Miscellany

A recent decision by the Bombay High Court is not just a legal interpretation, it is a strong recognition of the women's agency, their dignity and the fact of modern parenthood. The court ruled that a child brought up only by their mother cannot be forced to mention the name or caste of the father who is not living with them in the school records. And by this the court confirmed a truth that single mothers have been longing for: No mother needs to have a father figure around her child to be a full parent.

For years, the systems and institutions in this country have been designed on a male chauvinistic assumption, that a child's identity, both legally and socially, must be linked with the father. The father's name has always been a requirement in school admission forms or government records, whereas in these documents the mothers role is often secondary or less prominent. This way of running things has without any pomp given the community a notion: that being a mother on one's own is to lack.

The High Court’s judgment challenges that narrative.

By stating that recognising a single mother is not an act of charity but a constitutional right grounded in equality and dignity, the court has shifted the conversation from sympathy to justice. Women who raise children on their own — whether due to abandonment, divorce, widowhood, or personal choice — should not be forced to validate an absent father’s identity in order to secure their child’s place in society.

For many women, this ruling represents more than a procedural change. It is a symbolic recognition of the emotional, financial and social labour they carry every day. Single mothers often navigate not only the challenges of parenting but also the stigma attached to raising a child outside traditional family structures. Bureaucratic requirements that insist on the father’s name can become painful reminders of that stigma.

The court got it right, identity should match real life. When one mom raises, teaches, and guards a child, the system should see that, not stick to old rules.

This case shows change is needed. Schools, government offices, and online records must check their forms and rules so they work for all kinds of families. Parenting now isn't just about men in traditional roles.

It's also about women doing the hard work quietly, staying strong, full of hope, often unseen. The court made clear: a mothers role stands on its own. She doesn't need approval from society to be whole.

By giving single moms their place, the law moves closer to fairness. Dignity, equality, and real life now shape public decisions.

Thousands of contractual employees associated with the Samagra Shiksha scheme in Maharashtra have decided, in a big way, to stage an indefinite hunger strike at Azad Maidan, Mumbai, starting from March 9 to get their job security.

A recent letter from Samagra Shiksha Sangharsh Samiti to School Education and Sports Minister Dada Bhuse has given the state government a deadline till March 7 to issue a government resolution (GR) regularising the remaining 3, 378 staff members.

The letter is a repercussion of a huge demonstration in Nagpur during the Winter Session of the Legislative Assembly, when employees of 13 different cadres including resource persons, data operators, and engineers protested demanding the end of the alleged injustice.

Samagra Shiksha is the flagship, a major centrally sponsored scheme in Maharashtra which is covering the school education from pre-school till the finishing of Class 12.

It is a unified scheme which combines the three different former schemes i.e. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) that is directed towards providing elementary education; Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) whose objective is to develop secondary education; Teacher Education (TE) designed to support State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) and District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs).

In October 2024 the state government regularised a total of 3, 000 employees out of which nearly half were employees working for differently abled children. But 3, 378 employees were still left out.

"We have been in this profession for 25 years. We are the people on the ground who bring the RTE Act to life, " said Yogita Balakshe, the state president of the Samiti.

"If you can regularise 50 per cent of the staff, why this injustice toward the rest of us? Many of us are nearing retirement; if we retire now, we get zero benefits and are forced to work as security guards to survive."

The regularisation issue

The regularisation issue stems from the financial manual established in 2004 by the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development, which discouraged the creation of permanent positions and instead preferred contractual or deputation hiring. For more than 20 years, Maharashtra has avoided permanent hiring by granting these employees a one-day break every six months to reset their contractual status.

In October 2024, a study committee was formed to look into regularising all staff. On March 4, 2025, A new GR modified the committee and ordered a final report within three months.

Balakshe said, “Even though the report of the committee has now been submitted, no GR has been released yet. We will not leave Azad Maidan before a GR in our favour is released, because this is our third protest in a year.”

The letter to the minister added that the previous protests were suspended as government representatives assured that the issue would be resolved.

