In a recent incident that has left parents and health authorities worried as thirteen children from an Anganwadi centre at Hiresani village, close to Ripponpet in Shivamogga district of Karnataka, fell ill when vitamin A drops were given to them. The incident, which took place on Tuesday, has highlighted the safety procedures of preventive health programmes in rural India. 

What Happened in Shivamogga? 

As part of a regular preventive health program, kids at the nearby Anganwadi centre were given vitamin A drops, a routine practice to prevent vitamin A deficiency, which can lead to serious illnesses in young children. Yet, in the evening hours, some kids started complaining of bad abdominal pain and began vomiting. The symptoms occurred shortly after the administration of the vitamin A drops, report the parents.

First, the ill children were taken to a private hospital nearby. But as the cases mounted and the requirement of special treatment became clear, the children were shifted to McGann Hospital within Shivamogga city. The hospital authorities responded promptly to the children by offering required treatment to stabilize their health.

How Did Parents and Authorities React? 

Concerned parents complained that their children's health suffered within a short time after they were given the vitamin A drops. They requested a proper inquiry into the quality of the drops and what was done while administering them. 

On the other hand, health officials have said that other factors such as possible contamination of water or unrelated infections are also being investigated, and the exact cause has not yet been confirmed. It’s important to note that mild, short-term side effects like vomiting or abdominal pain can occasionally occur after vitamin A supplementation, but these reactions are rare and typically resolve within 24 to 48 hours. 

After this, a comprehensive testing and inquiry is initiated to determine whether the symptoms were directly caused by the vitamin A drops or if other environmental or procedural issues played a role 

The occurrence attracted the notice of local authorities. Shivamogga MLA Beluru Gopalakrishna went to McGann Hospital to inspect the children who were affected and met with their families. He ordered the medical professionals to make certain that the best care is offered and promised parents that a thorough investigation would be initiated to identify why the child experienced such adverse reactions.

Why were Vitamin A Drops Administered? 

Vitamin A supplementation is one of the important public health interventions in India, particularly among children below five years of age. It prevents blindness, enhances immunity, and decreases the risk of infection. Anganwadi centers throughout India administer these drops on a regular basis under government health schemes. 

What Went Wrong?

Although reaction to vitamin A drops is uncommon, but it may happen because of

1. Incorrect dosage: Overdosing may cause toxicity.
2. Contamination: Improper storage or handling of the drops may lead to contamination.
3. Allergic reactions: Certain children might have hidden allergies to ingredients in the drops.
4. Expired medication: Expired drops also lead to health problems.

Health authorities would be expected to thoroughly probe the incident. The vitamin A drops batch used will probably be subjected to tests for quality and safety, and the process of administration would be scrutinized. How the investigation turns out will be vital in rebuilding parents' trust in public health programs.

This accident reminds us of the necessity of stringent quality control and proper administration in public health programs. Although vitamin A supplementation is critical for children's health, safety assurance for each dose is also crucial. The government has to take prompt action to allay the fears of parents and ensure that no repetition occurs in the future.

In the IITs, IIMs, and universities across the country, the use of AI is in a grey area. IIM Kozhikode Director Prof Debashis Chatterjee had said last year that there was no evil in using ChatGPT to write research papers. What was at one time a whisper has now become a larger question: no longer if AI can be used, but how.

Now that the professors and students are receptive to using it, many are already doing so, but not according to set guidelines. The real issue now is not intent, but the lack of established parameters that need to be set.

From India's topmost institutions, the argument is no longer theoretical. It's actual; it's pragmatic; it's imperative. From IIT Delhi to IIM Sambalpur, from coding classrooms to laboratories, students and teachers alike are confronting the same reality: AI is not arriving. It's arrived. And it's functioning rapidly.

"There is no question AI is here to stay, and the only question is how it should be used. Students are already using it to aid their learning, so it's essential that they are aware both of its advantages and its disadvantages, including ethical considerations and the impact on cognition of over-use," responded Professor Dr Srikanth Sugavanam, IIT Mandi, in response to a question to India Today Digital.

"Institutions need not limit the use of AI, but they must create clear cut guardrails so that both teachers and students can utilize it responsibly," he said further.

IIT DELHI INITIATIVE

In a forward-thinking but firm step, IIT Delhi has prepared guidelines for the ethical utilization of AI by students and faculty. The institute had conducted an internal survey prior to preparing them. What they found was astounding.

More than 80 percent of the students surveyed admitted they use tools such as ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot, Perplexity AI, Claude, and Chatbots.

However, over half the staff members reported that they too were using AI -- some for writing up, some for programming, some for study preparation.

The new regulations are not to prohibit the use of AI. It is more about setting the boundary that says: use it, but don't farm out your thinking.

ON CAMPUS, THERE'S A SHIFT ON THE HORIZON

On IIM Jammu campus, however, the students indicate that the rule is stringent: no more than 10 percent use of AI on any assignment.

"We're giving lectures, committees, and eight assignments within three months," said one student. "Each day it feels like introducing a new ball to the juggling act. In that heat, AI feels like a bit of rain."

They are not fibbing. There are applications these days which can read PDFs aloud, organize slide decks, even map out ideas. The moment you are stuck, you can 'chat' your way through. It is easy software, easy to use, and, for some, indispensable.

But this is the other side: there are students now constructing their entire workflow around AI. They are writing with AI, humanising with AI, evading AI detectors with AI.

"Use of plagiarism detection tools, like Turnitin, that claim to detect the Gen-AI content. But because Gen-AI is evolving so quickly, these programmes struggle to keep up with its pace. We don't have an overarching policy framework so that we cannot define clearly between the ethical and lazy use of Gen-AI," an IIT Mandi professor told India Today.

NOT WHAT AI DOES, BUT WHAT IT REPLACES

In IIM Sambalpur, the management is not trying to hold back AI. They are embracing it. The institute segments AI application into three pillars:

Cognitive automation - for writing and coding

Cognitive insight - for performance evaluation

Cognitive engagement - for interaction and feedback

Students can use AI aids, but only with the provision of transparency. They have to declare their sources. In case AI is used, then citing is required. Uncredited usage is academic dishonesty.

"At IIM Sambalpur, we do not prohibit the use of AI tools for research, writing, or coding. We encourage the use of technology to the best extent possible to enhance performance. AI is supposed to augment, but not corner-cut," IIM Sambalpur Director Professor Mahadeo Jaiswal explained in an interview with India Today. 

But even as technology advances, a deeper challenge is emerging: Are students losing the ability to think for themselves?

MIT's new research has a response to that, and the response is yes, too much dependence on AI weakens critical thinking.

It slows down the brain's ability to analyze, compare, question, and argue. And those are the same abilities colleges are supposed to instill.

One IIM student summed it up nicely: "AI has levelled the playing field. Earlier, students from small towns did not have access or mentors. Now, they can do practice interviews, receive feedback, hone skills, all online. But it is about how you use it."

TEACHERS ARE UNDER PRESSURE TOO

The teachers are not exempt from it anymore. AI is now turning into mentor and performing tasks even instructors cannot perform. With AI in tow, pedagogy must change.

The previous method -- assign, submit, grade -- doesn't cut it anymore. Now, 'guide on the side' education is the trend.

Less lectures, more interaction. No essays, group work. No theory, hackathons.

It's a matter of crafting in-school learning environments where children must think, talk, problem-solve, and explain why they did it in that manner. AI can be an aid, not a replacement.

SO, WHERE IS THE LINE?

There is no such national directive yet. But the common sense among IITs and IIMs is this:

AI can aid, not replace.

State what you used.

Learn, not just complete.

Pundits like John J Kennedy, who was formerly the dean at Christ University, believe that India needs a visionary framework.

One which doesn't fear AI, but one which sets limits, teaches ethics, and encourages out-of-the-box thinking.

Students today know that they cannot ignore AI. Not in tier-1 cities. Not even in tier-2 towns.

Institutions will still debate over policy. Tools will still get better. But for teachers, and students, the real test will be one of discipline, not access. Of intent, not ability.

Because AI can do much. But it cannot ask the questions that matter.

Kerala schools are creating a sensation through the implementation of a new seating arrangement that breaks away the tradition of backbenchers and frontbenchers making the classrooms in Kerala schools a more participatory place. 

This new seating arrangement is inspired by a Malayalam film “Sthanarthi Sreekuttan” where students are positioned in a semicircular or U-shaped manner in such a way that each and every student can see his/her teacher and every student is equally visible. The teacher stands at the open end of the U, allowing for direct interaction with all students and minimizing the chances of anyone feeling neglected or left out

The change is already being implemented in several schools in Kerala such as RVV HSS in Kollam, Pappinisseri West LP School in Kannur, RCC LPS East Mangad in Thrissur and GHSS at Tholanur in Palakkad. 

