Junior Digest

Sept 8,2021: The Taliban has appointed Mohammad Hasan Akhund, a close aide to the group’s late founder Mullah Omar, as head of Afghanistan’s new caretaker government, weeks after it took control of the country in a rapid offensive.

The list of cabinet members announced by chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid on Tuesday was dominated by members of the group’s old guard, with no women included.

Abdul Ghani Baradar, the head of the Taliban’s political office, will be the deputy leader while Sirajuddin Haqqani, son of the founder of the Haqqani Network, has been named as interior minister.

Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob, son of Mullah Omar, has been named as defence minister. Hedayatullah Badri will be the acting minister of finance, while Amir Khan Muttaqi, a Taliban negotiator in Doha, was named foreign minister.

Auckland [New Zealand], September 4 ,2021: New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Saturday that the terrorist attack in the city of Auckland had left seven people injured, including three in critical condition.

On Friday, a man staged a stabbing attack in a supermarket in Auckland that was described by Ardern as an act of terrorism.
“We are aware now that there were a total of seven people injured yesterday. There are five people in hospital, three are in a critical condition,” Ardern said at a press conference, broadcast by the TVNZ news outlet.
The assailant was shot dead at the site of the attack. The lone wolf attacker arrived in New Zealand from Sri Lanka in 2011 and had been a person of interest for police over his extremist views.

The male suspect, who was known to the government’s “multiple agencies”, was killed within one minute of beginning the attack at noon, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Friday, adding that he had been inspired by the ISIL (ISIS) group.

Brussels [Belgium], September 2 ,2021: The European Union is in no hurry to recognise the Taliban nor to establishing official relations with the group, said Gunnar Wiegand, the European Commission’s managing director for Asia and the Pacific on Wednesday.
“We need to communicate with the Taliban, we need to influence the Taliban, we need to make use of the leverages that we have but we will not rush into recognizing this new formation nor to establishing official relations,” Sputnik quoted Wiegand as saying at a joint session of the European Parliament’s committees with the delegation for relations with Afghanistan.
Earlier, Wiegand said the EU mission in Afghanistan has evacuated 520 members and Afghan support staff, including family members, from Kabul.

He further stated that the EU mission in Afghanistan would continue its work in Brussels. They will return to Afghanistan when the situation permits, Sputnik reported.
Meanwhile, the United States forces left Afghanistan on Tuesday morning, marking the end of a chaotic and messy exit from America’s longest war.
Earlier today, US Defence Secretary Lloyd J Austin III said that the United States has evacuated about 6,000 American citizens and a total of more than 124,000 civilians from Afghnaistan.
Austin also honours those who died over the course of the war in Afghanistan. “Our forces risked their own lives to save the lives of others, and 13 of our very best, paid the ultimate price,” he said.

TOKYO, Sept 3 ,2021: Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said in a surprise move on Friday he would step down, setting the stage for a new premier after a one-year tenure marred by an unpopular COVID-19 response and sinking public support.

Suga, who took over after Shinzo Abe resigned last September citing ill health, has seen his approval ratings drop below 30% as the nation struggles with its worst wave of COVID-19 infections ahead of a general election this year.

Suga did not capitalise on his last major achievement – hosting the Olympics, which were postponed months before he took office as corona virus cases surged.

His decision not to seek reelection as ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) president this month means the party will choose a new leader, who will become prime minister.

There is no clear frontrunner, but the popular minister in charge of Japan’s vaccination rollout, Taro Kono, intends to run, broadcaster TBS said on Friday without citing sources. Former foreign minister Fumio Kishida has already thrown his hat in the ring.

New Delhi/Canberra, Sep 7,2021: The devastation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic has called into question the model of globalization that was practised till recently and makes a powerful case for a more de-centralized version, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Monday and added that “resistance to reforming international organizations compels us to look for more practical and immediate solutions”.

In his address to the Australian National University’s JG Crawford Oration 2021 on the topic ‘Why Quad Matters’, Jaishankar said that “The fact is that the days of unilateralism are over, bilateralism has its own limits, and as the Covid reminded us, multilateralism is simply not working well enough.

