Chief accountant’s appointment at GU raises questions

Chief accountant’s appointment at GU raises questions 

30.09.2026

Ahmedabad: Amid ongoing debate over appointments to key administrative posts by Gujarat University’s former vice-chancellor, a fresh controversy appears to be brewing over the new chief accountant. Sources said the current VC in charge has given the post to a woman officer from Human Resource Development Centre (HRDC). The move has raised questions as the officer is reportedly not a permanent employee of GU and was appointed under a UGC scheme on a five-year contract. 

The controversy comes after GU recently removed its former chief accountant amid concerns of poor financial administration. The previous vice-chancellor had reportedly entrusted GU’s accounts department, which handles transactions involving crores of rupees, to a retired ONGC official, inviting criticism. 

Sources said the latest arrangement too has drawn flak as GU has four assistant registrars and three deputy registrars, all of whom are part of the administrative structure. Questions are therefore being raised over why the responsibility was assigned to an officer from an external department. This, they say, could kick up a new controversy amid the ongoing probe into alleged financial irregularities in GU.

11 varsities to get interim VCs: Edu min

11 varsities to get interim VCs: Edu min 

V.Srivatsal@timesofindia.com 24.09.2026

Trichy: Universities under the higher education department without vice-chancellors (VCs) would soon have in-charges as an interim arrangement, higher education minister P Viswanathan said on Wednesday. He said the present govt, unlike the previous DMK govt, would adopt a “nonconfrontational” approach with governor to find a permanent solution. The minister’s statement comes after a similar arrangement recently put in place at Alagappa University in Karaikudi and Manonmaniam Sundaranar University in Tirunelveli. 

The arrangement, according to the minister, will now be extended to the other 11 universities. Speaking to reporters in Trichy after a consultation meeting with staff and students at Bharathidasan University, Viswanathan said that then Governor R N Ravi had insisted on inclusion of a UGC nominee in the VC search panels, which became a bone of contention between DMK govt and governor. Towards the end, DMK govt also initiated interview processes to appoint VCs to Bharathidasan, Bharathiar and Periyar universities. However, the matter got stalled in court.

T.N. to get six new nursing colleges, more seats in allied healthcare courses

T.N. to get six new nursing colleges, more seats in allied healthcare courses

The Hindu Bureau

CHENNAI. 19.09.2026

Six new government nursing colleges, with 100 B.Sc. Nursing seats each, will be established at the Government Medical College, Tirunelveli; K.A.P. Viswanathan Government Medical College, Tiruchi; Government Medical College, Dharmapuri; Vellore Government Medical College; Government Medical College, Tiruvannamalai; and Government Medical College, Namakkal, an official release said on Friday.

The entire expenditure of ₹270.26 crore for the six colleges will be met from the funds of the Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University. The construction of academic buildings and hostels is in progress.

Admissions soon

Admissions to all 600 seats will be taken up during the current academic year, a press release said. The existing space available at the respective colleges will be used to conduct classes.

In addition to these, a new government nursing college will be established at the Coimbatore Government Medical College and ESI Hospital with 60 B.Sc. Nursing seats.

No new government nursing college was established in the State after 2014. Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay had announced in the Assembly that additional seats will be created in nursing, pharmacy and allied healthcare courses at a cost of ₹351 crore.

In February this year, then Health Minister Ma. Subramanian had announced that six new government nursing colleges would be set up.

A total of 1,925 additional seats are being created in the existing government nursing colleges and nursing schools. These include 1,290 seats in Diploma in General Nursing and Midwifery, 440 seats in B.Sc. Nursing, and 75 seats in the M.Sc Nursing course.

In allied and healthcare courses, 2,778 additional seats are being created from this academic year. Nine new courses, including Bachelor of Physician Associates, Prosthetics and Orthotics, as well as Audiology and Speech Language Pathology, will have a total intake of 1,132 candidates. In addition, 735 seats are being created in pharmacy courses, the release said.

Former TN law minister S Regupathy cheated system to favour his med college: Arunraj

Former TN law minister S Regupathy cheated system to favour his med college: Arunraj 

Arunraj’s statement comes against the backdrop of Tamil Nadu standing to lose more than 450 MBBS seats reserved under govt quota and more than 30 seats reserved for govt school students this year.

Pushpa Narayan  TNN

Jul 9, 2026, 23:00 IST

Tamil Nadu health minister K G Arunraj 

CHENNAI: Health minister K G Arunraj has accused former law minister S Regupathy of engineering a method to evade regulatory checks and get deemed university status for some medical colleges including the one he founded — Karpaga Vinayaga Medical College Regupathy denied the allegation. 

