Work-from-home staff seek allowance as power bills surge

Work-from-home staff seek allowance as power bills surge

Petlee.Peter @timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:  09.07.2020

Psychiatrist and family counsellor Vidhya Mohan works from her flat in 3rd Block, Koramangala, these days. Her monthly electricity bill, she says, gives her a panic attack. The bill just doesn’t seem to dip since the lockdown began.

The 35-year-old is one of the many salaried staffers in Bengaluru who is working from home since mid-March and getting huge bills. “I have asked my office if they can reimburse me 25% of the monthly power expenses, something similar to the house rent allowance. This is one of the discussions in our work group,” Vidhya says.

Many feel since the companies are saving big on power expenses now, they should provide electricity allowance for employees. “My electricity bill used to be around Rs 2,300, but for March and April, it was over Rs 8,900. I’ve been working from home all through the lockdown period, but it’s just an extra fan and light which was probably on for 12 hours,” says a puzzled Shailesh Kumar from Mahadevapura, a techie.

Meanwhile, Bescom claimed consumers had to pay more as there was heavy consumption at home during this period. The utility has elaborated on the issue on social media and asked consumers to call the Bescom helpline or visit the local sub division for clarification.

However, human resource personnel opined that it’s not a viable option during the crisis. “People are trying to save their jobs, so there may be no scope for any additional allowance. Moreover, policy change is needed to grant such allowances,” said an HR executive with an IT firm.

Some names have been changed on request

Some IT firms offer furniture, dongles

Some firms in Bengaluru, mainly in the IT sector, are offering office furniture, dongles and UPS to their staff working from home. “We’ve been given an allowance to purchase an office chair as we’ll be working from home till the end of the year. A small percentage towards our power bills can also be granted,” says an engineer.

GTU students with backlogs to be assessed on MBP

GTU students with backlogs to be assessed on MBP

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:  09.07.2020

The Gujarat Technological University (GTU) has reiterated its earlier stand to use merit-based progression system (internal marks and past semester results to assess undergraduate students in their final semester having backlogs. The decision will benefit approximately 25,000 students in GTU-affiliated colleges.

“The GTU academic council had decided in the past to evaluate terminal semester undergraduate students on ‘merit-based progression’,” said Navin Sheth, vice-chancellor, GTU, on Wednesday.

The state government had introduced the merit-based progression scheme (MBP) for evaluation of students when exams were not possible in time.

According to the latest University Grants Commission guidelines, students of terminal semesters or finalyear students having backlog should compulsorily be evaluated by conducting examinations in offline or online or blended (online + offline) mode according to feasibility and suitability.

Earlier this month, the GTU had to call off the exams slated from July 2. The decision came at the eleventh hour after the state government announced that the exams for all universities and colleges in the state have been cancelled.

As many as 54,000 students had registered to take the theory exams that were to begin from July 2. GTU had appointed observers and set up 350 exam centres across the state.

UGC recently issued the revised guidelines by which the terminal semester and final-year examinations are to be held by the end of September either on pen and paper, online, or in blended (online and pen & paper) format.

In case a student cannot appear in September, provisions will be made so the candidate can take the exams later, according to the guidelines.

Recently, several states including Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and West Bengal had cancelled their exams amid a surge in Covid-19 cases.

Confusion over medical course exams

Confusion over medical course exams

Ahmedabad:  09.07.2020

Confusion prevailed at Gujarat University over conducting medical, dental and paramedical exams. While the newly released University Grants Commission’s guidelines states that the varsities have to conduct terminal semester and final year exam for all undergraduate students, it allows candidates of intermediate semesters to be assessed on internal marks and previous semester performance.

Gujarat University has already begun conducting exams for paramedical students including intermediate semester candidates and now with no clarity from the state government too, the authorities are stuck it seems.

The varsity has also begun preparations for conducting theory exams for medical students which is slated to be held by the end of this month. “The exams are to be held for all semester medical and dental students. There is confusion now on whether to call off exams for intermediate semester students or continue with our plan,” said a GU official. TNN

Untraceable Covid patients a new challenge for Haryana

Untraceable Covid patients a new challenge for Haryana

Manvir.Saini@timesgroup.com

Chandigarh  09.07.2020

: Haryana’s health department faces a new challenge in battling Covid-19 — of people who give the wrong address or conceal their identity when their sample is being taken and later test positive for the virus.

As a result, hundreds of patients have been untraceable. This is largely happening in NCR districts and has sent the health department and district administrations in a tizzy. There is a mismatch of 1600 such patents in Faridabad district alone and Gurgaon too has a good number of such patients, confirmed an official. Also, patients from other districts and residents of Haryana travelling by air too have been untraceable. “In some cases, persons had given wrong addresses and wrong contact details. Civil surgeons had shared this information with local administration as well as police for further action,’’ said director general of health services Dr S B Kamboj.

He said they had now taken several measures to prevent such lapses. “Laboratories have been directed to ensure correct contact details and crosscheck everything by making a verification call and taking Aadhaar details of the person,’’ said Kamboj.

Faridabad DC Yash Pal Yadav too admitted to the threat caused by people who were giving wrong details “During the probe, we had found that besides misrepresentation of facts, there had been incidents where reports were uploaded late and the person had moved moved to another place. We have held meetings with laboratories. Some labs have been served showcause notices,” said Faridabad DC.

