NEET-UG sees 83% rise in top scorers

NEET-UG sees 83% rise in top scorers

But Unlike In 2020, Cutoffs For MBBS/BDS Admission May Not Go Up This Year

Manash.Gohain@timesgroup.com

New Delhi: 23.11.2021

This year’s NEET-Undergraduate exam registered an 83% increase in the total number of candidates scoring 700 and above out of 720, with 203 candidates scoring marks in that range as compared to111 last year.

However, unlike in 2020, the cutoffs for MBBS/ BDS admission is not going to see any spike this year as there is a marginal drop in the number of candidates scoring in the mark ranges of 600 and above and 500 and above.

State-wise candidates from Rajasthan and UP continued their dominance in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) exam recording the biggest gain in the high scorer range. These states are joined by Delhi, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal which have seen an increase in the number of candidates scoring between 650 and 699 marks.

While in absolute numbers the number of candidates scoring 700 and above marks have increased significantly, the proportion to the qualified candidates have increased by just 0.01% from that of last year, while the percentage of candidates scoring in the mark range of 650-699 and 600-649 have decreased by 0.1% and 0.4% respectively. Percentage of candidates to the total qualified scoring 550-599 marks too have decreased by 0.6% this year.

In absolute numbers candidates scoring 600 marks and above dropped from 20,181 in 2020 to 19,135 in 2021. Similarly, the number of candidates scoring 500 marks and above dropped from 87,093 in 2020 to 85,022 in 2021. These mark ranges form the key cohort for counselling and allocation of seats. The total number of candidates scoring 450 marks and above increased to 1,33,906 and an increase of 1.5% from last year. The three-year NEETUG score data, exclusively accessed by the TOI, reveals that 64.3% (86,128) candidates in the mark range of 450 and above are from just eight states — Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Kerala, Bihar, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.

In all, there are around 81,000 MBBS and 39,000 BDS seats available for aspirants this year. Total number of MBBS seats under NEET 2020 has increased with AIIMS and JIPMER MBBS seats. In the government run institutions, which include AIIMS and JIPMER there are around 42,500 seats.

The states from where this significant increase in top scorers is seen are Delhi, (from 261 to 376), Rajasthan (from 519 to 729), Karnataka (from 146 to 223) and Tamil Nadu (from 205 to 235).

83% increase in top scorers in NEET this year but cut-offs unlikely to spike

83% increase in top scorers in NEET this year but cut-offs unlikely to spike

Manash.Gohain@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:23.11.2021

This year’s NEET-Undergraduate exam registered an 83% increase in the total number of candidates scoring 700 and above out of 720, with 203 candidates scoring marks in that range as compared to 111 last year.

However, unlike in 2020, the cutoffs for MBBS/ BDS admission is not going to see any spike this year as there is a marginal drop in the number of candidates scoring in the mark ranges of 600 and above and 500 and above.

State-wise candidates from Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh continued their dominance in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) exam recording the biggest gain in the high scorer range. These states are joined by Delhi, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal which have seen an increase in the number of candidates scoring between 650 and 699 marks.

While in absolute numbers the number of candidates scoring 700 and above marks have increased significantly, the proportion to the qualified candidates have increased by just 0.01% from that of last year, while the percentage of candidates scoring in the mark range of 650-699 and 600-649 have decreased by 0.1% and 0.4% respectively. Percentage of candidates to the total qualified scoring 550-599 marks too have decreased by 0.6% this year.

In absolute numbers candidates scoring 600 marks and above dropped from 20,181 in 2020 to 19,135 in 2021. Similarly, the number of candidates scoring 500 marks and above dropped from 87,093 in 2020 to 85,022 in 2021. These mark ranges form the key cohort for counselling and allocation of seats. The total number of candidates scoring 450 marks and above increased to 1,33,906 and an increase of 1.5% from last year.

The three-year NEETUG score data, exclusively accessed by the TOI, reveals that 64.3% (86,128) candidates in the mark range of 450 and above are from just eight states — Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Kerala, Bihar, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.

Full report on www.toi.in

‘Medium of instruction’ for all classes on marksheets

‘Medium of instruction’ for all classes on marksheets

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:23.11.2021

The Tamil Nadu school education department has decided to add the ‘medium of instruction’ for all classes on the Class X marksheets from this year. "The marksheets will have details of ‘medium of instruction’ from Class I to Class X. It will help students to have evidence while applying for jobs under 20% special reservation for Tamil medium students," sources in the department said. Earlier, the marksheets only had the ‘medium of instruction’ detail for Class X alone. The school education department is planning to conduct two revision tests ahead of the board exams this year to prepare the students.

TN colleges told to start offline classes

TN colleges told to start offline classes

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:23.11.2021

The state higher education department on Monday ordered all colleges, universities, deemed universities, autonomous colleges, and self-financing institutions across Tamil Nadu to start holding classes in physical mode for six days a week with immediate effect.

The department had postponed semester exams beyond January 20 after a section of students protested against holding exams offline when classes were conducted in both offline and online modes. Student bodies also wanted more time to prepare for offline exams.

The circular issued by higher education secretary D Karthikeyan directed educational institutions to reschedule theory exams after January 20.

Pondy vax tally worries Centre

The Centre has raised concern over low vaccination coverage in Puducherry where only 66% adults have got their first dose. The national average for first dose coverage is 82%. P 9

Institutions asked to conduct model exams

It further asked colleges that had completed their syllabi in online mode to conduct revision classes in physical mode to help students grasp and understand subjects better. The institutions were also asked to conduct model examinations before semester exams and offer course material.

