India News

Centre informs on when to reopen schools amid Covid third wave fear

The main purpose of reopening is to speed up the process of admission and pending examination which means the students will not be asked to attend schools and colleges until the risk of a possible third wave is completely clear.

Published

5 years ago

June 22, 2021

As the Covid third wave is expected to come up with more risk of affecting the children, the Central government on Tuesday said the schools – shut since March last year due to pandemic – will only re-open once a significant portion of the population has been vaccinated against Covid-19.

On the question of reopening of schools, the Central government answered that it will consider reopening schools only when the majority of teachers and staff are vaccinated.

What VK Paul has said on School reopening ?

In the official press briefing of the Union health ministry, the Niti Aayog (health) member VK Paul said a lot of things need to be considered while deciding on the reopening schools. This is a question that keeps coming up. He said schools require teachers and children to sit together which gives the virus an opportunity to spread.

Dr Paul’s remarks came in the context of the recent survey of the World Health Organization and AIIMS which revealed that children below the age of 18 years have also developed antibody against Covid-19 and so they may not be impacted by the third wave of the country if any such wave comes.

What is the Covid situation in India ?

India has been witnessing a drop in new Covid cases over the last few weeks after the country hit a global record high with over 4 lakh cases in a day. Several states have started to unlock themselves across the country to reopen the businesses along with the Covid protocol following downward trend of Covid second wave.

What is the status of reopening of schools in India ?

The Central government sources said that the final decision to reopen educational institutes will be taken after reviewing the Covid situation in the country. The govt’s emphasis has been laid on the vaccination of teachers and other staff attached to educational institutions.

The government said the decision on holding classes will not be taken until the situation is better. The main purpose of reopening is to speed up the process of admission and pending examination which means the students will not be asked to attend schools and colleges until the risk of a possible third wave is completely clear.

However, the educational institutions in the country have been closed for more than a year now and as many states have begun their unlock process.

Some states resumed physical classes after the first wave starting from September 21 last year but in the wake of the second wave, classes switched to the online mode. Considering the pandemic situation, states have cancelled annual examinations, national and all state-level board exams. This time too, the government has also cancelled CBSE and ICSE exams for Class 10 and 12 amid concern that the virus might affect children in the third wave.

Keeping in mind the Covid situation, some states – like Telangana – have said they will re-open schools and colleges. Others, like Delhi and Kerala, have said they will continue with virtual classes for now.

Uttar Pradesh

The State Education Department official PN Singh has said that schools can re-open in Uttar Pradesh from July 1. However, students will not be called to school and only teachers will come and take classes from school.

As per the state’s new guidelines, teachers and staff of basic secondary and higher secondary schools are allowed to attend schools for administrative work.

Bihar

According to Education Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, Bihar may also re-open schools from June 1 onwards because both the state government and education department is in favour of opening schools from July

Delhi

Schools will continue to function in the online mode amid the ongoing Covid pandemic in Delhi.

Madhya Pradesh

The process of admission in Madhya Pradesh has started. However, its Education Minister Inder Singh Parmar has said that a collective decision regarding reopening is yet to be taken.

Telangana

The Telangana government on Thursday announced that all schools, colleges and other educational institutions can reopen in the state from July 1.

Related Topics:Centre covid third wave Reopening schools

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PM Modi takes aim at critics with Dimagi Naxal remark at SRCC centenary address

PM Modi revived his dimagi Naxal remark at SRCC’s centenary celebrations and spoke about India’s development journey.

Published

6 hours ago

September 6, 2026

APNLive Desk

Prime Minister Narendra Modi revived his ‘dimagi Naxal’ remark while addressing the centenary celebrations of Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) in Delhi on Saturday, using the term to criticise his opponents.

Speaking to students at the Delhi college, PM Modi described the phrase as a “homeopathic pill” and said it had prompted those he described as “dimagi Naxals” to come forward and reveal their views.

The prime minister also used his address to speak to Gen-Z about India’s development journey and asked students to consider the challenges the country had faced in the past.

PM Modi recalls past crises

During his speech, PM Modi referred to the 2013 Kedarnath disaster and the 2008 global financial crisis while criticising the handling of national emergencies by previous governments.

He said the government at the time of the Kedarnath disaster was shaken and questioned its ability to respond to the crisis.

Referring to the 2008 banking crisis, PM Modi alleged that the government of the time failed to effectively deal with the situation and claimed that India’s banking system was pushed close to collapse.

Prime minister lists challenges faced by his government

PM Modi also highlighted several major global crises that occurred during his government’s tenure.

