Trump revives travel ban, restricting entry from 12 countries for national security
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS

President Donald Trump is resurrecting the travel ban policy from his first term, signing a proclamation Wednesday night preventing people from a dozen countries from entering the United States.

The countries include Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.

In addition to the ban, which takes effect at 12:01 a.m. Monday, there will be heightened restrictions on visitors from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.

“I must act to protect the national security and national interest of the United States and its people,” Trump said in his proclamation.

The list results from a January 20 executive order Trump issued requiring the departments of State and Homeland Security and the Director of National Intelligence to compile a report on “hostile attitudes” toward the US and whether entry from certain countries represented a national security risk.

During his first term, Trump issued an executive order in January 2017 banning travel to the US by citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries — Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen.

It was one of the most chaotic and confusing moments of his young presidency. Travellers from those nations were either barred from getting on their flights to the US or detained at US airports after they landed. They included students and faculty as well as business people, tourists and people visiting friends and family.

The order, often referred to as the “Muslim ban” or the “travel ban,” was retooled amid legal challenges, until a version was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018.

The ban affected various categories of travellers and immigrants from Iran, Somalia, Yemen, Syria and Libya, plus North Koreans and some Venezuelan government officials and their families.

Trump and others have defended the initial ban on national security grounds, arguing it was aimed at protecting the country and not founded on anti-Muslim bias. However, the president had called for an explicit ban on Muslims during his first campaign for the White House.

Published on June 5, 2025

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced the initiative, aimed at building a robust AI ecosystem through education, research, and innovation.
| Photo Credit:
THE HINDU

Global chip major NVIDIA will collaborate with the Andhra Pradesh Government to set up the country’s first AI University.

“Plans are underway to establish India’s first AI University in collaboration with NVIDIA for shaping the infrastructure and research capabilities. From education and skilling to research and innovation, this initiative will lay the foundation for a Swarna Andhra Pradesh,” Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has said.

“We have entered into a memorandum of understanding with NVIDIA to build a strong and inclusive AI ecosystem in the State,” he said in a post on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter.

With support from NVIDIA for curriculum and training, 10,000 engineering students will receive skill training over the next two years, while 500 AI startups from AP will gain access to its Inception Program for global exposure and key resources.

Quantum tech tie-up

This is the second major tie-up the State has forged with a tech major. In May, it announced a tripartite agreement with IBM and Tata Consultancy Services to anchor a project in the State’s upcoming Quantum Valley Tech Park at Amaravati. 

With its IBM Quantum System Two installation, with a 156-qubit Heron quantum processor, IBM will set up an anchor project. When installed, it would be the largest quantum computer in India. TCS will work with IBM to support the development of algorithms and applications that will help the Indian industry and academia solve some of the nation’s most challenging problems.

Published on June 7, 2025

 Ambani spoke fondly of his mentor Prof Sharma, crediting him as a quiet architect of India’s economic reforms and a guiding force in his life.
| Photo Credit:
–

Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director, Reliance Industries announced an unconditional grant of Rs 151 crore to the Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, from where he graduated in the 1970s.

Ambani spent over three hours on Friday at the institute (ICT), which back then was called the University Department of Chemical Technology (UDCT). He was there to attend the function to publish Professor MM Sharma’s biography titled ‘Divine Scientist’.

He also reminisced how the first lecture he attended at UDCT by Professor Sharma motivated him and how Prof. Sharma later played a role of quiet architect of India’s economic reforms.

Prof. Sharma impressed upon the policymakers that the only way for India to grow was to unshackle Indian industry from license-permit-raj which will allow Indian players to build scale, reduce dependence on imports and compete globally.

“Like my father Dhirubhai Ambani, he had a burning desire to change Indian industry from scarcity to global leadership,” said Ambani.

He further added, “These two bold visionaries believed that science and technology, in alliance with private entrepreneurship, would open the floodgates of prosperity.”

Crediting the rise of Indian chemical industry to Prof Sharma’s efforts, Ambani in his speech also referred him as ‘a Rashtra Guru – a Guru of Bharat’.

When speaking of ‘Guru Dakshina’, Ambani announced the unconditional grant of Rs 151 crore to ICT according to the instructions of Prof. Sharma.

“When he tells us something, we just listen. We don’t think. He told me ‘Mukesh you have to do something big for ICT, and I am very pleased to announce that for Prof Sharma,” Ambani said while referring to the grant.

Published on June 7, 2025

The Supreme Court on Friday granted the National Board of Examination an extension to conduct the NEET-PG exam on August 3, 2025. 
| Photo Credit:
Sushil Kumar Verma

The Supreme Court on Friday granted extension to the National Board of Examination (NBE) for holding the NEET-PG examination on August 3, 2025. The exam was initially scheduled to be held on June 15 this year.

A bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Augustine George Masih clarified that no further extension will be granted to NBE in this regard.

“We are satisfied that the prayer for extension of time is bona fide. Accordingly, the time allowed by our dated May 30, for holding the examination is extended”, the Court said in its order.

On May 30, the Supreme Court ordered that the NEET PG examination be held only in a single shift. Subsequently, the NBE moved an application in the top court seeking an extension of time to reschedule the examination on a later date, as fresh arrangements would have to be made to comply with the single-shift order.

The bench had rejected the decision of NBE to hold the exam in two shifts, saying it creates “arbitrariness”. The bench had also stated that it will be open for NBE to apply for extension of time if they find that the arrangements can’t be done by 15 June, the scheduled date of the exam.

During the hearing today, counsels appearing for the NBE and the Centre stated that fresh steps need to be taken to make arrangements for holding the exam in a single shift.

“The total strength of candidates appearing for the exam is two lakhs 50 thousand, and there are only 450 centres. So we need to ensure that more centres are made available and security parameters are put in place,” the counsel argued.

He further argued that time is needed for giving opportunities to the candidates to choose centres according to their locations, now that the examination is being held in a single shift.

After hearing the submissions, the Court allowed the NBE to conduct the examination on an extended time of August 3.

Published on June 6, 2025

The Tamil Nadu government wants to replicate the successful collaborative and mentorship model of IIT Madras Research Park by setting up University Research Parks (URPs) in state universities in Coimbatore and Madurai.

These parks will be set up as a collaborative ecosystem that brings together academia, industry, startups and government to foster innovation, research and entrepreneurship development. They will serve as a bridge between academic research and commercialisation of successful research outcomes, creating a conducive environment for the exchange of knowledge, transfer of technology and the development of entrepreneurial ventures, as per Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO).

As a first measure, TIDCO has invited proposals under the URP initiative from industry-academia teams to turn ideas into impact. It could be future-focused solutions, from electric vehicles and textiles to AgriTech and DeepTech. Selected projects will be eligible for funding, TIDCO said. The timeline of launch was not specified.

The TN government in its 2022-23 Budget announced the establishment of five URPs in Coimbatore, Madurai, Trichy, Tirunelveli and Karaikudi.

University-based research parks like Stanford Research Park (US), Cambridge Science Park (UK), The Research Park at the University of Illinois (US) and others abroad along with India’s own IIT Madras Research Park (Chennai) are widely recognised for their contribution to technological progress through research and innovation and TIDCO aims to replicate this in other cities of TN.

URPs will be a place to create an environment for collaboration leading to Innovations; to establish collaborative space where researchers, industry professionals and entrepreneurs can work together. This shared environment facilitates the exchange of ideas, promotes interdisciplinary research and accelerates the development of innovative solutions, the government agency said.

Commenting on such URPs, V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, told businessline that both Coimbatore and Madurai are hotspots for innovation and entrepreneurship. “Whatever experience IIT Madras has gained in the last 15 years in running the IITMRP, we will share with the State government. We will put our best efforts for these URPs to make them successful and become very vibrant and democratising the opportunities given to young innovators and entrepreneurs. Anything and everything for Tamil Nadu from IIT Madras.”

The URPs will also facilitate the transfer of technology from academia to industry. By providing a platform for collaboration, researchers work closely with industry partners, leading to transfer of technology and commercialisation of research outcomes. It will play a nodal role in fostering entrepreneurship by providing support services to startup ventures. This includes access to funding, mentorship programs and shared infrastructure, creating an ecosystem that encourages the transformation of research findings into viable new businesses, said TIDCO.

“While it is a good initiative, it is too early to comment,” said an education expert.

Published on June 6, 2025

St Aloysius and Vinith D’Costa & Associates sign an MoU in Mangaluru on 4 June 2025.

The Mangaluru-based St Aloysius (deemed-to-be university) will offer B Com (Investment Management) degree programme from the academic year 2025-26.

In this regard, St Aloysius signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Vinith D’Costa & Associates, Mangaluru, to offer the programme.

With this programme, the university intends to spread investment awareness among students and also prepare the graduates for careers in investment advice, consultancy and jobs in investment banking and insurance firms.

Praveen Martis, Vice Chancellor of St Aloysius, and Vinith D’Costa, Founder and Managing Director of VD & Associates, signed and exchanged the MoU at the university premises on Wednesday. Manuel Tauro, Dean of School of Commerce, Finance and Accountancy, St Aloysius, and Roshan D’Souza, Chair, International Collaboration, St Aloysius, were present on the occasion.

Published on June 5, 2025

FILE PHOTO: People walk on the campus of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S., April 15, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
FAITH NINIVAGGI

US President Donald Trump is moving to block nearly all foreign students from entering the country to attend Harvard University, his latest attempt to choke the Ivy League school from an international pipeline that accounts for a quarter of the student body.

In an executive order signed Wednesday, Trump declared that it would jeopardise national security to allow Harvard to continue hosting foreign students on its campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

“I have determined that the entry of the class of foreign nationals described above is detrimental to the interests of the US because, in my judgment, Harvard’s conduct has rendered it an unsuitable destination for foreign students and researchers,” Trump wrote in the order.

It’s a further escalation in the White House’s fight with the nation’s oldest and wealthiest university. A federal court in Boston blocked the Department of Homeland Security from barring international students at Harvard last week. Trump’s order invokes a different legal authority.

Trump invoked a broad federal law that gives the president authority to block foreigners whose entry would be “detrimental to the interests of the United States.” On Wednesday, he cited the same authority when announcing that citizens of 12 countries would be banned from visiting the U.S. and those from seven others would face restrictions. Trump’s Harvard order cites several other laws, too, including one barring foreigners associated with terrorist organisations.

In a statement Wednesday night, Harvard said it will “continue to protect its international students.” “This is yet another illegal retaliatory step taken by the Administration in violation of Harvard’s First Amendment rights,” university officials said.

It stems from Harvard’s refusal to submit to a series of demands made by the federal government. It has escalated recently after the Department of Homeland Security said Harvard refused to provide records related to misconduct by foreign students.

Harvard says it has complied with the request, but the government said the school’s response was insufficient.

The dispute has been building for months after the Trump administration demanded a series of policy and governance changes at Harvard, calling it a hotbed of liberalism and accusing it of tolerating anti-Jewish harassment. Harvard defied the demands, saying they encroached on the university’s autonomy and represented a threat to the freedom of all US universities.

Trump officials have repeatedly raised the stakes and sought new fronts to pressure Harvard, cutting more than $2.6 billion in research grants and moving to end all federal contracts with the university. The latest threat has targeted Harvard’s roughly 7,000 international students, who account for half the enrollment at some Harvard graduate schools.

“Admission to the United States to study at an elite’ American university is a privilege, not a right,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a post on X. “This Department of Justice will vigorously defend the President’s proclamation suspending the entry of new foreign students at Harvard University based on national security concerns.”

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., called the measure ridiculous and said it has nothing to do with national security.

“It’s a thinly veiled revenge ploy in Trump’s personal feud with Harvard, and continued authoritarian overreach against free speech,” Jayapal said on the social media site X.

The order applies to all students attempting to enter the United States to attend Harvard after the date of the executive order. It provides a loophole to allow students whose entry would “benefit the national interest,” as determined by federal officials.

Trump’s order alleges that Harvard provided data on misconduct by only three students in response to the Homeland Security request, and it lacked the detail to gauge if federal action was needed. Trump concluded that Harvard is either “not fully reporting its disciplinary records for foreign students or is not seriously policing its foreign students.” “These actions and failures directly undermine the Federal Government’s ability to ensure that foreign nationals admitted on student or exchange visitor visas remain in compliance with Federal law,” the order said.

For foreign students already at Harvard, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will determine if visas should be revoked, Trump wrote.

The order is scheduled to last six months. Within 90 days, the administration will determine if it should be renewed, the order said.

A State Department cable sent last week to US embassies and consulates said federal officials will begin reviewing the social media accounts of visa applicants who plan to attend, work at or visit Harvard University for any signs of antisemitism.

In a court filing last week, Harvard officials said the Trump administration’s efforts to stop Harvard from enrolling international students have created an environment of “profound fear, concern, and confusion.” Countless international students have asked about transferring from the university, Harvard immigration services director Maureen Martin said in the filing.

Published on June 5, 2025

In FY25, outward remittances under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) for studying abroad fell 16 per cent to $2.91 billion compared with the previous year. Remittances for education have been steadily declining since the Covid peak of $5.16 billion recorded in FY22. This sustained drop reflects changing financial strategies, shifting destination preferences and a recalibrated approach by Indian families towards international education.

Overall remittances under the LRS were growing strongly between FY22 and FY24, but recorded a 7 per cent decline in FY25.

LRS is a scheme introduced by the Reserve Bank of India that allows resident individuals to remit up to $250,000 per financial year for permissible current or capital account transactions, including education, travel, investment and maintenance of relatives abroad.

Studying abroad

According to Akshay Chaturvedi, Founder and CEO, Leverage Edu, several converging factors are driving this decline. “There’s a clear shift in how Indian students are financing their education abroad, more are opting for local loans and scholarships in destination countries, which reduces the need for large upfront remittances.” He also pointed to increased strategic planning by families in response to rupee volatility and visa delays in key countries like the US and Canada.

The shift is also reflected in destination trends. In 2024, Indian student numbers in traditional education hubs like Canada, the US, and the UK declined significantly. Canada saw a dramatic fall from 233,532 students in 2023 to 137,608 in 2024. Meanwhile, countries such as Germany, Russia and Bangladesh reported increasing Indian student inflows.

“Indian students today are far more outcome-oriented, they’re looking closely at affordability, post-study work pathways and long-term visa clarity… This isn’t a rejection of traditional destinations, but a reflection of how the idea of ‘value’ in global education is being redefined,” Chaturvedi added.

Going forward

Despite improvements in domestic higher education, experts believe that the aspiration to study abroad remains robust. Studying abroad is no longer viewed solely as an academic pursuit but as a pathway to global exposure, multicultural networks and long-term immigration opportunities. While domestic education options are improving in quality, they are not replacing international education, instead, they are contributing to a more competitive and thoughtful decision-making process for students and families.

Interestingly, while education-related remittances decline, other categories under LRS, such as travel ($16.96 billion), investments in equity/debt ($1.70 billion) and property purchases ($322 billion) have seen a surge.

“The focus has shifted to investment…There is increased focus on diversification of investment across geographies and asset classes,” pointed out Riaz Thingna, Partner, Grant Thornton Bharat.

Published on May 27, 2025

File picture of Infosys founder N.R. Narayana Murthy
| Photo Credit:
Swapan Mahapatra

Narayana Murthy has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) to establish an inflation-adjusted, full-fee scholarship. The Infosys founder committed to funding the scholarship for a period of 20 years, with the aggregate payout estimated at ₹12 crore over that duration.

This will cover the recipient’s annual tuition fee, hostel expenses, course material and mess charges for the two-year Post Graduate Programme (PGP) at IIMA.

Named the ‘Professor Jaswant G Krishnayya Merit Scholarship,’ it will be awarded annually to a student who achieves the highest CGPA in the first year of the PGP program.

Speaking at the event, he said, “I am pleased to establish this scholarship at IIMA in honour of Professor Jaswant G Krishnayya’s enduring legacy and significant contributions to IIMA. This scholarship also serves as a testament to Professor Krishnayya’s pivotal role in shaping my early life and career. It is my hope that this scholarship will inspire students to strive for excellence and make a positive impact on the world.”

The IIMA Endowment Fund (IIMAEF), which is the Institute’s unified fundraising and philanthropic arm for all donations from alumni as well as corporate and CSR partners, played a facilitative role in this partnership. The initiative is in continuation of IIMAEF’s broader vision to solidify IIMA’s prominence in thought leadership, research and academic excellence globally, ensuring that financial constraints do not stand in the way of academic potential.

Prof. Bharat Bhasker, Director, IIMA, added, “This generous scholarship is a celebration of excellence, mentorship and impact. We are deeply grateful to Mr. Murthy for honouring Professor Krishnayya’s legacy in such a meaningful way. It reflects IIMA’s vision of enabling merit-based access to management education, while paying tribute to those who helped build this institute into what it is today.”

(With inputs from bl intern Nethra Sailesh)

Published on May 27, 2025

“Always adhere to the terms of your visa and maintain your student status to avoid any issues,” said the embassy.

The US on Tuesday cautioned the Indian and international students to ensure they adhere to terms of their visa to avoid cancellation and not skip classes or drop out without intimation to their institutions. This comes amidst growing uncertainty that international students are a facing at a time when the Trump government has been cracking down on illegal immigrants as well foreign nationals.

In a post on X, the US Embassy in India stated, “If you drop out, skip classes, or leave your program of study without informing your school, your student visa may be revoked, and you may lose eligibility for future US visas. Always adhere to the terms of your visa and maintain your student status to avoid any issues.”

Key deportation drives

This comes at a time when the US government has been carrying out major deportation drives targeting students and immigrants. Earlier this month, the Embassy had also in its post on X warned that if someone remains in the US beyond the authorised period of stay, they could face deportation as well as a permanent ban on travelling to the US in the future.

Recently, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement had issued warnings to international students on Optional Practical Training (OPT) visas, stating that failure to report employment within 90 days of starting OPT could lead to termination of their legal status and face potential deportation. Such students need to maintain their legal status in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System , according to international reports.

As of April, about 682 Indian nationals have been deported from the US in 2025.

Recently, the Trump government barred Harvard University from enrolling international students. However, a federal judge granted temporary injunction to the University on the matter.

Published on May 27, 2025

Tim Jones, Vice-Chancellor, University of Liverpool.
| Photo Credit:
Gareth Jones

UK’s Liverpool University plans its India campus to be more than just an extension of its home campus and looks to attract international students to the country, said Professor Tim Jones, Vice-Chancellor, University of Liverpool. “We’ll have a strong Indian feel to it, but we’re also going to ensure there’s a distinct Liverpool identity. We aim to attract not just Indian students but international ones as well.”

The university also plans to have a blend of nationalities among its faculty. “We’re very keen that the campus develops with an international outlook and flavour,” Jones added.

The University of Liverpool joins the growing list of global universities setting up campuses in India. The University of Southampton has announced the establishment of its campus in Gurugram, while the University of Wollongong is setting up in GIFT City. The University of San Diego is also looking to establish an off-campus centre in GIFT City with an investment of nearly $5–10 million, and is exploring alternative locations such as Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Pune.

This expansion comes at a time when Indian student enrollment in UK universities has dipped by 3.9 per cent, with 1,66,310 students enrolled in the 2023–24 academic year, compared to 1,73,190 the previous year, according to ICEF Monitor. Indian students made up 26 per cent of non-EU enrolments in UK universities for the 2022–23 academic year, as per data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

Programmes offered

Liverpool’s initial set of programmes will include Business Management, Accounting and Finance, Computer Science, Biomedical Sciences, and Game Design — the latter being offered for the first time by a UK university campus in India. A broader portfolio of disciplines is expected to be added in subsequent phases. While Jones did not disclose details about the university’s location or fee structure, he noted that the campus will be established in August 2026, with teaching set to begin in September 2026.

Explaining the opportunity in India, Jones, said: “There’s a huge population of young people here, and I think the demand for higher education is strong — which is why the government has opened up access for international universities, to accelerate opportunities for young people to pursue university education.”

Welcoming the University’s entry into Karnataka, Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Siddaramaiah said, “Karnataka has always been at the forefront of education and innovation. The University of Liverpool’s decision to set up its first foreign campus in Bengaluru reinforces our status as a global knowledge destination.