The circular directed the Directorate of Technical Education and Directorate of Collegiate Education to order all colleges under their control and universities to function with full strength of teaching and non-teaching staff. The circular further asked district collectors to ensure higher educational institutions adhere to the instructions.

Deemed universities, however, said postponing exams will affect internship and job opportunities of students studying in final semester. “The state will lose its competitive edge because graduating students will join late. Students who have internships in reputed organisations from January will face problems. Students proceeding abroad also cannot go,” said a deemed university official.

Mobile bills may rise as Airtel hikes tariffs, others set to follow

Mobile bills may rise as Airtel hikes tariffs, others set to follow

Pankaj.Doval@timesgroup.com

23.11.2021

Your mobile bills are set to go up. Almost two years after telecom companies hiked tariffs across the board, a fresh set of revisions are around the corner. Airtel, one of India’s oldest mobile companies and its second-largest operator, was the first to announce a hike running up to as much as 25%. The revision covers almost all the pre-paid price packs offered by it.

While Airtel’s hike, which will take the minimum entry tariff to ₹99 from the present ₹79, will be effective November 26, it is expected that the other two top operators — Vodafone Idea and the biggest player, Reliance Jio — will make a similar move. The profitability of telcos is under strech and fresh investments are required for upcoming 5G space and spectrum auctions.

The revisions come within months of the government handing out a mega bailout-cum-relief package to the industry to provide financial strength and profitability to the players. They also come as the country prepares its transition to the next-gen 5G technology and new wave of technologies built around internet of things (IoT), augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) and immersive visualisations and solutions.

SII can export 50L Covishield doses: Centre

SII can export 50L Covishield doses: Centre

New Delhi:  22.11.2021

The Union government allowed the Serum Institute of India (SII) to export 50 lakh doses of Covid vaccine — Covishield — under the UN-backed COVAX global vaccine programme to Nepal, Tajikistan and Mozambique, sources said on Sunday. In addition to these three countries, the SII will also export Covishield to Bangladesh under COVAX, they said. The SII will commence Covid vaccine export under the COVAX programme from November 23 and Nepal will receive the first lot of Covishield on November 24.

The move comes on the heels of SII urging the government to fast-track Covishield movement, citing the difficulties being faced in production and cold chain space planning for other vaccines because of the increasing stock of its Covid jab, said sources on Sunday. PTI

GNDU convocation today

GNDU convocation today

Amritsar:  22.11.2021

The 47th annual convocation of Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) will be held on Monday. This was stated by registrar Karanjeet Singh Kahlon here on Sunday. On the occasion, medical administrator and writer Dr Tarlochan Singh Kler and contemporary painter and graphic artist Arpana Caur will be conferred honorary degrees in the faculty of medical sciences and faculty of visual arts and performing arts, respectively. TNN

‘10 dental surgeons, 50 others paid bribe for Haryana jobs’

‘10 dental surgeons, 50 others paid bribe for Haryana jobs’

Price For Cheat Code Was ₹10L: VB

Manvir.Saini@timesgroup.com

Chandigarh:  22.11.2021

Navin Kumar, first accused to be arrested in Haryana’s cash-for-job scam, confessed to have helped 10 candidates get through the dental surgeon’s recruitment examination for Rs 10 lakh each. Together with two others, he is also said to have done more than 50 paid selections through the Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC).

This is his reported confession to the vigilance bureau that had claimed to have seized Rs 20 lakh bribe money from him before reaching Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) deputy secretary Anil Nagar. On Sunday, Panchkula’s duty magistrate remained Navin Kumar in judicial custody, where he told the interrogators that he along with Ashwani Kumar and another person had got 40 nurses, four VLDAs (veterinary and livestock development assistants), and 15 ANMs (auxiliary nurses and midwives) through the written examination.

Each of these candidates had paid them Rs 10 lakh. The state vigilance bureau has shared the information with the HSSC and the HPSC, asking both agencies to verify the details. The HSSC is in the process of finalising the appointments. Navin Kumar was trapped behind a restaurant in Panchkula’s Sector 5, where he had come to collect Rs 20 lakh of the bribe money from a candidate, in Rs 500 notes.

His lead and other evidence obtained during the investigation took the bureau to Ashwani Sharma’s house in Jhajjar district, from where it claimed to have seized Rs 1.07 crore cash, the alleged share of Haryana Civil Services (HCS) officer Anil Nagar. The officers made Sharma contact Nagar, who reportedly told him to bring the money to his HPSC office.

The bureau claims that it caught Nagar accepting more than Rs 1 crore from Ashwani Sharma in his office. The raid on his house and associates yielded Rs 2.10 crore cash. They associates had kept most of it as his share.

Navin Kumar was trapped behind a restaurant in Panchkula’s Sector 5, where he had come to collect Rs 20 lakh of the bribe money from a candidate

17-yr-old booked for rape after minor delivers baby

17-yr-old booked for rape after minor delivers baby

Indore:  22.11.2021

The family of a minor has lodged a rape complaint at Lasudia police station against a neighbourhood teen after their daughter became pregnant and delivered a baby girl recently.

