The agitation over the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) may have ended, but the underlying crisis of confidence remains. For thousands of young people across Maharashtra aspiring to enter the state’s administrative services, uncertainty persists. There is reason to hope that the newly constituted inquiry committee, with senior IAS officer Tukaram Mundhe as its secretary, will help restore confidence. But a larger question remains: why does the institution entruste

Higher education institutions across India are tasked with nurturing critical thinking, fostering innovation and preparing millions of young minds for a complex global economy. Yet, beneath the ambitious targets set by policy frameworks and curriculum standards lies a troubling reality: the steady erosion of actual instructional time. While university calendars appear filled with academic activities, a closer examination reveals that the actual time spent on direct classroom

The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physics honours Francis Halzen and IceCube for turning elusive particles from deep space into a new language of astronomy. The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded to Francis Halzen, a Belgian-American physicist at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, for his decisive contributions to the IceCube Neutrino Observatory and the discovery of high-energy neutrinos from astrophysical sources. The award recognizes decades of research that have opened

Mumbai: The ongoing controversy surrounding the suicide of an IIT-Bombay student and the caste-related allegations in the case has raised questions among students and faculty on the campus. While the parents of the deceased have alleged that their child faced caste-based discrimination, differing views have emerged regarding the circumstances surrounding the incident. To understand the perspective of Gen Z on the matter, ‘The Perfect Voice’ spoke to several college students.

Engineering education must prepare students not just to find jobs, but to identify problems, build solutions and create value. AI generated image Can students create value while they are still learning? Why should education be treated only as an expense incurred today in the hope of earning an income tomorrow? Why should students wait until graduation to put their knowledge to work? Engineers are trained to redesign systems that do not work well. Why, then, should we hesitate

We live in an age where information is everywhere. With a single click, we can access news from across the world, thousands of opinions, countless videos and endless claims. Knowledge has never been so accessible. Yet, in this overwhelming flow of information, something increasingly scarce is discernment-the ability to distinguish what deserves our belief from what deserves our doubt. Information and knowledge are not the same. Reading, watching or hearing something does not

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