Global News Post: Air India

Just Ended Air India Pilots' Strike Second Longest

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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">NEW DELHI (NNN-PTI) -- The 58-day-long pilots' strike in Air India, which was called off late Tuesday night, was the second longest since the national carrier came into existence in 1946, after a 90-day strike by cockpit crew 38 years ago.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While the strike by its pilots in 1974 to protest cost cutting measures by the airline after a massive hike in fuel prices went on for 90 days, a strike by Air India's flight engineers had lasted 56 days in 1993-94.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Before the 1993-94 stir, the second longest strike was in erstwhile Indian Airlines whose pilots went on a five-week agitation in 1991-92 demanding a hike in wages and allowances.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This time, Indian Pilots' Guild (IPG), which represents about 450 pilots of the merged national carrier who mainly operate long-haul, wide-body planes, had struck work since May 7 over career progression issues.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The latest strike, which also saw pilots going on protest fast in Delhi and Mumbai from June 24, was the longest since the merger of Air India and Indian Airlines in 2007.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There have been several strikes since the merger so far, with a major one by Indian Commercial Pilots Association, representing the erstwhile Indian Airlines pilots, lasting 11 days last year to demand pay parity with their IPG colleagues.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In May 2010, Air India's biggest union, Air Corporation Employees' Union, and Air India Aircraft Engineers' Association had struck work, leading to the sacking of 56 staffers and de-recognition of both these unions. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">During the latest strike, IPG had demanded that training on the Boeing 787 Dreamliners be restricted to long-haul pilots belonging to the erstwhile Air India and not to those from the former Indian Airlines, saying it would block their career progression chances.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Following this strike, Air India management sacked 101 pilots and de-recognised IPG for leading the agitation.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The two state-run carriers were merged in 2007 forming a new entity called National Aviation Company of India Limited, which was later renamed as Air India Limited.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The airline and the government are now proceeding with the implementation of the Justice D M Dharmadhikari Committee's recommendations to address all issues relating to human integration, pay parity and career progression.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In order to prevent any further industrial action by any section of its 27,000 employees, Air India has held and is planning to hold more rounds of negotiations with all unions.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The brand, Air India Limited, had come into existence on July 29, 1946, when Tata Air Lines headed by J R D Tata was converted into a public company.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On August 3, 1947, 12 days before India's independence, Air India carried the Indian flag for the first time when it flew Vijayalakshmi Pandit, first Indian Ambassador to the USSR, to Moscow in a Douglas DC-3 aircraft.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Air India International was incorporated on March 8, 1948. -- NNN-PTI<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Just Ended Air India Pilots' Strike Second Longest

NEW DELHI (NNN-PTI) -- The 58-day-long pilots' strike in Air India, which was called off late Tuesday night, was the second longest si...

Air India Begins Intl Operations to US and Europe

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<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">NEW DELHI (NNN-PTI): In an attempt to restore normalcy, Air India has began international operations to the US and Europe as part of its contingency plan even as striking pilots asked the government to initiate preliminary talks. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As the stir by the pilots entered the ninth day, the Airlines curtailed and clubbed many of its flights to the US and Europe to stabilise international operations. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"We have put in force our contingency plan and started operating our international flights, which were affected for the past eight days causing great inconvenience to our customers. Slowly, we hope that our operations would normalise," said an Air India official Wednesday. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The national carrier operated Delhi-Paris-New York (JFK) and Delhi-Frankfurt-Chicago flight early this morning while it would be operating Delhi-Shanghai and Delhi-London as per schedule. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"We have merged Mumbai-London and Mumbai-Shanghai flights with the Delhi-London and Delhi-Shanghai flights. We are operating these flights with Boeing 777 ER aircraft so we won't have problem accommodating the passengers," the official said, adding this will bring relief to many of our passengers who were anxious about their flights status. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Most of our passengers are those who have booked tickets months ago for their journey, he said, adding if situation permits then we may open our bookings for our ultra-long flights, which have been suspended till Thursday. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"We have deployed Airbus 320 aircraft for our short haul flights to Bangkok, Singapore and other destinations," he said. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In another development, the striking Air India pilots asked the government to at least initiate preliminary talks. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"The government should at least being preliminary talks. We are ready for talks but they should formally invite us for talks to resolve the issue," Jitendra Awhad, chief of Indian Pilots Guild told PTI in Mumbai. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Awhad said the union, which has now been derecognised by the airline management, was in talks with other political parties to resolve the impasse. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"When pilots having allegiance with Indian Commercial Pilots' Association (ICPA), the union of erstwhile Indian Airline pilots, had gone on strike they held talks with them and resolved the crisis. Their union was also recognised. We just want that talks should begin and the suspended pilots should be reinstated," Awhad said. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The pilots' strike has not only caused Rs 150 crore loss to the cash-strapped national carrier but has also greatly inconvenienced passengers.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As it is a vacation period, the stir has hit the plans of holidaymakers as they are unable to get seats in other airlines or are ending up paying a hefty price. -NNN-PTI<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Air India Begins Intl Operations to US and Europe

NEW DELHI (NNN-PTI): In an attempt to restore normalcy, Air India has began international operations to the US and Europe as part of its c...

