UGC-NET 2021 postponed

UGC-NET 2021 postponed

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:21.04.2021

Amid a spike in Covid-19 cases across the country, the National Testing Agency has decided to postpone the UGC National Eligibility Test (NET) scheduled to be held from May 2 to May 17.

“Looking at the present situation of the Covid-19 pandemic and also taking into account the safety and well-being of the candidates and examination functionaries, we have decided to postpone the UGC-NET December 2020 cycle (May 2021) examination,” NTA said.

According to an order by the NTA, the revised dates for the exam will be announced later, at least 15 days before the examination.

The UGC NET is conducted by the NTA on behalf of the University Grants Commission to determine the eligibility of assistant Pprofessors in universities and to award junior research fellowship (JRF).

Banks open to customers only till 2pm from today

Banks open to customers only till 2pm from today

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:21,04.2021

Do you have some work at the bank? Then, make sure you are there early because banks will observe shorter working hours from Wednesday.

According to a circular issued by the state finance department, business hours for customers have been fixed from 10am to 2pm. The decision was taken a day after the Maha Gujarat Bank Employees’ Association (MGBEA) made a representation in this regard before the chief minister The restricted banking hours and services, along with other measures proposed by the department, will continue till April 30.

With a view to containing Covid-l9 cases in Gujarat, heads of major public and private sector banks, the regional director of RBI, Ahmedabad, and convener, SLBC, Gujarat held a meeting to assess and chart a course of action to be taken regarding banking activities.

During this period, bank branches and its offices shall provide only essential services to customers including cash deposit, cash withdrawals, RTGS and remittances including clearance. Special preference shall also be extended to senior citizens for availing banking services.

“Staff strength in branches/administrative offices shall be curtailed by 50% by adopting alternate days working/work from home etc to minimize the risk of Covid spread,” states the circular.

The department has also asked banks to ensure adequate cash in ATMs and encourage the customers to use digital payment modes.

“Guidelines relating to Covid-19 pandemic issued by the Centre, the state government and all other local competent authorities shall also be strictly adhered to, and Covid-appropriate behaviour must be strictly observed by all concerned,” the circular further added.

2-month break in service for guest faculty members: BDU

USUAL PRACTICE

2-month break in service for guest faculty members: BDU

Sambath.Kumar@timesgroup.com

Trichy:21.04.2021

Bharathidasan University has decided to give a break in service to guest faculty members working in university departments and PG extension centres for May and June. There are 80-odd guest faculty members working on consolidated pay and hourly basis who will not be getting their salaries for these two months according to the orders issued by university registrar in-charge G Gopinath on Monday.

Though this is a usual practice every year due to college vacation, they were given an exemption last year in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. What has set off panic this year is the registrar’s order asking principals of 10 constituent colleges to take a decision on retaining them for these two months and give extension based on necessity. Since 2012, guest faculty members in constituent colleges were not given break in service during May-June.

There are over 600 guest faculty members working in erstwhile constituent colleges under BDU that were recently converted into government colleges. “The decision to give break in service this year when we are in the throes of a second wave is unfortunate,” said an affected guest faculty member at the university. While they are paid a minimum of Rs15,000 a month, it will be difficult to manage without that salary too for two months during the pandemic, said the faculty member.

However, many are optimistic of being retained considering the fact that semester examination is beginning from May first week and staff are required for subsequent months for evaluation of answer scripts, said a guest lecturer at a constituent college. BDU registrar in-charge G Gopinath told TOI that the decision to give break in service was according to university norms and last year was an exception. “The heads of departments can retain some of the staff based on requirement and same is the case with constituent college principals,” he said.

AICTE insists on new rule to sanction new courses

AICTE insists on new rule to sanction new courses

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:20.04.2021

Much to the chagrin of private engineering colleges who could not fill at least 50% of their seats last year, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has decided to contest a Madras high court order permitting such colleges to apply for new courses this year.

At least 258 engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu were able to apply for new courses following an interim order of the high court.

However, AICTE has now clarified that it has not relaxed the minimum 50% admission norm, and that it would contest the interim orders of the high court.

