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CBSE Cancels Class 12 Board Exams in Middle East Amid Security Concerns

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The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has cancelled the Class 12 board examinations scheduled between March and April 2026 for students appearing from several Middle Eastern countries. The decision was announced through an official circular issued on March 15 after reviewing the feasibility of conducting the exams in the region. The cancellation applies to CBSE-affiliated schools in Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. According to the board, all Class 12 examinations scheduled from March 16 to April 10, 2026, in these countries will no longer be conducted. CBSE also clarified that examinations which had earlier been postponed through circulars issued on March 1, March 3, March 5, March 7, and March 9 have now been officially cancelled. The board stated that the process for evaluating students and declaring the results will be announced separately at a later date. The circular was issued by Dr. Sanyam Bhardwaj, Controller of Examinations at CBSE, and addressed to principals of all CBSE-affiliated schools in the Middle East. Copies of the notice were also sent to Indian ambassadors in the seven affected countries, the Consul General of India in Dubai, and the Director of the CBSE Regional Office and Centre of Excellence in Dubai. Earlier in March, CBSE had initially postponed the Class 10 and Class 12 examinations scheduled for March 2 and March 3 in the Middle East region through a circular dated March 1. A subsequent notice issued on March 3 further postponed the March 5 and March 6 exams, stating that the board would review the situation and take further decisions regarding examinations scheduled from March 7 onwards. Meanwhile, the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) has also cancelled the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) and Indian School Certificate (ISC) examinations scheduled at all centres in the UAE. Confirming the development, CISCE Chief Executive and Secretary Dr. Joseph Emmanuel said that the results of affected students will be determined through an alternative assessment method, with detailed evaluation guidelines to be announced later. He added that the results for these students will be declared alongside those of students appearing for the exams in India. The cancellations come amid the ongoing security situation in the Middle East. The UAE government has also announced an early start to the spring break for schools and universities, placing students and staff on vacation from March 9 to March 22. Source: Indian Express  

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NCERT Launches ‘Kaveri’ as New Class 9 English Textbook with Focus on Indian Writers

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The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has introduced a new Class 9 English textbook titled Kaveri, bringing a stronger focus on Indian authors and the integration of Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS). The textbook has been developed in line with the National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023 (NCF-SE 2023) and will replace the earlier English textbooks Beehive and Moments. Unlike the previous curriculum used between 2006–07 and 2025–26 — which featured 29 texts with a larger share of international authors — the new book contains 16 carefully selected pieces that give equal space to Indian and global writers. Of the 16 texts included, eight are written by Indian authors. The Indian contributors featured in the anthology include renowned figures such as poet Subramania Bharati, author Sudha Murty, Naga writer Temsula Ao, Assamese novelist Mitra Phukan, and Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. The book begins with a story from Murty’s 2004 collection How I Taught My Grandmother to Read and Other Stories. The international section features works by American poet David Roth, English poet Charles Swain, children’s author Bryanna T. Perkins, poet Robert Langley, writer Maya Anthony, and Singapore-based author Irene Chua. The compilation also includes an anonymous poem titled Gifts of Grace: Honouring Our Vocations and a feature based on an interview with Paralympic champion Deepa Malik, highlighting her journey and achievements. According to officials, the revision also reduces the number of textbooks for the subject from two to one, while streamlining the syllabus by cutting the total number of texts from 29 to 16. The move aims to make the curriculum more balanced and manageable while ensuring equal representation of Indian and international literary voices. Source: PTI

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UPSC Releases Cut-Off Marks for Civil Services Examination 2025

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The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the official cut-off marks for the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2025 across the preliminary, mains and final stages. The announcement was made on March 9 following the declaration of the final results earlier this month. For the preliminary examination, the cut-off for candidates in the General category has been set at 92.66 marks in General Studies (GS) Paper 1. The cut-off for other categories stands at 89.34 for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), 92.00 for Other Backward Classes (OBC), 84.00 for Scheduled Castes (SC), and 82.66 for Scheduled Tribes (ST). Candidates in the Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) categories recorded cut-offs ranging from 76.66 to 40.66 marks, depending on the specific disability category. The PwBD category includes candidates with disabilities such as locomotor impairment, blindness or low vision, hearing impairment, and multiple disabilities. UPSC clarified that the prelims cut-off is determined solely based on GS Paper 1, while GS Paper 2 (CSAT) is qualifying in nature and requires candidates to secure at least 33 per cent marks. For the Mains examination, the minimum marks required to qualify for the interview stage were 739 for General, 706 for EWS, 717 for OBC, 700 for SC, and 694 for ST candidates. In the final stage, which combines marks from the Mains examination and the Personality Test, the final cut-off was 963 for the General category, 926 for EWS, 931 for OBC, 905 for SC, and 902 for ST. Overall, 958 candidates have been recommended for appointment to prestigious services including the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and other central services. UPSC also stated that the detailed marks of candidates will be published on its official website within 15 days of the result declaration, by March 20. Source: Indian Express

