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Gujarat Rolls Out AI Action Plan to Revolutionize Governance by 2030

/ Governance Community
Ardorcomm news

The Gujarat government has approved a comprehensive Artificial Intelligence (AI) Implementation Action Plan for 2025–2030, signaling a major step toward embedding AI technologies into its governance and public service mechanisms. Endorsed by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, the initiative is geared toward enhancing service delivery, optimizing administrative efficiency, and leveraging AI across key sectors including healthcare, education, agriculture, and finance. This strategic blueprint, developed by the Department of Science and Technology and shaped by insights from a 10-member AI Taskforce, aligns with national development visions such as Viksit Gujarat@2047 and Viksit Bharat@2047. It also supports the Centre’s push under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership to integrate AI into governance, public policy, and digital infrastructure. The five-year roadmap highlights six core areas: Data Security and Compliance: Establishing a trusted, regulation-friendly data environment. Infrastructure Development: Expanding GPU- and cloud-powered digital frameworks, with plans to launch AI factories in smaller cities. Skilling Initiatives: Training 2.5 lakh individuals—including students, MSMEs, and government personnel—in AI, machine learning, and emerging technologies. Research & Industry Collaboration: Fostering academic-industry partnerships to develop real-world AI models tailored for governance. Startup Support: Boosting DeepTech innovation with funding, mentorship, and incubation for startups. Responsible AI: Instituting auditing systems, safety protocols, and ethical guidelines to ensure transparent and secure AI deployment. Implementation will be phased, beginning with the creation of a state-level AI data repository and the establishment of AI development hubs. Pilot programs will be rolled out in select government departments to test and refine AI use cases. To guide the initiative, a dedicated AI and Deep Tech Mission will be established—tasked with overseeing project design, monitoring, and cross-sectoral collaboration. Gujarat has already laid strong groundwork in the AI space, launching an AI Centre of Excellence at GIFT City, organizing capacity-building workshops for civil servants, and initiating efforts to develop Indian language-based AI solutions. The state also conducted an AI Innovation Challenge to source practical AI applications from innovators and entrepreneurs. With this action plan, Gujarat positions itself at the forefront of AI-enabled governance, aiming to create a smarter, more responsive, and future-ready administrative ecosystem. Source: The Hindu Photo Credit: PTI  

Gujarat Rolls Out AI Action Plan to Revolutionize Governance by 2030 Read More »

CBSE, UNESCO Scale Up Health and Wellness Education to Impact 30,000 Schools Nationwide

/ Education Community
Ardorcomm news

In a significant step toward integrating holistic health education into India’s school system, CBSE, UNESCO, and NCERT are expanding their collaborative School Health and Wellness Programme (SHWP) to 30,000 CBSE-affiliated schools across the country. The initiative, which began under the Ayushman Bharat mission in 2020, aims to positively influence the lives of nearly 15 million students by promoting mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Building a Network of Master Trainers Throughout June and July 2025, over 290 school leaders—comprising principals, teachers, and administrators—from 22 states and five union territories participated in a comprehensive training workshop held in Delhi. These individuals will serve as master trainers, cascading their knowledge and tools to educators across India to deliver health and wellness content effectively. The training sessions emphasized early intervention and the importance of understanding students’ socio-emotional environments. Prof. Dinesh Prasad Saklani, Director of NCERT, stressed that many student challenges originate outside the classroom. With proper training, teachers can better identify these issues and respond with empathy and support. A Curriculum Rooted in NEP 2020 Values Speaking at the workshop, Anandrao V Patil, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Education, underscored how wellness and inclusive education go hand in hand, echoing the core principles of the National Education Policy 2020. He described educators as catalysts of social change, pivotal in shaping compassionate and resilient individuals. UNESCO’s South Asia Director, Tim Curtis, reinforced the belief that health and education are deeply interconnected. “Every trained teacher and every wellness conversation is a step closer to learner-centered systems,” he said. Multilingual Learning Tools for Lifelong Impact To support the initiative, NCERT and UNESCO have co-developed a 24-hour wellness curriculum, featuring training modules, handbooks, animated videos, and comics. These resources focus on 11 essential wellness themes—including mental health, gender sensitivity, online safety, and reproductive health—and are available in English, Hindi, and nine regional languages to ensure wider accessibility. Since 2022, NCERT has conducted eleven intensive five-day workshops, resulting in 970 trained master trainers. These professionals are now instrumental in guiding teacher development across CBSE’s regional Centres of Excellence. To date, over 40,000 teachers have been trained through more than 750 workshops nationwide. Rather than treating health education as a supplementary activity, SHWP is helping schools embed wellness into the very fabric of everyday learning—redefining education as a means to nurture both the mind and the heart. Source: India Today

