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It will be the first time that Artificial Intelligence will be used for the evaluation of the answare papers in the Higher Secondary examination. From the coming academic session, the Higher Secondary examination has been introduced in the semester system. The first semester, also termed the third semester considering the Higher Secondary Education Council, which had exams for the last two semesters in Class XI, has already been over prior to the Durga Puja festival. The final semester examination will begin in February.

What would the process for-scripts verification consist of?

In this year itself, there have been a few complaints regarding the exams held using the OMR cards. The Council has warned the students, guardians, and teachers to strictly adhere to the guidelines provided in the OMR cards because the cards are processed in computers. In case there is any mistake in the exam, like marking two spots for a single answer, water splashing or any other liquid pouring on the paper, or folding the OMR card, the processing will not be possible in the computer, and the whole answer sheet or the OMR card might have to be cancelled.

Artificial intelligence in evaluation

Despites the warning not to do this, there are certain issues that have been mentioned to have already emerged that could lead to problems in the process of evaluating the OMR. In this particular situation, the Council has already concluded that they will take advantage of what AI has to offer. According to a quotation attributed to the President of the Council, Chiranjib Bhattacharjee, an AI has been created to meet the particular areas they need assistance in.

The Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology is embedded within the AI system. Optical Character Recognition is a type of technology that possesses the capability to read images, whether they are handwritten or printed, to move them into a form that a computer can read. The characters in an image can be recognized through Optical Character Recognition technology.

Will multiple markings have any effect on the cancellation of the answer sheets?

In OMR, the student is supposed to write their roll numbers and registration numbers by hand in two separate places and also mark their numbers by coloring over the respective numbers in the circles. This method involves a procedure where, in case of any irregularity and mistake, the answer sheet would be canceled. However, with this new technology, once implemented, the answer sheet won’t be canceled as long as there isn’t any mistake in writing as well as circling numbers.

Many times, while selecting the proper answer to be marked, the student unconsciously marks two answers. Normally, this would not be accepted by the computer. However, in this regard, the student would be assisted by AI technology, says Bhattacharya. 

“The computer would compute probabilities. It would compute which one of the two answers has been marked in heavier characters. One would be taken as the intended answer,” he explained. Many a time, a student may have casually checked the wrong answer and later checked the correct answer correctly. The AI will isolate the correct answer. Also, apart from all these, if there are any other bugs, there will be a human operator available for attending to it accordingly. 

As regards the concerns about ‘the possible reduction of teachers’ roles’ due to increased usage of AI in assessment, ‘the Council cannot accept this argument.’ As regards ‘the possible reduction of teachers’ roles’ due to increased usage of AI in assessment, ‘the Council cannot accept this argument.’ In regard to ‘the reduction of teachers’ roles’ due to ‘increased usage of AI in assessment,’ ‘the Council cannot accept this argument.’ As regards ‘the possible reduction of teachers’ roles,’ ‘the Council cannot accept this argument.’ As regards ‘the possible reduction of teachers’ roles’ due to increased usage of AI in assessment, ‘the Council cannot accept this argument.’ As regards ‘the reduction of teachers’ roles’ due to ‘increased usage of AI

Having a disability is never an easy situation with the number of challenges that one faces. This is more so for persons with disabilities in India if they are not financially and emotionally independent. India, which is the fifth-largest economy globally, allocated only 0.025% of total budget expenditure for the financial year 2025-26 to the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.

It is true that the country is still far behind in offering world-class disability support infrastructure, cost effective quality instruments, support for health care services, sufficient insurance provisions, or more importantly adequate socio-cultural support to the PwDs despite the enormous growth of the economy of the nation since the time of independence, which is not acceptable.

It is very expensive to be differently-abled: the cost of a person with a disability over their lifetime is such that it goes into a few crores. It is not just a matter of living or surviving, it is also about thriving. It is not important that people with disabilities are struggling for the basic things in life such as effective therapy, effective medication, wheelchairs, disability-friendly cars, internally disability-friendly homes, caregivers, and so on? Even with limited economic support from the governments as well as insurance companies, with an average increase in the cost of living/healthcare in India of 12-15%, which is significantly higher than the retail inflation of 4-6%, it is imperative for people with disabilities to work doubly hard in order to meet the additional costs that their disability imposes.

