The Top 20 Destinations in Delhi for the New Year

With optimism and promise, a new year represents a clean slate on the calendar. The New Year is the ideal time of year to spend quality time with your loved ones, visit new places, and make happy memories. There's no set formula for a perfect New Year's travel experience; you can plan an action-packed escape, a relaxing staycation, or just a day of sightseeing in your preferred vacation spot. You can take advantage of New Year's Eve by visiting several locations, among which include the Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Raj Ghat, Qutb Complex, and Purana Qila, one of the city's oldest forts. Many people choose to ring in the new year by attending a packed club, but there are other ways to celebrate as well. Simply take in Delhi's splendour by visiting some of its most famous sites.

Let's explore Delhi the proper way—it's without a doubt one of the most popular tourist attractions in India!

These are the best places to visit in Delhi on New Year's Eve.

1. RED FORT

Located in Old Delhi, the Red Fort, also known as Lal Qila  was once the primary palace of the Mughal rulers. Designed by architect Ustad Ahmad Lahori, who was also responsible for building the Taj Mahal, it was originally crimson and white. Shah Jahan's fort, which blends Indian customs with Persian palace construction, is considered the pinnacle of Mughal architecture. As part of the Red Fort Complex, the Red Fort was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007.Delhi's biggest monument, the Red Fort, is one of the city's most visited tourist spots, drawing thousands of tourists there each year.

2.QUTUB MINAR

Lal Kot, the oldest walled city in Delhi, was founded by the Tomar Rajputs. It is home to the Qutub Minar, a minaret and "victory tower" that is a component of the Qutub complex. Located in the Mehrauli neighbourhood in South Delhi, India, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In Primarily constructed between 1199 and 1220, this site is among the most popular tourist destinations in the city. The tower's design combines southwest Asian and traditional Islamic architectural elements. Standing at a height of 72.5 metres, Delhi's Qutub Minar is among the highest minarets in the world. Qutub Minar is surrounded by a lovely garden, making for an impressive sight. Additionally, visitors come here to unwind in the garden while taking in the striking silhouette of the minaret.

3.LOTUS TEMPLE

One of the most popular tourist destinations in Delhi is Lotus Temple, drawing visitors from all over the world. It is one of the world's seven principal Baha'i temples. Constructed in 1986, Bahai Temple Delhi is situated on the eastern side of Nehru Place and has captivated visitors ever since with its exquisite architecture and unifying symbolism. The main structure's captivating beauty is further enhanced by the verdant surroundings. Because the Lotus flower is partially open, natural light can enter the Lotus Mahal Delhi auditorium. There is a steel and glass roof that lets light through but keeps out precipitation and dust.

4.SWAMINARAYAN AKSHARDHAM

Located in Delhi, India, Swaminarayan Akshardham is a Hindu temple and spiritual-cultural campus. The shrine lies near the Noida boundary. The complex showcases millennia of Hindu spirituality, architecture, and culture, and is also known as Akshardham Temple or Akshardham Delhi. Every aspect of Akshardham reverberates with spirituality, including the Gardens, Exhibitions, and Mandir.With more than 200 murtis, Experiencing Akshardham firsthand is a spiritually uplifting event. 

5.HUMAYUN'S TOMB

Humayun's mausoleum, also known as Maqbara-e-Humayun, is a magnificent work of architecture. It is regarded as India's first garden mausoleum. The Mughal emperor Humayun is buried there. The fact that Humayun's tomb was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993 only serves to highlight how significant this striking red sandstone construction is. The earliest building in India constructed in the Mughal style is Humayun's mausoleum.Built on an elevated platform seven metres high, Humayun's tomb is situated in the centre of a garden complex. The Char Bagh garden, which surrounds the tomb and represents the garden of heaven, has a characteristic Persian design.

6.INDIA GATE

Originally known as the All India War Memorial, the India Gate was constructed as a monument to honour the 82,000 members of the Undivided Indian Army who gave their lives while defending the British Empire during World War I and the Third Anglo-Afghan War. India Gate is a well-known monument in India that towers magnificently and is quite breath-taking to behold. India Gate, at 42 metres tall, is a popular tourist destination due to its striking architecture and alluring surroundings. 