CBSE, UNESCO Scale Up Health and Wellness Education to Impact 30,000 Schools Nationwide Read More »

India Records Over 7,000 Suspected Heatstroke Cases and 14 Confirmed Deaths Amid Rising Temperatures

/ Health & Wellness Community
Ardorcomm news

Between March 1 and June 24, 2025, India recorded 7,192 suspected cases of heatstroke and 14 confirmed deaths due to extreme heat, according to data obtained by PTI through the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The information, provided by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), points to a growing public health concern amid soaring temperatures, as India experiences one of its hottest years on record since 1901. Majority of Heatstroke Cases Reported in May May proved to be the most critical month, with 2,962 suspected cases and three confirmed deaths. In April, there were 2,140 suspected cases and six confirmed fatalities, while March saw 705 cases and two deaths. Up to June 24, June added another 1,385 suspected cases and three confirmed fatalities. Andhra Pradesh emerged as the worst-hit state, reporting 4,055 suspected cases — more than half the national total during the period. Other significantly affected states included Rajasthan (373 cases), Odisha (350), Telangana (348), and Madhya Pradesh (297). Gaps in Death Reporting Highlight Systemic Flaws Despite the high number of suspected cases, many states, including those with hundreds of reported incidents, recorded few or no confirmed deaths. Maharashtra and Uttarakhand topped the list of confirmed fatalities, each reporting three deaths. Telangana, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal each reported one. Experts and officials say the actual toll is likely much higher than reported due to systemic shortcomings in data collection and diagnosis. NCDC’s figures are based on reports from hospitals under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), leaving out cases that go untreated or undiagnosed, especially those occurring outside medical facilities. A health ministry official, speaking anonymously, acknowledged these limitations: “We only capture a fraction of real cases. Many deaths go unclassified due to lack of capacity, staff, and timely reporting in hospitals.” Inconsistent Records Across Agencies India’s fragmented approach to tracking heat-related illnesses was further exposed in a PTI investigation. For the 2015–2022 period, three government agencies reported vastly different numbers: NCDC cited 3,812 heat-related deaths, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) recorded 8,171, and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) listed 3,436. Discrepancies are further worsened by states failing to provide complete or timely data. In previous years, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Bihar, Karnataka, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, and West Bengal have all been inconsistent in their reporting, with some reportedly underreporting deaths to avoid paying compensation. Heat-Related Deaths Often Misclassified Abhiyant Tiwari, Climate Resilience and Health Lead at NRDC India, emphasized the difficulty of accurately linking deaths to heat exposure. “Many are recorded as heart attacks or other conditions. To understand the true impact, we must look at excess mortality during heatwaves,” he said. Soumya Swaminathan, advisor to the Health Ministry, echoed the call for reform. “We need stronger death certification and reporting systems. Reliable data is essential for shaping effective climate and health policies,” she noted. As climate change intensifies the frequency and severity of heatwaves, the lack of a unified, robust national surveillance system remains a serious barrier to India’s readiness and response. Source: Economic Times  

India Records Over 7,000 Suspected Heatstroke Cases and 14 Confirmed Deaths Amid Rising Temperatures Read More »

Dr. Tanuja Pokhariyal, Principal, Doon International Public School, Rishikesh shares her insights at ArdorComm Education Leadership Summit & Awards 2025 in Dehradun

