CBSE to launch project ‘UDAAN’

onsidering the current situation of abating girl students ratio in engineering colleges, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will be launching a special programme for girls called ‘Udaan’.

The primary objective behind this special initiative is to bridge the gap of low enrolment ratio of girls in engineering colleges.

The programme also seeks to drive female students, securing decent marks, towards higher studies and encourage them to opt for some specific leadership roles in future.

Keeping in mind, the weightage of Science and Mathematics in engineering college admissions across the nation, the Board has launched this project, which will particularly address the gap between the school education and engineering entrance examinations.

This project promises to provide free online resources, tutorials, lectures, study material, to girl students of Class XI and Class XII to prepare for admission tests for premier engineering colleges of the country. These will be provided online and on tablets given to students.

The programme is open for all girl students studying in class XI and XII irrespective of their examination board. However, it is essential that student must be from PCM stream and should also have minimum 70% marks in Class 10 overall and 80% in Science and Mathematics. For boards which follow cumulative grade point average (CGPA), a minimum CGPA of 8 and GPA of 9 in Science and Mathematics is a must.

In total 1000 girls will be absorbed in the first year, under this special project, in which 50% seats are earmarked for SC/ST/Backward classes. A comprehensive assessment system to result in accumulation of reward points has been drawn up and financial assistance, by means of reward points redeemed towards fees in IITs and NITs, will be provided.

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NET 2014: CBSE to conduct the exam on December 28

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is going to conduct the National Eligibility Test (NET) on December 28, 2014. From this year onwards, the Board will be conducting the exam every year.

CBSE will conduct NET on behalf of the University Grants Commission (UGC). The decision to hand over the task of conducting NET to CBSE was taken by the UGC in July this year.

The NET is held for determining the eligibility of Indian nationals for the Eligibility for Assistant Professor only or Junior Research Fellowship & Eligibility for Assistant Professor Both in Indian universities and colleges.

CBSE will organise NET in 79 subjects at 87 selected NET coordinating institutions spread across the country.

UGC NET is for recruitment/appointment to the post of Assistant professor or award of JRF for eligible candidates. JRF is awarded to candidates, who qualify UGC NET 2014, to pursue research in the subjectof their post-graduation. Such candidates would be selected by universities/institutions/IIT for full time research work. The award of JRF and eligibility for Assistant Professor both or eligibility for Assistant Professor will depend on the performance of the candidate in all the 3 papers of the UGC NET.

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Two new courses to begin in Nalanda University: Amartya Sen 2014

The ‘resurrected’ Nalanda University’s first chancellor Amartya Sen has announced that NU would start two new schools of study, economics and management studies and public healthcare, from the next academic session. The historical Nalanda University re-opened its academic activities in September this year with introducing two postgraduate courses in Ecology and Environment and Historical Studies.

The newly appointed Chancellor of the university Amartya Sen believes that the PG courses in the public healthcare would help improve the healthcare sector in India as systematic education and public healthcare has long been neglected in this country and the new programme in NU would help improve the situation. The historical and prestigious academic ambience of Nalanda University is a tough job to regain but Amartya Sen feels it to be a good start for them to achieve the same status for the university in the near future.
In his recent visit to the state after taking responsibility as the chancellor of the university he met the present Bihar CM Jitan Ram Manjhi and former CM Nitish Kumar to discuss further the future of the university. Amartya Sen interacted with the teachers and students in the university and felt the atmosphere quite warm and dynamic which reminded him of his own student life.

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Transgender Kids to Attend School under ‘Disadvantaged Category’

The transgender kids will now be able to attend school unlike other children to pursue their studies throughout the capital. The process of education will be free of cost and the children will belong to the ‘disadvantaged category’ under the Right to Education (RTE) Act.
According to Delhi Lt governor Najeeb Jung, the transgender kids will be eligible to avail the 25% reservation under the economically weaker section (EWS) and disadvantaged students for admission. A As per Census 2011, India has 4.9 lakh transgender kids over the country, and this facility will help each of them to be educated in a better manner.

A notification issued by the Directorate of Education (DoE) states, “In exercise of the powers conferred by Clause D of Section 2 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009 (35 of 2009) (RTE Act), the Lt-Governor of Delhi is pleased to notify inclusion of a 'transgender' child within the meaning of 'child belonging to disadvantaged group' as defined in the said section of the RTE Act applicable to all schools situated within the National Capital Territory of Delhi.”

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Protest Over Fee Hike by HK College Students

The HK Commerce College in Ahmedabad has raised the fees of the skill development and foundation course by Rs. 800 annually and that left students fuming over the authority. The students called a flash strike to protest against this sudden fee hike without notifying the students earlier. The students came out of the college campus to the streets and protested the Gujarat University’s decision to raise the annual fee of skill development and foundation course by Rs. 800. Gujarat University notified the students about the fee hike through a notice mentioning the fare to be increased to Rs. 400 per term which was earlier set to Rs. 100 per term.

Students have gone outrageous over the unnecessary and sudden hike in the course fee and have threatened to launch a stir if the decision to raise the fees didn’t get revoked by the authorities. A sudden hike of Rs. 800 in any of the course is not justifiable and the students have come out against the decision by protesting on streets and on campus. The National Student Union of India (NSUI) has also raised its concern over the issue and has decided to take action.

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IGNOU in talks with Prasar Bharti for Gyan Vani

After the All India Radio (AIR)'s decision to took all the 37 Gyan Vani stations off air, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) is in talks with Prasar Bharti to resolve the matter.

The decision was taken on October 1, 2014 on account of outstanding dues which the university failed to pay. However, the university officials said they were hopeful of an early settlement of the issue even as they assert that the AIR had "suddenly" raised the fee last year, according to reports.

