ArdorComm Media Group

2021

Emirates to hire over 500 IT professionals

The Emirates group will hire over 500 candidates for IT posts within the next six months. The roles on offer are in the areas of cyber security, technical product management, DevOps, hybrid cloud, modern architecture, software engineering, service management, digital workplace, agile delivery and innovation. The Airline has been spending and can still spend on the newest technologies so as to bring out innovative solutions. These smart solutions, driven by AI, data and so on are aimed toward better products and efficient services to its valuable customers. In October, the airline company had announced that it’d be hiring over 6000 people for the posts of pilots, engineers, cabin crew and ground staff. the majority of these jobs are based in Dubai. With restrictions associated with the pandemic easing up across the globe and more people getting vaccinated, travel has also picked up. Emirates has also hired back pilots, cabin crew and other staff members who had lost their jobs during the pandemic. By 2022, the Group hopes to return to 100 per cent service. In a bid to secure 70 per cent of its pre-pandemic capacity, Emirates has invested in various innovation programmes, internally as well as externally. For programmes like Aviation X-Lab, it has partnered with GE, Airbus, Thales and Collins Aerospace.

PM Modi Pays Heartfelt Tribute To CDS Bipin Rawat At A Special Ceremony in Delhi

Delhi: The whole nation is grieving the loss of the first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat. He died in a IAF helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu along with his wife. With a heavy heart, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh made a statement today in the Lok Sabha as well as the Rajya Sabha. He briefed the members about the crash of the military chopper which was carrying Gen Bipin Rawat and 13 others.  “Indian Air Force (IAF) has ordered a tri-service inquiry into the military chopper crash. The investigation will be led by Air Marshal Manavendra Singh. The inquiry team reached Wellington yesterday itself and started the investigation,” Rajnath Singh said in Lok Sabha. Group Captain Varun, the sole survivor of the crash, is on life support, he said.   Along with him, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid his final respects to CDS Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and other 11 armed forces personnel who lost their lives yesterday in the unfortunate crash.  Yesterday, at the Palam air base, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met families of Gen Bipin Rawat and the other 11 armed forces personnel who lost their lives in the crash.  Source: Business Standard, ANI

TRAI seeks public views on simplifying process for telecom, broadcast players

Telecom and broadcast sector regulator TRAI have invited public comments to simplify various processes that the companies need in these verticals for doing their business. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) in its consultation paper on ‘Ease of Doing Business in Telecom and Broadcasting Sector’ floated on Wednesday has sought views on making all the permissions online and setting up a single-window clearance system that will coordinate with other ministries concerned that are involved in granting permission to a telecom or broadcast player. “This consultation paper emphasizes the need for a single-entry window, wherein an investor/entrepreneur should be able to apply for all the licenses / approvals without any further need to submit physical copies of the application and visit any department physically,” the paper said. The consultation paper stresses on identifying various concerns in the existing processes and suggest measures for the reforms required in the regulatory processes, policies, practices and procedures in the telecom and broadcasting sector for creating conducive business environment in India. Trai has proposed that the approval should be streamlined to make it completely integrated and accessible online in trackable response mode in the case of approvals where the process involves the movement of the application across various ministries and departments. The regulator has sought views on time-bound approvals with the provision of deemed approvals from the government departments concerned. It has proposed to involve the Department of Space and power ministry also in the process as they also play a key role in various kinds of permits. “For the timely roll-out of the upcoming 5G technology in the country, the role of the power sector would be quite crucial not only from the perspective of reliable grid power but also from the perspective of sharing of the electrical poles for hosting small cells,” the paper said. The regulator has fixed January 5 as the last date for comments and January 19 for counter comments. Source: Reuters

