Two-stroke and four-strokes engine workshop in GICTS College Gwalior

Gwalior. GICTS College has organized two days two-stroke and four strokes engine’s workshop for mechanical engineering students. In this workshop students are informed about the problems that can occur in engine and were educated how to solve those problems.

In this workshop students from first year to fourth year participated and they learn how engine parts like piston, cylinder, connecting rod etc. works. On this occasion Director of college Mr. Udhay Ghatge said that such types of seminars will be organized in future so that student will get that practical knowledge as well. Prof. Mukesh Sharma and HoD Prof. P.K Yadav were also present in this workshop.      

MP writer association to honor teachers on 4th

Gwalior. MP writer association will be honoring teachers who have achieved mile stone and have done great work in teaching field. D.R Rahul for higher, Gauri devrani for higher secondary and Akansha Rawat for her work in primary education going to get honored on 4th March in Datia.

Association’s president Raj Goswami said that these teachers had worked their heart and soul out in order to get best out of students. These types honor not only going to motivate them but also going to make them push more to give India a quality future. 

ITM University music concert from 2nd to 4th of March

Gwalior. ITM University is now all set for its musical concert which is going to held in ITM university campus from 2nd to 4th of March. 

This is the 6th musical concert of ITM and like the previous this one will also going to have some well renowned  musician playing their music and singing songs.

From past five years ITM is organizing such cultural events in order to promote Indian music among students. It has some of the best Indian musicians participating and lighting a spark in student’s mind by rich soul of Indian music.

Concert will start tomorrow around 7 in the evening by dhrupad centre’s student performing dhrupad song. India’s well renowned musicians like Ajoy Chakrabarty, Kaushal das, Malini rajurkar, Pandit prassana Mudra, Joydeep Ghosh, TNK etc. will be a part of this music concert.

Auto CAD seminar in LNAT and LNIT colleges

Gwalior. CAD Company’s engineer gave information to students on AUTO CAD software; seminar’s main aim was to educate civil, mechanical and electronic engineering students how they can progress and get good job by knowing soft wares.

In this seminar Sanjay chokse head of the college promised students who are interested and keen in learning these soft wares will be given special concession in their course fees. Mr. V.K Chaturvedi dean of the institution was also present in this seminar.      

UK delegation visits Khalsa College

Amritsar: A delegation from the UK, headed by Lord Mayor of city of Coventry Keiran Mulhall, yesterday visited the Khalsa College here and praised the history and culture of the Sikhs.

The delegation, in the country to meet Indian Mayors, visited the Sikh History and Research Museum at the campus and were impressed by the rare books, documents, manuscripts and hand-written 'Birs' of the Guru Granth Sahib.

The Mayor appreciated the rare cultural heritage building of the College and the collection of the books at the Sikh Museum.

UK further tightens visa rules

London: For the first time, Britain is breaking the link between the number of years a migrant spends in the country and permanent settlement, by introducing a 35,000-pound annual salary threshold, a move that is likely to affect Indians.

Until now, permanent settlement was automatic: if a migrant spends five years in the UK in an immigration route that leads to settlement, and has not committed major criminal offences, permanent settlement was granted, irrespective of the salary level.

The new measure announced is scheduled to be introduced in April 2016, after which migrants will need to show evidence of earning at least 35,000 pounds in annual salary before being granted permanent settlement. Thousands of Indian professionals migrate to the UK under various work categories.

After spending five years in their jobs, those seeking permanent settlement after April 2016 will need to earn at least 35,000 pounds in their jobs for permanent settlement.

Placing the 35,000 pounds salary threshold will result in the number of Indian and other non-EU migrants granted permanent settlement dropping to 20,000 from 60,000 annually, the Home Office said.

Those who do not qualify will be required to leave the UK after six years. Immigration Minister Damian Green said migrants who enter as PhD-level scientists and researchers will qualify for settlement without having to meet the 35,000 minimum salary threshold.

The new changes include restrictions on domestic workers who can come to the UK. Such migrants will not be allowed to stay for more than six months, without a right to change employer.

However, current arrangements for domestic workers will continue for private servants in diplomatic households, but they will not be granted permanent settlement after five years.

Green said: “Settlement in the UK is a privilege. We are sweeping aside the idea that everyone who comes here to work can settle, and instead reserving this important right only for the brightest and best.”

He added: “Our reforms of the immigration system will ensure we are more selective not only about those who are allowed to come here but also those who are allowed to stay permanently.”