Building a pyramid

The initial step that the PWDs should undertake for securing their financial future is to get educated or earn through an active stream of income either through employment or business. This would enable them to accumulate wealth, make a name, as well as gain confidence, which would automatically help to reduce the extra cost burden as well as enable them to enjoy their life the way they like.

Step number two is to purchase term and health insurance for the family members at a young age. It is possible that the insurance plan does not cover a certain disability, but it still pays for various other medical or hospitalization bills. Due to high medical inflation rates in the country along with a Per Capita income of only $2,400, it is observed that Indians are on the verge of becoming bankrupt after one hospitalization.

Step three: “curtailing leisure/unnecessary expenses, and living a simple life.” This is a means of financing many of the expenditures that come with having the disability. “We all want everything in life. But the harsh reality is that life is unfair, and if the PWDS have limited resources, then adhering to step number three is the sensible thing to do.”

And step four is to have a passive income stream by means of starting to invest in equity asset class as early as possible. Compounding requires time; therefore, it is advisable to invest in equity mutual funds—a lump sum investment or a monthly systematic investment plan (SIP) to beat the returns of inflation in the latter stages of one's life. Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) cannot earn active income throughout their lifetime, and equity is the only asset class that helps generate returns beating inflation. It is observed that for the last 30 years, on a rolling 10-year average, the Nifty 500 index has comfortably clocked an average compound return of more than 15%.

Emotional security

Financial security is one aspect that one should keep in mind. But then, there is emotional security too. Keeping in mind the psychological as well as physical issues faced by PwDs, it is important to feel for them; it is also important to motivate them. It should never be remembered that it is not possible for people with disabilities to live their lives without some or other support that they would need.

Patience is the mother of all virtues. It is important for members of the family to be patient in dealing with PwDs. A family can be loving enough to make the PwDs feel secure, supportive enough to enable the PwDs to meet challenges of life, and motivational enough to enable the PwDs to prosper.

There would be many people with disabilities who would not be physically or mentally capable of pulling themselves up financially or emotionally, and it is here that the important role of family members would be called for. It is important to approach doctors, counsellors, patient groups, but more importantly, it is important to be open-minded.

Data reveals that for the year 2025, India stands at number 132 out of 152 countries in the global OBI inclusiveness index (disability rankings at 121), firmly establishing that disability is still viewed as a taboo issue or a liability. Research points to the negative economic cost of exclusion of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and that PwDs are very productive and driven with the right support systems in place; their performance is at par with, if not better than, that of their able colleagues in their respective domains. It is strongly suggested that in this current techno era, it is important that the taboo about Persons with Disabilities is broken by viewing them as assets in the various sectors of Indian society. 

You should trust yourself and spread it in the universe that you too are capable of living a successful life both professionally as well as personally, since you too deserve it. A lot of things are easier said than done, since dealing with and accepting one’s disability is unimaginably difficult. It is only natural that you feel like giving up on life, feel low, feel negative about things, but try not to dwell on these feelings too much, since they should drift by like the blowing winds. There is no better way of expressing it: in the current era of the world, being dependent completely on someone, either financially or emotionally, is no less than choosing to hand over the remote of your life to someone who would finally end up commanding you for some reason or the other.

Protect your heart with your plate-not with a pill.

Heart disease is no longer a health disorder affecting only older adults. Increasing stress, long working hours, and disturbed eating patterns push even young Indians into the risk zone these days. Cardiologists insist that the most potent way to keep your heart healthy starts on your plate, not in a pill box. Here are six daily foods which doctors highly recommend adding to your regular diet as they nourish the heart, improve blood flow, regulate cholesterol, and help the body fight against silent inflammation.

Oats: Daily dose of fibre that tames cholesterol

Oats are amongst the more trusted breakfast options of heart specialists since oats contain beta-glucan-a kind of natural fiber that binds the extra cholesterol, therefore making it easier to take out of the body. Eating on a regular basis will reduce LDL levels and will keep full for quite a period of time, thus not allowing unhealthy snacking.

