Department of Biotechnology Mission COVID Suraksha COVID-19 vaccine – CORBEVAX

 India’s first indigenously developed Receptor Binding Domain (RBD) protein sub-unit vaccine for COVID-19, CORBEVAXTM, developed by Biological E Limited, has received the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) approval for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA).

The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and its Public Sector Undertaking (PSU), Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), have supported Biological E’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate from pre-clinical stage through Phase III clinical studies. The vaccine candidate was provided financial support under COVID-19 Research Consortium, through the National Biopharma Mission, for pre-clinical toxicology studies. Later support was provided under Mission COVID Suraksha for clinical development. CORBEVAXTM is a 2-dose vaccine administered intramuscularly and can be stored at 2ºC to 8ºC.

The recombinant protein sub-unit vaccine developed from the Receptor Biding Domain (RBD) of the spike protein on the viral surface is adjuvanted with Dynavax’s CpG 1018 and alum. Comprehensive Phase III clinical trials involving more than 3000 subjects between the ages of 18 and 80 at 33 study sites across India, demonstrated the vaccine to be safe, well tolerated and highly immunogenic. The Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), an Autonmous Institute of DBT, provided key immunogenicity data for the Phase II/ III studies.

Dr Rajesh Gokhale, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, Government of India said, “The EUA to CORBEVAXTM is yet another example of a successful academia-industry collaboration. This vaccine will sharpen the country’s efforts in ending the pandemic. The development of indigenous vaccines to fight the pandemic will also inspire the country’s scientists and manufacturers to resolve the problems of the country.”

Ms. Mahima Datla, Managing Director, Biological E. Limited, said, “We would like to take the opportunity to specially thank our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for making vaccination a national mission. His vision and the advance commitments we received towards CORBEVAXTM were instrumental in our ability to scale-up and manufacture at such huge capacities. While COVID Suraksha Program’s endeavour to accelerate vaccine development played a crucial role in the initial development, the mechanism that was setup with the support of Department of Biotechnology and DBT-Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) allowed us to scale up to a capacity of about 1.2 billion doses per annum making the dream of accessibility – affordability and supply – a reality.”

About DBT

The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), under the Ministry of Science & Technology, promotes and accelerates the development of biotechnology in India, including growth and application of biotechnology in the areas of agriculture, healthcare, animal sciences, environment and industry.

About BIRAC: 

Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) is a not-for-profit Section 8, Schedule B, Public Sector Enterprise, set up by Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India as an Interface Agency to strengthen and empower the emerging Biotech enterprise to undertake strategic research and innovation, addressing nationally relevant product development needs. 

ABOUT BIOLOGICAL E. LIMITED

Biological E. Limited (BE), a Hyderabad-based Pharmaceuticals & Biologics Company founded in 1953, is the first private sector biological products company in India and the first pharmaceutical company in Southern India. BE develops, manufactures and supplies vaccines and therapeutics. BE supplies its vaccines to over 100 countries and its therapeutic products are sold in India and the USA. BE currently has 8 WHO-prequalified vaccines in its portfolio.

In recent years, BE has embarked on new initiatives for organisational expansion such as developing generic injectable products for the regulated markets, exploring synthetic biology and metabolic engineering as a means to manufacture APIs sustainably and developing novel vaccines for the global market.                                            

 

‘Sankalp Smarak’ dedicated to the nation by CINCAN

 In order to preserve this important event in history, a Sankalp Smarak was dedicated to the nation by Lt Gen Ajai Singh, Commander-in-Chief Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN), exactly 78 years after Netaji’s arrival on 29 Dec 2021 at 11:30 am. The Smarak is a tribute not only to the resolve of the soldiers of the Indian National Army and their innumerable sacrifices but also reminds us of the values enshrined by Netaji himself, “Nishtha, Kartavya aur Balidan” or “Commitment, Duty and Sacrifice” that continue to underscore the ethos of the Indian Armed Forces and the resolve of the Indian Soldier.

In the saga of India’s freedom struggle, 30 December 1943 holds a special place etched in time. It was on this day that a national flag was hoisted for the first time on Indian soil, at Port Blair. It is also significant is that Netaji escaped British surveillance from Kolkata on 16 Jan 1941 and stepped back on Indian soil after nearly three years, at Port Blair Aerodrome on 29 Dec 1943 at 11:30 am and unfurled a National flag the next day. Netaji’s visit to the islands as the Head of the Provisional Government of Azad Hind and Supreme Commander of Indian National Army marked a symbolic fulfilment of his promise that the Indian National Army would stand on Indian soil by the end of 1943. This historic visit also marked a declaration of Andaman and Nicobar Islands as the “first liberated territory of India”.

