India's economic engine is revving up, but navigating the global headwinds requires sharp strategy. The rupee's recent volatility against the dollar underscores the complexities facing Indian businesses, impacting everything from import-export trade to domestic inflation. This week alone, we've seen significant shifts in the IT sector, with major players announcing restructuring and a renewed focus on AI-driven solutions. Meanwhile, the burgeoning startup ecosystem continues to attract substantial funding, despite a cautious global investor sentiment. The government's recent policy announcements on infrastructure development and digitalization are poised to further shape the business landscape, creating both opportunities and challenges for entrepreneurs and established corporations alike. Understanding these market dynamics is crucial for success in today's rapidly evolving Indian economy. Stay informed with Abtak.com for the latest insights and analysis on key sectors including finance, manufacturing, and technology – empowering your business decisions in a dynamic market. Explore the complete business news section now to stay ahead of the curve.
Bengaluru: As many as 375 private schools in Karnataka migrated from state syllabus to Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) between 2022 and 2024.According to data provided by the state govt in the legislative assembly, 62 schools converted to CBSE in 2022. The number increased drastically to 169 in 2023 and dropped marginally to 144 in 2024."We see an increasing preference for central boards among private schools. Infrastructure norms for central boards are much more realistic, while those of state board are very rigid," said D Shashi Kumar, secretary, Associated Managements of Primary and Secondary Schools of Karnataka."Additionally, there is a substantial difference in the quality of curriculum offered by the boards. While from class 6, NCERT curriculum is used in state board schools, classes 1-5 follow a different model. We have been asking the state education department to bring a change to it, making the curriculum on par with national curriculum framework. Our demands have been unheard so far," he added.Educationists said it is a matter of perception among parents that is driving the demand for central board schools. "The shift to central boards is driven largely by parental perception of quality and future advantage rather than by actual differences in syllabus. In our recent study covering 14,149 parents across Karnataka, nearly 47% said availability of CBSE or ICSE was a key reason for choosing private schools," said Pramod Sridharamurthy, secretary of India Literacy Project operations."While Karnataka state syllabus is broadly aligned with NCERT, parental choice is shaped more by perceived future opportunities associated with central boards than by detailed insight into curriculum, teaching practices or assessments. There is an opportunity for the state to make its existing conceptual and assessment rigour more visible and credible," he added.Mohammed Shakeel, president of Voice of Parents, said the general perception is that CBSE and ICSE schools are of a better standard when compared to those of the state board. "Central boards have a pan-India presence, and the belief is that they are of better quality. Additionally, the perception is also that central boards are better for training for competitive exams as the question paper styles are similar," he said.However, when it comes to the pre-university level, there is an increasing shift to PU from central board schools. TOI has reported that around 84,000 students from CBSE/ICSE shifted to PU in 2024."There are various factors that make the central boards more attractive. Liberalisation of the state no-objection certificate for CBSE schools is a factor. NCERT syllabus and student-friendly examination system and reforms also make them popular over state board schools," admitted a school education department official.BOX:What makes central boards more attractive- English medium- NCERT syllabus - Examination reforms - Liberalisation of state NoC for CBSE schools - Public perception that CBSE is better -- - -- BOX 2Year-wise migration 2022 - 62 2023 - 169 2024 - 144 Total - 375
Bengaluru: Mysuru Dasara is set to run for 11 days this year -- a rare extension driven by celestial alignment and cultural planning -- with the inaugural ceremony on Sept 22 and the grand Jamboo Savari taking place on Oct 2, coinciding with Vijayadashami and Gandhi Jayanti.Chairing a high-level meeting at Vidhana Soudha Friday, chief minister Siddaramaiah said, "Mysuru Dasara in 2025 will be celebrated for 11 days, due to a unique astronomical occurrence -- the Panchami tithi (fifth lunar day) will appear on two consecutive days, Sept 26 and 27, a rare alignment that hasn't occurred in nearly ...Read More >
Kanpur, January 27: Due to the massive influx of devotees for the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, Varanasi's District Magistrate in Uttar Pradesh has announced that all schools in the district will be closed from Monday, January 27, 2025, to Wednesday, February 5, 2025. The decision is aimed at ensuring the safety of students and managing traffic congestion caused by the large number of pilgrims arriving in Varanasi for the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025. Despite the school closures, online classes will continue as usual to maintain the academic schedule, News18 reported. This directive applies to all CBSE, ICSE ...Read More >