/ Interviews
Tanuja Pokhariyal

Welcome to the event! Could you please introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your school? Thank you! I am Dr. Tanuja Pokhariyal, Principal of Doon International Public School in Rishikesh. It’s a CBSE-affiliated school, running from Nursery to Grade 12. We are located in the spiritual city of Rishikesh—Tapovan and Devbhoomi. Our school caters to over 1,300 students, most of whom come from middle-class backgrounds. While many parents may not be fully aware of the opportunities in education and technology, we at the school strive to expose both students and parents to the evolving educational landscape. Our teachers work very hard to bridge that gap. How has your experience been so far at the ArdorComm Media event? It’s truly a great opportunity for leaders like us. What’s amazing is that people from diverse backgrounds—education, technology, AI—have gathered here, and we get to interact with them and learn. I visited a few counters where they discussed AI integration into the curriculum and shared tools being used to enhance classroom learning. It’s been a pleasure being part of this platform. The presence of VCs, professors, principals—so many knowledgeable people—makes it a learning ground for all, not just the speakers. We’re not only talking about tech and AI, but also how it impacts society and how students should be guided to use these technologies ethically. ArdorComm Media is celebrating its fourth anniversary today. Would you like to share a few words? First of all, congratulations to ArdorComm Media on completing four successful years! You’ve organized this event wonderfully. The platform brings together the right people and organizations—it’s very well curated. Events like this give all of us, including schools, colleges, and universities, valuable exposure. Wishing you all the best for your future journey, and we definitely look forward to being part of more such events.

Dr. Tanuja Pokhariyal, Principal, Doon International Public School, Rishikesh shares her insights at ArdorComm Education Leadership Summit & Awards 2025 in Dehradun Read More »

Pratibha Saran, Owner, Happy Home Montessori School, Rishikesh shares insights at ArdorComm Education Leadership Summit & Awards 2025 in Dehradun

/ Interviews
Pratibha Saran

We’re very glad to have you here with us at the event. Could you please introduce yourself? I’m Pratibha, and I look after the complete academics and day-to-day functioning at Happy Home Montessori School. Besides this, I’m also a member of the Government’s ‘Namami Gange’ project. Additionally, I work with the Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas, an organization that works towards promoting education and culture across all 13 districts of Uttarakhand, especially in the area of language development. You will be one of the eminent speakers at the Roundtable discussion, how does it feel to be part of this event? I feel extremely glad and honored to join this event. I’m really looking forward to learning about the kind of work other educators are doing in the field of education. Your media company is doing a commendable job, especially in Dehradun, where we’ve been observing educational developments for the past 25 years. You’re helping take that work forward, and I’m excited to witness it today. Being part of this platform is a great opportunity for me to learn and grow. ArdorComm Media is celebrating its 4th anniversary. Would you like to share a message for us? You’re doing a truly great job for our future generations — our students. You’re providing them with better opportunities, and that’s highly appreciated. My best wishes to ArdorComm Media for continued success.  

Pratibha Saran, Owner, Happy Home Montessori School, Rishikesh shares insights at ArdorComm Education Leadership Summit & Awards 2025 in Dehradun Read More »

Ravi Shankar, IAS, Secretary – Skill Development & Employment Department, Government of Uttarakhand shares valuable insights at ArdorComm Education Leadership Summit & Awards 2025 in Dehradun

