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Microsoft Drops Diversity and Inclusion as Core Criteria in Employee Reviews

/ Human Resource Community

Microsoft has removed diversity and inclusion as mandatory companywide priorities in employee performance evaluations, signalling a major shift from the commitments it amplified after the 2020 George Floyd protests, according to reports from The Verge and Game File. The update, rolled out last month through Microsoft’s internal Connect system, eliminates required questions that previously asked employees to outline how their work contributed to a “more diverse and inclusive Microsoft.” These DEI-related prompts, along with similar security-impact questions, were once integral to annual reviews. The company announced the revision quietly via a Viva Engage post, describing it as part of a “simplification” of its core priorities—now simply called “goals.” Adding to the changes, Wired reported that Microsoft will not release its annual diversity and inclusion report this year, ending more than a decade of public transparency on workforce representation. Chief Communications Officer Frank Shaw said the company is moving toward “more dynamic and accessible” storytelling formats, even as internal HR documents now refer only to “inclusion,” not “diversity.” The policy shift comes after growing political pressure, including an executive order by former President Donald Trump targeting corporate DEI programs. Microsoft had already laid off its internal DEI team in July 2024, with the team lead reportedly noting that such initiatives were no longer considered “business critical” as they were in 2020. Employee reactions to the latest rollback have been divided. Some workers told The Verge the initial DEI requirements always felt “performative,” while others saw the retreat as expected—especially after CEO Satya Nadella invited Elon Musk to speak at Microsoft Build, angering employee groups like GLEAM, which represents LGBTQIA+ staff and allies. Despite these moves, Microsoft spokesperson Jeff Jones maintained: “Our D&I commitments remain unchanged. Our focus on diversity and inclusion is unwavering.” Source: TOI

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J&K Government Plans Single-Window Digital Platform to Streamline Recruitment Processes

/ Education Community

The Jammu and Kashmir government is gearing up for a major digital reform aimed at transforming recruitment procedures across all departments through a unified online system, officials confirmed on Saturday. Satish Sharma, Minister for Administrative Reforms, Inspections (ARI) and Trainings, chaired a high-level meeting to review the proposal. He stressed the need for simplifying administrative operations to ensure efficiency, transparency, and timely decision-making within government departments. According to an official spokesperson, the proposed Single Window Digital System will centralize the process of drafting and amending recruitment rules, paving the way for uniform policy enforcement and faster execution. Commending the ARI & Training Department for conceptualizing the initiative, Sharma directed that the system’s design and rollout be expedited in coordination with the General Administration Department (GAD), Finance, Law, and the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC). He highlighted that inter-departmental collaboration and accountability must be maintained throughout implementation. “This digital platform will eliminate administrative bottlenecks, ensure transparency, and bring consistency in recruitment practices across all departments,” Sharma said. “By integrating real-time monitoring and public access features, it will strengthen accountability and reinforce citizen trust in governance.” The minister instructed that the new system be linked with the existing E-Office framework, alongside capacity-building programs for departmental nodal officers to facilitate smooth adoption. The initiative envisions several benefits — including a uniform recruitment policy, reduced paperwork, quicker file processing, improved coordination between departments, and enhanced transparency through online tracking. As per the proposed model, the platform will feature secure departmental logins, digital templates for proposals, online routing among ARI & Training, Finance, Law, GAD, and JKPSC, and a centralized archive for all approved recruitment rules and amendments. It will also provide real-time SMS and email notifications, performance dashboards, escalation mechanisms for delays, and strong data protection protocols. Departments will be required to submit recruitment proposals within 30 days, followed by a 10-day processing window for each stakeholder department, ensuring final approval from the GAD within a fixed timeframe. The move, officials said, represents a decisive step towards a paperless, transparent, and efficient governance model in Jammu and Kashmir’s public administration. Source: PTI  

J&K Government Plans Single-Window Digital Platform to Streamline Recruitment Processes Read More »

MoPR to Launch Nationwide ‘Sabki Yojana, Sabka Vikas’ Campaign on Oct 2 to Strengthen Grassroots Planning

