According to a report,* Microsoft Imagine Cup National Final will be
held on May 9, 2008 at Bangalore. Check the write-up for details.*
Dr D.C.Misra
May 6, 2008
________________________________________________
*Microsoft's Imagine Cup India National Final 2008
Date: 9th May, 2008
Venue: NIMHANS Convention Center,
Near Dairy Circle, Hosur Road.
Bangalore. India.
Microsoft is deeply committed to the cause of technology innovation for
a better world, and to engaging with the youth. The Imagine Cup
(www.imaginecup.com <http://www.imaginecup.com/> ), an annual worldwide
student-technology competition, showcases our commitment to both these
causes. Each year, students compete in multiple categories bound by a
unifying theme and this year's theme is "Imagine a world where
technology can enable a sustainable environment."
In the software design invitational (SDI) category of the competition,
teams of students design software-based solutions and applications to
address issues related to theme. The top eight teams will showcase their
solutions at the national final, with the top three teams presenting at
the main event. The panel of judges includes Mr. Kiran Karnik (Past
President of NASSCOM), Prof. Samir Barua (Director of IIM-Ahmedabad),
and Dr. Gopichand Katragadda (GM - Operations, GE Global Research
Bangalore).
The highlights of the event include a video message from Dr. R. K.
Pachauri (Chair of the Nobel-Prize-winning IPCC), as well as key-note
addresses by Mr. Kiran Karnik, and by Mr. R. K. Misra (Winner of the
Lead India Campaign). There will also be a panel-discussion on the role
of the ecosystem in spurring innovation among India's youth. The
discussion will be hosted by Rajdeep Sahrawat (Vice-President, NASSCOM)
and will also feature Prof. Samir Barua, Dr. Gopichand Katragadda, Prof.
S. Sadagopan (Director, IIIT-Bangalore), and Paul Murphy (Director of
Innovation, Microsoft India). Mr. Ravi Venkatesan (Chairman, Microsoft
India) will award the winners.
The agenda is as follows:
o 0900 to 1130: Registration (only for confirmed attendees)
o 1000 to 1200: Project exposition featuring the top eight teams
o 1200 to 1245: Lunch
o 1245 to 1305: Welcome address and video message from Dr. Pachauri
o 1305 to 1400: Presentations by the top three teams
o 1400 to 1415: Key-note address by Kiran Karnik
o 1415 to 1445: Panel-discussion
o 1445 to 1515: Awarding of winners and closing key-note by R. K.
Misra
o 1530 to 1630: Press-conference (invitees/press)
The colleges represented include the following:
o BITS Pilani Goa Campus
o NIT Kurukshetra
o Chennai Mathematical Institute
o Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information and Communication
Technology (Gandhi Nagar)
o Delhi University
o Vivekananda Educational Society's Institute of Technology
(Mumbai)
o Bharti Vidyapeeth College of Engineering (Mumbai)
o Fr. Conceicao Rodrigues Institute of Technology (Mumbai)
Registration
If you would like to register and attend the event, please e-mail
imaginecup@... <mailto:imaginecup@...> with the
following details:
o Full-Name
o E-Mail ID
o Contact Phone-Number
o College/Institute/Organization
o Designation (Job-Title/Faculty/Student)
Feel free to share this with others who might be interested.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
According to a report*, Dr Tony Storey and Professor Wenfei Fan have
been awarded the British Computer Society Lovelace Medal and Roger
Needham Award respectively. Check the details at
http://www.publictechnology.net:80/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file\
\
=article&sid=15300
<http://www.publictechnology.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=a\
rticle&sid=15300>
<http://www.publictechnology.net:80/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&fil\
\
e=article&sid=15300
<http://www.publictechnology.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=a\
rticle&sid=15300> >
Dr D.C.Misra
April 21, 2008
________________________________________________________________________\
\
*Dr Tony Storey and Professor Wenfei Fan have been awarded the British
Computer Society Lovelace Medal and Roger Needham Award respectively.
Between them, the two internationally renowned figures represent the
world's leading authorities on mission critical computing and open
standards, and database research.
The Lovelace Medal and Roger Needham Award are presented annually by the
BCS in recognition of contributions made by individuals to the
development of IT.
Dr Tony Storey has been given the award in recognition of his
contribution in the advancement of information systems to mission
critical computing. He is recognised as one of the leading UK IT
industry role models and has architected and guided development of
software that underpins much of the global economy.
