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Indian Express
a day ago
- General
- Indian Express
‘If it wasn't for this quota…': How a unique DU provision has opened the doors to a ‘dream college' for several women
For as long as she can remember, Darshani Sengar, a 19-year-old from Pune, had been clear about where she wanted to go for college: Miranda House in Delhi University. But as CUET results were announced in 2024, she was disappointed to learn she had not made the cut-off. What made it worse was that she had lost the chance by a single mark; she scored 782 instead of 783, which she needed for her subjects under the general category. But then, she stumbled upon a DU video on YouTube about the Single Girl-Child (SGC) quota that was introduced in 2023. And a few weeks later, Darshani entered the portals of Miranda House, finally living her long-cherished dream. 'If it wasn't for this quota, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to get into my first preference. I still remember my first day at Miranda House, I socialised with many people in the induction programme and also painted a mural, which is now hung on the college walls,' she says. Darshani is not the only one. From a South Delhi girl who could not complete her CUET paper due to an exam glitch to a teenager from West Bengal whose parents were reluctant to send her to the Capital, several female students securing admission under the SGC quota say the provision was a lifesaver. A first-year Political Science (Hons) student at Miranda House, Darshani says, 'I got my first preference because of this quota. Otherwise, Miranda House would've been out of reach.' Speaking to The Indian Express, a senior official explains the rationale behind the quota: 'Our country believes in Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao. If we educate a girl, we educate an entire family. The aim is to provide an opportunity to single girl children from all backgrounds.' To apply for the quota, all applicants are required to submit an affidavit proving they are a single-girl child, says Darshani, whose father serves in the Maharashtra Police, while her mother is a homemaker. The supernumerary quota reserves seats across courses for single-girl children based on merit. According to data from DU's admissions office, 849 students were admitted under this quota in the 2024-25 academic session. This marks a tangible increase from 764 students admitted under the quota in the previous session. It is learnt that the quota will also be introduced for postgraduate admissions this year. For Anvi Mansharamani, 18, a student from South Delhi, the SGC quota turned what she thought was an impossible dream into reality: admission to Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC). 'I always dreamt of studying at SRCC, but during my CUET exam, there were technical glitches — the test started 15 minutes late, and I couldn't finish the paper. I thought SRCC was out of the question,' she says. But with the SGC quota, Mansharamani secured a seat in her first choice, where she is now pursuing B.A. (Hons) Economics. All she wants now is to 'prove herself'. Says the Delhi Public School, Vasant Kunj, alumnus, 'Although I was excited, entering SRCC was intimidating — all the toppers from various schools are here. I felt extra pressure entering through a quota, so I worked twice as hard to manage both academics and extracurricular activities.' Shreya Biswas, 19, from West Bengal's Durgapur, had long dreamed of pursuing engineering at an IIT or NIT. But after narrowly missing the JEE Advanced cutoff, she thought her academic year would be wasted. That changed when the SGC quota enabled her admission to Hindu College for BSc (Hons) Physics. 'My father is an engineer and my mother a retired professor. They always wanted me to pursue engineering, but I was clear about my love for physics. Luckily, this quota helped me get into Hindu College. It was the prestige of the college that helped me convince my parents to come to Delhi,' she says. Like Shreya, Darshani also had some convincing to do with her parents. 'They were initially very scared to send me to Delhi because of its reputation regarding women's safety. But, we are slowly adjusting,' she says. For Lakshita Pasricha, 19, from Northwest Delhi, the quota helped reclaim her academic future after a 'difficult year'. 'Coming to North Campus was a dream. I got into Ramjas College, but because of this quota, I managed to get Hindu College,' says Lakshita, who wanted to pursue MBBS after clearing NEET. 'The NEET 'scam' and rank inflation last year slimmed down my chances. I was very depressed after that, but this quota came to my rescue,' she says. Now pursuing a BSc (Hons) in Botany, Lakshita has been participating in research projects in Chemistry and Botany in her college, and hopes to pursue a career in research. For Shreya, the quota offers crucial support for girls seeking to follow their academic passion. 'This is very helpful for girls who want to fight for their choice of education.' Darshani echoes similar sentiments. 'Delhi is a city of opportunity, and coming to Miranda House is a dream come true. I'm fortunate that my parents believe in educating me — but many girls don't have this privilege. In families where boys are prioritised, this quota will be a game changer.' Darshani, though, feels that more needs to be done for female students. 'One issue is that there is no hostel accommodation reserved for SGC quota students — allotment is on a first-come, first-served basis. I think fee concessions should also be considered for this category as many female students who cannot afford to study in DU might miss out on the opportunity due to money constraints,' she tells The Indian Express.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Time of India
