XLRI Delhi-NCR, XLRI Director, Fr Antony R Uvari, XLRI Jamshedpur, management education, and B-school leadership are in focus after XLRI – Xavier School of Management announced the appointment of Fr Antony R. Uvari, SJ as the new Director of its Delhi-NCR campus. The appointment came into effect on July 1, 2026, with Fr Uvari succeeding Fr Nelson A. D'Silva, SJ, who has taken over as President of the Delhi Jesuit Society.

An alumnus of XLRI Jamshedpur, Fr Uvari holds a postgraduate degree from the institute and earned his PhD from the University of Madras. He brings more than 18 years of experience in academic leadership, administration and management education across some of India's leading institutions.

Fr Uvari has held several key positions within the Xavier education network. He began his academic career as a faculty member at the Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar (XIMB) between 2004 and 2010 before joining XLRI, where he served as Dean of Administration, Associate Dean, Chairperson of Admissions, and Professor from 2010 to 2013.

In October 2013, he was appointed Associate Director of XIMB while simultaneously serving as the Registrar of XIM University, Bhubaneswar. He later returned to XLRI from 2016 to 2019 before taking charge as Vice Chancellor of XIM University in September 2019, a role he held until September 2025. During his tenure, he oversaw significant institutional growth and academic expansion.

Fr Uvari's research focuses on leadership development, human resource management, and personnel effectiveness, particularly examining the relationship between HR practices and organisational performance. He has published research in national and international journals, developed management case studies and designed executive development programmes for corporate and development-sector organisations.

Accepting his new role, Fr Uvari said he looked forward to leading XLRI Delhi-NCR during its next phase of growth while strengthening the institution's commitment to academic excellence, ethical leadership, innovation, service and nation-building.

Located in Jhajjar district, Haryana, about 25 kilometres from Gurugram, the XLRI Delhi-NCR campus was inaugurated in 2020. The platinum-rated green campus is part of XLRI – Xavier School of Management, India's oldest business school, established in 1949, and continues to expand its footprint in management education and research.

UGC-NET 2026, NTA UGC-NET Sociology paper, UGC-NET exam, National Testing Agency, and UGC-NET answer key challenge are trending after candidates alleged that the Sociology paper held on June 30 contained numerous spelling mistakes, incorrect names of well-known sociologists, poor Hindi translations and questions that appeared to be outside the prescribed syllabus.

Several aspirants took to social media to express concerns over the quality of the question paper, claiming that language errors made several questions difficult to understand. Among them was candidate Antara Chakrabarty, who alleged that the examination had "crossed all limits of academic accountability."

According to Chakrabarty, nearly half of the paper contained spelling mistakes and grammatical inaccuracies. She claimed that renowned sociologist George Ritzer was incorrectly printed as "Putzer," while terms such as "social" reportedly appeared as "oval." Other alleged errors included Talcott Parsons being written as "Parsow," G. S. Ghurye as "Ghunye," A. R. Desai as "A. K. Desai," and Martha Nussbaum as "Nusbaut."

The aspirant further alleged that several Hindi translations were poorly worded and difficult to interpret. She also questioned whether some questions had been generated using artificial intelligence, claiming they referred to thinkers and books that were not included in the UGC-NET Sociology syllabus.

"Students could not even understand the questions, let alone attempt them. Half the exam time was spent trying to interpret what was written," Chakrabarty wrote on social media, urging authorities to maintain academic standards in national-level eligibility examinations.

Responding to the allegations, a senior National Testing Agency (NTA) official advised candidates to formally challenge disputed questions through the official grievance redressal portal.

The official said that the agency reviews objections submitted by candidates and takes corrective action when challenges are found to be valid. Citing the Re-NEET examination as an example, the official noted that thousands of challenges were received and one question was withdrawn after review.

The NTA also acknowledged that typographical errors and repeated questions can occur, adding that question papers are prepared by subject experts. Candidates have been encouraged to submit their objections within the prescribed challenge window so that the agency can examine the reported issues before finalising the results.

Ambedkar University Delhi (AUD), Delhi government, Dheerpur campus, National Education Policy (NEP), higher education infrastructure, and AI in education are drawing attention after the Delhi government approved a ₹1,668 crore project to develop AUD's new Dheerpur campus. The initiative aims to address space constraints, accommodate rising student enrolment, strengthen research, and create a modern, technology-enabled learning environment aligned with the National Education Policy.

