The Anti-Corruption Bureau’s (ACB) recent registration of a corruption case against senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain marks a serious escalation in the scrutiny of Delhi’s much-celebrated education reforms. Both former ministers—Sisodia, who handled the education portfolio, and Jain, who oversaw the Public Works Department (PWD)—are accused of involvement in an alleged Rs 2,000 crore scam linked to the construction of 12,748 classrooms and related infrastructure in government schools.

The project was widely regarded as AAP's display of governance, a badge of pride attesting to its willingness to transform public schooling. However, the ACB revelations created a different impression. The inquiry revealed colossal discrepancies in estimated and real costs, gigantic project delays, and procedural failure, officials claimed. And above all, no building work is supposedly undertaken within its statutory timeframe. More seriously, consultants and architects-keystones to the project implementation-were reportedly appointed without following the tendering procedure, thereby paving the way for unbridled inflation of costs by means of such middlemen. The case has been registered after due sanction was granted under Section 17-A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, indicative of the gravity with which the charges are being probed.

From the perspective of political analysis, the step centers on AAP's political image core.

The party had constructed an image as clean and anti-corruption during its formative days and continued to invoke its track record of accomplishment in schools as proof of its agenda of change. If the charges stand up, they'd probably finish off the reputation for good, inviting uncomfortable questions regarding checks and balances in the Delhi government. The case also identifies a wider government-run public projects system failure: vulnerability to runaway costs and regulation avoidance.

An industry that requires financial prudence and perfection, like education, is most vulnerable to misuse when vast investment is being undertaken without clear checks and balances. That the fees are collected on overcosted cost of construction, not on educational achievement as such, shows the lacuna between overly enthusiastic policy making and discredited efforts at execution. Politically, the implications are astronomical. AAP, ever expanding its national wings, is now subject to growing opposition party criticism, who will find it natural to hold on to this case as evidence of charges of alleged hypocrisy between what the party has promised and how it has de facto ruled. For Sisodia and Jain—both the brains behind AAP's governance plan—the case is a court matter but also a political testing ground of their abilities and mettle.

AAP, however, will most likely approach the question as political, a path it has taken before when it clashed with the powers. But the definition and range of the charges, and the ACB's charge of procedural mistakes and financial misconduct, are so clearly defined that mere rhetorical posturing will maybe not succeed this time around in reversing public sentiment.

Short of the courts finally ruling on culpability, though, the case has already sparked a huge controversy regarding the government, accountability, and the dangers of having high-profile public projects. It is a reminder that transparency and procedural integrity must always be absolute pillars, especially when public funds and basic services like education are involved.

Nine transgenders of a school in Odisha's Bhadrak district have passed the Odisha class 10 board examination.

The nine transgenders among two lesbian students of Sarojini Sanskruta Vidyalaya at Boualpokhari, Charmpa in Bhadrak Municipality passed the Class 10 examination, the results of which were declared on Friday, overcoming social odds and stigma to succeed, according to the headmaster of the school, Malayranjan Panda.

The educational success of - Riya Sahi, Jitu Swain, Jadunatha Hansda, Sanjana Samal, Sasmita Bindhani, Ashirbad Sahoo, Rajkishor Das, Sima Tangur and Sandhya Champia - was not educational, but personal, as initially they were even boycotted by their respective families, claimed Panda.

But now, with the declaration of results of the class 10 board exams, luck has once again changed in their direction. Telephone calls, blessings, and positive words began flowing in, reuniting the nine students with their family members who had abandoned them earlier, he said.

"I have been absent from my home at Khallikote, Ganjam district for the past five years," Riya Sahu said.

"Like me, all others have also come here from other parts of Odisha. We are staying in a rented house near the school. Despite humiliation and social stigma and other difficulties, our mental resilience and support from the school, helped us to clear the matriculation exam," she further added.

On being questioned, Riya said, "I want to study more and live with dignity."

All Odisha Transgender Welfare Association extended warm congratulations to the students on their remarkable achievement.

The remaining transgender students cheered in chorus. Ashribad Sahu said, "People said that we were not good enough because of our body structure. But we disproved them. I wish to study further and obtain a government job to live a good life in the future."

"Most of these students were forced earlier to beg or sing on the streets for survival. They fought against odds, took rented accommodations near the school, and worked hard. Their success proves that with opportunity and support, they can achieve anything," stated Sommya Das, head of Bhadrak Transgender Surakshya Samiti.

