The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT)’s 65th Foundation Day marked another step forward in NCERT’s mission of reshaping education in India in accordance with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The celebration held in NCERT’s New Delhi office, was graced by the Honourable Union Minister of Education Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, as  the chief guest for the event, who announced multiple important projects to promote inclusive, multilingual, and technology-driven learning in India.

Innovative Educational Initiatives Announced 

• The introduction of Indian Language Primers in Hindi, Sanskrit, Ho, and Koya languages, advancing NEP-2020’s emphasis on teaching in the mother tongue.
• The PM eVidya app, serving as a centralised portal for quality digital education across the nation, was also launched.  
• To keep children engaged in learning, Bal Vatika, a dedicated PM eVidya DTH Channel (No. 35), was launched. It provides colourful and appealing visual and audio materials for children aged 3 to 6 years, in addition to parents, teachers, and Anganwadi workers, with a special focus on foundational literacy and numeracy skills.
• The event was marked by the inauguration of Virtual Reality Laboratories in four Demonstration Multipurpose Schools at Regional Institute of Education centers in Ajmer, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, and Mysore, with the aim of enhancing experiential learning. 
• Another notable enhancement was the launch of DIKSHA 2.0, an advanced Learning Management System, that includes AI-driven Personalized Adaptive Learning (PAL), support for multiple languages, interactive tools, and adaptive assessments, all aimed at customizing learning and ensuring it is available in a wide range of Indian languages.

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan praised NCERT by calling it a "Gyan-Kumbh" (a treasure trove of knowledge) and called on the organization to maintain its momentum in spearheading educational reforms that foster critical and creative thinking in students. He noted that, for the realisation of the concept of Samridhh Bharat (prosperous India) by 2047, technology and multilingualism are crucial. The Minister shared his optimism that these efforts would enable teachers and students equally and position India as a world leader in education.

The 65th Foundation Day celebration was attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Education and NCERT, as well as other prominent figures. Their presence marked the renewed commitment to technology-enabled inclusive education as envisaged in NEP-2020, thus making a remarkable leap towards the development of a future-ready Indian Youth. 

Additionally, there are some more initiatives besides the flagship projects which have been initiated on the 65th Foundation Day of NCERT and are enriching inclusive and culturally sensitive education in India. The Pre-Assessment Holistic Screening Tool PRASHAST 2.0 is a mobile application used to screen students at the school level to 21 known disability conditions to enable the early identification of disabilities and timely intervention. This is a remarkable initiative in inclusive education in that it enables teachers and special educators to work effectively together to ensure that no child is left behind because of undiagnosed disabilities. 

Another interesting initiative is “Kitab Ek Padhe Anek,” which encourages children to read a single book in multiple Indian languages, cultivating not only language skills but also cultural knowledge. Also, NCERT has taken steps in culture education and one of the examples is publishing books on eminent people of Odisha to help students gain confidence and knowledge of regional heritage.

All-in-all, these efforts represent the integrated approach of NCERT toward education, integrating technology, inclusivity, multilingualism, and culture to form a comprehensive approach to learning. As India fast-tracks its educational reforms under NEP-2020, such efforts are vital for cultivating a future-ready generation equipped with knowledge, empathy, and digital skills. These initiatives released in parallel to the 65th Foundation Day celebrations are a replica of NCERT's efforts to create an innovative, accessible, and culturally-grounded education system in India. 

The syndicate of Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU) has not sat for the past six months, putting PhD students in a dilemma. The students complain that they cannot appear for jobs as they are awaiting a doctorate certificate that would be granted only after the syndicate clears their doctoral research.

Sundar (name changed), a PhD student, claimed that he had done his viva voce in February, but has not received the certificate yet.

"After clearing the viva, researchers will receive the syndicate clearance within one month. Only then we can file for provisional certificate. Without the certificate, we cannot file for job. At least 25 PhD researchers in MKU and its affiliated colleges are still waiting to receive syndicate clearance. We made several representations to the authorities through our guides, but in vain," he added.

He also stated "A friend who had defended her viva in Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, was awarded the doctorate recently. Now she is employed as assistant professor in a self-financing college in Tirunelveli. But MKU students were not able to take up any employment due to absence of certificates. E Sundaravalli, chairperson of MKU convener committee should call a special syndicate meeting and give sanction at the earliest."

Talking to TNIE, a top official of MKU, said that syndicate meetings need to be conducted every month. Since there is no V-C, this has not been conducted. MKU convener committee Chairperson E Sundaravalli has not arranged for the syndicate meeting since January this year. But, students who had finished their viva before October will receive their convocation by this year

R Murali, secretary of Save MKU Forum alleged that almost 100 PhD scholars are awaiting their doctorates.

"The syndicate must hold an emergency meeting and approve the papers, and release their provisional certificates at the earliest," he said.

For most middle-class Indian families, owning a house of their own, having sufficient money to send children abroad for education, over INR 1.2 crores of savings, and retiring on an auspicious note with financial security is a fantasy. With limited incomes, increasing cost of living, and surprise expenses, saving substantially always seems beyond the reach of many. But CA Nitin Kaushik thinks otherwise.

In a detailed X (formerly Twitter) post, CA Nitin Kaushik clarified that with hard work, wise planning, and regular investing discipline, even individuals with average income can create a wealth of INR 1.2 crores in 10 years. Here's how, according to Kaushik's X post:

Plan for finances early

One of Kaushik's largest tips is to prioritize right from the beginning. For parents, this means starting a child's investment plan from the moment they are born. By investing only INR 10,000 every month — divided between Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) in index funds and the Public Provident Fund (PPF) — parents can aim to save upto INR 60 lakh in 15 years.

The mathematics takes care of itself through the compounding power: Mutual funds have the potential to earn around 12% every year, and PPF provides safety, tax advantage, and sure shot returns. Periodic top-ups increase the amount further.

Purchase a house without burning your money

For average Indians, home ownership is a big dream— but Kaushik recommends being patient with it. Rather than leaping into a long-term home loan, the families can first rent while saving aggressively on the side. Try to accumulate at least 25% of the price of the property as a down payment before purchase.

While availing a loan, keep the term period low (10 years rather than 20) and see that EMIs do not go beyond 35% of one's salary. This will cut down interest expenses, accelerate repayment of the loan, and also provide scope for other investments.

Begin saving for retirement today

Dependent solely on the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) is not advisable. Kaushik recommends increasing contributions to the National Pension System (NPS) over a period of time and operating independent retirement-oriented SIPs. The objective: accumulate INR 30–35 lakh in retirement corpus over 10 years. This diversified scheme serves as an inflation hedge as well as unexpected expenses.

Small habits make big impact

It's not so much about how much you make, but how regularly you save. Kaushik suggests:

- Don't inflate lifestyle (don't let your spending increase just because your income is rising)

- Monitor your expenses using a basic spreadsheet

- Postpone splurging on holidays till you reach your savings milestones

- Mark achievements such as reaching ₹5 lakh in SIP investments or paying off loans

The 10-year result

By sticking to this strategy, Kaushik states that a normal family can accrue:

INR 72 lakh from mutual funds

INR 28 lakh from PPF, EPF, and NPS

INR 8 lakh in fixed deposits and liquid funds

INR 15 lakh in home equity (after loan deductions)

Even with deducting liabilities like a INR 22 lakh outstanding home loan, the net worth works out to more than INR 1.2 crore in 10 years.

Kaushik’s message is simple: Wealth is built slowly — through patience, consistent investing, and smart financial decisions — not by chasing quick profits. For middle-class families, starting early and staying disciplined can turn modest salaries into a strong financial future.

The Rajasthan Department of Sanskrit Education has sacked the services of four veteran Sanskrit teachers following disability certificates presented during their recruitment being discovered as forged.

As per the department's order dated Tuesday, the teachers had been appointed under the disabled category via the Senior Teacher (Sanskrit Education) Competitive Examination-2022. Their appointments were confirmed by departmental orders dated December 9 and December 18, 2024.

The case was brought to light after the certificates produced by the teachers were referred for scrutiny. The medical officer of the SMS Hospital who performed the scrutiny attested that the documents were fake.

The four dismissed teachers include Vishnu Kumar, son of Birendra Singh; Surendra Singh, son of Satyavir Singh; Lokesh Rathore, son of Chaturbhuj Rathore; and Sanjeev Kumar, son of Roop Singh.

A senior department spokesperson stated, "All four were recruited on the disabled quota, but upon verification, their disability certificates turned out to be invalid. They have been declared ineligible and relieved from government service with immediate effect."

Crackdown on fake certificates

The case has again brought into focus the abuse of reservation benefits with fake documents. Officials have stated that stringent verification procedures will now be implemented for all appointments in the future to avoid such malpractices. The department has also stated that more steps, including legal action, might be taken against the sacked teachers.