Arunraj’s statement comes against the backdrop of Tamil Nadu standing to lose more than 450 MBBS seats reserved under govt quota and more than 30 seats reserved for govt school students this year. At least three other institutions — including one owned by a sitting DMK MLA — have since copied the playbook, “gutting the seat-sharing and social justice principles DMK claims to champion”, Arunraj said. 

 In June 2023, the management of Karpaga Vinayaga, then affiliated to Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University for medical courses and Anna University for engineering, applied for a no-objection certificate (NOC), a mandatory step before seeking deemed university status. Neither university responded within the required 60 days. “UGC provisions allow such delays to be treated as deemed approval. But under political pressure, the medical university issued the NOC after the deadline — then withdrew it weeks later, for reasons that remain unclear,” Arunraj said in an exclusive interview to TOI. 

The Karpaga Vinayaga Educational Trust then filed an online application with the UGC, seeking deemed-to-be-university status under a “distinct category” for a consortium — Karpaga Vinayaga Educational Lore for Learning — spanning five institutions: engineering, dental, medical, nursing and pharmacy colleges. The ministry of education, acting on UGC’s advice, rejected the application because Anna University and the Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University had withdrawn their NOCs. 

“This is where the game began,” Arunraj said. “Instead of challenging his own govt’s NOC rejection, he ensured the trust moved court against the ministry of education.” On Apr 22, 2025, the Madras high court set aside the ministry’s rejection, ruling that the NOC withdrawal was “legally ineffective and invalid.” It directed UGC to issue fresh recommendations without reference to the withdrawal and ordered the ministry to decide on merits within four weeks of receiving them. 

“After this win, he ensured the higher education department didn’t appeal the order,” Arunraj said. UGC then recommended deemed university status under the distinct category. “Distinct category institutions are meant to offer programs that conventional institutions don’t. UGC must explain how this qualified,” Arunraj said. 

On Nov 6, 2025, the ministry issued a Letter of Intent (LoI) to the trust, setting conditions to be met within three years. Less than a month later, on Dec 1, 2025, the trust submitted its compliance report. The ministry forwarded it to UGC, which informed the ministry on Mar 2, 2026, that its Standing Committee had accepted the report and recommended final approval. 

On May 20, joint secretary Purnendu Kishore Banerjee, invoking Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956, signed orders approving the trust’s deemed-to-be-university status under the distinct category — subject to conditions on fund diversion, non-commercial operation, and alignment with the National Education Policy 2020. “While the state is weighing legal options, the damage is done,” Arunraj said. 

He accused Regupathy of violating state rights and principles of social justice, adding that at least three other colleges — including one owned by DMK MLA S Kathiravan — have since followed the same playbook. Regupathy rejected the allegations, saying the trust applied for deemed university status only after receiving the NOC. “They gave us the NOC after the 60-day deadline. It was only after we applied that the NOC was withdrawn,” he said. The management moved the court against centre’s decision to deny deemed university status to the college, he said. He also denied blocking the state from appealing the high court order. 

“Files from medical admissions or university never reached me. The decision to appeal rests with the public prosecutor, and permission is sanctioned by the law secretary. I had no role in it,” he said. 

On Thursday, the university said it had failed to respond within 60 days to NOC applications from St Peter’s Medical College, Tagore Medical College, Madha Medical College and Velammal Medical College, along with several dental and allied health sciences institutions. It has since issued an order explaining why it will withhold NOC approval, laying out the facts, reasoning and legal basis for the decision.

Dr. Ambedkar Law University cancels affiliation for three private law colleges

Dr. Ambedkar Law University cancels affiliation for three private law colleges

The Hindu Bureau

Chennai. 19.07.2026

The Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University has cancelled the affiliation of three private law colleges on charges of violating norms governing admission of students.

The Syndicate of the University, in its meeting early this month, passed a resolution cancelling the affiliation given to these colleges in 2025-26, according to a press release. The colleges in question are Thulasi Women’s Law College, Thoothukudi, S. Thangapazham Law College, Tenkasi, and Mukil Law College, Kanniyakumari.

Change in ownership

Sources in the TNDALU said that S. Thangapazham Law College had a change of ownership and the new Trust failed to obtain affiliation for the academic year 2026-27.

The other two colleges had applied for increased intake of students in 2025-26 and had secured provisional affiliation from the University.

As per rules, they had to seek the approval of the Bar Council of India, which had announced a nationwide moratorium on increase of seats or starting of new colleges in August last year.

