Category: Education

NEET UG 2021: Aakashians from Hyderabad, Delhi and Mumbai become the Top 3 Rank Holders

Hyderabad/ New Delhi, November 02, 2021: Three students of Aakash Institute from Hyderabad, Delhi and Mumbai the undisputed national leader in test preparation services, have created history by becoming Joint National Toppers securing AIR 01 and scoring a perfect 720/720 in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) UG 2021, much to the elation of their parents, and the entire staff of the institute.

The Aakashians who have secured AIR 01 in the prestigious medical examination are Mrinal Kutteri from Hyderabad, Tanmay Gupta from Delhi and Karthika G. Nair from Mumbai. Karthika is also the National Girl Topper.

Other students in Top 10 are Jashan Chhabra from Mangaluru, Shubham Agarwal from Meerut, Nikhar Bansal from Agra, Meghan H.K. from Mysuru and Rajat Goyal from Chandigarh who have all secured 715/720 and obtained AIR 05.

This is the second year in a row that Aakash Institute students have secured this feat in the NEET UG. Last year, Akanksha Singh from Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh had scored a perfect 720/720. A feat that is unparalleled in the test preparation sector in the country.

Mrinal, Tanmay and Karthika are Classroom students who joined Aakash Institute in a two-year classroom programme to crack NEET, considered one of the world’s toughest entrance exams. They attributed their entry into the elite list to their efforts in understanding the concepts, and their strict adherence to their learning schedule. “We are grateful that Aakash Institute has helped us with both. But for the content and coaching from the institute, we would not have grasped many concepts in different subjects in a short period of time,” they said.

Congratulating the students, Mr. Aakash Chaudhry, Managing Director, Aakash Educational Services Limited (AESL), said, “This is a momentous occasion for Aakash. We are proud and elated that the students who have secured the highest possible score in the NEET exam this year and the previous year are from our institute. Producing top scorers two years in a row – this has never happened in the history of medical entrance before. Over 16 lakh students appeared for NEET 2021 from across the country out of which XX have qualified. Their achievement as top scorers speaks volumes of their hard work and dedication as well as the support of their parents. We wish them all the best with their future endeavors.”

He added that during the pandemic-hit academic years, Aakash Institute walked the extra mile to turn students into top scorers in NEET. “As an undisputed leader in NEET coaching in India, we stepped up our digital presence to be always available for our students. We made study materials, and question banks accessible online. We conducted several virtual motivational sessions and seminars on exam preparation and time management skills. It is heartening to see our efforts paying off, as evident from the score sheets of our students, many of whom are well on their way to get admission in top medical colleges of their choice.”

NEET is conducted annually by National Testing Agency as a qualifying test for students who wish to pursue undergraduate medical (MBBS), dental (BDS) and AYUSH (BAMS, BUMS, BHMS, etc.) courses in government and private institutions in India and also, for those intending to pursue primary medical qualification abroad.

“Daan Utsav”- an Initiative by BBIT Public School’s Students to Spread Happiness amongst underprivileged children

Kolkata, 2nd November 2021: Diwali is the festival of light and spreading Joy, in order to reach out to the children who are not as blessed as others, the students of BBIT Public School have come forward to initiate this drive called “Daan Utsav”. To bring a smile to their faces the student council of BBIT Public School and the community outreach club of the school has visited these children and families to distribute gifts and sweets for the festive season amongst 100 children with Mr. K.K Gupta, Vice Chairman, BBIT Public School & Dr. Munmun Nath, Principal, BBIT Public School along with other salient members of the school at Nangi station basti near Budge Budge today.

Students have collected money to buy blankets and sweets for children who are not so fortunate. They have also collected clothes which are in good condition but the students have outgrown them, students have also given their toys and teddy bears for children who may want them. All the items have been washed and sanitized properly before distribution. The main objective of “Daan Utsav” was to ensure that everyone can afford to have the same joy during this festive season with a smile on their faces.

