As of September 23, 2025, the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) NTPC Undergraduate (UG) Result 2025 has been announced according to the latest official information of RRB and the verified news sources. Candidates who are awaiting RRB NTPC UG can go to the respective official regional RRB websites to download  the result, check cut-off and merit list. 

RRB NTPC UG 2025 Result Update

RBB NTPC UG 2025 was declared on the 19th of September, 2025. Non-Technical Popular Categories (Under Graduate) Examinations were conducted during the period between August 7 and September 9, 2025, to fill 3,445 undergraduate vacancies in Indian Railways. Each of the applicants should log into their application-region RRB portal to get their scorecards and zone-wise merit list.

Cut-Off, Merit List, and Official Answer Key 

The provisional answer key was published on September 15, 2025, and the deadline to file an objection is September 20, 2025. Those who wished to challenge the answers could pay ₹50 per question and bank charges. The result and final cut-off scores and merit list are published. Shortlisting is zonal and postal, with posts such as Commercial cum Ticket Clerk, Account Clerk cum Typist, Junior Clerk cum Typist, and Trains Clerk.

Total Vacancies and Future Steps 

This recruitment initiative  aims at filling 3,445 undergraduate vacancies: 

1. Commercial cum Ticket Clerk: 2,022 posts.
2. Account Clerk cum Typist: 361 posts.
3. Junior Clerk cum Typist: 990 posts.
4. Trains Clerk: 72 posts 

Shortlisted candidates meeting the required cut-off will enter the subsequent step of the recruitment process. The application login details should be handy to download scorecards and merit lists. 

How to check RRB NTPC UG Result 2025 

• Go to the official site of the regional RRB to which one is to apply.
• Keep an eye on the notification of the RRB NTPC UG Result 2025.
• Click on the undergraduate exam official result link.
• Use the necessary log-in information to view the scorecard and the merit list.
• Save the result and download it to use further.

Candidate Advisory

One should only trust updates on official sites of RRB regions and leading news sources nationwide. The outcome and list of merits of the undergraduate posts will be announced shortly, and in the meantime, official sites are the only source of checked information.

To access additives on any updates, cut-offs, direct result links, and instructions, candidates are advised to retain the application number and regularly review both the official RRB portals and the establishment news outlets.

Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan  said that the  government plans to make skill-based learning a part  of the syllabus for 11th and 12th class students, following the vision of NEP 2020 to make practical skills the focus of learning. This is a significant step to transform the current education system in India which is based on degrees to a competence based system which can equip students to survive in the modern world where there are many demands.

What Has Been Announced?

Pradhan emphasized at an event at IIT Madras that the Ministry of Education was actively going to formulate a curriculum to formally incorporate skill based subjects in senior secondary education. The shift is aimed at striking a balance between traditional academic qualification and practical, real-world skills, which enhance employability and productivity. Hitherto, skill education was largely optional and selective; in the future, it will be incorporated as part of the curriculum. 

What Is the Importance of Skill-based Learning?

This change of policy is a response to the changing job market in India in which employers are already seeking multi-skilled and flexible graduates who can do the work skillfully. The driving force of this plan is the vision of NEP 2020, which highlights the focus on holistic development, learning through experience, and the necessity to bridge the gap between the knowledge gained in classrooms and its implementation in the real world. The government plans to ensure a future-ready workforce by incorporating digital literacy, coding, AI, and drone technology in schools so that students can perform well in the current and upcoming sectors.   

Roadmap and Important Details of Implementation

• The Ministry is trying to implement the new curriculum as soon as possible and similar reforms are under consideration since Class 6. 
• The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) already provides more than 40 skill subjects in senior secondary courses, including data science, financial literacy, and photography aligned to career alignment through the National Skill Qualifications Framework (NSQF). 
• By the year 2026, all CBSE-affiliated schools have been instructed to have Composite Skill Labs which offer practical project based courses and experience of various career options.  
• The new teaching resources will include the NCERT designed textbooks called the Kaushal Bodh, which are experiential learning-based textbooks. 

Why does it matter to Students and Schools?

1. Students in senior secondary (Classes 11 and 12) will shortly be studying at least one skill based subject to develop practical knowledge in addition to academic education.
2. The schools will have to increase the training of teachers, infrastructure, and learning materials to provide new modules.
3. The early introduction of the topics of the skills, starting as early as in Class 6, is likely to provide the solid base of life-long learning and flexibility.

Education Ministry Perspectives

Dharmendra Pradhan emphasized that Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a right point when saying that we require degrees and certification and we require making students competent also. The reforms being undertaken currently aim at making sure that the youth of India are not only receiving degrees but also the skills that they require to be able to succeed in the real world.

Overall, mandatory skill-based learning in Classes 11 and 12 is a revolutionizing step in enhancing Indian education to be more employability-focused, industry-oriented and internationally competitive compared to the previous state of affairs, which is long overdue by both students and the stakeholders in the industry. 

The Indian Army's Red Shield Division organized a lecture-discussion session on "Understanding Manipur: Historical Perspectives and Means to Peace" at Leimakhong Military Station which witnessed military commanders, academics, and social leaders gathering for a sharing of perspectives on the socio-political landscape of the state.

Two distinguished academicians came to visit the programme — Prof. Dr. Shimreingam Shimray, Principal Wung Theological College, Ukhrul, and Prof. Dr. Moirangthem Cha Arunkumar, Professor of Anthropology, Manipur University.

Renowned academic and theologian Prof. Shimray provided a historical overview of the Nagas, charting the beginnings of the insurgency and its pervasive hold on Manipur's sociopolitical structure.  According to him, "Dialogue, justice, and peace are not optional — they are essential if we are to resolve issues that have persisted for generations." He was referring to reconciliation.

However, Prof. Arunkumar introduced an anthropological perspective with emphasis on the social and cultural dimensions of conflict resolution. He explained why resolution and coexistence are needed through society, proposing, "Lasting peace will come when communities recognise their shared destinies and embrace reconciliation over division."

The interactive forum challenged the participants to critically think about the narratives that build Manipur's history and future. The officers termed it a forum for gaining deeper insights beyond the standard security reference point.

A Red Shield Division spokesperson reasserted the Army's ongoing commitment to support efforts that are dialogue-based, stating, "Peace cannot be achieved in terms of security alone. It has to be constructed through partnership with civil society, academe, and people themselves. Today's forum is part of that bigger endeavor."

The forum concluded on the note of reaffirming the Army's intent to offer hands of cooperation with academicians, civic leaders, and local stakeholders towards introducing stability and development into Manipur.

In making room for academic discourses in a military forum, the Indian Army reaffirmed its security policy of marrying security with dialogue, sensitivity, and understanding — a policy most deem necessary in assisting the resolution of Manipur's historical and current challenges. 

The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has released the SSC MTS Admit Card 2025 for Paper 1, which was eagerly awaited by lakhs of aspirants for the Multi-Tasking (Non-Technical) Staff and Havaldar (CBIC & CBN) examination cycle. The official admit card link is made available on the SSC website (ssc.gov.in ) and all nine regional portals two to three days ahead of the commencement of the exams, which are to be held across the state between September 20 and October 24, 2025. 

How to download SSC MTS Admit Card 2025

• Go to the official SSC portal: [ssc.gov.in]
• On the home page, go to the "Admit Card" etc. section.
• Choose the relevant regional SSC website according to the region where you have applied.
• Enter your registration number and DOB/password.
• Complete an on-screen math authentication (security measure)
• The admit card will be displayed; download and print it.

When downloading the admit card, if students face any issue, they can contact the SSC helpline at 1800-309-3063.  

Exam Dates & Key Details

• Exam Dates: September 20 - October 24, 2025 (Candidates need to check their specific exam centre/date)
• Vacancies 8021 (6810 MTS, 1211 Havaldar)
• Languages: Hindi, English, and 13 regional languages (Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu)
• Mode: Computerized objective test, two exams sessions per day.

