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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

<ul><li>India is planning to launch its first vedic school board. </li><li>Yoga guru Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali is reportedly among the top contenders. </li><li>Three years ago, India’s government rejected Ramdev’s plea to establish the <keyword id="3777453" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="vedic-education-board">vedic education board</keyword> citing concerns over the Indian government recognising a private school board.</li></ul>Three years after rejecting the idea of introducing a ‘Vedic’ education board, India’s government is reportedly planning to launch <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/baba-ramdev-likely-to-head-first-vedic-board-patanjali-5599448/">one</a>. According to an Indian Express report, on Saturday, a government panel comprising five members recommended yoga Guru Baba Ramdev to head the ‘Bharatiya Shiksha Board (BSB)’. Once implemented, the BSB is expected to benefit educational institutions run by Arya Samaj and gurukuls, which are not presently supported by Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), according to the report. The move is reportedly an effort to ‘standardise Indian traditional knowledge’ including vedic education, Sanskrit and Yoga. The board will include a syllabus, exams and certificates to integrate ‘Ved Vidya’ with modern education. The governing panel’s vote will be evaluated by Maharshi Sandipani Rashtriya Vedavidya Pratishthan (MSRVP), a foundation headed and funded by Human Resource Minister Prakash Javadekar. Earlier this month, when the MSRVP <a href="https://thewire.in/education/baba-ramdevs-trust-among-applicants-to-establish-vedic-school-board">floated</a> an ‘expression of interest’ to establish the vedic board, Ramdev’s Patanjali Yogpeeth Trust was among three applicants who submitted a bid. The other two contenders were Ritnand Balved Education Foundation, which runs the Amity Group of Institutions, and Maharashtra Institute of Technology, Pune. According to norms set out by the governing body, the sponsors of the board are required to have a minimum net worth of ₹3 billion and must be willing to contribute at least ₹500 million as corpus fund. Patanjali has reportedly committed at least <a href="https://www.news18.com/news/india/ramdev-may-head-first-vedic-education-board-after-govt-panel-picks-patanjali-2047289.html">₹210 million</a>. The move reverses the government stance from three years ago. Former Education Minister Smriti Irani said the government had “reservations” about backing a private school board following Patanjali’s bid to create a Vedic board. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indias-top-yogi-cum-entrepreneur-just-set-a-yoga-world-record/articleshow/64683406.cms">India's top yogi-cum-entrepreneur just set a yoga world record</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/patanjali-is-building-an-army-of-salesmen-to-drive-its-next-phase-of-growth/articleshow/64682359.cms">Patanjali is building an army of salesmen to drive its next phase of growth</a>

India wants to bring back ancient Vedic education schools — billionaire yoga guru Ramdev leads the race