They had admitted students in anticipation of approval from the Bar Council of India, which was accorded in April 2026, after the moratorium was lifted.

Violation of norms

The release stated that admitting students in anticipation of approval was a clear violation of established norms and rules.

The violation came to light at the time of registration of students for examination, the sources maintained.

The Syndicate, in its resolution, decided to not consider the application submitted by Thulasi Women’s Law College, the press release mentioned.

Remedial measures

However, it has resolved to constitute a committee to work out appropriate remedial measures for students who are already admitted keeping in mind their interest, it added.

Students generate Rs 40 cr under EMC by state govt

Students generate Rs 40 cr under EMC by state govt 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK  06.04.2026 TIMES OF INDIA CHANDIGARH

Over 1.2 lakh UG students in Punjab have collectively generated near ly Rs 40 crore of revenue within a single academic term under the state government’s newly mandated Entrepreneurship Mindset Curriculum (EMC). Rolled out for the 2025-26 academic year across 20 universities, 320 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), and 91 polytechnics, the programme has successfully transformed over one lakh students into active entrepreneurs. The curriculum’s delivery was spearheaded through the ‘Punjab Startup App’, an AI-powered, mobile-first platform designed in partnership with Masters’ Union School of Business. During the first term, from October to February, the initiative achieved remarkable financial milestones. Reaching 1.5 lakh students in its first year alone, the state now targets scaling the programme to 5 lakh students by 2028-29. 

The EMC makes job creation a core outcome of undergraduate education through a mandatory, credit-linked course. Universities must ensure a minimum of two credits per semester, shifting student evaluations away from traditional written exams. Instead, students are graded on practical execution, market reflections, customer feedback, and actual revenue impact tracked via the app. Learners choose practical business tracks like e-commerce or freelancing, progressing through structured milestones covering budgeting, go-to-market strategies, and order fulfilment

Madras univ raises fees

Madras univ raises fees 

Ragu.Raman@timesofindia.com 02.04.2026

Chennai : The University of Madras on Wednesday increased fees by 10% for all courses and by 15% for selfsupported courses. “A majority of the courses collect less than ₹5,000 per year as fees. This amount will not help resolve a financial crisis,” said aprofessor. The university also passed a resolution to disaffiliate Dr MGR Janaki Arts and Science College for Women at Raja Annamalaipuram. The college, which was founded in 1996 by Latha Rajendran in memory of chief minister M G Ramachandran and his wife V N Janaki, will be brought under Vel’s Institute of Science, Technology and Advanced Studies from 2026-27 academic year. “The proposal was mooted by the college. Following the payment of the provisional affiliation fees from 2013-14 to 2020-21, the university would grant approval for the disaffiliation,” a sourcesaid

IGNOU DEGREE

Patenting can never be just an academic exercise: Experts

Patenting can never be just an academic exercise: Experts 

Others are little better, leading an expert from Ambattur, Tamil Nadu, who analysed the data, to wonder, “Are patents being filed as innovation assets or as metrics for rankings and visibility?” Galgotias University, which exhibited a Chinese dogbot at the India AI Impact summit, published 2,233 patents over five years but secured two grants. A sharper focus on 20202023 outcomes (as it takes an average two years to grant a patent under the expedited route) shows even wider disparity. The IITs presented 3,331 patent publications and got 2,118 patents, pushing the success rate to 64%. 

The IISc successfully converted 257 of its 379 applications in 20202023, an approval rate of nearly 68%. For Lovely Professional University, the picture was barely any better in that period: 5,774 publications, 164 grants, and a success rate of a mere 2.8%. Chandigarh University shows a sharper skew—5,318 filings since 2020, only 45 grants overall. In 2023, it published 2,350 patents and received 44, a success rate of 1.87%. 

The National Institutes of Technology collectively published 2,333 patent applications in 2020- 2025 and secured 949 grants, a success rate of 41%. In 2020-2023, 933 of NITs’ patent publications yielded 626 grants, a success rate of 67.1%, comparable to India’s top public research universities. For serious innovation, according to education experts, patenting can never be just an academic exercise as it requires sustained financial investment in labs, hiring of researchers and legal support to achieve successful conversion and technology transfer. Currently, several privately-run institutions appear to be filing for patents on an industrial scale but have almost nothing to show on conversion. Galgotias University had filed 1,752 applications in 2020-2023 and received none. 

Shobhit Institute of Engineering and Technology has a similar story: 961 filings, zero approvals—both cumulatively and in2020-2023. 

