Category education

“Receiving the ISO 9001:2015 certification is an important organisational milestone for NIIT Foundation. It reflects the rigour of our internal processes and our focus on delivering high-quality, consistent, and scalable skilling interventions. As we work across diverse geographies and communities, strong quality systems enable us to remain accountable to learners, partners, and the larger development ecosystem.”

Koncept Global Books, a modern educational venture dedicated to providing holistic learning support to the next generation, today announced the launch of its new middle-school catalogue, Leapstone, for students in Classes 6–8. Building on the 25-year publishing legacy of Arihant Publications, the initiative aims to redefine how students learn, think, and apply knowledge in the 21st century.

Koncept Global Books was established to address the growing need for textbooks that go beyond academic content and develop broader competencies essential for today’s rapidly evolving world. With a shift in education towards critical thinking, problem-solving, emotional intelligence, and real-world application, traditional textbooks often fall short. Leapstone bridges this gap by offering learning resources that are India-centric yet globally aligned, ensuring students develop strong cultural roots while cultivating a future-ready mindset.

As the first milestone of its ambitious Project 21 Agenda, Koncept Global Books has launched a comprehensive catalogue of 45 titles across 15 series for Classes 6, 7, and 8. The Leapstone series represents a fundamental shift from conventional textbooks. While anchored in India’s cultural, social, and educational context, the content integrates a global outlook, preparing students for opportunities on both national and international platforms. The series emphasizes conceptual clarity, critical thinking, experiential learning, and emotional development, aligning closely with the spirit of NEP 2020 and NCF 2023.

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Atishay Jain, Managing Partner, Koncept Global Books, said:

“The ‘Project 21 Agenda’ is about transforming education from teaching ‘what to think’ to ‘how to think.’ We aim to nurture a generation of innovators and leaders who will shape the world rather than simply participate in it.”

The Leapstone series has been designed to support diverse school environments and student capabilities, ensuring accessibility and meaningful impact across different learning levels. By integrating inquiry-based activities, real-world tasks, and value-based learning, the books empower students to understand, question, apply, and internalize knowledge, moving beyond rote memorization.

The Leapstone series from Koncept Global Books is now available for schools and parents across India.

Delhi NCR, Jan 12: The 61st edition of Shankar’s On-the-Spot Painting Competition 2026 was successfully held, reaffirming its legacy as one of India’s most prestigious and enduring children’s art events. With participation from over 5,000 children aged 5 to 16 years, the competition once again provided a vibrant platform for young artists to showcase their imagination, originality, and artistic talent.

Commenting on the significance of the competition, Navin Menon, Editor Publications, Children’s Book Trust, said:

“Shankar’s On-the-Spot Painting Competition has always championed the free and fearless expression of a child’s imagination. In today’s screen-driven world, this initiative is more relevant than ever, giving children an opportunity to disconnect from digital distractions and reconnect with their inner creativity. Seeing thousands of young minds absorbed in art reaffirms that creativity remains essential to emotional and intellectual growth.”

Since its inception in 1952, the competition has evolved into a cultural institution, encouraging creativity, self-expression, and artistic discipline across generations. The 2026 edition continued this rich tradition while addressing contemporary challenges faced by children today.

A key highlight of this year’s edition was its strong focus on digital detox. In an era dominated by screens and gadgets, participants were given three uninterrupted hours to immerse themselves in colors, ideas, and hands-on artistic expression. This initiative emphasized the importance of balancing technology with creative and mindful activities, fostering holistic child development.

The event also featured enthusiastic participation from several NGOs across Delhi NCR, including Vidya Foundation, Aarohan Foundation, and Katha Foundation, enabling children from diverse backgrounds to showcase their talent on a shared platform. This inclusivity reinforced the competition’s commitment to equal opportunity and nurturing creativity beyond social and economic boundaries.

The presence of esteemed trustees, Yamuna Shankar and Robinder Sachdev, added further significance to the occasion. Their interactions with participants, educators, and organizers highlighted the enduring vision behind the competition and its dedication to fostering creativity among young minds.

