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Bengaluru saw a disturbing event where Islamophobia was allegedly demonstrated in an academic environment when a teacher at PES University reportedly insulted a Muslim student by making disparaging remarks against him during the class. The matter, which soon became a topic on social media, has resulted in police involvement and the lockdown of the professor by the university officials. The professor named Muralidhar Deshpande is said to have called the student Affan a "terrorist" more than 13 times during a lecture in which around 60 students were present. A video of the classroom incident, which was secretly filmed on a mobile phone on March 24, went viral resulting in an uproar from all quarters.

As per the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) who filed the complaint, the professor also made other malicious remarks like "The Iran war happened because of people like you, " "Trump will take you away, " and "You are idiots, you will go to hell." These words apparently made the student and the other people in the class feel hostile and humiliated. The university management responsed very quickly to the criticism and put Deshpande on suspension awaiting the investigation of the case. The decision is a sign to students, parents, and staff that such behaviour like discrimination or inciting hatred is not allowed by the institution.

The incident was reported to law enforcement on March 27 when Lakshya Raj, NSUI's Bengaluru Central District president, filed a complaint against the professor. Plus, the girinagar Police opened a non-cognisable report instead of an FIR. Plus, The student was sent back when he tried to go to the station. That silence kicked off backlash from students and civil society groups. Critics said there was no urgency in the response.

Monitoring the video, head constable Ravikumar T N saw it online. No formal request was needed Police acted immediately. They filed a suo motu case against Deshpande under Section 299 of the indian Penal Code for acts meant to outrage religious sentiments. Now, Section 352 is also included for intentional insults causing unrest. The Bengaluru Non-cognisable Summons Act (BNS), 2023, is cited too. Investigation continues.

Who controls the classroom footage? The complainant says it was deleted. That footage could be vital evidence. This raises questions about transparency in how universities handle sensitive events and how police respond on campus.

The Students Islamic Organisation of india (SIO), Karnataka chapter, called it Islamophobia in academic settings. Mohammed Hayyan, SIO's state secretary, said such actions break basic rules of inclusivity and respect in education. The group wants the professor removed immediately and faces legal action. But they also want the state government to improve checks and make sure no discrimination happens on campus.

The episode highlights broader challenges in maintaining a safe and respectful environment in educational institutions, underscoring the need for proactive measures against harassment and bias. With increasing awareness and advocacy, stakeholders hope incidents like this prompt both legal and institutional reforms to ensure campuses remain inclusive spaces for all students.

The spotlight is firmly on the students of Lucknow as the city gears up to host the Edinbox Regional Higher Education Summit 2026 at the iconic Indira Gandhi Pratishthan in Gomti Nagar. Designed as a student-first initiative, the summit is set to transform how young minds explore careers and higher education opportunities. Unlike traditional education fairs, the Edinbox Summit on April 24, 2026 places students at its core. 

A City of Aspirations, A Platform for Students

Lucknow, known for its academic legacy and growing youth population, becomes the perfect stage for this large-scale educational gathering. The summit aims to empower students by giving them direct access to universities, expert counsellors, and career pathways, all in one place.

From free entry to tailored counselling sessions, every aspect of the event is designed to support their academic journey.

Students attending the summit will be able to:

• Explore diverse career options
• Interact directly with top universities
• Participate in entrance tests and workshops
• Receive personalised guidance from experts
• Simple Registration, Maximum Access

To make participation seamless, organizers have introduced a hassle-free online registration system. Students can easily sign up by selecting Lucknow as their city and filling in basic details such as name, school, class, and contact information.

Importantly, entry remains completely free for students, ensuring that financial barriers do not stand in the way of opportunity.

Opportunities for Schools and Universities

While students remain the focus, schools can register their delegations, and universities can engage through exhibitions, workshops, and networking sessions. Institutions looking to connect with a large pool of aspirants can opt for premium participation.

Why Early Registration Matters

With strong participation expected from across the region, students are encouraged to register early to secure their spot and gain full access to the summit’s offerings.

A Defining Moment for Lucknow’s Youth

As Lucknow hosts this dynamic event, the Edinbox Summit 2026 promises to become a defining moment for thousands of students navigating their future. By combining accessibility, guidance, and real-world exposure, the summit aims to turn ambition into action—right in the heart of the city.

The National Informatics Centre (NIC) is inviting applications for 243 Scientist B positions through its 2026 recruitment program. The posts are on Group A Gazetted level at one of the leading government technology institutions. The application window was opened on March 27 and it will close on April 24, 2026. Applicants need to submit applications through the official website. This recruitment drive is a way of increasing NIC's technical expertise in very niche areas such as Computer Science, Electronics & Communication, and Data Analytics. The procurement drive is perceived as a measure to acquire competent and talented persons who would potentially be able to make the government sector technologically advance with new and existing projects.

Eligibility: Candidates should be qualified in engineering, technology, or science disciplines. Moreover, possessing a valid GATE score for 2024, 2025, or 2026 is a must. Personal Interview with Document Verification - First of all, candidates will be shortlisted after scrutiny of the GATE score. After that, personal interviews along with document verification will be conducted to assess the candidate's technical knowledge and their suitability for the post.

Scientist B posts have been categorised under Pay Level 10 and come with a very attractive salary package vis-a-vis counterparts in the public sector. Candidates from General, OBC, and EWS categories need to pay an application fee of 800. However, a fee waiver is offered to SC ST PwBD candidates, and women applicants.

