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Education Minister affirms commitment to UK-India academic collaboration

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New Delhi, May 20 (IANS) Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan has affirmed India’s commitment to academic collaboration with the UK’s Imperial College London.Pradhan met with Professor Hugh Brady, President of Imperial College London, and his academic delegation to discuss enhanced collaboration in education, research, and innovation. The meeting centred on Imperial’s culture of research and innovation, its existing collaborations with India and the world, and its future strategic plans.“It was a pleasure to learn more about Imperial’s culture of research and innovation, collaborations with India and the world, and future plans, among others,” the Minister said, in a post on social media platform X.The Union Minister highlighted the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, emphasising its focus areas, India’s educational priorities, and the nation’s inherent strengths, including its market capacity, talent pool, and aspirations.”I expect that Imperial, London, and Indian higher-educational institutions (HEIs) can collaborate to offer joint/dual degrees and also work together for driving innovation and entrepreneurship, co-developing futuristic technologies, nurturing, developing and facilitating a two-way flow of STEMB talent and undertaking joint initiatives to build a robust AI, quantum computing, deep-tech, semiconductors ecosystem,” Pradhan said.The meeting between the delegations comes ahead of the official launch of Imperial College London’s Imperial Global India hub in Bengaluru this week.The hub is designed to provide strategic vision and leadership, significantly strengthening Imperial’s engagement and collaborative efforts in India.The launch event will bring together leaders from academia, industry, and government to celebrate this milestone and explore future avenues for partnership in research, education, and innovation, further solidifying the deep ties between Imperial and India.”We are incredibly excited about the potential for collaboration, particularly in co-developing cutting-edge science and technologies in areas such as AI, quantum, biotechnology, bioengineering, advanced materials, and telecoms and fostering a vibrant two-way flow of talent through expanded educational programmes,” said Professor Hugh Brady, President of Imperial College London.“The launch of our Imperial Global India hub in Bengaluru is a testament to our commitment, and we look forward to working closely with Indian Higher Education Institutions to provide world-class opportunities for students and researchers, and to drive impactful innovation together,” he added.The discussions underlined a shared commitment to leveraging academic excellence and innovation to address global challenges and create new opportunities for students and researchers in both India and the UK.–IANSrvt/

Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren’s former secretary Vinay Chaubey arrested in liquor scam (Lead)

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Ranchi, May 20 (IANS) The Jharkhand Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Tuesday arrested senior IAS officer Vinay Kumar Chaubey in connection with the liquor scam, following a marathon interrogation.He was later produced before a special ACB court in the civil court premises here.This is the first time in over 15 years that the ACB has taken such big action against a serving IAS officer in the state.Chaubey, currently posted as Principal Secretary of the Panchayati Raj Department, has previously held key positions, including Excise Secretary and Secretary to Chief Minister Hemant Soren.The ACB raided Chaubey’s residence on Tuesday morning and brought him in for questioning around 11 a.m. The interrogation focused on alleged irregularities in the 2022 excise policy, which was modelled after the controversial liquor policy in Chhattisgarh.At the time when the policy was implemented, Chaubey was serving as Jharkhand’s Excise Secretary.Investigations suggest that the Jharkhand liquor scam mirrors the Chhattisgarh liquor scam, where senior officials of the State Marketing Corporation and prominent businessmen were implicated.The Chhattisgarh Economic Offences Wing (EOW) initiated the original probe, later taken up by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).During the investigation, the ED reportedly found that the same liquor syndicate involved in the Chhattisgarh scam had replicated the model in Jharkhand, tweaking the excise policy for its benefit.The Chhattisgarh unit of the ED earlier interrogated Chaubey, during which he maintained that the excise policy had been implemented with the government’s consent and denied any wrongdoing.Subsequently, an FIR was lodged in Chhattisgarh by a Jharkhand-based complainant, alleging that the Chhattisgarh liquor syndicate orchestrated a similar scam in Jharkhand.It is alleged that changes were made in Jharkhand’s excise policy to benefit this syndicate, which went on to secure key contracts, including for liquor supply and the hologram system — causing significant financial loss to the state exchequer.Acting on the FIR, the ED registered an ECIR and conducted multiple raids in October 2024, including on premises linked to IAS Vinay Chaubey.Following this, the Jharkhand ACB sought permission from the state government and initiated a Preliminary Inquiry (PE).Upon finding sufficient evidence of irregularities, a formal FIR was registered. Chaubey was summoned and interrogated again.At around 3.30 p.m. on Tuesday, a medical team was called to examine Chaubey, following which he was officially placed under arrest.–IANSsnc/skp/vd

Vijay Shah skips Cabinet meeting amid controversial remarks row against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi

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Bhopal, May 20 (IANS) Madhya Pradesh Tribal Welfare Minister Vijay Shah on Tuesday skipped the Cabinet meeting amid his controversial remarks against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi.