He mentioned the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, disruptions to global trade and supply chains, and the crisis in West Asia.

The prime minister said there had been concerns that India would struggle during these crises but argued that the country had continued to move forward.

PM Modi’s earlier SRCC visit

PM Modi had earlier visited SRCC in 2013, when he was the chief minister of Gujarat. His speech at the college received significant attention, particularly on social media, ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha election.

His latest visit came during the college’s centenary celebrations, where his address focused on young people, India’s development ambitions and the challenges faced by the country.

India News

India Metro Rail Network May Overtake US in 2 Years

India’s metro rail network has reached 1,170 km across 26 cities. Union minister Manohar Lal said the country could overtake the US in network length within two years.

Published

20 hours ago

September 5, 2026

APNLive Desk

India is on track to become the country with the second-largest metro rail network in the world after China, with Union Minister Manohar Lal saying the country could overtake the United States within the next two years.

India’s metro rail network has now expanded to 1,170 km across 26 cities. The network is only 216 km shorter than the US metro rail network, which stands at 1,386 km, according to figures cited by the minister.

India’s metro network expands rapidly

Speaking after the inauguration of an extended metro service in Indore, Manohar Lal highlighted the pace at which metro connectivity has grown in India.

He said metro services were operational across just 245 km in five cities when Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office in 2014. The network has since expanded to 1,170 km across 26 cities.

The minister said India could overtake the US in terms of metro rail network length in the next two years and become the world’s second-largest country in this segment after China.

China currently has around 8,000 km of metro rail lines, according to the figures cited by the minister.

Indore metro extension inaugurated

The minister made the remarks after inaugurating an extended section of the Indore metro. The project was built at a cost of around Rs 2,850 crore.

The Indore metro was earlier operating commercially on a six-km stretch between Gandhi Nagar and Super Corridor-3 stations. Following the extension, the service will operate on a 17-km route between Gandhi Nagar and Malviya Nagar Chauraha.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said the metro service would mark a new phase in Indore’s development. He also said the network would eventually be extended to Ujjain and other nearby areas.

India’s metro rail network: Key figures

India currently has 1,170 km of operational metro rail network.
Metro services are operational across 26 cities.
The US has around 1,386 km of metro rail network.
India is currently 216 km behind the US.
China has around 8,000 km of metro rail lines.
India’s operational network stood at 245 km across five cities in 2014.

India News

PM Modi returns to SRCC after 13 years, revisits 2013 glass full speech

PM Narendra Modi returned to SRCC after 13 years for its centenary celebrations, revisiting themes from his landmark 2013 address.

Published

20 hours ago

September 5, 2026

APNLive Desk

Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to Delhi University’s Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) on Saturday, 13 years after his previous visit to the institution as Gujarat chief minister.

His latest visit came as SRCC marked its centenary celebrations. Modi’s 2013 address at the college had attracted significant attention as he spoke about India’s youth, governance and the country’s demographic potential.

In 2013, Modi was Gujarat chief minister and had not yet been named the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate. He returned to the same campus this year as Prime Minister, having completed 12 years as Prime Minister and serving his third consecutive term.

What PM Modi said at SRCC in 2013

The 2013 lecture was titled Emerging Business Models in the Global Scenario. The address also covered governance and India’s young population.

He described India’s youth as a source of national strength rather than simply a group of new-age voters. He also highlighted India’s demographic advantage and argued that the country needed to make better use of its young population.

One of the notable moments from the speech involved a glass of water. Modi contrasted the conventional descriptions of a glass as half full or half empty and said he viewed it as full, with half containing water and the other half air.

The speech also included his remarks on technology and young Indians. Referring to an anecdote from a visit to Taiwan, Modi used the phrase “mouse-charmers” to describe Indians using computers and suggested that young Indians had the ability to influence the world through technology.

‘Minimum government, maximum governance’

Modi’s 2013 address also touched on governance. He spoke about the role of government and the need for better governance.

He also spoke about India’s potential in the 21st century.

Modi returns as PM for SRCC centenary

The September 5 visit coincided with Teachers’ Day and SRCC’s 100th anniversary. The Prime Minister’s Office had announced that Modi would participate in the college’s centenary celebrations and address the gathering. SRCC was established in 1926 by industrialist and philanthropist Sir Shri Ram.

Earlier this year, Modi also met the SRCC governing body at his residence in April in connection with the college’s centenary celebrations and released a commemorative postage stamp marking the occasion.

The return to SRCC came 13 years after his 2013 appearance at the college, when he addressed students as Gujarat chief minister.