New Delhi: The National Testing Agency on Friday announced the final results of the controversy-ridden medical entrance exam NEET-UG, officials said.
The results were declared following directive from the Supreme Court after taking into account marks of a physics question, which the NTA had said has two correct answers.  "The re-revised score cards are live now," a senior NTA official said.  Forty-four out of the 67 candidates who were earlier declared toppers had scored full marks because of the marks awarded for that particular physics question. The number of toppers was later reduced to 61 with the agency withdrawing grace marks awarded to six candidates to make up for loss of time at few exam centres.
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In a major setback to unsuccessful aspirants of NEET-UG 2024, the Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed the pleas seeking cancellation and re-test of the controversy-ridden exam, holding that there was no evidence on record to conclude that it was "vitiated" on account of "systemic breach" of its sanctity.  The verdict came as a shot in the arm for the embattled NDA government and the National Testing Agency (NTA), which were facing strong criticism and protests, on streets and in Parliament, over alleged large-scale malpractices like question paper leak, fraud and impersonation in the prestigious test held on May 5.  The CBI is probing alleged irregularities in NEET-UG 2024 and has lodged six FIRs. The NEET-UG is conducted by the National Testing Agency for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and other related courses in government and private institutions.
—PTI

NTA releases NEET-UG 2024 final results post-Supreme Court directive, revises topper count to 61. SC dismisses pleas for re-test amid ongoing CBI probe into irregularities.

NTA declares final results of NEET-UG

Mumbai: Mumbai University has postponed all the exams in the Raigad and Ratnagiri districts due to heavy rain alerts issued by the India Meteorological Department on Friday. The postponement was announced by Mumbai University's Director of Examination and Evaluation Board, Pooja Roudale. New dates for the exam will be announced soon, Roudale said, adding that this postponement was only for exams that are to take place in Raigad and Ratnagiri districts. The Mumbai University also took to X, saying, "...In view of the declared holiday due to heavy rains in Raigad and Ratnagiri districts, keeping in mind the interest of the students and to avoid possible inconvenience, all the examinations to be held today (Friday) on 26th July 2024 in the morning and afternoon session only in these districts have been postponed." The IMD had issued a red alert with the expectation of heavy to very heavy rainfall in Raigad and Ratnagiri districts for Friday. Meanwhile, Mumbai City and its suburbs are expected to receive moderate to heavy rainfall on Friday, with the possibility of very heavy rainfall at isolated places, announced Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). There is also a possibility of occasional gusty winds reaching 50-60 kmph today. The high tide at 3:32 pm is expected to reach 4.46 metres, whereas the low tide at 9:44 pm is expected to reach 0.98 metres. Currently, the city has been experiencing little to no rainfall; however, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert with expectations of moderate to heavy rainfall in Mumbai along with Thane Palghar and Sindhudurg districts.
—ANI

Mumbai University postpones exams in Raigad and Ratnagiri due to heavy rain alerts by IMD. New dates to be announced soon. BMC issues rainfall updates for Mumbai.

Mumbai University postpones all exams in Raigad, Ratnagiri amid heavy rain alert

Chennai (The Hawk): A total of 2,636 students graduated during the 61st Convocation of Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras), which was held in the campus today (19th July 2024). As many as 3,016 Degrees (including Joint and Dual Degrees) were awarded to the students on the occasion. A total of 444 PhDs were awarded, which included PhDs, Joint Degree Ph.Ds with foreign institutions and Dual Degree PhDs. A Highlight of the Occasion was Shri S. Somanath, Chairman, ISRO, receiving his PhD in Mechanical Engineering during the Convocation. The Convocation Event can be viewed on the following link – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CklnaAj58QI IIT Madras has had an eventful year, with many major milestones, the top three being the establishments of Wadhwani School of Data Science &amp; AI and School of Interdisciplinary Studies besides the launch of Agnibaan rocket. The Department of Data Science and AI housed in the Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI, which was generously funded by IIT Madras Distinguished alumnus Mr. Sunil Wadhwani, will work on impactful problems of direct relevance to the society. The International Interdisciplinary Master’s degree programs (I2MP) with innovative curricula to equip students with cutting-edge expertise and skills that transcend traditional engineering domains was launched in 2022. The first batch of I2MP is graduating at this Convocation. The I2MP receives over 200 applications annually from diverse backgrounds and countries, including Ethiopia, Mauritius, Syria, and Nepal. These students study several core and elective courses at IIT Madras, in addition to a research project in their area of interest. The Chief Guest was Dr. Brian K. Kobilka, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2012. Dr. Pawan Goenka, Chairman, Board of Governors, IIT Madras, presided over the Convocation in the presence of Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, faculty, staff and students. Dr. Brian K. Kobilka and Robert Lefkowitz discovered that the receptor was similar to receptors located in the eye that capture light. It was later discovered that there is an entire family of receptors that look and act in similar ways–G-protein-coupled receptors. Approximately half of all medications used today make use of this kind of receptor. Congratulating the graduating students and prize winners, Dr. Brian K. Kobilka, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in the year 2012, said, “I do not consider myself to be exceptional in any way. My career today is an example of how an average individual can achieve a measure of success by a combination of factors including hard work, persistence, an element of luck and a great deal of help from family, friends and colleagues. When I look back at my career, I am amazed by how often I was in the right place at the right time, with the right people.” Dr. Brian K. Kobilka added, “I believe that there are five factors that played an important role in my career. First, I found my passion. Something I loved to do. A challenging goal that I wanted to pursue. Second, I was able to find role models and mentors who provided guidance at different stages of my career. Third, I recognized my strengths and weaknesses and found ways to leverage my strength and accommodate for my weaknesses. Fourth, I had balance in my life. A fulfilling family life outside of my academic career. Finally and fifth, possibly the most important, I was not afraid to fail. I found ways to learn from my failures.” “A major goal when I began my independent career in 1990 was to obtain structures of the structures of G-protein-coupled receptors in active/inactive states. It took 21 years to achieve goal and ultimately led to my being awarded the Nobel Prize. During those 21 years, I learned many things about how these receptors work from my many failed experiments,” said Dr. Brian K. Kobilka. DEGREES BREAK-UP During this Convocation, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, awarded degrees to 2,636 graduates including 764 B.Tech (of whom 27 with Honours), 277 Dual Degree B.Tech and M.Tech, 481 M.Tech, 151 M.Sc, 42 M.A, 50 Executive MBA, 84 MBA, 236 M.S, and 107 Web-enabled M.Tech for executives. The above PhD numbers also include 07 joint degrees with universities in foreign countries including Australia, Singapore, France and Germany. Congratulating the graduating students, Dr. Pawan Goenka, Chairman, Board of Governors, IIT Madras, said, “India has already become a magnet for investments across various industries, ushering in an era of unprecedented opportunities. This is leading to a remarkable transformation and is steering us towards becoming a ‘Viksit Bharat’ - a developed India by 2047. This vision, championed by our Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, reflects a collective national ambition. The Indian economy is advancing rapidly. A decade ago, India ranked as the 10th largest economy globally, today it is 5th, and will soon become 3rd. India aspires to become a $30 -$35 trillion economy by 2047, on its way to Viksit Bharat.” Further, Dr. Pawan Goenka said, “However, Viksit Bharat will not happen simply by wishing it. Achieving this vision relies heavily on us collectively taking bold, transformative actions. Viksit Bharat will be possible only if the governments, businesses, entrepreneurs, and professionals like you - make significant and audacious moves and Take Big Bets...Disruptions that reshape industries, countries and redefine paradigms can be caused only by taking big bets. If you find that you have never failed, it should give you a pause not satisfaction. It likely means you have played it safe, too safe to step beyond your comfort zone.” Dr. Pawan Goenka added, “Today, India is placing big bets in ground-breaking technologies across digital, fintech, space research, health-tech, and other areas. The road to Viksit Bharat will come from Technology and Innovation. And this is where you, the graduating class of IIT Madras, can play a big role. You can create building blocks of inclusive growth by leveraging technology. India needs robust, accessible, and innovative technology solutions. Young Indians like you will be the architects, the builders, the dreamers, and the doers of Viksit Bharat. You are the ones who will bridge the gap between the aspirations and reality, who will tackle the challenges of tomorrow, and who will transform this vision into action. Hence, as you leave these prestigious halls, remember, you're not just engineers or technologists; you are the visionaries, the creators, and the architects of our future.” IIT Madras was designated as an ‘Institute of Eminence’ in early 2020. The special grant that came with it is primarily being used to give a sharp impetus to research activities. Through an internal competitive process, the Institute identified for support nearly many research initiatives grouped under clusters, ranging from AI and Data Sciences to Safety Science and Systems, and Sensing and Vision. Presenting the Director’s Report, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said, “This year IIT Madras has exceeded its target of one patent a day by filing 419 patents during the year, of which 85 are international filings, and were granted 445 Indian and 15 international patents. The IITM Incubation Cell, the nodal incubator of IIT Madras and spearheading country’s leading deep tech startup hub, marked the beginning of 2024 on a jubilant note - a total portfolio of 365 startups, cumulatively valued at INR 45,000 Crores (US$5.4 Billion, based on investments raised from angels/VCs). The goal for the fiscal year 2024-25 is to incubate 100 more, focusing on areas such as space, manufacturing, robotics, Assistive Tech, climate-tech, fintech and AI.” Prof. V. Kamakoti added, “In 2023-24, the Institute received sanction for 331 Ministry-sponsored projects for a total value of INR 568.21 crores. Our strong industry collaboration is evident from the 883 consultancy and industry-sponsored research projects received this financial year amounting to INR 584.87 crores. The above is inclusive of around 130 international projects funded by foreign entities.”

