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NEW DELHI : The first round of counselling for admission to MBBS and other undergraduate medical courses under the All India Quota (AIQ) will begin on August 4 and the academic session for the 2026-27 batch will commence on September 8, according to the Medical Counselling Committee. According to the counselling schedule released by the committee, the first round of AIQ counselling for deemed and central universities will be held from August 4 to August 17. The last date for joining will be August 22. The second round of AIQ counselling will take place from August 24 to September 2, followed by the third round from September 10 to September 18. The stray vacancy round is scheduled from September 28 to October 3. The last date for joining after the stray vacancy round is October 10. For state quota seats, the first round of counselling will be conducted from August 13 to August 22, with candidates required to join by August 28. The second round will be held from August 31 to September 8 and the third round from September 16 to September 26. The stray vacancy round for state quota seats will be conducted from October 3 to October 5. Gen Z, memes, political protest, political expression, dissent, social media, Instagram, Jantar Mantar, Dharmendra Pradhan, political communication, protest culture, Habib Jalib, Javed Akhtar, Arjun film, youth politics, digital activism, India opini The schedule also provides timelines for verification of joined candidates by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) and state counselling authorities after each round to facilitate seat processing and subsequent allotments. According to the schedule shared by the MCC, the academic session for undergraduate medical courses will begin on September 8, even as counselling for the subsequent rounds continues for vacant seats. The MCC has directed all participating institutions, state counselling authorities and designated agencies to strictly adhere to the schedule. It has also asked institutions to treat all Saturdays, Sundays and gazetted holidays as working days to ensure timely completion of the counselling process. The MCC, which comes under the Union health ministry, has introduced a series of improvements in the Neet-UG 2026 counselling process, including doing away with mandatory physical reporting for candidates opting for seat upgrade and allowing online resignation from allotted seats, in an effort to make the admission process “more transparent and student-friendly”. Among the major changes, candidates who have been allotted a seat and have opted for upgrade in subsequent rounds will no longer have to physically report to the allotted college merely to complete admission formalities. Their admission shall remain valid in the counselling system while participating in subsequent rounds, subject to the applicable counselling rules. The MCC has also introduced an online resignation facility. Candidates may now submit resignation from their allotted seat through the MCC counselling portal, wherever permissible under the counselling rules and within the prescribed timelines, without the need for physical submission at the allotted institution, the letter stated. Candidates seeking NRI reservation in deemed universities “will be able to upload their documents online on the counselling portal”. (Source: PTI)

SHILLONG : The Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), Shillong, under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, organised an awareness webinar on the Corporate Mitra Scheme for youths, students, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), professionals and entrepreneurs from Mizoram, drawing participation from more than 650 stakeholders. The webinar, held on July 27 as part of the scheme’s awareness campaign for the Northeast, was facilitated by Mizoram University, Aizawl. The Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICMAI) served as the lead co-host, while the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) participated as supporting co-hosts. Announced in the Union Budget 2026-27, the Corporate Mitra Scheme aims to strengthen MSMEs, particularly in Tier-II and Tier-III cities, by creating a network of trained para-professionals to provide affordable support in regulatory compliance, taxation, accounting, finance and corporate governance. For the Northeast, IICA Shillong has been designated as the nodal agency to coordinate with state governments, universities, industry bodies and other stakeholders to promote and implement the scheme. Delivering the welcome address, IICA Shillong Officer on Special Duty and Corporate Mitra Scheme Nodal Officer for the Northeast Debarun Kalita highlighted the scheme’s objective of empowering MSMEs through locally trained Corporate Mitras. He said 200 seats had been reserved exclusively for candidates from the Northeast, along with a 50 per cent fee concession, to encourage greater participation from the region. Kalita said the initiative aligns with the Prime Minister’s vision of the Northeast as the “new engine of India’s growth” and stressed the importance of successful implementation of the scheme across the region. He also explained that the initiative was designed to address the compliance burden faced by MSMEs by equipping young graduates with industry-relevant knowledge and practical skills, enabling them to provide professional business support services. Institute of Cost Accountants of India Vice President Manoj Kumar Anand highlighted Mizoram’s potential to emerge as a key driver of economic growth in the Northeast.   Mizoram University School of Economics, Management and Information Sciences Dean Prof. Vanlalchhawna described the Corporate Mitra Scheme as a significant initiative for the state’s economy and encouraged students to take advantage of the opportunities it offers. The webinar also featured a technical session led by ICMAI Registered Valuers Organisation Managing Director CMA (Dr.) SK Gupta, who explained the scheme’s objectives, eligibility criteria, course structure and benefits, followed by an interactive session with participants. According to the organisers, the webinar generated strong interest among students, entrepreneurs and aspiring professionals regarding the scheme’s potential to strengthen MSMEs, promote entrepreneurship and enhance professional capacity in the Northeast. Registration for the Corporate Mitra course, which opened on July 15, will remain open until July 31.    