India: Government Must Consider Demands of Striking Air India Pilots

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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">NEW DELHI (NNN-PTI): Key UPA ally DMK today wanted the government to consider demands of striking pilots and expressed concern over the suffering and harassment of passengers due to their ongoing agitation. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Raising the issue in Rajya Sabha (Upper House) during Zero Hour, Vasanthi Stanley (DMK) said the suffering of the public due to the Air India pilots' strike is increasing, as over 50 international flights to the United States and Europe and other destinations have been cancelled ever since its pilots suddenly reported sick. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"Government, without any notice to public, has cancelled international flights causing great inconvenience to passengers," she said. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Citing examples of frustration of harassed passengers, she said, angry passengers in Mumbai tried to block roads outside the International Airport. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She said no alternative arrangements were being made for passengers whose flights were cancelled and neither was any proper information provided to them. "Passengers have been made to suffer and fend for themselves," she said. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The DMK member said pilots were sacked without serving any notice and demanded they they be heard and their demands considered. "It is surprising that though pilots are ready for talks, the management sacked them," she said. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She alleged that all this happened as there is disparity among pilots after the merger of Air India and Indian Airlines and said, "no unilateral decision be forced on employees". <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She sought to know as to what the Government was doing to end the strike and demanded that it considers the demands of pilots and end the strike in view of the harassment of passengers. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: kashida; text-kashida: 0%;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Members from the Left and some from Congress also demanded end to the pilots' strike. -NNN-PTI<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

India: Government Must Consider Demands of Striking Air India Pilots

NEW DELHI (NNN-PTI): Key UPA ally DMK today wanted the government to consider demands of striking pilots and expressed concern over the su...

If Air India Pilots End Stir, Govt. Willing to Discuss All Issues: Ajit

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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">  <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">NEW DELHI (NNN-PTI): Holding that nobody should maintain a stubborn stand, Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh said if the striking Air India pilots returned to work, the government was willing to discuss all issues with them.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"It is not an issue of being stubborn...We are going to take a long-term view. If they want to talk, they should come to work, and all issues can be discussed...The High Court has declared their strike illegal," he told reporters after meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in his Parliament House office on Air India issue Friday.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He was asked whether it was the stubborn stand adopted by pilots and the government which was prolonging the stalemate.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On his meeting the Prime Minister, Singh said he shared information with him. "Whatever we are doing (to resolve the issue) is being done as per policies by talking to everyone involved," he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He said as far as Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft is concerned, nothing can be done about it as the Supreme Court has said that all employees have a right to get trained on it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"It (Dreamliner) was the original issue when they went on strike. As far as the issue of career progression is concerned, Dharmadhikari report deals with this and similar issues.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"A discussion is on in the ministry on how to implement it. We will talk to the affected people when we implement the report," he said and questioned the need for Air India pilots to go for an "illegal strike."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Singh also ruled out the possibility of imposing provisions of ESMA on striking pilots.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To a question that a sitting NCP MLA is president of Indian Pilot's Guild, he said trade unions don't go by political leadership. -NNN-PTI<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

If Air India Pilots End Stir, Govt. Willing to Discuss All Issues: Ajit

NEW DELHI (NNN-PTI): Holding that nobody should maintain a stubborn stand, Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh said if the striking Air ...

Indian Court Restrains Pilots of Air India from Going on Strike

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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">  <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">NEW DELHI, India (NNN-Xinhua) -- The Delhi High Court Wednesday restrained pilots of India's national carrier Air India from going on strike, after agitation by the state-owned air company's pilots continued for the second day, forcing cancellation of four international flights.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The airline Tuesday sacked 10 pilots who went on "mass sick leave," protesting the move to provide Boeing-787 Dreamliner training to pilots from the erstwhile Indian Airlines, which was absorbed by Air India, reported Indo-Asian News Service.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">India's Aviation Minister Ajit Singh has also asked the pilots to report back to work, or face punishment by government aviation authority, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, as they were threatening the survival of the debt-ridden air company, if they go on the strike, said local TV channel Times Now.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Air India plunged into turbulence Tuesday as it canceled at least four international flights after more than 100 pilots went on a strike, citing health reasons.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Two hundred more pilots have also threatened to join the strike arising out of the rescheduling of the Boeing 787 dreamliners training program as well as over the time-bound promotion.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"They are free to come forward with their grievances but they can't just call in sick. The money that the government gives to Air India depends on performances; there's a time period involved. They can come forward for talks but can't put the passengers in distress," Singh said on Tuesday. The strike comes a month after the Indian government had cleared a massive bail-out package for the cash-strapped state-owned carrier. In March, a major chunk of Air India's over 28,000 employees threatened to go on strike from April 2 over non-payment of salaries and dues.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The proposed strike was called off after the national carrier promised to clear all salaries and other dues by June. -- NNN-XINHUA<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Indian Court Restrains Pilots of Air India from Going on Strike

NEW DELHI, India (NNN-Xinhua) -- The Delhi High Court Wednesday restrained pilots of India's national carrier Air India from going ...

