Late king of pop Michael Jacksons children Paris and Prince Jackson have got matching yin and yang (Chinese symbol) tattoos on their ankles to prove their close bond.

Paris and Prince inked the symbol, which in Chinese philosophy means balance, because they share the "same thoughts", reports dailymail.co.uk.

Paris shared a photograph of the body art on Instagram.

"‘Yin' the passive female principle of the universe, characterised as female and sustaining and associated with structure, night, the moon, fluidity, calmness, the earth, darkness, cold, death, and ascends energy," she wrote alongside the image.

"‘yang' the active male principle of the universe, characterised as male and creative and associated with function, the sky and sun, speed, expression, heaven, heat, light, birth, and descends energy," she added.

Paris went on to add that the siblings share same thoughts.

"Sometimes I feel like my big brother and I always think the same thoughts, he just doesn't have a filter and always vocalises them though total opposites, like my ‘gooko' and I, the inseparable yin and yang work together finding and causing balance within each other," she wrote.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has given his support after officials has set in motion the procedure that could lead English cricket to have a new eight-team Twenty20 tournament.

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chiefs, having seen the success of the Indian Premier League and especially Australia's city-based Big Bash Twenty20 tournaments, believe they need something similar to help them reach family audiences and encourage children to become fans of the sport.

However, the proposal has proved hugely controversial as, if enacted, it will mean that for the first time there is a major domestic cricket tournament in England that does not feature all 18 first-class counties.

At present, the ECB's rules state all those clubs must be involved in its competitions — the first-class County Championship, the 50-over One-Day Cup and the Twenty20 Blast.

But ECB chairman Colin Graves will formally ask his board on Tuesday to trigger a change in those regulations in a bid to initiate the process for creating the new tournament.

"This new Twenty20 league is a risk but sometimes you have to gamble to grow a sport," wrote Vaughan in his Daily Telegraph column published online on Monday.

"Australia, India, Pakistan and the Caribbean already have big Twenty20 tournaments. We are just playing catch up and it is about time too.

"Those of us close to the game think cricket is the centre of the world. But people outside cricket are not talking about our sport. It just does not grab the country's attention often enough outside Ashes series," the former Yorkshire batsman insisted.

The IPL and the Big Bash are the only senior domestic Twenty20 events in India and Australia respectively but the ECB plans to keep the Blast going alongside its new tournament, which it hopes to launch in 2020.

Monday saw the ECB present what it says was a "detailed overview" of its plans to its 41 members, comprising the counties, recreational boards and MCC.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has given his support after officials has set in motion the procedure that could lead English cricket to have a new eight-team Twenty20 tournament.

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chiefs, having seen the success of the Indian Premier League and especially Australia's city-based Big Bash Twenty20 tournaments, believe they need something similar to help them reach family audiences and encourage children to become fans of the sport.

However, the proposal has proved hugely controversial as, if enacted, it will mean that for the first time there is a major domestic cricket tournament in England that does not feature all 18 first-class counties.

At present, the ECB's rules state all those clubs must be involved in its competitions — the first-class County Championship, the 50-over One-Day Cup and the Twenty20 Blast.

But ECB chairman Colin Graves will formally ask his board on Tuesday to trigger a change in those regulations in a bid to initiate the process for creating the new tournament.

"This new Twenty20 league is a risk but sometimes you have to gamble to grow a sport," wrote Vaughan in his Daily Telegraph column published online on Monday.

"Australia, India, Pakistan and the Caribbean already have big Twenty20 tournaments. We are just playing catch up and it is about time too.

"Those of us close to the game think cricket is the centre of the world. But people outside cricket are not talking about our sport. It just does not grab the country's attention often enough outside Ashes series," the former Yorkshire batsman insisted.

The IPL and the Big Bash are the only senior domestic Twenty20 events in India and Australia respectively but the ECB plans to keep the Blast going alongside its new tournament, which it hopes to launch in 2020.

Monday saw the ECB present what it says was a "detailed overview" of its plans to its 41 members, comprising the counties, recreational boards and MCC.

