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Edinbox Exclusive Story on World TB Day – 24th March 2025

"The aspiration to end tuberculosis by 2025 can look daunting, but together and with determination, we can definitely move in that direction. This World TB Day, let us pledge to come together, commit, invest, and deliver." – Dr. Amit Dias

Why We Celebrate World TB Day

World Tuberculosis (TB) Day is celebrated every year on 24th March to mark Dr. Robert Koch's historic finding in 1882 of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium causing TB. His finding led to the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Ever since, we have come a long way in fighting TB, but the battle is not yet won.

The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets for the elimination of TB are:

80% decrease in TB incidence

90% decrease in TB mortality

Zero TB patients experiencing catastrophic costs because of the disease

Although Dr. Koch was unable to find a cure for TB, we now have effective and cost-free treatment. Nevertheless, early diagnosis is important, and individuals need to identify symptoms and access timely medical care.

TB is Treatable: Remember the TREAT Approach

On this World TB Day, let's utilize the acronym TREAT to highlight the journey towards elimination of TB:

 T – Test for TB• Testing involves sputum testing by CBNAAT, chest X-rays, and other diagnostic equipment.• Early detection is critical to effective treatment.

R – Recognise the Signs• A cough of over two weeks, unexplained weight loss, night sweats, or fever may be an indication of TB.• Delaying diagnosis makes the disease worse and spreads it.

 E – Educate & Eat Well• Having knowledge about transmission and prevention of TB is needed.• A good diet with full nutrients builds one's immunity and helps in quicker recovery.

A – Adhere to Antibiotics• TB is curable, but incomplete treatment leads to drug-resistant TB.• Always follow the doctor’s prescription and never skip doses.

 T – Take the Full Course• TB treatment lasts at least six months, even if symptoms improve earlier.• Stopping medication prematurely can cause severe, drug-resistant TB.

India’s Fight Against TB: A 100-Day Mission

On 7th December 2024, the 100-Day TB Elimination Campaign was launched by the Government of India under the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) to speed up progress toward a TB-free India by 2025. 

What Does TB Elimination Mean?

Reducing TB incidence to less than one case per million per year.

The whole world is committed to ending TB by 2030, but India has made it its target for 2025.

Where We Stand: The Current Status of TB in India

Progress in TB Control• India is accelerating decline in TB incidence compared to the global average.• Between 2015 and 2022, TB incidence reduced by 16%, and deaths due to TB decreased by 18%.

TB Burden in India (2022 Data, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare)• Estimated Incidence: 2.82 million new TB cases (199 cases per 100,000 population).• Estimated Mortality: 331,000 deaths (23 deaths per 100,000 population).• India has 26% of the world's TB cases (out of 10.6 million global TB cases).

Understanding TB: Causes, Spread, and Drug Resistance

TB is brought about by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis and usually attacks the lungs (Pulmonary TB) but can affect the kidneys, spine, brain, lymph nodes, or intestines (Extrapulmonary TB).

How TB is spread TB germs are released into the air when a person with TB coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings. Other people breathe in these germs and can become infected.

Why Multiple Drugs are NecessaryMany TB patients question why they need multiple medications. The answer: Each drug works differently to kill the bacteria, shorten treatment duration, and prevent drug resistance. Stopping treatment early creates drug-resistant TB, which is much harder to treat. Fortunately, newer drugs have improved treatment outcomes for resistant TB.

This year's World TB Day theme, "Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver," highlights the importance of:

Commitment – Increasing national and international efforts.

Investment – Diverting resources towards the prevention and treatment of TB.

Delivery – Making TB services available to everyone affected.

Ending TB by 2025 is ambitious, but achievable. Together—governments, health providers, and communities—we can make this dream a reality.

Thank you, Dr. Amit Dias, MD for cooperating with the Edinbox Team and sharing information on TB. Dr. Dias is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine. He is a holder of a DTM&H in Tropical Medicine at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and at present heads the Urban Health Training Centre (UHTC), St. Cruz. He is engaged in research on extrapulmonary TB in Goa under an Operational Research Project under NTEP

Member of Parliament Supriya Sule has sent a letter to Maharashtra's School Education Minister, Dadaji Bhuse, protesting against the state government's proposal to introduce the CBSE curriculum in government-run schools. She criticized the government for not doing adequate discussions and consultations prior to going ahead with the move.

The School Education Minister also announced in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly recently that though the government had been granted permission by the Steering Committee to adopt the CBSE curriculum, discussions are still going on to finalize the adoption of the CBSE timetable.

The shift will start with Class 1 students from the academic year 2025-26, with the new session beginning on 15 June. The state board schools in Maharashtra also could gradually sync up with the CBSE academic calendar, bringing their commencement date forward to 1 April.