“The resistance to reforming international organizations compel us to look for more practical and immediate solutions. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the case for the Quad.”

He said that “even as the tectonic plates of geo-politics have been shifting, the Covid-19 pandemic has compelled a sharper crystallization of our thoughts on the challenges that we face. It has called into question the model of globalization that was practised till recently and makes a powerful case for a more de-centralized version.”

“Many of us accept now that the establishment of more resilient and reliable supply chains are essential to de-risking the world economy….. What it finally comes down to is the need to create greater global capacities so that pandemic-scale challenges are more effectively met… The pandemic experience has also led to greater attention being given to cyber security, supply chains and disinformation. So, it is not just the landscape and the structure of the region that is in flux; it is also, very much, the agenda.”

Jaishankar said the 75-year old world order had run its course and was ripe for change, driven both by the national fortunes of major powers as well as the collective impact of greater rebalancing and multipolarity.

Added to the complexity of a more inter-dependent, tech-centric and borderless world, where the concepts of power and influence have acquired a new meaning, is the once-in-a-century pandemic whose devastation is beyond imagination. “In this situation, the fate of our region cannot be left, certainly not in a democratic era to the decisions of a few. Those of us who have interests, capabilities and confidence must step forward. If the G-7 could become the G-20, then our region too can surely find a broad-based decision-making process. The Indo-Pacific is at the epicentre of the change. What is now critical is to ensure that our future is determined through a collective and participative exercise,” Jaishankar said.

He said that the last two decades have seen a real transformation in India’s relations with its three Quad partners: the United States, Japan and Australia. All the four countries are members of ASEAN-led forums, including the East Asia Summit, the ASEAN Regional Forum and the Defence Ministers Meeting. They also strongly subscribe to the centrality of ASEAN in so far as the Indo-Pacific is concerned. The four are also involved in multiple trilateral combinations with other partners.

Jaishankar said the working of the Quad takes into account the consequences of globalization, requirements of the global commons and the expression of converging interests and cited the Malabar naval exercise as an example.

“But Quad’s expanding agenda affirms a declared intention to promote greater prosperity and ensure stability in the Indo-Pacific-so, it should not be seen narrowly. In the last two years, it has focused on challenges that vary from maritime security, cyber security and disaster response to connectivity and infrastructure, climate action and counter-terrorism. In keeping with the challenges of our times, it has also chosen to get involved with vaccine production, student mobility, resilient supply chains and combating disinformation. This sends a clear message when it comes to the genuine requirements of the international community,” he added.

On India’s involvement with the Pacific Islands, he said India is establishing information technology labs in each of the nations and promoting solar electrification of 2,800 houses.

“Women solar engineers called Solar Mamas have also been trained. Our grant assistance, apart from renewable energy and climate-related projects, address community development, agricultural equipment, computers and LED bulbs for schools, dialysis machines, portable saw mills, construction of sea wall and coral farms. We have been responding to natural calamities whether it is Cyclone Yasa, Gita, Hola or Winston. And despatched vaccines for Covid-19 including to Fiji and Nauru bilaterally, as also to Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands through the Covax initiative.”

On the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) that Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced at the East Asia Summit in 2019, he said this is envisaged as an open, non-treaty based, inclusive platform for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. “It is structure-light and cooperation-heavy, intends to work in tandem with the ASEAN, IORA, BIMSTEC and other organisations. Its seven pillars include maritime security, maritime ecology, maritime resources, capacity building and resource sharing, disaster risk reduction and management, as well as science, technology and academic cooperation and trade connectivity and maritime transport.”

“So far, Australia has agreed to lead the maritime ecology pillar, Japan the connectivity and transport one and France and Indonesia the marine resources pillar. How the IPOI will develop remains to be seen. But it is certainly an example of fresh thinking on regional partnerships that has the potential to take the Indo-Pacific forward,” he added.

He also said that a significant contribution to the change in landscape has been made by India’s Act East policy and added that “India trades, travels and interacts much more to the East than it has done since its independence.”

