MNNIT, IIT-K experts to nurture govt primary teachers, students
The initiative is designed not only to provide technical and academic support to government primary school teachers but also to inspire students to take greater interest in science, mathematics, and technology.
The programme, approved in the supplementary Project Approval Board (PAB) meeting for the academic session 2025–26, held on May 28, but whose revised minutes were confirmed and made public only on July 3, is part of the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan and aims to bridge the gap between technical expertise and grassroots education, said officials of the state basic education department.
A budget of approximately ₹49 lakh has been sanctioned for its implementation, they added.
Experts from IIT Kanpur and MNNIT will work closely with teachers and students in 44,499 basic education schools across the state, offering mentorship to foster learning, growth, and overall academic success, read the PAB meeting minutes, a copy of which is with HT.
This effort is aligned with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasises inclusive, innovative, and quality-driven education. In line with these goals, regular training programmes will be organised for teachers, while students will benefit from workshops focused on science and technology.
The programme also aims to promote project-based learning and improve the effective use of digital tools in classrooms, officials said.
Additionally, IIT Kanpur's Online Rural Education Initiative (OREI) has also received approval. Under this scheme, student volunteers from the institute are reaching out to remote rural schools, teaching science and mathematics, and making quality education more accessible.
Last year, the ministry had also recommended a five-day educational tour for 150 selected students from across Uttar Pradesh (two from each district) to visit premier scientific institutions such as ISRO, Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, various IITs, science parks, and museums—further reinforcing the government's push toward experiential learning and scientific curiosity.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
21 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Environment minister to visit e-waste park in Norway to note best practices
Delhi environment and industries minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa arrived in Oslo on Sunday to study electronic waste (e-waste) management systems, ahead of the city's plan to develop an e-waste park in Holambi Kalan. The visit, facilitated in coordination with the Norwegian government, will take place on Monday. Environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa (HT Photo) On Monday, Sirsa will visit an e-waste park in Oslo where the entire chain of e-waste management — from collection to processing — will be assessed, including technologies in use. 'We will also visit an industrial area, in the middle of the city, to again study the best practices, ranging from waste management there to ensuring recycling and zero air pollution,' Sirsa told HT. The Delhi government is planning to build a dedicated e-waste park over 11.4 acres in north Delhi, aimed at processing over 51,000 metric tonnes of e-waste annually. A feasibility study for the ₹150 crore project will be undertaken soon, following which a global RFQ-cum-RFP (Request for Qualification-cum-Request for Proposal) will be floated. 'This is a short visit to understand how Norway is managing its e-waste. We want Delhi's e-waste park to generate zero pollution. Previous governments didn't plan for the present or the future, and that is why we have waste mountains. We don't want to repeat those mistakes,' Sirsa said. He added that the Delhi government is also studying Hong Kong's e-waste management model. 'We are examining both Norway and Hong Kong to get a sense of the advanced machines and technologies we can use for the project,' Sirsa said. He is expected to return to Delhi on Tuesday. The Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC) is the nodal agency for the project. Sirsa, who has been accompanied by DSIIDC officials on the trip, had earlier announced that a third-party feasibility study would evaluate global models with a focus on zero-emission and zero-landfill systems. Other features under consideration include scientific dismantling protocols, metal recovery systems, digital waste tracking, air quality monitoring, and pollution control mechanisms. The park is expected to generate over ₹350 crore in economic output, according to government estimates. Once awarded, the construction of the facility will take 18 months to complete, officials have said.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- The Hindu
National conference ‘Bhasyotsava' to begin on August 3 at National Sanskrit University
