Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) became the first university in India to formally create a statutory organization solely focused on animal welfare with the founding of the Animal Welfare Society of JNU (AWS-JNU). The initiative was implemented under the leadership of Vice Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit in compliance with the Ministry of Education's (UGC) and the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

Piyush Pratap Singh, JNU Animal Birth Control Committee Chairperson and Associate Dean of Students (III), will chair the new committee. Faculty members, staff, students, and outside experts such as well-known activist Gauri Maulekhi and Vipul Jain of PAWS Foundation will advise the society.

AWS-JNU will be targeting a number of programmes—awareness campaigns, creation of animal feeding grounds, research in animal law and ecology, student internships with SPCAs and clinics, and community outreach programmes for fighting human-animal conflicts.

The venture, according to Vice Chancellor Pandit, is not only designed to inspire sustainability but also to inculcate animal welfare into the university's academic and social life. "This project serves as a model for other universities by bringing together education, conservation of biodiversity, and eco-friendly living," she further stated.

The establishment of AWS-JNU, she also said, is in alignment with the letter and spirit of NEP 2020 and confirms India's constitutional commitment under Article 51A(g) to exercise compassion for all creatures.

In a special and encouraging experiment in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, a young schoolgirl was made Superintendent of Police (SP) for a day under the state government program of "Mission Shakti.” As per the CSR Journal, this empowering initiative seeks to offer daughters in the region viable platforms to demonstrate leadership and prove the increasing role of women in law enforcement and service to the people.

The schoolgirl, chosen in this honourable position, spent the day learning the duties and difficulties of a Superintendent of Police (a senior position in the Uttar Pradesh Police force) in charge of law and order in a district. She met with police officers actively, observed the work, and took part in the discussion of crime prevention and community safety.

Mission Shakti is a forward-moving government program that tries to empower girls and women through education, skills development, and leadership. The program helps the youth in traditionally male-dominated areas develop confidence, awareness, and aspirations by providing young girls with experiential exposure to positions of authority, such as the SP post, DM, SP, ADM, and city magistrate. Multiple schoolgirls in Sambhal were given honorary administrative roles for a day to get exposure to governance and law enforcement functions. 

Here’s the list of girls and their assigned positions:

  • Pallavi Sharma: District Magistrate (Sonbhadra)
  • Sejal Gupta: District Magistrate (Jaunpur)
  • Kumari Sanjeevani Rajesh: Chief Development Officer (Varanasi)
  • Kumari Unnati Pandey: District Programme Officer
  • Riya Srivastava: Project Director of DRDA
  • Sneha Sen Jaiswal: District Social Welfare Officer
  • Sakshi Singh: District Probation Officer (Ballia)
  • Khushi Verma: District Probation Officer (Ballia)

Mission Shakti Phase-5 campaign drew praise from officials and the public alike, emphasizing the importance of promoting gender equality and encouraging girls to dream big. It is a symbolic yet powerful step to shatter the social fences and have role models who motivate more daughters to join police, administration, and civic leadership careers.

This move rings loudly in Sambhal, a district where the role of women in the state and law enforcement has been gradual yet below the mark of potential. The sense of immersion that the schoolgirl is provided with shows the changing attitude and the active process of female inclusion in every sphere of public service.

These initiatives play an essential role in community-wide gender inclusion and safety efforts in India, which are in tune with central government initiatives and international pledges of gender empowerment for women. Through cultivating leadership potential at an early age and presenting female leadership personalities, Mission Shakti reinforces the idea that daughters have meaningful roles to play in creating a safer and fairer society.

This is not a ceremonial one-day appointment but a continuation of what has been done over time to train young girls in their rights, duties, and the numerous opportunities available to them in India today. She leaves a message behind her as she returns to her school and community and tells her peers and even the policymakers that the future of policing and leadership in the community is inclusive and has promise and potential as to what daughters can do.

