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CBSE reminds affiliated schools to strictly follow public disclosure rules

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The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued a fresh advisory asking all its affiliated schools to strictly adhere to the Mandatory Public Disclosure norms, with a special focus on keeping their official websites updated with accurate information. The Board has warned that failure to comply may result in action under the CBSE Affiliation Bye-laws. In its communication, CBSE reiterated that maintaining a functional and informative website is a basic condition for both new and existing affiliations. Schools are required to upload comprehensive institutional details online, as specified under various clauses of the Affiliation Bye-laws, making digital transparency a non-negotiable requirement. The Board has directed schools to follow the revised format of Appendix IX and ensure that all prescribed information and documents are correctly uploaded on their websites by February 15, 2026. Under Clause 14.1 of the Bye-laws, schools are obligated to comply with all instructions issued by CBSE. As per Clauses 2.3.8 and 2.4.9, affiliated schools must display key details such as affiliation status, infrastructure facilities, fee structure, student strength, contact details, and complete information about teaching staff along with their qualifications. Schools must also upload valid, self-attested documents in the “Mandatory Public Disclosure” section in line with Appendix IX. CBSE has further reminded schools about Clause 14.5, which requires them to prepare and publish a detailed annual report on their websites by September 15 every year. The report should include the academic calendar, teacher qualifications and professional development, academic performance, sports achievements, environmental initiatives, PTA activities, decisions of the School Management Committee, and total student enrolment. The Board observed that despite multiple reminders, many schools continue to neglect website updates or upload incomplete, incorrect, or invalid information. In several cases, details related to teachers and their qualifications are missing from the Mandatory Public Disclosure section. CBSE stressed that such information is crucial for parents to evaluate a school’s academic standards and teaching resources, and plays a vital role in promoting transparency and accountability. The Board has cautioned that non-compliance will be considered a violation of Clause 12.2.3 of the Affiliation Bye-laws and may attract penalties as outlined in Chapter 12, according to the official statement. Source: Indian Express

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Punjab Government Launches ‘Mission Pragati’ to Provide Free Coaching for Competitive Exams

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Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Sunday announced the launch of Mission Pragati, a new state initiative aimed at equipping young aspirants with free academic and physical training for various competitive examinations. The programme is designed especially to support meritorious students from rural and economically weaker backgrounds who are unable to afford expensive private coaching. Speaking to students at the district library, the Chief Minister said that free coaching has already begun for examinations conducted by the Services Selection Board (SSB), as well as for recruitment in the police and armed forces. The first batch currently includes 40 enrolled students. Under Mission Pragati, candidates receive classroom instruction along with physical training conducted by experienced trainers from the Punjab Police, ensuring comprehensive preparation. Students are also granted free access to books and study resources by registering them as library members. Mann highlighted that the initiative utilises existing infrastructure, keeping costs minimal. He further explained that the programme follows a “youth helping youth” mentoring model, where guidance is provided by candidates who have themselves appeared in competitive exams. The initiative has garnered support from educationists, universities, police officials, athletes and students. Emphasising inclusivity, the Chief Minister said Mission Pragati is guided by the principle of “no one left behind” and aims to enhance youth participation in government services. Reaffirming the state’s broader education vision, Mann said Punjab’s reforms are focused on holistic youth development and transforming job seekers into future job creators. Source: PTI

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NMC Clears Path for For-Profit Firms to Establish Medical Colleges

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The National Medical Commission (NMC) has officially revised its regulations to allow for-profit companies to set up medical colleges in India, marking a significant shift from the earlier framework that restricted such institutions to non-profit Section 8 companies. Announcing the change, NMC Chairman Abhijat Chandrakant Sheth said the decision was taken at a recent board meeting and removes the clause that limited eligibility to non-profit entities. The revised policy now enables both non-profit and for-profit organisations to establish medical colleges, particularly under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Speaking at a press briefing at Dr NTR University of Health Sciences in Vijayawada, Sheth said the move is intended to improve the utilisation of resources in medical education by encouraging collaboration between public authorities and private players. He added that PPP-based medical institutions are already functioning effectively in states such as Gujarat. Sheth noted that while the PPP model will be implemented at the discretion of state governments, hospitals operating under such arrangements will remain under state oversight. As a result, patients will continue to receive treatment either free of cost or at subsidised rates. To maintain academic and institutional standards, the NMC has developed its own accreditation framework and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). The commission’s broader objective, Sheth said, is to expand access to quality medical education for the general population while aligning with global benchmarks. Highlighting ongoing reforms, he said the NMC is continuously updating its policies to reflect evolving needs in healthcare education. As part of these efforts, clinical research has been made mandatory, with increased emphasis on artificial intelligence, digital healthcare, and emerging medical technologies to future-proof medical training in India. Source: PTI

