Pradhan said this after reviewing the digital initiatives taken by the ministry including the PM e-Vidya and the National Digital Education Architecture(N-DEAR)
Tag: Dharmendra Pradhan
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NEET postponed to September 12 from August 1, application process opens Tuesday
By PTI
NEW DELHI: Medical entrance exam NEET, which was scheduled for August 1, will now be conducted on September 12, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced Monday.“The NEET-UG 2021, will be held on 12th September across the country following COVID-19 protocols. The application process will begin from 5 pm tomorrow through the NTA website,” Pradhan said in a series of tweets.
“To ensure adherence to COVID-19 protocols, face mask will be provided to all candidates at the centre. Staggered time slots during entry and exit, contactless registration, proper sanitisation, seating with social distancing etc. will also be ensured,” he said.
The Education Minister further said that in order to ensure social distancing norms, the number of cities where examination is conducted will be increased from 155 to 198.
The number of examination centres will also be increased from 3,862 used in the 2020.
Last year, the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) was conducted on September 13 amid strict precautions in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A total of 13.66 lakh candidates had appeared in the exam of whom 7,71,500 qualified.
From the last year, the admissions to MBBS course in 13 All India Institute of Medical Sciences and the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, are also being made through NEET following the amendment in National Medical Commission Act, 2019.
The test will be offered in 11 languages — English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Marathi, Odia, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu.
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Committed to ensuring time-bound implementation of new education policy: Dharmendra Pradhan
By PTI
NEW DELHI: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday said his focus will be on achieving the objectives of the new National Education Policy (NEP) in a time-bound manner.Pradhan, along with three newly appointed Ministers of State (MoS) for Education Annapurna Devi, Subhas Sarkar and Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, reviewed the progress in implementation of NEP.
The ministers also interacted with senior officials of the ministry and the heads of autonomous institutions like the University Grants Commission (UGC), All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan(KVS).
“After 34 years, a new education policy has been introduced. NEP is the result of the promises our government made in 2014. Today our primary agenda is to take to the ground…,” Pradhan told reporters after the meeting.
“Today, we discussed way forward for ensuring a bright future for the 30 crore-plus students across the country and in achieving the objectives of the NEP in a time-bound manner. I am committed to implement the policy on ground and take forward the measures already taken by my predecessors,” he added.
The NEP approved by the Union Cabinet last year at a meeting presided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi replaces the 34-year-old National Policy on Education framed in 1986 and is aimed at paving the way for transformational reforms in school and higher education systems to make India a global knowledge superpower.
Pradhan said that he is thankful for being entrusted with one of the most important ministries, “which was led by people like Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.”
“There is not a single household in the country for which education is not important and this office has the big responsibility to give direction to the sector.
India will play a significant role in the Industrial Revolution 4.0.
In the next two years, India will be 100 per cent internet connected and riding on the NEP 2020 the country will achieve ‘sab ka saath, sab ka vikas and sab ka viswas’,” he said.
Pradhan also holds the skill development and entrepreneurship portfolio, while Rajkumar Ranjan Singh is also the MoS for External Affairs.
“Education and external affairs have a strong link and Singh’s (MoS) involvement at the MEA will be beneficial for both the ministries and students, said Pradhan, while explaining that the Indian youth can be categorised in three categories — in formal education, anganwadi system and those who could be part of the skill force.
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India’s education system has taken giant leap with introduction of NEP: Dharmendra Pradhan
By PTI
NEW DELHI: India’s education system has taken a giant leap with the introduction of the new National Education Policy (NEP), newly-appointed Education minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Thursday.Pradhan was given the education portfolio in a reshuffle-cum-expansion of the Union Council of Ministers on Wednesday. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, Subhas Sekhar and Annapurna Devi were appointed Ministers of State for Education.
In his first meeting as Education Minister, Pradhan said, “India has got a new education policy after a period of 34 years. With the introduction of the National Education Policy-2020, the Indian education system has taken a giant leap in fostering an environment for a future-ready 21st century India.”