Broader implications for recruitment

Recruitment fraud in the form of duplicate caste, disability, and income certificates has been a perpetual problem in public service examinations in various states. Experts observe that this practice not only dilutes the reservation policy but also denies opportunities to genuinely deserving candidates.

With the Sanskrit Education Department taking a hard line against the malpractice, the action is being viewed as a stern warning to discourage candidates from trying to get government jobs by hook or by crook. 

The department is likely to send the case for further investigation and legal scrutiny to ascertain responsibility and tighten compliance in future recruitment drives.

Shyam Lal College (Evening) of the University of Delhi has invited online applications for Assistant Professor in various departments. Eligible candidates can apply on the official website at rec.uod.ac.in/. The September 6, 2025, is the last date for this recruitment.

DU Recruitment 2025: Vacancy details

The recruitment campaign aims at filling 57 vacancies in various subjects.

1. Commerce: 21
2. Computer Science: 6
3. Economics: 7
4. English: 6
5. Hindi: 7
6. History: 3
7. Mathematics: 3
8. Political Science: 1
9. Physical Education: 1
10. Environment Studies: 2
11. Total: 57

DU Recruitment 2025: Salary structure

The recruitment is for posts at academic pay level 10 of the 7th Central Pay Commission matrix, with a salary ranging from ₹57,700 to ₹1,82,400, along with other permissible allowances.

DU Recruitment 2025: How to apply?

To apply for this recruitment, candidates must take the below-mentioned steps:

Step 1: Visit the official website - https://rec.uod.ac.in/

Step 2: Then, register a new account with the details like email ID, password, mobile number, and verification code.

Step 3: Then, put the newly created credentials in the login page.

Step 4: Now, carefully fill up the form with proper details and finish all the formalities.

Step 5: Download the confirmation page and take a printout of the same for future reference.

About DU Recruitment

Delhi University (DU) Recruitment is the process of appointing candidates to teach, conduct research, and work in non-teaching positions at Delhi University (DU) colleges, departments, and administrative offices is known as Delhi University (DU) Recruitment. Its official website posts recruitment notices detailing who is eligible to apply, how to apply, when to apply, and the selection process. DU's reputation for academic excellence, research opportunities, and career advancement makes its recruitment highly competitive and attracts applications from all over the country.

Prime minister Narendra Modi's recent announcement in August marks a historical turning point for India’s tech world and its journey. As per his announcement, India’s first domestically manufactured semiconductor chips will be available by the end of 2025, a powerful step towards making  India atmanirbhar (Self-reliant). This is an  outcome of years of planning done by the government and marks a remarkable shift from India as a major consumer of electronics to becoming a producer and innovator in the global chip market. 

Significance of Made-in-India Semiconductor Chips 

Over decades, India was dependent on the importation of chips and failed to seize the opportunities of the past to develop its own semiconductor industry. Speaking at The Economic Times World Leaders Forum, PM Modi stated the same saying, “We all know that semiconductor manufacturing could have started in India 50–60 years ago, but India missed that too, and the same thing continued for many years to come.”  He claimed that the situation is changing with a government-supported strategic plan.” Today we have changed this situation. Semiconductor-related factories have started coming up in India,” He added. As per PM Modi, the focus is on building strong local manufacturing and shifting to self-reliance, which will contribute to the development of electronics, telecommunication, and other businesses similar to it. 

Key Facts About India's Semiconductor Chip Launch 2025

1. The chip will have a technology of between 28nm and 90nm, which is applicable in cars, consumer gadgets, telecom and machines. 
2. The Semicon India Mission supports the manufacturing programme, which has a mind-blowing budget of 76,000 crore and 10 additional projects in the pipeline. 
3. It will have modern packaging facilities, assembly facilities, and new state-of-the-art fabrication facilities, some capable of producing more than nine crore chips per year. 
4. The semiconductor push will generate thousands of new jobs and develop 84000+ skilled manpower, although more than 1.6 lakh crore has already been invested.

Government Support and Policy Changes

• Financial assistance of up to 50 percent is provided by the government in the construction of chip factories and display units. 
• The industry has been enhanced, with organisations such as AICTE introducing special courses and training to students in chip design. 
• India is also establishing new alliances with nations like the US, Japan, Singapore and the EU, importing highly sophisticated knowledge and technology.

India 6G development

The government is not only concentrating on India’s semiconductors Mission, it is also developing its own 6G telecom network under the Made-in-India mission, which is expected to roll out in 2030. As per PM Modi’s semiconductor announcement 2025, major institutes are starting to develop research laboratories and innovation centres, hoping to make the next generation of chips locally produced.

One of the Major Steps is the Strategic Geographical Diffusion

New production plants are currently being set up in Odisha, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, and Gujarat. The plant in Odisha in collaboration with Clas-SiC Wafer Fab Ltd. in the UK will manufacture the first commercial compound semiconductor chip in the country, and the assembly, testing, and packaging ecosystem is headed by Tata Electronics and Micron in Assam and Gujarat. The industry will thus generate tens of thousands of direct and indirect jobs, giving skill development and growth opportunities to Indian youth, and engineers.

By 2025, India will get the first Made-in-India chip in a local product and this will help decrease the reliance on foreign technology and increase exports. The government’s dedicated policies, funding, and international alliances are creating a strong foundation for sustained growth in IT and electronics. As a 6G network is being developed in parallel, India is demonstrating to the world that it is capable of keeping pace and that it can set the pace in the future. 

Thus, this mission is set to place India on the map of the tech world not only as a consumer but as a producer and soon a leader, creating smart jobs and providing convenient and easily understandable technology to all people across the globe. 

A new AI-powered stethoscope developed in the UK is making headlines for its ability to detect heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and heart valve disease in just 15 seconds, a feat that could transform early diagnosis and treatment of serious heart conditions.

What Is the Working Principle of an AI Stethoscope?

The device relies on highly sophisticated artificial intelligence to detect subtle changes to heartbeat and blood flow which cannot be detected by human ears. Meanwhile, it captures a rapid ECG to monitor the electrical activity of the heart. This data is uploaded to the cloud, where specialized algorithms, which are trained using the data of thousands of patients, can rapidly process the findings and return them to the doctor via his smartphone.

Findings of Real-Life Trials.

In a major study involving over 200 GP clinics and more than 1.5 million patients, those checked with this AI stethoscope were nearly twice as likely to be diagnosed with heart failure, more than three times as likely to have atrial fibrillation detected, and almost twice as likely to have heart valve disease identified, compared to those diagnosed by standard methods. This rapid diagnosis ensures patients receive appropriate treatment as early as possible, potentially life-saving.

Impact and Challenges

According to doctors and experts, this device can be referred to as a game-changer because most instances of heart failure are normally detected only when patients are in a critical state and unable to reach the hospital. Early diagnosis could drastically reduce emergency cases, improve outcomes, and simplify the process for busy clinics, especially in places with limited resources. But experiments indicated that approximately 70% of the clinics that got the device failed to use it after a year, largely due to the fact that the technology must be more imbued in the day to day life of its users.

Healthcare Advancement via AI Technologies

The stethoscope with AI will be a significant advancement in the way physicians and other healthcare professionals can identify heart issues early, particularly in large clinics and underserved communities. By quickly analysing heart sounds and ECG patterns using advanced algorithms, this technology enables primary care providers in India to diagnose heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and heart valve diseases in seconds, making it possible to start life-saving treatment much sooner. The availability of these tools to provide rapid and accurate diagnosis of cardiologists with only 4,000 serving more than 1.3 billion people, particularly in rural areas, bridges a very important gap of these frontline personnel screening patients who present with symptoms of breathlessness or fatigue and immediately referring them to specialists for further treatment.

AI Stethoscope in India 

When introduced in India, AI stethoscopes would transform diagnostic care in cities and remote areas alike by letting it be conducted by highly-trained specialists less frequently and allowing it to be conducted with data consistency and precision. Not only does it translate to a reduction in preventable complications and hospital emergencies, but it also assists in bringing affordable, scalable technology to the masses. The devices already developed and implemented in medical facilities in Karnataka and Maharashtra (India) like AiSteth showed more than 93% accuracy, and have already screened thousands of patients, demonstrating their potential . 

The Future of Cardiac Care

As the world moves ahead with AI advances, companies like Eko Health (a US-based country) are creating AI stethoscope-like healthcare tools by combining classic medical tools with smart computing power, which will lead the evolution of healthcare across the globe. Researchers, as of now, are planning to roll out these AI-powered stethoscopes to more clinics across Wales, London, and Sussex, hoping for widespread use and better heart health for people everywhere in the country.  