CBSE common exam begins in Tamil Nadu

Chennai: Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) common exam for class X and XII begins in Tamil Nadu on March 1.

Across the country, more than 8 lakh students are taking the Class 12 exams this year, while 11.8 lakh are taking the class 10 exams.

In the Chennai zone, 69,825 students, including 7,847 from Tamil Nadu, are taking the Class 12 board exam this year.

Chennai zone comprises of CBSE schools from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Goa, Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Daman and Diu.

As for as Class X is concerned, 96,959 students are taking up the common exam in Chennai zone, however 55,366 students have opted for the school-based exam.

Last year, CBSE provided an option for class X students to choose between school-based assessment and board exams in an effort to ease down exam related stress.  

With 5,418 children opting for school exam in Tamil Nadu, 16,466 students are taking the boards.

This year, there is a marginal increase in the number of students with various disabilities like visual, orthopedic, hearing and speech impairments, and dyslexia.

Rural students need to be encouraged to take up higher education

Chennai: Improving access to higher education, especially in rural areas, will be the prime priority of the Tamil Nadu State Council of Higher Education, said professor Cynthia Pandian.

Speaking to press persons after taking over as vice-chairperson of the council on Wednesday from Ramasamy, she said, "lack of motivation to pursue higher education prevails among many first generation learners. Most uneducated parents don't know the worth of higher education."

Stressing the need for more colleges, post graduation centres and state universities, she stated that it is the responsibility and role of school teachers to advise students on choosing appropriate careers and encourage them to go to college.

She also emphasized the need to develop skills of students from arts and science stream as very few students from this segment get employment relevant to their educational qualification. With most of the engineering gradates somehow settling down in relevant jobs, while about 30% to 40% of these graduates stay underemployed. 

How to prepare yourself for pubic exams-Mathematics

In the Mathematics question paper, 40 one-mark questions are asked. Out which, 36 questions are from exercises found behind the textbook.  Rest of the 4 questions are taken from formulas and examples found in the textbook. Hence, giving more importance to questions found in exercises will help to obtain full marks in this section. Students should never forget that this section would help to accomplish the dream of getting centum in Mathematics.     

Similarly, the subject Mathematics comprises of several sections. Most of the students make the mistake of not studying a section completely, whereas they happen to study more selectively by choosing few questions here and there. This is completely wrong. If a section is selected for studying, work out all the problems in that section. No one can decide about the important questions to be asked in the exam.  It is possible to score full marks if all the problems are workout keeping in mind that any question could be asked in Mathematics. Do not leave any questions unanswered. Students should not be negligent about questions concerning theorems, formulas and one-mark questions, which are highly imperative.       

MP plans to obtain World Bank loan for improving Hr Education

Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh government is planning to avail Rs 1,000 crore World Bank assistance for bringing in qualitative improvement in higher education sector, a senior official said.

A detailed report in this regard would be prepared after wider consultations and preliminary discussions which were in progress, Higher Education Minister Laxmikant Sharma told reporters here after meeting a World Bank team.

The World Bank team also met Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and submitted a report based on a conference of education experts organised by the bank in September last year.

Sharma said the interest for the long-term loan would be at the rate of one per cent only. Details were being worked out. This initiative is likely to give a quantum jump in the higher education sector in the state. 

Four-day aeroplus from March 1st9

Coimbatore: The 5th edition of Aeroplus-2012, beginning here tomorrow, would showcase a “real” world of aviation, featuring Aeromodelling shows, among others.

The show is being organised by Nehru College of Aeronautics and Applied Sciences. As part of keeping International standards in practical training, the college campus is equipped with 8 Cessna 150 and 152, Lear Jet 25 B, King Air C 90 aircraft and Bell and EnStrom F28 Helicopters, which would be displayed at the Aeroplus, for benefit of aspiring students and public, P Krishnakumar, Secretary, Nehru Groups of Institutions, said.

A special addition at the four-day expo 2012 will be the newly acquired Hawker 125, a business jet aircraft, besides stalls from ISRO and Police department, he told reporters here.

The institution was offering four programmes in aeronautical science and aircraft maintenance and MBA programme in Airlines and Airport Management, Krishnakumar said.

Deshbandhu College, Sabrang 2012 begins with much fanfare

New Delhi. The three days annual cultural festival SABRANG 2012 began with much fanfare today and was inaugurated by Ms Nalini and Kamalini, renowned Kathak dancers who represented a rare artistic qualities and a form of kathak dance which move out into open spaces of the soul. They stressed that their performances are not mere recitals but a veritable banquet of the soul.

