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NEW DELHI :  Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan chaired a high-level meeting with central security and intelligence agencies on Wednesday to review preparations for the upcoming NEET-UG re-examination, officials said. He directed strict action against fake Telegram channels spreading misinformation related to the medical-entrance exam. The minister stressed the need for heightened vigilance and foolproof security arrangements to ensure the safe, secure and fair conduct of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate), according to officials. Senior officials from the Ministry of Education and the director general of the National Testing Agency (NTA) were also present at the meeting, where preparations were reviewed in detail to identify vulnerabilities in advance and ensure timely preventive and corrective measures. At a parallel meeting with representatives of major social media platforms — Meta, Google and Telegram — serious concerns were raised over the growing spread of misinformation related to competitive examinations, particularly through Telegram channels and anonymous online groups, the officials said. They said several such channels become highly active in the run-up to major examinations, circulating fake paper-leak claims, clickbait content and unverified information that create panic and confusion among students and parents. “It was highlighted that many such links redirect users to automated bots and fake groups designed to amplify misinformation,” an official said. According to inputs shared by intelligence agencies, multiple suspicious channels are being operated through a limited set of phone numbers, indicating coordinated and organised activity. Taking strong note of the issue, Pradhan directed a focussed crackdown on such networks, including proactive identification, blocking and takedown of channels spreading fake information and propaganda before examinations. The minister said social-media platforms must work in close coordination with the Ministry of Education, the NTA and law-enforcement agencies to curb misinformation swiftly and protect the integrity of the examination system. He reiterated that safeguarding students from misleading narratives and maintaining public confidence in the examination process is a top priority for the government. The NEET (UG) 2026 for admissions in undergraduate medical courses held on May 3 was cancelled by the NTA recently amid allegations of paper leak. The matter is being probed by the CBI, while the re-test is scheduled to be held on June 21. (Source: PTI)      

NEW DELHI : The Congress on Tuesday questioned why Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has not been removed even after the Supreme Court directed the CBI to begin a probe into charges of corruption against him. In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said this amounts to “gross travesty” of the Supreme Court order itself. Ramesh said it was on April 6, 2026, that a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court directed the CBI to commence a preliminary inquiry into allegations that the Arunachal Pradesh chief minister’s family was awarded contracts worth Rs 1,270 crore over 10 years from January 2015 to December 2025 in a direct conflict of interest. “This is not an order of a lower court or a High Court. It is of the Supreme Court. Yet the CM continues in office. He is also the PWD Minister and controls the files that the CBI will need to conduct its inquiry. “Why is the man who once said ‘na khaoonga, na khaane doonga’ quiet and why has the Arunachal Pradesh CM not been asked to step down? This is a gross travesty of the Supreme Court’s verdict itself,” he said in his post. “There are other BJP CMs as well who fall in the category of the Arunachal Pradesh CM,” Ramesh added. The Supreme Court on April 6 directed the CBI to register within two weeks a preliminary inquiry into allegations of preferential allotment of contracts for public work in Arunachal Pradesh to firms allegedly owned or related to the family members of Chief Minister Khandu. Observing that the State and its instrumentalities cannot confer benefits according to the “whims of any political or administrative functionary”, the apex court said it was a fit case where an “independent investigation” was necessary. The bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath said where a case concerns the integrity of public procurement and involves allegations of conflict of interest at the highest levels, an investigation must not only be fair but also must appear fair. (Source: PTI)

NEW DELHI : Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt Gen K T Parnaik (Retd) on Tuesday stressed the need for greater augmentation of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), saying the sector can emerge as a strong pillar of the state’s socio-economic development. During an interaction with Santanu Srivastava, Managing Director and CEO of Ishan International in New Delhi, the governor highlighted the immense potential of Arunachal Pradesh for entrepreneurship and local enterprise development owing to its rich natural resources, tribal crafts, organic farming potential, forest produce, tourism opportunities and unique cultural heritage. Parnaik said MSMEs can create sustainable livelihood opportunities for youths, women, artisans, farmers and self-help groups across the state, an official statement said here. He observed that sectors such as food processing, bamboo and cane products, handloom and handicrafts, eco-tourism, horticulture, herbal products, organic agriculture and small-scale manufacturing hold tremendous promise for Arunachal Pradesh. Parnaik added that MSMEs can strengthen self-reliance, reduce unemployment and discourage migration of youths to cities in search of jobs. He said that the sector also helps local entrepreneurs gain confidence and financial independence while preserving traditional skills and indigenous knowledge. Emphasising the importance of institutional support, the governor said better infrastructure, financial assistance, skill development, market connectivity and digital access are essential for MSMEs to drive inclusive growth, strengthen the rural economy and contribute towards the vision of Atmanirbhar Arunachal and Viksit Bharat. (Source: PTI)