The location of Netaji’s historic arrival on 29 Dec 1943 (accompanied by Sarvashri Anand Mohan Sahay (Secretary with Ministerial Rank), Captain Rawat – ADC and Col DS Raju (personal physician of Netaji), lies within the premises of what is now Andaman and Nicobar Command’s Air Station INS Utkrosh, in close proximity to the present-day runway. Upon his arrival as the Supreme Commander of the Indian National Army by a Japanese Air Force Aircraft, Netaji was accorded a ceremonial guard of honour by soldiers of Indian National Army at the Air Field.

During the dedicated ceremony held on the occasion, Soldiers of the only Quad Services Command of India led by the Commander-in-Chief himself along with other senior officers, soldiers and families paid homage, honouring the sacrifices of the soldiers of the Indian National Army. The event was conducted in a simple and solemn ceremony befitting the occasion.

 

Nampi/Rajib


The Art Of Storytelling

Yakshagana Traditional Dance & Theatre, History, Style, Origin

India has always been the land of diverse beauty, culture, tradition, and ethnicity. Each state in this country is brimming with unique and exquisite art, dance, music, food, and the best part even different districts in each state of India are different from each other and have so much to offer for all those people who want to experience the very essence of this country. Today my article is going to be about a famous traditional dance that is in performance in the southern state of Karnataka known as the Yakshagana. There is a quote by Sadhguru, which suits perfectly this topic, and he says and quotes “Indian classical music and dance are not just for entertainment rather they are designed to elevate your consciousness.”

Each state in India has its traditional dances based on their originating places. The state of Uttar Pradesh has its traditional dance of Kathak, while Tamil Nadu has Bharatanatyam, and so on. Each state has its specialty and these traditional dances bring out the essence and beauty of the state. The traditional dance that is in focus in this article is Yakshagana. To all the people reading this article if you ever get the chance of going to the splendid state of Karnataka do make a trip to a show Yakshagana. Karnataka is a state that has something for everybody. It is not only famous for its big buildings and metropolitan cities but its beautiful beaches, forests, temples, food, architecture, and so much more.

Understanding the Yakshagana

The traditional dance of Yakshagana unbelievably dates back to the time of 1556 CE. Yakshagana is a traditional theatre dance that came into development in southern districts of Karnataka mainly in Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, Shimoga, Udupi, and the southern part of Chikmanagaluru. Yakshagana is a dance form that combines dance, music, costume, makeup, dialogues, and a unique style and form of stage techniques. This dance form is also very famous in the Kasargod district of Kerala. Not many people know that a traditional dance form has different names when referred to in different districts. The Tulu Nadu region starts from Dakshina Kannada and ends in Kasargod, the people in these regions refer to Yakshagana as “Thenku thittu” while from Udupi to Uttara Kannada, people in these regions refer to Yakshagana as “Badaga thittu”. The story and concept of which Yakshagana is in performance are the stories of Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavata, and all the other epics. The epics come from both the Hindu and the Jain ancient traditions with the inclusion of other ancient traditions as well. Yakshagana is to surface during the Bhakti movement. Another important thing about this traditional dance is that it is not just a dance form but is also a theatre performance. Yakshagana is a combination of dance and plays that makes it unique and distinct from the rest of the dance forms.

Everyone must be wondering what the word Yakshagana itself means. The answer to this query is the word Yaksha, which means the natural spirits, and Gaana, which means music. The word Yakshagana itself has so much history. If I write just about history then it will take forever. So do go on various sites and do make it a point to read about the history of Yakshagana that is available online.

Yakshagana has a rich amount of culture and tradition. Therefore, every element of this traditional dance has its beauty and importance. One of the most fundamental elements that stand out from the rest is music. Yakshagana has separate traditional music that is devoted especially only for this dance. However, Yakshagana music has the same ancestors as Classical Karnatik music and Hindustani music yet it is still very different from the two of them. The music consists of Himmela, which is the background music group of instrumental music of the maddale (hand drum), pungi (pipe), harmonium, and chande (loud drums). The dance and the dialogue group of the Yakshagana consist of actors and dancers as the mummela.

8 Yakshagana ideas | face art, traditional dance, dance of india

Fascinating things about Yakshagana

Yakshagana is a very old folk tradition combination of dance and play. One of the most fascinating things about folk tradition, which one can see in Yakshagana as well, is the breaking of the fourth wall. Let us understand this.

