introduction of choice will help the students. Now students need answer only 180 of the 200 questions.

B Pavan Kumar, deputy director, FIITJEE Chennai, said, lack of peer competition and face-to-face coaching by mentors will impact the performance of mid-level students.

IIT Hyderabad 16th best in NIRF ranking

IIT Hyderabad 16th best in NIRF ranking

UoH bags 9th position and OU 32nd in the university category

The Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad has improved its NIRF 2021 overall ranking by one position.

City Bureau

Hyderabad 

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad has improved its National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2021 overall ranking by one position. The IIT Hyderabad secured 16th rank among the educational institutions in the country while it was in 17th position in the 2020 rankings.

The IIT Madras has topped in the overall rankings which was released by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday. The Indian Institute of Science and IIT Bombay bagged second and third positions.

The University of Hyderabad (UoH) was ranked 17th in this edition of the overall ranking while it was at 15th position in 2020. The National Institute of Technology-Warangal and Osmania University were ranked at 59th and 62nd positions this year while they were at 46th and 53rd positions respectively in the last year’s rankings.

Likewise, in the university category, the UoH has been ranked at 9th, Osmania University at 32nd and International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad at 83rd position, while their 2020 rankings were 6th, 29th and 78th respectively. In the engineering category, IIT Hyderabad was ranked 8th, NIT-Warangal (23rd), IIIT Hyderabad (54th) and Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University-Hyderabad (62nd).

In the case of pharmacy, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hyderabad was at 6th position, while Kakatiya University and Anurag University were ranked at 48th and 61st positions respectively. The NALSAR University of Law and ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education got 3rd and 29th ranks in law category respectively.

The universities and institutions were ranked on various parameters that included teaching, learning and resources, research and professional practices, graduation outcomes, outreach and inclusivity, and perception. The placements and research publications were key parameters among the above.

UP makes mid-term exams must for all univs, private institutions

UP makes mid-term exams must for all univs, private institutions

Isha.Jain@timesgroup.com

Lucknow:11.09.2021

All the universities, including private institutions, will conduct midterm examinations in the academic session 2021-22 which is slated to commence from September 13.

In its latest directives, the government has made midterm examinations compulsory for students enrolled for all courses, irrespective of the system (semester or annual).

The idea is to ensure that students do not suffer in case of any crisis situation like Covid-19 pandemic. “In case of unavoidable circumstances, the mid-term examination will help in timely promotion of students without causing any loss to them,” said the order issued by additional chief secretary, higher education, Monika S Garg.

The directives are a part of the newly-released academic calendar for session 2021-22.

As per the calendar, universities should close fresh admissions to first semester/year by September 13.

To regularise academic session, which got derailed due to prolonged closure of educational institutions in wake of Covid-19 pandemic, the government has also asked institutions to cut down on winter vacation, if required.

Move aimed to help in timely promotion of students

‘Teachers may get 15-day summer vacay in shifts’

In addition, teachers may be given 15 days of summer vacation in shifts so that teaching-learning does not get unhamper.

Universities have been instructed to approve only very important leaves, except maternity, of teaching and non-teaching staff. Condolence meetings of only teachers and administrative staff will be held on campus only after 3 pm. Prior to it, classes will take place on campus, the order said.

The government has also instructed universities to hold extra/online classes if the total number of teaching days – 90 for semester system and 180 for annual system – are not met. Students should be convinced to use higher education digital library.

Yogi gave ₹1,129cr from CM fund to over 71K poor people for treatment

Yogi gave ₹1,129cr from CM fund to over 71K poor people for treatment

Rajiv.Srivastava1@timesgroup.com

Lucknow:11.09.2021

He may have the image of a firebrand leader, but Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has revealed his softer self by going way ahead of his predecessors in extending support to the poor and the distressed through the CM’s discretionary fund. In the past four-and-a-half years, Yogi has disbursed Rs 1,129 crore through the fund to 71,626 people for treatment.

The figures are more than double of what SP president Akhilesh Yadav gave away during his five-year tenure as the UP CM and almost 13 times more than Rs 84 crore released by Mayawati during her term (2007-12).

In the past five months (April1-August 31), during and after the second wave of coronavirus pandemic, around Rs 121 crore was provided as financial assistance to 6,618 beneficiaries.

Officials claimed that UP, with a population of around 24 crore, has fared better in tackling the pandemic as compared to any other state.