A total of 2,636 students graduated during the 61st Convocation of Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras)

IIT Madras’ 61st Convocation Witnesses Graduation Of 2,636 Students

New Delhi: The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Saturday declared the state-wise and centre-wise data of the results of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET-UG) 2024 on the official website. The Supreme Court on July 18 directed the NTA to announce the results of the NEET UG by July 20. The applicants will be able to check and download their results on the official website, that is https://neet.ntaonline.in/frontend/web/common-scorecard/index by entering their login credentials. A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra ordered that result should be published separately, city-wide and centre-wise, by 12 noon on Saturday. The apex court passed the direction to the NTA to publish the results, after the petitioners-students urged it to direct the testing agency to publish the result of all students to bring in some transparency.
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The top court in its order stated, "The petitioners have submitted that it would be appropriate if the results of the NEET-UG 24 exam is published on the website so as to bring about some transparency on the centre-wise marks obtained by candidates. We direct the NTA to publish the marks obtained by students in the NEET-UG 2024 exam while at the same time ensuring that the identity of the students is masked. The results should be declared in relation to each centre and city separately." The bench said it will continue the hearing of pleas alleging paper leak and malpractice in NEET-UG 2024 exams, on July 22. NEET-UG examination, conducted by NTA, is the pathway for admissions into MBBS, BDS and AYUSH and other related courses in government and private institutions across the country. The NEET-UG, 2024 was held across 4,750 centres on May 5 and around 24 lakh candidates appeared in it. During the hearing, apex court posed several questions to NTA regarding alleged paper leak and malpractices in NEET exam. The National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducted the exam, has faced severe criticism, leading to several protests and legal actions.
—ANI

NTA declared NEET UG 2024 results as per Supreme Court's directive. Check state-wise and centre-wise results on the official NTA website by July 20.

NEET-UG 2024: National Testing Agency declares centre-wise data for medical entrance exam

By Vishu Adhana New Delhi: The cancellation of UGC-NET exams and delay in CUET UG result announcement have jeopardized Jawaharlal Nehru University's (JNU) academic calendars, said Vice Chancellor Santishree D Pandit on Friday. Speaking to ANI, Santishree denied reports that the university will shorten winter break and hold extra classes in view of delayed admission, stating that no decision has been taken in this regard. "JNU faculty will decide how they manage the three different academic calendars (for UG courses, PG courses and PhD programmes)," she said. "I hope that UGC NET and CUET UG results come fast because that has totally jeopardized our academic calendar so we will have three different Academy calendars, one for the Masters, one for the UG and one for the PhD. And JNU is a bottom-up approach. So it is the chairpersons, the deans who will decide how they will run these semesters," she added. The Education Ministry late on June 19 announced the cancellation of the UGC-NET examination after inputs from the Ministry of Home Affairs suggested that the integrity of the examinations had been compromised.
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According to the NTA's information bulletin, the CUET-UG results were initially scheduled for release on June 30, but they have yet to be announced. When asked if JNU might drop the CUET UG system, the Vice Chancellor said, "No, MA admissions are already completed, and BA admissions will go through CUET." She confirmed that classes will begin as soon as the CUET results come out. The University was planning to start the classes in August. When asked about communication related to the results from the National Testing Agency (which conducts CUET-UG), the vice chancellor responded in refutation. JNU admits students to various undergraduate programs based on CUET marks, including B.A. (Hons.) in Foreign Languages and B.Sc.-M.Sc. Integrated Programmes. The NTA is currently grappling with paper leak allegations involving NEET-UG and UGC-NET, which has delayed the CUET-UG results. Jawaharlal Nehru University is also planning to revert to the in-house entrance, following the cancellation of the NTA-conducted exam due to integrity concerns. The administration has asked all deans, chairpersons of special centres, and chairpersons of the centre of the School of Studies to give their consent to hold the in-house Ph. D. Entrance Examination, as per an email sent to the faculty. They have been requested to submit their response by August 5, the email, assessed by ANI, mentions. Vice Chancellor Santishree D Pandit held a meeting on July 3 (Fortnight after the Centre cancelled the UGC NET exam) with the deans and discussed the issues raised by various Schools and Centres regarding holding of JNU Entrance Examination for Ph. D. programme for the academic year 2025-2026.
—ANI

