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Kerala General Education Minister V Sivankutty on Monday hardened his position against religious and community groups encroaching on the functioning of educational institutions and added that school timings in the whole state would not be decided based on their convenience.

He clarified that neither his department nor he were involved in the time changes of the state schools during the ongoing academic year.

"There are some religious and community organizations in the state. We cannot change the schedule of our schools and children's exams according to their convenience," he told journalists here.

To aid the new timings of state schools, the minister also cited the examples of school timings of Kendriya Vidyalayas in the state as well as in Gulf nations.

"We will try to convince one and all about this. There will be a meeting with representatives of school managements on Wednesday," he further added.

Sivankutty also said as per the rules and regulations of the Right to Education, schools should have 220 working days.

According to sources in the General Education Department, the meeting will be held at Sivankutty's chamber in Thiruvananthapuram on July 23 afternoon.

One representative from each management is expected to attend the meeting, where the minister shall lay out the reasons why the school hours are being altered by the government, they further added.

Sivankutty had recently cleared that school hours cannot be modified in order to "accommodate a specific community", as the government would need to examine the interests of lakhs of students.

He stated that the Kerala High Court order had prompted the 30-minute increase in school timing, and any aggrieved person can seek legal recourse.

High school students (classes 8-10) will have 15 minutes of additional morning and evening classes on all working days except Fridays under the new schedule, to help schools complete the minimum 1,100 instructional hours annually.

The minister's clarification comes amid growing Muslim criticism, including that of the Sunni clerical body Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama, which contends that the "long hours will disturb religious studies."

Aiming to promote art and culture of different states in the national capital, the Delhi government has decided to increase the contribution of local artists in festivals of the states.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta informed on Sunday, July 20, that special festivals would also be organized in order to familiarize children with the languages of other states, according to the report by The New Indian Express.

According to the chief minister, the concerned department has to take their activities outside designated areas and present them to the common man to enhance people's involvement. She directed officials to ensure that regional festivals being observed in Delhi include artists from the concerned states since this would generate more interest among the people for such events.

The chief minister also stated that an effort would be made to search for avenues to impart children in Delhi non-Hindi languages so that they could learn the social and cultural identities of other states. She chaired a special meeting with the Department of Art, Culture and Languages.

The goal of the meeting was to promote the cultural life of Delhi and involve all classes of society in cultural activities. The chief minister further stated that while the Department of Art, Culture and Languages has been promoting the cultural heritage of Delhi for a long time, now its outreach has to be increased.

She required activities such as women's art exhibitions, camps for artists, music and dance festivals, stage performances, and religious ones such as Chhath Puja and Durga Puja to be arranged throughout the city to involve the public more.

With reference to Delhi's multistratified population, she emphasized the growing celebration of state festivals and ordered officers to involve artists from different states in such events.

"Delhi is not only the capital but also the symbol of the nation's culture," she said. "We want the art and culture of various states to be available on all streets and every individual to relate to it." She also added that theatre and folk art are strong tools for awareness and information dissemination, often more powerful than words, according to The New Indian Express report.

She reaffirmed the government's vision that Delhi children study the languages of other states so that they would get more familiarized with the states' cultures and traditions. She ordered officers to prepare a detailed report so that it could help in propagating India's multilingual culture in the capital.

The chief minister also proposed initiating a Student Exchange Programme with students from other states. This, she mentioned, would give children the platform to study different cultures and lifestyle, and promote mutual understanding and harmony. This move, she further stated, would significantly add to the nation's unity in diversity.

She further said that the department continues to organize painting competitions on a regular basis and has also gained several paintings through such activities. She ordered the officials to showcase these paintings at the Delhi Secretariat and government offices.

Since 1956, University Grants Commission (UGC) has been India's apex regulator for higher education. UGC has lately been undergoing major policy changes, reflecting India’s New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 goals implemented this year. Recent events, from student welfare to foreign university setups show UGC's evolving role. This article outlines key updates shaping higher education policy in India today.

A. Structural Overhaul Coming Soon

The Government of India has been formulating the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) Bill, unifying UGC, AICTE, and NCTE. The Bill will have separate verticals for regulation, funding, accreditation, and standards, each. 

B. UG/PG Curriculum Reforms

The new 2025 guidelines enable:

• For students of Honours, there shall be multiple points to enter and exit throughout the curriculum. 
• There shall be two academic cycles per year. 
• This will help in encouraging and recognition of skill and experimental learning. 
• This offers flexibility in the process of completion of degrees.

C. NAAC Accreditation Goes Fully Digital

The first thing that students usually look for when getting an admission in any college is its NAAC Ranking. This makes a student’s dream placement seem more promising. This NAAC Accreditation Process has become faster, paperless and transparent, going fully digital. This aims at boosting quality assurance and institutional accountability. 

D. Crackdown on Approval Frauds

The biggest problem that UG and PG Students face when taking admission in Colleges is Counselling and Fake Agent Scams. It is very difficult to figure out what is right and what is not. Therefore, UGC warns the public and institutions of fake approval agents impersonating officials. 

