Uttar Pradesh government clarifies no plans to close schools amid dropout concerns
Addressing these concerns, Singh said no schools were being shut down. Instead, institutions with fewer than 50 students were being merged with other schools located within a one-kilometre radius.He explained that the move aims to ensure smooth teaching operations, better resource utilisation and improved academic outcomes for students.ENROLMENT AND TEACHER POSITIONSThe minister shared the latest figures on enrolment and staffing in the state's schools. According to him, primary schools have 10,493,389 students, with 417,886 sanctioned teaching posts. Of these, 338,590 positions are currently filled.Upper primary schools in the state have 4,314,803 enroled students, with 162,198 approved teaching positions, of which 120,860 are occupied.FOCUS ON EARLY LEARNINGSingh also highlighted the state's focus on early childhood education. Children are formally enroled in schools at the age of six, while those aged between three and six are encouraged to attend Anganwadi centres for foundational learning and preparation before entering primary education.The minister reiterated that the government's priority is to provide quality education and improve facilities while making the best use of available resources. He said that the mergers are intended to strengthen rather than weaken the school system.The session ended with the assurance that, despite opposition concerns, the state remains committed to ensuring every child has access to education without the closure of any school.(With inputs from PTI)- EndsTrending Reel
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Hindustan Times
18 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
India-China talks yield broad breakthroughs
India and China on Tuesday unveiled a slew of initiatives to address their border dispute and normalise bilateral ties in the wake of the LAC standoff, ranging from steps to explore an 'early harvest' in boundary delimitation to resumption of direct flights and facilitation of trade and investment flows. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi in New Delhi on Tuesday. (PTI) The measures were announced following visiting Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi's talks with National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval under the Special Representatives mechanism and his meeting with external affairs minister S Jaishankar, and came ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's trip to China at the end of this month to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit. The Prime Minister confirmed his presence in Tianjin after meeting Wang on Tuesday evening. Both Doval and Wang pointed to steady progress in bilateral relations and easing of tensions on the border after the understanding last October to end the face-off on the Line of Actual Control, reflecting the growing thaw in ties amid geo-economic churn caused by the trade policies of the US administration. At the meeting of the Special Representatives, the two sides agreed to create an expert group under the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on border affairs to explore 'early harvest in boundary delimitation', and to set up another working group under the WMCC to 'advance effective border management' and maintain peace and tranquillity, the external affairs ministry said in a statement. The two sides will create 'general level mechanisms' for the eastern and middle sectors of the border, which cover Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim, respectively. These will be in addition to the existing general level mechanism for the western sector, which covers Ladakh, the scene of the standoff which lasted well over four years. The two sides also agreed to hold an early meeting of the mechanism for the western sector. The two sides further agreed to use diplomatic and military mechanisms to carry forward border management and discuss de-escalation, beginning with principles and modalities, the statement said. India and China emphasised the need for a 'political perspective of the overall bilateral relationship while seeking a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable framework' for settling the border issue in line with the Agreement on Political Parameters and Guiding Principles for Settlement of the India-China Boundary Question signed in 2005, the statement added. Several other initiatives were finalised at Wang's meeting with Jaishankar on Monday, including resumption of direct flights 'at the earliest' and finalisation of an updated air services agreement. Direct flights stopped during the Covid-19 pandemic and this continued after the face-off on the LAC. Both sides also agreed to facilitate visas for tourists, businesses, media and other visitors. Besides reopening border trade through three designated points at Lipulekh pass, Shipki pass and Nathu La, both sides agreed to facilitate trade and investment flows between the two countries through concrete measures. India had restricted foreign direct investments from China through Press Note 3 in April 2020. The two sides will also continue and expand the pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and Manasarovar lake in the Tibet region, starting from 2026. The pilgrimage resumed after a gap of five years in April. The two sides agreed to 'give full play to the role of India-China Expert Level Mechanism on Trans-border Rivers' and discuss the renewal of relevant MoUs. 'The Chinese side agreed to share hydrological information during emergency situations based on humanitarian considerations,' the statement said against the backdrop of Indian concerns about China's plan to build a mega dam in Tibet. Both sides also agreed to support each other in hosting diplomatic events. For instance, China will support India's presidency of Brics in 2026, and India will back China in hosting the 2027 Brics Summit. They will resume bilateral dialogue mechanisms and exchanges to address each other's concerns and manage differences, including holding a meeting of the High-level Mechanism on People-to-People Exchanges in India in 2026. The Chinese side welcomed Modi's attendance at the upcoming SCO Summit in Tianjin, and the Indian side looked forward to a successful summit with fruitful outcomes. Both sides agreed a stable, cooperative and forward-looking relationship is in the mutual interest of both countries to 'realise their development potential fully'. India and China also agreed to uphold multilateralism, enhance communication on major international and regional issues, maintain a rules-based multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core, and promote a multipolar world that safeguards the interest of developing countries. In what appeared to be a reference to the trade policies of the US administration, a Chinese foreign ministry statement quoted Wang as saying that the two sides reached consensus on 'deepening mutually beneficial cooperation, upholding multilateralism, jointly addressing global challenges, and opposing unilateral bullying'. Wang also said the two sides reached a new consensus on the border issue, including 'properly handling sensitive points and initiating boundary demarcation negotiations where conditions