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Education Reform

Delhi Govt to Conduct Social Audit of Schools Under Samagra Shiksha for 2025-26

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The Delhi government has announced a comprehensive social audit of its government schools for the 2025–26 academic year under the Samagra Shiksha scheme. The initiative aims to ensure that all provisions and student entitlements guaranteed by the Right to Education (RTE) Act are delivered promptly and fairly. According to a circular issued by the Directorate of Education, around 60% of government schools across Delhi will be covered under this audit, which will be carried out in line with the revised guidelines of the Ministry of Education, Government of India. A total budget allocation of ₹3.73 crore has been approved for the exercise. The selected institution—preferably a university, college, or technical institute with a NAAC rating of B+ or higher—will be tasked with training social auditors, conducting on-site inspections, compiling reports, and uploading findings to the designated online platform. Preference will be given to Delhi’s State Administrative University for leading the process. The audit will examine whether schools are fulfilling the mandates of the RTE Act and Samagra Shiksha, focusing on areas such as classroom infrastructure, sanitation facilities, drinking water availability, electricity, and student safety—particularly that of girls. It will also assess enrolment, attendance, and retention rates, along with the inclusion of children with special needs. Parents, teachers, and community representatives will be actively involved in evaluating school performance to provide a grassroots-level perspective. Officials stated that the social audit will help uncover challenges not visible through routine monitoring and guide the government in taking corrective measures where needed. Launched in 2018, Samagra Shiksha is a centrally sponsored scheme that integrates three earlier programmes—Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan, and Teacher Education—and aligns them with the goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The initiative also supports the Delhi government’s “zero-tolerance” approach toward lapses in student safety and aims to strengthen accountability in school administration. Source: PTI

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Education Ministry Urges Schools to Adopt UPI for Fee Payments Under Digital Transformation Drive

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In a major push toward digital governance, the Union Ministry of Education has urged states and educational bodies to integrate the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) system for school fee collection. The initiative aims to enhance transparency, improve efficiency, and simplify the payment process for parents. In an official communication, the Department of School Education and Literacy advised states and affiliated institutions to adopt secure digital payment systems such as UPI, mobile wallets, and internet banking. This reform is part of the government’s broader digital transformation agenda in the education sector, ensuring smoother administrative operations and reducing dependency on cash transactions. The directive also extends to national education bodies, including the CBSE, NCERT, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), and Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS), encouraging them to implement digital platforms for admission and examination fee submissions. According to the ministry, transitioning to digital payments brings multiple benefits—parents can pay from the comfort of their homes, ensuring greater convenience and transparency in transactions. The move is also expected to foster financial literacy among stakeholders and strengthen the culture of digital payments in educational institutions. The Education Ministry emphasized that this step marks a key milestone in aligning school-level administration with India’s vision of a digitally empowered society. Source: PTI

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Govt to Introduce Skill-Based Learning in Class 11 & 12 Under NEP 2020: Pradhan

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The government is preparing to integrate skill-based learning into the curriculum of Classes 11 and 12 in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced on Sunday. Speaking at the Dakshinapatha Summit 2025 hosted by IIT Madras, Pradhan emphasized the need for a major shift in teaching approaches to match the demands of the modern workforce. He noted that the earlier system focused heavily on degrees and certificates, while the new approach aims to build real-world competencies in students. “We are working to bring in skill-based subjects for Class 11 and 12 students. While qualifications are important, it is equally necessary to ensure that students are job-ready and capable,” the minister said. Pradhan also shared that his ministry is working to embed skill-based education from Class 6 onwards, making it a structured and compulsory part of schooling rather than an optional add-on. He reiterated that skill development forms a core pillar of NEP 2020, which envisions preparing learners for both higher studies and employability. Source: PTI

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CBSE, UNESCO Scale Up Health and Wellness Education to Impact 30,000 Schools Nationwide

