Shivamogga: Two class 10 students of Morarji Desai Residential School at Churchigundi in Shikaripur taluk, M S Yashavath and Shankar, will participate in the 77th Republic Day programme, to be held at the Red Fort in New Delhi on January 26, as guests.

According to Deccan Herald on Friday, the students earned the honour after their school emerged as the only institution from Karnataka to win a national-level competition organised by NITI Aayog.

Guided by second division assistant M V Tejaswi Kumar, the students developed a multi-purpose agricultural equipment machine using the school’s Atal Tinkering Lab. The model integrates 12 agricultural equipment, including sowing machines, pesticide spraying, drip irrigation and other equipment, have been installed in a single machine.

Second division assistant M V Tejaswi Kumar, who guided the students, and Principal Suma B S will fly to Delhi soon to be part of the event. They can sit with the guests and watch the parade at the Republic Day programme.

They are scheduled to meet Union Minister of Education and Skill Development Dharmendra Pradhan.

Through NITI Aayog, Atal Tinkering Labs have been set up in 10,000 government and private schools in the country. Students are selected for the Republic Day programme based on the quality and innovation of projects developed in these labs.

Out of 10,000 projects, 1,000 schools were selected in the first phase, and this school secured 86th position. Later, the project was reviewed by the Engineering College in Jaipur. Later, it was selected as the best project in Karnataka.

Further development of the project has been entrusted to Mangaluru-based Nitte Engineering College, which will work with the students from February 16 to 18.

The Morarji School students, teachers and parents have congratulated the students for their achievement.

Shivamogga MP B Y Raghavendra said the students’ success would inspire others. “The good use of the Atal Tinkering Lab has brought me joy. I will try to expand the laboratory to more schools in the district,” he said.

Principal Suma B S reportedly said the lab was set up in the school in 2020. Tejaswi Kumar, who has done a PhD, is interested in developing ideas into models.

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Chennai: Actor-politician Vijay has reportedly not been invited to take oath as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu after failing to demonstrate support from the required number of MLAs, sources in Raj Bhavan said.

According to media reports that quoted sources in the office of R.N. Ravi Arlekar, Vijay could not prove the backing of 118 legislators, the majority mark in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly.

Despite last-minute efforts to secure support from the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazagam (AMMK), and an IUML legislator, Vijay reportedly managed support from only 116 MLAs, falling short by two members.

Sources said Vijay failed to submit letters of support from the VCK and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).

Later, the IUML issued a statement clarifying that it was not part of the TVK-led alliance.

Meanwhile, AMMK leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran is also said to have informed the Governor that his party would support the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) instead.

Earlier in the evening, Vijay had met Governor Arlekar and staked claim to form the government, stating that he enjoyed the support of 118 MLAs.