Earlier, the EAM said it is an honour to deliver the JG Crawford Oration 2021 at the Australian National University. “As someone who aspired to be its student 45 years ago, I am delighted to be able to connect with it eventually. In ANU’s defence, and I suppose, in my own, they did accept me then and it was my joining the Indian Foreign Service that delayed any association. Sometimes, I have wondered about the road not taken. But I suspect that the choice I did make has enabled me to contribute more to ties between India and Australia.”

Aug 04,2021: Shooter Manish Narwal clinched India’s third gold at the ongoing Paralympics while compatriot Singhraj Adana bagged the silver in the P4 Mixed 50m Pistol SH1 event here on Saturday.

The 19-year-old Narwal shot a total of 218.2, a Paralympic record, to claim the yellow metal while Adana, who had won the bronze in the P1 men’s 10m air pistol SH1 event on Tuesday, added a silver to his kitty with an effort of 216.7.

Washington, Sep 4 ,2021: The United States is aware of Iran’s ongoing interest to plot against Americans, including current and former US officials, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday.

Earlier in the day, the United States imposed sanctions on four Iranian nationals with links to Iran’s intelligence agency who allegedly plotted to kidnap US citizen Masih Alinejad.

“Beyond this specific plot, the United States remains aware of ongoing Iranian interest in targeting other American citizens, including current and former US officials,” Blinken said in a press release.

Blinken added that the United States refuses to tolerate efforts to intimidate independent journalists or to silence dissidents, especially US citizens.

The Treasury Department listed earlier on Firday Alireza Shahvaroghi Farahani, Mahmoud Khazein, Omid Noori and Kiya Sadeghi as the designated individuals.

The FBI accused the four men of participating in an alleged plot to kidnap Alinejad, an Iranian American activist. The four were indicted in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York on several charges including conspiracy related to kidnapping.

Kathmandu [Nepal], September 2,2021: A cabinet meeting under Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has formed a committee to study the border dispute with China in the Himalayan district of Humla.
The meeting of the Council of Ministers which was held on Wednesday late afternoon, decided to form a committee to study the border dispute from Limi Lapcha to Hilla in Namkha village municipality of Humla District.

“A committee comprising Department of Survey, Nepal Police, Armed Police and border experts has been formed under the coordination of Home Ministry Joint Secretary to study the problems in the border area of Humla district,” Law Minister Gyanendra Bahadur Karki said.
“It should be noted that China had encroached on Nepali land and built nine buildings in Humla last year,” the minister said.
A government team led by the Chief District Officer also conducted an on-site study. Although the report is not public, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during KP Sharma Oli led administration said that China has not encroached the border.

New Delhi, Sep 5 ,2021: Prime Minister Narendra Modi got the highest approval ratings among top global leaders, ahead of leaders of 12 other countries including US, UK, Canada, Germany and Brazil. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) called it people’s approval to government policies.

According to data collected by Morning Consult Political Intelligence, Modi’s approval ratings rose to 70 per cent on August 31, ahead of leaders of 13 countries, including US President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

“The top leader of the country, respectable Narendra Modi ji getting highest rankings in the global approval ratings is a matter of pride for the whole country. This is a result of his people’s blessings to his public welfare policies that has brought him on the top of the list of global leaders,” BJP President JP Nadda said in a tweet.

Home Minister Amit Shah said India and it’s leadership are ahead of the world.

“Self reliant India and it’s hard working leadership is ah as of the world. Prime Minister Narendra Modi with 70 per cent approval rating is on the top of the list of global leaders. This shows the unwavering trust every Indian has in his leadership and vision,” the Home Minister said.

BJP in a tweet said the Prime Minister is back on the top of the list of world leaders, and said: “India is moving towards self reliance in the leadership of PM Modi”.

In May this year during the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, ratings for thr Prime Minister went to its lowest since the rankings were started in 2019 in May 2021.

In May Modi’s approval ratings had gone down to 63 per cent.

Prime Minister Modi’s net approval rating, which is calculated by subtracting the day’s disapproval ratings from the approval ratings, was highest among the leaders at 45.

US President Joe Biden saw his approval rating go down to 48 per cent, and disapproval rating was at 44 per cent, as the US fiasco in Afghanistan cost the leader on his popularity. His net approval rating was four.

