Suggest school syllabi to boost innovation: Irani to IITs

NEW DELHI: The government plans to formulate a national innovation policy that would stress on innovation at the school level, according to human resource development minister Smriti Irani. 

Apprising directors and chairmen of 16 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) about the policy at a retreat in Goa Sunday, Irani asked them to suggest curriculum changes at the school level that would not only align with higher education institutions but also help set up innovation labs at the district level across India with a view to infusing a culture of research and innovation among students. 

Irani asked the institutes to set up cultures of excellence in central universities, said a ministry statement. 

The day-long retreat focused on issues related to deepening research and technological innovation for meeting the national development agenda, enhancing industry-academia collaboration and expanding the massive open online courses (MOOCs). 

It also stressed on framing a ranking system that would reflect national concerns and leveraging alumni networks, the statement added. 

Irani said the IITs need to come up with at least 10 goals that India should reach, both nationally and internationally, in a time-bound manner. 

"A committee consisting of directors and chairmen of IITs has been constituted to map various disciplines with respect to their requirement for meeting national manpower goals," the statement said. 

Irani also asked the IITs to develop a "special programme" for students from the northeast and said they need to be "exposed to the best of the institutions like IITs in different parts of the country". 

She asked the director of IIT Guwahati to coordinate efforts in this direction and submit a report by the middle of August. 

She also highlighted the need to develop "quality faculty" not only for the new IITs, Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs) but also for other institutions in the country. 

Urging the IITs to leverage their alumni network, Irani asked the chairmen and directors to suggest policy constraints and strategies to involve the institutes' alumni for contributing towards the institutes' development and also the nation.

10 things you must know about Delhi University’s four-year undergraduate programme

NEW DELHI: For the past one year, Delhi University's four-year undergraduate programme has been in the news for various reasons. City-wide protests by students and teacher organizations, the fact that DU in fact admitted students into the programme last year despite the uproar, and finally the stepping in of University Grants Commission (UGC) to scrap FYUP are the key highpoints underlining this controversial programme.

On Tuesday, Delhi University colleges, slowly but surely started switching back from the controversial four-year undergraduate programme (FYUP) to the three-year course. On Tuesday — a day that was dominated by an unseemly drama over whether or not vice-chancellor Dinesh Singh had resigned — 57 of the university's 64 colleges quietly communicated to UGC that they were moving back to the three-year course.

BTech students call off their stir

NEW DELHI: The only group of students which had been opposing the rollback of the FYUP has called off its protest after an assurance by the University Grants Commission on Tuesday. 

Students demonstrating outside the UGC office and on North Campus were told that their course would not be scrapped even if the three-year format is restored.The students were opposing the rollback as they won't be left with any specialization after finishing their course. 

About 3,000 students are pursuing BTech in various colleges introduced along with FYUP. The UGC directed the university and its colleges to restore the earlier format and ensure migration of the FYUP batch to 3-year structure. 

In that case, BTech students would have graduated with a BSc degree. DU was told to enrol new applicants under the earlier courses, failing which the UGC might freeze funds to the university. 

The standing committee proposed that these students should be allowed to complete the fourth year and be given the degree . There is still no clarity on whether the courses will be offered.

DU colleges defer admissions as FYUP impasse continues

NEW DELHI: The continuing face-off over the four-year undergraduate programme (FYUP) earned Delhi University a dubious distinction on Monday. For the first time in the varsity's 92-year history, principals of all constituent colleges on their own decided to defer admissions for 2014-15 till the FYUP issue was resolved.

READ ALSO: DU can do what it wants: FYUP camp

Admissions on the first cutoff were to start from Tuesday. However, the complete silence of the University Grants Commission and DU authorities through the day meant college principals were left with absolutely no directions on how to set the cutoffs. Needless to say, the anxious wait continued for students seeking admission.

READ ALSO: Crisis leaves first batch in a bind

Meanwhile, the 10-member committee set up by UGC to prepare a roadmap for the transition back to a three-year undergraduate programme held its meeting on Monday. It suggested that all courses that existed prior to FYUP be restored but said the interests of students enrolled under the BTech programme should be protected.

