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CUET UG 2025 Results Awaited: Over 13.5 Lakh Candidates Anxiously Wait for Scores

More than 13.5 lakh students who took the Common University Entrance Test for Undergraduate admissions (CUET UG) 2025 are eagerly awaiting their results. Conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) between May 13 and June 4, the CUET UG results are expected to be released soon, although no official date has been confirmed yet. Once declared, candidates can access their scorecards on the official website – cuet.nta.nic.in. The final answer key, which forms the basis for result compilation, will be released alongside the results. It’s important to note that no objections regarding the answer key will be accepted after the results are published. Earlier, NTA had issued the provisional answer key on June 17, and students were allowed to submit their objections until June 20. Following the declaration of results, participating universities and institutions will prepare their individual merit lists and conduct counselling sessions based on the CUET UG 2025 scores. This year saw significant changes to the CUET UG format. The exam was held entirely in computer-based mode (CBT) and featured three distinct sections: Section 1 tested proficiency in 13 languages Section 2 covered 23 domain-specific subjects Section 3 assessed general aptitude The paper comprised objective-type multiple-choice questions. Notably, the accountancy paper saw a revised pattern to better align the questions with the official syllabus. In comparison, CUET UG 2024 was conducted in a mixed mode (CBT and offline) for around 13.48 lakh candidates, with results declared on July 28. In 2023, the results were announced on July 15, while the 2022 results were declared much later on September 15. With the exam changes in place and the number of candidates rising, the CUET UG 2025 results remain one of the most anticipated announcements for students seeking undergraduate admissions this year. Source: Indian Express

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CBSE Mandates First Board Exam for Class 10; Introduces Optional Second Attempt in Select Subjects

Starting from the academic year 2026, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will implement a dual-board exam system for Class 10 students, with the first exam being mandatory for all. The second exam will serve as an optional chance for students to improve their scores, but only in up to three subjects from science, mathematics, social science, and the two language papers. Previously, CBSE allowed students to reappear for improvement in just two subjects. Under the new framework, that number increases to three, offering more flexibility while still maintaining academic discipline. CBSE Chairman Rahul Singh explained that making the first exam compulsory and restricting the second exam to three subjects is meant to encourage students to treat the initial attempt seriously. He emphasized that the second exam is not an alternative, but an “additional opportunity” for enhancement. If a student skips three or more subjects in the first round, they will not be eligible for the second attempt and will have to reappear the following year under the ‘essential repeat’ category. However, exceptions will be made for students in winter-affected regions like Ladakh, parts of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Himachal Pradesh. These students can opt to appear only for the second set of exams, as heavy snowfall may hinder participation in the February session. The timeline for the two exams is as follows: the first board exam will be conducted from mid-February, with results declared in April. Based on their performance, students can choose to take the second exam in May, and the best scores from either attempt will be considered final. The second round results are expected by June 30, a shift from the earlier system where improvement results were released in August. Students who fail to clear the first exam will be able to appear in the second round as ‘compartment’ candidates. This two-exam system may eventually be extended to Class 12 as well, with similar timelines to ensure college admission deadlines are met. Earlier this year, CBSE had released a draft proposal for this policy and sought public opinion. According to Singh, 64% of students expressed support for the new format. Notably, the initial draft had not made the first exam compulsory or set a cap on the number of subjects for the second attempt — both key changes in the final version. Source: Indian Express

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COMEDK UGET 2025: Round 1 Counselling Registration Deadline Extended to June 30