As art connoisseurs have often acknowledged them as celestial dancing nymphs, they stressed that performing art is directly linked to the matter “soul”. The two chief guests have the rare distinction of receiving honours with several awards such as Natya Shiromani, Nritya Praveen Samman, Kalashree Samman, Mahakaal Samman and Special President award by the then president R. Venkatraman.

The inauguration was followed by three major inter college completions such as Rangoli, Creative writing (Hindi) and Creative Writing (English). The afternoon was enlivened by the live scintillating performance of JAVED ALI- a singer of Bollywood fame (photographs being mailed). Tomorrow’s events of the three days festival include events such as Fashion Show (9.30-12.00), Antakshari (10.00-12.00), Painting (10.00-12.00), Debate in Hindi & English (10.00-12.00), Singing - solo & group (9.30-12.00), Sanskrit Shlok Sangeet Pratiyogita (10.00-12.00), Dance – solo & group (9.30-12.00), Street play (10.00-12.00), Photography (11.0-12.00), Mr. & Ms. SABRANG (10.00-12.00). And the afternoon shall be marked by the performance of well-known Rock band NASHA led by Akhil tomorrow.

This band is known for both Sufi & Rock compositions. This rock band shot into prominence for the composition of music of Movie Jism-2 directed by Mahesh Bhatt.

School teacher arrested on sexual harassment charge

Udhagamandalam: A 50-year old teacher of a government school near here was today arrested on the charge of 'sexually harassing' some girl students, police said.

 High drama preceded the arrest as around 200 residents of Keelkothagiri village, about 30 km from here, held a day-long picketing in front of the higher secondary school demanding immediate action against commerce teacher Balraj.

The villagers, including parents of the students, resorted to the protest against the teacher after one of the girls complained that he was harassing them after school hours for the past five months. Some of the villagers allegedly manhandled the teacher and demanded that the District Chief Education Officer visit the school and order his dismissal from service, police said.

Coonoor RDO Gandhimathi rushed to the school and conducted an inquiry during which five girl students deposed before her. She also griled the teacher and submitted a report to the education authorities.

Based on the report, Balraj was arrested and produced before a court which remanded him to judicial custody, police said.

2 school kids killed, 10 go missing as bus falls into canal

Rajahmundry: Two children were killed and 10 went missing when a school bus carrying KG students fell into a canal near here in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh today, a senior district official said. East Godavari Collector Neethu Prasad tonight said only two students, and not four as reported earlier, were killed in the incident that took place at Ganti Pedapudi Village of P Gannavaam Mandal of the district, 65kms away from here.

In a statement, she identified the deceased as Rohit and Bindu Madhavi. Prasad said as per information collected from the parents of the children who had boarded the bus, the vehicle was carrying 29 children when the incident took place.

Earlier reports quoting police sources had put the toll at 4 and the number of missing at 15 and said the bus was carrying 45 people. The incident occurred when the driver of the school bus wanted to avoid a head-on collision with a speeding lorry coming from opposite direction, resulting in the fall of the vehicle into the canal.

Local villagers rescued 15 persons from the bus of SaiTeja Public School. The children were returning home from the private school when the mishap took place.

The bus was pulled out of the the waters and the two crew members of the bus, including the driver, are absconding.

Police have launched manhunt to apprehend the duo. Divers have been pressed into service to trace the missing students, Prasad said adding the search operations are taking place within one kilometer of the area where the bus has fallen into the canal.

65 B-schools likely to close down across India

Mumbai: On the academic front, the MBA programme, which was once supreme, now faces dark days with about 65 B-schools planning to close down due to drop in business profit.

Once a bewitching study, attracted not only those interested in business but also all those who wanted to master the tools of management.

The Indian management education sector grew so wildly when demand was rampant with nearly 3,900 management schools lately functioning across the India offering close to 3.5 lakh seats that in recent times overshot the demand. 

In a dramatic change over as many as 65 business management colleges across India are planning to close down as these institutes no longer see business sense in offering an MBA course, preferring to use the land for more lucrative ventures.

In fact, experts predict that many more management colleges may close down in the days to come.

For the students who wants to apply to any of these lesser-known colleges, need to think twice before applying as the curriculum is far from business reality, faculty is minimal and, most importantly, very few respectable companies participate in the course-end recruitment drives.

Now with no job offer at the end, the decision is no longer complicated for the young graduates could rather take up a job or prepare harder for another shot at an entrance exam which is the gate to a better B-school.