‘BJP govt extended ₹1.1k-cr aid to poor patients’

Saving lives and livelihood were the top priorities of the Yogi Adityanath government, they added.

In April, Rs 13.26 crore was provided to around 781 people while in May, this went up to nearly Rs 17.20 crore which was disbursed to over 943 people. In June this year, the government provided Rs 24.85 crore to 1,376 beneficiaries followed by Rs 29.33 crore to 1,497 people in July 2021.

Similarly, Rs 36.44 crore was provided to 2,021 people in August.

According to the details released by the CM’s office regarding the funds, the BJP government has till now extended help of over Rs 1,100 crore to poor patients.

The Samajwadi Party government under Akhilesh Yadav had provided Rs 552 crore to 42,508 people while the Mayawati government gave only Rs 84 crore to around 18,462 people.

Officials in the Chief Minister’s office said after coming to power, CM Yogi Adityanath had issued directives that help should be provided to people who had given up hope for treatment for the want of money. The government not only saved the lives of thousands of people but also ensured that they did not have to sell their land and property to meet medical expenses.

The year wise breakup shows the consistency with which the government provided help to the people.

The CM helped 13,228 people with Rs 184.63 crore in 2017-18 through discretionary fund. In 2018-19, over 17,772 people were given over Rs 256.34 crore, while in 2019-20, about 18,014 people received Rs 280.23 crore.

Around Rs 132.55 crore was provided to 7,269 people in 2020-21. Help was provided for kidney transplants and patients suffering from cancer, heart ailments and other serious diseases.

Officials said the maximum money was given to patients for the treatment of cancer, kidney and heart disease.

Man caught with ₹13-cr cobra venom

Man caught with ₹13-cr cobra venom

Pinak Priya Bhattacharya

Jalpaiguri:11.09.2021

A man was on Friday arrested with cobra venom worth Rs 13 crore after he entered India from Bangladesh through the Hili border in South Dinajpur.

Salim Akhtar, from South Dinajpur, reportedly admitted the consignment was headed to China from Bangladesh via India and Nepal. The consigment was seized at 73 More, on the outskirts of Jalpaiguri town. He was remanded for six days by the court.

The officials, acting on a tip-off, arrested Akhtar but those who were to receive the venom escaped. Red dragon stickers on the venom containers raised officials’ suspicion that these were meant for China.

Bengal forest minister Jyotipriya Mullick said several people had been arrested earlier too while smuggling snake venom.

Transfer plea on med grounds

Transfer plea on med grounds

Kolkata:11.09.2021

The school education department has issued an order, saying teachers can apply on Utsashree portal for transfer if his/her family member suffers from a serious disease. The district school inspector will forward the case to CMOH and Medical Colleges and Hospital. Depending on the report, such applications should be addressed within 14 days. TNN

From 16th in 2017 to 4th in 2021: CU climbs NIRF ranking ladder

From 16th in 2017 to 4th in 2021: CU climbs NIRF ranking ladder

Zeeshan.Jawed@timesgroup.com

Kolkata:11.09.2021

From being nowhere near the Top10 five years ago to ranking fourth on the National Institution Ranking Framework this year, Calcutta University has steadily climbed up the ladder by improving in several key areas, including teacher-student ratio, experienced faculty, student strength, regional diversity and quality of publications. The university, which was founded in January 1857, has also gained several points with respect to peer perception in the past five years, scoring almost 20 points.

With its improved performance in some of the key areas, CU figured just after IISc, JNU and BHU on the list, bypassing Jadavpur University, which ranked eighth, three rungs down from last year’s fifth position. “The ranking of the university at number four in the country and number one in the state is indicative of the collective zeal of our teachers, researchers, students and all other staff,” said CU vice-chancellor Sonali Chakravarti Banerjee. The NIRF rankings were published on Thursday.

In 2017, CU ranked 16th, in 2018,14th, in 2019, it ranked fifth and in 2020, it slid down to the seventh position. In 2018, the university fared badly in the faculty-student ratio category, scoring 15 out of 30. In 2021, the score under this head was 24.21 out of 30. In 2020, the university scored13.57 out of 20 in faculty with experience, but this time, the figure is 16.02 this year. The university’s peer perception score is also up from 37.39 out of 100 in 2019 to 45.77. But in 2020, the peer perception was 47.99. “The university created capital assets, excluding land and building worth Rs 26 crore. The amount spent on library and procuring new equipment for labs was over Rs 74 crore,” said an official.

