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Even with a liberal scholarship system, fee exemption, and hefty promotional campaigns, private medical schools in Kerala are facing a seemingly glaring problem: the lack of filling non-clinical postgraduate (PG) seats. In response to a recent query under the Right to Information Act (RTI), 28 seats in MD non-clinical courses like pharmacology, physiology, pathology, biochemistry, and anatomy are unfilled even after the end of the 2024 admission season.

The scenario reflects a worrying trend in the state's medical education system, where young physicians increasingly eschew non-clinical career options due to limited career opportunities and low return on investment.

"Even with these enticing promises, students shy away from taking non-clinical courses," claims Dr Ashik Basheer, state president, General Practitioners Association (GPA). "The actual issue is employability. Most students do not envision successful career development, particularly after forking out Rs 9–10 lakh per year for three years."

While clinical PG seats are highly competitive—with fees usually crossing Rs 17 lakh annually—non-clinical subjects have few takers. To get a clinical PG seat, candidates need to get a rank in the top 2,500 in the NEET-PG exam. For non-clinical courses, even the qualifying percentile is usually enough. But demand is lukewarm.

Private medical colleges have tried to fill this gap in demand by going in for aggressive marketing. One college official, who wished to remain anonymous, conceded that colleges often provide scholarships and fee waivers simply to get applicants. "But students are cautious," the official said. "They see little career opportunities in non-clinical areas, and the cost can be difficult to justify."

The disinterest in the non-clinical streams also jeopardizes the quality of undergraduate medical education. PG students in such departments also act as tutors to MBBS students, and they have an important role to play in core learning. "Without non-clinical PGs, the undergraduate teaching system becomes unsustainable," Dr. Basheer stressed.

Kulathoor Jaisingh, whose lawyer has filed an RTI regarding the imbalances, expressed concern over the imbalances. "We are facing a dearth of doctors, and PG seats, especially in clinical departments, are few. Authorities should give serious thought to increasing clinical PG seats, instead of providing cosmetic measures to fill non-clinical seats," he said.

Notably, the problem mostly exists within private colleges. Non-clinical seats in Kerala government medical colleges have all been filled, aided by superior institution reputation, cheaper tuition, and the added glory of training within the public sector.

Dr. Althaf A, a professor and epidemiologist at Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, notices a trend. "Students are career-oriented. Non-clinical posts have improved working conditions, but no guarantee of placement. Those who take them do so out of personal interest or long-term academic goals," he stated. "The actual solution is to boost clinical PG intake in general."

With the state still churning out thousands of MBBS graduates every year, the growing gap between demand for clinical specializations and supply of available postgraduate opportunities risks derailing the career paths of young physicians and the healthcare delivery system as a whole.

Though incentives might provide short-term relief, experts indicate structural reforms and strategic seat allotment as the need of the hour to reconcile employability with educational infrastructure.

Creativity is a force that we typically celebrate for bringing innovation, art, and progress. It's the energy that drives science breakthroughs, the stroke of the brush that creates a work of art, and the idea that transforms the world. What if creativity crosses its boundaries though? When do we stop considering it inspiring and begin to say it's chaotic?

This is the question that has plagued every creator, manager, and even policymaker at some point: Where do we find the line between creativity and chaos?

The Myth of the Mad Genius

Pop culture mythologizes the "mad genius" — the person so full of ideas that they can't be kept in check by rules or routine. From Van Gogh to Steve Jobs, history is filled with geniuses whose genius lived on the edge of chaos. But where passion-driven chaos might create flashes of genius, uncontrolled chaos is not likely to construct anything lasting. An idea without structure is simply noise.

Creativity Needs a Canvas

Creativity, as water, requires a container. Boundaries don't kill creativity — they define it. A writer employs the constraints of language, a filmmaker within a frame, and a startup within budget. It's not the lack of rules that births genius; it's the intentional bending, stretching, and playing with them that does.

