THE excitement created by the SSC results may not have died down just yet but students in the city are already having a field day filling up admissions forms and opting for their preferred stream of Arts, Science and Commerce in Std XI. Schools remained open between 11 am and 5 pm to receive the admission forms of the students on Friday. Some even began the admission procedure earlier in the day to avoid the rush of students. Meanwhile, the District Education Officer has informed that the merit list for all schools will be prepared on June 5.

Fernand Durai, Principal of St Xavier’ Loyola High School in Ahmedabad, says that this year the cut-off percentage for students seeking admission to the school will be either above 89 per cent or the same. (Calculated over the subtotal of five subjects) He says, “Last year our cut-off was 89 per cent for students applying for the Science stream and 85 per cent for Commerce. We usually have an equal number of students applying for both the streams.”

In Vadodara, private tutors didn’t waste any time after the results to start propagating a word of their “expertise” at teaching students. Thursday saw a plethora of tuition class representatives deployed outside secondary schools to distribute handouts giving details of classes and schedules.

Schools including Rosary, Navrachana, New Era School, Convent of Jesus and Mary Girls’ High School and others have also initiated the admission process for Std XI and it is being said that by and large students have been opting for Science against Commerce. In Ahmedabad, Radhika Iyer, Principal of the Udgam School says, “There has been a huge rush of students since morning. Most of the applications that we gave away were for students who wanted to take up Science as a subject. There were not many students who wanted to take up Commerce.”

With high cut-offs and limited seats students are hoping that they get into a stream of their choice. Aakash Jain of the Vijaynagar High School who is applying for Standard XI (Commerce) in HB Kapadia New High School says, “I have always wanted to take up Commerce and I am hopeful of getting into my school or HB Kapadia New High School.”

Ashutosh Mehta, a student of St Xavier’s Loyola who secured 84 per cent in the SSC exams says that he only wants to take up Science. He says, “Science offers a variety of options and I plan to take up engineering. I am hoping that I will be admitted into my own school.”

Courtesy: Expressindia.com

Microsoft Corp said on Thursday it would offer improved capacity to search copyrighted books on the Internet as the company battles Google Inc for advertising dollars from Web-based services.

Microsoft said it had received permission from dozens of publishers including Cambridge University Press, McGraw-Hill Cos Inc and Simon & Schuster, a CBS Corp unit, to use their copyrighted titles.

The changes to its Live Search Books comes months after Microsoft attacked Google for what it called the Web search leader's 'cavalier' approach to copyright protection in services like Google Book Search. The world's top software maker said Google's ambitious plan to scan millions of published works and make them available via its search system without first gaining copyright holders' permission could open the door to massive infringement.

Microsoft's Live Search Books is part of its 'Live' online services aimed at augmenting its dominance in desktop software with a host of Web offerings to rival Google. Both companies aim to make money from Web services through advertising.Microsoft said Live Search Books would now include a counter telling how many pages are left within the number of pages they are allowed to view, and tools to allow people to more easily search within books using specific keywords.

The preview pane will include a cover image, book summary and table of contents and the system will have links allowing readers to buy books from online retailers or the publisher.

Courtesy: Expressindia.com

India's trade deficit for April was USD 7.06 billion, higher than USD 3.9 billion a year earlier, as rapid economic activity pushed up imports, data showed on Friday.

Exports rose 23.1 per cent in April from a year earlier to USD 10.6 billion, while imports rose an annual 40.7 per cent to USD 17.64 billion.

The trade deficit was USD 3.80 billion in March, USD 4.66 billion in February and USD 5.78 billion in January.

Courtesy: Expressindia.com