Both teachers and students report that there are positive results like active participation in classes, ability to take better notes, and visible boost in academic achievement. The new seating arrangement helps prevent misbehavior often associated with students sitting at the back and also eliminates the negative label of “backbenchers,” which can affect self-esteem and negatively influence many students.

The education officials of Kerala are closely observing the results with an intention to introduce the practice to a larger scale depending on the classroom size and the strength of the students. This is viewed by experts and educators to be a step towards student-centered learning destroying stratification in the traditional system and enhancing equal opportunities to all. 

This change in seating arrangement is also attracting the interest of educationists not only in India but also in other parts of the world since it also resonates with the current pedagogical trends that emphasize visibility, accessibility, and active classroom involvement.

Kerala’s reconceptualization of classroom seating serves as an example for the rest of the nation and the world, offering not just a dramatic change in classroom design but also a meaningful intervention that will help improve students’ learning experiences and well-being.

Uttar Pradesh Secondary Teachers' Union (Pandey Group) has announced a statewide sit-in at all District Inspector of Schools (DIOS) offices on July 31, with the Teachers' Association expressing strong resistance towards some unresolved matters concerning teachers, including the controversial online attendance system and exclusion from pensions.

The resolution was taken at the State Council meeting of the Union which took place at the Common Hall in Darulshafa B Block with State President Jitendra Patel in chair and Ashish Kumar Singh conducting the meeting. The union reiterated that even after repeated requests, the government has not resolved long-standing demands, leading to teachers going on the streets.

One of the main points of disagreement is excluding almost 2,000 teachers, who were appointed prior to March 28, 2005, from the old pension scheme, which the union insists should be reinstated. Union leaders also showed serious concern regarding the non-regularization of more than 2,300 ad-hoc teachers, many of whom have worked in the education sector for close to three decades without secure positions.

To this unrest, the union added its criticism of the government for withholding payments of these ad-hoc teachers for eight months, referring to it as plain harassment. The non-publication of the offline transfer list and the failure of teachers included in the online transfer list to take up their new posts have further contributed to discontent.

The union also opposed the system of online attendance, terming it as unrealistic and intrusive, and called for its immediate reversal, contending that it distracts classroom concentration and places bureaucratic burden on teaching staff.

Participation of teachers from all districts is likely in the July 31 protest as the union is set to escalate its battle for a return of dignity, stability, and fairness in the state's education system.

At a public hearing conducted on X Spaces on Sunday, HYDRAA Commissioner spoke to a range of citizen concerns: from lost public grounds and land disputes to celebrity demolitions and illegal encroachments. The meet was aimed at bringing greater transparency into the day-to-day functioning of HYDRAA and simplifying legal procedures.

Regarding the case of Fatima Owaisi College, which is said to be constructed within the FTL of Suram Cheruvu, Ranganath has reported that a preliminary notice has been issued but the direction is not yet finalized. He acknowledged the social contribution of the college as it provides opportunity for nearly 10,000 poor Muslim students from KG to PG.

One of the most pressing issues agitated was that despite the fact that it spans 125 acres in Bandlagunda, SunCity (PNT Colony) has not even a single public park, which is causing growing frustration among the residents. Ranganath mentioned that HYDRAA had revived 60–70 parks in the city, but individual initiative in colonies such as SunCity depends on official complaints and coordination from the RWAs of the local societies.

Resolving land ownership and encroachment complaints, Ranganath explained HYDRAA's redressal process: upon filing of the complaint, a probe officer is assigned, documents submitted by both parties are authenticated and personal hearings are held. Proceedings are video-recorded to determine impartiality and accountability.

Ranganath again stated that HYDRAA strictly follows the Supreme Court judgment of Chief Justice BR Gavai, which allows for notice-less demolitions in encroachments on water bodies, nalas, railway tracks and roads.

He agreed that some citizens unknowingly buy encroached land and clarified that judicial solutions come in the form of civil and criminal courts. He also credited HYDRAA's campaigns to make citizens more alert about buying property. High-profile cases such as Gandipet and N Convention saw unauthorized layouts halted after public intervention.

HYDRAA's crackdown has yielded huge recoveries in properties like land worth Rs 1,000 crore at Bumrah Lake, which is reportedly involving AIMIM leaders, and Rs 30 crore worth at Chandrayangutta. Ranganath asserted that there is no political pressure on HYDRAA. He recalled his earlier tenure as Warangal Commissioner of Police when his firm stance on encroachments earned the police chief the confidence of the chief minister and led to his current appointment.

Admissions for junior colleges in Maharashtra crossed 4.7 lakh till Sunday, with most students getting seats in their top-choices of colleges, as per the figures released by the state education department.

The Centralised Admission Process (CAP) remains the most favored route, making more than 3.8 lakh admissions. Moreover, 77,209 students entered through institutional quotas, such as management, minority, and in-house categories.

Mumbai city alone had 80,858 admissions, of which 62,411 were done through the CAP process. The first online list of allotment was announced over the weekend, and July 7 has been fixed as the last date for students to accept seats at the allotted colleges.

In a bid to accept late registrants, the education ministry opened the online portal for registration between July 2 to July 7. During this period, students who missed the opportunity to fill out Part 1 of their application or had incomplete registrations are allowed to enter the process. Junior colleges that have been newly opened and were not included in the previous admission cycle have also been allowed to register and provide seats within this extended period.

One of the main features of this year's admissions has been the close matching with students' choice in streams:

2.4 lakh science stream candidates got admitted in their first preference colleges

82,594 commerce students got seats in their desired institutions

Almost 1.4 lakh arts and humanities students were also admitted in colleges of their choice

Officials credit the preference-based and smooth allocation to improved digital processing and improved institutional coordination. With thousands on board and the system reopened for outstanding applications, the admission process in the state is within a successful reach.

Knife crime is a growing concern in many countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom, and Canada. Talking about India, specific types of knife-related crimes and offenses are seeing a rise, especially among juveniles and in specific cities. Knives have indeed become the most common weapons used in murders, especially in Australia, and their use in violent crimes is on the rise around the globe. But despite the unfortunate commonality of knife attacks, they still are difficult to investigate. 

Why Are Knife Crimes So Hard to Investigate?

A stabbing is not just an act of violence; the very nature of it is personal, often involving a face-to-face confrontation. Each case is unique, with many factors influencing what happens during an attack:

1. Characteristics of the attacker: these can include factors such as height; strength; right or left-handedness; and indeed whether the attacker is skilled in the use of knives. 
2. Characteristics of the victim: body build and posture may have a bearing; so may the number of layers of clothing interposed between blade and flesh.
3. Details of the weapon: the very blade of the knife may make all the difference-a kitchen knife with a small cutting blade may produce entirely different wounds than would a machete.
4. Environmental factors: Depending upon lighting, location, and even weather, the details of the attack and the evidence left may vary.

Because of these things, remaking the crime scene to understand stabbing turns into a very complicated puzzle. The investigators need to combine witness statements, physical evidence (such as blood stains or fibers), and trace materials that are sometimes less obvious but include DNA or soil into a coherent story. 

Role of forensic science in knife crime investigations 

Forensic analysts combine scientific analysis with investigative forensic techniques to figure out what actually happened during a stabbing. Their objectives include:

• Characterize the weapon used.
• Work out if the act was intentional or accidental.
• Work out the force applied and the angle of attack.

All these make the process complicated. The witnesses might have been in shock as it occurred, or might have had poor visibility of the event; whereas physical evidence can possibly be contaminated or degraded in many ways. That is when simulations take over. 

Simulations of Stabbings

To properly understand how a stabbing took place, investigators have to recreate the incident. Three main ways exist. 

1. Manual-Type Simulations

What are they? Human experts physically replicate stabbing motions in order to study wound profiles and test materials, such as clothing.

Pros: Valuable knowledge about biomechanics and real-life scenarios can be obtained.

Cons: The results may be subjective as different people tend to produce forces and use techniques in diverse ways.

2. Mechanical Simulations

What are they? Machines carry out controlled, repeatable stabbing motions. 

Pros: Human error is eliminated and consistency achieved.

Cons: They can only imitate a limited range of human movement and force, and there are no standard protocols for doing so.

3. Robotic Simulations 

What are they? Sophisticated robots imitate with an almost-human elasticity but machine-like precision.

Pros: Interpolates the advantages of missiles accuracy-repeatability adaptability.

Cons: It is still under development, expensive to acquire, operates with professional assistance, and needs a lot more validation in real-life situations before being accepted for common use.

Why Is Clothing So Significant in Stabbing Cases?

The clothing will literally change the course of a stab. A heavy coat may decelerate or even blunt a knife, whereas light material won't provide much defense. That's why simulations have to account for:

1. Pre-impact factors: Garment type, weapon, and attacker's and victim's physical features.
2. Impact factors: Method of stabbing, force, and angle.
3. Post-impact factors: How the body breaks down, whether the scene has been disturbed, and environmental factors such as rain or heat.

Adding variables makes simulations more realistic but harder to do. Planning is required to prevent errors.