7.THE TAJ MAHAL

Possibly the most well-known attraction in all of India is the Taj Mahal, also known as the Crown Palace; it is regarded as one of the eight wonders of the world and a UNESCO site. The famous mausoleum made of white marble is perched majestically in Agra on the Yamuna River's bank. Emperor Shah Jahan  ordered the construction of the Taj Mahal between 1632 and 1653 as the last resting place for his loving wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj evolved into a romantic and loveable emblem. Ustad Isa planned the Taj, and 20,000 labourers laboured on the building for 22 years.

8.National Handicrafts & Handlooms Museum

Examples of an extensive variety of traditional crafts, such as clay horses from various parts of India and handcrafted jewellery, are on show in the National Handicrafts and Handlooms Museum. Toy sculptures, wood carvings, metal ware, and ceramics are among the other things on show.Famous architect Charles Correa created both a Village Complex and traditional museum galleries for the museum.  Over five acres, a realistic recreation of a typical rural Indian hamlet with fifteen traditional buildings—temples, houses, and courtyards—has been assembled. The "village" is made up of paths, haystacks, sand-covered yards, straw-roofed buildings, and mud homes. 

9.RASHTRAPATI BHAVAN

This is the official home of the President of India. The structure stands for democracy in India. The Main Building, the Museum, and the Gardens are the three tour circuits. There includes a Herbal Garden, Spiritual Garden, Long Garden, Circular Garden, Deer Park, Stables, Garages, and Clock Tower in addition to the Mughal Garden. The Bhavan Museum Complex's reception is located beneath the clock tower. The magnificent vegetation and wildlife of the estate gardens, traditional rites, and the history of Indian Presidents are all featured in the cutting-edge museum complex.

10.LODI GARDENS

Built during the Lodi Dynasty (1451–1526) and Sayyid Period, the Mohammed Shah's Tomb , Shish Gumbad Tomb, Big Dome, and the Tomb of Sikandar Shah are all included in this 90-acre urban park. On the property of the village of Khairpur, these monuments were built between 1433 and 1533. Given how little construction from the Lodhi and Sayyid Periods still exists in India, the park is a significant archaeological and architectural site.The park features a Bamboo Garden, a Herbal Garden with therapeutic plants,The park is populated by many birds and visited annually by migrating birds. 

11.PURANA QILA

This fort is among the city's oldest. The rectangular fort is almost two kilometres in length. It is encircled by a broad moat that flows into the Yamuna River. The red sandstone fort is accessed through three imposing gates, each with two storeys with ornate carvings and inlay. Among the sights within the fort walls is the Qila-i-Kuhna Masjid Mosque, constructed in 1541 under Sher Shah and including a stunning Prayer Hall with five arched entrances and a dome.   

12.RAJPATH

Edwin Lutyens' British city plan included the Rajpath. The Viceroy's Palace was supposed to offer expansive views of the city. Lutyens was also responsible for the design of many of the structures that line Rajpath. The Republic Day parade, state funeral processions, and other ceremonial parades are held on the boulevard.

13.NATIONAL MUSEUM

200,000 pieces of art from both India and other nations, spanning the prehistoric period to the present, are housed in the National Museum of India. Established in 1949, it is among the largest museums in the nation and is overseen by the Ministry of Culture. The National Museum Institute of History of Art, Conservation, and Musicology is housed in the same structure.

14.JANTAR MANTAR

Maharaja Jai Singh of Jaipur constructed the astronomical observatory known as Jantar Mantar in 1724 in order to investigate celestial bodies. There are thirteen observatories at this location, each a sizable building that resembles a sundial and serves a distinct purpose. While admiring the surrounding gardens, you can scale the numerous structures.

15.CHANDNI CHOWK

This famous market has been doing business for the last three centuries; it is located in Old Delhi .One of the biggest wholesale markets in India is this one. The market offers a broad range of goods, but it is particularly well-known for its souvenirs, curios, jewellery made of gold, pearls, spices, fragrances, shoes, electronics, tools, books, and clothes. The neighbourhood is home to a large number of mansions, famous eateries, historic homes, and sites of worship. You may also frequently discover market alleyways where local craftsmen are selling identical goods. The market offers almost a thousand varieties of traditional cuisine and sweets. Also available are saris, leather goods, and imitation goods. While visiting, sample the delectable street cuisine and take in the genuine ambience.

