Top 5 toughest medical exams in the world

Top 5 toughest medical exams in the world

etimes.in | May 14, 2026, 08.49 AM IST

Almost everyone wants to be a doctor while growing up. The allure is, of course, undeniable: the opportunity to save lives; the respect that comes with the white coat. From the outside, it is indeed a glamorous job. But those who finally make it to medical school and get to wear that white coat and a stethoscope are the ones who have gone through some of the most brutal examinations ever designed—exams that require years of preparation and can be demanding in every possible way. From the USMLE in the United States to the UK’s GAMSAT, these competitive medical examinations are designed to filter out only the best.When people talk about the toughest medical entrance exams globally, India’s NEET UG always finds a place on the list. The pressure around it is even more grueling than the syllabus and difficulty level. In 2026 alone, NEET UG saw a 96.92% turnout, with over 22 lakh candidates competing for approximately 1.3 lakh MBBS seats across the nation. This alone highlights the high stakes in medical education. Let’s take a look at the top five toughest medical exams in the world and what makes them so challenging.

USMLE

The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) is often considered one of the toughest competitive exams in the world. This test is known for its notorious difficulty. USMLE is a three-step licensure exam for doctors who want to practise medicine in the United States. The first test focuses on comprehensive medical knowledge of basic sciences and is particularly feared by medical students, with only about 85% passing on their first attempt. The second evaluates the ability to apply medical knowledge, and skills. The third step assesses whether candidates can apply medical knowledge and understanding of biomedical and clinical science essential for the unsupervised practice of medicine. These three-step exams are taken over a period of several years, with the lowest pass rates in the first step.

MCAT

The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is the gateway exam for prospective medical students in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the Caribbean islands. MCAT has earned quite a reputation for its difficulty. Administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges, this exam assesses scientific reasoning, critical thinking, and psychological concepts. The seven hours of a gruelling exam is tough to crack, with an average pass rate of about 65–70%. This competitive exam demands months of intensive preparation, costing thousands of dollars. American medical schools trust MCAT scores explicitly.

GAMSAT

The Graduate Australian Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT) is a distinctive exam that stands apart as one of the world's most unusual and psychologically demanding medical entrance tests. This test is the gateway for graduate entry into medical schools in Australia, Ireland, and the UK. Students entering dentistry, pharmacy, and veterinary programmes are also required to take this test. This exam is notoriously long—roughly 5.5 to 6 hours. Scientific knowledge, emotional intelligence, and ethical reasoning, among others are assessed in this exam. Pass rates are often between 40–50%. For Australian and British medical schools, GAMSAT's integrity is beyond question.

MRCP

The Membership of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP) in the UK is one of the notoriously difficult exams. This is a postgraduate medical qualification for doctors who want to specialise in internal medicine in the UK. This British qualification is a set of three postgraduate exams—MRCP Part 1, MRCP Part 2, and MRCP PACES. Cracking MRCP is nothing short of excellence. Pass rates are normally around 50% because of its difficulty. It is a test of medical excellence that even brilliant doctors attempt multiple times before passing.

PLAB

The Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) examination in the UK is another high-stakes licensing examination for international medical graduates seeking registration. PLAB has a two-part format testing both knowledge and clinical skills. Practical competency is an important part of this test, with pass rates for non-UK-trained doctors typically 40–50%.

Disclaimer: This article is based on reports, publicly available data, and information sourced from the internet. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, exam formats, pass rates, and requirements may change over time. Readers are advised to verify details from the official websites of the respective examination authorities for the most up-to-date information.

One-Year PG vs Two: Reimagining the master’s degree under NEP 2020

One-Year PG vs Two: Reimagining the master’s degree under NEP 2020 

Given the diversity of higher education landscape, both pathways may need to coexist for some time, allowing varsities to adopt models aligned with their academic strengths 

Rajlakshmi.Ghosh@timesofindia.com 18.05.2026

As the implementation of NEP 2020 gathers pace, postgraduate education is undergoing one of its biggest transformations in decades. Universities are introducing multiple pathways to a master’s degree — a one-year PG for students completing a Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP), alongside the conventional two-year master’s route for students with a three-year bachelor’s degree. 

The shift is aimed at aligning higher education with global norms, improving flexibility, and creating research-centric academic trajectories. Since India’s higher education system is currently operating within multiple parallel academic structures involving traditional three-year UG programmes, FYUP models, autonomous university systems, and professional pathways, experts claim that a one-size-fits-all approach will no longer work. In such a diverse environment, an overly rigid approach may create unintended inequities.

 “Traditionally, the master’s degree functioned largely as an extension of UG learning. Today, however, PG education is increasingly being viewed as a stage of advanced specialisation, research orientation, innovation, and professional preparedness. This transition has been shaped both by NEP 2020 and the changing realities of the global knowledge economy. Universities are now expected to prepare graduates who are multidisciplinary, research-oriented, globally competitive, and capable of adapting to rapidly evolving sectors driven by technology and innovation. The one-year PG model emerges from this context. It assumes that students completing an FYUP, particularly Honours or Honours with Research, would have already acquired substantial academic grounding, research exposure, internships, and cross-disciplinary learning during the fourth year itself.

 This distinction has also been formally recognised in the UGC framework,” says Prof Raghavendra P Tiwari, vice-chancellor, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda. Global Benchmarks Considering the Indian one-year PG is still at the early stages of implementation and the first FYUP cohorts are only now entering the pipeline, quality will vary widely across institutions. “The UK one-year master’s degrees work because they sit on top of rigorous honours programmes with strong final-year research component besides being backed by established universities. The Indian variant will take years to build comparable credibility. Until then, a two-year PG from a reputed Indian institution carries far greater weight with international peers and employers than a one-year PG from an average university,” says Ram Kumar Kakani, vice-chancellor, RV University. 

“The need for the oneyear master’s is not organically driven nor is it choice of central universities,” says Abha Dev Habib, associate professor, Miranda House, University of Delhi (DU) advocating the need for a 3+2 PG format which is structurally more robust. “NEP 2020 introduced a flexible 4+1 structure with multiple exit options for UG and PG degrees, but it also made the system more ‘porous’. The added fourth year has increased student numbers without additional faculty, space, or research facilities. Colleges now face higher teaching loads, inadequate student-teacher ratios, and limited capacity to support undergraduate research. 