Air India Flights Cancelled After 100 Pilots Refused to Work

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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">MUMBAI, India (NNN-Bernama) -- Four Air India international flights were cancelled from Delhi and Mumbai today after about 100 pilots refused to report for duty, Press Trust of India reported. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The airlines domestic operations, however, were unaffected. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">An Air India spokesperson said that the four flights servicing the routes of Delhi-Toronto, Delhi-Chicago, Mumbai-Newark and Mumbai-Hongkong via Delhi were cancelled due to unavailability of pilots. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">A number of Air India pilots owing allegiance to Indian Pilots Guild were reportedly agitated over the rescheduling of Boeing 787 Dreamliner training programme, while some had threatened to go on strike yesterday following the failure of talks with the Air India management. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">"The management (Air India) has completely backtracked from what had been agreed upon in the last few days. We are left with no option but to intensify our displeasure," sources from the Indian Pilots Guild said. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The Guild expects the number of pilots going on strike to increase to 250 to 300 by tomorrow, indicating flights operations could be hit severely in the coming days. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Earlier, the management held a meeting with the pilots in New Delhi in its bid to defuse the crisis. A section of pilots reported sick on Sat May 5, resulting in cancellation of one international flight and delaying another two. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">It is believed that during their meeting yesterday, the airline management told the pilots that they had "no reasons to go on strike" when the government had announced a bailout package for the national carrier. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In another report sent earlier BERNAMA reports: <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">OVER 100 AIR INDIA PILOT ON STRIKE, 200 MORE MAY JOIN<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">NEW DELHI, India (NNN-Bernama) – Over 100 Air India pilots are on strike since midnight last night affecting some of the airlines’ international flights and the number might swell to 250. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The strike could cripple Air India's international operations just ahead of the peak summer holiday season that begins this weekend, The Economic Times reported. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The flag carrier cancelled Monday night-Tuesday morning's Mumbai-Newark, Delhi-Toronto and Delhi-Chicago flights. Among longhauls, only Delhi-New York is expected to operate early on Tuesday morning. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The ministry, toughening its stand, has warned that it will shut international flights of the airline if the strike snowballs and will take strict action against the agitating pilots. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The English daily said the strike started minutes after their talks with the airline management and aviation ministry failed on the issue of training for the Boeing-787 Dreamliner. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Air India owes its employees US$23.5 million in salary arrears. --NNN-BERNAMA<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Air India Flights Cancelled After 100 Pilots Refused to Work

MUMBAI, India (NNN-Bernama) -- Four Air India international flights were cancelled from Delhi and Mumbai today after about 100 pilots ...

Air India Slapped with US$80,000 Fine

Air India Slapped with US$80,000 Fine

WASHINGTON (NNN-Bernama) - The US Transportation Department has slapped a US$80,000 fine on Air India for failing to post customer servi...

All Women Power on Board Air India

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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXSY0XQa34LKdMo61_x_hA7Jk4jqX25V65nVFlYDYRaaAvOZjw85zdmJw5v4-QhbhcT0FWSfxG1-OL1vcD9D5sO5mNZD_nAWabNINW6HUVvYTi6Ec5qBKbgfey7KgX6-rMuQpym93NfHs/s1600/2012030814254677.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXSY0XQa34LKdMo61_x_hA7Jk4jqX25V65nVFlYDYRaaAvOZjw85zdmJw5v4-QhbhcT0FWSfxG1-OL1vcD9D5sO5mNZD_nAWabNINW6HUVvYTi6Ec5qBKbgfey7KgX6-rMuQpym93NfHs/s1600/2012030814254677.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Bouquets for Air India’s all women crew at Chennai airport as head towards the aircraft on an international flight. The national carrier, marking the International Women's Day, is operating all women crew international flights to one city in each of the three continents namely USA, Europe and Asia March 8, 2012. The three flights operated from Mumbai will include an ultra long haul flight AI 191 to Newark, AI 131 to London and AI 342 to Singapore. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">On the domestic routes the airline’s subsidiary, Air India Express, will operate three flights, two on the Delhi -Chennai route and the other Delhi-Kathmandu route. Air India has more than 5,000 women employees on its workforce. Photo courtesy thehindu --- NNN<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

All Women Power on Board Air India

Bouquets for Air India’s all women crew at Chennai airport as head towards the aircraft on an international flight. The national carrier,...

Air India to Connect Three New Destinations in Gulf

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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">DUBAI  (NNN-Bernama) -- Air India plans to begin operations to 18 new destinations this summer, of which three will be in the Middle East, a senior airline official has said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The new routes planned to the Gulf include a flight connecting Manama (Bahrain) and Dammam to New Delhi, while a direct flight from Dubai will connect Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, said Deepak Barara, Executive Director of Air India, reported Press Trust of India on Thursday.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">According to him, the recently cancelled Salalah-Thiruvananthapuram flight will also resume shortly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The airline currently operates 21 flights a week from the Gulf countries to India.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">There has been an overall improvement in the airline’s bottom line, with a near-double digit growth in net profit (9.89 per cent) and a 20 per cent growth in bilateral air traffic flow between India and the UAE, Barara was quoted as saying by Emirates 24/7.</span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">He said A321 carriers will be deployed to some Kerala airports. -- NNN-BERNAMA</span></div></div>

Air India to Connect Three New Destinations in Gulf

DUBAI (NNN-Bernama) -- Air India plans to begin operations to 18 new destinations this summer, of which three will be in the Middle East,...