However, while the lower-rung management schools are being bypassed, there are still tens of thousands who make a B-line to join an IIM. Lakhs of students sign up to take the Common Admission Test (CAT) for close to 3,000 seats that the IIMs have on offer.

Having said that, the manner in which India's business education sector has developed poses lot of vital question.

Digital textbooks make way into US varsity

Los Angeles: After the renting of  digital textbooks to students at California State University (CSU), the indisputable dominance of printed textbooks in US schools likely to crumble.

Erik Fallis, spokesperson for the chancellor's office of the CSU, told that digital textbooks have won the preference of professors and students with their rich video, audio and animation contents and interactive functions such as note-taking and highlighting.

The CSU has announced partnerships with publishers including Cengage Learning, CourseSmart and Follett and will provide more than 5,000 of the most popular e-textbooks at discounted prices as part of a digital textbook rental programme that covers the whole school system.

According to Fallis, beginning in the fall, students at the CSU can start renting digital versions of texts - e-textbooks - and save 60 percent or more on book fees, compared with purchasing the same text in new printed version. By renting the e-textbooks, students will have access to the digital material for the length of an academic term and also have the option to print out the material.

E-textbooks can be rented conveniently by CSU students through their campus bookstore supported by the three publishing partners. Once rented, e-textbooks and other digital materials can be accessed online or off-line through laptops, desktops, tablets and various other devices.

It's up to the professors now whether they will use print textbooks or digital ones in their courses, Fallis said. The university, along with its partners, will provide training opportunities for the teaching staff on interactive capabilities of the e-textbooks to help improve learning outcomes of students.

Currently textbooks in prints still dominate the market, but statistics collected by the Pew Research Center, a Washington based think tank, indicate the market is poised for a digital textbook revolution. According to Pew's recent study on tablet ownership, the share of adults in the US owning tablets or e-book devices nearly doubled from 10 percent to 19 percent from November to mid-December last year and bumped up again to 29 percent in mid-January this year.

AICTE likely to forbid new professional colleges from 2014

Mumbai: In the recent past with supply surpassing demand for engineering and management seats, the AICTE may perhaps be forced stop new professional colleges coming up from 2014.

This decisive stand was taken in a recent meeting of All-India Council for Technical Education, after requests from several states poured in to the council to reject fresh proposals for starting new professional colleges.

Many states wanted AICTE to immediately stop accepting applications, but the process of setting up a college, like buying land and building the infrastructure, starts two years before a college approaches the AICTE for permission. Hence, the regulatory body has decided that two years from now, it will review the situation and may stop accepting proposals for new technical colleges. 

With more number of seats going vacant in engineering and management colleges over the past few years, several states had written to AICTE not to clear proposals for new institutes.

Currently, 3,393 engineering colleges that offer 14.86 lakhs seats and 3,900 management schools with a total student intake of 3.5 lakh are present in India. 

AICTE estimates that nearly three lakh seats were unfilled at the close of admissions last year.

Already many states have decided not to allow colleges to start this year, with the state governments and the council locking horns on the issue.

AICTE received 2,176 applications to start new professional degree colleges two years ago, but the number stands at a paltry 362 this year. Gradually, two years from now, there may be no new professional colleges that will come up.

Madras varsity asks afiliated colleges to join ICT network

Kanchipuram: The University of Madras which got connected to HRD Ministry supported Rs 900 crore National Mission on Education in February 2011 has urged all colleges affiliated to it to get linked to the ICT Network and avail its benefits.

The total cost per year for the college would be Rs one lakh if they join the network, of which Rs 75,000 would be borne by the HRD leaving colleges just 25000 as annual expenditure, it said in a circular.

This Mission through Information and Communication Technology (ICT) network aims to connect educationists and institutions to participate in a nationwide movement, providing and accessing e-content, effect teacher empowerment and adopt effectively e-teaching and e-learning.

The University is also connected to the National Knoweldge Network, a National Knowledge Commission initiative. All of this is aimed at providing unlimitted access to researchers and students libraries and knowledge resources.

However, it leaves out private colleges, which form majority of colleges in this district, which meet the needs of over 75 per cent of total number of students seeking higher studies.

To provide seamless connectivity, BSNL has reportedly given 1 gbps connectivity to the University for 10 years with 400 node LAN, connecting it to the National Knowledge Network. 

Now Japanese universities woo Indian students

Bangalore: Many Indians have heard of Japanese companies such as Suzuki and Toyota but any takers for the University of Tokyo? Very, very few.

