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How Life Skills, Inspirational Stories & Behavioural Skills Help Children in Adulthood

Reekrit Serai tells How Life Skills, Inspirational Stories & Behavioural Skills Help Children in Adulthood

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It is not really possible to increase productivity and sustainability of enterprises and improve work conditions and employability without proper skills development. In this day and age, we cannot leave the scope of nurturing the true qualities of an individual based on their college education alone. It is a process that needs to be tackled right from the school days. In order to secure a good job, young men and women need a lot more than technical skills. The core skills of communication, learning to learn, problem solving and teamwork probably has more impact. Development of core skills, awareness of workers’ rights and an understanding of entrepreneurship are the building blocks for lifelong learning and capability to adapt to change. The critical importance of acquiring 21st century life skills was highlighted in a 2016 study by the World Economic Forum (WEF) & Boston Consulting Group (BCG)— 65% of today’s schoolchildren will have to take up the kind of jobs that are non-existent today. Simply put, a child entering the K-12 education system in 2019, will be graduating in the year 2031—the world will be a completely different place; jobs will be different and the required skill-sets for these jobs will also be different.

The ILO (International Labour Office) defines employability skills as:

“…the skills, knowledge and competencies that enhance a worker’s ability to secure and retain a job, progress at work and cope with change, secure another job if he/she so wishes or has been laid off and enter more easily into the labour market at different periods of the life cycle. Individuals are most employable when they have broad-based education and training, basic and portable highlevel skills, including teamwork, problem solving, information and communications technology (ICT) and communication and language skills. This combination of skills enables them to adapt to changes in the world of work.”

Without a proper idea of the world and how to relate with it, we cannot expect any individual to cope with the harsh realities of society. We need to, therefore, train our kids in such things from ground zero itself i.e. school. The mind of a child is like an empty canvass. S/he grows up to be exactly the way we want them to be. This is where proper training in life skills effectively comes into play. These young minds must be made acquainted with the purpose one must have in life and work towards its fulfilment. A small gesture to true humanitarianism can actually bring about a great change in society and the mind-set of its members. It is possible only if we inculcate such values in them from school level.

Life skills also seem to have a positive effect on the adolescents of both urban and rural India and also on the economically backward sections of the society.

According to the International Journal of Advanced Research (2015), a positive and net effect is observed in the study on impact of life skills-based training in the attitude of adolescent girls. Similarly, life skills-based approach, namely ‘Better Life Options Programme’ (BLO), for adolescent girls in India, implemented by the Centre for Development and Population Activities (CED-PA) especially in urban slums of Delhi and rural Madhya Pradesh/Gujarat has had vocational and training support along with skills training. Higher rate of education completion (66%) is observed among them as compared to the control group.

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According to World Health Organisation (WHO), life skills are “the abilities for adaptive and positive behaviour that enable individuals to deal effectively with demands and challenges of everyday life”. At Satluj, as an example, we aim towards the holistic development of a child with the help of several innovative activities like, ‘Beyond the Classroom Lesson’ (BTCL), ‘Cross Domain Knowledge Sharing’ (CDKS), ‘Applied Learning’ (AL) and ‘Subject Awareness Drive’ (SAD). The Innovation Lab has also proved to be an amazing way to ensure complete understanding of a concept. These methods have brought about an amazing improvement in the students as well. Prabal Gupta (name changed) used to be very laid back and disinterested in his work. We realised that he had a lot of potential and untapped knowledge from his inputs during the above-mentioned activities. Proper counselling of the child and allowing him to work on things of his interest brought about a drastic change in him and transformed him academically, with his grade improving from a C to an A. Eventually, since education isn’t only about academics, we also witnessed an overwhelming spike in his curiosity for learning.

Moral education and life skills can therefore be the building block of a child’s metamorphosis to an adult, thus leading to her/his bright future. According to research by India Today, apart from the core subject expertise, employers look for certain prominent skills like: communication skills (verbal and written), attitude towards work, lifelong learning, self-management, teamwork, problem solving, initiative, self-motivation, adaptability, stress management, creativity, interpersonal sensitivity. These prominent skills are very important life skills that we should be teaching our children and, in the process, create suitable candidates for the cut-throat job market. Apart from these concepts, lessons on proper behavioural skills also are key in the future success of a child. Kindness, thoughtfulness, humility, being self-reliant, honesty and integrity as a result plays a vital role in creating a child’s successful employable future. Without these qualities one can never be true to her/his work and make a positive impact in the world.