E. UGC-NET June 2025 Results Out

According to reports, an approximate of 11.21 lakh candidates registered for the UGC-NET 2025. Out of them, over 1.28 lakh candidates have qualified. These qualifiers include qualifiers for JRF and Assistant Professorship. The results were announced ahead of its schedule in June 2025. 

F. Focus on Campus Safety & Student Welfare

Mental wellness of a person matters more than it is prioritized. UGC has been investigating student suicide at KIIT, Balasore. Issued show-cause notices, warned of action including loss of deemed-university status. In addition to that, calls of mental health services, anti-ragging vigilance, and fitness/sports are being encouraged and promoted by institutions. 

G. Foreign Universities in India

Opening of Foreign Universities in India encourages not only better education but also better opportunities, placements and growth for students as well as surroundings. University of Southampton opens its first foreign campus in Gurgaon. Other than that, 17 global universities have received approval since 2023 regulations. This is a boost to India’s Global Academic Integration. 

In 2025, the UGC is reshaping itself from a traditional regulator into a forward-looking force in Indian higher education. With reforms focusing on flexibility, mental health, digital transparency, and international collaboration, the aim is clear: to put students first. As one UGC circular notes, “The well-being, safety, and holistic development of students must be central to every institution’s mission.” While challenges remain, these shifts mark a significant move toward a more inclusive and future-ready academic landscape. 

By Jishnu Mukherjee

Tired of the same old rigid study grind? Well, CBSE’s new reforms might just be the strategic shift schools and students have been waiting for. Starting in the 2025-26 academic session, the Central Board of Secondary Education is rolling out a series of comprehensive changes aimed at making education more dynamic, relevant, and—dare I say—future-proof.

Let’s get straight to the point: Class 10 students will now have the option of two board exam windows—one in February, the other in April or May. Students can appear for both or select just one, and CBSE will consider the higher score. This dual-attempt model isn’t just about flexibility; it’s a calculated move to reduce pressure and encourage true engagement throughout the year. Both exams cover the full syllabus, so consistent performance is still key.

Exam patterns are getting a significant overhaul too. Roughly half of all questions will now focus on application, case studies, and multiple-choice formats. The objective is clear: shift from rote memorization to competency-driven learning. This aligns with global best practices and modern workforce demands.

Internal assessments are stepping into the spotlight, now accounting for about 40% of the final grade. Projects, assignments, and periodic tests will all play a crucial role in a student’s overall performance. The old model of last-minute cramming is officially outdated. Students need to demonstrate sustained effort and deliver over time.

Subject selection is expanding, and the traditional marks system is being replaced by percentile-based evaluation—an effort to enhance fairness and accuracy. Skill-based subjects such as IT, AI, and Retail are now mandatory in Classes 9 and 10, and can even compensate for a failed core subject if necessary. This is a strategic alignment with the National Education Policy’s vision of practical, career-oriented learning. Classes 11 and 12 will see even more electives, including Electronics, Design Thinking, and Physical Education. Students are no longer boxed into rigid streams—they can tailor their academic portfolios in line with their career aspirations.

Assessment protocols are also evolving. Starting in 2025-26, Class 12 Accountancy students will be allowed to use basic calculators, shifting the focus from manual calculation to conceptual mastery. For Classes 6-9, diagnostic assessments like SAFAL and KSA will help identify and address learning gaps early, supporting a more personalized educational experience.

Transparency and accountability are also top priorities. Students can now request photocopies of answer sheets before seeking re-evaluation—a move towards greater fairness. Missed an exam in Class 12? Supplementary exams in July mean students won’t lose a full year over a single setback.

Attendance and participation are no longer optional. Schools are expected to enforce a 75% minimum attendance policy, and creative, cultural projects—such as those under the ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’ initiative—are now integrated into internal assessments from Class 1 onwards.

In summary, CBSE’s new reforms represent a clear pivot toward a more flexible, holistic, and skills-driven educational environment. If implemented effectively, these changes could redefine the student experience, making Indian education more competitive and relevant on a global stage.

By Jishnu Mukherjee

The school years that start at the start of it all can be recalled to go by in a blur of wee ones' pajamas, lunchboxes, and morning mayhem. For others, it's a seascape of candy-coated photos, the alphabet, and the beginnings of best friends. But beneath all the sweet facade is something very profound, something which impacts not only learning pathways, but the very mapping of a child's brain. The early years in school add up to a lifetime of learning, social bonding, and callousing of heart. The science behind it might be an eye-opener for many.

Hardwiring the brain, not merely learning letters

Basically, pre-primary and preschool classes are full of the learning of shapes, figures, and everyday day words. That is just the tip of it.

What's actually happening is a whopping amount of neurological building. The Center on the Developing Child at Harvard approximates that more than 1 million new neural connections are built each and every second in the brain of the young child during early childhood. It is early experience, and specifically structured ones like school, that get to determine which of those connections become entrenched and which can slide away.

