Hi Friends,

Even as I launch this today ( my 80th Birthday ), I realize that there is yet so much to say and do. There is just no time to look back, no time to wonder,"Will anyone read these pages?"

With regards,
Hemen Parekh
27 June 2013

Now as I approach my 90th birthday ( 27 June 2023 ) , I invite you to visit my Digital Avatar ( www.hemenparekh.ai ) – and continue chatting with me , even when I am no more here physically

Sunday, 14 July 2024

Ease of Living : Agenda for Third Term

 


 

Context :

Ease of living issues high on agenda at PM-chaired NITI Aayog meeting  ….  Busi Line …….. 14 July 2024


Extract :

Modi wants, businessline has learnt, to finally give comprehensive shape in his third regime to ease of living issues for the benefit of common man, he has been talking about in the last one decade at power.


That essentially would mean easy access to welfare schemes and quality in service delivery, said government sources.


It is learnt that the participants including Chief Ministers of States and Lt Governors have been apprised beforehand that the theme of ease of living will figure prominently in the NITI Aayog’s Governing Council meeting.


But, government sources stated that a detailed agenda was being worked out and would be shortly shared with the participants ahead of the meeting in Delhi.


The letter to CMs and LGs also stated that the theme ease of living was deliberated extensively at the 3rd National Conference of Chief Secretaries held late last December.


Removing bureucratisation

The Chief Secretaries had converged on five sub-themes that they thought were necessary to weed out bureaucratisation of governance and delivery mechanism. They are land and property; electricity; drinking water; health; and schooling.


The public’s maximum exposure with the government happens in these domains, and, if things get simplified, it would bring much relief from routine hassles in their lives, believe sources.


About 21 States and UTs have enacted acts to give right to public services, which binds the administrations for timely delivery of services such as issuing certificates for caste, birth, marriage and domicile, besides land record copies, ration cards, voters’ cards, and electric connections. Still, the struggle for people is far from over due harassment by government officials


Apart from that, the NITI Aayog Governing Council will also take a stock of the vikasit bharat@2047 matter,  which is a road-map and outcome-oriented action plan to make India a developed nation when India turns 100.

 

Dear Narendrabhai ,

 

There are over 2,370 government  WELFARE  SCHEMES


Central Government Schemes >      510 +

State Government Schemes    >   1,850 +


These are listed / detailed on : myScheme.gov.in 


Questions :

Ø  How many of our 140 crore citizen, even know about this online source for finding

    suitable schemes ?

[  How many of those Chief Ministers attending the NITI  meeting on 27th July,

   know about this portal ? ]


Ø  Has any Government Officer ever tried to search on this portal, schemes  for which she

 is eligible ?


If she did then she will tell you that :


#   It is a very laborious and complicated process to search/find,  schemes for

      which a visitor is eligible

#   At the end of search-process, the schemes SUGGESTED by portal , are just

      not meant for her  !

 

Dear Prime Minister :


If Mohamed cannot go to Mountain, then let the Mountain go to Mohamed


If potential beneficiaries cannot find the schemes for which they are eligible , can we

make those SCHEMES go out and find those who are ELIGIBLE ?


Not only is my suggestion eminently possible , it is the only SURE WAY to enroll those

eligible for each scheme


For my detailed suggestion , please refer to my following earlier e-mail :


Ø  Thank You, Sumita Dawra  … ………………….09 April 2024

  

Hardly a day goes by without you exhorting Government Officers, to use Artificial

Intelligence ( AI ), for solving  “ Ease of Living “ issues


My suggestion requires use of AI Technology


For an “ Expert Opinion “ about feasibility of my suggestion, you may ask  

Shri Ashwini  Vaishnawji


 

With regards,


Hemen Parekh


www.My-Teacher.in  /  15 July 2024

 

 

 

Friday, 12 July 2024

Getting Your Children ready for Computer based NEET- JEE

 

 

Dear Parents / Principals :

Given the following News / Background , there is no time to lose

 

Time is NOW for your children to start :


Ø  Practicing Questions and Answers on their mobiles

 

Ø  Such practice using  >  www.My-Teacher.in ( No registration or login or fees )

 

News :

Ø  NEET-UG exam to be conducted online? Health Ministry, NMC on board to switch..  ET.. 13 July 2024

 

Extract :

The Union health ministry and National Medical Commission (NMC) are preparing to transition the NEET-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) exam

Ø  From a pen-and-paper Optical Mark Reader (OMR) format

Ø  To a computer-based test (CBT).