/ Governance Community
ardorcomm news

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) is set to launch the nationwide “Sabki Yojana, Sabka Vikas” campaign on October 2, kicking off the People’s Plan Campaign (PPC) 2025–26 for preparing Panchayat Development Plans (PDPs) for 2026–27. First introduced in 2018, the initiative has helped Panchayats draft inclusive, evidence-based, and convergent development plans in line with both local needs and national objectives. As per data available on the eGramSwaraj portal, more than 18.13 lakh development plans have been uploaded since 2019–20, including 2.52 lakh plans under the current 2025–26 cycle. On September 26, Additional Secretary Sushil Kumar Lohani reviewed the readiness of States, Union Territories, and State Institutes of Rural Development in a virtual meeting. The MoPR has instructed States/UTs to strengthen monitoring systems, appoint nodal officers, train facilitators, finalize Gram Sabha schedules, and ensure public information boards are displayed before the end of September. The campaign will commence with Special Gram Sabhas on October 2, where past plans will be digitally reviewed through platforms such as eGramSwaraj, Meri Panchayat App, and Panchayat NIRNAY. Villages will also identify and prioritize incomplete projects funded under Central Finance Commission grants. Planning will be guided by the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) and supported by digital tools like SabhaSaar, with a push towards improving Own Source Revenue (OSR) and expanding community involvement. A special focus will also be placed on tribal empowerment through the Adi Karmayogi Abhiyaan. According to the ministry, this exercise is designed to strengthen participatory democracy, enhance transparency and accountability, and ensure better service delivery at the grassroots, reinforcing the role of Panchayats as vital institutions of rural governance. Source: DD News 

MoPR to Launch Nationwide ‘Sabki Yojana, Sabka Vikas’ Campaign on Oct 2 to Strengthen Grassroots Planning Read More »

Delhi Cabinet Approves Landmark Bill to Regulate Private School Fees

/ Education Community

In a major push for transparency and accountability, the Delhi Cabinet on Tuesday cleared the draft of the Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill 2025. The proposed legislation, described as “bold and historic” by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, aims to end arbitrary fee hikes by private schools across the capital. The bill will apply to all 1,677 private unaided schools in Delhi and introduces three sweeping reforms. The first reform mandates a three-tier fee regulation mechanism at the school, district, and state levels. Each school will form a School-Level Fee Regulation Committee that includes parents, granting them direct participation in fee-related decisions. District- and state-level committees will hear appeals and ensure fairness across institutions. The second reform establishes strict penalties for violations. Schools increasing fees without prior approval could be fined between ₹1 lakh and ₹10 lakh. Repeat offenders may face withdrawal of government recognition. “For too long, private schools raised fees at will. This bill ends that,” said CM Gupta. Section 15 of the bill empowers the Director of Education to enforce penalties using stringent recovery methods. These include property attachment and sale, taking possession of school assets, and appointing receivers to manage or liquidate school property. The third major reform sets clear parameters for fee determination—such as a school’s location, infrastructure quality, academic outcomes, and genuine financial need. This aims to bring long-needed consistency and transparency to fee fixation, an area frequently mired in disputes between schools and parents. With these measures, the Delhi government hopes to rein in exploitative practices, empower parents, and make quality education more accountable and accessible. Source: Hindustan

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SEBI Launches RPT Portal to Enhance Corporate Transparency and Governance

/ Governance Community

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has launched a Related Party Transaction (RPT) portal to strengthen corporate governance and increase transparency in boardroom dealings. At the launch event, SEBI Whole Time Member Ashwani Bhatia likened the initiative to sunlight exposing hidden dealings, emphasizing its role in ensuring fair corporate transactions. RPTs, while capable of creating synergies, often face scrutiny due to unfair pricing and potential conflicts of interest. The portal will enable mutual funds and investors to track such transactions and demand better governance from companies. SEBI Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch reaffirmed the regulator’s strong focus on RPTs, calling them a core governance concern. SEBI’s disclosure-based framework mandates that listed companies provide complete transparency in financial dealings to prevent unfair advantages. Looking ahead, SEBI plans to integrate supply chain data into the portal for a more comprehensive oversight of corporate transactions. The RPT portal is expected to boost investor confidence, reinforce corporate accountability, and ensure fair play in India’s financial markets. Source: CNBC

