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Bhubaneswar: The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) on Tuesday launched two online courses on sand art through the SWAYAM platform. The initiative is a collaboration with Padma Shri awardee and internationally-acclaimed sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik.The two courses, titled 'Introduction to Sand Art' and 'Principles and Formats of Sand Art', were designed and delivered by Pattnaik himself, bringing his decades of experience and global acclaim in sand sculpting into a structured online format. Available to learners of all age groups and backgrounds, the courses aim to nurture creativity, promote Indian art on a global scale, and provide accessible, skill-based education.Vice-chancellor of IGNOU Prof Uma Kanjilal, said, "This collaboration embodies the vision of NEP-2020 to integrate Indian Knowledge Systems and art forms into mainstream education. Through SWAYAM, we are proud to bring sand art to the fingertips of learners across the country and the world. This is the first-of-its-kind initiative to offer courses on sand art." The course was launched at the IGNOU headquarters in New Delhi.Each course consists of video lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on assignments. Learners will receive certificates upon successful completion. The introductory course focuses on basic tools, techniques, and creative expression, while the advanced course explores large-scale sand sculptures, thematic installations, and the cultural narratives behind this unique art form.Speaking at the occasion, Sudarsan Pattnaik said, "It is my dream to make sand art a global symbol of Indian creativity. With IGNOU and SWAYAM, we are now empowering thousands to learn this art from anywhere. This is not just a course but a celebration of India's heritage and storytelling through sand. I thank the Ministry of Education and IGNOU for making Sand Art a vocational and skill-based education form."
Puri: To celebrate Team India's remarkable victory in the Asia Cup 2025, Padma Shri awardee and internationally renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik has created a spectacular sand art installation today at Puri Beach, Odisha.Unveiled at 5 PM, the artwork is a vibrant tribute to the nation's cricket heroes. At the heart of the sculpture is a huge Sindoor (vermilion), symbolizing India's cultural pride and divine blessings. Surrounding it are key elements representing the spirit of victory: a cricket bat and ball, a Rafale fighter jet reflecting India's strength and resilience, and a miniature ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: The announcement by chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi to upgrade Puri municipality into a municipal corporation and revamp the tourist infrastructure marks a crucial turning point for Odisha's premier tourist destination. This long-overdue development comes at a time when the holy city faces increasing competition from emerging tourist destinations.Despite being one of Hinduism's char dhams and home to the revered Jagannath Temple, Puri's tourism infrastructure remained largely underdeveloped. As CM Majhi himself pointed out, visitors to Puri currently have limited options, primar ...Read More >
Puri: The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) on Wednesday constituted a committee to inquire into the alleged breach of security at the 12th-century shrine here after four unknown persons were found scaling the outer perimeter wall of the temple. The SJTA Chief Administrator has formed a committee, headed by the administrator (security), to inquire into the matter, Puri District Collector Chanchal Rana told reporters after a video of four persons scaling the garbage heap near 'Meghnada Pacheri' (outer boundary wall) went viral in social media. "Admitting that there was a lapse", Ra ...Read More >
Puri: Renowned international sand artist Manas Kumar Sahoo has created an impressive sand art display on the Golden Beach of Puri to commemorate Indian Navy Day. The artwork beautifully captures the essence of the Indian Navy and its significance, conveying the theme "The Crown Jewel." Spanning an impressive 20 feet in width and created using 10 tons of sand, this masterpiece took Sahoo a dedicated 7 hours to complete. Through his intricate artistry, he has depicted the story of the Indian Navy, showcasing its valor, dedication, and pivotal role in safeguarding the nation. The artwork stands ...Read More >
Puri: Marking World Health Day, renowned sand artist and Padma Shri awardee Sudarsan Pattnaik on Tuesday created a striking sand sculpture at Puri Beach in Odisha, saluting frontline workers and spreading the message, 'Together for Health, Stand with Science'. The elaborate sculpture, standing approximately six feet tall, was crafted using several tonnes of sand and showcased Pattnaik's signature style of blending art with social messaging. Assisted by students from his sand art institute, the installation depicted human figures symbolising unity, compassion, and the crucial role of science i ...Read More >
