Latest news with #Political
The Standard
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Standard
China probes Tibet ex-leader over bribes, 'superstitious activities'
This file photo shows Qizhala, a member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the CPPCC. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
The Print
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Print
DU faces teachers' wrath as it plans to omit courses on Pakistan, China, Islam in Pol Sc. PG syllabus
The university's Standing Committee on Academic Matters met on Tuesday to discuss the syllabi of several courses. This has sparked backlash from faculty members, who call the move politically driven. New Delhi: Delhi University may drop courses on Pakistan, China, Islam, and political violence from its MA Political Science syllabus, with the university's syllabus panel recommending the removal of several electives, faculty members alleged. Dr. Monami Sinha, a member of the Standing Committee, said the Political Science PG syllabus came under 'significant scrutiny' during the meeting. 'The courses that were dropped and asked to be revamped are 'Pakistan and the World', 'China's Role in the Contemporary World', 'Islam and International Relations', 'Pakistan: State and Society', 'Religious Nationalism and Political Violence',' Sinha, who is also a member of the Academic Council said. Speaking to ANI, Monami Sinha said these papers would either be completely dropped or replaced by other courses. The new courses will then be referred to the department's course committee. The committee will prepare a new syllabus. This syllabus will be presented for approval to the university syllabus panel and then tabled in the Academic Council for approval. ANI reached out to the Delhi University administration, but there was no response at the time of filing this report. Recently, Delhi University Vice Chancellor Yogesh Singh informed us that Department heads at the University of Delhi (DU) have been asked to review their syllabus and remove any unnecessary glorification of Pakistan. This statement comes in the wake of a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22. However, the members of the DU faculty have objected to these revisions in the syllabus, saying 'forced' changes are retrograde and politically motivated. Dr. Monami Sinha argued that removing these courses undermines academic rigour and geopolitical understanding. 'It is imperative to study Pakistan in detail because, pedagogically, we need to train our students and foster scholarship on Pakistan, as it remains one of India's constant foreign policy challenges,' she stated in her note. She also cautioned against excluding China at a time when it is emerging as a key player in the Global South. Along with political courses, the committee recommended the removal of unit 3 in MA Geography (semester 1), on internal conflict and religious violence — including a key text by Paul Brass — from the course 'Territorial Bases of Politics in India.' In the Social Geography paper, the Chair objected to the topic 'Distribution of SC Population', calling for a de-emphasis on caste-related content. A course on vulnerability and disaster was also dropped. In Sociology, the introductory theory paper was criticised for relying solely on Marx, Weber, and Durkheim, with calls to include Indian theorists and joint family structures, Sinha said. Objections were also raised to Kath Weston's reading on same-sex families, with the Chair noting that same-sex marriages are not legal in India. Condemning the recommended changes, Abha Dev, Secretary of Democratic Teachers' Front (DTF) alleged that the academic autonomy of departments has been eroded and this 'should worry all of us'. 'Academic autonomy of Departments stands eroded. The dumbing down of courses by revisions centred around 'beliefs' rather than questions of pedagogy and scientific inquiry is unfortunate. Forced revisions are retrograde and are politically motivated. DU was known for its UG courses. These forced changes will adversely impact students' scholarships. This should worry all of us,' said Abha Dev. Meanwhile, Mithuraaj Dhusiya, elected member of the Academic Council questioned the authority of standing committee, saying the panel can suggest changes but it cannot ask direct departments to remove papers. 'The University administration of DU has forgotten the fact that the University space is meant for a ruthless and dispassionate debate to foster critical thinking; it is not meant to produce conformist, mediocre minds, which can only lead to the cult of hero worship. Instead of cancelling uncomfortable questions, one needs to always engage even with the perceived 'other' to equip oneself with the intellectual wherewithal to tackle the 'other' in the new global geopolitical order,' said Dhusiya, in a statement. (ANI) This report is auto-generated from ANI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content. Also read: Plagiarism, fake information riddle DU School of Open Learning study materials. 'Cruel joke'
The Hindu
17-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Govt. arts and science colleges to begin today admission counselling for additional seats