As ambiguity continued, the DU principals' association convened a meeting at Khalsa College. By then, several colleges had already decided cutoffs, some were already holding meetings and the rest had deferred the process. Instead of waiting for DU to decide, the 36 principals who attended the meeting passed a resolution in favour of deferring the process.

"In view of the recent developments and the seriousness of the situation regarding the conflicting guidelines of University of Delhi and University Grants Commission regarding admissions... the principals' association has no option but to resolve to defer the process of admissions till unambiguous guidelines are received by the colleges from the competent authority," said a statement by the association.

Make them job-ready

India's young population has a great responsibility — to make the country the next superpower. With 50% of its population below the age of 29, India is poised to become the world's youngest nation by 2020. However, this 'demographic dividend' may end up being a 'disaster' if employment opportunities are not provided to the youth. Young Indians will play a significant role in shaping the nation, provided they have relevant opportunities to prove their worth. 

Today's generation is focused and determined to participate and contribute in every sphere, be it technology, politics, sports, education or entrepreneurship. The past decade has seen small ideas being transformed into billion-dollar businesses. Mark Zuckerberg founded Facebook, which not only made him a billionaire but also changed the way people communicated with friends and family. 

The scenario 

Understanding the urgency for economic reforms, the new government is expected to take the necessary steps to bring the growth rate back to its previous best. Steady and continuous economic growth would ensure more jobs across all sectors. But the big question is whether the youngsters are equipped with the skills required for various jobs. 

Recent policy changes have given an impetus to skill development. A similar boost to entrepreneurship would ensure young citizens an opportunity to be an integral part of India's growth story. 

The challenge 

After schooling, youngsters can choose a conventional three-year degree or a four-year professional programme. The absence of shortterm programmes that focus on providing competencies required for the job market forces them to take up jobs in the unorganised sector or makes them vulnerable to exploitation. 

Almost 20 million students enrol in various colleges every year. According to various studies, 75% of technical graduates and more than 85% of general graduates are unemployable by India's most demanding and high-growth global industries, including information technology. This shows that India offers the world's largest pool of technically-skilled graduates who are not industry-ready. 

Possible solutions 

It is time to act fast in this rapidlychanging world. So, here are some possible solutions to the multiple challenges before the nation: 

Focus on providing vocational training to high school students and introduce them to various career options available to them if they wish to discontinue formal education. The first step in that direction, the National Vocational Education Qualification Framework (NVEQF ), aims to formally integrate vocational education with its current conventional educational streams in school and higher education. 

Introduce short-term (one-or two-year ) government-approved courses and encourage existing educational institutions to provide them alongside conventional degrees. This would give the youth an option to choose from an array of courses and degrees. Also, this would ensure every enrollee in a one-year course an opportunity to bag a job after completing it. 

Keeping in mind the huge gap between the demand and supply of skilled workers across sectors, increase the capacity of existing training providers besides empanelling new training organisations. In addition, all agencies that support skill development initiatives must focus on placements of candidates trained under various schemes. Map courses to gaps in a demandand-supply analysis across sectors and job roles. 

Encouraging entrepreneurship is essential to fuel growth across sectors. Small and medium enterprises are the backbone of a country's economy. Besides providing local employment, they create a market for local produce. However, India is ranked 134 in the World Bank index on 'Ease of doing business'. Drastic policy changes and minimising delays in giving out licences to micro, small and medium enterprises are required if young India's aspirations are to be fulfilled. 

—Chandrajit Banerjee (The author is member trustee, India@75 and DG, Confederation of Indian Industry)

We'll devise a new education policy, Smriti Irani says

NEW DELHI: Nearly three decades after the last such exercise was undertaken, the Modi government will formulate a new national education policy "reflecting the aspirations of India now and opportunities in the next decade", HRD minister Smriti Irani told TOI in an exclusive interview, her first to the English media after assuming office. 