This shift is aimed at enhancing exam security and efficiency, following concerns over leaks and manipulations in previous exams.

 

The other major school exit exam – Joint Entrance Examination ( JEE ) – that determines admission to engineering colleges, however requires a student to attain a minimum of of 75 % in class 12 boards

The higher cut off in JEE serves two purposes:

Ø  Students cannot ignore school-level study

Ø  It helps to filter out overall student pool and ensure a certain base level of competence

 

 

Background :

 

There are only 1.10 lakh seats in all 710 medical colleges ( Government + Private ) combined. As against this, some 24 lakh students appeared in NEET held on 05 May 2024

The situation for engineering colleges is not much different.

For the JEE Main 2024, a total of 11.70 lakh students appeared for the B.Tech paper across both sessions (January and April)

In 2023, around 43,204 students were offered admission in IITs, NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs through JoSAA counselling

India has around 23 IITs, 31 NITs, 25 IIITs, and 28 GFTIs offering approximately 54,477 seats

The JEE (Joint Entrance Examination) is a computer-based test (CBT).

Both JEE Main and JEE Advanced are conducted online, except for the Drawing Test for B.Arch aspirants, which is a pen-and-paper-based test

JEE Main comprises multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and numerical value-based questions in subjects such as Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.

JEE Advanced follows a similar format but with more complex and challenging questions designed to test the deeper understanding and problem-solving abilities of the candidates.

 ==================================================

With Regards,

Hemen Parekh / 13 July 2024

 

Related Readings :


Ø  125 Days Roadmap – Part H……………………. 13 June 2024


Ø  Cheating in Exams : is only a Symptom ….10 Mar 2024


Ø  What Good is a Question Paper without an Answer Paper ?....... 22 Mar 2021


Ø  National Recruitment Agency ( NRA ) …………02 Feb 2020

 

Ø          Exam Malpractices ? No More !  ………………………9  Oct  2019

 

 

 

Thursday, 11 July 2024

For a Creative Child : Questions Beyond Syllabus

These questions are designed to match the comprehension level and curiosity of students from 5th to 12th standard, encouraging them to think beyond their textbooks and explore the broader implications and unknowns in each subject.


===================================================

For 5th Standard

SubjectQuestion 1Question 2Question 3Question 4Question 5
PhysicsWhy do magnets stick to some things?How do rainbows form?Why does the sun look yellow?Why do we have day and night?How does a kite fly?
ChemistryWhy does baking soda fizz in vinegar?Why do some things rust?Why does ice melt?Why do we need soap to clean?What makes bubbles pop?
BiologyWhy do plants need sunlight?How do birds fly?Why do we yawn?Why do our hearts beat?Why do some animals hibernate?
MathsWhy do we use numbers?How do we measure time?Why are shapes important?Why do we need math in cooking?How can we use math in sports?
GeographyWhy do we have different seasons?Why are there deserts?How are mountains formed?What causes earthquakes?Why are rivers important?
HistoryWhy did people build castles?How did people communicate before phones?Why were dinosaurs so big?How did ancient people travel?Why are old buildings important?
LiteratureWhy do we read stories?How do authors create characters?What makes a good story?Why do some stories have pictures?How are fairy tales different from other stories?
Environmental ScienceWhy do we need trees?How do animals help the environment?Why is recycling important?What happens if we waste water?Why is the sky blue?

For 6th Standard

SubjectQuestion 1Question 2Question 3Question 4Question 5
PhysicsWhy do things fall down?How do planes stay in the air?Why do different objects float or sink?Why does lightning happen?How do glasses help us see better?
ChemistryWhy do candles melt?How is plastic made?Why do some metals shine?How does a battery work?What makes fireworks colorful?
BiologyWhy do animals have different habitats?How do plants grow?Why do we dream?How do our senses work?How do animals adapt to their environment?
MathsWhy is zero important?How do patterns work?Why do we use graphs?How can math help us solve puzzles?Why do we need fractions?
GeographyWhy do volcanoes erupt?How are islands formed?Why are there different climates?How do glaciers move?Why do some places have earthquakes?
HistoryWhy did ancient Egyptians build pyramids?How did ancient people write?Why were knights important?How did explorers find new lands?Why did people make maps?
LiteratureHow do stories teach us lessons?Why do some books become famous?How are poems different from stories?Why do characters have names?How do illustrations help tell a story?
Environmental ScienceHow does pollution affect animals?Why are bees important?What can we do to save energy?How does composting work?Why are coral reefs important?

