INDIAN AIR FORCE DAY

 

India Celebrates 93rd Air Force Day

The nation is celebrating the 93rd anniversary of the Indian Air Force (IAF) today. Established on the 8th of October in 1932, this momentous occasion marked the beginning of a vision for air power that would shape the nation’s defence for decades to come. On this occasion, Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan, Army Chief, General Upendra Dwivedi, Navy Chief, Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi and Air Force Chief, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh paid tributes to the bravehearts at the National War Memorial in New Delhi today. 

 

 

Additionally, the Air Chief Marshal extended his greetings to the nation on the eve of the 93rd Air Force Day through a video message. Mr Singh said that Air Force Day is dedicated to those brave air warriors who have safeguarded the skies of our nation through their sacrifice, dedication, and professionalism.

 

 

President Droupadi Murmu also extended greetings to all air warriors, veterans, and their families on Indian Air Force Day. In a social media post, the President lauded the Indian Air Force (IAF) for its exemplary courage, commitment, and excellence in service to the nation. She said that the Air Warriors have always protected the country’s skies and contributed selflessly during disasters and humanitarian missions. President Murmu noted that the IAF has made the nation proud with its strength, professionalism, and readiness to meet every challenge. She also extended her wishes to the Indian Air Force for continued success in all its future endeavours.

India Education History

 India's education history spans from Vedic oral traditions and the ancient Gurukul system to renowned ancient universities like Nalanda. The Medieval period saw Islamic influence, with a focus on Persian and Arabic. British colonial rule introduced a Western-style, English-medium system, while post-independence India focused on mass literacy and launched higher education institutions like the IITs. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 marks a recent shift toward a more holistic, technology-driven, and flexible educational framework. 

Ancient India (Vedic Period)

Gurukul System: The earliest system, the Gurukul, involved students living with their teachers (gurus) to receive holistic education in exchange for helping with household tasks. 

Oral Tradition: Knowledge was transmitted through oral recitation of hymns, scriptures, and poems, emphasizing memory and spiritual growth. 

Ancient Universities: Major centers of learning, such as Nalanda, Takshashila, and Vikramshila, attracted scholars from around the world and taught diverse subjects like religion, philosophy, medicine, and mathematics. 

Medieval India

Islamic Influence: With the rise of Islamic empires, education in Persian and Arabic became prominent. 

Curriculum: The curriculum included the study of the Quran and Islamic history, alongside subjects like calligraphy, mathematics, grammar, and various secular topics. 

Colonial Rule 

British System: The Macaulay Minute of the 1830s, championed by Thomas Babington Macaulay, introduced a modern schooling system focused on English language and Western scientific subjects, often disparaging traditional Indian learning.

Limited Access: This system primarily targeted a small segment of the upper and middle classes.

Post-Independence India

Focus on Mass Literacy: After India gained independence in 1947, the focus shifted to expanding literacy and elementary education. 

Higher Education Expansion: The establishment of prestigious institutions like the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) significantly boosted higher education and technical training. 

Right to Education (RTE): The Right to Education Act 2009, derived from the 86th Constitutional Amendment, made free and compulsory education for children aged 6–14 a legal right. 

Modern Era

National Education Policy (NEP) 2020: This policy aims to make Indian education more holistic, flexible, and multidisciplinary, aligning it with 21st-century needs and fostering student creativity. 

Technology Integration: There is a growing emphasis on technology-driven education, with online learning platforms and digital tools becoming increasingly important. 

Education

Education is the process of facilitating learning, or the acquisition of knowledge, skills, values, beliefs, and habits. Educational methods include storytelling, discussion, teaching, training, and directed research. Education frequently takes place under the guidance of educators, however learners may also educate themselves. Education can take place in formal or informal settings and any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts may be considered educational. The methodology of teaching is called pedagogy.

Formal education is commonly divided formally into such stages as preschool or kindergarten, primary school, secondary school and then college, university, or apprenticeship.

A right to education has been recognized by some governments and the United Nations.In most regions, education is compulsory up to a certain age.Education began in prehistory, as adults trained the young in the knowledge and skills deemed necessary in their society. In pre-literate societies, this was achieved orally and through imitation. Story-telling passed knowledge, values, and skills from one generation to the next. As cultures began to extend their knowledge beyond skills that could be readily learned through imitation, formal education developed. Schools existed in Egypt at the time of the Middle Kingdom.

Matteo Ricci (left) and Xu Guangqi (right) in the Chinese edition of Euclid's Elements published in 1607

Plato founded the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in Europe. The city of Alexandria in Egypt, established in 330 BCE, became the successor to Athens as the intellectual cradle of Ancient Greece. There, the great Library of Alexandria was built in the 3rd century BCE. European civilizations suffered a collapse of literacy and organization following the fall of Rome in CE 476.

In China, Confucius (551–479 BCE), of the State of Lu, was the country's most influential ancient philosopher, whose educational outlook continues to influence the societies of China and neighbours like Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. Confucius gathered disciples and searched in vain for a ruler who would adopt his ideals for good governance, but his Analects were written down by followers and have continued to influence education in East Asia into the modern era.