Caught Between Crisis and Exams: CBSE's third circular leaves Gulf students in prolonged uncertainty The crisis-hit Indian education system has left thousands of students from the Gulf region stuck between uncertainty and anxiety as the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) issued its third circular on the evaluation process, leaving little room for clarity. The latest development comes amidst the backdrop of a raging pandemic that has already disrupted academic schedules worldwide. The CBSE's first circular had stated that class 10 students would be assessed based on their performance in classes 9 and 10, while class 12 students would have to appear for board exams as scheduled. However, the second circular reversed this decision, stating that both classes would be evaluated through a mix of internal assessments and board exams. The third circular has once again changed the narrative, stating that only internal assessments would be conducted for class 10 students. For thousands of students studying in Indian schools in the Gulf region, this constant flux is causing undue stress and anxiety. With the academic calendar already affected by the pandemic, these students are now left wondering what lies ahead. "It's like being caught between a rock and a hard place," said Rakesh Kumar, a parent whose child is in class 10. "We don't know what to expect anymore." The uncertainty has also taken a toll on students' mental health, with many struggling to cope with the constant changes. "I'm finding it really difficult to focus on my studies when there's so much uncertainty surrounding our exams," said Rohan Thomas, a class 10 student. "It feels like we're being punished for something that isn't even our fau...#CBSE #Gulf_region #pandemic #Indian_education_system #class_10_students #class_12_students #board_exams #internal_assessments
CBSE Cancels Class 10 Board Exams In Middle East, Postpones March 7 Class 12 Paper The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has cancelled the class 10 board exams in the Middle East region and postponed the March 7 class 12 board exam paper due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The decision was taken by the board after consulting with various stakeholders, including schools and health experts. According to a statement issued by CBSE, the class 10 board exams scheduled for March-April this year have been cancelled in the Middle East region, which includes countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Iraq. The decision has been taken to ensure the health and safety of students and staff amidst the ongoing pandemic. The CBSE has also postponed the class 12 board exam paper scheduled for March 7 by a day. The new date for the paper will be announced later. This decision is expected to affect around 2 lakh students who were set to appear for the exams on March 7. The COVID-19 pandemic has been spreading rapidly across the world, and many countries have reported cases of the virus. As a precautionary measure, CBSE has taken this decision to ensure that students are not put at risk while appearing for their board exams. The CBSE has also issued guidelines to schools in the Middle East region to ensure that students continue their education without any disruption. The board has asked schools to prepare and submit the internal assessment marks of class 10 students, which will be used as the basis for evaluating their performance. This decision by CBSE is expected to provide relief to students who were anxious about appearing for their board exams during the pandemic.#Kuwait #Iraq #Qatar #Oman #Saudi_Arabia #Bahrain #CBSE #United_Arab_Emirates #COVID19
GitHub Copilot Now Features GPT-5.4 GitHub Copilot, the AI-powered coding assistant, has been upgraded to include GPT-5.4, a significant improvement in its language generation capabilities. This upgrade is now generally available for all users. GPT-5.4 represents a major leap forward in natural language processing (NLP) technology. It boasts improved understanding of context and nuances in human language, enabling it to generate more accurate and relevant responses. This enhanced capability will greatly benefit developers who rely on Copilot to assist with coding tasks, such as writing code snippets, suggesting fixes for errors, and even offering entire solutions. The inclusion of GPT-5.4 in GitHub Copilot marks a significant milestone in the evolution of AI-assisted development tools. It demonstrates GitHub's commitment to continuously improving its products by incorporating cutting-edge technology. This upgrade will not only enhance the user experience but also help developers be more productive and efficient in their work. One of the key benefits of GPT-5.4 is its ability to understand complex concepts and generate responses that are relevant to specific contexts. This capability will be particularly valuable when working with large codebases or navigating complex technical topics. Furthermore, GPT-5.4's improved understanding of language nuances will enable it to better handle ambiguity and uncertainty in human communication, leading to more accurate and effective interactions. The integration of GPT-5.4 into GitHub Copilot is a testament to the power of collaboration between AI researchers and software developers. By combining their expertise, they have created a tool that can significantly enhance the coding experience for professionals worldwide. With...#GitHub_Copilot #natural_language_processing #GitHub #GPT54 #AIpowered_coding_assistant #NLP_technology