IGNOU's radio channel Gyan Vani - a move launched in 2001 - was aimed at educating million of listeners, who were dependent on the station for various local, educational and socio-cultural needs.

IGNOU's  Electronic Media Production Centre (EMPC) was the producer of the interactive educational programme for students in English, Hindi and other local languages and AIR broadcast it every day between 6am and 11am, with a repeat airing of it between 5pm and 10pm.

Director General of AIR F. Sheharyar said they had sent several reminders to IGNOU for the release of payment. "However, the IGNOU failed to make payment of outstanding dues in spite of continuous persuasion by AIR resources. IGNOU did not respond even to the request by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for release of outstanding dues," a daily quoted him as saying.

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Top 10 B Schools in India for MBA aspirants 2014

With Common Admission Test 2014 (CAT) to be held on November 16 and November 22, MBA aspirants are busy with the preparations in full swing.  Amid all the stress of preparation it is very important to locate the best B School out of the clutter.
In India, approximately 3000+ B-schools exist to satisfy the demand for MBA. However, out of these, only few B Schools impart quality education and bring out leaders.
Here is the list of top 10 B Schools in India that will help you take a right decision without going through any hassle.

IIM, Ahmedabad:
 IIMA has been ranked as the number one management school in the country year after year in the last several years. In its latest ranking, The Economist has ranked IIMA at 56 among the top 100 international B-schools in the world that offer full time MBA. With a vision to become an Institute that is globally recognized and respected as a thought leader in management. IIMA churns of best MBA Graduates every year.  The selection process of IIMA for MBA level Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGP) is one of the toughest programmes in the world to get into. Out of every 680 candidates 1 got a seat in the 2008-10 PGP batch. IIMA 's MBA offering is one of the oldest and most prestigious academic offering.

IIM, Calcutta:
IIMC has grown into a mature institution with global reputation, imparting high quality management education. It has been playing a pioneering role in professionalising Indian management through its Post Graduate and Doctoral level programs, Executive Training Programs, Research and Consulting Activities.

XLRI, Jamshedpur
XLRI, Jamshedpur is created with a vision to offer enriching learning experiences to aspiring managers to enable them to realize their full potential to become future leaders. XLRI alumnus  serve as agents of continuous improvement and change and encourage entrepreneurship and service .  To take admission in XLRI, candidates must hold a recognized bachelor's degree of minimum three years duration in any discipline with at least 5 years of managerial/supervisory experience by March 31, 2015. PGDM (GMP) candidate may choose to apply through XAT 2015 or GMAT score (taken during December 1, 2012 to December 20, 2014).PGDM (GMP) Interviews will take place during 2 - 8, February 2015 (tentative)

Faculty of Management Studies(FMS) ,Delhi:
The Faculty of Management Studies focuses on management education more than just business management. The commitment is thought leadership with a deep understanding of business. FMS rewards initiative, novelty and thinking outside the box. FMS graduates are a diverse lot, possessing flair and dynamism that develops in a metropolis like Delhi and thrives on challenges both inside and outside the classroom.

S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJMR), Mumbai:
As one of the Asia's finest business schools, SPJIMR has persistently built on its unique strength of imparting high quality management education through pedagogic innovations, encouraging business-academia interface and emphasizing on its twin objective of Influencing Practice and Promoting Value based growth. SPJIMR has acquired the reputation of meeting societal needs of under-managed sectors by offering unique, purposeful and relevant programs. SPJIMR displays a differentiated approach across the entire academic flow of activities in higher management education.

MDI, Gurgaon:
MDI is a front runner B-School of India. The PG Programmes in Management offered by MDI are recognized and accredited by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) New Delhi. Its PGPM has been awarded "A" Grade by the 'National Board of Accreditation' of All India Council for Technical Education. Various surveys have consistently ranked MDI amongst the top five B-Schools of the country. MDI has the distinction of being the first internationally accredited Indian B-School.

IIM, Kozhikode:
The Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIMK), started with its first batch in 1997 and has grown tremendously over the years with a current batch strength of 356 odd students, making it the fastest growing management school in the country. IIMK pioneered the Interactive Distance Learning (IDL) Program for working executives in India. Having started with 300 class contact hrs in 2001-02, the year-long Executive Management Education Programme is today the richest available in the country having 450 class contact hours. The Institute today is a leader in Faculty Development Programmes (FDP), conducting the largest number of programmes (18) totalling 20 weeks in 2008-09, and is the major QIP (Quality Improvement Programme) Centre of the All Indian Council of Technical Education, in the field of management education.

IIM, Indore:
The Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India established Indian Institute of Management Indore (IIM Indore) as Institution of Excellence. These Institutions are recognized as premier management institutions, comparable to the best in the world for teaching, research and interaction with industries. Established in 1996, IIM Indore is the sixth in the family of state-supported management schools. Since its inception, IIM Indore has been acting as a leader in the field of management education, interfacing with the industry, government sector and PSUs.

IMI, Delhi:
IMI holds the privilege of being India's first corporate sponsored business school. Located in Qutab Institutional Area, New Delhi, India; its other campuses are located in Kolkata and Bhubaneshwar. It is one of only five B-schools in India to get accreditation from the accreditation agency, AMBA.

IIFT, Delhi:
The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) was set up in 1963 by the Government of India as an autonomous organisation to help professionalise the country's foreign trade management and increase exports by developing human resources; generating, analysing and disseminating data; and conducting research.  IIFT is an institution with proven capability to continuously upgrade its knowledge base with a view to servicing the requirements of the Government, trade and industry through both sponsored and non-sponsored research and consultancy assignments.

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