An 18-year-old accused in a rape case has been granted four-day temporary bail by a special POCSO court in Mumbai, so that he can appear for the re-test for the upcoming NEET-UG on June 21.

The accused, who is lodged in Taloja Central Prison, Navi Mumbai, has been granted temporary relief till June 21. He has been ordered to turn himself in to authorities by 2 pm on June 22, the day after the medical entrance exam.

The case has been highlighted as the court's order came after the rape survivor had said that she did not have any objection to the temporary bail, provided the accused did not threaten, defame or contact the family of the woman during the bail period.

The relief was granted by Special Judge S R Sharma on a bond of ₹50,000 with a surety of the same amount. The accused has been booked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for rape and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.

The defence, during the hearing, had said that the teenager should be allowed to attend the national medical entrance exam and that being taken there under police escort could impact his mental condition and performance.

The prosecution had opposed the plea, arguing that the seriousness of the allegations warranted that the accused should be allowed to appear for the examination only for one day under police escort.

The court, however, after seeing the higher secondary examination certificate and provisional NEET admit card of the student, noted that there were valid reasons to grant him temporary bail. The judge said the issues raised by the prosecution could be addressed by imposing strict conditions.

The accused has been prohibited from communicating with the survivor, influencing witnesses, tampering with evidence or threatening anyone involved in the case as part of the bail order. The court has also asked him to give an undertaking to appear for the examination and give proof of appearance after surrender.

The case is coming at a time when thousands of students are preparing for the re-test of one of the most competitive medical entrance exams in India, the NEET-UG. The court's ruling underscores the need to balance the need for continued criminal proceedings with an accused person's educational opportunities during the pendency of the trial.

The Board of Intermediate Education Andhra Pradesh is expected to announce the results of the AP Intermediate Public Advanced Supplementary Examination (IPASE) 2026 later this week. Once released, students who appeared for the supplementary examinations will be able to access their scorecards through the official website.

Students can check their results at:

BIEAP Official Website

Candidates may also download their marks memo through DigiLocker if the official website experiences heavy traffic following the declaration of results.

Evaluation Process Completed

According to reports, the evaluation process, including scanning and verification of answer scripts, has been completed. Although BIEAP has not yet announced an official date and time for the result declaration, an update regarding the release of both first-year and second-year supplementary results is expected soon.

Examination Details

The AP Inter supplementary examinations were conducted from May 21 to June 4, 2026, for students who either failed one or more subjects in the regular examinations or opted for improvement and betterment opportunities to enhance their scores. Practical examinations were held separately from June 7 to June 11, 2026.

To qualify in the supplementary examination, students must secure a minimum of 35 per cent marks in each subject.

Main Examination Performance

This year, a total of 10,57,312 students appeared for the regular Intermediate examinations in Andhra Pradesh.

  • First Year: 5,31,171 candidates appeared, with a pass percentage of 77 per cent
  • Second Year: 5,26,141 candidates appeared, with a pass percentage of 81 per cent

Importance of Supplementary Results

The supplementary examination provides students with an opportunity to clear pending subjects or improve their marks without waiting for the next academic session. Candidates who successfully qualify will be able to continue with college admissions and other academic processes without delay.

Following the declaration of results, BIEAP is expected to issue detailed guidelines regarding re-verification of marks, access to scanned answer scripts, and the issuance of updated marks memos.

Students are advised to keep their hall ticket numbers ready and regularly check the official website for the latest updates on the result announcement.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) will announce the results of the CA Intermediate Examination held in May 2026 on June 24, 2026. Candidates who appeared for the examination will be able to access their scorecards through the official results portal, caresults.icai.org.

According to an official notification issued by ICAI, the results are expected to be declared in the evening. Candidates will need their registration number and roll number to log in and check their performance. ICAI has advised aspirants to keep these credentials ready to ensure smooth access to the results once they are published.

The CA Intermediate examination is a crucial stage in the chartered accountancy programme and serves as a gateway for students progressing toward qualification as chartered accountants. The examination evaluates candidates in subjects such as accounting, taxation, auditing, financial management, and related professional disciplines.

