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The National Examinations Board this year has decided to conduct the Secondary Education Examination (SEE) and public its results in accordance with the Letter Grading Directive 2078 BS.

The Board has scheduled the SEE for the year 2080 BS from upcoming March 28 to April 9.

Board Chair Dr Mahashram Sharma said the grade 10 students this year will be sitting for the SEE as per the new curriculum and results will be published based on the Letter Grading Directives 2078 BS.

As per the new system, each SEE student is required to obtain 35 in theory in 100 full marks subject to be qualified for pursuing higher studies. Any student failing to secure above 35 in theory will not be eligible for getting enrolled in class 11 and will find the result under the non-Graded category.

In such a situation, the chance exams for two subjects will be allowed three times.

A total of 489,000 students, both regular and towards grade improvement, will be appearing for the SEE, according Nandalal Paudel, SEE Examinations Controller.

Grading system has been already implemented in the exams of grade 11 and 12. The Board has intensified the preparations for the SEE.

The printing of question papers, preparations of other logistics and fixations for examination centers are the parts of the preparations, it is said.

Meditation is said to have a myriad of benefits. It’s believed to reduce stress, increase clarity, and promote overall wellness. It’s fairly simple to pick up, though tough to master. But the benefits are almost immediate. Meditating for as little as five to 10 minutes can help you sleep better. Research suggests that over time meditation can be useful for managing several chronic health problems, including mental health disorders like depression and anxiety.

It can be a bit perplexing to figure out how and where to start. The good news is there isn’t a right way to meditate. In this practice of mindfulness, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. Meditation is about feeling relaxed, calm, and aware of the present and there are many ways to get there. Former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen swears by what she calls the moving meditation. All you have to do is play soothing music while engaging in light movement. Here are some tips to help you get started. 

Keep it simple

The worst mistake you can make while starting your meditation journey is to make the ritual so complex that it overwhelms you and you give up after a couple of days. This is also the most common mistake. When you are first beginning to develop a practice, keep the approach simple. Sen’s moving meditation could be one way to go about it. But if you’d rather sit down and do it, find a quiet place, put on some nice tunes, and begin by trying to focus on your breath. We often think sitting cross-legged is the ideal way to meditate as that is how it is often depicted. But the best meditation posture is one that is comfortable. So, sit on the chair, your comfiest couch, or stand up. The choice is yours.

Focus on your breath

Everyone knows this but this can often be the most difficult thing to do. Try to focus your attention on each inhale and exhale. Alternatively, you can do a body scan. Focus on each part of the body pausing to notice the sensations. Distractions will come. Your mind will wander. Acknowledge it but don’t dwell on it, and gently bring your attention back to your breathing. The goal isn’t to turn off your brain but to let go of your thoughts as they arise. Learning how to manage distraction is an important part of meditation and you will, with practice, get the hang of it. However, don’t try to control your breath. Keep it natural.

Practice in bursts

You will most likely be unable to sit for a long time without feeling uneasy or impatient. At the beginning of your practice, start by meditating for short bursts of time. You can set the timer for as little as three to five minutes and just stay still and concentrate on your breathing during that time. You can do this multiple times during the day. As you get the hang of it, and you will, you can increase the time to 10 to 15 minutes and then slowly work your way up from there. Early morning is probably one of the best times to meditate. You can finish your practice before others in your house wake up and start making a lot of noise.

Set aside a space to meditate

Though experts say you can meditate anywhere, it can be helpful to have a designated space for meditation. It’s good for habit-building and you are more likely to stick to the practice if you have a designated corner for it. So, create a calming space with some pillows, candles, and incense, and surround yourself with things that bring in a sense of calm. Make sure the place is relatively free of distractions. Though a separate space is not a prerequisite, having one will usher in some discipline and dedication. You don’t have to meditate at home. You can do it in the park or even at the office before you begin work. It just might be a good idea to have a space that feels like a meditation spot but it can be anywhere.

Cut yourself some slack

Your journey to meditation bliss will not be a straight path. Accept that and give yourself a break. Many people dive into the practice with lofty ambitions and when they inevitably fall off the wagon, they give up altogether. The key here is to begin again. If you meditate for a few days and find that you are unable to meditate for a couple of days, don’t give up on it. Start again. The same goes for when you are meditating and get distracted. Begin again. Nothing’s lost. Tell yourself that. Give yourself credit for focusing on your breath even if it’s for a few minutes. Be kind to yourself throughout the process.

