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Time of India
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Students & teachers will get to enjoy 129 off days this year in Maharastra govt school
Students & teachers will get to enjoy 129 off days this year PUNE: The school education department has announced the holiday schedule for the 2025-26 session for govt schools in Maharashtra with 129 off days for students and teachers. Schools reopen for the new academic year on June 16 in the rest of the state and on June 23 in Vidarbha. According to this new schedule, there will be 236 days of school sessions, with the remaining allocated for various holidays. Students & teachers will get to enjoy 129 off days this year in Maharastra govt school The education department finalised this timetable after discussions with teachers' associations. Last academic year, there was one less holiday compared to this year. The new session includes an extra Sunday. Throughout the year, there will be 53 Sundays which will be non-working, a govt notification stated. In February , education commissioner Sachindra Pratap Singh had said that schools would reopen on June 16 to end confusions triggered by the State Curriculum Framework for School Education (SCF-SE) that had recommended aligning Maharashtra's academic calendar with the CBSE schedule, shifting the school academic year from June-April to April-March. Education minister Pankaj Bhoyar had said that govt was considering reopening schools from April 1 for the next academic year. But, most teachers' unions opposed the move on the ground that adopting CBSE calendar without considering Maharashtra's social, cultural and geographical factors would be impractical.
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Rise above party politics on global matters': Sharad Pawar snubs Sanjay Raut over his call to boycott all-party delegation on Operation Sindoor
Sharad Pawar has publicly disagreed with Sanjay Raut's criticism of all-party delegations for Operation Sindoor, emphasizing the need to prioritize national interests over party politics in international matters. PUNE: Reacting to Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut 's statement that the INDIA bloc should have boycotted all-party delegations on Operation Sindoor , NCP (SP) chief and Raut's MVA partner, Sharad Pawar , on Monday snubbed him and said that party politics should be kept aside when it comes to international issues. Pawar was interacting with the media in his hometown Baramati, where he supported the idea of sending all-party delegations to different countries to explain India's stand for undertaking Operation Sindoor following the Pahalgam terror attack. "When PV Narasimha Rao was the Prime Minister, he sent India's delegation to the UN, which was led by the then opposition leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee. I was one of the members of that delegation. What happened during Narasimha Rao's tenure is happening even today. When it comes to international issues, we should rise above party politics," Pawar said. Recently, Raut slammed the central govt over the formation of all-party delegations for Operation Sindoor, where he claimed that the central govt did not consult with any party before selecting the delegation members. He also accused the central govt of sending the all-party delegation to other countries to cover up its failure to avert the terror attack and said INDIA bloc members should have boycotted those delegations. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Ative sua licença do antivírus agora Clique aqui Undo Reacting to Raut's statement, Pawar said, "I cannot dictate my opinion to him (Raut). He has the right to express his own opinion, but I saw the name of even his party member in the delegation. My stand is clear that we should keep aside local politics while discussing international issues." On Sunday, Pawar met a group of farmers from Purandar tehsil of Pune district who are opposing a proposed international airport in their tehsil. Speaking about the meeting, Pawar said, "The central govt has finalised the site of Purandar for the international airport for Pune. However, there is farmland which was brought under the irrigation scheme when I was the chief minister, and now the farmers are growing sugarcane on that land. As the agricultural land will have to be acquired for the airport project, the farmers have certain issues with giving away their land." "Since the issue pertains to the central and state govt, my efforts are to initiate a meeting with the chief minister to discuss possible ways out. The local MP Supriya Sule , other important local members, and farmers will also participate in the meeting to find some solution," Pawar added.
