An all-out effort is being made to promote Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s interactive session with school students on examination stress, Pariksha Pe Charcha, which will be a held face-to-face on Friday after a gap of two years.

The education ministry on Thursday asked vice-chancellors of all central universities to organise congregations of students on campuses where they could watch the event live. The VCs have been advised to follow Covid-19 protocols while organising the events.

Last week, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) asked its 27,000 affiliated schools to make arrangements for students to watch the programme.

“The ministry wants to facilitate viewing of the programme. We are asking about 60 to 70 students to come to the auditorium to view the programme with faculty members. On our Facebook page, the programme will be live, too. We have displayed posters on the campus about the event already,” said the VC of a central university.

In a circular, the CBSE said the programme would be available on Doordarshan National, DD News, DD India, All India Radio, Swayam Prabha channels and websites of the education ministry, the PMO website and MyGov.in.

“This programme would focus on some of the key questions on examination, you are requested to ensure maximum participation of students, teachers, guardians/parents and staff at your school,” the CBSE circular stated.

The main event will be organised at Talkatora stadium here where 1,000 students of Class IX to XII will be present to ask questions to the Prime Minister.

In December 2021, the CBSE had asked aspiring participants to make posters and videos on the event and post them on their social media accounts.

This year, the Pariksha Pe Charcha aims to engage students, teachers and parents in discussions covering myriad topics.

For students, some of the themes are Self-reliant School for Self-reliant India and Digital Collaboration in Classrooms.

The themes for teachers are National Education Policy for Naya Bharat and the Covid-19 pandemic: Opportunities and Challenges.

For parents, the topics are Beti Padhao, Desh Badhao, Local to Global-Vocal for Local and Lifelong Students’ Yearning for Learning.

Maharashtra lifts Covid curbs

Mumbai: All pandemic-related restrictions will be lifted in Maharashtra from April 2, the state government announced on Thursday.

Gudhi Padwa, the Marathi New Year, falls on April 2.

“From Gudhi Padwa, all Covid-19 related restrictions under the Epidemic Diseases Act and Disaster Management Act will be withdrawn,” state health minister Rajesh Tope said in a tweet. Wearing masks would be voluntary, he added.

Delhi, too, has done away with fine for not wearing face masks.

PTI