NEWS TODAY 26.03.2024

 

This country wants people aged 40 and above to go back to university. Know why

This country wants people aged 40 and above to go back to university. Know why

By Bishal Kalita

Mar 25, 2024 02:52 PM IST

Singapore wants people aged 40 and above to upskill themselves to stay relevant in the changing world.

Knowledge of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not a skill for the future— it is happening right here, right now, necessitating skill updates for workers in every industry. Though it is still a matter of debate if AI will completely replace human labour, Singapore seems to realise before most of the other countries that it is a good idea to learn how to use it to our benefit. It wants people aged 40 and above to upskill themselves to stay relevant in the changing world.Singapore will invest more than $1 billion in AI computing, talent, and industry development over the next five years as part of its National AI Strategy (NIAS) 2.0

The government has launched a new subsidy scheme for people aged 40 and above to refresh their skills. It will cover at least 90 per cent of the fee of a full-time diploma course in higher education.

Talking about the new subsidy scheme, Tan Wu Meng, Member of Parliament, said that learning together would benefit both middle-aged workers and younger people.

The new subsidy scheme for Singaporeans recognises that what people have learnt in school at the age of 20 may have “changed, transformed and replaced by a new world” by the time they become 40 years old, he said.

“Having mid-career workers learning new skills alongside younger workers — a middle-aged, mid-carer worker alongside someone who’s 18, 19, 20 plus years old — will also transform the education experience in our institutions of higher learning,” Tan Wu Meng said in his speech.

“Older workers bring life experience, life skills and living wisdom into the classroom. Even as they bring that into the classroom, they also learn new skills together with the younger students,” he added.

A vision for the future

Singapore will invest more than $1 billion in AI computing, talent, and industry development over the next five years as part of its National AI Strategy (NIAS) 2.0.

In his speech, the MP mentioned how AI technology is advancing faster than people had predicted.

“I had expected the technology to take another two to three years. As it happened, it took place faster than I imagined. Within 10 months, OpenAI had announced the Sora platform to produce AI-generated video," he said while commenting on the ChatGPT maker OpenAI’s new video tool.

"No country, no economy can hide from these changes in the world with AI…So, we have to accept the world as it is, the way the world is going to be, and look after, support, empower and uplift our people," he added.

NEWS TODAY 25.03.2024

 

 

Over 240 doctors debarred from NEET PG exam The MCC has collected a seat-leaving penalty of Rs 1.21 crore from these medical students

Over 240 doctors debarred from NEET PG exam The MCC has collected a seat-leaving penalty of Rs 1.21 crore from these medical students

 Shuddhanta.Patra@timesgroup.com 25.03.2024 

A total of 242 doctors who left their seats in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test Postgraduate (NEET PG) 2023 counselling have been debarred from appearing in the upcoming NEET PG 2024 exam, the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) stated. The MCC’s statement came as a response to a Right to Information (RTI) application filed by RTI activist Dr Vivek Pandey. The debarred students are planning to file a PIL to reinstate the opportunity to appear for the NEET exam scheduled in June.

 Speaking to Education Times, a Health Ministry official says, “The MCC rule to disqualify such students has brought down the medical seat wastage under 300 which earlier used to range between 1,000-1,500. These 242 seats will lie vacant for the next three years and each medical seat costs crores of rupees to the government. The seats are blocked as per the candidate’s preference. Despite choosing the seat themselves, when a candidate is giving it up, they are not just giving up their chance to study in that particular medical stream but also not giving a fair chance to other candidates who need the seat. 

Candidates must choose the seats wisely.” Dr Aviral Mathur, president, FORDA, says, “There must be some penalty for students flouting MCC rules but that must not go against the careers of the young doctors. These are the candidates blocking the seats as per their preferences, later changing their minds and not report to the allotted college. They are eventually wiping out the chances for the students who need those seats. The Committee must also rethink the steps considering debarring the students from counselling. The students who are complaining about losing a year must have thought about the outcome before blocking the seats. However, the MCC must contemplate reasonable penalties like increasing the seat-leaving fine or cancelling the candidate’s state quota.” Students’ woes Dr Vivek Pandey says, “A few students approached me regarding this issue, and they wanted the government to remove this debarring criteria if someone is unable to take an allotted seat. 