Approval rating of German Chancellor Angela Merkel was at 52 per cent and disapproval was 41 per cent. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau got approval rating of 45 per cent and disapproval of 49 per cent.

French President Emmanuel Macron’s approval was at 34 per cent and disapproval was at 56 per cent, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson got 41 per cent approval and disapproval was 51 per cent while Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s approval rating was 39 per cent and disapproval rating was at 54 per cent.

Morning Consult Political Intelligence tracks the approval rating for governmental leaders in Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
According to Morning Consult, Daily global survey data is based on a 7-day moving average of all adults in a given country with a margin of error of between +/- 1-3 per cent.

Surveys are weighted in each country by age, gender, region, and, in certain countries, education breakdowns based on official government sources. In the United States, surveys are also weighted by race and ethnicity.

New Delhi, Sep 7,2021: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held a meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to discuss the developing situation in Afghanistan, sources said.

The meeting was held at the Prime Minister’s Lok Kalyan Marg residence.

India has maintained that it is in a ‘wait and watch’ mode over Afghanistan, and is keeping an eye on the situation.

The meeting comes on a day when Taliban Spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid said the war in Afghanistan is over, and the formation of a new government will be announced in a few days.

Earlier in the day the Taliban announced that Panjshir became the last of 34 Afghan provinces to fall under their control.

New Delhi, Sep 5,2021: President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday said the National Education Policy, implemented last year, has set an ambitious objective of establishing India as a global knowledge super-power.

Speaking at a virtual award ceremony on the occasion of Teachers’ Day wherein 44 teachers from across the country were honoured with the National Awards, the President said, ‘We have to provide such education to the students which would be helpful in building a just society based on knowledge.’

‘Our education system should be such that students develop commitment to the constitutional values and fundamental duties, strengthen patriotic feeling, and make them aware of their role in the changing global scenario,’ he said.

The President said the primary responsibility of combining the inherent talents of the students lies with the teachers; a good teacher is a personality-builder, a society-builder, and a nation-builder.

The President congratulated all the teachers who received the award for their distinguished contributions. He said that such teachers strengthen his belief that the future generation is safe in the hands of ‘our well-qualified teachers’.

He said teachers have a very important place in everyone’s life. ‘People remember their teachers life-long. Teachers who nurture their students with affection and devotion always get respect from their students,’ the President said.

He urged teachers to inspire and enable their students to envision a golden future and acquire aptitude to fulfill their aspirations. The President said it is the duty of teachers to inculcate interest in studies in their students.

Sensitive teachers can shape the future of students by their behaviour, conduct and teaching, he said.

The President said they (teachers) should pay special attention to the fact that each student has different abilities, talents, psychology, social background and environment. Therefore, emphasis should be laid on all-round development of each child according to their special needs, interests and abilities, he said.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Ministers of State for Education–Subhas Sarkar,

Raj Kumar Ranjan Singh and Annapurna Devi also graced the occasion. Anita Karwal, Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy and Higher Education Secretary Amit Khare and other senior officials were present on the occasion.

Earlier this morning, the President paid homage to Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, former President on his birth anniversary. The President and officials of Rashtrapati Bhavan paid floral tributes to the portrait of Dr Radhakrishnan at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Sept 01,2021: Antonio Guterres says almost half of the Afghan population needs urgent aid to survive after the Taliban takeover.

United Nations chief Antonio Guterres has warned of a looming “humanitarian catastrophe” in Afghanistan as he urged countries to provide emergency funding following the final departure of United States forces and the full Taliban takeover.

Guterres on Tuesday expressed his “grave concern at the deepening humanitarian and economic crisis in the country”, adding that basic services threatened to collapse “completely”.

“Now more than ever, Afghan children, women and men need the support and solidarity of the international community,” he said in a statement as he pleaded for financial support from nations.

“I urge all member states to dig deep for the people of Afghanistan in their darkest hour of need. I urge them to provide timely, flexible and comprehensive funding,” the UN secretary-general said.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the current $1.3bn UN humanitarian appeal for Afghanistan is only 39 percent funded.

Guterres announced that the UN would release details of a flash appeal for Afghanistan next week.