Education Sector in India Is Expanding Rapidly

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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Year End Review of Ministry of Human Resource Development<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">  <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig1mi28rlv35dhuXfyWYj2bR-R2utGYzEtv92HIIcV4HOzC1X0Aks4ehyphenhyphenHfoBjmNUbLrURPKne9i8fDzxEN7kOLgLWMQtvxvtKvpHfxO_w99xp11WiTFUd5WkpX3YEjYcIJbTbFc-5Hks/s1600/mayocollege.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig1mi28rlv35dhuXfyWYj2bR-R2utGYzEtv92HIIcV4HOzC1X0Aks4ehyphenhyphenHfoBjmNUbLrURPKne9i8fDzxEN7kOLgLWMQtvxvtKvpHfxO_w99xp11WiTFUd5WkpX3YEjYcIJbTbFc-5Hks/s1600/mayocollege.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 8.0pt;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/endymion120/4840804932/sizes/z/in/photostream/"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">© Flickr.com/Vincent Desjardins</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></i></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br />
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br />
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br />
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><st1:city style="background-color: transparent;" w:st="on"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">NEW DELHI</span></st1:city><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"> (</span><span style="background-color: transparent;">PIB<span style="background: white;">): The Education sector in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region> is expanding rapidly to meet the increasing demand resulting from rise in the Gross Enrolment Ratios. Human Resource Development processes have gained high significance in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region> during the last few years. There is a need for expansion while ensuring excellence and equity.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">The challenge ahead is large. The ministry of Human Resource Development is seeking reform in the education sector both at the school education level and at the higher education level. At the school education level, the implementation of the Right to Education Act is the largest area of attention.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">At the higher education level, the reform is being driven by the process of legislation which aims at putting in place a structure which encourages autonomy and growth, with an adequate regulatory framework to check malpractices.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">The National Commission for Higher Education and Research<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">The Higher Education and Research Bill, 2011 was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on 28th December, 2011. This Bill proposes to create a National Commission for Higher Education and Research which will be an over-arching body to maintain and coordinate the standards in higher education in the country. The Bill seeks to promote autonomy of higher educational institutions and universities for free pursuit of knowledge and innovation and to provide for comprehensive and integrated growth of higher education and research keeping in view the global standards of educational and research practices. The Commission will facilitate determination, co-ordination, maintenance and continued enhancement of standards of higher education and research including university education, vocational, technical, professional and medical education other than agricultural education. There are four salient elements envisaged in this Bill:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">National Commission for Higher Education and Research<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">A General Council:<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">The Collegiums of Scholars:<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Board for Research Promotion and Innovation<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Progress under RTE<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Since the commencement of the RTE Act, 38,754 primary schools, 11,918 upper primary schools and 4, 98 lakh additional classrooms have been sanctioned under SSA. On National Education Day (Nov 11), a year long community mobilization programme was launched to generate awareness about the Act and the rights it vests in the people.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">In another development in this regard,, guidelines have been issued to exempt Madrasas, Pathshalas and other institutions imparting religious instruction  from the provisions of Right to Education Act. There are about 3,000 vedic pathashalas (schools) in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region> and thousands of madarsas spread across country. Although the HRD ministry had earlier said these religious schools were not covered citing Constitutional safeguards for religious institutions, a decision has now been taken to insert an explicit provision in the RTE law to have clarity. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoCaption" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 15.0pt;"><span class="facibeenhere"><b><i>Some statistical indicators</i></b></span><b><i><o:p></o:p></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 15pt;"><br />
</div><table .5pt;="" 0cm="" 5.4pt="" 5.4pt`="" border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="3" class="MsoTableWeb3" mso-padding-alt:0cm="" style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-width: initial; border: outset 3.0pt; mso-border-insideh: .75pt outset windowtext; mso-border-insidev: .75pt outset windowtext; mso-cellspacing: 2.0pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-table-layout-alt: fixed;" windowtext=""><tbody>
<tr>   <td .5pt;padding:0cm="" 0cm="" 1.0pt;="" 5.4pt="" 5.4pt`="" mso-border-alt:solid="" style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-width: initial; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 34.4pt;" valign="top" width="46" windowtext=""><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="facibeenhere">Sl.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="facibeenhere"> No.</span><o:p></o:p></div></td>   <td .5pt;mso-border-alt:="" .5pt;padding:0cm="" 0cm="" 1.0pt;="" 5.4pt="" 5.4pt`="" border-left:none;mso-border-left-alt:solid="" solid="" style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-width: initial; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 110.35pt;" valign="top" width="147" windowtext=""><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="facibeenhere">Item</span><o:p></o:p></div></td>   <td .5pt;mso-border-alt:="" .5pt;padding:0cm="" 0cm="" 1.0pt;="" 5.4pt="" 5.4pt`="" border-left:none;mso-border-left-alt:solid="" solid="" style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-width: initial; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 244.55pt;" valign="top" width="326" windowtext=""><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="facibeenhere">States</span><o:p></o:p></div></td>  </tr>
