NEET 2020 Applications: NTA Activates Correction Window By GarimaPublished 

On 16 March 2020 12:32 PM | Updated On 16 March 2020 12:32 PM 

New Delhi: Through a recent notice, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has informed that the correction facility to rectify the particulars in the NEET 2020 Online Application Form is once again operational for candidates. Candidates, who accidentally submitted incorrect data during the application process, now have the chance to correct it to make their data error-free. The Correction Facility will stay open till 19/03/2020 (up to 12.00 A.M.). 

"The candidates are advised to visit the website and verify their particulars and make necessary corrections wherever required. The aspirants of J & K who have submitted offline Application Form can also avail the correction facility in their Application Form on the website https://ntaneet.nic.in. Application number for such candidates will be shared with them separately through Email and SMS. The candidates are informed to undertake the correction(s) very carefully as no further chance will be given," the notice states. 

The largest entrance examination for UG medical courses, National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is the gateway for admissions to medical (MBBS), dental (BDS), and AYUSH courses in the country. The test will be conducted as per regulations of the Indian Medical Council Act-1956 and the Dentists Act-1948, and as amended from time to time. This year, the admission to MBBS course in AIIMS, New Delhi, JIPMER and all AIIMS like institutions will also be made through NEET. 

Date of NEET 2020 NEET 2020 will be conducted on 3 May 2020 (Sunday) from 02:00 p.m. to 05:00 p.m. 

Schedule Downloading of Admit Cards from NTA website 27.03.2020 

Date of Examination 03.05.2020 

Duration of Examination 180 minutes (03 hours) 

Timing of Examination 02:00 pm to 05:00 pm 

Centre of NEET 2020 Examination As indicated on Admit Card 

Display of Recorded Responses and Answer Keys To be announced later on the website Website(s) www.nta.ac.in, ntaneet.nic.in 

Declaration of Result on the NTA website by 04 June 2020 

Any request for changes in information after the closure of the correction period will not be considered by NTA under any circumstances. Any candidate found to mislead by providing inaccurate information will be debarred from taking the examination. NTA disclaims any liability that may arise due to incorrect information provided by the candidate(s) during the registration process. 

NTA does not edit /modify/alter any information entered by the candidates after completion of the application process under any circumstances. NTA does not guarantee that any request for a change in information thereafter will be entertained. Therefore, candidates are advised to exercise utmost caution and care for filling up correct details in the Application Form Any correction pertaining to the photograph and signature of the candidate will be intimated through e-mail/SMS and the same will be available in the candidate's login account. Other permissible corrections can also be carried through log-in account only during schedule fixed for the same. 

Candidates may ensure clear photograph and signatures are uploaded. Thereafter, no request for correction(s) will be entertained except when the window for correction in all fields open. 

https://education.medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/pdf_upload-125532.pdf For more details, keep visiting the original website of NTA given below: https://www.nta.ac.in/

https://education.medicaldialogues.in/exams-and-results/neet-2020-applications-nta-activates-correction-window-63938

Fear of outbreak grips IT industry; techies to work from home now

Taking stock of the current situation to prevent the deadly COVID-19 from spreading, a number of IT companies in Coimbatore are charting out plans to make their employees work from home.

Published: 16th March 2020 10:27 AM |

People wear masks as preventive measure against coronavirus. (Photo | Shriram BN/EPS)

By Deepak Sathish

Express News Service

COIMBATORE: Taking stock of the current situation to prevent the deadly COVID-19 from spreading, a number of IT companies in Coimbatore are charting out plans to make their employees work from home.

While the idea is more relevant for software firms, the same might not be emulated by call centres because of the mandate to attend queries of customers.

The move comes following the a recent public notice provided by the Department of Telecom and Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) allowing employees working at IT and BPO firms present in Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in India (functioning under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry) to work from home till April 30.

Companies in SEZs at Coimbatore are likely to activate the Disaster Recovery (DR) mode by asking its workforce to work from home. As the preliminary plans in this regard are already done, the companies would initiate it if there are any cases of COVID-19 reported in the district.