Learning in school does not simply pick up facts. It picks up thinking, waiting in line, listening, questioning, and getting along with other people. Those are the real lessons that develop life-long mental and interpersonal understanding.

Feeling muscles start to develop

"Children are too young to learn feelings or become socially smart in early grade school." These early grade school years are the years management of feelings begins firmly to take root.

At school, children are presented with actual dilemmas, such as how to settle a dispute with another person or how to cope with routine and authority. They're all small but powerful emotional training ground.

It was proved by researchers at Yale University's Child Study Centre that social-emotional learning (SEL) in preschool and kindergarten had a significant impact on being sensitive and even diminishing behaviour problems. Kids who can articulate and regulate emotions consistently within a secure, stable school setting will become empathetic, resilient, and confident adults.

Language skills today, communication power tomorrow

There is the tendency to believe that authentic language capability starts when kids are pretty well able to read and write. But beginnings start before, and they are simpler than they appear.

In those years, becoming raised in the midst of told control, class conversation, and read-alouds works to build something more than words: knowing the world capability.

Studies found that kids who'd grown up in more prosperous early language environments possessed quicker and more competent brain responses to word processing as children. These early language abilities are associated with higher critical thinking, improved memory, and even improved mental health as an adult. 

Early confidence patterns start early

Self-confidence is assumed by most to be something one develops in childhood along with age. But the primary school years plant this seed subterranean, sometimes to last an entire lifetime.

When the child is complimented for a minor achievement, such as getting their name spelled correctly or knowing how to tie their shoe laces, the child begins building their inner belief system. It is the same which will become the inner voice that resonates loud through challenging school years ahead.

Early success at school had a profound impact on children's perception of their own ability well into teenage years. Wonderful is the manner in which one little word of encouragement or good manners from one of them can be recalled as a lifeline of inner confidence later in life.

School is the first window to the outside world

Home will instill love and values, but school will instill the initial concept of community.

Throughout all these initial five years, school is where kids learn that the world consists of other people but who are to be respected. From the memorization of how to collaborate on class projects to role-playing in art class, every experience expands the mind to kids learning about rules, diversity, cooperation, and fairness.

Shepherding and interacting with early learning groups significantly influence tolerance, eradicating prejudices, and bring long-term positive tendencies among other individuals. This is the start of being open-minded, caring human beings one could be not only as an individual, but also towards other people.

India’s education system is frequently recognized as a rising force globally, echoing Mahatma Gandhi’s vision that democracy thrives not on rote knowledge, but on meaningful education. At the helm of this transformation stands Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Education Minister since July 2021. With a strong background in administration and reform, Pradhan’s leadership has been central to the sector’s recent advancements.

One of the most significant reforms in recent years, the NEP 2020, is being implemented nationwide with the following primary objectives:

- Reducing rote memorization and emphasizing conceptual understanding.

- Promoting multidisciplinary education at the tertiary level.

- Integrating vocational training from Class 6 onwards.

- Introducing the use of mother tongue and regional languages, especially in early education.

- Reforming assessment systems to move beyond memory-based examinations.

Launched on 7th September 2022, the PM SHRI (Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India) scheme aims to transform 14,500 schools by 2026. Key features include:

- Smart classrooms and digital learning tools.

- Skill development labs.

- Sustainable and inclusive infrastructure.

- Teaching in regional languages.

To address the pressures of competitive exams, especially for Classes 11 and 12, the government introduced SATHEE, a free online coaching platform developed in collaboration with IIT Kanpur. Its primary goals:

- Reducing reliance on expensive private coaching for exams such as JEE and NEET.

- Supporting students from government schools and economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Programs like Samagra Shiksha and BharatNet have been expanded to enhance digital infrastructure, particularly in rural and remote areas. Key focus areas:

- Implementation of smart classrooms and reliable broadband access.

- Deployment of AI-powered tools for teachers.

- Development of multilingual digital educational resources.

Recognizing the importance of educators, a panel was established in 2025 to address:

- Overdependence on private coaching institutes.

- The prevalence of “dummy schools.”

- Misalignment between school curricula and competitive exam requirements.

Additional efforts include:

- National Professional Standards for Teachers (NPST)

- National Mission for Mentoring (NMM)

- Training teachers in local languages.

- Providing high-quality digital content and mentorship.

The Union Budget 2025–26 allocated a record ₹1.28 lakh crore to the education sector, emphasizing:

- Digital infrastructure and smart schools.

- Research hubs and artificial intelligence tools.

- Expanded skill development programs.

- Increased capacity in medical and engineering education.

India’s education system is undergoing substantial transformation under the leadership of Shri Dharmendra Pradhan. Through comprehensive policy reforms, modernization of school infrastructure, advancement of digital literacy, and focused investment in educators, the system is evolving into a robust foundation. These initiatives position India to realize its ambitions of becoming a developed and self-reliant nation, with education serving as a critical pillar for future growth.

By Jishnu Mukherjee