Non-technical courses in regional languages will benefit more students

Non-technical courses in regional languages will benefit more students

This change is required, as today about 10% of Indians can speak a reasonable level of English

c-Puniti.Pandey@timesgroup.com

30.08.2021

After announcing BTech courses in regional languages, the government has now decided to introduce several other non-technical courses in other Indian languages. The government will shortlist universities and institutes to offer Management, Philosophy and Hotel Management courses in regional languages.

Appreciating the move, Dheeraj Sharma, director, IIM Rohtak, says, “Teaching of Management courses in a regional language will allow better understanding of specific management concepts which may be contextually sensitive. Also, this will offer students superior understanding of curriculum, help them develop a positive attitude towards learning and enhance their self-esteem.

Explaining the need to introduce such regional programmes in Management and other courses, he adds, “Currently, only 10% of Indians can speak a reasonable level of English. Hence, we can see that there is a huge target audience who would wish to pursue Management education but the language barrier may be disadvantageous when they take an exam like CAT.”

He has already written a letter to the CAT coordinator last year and this year as well to offer a language option for CAT takers, says Sharma. Understanding the demand of Management education in small businesses and regional areas, IIM Rohtak introduced a Management Development Programme in Small Business Management that is to be imparted largely in Hindi language in 2021-22.

Learning in regional languages offers better learning outcomes, he adds. Non-possession of English language skills should not be a factor for the non-inclusion of talented and interested students from pursuing Management education.

Assenting to the decision, Vipin Aggarwal, principal, Sri Aurobindo College, University of Delhi, says, “Philosophy in regional languages will help students understand the subject better. The course structure usually includes Indian culture, values and behavioural patterns of the society. This curriculum will be understood better by students in their mother tongue or state language. Around 60% of students in the University are from remote states and are not proficient in English language. Philosophy in regional languages will help such students to perform better in their career.”

HEIs will be shortlisted to offer selected courses in state languages

Alternative career options if not MBBS, BDS

Alternative career options if not MBBS, BDS

Healthcare fields such as Homeopathy, Ayurveda, Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry can be considered

c-Puniti.Pandey@timesgroup.com

30.08.2021

Students largely opt for Biology in class XI with an aim to try their luck in MBBS. However, cracking the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for securing a seat in government medical colleges for MBBS is not a piece of cake. Also, the exorbitant fee structure of private medical colleges further restricts aspirants to look for other alternative careers in the field. The question then is what other options are available to such students?

“Besides MBBS and BDS, a student can look for alternative courses that include Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery, Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery, Bachelor of Unani Medicine and Surgery, Bachelor of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, etc,” says Gaurav Tyagi, founder of Career Xpert.

With a boom in the health and nutrition sector, an aspirant can also consider a career as a Nutritionist, he explains further. Other than this, students can also opt for Bachelor of Occupational Therapy, BSc Microbiology, Medical Transcription Course, BSc Cardiology/ BSc Cardiac Technology, BSc in Paramedical Technology, BSc Audiology/Bachelor in Audiology or Speech Therapy, BSc in Medical Imaging Technology, BSc Agricultural Science, Bachelor of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences.

There are enough options available for medical aspirants to try their hands on. Students with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology background can apply to Life Sciences programmes such as Biotechnology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Molecular Medicine, explains Dr Prem Nair, dean, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham. Further options are available in the fields of Pharmacy programmes such as BPharm, PharmD or BSc Allied Health Sciences programmes such as BSc Anaesthesia Technology, BSc Cardiovascular Technology, BSc Cardiac Perfusion Technology, Bachelor of Science in Audiology and Speech Language Pathology or B.ASLP, BSc in Respiratory Therapy, BSc Dialysis Therapy, BSc in Diabetes Science, Emergency Medical Technology, Medical Laboratory Technology, BSc Operation Theatre Technology, Intensive Care Technology, BSc Echocardiology Technology, BSc Physician Assistant (PA), Neuro Electro Physiology, BSc Optometry, BSc in Medical Radiologic Technology etc,”

A PCMB student can look at inter-disciplinary fields in Biology such as Biotechnology, Biomedical Engineering, Genetic Engineering. The student can also opt for lesser known but rewarding careers in Pharmacy, Nursing, Clinical Psychology, Optometry, Radio Technology, Physiotherapy, Forensic Science, Medical Lab Technologist, etc, further explains Tyagi.

