Consortium for Educational Communication (CEC)- To coordinate, facilitate, provide overall guidance, and direct the activities of the Media Centers set up by the UGC at various universities across the country
Education and gender equality- The consequences of deep-seated disparities in society are gender-based discrimination in education and its causes. Women and girls are hindered from exercising their rights by poverty, geographical isolation, ethnic background, disabilities, and traditional attitudes about their status and role. Still today, harmful practices, including early marriages and pregnant women, gender-based violence, and discriminatory education laws, policies, curriculums, and practices limit the enrollment, completion, and benefits of education for millions of girls.
Therefore, gender mainstreaming must be a priority at all levels of education, in formal and informal settings, from infrastructure planning to teacher training.
I-STEM Web Portal- India's Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Facilities Map (I-STEM), was formally launched in January 2020 by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (OPSA), GoI. The I-STEM is a national web portal devoted to linking researchers and resources, developed in line with the idea of "One Nation One Portal". Center for Nano Science and Engineering (CeNSE) of the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, initiated the initiative after sharing its facilities with the R&D community of India.
Researchers from India and abroad can access the I-STEM portal.
Vigyangranth- Research scholars pursuing Ph.D. studies in India can access Vigyangranth - an online database of research scholars pursuing science degrees in India, along with a research portal that showcases research relevant to national problems, needs, and demands. With its insights from the perspectives of relevance to society, the nation, and global impact, Vigyangranth is a forum for presenting the research work of Indian scholars to the general public.
Policies and Schemes
Accelerate Vigyan Programme- The main objective of Accelerate Vigyan (AV) is to promote high-end scientific research and prepare scientists for careers in research and knowledge-based economies. AV has determined that all research starts with the development of high-quality and well-trained researchers, which it will do on a national level through mechanisms such as identifying research potential, mentoring, training, and hands-on workshops. The goal is to increase the research base, which can be summarized as follows:
Augmenting Writing Skills for Articulating Research (AWSAR)- AWSAR aims to disseminate Indian research stories in a format that is accessible and accessible to the common man through advanced writing skills. During the tenure of their fellowship, Ph.D. Scholars and Post-Doctoral Fellows (PDFs) in the S&T stream would be encouraged to write a popular science article and compete nationally.
Ensure at least one article based on research is submitted by youth pursuing higher education
Create a culture of science communication/popularization among the scholars by fostering, strengthening, and creating a scientific temper through popular science writing
IMPRESS Scheme- In its first year, Impactful Policy Research in Social Science (IMPRESS) aims to provide valuable input in the areas of formulation, implementation, and evaluation of policies through social science research.
The purpose of this grant is to identify and fund proposals that will have the greatest impact on society and governance.
To facilitate online competition, transparency, and project selection.
Samagra Shiksha- From Kindergarten to 12th grade, Samagra Shiksha covers the entire school education sector. Besides promoting school effectiveness, the scheme seeks to increase equal chances for learning and promote equitable outcomes in learning. SSA, RMSA, and TE were incorporated into it in 2018 and were launched under the name of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.
Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan- Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS), launched in 2013 and aims to promote equity, access, and excellence in state-run universities and colleges.
