DEPARTMENT OF

HIGHER EDUCATION
MHRD
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ISSUE 18
ON HIGHER EDUCATION MARCH 2015

“A child without education is

like a bird without wings.”

THIS ISSUE - Tibetan proverb

Ministry Discusses New Smt. Smriti Irani, Minister of

Education Policy HRD, releasing a publication at
the National Workshop on
HRM Launches UGC's "Women Innovators for
Grievance Redressal Portal Excellence in Research and
Science" - WINNERS - 2015 on
International Women's Day in
Ministry Raises Prize Money for
New Delhi on March 9, 2015.
National Science Drama
Festival
HRM asks Women Scientists to encourage Girl Education in Rural Areas
Minister Releases Book on
Tamil Sage Thiruvalluvar On the occasion of Women's Day on March over the country. She added that the main
9, 2015, Smt. Smriti Irani, Minister of aim of this programme is to improve the lot
HRD, inaugurated a National Workshop on of rural India through technological
"Women Innovators for Excellence in interventions.
Research and Science" - WINNERS - 2015
and she asked the women scientists of Dr. K. Tamilmani, distinguished scientists
DRDO to encourage promotion of girl
and Director General (Aero Systems), who
education, which, she said, would bring a
also spoke on the occasion, said that there
change in rural lives. On this occasion,
is no doubt that limited access to resources
she also spoke of the "Unnat Bharat
and limited power of decision making also
Abhiyan" initiative of the Ministry, which
helps prepare girls from disadvantaged limits the women's ability to exercise their
sections to excel in competitive exams. full capabilities, which, in turn, affects the
The Minister said that women scientists society. Dr. Tamilmani said that this
can be a source of inspiration for girls who realisation had prompted more efforts to
are dreaming big. This two-day workshop ensure equal opportunities for men and
was hosted by Centre for Fire, Explosive women.
and Environment Safety (CFEES) and over
200 women scientists from different In her welcome address, earlier in the
laboratories of DRDO participated in it. programme, Dr. Chitra Rajagopal, an
SECTIONS
outstanding scientist and Director, Centre
Events Speaking about the Ministry's initiative, for Fire, Explosive and Environment Safety
Campus Notes Smt. Irani said that the programme,
(CFEES), said, "Innovation grows in an
launched last year, is piloted by Indian
Exchange of Ideas environment, where one is free to
Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the
Vichar Vimarsh experiment and learn by trial and error."
National Institutes of Technology (NITs) all

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EditorialNotes

India is rapidly moving ahead in the direction of better

tter
tter
education opportunities for our girls and one on Editorial Panel
informative step in this direction was the launch of thehe
wi
Digital Gender Atlas for Girls' Education. This Atlas will
be an effective tool for agencies that are working for Patron
better education for girls. Any person can access and
Satyanarayan Mohanty, Secretary (HE)
use this Atlas on the Ministry's website. The Minister for
Human Resource Development has also called upon the
achievers of the WINNERS awards 2015, the women men Editor-in-Chief
scientists, to join in the campaign for promotion of girl
Mrs. Ishita Roy, Joint Secretary
education.

ry's
Besides focus on education for the half of country's Editor
population, the Government is also keen on making the
B. N. Tiwari, Deputy Director General
present education system a better entity in termss of
skill development and credit allocation. While the
States are on board with the Central Government on Editorial Board
this topic, the adoption of the Credit Framework for
ges
Skills and the Choice Based Credit System in Colleges Shri Harpreet Singh, Director (HE)
and State Public Universities can only spell good days
ahead for the students of our country. Shri Shailendra Kumar, Director (TE)

Shri Alok Mishra, Director (ICC)

mpart
Language is, perhaps, the most important tool to impart
education and nothing could emphasize this more than Shri P K Saha, DS (A)
the "Matribhasha Diwas" celebrated on February 21,
2015, along with UNESCO's International Mother ther Shri Gajraj Singh, Deputy Director (OL)
urs,
Language Day. In a diversely linguistic country like ours,
it is not only important to respect the different ent
linguistic traditions but what is more imperative is to Editorial Assistance
nurture each language so that they stand the testt of
time. Shri Gaya Prasad, Director

eas
The Government is also in the process of inviting ideas
tion
and suggestions regarding formation of a New Education
eu of
Policy, which would take care of the changing milieu
the country's educational requirements. If you, our
gard,
esteemed reader, have anything to say in this regard,
you can register your opinion at
https://mygov.in/group/new-education-policy/.
ons.
The Ministry looks forward to your valuable suggestions.