Under the new system, students who complete the fourth year of their undergraduate programme are eligible for a one-year MSc. However, no additional infrastructure or funding has been provided to support this change,” she adds. Pointing to the larger picture, Prof Tiwari says, “The one-year PG is envisioned as a more focused and intellectually intensive phase where students engage with specialised domains, emerging technologies. However, the effectiveness of this model will ultimately depend on the quality of FYUP implementation.” Given the diversity of the higher education landscape, both oneyear and two-year postgraduate pathways may need to coexist for some time, allowing universities to adopt models aligned with their academic strengths, regional realities, and student aspirations.

 18/05/2026, 06:50 Times of India ePaper ahmedabad - Read Today’s English News Paper Online https://epaper.indiatimes.com/timesepaper/publication-the-times-of-india,city-ahmedabad.cms 2/4 18/05/2026, 06:50 Times of India ePaper ahmedabad - Read Today’s E

Include foster parents’ names in birth certificate, orders HC

Include foster parents’ names in birth certificate, orders HC

 K.Kaushik@timesofindia.com 14.05.2026

Madurai : Dignity and the right to construct one’s own identity with reference to gender, familial and societal contexts is part of the right to privacy, Madras high court observed while granting relief to a woman who sought to include the names of her foster parents in her birth certificate without removing the names of her biological parents. 

The court was hearing a petition filed by a woman from Madurai, who is pursuing a UG degree. The petitioner stated that she was born in 2005. After her father passed away in 2006, her mother also deserted her. Her paternal uncle and his wife (aunt) raised her as their own daughter. The petitioner stated that in all her identity-related documents, her uncle and aunt’s names are mentioned as parents’ names. However, in the birth certificate alone, the biological parents’ names are mentioned. 

This has affected her right to be known as the daughter of her uncle and aunt and it also leads to serious prejudice to her education and career as well. Therefore, the petitioner made an application to include the names of her uncle and.as her father and mother in the birth certificate. However, the same was rejected on the ground that the petitioner should be validly adopted as per the provisions of the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956. 

Challenging the order, the petitioner moved court. The woman’s counsel submitted that she did not seek to remove the names of the biological parents, but to include the names of her uncle and aunt as well. Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy observed the petitioner is not praying for proprietary rights in the foster family. She wants to be known as their daughter. The same would be within her fundamental right. This apart, her identity itself will be disputed and her education and career will be jeopardised since the names of her parents in all other certificates and birth certificate are different. 

The judge observed that there is not only an obligation on the state to respect the child’s right to preserve her identity, but there is also an obligation to provide appropriate assistance. Hence, the judge directed the petitioner to file notarised affidavits of her uncle and aunt, consenting to their names being added to the birth certificate of the petitioner with the suffix ‘foster’. Upon filing such affidavits, the chief registrar of births and deaths, shall also include the names of the uncle and aunt in the appropriate columns, the judge directed

Academicians draw CM Vijay’s attention to higher education

Academicians draw CM Vijay’s attention to higher education

 Ragu.Raman@timesofindia.com  11,05.2026

Chennai : Educationists drew chief minister Joseph Vijay’s attention to the pressing challenges faced by higher education in the state, including declining academic standards, huge faculty vacancies, and the absence of vice-chancellors in state universities. 

They urged him to immediately take steps to appoint vice-chancellors to all state universities. The new state govt also has to take a decision on whether to accept the National Education Policy (NEP) or implement State Education Policy (SEP) in higher education. 

Due to a tussle between the then Governor R N Ravi and state govt on including UGC’s nominee on V-C search panels, as many as 15 state universities out of 22 have been functioning without vice hancellors for a period ranging from one year to three years. 

E Balagurusamy, former vice-chancellor of Anna University, said the prolonged vacancies in key leadership positions are adversely affecting academic governance, policy decisions, institution growth and overall quality of higher education. “CM Vijay must initiate comprehensive reforms such as curriculum modernisation, faculty development, industry-academia collaboration and research enhancement to prevent further deterioration,” he said. 

University of Madras former vice-chancellor S P Thyagarajan said the CM should ensure financial stability for all state universities. “Students from economically weaker sections and poor families depend on the govt-run institutions for higher education. So, the state govt should not increase the fees of degree programmes. A high-power committee must be formed to find solutions,” he said. 

Alagappa University former vice-chancellor S Subbiah said students are affected by the lack of vice-chancellors in state universities. “Students do not get their degree certificates on time. The state universities are crippled due to a lack of academic leadership,” he said. 

Tamil Nadu Teacher Education University’s former vice-chancellor G Visvanathan said the new govt should allow the universities to fill their own vacancies. Teachers Recruitment Board (TRB)  is in the process of recruiting about 2,700 assistant professors to govt arts and science colleges in the state. Professors asked the new govt to expedite the appointments to ensure new faculty members join the colleges before the next academic year.

B-Schools revamp MBA-IB curricula amid shifting global trade dynamics

B-Schools revamp MBA-IB curricula amid shifting global trade dynamics 

The revised syllabus now embeds geopolitical risk, policy analysis and supply chain resilience, alongside modules in sanctions compliance, trade analytics and global sourcing strategies 

Vishal.Katoch@timesofindia.com. 20.04.2026

EDUCATION TIMES JAIPUR

 Amid increasing upheaval and geopolitical tensions, B-schools are busy revamping MBA in International Business (IB) curricula, to prepare future managers to handle the cha nging business dynamics. The new syllabus includes critical components such as geopolitical risk, trade policy analysis, and supply chain resilience into core learning. By incorporating specialised modules on sanctions compliance, trade analytics, and global sourcing strategies, B-schools are responding to a fragmented global landscape. This shift has triggered a significant surge in aspirant interest as businesses increasingly prioritise export competitiveness and market diversification. However, academics warn that syllabus updates alone are insufficient; to remain competitive, future managers must also become adept at navigating multicultural environments, leading geographically dispersed teams, and converting rapid global developments into actionable business strategies. Speaking to Education Times, Prof Ramakrishnan Raman, vice-chancellor, Symbiosis International (Deemed) University, Pune, says, “Academic programmes are increasingly incorporating modules on sanctions compliance, trade analytics, country risk modelling, and global sourcing strategies. Case-based simulations now explore scenarios such as tariff hikes, logistics rerouting, and currency fluctuations. 

Courses covering digital su pply chains, trade finance an alytics and geopolitical scenario planning are also becoming commonplace, designed to equip graduates with the skills to assess market entry strategies, restructure sourcing networks and manage disruptions in an increasingly fragmented global trade landscape.” 

