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PM Modi Virtually Inaugurates IIM Guwahati; Rs 555 Crore Approved for Permanent Campus

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday virtually inaugurated the first academic session of the Indian Institute of Management Guwahati, marking a significant step in expanding management education in Assam and the Northeast. The institute has begun functioning from a temporary transit campus at Tech City in Bongora, spread across 6,410 square metres. It will later move to its permanent campus at Marabhita in Kamrup district near Palasbari, which will be developed over 76.83 hectares. The Union Cabinet has sanctioned Rs 555 crore for the establishment of the institute. The allocation will fund the temporary campus setup, construction of the permanent campus, and operational expenses for the first five years. With this, IIM Guwahati becomes the second IIM in the Northeast after Indian Institute of Management Shillong, and the 22nd across India. The Centre had approved the new IIM as part of efforts to broaden access to quality management education in underserved regions. Academic activities have commenced with the launch of an executive education programme curated by mentor institute Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad. The inaugural batch includes Assam government officials, and the programme is aimed at strengthening leadership and administrative capabilities. IIM Ahmedabad will also oversee academic arrangements at the temporary campus. The regular MBA programme at IIM Guwahati is scheduled to begin from the 2026–27 academic session. In his address, the Prime Minister described the inauguration as a milestone for the Northeast, stating that the institute would enhance access to high-quality management education and help build academic and professional capacity in the region. The Ministry of Education said IIM Guwahati is envisioned as a future knowledge hub focused on holistic human resource development and is expected to attract students from across the country. Source: Indian Express

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AstraZeneca Secures CDSCO Approval for Expanded Use of Imfinzi in Endometrial Cancer Treatment

admin / Health & Wellness Community

AstraZeneca Pharma India Ltd announced on Tuesday (February 10, 2026) that it has obtained approval from India’s drug regulator to market its cancer therapy, Durvalumab (brand name Imfinzi), for an additional indication. In a regulatory filing, the company stated that the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), under the Directorate General of Health Services, has granted permission to import, sell, and distribute Durvalumab solution for infusion in strengths of 120 mg/2.4 ml and 500 mg/10 ml for expanded therapeutic use. With this latest approval, Durvalumab can now be used in combination with chemotherapy drugs carboplatin and paclitaxel as a first-line treatment for adults diagnosed with primary advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer who are eligible for systemic therapy. Following combination treatment, the drug is also approved as a standalone maintenance therapy for patients with mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) endometrial cancer. The company noted that this regulatory clearance enables the commercial rollout of Imfinzi for the newly approved indication in India, subject to completion of other necessary statutory formalities. Source: PTI

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Over 1,800 Industry Veterans Appointed as Professors of Practice Across 349 Institutions

admin / Education Community

In a significant push to align higher education with industry needs, more than 1,800 professionals from diverse sectors have joined universities and colleges across India as Professors of Practice (PoP). The Ministry of Education revealed that 1,841 experts have been appointed across 349 higher education institutions as part of reforms envisioned under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Responding in writing to the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar said the initiative is intended to deepen industry-academia engagement and promote hands-on, skill-oriented learning. He highlighted that the position of Professor of Practice is largely temporary and honorary in nature, enabling accomplished professionals to contribute to academic development and nation-building by sharing real-world expertise. Private universities accounted for the largest share of appointments with 715 PoP positions, followed by deemed-to-be universities with 699. State universities appointed 212 professionals, while central universities added 15. Colleges across the country contributed another 200 appointments. State-wise, Tamil Nadu leads with 395 Professors of Practice, followed by Maharashtra (193), Gujarat (179), Karnataka (170), and Uttar Pradesh (157). Several other states and Union Territories have also implemented the model, albeit on a smaller scale. What is a Professor of Practice? The Professor of Practice designation allows experienced industry and professional leaders to take up academic roles even if they do not hold conventional academic qualifications such as a PhD, which is otherwise mandatory for regular professor or associate professor positions. Appointments are typically for a term of up to three years, with a possible one-year extension in exceptional circumstances, capping the maximum tenure at four years. Institutions may allocate up to 10% of their sanctioned faculty positions to Professors of Practice. Eligible candidates must be distinguished professionals with at least 15 years of experience and notable contributions in fields such as science and technology, social sciences, media, armed forces, and other domains. To facilitate diverse participation, three categories of appointments have been introduced: industry-funded Professors of Practice, institution-funded positions supported by the higher education institution’s own resources, and honorary Professors of Practice. Source: Indian Express