Laboratories have been directed to ensure they take correct contact details and crosscheck everything by making a verification call and asking for Aadhaar details

DR S B KAMBOJ Director general of health services

NSUI protests over UGC call on exams

NSUI protests over UGC call on exams

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Kurukshetra: 09.07.2020

The National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) held a protest outside Gate 3 of Kurukshetra University (KU) here on Wednesday. NSUI Haryana unit chief Divyanshu Budhiraha said they protested against orders of the University Grants Commission (UGC) of holding terminal exams of the higher education courses.

The protesters held placards while demanding rollback of the decision issued by UGC and warned the Haryana government of astatewide agitation if it changed its decision of not holding the terminal exams in Haryana. NSUI workers raised slogans against the Haryana government, ABVP, and the Union minister of human resources and development Ramesh Pokhriyal.

NSUI workers protest outside KU in Kurukshetra on Wednesday

Cong MP: Find innovative solution

Amritsar:

In a letter to the University Grants Commission (UGC) chairman D P Singh, Rajya Sabha MP Partap Singh Bajwa said the commission should find an innovative solution for exit exams of the final year students such as the one announced for intermediate semester students.

Punjab says can’t hold final-yr exams, urges UGC to reconsider

Punjab says can’t hold final-yr exams, urges UGC to reconsider

Vinod.Kumar3@timesgroup.com

Chandigarh: 09.07.2020

Reeling under heavy surge of Covid-19 cases, the Punjab government has expressed its inability to conduct examinations for final year students of colleges and universities and urged the University Grants Commission (UGC) to reconsider its guidelines.

The commission on July 6 had issued guidelines making examinations mandatory, though the colleges and universities have been given the option of postponing the examinations, which can be held either online or offline mode, till September.

“For ensuring the safety of students and staff, the Punjab government has requested the UGC to review its guidelines,” said an official of the state’s higher education department.

VARSITY EXAMS

Surge in Punjab pulls recovery rate down to 67%

Punjab’s Covid-19 load is heavy — 6,907 positive cases and 178 deaths — even as number of cases has been on a steady rise. The growth rate of cases in the state from June 1 to June 8 ranged between 1% and 6% against the national growth rate of 3-4%. The surge in cases has also led to a drop in recovery rate to 67%, which once had touched the 80% mark. The doubling rate of cases has also come down to 25.2 after going as high as 102 days.

According to sources, the Punjab government has conveyed to the UGC that holding examinations under the prevailing circumstances is not feasible as premises of majority of higher education institutions are being used as centres for treating Covid-19 patients.

The Amarinder government also expressed apprehension over students accessing information technology infrastructure to give online exams. Supporting its contention, the state government pleaded that over 30% of the students belonging to Schedule Caste population do not have required resources — internet connection, smartphones and computers — due to financial constraints.

After waiting for UGC, the Punjab government on July 4 had announced its own guidelines allowing government\private institutes to promote students with riders.

As per the guidelines issued by the state government, the universities which are in the process of conducting online examinations have been allowed to do so after taking permission from the higher education department.

Medical student urges HC to order PG exams be held

Medical student urges HC to order PG exams be held

Fears Losing Seat In Top Institute For Higher Studies

Rosy.Sequeira@timesgroup.com

Mumbai:  09.07.2020

Saying his career hangs in jeopardy, a medical student has urged the Bombay high court to direct the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) to declare dates and conduct the final year exams for the post-graduate MD and MS course.

Dr Nishant Gabbur is studying MS (general surgery) at Seth GS Medical College in Parel. He was to appear for the final year post-graduate exams from May 12 to 18, which were postponed because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The rescheduled exams from June 15 to 26 were again postponed to August.

A resident of Akkalkot in Solapur district, Gabbur on June 21 appeared for the entrance test in DM/MCh courses conducted by Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh and stood second in the all-India ranking in the general category for neurosurgery for three coveted seats.

“The said exam is the toughest online test with only few selected seats against which thousands of students appear for the exams,” his petition said.

It said he had worked hard for years to prepare for it.

On June 30, PGIMER issued Gabbur a provisional appointment and admission letter and granted time to join by July 6 at the latest. The eligibility criteria mandate that a candidate must have passed MD or MS, or its equivalent qualification recognized by Medical Council of India.

Gabbur’s petition said that he was at risk of losing his seat to another candidate because MUHS had not held the exams.

Gabbur’s petition says he was “caught in a dilemma” and a “situation beyond his control” as MUHS had postponed the exams and not resolved the situation, “thereby hanging his career in jeopardy with the risk of losing one precious year and the entire process of preparation and reappearing for the DM/MCh course”.

It said that similar was the plight of hundreds of students across the state who had secured seats in prestigious institutions.

Gabbur also urged that PGIMER be directed to admit him for the DM/MCh neurology course pending the conduct of exams and declaration of results and to restrain it from allotting his seat to another candidate.

DU likely to delay admissions, awaits UGC’s revised calender

MISSION ADMISSION

DU likely to delay admissions, awaits UGC’s revised calender

Mohammad.Ibrar@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:  09.07.2020

There is likelihood that Delhi University might postpone this year’s admission process to after September. The university will be extending the cutoff dates as soon as University Grants Commission releases the revised academic calendar, with the new session not expected to begin before November.

