Year 2009 has been unique for the national capital Delhi in terms of education prestigious Netaji Subhash Institute of Technology (NSIT) elevated as National Institute of Technology (NIT) category to cater the need to quality technical education on one hand Delhi College of Engineering became Delhi Technological University (DTU) on the other hand.

Two other universities, Ambedkar University and National Law University were already been established in 2008. Government schools performed much better than the much- hyped Public schools, Central Schools and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya. Students of government schools have achieved 124 merit certificates in senior secondary examinations.

In a major step the HRD ministry decided to abolish the 10th board examination and made it optional. Establishment of 16 new central universities, decision to allow evening polytechnics and engineering college were major steps this year.

The Union government has given approval for enhanced pay scales of faculty of Autonomous Institutions of Medical Institutions under the Department of Health and Family Welfare. 2420 faculty members will be benefitted by the decision, taken by the Union Cabinet, according to Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Faculty members of Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal and LGBRIHM, Tezpur will get UGC pay scale. The revised pay scale will be effective from the 1st January 2006.

Mushrooming unauthorized colonies, unplanned growth of the city and problem of resettlement and several other challenges are associated with the planning and development of a Mega City. Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today released a book ‘Challenges for a Mega City’ written by former Principal Commissioner of Delhi Development Authority and city planner U S Jolly.

The book has tried to explore and examine opportunities and challenges of the Mega city. These include preservation of Yamuna, management of urban land and infrastructure and several others. Several city planners and other personalities were present on the occasion.

The annual World University Ranking, published by the Times Higher Education (THE) may see a major change in 2010 as the magazine is working on new methodology to make its ranking more transparent and reliable. The methodology of the Ranking, which has included just two institutions from India IIT (Delhi) and IIIT (Mumbai), is being redesigned with help of Thomson Reuters.

“We have decided to end our relationship with QS”, says THE describing its future plan about the World University Ranking in 2010. QS had been a partner of the project since 2004. It is also conducting a survey for its new design. It has asked its readers whether English Universities were getting unfair advantage in the ranking through the survey. The proposed methodology is yet to be finalized but THE and Thomson Reuters trying to get opinion of the readers and institutions that financial condition and funding pattern of an institution should be included in the ranking or not.

It is notable that patent, research activities, research awards, faculty, student-teacher ratio, administration, staffs and their perception have been important factors in the ranking.

After Sri Aurobindo Ashram and central university like Pondicherry University the southern coastal state Pondicherry may soon get another institution of international standard. Noted Tennis player Leander Paes wants to set up a state-of-art sports training institute in the state. The ace player has recently met the V. Vaithilingam, Chief Minister of the state to discuss the plan.

Though Paes’ plan to set up ‘Sports Science-cum-Medicine and Training Institute’ is at the primary stage but the state administration is happy on Paes’ initiative. The Chief Minister has assured all kind of support in this regard as the institute will attract international attention. Paes has planned to provide systematic training to the budding Tennis players of the country through the institute.