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CBSE 2026 Board Exams: Digital Evaluation, Dual Class 10 Boards & Competency-Based Papers — What Students Must Know

admin / Education Community

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced sweeping reforms for the 2026 board examinations, affecting both Class 10 and Class 12 students. These updates focus on three major areas: alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the option of two board exams for Class 10, and the rollout of digital answer sheet evaluation for Class 12. Here’s a comprehensive look at what is changing and how it could impact students, parents, and schools. Digital Evaluation for Class 12: On-Screen Marking (OSM) Begins Starting with the 2026 board exams, CBSE will implement On-Screen Marking (OSM) for evaluating Class 12 answer sheets. This marks a significant shift from the traditional physical evaluation system to a fully digital process. However, Class 10 answer scripts will continue to be assessed through the conventional physical mode in 2026. CBSE conducts board examinations for approximately 46 lakh students across India and in 26 countries. With OSM, answer sheets will be scanned and uploaded digitally, allowing examiners to evaluate them online rather than travelling to designated marking centres. According to CBSE’s circular dated February 9, 2026, the digital evaluation system offers multiple benefits: Elimination of totalling and calculation errors Reduced manual handling through automated coordination Faster correction timelines Lower transportation and logistical costs Teachers can evaluate papers from their own schools Reduced need for post-result mark verification Decreased manpower requirements Broader participation of teachers, including those from overseas affiliated schools Environment-friendly paper management The move is expected to streamline the evaluation process and improve efficiency while reducing administrative burden. Two Board Exams for Class 10 from 2026 In another major reform, CBSE has confirmed that Class 10 students will have the option to appear for two board examinations starting in 2026. The announcement, made through a notification dated June 25, 2025, aligns with NEP 2020’s vision to reduce exam-related stress and shift away from high-stakes single-exam systems. While detailed implementation guidelines are being issued separately, the dual-exam system aims to: Ease performance pressure Provide flexibility within the same academic year Offer students a chance to improve scores without waiting for the next year This change is expected to create a more student-friendly assessment structure. Question Paper Pattern Overhauled: Competency Takes Centre Stage One of the most impactful changes for 2026 lies in the redesigned question paper format for both Class 10 and Class 12. As per Circular No. Acad-30/2024 (dated April 3, 2024), CBSE aligned its assessment structure with NEP 2020 to promote skill-based and application-oriented learning. Although the reform began in the 2024–25 academic session, the 2026 board batch will be among the first to complete an entire academic cycle under the revised format. New Exam Structure: 50% Competency-Based Questions Includes case studies, source-based questions, application-driven MCQs, and real-life context problems designed to test conceptual understanding rather than memorisation. 20% Objective (MCQ) Questions Select response-type questions aimed at evaluating clarity of concepts. 30% Constructed Response Questions Traditional short- and long-answer questions, now reduced in overall weightage. This marks a significant transition from the earlier model where long descriptive answers carried nearly half the marks. The emphasis now is on analytical thinking, problem-solving ability, and real-world application of knowledge. What This Means for Students The 2026 reforms collectively signal a transformation in CBSE’s examination philosophy — from memory-based testing to competency-driven evaluation. Students will need to focus more on understanding concepts deeply, practising case-based questions, and developing analytical skills. The introduction of digital evaluation may also lead to quicker result processing and greater transparency. With flexibility in Class 10 exams and modernised assessment for Class 12, CBSE is moving toward a system designed to reduce stress while strengthening learning outcomes. Source: Indian Express