Explaining the various opportunities available for students who appear for NEET and get a fairly decent score, Dr Amit Gupta, professor, Department of Surgery, AIIMS Rishikesh, says, “Since last year NEET was conducted for shortlisting students only for MBBS and BDS. However, the government this year has introduced a change in the pattern. This year a uniform NEET will not only provide admission to MBBS and BDS but also other medical courses such as BSc in Nursing, Paramedical Sciences and Veterinary."

NEET UG 2021: All you need to know about new exam pattern

NEET DATE 12 SEPTEMBER

NEET UG 2021: All you need to know about new exam pattern

The medical entrance examination paper pattern has undergone a significant change for the first time since it was instituted, writes Amit Gupta

The National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (undergraduate), NEET UG, will be conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on Sunday, September 12, 2021. It is a national-level exam meant for admission to MBBS, BDS, BSMS, BAMS, BHMS, BUMS and other undergraduate courses in medical and dental colleges across India. Students will need to take the test at the designated centers in person. The NEET UG question paper will comprise of Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs). A total of four marks will be awarded for each correct answer and one mark will be deducted for each incorrect response. The NEET UG examination paper pattern has undergone significant change, for the first time since it was instituted.

Listed below are the changes that students need to be aware of before appearing for the exam:

 Question paper format: The paper will consist of 200 questions of which the candidate needs to attempt 180. As per the pattern, the paper will consist of the respective subjects i.e., Physics, Chemistry, Botany, and Zoology. It will be in MCQ format and each question will have four optional answers. Every correct answer carries four marks and every incorrect answer carries a negative marking of one and the exam duration will be for three hours.

Section-wise division:

 Each of the four subjects consists of two sections, A and B respectively. Section A consists of 35 compulsory questions. For section B, candidates will have an option to attempt any 10 questions among the given 15. In the light of the decision to reduce the syllabus by various boards, the NTA has decided to give choice in section B for all four subjects. If a candidate attempts more than ten questions for section B, only the first ten attempted questions will be evaluated. It is essential to exercise caution while attempting questions in Section B.

Increased language options: 

The medium or choice of languages has been increased from 11 to 13 this year, enabling more candidates to take the test in their regional languages. This year, the languages that candidates can choose from include: English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu. As the syllabus remains the same, the candidate should continue with the same study pattern he/she has been following and give equal importance to all the given topics of the respective subjects. Students must not change their study plan at this point as it is important to give equal importance to all the topics within the set syllabus. Keep in mind that NEET UG is a competitive examination with a limited number of available seats.

(The writer is a NEET UG educator at Unacademy)

Pay 8% less for new AC 3-tier economy tickets

Pay 8% less for new AC 3-tier economy tickets

New Delhi:29.08.2021

The railways has notified the tariff for its new airconditioned economy class, which will be at least 8% less than existing AC 3-tier tickets. These coaches will have 83 berths.

The newly-introduced 3AC Economy coach will be attached in all mail, express and superfast services, a railway ministry official said. So far, 50 such coaches have been handed over to different zonal railways.

In a statement, the ministry said the base fare of 3AC economy coach shall be 2.4 times of base fare of the existing Sleeper Class of mail and express trains. The base fares for the new class of coaches start from as less as Rs 440 per seat for a distance up to 300km. Based on distance of travel, these base fare go up to a maximum of Rs 3,065 for a 4,951-5,000-km journey. Other charges such as reservation fee, superfast surcharge, GST shall be levied separately. TNN

Govt staff unsatisfied with pay panel

Govt staff unsatisfied with pay panel

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chandigarh:29.08.2021

Even though the Punjab government has decided to hike the basic pay of the state government employees and pensioners by 15%, over and above the basic pay as on December 31, 2015, besides restoration of certain allowances, employees and pensioners are still not satisfied with the implementation of the sixth pay commission, as some of the issues still remain unaddressed.

Gurmail Singh Sidhu, state convenor of Sanjha Mulajam Manch Punjab, said the employees’ union is going to convene a meeting to discuss the shortcomings. He said the dearness allowance till December 31, 2015, was 119%. But out of this 119%, the state government has not yet taken any decision about releasing 6% of the dearness allowance.

The state government is mum on regularising the contractual and outsourced employees, implementation of the old pension scheme after January 2004 and ending of the probation period of new employees, he added. Sidhu also said the state government had stated that employees recruited after July 2020 will get the central pay commission.

