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Tuesday, August 19, 2025 7:56 PM

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Women’s University Enrolment in India Surges 26% in 2024: Report

India is witnessing a significant rise in women’s participation in higher education, with female enrolment in universities increasing by 26% year-on-year in 2024, according to a recent report by TeamLease Edtech. In contrast, men’s enrolment grew by 3.6% during the same period. This surge contributed to an overall 12% increase in total student enrolment from 2023 to 2024. Notably, women’s enrolment in work-linked, work-integrated, and direct admission (DA) programmes more than doubled, marking a remarkable 124% growth, while men’s participation in these programs increased by 66%. Shantanu Rooj, Founder & CEO of TeamLease Edtech, emphasized the long-term impact of this trend, stating: “The rise in female applicants across university and work-integrated programs reflects the evolving aspirations of women today. Beyond higher education, we must invest in accessible, industry-aligned education pathways to empower more women in the workforce of tomorrow.” This upward trajectory highlights a positive shift toward gender equity in education and employment, reinforcing the need for continued investment in inclusive learning opportunities. Source: India Today

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Delhi High Court Stays Suspension of Jamia Students, Forms Committee to Ease Tensions

The Delhi High Court has directed the formation of a committee to de-escalate tensions at Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) following student protests over the university’s ban on demonstrations without prior permission. The committee, to be supervised by the Vice Chancellor, will include university officials and student representatives. Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma also stayed the suspension of 17 students, who were penalized for allegedly protesting without approval and defacing public property, until the next hearing. The students had challenged the suspension, arguing that the university’s actions were disproportionate. Senior Advocate Colin Gonsalves, representing the petitioners, contended that the students had a clean record and were peacefully protesting outside the canteen. He criticized the university for siding with the Delhi Police, leading to the students’ detention. Advocate Abhik Chimni further noted that, per university regulations, suspensions cannot exceed two weeks. Jamia’s counsel, Advocate Amit Sahni, defended the university’s decision, stating that the students had been given opportunities to comply and that their protest was unrelated to academics. He added that no arrests occurred on campus, and the detained students were later released. The Court, while refraining from commenting on the reasons behind the protest, observed that the demonstration appeared peaceful. It emphasized that student participation in such movements is part of their civic training. Urging the university administration to take remedial steps, the Court ordered the committee’s formation and requested a report from the university. Until the next hearing, the Court has suspended the operation of Jamia’s February 12 suspension order. However, it clarified that this ruling does not impact any criminal cases filed against the students.

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Marg Vidhyalaya Chennai Creates History with Three Elite World Records

Marg Vidhyalaya Senior Secondary School has once again showcased its excellence on a global scale, setting three prestigious world records on February 14, 2025. Recognized by Elite World Records, Asian Records Academy, India Records Academy, and Tamilan Book of Records, this remarkable achievement highlights the school’s commitment to holistic student development. The students displayed extraordinary teamwork and coordination by setting a world record for the Most Human Pyramids Formed by a Team in 30 Minutes. A total of 133 human pyramids were successfully built by 290 participants, demonstrating exceptional agility, balance, and discipline. The second record, Longest Readathon Relay by a Team, saw 319 students engage in a reading marathon lasting 12 hours and 2 minutes in English, Tamil, and Hindi. This feat reflects the school’s dedication to fostering literacy and a strong reading culture. The third record, Most Participants Presenting Mathematics Concepts, Definitions, and Formulae in 3 Hours (Single Venue), featured 167 participants, with 165 successfully completing the challenge. This achievement underscores the institution’s focus on mathematical excellence and logical reasoning. Senior adjudicators praised the students’ dedication and perseverance. R. Rakshitha, Senior Adjudicator, Elite World Records, commended their talent, while P.G. Prathiba, Adjudicator, Asian Records Academy, lauded their enthusiasm. U. Nagajothi, Records Manager, Tamilan Book of Records, called it a historic moment for the school. Principal Smt. Geetha expressed immense pride, emphasizing the students’ hard work and commitment. Ganesh, Correspondent of Marg Vidhyalaya, highlighted the school’s focus on nurturing students beyond academics, fostering teamwork, endurance, and problem-solving skills. Students and parents also shared their excitement, calling the achievement an unforgettable experience that instilled confidence, resilience, and a spirit of perseverance. Marg Vidhyalaya’s outstanding success continues to set new benchmarks in education, inspiring students to aim higher in both academics and extracurricular pursuits. Source: Tribune

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CBSE Approves Draft Norms for Conducting Class 10 Board Exams Twice a Year

