Terming the dominance of the affiliating system as a practice that was outdated and anachronistic, VC Kulandaisamy, chairman, Tamil Virtual University, said this was "sapping the energy of the Indian higher education system and inhibiting its march towards excellence."
Speaking at the 152nd convocation of the University of Madras, he said the weakness of higher education in India it is imparted in affiliated colleges, unlike in the developed countries where higher education happens on university campuses.
"All over the world, higher education happens on university campuses. Even the humblest of universities have a modest strength of students, infrastructure, academic manpower and an atmosphere of inquiry, investigation and research. The entire faculty has research as part of its duty. In India, higher education is in a large number of small institutions, most of which do not meet even the modest requirements of university-level academic function," he said.
The bulk of the faculty in higher education -- almost 84% -- is not expected to do research in India. The strength of PG students is only 9.3 and even among them, 67% do not have an atmosphere of research which is a prerequisite for PG education. The universities which constitute the fertile soil for research have only a fraction of the total higher education faculty (16%), Kulandaisamy said.
A total of 596 graduates received degrees, prizes and medals at the ceremony in person while 86,806 did so in absentia. University of Madras vice-chancellor G Thiruvasagam said that new infrastructural facilities were going to be established at the various campuses of the university at a cost of Rs 90.25 crore. These include the construction of a multi-storeyed building and a students' amenities centre at Chepauk and the construction of an indoor stadium at Chetpet Union Grounds.link
Tuesday 19 January 2010
Monday 18 January 2010
Stem cell therapy found for leukaemia
In a ray of hope for millions of leukaemia patients, American scientists have claimed to have developed a technique which multiplies the small number of stem cells in the donor blood, making it much more potent for the treatment of the fatal disease.
It also eliminates the need for a matching donor, whose bone marrow is usually transplanted to the patient, according to a study which appeared in the journal Nature Medicine. Traditionally, there was always a risk that the patient’s body may reject the new cells from a donor. The alternate path was to introduce cells extracted from umbilical cords as these cells do not have characteristics which would normally trigger immune rejection. So these cells can be used in any patient, without the need for matching. However, the only disadvantage of this process was that a single cord would not have enough cells to meet the needs of an adult patient.
Now, researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle have developed a process in which using a protein they multiply the stem cells in the blood from the umbilical cord before they are transplanted to the patient. The technique has been tested on humans after successful trials on animals.
leukaemia is a cancer of the blood or bone marrow and is characterised by an abnormal proliferation of blood cells, usually white blood cells — leukocytes. As part of the treatment, the infected bone marrow cells of the patient are killed off and new cells are introduced in their place.
Hailing the development, UK-based charity Leukaemia Research said this could be the “holy grail” for doctors. “This is a promising development towards this because the concern has been that once stem cells start ‘growing’ they lose their stem cell properties and progress to ordinary blood cells with a very limited lifespan,” said Dr David Grant, Scientific Director of the charity.
“The holy grail is to have an ‘off the peg’ source of unlimited numbers of ‘neutral’ stem cells which can be given to any patient safe in the knowledge that they will not cause the very difficult ‘graft versus host’ problems that lead to rejection and often the death of the patient,” Grant said.link
It also eliminates the need for a matching donor, whose bone marrow is usually transplanted to the patient, according to a study which appeared in the journal Nature Medicine. Traditionally, there was always a risk that the patient’s body may reject the new cells from a donor. The alternate path was to introduce cells extracted from umbilical cords as these cells do not have characteristics which would normally trigger immune rejection. So these cells can be used in any patient, without the need for matching. However, the only disadvantage of this process was that a single cord would not have enough cells to meet the needs of an adult patient.
Now, researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle have developed a process in which using a protein they multiply the stem cells in the blood from the umbilical cord before they are transplanted to the patient. The technique has been tested on humans after successful trials on animals.
leukaemia is a cancer of the blood or bone marrow and is characterised by an abnormal proliferation of blood cells, usually white blood cells — leukocytes. As part of the treatment, the infected bone marrow cells of the patient are killed off and new cells are introduced in their place.
Hailing the development, UK-based charity Leukaemia Research said this could be the “holy grail” for doctors. “This is a promising development towards this because the concern has been that once stem cells start ‘growing’ they lose their stem cell properties and progress to ordinary blood cells with a very limited lifespan,” said Dr David Grant, Scientific Director of the charity.
“The holy grail is to have an ‘off the peg’ source of unlimited numbers of ‘neutral’ stem cells which can be given to any patient safe in the knowledge that they will not cause the very difficult ‘graft versus host’ problems that lead to rejection and often the death of the patient,” Grant said.link
Saturday 16 January 2010
Centre to introduce short-term medical course
The Centre has decided to introduce a short-term medical education course at district level, in government-run schools, to reach out to rural population across the country.