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HRM Launches UGC's Grievance Redressal

Ministry Discusses New Education Policy
Portal

A meeting of State Education Ministers and State

School/Higher Education Secretaries was held on March
21, 2015, in New Delhi, to deliberate upon the
consultative process that would lead to the formation
of New Education Policy (NEP). Smt. Smriti Irani,
Minister of HRD, delivered a keynote address at the
meeting, congratulating the participants for the
success achieved in the preceding ten months , which,
she said, was possible due to cooperative federalism
and practice of minimum government and maximum
governance.

Highlighting the main objective of the meeting, Smt. Smt. Smriti Irani, Minister of HRD, launching the Grievance
Irani initiated the discussion on the consultation Portal of UGC, in New Delhi on March 23, 2015
process for the NEP and sought views, comments and
To facilitate the complaints of students and to allow
suggestions of States in this regard. The Minister
their grievances to be addressed in a time-bound
emphasised that for the first time in the history of
manner, Smt. Smriti Irani, Minister of HRD, launched
education policy making, every citizen is given an
opportunity to express his/her views. The consultation the "Students Grievance Redressal Portal" of the
process involves participation from the grassroot level University Grants Commission (UGC) in New Delhi on
to the state, regional and national levels in bringing out March 23, 2015. This portal is a new initiative taken up
a comprehensive policy which will reflect the by the UGC, which would make it possible for students
aspirations and needs of the entire country. The process to lodge their complaints, send reminders and view the
will also seek to meet the inherent needs of status of action taken regarding their grievances.
stakeholders, students and their parents whose goal is
to make their children a better human being and a According to the UGC, the basic aim of the portal is to
better citizen. The Minister stressed the point that the ensure transparency in admission, prevention of unfair
meeting is for open consultation and the way forward practices in Higher Education Institutions and provision
for cooperative federalism. of effective mechanism for redressal of the grievances.

A presentation by the Ministry also explained the

Under this initiative, each University will have a
grassroot consultation process which was followed by a
dedicated Nodal Officer for redressal of grievance and
presentation by the MyGov portal team on the ICT
as soon as the student lodges a complaint, the email ID,
enablement to make this process work at the grassroot
level through the state machinery. The meeting saw mobile number and other contact details of the Nodal
active participation from the State Governments both Officers can be viewed by the complainant. The Nodal
with regard to the content that needs to go into the Officer will also be responsible for redressal of the
policy and the processes involved. grievances submitted by students of the colleges
affiliated under that University.
In all, 22 State/UT Education Ministers, Secretaries (HE)
and (SE&L), along with Education Secretaries and other It will be the Nodal Officer's duty to ensure time bound
senior officers, including State Information Officers redressal of the grievance. If that is not achieve, an
(SIOs) took part in the meeting. automatic reminder will be sent to the Nodal Officer

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otes

every 15 days for closing of the grievance matter. The the zonal level winners will get Rs. 1 lakh prize money
Nodal Officer can contact the complainant whose instead of Rs. 6,000.
details will also be visible to him/her for any
clarification, if required. The UGC alone will monitor
Speaking at the inaugural session of the National
the grievances. The dashboard of the Administrator will
Science Drama Festival, held on January 8, 2015, Smt.
automatically display the status in a graphic manner,
the time taken for redressal of the grievance, pending Irani said that the Ministry would also launch the
grievances and the classes of grievances. Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan, to encourage inventions,
especially in the subjects of Science and Mathematics.
The grievances can be lodged for a variety of reasons On this occasion, the Minister also released a souvenir.
like admission process in totality including reservation
policy, publication/non-publication of prospectus, Minister Releases Book on Tamil Sage
discrimination of students on the basis of caste, creed
Thiruvalluvar
and race, untimely conduct of examination,
non-declaration of results, lack of students amenities,
and non-payment of scholarships/fellowships,
victimization of students and sexual harassment cases
etc.

Students can access the portal at www.ugc.ac.in in the

Student Grievance link.

Ministry Raises Prize Money for National Smt. Smriti Irani, Minister of HRD, releasing book on great
Tamil sage Thiruvalluvar by Shri Tarun Vijay, Member of
Science Drama Festival Rajya Sabha, in New Delhi on January 7, 2015.

