The Union Public Service Commission has released the admit card for the Civil Services Main Examination 2026 for those candidates who have successfully passed the preliminary examination. This hall ticket is now available online, and candidates can download it using their registered login.
The main examination will commence from August 21, 2026. The commission advises candidates to download their admit card well in advance of the exam and keep a printed copy ready.
Vice-Chancellor Santosh Dhulipudi Pandit of Jawaharlal Nehru University refuted claims regarding violations in the hiring and promotion processes for faculty members, labeling all accusations as 'false propaganda.'
This response followed demands from the JNU Students' Union and the JNU Faculty Association for her removal, insisting on an independent investigation into alleged irregularities in university hiring and promotion procedures.
Pandit stated in her declaration: 'Despite the most transparent and record-breaking intakes, especially among SC/ST and OBC representatives in the university over the last four and a half years of my tenure as Vice-Chancellor, I have become the target of a malicious campaign by JNUSU and JNUTA. There is no evidence, only false propaganda.'
The university administration reported that over 400 interviews were conducted with faculty members since February 2022, and more than 200 vacancies were filled. It was stated that nearly 70 percent of these appointed staff belong to reserved and marginalized categories.
Furthermore, the administration noted that it had received no complaints from candidates regarding the interview process. According to university data, selection committees consist of three experts in the relevant fields, a Visitor's representative, the corresponding Dean, and the Vice-Chancellor. Subsequently, candidates selected by the committee are approved by the Academic Council.
JNU indicated that the Internal Quality Assurance Cell checks the qualifications and publication records of candidates during the screening stage but does not participate in the final selection through interviews. The administration added that checking publications can be particularly complex in the humanities and social sciences due to differences in databases and verification systems. This, they said, might explain cases where some candidates who passed preliminary screening by centers ultimately did not reach the interview stage, while others who initially failed screening were later invited.
Students and Faculty Raise Questions with UGC
JNUSU asserted that recent media reports raised questions about the return of candidates to the selection process, despite subject matter experts having rejected them due to alleged non-compliance with the mandatory requirements of the University Grants Commission (UGC).
JNUTA, in a separate demand statement published on Thursday, claimed that an investigation based on RTI responses, official records, and Executive Council disagreements showed that at least seven faculty members were appointed in violation of UGC norms. The university rejected these allegations, maintaining that the hiring process complied with established procedures.
Regarding faculty promotions, JNU reported that approximately 250 applications under the Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) were processed since February 2022. These applications included cases awaiting review since 2006, which the administration called the highest number of CAS promotions since the university's founding.
The administration also dismissed concerns about familial or supervisory ties in appointments. It was emphasized that the existence of family or marital relationships cannot be considered either a qualification or a disqualification for employment. Similarly, the university stated that the fact that a person was a former student of the head does not automatically constitute a violation of UGC requirements regarding publications.
Overall, JNU insists that its hiring and promotion procedures have been conducted fairly and in accordance with prescribed regulations.
Following Gen Z, Gen Alpha students protested the issue of teacher shortage at Jai Prakash Narayan Sarvodaya Vidyalaya in Lucknow. Around nine o'clock, the students left the school and began protesting with posters and banners on Budheshwar-Mohan Road in the Para area, causing traffic disruption for some time.
Upon learning about the matter, Uttar Pradesh Minister Asim Arun reached out to the students. He listened to the concerns of the students present on the road and helped them understand their grievances in detail by taking them back to the school.
The police stated that the students alleged that their studies were being affected due to the unavailability of teachers. Upon receiving information, a team from the Para Police arrived at the scene and spoke with the students. The police officer also mentioned that the students had expressed concerns regarding other irregularities in the school. Eventually, the police managed to persuade the students to end the protest and return to the school premises, after which traffic returned to normal.
During this time, the students were seated in the school's meeting hall, where they discussed the matter with education officials and teachers. A sufficient police force was deployed at the spot under the leadership of the Assistant Commissioner of Police of Kakori, and the police confirmed that the situation remained completely peaceful.
