Swachh Bharat elective course introduced

The students pursuing the course will be given two credits for 15 days (100 hours) summer internship under the CBCS.

To read more more, visit https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/270318/swachh-bharat-elective-course-introduced.html

Source: Deccan Chronicle dated 27/03/2018

Partaking in Clean India may give students bonus credits

Joining the initiative will be a great learning experience for students, says UGC

• DNA (Daily News & Analysis) Mumbai Edition
• 27 Mar 2018

The University Grants Commission ( UGC) has asked all universities and colleges to consider offering academic credits to students for participating in the government’s much touted Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

The commission in its meeting earlier this month had approved providing two credits like any other ‘Elective’ under Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) to students in higher educational institutions undertaking 15 days (100 hours) summer internships under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan activities.

“In this summer internship, it is expected that students will not only participate in overall cleanliness in villages or slums but would also help in setting up systems for sustaining cleanliness and sanitation efforts under the campaign . These efforts are expected to provide a great learning experience in Indian context to students across the country and would help in improving overall quality of education,” a UGC communication to varsities read.

The commission

has asked varsities and their affiliated colleges to consider implementation of this elective course from the forth- coming summer session and give wide publicity so that vast majority of students opt for this elective course.

“It is informed that UGC guidelines for Swachh Bharat - Swastha Bharat Scheme have enabling provisions for universities and colleges to collaborate and to come out with ways to make the Mission possible,” the UGC letter read.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has extended the date till 4 April for admissions under the 25 per cent quota of the Right to Education (RTE) as the first phase of the lottery happened recently.

The BMC claimed that out of the 3239 candidates, only 602 candidates were admitted in private schools till March 22. Initially, the last date for taking admissions under the RTE was till March 23 (Saturday). However, many parents were upset as schools have been refusing to give admission to their children, citing issues of reimbursement from the Maharashtra government.

After the suffering parents complained incessantly, the BMC education department decided to extend the date of RTE admissions in private schools.

Heena Khan (name changed), a parent said, “The school allotted to us is saying that they never registered for the online admission process and hence cannot give us admission.” Another parent, Aslam Shaikh (name changed), said, “They are shooing us away in such a way like we are beggars. The school principal of an Andheri-based school where my child got admission said that they have not opened an orphanage to offer admissions to our kids.”

Education official from the BMC said, “If schools refuse admission under thequota, then the BMC education department will issue them notices of de-recognizing their schools.”

Source: Daily News and Analysis dated 27/03/2018

Source Link: https://www.pressreader.com/india/dna-daily-news-analysis-mumbai-edition/20180327/282059097547225

Internet offered in local languages can draw 205 mn new users

More and more Indians can come online if internet content is offered in local languages. In a report titled Internet in Indic, 205 million of 892 million non internet users in India have expressed their interest in getting on to the internet, if it is offered in their language.

 Source: The Times of India dated 24/03/2018

Source Link: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/how-regional-languages-can-boost-internet-adoption-in-india/articleshow/63432773.cms

FYI I Fourth Industrial Revolution: Is India prepared?

Fourth Industrial Revolution: Is India prepared?

It’s being called I4.0, short for Industry 4.0, or the fourth Industrial Revolution, and it is transforming factories and production fl oors across the world. Although India lags its global peers in I4.0 adoption, the country is taking baby steps to improve productivity through tech and enable the manufacturing sector to achieve the target set by the government of contributing 25% of GDP by 2022…

For more details, visit: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/fourth-industrial-revolution-is-india-prepared/articleshow/63439642.cms

India lags in investment in research compared to other industrialised nations, corporate sector must do more: Pranab Mukherjee

University administrators must keep in mind that quality is of primary importance in the education sector, former President Pranab Mukherjee said.

The former president Pranab Mukherjee was speaking on the sidelines of the launch of the Indian chapter of UK-based nation-wide higher education rating system – QS I-GAUGE.

University administrators must keep in mind that quality is of primary importance in the education sector, former President Pranab Mukherjee said, highlighting the issue of brain drain of innovative and creative minds from the country and the need for training and educating the youth of the nation. He further said that the corporate sector should take up the responsibility of nurturing these minds by investing in research. The former president was speaking on the sidelines of the launch of the Indian chapter of UK-based nation-wide higher education rating system – QS I-GAUGE on Wednesday.
Mukherjee said that the corporate sector, in particular, must emphasise on research and spending on research. According to the former President, the investment in research in our country is much less compared to any other industrialised nation. He said that until people develop an innovative and creative mind, India cannot be great. And this would not come automatically, but needs to be nurtured for which the responsibility lies with the society itself, former President said.
The former President further said that the youth of the country stand to lose on their valiue in the job market if they are not properly trained and educated. He also warned against the scenario with an abundance of unskilled people in the nation and said that if the sector fails to utilise the huge forces, it will create an explosive situation in the country.
The QS I-GAUGE ratings have been modelled after the QS Stars international rating but adopted to capture the reality of the dynamic Indian higher education sector. The QS I-GAUGE rating will provide a unique 360-degree perspective of Indian institutions for higher learning.
Besides, Pranab Mukherjee, NAAC Chairman Virander Chauhan was also present at the event. They also accorded QS I-GAUGE Diamond, Gold and Silver certificates to many universities. These included Banasthali Vidyapith University, Vellore Institute of Technology, Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Manav Rachna University and MIT College of Engineering among others.

Source: Financial Express dated 23/03/2018

Source Link: http://www.financialexpress.com/education-2/india-lags-in-investment-in-research-compared-to-other-industrialised-nations-corporate-sector-must-do-more-pranab-mukherjee/1108852/