Vice Chancellor Anu Singh Lather said the long-awaited Dheerpur campus project has gained momentum following the new government's approval. The revised project cost has increased from the earlier estimate of ₹1,199 crore to ₹1,668 crore after the Public Works Department updated construction estimates.

According to Lather, the university has already finalised architectural plans for both the proposed Dheerpur and Rohini campuses, with construction set to begin at Dheerpur. She expressed confidence that the project could be completed in around three years, subject to timelines finalised by the Public Works Department.

The upcoming campus will feature smart classrooms, technology-enabled teaching spaces, collaborative work areas, open discussion zones and student-centric learning facilities designed in line with the principles of the National Education Policy. Lather said the new infrastructure would enable the university to overcome long-standing space limitations and support future academic expansion.

AUD has witnessed rapid growth in enrolment, with student strength increasing from nearly 2,400 in 2019 to around 6,300 across four campuses. The university expects this figure to reach approximately 7,000 by the end of the year following the introduction of one-year postgraduate programmes and expanded PhD admissions. To support this growth, a new academic block with 18 classrooms has also been added at the Karampura campus.

The university has launched one-year postgraduate programmes in seven disciplines, open to graduates from all universities who have completed four-year undergraduate degrees. Psychology, Economics and English have emerged as the most sought-after courses.

Lather also highlighted AUD's growing emphasis on research and innovation. The university has significantly increased publications in internationally indexed journals, improving its institutional h-index from zero in 2019 to around 30–32. It has introduced annual faculty research awards, doubled PhD fellowships from ₹8,000 to ₹16,000 per month, and integrated artificial intelligence into selected humanities and social science programmes with guidance from academic and industry experts.

Uttarakhand UCC, Uttarakhand Madrasa Board, madrasa education reforms, Uniform Civil Code Uttarakhand, and modern education in madrasas have emerged as key discussion points after the state government initiated a review of the madrasa education system. Months after implementing the Uttarakhand Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Act, 2024, the state is now examining the future of the Madrasa Board, with an emphasis on expanding access to mainstream education while preserving cultural and religious learning.

The Uniform Civil Code came into force in Uttarakhand on January 27, 2025, replacing religion-based personal civil laws in the state and addressing issues such as child marriage, polygamy, instant triple talaq, halala and iddat.

According to Manu Gaur, a member of the UCC drafting committee and the Strategic Advisory Committee (SAC), the government believes educational reform should follow legal reform.

"After the UCC, the next essential step was to ensure that every child, irrespective of community, receives access to quality modern education. Educational deprivation cannot continue under any framework," Gaur said.

The state government constituted the Strategic Advisory Committee (SAC) on June 5, 2025, under the Chief Minister's chairmanship to deliberate on major policy issues. During its first meeting, members discussed concerns that some children studying in madrasas may have limited exposure to mainstream academic education.

As part of the review, committee members examined the Uttarakhand Madrasa Education Board Act, 2016, and the Uttarakhand Non-Government Arabic and Persian Madrasa Recognition Regulations, 2019. The panel also consulted senior officials, including Uttarakhand Madrasa Board Chairman Mufti Shamoon Qasmi, Special Secretary for Minority Welfare Parag Madhukar Dhakate, and other experts.

Officials involved in the exercise stated that several madrasas were operating without formal recognition. They also estimated that only 2–4% of school-going Muslim children in Uttarakhand study in madrasas.

The government has maintained that the proposed reforms are not targeted at any particular community but are intended to eliminate parallel religion-based educational structures and align students with mainstream academic standards. According to the committee, the objective is to expand opportunities for students to pursue careers in medicine, engineering, civil services and other professions while continuing to receive religious and cultural education.

The SAC also reviewed landmark Supreme Court judgments, including the TMA Pai Foundation and PA Inamdar cases, which recognise the rights of minority institutions while permitting reasonable regulations to uphold academic standards.

NEET PG 2026 registration, NBEMS NEET PG 2026, NEET PG application form, NBEMS guidelines, and NEET PG exam 2026 are expected to trend as the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) prepares to open the registration window shortly. Ahead of releasing the detailed Information Bulletin, NBEMS has issued an advisory outlining key instructions that candidates must follow while filling out the application form, including new rules for test state selection, Aadhaar authentication, document uploads and non-editable application details.