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Delhi Govt to Open Online Admissions for 12 Special Schools from March 9

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The Delhi Directorate of Education has announced that the online admission process for 12 government and government-aided special schools will begin on March 9 for the current academic session. The registration window will remain open until March 17. The admission process will cover classes from Nursery to Class 10 and Class 12 in special schools managed by the department. After completing the online registration, parents and guardians will need to visit the respective schools to submit and verify the required documents between March 18 and March 23 during working hours. According to officials, the allotment of schools to registered applicants will take place on April 1 based on seat availability, and the entire admission process will be completed by April 2. If applications for any class exceed the available seats, the selection will be carried out through a draw of lots. If required, the draw will be conducted on March 24 at 11 AM in the presence of school management committee members and parents. Following the document verification and draw process, school heads will submit the final list of selected students to the Inclusive Education Branch headquarters on March 25. If seats remain vacant after the first round of allotment, children placed on the waiting list will be admitted between April 3 and April 5 according to their position. The 12 special schools offer specialised learning support and facilities for children with disabilities, including those with visual impairments and intellectual disabilities. Admissions will follow specific eligibility criteria related to age limits and disability categories as defined in the department’s guidelines. Source: Indian Express

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Govt Makes 150 Hours of On-the-Job Training Mandatory for ITI Trainees Under Craftsmen Training Scheme

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The Centre has made it compulsory for Industrial Training Institute (ITI) students enrolled under the Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS) to complete 150 hours of structured on-the-job training (OJT) or a group project, as per fresh guidelines issued by the Directorate General of Training (DGT). The DGT operates under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. Until now, ITI trainees primarily received practical instruction within campus workshops, working with tools and machinery available at their institutes. While this approach ensured foundational skills, it often limited exposure to modern industrial technologies and real-time workplace practices. Consequently, many trainees required additional hands-on training after entering the job market. To bridge this gap and align vocational education with industry demands, the DGT has restructured CTS qualifications in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. As part of the reforms, the annual training duration has been reduced from 1,600 hours to 1,200 hours. Additionally, a mandatory 150-hour OJT or group project component has been introduced to ensure practical industry exposure. Union Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Jayant Chaudhary termed the move a significant reform aimed at strengthening vocational education. He emphasised that classroom instruction alone is insufficient in a rapidly evolving industrial environment, and that real workplace experience is essential to build competence, confidence and professionalism among trainees. The initiative is also expected to deepen collaboration between industries and ITIs. Under the new guidelines, trainees will be eligible for OJT or project work only after completing at least three months of institutional training. The industry training will be conducted under the supervision of mentors, with regular performance assessments. The OJT component will also be integrated into a future data-driven grading framework. For students enrolled under the Dual System of Training (DST) mode, mandatory project work will replace OJT, as they already receive industry exposure during their course. Launched in 1950, the Craftsmen Training Scheme remains a key pillar of India’s vocational training ecosystem. The newly introduced OJT mandate aims to enhance employability, align skills with industry standards, and ensure smoother workforce integration for ITI graduates. Source: PTI

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Over 1.2 Lakh Students Receive Degrees at Delhi University’s 102nd Convocation

