DU college gifts Tirupati trip for scoring 9.5 CGPA

DU college gifts Tirupati trip for scoring 9.5 CGPA 

12.11.2026. TIMES HYDERABAD

In an unusual incentive to reward academic excellence, Delhi University’s Sri Venkateswara College has announced a sponsored pilgrimage to Tirupati for final-year students securing a CGPA of 9.5 and above, with the benefit extending to both their parents, reports Sugandha Jha. 

The college will facilitate Srivari Break Darshan of Lord Sri Venkateswara at Tirumala for eligible students and their parents. It will also bear the AC III-tier railway fare for all three passengers for their journey from Delhi to Tirupati and back. The scheme benefits will be applicable from the 2025-26 academic year onwards. The pilgrimage will, however, be subject to the availability of darshan dates and prevailing arrangements. P6

Class X, XII board exams from Feb 16; CBSE issues date sheets

Class X, XII board exams from Feb 16; CBSE issues date sheets 

07.11.2026  TIMES CHENNAI

New Delhi: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Friday released the date sheets for the Class X and XII board examinations for 2027, with both sets of examinations scheduled to begin on Feb 16. The schedules have been announced 101 days before the start of the examinations, giving students more than three months to plan their preparation. 

According to a circular issued by CBSE controller of examinations Sanyam Bhardwaj on Nov 6, over 46.3 lakh students have registered for the 2027 board examinations. This includes more than 26.5 lakh Class X students and over 19.8 lakh Class XII students. While Class X students will appear in 83 subjects, Class XII students will take examinations in 121 subjects. 

All examinations will begin at 10.30 am. CBSE said the date sheets were finalised after the completion of the list of candidates (LOC) submission process by schools and an analysis of the subject combinations opted for by students. Explaining the scheduling process, the board stated: “More than 40,000 subject combinations have been factored in while preparing the date sheets to ensure that examinations of any two subjects opted by a student do not coincide on the same date.” 

The board said adequate gaps had been provided between examinations of subjects commonly offered together in both classes. It added that the tentative schedules of major entrance examinations for Class XII students were also taken into account, with efforts made to conclude the board examinations before the commencement of entrance tests. Times News Network

Over 35,000 paramedical seats vacant

Over 35,000 paramedical seats vacant 

31.10.2026

Ahmedabad: The admission process for paramedical courses, including nursing and physiotherapy, in Gujarat has reached its conclusion, leaving thousands of seats vacant across govt and self-financed colleges. 

While 242 seats remain vacant in govt institutions even after the fifth round, more than 35,000 seats in self-financed colleges have also remained unfilled. The fifth round covered 2,489 seats across 69 govt colleges. Of these, 2,247 seats were filled, leaving 242 vacant. 

The remaining seats include vacancies in auxiliary nursing and midwifery (ANM), general nursing and midwifery (GNM) and physiotherapy courses. tnn

Cardiologists conference held in city

Cardiologists conference held in city 

21.10.2026

Chennai: About 350 cardiologists from India and abroad attended an interventional cardiology conference organised by Promed Hospital in association with Chip-Cto over the weekend. 

The conference, inaugurated by school education minister A Rajmohan, had doctors from Japan, the US and Australia lead the faculty panel. Doctors in Canada, Saudi Arabia and the UK beamed live procedures into the hall. 

Sessions covered torn arteries, valve replacement and cardiac shock. Doctors practised with devices at a training village. “Complications in angioplasty are uncommon, but they will happen to every cardiologist. This will prepare them for that,” said Dr Arun Kalyanasundaram, the organising chairman. TNN

TN plans to fund degrees in the world's top 100 universities and make students pay in kind.

TN plans to fund degrees in the world's top 100 universities and make students pay in kind.

The scheme will cover scholars’ academic and overseas living costs in exchange for three years of service to the state after graduation.

Binita Jaiswal

Updated on:

19 Oct 2026, 7:56 am

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government is planning to roll out a landmark scheme to fully fund the tuition and living costs of TN students who secure admissions to the world’s top 100 universities such as Stanford, Harvard, Oxford, and Cambridge.

Under the proposed scheme, eligible scholars would have their full academic and overseas living expenses covered in return for a commitment to contribute to the state’s development for three years after their graduation.

The obligation can be fulfilled through three specific ways: working as policy advisers or consultants to the government, serving as visiting faculty at higher education institutions in Tamil Nadu, or setting up enterprises and investing in the state.

The ‘Respect for Knowledge’ proposal, which figures in TVK’s vision document for the Higher Education Department, aims to bring the expertise students acquire at leading international institutions back to Tamil Nadu through roles in government, higher education, and industry.

The proposal is intended to address concerns over brain drain by making overseas education an investment for the betterment of Tamil Nadu’s own institutions and economy, officials said.

According to a rough estimate, 35,000 to 40,000 students from Tamil Nadu go abroad for higher education each year. Of them, around 5% to 6% enrol in the world’s top 100 universities.

Officials also said graduates could bring global expertise into policymaking, strengthen teaching and research, and mentor students in the state. The details, however, are still being worked out.

Higher Education Secretary Dheeraj Kumar told TNIE that the department was consulting stakeholders to devise an arrangement that would be practical for both the government and the students.