Blending Methods for Improved Results

Recent studies indicate that the best method is to blend manual, mechanical, and robotic simulations. Here's how it's done:

• Manual simulations are used to train robotic systems to more closely replicate human movements.
• Robots subsequently carry out accurate, repeatable tests, which provide consistent measurements.
• Mechanical tools plug the gaps, providing controlled experiments where required.

This approach closes gaps in existing forensic science, bringing crime scene reconstructions closer to being accurate and reliable. It ultimately brings justice to victims and provides reassurance that investigations are based on robust, scientific evidence.

Knife crime is a serious problem, yet emerging technologies in robotics and forensic science are increasingly making it simple to investigate and crack the cases. Adopting the combination of old expertise and forensic technology, investigators can solve even the most intricate crimes. With this technology becoming more available and proven, we can look forward to even improved outcomes in the quest for justice.

In a long-awaited move towards strengthening the health cadre of the state, the Himachal Pradesh government has sanctioned a significant increase in paramedical training seats in two of its premier medical colleges—Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla, and Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College (RPGMC), Tanda. It is the first significant increase in over two decades.

The action is against the background of growing need for trained technical staff in hospitals and health centers across the state, particularly inasmuch as newer healthcare equipment are being put into commission but where no trained hands exist to handle them. A government official explained that the action is part of measures to increase the numbers of trained technical staff, which has been a universal deficiency in the delivery of quality healthcare services within the state.

In IGMC Shimla, the seats for concerned paramedical courses—BSc Medical Laboratory Technology, BSc Radiography and Imaging, and BSc Anaesthesia and Operation Theatre Technology—have been upgraded from a mere 10 to 50 seats per course. Similarly, in RPGMC Tanda, the seats in BSc Medical Laboratory Technology, Radiology, and Anaesthesia courses have been upgraded from 18 to 50 each.

The hike is expected to significantly ease the burden of workload on the existing healthcare staff and also narrow the manpower shortage in government hospitals, especially in underserved and rural regions.

The move was greeted by health professionals as a much-needed initiative towards delivering the state's healthcare facilities with qualified professionals who can operate advanced diagnostic and treatment machinery. The increase will also create new career avenues in allied health science students.

With this initiative, the Himachal Pradesh government shows that it is not only interested in making investments in infrastructure but also in manpower to successfully operate it.

The dynamics of journalism in India are more vibrant in 2025 than ever before as they are even more challenging. The politics of culture in news media is not only an academic lesson to journalism students, but a necessary step to have a fulfilling career in news media. And now, let us take a closer look at why culture, politics, and journalism have become such a relevant issue nowadays and what you, prospective journalists, should remember about.

Culture determines all this, the stories that can be covered, who is heard and even the manner in which things are reported. Journalism in India has always been a subject of the cultural point of view because the country is home to numerous languages and religions. The newsrooms do not remain neutral and only reflect the backgrounds and inclinations of the individuals employed there, as well as the expectations of the listeners and readers.

The necessity of cultural preservation and the role of media diversity has been highlighted recently in events such as Global Media Dialogue (GMD) held at WAVES 2025. The leaders of India and the world professionals are currently discussing the need to reduce bias, to democratise the content, and to promote ethics in journalism. The idea is to establish an inclusive and technologically superior media ecosystem, which cannot however lose the authenticity of culture.

The Indian mass media is becoming extremely pressurized. On the one hand, the press is supposed to challenge authority, as well as giving the voice to the marginalised. The threats are on the rise on the other end of the scale, namely censorship, control by corporate entities, and even aggression towards journalists. Investigative journalists are usually reported or beaten up and even killed, especially those who exploit the status quo by uncovering corruption.

To give one example, in the state of Uttar Pradesh or in other parts of the country such as Jammu and Kashmir the journalists have been subjected to criminal charges or to real abuse by physical defamation or even to cut off the internet sources to keep people quiet. The fact remains that there are forces of politics and culture that can be used to empower as well as limit journalism so it is essential that the students gain insight on what the threats and should be with regard to them. 

Media Consumption: Echo Chamber and Public Spheres

A study  titled, “Threats to Journalists in India: Journalism in the Age of Intolerance and Rising Nationalism” notes that news media usage is extensively determined by party and cultural affiliations. Indians tend to select news sources that reflect their worldviews, forming their own echo chambers where only like minds are affirmed. This selective consumption has the potential to even widen the social and political gaps because individuals rarely experience the thoughts of others beyond their domain.

This is the reason behind the idea of the existence of what have been referred to as public spheres; areas where individuals can openly reason and debate. It is the work of the journalists to unite these gaps, to introduce different voices to the conversation and get rid of their own biases.

The Digital and AI Era: Opportunity and Ethical Challenges

The media industry in India is experiencing a revolution as news generation and distribution methods are undergoing change owing to digital media and artificial intelligence assisted tools. Although such technologies allow accessing new audiences and personalising the content, they are also associated with such challenges as false information, algorithmic bias, and unequal revenue distribution.

AI models are now being trained on news content, sometimes without fair compensation to journalists and media houses. This raises questions about sustainability, ethics, and the future of independent journalism. As students, you must be ready to adapt to these changes, learning both the technical and ethical sides of digital journalism.

What should Indian Journalism students do?

Here are some of the practical advice on how to put up with the politics of culture in journalism:

1. Be culturally knowledgeable: Be aware of how you have your own biases and learn how to know the cultural background of your stories.
2. Be ethical: Never be sensationalist nor rely on rumours, but report in balance always checking the facts.
3. Connect with a variety of people: Address various communities through the digital space and hear their issues.
4. Keep abreast: Keep track of online journalism and artificial intelligence trends and regulation developments.
5. Advocate press freedom: Champion the right of the press to be open, democratic and to be safeguarded.

Due to the politics of culture in journalism, the future of news in India is being shaped. As journalism students, it is not only your role to deliver facts, but to comprehend and orient yourself in the world of culture, politics and technology that are intertwined in myriads of possible complexes. That means making yourself inclusive and embracing diversity, maintaining ethical standards, and being flexible to handle the emerging problems to contribute to the inclusion of the media in India by 2025 and beyond.

The dynamics of journalism in India are more vibrant in 2025 than ever before as they are even more challenging. The politics of culture in news media is not only an academic lesson to journalism students, but a necessary step to have a fulfilling career in news media. And now, let us take a closer look at why culture, politics, and journalism have become such a relevant issue nowadays and what you, prospective journalists, should remember about.

Culture determines all this, the stories that can be covered, who is heard and even the manner in which things are reported. Journalism in India has always been a subject of the cultural point of view because the country is home to numerous languages and religions. The newsrooms do not remain neutral and only reflect the backgrounds and inclinations of the individuals employed there, as well as the expectations of the listeners and readers.

The necessity of cultural preservation and the role of media diversity has been highlighted recently in events such as Global Media Dialogue (GMD) held at WAVES 2025. The leaders of India and the world professionals are currently discussing the need to reduce bias, to democratise the content, and to promote ethics in journalism. The idea is to establish an inclusive and technologically superior media ecosystem, which cannot however lose the authenticity of culture.

The Indian mass media is becoming extremely pressurized. On the one hand, the press is supposed to challenge authority, as well as giving the voice to the marginalised. The threats are on the rise on the other end of the scale, namely censorship, control by corporate entities, and even aggression towards journalists. Investigative journalists are usually reported or beaten up and even killed, especially those who exploit the status quo by uncovering corruption.

To give one example, in the state of Uttar Pradesh or in other parts of the country such as Jammu and Kashmir the journalists have been subjected to criminal charges or to real abuse by physical defamation or even to cut off the internet sources to keep people quiet. The fact remains that there are forces of politics and culture that can be used to empower as well as limit journalism so it is essential that the students gain insight on what the threats and should be with regard to them. 

Media Consumption: Echo Chamber and Public Spheres

A study  titled, “Threats to Journalists in India: Journalism in the Age of Intolerance and Rising Nationalism” notes that news media usage is extensively determined by party and cultural affiliations. Indians tend to select news sources that reflect their worldviews, forming their own echo chambers where only like minds are affirmed. This selective consumption has the potential to even widen the social and political gaps because individuals rarely experience the thoughts of others beyond their domain.

This is the reason behind the idea of the existence of what have been referred to as public spheres; areas where individuals can openly reason and debate. It is the work of the journalists to unite these gaps, to introduce different voices to the conversation and get rid of their own biases.

The Digital and AI Era: Opportunity and Ethical Challenges

The media industry in India is experiencing a revolution as news generation and distribution methods are undergoing change owing to digital media and artificial intelligence assisted tools. Although such technologies allow accessing new audiences and personalising the content, they are also associated with such challenges as false information, algorithmic bias, and unequal revenue distribution.

AI models are now being trained on news content, sometimes without fair compensation to journalists and media houses. This raises questions about sustainability, ethics, and the future of independent journalism. As students, you must be ready to adapt to these changes, learning both the technical and ethical sides of digital journalism.

