Regulating medical education @ National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill, 2017

Regulating medical education @ National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill, 2017

On the amendments to the National Medical Commission Bill

The National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill, 2017, which seeks to regulate medical education and practice, and replace the Medical Council of India, ran into rough weather in January when the medical fraternity protested against it, terming the Bill as “anti-poor”. They also protested against the proposed “bridge course” in the Bill, which allows AYUSH practitioners to prescribe modern medicine, arguing that this provides opportunities for quacks. 

Faced with these protests, the Lok Sabha referred the Bill to a Parliamentary Standing Committee in January.

The government considered the recommendations made by the Standing Committee, as well as the general feedback, and tabled its report in the House on March 20. On March 28, the Union Cabinet approved the amendments to the NMC Bill, which seeks to replace the Indian Medical Council Act of 1956.

The approved amendments include allowing for the final MBBS examination to be held as a common exam across the country. This way students will not be subjected to an additional licentiate exam for the purpose of obtaining a license to practice medicine. The MBBS exam will serve as an exit test to be called the National Exit Test. This test will also serve as the screening test for doctors with foreign medical qualifications who want to practice in India.

The Cabinet has also removed the bridge course provision. It has been left to the State governments to take necessary measures for addressing and promoting primary health care in rural areas.

The amendments also concern fee regulation. The maximum limit of 40% seats for which fee can be regulated in private medical institutions and deemed universities has been increased to 50% seats. Further, it has been clarified that the fee will also include all other charges taken by the colleges.

Responding to the demands from States to increase their representation in the NMC, the nominees of States and Union Territories in the NMC have been increased from three to six. The NMC will comprise 25 members, of which at least 21 will be doctors.

The amendments also introduce stringent punishment for unqualified medical practitioner, or quacks, including a provision for imprisonment of up to one year along with a fine extending up to ₹5 lakh.

Source | The Hindu | 1^st June 2018

Regards

Mr. Pralhad Jadhav 

Master of Library & Information Science (NET Qualified) 

Senior Manager @ Knowledge Repository  

Khaitan & Co 

Blog | http://pralhad-fyilibrarian.blogspot.in/  

Website | https://sites.google.com/site/pralhadjadhavlib/home  

Twitter Handle | @Pralhad161978

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Mumbai’s Open Study Centres @ Underprivileged Students can build their dreams

Mumbai’s Open Study Centres @ Underprivileged Students can build their dreams

In the city of dreams and paradoxes, aspirations of many who want to pursue higher education are often crushed in their 180-200 sq ft homes. Five to six members of a family live in each of the cramped dwellings in chawls and slums and the atmosphere is hardly conducive for any meaningful academic pursuits.

The Study Centre near the Cooperage Ground in Colaba is the refuge of many such students. “I live in a slum in Cuffe-Parade. I’ve been coming here for the last 4-5 years and spend nearly my whole day here. This is where I studied for my boards too,” said Pinky, currently pursuing her second year B.Com.

She has, over the years, made lots of friends here and likes the ‘studious’ environment. The open-air centre, shaped like a gazebo, has a water cooler and toilets, and is sandwiched between a park and an arterial road. Is the traffic not a nuisance?

“This noise is fine, we’re used to it now,” Pinky said with a smile. “Anything is better than the atmosphere at home.”

Another Centre

There is a similar centre at the S.K.Patil Udyan in Charni Road. At the corner of the garden is an open-air, medium-size concrete construction, with tables, chairs, charging points and fans.

An advanced version of the one in Colaba, this one is packed during exam time. Ashwini is 20 years old and admitted to studying only at the last minute.

“I’ve come here for all my important exams, both my boards, all my final year exams and now even for my masters’ level exams. I need full concentration, so I can remember everything. Most people here are regulars and spend the entire day studying.” she said.

Not libraries

The students are poring over their books, taking notes or a few taking cat naps. But why not just go to a library?

“Libraries don’t allow any group study and there are not too many free ones. This place has everything, we don’t feel the need to go to libraries,” said Rajeshwari, a B Com student. Both centres are open 24×7, though students recommend carrying mosquito repellents at night.