“We are committed to making students and youth the primary stakeholders in propelling India towards an equitable knowledge society. The policy has not only been welcomed in India but also foreign countries,” he said.
The meeting presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was attended by heads of centrally-funded technical institutions, including IITs and IISc. Pradhan emphasised that the NEP will be instrumental in meeting the expectations of the prime minister from innovators, researchers and scientists.
“The government will continue to set new benchmarks in integrating education with employment and making it more inclusive, holistic, multi-disciplinary and at par with global standards,” he said.
During the interaction, Govindan Rangarajan of IISc Bangalore, Subhasis Chaudhuri of IIT Bombay, Bhaskar Ramamurthi of IIT Madras, and Abhay Karandikar of IIT Kanpur, gave presentations to the prime minister and highlighted various ongoing projects, academic work, and new research being done in the country.
Modi was apprised about Covid-related research being done that encompasses developing new techniques for testing, Covid vaccine development efforts, indigenous oxygen concentrators, oxygen generators, cancer cell therapy, modular hospitals, hotspot prediction, ventilators production, efforts in the fields of robotics, drones, online education, battery technology.
The prime minister was also informed about new academic courses, especially the online courses that are being developed, as per the changing nature of the economy and technology.
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ONGC’s negligence led to barge tragedy, says Sena; asks if Oil minister would resign
By PTI
MUMBAI: The Shiv Sena on Saturday held Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) responsible for the death of several personnel of the barge that sank off the Mumbai coast when cyclone Tauktae brushed past the city earlier this week, and sought to know if Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan would resign owning the moral responsibility of the tragedy.In an editorial in its mouthpiece Saamana’, the party said the deaths were not caused due to a natural disaster, but it was a case of culpable homicide as ONGC did not take the cyclone warnings seriously.
Barge P-305, which housed personnel engaged in maintenance work of an offshore oil drilling platform of state-run oil and gas major ONGC, sank on Monday evening during the cyclone.
The official death toll in the tragedy has reached 60.
Warning of the cyclone was given well in advance, but the ONGC ignored it and did not recall the 700 workers on the barge. The barge sank and 75 workers died – 49 bodies have been found and 26 are still missing, the Sena said.
Had the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard not launched search and rescue operations, all the 700 people would have drowned in the sea. These workers may be employees of a private company, but they were doing oil rigging for ONGC. Hence, it was the duty of the ONGC administration to protect them, it said.
The party said it was surprised to know that ONGC did not take the cyclone warnings seriously when all the states on the west coast were preparing to counter its onslaught and Union Home Minister Amit Shah held discussions with the chief ministers of these states.
“The callous approach of ONGC administration is surprising. Hence the demand of filing a case of culpable homicide against it for its negligence is justified. Do petroleum minister, ONGC chairman, its board of directors have any responsibility or not?” it asked.
The cyclone cannot be blamed for this tragedy at sea. It is not a natural disaster, but a case of culpable homicide, the party alleged.
ONGC is one of the navratna’ companies and the process of its privatisation has begun, the Sena said, adding that petroleum companies have given thousands of crores of rupees to the PM Cares Fund.
But the companies failed to protect its workers.
Will petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan quit owning moral responsibility for the death of innocent people? it asked.
The party demanded punishment against those who did not act despite having prior information about the cyclone.
“Those who did not act on the inputs are criminals,” it said.
On Thursday, the Sena had sought a high-level probe into the barge tragedy and demanded the resignation of Pradhan and the ONGC chairman.
The party, which heads the government in Maharashtra, had also said that the death of workers on the ONGC barge was a man-made tragedy and the guilty must be punished severely.
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India committed to decarbonising its economy as responsible global citizen: Minister Dharmendra Pradhan
By PTI
WASHINGTON: India is committed to decarbonising its economy as a responsible global citizen, though the country’s priorities are different from the developed world, Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has said.Observing that India’s energy demand is all set to increase in the coming years, he told a US think-tank that the future of the growth of energy demand will come from India.
