Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday accused the BJP's model of development of being to take away the right to education from the poor, particularly SC, ST and OBC children.

Opposition leader in the Lok Sabha posted on Facebook screenshots of certain media reports.

One media outlet alleged that the number of government schools fell 8 per cent but private schools rose by 14.9 per cent between 2014-15 and 2023-24, whereas another alleged that SC students' enrolment in 2023-24 as against earlier fiscal year dropped by 16.2 lakh students and ST students' and OBC students' enrolment dropped by 5.1 lakh and 38.5 lakh respectively during the same period.

In a Hindi post on X, Gandhi claimed that the "BJP's development model is a model to snatch the right to education from the poor, especially SC, ST and OBC children".

"Over 5,000 government schools are closing in Uttar Pradesh. Since 2014, 84,441 government schools have shut down in the country, with the majority shutting down in three BJP-governed states - Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Assam," he added.

"This is not only closing schools, but also an attack on the right to education enshrined in the Constitution and the UPA government's historic law, which led all children from all villages into school and resulted in a historic rise in enrolment," Gandhi added.

Babasaheb Ambedkar had declared that education is the milk of a lioness and the person who drinks it will roar, but today education itself is being stolen away, he charged.

"Students and teachers on the street protesting against the school closure decision, but rather than hearing their voice, the government is occupied in intimidating them and further impairing the education system. When the requirement is to make it stronger and offer equal, accessible and quality education to all children," Gandhi said.

Two students will be awarded maximum number of gold medals at the forthcoming annual convocation of Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) on July 4.

Namrata C Prabhu of Bengaluru's Oxford College of Engineering will take home 13, the largest amount of gold medals. "Growing up, I used to watch my dad, a civil engineer, work and was always amazed by it. Hence, I was leaning towards civil engineering rather than computer science, though that has been more sought after," she said.

Another topper student who has risen to the challenge is Navyashree Ganpishetty, a student of electronics and communications engineering at RV Institute of Technology, Bengaluru. She has won 11 gold medals. "I was fascinated by electronic gadgets since childhood. My father has completed his B.Tech in communication and electronics engineering. We had sufficient exposure in our college. We would do practical in lab and would have the needed questions from VTU," she added. She is going to pursue higher studies in VLSI (very large scale integration).

Karthik L of mechanical engineering at Bangalore Institute of Technology, Bengaluru, and Kavana A, electrical and electronics engineering student at GSSS Institute of Technology for Women, Mysuru, both bagged seven gold medals.

The 25th annual convocation of the Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) will take place on July 4 at its Jnana-Sangama campus in Belagavi. Ajay Kumar Sood, principal scientific advisor to govt of India, will be the chief guest and the convocation address.

VTU is conferring degree certificates on 60,052 students. BE degree on 58,861 students (20,707 autonomous college students included), B.Tech on 117 students, B.Plan on 10 students, B.Arch on 1,040 (234 autonomous college students included), and B.Sc (Honours) on 24 students. Aside from this, the university is conferring 262 PhDs and 2 integrated dual degrees on research scholars.

VTU will award honorary doctorate degree 'Doctor of Science' this year to V Narayanan, chairman Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and secretary, department of space; Prashant Prakash, founder, Excel India; and CS Sunder Raju, chancellor, Atria University, Bengaluru.

Six gold medals will be awarded to computer science and engineering student of Dayanand Sagar Academy of Technology and Management, Mohini V.

Top five institutions with the most VTU ranks are Mangalore Institute of Technology and Engineering (MITE), Moodabidri with 16 ranks, and Bangalore Institute of Technology (BIT), Bengaluru with 13 ranks.

If you appeared for the UGC NET June 2025 exam, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the UGC NET provisional answer key. This is where you get a chance to "compare your answers, estimate your score, and raise objections if you find any discrepancies. The UGC NET objection window is open from July 6 till 8, 2025 (5 PM). Here is the procedure that would help you verify the answer key and raise objections with ease.

What is the answer key of UGC NET?

UGC NET answer key is a record that the NTA publishes after the examination that shows all the correct answers to all questions in the examination. NTA also gives a question paper and your recorded responses together with the answer key. Such transparency assists candidates prove their answers and compute their likely scores prior to the result announcement.

How to Check UGC NET 2025 Answer Key?