A massive Diwali-Dussehra celebration festival showcasing the best of Indian culture, heritage, and values in an unparalleled manner has attracted a record-breaking crowd of more than 10,000 persons from all walks of life and ethnicities here in <keyword id="15710" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="texas" source="Orion">Texas</keyword>. The 11th Grand International Diwali-Dussehra Festival, depicting the "victory of good over evil", at Constellation Field in Sugar Land, a Greater <keyword id="100821" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="houston" source="Orion">Houston</keyword> suburb, was attended by several dignitaries, including US congressmen, judges, mayors, and commissioners on Saturday. Organised by the Shri Sita Ram Foundation (SSRF), a non-profit organisation, the epic celebration from 2012 onwards has grown tremendously over the years and continues to attract more attendees across Texas and other states every year. The foundation finds innovative and unique ways to share Indian Vedic culture and values. Last year it initiated efforts to highlight Diwali's message of "Good Over Evil" by involving consul generals of 15 countries in the Dussehra parade. This year, Texas Governor Greg Abbott sent in a video message, with Houston Mayor <keyword id="3691420" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="sylvester-turner" source="Orion">Sylvester Turner</keyword> being the Grand Marshal along with consul generals of several countries joining for the Dussehra parade. The football stadium was brilliantly transformed and decorated with millions of dazzling multi-coloured lights, lit-up main entrance gates, and colourful silk-draped vendor booths. The ceilings and walls of the concourse and field were decorated with traditional banners, flags, hangings, and pictures of several deities. The vendor booths did a brisk business in selling traditional Diwali items, including Diwali diyas, jewellery, fashion clothing, and toys. A "food bazaar" served vegetarian food from every part of <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword>. This festival had special attractions for children like henna booths, face painting, balloons, moonwalks, merry-go-rounds, a petting zoo, horse buggy rides, clowns, etc. Performances like folk dances, martial arts of India, and kids in costumes of the characters from the scriptures were presented on a two-tiered 60 ft. by 40 ft. stage, with professionally installed stage lights, special effects, and huge LED screens adding a wow factor for the audience. A 24-foot-tall figure of lord Hanuman and a 35-foot-tall figure of Lord Ram was installed next to the stage. A play in English depicting the life of lord Rama and his final battle to overcome evil kept the audience glued to their seats till the end, earning a standing ovation. Arun Verma, president of SSRF, said: "India is a country of festivals and Diwali being the biggest of all festivals, we try to introduce, educate, promote and showcase the rich vibrant culture and moral value to the Indian diaspora and all Americans, while celebrating the 'Victory of Good over Evil' and 'Universal Brotherhood'." "We bring the best of the best and do it on a grand scale. You name it, and we have it over here." The festival is "open to anybody" as it also includes aspects of American culture, according to Verma. "Our belief is that the entire world is one big family and we need to treat everybody like a brother and a sister. To demonstrate that, we have invited every one of them," he said. "Looking at the overwhelming response this year and the record crowd, we may have to take this festival to an even bigger location than this football field with the capacity of 10,000 spectators" as we had to stop people from entering after it crossed the maximum capacity due to city restraints, he told PTI. The Sugar Land festival, which Verma said is the biggest of its kind in Texas, combines the two Hindu holidays of Diwali and Dussehra. The festival featured a unique multi-coloured magnificent parade with 40 floats by local temples and community organisations representing scenes, stories, and characters from Indian scriptures. Mayor <keyword id="169084" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="turner" source="Orion">Turner</keyword>, who was the Grand Marshal, lead the parade alongside the Consul General of India in Houston, Aseem Mahajan, the Consulate General of France in Houston, Valerie Baraba, Indian American Fort Bend County Judge, K P George, as well as several representatives of the Texas Congressmen and other official dignitaries. The parade included representatives of the nearly 100 consul generals in Houston who represent several foreign countries. Valerie Baraban said in a tweet that she was "thrilled to participate in the Grand 11th International Diwali-Dussehra festival alongside Mayor Sylvester Turner, CG Mahajan, and other members of the consular corps. India is one of France's major partners in the Indo-pacific region". This year's festival also celebrated the 75th anniversary of India's independence "Amrit Mahotsav". Fifteen major freedom fighters such as Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, and Subhash Chander Bose were honoured by carrying 75 Indian flags during the parade. "The entire Houston Consular Corp. joined the celebrations in the true spirit of Vasudeva Kumtumbkam, thus treating the entire world as a big family. This was depicted in the parade by 100 volunteers carrying 100 national flags of the entire Houston Consular Corp," Verma said. As November elections are around the corner, a few political candidates like Beto O'Rourke, who is running for Texas Governor position, found the stage to greet Indian Americans. Wishing everyone Diwali, he said, adding that "we celebrate this festival of lights to push out darkness and celebrate the triumph of good over evil", with each of us having a chance to "make sure we are heard in this great democracy". The Ravan Dahan, the burning of a 25-foot-tall effigy of Ravan, Kumbhakaran, and Meghnath, was held amongst the loud sound of crackers and spectacular fireworks to celebrate the occasion of the "Victory of Good Over Evil". SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/pvr-reports-net-loss-of-71-23-crore-in-q2-attributes-it-to-bollywood-hollywood-flops/articleshow/94917917.cms">PVR reports net loss of ₹71.23 crore in Q2, attributes it to Bollywood, Hollywood flops</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/arunachal-pradeshs-eagle-sanctuary-has-woodpeckers-flycatchers-and-more-but-no-eagles/articleshow/94916258.cms">Arunachal Pradesh's eagle sanctuary has woodpeckers, flycatchers and more - but no eagles</a>

With veg food stalls and henna booths, Houston's Dusshera-Diwali festival attracts 10,000 people