Once the results are released, candidates can view, download, and save their scorecards for future use. The scorecard may be required during subsequent stages of the CA journey, including article training and final examinations.

The announcement was made through an official notice signed by Anand Kumar Chaturvedi, Joint Secretary (Examinations), ICAI.

The previous CA Intermediate examination, conducted in January 2026, recorded modest pass percentages. In Group I, 14,733 candidates qualified out of 1,05,526 examinees, resulting in a pass rate of 13.96 per cent. Group II saw 10,798 candidates clear the examination from 69,477 appearances, translating to a pass percentage of 15.54 per cent. Among candidates who appeared for both groups, 3,924 out of 41,798 were successful, resulting in an overall pass percentage of 9.39 per cent.

Candidates are advised to regularly visit ICAI's official website and the results portal for updates regarding result announcements, verification procedures, mark sheets, and other examination-related notifications.

On Wednesday, congress leader Rahul Gandhi lashed out at the Narendra Modi government for the frequent paper leaks and examination irregularities, saying that the education system in India puts undue pressure on students and does not help them fulfill their dreams.

Gandhi, addressing the 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' rally in the coaching hub of Rajasthan's Kota, said, “the Indian education system is a reject system. It is not a selection system," citing issues like the NEET-UG paper leak and doubts about examination processes.

Gandhi addressed the gathering as a platform for students, not a political gathering, and said, "It's not a political meeting, it's a meeting about you, it's a meeting about young people who are struggling to get a future, it's a meeting about you, the challenges that you are facing every single day.”

The Congress leader also lambasted the government's approach in paper leak cases and asked the government to concentrate on the culprits instead of students. “The Modi government should take on the paper leak mafia, not students,” he said.

Gandhi pointed out that the existing educational system is not doing a good job of preparing young people for employment, and that it can actually restrict their employment opportunities. He urged for sweeping changes that would ease the financial burden on students and establish a system that would enable them to follow their dreams.

The rally was held at the Dussehra Ground in Kota, and the students who participated voiced their concerns about paper leaks, increasing examination fees, and the absence of accountability.

The BJP, however, criticized the timing of the event, pointing out that it was held just days before the NEET-UG re-examination. BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi alleged that Gandhi was diverting students from the important preparation time and asked the political leaders to not add to the stress of aspirants.

The Congress has said it will extend its 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' campaign to other cities such as Allahabad, Patna and Delhi in the coming weeks.

A day after concerns were raised over the altered depiction of the iconic Harappan-era “Dancing Girl” figurine in a newly released Class 9 Arts Education textbook, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has decided to restore the original image of the bronze artefact.

According to sources, the correction will be implemented immediately in the digital version of the textbook available on the NCERT website. Copies yet to be printed will also feature the original image, while future hard-copy editions are expected to reflect the change from the next academic year.

The move follows questions raised by the Education Ministry after reports highlighted that the figurine’s torso had been shaded in the textbook, creating the impression that the sculpture was clothed. Sources familiar with the discussions said the ministry found the alteration difficult to justify, especially since the same artefact appears in an unaltered form in NCERT’s Class 6 Social Science textbook.

The controversy also echoes concerns raised earlier by historian Michel Danino, who revealed that objections had been raised during the preparation of new Class 6 textbooks because the figurine is nude. Danino had argued that the artefact is a widely recognised historical object displayed in the National Museum and routinely taught in schools.

NCERT is understood to have explained that the shading in the Class 9 Arts textbook was intended to encourage students’ “imagination.” However, the explanation failed to quell criticism.

The approximately four-inch bronze figurine, discovered at the ancient site of Mohenjo-daro, is considered one of the most celebrated symbols of the Harappan Civilization. Known for its confident stance and intricate craftsmanship, the artefact has long been regarded as evidence of the civilisation’s advanced metallurgical skills.

The original sculpture is housed at the National Museum and has appeared in NCERT textbooks for more than two decades without any alteration. The restored image will continue to feature in NCERT’s new Arts Education curriculum introduced under the National Education Policy (NEP) to integrate arts into mainstream learning.