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In a significant step toward integrating holistic health education into India’s school system, CBSE, UNESCO, and NCERT are expanding their collaborative School Health and Wellness Programme (SHWP) to 30,000 CBSE-affiliated schools across the country. The initiative, which began under the Ayushman Bharat mission in 2020, aims to positively influence the lives of nearly 15 million students by promoting mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Building a Network of Master Trainers Throughout June and July 2025, over 290 school leaders—comprising principals, teachers, and administrators—from 22 states and five union territories participated in a comprehensive training workshop held in Delhi. These individuals will serve as master trainers, cascading their knowledge and tools to educators across India to deliver health and wellness content effectively. The training sessions emphasized early intervention and the importance of understanding students’ socio-emotional environments. Prof. Dinesh Prasad Saklani, Director of NCERT, stressed that many student challenges originate outside the classroom. With proper training, teachers can better identify these issues and respond with empathy and support. A Curriculum Rooted in NEP 2020 Values Speaking at the workshop, Anandrao V Patil, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Education, underscored how wellness and inclusive education go hand in hand, echoing the core principles of the National Education Policy 2020. He described educators as catalysts of social change, pivotal in shaping compassionate and resilient individuals. UNESCO’s South Asia Director, Tim Curtis, reinforced the belief that health and education are deeply interconnected. “Every trained teacher and every wellness conversation is a step closer to learner-centered systems,” he said. Multilingual Learning Tools for Lifelong Impact To support the initiative, NCERT and UNESCO have co-developed a 24-hour wellness curriculum, featuring training modules, handbooks, animated videos, and comics. These resources focus on 11 essential wellness themes—including mental health, gender sensitivity, online safety, and reproductive health—and are available in English, Hindi, and nine regional languages to ensure wider accessibility. Since 2022, NCERT has conducted eleven intensive five-day workshops, resulting in 970 trained master trainers. These professionals are now instrumental in guiding teacher development across CBSE’s regional Centres of Excellence. To date, over 40,000 teachers have been trained through more than 750 workshops nationwide. Rather than treating health education as a supplementary activity, SHWP is helping schools embed wellness into the very fabric of everyday learning—redefining education as a means to nurture both the mind and the heart. Source: India Today

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Ravi Shankar, IAS, Secretary – Skill Development & Employment Department, Government of Uttarakhand shares valuable insights at ArdorComm Education Leadership Summit & Awards 2025 in Dehradun

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We’re honored to have with us today Mr. C. Ravi Shankar, IAS, Secretary, Skill Development & Employment Department, Government of Uttarakhand. Thank you for joining us. How do you feel about today’s event? Thank you for inviting me. This is a very good platform to discuss diverse and meaningful ideas. I’m glad to be part of this gathering. This event brings together stakeholders across the education spectrum – from KG to PG, along with representation from skilling institutions, corporates, EdTechs, and government bodies. How do you see such convergence benefitting society? It’s the need of the hour. Academia, industry, and all institutional stakeholders must collaborate to tap our demographic dividend, which is expected to peak by 2041. If we miss this window, what is now an opportunity could turn into a crisis. Ensuring our youth are employable through lifelong skilling is essential, and such platforms help align collective efforts. You emphasize lifelong skilling. How should we begin embedding this mindset right from school to higher education? Skilling must be holistic—not trend-based or superficial. We need to focus on fundamentals that remain unaffected by technological disruptions, such as leadership, collaboration, analytical reasoning, emotional intelligence, ethics, and empathy. These should be taught right from the anganwadi or preschool level. Simultaneously, we must introduce students to emerging technologies. In higher education and short-term programs, only skills that meet current industrial demands should be prioritized. The National Education Policy’s emphasis on practical learning, like the dual system of training (DST), is a step in the right direction. Could you elaborate on some of the key skilling initiatives taken by the Uttarakhand Skill Development Department? Certainly. One of our flagship initiatives is the Dual System of Training (DST). We have 87 ITIs in Uttarakhand, and over 30 of them have already implemented DST. The model is simple: 50% classroom training and 50% industry exposure. In a two-year course, one year is spent in the classroom and the next in real-world industry settings—directly addressing employability. We’ve also established eight Centers of Excellence in collaboration with industry partners, equipped with industry-grade tools and machines. These function as finishing schools, helping students bridge employability gaps post-education. Moreover, we’ve introduced foreign language training in select government nursing colleges to enhance global employability.  These are a few initiatives that we can tell about right now there are a lot more in the pipeline and the higher education department, technical education department, everyone is contributing to this holistic objective. So, this is how we perceive that demographic dividend can be fully tapped. ArdorComm Media has just completed its fourth anniversary. Any thoughts or message for the team? First of all, full of gratitude! What you’ve achieved in just four years—bringing together stakeholders, driving dialogue, and aligning policy perspectives—is commendable. These sessions don’t just unite minds; they align efforts. We often need to pause and assess whether we’re on the right path—and platforms like yours help us do exactly that. I hope this summit results in actionable recommendations that influence policy and practice. Wishing ArdorComm Media continued success and many more impactful initiatives ahead.  

