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Thursday, October 9, 2025 1:56 PM

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Survey: Over 75% Children Report Challenges To Access Digital Education In India

Pune: It is evident that the Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted education in India in 2020-21. From blackboards to computer screens, we sure have come a long way. From schools to universities, all have adopted the online mode to impart education and knowledge. There are certain places in the country where schools have resumed but not at their full capacity. There is still hope for normalcy but not anytime soon. Since India has only vaccinated adults, children still face the risk of being exposed to the virus.  Therefore, throughout 2020 and now 2021, we saw students around us attending school online.  However, there was a certain population of students we missed to consider.  Online teaching is something many institutions are contemplating, but do Indians have the capacity to fully embrace digital learning and teaching?  According to a preliminary data analysis, there are various challenges faced by students in India to access digital education.  An online survey carried out by Learning Spiral shows that children face a multitude of problems in accessing education digitally.  The results of the survey are: • The dominant mode of education being used is WhatsApp which is used by 75% of people in India. • The second mode of education is phone calls between a teacher and their students. It is being used by 38% of people in India. The challenges that emerged in the survey are: • Over 75% of children reported a host of challenges to access education digitally.  • The unavailability of the internet stands to be the top cause of not being able to access digital education. • Not being able to afford data plans and the internet is also a major cause of not being able to access digital education. • Poor internet connectivity is also a hindrance for children to access digital education. • Lack of IT support in schools and to students creates problems in the delivery of online learning. • Continuous technological changes pose a challenge for students with little or no technical knowledge.  • Un-optimized software for mobile devices has emerged as a serious issue.  • Many students have reported security issues while online learning.  Conclusion: Even though there are multiple benefits of online education, it can only be reaped by students who have access to good internet, smart devices and technology knowledge and assistance.  Despite multiple challenges faced by students on a daily basis to access digital education, not even a single instance of delivery of education through a non-digital medium was reported.  Due to continued digital education in India despite the aforementioned challenges, it is estimated that students from disadvantaged backgrounds will lose out on 40% of their previous year’s learning.  Therefore, the country and the government should focus on democratizing the use of technology and find solutions to reduce the massive digital divide between urban and rural areas in India.  Irrespective of the location of the student, assistance in terms of digital education should be made available by the schools and the government.

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Government aiming to map lands and solve property disputes through technology

Under one of the biggest aerial surveys, around 500 high-resolution drones are to be used by the Government of India. This will aim to map around 6 lakh villages in India, to validate residential property for over 83 crore Indians. This aerial survey, once completed will be helpful for citizens to map and validate their residential property in the rural regions. With this, they will be allowed to be used as a financial asset by the people.  To map the rural lands of India from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and from Shillong to Somnath, a huge force of drone pilots will be deployed by the Survey of India (SOI) as published in Business standards.  It is said by Sunil Kumar, the union secretary of Panchayati Raj Ministry, as the nodal agency for Implementation of these survey program, “The average times were taken by a HI-tech drone to map a village is around 15 minutes. Based on this we are expecting to complete the aerial survey of land mapping through done by March 2024”. The pilot project of this aerial survey of drones has so far been successful in over 40,000 villages. After the mapping is done the property holder is said to be allotted a property card. The scheme is named as “Swamitwa Scheme”.  Source: Business Standard

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Digitalization in healthcare making the sector touch the sky