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has charged five individuals, including goldy Brar, in relation to the 2024 Gurugram club bombing plot, as revealed in a recently filed chargesheet. This case involves a conspiracy to bomb two clubs, aiming to disrupt communal harmony in Haryana, with the banned terrorist group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) implicated. The NIA's investigation highlights the severity of the plot. Those charged include satinderjit Singh (Goldy Brar), Sachin Talian, Ankit, Bhavish, and Randeep Singh. News Directory 3 provides crucial updates on sensitive cases such ...Read More >
Chandigarh: The Central Board of Secondary Education's decision to conduct Class 10 board exams twice a year from 2026 has drawn mixed reactions from school heads in Chandigarh. While many educators see the move as a progressive step towards reducing exam-related stress and giving students more flexibility, concerns are being raised about how schools will cope with the added logistical and academic pressures.Under the new system, all students will appear for the main board exam in Feb-March, covering the full syllabus. A second, optional session will be held around May, where students will hav ...Read More >
Noida: Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has approved a twice-board exams policy from 2026, but most schools in Noida don't see it as a wise move. Principals noted that the two-exam policy will pose a challenge to the academic calendar. The main or first examinations will begin from mid-Feb while the second examination will be held in May. So, teachers will be engaged in evaluations and invigilation from Feb-June, leaving limited time for regular academics, according to principals."The introduction of two board exams warrants a very honest scrutiny. While the NEP mandates implementin ...Read More >
T'puram/Kozhikode: Education minister V Sivankutty said no one should dictate terms on what should be done in public schools. If anyone has any issues, they should discuss them with the govt. He stated that he would not accept any threat or warning from anyone regarding the Zumba row."There is an elected govt to decide on academic and non-academic matters in govt schools," Sivankutty told reporters in the capital.The govt is ready to have a discussion on the steps taken, but on issues commonly kn ...Read More >
Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh govt is going to move a motion during the upcoming monsoon session of the legislative assembly to introduce a law prohibiting constructions near rivers and torrential streams -- a move that stems from the Rs 750-crore loss the state has suffered due to damage to houses constructed in such locations this monsoon.With the move, the state govt hopes to reduce losses caused by damage to buildings constructed near rivers and torrential streams every monsoon. "There is a need to come up with a law and to also get it implemented strictly," said revenue, horticulture and t ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: All schools in Puri municipality will remain closed tomorrow on account of Navy Day celebration at Blue Flag Beach. The district administration has decided to keep all schools closed due to the President's visit to the Navy Day ceremony. The district administration has ordered the closure of all government and private primary, secondary and higher secondary schools in Puri municipality. Moreover, Mother's Public School, Prabhu Shree English Medium School, Chandra Shekhar Academy, St. Xavier School on the outskirts of the town will also be closed. However, the PARAKH exam conduct ...Read More >
Guwahati: The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2024 has highlighted a notable increase in school enrolment in rural Assam and significant improvement in digital literacy and better learning outcome compared to the 2022 ASER results. The survey, facilitated by Pratham foundation, covered 24,275 children across 780 villages in 26 districts. The 14th nationwide field based ASER survey was conducted across over 17,000 villages across the country, comprising over 6.49 lakh students in the age group of 3-16 years. The ASER results released on Tuesday has shown a rising trend in enrolment i ...Read More >
New Delhi: Three Indian citizens vanished mysteriously in Tehran. Darkness closed in as hope seemed lost. A ruthless Pakistani gang with potential links to ISI snatched them away, casting a shadow of fear. But relentless Indian diplomats refused to back down. Against all odds, a daring rescue mission ignited. Now, the captives are free, and a chilling game of espionage comes to light. The Punjab-based trio - Amritpal Singh from Hoshiarpur, Jaspal Singh from SBS Nagar and Hushnapreet Singh from Sangrur - had landed in Iran on May 1. Promised a clandestine route to Australia via Dubai and Tehra ...Read More >
Mumbai: Supreme Court Chief Justice of India (CJI) Bhushan Gavai on Sunday visited Chikitsak Samuh High School, Girgaum where he studied from classes 3 to 7, between 1969 and 1973, in Marathi medium. The CJI praised his teachers for shaping him, crediting the debating skills he honed there and values of equality and social benevolence inculcated in students for his rise to the topmost post in the Indian judiciary.Walking down memory lane, the CJI shared nostalgic moments. "Mother would give me 20 paise. I would walk towards Mantralaya to catch BEST bus 5 to Gaiwadi and walk some more to school ...Read More >