After agreeing to Rajya Sabha MP Shri Tarun Vijay's

demand to observe Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar's birth
anniversary in North Indian schools in November 2014,
Smt. Smriti Irani released a book on the great Tamil
sage-poet at an event in New Delhi on January 7, 2015.
The book is penned by Shri Vijay himself.

While raising the demand, Shri Vijay, who is an MP from

Smt. Smriti Irani, Minister of HRD, releasing a souvenir at Uttarakhand, had said that Tamil is one of the greatest
the inaugural session of the National Science Drama
Festival, in New Delhi on January 8, 2015. classical languages and was also the first language to be
selected from India in the UNESCO's 'Register of
Smt. Smriti Irani, Minister of HRD, has announced a
Memory.'
substantial hike in the prize money for various levels of
the annual National Science Drama Festival. According
In addition to the book release, Smt. Irani also
to the Minister, this hike would encourage more
inaugurated the national campaign "Students and Youth
participation of students in the event.
for Thiruvalluvar", led by Shri Vijay, in New Delhi on

At the national level, winners will get Rs 5 lakh, instead February 20, 2015.
of the present amount of Rs. 10,000. At the same time,

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Events Notes

or not. It is constructed on an open source platform

Digital Gender Atlas for Girls' Education with an inbuilt scope of updating data by authorized
Launched persons to retain its dynamic character.

The Gender Atlas uses available Government data such

as the Unified District Information System for Education
(U-DISE) data (2011-2014), Census 2011 data and
District Level Health Survey (DLHS) 2007-08, to enable
the user to navigate between geographical
representation and numeric data at state, district and
block levels and gives information on key indicators for
girls’ education at primary, upper primary and
Smt. Vrinda Sarup, Secretary (SE&L), briefing the press on secondary level.
the release of the Digital Gender Atlas for Advancing Girls
Education, in New Delhi on March 9, 2015.
Components of the Digital Gender Atlas
The Ministry of Human Resource Development,
Department of School Education and Literacy, launched 1. The main components of the Gender Atlas are : (i)
the Digital Gender Atlas for Advancing Girls' Education Composite Gender Ranking (ii) Trend Analysis of Gender
in India, in New Delhi on March 9, 2015. Smt. Vrinda Indicators (iii) Vulnerabilities based on educational
Sarup, Secretary (SE&L), was also present on the indicators in districts with substantial tribal, schedule
occasion. The tool, which will help identify geographic caste, minority population in educationally backward
pockets for girls in the country, has been developed blocks and in left wing extremist districts, and the low
with the support of UNICEF. The atlas will be sex ratio districts selected under Beti Bachao Beti
particularly helpful in identifying the geographic Padhao programme.
pockets in case of girls belonging to scheduled castes,
schedule tribes and Muslim minorities, with the help of 2. Composite Gender Ranking: Selected gender
specific gender related education indicators. related indicators have been identified for primary,
upper primary and secondary education. A composite
The Atlas is placed on the MHRD website and available gender index has been developed using the formulae
and ready to use by States/Districts/Blocks education that are used for calculating the EDI in DISE. But for
administrators or any other interested group. In order gender related indicators. Accordingly, the selected
to plan and execute educational interventions, the gender indicators have been grouped into four – Access,
purpose of the Gender Atlas is to help identify and Infrastructure, Teachers and Outcomes. The Atlas
ensure equitable education with a focus on vulnerable provides an aggregated picture of performance through
girls, including girls with disabilities. To ensure this is a comparative visualization of composite gender index
feasible, the Gender Atlas has been developed as a based quartile ranking of gender related indicators at
hands-on management tool to enable critical decisions National, State, District and Block levels.
and actions in pockets where gaps are to be met.
3. Trend Analysis for Gender Related Indicators: The
The Atlas provides comparative analysis of individual Atlas enables a trend analysis and tracking of
gender related indicators over three years and that performance of individual gender related indicators
enables a visual assessment of the change and an (that have been used for the composite gender ranking)
understanding of whether some intervention introduced across a period of three years
in a geography at a particular point in time has worked