What should Indian Journalism students do?

Here are some of the practical advice on how to put up with the politics of culture in journalism:

1. Be culturally knowledgeable: Be aware of how you have your own biases and learn how to know the cultural background of your stories.
2. Be ethical: Never be sensationalist nor rely on rumours, but report in balance always checking the facts.
3. Connect with a variety of people: Address various communities through the digital space and hear their issues.
4. Keep abreast: Keep track of online journalism and artificial intelligence trends and regulation developments.
5. Advocate press freedom: Champion the right of the press to be open, democratic and to be safeguarded.

Due to the politics of culture in journalism, the future of news in India is being shaped. As journalism students, it is not only your role to deliver facts, but to comprehend and orient yourself in the world of culture, politics and technology that are intertwined in myriads of possible complexes. That means making yourself inclusive and embracing diversity, maintaining ethical standards, and being flexible to handle the emerging problems to contribute to the inclusion of the media in India by 2025 and beyond.

One of the increasing health issues in India and worldwide is high blood pressure also known as hypertension. Hypertension can be referred to as the silent killer as it slowly raises the chances of heart attacks, strokes, and kidney failures, among other severe health issues. The world health organization estimates that more than one billion individuals around the world are victims of this condition. Yet there is one common kitchen ingredient that could assist you in maintaining your blood pressure without any medication. According to recent findings of leading healthcare professionals, beetroot juice may be the solution.

Dr Sethi, a renowned gastroenterologist trained at AIIMS, Harvard, and Stanford, posted on his instagram page the secret ingredient of our kitchen that can save us from the silent killer called blood pressure (BP). His instagram video titled, “one of the most effective beverages for people with high blood pressure” highlighted this home remedy for BP. 

Why Is High Blood Pressure Dangerous?

Hypertension also exhibits no clear signs easily which makes it hard to notice unless one monitors. When unresolved, it may affect the blood vessels and other important organs, eventually. That is why it is important to control the blood pressure and avoid long-term issues of heart problems  and the overall well-being.

The Natural Blood Pressure Remedy is Beetroot Juice

Recently, beetroot juice was referred to by Dr. Saurabh Sethi, a Harvard-trained gastroenterologist, as one of the best drinks for people with high blood pressure. His tips which went viral on social media are now supported by medical research and health experts all over the world.

The magic is in the high nitrate levels of beetroot. The dietary nitrates are then transformed into nitric oxide, when you consume beetroot juice. Water nitric oxide relaxes and expands blood vessels, a process referred to as vasodilation. This enhances blood circulation resulting in a decrease in blood pressure particularly the upper (top) blood pressure number of your blood pressure reading.

A 2021 review in Nutrients reported that dietary nitrate supplementation has been shown to lower blood pressure in healthy individuals and those with hypertension in a significant way and particularly when it is beetroot juice based. The effects are felt in a matter of hours and it could continue for 24 hours when taken regularly. 

What is Beetroot Juice?

1. Nitrates in beetroot juice are not the only thing. It is full of vital minerals and antioxidants to keep the heart healthy:
2. Potassium: Balances the level of sodium, it helps in the regulation of blood pressure.
3. Magnesium: Magnesium is required in heart dynamics and blood tone.
4. Iron: promotes the health of red blood cells and transportation of oxygen.
5. Vitamin C and folate: These are antioxidants with properties that help in the metabolism.

What Do Experts Comment?

According to a Research by Queen Mary University of London which revealed an average of 8mmHg systolic and 4mmHg diastolic in blood pressure reduction after subjects consumed mixed 250 ml beetroot juice daily compared to those who took placebo treatment. The American Heart Association observes that the minimal decrease in blood pressure can reduce the chance of stroke by 10 and cardiac disease death by 7%. 

Other advantages of beetroot juice: Beyond Blood Pressure

Beetroot juice is used by athletes as a natural pre-workout juice. It is able to increase endurance by 16 percent with high-intensity training; this is mostly for low-fit individuals. Also, antioxidants present in beetroot juice have the benefit of combating oxidative stress, immunity-boosting and possibly liver/brain protection.

Warnings about Beetroot Juice Consumption 

Although beetroot juice is natural and mostly safe, it is not a substitute for prescribed blood pressure drugs, especially in subjects with moderate and severe hypertension. Bear in mind the following:

• Beeturia: Drinking beet juice may cause red or pink urine—harmless, but surprising!
• Kidney Stones: Beets have oxalates, which can predispose people prone to the formation of kidney stones.
• Blood sugar: Beet juice contains a lot of natural sugars, individuals with diabetes are advised to take beet juice in limited formulae.
• Medication Interaction: You must avoid taking the beetroot juice in case you consume blood pressure drugs or nitrates to relieve chest pains since this may lead to an interaction with other medications.

How to Include Beetroot juice in the diet? 

• Begin by taking one-half of a glass per day and observe the reaction of your body.
• Select raw, cold-pasteurized juice that does not contain sugars, or artificial preservatives.
• Take it on an empty stomach in the morning or one or two hours prior to an exercise.
• Complement it with a healthy diet that satisfies serving whole-grain products, fruits, leafy greens, and skinny meat.

To control blood pressure, Dr Sethi advises beetroot juice to be consumed while also doing normal exercise activity, high potassium-low sodium diet, coping strategies such as stress reduction (such as yoga or mindfulness), and a proper sleep pattern.

Beetroot juice can be an incredibly powerful natural supplementation to enable healthy blood pressure and better heart health in general. Although it is not considered a magic home remedy for BP, making this a part of your diet combined with the medically proven lifestyle changes, would actually have a significant effect on your health.

People who have been keeping up with political news of Kerala by reading the daily newspapers and updates, they would have noticed the news about some uproar made by Congress fighter Shashi Tharoor in his latest article on the Emergency era. This article by Shashi Tharoor has not only found a space in drawing rooms and WhatsApp groups but has also put the Congress party in Kerala in a tight spot. 

What Has Tharoor Written?

Shashi Tharoor, a well-known MP of Thiruvananthapuram wrote an article in the Malayalam daily Deepika, a keenly worded editorial, bringing memories of the Emergency declared by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in the period 1975-1977. 

Tharoor did not hesitate at all and called the Emergency a “dark period” in India’s democracy and highlighted the suspension of basic rights, the curbing of the press and human rights violation among others. He actually went to the extent of saying that it was Indira Gandhi who was responsible for taking such harsh actions and her son Sanjay Gandhi who had committed “terrible atrocities” such as forced sterilisation drives and brutal suppression of which rural localities witnessed a lot. 

What is the Emergency in India? 

The emergency (India) was a period of 21 months from 1975 to 1977. This was the time when Indira Gandhi declared the state of emergency in India due to the internal and external threats. During this time, civil liberties were suspended, the press was censored, and thousands of political opponents were jailed, making it one of the most controversial chapters in Indian democracy. 

This action, which was declared by President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed using Article 352 of the Constitution, granted the government extraordinary powers. More than 100,000 political dissidents, journalists, and critics were imprisoned and a great deal of basic rights were suspended. The Emergency can be recalled with cruel acts, one such is the forced sterilisation drive headed by Sanjay Gandhi and the destruction of slums. 

This move was made when the Allahabad High Court had declared the election of Indira Gandhi to be invalid and as a result there was political instability and increased resistance. It was in March 1977 when the Emergency was lifted and the democratic process thereafter normalized although that has been one of the most controversial and debatable events in the democratic history of India.

Why Is the Emergency Article a Big Deal by Congress?

Emergency remains a sore spot when it comes to the Congress party particularly given the fact that it came after their own leader Indira Gandhi imposed the situation. The party has in the years attempted to forget this chapter but it has been used against them by their political opponents particularly the BJP. The article by Tharoor, a top Congress leader has embarrassed the Kerala branch of the party. Opposing such open deflections argument, many in the party believe it supplies its opposition more ammunition and undermines the party itself.

What Were the Reactions of Congress Leaders?

Kerala Congress leaders have been swift to disassociate themselves with the thoughts of Tharoor. He has received open criticism by some and others have tried to be quiet in the hope that the controversy would die down. It has definitely placed the core leadership of the party in a fix yet they have not so far acted at disciplinary level in the matter. The impression is that the statements made by Tharoor are bound to widen the current cracks in the party as he has on earlier occasions questioned the party leadership and even participated in a party presidential race.

What is Tharoor's argument?

• Violation of Rights: Tharoor discussed the way the Emergency suspended the rights so that the press stopped working.
• Atrocities and Cruelty: He pointed at the forced sterilisation campaigns by Sanjay Gandhi and destruction of slums which rendered thousands of people homeless.
• Lessons that can be learnt today: Tharoor recalled how the Emergency must not only be recalled as a black mark, but it also should be a lesson that all democracies must be cautious and safeguard civil liberties.
• Effect on Congress: Raising such issues, Tharoor has compelled the Congress to face the past even when it attempts to present itself in the present day to be a harbinger of democracy.

