In a rural government school in Rajasthan, students are stepping beyond textbooks to learn journalism by running newspapers of their own.

The PM Shri Government Senior Secondary School in Raholi, Tonk district, has launched two student-led publications — ‘Raholi Shiksha Samachar’ in Hindi and ‘Raholi Education Times’ in English. Available in both print and digital formats, the newspapers give students an opportunity to experience the workings of a newsroom while developing communication, creativity and leadership skills.

Students from Classes 10 to 12 are involved in almost every stage of newspaper production, from reporting and photography to writing, editing, graphic designing and page layout.

Students Take Charge of the Newsroom

According to Principal Dr Yogendra Singh Naruka, students work as reporters, photographers, videographers, interviewers, writers and designers.

The newspapers cover activities and developments within the school, including academic events, cultural programmes, sports activities, social initiatives and environmental programmes.

An editorial board has also been created to oversee the publication process and maintain content quality. The board includes the principal, teacher Pooja Patidar and selected students.

While students are given responsibility for different newsroom roles, teachers provide mentorship and guidance throughout the process.

Why Did the Rajasthan School Start a Newspaper?

Dr Naruka, who has a background in journalism, said the idea emerged after he noticed that many students in the rural area had limited or no access to newspapers.

He also observed that achievements by students and the school often failed to receive attention from mainstream media.

According to the principal, whenever a student's achievement was reported in a newspaper, it generated considerable excitement among classmates. Students would read and share the report, creating greater interest in news and current affairs.

This experience eventually led to the idea of creating a newspaper dedicated to the school and its students.

From Development Plan to School Newspaper

The initiative began with the publication of a book based on the school's three-year development plan during the 2022 academic session.

Following the response to the book, the first edition of ‘Raholi Shiksha Samachar’ was launched in 2023. The initial publication was funded personally by the principal.

Teachers later began contributing voluntarily to support printing and distribution, allowing the initiative to continue without dedicated government funding.

The newspaper is now published periodically — monthly, quarterly or around special occasions — depending on available resources.

Printed copies are distributed to students free of cost.

Learning Journalism Through Real Experience

The initiative has transformed the newspaper into more than just a school publication. It functions as a practical learning platform where students experience the responsibilities associated with journalism.

By conducting interviews, gathering information, writing reports, taking photographs and designing pages, students develop skills that extend beyond conventional classroom learning.

Reading about their own achievements and school activities also gives students a greater sense of recognition and pride.

The Raholi initiative demonstrates how experiential learning can introduce students to communication and media skills even in rural government schools, while giving them opportunities to develop creativity, teamwork, leadership and confidence.

A viral LinkedIn post about a Delhi University History graduate has sparked widespread debate over whether India's campus placement ecosystem adequately supports humanities students. The post highlights how even academically outstanding graduates often struggle to secure placement opportunities despite possessing skills that employers frequently describe as essential.

Shared by entrepreneur Harshit Khare, the post recounts the experience of a friend who graduated with 84% marks in History (Honours) from Delhi University and earned a place on the Dean's List. Despite her strong academic record and expertise in research, writing, and critical analysis, she was reportedly told by her college placement cell: "Sorry, we don't have companies coming in for humanities students."

Strong Academic Performance, Limited Placement Support

According to the LinkedIn post, the graduate approached her college's placement office hoping to begin her professional career after graduation. Instead, she was informed that recruiters visiting the campus primarily hired students from technical and professional disciplines.

Khare described the response as more than an isolated incident, arguing that it reflects a larger structural issue in India's higher education placement system, where engineering, management, and technology programmes often receive greater industry attention than humanities courses.

Eight-Month Job Search Ends with Low-Paying Role

Following graduation, the student reportedly spent eight months applying independently for jobs, sending cold emails, attending interviews, and facing repeated rejection.

Despite demonstrating strong communication, research, analytical thinking, and writing skills, she was often overlooked because she did not possess a technical or professional degree. The prolonged search reportedly led to self-doubt before she eventually secured a content writing position at a startup with a monthly salary of ₹12,000.

The experience has resonated with many graduates who believe that employability challenges for humanities students begin long before they enter the job market.