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Events Notes

4. Spatial Display of Pockets with Multiple Shri Pranab Mukherjee, the Hon'ble President of India,
Disadvantages Related to Education: Spatial presented the Visitor's Awards for Central Universities in
identification of pockets in states or blocks in districts the categories of "Best University", "Innovation" and
where juxtaposition of key relevant gender indicators "Research" for the year 2015, at Rashtrapati Bhawan on
reveal maximum disadvantages, viz., education February 4, 2015.
development
The "Best University" award went to the University of
5. Vulnerabilities: This component of the Atlas Hyderabad for its academic excellence and overall
visualizes the vulnerability status of an area based on a outstanding work. "Innovation" award was presented to
composite index of three broad indicators (i) rural Prof. Vijay K. Chaudhary and Dr. Amita Gupta of
female literacy – from Census 2011 (ii) percentage University of Delhi for their invention of "TB Confirm", a
girls/boys married below the legal age of marriage – rapid diagnostic test for Tuberculosis. The Cosmology
DLHS and (iii) working children (bifurcated by gender and Astrophysics Research Group, Centre for
and age groups of 5-14 years and 15-19 years – Census of Theoretical Physics, Jamia Millia Islamia, received the
India 2011. These maps are available up to the district "Research" award for its path breaking research carried
level. out in the field of Astrophysics and Cosmology. The
members of this research group are Prof. M. Sami, Prof.
6. Children with Disabilities: This part of the Atlas Sushant G. Ghosh, Prof. Sanjay Jhingan and Prof. Anjan
visualizes the performance status of a single indicators Ananda Sen.
related to children with disabilities, particularly girls,
based on quartile ranking across three years i.e. The Visitor's Awards were instituted by the President in
2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14. The performance status 2014, with a view to promote healthy competition
of an individual indicator can be visualized at state and among the Central Universities and to motivate these
district level. institutions to adopt best education practices from
across the world.
Visitor's Awards for "Best University",
"Innovation" and "Research" February 21 is Matribhasha Diwas

To encourage the use of mother tongue in everyday

work, the Ministry of Human Resource Development,
celebrated February 21, 2015 as "Matribhasha Diwas" in
the country. The day also coincides with the
International Mother Language Day, as designated by
UNESCO. The day is spent promoting mother tongues
and increasing awareness of the linguistic and cultural
traditions throughout the world. Keeping in mind the
highly diverse linguistic fabric of the country, Smt.
Smriti Irani, Minister of HRD, attended an event at
Ethiraj College in Chennai, Tamil Nadu and released the
Shri Pranab Mukherjee, the Hon'ble President of India, and following books -
Smt. Smriti Irani, Minister of HRD, with the awardees of the
First Visitor's Award-2015, at Rashtrapati Bhawan, in New
Delhi, on February 4, 2015. · 1008 books of Central Institute of Indian Languages;

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Events Notes

· 10 books of Central Institute of Classical Tamil; and

HRM Inaugurates National Ceremony of
· 5 books of Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan. Value Education at Ramakrishna Mission

She also interacted with the students of the college

during the event.

Smt. Smriti Irani, Minister of HRD, releasing a Book of the

Institute of Indian Languages, Mysore, at the Matribhasha Smt. Smriti Irani, Minister of HRD, lighting the inaugural
Diwas celebrations in Chennai on February 21, 2015. lamp at the Nation-wide ceremony of Value Education,
organized by Ramakrishna Mission, in New Delhi on February
February 21 was celebrated as the Mother Language Day 14, 2015.
all over India with the sole objective of sensitizing Smt. Smriti Irani, Minister of HRD, inaugurated the
people regarding the need to be proficient in nation-wide inaugural ceremony of Value Education, an
communication skills using one's mother tongue. All the event organized by Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi, on
schools, colleges, universities and Language related February 14, 2015. Addressing the ceremony, Smt. Irani
institutions under both Central and State Governments emphasised that cultural tolerance and respect for
are celebrating the occasion by holding seminars, women should be the driving forces of educational
workshops, special lectures and various competitions models. She said, "Today, as we impart education,
for students on the importance of mother tongue. As values are being left behind. Education should be such
part of the celebrations, the following events took that it inculcates ethics and develops a strong
place - character."

On this occasion, Swami Shantatmanana, Secretary of

· General Knowledge competitions on Indian Language
Delhi Ramakrishna Mission, also presented a book to
Heritage
Smt. Irani.

· Exhibition on Indian mother tongues

The objectives of the Value Education programme are -
1. Inspiring students to become enlightened citizens
· Schools/colleges to take up year-long activities 2. Making students aware and convinced of the higher
facilitating use of mother tongue dimensions of education, work and life
3. Enabling students to plan and harmonize their
· Language festivals at different places thoughts-actions-goals accordingly.
4. Helping students to get established in
self-development practices to develop powers of mind.