 Anything that is shown has three major visible walls which are on the left, right, and behind. There is also the existence of a fourth invisible wall between the audience and the people on the stage; this is commonly the fourth wall. This fourth wall is visible in old English plays where there is no interaction or obvious acknowledgment of the presence of the audience. This fourth wall is usually broken in Indian Folk Tradition. There is constant interaction, communication, and dialogues that acknowledge and make the audience feel their presence during the show. If you visit any show then you can see observe this in their performance.

 The next folk tradition of Yakshagana is the introduction of Bhagavata. The Bhagavata in the performance of Yakshagana sings with the group of Himmela about the happenings of the scene, which shows through dance, by the Mummela group. The Bhagavata in the performance of Yakshagana is the god of the play. They are responsible for the panning of the story in the performance. We can see the Bhagavata in and out of the very fascinating play and is an out-of-the-box structure.

Another fascinating thing about Yakshagana is that no performance is the same. There are no particular dialogues that are in the setting for the actors. It is impromptu yet very methodical and structural. That is the beauty of Yakshagana. Even if one sits the same play twice, one can instantly notice that the dialogues are different both the times but the story structure is still the same.

Yakshagana is typically in performance in temples. It starts very early in the morning and ends usually at night. The fascinating reason here is the reason for the place of performance. Temples are usually in selection because people need food and shelter during the performance as it takes place the entire day. The temple and stage look beautiful with leaves and flowers emphasizing and showing that something is happening in the temple. Today, Yakshagana performances also happen in the cities as well and these usually happen in the auditoriums.

One of the most eye-catching and breathtaking parts of Yakshagana is the makeup and the costume. The costume of the actors is very colorful and plays an important role in holding the gaze of the audience. The costume is slightly heavy and the headgears that are worn are very heavy. There is thick and dense makeup that is worn by the actors who are dancing and enacting. This is done to make the facial expressions more distinct and visible to the audience. The fascinating part is how these experienced Yakshagana actors dance, jump, and speak so loudly without any devices that everyone will know what is happening and the audience without any problem will be able to hear the actors clearly and properly.

There is so much more in Yakshagana’s components that can be studied in detail through various sites available online. I have just provided some basic information about this beautiful, historical, and traditional dance form that tells us stories in ways out of our imagination. One should read about Yakshagana more and learn about this dance. I would like to conclude with a meaningful quote by Adithya. R. Upadhya where says, “Yakshagana is the art at its finest form”.

References

  1. Google searches for images and quotes
  2. Information on Yakshagana – Wikipedia

International Relations

Introduction
The term ‘international relations’ was first used by Jeremy Bentham in the 18th century, although its Latin equivalent, ‘intergentes‘, was used a century earlier by Rijehare Zouche. Both of them had used the term in the context of what later came to be known as international law. Today, nation states have become highly interdependent, and relations between them, political or economic, have developed into an essential area of knowledge.

The term ‘international relations’ (IR) may be used both for a ‘condition’ and a ‘discipline’ Quincy Wright, for example, makes such a distinction. The official relations between sovereign countries are described as international relations, though according to Wright, ‘… the word “interstate” would have been more accurate because in political science, the state came to be the term applied to such societies’. Viewed thus, international relations, as a condition, refers to the facts of international life, that is to say, the actual conduct of relations among nations through diplomacy based on foreign policy. It also includes actual areas of cooperation, conflict and war. According to Quincy Wright, IR should tell the ‘truth about the subject’, i.e., how such relations are conducted and, as a discipline, IR should treat them in a systematic and scientific manner.

Meaning Of International Relations

International relations as a subject is concerned with the relationships among the governments of various sovereign states. Many people may think that relations among nations are regulated and conducted by presidents, prime ministers, foreign ministers, officials of the foreign offices and diplomats. This is partially true. The scope of international relations is not merely political. Today, economic activities such as international trade, role of multinational corporations, terrorist activities and impact of environment are all embraced in the fold of relations among nations.

Most scholars agree that the term ‘international politics’ is used to describe official political relations between governments acting on behalf of their states. The term ‘international relations’ is broader. According to Stanley Hoffman, ‘The discipline of international relations is concerned with the factors and activities which affect the external policies and power of the basic units into which the world is divided.’

International Relations As A Field Of Study

As a field of study, international relations analyses a wide range of political activities. These include war, peace, diplomacy, trade relations, treaties, alliances, cultural, exchanges, participation in international organizations, etc. Each of these activities makes up distinct issue areas on which scholars and foreign policy makers focus attention.