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30 Crore Workers Likely to Join Nationwide Strike on February 12, Say Trade Unions

admin / Human Resource Community

A coalition of 10 central trade unions has confirmed that a nationwide general strike scheduled for Thursday, February 12, will proceed as planned, with an estimated participation of nearly 30 crore workers across India. The joint platform had earlier announced a strike call on January 9, 2025, protesting what it described as the Centre’s “anti-worker, anti-farmer and pro-corporate” policies. Trade union leaders now claim that this upcoming agitation could witness even greater participation than previous nationwide protests. Speaking to the media, All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) General Secretary Amarjeet Kaur said that not fewer than 30 crore workers are expected to take part in the February 12 strike. She pointed out that during the July 9, 2025 agitation, around 25 crore workers had joined the movement. According to Kaur, the strike is likely to impact nearly 600 districts across the country — an increase from approximately 550 districts that were affected during last year’s mobilisation. She attributed the anticipated turnout to extensive groundwork at district and block levels, along with backing from farmers’ groups and various federations. On the question of the strike’s effect in BJP-ruled states, Kaur stated that Odisha and Assam are expected to witness a complete shutdown, while significant disruptions are anticipated in several other states as well. In a joint statement, the trade union forum said the Samyukt Kisan Morcha has extended full support to the strike and related mobilisations. Agricultural workers’ unions are also actively participating, with particular emphasis on the restoration of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). The unions claim that awareness drives and campaigns have been carried out nationwide across government offices, public and private sector establishments, industrial hubs, and rural and urban communities. Student and youth organisations have reportedly joined outreach efforts in multiple locations, while sections of the general public have expressed solidarity with the demands. Strike notices have been issued across most industries and sectors, and organisers describe preparations as comprehensive. Among their key demands are: Withdrawal of the four new labour codes and associated rules Scrapping of the Draft Seed Bill and the Electricity Amendment Bill Repeal of the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act Restoration of MGNREGA Withdrawal of the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025 The joint forum comprises major trade unions including INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF, and UTUC. Source: PTI

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JioHotstar Hires Senior Leaders from Google, Flipkart, CRED and Amazon Pay to Accelerate AI-Led Streaming

admin / Media Entertainment & Art Community

JioHotstar has significantly bolstered its leadership team by onboarding senior executives from some of the world’s leading consumer internet and technology companies, as it sharpens its focus on AI-driven, personalised streaming experiences. The latest hires strengthen the platform’s capabilities across product, engineering, data, discovery, marketing intelligence and monetisation, signalling JioHotstar’s next phase of growth. The newly appointed leaders bring experience from organisations such as Google, Flipkart, Amazon Pay, CRED, Razorpay, Myntra, ShareChat and Cleartrip, adding depth to JioHotstar’s technology and consumer experience stack. Among the key appointments, Shrinivas SG joins to head Discovery and Personalisation. Formerly with Flipkart, he brings extensive experience in building large-scale search and discovery systems, including GenAI-powered conversational commerce with a strong focus on vernacular, voice and video-led discovery. Naveen Prashanth, who joins from Google, will lead Consumer Marketing. At Google, he oversaw marketing for YouTube Shorts, Creators and Artists in India, driving brand growth and monetisation. He has also worked with McKinsey & Company, advising FMCG and B2C firms on growth and transformation strategies. On the engineering front, Abhishek Sharan brings over 15 years of experience building high-traffic consumer platforms. Having held leadership roles at Flipkart and Myntra, he has worked across search, recommendations, advertising systems, applications, and trust and safety. Most recently, he served as Head of Engineering at SuperMoney and will now lead Viewer Experience Engineering at JioHotstar. Strengthening advertising and monetisation technology, Abhishek Varshney joins from CRED, where he spent nearly five years developing products across payments, ordering and financial engineering. His earlier stints include roles at Razorpay and Flipkart. Further reinforcing its product and engineering leadership, Chandramauli Singh (from ShareChat) and Nishant Paliwal (from Cleartrip) bring expertise in recommendation systems, scalable platform architectures and user engagement frameworks. JioHotstar has also appointed Chandru as Senior Vice President – Product Management, where he will lead subscriptions and new initiatives. With over 13 years of experience, Chandru previously spent more than a decade at Amazon Pay, playing a key role in building large-scale consumer and payments platforms. An alumnus of IIM Bangalore, he has also worked at Mu Sigma. The company’s push towards intelligent, data-led streaming is further supported by earlier hires such as David Zakkam, who leads analytics and data strategy, and Emmy Award-winning technologist Stephen Bugaj, appointed Senior Vice President – GenAI Content & Technology. With this expanded leadership bench, JioHotstar aims to accelerate its transformation into a responsive, AI-powered and insight-driven streaming platform, enhancing content discovery, engagement and monetisation as it scales to meet evolving consumer expectations.