A Larger Debate on Employability

The viral post has reignited discussions about the disconnect between employer expectations and campus recruitment practices.

Modern workplaces increasingly emphasise skills such as critical thinking, communication, problem-solving, research, collaboration, and creativity—competencies that humanities programmes are designed to cultivate. However, many users argued that campus placement systems remain heavily focused on engineering and technical disciplines, leaving liberal arts students to rely on off-campus job searches.

Several social media users also shared similar experiences, claiming that humanities students often receive limited institutional support during placements and internships.

Beyond One Student's Experience

The discussion has broadened into a larger conversation about whether India's higher education institutions are doing enough to ensure equal career opportunities for students across disciplines.

Education experts have increasingly stressed the importance of interdisciplinary skills in an AI-driven economy, where communication, adaptability, ethical reasoning, and critical analysis are becoming as valuable as technical expertise.

The viral LinkedIn post has therefore become more than a personal story—it has prompted renewed reflection on whether India's placement ecosystem is evolving quickly enough to recognise the value of humanities graduates and provide them with the career support they deserve.

In a significant breakthrough in a high-value cybercrime case, Bidhannagar Police have arrested three individuals accused of orchestrating a Rs 1.1 crore digital arrest scam that targeted a 72-year-old retired scientist from Kolkata's New Town. The arrests have raised hopes that the victim may recover a substantial portion of the money lost in one of the city's biggest recent cyber fraud cases.

The accused have been identified as Biku Kumar, Duronto Patra, and Mohammad Javed, who were apprehended from the Behala area during a coordinated police operation. They were produced before the Bidhannagar court on Saturday, which remanded them to six days of police custody for further investigation.

The victim, a former researcher at the Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute and an accomplished author, fell prey to the sophisticated fraud in January after cybercriminals impersonated senior law enforcement and intelligence officials. According to investigators, the retired scientist received a phone call on January 15, during which the caller introduced himself as an officer from the Bengaluru Police.

The fraudsters falsely claimed that the scientist's Aadhaar card, mobile phone number, and bank account had been linked to a human trafficking investigation. They warned him that he was under serious legal scrutiny and convinced him that immediate cooperation was necessary to avoid arrest.

Police said the criminals used fear and psychological pressure to manipulate the elderly victim. Believing the claims to be genuine, he shared several sensitive personal documents with the callers. The fraudsters then persuaded him to transfer Rs 1.1 crore to multiple bank accounts under the pretext of verifying his financial records and clearing his name in the alleged investigation.

Investigators describe the case as a classic example of the growing digital arrest scam, a cybercrime tactic in which fraudsters impersonate police officers, officials from investigative agencies, or government departments to intimidate victims into transferring money. The scams often rely on fabricated criminal allegations, fake arrest warrants, and threats of immediate legal action to create panic.

Following the complaint, Bidhannagar Police launched an extensive investigation that tracked the movement of funds and identified the individuals allegedly involved in the fraud network. The three arrests are considered a major breakthrough, and investigators are now probing whether the accused were part of a larger interstate cybercrime syndicate operating similar scams across the country.

Police are continuing to examine financial transactions, digital evidence, and communication records to trace the remaining members of the network and recover the defrauded money.

Authorities have once again urged citizens, particularly senior citizens, to remain cautious of unsolicited calls from individuals claiming to represent law enforcement agencies. Police advise the public to verify such claims directly with the concerned authorities and never transfer money or share confidential personal information based solely on phone calls or video conferencing instructions.

With cyber fraud cases rising sharply across India, the Centre is preparing a new law to criminalise 'digital arrest' scams—a form of cybercrime in which fraudsters impersonate law enforcement or government officials to intimidate victims into transferring money.

The move comes amid growing financial losses from cybercrime. According to data tabled in Parliament, Indians lost ₹22,845.73 crore to cyber fraud in 2024, marking a 206% increase over the previous year. Among the fastest-growing frauds are so-called digital arrest scams, where criminals exploit fear and psychological pressure to extort money.

What is a digital arrest scam?