 Career Trajectory 

Prof Rakesh Mohan Joshi, vice-chancellor, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) Delhi, highlights a marked increase in aspirant interest over the last five to six years, driven by a corporate shift toward international market strategy. “The surge in interest gained significant momentum post-pandemic. Businesses are now aggressively operating in global markets with a focus on de-risking; they are expanding across new geographies, restructuring supply chains for resilience, and navigating a labyrinth of new trade regulations and cross-border investment policies,” says Prof Joshi. Recruiters are no longer just looking for ‘export managers’ but strategic leaders who understand global finance, digital commerce, and multicultural environm ents. Students have also realised that this degree is no longer a niche choice but a futureproof gateway into consulting, technology, and global policy roles. “The qualification has become a gateway into high-impact sectors, includi ng consulting, strategy, technology and analytics, as well as global operations, finance, e-commerce and policy formulation, with graduates joining DHL, Nestlé, Deloitte and Volvo,” adds Prof Joshi. 

However, academics warn that IB curricula and pedagogy require more than mere syllabus updates or discussions on real-time global developments. “To remain competitive, institutions must align their IB programmes with the country’s growth trajectory, ensuring students are equipped to secure place in the global marketplace. This can be achieved through experiential learning, digital and AI-driven simulations, cross-cultural exposure, and digital trade competencies. The objective is to ensure graduates are not only globally aware but also globally employable,” says Prof Ana Sinha, assistant professor, International Business, FORE School of Management, New Delhi.

 20/04/2026, 07:24 Times of India ePaper jaipur - Read Today’s English News Paper Online https://epaper.indiatimes.com/timesepaper/publication-the-times-of-india,city-jaipur.cms 2/3 20/04/2026, 07:24 Times of India ePaper jaipur - Read Today’s English News Paper Online

JEE (Main) key row: NTA reviews chemistry errors flagged by students, urges them to wait

JEE (Main) key row: NTA reviews chemistry errors flagged by students, urges them to wait 

Manash.Gohain@timesgroup.com 13.04.2026

New Delhi : Allegations of errors in the JEE (Main) answer key have again put the spotlight on the National Testing Agency (NTA), with the testing body stepping in early to review complaints and pause challenge payments for a disputed paper. 

The agency said it has reviewed the provisional answer keys of JEE (Main) 2026 Session 2 and made them available online, while acknowledging concerns over the April 5, Shift 2 chemistry paper. 

“Reports regarding discrepancies...are under verification,” it said, advising candidates not to pay challenge fees until further clarification. The provisional key and response sheets were released on Saturday, with the challenge window open from April 11 to 13 at ₹200 per question. However, social media quickly saw a surge in complaints, with candidates and parents alleging “gross mistakes” and claiming multiple incorrect answers in chemistry. 

A widely shared post urged NTA to recheck the key, arguing that it was “practically impossible” for students to challenge a large number of questions while preparing for other exams. Faculty members also flagged concerns, with one Delhi-based govt college teacher writing to authorities citing “major error” and student distress. In one complaint shared with officials, a parent claimed at least 11 answers were incorrect, warning that such errors could impact high-performing candidates, including those scoring above 99 percentile in earlier sessions. 

Responding publicly, NTA director general Abhishek Singh said he would personally have the paper reviewed by experts. “Given the large number of comments... I will get it checked,” he posted, promising an update within a day. Answer key discrepancies have been a recurring issue for NTA in recent years, often leading to court cases, re-evaluations, and in some instances, bonus marks. Previous editions of JEE (Main) and other national tests have seen multiple questions dropped or revised after challenges, fuelling criticism over quality control. This time, however, the agency’s early acknowledgment marks a departure from its typically reactive approach, even as student anxiety remains high. 

‘RECHECK THE KEY’: Answer key discrepancies have been a recurring issue for NTA in recent years, often leading to court cases

Back to work at 60: What's driving the un-retirement trend?

Back to work at 60: What's driving the un-retirement trend? 

Shruti Bansal New Delhi,UPDATED: Mar 31, 2026 15:15 IST

Retirement is no longer the end of the road. Across the US, a growing number of seniors are swapping leisure time for laptops and meetings again. The surprising rise of the Great un-retirement is reshaping how the world views ageing and work. 

A growing number of retirees in the United States are rejoining the workforce, signalling a shift in traditional retirement patterns. The trend, widely referred to as the Great Un-retirement, is being driven by a mix of economic pressures and changing attitudes towards work in later life.

According to an AARP (February 2026) report, around 7% of retired individuals returned to work in the past six months, up from 6% earlier. Of these, 48% cited financial need as the primary reason, pointing to the impact of inflation and rising living costs.

FINANCIAL PRESSURE AND LONGER LIFE SPANS DRIVE RETURN TO WORK

Experts say the rising cost of living and increased life expectancy are key factors behind the trend. Fixed pensions and retirement savings are often insufficient to sustain long-term financial needs, particularly with growing healthcare expenses.

At the same time, non-financial motivations are also playing a role. Many retirees are seeking purpose, routine, and social engagement, which work continues to provide even after retirement.

"The ‘un-retirement’ trend reflects a deeper shift towards lifelong learning and purpose-driven careers. While financial security can be a factor, many professionals in their 60s are returning to stay intellectually engaged and contribute meaningfully," says Ajitesh Basani, Executive Director, ABBS, Bengaluru.

"In the education sector, this is particularly visible – institutions are increasingly welcoming experienced professionals as mentors, adjunct faculty, and advisors, where their industry insights add immense value to students," he adds.

Beyond academia, organisations are also recognising that seasoned professionals bring not just experience, but perspective, something that is critical in today’s evolving business environment.

HIRING STILL SELECTIVE, BUT DEMAND FOR EXPERIENCE RISING

Industry leaders suggest that while the movement is still largely driven by individuals, companies are beginning to tap into this experienced talent pool.

Sonica Aron, Founder & Managing Partner, Marching Sheep, said the trend remains largely candidate-led, but organisations are responding where there is a need for stability and leadership. Companies facing high attrition or leadership gaps are increasingly open to hiring experienced professionals in advisory capacities.

ADVISORY, MENTORING ROLES SEE HIGHEST DEMAND 

Companies are largely offering roles where experience outweighs the need for rapid skill adaptation. These include advisory, consulting, mentoring, governance, and client-facing roles.

"Employers today are more open to engaging professionals in their 60s, but the roles are evolving in line with how organisations view experience. The strongest demand is typically in advisory, consulting, mentoring, and leadership roles, where deep domain knowledge and decision-making maturity add immediate value," says Saikiran Murali, Founder of Workline.

