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Khalil, raised in a Palestinian refugee camp in Syria and working for the British embassy in Beirut, was a lead negotiator between Columbia University officials and student demonstrators.US immigration officials arrested a Palestinian graduate student taking part i n pro-Palestinian demonstrations at New York's Columbia University, the university's student workers' union said, as reported by Reuters.

Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia School of International and Public Affairs student, was arrested by the US Department of Homeland Security at his university dormitory on Saturday, according to a statement from the Student Workers of Columbia union.

Khalil, who holds a US green card, is married to an American citizen who is eight months pregnant, the statement further said.

His arrest is also regarded as the first step taken by US President Donald Trump in fulfilling his election pledge to expel foreign students participating in pro-Palestinian protests. Trump has described similar protests as "antisemitic."

A voice for protesters

Khalil, who hails from a Palestinian refugee camp in Syria and was an employee of the British embassy in Beirut, was also a chief mediator between Columbia University officials and protesting students.

A few protesters had established encampments on campus and briefly occupied a school building last year. Khalil was not part of the occupation, however, but served as a mediator.

Just hours before his arrest, he talked to Reuters, saying he feared he was being targeted for speaking to the press.

"They effectively silenced people who were advocating for Palestine on campus, and that was not sufficient," he added. "Evidently Trump is taking the protesters out as a scapegoat for his broader agenda targeting higher education and Ivy League universities."

Khalil is detained at a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) centre in Elizabeth, New Jersey, the agency's online records say. His lawyer did not answer calls for comment.

Trump administration slashes Columbia funding

One day prior to Khalil's arrest, the Trump administration declared that it was canceling government grants and contracts totaling approximately $400 million to Columbia University due to concerns regarding antisemitism on campus.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted a news article regarding Khalil's arrest on social media, writing: "We will be revoking the visas and/or green cards of Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported."

Columbia University stated it was "committed to the legal rights of our students" but refused to comment on specific cases because of privacy legislation.

Criticism and concerns

Khalil's arrest has provoked criticism from human rights groups. The New York Civil Liberties Union denounced the action as "unlawful, retaliatory, and an attack on free speech.

Executive Director Donna Lieberman added, "This is a terrifying expansion of Trump's assault on pro-Palestinian speech and a brutal misapplication of immigration law."

One other demonstrator, Palestinian-American student Maryam Alwan, reacted with outrage: "I am appalled on behalf of my good friend Mahmoud, who is a lawful resident, and I am appalled that this is just the tip of the iceberg."

Columbia University also updated its policies regarding confronting immigration officials, announcing that ICE agents lacking a judicial warrant would be granted access to private university grounds only in "exigent circumstances," although the school refused to delineate what those circumstances would look like.

The Student Workers of Columbia union condemned the university for "capitulating to the Trump administration's attack on universities and sacrificing foreign students to safeguard its bottom line." Khalil resided in university housing beyond Columbia's main campus gates.

Participants will also get a chance to meet the faculty members for discussing academic courses, research programmes, and careers. IIT Delhi will organize "Anveshan: Innovation and Exploration Across Disciplines" at Hauz Khas Campus on March 22, 2025.

The event is aimed at giving potential students who are pursuing their undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in a variety of fields ranging from engineering, sciences, arts, and more, a thorough insight into its academic program, research activities, and entry programs in a range of disciplines, informed IIT Delhi.

About the event:

The event is particularly meant for UG and PG students who are interested in seeking higher studies or research at IIT Delhi.

Anveshan will have a series of concurrent sessions on a broad spectrum of topics, such as The Digital Frontier: AI, Data, and Computing; Advanced Materials for Future Solutions; The Age of Automation: Electrical Circuits, Robots, and Beyond; Mechanics and Engineering Solutions for a Changing World; Transforming Healthcare with Technology; Sustainable Futures, Energy and Environment; Physics, Optics, and Photonics; Behavioural Design for Sustainability; Driving Innovation: From Idea to Impact; Individuals and Society: The Human Mind, Economic Development, and Culture. These sessions, conducted by IIT Delhi faculty members and research scholars, will provide information on the most recent developments, research opportunities, and emerging trends in every area, said the press release.