Pvt univs file more patents but IITs, IISc win more nods 

Mumbai : India’s research story in higher education is often told through the rise in patent applications. However, a closer reading of data—from the India Patent Office for 2020-2025— suggests a more uncomfortable reality: the system increasingly rewards activity, not outcomes. The Indian Institutes of Technology, collectively, filed for 6,558 patents and got 2,806, an approval rate of 43%. 

The premier Indian Institute of Science mirrors this trajectory, as do the NITs, reports Hemali Chhapia. Now compare this with high-volume private universities. Lovely Professional University leads in numbers with 7,096 patent applications over five years. Yet only 164 granted, a success rate of 2.3%. The IITs presented 3,331 patent publications and got 2,118 patents, pushing the success rate to 64%.

Guv’s nominee walks out; BDU forms new panel

Guv’s nominee walks out; BDU forms new panel 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK  22.02.2026

Trichy : More than 10 days after the governor’s syndicate nominee in the panel for scrutiny of registrar, controller of examinations, and director for centre of distance education appointments at Bharathidasan University walked out, the university administration cancelled the panel and ordered the formation of a fresh committee. S Amudha, the governor’s committee had walked out on Feb 9 over the issue of marking certain candidates as ‘non-eligible’. In this backdrop, an official communication from the university sent on Feb 20 to the members concerned stated the existing committee had been cancelled for “administrative reasons” and a fresh committee constituted. The new committee, is scheduled to meet on March 3.

Staff crunch: Most univs operate at 50%

Staff crunch: Most univs operate at 50% 

V.Srivatsal@timesofindia.com 22.01.2026

Trichy : Data from 21 state universities received under an RTI petition shows most institutions are functioning with around 50% vacancies. A few, including Madras University, have vacancies as high as 65% of sanctioned strength across ranks of professor, associate professor and assistant professor. 

Fourteen universities fall in 40–50% vacancy range, with TN physical education and sports university at 56%, Manonmaniam Sundaranar university at 50% and Bharathidasan university at 49%. With double-digit retirements expected in 2026 and 2027, the situation could worsen. 

Bharathiar university is the only institution with relatively lower vacancies at 15%, though it is also set to see over 20 retirements by 2026–27, says the RTI data collected by an activist between Apr and various months of 2025. Sources said the last major recruitment drive across state universities was carried out in 2014. “It is not just this govt, but the previous govt as well. Steps will have to be taken to address this at the earliest, as it affects students’ education. If there are not enough qualified staff, how can quality education be delivered,” said former Madras university V-C P Duraisamy. There are 335 vacancies against a sanctioned strength of 515 at the university. 

“Guest faculty are engaged to bridge the gap. While many of them are competent, they are not recognised as regular employees and therefore cannot take up several academic responsibilities. They are not permitted to guide research scholars or formally present projects and papers, affecting the research output a regular staff may have added. The shortage of regular staff also affects formation of committees with diverse representation, resulting in same individuals being repeatedly nominated to university and govt committees,” said a senior retired professor from BDU. 

Former AUT president K Pandiyan said the crisis is financial. “UGC restrictions on distance education reduced income. For years, TN withheld block grants from institutions earning higher

revenues. Grants were restored after 2019, but it didn’t help. Poor recruitment in the past affected research inflows, while corruption, administrative lapses and nepotism weakened things,” he said.

Bill passed to let TNPSC handle university staff hiring

Bill passed to let TNPSC handle university staff hiring

The Bill stated that the move would establish a more uniform, efficient, professional and transparent system for recruiting non-teaching staff at the universities.

Chief Minister M K Stalin speaking during the state Assembly session on Thursday.

Express News Service

Updated on:

17 Oct 2025, 8:51 am

3 min read

CHENNAI: The state Assembly on Thursday passed a Bill allowing the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) to manage the recruitment of non-teaching staff for 22 state universities. The Bill amends the TN Public Service Commission (Additional Functions) Act, 2022, which empowers the TNPSC to conduct recruitment for various government departments and undertakings. Until now, the recruitment for non-teaching positions in these state-run universities was managed by the respective university administrations.

The Bill stated that the move would establish a more uniform, efficient, professional and transparent system for recruiting non-teaching staff at the universities. It would also make it easier for job seekers from rural areas to apply for such positions, while relieving universities of the cumbersome task of conducting their own recruitment drives

Bill passed to extend tenure of SOs in rural local bodies

The Assembly also passed a Bill to amend the TN Panchayats Act, 1994, to extend the term of office of special officers (SOs) appointed to administer village panchayats, panchayat union councils and district panchayats till January 5, 2026, or until the first meeting of the local bodies after the general elections. While the rural development department had issued an order in this regard in July, the Bill was now passed in the Assembly.