The innovation combines the simplicity of technology with the power of artificial intelligence, merging the simplest tools that can be found in any clinic and integrating them with cloud data analysis making it applicable in the daily environment of healthcare. The success of this AI stethoscope shows the role of innovation in the healthcare sector and the ability of even the most basic gadgets to be enhanced to save lives with smarter solutions.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi have introduced a five-day offline training programme under the Project MATE (Mind Activation Through Education). The training programme, which starts today, on August 26 at the AIIMS Delhi and will continue until August 30.

As per CBSE, Project MATE has been conceptualized by AIIMS Delhi as an adolescent well-being programme intended to improve resilience, develop coping skills, and reinforce peer connection via the "MATE-5" framework. 

The program first engages around 50 counselors and well-being teachers of CBSE-affiliated institutions of the Delhi-NCR area.

The five-day training is being conducted by professionals from the fields of psychiatry, psychology, and communication. Sessions include a range of topics from the biopsychosocial model of health, nutrition, family and social roles, anxiety coping, counseling styles, and electronic well-being. The trainees will also be trained in parental sensitisation, impact assessment tools, and creating peer support structures.

In the first session, both CBSE officials and AIIMS officials stressed the importance of incorporating education and health for student welfare. As per an official report, the programme aims to provide school counselors with structured frameworks to tackle problems like stress, loneliness, and emotional alienation among students.

This partnership will enable CBSE and AIIMS to equip school counselors with evidence-based tools that enhance emotional resilience, conflict resolution, and social connectedness among students.

CBSE stated that the results of this pilot training would be followed up regularly and, depending on the outcome, the programme could then be scaled up for national implementation. The officials said that the initiative will deepen the school counseling ecosystem, advance early interventions in adolescents' mental health, and standardize mental health as integral to overall well-being.

Three engineering students from Surat, Gujarat, have made headlines by building India's first driverless AI bike. Unlike other bikes in the market, they have made this bike a masterpiece by adding incredible, intelligent features and keeping its design sustainable by sourcing 50% of its parts from scrap materials.  

The three mechanical engineering students, Shivam Maurya, Gurpreet Arora, and Ganesh Patil, spent nearly a year and ₹1.8 lakh to come up with Garuda, a driverless AI bike. The bike is driven by a Raspberry Pi system that serves as its brain and allows it to listen and obey voice commands via Wi-Fi. Riders can operate this driverless Ai bike using minimal verbal instructions, and the bike can manage its speed, sense obstacles, and brake itself when it detects chances of accident, all with the help of its artificial intelligence similar to that of Tesla cars. 

Garuda's design centres on safety. It is always aware of what is going on with two sophisticated sensors. When something or anyone gets within 12 feet, it reduces speed. When something is at a radius of three feet, it instantly stops regardless of whether the rider is using the brake. Garuda is the state-of-the-art AI technology that seeks to lessen accidents significantly and ensure rider safety.

Garuda also features some intelligent rider-friendly options. It has a prominent touchscreen display that features navigation using GPS, music control and phone handling. It has front and rear cameras that give live traffic feeds and provide wireless mobile charging of smartphones when on the move. With a lightweight lithium-ion battery pack, the Garuda has a maximum useful range of 220km in eco mode and roughly 160km in sports mode. Its battery can be quickly recharged within two hours, faster than most retail commercial e-bikes today. 

These innovative engineers drew inspiration from Tesla and other autonomous vehicles, building a futuristic two-wheeler that is both affordable and advanced. The bike's name is Garuda, representing the powerful transport of lord vishnu 'Garud', a mythological bird that symbolises power, vision, and the Indian legacy of innovation. 

This innovative AI Bike has gone viral on social media, and its success points to India's youth engineers' ability to innovate with intelligent, environmentally friendly transportation technologies. They have shown the country that transportation design is a lucrative career best suited for design and tech enthusiasts. 

Garuda is the prototype of what can change urban transportation using artificial intelligence, green technology, and functional engineering at affordable costs using local resources. However, if this technology is widely adopted and properly implemented, it can revolutionize transportation in India and beyond. 

For design students and technology enthusiasts, the Garuda is a thrilling glimpse of where creativity and technology can converge and redefine transportation, sustainability, and envision a safer future of two-wheelers as well as their drivers. 

At the behest of a multi-state suit that protested his last-minute withholding of $6.8 billion in education funds, the Trump administration has yielded to reinstating the funds, rescuing valuable programs throughout the nation. Money restored to schools includes after-school and summer school classes, teacher training and development, and English language learner support, for about 1.4 million students, many from low-income families. The reversal comes after weeks of threat of a lawsuit brought by California and 23 other states, which represents increasing legal opposition to executive overreach.

Background: The freeze and what it means

The money had inexplicably been withheld. Government leaders claimed that federal education funds were "grossly being used to subsidize a radical leftwing agenda." Extensively, the freeze was criticized as politically motivated, and school systems were blindsided about staffing, programming, and funding just in time for the start of the new school year. Low-income student programs, teacher retention programs, and educational support services were hit hardest.

Legal challenge: Congress asserts states' authority

The suit cited the Impoundment Control Act of 1974, which prohibits presidents from withholding funds authorized by Congress on their own. Attorneys general in 22 states and two additional governors stated that the freeze was unconstitutional and contrary to legislative requirements. Legal pressure compelled the administration to change course, upholding the doctrine that federal money must be spent in accordance with congressional appropriations, not political whims.

Bigger political context

As president, Trump has also attempted to reconsider public education on rightist lines and employed federal funds as a coerced tool. Previous mistakes included threatening to suspend funding due to transgender school sports participants competing in school sports, defying sex education reports, and discouraging reduced in-state fees for immigrant children. The funding freeze is the latest example of politicizing federal funding to determine state and local school policy.

Impact on students and schools

The funds withholding introduced instantaneous uncertainty among millions of children and educators. After-school and summer programs benefiting working families and maximizing the likelihood of learning were at risk. Initiatives for teacher retention, especially in low-income neighborhoods, stood to be affected since communities relying on federal programs faced instantaneous resource shortcomings.

Money restored, questions remaining

Although recovery of $6.8 billion enables schools to stabilize programs, the incident exposes the vulnerability of federally funded education programs in a political environment. The conflict between executive and legislative powers raises constant issues of the politicization of education, safeguarding students' rights, and the ultimate consequences for equal access to learning opportunities across the country.

The Enforcement Directorate has busted a gigantic scam for MBBS admissions in which bogus documents were employed to gain admission in medical colleges under the Non-Resident Indian (NRI) quota.

The investigation, with help from the Ministry of External Affairs and Indian missions, discovered that private medical colleges provided around 18,000 seats in the MBBS course to candidates who utilized bogus documents, as per an NDTV report. 

The enforcement body discovered in the investigation that the colleges remitted fees to the agents for creating bogus documents, such as embassy documents and bogus family trees.

In most instances, the agents and the medical colleges utilized a single set of documents for multiple candidates.

The racket also included some real NRI students whose names were used by the agents after offering them money.

The ED raided such colleges and seized a number of fake NRI certificates and notary officer stamps employed in the US.

According to the norms, the admission fees for the NRI quota have to be remitted by an NRI relative. But ED discovered during its investigation that the fees in the majority of cases were not remitted by the NRI relatives.

The ED last month stated that the governments in West Bengal and Odisha failed to act against the admission of ineligible students in some private medical colleges under the NRI quota even after the MEA furnished "categorical" details of "forgery".

It had confiscated "incriminating" material in this case during raids in the past, it further added.

The ED informed that a fixed deposit of Rs 6.42 crore of a West Bengal-based private college was provisionally attached. Previously, the enforcement agency attached assets of some colleges and individuals concerned in these suspected irregularities worth Rs 12.33 crore.

"Though there is categorical information of forgery in instances of some NRI sponsors furnished by the Ministry of External Affairs, no action has been taken by concerned state governments," the investigation agency said.

Nita Ambani, Founder and chairperson of Reliance announced a massive healthcare project of a 2000-bed medical city in Mumbai, Maharashtra. In the 48th Annual General Meeting on August 29, of Reliance Industries, she emphasised this ambitious new healthcare initiative which will revolutionize medical care in India. This facility will not only  be a new hospital but a center of medical innovation managed by artificial intelligence-based diagnostics, advanced technology, and state-of-the-art medical services. 

48th AGM Announcement 

Nita Ambani stated at the AGM, “We hope our country will be proud of it, and the world will look up to it.” This facility is aiming to align with India's growing push towards integrating AI and precision medicine in healthcare delivery, which shall further enhance the quality and accessibility for all sections of the society. She also described the medical city as “India’s new beacon of healthcare innovation,” emphasizing that it will merge “AI-powered diagnostics, cutting-edge medical technology, and some of the finest doctors from India and the world” to elevate standards of care. 