The Consortium of Medical, Engineering, and Dental Colleges of Karnataka (COMEDK) has announced an extension for the Round 1 counselling registration deadline for the Undergraduate Entrance Test (UGET) 2025. Candidates can now register and upload required documents for the first round of counselling until June 30 at 11:00 am through the official portal – comedk.org. According to the latest notification, July 12 is the revised cut-off date for completing document verification. The seat allotment results for Round 1 will be released based on candidate merit, seat preferences, and availability. The COMEDK UGET 2025 was conducted in two phases – on May 10 and May 25. The second phase was arranged for candidates whose exam centers were impacted due to Operation Sindoor-related issues and potential power disruptions. COMEDK UGET 2025 Counselling: Key Details The counselling process is fully online and includes: Registration Choice filling Seat allotment Confirmation of seat Payment of fees To participate, candidates must keep the following documents ready: COMEDK application form UGET 2025 rank card Hall ticket Fee payment receipt Valid ID proof Class 10 or 12 marksheet 12th/2nd PUC admit card Reserved category candidates are required to upload appropriate documents, such as SC/ST/OBC certificates or OCI/PIO documentation. Additionally, a VTU eligibility certificate is mandatory for some categories. Steps to Register for Round 1 Counselling: Visit comedk.org Log in with your credentials and choose the counselling registration option Verify personal details and pay the counselling registration fee Upload all required documents (files must be under 1 MB each) Submit the form to complete the process Once successfully submitted, candidates will receive a seat allotment letter and a fee payment receipt, after which they must report to their allotted institutions as per the announced schedule. Candidates are advised to complete the registration well before the deadline to avoid last-minute issues. Source: Indian Express  

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Govt Forms Panel to Probe Coaching Dependency and Fairness of Entrance Exams

The Ministry of Education has constituted a nine-member committee to investigate the growing dependence of students on coaching centres, the phenomenon of ‘dummy schools,’ and the integrity and fairness of competitive entrance exams like JEE and NEET, officials confirmed. Chaired by Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi, the committee will delve into systemic shortcomings within the school education framework that push students towards coaching hubs. The panel will examine the limited emphasis on critical thinking, analytical reasoning, innovation, and conceptual understanding in traditional schooling — factors that fuel rote learning and, in turn, coaching culture. One major concern to be addressed is the rise of ‘dummy schools’ — institutions where students enroll merely for board exam eligibility while devoting their full attention to intensive coaching. These setups allow aspirants to bypass classroom learning altogether, focusing solely on entrance exam preparation. Many also exploit state domicile criteria through such enrollments to gain regional admission advantages, such as eligibility for the Delhi state quota in medical colleges. “The committee will study how dummy schools undermine formal education and promote exclusive dependence on coaching. It will recommend ways to address this growing issue,” a senior ministry official said. The panel will also scrutinize the current model of entrance exams to assess their fairness and relevance in the context of mainstream schooling. It will investigate whether the absence of formative assessments and a weak focus on concept clarity in school systems are inadvertently supporting the proliferation of coaching institutes. Another key focus area is the imbalance between the rising demand for quality higher education and the limited seats available in top institutions — a gap that often drives students toward costly and stressful coaching environments. The panel’s mandate also includes evaluating students’ and parents’ awareness of diverse career opportunities beyond elite engineering and medical colleges. It aims to assess the status of career counselling mechanisms in schools and recommend strategies to enhance career guidance systems nationwide. Alongside Vineet Joshi, the committee comprises the CBSE chairperson, joint secretaries from the school and higher education ministries, representatives from IIT Madras, IIT Kanpur, NIT Trichy, NCERT, and principals from Kendriya Vidyalaya, Navodaya Vidyalaya, and a private school. This initiative follows increasing concerns over the coaching industry’s practices, including rising student suicides, fire hazards, inadequate infrastructure, and questionable teaching methods. The government hopes the panel’s findings will lead to more balanced, student-centric reforms in education and examination systems. Source: PTI

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Centre, NIOS, and NCERT Join Hands to Advance Inclusive Education for Children with Disabilities