JNU's academic calendar faces disruption due to UGC-NET exam cancellation and CUET UG results delay, says VC Santishree D Pandit. No winter break changes decided.

UGC NET Cancellation, CUET UG result delay totally jeopardized JNU academic calendars: VC Santishree

New Delhi: The CBI has arrested two persons including a key accused in the NEET-UG paper leak case who allegedly stole the paper from a National Testing Agency's trunk in Hazaribagh in Jharkhand, officials said Tuesday.
With the two arrests, the total number of persons arrested in connection with cases pertaining to leakage, impersonation and other irregularities in the medical entrance exam has now reached 14, they said.  The agency has arrested Pankaj Kumar alias Aditya, a 2017-batch civil engineer from the National Institute of Technology Jamshedpur, who allegedly stole the NEET-UG paper from the NTA trunk in Hazaribagh, the officials said.
Kumar, a resident of Bokaro, was arrested from Patna, they said.  Also Read: <a href="https://www.thehawk.in/posts/celebrating-25-years-bharti-airtel-foundation-announces-scholarship-for-students" target="_self">https://www.thehawk.in/posts/celebrating-25-years-bharti-airtel-foundation-announces-scholarship-for-students</a>&nbsp;
The CBI has also arrested one Raju Singh who allegedly helped Kumar in stealing the paper and passing them on to other gang members, they said, adding that Singh was arrested from Hazaribagh.  The agency, which is probing the alleged irregularities in the medical entrance exam, has registered six FIRs. The FIR from Bihar pertains to leakage of paper while the remaining from Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra are linked to impersonation of candidates and cheating.
The agency's own FIR on a reference from the Union Education Ministry pertains to a "comprehensive investigation" into the alleged irregularities in the examination.  NEET-UG is conducted by the NTA for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and other related courses in government and private institutions. This year, the exam was conducted on May 5 at 4,750 centres in 571 cities, including 14 abroad. More than 23 lakh candidates had appeared for the test.
—PTI

CBI arrests two in NEET-UG paper leak case, bringing total arrests to 14 for various irregularities in the medical entrance exam.

NEET-UG paper leak: Key accused among 2 more arrested by CBI

New Delhi: Aimed at supporting meritorious students, the philanthropic arm of Bharti Enterprises, Bharti Airtel Foundation, launched a scholarship program. This announcement collides with the Foundation's 25 years of existence. This merit-cum-means based scholarship program, named 'Bharti Airtel Scholarship Program', aims to support deserving students from diverse backgrounds with a focus on girl students, pursuing technology-based Engineering UG and integrated programs (up to 5 years) in the top 50 National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) (Engineering) colleges, including IITs. This scholarship will be applicable to students eligible for admission in August 2024. Starting this year with 250 students, the program will be scaled up incrementally to expand its reach to 4,000 students, with an outlay of Rs 100 crore per year as the program reaches its peak. The fully funded scholarship is envisaged to dissolve the financial barriers that hinder access to quality education for meritorious students, especially from disadvantaged backgrounds," said the Bharti Airtel Foundation, which was set up in the year 2000. "They (the students) will receive 100 per cent of their college fees throughout the duration of their course and will also be given a laptop." The scholarship will be provided to students with an annual family income not exceeding Rs 8.5 lacs. The Bharti Airtel Scholarships will focus on UG and integrated courses in fields of electronics and communication, telecom, information technology, computer sciences, data sciences, and emerging technologies (AI, IoT, AR/VR, machine learning, robotics) at the top 50 NIRF (engineering) colleges. Additionally, hostel and mess fees shall be given to all eligible students who apply for it. "With this pioneering Bharti Airtel Scholarship Program, we are expanding our commitment to empower students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds, particularly girl students, to achieve academic excellence and pursue their dreams. We firmly believe that education is the cornerstone of societal progress and economic empowerment," said Rakesh Bharti Mittal, Vice Chairman of Bharti Enterprises and Co-Chairman of Bharti Airtel Foundation. More details about the Bharti Airtel Scholarship Program can be found on the website: https://bhartifoundation.org/%20bharti-airtel-scholarship/
—ANI

Bharti Airtel Foundation launches a merit-cum-means scholarship for engineering students in top NIRF colleges, supporting 250 students in 2024, with plans to scale to 4,000.

Celebrating 25 years, Bharti Airtel Foundation announces scholarship for students

New Delhi: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) National President and the former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Mayawati on Friday welcomed the decision of the Delhi University Vice Chancellor to reject a proposal to include 'Manusmriti' in the syllabus of its Law Faculty stating that strong opposition was natural and the decision to cancel this proposal was a welcome step. "Strong opposition to the proposal to teach Manusmriti in the Law Department of Delhi University, which goes against the honour and dignity of the Indian Constitution and its egalitarian and welfare objectives, is natural and the decision to cancel this proposal is a welcome step," she said in a post on social media platform X.
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She further stated that the Manusmriti doesn't match the principles on which Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar composed the Indian Constitution and such attempts to include the Manusmriti in the curriculum were not appropriate. "His Holiness Baba Saheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar composed the universally accepted Indian Constitution, especially keeping the self-respect of the neglected people and women as well as humanism and secularism at the core, which does not match with Manusmriti at all. Therefore, any such attempt is not appropriate at all," Mayawati further stated.
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On Thursday, Delhi University Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Yogesh Singh, announced that the proposal to include the Sanskrit text 'Manusmriti' or Laws of Manu, which belongs to the Dharmastra literary tradition of Hinduism, in the LLB curriculum was rejected. "Yesterday, some information came to us that Manusmriti will be part of the Law Faculty course (in DU). I inquired and talked to the Delhi University Vice Chancellor. He assured me that some law faculty members have proposed some changes in the jurisprudence chapter. But when the proposal came to the Delhi University administration, today there is an Academic Council meeting. There is no endorsement of any such proposal by the authentic body of the Academic Council. Yesterday itself, the Vice Chancellor rejected that proposal. We are all committed to our Constitution and to a futuristic approach. The government is committed to upholding the true spirit and letter of the Constitution. There is no question of including any controversial portion of any script," said Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
—ANI

Mayawati welcomes Delhi University's decision to reject Manusmriti in the Law Faculty syllabus, citing its incompatibility with Dr Ambedkar's Indian Constitution.

