9th JANUARY 2025 ENGLISH TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS PDF TNPSC SHOUTERS
Pongal gift package launched by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin
- To help the people of Tamil Nadu celebrate the Pongal festival in a better way, the Tamil Nadu government is providing Pongal gift packages through fair price shops every year. Similarly, this year too, a Pongal gift package has been announced. It includes many items including sugarcane, jaggery, and sorghum.
- However, it has been informed that cash will not be given with the Pongal gift. The opposition parties are insisting that cash should be given with the Pongal gift package. In this situation, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin launched the Pongal gift package scheme. He launched the scheme at a ration shop in Saidapet.
- 1 kg of sorghum, 1 kg of sugar, and whole sugarcane are being provided. Free dhotis and sarees are also being provided with the Pongal package. The Pongal package is being distributed from today to the 13th. 2.2 crore family card holders across the state are benefiting from this scheme
- The Governor appointed members who were recommended by the UGC in the search committee for the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor. However, in the order issued by the Tamil Nadu Higher Education Department, that member was removed. The Governor opposed this. This issue also exists in states including Kerala and West Bengal.
- In this context, the UGC has prepared new rules regarding the formation of a search committee for the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor. The new rules have been published under the title UGC (Minimum Qualification for Appointment and Promotion of Teachers, Academic Officers in Universities and Colleges) Rules 2025. This was released by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
- In it, "The university chancellor should appoint a search committee of three experts. (According to the current rules, the search committee will have 3-5 members. There is no limit on who should be included in the committee). Advertisement and public notice should be published in newspapers across India for the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor.
- The search committee will be headed by a representative appointed by the chancellor. The representative of the UGC chairman and a representative appointed by the university will also be included. (In many states, the state governments will recommend the governor's representative. In many states, this procedure was changed and the governor himself appointed it).
- It was said that educational institutions that do not implement this will not be able to participate in UGC schemes. Degrees will not be awarded." Furthermore, 30 days have been given to the general public, academicians and other people to comment on this.
- In this context, academicians and political leaders are strongly condemning the new rules of the University Grants Commission.
- In this situation, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, who had already condemned the issue, brought a separate resolution in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly today against the new rules of the University Grants Commission.
- This resolution was passed unanimously in the Legislative Assembly. The AIADMK supported this resolution. Only BJP members walked out in protest of this resolution.
- Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the 18th Overseas Indian Day Conference in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The 18th Overseas Indian Day Conference has been organized in Bhubaneswar from January 8 to 10, 2025 in collaboration with the Odisha State Government.
- The theme of this conference is ‘Contribution of Diaspora to the Developed India Project’. A large number of Indian origin members from more than 50 countries had registered to participate in this conference.
- The Prime Minister remotely flagged off the maiden voyage of the Pravasi Bharatiya Express, a special tourist train for overseas Indians.
