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VIBGYOR Group of Schools Announces 15th Edition of Model United Nations Conference Focused on Climate Action

VIBGYOR Group of Schools Announces 15th Edition of Model United Nations Conference Focused on Climate Action

The Wire20-06-2025
New Delhi [India], June 20: VIBGYOR Group of Schools, one of India's leading K-12 education networks, is set to host the 15th edition of its flagship Model United Nations (VIBGYOR MUN) from June 25–28, 2025, at The Westin, Mumbai Powai Lake. This Quindecennial Edition marks more than a milestone, it reaffirms the conference's mission to empower young minds with the skills, awareness, and empathy needed to address global challenges.
Open to students aged 14 to 19 from domestic and international schools, VIBGYOR MUN has long served as a platform for intellectual exchange and leadership growth. This year's theme centred around the UN Sustainable Development Goal 13: Climate Action—highlights the urgent need to tackle climate change through inclusive, solution-focused dialogue. Delegates will examine topics like emission reductions, environmental equity, sustainable transitions, and global cooperation, gaining insights into both the science and politics of climate resilience.
The conference will be inaugurated by Dr. Vedprakash Mishra, a distinguished academician and public health expert, who will set the stage for meaningful dialogue on sustainability and global responsibility.
'What makes VIBGYOR MUN truly special is the way our students show up—not just as debaters, but as thoughtful, compassionate individuals who care deeply about the world,' said Kavita Kerawalla, Vice-Chairperson, VIBGYOR Group of Schools. 'Every year, I'm humbled by the conversations they spark and the empathy they bring into the room. This isn't just a conference, it's a reminder of what's possible when young people come together with purpose and heart.' Over four days, students will take part in eleven sessions across seven committees, including SPECPOL, COP30, UNICEF, Security Council, and Lok Sabha. Guided by experienced Chairs, the simulations aim to inspire critical thinking, collaboration, and confident problem-solving.
What sets VIBGYOR MUN 15 apart is its rich co-curricular programme, designed to deepen engagement beyond formal committee discussions. Highlights include: • The MUN Colosseum, a high-stakes, parliamentary-style debate featuring the Executive Board in action.
• A Fireside Chat series, offering students an intimate space to interact with leading voices in policy, activism, and diplomacy.
• A midnight crisis simulation, an unscripted challenge for the Executive Board that tests agility, leadership, and teamwork under pressure.
• A student-run press conference and a socio-cultural night, blending journalism, spontaneity, and community celebration into the MUN experience.
Over the years, VIBGYOR MUN has hosted influential figures including Afroz Shah (UN Champion of the Earth), Erik Solheim (former Executive Director, UN Environment), and Consul Generals from Sweden, France, and the Netherlands, enriching student dialogue with real-world relevance and global perspective.
As it enters its 15th year, VIBGYOR MUN continues to be a crucible for young voices committed to change, where diplomacy meets action, and students step forward not just as delegates, but as future leaders.
Registrations are now open at www.vibgyormun.com About VIBGYOR Group of Schools Founded in 2004, VIBGYOR Group of Schools, recognised as Best Education Brand of 2023 by The Economic Times, followed by the BW Education Top Education Brands Award 2024 for Academic Excellence in K-12, is a leading network of K-12 schools known for its academic excellence for over two decades. The Group offers a unique range of world-class educational programs for the holistic development of students in curricular and co-curricular studies across all its schools. Under the leadership of Mr. Rustom Kerawalla, Founder Chairman of the institution, VIBGYOR Group of Schools is nurturing the academic growth and development of over 50,000 students nationwide across its 39 schools in 15 major cities.
VIBGYOR Group of Schools delivers international levels of education in affiliation with CISCE, CBSE and Cambridge International curriculum, from early years education to Grade 12.
(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PNN and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.).
This is an auto-published feed from PTI with no editorial input from The Wire.
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‘Khalistan Boards' At UK Gurdwara Not A Breach Of Political Guidance: Charity Watchdog
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time08-08-2025

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‘Khalistan Boards' At UK Gurdwara Not A Breach Of Political Guidance: Charity Watchdog

