After a 40-hour gherao, protesting jobless teachers allowed West Bengal SSC Chairman Siddhartha Majumdar to exit the commission's Salt Lake office on Wednesday morning. The demonstration, initiated on April 21 by approximately 2,000 teachers who lost jobs due to the Supreme Court's annulment of the 2016 recruitment panel, continues. Protesters demand the release of OMR sheets and a clear list distinguishing eligible candidates. Majumdar, scheduled to appear before the Calcutta High Court regarding the OMR sheets, met with a delegation, providing partial satisfaction by confirming 15,403 eligible teachers out of 17,206. The sit-in persists, with plans to gherao Majumdar again upon his return. (PC: PTI File photo)

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has declared the results for JEE Main 2025 Session 2 Paper 1 (BE/BTech). A total of 9,92,350 students appeared for the exam held in April 2025, out of 10,61,840 registered candidates. The final answer key was released earlier, with two questions excluded from the evaluation. Notably, 24 candidates achieved a perfect 100 percentile, including Sai Manogna Guthikonda and Devdutta Majhi. Students can now check their results and download their scorecards from the official website by entering their application number and password. (PC: The Indian Express)

India has plummeted to 156th out of 179 countries in the 2025 Academic Freedom Index, placing it in the bottom 10–20% globally. The V-Dem Institute attributes this decline to the rise of anti-pluralist parties, notably the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has imposed restrictions on academic expression and autonomy. The report highlights India's score dropping from 0.38 in 2022 to 0.16 in 2025, marking its lowest since the mid-1940s. Incidents such as limiting student protests at Jawaharlal Nehru University and South Asian University, and the resignation of Ashoka University professor Sabyasachi Das following political backlash, exemplify the erosion of academic freedom. India now ranks below neighbors like Pakistan and Nepal, underscoring a significant decline in its academic liberties. (PC: Shutterstock)

The Trump administration has warned Harvard University it could lose the ability to enroll foreign students unless it complies with federal demands to share information on certain visa holders. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), led by Secretary Kristi Noem, also announced the termination of two grants worth $2.7 million. This move follows Harvard's rejection of administration demands amid a broader crackdown tied to pro-Palestinian protests, which Trump has labeled antisemitic. Additionally, over $2 billion in federal funding to Harvard has been frozen, sparking outcry from human rights advocates over threats to free speech and academic freedom.( PC: Reuters)  

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met with thousands of teaching and non-teaching staff who lost their jobs following a Supreme Court verdict that annulled over 25,000 school appointments due to procedural irregularities. Addressing the affected individuals at Kolkata's Netaji Indoor Stadium, Banerjee expressed unwavering support, stating her readiness to face imprisonment for standing by them. She emphasized the government's obligation to comply with the court's decision but assured proactive measures to safeguard the employment of eligible candidates. The event witnessed significant attendance, leading to security challenges as many sought to hear the chief minister's address. (PC: National Herald)

The University of Sussex has been fined a record £585,000 by the Office for Students (OfS) for failing to uphold free speech and academic freedom, particularly in the case of Professor Kathleen Stock. Stock resigned in 2021 after facing backlash and protests over her views on gender identity. The OfS found that the university’s governance failures led to a "chilling effect" on free expression. Sussex disputes the ruling, arguing it undermines efforts to tackle harassment. The fine is the largest issued under the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act. (PC: The Times)

India is reconsidering its participation in the 2025 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), a global evaluation of 15-year-olds' competencies in mathematics, reading, and science, conducted triennially by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). India's sole participation in 2009 resulted in a 73rd place out of 74 countries, leading to withdrawal due to perceived "cultural disconnect" with the test format. Plans to rejoin in 2021 were deferred to 2025 due to the pandemic. Despite earlier commitments, current reports indicate India may again opt out, potentially delaying global benchmarking for Indian students.

King's College London is inviting Indian post-graduate students to apply for the Vice-Chancellor’s Awards, offering a £10,000 fee waiver for 30 students pursuing full-time, on-campus study starting in September. The awards, now in their second year, aim to support students with a vision to make a positive societal impact. Applicants must apply for their course by April end. Professor Shitij Kapur, Vice-Chancellor, emphasized the university's historical ties with India and highlighted the importance of the awards in overcoming financial barriers for Indian students pursuing higher education in the UK.  

A recent report highlights that over 65 lakh students failed to clear Class X and XII board exams in 2023, underscoring the significant hurdles students face beyond board examinations. The Ministry of Education is addressing these challenges by proposing standardized assessment patterns across all 60 school boards to reduce performance disparities. Additionally, starting from the 2025-26 academic session, students will have the option to appear for board exams twice a year, allowing them to retain their best scores. These initiatives aim to alleviate academic stress and provide students with multiple opportunities to succeed in their educational journeys.

The CBSE Controller of Examinations emphasized the importance of adhering to the word limit in language papers, stating that writing concisely can improve clarity and save time. Students are advised to focus on key points rather than exceeding the word limit, which may lead to a loss of marks. The guidance aims to help students perform better in board exams by maintaining structured and to-the-point answers.