Ramdev has spoken for years on health and healing, yoga and our culture, on stress and spirituality. Building the nation has remained a thread running through his discourses over the years. In an exclusive interaction with author Akshat Gupta for The Times of India, yoga guru Baba Ramdev discusses why it’s time to reboot India’s education system. The interview which begins on a lighter note – with Baba ji being asked what law he’d enforce if he were the Health Minister for a day – soon segues into a serious discussion about how our education system has let us down, why gurukuls don’t exist anymore, and how he envisions a “global gurukul” going forward. Watch and hear him loudly, boldly lay out his vision: because when you change the way a nation learns, you change the way that nation thinks.

Who is Baba Ramdev and why does his view matter?

Baba Ramdev rose to fame through televised yoga sessions in the early 2000s. He later co-founded Patanjali Ayurved, building one of India’s largest homegrown FMCG brands. For many, he represents a blend of yoga, Ayurveda and cultural pride. For others, he is a controversial public figure who speaks strongly on politics and policy.

That is why his views on education attract attention. He does not speak as a policy expert. He speaks as someone who believes education defines character, confidence and national identity.

During the interview, he calls himself a “Universal Health Minister,” a phrase that reflects how he sees his role, not limited by office, but driven by influence.

The Gurukul argument: Loss or transition?

One of the central themes of the interview is the disappearance of the traditional gurukul system. Ramdev claims that India once had lakhs of gurukuls, where education was not limited to literacy but focused on wisdom and character.

He argues that colonial policies, especially those introduced in 1835 under British rule, changed India’s education model. Historians do confirm that in 1835, Thomas Babington Macaulay introduced reforms that promoted English education in India. Ramdev views this shift as the beginning of “mental slavery,” a phrase he uses to describe dependency on Western frameworks.

His concern is not just about language. It is about mindset. He believes education should build self-respect, not imitation.

Yet this raises a question: was the old system entirely ideal, or has modern education also brought access and scientific progress? The answer likely lies somewhere in between. India’s current literacy rate stands above 77 percent, according to recent government data. Access to education has expanded dramatically in the last century. But debates around quality and cultural relevance remain active.

Ramdev repeatedly says that education must combine two elements. First, awareness of one’s roots. Second, connection with the modern world.

He does not reject science or innovation. In fact, he stresses that knowledge, research and invention are essential. He points to countries like Israel, Japan and South Korea as examples of nations that built global influence through education despite smaller populations.

His message is simple: population size does not create power. Education does.

He also makes a strong distinction between being a consumer and being a creator. According to him, education should produce innovators, not just employees. It should remove fear and inferiority, not create competition-driven anxiety.

The idea of a “Global Gurukul”

Perhaps the boldest part of the conversation is his vision of a global education board under Patanjali. He speaks about a future where students from 200 countries come to study in India.

He imagines a system where ancient Indian philosophy sits alongside modern science. Where agriculture, entrepreneurship and public speaking are taught along with textbooks. Where discipline and character are part of the curriculum.

He insists that such education would reduce depression, addiction and moral confusion among youth. That is a powerful claim. It also invites scrutiny. Education alone cannot solve every social problem, but it can shape resilience and clarity of thought.

The idea of a “global gurukul” reflects a larger national conversation. India’s National Education Policy 2020 also speaks about holistic and multidisciplinary learning. The difference lies in interpretation and execution.

“Vishwa Guru”: Vision or rhetoric?

The phrase “India as Vishwa Guru” appears again in this discussion. Ramdev connects it to education rooted in pride, ethics and knowledge.

He argues that political slogans alone cannot build greatness. Social media noise cannot replace substance. Only a strong education system can create confident citizens.

At one point, he says education should not create aggression or blind pride. Instead, it should remove darkness and build inner strength. That statement stands out. It shifts the focus from dominance to development.

Becoming a global leader in education would require measurable outcomes, research output, global university rankings, innovation patents, and inclusive access. Cultural confidence must walk alongside scientific credibility.

Two student deaths in the span of days — one in Rajasthan and the other in Madhya Pradesh — have cast an uncomfortable spotlight on a question India’s education system has long postponed: how prepared are schools to detect and respond to silent health vulnerabilities among children?