Post application submission, only the selected ones will be called for personal interviews and based on the performance during the interview, final selections will be made. Indeed it is a great chance for the ones wishing to be technologists, to not only be part of India's constantly advancing digital governance but also enjoy a secure and rewarding career in the public sector.

Akhilesh Yadav today disclosed that the Samajwadi Party (SP) is preparing a series of new pledges emphasizing women's education and welfare and will roll out these schemes if the party is voted to power in Uttar Pradesh in 2027. He remarked that "aadhi aabaadi" would be the core of the party's political agenda.

Drawing attention to the fact that women's status is the main measure of the progress of a society, Akhilesh Yadav said that India though a country known for its diversity, the condition of women continues to be worrisome and without women's active participation, development in its true form is not possible. "No real progress can be made without women, " he said while emphasizing the need for special measures in education safety health, and economic empowerment, among others.

Women would also be the main focus of governance, besides backward classes, Dalits and minorities, he connected this idea with the party's larger social alignment.

He pointed to the 1090 women's helpline introduced during his time as chief minister - recognized for improving safety and even cited by the supreme Court of india. The Kanya Vidyadhan Yojana, launched under Mulayam Singh Yadav, was an early step toward girls' education, he said, with promises of expansion in the future.

But he also brought up the rani Lakshmibai Scheme, honoring women's courage. If the party wins power next time, those programs would be brought back and expanded.

Alok Ranjan, former UP chief secretary and a guest at the event, remembered actions from 2012 to 2017. One was setting up a police unit headed by a woman to track crimes against women. Another allowed people to file FIRs through email. There were also Asha Jyoti Kendras launched in 26 districts as single-point help centers for women in crisis.

As UP heads into the 2027 polls, the SP is pushing back on traditional welfare by putting gender inclusion at the center. Education and safety are now central to their campaign message.

Following the 2026-27 budget announcement, a very important gesture was made by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta as she handed over free bicycles and school bags to about 1,100 Class IX girls at a government school in Shalimar Bagh on Thursday. The distribution coincided with Kanya Pujan celebrations on the occasion of Durga Ashtami and was held at Sarvodaya Vidyalaya Shalimar Bagh. This step is the beginning phase of the Delhi government's 'free bicycle scheme, ' a very prominent item in the newly released budget. The plan is to help almost 1. 30 lakh girls through government schools in the capital with a total fund of 90 crore.

Relating the project with the message of Durga Ashtami, Gupta said at the function that empowering girls through education and making them independent is the focus of the government. Besides, she added, offering bicycles to the girls would make their daily commute much easier thus reducing one of the reasons for their dropping out from school. Transport is a major concern that the scheme intends to resolve. Problems like long distance travel forcing students to stop attending classes or even dropping out completely are faced by many students. The government believes that by giving bicycles it will not only provide safer and more dependable means to get education but will also lessen their dependence on others.

Gupta stressed that the program is a mere reflection of the wide vision of educating girls and changing their position in society. "This will not only make their travelling comfortable but also bring down school dropouts and lessen the worries of the parents, " she remarked. Besides, she underlined that the aim is to equip the students with more confidence and freer movement.

Delhi Education Minister, Ashish Sood, conveyed that the execution of the plan would be expedited. Tendering for purchasing will be announced at the start of the new fiscal year in April, and the scheme is slated to be fully operational in the next two to three months. Besides, he ensured that the government would carry out quarterly evaluations to track progress and guarantee the proper use of funds.

The Delhi government, through this program, desires to build a more inclusive and encouraging educational environment where deprivation of basic facilities like transportation shouldn't be a barrier for a student's future.

In a significant initiative aimed at strengthening collaboration between schools, universities, and the media, EdInbox is set to host the Regional Higher Education Summit 2026 on April 27 in the city. The one-day summit will take place at Lyfe Hotels Bhubaneswar from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM and is expected to witness participation from leading academic institutions, school principals, and over 2,000 students.

The summit has been conceived as a powerful platform that will bring together the key players of the education ecosystem who will be able to explore talking points such as new trends, career pathways, and the future of higher education in India. In addition to that, the summit is aimed at facilitating deep student-university connections, and at the same time, it gives school heads a chance to meet each other, collaborate, and explore institutional partnerships.

Large-scale visibility and outreach are probably the most compelling aspects of the summit. The involvement of top academic officials and extensive media coverage will turn the event into an effective platform through which institutions not only showcase their capabilities but also cement their presence in the region. For students, the summit will be an opportunity for them to interact with universities one-on-one, so that they get help in making well-informed decisions regarding their academic and career paths.

Besides student involvement, the summit is also looking to bring in organizations as its PR partners. The chance for cooperation will be a win-win, in that education stories with the power to change the world will reach out further, at the same time, partners will receive the exposure they want to an academic audience which is both highly targeted and made up of decision makers capable of spreading their influence.

With changes in the higher education sector occurring almost every day in India, summits like the EdInbox Summit are becoming more than just get-togethers of like-minded individuals; these forums are becoming essential components of the ecosystem where ideas, opportunities, and leadership intersect. So it is only fair that the schools and institutions take notice of such platforms and have their say in the expanding community that is responsible for the transformation that is happening in the ways of learning.