Mayawati welcomes Delhi University VC's decision to reject 'Manusmriti' readings as part of Law Faculty syllabus

New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru University is mulling abandoning the UGC NET exam for admission to PhD programmes and revert to the in-house entrance, following the cancellation of the NTA-conducted exam due to integrity concerns. The administration has asked all deans, chairpersons of special centres, and chairpersons of the center of the School of Studies to give their consent to hold the in-house Ph. D. Entrance Examination, as per an email sent to the faculty. They have been requested to submit their response by August 5, the email, assessed by ANI, mentions. Vice Chancellor Santishree D Pandit held a meeting on July 3 (fortnite after the Centre cancelled the UGC NET exam) with the deans and discussed the issues raised by various Schools and Centres regarding holding of JNU Entrance Examination for Ph. D. programme for the academic year 2025-2026 "We have begun the process and we are taking into account the opinion of all the stakeholders while considering this decision. It is a decision of all the faculty," JNU's Vice Chancellor Santishree D Pandit told ANI over the phone.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.thehawk.in/posts/ugc-net-paper-leak:-jnu-considering-reverting-to-in-house-entrance-for-phd-admission" target="_self">https://www.thehawk.in/posts/ugc-net-paper-leak:-jnu-considering-reverting-to-in-house-entrance-for-phd-admission</a>&nbsp;

The email sent to faculty following the meeting also mentioned that the University would not get any fund from the University Grants Commission and Ministry of Education holding the All India Entrance Examination for Ph. D. programmes "The University will have to make its own financial arrangements for holding All India Entrance Examination for PhD programmes," the mail noted. The administration has asked for a consolidated report by August 5 from all the deans, the chairperson of special centre, chairperson of of centre of the school of Studies after discussing the issue with all the faculty members in their respective Schools/Centres The administration have asked them to "submit the overall process of holding examination including the time frame, the pattern of examinations ie. subjective/objective or CBT, or through JRF/NET Score, financial aspect in terms of Ph. D. application fees, Intake of seats and estimated financial liabilities for holding All India Entrance Examination, etc" In a statement, the JNU Teachers Association said it considers a positive response to the specific demand raised by it after the cancellation of the June 2024 UGC-NET Examination. Over the last year, teachers and students highlighted the problems with the NTA-led examination. Students and teachers have been demanding that the university reassume the responsibility of conducting the entrance examination.
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The National Testing Agency (NTA) had been conducting the examination for several years. Candidates seeking admission into PhD programmes had to appear in the Computer Based Test. This year, JNU announces a change in its selection process for admission to its Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programmes. Starting from the current academic year, JNU said it will accept the National Eligibility Test (NET) score instead of conducting its own entrance test, in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. On June 19, the Centre cancelled the exam crucial for entry-level teaching jobs and PhD admissions in universities, following inputs from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) that "the integrity of the examination may have been compromised". In the statement, JNUTA said: "It welcomes the decisions taken in the meeting of the Vice Chancellor and Deans of Schools on 3 July 2024, as well as to refer the matter to the faculty of Schools/Centres for their opinions." "JNUTA considers this to be a vindication of its long-standing position on the matter of entrance examinations, as well as a positive response to the specific demands raised by it after the cancellation of the June 2024 UGC-NET Examination," said the JNUTA.
—ANI

JNU considers replacing UGC NET with an in-house PhD entrance exam after integrity issues. Deans' consent sought; university to manage its own exam finances.

JNU considers returning to in-house entrance exams for PhD admissions; seeks faculty feedback by August 5

Jabalpur: The authorities in Madhya Pradesh’s Jabalpur district have directed ten private schools to refund about Rs 65 crore charged extra as tuition fees from more than 81,000 students over seven academic sessions, an official said on Thursday.
The schools had hiked tuition fees in violation of the law, said Jabalpur District Education Officer (DEO) Ghanshyam Soni.  The district-level committee set up under the Madhya Pradesh Niji Vidyalaya (Fees Tatha Sambandhit Vishayon Ka Viniyaman) Adhiniyam, 2017, examined the accounts of these schools and found them to be charging extra fees from students, he said.
The authorities have junked the illegal increase in fees by these schools and the collection of Rs 64.58 crore from 81,117 students between 2018-19 and 2024-25, he said.  Soni told PTI that he issued notices to the schools on Tuesday directing them to refund the illegally collected fees.  Also Read: <a href="https://www.thehawk.in/posts/ugc-net-paper-leak:-jnu-considering-reverting-to-in-house-entrance-for-phd-admission" target="_self">https://www.thehawk.in/posts/ugc-net-paper-leak:-jnu-considering-reverting-to-in-house-entrance-for-phd-admission</a>&nbsp;
On May 27, the Jabalpur district administration had got 11 FIRs registered against school functionaries and a few bookshop owners for allegedly illegally raising fees and textbook prices respectively, officials said.  Then, action was taken against the school functionaries and textbook shop owners after discrepancies linked to them were uncovered, according to District Collector Deepak Saxena.  As per the rules, a school is required to get the approval of the district administration if it intends to raise the fees by more than 10 per cent. If the proposed hike is beyond 15 per cent, the school has to seek the nod from a committee set up by the state government, said an official.  Some of these schools hiked fees by more than 10 per cent, while others by over 15 per cent without seeking the approval of the appropriate authorities, the collector added.
—PTI

Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur district orders private schools to refund Rs 65 crore in excess fees to 81,000 students over seven years, citing illegal tuition fee hikes.

