DU had told Professor Apoorvanand Jha that his application for leave cannot be sanctioned unless the Union Ministry of Education was consulted, he said.

Delhi University professor Apoorvanand Jha claimed that the university administration requested him to produce the text of his planned lecture in an academic gathering in the US for clearance of travel. 

No reaction was available from the DU administration.

Jha termed the step "unprecedented", alleging it assaults the university's autonomy and academic freedom.

Hindi department faculty Jha has also been invited to lecture at a seminar, "The University Under a Global Authoritarian Turn", which is a part of the 20th anniversary of the India China Institute at The New School, New York, to be held from April 23 to May 1.

Speaking to PTI, Jha stated, "I got an email from the registrar's office requesting me to send in text of my speech for clearance. In my opinion, this is extremely alarming. We are blithely relinquishing the autonomy of the DU. This has never happened ever before."

He stated that he had applied for leave more than 35 days in advance using the university's online Samarth portal but had received a letter from the DU on April 2, saying the university was "unable to grant permission" and needed to consult with the Union Ministry of Education.

In a letter dated April 15 to DU Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh, Jha explained, "I fail to understand what led the university to dispense with the principle of institutional autonomy and ask for intervention by an outside agency, in this instance the Union government, into a question of granting leave."

In a letter reply to the registrar's office, the professor wrote that there is no regulation that mandates a government clearance for leave or travel of faculty members.

"You stated that you did not know any particular rule where the ministry's permission is needed. Based on our conversation, I inferred that the university is voluntarily, without any mandatory law, rule or regulation, forwarding my leave application to the ministry," Jha wrote in his reply.

"You graciously offered that I could share my speech to be delivered at the India China Institute of the New School, and it could be appended with the file so it would be easy for the ministry to make a decision. Would this imply that the subject of my speech would now be censored before granting permission to attend an academic forum?" he queried.\

The Democratic Teachers' Front (DTF), in a letter, denounced the university's move as "arbitrary" and "an attack on academic freedom."

The teachers' organization called the call for speech vetting "an act of censorship" and charged the administration with undermining the institution's autonomy.

It added that withholding permission for such academic interactions harms the university's international reputation and evidences a greater erosion of institutional integrity.

Jha also went to social media to voice his concern, tweeting on X: "Delhi Univ adm wants to screen and clear the text of my talk for the India China Institute, New School (New York) event and take the government's advice to decide whether to grant me leave.".

The Delhi government has visited more than 600 private schools after receiving complaints of arbitrary fee increases, sending over 10 institutions showcause notices. The Directorate of Education (DoE) stated that district-level committees headed by SDMs were constituted to probe the issue.

The government of Delhi has checked more than 600 city private schools for arbitrary and unjustified fee hikes amid growing complaints. Over 10 schools were issued showcause notices after inspections, officials added on Wednesday. District-level panels have been established to investigate the complaints, a statement by the Directorate of Education (DoE) said. The panels are led by Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) and have deputy directors of education, accounts officers, and principals of government schools.

The checks were on private unaided schools, including those that have been specifically mentioned in complaints lodged with the DoE. "The process is ongoing on a priority basis," the department added. Schools found guilty of increasing fees to make profits are being issued showcause notices under Section 24(3) of the Delhi School Education Act and Rules (DSEAR), 1973. In serious offenses, the DoE stated it is weighing options like withdrawal of school recognition or taking control of school administration.

Non-compliance by schools identified

The inspections also revealed default by some schools in filing compulsory fee statements and audited accounts, contrary to Sections 17(3) and 180(3) of DSEAR. Legal action is being pursued against such schools, the department further stated. Sticking to its position, the DoE cautioned that any deviation from fee regulation norms would be met with stern action. It asked all private schools to ensure openness and adhere to legal processes while hiking fees.

'Dummy admissions' were found

Additionally, the department reported complaints of "dummy admissions" being made in independent schools. Twenty schools were discovered to be dummy schools during inspections and are liable to action under DSEAR, 1973.

Officials also verified adherence to the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009. Schools have to give textbooks, uniforms, and writing material to students belonging to the economically weaker sections, disadvantaged groups, and children with special needs, as per Rule 8 of the Delhi RTE Rules, 2011. Failure to adhere to these will invite penalties under the RTE Act and DSEAR, the DoE said.

The media and entertainment industry is one of the most dynamic and competitive fields today. Whether you aspire to work in journalism, film, television, digital content, or advertising, success often depends not just on talent but also on whom you know. Networking plays a crucial role in building careers, opening doors to opportunities, and helping professionals stay updated in this fast-evolving sector.

What is Networking and Why Does it Matter?

Networking is the process of building and nurturing professional relationships that can offer support, information, and opportunities. In media and entertainment, where projects often depend on collaborations, referrals, and timely access to resources, having a strong network can accelerate your career growth.

How Networking Benefits Media & Entertainment Professionals

1. Access to Job Opportunities: Many jobs and internships in media are not always advertised publicly. Connections with industry insiders can help you learn about openings early or get recommendations that increase your chances of selection.
2. Mentorship and Guidance: Experienced professionals can provide valuable advice, share knowledge about industry trends, and guide you through challenges. Networking helps you find mentors who can shape your career path.
3. Collaboration on Projects: Media projects typically involve teamwork—from writers and editors to producers and marketers. Networking enables you to meet collaborators and build teams that can bring creative ideas to life.
4. Learning and Skill Development: By connecting with peers and seniors, you get insights into new tools, techniques, and practices. This ongoing learning keeps you relevant in an industry that constantly changes with technology and audience preferences.
5. Building Your Personal Brand: A broad network helps you establish your reputation. Word-of-mouth and personal recommendations are powerful in media fields where trust and credibility matter.

How to Build a Strong Network in Media & Entertainment

• Attend Industry Events and Workshops: Film festivals, media conferences, and content creator meetups are excellent places to meet professionals.
• Use Social Media Wisely: Platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram allow you to follow industry leaders, share your work, and engage with relevant communities.
• Join Professional Organizations: Groups like journalist unions, film associations, or digital media societies provide networking opportunities and resources.
• Internships and Part-Time Projects: Working on projects lets you connect with colleagues and supervisors who can become part of your professional circle.
• Stay Genuine and Helpful: Networking is a two-way street. Offer support and collaborate genuinely; relationships built on trust last longer.

Why Students and Newcomers Should Focus on Networking

If you are preparing for journalism entrance exams, mass communication entrance exams, or any entrance test for mass media, building networking skills early on is invaluable. Internships, college events, and industry workshops are great starting points. Networking not only helps you find internships and first jobs but also provides ongoing support throughout your career.

Conclusion

In the media and entertainment field, talent alone is not enough. Networking is essential to unlocking opportunities, gaining knowledge, and building a sustainable, successful career. By investing time in meaningful professional relationships, you can navigate this vibrant industry with confidence and create a strong foundation for long-term growth.

The notion of an "in-house legal internship" usually brings to mind repetitive contract analysis and silent attendance at corporate meetings in people's minds. Corporate legal internships in 2025 present an active and substantial learning experience compared to traditional expectations. Such internships unite law expertise with business understanding to push interns toward practical applications of corporate law beyond their textbook learning.

The durations of in-house legal internships span 10-12 weeks during summer months from late May to early August. Some of the 2025 internship programs run from June 2nd through August 8th, on the other hand, virtual session onboarding takes place during late May. Law internships today operate under a dual system which blends office-site and home-based work environments. Interns at these positions have to maintain presence in the office three times per week on typical days Tuesday through Thursday and complete remaining work responsibilities remotely. 