Strongly backing Tamil Nadu's decades old two-language policy, the ruling AIADMK in the state on Monday rejected the Centre's three-language formula proposed in the new <keyword id="361871" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-Education-Policy">National Education Policy</keyword> (NEP) 2020 and said there will be no deviation from the existing system. "The three-language formula in the NEP is painful and saddening. The Prime Minister (<keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword>) should reconsider the three-language policy," Palaniswami said. Taking strong exception to the proposal, he said in a statement the state has been following the two-language policy for several decades and that there will be no change in it. His assertion came amidst opposition demand, including from DMK, that the government should reject the three-language formula proposed in NEP and stick to its two-language policy. Incidentally, ahead of today's meeting he convened to discuss the matter with his senior cabinet colleagues, the Opposition bloc led by DMK wrote to the chief minister, asking him to adopt a Cabinet resolution against the new NEP. "Tamil Nadu will never allow the Centre's three- language formula. The state will continue with its dual language policy (of Tamil and English)," Palaniswami said. He discussed the matter with his colleagues--Deputy CM O Panneerselvam, Ministers for higher education and school education, K P Anbalagan and K A Sengottaiyan, respectively and others. The Centre should allow the states to implement their own policy on the subject, he said, adding there will be no change to the two-language formula which the state had adopted decades ago. Teaching up to class 5 in mother tongue or regional language and lowering the stakes of board exams are part of the sweeping reforms in the new NEP unveiled last week by the Centre. However, the proposals have found resistance from the DMK-led opposition in the state, with the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, MK Stalin, dubbing it as an attempt to "impose" Hindi and Sankrit. The anti-Hindi movement of the 1960s taken forward by the DMK had struck an instant chord among the Tamil masses then and is believed to be one of the key reasons for the Dravidian party storming to power in the 1967 elections under the late CN Annadurai, unseating a Congress government in the state for the first time in post-independent India. Palaniswami further said the state has been maintaining a consistent stand and that for about 80 years, the people of Tamil Nadu had been firm on two language policy. Late chief ministers Annadurai, MG Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa were firmly against 'imposition' of Hindi. He also recalled the historic resolution brought in the Tamil Nadu Assembly by late Annadurai on January 23, 1968, which proposed to abolish the three language policy in all schools in the state, removing Hindi from the State syllabus but allowing only Tamil and English. Later, the AIADMK government led M G Ramachandran had in 1986 adopted an Assembly resolution asserting the two language policy. Former chief minister J Jayalalithaa too was firm on opposing Hindi on non-Hindi speaking states and in thwarting such efforts and wanted Tamil to be declared as an official language of the country, he said. Palaniswami pointed out he himself had written to the Prime Minister in June 2019 stressing on two-language policy. Besides, he had reiterated this in his Independence Day address last year and on various occasions during the debates in the state Assembly, he recalled. Meanwhile, the Opposition DMK led alliance in Tamil Nadu--comprising the Congress, MDMK, VCK, CPM, CPI and MMK, collectively wrote a letter to Palaniswami asking him to pass a resolution against the new NEP in the Tamil Nadu Cabinet meeting. Many clauses in the new policy are trying to impose "Hindi" and "Sanskrit" and are "trying to do away with Tamil from the system, and this is against federalism, women rights and social justice. It was also "imposing" vedic culture, besides being mum on reservation, it said. "The NEP should be opposed in the initial stages itself," the letter added. Later, Stalin, in a Facebook post, thanked Palaniswami for the government stand on the matter. The NEP, passed by the Union Cabinet last week, laid emphasis on the mother tongue/local and regional language which will now be the medium of instruction at least till Class 5, but preferably till Class 8 and beyond. Also, Sanskrit will be offered at all levels of school and higher education as an option for students, including in the three-language formula.

National Education Policy: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister writes to Modi opposing the shift to three languages

The importance of <keyword id="3125734" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ancient-Indian-education">ancient Indian education</keyword> and its impact worldwide is reflected in the words of Albert Einstein who said: “We owe a lot to the Indians who taught us how to count without which no worthwhile scientific discovery could have been made.” 
 
Education has indeed been a rich treasure of the country, though as years passed by we embraced learning methodologies from developed nations and endeavored to innovate further in the field of education. 
 The <keyword id="3125735" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="History-of-Education">history of education</keyword> in India can be traced from the Vedic age where the sages imparted knowledge orally, and later to the Gurukul system of education, where the Gurus (teachers) taught their shisyas (students) from written materials in palm leaves and tree barks on various aspects of religion, philosophy, medicine, science, astrology, and history. The ancient <keyword id="3125736" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Education-Models">education models</keyword> can teach us some valuable lessons to improvise the way we get educated and pass it on as we move forward. 
 
Training is the first and most essential step to be taken by an individual to prepare himself/herself to attain the level expertise under the guidance of an experienced teacher. 
 With thorough processes, illustrations, and realization of facts, <keyword id="6356090" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Teaching">teaching</keyword> has been made accessible with courses tailor-made for aspirants to compete through their wit and abilities. 
 
Meanwhile, assessing the performance through formal or informal examinations is still considered as one of the most credible ways to gauge the knowledge and skill a person has learnt. 
 
Without this step, we cannot validate the skills and potentials of a person, as the primary goal of acquiring knowledge and skill is to enhance one’s performance in the chosen area of work. Despite the rising opposition against conducting exams, many researchers like Henry L. Roediger III– a cognitive psychologist at Washington University– have proved the merits of testing students on the concepts learned. Tests are testimonials of the knowledge and ability of the learner, which is expressed through a structured format. 
 
Instances from the bygone era only validates the fact that training and testing form two independent yet vital pillars in the education system that go hand-in-hand. 
 
In the context of working professionals, it is important to get trained in the latest technology areas with courses created by subject matter experts, who have rich domain expertise, matched with inclusive guidance from experienced trainers. 
 
This will further enable the aspiring professionals to excel in the relevant examinations that are stamped with certifications, which are globally recognized by independent accreditation bodies. 
 
Industry credentials validate that one has the domain knowledge and skills associated with the job he or she is applying for and is more preferred over the person who might have been trained but lacks the certification. Certifications from technology vendors such as Salesforce, Cisco, Microsoft, Juniper, Red Hat or independent bodies like PMI, CompTIA, IASSC, OMCP etc., are testimonials to demonstrate that individuals are capable of applying the knowledge in real-world and on-the-job scenario. 
 
The certificates from accredited bodies endorse the ability and knowledge of the candidate to perform at a certain pace and adapt as when required. 
 
What is almost parallel to training certification is the ‘Nano-degree programme’ offered by Udacity, which is similar to a diploma course available in technology domains. 
 