In a significant move to promote inclusive education, the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) has entered into a tripartite agreement with the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) and the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). The agreement, signed in the presence of Union Ministers Virendra Kumar and Dharmendra Pradhan, aims to create an enabling educational environment for children with disabilities by aligning with the principles of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. This strategic collaboration will focus on revamping curriculum and learning materials to ensure they are accessible, inclusive, and tailored to the needs of learners with disabilities. NCERT will play a key role in modifying textbooks and curricular content to reflect these values. As part of the agreement, NIOS will grant recognition to special schools operated by NGOs under the Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS), designating them as Special Accredited Institutions for Education of the Disabled (SAIEDs). These institutions will offer a broad spectrum of academic and vocational education—from foundational levels to senior secondary—supported by NIOS in terms of admissions, exams, study materials, and necessary accommodations during assessments. Union Minister Virendra Kumar highlighted the initiative as a step toward realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of inclusive growth, emphasizing that every child, regardless of ability, should have the opportunity to receive quality education. “This MoU affirms that inclusive education is not a luxury but a fundamental right,” he said. Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan underscored the broader societal impact of inclusive education. “Creating a just and empathetic society begins with our schools. NEP 2020 is a progressive framework guiding us, and in the coming year, we are also prioritising infrastructure like accessible toilets to help reduce dropout rates,” he noted. DEPwD Secretary Rajesh Aggarwal reiterated the commitment to widen access for students with disabilities, including facilitating their entry into premier institutions such as IITs and IIMs. He also praised NIOS for its innovative step of introducing Indian Sign Language as a subject at the secondary level. Echoing the vision, Sanjay Kumar, Secretary of the Department of School Education and Literacy, stated that the ultimate mission is to ensure every child with a disability is able to complete their schooling and access equal opportunities in higher education and beyond. Source: PTI

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UPSC CSE Mains 2025 Registration Opens for Prelims Qualifiers; Apply by June 25

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially opened the application window for the Civil Services Examination (CSE) Mains 2025. Only those candidates who successfully cleared the preliminary examination are eligible to apply. This year, 14,161 aspirants made it through the Prelims stage and can now move forward by registering for the Mains via the official portal — upsconline.nic.in. The deadline to submit the Detailed Application Form (DAF) is June 25, 2025. The UPSC CSE Mains is scheduled to begin on August 22, and the written examinations will conclude within five days. The application fee for General category candidates is ₹200, while candidates from SC, ST, PwBD categories, as well as female applicants, are exempt from payment. How to Apply for UPSC CSE Mains 2025: Visit the official websites — upsc.gov.in or upsconline.nic.in. Log in using your registration ID and password from the Prelims stage. Fill in personal information like name, date of birth, category, etc. Provide academic qualifications and upload the corresponding documents. Submit employment details (if any), including job title, organization, and responsibilities. Indicate your service preferences by arranging them in the desired order. Enter additional details such as hobbies, achievements, and extracurricular involvement. Upload required documents, including a recent photo, signature, and government-issued photo ID. Review the form carefully, pay the fee (if applicable), and submit the application. Candidates can also update specific accessibility-related details such as requirements for a scribe, assistive tools, or large-print materials. In case of a name change, a gazette notification can be uploaded for verification. The Prelims result list is now available on the UPSC website, although the results of four candidates have been withheld due to ongoing legal matters. UPSC has also announced that the marks, cutoff scores, and answer keys for the Preliminary exam will be released only after the entire selection process, including both the CSE and Indian Forest Service exams, is complete and final results are published. Source: Indian Express

UPSC CSE Mains 2025 Registration Opens for Prelims Qualifiers; Apply by June 25 Read More »

