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Showing posts from March, 2013

HRD Minister nixes single college exam plan

One of India’s most ambitious and controversial education reform plans in recent years, to create a single national entrance test for admissions to colleges,   could soon see a quiet, almost unannounced burial . The human resource development (HRD) ministry under MM Pallam Raju has   decided to instead push a more nuanced blueprint for higher education admissions that will continue to allow state governments to conduct entrance tests and will share revenues earned from central tests with them. The new plan that will be unveiled at a meeting with state education ministers on April 2. “What we want is a structured, streamlined admissions system,” a senior HRD ministry official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.   “ That doesn’t have to be a single examination platform that is unacceptable to some.” The single test plan was pushed aggressively by Raju’s predecessor at the ministry, telecom minister Kapil Sibal, with the aim of ending the multiple entrance tests

Top 5 Degrees For 2013

In 2013, degrees in the science, healthcare and business sectors are steadily on the rise. This is proof that not all degrees are created equal. Many of these degrees are versatile and can prove integral to a variety of careers. Here is a look at five of the top degrees for 2013 that are in high demand and could net the greatest. Business Administration. Forensic and Criminology Accounting. Health Care Administration. Engineering Source: Investopedia.  Read Full Article

Save NEET PG says doctors at Uttar Pradesh

A day after the state government announced that the Uttar Pradesh Post Graduate Medical Entrance Examination (UPPGMEE) 2013 cannot be cancelled, medical graduates opposing the exam have decided to go on a protest from Wednesday. The students were demanding cancellation of UPPGMEE on the grounds that they had already taken the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). Since both had a similar aim, there was no point taking the other and termed it as wastage of efforts and resources and also met chief minister Akhilesh Yadav to stress their point. Speaking on behalf of other students, Kapil Singh Varma, a student of King George's Medical University (KGMU), said, "The students told the CM that we were left with no other option." Another student Bhupendra Singh stated that the pattern of National eligibility and entrance test and UPPGMEE were different. "We got only 40 days time to prepare for UPPGMEE which is too short a period considering we have to pre

Presidents speech on 33rd Convocation of PGIMER, Chandigarh

I am happy to be here at the 33rd Annual Convocation of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research at Chandigarh. The last time that I had the opportunity to attend the Annual Convocation of PGI was in 2008, when I was the Union Minister of External Affairs. I am delighted to be back once again after 5 years, on the Golden Jubilee Anniversary of the foundation of PGI.  The PGIMER came into existence in 1962 thanks to the wisdom and foresight of Sardar Partap Singh Kairon, the then Chief Minister of Punjab and the hospital was inaugurated by Pandit Nehru. This Institute was established as a center of excellence to develop postgraduate medical education in as many branches as possible and produce specialists in several disciplines of medicine. The basic idea was that these specialists would spread out across the country to various medical colleges and institutions and in turn, set up a nucleus of excellence in each of these institutions. It is a matter of pride that

New proposed course: Bachelor of Science (Community Health)

The Government, in consultation with Medical Council of India (MCI), has prepared a course namely, Bachelor of Science (Community Health) which was earlier named as Bachelor of Rural Health Care (BRHC) course. The main objective of the proposed course is to create mid-level public health professionals who will primarily be deployed at Sub Centres and would possess the necessary public health and ambulatory care competencies to serve the rural population. In Writ Petition (C) No. 13208 of 2009 in the matter of Meenakshi Gautham and others, the petitioners have prayed the court to enforce the recommendations of the Government appointed Task Force on medical education under its National Rural Health Mission and direct the Government to introduce a short-term course for training health workers for primary healthcare in rural areas. The Honorable Delhi High Court while hearing the case had urged the Central Council of Health & Family Welfare to look into all the facets and take a broad

Results delayed due to NEET case in SC, Students in distress

The future of over 90,000 doctors across the country lies in jeopardy, even as results of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to post-graduation medical courses are delayed for over a month and a half. As per a notification on the official website forNEET-PG, the results were to be declared by January 31. The results had been postponed owing to a pending case in the Supreme Court over the decision to have a common test for admissions. Most candidates who appeared for the test are now venting their anger on social networking sites. There are sites posting live updates of hearings for students. The case, which was to come up for hearing on Tuesday, has been postponed to March 13. A doctor from Andheri said, "We are clueless about the date of the results. The hearing in the case has been postponed. Ideally, the results are supposed to be out in six weeks after the exam. They can hold admissions, but if results are out, we can at least be convinced about s

