“Almost everything you do will seem insignificant, but it is important that you do it.”
Mahatma Gandhi
“आपका कोई भी काम महत्त्वहीन हो सकता है, किंतु महत्त्वपूर्ण तो यह है कि आप कुछ करें।”
महात्मा गांधी
“Almost everything you do will seem insignificant, but it is important that you do it.”
Mahatma Gandhi
“आपका कोई भी काम महत्त्वहीन हो सकता है, किंतु महत्त्वपूर्ण तो यह है कि आप कुछ करें।”
महात्मा गांधी
he world population has reached eight billion and is expected to grow for decades, but many countries are facing a sharp drop in working-age adults. The competition for workers and talent will intensify globally, and many countries will be reliant on migration to realise their long-term growth potential. A recent report from the World Bank, titled “World Development Report 2023: Migrants, Refugees, and Societies”, proposes policies for better migration management in destination, transit and origin countries, underscoring its urgency.
The report introduces the “Match-Motive Framework,” a labour economics-based approach that emphasizes how well migrants’ skills and attributes match the needs of the destination countries. The framework also considers the reasons why migrants move in search of opportunity and determines the extent to which migrants, origin countries and destination countries gain from migration. The framework combines “match” and “motive” to determine policy priorities for countries of origin, transit, destination, and the global community.
The World Bank report suggests that origin countries should make labour migration an explicit part of their development strategy. At the same time, it is suggested that the countries of destination promote migration in sectors where migrant skills are highly sought after, make efforts to integrate them into their society, and tackle social consequences that may worry their citizens. The report also calls for international cooperation and multilateral efforts to strengthen the match of migrants’ skills with the needs of destination societies.
Many low-income countries are anticipated to experience a surge in population, which will exert pressure on them to generate additional employment opportunities for the youth. However, developing and impoverished nations such as India are observing an increase in the number of young people, while developed countries have already surpassed this stage, as they are experiencing depopulation. Spain, with a population of 47 million, is predicted to reduce by over one-third by 2100, with people aged 65 and above accounting for a greater proportion of the population, escalating from 20 per cent to 39 per cent. As their populations are no longer expanding, countries like Mexico, Thailand, Tunisia, and Türkiye might soon require more foreign workers.
Bengaluru– The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) is inviting applications for the 7th edition of its prestigious IET India Scholarship Award which carries a combined prize money of Rs 10 Lakh. Open to students of all AICTE, UGC-approved and national institutes, the programme aims to reward and celebrate individual excellence and innovation among undergraduate engineering students in India. This is the largest national scholarship prize for undergraduate engineering students in the country.
The last date to apply is the 3rd of June, 2023.
Previous winners have gone on to join leading global companies like Apple, Boeing, Deloitte and MIT, and some have even become entrepreneurs themselves. Applying for the programme is the first step in a detailed 4-stage process which tests students on academic and technical parameters, as well as creativity, innovation and presentation skills.
Mr. Shekhar Sanyal, Director and Country Head, IET India, said, ” As we embrace a tech-driven future, it is more important than ever to nurture, recognize and inspire young engineering leaders of tomorrow. The IET India Scholarship Award is our commitment to championing individual excellence in engineering and technology. Having seen the tremendous response and high quality levels of applicants last year, I am sure this year will be even better. I wish the applicants all the very best and look forward to new standards of creativity and innovation.”
The IET India Scholarship Award 2023 is led by a highly empowered and respected Advisory Committee, comprising academicians and corporate professionals of national repute who helped build a strong framework for the award. The committee is chaired by Prof. Abhijit Chakrabarti, Former Vice-Chancellor, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, and Chairman, IET India Scholarship Award Advisory Committee.
Echoing Mr. Sanyal’s views, Prof. Chakrabarti said, “It gives me immense pleasure to announce the opening of the seventh edition of the IET India Scholarship Award. This scholarship provides a platform for undergraduate engineering students to showcase their abilities and innovation in front of industry stalwarts and academicians. We hope that through this program, we can inspire and empower undergraduate students to pursue excellence in engineering, as well as motivate these young minds to think about the role of technology in solving challenges that we face today.”