The scope of international relations is often defined by subtitles, like ‘questions of war and peace’ as a subtitle of international security. Joshua S Goldstein wrote, ‘the movements of armies and of diplomats, the crafting of treaties and alliances, the development and deployment of military capabilities – these are the subjects that dominated the study of IR in the past… and they continue to hold central position in the field.’

Besides these, religious groups and movements working in two or more countries also act as non-state actors in the international relations. These may include large followers as the Catholic Church has, or a spread out population as sought to be represented by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad.

CRICKET IN INDIA

Cricket is the most popular sport in india.Every part of the country they will play cricket Indian National cricket team also known as men in blue represent in world tournament like Odi, T20,Test.The Indian cricket team is governed by BCCI(Board of control of cricket in india).


Indian team started cricket in 1721 long ago.There are 38 first class clubs and 10 ipl clubs from 2022.There are many form of cricket first class,ipl,clubs etc.

List of cricket:-

First Class Cricket:-

Ranji Trophy
Duleep Trophy
Irani Trophy

List A Cricket:-

Vijay Hazare Trophy
Deodhar Trophy

T20 Cricket:-

Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy

Club competitions:-

Indian premier league

International competitions:-

ICC World Test Championship
ICC Cricket World Cup
ICC World Twenty20
ICC Champions Trophy
Asia Cup
Women’s Cricket World Cup
ICC Women’s World Twenty20
Under 19 Cricket World Cup

In 2007 first time T20 started india gone with a young team under ms dhoni without any star players and they won T20 world cup.


In ODI world cup india 2 times won the championship First in 1983 against West Indies under kapil dev And second time won in 2011 against Sri Lanka under ms dhoni.India has provided many legends in cricket.From children to youngster all will play cricket in india.

Distance learning and its usefulness

what is distance learning?

Distance learning can truly be defined as the way of getting an education without visiting a school or attending a class physically.

Adaptability and Freedom

One of the main advantages of distance learning can be the personalized approach to getting an education regardless of the channels or mediums you are using for this purpose. Whether you are getting study materials online or through posts you can learn only when a connection is developed between the material of the course and you. You get the freedom to deal with the study material in the distance learning process. You can plan your learning process at your convenience instead of sticking with a fixed schedule.

Self-inspiration

Distance learning encourages you to motivate yourself to learn due to the absence of a traditional teacher to guide you. You will have to create a learning environment and control it effectively so that a band of self-motivation develops in you to inspire you to learn for your personal growth. You can cultivate this band in you by engaging yourself in distance learning methods.

Flexibility to Choose

You will have to follow a set schedule of learning as per the curriculum of the school if you are following traditional ways of learning. But different types of distance learning allows you to set your learning schedule as per your convenience without following a regular schedule of learning. Even if you are out of touch with the learning process, a distance learning program offers you the flexibility to choose your course of learning.

Easy to Access

If you cannot attend regular classes due to various reasons like time constraints and distance etc. then distance learning can be the best option for you to access the benefits of your education. If you opt for a correspondence course for distance learning then you will have to make postal delivery as a connection between you and your distance learning centre. But if you have a computer and internet connection then you can opt for an online learning method by using some video conferencing software like ezTalks Cloud Meeting etc. It will allow you to interact with your teachers face-to-face to resolve your problems. Moreover, you can continue learning even without taking leave from your job.

Earn While You Learn

For those who want to improve their resume by getting a higher education and without breaking their existing job then distance learning can be the best option for them. You can go on earning your livelihood along with improving your qualification as distance learning will accommodate both, learning as well as earning.

Saves Money and Time Both

By joining a distance learning course you can save money and time spent travelling to a nearby educational institution. Distance learning allows you to access your learning centre online without any additional cost. Moreover, the course offered at distance learning centres is cheaper than the courses provided at traditional education centres.

Virtual Trips

Another important advantage for distance learning is to plan virtual trips if your budget does not allow you to go on trips from an actual school. Video conferencing allows the students of distance learning courses to visit the location important for them and experience the enjoyment even better than an actual trip. These virtual trips allow you to visit locations that you might have never thought of. Moreover, such trips can enable your teachers or lecturers to make your ordinary lessons more interesting than ever.

Reference

https://eztalks.com/elearning/benefits-of-distance-learning.html

Is Homework Good or Bad for students?