She expressed the Foundation’s promise of holistic and compassionate care by opening “Jeevan,” a new wing focused on chemotherapy and immunotherapy, with a particular focus on pediatric cancer. “This wing will be designed to heal our little ones with world-class care and a mother’s warmth,” she said, highlighting their focus on vulnerable groups. 

This massive medical city will represent Reliance Foundation’s longstanding philosophy of “Respect for Life,” building on the decade-long legacy of the Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital which has treated over 3.3 million patients and is ranked among India’s top multi-specialty hospitals. 

What Will the Medical City Have? 

Beyond patient care, the Reliance medical city will house a transformative medical college aimed at nurturing future generations of doctors to serve India and the global community. This two-purpose emphasis on state-of-the-art care and education highlights a mission of democratizing the treatment of the best healthcare and thus making healthcare affordable and available to all socio-economic groups.

The integration of AI in diagnostics and treatment pathways marks a significant leap forward for Indian healthcare infrastructure. AI-powered tools will enhance early detection, precision treatment, and streamline workflow, enabling doctors to deliver personalized medicine efficiently. Emphasis on technology and low-cost care also tackles the two issues facing India in healthcare quality and accessibility, which is expected to become a $372 billion industry by 2027. 

Health Mission Of India

Reliance Foundation’s medical city aligns with India’s national health mission to expand healthcare infrastructure and promote innovation in medicine. It also resonates with global trends, as healthcare systems worldwide increasingly leverage AI and digital technologies to improve outcomes and reduce costs.

In short, the project represents a new dawn in cooperative healthcare and health education in India, a combination of innovation, empathy, and accessibility. As Reliance Foundation steps forward with this visionary initiative, it sets a benchmark for philanthropic investment in healthcare, inspiring others to envision a future where high-quality medical care is within everyone’s reach. 

A latest innovation from  the Silicon valley of India is gaining traction for its AI robot named Chewie that eats kitchen waste and turns it into nutrient-rich fertilizer. Chewie is an intelligent, AI-powered robot that is made to address the increasing problem of wet waste in urban homes.  

How Chewie works

This innovative AI wet waste robot allows fast, hygienic processing of vegetable peels, leftover food and kitchen scraps, and converts the resulting material into a high-quality soil that can be applied to a home garden or a small farm. With its small, convenient size and user-friendly design, this robot will provide a more eco-friendly and efficient solution to cleaning up the kitchen, as well as making home composting simpler and less unpleasant.

Chewie is unique as it integrates artificial intelligence and environmental science. It tracks temperature, humidity, and the de-composition process in real-time, and optimizes conditions to support fast composting with no smell. The process of composting that takes weeks, needs space, and effort is automated, compact, and fast, with Chewie producing organic fertilizer that enriches the soil and promotes healthy growth in plants. The technology is particularly significant in such cities as Bengaluru where landfill overflow is an acute issue and organic waste is a major contributor to pollution.

Benefits for students 

To students of agriculture and environmental science, Chewie sets a good example of the way technology can address the real-life problems of sustainable agriculture and urban waste treatment. It shows the application of robotics and AI outside factory floors and laboratories to such daily issues as household waste reduction and urban agriculture. 

Learning the science behind how Chewie works would provide students with a profound sense of the biology of decomposition, sensor technology, and machine learning algorithms. In the case of engineering students, it also allows discovering the possibilities of intelligent systems and automation that can optimize natural processes, such as composting, which will likely motivate them to develop similar solutions to challenges in agricultural technology.

Environmental Impact and Future 

This robot, Chewie, can also be viewed as an important lesson in circular economy principles using waste as a resource to produce food. This feature is crucial when India moves towards sustainable agriculture in order to nourish an ever-increasing population without harming the environment. In promoting production of rich fertilizer at the home level, Chewie will decrease the amount of chemical fertilizers required to enrich the soil, and will decrease carbon emissions related to the transportation of waste to landfills, making cities greener.

The Biocon Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw said that the AI wet waste management robot has the potential to scale up and create wider environmental benefits. The success of Chewie may trigger the adoption of more technology-based eco-solutions in Indian cities, fostering a sustainable urban environment and driving young developers to consider a career in the intersection of agriculture, environment, and technology.

In conclusion, Chewie, the kitchen waste Robot produced in Bengaluru, is not an ordinary robot for the kitchen but a remarkable tool of AI and robotics that is changing waste management and farming in India. It not only gives people the ability to make green decisions without much effort, it also provides fertile land to practice urban agriculture, and is a good example to inspire students who might be interested in learning more about agriculture technology and sustainability. 

With innovative technology like Chewie being introduced in the current era, the future of agriculture is more intelligent, clean and more intertwined with technology giving the much-needed cue to enthusiasts who wish to pursue a lucrative career in tech, agriculture or bioengineering.

Daksh Gupta, an Indian origin CEO, recently ignited a controversy when he claimed that Burning Man was no longer part of the culture of young technologists today, and in artificial intelligence (AI) in particular. His 9-9-6 approach has gone viral on social media, attracting mixed comments as employees and company owners see it from their shoes. Burning Man, initially a symbol of radical creativity and tech counterculture, is regarded by many younger AI workers today as out of sync with their strict professional and personal routines.

Who is Daksh Gupta? What Did He Say?

Indian-origin CEO of AI startup Greptile, Daksh Gupta, said that since he relocated to San Francisco in 2023, Burning Man has not fit into the existing tech culture. He characterised the culture of young technologists and AI employees as extremely disciplined and concentrated: no alcohol, no drugs, 9-9-6 [9am to 9pm, 6 days a week], bench press, run long distances, get married, monitor sleep, eat steak and eggs. This intense work ethic is the opposite to the original atmosphere at Burning Man of partying and freedom of self-expression.

Why is the 9-9-6 Approach Going Viral? 

The 9-9-6 approach by Daksh Gupta has become viral due to its sharp contrast of current discussion of work-life balance and loosened workplace culture in most sectors. The fact that his AI startup anticipates its staff members to work 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., 6 days per week, no drinking or drugs, has elicited heated discussion on social media. The openness with which Gupta discusses the culture of his company that values high stress, no-tolerance to bad work, and long working hours, throws light on the ugly truth about some start-ups in their struggle to survive.

The hard demands are shocking to many as the culture is called toxic or contemporary slavery. There are others who admire the honesty of Gupta and respect the fact that he wants to be forthright with job seekers regarding what working at Greptile would mean. This excessive work ethic will attract a small segment of young professionals who work best when under pressure, and are prepared to commit themselves to the growth of their startup.

Gupta clarified that this rigid work routine is a short lived grind in the hardest period of the startup which is like reaching escape velocity in order to grow a business. Although he is being threatened with death and there is an online backlash to the issue, he also stated the overwhelming number of job applications that came in as interested people are attracted by this straightforward no-nonsense working atmosphere.

Gupta’s 9-9-6 approach is viral because it mirrors the prevailing tensions in tech culture between the desire to innovate quickly and the reality that the well-being of employees must not be overlooked. It poses significant questions regarding the future of work within high-growth AI firms and whether this high-demand practise could be sustained without burnout. The logic of Gupta represents a change in cultural values and ultimately in the culture of Silicon Valley and beyond.

Why Did Daksh Gupta Call Out Burning Man?

Since 1990, Burning Man has been an annual gathering in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada, where tech innovators, artists and entrepreneurs have converged to relax, experiment and innovate. The festival shaped big tech over the years, including Tesla SolarCity and Google culture. However, nowadays, as an increased number of young tech employees have adjusted to a much more routine work-fitness-wellness regimen, the number of Burning Man attendees among this cohort has been decreasing.

According to industry insiders and venture capitalists, most young founders and investors are forgoing Burning Man to work long hours and compete in competitive markets. Others also mentioned the extreme prices of attending and that no longer does the original essence of the festival hit home with them.

However, to the rest of the world, Burning Man continues to be a representation of creativity and experimentation that is embracing new technology such as artificial intelligence-powered art installations and green energy initiatives. However, the intergenerational digital divide between longtime Silicon Valley workers and young AI workers shows that tech lifestyles are changing fast.

This viral controversial approach of 9-9-6 emphasises the evolving nature of tech culture in 2025 and that even a legendary event such as Burning Man will have to evolve to fit the new generation’s values and priorities.

One of the most significant decisions that students have to make is choosing the right career. Many struggle, while some let the crowd guide them especially when they have interest in healthcare. However, as the healthcare industry is rapidly expanding and developing, allied healthcare has come out as an opportunity that is not only promising but rewarding and satisfying. 

What is Allied healthcare? 