Agartala (Tripura) [India], June 5 (ANI): Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said that the state government is prioritising quality education for students, and quality teachers are being recruited through the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET). Saha also informed that more recruitments will be made in the future. Also Read | Centre Notifies Waqf Management Rules 2025; Portal, Database, Audit of Waqf Properties. "Textbook education can never be the standard of life. One can become morally strong through education. Along with education, children should also be engaged in social work," he said. CM ...Read More >
SHILLONG, July 13: Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman concluded her four-day visit to Meghalaya on Sunday with a stop at the Ramakrishna Mission School in Sohra -- an institution deeply woven into the state's educational and socio-political legacy. She paid floral tributes at the statues of Swami Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda, honouring the spiritual foundation upon which the Mission stands. Later, she toured the vocational training centre run by the institution, where around 100 women are currently enrolled in a free weaving programme aimed at promoting econ ...Read More >
Guwahati, Jul 15 (PTI) Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi will visit Assam on Wednesday during which they will interact with party functionaries of the state. State Congress chief Gaurav Gogoi said the district, block and mandal presidents of the party will be able to present their views before its top leadership during Kharge and Gandhi's visit. Also Read | Did Lucknow Court Judge Take Selfie With Rahul Gandhi During Hearing of Indian Army 'Defamation' Case? BJP's Amit Malviya Found Fake in Fact Check. "I look forward to welcoming Shri ...Read More >
Pune: Hospitals in Pune have started reporting an increase in dengue cases among children following recent heavy rainfall and intermittent showers. Conditions are now ripe for mosquito breeding, experts said, as they warned citizens to ensure there's no waterlogging or stagnant pools near homes and offices. "Dengue is typically seen first in children as they often play outside," said Dr Sagar Lad, a senior neonatologist and pediatric intensivist at Jehangir Hospital and Sahyadri Hospital, Shastrinagar. Dr Lad said he's seen at least three children admitted for dengue this week, with all of the ...Read More >
Chennai: Preliminary investigations attribute the fire on the goods train near Tiruvallur to a possible spark from overhead electrical equipment (OHE) igniting fuel leaking from a derailed wagon.The incident paralysed services on the busy Chennai-Arakkonam route and left nearby residents engulfed in thick black smoke. The disruption left thousands of rail passengers stranded, many of whom were unable to get updates as railway helplines went unanswered for hours. The train carrying diesel from Chennai Harbour to Walajah Road Siding was exiting Tiruvallur station around 5.30am on Sunday, when a ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], August 29 (ANI): With the Ganesh Chaturthi festivities gaining momentum across the country, people have welcomed Bappa in their own style. Ajay Kumar Mattewada, an internationally acclaimed micro-sculptor from Warangal, created a stunning piece of art by sculpting a dancing Lord Ganesha on the tip of an eyelash. In observance of Vinayaka Chavithi or Ganesh Chaturthi, Mattewade created the microsculpture, measuring only 0.37 mm (370 microns) in height. The creation is completely invisible to the naked eye and is viewable only through a microscope. For sculpting the same, h ...Read More >
SHILLONG, Dec 16: In a major development at the North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Sumarbin Umdor on Monday tendered his resignation from the post of Pro Vice-Chancellor, Shillong Campus, with immediate effect from the afternoon of December 15. In his resignation letter addressed to Vice-Chancellor Prabha Shankar Shukla, Prof Umdor stated that he has handed over charge to the Senior Pro Vice-Chancellor, Fameline K. Marak, in accordance with university norms. Explaining the circumstances leading to his decision, Prof Umdor said that over the past year, during the continued absence of the V ...Read More >
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman concluded her visit to Meghalaya by celebrating cultural heritage and infrastructure development. She praised Ramakrishna Mission's educational and women's empowerment efforts in Sohra, interacted with communities preserving ecological practices at Siej Village, and inaugurated development projects in Shillong, underscoring Meghalaya's commitment to sustainable progress. On the final day of her visit to Meghalaya, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharama ...Read More >