“We are working on how to implement the scheme efficiently. It needs to be designed carefully, taking into account the concerns and feedback of students who go abroad for higher education. If the conditions imposed by the state are perceived as cumbersome or burdensome by the students, then the scheme may not achieve its intended objectives. We have to be very careful about it,” he said.

“We have our avenues for consultation and we are working towards an arrangement that is practical and mutually acceptable,” he added.

Officials said the department plans to consult students currently studying abroad, alumni of leading global institutions, and academicians in Tamil Nadu before finalising the framework.

Details including eligibility, the method of identifying the top 100 universities, the selection process and how graduates would fulfil their three-year commitment, are still being worked out, officials said. The policy will also have to specify what happens if a beneficiary does not meet the conditions.

Supreme Court Directs UGC, Regulators To Issue Public Advisory After Fake Medical College In Etah Farmhouse

Supreme Court Directs UGC, Regulators To Issue Public Advisory After Fake Medical College In Etah Farmhouse

By Priyanka Jha12 October 2026, 2:03 PM

14.10.2026

A fake medical college operating from a farmhouse in Uttar Pradesh has prompted the Supreme Court to direct the UGC and all regulators to warn students and the public before they take admission anywhere.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has taken note of a fake medical college allegedly run from an old structure in a field at Etah in Uttar Pradesh, and has directed the University Grants Commission (UGC) and all regulatory authorities to issue a public advisory cautioning students, institutions and the public to verify the authenticity of an institution before taking admission in it or dealing with it. The Court also directed the Union of India to monitor compliance [Ayesha Jain v. Amity University, Noida and Others].

A Bench of Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Justice N.V. Anjaria passed the order on October 9, 2026, on an interlocutory application filed by Dr. R.M. Sharma, the person nominated by the Court to assist it on the functioning of educational institutions.

The report that triggered the order

The application drew the Court’s attention to a newspaper report of September 1, 2026, which described an institution in Etah district operating from a farmhouse and offering courses such as B.Pharma, B.Sc. Nursing and BAMS. The Court recorded that the premises appeared to be an old structure of two or three rooms in a field. The man shown as the institution’s chairman, described as an illiterate tea seller, is stated to have admitted that he regularly signed college documents handed to him by one Satender Kumar.

Local police have acted against Satender Kumar and three others. These are allegations and no finding of guilt has been recorded. The Court expressed no view on the merits and the presumption of innocence applies to all those named.

What the State told the Court

Additional Solicitor General K.M. Nataraj, appearing for the State of Uttar Pradesh, submitted that the police investigation is proceeding, will be taken to its logical conclusion and that the trial will be fast-tracked. The Court noted that the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh has ordered an independent inquiry, which it found necessary, and appreciated the State’s prompt response.

ALSO READ: No Private University Shall Be Run As A Profit-Making Institution: Supreme Court Orders A Sweeping Financial And Admissions Audit Of Universities And Colleges

The UGC letter and the advisory Counsel for the UGC had written to the Additional Chief Secretary, Higher Education, Uttar Pradesh, and the Court took the letter on record. The ASG then suggested that a public advisory be issued. The Court accepted the suggestion and held:

“a direction is issued to the UGC and all the regulatory authorities to issue such public advisory to act accordingly.”

Union to monitor compliance

The Court directed the ASG appearing for the Union of India to communicate the order to all regulatory bodies, and added:

“The Union of India is also directed to monitor that these directions are duly complied with”

Child Safety Monitoring Committee

The Court did not deal with a sealed cover report filed by Dr. Sharma on the Child Safety Monitoring Committee, which was transferred to it from the Delhi High Court, and directed that the report be resealed and kept on record. Dr. Sharma was authorised to reconstitute the Committee with four members in addition to the Chairman. The matter will next be heard on November 19, 2026.

ALSO READ: “Private Universities Must Answer to Students and the Law,” Says Supreme Court, Orders Nationwide Audit After Amity Case

Why the order matters

The Amity University case has grown into a nationwide supervisory exercise on how schools, colleges and universities function. This order shows how that exercise is now reaching individual rogue institutions: an unverified claim of recognition can sit behind a courses list that looks real to a prospective student.

By ordering a public advisory from every regulator, and making the Union responsible for monitoring compliance, the Court has moved the burden of warning students from after-the-fact police action to a standing duty on regulators. The criminal case against those named remains at the investigation stage.

Case Title: Ayesha Jain v. Amity University, Noida and Others [W.P. (C) No. 531/2025, IA No. 296269/2026]

Bench: Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Justice N.V. Anjaria, Supreme Court of India

Date of Order: October 9, 2026

Appearances: Dr. R.M. Sharma (court-nominated assistant); K.M. Nataraj, ASG, for the State of Uttar Pradesh; Archana Pathak Dave, ASG, for the Union of India; Dr. N. Visakamurthy, AoR, for the UGC; Charu Mathur, AoR, for the petitioner

NEET PG Counselling 2026 Round 1: Complete Timeline and Key Dates

NEET PG Counselling 2026 Round 1: Complete Timeline and Key Dates

https://medadmit.in/updates/neet-pg-counselling-2026-round-1-registration-nri-quota-documents

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has announced that registration for NEET PG Round 1 counselling will open on October 12, 2026. This is a critical window for all MBBS graduates who have cleared the NEET-PG exam and are preparing to secure a postgraduate seat in MD, MS, PG Diploma, or DNB programmes across India. Alongside regular Indian candidates, the MCC has also detailed the specific eligibility criteria and document requirements for candidates applying under the NRI (Non-Resident Indian) quota. Understanding these requirements now will help you prepare your application smoothly and avoid delays during the counselling process.