Introduction The pandemic hit the whole world very hard leaving the healthcare system to be the topmost priority of any country and society. With this, the outreach of healthcare has also become very important. Be it primary healthcare or secondary healthcare. Its reach can be accomplished very fast with digitalization.  Various digital platforms have arrived in the market like; Arogya setu app, telemedicine portal,mapping of patients, online medical appointments booking app. Online medical consultation app, Teleconsultation, smart devices, intelligent AI-based diagnosis. All this has been proved to be a revolution in the healthcare segment. As published in eHealthnetwork, it is being said that keeping in mind the need of healthcare facilities in every nuke and corner during the pandemic. The government of India has launched a National Digital Health Mission, to digitize healthcare records across the country. This data centralization will help the hospitals work efficiently.  Digitalization in the health sector and data centralization will make the whole functioning of health care fast. It will allow fast inpatient treatments, the assistance of machine learning or artificial intelligence invarious treatments. It will also save time in the administrative work and make the functioning more flexible and faster.  A lot of digitalized facilities are changing the phase of healthcare. Since these new digitalized methods have been applied to healthcare, the stigma of making healthcare a struggle has been leaving people’s minds. Especially in tier two, tier three cities, and rural areas. Where people had to first reach the health care services putting a lot at stake and no emergency facilitation was available. Digitalization is helping to bridge the gap so far so well. Clinical support through video calling: Trouble in finding a doctor for your specific health issue-related needs is quite a task. Especially when the city infrastructure doesn’t have a strong healthcare base or a wide network of healthcare base. Applications like Practo, apollocircle, and many more have made this non-thinkable thing possible. All you need is a smartphone and an internet connection. With that one has the feasibility to consult the doctor related to specific needs through video calling. This has enabled people to find immediate health solutions with expert assistance anytime anywhere. As per beckershospitalreview.com ‘live video telemedicine’ usage increased to 43 percent among consumers in 2020. Apps like Arogya setu are letting collect data of health on digital platforms. This data collection has allowed a fast network information system related to healthcare and provided appropriate information to users about the availability of vaccines, vaccination centers and the number of active covid cases, and much more suggestions.  As per bekerhospitalreview.com, digital health tracking tools saw the biggest growth in 2020, rising from 42 percent adoption rates in 2019 to 52 percent in 2020.   Ever since the pandemic hit the world and made people realized what an important role a healthy body and good immunity can play. People became more aware of their health tracking status on a day-to-day basis and also started focusing more on staying fit. In this situation, fitness bands became the most bought devices by a huge population. As per the data in bekershospitalreview.com, wearable health-tracking tech device ownership increased from 33 percent in 2019 to 43 percent in 2020. All these online medicine delivery apps and health insurance apps have also become more popular. All these new interventions through digitalization in healthcare. Has brought the whole healthcare system online.  Conclusion  All these new interventions through digitalization in healthcare, has brought the whole healthcare system online. A person today has the power to track his or her health status, check nearby hospitals, and availability of doctors with charges. Consult a doctor online anytime anywhere. Get the status of the health care situation of his or her area. Get the medical outreach and delivery anywhere. With this, the entry of Artificial intelligence and machine learning is almost eradication the high demand of the healthcare workforce so far.

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With electric medical records and data analysis, healthcare can do wonders

As published in the financial express, till this date 3.7 million people have died around the world. Including 353,528 from India. Alongwith that India has a doctor-patient ratio of 1:1456 whereas the world health organization recommends the ratio to 1:1000. As the status of the healthcare system remains very vulnerable. The electric medical records system can be very helpful in maintaining the health sector. EMR system is a digital form of all the data which was earlier saved on paper. Now information like Medical and treatment history of a patient, patient history diagnosis, their lab test results details of immunization and other health-related information. This data collection will eliminate the time wastage in the administrative work. It will also enable the patient’s treatment with a faster speed. As the doctor handling the patient will all the past health-related records are readily available in a fraction of seconds. It will help the treatment to be on the mark and without any confusion or delay and understanding various aspects of a health condition.  Also, a doctor will have the flexibility to examine and get down to conclude any allergies a particular patient can have. And prescribe medication for the same on the spot.   EMR system will not only maintain all the health-related data but will also help the patient to take by providing a follow-up update and self-care advice. It will also encourage letting the family health data uploaded and can provide related information or required healthcare-related steps to the patient.