The MCC is debarring students in the form of punishment because they left their allocated seats after counselling.” APG aspirant from Rajkot, Gujarat, who is one of the 242 doctors debarred from the NEET PG 2024 exam, says, “I scored 5,000 rank in NEET PG 2023, but was not satisfied with the seat I was getting. In the stray round, I gave up my allotted seat since I was looking for an MD in Radiology but instead received an MD in Medicine. This seat was eventually filled in a special stray round. However, I was also not allowed to participate in the special round. My deposit money was forfeited and the allotment letter mentions debarring me from the counselling for NEET PG 2024. 

Since the seat which I left was not wasted, the government’s banning me for a year is not justified.” The MCC has collected an undertaking from the candidates appearing in the special stray vacancy round amounting to Rs 1.21 crore as a penalty for leaving these seats.

EC fixes poll rate card, chicken biriyani down to Rs 150 from Rs 180

EC fixes poll rate card, chicken biriyani down to Rs 150 from Rs 180

The expenditure limit for parliamentary constituencies has been increased from Rs 70 lakh to Rs 95 lakh between the 2019 and 2024 elections

Election Commission of India in New Delhi. (Photo |Shekhar Yadav, EPS)

B Anbuselvan

Updated on:

23 Mar 2024, 7:41 am

CHENNAI: With the DMK, AIADMK, BJP gearing up for campaign, a recent ECI notification comprising a revised price list of over 200 items used for trail, will be of help to the candidates to ensure they do not exceed the spending limit, at least in their official expenditure submissions.

The expenditure limit for parliamentary constituencies has been increased from Rs 70 lakh to Rs 95 lakh between the 2019 and 2024 elections. As a result, the EC has marginally increased the prices of items and services utilised by political parties. The district election officer will evaluate the expenses incurred by candidates using the price list.

According to a recent order issued by Chennai district election officer J Radhakrishnan, the price of tea has been raised from Rs 10 to Rs 15 and coffee from Rs 15 to Rs 20, while the rate of chicken biriyani has been reduced from Rs 180 to Rs 150 per packet compared to 2019. The price of mutton biryani remains Rs 200 per packet. The prices of t-shirts and sarees have also not been increased.

The list comprises items, including food provided to those participating in campaign-related activities, vehicles, and other furniture hired for campaign offices and meetings, expenses for stage decoration, worker wages, electronic devices, and items such as banners, posters, chairs, and flags. Expenses for welcoming political leaders, including crackers, posters, garlands, and cultural dances, will also be included in the candidate’s expenses.

Official sources said the campaign rates are determined according to the recommendations of the Public Works Department for each district. “The PWD issues a price list based on wholesale price index, inflation rate, and other economic indicators provided by the finance department. Prices for certain items may vary across districts based on PWD rates,” said an official.

A booth committee representative of the AIADMK in Chennai said, “It is practically not possible to monitor every expense. However, EC officials insist on proper accounting for chairs, tables, fans, and other items during campaign meetings. The prices quoted by the EC were too high for some items.”

The cost of campaign meetings involving star campaigners is likely to increase, as the EC has set a higher rate for electrical equipment. According to the order, Rs 31,305 has been fixed per day for supplying 4.5-tonne floor-mounting air conditioners for the stage. Similarly, higher charges have been set for the use of sports utility vehicles during the campaign.

An official said expenditure observers have been appointed for each constituency, and campaign activities by candidates and their party members will be videographed.