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and Industries Minister MB Patil and along with Liverpool University delegates

Adding to this, Minister for Large & Medium Industries and Infrastructure Development Shri M. B. Patil, stated, “This collaboration will drive deeper ties between academia and sectors like electronics, aerospace, and biotechnology—through joint research, internships, and curriculum design. It will also benefit MSMEs and startups by opening access to mentorship and innovation platforms.”

(With inputs from Rohan Das)

Published on May 27, 2025

Ranjan Pai, Chairman of MEMG
| Photo Credit:
cueapi

Global investment firm KKR said it has arranged a $600 million financing for the diversified conglomerate Manipal Education and Medical Group (MEMG).

The investment, which marks KKR’s latest and largest credit investment in India, will enable the Manipal Group to accelerate its corporate expansion and growth objectives by providing flexible, structured capital matched to its long-term strategic needs, KKR and MEMG said in a statement.

The financing has been arranged by KKR Capital Markets and anchored by KKR’s private credit and insurance platforms to the Manipal Group (which has businesses across the healthcare, education, and health insurance sectors), it added.

Gaurav Trehan, Co-Head of KKR Asia Pacific and Head of Asia Private Equity, KKR, said, “We are pleased to deepen our relationship with the Manipal Group and Dr Ranjan Pai, who has established one of India’s pre-eminent and homegrown businesses, as they continue to deliver on their long-term vision.

“The Manipal Group has built a strong reputation over the decades as one of India’s healthcare and education leaders, and we look forward to supporting and contributing to their continued success.”

Ranjan Pai, Chairman of MEMG, said, “We are proud to welcome KKR as a strategic partner as we continue to build on Manipal’s legacy in healthcare and education.

“KKR’s longstanding India focus and flexible capital approach, as well as alignment with our long-term vision, present a strong fit for us.”

Published on June 2, 2025

The Indian School of Business (ISB) Campus in Hyderabad
| Photo Credit:
NAGARA GOPAL

The Financial Times (FT) Executive Education Custom Ranking 2025 has ranked Indian School of Business (ISB) in the first place in Asia and and 23rd globally, up from the 26th position last year. 

ISB has also secured high global rankings across several key dimensions, including the second in ‘Future Use’, indicating client satisfaction and loyalty. Other rankings given were 12th in ‘Value for Money’; 22nd in ‘Programme Design’; 23rd in ‘International Clients’; 24th in ‘Aims Achieved’ and 25th in ‘Teaching Methods & Materials’. In the FT’s Open Ranking 2025, ISB has been ranked 73rd globally.

“The latest FT Executive Education Rankings reinforce our commitment to developing and delivering programmes that address the evolving and urgent needs of today’s industry. This recognition encourages us to continue designing world-class programmes that empower our participants to become catalysts of meaningful change,’‘ Sunill Sood, Executive Director, Executive Education, ISB said in a release on Monday.

Published on June 2, 2025

In a sweeping move to tighten immigration controls, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has ordered American embassies worldwide to halt scheduling new interviews for student and exchange visitor visas.
| Photo Credit:
Reuters/ELIZABETH FRANTZ

Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered US embassies worldwide to stop scheduling interviews for student visas as the Trump administration weighs stricter vetting of applicants’ social-media profiles.

The directive, laid out in a cable sent to diplomats worldwide on Tuesday, marks the latest effort by the administration to restrict foreign students’ entry to American schools over claims that they might threaten US national security or promote antisemitism.

“Effective immediately, in preparation for an expansion of required social media screening and vetting, consular sections should not add any additional student or exchange visitor (F, M and J) visa appointment capacity until further guidance is issued,” Rubio wrote. He said that guidance is expected in the coming days.

The cable says interviews that have already been scheduled can go ahead. It was reported earlier by Politico.

The State Department and the Department of Homeland Security didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment. 

Rubio had foreshadowed further restrictions in March after plainclothes police arrested Tufts University doctoral student Rümeysa Öztürk outside her home. Öztürk, who helped write an op-ed supporting Gazans, was later freed on bail as she fights possible deportation.

“If you apply for a visa to enter the United States and be a student, and you tell us that the reason you are coming to the United States is not just because you want to write op-eds, but because you want to participate in movements that are involved in doing things like vandalizing universities, harassing students, taking over buildings, creating a ruckus—we’re not going to give you a visa,” Rubio said at the time. 

Tuesday’s move comes days after DHS sought to block Harvard University from enrolling international students last week — an effort that was swiftly halted by a federal judge on Friday. The administration is also moving to cancel all remaining federal contracts with Harvard, which total about $100 million, and Trump on Monday threatened to divert billions in grant dollars away from the university.

Last week on Fox Business, Kevin O’Leary, who teaches at Harvard Business School, recommended a vetting process for foreign students, while praising them for intellect and patriotism.

“These students are extraordinary individuals and they don’t hate America,” he said. “Why don’t we vet them first, check their backgrounds, clear them, and tell them, ‘You graduate Harvard, you’re an engineer or whatever, you stay here and you start a business here and you’ll get funded here and you’ll create jobs here because that’s why you came here in the first place.’”

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

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Published on May 27, 2025

India is poised to see a massive surge in demand for Artificial Intelligence (AI) professionals, with projections estimating the need for one million skilled individuals by 2026, according to the report — India’s AI Revolution: A Roadmap to Viksit Bharat — released by the Union Ministry of Electronics & IT.

As the country aspires to become a $23-35 trillion economy by 2047, higher education — particularly in engineering — is undergoing a fundamental transformation to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving job market shaped by AI, automation, and interdisciplinary innovation.

Engineering education is at the heart of this shift. According to the All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), the number of approved B. Tech seats for the 2024-25 academic year has risen to 14.9 lakh — a nearly 16 per cent increase over four years. This growth is largely driven by a more than 50 per cent rise in seats for Computer Science and allied streams such as AI/ML, Data Science, Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing, and Blockchain–mirroring strong industry demand.

India’s tech education landscape is increasingly embracing interdisciplinary and industry-integrated learning to nurture a new generation of engineers who can code, create, collaborate, and lead innovation. The transition from STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) to STEAM, adding Arts to the mix, is gaining ground, blending technical knowledge with design thinking, communication, psychology, law, and business.

Recently, Symbiosis International (Deemed University) announced the launch of Symbiosis Artificial Intelligence Institute (SAII), an artificial intelligence (AI)-focused institute. According to the institute, SAII will integrate cutting-edge AI into academic programmes and research.

 Amruta Yeravdekar Ruikar, Head of International Admissions & Promotions, Symbiosis International University, said, ”By embracing AI, we are not just keeping pace with global innovation but also empowering our students to become responsible innovators and problem-solvers who will shape the future… Both B. Tech and BCA integrate AI in specialisations enforcing learning and development and preparing students for the future.”

The India Skills Report 2024 by Wheebox forecasts that India’s AI industry will reach $28.8 billion by 2025, with a CAGR of 45 per cent. The report highlights that the AI-skilled workforce has seen a 14-fold increase from 2016 to 2023, making India one of the top five fastest-growing AI talent hubs, alongside Singapore, Finland, Ireland, and Canada.

Dr Kathiravan Kannan, Director, SRM Group of Institutions, Ramapuram, Chennai and Tiruchirappalli, said, “The surge in demand for AI professionals’ stems from rapid technological progress. As AI reshapes productivity, operations, and innovation, preparing a future-ready workforce is imperative… .”

This interdisciplinary momentum is now a nationwide trend as institutions are increasingly embedding research-driven curricula, industry mentorship and global exposure into their programs. New focus areas like Extended Reality (XR), ethical AI, data visualisation, and digital manufacturing are becoming foundational to modern tech education.

According to Dr Yajulu Medury, Vice Chancellor, Mahindra University, “We see a growing need to foster an innovation ecosystem driven by AI, for today’s youth by providing experiential learning opportunities such as internships, global immersion programmes, and research initiatives….”

Published on June 1, 2025

Former Reserve Bank of India governor Raghuram Rajan
| Photo Credit:
ELIZABETH FRANTZ

Former Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan warned about the long-term risks to the US economy if politics eroded the pipeline of international students to American universities. 

In an interview with Bloomberg TV Wednesday, Rajan cautioned that foreign student inflows have historically been a cornerstone of US innovation and economic leadership, but that current policies risk unravelling this advantage.

“The Sergey Brins of the world came as students and did wonders for the US economy,” Rajan said, pointing to one of the founders of Google. “To some extent, the problem is the universities haven’t made the case that they are so central to US growth, but also central to the distribution of that growth.”

Rajan, who is professor of finance at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, warned that squeezing foreign students could impact job growth, noting that companies like Alphabet Inc.’s Google employ thousands, thanks in part to immigration-linked talent pipelines.

At the heart of Rajan’s concerns is the ongoing battle between the White House and universities — one that initially centered on elite schools such as Harvard University and Columbia University over antisemitism — but that’s morphed into a larger attack over the role of US higher education. On Tuesday, the Trump administration escalated that fight further by ordering US embassies worldwide to stop scheduling interviews for student visas as it weighs stricter vetting of applicants’ social-media profiles.

“It is not a great environment,” Rajan said, citing rising fears among academics and administrators over visa security and retaliation from the White House. “It’s an environment which is inhibiting the ultimate production that the universities contribute to the US economy.”

International students accounted for 5.9 per cent of the total US higher education population of almost 19 million. In the 2023-2024 school year, more than 1.1 million foreign students came to the US, with India sending the most, followed by China. 

The former central banker also drew a parallel between the decisions foreign students now face and the investment choices businesses make amid uncertainty. “If uncertainty increases, you tend to either postpone the investment or take it to a place where things are more certain,” he said. 

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

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Published on May 28, 2025

Jagriti Motwani, Founder and Promoter of Bhagva with Vinod Pandey, Principal of Sharda Devi Sanskrit Vidyapeeth and other dignitaries at MoU signing ceremony to establish 60 Centers of Excellence 

Bhagva, a global spiritual service and technology platform, plans to set up over 60 Centers of Excellence across India.

The centres aim to offer training programs designed to help institutions deliver top-tier, skill-oriented education while opening doors to global placement opportunities.

Bhagva has collaborated with four Sanskrit Mahavidyalayas, including Bhavan’s Shri Shankaracharya Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya and Sharda Devi Sanskrit Vidyapeeth in Delhi; Shrinath Veda Bhyas Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya, Aurangabad and Shree Ram Sanskrit College, Nashik. Initially the CoEs will be established in these colleges.

The MoU is facilitated by the International Mandir Prabhandhak Council, while Bhagva will train, coach and place over 7200 pandits till 2026.

Backed by $1 million in Pre-Series A funding, Bhagva will employ all certified Pandits in India and globally. Placement avenues include positions in leading temples, diaspora communities, spiritual resorts, and cultural tourism circuits.

Jagriti Motwani, Founder and promoter of Bhagva said the Centres of Excellence would work closely with Sanskrit mahavidyalas to help students build real-world skills, use modern tools, and find a renewed purpose in their journey and connection to today’s world.

The Centers will offer a variety of offline training programs, including a 7-day certification module under the Recognition of Prior Learning and 60-90-day upskilling courses.

These programs are tailored to enhance soft skills, digital literacy and service protocols, aligning with the evolving needs of contemporary religious and cultural services.

The training modules will include Purohit Training, which focuses on rituals, Vedic practices, and temple conduct.

Prof Dr Shashibala of Bhavan’s Shri Shankaracharya Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya said this is a rare and important initiative to bring back the country’s traditional knowledge with a modern touch.

“Together, we aim to create pathways for students to excel globally while preserving our heritage,” he added.

Published on May 31, 2025

Gaurav Munjal, co-founder of Unacademy
| Photo Credit:
cueapi

Unacademy is preparing for a significant leadership transition, with co-founders Gaurav Munjal and Roman Saini expected to exit day-to-day operations over the next few months, people familiar with the matter said.

The move comes as both founders look to carve out a separate path for Airlearn, the company’s language learning app, which is now set to be spun off into an independent entity.

Sources said Munjal formally informed the board of his decision to step away in March 2025. While he had been considering the move since last year, the board had urged him to remain until the company’s cash burn was brought under control.

“The board asked him to first reduce the company’s burn, so he stayed on till now,” said sources.

With the core business now operating at a significantly lower burn rate—reduced from over ₹1,000 crore annually to under ₹200 crore—Munjal is expected to proceed with his exit once the Airlearn demerger is finalised.

In the proposed structure, Munjal is likely to head Airlearn as a separate company. Discussions with investors and the board regarding the transition are currently in advanced stages.

As part of the succession plan, Sumit Jain, founder of Graphy and a key executive at Unacademy, will take charge of the company’s offline operations. Jain joined Unacademy in 2020 and rose to prominence after the departure of co-founder and former CTO Hemesh Singh, who moved into an advisory role. He was subsequently appointed to the board and named partner at Unacademy.

Meanwhile, a new leadership team is being assembled to oversee Unacademy’s core online business.

On the financial front, Unacademy’s revenue declined by 7.4 per cent in FY24 to ₹839 crore. However, the company made notable progress on the profitability front, with net losses narrowing by over 62 per cent to ₹631 crore.

The edtech firm claims it is now in a “default alive” state, with cash reserves of ₹1,250 crore. It also reported that business units such as Graphy and PrepLadder are generating positive monthly cash flows.

Munjal’s planned departure, coupled with the Airlearn spin-off, marks a strategic reset as Unacademy adapts to a more sustainable and focused growth trajectory.

Published on May 28, 2025

Experts believe that the US is undergoing a quiet recalibration of its immigration framework
| Photo Credit:
cueapi

Students planning to go abroad are closely monitoring updates to US visa regulations, which appear to change almost daily. The latest development, a temporary suspension of new student visa interview appointments has prompted many to explore alternative destinations like Ireland, Germany, and France.

In an official statement, the US government announced that it has paused scheduling new student visa interviews at its embassies and consulates worldwide. Existing appointments, however, will proceed as planned. The move is part of a broader review process aimed at implementing expanded social media screening for student and exchange visitor visa applicants. As a result, new applicants may face delays.

While the US and the UK have traditionally been top choices for Indian students, recent developments are influencing students to reassess their options. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, international students accounted for 6 per cent of the total US higher education population and contributed over $50 billion to the US economy in 2023. India remains a significant contributor, sending 331,602 students to the US for higher education in the 2023–2024 academic year—a 23 per cent increase from the previous year, per the Open Doors Report.

noticeable shift

However, there is a noticeable shift in preferences as countries with more relaxed immigration policies attract greater attention. Ireland, for instance, has seen a 30–40 per cent increase in student applications and visa approvals in 2025. The UK has also experienced a rebound, hosting 185,000 Indian students in 2024 after a drop in 2022, according to Gaurav Batra, CEO of Infinite Group. Conversely, Canada witnessed a decline in study permit approvals, with only 96,015 permits issued to Indian students in early 2025, down from 121,070 in 2024, primarily due to stricter immigration rules.

Mamta Shekhawat, Founder of Gradding.com, noted that students are now factoring in long-term benefits when choosing study destinations. “Many students are now deferring US admissions and exploring countries like Australia, which offer better post-study opportunities and more family-friendly policies.”

Experts believe that the US is undergoing a quiet recalibration of its immigration framework.

“We’re witnessing a layered shift in how the US is reshaping its immigration policies — not through sweeping reforms, but via a series of calibrated changes,” said Varun Singh, Managing Director of XIPHIAS Immigration. “These shifts don’t just affect individual visa applicants. They’re nudging Indian families, students, and even employers to revaluate the US as a destination. While the US remains a top choice, it’s no longer the default,” he added.

Aman Singh, Co-Founder of GradRight, observed that these developments are notably affecting tier-3 and tier-4 US institutions, where the return on investment (ROI) and employability have always been key concerns. “Students applying to these universities are mostly deferring to the Spring 2026 intake or even next year. They still see the U.S. as the definitive destination for higher education, but are pausing to assess the situation.”

However, GradRight’s Singh added that there remains a small segment of students primarily focused on going abroad — irrespective of institution or country. “They’re indifferent to where they go and are increasingly open to destinations like the UK or Australia,” he said.

Published on May 29, 2025

Indian School of Business (ISB) Campus in Hyderabad, India
| Photo Credit:
NAGARA GOPAL

The Motilal Oswal Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Motilal Oswal Financial Services, has committed ₹100 crore to the Indian School of Business (ISB) making it the single largest philanthropic support in the history of the school.

ISB will soon be inaugurating the Motilal Oswal Executive Centre at its Hyderabad campus, with support from this contribution. The Executive Centre, a state-of-the-art 1,91,532 Sq ft Ground + 2 storey building, will comprise lecture theatres, meeting rooms, office spaces, and a faculty lounge. Thus, the grant will support the school’s continued advancement as a global leader in business education.

“Through the Motilal Oswal Foundation, we help build and support institutions that embody excellence and inclusion. Having supported MO Knowledge Centres at IIT Bombay, IIM Mumbai and Plaksha University; where talent meets opportunities, resources, mentorship, and conducive environment, we are glad to help set up the Motilal Oswal Executive Centre at ISB,’‘ Motilal Oswal, Chairman, Motilal Oswal Foundation said.

Harish Manwani, Chairperson, ISB Executive Board, said, “We deeply appreciate Motilal Oswal Foundation’s generous contribution. This will further strengthen ISB’s role in producing top class business leaders and supporting India’s nation building efforts,’‘ according to a release.

Published on May 29, 2025

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced aggressive visa restrictions targeting Chinese students, especially those with links to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in sensitive fields. 
| Photo Credit:
ELIZABETH FRANTZ/Reuters

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday the US will begin revoking the visas of some Chinese students, “including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields”.

Rubio said in his announcement posted on X that the government will “aggressively” revoke visas for students from China, which is the second-largest country of origin for international students in the United States, behind only India.

In the 2023-2024 school year, more than 270,000 international students were from China, making up roughly a quarter of all foreign students in the United States.

On Tuesday, Rubio halted the scheduling of new visa interviews for international students as the department prepares guidelines for increased vetting of their activity on social media.

The announcements from the State Department added to the uncertainty for America’s international students, who have faced intensifying scrutiny from President Donald Trump’s administration.

University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh student Vladyslav Plyaka was planning to visit Poland to see his mother and renew his visa, but he doesn’t know when that will be possible now that visa appointments are suspended.

He also doesn’t feel safe leaving the US even when appointments resume.

“I don’t think I have enough trust in the system at this point,” said Plyaka, who came to the US from Ukraine as an exchange student in high school and stayed for college.

The announcement came days after the Trump administration moved to block Harvard University from enrolling any international students, a decision that has been put on hold by a federal judge, pending a lawsuit.

On Wednesday, Trump said that Harvard, whose current student population is made up of more than a quarter of international students, should limit that percentage to about 15 per cent.

“I want to make sure the foreign students are people that can love our country,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

Earlier this year, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested and tried to deport students who had been involved in campus protests against the Israel-Hamas war.

The Trump administration abruptly terminated the legal status of thousands of international students before reversing itself and then expanding the grounds on which students can lose permission to study in the US.

International students see new reason for caution The uncertainty raised by the suspension of visa appointments will do further damage to the US reputation as a destination country, said Fanta Aw, CEO of NAFSA, an association that represents international educators.

Students generally commit to their programme of study in late spring, meaning now would be the peak time for students to schedule their visa interviews.

“International students and scholars are tremendous assets that contribute to US preeminence in innovation, research, and economic strength,” Aw said in a statement.

“Undermining their ability to study here is self-defeating.” At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the climate of uncertainty led one international student to cancel a trip home to Vietnam this summer.

He emails the school’s international office frequently to make sure his legal status is secure.

“There’s just this constant unease. It’s quite stressful, really,” said the student, who spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear of being targeted.

The pause affects three categories of visas that cover university students, as well as high school exchange students and boarding school students.

The largest category, F-1 visas, includes students who are enrolling at full-time accredited schools.

Students participating in exchange programmes enter on J-1 visas, and those enrolling in vocational or non-academic programs enter on M-1 visas.

Around 1.1 million international students were in the United States last year — a source of essential revenue for tuition-driven colleges.

