Month: March 2021

In an unprecedented move that would have big impact on future of engineers produced in the country, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has made mathematics and physics at Class XII-level optional to get admissions to BE and B.Tech courses from 2021-22.

Students who are seeking admission into engineering colleges must have passed 10 + 2 with three of the following subjects:

• Physics
• Mathematics
• Chemistry
• Computer Science
• Electronics
• Information Technology
• Biology
• Informatics Practices
• Biotechnology
• Technical Vocational Subject
• Agriculture
• Engineering Graphics
• Business Studies
• Entrepreneurship

In its handbook AICTE said that candidates will have to score 45 per cent marks, and 40 per cent if in reserved category, in the above subjects taken together. “The universities will offer suitable bridge courses such as mathematics, physics, engineering drawing for students coming from diverse backgrounds to achieve learning outcomes of the programme,” it said.

The move has proven to be a controversial one with many experts stating that physics and mathematics are absolute essentials for a course in engineering. Many experts have urged AICTE to reconsider its decision.

AICTE Chairman Anil D Sahasrabudhe told that the choice of three mandatory courses as input to engineering has been expanded. “Hence for different disciplines there could be different three mandatory courses,” he said. He said that this would give a lot of flexibility in line with National Education Policy but acknowledged that physics and math are important to understand engineering otherwise a lot of bridge courses would be required.

Report Based On Inputs from News Agencies and handbook released by AICTE

The second phase of the Covid-19 vaccination drive in India has begun. It aims to cover 10 crore people across the country. So far, more than 1.5 core people have received Covid-19 shots.
States and UTs have been asked to keep a vaccination scale-up plan ready which includes the granular weekly and fortnightly plans for scaling up the vaccination sites both within the government and private facilities and also the number of vaccine doses administered.

Eligibility

People who are above the age of 60 and people within the age bracket of 45 to 59 years with specified co-morbidities are allowed to take the Covid-19 vaccine shots.
The government has released a list of 20 comorbidities that are covered for vaccination.

Here’s the list of 20 comorbidities:

1. Heart failure with hospital admission in past one year
2. Post cardiac transplant/ Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD)
3. Significant Left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVEF < 40%) 4. Moderate or Severe Valvular Heart Disease 5. Congenital heart disease with severe PAH or Idiopathic PAH 6. Coronary Artery Disease with past CABG/ PTCA/ MI and Hypertension/ Diabetes on treatment 7. Angina and Hypertension/ Diabetes treatment 8. CT/MRI documented stroke and Hypertension/Diabetes on treatment 9. Pulmonary artery hypertension and Hypertension/ Diabetes on treatment 10. Diabetes (>10 years or with complication) and Hypertension on treatment
11. Kidney/Liver/Hematopoietic stem cell transplant: Recipient/ On wait-list
12. End stage Kidney Disease on haemodialysis/ CAPD
13. Current prolonged use of oral corticosteroids/ immunosuppressant medications
14. Decompensated cirrhosis
15. Severe respiratory disease with hospitalisations in last two years/ FEVI <50%
16. Lymphoma/ Leukaemia/ Myeloma
17. Diagnosis of any solid cancer on or after July 1, 2020 or currently on any cancer therapy
18. Sickle Cell Disease/ Bone marrow failure/ Aplastic Anemia/ Thalassemia Major
19. Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases/ HIV infection
20. Persons with disabilities due to Intellectual disabilities/ Muscular Dystrophy/ Acid attack with involvement of respiratory system/ Persons with disabilities having high support needs/ Multiple disabilities including deaf-blindness.

Registration Process

Registration will open on 1st March-2021

Please convey below message to your parents and other senior citizen members.

How to register for COVID Vaccine for senior citizen

◐ Use Co-Win app, Aarogya Setu app or log on to cowin.gov.in

◐ Enter your mobile number

◐ Get an OTP to create your account

◐ Fill in your name, age, gender and upload an identity document

◐ If 45+, upload doctor’s certificate as comorbidity proof

◐ Choose centre, date

◐ Up to 4 appointments can be made by one mobile number

Other options are also available for senior citizens who are not tech-savvy.

They can go to common service centres and get themselves registered.

A call centre number – 1507 – can also be availed for the same.