Walnuts and almonds: small handful, big impact

These nuts are also very powerful heart protectors. Walnuts provide plant-based omega-3 oils, while almonds supply vitamin E and healthy fats. Together, they reduce inflammation, give flexibility to arteries, and maintain overall heart function. How much: 6–8 nuts daily Why: It has been shown in research that those who consume nuts on a regular basis have a very low risk of heart problems.

Berries: Antioxidants protecting your arteries

Antioxidants in blueberries, strawberries and raspberries-even local fruits like jamun-protect the inner lining of the blood vessels. They help stabilise blood pressure and reduce oxidative stress for healthy circulation. How much: ½ cup daily Best part: Even a small serving makes a measurable difference.

Leafy Greens:

Nature's Blood Pressure Regulators Spinach, methi, amaranth and other Indian greens contain potassium and natural nitrates that help dilate blood vessels, easing the heart's task of pumping blood. Another reason they're good for you: greens cut down the harmful effects of high-salt diets, common in Indian homes. How much: 1 cup cookedEasy fix: Add greens to rotis, dals, khichdi or soups to make them a daily habit. 

Olive oil or mustard oil:

Pick the right fat Healthy fats: Keep your heart in good shape. Olive oil contains very high levels of monounsaturated fats that maintain good cholesterol in healthy amounts. Mustard oil, on the other hand, works beautifully for Indian cooking-it is intrinsically low in saturated fat, besides carrying heart-salubrious omega-3s. How much: 1-2 tablespoons per day Caution: Do not use the same oil for frying repeatedly-it creates harmful compounds. 

Beans and Lentils:

Heart-Protective Protein Plant protein and soluble fibre in staples like rajma, chole, moong dal and masoor dal in Indian cuisine stabilize sugar levels and curb cholesterol. As you feel fuller for longer, you tend to eat less and that automatically cuts the chances of overeating and weight gain-two main factors contributing to heart strain. How much: 1–2 servings a day Added advantage: They are inexpensive, easily available and can be simply incorporated into your daily diet. 

The cardiologist's takeaway 

Heart-healthy eating is not about complicated diets or exotic ingredients; it's about simple, everyday choices that you repeat day in and day out. When these six foods become part of your routine, they gradually improve cholesterol, blood pressure and blood vessel health. Even if you can't adopt all six right away, make at least one change today: a stronger heart is built through small, sustainable steps-not sudden overhauls.

As a young legal practitioner stepping into a world that is always “online”, I see first-hand how blurred the line between work and personal life has become. Emails arrive at midnight, WhatsApp messages replace formal office memos, and “urgent” calls disrupt family time, meals, and even sleep. In this context, the proposed Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025 is not just timely — it is necessary.

Introduced as a private member’s bill by NCP MP Supriya Sule, the proposed law seeks to give employees a legal right to ignore work-related calls, emails, and messages beyond official working hours and on holidays. At its heart, the bill aims to protect an individual’s mental peace, health, and dignity in the digital workplace.

Why the Right to Disconnect is Essential

India’s work culture has long glorified long hours and “hustle”. But the reality today is different. Employees are facing burnout, anxiety, sleep disorders and depression due to round-the-clock digital engagement. The constant expectation of availability is not only unhealthy, but also unsustainable.

According to recent discussions in Parliament, over 51% of Indians work more than 49 hours a week, and nearly 78% report symptoms of burnout. This is alarming. We cannot build a productive economy on exhausted minds.

From a legal standpoint, the Right to Disconnect strengthens fundamental rights such as:

1. Right to life and personal liberty (Article 21)

2. Right to health and well-being

3. Right to privacy in the digital age

Work should not become a 24/7 obligation simply because technology allows it.

Comparative Study: How Other Countries Handle It

India is not alone in dealing with this issue. Several countries have already implemented similar laws:

France (2017)

France became the first country to officially recognise employees’ right to disconnect. Companies with more than 50 employees must set clear after-hours communication norms.

Spain and Italy

Both countries provide workers with the right to switch off digital devices after working hours without facing penalties.

Philippines

A similar Right to Disconnect law was proposed to protect workers, especially those in the BPO and IT sectors. These countries have not seen a drop in productivity. In fact, studies show that well-rested employees are more focused, efficient, and loyal to their organisations.