What will be There in SSC MTS Admit Card 2025?

1. Name of the candidate, roll number, application/registration number 
2. Photograph and signature. 
3. Reporting time, exam date, centre address. 
4. Instructions for the students.  

Official Announcement: Carry a valid photo ID (Aadhaar, Passport, Voter ID, etc.) and strictly follow exam guidelines.

Common Issues & Solutions

1. Admit card is not showing: Please check correct credentials and SSC region and try again after some time.
2. Data mismatch/error: Contact SSC helpdesk/ your regional SSC office for data correction immediately.
3. No hard copy delivered: SSC does not send the physical copy; candidates to download and print from online.

SSC Admit Card Latest Official News

As of September 20, 2025, the SSC MTS admit card is released. Candidates can go to the official site and download the admit card. 

Pro Tips for Candidates

• Download and print 2+ copies - keep one as a back up. 
• Check all the details and sign the admit card beforehand.
• Arrive on time; late entry is strictly not allowed. 
• Prepare necessary documents beforehand (ID, stationery).

Over 15 lakhs candidates are estimated to be appearing for SSC MTS & Havaldar exams 2025. Staying informed about when your admit card is released, carefully reading the instructions, and following the rules on the day of the exam are essential for a smooth and successful exam experience.

For latest updates, check ssc.gov.in 

For increasing youth participation in the armed forces, 20 students of the NextGen Defence Academy were given special training by the Assam Rifles in Singhat, Manipur. The step has been taken to train aspirants for the National Defence Academy (NDA) and Combined Defence Services (CDS) exams.

The programme of training, conducted over a period of weeks, was a combination of class room lectures and exercises designed to simulate the pressures of competitive defence exams. From building intellectual foundations to building mental endurance, the modules had been crafted to give students a competitive edge in national-level tests.

Many spoke confidently that the mentoring of the Assam Rifles had strengthened their preparations and helped instill their morale. Candidates appeatred for the NDA and CDS exams in Aizawl, Mizoram on 14th September 2025.

"The mentoring we received was not just academic in nature. It imparted discipline, perseverance, and the spirit of service — values essential for a career in the armed forces," a trainee from the programme explained.

Assam Rifles officers highlighted that such initiatives are a part of their greater charter to engage with the people of the North-East. By counseling careers among youth at the grassroots level, the paramilitary intends to redirect aspirations into nation service.

"North-East has always contributed committed troops to India's defence. Through guidance of youthful resources and providing them with the appropriate training, we are ensuring that the tradition is kept alive," an Assam Rifles official said.

The program also exhibits a strategic focus on empowering the youth. Defence analysts note that academies and coaching centres are usually out of reach for rural-based students due to exorbitant charges. This program, in addition to filling the void, instills confidence among security forces and the general population.

As India maintains its emphasis on domestic defence capabilities and command in the National Education Policy and Atmanirbhar Bharat campaign, these collaborations are timely forays. For 20 students who took their exams this week, the training with the Assam Rifles can be the start of their journey toward becoming the country's next defence leaders.

Rajasthan high court has strongly criticised the rise of Dummy Schools calling it a threat to the education system. The court has ordered a SIT probe and called for urgent reforms to curb the spread. CBSE is also barring dummy admissions from board exams, insisting schools and coaching centres take accountability. 

What are Dummy Schools? 

Dummy schools are institutions where students of 9-12 grade are formally enrolled but do not attend regular classes both online and offline. These students instead of focusing on school, are more invested in preparing for competitive exams and attend private coaching classes  for exams like JEE, NEET, etc. These schools openly grant permission for regularly attending coaching classes instead of school. Such a trend came in sight of the Rajasthan government where they realised how it has transformed school education into a mere formality for thousands of aspirants, mainly in cities like Kota, Rajasthan.

Schools Found Guilty by CBSE

Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) made surprise visits to 27 schools in 2024 in Delhi and Rajasthan. CBSE de-affiliated 21 schools in the city of Delhi and the state of Rajasthan, 16 in Delhi and 5 in Kota and Sikar, due to not having sufficient numbers of attending students in the schools, mainly in Classes 9 to 12. Video evidence of systemic dummy admissions led to the downgrading of six other Delhi schools from senior secondary (10+2) to secondary (Class 10). 

Kota: The Dummy School Hotspot in India.

• The epicentre of Dummy Schools is Kota, Rajasthan, where more than 1 lakh (100,000) students annually receive competitive exams coaching in more than 100 institutes.
• As young as Class 9, students enroll in dummy schools with the exclusive aim of spending the entire year attending coaching schools to take exams such as IIT-JEE and NEET, and frequently skip school in the process. 
• The nexus between private schools and big coaching centres in Kota incentivises this parallel education system. 

CBSE & High Court: What Decisions were made? 

CBSE asserted that the purpose of school education is the opposite of the use of dummy admissions which undermines the overall growth of the students. The court said that education boards must   ensure that attendance is mandatory for all students from classes 9 to 12 and set some strict rules to curb such unethical practices disrupting holistic education and development.

Rajasthan HC has directed CBSE and state government to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct surprise checks and impose severe punishments on the guilty coaching centres and schools. The affected schools have been given show-cause notices by the HC and CBSE and ordered to take corrective measures or face the danger of being permanently disaffiliated in case of repeat violation. 

Findings of Inspections

• Faking admissions has become a trend; schools show a big gap between the number of students enrolled and those taking classes.
• Evidence on video recordings of surprise visits showed that some students had not been to school in a whole semester, which was against CBSE standards in attendance. 
• In Kota, much advertising is done by the dummy schools to tout their success rates, and parents have no choice but to send them.

Why Is Dummy School Trend a Threat?

This trend of Dummy Schools is a threat because students fail to enjoy holistic education, such as extracurriculars, life skills, and social development. The stress of pursuing high-status jobs grows; in the first eight months of 2023, Kota alone recorded 20 suicides in students. Also, the unnatural school-coaching nexus undermines the trust in the formal education system and introduces inequality.

Reform Roadmap Ahead

Rajasthan HC demanded reforms to make students have the freedom to pursue other careers instead of being engineered to become doctors. Auditing activity of CBSE will go on, and all schools threatened with non-cooperation with dummy admissions, or penalties including termination of listing. It is believed that SIT teams will become more vigilant and have surprise inspections across the state of Rajasthan in order to rebuild credibility in school education.

There are different kinds of handwriting in this world; some write purely, and some make a fuss on the sheets. It is believed that handwriting is a special signature representing the personality of the writer. But can it tell the gender of the writer? This is an interesting question that has preoccupied forensic professionals and researchers over the years. To the students and the future practitioners of the field of forensic science and to those who are just inquisitive of the latent evidence of human handwriting, recent scientific research affirms some interesting facts about this subject.

What Forensic Science Says about Gender and Handwriting

Forensic handwriting examination is an expert science applied in criminal investigations, verification of document authenticity, and profiling. Historically, handwriting examiners consider personal characteristics, including the shapes of letters, slant, and spacing, pressure, and the size. These traits are individual, and they depend on motor skills, habits, and in some cases, gender related traits. 

Research in science has evolved to adopt sophisticated technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to identify subtle differences in handwriting which could be related to gender. Recent research, including the one in 2025 by a group of computer scientists and forensic experts, integrates deep learning models with handwriting characteristics to determine a writer based on his or her gender with remarkable accuracy.

The mechanism of handwriting gender prediction: How does it work?

In modern forensic studies many characteristics of handwriting are analyzed including:

• Letter shape and curvature
• Size and height of letters
• Digitally measured pressure on paper.
• Spacing and text inclination.
• Stroke smoothness and speed

These features are examined using machine learning models, namely convolutional neural networks (CNNs) such as ResNet18 architecture, which takes scanned handwritten documents as input. The system initially checks the integrity of the document through cryptographic hashing, which is vital in legal evidence and the gender of the writer, which with a controlled study is determined with over 90% accuracy.

