Recruitment of staff in varsities on hold

Recruitment of staff in varsities on hold

Shrinivasa.M@timesgroup.com

Mysuru: 27.08.2020

Following a warning from the University Grants Commission (UGC) that it would withhold grantin-aid if vacant posts are not filled in universities affiliated to it, varsities across the state had planned to roll out a recruitment process. To ensure transparency, the government had asked Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) to prepare a merit list and send it to universities concerned so that they could pick the best. KEA had even planned to write up dedicated software for the process.

However, in a big jolt to universities just ahead of a new academic year, the finance department has asked them to put the recruitment process on hold till further orders. Sources in the state higher education department say the diktat is for all universities.

Universities in the state are plagued by a crippling shortage of teaching — by as much as 60% in several varsities. Data shows that in 19 state universities, 838 assistant professors, 536 associate professor and 354 professor posts are vacant.

“All universities have been asked not to go ahead with the hiring process due to the prevailing Covid- 19 crisis,” a source said. Additional chief secretary (higher education) EV Ramana Reddy said there is a general ban on recruitment across the state.

An official in the higher education department said, “The Covid-19 crisis requires huge resources. Universities have been directed to continue with the old system of guest faculty to teach and conduct practical classes. The government is likely to move towards a centralised recruitment process for all universities, once the situation returns to normal.”

G Hemantha Kumar, vicechancellor, University of Mysore, said: “We are sure that once the Covid-19 crisis blows over, we will get permission to continue with the recruitment process. All formalities including necessary approvals for recruitment have been obtained.”

Institutional quarantine for int’l travellers returning to UP waived, but with riders

Institutional quarantine for int’l travellers returning to UP waived, but with riders

Lucknow: 27.08.2020

The Uttar Pradesh government has waived seven-day mandatory institutional quarantine under certain conditions for international travellers coming to the state for more than seven days. It has also relaxed Covid-19 protocol for its natives travelling to other states for work for up to five days.

Speaking on revised guidelines for international travellers, additional chief secretary, health and family welfare, Amit Mohan Prasad said: “Earlier, anyone coming to the state from abroad for more than a week had to be quarantined for 14 days — seven days under institutional and remaining under home.”

However, under new protocol, pregnant women, people visiting the state in case of a death in the family, those suffering from serious illness and parents whose children are below 10, can avail full 14 days of home quarantine. TNN

‘Postpone or find another way to hold JEE, NEET’

‘Postpone or find another way to hold JEE, NEET’

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:  27.08.2020

With the dates for Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) and National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) nearing, deputy chief minister and education minister Manish Sisodia has again asked the Centre to reconsider its decision of holding the exams in the prevailing pandemic situation. Sisodia urged the Central government to either postpone the exams or find an alternative way of conducting them.

“The Centre has closed its eyes to the Covid-19 ground reality. Why is it forcing 28 lakh students to sit for the exams? They are saying that they will make all the necessary arrangements. But despite the arrangements, so many people have tested positive,” Sisodia said while talking to reporters on Wednesday.

“The arrangements that we live in are much better. Our health minister still got infected. Chief ministers of several states have been affected. How can we be assured that the students will not get infected?” asked Sisodia.

“The government can easily find an alternative. In times like this when countries across the world have come out of the entrance system model, we should not be stuck,” added the deputy CM.

“We have to accept that the country is still in the grip of Corona. In Delhi and a few other states, situation may be better but in other states, the Covid-19 is on the increase," Sisodia wrote in a letter to Minister of Education, Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank. He even asked Nishak to think not as minister, but as a parent.

Earlier on August 21, Sisodia had asked the Centre to find an alternative to the examinations. JEE (Main) is scheduled to be held from September 1-6, while NEET is scheduled for September 13.

SISODIA SAYS

The Centre has closed its eyes to the Covid-19 ground reality. Why is it forcing 28 lakh students to sit for the exams?

GIVING AIR TRAVELLERS A BETTER EXPERIENCE

GIVING AIR TRAVELLERS A BETTER EXPERIENCE

27.08.2020

Flying Vande or within air bubble? No need to register

New Delhi: Travellers planning to fly out of India on Vande Bharat Mission (VBM) flights or to air-bubble countries need no longer register with the civil aviation ministry before booking their tickets directly with airlines of their choice. The announcement comes within a week of the Union home ministry doing away with the registration protocol for travel to India from air-bubble countries.

India has so far created air bubbles with the US, UK, France, Germany, UAE, Qatar and Maldives. The government, seeking to expand its travel orbit as the world gradually reopens, is in talks with Australia, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Nigeria, Bahrain, Israel, Kenya, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Nepal and Bhutan.

The idea of air bubbles is to ensure continuity of travel between India and these countries by eligible categories of people till normal flight operations resume.

For outbound flights, MHA guidelines say: “Before tickets of such persons are confirmed, the airline will ensure the destination country allows entry of such persons with valid visa. The conditions, if any, imposed by the destination country, will have to be fulfilled by the person intending to travel.” TNN

Rules framed on where & how to allow inflight Wi-Fi

New Delhi: India’s aviation regulator has framed draft rules for allowing inflight internet connectivity in the country’s skies. Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) draft rules say “internet service through Wi-Fi on-board aircraft shall be available at minimum height of 3,000 metres or 10,000 ft above departure/arrival airfield elevation.”