Key Highlights:

Participants will get a chance to meet the faculty members for discussions on academic programs, research possibilities, and career counseling. Interactive booths would be organized for presenting innovative projects, research posters, and real-time demonstrations and to give a sense of entry programmes offered by different disciplines as well as what type of research and academic projects one can engage in at IIT Delhi.

"This is a first-of-its-kind initiative by IIT Delhi, giving undergraduate and master's students who dream of pursuing postgraduate and PhD studies a chance to experience a peek into both academic and non-academic life at IIT Delhi. There will be talks by faculty members of IIT Delhi on varied topics across domains and interactive sessions demonstrating activities of different student technical clubs," said Prof Narayanan D Kurur, Dean of Academics at IIT Delhi.

There are thousands of aspirants who take the UPSC Civil Services Examination every year, but only a handful of them manage to reach the list of finally selected candidates after the interview. This is why this examination is one of the toughest exams in the world. IAS-IPS officers who have cleared this test explain that to achieve this, apart from studies, hard work and determination are also needed. Today we shall share with you the story of such a woman IAS officer who is a model of this hard work and determination. This IAS's name is Donuru Ananya Reddy.

Donuru Ananya Reddy belongs to Mahbubnagar, Telangana. She bagged the All India third rank in UPSC Civil Services Examination 2023. She studied for UPSC with dedication for two years, due to which she bagged the third rank on her first try and became an IAS officer. She achieved a total of 1065 marks in the exam, including 875 marks in the written test and 190 marks in the interview (personality test).

Where did you study?

Ananya Reddy has completed her graduation from Miranda House, Delhi. She had done her graduation in Geography, but she was also familiar with Economics. The most interesting aspect is that she had picked Anthropology as her optional subject, while dropping Geography and Economics. During UPSC preparation in Delhi, she stayed in a rented house. She also underwent coaching at the same time. But she was more interested in self-study. She used to study 12 to 14 hours a day and as the exam neared, she began studying for even longer periods.

Virat Kohli is an inspiration

Ananya looks up to cricketer Virat Kohli as her inspiration. She stated in an interview, 'Virat Kohli is my favorite player and I feel he has a kind of inspiration and a never-say-die attitude. His discipline and game are an inspiration for me.' She mentions that to balance her UPSC studies, she used to read novels and watch cricket.

The Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board (DSSSB) has posted the examination schedule for several posts under different departments. Those candidates who are going to sit for the exams can see the official schedule on the DSSSB website — dsssb.delhi.gov.in.

As per the official notice, the DSSSB will organize tests for various postcodes in GNCTD (Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi) departments via Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode. The process of examination will start from April 1, 2025, and the first session will be from 9 am to 11 am. Examination time runs throughout June 2025, with more than one test date.

Guidelines of importance for candidates

The board has also released some instructions for the candidates who will be appearing for the exam:

- Admit card & ID proof: It will be strictly prohibited to enter the exam centre without a valid Admit Card and original ID proof.

- Reporting time: The candidates should report on time. Late entries will not be permitted under any circumstances.

- Photo attendance & admit card submission: The photo attendance sheet and the third page of the Admit Card have to be submitted to the invigilator before departing.

- Stationery restrictions: Personal pencils, pens, and pencil boxes are not permitted since the board will supply pens during the examination.

- Negative marking: There will be a deduction of 0.25 marks for every wrong answer.

- Dress code: The candidates have to follow the stipulated dress code while reporting for the exam. They have to wear light-coloured, half-sleeved clothes with no large buttons, brooches, badges, or ornaments, and salwar or trousers. Only slippers or sandals with low heels are allowed for footwear, while shoes are strictly not allowed.

CSIR- National Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL) is a leading Research Laboratory under Council of Scientific and Industrial Research Laboratory under Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), a autonomous organization under the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India. CSIR-NAL has a robust programme in Civil Aviation including the nationally significant project of design and development of a multirole Light Transport Aircraft (SARAS). CSIR-NAL is also pioneering various aerospace technologies to spin-off industrial applications. It has high-class facilities for all the branches of aerospace.

