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<keyword id="19896882" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Canada" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Canada" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Canada">Canada</keyword> is set to make notable changes to its immigration policies, aiming to manage the influx of <keyword id="20073340" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="international-students" source="keywords">international students</keyword> by cutting down on the number of <keyword id="20293675" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="study-permits" source="keywords">study permits</keyword> issued. This move comes as part of the government’s broader strategy to control its <keyword id="23227485" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="temporary-resident-population" source="keywords">temporary resident population</keyword> and maintain the integrity of its immigration system. Prime Minister <keyword id="19898713" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Justin-Trudeau" source="keywords">Justin Trudeau</keyword> recently announced that the country will reduce the number of study permits granted to foreign nationals, citing concerns over the misuse of the immigration system. The reduction is already underway, with Canada issuing 35 percent fewer study permits this year compared to previous years. Moving forward, the Canadian government plans to decrease these permits by an additional 10 percent in 2025, lowering the number of new permits issued from 4,85,000 in 2024 to 4,37,000 in the following year. Trudeau talked about the need to address those exploiting the system in a post on X (earlier called Twitter). "Immigration is an advantage for our economy - but when bad actors abuse the system and take advantage of students, we crack down," he said. While immigration continues to play a critical role in strengthening Canada's economy, Trudeau added that these measures are essential to preserving the system's integrity. Canada's Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship department echoed this sentiment in an official news release, confirming the government's commitment to managing temporary resident arrivals. The department outlined a plan to stabilise the intake of study permits at the reduced figure for 2026, ensuring that the numbers remain consistent with 2025. To address the importance of advanced degree holders, the government will set aside approximately 12 percent of available study permits for master's and doctoral candidates. These students will need to provide a letter from their respective province or territory, recognising the significant contributions they can make to the Canadian workforce. <keyword id="19946179" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="marc-miller" source="keywords">Marc Miller</keyword>, Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, said that the changes are part of a larger effort to ensure a well-regulated and sustainable immigration system. “Not everyone who wishes to come to Canada will be granted entry, and not everyone currently residing here will be able to remain indefinitely. It is our duty to safeguard the integrity of our immigration policies, and we are committed to adapting them to meet today’s evolving challenges,” he said. The reduction in study permits is expected to have a considerable impact on international students, particularly from India. India has long been the leading source of foreign students in Canada, with an estimated 427,000 <keyword id="19971660" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-students" source="keywords">Indian students</keyword> currently studying in the country, according to data from the High Commission of India in Ottawa. Education is one of the key pillars of collaboration between the two nations, and the new policy could affect thousands of Indian nationals aspiring to pursue higher studies in Canada. (With ANI and PTI inputs)

Canada to cut study permits for International students by 35%, Indian students to be impacted