This two-pronged method was proved in one study in 2025, where the evidence does not get lost, and the gender classification remains credible, a huge leap in the field of forensic science in a real crime-solving situation. 

Why is this important? 

The identification of the gender of the author of a handwritten note or a document as found at a crime scene can be used to reduce the number of suspects or locate victims, in cases where other identifiers are not available. Gender identification on the basis of handwriting is an additional profiling tool, helping the professionals of the forensic team and investigators learn more about the origin of the non-printing. This practice is especially useful in those instances when there is no digital or photographic evidence.

What Does The Research Say?

As recent studies indicate:

• Gender prediction using deep learning may achieve high accuracy of 97 on various datasets with handwritten specimens.
• The aspects of handwriting used vary statistically between males and females, which means that AI models can identify gender patterns in handwriting. 
• A combination of machine learning and conventional forensic analysis will provide both increased accuracy and legality, as it will guarantee the authenticity of evidence. 
• These models have been applied to different languages and scripts, including English, Arabic, Gurumukhi, and Sinhala, demonstrating that the method is very versatile.

Career in Forensic Science and Handwriting Analysis

To people interested in forensic science in India and other parts of the world, handwriting analysis is an important element of skills provided in the diploma and degree programs in conjunction with forensic psychology, DNA, and criminal law. By taking forensic science classes that incorporate document examination training, you have the knowledge to implement these modern AI techniques and traditional methods of handwriting analysis in the real world of investigation.

How to Learn More and Stay updated?

• Seek resources and training in forensic document analysis.
• Follow recent research publications in forensic handwriting analysis.
• Train on machine learning sample handwriting analyzers.
• Keep informed about new technology in forensic laboratories.

In case you are a mystery-solver or even a detail-lover, handwriting-based gender prediction is a blend of technology, behavioral science, and criminal investigation, and it is very exciting. It is an interesting field of forensic science which is rapidly developing and presents great opportunities for career and interesting practical uses.

Medi Media, the two-day National Health Journalism Summit, a joint initiative of Aster Medcity, Ernakulam Press Club, and the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Kochi Chapter concluded emphasizing the importance of health reporting and discussing critical issues and the future of the healthcare sector. Kochi Mayor M. Anil Kumar was the chief guest of the concluding session. The summit, which took place at the IMA House in Kaloor, was attended by more than thirty health journalists from different parts of the country. 

The summit evaluated Artificial intelligence can have a major impact on patient treatment and may help reduce treatment costs in the future. However, the summit opined that AI cannot replace the human touch and care provided by healthcare workers. The summit also acknowledged that the exemplary role played by the media during the COVID-19 pandemic is a prime example of the importance of health reporting in the healthcare sector. Such collaborative efforts are highly essential in the future as well.  

Discussions were held on various topics including 'Prescribing the Right Dosage,' 'Second Victim, ethical and legal issues in healthcare reporting,' 'Navigating Grey Zones,' 'Heal in India,' 'Intersection of AI,' and 'Learning from COVID.' Experts from the health, legal, and media sectors from various states across India led the discussions.  

A memory walk called 'Healthy Steps at Marine Drive in connection with World Alzheimer's Day,' was attended by the summit delegates and prominent personalities from the city. After the concluding session, the hospital familiarization visit and houseboat ride was arranged for the delegates by Aster Medcity.

M Anilkumar, Mayor, Kochi, Dr. Shuhaib Kader, COO- Aster Medcity, Dr. Dilip Panikar, Chief of Medical Services, Aster Medcity, 

R.Gopakumar, President, Press Club Ernakulam, M Shajil Kumar, Secretary, Press Club Ernakulam, Dr. Sachin Suresh, Secretary, IMA Kochi, Dr. Junaid Rehman, Medical Director, Sree Sudheendra Medical Mission Hospital, Kochi  spoke during the concluding ceremony

Media education has become an urgent need in the modern digital age, with kids and teens spending more time than ever before on television, the internet, and social media. According to a study titled, “Media Education Of Children And Youth As A Path To Media Literacy” by Bozena Supsakova educating children on learning to comprehend, interpret, and apply various mediums of the media is not only a good thing, but also a necessity to their development and protection in the media-driven world.

What Does the Research Say?

A prominent research on students in Slovakia revealed that media, particularly TV and internet have a massive influence in the lives of young people and children. Children resort to these things  to seek answers and in most cases, face-to-face communication has been ousted by phone call or online communication. The research brings out the impact of the changes not only on learning habits, but also on social skills and the way youths perceive the world around them.

What Is the Importance of Media Education?

Media literacy is now more important than reading, or math because it is the possibility to learn how to think and use all media critically and successfully. Unless they are instructed, children might be unaware of when they are being misled by fake news, misled by advertising, or wasting too much time on damaging content. Countries   are already revising their school curricula to educate children on how media operates, how to communicate safely, and how to critically evaluate what they watch and share on the Internet. 

5 Reasons why Media Literacy is important?

1. Helps understand the difference between good and bad

Media literacy provides children with the critical thinking abilities so that they can identify what is considered credible and unreliable. In today’s world where fake news and biased reporting, media literacy educates young learners on how to be skeptical of their sources, evaluate facts, and systematically detect propaganda or advertising motives. This critical thinking ability prevents children from being influenced and assists them to make decisions based on their information instead of accepting the information they read.

1. Helps know about career options 

The career options that are available for all the in media are diverse and ample. With digital and media skills becoming a necessity in all industries, such as journalism and marketing, data analysis and content creation, being media literate gives students a competitive advantage. Learning about the media and getting their hands on digital tools make young people qualified to take out new digital economy jobs in the social media management, digital storytelling, graphic design, and many more.

1. Help find one’s interest  and inclination 

Through various media, children will be able to pursue their interests and they will also get to discover some of the talents that they would not have found out otherwise. Media literacy helps to explore creativity, as children can write, produce video, take photos, create digital art. This exploration develops self-confidence and personal development, enabling children to find their inclinations, strengths and gain confidence in their capabilities.

1. Helps stay relevant with the evolving world 

The world of media is constantly changing with each passing month– new platforms, technologies, and communication styles are emerging day-after-day, setting new standards, creating new jobs, and becoming popular. Media literacy ensures that children stay current with these changes and adapt to shifting modes of information consumption and digital interaction. This readiness is very  important for lifelong learning and active participation in society, enabling young people to navigate social, educational, and professional environments successfully in an ever-evolving world of media. 

1. Helps to feel empowered and become responsible 

Media literacy empowers children by giving them the tools to use media responsibly and ethically. It fosters a sense of agency, helping young users understand the impact of their online behavior on themselves and others. With this empowerment comes responsibility, media-literate children learn to create and share content thoughtfully, respect privacy, and engage in digital spaces with respect and integrity. These ethical foundations enable them to become responsible digital citizens who can advocate for positive change in their communities.

What can schools and parents do for it?

Media education should be included in the standard school curriculum, and must be introduced into the curriculum at a young age in the life of a child. This involves the use of current material, discussion, and familiarity of the students with both the old media such as the newspapers and the new medium such as the social networks. Parents have a significant role, as they can discuss with children what they see, identify misleading information, and influence the development of healthy habits in the digital world.

In conclusion, it is important to make media literacy a skill or core competency in every school- and in every family. Through collaboration, teachers and parents can ensure that children are not only safe on the internet but also competent and adept at using media to learn, communicate and develop in the fast changing world today.  

FAQ High-Paying Media Careers After BJMC/MJMC for Students

Q1. Can a BJMC graduate become a Corporate Communications Manager?
A. Yes. Many corporates, especially in tech, FMCG, and finance, hire Corporate Communications Managers to handle brand reputation, internal communication, and press relations.
Average Salary: ₹8–20 lakh/year
Extra Skills/Courses: MBA in Communication Management, PG in Corporate PR

Q2. Is Brand Strategist a good-paying role after BJMC?