Ravi Shankar, IAS, Secretary – Skill Development & Employment Department, Government of Uttarakhand shares valuable insights at ArdorComm Education Leadership Summit & Awards 2025 in Dehradun Read More »

Lalit Rautela, Managing Director, Pioneers Academy, Jaspur, Kashipur shares insights at ArdorComm Education Leadership Summit & Awards 2025 in Dehradun

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Lalit Rautela

How do you feel coming to the ArdorComm Media event? Oh, it’s a wonderful event. Thank you for having me here. It’s my privilege to be part of this event with such stalwarts. It was nice, really good. You were a speaker in Panel 1, which had a mix of school and higher education leaders. How was your experience being part of that panel? It was a wonderful experience, especially with professors among us. I represent the school community, but I shared my perspective on NEP. I see NEP as a reset button—not to erase our past, but to reconnect and reclaim our educational glory. It was a great experience sharing my thoughts. We’re celebrating ArdorComm Media’s fourth anniversary this year. Would you like to share a message for us? You’ve hosted a wonderful gathering here, and I wish you all the best for a bright and better future.

Lalit Rautela, Managing Director, Pioneers Academy, Jaspur, Kashipur shares insights at ArdorComm Education Leadership Summit & Awards 2025 in Dehradun Read More »

NCERT and Canva Partner to Offer Free Digital Certification Courses for Indian Educators

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In a move aimed at empowering educators with 21st-century teaching skills, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has entered into a strategic partnership with Canva, a global visual communication platform. The collaboration will roll out three self-paced, online certification courses for school teachers across India—completely free of charge. These courses, designed to enhance digital fluency, creative instruction, and collaborative teaching practices, will be hosted on DIKSHA, the Ministry of Education’s flagship digital learning platform. To ensure inclusivity, they will also be televised via PM eVidya’s DTH channels, making the training accessible even in areas with limited or no internet access. The programme will be offered in multiple Indian languages to promote nationwide participation. Teachers participating in the training will explore Canva for Education’s features to create interactive lesson plans, visually engaging presentations, infographics, and a variety of educational content. The programme also includes exposure to collaborative pedagogies and artificial intelligence (AI) tools that can elevate classroom learning. Successful participants will receive joint certification from NCERT and Canva. As per the MoU, Canva will provide complimentary access to its educational suite and contribute to developing customized instructional resources. Meanwhile, NCERT will ensure the content aligns with India’s national curriculum framework and is tailored for regional relevance. This initiative supports the goals outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, particularly around visual learning, critical thinking, and design-centric pedagogy. Teachers will also receive guidance on leveraging AI tools to boost classroom engagement and optimize lesson delivery. With over 500 integrated educational tools and apps—including games, translation aids, worksheets, and subject-specific infographics—Canva for Education is positioned as a comprehensive platform for modern teaching. Its AI-powered features simplify content creation, enabling teachers to plan and execute lessons more efficiently. Canva’s statement highlighted that its education arm saw remarkable growth in 2024, onboarding over 25 million students and teachers globally, with its total education community surpassing 100 million users. Teacher usage on the platform surged by 50%, while student engagement more than doubled, fueled by tools like Dream Lab that empower educators to create customized visual content. This collaboration marks a significant step towards digital empowerment in Indian classrooms, equipping teachers with the tools and training to thrive in a technology-integrated learning environment. Source: Indian Express

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

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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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Delhi Govt Expands Vocational Education: Skill-Based Courses Introduced in 257 More Schools