Sule faulted the government for not holding dialogues with important stakeholders prior to reaching the decision. In her view, important reforms like curriculum planning, textbooks, and teacher training—currently being overseen by the State Council for Educational Research and Training (SCERT)—should have been taken to the competent authority for endorsement, but this was neglected.

Echoing Sule's apprehensions, Nitin Dalvi, President of Mumbai Students, Parents, and Teachers Association, emphasized that the issues of teachers and parents must be heard before the imposition of such changes. One of them that he mentioned was about the alteration in the academic calendar.

Maharashtra board schools have traditionally opened on 15 June to take into consideration the blistering heat during April and May. Compelling students to go to school from 1 April is risky from a health viewpoint. If the students get sick or experience any ill effects because of extreme heat, who will be responsible?" Dalvi asked.

In her letter, Sule also expressed concern over the effect of this decision on Marathi language education. "By adopting the curriculum of another board, there is doubt about how much significance will be accorded to Marathi, which has been newly declared a classical language. This decision goes against Maharashtra's rich literary, artistic, and cultural tradition, which is very worrying," she wrote.

In light of such apprehensions, Sule urged the decision be reversed with immediate effect and urged the government to call for a meeting involving all stakeholders. She underlined that the consensus process must focus on the interests of Maharashtra's children and the rich educational heritage of the state.

The Delhi University (DU) hosted a webinar on Wednesday on admissions to undergraduate programs, alerting aspirants they will have to appear for the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) for the same courses they pursued at Class 12.

Numerous students and guardians attended the event, where the officials of admission branches answered the questions of their attendees.

Regarding The Webinar

The webinar on undergraduate admissions for the next academic year was addressed by DU's Joint Dean Anand Sonkar and Dean of Admissions Haneet Gandhi.

They asked students to fill out their application forms carefully, providing correct details such as name, parents' names, category, and a clear photograph and digital signature.

Gandhi emphasized that mistakes in filling CUET applications cannot be corrected later.

"From this year, students will be able to choose up to five subjects in CUET, which is spread across 37 subjects with a General Aptitude Test. It is very important to opt for CUET subjects that align with Class 12 subjects," she added.

Responding to a question from a student of science who wished to study commerce, Gandhi clarified that for BCom (Hons), students should have studied Mathematics or Accountancy in Class 12. Students without these subjects are not eligible for B.Com (Hons.) but can apply for the B.Com course.

Officials reaffirmed that although CUET is compulsory for all candidates, Class 12 board marks will not have any bearing on admissions, apart from passing marks. They told the students to keep an eye only on the DU website for information and not believe in outside sources.

Delhi University has 79 undergraduate courses in its 69 affiliated colleges, all of which need CUET scores for admission.

With the heatwave conditions setting in early, the Odisha government on Wednesday declared that classes will be conducted in all the schools from morning onwards starting April 2.

Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari stated that from April 2, schools will be opened at 7 am. "Heatwave has begun early this year and temperature in most of the Western Odisha districts is on the rise. Coastal districts are also facing heat as well as humidity," he told mediapersons.

Districts have been instructed to implement measures as per the SOP released by the government to counter the heatwave, said Pujari.

Exams are in progress in the schools which would go on till March 27. "The exams are taking place in the morning and from April 2, the school timings will be 7 am onwards," he added. Anganwadi centre timings have also been altered in the wake of the heatwave. Kids in anganwadis will no longer remain in the centres till 12 noon or 1 pm. The anganwadis will function from 7 am to 9 pm daily during the summer season.

"If temperature increases and children cannot reach the anganwadi kendras, the district collectors can decide on closure of the facilities. They will distribute the dry ration at the doorsteps of the children during the closure period," the minister added.

The department has also directed the employers in the construction sites and factories not to employ workers from 11 am to 3 pm and instructed the police to take action against those who disobey the order.

Pujari reported that the government has fixed a target of zero casualty this year. "In the past 10 years, we have witnessed 330 sunstroke deaths which is an average of 35 deaths per year.". This year, we have instructed all collectors to take sufficient precautions to avert any sunstroke death," he added. The precautions are to establish temporary sheds for road-going people, fulfill water requirements, repair dysfunctional water supply systems and prepare health centres.

Jamia Millia Islamia has also increased fees for the academic year 2025-26, raising tuition fees by 16 percent to 41 percent in different courses. Comparing the current academic prospectus with the fees of last year indicates a sharp increase in rates.

The move was made by JMI slashing the fees for SAARC nations to make it appealing to more overseas students and NRI wards. They have also slashed fees for foreign nationals/NRI wards for Diploma courses in the University Polytechnic.