The 61st Shankar’s On-the-Spot Painting Competition 2026 stood as a powerful reminder that art is a timeless medium of expression. By blending tradition with contemporary relevance, the event celebrated artistic excellence while promoting mental well-being, focus, and imagination. As the competition continues its journey that began in 1952, it remains committed to inspiring future generations to think creatively, paint fearlessly, and grow beyond screens through the power of art.

Gurugram, Jan 12: KIIT World School, Sohna Road, recently hosted a CBSE Capacity Building Programme (CBP) workshop focused on Art Integration, designed to equip educators with innovative strategies to make classroom learning more engaging, creative, and effective.

The workshop was led by CBSE Resource Persons Rama Shankar and Kalyani Voleti, both seasoned educators with extensive experience in teacher training. Kalyani Voleti, a specialist in Visual Arts Education, shared practical insights on embedding artistic approaches across subjects to enhance conceptual understanding and foster deeper learning.

Teachers actively participated in experiential activities, including role-playing exercises based on the Preamble of the Constitution and discussions aligned with the Multiple Intelligences theory. These hands-on sessions demonstrated how art can be seamlessly integrated into diverse disciplines, enabling students to connect better with academic concepts.

The workshop also emphasized the role of art-based learning in nurturing ethics, values, and emotional intelligence. Educators were encouraged to express ideas through acting, poetry, and visual storytelling, highlighting how every creative medium conveys meaningful narratives. Strategies to develop critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication skills—key 21st-century competencies—were also discussed for immediate classroom implementation.

Speaking on the occasion, Principal Neelima Kamrah said,

“Art integration has become an essential component of modern education. It not only nurtures creativity but also enables students to develop a deeper and more meaningful understanding of academic subjects.”

Kochi, Jan 12: IIT Bombay is pleased to announce the launch of the Certificate in Generative AI, offered by the Technocraft Centre for Applied Artificial Intelligence. Delivered in collaboration with Great Learning as the edtech partner, this five-month, online, hands-on certificate programme is scheduled to commence in 2026, with registrations now open.

Designed and delivered by IIT Bombay faculty, the certificate features an industry-aligned curriculum that equips professionals with the skills to design, adapt, and deploy Generative AI (GenAI) applications. The programme follows a practical, LLM-first approach across five modules, taking learners from the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and large language models to prompt design, model adaptation using proprietary data, and the development of copilot tools and multi-step workflows.

The programme culminates in the deployment and security of GenAI solutions, reinforced through practical projects that ensure learners gain hands-on experience in building scalable, real-world AI applications.

Upon successful completion, participants will be awarded a Certificate of Completion from IIT Bombay, recognising their proficiency in building and deploying reliable GenAI applications.

Talking about the collaboration, Prof Manjesh K. Hanawal from IIT Bombay said,

“Generative AI marks one of the most significant technological shifts of our time, reshaping how ideas are created, knowledge is built, and work is organised. As the focus moves from curiosity to capability, it’s vital that professionals understand and apply this technology responsibly and effectively. This certificate course underscores IIT Bombay’s commitment to enhance conceptual understanding with practical implementation by imparting learning from foundational AI to the emergence and adoption of GenAI. It also equips learners to not just use AI tools, but to understand which Gen AI model is best suited for their use cases and be able to design and deploy reliable GenAI solutions. Learners will reinvent how they looked at AI and Gen AI and emerge more confident in handling AI driven decision making, productivity enhancements and building innovative solutions across industries.”

The certificate programme is tailored for software engineers, data scientists, analysts, product owners, technology professionals, product managers, STEM graduates, and GenAI enthusiasts who seek to build and operate GenAI systems, integrate them into workflows, and unlock new career opportunities.