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Events Notes

HRM presents National Bal Shree Honours

2011, 2012

Smt. Smriti Irani, Minister of HRD, presented the

National Bal Shree Honours for the years 2011 and
2012 in New Delhi on January 29, 2015. At a func-
tion, organised by the National Bal Bhavan, Smt.
Irani presented the awards and interacted with the
awardees. These awards go to children who are the
most creative and talented in the fields of creative
performance, creative art, creative scientific innova-
tion and creative writing.

A few glimpses from the event -

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Notes

alma mater. Shri Mukherjee also said that in addition to

Presidents Asks VCs to Recognize Global improving their standing among international rankings,
Trends in Higher Education the universities should also attempt ratings on a
National Ranking Framework, which needs to be
expeditiously developed, he added.

The President also expressed concern over the

alarmingly high vacancy position in CUs and asked for
efforts to address the issue. Recalling his recent visits
to Norway and Finland, the President said that he called
upon the academicians and experts in these countries
to come and teach in India. Speaking of the awards like
the Visitor's Awards for "Best University," "Innovation"
and "Research", Shri Mukherjee said that these honors
Shri Pranab Mukherjee, the Hon'ble President of India, and will become a driving force in promoting research and
Smt. Smriti Irani, Minister of HRD, at the Conference of Vice innovation in CUs in the future.
Chancellors of Central Universities, at Rashtrapati Bhawan,
in New Delhi on February 4, 2015.
Calling Universities a role-model for society at large,
Shri Pranab Mukherjee, Hon'ble President of India, the President said that a University's persuasive power
opened a Conference of Vice Chancellors (VCs) of extends beyond the classroom and teaching. Therefore,
Central Universities (CUs) at Rashtrapati Bhawan, New he added, its influence must be tapped for the greater
Delhi, on February 4, 2015. The VCs of 40 CUs, to which good.
the President is the Visitor, attended the Conference,
which is the third such event convened by Shri Smt. Smriti Irani, Minister of HRD, and other dignitaries
Mukherjee since assumption of office. were also present on the occasion.

Addressing the VCs on the occasion, the President President Mukherjee Addresses Students,
emphasised the importance of recognizing emerging
Faculty on "Parliament and Policymaking"
global trends, which are likely to bring sweeping
changes in Higher Education worldwide. He talked In a historic address, delivered through Video
about the rising costs of Higher education and the Conferencing on January 19, 2015, President Pranab
changing profile education seekers, as well as the Mukherjee spoke to the students and faculty of Central
growing presence of technological innovation, which he Universities, IITs, NITs and other institutions about
said was leading to the creation of alternative models "Parliament and Policymaking." The address was
of knowledge dispensation. He stressed that it was the telecast using the National Knowledge Network.
responsibility of the Central Universities to lead the
transformation process of India's Higher Education In the beginning of his address, President Mukherjee
system. said that the year 2014 was an eventful year for India’s
polity. After three decades, Indian electorate decided
The President was of the opinion that the students who to give a single party the majority to form a stable
pass out of the country's Higher Education system have government. The outcome of the elections to the 16th
to compete with the best in the world. Therefore, he Lok Sabha provides political stability and gives a
said that there was a need to imbibe in these young mandate to the elected government to fulfill its
minds a competitive spirit and a sense of pride in their

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commitment to the people by using its majority in

formulating policies and making laws to implement State Education Ministers Endorse Credit
those policies. Framework for Skills & Choice Based
Credit System
Highlighting the three vital functions of democracy, the
President said these are - representation, law-making
and oversight. He said, "The Parliament stands for the
will and aspirations of the people. It is the platform
where through debate and deliberations, this ‘will’ and
‘aspirations’ have to be prioritized and translated into
laws, policies and concrete programmes of action.
When that does not happen, an important element in
the functioning of a democracy gets compromised to
the disadvantage of the people."

