The discussion about the Indian education system began with a post by actor Salman Khan on social media. While the public was focused on the 'Chello Sansad' student march and debates surrounding the leak of the NEET-UG 2026 exam materials, Khan's post drew attention.
Salman Khan expressed support for students and parents who demanded a transparent and impartial education system, despite the peaceful protest being marred by incidents. He called on movement participants to distance themselves from political battles and focus solely on the interests of the students, expressing hope that serious improvements would be made by the government.
However, in his message, he emphasized that education must become the next 'trend' and 'fashionable direction.' His vision was for the education system to become so attractive and sought-after that foreigners would want to come to India for studies, turning the country into an 'educational hub.'
Khan's comment is deeply meaningful as it is made against the backdrop of contradictions in the development of Indian education. On one hand, Indian universities are showing growth in global rankings, while on the other, the country is facing one of the largest testing crises. This dissonance indicates that India's problem is not an educational crisis, but a crisis of confidence.
According to the QS World University Rankings 2027, several Indian institutions have gained recognition among leading global universities, reflecting improvements in their research output, graduate employment, and academic standing. Leaders include IIT Delhi (ranked 118th), IIT Bombay (ranked 134th), and IIT Madras (ranked 170th). IIT Kharagpur, IISc Bangalore, IIT Kanpur, and Delhi University (DU) are also listed.
QS Best Student Cities 2027 named four Indian cities as among the best places for students globally. Mumbai ranked 91st due to its accessibility, employment opportunities, and institutional stability. Delhi is ranked 99th, leading in employer activity and affordable education, although student satisfaction levels there were low. Bangalore became a favorite city for students, receiving the highest score for learning experience, while Chennai entered the list due to a combination of affordable living and educational environment.
According to the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) for 2023–24, a record number of 45 million people are enrolled in India's higher education system. Women have contributed significantly to this growth, with their percentage exceeding that of men over the last seven years, especially at the master's level. Furthermore, over 70% of students now receive education in private institutions, and the number of students in STEM fields has exceeded 10 million for the first time.
Parallel to the rise in rankings, the country has faced serious scandals in the examination system. Despite international recognition, there are issues with the shortage of international faculty, a low number of foreign students, and limited global scientific collaboration. Simply offering affordable education or having renowned IITs is not enough to become a global educational hub.
The NEET-UG 2026 scandal did not start merely with an alleged leak, but with concerns when students claimed that the 'mock test' was circulating widely. The situation quickly escalated into a major examination crisis, leading to judicial intervention and parliamentary uproar, where the opposition demanded the resignation of the Education Minister. These exams are a vital source of future for millions of young people.
Preparation for JEE or NEET has turned into a multi-million dollar industry, where educational centers compete like corporate brands. Success itself has become a commodity, and commercial gain often supersedes academic values. Moreover, serious data protection issues have arisen: reports of personal student data (names, phone numbers, addresses) being sold for small sums during exams like CBSE and NEET have raised alarms about privacy.
Salman Khan was likely speaking not just about 'trends,' but about aspiration and determination. For India to become a global educational hub, it needs an ecosystem based on trust: completely transparent and reliable examinations, protection of student data, ethical conduct by educational institutions, and success measured solely by hard work, not loopholes. India possesses all the resources to lead in education, but its next big step will depend on honesty and transparency.
In 2026, the process for modifying or including categories on the National Driver's License (CNH) has been updated, bringing greater ease and revised rules. Interested parties can initiate this request digitally through the CNH do Brasil application, which provides a more flexible and less bureaucratic procedure.
For those who wish to add categories A (motorcycle) or B (car), the request can be made digitally using the CNH do Brasil application. This simplified procedure allows the user to start the process directly from their mobile phone by following specific steps:
First, one must access the application's home screen and select the Driver option. Next, they tap on Services for CNH and choose Category Change. The applicant must then select the desired category, read the instructions, and confirm. Subsequently, it is necessary to download the learner's license and click on Access practical course.
In the Linking tab, the user can choose between an independent instructor or a driving school, with the ability to refine the search by state, municipality, and neighborhood. After finalizing the submission of the request, the entire process progress, from monitoring classes to issuance, can be tracked in real time within the application itself.
The new guidelines for migrating to categories C, D, or E, regulated by Resolution No. 1.020/25 of Contran and Ordinance No. 923/25 of Senatran, aim to reduce costs and speed up training procedures. The most significant change is a 50% reduction in the minimum required hours for the practical course. Previously, Resolution 789/20 established a minimum of 20 hours of vehicle driving instruction, but now the minimum requirement drops to 10 hours of instruction.
The official flow for changing categories maintains formalized stages: taking exams, including maintaining the requirements for the toxicology exam; completing the specialized practical course with the new reduced workload; passing the practical driving test; and finally, the automatic issuance of the CNH.
Despite the simplification in obtaining the license, the reduction in practical lessons has generated debate among traffic safety experts. It is argued that large vehicles demand a high level of emotional control, risk management, and technical mastery on public roads, which raises questions about the effect of less practical supervision on driver training.
Students of the University of Coimbra expressed their disagreement with Fernando Alexandre and demanded the resignation of the Minister of Education.
