UK Minister of State for South Asia Lord Tariq Ahmad is set to visit India from May 27 to 31. During his visit, he will focus on deepening the ties between the two nations in terms of science and innovation. The visit follows after the agreement signed in April between India and UK in the sectors of science, research and innovation.

Lord Tariq Ahmad will meet with some of India’s top officials including External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra, Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla, and G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant during his trip. He will visit important historical and high-tech research sites in Jodhpur, New Delhi and Hyderabad and convene with various government officials.

The British High Commission in India has stated that solidifying the relationship between UK and India is a “key pillar” of the nation’s long-term foreign policy as part of their enduring engagement in the Indo-Pacific set out in the Integrated Review Refresh. It also points to the UK and India’s negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement which just concluded its ninth round of negotiations from April 24-28 and which is expected to bolster their current £36 billion trading partnership.

Lord Tariq Ahmad expressed his enthusiasm for building upon the UK-India Roadmap 2030, deepening the collaboration between the nations in terms of science and technology. He has indicated reviews of education, sustainability, and gender equality with female emerging leaders while in Rajasthan and will be launching English Skills for Youth program, co-developed by the British Council and Microsoft India, to facilitate job opportunities for younger generations.

The British High Commission in India has played a key role in strengthening the relationship and ties between the United Kingdom and India. They have facilitated negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement between the two countries and have supported the launch of initiatives to help further develop the partnership. The British High Commission in India also plays a key role in facilitating the visits of British officials to India to help build upon the UK-India relationship.

As UK Minister of State for South Asia, Lord Tariq Ahmad seeks to solidify and further the relationship between the UK and India using his visit and offer further insight into how science, research and innovation can bring the two nations closer together. He also aims to leverage the UK’s standing as an independent trading nation by increasing trade and investment opportunities and further championing free-trade while in India.

Girls in Punjab, India showed that they can outperform boys in the Punjab Board Class 10 exam with the top three spots being clinched by female students. Results of both the Class 10 and Class 12 Board exams were declared by Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) last Friday and Wednesday respectively.

Gagandeep Kaur from Sant Mohan Das Senior Secondary School in Faridkot district emerged as the topper with a perfect score of 100%. Her classmate Navjot followed second place and secured 648 out of 650 marks. The third rank was earned by Harmandeep Kaur of Government High School, Mansa district with 646 marks.

A total of 2,90,796 students appeared for the Class 10 Board exam, out of which 2,81,905 succeeded. Girls constituted the majority of the passing population with pass percentages of 98.46 whereas 96.73 was the grade of boys. School-wise break-up depicted 97.76 pass percentage in government schools and 97 pass percentage in other institutions. Urban areas had a pass percentage of 96.77 whereas rural had 97.94.

Chief Minister of Punjab Bhagwant Mann and State’s Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains expressed their best wishes to the students, teachers, and parents. The three top rank holders were felicitated with cash awards of Rs 51,000. Bhagwant Mann moreover lauded the state’s education department for their tireless efforts in ensuring quality education in each part of the state and helping many girls to be empowered by it.

Chhattisgarh government official was suspended after his act of draining reservoir in search of lost iPhone of an apple in Kanker district. Moreover, WBJEE result 2023 was announced recently as well and top 10 list was disclosed that could be viewed in the official website wbjeeb.nic.in. Candidates who aspire to take admission to various universities in the state of West Bengal can check and download their rank card by following some steps.

PSEB (Punjab School Education Board) is the governing body that looks after the school education system in Punjab. Set up after the educational department of Indian government, it is responsible for designing schemes, formulating rules, and managing school syllabuses, running examinations, and supervising the overall process of school education in the state. The board is also credited for introducing many initiatives like Virtual Learning Programme, Skill Development Programme, and National Scheme of Incentive to Girls for Secondary Education in Punjab.

On Friday, May 26, 2023, Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi explained the rich history of ‘Sengol’, a sceptre that was delivered to Lord Mountbatten as part of the power transfer from the British Empire to India. The Governor highlighted the role of Chakravarti Rajagopalachari who, per traditional trappings, arranged to have the ‘sengol’ created to the specifications of the Thiruvavaduturai Adheenam. This sceptre marked the transfer of power to then Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, who was unfamiliar with the ancient Indian ceremonies, and was reported by The Hindu and other national newspapers.

To commemorate this historic event, the Governor has proposed to install the sceptre in the new Parliament Building. This ancient ceremony will be a reminder of the country’s “tryst with tradition” and carry forward the traditional practices of kings transferring the sceptre to their successors.

The jeweller created the sceptre was famously from Madras and was given the specifications specified by the Thiruvavaduthurai Adheenam. After sanctifying the sceptre, it was conveyed to Jawaharlal Nehru, accompanied by readings of ‘Thevaram’ hymns of Sri Thirugnanasambandar.

Lord Mountbatten, formally known as His Serene Highness Prince Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas of Battenberg, had a key role in India’s transition from British rule. He served as the last Viceroy of India, from 11 March 1947 until 14 August 1947. He was chosen by Prime Minister Clement Atlee after his predecessor, Wavell, refused the post due to personal reasons. His actions in India earned him praise and consideration from both the British government and the people of India. Mountbatten worked tirelessly to ensure a peaceful transition from British rule to Indian independence, winning the hearts of many Indians.

Rajaji, or C. Rajagopalachari, is among the most important figures in Indian history for his contribution to the Indian Nationalist Movement. He was the first Indian Governor-General of India, and his tenure in office lasted from 1948 to 1950. He was also a major political figure from 1937 to 1950 and was active in the Indian independence movement from 1921 to 1922 when he joined Mahatma Gandhi’s non-cooperation movement. Rajaji was a respected philosopher and wrote the famous Hindu scripture, Bhagwad Gita, in his own style. His actions in facilitating the peaceful transition from British rule to self-rule in India won him adoration and respect from his people.