Big boost for engineers: India made permanent member of Washington Accord

June 14, 2014

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New Delhi, Jun 14: After a seven-year effort, India on Friday finally made its way into an elite group of nations that recognises engineering degrees from its member countries under ''Washington Accord''.

As a result, landing a plum job in the United States or anywhere in the developed world may become easier for engineers from India as their degrees will now be treated on a par with that of their counterparts elsewhere.

The breakthrough was achieved at a meeting of the International Engineering Alliance in Wellington, New Zealand, where members gave India the status of permanent signatory to the international agreement with effect from Friday. The accord was signed by the National Board of Accreditation (NBA) on behalf of India, which had so far been a provisional signatory to it since 2007. Taiwan, Hong Kong, Ireland, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Turkey, Australia, Canada and Japan are among 16 signatories to the international agreement?besides the US and the UK.

''This will ensure highest quality assurance standards are implemented in our technical and engineering programmes and provide global mobility to our engineering graduates,'' Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani said, congratulating the officials of her ministry and those of the NBA. Graduates with degrees that have been so accredited would have substantial international equivalence of their achievement levels across the signatory nations. This will enhance their employment opportunities around the world, she added.

The member nations will recognise only those Indian engineering programmes which are accredited by NBA, a ministry official said.

The International Engineering Alliance (IEA) secretariat had sent a review team in December 2013 and January 2014 to carry out a comprehensive review and audit of the NBA accreditation systems and practices. “The review team submitted a positive report in March this year. Since then, we were hopeful of getting full signatory status,” the official added.

Former HRD minister M M Pallam Raju also congratulated the ministry, saying membership of the Washington Accord would be a good facilitator as it will give greater flexibility to Indian students and bring recognition to their degrees.

Established in 1989, the Washington Accord is an international accreditation agreement for professional engineering academic degrees, between the bodies responsible for accreditation in their signatory countries.

Engineering graduates of accredited programmes in any of the signatory countries are recognised by other signatory countries as having met the academic requirements for entry to the practice of engineering.

* After a seven-year effort, India gets permanent signatory status to the “Washington Accord”

* Indian engineering degrees to be treated on a par with similar certificates from 16 member nations of the agreement. This will increase the employment opportunities substantially

* Member nations will recognize only those programmes which are accredited by the National Board of Accreditation

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December 5,2025

Mangaluru: In a significant step to curb online hate and intimidation, Mangaluru City Police have registered a suo motu case against multiple Instagram accounts accused of circulating alleged provocative and threatening content.

While monitoring social media activity on Tuesday, Kankanady Town PSI Anitha Nikkam identified the Instagram handle ‘team_targetttt_900’ for posting a hate message alongside images of lethal weapons. Another account, ‘team_nagara_900’, allegedly shared a threatening post targeting activist Bharath Kumdelu, tagging additional pages such as KARAVALI-OFFICIAL.

Several other accounts — including ‘immu_bhai.fan’, ‘target_boy_900’, ‘kings_of_manglore’, ‘team_target_boys.900’, ‘arshad_mangalore’, ‘target_ka19_ullal’, ‘team_target__’, ‘troll_tigersz_900’, ‘tr_group_900’, and ‘team_target_900’ — are also under scrutiny for spreading similar inflammatory material, police said.

Authorities have urged citizens, especially young social media users, to report suspicious pages and avoid engaging with groups that glorify violence or threaten individuals. Online hate can quickly escalate into real-world harm, and police stress that sharing or promoting such content can attract legal consequences.

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December 16,2025

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Melkar (Bantwal): The 9th Annual Day celebration of SMR Public School, titled “EXCELLENTIA”, was held on December 15 with great enthusiasm and dignity, marking a significant milestone in the institution’s journey towards academic excellence and holistic development.

The programme was inaugurated by Dr. U. T. Iftikar Ali. The chief guests were Dr. Akhtar Hussain, Mr. P. Moosabba Beary, Mr. Zakaria Jokattre, and Dr. T. M. Abdul Rahuf—whose inspiring addresses motivated the students and appreciated the school’s contributions to education.

Mr. Abdul Nasir, Mr. Ibrahim Gadiyar, Mr. Razak Golthamajal, Mr. Sali Koya, Mr. Arshad Hussain, Mr. Ismail Balanoor, Mr. Feroz Bawa, Mr. Sahul Hameed, Mr. Abubakkar, Mr. Hameed K. Mani, Mr. Abdul Majeed (Principal, Melkar Women’s College), and Mr. Abdul Lathief (Former Principal, Melkar Women’s College) were the guests of honour.

The Annual Report was presented by the Headmistress, Ms. Fathimathul Zaheera, highlighting the school’s achievements and progress during the academic year. The Presidential Address was delivered by the Chairman of SMR Public School, Dr. Haji S. M. Rasheed, who emphasised the vital role of education in shaping students’ futures and stressed the importance of discipline, dedication, and consistent effort in achieving 100 per cent academic results.

Secretary of SMR Public School, Mr. Rifath Ahmed, and PTA President, Mr. Sandeep Kumar, were also present on the occasion.

The Annual Day celebration showcased the collective efforts of students and teachers and reaffirmed the school’s commitment to quality education and all-round development. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to all dignitaries, parents, and well-wishers for their support. The 9th Annual Day—EXCELLENTIA—was a memorable and successful event, leaving a lasting impression on everyone present. 

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December 4,2025

Udupi: A 40-year-old NRI from Udupi has reportedly lost more than Rs 12.25 lakh in an online investment scam operated through Telegram.

According to a complaint filed at the CEN police station, Leo Jerome Mendonsa, who has been working in Dubai for the past 15 years in computer accessories sales, maintains NRI accounts in Karkala and Nitte.

On November 12, 2025, Mendonsa was added to a Telegram group called Instaflow Earnings by unknown individuals. Users identified as Priya and Dipannita persuaded him to invest in “Revenue Tasks.” Initially, Mendonsa transferred Rs 1,100 multiple times and received the promised returns, encouraging him to continue.

On November 14, another user, Nishmitha Shetty, directed him to register on a website, digitvisionuoce.cc, and invest Rs 4 lakh in various shares. Over the next few days, he made multiple transfers totaling Rs 12,25,000, including Rs 50,000 via Google Pay, believing the scheme was legitimate.

After receiving the money, the alleged handlers stopped responding, and neither the invested amount nor the promised profits were returned.

The CEN police have registered a case under Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the IT Act and Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and investigations are ongoing.

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