The recipe for Indian higher education institutions to succeed in the global markets is excellence in academics, promoting contemporary socially relevant material, and enabling individuals (learners) to realise their full potential, suggests N Ravichandran.
Veteran physicist Professor Umesh V Waghmare has been appointed as the Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology. Currently a professor at JNCASR, Bengaluru, his appointment was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. He succeeds Professor Abhay Karandikar and brings a distinguished academic background from IIT-Bombay, Yale, and Harvard to the role.
rediffGURU Nayagam PP guides aspirants on how to pick the right career course and college based on their entrance scores and aptitude.
Graphite electrode maker TACC has signed an initial agreement with the Institute for Functional Intelligent Materials to collaborate in the fields of advanced materials science, nanotechnology, and related disciplines.
All five Indian teenagers who competed at the International Physics Olympiad 2026 won gold medals; thanks to their achievement, India shared the world No 1 ranking with China, Kazakhstan, Russia, South Korea and Taiwan.
India too can rise to the top if the 1.4 billion Indians back home are given better opportunities to use their innate talent and capacity to work hard, with right incentives in a more meritocratic rules-based system, asserts Ajay Chhibber.
A recent study by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, has identified self-fertilisation, or uniparental reproduction, as a critical trait enabling plants to become invasive. Researchers examined 28 species from the daisy family, finding that all 11 invasive species studied could reproduce uniparentally, unlike most native and non-invasive alien species. This ability allows a single plant to establish new populations, displacing local flora and altering ecosystems, highlighting the importance of reproductive strategy in weed-risk assessment.
Nebex, founded by former Axiom Space executives, aims to build commercial infrastructure for the global space economy.
Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru have discovered that oral cancer cells are vulnerable to low-frequency ultrasound, a technique that can selectively destroy them while leaving healthy cells unharmed. This vulnerability is linked to reduced levels of the mechanosensory protein Tropomyosin 2.1. The study suggests ultrasound mechanostimulation could offer a safer, more targeted treatment for oral and other accessible cancers.
Few leaders since Independence have been able to establish such a direct connection with the electorate or shape the national conversation to the extent that Narendra Modi has done over the past decade, points out former Union minister Dr Karan Singh.
The Sports Authority of India (SAI), in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), conducted a workshop on Good Clinical Practice (GCP) to strengthen ethical sports science research.
The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has renewed its partnership with the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS) for another three years, extending their collaboration until March 2029. This agreement will see IIS continue to support WFI's national wrestling programmes across all levels, focusing on high-performance training, sports science, and athlete development.
The Uttar Pradesh government is conducting large-scale training of crime scene experts at the Uttar Pradesh State Institute of Forensic Science (UPSIFS) to modernise policing and make it more result-oriented.
Indian researchers from ICMR-National Institute for Research on Women's Health and IIT Bombay have developed an indigenous "placenta-on-chip" platform. This microphysiological system mimics the human placental barrier, reproducing essential functions like hormone production and nutrient transfer. It offers a simple, scalable tool for studying placental biology, pregnancy complications, and drug effects, aiming to reduce reliance on animal experimentation.
'We're doing a lot of work around work-integrated learning, providing students with every opportunity to take at least part of their education as a practical work-based experience.'
The Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, has launched a comic-style brochure featuring Professor Padarth to make materials engineering more accessible and engaging for students and the general public.
Shubham Kumar from the IIT-Delhi zone has secured an All India Rank (AIR) in the IIT-JEE Advanced 2026 results declared by IIT-Roorkee.
The aim is to win over the country's enterprises, developers and startups as AI systems shift from answering questions to autonomously executing tasks.
A top Swiss official has emphasised the growing importance of science and technology in international affairs, leading Switzerland to prioritise anticipatory science diplomacy in its foreign policy. Collaboration with India reflects a shared vision between two global innovation leaders.
Many successful careers begin from ordinary colleges, says rediffGURU Radheshyam Zanwar as he guides worried a class 12 student who was unable to secure admission at an IIT.
N Kalaiselvi, the first woman Director General of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), has received an extension to her tenure until February 2027. Known for her pioneering work in lithium-ion batteries, Kalaiselvi's extended leadership marks a significant milestone for women in Indian science.
The NCERT Class 8 social science textbook has undergone significant revisions, including a tweaked narrative on the 1947 Partition, the inclusion of VD Savarkar's demand for Swaraj, and the removal of references to Adolf Hitler and Nazi ideology. These changes follow a Supreme Court intervention regarding controversial content on the judiciary.
The University of Liverpool and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have established a joint seed fund to promote research and innovation collaborations in areas such as AI, biomedicine, quantum technology, and space.
The ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (ICAR-CIFT) has secured an Indian patent for a novel technology designed to make live fish and aquatic animal transport safer and more efficient without the use of chemicals. This innovative system employs controlled hypothermic anaesthetisation, gradually cooling aquatic animals to prevent shock and improve survival rates during transit, offering a practical and affordable solution for the seafood industry.
The latest QS World University Rankings reveal that several Indian institutions, including IITs, JNU, and BITS Pilani, have secured positions among the world's top 50 in various subjects.
IIM Indore will conduct a study on teenage cricket sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to understand the impact of early fame and pressure on child prodigies.
Aequs Group, in collaboration with IIT-Dharwad, has established an advanced research and development facility for materials science and manufacturing innovation at the IIT-Dharwad campus.
The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Japan's University of Tsukuba to facilitate specialised training and exchange programmes for Indian athletes, coaches, and sports scientists. This partnership aims to enhance cooperation in various sports-related fields and boost India's international competitiveness, especially in disciplines like athletics, archery, table tennis, swimming, and judo.
'There is no need for panic as there is widespread protective immune memory in the population from vaccination as well as prior infections.'
Michel Danino, one of the NCERT academics previously barred by the Supreme Court over a controversial chapter on the judiciary, maintains the content was 'correct' and defends its inclusion in the textbook.
Foreign universities are unlikely to gain major ground in India's higher education market in the near term, as students and families continue to prioritise return on investment over brand value in a highly price-sensitive sector.
About 45 km from the tech hub of Bengaluru, the Karnataka government is planning a mega artificial intelligence (AI)-powered city with a budget of more than Rs 18,000 crore. To be spread over 9,000 acres, the project aims to follow the theme "Work, live, play" with technology as its core. At the centre of it are, however, thousands of farmers who are protesting against land acquisition by the government.
rediffGURU Radheshyam Zanwar, founder of Zanwar Classes, suggests how to pick the best engineering college and course in India after class 12.
A technology institute in Indore has developed an 'AI Yoga Coach' that can distinguish between correct and incorrect yoga postures and provide real-time guidance to practitioners.
Arunachal Pradesh Governor K T Parnaik has urged young people to connect with others from across India, preserve traditional values, and work to eliminate regional barriers through interaction and mutual respect.
The State Investigation Agency (SIA) has filed a comprehensive chargesheet against banned JKLF chief Yasin Malik and four accomplices for the 1990 kidnapping and brutal killing of Kashmiri Pandit nurse Sarla Bhat, marking a "historic milestone" in addressing legacy terror crimes.
One of the most important provisions this year is that qualifying NEET-PG does not automatically guarantee participation in counselling.
A second-year engineering student at the Indian Institute of Information Technology Nagpur allegedly committed suicide by jumping from his hostel terrace. Police are investigating the incident and have registered a case of accidental death.
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay has signed a technology licensing agreement with Evergreen Lithium Recycling to improve the extraction of critical minerals from battery reprocessing, aiming to enhance efficiency and reduce costs in battery recycling operations.