Introducing GPT-5.4 Today, OpenAI is proud to announce the latest milestone in its journey to develop highly advanced language models: GPT-5.4. This new iteration marks a significant leap forward in terms of capabilities and performance, further solidifying OpenAI's position as a leader in the field of artificial intelligence. GPT-5.4 is a transformer-based language model that has been trained on a massive dataset of text from the internet. The primary goal of this project was to create an AI that can generate human-like responses to any given prompt, and GPT-5.4 achieves just that. With its vast knowledge base and ability to learn from feedback, it is capable of producing coherent and context-dependent text. One of the key features of GPT-5.4 is its ability to understand and respond to nuanced language. This includes understanding idioms, sarcasm, and figurative language, making it a valuable tool for a wide range of applications, from customer service chatbots to language translation systems. In addition to its impressive language processing abilities, GPT-5.4 has also been designed with safety in mind. The model is equipped with various mechanisms to prevent harm or misuse, such as limiting the length and complexity of generated text, and ensuring that it does not produce harmful or offensive content. GPT-5.4 has numerous potential applications across industries, including education, healthcare, and customer service. It can be used to generate personalized learning materials, provide emotional support to patients, and assist customers in finding solutions to their problems. OpenAI is committed to using its technology for the betterment of society, and GPT-5.4 is no exception. The team plans to use this new language model to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of various applications, ultimately leading to positive change in people's lives. With GPT-5.4, OpenAI ...#OpenAI #Artificial_Intelligence #GPT_54
Investors Continue Selling Stocks as Crude Gets Dearer Global investors continued to offload stocks, fuelling a massive selloff on the equity markets, even as oil prices surged to their highest levels in years. The relentless climb in crude prices has sparked concerns about inflation and its potential impact on economic growth, prompting investors to reassess their portfolios and adjust their risk profiles. The latest data from global financial institutions showed that foreign institutional investors sold a net $2.4 billion worth of Indian equities last week alone, contributing significantly to the market's downward spiral. This is in addition to the cumulative selling of over $5 billion by these investors since the start of the year. Analysts believe that the sustained rally in crude prices has led many investors to question their exposure to riskier assets like stocks and have instead opted for safer bets such as bonds, gold, and government securities. "The market is getting increasingly concerned about the impact of higher oil prices on inflation and economic growth," said a leading analyst. "Investors are taking a cautious approach, selling off stocks to reduce their exposure to potential downside risks." Oil prices have risen sharply in recent weeks due to various factors including supply disruptions, geopolitical tensions, and strong demand. Crude prices surged by over 15% last week alone, with Brent crude reaching a four-year high of over $75 per barrel. The sharp decline in the Indian rupee against the US dollar has also added to the woes of investors, making imports more expensive and fuelling inflationary concerns. The rupee has depreciated by over 10% against the greenback since Janua...#inflation #economic_growth #crude_oil_prices #indian_equities #foreign_institutional_investors #brent_crude #us_dollar #indian_rupee
Trade Setup for March 6: Top 15 Things to Know Before the Opening Bell as Focus Remains on Iran War The US markets are likely to witness a volatile trading session today, March 6, amidst ongoing tensions in the Middle East. The previous day saw the Dow Jones Industrial Average plummet over 300 points after an Iranian missile attack targeted American military bases in Iraq. As investors await further developments, here are the top 15 things to know before the opening bell: 1. Iran War Fears: The US-Iran conflict has been escalating rapidly, with both nations exchanging blows and threats of further action. This could impact investor sentiment and global markets. 2. Oil Prices Spike: Oil prices surged over 3% on Wednesday as investors feared disruptions in oil supplies due to the Iran-US tensions. Crude oil futures were trading around $62 per barrel. 3. Dow Jones Plunges: The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 323 points, or about 1%, to close at 29,063.94 points, while the S&P 500 declined 34.6 points, or about 0.9%, to end at 3,337.59 points. 4. US Treasury Yields Rise: The yield on the benchmark 10-year US Treasury note rose 5 basis points to 1.83% amid expectations of increased demand for safe-haven assets. 5. European Markets React: Major European stock markets also reacted negatively to the rising tensions between Iran and the US, with indices such as the Euro Sto...#iran_war #us_iran_conflict #dow_jones_industrial_average #s_p_500 #oil_prices #crude_oil_futures #us_treasury_yields #european_stock_markets #china_us_trade_negotiations #gdp_data #durable_goods_orders #jobless_claims #retail_sales #fomc_minutes #corporate_earnings #boeing #caterpillar #mcdonalds
Stock Market LIVE Updates: Sensex Falls 500 Points, Nifty Opens 150 Lower After Dow Sell-Off The Indian stock market opened sharply lower today, with the benchmark Sensex falling over 500 points and Nifty50 trading over 150 points lower amid a global sell-off triggered by the US markets. The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged around 700 points overnight, which had an impact on Asian markets including India. The Sensex fell as much as 543 points to 41,113.45 in early trade, while Nifty50 dropped 164 points to 12,145.75. The broader market indices also witnessed significant losses, with the BSE MidCap and SmallCap falling up to 1.5% each. The fall was led by banking stocks, which were hit hard after a decline in bond yields. Banking stocks like HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, and Kotak Mahindra Bank fell between 2-4%. The Nifty Financial Services index plummeted nearly 3%. Other sectors that saw significant losses included auto, realty, and FMCG. Maruti Suzuki, the country's largest car maker, fell over 3%, while Hindustan Unilever and ITC dropped around 2% each. Investors are also wary ahead of the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) monetary policy review next week, which could impact interest rates and bond yields. The RBI is expected to keep interest rates unchanged but may signal a change in its stance later this year. The global sell-off was triggered by concerns over rising inflation and higher borrowing costs. The US Federal Reserve has hinted at an interest rate hike later this year, which has led to a decline in bond prices and a rise in yields. The Indian rupee also fel...#Sensex #Nifty50 #HDFC_Bank #US_Federal_Reserve #Dow_Jones_Industrial_Average #ICICI_Bank #Axis_Bank #Kotak_Mahindra_Bank #Maruti_Suzuki #Hindustan_Unilever #ITC #Reserve_Bank_of_India