Scope Of In-House Legal Internship

The work scope that in-house legal interns undertake comprises more than standard contract review responsibilities. Legal interns contribute to numerous organizational responsibilities which consist of:

1. Legal Document Review & Drafting: Interns prepare operational and transactional legal documents through summarized reviews which lead to drafted documents. The attorney incurs responsibility for creating and evaluating different agreements ranging from Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) through service contracts and vendor agreements.

2. Legal Research: The research tasks supervised by interns focus on intellectual property laws, data privacy regulations, and commercial compliance matters. Multinational companies require their interns to conduct research that spans international law systems affecting their operations in diverse foreign jurisdictions.

3. Compliance Checks: Organizations must diligently maintain compliance with regulatory rules throughout all their operational jurisdictions. The identification of possible risks and corresponding compliance solutions is a task entrusted to interns.

4. Corporate Governance: Corporate governance tasks in which interns participate involve the review and preparation of corporate disclosure materials.

Benefits of Working as In-House Legal Intern 

The main advantage of working as an in-house legal intern includes working with different departments of the company. In-house legal interns work in partnership with teams from different divisions, including sales, technology, human resources and business units. The combined work of different business units helps interns learn how to express complicated legal terms into easy-to-follow recommendations for colleagues who are not legal experts, which is an essential capability in corporate settings.

Several organisations belonging to different business sectors participate in providing in-house legal internships. A wide range of organisational entities, including financial institutions, multinational corporations, accounting firms, consultancy firms, telecommunications companies, retail chains, manufacturing companies, technology corporations and non-profit organisations, participate in internship programs. Different sectors that are available for interns provide them with valuable exposure to law practice in diverse industrial settings. 

Interns Get Many Work Opportunities

Within the legal stream, the intern would be given the chance to work in some or all practice areas.

• Corporate advisory
• Tax law
• Property, real estate, and infrastructure
• Enterprise development
• Employment relations
• Regulatory compliance
• Litigation
• Intellectual property

A structured curriculum comprises many internship programs. Businesses frequently assign each summer intern to receive support from both a manager and a mentor as well as an executive sponsor. Summer interns dedicate themselves to particular assignments which lead to final presentations when their programs conclude. Participating interns get access to development training sessions as well as time to connect with executives and social events to meet colleagues and staff members.

Legal internship programs offer financial compensation which includes paid work opportunities among their other compensation types. For instance, some internships in 2025 offer stipends between 6000rs to 30,000rs in India.

Specific qualifications for internships at these organisations include enrollment in law school along with Juris Doctorate degree pursuit. These particular programs seek candidates who intend to continue their academic journey into the following fall term after their internship experience.

To sum up, in 2025 corporate legal internships within company law departments deliver comprehensive training that exceeds the commonly held notions of contract evaluation and observational duties. The combination between law and business creates valuable exposure which prepares future intern recruits for complex corporate legal responsibilities. Working at in-house corporate legal internships requires individual flexibility and precise execution together with exceptional communication abilities to understand practical business legal applications.

The corporate legal foundation which law school education cannot deliver becomes available through these internships to those lawyers who aim for corporate practice positions. The internships equip interns with legal expertise and business knowledge that prepares them to deliver great value to corporate operations. Thus, in-house internship experiences create a lasting benefit for future law practitioners because of the changing legal environment.

There has been a heightening of tensions between Pune's elite Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics (GIPE) and its parent organization, the Servants of India Society (SIS), with both parties engaged in a public battle over charges of financial misdeeds and governance problems.

In a sharply worded press release on Thursday, GIPE communication officer Parag Waghmare charged SIS president Damodar Sahoo with misusing government money in a personal court fight. The release said Sahoo should also be made an accused in an ongoing FIR regarding fund diversion case in which secretary of the 120-year-old organization Milind Deshmukh has already been arrested.

Sahoo extorted money ( ₹10 lakh) from the Gokhale Institute in 2023. The extortion closely resembles acts of Milind Deshmukh, who is already a suspect in the same case," the statement read.

The case pertains to "serious allegations of land grab and forgery" and commenced as a criminal writ petition that led to an FIR, the press release said.

This is a serious concern over the abuse of public funds of the Gokhale Institute, which is a public grant-recipient body, for personal legal issues emanating from supposed criminal offenses. This is not merely financial abuse but a breach of public faith and the ideals of Gopal Krishna Gokhale," the statement read.

The GIPE, as a deemed university under Section 3 of the UGC Act, functions independently with SIS as its parent organization. The institute has issued a warning that any effort at misusing its resources amounts to a violation of UGC norms and institutional autonomy.

Waghmare claimed that even though the society possesses assets like rented properties, rent from the Amaya Hotel and office rooms on SIS campuses, the Servants of India Society still maintains a picture of financial hardship and takes money out of the institute.

Out of respect for its tradition, we had not spoken against SIS so far. But in the face of continuous media interactions and disinformation spread by the SIS President, we are left with no option but to state facts. We propagate the legacy of Gopal Krishna Gokhale out of no personal interest, and it hurts to witness the institution established by him getting embroiled in controversy," the statement stated.

The Deccan police on April 4 filed an FIR under BNS Sections 34, 406, 409 and 420 against Milind Deshmukh and others. Deshmukh has been arrested and remanded to police custody, which has been extended up to April 11.

GIPE acting vice-chancellor professor Shankar Das stated, "There have been developments day by day in the issue. We've released an official press release. The police inquiry is on, and I won't say anything more at this stage."

In a turn of events, the GIPE statement had quoted SIS president Damodar Sahoo as asserting, "Why didn't you take our permission to file an FIR against us?" GIPE had replied stating, "This may be a rare occurrence in criminal history where the accused anticipates permission to be granted prior to an FIR being filed."

At the same time, the institute also refuted charges leveled by one of the vice-chancellor applicants, Manoj Kar, regarding a lack of transparency in the search process. The statement explained that the search committee operates independently and reports directly to the chancellor and GIPE has no role to play in the selection process.

We request the concerned authorities to conduct a proper and transparent inquiry into SIS's financial transactions, and ensure public institutions are safe from abuse and misrepresentation," the institute added.

Selection process

Professor Manoj Kar, ex-member, Board of Management, GIPE, Pune, who had objected and raised concerns over the selection process of GIPE vice-chancellor, has written to chancellor Sanjeev Sanyal and UGC on Thursday raising doubts over the transparency of the process.

There is no publicly reported data on the number of applications received or identities of shortlisted candidates. The lack of data creates issues about transparency of the shortlisting exercise. Recent sacking of Ajit Ranade as vice-chancellor points to probable issues in the selection process.". The fact-finding committee reported that his appointment fell short of University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines in that he did not possess the ten years of professorial experience that was necessary. Further, there were also concerns regarding conflict of interest at the time of his selection," Kar said.

These events have also created fears that worthy candidates will not be seriously considered by the search-cum-selection committee, Kar said.

"Given these issues of concern, I humbly request suspending the current process of selection and interviews until issues of transparency are addressed. Also to release the shortlisting criteria and names of the shortlisted to avoid pre-empting the decision-making process so as to ensure fairness and transparency," he said.

Byju's Alpha, the US-based lending unit of the edtech company, stated on Thursday that it sued its co-founders Byju Raveendran and Divya Gokulnath, and ex-chief strategy officer and senior executive Anita Kishore in a US court. The lawsuit alleges that they conspired to create a scheme of fraud to transfer $533 million of loan proceeds - known as the "Alpha Funds" - out of the company without providing any consideration in return.