MP: 'Did Not Get Time To Study,' 2nd Year BDS Students Demand To Postpone Exams By 2 Months

MP: 'Did Not Get Time To Study,' 2nd Year BDS Students Demand To Postpone Exams By 2 Months

The students have submitted a memorandum to the Dean, MGM Medical College demanding the change in exam schedule.

Staff Reporter Updated: Monday, March 18, 2024, 05:18 PM IST

Indore (Madhya Pradesh): Students of the second-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) have appealed to the Madhya Pradesh Medical Science University (MPMSU), Jabalpur, to postpone the exams by two months.

The students have submitted a memorandum to the Dean of MGM Medical College demanding the change in exam schedule, alleging that they didn’t get time to study the semester and that even the compulsory 240-day teaching has not been completed.

“MPMSU has scheduled the BDS second-year exam for April 3. However, the previous semester exam was concluded only a couple of months ago, and we didn’t get time to study the third semester. Moreover, the syllabus and preclinical quota have not been completed, due to which students are anxious,” the BDS students said.

They added that the early exam will impact the preparations and also the results, which will have a cascading effect on the final results.

“We have appealed to the Dean of MGM Medical College, as the college is the regional center of MPMSU. We have also dashed off letters to the vice chancellor, registrar, and exam controller of the university for the same,” the BDS students said, adding, “About 120 students of Government Dental College and Indore Dental College, Rau, are being affected by the early exams.”

Meanwhile, Dean Dr. Sanjay Dixit said that they will forward the demands of the students to MPMSU. A decision will be taken by the university to postpone the exam.

HC Dismisses Petitions Against GST Collection by KNRUHS

HC Dismisses Petitions Against GST Collection by KNRUHS

Legal Affairs L. Ravichander 24 February 2024 11:50 PM (Update:24 February 2024 11:50 PM) 

Telangana High Court. (DC) Hyderabad: A two-judge bench of the Telangana High Court dismissed a batch of writ petitions assailing the demand of GST by Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences (KNRUHS) on affiliation fees and inspection fees together with arrears from July 2017. The bench, comprising Justice P. Sam Koshy and Justice A. Laxminarayana Alishetty, examined the demand at the instance of Care College of Nursing and other nursing colleges.

 The university, referring to the communications from the authorities, stated that it has been directed by GST authorities to collect and deposit the GST dues from July 2017 onwards on affiliation and inspection fees paid by private institutions. It is called upon the colleges to submit 9% SGST and 9% CGST (a total of 18% as GST) on the affiliation and inspection fee paid to the University from July, 2017 onwards by way of a demand draft. All the petitioners are nursing colleges affiliated to the university, which charges inspection and affiliation fees from the respective colleges. All the colleges in this batch of writ petitions have paid inspection fees and also affiliation fees after being granted affiliation. The Central Board of Indirect Taxes (CBIT) made a demand for payment of GST. At the time when the GST was enacted, “educated services” was one of the taxable subjects. However some services enjoyed statutory exemption. It was also made clear that conducting entrance examination and collection of entrance fees also had been brought within the exempted category and, thus, it would include affiliation and inspection fees, the petitioner contended.

 It was unsuccessfully canvassed by the petitioner that affiliation is intrinsically connected with the educational institutions having affiliation from a particular university. That since the object of the varsity is to also ensure a uniform curriculum and standards among the different affiliated colleges imparting education on the same course. In the instant case, it is the nursing course, which is being imparted by the petitioners herein, therefore, the first respondent, the university would also fall within the purview of ‘educational institution’ and as such the petitioners would also be exempted from the levy of GST on inspection and affiliation fees. Dominic Fernandez, appearing for the CBITC, pointed out that the notifications issued in 2018 showed that collection of affiliation and inspection fee does not stand exempted. He relied upon the decision of the department, which pointed at exempted services, including collection of application fees for entrance examination and also collection of fees for issuance of eligibility certificates and admission fees. They also decided that as per the circular G.S.T. @ 18% applies to such services provided by the board or university so far as accreditation to education institutions was concerned. The bench on a scrutiny of the various notifications and the law specially said that inspection and affiliation fees, however, is not part of the said notification granting exemption and added that surprisingly, in the instant case, as of now, the first respondent does not seem to be aggrieved of the demand raised by the respondent-department so far as payment of GST on inspection and affiliation fees was concerned. 

