NEWS TODAY 23.05.2025

 

5 global univs get nod to open campuses in India

5 global univs get nod to open campuses in India 

Manash.Gohain@timesofindia.com 25.05.2025

New Delhi : India’s push to become a global education hub is gathering momentum, with five foreign universities receiving Letters of Intent (LoIs) to establish campuses in the country. Close to a dozen international institutions by the start of the next academic session are likely to have an Indian campus, according to govt sources. The LoIs — cleared after evaluation by the University Grants Commission — have gone to Victoria University (Australia), University of Liverpool (UK), Western Sydney University (Australia), Illinois Institute of Technology (US) and Istituto Europeo di Design (Italy).

 In addition, six more are under scrutiny and being evaluated by the Liberalized Degree Campuses (LDC) committee. Till now, three foreign universities have established physical campuses in India — Australia’s Deakin University and University of Wollongong in Gujarat’s GIFT City, and UK’s University of Southampton in Gurgaon.

 “Several universities are in the pipeline. Out of them, five have received LoIs. As per my knowledge, six more are under scrutiny and being evaluated by our LDC committee,” said union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan in an exclusive conversation. “We’ve engaged with several top global universities with high QS rankings and strong funding — only such universities will be considered. They must meet all our criteria,” he added. The upcoming campuses are expected to offer high-quality courses in STEM and management, sectors identified as national priorities. In an exclusive conversation, Pradhan said, “Three foreign universities have come to the country. Two Australian universities are in GIFT City, Gujarat. University of Southampton is starting its campus in Gurgaon.” He called the developments “a confirmation of India’s growing global reputation in education”. 

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news 20.05.2025

 

Taking your thyroid meds cor rectly? Errors Have Big Effects, Say Experts

Taking your thyroid meds cor rectly? Errors Have Big Effects, Say Experts

Vivek.Chauhan@timesofindia.com 25.05.2025

Lucknow : Are you experiencing persistent fatigue, unexplained weight changes, hair loss, anxiety, constipation, irregular heartbeat, or mood swings despite taking thyroid medication regularly? If so, your medication routine might be worth re-evaluating. Ensure you’re taking your thyroid medicine correctly to optimise its effectiveness and alleviate these symptoms. 

Experts warn that many thyroid patients unintentionally make simple yet critical errors when taking their medication, which can compromise its effectiveness. Ahead of World Thyroid Day on May 25, specialists emphasised that improper intake habits can hinder the absorption of thyroid medicines, impacting treatment outcomes for both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Endocrinologists, pharmacologists, and physicians stress the importance of correct medication practices to ensure optimal treatment results. 

Prof Virendra Atam, head of the medicine department and endocrine expert at KGMU, said thyroid disorders are common. Research shows that hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) affects 11% to 17% of the population, while hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) is seen in about 1.3% to 1.6%. “Many hypothyroid patients continue to report symptoms despite daily use of medication. Often, the issue is not the medicine itself but how it’s taken,” he explained. The drug used for hypothyroidism is highly sensitive to food and supplements. If not taken correctly, the body may absorb less of the medicine. 

Prof Rakesh Dixit from the pharmacology department, KGMU, said, “The drug should be taken on an empty stomach, preferably in the morning. It’s best to take it as early as possible, often when people wake up to urinate. It should be taken alone, and nothing else should be consumed for at least one and a half hours afterwards. 

Taking it with tea, coffee, milk, or iron/ calcium supplements reduces its absorption and effectiveness.”  For hyperthyroidism medicines like methimazole or PTU, the empty stomach rule is not strict. “However, consistency in timing and avoiding interactions with food or supplements still matters,” he said. Prof KK Sawlani, general physician at KGMU, said, “Incorrect intake often leads to recurring symptoms like fatigue, mood swings or weight changes. 