The Role of Schools in Education As We Enter The New Normal

Something we never thought has already happened to all of us! For students, their schools are literally their homes now. We have almost reached the year’s end and even though it may seem like students are becoming comfortable with virtual classes, that’s not the case with everyone. In the pre-pandemic schooling system, kids were developing holistically as the real-time experiences and interactions in class, with friends and with the staff resulted in the overall development of a person. Now, we are looking at a system where the child has to starfish across an ocean to reach the shore.  From the health and safety angle, new variants of COVID-19 like the Omicron are taking over some areas of the globe. So, we can expect that the schools and the education and learning scenario will not restore to normalcy. There’s only one way to move forward and that is to plan a hybrid system for kids and the staff.  Let’s delve deeper to understand the kinds of changes and additions that will take place in the functioning of schools to redefine the notion of education in 2022 and so on.  Mental and Emotional Health Will Take the Center Stage With so much turmoil and trauma faced by the world’s inhabitants due to the pandemic, there has been a devastating impact on children’s mental and emotional health. It is also important to note here that the Indian society is still not aware about the extent of repercussions that untreated mental health issues can cause. Therefore, to make the future more of these kids secure, we need to teach them about mental and emotional health. The kids must be able to understand and reach out to others incase of any kind of emotional or mental trauma. The future needs empathetic and knowledgeable leaders! If you teach kids about mental health now, they will be able to navigate stressful situations in life using the right path.  Extracurricular Activities Must Not Just be Extra With two years into the pandemic, do you know what kids miss most? The answer is their friends, fun activities and social interactions. We all know that schools are the actual place students discover their hobbies, talents and areas of interests. Extracurricular activities like art competitions, talent shows, debated, etc. actually encourages students to be a part of something bigger than themselves.  Confidence, camaraderie and trust are just some of the things students learn from co-curricular activities. So, rather than organizing these activities once or twice a month, it should be organized on a daily basis for at least some amount of time for students to feel rejuvenated from their daily schedules.  Personalized Learning is Here to Stay As teachers have to teach a hybrid class, they have to match the wavelength of students in-person and online. Managing both kinds of audiences is a tough nut to track. Some students who are in the class might be finding it easy to go along with the teacher’s pace, while students at home must be lagging behind due to a number of reasons like low connectivity.  How can we resolve this issue? The gift of virtual learning is that students can learn at their own pace. New edtech platforms and vendors are designing state-of-the-art interactive platforms for students to learn from. Be it handing over of assignments or exams, learning and performing tasks can be entirely personalized. Each and every one of us have a different pace and a distinctive way of thinking, so personalized learning in schools comes as a boon.  Digital Technologies and Audiobooks Every year in the education landscape, there are hundreds of new policies and innovations. However, India is slow to adapt all of them at a steady pace. In recent times, digital technologies have scaled to a level that they are actually thinking about creating sentient technologies. Imagine that!  On the other hand, technology for education, educators and students has come a long way. There are various edtech platforms and technologies like data analytics, cloud computing, AR/VR, etc. that schools are leveraging for innovating and revolutionizing education and learning. It is better for educators and students to familiarize themselves with new technologies as it is the only way forward.  If we think in terms of people who can’t read or find it difficult to perceive written text, audiobooks are slowly catching up with the emerging trends in education. As a suggestion, maybe schools and educators could convert textbooks into audiobooks so that students can access them anytime and anywhere. It will also be more engaging, enticing and easy to understand if we consider a diverse group of students.  Final Words To conclude, I would like to say that we live in an era where the emotional quotient (EQ) of a person is just as important as their IQ, even more so. We don’t know what the future holds for us and the only way forward is focusing on imparting a robust education to students so they grow up to the revolutionary leaders we need.  Adapting to new technologies, focusing on extra-curricular activities and giving students their space to learn is the best we can give them to ensure the continuity of quality education. 

At Delhi University, 3-4 times more students than seats in some colleges

Over-admission has not been limited to prominent Delhi University (DU) colleges this year as several lesser-known colleges have also seen more students joining than the number of seats on offer, a DU panel report that assessed multiple undergraduate programmes reveals. The most staggering case is that of BA (Honours) History at Dyal Singh College. With a capacity of 77 seats, the college had set a comparatively low cut-off at 94 per cent for unreserved seats. The report records 327 admissions to the programme, over four times the number of seats. There appear to be two sets of courses for which the findings reflect a high number of over-admissions — popular courses in top-choice colleges and popular courses for which lesser-known colleges had set lower cut-offs. For instance, in the case of BA (Honours) political science, Hindu College had set a 100 per cent cut-off for unreserved seats and still admitted 146 students against 49 seats. Ten colleges had a cut-off of over 99 per cent for the programme. Bhagini Nivedita College, a rural college in Najafgarh, had set one amongst the lowest cut-offs for the favoured programme, at 80 per cent for unreserved seats, and admitted 132 students against 58 seats. PGDAV Evening College set an 88.5 per cent cut-off and admitted 185 students against 56 seats; Kalindi College had a 93 per cent cut-off and admitted 250 students against 154 seats. Other popular courses which have seen over-admission in popular colleges are Physics at Miranda House (232 against 86 seats) and Hindu College (210 against 79 seats); Chemistry at Miranda House (184 against 78 seats) and Hindu College (144 against 79 seats); and arithmetic at Hindu College (185 against 49 seats). The report noted “significantly low” admissions over the years in seats reserved for Scheduled Tribes and in languages. “The committee was of the considered view that applicants could also be constructively encouraged to choose such courses by optimally highlighting their relevance and qualitative importance,” it stated. Source: Indian Express

Madras HC grants interim relief to Air India staff, restrains proceeding with disinvestment