At 45.77, CU lagged behind JU in peer perception score by almost 21 points, but it beat JU by almost 10 points in facultystudent ratio, four points in faculty with PhD and experience, 4.5 points in intellectual property and patents, 10 points in women diversity and 1.5 in region diversity. “Jadavpur University has faced a few issues in receiving grants over the past few years and that has impeded a lot of development. This reflected in the NIRF ranking this year,” said an official at Jadavpur University.

Five colleges from the state also figured on NIRF Top 100. Of them, only one—Bethune College—is a government institute. St Xavier’s College, with a total score of 67.41, ranked fourth, Ramakrishna Mission Vidyamandira (67.26) ranked fifth, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Centenary College, Rahara (64.45) ranked 15th, Ramakrishna Mission Residential College (62.50) ranked 21st and Bethune College

(52.23) ranked 77th. Bethune principal Krishna Roy said, “It is a matter of great pride that we are the only government college to be among the country’s Top 100. We are proud that we have been able to maintain the standard despite many adversities during pandemic.”

(Inputs by Poulami Roy Banerjee)

ONLY BENGAL MED INSTITUTE IN NIRF

ONLY BENGAL MED INSTITUTE IN NIRF

MCH bags 32nd position in nat’l ranking

Sumati.Yengkhom@timesgroup.com

Kolkata:11.09.2021

Medical College Hospital Kolkata has bagged the 32nd position among all medical colleges across the country, according to the NIRF (National Institutional Ranking Framework) 2021. In fact, the oldest medical college in Asia is the only medical institute from Bengal to have found a place in the ranking by the ministry of education, Government of India.

AIIMS New Delhi tops the chart for medical colleges followed by PGI Chandigarh, Christian Medical College Vellore, National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences (NIMHANS) Bangalore and Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences in the second, third, fourth and fifth spots respectively.

Factors including the facilities — teaching as well as patient, hospital infrastructure, number of faculty members, number of research/study projects, number of undergraduate and post graduate students and their placement after course completion, number and quality of seminars/workshops, budgetary allocation for various activities are few of the criterion on the basis of which the ranking is done.

“We are happy to have found a place in the prestigious NIRF ranking,” said Medical College Hospital assistant professor Dibyendu Raycahudhuri, who was the nodal person to coordinate for the assessment.

Colleges struggle to fill UG seats

Colleges struggle to fill UG seats

10 Days, Several Lists, Many Vacant Berths

Poulami.Roy@timesgroup.com

Kolkata:11.09.2021

Ten days after admission to undergraduate courses in colleges commenced, seats in many courses in several colleges remain empty, a cause for worry for hundreds of students who have scored over 90% in board results but are yet to get a seat in a subject and college of choice. Principals fear some seats may remain vacant even in high-demand courses despite the huge number of applicants due to their inability to reclaim the seats of students who opt for a second college after taking admission in one.

This year, colleges have received a record number of applications. With no application fee, some students have applied to as many as 20 colleges. The top scorers figured in the first list of multiple colleges with some even taking admission in more than one. With no system to ensure that the previous seat will be vacated once a student takes admission in another college, it remains a challenge.

Surendranath College, for instance, received 54,000 application forms but only 10% seats have been filled up till date. College principal Indranil Kar pointed out that every year, nearly 30% seats remained vacant due to their inability to weed out those students who have also taken admission elsewhere and don’t report to the college when classes commence.

To solve the problem, many colleges have introduced a wish list format that allows interested students to gain admission.

Many principals of city colleges felt a central counselling system could be a solution. “Colleges do face a challenge in identifying students who have taken admission but then don’t attend classes because they’ve taken admission elsewhere as well. At present, students are not bound to inform colleges that they have taken admission elsewhere,” said New Alipore College principal Jaydeep Sarangi.

A principal of a central Kolkata college reasoned that a central counselling system could eliminate the problem of multiple admissions by a single candidate through use of a dedicated portal to monitor the admission process.

A few years ago during his first stint in the education department, minister Bratya Basu had proposed a centralised counselling system but it had ultimately not been implemented. A section of principals now feel it may be time to revisit the proposal.

There is a counter argument against central counselling as well with some pointing out that it is not foolproof. But even they admit that while top rung colleges will always be the first preference like counselling in Joint, it will be easier to know how many are opting out for upgradation if the process is monitored centrally.