Asim Arun, the State Minister for Social Welfare (Independent Charge), was heading to Kannauj for an official program when he witnessed this student protest in the area. Since the minister is also an MLA from Kannauj and his department oversees this very school, he paused his journey for a while and approached the students to talk to them. Subsequently, he went inside the school with the students and interacted with the students and officials for about two hours.
Arun told PTI that he was happy that the children were not protesting to cheat or avoid attendance, but rather to improve their studies.
Minister Asim Arun also clarified that some teachers could not return to their posts due to judicial matters, which has resulted in teaching activities being affected in some schools run by the Social Welfare Department. He further stated that the case hearing is scheduled for the upcoming 17th, and he is confident that they will strongly present their case before the High Court and ensure the arrangement of teachers soon. Guest teachers were arranged in the previous academic session to fill vacant positions, and this arrangement is also being continued this year.
Minister Asim Arun assured the students that he would look into their demand to improve the coaching facilities provided under the Mukhyamantri Abhyuday Yojana. He explained that through this scheme, students are provided with coaching for competitive exams and higher education preparation. This protest, described as a 'Gen Alpha' student demonstration, is part of a series of similar protests by school students in Fatehpur, Hamirpur, and Kannauj regarding issues related to education and infrastructure. After the discussion, Arun departed for his scheduled program in Kannauj, while the students returned to continue their studies in their classrooms.
Drivers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have the opportunity to remove four black penalty points from their driver's licenses if they commit to observing safe driving rules on the first day of the new academic year. This measure is being implemented as part of a nationwide initiative by the Ministry of Interior.
Registration for the annual 'Day Without Accidents' campaign starts on August 17. Drivers must sign a safety declaration and comply with the initiative's conditions on August 31, when students return to schools across the UAE.
The initiative is launched by the Ministry of Interior through the Federal Transport Council and in cooperation with police forces across the country. Its goal is to make the first day of the 2026-27 academic year safer amid increased traffic on roads and near educational institutions.
According to the Ministry of Education's academic calendar, the new school year for students begins specifically on August 31. The Ministry announced that drivers who register, sign the commitment, and meet all requirements will be eligible for a reduction of four penalty points.
The campaign is open to all road users and aims to reduce the number of traffic accidents and fatalities while encouraging drivers to make safe driving a daily habit.
Drivers can register starting August 17 via a link posted on the Ministry of Interior's social media channels and sign the declaration. To receive the four-point reduction, participants must fully adhere to all program requirements.
Drivers are strongly advised to ensure their vehicle is in good working order before traveling, observe speed limits—especially near schools, avoid using mobile phones or other distractions while driving, stay in designated lanes, and maintain a safe distance from other vehicles. They must also yield to pedestrians crossing roads and follow all other road safety regulations.
This campaign takes place against the backdrop of an expected significant increase in road congestion after the summer holidays, as school buses, parents, and passengers add to peak hour traffic.
The incentive of four points was previously applied in past editions of the national campaign. In 2025, according to data from that time, over 300,000 drivers participated in the 'Day Without Accidents.' Previously, the initiative also offered drivers a deduction of four black points after registration and no violations or accidents on the designated day.
Black points represent fines recorded in driver's licenses for specific traffic violations. Accumulating 24 black points can lead to license suspension, making the four-point reduction particularly relevant for drivers with existing penalties.
Brigadier General Juma Salem bin Suwaidan, Director of the Dubai Police Traffic Department and head of this year's 'Day Without Accidents' campaign, urged drivers and parents to exercise patience and responsibility during the resumption of schooling. He emphasized that creating a safe road environment requires the joint efforts of drivers, pedestrians, and all other road users.
Campaign organizers also call on drivers to view August 31 not just as a one-time challenge, but as an opportunity to turn safe driving practices into a daily routine. The 'Day Without Accidents' initiative is part of the Ministry of Interior's broader efforts to promote road safety and encourage adherence to traffic laws across the UAE.