In a statement given to TOI, Raveendran refused the allegations saying they were "completely baseless and untrue". He stated, "This litigation is part of Glas' conspiracy to take over Byju's by all possible devious means. It is nothing but another gear in the wheel of falsehoods that Glas, the unlawful representative of disqualified lenders in the US, has been turning for long now." Glas Trust is the trustee to lenders to whom Byju's owes $1.2 billion.

Raveendran further said that a signed and attested affidavit filed in the Delaware court described the application of the full $1.2 billion loan "to the last dollar," and claimed the affidavit was "conveniently ignored" by Glas. He also charged FCPA violations by individuals connected to the lenders, including "Vishal Chanani of Redwood, Dan Ornstein of HG Vora, and Irena Goldstein of Glas," in relation to an alleged bribery scheme with an Indian court official. Raveendran said Glas is "already under investigation in a criminal case in India."

In the latest court filing seen by TOI, Byju's Alpha accused the three defendants of being part of a "lawless scheme" to siphon Alpha Funds from the debtor company to other group affiliates following the default on a $1.2 billion term loan by the company in 2022. The filing accused Raveendran of acting as the "self-appointed CEO" of Byju's Alpha of transferring the company's limited partnership interest in Camshaft Capital Fund worth more than $540 million to a non-guarantor affiliate, Inspilearn, on March 31, 2023, for nil consideration.

In today’s world, where countless ads and products bombard the customers every single day, creating emotional connections through storytelling has become one of the strongest design and branding tools. It is much more than just a logo or a catchy slogan. For aspiring designers and branding professionals, understanding how storytelling shapes every notch in the brand experience is essential for being heard and attracting trust.

What Is Storytelling in Design & Branding?

Storytelling in design and branding refers to the use of stories to communicate a brand's values, purpose, and personality. The aim is to craft a journey relevant to customers, making it memorable and interesting. The act of storytelling turns an otherwise plain product or service into an unforgettable experience when done right.

Design elements such as color, typography, imagery, and layout draw attention to the impact of a story that manifests the brand's identity. On the other hand, branding digs deeper into storytelling to influence how people perceive and feel about a company or product.

Storytelling Matters In Design More Than Ever

• Emotional Connections: People remember stories better than facts or figures. This use of emotions in design and branding is what turns a company into one that enjoys the loyalty of its customers who feel the company is a part of their lives.
• Showcases Your Uniqueness: When all the available products are pretty much identical, storytelling allows the brand to accentuate its distinguishing features. It brings out some brand personality that competitors cannot emulate.
• Elevates Your User Experience: Storytelling gently guides users through an engaging and enjoyable experience, whether a website, application, or simple sticker on a package. Each of these stories allows for a flow that feels natural and welcoming. 
• Promoting Engagement and Sharing: A good story gets shared. When a brand's story strikes a chord with certain customers, they become ambassadors, promoting the brand through word of mouth and social media.

How Storytelling Works in Design

Design is usually the first touchpoint between a brand and its audience. It is visual storytelling through the use of symbols, colors, and patterns that trigger emotions and memories. For instance, warm colors such as reds and oranges may promote feelings of excitement and immediacy, while blue shades denote trust and tranquillity.

Typography also tells its story; modern bold fonts suggest innovation, while handwritten styles mean friendliness and authenticity. In the same breath, layout controls how the story unfolds, directing the viewer's eye and pacing the message.

Storytelling in Branding Strategy

A great brand story generally answers these kinds of questions:

• Origin: Where did the brand come from? What motivated the brand to establish itself?
• Mission and Values: What does the brand stand for? What problem does it solve?
• Personality: Is the brand playful, serious, adventurous, or trustworthy?
• Connection with Customers: How does the brand fit into customers' lives and aspirations?

When brands use storytelling in their marketing, product design and customer service, everything they do becomes a well-sketched cohesive picture that customers can trust and relate to.

Why Aspiring Designers Should Focus on Storytelling

Whether you are getting ready to do design courses or gearing up for prospective endeavours in a career in branding, storytelling is an important one that can make all the difference. It elevates your work from "Looking good" to curation of the meaning. As a matter of fact, a growing part of the market will value measurement in engagement emotionality, rendering such skills as narrative thinking and user empathy all-important. It will also provide you with insights that will make you work better with clients by helping them crisply communicate their brand identity across platforms.

Storytelling is not reserved for writers or marketers, it is increasingly woven into the fabric of effective design today and branding. It's what breathes life into brands, earns trust, and leaves enduring impressions in people's minds. Everyone wanting to grow personally in design or branding must learn the art of storytelling. By combining creativity, emotion, and strategy, designs can be created that do not just catch the eye, but also touch the hearts of the viewers by conveying the meaning without even saying a single word. 

The world isn’t as cruel as we are told it is about creativity. The whole universe depends on the creative aspect, and because of the creativity that we humans possess in our DNAs, we were able to build the world we live in today. AI is one of those creative things that humans manifested and built. 

Throughout history creativity has involved transforming thoughts into real objects, and this process frequently demands individuals to overcome several battlefield-like obstacles. The process of turning imaginative notions into actual products becomes difficult for design students, particularly when they need to work under time pressure alongside cumbersome manual tasks. Artificial intelligence serves as an empowering tool rather than a human creativity replacement to boost creative development processes.

Artificial intelligence transforms the way students approach design by enabling them to explore advanced possibilities which before required excessive manual work and too much time. The main question stands: does AI have creative capabilities, or is it just a tool? Let’s dive deeper.

Is AI Creative, or Just a Really Smart Assistant?

Artificial intelligence functions as a sophisticated instrument which does not supply creative concepts beyond human capability. The system lacks emotional capabilities and sensible instinct together with the unpredictable wildness required for original inventions. AI functions as a productive instrument for designing with students who pursue design education. The system performs pattern identification and produces imagery together with layout design recommendations and music and text composition capabilities. People achieve their most innovative work by using artificial intelligence as a professional tool to expand their creative abilities.

AI in the Design Studio: From Tedious Tasks to Creative Triumphs

Your creative power gets drained by continuous repetitive work such as reference image searches, user data examination, and single design drafting repetitions. With AI taking charge of manual work, you can direct your focus to creative innovations while exploring new experimental design possibilities through unique artistic expressions. A single day was enough for IBM Watson to generate a movie trailer by examining hundreds of horror films, which would have needed human editors to perform the work over weeks. The AI tool enabled editors to start their work earlier because they had expanded time to concentrate on artistic production.

AI technology actually enhances your ability to be creative 

Design students who use AI tools like Midjourney, DALL-E and ChatGPT show measurable improvements in their creative processes, according to modern research findings. Here’s why:

• Self-Efficacy Rises: Fast idea responses build your sense of capability along with your confidence levels. Your confidence increases enough for you to explore innovative possibilities.
• Anxiety Drops: AI enables quick prototyping, which makes you lose your fear of mistakes because it provides judgement-free iteration support.
• Creative Cognition Improves: The reduction of stress along with increased confidence allows your mind to generate unexpected connections which result in genuine original thoughts.
• AI affects creativity directly because it enhances the speed of development and compels users to develop novel thinking and emotional responses.

Rely on AI But Not too Much 

The result of excessive AI reliance creates uniformity in design outputs because AI systems learn from existing data and trends. Students need to take artificial intelligence as their first tool rather than their complete solution. The uniqueness in your work stems from your personal touch combined with cultural context and original ideas. The ability to create meaningful and unique designs belongs solely to you after AI provides initial suggestions.

How to Make AI Your Creative Co-Pilot?

