The IIT Rurikov Institute issued a clarification regarding a supposed email sent to students aimed at preventing protests, stating that many media reports on the matter are erroneous. According to the institute's information, the recommendation sent to students and staff concerning social media and public activity was not a new directive but part of a regular annual internal consultation.
IIT Rurikov rejected the claim that this recommendation constituted a restriction on students' right to express opinions or participate in protests. The institute emphasized that the main goal of such guidelines is to maintain safety on campus, protect the academic environment from potential violations, and ensure the uninterrupted operation of the institution.
The institution expected all students and personnel to use social media responsibly and avoid any actions that could negatively affect the order or safety of the institute. Previously, some student organizations and social media posts claimed that the institute had banned participation in online and offline protests.
Following the emergence of these reports, IIT Rurikov officially provided clarifications, noting that the recommendation was presented out of context. The institute reaffirmed its respect for students' freedom of expression but insisted that all actions must be conducted in compliance with legislation, institute rules, and campus safety measures. Thus, the recommendation is intended to promote responsible behavior and preserve the academic atmosphere, not to restrict legal rights.
The tests for admission to higher education institutions for the 2026-2027 academic year are continuing according to the established plan. According to data from the Agency for Assessment of Knowledge and Skills, 677,907 applicants submitted documents to higher education institutions this year. Applicants have the opportunity to choose their specialties from 222 state and private higher education institutions.
Exams are being held at 64 major testing sites across the Republic, one of which is located in the city of Fergana. This morning, nearly fifteen hundred applicants arrived at the testing site, underwent special checks, and were admitted to the area. Although there were cases in previous years where someone else entered instead of the applicant, this has now been completely prohibited. Special identification cameras are being used to track each applicant's 'history.'
According to Zohidjon Khalmirzaev, the responsible employee of the Agency for Assessment of Knowledge and Skills' Fergana Regional Department, over 64,000 applicants will take exams in the Fergana region. In total, places have been prepared for 3,450 applicants across 7 districts and 9 buildings here, all equipped with identification cameras. The technical means are sufficiently provided to identify the applicant, and the possibility of separating twins like Fatima-Zuhra has also been created.
Due to the fact that the Sugh district of Fergana region is an enclave, special opportunities have been given to Sugh applicants. As Zohidjon Khalmirzaev emphasized, because the Sugh district is an enclave area, the applicants were not called to the cities of Fergana or Margilom, but rather the exams were organized in Sugh itself. Over 1,700 applicants participated in the tests in Sugh during the period of the 17th to the 20th.
Since positive exam results are a source of joy for families, many parents who came to monitor the exam have been present. The agency's regional department has created comfortable conditions for them. Zohidjon Khalmirzaev also announced that the examination process is being displayed via the 'Test – 2026' website through online cameras, and parents have the opportunity to monitor this process.
Professor Ashok Jundhvanwala, known for his contribution to the development of deep technologies in India, called on the country to think bigger. During the presentation of the biography 'Roots & Wings: Building India's Deep Tech Ecosystem' in Delhi, he stated that India's transformation would depend not on a small number of startups, but on creating a massive number of builders.
He suggested that if twenty million entrepreneurs could be created, it would transform the entire country. He made these remarks in a conversation with Shraddha Sharma, founder and CEO of YourStory and The Bharat Project.
The book, written by entrepreneur Saloni Malhotra, who studied under him for seven years, traces Professor Jundhvanwala's journey from his return to India in 1981 and his four-decade work in building institutions, most notably the IIT Madras Research Park—a model that changed the interaction between academia and industry in India.
The figures shared by the professor impressed the audience. The Research Park rejected government funding because, as he said, 'easy money is harmful.' Instead, it took loans of about 300–350 crore rupees from banks, repaid them in full, and achieved a net profit of 80 crore rupees. By June 2024, the park had created 350 startups with a total valuation reaching 70,000 crore rupees, having spent only about 2–3 crore rupees of public funds.
His approach involved uniting 150,000 Indian scientists who publish research but rarely translate it into practice with talented young people, especially from middle and lower-middle-class families, who aspire to create something new.
This conviction now motivates his new challenge. Through the ITEL Foundation, which he heads, a consortium is being formed to develop an eco-friendly and affordable urban transport system. This system promises to move passengers 15 km in 20 minutes. After a successful demonstration of the model on campus, the team plans to implement it in the city of Sri City next year, with the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh N Chandrababu Naidu offering his state as the first testing ground.
Professor Jundhvanwala presented his most controversial views on education. He argued that 50% of engineering and school curricula could be completely eliminated, as educational institutions should teach students skills of learning and creation, not preparation for exams. He emphasized: 'We don't need training for exams. Learn to build, build anything, build together.' While acknowledging the controversial nature of this view, he insisted on his position.
He recalled how the proposal to reserve seats for women at IIT changed these institutions. Today, there are approximately 250 women in the batch of 1000 undergraduate students at IIT Madras, compared to only two in the class at IIT Kanpur, which had 400 people.
Responding to a question about artificial intelligence, he gave a realistic assessment: India imports almost all technologies, from battery cells to microchips, and must first solve its own problems, such as transport, waste, flooding, and fertilizer imports, which he called huge opportunities.
For a person who has declined leadership positions at IIT and states that he seeks neither money, nor fame, nor power, the mission remains unfinished. He expressed a desire to see India transform and become happy on a large scale. If his goal of twenty million entrepreneurs is achieved, this future may arrive sooner than expected.
Amid a political crisis caused by the NEET exam leak scandal and growing opposition protests, the Center announced on Wednesday its readiness to discuss the issue in Parliament. Meanwhile, opposition parties continue to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The parliamentary affairs representative, Kiran Rijiju, clearly outlined the Center's position in the Lok Sabha, stating that the government is prepared to consider the problem. Rijiju reported that the Center has approached the Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla, requesting a cross-party meeting to determine the rules, date, and duration of the discussion.
The minister emphasized that the government strives for constructive dialogue for the future of the country's youth. However, this statement failed to appease the opposition, which renewed its criticism of the Center and questioned why Dharmendra Pradhan continues to hold his post.
The senior leader of the Samajwadi Party, Akhilesh Yadav, accused the government of trying to protect the education minister. He questioned the reasons why the minister could not be removed, suggesting that he might be holding government secrets, causing the government to 'act fearfully.' Speaking later in the Lok Sabha, Akhilesh noted that the issue goes beyond partisan politics and concerns the future of millions of students.
He also pointed to the government's improper conduct, mentioning that students were subjected to beatings, which forced activists to protest near the Prime Minister's residence. Akhilesh asked why the Prime Minister cannot make a statement in the House if he makes statements outside of it.
The Trinamool Congress MP, Kalyan Banerjee, intensified the opposition's pressure, insisting that elected representatives would continue protests until accountability was ensured. Banerjee stated that they would fight everywhere, and Dharmendra Pradhan would have to resign, while simultaneously attacking the government as a whole.
Recent events in Parliament took place the day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accompanied by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Akhilesh Yadav, and other opposition leaders, headed to the Prime Minister's residence on Lok Kalyan Marg. They demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan regarding the NEET scandal.
This protest ended in a clash with Delhi police in the high-security area of Lutyens' Delhi, after which opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, were temporarily detained following a scuffle with security personnel.