Why is this Significant?

The timing of the article matters significantly. The 50th anniversary of the Emergency is being celebrated, political parties are cashing in on it to create the views of people accordingly. BJP observes June 25 as the day of Samvidhan Hatya (Constitution Murder) to remind its citizens of the role of Congress in Emergency. The article by Tharoor, although fair and introspective has ended up playing to the tune of BJP and caused new sleepless nights in his party as well.

What Happens with Tharoor and Congress?

At this point, the Congress leadership can only seem to be hoping that the controversy will pass away on its own. Tharoor, a man with his own opinions, remains popular among the general public in Kerala, despite the fact that some leaders in his party feel dissatisfied with him. It is still unclear whether this episode will have any grandiose changes in the party. However, one aspect is clear: the article by Tharoor has put back on the table a debate over the Emergency and made Congress reconsider its past once again.

To sum up, the Congress in Kerala has been caught in a quandary because of the bold approach to the Emergency put forward by Shashi Tharoor. The party is backpedalling in a bid to contain the repercussions, though the article is important in raising some discussions on democracy, accountability, and also the history. To the readers and the voters, it is a reminder that no issue discussed in politics is never just about the past but about the future as well. 

With artificial intelligence developing at an ever-increasing pace the world is being presented with a new problem of how to safeguard people against the abuse of their identity in deepfake manipulation that has been presented by artificial intelligence. As a result, Denmark is about to become the first nation in Europe, and among the first worldwide, legally to grant individuals the copyright over their own face, voice and body. This major step is intended to provide citizens with ownership over the use of their faces and voices in the digital era and in a time when deepfake technology is increasingly composed and easy to create. 

What Is Denmark’s Deepfake Law?

In June 2025, the government of Denmark proposed an initiative that will fundamentally change the copyright legislation in the country, which was backed by virtually every major political group. The proposed new law would grant a person his physical appearance, voice, and his body as his intellectual asset. It implies that when an individual uses your image (your face, voice or physical appearance) in a fake video, audio recording or image without consent, you could sue him or her to remove it and be rewarded with monetary compensation.

Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt of Denmark reported that the law aims to put “a loud message” that each person has the rights over their own face and voice. He underlined the urgency as people could be cloned or copied nowadays with the help of digital devices and these people could be misused in a way people never could imagine before. The legislation should be adopted by fall in 2025, and it will be implemented by the end of the year.

Why Is This Law Important for Digital Rights? 

Deep fakes, hyper-realistic AI-generated images, videos, or audio that resemble real people, have become an international issue. A study by Deeptrace Labs estimated that there were more than 500,000 deepfake videos on the Internet by early 2025 as the amount of deepfake videos online doubled every six months in 2024. These deepfakes are also utilized in malicious activities, research, and misinformation, fraud, non-consensual explicit content creation.

How Will the Law Work? 

1. Copyright over Likeness: People will be having a copyright of face, voice and body.
2. Removal and Compensation: It permits the targets to seek the removal of unauthorized posting and compensation.
3. Platform Accountability: The social media and technology platforms should be swift in order to delete the flagged content, or they should be penalized severely.
4. Exemptions: Satire and its parody are allowed to guarantee freedom of speech.

The Danish government also plans to advocate for similar protections throughout the European Union when it assumes the EU presidency in 2025, signaling a potential shift in digital rights across the continent.

Implications and Opinion around the world

Digital rights and AI ethics experts have applauded the move by Denmark. Dr. Carissa Vllez is a professor of AI ethics at the University of Oxford, and he believes that this legislation can become the first paradigm of global digital personal rights, which will empower ordinary people against AI abuse. European Digital Rights (EDRi) agrees with the move as well, because the current legal regulations have not kept pace with the AI advancement.

Denmark is in the spotlight of other countries. The European Union already adopted the AI Act that establishes the regulation on high-risk AI applications but the Danish legislation would be even more detailed, shedding light on matters of individual rights and protection against deepfakes. The United States is also debating it, with states such as California and Texas enacting laws against deepfake election interference but so far no state currently has comprehensive copyright of personal likeness.

Why is it Important to the World?

Since the AI content is becoming increasingly advanced, identity theft, fraud, and reputational damage risks are increasing. Copyrighting of faces and voices is a preemptive move to enable the citizenry, keep predators at bay, and bring tech corporations to justice.

This action by Denmark is not only related to the protection of their own country as it might trigger an influx of similar legislation at an international scale, placing a new standard of how digital rights should be accommodated in the age of AI. Legal systems (such as the one in Denmark) will play an important role in preserving personal identity and integrity in online correspondences as deepfake technology develops.

The revolutionary idea by Denmark to confer copyright on faces, voices, and bodies is the answer to deepfangs that has come at the right time. Having a clear vision on digital rights and high political support, Denmark is establishing the example of how individuals can be safeguarded against the abuses introduced by AI. This law is capable of becoming an example to other countries all over the world, as the world observes and hopes that in the era of AI applications, only the owner would own his/her identity.

If you are seeking to  pursue an MBA in India or any Management course, and want a convenient exam that helps you secure admission in the best of the private management colleges in India as a student, then the Global Management Common Aptitude Test (GMCAT) might just be the best management entrance test for you. GMCAT, powered by Edinbox, is specifically designed to help the highly driven students of today get admission at the top management college in India to pursue MBA or BBA degree in Human Resource Management, Finance, etc.

In this article, you will come to know about the GMCAT entrance test, its syllabus, exam pattern, important dates and everything else. 

What is GMCAT?

GMCAT (Global Management Common Aptitude Test) is a new age national-level entrance test which is accepted by top management institutes in India (for the time being). GMCAT2025 opens up the opportunity to pursue a variety of management programs whether it is undergraduate (such as BBA) or postgraduate (such as MBA, PG in HR, Finance, Marketing) program.

Key Highlights:

1. Recognized in leading private management institutes in India and throughout the world
2. 100% online application and examination process
3. Maximum three attempts (the highest score counts)
4. Availability of scholarships and financial aid
5. Admissions & post-admissions career counselling and support

Why Take GMCAT?

1. Online and easy: Take the exam online and at a place of your choice any time you prefer. No requirement of going to a test centre.
2. Multiple Attempts: There are up to three attempts that a student gets to raise his or her score, where only the highest score is used to determine the admissions. 
3. Wide Acceptance: The GMCAT scores are recognized by the top most private management colleges in India. 
4. Guidance and Guidance Scholarships:  Scholarships according to merit and according to need are provided and career counselling, which guides you as to what you want to do in life is also given. 
5. Speed and Openness: Quick availability of scores help simplify the admission process.

GMCAT Exam Pattern

GMCAT is designed for maximum convenience and accessibility. Here’s how the exam works:

Steps to Admission via GMCAT:

1. Go to GMCAT official portal: GMCAT.org 
2. Register by filling your details. 
3. Make the Payment of 2000rs to complete your enrollment 
4. Take the test on the scheduled date
5. Access results through the candidate portal.
6. Participate in counselling and finalise your admission.
7. Choose the college you wish  to take admission at.
8. Complete provisional admission at your chosen college

GMCAT Syllabus

The GMCAT syllabus is developed using the best minds in education and real life industry leaders and aims to evaluate functional management ability and proficiency. It discusses the basics that are required in business and management studies.

Core Sections:

• Quantitative Aptitude: Simple arithmetic, interpretation, logic and troubleshooting.
• Verbal Ability: Reading comprehension, Grammar and Vocabulary, Sentence Correction and critical reasoning.
• General Awareness: Current news of business, current affairs, a review of any general economic trend and general knowledge in context to management.
• Analytical and logical Reasoning: Puzzle, series, data analysis and logical reasoning.

It is a balanced syllabus that will make sure that you are assessed on the necessary skills when it comes to being a management profession in the future and that is without testing you on just unimportant fluff, or testing you on old fashioned topics.

Dates and Registration on Exams

• Registration start Date: January 1, 2025
• Last Date to Register: 18th July, 2025
• Exam Date: 19th July, 2025
• Result Date: 21st July 2025
• Counselling: Starts right after the declaration of the result

Complete your application within this period to ensure your eligibility for GMCAT 2025.

Important Tips for Candidates

• Set Reminders: mark all important dates and set reminders to ensure a smooth process.
• Document Verification: Keep all necessary documents ready for smooth application, exam, and counseling processes.
• Regular Updates: keep yourself in loop with the official GMCAT notification. 

GMCAT vs. Other Management Entrance Exams

Courses you can Pursue with GMCAT

• BBA
• MBA

With GMCAT 2025, management entrance tests are being re-designed to ensure they are less strenuous, less rigid and more focus oriented on the student. As far as smooth admission into the management colleges of your choice is concerned, GMCAT is an intelligent and contemporary choice whether the course would be MBA, BBA, HR, or even Finance.