Students studying design can make AI their partner in the following ways:

• AI can create several conceptual prototypes quickly that students can manually improve through selection of the strongest options.
• The brain can focus on conceptual thinking when AI completes data analysis tasks and pattern recognition assignments.
• When facing creative obstacles AI-powered tools for text or image generation will provide you with necessary inspiration.
• AI assistance can serve as a reflective tool to help you determine which elements to maintain or transform or eliminate from each design.

Creativity Without Limits is Possible with Creative mind and AI

The creative mind faces no threat from technology because machines exist to eliminate time-consuming obstacles. For students who study design, AI functions as a power-enhanced sketchbook coupled with a research-assisting system. The AI technology gives hope for bigger dreams and faster movement toward executing impossible-to-achieve projects from manual work or fixed deadlines.

The creative mind can use AI as an advantage rather than perceiving it as destructive toward creativity. Using it intelligently, your ideas will become a reality faster than ever. So, don’t  consider AI as a  threat to creativity  but a tool to be creative faster!

The 21st century is all about hyperconnectivity that is leading to a demand for fact-checking more than ever. We are all well aware of how social media platforms are now the source of news for billions of people in this fast-paced information ecosystem. The digital age creates extraordinary opportunities together with formidable difficulties for people in media who work to present reliable, trustworthy news during 2025. Fact-checking serves as the cornerstone for defending democracy and retaining public trust while fighting misinformation at large. The article investigates critical reasons why fact-checking maintains its essential position in modern journalism while creating standards for media professionals to preserve accurate information in contemporary media environments.

Why Fact-Checking Matters More Than Ever?

Ghost information and fake news present broad dangers across the globe because they shape electoral results, public health policies, and social connections. The 2021 global research showed fact-checking effectiveness in lowering belief in untruths among people from Argentina and South Africa and throughout the United Kingdom. Fact-checks improved factual accuracy by 0.6 points on a 5-point scale, and their benefits continued to exist more than fourteen days following viewer exposure. Research revealed no instances where fact-checking creates negative side effects by strengthening false information acceptance, thus silencing one of the main criticisms raised by doubters. Fact-checking emerges as a long-lasting solution that efficiently enhances public awareness and restricts misinformation damage.

The fact-checking ecosystem struggles with substantial barriers throughout 2025 while continuing to provide its acknowledged benefits. Meta Platforms along with other major platforms have reduced their fact-checking collaborations with independent entities because they believe there has been a fundamental change in public sentiment and also introduced new content management protocols. The withdrawal of fact-checking initiatives caused worry because their continued existence depends on funding and partnerships with major tech companies. X (formerly Twitter) alongside other platforms adopted new content policies which make it harder for misinformation control measures. The current media situation demonstrates that media authorities need to both fortify their fact-checking systems internally and depend less on outside fact-checking services.

India’s Unique Misinformation Challenge

The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2025 lists India as one of the most vulnerable nations to false information and misleading content worldwide. The main source of misinformation in India stems from explicit intentional interventions rather than accidental rumours or humour. The circulation of WhatsApp forwards together with deepfakes and social media viral content has triggered violent responses as well as communal strife in real-life scenarios. India faces double difficulty when it comes to misinformation due to its vast multilingual population and widening media literacy among remote residents.

The Power of Collaboration: Shakti Collective

The landmark electoral initiative for the 2024 elections brought together Shakti – India Election Fact Checking Collective. Indian fact-checking organisations and newsrooms united for the first time as Shakti Collective to monitor and combat election-related misinformation together with deepfakes. The cooperation involved BOOM, The Quint, Vishvas News, Factly and many other organisations. A multi-organisational collaboration which received support from both the Google News Initiative and AI researchers at IITs operated across more than ten Indian languages to deliver content to numerous voters in rural and regional areas. The democratic process received protection through everyday fact-checking efforts performed by more than 260 fact-checkers, reporters and editors.

As of 2025, India maintains the highest number of International Fact-Checking Network certified organisations worldwide, with a total of 17 entities, while the number was only two to three organisations in 2018. The region's fast expansion signifies Indian journalists together with civil society's dedication to provide reliable information and their commitment to protecting India's democratic process.

Key Insights and Best Practices for Indian Media Professionals

Regional Language Focus:  Local language coverage needs immediate attention since most misinformation targets these languages, while the efforts should no longer prioritize English and Hindi alone. The impact of fact-checking depends directly on supporting multilingual fact-checking efforts while training journalists in each Indian state.

Leveraging Technology: AI digital verification tools must be implemented alongside the necessary technology to spot deepfakes as well as viral hoaxes in real time. The assessment of human experts remains crucial because they deliver better results in interpretations of local realities.

Transparency and Public Trust: Indian audiences value transparency. News organizations must provide open access to their fact-checking workflow alongside their original information sources together with each correction that gets made. The process fosters trust between readers and journalists while improving their critical thinking abilities.

Media Literacy: By teaching citizens the fundamentals of media literacy regarding fake news detection and source verification and viral claim analysis society becomes more involved and resistant against misinformation. For instance, the training programs led by DataLEADS have already educated thousands of journalists together with Indian citizens throughout the country.

Addressing Legal and Political Challenges: The fact-checking profession in India exists under constant risk of legal litigation alongside censorship and unprofessional political intervention. Legitimate industry support for well-balanced regulations will ensure equilibrium between freedom of information dissemination and information accuracy protection.

Building a Resilient Information Ecosystem

India faces many challenges in continuing its battle against false information spread throughout the nation. Our massive population combined with our many languages and fast digital growth creates conditions where fresh information challenges will appear continuously. Joint work between Indian fact-checkers and journalists alongside technology experts generates optimism about the situation. The successful protection of democracy and public trust during digital times will emerge from India's commitment to collaboration together with regional outreach programs and public engagement methods.

Indian media professionals perform fact-checking with a dual purpose of meeting journalistic standards while ensuring the basic requirements of democracy. Accuracy alongside transparency and innovation will stand as foundation pillars for developing India into a unified and informed nation.

Media is the contemporary teacher that moulds the public opinion. It serves as both an observer showing public sentiment and a significant power source that shapes viewer beliefs, actions, and public reactions. Digital technology evolution, along with social media growth in 2025 has created a media environment which represents an increasingly complex and powerful system. Research exploring the duties as well as obstacles confronting Indian media in steering public thinking utilizes current Indian-specific findings and statistical information.

The Expanding Influence of Media in India

The Indian media system extends across both traditional media platforms like newspapers and television stations with radio services together with digital media including social media networks and mobile apps. Digital media now provides information to more than 900 million internet users in India in 2025 thus dominating how this population accesses news. Public discourse now relies heavily on social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and WhatsApp since they allow instant news distribution and unprecedented citizen involvement in the public dialogue.

Every media outlet possesses the capacity to select significant events before presenting them to the public. Media outlets determine which stories to emphasize along with their presentation which reshapes how the public understands important matters. The COVID-19 pandemic brought out how Indian media created public awareness about health mandates while influencing people to accept vaccines and government rules, which proved media's ability to lead public conduct.

Responsibilities of Indian Media

It is rightly said, with great power comes great responsibility. Media is the superhero in the current era that has all the responsibility related to information dissemination. It is also known as the Fourth Estate, and it has an important role to play in democracy as a watchdog over the government and institutions. Since India is a country of such diversity, media will not have the ability to have a voice for literally every community if media institutions do not broadcast the voices of all the communities and promote inclusivity, which will then lead to the weakening of social cohesion. In today’s digital age, the responsibility is even more important since information spreads so quickly across platforms.

The main role of the Indian media is to be accurate and fair in their reporting. Ethical journalism would be fact-checking and not sensationalism, and this enhances public trust and allows citizens to make informed decisions. Another key task is to foster media literacy in the influential era and informatoning in which the dangers of misinformation spread rapidly. Media organizations should stimulate critical thinking in audience and help them distinguish credible sources to get this information right.