The information will detail the “most immediate humanitarian needs and funding requirements” needed over the next four months, he said.

Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths will coordinate “the entire UN system” in preparation for the appeal, Guterres added.

He said almost half of the population of Afghanistan – 18 million people – need urgent humanitarian assistance to survive.

“One in three Afghans do not know where their next meal will come from. More than half of all children under five are expected to become acutely malnourished in the next year.”

“People are losing access to basic goods and services every day. A humanitarian catastrophe looms,” said Guterres.

He added that severe drought and coming harsh winter conditions meant extra food, shelter and health supplies “must be urgently fast-tracked” to Afghanistan.

“I call on all parties to facilitate safe and unimpeded humanitarian access for life-saving and life-sustaining supplies, as well as for all humanitarian workers – men and women,” he said.

Guterres said the commitment of humanitarian agencies to stay in Afghanistan and deliver aid “will not waver”.

The international body evacuated hundreds of its humanitarian personnel from Afghanistan ahead of the US withdrawal from the country, which was completed on Tuesday. The staffers have been temporarily relocated to Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city, to carry out their duties remotely.

Guterres has emphasised the importance of ensuring Kabul’s international airport remains open following the US exit to facilitate large-scale aid deliveries.

Washington [US], September 2,2021: At least 15.1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine were thrown away since March 1 in the United States, at a time when there is a global shortage of vaccines which in turn is leading to deaths in a poor country.
According to NBC, pharmacies and state governments in the United States have thrown away at least 15.1 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines since March 1.
Four national pharmacy chains reported more than 1 million wasted doses each, according to data released Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in response to a public records request. Walgreens reported the most waste of any pharmacy, state or other vaccine provider, with nearly 2.6 million wasted doses. CVS reported 2.3 million wasted doses, while Walmart reported 1.6 million and Rite Aid reported 1.1 million.
The data released by the CDC is self-reported by pharmacies, states, and other vaccine providers. It is not comprehensive — missing some states and federal providers — and it does not include the reason doses had to be thrown away.
While wealthy nations are inoculating their citizens at fast pacing rates and also moving towards booster doses, poorer countries are lagging drastically behind in the race to get vaccinated.
Many developing countries also cannot afford the vaccines for their residents and looked to donations from richer countries, but global initiatives have not been entirely successful in supplying shots to those who need it.
The World Health Organization asked world leaders again to hold off on administering Covid-19 boosters for at least another month to give poorer nations the chance to inoculate more of their populations with first doses.
More than 5 billion Covid vaccine shots have been administered globally, with 75% of them administered in just 10 countries, according to the WHO.

New Delhi, Sep 8,2021: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday launched several initiatives in the education sector including a dictionary for sign language, as he addressed the inaugural conclave of ‘Shikshak Parv’ as he stressed on the holistic education system.

Addressing teachers and students, the Prime Minister said the programmes launched today will help shape the future of India.

“As India is celebrating ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’, we are making new resolutions for how India should be at 100 years of independence. The programmes started today will play an important role in shaping the future of India,” Modi said in his speech in Hindi.

“A holistic education system is vital for national transformation. Here is a good thread offering a glimpse of the transformation in the field of education in the last 7 years,” he later said in a tweet.

The Prime Minister, in his address, praised students, teachers and the entire academic community for rising up to the challenge of pandemic and asked them to take forward the capabilities developed to deal with that difficult time.

“If we are in the midst of a transformation period, fortunately, we also have a modern and futuristic new National Education Policy,” he said.

He congratulated all on reopening of schools, adding that Covid norms should be strictly adhered to.

“There’s a glow on everyone’s face, possibly because schools have been reopened. Going to school after a long time has its own pleasure, but we also have to strictly observe Covid norms,” he said.

In the sign language dictionary, the Prime Minister said sign language has been a part of India’s culture for a long time, but it is the first time it has become a part of the curriculum.

The other initiatives launched on Tuesday include talking books, Vidyanjali 2.0 portal, NISHTHA 3.0 and school quality assessment.

Talking books are audio books for the visually impaired, Vidyanjali portal facilitates education volunteers, donors and CSR contributors for school development. NISHTHA is a teachers’ training programme.

