Page 4 - Dharmendra Pradhan

Dharmendra Pradhan launches Bharti Airtel Foundation's 'TheTeacherApp'

Platform includes 'free for life', CBSE-based resources to help educators meet evolving needs of education

Future-ready teachers key to shaping youth as India's clout rises: Pradhan

The content is designed to foster future readiness, elevate pedagogical practices, and enhance student engagement in classrooms

Govt undertaking reforms to ensure entrance exam system error-free: Pradhan

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday said the Centre is undertaking various measures, including reforms, to ensure that the entrance examination system is error-free. Recalling that the government had faced serious challenges in the conduct of the entrance exam last year, he said it had appointed a high-powered committee under the leadership of former ISRO chief K Radhakrishnan. "They (committee) have suggested a lot of multidimensional reform, restructuring of NTA, new approach for the entrance process, looking into the mental health condition of the appearing students...," he told reporters on the sidelines of an event at the Indian School of Business (ISB) here. Broadly, the government has instructed the new National Testing Agency (NTA) leadership to look into all these areas, he said. Pradhan said at a meeting attended by the secretaries of state governments recently, he had appealed to all of them to be partners in the reform process. Many states have their

Despite Covid crisis, India growing at 7-8%, says Dharmendra Pradhan

Though several developed economies suffered badly due to the Covid crisis, India continued to grow at 7 to 8 per cent during the last 10 years, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Friday. In his keynote address at the Indian School of Business (ISB) here, Pradhan said India is set to surpass Japan and France and become the third largest economy in the world in the next three to four years. "Several developed economies in the world suffered badly due to the Covid crisis. Still, we are thriving with a 7 to 8 per cent growth rate since last decade and we will continue to do that," he said. The Minister of Education said India has a low corporate tax as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is very clear on not getting money to the exchequer by imposing more taxes, but more income in low slabs. He further said 46 per cent of the global digital payments are happening in India even as 25 crore people have been out of the poverty line.

Apaar ID for students: Does it require parental consent? Key details

Apaar ID initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Digital India' mission. However, experts have raised concerns about student privacy and potential constitutional violations

Need to develop education infra that surpasses global standards: Pradhan

Education infrastructure is a multi-dimensional concept that is beyond just developing brick-and-mortar structures, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Tuesday. The minister was at the inauguration of a national workshop on higher and technical education attended by secretaries of states and Union territories (UTs). "The country has to become a producing economy by utilising the opportunities presented by Industry 4.0 and leapfrog and develop education infrastructure that surpasses global standards. Education infrastructure is a multi-dimensional concept and beyond just developing brick-and-mortar structures," he said. Pradhan also suggested key areas for academic leaders and administrators to focus on -- strengthening public universities through innovative modes of funding; setting up thinktanks to align and tailor curriculum as per industry demand and also the needs and aspirations of states and UTs; adopting a multidisciplinary approach to research and innovation for assumi

NEP emphasise on Indians becoming global citizens, future-oriented: Pradhan

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday said the National Education Policy 2020 has emphasised Indians becoming global citizens by adopting good values, being future-oriented, and at the same time remaining connected to their roots. Addressing the 15th convocation ceremony of Jain Vishwa Bharati, Pradhan said the life philosophy propagated by India centuries ago that non-violence, balanced life, self-contentment, and right conduct are the essence of right knowledge is what the world needs today. "It has been said in the new National Education Policy that we have to become global citizens by adopting good values. We have to remain connected to our roots and be future-oriented," he said. Jain Vishwa Bharati (JVB) is an institute with an emphasis on Jain studies and the Prakrit language, as well as Ahimsa (non-violence), Jeevan Vigyan (science of living) and Preksha Dhyan (Preksha meditation). Pradhan said Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave Prakrit recognition as a classi

India, Singapore to collaborate in curriculum development, internships

He will also visit Monash University to observe their Innovation Lab and Centre for Nano-fabrication