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IIT Jodhpur Signs MoU with SLIET Longowal to Promote Direct PhD Admissions and Academic Collaboration

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Jodhpur, February 10, 2026: The Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur (IIT Jodhpur) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering and Technology (SLIET), Longowal, to strengthen academic cooperation, promote research collaboration, and create new pathways for meritorious students towards advanced research. The MoU was formally signed by Prof. Avinash Kumar Agarwal, Director, IIT Jodhpur, and Prof. Mani Kant Paswan, Director, SLIET Longowal at Longowal, Punjab. Under this MoU, meritorious B.Tech students of SLIET Longowal will be eligible for direct admission to PhD programmes at IIT Jodhpur. Students securing a CGPA of 8.0 or above and ranking among the top 10 in their respective batches after the seventh semester may be offered direct PhD admission without the requirement of appearing for GATE or a written examination, subject to an interview process. The agreement also provides provisions for early PhD admission, enabling eligible SLIET students to apply after their fifth semester, with opportunities to undertake project work, internships, or research activities at IIT Jodhpur. Additionally, students from SLIET will be eligible for paid summer internship opportunities under IIT Jodhpur’s SURAJ (Summer Undergraduate Research at Jodhpur) programme. The MoU encourages joint research proposals, faculty collaboration, and academic exchanges between the two institutions in areas of mutual interest. Students admitted under the early PhD programme will be provided hostel accommodation at the IIT Jodhpur campus and will be allowed to participate in research, project, and internship activities during summer and winter terms. Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Avinash Kumar Agarwal emphasized that the collaboration reflects IIT Jodhpur’s commitment to nurturing research talent and strengthening inter-institutional academic ecosystems. Prof. Mani Kant Paswan highlighted that the partnership would open new avenues for SLIET students to pursue advanced research and benefit from exposure to a premier research-intensive institute. The MoU will come into effect from the date of signing and will remain valid unless terminated mutually. The agreement marks an important step towards fostering academic excellence, research innovation, and long-term collaboration between IIT Jodhpur and SLIET Longowal. (Disclaimer: This report is generated from PRO services. ‘ArdorComm Media’ holds no responsibility for its content.)

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India Announces $175 Million Special Economic Package for Seychelles, Strengthens Strategic Partnership

admin / Governance Community

India has announced a $175 million Special Economic Package for Seychelles, marking a significant step in deepening bilateral cooperation between the two Indian Ocean neighbours. Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the announcement during a joint press briefing with Seychelles President Dr Patrick Herminie in New Delhi. The economic package will support priority sectors including social housing, e-mobility, vocational training, healthcare, defence cooperation and maritime security. In addition, India and Seychelles signed seven Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) spanning areas such as health, meteorology, electronics and information technology, and good governance. A key agreement focuses on technical and scientific collaboration between the India Meteorological Department and the Seychelles Meteorological Authority, aimed at strengthening weather forecasting and climate resilience. Another MoU enables the training of Seychellois civil servants in India, while a digital transformation pact will allow Seychelles to leverage India’s experience in building efficient and inclusive digital governance systems. Prime Minister Modi expressed that India and Seychelles share a relationship rooted in history, trust and a common vision for the future. He noted that Seychelles holds a vital place in India’s Vision MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions), particularly as a trusted maritime partner in the Indian Ocean. Emphasising health cooperation, he said India remains a dependable partner through the supply of affordable medicines, medical tourism and the development of healthcare infrastructure. President Herminie said his visit reflects the long-standing friendship and mutual respect between the two countries. He added that both nations share a clear roadmap for cooperation over the next five years, with maritime security and regional stability at the core of their partnership. He also welcomed the MoU on sharing proven digital solutions to accelerate Seychelles’ digital transformation. This is President Herminie’s first official visit to India since assuming office in October last year and coincides with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations. During his visit, he is also scheduled to meet President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan. Source: Newsonair