Kannur varsity will review controversial syllabus: Min

Kannur varsity will review controversial syllabus: Min

Thiruvananthapuram:11.09.2021

Higher education minister R Bindu said the controversial Kannur University syllabus for MA Governance and Political Science would be reviewed by the varsity.

“If the syllabus requires any change, the university will take appropriate steps. If some additions proposed are to be dropped, the university would do so. So is the case of any addition in the syllabus,” the minister said on Friday evening. The minister’s reaction came after she received a report from Kannur University vice-chancellor Gopinath Ravindran regarding the issue.

The minister had earlier termed the developments in connection with the university syllabus as ‘highly sensitive’. CPM state acting secretary A Vijayaraghavan too said that the matter demands serious attention. “Ours is a secular country. It’s dangerous to have communal references in university syllabus,” the minister said, adding that university authorities need not be strictly aware of all changes in the syllabus and its nuances.

The new course for MA Governance and Political Science was introduced in Brennan College under Kannur University last year. The study recommended for the third semester of the course —themes in Indian political thoughthas kindled a controversy as critics dubbed the inclusion of the political thoughts of Golwalker and Savarkar as saffronization of the syllabus. TNN

Final year classes on shift basis from Oct 4

Final year classes on shift basis from Oct 4

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Thiruvananthapuram:11.09.2021

Classes for final year students in higher education institutions in the state would begin from October 4 on a shift basis on alternate days. A decision in this regard was reached at higher education minister R Bindu’s meeting with college principals on Friday.

Classes for junior semester students would be decided later considering the experience of the mechanism being put in place for the final year students, Bindu told reporters after the online meeting with principals.

“To begin with, classes would be organised on alternate days. Teachers would reach the campus daily. A fresh order specifying the working time for colleges during this special arrangement would be issued soon. Institutions may opt for different shift timings, according to their convenience. Generally, the student strength in PG classes is below 20. Nothing prevents college authorities from organising daily classes for students of such classes,” Bindu said.

A special vaccination drive would be held on college campuses to ensure that all students get at least one dose of the Covid vaccine. The drive would be held by coordinating respective DMOs, primary health centres, universities, and college campuses. “For the effective drive, the statistics of non-vaccinated students and teachers would be prepared. Covid vigilance committees would be set up on all campuses. Classes would be held adhering to Covid protocols, and college authorities are supposed to ensure availability of sanitiser, soap and handwash,” the minister said.

Bindu said the department would ask district collectors to return certain college buildings that had been converted to CFLTCs. They will be also asked to relieve teachers who were given the charge of sectoral magistrates.

“Colleges are being opened to overcome limitations of online classes. Online classes would be set up in all colleges. Principals have been asked to ensure that learning management system is introduced in their colleges. Principals would fix the schedule for blended classes, using online and offline facilities,” Bindhu said.

She r said the government would make best efforts to ensure public transport facility for college-going students. “Institutional heads would arrange accommodation facilities at hostels by ensuring the adherence of Covid-19 protocol. Since only final year students are allowed on campuses, accommodation in hostels won’t be a risk,” Bindhu added

A special vaccination drive would be held on college campuses to ensure that all students get at least one Covid vaccine dose

August 2021 was third hottest in 120 yrs: IMD

August 2021 was third hottest in 120 yrs: IMD

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:11.09.2021

A huge rainfall deficit ensured August 2021 was the third hottest August in the country in the past 120 years but it was also marked by the Ridge area in the capital breaking its 24 hour rainfall record for the month.

As far as temperature was concerned, the monthly average maximum, average minimum and mean temperature over all India for the month of August during 1901-2021 shows the average ‘maximum temperature’ over all India was third highest (31.75 degree C) and average ‘minimum temperature’ was eighth highest (24.39 degree C) while the ‘mean temperature’ over all India was third highest (28.07 degree C) since 1901, making it the third hottest August.

“The observed average maximum, average minimum and mean temperature for the country as a whole during August 2021 are 31.75 degree C, 24.39 degree C and 28.07 degree C respectively, against the normal of 31.09 degree C, 24.01 degree C and 27.55 degree C based on period 1981-2010,” said the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) weather analysis for August.

The overall rainfall deficit (24% below long period average) had led it to be the lowest August rainfall in the country in the last 12 years (after 2009).

So far during period 1901-2021, August 2021 was the 6th lowest after 1920 (32.5% below LPA), 2005 (28.4% below LPA), 2009 (26.5% below LPA),1913 (25.6% below LPA), and 1930 and 1993 when it had 25.2% below LPA.