National Sanskrit University Vice-Chancellor Prof. G.S.R. Krishnamurthy on Saturday announced that the three-day national conference 'Bhasyotsava' will be held at the campus in Tirupati from Sunday (August 3, 2025). The conference will discuss the inauguration of Akshara Purushottama Mandir in the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha tradition (modeled after the temple constructed in Abu Dhabi). Addressing the media here on Saturday (August 2, 2025), Prof. Krishnamurthy mentioned a MoU with international Swaminarayan institutions for research collaborations and establishing a replica temple in the campus heritage wing. 'Bhasyotsava' will jointly be organised by the Indian Philosophical Research Council, Swaminarayan Research Institution, Akshardham, and Utkal Peetham of the university. Notable guests include UGC Vice-Chairman Prof. Deepak Kumar Srivastava, and representatives of prominent philosophical and academic bodies. The opening ceremony will feature an online address by the Acharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham and the President of the Swaminarayan Research Institution. The valedictory ceremony will be attended by Odisha Governor K. Hari Babuand and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. The university also announced implementation of new research initiatives as per National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 from the 2025-26 academic year, and that spot admissions for various Sanskrit programmes will be open until August 14.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Indian priest Richard D'Souza appointed director of Vatican Observatory
Indian Catholic priest Richard D'Souza has been appointed as the new director of the Vatican Observatory. The newly elected Pope Leo XIV confirmed his appointment on Thursday evening. Fr D'Souza, who has a doctorate in astronomy and who has been a staff member at the Observatory since 2016. (MLA Delilah Lobo | X account) D'Souza, 47, a Jesuit priest who hails from Goa and who holds a doctorate in Astronomy will succeed the existing head of one of the world's oldest astronomical observatories, will succeed incumbent Guy Consolmagno, when his term ends on September 15. 'I am very honoured to be appointed by Pope Leo XIV as the next Director of the Vatican Observatory,' D'Souza said in a comment to HT. Also Read:Pope to bestow one of Catholic Church's highest honors on John Henry Newman 'On one hand, I am aware of the many high-profile Jesuits who have held this position in the past and have paved the way for the Observatory's success today: I am truly standing on the shoulders of giants. On the other hand, I understand the great responsibility entrusted to me of guiding the Vatican Observatory at this critical time, so that the Specola continues to serve the Pope and the Universal Church, promoting the dialogue between faith and science, through solid scientific research,' he said. D'Souza who hails from Mapusa in Goa a Bachelor's degree in Physics at St Xavier's College Mumbai, a Master in Physics at the University of Heidelberg, Germany where he worked at the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, Heidelberg for his thesis work; a doctorate in astronomy with research done at the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics in Garching, Munich, concentrating on the formation and evolution of galaxies and a post-doctoral programme at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, US. He is a member of the International Astronomical Union and has recently had an asteroid named after him. 'I am delighted that His Holiness has chosen Fr. D'Souza to be the next director of the Vatican Observatory. I know that Fr. D'Souza has the vision and wisdom to carry the Observatory forward during this time of rapid change in astronomical research, especially given his experience with space telescopes and advanced computational techniques,' incumbent Consolmagno said. Back in Goa Richard's parents Mary and Joseph expressed their 'happiness and gratitude' at the opportunity he has been entrusted with to serve in his mission. 'As a child he was always curious and showed interest in the scientific side of things and we are happy and grateful that he has been entrusted with this responsibility that allows him to serve both his mission and the pursuit of science,' the family stated. The Vatican Observatory is one of the oldest astronomical observatories in the world. It was founded in 1891, by Pope Leo XIII. D'Souza has been a staff member of the Vatican Observatory since 2016 and has held the role of the Superior of the Jesuit community of the Vatican Observatory since 2022. In 2018, he along with researchers working at the Vatican Observatory found conclusive evidence of a long lost galaxy the third biggest after Andromeda and the Milky Way, named 32p that was 'shredded and cannibalised' by the Milky Way's galactic neighbour Andromeda about two billion years ago. This disrupted galaxy was the third-largest member of the local group of galaxies, after the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies. Using computer models, D'Souza and Bell were able to piece together this evidence, revealing this long-lost sibling. Their findings were published in Nature Astronomy in July 2018. His research focuses on the phenomenon of galaxy merging and its effects on the present day properties of galaxies like the Milky Way. He has published in numerous international scientific journals and is a member of several international collaborations.