Passengers bite TNSTC bus driver’s thumb, nabbed

Passengers bite TNSTC bus driver’s thumb, nabbed

A TNSTC bus driver’s refusal to stop the vehicle for two passengers almost cost him his thumb on Thursday noon. The ‘angry’ travellers were arrested on Friday

Published: 29th August 2021 05:27 AM |

By Express News Service

RAMANATHAPURAM: A TNSTC bus driver’s refusal to stop the vehicle for two passengers almost cost him his thumb on Thursday noon. The ‘angry’ travellers were arrested on Friday

According to police, 48-year-old R Thangam drives the TNSTC bus plying on the Tiruppur - Rameswaram route. When he was on duty, two passengers namely A Mari (31) and A Manikandan (28), both from Servaikarai, demanded to stop the vehicle at Servaikarai Oorani bus stop. Stating that the bus stop was not a permitted stoppage, the driver refused to hit the brakes, the police stated.

A verbal duel broke out among the two passengers and the driver. The two men allegedly bit the fingers of the driver. Thangam, who injured his right thumb, was admitted to Government Ramanathapuram District Headquarters Hospital.

போலிச் சான்றிதழ்; அதிகாரிகளை பணி நீக்கம் செய்க: போக்குவரத்துக் கழகத்துக்கு உயர் நீதிமன்றம் உத்தரவுசென்னை உயர் நீதிமன்றம்:

போலிச் சான்றிதழ்; அதிகாரிகளை பணி நீக்கம் செய்க: போக்குவரத்துக் கழகத்துக்கு உயர் நீதிமன்றம் உத்தரவுசென்னை உயர் நீதிமன்றம்: 

சென்னை

போலிச் சான்றிதழ்களை சரிபார்க்காமல் பணி நியமனம் வழங்கிய அதிகாரிகளுக்கு எதிராக நடவடிக்கை எடுத்து, பணி நீக்கம் செய்ய தமிழ்நாடு அரசு போக்குவரத்து கழகத்துக்கு சென்னை உயர் நீதிமன்றம் உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது.

தமிழ்நாடு அரசு போக்குவரத்துக் கழக விழுப்புரம் மண்டலத்தில் ஓட்டுநராக பணியாற்றிய சீனிவாசன், போலி பள்ளி மாற்று சான்றிதழ் சமர்ப்பித்ததால், 2003-ம் ஆண்டு பணி நீக்கம் செய்து போக்குவரத்துக் கழகம் உத்தரவிட்டிருந்தது.

இந்த உத்தரவை வேலூர் தொழிலாளர் நல நீதிமன்றமும் உறுதி செய்தது. இந்த தீர்ப்பை எதிர்த்து, சீனிவாசன் சென்னை உயர் நீதிமன்றத்தில் வழக்கு தொடர்ந்தார்.

அந்த மனுவில், போலி சான்றிதழ் அளித்ததாக சொல்லப்படும் சிலர், சிறிய தண்டனைகளுடன் பணியில் தொடர அனுமதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ள போது, தன்னை மட்டும் பணி நீக்கம் செய்து பாரபட்சம் காட்டப்பட்டுள்ளதாக தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.

இந்த குற்றச்சாட்டுகளுக்கு போக்குவரத்துக் கழகம் தரப்பில் மறுப்பு தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டது.

இந்த வழக்கை இன்று (ஆக. 28) விசாரித்த நீதிபதி வைத்தியநாதன், மனுதாரர் போலி சான்றிதழ் சமர்ப்பித்தது ஆதாரங்கள் மூலம் நிரூபணமாகி உள்ளதால், அவருக்கு மீண்டும் பணி நியமணம் வழங்க வேண்டும் என்ற கோரிக்கையை ஏற்க முடியாது என்றும், அவரை பணி நீக்கம் செய்தது சரி என்றும் கூறி மனுவை தள்ளுபடி செய்து உத்தரவிட்டார்.

அதே சமயம், போலி சான்றிதழ் அளித்தவர்களுக்கு பணி நியமனம் வழங்கிய அதிகாரிகளுக்கு எதிராக ஒழுங்கு நடவடிக்கை எடுத்து அவர்களை பணி நீக்கம் செய்ய வேண்டும் எனவும் தமிழ்நாடு போக்குவரத்துக் கழகத்துக்கு உத்தரவிட்டார்.