Only 28 stations reported extremely heavy rainfall

The IMD said certain stations recorded ‘very heavy’ to ‘extremely heavy’ rainfall with six of them including Delhi Ridge, Car Nicobar, Aizwal, Bundi, Thanjavur and Shivpuri reporting their 24-hour respective record rainfall in August.

“There were only 28 stations which reported extremely heavy rainfall”, said the IMD in its analysis. There are over 4,000 rainfall recording stations in the country. Referring to the impact of weather events in August, the IMD noted that a total 121 persons lost their lives while 28 persons got injured during the month.

Govt sees red on Savarkar, VC denies it’s saffronisation

Govt sees red on Savarkar, VC denies it’s saffronisation

Panel To Examine Univ Syllabus, Submit Report

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Kozhikode:11.09.2021

The row over inclusion of writings of Hindutva ideologues MS Golwakar and V D Savarkar in the MA Governance and Politics syllabus of Kannur University appeared to evolve into a larger debate on whether non-mainstream or controversial works should become part of conventional syllabi, even as it put the government in a spot on Friday, with divisions cropping up among Left parties on the issue.

The varsity has constituted a two-memberpanel -- comprising political scientists Prof J Prabhash and Prof K S Pavithran -- to examine the syllabus and submit a report in five days. Higher education minister R Bindu on Friday termed the development as "highly sensitive" and said it was "dangerous" to have communal references in university syllabus, but toned down her reaction by the evening. “If the syllabus requires any change, the university will take appropriate steps. If some additions proposed are to be dropped, the university would do so," she said.

Protests in varsity for second day

CM Pinarayi Vijayan also gave a similar reaction but said the government does not want to glorify ideologies and leaders who had turned away their faces from the Independence struggle. The university had included extracts from Savarkar’s “Hindutva: who is a Hindu”, and Golwalkar’s “Bunch of Thoughts” in the syllabus. Vice-chancellor Gopinath Ravindran justified the decision, saying the syllabus was aimed at enabling students to develop a critical understanding about various strands of Indian political thought.

The varsity witnessed protests for the second day on Friday, with the AISF also taking out a protest march demanding withdrawal of the syllabus. KSU activists blocked the vicechancellor’s vehicle. Senior CPI leader Benoy Vishwam joined the opposition leaders in criticising the decision. Opposition leader V D Satheesan said the decision is condemnable.

The issue, meanwhile, laid bare conflicting opinions in SFI, with Kannur University Students Union chairman M K Hassan supporting the decision and SFI state secretary K M Sachin Dev opposing it.

The controversy brought up diverse opinions among academics as well. Historian and former ICHR chairman M G S Narayanan said it was imperative that students read all diverse strands of Indian political thought at the post-graduate level. “They should get an opportunity to compare and contrast different points of view. Also, it will help them in developing their own independent perspective,” he said. Political scientist and Kasargod central university former vice-chancellor G Gopakumar said it was unfortunate that holistic academic matters are used for petty political gains. “Political science is a liberal discipline. Those who speak against the syllabus should at least understand that Indian political thought is a prominent paper and works and philosophy of Savarkar, Golwalkar and Muhammad Ali Jinnah are part of this,” he said. “The demand to obfuscate the prominent political ideologies would be like asking political science students to study the second world war, without studying Hilter and Mussolini and their ideologies,” he added.

P K Ravindran, educationist and former deputy director of the collegiate education department, however said students should be taught textbooks that will take them forward and not backward in time. “Universities should not be the place to promote retrograde ideas. It is wrong to teach youngsters textbooks and ideas that would take them centuries back. If those responsible for drafting the syllabus don’t take the matter seriously, they do not deserve to hold such positions,” he said.

› FULL COVERAGE: P 5

I-T dept ‘surveys’ Newsclick, Newslaundry in tax case

I-T dept ‘surveys’ Newsclick, Newslaundry in tax case

New Delhi:11.09.2021

The Income Tax department on Friday conducted separate “survey operations” at the premises of online news portals Newsclick and Newslaundry here, officials said.

The operations are being conducted to verify certain tax payment details and remittances made by the organisations, they said. Some documents have been found and these are being studied, the officials said.

In a survey operation, which is carried out under provisions of section 133A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, tax officials cover only the business premises of an assessee and those linked to it and not their residential addresses. However, tax authorities can seize documents. There was no immediate reaction from the two portals or their promoters.

Newsclick and its founders were raided by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in February under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and that investigation is linked to alleged dubious foreign funding received by its registered company, which runs the news portal.