In design, we tend to refer to "structured freedom." That is the happy place — where imagination flourishes within limits that direct, but do not confine. Too much structure smothers spontaneity. Too little, and we have an incomprehensible mess.

The Workplace Conundrum

In creative professions, the pull between structure and freedom is most pronounced. Do you allow a team to brainstorm without timelines or deadlines, or do you create deadlines to have something delivered? The answer is balance. Creativity thrives in cultures where teams feel emotionally safe to explore — but are also held to a common aim.

Chaos can yield moments of genius, but long-term creativity — the kind that advances society — takes rhythm, discipline, and repetition.

Social Media, AI, and the New Age of Expression

In the current digital era, creativity is as democratized as it has ever been. Anyone has a platform, a voice, and the means to produce. But in the absence of editorial restraint or ethical limits, content can very easily descend into misinformation, clickbait, or noise. The distinction between expression and disruption has never been more blurred.

Even with AI, which is capable of producing poetry, code, or art in the blink of an eye, we need to consider: Are we amplifying creativity or fueling chaos? The tools are indifferent; it's up to us to use them.

Drawing the Line

So where do we set the boundary? The answer isn't absolute — it's context-dependent, intent-based, and impact-driven. But perhaps the aim isn't to construct a wall between creativity and chaos. Perhaps it's to create a bridge — a fluid framework that allows ideas to travel from free-wheeling imagination to purposeful action.

Creativity requires liberty. But to actually make a difference, it also requires direction.

In a nation where government schools are barely able to provide the basics, Bihar's recent decision to spend ₹300 crore on a mass cleanliness drive is more than an upgrade to sanitation—it's a declaration of intent.

The move to hire professional agencies to provide housekeeping services to schools throughout the state is a sign that there is increasing awareness that cleanliness is not a luxury, but an educational necessity. Out of the total amount, ₹200 crore will be used to enhance hygiene in primary and middle schools, and ₹100 crore for high schools. These amounts will be used to maintain classrooms, toilets, furniture, and the overall school infrastructure—sectors that tend to be victims of chronic neglect.

What is different about this program is its structural strategy. Rather than loading overworked school employees or untrained assistants with the responsibility for cleanliness, the government of Bihar intends to employ trained sanitation experts. Agencies are supposed to provide cleaners with the right equipment and supplies, and headmasters are supposed to oversee daily operations so that maintenance tasks don't interfere with academic schedules.

More significantly, district education officers (DEOs) will be responsible for overseeing agency performance, an accountability measure that has often been lacking in previous efforts.

Fundamentally, this initiative is about dignity—providing students, many of whom are from underserved communities, with access to clean learning spaces. A well-cared-for school not only safeguards health but also influences perception. It informs children that their education is important, and they are important as well.

If done well, Bihar's initiative can serve as an example for other states. Clean schools are not merely about looks—they are about the state assuming responsibility for the spaces in which young minds are formed. In that sense, this ₹300 crore is not merely in mops and brooms, but in Bihar's children.

The India Skills Report 2025 has not only come with numbers — it brings with it a strong narrative of comeback, rebirth, and acknowledgement. Leading the nation in mathematical and computer proficiency, Uttar Pradesh youth are delivering a strong message: when presented with the correct mix of desire and opportunity, even past underdogs can become leaders.

This success is no coincidence. For decades, UP was synonymous with lagging development indicators and lost opportunities. But in recent years, a quiet but profound shift has been taking place—driven by greater emphasis on skill-based education, digital penetration, and industry partnerships.

The fact that 80% of UP's youth now lead in core employability domains such as mathematics and computers is not only a triumph for the state, but also a template for the rest of the nation. No less revealing is the number of students from UP applying for internships and critical thinking jobs, a stark indication that the youth are no longer satisfied with rote learning—they are setting their sights on thinking, constructing, and creating.

