• Views and statements on NEP

1. PU web lecture discusses NEP-2020

Key points:

1. The interdisciplinary center for Swami Vivekananda Studies in collaboration with Panjab University’s alumni association (PUAA) recently organized a web lecture on the topic of ‘NEP 2020: Paradigm shift in Idea of University’.
2. Various speakers Prof SK Singh, senior advisor, innovation council and university incubation centre, Aligarh Muslim University was there along with physicist, Prof Singh. Singh traced the history and development of universities and explained that the present model of universities was based on what British had implemented. He also quoted many excerpts from Macaulay’s document to prove his point. Later, a Q&A round also took place which saw participants discussing various aspects of NEP.

(Times of India, 17 October 2020) News Link

• NEP: AP must become a role model, says Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan

Key points:

1. Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan said the state should be a role model in the country in implementation of National Education Policy (NEP), 2020.
2. The Governor was addressing vice-chancellors of 20 State universities at a review meeting held through videoconference from Raj Bhavan on Friday. He said the State government was committed to implement the NEP in letter and spirit.
3. In this regard, the Governor said the VCs of all State universities should play a pivotal role in NEP 2020 implementation by overcoming challenges, if any.

(Indian Express, 17 October 2020) News Link

• GCOE organises national conclave on NEP

Key points:

1. Government College of Education Jammu under the patronage of Higher Education Department organised “National Conclave on National Education Policy (NEP)- 2020” in collaboration with Cape Comorin Trust, India.
2. The program began with the welcome address by Dr. Kulvinder Kour, Principal GCOE, Jammu. She highlighted the impact of NEP 2020 on present Education system and focused on the need of introducing this Education Policy, to make India a Global Knowledge Power.

(dailyexcelsior, 17 October 2020) News Link

• With its focus on equity and critical learning, NEP addresses present, future challenges

Key points:

1. The National Education Policy (NEP) is based on wide-ranging consultations, including reports of the TSR Subramanian (2016) and K Kasturirangan (2019) committees, deliberations in 676 districts, 6,600 blocks, 2.5 lakh gram panchayats and discussion with teachers and the common man
2. There is a refreshing move from periodic “inspections” to self-assessment and voluntary declaration with transparency, quality standards and positive public perception being the keywords. A single, lean structure with four verticals for standards-setting, funding, accreditation and regulation will provide “light but tight” oversight.

(Indian Express, 17 October 2020) News Link

• Book on NEP released

Key points:

1. Governor Banwarilal Purohit released a book on the ‘New Educational Policy 2020’ at Raj Bhavan in Chennai on Friday. The book, which discusses the challenges of access, equity, quality, affordability and accountability faced by the current education system in the country, is authored by former Anna University Chancellor E. Balagurusamy.
2. A press release said the book, authored by former Anna University Chancellor E. Balagurusamy, aimed to highlight important recommendations of ‘NEP 2020’ and their implications to make the Indian education system globally relevant and competent.
3. Prof. M.K. Surappa, Vice-Chancellor, Anna University; E. Balagurusamy, Chairman, EBG Foundation; and Anandrao V. Patil, IAS, Secretary to Governor of Tamil Nadu were present.

(The Hindu, 17 October 2020) News Link

1. All India Muslim Personal Law Board to seek public consensus about uniform civil code

Key points:

1. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) will work towards building public opinion against a uniform civil code, saying in a country like India with different cultures and civilisations such a move “will not be justified“.
2. A decision to this effect was taken in the executive meeting of the board held virtually a few days ago.
3. AIMPLB member Zafaryab Jilani told PTI on Saturday that “important decisions pertaining to common civil code and the Babri mosque demolition case” were taken in the meeting on October 11 and October 13.
4. “The board members are of the view that in the agenda of the ruling BJP, now only common civil code is left, and they will proceed in this direction,” he said.

(The Hindu, 17 October 2020) News Link

1. Highways ministry ‘flouting’ SC order in Char Dham project, top court takes suo moto cognisance

Key points:

1. The controversy surrounding the Rs 12,000-crore Char Dham project, aimed at improving road connectivity to the Hindu pilgrimage sites of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath, refuses to die, with the Supreme Court now taking a suo moto (on its own) cognisance in the matter.
2. This threatens to delay the implementation of the highway project further at a time the government is focussing on bolstering border infrastructure.
3. The highways ministry had earlier followed its 2012 order, according to which, the road width of a two-lane road with paved shoulder was fixed at 10 metres.
4. The court had also directed that on stretches where excess hill-cutting has been done, the ministry will have to take mitigation measures like planting trees to protect the Himalayan terrain and provide a footpath for padyatris and local people as per the recommendation of the court-appointed committee.

(The Print, 17 October 2020) News Link

• Flamingos give a miss to TN’s Perungulam tank, birdwatchers blame illegal sand mining

Key points:

1. Rampant illegal mining at Perungulam tank has forced flamingos to move away, say birdwatchers, who counted none during this year’s bird survey. The activists also objected to TANGEDCO’s high tension towers coming up in the middle of the tank stating that it poses a threat to winged visitors.
2. Perungulam is the last of the 15 tanks fed by the Maruthur East canal (Keezhakal) and is one of the largest tanks in the Thamirabarani system, spread over 883 acres. The tank is surrounded by Sivagalai village panchayat and Perungulam town panchayat of Eral taluk.Birdwatchers say that several thousand birds of different species including migratory species visit the Perungulam, Arumugamangalam, Kadamba and Vellur tanks in Thoothukudi district from August.
3. Pearl City Nature Society Secretary J Thomas Mathibalan said, “Between August and October, the irrigation tanks in the lower riparian of the Thamirabarani river witness low waters which are suitable for the birds to find food.””I did not see any flamingos this year. In the last two years, the flamingos stopped coming in August itself as the tank had turned dry much earlier because of the drought and were not recorded in the mid-September surveys. However, the tank had a small quantity of water till now, but still flamingos had not arrived,” he said.
4. Writer Muthalankurichi Kamarasu said that the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, while hearing his PIL petition on March 11, 2019, prohibited the state government from issuing any licence for mining activities in and around the Sivagalai archaeological site, as unauthorised mining would deface the relics and antiquities.
5. “Since the project has been funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the stipulations concerning the safety standards are very stringent,” she said. On the possible fatalities of migratory birds visiting the tank, the officer said it is “false propaganda” and the HT towers would not cause any trouble to the birds visiting the tank. The aggrieved patta land holders can contact the concerned department  (TANGEDCO Transmissions) for compensation, the officer said.

(New Indian Express, 17 October 2020) News Link