An aspirant earns the nano-degree certificate within 6-12 months by submitting a project that meets certain set of parameters. While the Nano-degree courses have gained popularity, the validity of the certifications is yet to be proven by a third party body or multi-national companies. 
 
The purpose of any certification through a long or short term degree is to guarantee that the job you desire or the hike you deserve is an attainable goal. 
 
When aspirants know that they are bound to receive a tangible advantage at the end of the certification programme, it is enough motivation to ensure they set time and energy to achieve their professional goals. The organization or association through which you receive the certification will stay as an enduring source of knowledge and career development. 
 
The learning curve is shorter and easier for an individual with a valid certification than it would be for a non-certified individual. 
So invest in yourself by getting trained in newer possibilities, assess your knowledge time and again, and ensure to be certified and experience the tangible changes. 
 
Ed-tech players like Simplilearn have been advocating professional certification training for few years now and the sector is soon expected to witness more momentum kicking-in. Prominent training providers like Pluralsight and Lynda have realized the potential of industry accredited certifications and the value they hold given the prevailing user base of professionals who are not just looking for avenues to learn new skills, but want to get certified and showcase their credibility for career advancement. Infact, Lynda which is known to have endorsed life-long training is now shifting its focus towards professional certification training, a smart move post their acquisition by Linkedin. I am confident that these developments will prove to be a win-win situation for the training sector at large and the beneficiaries who will experience tangible impact as the move ahead in their careers. 
 

(About the author: The author of this article is Krishna Kumar, Founder &amp; CEO, Simplilearn)

