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The Kerala High Court on Monday held that the Governor's appointment of an ad interim Vice-Chancellor for APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University was illegal.

It ruled that the appointment was not in accordance with the correct procedure prescribed by law.

The state government had filed the case, questioning a notification (Ext.P9) made by the Chancellor (Governor of Kerala) on November 27, 2024. It was a notification that had appointed Dr K Sivaprasad as acting Vice-Chancellor of the university after the previous appointee, Dr Saji Gopinath, resigned.

The court decided that according to Section 13(7) of the University Act, the Governor cannot appoint anyone as Vice-Chancellor without the recommendation of a name from the state government.

As Sivaprasad's name was not recommended by the government, the court declared the appointment invalid. The court did not, however, oust Sivaprasad at once, observing that his tenure expires on May 27, 2025.

The court directed the government to provide a new list of worthy names to the Governor at the earliest. It also instructed the government to expedite the normal appointment process for a new Vice-Chancellor.

Significantly, the court stated that any appointment to the post will have to be made in accordance with the University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations 2018. Kerala's CPI(M) government welcomed the High Court judgment, saying it was a clear message against the conduct of the Governor and a step in favor of federal values.

"The court has made it very clear that temporary Vice-Chancellors should only be appointed from the panel of names selected by the state government," CPI(M) state secretariat stated in a release.

The party condemned ex-Governor Arif Mohammed Khan for going against this rule while making appointments of Vice-Chancellors to the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University and the Digital University of Kerala.

Though the court did not revoke the appointment of the present acting Vice-Chancellor as his tenure is over on May 27, CPI(M) asserted the judgment is a strong message that such encroachments should not occur in the future.

CPI(M) stated this is also a clear warning to the BJP government at the Centre, which has been accused by it of using Governors to advance political agendas in universities. CPI(M) also castigated the Congress-led UDF in Kerala, stating that it backed the former Governor's efforts to introduce RSS-supported policies to higher education.

The court verdict, they stated, is a blow to such political positions and a triumph for democratic and federal ideals.

A power struggle in North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) has reached a dramatic level, with Vice Chancellor Prof. Prabha Shankar Shukla declaring an Academic Council meeting called by Pro Vice Chancellor Prof. Sherwin Sungoh to be "unauthorised" and endangering the academic stability of the university.

The May 21 meeting was made public by Prof. Sungoh in a notification issued by the Joint Registrar. But the move has sparked strong objection from Prof. Shukla, who claims that only the Vice Chancellor is legally authorized to convene such meetings under the NEHU Act and university rules.

Prof. Shukla warned that in the event of the meeting, serious administrative action could be taken. His greatest concern: anything that is decided at this contentious meeting can not only be legally invalid but will directly impact students — from delaying exam results to jeopardizing degree awards and even risking plans for the following session.

This is not just a protocol matter. It is safeguarding our students' academic future,\" Prof. Shukla is said to have said university staff in confidence.

According to sources, Prof. Shukla had already instructed the Joint Registrar to issue a notice convening a meeting of the Academic Council, but to no success. The Registrar, Col. Omkar Singh (Retd), therefore stepped in and duly announced the meeting on May 23. Notwithstanding this, Prof. Sungoh's unilateral call for a May 21 meeting has reignited confusion and further deepened the rift in NEHU's leadership ranks.

Academic and legal scholars in the university caution that a bypass of the Vice Chancellor's authority could have far-reaching consequences. "If the actions taken in this meeting are later challenged, the university would end up stuck in court battles," a senior academic said.

Students and staff now wait nervously, hoping administrative egos do not get the better of academic imperatives. With critical academic choices on the brink of being made, many are urging discussion and collaboration over conflict at one of the Northeast's top universities.

The Bodo National Students' Union (BoNSU) has requested Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to intervene and bring to a halt what is claimed to be a huge corruption scandal in the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) Education Department. The student union has charged BTC government officials with corrupt practices in procuring high-priced books from blacklisted publishing companies for Bodoland University-related colleges.

This amidst growing student agitations across the Bodoland region. Previously, the All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) had organized a protest on Bodoland University campus in Kokrajhar for the ouster of Vice Chancellor Dr. Laishram Ladu Singh at the earliest. The protest was in reaction to last year's arrest of Dr. Singh by the Directorate of Vigilance & Anti-Corruption and Chief Minister's Vigilance Cell on corruption charges. Since then released on bail, Singh remains a controversial figure.