16.Museum of Illusions

India's first optical illusion museum is located in the Museum of Illusions in Connaught Place, New Delhi. Investigating the exhibits, which include holograms, a purported revolving cylinder, a chamber devoid of gravity, rooms with reality-bending mirrors, and much more, is an entertaining way to test your senses. Numerous holograms, which are essentially images that produce various 3D illusions and frequently change or disappear, can be found around the museum. Additionally, one can view photo illusions using a variety of backgrounds and interact with a stereogram.

17.National Gallery Of Modern Art, Delhi

For art enthusiasts, India's National Gallery of Modern Arts is a veritable paradise. The National Gallery of Modern Art in Delhi upholds paintings and other works of art from the 1850s, in keeping with its mission to provide its patrons with an exceptional world of art. The Gallery possesses a collection of around 14,000 pieces of art. Via visual galleries and other exhibitions, it presents an impeccable fusion of modern and contemporary arts.

18.Agrasen ki Baoli, Delhi

Located in New Delhi on Halley Road, Agar Sain Ki Baoli is a historical landmark. Rising from the earth's depths to a height of 103 stone steps, Agrasen ki Baoli is an ancient water reservoir composed of a mosaic of various stones and rocks. This location is a calm and pleasant experience ideal for photography enthusiasts, tucked away amid the residential complexes and office skyscrapers of downtown Delhi. You feel as though you are travelling back in time as you descend the steps and see the ancient brick walls of the building. The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act,1958 of the Archaeological Survey of India designates Agrasen ki Baoli as a protected monument.

19.Sunder Nursery, Delhi

With six World cultural Sites, Sunder Nursery is a 16th-century cultural park located in New Delhi. Almost 300 plant and tree types, 80 bird species, 40 butterfly species, and a paradise garden with a marble fountain may all be found in the 90-acre area close to Humayun's Tomb. In the sixteenth century, the Mughals constructed what was once known as Azeem Bagh. Sunder Nursery, a world-class urban park with 4,500 trees that provide ideal habitat for birds, bees, and 54 different types of flowers, preserves vanishing natural landscapes. The garden is separated into beautiful environmental and heritage routes.

20.Mehrauli Archaeological Park

With its unique architecture that catches your attention at every turn, the Mehrauli Archaeological Park is a great place to visit when on-the-go in south Delhi. It offers a look into a bygone age. Tucked away over a 200-acre area, this wonderful jewel of history is located less than a kilometre from the Qutb complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It comprises the ruins of the Lal Kot, which was erected by the Tomar Rajputs in the eleventh century A.D.One of the seven ancient cities that make up the modern state of Delhi is Mehrauli.Sites like the Tomb of Balban, Pillars, and the remnants of various monuments can be found in the area. Jharna, which is similar to the late Mughals' pleasure garden, is also dispersed around the park.

Travel

Situated in Sadhupul village, Sdhupul River Camp is roughly 13 kilometres distant from Kandaghat Solan. With a lake café situated on the edge of a little stream, it's a lovely place to take a seat and enjoy the scenery. The location is fantastic, offering a serene natural atmosphere and an amazing view. Personally, I love to eat in front of the beautiful scenery and the sound of the running lake while the cool wind caresses my face. You will get a very lovely mood at Sadhupul River Camp.

I went here on Sunday with my uncle, and I can assure you that when I arrived, I had the finest feeling.The riverbank and surrounding scenery are peaceful.If you want to spend the night, there are hotels and campsites available. The fact that you may sit in the midst of the river is one feature of this location that I enjoy. You can eat while taking in the stunning surroundings of the lake from tables and chairs that have been set up there. You can also visit a temple that is close to this lake. It is safe because there isn't much water flow. You may go to Kali Ka Tibba as well. The distance is 19 kilometres, which is a reasonable amount of travel time.I had a good time there overall, and it was a pleasant experience.

Travel

Every Sunday, my uncle and I visit a new location. This time, we went to Menri Monastery Solan, which is located in the village of Dalonji in Solan, Himachal Pradesh. Locals refer to it as the Tibetan monastery. It is the second-oldest Bon monastery in the world. This destination was on my travel bucket list. I had always wanted to visit this place, and I had a great time there. Along with my uncle, I went on a bike ride to the monastery, which featured stunning surroundings and striking architecture. From every angle, the vivid colours of the monastery's structures contrasted with the blue skies and various tones of green, creating a tranquil scene.