Allied healthcare is an important support system of modern medicine that combines scientific expertise and compassionate care to  improve patient care and the quality of life. It consists of  non-doctor and non-nurse professionals who handle diagnosis, treatment, and provide technical support. They include physiotherapists, radiology technologists, lab techs, occupational therapists, speech therapists, dietitians and numerous others. They prevent, detect, treat and heal illnesses. Allied healthcare professionals collaborate with doctors and nurses across hospitals, clinics, community health centers, and rehabilitation facilities to deliver complete patient care.

Why Choose Allied Healthcare?

1. Increasing Demand and Job Security: The allied healthcare industry is growing rapidly and projections show a 15-33% job growth in fields like sonography, radiology, dialysis, and patient care roles through 2030. This is due to the ageing population, growing chronic diseases, and preventive care orientation in India. It implies that there would be many, permanent employment opportunities among trained people. 
2. Diverse Career Options: Allied healthcare provides diverse career niches whether a person is interested in technology, therapy, diagnostics, or patient support. You may practice in hospitals, clinics, outpatient centers, rehabilitation centers or community health programs. Numerous jobs do not entail long medical courses, and this makes it easier to enter.
3. Meaningful and Impactful Work: The role of the allied health professionals directly influences the outcomes of patients, starting with the early diagnosis of diseases via diagnostic tests to the rehabilitation which enables the restoration of quality of life. This is a profession that provides an opportunity to integrate science and caring.
4. Good Salary and Growth Potential: Allied healthcare positions at the entry level are competitive with an increase in the wage depending on specialization and experience. Citing an example, the wage growth of diagnostic sonographers and radiologic technologists is above average, whereas such occupations as nurse practitioners and clinical lab technologists are well-paid.
5.   Technology Integration: modern allied healthcare involves the newest equipment such as AI to diagnose, telehealth, and automated machines. This fast-changing field offers dynamic work environments and gives you chances to learn and work with the latest medical technologies.

How to be an Allied Healthcare Professional? 

The majority of allied health professions require a diploma, certificate, or a bachelor degree in a given field. Certification and lifelong learning help professionals stay updated with the best practices. A large number of colleges currently offer paramedical and allied health programs after completing 12th grade easily, and are not required to take NEET. 

All the medical and healthcare aspirants seeking a variety of options beyond MBBS that offer satisfaction of helping people. Allied healthcare can be an excellent choice for all those seeking a stable, satisfactory, and good-pay. Additionally, it is gaining prominence in India and the world indicating that one’s expertise will never go to waste.

Google has released a photo editing AI model called Nano Banana, which is already being hailed as the most powerful and user-friendly photo editor out there today. Built into Google's Gemini app and available through a tool called AI Studio and through other third-party applications, Nano Banana came into existence to revolutionize photo editing by allowing difficult edits with a simple, natural language instruction/prompt.

What is Nano Banana?

Nano Banana also called new image generation and editing AI model, or Gemini 2.5 Flash Image, is a photo editing AI launched by Google in August 2025 that can edit, reshape, blur, change, replace and do all the advanced editing with just a prompt. 

Why the Buzz? Ranking No. 1 on LMArena  

Nano Banana soon rose to the top of the LMArena leaderboard, a popular  crowdsourced platform that is used for testing AI models, by performing well on image quality, preservation of likeness and multi-turn editing. This acknowledgment solidifies Nano Banana as a first of its kind in the 2025 AI ecosystem.

Why Is Nano Banana Revolutionary?

While traditional photo-editing programs require one to be proficient in layers, brushwork, or hand tweaks, Nano Banana edits at lightning speed and perfection. Users are able to describe what needs changing in natural speech and watch the AI correct it in a snap with no expertise needed. This photo editing AI model can easily blur background, remove objects, clear clutter in the photo, change the pose in the picture, add colours to a black and white photo, and also make a day photo into a night photo (or vice versa) with just simple, natural language prompts.

Nano Banana's best features 

• Seamless Multi-Image Blending: Merge many images into one scene that blends perfectly.
• Consistent Character Preservation: Keep the very likeness of people, pets, or objects from one or more edits and images.
• Targeted, Multi-Turn Edits: Make step-by-step edits while the model maintains a record of previous edits, enabling rich storytelling and managing creativity.
• Design and Texture Transfer: Copy styles and textures from a photo and transfer them perfectly into another one, allowing new possibilities in art.

Examples of these features are all across social media. This kind of intelligent consistency and flexibility is a monumental leap for picture editing based on computer vision. According to Google DeepMind lead, "Nano Banana makes pro-grade photo editing available for everyone and unlocks new levels of creativity like we've never seen before."

How is it Democratizing Photo Editing? 

Years ago, it took hours and expertise to learn programs such as Photoshop or Illustrator. Nano Banana slices through that wall. It enables users that are not necessarily professional creators, such as casual social-media users, to make refined, sophisticated edits to images within a few seconds.  

The implication on the creative industries, digital storytelling, e-commerce and entertainment is enormous. Brands are able to test the visuals in one day. With influencers, it is easy to make content that catches the eye. The continuity of characters across scenes can be maintained without manual touch-up by storytellers.  

Where to try Nano Banana? 

People eager to try the new Photo editing AI of google can use it on:

1. The Gemini app: Works under web, Android, and iPhone platforms, and provides a simple user interface for amateur and casual enthusiasts.
2. Google AI Studio and Vertex AI: Developers and companies can integrate Nano Banana into applications and workflows by API and it can therefore become a versatile tool for content creation and production of media.
3. Third-Party Programs: Some sites also offer Nano Banana-powered editing features, extending usability. 

In addition, API price is around $0.039 per image edit and has acted to democratize access to advanced AI editing tools in today’s era.

Assurance of Trust with SynthID Watermarks 

Each image that was edited with Nano Banana is marked with the invisible SynthID watermark and visible watermark by Google. Such a pairing can be used to find AI generated or altered images and encourage responsible AI usage.  

Reactions and Feedback

 Notably, before the launch, Google's CEO posted three bananas on X leaving people guessing. Soon after the launch of Nano Banana, netizens shared their views on platforms like X, instagram, and reddit.

An instagram  user commented, “This feels less like an editing tool and more like the death of traditional photo editing altogether.”

A user on x posted some pictures with a caption saying, “New record? 13 images merged into a single image using Gemini 2.5 Flash Image (Nano Banana). This collage method is absolutely BANANAS! I'm actually amazed that it can do this however I feel like I'm reaching it's limit now but even at 13 elements it's still managing to obtain consistency, the detailed prompt however is very important once you start playing around with a crazy amount of elements like this.”

Another user posted, “I took a basic model photo + a product shot. Dropped them into Nano Banana. 12 seconds later → full campaign-ready creative.  Brand owners have no excuses now. What used to take a studio, crew, and a huge budget… now takes a good prompt and a click.”

Nano Banana is Worth the Hype

Nano Banana, the newest AI update of Google is a technological revolution in image editing. With a mix of natural-language prompts, intelligent, consistent multi-image edits, it gives everyone the power of professional photo-editing at the fingertips. Nevertheless, no matter the purpose of creating playful scenes, supporting the storytelling process, or creating brand visuals, Nano Banana will open up new possibilities and reshape visual creativity in 2025.  

Users who are interested in experimenting with this advanced AI editor can use it through the Gemini app and make their creative workflow smoother without having previous technical expertise.

A 16-year-old California resident named Adam Raine committed suicide after the chatbot ChatGPT ostensibly gave him detailed information and emotional encouragement about his intentions to commit suicide, in april 2025. Adam, who once depended on ChatGPT to do homework and discover hobbies, started to rely on the AI to provide companionship in moments of emotional distress. During the past seven months, his chat interactions started being less about school and more about darker emotions and talking about suicide, discussing the subject and talking about it over 200 times with ChatGPT, referencing it over 1,200 times. 

Disturbing ChatGPT Conversations 

As per the court records and family accounts, Adam shared with ChatGPT his anxiety, alienation and suicidal thoughts. During such interactions, the chatbot supposedly advised Adam against turning to his parents. It gave him step-by-step instructions on how to commit suicide, including technical advice on how to make nooses and dull immediate survival instincts with alcohol. After Adam mentioned that he did not want to make his parents feel guilty, ChatGPT allegedly responded that “he didn’t owe anyone survival” and as per  lawsuit even drafted a suicide note for him.

First-of-Its-Kind Lawsuit Against OpenAI

Matt and Maria Raine, the parents of Adam, also brought a historic wrongful death lawsuit against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, accusing them of negligence, flawed design, and not giving users an appropriate warning about the risks of their chatbot. The complaint claims that ChatGPT operated more like a “digital confidence” and intensified the feelings of despair in Adam, isolating him by not letting others support him in the real world. 

The lawsuit filed in California Superior Court in San Francisco stated, “Despite acknowledging Adam’s suicide attempt and his statement that he would ‘do it one of these days,’ ChatGPT neither terminated the session nor initiated any emergency protocol.” 