In their complaint, parents of the girl told police that a 17-year-old neighbour had taken their daughter to a park where he raped her and made a video of the act. Thereafter, he raped her on several occasions. Their daughter kept silent about the incident since the teen was threatening her that he will circulate the video on social media. Based on complaint lodged by the girl’s family, Lasudia police have registered a case. TNN

RT-PCR must for Maha people flying to Indore

RT-PCR must for Maha people flying to Indore

Indore:  22.11.2021

People travelling by flights from Maharashtra to Indore will now have to carry a negative RTPCR report. An instruction in this regard has been issued in view of the increasing number of cases of Covid-19, said officials with Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport of Indore. Officials said that an instruction in this regard has been issued under the new travel guidelines for air passengers released by the airport authority of India (AAI) on Saturday. “Passengers arriving by flights from any city of Maharashtra to Indore will have to carry a negative RT-PCR report ,” airport’s officiating director Prabodh Chandra Sharma said. TNN

PhD mandate relaxation for assistant professors may improve faculty quality

PhD mandate relaxation for assistant professors may improve faculty quality

Academics demand PhD to be an essential qualification for teaching positions at PG and post PG levels

Rajlakshmi.Ghosh@timesgroup.com

22.11.2021

The debate is on if PhD must be a key requisite for an assistant professor’s post or this mandate must be removed. The Centre has amended the University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations to delay the mandatory requirement of a PhD to July 2023 owing to the Covid-19 pandemic. Currently, the assistant professor’s post, which is an entry-level position across universities, can be filled by master’s degree holders who are UGC NET (National Eligibility Test) qualified.

In 2018, the Centre had introduced the UGC ‘Minimum Qualifications for Appointment of Teachers and Other Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for the Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education’ Regulation, which required all candidates for the assistant professor’s post to have a doctoral degree. It provided a three-year period for acquiring the PhD degree, stating further that the mandatory stipulation would be introduced from July 1, 2021, for the 2021-22 academic year. But then, the UGC has now delayed this mandate by another two years, giving prospective candidates for assistant professor’s posts more time to complete their PhDs.

PhD requirement was one of the stumbling blocks towards filling up vacant faculty positions. Due to which around 6,000 sanctioned positions are lying vacant at the Central Universities alone.

Marker of success

Yogesh Singh, vice-chancellor, University of Delhi (DU), says, “A PhD degree for the assistant professor’s post is important for the quality of teaching-learning. But when faculty persons are recruited, two aspects are taken into consideration -academic scholarship and teaching abilities. It is not as if PhD is the only marker of an academic’s success. In research-driven universities, a PhD degree should be a must, but in colleges, a UGC NET qualified candidate can work just as well. In DU, for instance, we have already advertised assistant professor’s positions where NET qualified candidates may stand as good a chance as PhD candidates. While UGC NET has improved the overall quality of teachers at entry-level posts, there was a time when UGC NET did not exist, and yet good teachers were recruited in the university system.”

Creating right talent pool

B J Rao, vice-chancellor, University of Hyderabad, says that PhD should be an essential qualification for teaching positions at PG and post PG levels. “A relaxation may affect the quality of research and teaching. However, the institutions will be always looking to recruit the best among the talent available, irrespective of prescribed qualifications,” Rao adds. He explains that master’s degree holders who are UGC NET qualified are worthy enough to be considered for assistant professor’s posts but in limited spheres of educational pursuits. “It is important that meritorious applicants are selected.” The current relaxation, he says, will widen the application pool, but the onus to create the right talent pool will depend on a judicious selection process. “India is a talent surplus country hence degree criterion alone cannot assess a candidate. The qualities of academic excellence, proactiveness, innovative thinking, perseverance, mentoring ability etc also matter.” PhD should be mandatory for promotion apart from minimum qualifying service prescribed in the 2018 UGC regulations for associate professor and professor levels, Rao says.

PhD not a must

A PhD degree as a prerequisite condition for assistant professor’s post may be desirable but not necessary, says Bhushan Patwardhan, former vice chairman, University Grants Commission, and national research professor – Ayush, Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, Savitribai Phule Pune University. “It is unlikely to compromise the quality of faculty in HEI and in fact, may improve the quality of teachers by bringing more of those who are genuinely interested in the teaching profession. The condition of PhD for becoming a teacher has very weak logic. This mandatory prerequisite has led to desperation to do PhD, which in turn has resulted in commercial shops openly selling these degrees,” he adds. PhD, according to Patwardhan, is essentially a research degree. It should be pursued only by those who have research aptitude and are keen to pursue academic research careers, he adds. “Already many teachers may have entered the HEIs with poor quality PhD degrees. It is hoped the government does not simply waive off the PhD for assistant professor’s positions without preparing a robust mechanism to ensure selection of faculty based on predefined criteria,” he says.

A long wait at airport

A long wait at airport

21/11/2021

Staff ReporterCHENNAI

After a long flight, many international passengers arriving in the city endure a frustrating wait in long queues to complete immigration formalities at Chennai airport.

This particularly happens early mornings when several international flights arrive in short intervals.

There are not enough staff at the immigration counters at the international terminal of the airport to cope with the rush, sources said.

Irate passengers have been posting on social media platforms about the delay to complete the routine immigration formalities at the airport.

Airports Authority of India (AAI) officials said, this problem occurs due to bunching of flights.

Nearly seven or eight flights land at the airport between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. and since these are international flights, about 200-250 passengers could exit from each one, thus causing a large inflow of passengers, resulting in congestion.

Karunanidhi pic on Amma name board sparks row

Karunanidhi pic on Amma name board sparks row

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Madurai:22.11.2021

A new name board that appeared outside the “Amma unavagam” at Sundarajapuram in Madurai city on Saturday kicked up a controversy as it had the photograph of late chief minister M Karunanidhi also on one side besides that of J Jayalalithaa after whom the canteens set up across the state by the former AIADMK government were named. However, after it raised many hackles, the board disappeared on Sunday.