SEBI Launches RPT Portal to Enhance Corporate Transparency and Governance Read More »

NDAP: Revolutionizing Data Access as NITI Aayog Marks a Decade of Progress

/ Governance Community

As NITI Aayog celebrates a decade of spearheading India’s development agenda, its National Data and Analytics Platform (NDAP) shines as a cornerstone of innovation in governance and policymaking. Designed to democratize data access and enhance decision-making, NDAP exemplifies NITI Aayog’s commitment to fostering transparency and evidence-based policymaking. Launched as a pioneering web-based platform, NDAP aggregates datasets from across India’s statistical ecosystem. The platform simplifies data discovery and analysis, offering a user-friendly interface for searching, merging, visualizing, and downloading datasets. As of January 2025, NDAP hosts 5,148 datasets spanning 31 sectors and 53 ministries, setting new benchmarks for accessibility and usability in public data. Key Features of NDAP Accessibility and Interoperability: NDAP standardizes datasets into machine-readable formats, promoting seamless cross-sectoral analysis. Its unified framework, based on the Ministry of Panchayati Raj Local Government Directory Code, enables users to integrate datasets from diverse sources effortlessly. High-Quality Datasets: Each dataset undergoes stringent quality checks through an in-house 5-star rating framework, ensuring reliability and usability for researchers, policymakers, and analysts. Interactive Tools: From bar charts to heat maps, NDAP provides customizable visualization tools, empowering users to derive meaningful insights tailored to their needs. Advanced Analysis: The Merge Tool allows users to combine up to three datasets, facilitating complex, multi-dimensional policy analysis. NDAP’s transformative impact bridges the gap between data availability and actionable insights, empowering stakeholders across sectors to address real-world challenges with data-backed decisions. As NITI Aayog marks 10 years of excellence, NDAP stands as a testament to its vision of leveraging data for transparent, inclusive governance. Explore the NDAP portal to witness its role in shaping India’s data-driven future. Source: egov.eletsonline.com Photo Credit: egov.eletsonline.com

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Maharashtra Launches ‘E-Cabinet’ System to Modernize Governance

/ Article/Stories

In a groundbreaking initiative, the Maharashtra government has introduced an ‘e-cabinet’ system aimed at revolutionizing governance by replacing traditional paperwork with smart tablets to document cabinet meetings. The system was launched by Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik on Tuesday as part of a broader strategy to enhance transparency and streamline administrative processes. Championed by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the e-cabinet is designed to improve efficiency and communication in government processes while promoting environmental sustainability. This digital platform will enable ministers to access a user-friendly dashboard that includes relevant references, action points, and the ability to monitor the implementation of decisions. The e-cabinet system eliminates the need for paper-based proposal presentations, discussions, and documentation, making it easier for officials to retrieve meeting records and past decisions. The initiative is expected to significantly reduce paper usage, saving time for cabinet members and officials, and ensuring quick communication of decisions to the public. Described as a green initiative, the e-cabinet underscores the Maharashtra government’s commitment to fostering good governance and promoting sustainable practices. The system is seen as a critical step toward improving the efficiency of governance and tackling public issues more effectively. Source: devdiscourse Photo Credit: devdiscourse

Maharashtra Launches ‘E-Cabinet’ System to Modernize Governance Read More »

CM Revanth Reddy Advocates for Change, Accountability, and Progress in Telangana

/ Governance Community

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has called for transformative changes in the state’s governance, urging party representatives to adapt to the evolving political dynamics. Addressing MLAs and MLCs in a pivotal meeting, CM Reddy emphasized the importance of aligning leadership practices with the aspirations of the people. “I have changed, and it is now time for everyone to change as well,” he declared, signaling a call for introspection and renewed commitment among elected officials. He stressed the necessity for representatives to stay connected with their constituencies and actively involve citizens in the governance process. To ensure accountability, CM Reddy announced the introduction of progress reports for MLAs, reinforcing transparency as a cornerstone of his administration. Highlighting the accomplishments of his governance, the Chief Minister noted, “No wrong has been done in the past year.” This assertion underscored his administration’s dedication to integrity and efficiency while pledging continued efforts to foster positive change. Further, CM Reddy urged his ministerial team to enable party leaders to nominate individuals for key positions, particularly in the Anganwadi sector. This move aims to strengthen grassroots leadership and improve community welfare by involving local stakeholders in decision-making processes. The Chief Minister’s address reflects his vision of an inclusive and transparent administration, with a strong focus on accountability and progress. His leadership is poised to shape a future for Telangana that prioritizes citizen engagement and responsive governance, ensuring sustained development and trust in leadership. With these initiatives, CM Revanth Reddy reaffirms his commitment to building a governance model that embodies integrity, inclusivity, and progress. Source: thehansindia Photo Credit: thehansindia