President Donald Trump's administration wants the first $1 billion of border wall funding to cover 62 miles, including replacing some existing fencing along the US' southern border with Mexico, a media report said.

The $999 million requested by the White House in its budget supplement for just defence and border security spending would cover just 48 miles of the new wall, CNN quoted justification documents from the Department of Homeland Security as saying.

The administration requested $1 billion in its supplemental for 2017, and another $2.6 billion for border infrastructure and technology in 2018.

The documents describe exactly where the administration hopes to put its first instalment of the border wall.

The money will fund 14 miles of new border wall in San Diego, 28 miles of new levee wall barriers and six miles of new border wall in the Rio Grande Valley region and 14 miles of replacement fencing in San Diego. 

The fencing would likely include concrete elements, an official familiar with the plans told CNN.

Estimates for a full wall along the Southern border have ranged from $12 billion to more than $20 billion.

The documents also claim that Trump's executive orders on immigration enforcement were already having an effect, saying arrests have increased to 50 per cent and requests to detain arrested individuals who are deportable rose to 80 per cent. 

President Donald Trump's administration wants the first $1 billion of border wall funding to cover 62 miles, including replacing some existing fencing along the US' southern border with Mexico, a media report said.

The $999 million requested by the White House in its budget supplement for just defence and border security spending would cover just 48 miles of the new wall, CNN quoted justification documents from the Department of Homeland Security as saying.

The administration requested $1 billion in its supplemental for 2017, and another $2.6 billion for border infrastructure and technology in 2018.

The documents describe exactly where the administration hopes to put its first instalment of the border wall.

The money will fund 14 miles of new border wall in San Diego, 28 miles of new levee wall barriers and six miles of new border wall in the Rio Grande Valley region and 14 miles of replacement fencing in San Diego. 

The fencing would likely include concrete elements, an official familiar with the plans told CNN.

Estimates for a full wall along the Southern border have ranged from $12 billion to more than $20 billion.

The documents also claim that Trump's executive orders on immigration enforcement were already having an effect, saying arrests have increased to 50 per cent and requests to detain arrested individuals who are deportable rose to 80 per cent. 

A gunfight erupted on Tuesday between militants and security forces in Kashmir's Budgam district, police said.

As soon as the security forces cordoned off Durbugh village following information about the presence of the militants holed-up in a house, they were fired at, triggering the fighting.

"Initial reports said one or two militants were hiding," the police added. 

Visibly left out in the journey of Himachal Pradesh’s progress, poor people in the trans Giri belt in Sirmaur district of the state are forced to swing back to come forth.

Seven decades after independence, they are demanding tribal status for the area.

The plea taken is that over 2.5 lakh people in 127 Panchayats in this tough terrain across the Giri River in Sirmaur have a tribal like lifestyle and their customs and culture is different from the mainstream.

As also, the similar adjacent pocket of Jaunsar Bawar in Uttrakhand got the tribal status from Centre in the late 60s, but trans Giri Sirmaur did not get it for indifferent state leaders then, and even after that, failing to take up the case effectively.

The trans Giri area in Sirmaur includes Shillai, Sangrah, Rajgarh, Kamrau and parts of Paonta Sahib, with dominance of Hatti community (referred to as a tribe). 

 It presents a perfect picture of political neglect in terms of development, despite the fact that founder, Chief Minister of HP, Dr YS Parmar came from Sirmaur.  “What else can we do? The local politicians have always taken advantage of our unawareness. The Scheduled Tribe (ST) status would atleast get us earmarked funds from Central government for development,” said locals in Shillai, one of the most backward sub-divisions in India.

“It’s true. The area has been ignored all these years. The onus is on the political party, which ruled the state and even Sirmaur for long. The tribal status will help these people join the mainstream, whether development or jobs,” BJP MP from Shimla, Virender Kashyap told The Statesman, who has taken up the issue with Centre recently.

The state government has also been lobbying for it with Centre for long, but in vain.

The ground scenario is pathetic. Bad roads, poor facilities in health institutions and ill-equipped schools continue to ail trans Giri belt of Sirmaur.

