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IGNOU Launches BA in Micro Small & Medium Enterprises Programme

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News on Education 13 ArdorComm Media Group IGNOU Launches BA in Micro Small & Medium Enterprises Programme

The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has announced the introduction of a new Bachelor of Arts in Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (BAMSME) programme. This programme, offered through the School of Vocational Education and Training (SOVET), is now open for applications for the July 2024 session. Interested candidates can apply through the official IGNOU website at ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in. The BAMSME programme is designed for individuals who have completed their 10+2 education. It aims to equip aspiring entrepreneurs with the essential skills and knowledge required to start and manage new business ventures. Offered via open and distance learning (ODL), the programme is accessible to a wide audience. It is structured to provide flexibility, with a minimum duration of three years, divided into six semesters, and a maximum duration of six years. Students are required to complete a total of 120 credits, earning 20 credits per semester. The medium of instruction is English, and the programme fee is set at Rs 5,100 per year, totaling Rs. 15,300 for the entire three-year course. According to an IGNOU statement, the primary objectives of the BAMSME programme are to facilitate the successful and profitable operation of business enterprises, enhance managerial skills, and offer an innovative, competency-based approach to entrepreneurship education. The curriculum covers crucial aspects of business operations, including finance and marketing, and aims to develop leadership qualities essential for both self-empowerment and the empowerment of others.

Education Ministry greenlights IIM-Guwahati courses starting next academic year, says Assam CM

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News on Education 12 ArdorComm Media Group Education Ministry greenlights IIM-Guwahati courses starting next academic year, says Assam CM

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that the Indian Institute of Management (IIM)-Guwahati will commence courses from the next academic year after receiving consent from Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Sarma held high-level discussions with several Union ministers, including Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Nirmala Sitharaman, and S. Jaishankar, to address various issues related to education, environment, power, and finance in the state. Key outcomes of the meetings include assurances on royalty settlements from hydrocarbon industries, support for Assam’s Teacher Training Institute, and measures to augment technical education in the state. The ministers also discussed climate change mitigation efforts, enhancing Assam’s energy security, developing urban wetlands, and leveraging central schemes to boost the state’s infrastructure and economic resilience. The decision to commence courses at IIM-Guwahati from the next academic year is a significant milestone for the state’s higher education landscape. The institute is expected to attract top talent and contribute to the development of skilled professionals in Assam and the region.

Didn’t have the Courage to Sit for IIT Entrance’: ISRO Chief S Somanath Earns PhD from IIT-Madras

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News on Education 11 ArdorComm Media Group Didn’t have the Courage to Sit for IIT Entrance’: ISRO Chief S Somanath Earns PhD from IIT-Madras

S Somanath, the 60-year-old chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), received his PhD from IIT-Madras on Friday. Despite being the topper in the state for science, Somanath revealed, “I did not have the courage to write an entrance for IIT.” Speaking at the 61st convocation ceremony of IIT-Madras, Somanath, who was born in a village in Kerala, received his PhD degree for a thesis titled “Vibration Response Studies on Modified Hyper Elastic Material Models for Application in Aerospace Systems.” He expressed his deep connection to the topic, stating, “It is related to vibration isolators, which I started as an engineer in ISRO years ago. But this remained with me.” Somanath began his doctoral studies while working on the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLV Mk III) project. However, the demands of his work at ISRO forced him to put his studies on hold. He shared, “Since I was immersed in that work then, I couldn’t take forward my PhD. It is a real good fortune that I could complete it after having assumed the office of chairman of ISRO. It is really a great honour.” Under Somanath’s leadership, ISRO achieved significant milestones, including the Chandrayaan-3 mission, which made India the first country to land near the south pole of the Moon, and the launch of India’s first solar observatory, Aditya-L1. The degree was awarded to him by IIT-M Director Prof V Kamakoti and Dr Pawan Goenka, Chairman of the Board of Governors, IIT-M. The convocation ceremony at IIT-Madras was attended by 2,636 graduates, their families, and guests. Among the graduates were 764 B.Tech students, 277 Dual Degree B.Tech and M.Tech students, and 481 M.Tech students. The event also featured a speech by Mechanical Engineering student Dhananjay Balakrishnan, who highlighted the ethical responsibilities of engineers in the context of global conflicts. “There is a mass genocide going on in Palestine. People are dying in large numbers and there is no end in sight. Why should we bother by this, you may ask? Because STEM as a field in itself has historically been used to advance the ulterior motives of the imperial powers such as Israel,” he said.