Addressing the Media Mr. K.K Gupta, Vice Chairman, BBIT Public School said, “Blessed are those who can give without remembering and take without forgetting leaving a lasting impression of kindness and gratitude forever within. I am extremely glad that our students have come forward for such an initiative. As much as we are supporting them we are also encouraging them for taking such huge steps at this early stage of their life. This is a proud moment for BBIT Public school.”

Talking about the initiative, Dr. Munmun Nath, Principal, BBIT Public School, said, “Never stop doing little things for others, sometimes these little things occupy the biggest portion of their heart. When we help others it should not be done with the thought of getting something in return. Our kindness must be our permanent quality. As a principal of the school I am overwhelmed to see these students doing such noble work for the society, especially for children like them who are less privileged to afford such happiness.”

About The BBIT Public School aims to be an “Institution of Excellence” dedicated to producing leaders of tomorrow. The school is driven by a “Vision of nurturing an educational space where learning is defined by the child’s inherent desire to learn”. BBIT Public School is committed to providing its students with an exemplary education, based on international best practices. We aim to encourage intellectual curiosity, collaborative and critical thinking, and effective communication.

NEET Result 2021 Declared; here is what the expert have to say

• NEET result 2021 to be announced by NTA on the official websites, neet.nta.nic.in, ntaresults.nic.in and nta.ac.in. Download NTA NEET exam result using application number, date of birth, and password.
• The National Testing Agency (NTA) has started sending the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test or NEET result 2021 cum scorecard via email.
• As per the NEET 2021 result latest update, NTA NEET 2021 results will be published at the official website – neet.nta.nic.in

Students who had appeared for the NEET exam on September 12, 2021, can download the NEET 2021 result in the form of a scorecard now. NEET scorecard 2021 will mention overall and subject-wise marks, percentile scores, merit rank, qualifying status, and cut-off marks. NEET minimum qualifying percentile and scores must be obtained to pass the medical entrance exam and seek admission in medical courses.

Name of the exam: National Eligibility cum Entrance Test NEET exam date: September 12, 2021 Official website link for result: neet.nta.nic.in, ntaresults.nic.in or nta.ac.in Exam conducting authority: National Testing Agency Direct NEET 2021 result download link: To be available soon After the announcement of the result, the list of ntaresult.nic.in 2021 NEET toppers will be declared. As per the official NTA notice, a copy of the NEET scorecards will be sent to the registered email ID of the students.

Commenting on the same Medical Career Counselling Expert Mr. Gaurav Tyagi said “The results for NEET 2021 finally brings some relief to the candidates who have been eagerly waiting. Since NTA is sending out the scorecard via email students will be able to assess and evaluate their performance precisely. Around 16 lakh students who appeared for the examination can download the result since the record of NEET result would be preserved only up to 90 days from the date of declaration of result.”

How to download NEET 2021 final answer key
Given below are the steps to download the NEET 2021 final answer key.

• Go to the official website – neet.nta.nic.in
• Click on ‘final answer key on which result is declared’
• NEET final answer key PDF for all codes will be displayed on the screen
• Download the NEET answer key for the respective code
• Match and verify the answers marked to calculate the scores

The NorthCap University (NCU) takes another step towards becoming a Digital First University; Launched Smart Classrooms for Students

New Delhi, November 01, 2021: To optimize the learning and classroom experience of students, The NorthCap University has today launched state-of-the-art, smart classrooms. The first of its kind, smart classrooms are fully equipped with digital technology to replicate a physical classroom in a virtual model. The classrooms will enable students to attend virtual interactive lectures from anywhere in the world in a physical classroom-like environment. It also enables the faculty to deliver lectures in hybrid mode in a classroom-like environment.

The smart classrooms are also equipped with smart audiovisual technology like ceiling array microphones that enable camera tracking, smart ceiling speakers that can be programmed, PTZ camera for speaker tracking, interactive digital podium, 85″ 4K displays for students, and 55″ 4K displays for the instructor, for enabling an interactive teaching-learning environment.