Here’s how amalgamation of
ancient and new-age education is benefitting learners

New Delhi [India], December 21: While making significant strides in various sectors, there are leaders in India who are standing out for their work worldwide. The "Global <keyword id="397956" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="indian-leaders" source="Orion">Indian Leaders</keyword> 2023" list curated by World Brand Affairs has featured leaders from across the country who are known for their innovative, resilient, and persistent approach to functioning in their respective industries. These people are heading towards new heights and establishing standards for excellence. The list honors their outstanding efforts and accomplishments which have propelled their companies to unbound success. Their inclusion in the list highlights their exceptional abilities to navigate challenges, adapt to changing market trends, and consistently deliver groundbreaking results. Gaurav Munjal, CEO of Unacademy Gaurav Munjal is the co-founder and CEO of Unacademy, India's largest online learning platform. With a vision to democratize education, Munjal pioneered Unacademy's growth, transforming it into a leading ed-tech powerhouse. His innovative leadership has revolutionized accessible and quality education, empowering millions of learners across the globe. Kunal Shah, Founder of CRED Kunal Shah is the founder and CEO of CRED, a fintech startup revolutionizing credit card payments in India. As a serial entrepreneur, Shah previously founded FreeCharge, later acquired by Snapdeal. His innovative approach to creating rewarding credit experiences has helped CRED to redefine credit card usage while fostering financial literacy. Ashish Hemrajani, Co-founder and CEO of BookMyShow Ashish Hemrajis the co-founder and CEO of BookMyShow, India's leading online entertainment ticketing platform. Hemrajani's unique idea revolutionized the way people book tickets for movies, events, and live performances. His ingenious leadership transformed BookMyShow into a cultural phenomenon, reshaping the access to entertainment industry across the country. Fardin Sheikh, Managing Director at Wizence Group Fardin Sheikh is a seasoned professional with over 25 years of exemplary leadership experience, earning him recognition as a Distinguished Digital Transformation Leader. His dynamic career spans across various roles, showcasing a remarkable blend of strategic vision, project management acumen, and a strong commitment to driving digital innovation. Pariksha Rao, Founder of NuWe Starting as a Clinical Nutritionist, Pariksha Rao has morphed into various roles with the intent to help demystify and democratize healthcare. From maternal well-being to fetal health and tailored nutrition for weaning kids to teens, her work has helped impact over 200,000 lives over nearly two decades of her career. She continues to amplify her impact with NuWe. Poojaa Choprah, CEO and MD of Felix Impex Poojaa Choprah, a visionary CEO &amp; MD of Felix Impex Pvt Ltd., and founder of PNA ORIGINE, is renowned for strategic business acumen and market expansions. A trailblazer in entrepreneurship, her global fashion insights, artistic fervor as a Kathak dancer, and bespoke training expertise redefine success, weaving innovation and cultural fluency into her vibrant career. Amandeep Kaur Khangura, Director of Tru Prime Amandeep is a Canadian born entrepreneur who moved to India in 2011, and acquired Indian Citizenship to follow her passion to bring social empowerment in rural Punjab. During her time in Canada, Amandeep chaired HR &amp; Finance for a $500M project. Currently, in India, she operates Majara Dairy Farm which has 2,600 livestock and is the largest dairy farm operator in Punjab and one of the largest in India. Pt. Dr Sanjeev Kumar Srivastava, Nadi and Vedic Celebrity Astrologer Renowned globally as a luminary in Nadi and Vedic astrology, Pt. Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Srivastava is celebrated across 70+ nations for his remarkable precision in predictions &amp; teaching Nadi Astrology. With an illustrious career spanning 27 years, his astonishing success rate of 95-97% and expertise in Nadi Nakshatra Sutras exemplify his command in the celestial arts. Dr Prachiti Punde, Director of Proluxe Dr Prachiti Punde is a powerhouse in Integrated Medicine, Director of Proluxe Pvt Ltd, and Mrs. Universe Tolerance 2021. She transforms health and lifestyle with an exclusive GLAMOWELL multi-experience centre and revolutionizes wellness with patented tools and a unique mobile app. Along with being a spiritually blessed child, she is also an Anesthetist and mindskills Trainer with 15+ books published. Sanju Pudyandil, Founder of Whitespace Brand Consulting Sanju Pudyandil, a luminary in brand management and marketing, launched Whitespace Brand Consulting after honing his expertise at Ray+Keshavan, presently Super Union. Renowned for orchestrating transformative corporate revamps, he spearheaded impactful makeovers for illustrious brands like Canara Bank, Trident Hotels, J&amp;K Bank, Punj Lloyd, CEAT Tyres, and Fair &amp; Lovely, among others. Stuti Galiya, Partner at Khaitan &amp; Co. Stuti, an esteemed Advocate and solicitor, serves as a Partner at Khaitan &amp; Co., excelling in mergers &amp; acquisitions, private equity, corporate laws, commercial contracts, and foreign investments. Recognized as the "Luxury Retail Lawyer of the Year 2023" by APAC Insider, her expertise in the luxury retail sector marks her as an ingenious leader in the Asia-Pacific legal domain. Srividhya, Founder of HITECH Engineering Solutions (India) Srividhya, founder of HITECH Engineering Solutions (India) holds a deeply rooted legacy in Construction since 1998. Her indomitable optimism defied industry challenges, establishing a prominent platform despite male-dominated norms. Under her guidance, the company thrives as a certified SSI unit with ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015 &amp; OHSAS 4500: 2018 qualifications, renowned for cost-effective solutions nationwide and across Asia. Debabrata Sarkar, CMD at MicroAlgae Solutions Debabrata Sarkar is an agricultural innovator with 26+ years of global experience. Armed with a BCKVV agriculture degree and IIM Kolkata alumni status, he led strategic units for esteemed firms in Asia Pacific. He is currently serving as the CMD at MicroAlgae Solutions India Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of AlgaEnergy Spain. Mogilipuri Krishna Chaitanya, Director at Wonder View Media As a Director at Wonder View Media Pvt Ltd, a CMPTL franchise specializing in IT services and Business Consulting, Mogilipuri Krishna Chaitanya facilitated substantial growth for his brother's business. With over 9 years of experience, he continues to excel as a Software Engineer at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and has made significant contributions to tech giants like Apple, Google, and more. Subhajit Banik, Founder of Birdlens Creation Subhajit ventured into photography in 2007 as a model, cultivating expertise in lighting and creative framing. Winner of the Glamhunt competition by ABP group in 2010, he founded Birdlens Creation in 2015. Specializing in wedding photography, Subhajit crafts timeless, emotive images reflecting couples' love and joy. Dr Rahul Mirchandani, Chairman &amp; Managing Director of Aries Agro Limited Dr Rahul Mirchandani, ranked among the 30 Most Innovative CEOs in India, has pioneered unique strategies to build 130+ Aries specialty crop nutrition brands. With a PhD in Management Studies, he teaches Marketing, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship across 50+ B-Schools. He plays key roles in CII's agriculture council, and key governmental panels and was the National Chairman of CII's Young Indians. Vinay Kumar Singh, Executive Director and CEO of Thomson Digital and Q&amp;I (India) Vinay Kumar Singh is the Executive Director and CEO of Thomson Digital and Q&amp;I, with over 30 years of industry expertise. He pioneered Thomson Digital in India and globally, founding associated companies and an education technology startup. Specializing in scientific and educational content, Vinay completed his Executive Training Programs at ISB Hyderabad. Saurabh Gupta, Founder &amp; CEO of Verismart.ai A 3-time entrepreneur and angel investor in 9 deep tech firms, Saurabh Gupta is now leading Verismart.ai which pioneer in blockchain-based Ad-tech/Data Interoperability platform with over 520M+ users data pipeline while ensuring privacy compliance. He also acquired dolphinchat.ai., and has been a speaker at 50+ global conferences talking about Blockchain and data privacy. Vikkas K Jha, Founder of Brand Kettle Vikkas K Jha, an ace marketing professional turned visionary entrepreneur, founded Brand Kettle amidst the pandemic. With expertise in Commercial Fitouts, Retail Roll-Outs &amp; experiential marketing, he expanded Brand Kettle's services, integrating 30+ brands, within 3 years. He is also driving impactful social change via the Brand Kettle Foundation's NGO initiatives. Atharva Bahadur, CEO of Drishti Pures Atharva Bahadur is the CEO of Drishti Pures in Lucknow. Under Atharva's leadership, Drishti Pures, a pioneering endeavor, engages abandoned, differently-abled children in producing Cold Pressed Oil and processing pure spices, aiming to foster self-reliance among them. Currently housing 260 abandoned children, Drishti remains the largest institution of its kind globally. Harsh Niwas, Manager Legal and Team Lead at Unitech Limited Harsh Niwas is an international consultant having more than 12 years of experience in the Real Estate and Mining industries. His expertise lies in project management, legal strategy, and stakeholder communication, delivering successful outcomes and operational efficiency. Known for strong leadership, negotiation, and collaboration skills, he ensures compliance and value creation within teams and organizations. Hussain Kalsekar, Founder and CEO of 366 DigitX Renowned for fostering enduring relationships with corporate decision-makers, Hussain Kalsekar has steered 366 DigitX to unparalleled heights. His client-centric approach has garnered him accolades globally. Recognized as one of the top 100 smartest digital marketing leaders by the World Marketing Congress, he was also recently honored among the Top 50 Global High Flyers and awarded as the Leader in Digital Marketing for 2023. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)

