General Awareness

GENDER/ HEALTH/ EDUCATION - January 2019

Jan 2019

Dec 04, 2024

Oxford Picks 'Brain Rot' as 2024's Top Word

Oxford University Press (OUP) announced 'brain rot' as the Oxford Word of the Year 2024, reflecting a defining cultural and societal theme of the year. The term gained prominence due to concerns over the detrimental effects of consuming excessive amounts of low-quality online content, especially via social media. Selected through a global public vote involving over 37,000 participants and expert analysis of language trends, 'brain rot' captures the zeitgeist of 2024, where digital consumption and its consequences have been central topics of discussion.
First recorded in 1854 by Henry David Thoreau in Walden, the phrase has evolved to gain renewed relevance in the digital age. Initially popularised by Gen Z and Gen Alpha communities on platforms like TikTok, the term is now being used more broadly, including in mainstream journalism, to articulate concerns about the societal and individual impacts of online habits.

Education Ministry Restructures JoSAA which Conducts Seat Allocation for IITs, NITs

The Ministry of Education announced the reconstitution of the Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) for the 2025–26 academic session. JoSAA conducts joint counselling every year for admissions to undergraduate programmes at Centrally Funded Technical Institutions (CFTIs), including IITs, NITs, IIITs, SPAs, and other GFTIs. The restructured JoSAA will have the following members:
Professor Manindra Agarwal, Director of IIT Kanpur, as Co-chairman and Convener
Professor K. Umamaheshwar Rao, Director of NIT Rourkela, as Co-chairman,
Professor V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, representing the Joint Admission Board (IITs),
Professor B. Ravi, Director of NITK Surathkal, representing the Central Seat Allocation Board (NITs),
Professor Amit Mishra, IIT Kanpur, representing the Joint Implementation Committee (IITs) 2025.
JoSAA has been pivotal in conducting joint counselling for IITs, NITs, and other CFTIs since its introduction in 2015. This joint seat allocation process was recommended by a technical committee led by a former IIT Kharagpur director to harmonise counselling processes for IITs and NITs.

Oxford and CEEW Collaborate on India Focused Net-zero Certificate Programme

The University of Oxford, in collaboration with the Smith School of Enterprise and the Council on Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW), launched a unique online course aimed at helping India achieve its Net Zero goals. The self-paced certificate course, set to begin in early 2025, will be available through the global platform Apolitical.
It is tailored for Indian policymakers, business leaders, executives in banks and financial institutions, as well as members of civil society who are committed to reaching India's 2070 Net Zero target.

Dec 03, 2024

Symbiosis, Aston University To Launch Dual Degree Programme in Dubai and UK

Symbiosis International University (SIU) is set to introduce a unique undergraduate dual degree programme in collaboration with Aston University, UK. This initiative offers students the opportunity to study in both Dubai and Birmingham, earning dual qualifications from both institutions.
Launching in September 2025, the programme allows students to spend two years at SIU's newly established Dubai campus, followed by two years at Aston University in Birmingham. Upon completion, students will receive a BBA degree from SIU and a BSc in Business and Management from Aston University.
The four-year course marks SIU's first international dual-degree venture in Dubai, with the inaugural batch beginning in June 2025.

Dec 02, 2024

IIT Guwahati Launches Multiple PG Certification Courses in Tech Education

IIT Guwahati, in collaboration with the edtech platform Coding Ninjas and the E&ICT Academy, introduced a series of post-graduate certification programmes aimed at equipping professionals and graduates with advanced tech skills.
This partnership marks a significant step in making high-quality education accessible to individuals looking to upskill in today's competitive, tech-driven world.
The post-graduate certification programmes were launched in Full-Stack Web Development and Data Analytics to help professionals working and graduates upskill in the rapidly evolving tech industry.
The Full-Stack Web Development programme spans 9 months, while the Data Analytics programme runs for 6 months. Upon successful completion, graduates will receive a PG Certificate from the E&ICT Academy, IIT Guwahati, offering them a prestigious qualification to enhance their career prospects.

Dec 01, 2024

Delhi Schools to Conduct Parakh Rashtriya Sarvekshan

The Delhi government will conduct Parakh Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024 on December 4 at sampled government and private schools. The Sarvekshan will involve students from Classes 3, 6, and 9.
The survey is a nationwide initiative that aims to comprehensively analyse India's educational progress in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
The Department of Education (DoE) has issued specific guidelines for school heads to ensure that there is smooth implementation of the survey.

Nov 30, 2024

IIT Bombay Launches TARA App to Boost Students' Reading Fluency Nationwide

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay introduced a mobile application, TARA (Teacher's Assistant for Reading Assessment), designed to evaluate and improve oral reading fluency (ORF) in students. This innovative app leverages speech processing and machine learning to provide precise and automated assessments of reading skills.
According to Professor Preeti Rao from IIT Bombay's Department of Electrical Engineering, who spearheaded the project, TARA uses audio recordings of children reading passages aloud and generates key ORF metrics, including Words Correct Per Minute (WCPM). The app not only evaluates reading speed and accuracy but also considers expression through phrasing, intonation, and stress, offering a comprehensive assessment of reading development.
Trained on expert-annotated recordings, TARA currently supports English and Hindi, and its reliability was validated against human expert assessments. The project has received funding from the Tata Centre of Technology and Design, the Abdul Kalam Technology Innovation Fellowship, and the school education community.

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