“The Central government will soon launch a three and half year medical education cadre and open district level schools to impart it to produce doctors who will be later posted in rural areas,” Union Health and Family Welfare minister Gulam Nabi Azad told reporters.
This short term medical course, including medicine and surgery (in the curriculum) will be imparted only at government-run schools and the degrees will be awarded by the Universities, he said.
At present Primary Health Centres (PHC) are manned by only one Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) who is in charge of all the work. But from now, doctors of short-term course after completion, would be posted at PHC and sub centres, Mr. Azad said.
Acknowledging the scarcity of qualified doctors, Mr. Azad said the intake capacity of government-run medical colleges is being increased from 150 to 250 seats at graduation level.
Further, in post-graduation instead of one student, the guide will be allowed to have two students, he said.
The Health minister said that UPA government is committed to set up medical institutes on the lines of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and necessary tenders have been floated in this regard.
The government-run Medical College and Hospital in the city are among 19 such colleges which are being upgraded to AIIMS level.
The Maharashtra government has signed an MOU with Centre for upgradation and purchase of highly sophisticated equipments, he said.
Nagpur will get Rs 150 crores out of which Rs 100 crores is for procuring medical equipments, he added. link
“The Central government will soon launch a three and half year medical education cadre and open district level schools to impart it to produce doctors who will be later posted in rural areas,” Union Health and Family Welfare minister Gulam Nabi Azad told reporters.
This short term medical course, including medicine and surgery (in the curriculum) will be imparted only at government-run schools and the degrees will be awarded by the Universities, he said.
At present Primary Health Centres (PHC) are manned by only one Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) who is in charge of all the work. But from now, doctors of short-term course after completion, would be posted at PHC and sub centres, Mr. Azad said.
Acknowledging the scarcity of qualified doctors, Mr. Azad said the intake capacity of government-run medical colleges is being increased from 150 to 250 seats at graduation level.
Further, in post-graduation instead of one student, the guide will be allowed to have two students, he said.
The Health minister said that UPA government is committed to set up medical institutes on the lines of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and necessary tenders have been floated in this regard.
The government-run Medical College and Hospital in the city are among 19 such colleges which are being upgraded to AIIMS level.
The Maharashtra government has signed an MOU with Centre for upgradation and purchase of highly sophisticated equipments, he said.
Nagpur will get Rs 150 crores out of which Rs 100 crores is for procuring medical equipments, he added. link
PSBs' education loans rise 15% in first half
If you are looking for an education loan, public sector banks (PSBs) may be your best bet. In a report to the finance ministry, the Indian Banks Association has said that education loan disbursal by the stateowned banks in the first half of this financial year has increased by Rs 4,200 crore, an increase of 15%. More than 95,000 accounts have been opened during this period.
"The loan disbursal during the period June-August is mostly high because all major institutions in India start their semesters during the period.Besides , public sector banks have been offering better terms than private sector banks and that is why the surge," said CGM Personal Banking, SBI, P Nanda Kumaran.
The total education loan disbursed by PSBs have reached around Rs 32,000 crore with 16,98,601 benefactors. The government has been concerned about the tardy approach to education loans and has sought information on it.
Three major private sector banks, AXIS, ICICI and HDFC refused to divulge their education loan portfolio. "We offer education loans but will not be able to share product details," said an ICICI spokesperson .
In the public sector space smaller banks such as Corporation Bank, Andhra Bank and Oriental Bank of Commerce has also shown a surge in their education loan portfolio.
According to a finance ministry official, who did not wish to be named, the surge is a direct implication of sops provided in the previous union budget . The government had provided for full interest subsidy for education loans taken by the weaker section. It has also extended the income-tax waiver on interest accrued on all loans covering vocational studies as well.
"There were other concessions such as low interest rate for girl students which is reflective in the figures," the official said.
Education institutes also feel that the thrust from the government encouraging banks to give more education loans has worked. "Also , more students are now comfortable with the idea of availing an education loan, which, until a few years ago, was not the case. For instance, students now prefer to take a loan and pay, whenever they get a job or graduate.link
"The loan disbursal during the period June-August is mostly high because all major institutions in India start their semesters during the period.Besides , public sector banks have been offering better terms than private sector banks and that is why the surge," said CGM Personal Banking, SBI, P Nanda Kumaran.
The total education loan disbursed by PSBs have reached around Rs 32,000 crore with 16,98,601 benefactors. The government has been concerned about the tardy approach to education loans and has sought information on it.
Three major private sector banks, AXIS, ICICI and HDFC refused to divulge their education loan portfolio. "We offer education loans but will not be able to share product details," said an ICICI spokesperson .