"AICTE has allowed the colleges only to apply for new courses. We are contesting the interim order. The norm was introduced to improve the quality of engineering programmes," an AICTE official said.

It all began with the AICTE’s approval process handbook for 2021-22, where it had stated that new courses would be allowed only in case of more than 50% overall enrolment last year.

Assailing the new norms, Consortium of Self-Financing Professional, Arts and Science Colleges in Tamil Nadu moved the high court and obtained an interim stay against the regulation. The consortium also sent a representation to the AICTE to give relaxation based on the court order. Meanwhile, the court extended the interim stay till April 26.

Pursuant to the court order, AICTE allowed 258 engineering members of the consortium to apply for new courses on its web portal.

A representative from the consortium said more than 100 engineering colleges were interested to apply for new courses. "The council is not opening the portal for the colleges, which had already submitted their application, for approval. New courses will be the lifeline for the engineering courses which are facing the survival test," he said.

Colleges said students were not preferring traditional engineering courses like civil, electrical and electronics and mechanical engineering, resulting in poor admissions last year.

"We need to be allowed to start a new course in emerging areas, including artificial intelligence and data science, cyber security, among others. It would ensure the survival of these colleges," the representative said.

Long-distance buses leave early, demand shoots up for trains, flights

Long-distance buses leave early, demand shoots up for trains, flights

Ram Sundaram & Deepak Karthik TNN

Chennai/Trichy:  21.04.2021

Long-distance government buses began leaving the Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus in Koyambedu from 4.30am on Tuesday, when the new restrictions kicked in, to ensure they reached their destinations before night curfew came into effect at10pm.

The last bus to southern districts of Tirunelveli, Nagercoil or Tuticorin left before 8am, while there was not a single State Express Transport Corporation (SETC) bus to Coimbatore after 10.30am. Against the 300 SETC buses that are operated from Chennai, just160 left CMBT on Tuesday, according to official data.

Passenger footfalls dropped sharply, with barely 15-20 seats occupied in every bus. Rajesh, a SETC conductor, said, “Besides the fear of Covid-19, excess heat is also a factor which deters many passengers from taking morning buses to faraway places.”

The situation was no different in districts like Trichy, Madurai or Salem, with several buses taken back to depots as there were not enough passengers.

Amid this, contradictory statements about operation of private buses belonging to two major associations left passengers confused. While one claimed services have been put on hold, the other claimed around 400 buses were operated.

Mohammed Afzal, president of Tamil Nadu Omni Bus Owners Association, said 20% of the 2,500 private buses in the state will continue be made available for public in the morning hours following government guidelines.

Ticket fares were halved for A/C buses, but there were not many takers. R Balakrishnan, a bus operator from Trichy, said that passengers were scared about what would happen if the buses reached late and they were stuck at the bus stand without transport to their houses. “Also, not many are keen on sacrificing one full day of their leave/holidays on travel,” he said.

The state government is yet to respond to bus operators' request to allow limited services at night. As a result, demand for morning trains shot up. Non A/C seats and sleeper class tickets got filled for travelling between Chennai and Trichy, Madurai and Coimbatore. Almost 60% of A/C seats on trains for commute in the coming days were also filled.

NOT MANY TAKERS: A view of the deserted Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus, Koyambedu, on Tuesday. Ticket fares were halved for A/C buses, but there were not many takers

Engg, Arch exams in open book mode

Engg, Arch exams in open book mode

The notification also said that the final semester exams will be held online under a Multiple Choice Question pattern.

Published: 20th April 2021 04:49 AM 

By Sushmitha Ramakrishnan

Express News Service

CHENNAI: A day after the Anna University announced that the April/May 2021 end semester exams for all UG and PG students will be conducted in an open book type, it extended the provision to engineering and architecture students of all affiliated institutions, too, barring those in their final semesters.

A notification released on Saturday said that students will write exams for a total of 50 marks, and they will be given 90 minutes to complete the exams online. The university has said that this is a one time measure taken in view of the pandemic. The question paper will have two segments: the first for 10 marks comprising five two-mark questions; the second part, for 40 marks, shall have five eight-mark questions. The questions under either segments will be from separate chapters and students shall have no choice.