International students are not eligible for federal financial aid. Often, they pay full price.

Northeastern University, which has more than 20,000 international students, has set up “contingency plans” for those who hit visa delays, spokesperson Renata Nyul said without elaborating.

“This is a very dynamic situation, and we are closely monitoring the developments in real time to assess any potential impacts,” she said.

US plans more in-depth reviews of visa applicants’ social media Visa applicants have been required to provide social media handles to the State Department since 2019. The cable did not indicate what kind of additional scrutiny the new guidelines would cover, but suggested the new reviews may be more resource-intensive.

The additional vetting will deter students from coming to the U.S., said Jonathan Friedman of PEN America, a literary and free expression organisation.

“The details remain vague, but this policy risks upending the long-standing place of the US as a beacon for intellectual and cultural exchange with the world,” Friedman said.

The move to cut off international enrolment at Harvard stems from a dispute with the Department of Homeland Security, which has demanded that it provide information about foreign students that might implicate them in violence or protests that could lead to their deportation.

Harvard said it complied with the records request, but the agency said its response fell short.

Published on May 29, 2025

Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump accused Harvard of “disrespecting the country” and warned that the university is “getting in deeper and deeper.”
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS/Leah Millis

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Harvard University should have a 15% cap on the number of foreign students it admits and that the Ivy League school needs to show the administration their current list of students from other countries.

“Harvard has got to behave themselves. Harvard is treating our country with great disrespect and all they’re doing is getting in deeper and deeper” Trump told reporters gathered in the Oval Office.

Published on May 28, 2025

CHP officers stand guard near an area showing messages of support for Israeli hostages in Gaza, amid clashes at a nearby pro-Palestinian encampment on the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) campus in Los Angeles, California, U.S., May 1, 2024. (A file photo)
| Photo Credit:
DAVID SWANSON/Reuters

President Donald Trump’s administration vowed to expand its probes on college campuses beyond Ivy League institutions to other schools — including the University of California system — as the White House’s targeting of higher education intensifies.

Leo Terrell, who leads the Justice Department’s antisemitism task force, said the UC system should expect “massive lawsuits,” adding that universities “on the East Coast, on the West Coast, in the Midwest” are also likely to see legal action. 

“We’re working on a full front of activity in the courtroom,” Terrell said Tuesday in a Fox News interview. “Trump is not going to be deterred.”

The civil-rights attorney, who also serves as a senior counsel at the Justice Department, spoke shortly after the government directed agencies to start cutting off remaining federal funds to Harvard University, which has become the focal point of Trump’s fight against antisemitism and left-leaning politics on university campuses. 

In the same interview, Terrell warned: “We are going to go after them where it hurts them financially.” He also specifically cited federal hate-crime charges and Title VII lawsuits, which focus on discrimination in hiring, as possible tools the administration could use. 

The administration has pointed to widespread protests at major universities against the war in Gaza to argue that universities have created a hostile atmosphere for Jewish students. 

As a public system, the California schools could be more susceptible to federal action on free-speech and civil-rights issues than private institutions like Harvard. 

The University of California at Los Angeles saw some of the largest demonstrations and the school’s former chancellor, Gene Block, was one of several university leaders called to testify before Congress over its handling of the protests.

The Trump administration has launched multiple investigations into the 10-campus system, targeting its admissions practices, foreign funding disclosures and campus climate. 

Federal agencies are reviewing whether UC Berkeley, UCLA and UC Irvine violated the Supreme Court’s 2023 affirmative action ruling, and are probing UC Berkeley’s financial ties to overseas donors. The Justice Department has opened a civil-rights probe into UC over allegations that it supported an “antisemitic hostile work environment to exist on its campuses” for professors, staff and other employees. 

UC Berkeley is also one of 60 US colleges and universities under investigation by the Department of Education over allegations of “antisemitic harassment and discrimination.” The system also includes six academic health centers and three national laboratories with 26,100 faculty, 47,700 academic positions and 192,400 staff members.

The Education Department released the list of universities in March that have been under investigation for antisemitism, including Yale University, Princeton University and Brown University. So far, Harvard and Columbia University have taken the brunt of the administration’s actions, with major research funding revoked. 

Those moves, along with the administration’s efforts to revoke the visas of international students, have embroiled schools and students into protracted legal battles with the government. At Harvard, the Department of Homeland Security sought a sweeping measure to revoke the college’s license to admit and retain enrollees from abroad.

The president said over the weekend that the federal government was seeking information about foreign students enrolled at Harvard and that he believed that there were too many students from outside the US attending the school.

“This is going to be a battle in the courtroom,” Terrell said. “If it goes all the way to the Supreme Court, Trump is going to do that. That’s why the Department of Justice, that’s why the task force is here.”

A federal judge has temporarily halted the administration’s effort to block foreign visas for Harvard students while the court considers Harvard’s lawsuit to block it. 

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

Published on May 27, 2025

The Trump administration is escalating its campaign against Harvard University, directing federal agencies to terminate or transition all non-critical contracts with the Ivy League school, potentially affecting over $100 million in funding.
| Photo Credit:
Mel Musto/Bloomberg

President Donald Trump’s administration is moving to cancel all remaining federal contracts with Harvard University, marking the latest escalation of its battle against the oldest and richest US school. 

Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum, in a letter seen by Bloomberg News, is directing federal agencies to review their contracts, terminate those that they deem not critical and transition to other vendors if necessary. The contracts are worth an estimated $100 million, according to a person with knowlege of the matter, who asked not to named discussing the administration’s moves. 

“The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) is assisting all federal agencies in a review for termination or transition of their federal government contracts with Harvard University and affiliates,” the letter says. “This review aligns with the Administration’s directive that all federal contracted services steadfastly uphold and advance agency strategic priorities.”

The letter, first reported by the New York Times, asks agencies to report on their “actions or intended actions with respect to each referenced contract” by June 6.

Harvard didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Trump administration has already moved to freeze funding and block Harvard’s ability to enroll international students in an intensifying battle over what the president has cast as a failure by the university and other academic institutions to crack down on antisemitism, and part of a broader campaign against diversity efforts and left-wing bias.  

Administration officials are pressuring schools including Columbia, Cornell, Northwestern and other elite universities to institute broad policy changes, raising concerns over academic freedom, free speech and government interference. On Tuesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered US embassies worldwide to stop scheduling new interviews for student-visa applicants as the Trump administration weighs stricter vetting of social-media profiles, a move that will impact higher education across the country.

Harvard though has been front and center in the White House’s campaign, with the administration suspending more than $2.6 billion in federal research money and saying the school won’t be able to receive new funding. Trump has also repeatedly called for Harvard to lose its tax-exempt status, which would have significant financial implications, even with the school’s $53 billion endowment.

The government has sought a series of changes as a condition of continuing its financial relationship with the university. It has demanded the university remake its governance, transform admissions and faculty hiring — which the administration has called discriminatory — as well as stop admitting international students who officials say are hostile to American values. 

The letter alleges that Harvard has continued to “engage in race discrimination, including in its admissions process and in other areas of student life” and says that the government is “aware of recent events at Harvard University involving anti-Semitic action that suggest the institution has a disturbing lack of concern for the safety and wellbeing of Jewish students.”

Gruenbaum referred to alleged discrimination at the Harvard Law Review. A federal task force recently called out the Review’s award of a $65,000 fellowship to a protester who faced criminal charges for assaulting a Jewish student on campus, a decision that the government claims was “reviewed and approved” by a faculty committee. 

Harvard President Alan Garber, who’s Jewish, has apologized for Harvard’s handling of antisemitism on campus and acknowledged that he has experienced prejudice himself at the school. But he has also said the extent of the government’s demands show that “the intention is not to work with us to address antisemitism.” The university has sued the US government over the cuts to funding as well as the block on enrolling international students. The university last week won a temporary court order blocking the government from enforcing the foreign student ban.

“We needed to move quickly because the consequences of revocation of visas for our international students were dire,” Garber told the Harvard Gazette. There will be a court hearing this week where Harvard will seek to extend the restraining order, he said.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has argued that Harvard’s responses to the government’s requests to provide information about misconduct by foreign students were insufficient.

To regain its program certification, Harvard was given 72 hours to provide six categories of information about foreign students over the past five years, including disciplinary records and video of those engaged in protests. Harvard still hasn’t turned over the requested information.

Trump on Monday also threatened to also divert billions in grant dollars away from the university.

“I am considering taking Three Billion Dollars of Grant Money away from a very antisemitic Harvard, and giving it to TRADE SCHOOLS all across our land,” Trump said in a post on social media. “What a great investment that would be for the USA, and so badly needed!!!”

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

Published on May 27, 2025

Jamia Millia Islamia
| Photo Credit:
ANI

Jamia Millia Islamia has suspended all Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with Turkish educational institutions, amid escalating calls across the country to boycott Turkey over its vocal support for Pakistan during the recent conflict. Speaking to ANI, Professor Saima Saeed, PRO of Jamia Millia Islamia, said, “We have suspended all MoUs with institutions affiliated with Turkey. Jamia stands with the nation and the Government of India.”

The development follows Jawaharlal Nehru University’s (JNU) suspension of its academic agreement with Inonu University in Malatya, Turkiye, citing national security concerns. JNU Vice Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit also called out Turkey for supporting Pakistan, saying: “Turkey has openly backed Pakistan, and that cannot be ignored.”

The MoU, signed on February 3, 2025, with Inonu University in Malatya, Turkey, was meant to run till 2028.” JNU is fully subsidised by Indian citizens. If the Indian state is being undermined, how can we continue ties with a country like Turkey? As an academic and citizen, my security is at risk–and that of every Indian,” JNU VC has said.

India’s higher education institutions are not the only ones reacting. The wider public has also launched an informal boycott campaign against Turkey and Azerbaijan, both of which have been accused of supporting Pakistan diplomatically and militarily. Leading Indian travel platforms like MakeMyTrip and EaseMyTrip have reported a surge in cancellations of travel bookings to both countries.

Many users cited the nations’ “anti-India stance” and their support for Pakistan during the ongoing conflict as the reason. Public anger further intensified after it was revealed that Turkey had supplied advanced military technology, including drones, to Pakistan.

On the night of May 8, Indian defence forces intercepted and neutralised between 300 and 400 drones allegedly launched from Pakistan across a wide swath of Indian territory–from Leh in the north to Sir Creek in the south. Preliminary forensic investigations have confirmed that many of the drones were Turkish-made, reportedly the Asisguard Songar combat drone model.

Published on May 15, 2025

Mangaluru-based St Aloysius (Deemed-to-be University) has received approval from the Bar Council of India to launch law programmes under its School of Law.

With the recent recognition granted under Section 7(1)(i) of the Advocates Act, 1961, by the Bar Council of India, St Aloysius has been officially authorised to confer degrees in law.

A media statement said the School of Law will offer two programmes: a three-year LLB (Honours) with an intake of 60 students, and a five-year integrated BBA LLB (Honours) with an intake of 60 students.

These programmes are approved for the academic years 2025–26 and 2026–27, and adhere strictly to the Rules of Legal Education, 2008, and all guidelines issued by the Bar Council of India, ensuring students receive the highest standards of legal education in India, the statement added.

Published on May 15, 2025

Students looking at their SSLC public exam results in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, 16 May, 2025
| Photo Credit:
RAJESH N

The Tamil Nadu secondary school leaving certificate (SSLC) exam and Higher Secondary Certificate Examination (Plus One) registered a pass percentage of 93.8 per cent and 92.09 per cent, as per the results announced on Friday by the Directorate of Government Examination.

Compared to the previous year, the Class X (SSLC) exam pass percentage was 2.55 per cent more this year while the Plus One (11th standard) registered a 0.4 per cent increase.

“This reflects the efforts and guidance provided by our Chief Minister M K Stalin. He is our headmaster,” Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi said.

He thanked the CM and the teachers for the increase in pass percentage and added that “the reason is because of the awareness on the state government schemes that encouraged school and higher education in the state.” A total of 8,71,239 students appeared in the Tenth standard public examination held in March and of them 8,17,261 passed.

A total of 4.17 lakh girls (out of 4.35 lakh who appeared in the exam) successfully cleared the exam registering a pass percentage of 95.88 per cent, while 4 lakh boys (out of 4.36 lakh) passed, registering 91.74 per cent.

Sivaganga (98.31 per cent), Virudhunagar (97.45), Thoothukudi (96.76), Kanyakumari (96.66) and Tiruchirappalli (with 96.61 per cent) were top five districts vis-a-vis the pass percentage in the state.

Of the 8.07 lakh students (including 3.82 lakh boys and 4.24 lakh girls) who appeared in the Plus One exam, 7.43 lakh students (including 3.39 lakh boys and 4.03 lakh girls) successfully cleared the exam.

Ariyalur (97.76 per cent), Erode (96.97), Virudhunagar (96.23 ), Coimbatore (95.77), and Thoothukudi (95.07) emerged as districts that accounted for the highest pass percentage.

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Published on May 16, 2025

FILE PHOTO: A view of the Business School campus of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.
| Photo Credit:
FAITH NINIVAGGI

U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has revoked Harvard University’s ability to enroll international students, and will force existing students to transfer to other schools or lose their legal status, the Department of Homeland Security said on Thursday.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem ordered the department to terminate the Harvard University’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification, the department said in a statement.

Harvard called the action illegal.

The move comes after Harvard refused to provide information Noem had previously demanded about some foreign student visa holders who attend the university, the department said.

“This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus,” Noem said. “It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments to help pad their multibillion-dollar endowments.”

Harvard said the move threatens serious harm to the university.

“The government’s action is unlawful. We are fully committed to maintaining Harvard’s ability to host international students and scholars, who hail from more than 140 countries and enrich the University – and this nation – immeasurably, the university said in a statement. “

The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The move marks a significant escalation of the Trump administration’s campaign against the elite Ivy League university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which has emerged as one of Trump’s most prominent institutional targets.

The Republican president has undertaken an extraordinary effort to revamp private colleges and schools across the U.S. that he says foster anti-American, Marxist and “radical left” ideologies. He has criticised Harvard in particular for hiring prominent Democrats to teaching or leadership positions.

Published on May 23, 2025

 Under the new bill, only domestic students count in calculating tax liability, hitting schools with large international student bodies the hardest. Higher education leaders warn the change threatens both excellence and accessibility in American academia.
| Photo Credit:
Nicholas Pfosi/Reuters

The spending bill passed by the U.S. House increases a tax the richest private universities pay on their endowment investment gains, a move proponents say reins in “woke” schools but that critics say will wind up hurting the poorest students the most.

Tucked within U.S. President Donald Trump’s massive tax and spending bill the House narrowly passed on Thursday is a proposal to increase a tax that some universities pay on the investment returns of their endowments from 1.4% to as high as 21% for some of the most elite colleges in the country.

The measure, part of the bill headed to the Republican-controlled Senate, is considered another front in Trump’s attack on elite colleges that he says are overrun by left-wing extremist thought and are cradles of anti-American and antisemitic movements. On Thursday, the Trump administration revoked Harvard University’s ability to enroll foreign students, a move the university said was illegal.

Representative Jason Smith, a Republican of Missouri and chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said shortly after his committee passed the bill that “for too long, universities have received beneficial treatment from our tax code while disregarding the interest of taxpayers.” A fact sheet Smith put out states that the tax “holds woke, elite universities that operate more like major corporations and other tax-exempt entities accountable.”

Premier universities say the bulk of most endowments is attached to specific projects as mandated by donors. So if they are spending more money on taxes, they will not be able to make up for it from their endowments. Instead, they will spend less elsewhere.

Luisa Rapport, a spokesperson for Stanford University, said the proposed tax hike “will directly reduce financial aid for undergraduates, support for faculty and graduate students, and funding for research programs.”

Kimberly Allen, a spokesperson for MIT, said the proposal is “basically a tax on national research and student aid, and at MIT alone it would cut hundreds of millions of dollars from our budget each year.”

EXCELLENCE, ACCESS AT RISK

During Trump’s first term in office, the current 1.4% tax was levied on schools whose per student endowment was $500,000 or more – that is, the size of the endowment divided by the number of full-time students.

In 2023, 56 private schools paid that tax, and total receipts were about $380 million, according to the IRS.

Under the new proposal, schools with a per student endowment of $2 million or more would pay 21%. International students would not count in that denominator under the bill, meaning schools with large populations of foreign students, like many of the elite universities Trump has targeted, would be punished.

Schools with a per student endowment of $1.25 million to $2 million would be taxed 14%; schools with a per student endowment between $750,000 and $1.25 million would be taxed 7%; and those with endowments of $500,000 to $750,000 per student would be taxed 1.4%.

The American Council on Education, a higher education lobbying and advocacy organization with 1,600 members, has fought the endowment tax since it was first created. Steven Bloom, who specializes in tax issues and endowments at the council, said the new proposal “takes very bad tax policy passed in 2017 and makes it more expensive and more complicated.”

Phillip Levine, an economics professor at Wellesley College, estimates the new tax would cost elite universities like Harvard, Yale, Stanford, MIT and Princeton, between $400 million and $850 million a year each.

Levine said that despite having some of the highest tuition prices, elite Ivy League schools with large endowments are able to offer massive financial aid packages for kids from poorer backgrounds.

“These are institutions that can offer excellence and access for lower-income students,” Levine said. “Both of those are at risk in the presence of a large endowment tax.”

Laura Wirick, a managing principal at Meketa Investments, a consultancy firm that advises endowments on how to allocate money, said if the highest proposed tax rate of 21% goes through, it may push money away from elite schools as donors “might not donate funds because they might be best put to work with a tax-exempt institution.”

Published on May 23, 2025

 The Department of Homeland Security accused Harvard of fostering an unsafe campus and demanded extensive student records, tying the decision to alleged antisemitic incidents and ties to China.
| Photo Credit:
FAITH NINIVAGGI/Reuters

Harvard University is challenging the Trump administration’s decision to bar the Ivy League school from enrolling foreign students, calling it unconstitutional retaliation for defying the White House’s political demands.

In a lawsuit filed Friday in federal court in Boston, Harvard said the government’s action violates the First Amendment and will have an “immediate and devastating effect for Harvard and more than 7,000 visa holders.” “With the stroke of a pen, the government has sought to erase a quarter of Harvard’s student body, international students who contribute significantly to the University and its mission,” Harvard said in its suit.

The school said it plans to file for a temporary restraining order to block the Department of Homeland Security from carrying out the move.

Harvard enrols almost 6,800 foreign students at its campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Most are graduate students and they come from more than 100 countries.

The department announced the action Thursday, accusing Harvard of creating an unsafe campus environment by allowing “anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators” to assault Jewish students on campus. It also accused Harvard of coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party, contending the school had hosted and trained members of a Chinese paramilitary group as recently as 2024.

Harvard President Alan Garber earlier this month said the university has made changes to its governance over the past year and a half, including a broad strategy to combat antisemitism. He said Harvard would not budge on its “its core, legally-protected principles” over fears of retaliation. Harvard has said it will respond at a later time to allegations first raised by House Republicans about coordination with the Chinese Communist Party.

The threat to Harvard’s international enrollment stems from an April 16 request from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who demanded that Harvard provide information about foreign students that might implicate them in violence or protests that could lead to their deportation.

Noem said Harvard can regain its ability to host foreign students if it produces a trove of records on foreign students within 72 hours. Her updated request demands all records, including audio or video footage, of foreign students participating in protests or dangerous activity on campus.

The suit is separate from the university’s earlier one challenging more than $2 billion in federal cuts imposed by the Republican administration.

Published on May 23, 2025

 The University of Hyderabad (UoH) has received a grant of ₹5 crore from Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) for the establishment of a Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Digital Twin Technology. The grant falls under HAL’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme.

“We are thankful to HAL for this generous support to strengthen research and teaching at the University of Hyderabad. The upcoming Centre of Excellence will serve as a national resource for innovation and human resource development in digital twin technology,’‘ said B.J. Rao, Vice-Chancellor, UoH, in a release.

The proposal was conceptualised by UoH Professors Samrat Sabat and Siba Udgata, with key contributions from M. Ghanashyam Krishna. Sabat will lead the implementation of the project at the AI research Cluster under the IoE Interdisciplinary Centre.