Why Homework Is Good

Here are 10 reasons why homework is good, especially for the sciences, such as chemistry:

  • Doing homework teaches you how to learn on your own and work independently. You’ll learn how to use resources such as texts, libraries, and the internet. No matter how well you thought you understood the material in class, there will be times when you’ll get stuck doing homework. When you face the challenge, you learn how to get help, how to deal with frustration, and how to persevere.
  • Homework helps you learn beyond the scope of the class. Example problems from teachers and textbooks show you how to do an assignment. The acid test is seeing whether you truly understand the material and can do the work on your own. In science classes, homework problems are critically important. You see concepts in a whole new light, so you’ll know how equations work in general, not just how they work for a particular example. In chemistry, physics, and math, homework is truly important and not just busywork.
  • It shows you what the teacher thinks is important to learn, so you’ll have a better idea of what to expect on a quiz or test.
  • It’s often a significant part of your grade. If you don’t do it, it could cost you, no matter how well you do on exams.
  • Homework is a good opportunity to connect parents, classmates, and siblings with your education. The better your support network, the more likely you are to succeed in class.
  • Homework, however tedious it might be, teaches responsibility and accountability. For some classes, homework is an essential part of learning the subject matter.
  • Homework nips procrastination in the bud. One reason teachers give homework and attach a big part of your grade to it is to motivate you to keep up. If you fall behind, you could fail.
  • How will you get all your work done before class? Homework teaches you time management and how to prioritize tasks.
  • Homework reinforces the concepts taught in class. The more you work with them, the more likely you are to learn them.
  • Homework can help boost self-esteem. Or, if it’s not going well, it helps you identify problems before they get out of control.
Sometimes Homework Is Bad

So, homework is good because it can boost your grades, help you learn the material, and prepare you for tests. It’s not always beneficial, however. Sometimes homework hurts more than it helps. Here are five ways homework can be bad:

  • You need a break from a subject so you don’t burn out or lose interest. Taking a break helps you learn.
  • Too much homework can lead to copying and cheating.
  • Homework that is pointless busywork can lead to a negative impression of a subject (not to mention a teacher).
  • It takes time away from families, friends, jobs, and other ways to spend your time.
  • Homework can hurt your grades. It forces you to make time management decisions, sometimes putting you in a no-win situation. Do you take the time to do the homework or spend it studying concepts or doing work for another subject? If you don’t have the time for the homework, you could hurt your grades even if you ace the tests and understand the subject.
Reference

https://www.thoughtco.com/why-homework-is-good-sometimes-bad-607848

BORED at Hostel?, Watch these web-series with your friends.

In this Pandemic, People are afraid to go out in public places especially students who are living in Hostels and PGs. They have no options other than to stay in the hostel. I assure you in this post you will come to know about some of the best web-series to watch and add some spice and flavors to the boring hostel life.

Photo by Adrienn on Pexels.com

Bored at hostel? Here are some of the shows which you can watch with your friends.

1.Hostel Daze

Images @Primevideo.com

Hostel Daze is the Accurate Depiction of Hostel Life. It is a comedy genre series which is available to watch on Amazon Prime. Hostel Daze is a story which connects us to the life of Three hostel inmates who have just joined the college. Hostel Daze Shares with us challenges of freshers which they face from seniors , Believe me your stomach will hurt a lot from laughing right from the first episode. The First Season revolves around Ankit who struggles and wants to create an identity of himself in the college. In the second season, All the MCs Ankit, Chiraag and Jaat become seniors and go to their home for Vacations and miss having fun with each other. It received huge love from the audience when it was released. There are 2 seasons to this incredible show and has 9 episodes in total for 2 seasons and You can watch it on Amazon Prime.

2. College Romance

College Romance | TVF

COLLEGE ROMANCE, Another treasure from the house of TVF Originals. College Romance is not any ordinary story about falling in love or falling out of love. College romance is a package which includes comedy, serious drama, suspense and perfect characters for their roles. It is a story about 5 friends who pull pranks on each other get into fights with and for each other but ultimately choose to stay together like real friends would. There is a lot of cussing and swearing in it and this is the best part about this show. A character from the show ‘Bagga’ is the center pillar of this show. The show can be watched on TVF Originals and on Sony Liv. It has 2 seasons.

3. Immature

TVF has mastered the art of making eminently watchable shows. Immature is like an instant noodles formula: quick to make, easy and scrumptious . Immature follows the story of a boy in his adolescence who has a crush on a girl from her class. It depicts the teenage years of the boys where Parents are the obstacle to fun and Bunking and Bike riding with friends is freedom. This show will guarantee you lots of laughs. Each episode is like a door which opens a new set of challenges in his life as the show progresses towards end. This show can be watched on Mx player for free.

THE END..

At the end I would just like to say Life can get pretty boring but do not let it keep you from sharing loud laughs with your friends…

Growth Profile of an Indian Startup- CRED

CRED is an Indian Fintech Company which offers rewards to customers who use its platform to pay their bills of credit card.