Indian media makes the powerful to be accountable too. Wherever you are, investigative journalism has played an important role in exposing abuses of authority, corruption or social injustices to help the people and reinforce democratic values. In addition to this, the media gives a platform to various opinions and constructive debate and helps the public dialogue which enhances the active and informed citizenry.

Challenges in the Current Media Environment

With the important role that it plays, Indian media suffers from severe setbacks that make its role in determining public opinion more challenging: 

• Misinformation and Fake News: The sudden virality of unverified facts on social media is still a cause for serious concern. Although platforms have now implemented AI-fact-checking features, misinformation can spread rapidly and infect public opinion for the worse.
• Bias and Commercial Pressures: Political or corporate biases in media outlets can result in selective reporting or biased reporting. Sensationalism over substance may also be promoted by the quest for greater ratings and advertising dollars.
• “The Content You Like” feature: THe latest algorithms used by different social media platforms play a big rolee in shaping opinions by presenting users with content that reflects their opinion or a particular perspective they were introduced to, which creates echo chambers that minimize exposure to different viewpoints and widen social divides.
• Technological Disruption: Even though AI and data analytics now let the relevant content reach the relevant audience, they raise ethical concerns regarding privacy, manipulation, and algorithmic bias that leads to a particular opinion that might be wrong. 

Balancing Innovation with Ethics in Media

Media in India will surely grow in the coming future by adopting technological progress together with maintaining traditional journalistic ethics. To fight misinformation in the right way, media institutes should train their journalists in digital literacy while collaborating with technology platforms to effectively combat untruthful content.

The public needs empowerment through educational media literacy programs at the same time. People with critical evaluation skills resist manipulation through the media while gaining better capacity to participate in democratic activities. 

Through social media, citizen journalism becomes a hopeful career path and entity for boosting greater engagement in public discussions. This, in response, leads to increased responsibility alongside a valid confirmation system that must exist in order to preserve reliability when relying on this system.

Public opinion in India is experiencing heightened media influence from the last decade and also in 2025, which has become more intricate than in the past. As a fundamental tool of information delivery, media enables both public discourse and democratic oversight for defending healthy democracy. The powerful role of media requires media outlets to deliver real and unbiased truthful reporting while navigating obstacles that include inaccurate information and technological transformation and bias.

Media in India will execute its mission effectively when it meets challenges through integrity while acknowledging innovation and develops media literacy alongside inclusive discussions. Real empowerment of citizens combined with shaped public understanding becomes possible through such measures which create a sustainable democracy. Thus, media students and media education institutes should focus on ethical practices and understand that they are the opinion shapers holding the power to decide the perspective of a nation.

India is advancing toward digital transformation with both great advantages and obstacles in cybersecurity. With digital penetration of 55.3%, over 806 million active internet users and 1.2 billion smartphone users, digital devices have made an ideal environment for cybercrime to thrive. Cybercrime cases, including hacking, data breaches, online fraud, and ransomware attacks, now occur 55% more, as per the last report of CyberPeace Foundation, due to which the urgent necessity for trained cyber forensic experts is seen. This is why cyber forensics has become essential across India and also because forensic science education keeps improving student readiness for digital criminal investigation careers.

The Growing Need for Cyber Forensic Experts

Cyber crime is increasing at a faster rate through digital frauds that focus on ordinary people and small and large-scale businesses, as well as government-made systems. Complex digital attacks have rendered traditional investigation methods unable to deal with crimes that take place in the digital realm. The identification and analysis as well as threat mitigation of digital security risks depend heavily on cyber forensic experts who recover evidence from computing devices along with smartphones and network-based systems.

The increasing digitalization of India is demanding a growing need for forensic experts. The GlobalNewsWire report and some other reports indicate that the country needs more than 90,000 forensic scientists in the next decade to fulfil increasing requirements for forensic science experts. Expertise shortage remains a major issue in this particular field. The cybersecurity industry in India will lack 1.5 million experts, along with cyber forensic specialists predicted for 2025. The critical shortage of expertise signals that India requires dedicated education programs which will prepare students to secure its digital environment.

Advancements in Forensic Science Education

The increasing cybercrime threats in India resulted in national progress toward better forensic science education. The National Cyber Forensic Lab (NCFL) established by the Ministry of Home Affairs represents a major step forward in building better forensic capacities for the nation. A ₹35.51 crores investment at NCFL enables law enforcement agencies to receive advanced tools and training which help them manage complex cybercrime cases with effectiveness.

Several Indian universities, along with training institutes are offering specialized courses in cyber forensics to their students. The cyber forensic course curriculum covers mobile device forensics, network forensics and computer forensics, which teaches students operational techniques for finding digital attackers, restoring encrypted data, and investigating malicious software damage. Cities like Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Mumbai serve as leading locations for forensic science teaching because they attract both IT companies and professional experts.

The use of forensic tools in investigations has major advancements due to the development of artificial intelligence and machine learning technology. Global firms discussed in this paragraph are using artificial intelligence to empower their forensic solutions through better detection methods alongside evidence processing automation. The cutting-edge tools that students learn through these technologies allow them to maintain their position in front of cybercriminals.

Opportunities for Aspiring Students

Cyber forensics provides an assorted range of career paths which exist across four main sectors including banking (BFSI), healthcare, IT & telecom, and e-commerce. The cyber forensics field features the four main roles of digital forensic analyst, malware investigator, and network security specialist as well as incident response expert. The field pays competitive salaries where new professionals start at ₹5 lakh yearly and skilled professionals achieve salaries exceeding ₹20 lakh yearly.

A career in cyber forensics demands students to develop both technical abilities and analytical reasoning competence for readiness. A solid educational background requires students to study ethical hacking, cryptography, data recovery methods and the digital evidence laws that apply to them.

As digital connections expand their reach throughout all life sectors, from financial and governmental to medical and educational systems, India relies more strongly on cyber forensics as its primary cybersecurity approach. Forensic professionals remain in high demand across India because there exists an intensifying need to secure valuable data from evolving cyber attacks.

India advances its student capability to combat sophisticated digital crimes through educational programs which fuse theoretical education with practical training. The field grants future students access to dual benefits where they can support national security alongside creating successful careers in quickly expanding fields worldwide.

The relentless surge of cybercrime relying on India’s commitment to enhance cyber forensic science will be critical to enforcing justice while holding people accountable in our digital society and empowering students to protect our virtual realm.

Journalism has always been about storytelling, of capturing events, emotions, and facts to inform and engage audiences. Through the years, the story's medium has changed, from print to television and now to digital media. Of these shifts, audio content has become a significant force remaking contemporary journalism. Podcasts, audio pieces, and immersive audio storytelling are changing the way news is used and made, providing a new voice in a world where visual media rule supreme.

The Evolution of Audio Journalism

Audio journalism is nothing new; radio has been part of news dissemination for decades. But the coming of podcasts and digital audio players has given new life to the medium. As opposed to old radio broadcasts subject to schedules, podcasts offer freedom and convenience. People can listen at any time, anywhere—whether on their way to work or lounging at home. This ease of access has also made podcasts hugely popular, boasting more than 505 million monthly listeners globally, as of 2024. The international podcasting market will surpass $100 billion by this decade's end, highlighting the increasing impact that podcasts have on media consumption.

What distinguishes audio journalism is that it has the power to create deep involvement. Without video to divert, listeners become engrossed in stories, forming an emotional bond with the storyteller's voice. This intimacy enables journalists to establish trust and authenticity—two values increasingly desirable in a world where misinformation threatens to obscure the traditional media.

