Union Government mandated scientists to undertake lectures in Public schools & colleges

Union Government mandated the scientists to formally take classes in schools and colleges in an academic year. It was announced by the Union Minister for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh on 8 September 2014.

Scientists working in different central agencies including the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) will undertake 12 hours of lecture classes in an academic year in public-funded schools and colleges across the country.

This will be implemented in coordination with the Union Ministry of Human Resources Development. This is a kind of engagement of free of any honorarium and it will be part of the duty the scientists.

Besides, he also announced few initiatives taken by the Union Ministry of Science & Technology. They are
• KIRAN (Knowledge, Involvement, Research, Advancement through Nurturing) for women scientists
KIRAN is a special promotion scheme to bring about, as far as possible, gender parity in the field of science and technology.
• The Department of Science and Technology got approval of Expenditure Finance Committee for participating in Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) project involving astronomy research institutes in India, US, Canada, Japan and China.
• Three new vaccines including indigenously developed Rotavirus vaccine will be provided to all Indian children as part of India's Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP).
• Another vaccine for adults to protect against Japanese Encephalitis will be introduced in high-priority districts.

Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT)
TMT will be the world's largest telescope when it becomes operational in 2023. It will be capable of peeping into the farthest corners of the Universe and address some of the most fundamental scientific problems of this century.

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