According to the Bill, the government is finalising proposals to expand municipal corporations, municipal councils and town panchayats by including certain adjoining village panchayats in 28 districts. Only after the delimitation and reservation processes are completed after this amalgamation, elections for these rural local bodies can be notified. A total of 9,581 village panchayats, 314 panchayat union councils and 28 district panchayats are being run by the SOs.

The tenure of elected representatives of panchayats in these 28 districts expired on January 5 this year. As elections could not be conducted before that date, the government amended the TN Panchayats Act, 1994, to appoint SOs to administer these bodies until July 5. The Act was now amended to extend the tenure of SOs till January 2026 or until the elections are held.

Tender exemption clause of 1998 Act scrapped

The state government has moved to tighten its tendering system by scrapping the exemption clause in the TN Transparency in Tenders Act, 1998, that allowed select procurements to bypass the standard open tender process. An amendment passed on Thursday removes Section 16 of the law, which previously permitted direct procurement in limited circumstances such as emergencies, ensuring compatibility, or sourcing from state-owned or non-commercial entities. The provision also allowed purchases through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) platform without adhering to sections 9 and 10 governing open tendering procedures.

According to the Statement of Objects and Reasons, Section 16 explicitly exempted procurements made through the GeM special purpose vehicle from the application of sections 9 and 10 of the Act. This exemption covered purchases through mechanisms such as rate contracts, online bidding, online reverse auctions and any other method notified by the government. The government said the exemption had become redundant as TN already operates its own e-procurement portal (tntenders.gov.in).

This apart, the Assembly on Thursday also introduced a Bill to amend the TN Dr Ambedkar Law University Act, 1996, which sought to amend relevant rules that disqualified the deaf-mute from holding authority positions in the university. The proposed changes also seek to update a penal reference in the Act to align with the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

E-office goes offline: Are ministers in love with pen and paper in MP?

E-office goes offline: Are ministers in love with pen and paper in MP?

9 Months Since Its Launch, New System Fails To Bridge The Last-Mile Gap

Ankur.Sirothia@timesofindia.com 29.09.2025

Bhopal : The much-publicised e-office system in Madhya Pradesh, intended to transition government file processing from paper to digital, has failed to gain full traction—particularly among ministers, who remain reluctant to adopt the paperless system. While files now move digitally from clerks to senior bureaucrats like additional chief secretaries, principal secretaries, and secretaries, the process breaks down at the ministerial level. 

Once a file reaches a minister, it is printed out and converted back into a physical document for approval. Recently, officials from the General Administration Department (GAD) confirmed that ministers have yet to begin using the e-office system. The system was formally launched on January 1 this year by chief minister Mohan Yadav, who hailed it as a step toward transparency and good governance through digitalization. 

Prior to its launch, departments received training in digital file handling. The system was first introduced in the Secretariat, CM Office, and chief secretary’s office, and later expanded to departmental heads and district collectors. Notably, on October 25, 2024, the chief secretary had ordered all departments to fully implement e-office by January 1, 2025. The objective was to improve transparency, streamline workflows, and ensure timely completion of tasks. However, ministers remain outside the digital loop, with no set timeline for their inclusion. 

This isn't the government’s first attempt at digitalizing file movement. The idea of replacing penand-paper with a digital system was floated as early as 2006, but little progress was made. It was revived in 2016, and serious implementation efforts began in 2017. The e-office system was introduced in April 2018, and the General Administration Department mandated all departments to adopt it. A dedicated control room was established, and around 500 new computers and 150 scanners were installed at the Secretariat. Employees were trained in various aspects of the system—including file tracking, confidentiality protocols, and digital drafting—but the initiative lost momentum due to the 2018 election year. 

When the Congress government took office, it expanded the e-office system to the district level and set deadlines, but the administration changed again within 18 months, followed by the disruption of the Covid-19 pandemic. In November 2021, new security guidelines were issued for e-office usage, emphasizing data safety, e-signatures, and limiting physical copies to confidential documents only. However, interest in the system faded once more. The project was relaunched in January 2025 and is now active across the Secretariat and field offices. Yet ministers continue to prefer paper files. “Files in the e-office cannot be held back indefinitely. The e-office system shows when and at which level a file is stuck”, said a senior GAD official.

Why only 18 out of 56 invited vice chancellors attended the annual conference called by TN governor R.N. Ravi?

Why only 18 out of 56 invited vice chancellors attended the annual conference called by TN governor R.N. Ravi?