Here is how you can download and verify your answer key:

  1. Visit the official website: Go to ugcnet.nta.ac.in.
  2. Find the answer key link: Click on “UGC NET June 2025 Answer Key” or the relevant public notice on the homepage.
  3. Login: Enter your application number and date of birth or password to log in.
  4. View your answer key: You will see the provisional answer key, your recorded responses, and the question paper on the screen.
  5. Download/Print: Save or print the documents for your reference.
  6.  

Steps  to challenge the UGC NET Answer Key

You can challenge the questions (rs200/-) online in case you find any wrong answers or differences. Here’s how:

  • Log in with your identification on the site ugcnet.nta.ac.in
  • Choose the question(s) you want to challenge from your response sheet.
  • Add academic evidence or references of your claim in one PDF file.
  • Pay the non-refundable objection fee of ₹200 per question online using debit/credit card or net banking whichever is convenient for you. 
  • After the payment, download and save the payment receipt for your records.

What happens after you raise an objection?   

After you have raised your objection to the UGC NET answer key, you simply need to wait while the National Testing Agency (NTA) reviews all the challenges submitted by candidates. A panel of subject experts will examine each objection along with the supporting document, and if it is found correct, the answer key  will be corrected.

Note that, objection window will be open from July 6, 2025 to July 8, 2025, 5 PM. After the deadline, no more objections will be accepted. Once all objections have been processed, the final answer key will be posted by NTA. This will be the one to be used in calculating your final result.  

Take your time to carefully cross-check all your answers before submitting objections. Remember, if the UGC JUNE 2025 attempt doesn’t give you the result you seek, there is a December attempt waiting for you. Don’t lose hope; everything has its right time.  All  the best for the UGC NET result. Keep checking the official UGC portal for updates

Our Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has made history by becoming the most internationally honoured Indian leader, receiving a record 25 state honours from foreign governments as of July 2025. This is a milestone that not only reflects Narendra Modi international recognition but also indicates that India’s acceptance as a major global power is on the rise.

Since Modi ji took office in 2014, he has been highly active in engaging with world leaders, making diplomacy a hallmark of his tenure. In the last ten years alone, he has been the recipient of the highest civilian honors of no less than a heterogeneous selection of countries including Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, and the United States, as well as France, Egypt, Mauritius and Ghana. Most of the titles are also the first ever to be awarded to any Indian leader among others such as the Order of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago and the Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean by Mauritius.

His latest honors “The Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana” and “The Order of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago” marks him as the greatest leader of India. On X, Modi ji posted his awarding moment at Trinida & Tobago saying, “Honoured to be conferred with ‘The Order of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago’. I accept it on behalf of 140 crore Indians.”

He also posted some of the pictures from the ceremony expressing his gratitude. The post said, “I express my heartfelt gratitude to President Christine Carla Kangaloo, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, the Government and wonderful people of Trinidad & Tobago for honouring me with ‘The Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.’ This honour symbolises the eternal friendship between our two countries. At every step, one can witness the cultural connection between our nations.” He also said, “I’m very honoured that this is the first time this honour has been conferred upon a foreign leader. This recognition will strengthen our resolve to deepen ties with Trinidad & Tobago.”

Narendra Modi international honours

Year

Honour

Country

2016

Order of King Abdulaziz Al Saud

Saudi Arabia

2016

State Order of Ghazi Amir Amanullah Khan

Afghanistan

2018

Grand Collar of the State of Palestine

Palestine

2019

Order of the Distinguished Rule of Nishan Izzuddin

Maldives

2019

Order of Zayed

UAE

2019

King Hamad Order of the Renaissance

Bahrain

2020

Legion of Merit

United States

2023

Order of Fiji

Fiji

2023

Order of Logohu

Papua New Guinea

2023

Order of the Nile

Egypt

2023

Legion of Honour (Légion d'honneur)

France

2023

Order of Honour

Greece

2024

Order of the Dragon King

Bhutan

2024

Order of St. Andrew

Russia

2024

Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer

Kuwait

2024

Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger

Nigeria

2024

Dominica Award of Honour

Dominica

2024

Order of Excellence of Guyana

Guyana

2024

Order of Freedom of Barbados

Barbados

2025

Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean

Mauritius

2025

Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana

Sri Lanka

2025

Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III

Cyprus

2025

The Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana

Ghana

2025

Order of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago

Trinidad & Tobago

2025

Ebakl Award

Palau

 

The international accolades given to Modi are not the mere decorations; rather they are the recognition of his proactive diplomacy, visionary and capacity to form bridges across cultures and continents. Most of these awards have come from Muslim majority states which highlight his skills of negotiating across geopolitical domains and cementing India's ties in areas which were previously not close to India.