Universities and <keyword id="20257650" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="higher-education-institutions" source="keywords">higher education institutions</keyword> in India can now admit students twice a year similar to the admission process followed by universities abroad, according to the <keyword id="19932585" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="University-Grants-Commission" source="keywords">University Grants Commission</keyword> (UGC) Chairman Jagadeesh Kumar. The two admission cycles will be July-August and January-February from the 2024-25 academic session. "If <keyword id="21269142" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-universities" source="keywords">Indian universities</keyword> can offer admission twice a year, it will benefit many students. Such as those who missed admission to a university in the July/August session due to a delay in the announcement of board results, health issues, or personal reasons. Biannual university admissions will help students maintain motivation since they do not have to wait one full year to be admitted if they miss admission in the current cycle," UGC Chairman Kumar said on Tuesday. Currently, UGC Regulations allow the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to admit students in one academic session in a year starting in July/August. An 'Academic session' is twelve months, beginning in July/August. Indian HEIs, therefore, follow the academic session that begins in July-August and ends in May-June. UGC had decided in its 571st commission held on 25 July 2023 to permit <keyword id="22014108" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="biannual-admissions" source="keywords">biannual admissions</keyword> under Open and Distance Learning (ODL) and Online modes in January and July during an academic year. As per the information furnished by the HEIs on the UGC DEB portal, in addition to a total of 19,73,056 students were enrolled in July 2022 and an additional 4,28,854 students joined in January 2023 in ODL and online programs. Considering the tremendous response and interest from the students in ODL and online programs in biannual admissions, in its meeting held on May 15 this year the UGC took a policy decision to allow Higher Education Institutions who offer programs in regular mode to admit students twice in a year, either in January/February or July/August from the coming academic year, the UGC chairman said. Those institutions that have the required infrastructure and teaching faculty can utilize the opportunity to admit students biannually. Offering biannual admissions is not mandatory for the HEIs; it is the flexibility that UGC provides to the HEIs who want to increase their student intake and offer new programmes in emerging areas. To be able to admit students twice a year, HEIs must make suitable amendments to their institutional regulations. UGC Chairman Kumar said, "With biannual admissions in place, Industries can also do their <keyword id="22014800" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="campus-recruitment" source="keywords">campus recruitment</keyword> twice a year, improving employment opportunities for the graduates." Biannual admissions will also enable the HEIs to plan their resource distribution, such as faculty, labs, classrooms and support services, more efficiently, resulting in a better functional flow within the university, he said. Noting that Universities worldwide already follow a biannual admission system, he said that if Indian institutions adopt the biannual admission cycle, they can enhance their international collaborations and student exchanges. "As a result, our global competitiveness will improve, and we will align with the global educational standards," the UGC Chairman said. Biannual admissions can substantially increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio and make India a 'Global Study Destination' as envisioned in National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, he said. Further, Kumar said that if HEIs adopt biannual admissions, they need to work on administrative intricacies, good planning for increased use of available resources, and providing seamless support systems for the smooth transition of students admitted at dissimilar times of the year. 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Universities in India can now admit students twice a year on lines of foreign varsities: UGC chairman

Festive season is here and on the occasion of <keyword id="23288581" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Dhanteras" source="keywords">Dhanteras</keyword> today, buying jewellery is customary for many. If you are also planning to buy jewellery this festive season, this is for you. The <keyword id="20050220" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bureau-of-Indian-Standards" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Bureau of Indian Standards" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Bureau of Indian Standards">Bureau of Indian Standards</keyword> (BIS) is placing special emphasis on consumer awareness around gold and silver purchases, specifically advising shoppers to choose items backed by the <keyword id="21548543" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BIS-hallmark" source="keywords">BIS hallmark</keyword> for guaranteed purity and quality. The hallmark, as the BIS notes, is a crucial indicator of authenticity, especially given the high value traditionally associated with gold purchases during this festival. The BIS hallmark consists of three critical components: the BIS Standard Mark, confirming adherence to quality standards; the Purity Mark, which denotes gold’s fineness and carat purity; and a unique Hallmark Unique ID (HUID), a six-digit alphanumeric code specific to each jewellery piece. Consumers can verify the HUID on their jewellery using the ‘<keyword id="23727070" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="verify-HUID" source="keywords">Verify HUID</keyword>’ feature on the BIS Care App, which is free to download. This added verification step ensures customers can make informed purchases that meet the advertised purity levels, making the hallmark a trusted seal during peak shopping seasons. As part of its hallmarking efforts, BIS has made hallmarking mandatory in several regions of India since June 2021. Originally launched in 256 districts, hallmarking has been expanded to cover 343 districts following three phases of implementation, according to BIS. The scheme has had a substantial impact, with the number of BIS-registered jewellers increasing from 43,153 in 2021 to over 193,567 today. Furthermore, the number of Assaying and Hallmarking Centres (AHCs) now stands at 1,611, reflecting an extensive infrastructure to meet rising demand. Hallmarking fees have been set at Rs 45 per piece (exclusive of taxes), with testing available at AHCs for Rs 200 per item, a move BIS believes supports consumer confidence by offering a third-party verification system. Director General of BIS, <keyword id="22532001" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pramod-Kumar-Tiwari" source="keywords">Pramod Kumar Tiwari</keyword>, reiterated BIS’s commitment to upholding <keyword id="21945794" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="quality-standards" source="keywords">quality standards</keyword> in gold purchases, especially during festive seasons like Dhanteras, when jewellery is traditionally seen as a symbol of prosperity and future security. Tiwari encouraged consumers to prioritise BIS-certified jewellery, highlighting that with the hallmark and BIS CARE app, buyers can validate purchases independently. With Dhanteras marking a peak in gold buying as families seek financial security, BIS is focusing on educating consumers about hallmarking as a means to safeguard investments. This growing system of certification, backed by government oversight, is intended to make buying gold a transparent, secure experience—one that helps consumers focus more on the joy of the purchase and less on the risks associated with authenticity. (with ANI inputs)

