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Professor Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar, the Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC), has retired. He took over the role in February 2022. During his tenure, he initiated a number of important things, such as the implementation of the Central University Entrance Test (CUET) for both undergraduate and postgraduate admissions. He was also instrumental in putting into practice some of the provisions of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2022. Among other actions, he suggested that the UGC CARE List be disbanded and argued for more flexibility in the educational qualifications needed for faculty hiring.

Up until now, the Ministry of Education has not issued a name for the position that has been kept vacant.

Mamidala not only acted as the UGC Chairman but also the vice-chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) from 2016 to 2022.

Following are some of the steps taken by erstwhile UGC Chief

--The University Grants Commission (UGC) has permitted institutions of higher learning to enroll students twice a year. Though previous regulations permitted admissions of students only for July-August, the recent directive by the UGC now means that students can be admitted in January/February as well as in July/August in the next academic session. The recent decision by the UGC now renders it upon the institutions whether they desire to do admissions either in both cycles or in one cycle based on their infrastructure and faculty.

--The University Grants Commission brought out the draft guidelines for the apprenticeship embedded degree programme with a view to facilitate a student enrolled in an undergraduate programme of a Higher Educational Institution to undergo apprenticeship training as an integrated part of the degree programme according to these guidelines.

-- The University Grants Commission (UGC) has initiated application for the Ishan Uday Scholarship for the North Eastern Region (NER).

-- It also eased the hiring contract teachers and opens the vice chancellor post to non-academics.

--During his term, he also promulgated the Minimum Qualifications for Appointment and Promotion of Teachers and Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for the Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education) Regulations, 2025. UGC Chairman Prof Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar had previously informed The Indian Express, "The Draft UGC Regulations 2025 aims to ensure the highest standards in universities by introducing a more inclusive and transparent selection process.". The key purpose is to boost the quality of education, boost research innovation, align university administration with world-best practices, and implement the visionary change of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. We embrace healthy criticism and work together towards enhancing our nation's higher education system.

-- The Commission also brought in the draft regulations on promoting equity in the higher educational institutions. The draft proposed the establishment of 'Equity committees' to investigate complaints of discrimination; 'equity squads' to be "vigilant" and prevent such occurrences; and an 'equity helpline' for filing cases. The 2025 draft regulations have maintained the provision of equal opportunity centres, but this time around its working and composition has been delineated.

--UGC has declared a new framework of regulations to simplify the process of recognizing and accrediting equivalence to academic qualifications achieved from foreign institutions. The UGC (Recognition and Grant of Equivalence to Qualifications Obtained from Foreign Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2025, permit the recognition of qualifications earned from foreign institutions' offshore campuses, subject to certain conditions.

--The Draft UGC (Minimum Standards of Instructions in the Award of UG and PG Degrees) Regulations, 2024, envisioned major reforms both in the process of admissions as well as in the organisational structure of academic programmes. He also added provisions for multiple entry and exit points, recognition of prior learning, as well as fast-track and slow-track degree programmes, to make the duration of undergraduate programmes shorter or longer.

-- Suspension of the UGC-CARE list—a lists of quality academic journals launched in 2018. It has now been substituted with a series of indicative parameters for choosing journals, based on eight broad criteria.

-- The UGC, during his term, implemented a new set of regulations that would streamline the process of recognition and granting equivalence to academic qualifications obtained from foreign institutions. The UGC (Recognition and Grant of Equivalence to Qualifications Obtained from Foreign Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2025, now allow for the recognition of qualifications acquired from offshore campuses of foreign universities.

Google is a multi-national organization. Google has offices all over the world, including in India. Recruitment at Google is thought to be a lucrative opportunity. Google's intern package is also in lakhs. The majority of Google's job positions are technical i.e. positions for which BTech or MTech degree is necessary. Non-technical candidates are also hired in Google when they become eligible. Discover which job can be obtained in Google without BTech.

If you possess degrees such as BBA, BCom, BSc, or MBA then be glad. One can work in Google even without BTech. Google is not only for technical jobs (Google Non-Technical Jobs). There are numerous non-technical jobs in this organization, which depend on different skills and qualifications. The pay of these dream jobs is also in lakhs, crores. Know, how to find a job at Google without a BTech degree? Their compensation can differ based on the location of the job.

Non-Technical Jobs in Google: Google's non-technical jobs

Google's non-technical jobs do not require a B.Tech degree. Individuals with arts or commerce can also pursue a job at Google. Know which non-technical jobs are hired at Google.

1. Program Manager

Job: Projects management, team coordination, and assistance to product development.

Qualification:

1- Bachelor's degree in any stream (like B.A., B.Com, B.Sc.).

2- MBA or diploma/certification in project management (like PMP) can be added advantage.

3- Organizational skills, leadership, and communication skills are necessary.

4- Some experience (1-3 years) might be necessary. Freshers can also apply.

Salary:

1- For India entry level: Rs 10-20 lakh per year.