Now 13 core Japanese universities are keen to attract more Indian students by raising their profile in this country by showcasing the benefits of higher education in the world's second most innovative nation.

The University of Tokyo, ranked the world's seventh top-most varsity, on Monday announced the opening of its India office here to serve as a liaison office for all 13 universities seeking to enhance awareness on higher education opportunities, and providing information and assistance for students.

And it has roped in a strong ambassador in software icon and Chairman Emeritus of Infosys Ltd, N R Narayana Murthy, who also serves as a member of the President's Council, the University of Tokyo.

Putting his stamp of approval for “smart youngsters” to opt for higher education in Japan, Murthy referred to the country's stature in terms of economy and innovative spirit and “extraordinary culture and language”, besides Tokyo being a beautiful city and the safest in the world. Currently, about 500 Indian students are studying in Japan, officials said.

In the University of Tokyo which has a student strength of 30,000, international students account for 3,000, including 1,000 Chinese, 600 Koreans and a mere 35 Indians.

“...we would like to increase that number (Indian students) rapidly. We are totally unsatisfied with 35,” Professor Akihiko Tanaka, Vice-President of the University of Tokyo, told a press conference here.

Murthy, Chairman of the University of Tokyo Alumni Association Shrikrishna Kulkarni and Director of the University of Tokyo (India Office) Hiroshi Yoshino expressed the view that it is only a matter of time before Indian students look at Japan as an education destination.

OBC quota hiked in higher educational institutions in Delhi

New Delhi: Delhi government increased reservation for OBCs in higher educational institutions to 27 per cent from current 21 per cent from academic year 2012-13.

But it also decided to enhance the total number of seats by 12 per cent so that general category students do not suffer.

The decision to comply with central law of reserving 27 per cent seats for OBCs is seen as an effort by the Congress government to woo the OBCs before the MCD polls slated to be held next month.

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, announcing the decision of a cabinet meeting, said number of seats for general category and scheduled caste students will remain as it is as total number of seats will be increased by 12 per cent.

“The number of seats for each discipline would be increased by 12 per cent to ensure that the seats available for the general candidates are not reduced,” Dikshit said.

With this increase, the total reservation of seats in higher education institutions for SCs, STs and OBCs will go up to 49.5 per cent. The SCs have 15 per cent reservation while the STs have 7.5 per cent.

Justifying the decision, Dikshit said it will go a long way in imparting higher and technical education to large number of students belonging to weaker sections.

“It is aimed at providing more educational opportunities to the weaker section which will result in more educational opportunites for them,” she said.

The Delhi Governmet had reserved five per cent seats for OBCs for academic year 2009-10 which was increased to 15 per cent for the 2010-11 and 21 per cent for academic year 2011-12.op

The government had decided to implement 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in a staggered manner so that required infrastructure could be developed to ensure that seats for general category students remain same while increasing the overall number of seats.

The decision is seen as government's effort to woo the OBCs ahead of the municipal corporation polls scheduled to be held later next month.

Following the decision, the reserved seats for OBCs will increase in Guru Govind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi Technical University, National Law University and B R Ambedkar University, Netaji Subhash Institute of Technology and all other government run technical institutions.

Officials said private self financed institutes affiliated to the state universities will also have to reserve 27 per cent of the seats for OBCs.

The reservation of 27 per cent seats for OBCs has already been implemented in all central educational institutions in the city like Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru university.

Gujarat Assembly approves IITRAM Bill

Gandhinagar: The Gujarat Legislative Assembly passed a bill seeking to set up Infrastructure Technology, Research and Management (IITRAM) University, with a majority vote.

The bill, IITRAM Act-2012, was passed by voice vote amidst stiff opposition from Congress, who alleged that the bill was not in accordance with the UGC guidelines about setting up a varsity, as it proposes to have director-general, instead of a vice-chancellor, which means that it will bypass the state Governor.

Foreseeing a demand for engineers in the infra-space over the next few years, the state government has decided to set up a university and the bill shall pave a way for it.

Opposing the bill, Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee president Arjun Modhvadiya said it lacked measures for providing autonomy to the university and was not in accordance with UGC guidelines.

Modhvadiya also opposed the provisions made by the BJP government to appoint a director general in place of a vice-chancellor saying, “It would adversely impact the autonomy of the varsity.”

Leader of Opposition Shaktisinh Gohil said a university without a vice-chancellor can never be autonomous. The varsity should have Gujarat Governor as its vice chancellor, he said.

“Around 60 per cent posts are lying vacant in the engineering and technical colleges of the state, the government should first fill them to ensure its smooth functioning,” Gohil said.

