Telangana government's silence on SSC internal marks irks teachers, students
HYDERABAD: Last year, the School Education department issued a notification revising the SSC Public Examination marks from 80 to 100 by scrapping the 20-mark internal assessment component, effective from the academic year 2025–26.
However, even as the new academic year has begun, the department is yet to release the blueprint and model question papers for the revised SSC examination. The delay has left both students and teachers confused about the exam pattern in the absence of clear guidelines.
Initially, in November last year, the department had ordered the immediate removal of internal assessment marks (20 marks) but deferred the implementation to 2025-26 following opposition from parents and students. The proposed format shifts to a 100% external assessment system, eliminating the current 20% internal evaluation.
Some teachers have raised concerns as Formative Assessment-1 is set to begin soon, but there is no clarity on whether it applies to Class 10 students.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
2 hours ago
- First Post
O-1 and 'Einstein visas': How Indians are trying to get the fastest entry into US
Since the Donald Trump administration is making it harder to get H1-B and other types of visas, Indians are now trying to gain entry to the US via the O-1 visas and 'Einstein visas'. What do we know about these visas? read more Since the Donald Trump administration is making it harder to get H1-B visas and other type of visas, Indians are now trying to admitted to the US via the O-1 visas and 'Einstein visas'. Reuters The United States may be cracking down on immigration, but Indians aren't ready to give up just yet. Since the Trump administration is making it harder to get H1-B visas and other type of visas, Indians are now trying to admitted to the US via two new routes – the O-1 visas and 'Einstein visas'. But what do we know about these visas? Let's take a closer look: O-1 visa Like the H1-B visa, the O-1 is a non-immigrant visa. However, this visa is earmarked for those who display 'extraordinary abilities' in science, technology engineering, mathematics, arts, education, business or athletics. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This visa was founded under the Immigration Act of 1990. Unlike the H1-B visa, there is no cap to the O-1 visa. The O-1 visa, which is initially granted for a three-year period, also has a 93 per cent approval rate. It also can be extended indefinitely. The H1-B visa, on the other hand, has an approval rate of just 37 per cent. The O-1 visahas a 93 per cent approval rate compared to the H1-B visa, which is at just 37 per cent. Reuters However, the O-1 visa application costs between $10,000 (Rs 8.55 lakh) and $30,000 (Rs 25.6 lakh) – which is 10 times more expensive than the H1-B visa. In 2024, 22,669 visas were granted. In 2023, 18,894 such visas were granted. This is over double the visas – 8,838 – granted in 2020. Indians were allotted 1,418 such visas in 2023 – nearly triple the visas received, 487, in 2020. Only citizens of the United Kingdom in Brazil received more such visas. The visa does not require the applicant to have a minimum salary or a degree. It can be processed in under two weeks. All this explains why the O-1 visa, despite the exorbitant cost – is gaining popularity as an alternative to the H1-B visa. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD US firms such as Tesla, Microsoft and McKinsey are using the O-1 visa to recruit Indian talent. As are prestigious schools such as Yale and Harvard to bring in faculty. However, there are still far more H1-B visas (225,957) allotted. 'Einstein' visa This visa is officially called the EB-1 visa. Despite it being nicknamed the 'Einstein visa', the famed scientist Albert Einstein was not responsible for the creation of the visa. The visa is given to individuals with 'extraordinary ability' who have received 'sustained national and international acclaim'. This includes Pulitzer Prize winners, Oscar winners, those who have won Olympic medals, academic researchers and professors of international repute. Extraordinary ability can be demonstrated by showing that one has Nationally or internationally recognised prizes Evidence of membership in associations that demand outstanding achievement of their members Articles about them in major media Asked to be on a panel to judge others Proof of original contribution to the field Proof of success in arts Proof of your articles in media Proof that your work has been put on display at artistic exhibitions or showcases Proof of a leading or critical role in distinguished organisations Proof of high salary in your field. This is among the most difficult visas to obtain. Incidentally, First Lady Melania Trump came to America on an 'Einstein visa' First Lady Melania Trump received an 'Einstein visa' in 2001. File Image/AP At the time, back in 2001, she was Melania Knauss, a model from Slovenia working in New York. She also happened to be dating Donald Trump. Melania was one of just five people in Slovenia who was approved for the EB-1 visa. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Indians broker and agents are now promising to get these visas for researchers and professors – for a price. Such advertisements have even been put up on LinkedIn, which is raising the hackles of many within the field of academics. Experts are worried that such incidents could tarnish India's hard won reputation in the field of science. With inputs from agencies
NDTV
5 hours ago
- NDTV
Stars, Stripes, Tricolour: Can India, US Align In Orbit In PM Modi-Trump Space Summit?