NEET PG Round 1 registration opens October 12, 2026; NRI candidates must submit category-specific documents during registration, with a document verification process and correction window built into the timeline.

The MCC has released the full schedule for NEET PG Round 1 counselling, which will run from October 12 to November 2, 2026. Registration and fee payment will occur from October 12 to 21, while choice filling and locking will run concurrently from October 13 to 22. This overlap means you can begin selecting your preferred colleges and specialities even as the registration window remains open, giving you flexibility to refine your choices as you gather information.

The allotment process will take place on October 22 and 23, with results announced on October 24. Candidates who receive a seat allocation will then have until November 2 to report to their allotted college. This compressed timeline underscores the importance of having all documents ready before October 12, as delays in verification could cost you the opportunity to lock in your choices during the choice-filling window.Registration and fee payment: October 12–21, 2026

Choice filling and locking: October 13–22, 2026

Allotment process: October 22–23, 2026

Seat allotment result: October 24, 2026

Reporting to colleges: October 26 – November 2, 2026

Who Is Eligible for NRI Quota Admissions in NEET PG?

The NRI quota in NEET PG is open to candidates who meet specific residency and relationship criteria. If either of your parents is an NRI (Non-Resident Indian) and residing abroad, you qualify for NRI quota admission. Similarly, if a first-degree relative—defined as a real brother or sister, or a parent—is an NRI and residing abroad, you are eligible. This definition is important because it clarifies that only blood relations count; in-laws or extended family do not qualify.

Additionally, candidates who initially registered as Indian during the NEET-PG exam but now wish to apply under the NRI category are permitted to do so during counselling registration. This flexibility is valuable for candidates whose family circumstances may have changed or who did not initially realize they were eligible for the NRI quota. However, such category conversion requires submission of additional documentation and verification by the MCC's Document Verification Committee (DVC).

One or both parents are NRI and residing abroad

Real brother or sister is NRI and residing abroad

Candidates can convert from Indian to NRI category during counselling registration

NRI Category I: Standard NRI, Parent, Sibling, or Relative Applicants

Category I is the most common NRI quota pathway and applies to candidates whose parent, real brother, or real sister is an NRI. To apply under this category, you must submit a comprehensive set of documents that establish your educational history, medical qualifications, and the NRI status of your sponsor. The documents begin with your Date of Birth Certificate and extend through your 10th and 12th mark sheets, along with equivalence certificates from the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) if your schooling was outside India.

Your MBBS examination mark sheets from all three professional years are mandatory. If you completed your MBBS outside India, you must also provide your FMGE (Foreign Medical Graduate Examination) scorecard. Your NEET-PG scorecard issued by the National Board of Examinations (NBE) is essential, as is a valid passport. Critically, you must obtain an NRI Certificate from the competent authority—either the Indian Embassy or an Indian Consulate in the country where your sponsor resides. This certificate is the official proof of NRI status and cannot be substituted.

Finally, you must submit a notarised affidavit on Rs 100 stamp paper from your NRI sponsor (parent, brother, or sister) confirming their commitment to fund your entire course fees and living expenses during your postgraduate studies. 

This affidavit must be supported by bank account documentation—specifically, an NRE (Non-Resident External) or NRO (Non-Resident Ordinary) Bank Account Passbook showing the sponsor's financial capacity. 

A revenue authority officer (Tehsildar, Patwari, or Government Officer in the Revenue Department) must also verify your relationship to the sponsor.

Date of Birth Certificate

10th and 12th mark sheets with AIU equivalence certificate (if applicable)

MBBS 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Professional Examination mark sheets

FMGE scorecard (if MBBS completed outside India)

NEET-PG scorecard from NBE

Valid passport

NRI Certificate from Embassy or Indian Consulate

Notarised affidavit (Rs 100 stamp paper) from NRI sponsor confirming financial support

NRE/NRO Bank Account Passbook of sponsor

Relationship verification by revenue authority officer

NRI Category II: OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) Applicants

Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) form a distinct category within the NRI quota. OCI status is granted to foreign nationals of Indian origin or their descendants who wish to maintain a connection with India. If you hold an OCI card, you can apply for NEET PG postgraduate seats under this category. The document requirements for OCI applicants are similar to Category I in most respects but differ in one critical way: instead of an NRI Certificate and a sponsorship affidavit, you must submit your valid OCI Card.

Like Category I applicants, you must provide your 

Date of Birth Certificate, 

10th and 12th mark sheets (with AIU equivalence certificates if applicable), 

MBBS examination mark sheets from all three years,

FMGE scorecard (if your MBBS was outside India), 

NEET-PG scorecard, and a valid passport. 