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has approved draft norms for conducting Class 10 board exams twice a year starting in 2026. The draft guidelines will be open for public feedback until March 9, after which the policy will be finalized. Exam Schedule and Key Guidelines According to the proposed norms, the exams will be conducted in two phases: First Phase: February 17 to March 6 Second Phase: May 5 to 20 Both exams will cover the full syllabus, and students will be allotted the same examination centers for both attempts. The exam fees will be increased and collected at the time of application filing. Supplementary Exams and Policy Implications A senior board official clarified that these biannual exams will also serve as supplementary exams, meaning no separate supplementary exams will be conducted. This move aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) recommendation, which aims to reduce the “high-stakes” pressure of board exams by allowing students two opportunities in a single academic year. The policy is expected to provide flexibility to students while ensuring they have another chance to improve their scores without waiting for an entire year. Source: Business Standard

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CBSE Plans Biannual Board Exams from 2026, Global Curriculum for Foreign Schools

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is set to introduce a biannual board examination system starting from the 2026 academic session. The Ministry of Education, in a high-level meeting chaired by Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, discussed the proposal and stated that it aims to create a stress-free learning environment for students. The detailed framework for this reform will soon be placed for public consultation. Currently, CBSE conducts Class 10 and 12 board exams in February-March. The board is considering three models: conducting exams in a semester system with the first board in January-February and the second in March-April, or scheduling a second set of exams in June alongside supplementary and improvement exams. A similar two-term board exam structure was temporarily implemented during the Covid pandemic, but the system reverted to the traditional single-exam format the following year. Additionally, CBSE has been directed to launch a Global Curriculum for Foreign Schools in the academic year 2026-27. The initiative, discussed in the presence of officials from CBSE, NCERT, KVS, NVS, and representatives of global schools, aims to align CBSE education standards with international curricula. The board has been tasked with preparing a comprehensive action plan for its implementation. With these major changes on the horizon, CBSE aims to modernize the education system and provide greater flexibility to students while enhancing the global reach of its curriculum Source: Hindustan

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Tamil Nadu-Centre Tussle Over NEP and Education Funds Escalates

The debate over the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has intensified, with Tamil Nadu strongly opposing the Centre’s insistence on implementing the policy in its entirety. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan recently stated that unless Tamil Nadu fully accepts the NEP, funds under the Samagra Shiksha scheme—amounting to over ₹2,158 crore—will not be released. This remark, made at the Kashi Tamil Sangamam in Varanasi, has triggered sharp reactions from Tamil Nadu’s political leadership. Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Anbil Poyyamozhi responded by accusing the BJP-led central government of “paving the way for another language war.” He questioned why Tamil Nadu, which has successfully followed a two-language policy for decades, should be forced to adopt the three-language formula. Citing former Chief Minister CN Annadurai, he asserted that the demand for Tamil Nadu’s rightful share of funds was not a request for alms but a constitutional entitlement. The state government highlighted that over 4 million students and 32,000 teachers rely on these funds, with Tamil Nadu itself spending ₹76 crore per month on teacher salaries and ₹400 crore annually on the Right to Education (RTE) scheme. Several schemes for girl child education have also been affected due to funding delays. The Tamil Nadu government has argued that withholding funds to push NEP implementation suppresses dissent and reignites the decades-old language debate in India. Chief Minister MK Stalin strongly criticized the Centre, calling Pradhan’s stance “rash blackmail” and warning that Delhi must be prepared to face Tamil Nadu’s resistance. Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu also questioned the conditional nature of central funds, pointing out that Tamil Nadu contributes 9% to India’s GDP without any such stipulations. Anbumani Ramadoss, president of the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), took a more balanced approach, stating that the Centre is duty-bound to disburse these funds irrespective of NEP compliance. He emphasized that NEP implementation and financial allocations should remain separate matters. The Centre’s rigid stance on enforcing NEP, particularly through financial coercion, has been widely criticized as an overreach that disregards federal principles. The debate is now at the heart of a larger battle over education policy, language rights, and state autonomy in India. Source: Hindustan

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CBSE Issues Guidelines for Schools to Submit Observations on Board Exam Papers

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has directed all affiliated schools to submit their observations regarding the ongoing Class 10 and 12 board exams in a structured and timely manner. The board has outlined three key requests to streamline the process. CBSE’s Three Requests for Schools: Use OECMS Portal: Schools must upload their observations only on the OECMS portal instead of sending emails to different IDs. Same-Day Submission: Observations must be submitted on the same day the examination is conducted. Clarity in Reporting: Schools must provide clear and specific details about any issues in the question paper. Vague complaints like “the question is incorrect” without further explanation will not be considered. CBSE has warned that delayed, unclear, or improperly submitted observations will not be acted upon. CBSE’s Stand on Exam Paper Leaks: The board also dismissed rumors of Class 10 and 12 exam paper leaks, calling them baseless and intended to create panic among students and parents. CBSE assured that it is actively monitoring the situation and taking strict action against those spreading misinformation. Board Exams 2025: Key Details Exam Duration: February 15 – April 4 Total Students: Around 44 lakh Schools Participating: 8,000+ (India & abroad) CBSE has urged students and parents to rely only on official updates and avoid engaging with unverified information. Source: Hindustan Times

