Times of India

The University of Texas (UT) is in discussions with the Trump administration over a proposed Compact for Excellence in Higher Education. The agreement links federal funding to tuition freezes, caps on international student enrolment, and adherence to strict gender definitions. UT officials have remained silent, while faculty and student publications express concerns about academic freedom. The decision may ultimately involve Governor Greg Abbott, with the White House requesting a signed agreement by Nov. 21, Axios reported.

Black enrollment at elite US colleges has dropped sharply in the two years following the Supreme Court’s AFF ban, an Associated Press analysis finds. Data from 20 selective colleges shows declines at nearly all institutions, with some campuses reporting Black students as little as 2% of the freshman class. Princeton, Harvard, and Columbia saw significant decreases. Students and campus communities have noted the shift, while federal scrutiny from President Trump’s administration continues over admissions practices.

The 2024 American Time Use Survey (ATUS) by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) found that remote employees worked an average of 5.14 hours per day, 2.65 hours less than office-based workers. The study revealed differences by gender, education, and industry, with construction showing the steepest remote decline. While 33 per cent of workers performed tasks from home in 2024, the share of men doing so fell compared with 2023.

Prashant Kishor, a UN-trained public health professional, has become one of India’s leading political strategists and recently launched his own party, Jan Suraaj, in Bihar. Born in Sasaram, Bihar, he transitioned from public health to political campaigns, working with multiple parties including BJP, JD(U), INC, AAP, TMC, and DMK. Known for pioneering innovative campaign strategies, Kishor played a key role in several state and national elections before formally entering politics while not contesting personally.

Sudarshan Kamath, Indian-origin founder of Smallest AI, is offering roles to employees laid off from Meta Platforms’ AI division. The San Francisco-based startup seeks talent with expertise in speech evaluation, speech generation, and full-duplex speech-to-speech systems, offering salaries between $200,000 and $600,000 plus equity. Kamath’s career spans IIT Guwahati, UC San Diego, Bosch, Vakilsearch, and Toppr. His initiative joins other startups recruiting displaced Meta AI employees amid recent large-scale layoffs, with severance packages covering 16 weeks.

The 2026 state board exams for class 10 and 12 across MP, Maharashtra, Bihar, UP, and Rajasthan are gradually taking shape. MP Board has released the full timetable, Maharashtra has announced dates, and Bihar, UP, and Rajasthan are expected to release schedules in the coming months. Practical exams are usually held 2–4 weeks before theory exams. The article provides detailed exam dates, practical schedules, timings, and official board links, along with a comprehensive comparison table for all five states.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is expected to declare the CA September Result 2025 by November 3. Candidates from the Foundation, Intermediate, and Final exams can check their results on icai.org using their registration number and roll number. Along with individual scores, ICAI will release the pass percentage and merit list. The article provides step-by-step instructions to check results and details the qualifying criteria and exam schedule for all CA levels.

The CTET December 2025 exam has been delayed, with registration dates yet to be announced. Scheduled for February 8, 2026, candidates are awaiting official notification from CBSE. Past sessions saw applications opening months prior, but the current delay is unprecedented. CTET Paper I is for classes 1–5, Paper II for classes 6–8. Certificates are valid for life, and passing is now mandatory following a Supreme Court ruling. Candidates should monitor https://ctet.nic.in for updates.

Amid rising ICE activity in Chicago, students and educators are experiencing heightened fear, prompting urgent calls for virtual learning from the Chicago Board of Education. Following the detention of a Benito Juarez High School student, teachers, board members, and the Chicago Teachers Union stressed the need for emergency measures, while CPS emphasized that only the governor can authorize remote learning in such situations.

MPPSC SET 2025: The Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission (MPPSC) has begun the online registration for the State Eligibility Test (SET) 2025 from October 25, 2025. Candidates can apply at mppsc.mp.gov.in or mponline.gov.in until November 20, 2025. The MP SET 2025 exam will be held on January 11, 2026, across 12 cities in 31 subjects. Eligible postgraduates and final-year students can apply for Assistant Professor posts in state universities and government colleges across Madhya Pradesh.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has extended the registration deadline for the CSIR UGC NET December 2025 examination to October 27, 2025, with the final fee payment due by October 28. Scheduled for December 18, the exam will be held in two shifts. A correction window will open from October 30 to November 1, allowing candidates to amend application details.

The Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) has opened registrations for VITEEE 2026, with the deadline set for March 31, 2026. The computer-based exam, scheduled from April 28 to May 3, will test candidates across Mathematics/Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Aptitude, and English. Eligible students, born on or after July 1, 2004, can apply online via viteee.vit.ac.in, following the official procedure and fee payment.

The Delhi government will enforce a uniform admission age of six years for Class 1 in all schools from the 2026-27 session, aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The revised structure redefines early education stages from Nursery to Class 1, ensuring developmental readiness, reducing academic pressure, and standardising learning outcomes across Delhi’s school ecosystem.

The Commissioner for Entrance Examinations (CEE), Kerala, has announced the rescheduled KEAM Counselling 2025 Round 3. Candidates can modify, confirm, or delete preferences for MBBS and BDS courses until October 28. Provisional results will be out on October 30, with final allotments on October 31. Admission formalities must be completed by November 5, 2025.

The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has released the KSET 2025 hall ticket on its official website. The exam is scheduled for November 2, 2025, from 10 AM to 1 PM, covering both Paper 1 and Paper 2 in a single day. Candidates can download their admit cards using their application number and name, and must carry a valid photo ID for verification.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has declared October 27 a government holiday for Chhath Puja, coinciding with the festival’s most sacred day when devotees offer prayers to the setting sun. The city has prepared over 1,300 ghats, including 17 model Yamuna ghats with enhanced facilities. The government has also advanced Yamuna cleaning and inaugurated ₹30 crore development projects, ensuring a grand, well-organised celebration.

Harvard University’s latest enrollment data show a sharp decline in Black and Hispanic students in the first-year class following the Supreme Court’s 2023 ban on affirmative action. Black representation fell to 11.5 percent, Hispanic to 11 percent, while Asian American enrollment increased. Experts warn these shifts challenge decades of diversity gains and could reshape access to elite educational and professional opportunities nationwide.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced that the 21st edition of the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) will be held on February 8, 2026, across 132 cities in 20 languages. Serving as a mandatory qualification for teaching Classes I to VIII under the RTE Act, CBSE will soon release a detailed Information Bulletin on eligibility, syllabus, fees, and exam centres.

This feature explores how some of America’s most influential leaders—Mark Cuban, Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, Lucy Guo, and Reid Hoffman—challenge conventional notions of work-life balance. From relentless 100-hour weeks to philosophies of harmony, their journeys reveal a paradox: the drive that builds empires can also consume personal life, raising profound questions about ambition, sacrifice, and the cost of success.

Across the United States, a quiet transformation is reshaping higher education. According to US News & World Report, several colleges are redefining access by eliminating tuition altogether—offering students the chance to learn without lifelong debt. From Kentucky’s Berea and Alice Lloyd to California’s Deep Springs, these schools blend academics with labor, service, or merit, proving that education can still be purpose-driven and debt-free.