Back on February 23, little Divya, just nine years old, fell unconscious while playing one morning. She was in fifth grade at a private school in Rajasthan's Nagaur district. By the time she reached a nearby government hospital, doctors could not revive her. They said she had already passed away. Some think it might have been a heart problem, though official medical reports are still pending.

Later that week, inside an exam hall in Moreana's district town, tenth grader Varsha Kushwah collapsed midway through her math test. The girl never regained consciousness. Local administration confirmed she passed away shortly after. Medical staff reviewing her condition said extreme lack of nutrition played a role. Severe anaemia was also noted by health workers on site. While autopsy findings are still pending, heart related issues remain one possible factor mentioned by physicians.

One event happened when classes were running normally. The second struck while students faced exam stress. Still, when lined up, both point to something bigger beneath. A weak safety net shows through. Young bodies are struggling more than noticed. Schools lack checks that catch problems early. Emergency plans often do not exist where kids spend most of their days.

Anaemia in Schoolchildren

Though hidden, tiredness might point to deeper issues. Across many parts of India, over fifty out of every hundred teenage girls face low blood count, records show. This isnt rare among females fifteen to nineteen, numbers climb past halfway mark again and again. When levels drop too far, everyday life gets heavier: dizziness creeps in, thinking slows down, hearts work harder just to keep up.

Still, checking blood levels regularly does not happen the same way in every school. While national efforts like RBSK require child health screenings until age eighteen, real world results show gaps, staff within education departments admit to follow, though it varies. In smaller towns or countryside areas, private institutions sometimes fall beyond the reach of standard health monitoring systems.

Emergency Response: A Missing Protocol?

Equally troubling is the question of preparedness. Do schools maintain updated medical histories of students? Are teachers trained in basic life support (BLS)? Is there access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs) on campuses? In most districts, the answer remains uncertain.

Cardiac arrest in children is rare, but paediatric cardiologists note that undiagnosed congenital heart conditions, electrolyte imbalances, dehydration, and extreme stress can act as triggers. Examination stress, particularly during Board assessments, is an additional physiological load — one rarely factored into school health policy.

Education Beyond Academics

A quarter billion kids go to school across India. Still, their well- being sits on the edges, showing up now and then in shots or meals, not woven into steady check ups.

Away from headlines, what happened in Nagaur and Morena speaks louder than sorrow. These moments reveal cracks that yearly check ups could help mend. Picture school halls where food quality gets reviewed like test scores. Health isn't just weight or mood, it shows up in daily attendance, in energy levels, in how kids respond under stress. When systems log emotional well, being alongside height and vision, patterns emerge. Emergencies? They wait for no policy meeting. Every campus, state, run or privately managed, should have plans ready before trouble knocks.

Should schools truly support education, they need to start by supporting life within their walls.

For decades, Indian students chose international universities based on prestige, global rankings, and brand recall. Today, that logic is shifting. The new determinant of higher education mobility is not aspiration alone — it is trade architecture.

As India advances negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and prepares for deeper engagement under the proposed India–European Union Free Trade Agreement, higher education is becoming embedded within economic diplomacy. Trade corridors are no longer just about goods and services; they are about skills, credentials, and labour mobility.

Between 2018 and 2023, India’s trade with the European Union crossed USD 180 billion annually, while trade with GCC nations exceeded USD 240 billion. A substantial share of this exchange flows through professional services — engineering, healthcare, digital technologies, logistics, and finance. Students are observing this shift carefully. Enrollment growth is increasingly stronger in trade-aligned regions than in legacy destinations that lack structured economic integration with India.

One of the most consequential developments is the push for mutual recognition of qualifications. Within the EU, harmonised credential frameworks have enabled cross-border tertiary enrollment to grow by over 30% between 2013 and 2021. Regulatory convergence reduces what students fear most: credential risk. When degrees travel seamlessly across borders, employability becomes predictable. If India–EU negotiations institutionalise professional mobility frameworks, Indian graduates will face fewer regulatory bottlenecks abroad.

Labour market data reinforces this transition. More than 60% of globally mobile students now prioritise post-study work rights and credential portability over institutional rank. The EU and GCC together account for roughly 38% of India’s skilled migration flows — a figure that has remained structurally stable over the past decade. Stability matters. Predictable regulatory systems allow families to make long-term financial commitments with greater confidence.