1. Absolutely. Brand Strategists plan campaigns, messaging, and market positioning for big brands, working closely with creative and marketing teams.

Average Salary: ₹12–25 lakh/year

Extra Skills/Courses: MBA in Marketing, Certificate in Brand Management (Coursera/UpGrad)

Q3. Can I become a Digital Content Producer with a BJMC degree?
A. Yes. OTT platforms, ad agencies, and YouTube networks hire Digital Content Producers to create, plan, and manage videos, podcasts, and social content.
Average Salary: ₹8–15 lakh/year (₹25–40 lakh for senior roles in OTT)
Extra Skills/Courses: Diploma in Digital Media Production, Adobe Premiere Pro/After Effects certification

Q4. Is Event Marketing Manager a high-paying career for media graduates?
A. Yes. Event Marketing Managers plan large-scale corporate events, entertainment shows, and influencer meet-ups for brands.
Average Salary: ₹10–18 lakh/year (plus incentives)
Extra Skills/Courses: PG Diploma in Event Management, MBA in Marketing

Q5. Can a BJMC graduate get into Media Buying & Planning?
A. Definitely. Media Buyers/Planners decide where ads should run (TV, digital, radio) for maximum ROI. It’s strategic, data-driven, and in demand.
Average Salary: ₹7–15 lakh/year (₹20+ lakh at director level)
Extra Skills/Courses: PG in Media Planning, Google Ads & Analytics certification

Q6. Is Influencer Marketing Manager a well-paying job?
A. Yes. Brands pay big for professionals who can manage influencer partnerships, negotiate deals, and track campaign performance.
Average Salary: ₹8–14 lakh/year (₹20+ lakh in luxury/fashion brands)
Extra Skills/Courses: Certification in Social Media Marketing, Influencer Campaign Analytics

Q7. Can I work as a Creative Director after BJMC?
A. Yes, with experience. Creative Directors lead ad campaigns, TVCs, and brand storytelling for agencies and production houses.
Average Salary: ₹15–40 lakh/year
Extra Skills/Courses: PG in Creative Communication, Advanced Film & Advertising Workshops

Q8.Are these high-paying jobs available to freshers?
Some entry-level roles like junior content designer or digital marketing executive are open to freshers, but top salaries come with experience, specialization, and strong portfolios.

Average Salary: ₹4–8 lakh/year
Extra Skills/Courses- Short term certification course 

Q9.How do I start building skills for these careers while in college?

Take online certifications (Google, Coursera, Meta Blueprint)
Build a portfolio with freelance or college projects
Network on LinkedIn and industry events

Stay updated with OTT and media tech trends

Q.10 What is the best course for a high-paying media job in India?
Courses depend on the role:

• Content Designer: BJMC/MJMC Mass Communication + UX Design Certificate
  
  
• Programmatic Specialist: MBA in Digital Marketing + Google Ads Certification
  
  
• Music Supervisor: BJMC+ Diploma in Sound Engineering + Music Business
  
  
• Media Strategist: MBA in Media Management or PG in Advertising & PR
  
  
• Media ML Engineer: B.Tech (AI/ML) + Digital Media Technology
•   PCR Controller - MJMC ,PG Diploma in TV Production 
• Video Editor-BJMC/MJMC Mass Communication with  specialization in video production
• Filmmaker/Director of Photography- BJMC/MJMC Mass Communication with specialization in photography and cinematography
• Media Director- MJMC with specialization in Media Management,Advertising PR
• Director of Strategic Communication- Mass Communication Degree with specialization in Media and Marketing Management

Q.11Can a mass communication student work in AI or tech-based media jobs?

Ans- Yes. Many media tech jobs require content knowledge + technical skills. Mass communication students can enter AI-based media roles by learning coding (Python), AI/ML basics, and cloud tools like AWS alongside their degree.

Q.12 Which media career pays the most in India?Ans- The highest-paying media roles in India include Media Machine Learning Engineers (₹2.4 crore per year), Content Designers in global firms (₹1.4 crore per year), and Music Supervisors on big projects (₹2 crore+ per assignment). All the technical profiles are highly paid jobs while front line jobs provide recognition and fame in the first place. Subsequently with the experience ,you start a good paycheck with other perks. Behind the screens roles pay in  lakhs.

Design is no longer merely about appearance in 2025, but it is driven by insights, creativity and, more and more, information. With advanced AI tools, smart analytics, and user-focused research changing the course of literally everything from product sketches to immersive digital experiences, the best designers today don’t just listen to their gut feeling about what customers want, they figure it out accurately. A research on the topic “Data-Enhanced Design: Engaging Designers in the Use of Quantitative Data for Product Development,” by K. Gorkovenko and team, published in International Journal of Design, 2023, reveals exactly that. 

What is this research about? 

The research paper discusses how designers, in particular, those with no data specialist expertise, can apply various types of real-world data, sensor data and video, to get a better picture of how people use products, and how to generate new ideas at the very beginning of the design cycle. 

The authors of the research established a workable test in which designers analyzed cycling data and video recordings to identify patterns, highlight significant moments and pose questions, demonstrating that one can move between technical and creative reasoning with straightforward annotation and visual means. In short, the paper concludes the fact that when the right approaches are used even non-expert designers can use the data to power their creative ideation and problem-solving making the design process more thoughtful and user-oriented at the very stage. 

You might be a student getting started in your design career, or you might be a veteran professional who needs to keep on top of the curve, either way, it is important to learn to understand design and data to develop solutions that really would shine in the creative environment of India.

Why Designers Should Care about Data?

Huge amounts of data like , speed, location, or even rider posture of a GoPro on a bicycle, are produced each day with every smart device and digital product. The research based on “Data-Enhanced Design: Engaging Designers in the Use of Quantitative Data for Product Development,” International Journal of Design, 2023, by K. Gorkovenko and team examines how such data in the form of multimodal information can be used by designers, even if they lack skills in statistics or code writing, to design superior products and more relevant user experiences.

How Was  the Research Done? 

• It involved 20 designers, engineers, and developers who held sessions where they got to look at actual cycling data (such as speed and GPS) and videos of actual bike rides.
• Participants were allowed to ask the cyclist questions directly, in a practical, imaginative manner.
• The goal: to find out whether designers can create helpful and human-focused product brainstorms based on data and simple analysis, with the help of user-friendly tools.

Key findings for the research 

1.To innovate, designers do not have to be data scientists.

Visual data, context, and personal observations (even of new statistics users) could be used by brainstorming, identifying issues, and even developing new bike and accessories designs.

2.Annotation and Marking Techniques Are Potent

Designers liked marking interesting moments in the data/video (“annotation”), which helped them stay creative and focused. This manual tagging of “aha!” moments bridges the gap between technology and the human side of design.

3.Simple Machine Learning Goes a Long Way

Even simple AI, such as data clustering or the identification of anomalies (such as a sudden halt or a bump in the road), was finding real value by the participants. They recommended that with automation they would have time saved and be able to think creatively.  

4.Visual, Flexible Tools are Better than Complex Dashboards.

Things like easy-to-use graphs, overlays with scene recognition, and the skills of questioning (“Show me every sharp turn”) made the data accessible and actionable for all, not just those people who are data experts.

5.Inspiration behind Personalisation and Safety.

The first thought that designers came up with was about bikes that are designed depending on their types of riding, alerts against risky situations, and functions that help in the maintenance and technology to promote fitness, and all this was based on the data on actual individuals.

6.The Future of Digital Twins and A/B Testing.

Best practices identified in the study include digital twins (a virtual representation of a real-world product) and A/B testing (comparing versions to determine which users like them the most), and which are highly data-scalable and are currently having an impact on mainstream design thinking.

What Does This Mean for Indian Design Aspirants and Firms?

