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National Youth Day is celebrated every year on January 12 to recognise and honour the teachings of Swami Vivekananda. This year, the higher education regulatory body, University Grants Commission, has also asked the universities and colleges to celebrate the National Youth Day and take inspiration from his ideals and commemorate his works. Swami Vivekananda was born on January 12, 1863 at Kolkata. National Youth Day is celebrated across the nation at schools and colleges, with several programmes including speeches, music, youth conventions, seminars, Yoga Asanas, presentations, competitions in essay-writing, recitations and sports every year. However, this year, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and most educational institutions being shut, the celebrations will be different. In a letter addressed to the Vice Chancellors and principals, UGC has asked institutes to organize different events, adhering to the COVID-19 restrictions. UGC has asked colleges, universities to organize onlin...

Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ held a high-level meeting with top officials of the Education Ministry at his residence here on Monday to review the progress made regarding the implementation of New Education Policy 2020. Officials said that during the hour-long meeting, the Education Minister reviewed the progress made regarding the implementation of NEP 2020. An official told ANI that the meeting discussed the goal in NEP 2020 to universalize education from pre-school to secondary level. “The minister reviewed the progress made in the implementation of NEP in the situation created by COVID -19. Due to the pandemic, the NEP could not progress as expected. With the situation starting to get normal and the possibility of educational institutions opening gradually, the ministry is making all efforts to speed up the implementation of the policy,” the official added. The Union Cabinet in July last year approved the new Education Policy which has s...

The Supreme Court Monday pulled up the Centre for its handling of the farmers protest against the new farm laws saying it is ?extremely disappointed? with the way negotiations between them were going and it will constitute a committee headed by a former Chief Justice of India to resolve the impasse Indicating amply that it may go to the extent of staying the implementation of the contentious farm laws, the apex court refused to grant extra time to the Centre to explore the possibility of amicable solution saying it has already granted the government a ?long rope? ?We have given you long rope, Mr Attorney General, please don’t lecture us on patience,? a bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde said Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the bench, also comprising Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian, that the top court has made ?harsh observations? regarding handling of the situation by the government. ?That was the most innocuous factual thing for us to say,? the bench said The ...

The Uttar Pradesh government has given its approval to the Excise Policy 2021-22, expecting revenue to jump by ₹ 6,000 crore during the fiscal. The approval was granted by the state cabinet headed by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The cabinet meeting took place on Saturday night. “To provide good quality liquor at economic prices, UP Made Liquor (in Tetra-pack and of 42.8 per cent strength only) made from Grain ENA, shall be sold at an MRP of ₹ 85 through country liquor shops. Integrated Supply Chain Management System (IESCMS) shall be implemented by computerizing the various processes of the department. The system of sale of liquor in retail shops using PoS machines shall be implemented in 2021-22,” the state government said in a statement on Saturday. The Excise Policy got clearance of the UP Cabinet hours after five people died and 16 others hospitalised after allegedly consuming spurious liquor in Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr district on Friday. The authorities hav...

  New Delhi, January 2021: Nippon Paints- India’s leading Paint company, signs an MOU with Seekho India-a startup for an online Skill development and training arrangement to empower the youth of India and Collaborate for “Virtual eWarrior Program” to provide them suitable opportunities in the Auto refinish and wood coating industry.  In the view of Skill India and Startup India – Nippon paint Supports and incubates start-ups Like Seekho India (skill-tech start-up) that focuses on training and certifying students with a willingness to create self-reliance and entrepreneurship spirit.   “Virtual eWarrior Program” is an initiative by Nippon paint to bring talent to Auto refinish and Wood coating Industry. In this course Seekho India aims to provide training to 5000 youth to become a certified sales professional and become a part of Nippon paint’s Self rewarding Program.   Mr. Sharad Malhotra, President (Automotive Refinishes and Wood coating), Nippon Paint India said, “We provi...

In the backdrop of a raging farmers’ protest, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday launched the Kisan Kalyan Mission in his state. The Kisan Kalyan Mission is aimed at doubling the income of the farmers in Uttar Pradesh by 2022. After the launch of the flagship programme, the UP Chief Minister, in a series of tweets wrote how the programme will benefit the farmers. Twitting a video of the inauguration of Kisan Kalyan Mission, Yogi Adityanath said, “as promised by his government, the development schemes for farmers will be rolled out in 825 localities.” The Chief Minister also wrote on the microblogging site that many opposition leaders have been trying to mislead the farmers. Under the Kisan Kalyan Mission, the farmers would be informed about the benefits of the new agriculture laws passed by the central government as well. On New Year’s Eve, Yogi Adityanath had asked his officers to ensure the implementation of Kisan Kalyan Mission, accordi...