UNICEF, whose mission includes the goal of expanding children’s opportunities so that every child can reach his or her fullest potential too has been very enthusiastic on this issue. They are of the view that life skill education—so whether formal or informal— is not something that can be attained automatically. It is greatly influenced by the environment that one lives, learns and acts in.

Being a role model or helping children find a role model from various inspirational stories is also an amazing way to make children realise their own potential and self-worth. The stories of next-gen entrepreneurs seem to inspire many children into realising their own dreams and capabilities. It is like, “If they can do it, why not us?”

New-age entrepreneurs like Ritesh Agarwal, the Founder of OYO Rooms (India’s largest hospitality company) and Kylie Jenner, the make-up guru and the world’s youngest self-made billionaire, have proved to be an immense success at such a young age only because of their own confidence and intent of proving themselves.

It enlightens a fire within them, that culminates into an attempt towards a successful future.

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It is rightly said in the Bhagwad Gita, “Do your duty, your work without thinking about the results.” The important thing is to teach our children to be good human beings first—to be honest, kind, humble, self-reliant and confident. These are the building blocks of a strong personality and that is exactly what is necessary if one needs to land their dream job. Only the hunger of knowledge is always not enough but how we are as a team member makes or breaks a deal. As an adult, one can easily grasp the knowledge or any technical skillset quite easily. What s/he cannot do is suddenly change their personality, methodology and character. On the other hand, if all these qualities are imparted at an impressionable age, then perhaps, children will have a better hand at their future endeavours and work towards bringing about a positive change in the country, and, eventually, the world.

-With inputs from Sayoni Bhattacharjee, Manisha Sahni & The Satluj Innovation Department

Education

Dancing Beyond Boundaries – The Story of Krithiga Ravichandran

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In the heart of Puducherry, where colonial buildings wear salt stains and stories, lives a woman quietly orchestrating a revolution — barefoot, graceful, and defiant. Krithiga Ravichandran, a Bharatanatyam dancer and Assistant Professor of Computer Science, moves between two seemingly different worlds. But look closer, and both are bound by the same rhythm — teaching, nurturing, and transforming.

Born into a family where the arts were heritage, not hobby, Krithiga was raised by the sounds of mridangam, violin, and Carnatic ragas. Her earliest memories? Her grandmother reciting jathis while tapping on a steel plate. “That was my first dance class,” she recalls. “No stage. Just the veranda and a heart full of movement.” By five, she was training formally in Bharatanatyam. And yet, even then, she saw how exclusionary the classical arts could be. The costs — of costumes, jewellery, music recordings — kept so many young girls out.

In 2014, on her birthday, Krithiga founded the Veer Foundation of Arts and Culture Trust, inspired by her father’s values of service. With it, she began offering free Bharatanatyam classes to underprivileged girls. These weren’t just lessons in movement, but in identity. Under temple porticos, community halls, and now small studios, these girls train rigorously — not to perform for others, but to discover themselves.

When she’s not dancing, Krithiga teaches Computer Science at Indira Gandhi Arts and Science College.

“Whether I’m breaking down a loop or a mudra, it’s the same joy — watching a student’s eyes light up.”

Her days begin with code and end in abhinaya. Yet, this rhythm energizes her — it’s how she lives her purpose.

Over the years, shy girls who once hesitated to speak now take the stage with confidence. Dance has offered them more than grace — it has given them resilience. “They come unsure,” Krithiga says. “But they bloom. They plan rehearsals, mentor juniors, manage logistics. They lead.” What begins as dance becomes training in leadership, storytelling, budgeting, and cultural memory.

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Dancers in the Making, Leaders in the Wings

In a pioneering move, Krithiga introduced Bharatanatyam as a therapeutic tool inside Puducherry’s Central Prison. “It was experimental,” she admits. “But we saw remarkable change — calmness, awareness, even hope.”

Some questioned her decision. “Why offer sacred art to prisoners?” But she insists: “Who better to understand longing and repentance?” To Krithiga, art must include. Art must heal.