Rising Bharat Summit 2026: Govt Holds 49% In Vodafone Idea, Won't Enter Management In an interview with Nalin Mehta at the Rising Bharat Summit, Jyotiraditya M Scindia said that the government now holds a 49% stake in Vodafone Idea after paying off the Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) dues. The minister clarified that despite owning a significant portion of the company, the government has no intention to enter into its management. Scindia explained that the government's primary goal is to ensure that the telecom sector remains competitive and healthy, adding that the state will not dictate how Vodafone Idea operates or makes decisions. He emphasized that the government's role is limited to being a shareholder and providing regulatory oversight. The minister also highlighted the importance of the telecom sector in India's economic growth, stating that it has been instrumental in bridging the digital divide between urban and rural areas. Scindia expressed confidence that Vodafone Idea will continue to play a vital role in this space, especially with its renewed focus on 4G and 5G services. In response to questions about the future of the telecom sector, Scindia predicted that India will see significant growth in the coming years, driven by increasing adoption of digital technologies and the government's efforts to promote digital payments. He also emphasized the need for a level playing field in the sector, ensuring that all players have equal opportunities to compete and grow. The minister concluded by stressing the importance of collaboration between the government, private sector, and civil society to achieve India's development goals.#Vodafone_Idea #Jyotiraditya_M_Scindia #Rising_Bharat_Summit_2026 #Adjusted_Gross_Revenue #AGR_dues #4G #5G
AGR Panel Cuts VI Dues By Rs 27,000 Crore The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Arbitration Mechanism (TDSAT) has ordered a reduction of around Rs 27,000 crore in the dues payable by Vodafone Idea Limited (VI) to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). The order comes as a relief to VI, which has been struggling to stay afloat due to the massive debt it inherited after merging with Idea Cellular and acquiring Vodafone India. The TDSAT's decision is based on its interpretation of the Supreme Court's judgment in the AGR case. In 2020, the SC had upheld the DoT's calculation of adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues payable by telecom operators, but left room for some adjustments to be made. VI had argued that the DoT's calculations were incorrect and sought a reduction in its dues. The TDSAT has now accepted VI's plea and reduced the company's AGR dues by around Rs 27,000 crore. The order is a significant development for VI, which has been seeking relief from the massive debt it inherited after merging with Idea Cellular and acquiring Vodafone India. The company had claimed that its AGR dues were incorrect and that it was not in a position to pay such a large amount. VI's debt burden has been a major concern for investors and analysts, who have questioned the company's ability to stay afloat. The reduction in AGR dues will provide some relief to VI, but the company still faces significant challenges in paying off its debts. VI has already defaulted on several loan payments and has sought waivers from lenders. The TDSAT's order is also seen as a blow to the DoT, which had been seeking to recover as much of the AGR dues as possible. The DoT had calculated VI's ...#Supreme_Court #Bharti_Airtel #Vodafone_Idea_Limited #Department_of_Telecommunications #TDSAT #AGR_case #Idea_Cellular #Vodafone_India #Reliance_Jio
UP urban transition after 2017 - A shift to non-agricultural economy #economy #urban #transition #non-agricultural_economy #urban_transition
Vodafone Idea License Fee May Drop Up to 65% After DoT Reassessment: CNBC Awaaz Exclusive In a significant development, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is set to reassess the license fee payable by Vodafone Idea Limited, which could lead to a reduction of up to 65% in the amount owed. This exclusive report comes as a major relief for the debt-ridden telco, which has been struggling to service its massive debt burden. According to sources familiar with the matter, the DoT is reviewing the license fee calculation methodology, which could result in a substantial decrease in the amount payable by Vodafone Idea. The reassessment is part of the government's efforts to ease the financial burden on telecom operators and promote healthy competition in the industry. As per the current calculations, Vodafone Idea owes the DoT approximately ₹4,500 crore as license fee for the 2017-2021 period. However, if the DoT accepts the revised methodology, the telco may need to pay only around ₹1,600 crore, a reduction of over 65%. This development is likely to have a positive impact on Vodafone Idea's financials, which have been under pressure due to high debt levels and intense competition in the market. The telco has been seeking relief from the government to ease its financial woes, and this reassessment could be a significant step towards achieving that goal. The news sent shockwaves through the Indian stock markets, with Vodafone Idea's shares surging by over 10% on the back of the report. The stock has been under pressure in recent times due to concerns about the company's financial health and its ability to service its debt. However, this development could be a major catalyst for the stock, which is expected to continue its upward momentum in the coming days. The DoT's decision to reassess the license fee calculation methodology is seen as a significant step towards promoting a hea...#Vodafone_Idea #DoT #CNBC_Awaaz
