Third eye: Tapping skills offshore

Yet Another Launch The urban development ministry is preparing for yet another launch. This time it’s commemorating the first anniversary of Smart City mission on June 25. The 20 smart cities chosen through a competition are expected to showcase projects on that day for their formal launch. Last heard, 85 projects are ready and the ministry is hoping that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will agree to “launch” them.

Learning Law in Free Time Having rendered jobless by the Centre, Sanjiv Chaturvedi seems to have decided to make the most of his “free” time by contesting his own cases against the Centre. In one case, he has ended up earning appreciation from the presiding officer of CAT who has recorded in the order Chaturvedi’s “enormous assistance” in understanding and disposing of the matter.

Tapping Skills Offshore While HRD ministry plans its own IPR-backed online MOOCs portal, the National Skill Development Council is looking at foreign shores. Mike Feerick, CEO of the free online learning portal ALISON, which boasts of a million learners in India, made a quiet first visit to India recently and met NSDC officials to explore possibilities. Feerick is learnt to be planning a second trip.

Getting too Localised! Many are wondering about Rahul Gandhi’s increasing interventions on local issues in Delhi. Much to the chagrin of party workers, AAP has even “welcomed” him into Delhi politics. But leaders close to him have been attributing Gandhi’s interest to state Congress chief Ajay Maken’s over-enthusiasm to read a lot into the party’s recent municipal victories.