The award evaluation comprises four stages. The initial stage involves an online application where applicants are evaluated based on their academic, extra-curricular, outreach, and professional performance, with varying weightages assigned to each category. In the second stage, shortlisted candidates are required to take an online test to have their proficiency and technical knowledge gauged in relevant subjects. The highest scoring 10% of students will be invited to take part in the in-person Regional Assessments at 5 regional centres where candidates present their technological solutions to region-specific challenges, to be evaluated by a panel of experts. The Regional winners then proceed to the 4th stage – National Finals – where the national winner will be awarded.
The previous edition of the award drew close to 29,000 entries, with the national and regional winners felicitated by Mrr. Suresh Prabhu, Former Union Minister and 6-time Member of Parliament, at the IET India’s Future Tech Congress 2022. The programme aims to reward innovative thinking from the next crop of engineers entering the workforce and is part of a wide number of IET India initiatives focused on improving the quality of engineering in India.
For more information, please visit – https://scholarships.theietevents.com/#!
Source: indiaeducationdirary, 13/04/23
World Intellectual Property Day is observed on April 26th every year to celebrate the importance of intellectual property rights (IPR) and the contributions that innovation and creativity make towards economic and social development.
The day was established by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) in 2000 to raise awareness about the role of intellectual property (IP) in encouraging innovation and creativity and to promote a better understanding of the importance of IP rights.
What is Intellectual Property (IP)?
Intellectual property (IP) refers to creations of the mind, such as inventions, literary and artistic works, symbols, designs, and names used in commerce, for which exclusive rights are recognised.
Intellectual property rights (IPRs) allow creators or owners to have control over the use of their creations for a certain period of time. Examples of IPRs include patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. Let’s take a look at some of these:
Intellectual property plays an important role in promoting innovation and creativity by providing incentives for inventors and creators to invest time and resources in their work. However, it can also be a source of controversy and legal disputes, particularly in the digital age where it can be difficult to enforce and protect IP rights.
World Intellectual Property Day 2023: Significance
The significance of World Intellectual Property Day lies in its ability to highlight the crucial role played by IP in promoting innovation, creativity, and economic growth. Intellectual property rights are essential to encourage innovation, investment in research and development, and the creation of new products and services. They provide incentives for individuals and companies to invest in the development of new ideas, technologies, and artistic works.
Furthermore, World Intellectual Property Day provides an opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of respecting IP rights and to encourage individuals and organisations to protect the IP of others.
It also serves as a platform to showcase the importance of intellectual property in various fields such as medicine, art, music, literature, technology, and business.
How to apply for Intellectual property rights (IPRs) in India
To apply for IPRs in India, here’s what you need to do:
It is advisable to seek the help of a qualified and experienced attorney to assist you in the IPR application process to ensure that you do not face any legal issues in the future.
The importance and the very existence of World Intellectual Property Day lies in its ability to raise awareness about the importance of intellectual property rights, promote innovation and creativity, and encourage the respect and protection of IP rights. So, let World Intellectual Property Day 2023 serve as a reminder to you to go file that IP and make the most of what is your own.
Source: The Telegraph, 26/04/23
The government’s attitudes, not always obviously articulated but quietly nurtured, are reflected in daily life, from cow vigilantism to the increase of suicides among Dalit students
Few texts are as dynamic as the Indian Constitution. It represents, through its interpretations, applications and amendments the people’s growing understanding of the gifts of freedom and equality that it symbolises, and the wisdom and independence of the judiciary. Fifty years after the Kesavananda Bharati judgment, which defined the basic structure of the Constitution for the first time, the nobility of the vision it enshrines and the perspicacity of the judges who discerned its foundational values need to be recalled with special emphasis. Although Article 368 of the Constitution allows amendment of its provisions through bills in either House of Parliament, the 1973 judgment declared that no change could be made to its ‘basic structure’, that is, the supremacy of the Constitution, the republican and democratic form of government and it federal dimension, the secular nature of the Constitution and the separation of powers between the executive, legislature and the judiciary. Added to this were the fundamental rights and freedoms of the people listed in it and the building of a welfare state described in Part IV of the document. The basic structure, too, is dynamic, because it allows for inferences appropriate for a changing society; the judiciary’s independence can be immediately inferred while the right to privacy, for example, was a later inference from other enshrined rights of the individual.