Dr Storey's work at IBM's UK Labs has led to the transformation and
revitalisation of CICS, the invention of MQSeries and extensions of Java
for use in the server environment. He has championed major national UK
e-Science initiatives and has encouraged IBM to embrace open software
standards, bringing together Web Services and GRID computing
technologies to deliver open mission critical computing.
Commenting on Dr Storey's achievements, David Clarke, BCS chief
executive says: "I am delighted that the BCS is able to recognise Dr
Storey with this prestigious award. The contribution he has made to the
UK's standing in IT is exceptional. He is a worldwide authority on
high-availability, continuous operations and fault tolerant computing
and his GRID computing collaboration with UK academia has shaped
industry thinking on the middleware infrastructure needed for commercial
GRID exploitation. Tony's influence on open standards continues with Web
Services, so shaping the future evolution of the IT industry. A truly
deserved recipient of the Lovelace Medal."
The Roger Needham Award, sponsored by Microsoft Research Cambridge, is
presented to Professor Wenfei Fan who is universally recognised to be a
world leading researcher in both theory and practice of databases.
The general goal of Professor Fan's work has been to bring the
efficiency and functionality of databases, which has been built up over
the past 30 years and has solid theoretical foundations, to bear on data
on the web. In the past a few years his research has contributed to the
UK's standing in this area, and in particular, to the UK's worldwide
lead in the studies of integrity constraints for XML, XML publishing,
and data quality. His work has resulted in not only a number of
fundamental results, but also several practical developments including
schema-directed XML publishing techniques, XML access control solutions,
and a method of data cleaning based on conditional dependencies, a form
of dependencies that Professor Fan invented for this purpose.
Dr Andrew Herbert, Managing Director of Microsoft Research Cambridge
says: "Professor Fan's work is truly advancing the state of the art in
database theory and practice. The purpose of the Roger Needham award is
to recognize and support talented researchers such as Professor Fan,
whose work is an example of the academic significance and technical
impact of UK based-researchers and institutions."
The BCS Lovelace Medal was established in 1998 in honour of Lady Augusta
Ada Byron, Countess of Lovelace and daughter of Lord Byron. She was the
assistant and patron of Charles Babbage and wrote programs for his
"Analytical Engine", now recognised as the first computer program.
The Medal is presented annually to individuals who, in the opinion of
BCS, have made a significant contribution to the advancement of
Information Systems.
As winner, Dr Storey will be invited to give the BCS Lovelace Lecture in
2009
The Roger Needham award, part of the British Computer Society's remit to
encourage and recognise personal endeavour in computer science, is
sponsored by Microsoft Research Cambridge and established in memory of
Microsoft's first director of research outside the US. It is awarded for
a distinguished research contribution in computer science by a UK based
researcher within ten years of their PhD. It offers a £5000 prize
together with an opportunity to give a public lecture on their work at
the Royal Society.
As winner, Professor Fan will be invited to give the Roger Needham
Lecture in November 2008.
(Source:
http://www.publictechnology.net:80/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file\
\
=article&sid=15300,
<http://www.publictechnology.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=a\
rticle&sid=15300,> April 18, 2008)
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
The nearly 4-decade old "road colouring problem" has been
solved* by an Israeli mathematician Avraham Trahtman. Although the news
item has appeared only this month, the solution of the problem appeared
in Israel Journal of Mathematics, 21 December 2007. Trahtman's paper
is available at
http://arxiv.org/pdf/0709.0099v4 <http://arxiv.org/pdf/0709.0099v4>
Comments on this problem are welcome as it has important implications
for computer science, for example, in ensuring that an email reaches the
specified destination no matter from where it originated.
Dr D.C.Misra
March 22, 2008
______________________________________________________________________
*Israeli mathematician cracks 38-year-old math riddle
Associated Press
Posted online: Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 0018 hrs
JERUSALEM, MARCH 21 : A mathematical mystery that has baffled the top
minds in the esoteric field of symbolic dynamics for nearly four decades
has recently been cracked — by a 63-year-old former security guard.
Avraham Trakhtman, a mathematician who worked as a labourer after
immigrating to Israel from Russia, has succeeded where dozens failed,
solving the elusive Road Colouring Problem.
The conjecture essentially assumes that it is possible to create a
"universal map" that would direct people to arrive at a certain
destination, at the same time, regardless of their original location.
Experts say this proposition, which seems to defy logic, could actually
have real-life applications in the fields of mapping and computer
science.
"In math circles, we talk about beautiful results — this is
beautiful and it is unexpected. Even in layman's terms it is
completely counterintuitive, but somehow it works," said Stuart
Margolis, a colleague who recruited Trakhtman to Bar Ilan University
near Tel Aviv.