According to sources, none of the VCs gave reasons or sent any message to the governor for not skipping the conference 

By Lakshmi Subramanian Updated: April 25, 2025 21:03 IST

President Jagdeep Dhankhar poses for group photos during the inauguration of the Vice Chancellors conference in Tamil Nadu, in Udhagamandalam. Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi is also seen | PTI In yet another blow to Tamil Nadu governor R.N. Ravi, only one-third of the Vice Chancellors (VC) turned up to the annual VC conference called by him at Ooty on Friday. Inaugurated by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar, the meeting turned into a damp squib even when Ravi had tried to impress saying that there was no power struggle between the government and the Raj Bhavan.

Out of the 56 state, central and private universities in Tamil Nadu, only 18 VCs attended the conference. The VCs of all the 18 state-run universities skipped the meeting. All the VCs including the heads of five central universities, 20 state universities, four central institutions, and 27 private universities were formally invited by the Raj Bhavan for the annual VCs conference. But only 18 of them attended, according to the sources in the Raj Bhavan.

And out of the 18 who attended the meeting only two were from the state universities and even these two were not VCs and only representatives. One of them, the director of the research department - was deputed by Periyar University VC as his representative. The other was a college principal representing Alagappa University’s physical education department.

However, according to sources, none of the VCs gave reasons or sent any message to the governor for not skipping the conference. Raj Bhavan sources said, “reasons unknown” when asked. Sixteen VCs who attended the meeting were from the central universities.

The meeting which had been an annual affair since 2022 has always had full attendance. But this time there was very poor attendance indicating a political backlash for the conference. While Ravi and Raj Bhavan call the meeting a meaningful event aimed towards building a stern path to improve the academic dialogue and innovation in the higher education sector, the VCs of the state universities skipping the conference stems out of the growing tussle between the governor and the government and the recent Supreme Court ruling against Ravi.

Earlier on Wednesday the Raj Bhavan, in a media release, slammed the reports saying that the VCs conference called by the governor was not a power struggle between the government and the Raj Bhavan and that it was a regular affair. The governor’s office then called the media reports as “entirely erroneous and mischievous.”

Non-MBBS VC for medical university faces Rajasthan doctors' opposition

Non-MBBS VC for medical university faces Rajasthan doctors' opposition

Mar 5, 2025, 2:29 IST

Haribhau Bagde.

JAIPUR: Rajasthan's medical fraternity reacted with outrage Tuesday to governor Haribhau Bagde appointing someone with a doctoral degree in pharmaceutical sciences as vice chancellor of Rajasthan University of Health Sciences (RUHS), terming it "unacceptable" and threatening a statewide agitation if the decision wasn't revoked, reports Intishab Ali.

The state chapter of IMA has written to Bagde, saying Pramod Yeole being asked to take charge of RUHS was at odds with the institution's responsibility of setting high standards in medical education, and improving public health outcomes. Thirty medical colleges are affiliated to the university. Yeole was previously VC of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University in Aurangabad and pro VC of Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University.

Periyar University accused of imposing New Education Policy for Ph.D. admissions

Periyar University accused of imposing New Education Policy for Ph.D. admissions

The SFI and Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam have alleged that the Periyar University administration was imposing New Education Policy, without the Tamil Nadu Government’s consent.

M. Sabari  04.02.2025

Salem

The Students Federation of India (SFI) and Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam (DVK) have accused the Periyar University administration of imposing New Education Policy (NEP), and demanded to cancel the regulations issued for Ph.D. admission.

According to the faculty attached to Periyar University, the varsity had recently issued regulations for Ph.D. for students who joined after July 1, 2024, in compliance with University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations 2022. In that regulation, the university has mentioned the eligibility criteria for Ph.D. as a pass in Class X, Plus-Two, UG and PG, (10+2+3+2) or 10th, PUC, UG and PG, or 10th, three-year diploma, UG and PG, or 10th, Plus-Two, and five-year integratedprogramme, 10th, Plus Two, four-year UG and PG, or 10th, plus two, and four-year UG degree (10+2+4) as per UGC guidelines.

Meanwhile, SFI and DVK have raised objections to adding the qualification 10+2+4 for Ph.D., alleging that this was in the New Education Policy that a candidate shall join Ph.D. without completing PG, if he or she passed the four-year UG Programme.

DVK president Kolathur Mani alleged that admitting candidates without PG degree was indirectly implementing the Union Government’s NEP. While the Tamil Nadu government did not give its consent to implement the NEP, the Periyar University administration is trying to implement it. The Tamil Nadu government should oppose the University’s move and take steps to cancel these regulations issued by the university. The government should ensure the old regulations are followed for Ph.D admission, Mr. Mani added.