Speaking about the Certificate, Mohan Lakhamraju, Founder and CEO, Great Learning, said,

“Generative AI has evolved from a niche technology to a core professional skill, and those who can design and apply these systems responsibly will drive the next wave of innovation and business impact. This program helps professionals move beyond experimentation to truly understand how GenAI works, what it can achieve, and how to apply it meaningfully to real-world challenges. This program deepens our collaboration with IIT Bombay, reflecting our shared commitment to empowering the next generation of AI talent.”

Candidates holding a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognised university, with a minimum aggregate of 50% or equivalent CGPA, are eligible to register for the programme.

New Delhi,  Jan 9: Mahindra University  and The Australian National University  have established an articulation agreement creating an international pathway for Indian undergraduate engineering students. Under this agreement, students can complete the first two years of their undergraduate study at Mahindra University in Hyderabad before transferring to ANU in Canberra for their final two years, graduating with an internationally recognised degree from Australia’s leading university.

The partnership covers seven high-demand engineering disciplines, including artificial intelligence, computer science and engineering, mechatronics, electronics and communication, electronics and computer engineering, mechanical engineering, and nanotechnology.

Yajulu Medury, Vice Chancellor, Mahindra University said,

“The Australian National University’s strong research heritage and global reputation align closely with Mahindra University’s academic vision. This collaboration provides a high-quality international pathway for our students while further strengthening academic and research engagement. The MoU strengthens Mahindra University’s foundation of interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge exchange, and creates long-term value for both students and faculty.”

“This partnership facilitates opportunities for high-achieving students to transition into various ANU engineering majors built on a multidisciplinary ‘systems engineering’ approach. It reflects our shared commitment to meaningful international academic engagement and collaboration. ANU strengths in natural sciences and engineering disciplines create a strong complementarity with Mahindra University’s interdisciplinary approach to education. We look forward to working closely with Mahindra University through sustained collaboration across education and research,” said Siva Karuturi, Professor and Associate Director (International), School of Engineering, College of System and Society, Australian National University.

Visalakshi Talakokula, Associate Dean of École Centrale School of Engineering, Mahindra University said 

“The partnership has been designed to provide academic continuity, quality assurance and clear progression for students aspiring to gain international exposure while completing a globally recognised engineering degree”.

Under the partnership, the progress of student will be monitored annually, with an initial intake capped at 20 students per year, to ensure academic rigour and student outcomes. The agreement also lays the foundation for broader academic engagement, including faculty interaction, curriculum alignment and future research collaboration.

Bengaluru, Jan 9: BGS Bloomfield School hosted its grand Annual Day 2026, an evening of culture, creativity, and celebration, bringing together students from Nursery to Grade 10 for a vibrant showcase of talent. The event, held on the school campus, reflected BGS Bloomfield’s commitment to holistic education and character-building through arts, academics, and co-curricular excellence.

The event was graced by Sri P.C. Mohan, Member of Parliament, Bangalore Central Parliamentary Constituency, as the Chief Guest, and Sri Gangavathi Pranesh, renowned Kannada stand-up comedian, as the Guest of Honour. Their presence added inspiration and enthusiasm to the celebration, encouraging students to pursue their goals with confidence and dedication.

The Annual Day opened with a ceremonial lamp lighting, followed by a series of captivating cultural performances. Students presented classical dance, theatre, musical ensembles, and thematic performances focusing on unity, gratitude, and nation-building. Each segment reflected months of hard work and the nurturing guidance of the school’s faculty.

Speaking at the event, Dr. B. Gurappa Naidu, Chairman, BGS Bloomfield , expressed immense pride in the students’ achievements.

“Annual Day is a reflection of our students’ creativity, discipline, and teamwork. At BGS Bloomfield, we believe in nurturing every child’s potential by providing a balanced environment that encourages academic excellence along with cultural enrichment. Today’s performances stand as a testament to the dedication of our students, teachers, and parents ”

Chief Guest Sri P.C. Mohan applauded the school for its holistic approach to education.

