Only children who have completed their sixth birthday by the time they are admitted to Class 1 will be allowed to join Class 1 in the 2026, 2027 academic year in Haryana.

This step was taken after the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and it's in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.This change ends the previous six-month age waiver and will affect parents in Gurgaon and other cities.

Currently six states and union territories-including Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Kerala-have not yet implemented a six-year minimum age for Class 1. As per ANI report, 30 states and union territories have already modified their entry rules in line with the policy.

Some states have implemented the six-year rule. Delhi Directorate of Education said that from 2026 the age of entry in all schools will be six years. The entry age in Goa will be officially raised to six years under the Goa School Education Bill, 2026. Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have also implemented the age of six, while Karnataka has adopted it in a phased manner with a cut-off of June 1.

Gujarat and Maharashtra have fully implemented the 6+ norms. Punjab has reorganized the pre-primary stages as per the new rules. Central schools, including all Kendriya Vidyalayas and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, have implemented the six, year rule from the 2022, 23 session.

In the matter of Divisha Yadav vs State of Haryana, the Court castigated the State for the non, alignment of its manual with the National Education Policy (NEP) and ordered it to bring it up to date. Now children who do not meet the age limit will be placed in pre-primary classes and will be included in Class 1 on completion of six years of age, so that they can study along with their classmates.

NCERT, in collaboration with the Crime Branch of Delhi Police, has launched a big campaign against illegal printing of pirated copies of NCERT textbooks.The Crime Branch of Delhi Police, based on the specific intelligence input, carried out the operation of the illegal printing in Village Jawli, Loni, Ghaziabad (U.P.).The raid led to the discovery of large, scale violations of copyright laws through illegal printing of NCERT books.

Fake NCERT books not only damage the education system but also mislead the students and parents of the country, thus, this operation intends to stop the usage of such books.During the crackdown, around 32, 000 pirated NCERT textbooks of different classes and subjects were recovered. The police also recovered two printing machines, aluminium printing plates, paper rolls, and printing ink, indicating large-scale unauthorised printing.

The action was initiated on the basis of inputs developed during an earlier case registered vide FIR No. 336/2025 dated 11.11.2025, by the Crime Branch of Delhi Police, under the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Copyright Act, 1957.

Officials from NCERT’s Publication Division were present during the raid and seizure proceedings and provided technical assistance for the identification and verification of pirated material. NCERT reiterates that unauthorised printing, distribution, or sale of NCERT textbooks is a punishable offence under law.

Such activities not only violate copyright but also adversely affect students and the education system by circulating substandard and incorrect content.People are requested to buy textbooks published by the NCERT only from the authorised dealers and to report any cases that appear to be piracy to the NCERT or to local authorities.

According to data tabled in the Rajya Sabha on December 17, NCERT is running with more than half of its approved positions lying vacant. Out of the total sanctioned strength of 2, 844 posts at NCERT headquarters, regional institutes, and departments, only 1, 219 positions are presently filled, thus 1, 625 posts are left vacant across Group A, B, and C categories.

This was an answer from the Ministry of Education to an unstarred question by Rajya Sabha MP Samirul Islam that asked for the details on vacancies, contractual appointments, and permanent recruitment at NCERT during the last five years.

In the Central Institute of Educational Technology (CIET), for instance, only 45 out of 116 sanctioned posts across Group A, B and C are filled, while at NERIE, just 26 out of 55 posts are occupied.

Project Veer Gatha inspires 1.92 Cr students with real life storytelling 

Project Veer Gatha, a flagship national initiative celebrating India's gallantry award winners, has broken the record of participation by holding 1.92 crore students of 1.90 lakh schools in its fifth edition.

It was launched in 2021 as a part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav and the program thus. keeps on expanding its reach as a great platform for inculcating patriotism, creativity and knowledge of India's military heritage among school students.

The joint venture of the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Education, inspires students to know about the lives and sacrifices of the soldiers through various creative modes of expression such as poems, essays, paintings, digital posters, short films, and multimedia presentations.

The whole world is praising the initiative through hashtag #VeerGatha on social media, which is thus, allowing the sharing of heroism and bravery stories to a large number of people from different platforms.

The focus of this issue was mainly on the Samarik Parampara (India's martial traditions) which comprised the stories of the heroic warriors, such as Prithviraj Chauhan, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and the leaders of the 1857 revolt.

Student participation has been steadily rising as the first edition attracted only 8 lakh students.

One of the major successes of this year was the participation of 28, 005 students belonging to 91 CBSE schools from 18 different states. This serves as a very strong indication that the project has extended its Indian diaspora global reach.