Last Updated: A few years ago, the Charity Commission began checking Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha in Slough, Berkshire, south-east England, for compliance with its rules. The watchdog for the charity sector in the United Kingdom on Thursday said that its ongoing investigation into the UK gurudwara governance had determined that displaying 'Khalistan boards" did not breach the political guidance for charities functioning in the country. A few years ago, the Charity Commission began checking Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha in Slough, Berkshire, south-east England, for compliance with its rules. As part of governance concerns, the independent watchdog was asked to review the 'complex and sensitive" issue of Khalistan banners or plaques being displayed at the gurdwara. 'After a number of governance concerns were raised with us about Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Slough, we opened a regulatory compliance case to further assess these and engage with the trustees," a Charity Commission spokesperson said, news agency PTI reported. 'As part of this case, a complex and sensitive matter was raised regarding the display of 'Khalistan boards'. Following substantial review of evidence and consultation with a number of sector representatives and stakeholders, we have determined the display of the boards in itself not to be in breach of our campaigning and political guidance for charities," the spokesperson added. The commission said that while its case is 'still ongoing," in December 2024 it gave the charity a 'Regulatory Action Plan" requiring the trustees to take certain steps to improve how the charity is run and managed. 'As part of our monitoring work, we have now removed several actions due to sufficient progress being made on these," the spokesperson said. Officials said it was decided that 'Khalistan" has both a religious meaning and, for some, a political meaning. Since the gurdwara's banners did not promote separatism or call for a political state, it was concluded that the charity was acting within its religious purpose. (With PTI inputs) view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

The message from Trump's tirade against India
The message from Trump's tirade against India

Scroll.in

time07-08-2025

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The message from Trump's tirade against India

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Punjab: RTE admission stalled, pvt schools cite lack of reimbursement norms
Punjab: RTE admission stalled, pvt schools cite lack of reimbursement norms

Hindustan Times

time28-07-2025

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Punjab: RTE admission stalled, pvt schools cite lack of reimbursement norms

Private unaided schools in Punjab appear to be stalling the admission of children from disadvantaged and economically weaker sections under the Right to Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, citing delays in the issuance of per-child reimbursement notification and admission guidelines. A non-governmental organisation, the Action Committee for RTE Act, in a letter to chief secretary KAP Sinha and top officers of the school education department on July 14, highlighted the continued non-implementation of the RTE Act's provisions despite the court ruling. (HT File) The Punjab and Haryana high court had, in its order dated February 19, directed all private unaided recognised schools in the state to reserve 25% of their Class 1 seats for children from weaker and disadvantaged sections in the state. The court also ordered the state government to ensure strict enforcement of this direction in the 2025-26 academic session. The school education department followed up the court's ruling with instructions to DPI, elementary education and all district education officers (DEOs) on March 20, but with little effect, as complaints continue to pile up against private schools for delaying or refusing admissions to children from economically weaker sections (EWS). A non-governmental organisation, the Action Committee for RTE Act, in a letter to chief secretary KAP Sinha and top officers of the school education department on July 14, highlighted the continued non-implementation of the RTE Act's provisions despite the court ruling. 'Thousands of eligible children are being denied admission to unaided private schools, and no steps are being taken by the state government to enforce the legal provisions,' wrote the action committee, a group of social activists, along with a list of 78 eligible children from weaker sections who were denied admissions in recent weeks. Of them, 27 children are in Mohali, 10 in Ropar, six in Bathinda, five in Patiala, four in Amritsar, three in Ludhiana and two each in Gurdaspur and Mansa. Jagjit Singh Dhuri, president of the Federation of Private Schools and Associations, attributed the delay in admitting children to the non-issuance of admission guidelines and the notification for per-child reimbursement by the state government. 'Private schools are not against implementing the RTE provisions, but it is not feasible for them to admit children without a clear mechanism for admissions and reimbursement. We have repeatedly requested the state and district authorities to do the needful,' he claimed. Section 12(2) of the RTE Act requires the government to reimburse all private schools for reserving 25% of their entry-level seats for children from EWS and disadvantaged groups. In many states, private unaided schools receive reimbursement equal to either the per-child expenditure incurred by the state in government schools or the actual amount charged from the child, whichever is lower. While a member of the management of a private school in Mohali said that the authorities in most states notify the per-child reimbursement before June 30, the education officer (elementary) of a district in the state, speaking on condition of anonymity, said he was awaiting instructions from the department regarding admission and reimbursement to schools. According to the Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) data, Punjab has 7,704 private unaided recognised schools. It may be recalled that the RTE Act 2009 mandated private schools to admit in class I children from weaker sections and disadvantaged groups in the neighbourhood to the extent of 25% of the strength of that class, and to provide free and compulsory elementary education till its completion. However, the then government in the state framed the Punjab RTE Rules in 2011, providing that children from disadvantaged groups must first seek admission in government schools, and they could approach unaided schools for admission only after getting a no-objection certificate from government schools on the ground of non-availability of seats or other reasons. As a result, there were no admissions of children from disadvantaged groups in private schools in the state under the RTE Act. However, the high court in February this year struck down Rule 7(4) of the Punjab RTE Rules, 2011 and ordered immediate implementation of the EWS quota. Last week, the court also issued a notice to the state government on a public interest litigation seeking a CBI investigation into Rule 7(4) of the Punjab RTE Rules. The petitioner, former IAS officer Jagmohan Singh Raju, asserted that Rule 7(4) was 'unconstitutional, corrupt, and deliberately crafted' to serve the commercial interests of private schools at the cost of disadvantaged children's rights. The matter has been fixed for September 22.

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