<tr>   <td .5pt;="" .5pt;mso-border-alt:solid="" 0cm="" 1.0pt;="" 5.4pt;height:62.5pt`="" 5.4pt="" border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid="" padding:0cm="" style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-width: initial; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 34.4pt;" valign="top" width="46" windowtext=""><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="facibeenhere">1</span><o:p></o:p></div></td>   <td .5pt;="" .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid="" .5pt;padding:0cm="" 0cm="" 1.0pt;="" 1.0pt;border-right:solid="" 5.4pt;height:62.5pt`="" 5.4pt="" mso-border-alt:solid="" mso-border-top-alt:solid="" none;border-bottom:solid="" style="border-top-color: initial; border-top-width: initial; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 110.35pt;" valign="top" width="147" windowtext=""><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="facibeenhere">Notification   of State RTE Rules</span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div></td>   <td .5pt;="" .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid="" .5pt;padding:0cm="" 0cm="" 1.0pt;="" 1.0pt;border-right:solid="" 5.4pt;height:62.5pt`="" 5.4pt="" mso-border-alt:solid="" mso-border-top-alt:solid="" none;border-bottom:solid="" style="border-top-color: initial; border-top-width: initial; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 244.55pt;" valign="top" width="326" windowtext=""><div class="MsoNormal"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><span class="facibeenhere">Assam</span></st1:country-region><span class="facibeenhere">, Andhra Pradesh,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Arunachal</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="facibeenhere">Pradesh, Himachal   Pradesh,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Haryana</span><span class="facibeenhere">, </span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="facibeenhere">Manipur,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on"><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Orissa</span></st1:city><span class="facibeenhere">, </span><st1:country-region w:st="on"><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Sikkim</span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span class="facibeenhere">,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Chhattisgarh</span><span class="facibeenhere">, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Mizoram</span><span class="facibeenhere">,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><st1:place w:st="on"><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Maharashtra</span></st1:place><span class="facibeenhere">,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Meghalaya</span><span class="facibeenhere">, </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Nagaland</span><span class="facibeenhere">, Punjab,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Tripura</span><span class="facibeenhere">, Tamil</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Nadu</span><span class="facibeenhere">, U.P. Delhi, <st1:place w:st="on">Bihar</st1:place>,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Puducherry</span><span class="facibeenhere">,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Jharkhand</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="facibeenhere">and</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Kerala </span><span class="facibeenhere">have notified their State RTE Rules;</span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><st1:placename u2:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on"><span class="facibeenhere">A&N</span></st1:placename></st1:placename><span class="apple-converted-space"> <st1:placetype u2:st="on"></st1:placetype></span><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span class="facibeenhere">Islands</span></st1:placetype><span class="facibeenhere">,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> <st1:city u2:st="on"></st1:city></span><st1:city w:st="on"><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Chandigarh</span></st1:city><span class="facibeenhere">,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Lakshadweep</span><span class="facibeenhere">, Daman and</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> <st1:place u2:st="on"></st1:place></span><st1:place w:st="on"><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Diu</span></st1:place><span class="facibeenhere">,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Dadra</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="facibeenhere">&</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Nagar</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Haveli</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="facibeenhere">have adopted   Central RTE Rules</span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="facibeenhere">Gujarat</span><span class="gramefacibeenhere">,</span><span class="facibeenhere"> </span><span class="apple-converted-space">Goa</span><span class="facibeenhere">, Karnataka,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Uttarakhand</span><span class="facibeenhere">,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> <st1:place u2:st="on"></st1:place></span><st1:place w:st="on"><span class="facibeenhere">West    Bengal</span></st1:place><span class="apple-converted-space">.</span><span class="facibeenhere"> </span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="facibeenhere">They have not so   far notified state RTE Rules. </span><o:p></o:p></div></td>  </tr>
<tr>   <td .5pt;="" .5pt;mso-border-alt:solid="" 0cm="" 1.0pt;="" 5.4pt="" 5.4pt`="" border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid="" padding:0cm="" style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-width: initial; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 34.4pt;" valign="top" width="46" windowtext=""><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="facibeenhere">2</span><o:p></o:p></div></td>   <td .5pt;="" .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid="" .5pt;padding:0cm="" 0cm="" 1.0pt;="" 1.0pt;border-right:solid="" 5.4pt="" 5.4pt`="" mso-border-alt:solid="" mso-border-top-alt:solid="" none;border-bottom:solid="" style="border-top-color: initial; border-top-width: initial; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 110.35pt;" valign="top" width="147" windowtext=""><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="facibeenhere">Constitution   of SCPCR/ REPA</span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div></td>   <td .5pt;="" .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid="" .5pt;padding:0cm="" 0cm="" 1.0pt;="" 1.0pt;border-right:solid="" 5.4pt="" 5.4pt`="" mso-border-alt:solid="" mso-border-top-alt:solid="" none;border-bottom:solid="" style="border-top-color: initial; border-top-width: initial; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 244.55pt;" valign="top" width="326" windowtext=""><div class="MsoNormal"><st1:country-region u2:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><span class="facibeenhere">Assam</span></st1:country-region></st1:country-region><span class="facibeenhere">, Bihar,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Chhattisgarh</span><span class="facibeenhere">,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> <st1:city u2:st="on"></st1:city></span><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on"><span class="facibeenhere">Delhi</span></st1:city></st1:place><span class="facibeenhere">,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Haryana</span><span class="gramefacibeenhere">,</span><span class="facibeenhere"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="gramefacibeenhere">Madhya</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="facibeenhere">Pradesh,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><st1:place w:st="on"><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Maharashtra</span></st1:place><span class="facibeenhere">,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> <st1:city u2:st="on"></st1:city></span><span class="facibeenhere">Rajasthan,<st1:country-region u2:st="on"><o:p></o:p></st1:country-region></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Sikkim</span></st1:country-region><span class="facibeenhere">, Karnataka,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> <st1:place u2:st="on"></st1:place></span><st1:place w:st="on"><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Goa</span></st1:place><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="facibeenhere">and</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Orissa</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="facibeenhere">notified.</span><o:p></o:p></div></td>  </tr>