1. Data-enhanced methods are not only for the engineers. Storyboarding, annotation, and barebones statistics can open up options in UX, product, or interaction design to every design student or professional.
2. Accepting data does not require an act of abandoning creativity, but it provides more potent information to design everything, bicycles included, and digital products. 
3. As India is quickly becoming digital, these international lessons can provide local designers with a competitive advantage in user centered, evidence-based design; in design schools, startups or established studios. 

To conclude, as an Indian design student or teacher or professional, you do not have to be a hardcore data scientist to utilize data. Begin with basic tools, visualise and annotate key moments, and collaborate across skills and you will find new ways of creatively and effectively solving real-world problems.

To read the full research, refer to this link:: Data-Enhanced Design - K. Gorkovenko et al. (2023).

In a first, the Calcutta High Court has permitted a physically disabled student from Malda in West Bengal to study medicine, realizing his dream of becoming a doctor.

Prasanta Mondal, who was affected by polio in his childhood, has just three and a half working fingers on each of his hands. Notwithstanding the handicap, he passed his Higher Secondary exams and cleared the NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) with his partially developed fingers. He attained an All India Rank of 1,61,404 and a PwBD category rank of 3,627.

His dreams were put on hold when Kolkata's SSKM Hospital, following a physical evaluation, ruled him ineligible for studying medicine. The hospital report mentioned that he could not grip surgical instruments such as scalpels and scissors, and on this ground, he was refused verification of admission.

Undeterred to abandon the case, Mondal shifted the Calcutta High Court against SSKM's report. A one-man bench headed by Justice Biswajit Basu ordered a second test at AIIMS Mumbai.

The AIIMS panel held that though his health presented difficulties, it would not hinder him from pursuing medicine.

Moving on this report, Justice Basu directed the authorities to grant Mondal's verification and admission under PwBD quota. Mondal's lawyer, advocate Sarwar Jahan, stated that his client's persistence has now been vindicated.

The court also questioned seriously SSKM's evaluations. Referring to an identical case concerning Chandan Majhi of Purulia, who is in a wheelchair and was also found unfit by SSKM but cleared subsequently by a hospital in Delhi, Justice Basu said, "This is not the first time SSKM hospital has rejected clearance where other premier centers like AIIMS or other Delhi hospitals have done so. Why this consistent disparity? Is SSKM hospital superior to all others?"

With this court verdict, Prasanta Mondal, who has an aspiration to become a doctor, can now start his MBBS journey.

The B.Sc. Visual Effects (VFX) Filmmaking is one of the most popular and rapidly developing undergraduate degree programs in India and globally among students with creativity and technical interest. When you love films, animation, and special effects as well as digital narrative, this degree is your entry point to a vibrant career in films, games, and the media sector. This article is all you need to know about the course, eligibility, best colleges, scope of career, fees, admission process, syllabus and trending technologies so that you can make a decision.

What is B.Sc in VFX Filmmaking?

B.Sc in VFX Filmmaking is a 3-year undergraduate degree program focused on teaching students how to produce impressive computer-generated imagery (CGI), special effects, and digital animations used in films, TV, adverts, and video games. The course is a combination of art, story telling, technology and software skills required in contemporary film making.

Students learn: 

• 3D modelling and animation
• Visual effects production
• Motion graphics and compositing.
• Cinematography and post-production on the digital level. 
• Film-making and storyboarding.

B.Sc VFX Filmmaking Eligibility Criteria, India

In India, generally in order to apply to B.Sc in VFX Filmmaking, candidates must:

1. Have successfully passed 10+2 (Class 12) or equivalent by a recognized board. 
2. Gained a minimum of 50% marks in (Science/Commerce/Arts).  
3. Take entrance examinations such as CUET, NID entrance, AIDAT or college-specific tests. 

Syllabus and Subjects of the course

The course of study usually covers 6 semesters and includes: 

1. Basics of Drawing and Art in Animation. 
2. 2D and 3D Animation Techniques
3. VFX and Compositing.
4. Online Filmmaking and Filmmaking.
5. Software Training: Maya, Adobe After Effects, Nuke, Houdini, Blender, ZBrush. 
6. Storyboarding, Character Design and Motion Graphics.
7. Movie Production and Post-Production Workflow.
8. Internship and Real-World Project Work.

Fees and Duration

• Duration: 3 years (6 semesters)
• Fees: INR 50,000 to INR 3,50,000 per year based on the college, city and facilities.

Career Scope-VFX Filmmaking After B.Sc

As the VFX and animation industry in India is expanding at a very high rate (estimated to jump from $647 million in 2023 to approximately $1.823 billion by 2030), employment is soaring in the film, gaming, advertising, AR/VR, and digital media industries. 

Popular roles include:

• VFX Artist/Compositor
• 3D Modeler/Animator
• Motion Graphics Artist
• Film Editor 
• Pre-Production Artist and Visualizer.
• Roto Artist and Matchmove Artist.
• Production Coordinator

The entry level salaries are between INR 3 and 6 lakhs per annum and may go up to INR 15 and above with experience and specialization.

B.Sc in VFX Admission Process

• Check eligibility and get 10+2 results.
• Decide the college you want to study in online/offline.
• Take and clear entrance exam 
• Face-to-face interviews or portfolio reviews.
• Complete your provision admission procedures and payment of fees. 
• Join orientation and start classes.

Why Pursue B.Sc in VFX Filmmaking in India?

Pursuing B.Sc VFX filmmaking is ideal  for passionate students who want to build a lucrative career with their VFX skills. Here are the reasons to consider for pursuing this course in India: 

1.  The entertainment and digital content market in India is growing.
2. Global studios (ILM, Framestore) are located in India, making opportunities global. 
3. Practical training based on industry-standard software and hardware.
4. Combination of artistic ability and technology prowess that would suit future media environments. 
5. More internship opportunities and industry networking.

Top Software Skills Learnt

Students master the following softwares: 

• Autodesk Maya
• 3ds Max
• Adobe After Effects
• Premise Pro
• Photoshop
• Nuke for compositing 
• Houdini for effects
• Blender and ZBrush modeling and sculpting. 
• Unity and Unreal Engine of 3D real-time graphics.

In short, B.Sc in VFX Filmmaking is a vibrant, imaginative, technically demanding course with enormous career opportunities particularly to technologically inclined artists who are keen on the movie and narration industry. As the digital content boom in India takes place, talented VFX experts are sought after locally and across borders.

When you want to turn your creativity into stunning visual stories, find the best Indian college that aligns with your needs, take the AIDAT entrance exam, and build a lucrative career in VFX filmmaking. 

In a historic step, the government has reduced the GST on agricultural machinery to 5% from 12% and 18%, making this decision a source of farmers’ empowerment and agricultural productivity. This significant GST reduction is effective from today, 22nd September, 2025, making modern farming equipment more affordable, reducing the cost burden on farmers, and promoting mechanization across the country.

What are the changes? 

Tractors with engine capacities of up to 1800 cc, and a wide variety of farm equipment , including ploughs, cultivators, seeders, sprayers, harvesters, and their spares including tyres and tubes, now only attract 5% GST only. Previously, they were charged at 12% or 18%, which increased their retail prices and affected the financial capacity of most farmers to afford modern farm equipment.

The updated tax cuts are applicable to all the Indian states and union territories without any difference, meaning that the farmers of Punjab as well as in Tamil Nadu can enjoy equal benefits in terms of lower prices. As an illustration, a 4-row paddy transplanter will now be selling at a price discounted by approximately 15,400 less, and a 13-HP power tiller will be at a reduced cost of approximately 12,000 less. The reduced tax rate has even made the cost of tractor tires, which is constantly changing by farmers, to be cheaper.