The OCI Card itself serves as proof of your eligibility and status, eliminating the need for an Embassy certificate or sponsorship documentation. This streamlined requirement reflects the fact that OCI status is already a recognized legal status granted by the Government of India.

Date of Birth Certificate

10th and 12th mark sheets with AIU equivalence certificate (if applicable)

MBBS 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Professional Examination mark sheets

FMGE scorecard (if MBBS completed outside India)

NEET-PG scorecard from NBE

Valid passport

Valid Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Card

NRI Category III: Foreign National Applicants

Foreign nationals who have completed their MBBS in India or abroad and have qualified in NEET-PG can also apply for NRI quota seats. This category is designed for candidates who hold citizenship of a country other than India and do not hold OCI status. The document requirements are largely identical to those for OCI applicants, with one key difference: instead of an OCI Card, you must submit your citizenship certificate along with your foreign passport.

All other documentation—

Date of Birth Certificate, 

10th and 12th mark sheets, 

MBBS examination mark sheets, 

FMGE scorecard if applicable, and NEET-PG scorecard—remains the same. 

The citizenship certificate serves as proof of your nationality and is typically issued by the government of your country of citizenship. This category ensures that international medical graduates who have qualified through NEET-PG have a clear pathway to postgraduate medical education in India.

Date of Birth Certificate

10th and 12th mark sheets with AIU equivalence certificate (if applicable)

MBBS 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Professional Examination mark sheets

FMGE scorecard (if MBBS completed outside India)

NEET-PG scorecard from NBE

Valid foreign passport

Citizenship certificate

NRI Category IV: Indian Candidates Converting to NRI Status During Counselling

Some candidates register for NEET-PG as Indian citizens but later discover they are eligible for the NRI quota—for example, if a parent recently obtained NRI status or if they were unaware of their eligibility at the time of exam registration. The MCC permits such candidates to convert their category from Indian to NRI during the counselling registration phase. This conversion requires submission of all standard educational and examination documents, plus proof of NRI status and sponsorship.

In addition to the documents required for Category I applicants, candidates converting from Indian to NRI must provide evidence of guardianship if they claim sponsorship by a legal guardian rather than a parent or sibling. 

This evidence might include school or college fee receipts showing payment by the claimed guardian, educational records reflecting the guardian's involvement, bank or payment records evidencing financial support, or other relevant documentation establishing that the person has genuinely cared for and supported the candidate for the required period. 

A notarised affidavit from the guardian is also mandatory, confirming their commitment to sponsor the entire course and living expenses, supported by NRE/NRO Bank Account documentation.

Date of Birth Certificate

10th and 12th mark sheets with AIU equivalence certificate (if applicable)

MBBS 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Professional Examination mark sheets

FMGE scorecard (if MBBS completed outside India)

NEET-PG scorecard from NBE

Valid passport

NRI Certificate from Embassy or Indian Consulate

Notarised affidavit from NRI sponsor or legal guardian (Rs 100 stamp paper)

NRE/NRO Bank Account Passbook of sponsor

Documentary evidence of guardianship (fee receipts, educational records, bank statements, etc.)

Relationship verification by revenue authority officer

Step-by-Step Process for NRI Document Submission and Category Verification

The MCC has established a structured 10-step process to ensure transparent and fair verification of NRI documents. The process begins when you select the NRI quota during registration on the MCC portal on October 12. If you initially registered as Indian during the NEET-PG exam but now wish to apply as NRI, you must still select the NRI option at this stage. Next, you will select your specific NRI subcategory (Category I, II, III, or IV) based on your eligibility.

You will then upload all supporting documents as scanned copies through the MCC portal during registration. The MCC's Document Verification Committee will scrutinise these documents online. If discrepancies or deficiencies are found—such as missing pages, unclear scans, or incomplete information—the committee will raise a document discrepancy query. You will be notified of any issues via SMS and email, and a correction window will be provided to resolve the query within a stipulated timeframe. During this window, you can edit, modify, or resubmit corrected documents online.

Once all documents are found to be in order, your category will be converted from Indian to NRI (if applicable), and you will become eligible to access the NRI category seat list and select NRI quota seats during choice filling. 

Importantly, if you are unable to produce required documents within the correction window during Round 1, you can still participate in Round 2 counselling, giving you a second opportunity to submit and verify your documents.

Step 1: Select NRI quota during registration on MCC portal

Step 2: Select your NRI subcategory (I, II, III, or IV)

Step 3: Upload all supporting documents as scanned copies

Step 4: MCC Document Verification Committee reviews documents online

Step 5: Committee raises discrepancy query if issues are found

Step 6: Candidate notified via SMS and email of discrepancies

Step 7: Correction window provided to resolve issues and resubmit documents

Step 8: Category converted to NRI once all documents are verified

Step 9: Candidate becomes eligible to access NRI seat list and select choices

Step 10: Candidates unable to complete verification in Round 1 can participate in Round 2

Practical Checklist: What NRI Candidates Must Do Before October 12

To ensure a smooth registration and verification process, begin preparing your documents immediately. Gather all original certificates and mark sheets, and arrange for certified scans or digital copies. If any of your educational documents are from outside India, obtain equivalence certificates from the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) well in advance, as this process can take time. If your MBBS was completed outside India, ensure you have your FMGE scorecard. Verify that your passport is valid and will remain valid throughout your postgraduate course.