Portable electronic devices (PEDs) being used by passengers for surfing the Net must be “used only in flight/ airplane mode” and the “pilot in command may, for any reason and during any phase of flight, require deactivation and stowage of PEDs”, say the draft rules issued by DGCA chief Arun Kumar. Based on public comments received on the draft, the final set of rules could be issued by later this year.

India had in December 2018 allowed inflight connectivity on flights to, from, within India as well as those overflying the country. Since then at least two Indian firms entered this space to become inflight and maritime connectivity (IFMC) service providers. Airlines will be required to “ensure the inflight and maritime connectivity (IFMC) service provider is approved by department of telecommunication, India, for provision of these services during the flight”, the draft rules say. TNN

NEW FLIGHT PLAN

7 oppn CMs want NEET, JEE put off, will seek SC rethink

7 oppn CMs want NEET, JEE put off, will seek SC rethink

AAP & BJP Ally AIADMK Oppose Sept 1 Date Too

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: 27.08.2020

Five states and a Union territory where Congress and its allies are in office, as well as West Bengal, will petition the Supreme Court against the holding of NEET and JEE examinations from September 1, flagging concerns of Covid infection risk and seeking a postponement till the situation improves.

In a virtual meeting chaired by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday, Congress CMs of Punjab, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Puducherry; CMs of Maharashtra and Jharkhand — where the party is in alliance — and Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee felt while the apex court okayed the holding of exams, it had in the past shown consideration for students in sensitive situations.

While Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal didn’t attend the meet, his AAP government also said the tests shouldn’t go ahead now. Even Tamil Nadu government, led by BJP ally AIADMK, has been asking for the exams to be deferred.

The apex court recently dismissed appeals against holding of the exams, noting, “Life should move on. We have to go ahead. Precious one year of students will go waste.”

The 7 CMs interact with Cong chief Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday

CMs plan a common platform to fight BJP

The debate on whether the entrance exams should be held has become a polarising one with the opposition parties wading in. On social media, comments flew thick and fast, with allegations of hashtags and trends being manipulated and traded as well. The discussion appeared to have split opinion even as the government and the National Testing Agency said arrangements have been made keeping the needs of social distancing and sanitation in mind.

Mamata Banerjee said she has written two letters to PM Modi asking for the Centre to approach the Supreme Court to defer the exams. “If the government of India cannot go to court, we, as elected state governments can approach the court on behalf of lakhs of students whose future is at stake,” she said. Punjab CM Amarinder Singh said, “I endorse Mamata Banerjee’s view that we should collectively approach the Supreme Court again.”

Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren said, “In my state, we have very few centres. To accommodate these students, we will have to open all hotels and buses.”

The meeting was significant as the CMs of three key regional parties— Trinamool Congress, Shiv Sena and JMM — and Congress decided to forge a common platform to fight “injustice” at the hands of BJP and also resolved to meet the President and the PM.

They made a special mention of the “use of central agencies” to arm-twist them. That the Congress chief coordinated the rallying cry added weight to the exercise, especially in the wake of the approaching Parliament session and protests from states over the Centre’s new policy measures — alleged favouring of corporate hou- ses, privatisation of airpo- rts, railways and coal blocks, and draft EIA guidelines. These issues were flagged in the meeting by the CMs.

Full report on www.toi.in

150 academicians back move to hold entrance exams

Over 150 academicians from various universities and higher education institutions on Wednesday wrote to PM Narendra Modi and extended their support to conduct the JEE and NEET-UG exams. In their letter, the academicians, including V-Cs of Mahatma Gandhi Central University of Bihar (Motihari) and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University (Gujarat) and senior faculty members of IITs, NITs and other universities, said, “millions of students have passed Class 12 exams and are waiting to take the next step. The government declared its decision to conduct the JEE and NEET and announced the dates. We wholeheartedly welcome this move.” TNN Full report on www.toi.in

Degree, professional colleges in K’taka set to reopen on October 1

Degree, professional colleges in K’taka set to reopen on October 1

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru  27.08.2020

After over five months, degree and professional colleges in Karnataka are set to reopen on October 1, but the government will wait for the Centre’s guidelines before taking a decision. “The 2020-21academic year for degree colleges will start on September 1 with online classes. On October 1, we plan to reopen the doors of colleges for classes,’’ said deputy chief minister C N Ashwath Narayan here on Wednesday.

About reopening of schools, primary and secondary education minister S Suresh Kumar said the government will wait for the Union government’s guidelines and plan accordingly.

Ashwath Narayan, who holds the higher education portfolio, said the state has made comprehensive preparations for starting classes as per the guidelines issued by the University Grants Commission, but will wait for the Centre’s roadmap in this regard.

Meanwhile, deputy chief minister C N Ashwath Narayan said the state government will go ahead with NEET and JEE following the experience of conducting CET for 1.9 lakh students without a glitch.

Full report on www.toi.in

[Breaking] “Offering An Apology Would Be Contempt Of My Conscience And That Of Supreme Court”: Prashant Bhushan Refuses To Apologize In Contempt Case

[Breaking] “Offering An Apology Would Be Contempt Of My Conscience And That Of Supreme Court”: Prashant Bhushan Refuses To Apologize In Contempt Case: Advocate Prashant Bhushan has filed a supplementaryaffidavit before the Supreme Court, ref