Delhi Confidential: New Nyas Head

Former Vice President and senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu will take over the reins of the Atal Smriti Nyas Society, which was earlier helmed by late Vijay Kumar Malhotra who passed away earlier this year. Created by a group of senior BJP leaders to keep the former PM’s legacy alive in addition to the maintenance of his memorial — Sadaiv Atal — which was dedicated to the nation on December 25, 2018. Naidu was appointed Nyas head on the eve of Vajpayee’s 100th birth centenary at a meeting. According to party insiders, Ram Bahadur Rai, a senior founding member of the Nyas, proposed Naidu’s name for the post in the consultation of other members, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Foreign Campus

At least two countries — one in South Asia and another in the North African region — are keen to have an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) campus, according to an official in the Education Ministry. “Formal and informal requests” have been received, but no decision has been taken in the matter yet, the official said. The NEP envisions Indian institutions setting up campuses abroad. While IIT Madras has a campus in Zanzibar, IIT Delhi has one in Abu Dhabi.