Global Indian Leaders of The Year 2023 as per World Brand Affairs

<ul><li><keyword id="11618280" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="birla-brainiacs">Birla Brainiacs</keyword> is looking to raise $5-10 million in an external round of funding and is in talks with investors, according to the founder of the company.</li><li>The e-learning startup, which was launched last year in April, is also planning to hire 1500 teachers in the next two years.</li><li>A report by PGA Labs and IVCA says that India’s education sector is poised to grow from the current $117 billion to $225 billion in FY25.</li></ul>Mumbai-based edtech startup Birla Brainiacs is looking to raise $5-10 million in an external round of funding and is in talks with investors, according to the founder of the company. <keyword id="6623023" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="nirvaan-birla">Nirvaan Birla</keyword> — the founder of the startup who is the son of Yashovardhan Birla, the chairman of the Yash Birla group — said that the company is in “the market for funding” and that it has appointed an investment agency for the fund raise. He did not reveal an exact timeline on the closing of the funding round. He also said that the startup has “approached a couple of investors” without disclosing further details. The e-learning startup, which was launched last year in April, is also planning to hire 1500 teachers in the next two years, according to Birla. “In the next two years we plan to hire 1000 plus teachers actually only for the tuition segment. Other than that we will be recruiting 100-200 teachers for other courses as well. Total 1500 teachers will be hired in the next two years,” Birla added. At present it has around 50 staff members onboard with a mix of research and development, subject heads and experts, counsellors, and sales and marketing teams. The platform caters to the needs of students from grade 1 to 12 with live sessions, video content in the form of “Flip Tales” — using cartoons and action heroes to explain the concepts. Other than that, there are also added skill development courses like vedic maths, coding, and communicative English. Due to the global pandemic, some parents have been seemingly expressing their concerns for the safety of their children while sending them to tuition centres. “The idea behind this is to give them the holistic platform on which they can not only progress academically, but also completely replace the needs of tuitions, because I believe after they take the app they don’t need tuitions,” Birla told Business Insider over a phone call. Birla Brainiacs, which was incorporated in July 2019, is registered as Birla Brainiacs LLP. It is a partnership firm with two designated partners — Nirvaan Birla and Narrindraa Mohan Shetty. He told Business Insider that the company, which initially got funded by his sister company, is now looking at an acquisition of a gamification company or a tie-up with them. Birla said he is already in talks with an Australian company, which is in the preschool space, for the same. He did not reveal the name of the firm. The Yash Birla group has been at the centre of a storm in the not-so-distant past. Yash Birla, who runs the Yash Birla Group, was declared a wilful <a href="https://www.livemint.com/news/india/uco-bank-declares-yashovardhan-birla-willful-defaulter-1560660742531.html">defaulter</a> by lender UCO bank with an outstanding dues of over ₹67 crores. During the pandemic-induced lockdown when all schools were shut, most school-going kids stayed at home and learned online. This gave birth to the demand for homeschooling. It is also known as home-education in which parents choose to educate their children at home only rather than sending them to schools. Homeschooling is still a relatively new concept in India. According to research done by the company, big cities like Pune, Mumbai and Hyderabad were the biggest markets for homeschooling. Birla Brainiacs claims to be the first edtech platform to introduce the concept of homeschooling. The homeschooling feature is available only till class 8, which includes all subjects along with development skill courses. When asked about what makes Birla Brainiacs different from other edtech players in the market, he said that, “If you look at other edtech players, they either teach in huge masses where they have one teacher over 100-200 students together or they have one teacher over a student... where one teacher teaches only one child at a time. It’s not a two way interactive class. It's more like pre-recorded classes where the teacher is mainly talking.” It is through collaborative learning style and using Flip Tales for video content that Birla Brainiacs is trying to stand out from other edtech biggies like Byju’s, Vedantu, Unacademy and so on. However, the startup is still a newbie in the edtech sector and still has to go a long way to survive amidst cut-throat competition. Birla Brainiacs currently has around 5,000 paid users out of which 2,000 users have subscribed to the basic package. The company claims that they add close to 2,000 paid users every month and now are targeting 5,000 paid users from next month onwards. “In the next 3-5 years, we’re looking [at a] turnover of ₹4-5 hundred crores and in terms of revenue [growth of] around 50-60% year on year, and we are planning to reach around 10 lakh paid users in the next 3-5 years,” says Birla. Birla also told Business Insider about his plans to get the company listed in the future. “Once we hit our 5 year target turnover and 10,00,000 users… we could probably look to get into [an] IPO,” he added. India stands second after the United States in the number of edtech startups, according to an <a href="https://community.nasscom.in/communities/product-startups/india-and-edtech-a-post-pandemic-potential-growth-story.html">Inc42 analysis</a>. A report by PGA Labs and Indian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (IVCA) says that India’s <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/india-edtech-in-charts-how-the-shift-to-online-learning-meant-money-valuation-and-users-for-the-likes-of-byjus-unacademy-and-others/articleshow/80040270.cms">education sector</a> is poised to grow from the current $117 billion to $225 billion in FY25. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/travel/news/indians-planning-to-travel-more-as-covid-19-restrictions-relaxed-in-many-states/articleshow/83867486.cms">Indians are making big plans of ‘revenge travel’ as COVID-19 restrictions get lifted in many states</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/if-you-want-to-work-from-home-these-are-some-of-the-hottest-freelancing-jobs-in-high-demand/articleshow/81228585.cms">If you want to work from home, these are some of the hottest freelancing jobs in high demand</a>

