AGRICULTURE is the force to propel economic growth in our country. Also, it provides livelihood to majority of population directly or indirectly. The ushering of green, white, yellow and blue revolutions and the comfortable food grain situation that resulted, are the outcome of capable human resource developed by the agricultural education system. However, fast-changing agricultural scenario and emerging challenges can't be overlooked.

National Knowledge Commission chief Sam Pitroda pointed out last week that we have 370 universities when we need 1,500. But Arjun Singh is more focused on implementing quotas

Indira Gandhi National Tribal University is being established at Amarkantak. The state government has provided 21 acre land for this university. Foundation stone of the university would be laid by Human Resources Minister Arjun Singh on April 19. Those who would be specially present on the occasion include Commercial Tax Minister Babulal Gaur, Tribal Welfare Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah, Leader of the Opposition in Vidhan Sabha, Ms Jamuna Devi and MP Dalpat Singh Paraste. Famous Gandhian philosopher, Dr SN Subbarao would preside over the function.

In entire Golaghat district, including Dhansiri, Bokakhat and Golaghat subdivision, thousands of child labourers are busy in the struggle for a livelihood by working in hotels, restaurants, garages, tea gardens and houses belonged to rich people.

India is perhaps one of the few countries in the world that still has the model of centralised universities which design the syllabus, conduct exams and give degrees while the teaching is done in affiliated colleges that have no control on academic content or evaluation. Though there are many things that are wrong with our higher education set-up, removing this totally anachronistic model should be at the top of the agenda.

Protests were expected when authorities shut down St Petersburg's European University, one of Russia's most respected higher-learning institutions. But their scale seems to have exceeded authorities'

Governments could take a big step towards ending world hunger by spending just $1.2 billion a year in developing nations on dietary supplements and education about the food needs of babies, a study showed. Such targeted spending to help a billion of the poorest people in Africa and Asia could save millions of lives and bring annual economic benefits of more than $15 billion in lower health bills and longer and more productive lives, it said.

Bhopal, Apr 9: In a trail-blazing initiative, Reliance Communications, India's foremost truly integrated telecommunications service provider has announced today the launch of an exclusive educational portal on Reliance mobile phones. This unique portal offers a bouquet of useful information on exam results, college admissions, event calendar of exams, admission deadlines, mock tests and tips for performing well in exams. It also contains the list of top universities, colleges, secondary education boards as well as career options.

Historically, if we wanted to understand what someone's income level was, all we had to do was ask what country they were from. In the future, this will no longer be true. Instead, we'll ask what level of education they have achieved. This is because information and communications technology is opening up enormous opportunities for many more people to participate in the global economy, no matter where they may live.