Most aspirants flock to Delhi for UPSC preparation, but this 21-year-old did the exact opposite and bagged AIR 61 in first attempt
"I Had to Sit With Myself First" No Coaching, No Pressure - Just Focus From Panchkula to SRCC to Civil Services You Might Also Like: How Virat Kohli's discipline inspired a 22-year-old to crack UPSC with AIR 3 in her first attempt You Might Also Like: What are the odds? Four UPSC 2025 rank holders come from the same DU college, same department and from consecutive batches While lakhs of UPSC aspirants rush to Delhi's Mukherjee Nagar every year in search of coaching centres, shared flats, and hope, 21-year-old Aastha Singh made the bold choice to walk away from the chaos. The result? A stunning All India Rank (AIR) 61 in her very first attempt at the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024 — without the help of any coaching story flips the script on what it means to chase the civil services dream in India. In an interview with Careerwill App, the Panchkula-born topper revealed that it wasn't the crowded classrooms or peer pressure of Delhi that helped her but a quiet decision to prepare from the comfort and clarity of her asked how she achieved what many fail to do even after years of attempts during an interview with Careerwill App, Aastha's answer was simple yet profound. 'The most important thing I did was to sit with myself and understand who I really am,' she said. She undertook a personal SWOT analysis — studying her own strengths and weaknesses with studied Economics at Delhi University's prestigious Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), Aastha knew the city's distractions well. 'If I stayed in Delhi, I would spend too much time managing laundry, food, or even floods. It would be hard to maintain my mental sanity,' she said, reflecting on the little stressors that add so, instead of staying in the so-called UPSC capital, Aastha returned home, saving time, money, and peace of mind — all while building the discipline required to made another strategic move: skipping the traditional foundation courses. 'I realised I could cover the syllabus faster by tailoring my own study methods,' she shared. With no dependency on coaching centres or batchmates, her preparation was self-paced and sharply focused — helping her complete the syllabus within a year and attempt the exam with full before her UPSC result was announced, Aastha had already proved her mettle. She cleared the Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) exam in the same year, securing Rank 31 and serving briefly as an Additional Excise and Taxation Officer (AETO) with the Haryana Government. It was clear that her strategy worked — and and raised in Panchkula, Haryana, Aastha has been a top-performing student since her school days. With her father Brijesh Singh serving as Quality Head at a pharmaceutical company, and family roots in Jaunpur district of Uttar Pradesh, Aastha's upbringing was steeped in discipline and completing her schooling in Panchkula with Commerce, she chose to major in Economics at SRCC. While most of her peers focused on corporate placements or higher studies abroad, Aastha felt a deep pull toward the civil services — a dream she began nurturing even before rank may have made headlines, but Aastha's vision for her IAS career is rooted in ground realities. According to an interview with Zee News, she expresses a strong desire to work for women's empowerment and tackle structural issues that affect marginalised the biggest success stories are written not in crowded libraries, but in quiet rooms with deep self-awareness and discipline. At just 21, she has proved that the path to UPSC success doesn't have to follow the herd. Sometimes, taking a step back is the fastest way forward.
Irish Independent
20-05-2025
- Irish Independent
Tributes paid to Sligo Rape Crisis CEO who has passed away
Mr Madden, of Hilltop House, Carrickbanagher, Drumfin, passed away unexpectedly on Monday. A ntoice on stated: 'It is with deep sadness that we announce the unexpected passing of David Madden, beloved husband of Jane and devoted father of Riona and Lucia. 'David was a passionate biker, a gifted poet, and a talented artist. More than that, he was a loyal friend and man who offered kindness and strength to many during their hardest times. 'He will be deeply missed by his loving wife and daughters, by his family, and by his dear friends and colleagues.' Funeral arrangements to be announced later. In a statement Parvez Butt, Chairperson SRCC Board of Trustees of Sligo Rape Crisis Centre said David was truly committed to his work in providing a safe, trauma-informed and compassionate space for survivors of sexual violence on their journey towards healing. "He led SRCC through times of transition and new developments since joining the organisation in 2019, including the introduction of SRCC counselling services in Cavan, moving services online during the COVID-19 pandemic and moving to new premises in Sligo and Carrick-on-Shannon. "David's work as a psychotherapist, supervisor, poetry therapy practitioner and trainer has created a lasting impact, and his loss will be deeply felt by many. 'We offer our sincere condolences to David's wife Jane, his daughters Lucia and Riona, his extended family and wide circle of friends and colleagues. Our thoughts are with them at this difficult time' Dublin Rape Crisis Centre in a post on the Facebook page of Sligo Rape Crisis Centre said David was a much treasured colleague in the rape crisis community and did enormously valuable, important work in leading the wonderful team at Sligo Rape Crisis Centre.