The SFI district secretary, S. Pavithran, said that the Periyar University had purposely issued these regulations to divert the various issues against the administration. If these regulations are implemented, it will be like accepting the 16 years of education qualification for a Ph.D., as per NEP. The government should take action against the officials who released these regulations.

Officialsattached to Periyar Universityhave denied these allegations.

Periyar University Vice-Chancellor R. Jagannathan was not available for comments.

Doctors oppose T.N. govt.’s plan to appoint 658 specialists through walk-in interviews

Doctors oppose T.N. govt.’s plan to appoint 658 specialists through walk-in interviews

The Hindu Bureau 04.02.2025

Chennai

The Legal Coordination Committee for Government Doctors (LCC) has strongly opposed the Tamil Nadu government’s recent announcement to appoint 658 specialist doctors, including 207 obstetricians, through walk-in interviews. According to LCC, the move, which was announced by the Health Minister, would cause confusion and set back the healthcare sector.

The committee said Tamil Nadu, known for its robust healthcare infrastructure, should adhere to established procedures, such as those involving the Medical Services Recruitment Board, rather than rushing appointments through walk-in interviews. In a press release, the LCC raised concerns over the transparency of such a process, recalling previous opposition from both doctors and the DMK when similar schemes were proposed under the previous regime.

The LCC also called for new doctors to be appointed to supernumerary positions under the Directorate of Medical Services and Directorate of Public Health to avoid disrupting the careers of specialist doctors already in government service, particularly those completing higher education. It said doctors with experience should be prioritised in appointments.

Semiconductor courses needed in tierII and III HEIs for better outreach

Semiconductor courses needed in tierII and III HEIs for better outreach

Semiconductor expertise and AI skills can help students make cross disciplinary innovations 

Rajlakshmi.Ghosh@timesofindia.com  20.01.2024EDUCATION TIMES BANGALORE 

As the national and global demand for semiconductor talent continues to grow, the need for graduates to lead innovations crucial to India’s economic and technological aspirations, has become important. To meet this demand, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), in addition to National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and the country’s premier technical institutes such as the IITs and IISc are introducing short-term minor programmes and skill-based courses to prepare tomorrow’s engineers for India’s burgeoning semiconductor ecosystem. Joining the ranks are students from polytechnic colleges, Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), private or government colleges and diploma holders who are making optimum use of these courses to make a career in the manufacturing sector. Reportedly, the semiconductor industry is set to create 1 million jobs in India by 2026.

“The semiconductor sector is a critical driver of technological innovation, and its demand for cutting-edge programmes stems from several factors that include rapid technological advancements, complexity of semiconductor manufacturing, demand for specialised skills, environmental and sustainability concerns, global competition and national security,” TG Sitharam, chairman, AICTE, tells Education Times. Key courses The AICTE has introduced two new courses to fulfil the objectives of the SEMICON India Mission and to make India a global hub for electronics manufacturing and design: Diploma in IC manufacturing and BTech/BE in Electronics Engineering (VLSI Design & Technology) apart from a minor degree in VLSI Design & Technology. “The Council has accorded approval to 629 institutions with 10,524 approved intakes during AY 2023-24 to commence PG/UG/Diploma level courses in VLSI/semiconductor-related domain,” Prof Sitharam informs. Down South, to bridge the skill gaps and enable students to work with emerging technology areas, IITM-Pravartak has analysed the domain areas where skilling is required, and then with the help of an industry expert developed the training content that will be UGC compliant. This has led to short-term minor programmes such as Comprehensive Electronics and Embedded system, Application Driven Electronics & Embedded Technology with IoT, Advanced Electronics Manufacturing with Power electronics (from the electronics stream), and Digital Manufacturing Practice (from the mechanical stream) being started recently along with Education Ministry’s SWAYAM Plus for engineering/diploma/science students and graduates. The aim is to provide semiconductor industry training with placement assistance for deserving students.