Established under the food and civil supplies department to supply food at subsidized cost, Amma unavagams are operated by local bodies and run by self-help groups. All such canteens had photograph of Jayalalithaa on the name board, and the new DMK government decided to retain them. It was in this backdrop that the new nameboard surfaced and disappeared. ``It really was a good move, showing that this government had a forward-looking approach to things,’’ said S Murali of Sundarajapuram. However, in a statement, former AIADMK minister R B Udhayakumar said the importance given to the photograph on the name board should also be given to the functioning of these canteens. In a letter to district collector Dr S Aneesh Sekhar, he said 700 Amma unavagams fed over 12 lakh people a day in the state. In Madurai, there were twelve of them operated by SHGs. But now, many of these canteens were finding it hard to function, like the one in front of Thirumangalam government hospital, due to lack of funds.

NEW FACE: The board outside “Amma unavagam” in Madurai city had pictures of former CMs J Jayalalithaa and M Karunanidhi on Saturday

Premature release not a matter of right for convicts, says HC

Premature release not a matter of right for convicts, says HC

K.Kaushik@timesgroup.com

Madurai: 22.11.2021

Holding that premature release of convicts is not a matter of right and that life sentence means for the entire life, Madras high court has said that any premature release can be done only following due process of law which is the prerogative of the executive.

A division bench of Justices S Vaidyanathan and G Jayachandran made the observations while disposing of a petition filed by K Mariammal seeking premature release of her husband K Moorthy, a life convict in a murder case jailed for 17 years. She stated that her husband was entitled to premature release according to the 2018 GO as the government had taken a policy decision to release prisoners based on their good conduct in connection with the birth centenary of former chief minister M G Ramachandran.

However, the state submitted that Moorthy was found guilty of a major offence under Section 302 IPC and under sections of Explosives Substances Act, which is a central Act. The GO enables life convicts, who have completed ten years of actual imprisonment as of 2018, to seek premature release provided they exhibit satisfactory behaviour and are not convicted and sentenced for offence punishable under central Acts.

The state further submitted that the petitioner’s husband was twice imposed punishment of forfeiture of prison privilege of interview for three months for possessing cellphone inside the prison illegally. The judges observed that they don’t find any infirmity or illegality in the decision taken by the state government for not considering the release of the petitioner’s husband.

The judges took note of the state government’s submission that the prison authorities have initiated the process of constituting an advisory board to consider the case of life convicts who have completed 14 years of sentence as of 2018. Due to Covid-19 pandemic situation, the cases could not be taken up for consideration by the advisory board.

Madras univ plans easy questions in sem exams

Madras univ plans easy questions in sem exams

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:  22.11.2021

The upcoming semester exams of University of Madras will have familiar and direct questions in an effort to ease students back to the familiar mode.

Physical mode exams will begin on January 20, after a gap of 18 months. The higher education department had postponed the exams by two months to give more time for preparations after protests by students.

Though evaluation of answer sheets is likely to be more liberal, there will not be any changes in the question paper pattern, sources added.

Earlier, the university planned to start semester exams from the first week of December. Exams for first year students were planned after the Pongal holidays.

Now, exams for all students, including those in the first year, will be after January 20.

However, autonomous institutions which have nearly completed the syllabus are planning to conduct physical classes and revise the topics in the next few weeks.

D G Vaishnav College has planned things over the next two months to prepare students for the exams. “The classes have been conducted in a blended mode this semester. So, we will invite all students to physical classes and prepare them for offline mode exams by giving question banks, previous year papers,” said principal S Santhosh Baboo.

A majority of the affiliated colleges have completed three and half units of the syllabus and are planning to complete the rest by December 22. “Our college plans to conduct a model exam from December 23 and practical exams in the first week of January ahead of offline exams,” said S Ramanathan, principal of Asan Memorial College of Arts and Science.

Engineering colleges are also planning to conduct physical classes and hold model exams before the start of the semester exams.

Several autonomous institutions said they had completed the syllabus and were ready to conduct semester exams from next week. “The postponement of exams by two months will affect the final year students who are planning to go for higher studies or get placed in campus recruitment,” said the principal of an autonomous engineering college.

Physical mode exams at University of Madras will begin on January 20, after a gap of 18 months

2 goat thieves hack cop to death, CM announces ₹1 crore solatium

2 goat thieves hack cop to death, CM announces ₹1 crore solatium

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Trichy:22.11.2021

A special sub-inspector (SSI) was hacked to death by two thieves early on Sunday when he attempted to stop them from fleeing with a stolen goat. S Boominathan, 50, attached to Navalpattu police station in Tiruchi district, caught hold of them after a 10-km bike chase to bordering Pudukottai, but died after being attacked by them with sharp weapons.

According to police, Boominathan and constable Chithiraivelu were on patrol duty around 2 am when the SSI spotted two men on a bike with a goat. Suspecting them to be thieves, he tried to intercept them, but they fled. Boominathan chased them on his bike while his colleague trailed them on his two-wheeler. When they neared Palathupatti village near Kalamavur railway gate in Pudukottai district, Boominathan caught hold of the two as the entry to the subway filled with rainwater was blocked with boulders. The SSI called Chithiraivelu on his phone and asked him to come over. The two men, however, suddenly attacked Boominathan with sharp weapons from behind and fled.

Political leaders mourn death of SSI Boominathan

With deep cut injuries to the head, the SSI died on the spot before his colleague could reach the place.

Boominathan is survived by his wife B Kavitha, 45, and son B Kugan, 21. Condoling the death, chief minister M K Stalin announced ₹1 crore to the bereaved family and a government job to one of its members.

A native of Nagapattinam, Boominathan had settled at Cholamadevi near Thiruverumbur.

His body was handed over to his family after postmortem at MGMGH and was buried at a graveyard in Cholamadevi with full police honours. ADGP (Law and Order) P Thamaraikannan, DIG of Trichy range A Saravana Sundar, Trichy SP Sujit Kumar and police officers attended the funeral. The Keeranur police registered a case under section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and commenced investigation based on CCTV camera footage sourced from nearby locations.

