Nasheman News : The Sahitya Akademi on Tuesday recommended four distinguished Indian writers as its fellows: Jayant Mahapatra, Padma Sachdev, Vishwanath Prasad Tiwari and Nagen Saikia.

As per the convention of the National Academy of Letters, there can only be 21 living fellows of the Sahitya Akademi and they should be “persons who made seminal and lasting contributions for the enrichment of Indian literature”, the Akademi said in a statement after its 90th General Council Meeting.

As per the Akademi, among the fellows is English and Odia writer Mahapatra, who is credited with having over 30 published books and has won the Sahitya Akademi Award, Jacob Glatstein Memorial Award, Allan Tate Poetry Prize and the SAARC Literary Award.

Dogri and Hindi writer and Padma Shri recipient Sachdev has won the Sahitya Akademi Award, the J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Language Award and its lifetime achievement award, Kabir Samman, and the Akademi’s Translation Prize, among others. 

She has 10 collections of Dogri poetry, 15 books of Hindi prose and over 12 translations to her credit.

Former Akademi president and Hindi writer Tiwari has also published 50 works, which include criticism, poetry collections, travelogues, biography, interviews, compilation and edited books. 

He is the recipient of many awards and honours including the Hindi Gaurav Samman, Vyas Samman, Sahitya Bhushan Samman, Pushkin Samman and the Bharatiya Bhasha Parishad Award, among others, the Akademi said.

The fourth fellow, former Rajya Sabha member (1986-1992) and Assamese writer Saikia is the winner of the Sahitya Akademi Award, Assam Valley Literary Award, Hariprasad Rai Award and Sabda Sahitya Award, among many others.

The writer has more than 125 published books to his credit, including collections of short stories, criticism, travelogues, besides edited, co-edited and translated books.

The highest honour conferred by the Akademi on a writer is by electing her/him as its fellow. This honour is reserved for `the immortals of literature’, the Akademi’s website says.

The Annual Flagship Event of SIBMB.

Celebrating a decade of exponential growth and success, Symbiosis Institute of Business Management-Bengaluru presents, Revelation 2019 – the Annual Flagship Event of SIBMB. Revelation is South India’s most resonating Management, Cultural and Sports festival driven by the confluence of analytical and creative minds at SIBM Bengaluru. The three-day extravaganza hosts events spread across 4 attractive verticals namely- Management, Cultural, Informals, and Sports, considering every sphere of talent, leaving no stones unturned.

In the 7^th edition of Revelation, weput forth the theme ‘Viser Invictus’ – An opportunity to aim for the unconquered territories.Viser Invictusprovides a limitless arena where you can re-envision yourself, achieve the extraordinary and escalate your infinity. Theunconquered territory is defined according to what it means to a person rather than taking it as a finish line. It is to tread the path of self-discovery and realize that one’s true capabilities go far beyond the ordinary; to march ahead on a path which is unconventional and unexplored by many and to transcend horizons.

Revelation 2019 celebrates the spirit of hard work, discipline and principled unity. It generates motivation to tread the unconventional path in life and constantly challenge the stereotypes, thereby becoming a better version of oneself with each endeavour.  The theme of Revelation 2019, “Viser Invictus”, inspires people to aim for the unconquered. It provides a limitless arena where you can re-envision yourself, achieve the extraordinary and escalate your infinity.

With cash prizes up to Rs. 5,00,000/- we are expecting an even larger footfall and participants in number than Revelation 2018. 

Revelation 2018 had approximately 900 participants from around 48 colleges across the country. The participants of the various events conducted last year had an enthralling experience competing with their counterparts from colleges across India.

Date18^th – 20^thJanuary, 2019.
Time: 8:30 A.M. to 6:00 P.M.
Venue: Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (SIBM) Bengaluru

About SIBM Bengaluru:

Ever since its inception in 1978, SYMBIOSIS has been synonymous with progress. The trend of progress has been continued by setting up of SIU’s first campus outside Maharashtra at Bengaluru in 2008. SIBM Bengaluru provides a holistic approach to management.

AIPCMA Makes A Statement

In order to equate Diplomate of National Board (DNB) qualifications with MD/MS degrees for the purpose of teaching in medical colleges, the new Board of Governors (BoG) of the MCI had recently issued a gazette notification amending the Teachers’ Eligibility & Qualification guidelines. While this has brought cheers to DNB holders who had for long demanded this amendment, an unexpected controversy has erupted due to its misinterpretation.