It is at the inception stage of the educational institutions that the inspection is conducted and the affiliation is granted thereafter. The admission and the services rendered by the educational institutions to the students, the faculty and the staff are all services rendered subsequent to the affiliation. Therefore, the contention that the petitioners have canvassed was hard to accept, the bench reasoned.

https://www.deccanchronicle.com/legalnews/hc-dismisses-petitions-against-gst-collection-by-knruhs-883213

Microsoft Is Now Offering The GPT-4 Turbo AI Model Free Of Cost For All Users

Microsoft Is Now Offering The GPT-4 Turbo AI Model Free Of Cost For All Users

Published By: S Aadeetya

Trending Desk

Last Updated: MARCH 19, 2024, 09:30 IST

Delhi, India

The new Copilot version with GPT 4 is available to all users.

The OpenAI model, GPT-4 Turbo is now available for every Copilot user for free, which was previously limited to Pro users.Follow us:

Remember Microsoft Bing Chat, the company’s own GPT-powered AI chatbot? Some time ago, it was rebranded as Microsoft Copilot, and now, the technology giant’s artificial intelligence assistant has upgraded its free tier. The OpenAI model, GPT-4 Turbo, is now available for every Copilot user for free, which was previously limited to Pro users. To access OpenAI’s most capable language model, users need to select the Copilot conversation style in either creative or precise mode.

In addition to that, Copilot Pro users still have the option to switch back to older models if they choose to use the toggle. Informing about the same, Microsoft advertising and web services CEO Mikhail Parakhin shared a post on X and wrote, “After quite some work, GPT4-Turbo replaced GPT-4 in the Copilot free tier. Pro users can still choose the older model if they prefer (there is a toggle).”

“For free users of Copilot in Creative mode, GPT-4 Turbo is now powering that experience. Copilot Pro users remain able to toggle GPT-4 Turbo on or off in Creative mode,” a Microsoft spokesperson confirmed in a statement, reported CNET.

GPT-4 Turbo has been trained on data until April 2023 and can handle text-to-speech prompts. Its context window can take 128,000 tokens, the highest amount available in a GPT version. The more tokens a model can accept, the more text a user may enter into the model to provide additional context and improve the results.

Last year, Microsoft launched Copilot to integrate AI into its platforms and the AI assistant is available online and is also baked into Bing, Windows 11, the Edge browser and Microsoft 365. Copilot Pro costs $20 per month per user and includes more AI-powered features in Office apps, as well as priority access to new OpenAI models and improved image-creation tools. As per Microsoft, Copilot Pro will assist users with writing, coding, research, and even learning.

OpenAI is rumoured to be developing a new model dubbed the GPT-4.5 Turbo. Although the technology giant has remained tight-lipped on future GPT iterations, Reddit users noticed earlier this week that OpenAI mistakenly published a blog post saying GPT-4.5 Turbo surpasses GPT-4 Turbo in speed, accuracy, and scalability, according to CNET.

The media outlet further added that while the blog article was shortly removed from the OpenAI website, it seems that an upgraded GPT model will be released soon. It also suggests that, if Microsoft intends to distinguish its Copilot versions by delivering the better model in its premium tier, the company may aim to introduce GPT-4.5 Turbo to Copilot Pro when the new model is released.

MBBS students not allowed to attend classes

MBBS students not allowed to attend classes

Speaking to TNIE, vice chancellor Dr K Narayanasamy said, “I have instructed the colleges to follow NMC norms.

Express News Service

Updated on:

21 Mar 2024, 8:39 am

1 min read

CHENNAI: The Doctors Association for Social Equality (DASE) has written to the vice-chancellor of the Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University to allow MBBS students who failed to clear second year university exams to attend third year classes as per National Medical Commission (NMC) norms, on Wednesday.