ITANAGAR :  Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas and Tourism Suresh Gopi on Monday reviewed the infrastructure and pending development works at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Itanagar campus, and assured speedy completion of the projects. Suresh Gopi, who is also president of the FTII and Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) Itanagar Society, visited the institute to assess infrastructural gaps and review ongoing works that are to be taken up with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The Union minister was received by Education Minister P D Sona, who accompanied him during the inspection. Lower Dibang Valley Deputy Commissioner Lobsang Tsering, Women and Child Development Minister Dasanglu Pul and Director of Information and Public Relations Gijum Tali were also present. During the visit, the minister held detailed discussions with officials of the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) and representatives of M/S Kenge Construction regarding the progress of ongoing projects and challenges affecting timely completion of infrastructure. He reviewed the status of buildings and facilities related to the acting and screenplay departments and expressed concern over the delay in completion of key infrastructure. Taking serious note of the issue, Suresh Gopi directed the CPWD to prioritise the pending works and execute them on a war footing. “The students have already suffered and faced difficulties in their curriculum due to the non-completion of vital buildings,” the minister said while assuring that all possible efforts would be made to expedite the works and strengthen the institute’s infrastructure. The FTII Itanagar campus currently offers three two-year postgraduate Master of Fine Arts (MFA) programmes in Screen Acting, Screenwriting and Documentary Cinema. Earlier this year, students of the institute had staged protests over inadequate infrastructure and lack of basic facilities, including sound studios and cathode ray tube (CRT) units, which affected their academic and practical training. Speaking on the occasion, Education Minister P D Sona expressed gratitude to the Union minister for personally reviewing the infrastructural requirements of the institute. The visit also boosted the morale of students, many of whom have been demanding timely completion of facilities essential for their academic and professional training. (DIPR)      

NEW DELHI : Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt Gen KT Parnaik (Retd) called on Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan in New Delhi on Monday and discussed key national security issues concerning Arunachal Pradesh. The discussions focused on border security, the Vibrant Village Programme and implementation of goodwill projects in frontier areas of the State. Drawing from his recent visits to remote border regions, the Governor shared his observations on the prevailing security situation and preparedness along the international border. He also expressed concern over challenges posed by porous stretches along the eastern border and stressed the need for strengthening border management and infrastructure. Parnaik appreciated the role of the armed forces in maintaining close coordination with the State Government and said the strong civil-military partnership had significantly contributed to the development of frontier villages, ensuring that security and development progress together. The Governor also commended the III Corps and IV Corps for their continued efforts in strengthening civil-military relations through community outreach programmes, regular interactions and goodwill initiatives aimed at supporting people living in remote border areas.    

NEW DELHI : The Ministry of Education on Sunday dismissed concerns about On-Screen Marking (OSM) affecting students’ scores in CBSE class 12 exams and announced that the revaluation and answer sheet verification charges have been reduced to Rs 100 each. According to officials, the decision has been taken to ease the anxiety of students. They, however, maintained that the OSM is foolproof and a norm followed internationally to conduct transparent evaluation. At a press conference, School Education Secretary, Ministry of Education, Sanjay Kumar said, “98 lakh sheets scanned were for class 12, three levels of security were followed during the process. It was found that despite repeated scanning, there were still some legibility issues because the ink used in some answer sheets was of a very light colour. Even after scanning, those scripts could not be made fully legible.” “In such cases, the examiners were instructed to evaluate the scripts manually and award marks accordingly. More than 13,000 such answer sheets were separately identified and manually checked. After manual evaluation, the marks obtained were entered into the system. “Special attention was given to the security levels and related issues so that the marking carried out through on-screen evaluation remained accurate, completely transparent and fair,” he added. Kumar’s comments came amid concerns being raised by students and parents that the drop in pass percentage in class 12 and scores is due to the OSM, which was conducted for the first time for CBSE board exams. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has reduced the revaluation and answer sheet verification charges to help ease students’ anxiety. “The CBSE has decided this time that if students wish to view their answer sheets, they can do so by paying a fee of Rs 100 instead of Rs 700. If they want verification or validation of the answer sheet, that too will cost Rs 100 instead of Rs 500. If they want any particular answer rechecked, the fee will be Rs 25 per question,” Kumar said. “We have decided that if during re-evaluation, a student’s marks increase, then the amount paid for re-evaluation will be refunded to the student,” he said. (Source: PTI)

