Education Budget 2024

The Education Ministry’s overall budget allocation this year increased by 6.8 per cent, which is, Rs 1,20,627.87 crore as opposed to Rs 1,12,899.47 crore in 2023-24. In the interim budget presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday, the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) allocation saw a cut of little over 50 per cent with just Rs 2,500 crore allocation, while central universities grants saw an increase of over Rs 4,000 crore with Rs 15,928 crore allocated for FY 2024-25.

CBSE’s plan for board exams

CBSE has proposed significant changes in the academic framework for secondary (class 10) and higher secondary (class 12) education. The changes include a shift from studying two languages to three in Class 10, with the requirement that at least two must be native Indian languages. Students in Class 10, according to the changes proposed, may now be required to pass in 10 subjects, as opposed to five currently.

For Class 12, the board’s proposed changes involve students studying two languages instead of one, with the condition that at least one must be a native Indian language. Overall, they would have to clear examinations in six subjects instead of five to graduate from high school.

NEET PG 2024 fee

The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has reduced the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Postgraduate (NEET PG) exam fees have been reduced for all candidates by Rs 750. Candidates belonging to the General and OBC categories will have to pay Rs 3,500 and candidates belonging to SC, ST and PWD will have to pay Rs 2,500 in NEET PG 2024.

Bill to prevent cheating

The Centre plans to introduce the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024, during the ongoing session of Parliament. The Bill is aimed at curbing cases related to paper leaks and organised cheating in public examinations, including the UPSC, SSC, and the Railways; and entrance examinations including NEET, JEE and CUET.

UGC extends validity of MPhil in two subjects

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has extended the validity of MPhil programmes in clinical psychology and psychiatric social work till the 2025-2026 academic year. However, in December 2023, the higher education institutions were instructed not to offer MPhil programmes, as the commission had previously announced that advanced research courses offered at all universities would no longer be legitimate. 

IIT Madras sports quota

IIT Madras becomes the first IIT in the country to announce admissions through a sports quota in its BTech programmes. Although the admission process through the sports quota will require a student to qualify the JEE Advanced, however, the student will not be required to register through the Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) portal. The IIT Madras admission under the sports quota will be through a separate portal operated by the institute. 

New online programme at IIM Ahmedabad

The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) has announced the launch of its new two-year online MBA programme for working professionals and entrepreneurs. The online MBA programme in hybrid mode will combine an on-campus, in-person, and live interactive online sessions. Admission to the online programme will be made based on the marks obtained in any one of the IIMA Admission Test (IAT), CAT, GMAT or GRE, and a personal interview.

University of Wollongong admission

The University of Wollongong (UoW) has begun the applications for those intending to apply for the courses in India for the Master of Computing (Data Analytics) and Graduate Certificate in Computing programme for a start in July this year. The application process will take place online and interested students can apply at the university website —  uow.edu.au/india/.