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The Karnataka government issued a new rulebook for 2025-26 in a move to seek justice and ensure transparency in private school admission processes. The state's all the private schools including national board schools like CBSE and ICSE will be administered by the norms.

The key feature of the new policy is that the process of admission is regulated to avoid arbitrary and unlawful practices and safeguard parents against hidden charges and discrimination. According to the new rules, a child cannot be younger than 5 years and 5 months on June 1, 2025, to be admitted to Class 1.

For ensuring transparency, schools are now required to publish detailed information regarding admission calendars, capacity, and fees. All these have to be displayed on notice boards, school websites, and even in the admission manuals. Fees can also be raised only with prior sanction by the concerned department and with its announcement to the public. Unauthorized or surreptitious fees are prohibited under stricter standards.

As a measure for inclusive education, the government has placed a big emphasis on mandatory reservations. Reservations are for half of the seats for the girl students and the SC students, ST students, and the OBC students are reserved seats.

More than anything else, schools will cease to be able to hold entrance tests or interview on admission into pre-primary or Class 1. The overhaul will ease the load on tiny children and an end to discrimination in selection mechanisms.

The Karnataka School Education Department has made it amply clear that the schools which are found to be non-compliant with such regulations will be dealt with sternly, including cancellation of No Objection Certificates (NOCs) or recognition. The officials have asserted that the state regulations need to be complied with by all the schools regardless of the board to which they are affiliated so that equality in pursuit of education is achieved.

These reforms are an indication of the shift in the direction of the government to make school admission simpler, child-focused, and accountable. Parents and institutions need to get accustomed to the new trend from the start of the new session in 2025-26 as well in order to present a well-balanced learning environment.

In a stern administrative action, Indore Divisional Commissioner Deepak Singh has put on hold District Education Officer (DEO) Sushma Vaish immediately on grounds of persistent absence in public hearings and inaction regarding complaints pertaining to CBSE schools. The order came on the proposal of Indore Collector Ashish Singh, who has appointed Joint Collector Vijay Kumar Mandloi as temporary District Education Officer in order to make the working of the department uninterrupted.

According to reports, scores of complaints were being heard during the public hearings conducted at the Collectorate on issues faced by students and parents of more than 250 private CBSE schools in Indore, but the DEO continued to be missing, which brought increasing frustration for the complainants.

These schools together serve almost eight lakh students, and it is estimated that prominent CBSE schools in Indore charge Rs 150 to Rs 200 crore every year in fees from students of all classes - from LKG to Class 12. Even with such exorbitant fees, parents and students are frequently subjected to coercive conduct by school managements. Parents complain that if they voice concerns regarding school regulations or insist on their rights, school administrators and principals threaten to expel their children during the middle of the term.

Likewise, teachers and employees working in such schools are reportedly intimidated and coerced. Various teachers have complained that raising voice regarding fundamental rights or administrative problems has resulted in abrupt termination of their services without notice or justification, shattering their professional continuity.

Angered by this high-handedness, parents, teachers, and school employees have tried to seek redressal, but say no dedicated CBSE official is present in Indore. They are usually informed by local officials that issues pertaining to private CBSE schools are not within their jurisdiction.

Adding to the problem is the lack of a CBSE regional office in Indore. Currently, the sole CBSE office in Madhya Pradesh is in Bhopal, which handles almost 2,500 CBSE-affiliated schools in the state. People affected in Indore complain that they cannot spare the time and money involved in going to Bhopal again and again to register and pursue complaints.

To meet this, Indore citizens are now demanding that Indore be made a separate CBSE office city and that CBSE officers also attend bi-weekly public hearings at the Collector's office. They have also asked the authorities to open a special grievances cell within the Collectorate for registering and sending complaints from parents, educators, and school staff to CBSE offices in Bhopal and Delhi and enabling local monitoring of resolution of complaints.

This bureaucratic overhaul and popular demand mirror increasing apprehensions regarding the unbridled freedom of private CBSE schools and the pressing necessity for institutional accountability mechanisms at the district level.

The suspension of DEO Sushma Vaish is being interpreted as a warning to other administrative officers to pay heed to public complaints, particularly when they relate to education and the welfare of children. Indore Collector Ashish Singh was quoted as having expressed dismay over the growing number of complaints from parents and teachers that were not being heard, saying that issues related to education need to be prioritized in public hearings, particularly in a city like Indore with a huge network of private schools.

In the meantime, education activists and parent groups have appreciated the prompt action by the district administration but emphasized the necessity of systemic change. According to them, without effective monitoring and accountability, private CBSE schools tend to function as independent entities where there is little concern for equitable treatment of parents, students, or employees. "We need transparent redressal mechanisms and periodic audits of CBSE schools to safeguard educational rights," a representative of a local parents' group stated.

The state government decided to shut down Anganwadi centres, Shishu Batika and schools for students up to class 12 for five days in the review meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Kumar Pujari informed.

Odisha government on Tuesday declared closure of schools and colleges for five days from tomorrow due to prevailing severe heatwave conditions in the state.

