Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26-day hunger strike after receiving written assurances on Parliament discussion of the NEET paper leak and examination reforms. The Centre also indicated that peaceful protesters may not face legal action, while the wider student agitation continues. Sonam Wangchuk Ends 26-Day Fast After Centre Assurances Activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26-day hunger strike shortly after midnight on Friday after receiving w

The Union Cabinet will review a draft paper leak bill proposing fast-track courts and stricter punishment for examination fraud. PM Modi said the measures aim to protect students, prevent academic-year losses and strengthen action after the alleged NEET paper leak. Paper Leak Bill: Cabinet to Review Tougher Measures Today The Union Cabinet is set to discuss a draft proposal aimed at strengthening action against examination paper leaks, Prime Minister

Naresh Pal Gangwar Higher Education Secretary has been appointed by the Centre following the transfer of Vineet Joshi. The experienced IAS officer takes charge during heightened scrutiny of India's examination system and will lead higher education reforms, university governance and National Education Policy implementation.   Naresh Pal Gangwar Appointed During Key Educ

  A 529 plan for NRI families can provide tax-advantaged savings for U.S. education and certain eligible foreign colleges. Indian-American parents should verify qualified expenses, FAFSA treatment, state tax benefits and cross-border tax consequences. A 529 plan can help NRI and Indian-American families save for college without immediately sacrificing retirement funds. Contributions are made with after-tax

FAFSA for NRI families can involve Indian tax returns, foreign income, bank balances and investments. Parents living abroad may participate without a Social Security number, but the student’s citizenship or eligible-noncitizen status determines access to federal aid. FAFSA can be confusing for NRI families whose income, tax records and assets are divided between India and the United States. The form remains relevant when

A family earning $550,000 a year is considering using $300,000 of its $1.2 million retirement savings for a daughter’s preferred college. The case shows why parents must compare 529 funds, athletic aid, taxes, lost investment growth and retirement needs before committing. A high-earning U.S. family is weighing whether to spend about $300,000 on a daughter’s preferred college or preserve the money for retirement. The parents, age 48 with $1

TVK has demanded the complete abolition of NEET and called for states to receive full authority over education, medical admissions and related policies. TVK Demands NEET Abolition and Greater State Authority Tamil Nadu’s ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam has renewed its demand for the complete abolition of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test, saying its opposition goes beyond allegations of examination irregularities. The party said

The National Council for Teacher Education has constituted a five-member committee to investigate alleged irregularities at four Madhya Pradesh B.Ed colleges. The inspection will verify approved locations, infrastructure, faculty strength and compliance with NCTE regulations before submitting a report within five working days. NCTE Constitutes Five-Member Committee In an order issued on July 15, the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), under the Education Ministry, constituted a five-member independent fact-finding and verification committee to investigate alleged irregularities at four B.Ed colleges in Madhya Pradesh. The inquiry follows reports that some institutions were not operating from their declared addresses and lacked the infrastructure required under NCTE regulations. The committee has been directed to complete its investigation and submit a detailed report, supported by documentary evidence, photographs and videographic records, within five working days. The committee is headed by H.C.S. Rathore, former Vice-Chancellor of the Central University of South Bihar. Its members include Ashima Mangla, Joint Secretary at the University Grants Commission (UGC); Bhagwati Prasad Kalal and J.P. Singh, Directors in the Department of School Education and Literacy under the Ministry of Education; a nominee of the Madhya Pradesh government; and Wg Cdr Vijay Rana, Regional Director of the NCTE's Western Regional Committee. Inspection Expanded to Four Colleges The investigation was launched after media reports raised concerns about three B.Ed colleges affiliated with Barkatullah University. During the preliminary verification, officials found that another B.Ed college was operating from the same premises, increasing the total number of institutions under investigation to four. According to the NCTE, the committee reached Madhya Pradesh on July 17 and has already begun physical inspections. The regulator said the additional institution was identified during the initial study, prompting the expansion of the inquiry. Compliance With NCTE Norms Under Review The committee has been instructed to conduct on-site inspections using geotagged photographs and videos to verify whether the colleges are functioning from their approved locations. Officials will compare their findings with the institutions' recognition documents, Performance Appraisal Reports (PARs) and other official records submitted to the NCTE. The inspection will also assess whether the colleges comply with the provisions of the NCTE Act, 1993, NCTE Regulations and prescribed recognition standards. Areas under review include infrastructure, classrooms, laboratories, land availability, faculty strength and other academic and administrative requirements necessary for operating teacher education programmes. Strict Action Possible After Investigation The committee has been directed to submit its findings within five working days. Based on the report, the NCTE will conduct a comprehensive review before deciding on further action against the institutions. Describing the matter as a serious lapse, the regulator said strict punitive action would be taken against any institution found violating the NCTE Act, regulations or recognition norms after the completion of the 360-degree verification process.