The villages did get link roads in the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) over time, but the condition of main roads, which are not metalled in large stretches, speaks much about official apathy. The people, who could afford to go out of the interior area, have never looked back. Those, who could not, are extremely poor. Low on awareness, literacy and employment, they are mostly dependent on subsistence agriculture, grow garlic and ginger or do petty jobs. “A typical problem is that people here traditionally believe in show off in marriages and festivals. They borrow money from local businessmen on high monthly interest rate, mortgage their land, and are ultimately caught in the debt trap,” said some high ups, stressing the need for social reforms in the area.

The state’s tribal area so far includes Kinnaur, Lahaul Spiti and parts of Chamba.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj spoke to the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister on Tuesday about the alleged attack on African students in Noida after a foreign student pleaded with her for swift action, saying living in the area was becoming a "life threatening" issue.

Swaraj said the central government was taking immediate action and that UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had assured her of a fair and impartial investigation into this "unfortunate" incident.

"I have spoken to Yogi Adityanath ji Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh about attack on African students in Greater Noida. He has assured that there will be a fair and impartial investigation into this unfortunate incident (sic)," she said in a series of tweets.

Responding to a tweet from a student who requested her to "act fast as living for us in Noida is becoming a life threatening issue", she said that the central government was seized of the matter.

"We are taking immediate action," she added.

Roger Federer’s incredible start to 2017 continued with an impressive 6-3, 6-4 win over towering Argentine Juan Martin del Potro in the third round of the Miami Open on Monday.

The Swiss maestro will now face Bautista Agut in the fourth round after his straight sets demolition of del Potro. And should he continue his brilliant run after winning the Australian Open in January and the Indian Wells Open earlier in March, talk of reclaiming  his No. 1 ranking may not sound as far-fetched as it did a few weeks ago.

Federer wasn't broken even once in his tie against the Argentine, who he was facing for the first time since their 2013 round-robin encounter at the ATP Finals, as he targeted the del Potro’s backhand from the off.

The 35-year-old Federer, chasing his third Miami title, didn't allow too many balls to come to del Potro’s howitzer-like forehand, a smart tactic that paid off handsomely. For each time the Argentine would get the ball on his favoured shot, the point would be over almost immediately.

The first set began with an aggressive Federer seeking to break as soon as possible but missed a couple of break points early on and finally converted in the 8th game, taking advantage of a sloppy backhand slice by ripping a forehand of his own.

Looking to close out the set while serving at 5-3, the Swiss was in trouble as he faced four break points, but somehow managed to save all of them and clinch the opening set. That moment was the turning point in the game, as had del Potro converted, the final scoreline and result may well have been different.

Del Potro, to his credit, continued to fight but once Federer broke on his first opportunity in the second set, the result was never in doubt.

The 17-time Slam champion will face Agut, who beat Sam Querrey 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 in an third round. engrossing encounter on Monday.

If you have an appetite for spicy Indian fast food or street food, Delhi is the place to satiate it. Here, the spicy food in the by-lanes and back-alleys ignite the passion for chatpata flavours. Come let’s explore the Dilli food culture, away from posh restaurants with over-priced international cuisine.

Momos: Whether steamed, fried, veg or non-veg, these dumplings top the famous food list of Delhi. They are served with deadly chilli chutney and creamy dip, they are high on flavour. All-time favourite Dilli Haat, Giri momos and Chinese fast food centres are the paradise for momo lovers. Now, there are increasing number of street-side momo vendors in all corners of the capital.

Gol-gappe: When you visit Delhi, you can’t afford to miss them. Delhi being the food capital of India is famous for golgappa vendors in every nook and corner. The mouth-watering golgappas are filled with spicy water, sweet imli chutney, boiled chickpeas and potatoes. The exceptional places where you can truly satisfy your pani-puri craving are Vaishnav chaat bhandaar- Kamla Nagar and Lala babu chaat bhandaar- Chandni Chowk.

Bhalla-papri chaat: With the right crisp and flavour, this chaat is beyond perfection at stalls in Delhi. Garnished with cool yogurt, imli chutney and mint chutney, it is the perfect summer street food. Natraj bhalla corner- Chandni Chowk and Prabhu chaat bhandaar- Khan Market are the favourite hot spots to catch this snack.

