Insights

We live in an age where WiFi signals are strong,but human bonds are often weak. We, family is sitting and dining but busy scrolling ,checking reels ,checking phones and social media frequently. Our mobile phones stay fully charged,but our heat feels drained.  We are constantly online yet frequently offline in real life. This paradox defines the 21st century, a time when technology has brought people closer virtually but has also created invisible walls between them emotionally. Welcome to the Age of Strong WiFi Connection But Weak Human Connections ! It is not a catchy phrase ,it’s reality,many of us are living today. WiFi may keep us online but only love, empathy and presence can keep us alive.

At the end of the day,no one will remember how many likes we got or how fast our WIFI was.What people will remember is how we made them feel,the memories we created ,and the bonds we built. So,let’s use WIFI to connect but let’s not forget to truly connect as humans. Because life becomes meaningful not through strong signals,but through strong relationships.

The WIFI age is here to stay-we cannot go back to the pre digital era.But we can move forward wisely.Technology should be a tool,not a replacement for relationships.Strong WIFI is useful,but strong human connections are essential. 

The Paradox of Digital Age- Technology was meant to connect us. Social media platforms allow us to talk to someone across the world instantly.Video calls make long distance families feel closer. Yet,despite all these tools, loneliness is rising.

More friends online , fewer in real life- People of thousands of followers but struggle to find one true friend they can rely on.

Always Connected,rarely present- Notifications grab our attention more than people sitting besides us.

Superficial Interactions Weaker Emotions- Likes and emojis have replaced real smiles and meaningful conversations.

Think about it-how often do you spend an evening scrolling through Instagram instead of meeting someone face to face? How many times have you checked your phone during a family get together? Virtual relationships are overpowering real relationships. Virtual means  no emotions,no commitment,no responsibility,no awkward silence but they lack depth. A digital goodmorning cannot replace a hug. A status update cannot replace eye contact.Over time,these surface level interactions make us feel empty,even though we appear connected.

Why Human Connections Matter- Strong WIFi can entertain us,but only strong human bonds can truly sustain us. Relationships are the foundation of happiness and mental well being.

Emotional Health- Talking to a friend or family member reduces stress,anxiety and loneliness.

Personal Growth- Real conversations teach empathy,patience and problem solving skills that emojis cannot.

Memories and belonging-  Human connections give us stories to cherish laughter to remember and a sense of belonging.

How to strengthen Human Connections in the WIFI Age

The good news is we don’t have to choose between technology and relationships. The key is balance.

Be Present in the Moment- Put your phone down when you are with loved ones. Eye contact and active listening build stronger bonds than any emoji.

Prioritize Real Conversations-  Instead of long chats online,schedule coffee meets/walks or calls where you truly listen.

Digital Detox- Take regular breaks from screens. Spend time in nature, read books or engage in hobbies that don’t require WIFi.

Set Boundaries- Use technology carefully. Don’t use phones at the dinner table. 

So,let’s use WIFI to connect but let’s not forget to truly connect as humans. Because life becomes meaningful not through strong signals,but through strong relationships.

Are you taking an entrance exam soon? Not sure how to clear it? Apparently, it might seem that preparing 30 days before entrance exams is a challenging task, but with the proper plan and concentration, it is all possible to achieve a good score and make your dreams come true. This step-by-step guide provides easy, practical tips to study smarter, remain calm, and pass exams such as the JEE, NEET, AIFSET, or other competitive exams, to students in India who are about to give exams.

Why 30 Days Is Enough with the Right Strategy

Though starting earlier is BETTER, many aspirants begin serious preparation just a MONTH before their entrance exam. This period is enough if you focus on smart study methods like prioritization, regular practice, and revision. The key is to avoid burnout by managing time well without compromising your health.

Create Your 30-Day Study Plan

Evaluate Your Strengths and Weaknesses (Days 1-3)

To start with, a mock test or going through previous years papers will help you to know your performance position in all subjects. Know your good topics and weak ones that require additional efforts to be able to arrange your priorities.

Focus on Core Concepts (Days 4-15)

Take time to know the basic concepts of every subject. Doubts should be explained by using textbooks, online videos, and reliable notes. Do not miss a topic--do a basic foundation of good questions related.

Revise and Practise (Days 16-25)

Begin doing more mock tests and sample papers with a time constraint. Analyse all your errors after each test to prevent repeating. Make brief notes or formula sheets so that one can go through them quickly, particularly with challenging subjects.

Last Minute Revision and Exam Preparations (Days 26-30)

Revise important formulas, ideas, and weightage questions. Practise the question papers of the past few years to practise the pattern of the exam and the type of questions. Create confidence through positive attitude and relaxation skills.