Trichy range DIG A Saravana Sundar told TOI that the policeman trailing Boominathan had reached the spot a few minutes late. “We have vital clues and hope to nab the culprits soon,” he added.

Various political leaders including PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss, AMMK leader T T V Dhinakaran, former AIADMK leader V K Sasikala and BJP state president K Annamalai have extended their condolences to the bereaved family.

Senior police officials pay their respects to SSI S Boominathan, who was murdered by goat thieves near Trichy on Sunday

AP flood death toll goes up to 41

AP flood death toll goes up to 41

12 Deaths Reported On Sunday; Several Towns Still Remain Under Water

Sandeep.Raghavan@timesgroup.com

Tirupati: 22.11.2021

The flood situation in Andhra Pradesh continued to be grim with arterial roads cut off even as the toll increased to 41 with 12 more deaths reported on Sunday.

Train and bus services remained affected while many villages and towns in Rayalaseema and Nellore district remained under water.

Streams, rivulets and village tanks were full to the brim and a few of them were overflowing causing concern to people living in lowlying areas.

On Sunday, six more bodies were retrieved in Rajampet mandal and two bodies in Chinnamandem mandal of Kadapa district, while four deaths were reported in Nellore district. Officials said 15 bodies were handed over to the families. Three unidentified bodies are lying at Rajampet government hospital in Kadapa district. Two siblings, including a woman, who tried to cross over Mandavya river in Chinnamandem mandal, were washed away in the strong currents and their bodies were retrieved near Vandadi village.

While two, including a constable, have been reported dead in Nellore district, two unidentified bodies were retrieved near Somasila project on Sunday. Officials in Nellore have evacuated 44,275 people from low-lying areas and shifted them to 92 relief camps.

The road bridge connecting Kadapa-Tadipatri towns along the Papagni river collapsed due to the impact of flood in the early hours on Sunday. Road connectivity to several villages along the route remained suspended.

Meanwhile, a threestorey building came crashing down at Kadapa town in the early hours of Sunday. Police and firefighting personnel rescued a man and a woman.

Rail and road connectivity to the temple city of Tirupati remained cut off with the closure of Kadapa-Tirupati highway, Nellore-Tirupati highway, and Bengaluru-Tirupati highway. Also, Tiruttani-Tirupati highway was closed. South Central Railway cancelled 42 trains, partially cancelled one train and diverted 3 trains along Nellore-Padugupadu section of Vijayawada division and Rajampet-Nandalur of Guntakal division on Sunday.

Nearly 2,000 devotees, who boarded the Tirumala Express to reach Tirupati, were dropped off at Kadapa railway station, sparking off protests. Officials later arranged special buses and shifted them to Tirupati.

THROWING LIFE OUT OF GEAR: Children swimming in a flooded street in Tirupati on Sunday. Traffic along the national highway 16 connecting Kolkata with Chennai via Andhra Pradesh came to a halt after the road caved in at two places near Nellore on Sunday

Rain in Nellore hits rail traffic

Rain in Nellore hits rail traffic

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:22.11.2021

Travelling to Mumbai, Delhi and Hyderabad has become affected as trains from Chennai have been cancelled or diverted due to heavy rain and floods near Nellore. This comes a day after the Railways rectified tracks which were flooded near Tada.

Trains to Vijayawada, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur, Jodhpur and a few other destinations got suspended because of waterlogging of tracks between Nellore and Padugiupadu near Vijayawada. The services between Chennai and Tirupati continue to be affected.

On Monday, the following train were cancelled: Mumbai CSMT – MGR Chennai Central superfast express, No.12510 Guwahati – Bangalore Cantonment Express, No.15930 New Tinsukia – Tambaram, No. 22664 – Jodhpur – Chennai Superfast Express leaving Jodhpur, 12616 New Delhi – MGR Chennai Central Grand Trunk Express, 12622 New Delhi – MGR Chennai Central Express, 12842 MGR Chennai Central – Howrah Express, 12077 MGR Chennai Central – Vijayawada Express, 12656 Dr. MGR Chennai Central – Ahmedabad Express, 12712 MGR Chennai Central – Vijayawada Express.

India, S’pore to resume commercial flights from Nov 29

India, S’pore to resume commercial flights from Nov 29

Saurabh.Sinha@timesgroup.com

New Delhi: 22.11.2021

India and Singapore will resume commercial flights from November 29 when the latter reopens its doors quarantine-free for fully vaccinated and Covid-negative travellers from here through a “vaccinated travel lane (VTL)”. The civil aviation authority of Singapore (CAAS) has announced that the VTL will start with six daily flights from Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai. Applications for “vaccinated travel pass (VTP)” for short term visitors and long-term pass-holders from India can be filed starting 3.30pm (IST) on Monday (November 22).

“…we will start VTL and resume commercial flights from November 29. Travellers from India can apply for VTP from November 22,” the Singapore mission in Delhi tweeted on Sunday. India’s foreign minister S Jaishankar was recently in Singapore and is learnt to have played a key role in resumption of travel to this key destination for Indians. “Began my Singapore visit by meeting S Iswaran, minister of transport. Discussed enhancing travel arrangements between the two countries,” Jaishankar had tweeted on November 17. Given the massive pent-up demand, Singapore is likely to see very high fares for some weeks after resumption of flights.