Mission Shakti continues its outreach across Uttar Pradesh, ensuring daughters get the platform, encouragement, and respect they deserve to pursue a career in law enforcement and more- a critical measure of changing gender norms and empowering the next generation of leaders.

Alliance University, a partner of Edinbox, is hosting a timely and interactive webinar titled "From Classrooms to Boardrooms: Leveraging AI Skills."   It targets the future leaders and is oriented at providing them with the critical knowledge about the technologically driven world. This webinar summarises some of the best concepts on how mastering AI can enhance career development, enhance innovation, and build decision makers of the future turning it into a valuable webinar for students, professionals and any other person willing to stay relevant in the age of AI.

Why is This Webinar Significant? 

AI, as we all know, is changing the course of industries and creating new opportunities with each passing day. All the participants of this webinar will get insights directly from experts, including Dr. K. Ramalakshmi (Professor, HOD of Computer Science & Engineering, and Director - Centre of Excellence: Computer Vision) and Mr. Utsav Pathak (Co-Founder, S3CURA; ex-Data Scientist at HabitAware, Hult Prize 2025 winner, and B.Tech. Alliance University 2019-2023), who will share firsthand experiences and actionable strategies.

Event Details

Date: Thursday, October 9, 2025

Time: 5:00 – 6:00 PM IST

Platform: Online (Zoom)

Registration: open 

Key Highlights 

  • Learn how AI skills are practically used to gain a career and become a leader.
  • Get familiar with AI tools and applications to enhance productivity and initiate innovations in any sector.
  • Know the ethical implications and considerations that leaders should work through in introducing AI solutions at work.

Who Should Join?

  • Technology and engineering students looking to pursue high impact careers.
  • Professionals willing to include AI skills in their resume.
  • Business executives, educators, and innovators who want to open the potential of AI. 

How to Register for this AI webinar? 

To enroll and secure your spot for this high-value session by registering from this link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_OE5UnjBYQJmX6fbt6qcoGg 

For questions or more details, reach out to the Faculty of Engineering & Technology, Alliance University, Bengaluru (+91-9606048544).

For more events and updates, visit www.alliance.edu.in or follow our news portal. 

The Arbor School, Dubai transcends the books and the classrooms in education, introducing the knowledge, empathy, action and purpose. With head, heart, hands and spirit approach, Arbor builds academic excellence with the concept that each young person has something to offer to the environment.

Environmentalism allows students to consider the issue of sustainability with intellectual seriousness. Local ecosystems experiences, from field trips to Al Qudra lakes to oyster reef restoration along the Gulf coast, expose them to responsibility and compassion. Through ecoliteracy courses and collaborative projects on these experiences, students understand that the concept of interdependence is no longer an abstract theory but a lived reality which makes them appreciate all parts of natural systems.

Hand-on projects make the learning act. Students are able to plant, harvest and eat food produced by school gardens and biodomes, live farm-to-fork. Students are involved in conservation projects such as the Dubai Oysters Project, recycling shell to create a new reef system. Even minor projects, such as school bus testing of biodiesel, educate that true change starts with every-day choices.

There are frequent observances of the Arbor spirit so that all learned becomes meaningful. There is ecological awareness that is not abstract but a daily practice. Activities in class connect what is taught there to larger issues of accountability, like writing down what they have done after a visit to a mangrove or debating ethical questions of resource use during assembly times.

By uniting head, heart, hands and spirit, Arbor prepares its students to have faith in themselves. Young Arborists learn, are positive thinkers, empathetic and self-assured to build a sustainable world for Dubai, the UAE and globally.

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), celebrating the start of its centenary year on Wednesday, launched its new logo and centenary emblem to commemorate 100 years of history, and also launched the "My UPSC Portal."

Dr Ajay Kumar, the incumbent chairman of UPSC, who has brought in meaningful change in the systems and services of the commission through innovative ideas and their execution, gave a vision for the future for the role of the commission in nation-building. For the first time, UPSC has started directly engaging with civil service aspirants nationwide through a virtual town hall hosted by its chairman.