New Delhi: In a welcome departure, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is adopting a more student-centric approach aimed at reducing the stress of aspirants. In an exclusive interview with ETV Bharat, UPSC chairman Ajay Kumar unveiled a wide-ranging roadmap of reforms -- aimed at reducing stress, enhancing exam transparency, detecting forgery with tech tools, and building inclusive platforms that empower deserving candidates beyond the exam results. "The UPSC Civil Services Examination is one of the most prestigious and competitive examinations in the country. Naturally, the demands ar ...Read More >
The books for class 9-12 will be available from 2026-27. New Delhi: The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has reduced the prices of books for classes 9 to 12 by 20 per cent. The decision was announced by NCERT Director Dinesh Prasad Saklani during an event held in the national capital on Monday. The reduction in the prices of books will be effective from the upcoming academic year. News agency PTI quoted the minister as saying that while the textbooks for classes 9- ...Read More >
New Delhi: Alleging "blatant misuse" of agencies to defame its leaders, AAP on Thursday questioned why the first information report filed against former Delhi ministers Saurabh Bharadwaj and Satyendar Jain was being kept under wraps and "selective" press notes were being leaked to the media.Bharadwaj, who is Delhi AAP convener, alleged that only two former ministers were named in the case without any reasonable cause while all the officers of the health and public works departments, who were actually responsible for executing the hospital projects, were spared. "Is the FIR so baseless that BJP ...Read More >
Imphal, June 29 (UNI) A series of successful operations carried out by Manipur Police and security forces during the last 24 hours led to the arrest of several individuals involved in vehicle theft, insurgent activity, and the recovery of a significant cache of arms and ammunition. Police arrested a vehicle lifter identified as Syed Riyaj from his residence at Lilong Chaobok in Thoubal District. The arrest was made under Lilong Police Station. Authorities seized a blue two wheeler without registration number, along with a key and an Aadhaar card believed to be linked to the suspect. In a s ...Read More >
Chandigarh: Following his resignation from the Punjab cabinet, AAP's Ajnala MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said that he promptly submitted his resignation when chief minister Bhagwant Mann called him for a meeting on Thursday morning, citing the party's decision to give others a chance. Dhaliwal also asserted his long-standing friendship with Mann, dating back to 1992.Asked about the specific reason for his departure, Dhaliwal indicated, "The party high command can tell you better...I was told that someone else has to be given a chance and I submitted by resignation. My personal view is that Sanje ...Read More >
Agartala (Tripura) [India], June 5 (ANI): Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said that the state government is prioritising quality education for students, and quality teachers are being recruited through the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET). Saha also informed that more recruitments will be made in the future. Also Read | Centre Notifies Waqf Management Rules 2025; Portal, Database, Audit of Waqf Properties. "Textbook education can never be the standard of life. One can become morally strong through education. Along with education, children should also be engaged in social work," he said. CM ...Read More >
BHUBANESWAR: Learning levels of school students in Odisha has exceeded the national average. Not only are they doing well at the foundational stage but also performing better in the higher grades. The Performance Assessment, Review and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development (PARAKH) Rashtriya Sarvekshan-2024 report published by the Ministry of Education on Wednesday has revealed that there has been significant improvement in learning levels of students in grades III, VI and IX in language, science, social science and mathematics subjects. The outcomes are above the national average in ...Read More >
Patna, June 26 (SocialNews.XYZ) Jan Suraaj chief Prashant Kishor slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav over the issue faced by Bihar, and asked the common people to consider their children's future before voting in the upcoming elections. Speaking at a massive public gathering in Barhara, Kishor, while targeting Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad, said the 30-35 years of their rule have pushed Bihar into backwardness, turning it into a labour-exporting state. "Children from Ara and Bhojpur are being forced to go to Gujarat to work as l ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Friday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, accusing them of trying to erase the names of poor and marginalised voters from the electoral rolls."The Election Commission has suddenly announced a special intensive revision. This means that the voter list published in February, which had the latest additions and deletions, has now been set aside."He said that the entire list of eight crore Bihari voters has been sidelined, and now a fresh voter list will be created from scratch.He raised doubts over why this ...Read More >
Agartala (Tripura) [India], June 27 (ANI): Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Friday said that the present state government is working to fill up the vacant posts. He also said, the government is opening special coaching centres for students. CM Saha said this while addressing an event- distribution of offers of appointment under Education (School) and Health and Family Welfare departments at Muktadhara Auditorium today. '222 appointment letters were given. We have appointed them through transparency and in the coming days also we will do this. Due to their hard work, they made success. Af ...Read More >