Creating safe, inclusive spaces for marginalised girls remains central to her vision. “They don’t just need a guru. They need a safe adult.” She counsels, supports, and makes sure no girl feels alone. From arranging transport to lending jewellery, she builds a circle of trust around them. Much of it runs on her own earnings. “If you believe in something, you fund it — with time, energy, and soul.”

Though she receives small donations — old costumes, music books — she’s kept the work intimate and rooted. “Every piece of jewellery on stage has a story,” she says. “Someone’s daughter outgrew it, someone remembered their Arangetram. It’s a circle of generosity.”

“Dance Doesn’t Ask Who You Are. It Asks, How Do You Feel?”

Krithiga’s vision is to build a holistic centre for classical arts — with a stage, library, wellness wing, and space for reflection. “I don’t want to just train dancers. I want to raise artists — those who know the pulse of the past and can choreograph the future.”

To her, Bharatanatyam isn’t ornamental. It’s essential. A language of liberation — especially for those the world forgets to watch.

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NCERT’s New Class 8 History Textbook Addresses “Darker Periods”, Highlights Religious Intolerance and Resilience

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The new NCERT Class 8 textbook presents Delhi Sultanate and Mughal-era events alongside advisory notes on historical context and responsible interpretation.

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has released the new Class 8 Social Science textbook Exploring Society: India and Beyond for the 2025–26 academic session, marking the first time students are introduced to the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Empire at this grade level under the revised National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023.

This new volume, aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, takes a more direct approach in describing episodes of violence, religious conflict, and iconoclasm during the 13th to 17th centuries, while simultaneously including cautionary notes emphasizing historical context and contemporary responsibility.

A Shift in Framing Historical Conflict

In a departure from previous editions, the book explicitly refers to political instability, destruction of religious sites, and forced conversions during the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal rule. It discusses multiple invasions, plunder campaigns, and attacks on temples by rulers and generals such as Malik Kafur and Alauddin Khilji.

A newly added explanatory section, titled “A Note on Some Darker Periods in History,” outlines the rationale for such inclusions, stating the intent is to understand historical violence dispassionately and not attribute blame to present-day communities. The note reads, “Understanding the historical origin of cruel violence, abusive misrule or misplaced ambitions of power is the best way to heal the past and build a future where, hopefully, they will have no place.”

Focus on Mughal Rule: Blending Power with Faith

The chapter titled Reshaping India’s Political Map covers major developments under the Mughals, from Babur to Aurangzeb. Babur is depicted as both a cultured figure and a “brutal conqueror,” with references to his own writings about the aftermath of his military campaigns. Akbar is described as having a reign marked by “a blend of brutality and tolerance,” acknowledging both his early military actions and later efforts at interfaith dialogue.

Aurangzeb’s rule is discussed in terms of both religious motivations and political strategy. The book references farmans (imperial edicts) ordering temple demolitions and notes debates among scholars about his intentions.

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While these sections document religious intolerance and violence, they are accompanied by recurring statements that urge students not to draw contemporary conclusions or apportion modern blame for historical events. One note reads: “Some of the invaders and rulers mentioned above committed terrible deeds and atrocities… but it is important to keep in mind that we, today, bear no responsibility for actions of individuals hundreds of years ago.”

Shivaji and the Marathas: Strategic Leadership and Cultural Identity

The subsequent chapter on the Marathas emphasizes Shivaji’s leadership, administrative innovation, and cultural contributions. He is portrayed as a leader who upheld his faith while respecting others and worked to restore desecrated temples.

According to the NCERT, these revisions are not simply textbook updates but part of a comprehensive overhaul that reimagines pedagogy and curriculum in light of NEP 2020. “Any comparison with the old syllabus and textbooks is therefore fruitless,” the NCERT said in a public statement.

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QS Rankings 2026: Delhi Named Most Affordable; Mumbai In Top 100 for Best Student Cities

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Delhi has emerged as the world’s most affordable city for students in the QS Best Student Cities 2026 rankings.

The QS Best Student Cities 2026 rankings, released on July 15 by UK-based higher education consultancy Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), have placed Seoul as the world’s best city for students, overtaking London and Tokyo for the first time. However, the rankings also mark significant progress for Indian cities, particularly on the affordability and employment outcomes fronts.