Schools arranged face, to, face and virtual sessions with awardees who received gallantry honors. Meanwhile, competition entries were uploaded on the MyGov portal. After rounds of district and state level assessments, 4020 works were eligible at that level. From there, 100 Super, Winners will be given a cash prize of 10, 000 each and also a ticket to witness Republic Day Parade 2026 at Kartavya Path.

By connecting young minds with real, life stories of bravery, Project Veer Gatha is not just a competition, but a national campaign that fosters patriotism and historical awareness.

University Grants Commission (UGC) jointly with the Supreme Court through the latter 's directions in the hearings of suicides cases of Rohith Vemula and Payal Tadvi has put out for public consultation the Draft UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2025. This draft aims to ensure that no one gets discriminated against on the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, and birthplace and to spread the notion of inclusion in higher education institutions (HEIs). But it has been pointed out by the critics that the regulation, which on paper sounds like a progressive step, lacks the requisite structural, strategic and operational depth that is essential for it to be able to effectively break down the social hierarchies that are deeply ingrained in Indian academia.

This is one of the few policy drafts through which the UGC is bringing its policies in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The draft boldly and ambitiously states a target that discrimination against Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, and Economically Weaker Sections will be totally eliminated. However, the whole framework seems to be quite dependent on symbolic gestures, awareness, raising campaigns, the sensitization of the public, posters, slogans and committees, which are far from being enforceable safeguards or systemic accountability.

The chief concept of the regulation is the idea of creating a center for Equality Opportunity in every HEI with the Head of the Institution viz. Vice, Chancellor or Principal being the Chairperson and 9 other members. The regulation also proposes the formation of ‘Equity Squads’ and ‘Equity Ambassadors’—terminologies that seem more performative than transformative

This is not the first time such measures have been introduced. Earlier bodies similar to the Equal Opportunity Cells (2012), Students Grievance Redressal Committees (2023), and SC/ST Special Cells are still in place. However, people who have experienced caste, based discrimination in the form of harassment, denial of educational support, or even suicides, feel that these measures have failed to prevent such instances. The persistent recycling of the same framework leaves us with a dilemma: These models have been on the ground for over a decade and have not really worked, so why should they now?

Documents provided by the UGC to the Supreme Court reveal that 3, 067 Equal Opportunity Cells and 3, 273 SC/ST Cells have been set up, which have in total received 1, 503 complaints and supposedly resolved 1, 426. With India having more than 1, 200 universities, 58, 000 colleges, and over 9.3 million SC/ST students, the above figures look to be entirely unrealistic. In fact, the discrepancy below strongly indicates either very severe underreporting, institutional silencing, or lack of faith in the redressal mechanisms on the part of the victims.

More alarming is the social reality within HEIs. Caste-based humiliation, academic isolation, and psychological distress remain pervasive. Government data shows that between 2018 and 2023, nearly 19,000 SC, ST, and OBC students dropped out of centrally funded institutions. During this period, at least 61 students from disadvantaged communities died by suicide in IITs, NITs, and IIMs. Between 2022 and 2024 alone, 115 suicides were reported across IITs. These numbers are not just statistics—they reflect a systemic failure.

These two students Rohith Vemula and Payal Tadvi were not the only victims.

They were just faces of a large- scale dignity, safety, and belonging crisis in the higher education system in India.

The research findings are a testimony to the fact that Indian universities, instead of being places of liberation, are still spaces where caste based discriminations and social exclusions are perpetuated.

What is particularly disturbing today is that in many cases these students have lost their lives after the 2012 equity regulations had been put in place. This inquiry is essential: If the existing policies have been accompanied by deteriorating conditions, then what is the 2025 draft doing differently?

The new regulation without the support of a legally enforceable accountability, independent grievance monitoring, time, bound investigations, psychological support systems, caste, sensitivity training for faculty, and transparent public reporting of complaints might turn out to be just another bureaucratic formality.

Equity is not a matter of slogans, nor should it come from committees only. It demands the redistribution of power, the infusion of institutional bravery, and concrete actions that can be verified.

An unambitious reform, that is more like a facade, if the UGC does not bring in a survivor, centric, rights, based, and data driven, a 2025 draft will join the list of well intentioned but ineffective policies that have failed the very people they claim to protect.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has triggered a huge debate among parents after he said that the practice of giving smartphones to young children is "almost a crime". While addressing a gathering at the Gorakhpur Mahotsav on January 13, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said that giving smartphones to young children results in children becoming stubborn and even depressed. "Don't give smartphones to small children - it's like committing a crime," Yogi Adityanath said.