A similar centre stands at the Walter De Souza garden in Marine Lines. However, this one shuts at 8 pm.

“Sometimes other people try to sneak in but I don’t let anyone but students with books in,” said the watchman indignantly, when asked about the place being misused.

Reputation

What makes these centres tick? Their reputation as exclusive study centres for underprivileged students keeps miscreants away. Additionally, they signal accessibility and are open all day, the latter being a very important factor for students who prefer to study at night.

A report by The Joseph Rowntree Foundation, an independent social policy and research organisation, has suggested that the over-regulation of design and space of public spaces such as parks must be avoided, as security and well-being grow out of active community use.

With adequate neighbourhood and societal participation, they could certainly make a positive difference to the lives of the underprivileged.

Press Release | https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/mumbais-open-study-centres-help-build-dreams-for-underprivileged-students/article24049911.ece

Regards

Mr. Pralhad Jadhav 

Master of Library & Information Science (NET Qualified) 

Senior Manager @ Knowledge Repository  

Khaitan & Co 

Blog | http://pralhad-fyilibrarian.blogspot.in/  

Website | https://sites.google.com/site/pralhadjadhavlib/home  

Twitter Handle | @Pralhad161978

Mobile @ 9665911593

 

CERT (Indian Computer Emergency Response Team) @ Spyware viruses — Virtual Girlfriend and Panda Banker

CERT (Indian Computer Emergency Response Team) @ Spyware viruses — Virtual Girlfriend and Panda Banker

Two social media-triggered spyware viruses — ‘virtual girlfriend’ and ‘panda banker’ — have creeped into the Indian cyberspace and can steal a user’s banking details and secret data once activated unknowingly, a cyber security advisory has said.

‘Virtual girlfriend’

The more notorious one is personal data stealing virus ‘virtual girlfriend’ that “infects” a user’s Android-based smartphone via popular social media site Twitter.

“There have been reports of a new android malware family which is being spread disguised as an adult game known as virtual girlfriend through Twitter,” the Computer Emergency Response Team of India (CERT-In) said in a latest advisory. “This malware has the capability to steal the user’s data on to the C2 server (command and control server used by the virus),” it said.

CERT-In is the nodal agency to combat hacking, phishing and to fortify security-related defences of the Indian internet domain. The advisory said the “primary source of this malware is Twitter” and there are multiple handles (possibly bots) on this micro-blogging site that “have been sharing” the short link to this malware to entice users into installing it on their devices.

“The short link leads to the website hxxp://miakhalifagame[.]com/,” it said.

The agency said the malware cons the user by flashing a message that it is getting un-installed but instead, it “hides” its icon from the app (application) drawer and continues to run silently in the background.

It then steals the android phone user’s mobile number, account detail, installed app list, contacts and SMSes, the advisory said.

‘Panda banker’

Similarly, the other spyware that has been noticed on the Internet is the ‘panda banker’, a spin-off of the zeus banking trojan malware (a prominent hacking virus).

“It leverages man-in the-browser or web inject attack techniques to steal user’s banking credentials,” it said.

The malware, it said, generally spreads via unscrupulous attachments or via exploit kits (malicious snooping virus programmes) such as “ngler”, “nuclear” and “neutrino” exploit kits.

The CERT-In has suggested users to follow safe browsing practices along with deploying certain countermeasures to thwart the two viruses.

“Don’t open attachments in unsolicited e-mails, even if they come from people in your contact list and never click on a URL (universal resource locator) contained in an unsolicited e-mail, even if the link seems benign.

“In cases of genuine URLs close out the e-mail and go to the organisation’s website directly through browser,” the cyber security watchdog said.

Press Release @ https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/info-tech/cert-in-warns-of-new-viruses-that-steal-money-user-data/article24046073.ece

Regards

Mr. Pralhad Jadhav 

Master of Library & Information Science (NET Qualified) 

Senior Manager @ Knowledge Repository  

Khaitan & Co 

Blog | http://pralhad-fyilibrarian.blogspot.in/  

Website | https://sites.google.com/site/pralhadjadhavlib/home  

Twitter Handle | @Pralhad161978

Mobile @ 9665911593