"The unretirement trend is being driven by a mix of both financial need and the desire for continued engagement, rather than a single factor. On one hand, rising living costs and longer life expectancy are pushing many professionals to seek financial stability beyond traditional retirement years," he adds.

In roles that depend more on experience than rapid technical change, professionals in their 60s are often valued for their expertise, judgment, and mentorship.

"Fields like consulting, medicine, education, and research benefit from decades of hands-on work, which enhances decision-making, pattern recognition, and the ability to handle complex situations," says Upasana Raina, HR Director, GI Group Holding.

Their strategic insight, credibility, and leadership make them especially effective in high-stakes roles, leading many organisations to prefer experienced candidates in such domains.

MIX OF FINANCIAL NEED AND PURPOSE DRIVING TREND 

Experts agree that the “un-retirement” movement is not driven by a single factor. Financial necessity remains a strong motivator, but the need for purpose, identity, and continued relevance is equally significant.

Sonica Aron emphasised that many professionals in their 60s today are healthier and more capable, and are not ready to disengage from meaningful work.

Similarly, Saikiran Murali said that for many, work is a long-standing routine, making complete retirement difficult to adapt to.

"The ‘un-retirement’ trend reflects a clear shift in workforce patterns. Data shows that nearly 20–25% of retirees are working again, with many returning due to financial needs and longer life spans. This indicates that retirement is no longer a fixed stage. In my view, companies should look at experienced professionals as part of their workforce strategy," says Dipal Dutta, CEO at RedoQ.

"They contribute through knowledge transfer, mentoring, and informed decision-making. The focus now should be on building teams that combine experience with new skills," she further adds.

EARLY SIGNS EMERGING IN INDIA 

While the trend is more prominent in the United States, India is beginning to see similar patterns, albeit on a smaller scale. The rise of the gig economy, consulting roles, and mentorship opportunities is enabling professionals over 50 to re-enter the workforce.

Experts believe that as India’s workforce evolves, experienced professionals will play a larger role, particularly in knowledge transfer and strategic decision-making.

The Great un-retirement reflects a broader shift in how retirement is perceived. With longer lifespans, economic pressures, and evolving work cultures, retirement is increasingly becoming a transition rather than an endpoint.

NCAHP makes class XII Science mandatory for admission to paramedical colleges

NCAHP makes class XII Science mandatory for admission to paramedical colleges 

Divyansh.Kumar@timesofindia.com 

TIMES OF INDIA BENGALURU 23.03.2026

By raising academic eligibility from class X to class XII for paramedical education, the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) aims to standardise allied health training, strengthen scientific competence and crackdown on substandard commercialised colleges. 

The change in eligibility requirement also aims to bring Indian qualifications at par with global standards. The new framework, effective from 2026-27 academic year, will end the long-standing class X entry route for paramedical diplomas and make Science at the senior secondary level compulsory for clinical courses at nearly 500 government institutes offering around 48,000 seats and at about 3,800 private institutes having over 3.6 lakh seats. 

The move, claims NCAHP, was long-overdue as the sector was fragmented, uneven and vulnerable to low-quality provision. “The core issue is fragmentation, in a city, we have 10 different types of allied programmes being run, but they are all awarding the exact same degree. The basic objective of the NCAHP Act — which covers 57 professions — is the standardisation of education, services, and establishing minimum standards for institutions,” says Dr Yagna U Shukla, chairperson, NCAHP, Delhi. 

She adds that healthcare training cannot be compared with polytechnic education. “Unlike polytechnic courses where students deal with machines, a class X base is sufficient, however, healthcare workers support human lives. Therefore, a science background is an absolute necessity. The requirement was also backed by professionals who found that students without a science background struggled with coursework,” Dr Shukla says. 

The Commission had opted to use NEET for allied degree courses because the act mandates entry and exit examinations. “Taking NEET indirectly serves the purpose of an entry-level exam based on class XII qualifications,” she says. However, the NCAHP recently deferred a plan to make the NEET-UG exam mandatory for UG degree courses such as Physiotherapy (BPT) and Occupational Therapy (BOT) to the 2027-28 academic year, citing logistical challenges from NTA regarding an unexpected surge in candidates. 

The reform has triggered concern in several states, particularly in Karnataka, where Medical Education Minister Sharanprakash R Patil has warned that nearly 500 paramedical colleges could face closure if the class X route is removed. But Dr Shukla says the transition was not abrupt and that institutions had been given notice. She suggested that shorter, non-clinical or skillbased programmes could move under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE). 

“We are not restricting the eligibility but standardising it. For the 1 or 2year programmes that do not require a strict science background, need not be closed.” 

Access Debate 

For decades, post-class X paramedical diplomas functioned as a fast-track route to employment, especially for students from rural and lower-income families. Some fear the new entry norm could shut that door and shrink the grassroots healthcare workforce. Dr B Karunakar Reddy, former VC, Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences, Telangana, says the class X diploma ecosystem had often been driven by commercial interests rather than quality training. “In many districts, you will find 10 to 15 paramedical colleges. Many of these were just one room setups running multiple courses with practically no training and no hospital attachments. The diploma was not very useful unless a private hospital hired candidates and retrained,” says Dr Reddy. 

The shift to class XII-level allied health sciences degrees has begun showing results in Telangana. “The response has been excellent, and the seats fill up completely,” he says

Man gets 7-yr jail for holding two govt jobs Continued To Draw Pay From Health, Edu Depts

Man gets 7-yr jail for holding two govt jobs Continued To Draw Pay From Health, Edu Depts 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 11.03.2022

Lucknow : A local court in Barabanki sentenced a man to seven years’ imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 for fraudulently securing and continuing two govt jobs simultaneously in the health and education departments using the same educational certificate. 

Delivering the verdict on Tuesday, Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Sudha Singh held convict Jaiprakash Singh guilty under the charges of IPC sections 420 (cheating), 467 read with Section 471 (forgery of valuable security and using forged documents as genuine), and Section 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating). 

The court noted that Jaiprakash Singh deliberately concealed facts and continued to draw salaries from two govt departments for years. The court also observed that the state govt is free to recover the salary and allowances received by the accused from both posts, as he illegally benefited from public funds. 

According to prosecution officials, Jaiprakash, a resident of Narauli village in the Satrikh police station area, was initially appointed as an NMA (non-medical assistant) at the primary health centre (PHC), Sangipur in Pratapgarh district on Dec 26, 1979. Later, using the same educational marksheet and certificates, he secured another govt job as an assistant teacher under the Basic Shiksha Adhikari (BSA) in Barabanki on June 19, 1993. 