10 schools ordered to return Rs 65 crore fees illegally collected from students in Madhya Pradesh

New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru University is considering reverting to in-house entrance examinations for PhD admission, after UGC NET exam was cancelled due to integrity concerns. The admission into PhD programmes at JNU was supposed to be conducted through the now cancelled UGC NET this academic session. In a statement on Thursday, the JNU Teachers Association (JNUTA) announced that JNU is considering to conduct in house its own entrance examination. The JNUTA said Vice Chancellor Santishree D Pandit took the decision on July 3 2024 to open up the possibility of resurrecting the old system of JNU conducting its own entrance examination for PhD admission. JNUTA said it considers a positive response to the specific demand raised by it after the cancellation of the June 2024 UGC-NET Examination. A senior university official has confirmed that such considerations are underway. Over the last year, teachers and students highlighted the problems with the NTA-led examination. Students and teachers have been demanding that the university reassume the responsibility of conducting the entrance examination. The National Testing Agency (NTA) had been conducting the examination for several years. Candidates seeking admission into PhD programmes had to appear in the Computer Based Test.
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This year, JNU announces a change in its selection process for admission to its Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programmes. Starting from the current academic year, JNU said it will accept the National Eligibility Test (NET) score instead of conducting its own entrance test, in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. On June 19, the Centre cancelled the exam crucial for entry-level teaching jobs and PhD admissions in universities, following inputs from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) that "the integrity of the examination may have been compromised". In the statement, JNUTA said: "It welcomes the decisions taken in the meeting of the Vice Chancellor and Deans of Schools on 3 July 2024, as well as to refer the matter to the faculty of Schools/Centres for their opinions." "JNUTA considers this to be a vindication of its long-standing position on the matter of entrance examinations, as well as a positive response to the specific demands raised by it after the cancellation of the June 2024 UGC-NET Examination," said the JNUTA.
—ANI

JNU considers in-house PhD entrance exams after UGC NET cancellation due to integrity issues, following demands from students and teachers for university-led exams.

UGC NET paper leak: JNU considering reverting to in-house entrance for PhD admission

New Delhi (The Hawk): Union Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan today addressed the inaugural session of review meeting of Department of School Education and Literacy with States and Union Territories. Minister of State for Education, Shri Jayant Chaudhary also addressed the gathering. Secretary, DoSE&amp;L, Shri Sanjay Kumar; Additional Secretaries, Shri Vipin Kumar and Shri Anandrao V. Patil; other officials of the Ministry, Principal Secretary/Secretary and SPD/Directors of several States/UTs, heads and representatives of the NCERT, SCERTs, Kendriya Vidyalaya, Navodaya Vidyalaya, CBSE, etc. were also present at the meeting. Speaking on the occasion, Shri Pradhan shared his thoughts on the roadmap for the next five years for the holistic development of school education across India. He said that education is a key pillar of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat and called upon States &amp; UTs to work together to achieve this goal. In almost four years of National Education Policy, the education ecosystem in the country has made tremendous progress and implementation of NEP is key to transforming Bharat into a knowledge superpower and enabling equitable and inclusive access to quality education, he added. Speaking about education in Indian languages, he said that the National Education Policy 2020 stresses upon the importance of education in mother tongue and all Indian languages. He called upon carrying forward the basic spirit of NEP i.e. ensuring Access, Equity, Quality, Affordability and Accountability in education. He said that India is a young country and our challenge is to make global citizens for the 21st century world which is rapidly changing and being driven by technology. Ensuring an education system which is both rooted and futuristic is our collective responsibility, he further added. He also stressed upon the importance of building technology readiness in schools with a holistic approach and ensuring critical thinking among students. He urged that both States and Centre have to work as a team to strengthen the education ecosystem as well as to replicate and amplify best-practices from across all States/UTs. He called upon all stakeholders in States/UTs to work cohesively for strengthening capacities, building a collaborative education system and leveraging education as the key pillar of Viksit Bharat. He also spoke about the emotional connect one shares with their school teachers and the importance of teachers’ capacity building in making our educational ecosystem more vibrant. Speaking about competency-based education, he said that we must also augment our skilling capacities to increase employability. Speaking at the event Shri Jayant Chaudhary said that NEP 2020 is the most ambitious and progressive policy document. He also highlighted how improving GER and taking it to 100% is extremely important and students from the economically and socially backward, tribal communities must be included in the formal educational system. He also spoke about other ambitious programmes of the Ministry such as PM SHRI and invited states to be a part of the programme. Shri Sanjay Kumar, in his address, mentioned that the main aim of the review meeting will be reviewing NEP 2020 and its implementation in the states and alignment of the flagship schemes of the Ministry such as the Samagra Siksha, PM SHRI, PM Poshan, ULLAS, etc. with the Policy, he added. He also said that the meeting will also help in developing the roadmap for the coming five years. During the meeting, discussion will be held on the five-year action plan; 100 days action plan; on status of the progress of infrastructure and civil works, ICT and Smart classrooms under Samagra Shiksha for all States/UTs; discussion on the status/setting up of VSK &amp; 200 channels; finalization of UDISE+ for 2023-24; Best Practices; discussion on DIET: upgradation as Centers of Excellence; and need for Tobacco Control and implantation of TOFEI guidelines in Schools.

Union Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan today addressed the inaugural session of review meeting of Department of School Education

Dharmendra Pradhan Calls Upon States To Work Together For Building  A Collaborative Education System

Tiruchirappalli (Tamil Nadu): M Rohini, 18 from Tiruchirappalli district of Tamil Nadu has become the first tribal student to get admission to the Trichy National Institute of Technology (NIT). Rohini has scored 73.8% marks in the JEE mains exam and got a seat in the Chemical Engineering department of the NIT. Talking to ANI, Rohini thanked her teachers for helping in her studies. She said the Tamil Nadu state government has offered to pay her fees and thanked Chief Minister MK Stalin for it. "I am a student from a tribal community who studied in a tribal government school. I appeared in the JEE exam and secured 73.8 per cent. I have secured a seat in NIT Trichy and I opted for Chemical Engineering," Rohini told ANI. "Tamil Nadu state government has come forward to pay all my fees; I thank the CM for helping me. I performed well because of my headmaster and the staff of my school," she added. Rohini's success is special as she comes from disadvantaged circumstances. Her parents are daily wage workers and her house is located in Chinna Ilupur Village. Talking about her daily struggles, she said that she worked as a daily wager while simultaneously preparing for the entrance exam. "My parents are daily wage workers and even I also worked as a daily wage worker while preparing for the exam. Since I studied well I got a seat in Trichy NIT," she said.
—ANI

M Rohini, 18, from Tamil Nadu, becomes the first tribal student at Trichy NIT, securing 73.8% in JEE Mains. Tamil Nadu govt covers her fees. A true inspiration!

