Current Affairs - Education

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) partnered with IIM Ahmedabad to enhance India's national data ecosystem and promote evidence-based policymaking. This collaboration focuses on the use of AI in policy formulation, improving decision-making, and addressing biases. Through this partnership, the aim is to foster data innovation and collaboration for the development of effective public policies, thereby strengthening the role of data in shaping national governance.

The "Hack the Future" hackathon, a 36-hour event hosted by NSO India and IIT Gandhinagar, saw participation from 18 teams from top institutions like IITs, NITs, and IIITs. The hackathon involved tackling innovative challenges, and Plaksha University emerged as the winner in two categories. Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology won in the third category, while IIT Jammu, VIT Vellore, and NIT Goa secured second place. The event was successfully concluded at IIT Gandhinagar, further promoting innovation and collaboration among the brightest minds from leading educational institutions.

The Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) ID is designed to standardize student records by assigning a unique 12-digit ID to each student. This ID links academic records to platforms like DigiLocker and the Academic Bank of Credits, ensuring streamlined access and verification of records across various educational institutions. While APAAR aims to simplify academic transitions, it has raised concerns about data privacy and implementation, particularly regarding its integration with Aadhaar and the handling of sensitive personal information.

The Central Board of Secondary Education has approved draft norms to conduct Class-10 board exams twice a year starting in 2026. This decision is in line with the recommendations of the new National Education Policy, which aims to eliminate the "high stakes" aspect of the board exam. The biannual exams are expected to reduce the pressure on students and provide them with more opportunities to improve their performance.

The Indian Institute of Information Technology, Design and Manufacturing (IIITDM) Kancheepuram has partnered with ERNET India to establish a joint research laboratory focusing on the Internet of Things (IoT). This collaboration formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), aims to enhance research and development in cutting-edge technologies. The lab will validate the functionality of various IoT solutions, advancing real-world applications. The partnership strengthens IIITDM Kancheepuram’s role in driving technological innovation and academic-industry collaboration in key areas such as IoT, sensors, connectivity, and data management.