Buying gold jewellery this Dhanteras? Here is how you can verify authenticity as per BIS

Are you an avid credit card user? Are you up to speed with all the changes that have come into effect starting today, which is all set to impact your credit card usage, and your pocket. Here's a quick snapshot of all the changes that you should be well aware of: <h2><keyword id="19900482" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ICICI-Bank" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="ICICI Bank" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="ICICI Bank">ICICI Bank</keyword> </h2>Starting today, ICICI bank has done away with fees for many services, which include request for a charge slip, which was earlier chargeable at Rs 100/slip and cash and cheque pick up, which also carried a fee of Rs 100 earlier. Earlier, for outstation cheque processing and duplicate bank statement (for three months), a fee of Rs 100 was payable. Now, all those charges have been waived. However, going ahead, you'll have to dish out Rs 200 instead of Rs 100, if you wish to get your credit card replaced. <h2><keyword id="19952948" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Axis-Bank" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Axis Bank" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Axis Bank">Axis Bank</keyword></h2>If you hold a <keyword id="19941660" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Citibank" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Citibank" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Citibank">Citibank</keyword> credit card, this is for you. The migration of all Citibank <keyword id="19953671" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="credit-cards" source="keywords">credit cards</keyword> to Axis bank will be complete by 15th July, 2024. Post that, you will receive new credit cards from Axis bank .However, until then, your existing Citibank cards will continue to work just fine. All your unredeemed points will be converted into EDGE miles. After migration, they will have an expiration period of 3 years. Starting today, RBIs new rules mandate that all credit card transactions in the country be processed through <keyword id="20779381" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bharat-Bill-Payment-System" source="keywords">Bharat Bill Payment System</keyword> (BBPS). This means that if your bank has not come on board with BBPS, you will not be able to make payment through their credit card on other third-party platforms. Out of 34 banks that can issue credit cards, 12 banks have come onboard the BBPS. These include SBI, <keyword id="19938728" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="kotak-mahindra" source="keywords">Kotak Mahindra</keyword>, IndusInd, Federal, HDFC, ICICI and IDFC bank. Indian Overseas bank and <keyword id="45660" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="yes-bank" source="Orion">YES Bank</keyword> are expected to go live soon. <h2>SBI Bank</h2>Starting July 15th, if you hold one of the 22 specified SBI credit cards, you will no longer accrue any reward points while making certain transactions, particularly if they are related to government services. These include Air India SBI Platinum Card, Air India SBI Signature Card, Central SBI Select+ Card, Chennai Metro SBI Card, Etihad Guest SBI Card, Fabindia SBI Card SELECT, IRCTC SBI Card, Mumbai Metro SBI Card and more. <h2>YES Bank </h2>If you hold a YES Bank credit card, the criteria for you to qualify for complimentary lounge access has changed. Starting today, you will have to spend at least Rs 35,000 from your credit card in the previous quarter, in order to be able to get a complimentary access to domestic airport lounges in the next quarter. Earlier, this threshold was set at Rs 10,000. This will impact YES Marquee, YES SELECT, YES Reserv, YES First Preferred, YES Bank ELITE, YES BYOC, and YES Wellness Plus cards. <h2>HDFC Bank</h2>Starting August 1st, if you make rent, or education related payments via platforms like Cred and Paytm, you will have to pay a fee of upto 1% of the transaction, which will be a maximum of Rs 3,000. However, if you make the payment directly through your school or college's website, you will be able to save on this charge. Similarly, on all fuel expenses of over Rs 15,000, a 1% fee will be applied, which can be a maximum of Rs 3,000.

