National Talent Search Scheme Scholarship number increase

Number of scholarships doubled under National Talent Search Scheme

Number of scholarships under National Talent Search Scheme will be doubled to 2000 from existing 1000. This was announced by the Union Minister of Human Resource Development Smt. Smriti Irani while speaking on the occasion of 55th Foundation Day celebration of the NCERT in New Delhi today. 

While expressing concern about quality in school education, the Union Minister asked the Director, NCERT to undertake the National Achievement Survey for Classes III, V, VIII and X, annually. She also desired that a roadmap be prepared and submitted to Ministry of Human Resource Development within a week’s time. 

The Minister dwelt on the initiatives of Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan and reiterated the Government’s intention to set up Model Science Labs in a Government School in every district of the country. 

The Minister appreciated the books developed by NCERT in Hindi, English, Urdu and Sanskrit for the students and suggested that the NCERT could support the states to translate these books in regional languages. On this occasion, Smt. Irani released Tactile Map Book on Braille for Upper Primary students and appreciated the effort of NCERT for this work. 

The Minister stated that the NCERT was holding a panel discussion on “Innovations for Promoting Quality in School Education” later in the day and suggested the panel to offer recommendation specially to help students who are slow learners. She also directed NCERT to make available online all the new research work in teachers education. 

Dr. S.C. Khuntia, Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy appreciated the yeoman service being rendered by NCERT in maintaining high standards of quality education. 

Speaking on the occasion, Director, NCERT mentioned the achievements made by the Council in the field of school education during the last five decades, and also highlighted various recent initiatives of the Ministry of HRD in school education. 

DG, ASI Launched KCHR International Scholarship programme

Director General, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Dr. Rakesh Tewari recently launched the international scholarship programme of the Kerala Council for Historical Research (KCHR). Speaking on the occasion, Dr Tewari said the KCHR Scholarships will be beneficial for advanced archaeology research in the country. Pattanam research by the KCHR and the manner it evolved over the last eight years is a good model for archaeology research for the nation, he said. The KCHR proceeded in its endeavour by identifying the research problems, he said. In the process they brought together expertise from many institutions inside and outside the country. This scholarship programme is yet another right step in addressing the research problems associated with the site. He congratulated Professor Cherian and his team for the multi-disciplinary approach in Pattanam research as well as the efforts to conserve it. 

During the launch ceremony, Dr. Tewari released the brochure containing the details of the scholarship to Dr. Zhang Zhihong, Counsellor, Cultural Affairs, Embassy of the People's Republic of China. 

Dr B R Mani, Additional Director General ASI, Prof. P J Cherian, Director KCHR & Pattanam Excavations and Dr. Nambi Rajan, Director, Monuments ASI, spoke on the occasion. The details of the scholarship are available in www.kchr.ac.in