In 2022, I undertook a master’s degree in political science from SNDT University, Mumbai, at the age of 52. I was keen on doing the programme and, as expressed in an introductory letter to the head of the department, I wished to study out of sheer interest, unlike 38 years ago when I did my bachelor’s in the same subject only because I needed a degree. At that time, I had not developed any passion or interest in the subject. I had done that degree almost mechanically, like a

A qualification does not always translate into employability. The EEE framework seeks to bridge that gap by connecting education, skills and employment. When Aarav Kulkarni, a commerce graduate from Pune, completed his degree, he had good academic marks but struggled to find a job that matched his qualifications. Like many young Indians, Aarav realised that a degree alone was not enough to secure the right employment. Employers were increasingly looking for practical skills

India’s language debate has become a political balancing act while schools, higher education and workplaces continue to reward English. AI generated image In early August, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin unveiled the state’s two bilingual policy of using Tamil and English in schools. With that TN government has effectively rejected the three-language policy prescribed in National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Earlier some other non-Hindi speaking states including Maharasht

The Union government’s latest initiative, the 'One Day, One University' programme, aims to deploy Union Ministers to higher education institutions across India on a daily basis to interact directly with Generation Z. As reported, this ambitious initiative seeks to create a direct channel between top policymakers and youth, allowing ministers to listen to student concerns, understand youth perspectives on national matters and raise awareness about government welfare schemes de

Generation Z is entering a world of continuous technological and career disruption, but our higher education remains organised around industrial-era assumptions It can take a few months for a university syllabus to be revised. In just weeks, Generative AI has revolutionized how millions learn. It doesn’t have to be a failure in either case. They are just from different ages. This is the conundrum of higher education these days. The governments announce educational reforms eve

The real skilling challenge facing the country is not producing more certificates but helping young people navigate a fast-changing labour market. AI generated image Successive Indian governments have spent years building a skilling ecosystem aimed at preparing the young population for a changing labour market. But the answer to a key question remains elusive: how do young people know which skills they should acquire in the first place? As technology reshapes occupations and

AI generated image Learning English is a life skill that shapes academic success, career opportunities, and global communication. English curriculum is in every stream including Arts, Commerce, Science, Law, Engineering, etc. If an individual learns and speaks English, he/she can understand textbooks, attends seminars, writes assignments, participates in presentations, and most importantly face placement interviews. It’s a global language and plays crucial role in communicati

Far more than opportunity or access, Indian students are increasingly asking whether the examination system itself deserves their trust. My name is Meera, and my story could belong to millions of students across India. I stand with the students protesting today because their anger is not only about an examination but about a breach of trust. My grandmother left school because the nearest secondary school was too far away. My mother went to college, earned a degree and found w

Last month, the University Grants Commission (UGC) issued a landmark circular that promises to transform the postgraduate education landscape in India. By allowing Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) already approved for two-year Open and Distance Learning (ODL) and Online postgraduate (PG) programmes to offer a one-year version in the same discipline, the UGC operationalized a major vision outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. For students holding a four-yea

The new anti-paper leak law rightly raises the cost of organised examination fraud, but protecting merit will need stronger institutions and better governance. Nearly two million students were forced to retake the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG) in 2026 after the examination was cancelled over an alleged paper leak. The disruption extended well beyond delayed admissions. Weeks of nationwide protests, the resignation of the Union Education Minister, the consti

A journey from Mahendra Lal Sircar's vision to global scientific excellence. The year 2026 marks the sesquicentennial of the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS), Kolkata, the oldest institution in India devoted exclusively to fundamental scientific research. Founded on 29 July 1876 by the visionary physician and educationist Dr Mahendra Lal Sircar, IACS emerged when India lacked institutions dedicated to experimental science. Convinced that scientific inq

AI Generated Image Mumbai: Following closely on the heels of national testing scandals, Maharashtra’s own engineering and pharmacy entrance test, the MHT-CET, finds itself mired in a deepening controversy. Serious allegations of malpractices and result manipulation have surfaced, raising critical questions about the transparency of the examination process. At the heart of the storm is a glaring discrepancy that has left students, parents, and political leaders baffled: cand

The protests at Jantar Mantar have brought together students, activists and political leaders over the NEET paper leak. Actors and filmmakers have offered support, the latest being Salman Khan (the actor, not the educator). The anger is understandable. An examination on which millions stake years of preparation cannot become a commodity available to those with money, influence or access. But what, precisely, must the protest achieve? “Improve education” cannot be its demand.

AI generated image Walk into the faculty room of any university during a tea break and listen carefully. The conversations are rarely about ideas. They revolve around delayed promotions, committee politics, funding shortages, and yet another administrative circular. Now and then, someone mentions an exciting research finding or a memorable classroom moment, and the room briefly comes alive before slipping back into familiar complaints. This scene is so ordinary that we stop n

Mumbai: India’s brightest young scientific minds have once again proven their mettle on the global stage, securing exceptional medal hauls at two of the world’s most prestigious science competitions for secondary school students. Showcasing unprecedented academic prowess, the Indian delegation brought home a historic all-gold sweep at the 58th International Chemistry Olympiad in Uzbekistan, alongside an impressive haul of one gold and three silver medals at the 37th Internati

The sublime ideology of translation is aptly expressed by R. Parthasarathy, who describes translation as the oxygen of language, and by Walter Benjamin, who states that translation is not merely a matter of words but of making culture intelligible. This philosophy is exemplified by the eminent translator, distinguished academician, administrator, and humanist Prof. Dr. Baliram Gaikwad through his artistic English translation of Fakira, the groundbreaking Marathi novel by Sahi

A good tuition teacher is not selling hours of instruction but offering years of knowledge, preparation, patience, and unwavering commitment. Every year, parents spend thousands—even lakhs—on school education, believing that schools alone will prepare their children for life and examinations. Yet, if we look closely at today's education system, a different reality emerges. A large percentage of students cannot cope without private tuition. This isn't because children have s

We are living in an era where technology has connected the world like never before. With a smartphone in hand, we can communicate instantly, access unlimited information, and even learn new skills from anywhere. However, amid this digital revolution, an important question arises: Are we becoming digitally smarter but emotionally poorer? Human values such as kindness, empathy, honesty, respect, patience, and compassion are the foundation of a healthy society. Unfortunately, ex

In 1896, when Dhondo Keshav Karve founded the Maharshi Karve Stree Shikshan Samstha (MKSSS) in Pune, the idea of educating women was not merely unconventional but an act of social rebellion. Karve’s radical yet simple conviction was by educating a woman, you altered not merely an individual life but the destiny of generations. More than 125 years later, that conviction has expanded. Social Mobility Today, MKSSS encompasses more than 65 institutions, ranging from schools and e

In the closing decades of the 19th century, education in India was less a public good than a colonial instrument. The British administration had little interest in creating a broadly educated society. Inspired by the logic of the 1854 Wood’s Dispatch, it sought instead to cultivate a narrow English-speaking elite capable of staffing the lower rungs of the imperial bureaucracy. Schools and colleges produced clerks, not citizens. For the overwhelming majority of Indians, educat