It must be noted that Coimbatore has three SEZs, namely TIDEL Park, CHIL SEZ IT Park, and Rathinam Techzone.

Highly placed sources at an American multinational corporation here said the employees would be provided laptops and dongles to enable them to work from home. The idea is to basically protect employees, the source said.

Besides, the companies have advised employees to avoid travelling outside the district and deferred its regular process of conducting walk-in interviews.

Coimbatore Hi-tech Information Limited (CHIL) SEZ IT Park, Director Ashok Bakthavathsalam, said, "Based on the recommendations provided to us, IT companies are testing out the disaster recovery plan by asking 20 per cent of their employees to work from home. They are also trying to ensure that the said employees deliver their designated work."

With a secure network or Virtual Private Network (VPN), the employees need not bother about the data or projects while working from home, Ashok added.

An employee working with an e-commerce giant in Coimbatore, requesting anonymity, said his company had asked its employees whether they could work from home if the situation worsens. It is said the company would provide all requirements including power backup, internet, laptops, among others.

TIDEL Park (Coimbatore) Deputy General Manager (operations) R Sendhil Murugan, said they would soon form a committee comprising higher officials of IT companies to check how disaster recovery mode could be activated.

As part of precautionary measures, firms operating in SEZs have deputed doctors for screening their employees and made hand sanitisers available.

Stat attack

Number of SEZ in Coimbatore- 3

TIDEL Park

- Number of employees- 12,500

- Number of companies- 72

CHIL SEZ IT Park

- Number of employees- Around 40,000

- Number of companies- Nearly 20

Coronavirus: Madras HC to take up only urgent cases for next three weeks

Advocates have been instructed to inform their parties not to come to the court campuses, and entry passes would not be issued for the next three weeks.

Published: 17th March 2020 05:59 AM 

By Express News Service

MADURAI/CHENNAI: The Madras High Court will be taking up only urgent cases for hearing from March 18 for the next three weeks. The move, initiated to prevent the spread of COVID-19, also applies to the Madurai Bench. A decision in this regard was taken at an emergency meeting convened by Chief Justice AP Sahi on Monday, with companion judges, judicial officers, and office bearers of bar associations. The norms to decide the urgency of a case will be the same as what is followed during vacation sittings. Motion cases (new cases or cases which are at the admission stage) would also be heard by judges concerned.

Advocates have been instructed to inform their parties not to come to the court campuses, and entry passes would not be issued for the next three weeks. Canteens and tea shops on the campuses are also likely to be closed, say sources. “Mediation and Reconciliation Centre would also be closed. Bar associations have also requested their members to put bar offices and libraries to minimal use,” said an advocate practising at Madurai Bench.

Meanwhile, at the Assembly, legislators had to undergo a thermal screening at the entrance before being allowed inside. Speaker P Dhanapal announced that starting Monday afternoon, permission given to visitors to watch the proceedings would be suspended until further notice.

COVID-19: Singapore Airlines waives rebooking fee

Customers can cancel their existing flight itineraries, retain the value of their tickets and rebook their travel at a later date when they are able to firm up their new travel plans.

Published: 16th March 2020 04:17 PM 

Singapore Airlines. 

CHENNAI: Singapore Airlines has waived all rebooking fees for tickets issued on or before March 15 for travel up to May 31 with immediate effect following coronavirus pandemic.

Customers can cancel their existing flight itineraries, retain the value of their tickets and rebook their travel at a later date when they are able to firm up their new travel plans.

The new flight itinerary should be completed by March 31, 2021, according to a release.

This policy allows customers the flexibility to defer their travel plans and applies to all bookings for travel up to May 31. All rebooking fees will be waived, although a fare difference may apply for the new itinerary.

SIA will continue to review its waiver policy and retains the flexibility to extend the cut-off date of May 31 as it assesses the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on global air travel in the coming weeks. For all new SIA and SilkAir tickets issued from now to March 31, SIA will also waive change fees.