Chennai: Madras high court has clarified that private self-financing medical colleges are required to pay only a stipend, and not a full salary, to in-service govt doctors pursuing postgraduate or super-specialty courses under the govt quota.A division bench of Justice R Subramanian and Justice K Surender passed the order while partly allowing a batch of appeals moved by Karpaga Vinayaga Medical College and others. They challenged a single judge's order that directed private colleges to pay salaries to in-service doctors studying in their institutions.The appeals were moved based on a GO dated ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 16 (PTI) Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday dispelled the opposition's concerns that the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025 would undermine institutional autonomy and said the states would retain similar powers as they have presently. Earlier on Tuesday, Pradhan moved a resolution to refer the Bill proposing to set up a 13-member body for regulating higher education institutions to a joint committee of both Houses of Parliament. The proposal was approved by voice vote in the House. "There is no threat to institutional autonomy and even if the oppos ...Read More >
New Delhi, April 7 (PTI) Vice President C P Radhakrishnan on Tuesday said the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has played a transformative role in expanding higher education in India. Speaking as the chief guest at the 39th convocation of IGNOU held at its Baba Sahib Ambedkar Convention Centre in Maidan Garhi, Radhakrishnan described the university as a pillar of India's open and distance learning ecosystem. During the convocation ceremony, over 3.24 lakh received their degrees, diplomas and certificates on Tuesday. The vice president also presented gold medals to the top perfo ...Read More >
Puri (Odisha) [India], July 5 (ANI): Renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik paid tribute to the Bahuda Yatra with a striking sand sculpture on Puri beach on July 4, as the coastal town geared up for the return of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra to the Jagannath Temple from Shri Gundicha Temple. Preparations for the ceremonial return of the chariots, Nandighosha, Taladhwaja, and Darpadalana, are also in full swing, as thousands gathered along the Grand Road (Bada Danda) to witness the divine procession. Girijashankar Sarangi, a devotee, shared the significance of the occ ...Read More >
On the eve of Vinayaka Chavithi, Warangal's micro-sculptor Ajay Kumar Mattewada unveiled a marvel -- a tiny sculpture of a dancing Lord Ganesh on the tip of an eyelash. Famous for his ability to carve inside the eye of a needle, on strands of human hair and even on the head of a pin, Ajay's latest creation once again highlights his extraordinary precision and artistry. The sculpture of dancing Ganesh measures only 0.37 mm (370 microns) in height and is completely invisible to the naked eye, requ ...Read More >
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): The study of Unani system of medicine will now be taught in Hindi in Madhya Pradesh, Higher Education Minister Inder Singh Parmar announced while inaugurating the two-day event "Bharatiya Matrubhasha Anusthan (Sabyata, Sanskriti aur Ashmita Ka Sutra)" at Rabindra Bhawan on Sunday. Minister Parmar said the government has provided students with a voluntary language option for engineering and medical education in Hindi, and this move now extends to Unani medicine. He said that teaching in Hindi will help students better grasp AYUSH education. "Many countries are advanci ...Read More >
President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday honoured 20 artists with the Lalit Kala Akademi National Awards, and said that art is a powerful means of enriching cultural heritage and making the society more sensitive. The award ceremony also marked the culmination of the 64th National Exhibition of Art at the academy, featuring 283 art works from across the country in disciplines ranging from painting, sculpture, photography, and installation. "In Indian tradition, art has been considered a form of sp ...Read More >