In the public sector space smaller banks such as Corporation Bank, Andhra Bank and Oriental Bank of Commerce has also shown a surge in their education loan portfolio.
According to a finance ministry official, who did not wish to be named, the surge is a direct implication of sops provided in the previous union budget . The government had provided for full interest subsidy for education loans taken by the weaker section. It has also extended the income-tax waiver on interest accrued on all loans covering vocational studies as well.
"There were other concessions such as low interest rate for girl students which is reflective in the figures," the official said.
Education institutes also feel that the thrust from the government encouraging banks to give more education loans has worked. "Also , more students are now comfortable with the idea of availing an education loan, which, until a few years ago, was not the case. For instance, students now prefer to take a loan and pay, whenever they get a job or graduate.link
Friday 15 January 2010
UK wants to strengthen ties with India in education
UK wants to "push forward" its relationship with India in the education sector and British universities are increasingly interested in coming to the country to collaborate like "never before", Minister for Human Resource Development Kapil Sibal has said.
After an extensive visit to the University of Surrey and the Imperial College of London, Sibal, on a visit here, told newsmen: "in both institutions we felt these institutions are ready to collaborate with us".
"They (the institutions) are exceptionally serious about coming to India in a very substantive way," he told newsmen.
He said the Imperial College had some substantial projects to offer and "they did tell me in confidence about these projects".link
After an extensive visit to the University of Surrey and the Imperial College of London, Sibal, on a visit here, told newsmen: "in both institutions we felt these institutions are ready to collaborate with us".
"They (the institutions) are exceptionally serious about coming to India in a very substantive way," he told newsmen.
He said the Imperial College had some substantial projects to offer and "they did tell me in confidence about these projects".link
Thursday 14 January 2010
Medicinal plant yields secrets
The first genetic map of the world’s most important medicinal plant, Artemisia annua, was published on Thursday in the journal Science. Artemisia is the source of artemisinin, a key ingredient in antimalarial drugs.
Plant scientists at York University, who prepared the genetic map, are already using the map to breed higher-yielding strains of Artemisia. Existing wild plants produce only small amounts of artemisinin, which is therefore too scarce and too expensive to meet the huge requirement for malaria drugs in the developing world.
“We intend to get high-yielding seed to farmers in the next two to three years in order to supply soaring demand for malaria treatments,” said York Professor Dianna Bowles. “This is a really tight deadline and we can only do it with the benefit of the new knowledge provided by the map.”link
Plant scientists at York University, who prepared the genetic map, are already using the map to breed higher-yielding strains of Artemisia. Existing wild plants produce only small amounts of artemisinin, which is therefore too scarce and too expensive to meet the huge requirement for malaria drugs in the developing world.
“We intend to get high-yielding seed to farmers in the next two to three years in order to supply soaring demand for malaria treatments,” said York Professor Dianna Bowles. “This is a really tight deadline and we can only do it with the benefit of the new knowledge provided by the map.”link
Fund shortage keeps education act waiting
The Centre appears to be in no hurry to notify the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is yet to meet with concerned ministers to sort out the vexing issue of funding the Act. The main roadblock in operationalising the Act has been its fund requirement, which is to the tune of Rs 1,71,000 crore.
A meeting to work out funding issues have been on cards since November. However, the meeting between PM, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, Planning Commission deputy-chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and HRD minister Kapil Sibal has been postponed. The group was supposed to meet on Saturday, but the meeting was cancelled and a date is yet to be fixed.
This is also delaying the notification of the 86th Constitution Amendment Act, which made education for children up to 14 years a Fundamental Right. Last year, the Planning Commission indicated to the HRD ministry that provisioning for the Act may be difficult given the slowdown in economic growth and the deceleration in cess collection. Sensing the need for an intervention, the HRD ministry had turned to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.link
A meeting to work out funding issues have been on cards since November. However, the meeting between PM, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, Planning Commission deputy-chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and HRD minister Kapil Sibal has been postponed. The group was supposed to meet on Saturday, but the meeting was cancelled and a date is yet to be fixed.
This is also delaying the notification of the 86th Constitution Amendment Act, which made education for children up to 14 years a Fundamental Right. Last year, the Planning Commission indicated to the HRD ministry that provisioning for the Act may be difficult given the slowdown in economic growth and the deceleration in cess collection. Sensing the need for an intervention, the HRD ministry had turned to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.link
Australian quantum experiment challenges computer science
Australian scientists have completed ground-breaking research using quantum computing that will challenge, among scientific principles, the theory of quantum mechanics.
A joint experiment between the University of Queensland (UQ) and Harvard University, the first of its kind to apply quantum mechanics to chemistry to predict molecular reactions, could have huge implications for science.
