India will need 800 more universities and 35000 new colleges by 2020. This estimate has been projected by Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal today during an interaction with media in New Delhi. He said that government could not do this alone so the sector is being opened for private sectors and foreign players.

However, he said that foreign universities could not repatriate money back to their countries and they would have to invest money in India. It is notable that the cabinet has recently given nod to the bill related to the foreign educational institutions in India.

The Staff Section Commission has announced the final result of Tax Assistant (Income Tax & Central Excise) Examination 2009 held on 13th December, 2009 except Andhra Pradesh and one centre in Allahabad (UP) and Tax Assistant (Income Tax & Central Excise) where re-examination-2009, was held on 7th February, 2010. (840 candidates have been recommended for appointment to the post of Tax Assistant (Income Tax & Central Excise).
Source: PIB

Delhi’s Indraprastha University will start functioning at Dwarka from the next academic session. Delhi’s Finance Minister A K Walia today informed Delhi Assembly during his budget speech. “The construction of campus of GGSIP University at Dwarka is almost complete and University will start functioning from the new campus from next academic session”, Dr. Walia said in his budget speech.
He also said that the city government has decided to allow second shift in 16 institutions with the capacity of 2220 in 34 higher education/technical education courses. However, the concerned institution will deposit 25% of the second session in the Delhi Higher Education Aid Trust.
The Finance Minister has allocated 10 percent budget (Rs.1122 crore) for Education Sector.
However, heavy taxes have been proposed on the several items on the name of Commonwealth Games preparations and lack of funds.

Shivaji Sarkar is head of Journalism department at Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), India’s pioneer institution in terms of mass communication and journalism. He is also known for his ecomomic journalism among his friends. In ‘Talk of the Week’ he shared his view with fachcha.com regarding journalism in pre-recession era and post recession era, new trends in the mass communication and so on. Exceprts:

Fachcha.com: How would you define journalism in pre-recession and post-recession period?
S. Sarkar: At first, I do not agree that there has been any kind of recession in India. Corporate sector has earned over Rupees 60,000 crore profit. There is surge in the corporate taxes. Industry has registered a huge profit. Revenue collection from corporate tax and other related tax have increased in the last financial year. Only, the collection from personal Income Tax has reduced by about 14 %. It simply indicates that while corporate and industry sectors have done better; common persons have been deprived from their job on the name of recession. Jobs have been frozen, salary cuts announced and implemented. Media organization too has taken huge benefit on the name of it.
On the other side government did not take any action in this regard. It did not make any climate which could keep journalists away from exploitation. A kind of free hand was given to the media organizations. It was government’s job to protect journalists and common employees from their exploitation and create a better environment for them.

fachcha.com: But what impact you see on Journalism overall due to recession?
S.Sarkar: See, Corporate sector also deprived media from their earnings. On one hand they cut down their advertisement expenditure and expanses related to social responsibilities, on the other hand they also sacked a large number of employees on the name of recession. Not all but some of the media houses have been hit by it. But no media house has lost money as such. Whatever loss they have made due to it they saved money it by reducing their employees or say downsizing. It was mere loss of employee and not organizations.

fachcha.com: It there any Change due to recession in the nature of journalism?
S. Sarkar: The scene has definitely changed. We can see more influence of corporate sector in every field of journalism. Pattern of news has changed. Criticism of government’s work, which was an important job of journalism, is now vanishing. But some good changes have also come, like horizon of coverage has increased. Many new fields come in the sphare of journalism like property, fashion, auto, lifestyle and so many others. But in-depth coverage has also been decreased. Investment on research work and news coverage too has reduced. Some of the newspapers like Indian Express, Hindu are doing so but most of the newspapers are not doing so.
Public relation activities have increased on the name of journalism. It was not so that there was no public relation activity earlier but now PR is dictating that what should be covered and what should not.

fachcha.com:What would you say about paid news?
S. Sarkar: It will continue directly or indirectly even in post recession era (if you believe that there was any recession). Even newspapers and news channels have started new phenomena that they now do campaigns. There is so called ‘campaign’ recently for Pakistan’s peace process. A prominent channel and a particular house started campaign. The newspaper given eight page on the daily basis while the house is known to count every inch for its commercial uses. We need to probe that who has been paying for it. Even government should probe it through its intelligence agencies that who has paid for it.

fachcha.com: Would you like name it?
S. Sarkar: There is no need to name it. It is obvious. The house is not known for charity.

