General Awareness

GENDER/ HEALTH/ EDUCATION - September 2021

Sep 2021

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.

Nov 29, 2024

IIT Kharagpur, TCS Launch Research Centre for Digital Health, Robotics, Intelligent Systems

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur partnered with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), an IT firm providing services, consulting, and business solutions, to set up an advanced research centre in areas of digital health, robotics and intelligent systems leveraging edge computing, embedded systems, and AI.
The advanced research centre will be located in the institute's research park in New Town, Kolkata. The centre will feature three laboratories where over 150 TCS scientists will explore cutting-edge technologies and push the boundaries of innovation.
The laboratories will be in the domains of — sensing and communications, edge computing and analytics, and robotics and visual computing.

Students May Shorten or Extend Degree Duration under New UGC Plan

Undergraduate students in India may soon have the option to shorten or extend their degree durations, thanks to a new initiative by the University Grants Commission (UGC). The Accelerated Degree Programme (ADP) and Extended Degree Programme (EDP) will let students tailor their timelines to their individual learning needs.
The UGC approved the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for these programmes and will release the draft norms for public feedback soon.
The ADP allows students to complete a three-year or four-year degree in less time by earning additional credits per semester.
Conversely, the EDP extends the timeline, enabling students to take fewer credits each semester. The total credits earned in both cases will remain the same as in a standard-duration degree.

Nov 27, 2024

India's Rise in the Times Higher Education (THE) Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2025

India made a historic leap in the Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2025 compiled by Times Higher Education (THE), with institutions like the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi achieving top positions among global contenders.
India emerged as the most represented nation, featuring 65 universities in the rankings.
In the Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2025, Anna University achieved the highest position among Indian institutions, securing the 42nd rank globally. It was followed by VIT University, ranked 65th, and the SRM Institute of Science and Technology, which stood at 84th.
The rankings emphasise the universities' efforts to integrate diverse academic disciplines to address global challenges like climate change, health crises, and technological evolution.
The inaugural list assessed 749 universities across 92 countries, highlighting research output, reputation, and cross-disciplinary collaboration as key metrics.

Dharmendra Pradhan Unveils the TeacherApp

Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan launched the TeacherApp, an innovative digital platform by Bharti Airtel Foundation, designed to empower teachers with future-ready skills. The app offers over 260 hours of high-quality, interactive digital resources, including courses, videos, podcasts, and expert sessions to support diverse teaching methods. Aligned with India's National Education Policy (NEP 2020), The TeacherApp is aimed at enhancing pedagogical practices, student engagement, and overall teacher development. The platform also provides teaching kits, live expert sessions, and tools to help educators thrive in dynamic classrooms. It supports a community of teachers, fostering continuous learning and growth.

'Demure' Word of the Year 2024 by Dictionary.com

The popular online dictionary platform Dictionary.com officially announced 'demure' is its 2024 Word of the Year.
According to the platform, "demure" saw a 1200 per cent increase in usage in digital media, and the search for the work surged 200 times on Dictionary.com, which defines the word as "characterised by shyness and modesty, reserved."
The Word of the Year isn't just about popular usage; it reveals the stories we tell about ourselves and how we've changed over the years. And for these reasons, Dictionary.com's 2024 Word of the Year is 'demure'.

IIM Bodh Gaya, PSI India Collaborate to Impart Healthcare Management Education

IIM Bodh Gaya signed an MoU with PSI India to strengthen the public health domain through the two-year full-time MBA in hospital and healthcare management. The programme is designed to provide an appreciation of the entire healthcare industry including large corporate hospitals, public health, health insurance, pharmaceuticals, digital health, health insurance and healthcare consulting.
Under this MoU, subject matter experts from PSI India will deliver lectures on relevant topics and PSI India will provide opportunities for community immersion, internship and final placements to the students of MBA-HHM.

Nov 26, 2024

IIT Madras Launches 'Centre for Human-Centric AI' to Amplify Human Potential

IIT Madras Pravartak Technologies Foundation launched a 'Centre for Human-Centric Artificial Intelligence' (CHAI) to harness AI to amplify human potential, which could be a critical opportunity for India.
The centre's activities will include technology development, aiding entrepreneurship development, human resource development, and international collaboration.
AI safety is a key and growing concern among policymakers and regulators. It is crucial to strike a balance between regulations and innovation. This newly launched centre will help identify risks to inform future regulations, ensuring that India's AI development is safe and responsible, especially in the Indian context, while maximising innovation.

IIT Hyderabad Partners with Nikon to Enhance Imaging Research Capabilities

IIT Hyderabad joined hands with Nikon India, a subsidiary of Nikon Corporation, to establish the 'Nikon Centre of Excellence' (CoE) on its campus.
This cutting-edge facility is designed to provide advanced imaging technologies and support innovative research for researchers, visiting scholars, and collaborators across India.
Professor B. S. Murty, Director of IIT Hyderabad, highlighted the importance of the collaboration, stating, "This partnership with Nikon India aligns with our vision to foster innovation and create diverse learning opportunities."

Gyan-Kumbh 2024 Auroville's Transformative Ideas Unveiled

Gyan-Kumbh 2024, a prominent educational event organised by Siksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas, took place at Pondicherry University. The event provided a platform for various educational institutions and organisations to showcase their work, and Auroville Foundation took a significant step by presenting its transformative vision and philosophy.
A prominent stall showcased Auroville's philosophy of human unity and sustainable living.
The stall became a hub of attraction for educational leaders such as Vice-Chancellors, Directors, and College Principals.
Representatives Dr. Mollika Ganguly and Ms. Vishnupriya engaged with visitors, offering insights into Auroville's innovative educational approach.
The event allowed for direct interactions with educational leaders, highlighting Auroville's unique educational approach and its philosophy rooted in Sri Aurobindo's teachings.
The focus on human unity and sustainable development was a major point of discussion.

Nov 25, 2024

Himachal Chief Minister to Rank Colleges, Boost Infrastructure in Education Sector

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced that the state government is considering a system to rank colleges and is in the process of developing a formula for it. Speaking at a programme organised by the Alumni Association at Government Degree College in Sanjauli, he highlighted the state's focus on strengthening educational infrastructure.
Sukhu revealed plans to build an arts block, a girls' hostel, and a parking area within the next two years at the college. He also pledged Rs 50 lakh to the Alumni Association to support its initiatives. The CM emphasised the government's commitment to improving educational facilities and ensuring quality education, with ample funding available for these efforts.

CBSE National Adolescent Summit on Mental Health and Life Skills Set for December

The CBSE National Adolescent Summit 2024, focusing on life skills, mental health, safety, and well-being, will be held on December 20–21 at National Bal Bhawan, Delhi.
The summit aims to bring together students and educators from affiliated schools to discuss critical issues, share best practices, and foster a dialogue on adolescent development.
Aligned with the NEP 2020 vision, the summit will prioritise life skills, mental health awareness, and safe learning environments. It seeks to:
Enhance student development through best practices in adolescent well-being.
Integrate counselling and safety into the school ecosystem.
Address psycho-social challenges faced by adolescents.
Strengthen collaboration between schools and families for positive mental health outcomes.

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