On a recent sunny afternoon, three sadhus (ascetics) sit outside one of the many temples that line the banks of Bagmati River that runs parallel to the Teku-Thapathali road stretch in Kathmandu. 

One of them is Sadhu Prabhu Sarang Das who hails from Mahottari district in southern Nepal, and has been living in this temple complex for the past 50 years. He and his fellow ascetics are talking about the shrines and other structures at the temple site that underwent extensive restoration following the destructive earthquake of 2015.    

“This place offers shelter to many sadhus who come to offer prayers at the Pashupati temple during the Shivaratri festival,” says Das. “It gives me immense pleasure to see the temple complex return to its former state.”

Most of the structures here were built during the 19th century, and carry great religious and cultural significance. The restoration works were carried out on 28 structures from Bagmati Bridge in Thapathali to Teku Dobhan. The Bagmati river improvement program has further enhanced the overall mood and atmosphere of the temple area.

Today, the temple area draws many people who come here to spend their free time. It also attracts scholars, historians and culturalists.  

The Government of Nepal has approved the Bagmati Management Plan (2009-2014) for the restoration of the Bagmati civilization and has been conducting activities related to the improvement and management of the Bagmati River. The Bagmati Civilization Integrated Development Committee and the Ministry of Urban Development are tasked with the implementation of the plan funded by the government and the Asian Development Bank. They have been carrying out several programs such as river bank improvement, encroachment removal and park and garden construction.

“These historical monuments are valuable property of the country. It is important that we preserve them in a sustainable manner,” says Udhav Nepal, deputy project director of Bagmati River Basin Improvement Project (BRBIP).

To date, the project has handed over 11 of the 28 restored monuments to Guthi (community-driven trust).

“We will soon complete the handover process of other monuments,” says Prabha Pokhrel, team leader of the project. But the handover process alone is no guarantee that this heritage site will remain safe.

Pokhrel adds it is the responsibility of the concerned Guthi to safeguard and preserve the shrines and other cultural and religious structures. 

“This is an important cultural heritage site which can generate income like Bhaktapur Durbar square and Lalitpur Durbar Square. The Guthi alone can’t manage and operate the site. There should be a proper mechanism in place.” 

The temple complex holds numerous shrines, shelters (sattals), resting spots (patis), and idols and statues of different Hindu gods and goddesses. Some religious scholars claim that in terms of the number of religious monuments and artefacts, this temple area is second only to the Pashupati temple.  

These monuments had already suffered much damage due to the elements before being razed down by the 2025 earthquake. Thanks to the restoration project, these heritage buildings now stand tall in their full glory, with their old intricate stone and woodwork. They have been built better using traditional materials and methods and are seismically stronger.

The Bagmati River Basin Improvement Project reckons that the temple area will be better managed if the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) is brought in for the preservation effort. 

KMC Spokesperson Nabin Manandha says the city office will be more than pleased to oversee the management and preservation aspects of the restored heritage site. 

“The temples and monuments along the banks of Bagmati and Bishnumati rivers hold great historical and cultural significance. The Kathmandu Metropolitan City will make sure that this heritage site is preserved,” he says.  

Annapurna Post Senior Correspondent Rajkaran Mahato was walking along the roadside when a bus driver and conductor verbally abused him, employing language that disrupts communal harmony, and attempted to physically assault him. Mahato has lodged a formal complaint against them with the Baneshwar police circle.

On Sunday, around 12:00 noon, the conductor and driver of a ‘Sundarimai Yatayat’ bus (Ba 2 Kha 4534) stopped on the side of the road in Tinkune, Kathmandu. They treated Mahato disrespectfully, referring to him as ‘bhaiya’ and using obscene language. When Mahato questioned the mistreatment, both bus personnel attempted to physically harm him.

“This incident is not an isolated occurrence for me. All Madhesis have been subjected to such insults against our ethnic identity. The unfortunate reality of being demeaned with terms like ‘bhaiya,’ ‘Bihari,’ and ‘Marsiya,’ relegating us to second-class citizens based on our attire, appearance, and speech, has sadly become commonplace,” Mahato remarked.

He has urgently appealed for the immediate arrest of the culprits and their subsequent prosecution.

Various organizations, including the Madhesi Commission, Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), and Madhesi Journalist Society Nepal, have called upon the relevant authorities to investigate the matter thoroughly and ensure justice for Mahato.