Price reduction official list

• A 35 HP tractor will now be cheaper by ₹41,000
• A 45 HP tractor will now be cheaper by ₹45,000
• A 50 HP tractor will now be cheaper by ₹53,000
• A 75 HP tractor will now be cheaper by ₹63,000
• Seed-cum-fertiliser drill (11 tyne): cheaper by ₹3,220
• Trailer (5-tonne capacity): cheaper by ₹10,500
• Baler square (6 ft): cheaper by ₹93,750
• Mulcher (8 ft): cheaper by ₹11,562
• Seed-cum-fertiliser drill (13 tyne): cheaper by ₹4,375
• Harvester combine cutter bar (14 ft): cheaper by ₹1,87,500
• Straw reaper (5 ft): cheaper by ₹21,875
• Power weeder (7.5 HP): cheaper by ₹5,495
• Super seeder (8 ft): cheaper by ₹16,875
• Happy seeder (10 tyne): cheaper by ₹10,625
• Rotavator (6 ft): cheaper by ₹7,812
• BPneumatic planter (4-row): cheaper by ₹32,812
• Tractor-mounted sprayer (400-litre capacity): cheaper by ₹9,375

Why This Matters to Farmers

By decreasing the GST of farm machinery, it will decrease the initial cost incurred to purchase and maintain farm machinery. This savings of costs motivates farmers to replace traditional and labor intensive equipment with modern machines that will enhance efficiency, save time and boost crop production. To increase the productivity of farms and to boost the incomes of farmers, which is aligned to the vision of the government of doubling the Farmers Incomes and a sustainable agricultural future, mechanization comes in.

The government has also encouraged manufacturers and custom hiring centres to make certain that the tax benefit is clearly transferred to farmers through reduction of rental rates as well as reduction in the functions of intermediaries.

Government and Industry Response 

A meeting was held with key agriculture machinery associations that the union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan chaired to discuss the implementation of the GST rate cuts smoothly. This step of the government is celebrated by the industry representatives who assured that they would assist in realizing maximum benefits to farmers throughout the country.

What does this mean for Indian Agriculture?  

The standardized 5% GST rate on farm implements will transform agricultural practices by making the advanced equipment very accessible. Such fiscal relaxation will give the small and marginal farmers the capacity to use technology and modernise, lessen reliance on manual labour, and satisfy the increasing food demand in the country more effectively.

As affordable tractors, harvesters, and implements become available, Indian agriculture can look forward to a healthy transformation to mechanized, profitable, and sustainable agriculture - a new dawn of prosperity in the workhorse in the Indian economy.  

Agricultural economist Ashok Gulati has warned that India risks jeopardising $50 billion worth of exports if it refuses to engage in agriculture in the ongoing trade negotiations with the United States. In an exclusive interview with India Today, he said India should rationalise tariffs on farm goods and not fall for "ideological" fears.

"That agriculture is not insulated from the economy," Gulati said. "We are importing $37 billion worth of farm products, and from the U.S. alone we import just $2 billion. Against that, we export about $5.9 billion. If we remain rigid and refuse to open up any sector, we risk losing the big export of $50 billion."

He stressed that India already relies heavily on imports. "We are not living in autarky," he said. "Almost 55 to 60 percent of the edible oil that you consume is imported. To say we will not allow any imports is ridiculous."

Agriculture and dairy have emerged as the biggest sticking points in the proposed India-US trade deal, with Washington pressing New Delhi to lower tariffs on farm goods. India has so far held firm, citing the need to protect its farmers and rural economy.

India's tariffs, he argued, were overdue for reform. "If edible oil can come at 10 percent duty and cotton at zero, then why do we have 45 percent duty on corn, 50 to 60 percent on soybean, or skimmed milk powder?" he asked. "We have been unduly overprotective. My feeling is 80 percent of our agriculture is very competitive."

On the sensitive issue of genetically modified crops, Gulati called India's policy inconsistent. "Ninety-five percent of cotton in this country is GM, and its seed is fed to poultry and cattle," he said. "But we say corn, which is mostly feed, cannot be GM. That's not based on science. It's an ideology."

He suggested calibrated measures such as tariff-rate quotas. "Up to two million tons of corn could be allowed when production is around 42 million tons," he said. "Even if you open up, sometimes you will import, sometimes you will export. Prices are already close to international levels."

Gulati pointed to the risk of retaliation if India remained inflexible. "Our biggest agricultural export to the U.S. is shrimp, worth billions, and it goes at almost zero duty," he said. "If they put a 50 percent tariff on it, those exports will collapse overnight. Are we ready to bear that loss — and the political fallout in Andhra Pradesh?"

The economist urged negotiators to strike a balance. "Trade is always give and take," he said. "If they want self-sufficiency in agriculture, first thing they should do is stop all the imports of edible oils which are 17 billion dollars. 55 to 60% of your consumption of edible oil is being imported. Why are you importing that? Are the farmers of oil seeds not important? So this hypocrisy should not be a part of the negotiation. Trade negotiations are give and take." 

More than 900 researchers and educators from all over India have expressed grave reservations over the University Grants Commission's (UGC) draft undergraduate mathematics curriculum, cautioning that the proposed structure is "sewered with grave defects" and would impact negatively on generations of students if adopted.

The UGC put out its draft curricula for nine subjects, including mathematics, last month and sought public comments. The academic community, however, reacted sharply, calling on the regulator to pull back the draft and form a new committee of competent mathematicians and seasoned undergraduate teachers to rework the syllabus.

Signatories in a petition to the UGC chairman contend that the curriculum is shallow in its academic content, excludes fundamental areas, and distorts the proportion of pure and applied mathematics.

Mahan Mj, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research professor, and winner of the coveted Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award, described the draft as containing "omission and commission" errors.

“We have been accustomed to incremental changes. This kind of drastic overhaul has not happened before,” he told reporters.

Among the omissions highlighted are insufficient coverage of algebra, real analysis, and applied mathematics — subjects considered foundational to higher studies and research.

"Analysis is a basic tool, and to take only one semester of it, as the draft proposes, is grossly insufficient. We suggested a minimum of three, ideally four, courses in analysis of various types," Mahan elaborated.

He pointed out, likewise, that algebra — the core of contemporary mathematics — has been "short-changed" in the draft. "At least three algebra courses are required in an undergraduate curriculum," he pointed out.

Teachers warn that if the draft is approved, India's undergraduate students will be denied substantial gaps in mathematical training, weakening their chances to continue with advanced studies or compete internationally.

The petition arrives at a moment when India is spearheading a future "Vishwaguru" role in education under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, and therefore designing strong, internationally competitive curricula is of utmost importance.

The UGC has not responded officially to the issues that have been raised.

Each year, there are lakhs of ambitious students in India with a dream of pursuing an MBA to build a lucrative career in management, consulting, finance, marketing, and technology. For 2026 aspirants, cracking the right entrance exams is the key first step. Most business schools with high ranking admit individuals who qualify through national and state-level MBA entrance exams. The most significant entrance exams are presented in this article, and the dates, trends, and colleges that accept scores provided, to assist you in organizing your MBA experience around the best time. 

The importance of MBA Entrance Exams

MBA entrance tests are the barrier to the desirable management institutes like the Indian institutes of management (IIMs), XLRI, Jamshedpur, NMIMS, Mumbai, Symbiosis, Pune and so on. These tests help evaluate the applicants on such important areas as quantitative ability, verbal skills, logical reasoning, and general awareness. Competition is intense, and seats are few, with 4lakh+ candidates seeking to pass every year it is important to grasp the intricacies of these exams to succeed. 

Top MBA Entrance Exams in India for 2026

1.Common Admission Test (CAT) 2025

Exam Date: November 30, 2025

Purpose: Gateway to 21 IIMs and over 1,000 prestigious B-schools

Pattern: 3 sections – Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), Quantitative Ability (QA)

Duration: 120 minutes

Significance: The toughest and most sought-after MBA exam, registering over 3.5 lakh candidates every year

2.Global Management Common Aptitude Test (GMCAT) 2026

Powered by: edinbox 

Accepted by: 70+ top management universities in India (private)

Duration: 1 hours

Exam type: 100% online with 100 MCQ questions

Significance: The easiest, convenient MBA entrance exam for admission, registering over 500  candidates from the first year of being introduced in 2024. 