Gongs ring occasionally, but otherwise there is complete silence. The Menri monastery is surrounded by lush green hills, beautiful flowers, and flora. It is located in a serene area. Menri monastery gets its name, which means "medicine mountain," from the mountains that surround and back up to the monastery, which are home to several medicinal plants and springs.

The architecture of Monastry consists of several structures constructed in the Tibetan style, such as the main temple, the nunnery, the Bon Dialectic School, the library, and the dormitories for the monks. With its well-kept gardens and striking statue of Tonpa Shenrab Miwoche, the monastery is quite a sight.

The custom of walking around the monastery anticlockwise is one thing that I thought was fascinating. The explanation for this was twofold: first, one monk told me that we always read from the left side of the page rather than the right. Secondly, my uncle claimed that if you could walk anticlockwise, you would eventually meet your master. I found it to be really fascinating.

 

This is a beautiful place that attracts a lot of visitors, both foreign and domestic. The tranquilly of this monastery is what makes it so amazing. This should be on your travel list if you're tired of the city. I have never visited a spot so tranquil as this one.

 

We've heard that there are lively celebrations on New Year's Eve, including the Cham and Bon dances, so I really hope we can visit during that period.

 
 

Case Study How Does a Bike Share Navigate Speedy Success

 

Introduction

Cyclistic introduced a popular bike-share programme in 2016. The initiative has expanded since then to include a fleet of 5,824 bicycles that are geotracked and locked into a system of 692 stations throughout Chicago. The bicycles can at any time be unlocked from one station and brought back to any other station in the network.

Up to this point, Cyclistic's marketing approach focused on raising public awareness and appealing to a wide range of consumer groups. The ability of its price plans to be flexible was one strategy that made these things possible. There are three Pricing Plans offered by Cyclistic Bike Share company.

1. Single-ride passes

2. Full-day passes

3. Annual memberships 

Casual riders : Customers who purchase single-ride or full-day passes.

Cyclistic members: Customers who purchase annual memberships. 

 

Cyclistic’s financial analysts have concluded that annual members are much more profitable than casual riders. As a result, the greater the number of cyclists, the greater the profit or success. In short, there is a positive correlation between cyclical success and cyclical membership.

# SUCCESS =  PROFIT =  CYCLISTIC MEMBERS  > CASUAL RIDERS #

Business Task 

How do annual members and casual riders use Cyclistic bikes differently?

Key Stakeholders

Lily Moreno: The director of marketing and  manager. Moreno is responsible for the development of campaigns and initiatives to promote the bike-share program. These may include email, social media, and other channels. 

Cyclistic marketing analytics team: A team of data analysts who are responsible for collecting, analyzing, and reporting data that helps guide Cyclistic marketing strategy. 

Cyclistic executive team: The detail-oriented executive team will decide whether to approve the recommended marketing program.

About Data source : Cyclistic is a fictional company. For the purposes of this case study, the datasets are appropriate. The data has been made available by Motivate International Inc and this is historical trip data.

Here is the dataset : https://divvy-tripdata.s3.amazonaws.com/index.html

Data Cleaning and Data Manipulation 

The Zip files were downloaded locally and copy was stored in a new folder named cyclistic project  with a csv extension.

The csv files were opened using Excel and copy of 12 datasets was stored in desktop as folder dtrip_01, dtrip_02 up to dtrip_12. Then each folder was inspected.

12 month datasets have common column names.

These are the column names  

(ride_id), (rideable_type), (started_at), (ended_at), (start_station_name), (start_station_id)

(end_station_name), (end_station_id), (start_lat), (start_lng), (end_lat), (end_lng), (member_casual)

 No duplicates were found.

start_station_name , start_station_id , end_station_name , end_station_id have some blank values.

 rideable_types are of three kinds electricbike , dockedbike , and classic bike .    

Two new column were added in all 12 datasets 

ride_length and days_of_week  column were added 

ride_length = (ended_at - started_at) format HH:MM:SS

days_of_week = weekday(C2,1) format numbers with no decimal points 1=sunday,7=saturday

mode day_of_week of each month was calulated.

average ride_length for memebers  and casual riders and average_ride_length for users by day of week was calculated using pivot tables and  functions.  

rideable_type of each month was calculated  for both casual and members  using pivot table.

Visualization 

For the Visualization purpose I have used line charts and column charts.