Customers may contact by filling an online form. Those who booked their tickets directly through Singapore Airlines may also contact their local Singapore Airlines reservations teams. Customers who booked their tickets through travel agencies are advised to contact their agents for assistance, the release added.

Siddha medical college declares indefinite closure 

17/03/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,TIRUNELVELI

Following dharna by a section of undergraduate students of Government Siddha Medical College on the college premises in Palayamkottai on Monday demanding immediate opening of the men’s hostel, the college administration declared indefinite closure of the college.

The dilapidated 4-storey men’s hostel on Saalai Street in Vannarpet was razed down in September 2018. When the students were about to be shifted to an unused government building, they refused to accept the offer. Demanding opening of a hostel near the college, they started sit-in on its premises.

Services of retiring doctors, paramedics extended in Punjab

Cabinet takes stock of preventive steps to fight COVID-19

17/03/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHANDIGARH

CM Amarinder Siungh

The Punjab Cabinet on Monday held a meeting to take stock of the situation arising out of the COVID-19 outbreak and gave ex-post facto approval to the Chief Minister’s decision on extending the services of retiring doctors and paramedical staff working with the State’s health and family welfare department.

An official statement said that their services have been extended till September 30, for which a resolution was passed at the meeting as the Cabinet reviewed the reports of the 7-member Group of Ministers, constituted under the chairmanship of Local Bodies Minister Brahm Mohindra, to oversee the preventive measures undertaken to combat the threat.

Chief Minister Amarinder Singh later talking to journalists reiterated the total elimination of all kinds of mafia and monopoly in the State. He was talking on the occasion of completion of three years of his government. Capt. Amarinder said he will not allow mining, liquor, drug and transport mafias, gangsters and terrorists to disturb the State’s peaceful environment.

The Chief Minister said his government was working to end all these evils since taking over Punjab’s reins. “But these things take time. We have done our best, and we could not have done any better considering the situation,” he added.

Describing unemployment as the biggest concern, he announced that one lakh government vacancies would be filled up in the next two years.

Transport monopoly

To a question about monopoly of a single family on buses being operated from Delhi airports to Punjab, the Chief Minister said his government was working to address the issue.

Referring to complaints of continued illegal practices in sand mining, Capt. Amarinder said he had asked the Water Resources Minister to thoroughly review and make the system fully transparent.

Getting the hang of deathpenalty

India is one of only 58 countries that have the death penalty on their statute book and have used it in the recent past. In 1967, the Law Commission had argued to retain capital punishment, but in 2015 it stated that ‘retribution cannot be reduced to vengeance’

17/03/2020, SOIBAM ROCKY SINGH,NEW DELHI

In January, when senior advocate and human rights activist Indira Jaising urged the mother of the 23-year-old victim of the infamous December 16, 2012, gang rape and murder case to “forgive” the four death row convicts, there was a backlash — not just from the mother but the public as well.

This was despite Ms. Jaising making clear that she was with the mother in her pain, but “against death penalty”.

The debate over the death sentence is going on for a long time. Those in favour of capital punishment see it as a deterrence against such type of crimes while others opine that it has not had any such effect.

First initiative

In British India’s Legislative Assembly, the first time an issue was raised regarding capital punishment was in 1931, when one of the Members from Bihar, Gaya Prasad Singh, sought to introduce a Bill to abolish the death penalty for offences under the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

However, this was defeated.

At the time of Independence, India retained several laws put in place by the British colonial government, including capital punishment for various crimes under the IPC.

A crucial change in the law was made in 1955 when the Parliament repealed Section 367(5) of Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), which until then mandated the courts to record reasons where it decided not to impose a sentence of death for offences where the death penalty was an option. The CrPC was re-enacted in 1973 where several changes were made, notably to Section 354(3) mandating judges to provide special reasons for why they imposed the death sentence.

Law Commission reports

In 1967, the 35th Report of the Law Commission had argued for retention of capital punishment in India.

