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The Hindu
3 days ago
- The Hindu
No nearby centres for disabled: UGC NET exam raises accessibility concerns
Siddharth B. Mahajan was looking forward with confidence towards the Junior Research Fellowship exam. 'After qualifying UGC-NET in my first attempt, I was determined to get the JRF. But I had to cancel my participation,' said Mr. Mahajan, a 100 percent visually impaired student from Christ University, Bengaluru. When Mr. Mahajan applied for the UGC NET 2025 exam, he was allotted a centre 35 kilometres away from his residence in Bengaluru. Unable to travel such a long distance independently, he cancelled his attempt. His experience highlights a recurring concern among candidates with physical disabilities — lack of clear guidelines or accommodations when it comes to examination centre allocation. While the National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts the UGC-NET, allows all candidates to select their preferred cities during registration, it does not provide assurances about the exact centre location within those cities, regardless of disability status. In some cases, candidates from nearby towns and villages have reported having to travel to city centres, spend the night on campus grounds, and appear for the exam the next day. Though the agency mentions that 'all efforts will be made' to consider the comfort and convenience of persons with disabilities (PwD), there is no specific provision in the UGC-NET information bulletin that ensures visually impaired candidates are allotted nearby or accessible centres. Although there are many provisions for relating to Persons with Disability (PwD)/ Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD) in the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities's 'Guidelines for conducting written examination for persons with benchmark disabilities 2018,' such as the option of using a scribe, reader, or lab assistant, writing the exam in Braille, availing compensatory time, and being provided proper seating arrangements at the venue, however, these provisions do not extend to centre allocation. Mr. Mahajan's case has triggered questions around whether India's examination system truly can truly accommodate persons with disabilities, particularly when it comes to logistical and infrastructural access. Despite existing legal protections under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, candidates and advocates argue that such policies fall short, leaving students such as Mr. Mahajan navigate gaps on their own. Medical and social problems On June 27, Mr. Mahajan was fully prepared for his UGC NET exam and had even arranged for a scribe to accompany him. However, upon assessing the route to his allotted centre, he realised the journey involved navigating multiple modes of transport and following signboards, something particularly challenging for someone who is 100 percent visually impaired. Considering Bengaluru's infamous traffic congestion, restrictions like the bike ban, and his disability certificate, he had expected the UGC or the NTA to provide a centre closer to his residence. Ultimately he decided to cancel going to the venue. Gyanendra Purohit, a disability rights advocate based in Indore who works closely with students who are deaf, mute, and blind, says that students with physical disabilities, especially those who are visually impaired, often face difficulties arranging scribes. 'Scribes sometimes cancel at the last moment, fall ill, or simply refuse to show up on the day of the exam,' he said. He also said that when a scribe cancels last-minute or the venue is too far to reach, students often lose the opportunity despite being academically prepared. Speaking about Mr. Mahajan's situation, Mr. Purohit said: 'It's not that they lack academic ability but It's the behaviour of society that disables people.' Dr. Mita Joshi, an Indore-based ophthalmologist who specialises in advanced treatments in treating young adults with visual impairments, explains that once a thorough eye examination is conducted, doctors determine whether the condition is treatable or not, depending on the medical status of the cornea. 'When the condition is found to be untreatable, we categorise the degree of visual impairment. Based on this, a disability certificate is issued, ranging from 50%, 70% to 100% blindness,' she said. Dr. Joshi added that individuals certified with 100% blindness are typically only able to perceive light, without the ability to detect shapes, movements, or any visual cues in front of them. Support measures UGC Chairman, Vineet Joshi, responded to a request for an interview on candidates with disabilities, saying due to 'prior official commitments and important official meetings' he was unable to 'accede to your request.' According to the official information bulletin, candidates can indicate their preferred cities when applying for the UGC NET exam. However, there is no explicit mention of additional considerations during centre allocation for candidates with disabilities, including those who are visually impaired. Both the UGC and NTA guidelines refer to broad provisions under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, including the availability of scribes and compensatory time. Yet, specifics around exam centre proximity, transport challenges, or facilitation on the day of the exam are not mentioned in the publicly available documents. In such situations candidates often rely on informal support systems or self-arrangements to reach exam venues, which may prove difficult, especially in large, traffic-heavy cities or while moving between cities.