The incremental requirement of India’s energy will come from renewable energy, he said and referred to the recent announcement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that by 2030, India’s energy basket would have 40 per cent of its needs from the renewable sector.
“We are an emerging economy. Our priority, our strategy is different from the other part of the global developed economic group,” Pradhan said in his address to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) think-tank on Wednesday.
He asserted that India is committed to “decarbonise our economy as the responsible global citizen.
A decarbonised economy is based on low-carbon power sources that therefore has a minimal output of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions into the atmosphere.
In addition to traditional sectors, India is also looking at future sources of energy.
Identifying hydrogen as a priority area for India, he spoke about the hydrogen mission; US interest and investment in affordability of hydrogen for mass utilisation and India’s early efforts at CNG (compressed natural gas) blending with Hydrogen in Delhi in the transportation sector.
India has a policy-driven model and would work with the United States in the area.
Pradhan also highlighted India’s market-driven reforms in energy pricing and distribution.
“We will embrace new energy technology. Gradually we will phase out our existing energy consumption pattern. We will transit towards a greener and cleaner path. But looking into our affordability challenges, looking into more price sensitivity in our domestic economy, we are using gas as a bridge fuel,” he said.
Oil and coal, he said, will continue to be in India’s energy basket for a period.
“But gradually we are making them more cleaner and we will go up to hydrogen energy. This is our roadmap,” Pradhan said on the eve of the virtual climate change summit being convened by US President Joe Biden.
“Western world has lots of technology, lots of resources, and we have a market. If we can synergise in R&D and the new technology in digitalisation, you will get a market for your technology and financial investment would be safer in a policy-driven market in India,” he said.
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‘Creating communal tension Mamata’s policy’: Dharmendra Pradhan lashes out at Bengal CM
By ANI
KOLKATA: Ahead of the third phase of polling in West Bengal, Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scared with the support people are showing to BJP and accused her of doing minority appeasement in the state. He alleged that creating communal tension has been her policy.Speaking to media in Kolkata after offering prayers at Dakshineshwar Kali Temple, the senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader said, “The Chief Minister of West Bengal is scared with the support people showed to BJP in the first two phases. They will do the same in this phase too. She has resorted to using abusive language.”
“On the one hand Mamata Banerjee considers ‘Jai Shree Ram’ as abuse, and on other hand, she is asking the minorities to vote for her. Creating communal tension has become her policy,” he added.
Pradhan is in Kolkata for campaigning before the third phase of polling said people of Bengal voted for BJP in the first two-phase and will do the same in the third phase.
He also talked about petrol, diesel prices in the country and said with a decrease in crude oil prices in international markets, fuel prices in India have also started reducing now and they will reduce further in the coming days.
“Petrol, diesel and LPG prices have started reducing now and they will reduce further in the coming days. We had stated earlier also that we will transfer benefit from the decrease in crude oil prices in the international market to the end customers,” he said.
Pradhan also held a roadshow in Kolkata today, before the campaigning for the third phase ends in the evening.
Polling for the first two phases of the West Bengal polls was held on March 27 and April 1 respectively. The next phase of polling will take place on April 6. The counting of votes will take place on May 2.
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‘…Lost her mental balance’: Dharmendra Pradhan slams Mamata over ‘UP and Bihar goons’ remark
By ANI
NEW DELHI: Hitting out at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her “UP and Bihar goons” remark, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday said she has lost her mental balance.“Mamata Ji has lost her mental balance. She is highly disappointed by the negative response in Nandigram. Speaking about Uttar Pradesh instead of condoling her (elderly mother of a BJP worker) death is like running away from responsibilities. She is scared of defeat,” Pradhan said.
On Monday, speaking about the incident in which she suffered injuries and fractured her leg in Nandigram on March 10, she had said: “They attacked me. No one from Nandigram attacked me but you (BJP) brought goons from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. We want a free and fair election. If they come, women should beat them up with utensils.”
