Fareeha Iftikhar is a Special Correspondent with the national political bureau of the Hindustan Times. She tracks the education ministry, and covers the beat at the national level for the newspaper. She also writes on issues related to gender, human rights and different policy matters.
Articles by Fareeha Iftikhar
Life skills find place in UGC’s revised syllabus
The revised guidelines have been prepared by a 10-member expert committee, and will be offered as elective or optional courses across disciplines.
Updated on Aug 21, 2023 02:15 AM IST
Fareeha Iftikhar, New Delhi
Sudha Murthy, Shankar Mahadevan in NCERT panel for content in school textbooks
NCERT forms committee, including Sudha Murthy, Shankar Mahadevan, and Sanjeev Sanyal, to finalize curriculum and textbooks for classes 3 to 12.
Updated on Aug 12, 2023 10:20 AM IST
Fareeha Iftikhar, New Delhi
House panel seeks more powers for NCW to ensure accountability
Stressing an urgent need to review the present Act of NCW, a parliamentary panel has recommended that the commission be equipped with more powers through suitable amendments.
Updated on Aug 11, 2023 12:10 AM IST
Fareeha Iftikhar, New Delhi
UGC releases updated draft for development of education institutes
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has released an updated draft of guidelines for higher education institutions (HEIs) in India. The guidelines include recommendations for private sector partnerships to raise funds, a ranking system for faculty members, the creation of "emotional infrastructure," and an increase in undergraduate seats to generate higher revenues. The UGC aims to help universities and colleges plan for academic, administrative, and financial self-reliance through these guidelines.
Updated on Aug 10, 2023 12:31 AM IST
Rajya Sabha okays bill that gives govt power over IIMs’ functioning
The Rajya Sabha has passed the Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) (Amendment) bill 2023, giving the government more control over the functioning of the premier business schools. The bill names the President of India as a "Visitor" for all IIMs, giving them powers to nominate the chairperson of the board of governors, oversee director appointments and removals, and audit the institution's functioning. The bill also designates the National Institute of Industrial Engineering as the 21st IIM. Critics argue that the bill takes away some of the independence granted to IIMs under the 2017 law.
Updated on Aug 09, 2023 12:24 AM IST
Parliament passes IIM amendment bill
The bill seeks to make the President of India ‘Visitor’ at all Indian Institutes of Management in the country
Updated on Aug 08, 2023 08:52 PM IST
Lok Sabha approves bill that gives Centre more say in IIMs
The bill was tabled by Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan in the Lower House on July 28 but could not be taken up for discussion amid disruptions by the Opposition over the Manipur violence. It was passed by a voice vote on Friday
Updated on Aug 05, 2023 09:18 AM IST
Rajya Sabha clears bill to ease registration steps for periodicals, newspapers
Thakur said that those involved in terrorist activities or unlawful activities against the state will not be granted permission to start a paper or periodical.
Updated on Aug 04, 2023 04:33 AM IST
Fareeha Iftikhar, New Delhi
Explained: What is the Rohini Commission on OBCs?
After 13 extensions, the committee submitted its report on sub-categorisation of OBCs. Its contents will have huge consequences for our poll-bound country
Published on Aug 03, 2023 04:19 PM IST
Parl panel flags ‘dismal’ SC, ST representation in higher ranks of bureaucracy
The 30-member panel, headed by Bharatiya Janata Party member Kirit Premjibhai Solanki, submitted its report in the Lok Sabha on Monday
Updated on Aug 02, 2023 12:37 AM IST
Fareeha Iftikhar, New Delhi
Working professionals can get BTech, BE degrees from AICTE-affiliated institutes
Technical schools in India can now offer Bachelor of Technology and Bachelor of Engineering programs to working professionals, according to officials.
Updated on Jul 31, 2023 12:03 AM IST
NEP has ended slave mindset, says Modi
PM Modi has stated that the push for using mother tongue in education under the NEP (2020) will create a new generation free from the "mentality of slavery".
Updated on Jul 30, 2023 01:22 AM IST
Fareeha Iftikhar, New Delhi
Education in mother tongue initiating new form of justice for Indian students: Modi
PM Modi inaugurated the Akhil Bhartiya Shiksha Samagam at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi on Saturday to mark the third anniversary of NEP 2020
Updated on Jul 29, 2023 02:53 PM IST
Bill on IIMs tabled in LS; key clause could limit autonomy of institutes
The bill was introduced by Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan amid disruptions by the Opposition over the Manipur violence.