Speaking about policymaking, Shri Mukherjee said that Smt. Smriti Irani, Minister of HRD, addressing the "State
Education Ministers' Conference" in New Delhi on January 6,
policies have to address concerns of different
2015. The Ministers of State of HRD, Shri Upendra Kushwaha
stakeholders in a society in the larger national interest. and Prof. (Dr.) Ram Shankar Katheria are also seen.
Policymaking in India’s context is guided by its
In a meeting of all State Education Ministers for
Constitution, he added.
Higher/Technical Education, held on January 6, 2015,
Talking of disruption in Parliamentary proceedings, the chair, Smt. Smriti Irani, Minister of HRD, supervised
President Mukherjee said that there is a growing the discussion on adoption of the Credit Framework for
tendency to resort to disruption as a means of Skills and the Choice Based Credit System in Colleges
Parliamentary intervention. He said, "Dissent is a and State Public Universities. The meeting was also
recognized democratic expression, but disruption leads attended by the Ministers of State, Shri Upendra
to loss of time and resources, and paralyzes policy Kushwaha and Prof. (Dr.) Ram Shankar Katheria.
formulation. The cardinal principle of Parliamentary
Democracy is that the majority has the mandate to rule To remind our readers, the Credit Framework for Skills
while opposition has the right to oppose, expose, and if in education was an initiative launched on the National
the numbers permit, to depose. But, under no Education Day 2014. The launch was followed by a
circumstances should there be disruption of the two-day national consultation among the Universities
proceedings. A noisy minority cannot be allowed to gag and Colleges implementing Community Colleges and
a patient majority." Bachelors in Vocational Study Course, on December 6
and 7, 2014.
Besides expressing his views on the topic, the President
also responded to the questions regarding the following In the meeting, all the participants endorsed the
topics - (1) the remedy to check disruptions in Framework as well as the Choice Based Credit System
Parliament, (2) way out when ruling party does not have guidelines issued by the UGC recently. The States also
numbers in Rajya Sabha, (3) the Ordinance route to welcomed the initiative on reforms in teacher
enact legislation and (4) making the budget formulation education as well as the recently approved regulations
process participative. of the National Council of Teacher Education, regarding
which a presentation was also made.
A webcast of the address and the Q & A session is
available on http://webcast.gov.in/president/
While adopting the Credit Framework for Skills and the

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Choice Based Credit System, the Conference was courses of their choice enable the students to enhance
unanimous in expressing that it is one of the best ways their employability.
to bring about changes to meet student aspirations and
employment needs. The Credit Framework, it was said, During the meeting, Smt. Irani also accepted the
suggestion regarding setting up a Joint Working Group
also signals respect for skills and vocational courses in
comprising Central and State Government nominees to
mainstream Higher Education. The participants were sort out the critical issues in the implementation of the
also of the view that the Choice Based Credit System Credit Framework and the Choice Based Credit System.

Smt. Smriti Irani, Minister of HRD, addressing at the 116th Founder's Day of
Hindu College, University of Delhi, in New Delhi on February 16, 2015.

Smt. Smriti Irani, Minister of HRD, lighting the lamp at the Light and Sound
Play on the life of Swami Vivekanand, at Saraswati Shishu Mandir, in New
Delhi on February 12, 2015.

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Exchangeoof
tesIdeas

Prof. Sudharshan Seneviratne, the High

Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India, called upon
Smt. Smriti Irani, Minister of HRD, in New Delhi on
January 14, 2015.

Smt. Smriti Irani, Minister of HRD, met Mr. Le

Yucheng, the Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China,
in New Delhi on January 9, 2015.

Smt. Smriti Irani, Minister of HRD, met a delegation

from the MIT and Harvard University, in New Delhi
on January 19, 2015.

Dr. Saud Mohammed Al-Sati, the Ambassador of

the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, called upon Smt.
Smriti Irani, Minister of HRD, in New Delhi on
February 27, 2015.

Smt. Smriti Irani, Minister of HRD, meeting Mr. Ara

Hakobyan, the Ambassador of Armenia to India,
in New Delhi on March 31, 2015.