What has changed for your credit cards, starting today?

<keyword id="19970108" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="vacancies" source="keywords">Vacancies</keyword> in <keyword id="20591266" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="teaching-positions" source="keywords">teaching positions</keyword> in <keyword id="20132275" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="state-universities" source="keywords">state universities</keyword> have emerged as a major hurdle in the implementation of the National Education Policy (<keyword id="19904633" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nep" source="keywords">NEP</keyword>) 2020, University Grants Commission (<keyword id="19932586" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ugc" source="keywords">UGC</keyword>) chairman Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar said here on Friday. The <keyword id="20963740" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="UGC-chairman" source="keywords">UGC chairman</keyword> was here to attend a day-long conference of vice-chancellors of Northeastern and Eastern regions on 'Implementation of NEP 2020', hosted by Guwahati-based Pragjyotishpur University. Addressing a press conference, Kumar said, "Across the country, a major problem in state universities is vacancies in teaching positions. In some state universities, 50 to 80 per cent of teaching positions are vacant," urging universities to expedite the filling of these positions. He said implementation of NEP is a "journey", which cannot happen overnight, and state governments have been enthusiastically participating in implementing it. Kumar stressed that it is also essential for the universities to formulate an institutional development plan and their own roadmap for the future. With approximately 130 vice-chancellors and other academics participating, discussions at the conference focused on transforming <keyword id="19896809" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="higher-education" source="keywords">higher education</keyword> institutions to empower students in contributing to national development. Key topics include providing holistic education, integrating skill development with degree programs, and utilising digital technology to reach students from rural and economically weaker backgrounds. "We will be discussing how the NEP is being implemented and challenges colleges and universities are facing, so that we can collectively find solutions," he said. Kumar requested the universities to open more off-campus centres to make education accessible and equitable, while stating that UGC was also laying thrust on training teachers in the higher education sector. Highlighting the need to expose students to different parts of the country, he said the Northeastern region is home to many indigenous knowledge systems, whether it be a festival celebrated based on astronomical calculation, bamboo engineering or shifting cultivation. "These are parts of Indian knowledge system and there is a need to expose students to this from different parts of the country," he said. Kumar added that UGC is also working on promoting education in own language, especially with the country having numerous native languages. On implementation of NEP in this region, Kumar said the UGC is in regular touch with state higher education councils and VCs. "We are very happy to inform that state governments are very enthusiastically participating in implementing NEP. Implementation is a journey," he added. He reiterated that achieving the target of a Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) of 50 per cent by 2035 requires sustained effort and cannot be achieved overnight. Among initiatives under NEP is the provision of biannual admissions to help students who fail to enroll during July-August to take admission in January-February. Universities with required infrastructure have been requested to implement it to maximise resource utilisation, Kumar said, adding that 90 varsities have also started biannual admissions for online programmes. The UGC chairman also said stress is being laid on strengthening research ecosystem in the universities and bring more young people into it. Though directly UGC funded-research has stopped now, funds for research projects are available through other agencies, like National Research Foundation and other schemes, he added. With focus on online education, internet connectivity and electrification has also received a boost across the country, with common service centres also set up for students in remote areas to access Net, Kumar added.