Cision Canada
14-05-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Markel enhances its International War and Terrorism presence in the US with Senior Underwriter hire and Underwriting Support Specialist
LONDON, May 14, 2025 /CNW/ -- Markel Insurance, the insurance operations within Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL), today announced that it has made two key appointments to drive further profitable growth across its International War and Terrorism portfolio. In his new position as Senior Underwriter – War and Terrorism, Joshua Watson will be responsible for identifying and underwriting complex risk across the organisation's Stand-Alone Terrorism, Terrorism Liability, Strikes, Riots and Civil Commotion (SRCC) and Active Assailant product suite. His other principal duties will include up-selling the advantages of these core offerings to brokers, while ensuring closer broker interaction and continuing to deliver best-in-class underwriting services, support and solutions to trading partners within Atlanta, Georgia, and other regions in the United States. His appointment follows on from Bridget Canderelli, who recently joined the International War and Terrorism team as an underwriting support specialist. Alongside Watson, Canderelli will support Watson and other members in Markel's International War and Terrorism underwriting team through various administrative duties, which will include processing and submitting important documentation in a timely manner and ensuring high service levels are maintained for brokers and key stakeholders. Watson will be based at Markel's Alpharetta office in Atlanta, Georgia, meanwhile, Canderelli, will report from Markel's office in Richmond, Virginia. They'll both be managed by Andrew Umphress, Head of Terrorism – North America at Markel. Umphress comments: "The war and terrorism market is an increasingly complex area, driven by a multitude of geopolitical factors and global events that continue to impact clients' risk exposures and insurance coverage on an international level. I'm therefore delighted to welcome Joshua to our growing International War and Terrorism team here at Markel. "With his cross-functional expertise, extensive broker network and experience in leading various product lines, Joshua will be instrumental in driving the sustainable expansion of our portfolio in Atlanta, as well as other high-risk territories where there's an acute need for war and terrorism insurance. I look forward to seeing him collaborate with our expert underwriting team to scale further profitable growth, ensuring clients continue receiving tailored coverage and high service levels to protect their assets during these volatile times." Umphress concludes: "I'm also excited to announce Bridget to our team in her new role as Underwriting Support Specialist. Although Bridget is still quite new to the market, her drive, ambition and commitment to the Markel Style has been nothing short of exceptional and will be critical in maintaining that unrivalled service which is valued by our broker network, globally." Watson is an experienced insurance and broker professional, possessing more than 14 years of industry experience across cyber, terrorism and political violence (PV) business lines. Previously, he worked for Brown & Brown Risk Solutions as VP, Senior Account Executive, where he managed a virtual office – focused on malicious acts such as terrorism, political violence, active assailant, kidnap, ransom and extortion, and led a team of managing directors and risk professionals in product development for a proprietary crisis management offering. Prior to this position, he was employed as Client Service Executive at Sterline Seacrest Pritchard, where he mentored young assistants and brokers, served on the education and leadership committees, and managed a profitable book of business. About Markel Insurance We are Markel Insurance, a leading global specialty insurer with a truly people-first approach. As the insurance operations within the Markel Group Inc. (NYSE: MKL), we leverage a broad array of capabilities and expertise to create intelligent solutions for the most complex specialty insurance needs. However, it is our people – and the deep, valued relationships they develop with colleagues, brokers and clients – that differentiates us worldwide.