Irani said the new policy will be put together after extensive consultations with all stakeholders. "It will be my endeavour to help India emerge as a knowledge-based economy," she said. The current education policy was formulated by the Rajiv Gandhi government in 1986.

CBSE schools triple as board’s popularity grows across India

MUMBAI: The landscape of school education has for long promised a variety of options. Almost half-a-dozen school boards—local, national and international—offer Indian students a choice of academic algorithms for careers ahead. But of them all, CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education), which was largely designed for those who moved home and could not be loyal to a state board, is picking up popularity across the nation.

In 1996-97, there were 4,843 affiliated schools to the CBSE board, which has grown to 15,000 institutes now, with most of the growth coming from independent private schools, indicating the way the wind is blowing. While every year thousands of Indian parents find it tough to decide which board their child must sign up for, new school managements too face the same quandary when they start operations.


READ ALSO: ​Most schools flaunt 100% pass rate in CBSE Class X results

7,651 candidates apply for MBBS, BDS courses at Annamalai University

CUDDALORE: As many as 7,651 candidates have applied for admissions to MBBS and BDS programmes offered by Annamalai University in the academic year 2014-15.

According to a release from the university, as many as 11,654 candidates have sought admissions to BSc (agriculture / horticulture) courses, 2,545 candidates have applied for engineering courses and 947 for BPharm, BSc (nursing) and bachelor of physiotherapy (BPT) courses. The university has sent acknowledgment cards by post and through SMS to all candidates.

The university has reserved 3% seats for differently abled people. It will draw the merit list based on the marks obtained by the candidates in the relevant subjects in higher secondary examinations or other equivalent examinations.

The university will allot random numbers to the aspirants for BE programmes on June 16 and to the applicants for MBBS, BDS and BSc (agriculture / horticulture), B Phram and BPT courses on June 18. The varsity will call candidates for counselling in the order of merit following the rule of reservation.

The counselling will be held at administrative office, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Chidambaram. The university will announce the schedule of counselling soon. 

Candidates can log on to university website www.annamalaiuniversity.ac.in for details. The university has set up helplines -- 04142 238348 and 49 -- and an email account -- au_regr@ymail.com -- to assist the candidates seeking admission.

University of Pune names 71 colleges banned for admissions

PUNE: The University of Pune (UoP) on Thursday released the names of 71 colleges across Pune, Nashik and Ahmednagar districts where admissions to the first-year of their courses has been banned for the academic year 2014-15 until the university clears them for admitting students. 

Students can access the list of these 71 colleges on the university's website: www.unipune.ac.in. This is crucial in the context of the ongoing admissions for senior colleges following the Std XII results which were declared recently by various educational boards. Most of these colleges are into offering studies in arts, commerce, science, BBA and BCA courses. 

The university has already issued show-cause notices to these colleges seeking explanation as to why they should be allowed to admit students in the wake of various shortcomings such as inadequate infrastructure, lack of full-time and approved teaching staff and full-time principals. 

A bulk of the colleges facing the admission ban are located in the rural and fringe areas of each of the three districts. There are some which are also located in the urban areas including Pune city. Of these, 44 are in Pune district while another 17 and 10 are in Ahmednagar and Nashik districts, respectively. 

The UoP's academic council, which is the top body for taking policy decisions on academic matters, had resolved at its meeting on June 3 to crack the whip against the affiliated colleges which are continuing to function without meeting the minimum required norms for teaching and learning standards. 

Top priority was accorded to issues like the status of qualified and approved teaching staff and infrastructure at these colleges. An expert panel which had earlier examined these colleges had found several shortcomings and had tabled its report before the academic council, which was presided over by the vice-chancellor W N Gade. 

While the university went on to issue show-cause notices, it had so far avoided making the names of these 71 colleges public. This had further drawn criticism from academicians who felt that students seeking admissions must know whether they prefer the right college. Eventually, the university gave in and released the names on its website for students to go through the same before approaching for admission.