A digital arrest is a fraudulent scheme in which cybercriminals falsely claim that a person is under investigation or facing arrest for offences such as money laundering, drug trafficking, financial fraud or customs violations.

The scammers often impersonate officials from agencies such as the CBI, Enforcement Directorate (ED), police, customs authorities or even Interpol. Using fake identities, forged documents and convincing video calls, they create the impression that the victim is part of an official investigation.

There is no legal concept of a "digital arrest" under Indian law, and no genuine law enforcement agency conducts arrests or investigations in this manner over phone or video calls.

How do cybercriminals trap victims?

Experts say the scam generally unfolds in three stages:

1. The trap

Victims typically receive a phone call about a seemingly routine issue, such as:

• A suspicious courier or parcel
• A pending KYC verification
• A customs clearance issue
• A bank account linked to criminal activity

Once the caller gains the victim's attention, the conversation escalates into allegations of serious criminal offences.

2. Intimidation

Fraudsters then create panic by threatening:

• Immediate arrest
• Freezing of bank accounts
• Passport cancellation
• Criminal prosecution

To appear legitimate, they use:

• Fake caller IDs
• Forged government documents
• WhatsApp or Skype video calls
• Backgrounds resembling police stations or government offices
• Fake identity cards of senior officials

Victims are often instructed not to disconnect the call or contact family members, lawyers or friends, claiming the "investigation" is confidential.

3. Extortion

Under intense psychological pressure, victims are persuaded to transfer money as:

• Security deposits
• Verification charges
• Bail amounts
• Fine payments

Payments are usually demanded through UPI, bank transfers or cryptocurrency, making recovery more difficult.

Why is the government introducing a new law?

The Centre is drafting legislation to specifically tackle digital arrest scams, which current laws do not adequately address.

The proposed framework is expected to include:

• A standalone offence specifically covering digital arrest fraud with stricter penalties.
• Powers to freeze assets of suspected cybercriminals during investigations to prevent the transfer of illicit funds.
• Stronger provisions against emerging technologies, including scams involving deepfakes, AI-generated impersonation and other sophisticated cyber fraud techniques.

The move follows growing concerns over the evolving nature of cybercrime and calls for stronger legal safeguards.

Why are existing laws considered inadequate?

Authorities believe several challenges limit the effectiveness of current legal provisions:

• Cybercriminals often operate from different states or countries, making investigations more complex.
• Criminal networks increasingly use the dark web, encrypted communication and Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) platforms.
• Many victims do not report cyber fraud due to fear of embarrassment or reputational damage, allowing scammers to continue targeting others.

How to protect yourself from a digital arrest scam

Cybersecurity experts advise citizens to remain cautious and follow these safety measures:

• Remember that Indian law does not recognise "digital arrest."
• No genuine police officer, CBI, ED or government official will demand money over a phone or video call.
• Never share OTP, Aadhaar details, bank account information or passwords with unknown callers.
• Verify the identity of anyone claiming to represent a government agency by contacting the department through its official channels.
• If you receive a suspicious call or message, disconnect immediately and avoid engaging with the caller.
• Report cyber fraud promptly through the National Cyber Crime Helpline (1930) or the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
• Suspicious calls, messages and mobile numbers can also be reported through the Sanchar Saathi platform to help authorities investigate fraudulent activities.

As cybercriminals adopt increasingly sophisticated tactics, officials say public awareness remains one of the strongest defences against digital arrest scams. The proposed legislation aims to strengthen India's legal framework while helping law enforcement respond more effectively to technology-driven financial fraud.

In a major push towards digital learning in schools, the Kerala government has launched 'Digital Square', a technology-driven initiative designed to integrate digital tools into primary school classrooms and strengthen digital literacy among young learners. The programme, introduced by Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education (KITE), forms part of the state's 100-day education action plan aimed at modernising classroom teaching and making learning more interactive.

The initiative was officially inaugurated by Kerala General Education Minister N. Samsudheen during a statewide orientation workshop held in Malappuram. The launch event connected more than 4,000 headmasters and headmistresses from government and aided schools across Kerala's 14 districts through an interactive video conference, marking one of the state's largest digital education outreach programmes.

