UGC academic calendar
The University Grants Commission, the body overseeing functioning of higher education institutions in India, is expected to give details of a revised academic calendar on Wednesday. Higher education institutions stopped regular functioning from March 16 on account of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last week, a UGC panel suggested starting the next academic year in the timeframe of mid-August to early September.
Kerala to begin registration for natives stranded in other states
The Kerala government will open on Wednesday registrations for Keralites stranded in other states due to the nationwide lockdown.
Keralites wishing to return can register on the website of Non-Resident Keralite Affairs (NORKA)—www.registernorkaroots.com—from Wednesday evening.
Earlier in the week, the Kerala government had opened registrations for NRIs from the state, who were stranded abroad. As many as 2.76 lakh people had registered from numerous countries.
Preference for evacuation will be given for those Keralites who had gone outside the state for treatment, stranded students, retirees and others.
Cabinet meeting
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to hold a cabinet meeting on Wednesday. The meeting is expected to give clarity on the government's plans for decisions on continuation of lockdown measures and associated issues. The nationwide lockdown is scheduled to end on May 3.
New vigilance commissioner
Former Andhra Bank chief Suresh N. Patel will take over as the vigilance commissioner in the anti-corruption watchdog, Central Vigilance Commission, on Wednesday, officials said.
The post of vigilance commissioner has been lying vacant for over 10 months. "Patel will be administered the oath of office by newly-appointed Central Vigilance Commissioner Sanjay Kothari," an official said on Tuesday.
Patel's name to the post was recommended by a high-powered committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February this year. He was a member of the advisory board of the Central Vigilance Commission for banking and financial frauds.
Giant asteroid to fly past earth
A giant asteroid, named 1998 OR2, will fly past the earth around 3.25pm (IST) on Wednesday. According to NASA, "The asteroid will get no closer than about 3.9 million miles (6.3 million kilometres), passing more than 16 times farther away than the Moon," but it would still provide scientists an opportunity to study the 2km-wide object in detail.
Asteroid 1998 OR2 was discovered in 1998. NASA scientists predict its next close approach to earth will be in 2079, when its approach will be closer: Around four times the lunar distance.