Tamil Nadu: Tribal girl from Tiruchirappalli makes history as she gets admission to NIT-Tiruchy

New Delhi: Several candidates, who appeared for the Common University Entrance Test (CUET)-UG on Monday alleged the responses in the answer keys announced by the National Testing Agency (NTA) are incorrect.
The claims came a day after the NTA announced the answer keys. The agency also said it will conduct a retest for CUET-UG candidates from July 15 to 19 if any grievance raised by them about the conduct of the exam is found correct.  The candidates can now challenge the answers online till 5 pm on July 9 by paying Rs 200 per answer.
"Sir I found multiple errors in CUET UG answer key and know if I challenge all error (that I think those are errors ) the cost of challenging is much more than my CUET application," Rishabh, a candidate, wrote on X.  Another candidate Bishal Bhowmik said, "when I checked my Geography OMR sheet with the CUET(UG) answer key. I am shocked because 80 pc of the answer key was wrong. When I calculated the number with the wrong answer key that NTA provides, I only got 26 but in reality I will get 122 . Where my 17 questions are correct."  "Look @NTA_Exams you provide so many wrong answers in key who is going to pay thousand of rupees for your mistake ? We are not going to pay or accept evaluation on this bogus answer key," another X user shared.  Congress spokesperson Ragini Nayak also raised the issue on X and shared a screenshot of a question from a Psychology paper which asked what if an accident happens on a road and many people gather at a place what will it be called.  "The answer is in NCERT book Crowd and the answer in NTA's Answer Key is audience. Now the student answering the question is stuck in limbo," she said.  While the NTA officials did not comment on the grievances received by the agency, the candidates claimed there was loss of time at certain exam centres and technical issues.  "Challenges made by the candidates will be verified by a panel of subject experts. Based on the revised final answer key, the result will be declared," a senior official said.  The delay in CUET-UG results comes amid a raging row over alleged irregularities in competitive exams, including NEET and NET.  The CUET-UG exam conducted in a hybrid mode for the first time across the country was cancelled in Delhi a night before the exam, citing logistical reasons. The exam was conducted in the national capital later.
The NTA had earlier announced that the third edition of CUET-UG will be completed in seven days and there will be no normalisation of scores as all exams will be conducted in a single shift.  For 15 subjects, the tests were in pen-paper mode and for the other 48 subjects, the exam was held in computer-based mode.  Over 13.4 lakh candidates registered for the common entrance test for admission to undergraduate courses in 261 central, state, deemed and private universities this year.  In the first edition of the exam in 2022, the test was plagued by technical glitches. Also, as a result of tests for a subject being conducted over multiple shifts, the scores had to be normalised during the announcement of results.
—PTI

CUET-UG candidates allege errors in NTA answer keys, prompting a retest from July 15-19. Grievances can be challenged online by July 9. Controversy over exam integrity.

CUET-UG: Several candidates allege errors in answer keys

New Delhi: The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) president, Dr Abhijat Sheth on Friday said that conducting the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Postgraduate (NEET PG) examination in two-shifts is a "standard technique," adding that in the past, the exam was held in multiple shifts. Earlier today, the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) announced fresh dates for the NEET PG exam, which was set to be held on June 22 but was postponed as a "precautionary measure" just 12 hours before the examination. The NEET PG exam will now be conducted in two shifts on August 11. "In the past, before we joined the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences, this exam was conducted in multiple shifts, not in two shifts. The same mechanism of normalization ratio was applied," Sheth told ANI while replying to whether the exam was earlier held in shifts. The NBEMS President said that the students should not worry about the examination being conducted in two shifts, as it applies to most of the other exams in the country. "Yes, we have decided to conduct the NEET-PG on August 11 in two shifts. Students should not worry about the two-shift examination because it applies to most of the other exams in the country that are taken in the shifts. The cut-off date for the purpose of the eligibility to appear in the NEET-PG 2024 will continue to be August 15, 2024," he said. When asked about the doctor's concern about how fairness would be maintained in the exam in both shifts, he said that conducting exams in two shifts is "normal."
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"This is a standard technique for conducting the exams not only in the country but around the globe. Standard normalisation ration will be applied in two shifts. I don't see any problem with this issue. The students should not worry about this. The steps have been taken in the best interest of the students, and we will ensure that the logistics of the examination will be even improved," he added. He further said that August 11 is the final day for conducting the NEET-PG exam this year. "This has been decided with all the stakeholders, including the government, our own team, and our own vendors. This is the best time to conduct the exams. We will ensure that all SOPs are in place," he said. According to the announcement, the NEET-PG exam will now be conducted in two shifts on August 11. "In continuation of the NBEMS notice dated June 22, 2024, the conduct of the NEET-PG 2024 examination has been rescheduled. The NEET-PG 2024 will now be on August 11, 2024, in two shifts," said the notice. The cut-off date for purposes of eligibility to appear in the NEET-PG 2024 exam held for admission to postgraduate medical programmes in government or private medical colleges remains August 15, 2024. The government had postponed the NEET-PG 2024 examinations following controversy regarding alleged exam "irregularities" in the NEET-UG exam held on May 5. The National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducted the NEET-UG examination, is facing criticism over alleged irregularities. This prompted a series of protests across the country, with demonstrators and political parties demanding to disband the NTA.' Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on July 8 a batch of pleas alleging paper leaks and irregularities in the NEET-UG exam.
—ANI

NEET PG 2024 exam rescheduled to August 11 in two shifts, assures fairness, says NBEMS President Dr. Abhijat Sheth. Exam postponed earlier as a precaution.

"Standard technique...": NBEMS President on conducting NEET-PG 2024 in two-shifts

New Delhi: The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) on Friday announced fresh dates for the NEET PG exam which was set to be held on June 22 but was postponed as a "precautionary measure" just 12 hours before the examination. According to the announcement, the NEET PG exam will now be conducted in two shifts on August 11. "In continuation of the NBEMS notice dated June 22, 2024, the conduct of the NEET-PG 2024 examination has been rescheduled. The NEET-PG 2024 will now be on August 11, 2024, in two shifts," said the notice. The cut-off date for purpose of eligibility to appear in the NEET-PG 2024 exam held for admission to postgraduate medical programmes in government or private medical colleges remains August 15, 2024. The government had postponed the NEET-PG 2024 examinations following controversy regarding alleged exam "irregularities" in the NEET-UG exam held on May 5. The National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducted the NEET-UG examination, is facing criticism over alleged irregularities. This prompted a series of protests across the country, with demonstrators and political parties demanding to disband the NTA. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on July 8 a batch of pleas alleging paper leaks and irregularities in the NEET-UG exam.
—ANI

NEET PG 2024 exam rescheduled to August 11. NBEMS announces fresh dates after postponement due to alleged irregularities in NEET-UG. Supreme Court to hear pleas.