India’s four largest metros—Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Chennai—all improved their positions compared to last year. Mumbai re-entered the global top 100, climbing 15 spots to rank 98th. Delhi rose to 104th, Bangalore to 108th, and Chennai reached 128th.

Among the standout achievements, Delhi has been ranked the world’s most affordable city for students, scoring 96.5 out of 100 on the affordability index. Mumbai (86.3), Bangalore (84.3), and Chennai (80.1) also featured among the top 15 globally in this category. The affordability metric assesses cost-of-living factors such as tuition, housing, and daily expenses.

The QS Best Student Cities Rankings are based on six key indicators: QS university rankings, student mix, desirability, employer activity, affordability, and student view. To qualify, cities must have a population exceeding 250,000 and host at least two universities featured in the latest QS World University Rankings.

India’s upward trajectory in the 2026 edition reflects both domestic education reforms and international recognition. Jessica Turner, CEO of QS, noted that the progress aligns with the goals of India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, especially in promoting global engagement and student-centric learning. “In just ten years, India has seen a 390% increase in the number of universities featured in the QS World University Rankings,” she stated.

In the employer activity category, Delhi and Mumbai broke into the global top 50, signaling strong graduate employability. Bangalore registered the steepest climb, rising 41 positions to 59th, while Chennai jumped 29 spots, indicating the growing international credibility of graduates from these cities.

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Global Highlights:

  • Seoul ranked #1 globally, followed by Tokyo (#2) and London (#3).

  • Munich and Melbourne rounded off the global top five.

  • A notable shift toward Asia is evident, with 39 cities from the Asia-Pacific region (excluding Australia and New Zealand) featured in the rankings. Among the 34 Asian cities listed in 2025, 26 improved their positions this year.

  • Other high-performing Asian cities included Kuala Lumpur (#12), Beijing (#13), and Taipei (#14), achieving their highest-ever rankings.

As India approaches the fifth anniversary of NEP 2020, the steady rise of its cities in global education indices suggests that structural investments in quality, accessibility, and employability are beginning to pay off. While challenges remain, especially in global perception and desirability metrics, the country’s metros are steadily carving a space in the international higher education map.

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From Classrooms to Boardrooms: Women Leaders Drive the Vision of Viksit Bharat

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Women leaders from governance, academia, and industry converge at WeSchool Mumbai for the 'Women in Leadership for Viksit Bharat' summit.

The summit on ‘Women in Leadership for Viksit Bharat’, jointly hosted by WeSchool, the Association of Indian Management Schools (AIMS), and Ratan Tata Maharashtra State Skills University, brought together a cross-section of stakeholders from governance, academia, and industry to discuss a crucial gap in India’s growth story: the underrepresentation of women in leadership roles.

At the heart of the discussion was a paradox: while women constitute 48% of India’s higher education enrollment, only a fraction make it to decision-making roles. For instance, just 9–10% of women reach boardrooms, and a mere 12% occupy leadership positions, despite 41% of the country’s higher education cohort being female. These figures, presented and reiterated throughout the summit, underscore a pressing concern — that India’s demographic dividend is incomplete without addressing its gender leadership gap.

The event positioned itself not just as a ceremonial gathering but as a call to institutional action. Leaders stressed that India’s journey toward becoming a Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047 must be inclusive by design, not by default. That means policy, education, and workplace ecosystems must align to enable women from diverse socio-economic backgrounds to step into leadership roles.

The summit’s sessions explored key barriers — lack of access, socio-cultural constraints, gaps in mentorship, and the invisibilisation of women’s work in both formal and informal economies. There was also a strong focus on the role of skilling and education in building leadership capacity, particularly in sectors like STEM, administration, entrepreneurship, and governance.

Countries like Rwanda, Finland, and New Zealand were frequently referenced as case studies where inclusive leadership models have translated into stronger national outcomes — from better health and education indices to more equitable economies. India, speakers noted, has the talent pool — but it needs structural and cultural shifts to realise its full potential.

Prof. Dr. Uday Salunkhe, Group Director of WeSchool, pointed out: “While India sees 41% women in higher education, only 12% reach leadership roles — a gap we must urgently address. At WeSchool, we see education as a transformative force.”