If you are applying under Category I, contact the Indian Embassy or Consulate in your sponsor's country of residence to obtain the NRI Certificate. This is a critical document and should not be delayed.

Prepare the notarised affidavit from your NRI sponsor on Rs 100 stamp paper, and gather the NRE/NRO Bank Account Passbook pages showing the sponsor's financial capacity. If you are converting from Indian to NRI status, collect all guardianship evidence (fee receipts, educational records, bank statements) and arrange for relationship verification by a revenue authority officer. Finally, ensure all documents are scanned clearly in PDF or JPG format, as poor-quality scans may be rejected during verification.Gather and certify all educational mark sheets and certificates

Obtain AIU equivalence certificates for education completed outside India

Secure FMGE scorecard if MBBS was outside India

Verify passport validity

Obtain NRI Certificate from Embassy/Consulate (Category I applicants)

Prepare notarised affidavit from NRI sponsor on Rs 100 stamp paper

Collect NRE/NRO Bank Account Passbook pages

Gather guardianship evidence if converting from Indian to NRI

Arrange relationship verification by revenue authority officer

Scan all documents clearly in PDF or JPG format

Why This Matters for Your NEET PG Admission Journey

The NRI quota represents a significant pathway for eligible candidates to secure postgraduate medical seats in India. For MBBS graduates with NRI family connections, this quota often offers competitive advantages in terms of seat availability and choice options. However, the document verification process is rigorous, and incomplete or incorrect submissions can delay your category conversion and limit your ability to select from the full range of available seats during choice filling.

Understanding the specific requirements for your NRI category now—before registration opens—allows you to prepare methodically and avoid last-minute scrambling. The MCC's structured verification process, while thorough, includes a correction window, but relying on this window means you may miss the opportunity to lock in your preferred choices during the main choice-filling period. By submitting complete, accurate documents on the first attempt, you maximise your chances of swift verification and full participation in the counselling process.

NEP 2020: Students voice syllabi dilution, exam issues

NEP 2020: Students voice syllabi dilution, exam issues

Hemali.Chhapia@timesofindia.com 04.10.2026

Mumbai: Inadequate hours for mandatory training, withheld completion certificates and hurdles in transferring academic credits are among the concerns students have raised about the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, questioning whether its promise of flexibility is translating into practice. 

The Bombay University College Teachers’ Union (BUCTU) compiled the feedback after interactive sessions at 10 diverse colleges affiliated to Mumbai University. The students flagged diluted syllabi, a growing load of ancillary subjects and examination pressures, alongside difficulties changing colleges, disciplines or major subjects. 

Students undergoing mandatory on-the-job training (OJT) said the duration offered by employers was often insufficient to complete the prescribed hours. Some received “no stipend”, while others alleged that companies withheld completion certificates if they “failed to meet marketing targets”. “Students have further questioned the arrangement of mandatory OJT, arguing that if it is compulsory, universities and colleges should take greater responsibility for facilitating placements and ensuring that students receive the required hours and certification,” said BUCTU’s Madhu Paranjpe. 

Students unable to fulfil the prescribed OJT hours could fail and have to appear for ATKT examinations, she added. The Academic Bank of Credits (ABC), intended to support flexible learning, has also “fallen short of students’ expectations,” said BUCTU’s Tapati Mukhopadhyay. Students, she added, complained that entry, exit and movement between disciplines or colleges remained almost impossible. Students also said topics in major subjects had been reduced compared with earlier syllabi, while fieldwork and practical hours had been curtailed. They feared this could undermine preparation for competitive examinations and employment. 

Of the 22 credits in a semester, as many as 12 were reportedly assigned to ancillary verticals. “Students said the emphasis on these subjects diverted attention from their core disciplines,” said Mukhopadhyay. The fourth year of the honours programme was unavailable in many colleges, students said. Those not planning postgraduate study consequently had fewer options to secure an honours degree. Moving elsewhere for the fourth year was also difficult because colleges had different structures and limited seats. 

Moreover, multiple internal and external examinations added to the pressure. Students reported errors on the Samarth portal, including being incorrectly marked absent or declared failed, with corrections sometimes delayed. Some examinations lasted only 20 to 30 minutes, prompting concerns about whether students had enough time to attempt their papers adequately.

Back in demand, BDS colleges up mgmt quota fee

Back in demand, BDS colleges up mgmt quota fee

04.10.2026

Sruthysusan.Ullas@timesofindia.com 

Bengaluru: After a few years of slump, BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) has come back as one of the popular choices among students, leading to a hike in management quota fees by colleges across Karnataka. While last year there were no vacant seats, colleges are hoping the trend will remain the same this year. The third round of counselling is underway. 