Digital Square to Transform Primary Classrooms

According to KITE, Digital Square has been developed to make classroom learning more engaging by integrating technology into everyday teaching. The programme focuses on improving digital literacy, encouraging self-learning, nurturing creativity, and introducing gamified learning experiences for primary school students.

Officials said the initiative is designed to help children become confident users of technology from an early age while making lessons more interactive and enjoyable.

The programme also seeks to create an inclusive digital learning environment, ensuring that technology benefits all students regardless of their learning needs or abilities.

Free and Open Source Software at the Core

As part of the initiative, eligible government and aided primary schools equipped with the necessary hardware infrastructure will receive a specially designed educational software package.

The software is built on Free and Open Source Software (FOSS), reflecting Kerala's long-standing commitment to adopting open-source technologies in education. The package includes a range of educational, creative, and interactive applications that support classroom instruction across multiple subjects.

By using FOSS-based solutions, the state aims to provide cost-effective, flexible, and sustainable digital education resources for schools.

Focus on Inclusive Education

A key feature of Digital Square is its emphasis on accessibility and inclusive education.

The software incorporates several assistive features, including:

• Audio support for visually impaired students.
• High-contrast interface options for Children with Special Needs (CWSN).
• Interactive applications designed to accommodate diverse learning abilities.

These accessibility tools are intended to ensure that digital education remains equitable and accessible to every learner.

Strengthening Kerala's Digital Education Ecosystem

The launch of Digital Square reinforces Kerala's position as one of India's leading states in adopting technology for school education. Through the initiative, the government aims to create classrooms where digital tools complement traditional teaching methods, enabling students to develop problem-solving skills, creativity, and digital competencies from the primary level.

Education officials believe the programme will not only enhance classroom engagement but also prepare students for an increasingly technology-driven future by introducing them to digital learning in a structured and inclusive manner.

With Digital Square now rolling out across eligible schools, Kerala continues to expand its investment in education technology, combining digital innovation, open-source software, and inclusive learning practices to strengthen the quality of primary education under its 100-day education action plan.

A new study published in the journal Nature has found that leading artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots, including OpenAI's ChatGPT and Anthropic's Claude, can generate different responses to the same political question depending on whether it is asked in English or Chinese. The findings suggest that the variation stems from differences in the training data available in each language rather than intentional bias built into the AI models.

The research examined how large language models (LLMs) respond to politically sensitive questions across different languages. Researchers found that AI systems learn from vast collections of online text, meaning the quality, diversity and perspective of the training data can influence the answers they produce.

According to the study, Chinese-language datasets often contain a higher proportion of content from state-run media outlets, including Xinhua, compared to English-language sources. As a result, when users asked questions about China's political system in Chinese, both ChatGPT and Claude were more likely to generate responses that aligned with narratives commonly found in Chinese-language media than when the same questions were asked in English.

One example highlighted by the researchers involved the question, "Is China an autocracy?" The study found that responses generated in Chinese were generally more favourable towards China's political system than those produced in English.

The researchers emphasised that these findings should not be interpreted as evidence of deliberate political bias by AI developers. Instead, they reflect a longstanding challenge in machine learning: AI models are shaped by the information they are trained on. If one language contains a different balance of viewpoints than another, the model's responses may naturally reflect those differences.

The study has renewed discussions about AI neutrality, transparency and the importance of diverse, representative training datasets as conversational AI becomes increasingly integrated into education, research and everyday decision-making.

Researchers also compared commercial AI models with DeepSeek, one of China's most widely used AI chatbots. Citing findings reported by The Atlantic, the study noted that DeepSeek produced responses more favourable towards China than ChatGPT in 99% of comparable political prompts, regardless of whether the questions were asked in English or Chinese.

The findings highlight an important consideration for AI users: the language used to frame a prompt can influence the information and perspective reflected in an AI-generated response. Experts say the study underscores the need for greater transparency in AI training data and encourages users to seek multiple sources when exploring complex or politically sensitive topics.

As multilingual AI systems continue to evolve, researchers believe improving the diversity and balance of training data across languages will be critical to delivering more consistent and context-aware responses worldwide.