Despite holding the post in the health department, Jaiprakash allegedly continued working as teacher in Barabanki while simultaneously drawing salary from both the departments. The case revealed that he remained associated with the primary school at Narauli in Harkh block of Barabanki for nearly 16 years, even while his records in the health department showed him as an employee at the Sangipur PHC in Pratapgarh. Times of India ePaper lucknow - Read Today’s Eng

தமிழ்நாடு டாக்டா் எம்ஜிஆா் மருத்துவ பல்கலை. 38-ஆவது பட்டமளிப்பு விழா: ஆளுநா் ரவி பட்டங்களை வழங்கினாா்

தமிழ்நாடு டாக்டா் எம்ஜிஆா் மருத்துவ பல்கலை. 38-ஆவது பட்டமளிப்பு விழா: ஆளுநா் ரவி பட்டங்களை வழங்கினாா்

தமிழ்நாடு டாக்டா் எம்ஜிஆா் மருத்துவப் பல்கலைக்கழகத்தின் 38-ஆவது பட்டமளிப்பு விழாவில் மருத்துவம், மருத்துவம் சாா்ந்த துணைப் படிப்புகளில் 50,159 போ் பட்டங்களைப் பெற்றனா்.

- SWAMINATHAN

Updated On :28 பிப்ரவரி 2026, 3:29 am

பகிர்:

தினமணி செய்திச் சேவை

தமிழ்நாடு டாக்டா் எம்ஜிஆா் மருத்துவப் பல்கலைக்கழகத்தின் 38-ஆவது பட்டமளிப்பு விழாவில் மருத்துவம், மருத்துவம் சாா்ந்த துணைப் படிப்புகளில் 50,159 போ் பட்டங்களைப் பெற்றனா்.

அதிக மதிப்பெண் பெற்ற மாணவா்களுக்கு ஆளுநா் ஆா்.என்.ரவி பட்டங்களை வழங்கினாா்.

சென்னை கிண்டியில் உள்ள தமிழ்நாடு டாக்டா் எம்.ஜி.ஆா். மருத்துவப் பல்கலை. வளாகத்தில் 38-ஆவது பட்டமளிப்பு விழா ஆளுநா் ஆா்.என். ரவி தலைமையில் வெள்ளிக்கிழமை நடைபெற்றது. இதில், மருத்துவத்தில், 12,016 பேரும், பல் மருத்துவத்தில் 2,569 பேரும், இந்தியமுறை மருத்துவத்தில், 3,269 பேரும், மருத்துவம் சாா்ந்த துணைப் படிப்புகளில் 32,305 போ் என 50,159 போ் பட்டங்களை பெற்றனா்.

குறிப்பாக, 144 போ் தங்கப் பதக்கமும், 42 போ் வெள்ளிப் பதக்கமும், 51 போ் அறக்கட்டளை சான்றிதழும், 166 போ் பல்கலை. சாா்பிலான பதக்கங்கள் என 353 போ் பெற்றனா். சென்னை கீழ்ப்பாக்கம் அரசு மருத்துவக் கல்லூரியில் எம்பிபிஎஸ் படித்த சுவேதா என்ற மாணவி, ஒன்பது பதக்கங்களைப் பெற்றாா். அதேபோல், முதுநிலை பட்டம் பெற்ற சுருதி, நிரஞ்சனா, ஆஷா ஆகியோா் தலா 6 பதக்கங்களைப் பெற்றனா். மாணவா்களுக்கான பட்டங்கள், பதக்கங்களை ஆளுநா் ஆா்.என்.ரவி வழங்கினாா்.

பட்டமளிப்பு விழாவில் பல்கலை. துணைவேந்தா் நாராயணசாமி பேசியதாவது: தமிழ்நாடு டாக்டா் எம்ஜிஆா் மருத்துவப் பல்கலையில். புதிய ஆராய்ச்சிகளுக்கு முக்கியத்துவம் அளிக்கப்படுகிறது. மாணவா்களின் ஆராய்ச்சியை ஊக்குவிக்கும் வகையில், சிறப்பாக செயலாற்றும் மாணவருக்கு ரூ.50 ஆயிரம் ஊக்கத்தொகை வழங்கப்படுகிறது. அத்துடன், 75 ஆராய்ச்சி கட்டுரைகள் வெளியிடப்பட்டு இருப்பதுடன், ஐந்துக்கு காப்புரிமை கோரப்பட்டுள்ளது.

மருத்துவ அறிவியலுடன், தொழில்நுட்ப கற்றலை ஊக்குவிக்கும் வகையில், அண்ணா பல்கலை, சென்னை ஐஐடி, வேலூா் தொழில்நுட்பக் கல்லுாரி நிறுவனத்துடன் இணைந்து பணியாற்றி வருகிறோம். குறிப்பாக, செயற்கை நுண்ணறிவு சாா்ந்த மருத்துவப் படிப்புகளும் ஊக்குவிக்கப்படுகிறது. கடந்தாண்டு பள்ளி மாணவா்களிடையே, புதுமை, ஆராய்ச்சி மற்றும் அறிவியல் சிந்தனையின் ஆரம்பகால ஆா்வத்தை வளா்ப்பதை நோக்கமாக கொண்டு விழிப்புணா்வு கருத்தரங்கம் நடத்தப்பட்டு, மாணவா்களிடையே வரவேற்பைப் பெற்றது என்றாா்.

அமைச்சா் பங்கேற்கவில்லை...: பட்டமளிப்பு விழாவில் காய்ச்சல் காரணமாக மருத்துவமனையில் அனுமதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ள மக்கள் நல்வாழ்வு துறை அமைச்சா் மா.சுப்பிரமணியன், பங்கேற்க முடியாத நிலையில், அத்துறைச் செயலா் செந்தில்குமாருக்கு அழைப்பு விடுக்கப்பட்டிருந்தது. ஆனால், அவரும் விழாவில் பங்கேற்காமல் புறக்கணித்தாா்.