NEW DELHI : Lok Sabha on Wednesday approved a bill to amend the anti-paper leak law with stricter punishment of up to 10 years’ jail and a Rs 50 lakh fine, amid sloganeering by opposition parties. The Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, with stricter punishment, was introduced in the House by Union Minister Jitendra Singh on July 27, days after large-scale student protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party forced Dharmendra Pradhan to resign as the education minister. Speaking in Lok Sabha, Singh said the government acted swiftly in the NEET paper leak case, and as many as 52 FIRs have been lodged since the anti-paper leak law came into force in 2024. The amendment bill indicates that the government is open to learning from experience, he said, noting that the rate of suicide related to paper leaks has also reduced over the last few years. He criticised Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, stating that he lacks knowledge of parliamentary norms and the functioning of the government. Immediately after the passage of the bill, the Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day. (Source: PTI)

NEW DELHI : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced constitution of a high-powered task force, headed by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani, on reforms to be carried out for the examinations conducted by the NTA. The task force will give suggestions on maximum use of technology for setting up a robust and transparent examination system, he said in a video message posted on his Instagram handle. A multidisciplinary group of domain experts will be part of the task force. Besides Nilekani, its other members are former chairman of ISRO S Somanath, former director of Intelligence Bureau Tapan Deka, director of IIT Chennai V Kamakoti, former education secretary Anita Karwal and logistics expert Amrit Lal Meena. The prime minister’s announcement came a day after the 36-day agitation, led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), ended with the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as the Education Minister. “A high-powered task force on examination reforms under the leadership of Nandan Nilekani constituted,” Modi said. The prime minister said the government will work on suggestions of the task force to establish a foolproof examination system. It will help revamp the NTA examinations especially technology perspective and for structural reforms in the system, he said. (Source: PTI)      