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Dr. Apoorva Palkar, Founding VC of Ratan Tata Maharashtra State Skills University, echoed that sentiment, highlighting that this isn’t just a gender issue — “It’s a missed opportunity for inclusive growth.” If women aren’t present at tables where decisions are made, she argued, “those decisions will never fully represent or benefit society at large.”

Government participation was also robust, with IAS officers including Mrs. Vinita Singhal, Mrs. Radhika Rastogi, and Mrs. Manisha Verma bringing grassroots perspectives on gender-inclusive policy design. Academic leaders like Dr. Ujwala Chakradeo and Dr. Upasna Agrawal discussed institutional reforms to embed leadership training early in educational pathways.

Industry voices such as Ms. Aarti Harbhajanka (Primus Partners), Dr. Tanaya Mishra (In-Solution Global Ltd.), and Ms. Poyni Bhatt (formerly of SINE–IIT Bombay) provided insights into how startup ecosystems and corporate governance structures can either accelerate or inhibit women’s rise to the top.

Throughout the summit, one theme remained constant: India cannot afford to exclude half its population from the leadership narrative. The path to a developed India must be paved with inclusive leadership, and that means reimagining how women access, navigate, and shape systems of power and progress.

The summit concluded with a shared resolve: to turn dialogue into design, and design into durable change. If Viksit Bharat is the destination, women’s leadership is the vehicle that can drive us there — faster, fairer, and stronger.

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The Man Who Called His Students Gods: Dwijendranath Ghosh

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Dwijendranath Ghosh calls himself ordinary.

But how many “ordinary” people spend their retirement building a school from scratch — with no funding, no government salary, and no promise of support? How many choose to teach every day, without compensation, well into their 70s? And how many refer to their students — many from the most marginalised sections of rural Bengal — as gods?

At 78, Ghosh is the heart and soul of Basantapur Junior High School in West Bengal’s Hooghly district. He opens the gate each morning. He teaches children for free. He never left his village — but his impact now reaches far beyond it.

From Barefoot Dreams to Blackboards

Ghosh’s journey is rooted in personal struggle. Growing up in deep poverty, he had no books, no uniforms, and no certainty. His childhood was spent walking barefoot to school, borrowing textbooks, and studying by the glow of kerosene lamps. And yet, he rose. A master’s degree from Burdwan University followed in 1973.

“The pain of those days still haunts me,” he says. “But it also shaped me.”

That pain turned into purpose. Soon after graduating, he and a few friends began running an informal high school in their village—unrecognised, unpaid, but unstoppable. For nine years, they taught with nothing but commitment. When the government finally recognised the school in 1982, Ghosh had already left to take a government job elsewhere, forced by financial needs.

The Second School

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He retired in 2008. But instead of resting, he returned to his village and found that little had changed. Girls were still dropping out after primary school. Child marriage was common. A generation was fading into invisibility. So he began again. With no funding, no building, and no staff, he worked for five years to create Basantapur Junior High School.

In 2014, the school was officially recognised. But the journey was never about the paperwork — it was about presence. Every morning, Ghosh arrives before the first bell. He teaches, supports, and uplifts — without compensation. Because for him, teaching is service.

A Volunteer Army — Running on Faith

He’s not alone. A team of young, educated, but unemployed volunteer teachers stands beside him. They could have chosen easier paths, but chose this one out of belief, not benefit. They are unpaid. At times, local donors offer small stipends, but it’s inconsistent. Most are struggling, yet they return every day. “They have given the most valuable years of their lives,” Ghosh says.

The school receives only ₹25,000 a year as a government grant. For three years, even that was inaccessible. What kept it alive? Former students, now grown, are donating what they can. The community is pitching in. Alumni returning to teach. When a government teacher recently disrespected the volunteers, the team almost walked out. But students and parents wouldn’t let them. Ghosh stepped in to calm tensions.

“We can’t let one bad moment undo decades of good,” he told them.

A Temple Against Child Marriage

One of the school’s biggest challenges is child marriage. In villages like Basantapur, girls are often married by 14—seen as burdens, not futures. By offering local access to education, the school has become a shield. Many girls have completed higher education here. But the battle continues. “This trend,” Ghosh says, “is like an infection. It keeps coming back.”

