CBSE launches ‘Oil Boards’ in schools

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July 17, 2025

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has rolled out a new mandate urging all affiliated schools to install ‘oil boards’. This initiative builds upon the earlier introduction of ‘sugar boards’ and is designed to educate young minds on the health risks associated with excessive oil intake.

The campaign comes amid troubling figures from the National Family Health Survey (2019–21), which revealed that over 20% of India’s adult population is overweight or obese. A recent Lancet study paints an even grimmer picture, projecting that nearly 45 crore Indians could fall into this category by 2050 if preventive steps aren’t taken. Experts point to early intervention—especially in childhood—as key to reversing this upward trend.

To make wellness a regular part of school life, CBSE has outlined a comprehensive strategy that includes:

Installing informative ‘oil boards’ across cafeterias, corridors, and classrooms, featuring digital or static health messages
Printing nutritional reminders on school supplies such as notebooks, letterheads, and envelopes
Encouraging schools to promote fruit and vegetable consumption while incorporating movement breaks and physical activities into the daily routine

Additionally, CBSE has provided design templates for both oil and sugar awareness boards, but has left ample room for schools to localize content and encourage student-led participation. Schools are being urged to creatively involve children through artwork, posters, and interactive projects, turning this into a practical and engaging learning experience.

Also Read: Alok Kumar Rai takes over as Director of IIM Calcutta

With this proactive approach, CBSE aims to build a culture of healthy living on campuses and play a critical role in the nation’s broader fight against lifestyle-related diseases.

Alok Kumar Rai takes over as Director of IIM Calcutta

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Kaanchi Chawla

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July 17, 2025

Professor Alok Kumar Rai, Vice-Chancellor of Lucknow University, has been appointed as the new Director of the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (IIM-C). The appointment has been approved by President Droupadi Murmu, who serves as the Visitor of IIM-C, as per the provisions of the amended IIM Act, 2017 (Section 16 (2)).

This marks a historic milestone for Lucknow University, as Professor Rai becomes the first vice-chancellor from the institution to be selected for such a prestigious leadership role in a central institute like IIM. His appointment is also notable as one of the rare instances where a non-IIM academic has been chosen to head an IIM.

The Ministry of Education has communicated the appointment via an official letter, with a directive that the IIM-C Board issue a formal appointment letter and Professor Rai submit his acceptance for record-keeping.

IIM Calcutta had been without a permanent full-term director for nearly two years. Before leading Lucknow University, Professor Rai served as a management professor at Banaras Hindu University and held key positions across various high-level national committees and academic panels.

His tenure at Lucknow University is widely recognized for transformative changes. Under his leadership, the university earned an A++ accreditation from NAAC—the first in Uttar Pradesh to achieve this distinction. It was also granted Category-I status by the UGC and climbed into the top 100 of the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), securing 32nd rank among state public universities.

Professor Rai oversaw the successful implementation of the National Education Policy (2020) at LU and led the university through its centenary year with major initiatives and celebrations. His tenure also saw LU becoming a hub for international students, establishing one of the largest global cohorts among Indian universities.

Also Read: PMKVY marks 10 years – Over 6 crore Indians skilled

He was instrumental in launching LUCODE (Lucknow University Centre for Online and Distance Education) and its in-house digital learning platform SLATE. Moreover, his vision led to the creation of new faculties—Pharmacy, Management, and Agriculture—and laid the groundwork for a third university campus.

PMKVY marks 10 years – Over 6 crore Indians skilled

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Kaanchi Chawla

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July 15, 2025

India’s flagship skilling programme, the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), completes a decade, having helped train over 6 crore people through various initiatives since 2014. Of these, more than 1.6 crore were trained under PMKVY alone.

Evolving to Meet Industry Needs

Launched in 2015, PMKVY has grown from short-term training to a comprehensive approach including apprenticeships, entrepreneurship support, and global job readiness. The latest phase, PMKVY 4.0, has trained over 25 lakh youth as of July 2025, featuring AI-based analytics, credit portability, and integration with the Skill India Digital Hub.

Inclusive and Diverse Training

Nearly 45% of PMKVY trainees are women, with strong participation from SC, ST, and OBC groups. Special projects have targeted tribal youth, prison inmates, and artisans, with Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) helping certify existing skills in states like Jammu & Kashmir and Nagaland.

Balancing Tradition and Technology

PMKVY supports training in manufacturing, IT, healthcare, and retail, while also preparing workers for emerging fields like AI, drones, and IoT. New Centres of Excellence in Hyderabad and Chennai aim to raise training standards nationwide.

Also Read: Kumar Mangalam Birla announces ₹2,200 Cr expansion for BITS Pilani

Boosted by Other Government Schemes

Complementary schemes such as PM Vishwakarma Yojana (over 2.7 crore applications) support traditional artisans, while DDU-GKY has trained nearly 17 lakh rural youth since 2014. RSETIs have trained over 56 lakh people this year alone, encouraging entrepreneurship in rural areas.