Yes, UP ranks third in English proficiency, behind Maharashtra and Karnataka. But that gap as well is narrowing. More significantly, UP is proving that language is no obstacle to logic, technology, or talent.

The ranking of Lucknow among India's top job-generating cities along with Bangalore and Pune reinforces this change. The state might still rank sixth in overall employment on offer, but its rising trend is unmistakable.

What we’re witnessing is a demographic dividend turning into a developmental dividend. If UP sustains this momentum, not just through policy but through continued investments in infrastructure, mentorship, and inclusive learning, it will not just be a part of India’s success story—it will write a large part of it.

From the heart of India rises a new hope—and its name is Uttar Pradesh.

India is fast emerging as an international power of sustainability learning and green employment. A rise in India's student population for studying courses on sustainability reflects growing numbers of students learning the environmental problems and are motivated to take up a purposeful career. Encouraged by policy efforts, brains, and booming job economies, India's green revolution is as much about saving the planet — as it is about propelling its economy.

A Prosperous International and Domestic Market

The global market for green technology and sustainability has been estimated by Fortune Business Insights at USD 17.21 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 105.26 billion by 2032, with a robust CAGR of 22.4%. The World Economic Forum also identifies that India's green economy shift has the potential to boost its GDP by a massive USD 15 trillion by the year 2047. Such a shift is generating new high-income job avenues in renewable energy, green architecture, environmental consultancy, etc.

In India, the newest careers like renewable energy engineers, environmental policy analysts, and sustainability consultants are in high demand, with salaries ranging from ₹6–18 lakh annually. Not only are these jobs well-paying, but they also give a feeling of fulfillment — something no Gen Z and millennial can do without.

India's Institutes Shine on Global Sustainability Rankings

Indian universities are adopting sustainability at campus and curriculum levels. QS World University Rankings for Sustainability 2025 placed IIT Delhi at number one in India, ranked 171 in the world with a score of 80.6. Other universities that have featured on the list include IIT Kharagpur, IIT Bombay, and IISc Bangalore. In the meantime, in the 2024 Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings, India was the most represented country, with 105 universities taking part.

Of particular note were Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences and Shoolini University, ranking 3rd and 5th globally in their contributions to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). IIT Gandhinagar was noted in their innovations on solar power, smart energy system, and green building, ranking 59th in the world.

Rising Courses on Sustainability

In the last five years, Indian institutions have come up in a rush to open courses on sustainability. IIT Madras even set up an independent School of Sustainability in 2023. IGNOU's Post Graduate Diploma in Sustainability Science and IIT Roorkee's short-duration courses are giving students the resources to tackle real-world environmental problems.

Colleges are not silos. Schools are integrating climate change and ethical leadership into curricula, and online courses such as Coursera and Udemy are seeing increased enrollments in ESG, climate tech, and renewable energy courses.

It's a larger movement: students today want to be part of something meaningful. They understand sustainability not as a course, but as a purpose — one that transcends industries and borders around the world.

Why the Unusual Popularity?

There are several forces driving this green education movement:

A Generation with a Social Conscience: Gen Z is seeing the world being destroyed right in front of them. That has instilled in them a strong sense of responsibility among young people, and many of them desire careers that align with their values. Sustainability courses provide a way to pursue such meaningful careers.

Institutional Pull: Universities are now integrating sustainability into their curriculum. The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2025 will have sustainability as one of its indicators, pushing campuses to be green. Green rankings such as those by UI GreenMetric are also prompting institutions such as Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham and IIT Patna to take the lead.

Policy Support: India's green revolution is supported by robust policies. The nation has a target to produce 50% of its power from renewable energy by 2030. Schemes such as the National Green Hydrogen Mission and Smart Cities Mission are encouraging sustainable practices, which in turn are creating new employment opportunities and educational requirements.

International Exposure: Most Indian students are studying sustainability abroad, and particularly in Germany and the Netherlands — nations renowned for the circular economy and renewable energy. International experience anchors their careers in the job market and brings global expertise back to India.

