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The Secondary Education Exam has begun throughout the country from Thursday.

The Office of the Controller of Examinations of the National Examination Board informed that the SEE will be conducted across the country through 2,079 examination centers.

As per the schedule, examination of compulsory English, compulsory Sanskrit and compulsory Arabic language subjects will be conducted on the first day today.

A total of 514,071 students will appear in SEE this year.

Last year, a total of 464,785 students appeared in the examination.

The SEE beginning today will conclude on April 1.

The exam will be held from 8 am to 11 am.

As we observe International Day of Happiness on March 20, it is imperative to reflect on what truly brings us joy in modern life. Every year, the World Happiness Report (WHR) publishes data on the list of happiest countries, and Finland has consistently ranked the happiest country among 143 countries for the seventh year running. The latest report puts Nepal at the 93rd place. 

Khusbu Agrawal, psychologist at Happy Mind says, “Today, happiness is linked to material possessions, success, external validation, psychological well-being, relationships, and personal development where traditional methods emphasize the significance of leading a life that is in line with one’s values and contributing to something greater than oneself, which offers a sense of purpose that goes beyond transient joys.”

She explains, “The traditional concept of togetherness and the contemporary desire for social interaction are bridged when one participates in activities that promote connections with family and friends—such as sharing meals, playing games, or volunteering for community service—putting more emphasis on meaningful activities, connections, and experiences than on material belongings.”

According to Agrawal, fostering inner peace, developing a sense of connection to something greater than oneself, and spiritual practices like meditation and prayer can help an individual manage stress and anxiety.

Siddhi Laxmi Shrestha, a local from Bhaktapur, defines happiness as the well-being found in togetherness. “I am happy when my family is healthy and doing well,” she says. “There was a time when we used to find joy without money because we exchanged things with each other and had everything within our community. But now, people chase money, social media likes, and viral fame, which isn’t a good sign.” 

For Shrestha, true happiness lies in appreciating what we have rather than dwelling on what we lack. Happiness, she says, is something one should feel at all times by embracing and appreciating what they have at present.

Aditya Dangol, counseling psychologist and mental health advocate, agrees with Shrestha. She says, “Community spaces where bonds can be created that help rekindle emotional conversations and exchange the playful side of human beings can grow a sense of belongingness and ultimately, happiness.” 

Astik Poudel, a college student, finds happiness in helping those in need. He believes that life is a one-time opportunity, and true fulfillment comes from doing good deeds rather than chasing material possessions. “I am a very spiritual person and we have only one life where our soul resides, and we must make the most of it by doing meaningful things rather than being consumed by materialism,” he says.

Acknowledging the endless nature of human desires, Poudel emphasizes the importance of practicality and selflessness. “Materialistic life makes us crave for more, but true happiness comes when we focus on helping one another. That’s what brings real contentment within ourselves.” 

Bishan Magar, who works as an inDriver, believes that financial stability is the key to happiness. For him, a good bank balance brings security and the ability to fulfill personal and family needs. “There are different aspects of happiness, but I will be happy when I have money because everyone has desires they want to fulfill, and only money can make that possible,” he says.

Magar acknowledges that happiness is subjective, but he sees wealth as a crucial factor in achieving a comfortable and fulfilling life. “If you have enough money, you can take care of yourself and your household, which ultimately brings peace of mind,” he adds.

Despite the struggles of modern life, there are individuals/organizations dedicated to spreading happiness. Poudel, who works for Divine Youth Club in Radhe Radhe feels happy when he is helping people who are in need. He says, “I feel lucky working in such a place where we help people in need and in return, receive lots of blessings and I think that is the means of happiness for me personally.”

Jiban Mani Poudel, an anthropologist, says, “People find happiness in different ways depending on their environment, age, and time. For example, we live in the city surrounded by gadgets and machines, which make our lives easier and more fulfilling. However, when we bring our grandparents here, they don’t quite feel the same. They long to return to the village because they find true happiness there, not in the city.”

Poudel says unlike in rural places, city people live close to each other, yet they seem distant and unfamiliar. 

“Talking about today’s generation, every person seems to be occupied with their phones. They no longer feel the need to socialize in real life.”

Poudel emphasizes that people today own a lot of property and have the means to fulfil all their material desires, yet they are still not completely happy. 

“Happiness is defined differently by different people and professions. As an anthropologist, we may define happiness in terms of material and cultural well-being. Psychologists, on the other hand, might define it as a state of good mental health, while doctors may see it as physical well-being. Each perspective offers a unique understanding of what it means to be truly happy,” he adds. 

Lalit Bahadur Ghalan, Chief, District Coordination Committee, Makwanpur and Shri Basist Nandan, First Secretary, Embassy of India, Kathmandu jointly inaugurated the School Building of Shree Janakalyan Secondary School, Makawanpur built with Government of India’s financial assistance at the project cost of Rs 30 million under ‘Nepal-India Development Cooperation'.

Political representatives, government officials, social workers and teachers of the school, students and their parents were also present on this occasion. 

The Government of India’s grant under ‘Nepal-India Development Cooperation’ was utilized for the construction of the school building and other allied facilities.

The project was taken up as a High Impact     Community Development Project (HICDP) and was implemented through District Coordination Committee, Makawanpur, reads a statement issued by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu.

Shree Janakalyan Secondary School was established in the year 1968 as a primary school and was      further upgraded to a higher secondary school in the year 1985. This school has around 850 students, 54% of whom are girls. 

The Chief, District Coordination Committee, Makawanpur, Chairperson, School Management and other stakeholders appreciated the developmental support being provided by the Government of India to the people of Nepal.

They expressed confidence that the infrastructure created would help provide better education to the students of Shree Janakalyan Secondary School in Makawanpur. It would also help create an improved environment for learning and contribute to the overall development of the education sector in the region, according to the statement.

As close neighbours, India and Nepal are engaged in wide-ranging and multi-sectoral cooperation.

 The implementation of HICDPs reflects the continued support of the Government of India in bolstering the efforts of the Government of Nepal in growth and development of its people by augmenting infrastructure in priority sectors.  
 

So far, 85 percent of the work on the Beni-Jomsom-Korala section of the Kaligandaki Corridor has been completed under the North-South Trade Route Expansion Project.

Except for the nine projects added in the current fiscal year, the overall physical progress of the section has reached 85 percent, Information Officer of Beni-Jomsom-Korala Road Project Bishnu Chapagain stated.

Chapagain said that 85 percent physical progress has been made towards upgrading the road and 84 percent towards construction of bridges and culverts.

He said that the construction of the national pride project connecting the northern Korala border transit point was started from the fiscal year 2016/17.

According to Project Information Officer Chapagain, seven big and small roads have been blacktopped while six roads have been graveled under the road expansion project. He said the blacktopping and upgrading of the road has been completed in seven phases including Beni Kalipul, Beni Galeshwor, Tatopani to Kaiku, Kaiku to Kowang and Jomsom Kagbeni section of Myagdi.

Chapagain added that the work on the Jomsom-Korala section has been completed in six phases and the graveling work on 25 kilometers of Charang-Chhoser section has reached the final stage.

According to him, a contract was signed for blacktopping 105-km road and of this 75-km blacktopping has been completed. Similarly, out of 110 km Jomsom-Korala section, graveling has been completed on 90 km of the road, according to the Project Office.

Of the 19 bridges that were to be constructed under the Project, 14 have already been completed while the rest are under construction, said Chapagain, the information officer at the Project Office.

Of the 14 bridges completed, nine were constructed in Mustang section and five in the Myagdi section.