The money laundering case arises out of a Delhi Police FIR alleging that PPK Newsclick Studio Pvt Ltd received foreign direct investment (FDI) of Rs 9.59 crore from Worldwide Media Holdings LLC USA during the 2018-19 financial year. AGENCIES

Pay ₹28L over fraud involving duplicate SIM, Voda ordered

Pay ₹28L over fraud involving duplicate SIM, Voda ordered

Srikanta.Tripathy@timesgroup.com

Jaipur:11.09.2021

The Rajasthan IT department has ordered Vodafone Idea to pay one of its customers remaining Rs 27.5 lakh out of the total Rs 68.5 lakh which was illegally transferred from his account using a duplicate cellphone SIM card issued by the telecom company without proper verification of customer identification documents.

The case pertains to one Bhanu Pratap, who was issued a duplicate SIM belonging to another person and transferred a total of Rs 68.5 lakh from IDBI bank to his other accounts. Later, he returned Rs 44 lakh but the victim is yet to receive the rest of the money. On May 25, 2017, Krishna Lal Nain’s Vodafone Idea mobile number stopped working. He went to the telecom company’s store in Hanumangarh and registered a complaint.

Though he got a new number, it remained inactivated despite repeated complaints. In Jaipur, he went to one of the company’s stores and again submitted a complaint for SIM activation, which happened the next day. By then, the culprit had transferred Rs 68.5 lakh from Nain’s IDBI Bank account using the OTPs generated.

Not only was the duplicate SIM card issued without proper verification of personal data, the delay in activation of the new SIM card and the transfer of money from the account during the period raised serious questions.

NEET forgery racket busted by Ajmer police, 3 arrested

NEET forgery racket busted by Ajmer police, 3 arrested

Ajmer:11.09.2021

A team formed by Inspector General of Police of Ajmer range on Friday arrested three accused from Delhi, Jaipur and Kota who claimed to provide guarantee to facilitate and clear NEET and JEE exams by providing dummy candidates on behalf of real candidates. The NEET examination isonSeptember12andtheracket busted by police has caused panic among the candidates.

Briefing a press conference, Inspector General of Police Ajmer range S Sengathir told the media that the candidates appearing for NEET exams were getting calls by consultancy companies that they will arrange for admission in government colleges and also provide candidates who will appear in the NEET exam, as they have already qualified such exams before. For this purpose, candidates had to first deposit Rs 1 lakh and later Rs 5 to 6 lakh on the day of examination and for getting into a good college, they had to deposit total Rs 30 lakh.

The team constituted for investigation went for query as a dummy parent and met Arpit Swami, who is running the office as consultancy in Vikas Puri of New Delhi.

Arpit told them about the network they have, to provide examination centre as well as dummy candidate who will appear in the examination. The dummy parents made a deal and paid Rs17 lakh to Arpit and after confirming the forgery in the examination, police arrested Arpit Swami, who is a resident of Alwar, from New Delhi; Gajender Swami, a resident of New Delhi arrested from Raja Park in Jaipur and Mohammad Danish from Kota. TNN

A Very Consequential Supreme Court Ruling

A Very Consequential Supreme Court Ruling

When govt values land unjustly, landowners cannot seek full remedy in lower courts

Sunil Gupta

11.09.2021

Construction of national highways and acquisition of land for that purpose is an important GoI project. The state always has the power to compulsorily acquire any person’s property for public purpose but in lieu of fair compensation. Fair compensation is a constitutional right. However, now, under a recent Supreme Court judgment in Project Director, NHAI vs M Hakeem, GoI can acquire land for highways without a fair mechanism for compensation. SC has always taken pride in laying down the law for upholding constitutional rights. But it has failed this time.

Why is govt arbitration one-sided?

Under the National Highways Act, 1956 (amended 1997), when GoI acquires land for highways, compensation is fixed by a government servant. A dissatisfied landowner can seek reconsideration but even reconsideration is done by another government servant called an ‘arbitrator’ who is appointed not with the landowner’s consent but unilaterally by GoI.

A non-consensual ‘arbitrator’ is an oxymoron. Fulsome remedies of appeal are not available to the landowner under the Land Acquisition Act if the arbitrator’s compensation award is inadequate. Only a truncated remedy on technical grounds under Section 34 of the Arbitration Act is provided, where a court has limited power.

