I&B Ministry
FTII to broad base its course content; introduce choice based credit systems
NEW DELHI: The Film and Television Institute of India is to have new syllabus for its courses aimed at streamlining academic course work.
The Governing Council of the FTII in its 129th meeting held in Mumbai today also gave approval to the Academic Council’s proposal to convert FTII into a holistic institute of cinema, television and allied arts, offering varied choice of subjects related to cinema and digital media.
The GC also approved the vision document of FTII, which proposes to switch from teacher centric approach to learning centric approach, giving students enough flexibility to steer his / her career.
The GC Meeting was chaired by Chairman Gajendra Chauhan and Information and Broadcasting Ministry Secretary Ajay Mittal attended the meeting as a special invitee.
The Academic Council of FTII, headed by noted filmmaker and television producer B P Singh, had drawn up an action plan for broad basing the course content. The proposal envisages setting up of nine different “schools” under the aegis of FTII, which will offer 22 courses, including short-term courses in music composing, animation and gaming, prosthetics and make up, costume design etc, besides the core subjects like direction, cinematography, acting, editing and sound design.
The new syllabus aims to finish the courses in time bound manner. The new syllabus has been drawn up through a collaborative process taking inputs from academics, experts and alumni of FTII.
The institute will also introduce Choice Based Credit System which would replace the present system of annual assessment. The new syllabus under semester system would be introduced from August 2016 batch, while existing batches will continue to be covered under the old system. The GC also approved appointment of a Proctor and new rules regarding hostel accommodation.
Film maker Rajkumar Hirani, actor Satish Shah, former Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, Director Pankaj Chandra, former Mumbai Univesity Vice Chancellor Dr Rajan Welukar, Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi, DG K G Suresh, Films DivisonDG Mukesh Sharma, Ramoji Film & Television Institute, Hyderabad, Director Pavan Manvi, and noted film critic Bhavana Somayya were among those attended the meeting.
I&B Ministry
150 govt websites earn quality certification
From PMO to PSUs, India’s digital portals ace the GIGW standards test as of Jan 2026.
MUMBAI: Clicking all the right buttons, 150 government websites have proudly flaunted their Certified Quality Website (CQW) badges, earning top marks under the Guidelines for Indian Government Websites (GIGW) proof that not every online government page is a bureaucratic black hole.
In a crisp Rajya Sabha reply to MP Mallikarjun Kharge, minister of state for electronics and IT Jitin Prasada revealed that as of 20 January 2026, the Standardisation Testing and Quality Certification (STQC) Directorate had issued exactly 150 valid CQW certifications. That’s a solid lineup, 116 snagged by Central Government portals, six by State Government sites, 14 by Public Sector Undertakings, plus a handful for statutory bodies (2), autonomous bodies (5), e-voting platforms (5), and even two Central Government mobile apps.
The breakdown underscores how the voluntary scheme valid for three years with mandatory re-certification – has spread its quality net wide. High-profile heavyweights like the prime minister’s office, president’s secretariat, CERT-In, UIDAI, CBSE, TRAI, Press Information Bureau, and various ministry hubs have all passed muster. Even critical digital infrastructure, including e-voting setups and financial gateways, made the cut.
Not everyone’s a winner, though, eight hopefuls were shown the digital door for failing to meet GIGW rules. Most current certificates rolled out under GIGW version 2.0, with fresher ones nodding to the upgraded 3.0 benchmarks, a sign the bar keeps rising. Fresh approvals stretch into January 2026, with validity ticking on through 2028 and 2029 for the newest batch.
The certifications date back as far as 2008, but the bulk of today’s valid ones hail from 2023–2026, reflecting a recent push for polished, user-friendly government web presence. Full details? They’re neatly listed on the STQC website for anyone keen to browse the certified club.
In an era where clicking “government site” often means bracing for glitches, these 150 standouts are quietly proving that when it comes to quality, some portals really do load with style.