Key Findings

Casual riders used bicycles for longer distances, while members used them for shorter distances as compared to casual riders. During FY Apr 2020–Mar 2021, April was the month in which casuals and members had a high average ride length, and January was the month of a low average ride length for casuals. February is the low average ride length for members. Starting in January and February and ending in November and December, the ride length of cyclistic users is shorter than other months. 

                                   

                                   

The most popular bikes among casual and member cyclists are docked bikes, while classic bikes are less well-liked by both groups. Both users did not ride classic bikes from April to October. From June to September, docked bicycles were the most in demand. In July, casual users had made the most use of docked bikes; in August, it was members. In January and February, casual users have used docked bikes the least, while members haven't used any. Instead, they switch to classic and electric bikes.

                               

                               

For casual riders throughout the entire year, Sunday is the most frequent maximum rideable day, whereas for members it is Saturday. Members primarily use bicycles during the weekend to cover maximum distance , while casual users primarily use bicycles during the week to cover minimum distance. For both casual riders and members, the minimum ride length is on Mondays and Thursdays and maximum ride length day is weekend.

Top three recommendations

The most well-liked bikes among casual and member cyclists are docked bikes, although both groups find classic bikes to be less appealing. As a result company should concentrate more on docked bikes.

For longer distances- promotions , discounts, referrals and packages are advised.

During the winter (Jan -Feb & Nov -Dec) , Cyclistic can expand their range of services by offering Cars for longer distance rides.

Limitation

Since the datasets are large, SQL or R will be more efficient than Excel.

Our analysis is constrained because we don't have enough information  about users besides ride id and user type (casual_members).

Some columns were disregarded because the datasets had blank values.                                 

Economics of Homeschooling

Introduction

Homeschooling, which was once a distinct educational option, is now widely accepted. Statistical and demographic information about homeschooling is not widely available worldwide due to a variety of factors. Globally, there are differences in the legality of homeschooling. Homeschooling is permitted in several countries, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, Mexico, South Africa, the US, and others; however, each nation has its own laws and regulations. But countries like Germany, Sweden, Turkey, and others have strong laws against homeschooling. Homeschooling is becoming more prevalent in the US, where between 2 and 4 million pupils are receiving their education at home (Kunzman R., Gaither M., and Shepherd G.). Homeschooling is becoming popular in India also, according to education experts, especially in cities like Bengaluru and Pune, where the population is said to be financially stable, artistic, and cosmopolitan. In India, the majority of homeschooling communities are concentrated in the cities of Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. 

image: creative commons 

Homeschooling is not a brand-new concept; it was already practised before the law requiring compulsory education. Homeschooling is a form of education where the learning environment is the home. Either parent taught their children at home, or those parents paid tutors or educators for that purpose. Unschooling and homeschooling are frequently used interchangeably. According to unschooling parents, who do not set up a curriculum for their kids, they are not homeschoolers because they give their kids the freedom to pursue their own interests and learn how they want to, but homeschooling parents do adhere to a curriculum for their kids, according to the blog "Freedom to Learn" by Peter Gray, a research professor of psychology at Boston College. Unschooling is viewed as a form of homeschooling in official statistics, which do not differentiate between the two. In India, a parent's educational background, financial independence, and availability of time are crucial factors in determining how well a child does in homeschooling. According to the National Household Education Poll (NHES) 2007, a survey based on random sampling, the majority of homeschoolers in the US live in two-parent households (89%), and slightly more than half (54%) of those households have just one working parent. Half of homeschooling parents report having at least a bachelor's degree, indicating a considerably higher level of education. The main reasons behind homeschooling are concern about the school environment, the desire to impart moral and religious training, dissatisfaction with academic instruction, and the child's physical and mental health concerns.

Because of the government's position on homeschooling and because of high internet speeds and affordable data packages, homeschooling has become a more viable alternative for Indian parents. According to HSLDA, between 500 and 1000 children are homeschooled in India, where homeschooling is legal. Homeschoolers in India can enrol for the NIOS to take the grade 10 and grade 12 exams, or they can take tests from renowned boards of education as "Private Candidates Registered with A School" or, in a few states/metros/cities, through "The British Council." The National Institute of Open Schooling, the International General Certificate of Secondary Education, and the CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) all offer curricula for parents who desire to certify their children.