Vasundhara Raje unhappy with low quality of education in Rajasthan

JAIPUR: Chief minister Vasundhara Raje expressed displeasure over the quality of education in the state on Wednesday while inaugurating a daylong seminar on education titled 'Challenges and Strategies: New Areas of Innovation' at HCM RIPA. The seminar was attended by chief secretary, secretaries, vice chancellors, principals, directors and education officers.

"State is spending Rs 16,000 crore on school education for 65 lakh students annually yet we have not made any improvements in any educational parameter (learning level)," said Raje. She asserted that government is working in the direction of long pending rationalization of students-teachers ratio to correct the imbalance in schools. She also said the government will conduct a single exam for grade III teachers' recruitment.

She was shown presentations by respective education officers, especially on the declining enrollments and learning levels among girls. After her address, she held an interactive session with all stakeholders and invited suggestions to improve the quality of education at all levels. Chief secretary Rajiv Mehrishi answered most of the questions asked by stakeholders present in the hall.

Mehrishi asked the stakeholders to come up with suggestions on improving the overall condition of education. Sandeep Bakshi, chancellor of Jaipur National University proposed that government should allow educational groups to adopt government schools in their vicinity to fulfill their social responsibility.

"The performance of government schools in the merit list is negligible. In this situation, private educational groups can utilize their resources to transform government schools to improve the quality which will decrease number of drop outs and increase the gross enrollment ration in higher education," said Bakshi. Raje formed three committees-school education, higher education and technical and management education-to look into the suggestions made by participants from across the state.

Mumbai will get 14 new colleges from this year

MUMBAI: From this academic year, 14 new colleges in the city may offer innovative courses at the undergraduate level. Following rigorous scrutiny of 57 applications to set up new colleges, the University of Mumbai has approved applications for only 14, which will start the new session only after the state government's approval. Of the 228 applications received from existing colleges to offer new courses or add more divisions, only 70 were forwarded to the government by the university.

According to the university's perspective plan for this academic session, only new colleges offering innovative courses will be permitted to set shop this year. The decision was taken in the management council meeting last year. The perspective plan was designed after studying vacancies in existing courses and colleges' requirement in a given geographic location.

M A Khan, the university's registrar, said, "We scrutinised applications and inspection committees were sent to the colleges. When the proposal was tabled in the management council, it was decided that new societies, which lacked prior experience in running institutions, may not be able to run innovative courses. Very few applications, therefore, were moved forward."

Khan said it was not possible to add too many colleges to the already overburdened university as it would affect good governance and quality of education offered.

Of the 228 applications received for extension of affiliation to existing colleges, around 135 were for undergraduate courses and 93 for postgraduate ones. Around 31 applications were also received for technical institutes offering engineering, pharmacy, architecture and management, but only four got the university's approval. Sanctions were also given for three new community colleges. Of the 47 institutes that received the university's approval to run innovative undergraduate courses, 13 were for offering NCC as a subject.

Most innovative courses were job-oriented, claimed an official. "Courses like BCom in financial management, investment management and transport management are industry-oriented courses for which the syllabus is ready," he said. Similarly, BSc courses like interdisciplinary science and human science, will help students get jobs in any industry, he said. In interdisciplinary science, students will also learn modules of other subjects like law and commerce or psychology and sociology, along with core science subjects. This will enable them to apply for jobs in human resources, law firms, human rights' agencies, etc, said the official.

Will launch madrassa modernization programme: President

NEW DELHI: Expressing concern at sections of minority communities continuing to suffer from poverty even today, President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday said the government will spread modern and technical education among minority communities and launch a madrassa modernization programme. 

Addressing a joint session of parliament, the president said: "It is unfortunate that even after several decades of independence, sections of minority communities continue to suffer from poverty, as benefits of government schemes do not reach them." 

"My government is committed to making all minorities equal partners in India's progress. The government will especially strengthen measures to spread modern and technical education among minority communities and a National Madrassa Modernization Programme will be initiated," he said. 

The Muslim community comprises around 14 percent of India's 1.2 billion population. 

On the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and the weaker sections, he said the government "will take steps to create an enabling eco-system of equal opportunity in education, health and livelihood" for them. 