At Basantapur Junior High School, learning is about more than grades. Students perform in cultural shows, play football and cricket, and take part in morning assemblies. They learn to speak, to lead, to dream. There’s no structured life skills module—because the school itself is the life lesson. Students know they are seen, heard, and cared for. Teachers know their work matters. And visitors walk away knowing this is not just a school—it’s a movement.

His empathy, his daily discipline, and his belief in every child form the blueprint that his students follow. And his impact lives in their dreams.

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The Final Lesson

What does his family think?

“They worry about my health,” he laughs. “Not about the money.”

His pension is enough for his needs. What he seeks is not comfort — but recognition for his team. “These teachers have earned the right to be made permanent. A hundred times over,” he says.

When asked what keeps him going, he simply says:

“So long as I am in the school, I am alive.”

In an education system obsessed with metrics, Ghosh offers something rare: meaning.

He didn’t build a career.
He built a sanctuary.
He didn’t earn a salary.
He earned generations of gratitude.

And in every child who enters Basantapur Junior High, the final lesson is quietly imprinted:

Service is not sacrifice. It’s grace.

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NCERT Launches New Class 5 & 8 Textbooks, Makes Art Education Mandatory

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The new NCERT books highlight India’s scientific achievements and cultural richness while encouraging activity-based learning. (Representational/File)

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has launched a new set of textbooks for Classes 5 and 8 for the 2025–26 academic session, designed in accordance with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023. This marks a significant shift in India’s school education approach, with a renewed focus on creativity, scientific temper, skill development, and values rooted in Indian heritage.

The new Class 8 textbooks include Curiosity (Science), Kaushal Bodh (Vocational Education), Poorvi (English), Malhaar (Hindi), and Kriti (Art Education). For Class 5, the newly introduced books are Santoor (English) and Veena (Hindi). Designed with simple language and rich visuals, these books aim to spark curiosity while enhancing concept clarity.

Among the highlights is Curiosity, the Class 8 science book that covers topics across physics, chemistry, and biology through real-life examples and activity-based modules. It includes dedicated chapters on COVID-19 vaccine development, India’s space missions like Chandrayaan, Ayurveda, and the Make in India initiative—positioning science education within the context of India’s modern achievements.

Kaushal Bodh introduces students to skill-based learning, preparing them for real-world employment and entrepreneurship. Poorvi, the Class 8 English book, presents stories based on the lives of national icons such as Major Somnath Sharma, Verghese Kurien, and physicist Bibha Choudhary to inspire values like courage and innovation.

In a landmark move, art education has been made compulsory. Kriti brings music, drama, and theatre into the mainstream classroom, as recommended by NEP 2020. This initiative aims to nurture creativity across disciplines, allowing children to express themselves beyond textbooks and tests.

For younger learners, the new Class 5 books Santoor and Veena adopt an activity-based learning model that promotes language acquisition through stories, songs, and play—departing from rote methods to make early education more engaging.

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Despite enthusiasm from schools and parents, distribution has seen some hurdles. Reports indicate limited stock availability on platforms like Amazon and in local stores. Many parents and educators are urging NCERT to make digital versions of the books available in PDF format. NCERT has acknowledged the demand and plans to print over 15 crore copies to meet nationwide needs. Partnerships with e-commerce platforms are also being explored to streamline delivery.

This new textbook rollout is part of a broader national effort to reimagine the Indian classroom—rooted in local knowledge, focused on real-world skills, and responsive to 21st-century learning needs.

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US Embassy Tightens Social Media Checks for Student Visas

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Indian students heading to the US are being urged to remove political content from their social media to avoid visa complications amid new scrutiny protocols.

The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi has intensified its vetting process for applicants of F, M, and J non-immigrant visas by requiring disclosure of and public access to social media accounts used over the past five years. Under the updated rules, all social media handles—including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok, Reddit, and others—must be listed on the DS‑160 form, and profiles must be set to public during the visa screening process.

Consular officers are explicitly authorised to review candidates’ public posts, comments, and shares—and may even check private messages—to assess “hostility toward the United States” or support for extremist or anti‑U.S. content. Failure to comply, misrepresent information, or omit an account can result in visa denial and bar future visa eligibility.