He said the discovery was especially remarkable given Trakhtman's
age and background. "The first time I met him he was wearing a night
watchman's uniform," he said.
The Road Colouring Problem was first posed in 1970 by Benjamin Weiss, an
Israeli-American mathematician, and a colleague, Roy Adler, who worked
at IBM at the time.
Weiss said he believed that given a finite number of roads, one should
be able to draw up a map, coded in various colours, that would lead to a
certain destination regardless of the point of origin.
For eight years, he tried to prove his theory. Over the next 30 years,
some 100 other scientists attempted to as well. All failed, until
Trakhtman came along and, in eight short pages, jotted the solution down
in pencil last year.
Trakhtman said it took him a year to solve the problem. But that
wasn't nearly as impressive as the journey he took to get to his
current lofty position.
Originally from Yekaterinburg, Russia, Trakhtman was already an
accomplished mathematician before he came to Israel in 1992, at the age
of 48. But like many immigrants in the wave that followed the breakup of
the former Soviet Union, he too struggled to find work in the Jewish
state and was forced into stints working maintenance and security before
landing a teaching position at Bar Ilan in 1995.
The soft-spoken Trakhtman declined to discuss his arduous odyssey,
saying those were the "old days." He said he was "lucky"
to be recognized, but played down his recent achievement as a
"matter for mathematicians" and said it hasn't changed him a
bit.
"The solution is not that complicated. It's hard, but it is not
that complicated," he said in heavily accented Hebrew. "Some
people think they need to be complicated. I think they need to be
simple."
Trakhtman's solution will soon be published in the Israel Journal of
Mathematics.
Joel Friedman, a math professor at the University of British Columbia,
said probably everyone in the field of symbolic dynamics has tried to
solve the Roadmap Coloring Problem at some point, including himself. He
said people in the related disciplines of graph theory, discrete math
and theoretical computer science have also tried.
"The solution to this problem has definitely generated
excitement," he said in an e- mail message. Trakhtman's
achievement is hardly the longest open problem to be solved recently. In
1994, British mathematician Andrew Wiles solved Fermat's last
theorem, which had been open for more than 300 years. Margolis,
Trakhtman's colleague at Bar Ilan, said the solution could have many
applications.
"Say you've lost an e-mail and you want to get it back — it
would be guaranteed," he said. "Let's say you are lost in a
town you have never been in before and you have to get to a friend's
house and there are no street signs — the directions will work no
matter what."
(Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi, Saturday, March 22, 2008, p-16
http://www.indianexpress.com/story/287398.html
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Appears to have been started in February 2008. A very good initiative.
Check it at
http://eceiitroorkee.blogspot.com/
Dr D.C.Misra
March 19, 2008
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
--- In rti4ngo@yahoogroups.com, "Dhirendra Krishna"
<dhirendrakrishna@...> wrote:
Friends,
My open letter to Smt Sonia Gandhi (repeated below) was posted in 19
internet groups and must have reached over 1,80,000 members of
these groups. I have received several emails with very interesting
reactions. Generally, the credibility of politicians seems to be
very low; transparency imposed by RTI Act may help in restoring
faith in democratic governance and the political leaders.
Next general election presents an unprecedented opportunity for the
political parties to use RTI in their election campaigns. Parties in
power may use section 4(2) to disseminate information about their
achievements through the official machinery. Opposition parties can
use RTI to expose inefficiency, corruption and waste of public
money, as they can gain access to public records.
Section 26 requires the Government to initiate educational programs
on RTI at a large scale and therefore provides an opportunity for
reaching out to the masses; parties in power can use this as a part
of their election strategy. On the other hand, opposition parties
can emphasise upon the failures of Government in implementing RTI
Act in letter and spirit.
In my humble opinion, extensive use of RTI Act by political parties
in the next general election may be a major step towards educating
citizens to hold the Central and State Government accountable. If
all political parties use RTI Act in their election campaign, it
would help the voters in making an informed choice.
This is not merely a matter of short-term political gains: elections
present an opportunity for strengthening democratic institutions and
processes.
Dhirendra Krishna
.....................................................................
Dear Smt. Sonia Gandhi,
1. Sharp criticism of recent budget focuses on the inadequacy
of delivery system. Cynics doubt whether the benefits of social
programs envisaged in the budget would actually reach the poor. Like
the "India Shining Campaign" of last general elections, there is a
danger that economic sops given in recent budget may also back-fire.