The students were also irate against the inquiry committee formed by Assam Governor to investigate into the matter. The committee members are Dr. Mihir Kanti Choudhury (Secretariat Adviser), Additional Chief Secretary Higher Education Department, Prof. S.K. Dev of IIT Guwahati, and Dr. B.B. Misra, Finance Officer, Tezpur University. ABSU protested the proceedings of the committee and once again demanded the sacking of Dr. Singh.

The controversy goes back to the May 30 previous year, when a financial misuse of the university's funds was exposed, and the CM's Vigilance Cell had taken a number of crucial documents.

As the controversy gained momentum, ABSU declared a grand protest march on October 11, pressurizing the state government to act decisively.

 People reported that the school's education department informed the parliamentary committee that the government schools were impacted as the teachers were transferred elsewhere for voting and classes were suspended for a few days.

Maharashtra state education department has placed on record the fact before the joint parliamentary committee established on the significant 'One Nation One Election' Bill, regarding how schools under government control become loss-making because of regular elections as teachers are put on election duty.

Joint parliament committee (JPC) initiated the multi-city tour by beginning with Mumbai as day-one destination and cross-examined some of the witnesses. Senior Maharashtra government officers such as chief secretary and DGP among others were among those who were to be interrogated by the panel.

The state government went into elaborate detail explaining how this bill will be implemented to give more priority to governance and not get diluted due to consecutive elections.

Sources have described that the education department had appeared before the committee and detailed out the impact on government schools. They believed that if the elections were concurrent, the deployments would also be concurrent but that would be in government schools as the private schools were not closed during an election. The government schools were also affected with the deployment of the teachers for election duty work which left the classes pending for three days. One Nation One Election has been in the news for controversy among party workers who can prove useful to the education sector.

It was further reported that the RBI officials presented to the JPC the evidence. RBI has complained to the panel that since there is a code of conduct and cash transfer limit, it has clear mention of them, said the sources. RBI, they continued, proceeded to say that there should be detailed examination of the effect of the law for which they asked for six months to come back to the panel, they continued.

Aged politicians of all the various parties, and chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, and state party leaders were heard as witnesses by the panel. BJP and alliance leaders have appreciated the Bill, whereas others like Congress and NCP believed that it would restrict the freedom of the citizens to criticize their elected representatives. They also question the necessity of regional parties in such an alliance.

After a break on Sunday (May 18), JPC will resume hearing its proceedings on Monday (May 19). Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his deputy Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar too would be facing the panel, it is learnt. A chief minister would be facing the panel for the first time in history.

The committee was formed last winter session of Parliament after the Centre stated it had conveyed its readiness in introducing the Bill into Parliament for debate following its tabling in Lok Sabha. It is led by former minister and Lok Sabha member PP Chaudhary and consists of 39 members, among them Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

Some veterans such as MPs Kalyan Banerjee, P Wilson, and Manish Tewari are included in the panel. Congress's Mukul Wasnik and Randeep Surjewala, Shiv Sena (UBT) member Anil Desai, and NCP's Supriya Sule are Opposition MPs included in the panel.

BJP's Anurag Singh Thakur, former minister Baijayant Panda, Bhartruhari Mahtab and BJP's Anil Baluni are among the ruling party members sitting on the JPC. Shiv Sena's Shrikant Shinde and TDP's Harish Balayogi are among the others on the JPC. India Today.

Every student wants to excel academically, but not everyone knows how to study efficiently. Many students spend long hours memorizing textbooks, only to forget everything during exams. The key to success isn’t just hard work,it’s smart work.

Bright students don’t just study more, they study smarter. By using proven techniques, managing time effectively, and optimizing learning strategies, you can achieve better results in less time.Your brain is not a hard drive, it's a dynanmic set that stores information good or bad both. 

There are some  proven techniques to maximize learning, improve retention, and reduce exam stress. Whether you're preparing for CBSE, competitive exams, or simply aiming for better grades, these strategies will help you study efficiently and effectively..Your brain is not a hard drive, it's a dynanmic set that stores information good or bad both. 

Forget Cramming - Understand the concept,review it over the days to retain for the long term memory. Cramming might help you to pass the test but not remember the content in the long run.

Testing Yourself-  Rereading! Close the book and quiz yourself.

Sleep Superpower- Sound sleep boosts memory retention.

Brain Boosting Food- Eat nuts,dark chocolate,fruits and vegetables

Stay Hydrated - Drink plenty of water,coconut water and coffee.

Excise & Meditation- Boost energy and fuel your mind with active enzymes

Time Management- Use the pomodoro technique 25 min study + 5 min break to maximise focus and retention.