NEET UG 2025 Results: No Perfect Scores as Rajasthan Student Tops with 686 Marks

In a significant shift from last year’s controversial NEET-UG results, the 2025 edition of the medical entrance exam saw no candidate achieving a perfect score of 720. This marks a stark contrast to 2024, when 67 students initially scored full marks—17 of them following a revised result—amid concerns over grace marks and incorrect NCERT references. This year, Mahesh Kumar from Rajasthan emerged as the sole national topper with a score of 686 and a percentile of 99.9999547. He was closely followed by Utkarsh Awadhiya from Madhya Pradesh, who secured the second position with a percentile of 99.9999095, according to the results declared by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on Saturday. The exam, conducted in May under heightened security measures due to last year’s controversies, saw a significant drop in the top score for the first time in several years. In fact, 686 is the lowest top score since 2019, the year NTA began administering NEET-UG. Previously, full scores were recorded in 2020, 2021, and 2023, while the highest scores in 2019 and 2022 were 701 and 715 respectively. This year’s results also brought a notable decline in cut-off marks. For the general category, the qualifying range dropped to 686–144, compared to 720–162 in 2024 and 720–137 in 2023. A total of 73 candidates scored between 651 and 686 marks. Interestingly, the NTA did not disclose individual scores of the top 50 candidates, a detail that had been publicly shared in previous years. Out of the 22.09 lakh candidates who appeared for NEET-UG 2025—lower than last year’s 23.33 lakh—12.37 lakh qualified for admission to undergraduate medical courses. Female candidates continued to dominate both in participation and qualification, making up over half of all test-takers and 58% of those who passed. State-wise, Uttar Pradesh led in the number of qualified candidates with 1.70 lakh students, followed by Maharashtra (1.25 lakh), Rajasthan (1.19 lakh), Karnataka (83,582), and Bihar (80,954). Among the top 20 rankers, Rajasthan and Delhi each contributed four candidates. In response to the 2024 exam controversy, which included a retest and a Supreme Court-mandated revision of results, the 2025 exam was held under strict vigilance. Oversight was carried out at multiple levels, including central, state, and district authorities, in line with recommendations from a government-appointed committee focused on strengthening the integrity of public examinations. The absence of full scores this year and the tighter scrutiny of the exam process may reflect a more standardized and credible testing environment going forward. Source: Indian Express

NEET UG 2025 Results: No Perfect Scores as Rajasthan Student Tops with 686 Marks Read More »

IIM Calcutta Launches Executive Programme on Strategic Marketing and AI Integration

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The Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (IIM Calcutta) has introduced a new executive education programme titled “Strategic Marketing for Leaders: Leveraging AI for Growth” in partnership with Emeritus. The 18-week online course is designed for mid to senior-level professionals seeking to harness artificial intelligence (AI) to drive innovation and growth in marketing. The programme addresses a growing demand for AI expertise in marketing sectors. Recent industry reports highlight this trend: According to the PwC Global CEO Survey 2024, 70% of Indian CEOs expect Generative AI to significantly impact value creation, particularly in marketing and customer experience. Additionally, EY’s report “The AIdea of India: 2025” reveals that 71% of Indian retailers plan to adopt Generative AI within the next year. IIM Calcutta, ranked fifth in India by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2024 and accredited by global bodies including AMBA, EQUIS, and AACSB, will deliver the programme curriculum. Key learning areas include predictive analytics, generative AI applications in marketing, omnichannel strategy, customer journey mapping, and strategic planning involving branding, pricing, and performance marketing. The course features a combination of asynchronous video lectures and live sessions led by Professor Saravana Jaikumar from IIM Calcutta. Participants will engage with real-world case studies from brands such as Nike, Apple, and Southwest Airlines, along with simulations and a final capstone project to reinforce practical learning. As an added benefit, participants can attend an optional one-day networking and immersion event at the IIM Calcutta campus, providing valuable opportunities to interact with faculty, peers, and industry leaders. The programme targets graduates and diploma holders (minimum 10+2+3 education) working in marketing, digital marketing, consulting, business strategy, retail, FMCG, technology, ecommerce, and media sectors. It is especially relevant for those moving into strategic leadership roles or responsible for customer engagement and growth. Avnish Singhal, Executive Vice President and Head for India & APAC at Emeritus, commented, “This programme equips marketing leaders with the strategic insight and AI expertise needed to lead business transformation and innovation in today’s fast-changing landscape.” Interested professionals can find more information about the programme, enrollment process, fees, and deadlines on the official websites of IIM Calcutta and Emeritus. Source: IIM-C  