Dismissing opposition's claims, Minister of Education Ramanlal Vohra said a few private universities in the state have the post of Director General, which ensures autonomy.

“Once operational, the varsity would provide skilled manpower for infrastructure,” Vohra said.

Indias global education company to start West Asia operations

Dubai: A top Indian global education firm, CORE Education and Technologies plans to expand its operations in West Asia, a senior company executive has said.

As part of this effort, CORE will be among 250 companies participating this year at the Gulf Educational Supplies and Solution (GESS) exhibition, running from February 28 to March 1, Chairman and CEO CORE Education and Technologies, Sanjeev Mansotra said.

“CORE seeks to form long term associations with government organisations across the world and believes that GESS is a wonderful platform to showcase CORE's transformational education products and services in K-12, Higher Education and Skill Development to the knowledge fraternity in GCC,” Mansotra said.

He will be present at the show to launch CORE's West Asia operations.

The show, organised with the support of the UAE Education Ministry, will be presenting the world's most innovative technologies for the education sector.

Education Ministries of four Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States (ABEGS) will also present their programmes and projects.

CORE Education is one of India's largest global education company that provides transformational and innovative solutions for the entire education continuum of K-12, higher education and vocational education.

SSC, CBSE exams from Thursday

MUMBAI: Thursday will mark the start of three sets of board examinations - the Secondary School Certificate (SSC), and Class X and XII exams of Central Board of Secondary Examinations (CBSE). Last year, the school-based assessment system introduced for Class X CBSE students found many takers. However, those opting for it have dropped drastically this time.

Last year, of the 16,000-odd Class X students in the state, 5,063 opted for the school-based exams. This year, 21,000 students from Maharashtra will take the Class X CBSE exam, but a mere 3,081 students have opted for the school-based exams. "This includes students who are studying in schools that function only till Class X, so they must have chosen the board exams over the school-based assessment so that they can be accommodated in junior colleges under the state rule," said Rama Sharma, PRO for the CBSE board. In Mumbai, of the total 3,908 students appearing for the Class X examination, 1,100 students have opted for school-based assessment.

"Students are upbeat and even though some still visit our school for last-minute tips, most others are relaxing now. We advise students to rest well before the examinations," said Rakesh Joshi, principal of Apeejay School in Nerul. A total of 9,822 students will appear for the CBSE Class XII examination from Maharashtra.

The current batch of SSC students will be the first to appear for the changed Science and Maths patterns. "Students have nothing to worry about as schools have informed them well in advance about the changes. Our state board helpline numbers are available for students whenever they need us and our aim is to always make the examination season as stress-free for students as possible," said Ravindra Bhise,divisional state board secretary.

New IITs yet to get govt approval, students in a spot

AHMEDABAD: Hundreds of students entered the new Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), set up in 2008 expecting a bright future for themselves. 

But their dreams have hit a roadblock, even as the first batch of BTech students is set to graduate in May. The new institutes are yet to be approved as IITs by the Parliament. As a result, the students graduating this year will not get an IIT degree for the time being. 

All IITs are governed by the Institutes of Technology Act, 1961. The Act declares them as 'institutions of national importance' and specifies their framework for governance, powers and duties. The Gandhinagar campus was among the six IITs set up in 2008. Another two were added the next year. 

While the Lok Sabha passed the bill for incorporating the new IITs under the act, it is yet to be cleared by Rajya Sabha. Because of the uncertainty, the IITs are unable to fix a date for their first convocation. Traditionally, IITs host their annual convocations in August. 

"We are hoping the Parliament moves quickly," said a director of one of the new IITs. "It takes time to plan a convocation that meets IIT standards." 

The first batch of 30 MTech students of IIT Hyderabad graduated in 2011. The students are waiting for their degree certificates. 

Uday Desai, director IIT Hyderabad, said, "We have given the students provisional degree certificates for the time being. With the Lok Savha having cleared the bill, half the job is done. We hope that the Rajya Sabha clears the bill this time." A total of 160 students will be graduating from the IIT Hyderabad this year. 

Some 600 under-graduate and post-graduate students will be passing out from the new IITs this year. IIT-Gandhinagar has 88 undergraduate students. 

Maternity leave for MCDs contractual teachers

New Delhi: Women teachers who were appointed on contract by Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) can now awail maternity leave for three months.

 This was announced by MCD Education Committee Chairman Mahinder Nagpal. This facility, he said, would benefit as many as 2,500 women teachers who are engaged on contract basis with MCD.