UQ physics professor Andrew White, a co-author of the project, said the existence of quantum computing means that either quantum mechanics is wrong, or the Church Turing Thesis, which underpins computer science, is flawed.
“If the Church Turing Thesis is wrong, that’s really big news; or it means that quantum computing will turn out to be impossible for a fundamental reason, or that a fast classical factoring algorithm exists,” White said, referring to a theory by MIT assistant professor Scott Aaronson that the only way to prove the probability of quantum mechanics is to build a quantum computer.
“If you asked the inventors of the diode what good they have done, they might have said they can shrink a computer to the size of a living room, but they would never have guessed what computers would become – this is where we are at.
“What we have done is a 2 qubit (quantum bit), toy experiment – it won’t put anyone out of a job anytime soon… but if we scale to tens and then hundreds of qubits, that’s when we will exceed the computational capacity of the planet… that will happen within 50 years.”
Due to the nature of science, the ramifications of the experiment are essentially unknown, however, White postulates that it could be used to predict the outcome of chemical reactions, albeit without the inherent randomness that is absent in controlled computer simulations.
He said it is likely that chemistry, rather than cryptography (which requires a prodigious amount of processing) will spearhead quantum computing research.
The experiment ran an algorithm dubbed the iterative phase estimation to measure the precise energy of molecular hydrogen against a predicted model. The results, White said, were "astounding" and were accurate inside of 6 parts in a million. Data was calculated to 20 bits, and in some instances up to 47 bits, and experiments were repeated 30 times for classical error correction.
Quantum computers work "brilliantly" for molecular simulations: Computational power doubles with each qubit, via the phenomena of entanglement, while the complexity of chemical reactions double with each additional atom. Simply put, no other computer, supercomputer, or bunch of supercomputers, could hope to run the simulations to the same degree.
A quantum computer with hundreds of qubits would be more powerful than every traditional computer on Earth, amounting to billions of bits. “A classical computer with 300 bits of can store 300 bits of information, whereas a 300 qubit register can store more information than the number of particles in the universe,” White said.
Scientists involved on the project included Benjamin Lanyon, Geoffrey G. Gillet, Michael E. Goggin, Marcelo P. Almeida, Benjamin J. Powell, Marco Barbieri and Harvard’s Alán Aspuru-Guzik. The experiment was funded by the Australian Research Council Federation Fellow and Centre of Excellence programs, and the US Army Research Office and Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Initiative.link
A joint experiment between the University of Queensland (UQ) and Harvard University, the first of its kind to apply quantum mechanics to chemistry to predict molecular reactions, could have huge implications for science.
UQ physics professor Andrew White, a co-author of the project, said the existence of quantum computing means that either quantum mechanics is wrong, or the Church Turing Thesis, which underpins computer science, is flawed.
“If the Church Turing Thesis is wrong, that’s really big news; or it means that quantum computing will turn out to be impossible for a fundamental reason, or that a fast classical factoring algorithm exists,” White said, referring to a theory by MIT assistant professor Scott Aaronson that the only way to prove the probability of quantum mechanics is to build a quantum computer.
“If you asked the inventors of the diode what good they have done, they might have said they can shrink a computer to the size of a living room, but they would never have guessed what computers would become – this is where we are at.
“What we have done is a 2 qubit (quantum bit), toy experiment – it won’t put anyone out of a job anytime soon… but if we scale to tens and then hundreds of qubits, that’s when we will exceed the computational capacity of the planet… that will happen within 50 years.”
Due to the nature of science, the ramifications of the experiment are essentially unknown, however, White postulates that it could be used to predict the outcome of chemical reactions, albeit without the inherent randomness that is absent in controlled computer simulations.
He said it is likely that chemistry, rather than cryptography (which requires a prodigious amount of processing) will spearhead quantum computing research.
The experiment ran an algorithm dubbed the iterative phase estimation to measure the precise energy of molecular hydrogen against a predicted model. The results, White said, were "astounding" and were accurate inside of 6 parts in a million. Data was calculated to 20 bits, and in some instances up to 47 bits, and experiments were repeated 30 times for classical error correction.
Quantum computers work "brilliantly" for molecular simulations: Computational power doubles with each qubit, via the phenomena of entanglement, while the complexity of chemical reactions double with each additional atom. Simply put, no other computer, supercomputer, or bunch of supercomputers, could hope to run the simulations to the same degree.
A quantum computer with hundreds of qubits would be more powerful than every traditional computer on Earth, amounting to billions of bits. “A classical computer with 300 bits of can store 300 bits of information, whereas a 300 qubit register can store more information than the number of particles in the universe,” White said.