For instance, MS Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences rebounded strongly from Rs 6.5 lakh to over Rs 10 lakh per year, making it the highest fee in the state. Oxford Dental College also hiked its fee by Rs 3 lakh (from Rs 5.6 lakh to Rs 8.6 lakh). Raja Rajeshwari Dental College increased it by Rs 2 lakh (from Rs 4.6 lakh to Rs 6.6 lakh). Dr Girish B Giraddi, director-cum-dean of Govt Dental College & Research Institute, Bengaluru, said:

 “After a slump for 5-6 years, BDS is now popular again. Options for MBBS in many foreign countries like Ukraine, Russia have come down. Since they are not able to go there, students are also opting for BDS here. Moreover, Gen Z believes in work-life balance. They don’t want night duty and additional work. The counselling process has also improved and made choosing BDS much easier.” 

More students are writing National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) and are becoming eligible for admissions. “There are also only two slabs of intake now – either 50 or 100. Many colleges with seats between 50 and 100 reduced them back to 50, thus bringing down seats. All these have helped colleges to fill all their seats,” said SNVL Narasimharaju, chairman, Oxford Dental College. 

“Both medical and engineering streams seem to be under a lot of stress right now. After years of slump, demand for dental course is back. Some colleges may have increased the fee this year. But if you look at 10-year statistics, the hike has been minimal. For the amount of investment required in dentistry and the inflation, it really does not matter,” said MR Jayaram, honorary secretary, Karnataka private medical & dental colleges association.

Higher edu council summons pvt varsity officials for records

Higher edu council summons pvt varsity officials for records 

01.10.2028 TIMES BENGALURU

Bengaluru: Karnataka State Higher Education Council (KSHEC) Wednesday summoned vicechancellors, registrars and finance officers of private and deemed-to-be universities in the state for a meeting, seeking extensive financial, academic and administrative records, including five years of audited accounts. 

The meeting, convened under the chairmanship of higher education department principal secretary Thulasi Maddineni, follows a Sept 17 Supreme Court order. The universities were asked to submit information and documents listed by the council in both hard and soft copies. 

The state has 28 private universities, one public-private university and 11 deemed varsities. However, not all submitted data, citing that some of them have huge enrolments and submitting such numbers could be cumbersome. Among the documents sought are five-year signed audited financial statements, income-tax returns and computation records, general ledgers, bank statements, cash books, investment records and details of opening and closing balances of various funds. 

The council also sought course-wise fee details, including development and special-event fees, along with admission rules, prospectus, merit and entrance records, student ledgers, fee receipts, refunds and scholarship details. The scrutiny covers university governance and functioning, with institutions asked to furnish details of sponsors, trusts or societies, board members, related-party transactions, remuneration, leases, procurement and service contracts, along with invoices and payment records. 

The council has also sought information on course approvals, examinations, question-paper preparation, answer-script evaluation, staff recruitment, contracts, service rules, payroll, attendance and class registers. The Supreme Court has emphasised financial accountability and transparency in private universities, including disclosure of funds generated and utilised and payments made to nonoperational individuals or governing board members. Times News Network

Fake details, blank documents: ‘Donkey’ gets nursing certificate

Fake details, blank documents: ‘Donkey’ gets nursing certificate

30.09.2026

Jamal.Ayub@timesofindia.com 

Bhopal: An online nursing registration application submitted in the name of a donkey was approved by the Madhya Pradesh Nurses Registration Council, raising questions over the verification process of its newly launched portal. 

The application was submitted by NSUI state vice-president Ravi Parmar as a test of the council’s online system. According to Parmar, the form carried the name “Donkey”, a photograph of a donkey and fictitious details, including “Donkey Father” and “Donkey Mother” in the parents’ fields and “Animal” in the caste column. 

Despite the details, a temporary nursing registration certificate was issued after an online payment of Rs 2,050, Parmar claimed. He said the certificate was generated around five minutes after the application was submitted and payment made on Sept 25.

The application also contained arbitrary Class 10 and 12 examination details, while Bhopal Nursing College and Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre were entered as training institutions. Blank sheets were uploaded instead of training completion and degree or diploma certificates, Parmar said. 

The council’s response was not immediately available. Parmar has sought an inquiry into the portal and the agency managing it, saying the probe should establish how the application was approved without verification.

NEET-PG: Only 114 cross 600 mark

NEET-PG: Only 114 cross 600 mark 

Anuja.Jaiswal@timesofindia.com 26.09.2026

New Delhi: Only 114 candidates scored 600 or more out of 720 in NEET-PG 2026, with the highest score at 641. A score of 601 was enough to secure a place in the top 100, according to the detailed result data released by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences. 

The top three ranks went to candidates scoring 641, 633 and 626, while four candidates at ranks 4 to 7 scored 625 each. The number of candidates rose sharply as the score cut-off fell. 

As many as 2,614 candidates scored 550 or more, while 12,111 scored 500 or above. The number rose to 29,130 for 450 or more and 51,729 for scores of 400 or above. The score-to-rank gap widened sharply at lower scores. 

A score of 570 corresponded to rank 1,000, 532 to rank 5,000, 508 to rank 10,000 and 403 to rank 50,000. The scores are not directly comparable with last year’s results, as NEET-PG 2025 was scored out of 800, compared with 720 this year. The detailed result also showed 194 candidates with scores below zero. The median score was 262, while the mean was 274.4 among records carrying numerical scores. The detailed result contain 2,73,096 records, including 7,136 candidates marked absent and one result withheld.