CBSE Class 10 Second Board Results 2026 have been declared, with nearly 60% of score-improvement candidates raising their marks. The combined pass percentage from the main and second examinations has reached 96.78%. CBSE Class 10 Second Board Results 2026 Declared The Central Board of Secondary Education has announced the CBSE Class 10 Second Board Results 2026. Introduced under the National Educat

Australia has assured India that opportunities for Indian students in Australia will remain open and fair despite visa delays and stricter assessments. The MEA also rejected reports of broad application restrictions and highlighted expanding university partnerships. Australia Assures Indian Students of Fair Study Opportunities Australia has assured India that genuine India

YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has demanded TET exemption for teachers recruited before 2011, arguing that experienced educators who cleared earlier competitive recruitment exams should not face retrospective eligibility rules. Jagan demands TET exemption for senior Andhra Pradesh teachers Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and YSR Congress Party president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has demanded relief for senior teachers affected by the Teacher Eligibility Test req

Pakistan’s school crisis continues to raise serious concern as millions of children remain outside classrooms despite the country declaring a National Education Emergency two years ago. Estimates suggest that around 25.1 million to 26 million children are still out of school, showing that the challenge is not limited to policy announcements. The larger problem lies in weak implementation, poor funding, lack of local accountability and gaps between provincial planning a

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has been named the world’s No. 1 university in the QS World University Rankings for 15 consecutive years. MIT retained the top position in the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on Thursday, June 18, 2026. Its continued leadership reflects strength across research, academic reputation, graduate employability and several science and engineering subjects. Related:

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology recorded 286 students from India during the 2025–26 academic year, according to statistics published by MIT’s International Students Office. MIT, which holds the No. 1 position in the QS World University Rankings 2027, remains one of the most sought-after US universities among students interested in engineering, science, technology and research. MIT’s appeal to international students is also supported by its

The QS World University Rankings 2027 place the Massachusetts Institute of Technology at No. 1 globally, while Imperial College London and Stanford University share second place. Released on Thursday, June 18, 2026, the latest ranking compares more than 1,500 universities worldwide. Four of the seven highest-ranked institutions are in the United States, while three are in the United Kingdom. QS World University Rankings 2027: Top Seven

The Cornell Tata Scholarship provides need-based financial aid to eligible undergraduate students who attended secondary school in India. Applicants must gain admission to Cornell University, demonstrate financial need and complete the university’s required financial-aid process. Created through a $25 million endowment from the Tata Education and Development Trust, the program supports about 20 scholars at any one time and awards assistance annually.

Tragedy Triggers Statewide Crackdown The Uttar Pradesh government has imposed a strict ban on coaching centres and all commercial activities operating from basements following the deadly fire in Aliganj, Lucknow. The incident, which claimed at least 15 lives, has exposed serious violations in building safety compliance and triggered a large-scale enforcement response across the state. Chief Ministe

Proxy racket during NEET retest raises fresh concerns Bihar Police have uncovered an alleged NEET-UG retest proxy racket in Lakhisarai that reportedly took place during Sunday’s NEET-UG retest. The case has triggered fresh concerns over exam centre security, biometric verification and insider access during one of India’s most sensitive entrance tests. At least 24 people were reported arrested in the case, while some reports placed the wid

NEET UG 2026 Re-Test Begins Today For 22.8 Lakh Students Across India The NEET UG 2026 re-test is being conducted across India today, June 21, 2026, with around 22.8 lakh candidates expected to appear for the medical entrance examination. The re-exam is being held for students who were issued fresh hall tickets for the test. According to available candidate data, a large majority of aspirants are b

The Justice Department and Department of Education have entered an agreement to strengthen FERPA and PPRA enforcement in schools, focusing on parents’ access to education records, student privacy complaints and consent for certain surveys. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon announced the initiative in a video posted on X on Wednesday, June 17, 2026. The agreement itself is dated Monday, June 15, 2026. FERPA and PPRA enforcement focuses o