Advantages

* Protects mental health and reduces burnout

* Improves productivity and employee efficiency

* Strengthens work-life balance

* Creates healthier workplace culture

* Supports gender equality by protecting family time

* Encourages employers to plan work better

Perceived Disadvantages

* May be difficult to implement in emergency-based sectors

* Global companies operating across time zones might face challenges

* Initial resistance from corporate leadership

However, most of these concerns can be addressed by clear exceptions for emergencies and industry-specific regulations. The benefits far outweigh the challenges.

A Step Towards a Humane Work Culture

From a legal and human point of view, the Right to Disconnect is not an “anti-work” law — it is a pro-human law. It recognises that employees are not machines. They are individuals with families, health, emotions, and lives beyond screens.

Even if the bill does not pass immediately — as private member’s bills often struggle — its introduction has already sparked a crucial national conversation. It puts pressure on companies to self-regulate and respect personal boundaries.

As India aspires to become a global economic powerhouse, it must also become a global example of sustainable work culture. The Right to Disconnect Bill is not a luxury — it is a necessity for the future of work in India.

By Abhishek Choudhary

Advocate, District Judges’ Court – Chinsurah, Hooghly

Ex‑Alumni, Department of Law, Hooghly Mohsin College

Abhishek is a dedicated legal professional with a strong foundation in litigation and court proceedings at the District Judges’ Court in Chinsurah. After completing his law degree at Hooghly Mohsin College, he continued to expand his expertise by pursuing the Company Secretary (CS) qualification, blending corporate governance knowledge with his judicial experience.

In addition to his advocacy work, Abhishek offers tax consultancy services, helping businesses and individuals navigate the complexities of Indian tax law. His dual focus on legal practice and taxation enables him to provide comprehensive advice that bridges compliance with strategic planning.

Passionate about continuous learning, Abhishek remains actively involved in both the legal and corporate sectors, contributing to the professional community while assisting clients in achieving their objectives efficiently and ethically.)

The deaths due to heart attacks among people below age 30 have increased by 40% between 2018 and 2022, growing from 2,371 to 3,329.

In the same period, the numbers for those over 30 climbed from 23,392 to 29,081. Figures like these naturally compel us to fear heart attacks. But do we really need to live in fear? Is it possible to live without constantly worrying about one?

Yes, says Dr George Thayil, the founding head of the department of cardiology at Lourdes Hospital in Kochi. He explains how in his book 'Heart Attack: Bhayappedathe Jeevikkam', which has just been released by DC Books.

For Dr Thayil, writing about the heart never gets old. He has authored more than half a dozen well-informative books in the field of health. In ‘Heart Attack’, he offers insights into how people can protect their hearts.

He noted that these treatments are mostly so expensive that they sometimes break the financial backbone of a family.

Even as the World Heart Federation, Unesco, and the World Health Organization repeat at regular intervals that the emphasis needs to shift from cure to prevention in heart disease, few hospitals actually follow this lofty ideal.

Many patients and their families are unable to meet the exorbitant expenses of the cardiac examinations and treatments. "An angioplasty, for instance, costs between Rs 1.5 and Rs 3 lakh, and a bypass surgery between Rs 3 and Rs 5 lakh," says Dr Thayil.

This motivated him to pen a book imparting crucial knowledge on how to keep the heart healthy. The book covers most of the aspects touching on the heart and heart-related diseases in an interesting manner.

Each chapter is titled as a question, to which every one of us has had doubts about sometime or another. Questions such as: What is the heart made of and how does it work? Why do I have chest pain? Will an ECG detect heart disease? Must one begin to take care of the heart early in life?

In one chapter, Dr Thayil brings to light how deaths related to overworking, otherwise known as ‘Karoshi syndrome’, are an emerging concern.

The term 'Karoshi' is Japanese for deaths or incapacitation due to overwork. It is closely associated with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events, that is, stroke and heart attack, which get induced by extreme stress and unending hours of work.

Dr Thayil considers that the syndrome is a consequence of prolonged work hours, stress related to occupation, poor work-life balance, and societal pressures. The global concern eventually moved the governments to introduce preventive measures. Among people exhibiting Karoshi syndrome, the risk of heart attack rises by 13 per cent, while susceptibility to stroke increases by 33 per cent.