Soumya also attributed the role of local NGOs and the government's transgender welfare fund in supporting the education of the students.

"Few repeated class 9 due to personal problems, but they never lost hope. They were provided with special attention and mentoring, and this helped them believe in themselves," Soumya explained.

Their success is a beacon of hope and inspiration of how education is capable of transforming lives. These nine students passed not only an exam—but broke barriers and changed minds, Das said.

Lakhs of students who had taken the CBSE Class 10 and 12 board exams are waiting with bated breath for their results. The wait is soon to be over, as new updates suggest that the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is likely to declare the results before May 8.

As per official sources of CBSE, the preparations are complete now, and the board is targeting to declare the Class 10 and Class 12 results by the end of the first week of May. It has been the practice to have a final meeting with the Examination Controller before declaring the results, and till now, that meeting has not yet occurred.

After announcing the results, students can view their results on the official website using their roll number and date of birth. If there is heavy traffic or technical issues on the website, CBSE has also provided for students to view their results through SMS and DigiLocker.

To remember, the CBSE announced the results on May 13 last year in 2024. Students are requested to keep a sharp eye on the official website for updates.

How to Download Your Marksheet:

Go to the official website at cbse.gov.in.

Click on the "CBSE Result 2025" link on the home page.

A new window will appear where you have to enter your roll number and password/date of birth.

Enter the details, and your marksheet will pop up on the screen. Download or print it for future purposes.

Details Presented on the Marksheet:

Your name, your parents' name, date of birth, names and codes of subjects, marks scored in a subject, total marks, and overall result status will be found on the marksheet. For any errors, students are suggested to visit their respective schools to get it rectified.

No Toppers List This Year Either:

In accordance with its continuous endeavor to limit unhealthy competition, CBSE will not be publishing a toppers list this year. Nonetheless, the board will put out general statistics like the overall pass percentage as well as the number of students passing in every grade bracket.

Passing Criteria:

To clear the CBSE board exams, students have to score a minimum of 33% in all subjects. Students who fail in one or two subjects will be given an opportunity to appear for the compartment exams later this year so that they can clear their papers during the same academic session.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the admit cards for National Eligibility-cum Entrance Test for Undergraduate courses (NEET UG) 2025 on its official website at neet.nta.nic.in. NEET UG 2025 registered candidates can now download their admit card from the candidate portal on the official website.

To download the NEET UG 2025 hall tickets, candidates will need to enter their login credentials created during the time of registration. Here's a step by step process:

Step 1: Go to the official NEET website – neet.nta.nic.in.

Step 2: Click on the link 'NEET UG 2025 Hall Ticket' on the home page.

Step 3: Enter your application number and password to login.

Step 4: The PDF of the NEET UG 2025 admit card will be shown on the screen.

Step 5: Save a copy by downloading the hall ticket.

Step 6: Print the admit card and keep it safe for the day of the exam.

NEET UG 2025 Admit Card Out: What's new this year?

This year, NEET UG entrance exam for admission into undergraduate medical and allied courses like MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BUMS, BHMS, and BSMS will be on May 4. The test will be held offline pen and paper mode between 2 pm to 5 pm throughout the country in 552 cities AND 14 Cities abroad.

The application period for the exam started from February 7 and concluded on March 7, 2025. It was only for the first time that the application period had not been prolonged.

The NEET 2025 exam pattern has been revised to the pre-COVID pattern. The optional questions have been eliminated. The total questions will be 180. The total exam time has also been cut short. Now the time will be 180 minutes. The NEET marking scheme will be the same as the previous year.

The NEET UG examination was conducted last year on May 5 for more than 24 lakh students. The admit card was given on May 1. The results were announced on June 4. Then the entire controversy arose and subsequent re-examination was conducted on June 23 the admit card for which was issued on June 20. The new results were declared on July 26.

Teachers and non-teaching employees of Thambal Marik Oinam College in Bishnupur district staged a sit-in protest on Monday against reported extortion threats from masked organisations, terming the monetary demands as "unbearable" and threatening academic stability.

Organized by the Employees Association of the college, the protest was staged during working hours, de facto suspended regular classes for the day. Employees gathered within the college campus with placards inscribed with slogans such as "We condemn unbearable monetary demand" and "Do not disturb peaceful academic atmosphere."

Employees Association general secretary Dr. L. Baleshwar stated the protest was organized due to some incidents over the past few days where anonymous groups of people served financial demand notices to college employees personally. "The demands were served within the campus, and they have upset teachers and staff members," he informed journalists.