 Audio Content is Transforming Journalism 

One of the greatest strengths of audio content is its ability to tell in-depth stories. Forms of traditional news such as television or print media usually have time or space limitations that restrict how in-depth coverage can be. Podcasts are able to cover subjects at length, providing thoughtful insights and in-depth analysis. Investigative podcasts, for example, have become trendy for delving into difficult subjects such as political corruption or social justice activism.

Audio journalism democratizes the consumption of news. One simply needs a smartphone and earbuds to enjoy good quality journalism without any literacy or visual disadvantages. This inclusivity allows independent producers and voices from different backgrounds to express themselves, diversifying the media with stories that may not have reached the audience otherwise.

Audio storytelling, alone, can evoke feelings with tone, silence, and background noise. It is this capacity to make stories feel human that makes them memorable and effective. Additionally, podcasts cut across geographical borders, allowing journalists to reach international audiences. Platforms such as Spotify and Apple Podcasts host millions of episodes on issues from local news to global affairs. Such international accessibility means that important stories get to reach people across cultures and continents

Challenges in Audio Journalism

Audio journalism brings many advantages, but three main obstacles affect its implementation:

1. Recent advancements in AI technology have created trust problems as authentication tools need to evolve to identify original storytelling from synthetic audio speech.
2. New podcaster entry faces obstacles because Apple Podcasts has 95 million episode content that compete for listener attention.
3. Small media outlets face a lot of problems in monetizing audio content primarily because they do not have either advertising revenue or subscription programs.

However, the integration of AI technology enables journalists to develop unique audio presentations which fight against false information. Interactive podcast features that include audience-wide listener polling and live Q&A sessions would enhance the user experience of audio content. Moreover, audio journalism hybrids which integrate text and video formats with audio content will meet different audience needs better and increase overall target reach. Users will subscribe to premium audio journalism programs because trust in internet content has started to decline.

In conclusion, audio content is impacting contemporary journalism in deep ways—remaking the way that stories are being told, heard, and exchanged around the world. Its potential to offer extensive analysis, build emotional connection, and provide accessibility makes it a crucial asset in the modern media environment. Challenges persist, but innovations such as AI-based personalization and hybrid formats hold the key to a promising future for this medium.

Since listeners are now looking for genuine voices in the sea of conventional media, audio journalism acts as a shining example of credibility and originality, a reflection of the timelessness of telling stories in sound. Whether one is a listener in search of substantial stories or a journalist on the lookout for fresh ways to interact, the growth of audio content presents limitless opportunities to pursue!

These past several years have seen a dramatic rise in entrepreneurship, with startups popping up every single day and innovators shaking up traditional industries. The notion of being your own boss and running an innovative business with a top-notch USP is hotter than ever. However, amidst all this entrepreneurial excitement, one big question remains: Is an MBA really an important or necessary tool toward entrepreneurial success?

Changes in Entrepreneurship in 2025

Old paradigms had it that to succeed in business, one needed an MBA. The degree was supposed to impart all of the critical skills: bespoke management skills, finance, marketing and leadership skills for setting up and running a company. The entrepreneurial ecosystem initiated a paradigm shift when digital technology gave birth to mushrooming sources of information and newer funding concepts, such as crowdfunding and angel investing.

Today, there are entrepreneurs who have self-taught their way into coding, marketing, and engineering and even became founders after dropping out. Many others have built billion-dollar startups without being formally educated in business. If so, is an MBA considered less and less useful? 

What the MBA Offers Entrepreneurs

An MBA gives aspiring entrepreneurs a platform for learning business fundamentals, strategic thinking, networking, and insights from industry veterans. The most favoured skills taught are finance and accounting, such as:

• Preparing budgets
• Conducting market research and competitor analysis
• Training and educating teams
• Managing legal and ethical issues
• Fundraising and managing investor relations

To many, MBA programs also open up powerful alumni networks and mentorships to boost a business. 

When to do an MBA Degree?

If you are unsure about when to do an MBA, analyse your options with the following:

• Scaling Your Startup: The operational, human resources, and financial complexities increase once an idea gets past a startup's initial phases. The MBA skills imparted to entrepreneurs definitely prepare one to handle challenges on a large scale.
• Investor Respect: Investors would rather get involved with founders who have at least some formal business training. This, they feel, denotes preparedness and professionalism.
• Particular Knowledge: Some industries, such as finance, healthcare, or consulting, may require a greater depth of knowledge in areas requiring MBA specialisation.

Why Some Entrepreneurs Skip the MBA?

Many people who are today successful entrepreneurs have skipped doing an MBA because of 3 key reasons: 

• Learning Through Action: Many believe that experience is worth more than learning in a classroom. More so, startups are typically fast-paced environments that require practical and hands-on problem-solving. 
• Cost and Time: The pursuit of an MBA will cost a lot in tuition and time away from applying learnings to build a business. 
• Other Locations for Access to Such Resources: Online courses, along with incubators and mentors, can provide flexible and affordable alternatives to a standard MBA.

The reality is that there are no standard answers; successful entrepreneurship relies more on passion, creativity, stamina, and a capacity for perpetual learning. For some, an MBA hones their competitive edge and opens vital doors. For others, going through the grind and developing by learning is the only way forward. For prospective entrepreneurs, weighing their goals, income situation, and business ideas' specific needs will ultimately answer this dilemma.

In conclusion, the entrepreneurship boom is changing the democratic face of success. While an MBA remains useful for many, it is not the only way to develop a successful business. Today's entrepreneurs have more choices than ever, whether to invest in formal business training or dive straight into the startup world. Remember, whichever route you choose, you must keep learning, remain flexible, and develop a strong network. Being mindful, confident, and creative shall help you climb the pedestal of the top entrepreneurs in the 21st century.

Agriculture today has many challenges in India. One major problem is that of climate change. Also, the deterioration of soil fertility and reduced water availability make farming quite difficult. However, there is good news. New farming techniques, called regenerative agriculture, promise greatness. It is not just another way of farming; it will heal the land, increase crop production, and better the income of farmers. Those preparing for the B Sc Agriculture Entrance Exam 2025 or intending to study agriculture must consider the importance of knowledge regarding regenerative agriculture. This is the future of farming in India and can help farmers meet some of the problems they face.

Regenerative agriculture is a flexible hypothesis that includes a variety of farming methods that also enhance soil health and environmental quality. Rather than damaging the soil, these methods will restore the nutrients back into the land and preserve its health status for many years. Practices worth mention include no-till agriculture, which is not turning the soil with ploughing and retains soil structure; cover cropping (the practice of growing plants such as legumes or grasses between main crops) to protect the soil and add nutrients, crop rotation, which is changing the type of crop grown on the same land every season to prevent the soil from becoming weak; and agroforestry – growing trees along with crops to improve soil and provide shade and shelter.

Recently, Indian agricultural experts have proven regenerative farming to be a major change in the domain. In Punjab and Haryana, for example, farmers used this practice and were able to increase soil organic carbon by almost 40-50% in only five years; i.e., nutrient and water content in soil retention would be better because of efficient water use. A healthy soil can retain about 1.44 lakh litres more water per hectare; this benefit accrues in dry seasons. An added benefit was that they applied reduced volumes of chemical fertilisers. In Maharashtra, farmers reported yields about 20% higher with soybean and cotton under these conditions.

Furthermore, regenerative agriculture has many advantages for farmers. Most become beneficiaries as they realise increased net income by reducing expenses of fertilisers and pesticides while still harvesting economically viable yield crops. There are also drought and flood-proof farms with healthy soil and diversified crops, making them strong against climate change. These non-pollution methods also capture carbon from the air and fight climate change brought on by global warming.