permit'. The 24th round of talks under the Special Representatives mechanism focused on 'de-escalation, delimitation and boundary affairs', the external affairs ministry said. Wang was quoted by the Chinese foreign ministry as saying that the two sides should 'set goals in border control, demarcation negotiations and cross-border exchanges'. Wang is the first Chinese minister to visit India since the two sides ended a standoff on the LAC last October and agreed to revive mechanisms to normalise ties. Both Doval and Wang acknowledged the Special Representatives' meeting had assumed greater significance as it was held ahead of Modi's visit to China for the SCO Summit. Doval said India and China have benefited from peace and tranquillity on the border since the end of the face-off and made progress in various areas. Pointing to an 'upward trend' in relations over the past nine months, he said: 'Borders have been quiet, there has been peace and tranquillity, our bilateral engagements have been more substantial.' Wang described the border situation as 'stable and improving' and said the setbacks experienced by India and China in the past few years were not in the interests of the people of both sides. The meeting between Modi and President Xi Jinping in October last year 'provided impetus for the proper settlement of the boundary question', he added. 'We are heartened to see the stability that is now restored in the borders,' Wang said. 'The Chinese side attaches great importance to the Prime Minister's visit to China to attend the SCO Summit at our invitation.' Despite the signs of a thaw, there were also indications of continuing concerns on the Indian side, including cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan, a close ally of China, and Beijing's plans to build what will be the world's largest hydropower dam in Tibet that could affect the flows in the Brahmaputra river. The Indian side strongly raised all forms of terrorism, including cross-border terrorism, while recalling that one of the original objectives of the SCO, which is currently led by China, was to counter the 'evil of terrorism', the external affairs ministry said in a statement. Wang 'concurred that countering terrorism should be given the highest priority', the statement added. External affairs minister S Jaishankar, who met Wang on Monday, 'underlined India's concerns with regard to the mega dam construction being undertaken by China in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra river), which will have implications for lower riparian states,' the statement said. Jaishankar strongly underlined the 'need for utmost transparency' on this project, it added. The two Special Representatives met even as a senior Indian government official said Wang had assured Jaishankar at their meeting on Monday that China is addressing India's concerns regarding restrictions on the export of rare earth minerals, fertilisers and large tunnel boring machines.
India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
‘Weaponised Law' To Unseat PMs, CMs, Ministers? Jail-Held Leaders Must Quit Or Face Disqualification After 30 Days
New Delhi: Parliament braces for a heated session on Wednesday, August 20. The government will introduce three bills in the Lok Sabha that propose a framework for the removal of the prime minister, union ministers, chief ministers and ministers in states and union territories. The draft laws focus on arrests in cases of serious criminal charges. Conviction is not required. Union Home Minister Amit Shah will move the bills. He will also propose referral to a joint parliamentary committee, PTI reported. Strong opposition is expected. Recent arrests have set the backdrop. Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and incumbent Jharkhand's Hemant Soren both spent weeks in jail on corruption allegations. The bills carry a clear clause. If a PM, CM or minister is arrested and remains in custody for 30 consecutive days for an offence carrying at least five years' jail, they must resign by the 31st day. Failure to resign will lead to automatic removal. The Bills On The List The government business circulated by the parliamentary affairs ministry listed three names: The Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025; The Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2025; and The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2025. There is no confirmed provision on restoring statehood for Jammu and Kashmir in this package. What Happens Next The constitutional amendment covers the PM, union ministers and ministers in Delhi's NCT government. It requires a special majority, at least two-thirds of the total strength of Parliament. The BJP-led NDA does not currently hold that number. The UT-related bills need only a simple majority. Even then, resistance is likely. The concern is that the Centre could remove state leaders based only on accusations. What The Text Says The UT amendment cites a gap in the 1963 law. It says no mechanism exists to remove a CM or minister arrested on serious criminal charges. Hence the change is required. The Constitution amendment covers Articles 75, 164 and 239AA. The J&K amendment revises Section 54 of the Reorganisation Act. PTI reported that the reasoning sections of all three bills echo each other. Political Climate The timing of the move is charged. The Opposition continues its attacks. Leaders accuse the government of 'vote theft'. They also oppose the Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls in Bihar. Monsoon session debates have been disrupted by protests on these issues.
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Amendments to Uttarakhand anti-conversion law tabled in assembly
Agency: Gairsain, Aug 19 (PTI) The amendments to the anti-conversion law to make it harsher, with stringent provisions like punishment up to life imprisonment and heavy fines, was introduced in the state assembly on Tuesday. The Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Bill-2025 provides for a maximum punishment of life imprisonment and a heavy fine of up to Rs 10 lakh for forced conversion. At present, there is a provision of maximum 10 years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 50,000. More stringent provisions were being added to the existing law to stop conversion done through fraud, inducement or pressure, according to the government. The definition of inducement has been expanded in the bill to include gifts, cash/goods benefits, employment, free education, promise of marriage, hurting religious faith or glorifying another religion, categorising all of them as crime. It makes punishable the acts like promoting or inciting conversion through social media, messaging app or any online medium. under the bill, there is a provision in the bill for three to 10 years imprisonment for general violation, five to 14 years in cases related to sensitive class and 20 years to life imprisonment in serious cases and heavy fines. This is the second amendment to the anti-conversion law that has been in force since 2018. The first amendment to the Act was made in 2022. PTI DPT SKY SKY (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: August 20, 2025, 01:00 IST 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. Loading comments...