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BITS Pilani and USC Viterbi Join Forces for Dual Degrees and Research Excellence

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In a significant move to expand global academic collaboration, BITS Pilani has entered into a strategic partnership with the University of Southern California’s Viterbi School of Engineering. The alliance, cemented on June 5 at USC’s Olin Hall of Engineering, focuses on creating new opportunities for joint research, academic exchange, and dual degree programmes. This collaboration brings together two renowned institutions to explore emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, data science, quantum computing, and sustainable engineering. Through this partnership, both institutions aim to enhance faculty and student mobility, facilitate joint academic initiatives, and introduce an integrated degree pathway that bridges undergraduate and postgraduate studies. Prof. Ramgopal Rao, Group Vice Chancellor of BITS Pilani, described the MoU as a pivotal step in broadening the global exposure of students and faculty. He noted that the combined expertise of BITS and USC will help foster innovation and enrich academic learning across disciplines. Dean Yannis C. Yortsos of USC Viterbi echoed the sentiment, adding that the collaboration aligns with USC’s vision of nurturing international alliances that advance knowledge and research impact worldwide. One of the key highlights of this agreement is an accelerated Master’s programme for BITS Pilani engineering undergraduates. Eligible students, after completing three years of their BE course, will have the opportunity to begin their Master of Science degree at USC while finishing their undergraduate requirements—fast-tracking their academic progression. Additionally, the collaboration will feature a two-week exchange programme where USC students will visit BITS Pilani campuses to participate in academic sessions and immerse themselves in Indian culture. Faculty exchange is also a core component of the partnership, with educators from both institutions engaging in joint research, co-teaching, and academic workshops. BITS Pilani selects its students primarily through the BITSAT entrance test, with provisions for direct admission of board examination toppers and international candidates—ensuring that some of India’s brightest students benefit from this new global initiative. This academic alliance is poised to pave the way for groundbreaking research, cross-cultural learning, and international academic excellence. Source: India Today  

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Duolingo Unveils $30,000 STEM Scholarship for Indian Women in Partnership with Indian Government

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Duolingo, in collaboration with the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India, has introduced the ‘DETermined’ scholarship, a new initiative aimed at supporting Indian women pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). This exclusive scholarship offers a one-time grant of $30,000 (approximately ₹25 lakh) to cover tuition costs for eligible undergraduate or postgraduate programs in the United States starting in Spring 2026. Applications for the DETermined scholarship are currently open via the Manthan portal. The goal is to help talented Indian women overcome financial challenges and access world-class STEM education abroad. Despite steady growth in female representation in STEM—rising from 38.4% in 2014 to 42.6% in 2024, according to UGC data—many still face economic barriers when aiming for top global universities. This scholarship seeks to close that gap. The Office of the PSA will serve as the knowledge partner and play an active role in the evaluation and selection process. Applicants must be Indian women residing in India, have scored at least 60% in their science stream from a recognized institution, and possess a minimum Duolingo English Test (DET) score of 120. They must also intend to pursue a full-time STEM degree at a U.S. institution that accepts DET scores. In addition to academic credentials, applicants are expected to show leadership qualities, a passion for innovation, and a commitment to addressing local or global challenges. A willingness to return to India and potentially launch a startup or scalable project will also strengthen their candidacy. Key Dates: Application Deadline: June 30, 2025 Scholarship Announcement: September 2025 Selection Process: Initial Application: Submit details including academic records, DET score, and a short essay or video explaining their vision for impact in STEM. STEM Impact Proposal Challenge: Shortlisted applicants must present a unique solution to a major STEM-related issue in the form of a proposal (max 1,000 words) or a 5-minute video. Final Interview: Candidates who reach the final round will attend a virtual interview to discuss their ideas, goals, and personal motivations. The $30,000 grant will be directly transferred to the student’s U.S. university to offset tuition expenses. Candidates can apply through the Manthan portal or Duolingo’s official website under the grants section, which also provides step-by-step guidance for the application process. Source: Indian Express  

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