Indian voter has become more discerning and can see the difference
between slogans and performance.
2. Transparency, public accountability and sincerity in
governance should be visible in the campaign for forthcoming
elections. The difference between the haves and have-nots has grown.
Glaring contrast between glittering Malls and abysmal living
standards in slums, is giving rise to social tensions. The unrest is
visible in growing naxalite influence. Pro-poor programs are needed
not only as vote-catching gimmicks; these are essential for good
governance.
3. Right To Information Act 2005 sets out a practical regime
for transparency and accountability of all public authorities.
Implementation of this law in letter and spirit is essential for
democratic governance. This provides an effective framework for
better communication between Government and citizens. Section 4(2)
of RTI Act provides for suo-moto disclosure of information required
by the citizens, so they citizen's resort to RTI is minimized.
Section 26 requires Government to educate the citizens about their
rights under the RTI Act. These aspects relate to good governance
and have not received the attention that they deserve. Effective
implementation of RTI Act should be a part of election strategy by
political parties, for forthcoming elections.
4. Potential beneficiaries should be made aware of the budget
allocations in 2009-09 in centrally sponsored schemes and the
welfare schemes initiated by the State governments, such as:
• National Rural Employment Guarantee Schemes Rs. 16,000 crores
• Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission: Rs 6,866
crores
• National Rural Health Mission: Rs 12,050 crores
• Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan: Rs.13,100 crores
• Mid-day Meal Scheme: Rs. 8,000 crores
• Rajiv Gandhi Drinking Water Mission: Rs. 7,300 crores
• Integrated Child Development Services: Rs 6,300 crores.
• Debt Relief Packages: Rs 60,000 crores
5. RTI Act enables potential beneficiaries to demand public
records to ensure that waste of public money is minimized and the
intended benefit of social welfare schemes actually reaches them. It
is in public interest that administrative hurdles that are thwarting
implementation of RTI Act should be removed.
6. Unless the beneficiaries get advantages from these massive
social welfare schemes, they would continue to be cynical about
governance. If the AAM AADMI does not trust the Government, anti-
incumbency factors may work decide the next elections, as well.
Total transparency and open governance is essential to counter the
negative perceptions. Election results have always surprised the
political analysts, as the "AAM AADMI" has their own evaluation of
performance of Government-in-power. If negative propaganda by the
opposition parties confirms their doubts and misgivings, change of
Government becomes the logical outcome.
7. I am sure that these aspects of forthcoming general
elections are engaging the attention of strategists in Congress
Party as well as other political parties. Congress has the historic
advantage of introducing Right To Information Act 2005, which
provides a quantum jump in public accountability of Governments.
This should be integrated into the election campaign in the States
where Congress party is in power. In other States where Congress is
an opposition party, RTI can be used to expose the deficiencies in
governance.
8. This would be first general election after implementation of
RTI Act 2005 and its political impact is yet to be tested. It is my
sincere hope that campaign by political parties would help in
educating the citizens about RTI Act, ushering in a new era of truly
democratic governance. This is an open letter and is being placed in
several internet groups, to generate wider discussions on the
subject.
Dhirendra Krishna IA&AS (Retired)
Moderator yahoo group rti4ngo
--- End forwarded message ---
Dear Smt. Sonia Gandhi,
1. Sharp criticism of recent budget focuses on the inadequacy
of delivery system. Cynics doubt whether the benefits of social
programs envisaged in the budget would actually reach the poor. Like
the "India Shining Campaign" of last general elections, there is a
danger that economic sops given in recent budget may also back-fire.
Indian voter has become more discerning and can see the difference
between slogans and performance.
2. Transparency, public accountability and sincerity in
governance should be visible in the campaign for forthcoming
elections. The difference between the haves and have-nots has grown.
Glaring contrast between glittering Malls and abysmal living
standards in slums, is giving rise to social tensions. The unrest is
visible in growing naxalite influence. Pro-poor programs are needed
not only as vote-catching gimmicks; these are essential for good
governance.
3. Right To Information Act 2005 sets out a practical regime
for transparency and accountability of all public authorities.
Implementation of this law in letter and spirit is essential for
democratic governance. This provides an effective framework for
better communication between Government and citizens. Section 4(2)
of RTI Act provides for suo-moto disclosure of information required
by the citizens, so they citizen's resort to RTI is minimized.
Section 26 requires Government to educate the citizens about their
rights under the RTI Act. These aspects relate to good governance
and have not received the attention that they deserve. Effective
implementation of RTI Act should be a part of election strategy by
political parties, for forthcoming elections.