Many in DU pointed out that since CBSE has given the opportunity for students to appear in the optional exam after the results are declared, the varsity should wait for its results. “In fact, while CBSE may declare its results by July 15, there are other States that are yet to decide on releasing the results, and DU being a central university, should wait for them and postpone its admission process,” a member of the admission branch said.

Since UGC has said that exams are to be conducted by September-end, the member said by logic, DU’s admission should not begin before that.

A senior Delhi University official, who wished to remain anonymous, explained that “postponing the admission process might seem to be the correct thing to do in the current scenario. CBSE, which was to hold their exams in July, decided to cancel it and will release the results by July

15. Students, however, have the option to take up an optional exam later and improve their scores. The HRD ministry has also said that until students are done with those exams, the admission procedure should carry on.”

While some in DU believe the extension of dates and the delay in starting the new session may have an adverse impact on teaching, former deputy dean of students’ welfare, Gurpreet Singh Tuteja, said that “DU could manage by reducing the summer vacations and making up for lost time.”

Scrap online exams, delay will only harm us, say students

Scrap online exams, delay will only harm us, say students

Mohammad.Ibrar@timesgroup.com

New Delhi: 09.07.2020

Both students and teachers opposing the open-book examinations are not happy with Delhi University’s decision to postpone it till August 15. According to them, it will just “extend the misery of students”.

Many students who are preparing to sit for the final-year exams are unhappy as the postponement, they said, will not only add to their anxieties but also delay graduation and affect their plans for further studies or jobs.

Announcing the postponement, DU said on Wednesday that a new notification with the revised dates and other information would be uploaded on its website “in due course of time”.

“The university is now playing with the lives of students. This is the second postponement, and we suspected the authorities to do so after they faced a huge backlash over mishandling of mock tests,” said Jaishree Kumar, third-year history student at Ramjas College. “They should rather scrap the exams as many of us have been unable to study.”

Justifying its decision, DU said that in current circumstances, “all concerned stakeholders, especially students, may find it difficult to attend their scheduled activities of exams”.

Many teachers, however, wanted OBE to be scrapped altogether. “What DU has said will cause more harm than good to the students. Already students are anxious about the exams and with this decision, their issues have been extended by over a month,” said DU Teachers’ Association president Rajib Ray. “The only solution is to cancel the exams and declare the results of students on the basis of past performance and current-session internal assessment,” said former academic council member Pankaj Garg.

Anusha Mishra, a psychology student at Lady Shri Ram College, said “some will also be uncomfortable with the idea that they may not be able to graduate before September. One of the reasons why students, despite their opposition, decided to sit for the exam was to complete their graduation and apply for master’s or take up jobs”.

National Students’ Union Of India’s Akshay Lakra said NSUI “demands that OBE be cancelled and the students should be passed and promoted”. All India Students’ Association also made the same demand “to end the undue uncertainty”.

DUTA PRESIDENT SAYS

The students are already anxious about the exams and with DU’s decision to delay, their issues have been extended further

You’re playing with students’ lives: HC to DU

You’re playing with students’ lives: HC to DU

Move To Postpone Final Exams To Mid-August Draws Court’s Ire

Abhinav.Garg@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:  09.07.2020

A day after claiming it is well prepared to conduct the final-year examinations online later this week, Delhi University on Wednesday told the high court it had postponed the same till mid-August.

DU submitted before Delhi high court that the decision to postpone the open-book examinations (OBE), scheduled from July 10, came after a meeting on Tuesday among university officials, University Grants Commission (UGC) and the human resource development ministry.

Justice Pratibha M Singh, however, took a dim view of DU’s stand and remarked “just see how you are playing with the lives of children”. Till Tuesday, the judge said, DU had assured the court that it was all geared up to hold the online exams.

The university, through senior advocate Sachin Dutta, then told the court that during mock tests, more than 4.9 lakh question papers had been downloaded and attempted, and 4.7 lakh files uploaded successfully, showing that the students were able to access the mock tests as well as upload the documents.

“You were not fair with the court about your preparedness for holding the online examinations. You are saying you are ready but the minutes of your meeting shows to the contrary,” Justice Singh noted, while hearing petitions by several final-year DU students seeking quashing and withdrawal of the notifications of May 14 and 30 and June 27 on the online exams for final-year undergraduate and postgraduate students, including those of School of Open Learning and Non-Collegiate Women Education Board. DU’s decision has created uncertainty among students, the court observed. DU has now postponed OBE for the second time.

Meanwhile, UGC said it had allowed the universities to conduct examinations as per their convenience provided the September deadline was adhered to. The students have also sought direction to DU to evaluate the final-year students based on the previous years’ or semesters’ results, the way the university plans to promote others.

Justice Singh has transferred the case to a division bench, which is hearing petitions related to the validity of OBE.

After the high court earlier sought to know how prepared DU is to conduct the examinations on July 10, the university had told the court that out of its around 2.5 lakh final-year students, approximately 1.9 lakh were from Delhi and the rest from outside. It also claimed its examination portal was “quite robust” and was capable of catering to 80,000 students at a time, while the traffic won’t be more than 22,000 for each exam.

