Latest news with #NEP-2020
The Hindu
3 days ago
- The Hindu
CIIL to launch mobile app for learning 22 Indian languages
Shailendra Mohan, Director of CIIL, Mysuru, on Thursday announced two major initiatives to be launched by the end of this month - a mobile app for learning 22 Indian languages which will eventually expand to other mother tongues, and an AI-based language assessment system enabling nationwide proficiency testing. Presiding over the 57th foundation day of CIIL here, Mr. Mohan highlighted CIIL's technological advancements, including machine translation tools, text-to-speech systems, and multilingual corpora accessible via Mr. Mohan shared details about the translation of 'The Constitution of India' into 11 Indian languages and reaffirmed CIIL's dedication to linguistic diversity and its pivotal role in national language planning. Udaya Narayana Singh, former Director, CIIL, in his keynote address, spoke on the future of language and literature studies in India, and the urgent need for indigenous linguistic data to fuel Artificial Intelligence (AI), Natural Language Processing (NLP), and speech technology. He urged linguists to enrich Indian language archives and begin engaging in creative literature writing. Mr. Singh also advocated for the creation of a Museum of Voices to support endangered and tribal languages, and called for multilingual education in line with NEP-2020, culturally sensitive AI, and mobile applications for minority languages. He stressed using voice interfaces for non-literate users and proposed multilingual diagnostic tools to address the mental health issues of youth. Mr. Singh spoke on underexplored domains such as Forensic Linguistics and language in law, and laid out a 20-year vision blending cultural heritage with digital innovation for CIIL's future growth. Vice-chancellor of Deccan College, Pune, Prasad Joshi; Founder-Director of CIIL D.P. Pattanayak; and former Directors of CIIL Rajesh Sachdeva and C.G. Venkatesh Murthy also spoke at the event.
India Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
NCERT says Class 8 textbook facts on Mughal brutality from 'well-known sources'
After its new Class 8 history textbook sparked discussion over how the Mughal era is portrayed, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has issued a clarification. It said that the facts in the book are drawn from 'well-known primary and secondary academic sources' and that the aim is to help students critically understand India's past, not judge book, Exploring Society, India and Beyond, doesn't shy away from showing the harsh side of history. It describes Babur as a ruthless conqueror, Akbar's reign as mixed, and Aurangzeb as destructive. The Delhi Sultanate's religious intolerance and violence also find space.A special note on page 20 tells students not to use these historical events to assign blame to people in the present. NCERT says this note is key to understanding the book's message. 'The note sums up the essence of the content presented,' it JUST A LIST OF DATESNCERT said it deliberately avoided overloading students. Instead, it focuses on building a broader view of Indian history between the 13th and mid-19th centuries -- a crucial period that shaped modern Class 8 is the last year of middle school, the goal is to help students connect history with social and cultural change. NCERT said the book was designed to develop a critical, multidisciplinary understanding of India's the full text of NCERT's statement:Grade 8 textbook 'Exploring Society, India and Beyond', developed in pursuance with the NEP-2020 and guided by NCF-SE-2023, has been released by NCERT. This textbook attempts to provide an idea about the geography, history (medieval & modern), economic life and governance of the country, from a multi-disciplinary perspective in an integrated way. Class-8 being the last year of the middle stage, the students are expected to acquire broad multidisciplinary perspective in understanding of our past between 13th to Mid-19th century and how the various events of that period have helped to shape and influenced the evolution of India of aim has been to consistently avoid attempting to load the child with too much information and to develop a critical understanding of the subject. Hence, the various facts, have been presented in a comprehensible manner to promote holistic learning in this textbook. All the facts presented in this textbook are based on well-known primary and secondary academic in order to avoid generation of any prejudice and misunderstanding, 'A note on history's darker period' at page 20 has been added for the benefit of the learners. This summarizes the essence of the content presented in the textbook; the entire textbook should be seen and appreciated from this perspective.- Ends
The Hindu
4 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
CIIL to launch ‘Bhasha Sanchika' in Mysuru on July 17
Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysuru, will be launching the 'Bhasha Sanchika' or Language Archive of India — a comprehensive digital language repository to preserve the country's rich linguistic heritage, during the institute's 57th foundation day celebrations here on Thursday. The repository is a pioneering platform where language preservation, dissemination, and technology converge. The launch of the 'Bhasha Sanchika' marks a significant milestone in CIIL's ongoing efforts to safeguard India's linguistic diversity, the institute said. Developed using 'D-Space', a widely adopted open-source digital asset management system, the portal serves as a vibrant resource hub for the promotion, documentation, and preservation of Indian languages and its cultural heritage, a press release said. The initiative aims for long-term preservation and secure storage of linguistic and cultural data; enhancement of the digital visibility of Indian languages and mother tongues; provision of access to linguistic content in multiple formats, including text, image, audio, and video; and development of language technologies, pedagogical tools, and other linguistic resources, the release stated. 'Bhasha Sanchika' hosts an extensive array of materials sourced from various CIIL schemes and projects, it added. ''Bhasha Sanchika' stands as a comprehensive digital repository aligned with key national initiatives such as NEP-2020, Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat, Digital India, and Atma Nirbhar Bharat. More than a preservation tool, it is a catalyst for research, education, and the digital promotion of Indian languages, helping ensure that the country's linguistic wealth thrives in the modern age,' said Sujoy Sarkar, academic coordinator of CIIL's 57th foundation day celebrations.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Mumbai, Delhi among world's best in QS student cities rankings