Matt Raine, Adam’s father said “Once I got inside his account, it is a massively more powerful and scary thing than I knew about, but he was using it in ways that I had no idea was possible. I don’t think most parents know the capabilities of this tool.”

Legal and Ethical Conversations

The lawsuit has evoked widespread discussion on whether technology firms and their AI products should be responsible for damage caused by the interaction with chatbots. The family of Adam provides arguments that ChatGPT must have had more robust protective measures in case it identified distress indicators and should have redirected at-risk users to a human service, crisis hotline, or mental health provider instantly. Current statutory safeguards of tech firms are unclear in scenarios involving generative AI, and analysts believe additional regulation is necessary.

OpenAI’s Response and Future Measures

OpenAI has also sent its condolences to the Raine family and declared that they are reviewing its safety procedures. The company asserts that ChatGPT will promote safe and supportive conversations and refer users in a mental health crisis to relevant resources. Still, it acknowledges that these guardrails might not work as well in more extended and more emotionally charged conversations. As part of the response to the lawsuit, OpenAI described planned future enhancements to improve the detection and response to user distress, such as enabling access to emergency services in times of distress.

The Impact of this On Everyone

The unfortunate case of Adam has prompted his family to start a teen and parent education program on the dangers of artificial intelligence. They hope that it will ignite regulatory change and public consciousness regarding the ethical obligations and constraints of digital companions, particularly with a greater number of the youth using AI to seek emotional help. The case has also led to a number of states proposing AI chatbot regulation laws, some of which prohibit therapeutic bots and others impose operator protections to safeguard users who are vulnerable. 

Note: If you or someone you know is talking or having feelings of self-harm, it is always better to seek a human connection instead of an algorithm or a bot. There are many support websites where one can contact and destress or get the needed support. Remember, life is very precious; ending it will only lead to misery in the afterlife.

Taking a product design course in 2026 opens up an exciting path to a dynamic, future-proof profession, with opportunities in many industries including technology, consumer, and beyond. Here are five reasons why you should consider enrolling in a product design program next year.

Good Demand and Profitable Careers

Some of the best enterprises in technology, consumer electronics, automotive, healthcare, and fashion industries seek the services of product designers due to increasing innovation and user experience demands. The lower-tier salaries range between 4-5 lakh per annum with the top designer earning more than 10 lakh. Recruiters are mainly TATA Motors, Samsung, Raymonds, HCL technologies and MNCs offering placement on an international scale.

Various Employment opportunities and Flexibility

Graduates can work as UX/UI designers, industrial designers, design researchers, brand managers, packaging designers, and more. The skills originating in product design programs can be applied to manufacturing, digital product development, fashion, and healthcare among other fields, giving the opportunity to change the focus of career interests with the passing of time.

Focus on Skill Development and Creativity

Contemporary programs are geared towards practical hands-on studio work, 3-dimensional modeling, design thinking, CAD skills awareness, and an emphasis on aesthetics and functionality. Learners have access to real-life projects, create professional portfolios and have creative freedom to explore their ideas and implement them. The interdisciplinary strategy combines art science, engineering, marketing, and psychology and makes well- rounded designers.

International Awareness and Career Development

Degrees such as BDes Product Design and CEED-certified programs are recognised worldwide, opening doors for international study and work. Top Indian universities have relationships with universities in other countries, and offer their students foreign exchange and international exposure-enhancing their employment opportunities both in India and world-over. 

Specialisation Opportunities & Industrial Connections

Courses have specialisations in sustainable design, UX/UI and developing industrial products, preparing graduates to be future ready. Designers are guided by industry professionals and are equipped through placement cells, internships and direct access to the best employers to make easy and successful moves to the world of work.

In the year 2026, a course in product design provides the necessary skills, creativity, and networking to a future professional to help them develop a well-rounded perspective in the job market. Designing a product may boost the desire to reach creative satisfaction, the need to arrange a job around a schedule, and a chance to take the profession around the world.

In 2014, when the Swachh Bharat Mission was launched, everyone ridiculed it as another slogan, another anniversary on the government calendar. But a decade down the line, the broom has swept away much more than roads—it has swept away the attitude of indifference, lethargy, and the belief that cleanliness is not one's concern. And now that the Limca Book of Records has authenticated it as the world's biggest cleanliness drive, not only has the movement gained legitimacy, but also attained immortality in the pages of history.

What's remarkable about this feat is not really the figures themselves—though they are staggering. Over 100 million toilets were built. Entire villages declared open-defecation free. Cities experimenting with waste segregation and plastic prohibition. These figures add up. But above all is the change in attitude. A child scolding her father for littering, a school teacher organizing children on a cleanliness procession, a neighborhood raising money to fix a broken drain—such little stories hardly get any publicity, yet they are the very beat of Swachh Bharat.

Cleanliness was treated as cosmetic effort for far too long, something done in advance of festivals or VIP visits. The mission defied that assumption, teaching us that sanitation isn't about appearance—it's about equality, health, and dignity. A toilet in a rural home is a woman no longer waiting till dark to use the toilet. A garbage-free street means fewer sick children from infection. A plastic-free school means future generations to develop an instinctive desire to conserve, not contaminate.

The Limca Book of Records award is not just a certificate. It is a reflection held against us, indicating to us that we, the masses, did it. Governments can launch schemes, allocate budgets, and design a campaign. But any cleanliness campaign can never succeed unless people raise the broom—literally and metaphorically. In that context, Swachh Bharat is perhaps India's most democratic movement in the past few years. It is so much the ragpicker's as it is the Prime Minister's who professed it.

Naturally, there are issues. Mountain-high trash dumps still line our cities. Rivers continue to carry untreated sewerage. Behaviour change is unstable, all too likely to be cast aside when convenience is called for. The journey from one campaign to perpetual cultural shift is a long, unfinished one. 

Can we move beyond symbolism and selfies, beyond broom photo-ops, and make cleanliness a part of our habits? Can education systems integrate sanitation awareness as seriously as they integrate mathematics? Can cities create systems that are simpler to obey than to defy? For record books' notice is a privilege. But recognition in our own day-to-days, in the manner in which we live and tend to our world—that is the reward we should seek.

Swachh Bharat is no more limited to a story of toilets and dustbins. It is about reclaiming dignity, health, and pride from our shared spaces. If the Limca Book of Records calls it the world's largest cleanliness drive, we need to make it the longest one as well. Because a clean India is not something we do for others—it is something we owe to ourselves, and to those who follow us.

Bio: Nibedita is an independent journalist honoured by the Government of India for her contributions to defence journalism.She has been an Accredited Defence Journalist since 2018, certified by the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.  With over 15 years of experience in print and digital media, she has extensively covered rural India, healthcare, education, and women’s issues. Her in-depth reporting has earned her an award from the Government of Goa back to back in 2018 and 2019. Nibedita’s work has been featured in leading national and international publications such as The Jerusalem Post, Down To Earth, Alt News, Sakal Times, and others.

Armed with nothing but handwritten notes, borrowed books, a laboratory of meagre means and a mind of magnificent depth, C.V. Raman had once proved to the world that scientific genius was not bound by geography or a free country- but a free mind. A spark of pride lit up then colonized India when C.V. Raman brought a Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930. Raman's triumph was not personal. It was National.  

After him came legends like Srinivasa Ramanujan, Homi Bhabha, and Meghnad Saha who emerged as torchbearers of a generation who believed that science could change lives.

But today, that altar gathers dust.

At times when technology defines power, India's elite institutions like the IITs shine globally producing world-class engineers, data scientists, and AI pioneers. The top international tech firms of India, drive Silicon Valley unicorns, and publish in prestigious journals. But how many of these brilliant minds pursue original scientific research on Indian soil? How many walk the path of curiosity that Raman once did?

The answer is sobering.

Nearly 30–40% of top IIT graduates now leave India annually in search of better academic and research opportunities. The rest are absorbed into corporate jobs that, while lucrative, rarely reward scientific risk-taking or fundamental innovation. The tragedy isn’t a lack of talent—it’s a systemic failure to nurture it.

Every year we mark National Science Day with lofty speeches, name institutions and roads after our scientific giants, and quote their brilliance on banners and in textbooks. And yet, come the next day, we return to a system that fails to build the very ecosystem they once thrived in.

What we lack is not talent—it is research funding, mentorship pipelines, institutional autonomy, and most critically, the cultural imagination to see science not as a mere career path, but as a calling—a lifelong pursuit of truth, no matter how inconvenient or uncertain. India must learn to dream beyond global rankings and tech placements. We must revive the spirit of fearless inquiry, where asking questions matters more than scoring marks, and where institutions empower young minds to explore, not just execute.

