Times of India

Many families still prioritize college prestige, targeting Ivy League schools like Harvard, Yale, and Princeton. However, recent data shows that a famous name does not guarantee career success. Rankings now emphasize measurable outcomes such as graduate salaries, job placement, and loan repayment. Smaller, focused colleges like Babson can outperform elite universities, proving results matter more than reputation alone.

Across the US, K-12 schools are increasingly restricting cellphone use to improve classroom focus and reduce distractions. Studies from Rand, JAMA Health Forum, and others show strong educator support and measurable benefits, including better school climates and teacher satisfaction. As more states adopt such policies, public backing for structured cellphone bans continues to rise nationwide.

Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton plans to significantly expand the Education Freedom Scholarship program, potentially doubling enrollment to 40,000 students due to high demand. This move, costing an estimated $600 million over five years, intensifies partisan debate over diverting funds from public schools to private institutions.

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) is set to release the NEET PG counselling 2025 schedule soon. Qualified candidates can apply through mcc.nic.in. The schedule will detail registration, choice-filling, seat allotment, reporting, and verification dates. The counselling will have four rounds, including a stray vacancy round. Candidates are advised to follow official updates carefully to secure postgraduate medical seats.

Delhi University’s tentative semester exam date sheet has drawn strong criticism from teachers, who warn that a month-long overlap between exams and new semester classes will disrupt both teaching and learning. Faculty members highlight logistical challenges, academic integrity concerns, and strain on resources, urging the university to revise the schedule to ensure smooth conduct of exams and uninterrupted classroom instruction.

The State Bank of India (SBI) has declared the results for the Circle Based Officer (CBO) Recruitment Examination 2025, aiming to fill 2,964 vacancies nationwide. The exam included a 120-mark objective test and a 50-mark descriptive test. Candidates can check the merit list on sbi.bank.in by following the official steps to download and save their results for reference.

Ontario has introduced a new rule for international medical graduates applying for residency. Applicants must have completed at least two years of high school in Ontario to be eligible for the first round of applications. This change affects many doctors preparing for careers in the province. The government states this measure supports local talent and strengthens the healthcare workforce.

The question “Where do you see yourself in five years?” tests your direction, ambition, and alignment with company goals. To answer effectively, connect your career growth to the organization’s vision, stay flexible yet realistic, and be authentic. Understanding company culture, setting achievable milestones, and showing genuine intent help you stand out as a thoughtful, goal-driven candidate.

XLRI Jamshedpur has opened a correction window for XAT 2026 applications. Candidates can edit details like academic qualifications, work experience, and preferred test cities. This 48-hour window runs from October 14 to October 16, 2025. It is crucial for ensuring accuracy in applications. Important personal details cannot be changed. Candidates should act promptly to avoid issues.

The Wheebox India Skills Report 2025 reveals that technology and IT roles are driving global workforce growth, with high demand across MENA, South Africa, Australia, and Southeast Asia. Top skills include AI, data science, cybersecurity, and cloud engineering. As digital transformation accelerates, upskilling in emerging tech fields is vital for professionals to stay competitive worldwide.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are transforming industries globally, creating vast career prospects. While AI aims to build intelligent machines, ML focuses on algorithms that learn from data. Both fields offer exciting roles in sectors like healthcare and finance, with high demand and competitive salaries worldwide. Understanding their distinct focuses is key to choosing the right path.

Despite Kolkata's reputation as India's safest city, female students in West Bengal face a growing crisis of insecurity. Recent brutal assaults, like the Durgapur gang rape, highlight persistent gaps in campus security and institutional accountability. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's advice for women to stay indoors has drawn widespread condemnation, reinforcing a culture of victim-blaming rather than addressing systemic failures.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released the Grade ‘B’ Phase-I admit cards for General, DEPR, and DSIM cadres. Candidates can download their hall tickets from opportunities.rbi.org.in using registration details. The Phase-I exam will be held on October 18 for General and October 19, 2025, for DEPR and DSIM cadres.

Choosing a college major is crucial for financial success. New Pew Research data highlights top fields for 2025. Computer Science, Engineering and Nursing offer strong salaries and job security. Business, Finance and Economics also lead to wealth creation. Science, specialised Education and Math degrees show steady value. These majors provide economic stability and wealth-building opportunities for graduates.

The Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education (HPBOSE) has released the winter school exam date sheet 2025–26 for Classes 3, 5, and 8. Exams will be held from November 27 to December 6, 2025, from 9:45 AM to 1:00 PM. Students can download the detailed timetable for theory and practical exams from the official website, hpbose.org

Over 33 lakh students in India attend 1,04,125 single-teacher schools, with Andhra Pradesh having the most such schools and Uttar Pradesh the highest enrolments. Despite a 6% decline in single-teacher schools, disparities persist in student-teacher ratios. Government measures like school rationalisation and teacher redeployment aim to optimise resources and improve learning outcomes across regions.

School holidays: Schools in Karnataka, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar are observing holiday breaks this October. Karnataka schools remain closed for caste survey work, while Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh have Diwali holidays. Bihar observes holidays for Diwali and Chhath Puja. Students can celebrate festivals, revise lessons, or prepare for exams during these breaks. Official schedules vary by state and district.

Schools in Karnataka, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar are observing holiday breaks this October. Karnataka schools remain closed for caste survey work, while Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh have Diwali holidays. Bihar observes holidays for Diwali and Chhath Puja. Students can celebrate festivals, revise lessons, or prepare for exams during these breaks. Official schedules vary by state and district.

IIT Bombay has extended the registration deadline for the Joint Admission Test for Masters JAM 2026. Candidates can now apply until October 20, 2025. The JAM 2026 exam is scheduled for February 15, 2026. This exam offers admission to MSc and MS programs across 22 IITs. Approximately 3,000 seats are available. Interested students should apply through the official JOAPS portal.

Black unemployment in the US has surged from 6% to 7.5%, highlighting persistent racial disparities in the labor market. Trump administration policies, including federal workforce cuts and rollbacks on workplace protections, disproportionately affect African Americans, especially Black women in professional services. Historical inequities, economic slowdowns, and policy barriers threaten to deepen the employment divide and intergenerational inequality.