The centre is envisioned to promote cutting-edge research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and capacity building in digital twin systems, which are increasingly crucial to sectors like aerospace, healthcare, manufacturing, and smart infrastructure.

Published on May 24, 2025

The restraining order offers temporary relief for Harvard’s international student community, safeguarding their ability to remain in the country while the case proceeds.
| Photo Credit:
FAITH NINIVAGGI/Reuters

A federal judge has blocked a Trump administration decision to revoke Harvard University’s ability to enrol international students.

The temporary restraining order stops the government from pulling Harvard’s certification in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, which allows the school to host international students with visas to study in the US.

Harvard filed the lawsuit in US District Court in Massachusetts earlier Friday.

Published on May 23, 2025

FILE PHOTO: People walk on the campus of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S., April 15, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
FAITH NINIVAGGI

US President Donald Trump’s administration escalated its standoff with Harvard University on Thursday, revoking the school’s ability to enrol international students.

The government told Harvard’s thousands of current foreign students that they must transfer to other schools or they will lose their legal permission to be in the US.

The move could significantly affect the university, which enrols nearly 6,800 international students, most of them in graduate programmes. Those students may now have to scramble to figure out their next steps.

The Department of Homeland Security took this latest step because Harvard refused to comply with requests to produce records about its foreign students, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a letter. Noem accused Harvard of “perpetuating an unsafe campus environment that is hostile to Jewish students, promotes pro-Hamas sympathies and employs racist diversity, equity and inclusion’ policies.’” Harvard said the action is unlawful and undermines the school’s research mission.

Here’s what to know about how this decision affects international students and what legal authority Noem has to take the step.

Published on May 23, 2025

Debashis Chatterjee, Director of IIM Kozhikode
| Photo Credit:
Balakrishnan K 4279@Chennai

The Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIMK) has officially announced the annulment of its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sabancı University, Turkey, with immediate effect, as a firm step in support of national interest.

The MoU, originally signed in September 2023 for a period of five years, had outlined academic collaboration in the area of student exchange. However, in light of recent developments and guided by national priorities, IIM Kozhikode has unilaterally decided to nullify the agreement and terminate all associated academic engagements.

The Institute has formally communicated this decision to Sabancı University and has requested the immediate removal of IIM Kozhikode’s name from all official records, websites and platforms affiliated with the Turkish university.

In a statement, Debashis Chatterjee, Director of IIM Kozhikode, said: “At IIM Kozhikode, we place utmost importance on aligning our global engagements with the national interest. The decision to annul the MoU with Sabancı University has been taken after careful consideration and is in keeping with our institutional responsibility to uphold the values and priorities of our nation. We remain committed to fostering international collaborations that reflect mutual respect, strategic alignment and shared national values.”

IIM Kozhikode reiterates its commitment to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity and to engaging with global institutions that resonate with India’s strategic and educational values.

Published on May 20, 2025

Burlington English has unveiled Burlington English for Nurses, in a Nursing Leadership Conclave at Kochi. The launch event was marked by panel discussion on “Bridging Education, Employability and Excellence in Nursing,” which brought together renowned voices in healthcare education and workforce development.

Effective communication is critical to patient outcomes, with nurses playing a pivotal role in providing reassurance, relaying accurate information and ensuring clarity in clinical interactions. Burlington English for Nurses has been designed as a strategic bridge course to enhance the communication proficiency of student nurses. In response to the growing importance of communication prowess in clinical environments, the course equips learners with the confidence and clarity needed in both general and nursing-specific contexts, said a press release.

Amit Baveja, Managing Director of Burlington English India & South Asia, underscored the programme’s relevance in today’s healthcare context. “In today’s rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, effective communication is not just a soft skill—it is a life skill. After all, nurses are often the first point of contact for patients. They play a vital role in recording symptoms accurately and acting as a crucial bridge between patients and doctors. In such scenarios, clear and confident communication can make the difference between effective treatment and treatment that falls short, he said.

Quoting a study, he said 38.9 per cent of General Nursing and Midwifery students had poor English communication skills, 60.3 per cent demonstrated only average ability and just 0.7 per cent were found to be proficient. These gaps—rooted in limited vocabulary, weak grammar and lack of fluency—can severely hinder patient care, academic success and access to global career opportunities.

Published on May 20, 2025

The ongoing admissions in engineering colleges are showing early signs of a shift in preferences among students and parents. Interest in traditional engineering disciplines such as mechanical, civil, chemical, and aerospace engineering, remains robust, with seats in these streams getting filled up as briskly as those in computer science.

A combination of factors are driving this openness to look beyond computer science. The integration of computing technologies across all engineering disciplines by incorporating minor courses on AI/ML into curriculum, students taking on a long-term to follow their passions, and the emergence of more job opportunities in core engineering steams are some of the key few drivers, academicians and students told businessline.

Students also feel that one needs to have a strong domain knowledge in whichever area they apply and many believe that external upskilling tools are better tuned to industry advancements than traditional college curricula.

Core comeback

Dr S Sasikumar, Director of Undergraduate and Postgraduate Admissions, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), said that while computer science courses are still sought out, this year, seats in core courses are also getting filled “at a pace on par with CS.”

VIT has concluded two phases of admissions and plans to close all phases by June. “Biotech, bio engineering, and health informatics are a few courses that are seeing high takers. Electronics and Communications Engineering, Mechanical and Civil too are seeing traction,” he said.

According to Sasikumar, a 2023 decision by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) to allow all engineering branches to offer elective/minor courses in emerging areas such as AI, ML, Data Science and others, has contributed to this shift. For example, any civil engineering student can now do minor courses on AI/ML or data science. “This year, we are seeing these minor courses playing a role in bringing students to diverse streams,” he noted.

“There is a definite resurgence of the core engineering streams especially in terms of the availability and access to the disciplines has become more with the access to media and social media and news around these core engineering areas,” Dr Asif Rampurwala, Vice Principal of Vidyalankar Institute of Science & Technology (VISIT), said. However, he cautions that core engineering fields cannot absorb as many graduates as Information Technology.

IIT-Madras professor Mahesh Panchagnula says a correction is always inevitable whenever an educational trend is pushed to extremes. “Today the starting salaries look relatively more attractive for CS students, but in the long-term, those in core engineering also earn as much and the careers soar for those with depth in domain understanding,” he said.

The evolution of India’s infrastructure and sustainability sector is also driving some of this mindset change.

Rakesh Sreedharan, Head of Marketing and Admissions, Mahindra University, said, “We are observing a renewed enthusiasm for core engineering disciplines like Mechanical and Civil Engineering among our students at Mahindra University. This resurgence is a response to the evolving landscape of technology-enabled infrastructure and sustainability-driven projects.”

Today, students are making “conscious efforts to align with global priorities and best practices such as sustainable building, clean mobility, and advanced manufacturing,” he added.

Ambition drives change

VIT’s Sasikumar agrees. He credits the clarity and ambitions of the current generation of students for this change.

Take Aarav Kulkarni, an 18-year-old mechanical engineering student, who made his choice last year based on passion. “I picked mechanical because I wanted to build things — cars, turbines, maybe even work in the defence someday,” he says. “Everyone told me to go for computer science, but I knew that’s not where my interest lies.”

There are others, like Bengaluru-based Dhruv, who are choosing dual degree courses in Math and computation. “Though learning CS is important, I think companies are looking for candidates with a deeper knowledge in a specific field like finance, insurance or any other domain,” he says. He is also apprehensive about how updated colleges are today with AI advancements.

For some like Chennai-based Anil (name changed), Civil engineering is his first preference because it’s his passion but his parents insist that he should take computer science if he gets it.

…But, CS still reigns — for now

Prof Jawahar Doreswamy, Chancellor of PES University in Bengaluru, considers the lure of higher IT salaries as a diversion for interested in core engineering. The interest in computer science remains strong, with around 80 per cent of job offers still in CS-related fields, but core branches like mechanical, electrical, and electronics are seeing renewed enrolment, he said.

Prof (Dr) KN Subramanya, Principal, RV College of Engineering, Bengaluru, suggests that core engineering is set to make a comeback, with newer skill sets. “The placement outcomes in the core engineering sector are also evolving as such enterprises now seek candidates who bring digital tools as a superlayer to their domain expertise,” he adds.

Ramkumar Ramamoorthy, Partner at Catalincs and former CMD, Cognizant India, sees the growth of GCCs as a boost to this trend.

“The rapid growth of Indian companies across core sectors and global companies establishing their GCCs in India and scaling them, is creating potential opportunities for students across mechanical, industrial, electronics, bioengineering streams,” he said. “This broader canvas of opportunities is leading to students to opt for engineering courses beyond computer science and software engineering,” he said.

There are others who say that the market is yet to entirely reset towards core streams but meaningful changes will be seen in the next two years. Dr BN Chaudhari, Principal of Sardar Patel Institute of Technology, says that while students today are “more informed,” many still follow “herd mentality” leading to a rush for CS seats.

(With inputs from Rohan Das, an intern with businessline)

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Published on May 21, 2025

The Tamil Nadu government has filed a petition before the Supreme Court against the Government of India for allegedly withholding funds after the state government decided not to implement the New Education Policy, 2020.

In the petition, the Tamil Nadu government has sought the release of more than 2000 crores under Samagira Sikha Scheme.

The state government has urged the SC to fix a timeframe and sought the recovery of the amount with a future interest at the rate of 6 per cent per annum on the principal sum.

The state government has also asked SC to declare Union Government’s action of withholding funds under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme to implement NEP as “unconstitutional, illegal, arbitrary and unreasonable.”

The state government, led by CM MK Stalin, has also asked the apex court for a declaration that the National Educational Policy, 2020 and the PM SHRI Schools Scheme are not binding on Tamil Nadu.

The DMK government also asked the SC to direct the defendant to continue to comply with and perform its statutory obligations of paying to the Plaintiff State grants in aid of revenues for implementation of obligations under The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2010, including but not limited to paying the Defendant’s share of 60 per cent of expenditure in accordance with law before the commencement of every academic year and within the time frame.

Earlier, CM MK Stalin had announced that they would go before the Supreme Court to seek funds for the State. The Tamil Nadu government has accused the Central government of trying to push Hindi “sideways” through the NEP, despite the state’s longstanding resistance to such policies.

The government has strongly opposed implementing the NEP, raising concerns over the three-language formula and alleging that the Centre wants to “impose” Hindi.

Earlier, SC has dismissed a PIL seeking implementation of the three-language formula, proposed by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and West Bengal. A bench headed by Justice JB Pardiwala refused to entertain the plea, saying the court cannot directly compel a state to adopt a policy like the National Education Policy 2020.

The top court in its order stated. “It (court) cannot directly compel a state to adopt a policy like the National Education Policy 2020. The court may, however, intervene if a state’s action or inaction related to the National Education Policy violates any fundamental rights. We do not propose to examine this issue in this writ petition. We believe that the petitioner has nothing to do with the cause he proposes to espouse. Although he may be from the state of Tamil Nadu, yet on his own admission, he is residing in New Delhi. In such circumstances, this petition stands dismissed.”

Published on May 21, 2025

Mirae Asset Financial Services (MAFS), the NBFC subsidiary of the Mirae Asset Financial Group, has partnered with GrayQuest, a fintech player, to empower parent’s to pay the annual education fees of their child in monthly instalments, instead of quarterly or annual payments.

“Parents can now convert their child’s annual or term fees into up to 12 no-cost EMIs. Indian parents are estimated to spend up to 25 per cent of their annual income on their children’s education fees.

“This payment option will help families convert their large, lumpsum education fee payments into convenient, easy monthly payments,” MAFS and GrayQuest said in a joint statement.

This partnership allows the non-banking finance company (NBFC) to add school fee financing to its current product offerings such as loan against securities and personal loans and provides an additional avenue to grow the loan book & revenues, it added.

Krishna Kanhaiya, Chief Executive Officer, MAFS, said, “Education is one of the biggest and most important expenses for any parent today. We are happy to partner with GrayQuest to simplify this financial need with convenience and flexibility, and at no extra cost via this product.”

Rishab Mehta, founder & CEO, GrayQuest, said: “This partnership will accelerate our mission to enhance accessibility, affordability and convenience in education fee payments for millions of parents across the country who aspire for the best quality of education for their children.“

Published on May 20, 2025

In a proactive health initiative, the CBSE has directed all affiliated schools to establish “sugar boards” aimed at monitoring and curbing excessive sugar consumption among students. 
| Photo Credit:
K. Ananthan/THE HINDU

The CBSE has directed affiliated schools to establish “sugar boards” to monitor and reduce sugar intake of children, according to officials.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has noted that there has been a significant increase in Type 2 diabetes among children, a condition once primarily seen in adults, over the past decade.

“This alarming trend is largely attributed to high sugar intake, often due to the easy availability of sugary snacks, beverages and processed foods within school environments. The excessive consumption of sugar not only increases the risk of diabetes but also contributes to obesity, dental problems and other metabolic disorders, ultimately impacting children’s long-term health and academic performance,” the CBSE said in a letter to school principals.

Studies indicate that sugar constitutes 13 per cent of daily calorie intake for children aged four to 10 years, and 15 per cent for those aged 11 to 18 years, substantially exceeding the recommended limit of 5 per cent.

“The proliferation of sugary snacks, beverages, and processed foods, often readily available in school environments, contributes significantly to this excessive intake,” it said.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) is a statutory body formed under Section (3) of the Commission for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005 (No 4 of 2006), to ensure that rights of the children are protected especially those who are most vulnerable and marginalised.

The schools have been asked to establish “sugar boards” where information is displayed to educate students about the risks of excessive sugar intake.

“These boards should provide essential information, including the recommended daily sugar intake, the sugar content in commonly consumed foods (unhealthy meals such as junk food, cold drinks, etc.), health risks associated with high sugar consumption, and healthier dietary alternatives. This will educate students about informed food choices and promote long-term health benefits among students,” it said.

Schools have also been asked to organise awareness seminars and workshops in this regard.

“A brief report and few photographs may be uploaded by the schools before July 15,” the board said.

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Published on May 17, 2025

Byju Raveendran, the founder and the Chief Executive Officer of BYJU’s
| Photo Credit:

Byju Raveendran, the founder and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of embattled ed-tech company BYJU’s has denied the allegations of being a “fugitive,” attributing these claims to a “fake narrative” and a “malicious media campaign,” adding that these narratives were created to take control of the company.

In an exclusive interview with ANI, Raveendran accused US-based “lenders” of tarnishing the company’s reputation which led to the downfall of all stakeholders and investors. He further alleged that they tried to create “prejudice” in the Indian courts for calling Raveendran and his brother “fugitive.”

“These are narratives which they have created in trying to take control of the company. Unfortunately, in a company which is built on the founders’ name, or where the founder played an important role in the early years, they miss the fact that if you tarnish the founders name, it’ll have a huge impact in the company’s valuation. Even they overplayed that game to such an extent that has hurt everyone, all stakeholders, investors, including themselves. That’s a game played wrong and by a few vulture lenders who were based out of US. This is exactly what was created, used to create prejudice in Indian courts by calling us fugitives, by calling me and my brother is having lookout notices,” Raveendran told ANI.

Raveendran has publicly acknowledged the company’s dramatic decline and vowed to rebuild, despite facing lawsuits, financial turmoil, and investor disputes. Byju’s, once valued at $22 billion, has experienced a significant decline due to financial problems, regulatory issues, and legal battles.

The BYJU’s founder also spoke about the investigations conducted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) saying that the inquiry was around the company and there was nothing personal in it.

He said, “Now, we were freely traveling to India as and when required, keeping Dubai as a base for international expansion. These are all wrong narratives or fake narratives. There is no truth in this. The only truth here is the fact that there was an ED enquiry which was around the company, nothing personal over there. That investigation is closed and it’s adjudication stage.”

Speaking on the lookout notices issued by the ED against him, Raveendran attributed it to the “wrong media narratives” implying that ED never makes such things public because that ‘defeats’ the purpose.

He further pointed out that there was never a chargesheet or a Prevention of Money Laundering (PMLA) case against him rather there were only summons to which he cooperated. “I have been traveling to India like even after the ED inquiry started. First of all, if ED puts out a lookout notice, they will never make that public because that defeats the purpose. It’s a wrong media narrative around the ED investigation, it was never personal. It was on the think and learn transactions, which was other than a few misses on the filing timelines, there was never a PMLA. There was never a charge sheet. There were summons, I went and met, we cooperated. Investigation is closed. So, the whole narrative was blown out of proportion,” the BYJU’s founder said.

Further clarifying the allegations of being declared a “fugitive,” Raveendran stated that this was just a part of a “malicious media campaign,” as this word was used just “verbally” and didn’t had any mention in the official documents.

He said, “Our entire wealth, entire company was built out of India. All our wealth which we created was made in India, taxes were paid in India, invested back in India. We have nothing outside India. This is created by a few vested interests. If you see this fugitive word, they only use verbally. None of the filings, none of the court filings, none of the affidavits, you will never find any of this. This is just part of a malicious media campaign. None of the documents will have this word.”

Published on May 17, 2025

Byju Raveendran, the founder of BYJU’S, reflects on the company’s meteoric rise and subsequent decline, attributing its challenges to the greed of a few US lenders and strategic missteps, such as taking a term loan despite having ample equity options.
| Photo Credit:
CHRISTOPHER PIKE/Bloomberg

Byju Raveendran, founder of India’s once-celebrated edtech giant BYJU’S, has for the first time opened up about the company’s rapid rise and descent and what he calls a lost opportunity for India.

Raveendran said he had a vision to create a million teaching jobs–a mission he believes was derailed by “the greed of a few vulture lenders in the US.”In an interview with ANI, Raveendran said, “Two years back, we were sitting on thousands of crores. Today, we have nothing. After finishing that, we have raised a few hundred more crores from, because many good people have supported us in the last two years, and they have all been targeted.”

“They’ve all been individually, personally targeted by using this cover… Like a few individuals… Americans and some of the Indians who are in America… It’s about it’s a few hedge funds, like, literally two hedge funds,” he added.

Byju’s, once valued at USD 22 billion, has experienced a significant decline due to financial problems, regulatory issues, and legal battles. The founder and CEO of BYJU’S also acknowledged the strategic misstep and the company’s choice to raise a Rs 1 billion term loan despite having strong equity options, ultimately exposed the company to aggressive external pressures.

“The only mistake, which created all this, is that we shouldn’t have taken this, when we had enough equity options, we shouldn’t have taken this term loan at that time in 2021. Rs 1 billion because we had other options. We have raised 5 billion before that. So it’s not, we were not doing it out of desperation. Now it was all a collective decision,” he said.

Raveendran highlighted BYJU’S impact on young professionals, emphasising the guarantee of fixed salaries for fresh graduates.

“It’s a lost opportunity for India. My idea was to create a million teaching jobs. Now you can say, Oh, that’s such a big ambition. We were just starting. We were at its peak as a tool. We created almost 40,000 teaching jobs. And then there was one more thing. Like what mistake we made when we created 2.15 lakh jobs for fresh graduates… Which is just for the greed of a few random vulture lenders in the US. Today, all of us have suffered. And like no one wants to listen to this,” said Raveechandran.

Byju Raveendran also shared why he refuses to walk away from what he once built. He declared “Broke, not broken,” promising a comeback.

“That’s why I’m not giving up. The moment we come back in control — and 100 per cent it will happen, in whatever form or shape — we will rebuild,” Raveendran told ANI.

Admitting that the collapse of the company’s dominance took a psychological toll, he added, “Sometimes it’s a blessing in disguise. Things like this can create PTSD, but for those who are mission-driven, we will use it to create post-traumatic growth.

“Despite missteps, Raveendran said he remains steadfast. His belief in the mission of democratising education, he says, hasn’t changed — only the path forward has.

Byju’s co-founder and wife of Byju Raveechandran, Divya Gokulnath, also spoke to ANI. They shared a glimpse into the personal toll of the crisis — and the values that have kept her family grounded.

“If I have a circle of 10 people, Byju has a circle of 5. It’s that close. We don’t go out, we don’t party, we don’t network. For us, it’s always been about the company and our family,” she said.