Vacancies in teaching positions major problem in NEP implementation: UGC chairman

The Central Board of Secondary Education (<keyword id="6356155" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="cbse" source="Orion">CBSE</keyword>) has opposed a petition challenging certain provisions of the Right to Education Act, 2009 for being "arbitrary, irrational, and violative" and seeking direction to the Centre to implement common syllabus and curriculum for the students of Class 1 to 8 standard throughout the country. In its reply to a <keyword id="6355791" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="PIL" source="Orion">PIL</keyword> filed by lawyer and BJP leader Ashwini Upadhyay, the CBSE clarified that education falls under the 'Concurrent List' of the Indian Constitution, and the majority of schools are under the jurisdiction of state governments. As a result, it is the responsibility of the respective state and Union territory governments to formulate syllabi, curricula, and conduct examinations for schools in their regions. The CBSE further pointed out that the National Curriculum Framework (NCF), developed by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (<keyword id="48505" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ncert" source="Orion">NCERT</keyword>) in accordance with the National Policy on Education, provides guidelines and direction for syllabus and textbook development across all school stages. In line with the NCF, the NCERT develops curriculum, syllabi, textbooks, and supplementary materials, it said. The Board said that the State Councils of Educational Research and Training (SCERTs) and State Education Boards either adopt or adapt the NCERT's model syllabi and textbooks or create their own based on the NCF. The CBSE also said that a uniform curriculum across India may not adequately consider local context, culture, and language. It further highlighted the importance of a national framework with flexibility that allows for the incorporation of local resources, culture, and ethos. The CBSE's response underscored that a curriculum closely related to a student's life outside of school is more relatable and effective. Therefore, they expressed support for a diversity of curricula and educational resources, in addition to a common core element. A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad had earlier sought the Delhi government, the CBSE and the NHRC's response on the petition. The plea also challenges the provisions under the RTE Act which excludes madrasas, Vedic pathshalas and educational institutions imparting religious knowledge. Upadhyay had argued that all competitive examinations be it engineering, law and the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) should have a common syllabus. "But we have multiple syllabus at school level, how will it provide an equal opportunity for students? In Kendra Vidyalayas across the country, we have a common syllabus. Every developed country has a common syllabus in schools. It is unfortunate we are under pressure from the coaching mafia." He had contended that as per the Articles of the Constitution, students do not get equal opportunities. Upadhyay, in his plea, alleges that "education mafias are very powerful and have a very strong syndicate. They influence rules, regulations, policies and examinations. The bitter truth is that school mafias do not want one nation-one education board, coaching mafias do not want one nation-one syllabus, and book mafias do not want NCERT books in all schools. That is why the <keyword id="97896" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="uniform-education-system" source="Orion">uniform education system</keyword> up to the 12th standard has not been implemented yet." "It is necessary to state that the purposive and harmonious construction of Articles 14, 15, 16, 21, 21A with Articles 38, 39, 46 confirms that education is a basic right of every child and the state cannot discriminate against this most important right. Right of a child should not be restricted only to free education, but must be extended to have equal quality education without discrimination on the ground of the child's social, economic and cultural background," the plea reads.

