Times of India

The US has increased the H-1B visa application fee to $100,000 for new petitions, impacting tech firms and foreign skilled workers. In contrast, Germany is promoting its more affordable and flexible skilled migration options, including the EU Blue Card, attracting professionals priced out of the US system. With Germany’s stable policies and labour demand, many skilled workers are now considering it a viable alternative to the US for career growth and permanent residency opportunities.

AISSEE 2026: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has opened online applications for the All India Sainik Schools Entrance Examination (AISSEE) 2026. Eligible students can apply at exams.nta.nic.in until October 30, 2025. The exam will be held in January 2026 for admissions to Classes 6 and 9 in 33 Sainik Schools and approved New Sainik Schools. The exam will be conducted offline in pen and paper mode. Detailed eligibility, exam pattern, and application steps are available on the official website.

Since taking office on March 15, 2024, Bihar Education Minister Sunil Kumar has launched major reforms in school and higher education. His initiatives include large-scale teacher recruitment, transparent transfers, improved infrastructure, inclusive schemes, and competitive exam reforms. Training programmes and performance monitoring aim to enhance teaching quality and student outcomes. Through schemes like Mukhyamantri Poshak Yojana and STET 2025, Kumar’s mission is reshaping Bihar’s education landscape with a focus on inclusivity, accountability, and career readiness.

The Uttarakhand Subordinate Services Selection Commission (UKSSSC) has postponed the 12 October exam for technical posts in the Agriculture Department following concerns about a potential paper leak. The commission confirmed that no admit cards had been issued and that the examination will be rescheduled. Additionally, other exams, including those for cooperative inspector and assistant development officer, were also postponed. UKSSSC has vowed to announce new dates once the investigation into the paper leak is concluded.

RV College of Engineering (RVCE) has included the biography of late ISRO chairman Prof U R Rao in its aerospace engineering curriculum. Students will receive 400 free copies, with a digital version online. The initiative honors Rao’s legacy, introduces the U R Rao-RVCE Award for Best Space Company, and establishes the U R Rao Chair to promote space research, innovation, and global collaborations.

St Stephen’s College 2025-26 fees spark controversy as first-year students are asked to pay DU and college fees separately. The college lists DU fees over three times higher than the official Rs 3,500 share, raising compliance concerns. With total semester fees nearing Rs 30,000, students and DU officials question transparency under the dual-payment system.

The India Skills Report 2025 reveals rising employability among men, reaching 53.46% in 2025. Male professionals prefer working in Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Haryana. These states offer career growth, infrastructure, and supportive ecosystems. Employers can use this insight for recruitment, while men can align career choices with high-opportunity regions.

An Indian student at MIT shared that the toughest part of studying abroad was not academics but adjusting to life away from home. Many students related to the struggle of loneliness and culture shock, offering advice such as joining clubs, finding hobbies, connecting with others, and allowing time to adapt to a new environment.

The Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) has released the provisional answer key for the DEIEd 2025 exam at secondary.biharboardonline.com. Candidates can log in to view their response sheets and raise objections by October 13, 2025, with a fee of ₹50 per question. The final key and results will be announced after reviewing all objections.

Sridhar Vembu, IIT Madras and Princeton alumnus, co-founded Zoho Corporation and built it into a global SaaS powerhouse from rural Tamil Nadu. Rejecting conventional startup models, Vembu championed self-funded growth and rural innovation. Through Zoho Schools and education initiatives, he’s empowering youth outside cities, proving world-class technology and talent can thrive beyond metropolitan India.

From the 2026-27 academic year, India will introduce AI education for students from Class 3 onwards, aligning with NEP 2020. CBSE is developing frameworks and training over one crore teachers. Pilot projects and AI modules are expanding rapidly. The move aims to equip students with essential AI literacy, prepare the workforce for future tech-driven jobs, and position India as a global AI hub.

Maharashtra will no longer permit single-gender schools, mandating all institutions to become co-ed. The policy aims to foster gender equality, mutual respect, and social skills, while merging boys’ and girls’ schools under one registration. Critics caution that cultural and regional sensitivities may affect implementation, especially in conservative communities, making careful planning, teacher training, and community engagement essential for success.

The SSC has released admit cards for the CGL 2025 Tier-I re-exam, scheduled for October 14, 2025. Candidates can download their hall tickets from ssc.gov.in using their registration number and password. The admit card contains details like name, roll number, exam venue, date, and timing. Candidates must verify the information and contact their regional SSC office for any discrepancies before the exam.

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) approved a Turning Point USA chapter despite the student government’s objection. The move, following legal pressure from attorney Robert Barnes and support from DOJ’s Harmeet Dhillon, officially recognizes the conservative student group founded by the late Charlie Kirk. UTC clarified that organization approvals rest with university administrators, not student government.

Brown University has urged the US Department of Homeland Security to withdraw a proposed rule limiting student visa duration. The regulation would replace the current “duration of status” policy with fixed visa periods, impose strict limits on program changes, and increase administrative and financial burdens, potentially deterring international talent and undermining US higher education competitiveness.

The White House has confirmed “substantial” federal layoffs as part of ongoing “reductions in force” amid the US government shutdown that began on October 1, 2025. Thousands of federal employees across agencies like DHS, Treasury, and HHS face job losses, sparking lawsuits from unions and intensifying political tensions between the Trump administration and congressional Democrats.

Michigan State University’s renovated Campbell Hall has introduced co-ed community bathrooms, sparking debate among students, parents, and administrators. While many students welcome the inclusive design featuring private floor-to-ceiling stalls, some parents and trustees raised privacy concerns. The university plans to designate certain bathrooms by gender, balancing modern inclusivity goals with comfort and safety for all residents.

Despite the US government shutdown, the US Department of Education has quietly resumed student loan forgiveness for borrowers under the Income-Based Repayment (IBR) Plan. Notices informing borrowers of debt discharge are being sent, with an opt-out deadline of October 21. This follows a temporary pause earlier this year due to court orders and new legislation under President Trump. Borrowers should review their notices carefully as forgiveness processes continue over the coming months.

Princeton University will reinstate SAT/ACT requirements for undergraduate admissions starting fall 2027, ending its seven-year test-optional policy introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic. This move leaves Columbia University as the only Ivy League institution with a permanent test-optional policy. Princeton’s decision is based on data showing stronger academic performance from applicants submitting test scores and reflects a broader trend among elite US universities to balance admissions rigor with equity.

A recent US court ruling could strip over 90,000 DACA recipients in Texas of their legal right to work and access in-state tuition. The Fifth Circuit decision targets key protections under the 2022 DACA regulation, applying only within Texas. The change could impact education, employment, and economic stability across the state. Experts warn the consequences could spread nationally, threatening over 530,000 recipients and billions in wages, taxes, and workforce retention costs.