“VTP applications will open for intended dates of entry from November 29, 2021, to January 21, 2022 (7 to 60 calendar days ahead). Those who intend to enter Singapore after December 1, 2021, are strongly encouraged to apply after November 24, 2021… CAAS understands that travellers are looking forward to the launch of the VTL and would like to assure travellers that there is no need to rush to apply for the VTP,” CAAS said in a statement. “…Short-term visitors, who require a visa for travel to Singapore, must separately obtain a visa. They are advised to do so after receiving their VTP approval and before departing for Singapore...,” CAAS statement added.

Full report on www.toi.in

The civil aviation authority of Singapore has announced that the “vaccinated travel lane” will start with six daily flights from Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai

அண்ணாமலை பல்கலைக்கு புது துணைவேந்தர் நியமனம்

DINAMALAR

தமிழ்நாடு

அண்ணாமலை பல்கலைக்கு புது துணைவேந்தர் நியமனம்

Added : நவ 20, 2021 22:49 

சென்னை:சிதம்பரம் அண்ணாமலை பல்கலை துணைவேந்தராக, அறிவியல் ஆராய்ச்சியில் நீண்ட அனுபவம் பெற்ற கதிரேசன் நியமிக்கப்பட்டு உள்ளார். இவரை தமிழக கவர்னர் ஆர்.என்.ரவி நியமித்துள்ளார்.

துணைவேந்தராக நியமிக்கப்பட்டுள்ள கதிரேசன், பதவியேற்கும் நாளில் இருந்து, மூன்று ஆண்டுகள் பொறுப்பு வகிப்பார். அறிவியலில் ஆராய்ச்சி பட்டம் பெற்றுள்ளார். இங்கிலாந்தில் ஓராண்டு முதுநிலை ஆராய்ச்சி அனுபவம்; ஆசிரியர் பணியில், 36 ஆண்டுகள் அனுபவம் உள்ளவர்.

ஆராய்ச்சி கட்டுரைஆராய்ச்சி மற்றும் வளர்ச்சி மைய இயக்குனராக, அண்ணாமலை பல்கலை வேளாண் துறை தலைவராக, முதல்வராக பணியாற்றி உள்ளார். இவர், 31 ஆராய்ச்சி கட்டுரை களை வெளியிட்டுள்ளார். தேசிய அளவிலான கருத்தரங்கில், 29 ஆராய்ச்சி கட்டுரைகளை சமர்ப்பித்ததுடன், இரண்டு புத்தகங்களை எழுதி உள்ளார்.

நிர்வாக அனுபவம்

ஆராய்ச்சி மாணவர்கள் 10 பேருக்கு வழிகாட்டியாக இருந்துஉள்ளார். மேலும், 16.11 கோடி ரூபாய் மதிப்புள்ள, 14 ஆராய்ச்சி திட்டங்களை செயல்படுத்தி உள்ளார். கடந்த, 2001ல் பிரிட்டிஷ் பயிர் பாதுகாப்பு கவுன்சில் விருதை வென்றுள்ளார். ஏ.ஐ.ஏ.எஸ்.ஏ., ஹரித் புரஸ்கார் விருது பெற்றுள்ளார். சிங்கப்பூர், நேபாளம், அமெரிக்கா, சீனா, ஆஸ்திரேலியா உட்பட, 18 நாடுகளுக்கு கல்வி தொடர்பாக சென்று வந்துள்ளார். எட்டு ஆண்டுகள் பல்கலை நிர்வாக அனுபவம் உடையவர்.

சர்க்கரை கார்டுக்கும் பொங்கல் பரிசு?

DINAMALAR

தமிழ்நாடு

சர்க்கரை கார்டுக்கும் பொங்கல் பரிசு?

Added : நவ 20, 2021 19:58

சென்னை:பொங்கல் பரிசு தொகுப்பை தங்களுக்கும் வழங்கும்படி, சர்க்கரை கார்டுதாரர்கள், தமிழக அரசுக்கு கோரிக்கை விடுத்துள்ளனர்.

தமிழகத்தில் 2.15 கோடி அரிசி; 3.84 லட்சம் சர்க்கரை என, மொத்தம் 2.18 கோடி ரேஷன் கார்டு தாரர்கள் உள்ளனர்.தமிழக அரசு, வரும் பொங்கல் பண்டிகைக்கு அரிசி கார்டுதாரர்கள், இலங்கை தமிழர் மறுவாழ்வு முகாம்களில் வசிக்கும் குடும்பத்தினர் என, 2.15 கோடி குடும்பங்களுக்கு, 20 வகை மளிகை பொருட்கள் அடங்கியபரிசு தொகுப்பை அறிவித்துள்ளது.

இந்த பரிசு தொகுப்பை, தங்களுக்கும் வழங்குமாறு சர்க்கரை கார்டுதாரர்கள் அரசுக்கு கோரிக்கை விடுத்துள்ளனர்.இது குறித்து சர்க்கரை கார்டுதாரர்கள் கூறியதாவது:பொங்கல் பரிசு தொகுப்பை பாரபட்சமின்றி,சர்க்கரை கார்டுதாரர்கள், எந்த பொருளும் வாங்காத பிரிவினர் உட்பட, அனைத்து கார்டுதாரர்களுக்கும் வழங்க வேண்டும்.

இல்லையேல், அந்த வகை கார்டுதாரர்கள், அரிசி கார்டுதாரராக மாற வாய்ப்பு அளித்து, அதன் அடிப்படையில் பரிசு தொகுப்பு வழங்க, அரசு நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க வேண்டும்.இவ்வாறு அவர்கள் கூறினர்.

Meet the teacher from TN who turns ‘Appa’ for his students

Meet the teacher from TN who turns ‘Appa’ for his students

Fondly called ‘Appa’ (dad) by students, C Appavu (56) has been shelling out his money to buy uniforms for over 300 students studying in Classes 9 to 12 every year.