"My government is committed to seeing that those belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Other Backward classes are able to avail emerging opportunities. For the Scheduled Tribes, my government will launch a dedicated 'Van Bandhu Kalyan Yojana'," he said. 

"Electrification of tribal hamlets and connecting them with all-weather roads will be a priority area," the president added. 

He said the welfare and rehabilitation of specially-abled people is integral to the government's vision of a caring society. "It will take steps to provide dignity of life to them by facilitating their participation in all walks of life. Steps will be taken to identify their special needs and to provide institutional care to them," he added.

SRM University Counseling begins

SRM University plans to open a 50 acre campus in Sikkim during this academic year.

Speaking on the sidelines at the counseling of SRM University at Kattangalathur in Chennai, President, SRM University, P Sathyanarayanan,said,' The 150 acre campus in Haryana has already started functioning with engineering and MBA courses.'

Sathyanarayanan said that the counseling which began today would go on till 24 May.

He also added that of the 1.4 lakh student who took up SRM entr ..

Read more at:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/35630155.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

SRM University plans to open a 50 acre campus in Sikkim during this academic year.

Speaking on the sidelines at the counseling of SRM University at Kattangalathur in Chennai, President, SRM University, P Sathyanarayanan,said,' The 150 acre campus in Haryana has already started functioning with engineering and MBA courses.'

Sathyanarayanan said that the counseling which began today would go on till 24 May.

He also added that of the 1.4 lakh student who took up SRM entr ..

Read more at:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/35630155.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

SRM University plans to open a 50 acre campus in Sikkim during this academic year.

Speaking on the sidelines at the counseling of SRM University at Kattangalathur in Chennai, President, SRM University, P Sathyanarayanan,said,' The 150 acre campus in Haryana has already started functioning with engineering and MBA courses.'

Sathyanarayanan said that the counseling which began today would go on till 24 May.

He also added that of the 1.4 lakh student who took up SRM entr ..

Read more at:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/35630155.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

SRM University plans to open a 50 acre campus in Sikkim during this academic year.

Speaking on the sidelines at the counseling of SRM University at Kattangalathur in Chennai, President, SRM University, P Sathyanarayanan,said,' The 150 acre campus in Haryana has already started functioning with engineering and MBA courses.'

Sathyanarayanan said that the counseling which began today would go on till 24 May.

He also added that of the 1.4 lakh student who took up SRM entr ..

Read more at:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/35630155.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

SRM University plans to open a 50 acre campus in Sikkim during this academic year.

Speaking on the sidelines at the counseling of SRM University at Kattangalathur in Chennai, President, SRM University, P Sathyanarayanan,said,' The 150 acre campus in Haryana has already started functioning with engineering and MBA courses.'

Sathyanarayanan said that the counseling which began today would go on till 24 May.

He also added that of the 1.4 lakh student who took up SRM entr ..

Read more at:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/35630155.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

SRM University plans to open a 50 acre campus in Sikkim during this academic year.

Speaking on the sidelines at the counseling of SRM University at Kattangalathur in Chennai, President, SRM University, P Sathyanarayanan,said,' The 150 acre campus in Haryana has already started functioning with engineering and MBA courses.'

Sathyanarayanan said that the counseling which began today would go on till 24 May.

He also added that of the 1.4 lakh student who took up SRM entr ..

Read more at:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/35630155.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

SRM University plans to open a 50 acre campus in Sikkim during this academic year.

Speaking on the sidelines at the counseling of SRM University at Kattangalathur in Chennai, President, SRM University, P Sathyanarayanan,said,' The 150 acre campus in Haryana has already started functioning with engineering and MBA courses.'

Sathyanarayanan said that the counseling which began today would go on till 24 May.

He also added that of the 1.4 lakh student who took up SRM entr ..

Read more at:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/35630155.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

SRM University plans to open a 50 acre campus in Sikkim during this academic year.

Speaking on the sidelines at the counseling of SRM University at Kattangalathur in Chennai, President, SRM University, P Sathyanarayanan,said,' The 150 acre campus in Haryana has already started functioning with engineering and MBA courses.'