The use of audio tracking cameras enabled by smart array microphones will ensure the instructor’s freedom of movement in a virtual classroom. The University made sure to introduce simple to use technology that provides for a multi-modal delivery that is adaptable and responsive for an engaging teaching environment.

To make the learning sessions more interesting, the smart classrooms will also offer Intuitive, easy, attractive, and visually engaging content illustrations with the help of internet-enabled media content, flow charts, maps, graphs, and more.

Speaking on the launch of Smart Classrooms, Prof.(Dr.) Nupur Prakash, Vice-Chancellor, The NorthCap University, said “We are immensely proud to launch the state-of-the-art, smart classrooms at The NorthCap University. We are diligently working towards fulfilling the National Education Policy 2020 mandate towards implementing a technology-enabled teaching-learning process in higher education. We are confident that the smart classrooms will benefit NCU students by empowering them with an enhanced learning experience using innovative learning models, and must-have digital skills.”

With the launch of smart classrooms, NCU has taken another step towards its ambition of becoming a Digital First University. Earlier the university had also partnered with Arizona State University to embrace the Indian Government’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020: digital transformation of education, enhanced curricula, new innovative programs, and expanded research collaborations.

The Smart Classroom will not only provide a better learning experience, but it will also help reduce the carbon footprint by eliminating the use of paper, pen/pencil. The Gen-Z student will be better engaged with higher retention through engaging content and interactive delivery.

Second K-12 Edu leader Summit in National Capital

Universal Mentor Association in association with Asia Africa Consortium hosted the second K-12 Edu leader summit, India’s biggest leader summit on Saturday at Park Hotel. It is India’s biggest offline conference in the education sector with participation of more than 150 schools . Shri. Shyam Jaju, Indian politician and the Ex-National Vice President of the Bhartiya Janata Party was the chief guest of the grand event. Besides , the event was also attended by Major Harsh Kumar, Secretary, NCERT; Acharya Dr. Vinood Kumar Ojha, Vedic & Celebrity Astrologer; Vinay Chaudhary, BJP Spokesperson Delhi; Snehal Pinto from Ryan and many more dignitaries. Renowned educationist and Founder Asia Africa Consortium Dr. Varun Gupta and Sandeep Gulati, Founder Universal Mentor Association welcomed all the guests.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Shyam Jaju said that the biggest impact of the global pandemic was in the education sector as well. Schools were closed after the first lockdown and the teachers had to go for online classes. Here we can’t deny that the infrastructure was not that strong, but despite all these challenges, there has been a lot of praise in this sector. We all have learnt a lot of new things virtually. For 70 years we continued to teach our students through the traditional method. The teachers who were teaching the young minds have not been reviewed which is necessary. Students were confined to art, commerce and science streams only. Now it has been realised that paying more attention to many more factors including the interest of a child is also significant. Good education is mandatory to build a great nation.”

Expressing his happiness on the occasion Major Harsh Kumar, Secretary NCERT said, “There is no doubt that the nature of education has changed. This National Education Policy focused on Early Childhood Care & Education is unique in itself. Its biggest attraction is that one Such an education policy in which such guidelines have been prepared that it is also beneficial for the students living in rural areas.”

Dr. Varun Gupta said, “Schools are going to open after a long time, which is a good thing in itself, but at the same time many things will also have to be taken care of such that following the COVID protocols, calling a specified number of children, operation of school transport, ensuring that all teachers are vaccinated, etc.”

Explaining about the event Dr. Gupta said, “various education leaders discussed the strength, weakness, opportunities and threat in the current education scenario, especially when schools are reopening. The objective of this even is to interact physically with speakers and more than ten technology partners. Various schools, educationalists and social activists were awarded during the event. Profiles of winners have been shortlisted under the category of promotion of peace through education.