Dr. Baleshwar informed that the college community has all along reached out to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) since ethnic violence erupted in 2023 and continues to do so as best as possible. "It is saddening that despite our having assisted humanitarian efforts all along, we are now facing unacceptable pressure from unseen quarters," he further added.

The college has called for peace and protection of schools from intruders. Dr. Baleshwar has requested the parties involved to reconsider their action and be mindful of the fiscal constraints and obligations of educational institutions. "We are educators, not accountants. Such coercion only agitates the academic environment we are trying to provide," he said.

While Manipur continues to struggle with the impacts of civil unrest, this incident underscores the precariousness of public institutions and the rising challenges for teachers in striving to give normalcy amidst ongoing uncertainty.

A law student of Rohtak's Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU) has moved a contempt petition in the Punjab and Haryana high court urging it to initiate contempt proceedings against varsity vice-chancellor Rajbir Singh for failing to obey its direction (dated February 11). The court on February 11, ordered the varsity authorities to confer a PhD degree on a student Pradeep Kumar Deswal within eight weeks. The contempt petition has been put up for hearing on April 29.

On February 11, the single bench led by Justice Harsimran Singh Sethi noted and directed Maharshi Dayanand University to grant the petitioner the Doctorate Degree in Laws, which the petitioner has already acquired, without insisting on refunding the Scholarship amount.

"Let the order be complied with within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of copy of this order," the order stated.

Petitioner's advocate Ravinder Singh Dhull said that the MDU had not granted PhD degree to his petitioner Pradeep Kumar despite issuing a non-objection certificate and a good conduct certificate during the submission of the thesis.

"The Punjab and Haryana high court on February 11 instructed the Maharshi Dayanand University to grant degree to Pradeep Kumar Deswal in a span of eight weeks from the receipt of copy of order. Since the varsity did nothing in this regard, a contempt petition has been moved against the varsity vice-chancellor Rajbir Singh. The case stands posted for hearing on April 29," Dhull stated.

Dhull informed that his petitioner's degree was withheld as he had taken admission in the music department for a diploma in tabla while studying PhD in Law. Dhull pleaded that his petitioner's degree has been pending since 2021.

Justice Sethi in the order noted that the petitioner completed the diploma in 'tabla as part -time course and that too during evening. The justice had asked the varsity to grant the degree within 8 weeks and without insisting upon refunding the scholarship amount.

On contact, Ashish Dahiya, Public relations Director at MDU, informed that he is out of station and does not know about the contempt petition presented by Pradeep Kumar Deswal against vice-chancellor Rajbir Singh.

The Primary Teachers Association held a protest against the formation of a single Directorate of School Education and asked the state government to withdraw the decision on Saturday.

The teachers held slogans against the secretary (education) Rakesh Kanwar and the state government.

Pramod Chauhan, president of Primary Teachers' Association in Shimla, said that while the government is bringing reforms in the education sector — something the teachers are also welcoming — the amalgamation of the Directorate of Elementary Education with the Directorate of Higher Education into one organization can harm the basic framework of education instead of introducing qualitative change.

Chauhan stated that the Directorate of Elementary Education was formed post-1984 specifically for the purpose of bringing qualitative improvement in education, and since then, Himachal Pradesh has made big strides in that sector.

He threatened that if the state government keeps on "intimidating" the teachers, then they would halt administrative work from tomorrow and would only do teaching.

Action against protesting teachers

Even as the government warned teachers who organized a sit-in protest against the reorganization of the Directorate of Education to face action, Education Secretary Rakesh Kanwar in orders issued on Saturday stated that those teachers who participated in the agitation and protested "should be identified and disciplinary action be initiated".

The education department has suspended four office-bearers of teachers association, including president Jagdish Sharma, secretary Sanjay, Pratap Thakur and Ram Singh Rao.Teacher office-bearers and some teachers have stated that they will not undertake online work (online attendance, mid-day meal work). The education secretary has referred to this as "flagrant violation" of government directions.

Two teachers suspended as school found closed

Two teachers were suspended when Block Elementary Education Officer ( BEEO) Kupvi district Shimla found the school locked on inspection. The BEEO had visited GPS Shilal on April 25 and discovered JBT Ranveer Chauhan and Dalveer Singh JBT and other staff members and students of GPS Shilal education block Kupvi out of school without notice. During inspection, all the rooms were found to be locked. Taking a strict note, both the JBTs were suspended with immediate effect.

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