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When Raghuraman Kannan walks into his lab at the University of Missouri, the focus is rarely on titles or honours. It is on patients—those waiting for treatments that are not just effective, but kinder to the body. This year, that quiet, patient-first approach has earned the Indian-origin cancer researcher one of the highest recognitions for academic innovators in the United States: election as a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI).

A Curators’ Distinguished Professor, Kannan holds the Michael J. and Sharon R. Bukstein Chair in Cancer Research and straddles the worlds of medicine and engineering with joint appointments at the university’s School of Medicine and College of Engineering. He also serves as associate director of the Immuno-oncology and Therapeutics Programme at the Ellis Fischel Cancer Center. Colleagues describe him as someone who is as comfortable discussing molecular pathways as he is mentoring young researchers at the lab bench.

At the heart of Kannan’s work is a simple but powerful idea: cancer treatment should target tumours precisely, without devastating healthy cells. His team has developed advanced nanoparticle-based drug delivery platforms that do exactly that—acting like guided missiles rather than blunt instruments. These technologies are now being advanced for some of the most challenging cancers, including lung, ovarian, breast, pancreatic and liver cancers.

The scale of his innovation is reflected in his intellectual property record: 65 issued patents, with 12 active patents in the United States alone. Yet, for Kannan, the recognition is deeply collective. “Being named an NAI Fellow is a profound honour,” he said, adding that the achievement belongs equally to his colleagues, collaborators and students who have shaped the work over the years.

His fellow inductee, Henry Nguyen, brings a different but equally vital focus. A professor of plant genetics and biotechnology, Nguyen uses genomic tools to strengthen crops against environmental stress, holding five issued patents, including one active US patent.

Both scientists will be formally inducted at the NAI’s annual conference in Los Angeles this summer—a moment that celebrates not just individual brilliance, but the power of research to quietly, steadily change lives.

On Saturday, with the air quality in Delhi aggravating to ‘severe plus,’ the government advised schools to adopt hybrid model learning for students up to class IX and class XI in view of GRAP Stage IV being put in place in all of National Capital Region.

Through a circular issued based on directions from the Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region, the Directorate of Education advised all Heads of Schools under the aegis of DoE, NDMC, MCD, and the Delhi Cantonment Board, including government, government-aided, and recognized private schools: "To conduct classes in hybrid manner wherever possible. A combination of offline and online classes to minimize exposure of students to life-threatening air."

The above arrangement will come into effect immediately and will continue until further notice.

Schools on Alert Due to Rising Pollution

As of now, authorities have not yet issued a directive to switch to online learning in full capacity, but this move can be attributed to an increase in caution due to the city being blanketed in toxic smog. Based on education authorities, GRAP Stage IV gives schools an option to lessen most people from coming, especially children.

A similar approach had been adopted in schools when they were allowed to switch to a hybrid model of learning for students in higher grades. The authorities indicated they would consider much stricter measures if air quality did not improve in order to make a switch to online learning.

Curbs in emergency reduced in NCR

The commission has issued GRAP Stage IV, which is the most advanced level of control over pollution in this case. As a consequence, a complete ban has been imposed on all non-essential construction and demolition activities in the entire region of Delhi-NCR. Additionally, all functions of stone crushers, brick kilns, hot mix plants, and mining operations have come to a complete halt. A complete shutdown will be initiated in industries using coal, furnace oil, or any other fuel which is not environmentally approved.

The restrictions on traffic have become more stringent with a ban on entering Delhion diesel-powered medium and heavy goods vehicles, with an exception for essential services. BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers, considered old models, have been banned. Non-essential inter-state diesel-driven buses, which are not BS-VI standards, have been withdrawn from service.

What remains when restrictions are in place

However, all essential services will be excluded from this shutdown. Metro rail construction, Highways, Airports, defence, healthcare, and sanitation will be permitted with very tight controls over dust levels. Public transport such as Delhi Metro and buses will be available, and electricity, CNG, and BS-VI transport will be allowed. The offices have been advised to cut down on people working in offices and allow work from home to a large extent. Diesel generator sets can be permitted only in essential services such as hospitals, telecommunications, and operations in case of emergencies. As the air quality continues to remain critically poor, people have been advised to stay indoors by authorities, with schools making arrangements for more restrictions if the levels of pollution remain high.

The Narendra Modi government will bring the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025 during the winter session of Parliament to establish a commission to enable universities and other higher educational institutions “to become independent self-governing institutions and to promote excellence through a robust and transparent system of accreditation and autonomy.”

The bill, reviewed by HT, says the Commission will have three wings-the Regulatory Council, Accreditation Council and the Standards Council. The 12-member commission will comprise presidents of the Regulatory Council, Accreditation Council and the Standards Council, Union higher education secretary, two eminent and distinguished academicians not below the rank of professor from the State Higher Educational institutions and five eminent experts and a member secretary.