Top Study Hacks for Success

• Create a Studying Environment: Select a clear and stable environment where you would not be distracted. Prepare all your material and you will not spend time searching books or notes.
• Apply the Pomodoro Technique: Learn 25 minutes with full concentration, and take a break of 5 minutes. This helps in building concentration and prevents fatigue.
• Active Recall and Spaced Repetition: Do not just read; practise. Retrieve the information of memory and revisit the information at periodic intervals to memorise better.
• Create Mind Maps and Flashcards: Visual aids assist in organising information and enhancing memory. Visualise larger complex issues into smaller ones.
• Eat Well: Healthy food, hydration, and sleep (7-8 hours). This is because a healthy body sustains a clear mind.
• Do not Cram at the last minute: It causes stress and causes less of the information to be remembered. Review and revise before your exam. 

It is difficult but quite achievable to prepare for the entrance exam within 30 days and take the exam with the right state of mind, the right plan, and the right study skills. Begin by evaluating your present status, work on the basics, practise and adopt healthy habits. Such concentrated effort can assist the Indian students to fearlessly pass examinations and access career paths of their choice. It is time to start today and ensure that you have the best opportunity to become successful and brighten your future!

FAQs

Can I crack an entrance in 30 days?

Yes, with focused preparation and smart planning, many students have succeeded in preparing in a month. Be consistent and avoid distractions, you will clear the entrance exam with ease.  

How many hours should I study daily?

Aim for 6-8 hours of focused study, broken into sessions with breaks in between.

Should I study all subjects every day?

Balanced study is ideal; allocate time based on your weak and strong areas but revise all subjects regularly.

What if I get stuck on difficult topics?

Don’t waste too much time on one topic. Move on and revisit it later or ask a teacher/peer for help.

How important are mock tests?

Mock tests are critical for time management, improving speed, and understanding exam patterns.

Are online resources useful?

Yes, of course! Watch youtube video tutorials, and apps for interactive learning and doubt clearing. Online resources can indeed help you score well.

The US teacher shortage is growing to crisis levels as many states are unable to staff classrooms. Fresh data indicate that the teacher pay penalty relative to other college graduates has reached a record high. This increasing pay penalty is generally regarded as one of the most significant causes of the shrinkage in the teaching profession.

According to a CEPR report, the teacher pay penalty—quantifying the gap between teachers' and other similarly qualified professionals' weekly wages—has intensified over the last three decades. In 2024, teachers received only 73 cents for every dollar received by other college-educated professionals with comparable qualifications, the lowest ever recorded.

Teacher pay penalty hits record high

Senior CEPR economist Sylvia Allegretto broke down the statistics to Forbes, reporting that real wages for teachers have declined by over 5% since 1996 when adjusting for inflation. Other college graduates experienced substantial increases in their weekly pay. In the last decade, teacher pay decreased by $46.39 per week in actual terms, and other graduates' pay went up by $220.46 per week, according to Forbes.

The total wage gap between teachers and other professionals is now 26.9%, up from just 6.1% in 1996. Much of this increased gap, Allegretto said, comes from the fact that teacher pay has remained stagnant while wages elsewhere are climbing.

State differences and the effect on hiring

The CEPR report also identifies very large state-to-state variation in the teacher pay penalty. Nine states, such as Kentucky, New Hampshire, and Missouri, have pay penalties that are more than 30%. Conversely, South Carolina, Vermont, and New Jersey have gaps less than 15%.

This pay gap impacts teacher recruitment. As Forbes noted, when college freshmen decide on their majors, education schools struggle to get students because the possible future salaries in teaching are much lower than other careers. The expense of college paired with a decrease in teacher pay deters many from becoming teachers.

Teacher shortages become more severe as wages plateau

Research by the Annenberg Institute at Brown University and the Education Policy Studies unit at Penn State verifies the cost of this pay penalty. Pennsylvania, for instance, needs 8,000 to 10,000 new teachers graduating annually but has been unable to produce more than 6,500. Shortages are repeated in a number of other states facing similar recruitment difficulties.

Public school teachers usually enjoy greater benefits than other graduates, but as Allegretto explained to Forbes, the benefits are not enough to make up for the wage gap. The total package is still unappealing to most aspiring teachers.

Political will is what solutions need

The answer seems simple: raise teachers' salaries. Yet CEPR's decade-long research emphasizes the absence of sustained and effective policy interventions in responding to this challenge. Allegretto noted in the Forbes report that the US has the resources to fund public schools but has not yet discovered the political will to achieve it.