“When things turned south, the people who mattered stayed with us. Our circle didn’t change. It kept us grounded even when we went so high,” she said.

Echoing the philosophy that shaped BYJU’S — the belief in education as a means of transformation — she spoke about parenting, values, and simplicity.

“Our parents invested in education and in raising good individuals. That’s what we want for our kids, too — not just academics, but an environment of love. That’s why our parents are with us, surrounding them with care and affection.

“On criticism and rumours of extravagance, Divya Gokulnath said, “All of this is untrue. We don’t own any luxury cars. We don’t own any luxury homes. Yesterday, my mother was telling me, Everywhere, you’re just taking things on rent like this,” she said.

Divya Gokulnath made it clear that what hurts most isn’t the financial setbacks — it’s the erosion of trust and the tarnishing of a mission she believes in deeply.

“Honestly, I don’t care about the money. It comes and goes. Lakshmi can come and go. But Saraswati — the Goddess of Knowledge — is always with us.”

“For me, it’s about the tarnishing. That’s what feels so unfair. Because it was never about what the country can do for us — it was always about what we can do for our country.”She recalled the early days when going global seemed like the easy route — and how the company chose otherwise.”

At a time when people were setting up companies abroad because it was more lucrative, we resisted. We said no — this will be a ‘Make in India’ story. Our products will be made here. Our services will be delivered from here. And we will show the world that education belongs to India,” she said.

“That pride in India’s educational legacy wasn’t just a slogan — it was a foundation. We’re a product made in India, made by Indians, proudly made for the world. A students-first company,” she stated.

Published on May 17, 2025

 Suresh Kalpathi, Executive Director and Chairman of Veranda Learning

Veranda Learning Solutions Ltd, a Chennai-based enterprise offering end-to-end solutions in the education space, plans to raise additional funds via QIP. A substantial part of this will go towards closing the debt it raised from BPEA Investment Managers in March 2024.

The company, in an announcement to the exchanges on Saturday, said that it was raising funds by issuing equity shares having a face value of ₹10 each for an aggregate amount not exceeding ₹500 crore (inclusive of such premium to the market price permitted under applicable law) by way of QIP in one or more tranches.

An enabling resolution will be moved at an EGM to be held on June 10 to raise around ₹500 crore by way of qualified Institutions placement (QIP), Suresh Kalpathi, Executive Director and Chairman of Veranda Learning, told businessline. “We might not use all of it for debt closure; but substantial part of it will be for debt reduction,” he added.

Veranda raised funds from BPEA through the issuance of Non-Convertible Debt (NCDs). The funds were meant for further acquisitions and filling gaps in the Veranda ecosystem, and the company said that it expects to complete these acquisitions by the first half of FY25.

Veranda on Saturday also announced that its Board had approved the issue of equity shares to BB Publication, a private limited company engaged in providing online coaching and selling books online for professional courses related to Chartered Accountancy and Cost and Management Accountancy. This is for the acquisition of a 10.5 per cent stake in BB Publication, which had a consolidated turnover of ₹54 crore in FY24, the announcement said.

The acquisition will occur in tranches and is expected to be completed by March 31, 2031. In the first tranche, 51 per cent of BB Publication’s share capital will be acquired on or before June 30, 2025, the announcement said.

Published on May 17, 2025

Representative image
| Photo Credit:
AmnajKhetsamtip

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay has suspended all agreements with Turkish universities, following Turkey’s support to Pakistan amid heightened tensions with India.

In a post on its official X handle, the institute said, “Due to the current geopolitical situation involving Turkey, IIT Bombay is processing suspension of its agreements with Turkish universities until further notice.”

The institute currently has a faculty exchange programme with some Turkish institutions.

The development has come following Turkey’s support to Pakistan during ‘Operation Sindoor’ and the subsequent escalation of conflict with India.

Earlier, IIT Roorkee formally cancelled a memorandum of understanding with Inonu University, Turkey.

“The Institute remains committed to fostering global collaborations that reflect its academic priorities and uphold national interest,” IIT Roorkee had posted on X.

Private institutes like Chandigarh University have also severed their academic collaborations with 23 Turkish and Azerbaijani universities over support for Pakistan during ‘Operation Sindoor’.

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Published on May 18, 2025

Fledgeling women entrepreneurs who would join the WE HUB accelerator would get mentorship and handholding from top-notch organisations in the country. The IIM Calcutta, one of the oldest management schools in the country, will mentor fledgeling women entrepreneurs who are part of the newly launched exclusive accelerator launched by WE HUB, a Telangana-promoted exclusive incubator for women.

The institute would offer deep insights and guidance to enhance business performance.

While the National Stock Exchange agreed to provide financial literacy, the Hyderabad Software Enterprises Association (HYSEA) would facilitate market access for products by connecting women entrepreneurs with its vast corporate membership network.

While Ag Hub would support women entrepreneurs in agri-businesses, particularly in millet-based food-processing ventures, HP Packaging would provide packaging, printing and branding solutions to help women-led enterprises enhance product quality and market appeal.

Sita Pallacholla, CEO of WE Hub Foundation, said that as many as 140 women-led MSMEs would receive acceleration support under the accelerator programme, which was launched by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Saturday.

WE HUB signed 17 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with organisations like National Stock Exchange, Hyderabad Software Enterprises  Association (HYSEA), IIM Calcutta, Ag Hub, RGKUT Basara, NIFT and HP.

Solar power

After giving women self-help groups (SHGs) the mandate to generate 1,000 MW solar power, the Telangana government is planning to give them another 1,000 MW.

Addressing a gathering after inaugurating the Women Acceleration and Grassroot Youth Innovation Programme of WE HUB, Telangana’s Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy said that the State requires 10,000 MW and the government would like to give the women SHGs an opportunity to produce 1,000 MW solar power.

Stating that the government spent ₹5,200 crore so far for the free bus service for women in the State-run buses, he wanted the women entrepreneurs to come forward to own buses and give them to the road transportation corporation on hire.

“The corporation takes a huge number of buses on hire to augment its fleet. You (women) can tap this opportunity,” he said.

He said women were good managers of finances. “Women received financial support worth ₹21,000 crore from SERP (Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty) and MEMPA (Mission for Elimination of Poverty in Municipal Areas). They repaid all of it with interest,” he said.

Sanjay Kumar, Special Chief Secretary, Information Technology Department, said that Mini WE HUBs would be launched in rural areas. He said 10 per cent of plots in all the five upcoming MSME (micro, small and medium enterprises) parks for women entrepreneurs.

Published on May 17, 2025

Snehil Kumar Singh, District Collector of Kozhikode inaugurates SmartShree initiative

The Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode’s business incubator, Laboratory for Innovation Venturing and Entrepreneurship (IIMK LIVE), in collaboration with the Kudumbashree Mission has launched SmartShree, an initiative aimed at supporting and scaling 150 micro-enterprise units led by Kudumbashree women entrepreneurs through structured capacity building, intensive mentorship, and institutional backing.

Snehil Kumar Singh, District Collector of Kozhikode, in his inaugural address emphasised “innovation is the need of the hour. We must move towards wealth creation through job creation. Initiatives like SmartShree are crucial for growing bigger and better through entrepreneurship.”

‘SmartShree’ represents a transformative collaboration between IIMK LIVE’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and Kudumbashree’s extensive grassroots network. The initiative is designed to catalyse sustainable growth, enhance local livelihoods, and foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship among women in Kerala.

Debashis Chatterjee, Director, IIM Kozhikode & Chairman, IIMK LIVE said, “Empowering women at the grassroots is not just economic reform—it is a societal transformation. SmartShree is an expression of IIM Kozhikode’s mission to democratise entrepreneurship and create a more inclusive future.”

The selection panel comprised experts from IIMK LIVE, IIM Kozhikode faculty, Kudumbashree representatives, and experienced industry professionals, ensuring a well-rounded assessment focused on entrepreneurial potential and social impact. The selected enterprises span diverse sectors, including manufacturing, services, and food processing.

P.C. Kavitha, District Mission Coordinator – Kudumbashree, highlighted the evolving role of Kudumbashree units in Kerala’s local economy and urged participants to leverage the comprehensive support offered by IIMK LIVE. “Scaling these enterprises is essential. The mentorship and training under SmartShree offer a unique opportunity.”

Published on May 17, 2025

Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has developed and deployed an advanced new technology for efficiently processing wastewater from the textile industry.

The discharge from these industries not only affects the aesthetic value and water clarity but also reduces photosynthetic activity and poses toxic risks to humans, aquatic organisms, and other life forms. The technology was deployed at a plant in Tiruppur, and showed significant reduction in harmful compounds, says a release.

The collaborative project, supported by Indo-German Science and Technology Centre has achieved significant milestones in advancing wastewater treatment technology, the release said.

The project focuses on improving the techno-economic feasibility of Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) plants by developing an electrochemical-based methodology. The technology development was undertaken through comprehensive lab-scale studies using synthetic wastewater ranging from small volumes of 500 ml to larger volumes of 50 Litres for the Electrochemical Ozone oxidation system for the removal of organic dyes.

Led by Prof Indumathi M. Nambi of IIT Madras, the pilot project was implemented at Kunnakalpalayam Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) in Tirupur district during 2023. It showed a significant reduction in harmful compounds in ECOOP-treated samples compared to chlorinated samples from the CETP. The pilot system has successfully achieved 96% colour removal and 60 per cent COD removal for dyebath effluent.

Based on the results obtained from the initial deployment, the research team scaled up the system to process 400 litres per day. These trials aim to optimise the system for real-world application, the release said.

The Advantages of this technology in comparison to existing technologies include segregation of dyebath effluent for colour removal which reduces 75% load on RO system; reduction in capital infrastructure cost for RO and reject Evaporators and hence lower carbon foot print and chlorine free colour removal process which avoids formation of carcinogenic chlorinated compounds, the release said.

Published on May 16, 2025

Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chauhan virtually inaugurated the newly constructed Academic cum Administrative building of the College of Horticulture, Thenzawl, and the new PG girls hostel at the College of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry, Selesih, via video conference.

Mizoram Governor Gen. Dr. VK Singh joined the event online from his office, while Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma attended the ceremony in person as the guest of honour at Thenzawl. Although unable to be physically present in Thenzawl, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan arranged a virtual inauguration for the new infrastructure and expressed his regret for not being able to attend due to unfavourable weather conditions in Guwahati and the surrounding areas.

His address was delivered during an online session in the afternoon. In his remarks, the Union Minister stated that Mizoram is a beautiful and geographically significant State, home to diverse communities. He highlighted that the State’s fertile land and favourable climatic conditions make it an ideal place for horticulture development, despite the challenges posed by its hilly terrain, deep valleys and the difficulty of large-scale farming due to limited flat land. Chauhan emphasized that these two colleges would continue to significantly benefit farmers and contribute to further development in Mizoram.

He noted that while 55 per cent of Mizoram’s land area is cultivable for horticulture, only about 10 per cent is currently under effective use. He underlined the vast scope for development through the promotion of FPOs, co-operatives, efficient supply chains and improved market access.

He also spoke about the need for Mizoram to tap into the global organic produce market, encouraging efforts in sustainable and organic horticulture practices. The Guest of Honour, Chief Minister Lalduhoma also delivered a speech. He noted that the two significant institutions under Central Agriculture University (CAU)–the College of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry, Selesih and the College of Horticulture, Thenzawl–are important assets to Mizoram, offering quality education not only to students from Mizoram and the North East but also to those from across India.

Anupam Mishra, Vice Chancellor of Central Agriculture University, Imphal, also addressed the gathering and discussed the development of the two colleges and the broader growth of the university. He expressed his gratitude to the Union Minister, Mizoram Governor, and the Chief Minister for their leadership and support.

Published on May 16, 2025

Anurag Behar Chief Executive Officer, Azim Premji Foundation

Bengaluru-based non-profit Azim Premji Foundation announced the Azim Premji Scholarship to support 2.5 lakh girls pursuing higher education after school. The scholarship will provide financial support of ₹30,000 per year for girls who have completed class 10 and 12 schooling in government (public) schools.

The eligible candidates must have an admission in a bona-fide higher education institution (HEI) – in a degree or diploma program. List of ‘Bona-fide’ HEIs will include all government (public) HEIs and select private HEIs as well.

“Good school education is foundational for life, while higher education changes social and economic prospects in life. Despite the all-around progress India has made, girls continue to confront differential societal and financial hurdles at all levels of education. We are making a significant commitment to support girls to pursue higher education, which will help them gain greater control over their life’s trajectory,” noted Anurag Behar, Chief Executive Officer, Azim Premji Foundation.

The program will be available in 18 states of the country. The company plans to transfer the money directly to the girl’s bank account in two instalments every year.

The organisation piloted the scholarship in the 2024-25 academic year in Madhya Pradesh, and certain districts of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Jharkhand. Over 25,000 girls have been given the scholarship in this pilot cycle.

The application process for the program will begin in September of 2025.

(Inputs from BL Intern Rohan Das)

Published on May 15, 2025

The Trump administration has cut an additional $450 million in federal grants to Harvard University, intensifying its crackdown on what it calls “virtue signalling and discrimination” on elite campuses. 
| Photo Credit:
AP Photo/Steven Senne

President Donald Trump’s administration is cutting another $450 million in grants to Harvard University a day after the Ivy League school pushed back against government allegations that it’s a hotbed of liberalism and antisemitism.

In a letter to Harvard on Tuesday, a federal antisemitism task force said Harvard will lose grants from eight federal agencies in addition to $2.2 billion that was previously frozen by the Trump administration.

The letter said Harvard has become a “breeding ground for virtue signalling and discrimination” and faces a “steep, uphill battle” to reclaim its legacy as a place of academic excellence.

“There is a dark problem on Harvard’s campus, and by prioritizing appeasement over accountability, institutional leaders have forfeited the school’s claim to taxpayer support,” the letter said.

It was signed by officials at the Education Department, Health and Human Services and the General Services Administration.

Hours after the latest cuts Tuesday, Harvard filed a legal challenge to several sanctions imposed by the Trump administration in recent weeks. It was filed as an update to the university’s April lawsuit seeking to block the initial $2.2 billion freeze.

Harvard has faced escalating sanctions from the White House after becoming the first U.S. university to openly defy the government’s demands to limit pro-Palestinian activism and end diversity, equity and inclusion practices.

Trump, a Republican, has said he wants Harvard to lose its tax-exempt status, and the Department of Homeland Security has threatened to revoke the school’s eligibility to host foreign students.

Last week, the Education Department said Harvard will receive no new federal grants until it meets the government’s demands.

The Trump administration has demanded Harvard make broad leadership changes, revise its admissions policies and audit its faculty and student body to ensure the campus is home to many viewpoints.

The demands are part of a pressure campaign targeting several other high-profile universities. The administration has cut off money to colleges including Columbia University, the University of Pennsylvania and Cornell University, seeking compliance with Trump’s agenda.

In its amended lawsuit, Harvard said much of the funding that was initially frozen has now been terminated, apparently with no hope to restore it.

A May 6 letter from the National Institute of Health notified Harvard that grants were being cut over allegations of campus antisemitism. It said grants are typically suspended pending an opportunity to take corrective action, but “no corrective action is possible here,” according to the lawsuit.

Harvard later received similar letters from the Defense Department, Department of Energy, Department of Agriculture and other agencies, according to the suit. It’s seeking to have those cuts overturned.

Harvard President Alan Garber disputed the government’s allegations in a Monday letter, saying Harvard is nonpartisan and has taken steps to root out antisemitism on campus. He insisted that Harvard is in compliance with the law, calling the federal sanctions an “unlawful attempt to control fundamental aspects of our university’s operations.” The government’s letter on Tuesday said Harvard has repeatedly failed to address racial discrimination and antisemitism on campus. It cited the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision striking down Harvard’s use of race in the admissions process, along with a recent internal report at Harvard detailing cases of antisemitic harassment.

Published on May 14, 2025

Girls have once again outshone boys in the CBSE Class 12 board exams, with a pass percentage of 91.64%—over 5 percentage points higher than boys, who stood at 85.70%, according to Examination Controller Sanyam Bhardwaj. 
| Photo Credit:
SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR/ The Hindu

 Girls outshined boys in CBSE class 12 board exams with over five percentage points, Examination Controller Sanyam Bhardwaj announced on Tuesday.

This year, 88.39 per cent candidates have cleared the exams, marginally up from last year’s pass percentage of 87.98 per cent.

While girls have achieved a pass percentage of 91.64 per cent, that of boys stood at 85.70 per cent. Transgender candidates have scored 100 per cent pass percentage against last year’s 50 per cent.

A total of 1,11,544 candidates have scored above 90 per cent marks while 24,867 candidates have scored above 95 per cent marks.

Over 1.29 lakh candidates have been placed in compartment.

A total of 16,92,794 candidates had appeared for the class 12 board exams.

Published on May 13, 2025

Praveen Martis (second from left), Vice-Chancellor of St Aloysius, addressing a media conference in Mangaluru on Monday. 

The Mangaluru-based St Aloysius (deemed-to-be university) will launch four full-time B Tech programmes under its newly established School of Engineering from the academic year 2025-26.

Addressing media persons in Mangaluru on Monday, Rev Praveen Martis, Vice-Chancellor of St Aloysius, said All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has given approval to start four engineering programmes. They are: B Tech in Computer Science and Engineering, B Tech in Computer Science and Engineering (Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning), B Tech in Information Science and Engineering, and B Tech in Electronics and Communication Engineering. The student intake for each programme is 60.

These programmes will be offered at the main campus of St Aloysius at Light House Hill in Mangaluru city.

Stating that the seven-storey engineering college building is nearing completion, he said this facility will house high tech laboratories, smart classrooms, innovation and research centres, and collaborative learning spaces.

The School of Engineering will be led by a team of highly qualified and experience faculty, committed to nurturing the next generation of engineers and technologists, he said, adding, curriculum of the B Tech programmes has been prepared in consultation with the industry partners.

St Aloysius is a heritage institution with 145 years of service in education sector.

Published on May 12, 2025

Perambalur-based Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Group is acquiring Shri Andal Alagar College of Engineering (SAACE), a private college in Chengalpattu founded by late actor and politician Vijayakanth. While the deal size is unknown, sources said it could be over ₹150 crore.

Recently the Tiruchi-based JJ College was acquired by Sowdambika institutions. Similarly, a leading college in Salem was acquired by a Coimbatore-based college. About two decades back, Jeppiar group acquired Maamalan and SRR institutions.

The trend of bigger colleges acquiring smaller ones will continue as the supply of such institutions is large in the state, and the smaller establishments find it difficult to run operations, sources said.

AICTE-approved Shri Andal Alagar College of Engineering (SAACE) offers a variety of courses at UG and PG levels. Courses are offered in specialisations such as Electrical Engineering, Electronics & Communication Engineering, Information Technology, Power Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering and others. It offers admissions to around 400 seats, according to information on the web.

Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Educational Empire is one of the largest multicultural education hubs of South India. It offers educational courses from Arts & Science, Engineering to advanced research in Medical Sciences. It has campuses at Perambalur, Trichy and Chennai.

The main campus at Perambalur is spread over 450 acres housing the institutions and hostels, per information in the college website.

Tamil Nadu has one the highest number of colleges in the country. Under the Department of Collegiate Education, around 1,632 Arts and Science colleges are functioning, of which 172 are Government colleges, 161 aided colleges, and 1,299 self-financing colleges, as per Tamil Nadu’s Higher Education Department Policy Note for 2025-26.

The State is also home to 463 Engineering and Architecture Colleges of which 11 Government colleges, 20 Anna University colleges, three aided colleges and 429 Self-financing colleges.

There are nearly 1.50 lakh engineering seats available in Tamil Nadu every year.

Published on May 12, 2025

Nalanda Learning, a technology-based education provider, is planning to raise ₹50 crore for imparting skills to pre-school teachers and caregivers, a company official said on Saturday.

The company is in talks with high-net-worth individuals (HNIs) for raising the money on a private placement basis, Chris Raybould, CEO of Nalanda Learning, said.

The funds will be raised in the current financial year, he said.