During this session, Dr Kumar pointed out some initiatives and mentioned that the UPSC syllabus is so conceptualized that coaching isn't required. He also emphasized that UPSC has taken a firm stand with a zero-tolerance approach against cheating.

While posting on LinkedIn, Ajay Kumar wrote, "Excited about organising UPSC town halls for the first time.". Aspirants from all over the country may directly reach me on October 1 between 12 and 1 pm on the YouTube channel of DD News." He also said that UPSC will make itself more accessible to aspirants through efforts like the anecdote portal "My UPSC Interview" and by introducing new visual identities in the shape of the UPSC and centenary logos.

He reiterated that UPSC is committed to modernisation going beyond the examination system with an intent to forge stronger links with the youth and ensuring the values of merit, transparency, and service remain abiding commitments in the future.

Referring to the targets of the centenary year, Dr Kumar stated that UPSC would be engaging more closely with the state public service commissions, exchanging best practices, and making its feedback mechanisms more robust so that its selection process is even more inclusive and responsive. He further emphasized inclusivity, digitalization, and interaction with a new generation of candidates as major priorities since a significant proportion of candidates are increasingly hailing from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.

Increasing usage of digital technology and AI is making the Commission ready to serve Gen-Z and the next generation of aspirants, while it continues to maintain its foundational values of fairness, transparency, and integrity," Dr Kumar said.

As a part of the centenary year celebrations, UPSC also introduced a special anecdote website, "My UPSC Interview: From Dream to Reality." The project encourages current and former civil servants to come forward and write about their experiences in front of the UPSC interview panel.

The entries, to be submitted on or before December 31, 2025, will document the defining moments of candidates' paths to public service. A collection of winning entries will be published during the centenary year in 2026," an official explained.

Living in a world driven by innovations and tech,  taking a decision to pursue a proper career can be daunting to students and young professionals. In response to this need, the Ministry of Education in India has developed a ground-breaking AI-based system My Career Advisor that is designed to help learners discover more than 1,500 career options in ways unique to their skills, interests, and ambitions.

 

Your own Career Guide in your hand

Introduced during the 5th anniversary celebrations of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, ‘My Career Advisor’ currently has 10k downloads on playstore. It combines advanced artificial intelligence with the educational expertise of NCERT and the Wadhwani Foundation. The app functions as a smart mentor, understanding your unique skills, interests, and values to recommend career options tailored just for you.

 

Using interactive quizzes and passion mapping tools, the app offers personalised career recommendations that open doors to opportunities students may not have considered before. Whether you aim to be an engineer, artist, entrepreneur, or anything in between, this app helps navigate your career journey with confidence.

 

Choose from 1,500+ Career Options using Preparation Guides

From traditional careers to emerging fields like AI, biotechnology, agriculture, and creative industries, My Career Advisor offers detailed profiles on over 1,500 job roles. All the profiles  include information on educational requirements, required skills, earning potential, and recommended colleges, helping you plan a successful future.

 

The app also produces shareable reports, ideal when discussing career decisions with parents, teachers, or mentors, building a support system with everyone around every learner.

 

Empowering Teachers and students alike 

According to a spokesperson of the Ministry of Education, My Career Advisor does not simply assist students, it also provides teachers and counselors with effective means of mentoring them with accuracy. Parents as well may intervene, knowing the strengths of a child and taking him or her without hesitation on the correct academic and vocational path.  

 

Free, Open, And Supportive of National objectives 

Free and available to students nationwide, the platform reflects the NEP 2020 vision of responsible, technology-centric education that empowers all students. It fills information gaps, eliminates confusion around the career, and opens up future planning even to students in remote and underserved regions.

 

How to Get Started

It does not require a lot to begin with: all one needs is to download the My Career Advisor application to off-the-shelf online stores or scan the QR code https://qr.me-qr.com/3KwAezeD . Take quizzes, browse sectors, bookmark your favourite careers, and start the fun process of self-discovery and career planning.