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Hardeep Singh Puri: Government Actively Considering Follow Up Scheme To AMRUT To Cover All Urban Areas

New Delhi (PTI): The Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) covers only about 60 per cent of the urban population and the government is actively considering a follow up scheme which will cover 100 per cent of the urban areas, Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said Thursday. The AMRUT scheme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June 2015 to establish an infrastructure that would ensure robust sewage networks and water supply for urban transformation. Responding to a question in Lok Sabha, Puri said Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her budget statement had talked about a follow up to the AMRUT scheme. The AMRUT scheme only covers 60 per cent plus of India’s urban population and the government is actively considering a follow up scheme which will cover 100 per cent of the urban areas, the minister said amid continuous protests by Opposition members over the Pegasus spying row and farmers” issue. To a question on the number of ongoing projects under Smart Cities Mission in Karnataka, Puri said the smart city programme is a unique programme that has been implemented in the country for the first time. It was conceived soon after the Modi government took office in May 2014 and it was announced in June 2015, he pointed out. “The idea was to use technology in order to introduce ease of living and inclusive and sustainable development. The process of selecting the 100 smart cities was not a selection process ordained by the central government. In fact, a system of competitive bidding was announced and all cities that wished to compete for inclusion in the smart cities project were invited to submit specific proposals which they would implement over a five-year period,” Puri said. Will there be a follow up to the 100 smart cities that is something we will need to see, he added. Source: Press Trust of India (PTI)

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Disney Plus Hotstar: Get to Know New Price and Subscription Plans for Users in India

Hotstar VIP plan to be discontinued For all users registered with Disney Plus Hotstar, there is going to be a change in plans soon. Disney Plus Hotstar has taken a Netflix-like approach and has announced a change in the price plans and subscription details for users in the Indian market.  It comes as sad news for some as the popular Hotstar VIP plan will be discontinued soon. While new plans will be implemented soon, they are affordable for the Indian masses.  The Disney Plus Hotstar new plan starts at Rs 499 instead of the old Rs 399 (Hotstar VIP Plan). The access to all premium content still remains the same at Rs 1,499. Here is what the new plan will look like.  Disney Plus Hotstar New Plans Instead of the old two-plan approach, Disney Plus Hotstar will offer three different plans for users starting September 1, 2021.  New Subscription Plan: The Disney Plus Hotstar mobile-only subscription – Rs 499 (Access to only one mobile device at a time) The Disney Plus Hotstar Super Plan – Rs 899 (Access to two devices at a time including mobile, TV and web) The Disney Plus Hotstar Premium Plan – Rs 1,499 (Access to four devices at a time including mobile, TV and web) While the major jump is clearly visible in the basic plan, Disney Plus Hotstar has promised their subscribers that irrespective of their plans all Disney+ Originals, blockbuster Hollywood movies, Marvel movies and latest American shows will be made available on the platform for all users.  The basic mobile plan and the super plan support HD video qualities while the premium plan offers top-notch 4K resolution to their subscribers.  It is yet to be disclosed how these new plans will affect the current VIP subscribers of Disney Plus Hotstar.

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Employees mental and physical stress is now a priority for HR