Raybould, an educator from Wales, said, “The National Education Policy (NEP) has mandated skill training for pre-school teachers and caregivers. There are nearly 84 lakh pre-school teachers and caregivers in the country today.”

The pre-school years comprise the nursery, junior KG and senior KG classes, according to the NEP, which is in force from the academic year 2025, Raybould said, adding that these classes are considered as the first three years of the foundation stage.

“The company is in advanced talks with HNIs to raise ₹50 crore on a private placement basis. The funds will be raised this financial year and utilised for imparting skill training purposes,” he said.

Nalanda Learning co-founder Tamal Mukherjee said that the skill training course will have a duration of 30 hours and be imparted online.

“In-service teachers can also take part in the skill training programme,” he said.

“Imparting skill training is an integral part of the NEP. The certificate awarding body is Management & Entrepreneurship and Professional Skills Council under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship,” he said.

“Plans are afoot for imparting pre-school skill training in some Gulf countries,” Mukherjee said.

Nalanda Learning also runs a chain of foundation schools under the Little Laureates brand.

Published on May 10, 2025

The exams, originally slated for May 9–14, were postponed earlier this week due to the deteriorating security situation in the country. 
| Photo Credit:
THULASI KAKKAT

The CA exams, which were postponed in view of security situation in the country, will now be conducted from May 16 to 24, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) announced on Saturday night.

The exams were earlier scheduled from May 9 to 14, 2025.

The ICAI had earlier this week announced postponement of the exams.

“In view of the favourable developments in security situation in the country, it has been decided that CA Final, Intermediate and INTT-AT (PQC) examinations earlier scheduled to be conducted from May 9 to 14 will now be held from May 16 to 24,” the ICAI said in a notification.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri earlier announced that the directors general of military operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan have agreed to stop all firings and military action on land, air and sea with effect from 5 pm on Saturday.

The brief announcement by the foreign secretary came shortly after President Donald Trump said India and Pakistan have agreed to a “full and immediate ceasefire” after talks mediated by the US.

Published on May 10, 2025

The upcoming FTO in Karnataka will focus on developing highly skilled aviation professionals by offering training on the latest-generation aircraft, immersive flight simulators, and globally benchmarked curriculum
| Photo Credit:
The Hindu

Melstarr Aviations Tech, a wholly owned subsidiary of Melstarr Information Technologies, has ventured into the aviation training sector with plans to establish a modern Flight Training Organization in Karnataka.

The company has committed an initial investment of ₹300 crore, marking one of the largest private sector initiatives in India’s pilot training industry.

Tarun Kashyap, Chief Operating Officer of MATPL, said the company has committed ₹100 crore in the first phase and investment scaling up over the next three years. He added that it is one of the most substantial investments by a private company in Indian aviation training.

The upcoming FTO in Karnataka will focus on developing highly skilled aviation professionals by offering training on the latest-generation aircraft, immersive flight simulators, and globally benchmarked curriculum. The facility is expected to generate 60–100 direct employment opportunities and will begin operations in a phased manner starting 2025.

The company signed a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Karnataka in February, reinforcing a shared vision to enhance India’s aviation training ecosystem and reduce dependency on overseas training institutions.

MATPL’s FTOs are designed to serve aspiring individual pilots, airlines, corporate entities, and government agencies. The training programs will include Commercial Pilot License courses, recurrent training, and certification pathways aligned with DGCA and international standards.

Melstarr Aviations Tech aims to position India as a global hub for aviation education through strategic investments, technology integration and partnerships that drive innovation and operational excellence in flight training.

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Published on May 8, 2025

Indian Bank, in partnership with IIT-Madras, awarded the winners of Innovision Hackathon 2025 .

This event is part of a larger initiative driven by the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, Government of India, which encourages public sector banks to organise hackathons in collaboration with premier institutions such as IITs and other universities. The hackathon’s objective is to promote innovation, support entrepreneurship and develop practical solutions in FinTech and Cyber security for the banking sector.

A total of 33 teams from IIT Madras participated in the Innovision Hackathon. Out of these, 21 teams were shortlisted, 12 in the FinTech category and 9 in the Cyber security category — based on the originality, relevance, and potential impact of their ideas.

These shortlisted teams were then assigned expert mentors from both Indian Bank and IIT Madras, who guided them through the process of turning their ideas into working models or prototypes that solve real-world banking challenges. The top three winners have been awarded with prize and memento.

Binod Kumar, MD & CEO, Indian Bank, Prof Kamakoti V, Director, IIT Madras, Kirti, Joint Director, DFS, MoF, GOI, Suvendu Pati, CGM, RBI, Mahesh Kumar Bajaj, ED, Indian Bank; Srinivasa Rao, Sr Advisor, Indian Banks’ Association; Anuj Kumar, MD, CAMS and Benjamin Ambrose, Chief Information Security Officer, NPCI, were among the dignitaries present at the event.

Published on May 8, 2025

The Chennai-based Veranda Learning Solutions, an end-to-end solutions in the education sector, has inducted next generation into the company with Abinaya Kalpathi, younger daughter of the firm’s Executive Director and Chairman Suresh Kalpathi, appointed as AGM (Marketing).

She holds a bachelor’s degree from Imperial College London and a master’s degree from Queen’s University Belfast. In her new role, she will be playing a key role in driving brand strategy, digital outreach, and student engagement efforts across the company’s diverse portfolio, the release said.

The company also announced Saurani Pathan Mohasin Khan as its new Chief Financial Officer. He takes over from Saradha Govindarajan, who steps down to pursue personal interests and commitments. A Chartered Accountant and Company Secretary, Khan joined Veranda in 2022 and has since served as Deputy General Manager – Finance, the release said.

At 11.57 am, the company’s share price on the NSE was trading at ₹213.84, down by ₹7.09 (3.21 per cent).

Published on May 6, 2025

The Union Cabinet has approved two major initiatives aimed at enhancing India’s higher education and vocational training infrastructure.
| Photo Credit:
NAGARA GOPAL/THE HINDU

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved two initiatives to boost infrastructure facilities at five new Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and to augment the capacity of Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs).

IITs

According to a government statement, the cost for expansion of the academic and infrastructure capacity of five new IITs has been pegged at ₹11,828.79 crore over a period of four years from 2025-26 to 2028-29. These five IITs are located in Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh), Palakkad (Kerala), Bhilai (Chhattisgarh), Jammu (UT of Jammu and Kashmir) and, Dharwad (Karnataka). The Cabinet also approved creation of 130 faculty posts at the level of professor in these IlTs.

Five new state-of-the-art research parks are also coming up to strengthen industry-academia linkage, the statement said.

“Student strength in these IITs will be increased by more than 6,500 in the next four years with enhancement of 1,364 students in first year, 1,738 students in second year, 1,767 students in third year and 1,707 students in fourth year across Under Graduate (UG), Post Graduate (PG) and PhD programmes put together,” the statement said.

Further, upon completion of construction, these five IITs shall be able to cater to 13,687 students, which is against the current student strength of 7,111, i.e., an increase of 6,576 students. “With this increase in the total number of seats, additional more than 6,500 students will now be able to fulfil their aspirations of studying in the most prestigious and sought-after educational institutions in the country,” it added.

With this increase in the total number of seats, more than 6,500 students will now be able to fulfil their aspirations of studying in the most prestigious and sought-after educational institutions in the country.  The announcement for their expansion was made in the Union Budget for 2025-26 by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The academic session of IlTs at Palakkad and Tirupati started in 2015-16 and the remaining three in 2016-17 from their temporary campuses. These IITs are now functioning from their permanent campuses.

ITIs

In another decision, the government gave the nod to the National Scheme for Industrial Training Institute Upgradation and setting up of five National Centres of Excellence for Skilling with a total outlay of ₹60,000 crore.  “The scheme will focus on upgradation of 1,000 government ITIs in hub and spoke arrangement with industry-aligned revamped trades (courses) and Capacity Augmentation of five National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs), including setting up of five National Centres of Excellence for Skilling in these institutes,” an official statement said.

It will be implemented as a centrally sponsored scheme as per the announcement made in Budget 2024-25 and Budget 2025-26 with an outlay of ₹60,000 crore. This includes a central share of ₹30,000 crore, a state share of ₹20,000 crore, and an industry share of ₹10,000 crore, with co-financing to the extent of 50 per cent of the central share by the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank, equally.

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Published on May 7, 2025

Indian Institute of Spices Research will host a national symposium on ‘Recent Trends in Omics in Plant Biology’ from May 20 to 22 in Kozhikode. The event is being organised by the institute’s Bioinformatics and Integrative Genomics Facility, with financial assistance from the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology.

The symposium will bring together scientists, academicians, research scholars and industry representatives from across the country to deliberate on the rapidly evolving field of Omics technologies and their applications in plant science and agriculture.

It will feature plenary lectures by leading experts, technical paper presentations and panel discussions covering a spectrum of themes. These include genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics and bioinformatics. Sessions will also explore genome editing technologies, horti-informatics and the role of artificial intelligence and computational tools in advancing plant research and sustainable agriculture.

The event is open to scientists, faculty members, postgraduate and doctoral scholars and professionals from the agri-biotech and bioinformatics industry.

The institute is also organising a pre-symposium workshop on May 20 to provide hands on training in omics tools and data analysis techniques in transcriptomics, computational metagenomics, Genome wide association studies and machine learning.

For further information visit the official IISR website

Published on May 6, 2025

The Union Ministry of Education has approved the establishment of an off-campus centre of the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), New Delhi at GIFT City in Gujarat . The centre will be established as per the UGC (Institutions Deemed to be Universities) Regulations, 2023 and will pave the way for training talents in the field of international business, as well as the institution’s flagship programme MBA (International Business).

The approval has been granted under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956, after IIFT successfully complied with the conditions set out in the Letter of Intent (LoI) issued in January 2025. This includes submitting a development roadmap for setting up a multidisciplinary institution with over 1,000 students, availability of qualified faculty, detailed academic programmes, planning for a permanent campus and construction of a state-of-the-art library, stated an official release.

The upcoming GIFT City complex will be located on the 16th and 17th floors of GIFT Tower 2 located in the domestic tariff area of the GIFT campus. It will offer IIFT’s flagship MBA (International Business) programme as well as specialised short-term training courses and research in international business and related fields. This initiative is in line with the goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which aims to promote multidisciplinary education and expand access to high-quality education, the release added.

Published on May 6, 2025

A higher secondary school in Okhalkanda block of Nainital district has recorded zero pass percentage in the class 10 state board examination, prompting authorities to launch a probe.

The Government Higher Secondary School in Bhadrakot had just one class 10 student who appeared in the board examination and failed in all the subjects.

It has earned the unwanted distinction of being the only government school in the state with a zero pass percentage in the class 10 board exams, the results of which were declared on April 19.

When contacted, Nainital Chief Education Officer Govind Jaiswal said he will investigate the matter, and action will be taken accordingly.

The school had seven teachers teaching arts, mathematics, science, Hindi, English and social sciences. However, the arts teacher was transferred to another school recently.

Last year, a total of seven students were enrolled in the school from classes six to 10. Of these, there were two students each in classes six and seven and one student each in classes eight, nine and 10.

Published on May 5, 2025

S Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), launches the silicon photonics products at IIT Madras, Chennai

Two silicon photonics products designed and developed indigenously at CoE-CPPICS at Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) were launched on Saturday by S Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).

The centre built capacity in all verticals of silicon photonics product manufacturing eco-system through focused R&D and nurture Indian photonics industry for immediate needs in domestic and international markets, says a release.

CoE-CPPICS has developed a fibre array attachment tool in consultation with Izmo Microsystems to be seamlessly integrated with Izmo’s packaging facility for nextgen photonics chip packaging. The packaging facility at Izmo is now commercially available for miniaturised silicon photonics product development, says the release.

The centre also launched a high-speed silicon photonics QRNG (Quantum Random Number Generator). This module will be available commercially for potential customers through the CPPICS spin-off start-up LightOnChip Pvt Ltd. The key applications of QRNG are in IT security for military and defence, cryptographic algorithms, quantum key distribution (QKD), scientific modelling and simulations, financial transactions/ blockchain/ OTP and gaming applications, the release said.

Krishnan said the indigenously developed field-deployable silicon photonic-based QRNG module is a proud achievement for India. The product has been delivered to DRDO to help in advanced quantum cryptography.

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Published on May 3, 2025

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has directed immediate suspension of 26 MBBS students found complicit in NEET-UG 2024 malpractices and cancelled admission of 14 students for the academic year 2024-25 for resorting to unfair means during the entrance exam, an official source said.

National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, or NEET, is a pan-India exam to taken by aspirants to get admission into the country’s medical colleges.

As part of the ongoing investigations by multiple agencies into the NEET-UG 2024 paper leak case, the National Testing Agency identified instances of unfair means and debarred 42 candidates for three years — 2024, 2025 and 2026 — from taking the NEET-UG.

It also debarred nine candidates for 2025 and 2026 sessions.

The candidature of 215 candidates who appeared in the NEET-UG 2024 exam has been put on hold pending an investigation, the source said.

The action against the students has been initiated based on the findings of the Central Bureau of Investigation which is investigating the cases.

“Given the severity of these violations and their potential to undermine the credibility of the medical education system, the National Medical Commission has issued directives to the concerned medical colleges and institutions to immediately suspend the 26 MBBS students found to be complicit,” the source said.

The Commission stressed a “zero-tolerance” policy towards academic fraud and said it was committed to taking all measures to uphold integrity, transparency and accountability in medical admissions.

The directive comes ahead of the NEET-UG 2025 scheduled for May 4.

Published on May 3, 2025

Designers can play a big role in making sustainable packaging from the farm to shelf, but convincing the consumer could be a problem, said Nandita Abraham, Dean, BITS Design School. 

“We make everything so that the consumer will buy it. Then, we tell the consumer you must be sustainable, and, therefore, this is the way. So it’s a very interesting design problem, and probably it’s something that designers can play a very big role in,” Abraham told businessline in an online interaction.

The design school, part of the 60-year-old BITS, was set up a year and a half ago, offering an honours degree in design. Its students are working with biomaterials, sustainability systems and projects of supply chain, including agriculture. The students will be going out into the communities this month to understand their thoughts on sustainability, packaging of water and other such systems, she said. 

Craft focused

“What makes it (design school) special is that it’s not craft-focused. So it’s not focused on just drawing or working with materials, but it’s around design thinking, collaboration, and we’re trying to develop disciplinary designers,” the dean said. 

Designers can play a role in understanding the consumer and communicating it back to the consumer. Designers also play a role in systems thinking. “So not just looking at the package, but looking at it overall. How does a product get from the farm to the store? What are the different points along the way? What temperatures are needed to go through? What kind of sorting does it need to go through? Who are the people who will touch it, or what are the different processes along the way?

“So, creating a system which can also have less waste and can also be more sustainable. So I think in systems, designers can also look at packaging in a way to see what is easier to handle, what is easier to open, what is less likely maybe to be thrown away, what can be used after using it for something else,” she said. 

Milk packet example

Pointing to milk packets, Abraham said the single plastic layer is used for many things at home. “So, designers play an innovative role in seeing what society adopts and how they can make behaviour change to use this packaging,” she said.  

Designers can work with farmers too, with the focus now on natural farming. Farmers, together with designers, could co-create something sustainable that communicates what they want, the design school dean said.

On eco-friendly packaging, she said a lot of research is going on, including the material. “For example, single-layer plastic, like in salt sold by some companies, is fully recyclable. But nobody wants to buy that. People are looking at other ways that can be used,” Abraham said. 

People are exploring bio-based materials. Seaweed, crustacean shells, and things such as milk casein are all being experimented with. “Also, seaweed casein layered with plastic is being experimented with,” she said. 

Keep products fresh

Primarily, consumers want the packaging to keep the product fresh. “I don’t know if we have found a particular product that solves all these problems. But there is a lot of work that’s going on in this area also in recycled paper or board, with a layer of plastic like the cups that we use to drink water,” said Abraham. 

Research is being done in nanotechnology and natural fibres too. Though jute, an agriculture produce, is sustainable, the availability is not ample, she said.  

One way to extend the shelf life of agricultural products, Abraham said packaging is important to increase the shelf life and keep the product fresh. “Design plays an important role in material development. So it is designers who have made these sandwiched packaging, 3 layers, 7 layer packaging that protect the produce, but also causes harm to the environment. So material development is really important,” she said.

Abraham said that packing has become important as plastics are being dumped, and they, in turn, are consumed by fish. “We eat fish and so it always continues to be about us and how we want to want to live,” she said. 

Understand climate change

Plastics in is are not a bad product. A single layer of single plastic can be melted and reused. It’s only when polyethylene, polyester, aluminium or multiple layers are used that it is difficult to recycle. It then turns into waste.

“Almost all consumers today understand that climate change is important. Most consumers want what they consume to be safe, and people are looking at organic and natural products. But do we have enough information about sustainable packaging? Probably no,” said Abraham. 

People are happy to use sustainable packaging, but it has to protect products against moisture, air and ultraviolet rays. There is a need always to have that magic plastic inside the packaging, but consumers struggle with that,” the dean said.

Published on May 3, 2025

The University of Hyderabad (UoH) has signed an agreement with Krismo Biosciences Private Limited to develop therapies for inflammatory diseases and serious infectious conditions.

“A key focus will be on the design of antibody-based therapies to effectively combat viral infections, including dengue, COVID-19 and influenza, as well as potent toxins produced by harmful bacteria responsible for debilitating conditions like gas gangrene,” Nooruddin Khan, Professor at the School of Life Sciences of UoH, said here in a statement on Saturday.

Published on May 3, 2025

President Donald Trump announced plans Friday to revoke Harvard University’s tax-exempt status, intensifying his administration’s ongoing campaign against elite U.S. universities.
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS/Faith Ninivaggi

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said he planned to strip Harvard University of its tax-exempt status, the latest salvo against the Ivy League school amid a larger crackdown on elite U.S. universities.

“We are going to be taking away Harvard’s Tax Exempt Status. It’s what they deserve!” Trump said in a post on his social media platform, without specifying when he might take action.

Representatives for Harvard could not be immediately reached for comment on the president’s post.

Since taking office in January, Trump has targeted major U.S. universities by freezing federal funding, launching investigations, revoking student visas and making other demands, saying higher education has been gripped by antisemitic, anti-American, Marxist and “radical left” ideologies.

Harvard has pushed back, suing the administration over the halted U.S. research funding and other demands, and joining more than 200 university and college presidents in protesting Trump’s higher education policies.

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Published on May 2, 2025

Manipal Institute of Technology receives ‘IMC Ramkrishna Bajaj National Quality Award Trophy 2024’ in the Education category.

The Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT), a constituent unit of the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), has been awarded the ‘IMC Ramkrishna Bajaj National Quality Award Trophy 2024’ in the Education category.

Cdr Anil Rana, Director of MIT-Manipal, received the award on behalf of the institution at the 28th IMC Ramkrishna Bajaj National Quality Awards and IMC Juran Quality Medal Ceremony in Mumbai recently.

Cdr Anil Rana said this recognition stands as a testament to MIT-Manipal’s seven decades of commitment to academic and research excellence, holistic student development, environmental responsibility, safety, community engagement, and progressive human resource practices. With students representing all states of India, MIT-Manipal fosters a vibrant ecosystem of experiential and peer learning, supported by an inclusive and innovation-driven academic model.

“This journey of excellence began with the visionary leadership of Dr TMA Pai and has been carried forward with distinction by Dr Ramdas Pai and Dr Ranjan Pai. What truly sets us apart is the institutional ethos that champions creativity, curiosity, and entrepreneurial spirit. This accolade reaffirms our mission to shape responsible leaders and innovators for a dynamic and evolving world,” he said.

Published on May 2, 2025

In a crackdown on fake claims about the NEET-UG, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has identified 106 Telegram and 16 Instagram channels involved in spreading false information, sources said on Thursday.

The NTA’s dedicated portal for receiving such concerns has flagged more than 1,500 claims of alleged paper leaks for the upcoming medical entrance exam.

In a decisive move to protect the integrity of the NEET (UG) 2025 examination process, the agency has initiated action on certain fraudulent Telegram and Instagram channels claiming to have access to the NEET (UG) 2025 question paper.