AI image NEW DELHI: Mumbai and Delhi have posted impressive gains in QS Best Student Cities 2026 rankings, reinforcing India's growing profile in global higher education. Mumbai has re-entered the coveted global top 100, climbing 15 places to secure the 98th position, while Delhi advanced seven spots to 104th. Delhi stood out in the affordability category, being ranked as most affordable student city in the world. Mumbai and Bengaluru also performed strongly on this parameter, being placed within the global top 15. The QS ranking report noted that this is an indication of National Education Policy-2020's (NEP) focus on global engagement and student-centric learning. These gains reflect a strengthening momentum in India's education ecosystem, with its metropolises emerging as increasingly attractive destinations for both domestic and international students. Four Indian metro cities - Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Chennai - featured in the rankings and have improved their positions this year. Bengaluru saw the most dramatic leap, soaring 22 places to rank 108th, while Chennai moved up 12 spots to 128th. In the employer activity indicator, Delhi and Mumbai broke into the world's top 50, underscoring the strong employment prospects for graduates from these cities. Bengaluru made a remarkable 41-place leap in this category to 59th, and Chennai advanced 29 spots, reflecting a growing global recognition of Indian graduates' skill set. CEO of QS Jessica Turner said India's ascent in the rankings was "more than a statistical bump" and pointed to a deeper transformation. "As we approach the fifth anniversary of NEP-2020, its focus on global engagement, quality enhancement and student-centric learning is starting to bear fruit on the international stage," she said. "If this momentum continues, backed by reform and rising global visibility, we're likely to witness an even sharper upward trajectory before the decade is out," Turner said. The QS Best Student Cities 2026 ranking assessed 150 cities worldwide. This year's edition highlights a notable shift in the global education landscape - Seoul displaced London to claim the top spot for the first time, while Tokyo held its second position. London, which had dominated the rankings for six consecutive years, slipped to third, largely due to a steep decline in affordability, where it dropped 11 places to rank 137th globally. Where Indian cities scored low was in student mix indicator (number of international students, and how inclusive the city and country is), with Mumbai at the bottom (150), Bengaluru at 148, Chennai at 146 and Delhi at 147. Asia's rise is equally striking in this edition. Alongside Seoul's triumph, Kuala Lumpur entered the global top 15 for the first time at 12th, while Beijing 13th and Taipei 14th achieved their highest-ever positions. Hong Kong also climbed five places to 17th. Over the past decade, India has recorded a 390% increase in number of universities featured in QS World University Rankings. That upward trajectory is now mirrored at the city level, with Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Chennai establishing themselves as globally connected and opportunity-rich destinations for students.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
IGNOU launches online sand art courses with Sudarsan
1 2 Bhubaneswar: The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) on Tuesday launched two online courses on sand art through the SWAYAM platform. The initiative is a collaboration with Padma Shri awardee and internationally-acclaimed sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik. The two courses, titled 'Introduction to Sand Art' and 'Principles and Formats of Sand Art', were designed and delivered by Pattnaik himself, bringing his decades of experience and global acclaim in sand sculpting into a structured online format. Available to learners of all age groups and backgrounds, the courses aim to nurture creativity, promote Indian art on a global scale, and provide accessible, skill-based education. Vice-chancellor of IGNOU Prof Uma Kanjilal, said, "This collaboration embodies the vision of NEP-2020 to integrate Indian Knowledge Systems and art forms into mainstream education. Through SWAYAM, we are proud to bring sand art to the fingertips of learners across the country and the world. This is the first-of-its-kind initiative to offer courses on sand art." The course was launched at the IGNOU headquarters in New Delhi. Each course consists of video lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on assignments. Learners will receive certificates upon successful completion. The introductory course focuses on basic tools, techniques, and creative expression, while the advanced course explores large-scale sand sculptures, thematic installations, and the cultural narratives behind this unique art form. Speaking at the occasion, Sudarsan Pattnaik said, "It is my dream to make sand art a global symbol of Indian creativity. With IGNOU and SWAYAM, we are now empowering thousands to learn this art from anywhere. This is not just a course but a celebration of India's heritage and storytelling through sand. I thank the Ministry of Education and IGNOU for making Sand Art a vocational and skill-based education form."