Prof Vinay Gupta, dean of examinations, had also submitted the evaluation of papers was likely to begin in the first week of August and the results would be released by the first week of October.

NO CLARITY OVER FUTURE

Post-grad exams a nightmare for docs on Covid duty, board

Post-grad exams a nightmare for docs on Covid duty, board

Rema.nagarajan@timesgroup.com

09.07.2020

Practical exams for thousands of doctors doing Diplomate of National Board (DNB), a post-graduate course, has turned out to be a nightmare for most of them who are on Covid duty, and for the institution conducting the exam, the National Board of Examination (NBE).

With states and even individual cities or districts moving in and out of various levels of lockdown, DNB doctors are under severe stress about making it to exam centres located in cities across India. They are also worried that they might be put under quarantine or might test positive close to exam date or that they might catch the infection while travelling or appearing for the exam to places or hospitals that are Covid hotspots.

The practical exams are for 18 out of 57 specialties and super specialties in which NBE conducts DNB courses. Theory exams were held in December 2019. Practical exams were to be in April but got delayed by the pandemic.

NBE executive director Prof Pawanindra Lal told TOI that it was imperative to hold these exams as these specialties were feeder qualifications for the NEET super specialty entrance examination and fellowship entrance test to be held in September.

Many DNB candidates sought a waiver of practical exams altogether. However, senior DNB faculty members point out that for clinical specialties, practical exams to test clinical skills should not be waived. However, they agree that it is insensitive to expect them to travel during Covid. Exams for just 18 specialties, extending from July 14 till August 27 will involve almost 4,000 DNB candidates having to travel to exam centres across India.

Full report on www.toi.in

UNDER STRESS: Doctors and nurses work at a Covid-19 isolation centre in Mumbai on Wednesday

Maha: Not possible to hold final year exams

Maha: Not possible to hold final year exams

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:  09.07.2020

Stating that in the prevailing situation it would not be possible for the Maharashtra government and its universities to conduct final year examinations, Uday Samant, higher education minister of Maharashtra appealed to the ministry of human resource development on Tuesday for uniform guidelines for awarding degrees.

A day after the University Grants Commission in its revised guidelines asked the higher education institutions to conduct the examinations for final year students by September-end in offline (pen and paper)/ online/ blended mode, the Maharashtra government said that it’s not feasible and “if conducted, would endanger the well being of students, parents, teachers, supporting staff and other machinery involved in the process.”

The ministry of home affairs on Monday gave a goahead of the conduct of the terminal semester/ final year examination following which the UGC issued the revised guidelines. In his letter to Ramesh Pokhriyal, Union minister for HRD and a copy to Amit Shah, Union home minister, Samant said: “Maharashtra is the worst affected state with more than two lakh cases confirmed cases so far. In such unforeseen, uncertain and critical challenging situation, conduction of final year exams of approximately more than ten lakh students seems highly infeasible task…” He also cited that a large number of students were infected by the virus in states and countries where exams were conducted.

The minister said that Maharashtra government arrived at the decision to award degrees based on evaluation of student’s performance of previous semesters and internal assessment.

UGC issues SOPs for univs to conduct final year exams

UGC issues SOPs for univs to conduct final year exams

Manash.Gohain@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:09.07.2020

UGC on Wednesday issued the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for universities and higher education institutions for conducting examinations in view of the Covid-19 outbreak. While reiterating that higher education institutions have to conduct examinations for only the final year students, the regulatory authority said measures like sanitisation of the entire examination floors have to be ensured and admit/identity cards should be treated as pass for movement.

The Commission had on Monday given time to universities to conduct the final year exams by September-end in offline (pen and paper), online or blended mode and as per the prescribed guidelines related to the Covid-19 pandemic. The SOPs issued by UGC list out 31measures to be taken during the examination process, starting from movement of students and staff to the “the end of the day” protocols.

It has asked universities to abide by the guidelines issued by the central and respective state governments while giving them a free hand to frame “stricter provisions and guidelines, if they find necessary.

As per the SOPs, after every session, the examination floors and candidates’ seating areas including desks and chairs, door handles, staircases, railings and wheelchairs should be disinfected. Also fresh masks and gloves are to be used by exam functionaries after staff verification is done.

There is a separate set of protocols for staff-verification which will entail each functionary giving a self-declaration about health status, wearing of masks and gloves at all times. Any staff member failing to meet the self-declaration norms or thermal temperature check will be asked to leave the exam centre.

Full report on www.toi.in

SAYING NO: NSUI members protest against conducting exams in New Delhi on wednesday

Inquiry ordered into treatment of Jeyaraj, Beniks at govt hosps

Inquiry ordered into treatment of Jeyaraj, Beniks at govt hosps

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:  09.07.2020

The directorate of medical services has ordered inquiry into treatment offered to P Jeyaraj and his son P Beniks by government doctors in Sathankulam and Kovilpatti. The inquiry will be conducted by a joint director of medical services to verify sequence of events and see if any medical negligence has taken place or not.

DMS Dr Gurunathan said he has received reports from doctors at two government hospitals – Santhankulam Government Hospital and Kovilpatti Government General Hospital -- though the Tuticorin joint director of health Dr P Pon Esakki. “An inquiry will now be held in a week and we are expecting the report soon,” Gurunathan said.