 “The programmes can be pursued while the student is pursuing BTech/MTech at IIT Madras or other technical colleges/institutes,” says Kavitha Gopal, senior consultant, IIT Madras Pravartak elaborating there is a good amount of awareness about these programmes among the students through social media reach outs and word of mouth, hence they see them as a good value addition to their career pathway which will be leading them to research studies/ placements or starting their own startup business

Revised 1:20 teacher-student ratio for BPharm courses may increase faculty load, lower education standards

Revised 1:20 teacher-student ratio for BPharm courses may increase faculty load, lower education standards 

PCI says directive aims at optimising teaching resources across pharmacy institutions, will not impact existing staff 

Priyadarshini.Gupta@timesofindia.com 20.01.2025  EDUCATION TIMES

 AHAMEDABAD

The Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) has specified the staff-to-student ratio for Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm) courses should not exceed 1:20 in theory and practical classes in the pharmacy colleges. The directive came as part of a revised circular to initiate the approval process for pharmacy institutions for the academic session 2025-26. The teacher-student ratio earlier was 1:15, which has been increased from the new academic year. The PCI has revised faculty requirements based on student enrolments. Staff requirement for BPharm courses with 60 students in a batch has been reduced from a total of 15 to 12. Earlier, a college had four professors, four associate professors, and seven assistant professors, which now will be three professors, four associate professors, five assistant professors/lecturers, apart from the principal. 

For BPharm courses having 100 students, the faculty requirement has been brought down from 25 to 20. Earlier, it was four professors, seven associate professors, and 14 assistant professors/ lecturers, which will now be four professors, seven associate professors, and nine assistant professors/lecturers, apart from the principal. While the PCI wants to optimise faculty utilisation across pharmacy institutions, educators think the move will burden the teachers. 

Better allocation 

The PCI plans to introduce measures so that the directive does not affect the existing faculty. Speaking to Education Times, Montukumar Patel, president, PCI, says, “The ratio change aims to optimise resource utilisation across pharmacy institutions. Earlier, the distribution of workload, particularly in subjects taught during the second and third years of the course, resulted in some faculty members having limited responsibilities during certain academic periods, leading to underutilisation of teaching resources. By adopting the revised ratio, institutions can better allocate teaching staff across subjects and academic years.”Several institutions usually follow the ratio of 1:15. Srinivas Mutalik, professor and principal, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MAHE, Udupi, says, “A 1:15 ratio ensures more personalised attention for students, enhancing their learning experience. 

However, teachers will now need to pay more attention, especially in practicals, where close supervision is critical.” The revised ratio is likely to increase the workload for the faculty. Daksh Bhatia, professor, KIET School of Pharmacy, Ghaziabad, says, “Teachers are already burdened with responsibilities beyond their core teaching duties such as handling accreditation processes, research activities, and consulting. These administrative demands leave them with little time to focus on teaching.” He adds, “With fewer faculty members, the pressure will intensify as teachers will cover more subjects and manage larger groups of students. This maydegrade the quality of education.

Only 3% of doctors who applied for NMR enrolment got registered: RTI

Only 3% of doctors who applied for NMR enrolment got registered: RTI

According to the RTI reply, the NMR received 8,598 applications by January 14. However, approval for 8,318 applications is still pending. Of the applications, two have been rejected.

Kavita Bajeli-Datt

Updated on:

19 Jan 2025, 7:50 am

NEW DELHI: Only 3 per cent of MBBS doctors who had applied for registration in the National Medical Register (NMR), launched by Union Health Minister JP Nadda with much fanfare five months ago, have been enrolled so far, as per a RTI reply. There are over 13 lakh licensed medical practitioners (RMP) in India.

According to the RTI reply, the NMR received 8,598 applications by January 14. However, approval for 8,318 applications is still pending. Of the applications, two have been rejected.

According to RTI activist Dr KV Babu, only 3 per cent of allopathic doctor applications have been approved.

“Of the 8,598 applications filed, 8,318 are still awaiting approval. The RTI reply clearly shows that only 278 applications have been approved by NMC so far,” said Dr Babu, who had filed the RTI on December 30 to know the number of doctors registered in the portal since its launch.

“NMC should understand the implications of 97% non-approval of the applications,” said Dr Babu, who received the reply on January 14.

“This means that less than 9,000 out of 13 lakh Indian doctors have even applied for the registration in about five months. The more applications are non-approved, the fewer new applications will come up,” he said.

The NMR is mandated under Section 31 of the NMC Act, 2019, which states that the Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) of the NMC shall maintain a national register in the electronic form containing the name, address, and all recognised qualifications possessed by a licensed medical practitioner.

As per the gazette notification of May 10, 2023, enrolling is mandatory in NMR, which Nadda has described as a comprehensive and dynamic database for allopathic (MBBS) registered doctors in India.

Dr Babu said the delay in registration is because doctors are being asked to upload an Aadhaar and submit an affidavit if their names or state medical council names do not match the current data.

As doctor registration became very complicated, the Indian Medical Association, which has 4 lakh members, took up the matter with NMC last October.

“Once the state medical councils approve the registration of a doctor, it should be automatically approved by the EMRB and entered into the NMR register,” Dr Babu said.