<tr>   <td .5pt;="" .5pt;mso-border-alt:solid="" 0cm="" 1.0pt;="" 5.4pt="" 5.4pt`="" border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid="" padding:0cm="" style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-width: initial; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 34.4pt;" valign="top" width="46" windowtext=""><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="facibeenhere">3</span><o:p></o:p></div></td>   <td .5pt;="" .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid="" .5pt;padding:0cm="" 0cm="" 1.0pt;="" 1.0pt;border-right:solid="" 5.4pt="" 5.4pt`="" mso-border-alt:solid="" mso-border-top-alt:solid="" none;border-bottom:solid="" style="border-top-color: initial; border-top-width: initial; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 110.35pt;" valign="top" width="147" windowtext=""><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="facibeenhere">Prohibition   of detention, expulsion</span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div></td>   <td .5pt;="" .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid="" .5pt;padding:0cm="" 0cm="" 1.0pt;="" 1.0pt;border-right:solid="" 5.4pt="" 5.4pt`="" mso-border-alt:solid="" mso-border-top-alt:solid="" none;border-bottom:solid="" style="border-top-color: initial; border-top-width: initial; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 244.55pt;" valign="top" width="326" windowtext=""><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="facibeenhere">A&N   Islands, Andhra Pradesh,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Arunachal </span><span class="facibeenhere">Pradesh, Assam,   Bihar,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Chandigarh</span><span class="facibeenhere">, Delhi, Gujarat,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Haryana</span><span class="facibeenhere">, Himachal   Pradesh, J&K, </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Jharkhand</span><span class="facibeenhere">,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Kerala</span><span class="facibeenhere">,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Lakshadweep</span><span class="facibeenhere">, Madhya Pradesh,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Maharashtra</span><span class="facibeenhere">,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Orissa</span><span class="facibeenhere">,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Puducherry</span><span class="facibeenhere">, Punjab,   Rajasthan,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Sikkim</span><span class="facibeenhere">, Tamil</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Nadu</span><span class="facibeenhere">,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Tripura</span><span class="facibeenhere">, </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Uttarakhand</span><span class="facibeenhere">, <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><st1:place w:st="on"><span class="facibeenhere">West Bengal</span></st1:place><o:p></o:p></div></td>  </tr>
<tr>   <td .5pt;="" .5pt;mso-border-alt:solid="" 0cm="" 1.0pt;="" 5.4pt="" 5.4pt`="" border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid="" padding:0cm="" style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-width: initial; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 34.4pt;" valign="top" width="46" windowtext=""><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="facibeenhere">4</span><o:p></o:p></div></td>   <td .5pt;="" .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid="" .5pt;padding:0cm="" 0cm="" 1.0pt;="" 1.0pt;border-right:solid="" 5.4pt="" 5.4pt`="" mso-border-alt:solid="" mso-border-top-alt:solid="" none;border-bottom:solid="" style="border-top-color: initial; border-top-width: initial; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 110.35pt;" valign="top" width="147" windowtext=""><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="facibeenhere">Prohibition   of corporal punishment, mental harassment</span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div></td>   <td .5pt;="" .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid="" .5pt;padding:0cm="" 0cm="" 1.0pt;="" 1.0pt;border-right:solid="" 5.4pt="" 5.4pt`="" mso-border-alt:solid="" mso-border-top-alt:solid="" none;border-bottom:solid="" style="border-top-color: initial; border-top-width: initial; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 244.55pt;" valign="top" width="326" windowtext=""><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="facibeenhere">A&N   Islands, Andhra Pradesh,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Arunachal </span><span class="facibeenhere">Pradesh, Bihar,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Chandigarh</span><span class="facibeenhere">,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Chhattisgarh</span><span class="facibeenhere">, Delhi, Gujarat,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Haryana</span><span class="facibeenhere">, Himachal   Pradesh, J&K, </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Jharkhand</span><span class="facibeenhere">,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Kerala</span><span class="facibeenhere">,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Lakshadweep</span><span class="facibeenhere">, Madhya Pradesh,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Maharashtra</span><span class="facibeenhere">,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Nagaland</span><span class="facibeenhere">,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Orissa</span><span class="facibeenhere">,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Puducherry</span><span class="facibeenhere">, Punjab, <st1:city w:st="on">Rajasthan</st1:city>,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><st1:country-region w:st="on"><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Sikkim</span></st1:country-region><span class="facibeenhere">, Tamil </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Nadu</span><span class="facibeenhere">,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Tripura</span><span class="facibeenhere">, Uttar Pradesh, <st1:place w:st="on">West Bengal</st1:place></span><o:p></o:p></div></td>  </tr>
<tr>   <td .5pt;="" .5pt;mso-border-alt:solid="" 0cm="" 1.0pt;="" 5.4pt="" 5.4pt`="" border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid="" padding:0cm="" style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-width: initial; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 34.4pt;" valign="top" width="46" windowtext=""><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="facibeenhere">5</span><o:p></o:p></div></td>   <td .5pt;="" .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid="" .5pt;padding:0cm="" 0cm="" 1.0pt;="" 1.0pt;border-right:solid="" 5.4pt="" 5.4pt`="" mso-border-alt:solid="" mso-border-top-alt:solid="" none;border-bottom:solid="" style="border-top-color: initial; border-top-width: initial; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 110.35pt;" valign="top" width="147" windowtext=""><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="facibeenhere">No   board examination till completion of elementary education</span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div></td>   <td .5pt;="" .