This makes it harder to manage dosage. Long-term uncontrolled thyroid levels can increase the risk of heart disease and bone problems. During pregnancy, the dose may need to be increased, so consultation with a doctor is a must. For those who cannot take hypothyroidism medicine in the morning, it can be taken at night, at least two hours after dinner.” He advices strict timing for hypothyroid medicines and regular dosing for hyperthyroid drugs. Once treatment begins, the first test should be conducted one month after starting the medication. Thereafter, if hormone levels are balanced, regular thyroid tests are essential — every 6–8 weeks after a dose change and every 6–12 months once stable.

Calcutta HC: Meeting grandparents can never be detrimental for a child

Calcutta HC: Meeting grandparents can never be detrimental for a child 

Kolkata : Meeting grandparents can never be detrimental for a child and should not be stopped, Calcutta high court has observed in a dispute over visitation rights involving a teenager’s estranged parents, reports Srishti Lakhotia. 

The court directed the family court to reconsider a Kolkata resident’s application seeking to let his child stay with him and her grandparents during visitation. The girl lives in Delhi and comes to Kolkata to visit her dad. The girl’s father, who filed for divorce in 2019, had made a plea for temporary custody of the child before an Alipore court on April 11, 2023. After the plea was rejected, he moved the high court, which granted him visitation rights during vacations and other occasions. At the time, he lived in a rented accommodation. On Jan 22 this year, he approached the family court stating that he wanted to move back to his parents’ house as he was unable to pay the high rent, and wanted his daughter’s visitations to be allowed at her grandparents’ house. The family court, however, rejected the plea and ordered that the girl was no longer required to visit Kolkata.

‘OCI card valid docu for services’

‘OCI card valid docu for services’ 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK  25.05.2025

Chennai : Madras high court has ruled that Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card is a valid identity document that could be used to access govt services in India. According to the notification (SO 585(E)) issued by the Union govt, state govts should ensure that OCI registration booklets are treated as identification for any services rendered to them, Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy stated in arecent order. 

Court issued the order while allowing a plea by Manel Amrithkala, who sought direction for Egmore tahsildar to process her application for legal heirship concerning her husband, S Subramaniam, who died on March 5. The petitioner claimed that she lives abroad with her two sons and, therefore, does not possess an Aadhaar card or any other identity document. Since Union govt has issued a notification to treat OCI card as valid identity document, she approached court to process her application. 

Agreeing with her submissions, the court directed the state govt to treat the OCI card as a valid identity document and process her application for legal heirship in physical mode, as the online portal does not permit OCI cards.

Maternity leave can’t be denied for 3rd kid: SC

Maternity leave can’t be denied for 3rd kid: SC

AmitAnand.Choudhary@timesofindia.com 24.05.2025

New Delhi : Observing that the concept of maternity leave is not just a matter of fair play and social justice but also a constitutional guarantee to women employees, Supreme Court in an important decision on Friday set aside a Madras high court order denying the leave to a govt teacher for birth of her third child. 

A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan said maternity leave is intended to achieve the objective of delivering social justice to women workers to enable a woman to not only subsist but also make up her dissipated energy, nurse her child, preserve her efficiency as a worker and maintain the level of her previous efficiency. 

The bench said, “Women now constituting a sizeable portion of the workforce in our country, must be treated with honour and dignity at places where they work to earn their livelihood. The HC went on to explain the impact of pregnancy on the physiological and psychological state of a woman employee undergoing pregnancy. It is not just motherhood but also childhood that requires special attention.” 

“Health issues of the mother as well as that of the child are to be kept in consideration while providing maternity leave. The concept of maternity leave is a matter of not just fair play and social justice but is also a constitutional guarantee to women employees of this country towards fulfilment, whereof the State is bound to act,” it said. 

The HC had denied the benefit, citing a state govt policy not to grant the leave in case of birth of more than two children as a measure to control population growth. Quashing the HC’s order, SC noted that the woman’s third child was born out of her second marriage. “The right of every woman to make reproductive choices without undue interference from the State is central to the idea of human dignity and deprivation of access to reproductive healthcare or emotional and physical wellbeing also injures the dignity of women,” it said.