The judges defining the basic structure expressed the possibility that, without this doctrine, a party with two-thirds majority in Parliament could mount an assault on the Constitution and change its character. Assaults on constitutional principles and individual freedoms and choices, on the spirit of secularism, equality, and democratic practices have, ironically, become rather familiar in contemporary India. The government’s attitudes, not always obviously articulated but quietly nurtured, are reflected in daily life, from cow vigilantism to the increase of suicides among Dalit students. Occupying one of the highest constitutional positions, the vice-president said that the Kesavananda Bharati judgment was ‘incorrect’, since in a democracy the judiciary cannot fetter Parliament’s right to amend whatsoever it pleases in the Constitution. As the context was the Centre’s desire to overturn the collegium system of judges’ appointments, this was an intriguing use of the concept of ‘democracy’ which assumes an independent judiciary. There is no better time to celebrate and assert the basic structure doctrine judgment.
Source: The Telegraph, 27/04/23
“There has never been an age that did not applaud the past and lament the present.”
Lillian Eichler Watson
“ऐसा कोई युग कभी नहीं रहा जिसमें अतीत का गुणगान और वर्तमान पर विलाप न किया गया हो।”
लिलियन आइक्लर वॉटसन
orld Book Day is a yearly celebration observed on April 23rd globally to promote the love for reading, writing, publishing, and copyright. It is an initiative to create awareness of the importance of education and literacy. The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) organized the first World Book Day in 1995, chosen to coincide with the death anniversary of notable writers William Shakespeare, Garcilaso de la Vega, and Miguel de Cervantes.
The significance of World Book Day lies in its promotion of the importance of education and literacy. Reading is an essential skill needed by people from all walks of life, and books are a vital source of knowledge. World Book Day also focuses on publishing and copyright issues that are prevalent in the digital age. With the rise of e-books and piracy, the publishing industry faces significant challenges. World Book Day helps raise awareness of these issues and promotes the protection of intellectual property rights.
The theme for World Book Day 2023 is ‘Indigenous Languages.’ The theme is focused on promoting the diversity of native languages in a country. This theme highlights the importance of preserving cultural and linguistic heritage.
Books serve as a connection between the past and the future, a pathway that links various generations and cultures. They provide a window into different times and worlds, connecting people across continents and ages. UNESCO recognizes the importance of books and authors and stands for creativity, diversity, and equal access to knowledge.
To sustain the momentum of World Book Day’s festivities, UNESCO and global organizations that represent the primary sectors of the book industry, namely publishers, booksellers, and libraries, pick the World Book Capital for a year. World Book Day is a worldwide celebration of books and authors that brings together numerous individuals and groups, including authors, publishers, teachers, librarians, private and public institutions, humanitarian NGOs, and the media. It has become a platform to rally together millions of people worldwide to celebrate books and authors, and promote the enjoyment of reading.
Heat domes are high-pressure systems that result in extremely hot and dry weather conditions, causing a variety of impacts on human health, the environment, and society. As the frequency and intensity of heat domes increase, understanding their causes, impacts, and mitigation strategies becomes crucial.
A heat dome is a type of high-pressure system that occurs when a large area of high pressure in the upper atmosphere traps hot air near the surface of the earth. This results in a dome-like shape of high pressure that prevents the hot air from rising and cooling, leading to persistent hot and dry weather conditions.