Kumar Mangalam Birla announces ₹2,200 Cr expansion for BITS Pilani

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Kaanchi Chawla

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July 14, 2025

On July 13, Aditya Birla Group Chairman and BITS Pilani Chancellor Kumar Mangalam Birla announced a ₹2,200-crore expansion plan to transform BITS Pilani into a future-ready, globally competitive institution. The plan focuses on modernising existing campuses, building a new AI-focused centre, and launching a large-scale digital learning platform.

Under the initiative, over ₹1,200 crore will be invested in upgrading the Pilani, Hyderabad, and Goa campuses with new research facilities, academic blocks, hostels, and faculty housing. This is expected to increase the combined student capacity from 18,700 to 26,000 over the next five years.

A separate ₹1,000 crore will be allocated to establish an AI+ Campus in Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh. Designed as a cutting-edge hub for AI, data science, robotics, and cyber-physical systems, the campus will accommodate over 7,000 students and offer globally benchmarked UG, PG, and PhD programmes in collaboration with international universities.

Also Read: Prof Neeraj Dwivedi takes charge as new Director of IIM Kashipur

Additionally, BITS Pilani will launch a full-scale edtech platform, BITS Pilani Digital, aimed at reaching over 1 lakh learners in five years. The platform will offer 32 industry-aligned degree and certificate programmes with career support and optional campus immersion. Birla said these initiatives align with India’s National Education Policy, aiming to make quality education more inclusive, accessible, and globally competitive.

Prof Neeraj Dwivedi takes charge as new Director of IIM Kashipur

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Kaanchi Chawla

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July 11, 2025

The Indian Institute of Management Kashipur has appointed Prof Neeraj Dwivedi as its new Director. A seasoned academic and strategist, Prof Dwivedi brings over 25 years of diverse experience across education, leadership, and industry.

An IIM Lucknow Fellow in Strategic Management, he also holds an MTech from IIT Kharagpur and a BTech from GB Pant University, Pantnagar. Before joining IIM Kashipur, he was a senior faculty member at IIM Lucknow, where he held several key roles including Dean, Chairperson of PG Programmes, and Board Member.

Prof Dwivedi played a critical role in IIM Lucknow’s AACSB accreditation journey and was the national convener of CAT 2017, overseeing one of the country’s most challenging exams.

His career spans institutions like IIM Kozhikode, IIM Indore, and AIT Thailand, along with a strong corporate background, having worked with organisations such as NTPC, ONGC, Indian Oil, Samsung, McKinsey & Co., and Tata Play.

Renowned for his expertise in strategy, M&A, and governance, Prof Dwivedi has won multiple national and international awards for research and teaching. His M&A elective was twice voted the best strategy course at IIM Lucknow.

Also Read: Utpal Borpujari joins Advisory Board of India’s first industry-led creative skills incubator

Sharing his vision for the institute, he said, “IIM Kashipur is poised for transformation. My goal is to build a forward-looking, tech-driven, multi-disciplinary institution with a strong global presence and a reputation for academic excellence.”

With this appointment, IIM Kashipur aims to accelerate its growth trajectory under a future-focused leadership.

Utpal Borpujari joins Advisory Board of India’s first industry-led creative skills incubator

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Kaanchi Chawla

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July 10, 2025

National Award-winning filmmaker and former journalist Utpal Borpujari has been appointed to the Board of Advisors of the Indian Institute of Creative Skills (IICS), India’s pioneering industry-led creative incubator.

Chaired by Oscar-winning sound designer Resul Pookuty and run by the Media & Entertainment Skills Council (MESC) under the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, IICS aims to bridge the industry-academia gap through hands-on, skill-based courses.

Borpujari joins an eminent panel featuring Girish Kasaravalli, Rahul Rawail, Shonali Bose, Dia Mirza, Neeta Lulla, Sham Kaushal, Kausar Munir, and Ravi K Chandran. He also serves on the apex body of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC Society).

The institute, supported by NSDC Academy, will offer degree and certificate programs in sound design, animation, costume and makeup, digital content creation, media management, and more. Its first campus is set to open in Delhi, with nine additional campuses planned across India.

Also Read: Shrewsbury International School India to open doors in Bhopal on August 8

Expressing gratitude for the opportunity, Borpujari urged young people, especially from the Northeast, to seize this platform to build careers in the fast-growing creative sector. Admissions for select programs are already underway, promising industry mentorship and live projects.

Shrewsbury International School India to open doors in Bhopal on August 8

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Kaanchi Chawla

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July 8, 2025

Shrewsbury International School India is set to commence its academic journey on August 8, 2025, welcoming its inaugural batch at a 150-acre green campus in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. This marks the first Indian venture of the renowned 473-year-old UK-based Shrewsbury School.