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The University of Delhi conferred degrees upon more than 1.2 lakh students during its 102nd convocation ceremony held on February 28. The event was graced by Vice President C P Radhakrishnan as the chief guest, while Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh presided over the proceedings. In a symbolic gesture marking the university’s digital transition, the Vice President released the students’ digital degrees at the click of a button. According to the Vice-Chancellor, a total of 1,20,408 degrees were awarded this year. Among them, 50,780 degrees were presented to regular students — 24,748 men and 26,032 women. Additionally, 5,008 degrees were awarded to students of the Non-Collegiate Women’s Education Board (NCWEB) and 64,620 to learners from the School of Open Learning (SOL). Overall, 59,435 male and 60,973 female students received degrees at the ceremony. The university also granted 734 PhD degrees, including 385 to women and 349 to men. The Faculty of Arts accounted for the highest number of doctoral awards at 236, followed by Science with 139 and Social Sciences with 119. In recognition of academic excellence, 132 gold and silver medals and awards were distributed. Undergraduate and postgraduate students received 112 gold medals and one silver medal, along with 19 prize certificates. The total degrees awarded comprised 1,09,003 undergraduate students, 11,362 postgraduate students, and 43 students from the four-year undergraduate programme (FYUP), covering regular, NCWEB, and SOL categories. The VC also announced the awarding of 20 ‘centenary chance’ degrees, a special initiative introduced during the university’s 100th year to enable former students to complete their academic programmes. Addressing the gathering, Vice President Radhakrishnan described the graduating students as key contributors to the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat.’ He emphasised that universities must promote research and innovation rooted in Indian contexts while maintaining global competitiveness. Highlighting gender representation, he noted that women accounted for over 70 per cent of this year’s gold medallists. Reflecting on the institution’s growth, the Vice President remarked that Delhi University began with just three colleges, two faculties, eight departments, and 750 students. Today, it boasts 16 faculties, 86 departments, 90 colleges, 20 halls and hostels, more than 30 centres and institutes, 34 libraries, and a student strength exceeding six lakh. Commenting on the intense competition for admission, he shared that seats are filled promptly, with cut-off marks often reaching as high as 98 per cent. While acknowledging DU’s standing among India’s premier institutions, he urged the university to aim higher in global rankings — aspiring to break into the top 300, then 200, and eventually the top 100 universities worldwide, with the long-term goal of becoming the world’s leading university. Source: Indian Express

Over 1.2 Lakh Students Receive Degrees at Delhi University’s 102nd Convocation Read More »

Labour Ministry Eases Scholarship Rules; EPFO to Refund ₹30.52 Crore from Dormant Accounts

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In a significant policy shift, the Union Labour Ministry on Monday (February 23, 2026) updated its scholarship guidelines to allow students receiving welfare-based financial assistance from the Ministry to simultaneously avail merit-based scholarships offered by any Central or State government body. The revision is expected to widen access to financial aid, benefiting more than the current one lakh students annually. According to an official statement, the amendment will particularly support the children of beedi workers, cine workers, and non-coal mine workers. By removing restrictions on overlapping scholarships, eligible students will now have greater financial flexibility to pursue higher education and compete for merit-based awards without losing need-based support. The Ministry clarified that its scholarship scheme remains need-driven and does not impose academic merit criteria. The change has been introduced to promote equity, eliminate unintended exclusions, and ensure clearer policy implementation. Previously, several deserving students from unorganised worker families were unable to access additional scholarships due to conflicting eligibility rules. The decision aligns with the broader objectives of the Code on Social Security, which seeks to strengthen welfare measures for unorganised workers and their families, particularly in the area of education. In a separate reform initiative, the Ministry also announced the settlement of 7.11 lakh inactive accounts under the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO). Each of these inoperative accounts holds a balance of up to ₹1,000, amounting to a total of ₹30.52 crore. The funds will soon be refunded to the respective account holders or their legal heirs. Source: The Hindu

Labour Ministry Eases Scholarship Rules; EPFO to Refund ₹30.52 Crore from Dormant Accounts Read More »