CRED is a Bengaluru Based startup found by Kunal Shah who also happens to be the CEO of the Company. Kunal is an Indian Entrepreneur who has been recognized for launching new ventures for the second time. Kunal graduated in Philosophy from Wilson College and later pursued MBA from Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, but he had to drop in the middle to pursue his dreams as an Entrepreneur. Kunal started his entrepreneurial journey with PaisaBack, a website for cashback, coupons, and other offers for the users along with Sandeep Tandon. However, They had to shut down its operations in order to find FreeCharge in 2010. FreeCharge was acquired by Snapdeal in April 2015 but the company still continued as an independent entity led by Shah. He left the firm the next year and eventually founded Cred in 2018, which has successfully turned into an unicorn on April 6, 2021.

BUSINESS MODEL – CRED

The plan of action of the organization comprises of four sections :

•   The Cred application –

The Cred application is a flawless looking, wonderfully planned application, which the clients can visit assuming they need to go through the offers that are accessible after they cover their charge card bills. They can without much of a stretch sign up on the application and view every one of the offers that they can profit.

• Businesses that give offers on the application –

The clients of Cred can likewise track down a wide scope of offers from various organizations. For this, CRED carries organizations locally available and works together with them. Alongside helping CRED and its clients, who can benefit of the restrictive offers given by the organizations, it is likewise a mutually beneficial arrangement for the organizations. This is on the grounds that they are likewise immensely profited from the perceivability they get.

• Users who take care of their Mastercard bills –

CRED additionally fills in as a smooth and remunerating stage for the clients who use it to take care of their Visa bills. In contrast with banking or other applications, the end-clients can pick CRED as an application to take care of their charge card bills and get various offers and advantages. Then again, the clients who like the application likewise share CRED with their loved ones.

• Cred Mint –

Cred uncovered its new element, Cred Mint on August 20, 2021, which is planned as a distributed loaning stage assist that with willing assistance Cred clients loan their inactive cash to trustworthy individuals. It is a somewhat straightforward interaction that just permits the dependable Cred individuals bragging an insignificant FICO rating of 750 or higher to be the borrowers. Besides, the banks can likewise pull out their cash at whatever point they need with the premium that they have aggregated for the period.

GROWTH OF CRED-

Cred has shown a consistent development consistently. Being a startup that was established in 2018, it effectively joined the unicorn club on April 6, 2021, shutting its Series D round where the organization had wiped up $215 million. CRED controls “22% of all charge card installments in India consistently,” said Kunal Shah in his assertion delivered in April 2021.

Kunal Shah further took to his Linkedin profile on July 10, 2021, and shared features of the achievements came to by CRED in the long stretch of June:

Cred presented Cred Mint on August 20, 2021, which will fill in as a distributed loaning highlight that can be utilized by the clients of CRED. Cred Mint has been dispatched by Cred in a joint effort with RBI-supported P2P Non-Banking Financial Company.

With this component, the Cred individuals would now be able to loan cash to the reliable individuals from Cred dependent on the predefined financing costs. Cred Mint can be utilized to loan one more reliable client to assist them with acquiring around 9% per credit. In any case, it is likewise announced that Cred Mint may be accessible for clients with nice FICO assessments.

CONCLUSION-

Cred is one of the best examples of this how a brand born in India of an idea to provide users to make credit card payments through its app for which they get rewarded. Others have also been able to provide value to other countries, This is the power of globalization and this was achieved because of an entrepreneur who had a vision in his mind.

Understanding Pubs – Decoding the Spaces We Love

Going out after a day of stress or during the weekends has never been a more integral part of human history, or at least that is what we think now. On the contrary, pubs have been around for a very long time, functioning as the pivoting point for communities and socializing. Casual and welcoming these spirited social spaces have evolved into what we see now as ‘PUBS’. Once humble places with the sole intention to provide basic alcoholic beverages with a skewed food offering they have now been transformed into their new polished, glossy, gourmet avatars. Looking at the historical aspects and tracking its evolution through the changing markets and preferences adds a fresh perspective of differentiating them from Bars & Restaurants. 

Creating a pub is a meticulous affair with many design, market, and business considerations. The book aims to ease the process of ‘Understanding Pubs’ by highlighting the concept of such a distinct space with various requirements and a clear focus on setting up some standards that can be handpicked in various permutations to result in a pub space that people are going to love coming to, repeatedly. The further decoding of the elements necessary to execute these spaces from a design point of view i.e. elements and themes, space planning, technical considerations, business considerations, etc. will be value addition.