Sathyanarayanan said that the counseling which began today would go on till 24 May.

He also added that of the 1.4 lakh student who took up SRM entr ..

Read more at:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/35630155.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

IIM-Ahmedabad to offer eleven new management development programmes

AHMEDABAD: The Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A) would be offering eleven new Management Development Programmes (MDPs) in 2014-15. 

"A total of 77 open enrolment Management Development Programmes (MDPs) are being offered for 2014-15. Eleven new MDPs have been announced for the year 2014-15," the institute said in a statement here. 

One of the new programmes on offer is 'Business Dispute Resolution: International and Domestic Arbitration', likely to be coordinated by Anurag K Agarwal. 

'Doing Busines Abroad' and 'Family Business: Organisation, Strategies, Internationalisation and Succession' will be coordinated by Ajeet Mathur. 

'Employee Engagement : A 3D Approach', 'Strategic Transformational Training Methodology' and 'Industrial Relations: Changes, Challenges and Responses' would be coordinated by Jerome Joseph. 

'Business Turnaround and Organisational Transformation' and 'Managing People for Excellence in Healthcare' will be coordinated by Sunil Maheswari. 

'Designing Systems for Developing Internal Talent' and 'Leadership Pipeline' would be coordinated by Biju Varkkey. 

'Psychological Assessment and Psycho- Metrics' will be coordinated by Promila Agarwal and 'Enhancing Service Quality in Healthcare' by Rajeshkumar Chandwani. 

Talking to the reporters here, IIM-A director Ashish Nanda said, "To realise our vision, the institute is following a three-pronged approach of Connect, Nurture and Grow." 

Ten new faculty members joined IIM-A since September 2013, the institute said.

Maharashtra medical entrance test results to be announced at 11pm today

MUMBAI: The results for the Maharashtra's medical entrance test (MH-CET) for admissions to health science courses will be declared at 11pm today. 

The results will be released on the official website of Directorate of Medical Education and Research. Of the 1.48 lakh students, 65,607 boys and 82,787 girls appeared for the exam. The total numbers of candidates in the open category who will be eligible are only 4,111, for medical and dental courses. 

The selection process for admission will be conducted during the second week of June at four centres in the state — Grant Medical College, Mumbai, BJ Medical College, Pune, Government Medical Colleges in Nagpur and Aurangabad.

Punjab board results: Blind students score first division, topper at 87%

CHANDIGARH: Overcoming odds, all 14 Class X students from the Sector 26 based Institute for the Blind have secured a first division in the results declared on June 2. The topper amongst these visually impaired students is Tulsi Bhardwaj, who has got an impressive 87% in the Punjab State Education Board (PSEB) exams.

With a desire to become a history professor, Tulsi wants to take up the arts stream with history and political science in Class XI. With total vision impairment in both her eyes, Tulsi says she can 'only see shadows'.

"I used to study in a regular school and shifted to the institute in class V. I use to take oral exams after my mother helped me prepare," Tulsi says. Later, her mother learnt Braille and also taught her daughter the same - giving her a new direction in life. Ambala resident Tulsi's younger brother, an LKG student, also suffers from the same disability. Her father is a private employee in Panchkula.

The next top scorers of the school include Babita with 86.5% marks and Anjali Raturi with 85.7 marks. Anjali, a resident of Ludhiana, lost her eyesight due to nerve damage following a brain fever. She shifted to the Sector 26 School from Dehradun in 2011. "I managed to study with help from my teachers and parents," she said, adding that she wished to become a civil servant when she grew up.

Another touching story is that of Samta, whose sister Suman also topped the same school in her Class XII PSEB exams this year. The second youngest of four siblings, Samta has inherited the disability from her father - with her mother also being physically handicapped. Despite the odds against her, Samta secured 84% marks in the exam. Her father Shyamlal says that the daughters have made him proud.