Aaloo tikki: This street delight is yummy and fried to crisp perfection. It is tangy, spicy and an all-time favourite for Delhites. Prepared with potatoes, peas and gram flour, served with yogurt, coriander chutney and imli chutney, this snack is hot and lip-smacking. The most famous tikka joints in the city are Prabhu chaat bhandaar, Khan Market and Natraj dahi bhalla corner, Chandni Chowk.

Chole-bhature: It is a Punjabi dish and a hot favourite of Delhiites. Stuffed with cottage cheese, all-purpose flour bread tastes crispy with spicy chanas and chilli pickles. Roshan di kulfi at Karol Bagh and Sita Ram Diwan Chand-Pahar Ganj are the perfect destination to taste this delicate dish.

Stuffed parathe: The variety of parathas from kaju, potato, cauliflower, mix-veg to lemon, mirchi etc. can be found in the legendary street of Chandni Chowk known as Parathe wali gali. It is a place that’s famous for series of shops selling a variety of parathas. Eating these stuffed breads, you may feel just out of the world. This place is best for this fried Indian stuffed bread.

Kulfi falooda: The Indian version of ice-cream has innovative flavours ranging from custard apple, kewra, mango, banana, kesar pista and a lot more. Kuremal Mohanlal kulfiwale- Chandni Chowk and Roshan Di Kulfi- Karol Bagh are famous for tasting this heavenly offering. It comes with crunchy bits of dry fruits and topped with sugary falooda.

Rabri-jalebi: Pretty famous all-over Delhi, this hot, crisp and delicious sweet is topped with chilled thickened milk known as rabri. Deep fried in pure ghee and dipped in sugary syrup, they are amazingly delicious. The highly recommended places to get it are Special jalebi wala and Old famous jalebi wala- Chandni Chowk.

Kulhad lassi: There are many flavours of this chilled beverage. Most are sweet and few are salty. It’s smooth, creamy and frothy yogurt drink. Amritsari lassi wala in Chandni Chowk and Kesar lassi in Connaught Place are the best suitable places to have it.

Aaloo subzi-kachori: The deep fried crispy, golden kachori are served with hot and spicy potato curry and fenugreek chutney. It is one of the tastiest Delhi street food. The best places in Delhi to savour it are Fateh ki kachori- Kashmiri Gate and Jung Bahadur kachori wala- Chandni Chowk.

This street food is the spirit of Delhi. Head for outlets known for taste, authenticity, hygiene, quality of ingredients and value for money. You will not go home disappointed. In fact, you will come back for more. Must try all of these flavours while in Delhi.

Tropical Cyclone Debbie made landfall on Tuesday across the coast of northeast Australia, packing strong winds with gusts.

The storm is lashing the Queensland coast with torrential rain, bringing about a significant flooding risk, CNN quoted meteorologists as saying.

The Category 4 cyclone is the equivalent of a Category 3 hurricane and is very slow-moving.

"With the very, very strong winds if they just sit there and twirl, it's like a battering ram," Queensland police commissioner Ian Stewart told 7 News Australia.

It has already left a path of destruction through outlying islands.

The storm has already ripped trees from the ground and brought significant rainfall to the region.

Residents reported their apartments shaking and windows breaking. Pristine beaches that were bright and sunny on Monday were completely flooded on Tuesday, weather officials said.

In the span of an hour, 211 mm of rain hit the area, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said. 

It was a "once-in-a-hundred year" event, she said.

The severe weather has claimed the life of a 31-year-old woman in a car crash on Monday near the town of Proserpine.

Indian cricketer Ravindra Jadeja on Monday said he asked Australian wicketkeeper Mathew Wade to have dinner with him once the Aussies lose to India in the fourth Test at the HPCA stadium here.

The duo were involved in intense sledging while Wade was batting. Wade remained 25 not out at stumps as the Aussies crumbled to 137 all out. India require another 87 runs for victory after they were 19/0 after batting for six overs in the second innings.

