Education key to India's prosperity: Venkaiah Naidu
New Delhi, Aug 8 : Education could be the key driver for India's road to prosperity and for that the need is to "reorient" the education system, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu has said.
Higher educational institutions need to "revamp their methods of teaching, give up a business-as-usual approach and create rigorous academic standards", Naidu said.
"We need to build the right ecosystem for academic excellence to thrive by revamping our education system.
"Innovative, futuristic universities will be the drivers of this huge transformation" and "education will be the key driver of India's transformation to prosperity", he added.
The Vice President was addressing the 7th Convocation and Founder's Day Ceremony of the O.P. Jindal Global University here, on Tuesday.
Referring to India's demographic dividend -- 65 per cent Indians below 35 years of age -- Naidu emphasised the need to convert this vast human capital into national wealth creators by imparting the right education, knowledge and skills to the youth.
He urged for a change in the dismal position of Indian universities in the global rankings by learning from best practices of other universities around the world, which have leapfrogged in a short duration.
The Vice President also stressed the need to create a conducive intellectual environment for highly qualified Indians working overseas to come back and work in our universities.
At the convocation ceremony, 551 students from different fields such as Law, Business, International Affairs, Liberal Arts and Humanities, and Government and Public Policy, were conferred degrees.
The University, which began in 2009 with one school, a few programmes, a small number of students and around 10 faculty members, has now expanded to 11 undergraduate, six postgraduate and Ph.D. programmes offered by its eight Schools. There are now over 4,200 students and more than 330 faculty members.
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Karnataka Forest Minister warns against illegal tree felling amid gas shortage
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre on Thursday directed officials to remain vigilant to prevent illegal tree felling in forests, areas bordering them, and government lands in the wake of increased demand for firewood due to LPG scarcity, triggered by the widening West Asia conflict.
In written instructions issued to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of the Forest Force, Meenakshi Negi, the minister said that the impact of the LPG shortage has been felt in Karnataka as well.
Citing that restaurants, resorts and homestays are facing difficulties in obtaining commercial LPG cylinders, and disruptions are being reported in the supply of domestic cooking gas, he has ordered officials to intensify patrols and surveillance to prevent illegal tree felling for firewood.
He further directed all forest circles and divisions to take appropriate patrol and precautionary measures.
The minister warned that if illegal tree felling occurs in forests or government land, the concerned range officer and staff would be held responsible.