The GCC presents a parallel but distinct story. Since 2010, GCC governments have invested over $100 billion in higher education infrastructure aligned to economic diversification — renewable energy, tourism, fintech, logistics, healthcare. Indian enrollments in GCC institutions have grown at 12–15% annually, significantly outpacing the global outbound growth average of under 7%. This is not coincidence; it is policy design meeting workforce demand.

Program-level data reveals concentration in applied fields — data analytics, sustainability engineering, health administration, supply chain management, fintech. These are disciplines directly linked to globally regulated industries operating within trade-aligned ecosystems.

Cost optimisation also plays a decisive role. Applied master’s programs across parts of Europe are often 30–45% less expensive than comparable North American degrees, with clearer wage convergence and structured post-study pathways. GCC destinations add shorter program cycles and high regional job absorption in infrastructure and services sectors.

Universities are responding. Institutions embedded within trade-integrated economies are redesigning curricula around cross-border employability metrics, industry co-design, and work-integrated learning. Graduate outcome data increasingly shows faster labour market entry in such ecosystems.

The shift underway is structural, not cyclical. Education choices are moving from prestige signaling to trade-aligned career signaling. In a world shaped by economic blocs and mobility agreements, higher education decisions are becoming instruments of strategic workforce planning.

The future of international education will not be decided solely by rankings. It will be shaped by trade treaties.

Hundreds of thousands of Indian students ask the same question every year after Class 12: What is the future-proof, respected and meaningful career? The talk is about medicine and engineering, but hiddenly and gradually Forensic Science is rapidly becoming one of the top jobs that students of science pursue in their search.

This is the plain truth, forensic science is not a no-go profession but, in the hands of the right student, forensic science today can be one of the most rewarding careers in India.

Why the sudden interest?

Crime has changed. It is no longer as simple as fingerprints and blood samples. There is an increase in cyber fraud, digital frauds, narcotics, financial crimes and DNA based investigations. This has compelled investigation agencies and courts to be more dependent on scientific evidence. Central Forensic Science Laboratory and state forensic labs, as well as private labs and cybersecurity companies, are increasing, and they are staffing with trained professionals. Students are interested and they see this change.

What everybody does not tell you.

The crime shows tend to glamorise forensic science. As a matter of fact, it requires extensive scientific knowledge, patience, precision, and emotional stamina. It might be tedious, heavily controlled and full of details. Findings have to be subject to examination in court, occasionally years following the examination.

This is what however makes the career so powerful.

Forensic science is compensated on competence as opposed to college credentials, unlike most saturated professions. The right forensic professional who possesses a good lab or analytical or cyber capability can develop a good career even without the IIT or AIIMS tag.

Career scope after Class 12

Students are permitted to take BSc in Forensic science after PCB or PCM in Class 12 with MSc and specialised certifications. Fields of career are forensic biology, toxicology, examining questioned documents, cyber forensics, DNA analysis and crime scene investigation.

Graduates can work with:

• Government forensic labs
• Police departments
• Intelligence and investigation departments.
• Cybersecurity firms
• The private forensic consultancies.
• Schools and institutions

Experts can also become expert witnesses in court as a profession that carries much professional respect.

The balance between salary and satisfaction is real.

It may not be flashy on entry level salaries as compared to IT jobs. Nevertheless, Forensic science is something that many professions do not provide: longevity and sustainability. With the current modernization of legal systems and the growth of evidence-based policing, experienced professionals experience consistent growth, promotions, and increases in pay based on specialisation.

What is more important is that your work can create justice itself, assist in convicting guilty people and in protecting innocent people.

How to  Know  If Forensic Science is The Right Career?

Forensic science is not a job that everyone prefers. However, being a Class 12 student who:

• Adores science more than books.
• Reflects rationally and perseveringly.
• Desires a profession of actual social influence.
• Is willing to keep learning

Then yes, forensic science It is worth it in India

With students today rushing to follow the trends, forensic science rewards individuals who prefer to be deep rather than shallow. And that, in the modern day career world, is a strong strength.

So, think, decide, and choose wisely. For more details or free career consultation, connect with us at 08035018480.