CBSE opposes PIL in Delhi HC seeking common syllabus across India

<keyword id="19955368" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="budget-2024" source="keywords">Budget 2024</keyword>, which is set to be presented on July 22nd, is set to accelerate the growth of <keyword id="20459350" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-stock-markets" source="keywords">Indian stock markets</keyword> by as much as 20%, a recent survey by <keyword id="19897999" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bloomberg" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Bloomberg" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Bloomberg">Bloomberg</keyword> noted. While some respondents hope that the <keyword id="20983733" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="NSE-Nifty50" source="keywords">NSE Nifty50</keyword>, which is currently trading at 24,273.35 points, might reach 26,000 points by the end of this year, others estimate the index to inch up even higher. The budget is likely to boost consumer spending, accelerate consumption, and support infrastructure development, noted half of the 24 experts Bloomberg surveyed. Data by Bloomberg Intelligence predicted that the estimated earnings per share (EPS) of companies on the MSCI India Index is set to rise by 15.6% on year basis, for the calendar year 2024. In contrast, Chinese firms are expected to grow at about 10%. One-fourth of surveyed analysts noted that pushing capital expenditure would be the government's top priority, while the other half thought the focus would be on boosting consumer demand. Naturally, analysts see potential growth in consumer discretionary stocks in the months to come, followed by financial services. <h2>Focus on Women, Capex</h2>Many are expecting the government to raise the standard deduction threshold from the current Rs 50,000 to Rs 1,00,000. The government is also thinking of raising the limits of the <keyword id="19930663" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Public-Provident-Fund" source="keywords">Public Provident Fund</keyword> (PPF) from Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000. As per Ashwajit Singh, Founder and Managing Director of IPE Global, "the budget is expected to be tilted towards adopting a strategy for the underprivileged, youth, farmers, and women. The budget is expected to reflect the government’s tried and tested formula of ‘guarantees’ by opting for income transfer policies and spending more on welfare schemes in government campaigns in India. Allocations for existing schemes such as 'Housing for All’, MGNREGA, and health insurance for these sections of society are likely to increase while new schemes may be introduced". According to Badal Yagnik, CEO of Colliers India, the real estate segment is optimistic regarding this budget: "Housing, infrastructure development, sustainability, and digitization will remain at the core of the budget, which will go a long way in supporting real estate growth across segments in the long term. EV infrastructure, renewable energy, and green financing will continue to remain in focus, creating a strong base for a sustainable future. Incentivization of green buildings through minimum alternate tax or tax breaks similar to the infrastructure sector will be particularly beneficial. Meanwhile, retail investors are calling for additional rationalizing of the capital gains tax structure. The Union Budget 2024–25 should explore initiatives to boost greater retail engagement in REITs and InvITs". Anooshka Soham Bathwal, founder of Dhanvesttor, a financial management platform, expects that the government's focus is likely to keep driving the increased participation of women in the workforce in the upcoming full budget, where it can attain the same by incentivising higher education for women. "To promote entrepreneurship, the government can introduce special benefits for the businesses started by women. Further steps towards a stable policy environment and ease of doing business are also desirable. Incentives on tax, funding, and growth for women-centric organizations can help to further attain the inclusive growth objective of government". Bathwal also emphasized that the budget should promote entrepreneurs and the country's startup system. "Entrepreneurs are advocating for additional tax breaks for investors and promoters to attract more domestic capital. As India progresses towards becoming a global hub for entrepreneurship and innovation, fostering both technological and process innovations is crucial. Significant improvements in ongoing training and skill upgrades are vital, particularly given the rapid growth in Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets. Additionally, the government needs to address the credit challenges faced by SMEs", she continued Also read <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/budget-2024-heres-what-indias-elderlies-want/articleshow/111486023.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Budget 2024: FM might delight India's senior citizens this time around</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/union-budget-2024-25-when-will-it-be-presented-what-to-expect-and-more/articleshow/111014203.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Union budget 2024-25 : When will it be presented, what to expect and more</a>

Budget 2024 to fuel stock markets: Bloomberg Survey

<ul><li>Threshold for e-mandates that requires two factor authentication raised from ₹15,000 to ₹1 lakh. </li><li>In the August policy update, Das has proposed introducing conversational payments on UPI. </li><li>The <keyword id="30067" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rbi" source="Orion">RBI</keyword> had also raised the transaction limit of UPI Lite to ₹500 from ₹200. </li></ul>Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das announced on Friday an increase in the transaction limits for specific categories within the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). Additionally, new limits for e-mandates concerning recurring payments were also announced. Under the updated UPI transaction limit regulations, individuals can now conduct payments via UPI up to ₹5 lakh per day, previously capped at ₹1 lakh, specifically for payments to hospitals and educational institutions. “A key highlight is the adjustment in the UPI limit for transactions involving hospitals and educational institutions, raising it from ₹1 lakh to ₹5 lakh. This targeted policy measure acknowledges sector-specific financial needs, contributing to the macroeconomic resilience of critical segments. This could potentially result in increased financial transactions and ease,” says Sheersham Gupta, Director and Senior Technical Analyst at Rupeezy, a trading platform. “Education expenses usually tend to be high and very time-bound. Increasing the UPI limit for education up to ₹5L means students and parents will be able to make immediate hassle-free cash payments without needing to resort to instruments such as demand drafts,” says Adhil Shetty, CEO, BankBazaar, a financial marketplace. In the August policy update, Das has proposed introducing conversational payments on UPI, enabling users to interact with an AI-powered system for secure transaction initiation and completion. This feature will be accessible on both smartphone and feature phone-based UPI platforms, initially supporting Hindi and English, followed by additional Indian languages. The RBI had also raised the transaction limit of UPI Lite to ₹500 from ₹200. UPI Lite is accessible through various payment apps like Paytm, BHIM App, GooglePay, among others. Several banks, including Canara Bank, HDFC Bank, Indian Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Punjab National Bank, State Bank of India, Union Bank of India, and Utkarsh Small Finance Bank, are already active on the UPI Lite platform. In November, digital transactions through the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) exceeded 11 billion for the second successive month, with the country witnessing 1.124 billion <keyword id="4052276" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="upi-transactions" source="Orion">UPI transactions</keyword>. As per data from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), although UPI transactions dipped slightly from October's 1.141 billion, they surged by 54% compared to November 2022's 730.95 million transactions.