Estimates of Homeschool Students

                       

New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States are the countries where Homeschooling is most common for children and teenagers. This is a rough estimate meant to give a general overview of Homeschool students around the world. In the US, where between 2 and 4 million students receive their education at home, Homeschooling is on the rise (Kunzman R., Gaither M., Homeschooling, and Shepherd G.).According to ADCS (Association of Child Services Directors) estimates, there are 81,200 registered homeschooled children in England as of October 2021. According to HSLDA and SBS News report 21,437 kids in Australia were registered for home schooling in 2019.   According to Homeschooling | Education Counts , there were 7,749 pupils being homeschooled in New Zealand as of July 1, 2021. According to the HSLDA, 500-1000 children are homeschooled in India; however, no government organisations regulate homeschooling. 

Key Words 

Homeschooling, Public Goods, Private Goods, Economic Efficiency, Opportunity Cost.

Main Findings

When physical and mental health concerns are excluded, then homeschooling becomes a private education and a private good. Private goods are those that are exclusive and competitive by nature. As a result, their availability will be reduced for those who cannot purchase them. As was previously stated, homeschooling requires financial stability, the luxury of time, and educated parents. The standard of education that children receive from homeschooling depends on resources, knowledge, and parental motivation. According to research, taxpayers don't pay anything for the vast majority of homeschoolers, and families who choose this method of instruction don't rely on publicly financed educational resources. Homeschooling fosters prejudice in the educational field. When there is a significant income gap, the state cannot completely rely on homeschooling. Homeschooling as a popular alternative may lead to educational inequity, with the poor children whose parents did not have privilege ultimately suffering as a result of that discrepancy. One more disadvantage of homeschooling is that parents can use it as a pretext to send their kids to unregistered institutions that have fervently religious curricula. In one study (Knox et al., 2014), medical experts collected instances of serious child abuse that had been reported to their various medical institutions in Virginia, Texas, Wisconsin, Utah, and Washington State. They discovered that 47% of the school-age children had been expelled under the pretext of "homeschooling," and 29% of them had not been permitted to attend school. Some studies show that homeschoolers perform well in reading and writing but not in arithmetic. UNESCO recognises education as a public good. Public education is a public good. In economics, public goods are considered to be collective consumption goods, and they are distinguished by their non-rivalry and non-excludability characteristics. Because social benefits outweigh private benefits and costs, public resources cannot be distributed effectively under a market-based system. To avoid the issue of free riders, tax revenue from the government is frequently used to fund public goods. Being a public good, public education has a positive externality.Well-educated parents are advantageous to all students. These parents have time and money to invest in enhancing the institution of learning. They can attend PTA events and interact with other parents who are not as well-off in terms of finances and education as they are which will enable the school to operate more effectively. Homeschooling parents can make financial contributions and form a strong group to expose ineffective educators. When parents decide to homeschool their children rather than pull them out of public schools, these are the benefits that will follow. When middle-class families abandon public schools in the US, public schools suffer, as they leave public education and stop supporting the institution by participating in political oversight (George Shepherd, 2015).

In economics, efficiency refers to the ability to achieve a goal with little or no waste of resources; however, because education is a special good, we can judge homeschooling efficiency by including opportunity cost, which is how many underprivileged children are not receiving good quality education as a result of homeschooling. Due to the lack of scientific research on the efficiency of homeschooling at the macro level, it is not appropriate to state strongly that there is a trade-off between efficiency and equity in this scenario because, by judging the success of some homeschoolers, we cannot make them representative of the entire homeschooling community.

In comparison to public schools, homeschoolers recognise that there is a higher likelihood of social isolation when a child is homeschooled because formal education offers more opportunities for social engagement. Because of this, homeschoolers participate in a variety of official and unofficial groups. They meet in person and share information in formal timetable groups. Meeting places for informal sports teams include houses and playgrounds. Homeschooling mothers collaborate and share knowledge while also renting out classrooms for different homeschooled children. They routinely use libraries and the internet for information, occasionally hiring higher-level tutors and specialists. According to Chatham-Carpenter (1994), Ensign (1997), and Ray (2009a), homeschooling is likely to change the student's social circle and promote more interactions between different age groups than it does with same-age ones. There is a substantial correlation between the mother's educational level and the child's achievement score among the 36 homeschoolers in Medlin's (1994) study. Mothers are reported to be mostly in charge of home education across all demographics. Mothers typically shoulder the majority of the workload associated with homeschooling, both within individual families and within the larger homeschooling support system, according to Stevens (2001). According to Lois's (2006, 2009, 2010) ethnographies of homeschooling reasons and practices, homeschool moms face significant role pressure, which can lead to emotional burnout. 