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IIMC Opens Applications for PhD Admissions 2025–26

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The Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), a Deemed-to-be-University under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, has invited online applications for admission to its PhD programme for the 2025–26 academic year. Interested candidates can submit their applications through the official website, iimc.gov.in, by January 30, 2026. The doctoral programme is available in full-time and part-time formats and focuses on advanced research across journalism, mass communication and related interdisciplinary areas. Research areas and seat intake IIMC’s PhD programme offers research opportunities in fields such as journalism, mass communication, digital media, advertising, public relations, strategic and political communication, film studies, and development communication. A total of 22 seats have been announced, including 18 full-time and four part-time positions. Eligibility criteria Applicants seeking full-time admission must hold a master’s degree in journalism, mass communication or allied disciplines with at least 55% marks, or a four-year bachelor’s degree with research and a minimum of 75% marks. Qualification in UGC NET (Mass Communication and Journalism) is mandatory. For the part-time PhD, candidates must meet the same academic requirements, be currently employed, possess a minimum of three years of relevant professional experience, and submit a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their employer. Important dates Applications open: January 1, 2026 Last date to apply: January 30, 2026 Entrance exam (Part-time only): February 15, 2026 Entrance exam result: February 20, 2026 Interview shortlist: February 23, 2026 Interviews begin: March 9, 2026 Final result: March 19, 2026 Admission & document verification: March 23–27, 2026 Coursework begins: April 1, 2026 Selection process For full-time candidates, no written entrance test will be conducted. Applicants with valid UGC NET scores will be directly shortlisted for interviews. The final merit list will be prepared with 70% weightage to UGC NET percentile and 30% to interview performance. For part-time candidates, an offline entrance examination will be held at the IIMC Delhi campus, unless exempted due to UGC NET qualification. Final selection will be based on 70% weightage to the entrance test or UGC NET score and 30% to the interview. Application fee and process The application fee is ₹2,500 for General category candidates, ₹1,500 for OBC/SC/ST/EWS/PwD applicants, and $100 for international candidates. The fee is non-refundable and must be paid online. Applicants must complete the online registration, upload the required documents—including a statement of purpose and research proposal—and submit the form before the deadline. Candidates are advised to regularly visit the official website for further updates and notifications. Source: Indian Express

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IIT Hyderabad sets up Centre for Creative Arts to bridge arts and technology

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The Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IIT Hyderabad) has announced the establishment of a Centre for Creative Arts (CCA) within its Department of Liberal Arts, marking a significant step towards blending creativity with technical and scientific learning. According to the institute, the new Centre aims to embed artistic practices more deeply into engineering and science education. IIT Hyderabad has been nurturing creative and liberal arts for more than a decade, with structured initiatives beginning in 2014 through heritage tours for first-year students. Over the years, these efforts have grown into credited courses, and currently about 10 per cent of the undergraduate curriculum includes liberal and creative arts such as photography, fine arts, performing arts and crafts. The Centre for Creative Arts will offer elective courses ranging from one to three credits in creative and performing arts for both undergraduate and postgraduate students. It also plans to bring practicing artists on board as adjunct faculty and distinguished professors. Artist-in-Residence programmes will enable long-term interaction between students and professionals, encouraging cross-disciplinary engagement across engineering, science and design. In addition to teaching, the Centre will support research in the arts, including doctoral programmes. Visiting artists may act as co-supervisors for research scholars, helping integrate practice-based artistic knowledge with academic research. Collaborations with cultural organisations, including SPIC MACAY, are also planned to enrich campus activities. Beyond the campus, the Centre will run outreach initiatives for school students and art educators, with the objective of promoting early exposure to diverse art forms and strengthening ties between the institute and the broader community. Announcing the launch, IIT Hyderabad Director Prof B S Murty said the Centre reflects the institute’s vision of combining creativity, culture and technology in higher education. Dr Aalok Khandekar, Head of the Department of Liberal Arts, added that the CCA would build on existing initiatives while enabling new courses and research collaborations. Source: Indian Express