The harsh words were uttered during the closing ceremony of the three-day cultural event in Gorakhpur. Yogi said that children are being adversely affected by excessive use of mobile phones. He also warned people to be cautious about cyber frauds and not use mobile phones while driving to avoid accidents. The no-nonsense advice of the CM has gone viral, with parents from UP, Bihar, and even Karnataka sharing the speech on WhatsApp groups and social media.

Yogi's advice comes at a time when research reveals that Indian children spend more than 2 hours a day on smartphones, which is much higher than the recommended limit. Doctors say that exposure to screens at a young age can hamper the development of the brain and also lead to depression. "Mobiles should be replaced by books and playing outside," the CM said.

The speech has generated heated debates on social media platforms. While many parents agree with Yogi's opinion, claiming that they have noticed changes in their children's moods after using mobile phones, others feel that smartphones are a necessary part of education. Videos of Yogi's Gorakhpur Mahotsav speech are trending on social media platforms using hashtags such as #YogiSmartphoneWarning and #NoMobileForKids. Schools in UP are planning parent workshops on digital safety.

The parenting tips offered by Yogi Adityanath have again proved the direct approach he uses to reach the common man. Whether parents are adhering to his "no smartphone for kids" guideline is yet to be seen, but the fact is that the message is spreading in India today.

At a function held in Sanathal on Tuesday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah laid the foundation stone of Pharmaceutical Academy for Global Excellence (PAGE), which is a big step towards enhancing the pharmaceutical talent ecosystem of India.

PAGE is an industry, led national skill development initiative of Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA), which is a consortium of leading Indian drug manufacturers. The initiative aims to create a highly skilled workforce in pharmaceutical manufacturing, quality systems, and operational excellence, which are the key areas to keeping India as the global leader in providing affordable and high, quality medicines.

In an announcement made by the academy, it was reported that the companies that are members of IPA have collectively contributed a total of USD 50 million to the setting up and development of PAGE. The money will be spent on the creation of world class training facilities equipped with the latest technology, modern laboratories, and advanced learning infrastructure.

"PAGE aims to establish world class training institutes with state of the, art infrastructure to produce highly talented human resources in pharmaceutical manufacturing, quality systems, and operations, which are the critical areas to maintain India's global leadership in medicines, " the statement read.

The academy will therefore be instrumental in supplying the pharmaceutical sector with adequate human resources as the country is getting more and more involved in the worldwide drug supply chain. Nowadays, due to stricter monitoring of the industry and the necessity to comply with the international quality standards, emphasis on the specialised training of personnel is paramount.

Industry experts also think that PAGE could be a great support for India in strengthening its reputation as the world's pharmacy by, among other things, always supplying highly skilled professionals who can effectively guarantee global compliance and meet manufacturing standards.

The action fits well with the Centre's broader agenda of promoting skill development, innovation, and self, reliance through the flagship programmes such as Skill India and Make in India By harmonising industry know, how with systematic academic training, PAGE intends to eliminate the disconnect between theoretical knowledge and practical pharmaceutical operations.

When the academy is up and running, it will probably reach out to foreign universities, regulatory agencies, and top pharmaceutical companies for collaboration in the implementation of certification programmes, apprenticeships, and executive education courses.

Cautioning against drug abuse, Vice President C P Radhakrishnan, who is also Chancellor of Delhi University, said on Tuesday that drug-free youth easily acquire skills, promote entrepreneurship, and strengthen the nation by contributing to the country's economic progress.

He made this statement while launching the drug, free campus campaign started by Delhi University. The only goal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to the Vice President, is to make India the world's biggest economy by 2047, which can only be achieved by the youth's efforts.

The Vice President has also pointed out that drug trafficking is one of the main sources of money for narco, terrorism. This business brings great profits, but it seriously harms the society and the whole of humanity. Therefore, we all must stand against it.

In his address, he said Donald Trump is the first US president who has raised his voice against the world's drug mafia. "I appreciate his efforts, because like our Prime Minister, he is one of the major leaders who have come forward against drugs,' the Vice President said. He said drug-free youth are not only essential for personal and economic development but also for the prosperity and stability of our country.

According to Radhakrishnan, this campaign will not only make our campus drug free but the entire country as well. Radhakrishnan remarked that universities are not just spots for doing academics; they are locations where personality gets developed.

Drugs are not freedom or rebellion, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who was present at the event as a special guest, said on that occasion. He also elaborated that drug addiction is not cool at all.