More than 52 lakh new subscribers have been enrolled under Atal Pension Yojana (APY), during the financial year 2020-21 so far and the total enrolments have crossed landmark of 2.75 crores on December/31/2020. APY is a guaranteed pension scheme of Government of India which offers triple benefits to the subscribers, on attaining 60 years of age; minimum guaranteed pension to the subscribers, same guaranteed pension to the spouse after the demise of subscribers and return of the accumulated pension wealth as accumulated till age 60 of the subscribers, to their nominee. Despite the unprecedented challenges poised due to pandemic, addition of more than 52 lakh new subscribers in the financial year 2020-21 so far has been remarkable and result of untiring efforts of banks. During such period, State Bank of India has enrolled more than 15 lac new APY subscribers while other banks like Canara Bank, Indian Bank, Central Bank of India, Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Airtel Payments Bank Ltd, Pu...

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has reached Colombo in Sri Lanka for a three-day visit during which he will hold discussions with Sri Lanka’s top leadership on the entire gamut of bilateral relations. Mr Jaishankar’s visit from December 5 to 7 following an invitation by his Sri Lankan counterpart Dinesh Gunawardena is his first foreign visit of the year. This is also the first by a foreign dignitary to Sri Lanka in the new year. He will hold discussions with his counterpart and Sri Lanka’s leadership on the entire gamut of bilateral relations, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi said. “EAM @DrSJaishankar arrived in Colombo on his first foreign visit of the year. He is scheduled to meet @GotabayaR, @PresRajapaksa, @DCRGunawardena and several other dignitaries and business leaders during the course of his stay,” India’s High Commission said in a tweet. The visit signifies the priority both countries attach to strengthening their c...

– World’s best premium grade petrol for high-end bikes &cars Indore, January 4, 2021 : Having already launched world-class premium grade Petrol (100Octane) in phase one, Indian Oil further strengthen its position in petroleum fuel retail market by launching XP100 in Indore and six other cities across the country in phase two, at the outset of this calendar year. The premium grade petrol was launched by Mr. Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Steel, Mr. ShrikantMadhav Vaidya, Chairman, IndianOil, Mr. Gurmeet Singh, Director (Marketing),IndianOil and other senior officials through virtual mode. The launch event was graced in Indore by the auspicious presence ofMr. Rakesh Sehgal, ED (Supplies), HO, Mr. V. Satishkumar, ED & State Head, MPSO, Mr. Dinesh Goel, GM(O), MPSO and Mr. Piyush Mittal, GM (RS), MPSO. IndianOil rolls-out XP100 premium grade petrol in 7 identified cities across the country in phase two. In the first phase, it has been made av...

When it comes to perfecting your skills and character, the possibilities for your career are plentiful. If you make good use of your resources, you can learn and develop new skills. Personality development can have a huge impact on your career. Once upon a time there was a belief that the nature of our personality was permanent and stable and there was no room for change. Personality consists of a grid of attitudes and thoughts and is unique to each person. With considerable effort, you can improve your habits and change your thought patterns. This will be the stepping stone to advancements in your career and how you view your skill sets. Expand your interests The development of your interests is a process of utmost importance for many aspects of your life. It will keep your mind energetic and help you cultivate new, even more interesting things. It will also make you more attractive to your boss and team members, as you will constantly have new things to share. It will inspire you wit...

Goa, January 4, 2021: The country’s major fuel supplier, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. has supplied Jet A1 fuel, lubes and Marine Gas Oil (MGO) as a bouquet offering for the prestigious 40 th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica (ISEA) mission. The unique feature of this supply is that the aviation fuel Jet A1 has been supplied in bulk and packed form to a non-aviation customer and is delivered to an ocean-going vessel for the first time. The fuel will be used for aviation support and power generation units as well as in snowmobiles and for the voyage itself. After about 22 years, yet again, the Antarctica expedition is procuring fuel from India. Till the last expedition, fuel was being obtained from outside the country. The expedition needs various types of fuel and lubricants for their logistic needs at the two Indian stations in Antarctica. IndianOil’s strength to provide a complete energy solution to National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) via a single window is ...

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after he was rated as the most popular head of Government by an American research firm. Calling it a proud moment for India, he observed that the prime minister has been praised for his leadership during the pandemic. “The popularity and credibility of PM Narendra Modi has been recognised globally. According Morning Consult, a data firm, his approval rating is the highest among the world leaders. He has been praised for his leadership during the Pandemic. Indeed a proud moment for India!” he tweeted. Meanwhile, BJP president Jagat Prakash Nadda too hailed the prime minister for the recognition. “Our PM Narendra Modi Ji rated highest among world leaders by American research firm Morning Consult. Our PM has yet again emerged the most popular head of Government for his efficient handling of various issues and management of the COVID-19 crisis,” Mr Nadda tweeted.

The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), one of the apex trade associations of India successfully organised 15 th edition of the ‘Illness to Wellness’ series themed ‘Emotional Wellness at workplace’. The online event saw participation of an expert panel that discussed various aspects of creating work-life balance to deal with stress at the workplace. Supported by the hygiene brand SAVLON, the program which promotes healthy living with a focus on wellness and preventive health through healthy habits, diet, exercise, and holistic health saw the speakers engage on the importance of emotional wellness at the workplace. Among panellists, Mr Ajey Vij, senior faculty, Art of Living Corporate Programs, while speaking at ASSOCHAM webinar shared his immense wealth of wisdom and extensively covered aspects to avoid stress at workplace, to control our thoughts and emotions to be a good leader and to use breathing techniques to enhance emotional wellness. Mr Vij also ...