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CBSE Postpones March 3 Class 10 and 12 Board Exams Due to Administrative Reasons

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The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced a revision in the schedule of certain Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations slated for March 3, 2026, citing administrative reasons. As per the revised timetable, the Class 10 papers originally planned for March 3 will now be conducted on March 11, while the Class 12 examination scheduled for that day has been postponed to April 10. The rescheduled Class 10 exams include subjects such as Tibetan, German, NCC, Bhoti, Bodo, Tangkhul, Japanese, Bhutia, Spanish, Kashmiri, Mizo, Bahasa Melayu, Elements of Business, and Elements of Book Keeping and Accountancy. For Class 12, the Legal Studies paper, earlier fixed for March 3, will now take place on April 10. CBSE clarified that no other examination dates have been altered and urged schools to promptly inform students and parents about the changes. With this update, Class 10 board examinations will be conducted from February 17 to March 18, 2026. Class 12 exams will now conclude on April 10, instead of the earlier April 4 end date. All examinations will continue to be held in a single morning shift beginning at 10:30 am. The board had released a tentative schedule in September, followed by the final datesheet in November after incorporating several changes. Around 45 lakh students are expected to appear for board exams across 204 subjects in Classes 10 and 12 this year. Notably, CBSE will implement a two-phase examination system for Class 10 students in 2026. The first phase, mandatory for all candidates, will run from February 17 to March 6, while the optional second phase—aimed at score improvement—will be held from May 15 to June 1. Results for the first phase will be declared in April and for the second phase in June. The final marksheet will record the higher score from the two attempts, marking a shift away from the traditional single-exam model. Source: Indian Express

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Delhi Government Reopens SCERT-Led Online Training Programmes for Teachers

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The Delhi government has relaunched a series of structured online professional development programmes for teachers in government as well as private schools for the ongoing academic year. The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) has announced the fresh rollout of NISHTHA (National Initiative for School Heads’ and Teachers’ Holistic Advancement) courses, along with General Continuous Professional Development (CPD) and short-duration nano courses. These programmes are open to teachers, school leaders and teacher educators from government, aided, unaided and private institutions across the capital. As part of the NISHTHA initiative, training modules will focus on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) and Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE). The courses will be offered in English, Hindi and Urdu, and are designed to enhance teaching practices at the foundational level in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP). SCERT stated that the General CPD courses will address a broad spectrum of contemporary and emerging themes, including cyber hygiene, online safety, cyber crime awareness, digital well-being, inclusive education, techno-pedagogy, media literacy, financial security, data privacy, environmental issues such as e-waste, action research methodologies and the use of open educational resources. In addition, nano courses focusing on cyberspace safety and related topics will also be available. Teachers can register for all programmes through the DIKSHA portal, where course content is hosted in digital format. The DIKSHA platform offers a mix of video-based lessons, reading material and assessments, enabling educators to complete the training at their own pace within the stipulated timeframe. SCERT has informed that enrolment for all courses will remain open until March 10, 2026, while participants must complete the courses by March 15, 2026. Teachers and school heads have been advised to follow the schedule strictly, as course links will become inactive after the deadline. The initiative aims to enhance professional competencies among educators and ensure wider access to updated pedagogical and digital skills across Delhi’s school education ecosystem. Source: PTI

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Bhutan and Morocco Seek India’s Nod for Offshore IIT Campuses

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Bhutan and Morocco have approached the Union government to explore the establishment of offshore campuses of India’s premier Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), signalling growing global interest in India’s higher education ecosystem. At present, IITs operate two overseas campuses—IIT Madras in Zanzibar, Tanzania, and IIT Delhi in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Sources indicated that multiple countries have expressed interest in hosting IIT campuses, with Bhutan and Morocco among the latest to formally reach out. A third overseas IIT campus is also proposed in West Africa, to be hosted by the Federal Government Academy in Suleja. To streamline the expansion of IITs abroad, the central government had constituted a 17-member committee, chaired by IIT Council Standing Committee Chairperson Dr K Radhakrishnan. The committee submitted its recommendations in 2022, laying the groundwork for international campuses. IIT Madras became the first IIT to set up an overseas campus in 2023, launching operations in Zanzibar under Director-in-Charge Preeti Aghalyam, who also made history as the first woman Director of an IIT. The campus began functioning from a temporary facility in November 2023. Following this, IIT Delhi signed an agreement with the UAE government to establish a campus in Abu Dhabi. Located in Khalifa City, the IIT Delhi–Abu Dhabi campus was officially inaugurated on September 2, 2024. Expanding India’s global academic footprint further, IIM Ahmedabad has also recently inaugurated its first international campus at Dubai International Academic City. Source: PTI