Live stream to wall climbs: Bihar board exams open in chaos

Live stream to wall climbs: Bihar board exams open in chaos 

18.02.2026

Patna : Phones went live. Gates and walls were scaled. Rules were tested before the first bell. The Class X finals of Bihar School Examination Board opened under a cloud on Tuesday after a Facebook Live broadcast allegedly from inside an exam centre in Siwan district minutes before papers were to be handed out. Streamed from the handle of an official linked to Gorakh Prasad Private ITI, the footage showed students seated inside the hall at the exam centre in Daraunda block of Maharajganj subdivision. The clip spread quickly on social media, triggering questions over enforcement of a strict ban on mobile phones inside exam halls. The video was later deleted. 

TOI couldn’t independently verify its authenticity. Daraunda police station SHO Vikas Kumar said ITI principal Pankaj Kumar was arrested after a complaint. “His mobile has also been seized. The viral video was shot on his mobile by ITI director Prince Singh, who’s on the run,” he said. 

In Patna, a late student at Devipad Choudhary Shaheed Smarak Miller High School tried to scale a 10-foot boundary wall. Security stopped him. At Gardanibagh Girls Higher Secondary School, also in Patna, a girl climbed the gate bars to get inside. In Buxar district, a student scaled a boundary wall and entered. In Begusarai, three students climbed walls to gain access. At VM Inter College in Gopalganj, at least six girls allegedly entered by scaling the boundary wall.

Internet Is Getting Remade For AI. What Does It Mean For You?

Internet Is Getting Remade For AI. What Does It Mean For You?

 Chandrima.Banerjee@timesofindia.com 16.02.2026

Less than half the people on the internet are “people” — only about 44% of online traffic came from humans in 2025 — but even within the traffic driven by relentless bots “using” the internet, a small but significant share of 4% belongs to AI bots. If that share keeps growing (and it’s really likely that it will because of how much AI companies are pouring into agentic AI), most websites will eventually be built for AI and not us. Not in the conspiracy-heavy “dead internet theory” way but in the codeand-structures-tech-and-science way. 

THE WEB IS NOT BUILT TO MAKE THINGS EASY FOR AI … YET 

When an AI browser was launched a while ago, I was testing the agentic mode (in which AI takes over your browser to “do” all the work). I wanted it to find available slots for driving licence renewal. But when I checked back after a few minutes, I found that the agent was stuck. The page had a huge popup covering nearly the entire window, and the AI didn’t know what it was supposed to do. The buttons and menus it needed to access were behind the popup — but how would it get to them? To us, it seems easy enough. Shut the popup, and move on. But behind the scenes, a click is a series of tiny tasks — hover, pointer move, mouse down, mouse up, the click itself. Websites can react to any of these steps, or only if these steps happen in the right order.

An AI agent has to do all that, in the correct sequence, and with the right timing. If the page happens to shift mid-click — like when a popup appears — the click can miss or just do nothing. Also, for AI, the decision to close the popup or interact with it has to be based on some kind of logic. Does it know what’s behind the popup? What if engaging with the popup is an important step? What if the popup is the next step? This kind of logic is easier for AI to navigate if the website has an API that AI agents can use. (An API, Application Programming Interface, is a set of rules and definitions that software components use to talk to each other.)

 When an AI agent  uses an API to get your work done, it doesn’t have to bypass all the garrulous persuasion that populates most websites today. Instead of navigating pages built with visual and contextual cues meant for human eyes, it can ask the site directly what it needs — like “show me the available slots” — and get back a clean, structured answer on which it can act for you. A survey of developers in 2025 found that 24% are already designing APIs for AI agents. But every API is different, with its own little quirks. And an AI agent can’t possibly learn every one of them. So, Anthropic came up with Model Context Protocol, an open protocol for AI agents to coordinate their conversations with services and sites and apps. It’s now the frontrunner for becoming the “USB-C port for AI applications” .

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN AI IS THE AUDIENCE? Deloitte estimates that AI platforms drive 6.5% of organic traffic already, and it’s expected to go up to 14.5% within a year. As this happens, AI will be “prioritizing semantic richness over keywords, author expertise over backlinks, and being cited in AI responses over page views.” In plain words, there’ll be less room for froth. More and more “research” already happens inside AI summaries and chats, and they don’t lead to clicks. Also, as Parag Agrawal, former Twitter CEO and now the founder of AI startup Parallel Web Systems, told The Economist , the web was built for humans to read at human speed — “agents face no such limits”. Which means that, over time, we will need more useful information online, certainly not less. But the way things stand now, there is a mismatch between what AI takes and what it gives back to those putting out that information. Over the past year, for every visit OpenAI sent to a website, its bots crawled about 1,100 pages. For Anthropic, the ratio was one visit for about 53,500 webpages crawled. If users don’t click on pages, the goal for anyone with a website becomes being cited, summarised, or used as a canonical source. And money will be made from each crawl instead of each view. Cloudflare has already begun a pay-per-crawl marketplace that lets site owners allow, block, or charge AI crawlers per request. So, more information-dense sites survive. Which, in a roundabout way, might just restore the internet to what it was supposed to be — a place with actual answers. The ‘click’ is fading away 

About 60% of searches end without the person ever reaching a destination site — they simply get their answers on the search page without a click, research by the consulting firm Bain & Company found. But searches at least provide a list of pages that might have the answer. AI would whittle it down even more. Bain’s survey also found that about 80% of search users rely on AI summaries at least 40% of the time. And a Pew Research Center analysis found that only 1% of users who came across AI summaries clicked on the links inside AI summaries.

Section of Anna University PhD scholars excluded from convocation

Section of Anna University PhD scholars excluded from convocation

Scholars who completed their viva after this date will be awarded degrees at a separate function later in February, the date of which is yet to be announced.

Binita Jaiswal

Updated on:

03 Feb 2026, 8:31 am

CHENNAI: A section of PhD scholars from Anna University who completed their viva-voce after June 2025 have expressed strong disappointment over the university’s decision to hold a separate degree-awarding function for them in February, instead of including them in the 46th annual convocation scheduled for February 4.

According to a circular issued by the university, only scholars who successfully defended their PhD viva-voce on or before June 30, 2025, will be permitted to receive their degrees in person at the main convocation ceremony. Scholars who completed their viva after this date will be awarded degrees at a separate function later in February, the date of which is yet to be announced.

The decision has left many scholars upset, as the February event will feature a chief guest or the governor, who is traditionally the chancellor of the university. “For many of us, convocation is the most memorable day of our academic life. We worked for years with the hope of receiving the degree on stage in a grand event in front of a chief guest. A separate, low-key function takes away the emotion and recognition associated with that moment,” said a PhD scholar who completed her viva in July 2025.