Scientists involved on the project included Benjamin Lanyon, Geoffrey G. Gillet, Michael E. Goggin, Marcelo P. Almeida, Benjamin J. Powell, Marco Barbieri and Harvard’s Alán Aspuru-Guzik. The experiment was funded by the Australian Research Council Federation Fellow and Centre of Excellence programs, and the US Army Research Office and Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Initiative.link
Wednesday 13 January 2010
BCA students don't know what's a computer: GS Parasher
What is a computer? The answer is a calculator. Shocked? This answer was given by a student pursuing first-year bachelor of computer application (BCA) course during the winter exams. This stunning revelation was made by pro vice chancellor GS Parasher, who is presently faced with the task of solving the problems faced by a large number students of this course. They had stormed the university recently, complaining about poor valuation. Not surprisingly, only 250 out of 7,000 students BCA students have managed to clear the exams.
"Many such shocking facts came to light during our inspection. Many colleges have admitted students who had failed to clear Std XII examination two to three times. The colleges offering BCA courses have mushroomed in the last couple of years to over 100. However, some of them are running out of capacity while some others are finding it difficult to get even ten students. If this is not enough, the regular fee for BCA courses is Rs 8,000, which includes Rs 4,500 as tuition fees and Rs 3,500 for practicals. Sadly, most institutions exploit students by charging up to Rs 50,000 as fees. Education has been turned into a money-minting business with crores at stake," the pro-VC said while deliberating on his speech to principals at a meeting in the university's Convocation Hall on Wednesday.
Parasher, who is also in-charge of the examination department, said that even books for the subject were not available to students. "The entire course is tough, considering the fact that it has as many as three engineering subjects. The students told me that they were referring to books prescribed for the MCA course. The absence of qualified teachers is making matters worse. There are only 18 qualified teachers for computers in the entire university. How can they be expected to teach 7,000 students. Such colleges have become sponsored coaching classes," he said. He made it clear to the principals that the entire responsibility for loss of an academic year of the students will rest with the colleges.
Exam dept meet over BCA controversy
VC SN Pathan acknowledged that BCA students came to him with complaints of poor valuation. Taking cognisance of media reports, the VC announced an urgent meeting of the board of examinations (BoE) for the subject on Friday to discuss the issue. "We've gathered some confidential information regarding the subject and will present it before the BoE members," he said.
He asked students to first get photocopies of their answer-sheets and then approach the university. "If there are large-scale discrepancies, we will recheck the papers," he assured. The VC added that he will be meeting the aggrieved students to discuss timetable for revaluation results on Thursday. He will also discuss the issue with BoE of computer science on Saturday.link
"Many such shocking facts came to light during our inspection. Many colleges have admitted students who had failed to clear Std XII examination two to three times. The colleges offering BCA courses have mushroomed in the last couple of years to over 100. However, some of them are running out of capacity while some others are finding it difficult to get even ten students. If this is not enough, the regular fee for BCA courses is Rs 8,000, which includes Rs 4,500 as tuition fees and Rs 3,500 for practicals. Sadly, most institutions exploit students by charging up to Rs 50,000 as fees. Education has been turned into a money-minting business with crores at stake," the pro-VC said while deliberating on his speech to principals at a meeting in the university's Convocation Hall on Wednesday.
Parasher, who is also in-charge of the examination department, said that even books for the subject were not available to students. "The entire course is tough, considering the fact that it has as many as three engineering subjects. The students told me that they were referring to books prescribed for the MCA course. The absence of qualified teachers is making matters worse. There are only 18 qualified teachers for computers in the entire university. How can they be expected to teach 7,000 students. Such colleges have become sponsored coaching classes," he said. He made it clear to the principals that the entire responsibility for loss of an academic year of the students will rest with the colleges.
Exam dept meet over BCA controversy
VC SN Pathan acknowledged that BCA students came to him with complaints of poor valuation. Taking cognisance of media reports, the VC announced an urgent meeting of the board of examinations (BoE) for the subject on Friday to discuss the issue. "We've gathered some confidential information regarding the subject and will present it before the BoE members," he said.
He asked students to first get photocopies of their answer-sheets and then approach the university. "If there are large-scale discrepancies, we will recheck the papers," he assured. The VC added that he will be meeting the aggrieved students to discuss timetable for revaluation results on Thursday. He will also discuss the issue with BoE of computer science on Saturday.link
Workshop on annular solar eclipse
Various groups in the city are busy making last-minute preparations to welcome the first solar eclipse of the year, after the disappointment of the solar eclipse in July, 2009.
Inaugurating an orientation workshop on annular solar eclipse at Science City, Ravi Saxena, principle secretary, department of science and technology, Gujarat government, said that scientists are now looking for new knowledge about the relationship between the sun, moon, earth and solar system. It would be a great opportunity to popularise science and to create interest in the basic science among the younger generation.