2- With experience: Rs 25-50 lakh per year or more.

2. Strategy and Operations Manager

Job: Formulating a business strategy, data analysis, and enhancing working processes.

Qualification:

1- Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA, B.Com, etc.) in business, economics, or management.

2- MBA or data analytics certification is a plus.

3- Analytical skills, problem-solving skills, and data interpretation skill.

4- 2-5 years of experience is preferred, but freshers from top B-schools are also welcome.

Salary:

Freshers in India: Rs 15-25 lakh per year.

For experienced: Rs 30-60 lakh per year or more.

3. Marketing or Sales Positions

Job: Google product marketing (e.g., Google Ads, Cloud), campaign management, or client handling.

Qualification:

1- Bachelor's degree (BBA, B.A. in Mass Comm, etc.) in Marketing, Communication, or Business.

2- Digital Marketing Certification (e.g., Google Ads Certification) will be helpful.

3- Creativity, communication skills, and knowledge of market trends.

4- Freshers' opportunities also available, but 1-2 years of experience is preferable.

Salary

1- Fresh entry in India: Rs 8-15 lakh annually.

2- Experienced: Maximum Rs 20-40 lakh annually.

4. Human Resources (HR Position)

Job: Overseeing hiring, employee retention, or training activities.

Qualification:

1- B.Sc in HR, Psychology, or any field.

2- Diploma in HR Management or MBA with an HR specialisation would be useful.

3- Interpersonal and people management skills necessary.

4- Even freshers are acceptable, 1-3 years of experience preferred.

Compensation

Starting in India: Rs 8-12 lakh per year.

With experience: Rs 15-30 lakh per year.

5. Content Creator or Strategist

Job: Developing content for Google products, and developing social media strategy.

Qualification:

1- Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Mass Communication or English.

2- Writing skills, knowledge of SEO, and creativity are mandatory.

3- Digital marketing or content writing certificate is a plus point.

4- Freshers' opportunities, experience not required.

Salary

Entry level in India: Rs 6-12 lakh per year.

With experience: Rs 15-25 lakh per year.

English skills: Fluent English (written and verbal) is required to work in Google.

Skills to focus on: If you do not have a graduation degree, get a certification from Google's free courses (e.g., Google Career Certificates). These certifications are required for data analytics, digital marketing, or project management skills.

Networking: Get to know Google recruiters on LinkedIn and look at openings on careers.google.com.

Interview process: Google interviews are challenging. Practice logical reasoning, problem-solving, and role-specific questions.

Disclaimer: The content has been taken and edited from News 18 hindi. Although we have made changes for presentation and clarity, the original content is owned by its respective authors and website. We do not own the content.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday quashed the Calcutta High Court's order ordering a CBI investigation into the West Bengal government's move to create supernumerary posts in the West Bengal School Service Commission teachers' recruitments.

The highest court, however, clarified that the CBI investigation as ordered by the Calcutta High Court into other areas concerned with the hiring of 25,753 teachers and staff members in West Bengal's state and aided schools would go on.

"Considering the above discussion we are of the opinion that the Calcutta high court was not justified in referring the question of creation of supernumerary posts to CBI as per the cabinet decision," said the Chief Justice of India Sanjeev Khanna as reported by The Telegraph.

The Supreme Court last week revoked over 25,000 appointments made in 2016. The state government had approached the apex court challenging the order.

On Monday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee promised to safeguard the jobs of "deserving" teachers whose appointment was cancelled by a Supreme Court order. She also referred to the case of the all-India medical entrance test NEET and stated that the top court had not cancelled the entire examination in that instance.

"The Supreme Court has to demarcate between who is entitled and who not. Give us the list. No one should be allowed to shatter the education system. In the case of Vyapam in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh, so many were murdered. They have never received justice so far. There were many accusations in NEET. The Supreme Court did not scrap the test. Why are you targeting Bengal? We wish to know. You are apprehensive of the talent of Bengal," she spoke to a delegation of terminated educators at Kolkata's Netaji Indoor Stadium.

The BJP had asked that Mamata and the Bengal cabinet ministers should be arrested for creating extra posts. They also demanded the CM's resignation.

The state had established supernumerary in state-run and state-aided schools. Over 23 lakh candidates had taken the state-level selection test in 2016. Vacant posts were 24,640, but 25,753 appointment letters were given. It was claimed that these supernumeric posts gave scope for illegal recruitment.

Irregularities in the recruitment of teachers had caused trouble for the Mamata Banerjee government. Several of the senior Trinamool leaders, including former education minister Partha Chatterjee, are now in jail as part of the case.

A Dalit student has been demonstrating outside the Vice Chancellor's house at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) for the last 14 days after allegedly being rejected PhD admission.

Shivam Sonkar stated that the Department of Peace and Conflict Studies in the BHU declared six seats of PhD, where three seats will be kept aside for Junior Research Fellowship candidates and three will be filled based on an entrance exam.