NEET PG exams to be conducted on August 11 in two shifts

New Delhi: The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) is scheduled to conduct the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) Post-Graduate (PG) 2024. Speaking exclusively to ANI, Dr Rakesh Sharma, OSD to President and Member, Governing Body, NBEMS said, "All eyes of the nation are on NBEMS for the conduct of NEET PG 2024 and we will not let down the hope of the nation. We will conduct the test through a computer-based test (CBT) mode throughout the country." On Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs) for successfully delivering and maintaining transparency, he said, "NBEMS has robust SOPs for conducting exams because of which NBEMS has been successfully delivering the exams year after year. These SOPs are stringently followed. NBEMS has worked very hard on maintaining the secrecy of the question paper and there is no chance that there will be any leakage of the question paper." He further said that NBEMS is supported by medical colleges, faculty, MoHFW, Flying Squads, Deans and Principals, Vice-chancellor and other agencies, "NBEMS has support from various medical colleges, faculty, MoHFW and other agencies. NBEMS has already briefed the chief secretaries and DGP of all states for safe and secure conduct of the exam." The NEET-PG 2024 will be conducted in 292 cities, the participating candidates are 2,28,757 including 1,05,791 female and 1,22,961Male candidates, five transgender, Overseas Citizens of India 223, Non-OCI 195 and 119 NRI. NBEMS has also introduced the concept of the flying squad which enhances the surveillance of examination centres over and above the routine protocols. Flying squads include chancellors of Universities, current and former members of the Governing Body - NBEMS, Vice Chancellors, Member - NMC, Principals, Dean's HODs of Medical Colleges, and Faculty of NBEMS accredited Institutes. The Flying Squad members will be visiting all the test centres and submit their report focusing on exam security and the use of unfair means. The command centre will also be set up at NBEMS Headquarters, 10 regional command centres and other monitoring centres will work in close coordination with continuation supervision of test Centres. The Candidates are advised to arrive at the test hall at least an hour before the scheduled time. Meanwhile, the National Testing Agency (NTA) is facing criticism over alleged irregularities in this year's National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate) exams and NET exam. This resulted in several protests across the country with protestors and political parties demanding to disband the NTA.
—ANI

NBEMS to conduct NEET PG 2024 with stringent SOPs and flying squads for enhanced security, ensuring a transparent and fair examination process across 292 cities in India.

NEET-PG 2024: "NBEMS has robust SOPs, will not let nation down," says official

Patna (Bihar): Amid allegations of paper leak in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Undergraduate 2024 row, a candidate from Samastipur has admitted that he was handed the leaked question paper by his uncle, a day prior to the examination held in May this year, police said on Thursday. Anurag Yadav, 22, in his confession letter to Patna police, said that his uncle had summoned him from Kota in Rajasthan to Samastipur in Bihar saying that all arrangements for the exam had been made. Yadav's uncle Sikandar Prasad Yadavendu, an engineer deployed at Bihar's Danapur Town Council (Danapur Nagar Parishad) has asked him to return to Samastipur. In his confession letter to the police, Anurag said he was handed the NEET exam question paper and answer sheet on the eve of the exam that was held on May 5 and was made to memorize the answers. "I returned from Kota and was taken to Amit Anand and Nitish Kumar by my uncle on the night of May 4, 2024, where I was given the NEET exam question paper and answer sheet, which I was made to study and memorize overnight. My examination centre was DY Patil school," he said. The NEET aspirant further said when he saw the actual question paper on the examination day, it matched with the one that his uncle had provided. "The question paper that I received at my examination centre was the same that I was made to study and memorize on the night of May 4. I accept my involvement in the crime," Anurag said.
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Patna Police has arrested several people including some candidates who had taken the NEET exam. Of them, four have been identified as- Anurag Yadav, a NEET candidate, his uncle Sikandar Yadavendu, and two others - Nitish Kumar and Anand. According to Shahstri Nagar police station, Patna Police has obtained confessional statements of all the four accused in the NEET exam question paper leak case -Anurag Yadav, Nitish Kumar, Amit Anand and Sikandar Prasad Yadvendu. The confessions were taken under Section 161 of the CrPC The NEET-UG 2024 exam was conducted on May 5 and the results were declared on June 4, ahead of its scheduled announcement date of June 14. Protests were held alleging irregularities and paper leaks as the results showed that as many as 67 students had topped the exam with a perfect score of 720. The NEET-UG examination, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), paves the way for admission to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and other related courses in government and private institutions across the country. Petitions have been filed in courts by students seeking a re-test. On June 13, the NTA informed the Supreme Court that the scorecards of 1563 candidates who were awarded "grace marks" in the NEET-UG 2024 exam would be cancelled and these candidates would have an option to reappear for the exam on June 23, the results of which will be declared before June 30, or forgo the compensatory marks given for the loss of time. On Tuesday, the apex court emphasized that any negligence, even as small as 0.001 per cent, in the conduct of the NEET-UG 2024 examination would be addressed thoroughly. A vacation bench of Justices Vikram Nath and SVN Bhatti told advocates representing the Centre and the National Testing Agency (NTA) that any such negligence must be dealt with seriously. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court today issued a notice on a plea filed by the National Testing Agency (NTA) seeking the transfer of petitions relating to the NEET-UG, 2024 examination from different High Courts to the apex court. A bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath has also stayed proceedings before different High Courts. The apex court reiterated that it will not stop the counselling process. Also today, NSUI (National Students' Union of India) held a protest outside Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's residence in Delhi over NEET and UGC-NET issues. The protesters were soon detained by Police.
—ANI

NEET-UG 2024 scandal: Candidate admits to paper leak, leading to arrests and widespread protests. Petitions for a re-test filed. NTA and Supreme Court involved.