He added, "For the school and college students, the solar eclipse offers a unique opportunity to see a natural phenomenon that illustrates the basic principles of mathematics and science that are taught through elementary and secondary school. Indeed, many researchers, including amateur astronomers, have been inspired to study science as a result of seeing a total solar eclipse."
About 150 science communicators including BRC and CRC coordinators, science teachers, amateur astronomers and eclipse chaser students from various schools and colleges attended the orientation workshop.
In Ahmedabad, the partial eclipse will be visible between 11:25 hours and 15:05 hours with a maximum eclipse at 13:21 hours said a senior scientist at the Science City. "Individual groups from Delhi and Bangalore will also be visiting a place called Varakala, there on," said Manoj Pai of the Astronomy club, Ahmedabad.
Elaborative arrangements have been made at Science City to facilitate the safe viewing of the partial solar eclipse on the January 15, 2010. Telescopes fitted with appropriate solar filters, solar image projectors, pin-hole camera, and solar filter goggles, NASA eclipse lenticulars have been arranged to facilitate safe viewing of this celestial event among a large number of students and visitors. The programme will be open for public between 11 am to 3:30 pm.
Inaugurating an orientation workshop on annular solar eclipse at Science City, Ravi Saxena, principle secretary, department of science and technology, Gujarat government, said that scientists are now looking for new knowledge about the relationship between the sun, moon, earth and solar system. It would be a great opportunity to popularise science and to create interest in the basic science among the younger generation.
He added, "For the school and college students, the solar eclipse offers a unique opportunity to see a natural phenomenon that illustrates the basic principles of mathematics and science that are taught through elementary and secondary school. Indeed, many researchers, including amateur astronomers, have been inspired to study science as a result of seeing a total solar eclipse."
About 150 science communicators including BRC and CRC coordinators, science teachers, amateur astronomers and eclipse chaser students from various schools and colleges attended the orientation workshop.
In Ahmedabad, the partial eclipse will be visible between 11:25 hours and 15:05 hours with a maximum eclipse at 13:21 hours said a senior scientist at the Science City. "Individual groups from Delhi and Bangalore will also be visiting a place called Varakala, there on," said Manoj Pai of the Astronomy club, Ahmedabad.
Elaborative arrangements have been made at Science City to facilitate the safe viewing of the partial solar eclipse on the January 15, 2010. Telescopes fitted with appropriate solar filters, solar image projectors, pin-hole camera, and solar filter goggles, NASA eclipse lenticulars have been arranged to facilitate safe viewing of this celestial event among a large number of students and visitors. The programme will be open for public between 11 am to 3:30 pm.
CBSE chief clears air on admission to other boards
Chairman of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Vineet Joshi has said the Board will write to all other boards in the country for “smooth” admission of its students to schools under their jurisdiction.
Speaking at an interactive session with heads of various CBSE schools in Kolkata on Wednesday, Joshi said like other institutions CBSE will also accept students of other boards. He said the purpose of the changes, which the CBSE is taking, is not to make watertight compartments.
Principals of various schools had raised the issue of transfer of students from one board to other.
The CBSE chairman said the Board has started discussion with parents across the country on the new changes it is embarking upon and he is keen to have such a discussion in Kolkata, too.
From the coming academic year, the CBSE would not have a Board examination for Class X students. This was the first interaction of the chairman with the heads of schools since the CBSE came up with optional board examination. West Bengal has around 130 schools affiliated to CBSE, including Kendriya Vidyalayas.link
Speaking at an interactive session with heads of various CBSE schools in Kolkata on Wednesday, Joshi said like other institutions CBSE will also accept students of other boards. He said the purpose of the changes, which the CBSE is taking, is not to make watertight compartments.
Principals of various schools had raised the issue of transfer of students from one board to other.
The CBSE chairman said the Board has started discussion with parents across the country on the new changes it is embarking upon and he is keen to have such a discussion in Kolkata, too.
From the coming academic year, the CBSE would not have a Board examination for Class X students. This was the first interaction of the chairman with the heads of schools since the CBSE came up with optional board examination. West Bengal has around 130 schools affiliated to CBSE, including Kendriya Vidyalayas.link
Class Xth sample paper 2010(science)
Time: 2½ Hrs. Mm: 60
Section A
Q 1. Give one use of anhydrous calcium chloride.
Q 2. Why is electrolysis of distill water is not possible. How it is made possible.
Q 3. A student obtains resistance of 16Ω, 12Ω, 4Ω, 3Ω only by using two metallic resistances wires either separately or joined together. What is the value of each resistor?
Q 4. Give a condition when Snell law fails.
Q 5. Why is series arrangement not satisfied for domestic circuit?
Q 6. A current through a horizontal power line flows east to west direction. What is the direction of magnetic field at a point directly below it? Which rule you will apply in this regard.