University officials, however, defended the move, citing logistical constraints. A senior varsity official said the last convocation was held in 2024 and the number of eligible scholars this year has risen sharply. “We can accommodate only about 750 candidates in a single convocation ceremony. Given the large backlog and venue limitations, it is not feasible to include everyone on the same day. Hence, a separate function is being planned to ensure all scholars receive their degrees in person,” the official said.

15 varsities in Tamil Nadu remain headless, figure may touch 20 by year-end

15 varsities in Tamil Nadu remain headless, figure may touch 20 by year-end

The latest addition to the growing list of universities without heads is the Tamil Nadu Open University (TNOU), following the completion of V-C S Arumugam’s tenure earlier in January.

The tenure of Mother Teresa Women’s University V-C K Kala also came to an end, and the governor, who serves as the chancellor of 20 state universities, granted her a one-year extension using his powers. Photo | Facebook

Binita Jaiswal

Updated on:

03 Feb 2026, 8:10 am

CHENNAI: With 15 of the 22 state-run universities now remaining without vice-chancellors, the governance crisis in higher education in Tamil Nadu has worsened this month, owing to the prolonged tussle between Governor RN Ravi and the state government, and the matter related to powers of governors yet to be settled by courts.

The latest addition to the growing list of universities without heads is the Tamil Nadu Open University (TNOU), following the completion of V-C S Arumugam’s tenure earlier in January. On the same day, the tenure of Mother Teresa Women’s University V-C K Kala also came to an end, and the governor, who serves as the chancellor of 20 state universities, granted her a one-year extension using his powers. However, the Acts and Statutes of TNOU does not allow similar extension of the V-C’s tenure.

Interestingly, as higher education secretary P Shankar is the convenor of committees of several state universities — which are managing the administration in the absence of V-Cs — and is overburdened, law department secretary S George Alexander has been appointed as the convenor for the committee of TNOU.

Educationists warn that the situation could worsen dramatically by the end of the year, with up to 20 universities potentially becoming headless, if the ongoing deadlock over V-C appointments continues. For over two years now, TN’s state universities have been caught in a tussle between Lok Bhavan and the state government over the powers to constitute search committees and appoint V-Cs.

“The absence of V-Cs is not a symbolic issue, it affects every aspect of functioning of the universities,” said SP Thyagarajan, a former V-C. “From faculty recruitment and promotions to research approvals, fund utilisation and academic reforms, everything comes to a standstill when there is no empowered head,” he said, and suggested that the government should hold a meeting with retired V-Cs to find a solution.

Several officials within the varsities told TNIE that routine administrative work has slowed down significantly, as convenors’ committees are reluctant to take major policy decisions. “Convenor committee meeting happens only once in a quarter. Adding to our woes, in the last two years, the higher education department has seen seven secretaries. Every time a new secretary assumes office, he takes his own time to understand issues,” said a professor, Madras University.

Several universities have reportedly delayed faculty appointments, syllabus revisions, and infrastructure projects due to the lack of statutory authority. The leadership crisis is also affecting ranking of the state universities at national and international levels. According to data, nearly 50% of teaching posts across state universities remain vacant. “Allowing universities to function without heads for years is detrimental to students and erodes TN’s reputation as a leader in higher education,” said E Balagurusamy, former V-C of Anna University.

SC agrees to hear plea against UGC’s new equity regulations

SC agrees to hear plea against UGC’s new equity regulations 

New Delhi : 29.01.2026

Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to list for hearing a plea challenging a recently notified UGC regulation on the grounds that it had adopted a non-inclusionary definition of caste-based discrimination and excluded certain categories from institutional protection. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi took note of the submissions of a lawyer seeking urgent hearing of the plea. “There is a possibility of discrimination against the general class. My case is ‘Rahul Dewan and Ors vs Union’,” a lawyer said. The CJI said: “We know what is happening. Make sure defects are cured. We will list it.” The new regulations mandating all higher education institutions to form “equity committees” to look into discrimination complaints and promote equity were notified on Jan 13. University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, mandated that these committees include members of OBC, SC and ST communities, persons with disabilities, and women. The new regulations replace UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2012, which was largely advisory in nature. The plea assailed the regulations on the grounds that castebased discrimination was defined strictly as discrimination against SC, ST and OBC community members. It said that by limiting the scope only to these categories, UGC had effectively denied institutional protection and grievance redress to individuals belonging to the “general” or non-reserved categories, who may also face harassment based on their caste identity. Protests were held in various places, with student groups demanding rollback of the regulations. PTI

CM opposes NEET for allied and health care courses

CM opposes NEET for allied and health care courses

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin says NEET has forced students to rely on expensive coaching classes.Getty Images

The Hindu Bureau

Chennai  25.01.2026

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Saturday said admission modalities for allied and health care courses (AHCs) fall within the jurisdiction of the State government and that the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) should be kept out of these admissions.

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said the National Commission for Allied and Health Care Professions (NCAHP) making NEET mandatory for admission to two undergraduate degree courses — Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT) and Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (BOT) — had made a “hasty and ad hoc decision” with “multiple deleterious consequences”.

Pointing out that Tamil Nadu had consistently opposed NEET for MBBS admissions and had repeatedly cautioned against the danger of its extension to other courses, Mr. Stalin said the State’s worst apprehensions had now come true. “It is evident from recent communications from the Union Health Ministry that NEET is being prescribed for these two courses as the first step in a larger plan to make it mandatory for all Allied and Health Care Courses in the future. This attempt, being made without due consultation with State Governments — who are constitutionally responsible for both the health and education sectors — is totally unacceptable to us,” he said.

Mr. Stalin said that the introduction of NEET for MBBS admissions had forced 1.4 lakh students to rely on expensive coaching classes and sit for the examination to compete for just 12,000 seats.

“This has created unnecessary costs, stress and anxiety for families, and has rendered performance in school examinations redundant. Extending this flawed model to a wider range of AHCs will only aggravate the situation,” he said. He noted that Tamil Nadu had over 50,000 seats in Allied and Health Care Courses, and lakhs of aspirants for these programmes came from far poorer socio-economic backgrounds than MBBS candidates. “Hence, forcing these families to spend money on NEET coaching would amount to a gross injustice,” he said.

Mr. Stalin said the mandate needed to be reviewed and the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) instructed to withdraw the decision immediately. “Given the urgency of the issue, I look forward to your personal intervention,” he added.