The Persian Department has seen the maximum hike at 41.41 percent, with yearly fees going up from Rs 6,700 to Rs 9,475. The Arabic Department comes in second, with a 37.15 percent rise, taking tuition to Rs 9,875 per year from Rs 7,200. Foreign language courses, such as BA (Hons) in Turkish and other languages, have also experienced a 37.15 percent hike.

Jamia Millia Islamia's social sciences courses like MA and BA (Hons) in Political Science, four-year BA (Multidisciplinary), and BCom (Hons) now charge Rs 9,875 annually, up from the earlier Rs 7,425, a hike of 32.99 percent.

Science courses like BSc (Multidisciplinary), Geography, Mathematics, and Physics have also seen a 34.29 percent raise with fees now up from Rs 7,800 to Rs 10,475 annually.

The fee structure for professional courses has also shot up. The BTech program has gone up by 19.04 percent, to Rs 19,225 per year from Rs 16,150, whereas the MTech course now costs Rs 21,375 per annum, an increase of 16.48 percent.

Law courses, including LLM (Regular) and BA LLB (Hons), have witnessed a 19 percent increase, increasing yearly fees from Rs 15,000 to Rs 17,850. With fee hikes in all courses, students could be subjected to greater financial burden.

In addition to the fee revision, the university has announced 14 new courses and expanded the use of Common University Entrance Test (CUET) scores for admissions. This year, 25 programs—including nine undergraduate, five postgraduate, eight diploma, and three advanced diploma courses—will admit students based on CUET merit, an increase from 20 programs last year.

The new JMI courses 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 University of Delhi (DU) has revised the program-specific eligibility requirements for admission to BA (Hons) English via CUET UG 2025. According to the new requirements, the candidates are required to sit for the English paper in CUET 2025 and any three domain-specific subjects from 'List B.' The revision has been detailed in the DU admission brochure for the academic year 2025.

Delhi University will accept students to undergraduate programs on the basis of CUET UG scores, other than SOL, NCWEB, and foreign students. The new eligibility criteria have been made available on the Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS) portal at admission.uod.ac.in.

DU BA (Hons) English admission 2025: Eligibility criteria

Students are required to take any one of the following subject combinations in CUET 2025:

Combination 1 – English (List A) + Any three subjects from List B

Combination 2 – English and one other language from List A + Any two subjects from List B

The merit list will be finalised based on the highest CUET score derived from these combinations.

DU UG Admissions 2025: Subject list changes

DU has also changed the domain-specific subject list for undergraduate admissions. Subjects are categorized into:

List A (14 language subjects) – Contains English, Hindi, Bengali, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Urdu, and others.

List B (22 domain-specific subjects) – Contains subjects such as Accountancy, Business Studies, Economics, Political Science, Psychology, History, and Sociology.

Five subjects—Legal Studies, Engineering Graphics, Teacher Training, Entrepreneurship, and Knowledge Tradition & Practices of India—have also been withdrawn from List B.

Applicants can view the entire brochure for DU UG admissions 2025 here.

BA (Hons) English seat matrix in DU Colleges

Delhi University has announced the availability of BA (Hons) English seats in 47 colleges. Seat details of Aryabhatta College are yet to be declared. Category-wise seat allocation differs from college to college, including colleges such as Hindu College, Hansraj College, St. Stephen's College, and Miranda House.

Candidates should thoroughly read through the new subject requirements and eligibility criteria carefully prior to applying to BA (Hons) English at DU for the 2025-26 academic year.

The Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) successfully completed the Class 10 and Class 12 board exams, thus completing an important academic milestone for students in the state.

The Class 10 and Class 12 Science stream examinations were over on March 10, and the last paper of the Class 12 general stream was conducted on March 18. All the board examinations are now over, and attention has now turned to evaluating answer sheets, which has already begun. GSHSEB is also looking to speed up the process of assessment and declare the results at the earliest possible to help the students smoothly shift to higher education and jobs.

More than 14 Lakh Students Sat for Board Exams

This year, 14.28 lakh students sat for the Gujarat board exams:

8,92,882 students in Class 10

4.23 lakh students in Class 12 general stream

1.11 lakh students in Class 12 science stream

Students said exam papers were comparatively easy, especially in core subjects, as most of the questions were textbook-based, lowering stress and increasing confidence among examinees. Since the exams are now over, those teachers who were involved in invigilation tasks will now attend to answer sheet marking. GSHSEB is determined to speed up the marking process to declare results well in time. From this year the board is holding two cycles of board exams, planning for the second round of board exams will take place in June-July once the result for this cycle comes out.

Parents and students can keep themselves updated about Gujarat board results 2024 by frequently checking the official website of GSHSEB for new updates. Release of results well in advance will enable students to prepare for admission to higher education and career decision-making more purposefully.

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