Since the pay penalty continues, the teacher shortage in America is bound to worsen unless compensation increases sufficiently to attract and keep quality educators.

On a quiet evening in Phangane, a small village in Maharashtra’s Thane district, the sound of laughter often spills out from a small classroom of a school that runs for only 2hours  daily. But here, the students are not children. They are grandmothers, some in their sixties, a few in their seventies, and even women approaching ninety, dressed in pink sarees with slate and chalk in hand. This is Aajibaichi Shala, India’s first school for grandmothers who never had the opportunity to read or write.

Origin and Mission  

Founded in 2016 by Yogendra Bangar and  Motiram Dalai Charitable Trust, this school is a revolutionary initiative making waves in the education sector. It is India's first school for grandmothers that has broken the barriers and empowers elderly women to read, write, and take control of their lives in this age of technology.  

The primary objective of Aajibaichi Shala is to educate elderly women who had no time to go to school because of the social rules and norms. The school is currently home to 28 students, aged between 60 and 90, who come to school in decent pink sarees, which denotes that they have a new identity after this initiative for older women’s education in rural Maharashtra.  

A Day at Aajibaichi Shala 

It opens with a prayer and roll call, and then classes commence in Marathi alphabet, numbers and simple arithmetic. The grandmothers also take up gardening activities where they plant and care for saplings, fostering a feeling of belonging and responsibility. These women are extraordinarily determined despite their physical challenges, as some of them have hearing impairments and poor vision. They do this because they want to place their signatures and read skills which will allow them to handle daily transactions without apprehension.

The Impact of Education

To these elderly women learning, education is not a mere tool of empowerment, but something more. They can become more active members of their communities by learning to read and write, make informed choices, and demand their rights. The school has made a positive contribution to the entire village, educating people about hygiene, sanitation, and healthcare. Kantabai, a student, says that the village has numerous issues, such as a water crisis, poor sanitation, a lack of healthcare facilities, and a lack of means of transport. Aajibaachi Shala has acted like a new wave of hope in this village in this environment”. A 78-year-old student Shantabai said, “We raised our children to study, but our time never came. Today, when I can read my grandson’s textbook, I feel young again.”

A Remarkable Initiative 

Aajibaichi Shala is one bright example of human potential and the ability to change life through education.Ramabai Ganpat Chandelle, an 87-year-old student, said, "I am a ripe fruit that could fall off the branch any time. I was not able to study as a child and was illiterate my entire life. But I would not wish to be illiterate. I am glad now that I can take a few words with me to the other world." This school is a wake-up call that age is no obstacle to learning and everyone has a right to achieve their potential.

Why should India Appreciate this initiative? 

Aajibachi Shala is the hope of old women in India; this is how education can change both individual and society life. When we commemorate the success of the outstanding women, we are also reminded of the need to encourage literacy and education for everyone, irrespective of their age or background. We can contribute to building a more inclusive and empowering society by appreciating and contributing to efforts such as Aajibaichi Shala initiative.  

A New Definition of Literacy

The grandmothers of Phangane are redefining literacy. To them it is the right to get to a bus stop and know that they will not be afraid, to read the cost of grains at the market, and to do their grandchildren's homework.

At the time when India discusses the relevance of education in employability and careers, the image of these women reciting rhymes makes us realize that education is also the matter of dignity, equality, and happiness.

It has been said very beautifully by one of the teachers of the school that “we say children are the future of the country. But the past in Phangane has chosen to shake hands with the future--sitting cross-legged on the same mat.”

It’s been a decade now since Aajibaichi Shala, school for grandmothers, came into existence, yet it continues not just as a school, but as a symbol that it is never too late to learn. The story of these grandmothers has reminded India and the world that education is beyond the parameters of age, gender, or circumstance.

In the tiny chalk marks of Aajibaichi Shala lies a universal lesson: learning has no expiry date but the need for motivation.

The aim of the protestors is to ensure equitable rules for everyone and avoid any disparity in the recruitment process. A group of school job seekers have organized a protest in Salt Lake, Kolkata, today, on September 25. They protested for fair recruitment in government-aided schools. The protestors asserted that they have sat for the recently conducted State Level Selection Test (SLST). Recruitment test was held by the West Bengal School Service Commission on September 7 and 14.

The protest began in West Bengal's capital city at Karunamoyee Metro station. The government job aspirants later marched around a kilometre to Bikash Bhavan. One should mention that the Bikash Bhavan is the headquarters of the state education department.

Why are teaching job aspirants protesting?