Senior officials said during the inquiry doctors will be asked why they made certain decisions, the diagnosis and treatment protocols. “We will see if they had made the right diagnosis, done the necessary tests, called the specialists concerned and administered standard treatment,” a senior health department official said.

As per the report forwarded by Pon Esakki, Jeyaraj and Beniks were arrested by Sathankulam police on June 19. The next day, they were taken to the Sathankulam Government Hospital for treatment of injuries caused when the two of them “fell down and rolled” on the ground. The duty medical officer Dr Vennila, who examined the injuries in foot (sole side), index finger and aberration on the buttocks of 31-year-old Beniks, and injuries in the gluetial region of 58-year-old Jeyaraj. She treated them both for high blood pressure and filled up the ‘performa for health screening of prisoners on admission to jail’, along with a footnote: “file for remand”.

The two were remanded and taken to Kovilpatti subjail on June 20. A doctor from the Kovilpatti GH who visited Beniks and Jeyaraj in the jail suggested they be brought to Kovilpatti for treatment. On June 22, Beniks was taken to the Kovilpatti GH at 8pm with difficulty in breathing, palpitation and sweating.

Guv calls e-meet of VCs after UGC nudge on final-year exams

Guv calls e-meet of VCs after UGC nudge on final-year exams

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Kolkata:  08.07.2020

The Bengal governor wants a virtual conference with vice-chancellors of state universities on July 15 to discuss the plight of students amid the Covid pandemic, at a time the UGC, in its recent guidelines, has asked universities to hold final semester/final-year examination by September 20.

In his letter to VCs, governor Jagdeep Dhankhar said the link to the virtual conference would be provided from Raj Bhavan.

He has called the meeting days after most state universities such as Calcutta, Jadavpur, Presidency and North Bengal decided not to hold final-year examination. Instead, these varsities have worked out a method to evaluate final-year students based on their home assignments, viva and performance in the preceding semester.

State universities, other than Rabindra Bharati University, have opted for the alternative in view of the spike in Covid-19 cases in Bengal.

Dhankhar uploaded the UGC circular on compulsory holding of final examinations hours before the state government announced a stricter lockdown protocol for containment zones across Bengal from Thursday, including the 28 in Kolkata.

State education minister Partha Chatterjee has also taken note of the UGC circular. “I will consult the CM on this issue,” he said.

The governor’s stance has surprised students who had tweeted seeking his intervention to scrap the final examination amid the pandemic. One such respondent, Sudip Sarkar, pointed to the governor’s U-turn on the issue following the UGC directive. “On June 27, the governor opposed the Bengal government plans citing safety of students during the pandemic,” Sarkar tweeted.

Vice-chancellors, however, haven’t received any letter from Raj Bhavan inviting them to the virtual conference. So they prefer to lie low and wait for the state’s response. “We are yet to get any communication from Raj Bhavan,” said North Bengal University VC Subiresh Bhattacharya, who is secretary of Upacharya Parishad.

Students’ unions oppose UGC examination order

Students’ unions oppose UGC examination order

Directives From Edu Bodies Usher In Confusion Among School & College Pupils

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Pune:  08.07.2020

The University Grants Commission (UGC)’s order for conducting examination for all final-year students in offline, online or blended mode by September-end has triggered panic and confusion among the Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) students.

Mahesh Kakde, controller of examination at SPPU, said the university would await a decision from the state government. “Being a state university, we have to abide by the state government rules and regulations. Once the Maharashtra government comes out with the exam rules, we shall follow the same.”

Varun Sardesai, secretary of Yuvasena, said most courses followed a semester pattern which meant subjects change per semester. “It effectively means a final-year student has completed 85-90% of the course and even studies for the final semester. Hence, an aggregate of previous examination marks must be considered to evaluate final semester students.”

Kalpesh Yadav, Pune city president of the Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena, said, “Isn’t UGC aware about the pandemic? Exams should be cancelled and the health of students should be given top priority.”

SPPU Students’ Union, another group which has members from Maharashtra Pradesh Youth Congress and Yuvak Kranti Dal, had earlier sent a letter to the PMO requesting exam cancellation in the wake of Covid-19 spread.

Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad has, however, welcomed the UGC’s move. “We think the varsity must hold exams by following all norms,” Dayanand Shinde, ABVP’s SPPU unit president, said.

PANIC AND CONFUSION

UGC to be made party to PIL on state’s call

Mumbai: The Bombay HC on Tuesday directed UGC to be made party to a PIL that seeks quashing of a state decision to issue degrees to over 10 lakh final-year students of professional and non-professional courses by giving average marks based on past performance. A bench of Justices Amjad Sayed and Makarand Karnik heard the PIL. It said the state has no power to take such a decision. TNN

Guidelines not must, says higher edu min

Mumbai: A day after the University Grants Commission (UGC) issued directives to conduct final-year exams by September-end, state higher education minister Uday Samant wrote to the Centre seeking uniform guidelines for awarding degrees based on an “appropriate evaluation formula” instead.

“I believe that the revised guidelines are advisory like the earlier ones,” Samant said. TNN

Saji Gopinath appointed 1st VC of digital science varsity

Saji Gopinath appointed 1st VC of digital science varsity

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Thiruvananthapuram:  08.07.2020

Saji Gopinath, director of Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management-Kerala (IIITM-K), has been appointed as the first vice chancellor of Kerala University of Digital Science, Innovation and Technology.

Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, in the capacity as the chancellor of the university, made the appointment here on Tuesday.

The state government had recently decided to set up a university for digital science, innovation and technology by elevating the status of IIITM-K.

The appointment, said an official statement from the office of the governor, is for a period of four years from the date on which he assumes office. The appointment is as per Section 11 (4) and (5) of the Kerala University of Digital Science, Innovation and Technology Ordinance, 2020.

The new university is being set as part of multiple steps and policies being taken by the state government to develop information technology business and digital technology.

According to the government, the university would stress on latest technologies like artificial intelligence, data analytics, block chain, cognitive science, internet of things, augmented reality.

There will be five schools under the university, namely, school of computing, school of electronics design and automation, school of informatics, school of digital bioscience and school of digital humanities.

‘Dropouts’ seek promotion without exams

‘Dropouts’ seek promotion without exams

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Kota: 08.07.2020

Over a hundred engineering ‘dropouts’ staged a protest outside Rajasthan Technical University (RTU) in Kota demanding to be promoted without clearing pending exams on Tuesday.

These students enrolled for BTech between 2006-2011 and have exhausted all extra chances to clear their back papers. They are called dropouts and are eligible to apply for jobs which are based on Class XII exam.

The RTU had allowed them a mercy chance to clear their back papers in March and April with an aim to see them become engineers. The exams had to be cancelled due to the pandemic. So, RTU had announced to conduct the exams once the situation became normal.

The protesting students said that since the state has allowed the students to be promoted without exams, they should also be promoted.

One of the protesters, Mohammad Ameer, a 2010 student of BTech civil, with two back papers, said, “We should also be promoted in the back paper on the basis of marking in our previous papers.”

Controller of examination Dheeraj Mathur did not respond to the repeated calls and WhatsApp messages while RTU V-C Prof R A Gupta refused to speak.

A senior RTU official has called the demand ‘unjust’ by the students. “They have exhausted all chances given to them as per the RTU rule book and still failed to clear the exams. The RTU is under no obligation to provide any further chance. It is just our kindheartedness that we have decided to provide them with one last chance to clear their exam so that they can be called engineers,” said an official.

Dropouts stage protest outside Rajasthan Technical University in Kota

Raj to convince UGC for exemption from holding college exams

Raj to convince UGC for exemption from holding college exams

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Jaipur: 08.07.2020

Reacting to the UGC directive to hold exit exams in college and universities, the state higher education department on Tuesday said they will try to convince the regulatory body to allow states to take a call on holding the undergraduate and postgraduate exams. The department which had already announced the cancellation of the UG/PG exams due to the Covid-19 situation in the state is in a fix as the UGC directions are just the opposite.

“Our department will examine the UGC guidelines. At some time, we will apprise UGC about the Covid-19 situation in the state and will convince them to give us exemption from holding exams. I am sure they will listen to us and other states where the situation is worse than us,” said Bhanwar Singh Bhati, state higher education minister.

Defending the move of cancellation of exams, Bhati said that they took the decision after evaluating that the situation doesn’t look favourable for holding exams in the next one or two months. “Students were under severe stress over appearing in the exams under the strict rules of social distancing. Even thousands of students have to travel to appear in the exams making them vulnerable to the infectious disease. We wanted to give them clarity that they should prepare for the upcoming session,” said Bhati.

The UGC guidelines said that exams will be held in September.

Our department will examine the UGC guidelines. At some time, we will apprise UGC about the Covid-19 situation in the state and will convince them to give us exemption from holding exams. I am sure they will listen to us and other states where the situation is worse than us

BHANWAR SINGH BHATI

State higher education minister

Delay in exams may hit placements

Delay in exams may hit placements

Preeti.Biswas@timesgroup.com

Hyderabad:  08.07.2020

The UGC move to postpone university exams till September-end has left students and college managements jittery as delayed exams will result in delayed campus placements.

Colleges are now negotiating with firms over joining dates. “We are now planning to issue provisional degrees so that students can join their jobs,” said NLN Reddy, head, placement cell, Chaitanya Bharathi Institute of Technology. Students in colleges where campus placements were to begin by June-July fear that by the time their exams end, firms may revoke their offers. “During the lockdown, 30% firms revoked offer letters. We doubt if we will have our jobs,” said Sohailuddin, a final year BTech student.

All eyes are now on the state higher education department as it is set to submit its response to the high court on the academic calendar and the university exams on Thursday.

Meanwhile, many students opposed the UGC’s move. MANUU students’ union has decided to write an open letter to the Centre.

Medicos demand PG eligibility relaxation

Medicos demand PG eligibility relaxation

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:  08.07.2020

Candidates seeking admission to postgraduate (PG) medical programmes are demanding relaxations in the eligibility criteria, on the lines of the recent changes made for postgraduate dental students.

The Dental Council of India recently lowered the eligibility criteria for master’s in dental surgery (MDS) program mes.

According to the revised criteria, candidates in the open category who have scored in the 31th percentile in the PG NEET entrance exam will be eligible for admissions, against the 50th percentile required earlier.