NEW DELHI : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the objective of the Viksit Vibrant Village (VVV) programme, under which youths visit border villages and live with local communities, is to give opportunities to youngsters to step onto the ground to understand and connect with India instead of relying on virtual means. Interacting with the participants, many of whom belong to Gen Z, of the VVV programme 2026 that covered 74 ‘vibrant villages’ across Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, Modi said in the country’s border villages, the aspiration for development and the spirit of patriotism are equally cherished. At times, it feels that for these people the country matters more than themselves. The prime minister said that during the Developed India Young Leaders Dialogue, he had presented an idea before the youth. “The idea was that why not have the youth, instead of using virtual medium, step onto the ground to know India, connect with India, try to live India, and understand India,” he said. Modi said there are so many aspirations for development in India’s villages and these can be understood by visiting these villages. In his virtual interaction with participants, the prime minister said developed villages are the cornerstone of a developed India too and his government has considered border villages as the country’s first village. “This journey of the developed Vibrant Village is itself a medium to connect everyone, to connect with everyone,” he said, encouraging the youth to connect with the land as it makes the vision of a developed India even more expansive. The prime minister, however, did not refer to the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led protests over the NEET paper leak issue which concluded on Saturday after the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as Education Minister and the acceptance of the protesters’ other demands by the government. The participants were largely mobilised through various virtual mediums, including Instagram, and protesters mostly belonged to Gen Z. Modi said the aim of the VVV programme was that youth from different districts of the country should travel to the villages of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Ladakh. “When the youth of the country connects with the land, it makes the vision of a developed India even more expansive. This youth, in their heart, strengthens the resolve to live for the country, to do something for the country,” he said. The prime minister said in today’s programme, youth from nearly 250 districts across the country were connected. “A few years ago, we created the MY Bharat platform. Today, millions of youth from across the country are connected to it. And today, the youth friends of MY Bharat are doing highly commendable work throughout the country,” he said. While interacting with the prime minister, Nikita from Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli recalled how she was taken care of by ITBP personnel when she was in a forward village in Himachal Pradesh. She still connects with the couple who hosted her at a homestay there. Bhavyya from Telangana shared her experience of having ‘aloo parantha’ and wearing a heavy jacket and gloves to protect from the harsh winter. Ashish Soni from Jaunpur in UP recalled his visit to Hikkim post office in Himachal Pradesh, recognised as the highest functional post office in the world. All those who interacted with the prime minister noted that mobile network and road infrastructure were world-class. They said UPI is accepted from Himachal Pradesh to Uttarkashi to Ladakh. The VVP Programme, implemented through MY Bharat, has been conceptualised to realise the prime minister’s vision of treating India’s border villages as the first villages of the nation and making them active partners in the journey towards Viksit Bharat, an official statement said. MY Bharat is an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The Viksit Vibrant Village Programme 2026 was organised in two phases from 4 June to 30 June 2026, covering 74 vibrant villages across Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Over 400 youth participants, representing every state and Union territory, were selected through a nationwide online quiz competition that witnessed participation from more than three lakh youth. As part of the programme, participants lived with local communities and undertook activities such as Swachhta drives, awareness campaigns on government schemes, Yuva Sammelans, cultural exchange programmes, tree plantation drives, Mini Model Panchayat simulations, interactions with local artisans and visits to institutions of strategic importance. The programme provided participants with first-hand exposure to the socio-economic landscape, cultural heritage and developmental aspirations of India’s frontier regions, while fostering community participation, national integration and a deeper understanding of the strategic importance of border villages. (Source: PTI)    

NEW DELHI : BJP leaders acknowledged Dharmedra Pradhan’s contributions after he resigned as Union education minister on Saturday, with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju describing his journey as a “testament” to lifelong engagement with public life and student welfare. BJP national general secretary Vinod Tawde said a strong nation is defined by its education system and Pradhan has always accorded the utmost importance to this idea throughout his public life. Pradhan resigned from his post on Saturday following Cockroach Janta Party-led student protests across the country for his ouster over the NEET paper leak issue. In a post on X, Rijiju said, “True leadership is measured over decades & and Dr Dharmendra Pradhan-ji’s journey stands as a testament to lifelong engagement with public life and student welfare.” He also posted on X a picture of him with Pradhan from some past event. Tawde said Pradhan’s journey in public life, which began with student movements, reached a significant milestone when he assumed the role of the country’s education minister. “During this tenure, he consistently endeavoured to keep the importance of education at the forefront of national discourse,” the BJP Rajya Sabha member said. “I extend my best wishes for your future endeavours in public life and hope that your spirit of “Nation First” remains steadfast in the pursuit of the goal of a ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ (Developed India 2047),” Tawde added. BJP MP Manoj Tiwari praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, terming Pradhan’s exit as an unprecedented and empathetic gesture toward Gen Z and the nation’s youth. He insisted that the resignation reflects the ruling party’s commitment to standing by students during critical times. “The sensitivity, responsibility, and direct connection shown towards students is truly remarkable’”something unprecedented in our country,” Tiwari said, adding “There is a clear emotion to go to any length to safeguard the interests of our students and Gen Z.” (Source: PTI)