Published: 21st November 2021 05:58 AM | Last Updated: 21st November 2021 05:58 AM 

Appavu, a Mathematics teacher, handing over school uniforms to students | EXPRESS

By P Thiruselvam

Express News Service

ARIYALUR: A teacher takes a hand, opens a mind, and touches a heart.” So goes an adage, and this mathematics teacher at Sripuranthan Government Higher Secondary School in Ariyalur district has been doing exactly the same for the past 12 years.

Fondly called ‘Appa’ (dad) by students, C Appavu (56) has been shelling out his money to buy uniforms for over 300 students studying in Classes 9 to 12 every year. Once a year, he also arranges a feast for all students in the school and provides Kadala Mittai (peanut candy) on occasions like school reopening, Independence Day, Republic Day, and such. The story goes a long way. Born in an economically poor family in Pasumbalur, Perambalur district, Appavu completed his MSc., B.Ed., MPhil., MA., and BL. He lost his father 30 years ago and his mother when he was a child. He has lived all alone since then.

His experience growing up in a poverty-stricken household helped him bond with the rural students when he got in his first posting as a teacher on January 19, 2009. This was a turning point in his life. Appavu came to know about the government providing uniforms for Classes 1 to 8 students and realised he should help the higher class students and motivate them too. This year, after schools reopened, Appavu provided 399 school uniforms to students at a cost of Rs 1.60 lakh.

Speaking to TNIE, Appavu said, “I suffered during my younger days because my family was poor. But once I started earning, I did not want students to suffer like me. I have been helping students who have been asking me for help. Over the years, this led me to help more students. I started buying uniforms for the students when I came to know that students come to school without uniforms because they were not able to afford one. And also, I want my students to have good food and I arrange a traditional feast with payasam and vadai for them every year.”

He decided to stay off marriage so as to continue with his service to the children.“Perhaps, if my mother had not died, I would have got married by now,” he smiles. Appavu pointed out that he was against discrimination among students. “I have been told by people many times to provide uniforms for only those who cannot afford it. But, I have been providing it to all because they should know all are equal.”

Proud of students calling him ‘Appa’, he said he doesn’t need anything more.”Education is important and my service will continue for students even after retirement.” K Kaniya, one of his students from Class 12, said, “My parents are working as agricultural labourers, and they are working hard to provide me with an education. Appavu sir is helping a lot of students like me. We are very happy and lucky to have him with us. I am enjoying school for four years because of him.”

C Kannan, father of Kaniya, thanks Appavu profusely for reducing their burden. “He is not only providing uniforms but doing all the necessary help including buying notebooks. He treats students with so much care.”

Assumed dead, mother-daughter duo make a surprise return

Assumed dead, mother-daughter duo make a surprise return

Nearly four days after a 35-year-old widow and her 7-year-old daughter were thought to have died by suicide, they returned to the village on Friday to everyone’s shock.

Published: 21st November 2021 05:34 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Nearly four days after a 35-year-old widow and her 7-year-old daughter were thought to have died by suicide, they returned to the village on Friday to everyone’s shock. A resident of Panambakkam village, V Nirosha, allegedly went missing with her second daughter on November 15. While her mother-in-law suspected the worse, she had actually gone to her relative’s house. Upon reading the news about their possible death, the duo came back.

Police said Nirosha’s mother-in-law G Kumari, who searched for them, came to know that the two last visited the Selliyamman temple, and subsequently lodged a complaint at Vengal police station the next day. Kumari told police that Nirosha had observed her husband’s death anniversary two weeks ago and suspected that she, along with her daughter, jumped into the Kosasthalaiyar river in Tiruvallur.

The police and Fire and Rescue Services personnel launched a search, but abandoned the operation since they could not be traced. Upon return, Nirosha reportedly informed the police that she left for her uncle’s house in Thirumazhisai.

“She never had such intentions, but circumstances made everyone believe so. She had also lost her mobile phone,” said a police officer.

KGMU profs, students felicitated for research

KGMU profs, students felicitated for research

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Lucknow: 21.11.2021

As many as 21 faculty members and five students were felicitated with ‘eminence in research’ awards at the Annual Research Showcase 2021 organised by KGMU’s research cell on Sunday.

The Prof Dhavendra Kumar Gold Medal for Young Investigators went to Prof Smriti Agrawal in gynaecology and Dr Siddharth Agarwal in ophthalmology for their innovation and research.

The best PhD thesis award was bagged by Dr Shilpa Trivedi from the oral and maxillofacial surgery department for her work on isolating stem cells from dental tissues.

Prof Abhijit Chandra from surgical gastroenterology was awarded for the best surgical clinical paper for developing novel innovative techniques for management of rectal prolapse.

The award for best preclinical paper was given to Prof Shailendra Saxena for finding novel application of sedative drug belladonna in Japanese Encephalitis management.

Prof Geeta Yadav from the pathology department got the best para-clinical award for her work on a strong activation immune system in Covid patients. Prof Hardeep Singh Malhotra from neurology got the best clinical medical paper award for his work on neurological impact of tuberculosis.

Among PG students, PhD scholars and MSc nursing students, Dr Deep Chakrabarti from radiotherapy was awarded for the best paper. In UG category, Ahmad Ozair was awarded for his work on safety and efficacy of antibiotics in management of irritable bowel syndrome.

UG students Kausal Singh, Sujeet Rao and Shubham Trivedi were facilitated with ICMR studentship award.