Hindustan Times
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
DU fest season climax: Bet you didn't know what Papon, Neeti Mohan, Seedhe Maut and others charge! Here's full budget
Papon, Neeti Mohan, Seedhe Maut, Sunanda Sharma, Javed Ali, Mohit Chauhan, Amit Mishra, Salim-Sulaiman – you name it and there must have been some college where one or the other leading singer would have performed on campus this year! Such lit was the stage scene at Delhi University's college fests in the season that recently came to a close. But behind all the glitz, glam and clamour was months of planning, fundraising, and plenty of hustle that the students underwent. As a vibrant 2025 fest season wraps up, here's bringing you the BTS — financially and elsewise — that went behind pulling off some massive star-studded nights. Read to get a lowdown on the artiste fee, overall budget, sponsorship struggles, and more: Seedhe Maut drops the mic @ SRCC for ₹60lakh fest After a low-key edition last year, Sri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) bounced back with a bang at Crossroads 2025 that saw nearly 40,000 students turn up! Popular hip-hop duo Seedhe Maut headlined Day 2 with DJ Ecstasy, while Rauhan Malik closing out the fest on the final day. 'We have healthy rivalries in DU as to which college will conduct the grandest fest. Crossroads has always been among the best. Last year we were a little underwhelming but this year we wanted to revive the legacy,' shares Amrit Koul, a final-year student of BCom (Hons) and Student's Union vice president. He adds: 'We wanted to host Seedhe Maut because they are an absolute rage among students and no one expected that they would get to attend their performance live in their own university. From February till the very first day of the fest, a 50-member team raised ₹60 lakhs in funds and sponsorships; ₹28 lakhs of which went into artiste fee. In fact, we got our title sponsor on board just a day before the fest began!' Sunanda Sharma rocks GGSIPU fest budgeted at ₹1.2cr Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU)'s Anugoonj saw a packed crowd of close to one lakh students this year with Sunanda Sharma as the headliner. 'Counting down the tenders, the celebrity booking, the logistics, stage set ups, it cumulatively rounded off to a budget of 1.2 crore of which 11-12 lakhs went to the artist (Sunanda Sharma). It was a masterclass in teamwork, negotiation, and pure persistence. Despite early sponsor rejections, we hustled hard, landing deals through alumni, faculty, and even had to go through our own family networks,' informs Akriti Singh, a fourth-year student of BBA LLB at University School of Law & Legal Studies (USLLS). Neeti Mohan relived DU days @ DDU fest costing ₹51 lakh Deen Dayal Upadhyay (DDU) College brought in Neeti Mohan as their star performer, backed by smart groundwork and research. 'The college provided us a budget of 26 lakhs and then we raised another 25 lakhs through sponsorships bringing our budget to around 51 lakhs. We made a concious effort to learn and gain deep knowledge of how big events can be succesfully curated. Thus, months before the fest season, a team of students went to all the popular music and food events happening across Delhi. It is there that we networked extensively and made contacts with artist managers, sponsors, brands as well as logistic suppliers,' shares Bharat Kaushik, a recent graduate and the alumnus mentor of the 2025 cultural council, adding, ' ₹16.5 lakh of the budget went towards Neeti's fee, with another ₹10–12 lakhs covering her travel and accommodation.' Papon transfixes Shaheed Sukhdev students at fest costing ₹ 35 lakh Singer Papon's set at Crescendo – the annual fest of Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies – was straight-up unforgettable! But pulling it off was no easy feat for the students. 'The college gave us ₹10 lakhs, and we went out and raised another ₹25 lakhs ourselves. Out of the ₹35 lakh total budget, ₹18-20 lakhs went into bringing Papon on board. We wanted this to be the biggest Crescendo yet,' informs Anshaj Madaan, a final-year BCom (Hons) student. So how did they execute it all? 'Cold calling was our game plan but we wanted it to do it right. We split our 65-member team into industry-specific squads, ran cold calling workshops, and then started reaching out to brands. That structure really helped us seal the deals,' Madaan adds. Nikhita Gandhi dazzles Shivaji at fest costing ₹25 lakh Shivaji College's Anchorage saw performances by singers Nikhita Gandhi and Amit Mishra, on seperate days. However, to make that happen, the students had to utilise their budget of ₹25 lakhs effectively, 'We wanted to utilise our budget effectively and put it to the best use. Last year we realised that the expense on medical emergency supplies such as first-aid kids added up to quite a lot given we had to load up on them with such huge crowds turning up. However, this year us students went to a hospital and after proposing our plan we were able to acquire their services without having to shell out on our budget.' Despite our repeated attempts, the college students didn't disclose the artistes' fee. Deep Money digs in KMC fest that cost ₹15 lakhs Singer Deep Money performed at Renaissance'25, the annual fest of Kirori Mal College (KMC), where close to 12,000 students turned up for the performance. 'A team of around 35 students worked tirelessly to raise sponsorships for the fest. From cold-calling brands to personally meeting them, our team handled it all. Given the financial year-end, we decided to postpone the fest by a month, which ultimately gave us more time to raise our budget,' shares Kushagra Sharma, a final-year student of BA(Hons) Political Science, adding, 'In total, we worked with a budget of approximately ₹15 lakh — half of which was raised by the students and the rest was contributed by the college. Around ₹10 lakh went into production and ₹4 lakh was spent on the artiste. The remaining amount covered miscellaneous expenses.' Marvellous Aastha Gill's Maitreyi gig was part of ₹30 lakh fest Maitryi college' Rhapsody kicked off with an electrifying performance by singer Aastha Gill, drawing an energetic crowd of around 15,000. 'This year, we aimed higher with our artist lineup and event execution,' says Harpriya Sindhwani, president of the students' union and a final-year student, adding, 'Over 150 student volunteers worked tirelessly to make this annual event a success.' Day 1 saw a lively DJ and artist night featuring Akash Ahuja, setting the stage for Aastha Gill's power-packed performance on day two. The total expenditure for the two-day extravaganza touched nearly ₹30 lakh.
