A succession of positive developments in the higher education sector last week impelled us to come up with a special package in the current issue of Blitz India. In a path-breaking reform to achieve a 50 percent gross enrolment ratio by 2035, as stipulated in the National Education Policy 2020, the University Grant Commission allowed about 900 autonomous colleges in the country to offer online degree courses. Till now, only the universities could do so.
We have given exhaustive coverage to this commendable move along with an analytical piece by the Vice-Chancellor of a top university in Gujarat. The move is also by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s emphasis on digital universities, which he spoke about only a day before the UGC announcement. The package includes the highlights of the PM’s speech. Another major development – the interest shown by prominent foreign universities to set up campuses at the Gandhinagarbased GIFT City IFSC – also gets covered in this package. Overall, the set of stories is reflective of the efforts being made by the Government in empowering the youth of the country as part of its nation-building agenda.
This week’s Cover Story is about the historic decision of the UN General Assembly to confer Observer Status on the International Solar Alliance, conceived jointly by Prime Minister Modi and former French President Francois Hollande over six years ago. A robust global body of 103 nations today, the ISA has not only grown faster than any other multilateral organization but also launched a slew of initiatives to promote solar energy. A related story deals with how solar power is a fast developing industry in India, unsurprisingly as the National Institute of Solar Energy assesses the country’s solar potential at 748 GW. Another heartening fact is that India’s annual renewable energy addition has been exceeding that of coal-based thermal power since 2017. The coverage is part of Blitz India’s focus on initiatives leading towards a sustainable future.
After seven years of deepening bilateral relations, Prime Minister Modi and Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Zayed ushering in a new era in India-UAE relations and firming up a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) last week was a significant step towards bringing the two nations closer. This imprint of PM Modi’s diplomatic sway in the Middle East is covered in our Globetrotting feature. The centerspread this week dwells on the Delhi Gymkhana Club and the efforts being made by the Government-appointed Administrator to mainstream this hub of the elite. Despite resistance from many quarters, coupled with a host of litigations, the transformational process is on.
Over to you now!