“Acting on inputs received through its recently-launched Suspicious Claims Reporting Portal, the NTA has identified 106 Telegram and 16 Instagram channels engaged in spreading misinformation and attempting to mislead students,” a source said.

“These cases have been formally escalated to the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs for further legal and investigative action,” the source added.

The NTA has requested Telegram and Instagram to immediately take down these channels to prevent the spread of falsehood and unnecessary panic among the aspirants.

“Telegram and Instagram have been urged to share the details of the administrators and creators of these groups with law-enforcement agencies for prompt investigation and prosecution,” the source said.

The medical entrance exam is scheduled to be held on May 4.

The Ministry of Education (MoE) is conducting a series of meetings with district magistrates and superintendents of police from all States and Union territories to ensure that there are no lapses in the upcoming NEET-UG.

The ministry is implementing a comprehensive plan in response to last year’s alleged irregularities, including paper leaks, which raised concerns about the integrity of the exam.

Published on May 1, 2025

This investment is earmarked for scaling its AI infrastructure, enhancing its technical team, and boosting user acquisition to ramp up monetisation in the coming year to year and a half.
| Photo Credit:

Stimuler, a voice-first AI tutor for ESL learners, has secured $3.75 million in Pre-Series A funding led by Lightspeed and SWC Global. The funding will be used to scale Stimuler’s in-house AI infrastructure, grow its technical team, and accelerate user acquisition, with an aim to increase monetisation in the next 12-18 months.

The funding also saw participation from other investors including MVP, Rebright, Force Ventures, GradCapital, and Operators Studio.

Founded in 2022, Stimuler is a voice-first AI tutor designed to help users with English as a second language improve their speaking skills. The platform leverages advanced speech analysis and AI-driven learning to transform how people learn and practice spoken English.

“At Stimuler, our goal is simple, to make fluent English speaking accessible to people worldwide. This funding allows us to deepen our investment in AI infrastructure, expand our reach across LATAM and SEA, and move closer to a top player in these key markets. We believe our India-to-the-world and voice-first approach positions us uniquely to address the unmet needs of a billion English learners,” said Akshay Akash, CEO of Stimuler.

The Varanasi-based company has raised $1.02 million in two rounds of funding and has 25 active competitors, ELSA Speak, BoldVoice, and Blue Canoe, according to data from tracxn.

Harsha Kumar, Partner, Lightspeed said, “Stimuler is solving a universal need – making spoken English proficiency more accessible with sharp execution and deep product insight. Akshay and his team are building a truly global company from India, with early traction across LATAM and SEA geographies validating both the opportunity as well as the approach. As voice AI transforms learning, I believe Stimuler has built a platform to lead the category for the next billion users. We are excited to back their journey.”

Lightspeed is a global multi-stage venture capital firm focused on accelerating disruptive innovations and trends in the Enterprise, Consumer, Health, and Fintech sectors. Lightspeed and its global team currently manage $25B in AUM across the U.S., Europe, India, Israel, and Southeast Asia.

(With inputs from BL intern Rohan Das)

Published on April 30, 2025

Rajeev Kumra TAPMI Director
| Photo Credit:
AUDIO_VISUAL

The Manipal-based TA Pai Management Institute (TAPMI) has restructured its MBA (International Business) programme. Beginning with the 2025-27 batch, the programme will adopt a trimester-based academic calendar, replacing the existing semester structure.

A media statement said that this shift is part of an initiative to streamline the MBA (IB) programme with TAPMI’s other MBA offerings, fostering greater academic synergy and operational efficiency.

The revamped curriculum is designed to reflect contemporary global business needs with an increased focus on international trade and policy, foreign language proficiency, global finance and cross-cultural management, export-import operations and international compliance, and geopolitics and strategy.

By aligning with the trimester format used across TAPMI’s other MBA programmes, students will benefit from standardised academic cycles, shared learning experiences and improved opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration.

One of the enhancements the trimester system provides is increased flexibility in curriculum development, timely updating and adoption of the most appropriate pedagogy, ensuring that the learning experience remains relevant, dynamic and aligned with evolving industry needs. This is aimed at strengthening the students’ domain expertise while also broadening their career prospects, the statement said.

Gururaj Kidiyoor, Dean (Academics), TAPMI, said the new trimester-based MBA (IB) programme creates a more flexible, globally competitive environment for our students. “By streamlining with our other programmes and expanding elective options, we are preparing students for broader and more diverse roles in international business,” he said.

Rajeev Kumra, TAPMI Director, said: “This strategic revamp ensures that our IB graduates are not only well-versed in foundational business principles but also agile, globally competent professionals ready to take on leadership roles in multinational organisations.”

Published on April 29, 2025

Amudhavalli Ranganathan, Executive Director, CK Group of Educational Institutions, and Director, New Initiatives & E-Commerce, CavinKare Pvt. Ltd
| Photo Credit:
Supplied

CavinKare-patronised academic institution CK College of Engineering and Technology (CKCET) has been awarded Autonomous Status by the University Grants Commission (UGC) for 10 years from 2025 to 2035, a statement said on Monday.

Located in Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, CKCET’s autonomy status will now help the institution to independently design curriculum, introduce industry-aligned courses, emerging technology modules, and implement flexible real-world pedagogy, the release said.

CKCET also announced upcoming collaborations with over 15 leading industry partners to provide students with real-world, hands-on learning experiences. In addition to this, the college is also set to launch a blended program with specializations in Artificial Intelligence (AI), preparing students for the evolving global job market.

Amudhavalli Ranganathan, Executive Director, CK Group of Educational Institutions, and Director, New Initiatives & E-Commerce, CavinKare Pvt. Ltd, said, “Our journey to autonomy reflects years of focused effort, innovation, and student-centric growth. With this momentum, we believe CKCET will not only continue to excel but also transform Cuddalore into a thriving educational hub, fostering talent and innovation for the future.”

Published on April 28, 2025

The new textbooks released this week have been designed in line with the new National Education Policy (NEP) and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE) 2023.
| Photo Credit:
K MURALIKUMAR

All references to Mughals and Delhi Sultanate have been dropped from class 7 NCERT textbooks, while chapter on Indian dynasties, ‘sacred geography,’ references to Maha Kumbh, and government initiatives like Make in India and Beti Bachao, Beti padhao are among the new additions.

The new textbooks released this week have been designed in line with the new National Education Policy (NEP) and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE) 2023, which emphasise incorporating Indian traditions, philosophies, knowledge systems, and local context into school education.

When contacted, NCERT officials said these are only first part of the book and second part is expected in coming months. They, however, did not comment on whether the dropped portions will be retained in the second part of the book.

While NCERT had previously trimmed sections on the Mughals and Delhi Sultanate — including detailed account of dynasties like Tughlaqs, Khaljis, Mamluks, and Lodis and a two-page table on Mughal emperors’ achievements as part of its syllabus rationalisation during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2022–23, the new textbook has now removed all references to them.

The book now has all new chapters with no mention of Mughals and Delhi Sultanate throughout.

The Social Science textbook “Exploring Society: India and Beyond” has new chapters on ancient Indian dynasties like the Magadha, Mauryas, Shungas, and Sātavāhanas with a focus on “Indian ethos.”

Another new edition in the book is a chapter called “How the Land Becomes Sacred” that focuses on places considered sacred and pilgrimages across India and outside for religions like Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism.

The chapter introduces concepts like “sacred geography” detailing networks of such places as 12 jyotirlingas, the char dham yatra, and the “Shakti pithas.” The chapter also details such places as river confluences, mountains, and forests, which are revered.

The text includes a quote from Jawaharlal Nehru, who described India as a land of pilgrimages — from the icy peaks of Badrinath and Amarnath to the southern tip at Kanyakumari.

The textbook claims that while the varna-jati system initially provided societal stability, it later became rigid, particularly under British rule, leading to inequalities.

The Maha Kumbh mela held in Prayagraj earlier this year also finds mention in the book and states that how around 660 million people participated in it. There is no mention of the stampede in which 30 pilgrims died and several injured.

References to government initiatives like Make in India, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and the Atal Tunnel, have been included in the new textbook.

The book also has a chapter on the Constitution of India, which mentions that there was a time when people were not allowed to fly the national flag at their homes.

“This changed in 2004 when a citizen felt it was his right to express pride in his country and challenged the rule in court. The Supreme Court agreed, saying that flying the flag is part of the Fundamental Right to Freedom of Expression. We can now fly the tricolour with pride, keeping in mind that it should never be dishonoured,” the chapter read.

In English textbook “Poorvi,” out of 15 stories, poems, and narrative pieces, nine are by Indian writers or feature content and characters that are Indian, including works by Rabindranath Tagore, APJ Abdul Kalam, and Ruskin Bond.

The earlier textbook called “Honeycomb” had 17 stories, poems, and other writings, including four by Indian writers.

The revamp of NCERT textbooks has been met with criticism from opposition parties which equate the revamp with “saffronisation.”

NCERT Director Dinesh Prasad Saklani had in an interview to PTI last year claimed, “teaching about riots can make young children negative citizens.”

Published on April 28, 2025

V Kamakoti, Director, IIT-Madras
| Photo Credit:
Bijoy Ghosh

Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-Madras) announced on Saturday that its Incubation Cell, for the first time, has incubated 104 deep tech start-ups in one financial year in 2024-25. This number was at 61 start-ups in 2023-24.

The achievement was through the collaborative efforts of IITM IC along with its sector-specific incubators – Pravartak, Bioincubator, HTIC MedTech, RTBI, and the School of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, IIT-M, the institute said. Around 50 per cent of these 104 start-ups were founded by faculty, staff, students and alumni of IIT-Madras, reflecting a strong innovation and entrepreneurship culture at the Institute.

Professor V Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, noted that the fact that these start-ups are all of deep tech in nature across robotics , space tech, UAV, biotech, assistive tech, and others, made it a bigger feat. “We want to achieve ‘Startup Shatam’ and incubate 100 start-ups every year. This way, I am sure that even an IPO every week is possible, so let’s dream to achieve it,” he said. He added that the current generation has ambitions beyond just getting jobs and only 60 per cent of a class generally seek jobs with others focused on entrepreneurship and other pursuits. 

IIT-Madras Director V. Kamakoti awarding emerging entrepreneurs part of the IIT-Madras Incubation Cell at an event on Saturday
| Photo Credit: Bijoy Ghosh

Dr. Tamaswati Ghosh, the CEO of IITM Incubation Cell, said that the achievement reflects the dedication of the IC team and the effectiveness of their strategic partnerships. “This milestone showcases the maturity of the IITM ecosystem, which provides deep-tech startups the confidence and resources to build, scale and thrive,” she added. Ghosh noted that they will also welcome start-ups from regions like East Africa, the Middle East, and Europe, going ahead. 

Systematic mechanisms

“This [reaching 100 start-ups] is largely thanks to the systematic mechanisms in the Institute for supporting a culture of translational research based on deep science and starting up, institutionalised through multiple organisations working in concert. In the coming year, we plan to strengthen the mentoring and go-to-market strategies as well as drive the emergence of ‘multinational’ start-ups, another vision articulated by our leadership,” Prabhu Rajagopal, Head, School of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, IIT Madras, said.

Over the last 12 years, IITMIC has incubated a total of 457 deep-tech start-ups, collectively valued at over ₹50,000 Crores (based on investments raised from VCs), with two unicorns and one company on the verge of an IPO.

Notable success stories of the incubator include Ather Energy, Uniphore, Medibuddy, Hyperverge, Stellapps (MooPay), Planys, Agnikul, GUVI, Detect, Galaxeye, and more. Further, the School of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which houses IITM’s pre-incubator Nirmaan, hosts 129 pre-venture teams actively working on deep-tech themes.

Published on April 26, 2025

ZSL, which has a Chennai and Tenkasi centre currently, is now expanding to two new locations in Tamil Nadu–Tharuvai and Kumbakonam.  

Kumaresan M graduated from the Government Higher Secondary School in Pullukattuvalasai, a small village near Tirunelveli. As the son of a daily wage worker, he was not in a position to invest in conventional degree and hence joined Zoho’s Zoho Schools of Learning (ZSL) in 2015. Today he is a front-end developer at Zoho. “What might have been a future in local jobs transformed into a career at Zoho that has sustained me since 2016,” he says.

In the last 20 years , around 10 per cent of SaaS firm Zoho’s current workforce (2,000 people) are such high schoolers who found careers with Zoho without any degrees just by going through the 2-year programme at ZSL. ZSL, which has a Chennai and Tenkasi centre currently, is now expanding to two new locations in Tamil Nadu–Tharuvai and Kumbakonam.

ZSL started in 2005 with just six students and two teachers, as an alternative to college education. It provides a two-year training programme for high school graduates, which includes first year of classroom teaching and second year is internship at Zoho. The programme does not charge a fee but instead offers a stipend to the students.

Rajendran Dandapani, Director of Technology at Zoho and President of Zoho Schools of Learning

“Right from our inception in 1996, we as a company do not believe in credentials and degrees. Real true learning is one that that sticks with you for a long time and is best learnt on the job. Tharuvai and Kumbakonam have been like feeder towns for our Chennai and Tenkasi campuses and we are now setting up new centres there,” Rajendran Dandapani, Director of Technology at Zoho and President of Zoho Schools of Learning, told businessline. Just about 1-2 per cent of ZSL graduates either choose to seek employment outside Zoho or don’t qualify for placement, he adds.

Software engineering

ZSL launched with one specialisation—School of Technology—to train for software engineering. The programme has expanded over the years to include a School of Design, School of Business, School of Graduate Studies, and School for Advanced Study. The Tharuvai campus will host the Technology and Business Schools while the Kumbakonam campus will start with Technology, with a batch of 15-20 students each.

Currently, the programme receives around 20,000 applications annually and Zoho picks candidates for a batch of around 220. This is done by way of an entrance test and also exam-less evaluation methodologies. The alumni of ZSL contribute in various roles at Zoho–from leadership positions to getting involved in deep-tech R&D projects and leading product development.

Dandapani says that ZSL’s expansion stems from the fact that the world of technology is changing much faster than we can imagine. While colleges cannot tweak curriculums at this pace, we have the flexibility to directly engage with the industry [Zoho] and only teach relevant skills, he adds.

Published on April 22, 2025

V Ramagopal Rao, Vice-Chancellor, BITS Pilani

Are Global Capability Centres (GCCs) in India are being held back to take decisions locally, at least from the perspective of collaborating with educational institutions? Prof V Ramagopal Rao, Vice-Chancellor of BITS Pilani says yes; GCCs in the country often require approval from their headquarters for funding and any major decisions, hindering local collaborations, he explained. 

“GCCs’ contract terms, such as insurance requirements, can be difficult for academic institutions in the country to meet,” he said.

In conversation with Nasscom President Rajesh Nambiar at the GCC Summit here on Tuesday, Rao flagged a few challenges that came in the way of building collaborations between GCCs and academic institutions.

“The R&D budgets of some GCCs are surprisingly low, even lower than their travel budgets. Only a small percentage of GCCs currently focus on defining and solving local problems independently,” he said.

He urged the government to step in to facilitate and incentivise collaborations between academia and industry, potentially through co-funding. “We need to move from transactional collaborations to sustained, large-scale partnerships,” he said, highlighting the significance of the endeavour.

Research integrity concerns

Flagging the issue of research integrity, which has become a concern in India, he said the country ranked third globally in both research publications and retractions.

“India produces more research papers per dollar spent than any other country. The competition for rankings incentivises practices like plagiarism and fake data generation, leading to retractions,” he said.

The government ranked its institutions based on self-submitted data. The current ranking system doesn’t adequately account for retractions or the verifiability of submitted data, he said.

Published on April 23, 2025

Hyundai Motor Group and the Indian Institute of Technology (IITs) to collaborate on battery and electrification research at the Hyundai Centre of Excellence for future mobility technology

Hyundai Motor Group on Wednesday inaugurated the Hyundai Centre of Excellence (Hyundai CoE) for future mobility technology at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi.

The new centre aims to accelerate research and development in electrification and battery technologies, forming a key part of Hyundai’s long-term academic-industrial collaboration strategy.

The initiative begins with nine joint research projects, carried out in collaboration with several IITs, focusing on areas such as battery cells, battery management systems (BMS), energy density, safety, durability, and diagnostic technologies. It will also explore new materials and system components to drive innovation in battery design and performance.

“This initiative will help us develop technologies tailored to India while contributing to its economy and society,” said Heuiwon Yang, President and Head of the R&D Division at Hyundai Motor Group. “We’re excited to work with India’s brightest minds in battery innovation.”

The Group is also expanding its Future Technology Research Programme, which allows university faculty to propose research topics for evaluation and support. Originally limited to South Korean institutions and Korean faculty abroad, the programme now includes international researchers, starting with professors at IITs.

Currently, Hyundai is collaborating with around 30 professors from IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, and IIT Madras. The Group plans to expand its academic network to 10 universities across India—including non-IIT institutions—by December 2025, with around 100 professors participating.

To further support this ecosystem, Hyundai is launching several initiatives, including technology exchange forums between Indian and Korean experts, global conferences on electric vehicle and battery technologies, and policy dialogue sessions involving government, academia, and industry stakeholders.

As Hyundai’s first academic-industrial collaboration model in a growth economy, the Hyundai CoE is set to become a hub for pioneering mobility solutions, fostering localized innovation to meet the evolving needs of the Indian market.

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Published on April 23, 2025

Accenture has acquired the Hyderabad-headquartered TalentSprint, a deep tech education player, from NSE Academy, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE). TalentSprint’s team of approximately 210 professionals will join Accenture LearnVantage.

Accenture stated that its acquisition of TalentSprint complements its recent investments in Udacity and Award Solutions, and aligns with its $1 billion investment in LearnVantage over three years, announced in early 2024.

The acquisition is said to bolster Accenture LearnVantage’s ability to drive growth through key university certifications and boot camps, creating trained talent pools for enterprises and governments.

Founded in 2009, TalentSprint offers learning programs to emerging and experienced professionals in partnership with top academic institutions and leading enterprise technology providers. The company has also collaborated with academic institutions, including the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), International Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs), and global research institutions.

“TalentSprint’s end-to-end delivery capabilities of focused learning programs provide a competitive value proposition for learners and enterprises alike, making it a great fit for our expanding LearnVantage business,” said Kishore Durg, global lead of Accenture LearnVantage.

“The addition of TalentSprint further boosts our ability to meet our clients’ demand for training, helping their people gain the essential technology skills in emerging areas needed to reinvent their organizations and achieve greater business value.”

TalentSprint also has offices in Sunnyvale, California. Its programs span AI, data science, cybersecurity, chip design, semiconductor technologies, digital transformation, sustainability, leadership, and other areas of management.

“Since inception, our mission has been to equip learners with deep expertise for a disrupted world,” said Anurag Bansal, Managing Director and CEO of TalentSprint. “Joining forces with Accenture LearnVantage allows us to scale our impact, delivering cutting-edge technology and next-gen management programs that are valued and trusted by students, professionals, organizations, and governments alike.”

Published on April 23, 2025

Kolkata, Apr 21 (ANI): Teachers, who lost their job following a Court verdict, stage a sit-in protest outside School Service Commission (SSC) office, demanding their jobs back, in Kolkata on Monday. (ANI Photo)
| Photo Credit:
ANI

Thousands of teachers, whose services were terminated as a result of a Supreme Court order, continued their protest by laying a siege to the West Bengal School Service Commission headquarters overnight, demanding that the commission has to publish a segregated list containing the names of those found to be “untainted” and were recruited on the basis of merit.

The agitating teachers launched the indefinite sit-in outside the Acharya Sadan, the WBSSC headquarters, in Kolkata on Monday night, after the commission failed to release the list of untainted candidates and 2016 SSC qualifiers.

The Supreme Court on April 3 upheld the Calcutta High Court’s ruling that annulled over 25,000 appointments of teachers and non-teaching staff made by the WBSSC, stating that the entire selection process had been “vitiated and tainted” beyond resolution.

The Calcutta High Court on April 22, 2024 ordered the cancellation of the recruitment of 25,753 teachers and non-teaching staff in government and aided schools across the State by WBSSC in 2016.

