IGNOU has added more programmes under the scheme of On-Demand Examination scheme. The scheme of On-Demand Examination has been extended to all courses of Bachelor Preparatory Programme (BPP), all elective courses of Bachelor in Tourism Studies (BTS), three foundation courses (FST, FEG-1, FEG-2) of Bachelors Degree Programme (BDP) and eight Application Oriented Courses (AMK-1, AOM-01, AED-01, ASP-001, CTE-03, CTE-04, CTE-05 and AEC-01) of BDP.

The facility of On-Demand Examination is also available in all courses of Certificate in Guidance (CIG), Certificate in Teaching of English (CTE), Certificate in Organic Farming (COF), Certificate in AIDS and Family Education (CAFÉ), Diploma in AIDS and Family Education (DAFE), Certificate in Tourism Studies (CTS), Diploma in Tourism Studies (DTS). Many more programmes are to be added under this scheme very soon.

IGNOU started a flexible and learner friendly scheme of examination, called “On – Demand Examination” nearly a year ago. In addition to the six monthly term end examination in all its courses, presently, IGNOU is providing the facility of On Demand Examination to its students in 54 courses covering 10 programmes.

Chandan Sharma

Guess, where did Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit get brilliant ideas? During her office of the Chief Minister for over 11 years or in the her alma meter’s cafeteria?

Believe or not but the Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit believes that it was Miranda House’s cafeteria where she used to get brilliant ideas during sip of coffee and chatting with friends. It is another matter that her tenure in the college was much less than that of the Chief Minister’s office. The frank admission came during her nostalgic visit during the founder day of her college, Miranda House at Delhi University. Addressing and interacting with students of the Miranda House the Chief Minister shared her delicate memories of colleges with students during late sixties that how she used to enjoy ice-cream, spicy shakarkand (sweet potato) and so on.

Girl of the Miranda House too enjoyed the moment and kept on whistling a lot during the Chief Minister’s address to show their support and joy to the Chief Minister. She said that at first she is a Mirandian, Chief Minister later on.
The Chief Minister also used the moment to put some demand in favour of woman by saying that time has come to respect the work of women by quantifying the out put in terms of monetary gain.

Stressing upon the fact that more than 75% of work was done by women but it goes unrecognized and unacknowledged because of the fact that most of it is in the unorganized category. Giving detail about the role of a woman in the family, the society and their contribution to productive activities she said that these should be recognized and respected among the society.

Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan has emphasized to sensitize law students about social, economic and political realities of the country and world.

“While a law degree does enable a person to enroll as an advocate, the curriculum must also take into consideration the broader mandates of sensitizing students about social, economic and political realities. Legal education must promote a strong interdisciplinary agenda; disciplines such as Political Science, Sociology, Economics, Literature and Philosophy enrich our understanding of the evolution of the laws and helps us engineer reforms for the future”, Justice Balakrishanan said in valedictory function of National Moot Court Competition at Amity Law School, Noida.
Justice Balakrishnan also said t that best talents are not coming in the field of legal education as more lucrative career options are available these days for a law graduate.

“We should devise methods to attract some of the best talent to the teaching line, after all any law college needs highly qualified and motivated faculty members to train the students in the careers in the bar and the judiciary…”, He said.

National Law University, Jodhpur won the Rolling Trophy and cash prize. NALSAR, Hyderabad emerged as Runner-Up team. The Best Memorial Award went to the team of NALSAR, Hyderabad. Niharika from NALSAR, Hyderabad was declared the Best Speaker. Best Researcher Award was lifted by Prabhat Kumar from NALSAR, Hyderabad

The semi-finals of the Moot Court were contested between four teams NALSAR, Hyderabad; IIT , Khadagpur; Gandhinagar National Law College and National Law College, Jodhpur out of which NALSAR, Hyderabad.

Noted lawyer and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Arun Jaitley and Chancellor of the Amity University Ashok K. Chauhan were also present on the occasion and shared their views.
Over 28 colleges and institutes across India participated in the competition including NALSAR, Hyderabad ; Government Law College, Mumbai; NLIU, Bhopal; University Law College, Bangalore and GGSIP University.

IGNOU’s Vice-Chancellor VN Rajasekharan Pillai has praised UK Open University. Citing its example Pillai has said that IGNOU too would give emphasis on quality research. “Many Open Universities in the world, like the UK Open University, the Open University of Netherlands and Hong Kong Open University support extensive doctoral and post-doctoral research. They have excellent research portfolios and vibrant research communities which are enhanced through collaborations with top-ranking research institutions worldwide”, said Pillai in a release issued by IGNOU. However, he has not given any roadmap for Indian model for research through distance education.

However, he has said that strict enforcement of quality criteria, following international benchmarks in research, is the only way to curb these undesirable practices. He further added that, ”We cannot take a stand that the Open University and Distance Education system will not be able to provide the facilities and ambience for High quality research. State-of –the –art research laboraties, even in sophisticated science and technology areas, are available in the Open University system”.

International festival of Yoga, Culture and Spirituality will be organized at Dev Sanskriti Vishvvidyalay, amid the ongoing season of Mahakumbh. The festival will be organized from 8th March to 13th March. The six-day festival will witness several religious and spiritual leaders during at the Kumbhnagari Haridwar. These include Sri Sri Ravishankar, Swami Satyamitranand of Bhartmata Mandir, Swami Mangaltirth and several other scientists and Yoga Gurus. Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Ramesh Pokhariyal, Nishank too will participate in the festival.

Interacting with media today at university campus at Haridwar, Dr. Pranab Pandya, Chancellor of Dev Sanskriti Vishvidyalaya said that the festival will throw light on the scientific aspect and importance of Yoga, Indian culture and spirituality. This will also an occasion to learn about Indian contribution of scientific culture and spirituality to the world humanity. Madan Kaushik, Tourism Minister of Uttarakhand was also present on the occasion. He said that the state government would provide all kind of help in this regard. The festival is being organized jointly by Dev Sanskriti Vishvvidyalaya and Uttarakhand government.