The Medical Students Association recently wrote to the Medical Council of India to relax eligibility criteria for MD and MS programmes. The association members felt that as many PG medical seats are vacant in several states, revising admission criteria would help fill them up.

The students are demanding a lowering by about 18 percentile in every category.

The admissions process for PG medical and dental courses are under way.

Vacant seats have been returned to states after admissions for all-India quota seats.

The second round of admissions for PG medical and dental programmes in the state was completed recently, with 20 seats remaining vacant in MD and MS courses and 21in MDS.

The admissions round, completed on June 6, saw the allocation of 1,550 seats in MD and MS courses and 250 seats for postgraduate dental studies.

After the recent decision by the ministry of home affairs to allow colleges to hold final-year exams, students are also demanding that universities first conduct exams for PG medical and dental students. The Medical Council of India (MCI) has directed all varsities to complete PG medical and dental exams by July end.

State to let varsities decide on exams

State to let varsities decide on exams

UGC Says Terminal, Final Semester Tests To Be Held By Sept End

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:  08.07.2020

After the University Grants Commission (UGC) issued its revised guidelines, universities in Gujarat are likely to issue examination schedules soon.

The state government is planning to issue fresh directives letting universities take the final call on holding examination for final-semester undergraduate students as well as second and fourth semester postgraduate students.

“We will study the UGC guidelines and ask the varsities to take a decision on how they want to conduct the terminal and final semester exams,” said Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, state education minister.

The new guidelines released by the UGC on Monday said that terminal semester and final-year examinations are to be conducted by universities and institutions by the end of September in pen and paper, online or blended (online + pen and paper) modes.

In May, the state government had announced that terminal examinations for all varsities and institutions in Gujarat would be held from June 25. The government had to reverse this after many varsities called off the examinations due to protests from students. Earlier this month, the state government said it had decided to postpone all the exams till further directions from the Centre.

“We are ready to conduct the exams and are waiting for further directions from the state education department,” said Navin Sheth, vice-chancellor at Gujarat Technological University. The varsity, which had begun preparations to hold its theory exams from July 2, had to call them off at the eleventh hour.

Universities and schools across the country have been closed since March when the central government announced a countrywide classroom shutdown to contain the novel coronavirus.

According to the commission’ guidelines, intermediate semester students will be evaluated on internal assessments.

If a final-year student is unable to take an examination, the candidate may be given opportunity to appear in special examinations, which may be conducted by the university as and when feasible, the guidelines state.

The guidelines says that the students of terminal semesters or final year students having backlogs should compulsorily be evaluated by conducting examinations.

“Academic evaluation of students is a very important milestone in any education system. The performance in examinations gives confidence and satisfaction to the students and is a reflection of competence, performance and credibility that is necessary for global acceptability,” the UGC said.

“Performance in examinations gives confidence to the students and is a reflection of competence and credibility that are necessary for global acceptability”

University exams: After UGC order, Haryana to consult VCs

SEPT DEADLINE

University exams: After UGC order, Haryana to consult VCs

Team TOI

Chandigarh:  08.07.2020

The Haryana higher education department on Tuesday announced to take a call on exams of terminal years of various courses after consulting vice-chancellors and other stakeholders. The announcement came after a communication by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to all universities to mandatorily hold exams of terminal year in September.

Last month, succumbing to pressure from student organisations, including National Students Union of India (NSUI), INSO, and a union affiliated with Indian National Lok Dal, the government had cancelled terminal exams. NSUI had even moved the Punjab and Haryana high court after the higher education department announced to conduct exams of all classes in July. Later, the department had announced to hold exams only for students of terminal classes. This too was challenged and the government ten announced to do away with exams. “We have received the communication. We will consult vice-chancellors and take a final call accordingly,” said

Ankur Gupta, the principal secretary and financial commissioner (higher education).

NSUI Haryana president Divyanshu Budhiraja said, “In this situation (when there is spike in Covid-19 cases in the state), the amended UGC guidelines are akin to mental harrasment of students. When MLAs, MPs and bureaucrats are not feeling safe and not even suggesting to open Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and state legislative assemblies, why is the government playing with the health of students?” He said the Haryana government should stand by its decision to not conduct exams.

ABVP state general secretary Sunil Jaglan said, “We welcome the order as exams are the only way to find out deserving candidates. But still they should be conducted after we get a relief from this pandemic,” he said. In Hisar, GJUST vicechancellor Professor Tankeshwar Kumar said, “The UGC has issued a guideline, not an order. Whether to hold exams or not, it will be decided only after the state government’s takes a decision,” he said.

Sirsa based Chaudhary Devi Lal University vice-chancellor professor R B Solanki also added that the university would abide by the the state government’s decision. On the same lines, Maharishi Dayanand University in Rohtak would go by the state government directions on conducting exams.

Haryana freezes DA at current rate till July ’21

Haryana freezes DA at current rate till July ’21

Manvir.Saini@timesgroup.com

Chandigarh:  08.07.2020

The Haryana government on Monday ordered freezing of dearness allowance for 4.29 lakh government employees and pensioners till July 2021.

The decision come after the state government recently froze leave travel allowance (LTC) of its employees. “In view of the crisis arising out of Covid-19, it has been decided that additional instalment of dearness allowance payable to the Haryana government employees and dearness relief to the Haryana government pensioners, due from January 1, 2020 shall not be paid,” according to a circular released by the Haryana finance department on Monday evening.