 

Why is it important to Indian Students nowadays? 

The youth population in India is its most valuable resource and several youngsters lack the direction and guidance to plot their career paths. My Career Advisor does not leave a student confused and unassisted due to the ability to utilize AI and information-based visions.

 

With the job market changing fast and technology disrupting it, it is essential to have a tool that is also changing according to industry trends and personal ambitions. This move will be the beginning of a new era of combining technology with education to create a workforce that is ready to work in the future.

 

Join 1000s of Students Exploring Careers

My Career Advisor, with its simple design, deep career library and personalized advice, will revolutionise career counselling in India, making it accessible, involving and effective more than ever before.

 

Find out what you are good at, what you like, and enter the world of opportunities without fear. My Career Advisor is the key to your brighter tomorrow, today. 

 

 

Kerala-born dentistry researcher Dr. Anil Sukumaran has been honoured by being named in Stanford University’s prestigious list of the world’s top 2% scientists for 2025. The fact that he is included explains why he is one of the most quoted and recognised researchers in the international field, and that he ranks among the top few hundred or thousands of dentistry scholars in the world. 

How is the Global Scientist Ranking of Stanford done? 

The list at Stanford University is recognised globally as a result of their data-driven, strict selection criteria. The ranking uses the standardised measures of citation referred to as the c-score, which measures the career-long contribution of a researcher using published papers and citations. The database represents a quantitative analysis of 22 scientific fields and 174 subfields, putting on a fair footing irrespective of the size of the discipline or citation practices. Addition to the list is an indication that a scientist has a high level of worldwide exposure and cross-disciplinary impact on his/her work.

Who is Dr Anil Sukumaran? 

Dr. Anil Sukumaran is a renowned dentist and professor from Kerala, India, with over 35 years of experience in teaching, research, and clinical practice. Dr Sukumaran has taught and worked in top universities across India, the Middle East, and other countries, apparently contributing significantly to dentistry and dental research. He has published over 400 research papers, and has received several awards for his achievements. Dr Sukumaran has also supervised many students and helped them with their research.

Academic Qualifications of Dr. Sukumaran

Dr. Sukumaran earned his MDS in Periodontology in Government Dental College, Thiruvananthapuram and subsequently received a PhD in Periodontics/Oral Microbiology. During his career, he has worked in several high-level academic and research roles:

  • Senior Consultant, Professor and Chairman of the hospital research committee at Hamad medical corporation, Qatar University. 
  • Saveetha University, Chennai, Consultant and Professor. 
  • University positions in Jazan University and King Saud University in Saudi Arabia. 
  • Global Recognition and Influence.

His work cuts across immunology of periodontal disease, oral-systemic health connexions, osseointegration, periodontal regeneration, and oral microbiology. Dr. The contributions made by Sukumaran have been hugely cited and referred to by researchers across the world, and there has been a lot of impact on basic science as well as clinical development. He is himself also fellow of famous institutions:

  • Royal College of Pathologists (London). 
  • Royal College of Surgeons (Edinburgh and Glasgow)
  • International College of Dentists (USA) 

Awards and Recognition

Dr. Sukumaran has been awarded several awards, such as:

  • Golden Quill Award of research at King Saud University.
  • Dr. Ratan H Doctor Memorial National Award (Indian Dental Association)
  • Young Achiever Award (Junior Chamber of India)

The Scope of Dental Research

Current research in dentistry encompasses the fields of materials science (composites, implants), population health (epidemiology of oral diseases), and types of clinical specialties such as periodontology and endodontics. A presence in such a crowded and competitive field displays profundity and wide scope of the research knowledge of Dr. Sukumaran. 

Why does it matter? 

Dr. Anil Sukumaran’s inclusion in Stanford University’s 2025 global ranking is a milestone for Kerala and India’s research community, celebrating his worldwide leadership in dentistry and medical science.

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