He has repeatedly dedicated these awards to the people of India, describing himself as the Pradhan Sevak (chief servant) of 1.4 billion Indians and depicting his success as a product of the national dreams of the country. Keeping his head home is a strategy that appeals to the Indian populace and is a plus to his personality as a leader who takes pride in the role of representing his nation in the global arena.

The Impact: India, A Rise To a World Stage

  • The international recognition of Modi is multi-dimensional:
  • Diplomatic leverage: every award enhances bilateral relations and creates new horizons of collaboration in the field of trade, technology, security, and culture.
  • Soft Power: These awards increase the attraction to India in terms of soft power which makes the nation more appealing as a partner and place of investment and collaboration.
  • National Pride: The fact that Modi has been celebrated worldwide is a matter of immense pride to the Indians and should only enhance the concept of a Vikshit Bharat (Developed India) and give them the confidence to be at the world map.
  • Strategic Partnerships: The awards frequently accompany some significant diplomatic moves, collaborative endeavors, and human-to-human interactions, and symbolic rewards can be turned into concrete gains.

As long as Modi ji maintains a global appeal, his legacy is likely to be defined by his role in elevating India’s international standing. These awards are not only in recognition of his leadership but also the transition of India to become a dominant figure in global politics. To Indians, it marks a new era in which their country has a voice, is respected, and its contributions are acknowledged. Keeping aside the internal political views, the country can accept that Modi ji as our PM is doing his job aptly.

Parents, worried and upset, approached Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday, urging the government to step in urgently to check spiralling private school fees. Representing the Delhi Parents' Association and United Parents' Voice (UPV), a joint delegation was fuming with reported fee rule defiance and demanded the ultimate in government intervention.

In a formal statement, the chief minister assured parents that their grievances would be addressed and consultation with parents of different schools, the education minister, and senior officials of the education department would be started shortly.

The meeting was convened at the Delhi Secretariat as parents could not request the chief minister to receive them at her residence in Shalimar Bagh early in the morning owing to security arrangements. They were subsequently called to the Secretariat to conduct the meeting.

Parents brought up during the meeting that some private schools were disobeying guidelines from the Directorate of Education and bullying or coercing students and families for unpaid or inflated fees. They claimed students bullied or unfairly targeted in the process, and it is hard not to be suspicious of responsibility concerning how they are treated.

In addition to stopping discriminatory fee mechanisms, the parents further sought temporary suspension of any pending ordinances on school fee schemes in the near future. The parents sought transparency and participation, and in doing so, the government was forced to conduct consultations with stakeholders, particularly parents, before any mass-based policy reforms in school education.

The association requested the Delhi government to make sure that school fee regulations are implemented in a reasonable and fair manner, under proper monitoring, to guard the interest of children and parents.

IIM Sambalpur, one of India's younger IIMs, has welcomed 363 students to its pioneering MBA and new MBA in Business Analytics (MBA-BA) programme in the 2025-27 academic batch. The institute has this year noticed a bias, albeit small, towards engineers since 51.24% of the new batch were engineers -- a 5% hike over non-engineers.

The shift is more dramatic in the MBA-BA course, with 61.7% of the students having an engineering background. But in the flagship MBA course, the ratio is quite even: 49.68% engineers and 50.32% non-engineers.

One of the unique features of the new MBA-BAs is that all the students arrive with corporate experience across streams.

The institute also added that this is most likely to facilitate peer learning and application of principles in practice in the classrooms.

GEOGRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION ACROSS INDIA

Geographic diversity of the new batch is also important. Students belong to almost all states and union territories of India, including the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh are the most represented at 13% and 12%, respectively, while Odisha, Delhi, Telangana, Kerala, and West Bengal follow.

In line with its avowed philosophy of inclusivity and innovation, the institute has offered admissions to International Business/Organizational Behavior in a total of three candidates with disability in physical or mobility.

NATIONAL THEMES, GLOBAL ASPIRATIONS - IIM Sambalpur Director Professor Mahadeo Jaiswal greeted students at the foundation day ceremony stated that the institute's vision is in line with national initiatives like International Business/Organizational Behavior 'Digital India' and 'Make in India'.

"We must now include 'Brand in India' in this list," said Jaiswal, pointing out that the institute's AI classrooms and Master Weaver programme are the hallmark of a socially relevance-driven new-generation IIM.