New Delhi: In a unique first, India and the US are choreographing a new chapter in global space exploration - an Indian and four American astronauts are working shoulder-to-shoulder at humanity's largest human outpost outside Earth. The symbolism of the world's oldest democracy, the US, and the world's largest democracy, India, together at the space station is a unique tango or ' jugalbandi '. Stars, stripes, and the tricolour - Can India and the US align in orbit? The surrealism of this first-of-its-kind alignment of stars could become a milestone for humanity if US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi seize the opportunity and hold an Indo-US summit via a space bridge, and what better way than to do it on July 4, US' Independence Day. Space offers freedom from all borders as we know it on Earth. India's abiding philosophy of ' vasudhaiva kutumbakam ' or the world is one family could echo across the universe if PM Modi and Mr Trump, who together represent and lead a population of nearly two billion, reach for the stars together and address the world using space as a great unifier. Astronauts from India and the United States are currently working side by side aboard the International Space Station (ISS), marking a significant milestone in global space collaboration. This unprecedented moment not only showcases the technological prowess of both nations but also symbolises the strengthening ties between the world's oldest democracy and the world's largest. In the next few weeks, India and the US will again hop-skip and jump in space as both ISRO and NASA get ready to launch the NISAR satellite from Sriharikota. The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar Satellite (NISAR) has been jointly made, and its biggest claim to fame is that it is the world's single most expensive civilian Earth imaging satellite ever to be made and costs upwards of $1.2 billion. It is currently ready, sitting in ISRO's clean room awaiting the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) to take it into space from Sriharikota. The NISAR satellite is a game-changing, life-saving satellite as it will help monitor the Earth's health and clock upcoming disasters. This is the first-ever big-time satellite collaboration between NASA and ISRO. Incidentally, till recently, ISRO and in fact India were always shunned and denied technology, and sanctions were the name of the game until the inking of the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal changed the chemistry between the two nations. From the doghouse to scripting history together, the journey of the Indo-US friendship in the last two decades is just breathtaking. In 2008, India opened its heart out and gave American instruments a free ride to the Moon on Chandrayaan-1. It was this Indo-American collaboration that rewrote lunar geological history once and for all by Chandrayaan-1, making the startling discovery of the presence of water molecules on the parched lunar surface. It was India's sub-$100 million Chandrayaan-1 which, in a way, opened the floodgates (pun intended) for the world to look at the Moon with new, moist eyes, so much so that now there is a new gold rush to reach the south pole of the Moon. India again pioneered reaching nearest to the south pole of the Moon by sending the lander Vikram, as part of the Chandrayaan-3 mission in 2023. Today, India has also inked the Artemis Accords so that the Indo-US friendship can together explore and permanently inhabit the Moon's surface sooner rather than later. The current friendship mission, the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), which is sometimes also referred to as Mission Akash Ganga, launched on June 25 from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. It includes Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and veteran American astronaut Peggy Whitson, alongside astronauts from Poland and Hungary. This was India's first human spaceflight mission in over four decades and its debut participation in a private mission to the ISS. Group Captain Shukla already exclaimed from the ISS that he sees no borders from his vantage point in space. The space station already has three other NASA astronauts - Nicole Ayers, Anne McClain, and Jonny Kim on board. The commander of the ISS is Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Takuya Onishi, and the space lab is also home to Roscosmos cosmonauts Kirill Peskov, Sergey Ryzhikov, and Alexey Zubritsky. In all six, countries are represented at the space station among the Space-11 who call ISS their home today. This Axiom-4 collaboration stems from a landmark agreement signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official visit to Washington in June 2023. The joint statement between India and the US committed to sending an Indian astronaut to the ISS, a promise now fulfilled through the combined efforts of NASA, ISRO, and Axiom Space. "This is a very special occasion," said George Weinmann, an American aerospace engineer and investor. "To have Group Captain Shukla and one of our most respected astronauts, Peggy Whitson, together on the ISS is a testament to the vision shared by Indian and American leadership. A joint address by President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the astronauts and the world could be a powerful symbol of unity and inspiration." The timing of the mission adds to its symbolic weight. With the US Independence Day on July 4 approaching, there is growing speculation about a potential joint communication from the two leaders to the astronauts aboard the ISS. Such a gesture could serve as a "space bridge" between the two democracies, reinforcing their shared values and aspirations. "This mission is not just about science," said Weinmann. "It's about diplomacy, inspiration, and the shared human quest to explore beyond our planet. A joint celebration on July 4 would be a fitting tribute to what these two nations can achieve together." The mission also has commercial implications. Axiom Space expressed interest in using Indian launch vehicles for future missions, and Indian astronauts have trained at NASA facilities. This deepening cooperation signals a new chapter in Indo-US space relations, with potential for joint exploration, technology sharing, and commercial ventures. As the world watches this celestial collaboration unfold, the message is clear: space is a great unifier. Whether through science, diplomacy, or shared dreams, the stars are aligning for India and the United States to reach new heights - together. After all 'yeh dil maange more'!
