President Donald Trump's push to close the US Department of Education could disrupt vital programs, including the $1.6 trillion student loan portfolio and funding for millions of students. With a 2024 budget of $251 billion and 4,100 employees, the department oversees K-12 and higher education initiatives, including federal grants and Title IX enforcement. The proposal is part of a broader Republican push against federal education oversight, leading to debates over student loan forgiveness and critical race theory.
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The Odisha Staff Selection Commission (OSSC) has announced that the Odisha Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Recruitment Exam for Specialist Posts/Services-2024-II will be held on February 16, 2025. The exam will be conducted in OMR-based mode. Candidates can refer to the official notice for detailed information.
The State CET Cell, Maharashtra, has extended the MAH CET 2025 registration deadline for MBA, MCA, BBA, BCA, BBM, and BMS courses to March 28. The exam will be held online in April and May. Mock tests for BHMCT, MHMCT, and BEd courses are available via the official website for candidate preparation.
The National Law School of India University (NLSIU) Bengaluru has extended the application deadline for the NLSAT 2025 till March 30. Aspiring candidates can apply for the three-year LLB programme through the official website, nls.ac.in. The NLSAT 2025 exam is scheduled for April 27. The application fee is Rs 2,500 for general candidates and Rs 2,000 for SC, ST, and OBC-NCL candidates. The exam will include multiple-choice and subjective questions.
AI's rapid growth is causing concern over job displacement, but Bill Gates assures that some professions are safe. During a CNBC interview, Gates highlighted that jobs in coding, energy, and biology will remain secure despite AI advancements. While AI revolutionizes various industries, human intuition and expertise are still irreplaceable in these fields. Gates is optimistic that AI's growth will create new opportunities, even as it reshapes the workforce.
US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts temporarily paused a lower court's order requiring the Trump administration to pay $2 billion in foreign aid by midnight. The Trump administration had filed an emergency appeal, arguing that the payment order created "irreparable harm" and interfered with presidential powers. This legal challenge is part of a larger effort by the administration to reduce foreign aid, including cutting 90% of USAID contracts and $60 billion in global assistance.
Several student organizations affiliated with the INDIA bloc parties protested at Jantar Mantar, demanding the rollback of the National Education Policy, changes to UGC draft guidelines on teacher appointments, and reinstatement of student unions. They sought free and fair student union elections, filling of reserved category seats, and continuation of scholarships.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) will begin JEE Mains 2025 Session 1 on January 22, 2025. Admit cards are expected to be released soon, and candidates can download them from the official website, jeemain.nta.nic.in, once available. NTA will conduct JEE Mains Session 1 at various centers across cities in India and 15 cities abroad.
The Odisha government has formed a 16-member committee, led by Prof. Nityananda Pradhan, to align the state curriculum with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework. Aimed at local contextualization, the new education system follows the 5+3+3+4 model, focusing on foundational, preparatory, middle, and secondary stages to enhance holistic learning.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has opened the application process for the Agniveervayu under the Agnipath scheme for the 01/2026 intake, starting January 7, 2025. Candidates can apply online through agnipathvayu.cdac.in until January 27, 2025, with the exam set for March 22, 2025. Applicants must submit an INR 550 application fee and provide necessary documents like Class 10 and 12 certificates, photographs, and more.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the JEE Main 2025 Paper 2 results. The exams for BArch and BPlanning saw considerable participation, with candidates from Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh achieving perfect scores. The examination was conducted in 13 languages across 289 cities.