4. Potential beneficiaries should be made aware of the budget
allocations in 2009-09 in centrally sponsored schemes and the
welfare schemes initiated by the State governments, such as:
• National Rural Employment Guarantee Schemes Rs. 16,000 crores
• Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission: Rs 6,866
crores
• National Rural Health Mission: Rs 12,050 crores
• Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan: Rs.13,100 crores
• Mid-day Meal Scheme: Rs. 8,000 crores
• Rajiv Gandhi Drinking Water Mission: Rs. 7,300 crores
• Integrated Child Development Services: Rs 6,300 crores.
• Debt Relief Packages: Rs 60,000 crores
5. RTI Act enables potential beneficiaries to demand public
records to ensure that waste of public money is minimized and the
intended benefit of social welfare schemes actually reaches them. It
is in public interest that administrative hurdles that are thwarting
implementation of RTI Act should be removed.
6. Unless the beneficiaries get advantages from these massive
social welfare schemes, they would continue to be cynical about
governance. If the AAM AADMI does not trust the Government, anti-
incumbency factors may work decide the next elections, as well.
Total transparency and open governance is essential to counter the
negative perceptions. Election results have always surprised the
political analysts, as the "AAM AADMI" has their own evaluation of
performance of Government-in-power. If negative propaganda by the
opposition parties confirms their doubts and misgivings, change of
Government becomes the logical outcome.
7. I am sure that these aspects of forthcoming general
elections are engaging the attention of strategists in Congress
Party as well as other political parties. Congress has the historic
advantage of introducing Right To Information Act 2005, which
provides a quantum jump in public accountability of Governments.
This should be integrated into the election campaign in the States
where Congress party is in power. In other States where Congress is
an opposition party, RTI can be used to expose the deficiencies in
governance.
8. This would be first general election after implementation of
RTI Act 2005 and its political impact is yet to be tested. It is my
sincere hope that campaign by political parties would help in
educating the citizens about RTI Act, ushering in a new era of truly
democratic governance. This is an open letter and is being placed in
several internet groups, to generate wider discussions on the
subject.
Dhirendra Krishna IA&AS (Retired)
Moderator yahoo group rti4ngo
IIM Indore Students Launch Mentorship Forum
Check it at
http://iimindore360.com/iimi/mentorship/
Dr D.C.Misra
February 4, 2008
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
IIT- Delhi has won the north zone of Bending Moments — a national
level quiz competition held to judge the smartest students in the field
of Civil Engineering, according to a news report.*
Dr D.C.Misra
January 26, 2008
________________________________________________________________________
*IIT-Delhi wins north zone quiz for civil engineers
New Delhi, January 25 IIT-Delhi has once again proved its mettle.
Defeating around 180 participating teams from five northern states,
Himanshu Gupta and Achnit Goel of IIT- Delhi today won the north zone of
Bending Moments — a national level quiz competition held to judge
the smartest students in the field of Civil Engineering.
Ankit Sharma and Tushar Jain from Ayojan School of Architecture came
first in another quiz contest "Archumen" held for architecture
students. Both the quizzes were held in IIT here. Now, both the winning
teams will be going to Bangalore in February to take part in the
national finale where they will be competing against three other teams
from south, west and east zones.
"We are looking forward to our trip to Bangalore for the finals and
we will try and give a tough fight to all the regional winners and stake
claim for the national championship," the winners said. Gupta and
Goel were chosen after five rounds of questioning and nail biting
suspense. Of the 180 teams participating in the north zone finals, six
teams made it to the finale of both the quizzes. Most were from IIT
Delhi, IIT Rourkee and Delhi College of Engineering. The winners were
given a cheque of Rs 5,000 each.
Ethos, the organisation behind the quiz, said the quiz acts as a
platform to engineering students to perform outside their colleges. In
the beginning, only Archumen quiz was held but two years back it decided
to incorporate a quiz for Civil Engineering students as well.
"We wanted to bridge the gap between the communities of architects
and civil engineers," said Gita Balakrishnan, the brain behind the
endeavour.
(Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi, Express Newsline Delhi, January
26, 2008, Saturday, p-3,
http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/IITDelhi-wins-north-zone-quiz-fo\
r-civil-engineers/265672/, accessed: January 26, 2008)
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Isha Himani Jain of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, has won the top prize and a
$100,000 college scholarship in the 2007-08 Siemens Competition in Math,
Science and Technology, the premier High School Science Competition in
the United States, for research on zebra fish bone growth that adds a
new dimension to our understanding of human bone growth and our ability
to treat bone injuries and disorders, according to a report. Isha's
project is entitled, Bone Growth in Zebra Fish Fins Occurs via Multiple
Pulses of Cell Proliferation. Check for details at
http://www.siemens-foundation.org/pool/resources_for/press/2007-08_natio\
nal_winners.pdf
and
http://www.siemens-foundation.org/en/competition/2007_winners.htm
<http://www.siemens-foundation.org/en/competition/2007_winners.htm>
Heartiest congratulations, Isha, from the Cyber Quiz Forum. Very well
done!
Dr D.C.Misra
January 5, 2007
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Papers have been invited for11th National Conference on e-Governance
(NCEG),February, 2008 Panchkula, Haryana, India, convened by the Department of
Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), Government of India in
co-operation with Government of Haryana. The theme of the conference is:
"Integrated Citizen Services – Issues and Challenges"
Last date for paper submission: January 15, 2008
Selection notification: January 20, 2008
Check for details:
http://darpg.nic.in/arpg-website/egov2008/Compendium.asp
<http://darpg.nic.in/arpg-website/egov2008/Compendium.asp>
Dr D.C.Misra
December 30, 2007
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
This is the commercial website founded by quizmaster Giri
Balasubramaniam also known as Pickbrain. Check it at
http://www.greycaps.com/.
Dr D.C.Misra
December 16, 2007
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
A unit of knowledge, so named by Google. Google proposes to launch a
project for creation of knowledge on the lines of Wikipedia under this
name. Still in beta version, this venture appears to be far more
powerful and reliable than Wikipedia (which has anonymous contributors)
and may also offer a serious challenge to Citizendium, another
collaborative encyclopedia but with named contributors currently under
development by Larry Sanger. Check for details of the "knol"
project the official google blog at
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/
Dr D.C. Misra
December 15, 2007
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Aqua Regia, an inter-school science quiz, concluded in Mumbai on
December 3, 2007 has become the largest quiz in the world and entered
the Guiness Book of World Records. Around 240,000 students participated
in the event. Check the two news items- [1] & [2]- below for details
Dr D.C.Misra
December 6, 2007
________________________________________________________________________\
__________
[1] Aqua Regia, an inter-school science quiz conducted by the Triumphant
Institute of Management Education Pvt Ltd (TIME) has just completed a
run in 25 cities across India.SSS Singhania School, Mumbai won the
national finals on December 3, while TIME gained a place in the Guiness
Book of World Records for holding the biggest quiz in the world.
(Soruce: The Indian Express, New Delhi, Friday, December 6, 2007, Delhi
Newsline, p-3)
[2] *India
<http://news.webindia123.com/news/articles/India/20071204/840900.html#>
TIME's inter-schol quiz enters Guinness Book of World Records
Hyderabad | Tuesday, Dec 4 2007 IST
The Triumphant Institute of Management Education
<http://news.webindia123.com/news/articles/India/20071204/840900.html#>
Private Ltd (TIME), which conducted the inter-school science quiz in
India 'Aqua Regia', entered the Guinness Book of World Records for
organising the biggest quiz in the world. Around 2,40,000 students had
competed in Aqua Regia, which was opened to students of all streams from
class eighth to tenth and was conducted in over 25 cities across the
country, a press release said here. Aqua Regia followed a four-tier
format - school
<http://news.webindia123.com/news/articles/India/20071204/840900.html#>
level preliminary test, city finals, regional finals and national
finals. National finals of Aqua Regia 2007 was held here yesterday. More
than 34,000 students from Hyderabad had competed at the school level
preliminary rounds of Aqua Regia and 1,586 students battled it out in
the finals. TIME had already bagged the national record for conducting
the largest quiz in India, as certified by the LIMCA Book of Records, in
November 2006 and this feat (Aqua Regia) would be featured in the LIMCA
Book of Records 2008 edition. Speaking about the success of this event
TIME Vice-President Ajay Anthony said, ''Aqua Regia was conducted in a
format that gained acceptance in the student community across India. We
have tried to promote the application side of learning science through
our national circuit of Aqua Regia and encourage students to learn
beyond school text books.'' ''Our interest was to induce a better
learning methodology replacing the 'learn-by-heart' technique that
students sometimes adopt,'' he added. The S S S Singhania School,
Mumbai, had won the national finals and took home a laptop
<http://news.webindia123.com/news/articles/India/20071204/840900.html#>
apart from a trophy and other gifts. The first runner-up team New
Greenfield (Saket), New Delhi won a desktop computer
<http://news.webindia123.com/news/articles/India/20071204/840900.html#>
each apart form a trophy and other gifts. The second runners up were
Little Flower High School, from Hyderabad who won iPods
<http://news.webindia123.com/news/articles/India/20071204/840900.html#>
and other gifts.