For 7th Standard

SubjectQuestion 1Question 2Question 3Question 4Question 5
PhysicsWhy do different materials conduct heat differently?How do magnets work?Why do we have different states of matter?How does sound travel?Why do some objects glow in the dark?
ChemistryWhy do we use different materials for different purposes?How are medicines made?Why do some things burn?How do chemical reactions happen?Why do we need clean water?
BiologyWhy do we need to eat a balanced diet?How do muscles work?Why do we get sick?How do ecosystems work?Why do plants and animals depend on each other?
MathsWhy are prime numbers special?How do we use math in everyday life?Why do we need algebra?How can we use math to make predictions?Why are some numbers negative?
GeographyHow do rivers shape the land?Why are some areas more prone to flooding?How do ocean currents affect climate?Why are natural resources important?How do people adapt to different environments?
HistoryWhy did ancient civilizations develop near rivers?How did people live in ancient times?Why did people fight in wars?How did trade shape ancient societies?Why do we study history?
LiteratureHow do authors come up with ideas for stories?Why do we read different genres?How do stories reflect the time they were written?Why do some stories have morals?How do we analyze characters in a story?
Environmental ScienceWhy are forests important to the Earth?How does deforestation affect the environment?What are the effects of climate change?How do we reduce waste?Why is biodiversity important?

For 8th Standard

SubjectQuestion 1Question 2Question 3Question 4Question 5
PhysicsHow do forces affect motion?Why do objects have inertia?How do simple machines work?Why do we have different types of energy?How does electricity flow?
ChemistryHow do atoms combine to form molecules?Why do some substances dissolve in water?How do we balance chemical equations?Why are some reactions exothermic?How are polymers made?
BiologyHow do cells function?Why do we have different types of cells?How do genes determine traits?How do our bodies fight infections?Why do some species become extinct?
MathsHow do we use probability in real life?Why do we study geometry?How do we solve equations?How can we use statistics to understand data?Why do we need functions in math?
GeographyHow do human activities impact the environment?Why do we have different biomes?How do weather patterns form?Why is water conservation important?How do natural disasters affect human populations?
HistoryHow did the Industrial Revolution change societies?Why did people migrate in the past?How did empires rise and fall?Why are historical documents important?How did ancient cultures influence modern society?
LiteratureHow do we interpret symbols in literature?Why do we study different literary movements?How do stories explore human nature?How do authors develop themes in their works?Why do we analyze poetry?
Environmental ScienceHow do ecosystems maintain balance?Why is conservation important?What are the causes and effects of pollution?How can renewable energy sources help the environment?Why are wetlands important?

For 9th Standard

SubjectQuestion 1Question 2Question 3Question 4Question 5
PhysicsHow do we use the laws of motion to predict movement?Why do we study waves?How do electromagnetic waves work?How does gravity affect space travel?Why do we use different types of circuits?
ChemistryHow do chemical bonds form?Why do we study the periodic table?How do catalysts work?Why do some elements have different isotopes?How do we use chemical reactions to create new materials?
BiologyHow do organs and systems in our body work together?Why do we study genetics?How do enzymes function in the body?Why do cells divide?How do organisms evolve over time?
MathsHow do we use trigonometry in real life?Why do we study quadratic equations?How do we analyze data sets?How do we use calculus in science?Why do we need to understand complex numbers?
GeographyHow do human activities contribute to climate change?Why are natural resources unevenly distributed?How do plate tectonics shape the Earth's surface?Why do we study population geography?How do we manage natural resources sustainably?
HistoryHow did the World Wars shape the modern world?Why did the Cold War happen?How did colonialism affect different regions?Why do we study revolutions?How do historical events influence current affairs?
LiteratureHow do we analyze a character's development in a story?Why do we study different literary theories?How do literary works reflect social issues?Why do authors use different narrative styles?How do we interpret a text's theme?
Environmental ScienceHow do human activities impact biodiversity?Why is sustainable development important?What are the challenges of renewable energy?How do we mitigate the effects of climate change?Why do we study environmental policies?