Anganwadi centres, Shishu Batika and schools for students up to class 12 shall remain closed for the next five days, it was decided at a review meeting led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, said Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Kumar Pujari.

According to the order, schools will not function at any of the government or government-aided or private educational institutions but the students may remain in their respective hostels, the Minister told. He also issued a warning that action would be initiated against the authorities of the school if they fail to comply with the direction of the state government.

The Revenue and Disaster Management Minister, however, made it clear that the tests of the students would be conducted according to their schedule.

Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan, School & Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond, Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, Additional Chief Secretary Satyabrata Sahu, DGP  Y B Khurania, Revenue and Disaster Management Additional Chief Secretary Deoranjan Kumar Singh and others attended the heatwave review meeting.

It should be noted here that the weather department has announced yellow warning for severe heatwave conditions for the next five days in the State. Season's highest temperature of 46.2°C was recorded today in Jharsuguda.

As the 2024–25 academic year comes to a close, students and parents across India wait with bated breath for the announcement of the board exam results. These results will determine the academic fate of millions, with the announcements set to begin from late April and go on through the month of May. Here is a detailed overview of the anticipated result dates and last year's performance metrics of major boards such as CBSE, UPMSP, MSBSHSE, BSE Telangana, UBSE, HBSE, and PSEB.

CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education)

CBSE board conducted its Class 10 and 12 examination between February 15 and March 13, 2025, with an estimated 38 lakh candidates. The results will likely be published within the second week of May 2025 at the website cbseresults.nic.in.

In 2024, the overall pass percentage for Class 12 was 87.98%. Girls achieved a higher success rate of 91.52% as against 85.12% for boys. The most successful regions were Trivandrum, Vijayawada, and Chennai.

Expected Result Date: Second week of May 2025

Official Website: cbseresults.nic.in

The SSC (Class 10) exams in Telangana were held from March 18 to April 2, 2025, with 5.3 lakh students appearing. Results are expected by mid-May 2025.

During the 2024 session, the board obtained an 86.60% pass percentage. Girls performed better than boys with an 88.53% pass percentage as against 84.68% for boys.

Expected Result Date (SSC): Mid-May 2025

Official Website: bse.telangana.gov.in

Maharashtra Board (MSBSHSE)

Maharashtra State Board conducted its HSC (Class 12) examinations from February 21 to March 20 and SSC (Class 10) examinations from March 1 to March 25, 2025. Over 30 lakh students are believed to have sat for the exams. HSC results should be out by the end of May, and SSC results can be expected in mid-June.

For 2024, HSC pass percentage was 91.25% and SSC pass percentage was 93.83%. Girls performed better than boys in both: 94.73% (HSC) and 95.87% (SSC).

HSC Result Date: End of May 2025

SSC Result Date: Mid-June 2025

Websites: mahresult.nic.in, mahahsscboard.in

UP Board (UPMSP)

The Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad held its Class 10 and 12 examinations from February 24 to March 12, 2025, with 54.37 lakh students enrolled. Results to be declared on or before April 28, 2025.

In the 2024 results, the pass percentage for Class 10 was 89.55%, with girls performing better than boys in all respects.

Expected Result Date: On or before April 20, 2025

Official Website: upmsp.edu.in

Haryana Board (HBSE/BSEH)

Haryana Board is expected to declare Class 10 and 12 results in the last week of April or first week of May 2025. Results will be posted on the official website.

Board has announced good performance in 2024 with girls steadily registering higher pass percentages.

Expected Result Date: Last Week of April or First Week of May 2025

Official Website: bseh.org.in

Punjab Board (PSEB) Punjab School Education Board had its Class 10 exams from March 10 to April 4, 2025, and Class 12 exams from February 19 to April 4, 2025. Approximately 2.81 lakh candidates took the Class 10 exam, and 2.84 lakh took the Class 12 exam.

Class 10 results are expected to be announced between April 17 and April 20, 2025, whereas Class 12 results can be expected in the last week of April 2025.

In 2024, Class 10 reported a pass percentage of 97.24% (girls: 98.11%, boys: 96.47%), whereas Class 12 reported 93.04%, with girls topping the charts once again (95.74% vs. 90.74%).

Class 10 Result Date: April 17–20, 2025

Class 12 Result Date: Last week of April 2025

Official Website: pseb.ac.in

The row over student detention in Delhi-NCR schools has gained momentum as education activists and concerned citizens step forward with charges that several high-profile educational institutions are breaching the Right to Education (RTE) Act of 2009. Reports said that these schools were allegedly detaining students of Classes 6 and 7, even though well-defined legal provisions allow detention only at certain grade levels.

The matter has picked up momentum after the Department of School Education and Literacy of the Ministry of Education issued a notification with changed rules for 'Examination and Holding Back in Certain Cases' in December 2024. The rules were introduced as amendments were made to the RTE Act in 2019, which altered the earlier "no detention policy" that existed for children up to Class 8.