Heat domes can have severe impacts on human health. Prolonged exposure to extreme heat can cause heat-related illnesses, such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke, which can be life-threatening. Heat domes can also aggravate pre-existing health conditions, such as asthma and heart disease, and increase the risk of dehydration and heat-related injuries, particularly among vulnerable populations such as elderly individuals, children, people with pre-existing health conditions, construction workers, farmers, and those living in poverty.
Several factors contribute to the increased frequency and intensity of heat domes. Climate change is a significant factor, as rising global temperatures alter weather patterns and create favorable conditions for the formation of heat domes. Melting icebergs and loss of Arctic sea ice also contribute to drier conditions, reducing the moderating effect of the ocean on temperature extremes. Changes in weather patterns, such as the slowing down of atmospheric circulation, can result in prolonged periods of stagnant weather conditions, leading to the formation of heat domes.
Heat domes can have severe impacts on the environment. The persistent hot and dry conditions associated with heat domes can lead to droughts, exacerbate wildfires, and damage infrastructure such as roads and buildings. Drier conditions can also have long-term impacts on ecosystems, including changes in plant and animal populations, and disruptions to agricultural production.
Heat domes form when a large area of high pressure occurs in the upper atmosphere, causing air to sink and warm as it descends towards the surface. This sinking air creates a dome-like shape of high pressure that traps hot air near the surface, preventing it from rising and cooling. Other factors that contribute to the formation of heat domes include less reflection of sunlight due to changes in atmospheric conditions and dry air.
Heat domes are a natural weather phenomenon, and it is not possible to completely prevent their occurrence. However, the impacts of heat domes can be mitigated through various strategies.
Mitigating the impacts of heat domes requires a multi-pronged approach. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change is critical in addressing the root causes of heat domes. Improving energy efficiency, transitioning to renewable energy sources, and reducing our reliance on fossil fuels can help mitigate the impacts of heat domes. Urban planning strategies, such as planting trees and implementing cooling measures, can help reduce the urban heat island effect, which exacerbates the impacts of heat domes in urban areas. Additionally, implementing early warning systems, providing access to cooling centers, and educating vulnerable populations on heat-related risks and preventive measures can also help mitigate the impacts of heat domes on human health.
Every year on 7 April, World Health Day is celebrated with a different theme each time. The theme for the year 2023 is “Health For All”. This year it also marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 1948.
As the theme for this year highlights - the focus is greatly on public health. If it weren’t for the number of people who enter into public health professions, the world wouldn’t have witnessed the massive improvement in the quality of lifestyle we experience these days. From sanitary health to mental health, each and every area has seen major transformations in terms of quality of life.
As we celebrate World Health day, let’s take a look at some popular health and wellness careers:
1. Medical Researcher
These specialists conduct and analyse/diagnose various diseases, health issues and develop treatment and methods to cure or prevent those diseases.
How to become a Medical Researcher:
2. Rehabilitation Counsellor
Mental Health has always been of great concern. Whether it is in the case of people requiring support to deal with mental health issues, or people requiring support when they are the victims of trauma caused by political or natural causes. Rehabilitation Counselling is one of the fast-growing Counselling Specialties in India, showing the advances that we have made in the field.
How to become a Rehabilitation Counsellor:
3. NGO Worker
Working for a social cause can prove to be a rewarding career for many. It allows you to make a living while improving the world around you. If you're passionate about health and wellness as a social cause, working for an NGO or other nonprofit organisation that works in the area of public health might prove to be an ideal career.
How to pursue a career in an NGO
4. Nutritionist
Dieticians and nutritionists are professionals who cater to their patients’ and clients’ nutritional and health needs. If this is an area that interests you, it could be a rewarding career with exceptional opportunities.
How to become a Nutritionist
5. Nurse & Nursing Assistant
A nurse plays a huge part in a patient's recovery and also assists doctors and surgeons. Nurses serve to care for people who are suffering from disabilities, accidents, or diseases etc. and are usually the primary caregivers in many circumstances.
How to become a Nurse