CBI Claims Major Breakthrough in NEET-UG Exam Paper Leak with Arrests in Patna

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News on Education 10 ArdorComm Media Group CBI Claims Major Breakthrough in NEET-UG Exam Paper Leak with Arrests in Patna

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) announced Tuesday a major breakthrough in its investigation into the NEET-UG exam paper leak with the arrest of two men in Patna. Among the arrested is Pankaj Kumar, also known as Aditya, a Bokaro resident and 2017 civil engineering graduate from NIT-Jamshedpur. Kumar is accused of stealing a sealed question paper box from an aluminium trunk sent by the National Testing Agency (NTA) to Hazaribag after tampering with it. His arrest followed that of Rajkumar Singh, a guest house owner in Hazaribag, who allegedly assisted Kumar in stealing and passing the papers to exam mafias, according to sources. NIT Jamshedpur spokesperson Sunil Bhagat said it is difficult to comment on Kumar’s conduct during his college days. “The college has to visit the record book to know about his performance in the semester exams,” he said. The arrests could uncover the origin of the conspiracy and the extent of the nationwide network involved in the paper leak, according to sources. Earlier, the CBI arrested Ehsanul Haque, the sacked principal of Oasis School (NEET centre in Hazaribag), vice principal M Imtiaz Alam, and Hazaribag journalist Jamaluddin. Sources revealed that the private school principal and vice principal mentioned Rajkumar’s guest house during questioning. Journalist Jamaluddin allegedly provided Rajkumar’s name during his interrogation, linking them to the paper leak conspiracy. Some examinees were allegedly kept at Rajkumar’s guest house, where they were given the leaked questions and answers to memorize a day before the exam. Nine sets of question papers were dispatched from SBI Hazaribag to various exam centres. The papers received by Oasis School had tampered seals, leading to the discovery of the school’s involvement. NTA provided details about a partially-burnt question paper found at a play school in Patna’s Khemnichak area, which served as a safe house for medical aspirants.

Hazaribag School Centre Faces Retest for CUET-UG Amid Paper Leak Allegations

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News on Education 9 ArdorComm Media Group Hazaribag School Centre Faces Retest for CUET-UG Amid Paper Leak Allegations

The Hazaribag school centre, under scrutiny for an alleged NEET-UG paper leak, is back in the news. Out of 1,000 CUET-UG aspirants for whom the National Testing Agency (NTA) is conducting a retest on July 19, 250 candidates are from Oasis Public School in Hazaribag. According to NTA sources, the retest is necessary due to the distribution of question papers in a language not chosen by the candidates and issues with “missing data” for some aspirants. The agency announced the retest schedule on Sunday but did not address the delay in the results, which are already over two weeks late. The final answer key has also not been released. The official notification on Sunday stated that grievances submitted by candidates up to June 30, and complaints sent to rescuetug@nta.ac.in between July 7-9 (before 05.00pm) have been reviewed. The re-examination will be conducted for the affected candidates on July 19 in computer-based test mode. The public notice did not specify the number of candidates or the nature of the grievances. However, sources indicate multiple issues, including “missing data” for some aspirants. According to NTA sources, the “1,000 candidates are spread across six states, and some grievances include time lost due to the distribution of the wrong question paper.” The distribution of incorrect question papers also occurred during the NEET-UG exam on May 5, leading NTA to grant grace marks for the lost time. However, following opposition and pleas in Supreme Court against the inflation of marks, NTA withdrew the results and announced a retest for 1,563 candidates, 813 of whom attended the exam on June 23. Sources also mentioned that NTA has not been able to retrieve data for some candidates. “Some data are missing, so these candidates will have to take the test again on July 19,” said the source, without revealing how the data was misplaced. This raises questions about how long NTA will take to release the results. Initially scheduled for June 30, the results were delayed due to the paper leak allegations involving NEET-UG and UGC-NET. On July 7, the agency released the provisional answer key for CUET-UG 2024, indicating a retest for candidates if grievances were validated. “Initially, it was decided to announce the results for the remaining candidates before the retest, and subsequently for the rest. However, a final decision is yet to be made,” said the source, indicating further uncertainty. Delhi University has already indicated that a three-week delay in results would delay the university’s academic calendar by two weeks. It now appears the delay will extend to nearly four weeks, further affecting the academic calendar for the first-year undergraduate students for the 262 participating universities.