When parents choose to teach their children at home, it takes a significant amount of effort and commitment on their part. Those with resources can benefit from homeschooling. Since most students are no longer exclusively dependent on their teachers for learning, the Internet and EdTech companies have significantly changed the educational landscape. Nevertheless, some kids still lack the tools necessary to study well at home. Because she was unable to attend online classes due to financial constraints, a 15-year-old girl in Kerala took her own life. She was a bright student but did not have a smartphone, and as a result, due to fear and depression, she took her life. There are numerous homeschooling success stories, and if you look closely at their backgrounds, you'll see that most of them come from quite wealthy background and have access to plenty of resources. Finding a solution to the issue of delivering high-quality education will benefit the most disadvantaged children and will also inspire homeschoolers. Otherwise, homeschooling will widen the gap between rich and poor pupils and be harmful to society as a whole. Making education more exclusive may benefit some kids, but it would surely harm others. Apple (2000a), Lubienski (2000).

The Way Forward

I discovered while conducting my research that a number of publications emphasised the demand for a more rigorous examination of the recent discoveries. After a more thorough investigation of the economic implications of homeschooling, it will become clear whether or not it is advantageous from a macroeconomic point of view. Our knowledge about homeschooling is mostly based on anecdotal information (Houston, 1999). Everyone appears to agree that the homeschooling movement is likely to have a significant impact beyond what happens in certain households and with particular children (Apple, 2000a; Bates, 1991; Riegel, 2001).

Fascinating Orcas

 

Among the oceanic dolphin species, they date back eleven million years or more. Orcas are extremely social animal they are cute, knowledgeable, alert, active, and sophisticated apex predators. They have emotions, care, and love for their group members and generations, they even grieve over a deceased member just like humans, one of the incidents noted in 2018 where an orca named j35 lost her calf and carried her dead for days through the ocean. They hunt in packs like wolves and dwell in herds like elephants. They are the largest members of the dolphin family, averaging 23 to 32 feet in length and 6 tonnes in weight. They are one of the few mammals to go through menopause. They possess Bio sonar (echolocation) abilities.

image: creative commons 

Orca Brain

According to Neuroscientist Lori Marino and a team of researchers, Orca (killer whales) has the second biggest brain among all ocean mammals' weight (15 pounds). They found that orca brains are well-wired for sensing and analysing three-dimensional water environment. They possess Bio sonar (echolocation) abilities because they have evolved immersed in water which is a tremendous transmitter of sound four times faster than air, as a result, they utilize sound to see the world around them.

Cortical thickness (cerebral cortex) cognition

This portion of brain is related  with memory, consideration , dialect , thought, and awareness. Additionally, orcas have the thickest corticals. The killer whale has more cortical neurons and gray matter than any other animal, including humans. 

Gyrification

Gyrification is the number of wrinkles and folds in the cortex. Gyrification increments the amount of  cortical nerve tissue that processes information. Gyrification allows cells to be closer to each other. Due to Gyrification, it requires less time and energy to transmit neural impulses. It increases the speed of brain cell communication.GI for Orca is 5.70. This makes the orcas the most gyrified brain in the world

Brain lobes (Paralimbic system) and Amygdala

This part of the brain is related to memory and navigation. And this part of the brain is highly developed in orca. Amygdala is associated with emotional learning and long-term memories.

Orcas have the world's most elaborate insular cortex, which is connected to memory. 

The most fascinating part of the orca brain that amazes scientists is the insular cortex (insula) it is involved in consciousness and playing diverse functions linked to emotions that include compassion, empathy, perception, self-awareness, and interpersonal experience.  

Matrilineal Family Structure and Menopausal orcas

Orcas have intricated social structures with a female at the top. The young spend their whole lives with their mothers, mother prepare them for life through training. They breed primarily in the summer, and their lengthy (15 to 18 month) gestation period results in the delivery of just one calf at a time. If a mother is still alive and doesn't have any sons left, she might be observed swimming with her daughter and grandkids as well. Although adult daughters who have children of their own may temporarily distance themselves from their mothers to care for their needs, they are typically seen traveling close by. Males develop between the ages of 12 and 14, and females begin to procreate at 11 to 13 years of  age.  Because they are often larger than female orcas, male orcas are more reliant on their mother for food.