UPI transaction limit for education and healthcare hiked to ₹5 lakh per day

A nationwide change will take place in the higher education system, especially in undergraduate courses as language will cease to be a barrier in BA, B.Com, and B.Sc courses. Students will be able to graduate in their mother tongue. In view of the same, preparations have begun to make the course books available in languages like Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Tamil and Telugu among others. The <keyword id="56459" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="university-grants-commission" source="Orion">University Grants Commission</keyword> (<keyword id="44171" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="ugc" source="Orion">UGC</keyword>), under an initiative by the <keyword id="10025694" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="union-ministry-of-education" source="Orion">Union Ministry of Education</keyword>, is engaging with publishers to translate English textbooks to various Indian languages. Pearson India, Narosa Publishers, Viva Books, S. Chand Publishers, Vikas Publishing, New Age Publishers, Mahavir Publications, Universities Press and Taxmann Publications are some of the major publications involved in the process. Along with these, representatives of <keyword id="118548" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="oxford-university-press" source="Orion">Oxford University Press</keyword>, Orient Blackswan and Elsevier also participated in the high-level meeting. The UGC recently held discussions with representatives of Wiley India, Springer Nature, Taylor &amp; Francis, Cambridge University Press India, Cengage India and McGraw Hill, India on bringing out undergraduate English textbooks in Indian languages. UGC, as a part of NEP 2020, is working towards getting the most popular textbooks translated for UG programmes in higher education institutions across the country in the 12 Indian languages. UGC Chairman Professor M. Jagadesh Kumar told IANS that the <keyword id="6355822" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="commission" source="Orion">Commission</keyword> will act as a nodal agency to provide help and support to the publishers with regard to identification of textbooks, translation tools and editing experts so that the books can be made affordable in the digital format. He added that the Commission will proceed further in two ways, wherein popular textbooks of the programmes will be identified and translated and simultaneously, Indian authors will be encouraged to write the textbooks in Indian languages for non-technical subjects. Kumar was all praise for the publishers who participated in the mission and said that the Commission intends to get several books translated within six to twelve months, for which it has constituted an apex committee to prepare a road map and work towards the goal. Kumar said that the focus will be on the translation of existing textbooks which will later be extended to postgraduate programmes. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/personalities/news/i-am-glad-i-fd-up-so-much-in-life-that-it-is-content-now-says-ankur-warikoo/articleshow/96282722.cms">I am glad I F**%*D up so much in life that it is content now says Ankur Warikoo</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/tech-layoffs-surpass-great-recession-levels-set-to-get-worse-in-early-2023/articleshow/96314678.cms">Tech layoffs surpass Great Recession levels, set to get worse in early 2023</a>