fachcha.com: But it could be need of hour? The newspaper may be following its editorial policy only.
S. Sarkar: I’m not ready to buy it. There are so many pages for opinions. Editorials, Editorial pages, op-ed or opinion pages are there but campaign is completely different thing.

fachcha.com: What about regulations on the media organizations?
S. Sarkar: The situation of regulation is poor. We have very poor regulatory authority as Press Council of India. Owners of Newspaper organizations have made it a toothless organization. However, it is considered as an esteemed organization throughout the world. While the regulatory bodies in other countries are in much better position. UK Press Commission is a powerful regulatory body. Here we have PCI but it is limited to newspapers only. There is no regulation mechanism for TV channels. They talk about self regulation whenever government talks about regulation. But where is self-regulation. You see the type of content being provided on the news channels on the name of news.

fachcha.com: But imposing a regulatory authority is a kind of restriction on freedom of media?
S. Sarkar: No, Having an independent regulatory authority is in the interest of democracy. It does not mean that you mess up everything on the name of regulation. Government should empower Press Council of India for regulation of TV channels too and extend its purview to other forms of media.

fachcha.com: As a head of Journalism department of India’s best institution, Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) what would you say about future of media?
S. Sarkar: India is a vast country. As literacy and education is growing among the people will need media both traditional and new media. India has very good scope for newspapers, tv channels, internet, radio and other forms of media.

ITO Chungi, Delhi’s one of the busiest area, will be developed as a green belt. Over 4000 saplings will be planted in the different pockets of the area. Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit announced it today in a function to celebrate World Forestry Day.

A large number of school students and Delhi’s Finance Minister A K Walia was also present on the occasion of the greening project of 36 acre land. Dikshit said that ITO Chungi is being developed as green area on the lines of AIIMS Flyover. Greenery will be developed in four pockets to present a pleasing and soothing view to the commuters and residents of nearby localities. She described this intersection as an important place with a huge quantum of traffic across the day. The green cover of Delhi has increased substantially from 22 sq kilometer from 1993 to 300 sq kilometer 2007. She further stated that Delhi is the only Metro City in the world where 32 city forests have been successfully developed.

By fachcha.com

How did you get your dress for convocation at DU? The buzz-word has finally over today with the completion of 87th annual convocation. For last one week was hectic for the students, especially for PhD students who had to receive their degree during the convocation.
Getting registered and to get an admission slip were major and formal concern for these students. But most of the students were concerned over their dress code and to get their once in a lifetime photograph.
“It is a historical opportunity for us which appears in once or twice in anybody’s life. In such a situation dress code, photo matter a great for us”, says a PhD student of Delhi School of Economics, who came to participate in the convocation.

In the wake of demand and business in this regard Pioneer and University Tailors and Drapers started their stalls at Art faculty for last four days. “We have started our stalls so that students can borrow the dress easily, says a staff of University Tailors and Drapers. According to him very few buy or get new dress for the occasion most of the students borrow it.
However, situation in photography is little bit different. “People want their photo as a lifetime memory. They could not capture it themselves or through their friends as mobile, camera etc. were not allowed inside the Old Vice Regal Lodge of Delhi University”, says Kamal, official photographer for the occasion. But there is huge wastage too as we have to print all the snaps whether it is useful or not.
Some of the students contact us for bigger and better pictures too, he says adding that but there number is few.

Tall claim of DU falls flat
Delhi University administration, who had made a tall claim that the live telecast of 87th convocation will be available on DU’s website for other students, viewers, has fallen flat today as the web-cast could not be uploaded till late evening. Students and their relatives have been disappointed with the mismanagement of the university in the regard.

Students of over 14 batches of Post Graduate Journalism Courses today sat together and discussed various issues regarding career, journalism and Alma meter at SP Jain Institute of Management of South Campus, Delhi University. The meet attended by several mediapersons, teachers and management professionals and government officials.

Students of the ongoing courses of PG Journalism also raised demand of permanent faculty from the field of journalism rather than traditional Hindi stream. They had the view that Hindi teachers have been teaching the course for a long time as a guest faculty. This is mere formality and also affect career of student when they face tough market situation. As a guest faculty, teachers do not take students and their work seriously. Students also demanded to convert two-year Diploma course into Master degree. “It is a sheer exploitation of students, their time and career as nowhere two-year diploma is in practice. After spending our precious two year we are unable to do further study due to apathetic and irresponsible attitude of Hindi department”, said a student of 2001-2003 batch.