Current Affairs - Education

IIT Madras, through its CESSA (Centre of Excellence in Sports Science and Technology) initiative, presented a strategy at the 'Sports Tech Start Up Conclave' in New Delhi aimed at leveraging technology to advance India's standing in chess. The plan includes employing high-performance computing and AI to enhance fan engagement, detect cheating, and refine grassroots training programs. This initiative underscores IIT Madras's commitment to integrating technological innovations into sports development, particularly in enhancing strategic aspects of competitive gaming like chess.

The Jharkhand government plans to establish eastern India’s first university for physically challenged students in Ranchi. This initiative aims to cater specifically to the educational needs of students with disabilities, offering specialized courses and educational equipment tailored to their requirements. The university is part of broader efforts by the state government to enhance accessibility and educational opportunities for marginalized communities in Jharkhand.

IIT-Jodhpur has announced that it will offer BTech programs in both Hindi and English for its new batch of students. This initiative, in line with the National Education Policy 2020, allows first-year students to choose their preferred language of instruction, leading to the batch being divided into two sections accordingly. The inclusion of remedial English classes aims to support students in potentially transitioning to the English medium, ensuring a smooth academic experience for all enrolled students.

The ULLAS scheme, known as the New India Literacy Programme (NILP), aims to empower adults aged 15 and above who have missed formal schooling. It focuses on achieving Full Functional Literacy among this demographic, aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 objectives. Ladakh's achievement of becoming the first administrative unit to attain Full Functional Literacy under this scheme underscores its success in addressing educational gaps among adults who lacked formal schooling opportunities.

Oracle has collaborated with Tamil Nadu to implement the Naan Mudhalvan program, aiming to train over 200,000 students in advanced IT skills such as cloud computing, AI, data science, ML, and blockchain. This partnership emphasizes Oracle's role in enhancing youth employability by providing training and certifications in cutting-edge technologies through digital and campus-based learning initiatives.