Nirvaan Birla’s edtech startup Birla Brainiacs plans to raise up to $10 million, to hire 1500 teachers in the next two years

Two <keyword id="6359674" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="IIT-Roorkee">IIT Roorkee</keyword> batchmates have returned to the campus five years after graduating from the college to start a café called Sattiviko Idea Café. You may call it their way of paying back to the college which it is, but more importantly, the duo wants GenNext to get inspired and feel encouraged to start their own businesses. It is for this reason <keyword id="2741713" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Prasoon-Gupta">Prasoon Gupta</keyword> and <keyword id="633617" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ankush-Sharma">Ankush Sharma</keyword>’s venture is not simply a restaurant, but an innovation/incubation center of sorts. It's a place for students to interact and exchange ideas with former graduates/seniors/mentors while sitting across the food tables savouring some delicious food in between their classes. 
	 
	This idea cafes will see mentoring sessions by a group of over 300 entrepreneurs and professionals like InMobi co-founder Mohit Saxena, Commonfloor founder Sumit Jain, and Raman Roy, chairman of Quattro BPO Solutions among others.

	 
	For their noble deed, the duo has got 2,200 sq/ft space inside the campus, and that too at a very cheap rent. 

	 
	Their vedic journey started back in February 2014 when Prasoon had quit his five year old venture Tech-buddy, a consultancy firm, and opened an NGO called Swarajneeti with the sole purpose of educating the modern generation for transparency in democratic India via innovative technological tools. 
	 Post elections, however, he decided to devote all his time to his new venture <keyword id="2241713" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sattviko">Sattviko</keyword>, along with his batchmate Ankush Sharma. 
	The start-up was inspired by the sattvik way of life that emphasized purity and served cuisine from India. But soon after some time, they adopted cuisines from across the world, such as Mexican, Italian and American that conform to certain rules - no onions or garlic! 

	 
	Sattviko started as a quick-service restaurant and then evolved over the years to become an e-marketplace, delivering an exceptional experience to customers who look to adopt yoga and its practices.

	 It currently has two outlets in Delhi and one in Gurgaon which cater to approximately 500 people. Sattviko raised Rs 2 crore as seed funding last year, in a round led by online real estate portal CommonFloor co-founder Sumit Jain, Xerox India Non-Executive Director <keyword id="116474" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rajat-Jain">Rajat Jain</keyword>, and <keyword id="10591" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Samsung">Samsung</keyword> executive <keyword id="358198" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sanjay-Bhasin">Sanjay Bhasin</keyword>. 
	Both the young founders have big dreams for Sattviko. They want to take their baby to become a 100-crore plus company in the next few years. They also have plans to launch 10 Idea cafes across IITs in the country this year. For now, Sattiviko Idea Café is a rage in the campus and all we can say is - What an idea, sirji!

Meet the two IITians who have started 'idea cafe' at IIT Roorkee, and plan to hit 10 more IITs with their stellar idea this year

He’s a Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences. He’s also a Thomas W. Lamont University Professor, Professor of Economics and Philosophy at Harvard University, and was the Master of Trinity College, Cambridge until 2004. He’s none other than Mr. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Amartya+Sen">Amartya Sen</a>. 
 Business Insider caught up with this great economist at the Tata Steel <keyword id="911395" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Kolkata-Literary-Meet">Kolkata Literary Meet</keyword>, chatting gleefully with fellow Harvard Professor <keyword id="283200" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Sugata-Bose">Sugata Bose</keyword> about his latest book – <keyword id="3219241" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="The-Country-of-First-Boys">The Country of First Boys</keyword>. 
 