Rajasthan Education Dept Asks Students and Teachers to Plant Trees for Extra Marks

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News on Education 7 ArdorComm Media Group Rajasthan Education Dept Asks Students and Teachers to Plant Trees for Extra Marks

The Education Department of Rajasthan has introduced a new initiative where students and teachers will be awarded five extra marks for planting trees. This scheme aims to help students who score low marks in exams and teachers who need performance improvement. The initiative will see every child in government schools across Rajasthan responsible for planting five trees on the school premises, with each tree tagged with the student’s name and details. The number of trees that survive until the end of the school session will determine the number of extra marks added to the student’s annual report card, with each tree worth one point. For teachers, if a tree they plant survives for a year, it will contribute to their total points for transfer considerations. This policy, called ‘Plant A Tree Get A Number,’ emphasizes the government’s focus on tree plantation. Additionally, the Panchayati Raj Department has mandated a statewide tree plantation drive on August 8, during which Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma will inaugurate the Amrit Mahotsav of tree plantation. If more than 200 saplings are planted in a village, the government will provide a helper, and geotagging of saplings will be conducted. The BJP-led government in Rajasthan is committed to increasing the state’s green cover, planning to plant 7 crore trees in a massive plantation drive. An investment of Rs 4,000 crore over five years under Mission Hariyalo Rajasthan has been announced. Furthermore, to reduce pollution and carbon emissions, an electric-vehicle-based transport system will be introduced in tiger reserves like Ranthambore and Sariska for pilgrims visiting Trintetra Ganeshji and Pandupole.

Meghalaya Government to Include QR Codes in School Textbooks to Help Students

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News on Education 6 ArdorComm Media Group Meghalaya Government to Include QR Codes in School Textbooks to Help Students

The Meghalaya government is set to integrate QR codes into school textbooks, allowing students to access additional information using smartphones, according to Education Secretary A Marak. This initiative aims to enhance students’ time management skills and empower them with supplementary knowledge options. “We are adding quick response (QR) codes to school textbooks that will be embedded with additional information on a particular subject. The aim is to reinforce students’ ability to manage time well and gain further knowledge as per one’s choice,” Marak told the media. Benefits of QR Codes “By scanning QR codes with mobile devices, students can access educational apps featuring video lessons and solved question papers, thereby reducing the time spent searching for study materials and enabling greater focus on learning,” he said. Director of the Directorate of Educational Research and Training (DERT), R Manner, emphasized the benefits of QR codes embedded in specific textbooks, noting their potential to significantly aid students seeking self-improvement in particular subjects. Meghalaya Education Minister on QR Codes in Textbooks Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma praised the initiative, underscoring the government’s commitment to ensuring students in Meghalaya have access to comprehensive educational resources.