Online Exam v/s Offline exam for AIIMS May 2013

AIIMS has introduced CBT (Computer based test) along with the classic pen and paper mode of entrance exam from the session May 2013. With this many students are confused between which one to choose. AcrossPG team has come up with these pros and cons of both the systems to help the students especially the freshers who have never faced CBT before, make their decision. First of all there is no major difference between the two systems and everyone should choose the one in which he/she is comfortable. We do not advice to choose any one system over the other. Our aim is to provide help to students in making a better informed decision. Computer Based Test Mode. Q: What is it? Ans: For those who are not familiar with this type of exam, it is a Mode in which the questions are presented to the students on a computer and students have to mark the responses on the computer itself in the stipulated time. It is also called as ‘Online’ system, but it’s a kind of misnomer becau

NEET PG in Andhra Pradesh: Reply of Shri Azad to RS

Applicability of Neet in Andhra Pradesh  The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is mandatory for admissions to undergraduate and postgraduate courses in all the Government and private medical colleges that come under the ambit of the Indian Medical Council (IMC) Act, 1956. The States of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and UT of Puducherry have requested for exemption from NEET. The States of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have filed writ petitions in the respective High Courts seeking exemption from NEET. These petitions alongwith other similar peritions filed by a number of private medical colleges/institutions have been transferred to the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India and the matter is sub-judice. Though Andhra Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir have special provisions under the Constitution, there is no conflict between these provisions and IMC Act, 1956 or NEET regulations made there under, which are enacted having regard to entry 66 List I of Seventh Schedule of t

MCI says NO to post PG diploma holders as teaching staff

The Medical Council of India (MCI) has turned down the Union Health Ministry’s proposal to consider revision of promotion policy for postgraduate diploma holder doctors employed in medical colleges to allow them to join the teaching faculty too. Making it clear that such a move will be in violation of the Teacher’s Eligibility Qualification Regulations, the medical education regulator body reminded the Health Ministry that as per norms diploma holders cannot be promoted beyond the post of senior resident doctor. Only those with a three-year postgraduate degree are eligible to become assistant professors, associate professors and professors, it said. Following demand from the All-India Association of Teaching Postgraduate Diploma Doctors, the Ministry had asked the MCI to look if diploma holders can get the opportunity to be promoted as teaching staff. The Ministry was also of the opinion that the move would meet the existing shortage in the teaching faculty in various medical colleges

New TB drugs Bedaquiline, being tested in India

Research institutes in the country are undertaking trials to test new drugs to treat tuberculosis including the drug-resistant variety, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said on Friday. Indian research institutions are undertaking trials to test drugs, including Bedaquiline, Delaminid and PA-824, to treat both drug sensitive and resistant TB, Azad said replying to a question by MPHK Dua during a Rajya Sabha session. He said the National Institute of Research in TB, Chennai, and All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, were part of global trials for new TB drug Bedaquiline (TMC207). Azad said no application under the drugs and cosmetic rules had been received by the the Drug Controller General of India (DGCI) for the grant of permission for any drug from the United States. A new drug can only be introduced in the Indian market after due approval from DCGI. The minister said at present, the replacement of drugs used under the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme was

NEET PG Hearing: Next session on 12, 13, 14 March 2013

The NEET PG case will have hearing from 12th March to 14th March 2013. Most probably MCI lawyer will put their arguments in front of CJI. NEET PG case (T.C.(C)No.98/2012) is listed as item no. 8 in the final cause list for Court no. 1 (Chief Justice’s court) on 12th March 2013.