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In a significant push towards integrating vocational training into mainstream education, the Delhi government has approved the rollout of skill-based subjects in 257 additional government schools starting this academic session, as per a circular issued by the Directorate of Education on May 23. These skill subjects fall under the Samagra Shiksha initiative and aim to equip students in Classes 9 and 11 with hands-on learning and industry-relevant skills alongside their regular curriculum. Each school can enroll up to 50 students per subject, encouraging broader participation in career-oriented learning. To guide students in making informed decisions, schools have been asked to conduct counselling sessions detailing the benefits and future prospects associated with these vocational courses. Notably, students entering Class 11 can opt for a skill subject even if they haven’t studied it in the earlier grades, thanks to the policy’s flexible multi-entry and multi-exit structure. However, participation in these skill subjects remains optional, not mandatory. Schools can offer these courses as additional learning avenues without making them compulsory for all students. As per CBSE norms, schools do not require separate permissions to introduce new vocational subjects. They simply need to update the necessary information on the CBSE portal. The National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) subjects being offered include practical disciplines such as Information Technology, Retail, Healthcare, and Beauty & Wellness—all designed to boost employability and prepare students for real-world careers. Source: PTI (Image: AI generated)    

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IIM Sambalpur Unveils New Undergraduate Programmes in Public Policy and AI to Shape Future Leaders

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In a strategic move aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Sambalpur has launched two groundbreaking undergraduate programmes: Bachelor of Science in Management and Public Policy and Bachelor of Science in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. These four-year, fully residential programmes are designed to nurture future-ready professionals with a blend of analytical, ethical, and leadership skills. The BSc in Management and Public Policy targets students interested in driving grassroots change, with a curriculum that emphasizes sustainability, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) principles, and community-led development. The programme aspires to bridge the gap between policy formulation and real-world impact. Admissions to this course will be facilitated through the Common University Entrance Test (CUET). Meanwhile, the BSc in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, developed in collaboration with industry stakeholders, aims to boost India’s digital transformation journey and enhance global competitiveness. It focuses on cultivating ethical AI use, advanced data analytics, and innovation-driven problem-solving. Entry into this programme will be via JEE Main scores. Highlighting the institution’s progressive approach, the courses are structured with multiple entry and exit options—students can earn a certificate after one year, a diploma after two, a degree after three, and an honors degree upon completing the fourth year. This flexibility is intended to support diverse learner pathways in line with NEP 2020 goals. IIM Sambalpur Director, Prof. Mahadeo Jaiswal, expressed pride in the launch, calling it a “pioneering step” in cultivating responsible, entrepreneurial leaders. “These programmes are not only about acquiring academic knowledge; they’re about building leaders equipped with a global outlook and the compassion to address societal challenges,” he noted. The launch event also featured a roundtable discussion on the theme: ‘Global Capability Centres (GCCs) as Engines of Innovation for Global Enterprises’. The dialogue spotlighted the emerging role of GCCs as strategic, innovation-led units rather than cost-effective back-offices. Bramhanand Jha, Vice President at the National eGovernance Division (MeitY), served as the chief guest. He emphasized the transformative role of GCCs in shaping future-ready, tech-enabled enterprises that drive global business strategies. Keynote speakers included Lt. Col. Piyush Shukla, Director of JEE at the National Testing Agency (NTA), and Rajesh Kumar, Director of CUET at NTA. Both underlined the significance of evolving India’s education assessment systems to support innovation, inclusivity, and talent discovery aligned with the country’s Atmanirbhar Bharat vision. “The education landscape in India is being reshaped to identify talent capable of thriving in dynamic, innovation-driven environments like GCCs,” said Shukla. Kumar added that initiatives like CUET are vital to democratizing access to quality higher education and preparing students for leadership in a global digital economy. The launch concluded with insightful panel discussions featuring academic and industry experts on “Transforming Operations through GCCs: The Digital Shift from Cost Efficiency to Strategic Value” and “Aligning Talent Upskilling with Policy Innovation for Sustainable GCC Growth.” With this initiative, IIM Sambalpur reaffirms its commitment to fostering responsible, innovation-driven leadership that is attuned to the evolving demands of both national and global landscapes. Admissions for both UG programmes will begin in June 2025, with classes set to commence in September 2025. Source: Indian Express Photo Credit: IIM Sambalpur    

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