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

From factual blunders to systemic lapses, the Odisha textbook controversy exposes why accuracy is the first duty of education. AI generated image The recent decision of the Odisha government to suspend four senior education officials following the discovery of 1,678 errors in school textbooks has sent tremors well beyond the boundaries of the state. The mistakes were found across 55 newly introduced Odia textbooks for Classes I to VIII, prepared under the National Education P

A shocking incident in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar has shaken not only Maharashtra but also the conscience of society. An underage student allegedly attacked his class teacher with a knife after being upset over failing the Class IX examination. Although the teacher sustained injuries, the deeper wounds were inflicted on our education system, the sacred bond between teachers and students, and the values that hold society together. This was not merely an attack on an individual-

Maharashtra’s new policy promises to streamline its educational welfare institutions but leaves deeper structural flaws untouched. For years, Maharashtra’s alphabet soup of educational welfare institutions - SARTHI, BARTI, Mahajyoti, TRTI and AMRUT - has invited the same complaints. Students have grappled with differing eligibility rules, opaque procedures and uneven implementation. A unified policy governing these bodies, announced by the state government on July 1st, ought

Her works continue to inspire readers and scholars, reminding us of the importance of individuality and self-expression in a changing world. Krishna Sobti is one of the Dnyanpeeth writers. Her literary corpus has been translated into many languages, including English. Her writing stands for bold themes, strong characters, and a deep understanding of human emotions. Her novels and short stories present the complexities of life, identity crises, gender, language, and social cha

AI generated image Education is the foundation of a nation's progress, and India has embarked on a transformative journey with the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Introduced after more than three decades, NEP 2020 aims to make the Indian education system more inclusive, flexible, multidisciplinary, skill-oriented, and globally competitive. As educational reforms continue across the country, the policy remains one of the most significant development

Mumbai: In another shocker, the Maharashtra Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) question paper has ‘leaked’ - barely 24 hours before the scheduled examination on Sunday - jeopardising the future of thousands aspiring to join the noble profession of teaching, officials said here. Reacting quickly, the Maharashtra State Council of Examination cancelled Sunday’s paper scheduled to be held simultaneously at 1,028 centres across the state and said that the new date will be announced ea

Education is no longer limited to textbooks, with students gaining access to vast knowledge through digital platforms and online learning. The Indian education system has undergone a remarkable transformation over the years. From traditional gurukul-based learning to a highly structured, policy-driven, and technology-enabled system, the journey reflects India’s social, economic, and cultural evolution. Education has played a central role in shaping generations of learners, ad