All these have the Indian government rendering regenerative agriculture as part of a greater scheme. Encouraging schemes like the National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) have opened windows for farmers interested in taking it up. The government facilitates the process by offering training and soil health cards, along with funds for organic farming. Even earning some extra money contributes to farmers through the carbon credit schemes, which reward the storage of carbon within soils.

Though benefits are obvious, the adoption of regenerative agriculture still poses challenges to many farmers. Several farmers continue to be unaware of these new methods. Some fear the costs of initially changing from traditional farming. Furthermore, limited market access for organic or sustainably grown products is another obstacle facing small farmers. To deal with all this, more awareness programs, financial support, and better market linkages will be needed.

Regenerative agriculture is a subject that will have to be worked on by anyone wanting to become an agricultural expert. It is now included in the syllabus of many universities and also constitutes an important part of entrance examination preparations, like that of the B. Sc. Agriculture Entrance Test 2025 and M.Sc. Agriculture Entrance Exam. Knowledge of these practices can provide opportunities in research, farm advisory, government projects, and agribusiness. 

Regenerative agriculture is much more than just farming; it is a revolution that can save Indian agriculture for the future. Therefore, agriculture students should learn and propagate these practices to go ahead and support farmers, protect the environment, and build a good India. These very concepts will also give you an advantage in your exams and professional life.

The All India Agriculture Common Aptitude Test (AIACAT) has emerged as an essential admission exam that students must pass to pursue agriculture or related fields. AIACAT presents itself as an internet-based entrance test to evaluate the aptitude and knowledge of 12th standard graduates aiming for agriculture undergraduate courses. AIACAT provides an efficient mechanism that leads students toward admission at prestigious agricultural universities across India through its fair and accessible testing process.

Important dates

25 April, 2025: Last date for online registration

26 April, 2025: Exam date for AIACAT 2025

29 April, 2025: Result date of AIACAT 2025

What to Expect in the AIACAT Exam

AIACAT consists of a 60-minute online test which assesses applicants based on the subjects needed for agriculture studies. AIACAT contains a test section that evaluates candidate knowledge in agricultural fundamental concepts and general information, alongside reasoning abilities and quantitative mathematical aptitude. Through the AIACAT selection process, students receive adequate preparation to handle academic requirements in agriculture studies.

Test-Prep Tips For Agriculture Entrance Exam

Students who want to pass the agriculture entrance exams should develop strategic plans together with continuous practice activities. Every aspirant must study the test format and course content that covers physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, and English. Review previous question papers to learn about exam question varieties and specifically focus on topics that give you difficulty. Students should learn the concepts deeply instead of committing information to memory. Regular practice of multiple-choice questions leads to better speed, along with more accurate results. Mock tests of exam duration will teach you how to complete your paper within the designated time parameters and simulate actual exam circumstances.

The score benefit can come from paying extra attention to logical reasoning and math skills. Devote consistent time to address your weak subjects until you demonstrate steady improvement in them. Create an uncomplicated study timetable that dedicates surplus time to difficult subjects, combined with relaxation intervals to minimize fatigue. Eating well, combined with enough sleep and relaxation for your mind, will ensure your good health. Short notes should be made for efficient revision, while new study material should be avoided in the days leading up to an exam. Consistent work and thoughtful organisation help students achieve success in their agriculture entrance examinations.

Guidance for Aspirants

When candidates successfully pass the AIACAT exam, they need to choose their counselling sessions through the official website portal. The selection of preferred universities and courses becomes possible through this step because it depends on your rank and available choices. The entire counselling procedure operates with full transparency to select educational institutions that maximise student potential for academic success as well as career development.

Through AIACAT, your preferred career paths of crop production expert, food security officer, rural development specialist, and agribusiness will open the doors in government institutions and private sector organisations.

Why AIACAT Matters?

The economic foundation of India continues to be agriculture because technological progress has created fresh requirements for experienced professionals. The AIACAT entrance test creates a pathway between qualified talent and access to professional opportunities so that future agricultural scientists, researchers, or entrepreneurs will be ready to face upcoming challenges.  

Aspiring students eager to have a good cause and rewarding career in agriculture should take AIACAT 2025 because it offers a clear, merit-based path to some of the country’s top agriculture universities that will help achieve their career aspirations. Start your preparation early, stay focused, and use the resources available on the official AIACAT portal to maximize your chances of success.

AIFSET is in 2 days! 18th April is the last day to register for the All India Forensic Science Entrance Test scheduled for 19th April. 

The time until the examination creates natural anxiety for all the test-takers. However, by adopting an appropriate strategy along with a positive mindset ,you can extract maximum benefit from your available time to improve your test performance. To help AIFSET aspirants, here is a set of essential preparation advice for the upcoming exam day.

Test-Prep Tips for AIFSET 2025

1. Revise Strategically

You must dedicate this period to reviewing important concepts since studying new content will not benefit you at this point. AIFSET curriculum consists of various forensic science subjects which include Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics. The following method will help you prepare for revision:

• Prioritize Important Topics: Pay extra attention to critical subject areas that will determine the exam weightage. Make sure to thoroughly learn crucial topics in the syllabus particularly DNA profiling, toxicology, and crime scene investigation methods.
• Quick Notes: Short notes and flashcards should include main formulas along with vital definitions together with essential concepts. These study materials prove beneficial during the last period immediately preceding the exam.
• Mock Tests & Sample Papers: Practice test questions will help you learn about the examination structure as well as time limitations. The 100-question multiple-choice format of AIFSET needs 60 minutes completion time so immediate practice under a timer becomes essential.

2. Focus on Exam Strategy

Understand how to tackle the exam since knowledge of content matters equally. Here are some tips:

• Time Management: You should spend your time effectively over the duration of the examination. The first step should be to limit each question to 30 seconds of your time; however, you should review difficult problems later.
• No Negative Marking Advantage: You should answer every question of the AIFSET examination despite the lack of negative scoring points. Following this approach will improve your scoring potential in the examination.
• Read Questions Carefully: Moving too fast when answering questions leads to mistakes because of misinterpreting question statements even though you have mastered the topic.

3. Prepare Your Mindset

Success under pressure demands proper preparation of your mental state. These steps will help you maintain focus along with a calm state:

• Avoid Overloading Your Brain: New information intake should stop during this period since chaos and mental stress develop from information overload. You should reinforce already acquired knowledge instead.
• Relaxation Techniques: Use deep breathing exercises together with meditation practice to relax your anxiety. When your mind remains peaceful it functions more effectively to address difficult problems presented by the examination.
• Positive Visualization: Visualizing success in the exam as you imagine it happening provides an effective method to build confidence and fight off anxiety.

4. Organize Your Exam Essentials

Check all items that will be required for the next day.

• Before the test, verify your login credentials while also testing your laptop, desktop, or mobile functionality since AIFSET 2025 uses an online format.
• Ensure you have a stable internet connection because it will help you avoid connection disruptions while taking the forensic science entrance exam.
• The admit card serves as your essential document which you must carry because it provides entry to examination portal services.
• Have stationery supplies with backup equipment such as a notebook and pen prepared with you for doing any calculations and rough work.

5. Healthy Habits for Exam Day

The condition of your body directly affects your cognitive abilities to a major extent:

• The optimal amount of rest guarantees better performance than blindly pushing through studies at night without sleep. Strive to achieve seven or eight hours of restful sleep during this evening.
• Choose nutritious light food instead of filling your stomach with heavy or greasy choices since these could lead to daytime lethargy. Rephrase the following sentence. Choose light protein-rich meals that include carbohydrates as your dietary options.