The court under this remedy can either set aside the award or leave it to be re-decided by the arbitrator but cannot modify the award and increase the compensation itself. Arbitrariness is writ large. Still, the apex court refused to concede to lower courts (below it) the right to enhance NHA awards.

SC’s view could have been acceptable had the arbitrator been appointed with the landowner’s consent. An HC had found that the governmentappointed arbitrator had simply ‘rubber-stamped’ the collector’s measly compensation of Rs 46.55-83.15 per sq mt, although the market value (from sale-deeds of identical lands) was Rs 645 psm.

Therefore, HC, instead of setting aside the award or remitting it for a completely new hearing and decision by yet another government-appointed bureaucrat arbitrator, enhanced the compensation itself. It held that, at least, as regards NHA awards, Section 34 should be construed liberally as permitting the court to modify and enhance the compensation itself. This view gave landowners at least one full and fair judicial remedy in a court.

What did the Supreme Court say?

Time and again, SC has itself adopted ‘dynamic’ and ‘creative’ interpretation of statutes to facilitate justice. It has constitutional power to do ‘complete justice’. However, this time, despite NHA’s unfair consequences, SC disagreed with HC and adopted a surprisingly conservative approach.

SC expressed regret that under NHA the wholesome regime of appeals has been replaced by a nonconsensual arbitrator’s award challengeable only on limited grounds but left it to Parliament to amend NHA. Yet it simultaneously ruled that the mere fact that such a process would enable a government servant to ‘rubber-stamp’ an award cannot mean that a challenge on merits should be provided under Section 34. Such an approach by the all-powerful highest court is disconcerting.

Ironically enough, SC did note the ‘perverse’ and ‘abysmally low amounts’ granted to landowners by the Arbitrator. Yet it disapproved the HC’s enhancement but at the same time refused to disturb this particular enhancement on the ground that the NHA amendment’s constitutional validity hasn’t been challenged, therefore, grave injustice would be done if SC were to set aside the HC decision or leave it for re-decision by the very government servant arbitrator who had applied the ‘depressed land values’.

Why does the status quo continue?

However, SC has denied lower courts (below it) the right to modify and enhance NHA awards. They can only set aside an award or remit it back for ‘arbitration’. Landowners cannot challenge the NHA amendment’s validity in their purely statutory petitions under Section 34. That can happen only in a writ petition in HCs or SC under the Constitution. This leaves lower courts spectators when confronted with unjust awards.

Future cases of inadequate NHA compensation under Section 34 leave landowners (mostly poor farmers and agriculturists) and lower courts in a bind. For landowners, SC has ruled a ‘limited right’ and ‘limited remedy’ to ‘cure’ awards. Lower courts are hamstrung by a lakshman rekha.

The writer is a Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India

With NEET tomorrow, states too have a test

With NEET tomorrow, states too have a test

Manash.Gohain@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:11.04.2021

Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan has written to all the chief ministers seeking their support in conducting the largest single shift competitive exam in India—the NEET-UG scheduled for September 12, Sunday.

With a record 16.14 lakh candidates having registered and in keeping with the Covid-19 situation and protocols the number of centres have been doubled to 3,858 and candidates have been allotted different entry times to ensure staggered entry.

The National Testing Agency has also issued an advisory on its website on Friday and has mailed the same to the candidates. Meanwhile, the ministry of education has also written to the chief secretaries of all the states/ UTs to permit mobility to the candidates on the basis of the admit card in case there are Covid restrictions in place.

NTA also warned candidates against falling prey to messages on WhatsApp claiming that the leaked question paper can be accessed on payment of a certain sum of money. “NTA would like to advise the students to desist from trusting such a fake platform. The exam is secure and it’s a way to fleece the students. The agency will also approach appropriate authorities for action on such activities,” said Vineet Joshi, director general, NTA.

In his letter to the CMs, Pradhan said: “We have recently seen the second wave of Covid-19 and conducting an examination of this magnitude in this background requires support of all stakeholders.

Now, use CoWin API to know others’ vax status

Now, use CoWin API to know others’ vax status

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:11.09.2021

To facilitate faster reopening of economic activities while also ensuring safety of people during the pandemic, CoWin has launched a new software interface (API) that will make it easier for organisations to know the vaccination status of their employees and customers.

On this API, “Know Your Customer’s/Client’s Vaccination Status”, or KYC-VS, one just needs to enter the individual’s mobile number and name. Thereafter, the individual will get a one-time password (OTP) which he/she will have to enter. CoWin will send a response to the verifying entity on the individual’s status of vaccination. The response will indicate whether the person is not vaccinated (denoted by ‘0’), partially vaccinated (denoted by ‘1’) or fully vaccinated (denoted by ‘2’).