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Uma Kannan Founder Principal, Sri Venkateswara Group of Schools, Ambattur expressed how pedagogies and new strategies can upskill and reskill the students

1 Comment / / Interviews

“The New Normal refers to machine learning, artificial intelligence, and a technologically driven society” said Uma Kannan Could you please highlight some of the initiatives of your institution and give us more light on what your institution is doing? In each and every institution, we take up the growth of the student to bring out the awesome holistic children within the students and through the teachers. The pedagogies, introduction of new strategies to upskill and reskill the students’ energy as well as the faculty’s energy, are crucial. Only then can they produce very good social beings to develop the nation. We are doing a lot of service through seminars and conferences. Would you like to throw some light on the education policy and any initiatives your institution is doing in this regard? Recently, in 2020, the central government adopted a new educational policy and framework. One aspect of that is the 21st-century learning skills, another is the sustainable developmental goals, and the third is design thinking. We incorporate all these with the teachers through some orientation programs to upskill their energy, and then we transform that into the classroom. Any takeaways from today’s forum? Definitely. I learned how to parent the child. Parenting is very necessary with all biological modulations. We need to transparently open up the biological changes to the students. Kudos to Manjula and Chandan for bringing in this transparency. Teachers are the second parents, and we need to instruct the parents to be the first educators, giving all this transparently to the children to bring in a good social being. What does the phrase “New Normal” mean to you? The New Normal refers to machine learning, artificial intelligence, and a technologically driven society. We need to incorporate this into the educational curriculum. However, we should not forget the traditional way of teaching, as it provides an aesthetic approach and emotional well-being for the child and the adult. Any message for ArdorComm Media Group? ArdorComm, you are keeping the summits in very reputed cities like Delhi, which are educational hubs. I want this to extend to all corners of the country, even the villages. Your service should be extended to smaller cities and towns. Thank you. It was a pleasure having you at this forum. Thank you so much. Thank you, Chandan. All the best.

Uma Kannan Founder Principal, Sri Venkateswara Group of Schools, Ambattur expressed how pedagogies and new strategies can upskill and reskill the students Read More »

Tripura Government to Implement E-Attendance System in Government Schools

/ Education Community

In an effort to enhance the quality of education and monitor the performance of teachers and students, the Tripura government has announced plans to introduce an e-attendance system in all 4,912 government schools. The move, to be implemented under the Vidya Samiksha Kendra initiative, aims to bring transparency to the academic system and improve the overall functioning of schools. The digital attendance system will cover both teachers and students, with the entire process expected to be completed within a two-year timeframe. Initially launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Gujarat in 2022, the Vidya Samiksha Kendra initiative is designed to enhance educational outcomes by leveraging technology and providing real-time monitoring of educational initiatives. Following the implementation of the e-attendance system, a geo-tagging feature will also be introduced to facilitate online access to essential school-related information. Once the e-attendance system is fully operational, monitoring of teacher and school performance will be conducted by the Chief Minister, relevant ministers, and senior officials. Training sessions for headmasters and other stakeholders are already underway to familiarize them with the new digital system. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, who oversees the Education Department, recently inaugurated the state’s first Vidya Samiksha Kendra in Agartala. This center aims to digitize educational data, provide real-time visibility into educational initiatives, and support decision-making through data analysis and AI. With over 37,000 teachers and nearly 700,000 students enrolled across various levels of school education, the introduction of the e-attendance system is expected to significantly improve accountability and transparency in Tripura’s education sector.  

Tripura Government to Implement E-Attendance System in Government Schools Read More »