Understanding the Legal Framework of Student Detention

Advocate and education activist Ashok Aggarwal explained the current legal position to PTI: "The amended rules allow schools to detain students in Classes 5 and 8 only, that too after giving them additional opportunity for re-examination within two months from the date of declaration of results." He further clarified that before the 2019 amendment, there was a complete no-detention policy for students up to Class 8, but the revised Act now permits detention specifically at the 5th and 8th grade levels.

Section 16A of the RTE Act clearly states that periodical examinations shall be held in Classes 5 and 8 at the conclusion of each academic year. In case a child does not achieve the promotion requirement, he or she shall be provided with another chance for re-examination within two months of the date of declaration of results. Only when a child is unable to pass this re-examination can they be retained in Class 5 or 8, as the case may be.

Parents' Experiences and Concerns

Some parents have emerged with disturbing stories of how the schools are managing student advancement. Many have been reported to have been issued ultimatums by school officials – either accept a school leaving certificate or have their child repeat Classes 6 or 7, even though such an action is specifically outlawed by law.

One parent from Gurgaon, speaking anonymously, shared: "My son is in Class 6 and we have been told that if he does not clear the re-exam scheduled in May, he will not be promoted to the next class. But norms say that students cannot be detained in classes other than 5 and 8. My son couldn't score well due to bad health this year."

This experience seems to be common to several families throughout the National Capital Region, with many being coerced by schools that ought to be observing, not evading, education laws.

Expert Opinions and Recommendations

Education experts have raised concern over these purported violations. Prof. Anita Rampal, who was once affiliated with the Faculty of Education at Delhi University, termed the scenario as a "blatant disregard for the Act by public schools." She suggested that concerned parents should "file complaints in the nearest district or session courts," adding that "schools must understand that the Act gives certain constitutional rights to children."

Ashok Ganguly, the ex-chairman, Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), also shed some light, pointing out that "neither the Right to Education Act nor the National Education Policy and the National Curriculum Framework permit any school to detain a student in Classes 6 and 7." He went on to indicate even detention in Classes 5 and 8 is questionable at this point given that there were no proper procedures set in motion by the state governments and education boards.

Impact of Detention on Students

The educational implication of detention for young children cannot be underestimated. As per reports from the Department of School Education and Literacy, forcing a child to reappear in the same class can be extremely de-motivating and damaging to their learning experience.

The department guidance adds: "Repeating a class does not provide the child with any extra facilities to cope with the same syllabus demands for another year. Parents and friends of such children also tend to think about such children as being 'fit for failure', thus reinforcing the school's attitude while labeling a child 'fail'."

This is in keeping with contemporary educational philosophy that deals with ongoing and continuous evaluation processes that are non-threatening and free from fear and trauma of failure.

How to Check Your Child's Rights Under RTE Act

If you think your child's school might be contravening provisions of the RTE Act on detention policies, there are things you can do:

Educate yourself on the particular provisions of the RTE Act, specifically Section 16A on detention policies

Ask written records from the school regarding their promotion policies and retention decisions

Reach out to your state Education Department or RTE cell to register complaints of suspected violations

Feel free to seek the help of education activists or legal aid organizations that specialize in education law

Register a complaint with the District Education Officer in case of ongoing violations

As a last measure, seek legal recourse through session or district courts

For comprehensive details regarding the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act and its provisions, parents can check the official Ministry of Education website at education.gov.in or approach their state's specific RTE implementation cell.

Current Implementation Status:

After the 2019 amendment of the Right to Education Act, at least 18 states and Union Territories formally shifted away from the absolute "no-detention policy" for Classes 5 and 8. These are Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Delhi, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Jammu and Kashmir.

Ministry of Education authorities, when asked why there is a five-year lag from the time of the 2019 amendment to the December 2024 notification, said that the rollout of the new National Education Policy soon after the amendment resulted in the delay.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Sunday revealed that the state is planning to implement CBSE curriculum in government schools. In an official statement, Sukhu stated that on a pilot basis, the government would implement CBSE curriculum first in 100 schools.

He also informed that the state government will initiate the recruitment process for 700 new home guard staff in the state shortly. The chief minister made the statement while chairing the closing ceremony of Fire Service Week in Baldeyan, Shimla, the statement added.

Sukhu has been emphasizing education and health sector reforms. He had last week announced that senior secondary sections operating in the government schools in the area of urban local bodies would be co-educational. On March 28, the state cabinet had sanctioned the upgradation of the Directorate of Elementary Education to the Directorate of School Education for managing education from pre-nursery to Class 12.

During the function, CM Sukhu inaugurated 13 new fire-fighting vehicles to augment the department's emergency response system and also lauded the vital role of the fire services, home guards, and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) staff during the 2023 monsoon-induced disaster, the statement added.

On the occasion, fire service personnel were awarded for their outstanding service and prizes were also given to the winners of different competitions organized during the Fire Service Week, it added.

The chief minister also visited the exhibitions organized by the fire department. He also paid respects at the Shaheed Smarak and declared monetary aid of Rs 5 lakh per family for two fire service personnel, Joginder Pal and Ghanshyam, who had died in service in 2009 while working in Nalagarh of Solan district.

Healthcare reforms are being introduced to improve medical facilities statewide, Sukhu added.