Also Read: Canva and NCERT partner to empower Indian teachers with free digital design and AI training

Blending Indian ethos with British academic excellence, the school will follow the English National Curriculum, offering IGCSE and A-Level pathways for students aged 11–18. The eco-conscious campus features solar-powered infrastructure, advanced classrooms, dedicated spaces for arts and sciences, sports complexes, boarding houses, and India’s first indoor rowing tank in a school setting.

Canva and NCERT partner to empower Indian teachers with free digital design and AI training

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Kaanchi Chawla

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July 7, 2025

Canva has partnered with the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to provide free training and certification programs for educators across India. These courses will be hosted on the Ministry of Education’s DIKSHA platform and align with the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

Through this collaboration, teachers will gain free access to Canva’s education suite, which is specially designed for visual and collaborative teaching. The program includes training modules that help educators use Canva’s tools to design creative lesson plans, interactive infographics, and dynamic classroom presentations. Teachers will also explore how to use AI features to improve content creation and foster deeper student engagement.

NCERT will ensure the training material is aligned with national curriculum standards and made available in several Indian languages. To ensure broader reach, especially in regions with limited internet access, the content will also be broadcast via PM e-Vidya DTH channels.

Upon successful completion, teachers will receive a jointly issued certificate from NCERT and Canva, adding value to their professional development.

Also Read: Uttar Pradesh Government clears new universities for Ayodhya and Ghaziabad

Highlighting Canva’s growing impact in education, the company revealed that over 100 million students and educators worldwide are currently using the platform. In 2024 alone, more than 1 billion designs were created, many enhanced by Canva’s AI-driven features like Dream Lab. Teacher use of AI tools has grown by 50% in the past year, while student engagement has more than doubled.

This partnership marks a significant step in equipping educators with creative confidence and practical digital tools to elevate learning experiences across the country.

Coursera strengthens APAC focus with new MD Ashutosh Gupta

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Kaanchi Chawla

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July 7, 2025

Coursera has named Ashutosh Gupta as its new Managing Director for India and Asia Pacific (APAC), signaling a sharper focus on enterprise upskilling and AI-driven learning in the region.

Gupta will steer regional strategy and partnerships with governments, universities, and businesses to expand the adoption of Coursera’s AI-powered learning tools and micro-credentials. His appointment comes amid rising demand for digital skills, public-private education initiatives, and AI transformation across APAC.

With over 20 years in digital transformation and go-to-market strategy, Gupta previously advised SaaS firms as an Operating Partner at Avataar Ventures and led LinkedIn’s marketing solutions for APAC mid-market and SMB segments. He has also held senior roles at Google, Cognizant, and Infosys.

Also Read: Dr. Jawahar Surisetti appointed as Vice Chancellor of RISU

Coursera said Gupta’s expertise in public-private partnerships and scaling regional businesses will be critical as it helps institutions adapt to an AI-first world. The platform currently serves over 59 million learners in APAC and is expanding its academic and industry partnerships to meet the region’s evolving skilling needs.

Uttar Pradesh Government clears new universities for Ayodhya and Ghaziabad

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Kaanchi Chawla

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July 7, 2025

The Uttar Pradesh government has given the go-ahead for establishing two new private universities, aiming to strengthen the state’s higher education system. Approvals were granted for Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Ramayan University in Ayodhya and Ajay Kumar Garg University in Ghaziabad, reflecting the government’s efforts to expand educational opportunities across the state.

According to an official release on Friday, these decisions are part of the government’s broader strategy to transform Uttar Pradesh into a hub for modern, inclusive, and accessible higher education. Ayodhya will see the development of a university focused on Ramayan studies and heritage, while Ghaziabad, known for its industrial base, will host an engineering-oriented institution.

Hon’ble Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s administration has emphasized improving education through better infrastructure and greater private-sector involvement. Higher Education Minister Yogendra Upadhyay explained that the government is encouraging private investment and innovation to meet the growing demand for education.

He also noted that both university proposals were reviewed and approved through a streamlined, time-bound process designed to improve local access to quality higher education.

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Ramayan University has now been formally approved under the Uttar Pradesh Private Universities Act, 2025. With official notification complete, it can begin formal operations under state guidelines.

Meanwhile, Ajay Kumar Garg University, backed by the Indian Institute of Management and Engineering Society in Ghaziabad, has received a letter of intent under Section 6 of the Uttar Pradesh Private Universities Act, 2019, marking an important step toward its establishment.

Also Read: Shri Rajit Punhani appointed as Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship

To gain approval in Uttar Pradesh, private universities must meet defined standards, including maintaining an endowment fund of at least ₹5 crores, securing a minimum of 20 acres of urban land, and developing at least 24,000 square meters of academic facilities.

The announcement was made in the presence of senior officials, including Minister of State for Higher Education Rajni Tiwari, Principal Secretary M.P. Agrawal, Special Secretary Nidhi Srivastava, and other department representatives.

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