Hindustan Times
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Patil slams mismanagement by institutes, urges fee reforms for girls' education
PUNE Maharashtra higher and technical education minister Chandrakant Patil on Sunday served a firm message to private educational institutions, calling out poor management despite substantial financial support provided by the government. Speaking at an event organised by the Progressive Education Society and the Association of Self-Financed Institutes, Patil said, 'Institutions must take their responsibilities seriously and improve both transparency and accountability.' The minister pointed out that nearly 80 per cent of students in Maharashtra are covered under various scholarship schemes that pay either 50 per cent or the full tuition fee. He said that with this level of support, running an educational institution should not be financially challenging. 'However, managing an institution is not just about receiving funds. The administrators must step up. That responsibility is not being fulfilled,' Patil remarked. He also criticised the lack of initiative shown by institutions in securing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds, despite Maharashtra being home to a large number of companies. 'Appoint dedicated officers to pursue CSR funding; this will significantly reduce dependence on government grants and ease their financial burden,' he said. Addressing the issue of vacant seats, Patil revealed that last year, 16,000 seats in pharmacy courses, 50,000 in engineering, and another 50,000 in BBA courses remained unfilled. In light of this, he proposed that no new engineering or pharmacy colleges should be approved for the next two years. He urged the state government to exercise its regulatory powers to enforce this freeze and address the declining demand. Patil also discussed the government's push to support girls' education. Even in the absence of formal demands from institutions, the government, he said, had taken the lead in launching a scheme that provides free professional education to female students. The state has waived 100 per cent of tuition and examination fees for 50 per cent of girl students, with an allocation of ₹900 crore. However, Patil expressed concern over the additional fees charged by some institutions, often exceeding the tuition amount, and indicated that the government is considering bringing these non-tuition charges under regulatory oversight. He said there were plans to reimburse such costs under the scholarship framework, which would increase transparency and reduce financial pressure on students. To provide further support, Patil announced a plan under the 'Earn and Learn' initiative to offer monthly stipends of ₹1,000 to ₹1,500 to 25 per cent of all female students. Gajanan Ekbote, president, Progressive Education Society, said, 'University regulations must evolve in line with the National Education Policy (NEP), as the global higher education landscape is changing rapidly.' He added that structural reforms are necessary to stay relevant and competitive.
Time of India
12-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
No immediate resumption of flights from 32 airports: Union minister Murlidhar Mohol
Representative Image PUNE: Union ministe of state for civil aviation , Murlidhar Mohol , on Sunday said commercial flights from 32 airports in north India will not start operations immediately. "The situation must become normal first. Airports will commence commercial flight operations after that. Right now, the situation is not normal, & ceasefire violations have happened. As and when normalcy returns, airports will be opened for regular flights in phases," Mohol told TOI. At present, the 32 airports are not operational and Centre said they will resume operations from May 15. These airports, which include Chandigarh, Amritsar, Leh, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Jammu, Jodhpur, Ludhiana, Pathankot, Patiala, Porbandar, and Shimla, were closed down in phases starting May 9. Operation Sindoor 'Our job is to hit target, not to count body bags': Air Marshal Bharti on Op Sindoor Precautionary blackout imposed across parts of Rajasthan, Punjab 'Indian Navy was in position to strike Karachi': Vice Admiral on Operation Sindoor "It is hard to say whether they will resume operations from May 15. The situation has to get normal first. Presently, there are no tourists stuck anywhere. Delhi airport is operational," the minister said. "With many airports closed, an airfare surge in other sectors, particularly those connected to Delhi, will happen. There will be a surge due to reduced supply and increased demand on alternative routes," Mehboob Shaikh, director of Travel Elect Private Limited and chairman (central and south Maharashtra) of Travel Agents Association of India, told TOI.
Time of India
28-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Mid-aged Indians migrating to New Zealand for family-centric opportunities, says Pawandeep Singh
Pawandeep Singh, CEO of Kiwiana Immigration Limtied PUNE: During the past three years New Zealand experienced an increase of mid-aged Indian professionals in the 35 years to 50 years age group who relocate to benefit their children's career prospects, said Pawandeep Singh, CEO of Kiwiana Immigration Limtied. Singh's firm has successfully guided over thousands of Indian families since 2014. The population of people with Indian heritage has grown by 22% in New Zealand during the past decade to reach 2.92 lakh individuals, stated Singh in a press note released here recently. "We're seeing an emotional, purpose-driven migration. It's less about salary hikes and more about giving children a brighter, balanced future. New Zealand offers what many mid-aged professionals seek—peace, predictability, and prospects," he added. According to Kiwiana Immigration, "Indians rank as the third-largest ethnic group in the country. During 2024 India became the leading national origin of migrant population with 27,100 individuals moving to New Zealand." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play this game for 3 minutes, if you own a mouse Undo "The increase in Indian economic growth combined with expanded job openings and startup environment fails to deter numerous Indian families from leaving the country for other destinations. Numerous factors beyond financial gain intensify the process because they represent fundamental concerns about family success and personal safety. Professionals in IT, healthcare services, teaching, financial professionals alongside managers have discovered numerous employment options," he added. According to Singh primary and secondary educational institutions offer free education which encourages families to choose New Zealand as their residence.' He said that the key driver behind this migration shift was the education system in New Zealand, which delivered practical lessons focusing on students. Parents' primary need is a stress-free educational environment that provides valuable learning opportunities to their children. "Candidates with technology experience tend to advance their skills before transitioning into IT project management or QA and cybersecurity roles. Also, healthcare sector attracts mid-aged migrants with their interest in registered nurse positions along with aged care and mental health services career paths," observed Singh.