ABRSM to approach Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on June 18, urging legislative relief after Supreme Court upholds mandatory TET requirement for in-service teachers.

A major teachers' organisation is set to appeal to the Central government for relief from the mandatory Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) requirement for educators appointed before 2010, arguing that the move could impact more than 25 lakh teachers across the country.

The Akhil Bharatiya Rashtriya Shaikshik Mahasangh (ABRSM) has announced that it will submit a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on June 18, seeking a permanent exemption for teachers recruited before August 23, 2010.

The appeal comes in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision to dismiss review petitions challenging its 2025 judgment that made TET mandatory for in-service teachers who still have more than five years of service remaining. While the court extended the compliance deadline until August 31, 2028, teacher bodies maintain that the ruling has created uncertainty for lakhs of experienced educators.

ABRSM argues that teachers appointed before the introduction of TET were recruited under the rules prevailing at the time and should not be subjected to new eligibility conditions retrospectively. The organisation plans to seek legislative amendments to protect the service conditions, seniority and benefits of affected teachers.

According to estimates cited by teacher groups, more than 25 lakh teachers nationwide could be impacted by the directive. States such as Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala are expected to face the largest challenges. In Tamil Nadu alone, nearly 3.9 lakh teachers are reportedly serving without TET qualifications.

Teacher unions have expressed concern that the requirement could worsen teacher shortages, particularly in rural and underserved regions, where recruitment challenges already exist. They point to historically low TET pass percentages and argue that decades of classroom experience should be recognised alongside formal certification requirements.

The dispute traces its origins to the Supreme Court's ruling in the Anjuman Ishaat-e-Taleem Trust case, which emphasised the need to maintain teaching standards under the Right to Education framework. After more than 65 review petitions were rejected, teacher organisations are now shifting their focus from the courts to Parliament, hoping the government will intervene through policy or legislative measures.

The June 18 memorandum is expected to intensify the national debate over balancing teacher quality standards with job security for long-serving educators.

Government allocates ₹900 crore for Institutions of Eminence scheme as IIT Delhi and IIT Madras climb global rankings, but India still awaits its first university in the world's top 100.

The Centre is set to expand its flagship Institutions of Eminence (IoE) scheme by bringing four additional private universities into the programme during the 2026–27 financial year, reaffirming its commitment to building globally competitive higher education institutions despite ongoing debates over the initiative's effectiveness.

According to government plans, ₹900 crore has been earmarked for the IoE programme in FY27, signalling continued investment in India's ambition to create world-class universities capable of competing with leading global institutions. The move comes nearly a decade after the scheme was launched in 2017 to elevate select universities into the ranks of internationally recognised centres of excellence.

The proposed expansion follows two earlier rounds of selections in 2018 and 2019, which designated 12 institutions—eight public and four private—as Institutions of Eminence. The scheme offers greater academic, administrative and financial autonomy, while public institutions also receive government funding to support their transformation.

The decision comes at a time when Indian universities have recorded steady progress in global rankings. In the latest QS World University Rankings 2026, IIT Delhi climbed to 123rd position from 150th, while IIT Madras improved from 227th to 180th. India now has six institutions ranked among the world's top 250 universities, reflecting growing international recognition of the country's higher education sector.

However, the programme's broader objective of creating globally dominant universities remains a work in progress. No Indian institution has yet entered the QS top 100, with IIT Bombay's 118th position in 2025 remaining the closest the country has come to achieving that milestone.

Higher education experts argue that global rankings continue to reward parameters where Indian universities face structural challenges, including international faculty recruitment, foreign student enrolment, research collaboration networks and global academic visibility. Critics also note that public IoEs received less funding than originally envisaged, while private institutions were granted autonomy without direct financial support.

Even as questions persist about the model's long-term impact, the government's latest expansion indicates that global rankings remain a key benchmark for India's higher education ambitions. With international branch campuses, deep-tech research initiatives and increased institutional autonomy reshaping the sector, the coming years will determine whether the IoE programme can help India achieve its goal of establishing truly world-class universities.

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