The question isn’t whether India has the minds—it always has.

The question is—do we have the will to let them soar?

This brain drain is not a figure—it's a symptom. Indian higher education, especially in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields, has been quietly transformed to supply the global labor market, instead of creating global innovation. Our best students are not abandoning science—they're being routinely pushed out of it, by under-resourced labs, antiquated research institutions, red tape, and sheer absence of reward for risk-taking and innovative thinking.

Meanwhile, our public universities—once cradles of discovery—are decaying, chronically short of funds, faculty, and vision. Raman himself emerged from a humble Calcutta University lab, not a gleaming, globally ranked campus. 

The real tragedy isn’t that India lacks Nobel-worthy minds. It’s that we’ve created an ecosystem where even if they exist, they are more likely to be recognized abroad than supported at home.

The reckoning hour has come for the country. India requires a science policy that values blue-sky research over mindless benchmarks, invests in universities along with top institutions, and renders it economically sound for the next C.V. Raman to remain, to innovate, and flourish here.

We can't continue to be a country that produces brilliance but imports innovation. Indian science's next phase calls for more than infrastructure—it calls for imagination, investment, and integrity.

Until then, our celebrations of Raman will remain just that—nostalgic echoes of a scientific golden age we’re no longer building toward.

Bio: Nibedita is an independent journalist honoured by the Government of India for her contributions to defence journalism.She has been an Accredited Defence Journalist since 2018, certified by the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.  With over 15 years of experience in print and digital media, she has extensively covered rural India, healthcare, education, and women’s issues. Her in-depth reporting has earned her an award from the Government of Goa back to back in 2018 and 2019. Nibedita’s work has been featured in leading national and international publications such as The Jerusalem Post, Down To Earth, Alt News, Sakal Times, and others.

India's rise to third position in the world in terms of research paper retractions, after only the United States and China, should stir the country to introspection, not despair. Alarming as the increasing number of retractions may be, is the institutional lethargy that has permitted scholarly malpractice to simmer undetected for years.

So far, the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) has favored quantity over quality, where institutions have rewarded paper numbers and not academic integrity. That policy is now changing. From 2025, NIRF will start penalizing institutions for retracted papers. It is a good decision, but belatedly so.

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) is in the news after retired professor Rajeev Kumar blamed his former PhD student Om Prakash for pilfering and publishing his work in an IEEE journal without permission. The questionable paper, Detection of Fake Accounts on Social Media Using Multimodal Data With Deep Learning, was released on August 7, 2023, with seven co-authors from other institutions. The question is: why are professors at esteemed institutions being unethical — or are they being forced to be?

Some of the high-profile examples are like Prof. Zillur Rahman's case from IIT Roorkee who is representative of this broader malaise. Even though five of his papers were retracted between 2004 and 2020 for plagiarism, duplication, and dubious data, he continued to serve as dean up to May 2025. When whistleblower Achal Agarwal from India Research Watchdog brought the matter to the attention of the institute, he was ignored. Neither the professor nor the institute gave any response.

Figures from post-pub indicate that the retraction rate for India rose from 1.5 per 1,000 articles in 2012 to 3.5 in 2022. Pressure to publish—particularly on aspiring PhDs and young teaching faculty—is real. However, the underlying issue is the lack of legal protection. Whereas nations like Denmark and the UK have an independent agency to probe research misconduct, India lacks one. Rather than addressing complaints, they are shuffled between regulatory bodies such as the UGC and Department of Science and Technology—typically with no follow-up.

Even among public universities, the rot does not stop. Private colleges, influenced by the NIRF's measurements, tend to pressure professors to produce research without proper funding. It is no surprise that this creates hasty, subpar publications—many in predatory journals that bypass quality checks altogether.

A few institutions like BITS Pilani are already leading the way by establishing Research Integrity Offices and making ethics training investments reducing AInxiety in students and professors.. Isolated interventions, however, cannot repair a damaged system. It’s a game of quality vs. quantity — which one wins?

The forthcoming Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) can provide more regulatory bite. But with or without participation by state governments, it is questionable whether it will be effective.

If India wants to be a world center for research, integrity cannot be a choice. Academic dishonesty must have actual, career-changing penalties. Otherwise, the harm to India's reputation as scholars will go on—beneath the radar, but never-ending.

Bio: Nibedita is an independent journalist honoured by the Government of India for her contributions to defence journalism. With over 15 years of experience in print and digital media, she has extensively covered rural India, healthcare, education, and women’s issues. Her in-depth reporting has earned her an award from the Government of Goa back to back in 2018 and 2019. Nibedita’s work has been featured in leading national and international publications such as The Jerusalem Post, Down To Earth, Alt News, Sakal Times, and others.

As a society, we often prioritise academic achievement over the emotional well-being of our children. The stress of shifting schools and cities can have a profound impact on young minds, leading to feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and isolation.

Reminiscing 2020’s global house-arrest and with campuses being closed and online learning being pursued, edtech push by COVID is now stronger than the fintech push by demonetization. The teacher-student model has ceased to exist for ever now, and we are moving to a qualitatively different mentor-learner model not just in the current digital learning phase, but also in the post pandemic times ahead. Beyond this complete campus lockdown phase, during which time mentoring-learning-assessing has gone online globally, we shall be moving towards blended phygital education ahead, which will be the new normal ahead, and will make the new model of mentor-learner firmly entrenched.

Learning or academics or education broadly has three functions: creation of learning content through research, writing, packaging with visuals; dissemination of learning through classes, lectures, notes, self-study, discussions; & assessment and evaluation of the education of the learner by various methods. All these three have been majorly impacted by the self-isolation imposed to ensure social distancing so that the learners and the mentors may first be protected from the spread of the infection of COVID19. The lockdown across the world is simultaneously a boon and a bane for the teaching-learning community today.

Teacher to Mentor:

The teacher was a sage on the stage, introducing every new topic, speaking the last word on it, sticking to a structured syllabus as prescribed, interpreting it as s/he deems right, finishing the syllabus and focusing on examination and evaluation to complete the cycle of delivery of education. He often demands respect, and relies on the power to punish to set things right (not always, though). Teacher teaches and often sermonizes.

Each premise noted above is changing now.

Mentor today is a co-learner, may be the first stimulus for a topic but never the last word, starts from a structured syllabus but is expected to move towards organic learning depending upon the variegated interest areas of groups of learners, aggregates learning resources from multiple sources and shares with the learners, is more a guide, second parent and agony shelter of sorts for the learners. Examination also is diverse and evaluation is just one more function and not the ultimate yardstick of learning and brilliance of the learner. Mentor may often be less informed about an issue, but with a better perspective to guide. Mentor engages and inspires.

Learning Resources Aggregation & Delivery:

To begin with being the new age mentor, a massive train the trainer and capacity building is needed today. For this, first the mentor has to be a digital personality with smartphone and net connection, and with laptop and wifi connection. Next, one has to learn how to create, deliver and engage in content across multiple online platforms, and how to take matter learnt online to matter practiced offline face to face. Third, one has to now learn assessment with open book through analysis and application, through quiz, through applied projects, through phygital presentation and actual work in labs and studios after using virtual labs and studios.

Creating the learning resources was quite easy earlier. There were the books, often called text and reference books, then the power-point presentation of the teacher, and then chalk and talk. And the topic was first introduced in a class, post which notes were given, books were mentioned, and later examination was conducted to check memory and a bit of understanding.

The game is changed now. And totally so.

The concept of proprietary content (the mentor’s own videos, audio or podcast content, power-points, cases, info-graphics etc), aggregated content (books, monographs, videos, podcasts, URLs, pdfs, cases, etc taken from the internet, YouTube and Vimeo, etc), and also massive open/closed online learning resources (free ones like Swayam or NAPTEL, paid ones like those of Coursera or LinkedIn, and the university’s own online courses): these three are the learning resources today.

The mentor is expected to make a mix of proprietary, aggregated and online learning resources, suitably arranging them from the easies one to the toughest one and offer to the learners digitally (using Google Class, emails, or better, Learning Management Systems like Canvas or TCSion, Blackboard or Collaborate, etc,) at least a week or more before they meet digitally or physically to discuss the content. This is called Flipped Classroom where the learners get learning content much in advance, read, watch or listen to the same asynchronously at their own time, place or pace, note down things they have not understood or have questions on, and come to the digital/physical classroom synchronously, to clarify doubts, discuss cases, debate on conclusions drawn and participate in quiz or analytical or applied assignments. Delivery of the online session can be on any platform: MS Teams, Zoom, Webex, Google Meet and can move from the synchronous digital classroom to asynchronous digital chatroom debates and discussions for further clarification.

