Times of India

A federal judge dismissed a class-action lawsuit alleging Columbia University and other private institutions colluded to inflate tuition for students from divorced families. The court found the plaintiffs' claims of an illegal agreement under the Sherman Antitrust Act lacked sufficient detail and plausibility. Congressional committees had previously requested communications related to financial aid practices from these universities.

The Trump administration is exploring the sale of a significant portion of the federal student loan portfolio to private investors. This move aims to reduce the Department of Education's management role and increase private sector involvement. However, concerns are mounting over potential weakened borrower protections and financial risks for taxpayers.

As the US government shutdown enters its 12th day, Vice President JD Vance warned of “painful” federal worker cuts, with over 4,000 firings expected. Unions are suing to block layoffs, calling them illegal. The shutdown began after Democrats rejected a GOP funding bill without ACA subsidy extensions, leaving negotiations stalled and federal employees in limbo.

The White House proposed a funding-linked compact to elite universities, including a double cap on international undergraduates. This policy limits international students to 15% of a campus's total undergraduate body and no more than 5% from any single country. The impact on Indian families is primarily felt in undergraduate admissions, as India's US.

The US Department of Education laid off over 460 staff, cutting 20% of its workforce amid the government shutdown. Key offices overseeing student learning assessments, special education, and financial aid were heavily affected. Nearly 90% of employees have been furloughed. Earlier cuts in March halved staff numbers, and some workers were rehired after the move was deemed excessive. The layoffs risk disrupting essential student support services during an ongoing funding stalemate.

Harvard University has launched a $13,760 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) certificate focusing on bias, privilege, and systemic inequality. The programme offers courses on race, power, and justice to prepare students for leadership roles in DEI. While Harvard promotes the course as a strategic career investment, critics question its value and label it overpriced and ideological. The debate intensifies amid broader political scrutiny of DEI initiatives in the US.

Carnegie Mellon University has laid off 75 staff members at its Software Engineering Institute due to disruptions in US federal research funding. The job cuts follow a $33 million university-wide cost reduction and concerns over proposed 15% caps on indirect research cost reimbursements. SEI, a major research centre funded by the US Department of Defense, is affected by declining grant pipelines and graduate tuition revenue shortfalls, as reported by Higher Ed Dive.

California has introduced new laws protecting immigrant students’ privacy by limiting immigration enforcement access to schools and healthcare facilities. The measures require immediate notification if immigration officials are on campus and prohibit sharing student information without a court warrant. These protections come amid increased federal deportation efforts under President Trump and growing state-level divisions, with Democratic-led states enacting safeguards while Republican-led states expand cooperation with immigration authorities.

China received more than twice the number of US student visas as India this August, amid a 19% overall drop in international student arrivals. Visa pauses, new vetting procedures, and travel bans under the Trump administration have disrupted Indian student enrolment, while China’s numbers remained steadier. Rising costs and political uncertainty have also deterred applicants, prompting some students to explore alternatives in Europe and Asia, signalling a shift in global education trends.

Over 3.6 lakh candidates skipped the UPPSC Preliminary Examination this year, with only 2,65,364 of the 6,26,387 applicants appearing. Stricter exam security measures, including biometric verification and AI surveillance, contributed to the record absenteeism. While many candidates found parts of the paper easy, history and maths questions caused confusion. This marks the second year attendance has dropped below 45%, highlighting a significant shift in candidate participation in this prestigious exam.

The MrBeast academic programme at East Carolina University, announced in 2022 to offer content creation credentials, has stalled with no launch date. Despite initial enthusiasm, both MrBeast’s team and ECU remain silent on progress. Challenges include budget cuts, bureaucratic delays, and unclear contracts. The partnership highlights the difficulty of merging fast-paced influencer culture with traditional academia. MrBeast continues community projects, but the future of the ECU programme remains uncertain.

Mass layoffs during the US government shutdown have drastically reduced special education staff at the Department of Education. Key divisions administering the $15 billion IDEA programme face severe understaffing, raising concerns over programme delivery and support for children with disabilities. Sources told ABC News the cuts risk leaving states without proper oversight. Despite official assurances, uncertainty remains about who will manage critical services and whether responsibilities will transfer to Health and Human Services.

As Bihar heads into its two-phase Assembly elections, its worsening education crisis draws urgent attention. Dropout rates at all levels—primary, secondary, and higher secondary—are among the highest in India. According to India Data Map and Counterview, teacher shortages, school closures, and poor literacy outcomes are reinforcing inequality. With over 7.43 crore voters participating, the election offers a crucial chance to make education reform a core issue shaping the state's future.

Alberta teachers launched a provincewide strike on October 6, 2025, after rejecting a government offer on salaries, class sizes, and working conditions. The action affects over 730,000 students and highlights ongoing debates about education funding and staffing levels. Negotiations continue as the strike disrupts daily routines and sparks public support.

RPSC Exam 2025: RPSC has revised exam centres in Jaipur district for the ASO exam under the Department of Economics and Statistics, and the GK and AAO exams under the Agriculture Department. Affected candidates must now report to Purohit Harinarayan Government Senior Secondary School, Sirsi, Jaipur. The exams are scheduled for October 12 and 13, 2025. Candidates are advised to check all details on their admit cards via the official website, as per updated RPSC instructions.

Two Ontario colleges, Loyalist and Northern, face severe financial crises due to a sharp decline in international student enrollment following federal permit caps. Projected revenue losses could lead to significant deficits, forcing program and staff cuts, and even campus closures. This situation impacts thousands of college staff and highlights a broader financial strain across the province's post-secondary institutions.

The India Skills Report 2025 reveals the top five sectors reshaping workforce needs globally, highlighting growing demand for digital skills and renewable energy roles. Technology, healthcare, fintech, renewable energy, and e-commerce are driving job growth across key regions. The report emphasises the importance of upskilling and formal employment to meet evolving talent demands, positioning India as a major player in the global workforce transformation by 2025.

Indian STEM graduates are increasingly foregoing US careers after studies, with OPT participation dropping significantly. This shift stems from US immigration uncertainties and visa challenges, while countries like Canada and the UK offer clearer, faster work and residency pathways. The trend impacts US universities and employers, reflecting changing priorities for Indian talent seeking stable global careers.

NITI Aayog’s Roadmap for Job Creation in the AI Economy outlines how Artificial Intelligence could create up to 4 million new jobs in India by 2030. While warning of displacement in routine tech roles, the report identifies emerging careers in AI engineering, ethics, training, and human-AI collaboration. It advocates for a National AI Talent Mission to drive education and reskilling. The roadmap positions India as a global hub for AI talent and innovation by 2035.

The UPSC has announced the final results for the CDS 1 Examination 2025, with 365 candidates successfully clearing the written tests and SSB interviews. These individuals are now eligible for training at the Indian Military, Naval, and Air Force Academies. The selection prioritizes written and SSB performance, paving the way for future commissioned officers.