Understand your Learning Style- Each student learns differently.Understanding your learning style can help you to boost your performance.Some students learn quickly with videos,charts,diagrams while some students like to learn through discussions,lecturers and audio recording.Some students like to learn through writing and reading text while others like to learn through experiences and movement based learning.

Prioritize tasks- Not all study tasks are equal. Focus on weak areas v/s easy one one.

Set Smart Goals- Smart goals turn vague plans into actionable wins by making your study sessions.

 Specific – Solve 30 problems (not "Study math")
Measurable – Track progress (5/10 chapters revised)
Achievable – Challenging but realistic (not Read 100 pages in 1 hour!)
Relevant – Align with exams (e.g., focus on weak topics)
Time-bound – Finish notes by 5 PM today

Why it works:
• Prevents overwhelm → small daily targets
• Boosts motivation → visible progress
• Saves time → no aimless studying

Weekly and Daily Study Plan- Morning -Tough subjects Afternoon- Theory based subjects Evening- Revise and Self Test

Avoid last minute panic- Urgent and important topics should be done in advance i.e. if your exam is scheduled for tomorrow - do it now. If important, not urgent -schedule it for later.

Create a dedicated study space- Avoid studying in bed. A well- lit quiet and clutter free room energizes with positivity.

Use Background music - Instrumental music helps to keep your mind calm and cool.

Eliminate distractions- Every distraction breaks your concentration. Do not disturb mode on mobile. Block social media during studies. It takes force to come again in the deep study zone.

Less distraction+faster learning+better retention

Collaborate with study groups- Study groups can be helpful. Learning with classmates,peers,exchanging ideas,brainstorming quickly resolve the problems and boost confidence. Keep study groups small and ensure sessions are planned in advance.

Learn the art of making notes- Avoid copying everything from textbooks.Instead write in your words.

Ask for help when needed- Don’t hesitate to ask for help from your teachers and professors.

 Remember - Struggling silently is not smart studying.Seeking help is the sign of determination,not weakness.

Stay Motivated with Small Rewards- Motivation fuels consistency.Set up a reward system to keep the motivation high. Reward yourself.

Break big goals into micro goals so progress feels more acheiveable.

Maintain a balanced life - Mental well being supports academic performance.All work and no play can lead to burnout.Balance is the Key. Live your hobby, play,relax,go out with friends and sleep.Make time for everything.

Practice Self-Reflection- Take time weekly or monthly to reflect on your study habits.

What’s working?

Where are you wasting time?

Which techniques give the best results?

Remember, it’s not about how many hours you study,it’s about how well you use those hours. Implementing even a few of these strategies can transform your academic journey and make learning an empowering and enjoyable process.

Although she was experienced and capable, Prabin Baby could not find a place in the system after she moved to the United Kingdom in 2020. This encouraged her to work and help other Malayali nurses who followed her. It has been five years now, and she was paid for her work when the 45-year-old was invited to King Charles' garden party in the Buckingham Palace.

Following education in Kerala and Bengaluru, Tiruvalla-born Prabin served in India and Malaysia as a nurse and a nursing trainer. She migrated to the UK as a registered nurse at the height of the pandemic and was working for Lister Hospital in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. She was later promoted to education and corporate roles.

"Thanks to the East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, I made a contribution to the wellbeing of Malayali nurses in helping them settle professionally and culturally into the National Health Service (NHS). A fellowship from the Florence Nightingale Foundation Academy helped me network across communities and expand my work in leadership development and sponsorship of internationally educated staff," Prabin further added. NHS also funded her professional nurse advocate course.

Individuals who come into the country are excluded from fitting into the system, and they require support, Prabin observes. "Even though our nurses are skilled, knowledgeable and have an OET certificate, it is hard for us to fit in the system. I was not comfortable when I arrived in UK. I believe someone should help them. We need to collaborate with leadership to ensure a friendly and inclusive working environment," she added. Prabin is now a patient-experience nurse, working to improve the quality of nursing practice in the UK.

"Our trust is inclusive and rich in diversity. It has a couple of members who speak English as their native language. But I was able to attend the garden party," she thanked the trust. According to Prabin, nurses receive better opportunities to learn, specialise and climb the career ladder in the UK. If we want to and are curious about our career, we have plenty of chances here. Also, the support we receive is far more than in India and other developed countries," she added.

Recalling the experience, Prabin said she felt proud and fortunate as an Indian to be part of it. "There had been times when, standing outside the palace, I had speculated what it was like within. Then I had opportunity come my way to enter the premises and mingle with the royals and visitors who have contributed to other areas of public service," she said.

"My sister, parents and daughter are my support. They actively support my work," Prabin stated.