LIRC@SFIT

Include module on firecrackers in eco studies: UGC to varsities AFTER PARIS PACT Body issues circular asking universities to explain ill-effects as part of compulsory subject MUMBAI: After the Climate Change Convention in Paris, the University Grants Commission (UGC), the body that regulates the working of universities, has asked universities across the country to include a module on the ill-effects of fireworks in the Environment Studies, which is a compulsory subject for all students. A circular from the UGC said their decision was influenced by the discussions in Paris. “Environmentalists and scientists have affirmed in no uncertain terms that a host of factors have done tremendous damage to the ecology and environment…It is as part of this effort that world leaders came together at COP21 in Paris recently and underscored preservation of the environment as a collective responsibility,” said Jaspal Sandhu, secretary of UGC, via the circular. Dated December 11, the cir...

External examiners are back for SSC, HSC board practicals Earlier, for practical examination, the students were monitored by an internal as well as external examiner. This rule was suddenly stopped and only internal examiners (from the same school/college) were given the responsibility to judge students' performance. After being discontinued for the past few years, external examiners — who were part of Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education's (MSBSHSE) practical examination for Secondary  School Certificate  (SSC) and Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) — will once again become part of the setup from the upcoming board exams in 2016. The state board on Monday issued a circular informing all affiliated schools and colleges about this update. The decision was taken by education minister Vinod Tawde  following demands and complaints from various organisations, including the Mumbai Junior College Teachers Organisation (MJCTO), stating...

Explained: What is Google’s Wi-Fi at 100 railway station project and how will it work Google will deploy WiFi at 100 railway stations in partnership with Railtel. Mumbai Central will be the first station to get free Wi-Fi by January 2016 Google  CEO  Sundar Pichai  announced company’s push to bring internet access to more users. The company also announced that Mumbai Central will get free Wi-Fi by January 2016 (Source: Express Photo by Renuka Puri) Google CEO Sundar Pichai had first announced about the the company’s free WiFi at railway stations in India when PM Modi had visited the company campus in Mountain View, California in September. Under the project, Google plans to provide free and high-speed Wi-Fi access to railway commuters at over 400 stations in India. Google has partnered with Railtel Corporation to make this project a reality. How’s the project going to scale out? Which stations will get covered? According to Google’s a...

Google CEO Sundar Pichai in India: Free Wi-Fi at railway stations, new campus for Hyderabad announced Google CEO Sundar Pichai on Wednesday underlined the search giant’s intention to push for more internet adoption in India Google   CEO   Sundar Pichai   said Mumbai Central will the first of the 100 railway stations, getting Wi-Fi connectivity by December 2016. Google CEO Sundar Pichai on Wednesday underlined the search giant’s intention to push for more internet adoption in India, announcing free Wi-Fi in 100 railway stations as promised to Prime Minister   Narendra Modi   on his visit to Silicon Valley earlier this year. At a large-scale event of the company in New Delhi, Pichai, who was accompanied by other top executives of the company, announced plans to launch a “huge new” campus in Hyderabad and to recruit more Indians for business development too. Pichai said Mumbai Central will the first of the 100 railway stations, ge...

Google just got more serious about India Pichai is in India along with eight Google vice-presidents, including those for Search, YouTube, Maps, and Android among others. (Sanjeev Verma/ HT Photo) After days of anticipation, the real reason of Google CEO Sundar Pichai’s visit to India has come to the fore. Fortunately, it was not about one single thing, but about many small initiatives that go to show that, Google just became more serious about India. Sundar Pichai took the stage to explain in detail, and piece together, the announcements made in the course of last few months and their relevance to India. Real time cricket scores and videos by early next year, an expansive new campus in Hyderabad and an aggressive ramping up of recruitment in India were among a host of initiatives. The tech giant also unveiled two new projects to boost its penetration into India’s vast rural and semi-urban hinterland. The first is Project Loon -- a network of high-altitude, internet-be...

Admission to IITs, NITs: HRD Ministry gets positive feedback for JEE makeover The ministry had made the report of the Ashok Mishra Committee public last month for further consultation with stakeholders. The deadline for sending feedback was November 30. In what could lead to major changes in the admission process for IITs and NITs, the HRD Ministry has received positive public feedback on recommendations of a government-appointed panel, including introduction of a compulsory SAT-like aptitude test for aspirants, no weightage to school board marks and a single entrance exam. The ministry had made the report of the Ashok Mishra Committee public last month for further consultation with stakeholders. The deadline for sending feedback was November 30. According to sources, of the 100-odd responses received by the government, 67 have supported the removal of weightage given to Class XII marks at the time of admissions and nine have opposed the suggestion. Simi...

Jalandhar girl wins prestigious Dr APJ Abdul Kalam IGNITE award Jaspreet Kaur with the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam IGNITE Award in Jalandhar on Friday. (HT Photo) Jalandhar girl Jaspreet Kaur has won the prestigious Dr APJ Abdul Kalam IGNITE award for her idea on “Colour Coded Thermometer”. She was one of the 31 students who bagged the award out of the 28,000 entries received by National Innovation of India (NIF), an autonomous body of the department of science and technology, which gives the award every year to students with innovative and original ideas. Dr APJ Abdul Kalam IGNITE Award is a national competition of original technological ideas and innovations by children up to class 12 or those out of school up to the age of 17 years. The competition is organised by NIF in association with Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Honey Bee Network, other state educational boards and other partners every year to promote creativity and originality among children....

US university launches APJ Abdul Kalam grant The University of South Florida (USF) in the US has launched the President APJ Abdul Kalam Postgraduate Fellowship “to honour him and his vision” for Indian graduate students seeking to pursue a PhD degree in at least 14 subjects and disciplines. Aanchal Bedi from HT Education spoke to Ralph C Wilcox, USF’s provost and executive vice-president. Here’s an excerpt: What is the purpose of your visit to India? Our engagement with India has seen an upward swing in the past few years. The number of applications and enrolments from India have multiplied — from about 200 to 800 this year. During my visit, I met our Indian partners to take the relationship to the next level, interact with Indian students planning to study at USF and catch up with some of our alumni. There is one more purpose also, which is perhaps closest to my heart, ie to launch the President APJ Abdul Kalam Postgraduate Fellowship. We instituted this fellowship t...