/ Interviews

We’re honored to have with us today Mr. C. Ravi Shankar, IAS, Secretary, Skill Development & Employment Department, Government of Uttarakhand. Thank you for joining us. How do you feel about today’s event? Thank you for inviting me. This is a very good platform to discuss diverse and meaningful ideas. I’m glad to be part of this gathering. This event brings together stakeholders across the education spectrum – from KG to PG, along with representation from skilling institutions, corporates, EdTechs, and government bodies. How do you see such convergence benefitting society? It’s the need of the hour. Academia, industry, and all institutional stakeholders must collaborate to tap our demographic dividend, which is expected to peak by 2041. If we miss this window, what is now an opportunity could turn into a crisis. Ensuring our youth are employable through lifelong skilling is essential, and such platforms help align collective efforts. You emphasize lifelong skilling. How should we begin embedding this mindset right from school to higher education? Skilling must be holistic—not trend-based or superficial. We need to focus on fundamentals that remain unaffected by technological disruptions, such as leadership, collaboration, analytical reasoning, emotional intelligence, ethics, and empathy. These should be taught right from the anganwadi or preschool level. Simultaneously, we must introduce students to emerging technologies. In higher education and short-term programs, only skills that meet current industrial demands should be prioritized. The National Education Policy’s emphasis on practical learning, like the dual system of training (DST), is a step in the right direction. Could you elaborate on some of the key skilling initiatives taken by the Uttarakhand Skill Development Department? Certainly. One of our flagship initiatives is the Dual System of Training (DST). We have 87 ITIs in Uttarakhand, and over 30 of them have already implemented DST. The model is simple: 50% classroom training and 50% industry exposure. In a two-year course, one year is spent in the classroom and the next in real-world industry settings—directly addressing employability. We’ve also established eight Centers of Excellence in collaboration with industry partners, equipped with industry-grade tools and machines. These function as finishing schools, helping students bridge employability gaps post-education. Moreover, we’ve introduced foreign language training in select government nursing colleges to enhance global employability.  These are a few initiatives that we can tell about right now there are a lot more in the pipeline and the higher education department, technical education department, everyone is contributing to this holistic objective. So, this is how we perceive that demographic dividend can be fully tapped. ArdorComm Media has just completed its fourth anniversary. Any thoughts or message for the team? First of all, full of gratitude! What you’ve achieved in just four years—bringing together stakeholders, driving dialogue, and aligning policy perspectives—is commendable. These sessions don’t just unite minds; they align efforts. We often need to pause and assess whether we’re on the right path—and platforms like yours help us do exactly that. I hope this summit results in actionable recommendations that influence policy and practice. Wishing ArdorComm Media continued success and many more impactful initiatives ahead.  

Ravi Shankar, IAS, Secretary – Skill Development & Employment Department, Government of Uttarakhand shares valuable insights at ArdorComm Education Leadership Summit & Awards 2025 in Dehradun Read More »

Lalit Rautela, Managing Director, Pioneers Academy, Jaspur, Kashipur shares insights at ArdorComm Education Leadership Summit & Awards 2025 in Dehradun

/ Interviews
Lalit Rautela

How do you feel coming to the ArdorComm Media event? Oh, it’s a wonderful event. Thank you for having me here. It’s my privilege to be part of this event with such stalwarts. It was nice, really good. You were a speaker in Panel 1, which had a mix of school and higher education leaders. How was your experience being part of that panel? It was a wonderful experience, especially with professors among us. I represent the school community, but I shared my perspective on NEP. I see NEP as a reset button—not to erase our past, but to reconnect and reclaim our educational glory. It was a great experience sharing my thoughts. We’re celebrating ArdorComm Media’s fourth anniversary this year. Would you like to share a message for us? You’ve hosted a wonderful gathering here, and I wish you all the best for a bright and better future.

Lalit Rautela, Managing Director, Pioneers Academy, Jaspur, Kashipur shares insights at ArdorComm Education Leadership Summit & Awards 2025 in Dehradun Read More »

Commander Monika Pande, Principal, Doon Global School, Dehradun says Self-Discipline is the Foundation of True Learning, at ArdorComm Education Leadership Summit & Awards 2025 in Dehradun

/ Interviews
Commander Monika Pande

Could you tell us more about your school? Doon Global School is located in Jhajra, Dehradun, and we have around 800 students, including 150 boarding students. The school is progressing well. We are aligned with the NEP and focus on inclusive education—welcoming differently-abled students as well. It’s important not just for them to learn from us, but also for us to learn from them. Empathy develops naturally in such an environment. We’re implementing innovative practices like bagless days, activity-based learning, and vocational courses from pre-primary up to Class 12. You also come from a defence background. How does your school approach discipline and sports? Discipline, to me, begins with self-discipline. As educators, we can guide and mentor, but a child must take responsibility for their own education. That’s where real learning begins. When leaders show self-discipline, others follow. Regarding sports, our school has excellent facilities—futsal, box cricket, obstacle courses, outdoor gyms, table tennis, basketball, and more. We believe in balancing academics with physical activity because a healthy mind resides in a healthy body. You’ve seen the event’s mix of school and higher education leaders, corporates, and government representatives. How do you see this platform benefiting the education community? A big thank you for creating this kind of platform. It may seem small, but it sparks ideas and conversations that can lead to larger changes. Meeting like-minded people, sharing perspectives—it gives us immense joy and learning. So truly, salute to you and your team. ArdorComm Media just completed 4 years as a media startup. Any message or good wishes you’d like to share? My heartfelt blessings and good wishes. May you grow manifold in the coming years and continue strengthening this incredible journey. It’s been a pleasure to be part of this event. Looking forward to many more.