Staff crunch: Most univs operate at 50%

Staff crunch: Most univs operate at 50% 

V.Srivatsal@timesofindia.com 22.01.2026

Trichy : Data from 21 state universities received under an RTI petition shows most institutions are functioning with around 50% vacancies. A few, including Madras University, have vacancies as high as 65% of sanctioned strength across ranks of professor, associate professor and assistant professor. 

Fourteen universities fall in 40–50% vacancy range, with TN physical education and sports university at 56%, Manonmaniam Sundaranar university at 50% and Bharathidasan university at 49%. With double-digit retirements expected in 2026 and 2027, the situation could worsen. 

Bharathiar university is the only institution with relatively lower vacancies at 15%, though it is also set to see over 20 retirements by 2026–27, says the RTI data collected by an activist between Apr and various months of 2025. Sources said the last major recruitment drive across state universities was carried out in 2014. “It is not just this govt, but the previous govt as well. Steps will have to be taken to address this at the earliest, as it affects students’ education. If there are not enough qualified staff, how can quality education be delivered,” said former Madras university V-C P Duraisamy. There are 335 vacancies against a sanctioned strength of 515 at the university. 

“Guest faculty are engaged to bridge the gap. While many of them are competent, they are not recognised as regular employees and therefore cannot take up several academic responsibilities. They are not permitted to guide research scholars or formally present projects and papers, affecting the research output a regular staff may have added. The shortage of regular staff also affects formation of committees with diverse representation, resulting in same individuals being repeatedly nominated to university and govt committees,” said a senior retired professor from BDU. 

Former AUT president K Pandiyan said the crisis is financial. “UGC restrictions on distance education reduced income. For years, TN withheld block grants from institutions earning higher

revenues. Grants were restored after 2019, but it didn’t help. Poor recruitment in the past affected research inflows, while corruption, administrative lapses and nepotism weakened things,” he said.

Power of Postgraduation: Stronger skills, greater edge in research and employability

Power of Postgraduation: Stronger skills, greater edge in research and employability 

A PG degree opens various avenues for students to explore 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 19.01.2026  TIMES EDUCATION 

Although students today are graduating with stronger practical exposure, they assess if opting for a master’s degree is a pathway to deeper expertise and enhanced professional credibility. 

Retaining Appeal 

Postgraduate engineering degrees continue to hold value at institutes offering strong specialisation and industry-oriented training. However, enrolment at MTech courses varies across institutions. UG degrees provide breadth, while MTech allows students to develop depth in a specific area. MTech courses fall into two categories: coursework-based degrees and researchoriented courses, sometimes offered as MS degrees. Coursework-based graduates typically take up specialised engineering roles such as machine learning engineers, data engineers. Those from research-based programmes often move into research engineer roles or pursue doctoral studies. Most students pursue MTech for better technical roles and higher pay, while a smaller proportion has a clear research orientation. Working professionals who are dissatisfied with their current roles also view MTech as a pathway to reskill. 

Dinesh Babu Jayagopi, HoD, Data Science and AI, IIIT-Bangalore 

Skills over Degrees 

MCom programme has seen a noticeable shift in employer expectations in recent years. This shift is no longer centred primarily on academic grades or formal qualifications, but increasingly on the skill sets and applied competencies that students bring to the workplace. At the UG level, there has been an enhancement in curriculum design, experiential learning, and skill integration. As a result, students today often graduate with stronger practical exposure and employabilityoriented skills. In the current employment landscape, UG students have access to a range of marketdriven avenues. There appears to be limited differentiation in placement outcomes or salary packages between UG and PG degree holders. While marginal differences may exist, they are not substantial as employers are prioritising demonstrable skills, adaptability, and workplace readiness over academic qualification. 

Anson K J, assistant registrar, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore

 Institutional Failures 

PG education is steadily losing its attractiveness due to systemic academic and institutional failures. A major deterrent is PG CUET, which rewards rote memorisation rather than conceptual understanding. This problem is compounded by the NEP-UGCF structure, which has weakened disciplinary depth by crowding UG curricula with low-rigour VACs and SECs, leaving students disengaged from their core subjects. The decline of public varsities has further accelerated student disinterest. Poor-quality course design weakened teaching standards, and political interference has eroded academic autonomy. Independent thinking is sidelined in favour of academically shallow projects. Also, a mistaken belief persists that PG degrees offer limited job prospects with many students abandoning PG pathways or choosing overseas education . 

Rudrashish Chakraborty, associate prof, Eng Dept, KMC, DU 

Career Alignment 

An LLM holds value when it offers strong specialisation and clear career alignment. Law graduates are increasingly pursuing LLM programmes to deepen their expertise in specific areas, rather than treating the degree as a general qualification. Specialisations such as Corporate Law, Intellectual Property Rights, International Law, and Human Rights Law enhance employability by aligning graduates with specific practice areas in law firms, and global organisations. An LLM is mandatory for those aspiring to enter academia and provides tangible benefits to professionals working in the prosecution or judiciary, including eligibility for additional increments. With the introduction of mandatory practice requirements before appearing for lower judiciary exams, LLM has become a preferred choice for aspirants who wish to strengthen their legal foundation without losing extra time, as the duration of the programme is counted towards judicial eligibility. 

Vageshwari Deswal, professor, Faculty of Law, DU Application-oriented Roles 

In India, design education was first introduced at the PG level, and later expanded to the UG level. One of the key reasons students opt for a master’s in design is the industry’s perception about qualifications. Recruiters often prefer candidates who bring interdisciplinary exposure; they are considered more industry-ready and mature in applying technology or engineering knowledge to realworld problems. A master’s degree in design allows engineers to move from technical roles to application-oriented positions. Pursuing a master’s provide formal entry into designcentric roles and access to corporate design studios, industrial design firms, and technology companies. It also helps Fine Arts graduates in securing positions in global firms. While research aspirations exist, pursuing a master’s adds professional value. 

Sugandh Malhotra, professor, IDC School of Design, IIT Bombay

Gateway to Govt Jobs 

With PG degrees, students are better armed to pursue further studies such as PhD. Moreover, a master’s is required for all govt jobs and for writing the NET/JRF exams, which are essential for taking up academics. With diplomas in journalism, a student can only get into the industry and pursue journalism, but for higher studies, govt jobs, and getting into academics, a degree is required. For research too, a PG degree is needed for appearing in the PhD admission entrance exam or for taking JRF. Considering PG degree courses include a key component of internship with media organisations, it gives students practical experience of working in the industry. A PG degree opens more opportunities, not to mention better pay packages and promotions. Pragya Paliwal Gaur, vice-chancellor, IIMC