Chhattisgarh Moves to Offer Primary Education in 18 Local Languages and Dialects

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News on Education 5 ArdorComm Media Group Chhattisgarh Moves to Offer Primary Education in 18 Local Languages and Dialects

The Chhattisgarh government has initiated a move to provide primary education in local languages and dialects in remote tribal regions as part of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. This policy recommends that the mother tongue or the local language be the medium of instruction at least up to the fifth standard. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has directed the State Education Department to develop and distribute bilingual books in 18 local languages and dialects for free, focusing on providing high-quality educational resources. “The new initiative of providing education in local language will also be helpful in preserving local culture and traditions,” Sai said while addressing the state-level ‘Shala Praveshotsav’ programme at Bagiya village in the tribal-dominated Jashpur district. The Shala Praveshotsav is an annual event held at the beginning of the new academic session to motivate children to enroll in schools. This year, it was moved from the state capital Raipur to Bagiya, the CM’s hometown. The literacy rate of Chhattisgarh is 70.28%, lower than the national average of 76%. School Education Secretary Siddharth Komal Pardeshi mentioned that courses will be prepared in several languages, including Chhattisgarhi, spoken by 65.83% of Class 1 students; Sargujiha (spoken by 9.38%); Halbi (4.19%); Sadari (3.97%); Gondi-Dantewada (2.33%); and Kudukh (0.7%). An Education Department official stated that in tribal areas, primary school exams can also be taken in local languages and dialects. “But for higher classes, it will still be conducted in Hindi and English,” the official said.  

Students to move Supreme Court after centre cancelled controversial-NEET exam

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News on Education 4 ArdorComm Media Group Students to move Supreme Court after centre cancelled controversial-NEET exam

Over 50 successful Gujarat-based NEET-UG candidates, including several top rankers, have moved the Supreme Court seeking a direction to restrain the Centre and the National Testing Agency (NTA) from cancelling the controversy-ridden exam. They have requested the top court to direct the Union education ministry to investigate and take strict action against students and others who indulged in unfair practices like paper leak and impersonation in the NEET-UG exam conducted on May 5 this year. A fresh plea by 56 students was filed just days before a Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud is scheduled to hear 26 petitions seeking various reliefs, including a re-test and a probe into the conduct of the exam, which has been plagued by allegations of malpractices. These allegations, including paper leaks, have led to protests in several cities and disputes between rival political parties. The pleas seeking the cancellation of the exam, a re-test, and a high-level probe are listed for hearing on July 8 in the Supreme Court.

NEET-PG To Be Conducted This Month, Question Paper To Be Prepared Two Hours Before Exam: Report

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News on Education 2nd ArdorComm Media Group NEET-PG To Be Conducted This Month, Question Paper To Be Prepared Two Hours Before Exam: Report

The NEET-PG exam for admission to postgraduate medical courses is reportedly set to be held later this month. This development follows a meeting between the Home Ministry and officials from the government’s anti-cybercrime body. In a significant shift, the question paper will now be prepared just two hours before the exam, according to NDTV sources. Originally scheduled for June 23, the NEET-PG exam was abruptly postponed hours before its start amid a row over alleged irregularities, including leaked question papers for the undergraduate exam. The government had then said it would “undertake a thorough assessment of the robustness of processes of NEET-PG, conducted by the National Board of Examinations for medical students.” The cancellation of the exam, which saw the enrollment of thousands of aspiring medical professionals, led to widespread protests, particularly from those who had traveled long distances to take the test. Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan appointed a high-level committee to investigate the complaints. The suspension of the NEET-PG exam followed public outcry over similar issues with the NEET-UG and UGC-NET tests. These exams, which play a pivotal role in confirming professorial appointments and awarding research fellowships, have been under scrutiny for potential irregularities. Minister Pradhan recently confirmed student reports that NEET-UG and UGC-NET questions were being sold on the darknet, spotlighting the National Testing Agency (NTA), responsible for conducting both exams. This revelation led to the removal of the NTA’s chief, SK Singh. The UGC-NET exam is now rescheduled to be held from July 25 to 27, while the NEET-PG exam will be organized from August 21 to September 4.