UGC prepares ground for Bachelor's exams in 12 Indian languages

The school-to-work transition process is still facing major hurdles in India and a lack of coordinated efforts has resulted in an isolated skilling system that has not been able to achieve its maximum potential, a World Economic Forum (WEF) report stated. The report titled Education 4.0 Report', on how digital and other technologies can address learning gaps and make education accessible to all, has been launched as part of WEF's Education 4.0 India initiative. "India has more than 60 million secondary and higher secondary students, but 85 per cent of schools are yet to implement vocational courses as part of their curriculum, it said.School-to-work (S2W) transition refers to the process of making students job-ready in a rapidly evolving employment landscape. The report said, The S2W transition process is still facing major hurdles such as lack of trainers, inadequate resources and infrastructure, poor integration with the mainstream school curriculum, and poor linkages between localized skill gaps and vocational courses." "A lack of coordinated efforts has resulted in an isolated skilling ecosystem that has not been able to achieve its maximum potential," it said. The report noted that many students and parents consider vocational education to be the second-best option to mainstream education. "Employers expect students to have a high degree of competencies, skills and knowledge relevant to their work. They also prefer strong communication skills, teamwork, and problem-solving and critical-thinking abilities, it stated.According to the report, at present, school pedagogy is designed with no reference to industry needs, since there are no formal channels for industry participation. "Further, credits cannot be transferred between formal and informal education streams, so students who want to pursue higher education after vocational courses (or vice-versa) face difficulty in linking their credits. This discourages mobility between the two streams," it said.Enhancing opportunities for career awareness and exposure through internships and apprenticeships' allowing credit transferability to enable students to transfer between formal and informal channels of education and training and providing experiential learning for holistic development through STEM-based courses, language learning and life-skills coaching, are among the recommendations made in the report. The Education 4.0 India initiative was launched in May 2020 and has convened over 40 partners from the education technology, government, academic and start-up communities. The report is the result of a collaboration between the World Economic Forum, the United Nations Children's Education Fund (<keyword id="56000" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="unicef" source="Orion">UNICEF</keyword>) and YuWaah (Generation Unlimited India). It tracks the progress and findings of the Education 4.0 India initiative, which focuses on how the fourth industrial revolution technologies can enhance learning and reduce inequalities in access to education among children in India. The report also explores challenges and identifies solutions that can be realised as scalable interventions to enable India's youth to participate in the evolving workspace." The COVID-19 pandemic has widened the gaps in learning outcomes among school children in India. These gaps have been magnified for children, particularly from disenfranchised and vulnerable families who face innumerable socio-economic issues that also have been worsened by the pandemic," said Jeremy Jurgens, Managing Director of the World Economic Forum. "Through the Education 4.0 India initiative, the Forum, together with UNICEF India and YuWaah, aims to offer insights and recommendations that transcend the education landscape in India and can achieve global impact. This is the first partnership for the Forum and UNICEF at the country level," Jurgens added. The report also provides a framework for the development of scalable pilots that can be implemented by state governments and ecosystem partners. This includes best practices that can augment the existing education ecosystem and be useful for a wide range of stakeholders. The report identifies gaps in foundational literacy and numeracy, teacher professional development, school-to-work transition and connecting the unconnected and suggests solutions with five common building blocks curriculum, content, capacity, community and digital infrastructure. <a class="c-link c-timestamp" href="https://timesbridge.slack.com/archives/D03ELEB8TJA/p1665146009166099"></a> SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/tracxn-technologies-ipo-analyst-cautious-due-to-losses-and-investor-exits/articleshow/94708410.cms">Tracxn Technologies IPO: Analyst cautious due to losses and investor exits</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/banks/news/banks-to-reap-rewards-of-interest-rate-hikes-in-q2-earnings/articleshow/94706875.cms">Banks to reap rewards of interest rate hikes in Q2 earnings</a>

You Searched For "Indian education system" and got 10 results

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UPI transaction limit for education and healthcare hiked to ₹5 lakh per day

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UGC prepares ground for Bachelor's exams in 12 Indian languages

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85% Indian schools don't have vocational courses as part of their curriculum: WEF

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