Sandeep Gulati said, “It is the need of the hour that we discuss all the major issues as schools are going to blossom after eighteen months. Also it is important to discuss the role of technology. Technology has an impact on every part of our life, from banking to how we connect with one another. In reality, because technology has become an inextricable aspect of society’s survival, its integration with education is unavoidable. Technology not only gives kids access to a plethora of online materials, but it also helps them learn. A large number of universities and educational institutions have already begun to use technology in their teaching techniques.”

Need to draw a line between ‘Fact’ and ‘Fake’: Anurag Thakur

Union I&B Minister addresses IIMC students during Orientation-2021-22

New Delhi, October 29: Union Minister of Information & Broadcasting Shri Anurag Thakur, while addressing the IIMC students at the closing ceremony of the week-long Orientation Programme-2021-22, said the nature of media has changed due to mobile, internet and digitalisation. In the changed era today, there is a need to draw a line between the ‘Fact’ and ‘Fake’. You have to protect your source, but also question them with equal vigour their facts and narrative. “Technology has entered every sector, Covid-19 has disrupted every plan in many ways, and we have a chance to make a fresh start, fresh outlook. The world needs those who bring about constructive change. As a media person you will be the custodian of truth and amplifier of information,” he said. Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and Chairman of IIMC, Mr. Apoorva Chandra, Director General of IIMC, Prof. Sanjay Dwivedi, Additional Director-General Mr. Ashish Goyal and Convener of the Orientation Programme and Dean (Academic) Prof. Govind Singh, faculty members from all the centres of IIMC and students were also present.

Guiding the IIMC students, Shri Thakur said during Covid pandemic, communication has taken on new meaning and sharing of information has taken on a new dimension altogether. “The world around you and the media landscape has changed and will change more by the time you enter the market. You will have to fight for the national interest and defend every voice to be heard. So, you have to make a habit of saying and writing very thoughtfully,” he added.

Shri Thakur said the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, in the changing time, has been working on a human-centered communication system so that information can be delivered to the common man immediately. He said the government’s plan is to ensure timely information to the last person in society, and the regional media has an important role to play in it.

Correct use of right information is very important: Apurva Chandra

Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and Chairman of IIMC, Mr. Apoorva Chandra said earlier only newspapers were the prime source of news, but today everything has been reduced to a mobile phone due to the unprecedented change in digital technology. Today, you have a wealth of information, but which information is important and which is not, it is not known to the common man. The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting is working seriously in this direction, so that people can make the right use of the right information, he added.

Youth should focus on ‘Innovation’: Prof. Dwivedi

Director General of IIMC Prof. Sanjay Dwivedi said if there is one word that has been the most talked about in the last few years it is ‘Innovation’. Capacity, infrastructure, culture and strategy are key elements for innovation in any organisation. In the coming times, only those companies will exist, which will provide service based on innovation. He said the innovations made by the IIMC in the field of media education and research are an example for other media education institutions in the country.

Social media and TV are complementary to each other: Anurradha Prasad

Managing Director, News24, Ms. Anurradha Prasad, while addressing the students on the topic ‘Future of TV News’ said when we read a newspaper, we get the news of a day old, but in TV and digital media you also get the news of a minute ago. Just as TV channels and newspapers complement each other, social media and television too complement each other. She said when TV channels came, people used to say that newspapers would be closed, but it did not happen. The newspapers, which changed their content as per the changing scenario are still flourishing.

English is not the medium of success: Sankrant Sanu

In the second session, noted author Shri Sankrant Sanu interacted with the students on the topic ‘English for Communication Vs English as Medium’. He said when someone speaks good English, he is considered to be educated, while a person who speaks Hindi is considered to be inferior. When you go abroad, you come to know the fact that English is not the medium of success in any country. Out of 20 most developed countries of the world, only four developed countries use English and that too because it is their own language. In the remaining 16 countries, people use only their mother tongues.