Jadeja's vital 63 runs and 96-run stand with Wriddhiman Saha for the seventh wicket set India on the course to victory after the end of day three at the HPCA stadium.

"We all know what happens. I just told him, once you lose and are free, we will have dinner together," Jadeja said tongue-in-cheek.

Jadeja, who also took three wickets on the third day, said it's great to be able to contribute to the team's cause with both bat and ball.

"It feels good that I am thought as a responsible player. Personally it's a good feeling. This is my achievement, more than man of the match and man of the series, this feeling of being a valuable player is good."

On his partnership with Saha which helped India get a 32-run lead after they scored 332 in the first essay, Jadeja said: "The second new ball was fairly new. It was good that it happened in the very first ball as then it's just out of your way and there's no disturbance. I was sure that there wasn't any edge, I just told Saha that it's a bit tough situation but we will have to play it out."

"The lead was big enough with the pitch having uneven bounce. The ball was swinging and deviating after hitting the cracks. If you noticed, they had lost three wickets before the deficit was erased, so it was crucial. We were not on the backfoot and the bowlers could bowl with a free mind." 

US President Donald Trump on Monday called up Prime Minister Narendra Modi and congratulated him on his recent electoral success, the White House said.

Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters that Trump congratulated Modi and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on their electoral victories.

The White House said the leaders spoke by phone.

"The president spoke with German Chancellor Merkel and Indian Prime Minister Modi earlier today to congratulate them on their parties' success in recent elections," Spicer said.

Following the elections held in five states that begun on February 4 and ended on March 9 after polling was rescheduled in some constituencies, Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party formed the government in four states: Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur.

It, however, lost Punjab to main rival Congress in the results announced on March 11.

Anchored mainly by Modi and his aide Amit Shah, the BJP juggernaut rolled on in Uttar Pradesh and in the neighbouring state of Uttarakhand, bagging three-fourth majority.

The BJP returned to power in the politically-crucial state of UP after a gap of 15 years during which regional parties such as the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party held sway.

Goa and Manipur had hung assemblies after the polls, but the BJP managed to form the government with support from other regional parties.

The elections in the five states had turned into a virtual referendum on Modi's popularity following his much-debated decision to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes.

Previously, Modi and Trump talked by phone on January 24, when they had resolved to stand "shoulder-to-shoulder" in the global fight against terrorism and for defence and security.

According to a White House statement then, Trump had "emphasised that the US considers India a true friend and partner in addressing challenges around the world." 

The two leaders had exchanged invitations for visits.

"President Trump looked forward to hosting Prime Minister Modi in the US later this year," the statement had said.

Prime Minister Modi was the fifth foreign leader Trump had spoken to on phone after he was sworn-in as the US president on January 20. He had by then spoken to British Prime Minister Theresa May, Canada's Justin Trudeau, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

After his surprise victory in the November 8 elections in the US, Modi was among the first world leaders to congratulate Trump. And during the gruelling election campaign, India and Israel were the two prominent countries Trump spoke of strengthening ties if he were to become the president.

President Donald Trump is signing a handful of measures aimed at rolling back Obama-era regulations.

Two roll back rules that deal with how states assess school performance and teacher preparation programs. Trump says that local educators, parents and state leaders know what students need best.

One of the measures eliminates the so-called blacklisting rule that requires contractors to report alleged labor law violations that have yet to be fully adjudicated in order to bid on federal contracts. Trump says it's "going to save a lot of jobs." 

The legislation Trump's signing also nullifies a Bureau of Land Management rule that aimed to regulate land management decisions.

The president says he'll continue to eliminate regulations he finds unnecessary or harmful.