The appointments are to be made by the Centre alone through a three-member search panel. The proposed law proposes that no prosecution or legal proceedings shall be instituted against any office bearer or employee of the Commission or Council “for anything which has been done or intended to be done in good faith under this Act.”

The bill also proposes a steep fine of minimum of ₹10 lakhs to ₹30 lakhs if an educational institution contravenes the provisions of the new law and fail to rectify the mistakes. For repeated offence, a higher educational institution may have to pay at least ₹75 lakhs or face suspension.

The new commission will formulate and suggest schemes to improve quality of education and advise the Centre and the states for the “holistic development of higher education in the country.”

This Bill will apply to all Institutions of National Importance and any other Institution set up by Parliament, Universities in India, colleges, institutions regulated under the Architects Act, 1972, institutions regulated under the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), open and distance learning institutions, amongst others.

There would be a 14-member Regulatory Council. According to the bill, the mandate of the council would be to ensure “all higher educational institutions attain full accreditation and thereby autonomy in a graded manner”, to transform the current higher education sector into one “comprising autonomous, vibrant and empowered multidisciplinary higher educational institutions with high quality education, research and service including integrated vocational education, training and skilling programs.”

The council will develop a “coherent policy to prevent commercialisation” of higher education. It will also look into public self-disclosure of all finances, audits, procedures, infrastructure, faculty, courses, educational outcomes and accreditation related information by higher educational institutions on a public website maintained by the Regulatory Council and on the websites of institutions.

The council will lay down norms for the entry of certain foreign varsities to operate in India and “facilitate high performing Indian Universities to set up campuses in other countries.”

Another 14-member accreditation council will develop “an outcome-based Institutional Accreditation Framework in consultation with relevant stakeholders, which shall be used to assess and accredit higher educational institutions leading to accreditation with or without open and distance learning, online or digital learning, or any other form of learning.”

It can also empanel and de-panel accrediting institutions to develop a high-quality and high-integrity accreditation system with adequate capacity to meet the requirements for accreditation of higher educational institutions. The council will monitor the performance of the accrediting institutions and review their work.

Bill says, the Institutional Accreditation Framework shall lay down parameters for accreditation involving only educational outcomes, good governance, financial probity and stability and transparent public disclosure of all academic, operational and financial matters to guide the accrediting institutions in such manner as may be specified by regulations made by the Accreditation Council.

The Standards Council or viksit bharat shiksha manak parishad, shall take all such steps as it may think fit for the determination of academic standards in higher educational institutions for higher education.” The panel will also frame “expected learning outcomes (also referred to as “graduate attributes”)” and provide the nomenclature of “certificate” and “diploma”, and the levels of educational qualifications, other than “Doctor of Philosophy".

It will give the norms on credit transfers, equivalence, and related matters to ensure mobility for students and develop "a suggested broad framework of higher education qualifications" for institutions and programmes. The body, according to the bill, would "lay down clear minimum standards for setting up and operation of higher educational institutions" and establish "frameworks for innovative development of curriculum, pedagogy, assessment and student support including promotion of internationalization of education to attain world class standards in all areas as well as the Indianization of education to promote Bharatiya knowledge, arts and languages, for enhanced student experiences and to meet learning outcomes."

The body will also lay down qualifications for any person to be appointed as the staff of the higher educational institutes. The office tenure for the chairperson of the Commission and the president of each Council shall be three years initially and extendable up to five years. The bill says they shall be eligible for reappointment for another term. They can be removed by the President of India. The Commission shall have an own Fund to be known as the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Fund and all sums which may, from time to time, be granted to it by the Central Government.

The Karnataka government announced that it would constitute a House committee to look into and recommend relaxations in the rules for initial recognition and renewal for private aided and unaided schools. School Education and Literacy Minister S Madhu Bangarappa agreed for it following demands by members from the Treasury and Opposition benches in the Legislative Council.

Formation of House Panel

The Minister, Bangarappa, said that the House committee would discuss at length the prevailing rules and problems related to the issues of renewal. "The committee shall go through the rules and suggest amendments to loosen the noose that has been choking private institutions in the matter of recognition and its renewal," he said.

The initiative assumes urgency in the backdrop of allegations of corruption in the department, especially relating to the renewal of school recognitions. Bangarappa said measures would be taken to ensure that private schools faced no inconvenience till the recommendations of the committee were implemented. "No private institution should face difficulties during this transitional period," he said.

Addressing Issues of Corruption

In the backdrop of continued complaints of corruption, Bangarappa ensured that harsh action would be started against those officials who were proved to have demanded bribes for renewing recognition of schools. "We will not tolerate corruption in any form," he promised, adding that disciplinary action will be initiated against those personnel who are found involved. Though initiatives have been made to computerize the renewal work, the Minister said, there are some challenges which need to be overcome before completely engaging in the transformation.

