Union Minister Jitendra Singh, responding to ongoing protests by SSC candidates over technical glitches and cancellations during the Selection Post Phase‑13 examination, has assured that affected students will be permitted to retake the exam at no additional cost. He emphasized that the SSC will not be cancelled, and promised full refunds of the ₹100 challenge fee for invalidated attempts . The SSC Chairman also acknowledged "teething issues" with the exam vendor and affirmed that corrective measures are being implemented to ensure smoother administration going forward. (PC: NDTV)  

Vidyasagar University in West Bengal has sparked controversy after a history exam question referred to Indian freedom fighters as "terrorists." The question asked students to "name three district magistrates of Midnapore killed by terrorists," drawing widespread outrage from students, political leaders, and historians. The row centers around revered revolutionaries like Khudiram Bose being mischaracterized. Vice-Chancellor Dipak Kumar Kar apologized, attributing the error to a translation issue, where the term "militant nationalist" lost its quotation marks during the Bengali translation process. The university has removed two professors from exam duties and initiated an internal probe, vowing stronger vetting mechanisms to avoid future lapses and uphold the integrity of historical narratives. (PC: College Dunia & EduAdvice)

Wembley Stadium in London hosted the final graduation ceremony of Global Banking School (GBS) UK for 2025 on July 9, where nearly 2,000 students graduated across disciplines including Business, Healthcare, Construction, and Digital Technologies. This follows a ceremony the previous week in Birmingham, where 1,500 students from Birmingham, Manchester, and Leeds received their degrees. GBS UK CEO James Kennedy praised the graduates, saying, “We work to widen participation, address skills shortages, and enable social mobility—today, we see this first-hand.” He emphasized the importance of GBS UK’s mature-age graduates, who bring valuable lived experience to the UK workforce. James Murray MP, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, addressed the students during the ceremony. “It’s inspiring to see graduates ready to shape their communities and careers,” he said. The event coincided with the release of the 2025 National Student Survey (NSS), where GBS UK reported a 90% satisfaction rate in the ‘Teaching on my Course’ category—3% higher than the sector average. GBS UK also exceeded national averages in Organisation, Management, and Academic Support categories.    

The Trump administration has revived a 2020 proposal to impose fixed-term limits on F‑1 and J‑1 student visas, replacing the current "duration of status" system that allows full‑time students to stay as long as they maintain enrollment. The Department of Homeland Security has forwarded the plan to the Office of Management and Budget for final review. The move aligns with Trump’s broader agenda to curb both illegal immigration and campus anti‑Semitism. Under the new rule, all foreign students and exchange visitors would receive visas with explicit expiry dates, necessitating periodic renewals rather than staying automatically while enrolled. (PC: The New Yorker & Amber)

Kamala Sohonie (1911–1998) became the first Indian woman to earn a PhD in a scientific discipline in 1939, following her defiance of gender bias at IISc. Initially denied admission by C.V. Raman solely for being female, she persisted until granted conditional entry in 1933. Excelling in research on milk proteins, she earned an MSc with distinction and persuaded Raman to open IISc to women a year later. Awarded a scholarship, she pursued groundbreaking biochemical work at Cambridge, discovering cytochrome C. Returning to India, she advanced public health through nutritional research on Neera, later leading Bombay’s Institute of Science. (PC: Times Now)  

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has approved a significant change in the examination system, allowing Class 10 students to take board exams twice a year starting from 2026. Under this new structure, the first exam session will be held in February and will be mandatory, while the second session in May will be optional. Students can choose to appear in one or both exams, with the best score considered for the final result. This move is in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, aiming to reduce exam-related stress and give students greater flexibility. Both exam sessions will cover the full syllabus, and internal assessments or practical exams will only be conducted once a year. CBSE is expected to release detailed guidelines soon regarding schedules, rules, and evaluation procedures.

The NTA has officially released the NEET‑UG 2025 final answer key and results on June 14, for the exam held on May 4, with over 22.7 lakh registrants and 20.8 lakh takers. The cut‑off percentile dropped notably: General/EWS from 720‑162 in 2024 to 686‑144 in 2025; OBC/SC/ST and PwBD cut‑off now 143‑113, while OBC‑PwD/SC‑PwD/ST‑PwD are at 126‑113. Rajasthan’s Mahesh Kumar secured AIR 1 (99.9999547 percentile), followed by Utkarsh Awadhiya (AIR 2) and Krishang Joshi (AIR 3). Over 12.36 lakh candidates qualified and counselling is expected to begin in late June or July. (Hindustan Times)

The Trump administration has barred Harvard University from enrolling international students about 27% of its body after the university resisted demands to submit records and enforce ideological reforms. DHS, led by Secretary Noem, revoked Harvard’s SEVP certification for the 2025–26 academic year, forcing current foreign students to transfer or face deportation. Harvard filed suit, obtaining an immediate restraining order from Judge Burroughs to block enforcement. The administration also froze over $2 billion in research funds and threatened Harvard’s tax-exempt status. Meanwhile, visa interviews are halted pending expanded social‑media vetting. The standoff spotlights mounting federal pressure on academic independence. (PC: NDTV & The Guardian)

U.S. President Donald Trump has intensified his criticism of Harvard University, defending his administration's attempt to block the institution from enrolling international students. Trump highlighted that nearly 31% of Harvard's students are from foreign countries, accusing the university of withholding information about these students despite repeated requests. He questioned why these countries, some allegedly unfriendly to the U.S., contribute nothing toward their students' education. Although a judge has temporarily suspended the administration's action, Trump insists on obtaining the names and countries of origin of these students, arguing it's reasonable given the federal funding Harvard receives. He criticized Harvard for not being transparent and suggested the university should utilize its $52 million endowment instead of relying on federal grants. (PC: Business Standard)

The Trump administration has barred Harvard University from enrolling foreign students, citing alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party. This move forces current international students to transfer or risk losing legal status. A U.S. judge temporarily halted the policy for two weeks. Harvard condemned the action as unlawful and pledged support for its students. Chinese students, the largest foreign group at Harvard, are seeking legal advice and canceling travel plans amid fears of immigration enforcement. The Chinese government criticized the U.S. action, vowing to protect its students' rights. This policy may further deter Chinese students from studying in the U.S., shifting preferences to countries like Australia and Singapore. (PC: Reuters)