One of the biggest changes introduced this year is that test city allocation will no longer be based on a first-come, first-served system. NBEMS has advised candidates not to rush their applications, clarifying that early submission will not improve the chances of getting a preferred test state, city or examination centre.

Candidates will be required to select three preferred test states while completing the application form. The first preference must match the corresponding state mentioned in the application, while the remaining two options should be neighbouring states. However, NBEMS has clarified that it reserves the right to allot any examination city or centre across India due to administrative, technical, security or logistical requirements.

The board has also stressed that the correspondence address and preferred test states cannot be changed after the application is submitted, even during the correction window. Candidates must therefore enter these details carefully and support the address with valid documents such as an Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, Passport, Driving Licence, Ration Card or a domicile/residence certificate issued by the competent authority.

Applicants must upload a recent passport-size photograph taken within the last three months, along with their signature and other prescribed images. Applications containing blurred, morphed or manipulated photographs may be rejected or may not receive an admit card.

Depending on their eligibility and category, candidates may also need to upload documents such as the MBBS degree or provisional certificate, internship completion certificate, State Medical Council registration, appointment orders, service certificate or hospital employee ID.

NBEMS has further advised candidates to verify all personal details, including category, PwBD status, date of birth and contact information, before final submission, as these details may also be used during the counselling process and may not be corrected later.

For NEET PG 2026, NBEMS is also introducing Aadhaar-based authentication. Candidates have been asked to provide their Aadhaar details accurately, ensure that their Aadhaar is unlocked before arriving at the examination centre, and avoid applying henna, ink or paint on their fingers or palms to prevent biometric verification issues. If Aadhaar authentication is unsuccessful, alternative methods such as iris-based verification may be used.

The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Nagpur has opened applications for its two-year Blended MBA Programme for working professionals in collaboration with Jaro Education. Designed for mid- and senior-level professionals, the programme combines live online learning with campus immersion, enabling candidates to pursue an MBA without leaving their full-time jobs.

The Round 1 application deadline is July 12, 2026, with admissions being conducted in three phases.

Blended MBA designed for working professionals

The programme aims to help professionals strengthen their leadership, strategic thinking and management capabilities while continuing their careers.

The blended learning format includes:

• Live online classes
• Four on-campus immersion modules at IIM Nagpur
• Interactive case studies
• Business simulations
• Industry projects
• Sessions with IIM faculty and industry experts

Classes are scheduled during weekday evenings and weekends, allowing participants to balance academic commitments with professional responsibilities.

Flexible learning with practical industry exposure

According to IIM Nagpur, the curriculum is designed to encourage immediate application of classroom concepts in workplace settings.

Participants will gain exposure to:

• Strategic management
• Leadership development
• Business decision-making
• Organisational problem-solving
• Industry-focused projects
• Collaborative learning with experienced professionals

The programme caters to executives seeking career advancement without taking a break from employment.

IIM Nagpur Blended MBA 2026: Application process

Candidates must complete the online application process by submitting personal, academic and professional details.

Steps to apply

• Complete the online application form.
• Upload educational certificates and proof of work experience.
• Pay the ₹2,500 application fee.
• Submit the application before the relevant admission deadline.
• Participate in the selection process conducted by IIM Nagpur.
• Pay the programme fee upon receiving the admission offer.

Important dates

• Round 1 application deadline: July 12, 2026
• Round 2 admissions: July 2026 – August 31, 2026
• Round 3 admissions: September – October 2026

Programme fee

The total fee for the two-year Blended MBA Programme is ₹12,10,000, payable after admission confirmation.

The diverse first cohort reflects the growing demand

IIM Nagpur reported strong interest in the inaugural batch, with professionals joining from multiple industries, including:

• Information Technology
• Healthcare
• Manufacturing
• Oil and Gas
• Banking and Financial Services
• Consulting
• Aerospace
• EdTech

Participants brought between two and twenty years of professional experience and represented diverse academic backgrounds, including engineering, commerce, healthcare, technology and management.

The first cohort also included professionals from several states such as Maharashtra, Karnataka, Delhi, Telangana, Bihar, Punjab and Tamil Nadu, highlighting the growing demand for flexible executive education programmes across India.

With its blended learning model, IIM Nagpur aims to provide experienced professionals with access to management education while enabling them to continue contributing to their organisations throughout the programme.