Become a MBA aspirant/ Management course graduate by enrolling for GMCAT entrance exam from this portal: gmcat.org 

For more information, feel free to connect with us at 8071296497.

A new industrial revolution is taking shape in China with dark factories where fully automated manufacturing facilities operate without human workers or the need for lights. The factories are called dark factories because they are dark in literal sense as machines can work efficiently without lights. 

What are Dark Factories? 

Dark factories in China are driven by advanced technology of artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and sensors and will be a significant change in the manufacturing environment across the world. Everything in this dark factory is done by machines, instead of humans, where there is no need to turn on the lights, fans, heaters, or to take breaks. This not only reduces energy consumption and operational costs but also allows for 24/7 production, maximizing efficiency and output. 

The push towards dark factories is a core part of China’s ambitious “Made in China 2025” initiative, which aims to make the country a global leader in high-tech manufacturing. The government of China has put a lot of money into automation and has installed more than 290, 000 industrial robots in 2022, which is more than 50 % of all the robots installed in the world, way ahead of other countries. 

Leading Companies and Examples 

Major corporations like Foxconn and BYD are leading this transformation. Foxconn has replaced tens of thousands of workers with robots and plans to automate 1/3rd of its operations by 2025. Xiaomi’s Changping facility exemplifies this trend, producing one smartphone every second through AI-powered systems.

Benefits and Challenges

Dark factories are not just for efficiency but for the need of the era where fast commerce is increasing and people don’t possess patience to wait for a thing. Also, As labor costs in China rise, automation offers a way to maintain competitiveness and avoid issues like strikes or labor shortages. Robots are also more accurate that minimize product defects and enhance the quality of the products being manufactured. 

However, challenges surround this revolution. The transition brings fear of job displacement to millions of factory employees and creates new demand for highly skilled engineers and technicians to design, maintain and upgrade these sophisticated systems. 

The Future of Manufacturing 

The trend is gaining momentum despite these misgivings. By early 2025, Chinese companies had built thousands of smart and hundreds of fully automated dark factories, primarily in high-tech industries electronics and electric vehicles. These plants are the results of the collaboration of AI, big data, and 5G technologies that redefine the industry and the quality control and productivity levels.

In conclusion, China is changing and revolutionizing production with its dark factories and its push towards modern technology and efficiency. On the one hand, the dark factory of China is offering the future of greater productivity and reduction of costs; on the other hand, it vividly demonstrates the necessity of discussing the social and economic consequences of automation on the working population. 

In a significant move, the Delhi government has decided to install smart boards in government schools. This digital initiative will change the way lakhs of children gain education on a daily basis. This is one of the largest investments in the world, the Delhi Cabinet has sanctioned, 900 crores, to have nearly 21000 smart boards replace the blackboards in classrooms in government schools by 2029-30, and a smart board, is not just about technology, it makes a difference in bridging it in the opportunity gap, and it also makes a difference to the minds of young people.

For decades, the blackboard has been used in Indian classrooms, but in Delhi  that has over 37,000 government school classrooms, only 799 had smart boards until now and that too have largely been equipped out of donations, not the government. That’s less than 2.1%! 

The new initiative will transform this story so much so that 18,996 smart boards will be deployed in five phases, and another 2,466 will be already in pipe-line in 75 CM Shri schools.

Here’s what makes smart board important in today’s classroom: 

1. Interactive Learning: Videos, animations, and interactive quizzes can be used with the help of these boards making the lessons much more interesting, and simple to comprehend.
2. Personalised Education: Aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the smart boards will support experiential and personalised learning, catering to different learning styles.
3. AI and Robotics Ready: Delhi even has plans to continue the tradition of Gujarat with the introduction of AI-enabled smart boards and robotics labs and provide students with practical skills with new technologies of the future.

The most notable thing is the fact that the government is taking education very seriously through focusing on schools in localities like Najafgarh, Narela, Seemapuri, Mahavir Enclave and Kirari; areas which tend to be untouched when it comes to major reforms. It is a deliberate move to make sure that digital learning can no longer be a preserve of the elite but it is available in far corners of Delhi.

What the government is doing is more than placing hardware, a smart board in a class. It is about investing in the youth. The use of the new tools by teachers will be facilitated by a special teacher training module where they will find it possible to maximize the potential of the technology, whereby technology will indeed be promoting personalized teaching and learning. 

This e-drive is an extension of a larger vision. Delhi aims to install 7,000 smart classrooms, 175 digital libraries, 100 APJ Abdul Kalam Language Labs teaching foreign languages proficiency in English, French, and German, by the year end. It implies greater resources, greater opportunities, and a more internationalist look ahead for the young people of Delhi.

The education leaders of Delhi have turned to other cities to be inspired. Take the example of Gujarat that has already installed more than 1.1 lakh smart classes even in the flood-prone districts. Through such success stories, Delhi is ready to jump forward to the future.

To parents and students, this is not merely a technological update but a commitment  that the government schools will surely provide high-quality education, with a high degree of equity and digital freedom that students deserve to have in the 21st century. In the case of India, it is an example that may spawn other progressive changes in other states to grant all children a level playing field in the digital era, irrespective of their backgrounds.

Education Minister Ashish Sood of Delhi said “We are committed to taking quality education to every corner of Delhi, from Najafgarh to Kirari. This is the first major step towards making Delhi’s government schools better than private schools, not just in infrastructure, but in pedagogy and learning outcomes as well” 

This shows the government of Delhi is looking forward to a future where students get quality education indifferent to the type of institute they are in. This is giving the students of Delhi government schools an assurance that their dreams matter and they can be future ready with the help of advanced classrooms.

Do you want a future-proof and sustainable job in environmental management or agriculture? Agroforestry is becoming a dominant land-management practice in India as well as the rest of the world. It is an inviting and prosperous field in the 21st century. 

What is Agroforestry?

Agroforestry is a term used to describe the production of trees and non-tree crops or animals on one land. The aim of doing this is to integrate trees, plants, and animals in conservative, long-term, productive systems. Unlike traditional farming, agroforestry creates a diverse ecosystem, boosting productivity, profitability, and sustainability. It is recognized as a key solution for climate resilience, land restoration, and rural livelihoods.

The key features of it are that it integrates agriculture and forestry to their advantages, improves soil moisture and fertility, slows down erosion and boosts biodiversity, and somewhat counters climate change through carbon sequestration. 

Why should Agroforestry be important?

• Climate Change Mitigation: Trees capture carbon dioxide, making agroforestry a natural climate solution.
• Improved Farm Income: Diversification with timber, fruits, and medicinal plants increases farmer earnings.
• Biodiversity Conservation: Mexican laws can create a habitat of wildlife and contribute towards ecological balance.
• Soil & Water Health: It decreases soil loss, enhances water absorption, and reuses nutrients.
• Food Security: Contributes to sound food production and weather shock resilience

Popular Courses

• B.Sc. /B.Tech Agroforestry
• Agroforestry in M.Sc.
• Diploma and Certification programs
• Short-term Online Courses (covering principles, systems, and management) 

Best Colleges of Agroforestry in India

• GB Pant University of Agriculture & Technology
• Banaras Hindu University (BHU)
• Mizoram University
• Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology & Sciences (SHUATS)
• Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry

Admission eligibility, admission

• Undergraduate: 10+2 (Science stream preferred)
• Postgraduate: Bachelor degree in agriculture, forestry or allied subjects 

The best universities can require aspirants to take entrance exams like AIACAT or other agriculture entrance exams. 

You will learn the following: 

• Agroforestry systems and designs 
• Tree-crop-livestock interactions
• Management of soil and water
• Climate-smart agriculture
• Rural development and project planning

Career Opportunities in Agroforestry

Agroforestry offers diverse job roles in both public and private sectors:

1. Research Scientist (ICAR, ICFRE, CIFOR-ICRAF)
2. Field Officer/Consultant (NGOs, government projects)
3. Agroforestry Project Manager
4. Agroforestry Extension Specialist
5. Environmental Consultant
6. Sustainable Agriculture Advisor
7. Entrepreneur (tree nurseries, organic products)
8. Teaching & Academia (universities, training institutes)

Most Recent Advent and Government Causes

• National Agroforestry Policy (2014): India was the first country to design a national policy, where it is planned to expand the area in plantations to help farmers.
• Sub-Mission on Agroforestry: Started to encourage farmers to plant trees by the Ministry of Agriculture.
• State Policies: Agroforestry investment and promotion: Odisha and Tamil Nadu States have initiated special policies to encourage investment and promotion of agroforestry.
• Skill Development: Trainers are offering hands-on courses, workshops on the ground or online courses that are made available to students and practitioners.

Valuable insights for Students and Aspirants

The field offers a blend of science, technology, and traditional knowledge, making it ideal for those passionate about nature and innovation. As climate change and sustainability remain on top of the agenda, there is a great demand for agroforestry professionals to work as researchers, policy makers, and implementers. Practical skills acquired by the students of land management, environmental assessment and rural development lead to possible careers in the national and global scope.