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Vichar-Vimarsh

(iii) A competition amongst young Sindhi knowing

NCPSL Underlines Tasks for Promotion of students will be conducted and the top three winners
Sindhi Language will be sent on Shodh Yatra accompanied by a writer
and a historian in the Asian continent to study the roots
Smt. Smriti Irani, Minister of HRD, chaired the first of Sindhi language, culture and its civilization. Their
meeting of the newly reconstituted Governing Council experiences in the form of books will also be published
of National Council for Promotion of Sindhi Language by the Government of India;
(NCPSL), held on February 18, 2015. The meeting,
attended by 21 members, all of whom are eminent (iv) One Cultural Club in major clusters of Sindhi
scholars of Sindhi language and culture, took several speaking people will be made functional in which the
important decisions, including - younger Sindhi generation shall participate in the
activities like drama, poetry, writing, acting, plays,
1) Increasing the Award money from Rs. One Lakh to Rs. music and performing arts etc. A National level
Five Lakh for Lifetime Achievement Award (Sahityakar competition will be held for these activities and an
Samman) presented to Sindhi writers for his/her award of Rs. One Lakh has been earmarked for the
outstanding lifetime contribution in the Sindhi competition; and
literature;
(v) It has also been decided to upload rare books of
2) Increasing the Award money from Rs. One Lakh to Rs. Sindhi language under the National E-Library and such
Five Lakh for Lifetime Achievement Award (Sahitya rare books will also be published by the National Book
Rachna Samman); and Trust for circulation.

3) Increasing the Award money from Rs. 50,000/ to Rs. The task of standardization of prescribed text books for
One Lakh for 10 numbers of Literary Awards presented schools in Sindhi language using Devanagari script will
to eminent writers in recognition for their contribution also be undertaken by Central Institute of Indian
in the field of Sindhi Literature. The increase in Award Langauges (CIIL), it was decided.
money in all the cases will be effective w.e.f. 2014-15.
PAN IIT - ONGC MoC in Hydrocarbons and
It was also decided in the Meeting to provide Rs.1.00
Energy Signed
crore for the establishment of Sindhi Chair in Maharishi
Dayanand Saraswati University, Ajmer.
Smt. Smriti Irani, Minister of HRD and Shri Dharmendra
Pradhan, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural
Smt. Irani also suggested that the following activities
Gas were present when a Memorandum of Collaboration
could be undertaken for the promotion and
(MoC) was signed between the IITs and the Oil and
development of Sindhi Language -
Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) on January 19, 2015.
(i) E-learning curriculum in Sindhi Language will be The memorandum, which is in response to the Prime
developed under which foundation course of Sindhi Minister Shri Narendra Modi's "Make in India" initiative,
language will be provided free of cost; will see the IITs and the ONGC working together towards
a collective research and development programme for
(ii) Young and upcoming Sindhi writers shall be Developing Indigenous Technologies to enhance
associated with promotion of the language and their Exploration and Exploitation of Hydrocarbons and
books will be published by the National Book Trust. The Alternate Sources of Energy. According to the Ministries,
books of new writers will be exhibited in the next this initiative is long-term and includes sustained
World Book Fair;

THE NEWSLETTER, MARCH 2015 ISSUE 13

Campus
Campus NNotes
otes
Vichar-Vimarsh

research, development and capacity building aimed at She expressed hope that the Fair would offer
a multi-pronged approach in the core sector. opportunities to the young people to develop a loving
relationship with books.
The ONGC will fund the programme, which will be
carried out within the available infrastructure and
manpower at the disposal of the IITs and ONGC.

At present, the programme has identified seven initial

thematic areas, which are -

(i) Geological & Geophysical studies

(ii) Reservoir characterization, modeling & simulation

(iii) Oil & gas Production & Recovery Enhancement

(iv) Software Development

Smt. Smriti Irani, Minister of HRD, addressing at the
inauguration of the World Book Fair - 2015, organized by the
(v) Unconventional Energy Resources National Book Trust of India, in New Delhi on February 14,
2015.
(vi) Engineering solutions/tools & technology
development Smt. Irani was also presented with a memento by Shri A.
Sethumadhavan, Chairman, National Book Trust. The
(vii) Alternate Energy researches. week-long Fair saw hundreds of visitors every day,
browsing through books, making purchases, getting to
For each of these areas, sub-topics have also been know new authors and old.
identified.

While congratulating ONGC and the IITs for joining

hands, Smt. Irani said that such initiatives further
demonstrate India's collective determination to realize
full potential of our inherent strengths for making the
country a true global leader.

HRM Inaugurates World Book Fair - 2015

The 2015 edition of the popular World Book Fair was

inaugurated by Smt. Smriti Irani, Minister of HRD, in Smt. Irani being presented with a memento by Shri A.
Sethumadhavan, Chairman, NBT, at the inauguration of the
New Delhi's Pragati Maidan on February 14, 2015. On
World Book Fair - 2015, in New Delhi on February 14, 2015.
this occasion, Smt. Irani also addressed the audience
and congratulated the organizers for holding the fair.

THE NEWSLETTER, MARCH 2015 ISSUE 14