New Delhi: The UGC has issued guidelines for opening higher education institutions. The guidelines state that the Vice-Chancellor and the Heads of Institutions may decide on the opening of Central Universities and Central Government-funded institutions of higher learning.

State Governments have the power to decide the affairs of State Universities and Colleges. The UGC guidelines suggest that in the first phase, educational institutions should be open only to research and PG students in science and technology subjects and final year undergraduate students.

Educational institutions outside the cantonment zone are allowed to operate. Institutions should be opened step by step by adopting security precautions. Only half of the students should be allowed at a time. Students who are not interested in going to college should be allowed to continue their studies online. Students arriving from home must undergo thermal scanning before entering campus. The services of a counselor should be made available to address the anxiety and stress of students. The guidelines state that it would be appropriate to continue the online distance learning method, including in arts subjects, and to provide an opportunity for resolving doubts if necessary.

Visits by outside experts, study tours, fieldwork, and meetings should be avoided as much as possible. Quarantine and isolation facilities should be provided for students on campus or in conjunction with hospitals. It is suggested that there should be classes 6 days a week and that the teaching time and the number of classes should be increased.

Chennai: Rajiv Gandhi assassination accused Perarivalan has been granted parole. The Madras High Court granted him parole for two weeks. Earlier, the apex court had expressed displeasure over the Tamil Nadu government’s decision to release Perarivalan from jail two years later.

Meanwhile, the DMK had said that the governor’s decision to release the accused in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case from jail was inhumane. The government sent a letter to the governor asking him to accept the recommendation. In addition to the DMK, the PMK also wrote a letter to the governor urging the release of the accused.

New Delhi: Covaxin, a Covid vaccine being developed by Bharat Biotech is expected to be ready for distribution in February 2021. Indications are that covaxin, which started the third phase of the experiment, is giving better results. The vaccine is expected to be released in February.

Rajni Kant, a senior ICMR scientist and member of the Covid Task Force, said that the final phase of testing of the vaccine had started this month and that the vaccine was showing very good results. He said the vaccine is expected to be available in February or March, as early as next year.

‘Covacsin was safe and effective in-phase and two trials and tests in animals so the vaccine is safe. However, it cannot be declared 100 percent confirmed until the completion of the third phase of testing. There is a risk of getting the vaccine before the test is completed. Kant says the government can consider vaccinating in emergencies if necessary.

Mumbai: Mumbai police have arrested Republic TV editor Arnab Goswami. According to PTI, Mumbai police have arrested Arnab Goswami in connection with a suicide case of a 53-year-old architect two years ago.

A team of Alibagh police investigating the case arrived at Arnab’s residence this morning and recorded the arrest. Arnab Goswami alleged that he was beaten by the police at the time of his arrest.

The architect who did the interior work for Republic TV committed suicide. Architect Anwai Naik and his mother committed suicide in 2018 after being told by Republic TV that they had not paid their dues. In May this year, Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh announced that the case would be re-investigated. The re-investigation order was issued on a complaint filed by Adnai Naik, daughter of the deceased Anvay Naik.

The daughter complained that the Alibagh police had not investigated their complaint that Arnab’s Republic TV arrears had caused her father and grandmother to commit suicide.