Symbiosis International Education Centre, a Pune-based deemed university, has proposed separate batches for students belonging to the Other Backward Classes in the first year of its MBA degree course. According to the university this step is to “empower” OBC students to compete with “open quota” students.
“To upgrade the skills and knowledge of OBC students, we propose to start a separate batch for the first year MBA students who will join the ‘open category’ students in the second year”, said S.B. Mujumdar, chancellor of the university.
In his June 7, 2006 proposal to the University Grants Commission, Mujumdar said, he had observed that the OBC students need a special grooming or training in the first year so that in the second year they will not find it difficult to compete with the open category students on a level field. “This cannot be achieved by mixing the OBC students admitted on a reservation plank with the open category students”, the chancellor said.

India is set to defy international opposition to set up its third permanent base in east Antarctica in a proposed protected zone in the world's driest, coldest and most fragile continent. As the rocky site, dotted with freshwater lakes, at Larsemann Hills, East Antarctica, is in the middle of a proposed Antarctica Specially Managed Area (ASMA)—planned since 2000 by several nations (but not India) to reduce environmental impact—global groups are urging India to share Australia's existing Mawson station.
India’s proposed site, 600 km from its Maitri station, is also suitable because it’s near the ocean. That means construction is relatively easy. Goel emphasised that India's presence there would be 15-20 scientists for some months annually, compared with the 30,000 tourists who visit Antarctica every year. “We'll ensure there will be no significant environmental impact,'' said Ocean Development secretary PS Goel.