Free basic medical tests from April 7 in Rajasthan

The Rajasthan government will launch the facility of free basic medical tests for patients here from April 7 2013, chief minister Ashok Gehlot announced. Addressing a press conference on completion of the fourth year in power for the Congress government under his leadership, Gehlot said the free medicine scheme launched in October 2011 has benefited millions across the state. "Distributing free medicines paved the way for a revolutionary change in the healthcare and it became one of the flagship programmes of our government. We want to take our priority of common men's welfare a step further by launching the free basic medical test scheme from next April 7," he said. In the fist phase, the scheme will be launched at the government hospitals and other medical faculties in district headquarters. "Government hospitals in each district and those associated with medical colleges would provide the facility for all the basic medical tests completely free of cost," Geh

PGI May 2013 Notification ON, No sign of NEET 2012 result

In yet another mental torture to medical students, and PG aspirants, The notification for May 2013 PGI entrance has come out. And the NEET PG case is still in SC where MCI lawyer has not even started the argument. As for the result of NEET PG, its looking like it will still take a long time before it is declared. Now if we see from students perspective, they dont still know the status of their selection in NEET, which plays a important role in deciding whether to prepare for PGI again of not. Medicos are in confused state of mind... If they do not prepare for May exams and if they could not make into the NEET rank list, they will lose precious time of preparation and if they prepare again (which is very difficult in confused state as this) and they get selected in NEET, it will be a loss (how... spending for coaching, test series, purchasing question papers and investing time in which they could have joined some job) MCI and SC should consider this situation and dispose off the

NEET PG Supreme Court Case, Postponed to 6th March 2013

NEET PG case (T.C.(C)No.98/2012) is listed as item no. 4 in the final cause list for Court no. 1 (Chief Justice’s court) The bench will sit upto 2:55pm only The last hearing was on 28th February Today, the case discussion started with Mr. R Venkatamani (On behalf of Pondicherry), which was proceeded by arguments from Mr.K. K. Venugopal, on behalf of linguistic minorities and some colleges in karnataka. The case will continue on 6th March 2013. Visit http://facebook.com/prepgindia for updates of Exam Papers and Solutions

PGI May 2013 Notification

RGUHS tighten security for KCET 2013 to be held on 3rd March 2013

Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) has come up with tighter security measures this year for the postgraduate entrance test (PGET) for admission to PG medical and dental seats available under the government quota. On Sunday, 10,977 medical and dental graduates will take the Post Graduate Entrance Test (PGET) 2013 conducted by the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS). This comes as the Supreme Court is set to hear the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-Post Graduate (NEET) case. Addressing a press conference on Friday, Registrar (Evaluation) Dr N S Ashok Kumar said that there was no clarity on whether candidates could use NEET or PGET scores. “No information has been provided by the Medical Council of India over the seat selection and counselling process with regard to NEET. However, the results of PGET will have to be withheld until further orders from the Supreme Court,” he added. The case has been scheduled for hearing on Tuesday. Dr D Prem Kumar, R

Summary of NEET case hearing of 28th Feb 2013

Summary of arguments: The MCI act does not empower the Medical Council of India with the authority to make regulations regarding entrance examinations The MCI can decide how to run MBBS and PG courses But the universities and colleges have the power to choose the process by which students are admitted into the colleges The MCI lawyers have not yet presented their arguments They can reply to the arguments put forward by the petitioners after all their arguments are heard Case has been postponed to 5th March for next hearing. Mr Ajay completed his arguements on behalf of SRMC. Mr L N Rao completed his arguments on behalf of Tamil Nadu. It was followed by Mr P P Rao on behalf of Andhra Pradesh and case hearing for Andhra Pradesh was also completed today. Mr KKV will continue on March 5,2013 on behalf of meenakshi university. Sr. Counsel Dr. Rajiv Dhawan was requested to file the written statements of the arguments made by him . Few points given in writing (FEB 26&27,201

6 AIIMS Like institutes gets Rs 1650 crore in this budget

Finance minister P Chidambaram's proposed allocation of Rs 1,650 crore for six AIIMS-like institutions will help complete construction work and purchase of equipment at the AIIMS clones, AIIMS Bhubaneswar director Dr Ashok Kumar Mahapatra said. Coming up on a 100-acre campus at Sijua village on the city outskirts, AIIMS Bhubaneswar has admitted the first batch of 50 MBBS students in September last year and is planning to begin hospital service later this year. "The hospital attached to the college will be partly functional by July this year. However, we will take some more time before starting surgeries as we want to make sure that we have the standard infrastructure in place," the director said. Welcoming the budget allocation, Dr Mahapatra said the government had been giving due importance to the upcoming centres of excellence. Sources said the city AIIMS is likely to get over Rs 250 crore of the allotted money. At present, AIIMS Bhubaneswar has over 20 faculty m