In their representation to the vice-chancellor, the association said students detained in the second year were not being allowed to attend third year classes in a few medical colleges like Nilgiris, Krishnagiri, Virudhunagar and Kallakurichi. They also should be allowed to write supplementary exams.

Speaking to TNIE, vice chancellor Dr K Narayanasamy said, “I have instructed the colleges to follow NMC norms. A few students also requested to allow them to write the university exam if their attendance is short by 1-2%, but this cannot be done as per NMC norms. Attendance is mandatory. Students should have 75% attendance for theory and 80% for practicals.”

TN: ED raids AIADMK leader Vijayabaskar, Chennai-based real estate group

TN: ED raids AIADMK leader Vijayabaskar, Chennai-based real estate group

About 25 premises are being covered by the central agency as part of the two cases, the sources said.

ED raids at former AIADMK minister C.Vijayabaskar at his residence in Ilupur and Pudukottai.(Photo |ANI)

Express News Service

Updated on:

21 Mar 2024, 12:12 pm

CHENNAI: The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday carried out searches at the residence of AIADMK leader and former Tamil Nadu minister C Vijayabaskar in Ilupur, Pudukottai.

About 25 premises are being covered by the central agency as part of the two cases, the sources said.

C Vijayabasakar, an AIADMK strongman from Pudukottai in Tamil Nadu,
is being raided by the central agency based on a FIR registered by DVAC in 2022 linked to an alleged case of possession of disproportionate assets.

Followed by the case handled by DVAC, now ED steps in to investigate the Money laundering angle in case.

After AIADMK broke ties with the BJP in last September, Vijayabaskar was the first AIADMK heavyweight to be raided by a central investigative agency. He was earlier booked by the CBI in a "gutkha scam".

Meanwhile, today, AIADMK general secretary Edapadi K.palaniswami is releasing their second set of candidates ahead of the lok sabha polls.

"We will face everything legally" said EPS when asked about the raids.

The premises linked to real estate group Gsquare and linked entities in and around Chennai city are also being searched as part of an investigation under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the sources said.

Financial crisis: Madras univ staff wear black badge to work

Financial crisis: Madras univ staff wear black badge to work

Salaries for the employees were credited late while the contractual employees are still awaiting their pending dues for the past three months.

Subashini Vijayakumar

Updated on:

19 Mar 2024, 10:28 am

CHENNAI: Employees of Madras University on Monday wore black badges to work with the institution yet to find a permanent solution to its financial crisis.

At present, the university has been diverting the fees received from students through the Institute of Distance Education (IDE) to pay the salaries, employees said.

The I-T department had frozen more than 50 bank accounts saying that the university has to pay Rs 424 crore tax on the grounds that the university could not be considered a government university as the state’s contribution to the funds was less than 50% since 2016-17. Following this, the university gave an undertaking that the amount would be paid in installments and de-froze the accounts at the beginning of this month. Salaries for the employees were credited late while the contractual employees are still awaiting their pending dues for the past three months.

According to the employees, there are several deductions in their salaries, including insurance and loans they have got from cooperative societies. “The university has only credited us the salaries with help of IDE funds. It has not paid the insurance and loan deductions to the institutions concerned. This will only cause problems for us as we have to pay the amount with an additional interest,” a senior professor from the university said.

Moreover, professors said the university is already providing books for students pursuing distance education courses late as some of the funds are diverted for other expenses. Now, they are planning to divert the entire IDE funds to pay the salaries this year. This is against the welfare of students and the government has to step in before the situation goes out of hand, the employees said.

“There are more than 130 temporary workers on the four campuses in Chennai. We are yet to get salaries since January. While we are paid around Rs 9,000 a month. We are borrowing money every month to make ends meet. Since we are essential staff, we feel bad to quit as well,” a watchman in the university said.