Nagpur: Despite aggressive promotion of electric vehicles (EVs) under green energy initiatives, Nagpur district continues to grapple with a critical shortage of charging infrastructure. According to official data, there is just one EV charging station for every 515 electric vehicles in the district.The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL), which is the sole authority for providing power connections to EV charging points, revealed that 151 charging stations have been set up so far across the district and many of them are private and not available to public. Of these, ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], July 9 (ANI): Following the violent protest at Kerala University, a case has been registered against 27 activists of the ruling CPM's Students Federation of India (SFI), including its state secretary P S Sanjeev, who has been named the prime accused, police said. The case also names 1,000 identifiable protesters who have been accused of damaging public property, forcibly entering the university campus, and assaulting police and university staff, police said on Tuesday. Also Read | Nobel Peace Prize 2025: From Mahatma Gandhi to Jawaharlal Nehru, Check Full ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Education has come up with some disturbing revelations about the proficiency of students in basic Mathematics in government and private schools across the country. It assessed the Maths and Linguistic proficiency of 21.15 lakh students across 74,229 schools in 36 states and union territories last year. The survey was conducted by PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024 for 21,15,022 students across three different grades: Grade 3 (5,99,026), Grade 6 (6,63,195), and Grade 9 (8,52,901). According to the survey, only 50% of Class 3 students were able to recognise and classi ...Read More >
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The High Court verdict quashing the KEAM engineering entrance rank list has come as a major setback to the state government that carried out an eleventh hour attempt to rectify the "disadvantage" faced by state syllabus students due to the standardisation of marks of various Plus Two boards. Though stung by the adverse verdict, the government indicated that it will appeal against it before a division bench. "The cabinet will take an appropriate decision on the course of action in the wake of the verdict. The government does not have any vested interest other than ensuring ...Read More >
New Delhi: Nearly half of the students surveyed in Delhi's higher education institutions use Artificial Intelligence tools several times a week, with 23% reporting daily use and 21% using them several times a month. AI was used most frequently for research, with 84% saying they rely on AI for academic purposes, followed by writing at 76% and learning complex subjects at 68%.However, barriers to adoption remain significant, with 47% attributing limited AI use to lack of awareness and 45% citing limited knowledge on how to use them effectively. The findings are part of a new study by the Centre ...Read More >
Agartala (Tripura) [India], June 27 (ANI): Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Friday said that the present state government is working to fill up the vacant posts. He also said, the government is opening special coaching centres for students. CM Saha said this while addressing an event- distribution of offers of appointment under Education (School) and Health and Family Welfare departments at Muktadhara Auditorium today. Also Read | Europe: Scorching Heat Grips the Continent. "222 appointment letters were given. We have appointed them through transparency and in the coming days also we wi ...Read More >
Nagpur/Riddhapur: In a landmark step for regional pride and linguistic scholarship, the world's first Marathi Language University commenced admissions for the 2025 academic session on July 1 in Riddhapur, a historic village in Amravati district. The event marked a significant cultural and academic development for Maharashtra and the broader Marathi-speaking community. Dr Avinash Awalgaonkar assumed office as the university's first vice-chancellor felicitated by Mahant Karanjekar Baba, the newly elected Akhil Bharatiya Mahanubhav Parishad president."The establishment of this university comes at ...Read More >
Gandhinagar: In households in Gujarat's cities, cereals may take up less space in the grocery bill, but they still dominate the dinner plate. A new Union govt report shows that cereals, while accounting for just 3.8% of household spending, supply 35% of total calorie intake in cities. In villages, their role is even more dominant, making up 43% of calorie consumption while accounting for 4.5% of total spending.Cereals also account for a major portion of protein intake for people in Gujarat.These insights come from the Centre's latest "Nutritional Intake in India" report, which tracks food patt ...Read More >
KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Wednesday annulled the results of the Kerala Engineering, Architecture, and Medical (KEAM) 2025 entrance examinations, ruling that the last-minute amendment to the prospectus was unlawful. The KEAM exams were conducted by the Commissioner of Entrance Examination from 23 to 29 April 2025, with results announced on 14 May. The final rank list was published on 1 July. Justice D.K. Singh observed that the revised ranking methodology for KEAM 2025 disproportionately disadvantaged students who had studied the CBSE or ICSE syllabus during their higher secondary educa ...Read More >