-- (UNI) -- 04MS25.xml
(Source:http://news.webindia123.com/news/articles/India/20071204/840900.\
html)
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Hyderabad, December 5, 2007. The team from SSS Singhania School, Mumbai,
has won the national finals of `Aqua Regia', an inter-school
quiz competition conducted by the Triumphant Institute of Management
Education Pvt Ltd (T.I.M.E) here on Monday. The teams of New Greenfield
(Saket), New Delhi, and Little Flower High School, Hyderabad, ended up
as first and second runners-up respectively, according to a news report*
in the Hindu Business Line.
(Source: *The Hindu Business Line, Thursday, December 6, 2007,
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/12/06/stories/2007120652052300.\
htm, accessed: December 7, 2007).
Dr D.C.Misra
December 7, 2007
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Event:
Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG),
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Government of
India has been very successfully organizing a National Conference on
E-governance (NCEG) every year. Many serving civil servants and some
retired civil servants like me always look forward to this annual event.
The DARPG needs to be congratulated for organising the next conference
early next year.
The XIth National Conference on e-Governance will be held on
February 7-8, 2008 in Panchkula, Haryana
in co-operation with the Department of Information Technology,
Government of India and Government of Haryana, according to an
announcement.
The theme of the conference is:
Integrated Citizen Services – Issues and Challenges.
For details, check the website:
http://darpg.nic.in/arpg-website/egov_conf.htm
--Dr D.C.Misra
November 10, 2007
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
--- In rti4ngo@yahoogroups.com, Dhirendra Krishna
<dhirendrakrishna@...> wrote:
Dear Shri Habibullah,
I have not been able to find specific mention of implementation of
RTI in the eGovernance plans of GOI. You may be surprised that in
internet forums regarding eGovernance, there was recently exchange
of emails whether there is any link between eGovernance and RTI
Act. There is a lack of clarity, on this subject.
It would have been better if (i) Imlementations of RTI Act is
prominently stated as one of the objectives of eGovernance, (ii)
Persons working on eGovernance projects and providing content to web
site of public authorities are aware of the legal requirement of RTI
Act and (iii) Training program of such personnel has focus on
administrative advantages of transparency and decentralised public
accountability arising from RTI Act and thereby lead to positive
approach towards RTIAct.
In the absence of these basic administrative measures, it is
likely that eGovernance projects may not result in effective
implementation of RTI Act. Two years have passed, since RTI Act was
operationalised.. If any eGovernance project has led to
implementation of RTI Act, it should be given due publicity by
Central and State Governments, to restore confidence in their
sincerity towards transparency and enhanced public accountability.
Dhirendra Krishna
...................................................................
..........................................................
whabibullah@... wrote:
Computerisation falls under the e-governance plan of DoAR &PG
Wajahat
> --- In rti4ngo@yahoogroups.com, "Dhirendra Krishna"
> wrote:
>
> Friends,
>
> The message placed below highlights the recent circulars issued by
> DOPT. It is unfortunate that DOPT continues to overlook the most
> significant aspects of RTI Act: Sections 4(1)(a), 4(2) and 25.
> Moreover there is no mention of financial outlay for implementation
> of RTI Act; no executive action plan can get executed without
> dedicated budget provisions.
>
> Section 4(1)(a) makes it obligatory to computerise records and make
> them accessable to public.
>
> Section 4(2) envisages suo moto disclosure of information required
> by the citizens to minimise their resort to RTI Act.
>
> Section 25 talks of educational programs, to enable citizens to use
> the RTI Act.
>
> Implementation of aforesaid programs needs dedicated budget
> allocations. DOPT is displaying their blatant lack of sincerity
> towards implementation of RTI act by ignoring these aspects.
>
> Dhirendra Krishna
> ................................................................
>
> Dear All
> I came across a couple of circulars issued by the Ministry of
> Personnel and Administrative Reforms qiute recently for
> implementation of various provisions of RTI Act. I am sorry for
> posting these circulars again, if these circulars have already been
> discussed.There are six new circulars, that I came across, on the
> DoPT's RTI website and these can be found on following link:
> http://righttoinfor mation.gov. in/Circulars/ CirIndex. htm.