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid="" .5pt;padding:0cm="" 0cm="" 1.0pt;="" 1.0pt;border-right:solid="" 5.4pt="" 5.4pt`="" mso-border-alt:solid="" mso-border-top-alt:solid="" none;border-bottom:solid="" style="border-top-color: initial; border-top-width: initial; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 244.55pt;" valign="top" width="326" windowtext=""><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="facibeenhere">A&N   Islands, Andhra Pradesh,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Arunachal </span><span class="facibeenhere">Pradesh,   Bihar, </span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="facibeenhere">Delhi, Gujarat,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Haryana</span><span class="facibeenhere">, Himachal   Pradesh, J&K,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Jharkhand</span><span class="facibeenhere">,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Kerala</span><span class="facibeenhere">, </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Lakshadweep</span><span class="facibeenhere">, Madhya Pradesh,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Maharashtra</span><span class="facibeenhere">, Manipur,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Mizoram</span><span class="facibeenhere">,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Nagaland</span><span class="facibeenhere">,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Orissa</span><span class="facibeenhere">,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Puducherry</span><span class="facibeenhere">, Punjab, <st1:city w:st="on">Rajasthan</st1:city>,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><st1:country-region w:st="on"><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Sikkim</span></st1:country-region><span class="facibeenhere">, Tamil </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Nadu</span><span class="facibeenhere">,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="spellefacibeenhere">Tripura</span><span class="facibeenhere">, <st1:place w:st="on">West Bengal</st1:place></span><o:p></o:p></div></td>  </tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Low Cost Access-cum –Computing Device<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Shri Kapil Sibal, the Union Minister for Human Resourced Development launched   ‘Aakash’, a low cost access cum computing device, in October. This device was also distributed among 500 children on the occasion.  The final landed price of $49.98/unit of this device (which translated to INR 2276 at the exchange rate at the time of the order) includes taxes, levies, and charges like freight and insurance, servicing and documentation etc. The Government will also be providing price subsidy to the students on this price. The device will be distributed to students through the institutions at which they are studying.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">This current phase is a pilot to procure 100,000 devices. This pilot aims to help in sorting out the production related issues. These devices are now being distributed to students all over the country so that they can be extensively tested in various climatic and usage conditions. The feedback obtained from the testing will form an input into the design of the next version of the device.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Entrance Exam Reforms <o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">The report of the Ramasami committee for a country-wide common examination for admission to undergraduate programmes in sciences and engineering submitted its report which was deliberated at the IIT council. The basis for reform in the examination process that reduces dependency on coaching, aligning the testing process to Class XII syllabus, reducing the multiplicity of tests to one was considered. Weightage would be given to the marks obtained by a student in Class XII Board examinations would be given after scientific statistical normalization of the performance vis-à-vis the average performance of other students appearing in the respective Board examinations, whether CBSE or State Boards. There could be a single national examination to test for aptitude and advanced domain knowledge or for aptitude alone to supplement the weightage given to performance in Class XII. Six options were placed before the Council for consideration and views of the members were sought. Based on the views expressed, the report would be finalised by Dr Ramasami in a month. The report would also be placed before CABE and State Education Ministers for a final decision so that the new system could be put in place by academic session 2013-14 later, in its meeting, the Council of NITs considered the proposal formulated by Dr. T. Ramasami Committee on Alternate System for Admission to undergraduate programmes in Science and Engineering in the country as presented before the IIT Council and endorsed the same.  <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">The CBSE, For the 11th AIEEE to be held in 2012 after the success of Online Exam on pilot basis last year, and to give students a flexible schedule of examination, has  decided to conduct Online Examination (i.e. CBT Mode) from  7th – 25th May, 2012 in 22 cities. In these cities, the exam will only be in an online mode. :<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">AICTE in order to reduce the burden of students attending to multiple examinations launches the first National level Common Management Admission Test (CMAT)-2012 and facilitate institutions to select suitable students for admission to all management programs approved by AICTE for year 2012-13. This initiative has been taken to address the issue of physical, mental and financial stress being imposed on the students through number of entrance examinations conducted by the institutions for admission to Management Programs in AICTE approved institutions based on relevant judgments in the Hon’ble Supreme Court. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">The National level test will be conducted online for nine days from      20th to 28th February in two shifts at 61 cities/locations.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">The common admission test will reduce the burden on candidates due      to appearance in multiple tests.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">CMAT scores will help students get admissions in AICTE approved      Institutes/University Departments in all management programmes catering to      more than four lakh sanctioned seats of AICTE approved management      institutions.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">IIT Reforms<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">A  Committee constituted under the chairmanship of Dr Anil Kakodkar, to prepare a roadmap for taking IITs to global excellence, was presented to the IIT Council. After detailed deliberations on the recommendations in which various opinions were expressed, the Council decided to constitute an Empowered Task Force for implementation of the recommendations for enhancing the autonomy of the IIT system with the intention of expanding the research output of IITs to produce 10,000 Ph.D graduates annually from around 1000 presently and increase faculty strength from around 4000 presently to 16000 by 2020. This would enable a large pool of researchers in technology to be fostered along with developing advanced technology manpower needs for promoting economic growth. The Council felt that a national benefit has to be derived from the investment through public funds on each IIT student. Therefore, every student at the time of obtaining employment after graduation could enter into an agreement with the IIT for agreeing to pay back part of the expenditure made on him or her over a suitable period. Students who do not obtain any employment or who proceed for a career in research shall not be expected to arrive at such agreement. In so far as modifications to the governance structure are concerned, the Council felt that the issue would be revisited in the next meeting. Each IIT was requested to prepare an accountability mechanism for regulating the exercise of administrative autonomy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">IIM Reforms<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Every three years there should be an external review of each IIM which could be discussed in the IIM-Council. This was decided in a meeting of the IIM council chaired by Shri Kapil Sibal, Union Minister of HRD. IIMs Calcutta, Lucknow, Kozhikode have put the annual work plan system and teaching requirements along with faculty peer review in place in different ways. In IIM Bangalore, the process of devising a faculty review system after consultations is underway. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">In order to expand the search for management solutions in problems of relevance to the nation and society, it was felt that IIMs have to take the lead in conducting programmes and organize curricula in areas such as energy management, academic institution management, health management, agriculture management etc. in the meeting of IIM Directors, it was decided to set up a Task Force for establishing the contours of such programmes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">National Vocational Education Qualification Framework<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Vocational education has been an important area of concern in providing choices to youth for skills development in relation to the needs of the economy.  The Coordination Committee set up by the Ministry, with the involvement of the National Skill Development Corporation and the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Institute</st1:placetype>  of <st1:placename w:st="on">Applied Manpower Research</st1:placename></st1:place> (an institution under the Planning Commission) has prepared a National Vocational Education Qualifications Framework.   Round Tables in several sectoral areas (automobile sector, media and entertainment sector and communications & IT sector, in the area of hospitality and tourism and on infrastructure & construction sector) have been held.  Committees were constituted to define course curricula in these sectoral areas to dovetail with NVEQF. A committee of ministers of education of nine state governments, headed by the HRD minister of <st1:place w:st="on">Bihar</st1:place>, Shri PK Shahi, was constituted to prepare a roadmap for implementation of the National Vocational Education. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Qualification Framework: The committee has submitted its report and it has been accepted.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">First Indo-US Higher Education <st1:city w:st="on">Summit</st1:city> in <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Washington</st1:place></st1:state> <o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Shri Sibal, Union Minister for Human Resource Development and the <st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region> Secretary of State, Ms. Hilary Clinton launched the expanded U.S.-India Higher Education Dialogue as an annual bilateral event to map out strategies for partnership in the field of education between the two countries, in <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Washington</st1:place></st1:state>, in October. The two sides endorsed the resolve of the stakeholders from academia, government, and industry to take forward the following areas of consensus arrived at during the <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Summit</st1:place></st1:city>: <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">A continued expanded U.S.-India Higher Education Dialogue with      representatives from government, academia, and business that would      interact on a periodic basis to inform and underpin the Dialogue. <o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Support for the following goals: <o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Promoting strategic institutional partnerships for further      strengthening and expansion of collaboration in the priority areas of      higher education, including science and engineering, social sciences, and      humanities, and addressing societal challenges in areas such as cyber      security, energy, environment, health and agriculture; <o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Encouraging expansion and deepened collaboration in research and      development in the above areas between academic institutions of the two      countries through existing initiatives; <o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Fostering partnerships in the areas of vocational education and      skills enhancement to meet the needs of today’s world; <o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Exploration of models for ‘educational institutions for the 21st      Century’ (such as ‘meta’ universities); <o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Further strengthening programs for student and faculty enrichment      and exchange, and development of leadership in academia at all levels; <o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Welcoming the involvement of the private sector in the two      countries to support and deepen collaboration with the higher education      community, faculty exchanges, skills development, and institutional      partnerships. <o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">India</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> announced its      intention to set up an India-U.S. higher education platform as a means to      pursue these goals. <o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Strengthening educator enrichment and exchange programs (with the      Government of India indicating its intention to sponsor initially up to      1,500 faculty and junior scholars to leading universities and research      institutes in the United States) to promote development of human resources      while also enhancing broader interaction between the two countries.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">International Conference on Education<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">The Ministry of Human Resource Development organized a three-day International Conference on “Women’s Literacy for Inclusive and Sustainable Development’ from 8-10th September. The President Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil inaugurated the Conference. Fourteen countries including <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region> participated in the Conference, essentially the SAARC nations and the E-9 countries. These countries included: <st1:country-region w:st="on">Brazil</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">China</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Indonesia</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Nigeria</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Mexico</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Pakistan</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Bangladesh</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Afghanistan</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Sri  Lanka</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Maldives</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Bhutan</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st="on">Nepal</st1:country-region> besides <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region>. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">The three-day Conference had sessions on subjects such as Centrality of Women’s Literacy to Inclusive and Participative Development, Emerging International Perspective on Adult Education and Lifelong Learning, Innovations in Design & Delivery of India’s Adult Literacy Programme and International Cooperation for Promoting Adult Education. An Outcome Document was put out at the conclusion of the conference.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Education Sector in India Is Expanding Rapidly

Year End Review of Ministry of Human Resource Development © Flickr.com/Vincent Desjardins NEW DELHI ( PIB ): The Education ...