Notably, the decision will on average cost a government employee in the range of Rs 50,000 to Rs 100,000 for the period of oneand-a-half year.

Haryana has passed a budget of Rs 142,343 crore this year in February. For the 2020-21Budget, a provision of Rs 36,012 crore was made for salary and pension of the state government employees. With the freeze on payment of DA, the Haryana government would save to the tune of Rs 3,600 crore after calculating DA/DR instalment of January 2020 at 4% and presumptive additional 4% instalments of July 2020 and January 2021.

There are three lakh government employees and around 1.2 lakh government pensioners in Haryana. The state government’s decision will adversely impact all of them but the worst affected would be the employees due to retire in the next three quarters. The Union government had similarly in April announced its decision to freeze DA of 1.13 crore central government employees, including defence personnel, civil and paramilitary employees.

The employee unions have termed the state government’s decision as a dictatorial order. “Initially, we contributed Rs 110 crore from our salaries. Then the government froze our LTC. Now this anti-employee diktat,” said Subhash Lamba, the president of Sarv Karamchari Sangh, an umbrella body of the state government employees. “In April, we had met the government and suggested it should to do away with the contract system and increase levies on corporate houses and big businessmen to recover its losses. We had even suggested the use of National Pension Scheme (NPS) funds for Covid relief or to meet expenses. But, this government always had an anti-employee mindset.”

‘WHAT DOES GOVT WANT TO PROVE?’

Senior leader and chief spokesperson of Congress Randeep Singh Surjewala demanded restoration of DA and described the state government’s decision as an inhuman diktat. “What does the Manohar Lal Khattar-led government want to prove by not giving the DA/DR of Haryana employees and pensioners within 100 days of presenting the budget?” he asked. Surjewala also described the BJP-JJP as “karamchari virodhi sangh”, saying people had already suffered blows of economic slowdown, coronavirus pandemic and inflation. “The anti-employee face of the BJP-JJP government stands fully exposed. An employee getting basic pay of Rs 30,000 per month would lose Rs 43,200 and an employee getting Rs 50,000 per month would not get the due installment of Rs 72,000, if we presume the same as 4% additional DA/DR for the subsequent period of 12 months also,” he added

PU still to take final call on holding exams

PU still to take final call on holding exams

Key Meeting Does Not Help, VC Told To Take The Decision

Aarti.Kapur @timesgroup.com

Chandigarh:

Panjab University (PU) is in a fix on whether to conduct exams or not as a decision eluded even after more than an hour-long meeting of top brass with the vicechancellor (VC) on Tuesday.

Student parties are vociferously demanding that exams be cancelled, when the Centre has announced that they should be held.

Sources said officials asked the VC to take the final call. They pointed out if the exams were conducted in September, admissions will take place in October and the session started by December — an unfeasible schedule. Officials said if the admissions are delayed, the university will face a financial crunch as no fee will be deposited.

The point that Punjab had already announced cancellation of exams on Saturday too cropped up in the meeting. Colleges affiliated to PU in seven districts of the state have more than two lakh students.

A PU spokesperson issued a statement that the authorities went through the University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines on exams and admissions and is preparing a plan.

A joint delegation of student organisations met officials, demanding the immediate cancellation of the exams. They strongly criticised the “irresponsible” decision of the central government. They complained that if the university wants to hold online tests, how can students living in Ladakh, Kashmir, Srinagar and other regions, where there is no Internet facility, can appear. Students who come from backward and rural areas have neither a laptop nor access to a cyber cafe, they said. Secondly, they said, if PU is thinking of holding exams, students coming from other states will face many difficulties in reaching the centres.

Members of NSUI sat on a chain hunger strike at Congress Bhawan, Sector 35, against the decision to conduct the final-year exams as per the UGC guidelines. Panjab University Campus Student Council vice-president Rahul Kumar said conducting exams in this scenario will not be beneficial for students.

SAY NO TO EXAMS: Members of the NSUI sit on a chain hunger strike at Congress Bhawan in Sector 35, Chandigarh, on Tuesday

NO INTERNET

Students complained that if the university wants to hold online tests, how can students living in Ladakh, Kashmir, Srinagar and other regions, where there is no Internet facility, can appear.

Poor internet in home states: PEC students can stay on campus

Chandigarh: Hostellers of Punjab Engineering College (PEC), who face problem of poor internet connectivity in their home states, can stay on the campus for the next academic session. A draft plan on the same was shared by PEC director in a meeting with the board of governing members on Tuesday. Sharing through a presentation, Dheeraj Sanghi, director, PEC, stated that a special committee, which was constituted by the senate to chalk out a plan for the next academic session, conducted a survey. Sources said there are around 70 students, who do not have access to internet facility. Sources said the institution will draft standard operating procedures (SoP) for staying in hostel and every student has to follow it. Students who will come in hostels will be qurantined in thier rooms for 14 days. One student will get one room. The details of SoPs will be chalked out soon. Another issue which was discussed in the meeting was about the recent NIRF ranking. The board of governors was informed about the recent withdrawals of job offers to students, but the institute has made alternative arrangements by holding another placement drive.