>
> First circular is related to foreign visits of State Information
> Commissioners. This circular dated 05th October 2007 clarifies that
> the approval of DoPT is not necessary for the foreign visits of
> State Chief Information Commission and other State Information
> Commission. Only the approval of the state Governor and the
> requisite clearance of the Ministry of Home affairs and Ministry of
> Foreign affairs is necessary. This circular is available on
> following link:
> http://righttoinfor mation.gov. in/Circulars/ 4_16_2007( IR).pdf
>
> Second circular is a bad circular. It is an explanation of section
8
> (1) (j) to deny the disclosure of the Annual Confidential Report
> (ACR) under the RTI Act. ACR, as per this circular, is a
> confidential document and the Official Secrets Act 1923 applies on
> it. RTI Act, as the circular states, does not supersede the
Official
> Secrets Act completely. The disclosure of the ACR is an unwarranted
> invasion in the privacy of the officer, whose character, capability
> and other attributes are recorded in the ACR. Therefore, the PIO
> should be very careful and the disclosure of the ACRs should be
done
> only after the approval of the competent authority only on the
> ground that the disclosure has a larger public interest, the
> circular says. This circular has been issued after the consultation
> of the Ministry of Law and Company Affairs. This circular can be
> seen on the website at the following link:
> http://righttoinfor mation.gov. in/Circulars/ 10_20_2006_ IR.pdf
>
> Third circular id related to the publication and updation of the
> records by the public authorities under section 4 of the RTI Act.
> The Circular mandates the Public Authorities, who have not yet
> complied with section 4 of the RTI Act to publish the details at
the
> earliest and to update it every year thereafter. The circular can
be
> seen on the following link:
> http://righttoinfor mation.gov. in/Circulars/ 1_18_2007_ IR.pdf
>
> Fourth circular is a very important one. This underlines the
problem
> of disposal of appeals by the First Appellate Authority. The AA,
> while disposing the appeals, they do not act judiciously and they
> also express the agreement with the PIO. They also take more time
to
> dispose the appeal off. Further there are cases, where the PIO does
> not comply with the orders of the AA. DoPT has suggested to dispose
> of the appeal within 30 days by the AA and in an exceptional case,
> in not more than 45 days- reason of which should be recorded in the
> decision. Further, it has also suggested that as the action of the
> AA is a quasi judicial one, it should be ensured that the justice
> is not only done, but it should appear to have been done. For the
> implementation of the orders of the AA, the circular suggests that
> the AA should be an officer higher to the rank of PIO and the AA
> should also take the assistance of the even higher officer in the
> department for implementation of its order, in case the PIO does
not
> obey his orders. The circular is available on following link:
> http://righttoinfor mation.gov. in/Circulars/ 10_23_2007_ IR.pdf
>
> Fifth circular is based on the recommendation of the first report
of
> the Second Administrative Reforms Commission and it directs all
> Central Government offices to prepare an inventory of the Public
> Authorities under RTI Act and such an inventory is required to be
> posted on the website www.rit.gov. in. This circular also requires
> the ministry to prepare the list of NGOs which take grant from the
> government and are covered under the definition of the "Public
> Authority". This circular is available on the following link:
> http://righttoinfor mation.gov. in/Circulars/ 1_12_2007_ IR.pdf
>
> The last circular is also a good one. It is related to non
> implementation of provisions of RTI Act and it directs the Public
> Authorities to appoint immediately the PIOs and APIOs in the
> department, if the same has not been done. It also directs them to
> accept the fees through Postal Orders and other means of payment of
> fees as per the Fee Rules under RTI Act. The Drafts/ Postal Orders
> payable to the Accounts Officer of the concerned department now can
> not be denied by these Public Authorities as the Circular directs
> them to ensure that the instruments payable to such account are
> accepted. It also directs them not to reject the application under
> RTI Act on the ground that it is not in the format. The circular
can
> be seen on following link:
> http://righttoinfor mation.gov. in/Circulars/ 1_2_2007_ IR.pdf
>
> Thanking you,
>
> DIvyaJyoti Jaipuriar
> Advocate
> Public Cause Research Foundation
> (A Parivartan Initiative)
> Delhi
>
> --
> DivyaJyoti Jaipuriar, Advocate
> www.parivartan. com
> jaipuriar@gmail. com
> +91 9868002365
> Visit my blogs also:
> http://jaipuriar. blogspot. com
> http://jaipuriar. blog.com
>
> --- End forwarded message ---
>
>
>
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this month.
--- End forwarded message ---
happy diwali to you all from...
POOJA & Rishi
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