Menopause occurs in cows (female orcas) around the age of 40, or extremely unusual circumstances, 45. Male orcas live 29 years on average, to a maximum of 50 or 60 years, whereas female orcas live an average of 50 years in freedom, with some living to 80 or 90. The 1960s, grandma theory can be used to explain one of the reasons why menopause has evolved in orcas. According to this theory, grandmothers' assistance allows a younger mother to have more children and they also share their expertise and experience about how to care for themselves and their baby.

Orca habitat and what they eat

Orcas are found in every ocean of the world Orcas are primarily found in cold water due to the availability of food, though they travel in groups of 3 to 50 or more members they can cover 50 km in an hour and can even be found in tropical waters. The majority of orcas species are present in coastal water areas, polar ice caps, the north Pacific Ocean, particularly the Alaskan coast, and Baja California (Mexico). In the North Atlantic, they can be found from the waters of Newfoundland and Labrador to Iceland, Norway, and the British Isles, off the shores of Argentina, South Africa, New Zealand, and the Galapagos Islands, killer whales can be observed in the Southern Hemisphere.

There are various ecotypes of orcas, some of them are Resident orca, Southern Resident orca, and offshore orcas, and depending on where they dwell, their diets vary. However, some of the components of their diets include tuna, salmon, and seal. Depending on the availability of food and the ecology of their habitats, squids, sea lions, penguins, whales, and porpoises are among the other food sources.

How they attack their prey 

They attack in groups and are distinguished by their apparent communication and high level of group coordination. They snoop up on their victim from behind, dive beneath it, and then emerge, slicing it into pieces and sharing it. They are trained for shows despite their unique hunting methods. Namu, an orca who was kept in captivity at the Seattle Aquarium and had become completely tame, drowned when he tried to escape in 1967. Two additional orcas that are trained and kept in captivity are Shamu and Skana. In 1968, a group of killer whales was captured in British Columbia's garden bag and sold to the Vancouver Public Aquarium. one of the members named Hugo (male orca) was sold to Seaquarium Miami, Florida, and there he has shown great interest in people. 

 

To Adopt a Different Perspective on Policy Making - Opinion

Himachal Pradesh  

Himachal Day April 15, Three Major Announcements:

There will be no charges for the water bill in the Rural areas of Himachal Pradesh. 

The electricity Bill of 125 units will be a free off cost for the people of the state. 

Women will now have to pay only 50% fare for bus tickets on the HRTC buses.

 image: creative commons

People in Rural areas having water connections will be exempted from paying water bills. It means that there will be a free water supply for rural areas.

We all know that water is a very essential part of our 🌍 Earth's Life. Everything alive needs water, for survival. In a state like HP where we have various alternatives that fulfil our water requirements which include springs, Kuhl, Baories, Ponds, Katie's, and ditches Particularly in HP These systems supplement the water requirements of the rural and urban areas.

Local Bawari

There are 10512 traditional sources of water in the state for rural habitations Traditional sources of water play a significant role in poor and weaker sections of society but these traditional sources in Himachal Pradesh are not in a good condition according to a survey of state councils for Science, Technology, and Environment did in 169 Panchayats of 7 districts shows that only 30.41% sources are in good working condition and 69.5% are not in proper working condition and nearly going to dry soon. The need is that their condition should be rectified for this govt will need revenue but giving freebies will put a strain on the state budget and will restrict their capacity to finance critical social sectors.
According to a 2015 World Bank report, rural poverty in HP has decreased from 36% to 8% and it ranks fourth in terms of per capita income in India. The water rates in HP are cheap. In the rural sector, it is Rs.31 per connection per month. For municipalities, Rs.12 per kl and for commercial use, Rs.25 per kl, or a minimum of Rs.100 per month. Economist regards water as CPR. Common property resources are those resources that are non-excludable and rivalrous. CPR is one of the reasons for market failure, where the market fails to achieve productive and allocative efficiency Free water excess leads to wasteful exploitation of water and it will become exploited and over-consumed, leading to market failure.