School Quality Assessment and AssuranceFramework (S.Q.A.A.F) , which was operationalized today, would address the deficiency of the absence of a common scientific framework for dimensions like curricula, pedagogy, assessment, infrastructure, inclusive practices and governance process. SQAAF will help in bridging this inequality.

The theme of ‘Shikshak Parv-2021’ is “Quality and Sustainable Schools: Learnings from Schools in India.”

Beirut [Lebanon], September 2,2021: The United Nations said its humanitarian funds have allocated USD 10 million to respond to the fuel crisis in Lebanon and help avert the deterioration of the country’s humanitarian situation.
The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, on Wednesday allocated USD 4 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to respond to the fuel crisis in Lebanon.
The allocation will help 2.3 million people across Lebanon by making sure there is enough fuel to keep water stations functioning.
The CERF allocation goes alongside a USD 6 million allocation from the Lebanon Humanitarian Fund to help 65 hospitals in Lebanon, as well as primary health-care centres, dispensaries and medical cold chain storage.
The fuel shortage, a result of the ongoing socioeconomic and political crises, is jeopardizing the availability of health care and drinking water for nearly everyone in Lebanon.
“Fuel and electricity shortages are threatening essential health and water services across Lebanon, putting thousands of families at risk of a humanitarian crisis,” Martin Griffiths, said from the capital city of Beirut, where he is meeting with senior government officials and representatives of humanitarian and donor communities as part of a weeklong visit to Lebanon, Syria and Turkey.

Aug 04,2021:Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has won a confidence vote in the Parliament after a frenzy of speculation over the makeup of the ruling coalition.

Rumours his own political allies might try to unseat him had recently overshadowed harsh criticism from the Opposition about his government’s coronavirus response.

Thai media were instead abuzz with rumours that the secretary-general of the military-backed ruling party was leading the effort to unseat Mr. Prayuth and to add the main Opposition party to the coalition.

Mr. Prayuth won 264 votes in the House of Representatives against 208 no confidence votes September 4.

Thai lawmakers voted on September 4 on no-confidence motions filed against PM Prayuth and five members of his Cabinet, after four days of Opposition criticism were overshadowed by heady speculation that his own allies might try to unseat him.

Little attention was given to the details of the Opposition’s harsh accusations that Prayuth’s administration had botched the coronavirus response, countenanced corruption and mismanaged the economy.

New Delhi, Sep 3,2021: Union Education and Skill Development Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday encouraged Central Universities to work on mission-mode to fill-up the 6,000 vacant posts by October.

He urged them to create a framework for alumni endowment.

Pradhan expressed his happiness to learn about the best practices of Central Universities and on several matters of importance, including filling up of general and reserved vacancies, education during COVID-19, online learning and status of NEP implementation.

The Minister, who held a meeting with Vice Chancellors of Central Universities through video conferencing, said, ‘Our universities are cradles of creativity, innovation and opportunities.’

‘The New Education Policy- 2020 will play a crucial role in placing India at the top of the emerging new world order and, as custodians of India’s destiny, our universities should fulfil their responsibilities outlined in the NEP,’ he said.

Pradhan stressed on making education a lot more vibrant and holistic and establishing India as a knowledge superpower through NEP.

‘Our higher education institutions are key catalysts for promoting socio-economic development and for realising aspirations and national goals,’ he said.

The Minister appealed that universities should popularise and promote learning in Indian languages and cultural heritage of India.

He exhorted the Universities to come with the strategies for making India fully literate, as well as to contribute helping the country to meet its Nutrition Challenge during ‘Poshan Month’ as a mark of Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav.

The VCs were also requested to encourage Sports in their Universities, thereby promoting a sporting culture in the country. The VCs were encouraged to make their students Job Creators by promoting innovation and research in their campuses.

The Minister thanked the VCs for their insights and valuable suggestions.

He urged that as thought leaders, our central universities should assume pioneering roles in building capacities, initiating frameworks for implementation of Academic Bank of Credit, Multiple Entry and Exit, virtual universities and several other facets of the NEP from this academic year itself.