If you are in the final semester of your graduation, campus placement is certainly at the top of your mind. It is always a dream-come-true for any student to get picked up by a good company in the recruitment. However, cracking such interviews is not easy— it requires a great deal of preparation. Recruiters test you on various parameters like knowledge of core subjects, reasoning aptitude, adaptability and soft skills and so on. It is the job of placement institutes to make them aware of the various avenues for placements, and build on their employability skills. Here are some important aspects that placement training institutes should focus on to ensure that their students get the best deal in campus placements.
n Classroom and practical training: A good mix of classroom teaching and practical training is what placement institutes need to provide. While a diverse set of job-oriented courses provide academic knowledge in a particular domain, practical training helps in the long run to be a successful professional.
n Vocational training and skill development: One of the biggest problems hiring managers’ face is to find candidates with the right skill sets. The answer lies in vocational training and skill development. This need to be a strong component of the curriculum of all placement institutes to ensure that their students get a good deal at campus recruitment.
n Industry tie-ups and certifications: The disconnect between the current education system and the industry requirement is today a matter of great concern. Job training institutes can play a big role in picking up deserving candidates with industry tie-ups. Smooth coordination between the industry and placement institutes helps in tapping on the right potential and creating industry-ready talent. Accreditations and certifications from the industry also add value to new entrants to the job market.  
n Internship opportunities: Internships provide students hands-on work opportunity and help them learn to apply their text book knowledge to real life situation. They are stepping stones in the placement process. Some companies extend job offers to interns who do a good job during internship others give certificate which could help one land a good job. Placement institutes that have tie-ups with multinationals and industry bodies need to facilitate internships that will groom their students to land a good job. 
n  Soft skills enhancement: For good campus placement communication and soft skills are also important. Placement training institutes need to help in mastering soft skills to increase their market value. From expanding their business vocabulary and increasing their speaking skills, to writing customised e-mails for clients, and preparing interesting PowerPoint presentation, all these ought to be part of the placement training.  
n Job interview preparation: Companies no longer just look for academic excellence, they lay great stress on a candidate’s suitability for the job and mock interviews and assessment tests can be great tools for preparing for the day of reckoning. They provide appropriate grooming and build up confidence for campus placement interview. All good placement institutes conduct mock interviews, written assessments, and group discussions to prepare students for recruitment. They also organise seminars, workshops and motivational lectures by industry stalwarts to help students understand the latest trends and projections in the industry so that they can perform well at the interview.
n  Job recruitment fairs: A number of placement institutes also organise job fairs to aid the recruitment and networking process. The attempt is to connect prospective employees with multiple employers.  Such recruitment fairs give students industry exposure and the interactions held provide them real-time experience about the hiring process and methodologies. 

(THE WRITER IS CHAIRMAN, ICA EDUSKILLS)

It is not an uncommon feeling of nostalgia coupled with sadness amongst most B-School students who shall be stepping out of the colleges, ready to face the corporate life and take up the responsibilities that lie ahead. I am no exception. As the saga of an MBA comes to an end in many students’ lives, all one can think of is the two years well spent, the fun and pressures, the tough times of placements, the cases that we’ve solved together, the projects, competitions and what not. It’s not until the very end that reality strikes hard. Most of us won’t be students again and will be taking up managerial roles in leading organisations and shall be striving to be change masters and thought leaders.
The last one week at a B-school (MDI Gurgaon in my case) will be dedicated to reminiscing these moments. It does not matter whether we still have examinations left, projects to do and assignments to submit. Because in a week’s time, every aspect of student life comes to an end (unless one has plans of pursuing some form of further education). A month before the D-day, it’s a feeling of achievement because, in general, that’s the time when everyone gets placed and in the mood for celebration for its hard work culminating into a worthy placement. Many students are a part of the various clubs and committees that keep the college atmosphere vibrant, active and ever-happening.
While it is time for us to leave the college, it is definitely our responsibility to hand over the reins to able hands and preserve the values, the learning and the culture. The last few days do get well spent through selections, interviews and discussions about inducting prospective and handling the responsibilities. It is true to every word that a B-School never sleeps. On the final day, I am very sure that every graduating student would have thought about the song in the movie 3 Idiots: “Give me another chance, I wanna grow up once again” for every student will surely want to be a part of such a fun-filled, ever-learning atmosphere for the rest of his/her life.
Having said this, some students do have further aspirations. There are students who wish to be civil servants and have been working diligently to crack the UPSC examinations. There are some who want to study law and thereby practice corporate law or become legal consultants. There are some who want to go for a double MBA, some who want to startup their own ventures. There are some who want to add certifications such as six-sigma certification, digital marketing, etc, to their quiver and look to enhancing their market value. 