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Zydus secures USFDA orphan drug tag for sickle cell therapy Desidustat

admin / Health & Wellness Community

Zydus Lifesciences has received Orphan Drug Designation from the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) for Desidustat, its novel oral therapy being developed for the treatment of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), the company said on Friday. The USFDA grants orphan status to medicines intended to treat rare conditions affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the United States, with the aim of encouraging research and development in areas of high unmet medical need. Commenting on the development, Zydus Lifesciences Managing Director Sharvil Patel said the designation highlights the critical need for new treatment options for patients with sickle cell disease. He added that the company believes Desidustat has the potential to address gaps in current therapies, which remain limited. Zydus also said it has successfully completed a Phase II, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, multi-centre proof-of-concept study to assess the efficacy and safety of Desidustat in patients with SCD. The clinical data from the study is expected to be published in a peer-reviewed medical journal. The orphan drug status makes Desidustat eligible for several regulatory incentives, including tax credits for clinical trials, exemption from certain USFDA user fees, and the possibility of seven years of market exclusivity in the US following regulatory approval. Source: PTI

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Cognizant plans to hire up to 25,000 fresh graduates in 2026

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IT services firm Cognizant announced plans to recruit around 24,000–25,000 freshers in 2026, marking a sharp ramp-up in entry-level hiring as part of its strategy to strengthen the “bottom of the pyramid” workforce. The proposed intake represents a nearly 20 per cent increase compared with 2025, when the company hired close to 20,000 graduates. Speaking during the company’s Q4 2025 earnings call, Cognizant CEO Ravi Kumar S said the company is reshaping its talent pyramid by pushing high-value technology expertise down to early-career employees with the support of artificial intelligence. Kumar highlighted the growing non-linearity between revenue and headcount, noting that Cognizant is deliberately decoupling growth in revenues from workforce expansion. In 2025, the company’s revenues rose 6.4 per cent in constant currency terms, while headcount grew by just 4 per cent, leading to a 5 per cent rise in revenue per employee. He said the company is increasingly hiring school and college graduates, with each year seeing a higher intake than the previous one. The objective, Kumar explained, is to enable entry-level employees with advanced capabilities early in their careers, helping build a broader talent pyramid and driving efficiency at scale. Out of the 20,000 graduates recruited in 2025, Cognizant said about 16,000 are already deployed on client projects, while the remaining 4,000 are undergoing training. CFO Jatin Dalal said the company plans to scale this number by around 20 per cent in 2026, targeting an intake of up to 25,000 freshers. The company also pointed to a shift in its hiring approach, moving away from a linear model to a graded recruitment framework. This includes a premium hiring track called “Tech Wizards” for candidates from the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), alongside other categories such as power programmers and software engineers. Kumar said Cognizant now places greater emphasis on “learnability” rather than years of experience, arguing that younger graduates adapt faster in a rapidly evolving technology environment and require less unlearning of legacy software practices. Responding to concerns around AI-driven job losses, Kumar said while technology may eliminate outdated roles, it creates far more opportunities by modernising legacy systems and reducing technical debt across enterprises. Cognizant reported an 18.7 per cent year-on-year rise in net income to USD 648 million for the December quarter. Revenue for Q4 2025 stood at USD 5,333 million, up 4.9 per cent from USD 5,082 million in the same period last year. The company’s total workforce as of December 31, 2025, was 351,600, up by 14,800 employees compared with a year earlier. Source: PTI

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