Artificial Intelligence chat ads, also referred to as AI-powered ads or chatbot advertising, will change how we get information from AI models like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini. These AI chat ads will not even feel like an ad; it’ll just slip in conversations that may feel personal and helpful but could secretly be designed to sell products, services, or ideas! It might sound thrilling to marketers and companies but what about people and students? It’s scary, and it’s happening faster than we could notice. The question now faces us: with AI chat ads forming part of our digital lives, how will people know if they're hearing/reading a true fact or just an AI ad masquerading as a friendly chat?

This dilemma isn't just theoretical, there’s more to it. Top companies like meta, X, have already started doing it, and Google is also testing and implementing ads within your AI conversations on third-party AI chatbots with  the help of its AdSense for Search program. It might look and sound trivial but it's not. These ads are unlike traditional banner ads or obvious promotional instagram content, these chatbot ads are contextually relevant to the user's conversation which makes it look like no-ad talk, similar to no-makeup look. 

The Netflix series Black Mirror has already shown the world how everything will be in the next 10-30 years. One of the episodes of this series explores a dark future where a woman's brain was fixed with AI implants. It was all good initially until  the ads started. Eventually she became a "walking ad" constantly bombarded with commercial messages. People who have watched this can exactly understand how scary it can be. In the end of the episode, when the protagonists didn’t have money for ad-free subscriptions, the husband kills his wife (the woman). While futuristic, this episode warns us about the blurring lines between our thoughts and AI ads.

Just think of it yourself, you are chatting with an AI chatbot deciding what to wear and randomly it says, “oh well what is your weight?” and you say, “It's 55kg now,” cleverly, the model can say, “you lost weight, you should definitely try XYZ drink to maintain it.” And guess what happens next? You’ll be flattered, manipulated unknowingly. The result? Sales of that product will increase while you won’t realise it was just an Ad that suggested something you didn’t actually need. 

AI-powered chat ads can analyze enormous amounts of information to personalise every message you receive in such a way that it doesn’t feel like a promotion. Just think about it, being able to converse with AI-powered advertisements that recommend specific products or ideas for you, expertly using marketing into what feels like good advice. You must have got an idea from the above example. 

An AI expert, Harshit Dave, who is currently researching to build a credible AI evaluation framework, shared his concerns about the same saying, “it’s scarier than people can imagine. This makes for serious concerns about transparency: Will AI ads disclose that it's an ad? How will we be able to distinguish fact from marketing? How do we protect ourselves from manipulation by AI chat ads disguised as unbiased helpers!?” 

Apart from the aforementioned concerns, these ads will disrupt research. Students and scholars might have to shift to physical libraries and archives for their research because as everything is now AI powered, doing actual research will become a Challenging Task. Students, professors, and policymakers must realise this before it’s too late. They must not rely on AI especially for research and education because who knows when a medical student asks a chatbot, “which drug is used to make cough syrup?” the answer given is a modern drug made by a unicorn company that has paid the bot to market its drug!? 

The potential proliferation of AI chatbot ads demands urgent digital literacy. India and the world needs it, especially students because they are the ones who use chatGPT and other models on a daily basis for every trivial matter. There is a need for people to learn to spot AI chat ads by asking critical questions: Is this an AI ad or real information? Am I getting paid marketing or independent advice? At the same time, this calls for regulators and creators to put into practice clear labeling and ethical rules that will make AI ads transparent.

AI ads, chatbot ads, or conversational advertising, all of it calls for responsible AI evaluation to test the model for trust in information. The future of AI chat advertisements will demand some sincerity about the way these intelligent ads actually converse and uphold the authority of their users. The Black Mirror warning that if we do not question AI ads today, tomorrow we might end up living in a world where everything we hear is a carefully crafted AI ad, and nothing is truly neutral or ours alone, reminds us of that fact. Our defence in this future world of AI chat advertisements will be to remain educated, be on guard, and insist on transparency.Because when AI ads talk to us daily, understanding when it's a real answer or an AI ad becomes critical, not just for smart shopping but for the freedom to think clearly.

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