After a meeting with some of the teachers who lost their jobs, State Education Minister Bratya Basu had said that the list of “deserving and undeserving” candidates would be published in two weeks. The teachers were expecting that the WBSSC would publish the list on Monday evening.

But when the commission didn’t release the list of untainted candidates, thousands of teachers began the sit-in outside its office, shouting the slogan “we want justice”.

A section of junior doctors, who were involved in the protest after RG Kar rape and murder case, went to WBSSC office to show solidarity with the teachers. A huge contingent of the Rapid Action Force was deployed at midnight.

The Education Minister said late Monday that legal experts had advised the commission against publishing the segregated list of untainted and tainted candidates as it would fail legal scrutiny.

Basu urged the agitating teachers to wait till the State Government files a review petition with the Supreme Court. “Please wait for the Government to file a review petition with the Supreme Court. We have to follow the guidelines,” he added.

Published on April 22, 2025

Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Labour and Employment
| Photo Credit:
ANI

The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has decided to open 20 more new medical colleges over the next two years, increasing the reach of affordable government medical care for 3.72 crore Corporation insured workers and their families.

The proposed 10 new medical colleges which are being explored for opening in 2025-26 would be in Pune (Maharashtra, Manesar (Haryana), Kollam (Kerala), Surat (Gujarat), Vishakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), Bhubaneshwar (Odisha), Asansol (West Bengal), Nagpur (Maharashtra), Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh) and Margaon (Goa), said Minister of Labour and Employment Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday.

With this initiative, which comes at a time when private health care is becoming unaffordable even for the middle class, the number of ESIC medical colleges will go up to 31, including 28 directly run by the Corporation and 3 with the states, said Ministry sources.

The ten proposed ESIC medical colleges are expected to start from next academic session in 2026 as the Corporation is still to get land in some locations and regulatory approvals for all, and raising infrastructure for each of them would take time, Ministry sources explained.

Each of the ten medical colleges would have 200 beds and offer 50 MBBS seats. The bed allocation and corresponding intake of MBBS students may increase depending on ESIC requirements in the identified districts.

40% MBBS seats reserved employees covered under ESI Act

The Union Minister said 40 per cent of the MBBS seats in each medical college would be reserved for the children of employees covered under the Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) Act. Only workers employed in factories, road transport, hotels, and restaurants who draw a salary of ₹21,000 per month or below are entitled to benefit from the scheme.

For 2026-27, we are planning to have another ten more medical colleges, Mandaviya also told reporters.

Meanwhile, from August this year, the 10 ESIC medical colleges will start functioning at Andheri (Maharashtra), Basaidarapur (Delhi), Guwahati-Beltola (Assam), Indore (Madhya Pradesh), Jaipur (Rajasthan), Ludhiana (Punjab), Naroda – Bapunagar (Gujarat), Noida & Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) and Ranchi (Jharkhand).

The Minister said that as of April 21, 2025, 691 districts had been notified for the implementation of the ESI social security scheme, compared to 393 districts in the country in 2014.

Of the 691 notified districts, 592 are “fully notified,” 99 are partially notified, and 87 are non-notified. Overall, there are 778 districts.

The ESIC is formulating a policy to extend medical care through Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs) in non-implemented and partially implemented districts, ensuring access to ESIC benefits for deemed beneficiaries in these regions, as per the Ministry.

The Ministry stated that the ESIC is collaborating with Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) to offer comprehensive, cashless medical care to over 14.4 crore beneficiaries.

ESIC beneficiaries can get their treatment done at PMJAY empanelled hospitals.

Published on April 22, 2025

Harvard President Alan Garber said the university would not submit to political pressure, citing First Amendment rights. 
| Photo Credit:
FAITH NINIVAGGI/Reuters

Harvard University announced Monday that it was suing the Trump administration to halt a freeze on more than USD 2.2 billion in grants after the institution said it would defy the Trump administration’s demands to limit activism on campus.

In a letter to Harvard earlier this month, the Trump administration had called for broad government and leadership reforms at the university as well as changes to its admissions policies. It also demanded that the university audit views of diversity on campus, and stop recognising some student clubs.

Harvard President Alan Garber said the university would not bend to the government’s demands. Hours later, the government froze billions of dollars in federal funding.

“The Government has not — and cannot — identify any rational connection between antisemitism concerns and the medical, scientific, technological, and other research it has frozen that aims to save American lives, foster American success, preserve American security, and maintain America’s position as a global leader in innovation,” the university wrote in its lawsuit.

“Nor has the Government acknowledged the significant consequences that the indefinite freeze of billions of dollars in federal research funding will have on Harvard’s research programs, the beneficiaries of that research, and the national interest in furthering American innovation and progress,” it added.

The Trump administration, in the April 11 letter, told Harvard to impose tougher discipline on protesters and to screen international students for those who are “hostile to the American values.” It also called for broad leadership reforms at the university, changes to admissions policies and the removal of college recognition for some student clubs. The government also demanded Harvard audit its faculty and student body to ensure wide viewpoints in every department and, if necessary, diversify by admitting additional students and hiring new faculty.

Last Monday, Harvard said it would not comply, citing the First Amendment. The following day, Trump took to his Truth Social platform, questioning whether the university should lose its tax-exempt status “if it keeps pushing political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting Sickness?’” The Trump administration also threatened to block the university from enrolling international students.

The university frames the government’s demands as a threat not only to the Ivy League school but to the autonomy that the Supreme Court has long granted American universities.

For the Trump administration, Harvard presents the first major hurdle in its attempt to force change at universities that Republicans say have become hotbeds of liberalism and antisemitism.

The conflict is straining the longstanding relationship between the federal government and universities that use federal money to fuel scientific breakthroughs. Long seen as a benefit to the greater good, that money has become an easy source of leverage for the Trump administration.

“Today, we stand for the values that have made American higher education a beacon for the world,” Garber wrote Monday to the Harvard community.

“We stand for the truth that colleges and universities across the country can embrace and honor their legal obligations and best fulfill their essential role in society without improper government intrusion,” he wrote. “That is how we achieve academic excellence, safeguard open inquiry and freedom of speech, and conduct pioneering research—and how we advance the boundless exploration that propels our nation and its people into a better future.”

Published on April 22, 2025

Aimed at ITI, diploma, and college students across Tier-1 to Tier-3 cities, the centre will provide hands-on training and access to advanced labs like the 45 MW Solar PV Manufacturing Line and the ATMP Semiconductor Packaging Line. 

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Jayant Chaudhary on Monday launched a Centre of Excellence (CoE) – jointly set up by National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and Pandit Deendayal Energy University (PDEU) – at Gandhinagar in Gujarat.

The CoE will be equipped with advanced manufacturing capabilities labs that provide specialised training. It will offer over 40 online and hybrid courses in sectors such as semiconductor manufacturing, renewable and non-renewable energy, digital edge, smart manufacturing, and more. A Memorandum of Association (MoA) was signed earlier this month between NSDC and PDEU in this regard.

These courses will cater to ITI, Diploma, undergraduate, and postgraduate students. The curriculum is designed to equip learners from Tier-1, Tier-2 and Tier-3 institutes with hands-on experience in niche manufacturing skill sets across critical sectors, including energy, health, water and food. Ved Mani Tiwari, CEO of NSDC and MD of NSDC International, said, “At NSDC, our core mission is to make youth employable, and this collaboration will strengthen the skilling ecosystem. This collaboration will support the development of training infrastructure in smart manufacturing, along with Centres of Excellence focused on automotive, EV charging, renewable energy, and semiconductors. Training in the semiconductor domain is already underway, paving the way for youth to gain practical exposure in high-demand, future-oriented fields. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the NSDC is placing a strong emphasis on global certification programmes that enable Indian students to access world-class skills and compete confidently in the international job market. We are dedicated to making India’s youth employable, entrepreneurial, and future-ready.

This CoE will serve as a hub for hands-on learning, R&D, and real-time industry engagement in semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, embedded systems, and VLSI design, directly addressing the talent needs of these sectors. It will be a crucible for developing specialised skills aligned with the national priorities of sustainable development and energy security. 

NSDC will play a key role in the smooth functioning of the CoE and the seamless delivery of programmes to students. It will periodically monitor project progress to ensure students receive quality training and are prepared for future job roles. PDEU will empower students with industry-standard manufacturing lines, including the “45 MW Solar PV Manufacturing Line” and the ATMP Semiconductor Packaging Line.

Published on April 21, 2025

Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal said that Abhijit Das-authored “Strategies in GATT and WTO Negotiations“ book can be a starting textbook in the Center for WTO Studies and IIFT
| Photo Credit:
OstapenkoOlena

The Commerce Ministry’s Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) will “very” soon start a course on negotiations, as this is an important skill set required in areas like free trade agreements, a top government official said on Saturday.

Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal also said that Abhijit Das-authored “Strategies in GATT and WTO Negotiations” book can be a starting textbook in the Center for WTO Studies and IIFT.

While releasing Das’s book, he said there was previously no publication that provided a comprehensive perspective on trade negotiations.

“When we look at these issues in the Department of Commerce, we always felt that there is a need for a negotiation course, which IIFT will be starting very soon,” the secretary said.

With the increasing number of free trade agreements, negotiating skills are going to be key in the coming days as it involves officials from different departments. India is negotiating several agreements, including with the US, the UK, Oman, Australia, Peru and European Union (EU).

“…On a daily basis, I’m finding it very difficult to see that our negotiators, you know, can be as good as the negotiators, which are coming from the USTR office or from the European Commission’s office. They have served for 25 to 30 years in their job…They do only one job throughout their career…We really find that although our guys are knowledgeable, they are very dedicated, but perhaps, you know, there is a dearth of negotiating skills,” Barthwal said.

Talking about the book, he said, “If I give it to my negotiators, they will know from where to begin. So that is the beauty of this book.”

“We felt that there is a need for a good course curriculum on negotiations. And the negotiations, rightly pointed out, are not simply the multilateral negotiation, but also, many times the plurilateral negotiations…and the flavoUr of the day is the bilateral negotiations”.

Das has more than two decades of experience in international trade in various capacities, including five years in trade policy making in the Government of India and 12 years as the Head of the Centre for WTO Studies, New Delhi.

He has directly participated in many multilateral and FTA negotiations, including the WTO Doha Round.

Published on April 20, 2025

File photo: Candidates appearing for Staff Selection Commission examination
| Photo Credit:
ASHOK R

The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has decided to implement Aadhaar-based biometric authentication in its all forthcoming examinations in order to verify candidates’ identity on a voluntary basis, officials said on Sunday.

They said the new measure will come into force for recruitment tests conducted from next month onwards.

The SSC is one of the largest recruitment agencies of the central government with its main mandate to conduct selections for non-gazetted posts in various central ministries and departments, among others.

“The Commission has decided to implement Aadhar Based Biometric Authentication in its forthcoming examinations. Accordingly, candidates will be able to authenticate themselves using Aadhaar at the time of online registration, while filling up online application form for the examinations and while appearing at the test centre to take examinations conducted by the Commission from May 2025 onwards,” a recent public notice issued by the recruitment body said.

Such Aadhaar authentication is voluntary and is intended as a measure to promote the ease of engaging with the examination process, the SSC said.

Aadhaar is a 12-digit number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to all eligible citizens on the basis of biometric and demographic data.

The officials said that Aadhaar-based authentication will also help in ensuring that government jobs aspirants do not fake their identity or use other fraudulent means to take recruitment exams conducted by the Commission.

In a notification issued on September 12 last year, the Union Personnel Ministry had said that the SSC is allowed to perform Aadhaar authentication on voluntary basis.

The SSC shall adhere to all relevant provisions of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016, “the rules and regulations made thereunder, and directions issued by the ‘Unique Identification Authority of India’,” it added.

The Commission conducts seven mandated all India open competitive examinations, including the Combined Graduate Level Examination (CGLE) besides three limited departmental competitive examinations.

The Personnel Ministry had on August 28 last year issued an identical notification, a first for any recruitment agency, to approve Aadhaar-based authentication by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

Lakhs of candidates appear in government jobs recruitment tests conducted across the country by the SSC and UPSC.

The UPSC had last year also decided to use facial recognition and artificial intelligence-based CCTV surveillance systems to prevent cheating and impersonation in its various tests.

The UPSC conducts 14 major exams annually, including the prestigious civil services examination to select officers of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and Indian Police Service (IPS), besides a number of recruitment tests and interviews every year for induction to Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’ posts of the central government.

Published on April 20, 2025

Payyavula Keshav, Andhra Pradesh Minister for Finance, Planning, Commercial Taxes and Legislative Affairs, speaks at the 39th annual graduation ceremony of TA Pai Management Institute (TAPMI) in Manipal.

Payyavula Keshav, Andhra Pradesh Minister for Finance, Planning, Commercial Taxes and Legislative Affairs, has said that effective communication skills enable a person to express his/her ideas, no matter how complex, in the simplest ways possible.

Keshav, who was the chief guest at the 39th annual graduation ceremony of TA Pai Management Institute (TAPMI), a business school under the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), in Manipal, reminisced his days at Manipal as a student and advised the graduates to build their own professional and social networks, investing time and effort in cultivating these relationships.

Advocating the students on the importance of effective communication skills, he said: “In my own career, effective communication has played a very crucial role in helping me to stand out from my colleagues and opened up opportunities to lead the legislature and public sphere. It enables you to express your ideas no matter how complex, in the simplest ways possible. Communication is not merely about getting your viewpoint across. It’s about the opportunity to influence the other person, to see your point of view, to accept your point of view.”

Keshav is an alumnus from the 1985-87 batch of TAPMI.

Sharad Agarwal, Chief Business Officer, Classic Legends, Mumbai, who was the guest of honour, inspired the graduates by sharing his life lessons on transitioning into various leadership roles.

“You are now stepping into a world of endless possibilities, and you are now also a part of a very exclusive network of alumni who have gone on to achieve great things across sectors, across industries and across the globe. Believe in yourself. Capitalise on what you have today in your hand. Focus on your strength, focus where you can make a mark, in this clutter, in this disruptive word, what will make you stand out is your uniqueness,” he said.

Agarwal is an alumnus from the 1999-2001 batch of TAPMI.

Lt General MD Venkatesh, Vice-Chancellor of MAHE, presided over the convocation ceremony. Rajeev Kumra, Director of TAPMI, presented the institute report.

TA Pai young achiever awards were felicitated to gold medallists from the five MBA programmes. The award constituted ₹2.5 lakh cash prize, gold medal and certificate. Ishitha Chugh, MBA (Banking and Financial Services); Desai Chiraswi, MBA (International Business); Shrindhi S, MBA Core; Uppala Meena Srisha, MBA (Human Resources Management); and Pranav S, MBA (Marketing), were awarded based on academic merit.

Titan of the year award for the best overall graduate was felicitated to Apoorva Chandgothia, which included a cash prize of ₹1 lakh and certificate.

A total of 524 students in the 2023-25 batch graduated, with 347 students from Core MBA course, 59 students from MBA (Banking and Financial Services), 43 from MBA (Human Resources Management), 50 students from MBA (Marketing), and 25 students from MBA (International Business).

Published on April 14, 2025

In recent weeks, several international students have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration after having their visas revoked, claiming a violation of due process.

Several international students who have had their visas revoked in recent weeks have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration, arguing the government denied them due process when it suddenly took away their permission to be in the US.

The actions by the federal government to terminate students’ legal status have left hundreds of scholars at risk of detention and deportation. Their schools range from private universities like Harvard and Stanford to large public institutions like the University of Maryland and Ohio State University to some small liberal arts colleges.

In lawsuits against the Department of Homeland Security, students have argued the government lacked justification to cancel their visa or terminate their legal status.

Why is the government cancelling international students’ visas?

Visas can be canceled for a number of reasons, but colleges say some students are being singled out over infractions as minor as traffic violations, including some long in the past. In some cases, students say it’s unclear why they were targeted.

“The timing and uniformity of these terminations leave little question that DHS has adopted a nationwide policy, whether written or not, of mass termination of student (legal) status,” ACLU of Michigan attorneys wrote in a lawsuit on behalf of students at Wayne State University and the University of Michigan.

In New Hampshire, a federal judge last week issued a restraining order in the case of a Dartmouth College computer science student from China, Xiaotian Liu, who had his status terminated by the government. Attorneys have filed similar challenges in federal court in Georgia and California.

Homeland Security officials did not respond to a message seeking comment.

In some high-profile cases, including the detention of Columbia University activist Mahmoud Khalil, President Donald Trump’s administration has argued it should be allowed to deport noncitizens over involvement in pro-Palestinian activism. But in the vast majority of visa revocations, colleges say there is no indication affected students had a role in protests.

“What you’re seeing happening with international students is really a piece of the much greater scrutiny that the Trump administration is bringing to bear on immigrants of all different categories,” said Michelle Mittelstadt, director of public affairs at the Migration Policy Institute.

How do student visas work?

Students in other countries must meet a series of requirements to obtain a student visa, usually an F-1. After gaining admission to a school in the U.S., students go through an application and interview process at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad.

Students on an F-1 visa must show they have enough financial support for their course of study in the U.S. They have to remain in good standing with their academic program and are generally limited in their ability to work off-campus during their academic program.

Entry visas are managed by the State Department. Once they’re in the U.S., international students’ legal status is overseen by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program under the Department of Homeland Security.

In recent weeks, leaders at many colleges learned the legal residency status of some of their international students had been terminated when college staff checked a database managed by Homeland Security. In the past, college officials say, legal statuses typically were updated after colleges told the government the students were no longer studying at the school.

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Published on April 15, 2025

Pedestrians walk through Harvard Yard on the Harvard University campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, US, on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. President Donald Trump escalated his administration’s fight with Harvard University by threatening its tax-exempt status after the school defied the government’s demands to change its policies in exchange for billions of dollars of federal funding.
| Photo Credit:
Sophie Park

The Trump administration’s threat to end foreign enrollment at Harvard University places in danger a key funding source for US schools and could prompt international students to seek degrees elsewhere.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem issued the threat Wednesday, saying “anti-American, pro-Hamas ideology” was “poisoning” the university. She demanded Harvard submit records of any violent or illegal activity by foreign students by April 30 or immediately lose certification under the federal government’s student visa program. 

“Harvard bending the knee to antisemitism — driven by its spineless leadership — fuels a cesspool of extremist riots and threatens our national security,” she said in a statement.

The warning came after weeks of escalating conflict between President Donald Trump and the nation’s elite universities, including threats to cut funding and revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status. Federal officials have also detained and moved to deport some foreign students who have expressed support for Palestinians. 

The administration says it wants to combat antisemitism on campus, but Harvard says the government’s demands cross a red line into violating academic freedom. 

In response to Noem’s statement, Harvard said it would still not agree to those demands. “We will continue to comply with the law and expect the Administration to do the same,” a school spokesperson said. “If federal action is taken against a member of our community, we expect it will be based on clear evidence, follow established legal procedures, and respect the constitutional rights afforded to all individuals.”

More than 1 million foreign students attended US universities last year, often paying full tuition. At Harvard nearly 6,800 students – 27 per cent of the entire student body — come from other countries, up from 19.6 per cent in 2006, according to the university’s data. Elite schools see attracting the world’s brightest and most ambitious students as a core part of their mission, and the numbers have risen in recent years.

“The fear and uncertainty is definitely going to drive international families to ‘safer’ choices in other countries,” said Annalee Nissenholtz with Education Advisory Group, a college counseling firm. She recently advised a student from China to accept an offer for enrollment at University of Oxford instead of Georgia Institute of Technology.  

“It broke my heart,” Nissenholtz said. “This threat is going to have a horrible trickle-down effect. Everyone knows this is not going to stop with Harvard.”

For the students themselves, the timing of the threat could not be worse. In general, admitted students need to tell colleges by May 1 if they are coming for the next school year.

International students accounted for 5.9 per cent of the total US higher-education population of almost 19 million students in the 2023-2024 school year, according to a report funded by the State Department and produced by the Institute of International Education. The largest share came from India — about 332,000 — with 23 per cent growth from the previous year. China had led the list previously, but its student population declined by 4.2 per cent to more than 277,000.

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Published on April 18, 2025