NEW DELHI : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday slammed Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for “failing” students across age groups amid the NEET-UG paper leak row and CBSE evaluation concerns, and sought an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for “destroying” the future of lakhs of children. The leader of opposition in Lok Sabha also attacked Pradhan over the rollout of the CBSE’s three-language policy in schools. Questioning the “silence” of Prime Minister Modi on these issues, Gandhi asked him why he was not sacking Pradhan despite repeated paper leaks during his tenure. “First the NEET paper leak affecting 22 lakh students. Then CBSE Class 12 students receiving unexpectedly low marks from a broken OSM system – many losing their college eligibility. “Now lakhs of CBSE Class 9 students suddenly asked to learn a new language from July 1, with no teachers, no textbooks, and Class 6 books being handed to 14-year-olds as a ‘transitional’ fix,” he said in a post on X. Gandhi alleged that Pradhan has “failed” every single age group of students. “Three exams. Three age groups. One Minister. Dharmendra Pradhan ji has not failed once. He has failed every single age group of India’s students at once. “Every announcement plunges children deeper into uncertainty. Every failure goes unpunished. The Education Ministry has become a department of disasters,” Gandhi said. “Prime Minister Modi ji – can you at least apologise to the lakhs of children whose futures you and your Minister have destroyed?” the former Congress chief asked, using the hashtag ‘#SackPradhan’. In another post earlier, Gandhi said, “NEET 2024: Paper leaked. Exam not cancelled. Minister did not resign. CBI set up an investigation. A committee was formed.” “NEET 2026: Paper leaked. Exam cancelled. Minister still did not resign. CBI is investigating again. Another committee will be formed,” he said. The National Testing Agency cancelled the National Eligibility cum Entrance Exam (Undergraduate) held on May 3 amid allegations of irregularities. The re-exam has been scheduled for June 21. “Mr Modi, the country is asking you some questions – answer them! Why are paper leaks happening repeatedly? Why are you silent time and again on this ‘Pariksha pe Charcha’? Why aren’t you dismissing the education minister who keeps failing repeatedly?” The Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha asked, using the hashtag “#SackPradhan”. ‘Pariksha pe Charcha’ is a programme in which the prime minister interacts with students, parents and teachers. The initiative aims to reshape the examination experience of students by fostering confidence, positivity, and holistic well-being. On Sunday, the Ministry of Education dismissed concerns about On-Screen Marking (OSM) affecting students’ scores in the class 12 exams, saying it is not new for the CBSE and special attention was given to ensure that the marking remained accurate. Also, concerns have been raised over the implementation of the CBSE’s three-language policy for Class 9 by a section of educationists and parents who have questioned the timing of the changes and the preparedness of schools, as the academic session is already well underway. On Saturday, Gandhi demanded that the prime minister should immediately sack Pradhan or take responsibility himself. He had also alleged that the “BJP-RSS nexus” has destroyed India’s education system and said the hard work of 22 lakh NEET aspirants has gone to waste. “The whole country knows that two days before NEET, its question paper was being distributed on WhatsApp. Dharmendra Pradhan ji says he has nothing to do with the matter. The (Parliamentary) Committee had made recommendations but he put it in the dustbin on the pretext that opposition people were on the committee and that it was of no use,” Gandhi said in a video statement. “The truth is that you (government) have damaged the core of India. This is a nexus of the RSS, the BJP and their people that have been installed in universities, vice chancellors and professors, to mint money,” the former Congress president said, adding that all people involved in the alleged paper leak be put in jail. Pradhan on Friday announced that the NEET-UG re-examination would be held on June 21. He said the medical entrance exam would be computer-based from next year onwards in view of irregularities linked to it. (Source: PTI)