symposium

Introduction The human resource department plays a key role in maintaining a quality workforce. There are a lot of issues that have approached the working organization in various ways. The physical and mental stress of employees is one of the major problems. That HR has to face during the pandemic. The effect of the covid-19 pandemic Shaked the base of the working class. According to the Center for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMEI). The average employment went down from 404 million in March 2019 to 283 million in April 2020. This signifies that almost 122 people lost their jobs out of which 27 million were youth. As per data estimation, there were 78 million entrepreneurs and businesses in 2019-20, which got reduced to around 60 million in April 2020.  All these factors have affected the market, economy, and people adversely. In this meantime, health became the major concern for the Human Resource Department of any organization. The physical health of employees got hampered to a great extent during a pandemic. The restricted physical movement and lack of interaction from the outer world made employees weak. In the sense of wrong eating habits, lack of exercise and not being able to move. This impacted their work quality as well. Health concerns also became a priority and no one knew till how long covid-19 infected employees shall be on leave. Extended leave. Lack of proper workforce and providing extra support to employees during covid-19. Did create a hole in the company’s pockets. With that, it became difficult to manage the human resource fluently.  An imbalance by HR was noticed in the work-life of its employees. As the home and work got mixed making it a forced work from home situation. Along with that HR had to deal with the uncertainties of letting work restart from the office again and ensuring safety for a longer run became another major concern. A lot of employees went through various stress issues that led to certain health problems like Blood Pressure, hypertension, and many more. Thus, the lack of productivity was a major concern for the Human Resource department of any organization.  Fear of losing jobs is another reason for increased depression among employees.  Now to deal with cutting down on unwanted workforce. Along with not letting other employees be affected mentally, became a major challenge for the Human Resources department. Conclusion A lot of concerns got generated by the Human Resource department of any organization. For ensuring the productivity of its employees. Hence encouraging employees to take continuous health checkups. Organizing online webinars on stress management became a priority for the Human Resource department. With that managing the health-related data of employees and keeping a track of tending out to the most important task of Human Resource department during the pandemic.

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Government (Smart City Initiatives)

Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs Launches Light House Projects in India Under the Global Housing Technology Challenge India New Delhi: Light House Projects (LHPs) are model housing projects with houses built with shortlisted alternate technology suitable to the geo-climatic and hazard conditions of the region. This will demonstrate and deliver ready to live houses with speed, economy and with better quality of construction in a sustainable manner. The period of construction is a maximum of 12 months from the date of handing over of sites to the construction agency after all statutory approvals. Approvals will be accorded through a fast track process by the concerned State Government. These LHPs shall serve as live Laboratories for different aspects of transfer of technologies to field application, such as planning, design, production of components, construction practices, testing etc. for both faculty and students, builders, professionals of private and public sectors and other stakeholders involved in such construction. Six technology providers have been selected through a rigorous online bidding process for the construction of Light House Projects (LHPs) at six different locations in six states including Indore, Rajkot, Chennai, Ranchi, Agartala and Lucknow.  Salient Features: – LHP shall mean a model housing project with approximate 1,000 houses built with shortlisted alternate technology suitable to the geo-climatic and hazard conditions of the region. This will demonstrate and deliver ready to live houses with speed, economy and with better quality of construction in a sustainable manner. – The minimum size of houses constructed under LHP shall be in accordance with the prevailing guidelines of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban). – Constructed housing under LHP will include on-site infrastructure development such as internal roads, pathways, common green area, boundary wall, water supply, sewerage, drainage, rainwater harvesting, solar lighting, external electrification, etc. – Houses under LHP will be designed keeping in view the dimensional requirements laid down in the National Building Code (NBC) 2016 with good aesthetics, proper ventilation, orientation, as required to suit the climatic conditions of the location and adequate storage space, etc. – Convergence with other existing centrally sponsored schemes and Missions such as Smart Cities, AMRUT, Swachh Bharat (U), National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM), Ujjwalla, Ujala and Make in India shall be ensured during the designing of LHPs at each site. – The structural details shall be designed to meet the durability and safety requirements of applicable loads including earthquakes and cyclones and floods as applicable in accordance with the applicable Indian/International standards. – Cluster design may include an innovative system of water supply, drainage and rainwater harvesting, renewable energy sources with a special focus on solar energy. – The period of construction will be a maximum of 12 months from the date of handing over of sites to the successful bidder after all statutory approvals. Approvals will be accorded through a fast track process by the concerned State/UT Government. – Technology Providers successfully completing the construction of LHPs within the stipulated 15 month’s period of the contract (including 3 months for preparing relevant drawings and taking all statutory approvals from various agencies in the State followed by 12 months period for actual construction) will be rewarded with USD 20,000 each. A further incentive for early completion is being provided wherein technology providers who complete LHPs in less than 12 months will receive an incrementally higher bonus of USD 2,000 for each month less than the stipulated period of 12 months. – For the subsequent allotment of constructed houses under LHPs to the eligible beneficiaries in States/ UTs, procedures of existing guidelines of PMAY (U) will be followed. Source and Credit: GHTC-India, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs Image to be shown while posting the article online:Source of the Image to be mentioned compulsorily as caption below the image. Source: GHTC-India