HSC results declared in Maharashtra

MUMBAI: In a first for the Maharashtra state board of secondary and higher secondary education, the state registered an overall pass percentage (freshers and repeaters) of 84%in the class XII examinations. The freshers registered a pass percentage of 90.03% 

Last year, Mumbai's success rate was 69.1% while the state's success rate was 75.2%. 

Among the freshers, once again girls outperformed boys in the Mumbai region, with 92.3% girls passing the examination as compared to 84.73% boys. In the Mumbai region, 90.71% students (freshers) from the science stream, 87.91% (freshers) from the commerce stream, 84.65% (freshers) from the arts stream and 94.53% (freshers) from the vocational stream passed the examination. 

Across the state, a total of 13, 37,114 have appeared for the examination. Of these, 4, 50,176 have appeared for the science stream, 4, 66,723 from the arts stream, 3, 62,705 from the commerce stream and 54,347 from the vocational stream. The exam was held in from February 26 to March 26, 2014. 

The results will be available on www.mahresult.nic.in,www.maharashtraeducation.com, www.hscresult.mkcl.org. To get the result through SMS, BSNL users can send MHHSC to 57766

Junior colleges will distribute the marksheets to the students on June 10 at 3.00 pm.

Students who wish to apply for revaluation can do so between June 10 and June 20 at the division board office. Students can avail for a photocopy of their answer sheets between June 02 and June 21 by paying the prescribed fees. Students can contact the junior college or the division board office for more details.

Mumbai girl creates state record, bags 12 golds in MBBS exam

MUMBAI: City girl Shefali Parikh has done it again. The former Andheri resident, who topped the state medical entrance exam in 2008 and came second in the country in the 2006 ICSE exam, created a new Maharashtra record on Saturday by bagging 12 gold medals at the convocation for medical students in the state. 

Shefali completed her MBBS from G S Medical College (KEM Hospital) in Parel in 2013. The 24-year-old was not present at the ceremony held by the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) in Nashik on Saturday. Her parents collected the prizes. Of the 68 gold medals given away at the event, Shefali got 12, apart from a cash reward of Rs 10,000 from a healthcare company. 

Among her peers in the state, she had the highest score in nearly all subjects, including general medicine, paediatrics, general surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, and pathology. She was also the overall topper and the female topper. 

Speaking from the UK where she lives after marriage, Shefali, who is planning to pursue paediatrics, said she was expecting a few gold medals but had not imagined that she would get 12. 

"I would have loved to have been there, but I am equally happy that my parents received it on my behalf," she said. About coming back to India, she said, "Right now my focus is on completing my higher studies. In the long run, both of us (my husband and me) would love to come back to the country and set up a small hospital. But we have not made such long-term plans. I am taking one step at a time." She said that she has chosen to do her specialisation in paediatrics, as the field offers plenty of variety academically and is also challenging with lot of new research happening. Her parents were the first ones to call her on Saturday evening to inform her about the convocation. 

"Since her name was announced many times, the audience was spellbound. It was a proud moment for us. She is the first doctor in our family," her elated father Pradeep Parikh said. 

Before Shefali, a girl who finished MBBS from Pune's Armed Forces Medical College in 2012 held the state record of 10 gold medals. 

Dr Chandrahas Deshmukh, who taught Shefali at G S Medical College, described her as an "extraordinary" student. "She published papers at undergraduate level, which even many postgraduate candidates do not do. She was heavily into research and also attended an international medical conference," said Deshmukh. Furthermore, she was the youngest person to present a paper at the European Academy of Paediatric Societies in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2010. 

MUHS spokesperson Swapnil Torne confirmed Shefali is the first student to have got 12 gold medals in the university's last 13 convocations. "Last year's record was 10 gold medals. In case of a female student, the number of medals goes up by two or three because there are more categories for female toppers. Some students get two medals in the same category or subject," he explained. 

Shefali is now married and has moved to the UK. "She is preparing for the local entrance examination there for post-graduation. She interned at two institutes for a month each in the US. After working in all the college departments, she decided to pursue higher studies in paediatrics since she enjoys working with children,"said Pradeep.