Right to Education

By – Supriya

The Right to Education is a fundamental right and is accepted the same legal status as the right to life as provided by Article 21A of the Indian Constitution . The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act,2009 is ” An act to provide for free and Compulsory Education to all children of the age of six to fourteen years”. The right of children to free and compulsory education came into force from April 1,2010. According to the act, every child in the age group of 6-14 years will be provided 8 years of elementary education in an age appropriate classroom in the vicinity of his/ her neighbourhood. According to the act , any cost that prevents a child from accessing school will be borne by the state which shall have the responsibility of enrolling the child as well as ensuring completion of 8 years of schooling. No child shall be denied admission for want of documents ; or shall be turned away if the admission cycle in the school is over and no child shall be asked to take an admission test. Section 2(o) along with section 13(2)(b) prohibits any of these screening procedures and calls for only random procedures to be used for admitting a child to school. This prohibition would apply to all schools , private or even Navodaya schools . The act restricts schools to claim special category status because it indulges in screening procedures at the elementary level. Moreover, if the number of children applying to a school exceeds the available seats, an open lottery system shall be used to fill the seats. This applies to all categories of schools. Children with disabilities will also be educated in the mainstream schools. Section (10) of the Act makes it the duty of the parents to ensure that their children go to schools, without prescribing any punishment . Special provisions are laid for children not admitted to or who have not completed elementary education; a child so admitted to elementary education will be entitled to completion of elementary education even after fourteen years. However, the implementation of the act will be arduous one as the promise to ensure education for all the children between 6 and 14 , would mean educating a whopping 22 crore children ,out of which nearly 1.1 crore are out of school. For child labour and Street children, the government would have to ensure that they are not compelled to work and provide schools for them, along with residential facilities to provide them with an appropriate environment to enable them to continue their education. This means parents and communities who traditionally forbid their adolescent girls from going to school , or indulge in child marriage would have to be persuaded , or the child marriages act would need to be invoked against them.
On the basis of the Act, no school , governmental or private , can detain , fail or expel any child at the elementary stage. On April 7,2010 , the Delhi High Court gave a verdict against St. Xavier’s School , Delhi , which had to take back all the children they had declared failed and expelled from the school. Moreover, all private schools shall be required to enroll children from weaker sections and disadvantaged communities in their class to the extent of 25% of their enrollment , by simple random selection. While no seats in this quota can be left vacant , these children will be treated on par with all the other children in the school and would be subsidized by the state at the rate of average per learner costs in the government schools. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has been mandated to monitor the implementation of this right. As per Model Rule 25, The State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) shall set up child helplines , accessible by SMS , telephone and letter for receiving and registering complaints . NCPCR also welcomes the formal notification of this Act and looks forward to playing an active role in ensuring its successful implementation. NCPCR is also expected to carry forward its initiatives of linking and networking with civil society organisations for monitoring , appointing state commissioner for the enforcement of the Act, networking with other Commission like Human Rights , Women and Minorities ,to set up helplines and set up a separate division for enforcing the Right to Education. It is important for the country to nurture their children and young talent with the right education, so that India emerges as a strong and prosperous country.

THANKYOU !

Scholarship scheme under AICTE to encourage girls students

 To encourage girl students to pursue Technical Education, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has been implementing scholarship scheme namely AICTE Pragati Scholarship Scheme since 2014-15. Under the scheme, a sum of Rs. 50,000/- per annum is disbursed to selected girl students as per the following criteria.

  • Students admitted in AICTE approved institutions in 1st year of Degree/ Diploma level course or 2nd year of Degree/ Diploma level course through lateral entry.
  • Maximum two girls per family.
  • Total income of the family less than Rs. 8 lakh per annum.
  • 10,000 scholarships per annum from 23 States/UTs (5000 for Diploma and 5000 for Degree).
  • All eligible girl students from remaining 13 States/UTs (including North Eastern Region, Jammu &Kashmir etc.)
  • Reservation-7.5% for ST, 15% for SC, and 27% for OBC candidates/applicants.

Initiatives for affordability of education

 The Government continuously endeavours to make education more affordable and prevent commercialization of it. In this regard, All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has accepted the recommendations of National Fee Committee for the maximum Tuition and Development Fee for the Programme(s) and requested all the State/ UT Governments to adhere to these recommendations. These recommendations have also been included in the Approval Process Handbook of AICTE.