Govt announces 3 AI CoEs for healthcare, agriculture, sustainable cities

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday announced three Artificial Intelligence Centres of Excellence (CoEs) focused on healthcare, agriculture and sustainable cities. The CoEs will be led by top educational institutions, in consortium with industry partners and startups. "The three CoEs in AI-healthcare, agriculture and sustainable cities', will democratise AI innovations and research to revolutionise healthcare delivery, strengthen food security and address critical urban challenges. These CoEs led by our top academic institutions will strengthen India's AI capabilities and power the growth of India's AI ecosystem," Pradhan said. "The CoEs in AI will emerge as temples of global public good. The talent and zeal that Bharat is blessed with, in the times ahead, these CoEs will be a key element of global public policy and also emerge as solution-providers of the world. "I am confident that the CoEs will give further impetus to the startup ecosystem in our country, help

Is Dharmendra Pradhan poised for BJP president post after Haryana success?

There is bound to be anti-incumbency against sitting MLAs. But if you deny them re-nomination, they can turn rebel and cause extensive damage

Saini is BJP's CM face in Haryana, asserts Pradhan after Vij stakes claim

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini is the BJP's CM face and the party will score a hattrick of wins in the state under his leadership, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan asserted on Sunday after its senior leader Anil Vij said he will stake claim for the CM's post if the party returns to power after the October 5 assembly polls. "Being a party worker he may have said so but Nayab Singh Saini is the BJP's CM face," Pradhan, the Union Education Minister who is also the party's incharge for Haryana polls, told reporters in Karnal when asked about Vij's comment. Earlier, Vij, who is a six-time MLA and former minister, said he would stake a claim for the CM's post due to his seniority, and the party will take a call. "I never sought anything from the party till today... people from Haryana are coming to meet me. Even in Ambala, people tell me that I am the senior-most, so why did I not become the CM. On the people's demand and on the basis of seniority, this time I will stake claim

Pradhan writes to TN CM Stalin over non-signing of PM SHRI scheme MoU

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday wrote to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin over non-signing of an MoU for the PM SHRI scheme. The PM Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme aims to upgrade 14,500 schools and is expected to benefit 18 lakh students. It also aims to ensure that these schools serve as model institutes and encapsulate the spirit of the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020. The Centre has selected 6,448 schools from 28 states and Union territories for upgradation in the first phase. Pradhan said in his letter to Stalin, "I was happy to note when the state of Tamil Nadu gave an undertaking dated 15.03.2024, indicating its willingness to sign the PM SHRI MoU in the academic year 2024-25. After receiving the undertaking, a draft MoU was sent by the Department of School Education & Literacy (DOSEL) to Tamil Nadu. However, I was surprised to see that the state responded with a modified MoU wherein a key paragraph referring to the implementation of

Pradhan deplores insensitive attitude of Bengal govt to doctor murder case

Deploring the alleged "insensitive attitude" of the West Bengal government to the rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday said a "fear psychosis" has gripped the children of the country following the ghastly crime. Pradhan, who was talking to reporters on the sidelines of a programme of IIT Kharagpur in the city, said the respective governments at the state and Centre must abide by the directives of the Supreme Court on the issue. "But the world has been witness to the insensitivity of the state government, the 'don't care' attitude, and the unsuccessful effort to hide evidence," he said. Asserting the Supreme Court has raised basic questions advocating strong steps about this incident in Bengal, Pradhan said it is shocking that a democratically elected state government which came to power on 'Maa Mati Manush' slogan has become "deaf to the cries" of justice of its people. Referring to the arrested civic volunteer San

Kolkata doc rape-murder: Pradhan attacks Mamata, says no room for politics

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday attacked West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for accusing the opposition parties of being behind the vandalism at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital saying that there can be "no room for politics" on the rape and murder of the junior doctor. Pradhan alleged that Banerjee's attempt to cover up, stifle dissent and shield perpetrators raises serious questions. "There has been complete systemic failure in West Bengal time and again. But the blame lies on 'Bam and Ram'. Absolutely disgusting, shameful and reprehensible statement from Mamata Didi. The day is not far when Mamata Didi will even blame aliens and extraterrestrials for her misrule," Pradhan wrote in a post on X. "With appeasement politics as her fulcrum of politics, Mamata Didi still has to take refuge of Lord Ram to cover her abysmal failures. Justice needs to be delivered and perpetrators need to be dealt with the harshest punishment. There can be no room for ...