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Time of India
Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius enjoys social media revival
Representative AI image "Look within. Within is the fountain of good, and it will ever bubble up, if thou wilt ever dig." Wise statements like this can be found in the "Meditations" of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius (121-180 C.E.). He had never intended these reflections for publication, having written them purely for himself, but they have become some of the most widely read writings after the Bible and the Quran. A bestseller, so to speak, which has been translated into numerous languages worldwide. Known today as a philosopher-king, Marcus Aurelius ruled at a time marked by crises and catastrophes. He ascended to the throne in 161 C.E., just a few years before the Marcomannic Wars (166-180 C.E.) — the Marcomanni were Germanic tribes — which would shake the Roman Empire to its foundations. In addition, he faced economic problems, social tensions and the spread of the Antonine Plague, a form of smallpox, throughout his territory. 'You have power over your mind, not outside events' Equanimity — that was one of the basic principles of Marcus Aurelius, who was a great fan of the Stoics, an ancient school of philosophy founded by the Greek Zeno of Citium in 300 B.C.E. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo Marcus Aurelius wanted to be a good ruler, but what is good governance? That question, which remains relevant to this day, was of great concern to him, as reflected in his "Meditations." But his contemporaries would never have read his writings, according to archaeologist Marcus Reuter, director of the Rheinisches Landesmuseum in Trier. "The Romans also never saw him as a philosopher-king. His writings were never made public during his lifetime. He wrote for himself, in the quiet of his room in the evening." Aurelius only acquired the image of the philosopher-king after the publication of his "Meditations" in the 15th or 16th century. Reuter and historian Viola Skiba, director of the Stadtmuseum Simeonstift in Trier, have co-curated a joint exhibition, in each of their institutions, on Marcus Aurelius, set to run from June 15 to November 23, 2025. Skiba said the themes of the exhibition are more current than they had anticipated. The question of what good leadership looks like has taken on a new urgency, especially in these crisis-ridden and polarised times. At the same time, the question is as old as human history itself, and was clearly a focus in the ancient world. Donald Trump 'not a role model' What, according to Marcus Aurelius, distinguishes good governance? "Basically, it is guided by the cardinal virtues of antiquity," said Skiba. Those desirable virtues include wisdom, justice, prudence and moderation. A key concept is the "orientation toward the common good," acting in a way that truly benefits the community as a whole. "This is, so to speak, also what separates a good ruler from a bad one according to [the Greek philosopher] Aristotle." Reuter added that Marcus Aurelius would most likely have considered Donald Trump "not a good leader, and certainly not a role model." But of course, Marcus Aurelius was a product of his time, who grew up within the social structures of antiquity. "There was slavery, and not even Marcus Aurelius wanted to abolish it," said Reuter. The emperor also did not question "that there were people with and without Roman civil rights, or that women did not have the same rights as men." From today's perspective, it may also seem odd to consider as virtuous an emperor who waged brutal wars. "According to ancient standards, the emperor was expected to ensure the security of the empire and protect its inhabitants — even by very brutal means if necessary," said Reuter. "He was extensively involved in court cases. He endeavoured to pass just judgments, and always put the interests of the state first," added Reuter. The construction of the Porta Nigra in Trier — today the city's famous landmark — can also be traced back to Marcus Aurelius. It was part of the city wall that Aurelius had built to protect its citizens. 'Very little is needed to make a happy life' Aphorisms like the above can seem like mockery coming from a wealthy emperor, but they were meant sincerely. Indeed, Marcus Aurelius cultivated a rather modest lifestyle and even had imperial household items — his private assets — auctioned off when the state was in financial crisis. "As far as I know, no Roman emperor before or after him did that," said Reuter. Marcus Aurelius also apparently spent a lot of time pondering the meaning of life, which is presumably the reason so many young people nowadays are interested in him and his writings. In Reuter's estimation, "his 'Meditations' are a little treasure trove containing something to address nearly every situation in life." Reuter pointed out that Marcus Aurelius' writings don't lend themselves to being read from front to back, but are well-suited to dipping into to find inspiration. They are, after all, the private musings of someone who spent time thinking about what was truly important in life. So it's small wonder that quotes by the Roman emperor can be found all over social media. The exhibition in Trier builds on this contemporary interest in Marcus Aurelius and the topics that occupied him. It's designed to inspire visitors from all over the world to reflect on themselves, society and what a long-ago Roman emperor still has to say to us today. Or, as Skiba put it, "Every society is based on individuals, and if each and every individual asks themselves these philosophical and political questions, then it also works as a whole."
Deccan Herald
07-06-2025
- Deccan Herald
Lack of health insurance in rural areas hinders access to healthcare: Experts
The Suvarna Karnataka Insurance Bruhat Abhinaya (SKIBA), the campaign of Christ University's 'Suraksha Chakra Initiative', a diversity and social inclusion endeavour in nation building, was launched at the varsity campus on Friday.