Chief guest V. Srinivas, IAS, Secretary, DARPG, Government of India, said that the MBA-BA programme is an extension of India's larger digital drive. 

"These students will create Viksit Bharat with innovation and ethics," he observed.

Other corporate executives like Vedanta Aluminium's Rajiv Kumar and Samir Kumar from Amazon India also spoke to the audience, discussing leadership and future manpower needs.

ABOUT IIM SAMBALPUR

IIM Sambalpur is one of the top management schools in India and is highly well-known for its quality of education. Located in a huge campus of about 200 acres, the IIM Sambalpur was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, on 3rd February 2024.

It also has partnerships with Flipkart, Amazon, and SIDBI for empowering, enabling, and connecting local weavers to global platforms.

With green concepts and new infrastructure, the campus commemorates its local art by placing IKAT, textile-printing artwork of patterns over the brick face.

IIM Sambalpur has excellent reputation for its flagship two-year MBA Programme, and the admissions are carried out through CAT. It also contains an MBA for working professionals at the Delhi Centre in ISID, Vasant Kunj, with dual-degree Programme possibilities with French institutions.

Apart from the Executive MBA Programme, the world-class institute has PhD, Executive PhD, and Management Development Programme (MDP).

IIM Sambalpur has been a leader in terms of the other IIMs when it comes to gender-diverse classrooms. IIM Sambalpur cut-off is 92 percentile.

IIM Sambalpur MBA fee is INR 13.04 Lakh, and IIM Sambalpur average package was INR 16.64 LPA and IIM Sambalpur highest package was INR 64.61 LPA for batch 2023.

In an ironic yet concerning incident, a student from Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University in Muzaffarpur scored 257 out of 100 in post graduation exam but what’s more concerning is that despite this beyond arithmetic score, the student is denied promotion. There are over 100 results still pending to be declared due to the internal marking issue, raising questions about the  university’s evaluation process. 

A Misstep That Can Not Be Neglected

Students, parents, and even faculty are shocked by the recently declared postgraduate third-semester results at BRABU. One student was mistakenly granted a staggering 257 out of 100 and 225 out of 30 on two papers respectively. Ironically, despite these superhuman scores, the student had not even been promoted to the next semester. 

However, this is not a single case. More than 100 students are awaiting their results, apparently due to late submission of internal marks by their colleges, officials of the board of secondary education said.Out of about 9,000 students who took the exam, 8,000 managed to clear it, but those from Hindi, English, and Science streams are raising red flags over repeated errors and pending mark sheets.

Graduate students in Limbo, Careers at Stake

It is not only a funny typo to many of them, but also their future. Students are running to the university office from college in a bid to have their results rectified. The fear is genuine and the student said: “Those mistakes endanger our future careers, yet when this happens, the university administration quickly dismisses them as this being a case of minor errors”.

Why was this so?

Officials at the university acknowledge the mistake. According to examination controller Professor Ram Kumar, the errors were made because they entered the data manually on Excel sheets and this led to miscalculation of the marks. Some students were wrongly marked as failed, while some marksheets are withheld without any explanation. 

Professor Ram Kumar said, “As soon as we received complaints, we conducted a prompt investigation and corrected the errors. The computer operator has been strictly warned and instructed to thoroughly verify results before publication in the future.

To avoid these disasters the university claimed that it is currently modifying its software so that it would automatically deny any grades that were exceeded beyond the maximum limit. The principals have also been requested to provide the internal marks missing within two days and promises of measures against the staff who will be negligent in future. Because it directly impacts the career of the students, BRABU is showing concerns. 

Notably, this is not the first time that the university has got entangled in controversy. Students have raised their voices over different kinds of errors like mindless checking and out-of-the-blue failure by even 1-2 marks. They claim it to be the “normal” working of BRABU. Every time, the administration refers to such an incident as a small error and sweeps issues under the carpet, and students are forced to tidy them.

Although the university guarantees that in 48 hours all the discrepancies will be resolved, there is a bigger question: in the days and age when all illustrations of digitization are supposed to simplify life, how can such fundamental errors still shove their way through? More to the point, who will be held responsible in case the future of the student has been put at stake?

Hopefully, BRABU students can just wait, and hope that this incident does not affect their career. The case is however a poignant reminder to all universities: results hold the power to decide the future of a student, which is where there is no space for any error. This controversial event all Bihar University might harm the future of students if the university is unable to clear its name of all stains and faults. 

Students are praying and hoping that their PG results are rectified and they could proceed with the next step towards their career.

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