This update forms part of a broader expansion of screening procedures initiated in June. Diplomatic posts worldwide paused student visa interviews to implement the new protocol, which treats every visa decision as a “national security decision”.   The U.S. Embassy in India also recently issued a reminder via X, stating continuous monitoring of visa holders is in effect and violations of U.S. laws—even after visa issuance—can result in revocation and deportation.

These changes reflect the U.S. administration’s emphasis on enhanced national security and combating visa fraud. While some students and immigration advocates have raised concerns about privacy and freedom of expression, the Embassy stresses that visa screening is an ongoing process. Indian students and other applicants are advised to review their online activity and ensure transparency with their DS‑160 submissions.

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A School Without Walls: The Pehchaan Story, Led by Akash Tandon

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Sometimes the biggest change begins with the smallest act — a few mats on the ground, five curious children, and a group of young volunteers refusing to look away.

In the heart of Delhi, just steps away from the WHO headquarters and the grandeur of Lutyens’ Delhi, an open drain separates two vastly different worlds. On one side: embassies, privilege, policy. On the other: a slum of over 10,000 people, where childhood is often lost to labour, illness, and invisibility.

It’s here that Pehchaan — The Street School — took root.

“We knew we couldn’t change the world. But we could change someone’s world.”

For co-founder Akash Tandon, Pehchaan wasn’t part of a five-year plan. It was a response. A moment of reckoning, watching children play in a toxic drain, unaware of the danger. “This isn’t water,” they told the kids. “It’s poison.” The kids laughed.

That laugh stayed with them.

So Akash and his friends returned. Not with speeches or slogans — but with notebooks, mats, and the stubborn belief that every child, no matter their address, deserves to learn.

What started as a weekend effort with five students has now grown into a network of 10 centres, reaching over 1,600 children. And yet, Pehchaan remains fiercely grassroots — no paid staff, no office, no formal backing. Just a living, breathing movement powered entirely by volunteers.

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Education That Heals

Pehchaan doesn’t just teach. It listens. It adapts. It believes that the first step to learning is dignity — and that means personalised mentorship, trust, and a curriculum that sees the child beyond the textbook.

Children are grouped into three learning tracks: those already in school who need support, dropouts looking to rejoin, and first-time learners who’ve never stepped inside a classroom. The model is lean but layered — with low student-volunteer ratios, personalised goals, and modules that blend academics with life skills.

There’s dance, storytelling, debate, and painting. There’s coding and digital literacy. And there’s space to be seen.

“My school encouraged me to sing, speak, perform,” says Preeti Adhikari, a longtime Pehchaan volunteer. “These children deserve that too. Because it’s not just about marks — it’s about confidence.”

From Drain to Degree

One story stays close to Akash’s heart.

A boy joined Pehchaan in Class 3. He faced pressure to drop out and start working. But he stayed. Pehchaan gave him academic support, counselling, and community. He completed Class 12 with 86%. Then cracked the Delhi University entrance exam.

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But the resistance didn’t stop. “What will you earn from books?” neighbours asked. Still, Pehchaan raised the funds, got him into college — and today, that boy teaches at the same centre where he once sat as a student.

“He’s the proof,” Akash says. “That this works. That this matters.”

A System That Runs Without a System

Despite being volunteer-run, Pehchaan operates with the discipline of a corporate team. Every 10 teaching assistants report to a centre head. Weekly reports are filed. Interns handle HR, design, digital media, and curriculum — all without salaries.

In 2024 alone, 8,000+ interns from 75+ colleges joined hands with Pehchaan. Many now lead verticals, train others, or launch their own community learning spaces.

“Earlier I taught five kids,” one intern said. “Now I’m hiring 30 volunteers who each teach five. That’s impact at scale.”

The community, too, is beginning to notice. Blanket drives, nutrition partnerships, and the newly launched Digital Literacy Lab — built with scrap funding and donated laptops — have brought a sense of permanence to the pop-up classrooms.

But the hardest barrier? Still parents.

“You show up for 10 years — then they believe you.”

Convincing slum families to send their children — especially girls — to informal schools was a long battle. Many children still get married by 14. Others are pushed into work.

But when the same group of volunteers keeps returning, year after year, in sun, rain, or smog — trust begins to grow. “We’ve moved beyond convincing now,” Akash reflects. “We’re building the next layer. It’s about dignity.”

