The government of Odisha has announced free education from kindergarten to postgraduate level across government educational institutions. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi unveiled the landmark initiative while marking two years of the BJP government in the state. The policy will remove educational fees in government schools and colleges, aiming to expand access to education, particularly for students from economically weaker sections and girls. Speaking in Bhubaneswar, Majhi described the move as a significant step toward universal education. The announcement accompanied a review of 121 government schemes launched over two years. Education funding has also increased to ₹42,565 crore for 2026-27, nearly 14% of Odisha’s total budget. (PC: Swarajya)

Ahead of the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination scheduled for June 21, authorities have implemented unprecedented security measures to safeguard the integrity of the test following the cancellation of the May exam amid controversy. According to reports, all experts involved in setting, moderating and translating the question papers have been relocated to a secure undisclosed facility and placed under strict lockdown until the examination concludes. The move is aimed at preventing any possibility of question paper leaks and restoring public confidence in the national medical entrance examination. The extraordinary security protocol underscores the government's determination to ensure a transparent, fair and credible re-test process for lakhs of aspiring medical students nationwide. (PC: India Today)

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the city intimation slips for the NEET UG 2026 re-examination scheduled on June 21. The slip informs candidates about the city where their examination centre will be located, helping them plan travel and accommodation in advance. Students can download the document from the official NEET portal using their application number and login credentials. NTA clarified that the city intimation slip is not the admit card; separate admit cards will be issued before the examination. The re-test is being conducted after the cancellation of the earlier NEET UG 2026 exam amid controversy over alleged irregularities. 

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has appointed Prashant Sitaram Lokhande as its new Chairman and Varun Bhardwaj as Secretary amid controversy surrounding the board’s on-screen marking (OSM) system. Lokhande replaces Rahul Singh, while Bhardwaj succeeds Himanshu Gupta. The OSM system, introduced for Class 12 examinations, has faced criticism over alleged irregularities, technical glitches, payment failures, and concerns regarding the award of a contract to a private company. A one-member committee is investigating the matter. CBSE has reopened its re-evaluation portal until June 6, allowing eligible students to seek verification and reassessment of evaluated answer sheets. (PC: X)

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi intensified criticism of the CBSE’s digital evaluation system, alleging that Class 12 answer sheets were scanned using mobile phones after key tender requirements were diluted. Citing findings by student researcher Sarthak Sidhant and ethical hacker Nisarga Adhikary, Gandhi claimed technical standards for scanning quality and equipment were relaxed, benefiting the vendor COEMPT Edu Teck. The controversy has grown amid reports of blurred scans, missing pages, answer-sheet mix-ups, portal crashes and unexpectedly low marks. CBSE has acknowledged vulnerabilities in an associated portal and said cybersecurity experts, government agencies and IIT specialists are working to strengthen the system. (PC: India Today)

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has postponed the opening of its Class 12 post-result verification and re-evaluation portal to June 1, 2026. The board said the decision was taken to ensure a smooth and glitch-free application process for students. Students seeking verification or re-evaluation of their answer sheets will be able to apply through the Post-Result Activities portal once it becomes operational. CBSE said the extra time will help improve the system and prevent technical issues. The board has also set up a helpline and email support service to assist students with queries related to the process.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said strict action would be taken against anyone involved in examination irregularities or paper leaks, calling the recent NEET controversy “unfortunate” and unacceptable. Speaking to India Today, Pradhan assured that the government was treating the issue with utmost seriousness and that no individual, whether inside or outside the system, would be spared if found guilty after investigation. His remarks come amid growing concerns over alleged lapses in the NEET examination process and criticism surrounding broader examination management, including CBSE-related issues. The minister stressed the importance of maintaining credibility and transparency in India’s examination system, signalling that authorities are prepared to act firmly to restore public confidence and accountability in competitive examinations nationwide.

A Class 12 CBSE student, Vedant Shrivastava, who went viral after claiming the Physics answer sheet uploaded under his roll number was not his, has been vindicated after CBSE provided his actual answer sheet. Vedant had highlighted major handwriting differences between the uploaded Physics paper and his other answer sheets, raising concerns about a possible answer-sheet mix-up in the board’s On-Screen Marking system. The issue sparked widespread debate, though the student also faced online abuse and accusations for questioning the process. CBSE later acknowledged the mismatch, sent the correct answer sheet, and said his marks would be revised while investigating how the error occurred. (PC: News18)

A significant investigation into NEET-UG irregularities has broadened from simple allegations into a sweeping review of Maharashtra's coaching industry. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is scrutinising an extensive network that includes coaching institute owners, school principals, middlemen, and National Testing Agency (NTA) translators. A key turning point occurred with the arrest of Shivraj Motegaonkar, owner of RCC Classes, alongside the questioning of school principal Manisha Hawaldar. Authorities allege that physics exam papers were reconstructed from memory and distributed via digital platforms. To uncover the full scope of the operation, investigators are analyzing digital communications, financial records, and institutional ties, with the Enforcement Directorate now involved. This escalating scandal has raised serious concerns regarding national exam security and the commercialized nature of medical coaching. (PC: NDTV)

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced that from July 1, 2026, students in Classes 9 and 10 must study three languages under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 framework. At least two of the three languages must be native Indian languages, while foreign languages can only be chosen as the third or fourth language. CBSE clarified that there will be no Class 10 board exam for the third language (R3), and assessments will remain school-based. Schools must update language options by June 30. The board also introduced relaxations for foreign students and children with special needs. (PC: NDTV)