Q 7. A drop of water is poured over a white powdery substance ‘J’. I was observed the ‘J’ turns in blue substance ‘K’.
(i) What is white powdery substance ‘J’?
(ii) What is blue coloured substance ‘K’ and give nature of ‘K’. Give equation to convert ‘K’ to ‘J’.
Q 8. A nichrome wire has a resistance of 5Ω. Find the resistance of another nichrome wire, whose length is four times and area of cross section is three times the first wire.
Q 9. (i) What is meant by frequency of an alternate current?
(ii) What is its value in India?
(iii) Why is alternate current considered to be advantageous over direct current for long-range transmission of electric energy?
Q 10. What is rainbow? How it is caused.
Q 11. A compound ‘X’ gained importance as a important symbol in our struggle for freedom. This movement was popularly known as Mahatama Gandhi’s Dandi March. Compound ‘X’ was found to possess m.p. =1074K
(a) Identify the compound.
(b) Write the nature of chemical bond found in between atoms of this compound.
(c) Write any two physical properties other than its mp. & b.p.
Q 12. Define Modern Periodic law. Who gave the concept of this law?
How does electronegativity of an element vary on moving from-?
(i) Left to right in a period.
(ii) From top to bottom in a group.
Q 13. A straight copper conductor, whose ends are connected to a sensitive galvanometer, is moved up and down in a strong magnetic field.
(i) State your observations and name the phenomenon.
(ii) What is the nature of induced current generated in the conductor?
(iii) What kind of energy transformation takes place in the above experiment and name the scientist who done above experiment.
Q 14. (a) Draw a flow chart to show steps involved in extraction of metals from ore.
(b) Draw a labeled diag showing action of steam on metals.
Q 15. (a) A mirror forms 2 times real and inverted image when object is placed at a distance of 10 cm. At what distance should an object be placed so that image is 3 times virtual and erect?
(b) Define power of lens and write its S.I. unit
Or
Give reason for the following:
(i) The sky appears to be blue during daytime to a person on earth.
(ii) The sun appears circular during evening hours.
(iii) The stars appear to twinkle.
(iv) The planets do not twinkle.
(v) Danger signals are made of red colour.
Q 16. (a) An organic compound ‘Y’ is commonly used in medicine such as tincture iodine, cough syrup and many tonics.
(i) Identify the compound ‘Y’.
(ii) How will you convert to ethene? Give reaction involved.
(b) People use a variety of method to wash clothes; usually after adding the soap, they ‘beat’; the clothes on a stone of beat it with a paddle, scrub with a brush of the mixture is agitated in a washing machine. Why is agitation necessary to get clean clothes?
(c) Represent the formation of micelles with a well-labeled diagram.
(d) Give two differences between soap and detergent.
Or
(a) Write various steps used in nomenclature of organic compounds.
(b) Describe versatile nature of carbon.
(c) Give electron dot representation of benzene. What type of hydrocarbon it is.
Section – B
Q 17. Give an advantage of solar cell over windmill.
Q 18. Name the type of reproduction in Leishmania.
Q 19. When we eat something we like, our mouth ‘Waters’. What is the actual meaning of this statement?
Q 20. (a) What is advantage of taking in of water by fish through their mouth and forcing it past the gills?
(b) Compare the intestinal length of herbivores and carnivores.
Q 21. Give three common features in lungs & gills.
Q 22. Give the function of thymus gland and pineal gland.
Q 23. (a) What do you mean by Coliform?
(b) Why there is need to clean aquarium time to time.
Q 24. Three friends went for fishing to a pond. The nearby farms have fresh, greenish, insect free peas. Will you suggest them to sit there or to go elsewhere? Support your answer with suitable reason.
Q 25. Give principle of
(i) Solar cell
(ii) Wind mill
(iii) Geothermal energy.
Q 26. Give two limitation of nerve impulse. How can our body over come this?
Q 27. Answer the following by giving reason:
(i) Fossil furnishes the direct and most reliable evidence for evolution.
(ii) All organisms have many common features.
(iii) Tail of mice appears in next generation of it if its tail is cut down.
(iv) Artificial selection is beneficial.
(v) The population of red beetles disappeared and green coloured beetles population increased in each generation in spite of presence of predator like crows?
Or
Draw diagram of female reproductive system in humans and mark the organs where fertilization and implantation takes place.What happens if egg is not fertilized? After fertilization, a tissue is formed called placenta; explain its structure and functions?
Section A
Q 1. Give one use of anhydrous calcium chloride.
Q 2. Why is electrolysis of distill water is not possible. How it is made possible.
Q 3. A student obtains resistance of 16Ω, 12Ω, 4Ω, 3Ω only by using two metallic resistances wires either separately or joined together. What is the value of each resistor?