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All-India Quarterly Establishment-based Employment Survey (AQEES) to Cover Nine Sectors

The survey is aimed at studying changing trends in jobs across industries like manufacturing, construction, trade, transportation, education, health, accommodation and restaurants, IT/BPO, as well as financial services sectors The Labour Bureau under the Ministry of Labour and Employment will soon conduct an All-India Quarterly Establishment-based Employment Survey (AQEES) across nine various sectors including manufacturing, construction, trade, transportation, education, health, accommodation and restaurants, IT/BPO, and financial services sectors.  This survey is being carried out to study the change in trends in jobs across various industries due to the current circumstances. The survey will look at the rate and level of employment generation in the formal and informal sectors.  The two main components of the survey are, the Quarterly Employment Survey (QES) – responsible for establishments that contain at least ten workers – and the Area Frame Establishment Survey (AFES) – responsible for establishments employing nine or less than nine workers.  Recently, the Ministry of Labour has also revealed that the proposed migrant’s survey will examine the details of migrants, including their housing, finances, consumption expenditure, and financial inclusion.  It will also survey factors and demographics like the migrant’s gender, level of education, vocational/technical teaching, social group, and change in income post-migration to different places. This study will help the government by providing them with important information on the socio-economic front of the migrant workers in the country.  The technical part of the survey is planned to be carried out by a panel of experts.  Four surveys were scheduled to be undertaken and it was predicted to yield results by April 2021, but the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has delayed the process.

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NBE Releases Schedule for 2021-22 Medical Exams

National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Postgraduate (NEET PG) 2021 will be conducted on September 11, NEET Superspeciality (SS) 2021 will be held on November 13 and 14, and NEET MDS 2022 is scheduled for December 19. New Delhi: The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has announced tentative dates for different medical exams scheduled between July, 2021 and March 2022. National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Postgraduate (NEET PG) 2021 will be conducted on September 11, NEET Superspeciality (SS) 2021 will be held on November 13 and 14, and NEET MDS 2022 is scheduled for December 19, the NBE said. DNB-PDCET 2021 is scheduled for September 19 and FET 2021 for November 20, it said. Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) December 2021 session, and Foreign Dental Screening Test 2021 will be conducted on December 12. Fellowship Entrance Test (FET) 2021 will be held on November 20. NBE Medical Exam Calendar 2020-22 DNB/DrNB Final Practical Examinations – December 2020 Session – July/August, 2021 DNB/DrNB Final Theory Examinations – June 2021 Session – August 24, 25, 26, and 27 NEET-PG 2021 – September 11 DNB-PDCET 2021 – September 19 NBEMS Recruitment Test – September 20 DNB/DrNB Final Practical Examinations – June 2021 Session – November/December NEET-SS 2021 – November 13, 14 FET 2021 – November 20 FMGE December 2021 session – December 12 Foreign Dental Screening Test 2021 – December 12 DNB/DrNB Final Theory Examinations – December 2021 Session – December 16, 17, 18 and 19 NEET-MDS 2022 – December 19 Fellowship Exit Examination 2021 – February/March, 2022 “The candidates are advised to check the exact dates of examinations from the Information Bulletins/ NBEMS website as the above dates are purely tentative and subject to approvals & confirmations. Please refer to NBEMS website www.natboard.edu.in and https://nbe.edu.in for information bulletins, application forms and other details of these examinations as and when notified,” the NBE said in a statement. Source: Careers360

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