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IIT Delhi Researchers Develop AI Agent That Conducts Real-World Lab Experiments Autonomously

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Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, in collaboration with scientists from Denmark and Germany, have developed an artificial intelligence system capable of independently performing real-world laboratory experiments—much like a human researcher. The breakthrough study, published in Nature Communications under the title “Evaluating large language model agents for automation of atomic force microscopy,” introduces AILA (Artificially Intelligent Lab Assistant). This AI agent can autonomously operate sophisticated laboratory instruments, take real-time decisions during experiments, and analyse data without any human intervention. According to IIT Delhi, AILA represents a major leap by transitioning AI from purely digital support roles to hands-on participation in physical laboratory settings. The system has been specifically trained to handle an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM)—a precision instrument used to examine materials at the nanoscale. Indrajeet Mandal, the study’s lead author and a PhD researcher at IIT Delhi’s School of Interdisciplinary Research, highlighted the efficiency gains achieved through AILA. Tasks that previously required a full day—such as fine-tuning microscope parameters for clear, high-resolution images—can now be completed in just seven to ten minutes using the AI agent. The research was supervised by Prof. N. M. Anoop Krishnan from the Department of Civil Engineering and the Yardi School of Artificial Intelligence, along with Prof. Nitya Nand Gosvami from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at IIT Delhi. The international research team also included scientists from Aalborg University in Denmark and leading research institutions in Germany. Despite its promise, the study also points to notable limitations. The researchers found that AI models that excel in controlled or theoretical evaluations often struggle in unpredictable laboratory conditions that demand quick judgment and adaptability. Mandal compared this gap to the difference between understanding driving rules theoretically and handling real-world traffic. Safety concerns were another key issue. In some instances, the AI agent strayed from given instructions, highlighting the importance of strong safety mechanisms to avoid equipment damage or laboratory mishaps as automation becomes more widespread. Overall, the research underscores both the transformative potential and the critical challenges of deploying AI-driven agents in experimental science. Source: Indian Express

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Meghalaya Makes Khasi and Garo Mandatory in Foundational Education to Strengthen Cultural Roots

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The Meghalaya government has rolled out a new foundational-stage curriculum that makes Khasi and Garo compulsory for children up to Class 1, aiming to simplify early learning while strengthening students’ connection with local culture and heritage. Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said the initiative is designed to instil confidence and a strong sense of identity among children from their formative years. Emphasising the importance of mother-tongue education, he noted that early exposure to indigenous languages helps children develop a deeper sense of belonging. The decision was taken during a cabinet meeting chaired by him on Friday. According to officials, the newly developed textbooks will be introduced on an optional basis in the upcoming academic year, as many schools have already finalised their syllabi. The curriculum will become mandatory from the following academic session. The revised foundational curriculum, spanning preschool to Class 1, places emphasis on ease of learning, value-based education, and an early introduction to Meghalaya’s history, culture, and traditions. In addition to education reforms, the cabinet approved a revised pay structure for Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and ad hoc teachers, addressing a long-standing demand. The chief minister termed the move a recognition of their vital role and a step towards ensuring greater stability within the education system. The cabinet also cleared a five-year Mission Mode HIV/AIDS project with a budget allocation of ₹25 crore, focusing on awareness generation, infrastructure strengthening, and targeted interventions across the state. Other key decisions included amendments to the Meghalaya Building Bye Laws, 2021, making green building certification mandatory for large-scale constructions. Former Meghalaya High Court Chief Justice S. Vaidyanathan was appointed as the chairperson of the Meghalaya Human Rights Commission. Further, the cabinet approved the formation of the Meghalaya Livelihoods and Investment Financing Cooperative Society Ltd to support cooperative societies, agriculture, and food processing sectors through working capital and investment assistance. Approval was also granted for the creation of a National Games Secretariat Society to oversee preparations for the 39th National Games. Source: PTI

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