NDTV
21 hours ago
- NDTV
All About O-1 Visa, Entry Route To US Gaining Popularity Among Indians
Washington: As Indians face challenges in getting a work visa in the United States due to long queues and the Trump administration's crackdown on immigration, the O-1 visa is emerging as an alternative for professionals seeking job opportunities in the US. The O-1 is a specialised non-immigrant visa for individuals with "extraordinary ability" in the field of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), arts, education, business, athletics, or the film or television industry. Established under the Immigration Act of 1990, the O-1 visa is being touted as an alternative to the increasingly competitive H-1B visa, but "with no lottery system." What Is An O-1 Visa? The O-1 offers a temporary entry into the US to individuals who demonstrate extraordinary ability by sustained national or international acclaim, or a record of extraordinary achievement in the motion picture and television industry. To get this visa, applicants are required to meet at least three of eight rigorous criteria, such as major awards, scholarly publications, or original contributions to their field. Unlike the H-1B, which has a mere 37 per cent approval rate due to intense scrutiny, the O-1 allows high-skilled talent to bypass systemic uncertainties. It gives more eligibility flexibility to applicants, as it requires no minimum salary or formal degree, and accepts international awards or media coverage as proof of an individual's achievements. However, an O-1A visa application is typically much costlier than the H-1B application. Its costs range from $10,000-$30,000, around 10 times higher than H-1B fees. But, it has a success rate of 93 per cent and offers initial validity for up to three years with unlimited extensions. O-1 Visa Gaining Popularity Among Indians According to the US Department of State data, O-1A issuances surged from 8,838 in FY2020 to 18,994 in FY2023, with Indians driving much of this growth. Per the FY2023 data, Indians were the third-largest cohort of O-1A visa recipients globally, by receiving 1,418 O-1A visas, trailing only the U.K. and Brazil. The visa is not only becoming increasingly popular among solo entrepreneurs, but also among multinational firms like Google and Tesla. Highlighting its accessibility beyond traditional employment, Soundarya Balasubramani, a 28-year-old founder of educational venture The Curious Maverick, told Ecanomics Times (ET), recounted the ease with which she secured an O-1A as a solo entrepreneur. "I got my O-1A (visa) approved as the solo founder and 100 per cent owner of an educational venture that publishes books and builds communities," she said. Another reason for its popularity is no lottery system in the O-1 category. Sahil Nyati, founder at Jinee Green Card, describes the O-1A as an H-1B visa without a lottery. "There's definitely higher interest in O-1A, simply because it's like an H-1B without a lottery, although it's not a piece of cake," Nyati told ET. In FY2024, a total of 225,957 H-1B visas were approved as compared to only 22,669 O-1s. But since then, the demand for H-1B has seen a declining trend, while O-1s are witnessing nearly 10 per cent year-on-year growth. Aslam Ahmed, Partner, Singhania & Co, told the publication that companies like Google, OpenAI, Tesla, and McKinsey are among those open to recruiting promising new talent from India and attracting well-established players in their fields to their US headquarters. "Top universities like Harvard, Yale and Columbia are always looking to hire the best faculty and researchers globally," he added.