This makes the task for Content Creation and Content Delivery for the mentors much more diverse, tech-savvy, and tougher than the traditional teacher’s job.

Learners’ Engagement & Evaluation:

Further, education will now move from a system imposed disciplined endeavour to voluntarily participated and internalized process. It will be truly a learner-centric education now in the new normal, and shall be far more participative than the past. The learner in the digital or blended mode is learning voluntarily and not on the basis of an imposed discipline on campus through a web of rules and power dynamics. While voluntary learning will throw many non-interested or apathetic learners out of the learning circle, it will also make many focused learners internalize education better and apply it in a more focused manner at his or her individual level.

Also, with Artificial Intelligence, robotics, automation, Machine Learning and internet of things being the other emerging realities, the skills for mass production or education to do the same work repeatedly will be totally irrelevant ahead when machines will take over almost all such work (more than three fourths of all human work today). Hence, new age skills, apart from technology use, have to be in areas like creativity, innovation, incubation, problem-solving, teamwork, leadership, critical thinking, design thinking, empathy, emotional intelligence and risk management. Each of these can be qualitatively and quantitatively mentored to any youth from an early age of say 15 years till 25 years of age, and will become his or her second nature.

To deliver such a learning, the learners’ engagement techniques have to be more tech-savvy (google forms, polls, surveys, quiz, virtual lab and studio, AI tools, etc) and also with higher emotional quotient (use of humour, videos, info-graphics, empathy in the class, allowing diversity of opinion, wellness conscious, etc).

Even the evaluation or assessment has to be diverse. Assessment refers to learner performance; it helps us decide if students are learning and where improvement in that learning is needed. Evaluation refers to a systematic process of determining the merit value or worth of the instruction or programme; it helps us determine if a course is effective (course goals) and informs our design efforts. Assessment and evaluation can be both formative (carried out during the course) and summative (carried out following the course). There can be many ways for the same. Mentors can make learners aware of expectations in advance (e.g. one week for feedback from deadline) and keep them posted (announcement: all projects have been marked). For example, one can create tests that are multiple choice, true/false, or short answer essays and one can set the assessments to automatically provide feedback.

When online, evaluation can be on the basis of proctored digital examination or open-book analytical and applied evaluation with non-google-able questions. And this is surely not an easy task for the mentors as teachers of the past were used to repeat past questions, had set patterns of questions, examinations were ‘suggestions’ and memory based, and not application based in general. Online quiz, open book examination with time-managed and proctored question paper delivered online, applied questions not based on memory but comprehension, telephonic interview etc have been the usual ways of digital assessment and evaluation of learning.

There will be offline evaluation also. Here, the assessment can be based on offline written examinations, field-survey based presentation or report writing, debates, lab/studio-based practical, or a peer-group work, or a submission of a long-term real life or live project.

Digital Learning Tools Today:

The pandemic requires universities to rapidly offer online learning to their students. Fortunately, technology and content are available to help universities transition online quickly and with high quality, especially on the digital plank, though at a cost and with the risk of several teachers and administrators being forced to go out of the system.

Digital learning on the go or from distance calls for tech-led holistic solutions. It requires several content pieces to be transmitted digitally. These content pieces can be in the form of pdfs, ppts, URLs, YouTube links, podcast links, case-studies, etc. There can also be e-books, audio-books, kindle based content, magzter sourced magazines, etc. Then this can involve learning without being face to face through boxes, as in Google Class, or learning face to face as in Zoom live audio-visual discussions. People may also use GoToMeetings or MicrosoftMeet sessions also. Attendance can be taken on Google Spreadsheet and through WhatsApp Group chat of a batch of students too.

Then there are MOOCs, collaborative distance learning, wikis, blogs etc. Individual resource-rich institutes develop their customized secured and IPR protected Learning Management Systems, through the use of BlackBoard or TCSion LMS. Other LMS options like Kaltura or Impartus allowing video recording of talks also ar in use in many places. There are CourseEra courses, Swayam online lessons from UGC and similar other avenues to learn online.

Learning digitally can be further assisted with Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) and Mixed Reality (MR) which can take the viewer to an enhanced experience even integrating scenarios which are yet to happen creatively bringing them within the learning experience. These are immersive and contextual experiences, and artificial intelligence driven chatbots can further enhance the digital interface of the learner and the mentor.

Digital Learning Value-adds:

Incorporating big data analytics and content management, educators can develop an individualized curriculum that enhances how each student learns (e.g. playlist of learning content in WiseWire changing for each student). Many in the West have started the use of the millennials' language and style: Khan Academy video lessons, YouTube use, distinct style and language for young learners. Twitter, Tumblr, Snapchat, Imessage, Instagram, Facebook & Whatsapp are being creatively integrated with school education. There is a case of a management school in India, where the professor sends a 3 minutes interesting video on the subject he is taking up next through group whatsapp to increase interest in the batch towards the topic being taught.

In the US, the smart-phone applications like Socrative and Plickers are helping teachers interact and assess students’ progress, collaborate via cloud-based applications to work and solve a common goal. Teachers can publish real-time quizzes and polls for students via mobile devices to keep them engaged.

Further, using anything from iMovie to WeVideo, learners can create video as a learning resource. YouTube (with privacy settings) and SeeSaw or Flipgrid are also alternatives learners can make use of. The benefits of SeeSaw and Flipgrid are that students can add voice recordings or text sharing feedback with peers. Students became the co-creators of content and as a result, more engaged, including their parents. Useful apps like Book Creator, Explain Everything and EduCreations can be utilised towards this end. 

There are various software used to create digital content, like Camtasia, Raptivity, Captivate, Articulate Online, etc.

Yes alongside, social media use extensively will support learning online. Facebook Page can broadcast updates and alerts. Facebook Group or Google Hangout with advanced features in G-suite can stream live lectures and host discussions. Twitter can act as a class message board. The 256 characters help to keep messages succinct. Instagram can be used for photo essays. One can create a class blog for discussions. There are many different platforms available, such as WordPress, SquareSpace, Wix, Blogger for that. And, one can create a class-specific Pinterest board as well.

Students to Learners:

With mentors replacing teachers, the students cannot be the pre COVID typical students any more going ahead.

Students study in classroom, are taught by teachers, limited to given syllabus, and study for marks, grades, degrees. Students give exams in written and on the basis of suggestions or set patters of evaluation.

Learners study within and beyond the classroom, from mentors, peers, personal experience, books, digitally aggregated content, through projects and through assignments. Learners learn for lifetime application, and hence learn to learn further as things learnt today are obsolete soon. Self-learning or learning to learn is hence a major cultivated skill for the present day learners, especially in higher education, as techniques and technologies are changing in the work-place in less than five years now. Learners also learn organically. While structured syllabus must be completed for foundation and examination, organic learning is about self-driven learning in few chosen areas out of interest, assisted by the mentors.

Yes, for this, doubling public education expenditure, digital access to the hinterland, considering digital connectivity as a human right, digital literacy as a fundamental pre-requisite in any work, providing cell phones and laptops or tabs en masse, announcing cheaper data packages for students, CSR in the field of domain of digital connectivity by corporate houses, etc and more would be needed soonest to bridge the yawning digital divide in the otherwise class divided society. It must be noted that even UNESCO has noted that only 48% of Indian learners’ community of 283 million is receiving some sort of online education today, the rest 52% going bereft of any form of formal learning whatsoever for more than a year now! And among these 48%, the girl-students are having a worse fate in the poorer families due to limited digital devices to which the sons have a higher access than the daughters.

Conclusion:

India has been speaking of digital education for long but it has stayed on as a possibility and not a reality for more than a decade now. Even IITs and IIMs have used digital platforms on the side for sharing of content and debating on issues sporadically. The larger mass of 1300 plus universities and some 44,000 colleges have actually not digitized their content, not made access to online learning mainstay of their teaching-learning process, except the distance learning universities. In fact, the old school educationists looked at online and distance education with some disdain all across South Asia. They are in for a major shock now. The digital divide needs fast bridging through the promise of 6% of the GDP for public education, through 2% of profits for CSR given here, and through civil society initiatives like getting smart-phones, laptops and tabs for the less privileged.

It is clear that going ahead digital access will be a human right, and those in governance must wake up to the reality that youngsters need in expensive tablets and easy data access. A nation that spends less than 3% of national budget for public education (lower than Tanzania, Angola and Ghana, et al), with the states putting in 2.5 (Bihar) to 26% (Delhi), with Delhi being the only state in double digits, cannot ensure digital education for the masses, unless allocation of funds and their transparent spending happen.

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Prof. Ujjwal Anu Chowdhury

The author is Vice President, Washington University of Science and Technology and Editorial Mentor, edInbox.com

The last two years have clearly shown that technology-aided remote schooling is neither fully possible nor completely desirable.