Updated on Jul 29, 2023 04:02 AM IST
ICSSR’s call: Research proposal on 31 govt schemes sought
While the call by the autonomous body has been given ahead of the 2024 general elections, officials at the council said it has no political angle
Updated on Jul 23, 2023 12:35 AM IST
CBSE asks schools to consider Indian languages as teaching medium
The board has asked schools to explore the available resources, consult with experts in the field, and collaborate with other schools to share best practices
Updated on Jul 22, 2023 10:56 AM IST
CUET UG Result 2023: Confused with marks? Know how to read scorecard, what next?
CUET UG Result 2023: The scorecards have percentiles and normalised scores, creating confusion about what will decide admissions, how it has been calculated.
Published on Jul 16, 2023 01:14 PM IST
Fareeha Iftikhar, New Delhi
India, UAE ink pact to set up IIT campus in Abu Dhabi
Modi and Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed endorsed a decision that IIT Delhi-Abu Dhabi will become operational by January 2024 by offering a master’s programme in energy transition and sustainability
Updated on Jul 16, 2023 11:21 AM IST
22,836 CUET-UG aspirants in 100 percentile this year
The results of the common university entrance test for undergraduate courses (CUET-UG) in India showed an increase in students scoring in the hundredth percentile compared to last year. A total of 22,836 students were in the topmost performance band, suggesting tougher competition for college admissions. Over 1.1 million students took the test, with the maximum number of hundredth percentile scores in English, followed by Biology, Economics, and other subjects. The results will be used by 249 universities for their admissions process. The scores were normalised to account for variations in difficulty levels across different test sessions.
Updated on Jul 16, 2023 12:01 AM IST
Fareeha Iftikhar, New Delhi
Tanzania's IIT Zanzibar to be first campus led by a woman
The Union government last Thursday announced that the first IIT campus overseas will be established by IIT-Madras in the Tanzanian island city of Zanzibar.
Updated on Jul 11, 2023 01:28 AM IST
503 districts had limited access to digital learning during Covid: Govt report
Students in 503 districts in India had limited access to digital learning during the pandemic, with 240 districts scoring less than 10%.
Updated on Jul 10, 2023 05:05 AM IST
First overseas IIT campus to be set up in Zanzibar
India will establish its first Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) campus outside the country in Tanzania. The move is in line with India's National Education Policy 2020 and aims to strengthen educational cooperation between the two countries. The IIT campus in Zanzibar will begin offering programs from October and will be responsible for planning pedagogical strategies. The initiative is seen as a step towards internationalizing Indian education and expanding India's reputation and diplomatic relationships.
Updated on Jul 07, 2023 12:23 AM IST
HT interview| Mother tongue key, English can’t be barrier: Dharmendra Pradhan
Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan has said that the NCERT has removed “mischievous” topics from the textbooks during its rationalisation exercise.
Updated on Jul 07, 2023 04:35 AM IST
Only repetitive, mischievous topics removed from books: Dharmendra Pradhan
In an interview with HT, Pradhan also said that a focus on mother tongue in early childhood education is necessary in a country such as India.
Updated on Jul 07, 2023 12:07 AM IST
First IIT campus outside India to come up in Tanzania’s Zanzibar
The move is also in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which recommends that “high performing Indian universities will be encouraged to set up campuses in other countries”
Updated on Jul 06, 2023 11:54 AM IST
UGC drops rule making PhD mandatory for assistant prof jobs in universities
The commission , in 2018 set the criteria for recruitment for entry-level posts at universities and colleges.
Updated on Jul 06, 2023 12:36 AM IST
Fareeha Iftikhar, New Delhi
Govt plans care homes in border states for victims of trafficking
The homes will ensure that victims of trafficking from neighbouring countries, particularly minors, are provided food, shelter, clothing, counselling and primary health care facilities, among other requirements
Updated on Jul 05, 2023 12:14 AM IST
Govt rolls out scheme to help minor rape survivors
According to National Crime Records Bureau data, 51,863 cases were reported under the Pocso Act in 2021, and of them, 33,348 or 64% cases were of sexual assault
Updated on Jul 04, 2023 12:08 AM IST
Fareeha Iftikhar, New Delhi
UGC’s professors of practice portal for teachers attracts over 4k applications
More than 4,300 industry experts and professionals have applied to be professors of practice, a new category of college teachers proposed by the UGC
Updated on Jul 02, 2023 08:46 AM IST
ICHR collaboration: Isro to use scientific tools to ‘monitor heritage sites’
Officials at ICHR have now said their work with Isro will majorly be in the field of archaeology and excavation using scientific technology.
Updated on Jun 28, 2023 06:24 AM IST