Preamble to the Constitution not removed from NCERT textbooks: Pradhan

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday said the Preamble to the Constitution is very well there in NCERT textbooks of Class VI as he refuted charges made in this regard by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. Earlier, Opposition Congress party raised in Rajya Sabha the issue of dropping Preamble from certain NCERT textbooks, saying this was an attempt to impose communal ideology on the country - a claim which Union Minister J P Nadda countered saying the government was committed to protecting constitution. During Zero Hour, Leader of the Opposition and Congress President Kharge said Preamble, which is the soul and foundation of Indian Constitution, used to be published in NCERT textbooks. Soon after Zero Hour, Pradhan said Kharge has made certain remarks regarding NCERT books of the education department. "I want to humbly put the facts in the House," he said. The minister informed the House that till now textbooks for classes up to 7th have been published. "Le

SC observation on NEET-UG vindicates govt, truth always wins: Pradhan

The Supreme Court's observation on no systemic breach of sanctity in the 2024 NEET-UG exam has vindicated the government's stand, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Friday. Hitting out at the opposition over its criticism of the national medical entrance exam amid allegations of irregularities, including question paper leak, the minister on X said, "The cloud of lies may hide the sun of truth for some time, but truth always wins" and added that findings and the verdict "outrightly rejects the propaganda that was being peddled". The top court on Friday said it did not cancel the controversy-ridden NEET-UG 2024 examination amid concerns of paper leak because there was no systemic breach of its sanctity. In its detailed reasons for the order which was pronounced on July 23, a bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said the National Testing Agency (NTA) must stop its flip-flop which was noticed this year as it does not serve the

What Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Rau IAS coaching deaths

The incident, which occurred at Rau's IAS Study Circle, has sparked a fierce debate over the regulation of coaching centres

No politics over students' death at coaching centre: Pradhan in RS

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday said coaching institutes have to follow the rules and regulations and asserted that there should be no politics over the death of three UPSC aspirants due to flooding at an institute here. Taking part in a short debate in the Rajya Sabha over the death of three students at a UPSC coaching centre in Delhi's Old Rajinder Nagar on July 27, the minister termed the incident unfortunate. Nothing would compensate for the loss the bereaved families have suffered, Pradhan said. "We must fix responsibility so that such incidents do not recur," he said, adding, "There should be no politics... Negligence has happened and someone has to take responsibility so that a solution can be found." Stressing that education is in the concurrent list and is the responsibility of the Centre as well as the state, Pradhan said the coaching centres have responsibilities too. The Government of India sent advisories related to coaching centres to the states

Oppn tried to create anarchy over NEET, SC verdict upholds truth: Pradhan

The revised final results of the exam will be announced taking into account marks of a physics question, which the NTA said had two correct answers

NEET-UG physics question: Experts say there is only one correct answer

A panel of three experts of IIT Delhi has told the Supreme Court that there was was only one right answer and not two to a controversial physics question that was asked in the NEET-UG 2024 examination. A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice JB Pardiwala on Monday had asked the Director, IIT-Delhi to set up a team of three experts for going into the particular question of physics and submit a report on the correct answer by Tuesday noon. At the outset, the CJI referred to the contents of the report, and said, "We have received the IIT Delhi report. The IIT Director Rangan Banerjee...constituted a committee from the department of physics and they say a team of three experts examined the question. They say that the option four is the correct answer." The CJI further said the option four, which says the "Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect' is correct". "The committee has opined clearly that there was only one option which is option four (4). So t