“Those who cannot love culture, cannot do politics here. Nandigram witnessing hooliganism. We did a meeting in Birulia. The TMC office was destroyed. He (Suvendu Adhikari) is doing whatever he wants. I can play games too. I too will respond like a lion. I am a Royal Bengal tiger,” she had added.
The remaining seven phases for the 294-member West Bengal Assembly will be held on different dates with the final round of voting scheduled on April 29. Counting of votes will take place on May 2.
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Dharmendra Pradhan slams Mamata over violence at rally, says democracy being murdered in Bengal
By ANI
NANDIGRAM: Minutes after an alleged clash between Bharatiya Janata Party and Trinamool Congress workers, Union Minister and senior BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday lashed out against the Mamata Banerjee government and stated that democracy is being murdered from where the Chief Minister is herself contesting.“If she wants to contest why not with democratic ways. Since morning, when Suvendu Adhikari started his padayatra, due to fear of losing to him and his popularity they are attacking us. On Sonachura Chowk, our young worker was attacked,” Pradhan said soon after a clash broke out allegedly between BJP and TMC workers during Suvendu Adhikar’s rally in the Nandigram constituency.
Pradhan stated that two incidents of violence took place on Thursday. “In the morning at Kalicharanpur, crude bombs were hurled and injured few. I saw the injured Yuva Morcha worker while on way to campaigning,” he said after the visit to Reapara Rural Hospital.
“There is yet another report coming of an attack on Adhikari. This is very serious. In a democracy, if the local police works in connivance with the TMC what will happen. I urge the Election Commission to intervene,” Pradhan added.
The Minister said that BJP will request the Election Commission to have more paramilitary personnel deputed in Nandigram.
“This is a constituency going through a sensitive phase. To create fear in minds of people. Our worker is in serious condition and I have been told that even in front of the hospital there are TMC’s goons. Since morning, such incidents are taking place,” Pradhan added.
The clash during Adhikari’s campaigning resulted in an injury to a BJP worker. Pradhan Pradhan changed his plan of campaigning in the constituency and instead accompanied the injured worker to the hospital.
Pradhan who arrived at Sonachura, a village in the Nandigram Assembly constituency, cut short his speech to visit the injured BJP worker, Purn Patra, at the hospital.
Nandigram is a seat where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her former close aide Suvendu Adhikari are locked in a high voltage battle.
On March 10, the Chief Minister had alleged that she was pushed by a few unidentified people during her election campaigning. Banerjee sustained “severe bone injuries” on her left foot and ankle as well as bruises and injuries on her shoulder, forearm and neck, according to the report of her initial medical examination. She was discharged from the hospital on March 12.
Elections to the 294-member state Assembly will be held in eight phases starting from March 27 with the final round of voting taking place on April 29. The counting of votes will take place on May 2. (ANI)
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Dharmendra Pradhan appeals to ECI to deploy paramilitary forces in West Bengal Assembly polls
By ANI
NANDIGRAM: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday, on his visit to Nandigram, appealed to the Election Commission of India (ECI) to deploy paramilitary forces in the upcoming West Bengal Assembly polls.“After Suvendu Adhikari’s ‘padayatra’ started today, our Yuva Morcha leader was attacked here, in front of me. I appeal to the Election Commission to deploy paramilitary forces here,” the Union Minister said.
“Mamata Didi should fight elections in a democratic way,” Pradhan added.
Nandigram will witness the most high-profile contest of West Bengal elections with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee taking on her former ministerial colleague Suvendu Adhikari, who had joined BJP in December last year. Adhikari had earlier said BJP will defeat Banerjee by over 50,000 votes from Nandigram.
The polling in Nandigram will take place on April 1, in the second phase of the upcoming Assembly elections.
Elections to the 294-member state Assembly will be held in eight phases starting from March 27 with the final round of voting taking place on April 29. The counting of votes will take place on May 2.