“The minister might not have attended the meeting due to some personal reasons. The matter is sub-judice, therefore, it wouldn’t be appropriate to make any comment on it,” Madhya Pradesh BJP chief Vishnu Dutt Sharma.On Tuesday, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was set up to investigate the FIR lodged against Vijay Shah in compliance with the Supreme Court’s direction. BJP chief Vishnu Dutt Sharma reiterated that the court’s directions are being followed step-by-step. He said that when the MP High Court ordered to register an FIR, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav had himself instructed officials to comply with the direction. “No one is above the law. The court’s instructions are being followed step-by-step. SIT will investigate the matter and submit its report to the SC. After examining the report, whatever direction the court will issue, we will follow,” claimed Sharma.Notably, Tribal Welfare Minister Vijay Shah, whose remarks on Colonel Sofiya Qureshi sparked controversy, prompting the opposition to demand his resignation, was absent from the special Cabinet meeting held in Indore on Tuesday. The special Cabinet meeting at Rajwada Palace in Indore was held to commemorate the 300th birth anniversary of Ahilyabai Holkar, the revered ruler of Indore. The meeting organised in the Ganesh Hall of Rajwada aimed to honour her legacy and discuss key developmental initiatives for the state. One of the key agenda items for the Cabinet meeting was the presentation of the ‘MP Metropolitan Planning and Development Act 2025.’ Additionally, a budget of Rs 2,200 crore was earmarked for the construction of Advaita Lok, an Adi Shankar Museum in Omkareshwar. –IANS pd/dan

WHO Pandemic treaty: A shared commitment, need greater global cooperation, says PM Modi

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New Delhi, May 20 (IANS) The historic WHO Pandemic Treaty adopted today is a shared commitment that requires greater global cooperation, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the 78th Session of the World Health Assembly in Geneva on Tuesday.Addressing the gathering, via videoconferencing, he highlighted that this year’s theme, ‘One World for Health,’ aligns with India’s vision for global health.After three years of negotiations, the Agreement was adopted by consensus by member countries of the WHO at the ongoing 78th World Health Assembly. India is also a signatory to this treaty, which has been in talks since the Covid-19 outbreak, which killed millions of people worldwide. The treaty aims to bridge global healthcare gaps and inequities in case of future pandemics.“The WHO Pandemic Treaty is a shared commitment to fighting future pandemics through greater global cooperation,” said PM Modi, while extending his congratulations on the successful negotiations of the treaty.While the Global South is particularly impacted by several health challenges, PM Modi stated that “India’s approach provides replicable, scalable, and sustainable models”.He also expressed India’s willingness to share its learnings and best practices with the world, especially with the Global South.The Prime Minister emphasised the importance of building a healthy planet while ensuring that no one is left behind.“The future of a healthy world depends on inclusion, an integrated vision, and collaboration,” he said.Further, PM Modi also highlighted India’s health reforms ranging from Ayushman Bharat — the world’s largest health insurance scheme, which covers 580 million people and provides free treatment — to the increased role of technology in improving health outcomes, as well as the rise in Government Health Expenditure, leading to a significant decline in Out-of-Pocket Expenditure of the citizens.“The health of the world depends on how well we care for the most vulnerable”, underlined the Prime Minister.Emphasising India’s role as the birthplace of Yoga, the Prime Minister also extended an invitation to all countries for the upcoming 11th International Day of Yoga in June. The theme this year is ‘Yoga for One Earth, One Health’.–IANSrvt/

Trinamool team to visit Jammu & Kashmir from tomorrow to review situation

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Kolkata, May 20 (IANS) A five-member delegation of West Bengal’s ruling Trinamool Congress will be visiting Jammu & Kashmir from Wednesday to review the situation there in the wake of the ghastly terror attack at Pahalgam last month, as well as the firing by Pakistan artillery on the border villages.The delegation will have four Rajya Sabha members and one state minister. The four MPs include the Trinamool leader in the Rajya Sabha, Derek O’Brien, Nadimul Haque, Mamata Bala Thakur and Sagarika Ghose, while the state member in the delegation is Manas Ranjan Bhunia.They will be reaching Jammu & Kashmir on Wednesday and will be there till May 23. “The delegation will mainly visit places like Srinagar, Poonch, and Rajouri. They will speak to the common people there and try to have an idea about their living conditions amid the terror attack and Pakistan artillery firing,” a senior party leader said.The leader also said that the delegation is going to Jammu & Kashmir following the instructions of the party supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who also selected the five members of the delegation. The selection of the places where the delegation members will visit was also done by the Chief Minister, the leader said.After coming back from Jammu & Kashmir, the delegation members will give a detailed report to the Chief Minister.However, not a single member of the delegation was willing to make any official statement about the tentative schedule of their visits. Already, strict instructions from the party for all leaders have come asking them to refrain from making any comments either on the Pahalgam terror attack or on Operation Sindoor.The leaders have been clearly instructed that if anything needed to be said on these issues, it would be said only by the Chief Minister.Earlier in the day, the Chief Minister nominated party General Secretary and MP Abhishek Banerjee as the Trinamool’s representative in the multi-party delegations on Operation Sindoor. Banerjee replaced cricketer-turned-politician and Baharampur MP, Yusuf Pathan, who was named by the Centre as the Trinamool representative.–IANSsrc/vd

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