3.Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) 2026

Exam Date: January 4, 2026

Accepted By: XLRI Jamshedpur, XIMB, IMT Ghaziabad, over 1,000 institutes

Pattern: 4 sections including Quantitative Ability, Decision Making, and General Knowledge

Duration: 180 minutes

4.NMIMS Management Aptitude Test (NMAT) 2025

Exam Window: November-December 2025 (flexible scheduling)

Institutes: NMIMS Mumbai, KJ Somaiya, IFMR, and other institutes

Key Feature: Conducted multiple times with best scores considered; online remote proctoring

5.Symbiosis National Aptitude Test (SNAP) 2025

Exam Month: December 2025

Scope: For admission to 17 Symbiosis institutes including SIBM Pune, SCMHRD

Pattern: Sectional, computer-based test

6.Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) 2026

Conducted By: National Testing Agency (NTA)

Exam Date: February-March 2026

Acceptance: AICTE approved institutes across India, including JBIMS Mumbai, BIMTECH

Sections: Quantitative Techniques, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness, Innovation and Entrepreneurship

7.Maharashtra CET (MAH MBA CET) 2026

Exam Date: March-April 2026

Scope: State-level exam for admission to MBA colleges in Maharashtra

Pattern: 200 questions across four sections in 150 minutes

Additional Notable MBA Entrance Exams in India.

1. Tamil Nadu TANCET (MBA in Tamil Nadu)
2. MICAT (strategic marketing and communications PGDM exam of MICA Ahmedabad)
3. SRCC GBO (Specialized global business operations test of Shri Ram College of Commerce)

Preparing for 2026: Key Tips

• Begin on time and find 4-5 exams that conform to your target institutes.
• Get familiar with the syllabus and pattern of the various exams; many of them overlap.
• Test yourself using mock tests and past year papers to identify your strengths and weaknesses.
• Time management and conceptual clarity is important as well.
• Keep track of registration deadlines
• For latest updates and info, check the official website of the entrance exam you are preparing for.  

In India, MBA admission tests are the portals to some of the most reputable management schools that make future leaders. Several exams are available to serve colleges at both national and state levels, therefore, aspirants need to strategize their preparation and discipline to ensure a landing into leading business schools such as IIMs, XLRI, NMIMS or Symbiosis among other exams to take place in the year 2026.  

Today, on 19th September,2025, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, chaired a pivotal meeting on GST reforms for the Agriculture Sector. 

The discussions were on the implementation of the GST rate cut on machinery and equipment in agriculture that was recently reduced by half to 5% instead of 12-18% effective on 22 September, 2025. This historic reform would make farm machinery much more affordable, lower production expenses, and increase the income of farmers.

Benefits for Farmers and Agriculture Economy 

In his response to the media following the meeting, Minister Chouhan said the GST reforms are “extremely helpful and beneficial” to farmers in India. He stressed that such reforms would give the agricultural sector a new impetus, allowing farmers to achieve higher prices, and agribusiness would become more open and easier.

Shivraj Singh Chouhand said, "GST on bio-pesticides and micronutrients has been reduced, which will benefit farmers. Also, the trend of farmers towards bio-fertilizers from chemical fertilizers will definitely increase. GST exemptions in the dairy sector, including on milk and cheese, will help the common man as well as cattle breeders and milk producers."

He also said that the government’s commitment is absolute; these reforms are sure to drop the input costs, increase production and profitability, and bring prosperity to farmers and rural India. 

Key Outcomes of the Meeting

• Discount of tractors and tools: Retail price reductions are forecasted to be 5% and will save between Rs 23,000 and Rs 63,000 based on horsepower and type of tractor. 
• Subsidy and Tax Benefits: Farmers will receive two benefits of government subsidies and reduced GST, which will decrease the total costs of cultivation. 
• Target Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs): The reduction of rental fees due to cheaper farm machinery purchase will provide access to mechanization within small and marginal farmers at CHCs.
• Industry Involvement: The industry representatives of major industry associations such as Tractor and Mechanisation Association (TMA), Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers Association (AMMA), All India Combine Harvester Manufacturers Association (AICMA), and Power Tiller Association of India (PTAI) attended and promised to spread these benefits.

The Vision of Agricultural Growth by Government

Under this reform, the government will enhance farm mechanization, efficiency, agricultural productivity, and localized manufacturing in the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. Closely collaborating with stakeholders is also the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare to make the implementation as smooth and transparent as possible.

That’s the no-man’s land many graduates of the COVID years find themselves in—left behind by a world that has seemingly moved on. While the rest of the country debates moon missions and startup booms, there exists a silent generation still stuck at the starting line, scouring LinkedIn for entry-level jobs that no longer exist, and falling prey to an exploitative ecosystem thriving on false hope.

During the pandemic, college placements vanished overnight. Offer letters were revoked. Careers that had barely begun came to a halt. And now, nearly half a decade later, what remains is a gaping hole—one that private training and placement institutes have rushed in to fill. These aren’t your standard coaching centres. They operate in the grey—promising plum tech jobs, experience certificates, and quick-fix career makeovers, all for a fee and your original degree certificates as collateral.

Rohan (name changed), a B.Tech graduate from Jamshedpur after completing his industrial training with Tata Motors led nowhere after the pandemic. By 2023, approaching 30 and still unemployed, he turned to five such institutes in Chennai. They dangled backend developer roles in top firms with ₹16 LPA salaries. All he had to do was pay ₹1.2 lakh upfront—and hand over his original certificates. Today, he’s still chasing interviews, unpaid internships, and living in fear of HR audits. His documents? Locked away in an office drawer.

Then there’s Pooja, a young mother from Hyderabad with a BCA degree. After a two-year career break, she was told she’d never be considered unless she “fixed the gap.” An institute “rebranded” her—rewrote her resume, coached her, fabricated her experience timeline. She’s employed now, but lives under constant anxiety.

The worst-hit are those who neither fit the mould of a fresher nor the comfort of experience. One electrical engineer, now 31, travelled south for a job training program—only to end up depressed, isolated, and betrayed. “I had dengue, I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t talk to anyone due to language. I kept asking about my placement—they finally said, ‘We only train, we don’t guarantee jobs.’”

And yet, the price tags are all too real:

• ₹20,000 for admission
• ₹50,000 per interview (after an offer letter)
• ₹1 lakh for an “experience certificate”
• Another ₹1 lakh post-placement as “success fees”

The institutes don’t sign contracts. They communicate through vague promises. “Placement depends on the candidate,” one helpdesk executive told me, conveniently avoiding any written assurance.

This isn’t a one-off scam. It’s a systemic rot. A survival economy built on the backs of pandemic graduates too desperate to question, too exhausted to resist. What should have been a temporary setback has become a career death sentence for many—unless, of course, they pay.

Where are the regulators? Where are the safeguards? Why is it so easy to open an institute that takes degrees hostage in the name of employability?

COVID-era graduates don’t need fabricated resumes or illegal shortcuts. They need bridges back into the workforce. They need structured returnship programs, flexible apprenticeships, re-skilling pathways, and, most importantly, recognition from the system that they failed—and still are.

Until then, these shadow networks will thrive. Not because they’re invisible. But because we’ve chosen to look away.

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

There’s a popular adage - “Fast, cheap, good—pick two.” Pursue all three, and you risk collapse. Now, transpose that logic to the Indian development model, and a similarly impossible triangle emerges—except this one decides the future of half the population.

In India’s case, the three corners are female labour force participation (FLFP), care infrastructure, and demographic stability. Strengthen one, and the other two teeter. Ignore one, and the whole structure falters. It’s not just a policy dilemma—it’s macroeconomics cracking under a gendered fault line.

The Numbers Show Growth. The Reality Reveals Strain.

The spike from 23.3%female labour force participation in 2017–18 to 41.7% in 2023–24 deserves scrutiny, not celebration. Much of the increase comes from rural India, driven by distress, not opportunity. Women are entering informal, unpaid, or subsistence-level work—not careers that empower, but jobs that barely sustain.