The decision to constitute the House panel is in line with the stand taken by the Legislative Council, which wanted recognition to private schools given out in a more transparent and streamlined manner. The members of the Council were vocal about the fact that the rules existed in a cumbersome form and needed to be relaxed so as to smoothen the operations for educational institutions.

What's Next? 

Hence, the House committee will be constituted immediately to study the situation and seek the views of stakeholders involved in the education sector. Whatever recommendations the committee comes up with, assured the Minister, would be implemented without delay to streamline the process of recognition for private schools in Karnataka. This move promises to overcome the complexity private educational institutions have been facing in the state, thus creating a better environment for their operation and growth. As stakeholders, they were hopeful the change would have a positive effect on schools and students when the committee embarks on its review.

With the 2026 board examinations approaching, the Central Board of Secondary Education has issued a circular regarding Class 10 Science and Social Science question papers with a more disciplined layout.

The circular has emphasized that assessment should be simplified by encouraging candidates to afford markers clear, systematic answers that minimize marking errors and reduce cross-script confusion.

Final datesheet and exam window announced

CBSE has also released an official date sheet for the 2026 board exams in Classes 10 and 12. Both streams start on February 17, 2026, while Class 10 concludes on March 10, 2026.

Pattern for Revised Class 10 Science

According to the new rules, the Class 10 Science paper shall be divided into three separately labelled sections:

Section A: Biology

Section B: Chemistry

Section C: Physics

Candidates are expected to strictly follow the sectional structure as they set out their answer books: they should divide and label each portion accordingly before beginning. All answers are to stay within the set spaces of every section, with mixing or answering outside such areas is not allowed.

New Format for Class 10 Social Science

Similarly, this Class 10 Social Science exam will be divided into four sections:

Section A: Background/History

Section B: Geography

Section C: Political Science

Section D: Economics

The students have to mark the correct answer sheets and keep each of their answers in the correct section. According to the board, misplacing an answer, such as placing a Geography answer in the History section, will not be evaluated.

Noncompliance carries serious penalties. It said the new guidelines, aimed at proper bifurcation of marks, are to be followed and any violation would affect evaluation. Answers written outside the designed parts will not be evaluated and such mistakes cannot be corrected during verification or re-evaluation. It said, "The evaluation scheme is final." Guidance for Schools and Students CBSE has suggested that schools regularly train the students for writing answers in section-divided answer sheets during regular tests, internal assessments, and pre-boards to avoid errors in examinations. Students can also be asked to download the latest sample papers from the CBSE academic website to acquaint themselves with the revised pattern. The board said that careful labeling, correct division of sections, and disciplined writing would lead to their correct evaluation.

The special initiative of 'Tamil Karkalam' as part of the ongoing Kashi Tamil Sangamam 4.0 has filled students in government schools with glee and eagerness to learn Tamil and its rich heritage.

Sandhya Saikrishnan, a teacher of Tamil at Government Queens Inter College, Lahurabir here, and a Pracharak at Dakshin Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha, Chennai, said, "The students are eager to learn and enthusiastic. I have been teaching them over the last few days, and they can now communicate in basic Tamil." She also appreciated the study materials supplied by the Central Institute of Classical Tamil: "very useful, simple and easy to understand."

Saikrishnan, one among 50 Hindi-speaking Tamil teachers recruited by the Central Institute of Classical Tamil to hold classes in schools in Varanasi and its surrounding districts under 'Tamil Karkalam', says,

Tanu Pal, a Class 9 student of the Government Queens Inter College, said she was feeling happy and excited to learn Tamil.

"I like it very much. Today I know Hindi, Tamil and English. I feel proud that I got this opportunity," she said.

An autonomous body under the Ministry of Education, the Central Institute of Classical Tamil leads this programme.

Explaining the aim, Director of the Central Institute of Classical Tamil, R Chandrasekaran said the institute is committed to teaching the language to over 3,000 students who have Tamil as a non-mother tongue.

He said during an interaction with PTI that this course would be put online so that even students from Class 9 to 12 or anybody interested in learning Tamil could do so.

He added that close to 50 schools in the districts in and around Varanasi would be visited by the teachers in the next few weeks.

: About 3,000 students would be imparted the Tamil language by the teachers. This initiative has been mutually decided between the Ministry of Education and the Government of Uttar Pradesh ", he said.

Chandrasekaran said the institute has come out with a specially designed five-volume book series that would enable students to pick up Tamil in just 15 days and make learning quick and effective.

It is also aimed that the students converse in Tamil through this book after the end of the training. The books have been written so clearly that learners can study on their own. To this effect, all these study materials are on display at a dedicated stall at the ongoing Kasi Tamil Sangamam 4.0 venue, besides educating the initiative. At the end of the Kasi Tamil Sangamam 4.0 conference, Chandrasekaran said, about 300 students from Varanasi would come to Tamil Nadu to get more involved with the language and culture. "This initiative will help consolidate the decades-old cultural relationship of Tamil Nadu with Varanasi," he added.