Air Corporation Employees Union recently moved the Madras High Court with a request to stop Air India and the Centre from proceeding with the disinvestment of the carrier, without first taking definitive measures to protect the rights of the staff. The Madras High Court (HC) has granted interim relief to the Air India staff, by restraining the Ministry from evicting members of the petitioner union, from their current accommodations provided by Air India. Further, the authorities will have to continue to provide the medical benefits and facilities presently being extended to the members and their families under the Contributory Family Medical Scheme. The employees, according to the service rules applicable, are entitled to remain in service till the age of retirement, that is, 58. This, among other points, has to be properly addressed before taking the disinvestment process forward. The case of the petitioner, which is the Air Corporation Employees Union, is that the terms of share purchase agreement signed between the Government of India and Talace were not shared with the employees; and that the agreement was signed without any prior consultation with the employees. This, the petitioner points out, is in direct violation of the employees’ constitutional rights as mentioned under Article 19(1)(a). Air India and the Centre should have shared the draft of the agreement with the union before signing it. Through this petition, the employees’ union had sought appropriate legal measures to protect the terms and conditions of their service post disinvestment. Source: HR Katha

CBSE Term 1 Board Exam 2021-22 Update: Class 12 Physical Education Answer Key Released

Delhi: As per the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) term 1 board exam date sheet, all students from Class 12 appeared for the Physical Education (PE) paper today. The exam was conducted from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm in respective schools and centres allotted to the students. Class 10 students appeared for language papers including Arabic, Tibetan, French, German, Russian, Persian, Nepali, Limboo, and Lepcha. Based on today’s paper, CBSE Class 12 Physical Education question paper had three sections — A, B and C. Sections A and B had 24 questions each of which students are required to answer 20 questions compulsorily. Section C had 12 questions and candidates were required to attempt 10 questions compulsorily. The analysis of the CBSE Class 12 term 1 Physical Education and Class 10 language papers by students and teachers is now available.  According to the detailed analysis by the teachers and students from CBSE Class 12, the Physical Education question paper was comparatively easy than other subjects, but it had a spelling error, according to a teacher.  To update the status of the board exams, class 12 students will have Business Studies paper examination tomorrow.  Source: NDTV powered by Careers 360

Adopt Blockchain Tech For E-Governance: Meity Report

Amid the debate over the fate of cryptocurrencies in the country, a government document has recommended the setting up of a national blockchain framework for using it in e-governance by adopting the emerging technology. “This document provides an insight on strategies and recommendations for creating a trusted digital platform using Blockchain Technology (BCT), facilitating trusted service delivery to citizens and businesses and also make India a global leader in terms of research and development and harnessing the benefits of this emerging technology,” according to the National Strategy on Blockchain towards enabling trusted digital platforms report prepared by the ministry of electronics and information technology (Meity). It said that the potential of BCT may be explored in the proposed public digital platforms in various sectors like agriculture, health, energy and others for meeting enhanced security requirements. The report said that integration of the National Blockchain Framework with online Electronic Signatures (e-Sign), ePramaan and DigiLocker would be an added advantage. It said globally several countries have launched platforms and services using blockchain technology and many vendors are offering blockchain-as-a-service to customers. It cited examples from China, UAE, the US, Brazil, Chile, Canada, Singapore, Switzerland and its use by companies such as LG, Samsung, Amazon, Microsoft, Oracle and IBM. Initially, the National Blockchain Framework would be used for e-governance domain. Transition would be made to incorporate various use cases beyond e-governance and the National Blockchain Framework would be open for relevant stakeholders. Government would define the policies and guidelines, the report said. Source: TOI

IMA warns of ‘massive third wave’ of Covid amid Omicron threat

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) today urged the government to announce “additional” doses of Covid vaccine for healthcare, frontline workers, and immunocompromised individuals amid concerns over Omicron, 21 cases of which have been detected in India so far. It also demanded that the government expedite the proposal of vaccinating individuals aged 12 to 18 years. At a press conference, the doctors’ body said that cases of the latest variant of coronavirus were reported from a number of major states of India, and the tally, which is in double digits, is bound to increase. With scientific evidence available and the experience noted in countries of origin, it is evident that the Omicron variant will have high penetrability and will affect more people, the IMA claimed. “At a time when India is limping back to normalcy, this is a great setback. If we do not take adequate measures, we may have a massive third wave,” it warned. Noting that India has crossed 1.26 billion vaccinations, with over 50 percent of the adult population vaccinated at least with one dose, the IMA said vaccination has proved that it will prevent severe forms of the infection. Omicron has proved to be less potent in causing severe infections but definitely five to 10 times more contagious than the Delta variant. Hence, the government and all stakeholders should take proper steps to control the contagion by enhancing immunisation, the IMA stressed in a press release. “IMA does not support the imposition of a travel ban. However, we appeal to all to avoid unnecessary travel, especially pleasure tourism and social gatherings. All our public transport systems should strictly adhere to the code of Covid protocol.” Noting that in African countries where the Omicron variant has spread widely, there is a sudden increase in the number of children getting infected and admitted to ICUs, the IMA said, appealing to all schools and colleges to strictly adhere to Covid protocols and ensure all adults there are vaccinated. “IMA also demands the government should expedite the proposal for vaccination of children of 12 to 18 years at the earliest,” it said. Source: NDTV