To provide financial assistance to the students, Ministry of Education is implementing schemes namely Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for Colleges and University Students (CSSS), Special Scholarship Scheme for Jammu & Kashmir (SSS for J & K) and Central Sector Interest Subsidy Scheme (CSIS). The AICTE is also implementing a number of scholarship schemes namely Post Graduate (PG) Scholarship, Saksham Scholarship Scheme for specially abled students, Pragati Scholarship Scheme for Girl Students, AICTE Doctoral Fellowship (ADF), etc.  In addition to it, University Grants Commission (UGC) also provides scholarship under different schemes namely “IshanUday” Special Scholarship Scheme for North Eastern Region, P.G. Scholarship for University Rank Holders, Junior Research Fellowship in Science, Humanities and Social Sciences, BSR Fellowship and Emeritus Fellowship etc.

Accessibility of higher education

 The government is committed to make higher education accessible to all sections of the society including the poor. The department is implementing the following schemesto assist meritorious students from poor financial background and to ensure that no one from the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS)is denied access to higher education, only for the reason that he or she is poor:

  1. Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students (CSSS)
  2. Special Scholarship Scheme for Jammu & Kashmir (SSS for J&K).
  3. Central Sector Interest Subsidy Scheme (CSIS)

Besides the above, tuition fee is Waived by Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and National Institutes of technology (NITs) whereby the students whose family income is less than a specified level get full/partial remission of the fee.

Promotion of research and innovation in schools

 Samagra Shiksha is an integrated programme which envisages  all round development of children. With the focus on connecting school-based knowledge to life outside the school, making learning of Science and Mathematics a joyful and meaningful activity and to bring focus on innovation and use of technology, Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan (RAA) has been set up by Ministry of Education as a convergent framework that aims at nurturing a spirit of inquiry and creativity, love for Science and Mathematics and effective use of technology amongst children of the age group of 6 to 18 years Some of the major objectives are to enable children to become motivated and engaged in Science, Mathematics and Technology (SMT) through observation, experimentation, drawing inferences, model building, rational reasoning and testability and to create curiosity, excitement and exploration among school children in Science, Mathematics and Technology.

The details of expenditure of funds under RAA for the last three years and provision for 2021-22 are as given below.

(Rs.in lakh)

2018-19

2019-20

2020-21

2021-22

11172.342

15963.22

14253.74

15748.72

 

The School Innovation Ambassador Training Program (SIATP) was launched on 16th July 2021 by Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell (MIC), CBSE and AICTE in collaboration with Ministry of Tribal Affairs to strengthen the mentoring capacity of teachers for nurturing and handholding innovative and creative ideas from students. The Objectives of the SIATP are(i) to create a culture of innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship in schools; (ii) Preparing teachers to handhold the ideas and innovative thoughts from students; (iii) Creating the in-house pool of mentors in schools to mentor the students; (iv) Creating awareness on innovation and start-ups among the students and faculties; (v) Prepare teachers to conduct idea competitions, hackathons and enable them to act as an evaluator for Idea Competitions conducted for students; and (vi) Create the foundation and capable human resource for School Innovation Council (SIC), a council of teachers, students and experts from industry and academia to conduct round the year activities for students and teachers on Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

The Department of Science & Technology started a unique programme ‘Vigyan Jyoti’ for meritorious girls with the aim to address the under representation of women in different fields of Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in the country. As a first step, the “VigyanJyoti” has been introduced in the year 2019-20 at the school level wherein meritorious girl students of Class 9-12 are being encouraged to pursue higher education and career in STEM field. The VigyanJyoti envisaged hand-holding and interventions right from the school level i.e., Class IX and which will continue till the PhD level to encourage girls to pursue a career in under represented areas of STEM. Various activities such as science camps, special lectures/ classes, counselling of students and parents, interaction with role models, tinkering activities, visit to Knowledge Partners/ Research Labs/ Industries/ NGOs are being conducted in the programme in order to motivate girls.

Under the ‘Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’ initiated by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Toycathon-2021 is conceived to challenge India’s innovative minds to conceptualize novel Toy and Games based on Bharatiya civilization, history, culture, mythology and ethos.

Toycathon 2021 is an inter-ministerial initiative organized by Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell with support from All India Council for Technical Education, Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of MSME,  Ministry of Textiles and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Toycathon 2021 is a unique opportunity for Students, Teachers, Start-ups and Toy experts/professionals in India to submit their innovative toys/games concepts and win large number of prizes worth Rs. 50 lakhs.

Through conceptualizing new and innovative toys by students using local materials which are economical, affordable, safe, environment friendly, and of exceptionally high quality for both Indian and global markets, it has kindled the innovative and creative spirit of students. Winning Teams efforts will be made to commercialize the exceptional toy concepts will support from Industry and investors.