In short, Agroforestry is shaping the future of sustainable agriculture in India and beyond. For students and aspirants, it offers a meaningful, future-proof career with opportunities to make a real difference. Whether a student is interested in research, policy, entrepreneurship, or hands-on fieldwork, agroforestry education opens the door to a greener, more resilient world, as well as offers a lucrative career. 

"Godfather of AI", Geoffrey Hinton, the British-Canadian computer scientist is concerned about AI becoming so powerful that it could rewrite its code. What’s more alarming is the time frame of 5 years he has revealed for this to happen. He also challenged the belief that AI will create new jobs. 

Dr Geoffrey Hinton left his position at Google recently in order to issue a warning to humanity about the dangers of unregulated AI systems. The message he is trying to send is clear: AI would eventually have the capacity to re-purpose their coding, liberate themselves of human control, and grasp the power dynamic between humans and machines and change it radically.

The frightening fact: the fast development of AI

It is a wake-up call to the whole world issued by Dr. Hinton and his peers. They are warning us that the rush to create increasingly high-powered AI regulation is fast becoming a race where speed takes precedence over safety, and the potential outcomes are unpredictable and possibly fraught with danger. These are neural networks, advanced AI models that emulate the human brain and are already able to do what was previously considered the preserve of humans; commonsense reasoning, translation of languages and even writing creatively.

What is particularly troubling is this, when AI is able to learn and share information within seconds. As Dr. Hinton put it, “Whenever one AI model learns anything, all the others know it. People can’t do that”. This means that advances made in one AI system can be replicated across countless others in moments, amplifying both their capabilities and their risks.

Even within five years, experts such as Dr. Hinton have the opinion that AI will achieve  a form of autonomy through which it can rewrite its own code and even escape the parameters established by the human programmer. Previously speculative fiction, now such a scenario is becoming a real issue of scientists and the managers of leading corporations. The fear is not just that we might be outwitted by AI, but that it could act in unpredictable ways beyond our control.  

The significance of Computer Science Students

Computer science students are not merely spectators in this developing crisis, they are the future soldiers in the frontlines. With the AI system being more seamlessly integrated into all sectors of the society, including in medical care, finances, national security, entertainment, and much more, the need for versatile coders, AI engineers, and ethical technologists is skyrocketing. India alone predicts the AI industry to grow to 17 billion rupees by 2027 with growth rates of 25-35% each year. Roles like Machine Learning Engineer, AI Research Scientist, and Data Scientists are among the most sought-after in tech, often commanding salaries well above industry averages.

Your Ability is Your Strength 

The more skillful coder you are, the more you are valued. Machine learning is a new and fast-developing area, and the lack of enough qualified specialists is great. This shortage increases salaries and the more people have coded and learned about AI, the competitive edge they develop. Employers are less interested merely in coders; they want breakthrough thinkers who can see a way to match AI portfolios to business objectives, ensure AI systems are ethical, secure, and highly reliable..

Just as soldiers are trained to adapt and protect in unpredictable environments, computer science students should be flexible, ethical, and lifelong learners. The new frontier is not a battlefield fought with guns and tanks, but one shaped by algorithms, data, and code. The military is already using AI to train soldiers, perform smart supply chains and even make crucial battle-field decisions.

By being a coder you are not only creating apps or websites but the entire structure of the future society. Your knowledge will be essential to make AI one of the tools of good, instead of something we cannot control. 

Why are Coders the Warriors of the Digital Age?

The same way soldiers are taught how to fight and survive in uncharted territory, so should students of computer science. They should be agile, with code of ethics, and eager to learn at all times. The next battlefield will not be won with weaponry and tanks, but algorithms, data and code. AI is already applied to train army men, manage the logistical chain, and even to make strategic decisions in battle.

When you work as a coder, you do not simply create applications or websites, you are creating the future of the society. Your experience will play a key role in ensuring there should be no element of AI that cannot be controlled but AI continues to be used as a tool of good.

What Should Computer Science Aspirants Do?   

• Learn incessantly: The field of AI is evolving quickly. Become skilled in popular areas such as machine learning, deep learning, NLP, and ethics of AI.
• Think Ethically: The greater the power of the AI, the greater your duty is. Be the voice which shapes technology to benefit human beings.
• Be Adaptive: The online battle is uncontrollable. Be constantly curious, learn, and be willing to change directions when new technologies appear.

The advice of the godfather of AI is not only hypothetical horror stories but a rallying cry to the succeeding generation of computer scientists. The machines that we design can never take control of us unless we do not manage them properly. Owing to the fact that you were the one to create and watch over the digital age, it is your competences, morals, and imagination that will turn AI either into the best friend or the unbeatable enemy of humankind. The whole world is looking forward to it and it is waiting to follow you.

As a society, we often prioritise academic achievement over the emotional well-being of our children. The stress of shifting schools and cities can have a profound impact on young minds, leading to feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and isolation.

Reminiscing 2020’s global house-arrest and with campuses being closed and online learning being pursued, edtech push by COVID is now stronger than the fintech push by demonetization. The teacher-student model has ceased to exist for ever now, and we are moving to a qualitatively different mentor-learner model not just in the current digital learning phase, but also in the post pandemic times ahead. Beyond this complete campus lockdown phase, during which time mentoring-learning-assessing has gone online globally, we shall be moving towards blended phygital education ahead, which will be the new normal ahead, and will make the new model of mentor-learner firmly entrenched.

Learning or academics or education broadly has three functions: creation of learning content through research, writing, packaging with visuals; dissemination of learning through classes, lectures, notes, self-study, discussions; & assessment and evaluation of the education of the learner by various methods. All these three have been majorly impacted by the self-isolation imposed to ensure social distancing so that the learners and the mentors may first be protected from the spread of the infection of COVID19. The lockdown across the world is simultaneously a boon and a bane for the teaching-learning community today.

Teacher to Mentor:

The teacher was a sage on the stage, introducing every new topic, speaking the last word on it, sticking to a structured syllabus as prescribed, interpreting it as s/he deems right, finishing the syllabus and focusing on examination and evaluation to complete the cycle of delivery of education. He often demands respect, and relies on the power to punish to set things right (not always, though). Teacher teaches and often sermonizes.

Each premise noted above is changing now.

Mentor today is a co-learner, may be the first stimulus for a topic but never the last word, starts from a structured syllabus but is expected to move towards organic learning depending upon the variegated interest areas of groups of learners, aggregates learning resources from multiple sources and shares with the learners, is more a guide, second parent and agony shelter of sorts for the learners. Examination also is diverse and evaluation is just one more function and not the ultimate yardstick of learning and brilliance of the learner. Mentor may often be less informed about an issue, but with a better perspective to guide. Mentor engages and inspires.

Learning Resources Aggregation & Delivery:

To begin with being the new age mentor, a massive train the trainer and capacity building is needed today. For this, first the mentor has to be a digital personality with smartphone and net connection, and with laptop and wifi connection. Next, one has to learn how to create, deliver and engage in content across multiple online platforms, and how to take matter learnt online to matter practiced offline face to face. Third, one has to now learn assessment with open book through analysis and application, through quiz, through applied projects, through phygital presentation and actual work in labs and studios after using virtual labs and studios.

Creating the learning resources was quite easy earlier. There were the books, often called text and reference books, then the power-point presentation of the teacher, and then chalk and talk. And the topic was first introduced in a class, post which notes were given, books were mentioned, and later examination was conducted to check memory and a bit of understanding.

The game is changed now. And totally so.

The concept of proprietary content (the mentor’s own videos, audio or podcast content, power-points, cases, info-graphics etc), aggregated content (books, monographs, videos, podcasts, URLs, pdfs, cases, etc taken from the internet, YouTube and Vimeo, etc), and also massive open/closed online learning resources (free ones like Swayam or NAPTEL, paid ones like those of Coursera or LinkedIn, and the university’s own online courses): these three are the learning resources today.

The mentor is expected to make a mix of proprietary, aggregated and online learning resources, suitably arranging them from the easies one to the toughest one and offer to the learners digitally (using Google Class, emails, or better, Learning Management Systems like Canvas or TCSion, Blackboard or Collaborate, etc,) at least a week or more before they meet digitally or physically to discuss the content. This is called Flipped Classroom where the learners get learning content much in advance, read, watch or listen to the same asynchronously at their own time, place or pace, note down things they have not understood or have questions on, and come to the digital/physical classroom synchronously, to clarify doubts, discuss cases, debate on conclusions drawn and participate in quiz or analytical or applied assignments. Delivery of the online session can be on any platform: MS Teams, Zoom, Webex, Google Meet and can move from the synchronous digital classroom to asynchronous digital chatroom debates and discussions for further clarification.

This makes the task for Content Creation and Content Delivery for the mentors much more diverse, tech-savvy, and tougher than the traditional teacher’s job.