Over the next hour, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Amartya+Sen">Sen</a> offered valuable socio-economic lessons on several issues. These had significant remarkable relevance for modern India. While the 82 year old economist didn’t name any individual or political group, but it wasn’t impossible to connect the dots. 
 
Sex-specific abortions: 
More girls are born than boys everywhere in the world. All of the States in the East and South of India have birth ratio of girls in the European range. That goes all the way from Assam to Bengal to Orissa all the way to Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. However, all states in the north and west have lower than that. Sometimes considerably lower. In the case of Haryana and Delhi it will be in the 80s. That is quite dramatic. Some have gone even worse over the years. 
 
Connection between Sanskrit and Mathematics 
Indian mathematics didn’t flourish in the Vedic period as some nationalists tend to claim now. It flourished 4th-5th Century onwards and there was also quite clearly external impulse in it. I think Babylonian and Greek Mathematics came to India around that time. Then Indian mathematics took off in a dramatic way, and influenced not only India but what was the central area of intellectual excellence – the Middle East. 
 
The Arab and Iranian Mathematicians actually knew Sanskrit. Al-Khwarizmi, from whose name the word Algorithm, and from his book AlJjabr Wal-Muqābala the word Algebra is derived, he knew Sanskrit. 
 
There was a connection between Sanskrit and Mathematics as a conveyance, and I’ll be interested in both. 
 
Sanskrit used as tool for <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Intolerance">Intolerance</a> and Communal Animosity 
The Hindu-Muslim divide was cultivated around the 40s. It’s important to recognize that in Bengal Muslim League didn’t win an election until 1946, and by 1952 Bangladesh is agitating about language. 
 
It’s got nothing to do with Sanskrit, really. Sanskrit is also where you have the skeptical documents. It offers all of that. 
 
Most people who advocate Sanskrit don’t know the language. That makes it very easy for them not to read any of these. They don’t have to read, because they couldn’t. So I think it comes as a political thing. 
 
After my Nobel, India Today had an article saying a Westernized Indian gets a Nobel. I asked the Editor that I would like to talk with the author. I would like him to come to my hotel, and to argue on it. The only thing I insist on is that we talk in Sanskrit! 
 
The quest for ‘Nyay’ (Justice) over ‘Neeti’ (Principle) 
I think very often that distinction has been misunderstood. 
 
It’s not compromise It’s accepting something with a gamble, and the gamble is that you wnd up not making that progress at all. What can de done now should be done now. What cannot be done shouldn’t be forgotten. That is what you may call a ‘sequence planning’ rather than a ‘spot planning’. 
 
Small industry as a means of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Sustainable+development">Sustainable development</a> 
Has there been any example of a country which has proceeded to have fairly fast economic expansion without industrial development and by which I do mean industrial development? That would be a good example. 
 
That's not true of America, that's not true of Europe, of Japan, of China, of Korea, of Hong Kong or Singapore. It's not true of Latin America. I think one of the things I have to resist is an imagined that these things are wrong, and there are all kinds of wrong that there is an alternative that is much better. New things have been tried. 
 
I am very suspicious of taking people on what I would call for a ride on the ground that some imagined alternative would be much, much better. What is a country which has no large industry but still is very rich? 
 
Justice and Workers' Rights 
The <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=small+industries">small industries</a> are still there but the big industries have withdrawn. When I went to London first, I went by boat - not an adventurous boat, but by a ship - as I could not afford the airfare. In those days, there were 18 flights from Calcutta to London every week. Now there is not one. There is not a single flight to anywhere in Europe. You have to go to Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Bangkok or Singapore and then escape. But you can't go anywhere. 
 
I think that couldn't have been the intention to put so much focus on distribution and the workers' power and so on that you end up not having the industries and there is nowhere to demonstrate the workers' power because you haven't got the workers to demonstrate that with. Pragmatism is an essential approach to practical reasoning. 
 
Industrialization and Activism 
You can do very good <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=environmental+planning">environmental planning</a> along with a programme of industrial expansion. The conflict is not with the economic growth. The conflict is with the type of growth and care we take of the environment. 
 
So, the idea that any kind of attempt at having large industry must be combined with neglect of the environment, that actually is not a good way of thinking about it. Because there is no reason that must be the case. 
 
Revival of Humanities as a discipline 
There has been no decline within Humanities. There has been a shift away from Humanities to the Sciences. 
 
Tagore once complained about the lack of Science education. It could be certainly better, but scientific education has definitely progressed. Our best students and relatively smaller in number, and when there is competing priority they give priority to Science. Humanities tend to fall short. 
 
I think the IITs are good, and so are the likes of Tata Institute of Fundamental Research. 
 
Image credit: Indiatimes

You Searched For "vedic education in india" and got 9 results

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Global Indian Leaders of The Year 2023 as per World Brand Affairs

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Amartya Sen: 'I am very suspicious of taking people for a ride on some imagined alternative'

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