CSIR-NAL is seeking bright, highly motivated and dedicated Technical Staff to join hands in the stimulating work of Aerospace R&D, Technology Development and its applications.

CSSIR- Nal aim to possess a work force having Gender equality and Woman applicants are encouraged.

The particulars of posts, emoluments and age limit to be filled is mentioned below:

Name of the Post / Total Number of Posts & Reservation / Pay Level in Pay Matrix (under 7th CPC)/ Total emoluments approximately (Rs)*/ Maximum Age Limit not above [ last date of the online application closing]

Technical Assistant – 36 Posts* UR-15, OBC (NCL)- 08, SC-6, ST-4 & EWS- 3 (*includes one post reserved fpr PwBD (OH), 07 Posts (backlog) [OBC (NCL)- 04, ST-01, PWBD- (VH)- 01, PwBD- (HH)-01] – Level-6 Rs 35,400-1,12,400 – Rs 70,00 – 28 Years (UR) Please see age limit & relaxation under Sl.No. II

SC: Scheduled Caste; ST: Scheduled Tribe; OBC (NCL): Other Backward Classes [Non-Creamy Layer]; PwBD (VH): Persons with Benchmark Disability (Visually Handicapped); PwD (HH): Persons with Benchmark Disability (Hearing Handicapped); PwD (OH): Persons with Benchmark Disability (Orthopedically Handicapped): EWS: Economically Weaker Section & UR: Unreserved

*Total emoluments refers to the approximate total emoluments on minimum of Pay Level as on date as applicable to the specified Pay Level including DA, HRA & TA applicable to Bengaluru which is a Class 'X' City.

Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) has released the university prospectus and opened admissions for the academic year 2025-26. JMI has added 14 new courses from this academic year. Candidates interested in the programmes can download and view the prospectus, which is available at – admission.jmi.ac.in and enroll for the programmes.

Information such as eligibility, application time limit, entrance test schedule, course fee and duration are found on the JMI 2025-26 prospectus.

Admissions to up to 25 programmes — nine UG, five PG, eight diploma programmes and three advanced diploma programmes will be made on the basis of Common University Entrance Test (CUET) merit score. This is a big jump from the previous academic session that had 20 programmes under the CUET admission process, JMI stated while releasing the prospectus.

The new programs at JMI are: Bachelor of Design (BDes) - 4 years; BSc (Hons) Computer Science (4 years); Certificate (Design and Innovation) Self Financed Evening; Certificate (Textile Design) Self Financed Evening; PG Diploma in Fire Safety, Lifts and Plumbing Services (Self-Financed); Certificate (Graphic Art) (Print Making) Self Financed Evening; MFA (Curatorial Practices) Self Financed; MFA (Art Management) Self Financed; MFA (Conceptual Art Practice) Self Financed; MFA (Graphic Art) (Print Making) Self Financed; Certificate (Art & Aesthetics) Self Financed, Evening; Certificate (Creative Photography) Self Financed Evening; Certificate (Calligraphy) Self Financed Evening and Certificate (Art Appreciation & Art Writing) Self Financed, Evening.

The prospectus was released online by Vice Chancellor Jamia Millia Islamia Professor Mazhar Asif and Registrar JMI, Professor Md. Mahtab Alam Rizvi, with the members of the university Prospectus Committee, a JMI statement added.

In order to enroll more foreign students and NRI wards, JMI has cut down the fees for students from SAARC countries, along with cutting fees for foreign nationals/NRI wards for Diploma programmes under the University Polytechnic. Two seats in the BDS programme (admitting students through NEET) have been reserved for foreign students.

Foreign nationals seeking admission to PhD courses at JMI are now able to appear for admission interviews online since they find it challenging to obtain visas and make travel arrangements to India to appear for the admission interview as part of the entrance process requirement.

JMI will hold entrance tests for up to 29 programmes in eight cities of the country, including Malegaon and Bhopal.