Commander Monika Pande, Principal, Doon Global School, Dehradun says Self-Discipline is the Foundation of True Learning, at ArdorComm Education Leadership Summit & Awards 2025 in Dehradun Read More »

Dr. D. B. Singh, Vice Chancellor, Haridwar University, Roorkee emphasizes on true collaboration, at ArdorComm Education Leadership Summit & Awards 2025 in Dehradun

/ Interviews
Dr. D. B. Singh

Welcome, Professor Dr. Dharam Bir Singh. We’re honoured to have you with us. Could you tell us a bit about Haridwar University? Thank you so much. Haridwar University started in 2023, so we’re still quite a young institution. Being a new university comes with both opportunities and challenges. But we see great potential—sky is the limit. We currently offer programmes under five faculties: Engineering, Business Studies, Pharmacy, Nursing, and Agriculture. That’s a wide range—from medical sciences to management. How important do you think skilling is, and do you see a gap between skilling and employability? Yes, definitely. There is a gap. Students often have strong theoretical knowledge but lack hands-on skills and practical exposure. Bridging this gap is essential. We are already working with partners who specialise in providing enough skill training to our students. How has Haridwar University been implementing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020?   We’ve taken major steps this year. Earlier, we were affiliated with Uttarakhand Technical University, but now we have the autonomy to revise our curriculum. We’ve redesigned our syllabi in line with NEP 2020 and have included all the required components to meet the policy guidelines. Today’s event features stakeholders from schools to higher education, EdTech, skill development, and even government officials—truly a KG to PG representation. How do you think such forums benefit the academic community and society? This is a fine example of true collaboration. All stakeholders—schools, universities, corporates, and the government—must come together to work toward the common goal of student development. After all, today’s students are tomorrow’s citizens and leaders. Collective action is the only way forward. What has been your takeaway from the event so far? It’s been a wonderful experience. I attended a session with school principals and directors discussing real challenges in the education space. The conversations were insightful and solution-driven. I also visited several exhibition stalls, where I learned about various services being offered. Overall, a truly enriching day so far. We recently celebrated our fourth anniversary as a media startup. Would you like to share a message for ArdorComm Media Group? As they say, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step—and you have already taken four big ones. You’re calling yourself a small startup, but I see it from a different lens. I believe you are on a path to achieving much more than you’ve imagined. My best wishes to the entire team.

Dr. D. B. Singh, Vice Chancellor, Haridwar University, Roorkee emphasizes on true collaboration, at ArdorComm Education Leadership Summit & Awards 2025 in Dehradun Read More »

Anurag Singh, Director, Samar Study Group of Schools, Kashipur, emphasizes on Learning Through Collaboration at ArdorComm Education Leadership Summit & Awards 2025 in Dehradun

/ Interviews
Anurag Singh

How do you feel attending the ArdorComm Media event today? I think it’s a very great opportunity for all of us. The kind of learning that we get here—because life is all about learning—is tremendous. There are so many principals, owners from different schools, universities, and colleges. This education hub you’ve created and the people you’ve brought together, I’m certain we’ll all take something valuable back with us. How was your experience participating in the panel sessions with other eminent education leaders? As I said earlier, when you’re sharing a point, it often stems from something another speaker has shared. That’s where my point about collaboration comes in. When we’re speaking, we need to pay attention to what others are saying, take their views into cognizance, and then present our own perspectives. That way, people can connect the dots and gain a holistic understanding. ArdorComm Media is celebrating its fourth anniversary, could you share a few words about us? This was my first interaction with ArdorComm, and I’ve been engaging with you during the lead-up to the event—it was all very seamless. The promotion of the event, the people you’ve brought together—it’s impressive. I think for education in the long run, this initiative will prove to be fantastic. Kudos to you guys.

Anurag Singh, Director, Samar Study Group of Schools, Kashipur, emphasizes on Learning Through Collaboration at ArdorComm Education Leadership Summit & Awards 2025 in Dehradun Read More »