The new feature is consent-based and privacy-preserving, the health ministry said on Friday.

CoWin is already issuing a digitally verifiable certificate as a proof of vaccination. This certificate can be saved on a digital device like smartphone, tablet, laptop or stored in Digi-Locker from where it can be digitally shared as and when required.

However, there may be instances where an entity does not need to see the certificate in full and would just need to know whether an individual has been vaccinated. For instance, employers may want to know the vaccination status of their employees to resume work from offices. Similarly, hotels may want to know the vaccination status of their customers. The API may also be used for railway reservation and flight bookings.

“There is a need for an Aadhaa rlike authentication service for the status of vaccination through CoWin. To take care of these cases and others that may come up, CoWin has developed a new API called ‘Know Your Customer’s/Client’s Vaccination Status’ or KYC-VS,” the ministry said.

Nearly 73 crore vaccine doses have been administered so far. This response through KYC-VS will be digitally signed and can be shared instantly with the verifying entity.

Punjab to send unvaccinated on leave

Punjab to send unvaccinated on leave

Chandigarh:11.09.2021

Punjab CM Amarinder Singh announced on Friday that state government employees failing to take even the first dose of a Covid vaccine for any reason other than medical will be compulsorily sent on leave after September 15.

This strong measure, an official statement said, was announced by chief minister Singh to protect the people of the state from the disease and to ensure that those who are vaccinated do not have to pay the price for continued vaccine hesitancy of those who are not.

At a high-level virtual Covid review meeting held on Friday, the CM said vaccine effectiveness is evident from the data being analysed. Special efforts were taken to reach out to government employees, and those who continue to avoid getting vaccinated will now be asked to go on leave till they get the first dose, he said. Singh also ordered extension of the existing Covid restrictions till September 30. PTI

NIRF Medical Rankings Released: Check Out 10 Best Medical Colleges In India

NIRF Medical Rankings Released: Check Out 10 Best Medical Colleges In India

By Garima Published On 9 Sep 2021 5:07 PM | Updated On 9 Sep 2021 5:07 PM

New Delhi: The ranking of top medical colleges across the country, based on the government's National Institute of Ranking Framework (NIRF), has been released today by the Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

According to the NIRF rankings 2021, the premier healthcare institution of the country, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi got rank number 1 with a score of 92.07; AIIMS was adjudged as the number 1 institute last year as well with a score of 90.69.

The Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh (PGIMER) bagged the second position with 82.62 score and Christian Medical College (CMC Vellore) got the third rank with 75.33.

As per NIRF 2020 list last year, the PGIMER had got 80.06 and CMC Vellore 73.56. All the top 3 institutes haveX increased the score by around 2 points this year.

Similar to last year, the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore (NIMHANS) has bagged the 4th position with a 73.62 score by the ministry. Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow (SGPGI) comes at 5th rank with a score of 72.45; last year it was 70.21. The institute had applied for NIRF for the first time in the year 2019.

Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore Tamil Nadu is a new entry to the list. The institute bagged the 6th rank with a 69.25 score in its hand.

The Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi (BHU) has slipped down to 7th rank. Last year it had got the 6th position with a 64.72 score. However, this year, the institute had improved its overall score by around 3 points with getting 67.62 from the Ministry.

The Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education & Research, Puducherry (JIPMER), similar to last year, stays at 8th rank. This time it has got a score of 67.42 compared to last year's 63.17.

While King George's Medical University, Lucknow (KGMU) which had got the 10th rank in 2020 with 62.20, has jumped to 9th position this year with an improved score of 64.67; Kasturba Medical College, Manipal has got the Rank 10 compared to last year's 9th. The medical college has this year got 63.60 score, last year it was 62.84.

The NIRF is the annual Indian ranking that rates various institutes based on the parameters set by the organization includes the best colleges in the fields of engineering, medical, and MBA, including the top universities. This framework outlines a methodology to rank institutions across the country. The methodology draws from the overall recommendations broad understanding arrived at by a Core Committee set up by the Ministry of Education, to identify the broad parameters for ranking various universities and institutions. The parameters broadly cover "Teaching, Learning and Resources," "Research and Professional Practices," "Graduation Outcomes," "Outreach and Inclusivity," and "Perception".