 Earlier, maternity leave was limited to permanent women employees only. Nagpal said "contractual women teachers have already been provided one day casual leave in a month. Their monthly emoluments have also been increased from Rs 11,000 to Rs 13,500," he said.           

Nimhans Entrance Test Results 2012

You can check the details about Nimhans Entrance Test Results 2012 for Admission 2012-2013. National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) conducted entrance exam for online entrance test. Candidates who have appeared for NIMHANS Deemed University entrance test for PG, PH.D Graduate Admission can check your results in official website. Results can be accessed from the following official website link.

http://www.nimhans.kar.nic.in/aca_admission/default.htm

Nimhans PG and PH.D Entrance Test Admission 2012-13 conducted on 26th February 2012. Candidates who have appeared for Nimhans Entrance 2012 on 26-02-2012 Sunday can check the results availability in official website. Candidates can check selected candidates list and cut off mark details using e-Admit Card from the following link.
http://www.nimhans.kar.nic.in/aca_admission/default.htm

AIMA MAST 2012 Results

You can check AIMA MAST 2012 Results at www.aima-ind.org MAST February 2012 Result. Management Aptitude and Skills Test MAST 2012 conducted by All India Management Association AIMA on 26th February  2012. Candidates who have appeared for this Entrance Examination can check MAST Feb 2012 result availability from official website of AIMA. MAST February 2012 results can be accessed from http://www.aima-ind.org/mat.aspx this web portal link.

To check MAST Feb 2012 result you have to visit Score Car page and need to provide the following required details. Enter your 9 digit roll number in that given text box. Then Enter MAST registration number, date of birth and press Submit button to get your MAST Mark Sheet. You can find two different link for MAST latest updates.

If you visit http://www.aima-ind.org/mast.aspx this AIMA link You can get MAST September 2012 registration form and notification details. To check MAST February 2012 announcement visit the following link.
http://www.aima-ind.org/mat.aspx

AFCAT 2012 Results Air Force Common Admission Test 2012 Result online

You can check AFCAT 2012 Results check Air Force Common Admission Test 2012 result online. Air Force Common Admission Test 2012 AFCAT Men and Women Admission for January 2013 and July 2013 courses exam was conducted on 26th February 2012. List of candidates appeared for Air Force CET exam on 26 Feb 2012 Sunday on 8.00am and 11.00 am. AFCAT 01-2012 exam was conducted in list of seven cities with different exam centres. Candidates appeared for this exam using Hall Ticket AFCAT number in mentioned exam centre.

To get Air Force Common Admission Test 2012 results date and latest announcement regarding AFCAT candidates can go through the following steps. You can also check the details like AFCAT 2012 Exam Cut off Marks, List of selected candidates etc.

1) Visit official website http://careerairforce.nic.in

2) Check AFCAT 2012 latest news or (New) announcements. You can check the list of selected candidates for AFCAT 2012 exam on 26th Feb 2012 from the following link.

http://careerairforce.nic.in/AFCAT_List/index_AFCAT_List.htm

3) Results for AFCAT 2012 will be declared in home page of careerairforce.nic.in website bottom section. You can see LIST OF CANDIDATES : AFCAT ON 26 FEB 2012 (New) link in home page. So like this same kind of link will be available on publication of result date.

4) Candidates can check your results using AFCAT Hall Ticket Number.

For more Information visit,
http://careerairforce.nic.in

AICTE may bar new engineering, management colleges from 2014

MUMBAI: With supply outstripping demand for engineering and management seats, the country may stop new professional colleges coming up from 2014. This firm stand was taken recently at a meeting of the All-India Council for Technical Education, the country's inspector which grants permission to new professional technical colleges. The decision follows requests from several states that want the Council to reject fresh proposals for more colleges. 

While many states wanted the AICTE to immediately stop accepting applications, the process of setting up a college, like buying land and building the infrastructure, starts two years before a college trust approaches the AICTE for permission. "So, we have decided that two years from now, we will review the situation and may stop accepting proposals for all new technical colleges," said AICTE chairman S S Mantha. 

States such as Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Haryana and Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra told the AICTE to not to clear proposals for new institutes after waking up to the fact that the number of vacant seats in engineering and management colleges has risen dramatically over the last three years. India is now home to 3,393 engineering colleges that have 14.86 lakhs seats; today there are 3,900 management schools with a total student intake of 3.5 lakh. Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh have about 70% tech institutes. When admissions closed last year, AICTE estimated that nearly three lakh seats were unfilled. 