“It is inspiring to see such young minds display confidence, discipline, and creativity on stage. Schools like BGS Bloomfield play a crucial role in shaping responsible and empowered citizens for the future. I congratulate the management, teachers, and students for presenting an impressive Annual Day celebration, ” he said.

Guest of  Sri Gangavathi Pranesh added a touch of humour and appreciation, praising the students for their heartfelt performances and the school for its dedicated efforts toward value-based education.

The event concluded with a heartfelt vote of thanks, acknowledging the contributions of teachers, parents, and partners in enabling a memorable evening. BGS Bloomfield’s Annual Day 2026 reinforced the school’s vision of fostering confident, compassionate, and future-ready learners.

Considering the digital revolution taking place across the globe, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) considered the need for development of digital platform wherein articled trainees can record their attendance and task performed in the form of E-Diary.  The digital platform  has been introduced and made mandatory for CA students commencing practical training w.e.f. 1st January, 2026. E-Diary  for students and members, leveraging technology to bring uniformity, transparency and digitally monitoring of articled training. 

This initiative of ICAI Board of Studies  and Members and Student Services Directorate is designed to map skills, ensure consistent training standards and improve transparency, in line with ICAI’s competency framework for a future-ready profession.

Key Features:

• Structured Digital Recording: Daily attendance and task performed by the articled trainee recorded digitally, the moment it is entered in system; stipend details once paid, recorded and would display.
• Fortnightly Submission & Verification: Submission of task performed by the trainees would be on fortnightly basis. The system validates completeness Principals review, suggest changes in task performed by trainee, trainee has to carry out the suggested changes within seven days and re-submit.  Within next seven days principal has to approved, after that it would considered deemed approval. 
• Edit & Track: Students can access past entries, make changes as suggested by the principal, edit or delete entries before submission and track approval status.
• SSP-Based Login: Students access the E-Diary through their Self-Service Portal (SSP) credentials.
• Process Integration: The platform links with Form 109 and aligns records with ICAI training guidelines.

On this digital initiative, CA. Charanjot Singh Nanda, President, ICAI, said

“The E-Diary will be a digitally approved and authenticated record of an articled trainee’s practical experience. It enables students to clearly demonstrate the tasks performed during training and the areas in which they have developed expertise. This digital platform will not only save valuable manhours for both principals and students but also brings greater transparency, timely approvals and helps identify new and emerging areas of training, making articled training more structured, efficient, and future-ready.”

Benefits to CA Students 

• Uniform Training Quality: Would ensure in imparting standardized training to article trainee across all spheres and consistent learning outcome for all trainees. 
• Self-Monitoring & Skill Mapping: Articled Trainee can review the task performed, identify the learning gaps and focus on other area of training which are relevant in the present context.  
• Awareness & Professional Growth: Regular reflection on tasks performed, enhances understanding of practical competencies. Maintaining E-Diary tells both the articled trainee and principal, how many hours articled trainee spent in auditing, taxation and consultancy services etc. and for new areas of training secondment can be considered by the principal. Through E-diary principal can also assess the areas where articled trainee has expertise so that assignment can be easily assigned and completed in a time bound manner.
• Administrative Ease: Simplifies stipend proof digitally, leave tracking, and completion formalities; reduces paperwork for both trainee and principal. 

Benefits to CA Principals

• Enhanced Oversight & Monitoring: Real-time visibility into attendance, profile, task assigned/performed, and supports effective mentoring.
• Quality Assurance: Data-driven insights help prioritise training areas, address weaknesses, and monitor individual or batch performance.

Reduced Administrative Burden: Digital approvals, MIS reports, and system alerts streamline compliance, replacing manual diaries.

Bengaluru,  Jan 9: The Department of Computer Science and Engineering at JAIN  Faculty of Engineering & Technology, is set to host the second edition of Inceptrix, a national-level, hackathon-driven technical event focused on student-led innovation and applied technology learning, scheduled for 27–28 February 2026.