Government arts and science colleges are on Friday beginning the counselling process for 20% increase in intake recommended by the government. Likewise, government-aided colleges and self-financing colleges have been permitted to increase intake by 15% and 10% respectively. The additional enrolment follows the rise in the number of applicants this year for enrolment in government arts and science colleges. The Government Arts College (Autonomous) Coimbatore that offers 23 UG programmes in both shift I and II has admitted 98% (1,700) out of the intake of 1,727 students in the first year. As per the government direction to increase up to 20% seats based on the available infrastructure facilities, 234 more students will have be admitted, taking the overall strength to 1,961, Principal M.R. Yezhili said. Including the 2% of the sanctioned strength, a total of 261 vacancies will be filled in the departments of Tamil, English, Political Science, Economics, Maths, Physics Chemistry, Botany, and Zoology and a few other departments, Prof. Yezhili said. According to college heads, though 20% increase has been permitted, deciding the extent of increase has been left to the discretion of the respective institutions. For UG programmes such as Commerce in which the seats would have already been filled to the capacity, there was no compulsion to increase the limit. The colleges have already voiced the inadequacy of teaching faculty to the Higher Education Department. They hope that timely appointment of guest lecturers will make the teaching-learning process purposeful in the first semester for the first-year students. While the intent of the government to increase gross enrolment ratio in higher education through the exercise is commendable, the government ought to simultaneously scale up laboratory and other facilities in the government colleges in the long-term interests of the students, former Principal of Government College for Women, Coimbatore, T. Veeramani said.
Indian Express
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Congress OBC body pushes for Telangana template in Caste Census, removal of 50% reservation cap
At the concluding session of its first meeting on Wednesday, the Congress's Other Backward Classes (OBC) advisory council urged the Centre to enumerate various socio-economic factors of an individual alongside caste in the next Census. The demand, Congress OBC cell president Dr Anil Jaihind said, was necessary to shed light on various aspects of an individual's life. The Congress added that the Telangana Socio Economic, Educational, Employment, Political, and Caste survey could be a template for the next Census in the country. At present, a three-member expert committee constituted by the A Revanth Reddy-led Congress government is studying the relative backwardness of different communities. This, the party believes, could help in tailoring policies and schemes for communities based on their specific needs. The OBC Advisory Council made this demand alongside two other resolutions and said the set of demands constituted the 'Bengaluru declaration'. The second resolution pitched for removing the 50% ceiling on reservations 'to ensure suitable reservation for the OBCs in education, service, political and other areas'. Its third resolution called for reservations in private educational institutions as per the Constitution's Article 15 (5), which allows for special provisions for the advancement of socially and educationally backward classes in educational institutions. The party also underlined a 'Future Action Plan' to take OBC issues forward. The Council has decided to organise mega public rallies across all state capitals to raise its pitch for the backward classes. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is expected to participate in these rallies. The declaration thanked Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for presiding over the first meeting of the Council and 'for his commitment to the upliftment of the oppressed classes.' Siddaramaiah said India was destined to 'realise and achieve the ultimate constitutional objective of social transformation' under Congress leader Gandhi's leadership. The CM said Karnataka was the first state to conduct a Caste Census after 1931 — the last time caste was counted in the country. The council is set to meet again on July 25.
New Indian Express
12-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
TPCC chief slams Amit Shah's remarks on Telangana Caste Survey
The TPCC chief highlighted that Telangana's survey, termed SEEEPC (Socio-Economic, Education, Employment, Political, and Caste survey), covered a massive population of over 3.54 crore people. 'With this depth and breadth of data collection, what else is left to find out? Amit Shah clearly doesn't understand the scope of what Telangana has achieved,' he said. Mahesh Kumar Goud also rebutted Shah's claim that the BJP government initiated the caste census on its own volition. He said it was Rahul Gandhi's consistent demand during the Bharat Jodo Yatra that forced the Centre to respond. 'Where were JP Nadda and Rajnath Singh when Rahul Gandhi was vocally advocating for a caste census? Why didn't they support it then?' he questioned. He further asserted that unlike the BJP, which is only beginning the exercise, the Congress government in Telangana has already started delivering on the data collected. 'The State has announced 42% reservations for Backward Classes in the local body elections,' he said. Goud demanded that Amit Shah and the Union government immediately clear the legislative bills passed by the Telangana Assembly to enhance the quota to 42% for BCs. 'If the Centre is sincere about social justice, let it support what Telangana has already initiated on the ground by adding the legislation's in the ninth schedule of the constitutions,' he said.