Q 4. Give a condition when Snell law fails.
Q 5. Why is series arrangement not satisfied for domestic circuit?
Q 6. A current through a horizontal power line flows east to west direction. What is the direction of magnetic field at a point directly below it? Which rule you will apply in this regard.
Q 7. A drop of water is poured over a white powdery substance ‘J’. I was observed the ‘J’ turns in blue substance ‘K’.
(i) What is white powdery substance ‘J’?
(ii) What is blue coloured substance ‘K’ and give nature of ‘K’. Give equation to convert ‘K’ to ‘J’.
Q 8. A nichrome wire has a resistance of 5Ω. Find the resistance of another nichrome wire, whose length is four times and area of cross section is three times the first wire.
Q 9. (i) What is meant by frequency of an alternate current?
(ii) What is its value in India?
(iii) Why is alternate current considered to be advantageous over direct current for long-range transmission of electric energy?
Q 10. What is rainbow? How it is caused.
Q 11. A compound ‘X’ gained importance as a important symbol in our struggle for freedom. This movement was popularly known as Mahatama Gandhi’s Dandi March. Compound ‘X’ was found to possess m.p. =1074K
(a) Identify the compound.
(b) Write the nature of chemical bond found in between atoms of this compound.
(c) Write any two physical properties other than its mp. & b.p.
Q 12. Define Modern Periodic law. Who gave the concept of this law?
How does electronegativity of an element vary on moving from-?
(i) Left to right in a period.
(ii) From top to bottom in a group.
Q 13. A straight copper conductor, whose ends are connected to a sensitive galvanometer, is moved up and down in a strong magnetic field.
(i) State your observations and name the phenomenon.
(ii) What is the nature of induced current generated in the conductor?
(iii) What kind of energy transformation takes place in the above experiment and name the scientist who done above experiment.
Q 14. (a) Draw a flow chart to show steps involved in extraction of metals from ore.
(b) Draw a labeled diag showing action of steam on metals.
Q 15. (a) A mirror forms 2 times real and inverted image when object is placed at a distance of 10 cm. At what distance should an object be placed so that image is 3 times virtual and erect?
(b) Define power of lens and write its S.I. unit
Or
Give reason for the following:
(i) The sky appears to be blue during daytime to a person on earth.
(ii) The sun appears circular during evening hours.
(iii) The stars appear to twinkle.
(iv) The planets do not twinkle.
(v) Danger signals are made of red colour.
Q 16. (a) An organic compound ‘Y’ is commonly used in medicine such as tincture iodine, cough syrup and many tonics.
(i) Identify the compound ‘Y’.
(ii) How will you convert to ethene? Give reaction involved.
(b) People use a variety of method to wash clothes; usually after adding the soap, they ‘beat’; the clothes on a stone of beat it with a paddle, scrub with a brush of the mixture is agitated in a washing machine. Why is agitation necessary to get clean clothes?
(c) Represent the formation of micelles with a well-labeled diagram.
(d) Give two differences between soap and detergent.
Or
(a) Write various steps used in nomenclature of organic compounds.
(b) Describe versatile nature of carbon.
(c) Give electron dot representation of benzene. What type of hydrocarbon it is.
Section – B
Q 17. Give an advantage of solar cell over windmill.
Q 18. Name the type of reproduction in Leishmania.
Q 19. When we eat something we like, our mouth ‘Waters’. What is the actual meaning of this statement?
Q 20. (a) What is advantage of taking in of water by fish through their mouth and forcing it past the gills?
(b) Compare the intestinal length of herbivores and carnivores.
Q 21. Give three common features in lungs & gills.
Q 22. Give the function of thymus gland and pineal gland.
Q 23. (a) What do you mean by Coliform?
(b) Why there is need to clean aquarium time to time.
Q 24. Three friends went for fishing to a pond. The nearby farms have fresh, greenish, insect free peas. Will you suggest them to sit there or to go elsewhere? Support your answer with suitable reason.
Q 25. Give principle of
(i) Solar cell
(ii) Wind mill
(iii) Geothermal energy.
Q 26. Give two limitation of nerve impulse. How can our body over come this?
Q 27. Answer the following by giving reason:
(i) Fossil furnishes the direct and most reliable evidence for evolution.
(ii) All organisms have many common features.
(iii) Tail of mice appears in next generation of it if its tail is cut down.
(iv) Artificial selection is beneficial.
(v) The population of red beetles disappeared and green coloured beetles population increased in each generation in spite of presence of predator like crows?
Or
Draw diagram of female reproductive system in humans and mark the organs where fertilization and implantation takes place.What happens if egg is not fertilized? After fertilization, a tissue is formed called placenta; explain its structure and functions?
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