Prioritise science and technology to improve quality of life: Sivan
The Hindu
There are immense opportunities in space sector, says ISRO Chairman
Science and technology are the prioritised strategy for the next stage of national development plans, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman and Secretary, Department of Space, K. Sivan, has said.
Addressing the students of KL Deemed to be University on the occasion of the 11th convocation in the online mode, Dr. Sivan underscored the need to develop strong capabilities in science and technologies for improving the quality of lives, creating quality manpower, centres of excellence, and an enabling environment for innovation, and for acquiring a reputation for global leadership in science and technology.
“Another focus area is to bring the R&D activities in the mainstream, revising the conventional methodologies of realisation of space systems, missions and space-based services. There have been many planetary explorations such as Chandrayaan 1 and 2, Mars Orbiter Mission and Astrosat missions that ploughed back rich benefits to global scientific community,” Dr. Sivan said.
Several principals of government and private schools in Delhi on Tuesday said the Directorate of Education (DoE) circular from a day earlier, directing schools to conduct classes in ‘hybrid’ mode, had caused confusion regarding day-to-day operations as they did not know how many students would return to school from Wednesday and how would teachers instruct in two modes — online and in person — at once. The DoE circular on Monday had also stated that the option to “exercise online mode of education, wherever available, shall vest with the students and their guardians”. Several schoolteachers also expressed confusion regarding the DoE order. A government schoolteacher said he was unsure of how to cope with the resumption of physical classes, given that the order directing government offices to ensure that 50% of the employees work from home is still in place. On Monday, the Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) had, on the orders of the Supreme Court, directed schools in Delhi-NCR to shift classes to the hybrid mode, following which the DoE had issued the circular. The court had urged the Centre’s pollution watchdog to consider restarting physical classes due to many students missing out on the mid-day meals and lacking the necessary means to attend classes online. The CAQM had, on November 20, asked schools in Delhi-NCR to shift to the online mode of teaching.