Ratan N. Tata, Chairman of Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata Group from 1991 until his retirement on December 28, 2012, turned 83 on Monday. Mr Tata was born in 1937 in Bombay, now Mumbai. From December 29, 2012, Mr Tata has made the honorary title of Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons, Tata Industries, Tata Motors, Tata Chemicals and Tata Steel. Mr Tata was the chairman of the major Tata companies, including Tata Motors, Tata Steel, Tata Consultancy Services, Tata Power, Tata Global Beverages, Tata Chemicals, Indian Hotels and Tata Teleservices and during his tenure, the group’s revenues grew by leaps and bounds, totalling over $ 100 billion in 2011-12. He is the chairman of the Tata Trusts that are among India’s oldest, non-sectarian philanthropic organisations that work in several areas of community development. He is the Chairman of the Council of Management of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and also serves on the board of trustees of Cornell University ...

The Tibetan Parliament-in-exile has expressed gratitude to United States President Donald Trump for signing a new Tibet policy. On Sunday, Mr Trump signed the Tibetan Policy and Support Act of 2020 to modify and re-authorise various programmes and provisions related to Tibet. The bill reaffirms the right of Tibetans to choose a successor to the Dalai Lama and calls for establishing an American consulate in the country. In a statement issued by the Dharamshala-based Tibetan Parliament in exile, its Speaker Pema Jungney said, “This act officially endorses that recognition of the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama is the sole authority of the great XIV Dalai Lama, the Tibetan Buddhist leaders and the Tibetan people with no interference from the Chinese government (People’s Republic of China).”

US President Donald Trump has signed into law the Gandhi-King Scholarly Exchange Initiative that among other things paves the way for establishing an educational forum between America and India to study the work and legacies of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. Written by civil rights icon John Lewis, who died early this year, and co-sponsored by Indian-American Congressman Ami Bera, the new law authorises USD one million a year through fiscal 2025 for the Gandhi-King Scholarly Exchange Initiative. It also authorises USD 2 million for just FY 2021 for the Gandhi-King Global Academy, and USD30 million for 2021 for the US-India Gandhi-King Development Foundation. The new law also authorises the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to establish a US-India development foundation that would leverage the Indian private sector to address development priorities in India. The development foundation would receive USD 15 million per year from 2022 through 2025 — but ...

Madhya Pradesh School Education Department has announced that all the government schools situated within 15 km of radius from each other will be merged. As part of the CM Rise school initiative by the state government, all the government schools built within the said radius will be merged and rebuilt into bigger schools hosting classes upto senior secondary. The new schools are proposed to be built with modern facilities including smart classrooms, providing exposure to students in form of excursion, inter-school activities and helping the students to build a professional career. Teachers and students who are currently associated with the individual schools will be appointed and enrolled under the same school. The objective of the CM Rise school initiative is to help impart education to state school students at par with the central educational boards including Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE). The plan will be implemented ...

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday said the “sanskar” and lessons learnt from stalwart leaders of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) helped him succeed in his political life. He was writing a book on the value system of the RSS and its “karya-paddhati” (working methodology) and how it can impact corporate and management sectors, the senior BJP leader said. Mr Gadkari was speaking at the Yeshwantrao Kelkar Yuva Award program at the 66th national convention of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the RSS’ student wing. Journalists in India and abroad ask him how he was able to execute big infrastructure projects successfully, the union road transport minister said. “I am neither engineer and techno savvy nor was I a genius or brilliant student. I ask them (journalists) do you know the RSS, its ideology, its style of functioning?” he said.

Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had an intuitive understanding that the post Cold-war world required India to drastically rework its relationships and this vision led to a new beginning in ties with the United States, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Friday. Paying rich tribute to Mr Vajpayee on his 96th birth anniversary, Mr Jaishankar said the eminent leader warmly reached out to various regions and continents that laid ground for expansion of India’s overall external engagements, particularly with Europe, Africa, Latin America and countries in the ASEAN region. He said India’s principled approach of engaging China on the basis of mutual respect and mutual sensitivity also reflects Mr Vajpayee’s thinking. In the neighbourhood, Mr Jaishankar said, Mr Vajpayee “radiated goodwill and friendship” while being clear that terrorism and trust would not co-exist. The external affairs minister described Mr Vajpayee’s decision to carry...

Christians across the world celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ today. Christmas or Xmas is however celebrated now both by Christians and non-Christians and that is largely due to the mythical and jolly figure of Santa Claus – much loved by the old and the young. Christmas or “mass on Jesus Christ’s day” as the English call it is of fairly recent origin. Earlier it was called Yule, which came from the winter solstice celebrations and people used to exchange ‘Yuletide Greetings’. How December 25 became the birthday of Jesus Christ is not quite clear and there are many theories about it. The religious text of the Christians – The New Testament – gives no clear indication. Sextus Julius Africanus, a historian, in 221 is said to have identified December 25 as the birthday of Christ and since then it was universally accepted as Christmas Day.