He said he had applied for admission through the entrance test and got the second rank. There were no reserved seats for Scheduled Caste candidates in the entrance test category, and the three seats that were there were given to General and OBC candidates.

Assam Cancels Remaining Class 11 Exams Due to Panchayat Elections. "Also, the department did not fill three seats under the JRF category," he alleged.

Sonkar contended that the university could have exercised its discretion in filling the vacant seats with other category candidates, "but refused" to do so in his case. Sonkar started his sit-in protest on March 21, one day after the declaration of the results.

Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Sanjay Kumar on April 3 assured him that his request for admission would be reconsidered, Sonkar added. But the student said he will not withdraw his protest until the university accepts him.

Reacting to this, the university administration released a statement explaining that Sonkar had applied for admission under the Research Entrance Test, which had two seats available - one for a General category candidate and one for an OBC candidate, both of which were already taken.

"Because he stood second, he could not be admitted," the statement said. The administration added that Sonkar is insisting that three vacant JRF seats be converted into normal entrance test seats so that his admission can be allowed. "Such a conversion, however, is not allowed as per PhD regulations, and his admission was not possible on account of his rank," it said.

Local MP Arun Govil handed out approximately 1,500 copies of the Ramayana to prisoners at the Chaudhary Charan Singh district jail in Meerut on Sunday.

Among the prisoners who received a copy of Ramayana were Muskan Rastogi, a woman who was charged with brutally killing her husband, and her boyfriend and co-murder suspect Sahil Shukla.

"While distributing the copies of the Ramayana in the jail, I also encountered Muskan and Sahil who, also, gladly accepted the copies of the epic. Though we didn't say a word to each other, I requested the inmates to promise that they would never do such an act in the future, for which they need to be behind the bars again," said Govil.

From January 22 of this year, the first anniversary of the inauguration of the Ayodhya's Ram Mandir, Govil has begun to distribute copies of the Ramayana. His goal is to distribute 11 lakh such copies throughout the nation during his tenure in Parliament over the next five years.

The ambitious initiative is designed "to counter negative thoughts among people that often drive them towards criminal activities," the BJP MP, who played Lord Ram in Ramanand Sagar's legendary Ramayan television series, said.

The Lok Sabha MP said he began his mission after Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave his approval. "When I fought the Lok Sabha elections, I was one of the poorest candidates.". Post-election, my financial situation deteriorated, yet I have resolved to use my personal resources for the distribution of the copies. Anyone who is interested in participating in this large project is welcome to join me. The copies will also be distributed among the MPs," stated Govil.

A website has also been initiated so that whoever is willing to have a copy can get in touch via the portal, Govil explained at his house in Defence Colony in Meerut. Ramayana is being printed in 13 languages at Geeta Press in Gorakhpur so that even non-Hindi speakers can read it, he said.

"Even if one can absorb just 10 per cent of the message and ethics in the epic in his or her life, it can result in the betterment of society as well as the self," Govil added.

A recent policy amendment in Jamia Millia Islamia's (JMI) PhD admissions has raised alarm over an apparent weakening of its minority reservation requirement. The amendment, introduced through a notification, now leaves it to the discretion of departments to voluntarily implement the 50% reservation for Muslim students rather than making it mandatory. The ordinance has been put up on the university website.

This has triggered warnings about the "dilution" of Jamia's minority quota. The amendment, which was made effective by a November 12, 2024, notification, amends Ordinance 9 (IX) on PhD admissions by replacing the term "shall" with "may."

The revised ordinance, available on the university’s website, states: “While granting admission to PhD programmes, the Faculty/Department/Centre may pay due attention to JMI’s reservation policy adopted for admissions.” Previously, the policy clearly mandated: “50 percent of the seats shall be reserved for Muslim candidates.”

The amendment was approved by Vice-Chancellor Professor Mazhar Asif on behalf of the Executive Council and Academic Council and signed by Registrar Professor Md Mahtab Alam Rizvi in notification.

Being a minority institution with constitutional protection, Jamia is entitled by law to reserve 50% of the seats for Muslim candidates according to the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions Act, 2004. But the new amendment leaves the decision to implement or not implement the reservation in the hands of the administration.

The All India Students' Association (AISA) has condemned the decision as a "deliberate attack on the rights of Muslim students." The student body said in a Friday press release, "Jamia Millia Islamia, a constitutionally protected minority institution, is under law obligated to keep 50% of its seats for Muslim students. But the recent amendment has intentionally watered down this policy by making reservation voluntary."

AISA also presented figures on the alleged exclusion of Muslim applicants. Data given by the student body reveal that certain of the departments have plenty of vacant seats despite Muslim applicants being on hand. For instance, the Department of English has 17 vacant seats, although 15 non-Muslim applicants and only 12 Muslim students were accepted for the academic year 2024-25.

The students have demanded instantaneous corrective actions like withdrawal of the amendment and reimposition of the binding 50% Muslim reservation policy.