Compassionate ground can’t be used to seek higher posts: HC

Compassionate ground can’t be used to seek higher posts: HC

Vasantha.Kumar@timesofindia.com  24.09.2026

Bengaluru: A compassionate appointment is a one-time measure arising from an exceptional circumstance and cannot be converted into a recurring claim for higher posts or better service benefits, the Dharwad bench of Karnataka high court ruled. 

A division bench of Justices M Nagaprasanna and Hema Kulkarni, in a judgement delivered on Sept 22, also cautioned state govt against allowing transposition from one Group C post to another merely because a compassionate appointee possesses higher educational qualifications. The court made the observations while allowing petitions filed by govt and reversing orders of Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal (KSAT) in two cases involving Sathish V Gulla and Sandeep Kumar V Kulkarni. 

Both men had been appointed under the compassionate appointment scheme to the post of second division assistant (SDA). KSAT had directed govt to consider their cases for appointment as first division assistants (FDAs), taking into account their higher educational qualifications. Govt challenged the orders, contending that compassionate appointment was not a form of direct recruitment in which qualifications and other eligibility criteria were assessed for appointment to a higher post. 

The high court agreed with govt’s position, holding that the purpose of compassionate appointment was to provide immediate financial assistance to a family suddenly deprived of its breadwinner. “Once that compassion has translated itself into public employment and the appointment has been accepted, the stream of compassion cannot be permitted to flow endlessly into claims for higher posts, better cadres or superior service benefits,” the bench observed. It said the purpose of the scheme was fulfilled once the eligible family member was appointed to the post contemplated under it. Possession of qualifications for a higher post, by itself, could not justify invoking compassion afresh for appointment to that post. 2

The bench also warned govt about making individual exceptions outside the governing scheme. Picking and choosing individuals for such benefits, it said, could disturb administrative discipline and lead to grievances of unequal treatment.

11 varsities to get interim VCs: Edu min

11 varsities to get interim VCs: Edu min 

V.Srivatsal@timesofindia.com 24.09.2026

Trichy: Universities under the higher education department without vice-chancellors (VCs) would soon have in-charges as an interim arrangement, higher education minister P Viswanathan said on Wednesday. He said the present govt, unlike the previous DMK govt, would adopt a “nonconfrontational” approach with governor to find a permanent solution. The minister’s statement comes after a similar arrangement recently put in place at Alagappa University in Karaikudi and Manonmaniam Sundaranar University in Tirunelveli. 

The arrangement, according to the minister, will now be extended to the other 11 universities. Speaking to reporters in Trichy after a consultation meeting with staff and students at Bharathidasan University, Viswanathan said that then Governor R N Ravi had insisted on inclusion of a UGC nominee in the VC search panels, which became a bone of contention between DMK govt and governor. Towards the end, DMK govt also initiated interview processes to appoint VCs to Bharathidasan, Bharathiar and Periyar universities. However, the matter got stalled in court.

College ‘ran’ BEd course on paper for years

College ‘ran’ BEd course on paper for years 

20.09.2026

Bhopal: A private college in Jatkhedi has come under police scrutiny over alleged irregularities in its B.Ed course, with claims that the institution was not physically functioning for nearly a decade even as admissions, practicals, examinations and degree records were maintained every year. 

Bag Sewania police registered a case on Saturday on a complaint by Amin, a B.Ed student from Ashta, who said he enrolled in 2025 after being told the college was affiliated to Barkatullah University, was charged an excessive fee, shown another building as the premises and later told his admission was not cleared. A BU inquiry allegedly found the college non-functional. TNN

Andhra student falls to death at Rajkot univ hostel

Andhra student falls to death at Rajkot univ hostel 

20.09.2026

Rajkot: A second-year engineering student from Andhra Pradesh died after falling from the 10th floor of her hostel at Marwadi University in Gujarat’s Rajkot on Saturday morning. Police suspect it to be a suicide. 

The deceased, Sobarnika Venkatesh Alla, was pursuing a BTech degree in computer science and engineering with a specialisation in AI. According to police, the student fell around 10:30 am. Students, wardens and campus staff rushed to the spot after hearing the impact. 

Emergency medical services were called, but paramedics declared her dead at the scene. No suicide note was found in her room. Police have begun an investigation and are examining her phone records. 

DCP Hetal Patel said, “Her roommate told us that she had been shouting at somebody on the phone and suddenly jumped. We will know more after unlocking her phone and examining the call detail records.” The university’s deputy registrar, Varghese Nidheesh, said emergency assistance was sought immediately after the incident. The deceased’s cousin, who was in the city, was informed, and her family in Andhra Pradesh has also been notified. Investigators are recording statements from hostel residents and classmates as part of the inquiry into the circumstances surrounding her death. tnn

Docs slam interview process for DME post

Docs slam interview process for DME post 

20.09.2026

Chennai: Admissions to UG medical and allied health studies are underway, and courses are now commencing at govt medical colleges across the state, but still the post of director of medical education, who holds administrative control of all medical colleges, has been lying vacant since July 31. 