AIFSET 2025, being an entrance exam, serves as your essential key to enroll in forensic science studies at Vivekananda Global University, Invertis University in Bareilly, and APG Shimla University. Remember, you have all the ability to succeed in this exam by following a revision plan combined with strategic thinking and maintaining a peaceful state of mind. Day after tomorrow is when all your efforts will decide your career path; have faith in yourself, trust your preparation, and be confident while taking the exam.

In 2025 when the Global Allied Healthcare Entrance Test (GAHET) is introduced as a means for paramedical education in India, a crossroads unfolds. This landmark initiative has imbibed structure in paramedical admissions, and has opened up as well as posed challenges for the students who are aspiring to have a career in paramedical. The time to address these issues is right now since healthcare demands are increasing across the country.

Challenges in Paramedical Education

A grave difficulty, which faces such a paramedical education, is the non uniformity in the course standards and admission processes. In a world before GAHET, students everywhere were having a hard time adapting to different requirements from different institutions. Despite all this, GAHET is trying to solve this issue, but when it comes to adapting to a national level entrance test, GAHET faces its own problems. As many students come from rural areas or economically weaker sections, it becomes difficult for them to get the quality coaching or resource required in order to help them in preparation for competitive exams like GAHET.

Shortage of infrastructure in paramedical colleges is also another burning issue. The demand for allied healthcare professional is on the rise but many institutions lack up to date laboratories, equipment and faculty trained in advanced techniques. The gap in this respect limits practical exposure of students, which is vital for their professional development.

In addition, the circulation of misinformation regarding career prospects in paramedical fields deters the students. There are many people who are unaware of how diverse the opportunities are, such as Medical lab technology to physiotherapy, and then they choose more traditional career paths. It is necessary to bridge this knowledge gap to attract the most brilliant minds into the sector.

Opportunities Brought by GAHET

GAHET has, however, opened new doors for aspiring paramedical professionals even with these challenges. It makes admissions standardised throughout India and ensures transparency and equal opportunity for all students. It removes bias and allows for a merit based system for all students.

Furthermore, the test reflects the rising role of allied healthcare professionals in India’s medical infrastructure. As healthcare services are expanding rapidly with respect to population growth as well as technological developments, paramedics, in particular, now receive much recognition in the healthcare services as indispensable partners in patient care. This presents amazing career opportunities for graduates in hospital settings, in research labs, and in international placement.

In addition, GAHET calls on the institutions to improve their quality by making it compliant to national standards. Today colleges are making efforts to improve facilities and the training of faculty to attract the toppers and thereby improve the level of paramedical education. 

Encouragingly, collaborative efforts will be necessary to fully utilize the opportunities that GAHET offers while coping with its challenges. It is thus important for policymakers to concentrate on enhancing infrastructure in paramedical colleges, especially in peripheral cities. Educating students and guiding them in the preparation process for GAHET should be the focus of awareness campaigns launched to educate students about allied healthcare careers.

Time is critical for students wishing to enter this field. The healthcare space is rapidly evolving for allied healthcare professions and those who seize the opportunities of today will be the leaders of tomorrow’s healthcare revolution in India. Utilise this moment – your efforts will determine your future and will be a very big contribution towards nation’s health workforce.  

The legal sector that used to maintain integrity and justice standards now faces an escalating crisis because of increasing numbers of fake lawyers and legal scams. The Indian Supreme Court recently voiced severe concerns about the existence of approximately 20 to 30 percent of 1.5 million advocates who either lack genuine law degrees or present fake documentation to practice law. 

The Bar Council of India (BCI) has spent ten years conducting verifications that revealed thousands of fake lawyers across numerous states managing this distressing statistic. The investigation of Delhi and Punjab found more than a thousand advocates who used fake educational materials from Bundelkhand University and other institutions. The deceptive lawyer problem has triggered the BCI to remove approximately 100 false attorneys from the Delhi rolls from 2019 to late 2024, as the Supreme Court requires a swift verification schedule for the nation.

During a January 2025 court hearing the Supreme Court voiced its disappointment concerning the slow progress of verification procedures. Justice Sanjiv Khanna along with other members of the Supreme Court ordered BCI to speed up its verification process because this situation cannot continue indefinitely. The High-Powered Committee formed in April 2023 monitors these verifications while delays occur because of implementation issues and administrative problems that spread across state jurisdictions.

Fake Lawyers And Their Pattern

Fake lawyers conduct their duping activities through multiple deceptive practices. Some individuals operate by creating fake educational documents combined with using expired legal credentials, while other scammers build professional websites that generate false impressions of established law practices. The increasing number of identity thefts against genuine lawyers poses a difficulty for clients to differentiate between authentic and fake practitioners. 

Fake lawyers target vulnerable groups such as immigrants along with the elderly people using both fraudulent promises of legal solutions and threats to bring legal consequences, which results in lasting financial and emotional damage. Fake legal practitioners currently impact the public trust in the legal system as well as harm individuals directly which damages the profession's credibility because justice needs are rising significantly. 

Multiple contributing elements are responsible for this crisis. Law colleges have increased rapidly across India, but many lack proper oversight which results in producing numerous unqualified graduates. Online scammers exploit modern digital technology to produce fake profiles that trick many people. The widespread search for economical legal assistance gives fraudsters ample opportunity to deceive awaiting clients who seek affordable help.

In response to this crisis, there are many regulatory measures like BCI’s Certificate and Place of Practice (Verification) Rules are introduced in India. THe objective of these rules is to ensure that only credible and legally qualified and practicing advocates are in the state bar rolls. However, it is not a secret that implementation of these rules require greater accountability and cooperation between state bar councils and the central authorities.

Steps People can Take to Protect Themselves From Fake Lawyers

For people seeking legal experts, vigilance is key. Before working with a legal professional, it is necessary to check their credentials on Bar Council portals and be cautious of unexpected solicitations or unreasonably low-cost offers. The present crisis demands immediate action from members of the legal profession. Aspirants in law need to fulfil their dedication to ethical conduct while also embracing open practices and technological responsibility. This rare opportunity exists for lawyers to restore public trust by advocating law reform together with strict adherence to the highest standards. 

The practice of law presents students with substantial intellectual rewards and economic stability as well as social impact opportunities despite its current difficulties. Today's circumstances emphasize that law students must understand the necessary value of integrity because law professionals maintain a fundamental position in defending justice. The next generation must step forward with honesty and dedication to transform this dark time into a new era of professionalism and maintain public faith. 

The Future of Aspiring Law Students 

Students who wish to build their people in the legal field should consider moving forward diligently in law due to its ability to drive genuine transformations that will restore confidence in India's judicial system. The growing number of fraudulent lawyers creates an opening for reliable, dedicated people who possess a strong commitment to take charge of progress. Selecting law involves more than obtaining a profession because you become an entity that safeguards truth alongside fairness and social justice.  

Your dedication to ethical work as well as your ongoing learning and community service efforts will contribute to restoring honesty throughout India's justice system. The path is difficult yet you possess all the qualities to create meaningful change. Legal career opportunities in India for righteous social protection of millions' rights have reached their highest point right now if you wish to join such important work. Your commitment to ethical standards together with your dedication will establish a brighter legal system that serves society not just today but also for many future generations.

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. 

Lest we forget that India is a nation of more than one-third of the population in the 15 to 25 years age-bracket, the most promising period of life when one decides career path, subjects for learning, types of work to do, and becomes self-dependent in the process.