THE WRITER IS A STUDENT OF PGPM (2015-2017), MDI GURGAON

With the advent of digital India, the country education system is undergoing a huge revolution. Traditional classrooms are fast getting replaced with digital or smart classes as they are popularly known. According to a recent survey report by the UK-India Business Council, India is the second largest e-learning market globally after the United States.
The recent penetration of internet-based technology is due to the rapid increase of low-cost hand-held devices and smartphones among the younger population giving them access to learning tools, online material, and training providers. This has paved the way to a more sophisticated and flexible kind of learning through virtual classrooms where the students don’t just learn but also engage by practicing, experiencing, and sharing their knowledge on a virtual environment. 
A survey says that there are over 20,000 education-based mobile apps and virtual learning programmes available online and about 3, 50,000 ebooks got downloaded from iBooks within the first three days of its launch.
There has been a big debate on the effectiveness of such virtual classrooms and its efficiency in imparting knowledge to the students. However, it has been observed by many that a collaborative learning pattern is superior to traditional classroom teaching as it paves the way for meaningful discussions and active interactions. This style of learning and functioning greatly impacts their ability to cope with the corporate culture prevalent in the companies once they start working.  
With the increase in technology, blackboards are getting replaced by projectors to display content from hand-held devices. This saves a lot of time and effort put in by the teachers and also gives them access to a wide range of material they can use to explain the concepts in a more simplistic and engaging way. Students can now navigate through an assortment of tools and media to interact and understand effectively, thus contributing to a shared learning environment. This atmosphere is more positive and engaging with more students coming forward with their opinions and views on topics. Such classrooms are more student-centric and have scope for elaborate discussions and on-the-spot feedback from both the teachers and the students.
Unlike the traditional learning methods, these digital classrooms go beyond textual knowledge and promote out-of-the-box thinking. They prepare the students to think beyond bookish learning and enable them to effectively compete in a global environment. Digital classrooms solve a lot of administrative glitches which would otherwise hamper the learning process. Some of the benefits include:

n Unrestricted classroom timing
Digital learning is a more flexible solution which provides the students with 24/7 tutoring availability and online materials making it easier to learn at their convenience. This is not possible in the traditional classrooms which have strict time schedules with limited scope for discussions and doubt clearing sessions. One can choose to extend or curtail a specific subject timing and focus on one at a time without having to worry about time. They can thus learn at their own free will and pace, making the learning process more interesting and engaging.

n  Learning on-the-go
This is the best part of a digital classroom. Students can now choose to study from anywhere and can get unlimited access to digital material without having to actually sit in a classroom environment. The entire curriculum is made flexible and portable making the learning process less burdening. One need not carry heavy and bulky books everywhere before exams to study, thanks to all the virtual books and study materials made available to them. Students can now even catch up on any missed sessions or revise a topic again through the downloadable content and class notes made available virtually.

n Detailed learning process
The interactive and engaging virtual content enables the students to understand the concepts more clearly and focus better. As a result, they have better retention power and don’t require mugging the concepts prior to exams. Virtual classrooms enable them to learn both through the auditory and visual process making learning more fun and interesting.

n Virtual guidance and 
learning support
Through digital classrooms, students can get enhanced external guidance and virtual support round the clock for effective learning and resolution of queries making the learning process effective. One can connect with subject experts and counsellors anytime to seek guidance. It also enables vocabulary enhancement and better understanding of concepts and theories.
Learning can be both progressive and fun with digital technology. Though this is in its preliminary phase in India, it has shown tremendous scope and demand among the students making it the best learning mode made available to them, by far. When considering the vast population of students and the considerably low number of quality teachers in India, digital classrooms is the best solution one can think of to curb the increasing challenge of empowering and making learning an engaging and interactive experience.

(THE WRITER IS CO-FOUNDER AND CEO, HELLOCLASS)