New academic session by Oct 1, admission process to be completed by Sep 30: UGC

Students queue to enter an examination hall to sit for the JEE exam in Kolkata on Saturday. Pic/AFP

The new academic session in universities and colleges across the county will begin from October 1 while the admission process has to be completed by September 30, according to new guidelines of the University Grants Commission (UGC). Universities and higher education institutions (HEIs) have been asked to ensure that the admission process for undergraduate courses begins only after the declaration of results by the CBSE, ICSE and all state boards. "It is expected that all school boards will declare their results for Class XII exams by July 31. If there is any delay in declaration of the result of qualifying exams, the new academic session may begin by October 18," the UGC said in the new guidelines.

The commission has clarified that the teaching-learning process must continue in offline, online or blended mode. "The institutions may plan for classes, breaks, conduct examinations, etc. during October 1 to July 31, following necessary protocols and advisories issued by central and state governments from time to time in view of Covid-19 pandemic," the guidelines said. In view of the financial hardships faced by parents during the pandemic, the commission has asked varsities and HEIs to ensure fee is fully refunded in cases of cancellation of admission or migration of students.

Over 41 cr doses provided

More than 41.69 crore vaccine doses have been provided by the Centre to states and union territories so far, the Union Health Ministry informed on Saturday. As per the latest data, 41,69,24,550 vaccine doses have been provided by the Centre through the government of India (free of cost channel) and through the direct state procurement category and a further 18,16,140 doses are in the pipeline. Of this, the total consumption including wastages is 38,94,87,442 doses as per data available at 8 am on Saturday.

K'taka to train doctors

Karnataka will train doctors and paramedics across the state to fight the possible Covid-19 third wave, Health Minister K Sudhakar said on Friday, adding that videos will be used to prepare other healthcare workers and frontline warriors in the war against the virus. "Measures are being taken as recommended by the expert committee headed by noted cardiologist Devi Prasad Shetty to minimise the impact of the third wave on people." The state government hired about 4,000 doctors and ramped up the healthcare infrastructure during the second wave.

Medical colleges reopen

Karnataka on Friday announced its decision to allow educational institutions that work in the health and medical sector to reopen with immediate effect. With this decision, dental, medical and nursing colleges can restart across the state.

Govt to procure 66 crore more vaccine doses

The Centre has placed an order to procure 66 crore more doses of Covishield and Covaxin to be supplied between August and December this year, at a revised price of Rs 205 and Rs 215 per dose, respectively, excluding taxes, official sources said. They said 37.5 crore of Covishield doses from the Serum Institute of India and 28.5 crore Covaxin doses from Bharat Biotech will be procured.

Delhi T2 terminal to reopen from July 22

The T2 terminal of the Delhi international airport will resume operations from July 22, two months after it was shut down due to significant drop in domestic air traffic owing to the Covid-19 pandemic's second wave, a statement said on Saturday. The resumption of operations at T2 will be with approximately 200 air traffic movements (100 departures and 100 arrivals) per day and increase progressively up to around 280 movements by August-end.

3,10,64,908
Total No. of cases in the country as of Saturday

4,13,091
Total no. of deaths due to the virus in India

3,02,27,792
Patients recovered and discharged in India as of Saturday

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