Fees of 50 per cent seats in Pvt Medical Colleges to be at par with Govt College

The National Medical Commission, NMC has issued guidelines for determination of fees and all other charges in respect of 50 per cent of the seats in private medical institutions and deemed to be universities governed under NMC Act 2019. In an Office memorandum the Commission said, after extensive consultations, it has been decided that the fee of the 50 per cent seats in Private Medical Colleges and Deemed Universities should be at par with the fee in the Government Medical Colleges of that particular State and Union Territory.  The NMC said, the benefit of the fee structure would be first made available to those candidates who have availed Government Quota seats, but limited to the extent of 50 per cent of total sanctioned strength of the medical college or deemed university. It said, however, if the Government Quota seats are less than 50 per cent of total sanctioned seats, the remaining candidates would avail benefit of fee equivalent to the Government medical college fee, based purely on the merit. The order comes as a relief for students from economically backward sections who cannot pursue MBBS even after securing better scores in the eligibility tests. 

-The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), has cancelled the Khadi Certification to its oldest Khadi Institution named Mumbai Khadi and Village Industries Association (MKVIA). MKVIA was running the prestigious Khadi Emporium at Metropolitan Insurance House located at Dr. D.N. Singh Road in Mumbai since 1954. The action came after KVIC found that the MKVIA was selling non-Khadi products in the guise of genuine Khadi. According to a press statement issued by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, non-Khadi products were collected by the KVIC officials from the Emporium during the routine inspection. The statement said, KVIC issued a legal notice to MKVIA for flouting the norms of Khadi Certificate and Khadi Mark Certificate issued by the Commission. It further said, with cancellation of the registration, Khadi Emporium ceases to be a genuine Khadi Outlet and is no longer permitted to sell Khadi products from the Emporium. It said, KVIC is also contemplating legal action against the MKVIA for criminal breach of trust and cheating public at large by misusing the credibility and popularity of brand Khadi.

-Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Saturday said that there is acute governance crisis in Punjab and state's economy is in very bad shape. Addressing media at Ludhiana, he said, Union Finance Minister had shown very encouraging national growth rate of over 9.2 per cent for 2021-22 whereas Punjab is under huge debt and industrialists are shying away from setting up units in the state. He said, land mafia, mining mafia and corruption have ruined the economy of Congress led Punjab whose Chief Minister himself is facing serious corruption charges.  Meanwhile, over 300 youth joined BJP in the presence of  Puri and BJP National general secretary Dushyant Gautam.

-The Congress led Progressive Secular Alliance in Manipur released its election common agenda on Saturday. The Progressive Secular Alliance consists of CPI, CPI (M), RSP, JD (S) and Forward Block led by Congress party. The election common agenda announced by the Progressive Secular Alliance in Imphal on Saturday includes the safeguard of Manipur territorial integrity, keeping peace and communal harmony in Manipur, restoration of public transport, implementation of Article 371 (C) of the Constitution of India in the State, employment allowance to unemployed youths. Speaking to the media persons during the release of election common agenda, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that the newly formed alliance will work unitedly for a stable government in Manipur.

-24-hour weekend lockdown will be reimposed in Kerala on Sunday to contain third wave of Covid-19 transmission. Only essential services will be allowed. Entry in places of worship has been restricted to only 20 persons. This is the third Sunday lockdown being clamped in a row to flatten the Covid-19 graph in the State. Meanwhile, Kerala continues to report more Covid recoveries and decline in daily caseload for the third consecutive day today. The State logged 33,538 positive cases and 46,813 recoveries in the last 24 hours. Test Positivity Rate is put at 32.6 per cent. Besides 22 related fatalities the State also recorded 422 previously undocumented deaths taking the cumulative toll to 57.740. Kerala's active caseload has come down to 3,52,399.