The previous edition, Inceptrix 2025 conducted as a two day intercollegiate technical fest in  May 2025 had witnessed participation from students representing 27 states, with over 1000 registrations and a total prize pool of Rs 1,75,000. The event had created a collaborative environment where participants engaged in real world problem solving, peer learning, and technical experimentation.

Inceptrix 2.0 aims to expand its academic and innovation footprint. The 2nd edition will feature competitive hackathons, hands on workshops, and expert led sessions aimed at encouraging creativity, collaboration, and solution oriented thinking among students. The event aims to support JU FET’s focus on industry-relevant education and future-ready skill development.

The initiative is led by the Tech Council of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, a professional student body that oversees more than fifteen specialized technical clubs. The council functions as a central platform for technical initiatives, interdisciplinary collaboration, and experiential learning through structured events and competitions across the institution.

Inceptrix 2.0 will also open opportunities for industry partners to engage through event sponsorships, workshops, digital promotions, prize sponsorships, and on ground brand presence. These collaborations aim to create meaningful interaction between emerging talent and the technology ecosystem while supporting student innovation at scale.

As part of the hackathon competitions, participants will compete for an attractive prize pool. The Winner will receive a cash prize of INR 1,00,000, the First Runner-Up will be awarded INR 50,000, and the Second Runner-Up will receive INR 25,000. In addition, Top 10 teams will be recognized with exclusive gift hampers, further motivating innovation and excellence among participants.

The event will be hosted at JAIN Global  Campus at Kanakapura Main Road in Bengaluru.

Students from engineering and technology disciplines across institutions are welcome to register before 31 January 2026.

Sustainability, inclusion, and responsible governance are no longer optional ideals. They are fast becoming essential to how institutions, businesses, and societies define long-term success. Responding to this shift, SVKM’s Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies  has announced the Mirae Asset Foundation SVKM’s NMIMS ESG Research Chair, a dedicated platform focused on advancing research, education, and policy thinking in Environmental, Social, and Governance  domains.

Building on NMIMS’ long-standing focus on socially responsible management education and sustainability-oriented scholarship, the ESG Research Chair is envisioned as a national platform with a strong emphasis on the Indian and Global South context. It will develop rigorous, context-driven ESG research, case studies, policy briefs, and teaching material to contribute meaningfully to academic literature, industry practice, and public policy.

Dr. Ramesh Bhat, Vice Chancellor, SVKM’s NMIMS, said,

“At NMIMS, we believe sustainability and ethics are part of everything we do. ESG, diversity, and inclusion are integrated across all our programmes, so students see how these ideas work in practice. With this initiative, we are not just teaching sustainability, we are creating a living ecosystem where research, education, and industry come together. The Mirae Asset Foundation SVKM’s NMIMS ESG Research Chair builds on this approach, strengthening research, encouraging dialogue, and developing leaders who can tackle today’s ESG challenges with confidence and purpose.”

The Chair will integrate ESG themes across MBA, Executive MBA, and Doctoral programmes, while also driving capacity-building through specialised workshops, executive education, and structured industry engagement. It will collaborate closely with industry leaders, regulators, policymakers, and global institutions, and host its flagship Annual ESG Conference to foster dialogue and actionable insights.

Mr. Ritesh Patel, Director, Mirae Asset Foundation said,

“This Chair reflects our shared commitment to creating leaders who understand that growth and responsibility must go hand in hand. By bringing together academia, industry, and policymakers, we aim to advance ESG thinking that drives real, measurable, and inclusive impact and results in long-term value creation and positive societal impact.  It is indeed a privilege to be partnering with NMIMS for this initiative as it has rich academia experience and has been doing extensive work in this area”.

The Chair is being set up with support from the Mirae Asset Foundation (MAF), the philanthropic arm of the Mirae Asset Financial Group in India. Guided by a human-centred investment philosophy, the Foundation enhances educational access and quality through scholarships, research and innovation support, skills development initiatives, and educational infrastructure. Its approach reflects a strong commitment to socially responsible development and aligns closely with ESG principles that promote inclusive and long-term growth.