Even in urban, formal sectors, the dropout rate is alarming. Nearly 50% of women leave the labor force between ages 30 and 40—just when caregiving needs are highest. Motherhood, care for elderly, and domestic work conflict with career goals. It's not a "choice" when there are no options provided by society. It's quiet surrender.

The Invisible Economy India Refuses to Account For

Unpaid care work continues to be India's invisible engine of households. Millions of women wake up daily to cook, clean, nurse, educate, plan, and keep families together—without contracts, paychecks, or state acknowledgement.

Indian women spend an average of five hours every day on unpaid domestic work; men get through only one. Globally, unpaid care accounts for over 7.5% of India’s GDP—more than we spend on health or education. Yet, it goes uncounted and unsupported.

Without a care economy—affordable childcare, elderly services, domestic help—women are forced out of the paid workforce. Careers end not due to lack of skill or ambition, but because there’s no infrastructure to share the burden.

Falling Fertility and the Price of Aspiration

India’s fertility rate has dipped to 1.9—below the replacement threshold of 2.1. In metros, it’s even lower. Couples are increasingly opting for DINK (Double Income, No Kids) lifestyles. It isn’t a rejection of family—it’s a reflection of systems that make parenthood unaffordable.

There’s little to no institutional support: minimal parental leave, negligible workplace flexibility, and no local childcare access. Fertility is falling not because people don’t want children—but because the cost of raising them is too high, emotionally and economically. This mirrors the demographic crises already battering Japan and South Korea.

We Can’t Patch a Systemic Crisis

India’s efforts, like the Palna Scheme (2,688 creches for ~57,000 children), are symbolic at best. Compare that to France, which spends 2.5% of GDP on childcare, or Sweden’s 480-day paid parental leave model. Even South Korea is now trialing four-day work weeks to ease family stress.

India’s ambition to become a “Viksit Bharat” hinges not only on digitisation or defence—but on how we treat care as infrastructure. Tax credits for caregivers, employer-supported childcare, public-private creche partnerships, and community-based care solutions aren’t luxuries. They are lifelines.

Care Is Not a Private Problem. It’s a Public Priority.

If India wants women to participate in the economy, have children, and lead fulfilled lives, the care economy cannot be an afterthought. It must be front and centre in policy, budgeting, and social reform.

We ask women to rise, but hand them broken ladders. We laud working mothers, but build no scaffolding to hold them up. We want economic growth—but ignore the invisible labour enabling it.

India’s triangle—labour, care, and demography—can become a virtuous cycle. But only if we stop demanding impossible trade-offs from its women. The future won’t be built in boardrooms alone. It begins in kitchens, creches, and caregiving routines we’ve long ignored.

Teaching Children to Travel Before They Literally Start Piling Their Bags

There's an old adage which gets quoted so extensively amongst travelers: "The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page." In a country like India, that book is not merely thick but an encyclopedia of cultures, landscapes, tongues, and tales. But for schoolchildren by the millions, journeys have been the domain of book pages, sepia photographs, and the occasional summer vacation. The Ministry of Tourism, in its recent move, has altered all this. By making itself child-friendly on its Incredible India website, India has, as it were, created an endless classroom where geography, history, and culture become touchable—not recollected facts but to-be-touched.

This is not simply revamping a government portal. It's an unobtrusive revolution in how we think education must be. That we would create things specially for kids—interactive maps, digital stories, quizzes, trivia, and colorful pictures—underscores an awareness that education cannot be lowered to words and chalk. It requires movement, color, questioning, and most importantly, awe. That is precisely what travel offers, albeit virtually.

From Monuments to Memories

Think of how Indian textbooks typically introduce places. The Taj Mahal is presented as a Mughal wonder in marble. Rajasthan forts are categorized under medieval architecture. Kerala backwaters perhaps find a fleeting mention in geography texts on water bodies. They are presented as dead facts without any heart, to be memorized for a test. What the Incredible India website does is present them with a story which gives their heart to them.

A child who comes to the site does not only know that Taj Mahal was built in the 17th century; they are also exposed to Shah Jahan's dream, Yamuna river glimmering its brightness, and the artists' sweat chiseling out its stones. They don't only witness Rajasthan's forts as ruins—instead, they hear the voice of victories attained and the wars fought. The backwaters of Kerala are no longer blue lines on a map; they are waterways lined with houseboats plying down and festivals breaking out.

When children learn this way, they don't just recall the dates but the feelings—a connective emotional bond to heritage, one that textbooks are unable to create.

Education Meets Exploration

The brilliance of the project lies in its timing. Today, in the post-pandemic world, distance learning is no longer an add-on; it's standard for tens of millions of students. Yet, much of it is passive— hearing lectures, reading out of slides, or clicking on MCQs. By combining travel and learning, the Incredible India portal combines a pinch of fun. Games as experiments, smile-wink maps that winkle back, and questionnaires that question incite discovery rather than passive skimming.

It's fully in accord with the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP), which promotes experiential and interdisciplinary study. Travel, of course, is the most interdisciplinary topic there can be—geomorphology, history, anthropology, economics, ecology, even literature are all up for grabs. When the child discovers the Himalayas through the website, he is learning geology, biodiversity, mythology, and mountaineering in entirety. When he visits Varanasi, he feels the coming together of religion, art, town planning, and philosophy. This is exactly the kind of coming together of knowledge that is encouraged in NEP.

Travel as a Civic Teacher

Apart from studies, travel—real or imaginary—learns lessons that no school can teach. It makes them tolerant, respectful of nature and culture, and compassionate. This project exposes them to India's diversity early in life and makes them good students, but good citizens as well. A child who has learned to appreciate the Sundarbans' fragile ecosystem will be worried about global warming by nature. A child who has learned about the Kutch weavers' craft will naturally respect traditional lifestyles.

The Incredible India website thus does more than generate wanderlust; it sows seeds of responsibility. It says to kids: this is your heritage, your country, your duty to protect.

Challenges Ahead

Of course, no editorial ever is without noting omissions. With all its promise, such an on-line site has the potential to be elitist unless it is democratized. Private school children in the urban areas might learn lots, but rural India where the internet hasn't reached yet, what happens there? If mobility is the new teacher, then access needs to be normative. That means not just internet infrastructure but incorporation into school syllabi so that all the kids, irrespective of where they are from, can start this digital journey.

The second problem is depth. The platform can get children to learn about destinations, but will it also get children to think? Will it rise above nice pictures to discuss sustainable tourism, preservation of historic sites, and how tourism affects societies? The responses will tell us whether or not this is still a wishful exhibit case or otherwise a real learning tool.

A Vision Larger Than Tourism

At its essence, though, this project is not necessarily a vision of tourism. It's an acknowledgment that tourism is not necessarily holidays, Instagram selfies, and souvenirs. Tourism is pedagogy—pedagogy of questioning, pedagogy of listening to tales, pedagogy of writing difference. And by doing that with children, India has taken tourism out of being a consumerist luxury commodity but as a pedagogical tool and a nation-building device.

The Road Ahead

With strong leadership, this revolution can transform traveling and learning. Consider school assignments where kids plot travel routes for social studies class. Consider cyber pen-pal programs where students from various states learn about each other's local landmarks. Consider national tests where kids are tested not on memorization but on knowing storytelling heritage. The future is as vast as the nation itself.

In converting travel into the new classroom, India has made a huge leap. But long leaps, like long travels, are an incremental journey. The direction of this movement will be based on how it gets expanded, how it reaches so close, and how it inspires on an ongoing basis.

At least for the time being, here's what's certain: next generation Indians may not have known the nooks and crannies of their own nation, but through Incredible India's website, they will know it, love it, and, perhaps one day, reclaim it. And that's the real alchemy of education by tourism.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

But today, that altar gathers dust.

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

The answer is sobering.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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