Arunachal Pradesh
National Constitution Day invocation
Itanagar, November 26. On National Constitution Day (November 26) after hoisting a massive 131-ft tricolour on the legislative assembly premises, Chief Minister Pema Khandu, advised the Speaker in collaboration with the education ministry to organise seminars in state government-run schools to raise students’ awareness of citizens’ rights and duties as enshrined in the Indian Constitution.
“Prime Minister Modi has set 2047 as the target for Viksit Bharat for which we all should know about the provisions of the Constitution to work in that direction. The people of the state including the new generation should contribute towards achieving the vision of the prime minister for a Viksit Bharat and Viksit Arunachal,” said the chief minister, speaking on the occasion.
Tripura
CBSE sub-regional office
Agartala, November 4. The Delhi-based Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will establish a sub-regional office in the state capital following outrage over the dismal performance of state-run CBSE schools in board examinations, said Abhijit Samajpati, education officer on special duty.
In 2018, the state’s BJP government renamed 125 state government schools as Vidyajyoti Schools and introduced CBSE’s English-medium curriculum. In the 2023-24 academic year, 61 percent of class X students and 59 percent of class XII statewide passed CBSE board exams.
“The state government will allocate suitable land for the CBSE office to strengthen educational infrastructure in the state. The office will operate temporarily from a building of Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya,” said Samajpati, addressing a media conference.
The sub-regional office will provide admission assistance, subjects correction, student record updates, exam centre coordination, mark sheet corrections, grievance redressal and teacher training facilitation to Vidyajyoti Schools, he added.
Jammu & Kashmir
LG Sinha’s clarion call
Srinagar, November 13. At the convocation ceremony of the National Institute of Fashion Technology, Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha urged young, creative minds to address the challenges of the domestic apparel and textile industries and make India the fashion capital of the world.
Addressing students at the function, the LG said: “Youth are the inheritors of our great civilization. I firmly believe India’s unique cultural and historical identity and dedication of our youth will weave magic into creative products and will bring far-reaching changes in the fashion industry.”
Delhi
Indian knowledge traditions
New Delhi, November 16. Students across all 13 disciplines of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), including engineering and management, will study traditional Indian knowledge under a newly introduced elective course, an official spokesperson said. Each faculty will customise the content to suit its specific field.
Indian Knowledge Traditions (IKT) is defined as indigenous systems of knowledge developed in India over centuries, covering areas such as Vedic sciences, ancient engineering, traditional medicine and philosophy texts.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has recommended inclusion of IKT in academic curricula to acquaint students with India’s intellectual heritage and values. According to JNU, which approved the proposal during a meeting last month, it has asked all faculties to submit their suggestions for finalising the syllabus.
According to a spokesperson, the elective may be rolled out from the next academic year and be available as an optional course to students’ main fields of study. These electives will carry academic credits. As per UGC recommendations, 5 percent of a student’s total credits at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels should be from IKT courses.
To promote India’s traditional knowledge systems, JNU recently also established centres for Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist studies on campus.
Rajasthan
Harsh Mander book recalled
Kota, November 1. Education minister Madan Dilawar accused the previous Congress government of approving a book “glorifying” culprits of the 2002 Godhra train incident that killed 56 people and triggered statewide riots.
The Rajasthan government has recalled Adrashya Log, a book written by former civil servant Harsh Mander which was dispatched to government schools’ libraries under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan programme.
Addressing a press conference, the minister said: “This book was selected and approved during the previous state government’s reign. Without any thought and understanding, culprits of the Godhra incident are glorified in it. It has been recalled and replaced with Vaccine Ki Gatha by Sajjan Singh Yadav.”
The minister also added that plans to implement the National Education Policy 2020 statewide are in advanced stage of preparation and the policy will be fully implemented within the next two-three years.