Sense of global connect is in Indian communication tradition: Prof. Adhikari

Prof. in Kathmandu University Dr. Nirmal Mani Adhikari, while speaking on the topic ‘Communication Tradition of Bharatvarsh’, said India has better connect with the rest of the world, despite the diversity of languages, Vedas, and literature. He said people who went to study in other countries from India studied the English language and then copied the same and created India’s education system. Due to this, the dominance of English over India’s education system and communication tradition increased.

At the concluding session, eminent alumni of IIMC interacted with the new batch of students. News Director of ‘AajTak’ Mr. Supriya Prasad, Editor-in-Chief of ‘India News’ Mr. Rana Yashwant, Public Relations Specialist Ms. Simrat Gulati, IFFCO’s Public Relations Head Mr. Harshendra Singh Verdhan and IIMC Alumni Association president Mr. Kalyan Ranjan shared their experience with the students.

Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Professors make it in the Top 2% Scientists of Stanford’s List Second Time in a Row

Hyderabad, October 29, 2021: For the second year in a row, scientists from Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham have been ranked in the world’s top 2 per cent list of scientists published by the prestigious US-based Stanford University.

Stanford has created a world ranking of scientists, based on publications and citations. In 2020, four scientists from Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham figured in this list, which represents the top 2 per cent of the most-cited scientists in various disciplines. The database created by experts at Stanford University is based on data from Scopus that ranks journals and gives a citation index.

To be ranked among the world’s elite list of scientists for the second year in running is an unbiased recognition of the continued good work done by scientists at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham.

Scientists included in this year’s Stanford list are:

• Dr ShantiKumar V Nair, Director, Centre for Nanosciences & Molecular Medicine, Amrita University, Kochi
• Dr R JayaKumar, Professor, Nanosciences, Center for Nanosciences & Molecular Medicine, Amrita University, Kochi
• Dr Raman Krishna Kumar, Clinical professor and Head of the Department of Pediatric Cardiology, at Amrita School of Medicine, Kochi
• Dr Bijo Mathew, Associate Professor, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Amrita School fo Pharmacy, Kochi
• Dr Madhav Dutta, Professor Emeritus, Amrita School of Engineering, Coimbatore
• Dr K P Soman, Professor and Head, Center for Computational Engineering and Networking, Amrita School of Engineering, Coimbatore
• Dr Radhika N, Professor, Mechanical Engineering, Amrita School of Engineering, Coimbatore
• Dr K I Ramachandran, Professor, Mechanical Engineering, Amrita School of Engineering, Coimbatore
• Dr Maneesha V Ramesh, Director, Centre for Wireless Networks and Applications, Amrita University, Amritapuri
• Dr. Santanu Mandal, Associate Professor, Department of Operations and IT, Amrita School of Business, Coimbatore

Dr. P. Venkat Rangan, Vice Chancellor, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, congratulated the scientists for bringing recognition to the University. “We are proud that once again Stanford has recognized our University for the stellar work it is doing in research. I congratulate our scientists and admire their dedication and commitment to research. This list is a testament from a credible external source of the high quality of research published by our scientists. We are happy to be able to call all these eminent scientists as our own. We could not have earned this honor, without the exemplary vision of our Chancellor, Sri Mata Amritanandamayi.”

Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham is a multi-campus, multi-disciplinary research academia that is ranked as one of the best research institutions in India. It is ranked as the 4th best university in the country in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) Ranking 2020 released by the Government of India. It has also been ranked 7th among medical colleges in India.

Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham is among the fastest-growing institutions of higher learning in India, with a student population of more than 20,000 and 1,800-strong faculty. It has established more than 180 collaborations with the Top 500 world ranked universities in the last 15 years.

Importance Of Interviews In The Admission Process

By Kavitta B Bedi, Co-founder and CEO, Xtraview

During admission seasons, there are thousands of applications to scour through. Amidst all the essays, test scores, recommendation letters, and more, an interview is an excellent way to make a lasting impression and differentiate yourself from other candidates.

