India to become world’s 3rd largest economy with power of its youth: Himachal guv
Ranchi (PTI): Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla on Monday said India is poised to become the world’s third-largest economy in the future, driven by the power of its youth.
He emphasised that the youth must be provided with proper skills and opportunities to help achieve this goal.
"Seventy per cent of India's population consists of youth. If they are properly shaped, then no one can stop us from becoming the world's third-largest economy in future," he said.
Shukla was addressing the ‘Yuva Conclave 2026’, organised by the Vikas Bharti Bishunpur on the occasion of birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda in Ranchi.
Over 2,500 youths participated in the programme.
He also praised the contribution of Vikas Bharti in the development of the state.
Minister of State for Defence, Sanjay Seth, who was also present on the occasion, discussed the contribution of youth to India’s progress.
Meanwhile, a blood donation camp was organised at Lok Bhavan in Ranchi to mark the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda where 406 people donated blood.
Jharkhand Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar said blood donation is a sacred act.
"Many precious lives often come into crisis due to the non-availability of blood at the right time. In such a situation, it is extremely essential to turn blood donation into a mass movement, so that sufficient availability of every blood group can be ensured in the state," he said.
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Parents fear uncertainty after Karnataka govt rules out age limit relaxation for Class 1 admission
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has ruled out any relaxation of the minimum age limit for admission to Class 1 beginning with the academic year 2026-27. Following the refusal, a group of parents continues to press for leniency.
Parents of children who fall under the age of six by a small margin on the cut-off date have met Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and senior officials from the Department of School Education and Literacy to request an exemption. School Education and Literacy Minister Madhu Bangarappa said that the government will not change its decision, as reported by Deccan Herald.
According to the minister, children must be six years old by June 1 to be eligible for admission to Class 1. beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. He noted that the previous relaxation was a one-time measure that was clearly confined to the 2025-26 academic year.
“If such requests are entertained every year, it will never end. While granting relaxation last year, it was explicitly stated that it applied only to one academic year. From 2026-27 onwards, the rule will be strictly implemented,” Bangarappa was quoted by DH.
Parents argue that the rigid cut-off is affecting children who are short by a few days. One parent was quoted by DH as saying that his daughter would be 12 days short of completing six years on June 1. Such parents would be forced to repeat a year despite being academically ready. Others pointed out that children promoted from LKG to UKG during the 2025-26 academic year are now facing uncertainty over their transition to Class 1.
Few parents also recalled that earlier, admissions were allowed for children aged between five years and 10 months and six years. Parents saw it as a more practical approach, with children born in November and December being disproportionately affected.
The issue of age criterion goes back to a government order issued in July 2022. The order mandated six years as the minimum age for Class 1 admission. Parents of children already enrolled in pre-primary classes, protested against the order and the state deferred implementation, announcing that the rule would come into force from the 2025-26 academic year.
After renewed pressure, the government granted a one-year relaxation for 2025-26, citing the large number of students affected and in consultation with the State Education Policy Commission. While announcing the exemption, the minister had stated that no further concessions would be allowed.