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JEE Main 2025: Jharkhand Students Shine, Dhanbad’s Abhimanyu Tibrewal Tops with 99.99 Percentile

The National Testing Agency (NTA) announced the JEE Main 2025 Session-1 results on Tuesday, with several students from Jharkhand achieving outstanding scores. Dhanbad’s Abhimanyu Tibrewal emerged as the state topper, securing an impressive 99.99 percentile. Ranked 22nd among national toppers, Abhimanyu aspires to pursue B.Tech at IIT Bombay. A student of Montfort Academy, Rajganj, Abhimanyu previously studied at Dhanbad Public School, Hirak Branch, where he scored over 95% in his Class 10 board exams. He resides at Garden City Apartments on LC Road with his parents—father Amit Tibrewal, a businessman, and mother Poonam Tibrewal, a homemaker. Several other students from Jharkhand also delivered exceptional performances: 🔹 Yash Kumar, Sahil Akash, and Ujjwal Aditya – 99.98 percentile 🔹 Arnav Pandey – 99.94 percentile 🔹 Aditya Mishra – 99.93 percentile 🔹 Shaurya Sharma – 99.91 percentile 🔹 Tejas Tanay, Aditya Bhardwaj, and Mohd Ibrahim – 99.83 percentile 🔹 Lavanya Bhaskar – 99.73 percentile The JEE Main 2025 Session-1 was conducted in two shifts on January 22, 23, 24, 28, and 29 across three examination centers in Ranchi, with approximately 10,000 students appearing. After evaluating objections to the provisional answer key, the final results were released by NTA. With these stellar performances, Jharkhand’s students have once again demonstrated their academic excellence, with many now aiming for seats in India’s premier engineering institutions, including IITs. Source: Hindustan Times

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Kerala Cabinet Approves Draft Bill for Establishment of Private Universities

The Kerala Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, has approved the Kerala State Private Universities (Establishment and Regulation) Draft Bill, 2025, setting the stage for private universities in the state. The bill outlines strict guidelines for eligibility, infrastructure, and governance to ensure high academic standards. According to the draft bill, only credible sponsoring agencies with prior experience in the education sector can apply to establish private universities. Institutions must own land as per regulatory guidelines and deposit a ₹25 crore corpus fund in the state treasury. For multi-campus universities, the main campus must span at least 10 acres. The bill also mandates adherence to UGC and state government norms regarding faculty appointments, the selection of the Vice-Chancellor, and overall university administration. To ensure local representation, 40% of seats in each course must be reserved for students from Kerala, aligning with the state’s reservation policy. Additionally, scholarships and fee waivers will continue for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students. Applicants must submit a detailed project report along with the application fee, ensuring transparency and credibility in the process. The move signals Kerala’s commitment to expanding higher education opportunities while maintaining regulatory oversight.

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NAAC Scraps Physical Inspections to Curb Corruption, Moves to Virtual Accreditation

In a landmark decision aimed at eliminating corruption and improving transparency, the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) has announced an immediate suspension of physical inspections for colleges. Moving forward, all accreditation evaluations will be conducted online, replacing on-campus visits with virtual assessments. For universities, however, the transition will be hybrid—most inspections will occur remotely, but select reviewers will still visit campuses to ensure a level of direct oversight. The decision comes in the wake of the recent Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the Andhra Pradesh-based Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation (KLEF), where officials allegedly bribed NAAC inspectors to secure favorable ratings. In response, NAAC executive committee chairman Prof. Anil Sahasrabudhe stated, “We are committed to rooting out corruption. Cancelling physical visits will address this issue significantly, as every evaluation will now be recorded.” NAAC director Ganesan Kannabiran described the move as a “surgical strike against graft.” He emphasized that as a quality assurance agency, NAAC is determined to uphold the integrity of the higher education system by preventing manipulative practices. Meanwhile, the much-anticipated basic (binary) accreditation model—originally scheduled for launch in July 2024—has been postponed to April-May 2025. The updated timeline will also introduce maturity-based graded levels (MBGL), a framework designed to encourage institutions to elevate their academic and research capabilities. With around 650 institutions currently in the accreditation queue, nearly 50% of them undergoing a second cycle will have the option to retain their existing grades until the new system is in place. First-time applicants, however, may choose the upcoming basic accreditation model. “Integrating these new frameworks with advanced IT-based assessments will enhance objectivity while eradicating unfair practices,” Sahasrabudhe affirmed. Source: TOI

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