Girls who once never stepped outside now give public speeches. Boys once caught in addiction now mentor others.

Akash is clear about the goal: “We don’t want to go pan-India. We want 50 other Pehchaans to emerge. That’s how you scale — by letting go.”

Read the full story in our latest issue, Teacher Warriors 2025.

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Education

CBSE Requests Affiliated Schools to Host NIOS Public Exams in October–November 2025

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CBSE has urged its schools to register as exam centres for the NIOS October–November 2025 public examinations.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has called on its affiliated schools to assist with the conduct of the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) public examinations scheduled for October–November 2025.

In a recent official communication addressed to principals and heads of schools, CBSE emphasised that NIOS requires infrastructural and logistical support to conduct its biannual board examinations, which include assessments for Class 10, Class 12, and various vocational courses.

“The next Public Examinations of NIOS are scheduled to be held in October–November 2025,” the notice stated, adding that CBSE-affiliated institutions have historically played a key role in enabling NIOS to run its exams smoothly.

Schools willing to extend support have been asked to register their intent on the official NIOS website at https://exams.nios.ac.in under the section: Examination Centre > Register Now.

NIOS operates under the Ministry of Education and is the country’s largest open schooling body. It caters to learners from diverse backgrounds, offering flexibility in learning and examination schedules, especially for students who may be outside the traditional school system.

“Your assistance will help NIOS in holding Public Examinations of its learners,” the CBSE notice concluded, underlining the collaborative nature of this effort.

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By participating in this initiative, CBSE schools are not only supporting a national mandate for inclusive education but also contributing to educational equity by helping millions of NIOS learners access fair and organised exam environments.

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Education

When AI Reaches the Top of Bloom’s—and Our Students Are Left Behind

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In a world where AI can mimic art, our children must master the art of being human (Representational AI Image)

We often talk about how AI is transforming education, but are we talking enough about what it’s quietly taking away?

CREATIVITY

As Sir Ken Robinson often reminded us,“Creativity is as important as literacy.”

And yet, in a system so focused on marks, rubrics, and outcomes,creativity is often the first thing we sacrifice.

Bloom’s Taxonomy places Creating right at the top,but in many classrooms today, it feels like AI has reached that level faster than our students have.While children are still figuring out sentence structure and grammar, AI is already generating poems, paintings, and polished presentations with a single click.

Which brings us to a deeply uncomfortable question:

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What happens when AI starts to “create”?
And more importantly—what happens when our students stop?

Today’s AI isn’t truly creative.It mimics. It reuses. It draws from patterns and reproduces what’s already been done.And if we don’t pause now to protect what’s uniquely human,we risk raising a generation of students who know how to use tools,but don’t know how to think.

Everything’s Starting to Look the Same

I’ve seen it. You’ve probably seen it too.

Creative writing tasks that sound strangely uniform.Artwork that feels formulaic.Presentations that are polished, yes, but empty.AI has democratised access to intelligence,but in doing so, it has started to flatten creativity.We’re now at a point where students are outsourcing not just answers,but imagination.

But true creativity cannot be prompted.It’s messy. It’s emotional. It’s born out of thinking, feeling, failing, and trying again. It lives in how we interpret the world. In how we care. In how we connect.

How Can We Bring Creativity Back?

We need to bring back the building blocks of creativity.

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READ
Let students read more deeply,not just skim or summarise.Let them feel what’s in the pages, get lost in ideas, debate their favourite character in a book or movie, and form their own emotional connections.

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
Let’s re-focus on learning through doing,projects, fieldwork, play, nature, making mistakes, working with hands, collaborating, and reflecting.It’s in these non-linear, real-world experiences that creativity quietly blooms.

FINDING THE PURPOSE
We need to pause and ask: What is this child truly passionate about?
It could be animals, gardening, football, art—anything that sparks joy and curiosity.
Once we discover that passion, we can connect learning to it.
Let’s not just ask what they’re reading, but why they’re reading it.
What inspires them? How can that interest help them solve real-world problems?
That’s when learning becomes meaningful,and creativity starts to flow with purpose.

Because by the time they grow up,the world won’t just need people who can use AI – It will need people who can imagine what AI cannot.

(more…)

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