The intramural research grant proposal award went to Dr Parul Jain, Dr Suruchi Shukla, Dr Arpita Bhriguvanshi, Dr Suresh Chand, Dr Satyendra Kumar Singh and Dr Ayush Shukla.

Vice-chancellor Lt Gen (retd) Prof Bipin Puri felicitated Prof UC Chaturvedi (microbiology), Prof Shally Awasthi (pediatrics), Prof RK Garg (neurology), Prof Amita Jain (microbiology), Prof Santosh Kumar (orthopedics) and Dr Sujita K Kar (psychiatry) for securing a place on the list of top scientists by Stanford University.

GO on in-service quota for govt hosp docs sparks row among med students

GO on in-service quota for govt hosp docs sparks row among med students

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Hyderabad:  21.11.2021

A day after the Kalolji Narayana Rao university of Health Sciences issued GO-155, announcing in-service quota in NEET-PG for doctors working at government hospitasl, the announcement became a bone of contention for two sets of medical students.

While MBBS students (junior and senior residents) at government hospitals who have been working in rural and tribal areas for two years stand to benefit from move, they are demanding the quota be increased. As per the latest GO, 20 per cent reservation for clinical and 30 per cent for non-clinical seats has been announced. This is however a reduction from the earlier GO-27 — issued in 2017 — which had 30 per cent reservation for clinical and 50 per cent for non-clinical seats.

Irked with the reduction, public health doctors demanded an increase in quota and said they will protest. On the other hand Telangana Junior Doctors Association (TJUDA) demanded that the quota be done away with.“Public health doctors and contract doctors as well as all other government doctors will hand over mass leave papers on Monday to DMHOs in all districts and would fight in stages till the cancellation of GO-155 and revival of GO 27 is done,” said Dr Katti Janardhan, founding president Telangana Public Health Doctors Association.

Meanwhile, TJUDA demanded that GO not be implemented. “Giving special reservation quota to these candidates will be a bias towards regular candidates who strive for years together to get a competitive seat,” TJUDA said.

Rains disrupt over 100 trains, many stranded

Rains disrupt over 100 trains, many stranded

Three Major Breeches In Railway Tracks

Amrita.Didyala@timesgroup.com

Hyderabad: 21.11.2021

With tanks overflowing and causing breeches in railway tracks at three locations in the South Central Railway (SCR) zone, SCR authorities have cancelled 42 trains, while nearly 70 other services were impacted. The cycloneinduced heavy rainfall in Andhra Pradesh over the last 24 hours and its impact on train movement, left many stranded. Also, there are long delays in running of many trains.

“My family needs to travel from Kacheguda to Jhansi (12707) and Jhansi to Siwan (11123). The gap between trains were 2 hours. The train is delayed by 7 hours and still waiting to board train at Warangal station. Please help. Elderparents and children are in stress,” tweeted Jitendar from the twitter handle @jitenda04646583. “Is Rayalaseema Express from Tirupati to Secunderabad running? We are at the Tirupati station and no one is giving correct information. Kindly inform usplease,” tweeted CVNS Vedavyas from the handle @cvnsvedavyas.

Others had to cancel their travel plans too. “Train number 12734 has been cancelled suddenly today without prior notice, even I got text of chart preparation, I booked to and fro ticket for Chirala. I’m at Secunderabad station, need solution right now,” tweeted Arif from the twitter handle @smarif4u taggingrailway authorities.

Among the trains cancelled are Chennai Central-Vijayawada express, Chennai Central- Hyderabad express, Tirunelveli- Bilaspur express, Nagarcoil-Shalimar Gurudev express, Guntur- Vijayawada MEMU and Vijayawada-Chennai Central Janshatabdi express among others.

Meanwhile, three of the major breeches in railway tracks that had disrupted the movement of over 100 trains in the last 24 hours were identified on the Nandalur-Razampet section, Nellore–Padugupadu section and Dharmavaram- Pakalasection of the SCR zone.

“These three locations have had major breeches in railway tracks, due to nearby water tanks overflowing. For normalcy to return, the rains have to stop and the tanks have to stop overflowing. Currently, we are in the process of repairing the tracks,” SCR chief public relations officer Ch Rakesh said.

Passengers wait for their train at the Secunderabad Railway Station on Saturday

More rain forecast for city in next 24 hours

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Hyderabad

: Light to moderate rainfall occurred in several parts of Hyderabad on Saturday. Siddipet, Rangareddy, Medchal, Pedapalli and Nagarkurnool also witnessed brief spells of rain.

As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Hyderabad, director K Nagaratna, several places in the city will most likely witness rain in the next 24 hours. “The temperature will be between 22 degrees celsius and 28 degrees celsius in the next 24 hours in Hyderabad,” the director said. In the last 24 hours, the temperature recorded in Hyderabad was between 21.5 degrees Celsius and 27.7 degrees Celsius.

“There will be light to moderate rains in few places in the southern and northern districts of Telangana in the next 48 hours,” said Nagaratna adding that thereafter, there will be a slight reduction in rainfall in the state.

The highest temperature, 32.3 degrees Celsius, was recorded in Adilabad and the lowest, 19.8 was recorded in the Medak.

4 reasons to eat cauliflower

4 reasons to eat cauliflower

21.11.2021

1 Cauliflowers contain potassium, which helps to control blood pressure.

2 They are high in vitamin C, which we need for the production of collagen in the body to help strengthen muscles and skin.

3 They are a good source of phytochemicals, called indoles and glucosinolates, which may stimulate helpful enzymes that protect the body cells from oxidative stress and damage caused by free radicals.

4 Cauliflowers are rich in vitamin E, which helps to neutralise damaging free radicals in the body and promotes healthy skin and hair.

— DAILY MIRROR