Opportunities In Careers Are Opening Up

Career opportunities in sustainability today span industries with multiple and rewarding ones:

Renewable Energy Engineer – Crafting solar, wind, and hydro solutions.

Sustainability Consultant – Guiding corporations to green their ways.

Environmental Policy Analyst – Creating and dissecting public policy for climate action.

Waste Management Specialist – Managing recycling and zero-waste programs.

Sustainable Agriculture Expert – Encouraging organic and low-impact farming.

These professions are all not only necessary but have a direct role to play in the immediate reduction of India's carbon footprint and in enhancing to climate resilience.

Fighting India's Environmental Issues with Education

India is facing critical environmental issues — air pollution, water stress affecting more than 600 million people, and agricultural land degradation. Climate change further contributes with uncertain weather and more frequent natural disasters.

It has generated an imperative demand for professionals in sustainability. Education is the solution. Studying sustainability enables young people to create flexible, creative solutions for today's complex environmental challenges.

A Greener Future Through Education

India's adoption of sustainability education is strategic and timely. It supports international environmental objectives, responds to local issues, and provides fulfilling careers. Supported by institutions, robust policy environments, and the energy of young changemakers, India is well-positioned to lead the green revolution — not only in practice, but in education.

The headlines are clear: sustainability is no longer niche. It is mainstream, it is expanding, and it is staying put.

In a welcome but unusual display of pre-emptive governance, the Karnataka Food Safety and Drug Administration Department has conducted a state-wide drive to discover and inspect the sale of fake food and drugs. The February-March 2025 operation both indicates the magnitude of the problem and the need to tighten regulatory vigilance.

The findings are disturbing, if not downright terrifying. During February alone, of 296 drinking water samples collected around the state, just 72 proved safe after tests. Nearly a third were unsafe, and a huge proportion were of very poor quality. It's a grim reminder that something as straightforward and basic as safe drinking water cannot be taken for granted, even in metropolitan Karnataka.

The food safety situation is just as bleak. Paneer, ghee, fried items, and sweets—the staples of Indian kitchens—were routinely found contaminated or of inferior quality. Even though only 2 out of the 32 samples of paneer analyzed in March were unsafe, the remaining hundreds are still to be examined. These are items eaten by thousands, generally without complaint. The results, preliminary though they are, reflect a systemic collapse of hygiene, production processes, and retail monitoring.

In a parallel push to clean up the hospitality sector, pest control checks in nearly 600 restaurants and hotels yielded 214 notices and financial penalties of nearly Rs 3 lakh. The infractions ranged from poor hygiene to serious food safety violations. It's evident that regulatory lapses are not confined to production units but run deep into the establishments where food is served every day.

On the drug side, the figures also tell an equally gloomy tale. Of the 1,891 drug samples analyzed until March, 41 were substandard—of which 78 defective units of the widely used intravenous fluid Ringer Lactate. No small deficit this; Ringer Lactate is often used in life-saving emergency procedures. The speed with which the department reacted to taking off the market drugs worth over Rs 24 lakh is to be applauded—but also raises a wider issue: How did they end up there to start with?

In a welcome change, the department's relentless drive against toxic artificial colours—specifically those used in bakery items—has begun to yield results. Unsafe samples have plummeted from 4.06% in August 2024 to a paltry 1.16% as of January 2025. The credit must go to the growing awareness drives that are targeting both sellers and consumers. But this achievement, while significant, is only the beginning.

The fact that software is being developed to trace and recall defective drugs is a welcome move. If properly enforced, it can be used as a model for pharmaceutical transparency and consumer protection nationwide. But technology alone will not do. What Karnataka needs—and what India as a nation must aspire to—is a culture of compliance, accountability, and consumer empowerment.

These recent raids are more than a grade card on safety standards; they are an appeal to transform our mindset toward public health. Food and drug safety can't be one-time campaigns—they must become institutional imperatives.