A Rajasthan based association by the name “All India Pre & Para Clinical Medicos Association” (AIPCMA) had alleged that MCI had removed the eligibility of non-medical teachers in the recent amendment. “This association is involved in malicious propaganda against non-medical teachers & has created fake news to mislead everyone. Not only did this association give misleading statements to the press but is also indulging in misleading the medical colleges by writing letters”, said Arjun Maitra, the General Secretary of National M.Sc Medical Teachers Association (NMMTA). “It is vital that this misinformation is corrected”, he added while condemning the unethical methods adopted by AIPCMA to pursue its agenda.

“The amendment brought out by MCI pertains only to inclusion of DNB as an additional qualification. Only serial number 4 & clause 6 of Schedule-I of guidelines were amended for this purpose. The serial number 2, which describes the eligibility of non-medical teachers has not been amended”, said Dr. Sridhar Rao, President of NMMTA. “The eligibility of non-medical teachers remains as it is”, he clarified.

In order to clear the confusion, a delegation of NMMTA had visited MCI’s headquarters at Delhi & met both Chairman of MCI’s BoG Dr. V.K Paul & its Secretary General Dr. Sanjay Shrivastava. “Our meeting with MCI was fruitful. MCI has clarified that no changes have been made with respect to the eligibility of non-medical teachers. We have also presented a few other issues of non-medical teachers & MCI is likely to amend TEQ guidelines further”, said Arjun Maitra. “The misleading propaganda carried out by AIPCMA has created confusion among medical colleges, therefore NMMTA had to issue a clarification”, he added.

Non-medical teachers are those who hold medical M.Sc postgraduate degree in non-clinical subjects of Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, & Microbiology awarded under faculty of medicine in medical colleges. Currently, TEQ guidelines of MCI provisions appointment of non-medical teachers up to the extent of 30% (50% in Biochemistry) in these non-clinical subjects. NMMTA is a registered national association of persons with Medical M.Sc degree in these subjects, many of whom are teachers working in medical colleges across India.

In the 84th All India Kannada Literature Conference, the decision was made against the English media schools, saying that children should be learning English medium from elementary one class and in today’s competitive world it is inevitable. Parameshwara advocates.

There are also plans to implement this from the coming academic year. He spoke to reporters after attending the “Science Fair of South India States” organized by the Public Education Department and Vishweshwaraiah Industrial and Technological Museum on Monday at St Joseph’s Indian High School Hall.

“There may be hundreds of opinions on the party in starting English medium schools. Also, I can have an opinion.

However, this is related to government policy. In this way, English medium schools are scheduled to start from one class.

And so does not overlook Kannada. It will be taught as a matter. “

Karnataka is the advanced state. There is also an atmosphere of supplementation. Children need to learn English from class 1 to compete at a global level. In the 21st Century, Kannada would also be considered as missing. In addition to this, the Department of Public Education has said that the English Training and Separate Study Unit is already preparing a lot of preparations for teachers.

Practical implementation from next year: Public Education Department Commissioner Dr P.C. “The learning system will be practically implemented in the English medium for 1th grade in 1,000 schools from the academic year on October 25, 2018,” said Jaffer.

The Supreme Court has said that it is their mother-in-law who chooses children’s educational media. It is not only a Kannada language. Applies to 22 country languages ​​in the country. Therefore, the Prime Minister must convene a meeting of all state Chief Ministers and make a decision and nationalize education. Or the Constitution 
should be amended . 
– Siddaramaiah, Former CM

Agencies

Nasheman News : Union Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar on Monday announced the approval of an increase of 5,000 seats in Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV) for the 2019-20 Academic Year.

At present, the number of seats in JNVs and residential schools for talented rural children, are 46,600. The addition of 5,000 seats will mean that 51,000 seats will be available from 2019-20, the government said in a statement.

In the last four years there was an addition of 9,000 seats. In the next four years, the government is likely to add 32,000 more seats, it said.

“This is a step in the right direction. This is the biggest-ever expansion of quality education for rural students. This unprecedented expansion of JNVs, nearly free of cost residential schools, will provide more opportunity for talented children from rural areas to get quality education,” Javadekar said.

Navodaya is the only education system in the country where students give entrance examination for admission into Class 6. 

In 2001, 5.50 lakh aspirants appeared for the exam. 

Over the years, the number of aspirants appearing for the exam has increased considerably. For the 2019 entrance test, 31.10 lakh students have registered.

 Senior civil servant Arvind Saxena was sworn in as the Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Thursday, the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions said.

He was appointed to the post following a government order issued on Wednesday.

The term of his appointment will be till August 7, 2020, when he attains the age of 65 years or till further orders whichever is earlier, the Ministry said.

Saxena joined the Commission as a member on May 8, 2015, and was later appointed to perform the duties of the UPSC Chairman this June 20.

He was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Pradeep Kumar Joshi, the senior most member of the Commission.