The Trend of Lifelong Learning In Education 4.0

When a human being comes to life, the desire to develop personally and professionally starts taking shape. As we all know by now, education is one of the most important aspects of life. In order to help the society, contribute to the world economy, establish your standard of living, you need good education. Most importantly, to be an asset for yourself and those around you, you need a goal which automatically comes from learning and development throughout the years.  Let’s take a look at what lifelong learning really means.  What is lifelong learning? In layman terms, lifelong learning simply means a desire to initiate a self-induced education focused on personal development. Mostly, lifelong learning is associated with learning and development that occurs outside a formal institution. However, there’s no standard definition to the term. Lifelong learning can also mean a formal education with the voluntary desire to achieve personal fulfilment.  After the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for online education and distance learning skyrocketed. As a result, not only are people learning new things apart from their formal education, they are actually choosing career streams and job opportunities based on other sources of education and learning.  In a way, it can be said that the pandemic has produced a generation of youth that is multitalented with varied interests. Also, in a country like India where lakhs and crores of graduates go into the market every year, it is the need of the hour to optimize, upgrade and upskill yourself.  Therefore, the demand for skilled individuals has boosted the concept of lifelong learning. Nowadays, corporates, universities and schools constantly encourage their stakeholders to familiarize themselves with the latest trends and tools in the market. When a person enthusiastically partakes in the quest for constant and continued learning, then it can be termed as a perfect example of lifelong learning.  What is the importance of lifelong learning in a person’s life? It doesn’t matter if you are pursuing your personal or professional interests, lifelong learning can help you achieve inner satisfaction. It aims at bringing out the natural human drive to be curious and explore new things.  Lifelong learning can help you by: It can help you recognize your true passion, drive and interest It can help you achieve mental, emotional, social and intellectual satisfaction Constant learning and growing will help you improve your self-worth It will help you by defining and working towards your goals more clearly and concisely Who are lifelong learners? The answer to the above question is not tricky! We are all lifelong learners in some or the other way. Our schools, colleges, institutions, jobs and most importantly – life – are constantly teaching us something new a mile a minute.  Everyday socialization, formal trainings, self-studies or research on new trends and topics are all examples of lifelong learning. In the end, we learn for ourselves, not for others, because one can only impart knowledge when they themselves know about the topic at length. Thus, a forever quest of learning and gaining knowledge for personal fulfilment is lifelong learning.  Why are people indulging in lifelong learning? Despite formal education and training at various levels, a person may have deviated interests which may require him or her to be skilled at something niche. In addition, a person or a student may just be curious to know about new things. With the advancement in technology, penetration of internet and presence on social media, people can easily identify the latest trends and topics. Therefore, it can be said that as people are becoming increasingly self-aware, the hunger to power through, discover new things, network and invent is escalating. To quench this thirst, people are engaging in lifelong learning through various mediums. With the click of a button, you can have easy access to courses, knowledge and insights.  What are some real-time examples of lifelong learning in Education 4.0? For better understanding, let’s take a look at some simple examples that can be classified under lifelong learning in modern-day education.  Learning a new technology: Adapting to and learning new software, tools and smart devices Developing new skills: cooking, sewing, programming, dancing, singing, painting, etc.  Learning a new sport: Cricket, basketball, football, martial arts, self-defense, etc.  Self-taught learning: Learning a new language, starting a podcast, researching and writing on topic of interests and the list goes on…  Platforms that enable lifelong learning Almost all internet platforms encourage users to engage in lifelong learning. The major source for lifelong learning is the web or the internet.  Platforms like Udemy, Lifelong Learning Platform (LLP), Coursera, Skillshare, Edx, MasterClass, General Assembly, Khan Academy, Byjus and much more encourage learning from anywhere and everywhere. Due to their flexibility, personalized and user-centric patterns, they are the most popular lifelong learning and development platforms in Education 4.0.  Final words In order to figure out your personal and professional goals, you must always keep an open mind and be reciprocative towards change. In a time when the world is going through multiple upheavals, you must always be ready to upskill, learn and help out. In a herd full of sheep, if you want to be a game changer, you must constantly learn and develop through any means possible. Engaging in lifelong learning is already a major trend and you must undergo at least some sort of learning everyday to achieve inner and mental peace.