UGC Flags 32 Fake Universities Across India; Delhi Tops List With 12

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The University Grants Commission (UGC) has identified 32 institutions across India as fake universities, warning students that degrees issued by these entities are invalid for employment and higher education. In a public notice released in February 2026, the UGC — a statutory body under the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education — clarified that these institutions are not recognised under Sections 2(f) and 3 of the UGC Act. The Commission emphasised that only universities established by a Central or State Act, or those declared as deemed universities under the Act, are authorised to award valid degrees. Delhi Records The Highest Number Delhi has the highest number of such institutions, with 12 entities operating without recognition. Uttar Pradesh follows with four, while several other states and Union Territories have reported one or two such cases. State-Wise Count Of Fake Universities (As of February 2026) Delhi – 12 Uttar Pradesh – 4 Andhra Pradesh – 2 Karnataka – 2 Kerala – 2 Maharashtra – 2 Puducherry – 2 West Bengal – 2 Arunachal Pradesh – 1 Haryana – 1 Jharkhand – 1 Rajasthan – 1 The UGC has advised students and parents to verify the recognition status of institutions through its official website before taking admission. It reiterated that degrees awarded by unrecognised institutions hold no legal validity and will not be accepted for jobs or further studies. The Commission’s move aims to protect students from fraudulent institutions and maintain the integrity of India’s higher education system. Source: NDTV

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A. R. Rahman Agrees in Supreme Court to Credit Junior Dagar Brothers for ‘Veera Raja Veera’

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Oscar-winning composer A. R. Rahman on Friday informed the Supreme Court of India that he would formally acknowledge the contribution of the Junior Dagar Brothers in the song Veera Raja Veera from the film Ponniyin Selvan: II. A Bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi recorded Rahman’s submission and disposed of the plea, describing the individuals involved as “reputed names of the music industry”. Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Rahman, told the court that the composer would update the song credits to read: “Composition inspired by Dagarwani tradition Dhrupad, first recorded as ‘Shiv Stuti’ by late Ustad Nasir Faiyazuddin Dagar and Ustad Nasir Zahiruddin Dagar, popularly known as Junior Dagar Brothers.” The matter arose from a plea filed by Dhrupad vocalist Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar challenging a September 2025 order of the Delhi High Court. The High Court had observed that there was no prima facie material to establish that the Junior Dagar Brothers — Ustad Nasir Zahiruddin Dagar and Ustad Nasir Faiyazuddin Dagar — were the authors of the classical rendition Shiv Stuti. The Supreme Court noted that the revised credit would be reflected across social media and OTT platforms within five weeks. It also directed Rahman to deposit ₹2 crore, as fixed by the High Court, with the Registrar General on an interim basis. Clarifying its position, the Bench stated that it had not expressed any opinion on the merits of the dispute and that the pending civil suit between the parties would proceed independently, uninfluenced by its observations. Earlier, on February 13, the apex court had suggested that Rahman and the makers of Ponniyin Selvan: II consider acknowledging the Dagarwani Dhrupad tradition’s contribution to the composition. Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar, son of Faiyazuddin Dagar and nephew of Zahiruddin Dagar, has claimed copyright over the original works of the Junior Dagar Brothers, including Shiv Stuti, alleging unauthorised use in the film’s song. Source: PTI

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Sundar Pichai Unveils Google AI Professional Certificate, Announces India-America Connect Initiative

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At the Artificial Intelligence Summit in New Delhi, Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, announced the launch of a new Google AI Professional Certificate programme aimed at strengthening AI skills and deepening technology collaboration between India and the United States. During his keynote address, Pichai also introduced the India-America Connect Initiative, a major digital infrastructure project that will establish new subsea cable routes linking India, the US, and several regions across the southern hemisphere. The initiative is designed to enhance AI connectivity, improve data transfer speeds, and support the growing demand for advanced AI capabilities. Emphasising the need to pair infrastructure growth with talent development, Pichai described the AI certificate programme as one of Google’s most ambitious skilling efforts in India. He noted that as AI creates new opportunities, investing in workforce training is essential to ensure professionals can effectively integrate AI into their work. Reflecting on Visakhapatnam—popularly known as Vizag—Pichai recalled remembering it as a quiet coastal city filled with promise. He said he never imagined it would one day emerge as a global AI hub. As part of its planned $15 billion infrastructure investment in India, Google will establish a full-stack AI hub in the region. The facility will feature gigawatt-scale compute capacity along with a new international subsea cable gateway, a move expected to create jobs and bring cutting-edge AI resources to businesses and communities across the country. The Google AI Professional Certificate is designed to equip learners with both foundational and advanced AI expertise. The curriculum covers key areas such as artificial intelligence fundamentals, machine learning, neural networks, and practical real-world applications. Participants will gain hands-on experience using Google’s AI tools and technologies, enabling them to implement AI-driven solutions in professional settings and explore new career opportunities in a rapidly evolving digital economy. Source: NDTV

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