A student of civil engineering from the Delhi College of Engineering and M. Tech in systems management from IIT-New Delhi, Saxena was selected for the civil services and joined the Indian Postal Service in 1978.

In 1988, he joined the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), where he specialised in the study of strategic developments in neighbouring countries, including Nepal, China and Pakistan.

Saxena is a recipient of awards for Meritorious Services (2005) and Distinguished Services (2012) in recognition of his exemplary work and unblemished service record in the RAW.

 The Centre has asked the states and UTs to ensure that there is no homework for students of Classes 1 and 2 and the guidelines capping the weight of school bags for classes 1-10 are adhered to.

“The Ministry has instructed all states and Union Territories to formulate guidelines to regulate the teaching of subjects and weight of school bags in accordance with Government of India regulations,” read the circular sent out by the Education Secretary of Lakshadweep A. Hamza to school principals, on the basis of a directive by the Union HRD Ministry.

Schools would not ask the students to bring any additional books or materials that could increase their burden of weight, a HRD ministry official said. All the states and UT education departments have been directed on these lines.

The guidelines said school bags for students in Class 1 and 2 should not be above 1.5 kg.

The weight limits stipulated for Classes 3 to 5 (two to three kg), Classes 4 and 5 (four kg), Classes 8 and 9 (4.5 kg), and Class 10 (five kg).

It also directed that Classes 1 and 2 students should be taught only one language and Maths and Classes 3 and 4 only Language, Environmental Studies, and Maths.

The circular was issued just days back, he added.

IANS

Sixteen-year old Samay Godika, a city school student, will receive $400,000 in educational prizes for himself, his teacher and his school, as he emerged winner in the fourth annual “Breakthrough Junior Challenge”, a global science video competition.

The US-based Breakthrough Prize announced Godika, a junior at the National Public School-Koramangala in Bengaluru, as the winner of this year’s ‘Breakthrough Junior Challenge’ for his video submitted in the life sciences category on circadian rhythms, which are physical, mental, and behavioural changes that follow a daily cycle.

Breakthrough Junior Challenge is a global science video competition designed to inspire creative thinking about fundamental concepts in the life sciences, physics, and mathematics.

“As the winner, Samay will receive $400,000 (approx Rs. 2.92 crore) in educational prizes for himself, his teacher and his school,” Breakthrough Prize said in a release posted on its website Sunday.

Samay will receive a $250,000 college scholarship while his ninth and tenth grade science teacher Pramila Menon will get $50,000 prize. Additionally,his school will receive a state-of-the-art science lab valued at $100,000.

Menon had encouraged his interest in life sciences and tutored him after school to encourage his curiosity about scientific ideas.

Recognising him as a Boston native who now lives in India, Breakthrough said, Samay’s video, submitted in the life sciences category, focused on circadian rhythms, the 24-hour biological processes that can affect simple daily experiences such as waking up for school or jet lag.

Because he has family members who suffer from Parkinson’s and other neurological diseases, Samay is particularly interested in the correlation between circadian rhythms and the effectiveness of medical treatments, it added.

“Participating in and now winning the Breakthrough Junior Challenge is life-changing, thrilling and such an honor… I’m so grateful for this opportunity to be recognised alongside so many of the world’s top scientists and tech industry leaders,” Samay said.

Breakthrough Junior Challenge is a global initiative to develop and demonstrate young people’s knowledge of science and scientific principles, generate excitement in these fields and engage the imagination and interest of the public-at-large in key concepts of fundamental science, it said.

Samay Godika was among the three Indians out of the 15 finalists of the Breakthrough Junior Challenge.

PTI

The students of Bangalore University are demanding a refund of fees paid for re-valuation as their marks have been modified after re-valuation. Most of the universities including Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) Belagavi, Pre University Education department and Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board (KSEEB) have the policy of refunding the fees if the marks are changed after the revaluation.

Now students of Bangalore University are demanding for the same and saying it is their money that was paid for no mistake of theirs. “We understand university not paying us back the money in case of marks not changing after re-valuation. But when marks are changed and it is proved that it was a mistake on the part of the evaluator, why do we have to pay for it?” question the students.

BU charges Rs 1,200 for photocopy and revaluation per subject. “If the examination department fails to consider our request (refunding the amounts), we will meet the Vice Chancellor,” the students said.
“I had applied for re-valuation in three papers in which I had failed. After revaluation, I have got more than 35 marks which is the minimum marks that we require to pass the subject. But, the university has not refunded my money. I had secured less marks not because of my performance, it was because of evaluators mistake,” said a student.

