Mangaluru: St Agnes awarded star college status by union govt

CD Network

July 5, 2017

Mangaluru, Jul 5: St Agnes College, an autonomous college under Mangalore University, has been awarded with star college status by the Union Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, for its performance in the field of science and technology, according to a release from the college. It is the second women’s college in the State to receive this status.

Under the status, now the Department of Biotechnology has sanctioned Rs. 1 crore to the faculty of sciences of the college for nurturing excellence in undergraduate science education, it said. Earlier, the college had received some fund under star college scheme in 2012.

It is for improving critical thinking, innovations in teaching and learning, and to improve hands-on experimental work at the undergraduate level in basic sciences. The main objective of the scheme was to attract students to basic sciences.

This is the only second women's college in Karnataka to be conferred with star status. This comes in the wake of the college receiving recognition of College of Excellence from UGC in February and 'A+' Grade in cycle four from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) in March 2017.

The college had applied for financial assistance under Star College Scheme in 2011. In 2012, it received financial assistance for physics, chemistry, botany, zoology and microbiology under the scheme.

According to Sr M Jeswina, principal, this scheme is for improving critical thinking, innovations in teaching and learning and to improve hands-on experimental work at undergraduate level in basic sciences. The main objective of the scheme is to attract students towards basic science. Every year the progress report of this scheme is being reviewed and the expert committee appreciated the outstanding progress achieved by the college under this scheme.

The seventh expert committee meeting to review colleges supported under Star College Scheme was held in April 2017 at Jalandhar. The expert committee appreciated the outstanding progress made by the college. The department of biotechnology was sanctioned Rs 1 crore to star status faculty of sciences of the college for further nurturing excellence in undergraduate science education.

The expert committee reviewed 27 colleges of the country, of which only five colleges have been selected for the star status award.

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Flight cancellations strand passengers overnight at Mangaluru Airport

News Network

December 4,2025

Mangaluru: Chaos erupted at Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) after IndiGo flight 6E 5150, bound for Mumbai, was repeatedly delayed and ultimately cancelled, leaving around 100 passengers stranded overnight. The incident highlights the ongoing country-wide operational disruptions affecting the airline, largely due to the implementation of new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms for crew.

The flight was initially scheduled for 9:25 PM on Tuesday but was first postponed to 11:40 PM, then midnight, before being cancelled around 3:00 AM. Passengers expressed frustration over last-minute communication and the lack of clarity, with elderly and ailing travellers particularly affected. “Though the airline arranged food, there was no proper communication, leaving us confused,” said one family member.

An IndiGo executive at MIA cited the FDTL rules, designed to prevent pilot fatigue by limiting crew working hours, as the cause of the cancellation. While alternative arrangements, including hotel stays, were offered, about 100 passengers chose to remain at the airport, creating tension. A replacement flight was arranged but also faced delays due to the same constraints, finally departing for Mumbai around 1:45 PM on Wednesday. Passengers either flew, requested refunds, or postponed their travel.

The Mangaluru delay is part of a broader crisis for IndiGo. The airline has been forced to make “calibrated schedule adjustments”—a euphemism for widespread cancellations and delays—after stricter FDTL norms came into effect on November 1.

While an IndiGo spokesperson acknowledged unavoidable flight disruptions due to technology issues, operational requirements, and the updated crew rostering rules, the DGCA has intervened, summoning senior airline officials to explain the chaos and outline corrective measures.

The ripple effect has been felt across the country, with major hubs like Bengaluru and Mumbai reporting numerous cancellations. The Mangaluru incident underscores the systemic operational strain currently confronting India’s largest carrier, leaving passengers nationwide grappling with uncertainty and delays.

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