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Assam to Create New Graduate Teacher Posts in Schools, Says Himanta Sarma

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On Friday, the Assam cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, approved the creation of 1,766 new graduate teacher positions for mathematics in state schools. This decision was made during a state cabinet meeting held at Lok Sewa Bhawan in Guwahati. In addition to the new teacher positions, the cabinet also approved the recruitment of 221 third and fourth-grade positions in 11 polytechnics and two engineering colleges across the state. Chief Minister Sarma emphasized that the recruitment for these posts would be conducted by the governing bodies of the institutions, with salaries funded directly from the state budget, eliminating the need for outsourcing. The Assam cabinet also approved an increase in the number of constituencies for the Moran and Matak Autonomous Councils. The number of constituencies for both councils will be expanded from 22 to 27. Additionally, the cabinet approved the inclusion of 16 Bodo community-dominated villages from the Sonitpur and Biswanath districts into the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR).

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Centre Urges Four States to Implement RTE, Reserve 25% Seats in Private Unaided Schools

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The Centre has urged state governments to enforce the Right to Education (RTE) Act, which mandates reserving 25% of seats in private unaided schools for children from economically weaker sections. Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary informed the Rajya Sabha that states like Punjab, Kerala, Telangana, and West Bengal have not yet implemented this provision. During the Question Hour, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan emphasized that education, being a concurrent subject, requires joint efforts from both the Centre and states to ensure school education up to class 12 for all children. He noted that while there is nearly 100% enrollment in class 1 due to collective efforts, the number of students decreases in higher classes, which depends on the proactive measures taken by state governments. Pradhan highlighted that the RTE Act, along with the National Education Policy (NEP), aims to ensure inclusive education for all children until class 12. He acknowledged the previous government for framing the RTE, which includes a significant provision for reserving 25% of seats for underprivileged kids. He appealed to the non-compliant states to implement this provision to achieve universal education. AAP’s Vikramjit Singh Sahney inquired about the number of children covered under RTE and the government’s actions to regulate higher education fees. Chaudhary responded that the RTE, passed in 2009, prioritizes inclusive education for children from poor families and has provisions for reintegrating those who missed formal education. He noted that the Punjab government, under AAP, cited a sufficient number of government schools as a reason for not implementing the 25% quota. Sahney also raised concerns about the high cost of education from kindergarten to postgraduate levels. Chaudhary pointed out that while education is a concurrent subject, states have a significant role in fee regulation. He mentioned that several states have formulated policies to regulate fees and that investments in education have increased, with the Centre’s budget for education doubling over the last decade. AAP’s Swati Maliwal highlighted the exploitation by private schools forcing parents to buy expensive uniforms and books. Pradhan reiterated that education is primarily a state subject, and state governments should take stringent actions against such profiteering, with the Centre’s support.

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Empty Desks at This Over ₹12 Crore Worth Govt Polytechnic in Nagaland

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Nagaland has nine government polytechnics offering a range of trade-specific diploma courses, but one institution, Government Polytechnic Peren (GPP), has had zero enrollment for three consecutive years. Established in 2021, GPP offers short-term certificate and diploma programs in interior design, but there have been no takers since its inception. Despite having all necessary facilities, including faculty and staff, the institution struggles with student enrollment. GPP consists of four blocks, including a boys’ hostel, academic block, principal’s quarters, and two staff quarters. However, the lack of a girls’ hostel and poor road conditions from nearby Jalukie town hinder accessibility. An anonymous source revealed that the institution faces issues such as inadequate water supply, poor electricity connectivity until recently, and lack of internet services. The staff, about 15 including the principal and faculty, often visit the campus on a rotational basis for meetings and maintenance. This year, three students were selected through the diploma entrance exam for the interior designing program, but none enrolled. Officials attribute the lack of interest to the institution’s location and inadequate prior survey of the course’s demand. GPP was established with central financial assistance to state governments for setting up new polytechnics in unserved and underserved districts under the scheme of sub-mission on polytechnics. The scheme provided ₹12.3 crore per polytechnic for capital costs, with the state government responsible for providing the land and bearing recurring expenses. Despite the challenges, professional interior designers see potential for growth in the field in Nagaland. Asen Ao, a Dimapur-based interior designer, and Soren Odyuo, a Kohima-based interior and landscape designer, believe the scope for interior design is expanding in the state and encourage young aspirants to pursue it as a viable career alternative. GPP is situated in New Peren, around 15 km from Jalukie town and 30 km from Old Peren town, with the nearest airport and railway station in Dimapur, a two-hour drive away.

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IIT Roorkee Awards Degrees to 2,513 Students at 24th Convocation

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IIT Roorkee celebrated its 24th convocation, awarding degrees to 2,513 students—1,931 male and 582 female—in various disciplines. The convocation highlighted a significant increase in the proportion of graduating female students, rising from 18.84% in 2022 to 23.16% in 2024, demonstrating IIT Roorkee’s commitment to gender diversity and inclusion. A total of 1,277 students received undergraduate degrees, 704 were awarded postgraduate degrees, and 442 students earned doctoral degrees. The institute also recognized outstanding achievements with the President’s Gold Medal and the Director’s Gold Medal. Achintya Nath, a BTech graduate in Computer Science and Engineering, received the President’s Gold Medal for achieving the highest CGPA among undergraduate students admitted through JEE Advanced. Parth Sarthi Mishra, a BTech graduate in Electronics and Communication Engineering, was awarded the Director’s Gold Medal for his exceptional all-round performance among undergraduate students. The convocation was attended by Debjani Ghosh, President of NASSCOM, as the Chief Guest. The event was presided over by BVR Mohan Reddy, Chairperson of the Board of Governors.

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IGNOU Launches BA in Micro Small & Medium Enterprises Programme

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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.

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

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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.

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

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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.

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

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

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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.

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

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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.

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

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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.

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