Officials of the university said there was a practice at the university to refund 50% of the fees paid for revaluation as per old regulations in case marks have changed. “As students are not claiming it, the authorities are not bothered and it has to be placed before Syndicate,” mentioned a senior BU official.

Express News Services

Over four decades after he began his scientific engagement with gravitational science, Professor Abhay Ashtekar is set to receive the prestigious Einstein Prize conferred by the American Physical Society (APS).

The prize for 2018, which carries an award of $10,000, is scheduled to be announced on October 23. Its citation reads: “For numerous and seminal contributions to general relativity, including the theory of black holes, canonical quantum gravity, and quantum cosmology.”

Ashtekar is professor of physics, Evan Pugh Professor, Holder, Eberly Chair, and director of the Institute for Gravitation and the Cosmos at the Pennsylvania State University.

“The prize is special because is it the highest honour bestowed by APS in the broad area of gravitational science. The first Einstein prize was awarded jointly to Peter Bergmann and John Wheeler, who introduced general relativity to American universities by creating research groups. Perhaps because the first award often sets the tone, subsequent prizes have come to recognise ‘lifetime achievements’. So the news was deeply satisfying,” Ashtekar told IANS in an email interview.

Ashtekar’s passion for physical sciences started while he was in high school in India. “At first I knew only Marathi literature –that is my mother tongue, and was the medium of instruction until I was 11. Then was exposed Hindi and English literature and realised how deeply literature is tied to specific cultures. What is considered great in one language or context could well be mediocre in another. At the same time, I learned Newton’s laws and universality of gravity — what makes the apple fall on earth also makes the planets go around the sun. This was stunning by itself,” he said.

What he found most remarkable was that, unlike art and literature, which are “so tied to human conditions”, Newton’s laws transcend both. “It was striking to me that the same Newton’s laws are taught and admired in India as in China, Japan and the West.”

“Later, in college, fundamental physics seemed to me to be the deepest and purest way to pursue understanding of Nature (the external world). In graduate school, I chose to work in general relativity, cosmology and quantum physics because that is where the most fundamental questions about space, time and the nature of the physical universe are discussed,” he said.

Somewhere along the line, he also recognised that although one of the main four forces of nature, gravity is the weakest, yet it is so crucial to the way the universe formed and exists.

“Gravity has two key features that other forces do not share. Unlike the weak and strong force, it is long-range and therefore key to the large-scale structures and phenomena. Electromagnetic force is also long-range. But because electric charge comes with both signs, the force can be both attractive and repulsive.

“Large bodies like the sun and planets are all electrically neutral and so they don’t exert any electromagnetic force on one another. The dominant force between such bodies is therefore gravitational,” he explained.

After receiving his Ph.D. in 1974 from the University of Chicago, Ashtekar went on to hold influential positions in France, Canada and India. His biography on the National Academy of Sciences, to which he was elected a member in 2016, describes him as someone “best known for initiating the Loop Quantum Gravity programme by introducing new variables to simplify Einstein’s equations, for analysing the very early universe using Loop Quantum Cosmology, and for his contributions to the study of the asymptotic structure of space-time and gravitational waves in full non-linear general relativity”.

After such a long career in a diversity of physics disciplines, he said science is currently in the “truly golden age for gravity”. “Until about the mid-1960s, general relativity had remained isolated from mainstream science — a pristine and beautiful theory, to be admired from a distance.

“The paradigm has shifted completely and relativistic gravity has moved to centre stage of physics and astronomy. Through the big bang, black holes and gravitational waves, we realised that the universe is not a calm, peaceful place that the astronomers believed it to be in much of the 20th century,” he pointed out.

“There are highly energetic explosions sourced by strong gravity that have shaped the history of our universe. Thus, relativistic gravity has completely overhauled our understanding of the cosmos,” he said.

“The deepest puzzles in fundamental physics today are at the interface of general relativity and quantum physics. What really happened at the big bang? What is the end point of the quantum evaporation of black holes? How do we incorporate gravity into the unified theories of all fundamental forces? It is clear therefore that gravity will continue to dominate research in physics and astronomy in the coming decades as well,” he said.

Asked whether physicists in India are producing world-class research, Ashtekar said: “There are extremely talented physicists in India who are making first-rate contributions to pure physics in areas I have first-hand acquaintance with. I am particularly pleased by the ‘LIGO-India’ project that is now placing India firmly in the front ranks of international efforts. The Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics in Pune, in particular, will play an important role in the major discoveries that will be made with the international network of gravitational wave observatories between 5 and 10 years from now. In this area India is ahead of China, for example.”

“My colleagues in other areas of physics, on the other hand, tell me that this is not the case in their field; that there is a lot of good research but not enough ‘great’ research that gets published in the most visible journals,” he said.