Shillong: Union minister of finance and corporate affairs Nirmala Sitharaman concluded her four-day sojourn to Meghalaya with a visit to the historic Ramakrishna Mission Ashram School at Sohra (Cherrapunjee).Sitharaman paid floral tributes at the statues of Ramakrishna Paramhansa and Swami Vivekananda. The monks took the finance minister around the mission's vocational training facilities, where around 100 women are being trained in weaving free of cost.Swami Anuragananda, secretary of the Ramakrishna Mission, Sohra, shared that the minister had long been familiar with the institution's work." ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: The first phase of census operation involving self-enumeration process began in Odisha on Wednesday. Considered a major step towards India's first digital population count, the process is slated to continue till the midnight of April 15, during which people can submit their details online. In Odisha,. the process was formally launched with Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati initiating the self-enumeration phase. For the first time, the census is being carried out in a digital format. Director of Census Operations in Odisha, Nikhil Pavan Kalyan, said the exercise was formally launch ...Read More >
Puri (Odisha) [India], July 5 (ANI): Renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik paid tribute to the Bahuda Yatra with a striking sand sculpture on Puri beach on July 4, as the coastal town geared up for the return of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra to the Jagannath Temple from Shri Gundicha Temple. Preparations for the ceremonial return of the chariots, Nandighosha, Taladhwaja, and Darpadalana, are also in full swing, as thousands gathered along the Grand Road (Bada Danda) to witness the divine procession. Also Read | Navi Mumbai: Man Embezzles INR 1.9 Crore Cash Meant for ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) on Tuesday launched two online courses on sand art through the SWAYAM platform. The initiative is a collaboration with Padma Shri awardee and internationally-acclaimed sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik.The two courses, titled 'Introduction to Sand Art' and 'Principles and Formats of Sand Art', were designed and delivered by Pattnaik himself, bringing his decades of experience and global acclaim in sand sculpting into a structured online ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 15 (PTI) The Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill which seeks to set up an overarching higher education commission was introduced in Lok Sabha on Monday. Here is an explainer on the Bill: 1. What has the Bill proposed? The Bill proposes setting up an overarching higher education commission along with three councils for regulation, accreditation and ensuring academic standards for universities and higher education institutions (HEI) in India. 2. Which institutions will be covered under the commission? The commission will cover all central universities and colleges under it, ins ...Read More >
Puri (Odisha) [India], July 14 (ANI): Renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik created a sand art at Puri beach on Sunday. He crafted a sand idol of Lord Shiva to mark the first Monday of the auspicious Sawan month. Sudarsan Pattnaik said, The entire nation is devotional for the first Shravan Somvaar. We have made Lord Shiv 6-feet high sculpture... In Puri Jagannath Dham, there is a temple of Lord Loknath, and here also, many devotees have arrived. As an artist, I am praying to God to bless us with strength, peace and devotion. This year, Sawan began on July 11 and will conclude on August 9. I ...Read More >
Marking a major shift, the Centre will also ensure that the new regulator is divested of all funding/grant mechanisms, which will instead be handled by the Union education ministry. New Delhi: The Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025, set to be introduced in the Parliament this week, will do away with existing regulators AICTE and UGC (allowing a transitional role) and instead bring in a new 12-member regulatory council (Viksit Bharat Shiksha Viniyam Parishad). It will be backed by an acc ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 15 (ANI): The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), in collaboration with internationally acclaimed sand artist and Padma Shri awardee Sudarsan Pattnaik, has launched two pioneering SWAYAM online courses on Sand Art, marking a historic step in integrating India's rich cultural heritage into digital learning. According to an official release, these two courses - titled 'Introduction to Sand Art' and 'Principles and Formats of Sand Art' have been specially curated and delivered by Sudarsan Pattnaik, who brings decades of experience and global recognition in thi ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: Renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik has created a stunning sand sculpture at Janata Maidan to welcome Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) attending the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Bhubaneswar. His artwork features a magnificent depiction of Lord Jagannath alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Odisha. Taking to his X handle, Pattnaik wrote: "Jai Jagannath! Warmest welcome to Odisha for #PravasiBharatiyaDivas2025 I'm honored to showcase my sand sculpture at Janata Maidan, Bhubaneswar, as a tribute to all delegates and esteemed guests, incl ...Read More >