Jammers in exam centres: UGC asks varsities to strictly comply with government policy
New Delhi: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has directed varsities and higher educational institutions to strictly comply with the government's policy while installing jammers in examination centre to check use of unfair means.
The government had in 2016 allowed statutory examination conducting bodies to deploy low powered jammers in examination halls in order to prevent use of unfair means through radio frequency-based devices.
"You must ensure adherence to provision of government's policy on jammers in your university or college," the commission has said in a letter to vice-chancellors and college principals.
The UGC has specified that classroom jammer model--EC-CRJ-6B5--saying it has been successfully evaluated through lab tests and field trials by a board of officers and suggested that jammer model should be used at places where there is no Base Transceiver Station (BTS) within 100 metres of the site.
"Performance of jammers deployed in each examination centre will be verified before commencement of examination as effectiveness of jammers depends on various factors like its power output, signal strength of BTS, traffic load on BTS at a given point of time, distance of jammer from BTS, sensitivity of receiver, terrain, topography and line of sight etc," the commission said.
"Actual deployment of jammers will require prior permission of Secretary (Security) in terms of the jammer policy of the government," the UGC letter said.
The Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) and the Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL), both government enterprises, have been authorised for supply of low powered jammers for deployment in examination halls, on rental basis, based on requirements furnished by the examination conducting bodies.
As per the policy, inviting open tender from unauthorized manufacturers is not allowed and will be treated as violation of norms.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
'Aurangzebi govt': BJP slams Cong-led Karnataka dispensation over saffron shawl ban in schools
New Delhi (PTI): A political row erupted on Friday over the Congress-led Karnataka government's clarification that saffron shawls would not be allowed in educational institutions, with the BJP alleging that it is pursuing "appeasement and vote-bank politics".
The controversy flared up after Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Thursday that saffron shawls would not be allowed in educational institutions under the state government's order on religious symbols, while practices already in existence such as hijab, turbans, rudraksha beads and sacred threads (janeu) would continue to be permitted.
BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla alleged that the Congress government is pursuing appeasement politics and termed it an "Aurangzebi government".
"This government allows the wearing of hijab inside institutions, which the Supreme Court and high court had not allowed. But you cannot wear a 'bhagwa' (saffron) shawl or 'bhagwa' angavastram. This is the mindset of the Siddaramaiah government," Poonawalla said in a video post on X.
He alleged that the Congress government can go to any extent for appeasement politics and accused the party of "abusing Sanatan" in the past as well.
"They have shown Hindu hatred, from terms like 'bhagwa terror' and 'Hindu terror' to abusing Sanatan.
"We have seen how Congress leaders in Tamil Nadu have abused Sanatan. In Telangana, they said Congress means Muslims. They seek Muslim reservation in the name of vote-bank politics and appeasement," he alleged.
Poonawalla further alleged that the Siddaramaiah government has adopted a discriminatory policy and claimed that it had earlier announced a "Muslim-only budget" and "Muslim colonies".
Speaking to reporters in Mysuru, the chief minister clarified that those religious attire which are in practice will be allowed.
The Karnataka government on Wednesday passed an order allowing students to wear the hijab, sacred thread, Shivadhara and rudraksha in schools.
The order scrapped the BJP government's 2022 order, banning Hijab in government schools following the hijab versus saffron shawl controversy.
"Saffron shawls are not allowed. Those shawls cannot be worn. Turbans, sacred thread, Shivadhara, rudraksha and hijab can also be worn," Siddaramaiah told reporters.
"See, it is not just the hijab. People can also wear sacred threads; Shivadhara rudraksha beads everyone can wear, things according to their beliefs.
"This is allowed up to Class 12, whether it is high school, college or primary school. It applies to all," he added.
Asked whether saffron turbans representing saffron identity would be permitted, the chief minister said only practices already in existence would be allowed and no new practices could be introduced.