While there is a common misconception that open book tests are easy, in reality, the questions are aimed at testing students’ applied knowledge of technical subjects. The university has said that all questions, “shall be of analytical type with no direct answers from text/reference books.”

A senior faculty from Anna University told Express that the success of this method depends on the nature of questions asked. “It doesn’t make sense to ask definitions and derivations in an open book exam. But rather test the application knowledge students have,” he said.

Students can however refer to course material in physical form as well as from the web. But getting answers from others or discussing the answers in groups shall be construed as malpractice. “Open book is expected to be harder than regular exams. When they say open books, they usually refer to data sets from books, like design data and log books, used commonly in engineering. This means students will have to scourge data and solve complicated problems. It won’t simplify the exams,” said KM Karthik, leader of All India Private College Employees Union (AIPCEU).

The response among students is currently mixed. While some students who have had proper access to online education said that it is a good initiative, others fear they may be unable to suddenly adapt to a new paper pattern in the middle of a lockdown. The notification also said that the final semester exams will be held online under a Multiple Choice Question pattern.

When Express approached to ask if the open-book exam mode will be expanded to other universities as well, S Apoorva, principal secretary to the government, Higher Education Department, said she was unaware of the varsity’s decision to make the exam open book.

Is another spell of reverse migration beginning?

Is another spell of reverse migration beginning?

Some of the people waiting at the station complained about the lack of tickets and how people are not allowed in without confirmed tickets.

Published: 20th April 2021 04:52 AM 

Migrant labourers at Central railway station in Chennai on Monday | R Satish Babu

By CP Balasubramanyam

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Fearing a repeat of last year’s distress, associations of people from the Northeast living in the State have called for an urgent consultative meeting on Wednesday. The agenda is to take stock of the pandemic situation and decide the course of action. With the State government announcing a partial lockdown, migrant workers worry that the agony they faced last year will return.

In what is feared to be the beginning of another spell of reverse migration, scores of workers from northern States were on Monday seen waiting outside Chennai’s Central railway station with heaps of luggage. Among them was a group of youngsters who work at Thandalam. They had reserved tickets, but reached more than six hours ahead of their scheduled departure to Balasore in Odisha because they didn’t want to take any chances.

Some of the people waiting at the station complained about the lack of tickets and how people are not allowed in without confirmed tickets. With platform tickets costing `50 since mid-March, workers had to think twice to enter the station to squeeze into a general compartment.

A native of Bihar, 26-year-old Preetam (name changed), alleged a railway employee demanded a `500 bribe to let him in the station without a confirmed ticket. “Despite paying him, I will be fined again by the TTE for not possessing a ticket. I may as well give that money to the TTE and request him to let me stay on the train,” he said.

Julfikar Baig (28), a native of Medinipur municipality in West Bengal, had a different story to tell. An employee at a restaurant in Palakkad, Kerala, he had to come to Chennai to get a train to the eastern State. “There’s going to be a lockdown. So my employer told me to decide whether I want to leave. I took some money as an advance and left. Last year, everything happened so quickly and we didn’t have time to breathe,” he said, adding that he doesn’t want to risk delaying his trip this year.

RPF officials, on the other hand, said there was nothing unusual about the crowd at the station. “This is the normal crowd that visits the station every day. Only a partial lockdown has been announced and it’s too early to decide on anything,” an official said, adding that passengers are allowed only through three gates, and there are enough staff to handle a spike in the number of passengers. However, many porters said they are witnessing a spike in the number of migrants flocking the station.

Northeast India Welfare Association (Chennai) president Wapang Toshi told Express that though he does not think a full lockdown would be imposed, migrant workers are certainly apprehensive, and some have already left. A businessman who runs a company at the Ambattur Industrial Estate said people migrate depending on what they see in the media, on WhatsApp, and what their peers say. “They see people returning from other States, the message spreads, and reverse migration happens. If people use their minds, they will stay back,” he said.