Times of India

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released the Grade ‘B’ Phase-I admit cards for General, DEPR, and DSIM cadres. Candidates can download their hall tickets from opportunities.rbi.org.in using registration details. The Phase-I exam will be held on October 18 for General and October 19, 2025, for DEPR and DSIM cadres.

Choosing a college major is crucial for financial success. New Pew Research data highlights top fields for 2025. Computer Science, Engineering and Nursing offer strong salaries and job security. Business, Finance and Economics also lead to wealth creation. Science, specialised Education and Math degrees show steady value. These majors provide economic stability and wealth-building opportunities for graduates.

The Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education (HPBOSE) has released the winter school exam date sheet 2025–26 for Classes 3, 5, and 8. Exams will be held from November 27 to December 6, 2025, from 9:45 AM to 1:00 PM. Students can download the detailed timetable for theory and practical exams from the official website, hpbose.org

Over 33 lakh students in India attend 1,04,125 single-teacher schools, with Andhra Pradesh having the most such schools and Uttar Pradesh the highest enrolments. Despite a 6% decline in single-teacher schools, disparities persist in student-teacher ratios. Government measures like school rationalisation and teacher redeployment aim to optimise resources and improve learning outcomes across regions.

School holidays: Schools in Karnataka, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar are observing holiday breaks this October. Karnataka schools remain closed for caste survey work, while Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh have Diwali holidays. Bihar observes holidays for Diwali and Chhath Puja. Students can celebrate festivals, revise lessons, or prepare for exams during these breaks. Official schedules vary by state and district.

Schools in Karnataka, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar are observing holiday breaks this October. Karnataka schools remain closed for caste survey work, while Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh have Diwali holidays. Bihar observes holidays for Diwali and Chhath Puja. Students can celebrate festivals, revise lessons, or prepare for exams during these breaks. Official schedules vary by state and district.

IIT Bombay has extended the registration deadline for the Joint Admission Test for Masters JAM 2026. Candidates can now apply until October 20, 2025. The JAM 2026 exam is scheduled for February 15, 2026. This exam offers admission to MSc and MS programs across 22 IITs. Approximately 3,000 seats are available. Interested students should apply through the official JOAPS portal.

Black unemployment in the US has surged from 6% to 7.5%, highlighting persistent racial disparities in the labor market. Trump administration policies, including federal workforce cuts and rollbacks on workplace protections, disproportionately affect African Americans, especially Black women in professional services. Historical inequities, economic slowdowns, and policy barriers threaten to deepen the employment divide and intergenerational inequality.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has announced the UGC NET December 2025 exam dates, scheduled from December 31, 2025, to January 7, 2026. Registration opens on October 7 and closes November 7, with a correction window from November 10-12. The computer-based test determines eligibility for Assistant Professor, JRF, and PhD admissions.

Charlie Kirk’s college debate style, showcased through “Prove Me Wrong” events, combined preparation, repetition, and rhetorical tactics to amplify conservative ideas. By controlling debate terms, leveraging statistics, and engaging audiences, Kirk created viral social media content that shaped his movement. His approach established a model for political influence, now sustained by Turning Point USA under Erika Kirk’s leadership.

Eighteen-year-old Zach Yadegari built a multi-million dollar tech business, challenging traditional career paths. Starting to code at seven and teaching others by ten, he later co-founded Cal AI, a calorie-tracking app that quickly achieved $30 million in annual revenue. Despite Ivy League rejections, Yadegari prioritizes practical experience and social learning at the University of Miami.

The National Education Association (NEA), the largest US teachers union, sparked outrage after emailing 3 million members a map erasing Israel and labeling it as Palestine. The email linked to material defending Hamas’ 2023 attacks. Though NEA removed the content and blamed a third-party source, critics demand transparency, citing concerns over bias and educational accountability.

Columbia University launched a $500,000 International Student Hardship Fund to protect students affected by the Trump administration’s visa crackdown. Led by Acting President Claire Shipman, the initiative offers rapid financial aid, faster visa processing, and personalized support. With 16% of its incoming class international, Columbia reaffirms its commitment to free expression and global inclusion.

A federal judge dismissed a class-action lawsuit alleging Columbia University and other private institutions colluded to inflate tuition for students from divorced families. The court found the plaintiffs' claims of an illegal agreement under the Sherman Antitrust Act lacked sufficient detail and plausibility. Congressional committees had previously requested communications related to financial aid practices from these universities.

The Trump administration is exploring the sale of a significant portion of the federal student loan portfolio to private investors. This move aims to reduce the Department of Education's management role and increase private sector involvement. However, concerns are mounting over potential weakened borrower protections and financial risks for taxpayers.

As the US government shutdown enters its 12th day, Vice President JD Vance warned of “painful” federal worker cuts, with over 4,000 firings expected. Unions are suing to block layoffs, calling them illegal. The shutdown began after Democrats rejected a GOP funding bill without ACA subsidy extensions, leaving negotiations stalled and federal employees in limbo.

The White House proposed a funding-linked compact to elite universities, including a double cap on international undergraduates. This policy limits international students to 15% of a campus's total undergraduate body and no more than 5% from any single country. The impact on Indian families is primarily felt in undergraduate admissions, as India's US.

The US Department of Education laid off over 460 staff, cutting 20% of its workforce amid the government shutdown. Key offices overseeing student learning assessments, special education, and financial aid were heavily affected. Nearly 90% of employees have been furloughed. Earlier cuts in March halved staff numbers, and some workers were rehired after the move was deemed excessive. The layoffs risk disrupting essential student support services during an ongoing funding stalemate.

Harvard University has launched a $13,760 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) certificate focusing on bias, privilege, and systemic inequality. The programme offers courses on race, power, and justice to prepare students for leadership roles in DEI. While Harvard promotes the course as a strategic career investment, critics question its value and label it overpriced and ideological. The debate intensifies amid broader political scrutiny of DEI initiatives in the US.

Carnegie Mellon University has laid off 75 staff members at its Software Engineering Institute due to disruptions in US federal research funding. The job cuts follow a $33 million university-wide cost reduction and concerns over proposed 15% caps on indirect research cost reimbursements. SEI, a major research centre funded by the US Department of Defense, is affected by declining grant pipelines and graduate tuition revenue shortfalls, as reported by Higher Ed Dive.