Despite the AICTE's decision, many states have decided not to allow colleges to start this year, with the state governments and the council embarking on a collision course. 

This year, the AICTE received a total of 204 applications for new engineering institutes and 86 for MBA colleges. "This year, we saw an interest in colleges again wanting to invest in engineering education. However, applications from the southern states, which have witnessed the expansion, are down to a trickle," added Mantha. Andhra Pradesh, which has the largest number of engineering colleges in India, has dispatched merely eight applications this year and a similar number for starting MBA colleges. 

However, over time, with no plan, growth has been skewed, but if AICTE's optimism is anything to go by, the country will now see professional colleges springing up in areas like the north-east and in central India, which are yet suffering from low enrolment in the professional education sector. 

Closer home, edupreneurs (education entrepreneurs) from Maharashtra are bullish on the growth in this sector. Maharashtra has a rich pool of 348 engineering institutes and 408 MBA colleges. And the fact that 34,000 seats did not have any takers last year did not play spoilsport. The AICTE received 30 applications to start engineering colleges and 15 for MBA institutes from Maharashtra this year (see box). 

"We have received the highest number of applications from Maharashtra. But, we have an impressive 307 applicants (almost 50% of the entire pool) for starting polytechnics (colleges that offer diploma in engineering) from across India," added Mantha. 

However, overall the slowdown is perceptible: two years ago, the AICTE received 2,176 applications to start new professional degree colleges and this time around, the number stands at a paltry 362. And two years from now, there may be no new colleges that will come up. 

Heritage walk to mark National Science Day tomorrow

New Delhi:  A heritage walk aimed at inculcating an interest in science among the youth will be organised tomorrow, Feb 28 in the premises of historical astronomical observatory Jantar Mantar here.
 
NGO Space Popularisation Association of Communicators and Educators (SPACE) in collaboration with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is organising the walk on the occasion of National Science Day.
 
The walk will also commemorate 100 years of Delhi as a capital and 150 years of ASI.
 
On the occasion, science experts from SPACE will demonstrate and discuss the working of the ancient instruments at the 300-year-old astronomical observatory.
 
National Science Day is celebrated on February 28 to commemorate Sir C V Raman's Discovery of the Raman Effect. He won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930 for the phenomenon called Raman scattering. 

Delhi govt increases OBC quota for higher education to 27 pc

New Delhi: The Delhi government increased the reservation in higher education for OBCs to 27 per cent from the present 21 per cent.
 
With this increase, the total reservation in higher education institutions for SCs, STs and OBCs will go up to 49.5 per cent.
 
The SCs have 15 per cent reservation while the STs have 7.5 per cent.
 
The decision to increase the OBC quota was taken at a meeting of the state Cabinet chaired by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.
 
The reservation will come into effect after a notification by the government. 

New VC for Sri Ramachandra University

Chennai: Dr J S Sathyanarayana Murthy, an eminent interventional cardiologist, has been appointed the new Vice Chancellor of Sri Ramachandra University (SRU). 
   
He succeeds Dr S Rangaswami, an eminent Orthopaedic Surgeon, who completed his five year tenure, the University said in a press release.
    
Presently Professor and Head of the Department of Cardiology, SRU, Murthy has over three decades of teaching and clinical experience.
  
A Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and the Royal College of Physicians (Glasgow), Murthy has received Dr K S Sanjeevi Award and Life Time Achievement Award of Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University. 

Madras HC issues notice to Centre and CBSE

Madurai: The Madras High Court bench here has ordered notice to the Centre and CBSE seeking to reply within four weeks on a petition seeking to conduct All India Engineering/Architectural Entrance Examination and All India Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental Entrance Examinations with question papers in regional languages listed in Schedule VIII of the constitution.
  
The petitioner K Pachaimal, a retired Tamil Teacher, said CBSE was conducting All India Common Entrance Examination for the admission to Engineering, Architecture, Medical and Dental Courses.
   
She said students who completed their Higher Secondary Examination through Tamil as  medium of Instruction would be forced to appear in the Common Entrance Examination either in English or Hindi, which was against their right to equality.
  
A Majority of these students are from urban poor, rural and weaker section of the society and have knowledge in their necessary subjects through their mother Tongue. But they will lose their opportunity as the question papers were prepared in English and Hindi.
   
The petitioner said students studying in their mother tongue should be given an equal opportunity to appear in the examination.
   
Justice Chitra Venkataraman and Justice R Karuppiah ordered notice to the Centre and CBSE seeking reply a four weeks.