Some schools have interviews with members of the admissions staff or professors and others with an alumnus or other members of the staff. Some have no interviews at all.

With an interview being an integral part of the process, students wonder what an interview means about their chance of admission and the importance of the pre-admission interviews. We’ll answer this eventually, but let’s start with the basics.

What is the purpose of an interview?

An interview has numerous purposes. For starters, there’s a face behind the name of the application. It personalizes you as a candidate and gives you the opportunity to share information about yourself beyond what’s listed on your transcript. While everything looks good on paper, the interview lets you talk the talk as well. This ensures you’re well-rounded.

How much do interviews matter?

This is a hard one with no direct answer. Typically, you’re selected based on multiple factors, including the interview and not solely the interview. Some institutes like the University of Pennsylvania are vocal about the process. They say that interviews help the school get to know you better as a candidate and vice versa. Penn alumni volunteers conduct this two-way exchange and a written summary is included in your application material. Princeton University has a similar approach. The primary motive is to provide more insight and information about the university.

In order to really read into the role and importance, you need to look into the interview process at different schools of your choice.

Importance of interviews for admissions officers and students.

As rightly said by the University of Penn and Princeton University, interviews are a means of communication and conversation that give one another deeper perceptions of likes, dislikes, qualities, and more.

One of the factors that make interviews important is communication skills.

Take a college in the United States, for instance, seas of students from all over the world apply. On a daily basis, students need to mingle with professors or other students. And not every country has English as the official language. There are many ways to gauge English proficiency, one is IELTS/TOEFL exams, and the other is interviews.

During an interview, the admissions officers want to ensure all students have the level of English communication skills necessary to be successful at the institution. The interview goes beyond merely scoring. The interviewer really wants to determine if the student can have a fully immersive college experience, be it participating in class, interacting with the faculty, or with friends.

The three-dimensional aspect – as a being, you’re not two-dimensional. Admissions officers need to know who is going to show up on that first day of college.

Although a leading criterion for institutions is academic success, that’s not all they look for. Most admission processes are holistic. Meaning, when an admission officer reviews an application, they look not only at one aspect of your application but a broad range of categories like test scores, transcripts, essays, extra-curricular activities, recommendation letters, etc. This is done as it’s important to build a class of students who contribute to the community, both outside and inside the walls of the class.

Everything about you that the admissions officer reads is “two-dimensional” or “on paper.” During the interview, you breathe life into the two-dimensional façade as well as tie your entire persona and hard work together. You can explain what you did with your curiosity, what you did with your activities, and what you did with your academics.

In essence, an admissions officer is less likely to comprehend your personal story. The interview is your time to tell your story, fill in the details, and provide nuance and context to all pieces of your application so one can connect the dots.

Tip: What ends up mattering the most to admissions officers? Unlike what you think, it’s not as much to do with the content. It’s more about the feeling of getting to know you.

Preparing for the soft skills you need for the interview…and for life!

The wonderful thing about preparing for an interview is the skills you require for it are what you will use in real life, now and in the years to come.

As soon as you arrive on campus, you will interview – to be a part of an internship, a research opportunity, or a school club. In the long run, for your dream job.

Don’t let this scare you. As with many things in life, you need a little patience and a whole of commitment. What helps is professional guidance. Some experienced workshops like The Xtraprep Digital Interaction Workshop. The workshop is designed solely for this purpose. They work on boosting confidence, improving public speaking skills, giving you tips to succeed in interviews, and even the chance to interview with an expert interviewer. By the end of it, you’ll feel like a seasoned interviewer.

Wrapping up

You may have seen the interview process as a hurdle during applications, but once you’re done, you’ll see it was one of the most insightful bits of the tasks – both in preparing for real life as well as standing out in the eyes and minds of the interviewers.

Time to put your best foot forward, muster up the courage, and ace that interview. Good luck!