While officials say selection is in progress, doctors ‘ bodies such as the Service Doctors and Postgraduate Doctors’Association, have objected to the health department’s interview-based process for selecting the next director. The association says the mandatory promotion panel was not published before the exercise. In a press release, the association general secretary Dr A Ramalingam said 10 medical college deans were interviewed for the post, which fell vacant after former DME Dr Suganthy Rajakumari retired in July. 

“Appointments in the department were usually made by preparing a promotion panel every year, based on the eligibility and seniority of doctors as on March 15. The panel would then be used to grant promotions and make appointments to senior administrative posts,” he said. The association urged the state govt to appoint an eligible senior doctor as DME on the basis of promotion panel. It also demanded that promotions to professor and associate professor posts be completed annually without delay. TNN

Masters in physiotherapy & occupational therapy not general degrees: UGC

Masters in physiotherapy & occupational therapy not general degrees: UGC 

20.09.2026

Chennai: University Grants Commission (UGC) has announced that MPT (Master of Physiotherapy) and MOT (Master of Occupational Therapy) degrees should not be awarded as general degrees. 

“Based on a communication from National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP), the degrees MPT and MOT shall be awarded with the respective specialisations and not as generalised ones. However, for admissions made prior to the academic year 2026-27, the degrees may be awarded in accordance with the earlier UGC notification,” said the notification issued by UGC secretary Shyama Rath on Sept 16 . 

The list of specialisations for MOT includes rehabilitation, mental health, geriatrics, hand and oncological sciences, while the specialisations for MPT includes neurosciences, cardiopulmonary sciences and sports sciences. It also includes new specified degrees such as bachelor of medical laboratory science, bachelor of emergency medical technologist (paramedics), master of advance care paramedics, bachelor of anaesthesia and operation theatre technology, bachelor of psychology, and master of medical social work. Times News Network

TN must change mindset, allow Hindi in schools: SC

TN must change mindset, allow Hindi in schools: SC 

‘States Should Not Act Like Countries’   18.09.2026

New Delhi: Supreme Court on Thursday told Tamil Nadu govt that it needed to change its mindset towards teaching Hindi in schools and should thrash out issues with Centre on setting up Navodaya Vidyalayas in every district. As Vijay-led TN govt took the same stand taken by the previous DMK govt, a bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and A G Masih said individual states cannot act like an individual country. “You have to change your mindset, it can’t be that Hindi will not be taught on the soil of TN,” the bench told the state govt. 

TN has been opposing setting up of these schools as they follow a three-language policy, including Hindi, which is against TN’s two-language policy. “We are saying in addition to all the good things you’re doing in your state, having something in addition will not bring down your standards. 

Coming from Delhi, will not lower the standards of Chennai. People in Chennai should not alienate Delhi and vice versa,” SC said. Senior advocate Jaideep Gupta, appearing for TN, submitted it is against federal structure to impose Centre’s decision on a state. “It is against the state policy. It supersedes Tamil. This kind of unification is not the purport of the Constitution. It is not a central govt school. It is a school run by a society. There is an adamancy that Hindi must predominate,” he told SC. Gupta submitted that cooperative federalism would never work in only one direction and such policy should not be enforced by SC. 

The bench, however, asked the state to comply with its order and posted the case for further hearing in Dec. Last Dec, it had directed TN to identify land required for establishing Navodaya Vidyalayas in each district within six weeks. “Comply with our earlier order. We are not asking you to acquire land. We are only asking to identify. We are concerned with the good of everybody. You can’t say I won’t accept a policy. Today it is education, tomorrow it will be something else. You have to relax this rigidity in your mind,” SC said.

Changes in varsities Act opposed

Changes in varsities Act opposed

The Hindu Bureau

MADURAI 13.09.2026

The members of the Madurai Kamaraj, Manonmaniam Sundaranar, Mother Teresa, Alagappa, Tamil Nadu Teachers’ Education and Anna University Teachers’ Association (MUTA) have objected to the recent amendments to Tamil Nadu Private Universities Act, 2026, passed in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly recently.

Under the original Tamil Nadu Private Universities Act enacted in 2019, institutions were required to possess a minimum of 100 acres of land and maintain a permanent fixed deposit endowment of ₹50 crore.

According to A.T. Senthamarai Kannan, general secretary of MUTA, the State government has successfully passed the amendment in the Assembly following an earlier ordinance in October 2025 that met with an intense public backlash.

The revised legislation significantly lowers these entry barriers.

“The minimum land requirement is now slashed to 12 acres within the Greater Chennai Corporation limits, 18 acres in other corporations and municipalities, and 25 acres in rural areas. Additionally, the mandatory permanent endowment fund has been halved from ₹50 crore to ₹25 crore,” he added.

He argued that while State-run universities—which uphold social justice and reservation policies while providing affordable education—struggle with chronic underfunding, the government is rolling out the red carpet for private players.

He warned that proliferating private campuses without robust regulatory guardrails could lead to exploitative labour conditions and job market vulnerabilities for graduates.

Mr. Senthamarai Kannan urged the Tamil Nadu government to reconsider the legislative amendment.

MUTA demanded that the State instead focus its resources on strengthening State-funded institutions to safeguard educational equity and the reservation system.