Learners’ Engagement & Evaluation:

Further, education will now move from a system imposed disciplined endeavour to voluntarily participated and internalized process. It will be truly a learner-centric education now in the new normal, and shall be far more participative than the past. The learner in the digital or blended mode is learning voluntarily and not on the basis of an imposed discipline on campus through a web of rules and power dynamics. While voluntary learning will throw many non-interested or apathetic learners out of the learning circle, it will also make many focused learners internalize education better and apply it in a more focused manner at his or her individual level.

Also, with Artificial Intelligence, robotics, automation, Machine Learning and internet of things being the other emerging realities, the skills for mass production or education to do the same work repeatedly will be totally irrelevant ahead when machines will take over almost all such work (more than three fourths of all human work today). Hence, new age skills, apart from technology use, have to be in areas like creativity, innovation, incubation, problem-solving, teamwork, leadership, critical thinking, design thinking, empathy, emotional intelligence and risk management. Each of these can be qualitatively and quantitatively mentored to any youth from an early age of say 15 years till 25 years of age, and will become his or her second nature.

To deliver such a learning, the learners’ engagement techniques have to be more tech-savvy (google forms, polls, surveys, quiz, virtual lab and studio, AI tools, etc) and also with higher emotional quotient (use of humour, videos, info-graphics, empathy in the class, allowing diversity of opinion, wellness conscious, etc).

Even the evaluation or assessment has to be diverse. Assessment refers to learner performance; it helps us decide if students are learning and where improvement in that learning is needed. Evaluation refers to a systematic process of determining the merit value or worth of the instruction or programme; it helps us determine if a course is effective (course goals) and informs our design efforts. Assessment and evaluation can be both formative (carried out during the course) and summative (carried out following the course). There can be many ways for the same. Mentors can make learners aware of expectations in advance (e.g. one week for feedback from deadline) and keep them posted (announcement: all projects have been marked). For example, one can create tests that are multiple choice, true/false, or short answer essays and one can set the assessments to automatically provide feedback.

When online, evaluation can be on the basis of proctored digital examination or open-book analytical and applied evaluation with non-google-able questions. And this is surely not an easy task for the mentors as teachers of the past were used to repeat past questions, had set patterns of questions, examinations were ‘suggestions’ and memory based, and not application based in general. Online quiz, open book examination with time-managed and proctored question paper delivered online, applied questions not based on memory but comprehension, telephonic interview etc have been the usual ways of digital assessment and evaluation of learning.

There will be offline evaluation also. Here, the assessment can be based on offline written examinations, field-survey based presentation or report writing, debates, lab/studio-based practical, or a peer-group work, or a submission of a long-term real life or live project.

Digital Learning Tools Today:

The pandemic requires universities to rapidly offer online learning to their students. Fortunately, technology and content are available to help universities transition online quickly and with high quality, especially on the digital plank, though at a cost and with the risk of several teachers and administrators being forced to go out of the system.

Digital learning on the go or from distance calls for tech-led holistic solutions. It requires several content pieces to be transmitted digitally. These content pieces can be in the form of pdfs, ppts, URLs, YouTube links, podcast links, case-studies, etc. There can also be e-books, audio-books, kindle based content, magzter sourced magazines, etc. Then this can involve learning without being face to face through boxes, as in Google Class, or learning face to face as in Zoom live audio-visual discussions. People may also use GoToMeetings or MicrosoftMeet sessions also. Attendance can be taken on Google Spreadsheet and through WhatsApp Group chat of a batch of students too.

Then there are MOOCs, collaborative distance learning, wikis, blogs etc. Individual resource-rich institutes develop their customized secured and IPR protected Learning Management Systems, through the use of BlackBoard or TCSion LMS. Other LMS options like Kaltura or Impartus allowing video recording of talks also ar in use in many places. There are CourseEra courses, Swayam online lessons from UGC and similar other avenues to learn online.

Learning digitally can be further assisted with Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) and Mixed Reality (MR) which can take the viewer to an enhanced experience even integrating scenarios which are yet to happen creatively bringing them within the learning experience. These are immersive and contextual experiences, and artificial intelligence driven chatbots can further enhance the digital interface of the learner and the mentor.

Digital Learning Value-adds:

Incorporating big data analytics and content management, educators can develop an individualized curriculum that enhances how each student learns (e.g. playlist of learning content in WiseWire changing for each student). Many in the West have started the use of the millennials' language and style: Khan Academy video lessons, YouTube use, distinct style and language for young learners. Twitter, Tumblr, Snapchat, Imessage, Instagram, Facebook & Whatsapp are being creatively integrated with school education. There is a case of a management school in India, where the professor sends a 3 minutes interesting video on the subject he is taking up next through group whatsapp to increase interest in the batch towards the topic being taught.

In the US, the smart-phone applications like Socrative and Plickers are helping teachers interact and assess students’ progress, collaborate via cloud-based applications to work and solve a common goal. Teachers can publish real-time quizzes and polls for students via mobile devices to keep them engaged.

Further, using anything from iMovie to WeVideo, learners can create video as a learning resource. YouTube (with privacy settings) and SeeSaw or Flipgrid are also alternatives learners can make use of. The benefits of SeeSaw and Flipgrid are that students can add voice recordings or text sharing feedback with peers. Students became the co-creators of content and as a result, more engaged, including their parents. Useful apps like Book Creator, Explain Everything and EduCreations can be utilised towards this end. 

There are various software used to create digital content, like Camtasia, Raptivity, Captivate, Articulate Online, etc.

Yes alongside, social media use extensively will support learning online. Facebook Page can broadcast updates and alerts. Facebook Group or Google Hangout with advanced features in G-suite can stream live lectures and host discussions. Twitter can act as a class message board. The 256 characters help to keep messages succinct. Instagram can be used for photo essays. One can create a class blog for discussions. There are many different platforms available, such as WordPress, SquareSpace, Wix, Blogger for that. And, one can create a class-specific Pinterest board as well.

Students to Learners:

With mentors replacing teachers, the students cannot be the pre COVID typical students any more going ahead.

Students study in classroom, are taught by teachers, limited to given syllabus, and study for marks, grades, degrees. Students give exams in written and on the basis of suggestions or set patters of evaluation.

Learners study within and beyond the classroom, from mentors, peers, personal experience, books, digitally aggregated content, through projects and through assignments. Learners learn for lifetime application, and hence learn to learn further as things learnt today are obsolete soon. Self-learning or learning to learn is hence a major cultivated skill for the present day learners, especially in higher education, as techniques and technologies are changing in the work-place in less than five years now. Learners also learn organically. While structured syllabus must be completed for foundation and examination, organic learning is about self-driven learning in few chosen areas out of interest, assisted by the mentors.

Yes, for this, doubling public education expenditure, digital access to the hinterland, considering digital connectivity as a human right, digital literacy as a fundamental pre-requisite in any work, providing cell phones and laptops or tabs en masse, announcing cheaper data packages for students, CSR in the field of domain of digital connectivity by corporate houses, etc and more would be needed soonest to bridge the yawning digital divide in the otherwise class divided society. It must be noted that even UNESCO has noted that only 48% of Indian learners’ community of 283 million is receiving some sort of online education today, the rest 52% going bereft of any form of formal learning whatsoever for more than a year now! And among these 48%, the girl-students are having a worse fate in the poorer families due to limited digital devices to which the sons have a higher access than the daughters.

Conclusion:

India has been speaking of digital education for long but it has stayed on as a possibility and not a reality for more than a decade now. Even IITs and IIMs have used digital platforms on the side for sharing of content and debating on issues sporadically. The larger mass of 1300 plus universities and some 44,000 colleges have actually not digitized their content, not made access to online learning mainstay of their teaching-learning process, except the distance learning universities. In fact, the old school educationists looked at online and distance education with some disdain all across South Asia. They are in for a major shock now. The digital divide needs fast bridging through the promise of 6% of the GDP for public education, through 2% of profits for CSR given here, and through civil society initiatives like getting smart-phones, laptops and tabs for the less privileged.

It is clear that going ahead digital access will be a human right, and those in governance must wake up to the reality that youngsters need in expensive tablets and easy data access. A nation that spends less than 3% of national budget for public education (lower than Tanzania, Angola and Ghana, et al), with the states putting in 2.5 (Bihar) to 26% (Delhi), with Delhi being the only state in double digits, cannot ensure digital education for the masses, unless allocation of funds and their transparent spending happen.

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Prof. Ujjwal Anu Chowdhury

The author is Vice President, Washington University of Science and Technology and Editorial Mentor, edInbox.com

The last two years have clearly shown that technology-aided remote schooling is neither fully possible nor completely desirable. 

Lest we forget that India is a nation of more than one-third of the population in the 15 to 25 years age-bracket, the most promising period of life when one decides career path, subjects for learning, types of work to do, and becomes self-dependent in the process.