Among several demands, the key demand is to withdraw the order of awarding 10 additional marks. The marks are for teachers who lost their jobs after a Supreme Court order but showed up in the new exams. It arrives as the top court revoked the jobs of 25,753 teaching and non-teaching personnel. The court stated the 2016 recruitment was "vitiated and tainted.

Candidates termed the new policy 'unfair' and argued that it would lower their prospects in recruitment. They further stated it contradicts the basis of equal opportunity for every candidate.

 They are seeking clear information so that transparency is maintained in the recruitment process. The job seekers also demand a meeting with the state education minister. They added that they would place their objections before him directly.

Other news, WBBSC SLET Result to be out soon

The West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) has recently published answer keys of the State Level Selection Test (SLST) for 11 subjects on westbengalssc.com. All the candidates who were not satisfied with the provisional answer key have been provided with opportunity to submit objections against the same by September 25, 2025. They needed to pay an objection fee of Rs. 100 per question. Two original academic references needed to be submitted for every suggestion/objection. Post examination by subject experts, in case the allegations are true, the fee will be refunded. Final answer key will be made based on objections raised and result will be made based on final key. To know more about it, click here.

Venus is a very interesting planet,” said the ISRO Chairman, S. Somanath. “Studying its thick atmosphere and surface will help us understand planetary evolution better, and we invite India’s best young scientists to join us on this exciting journey.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has issued an exciting Announcement of Opportunity (AO) inviting proposals from the Indian scientific community to use archival data for novel research in support of the forthcoming Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM). This is a major leap in India's space exploration plans as the VOM, due for launch in March 2028, is intended to study the planet Venus– the planet that's often referred to as Earth's "sister planet" because of many similarities but the dramatic differences. 

Why is This An Important Opportunity for Students and Researchers?

For students, young scientists and academic communities interested in planetary science, atmospheric studies and space technology, this AO offers a unique opportunity to become involved in-depth with the advanced planetary studies without the wait for new data. By using existing archival datasets on the morphology, atmosphere, ionosphere and solar interactions of Venus, aspiring researchers can add important insights that will inform the mission's scientific discoveries.

ISRO welcomes proposals from across India from university, national research, colleges and Government organizations. The selected projects will be funded for up to three years, including for computational facilities, research staffing and dissemination activities. Proposals need to be submitted by November 15, 2025, giving teams plenty of time to get prepared with their pioneering research plans.

What Research Areas Invited?

ISRO focuses on five main areas of research:

1. Venusian morphology and surface studies: investigation of geological and topographical features.
2. Geological mapping and mineralogy: comprehending composition at the surface
3. Atmospheric structure and composition: investigation of the dense Venusian atmosphere.
4. Ionosphere and solar wind interaction: studying the dynamics of charged particles.
5. Atmospheric and ionospheric modeling: modeling the environment of Venus.

Through these multidisciplinary disciplines, researchers can investigate critical questions about planetary evolution, atmospheric chemistry and planetary weather systems that differ starkly from Earth's. 

How can students prepare and get involved? 

Foster Interdisciplinary Skills

The AO emphasizes collaboration among geology, chemistry, physics, and data science. Students are encouraged to take classes and research projects in remote sensing, reconnaissance radar image analysis, and space instrumentation.

Use Existing Data

This is one of the few opportunities to tap into archival Venus data from past missions. Experience with big data tools and software for analysis of space science data is a plus.

Build Research Teams

Students can form research teams with senior scientists and faculty to submit joint proposals to become mentored and gain experience in funded planetary research.

Participate in Upcoming Workshops and Seminars

ISRO will conduct workshops throughout the duration of the AO project to disseminate results and promote community learning - ideal opportunities for students to network and share results.

Why is this a Milestone?

The Venus Orbiter Mission is a testament to India's growing presence in the field of space science. By understanding the solar-planetary particle interactions, the mission promises valuable cross-planetary comparisons that will help explain why Venus and Earth have evolved so differently, and also why Venus's atmosphere has become so inhospitable.

For Indian students and researchers, involvement in these preparatory AO research exchanges provides exposure to frontier science, encourages innovation, and places them at the center of planetary exploration activities worldwide.

Deadline to submit proposals: November 15, 2025

More info and proposal instructions: ISRO Venus AO official page 

This announcement by ISRO is a calling! Because this Announcement of Opportunity represents a transformative opportunity for Indian students and researchers to work on a pioneering planetary mission. Participating in this project will not only contribute to ground-breaking scientific discoveries, but also to invaluable experience, mentorship and career advancement opportunities in line with India's rising stature in global space exploration.

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