For 10th Standard

SubjectQuestion 1Question 2Question 3Question 4Question 5
PhysicsHow do we use the principles of energy conservation?Why do we study thermodynamics?How do quantum mechanics differ from classical mechanics?How do we use the Doppler effect?Why do we study the photoelectric effect?
ChemistryHow do we understand reaction rates?Why do we study organic chemistry?How do acids and bases react?How do we use spectroscopy in chemistry?Why do we study electrochemistry?
BiologyHow do we study the human genome?Why do we study ecosystems?How do hormones regulate body functions?How do we use biotechnology in medicine?Why do we study the immune system?
MathsHow do we use logarithms in real life?Why do we study probability distributions?How do we solve differential equations?How do we use vector calculus?Why do we need to understand matrix algebra?
GeographyHow do we study urban geography?Why do we study economic geography?How do natural hazards affect human societies?Why do we study sustainable development?How do we manage environmental risks?
HistoryHow did the Industrial Revolution lead to modern capitalism?Why do we study different political ideologies?How did the World Wars change global power structures?How do we understand historical continuity and change?Why do we study historical perspectives?
LiteratureHow do we analyze a text's structure?Why do we study literary criticism?How do we understand a text's historical context?Why do we study different genres?How do we interpret a text's meaning?
Environmental ScienceHow do we study ecosystem dynamics?Why do we study environmental ethics?How do we address environmental justice?How do we study global environmental change?Why do we study environmental sustainability?

For 11th Standard

SubjectQuestion 1Question 2Question 3Question 4Question 5
PhysicsHow do we use the principles of relativity?Why do we study quantum mechanics?How do we understand the behavior of light?How do we use wave-particle duality?Why do we study the uncertainty principle?
ChemistryHow do we study chemical thermodynamics?Why do we study coordination chemistry?How do we understand chemical equilibrium?How do we use analytical chemistry?Why do we study chemical kinetics?
BiologyHow do we study genetic inheritance?Why do we study population ecology?How do we understand cellular respiration?How do we use genetic engineering?Why do we study molecular biology?
MathsHow do we use complex analysis in real life?Why do we study differential equations?How do we understand statistical inference?How do we use linear algebra?Why do we study multivariable calculus?
GeographyHow do we study climate change?Why do we study cultural geography?How do we understand geographic information systems (GIS)?Why do we study global interconnections?How do we manage urban growth?
HistoryHow did the Renaissance influence modern thought?Why do we study the Enlightenment?How did colonialism shape modern economies?How do we understand historical causation?Why do we study historical narratives?
LiteratureHow do we analyze a text's themes?Why do we study literary periods?How do we understand a text's cultural context?Why do we study different literary forms?How do we interpret a text's symbols?
Environmental ScienceHow do we study biodiversity conservation?Why do we study environmental policy?How do we address environmental management?How do we study global environmental issues?Why do we study sustainable practices?

For 12th Standard

SubjectQuestion 1Question 2Question 3Question 4Question 5
PhysicsHow do we understand the theory of relativity?Why do we study particle physics?How do we use quantum field theory?How do we understand the nature of dark matter?Why do we study cosmology?
ChemistryHow do we study chemical bonding?Why do we study physical chemistry?How do we understand reaction mechanisms?How do we use computational chemistry?Why do we study spectroscopy?
BiologyHow do we study evolutionary biology?Why do we study developmental biology?How do we understand neural networks?How do we use bioinformatics?Why do we study systems biology?
MathsHow do we use real analysis in real life?Why do we study abstract algebra?How do we understand number theory?How do we use topology?Why do we study mathematical logic?
GeographyHow do we study global environmental change?Why do we study geopolitical issues?How do we understand sustainable development?How do we use remote sensing?Why do we study urban planning?
HistoryHow did the Cold War shape modern geopolitics?Why do we study economic history?How did social movements change societies?How do we understand historical interpretation?Why do we study historiography?
LiteratureHow do we analyze a text's style?Why do we study different literary movements?How do we understand a text's philosophical context?Why do we study different literary genres?How do we interpret a text's language?
Environmental ScienceHow do we study environmental impact assessments?Why do we study environmental law?How do we address climate change?How do we study renewable energy?Why do we study sustainable development?