The report stated that retribution should not be understood as an “eye for an eye”, but in its refined form as public denunciation of crime. It also stated that there are a category of individuals who are “cruel and wicked”, and are not capable of reform.

A major reason stated in the report for the retention of capital punishment was the unique condition of India, and the society then prevalent.

About half-a-century later, the Law Commission, in its 262th Report, highlighted that the death penalty does not serve the penological goal of deterrence any more than life imprisonment. The commission, in its report published in 2015, recommended that the death penalty be abolished for all crimes other than terrorism-related offences and waging war against the State.

Rarest of rare cases

The first legal challenge to the constitutionality of the death penalty came in the 1973 case of Jagmohan Singh vs State of Uttar Pradesh in which the petitioners argued that the death penalty was against the Constitution.

The Supreme Court, however, found that the death penalty was a permissible punishment.

This was followed by the 1980 landmark verdict of the top court in the Bachan Singh case where it upheld the constitutionality of the death penalty but confined its application to the ‘rarest of rare cases’, to reduce the arbitrariness of the penalty.

International scenario

Internationally, countries are classified on their death penalty status based on four categories: abolitionist for all crimes, abolitionist for ordinary crimes, abolitionist de facto, and retentionist.

At the end of 2014, seven countries were abolitionist for ordinary crimes. Only 98 countries were abolitionist for all crimes, and 35 were abolitionist in practice.

This brought the number of countries which are abolitionist in law or practice to 140.

At the same time, 58 countries are regarded as retentionist, who still have the death penalty on their statute book and have used it in the recent past. This list includes some of the most populous nations in the world, including India, China, Indonesia and the United States.

Neighbouring countries such as Nepal officially abolished the death penalty in 1990 and did not reintroduce it even in the aftermath of the civil war.

Sri Lanka, despite a long civil war, has maintained a moratorium on the penalty, the commission report said.

Recent executions

In July 2015, Yakub Memon was executed by hanging in Nagpur Central Jail for his role in the 1993 Bombay bombings.

Afzal Guru, who was convicted for his role in the 2001 Parliament attack, was executed in February 2013.

In November 2012, Ajmal Kasab, the lone terrorist captured alive in the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks, was hanged at Yerwada Jail in Pune. The previous execution was carried out in 2004 of Dhananjoy Chatterjee for the crimes of rape and murder of a 14-year-old schoolgirl.

No clear data

Project 39A of the National Law University, Delhi, which publishes the death penalty reports has highlighted the difficulty in obtaining the exact number of prisoners under the sentence of death in India.

As per Project 39A, India has executed around 755 persons since Independence. Its report said that Uttar Pradesh carried out the highest number of executions at 366. Also, the Bareilly District Jail in the State has the distinction of carrying out 130 executions, the highest of all jails in the country, with the last execution being carried out on September 24, 1988.

Delhi’s Tihar Central Prisons carried out 25 executions, the last one of Afzal Guru on February 9, 2013.

“Though we at Project 39A have tried our best to collate data from various sources, it is an unfortunate truth that the prisons and other government departments do not have accurate records of the people they have executed,” Project 39A stated.

“Hence, we continue our struggle to get accurate data on the administration of the death penalty in India and are hindered by an absolute lack of coordination between different official sources,” it added.

A case for abolition

“The notion of “an eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth” has no place in our constitutionally mediated criminal justice system. Capital punishment fails to achieve any constitutionally valid penological goals,” the Law Commission, in its 262th Report had said.

It pointed out that even the Supreme Court has on numerous occasions expressed concern about arbitrary sentencing in death penalty cases. “The court has noted that it is difficult to distinguish cases where death penalty has been imposed from those where the alternative of life imprisonment has been applied,” it said.

The commission had stated that the constitutional regulation of capital punishment attempted in Bachan Singh case has failed to prevent death sentences from being “arbitrarily and freakishly imposed”.

The commission had put a case for abolition of death penalty, except terrorism-related offences and waging war, noting,“Retribution has an important role to play in punishment. However, it cannot be reduced to vengeance”.