Bihar: Arrested student confesses NEET question paper the same as he got a day before exam

Gaya (Bihar): Describing the inauguration of Nalanda University's new campus on Wednesday as a "revival of the global bridge of learning," External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that it can build relationships "even further than in the past." Jaishankar further noted that Nalanda University is already working both in India and ASEAN member states towards creating an "ASEAN-India University Network." "We are here to witness the revival of a global bridge of learning that can build relationships even further than in the past. Education, training, and capacity building are the most effective ways of promoting international understanding. This is a particular commitment that we all must have towards the Global South," Jaishankar said in his address at the inaugural event in Gaya. "I am especially glad to note that Nalanda University is already working both in India and ASEAN member states towards creating an ASEAN-India University Network. The Schools and Centres of this University have also been consciously chosen to highlight the purpose of this University. It is a matter of satisfaction that the student community is drawn from so many nations and regions of the world," the EAM added. Jaishankar stated that the university's destruction "marked a downturn in our history." "It also served a larger role by connecting our society with those of our near and far neighbours, through land and sea. The exchanges that it fostered enriched our entire continent. The university's destruction marked a downturn in our history and that dark phase continued through the colonial period," Jaishankar noted. "In that era, we not only saw a decline in our capabilities and confidence but in our connectivity as well with those nations who are now members of the East Asia Summit. In the rebuilding of the Nalanda University, there are multiple messages, both national and international," he said.
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He highlighted how the inauguration of Nalanda University's new campus has emerged as a notable occasion for higher learning in India. "It also marks the realization of a longstanding commitment by India to the East Asia Summit grouping. It reflects the seriousness with which we pursue our Act East policy," Jaishankar said. "But most of all, it underlines Bharat's endeavour to emerge as a Vishwa Bandhu, extending the hands of friendship and cooperation to the international community. By doing so, we contribute to the rejuvenation of civilizational linkages, to the celebration of our shared cultural heritage and to the appreciation of the immense diversity of our existence," he added. Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a plaque at the new campus of Nalanda University in Bihar. Ambassadors from 17 countries also attended the event. PM Modi also took a tour of the ruins of the ancient Nalanda Mahaviharam. The visit marks the first visit by the Prime Minister to the State after the Lok Sabha elections. The ancient Nalanda University, established around 1600 years ago, is considered to be among the first residential universities in the world. The new university campus is created to be a replica of the historic Nalanda University.
—ANI

S Jaishankar inaugurates Nalanda University's new campus, highlighting its role in global learning and ASEAN-India cooperation. PM Modi attends, reflecting Act East policy.

"Revival of global bridge of learning": Jaishankar on inauguration of Nalanda University's new campus

Chennai (The Hawk): Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has launched a BTech in AI and Data Analytics (COURSE CODE - 412L: Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics) and will admit students from the upcoming Academic Year of 2024-25. This undergraduate degree offered by the NIRF #1-ranked Institute in the country has been carefully crafted to equip students with key skills and knowledge. Admission to this program is through the JEE (Advanced) exam. The Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JOSAA) counselling for the 2024 batch is currently ongoing. The Program aims to cultivate expertise in diverse aspects of AI and data analytics, offering a panoramic view of its applications across industries. It will have a student strength of 50 admitted through JEE. There will be a strong emphasis on Math Fundamentals, Data Science /AI/ML Foundations, Application Development and Responsible Design besides a distinct interdisciplinary flavor. The course is being offered through the Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI, established with an endowment of Rs. 110 Crore by Mr. Sunil Wadhwani, a distinguished alumnus of IIT Madras and the Co-founder of IGATE and Mastech Digital. The vision is to be among the top AI-focused schools worldwide and also advise the Government and policymakers on Data Science and AI-related policy areas. This B.Tech. Program will offer a lot of academic flexibility, allowing students to tailor their learning journey through a wide range of electives from within the department and outside. From delving into the intricacies of Speech and Language Technology and Computer Vision to exploring Applications in Control and Detection and Time-Series Analysis, students can delve deeper into areas of personal passion and interest. Highlighting this B.Tech. Program, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, and a Computer Science faculty himself, said, “AI is evolving across engineering, science and humanities disciplines. It is extremely important to understand these multi-disciplinary connections to be successful in this field. The B.Tech. in AI and Data Analytics is uniquely positioned to address this aspect. It is first of its kind in the world. The curriculum has evolved based on the experience gained by our faculty over more than a decade. Through this offering, IITM aspires to produce top-notch AI professionals, entrepreneurs and researchers who can take up with great confidence the grand AI challenges in the evolving market” Key areas of this B.Tech. program includes focusing on application to real-world problems and Fair and Responsible AI. This includes how to apply data analytics and AI techniques to tackle real-world challenges across diverse domains, fostering innovation and impact besides embracing the principles of fairness and responsibility in AI development, and ensuring ethical and equitable deployment of technology. Highlighting the aspects that make this program unique, Prof. B. Ravindran, Head, Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI, IIT Madras, said, “AI is at a point where computer science was 30 years back. Artificial Intelligence is going to be a very transformative technology and will be the defining technological development of this generation, and perhaps another generation to come. The flagship program is going to be the undergraduate program - The B.Tech. in AI and Data Analytics. We will ensure that the students know enough about the fundamentals of AI so that they can pick up things on their own if they want to get into a research career.” Prof. B. Ravindran added, “The program that we have developed is designed from the ground up to focus both on the fundamentals of AI and how to build applications and a system-oriented design of AI. Since we are looking at the entire pipeline of AI design, I think it makes this program fairly unique.” The core curriculum has been designed to provide a comprehensive foundation in AI and data analytics, covering a diverse array of subjects essential for success in this field. From foundational courses in linear algebra and calculus to specialized modules in machine learning, deep learning, and reinforcement learning, students are equipped with a robust toolkit to tackle the varied challenges in this discipline. Furthermore, practical experience is ingrained in the curriculum through laboratory sessions, workshops, and real-world projects, ensuring students graduate not only with theoretical knowledge but also with hands-on expertise ready for immediate application in the industry. Elaborating further, Prof. Arun K. Tangirala, Faculty, Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI, IIT Madras, said, “We can divide the curriculum into four parts - First is ‘Foundation in Sciences’ that deals with mathematics, sciences, and statistics, followed by ‘Modelling Techniques’ such as convolutional neural network, deep net and so on, with the third being ‘Training and Deployment of Models’ in which the algorithms will be covered and finally, ‘Domain Applications’ which puts everything together. Our interface with the Industry is very strong. In terms of internships, UG Research, and so on, the student here will have a much brighter chance of getting practical experience.” The Research Themes of the Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI include Healthcare, Responsible AI, Language technology, and responsible development and deployment of AI for social impact.

Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has launched a BTech in AI and Data Analytics (COURSE CODE - 412L: Artificial Intelligence 

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NTA declares final results of NEET-UG

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