‘Agni Nakshatram’ is still a month away

As temperatures continue to soar in southern India, the Tamil Nadu government has decided to advance the annual exams for Classes 1 to 5. The exams will now begin on April 7 and end by April 17. The exams were originally scheduled to take place from April 9 to April 21.

With mercury whizzing past 40°C in Vellore and Madurai, Tamil Nadu is in the grip of an extreme heatwave. Given that the peak summer in the Tamil land begins from Agni Nakshatram (a.k.a Kathiri Veyyil), slated to begin on May 4 this year, the high temperature this early in the season is worrying.

The Tamil Nadu School Education Department circular states that the decision to advance the exams was taken after parents and educational associations raised concerns over intense heat taking a toll on the young children. The revised schedule aims to reduce their exposure to extreme heat and ensure that students complete their examinations before summer peaks in the unforgiving Kathiri summer.

The exam dates for students from Class 6 to Class 9 remain unchanged as per the circular. The exams are set to be held from April 8 to April 24 for the middle schools. Furthermore, the timing of the exams will also remain unchanged, with assessments scheduled to be conducted from 10 a.m. to noon. However, the Department has assured that if necessary, changes could be made, prioritising student safety and well-being.

Rain, rain, come our way!

Meanwhile, the Regional Meteorological Centre has indicated some respite is on the way, as light to moderate rainfall is expected in Tamil Nadu between April 2 and 4, bringing much-needed relief from the scorching temperatures. A rain forecast has been predicted for Puducherry and Karaikal as well. According to the Met Department, this shift in weather is due to the cyclonic circulation over the southwest Bay of Bengal and wind discontinuity over peninsular India.

The cyclonic circulation and wind discontinuity are set to trigger thunderstorms, hailstorms, and strong winds in Telangana. IMD has issued an orange alert in multiple districts.

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