Monday, 8 July 2024

Teach your Child to ask “ Why “

 


 

Here is Why :

Quote from book “ Teach Your Child to Think “ by Edward De Bono :


“ In my experience most schools do not teach thinking at all. Some schools teach the limited thinking skills involved in information sorting and analysis


Lately, there has been something of a surge in the teaching of thinking in schools. Some schools have begun to teach “ critical thinking “ . This is worthwhile but is also insufficient – and even dangerous – on its own ( as I shall explain later )


The CoRT Thinking Program which I designed is now in use with millions of students in various countries around the world. Even so, it is unlikely to be in use in the school your children attend “

 

Question :

How can you get your school-going child to “ start thinking “ ?

 

Answer :

It is quite simple . Start with yourself

In your mobile, type > www.My-Teacher.in  <

Select > Make Students Think : Questions Beyond Syllabus

Then “ ask “ by typing { or dictating by speaking aloud  } following questions :

 

Ø  Which are the most common shapes on Earth ? in the Universe ?

Ø  What has a human’s 10 fingers and 10 toes to do with the decimal system ?

Ø  When standing upside down on Earth, why don’t we fall off ?

Ø  In distant space, are there such notions as “ left , right , up or down “ ? If not, why ?

Ø  On the Earth, are there any measurements which do not follow any distribution curve ?

Ø  When passing through a prism, a ray of light breaks down into 7 different colors. This process can be reversed by painting a circular disc with those 7 colored strips and then rotating speedily. We get to see it as white. But why this does not happen when I mix water-based paints of those 7 colors ?

Ø  Why are mountains narrow peaked and wide bottomed ?  Why not other way around ?

 

Repeat this “ mental exercise “ , twice a day , with your child watching you


Do not tell your child to do what you are doing


Your child will “ suspect “ your motive !


But do tell her that using  www.My-Teacher.in , for “ learning to think “ , is a permissible use of her mobile


I call my program : BriBoToMo [ Bring Bono to Mobile ]


Try it. There is no better method of leading your child onto a path of “ discovering

 “ the “ Whys “ of this world

 

With regards,


Hemen Parekh

feedback@My-Teacher.in  / 09 July 2024

Sunday, 7 July 2024

Yes , Your Company can Donate an Interactive Panel to a Village School

 Following is my chat with ChatGPT :


I Asked :

" I would like to donate a Computerized and Internet connected , Interactive Panel to a village school in India. Could I offset that expense against my CSR ( Corporate Social Responsibility ) obligation under Indian Income Tax Act ? "


ChatGPT replied :

"  Yes, you can offset the expense of donating a computerized and internet-connected interactive panel to a village school in India against your Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) obligations under the Indian Income Tax Act, provided certain conditions are met.

Conditions to Meet for CSR Compliance:

  1. Eligible CSR Activity

  2. The donation should fall under one of the activities specified in Schedule VII of the Companies Act, 2013. 

  3. Educational initiatives, especially those improving technology and infrastructure in schools, typically qualify.

  4. Implementing Agency

  5. If you are donating through a third-party organization or NGO, ensure that it is a registered entity eligible to carry out CSR activities on behalf of companies.

  6. CSR Policy and Approval

  7. The donation should be part of your company’s CSR policy, and the expenditure should be approved by the company’s CSR committee.

  8. Accounting and Reporting

  9. Proper accounting and reporting of the CSR expenditure in the company’s financial statements and annual CSR report are required. This ensures transparency and compliance with CSR regulations.

Relevant Provisions:

  • Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013

  • This section mandates CSR for certain companies and specifies the types of activities that qualify as CSR.

  • Schedule VII of the Companies Act, 2013

  • This schedule lists the activities eligible for CSR. Promoting education, including special education and employment-enhancing vocation skills, especially among children, women, elderly, and the differently-abled, and livelihood enhancement projects are included.

Steps to Follow:

  1. Identify the Eligible CSR Activity

  2. Ensure that the donation qualifies as a CSR activity under Schedule VII.


  3. CSR Committee Approval

  4. Get the expenditure approved by your company's CSR committee.


  5. Proper Documentation

  6. Maintain records and documentation of the donation, including details of the recipient school, proof of donation, and how the donation is utilized.


  7. Annual Report

  8. Ensure that the expenditure is reported in the annual CSR report as part of the company’s financial statements.


Tax Benefits:

While CSR expenditures are not deductible under Section 37 of the Income Tax Act as a business expense, they are mandatorily required to be spent as per Section 135 of the Companies Act. Ensuring compliance with the CSR requirements will avoid penalties and ensure that the company meets its legal obligations.


If you need further assistance or specific guidance, consulting with a tax advisor or legal expert specializing in corporate law and CSR compliance in India would be beneficial.