Education

When Luck Overrides Merit: The Controversial Lottery-Based Principal Appointments in Patna University

Published

4 months ago

July 5, 2025

In a move that has sparked widespread debate, Patna University has appointed principals to five of its affiliated colleges through a lottery system — a method never before seen in such a significant academic context. While the university administration claims this was an effort to promote transparency and eliminate political or internal favoritism, many educationists, political leaders, and academics are questioning the logic, legality, and ethical soundness of such a process, especially for key leadership roles in higher education.

At the heart of the controversy is Dr. Suheli Mehta, the Head of the Home Science Department at Magadh Mahila College. An academic with a strong track record and placed at the top of the merit list, she was appointed principal of Commerce College, a much smaller institution and outside her subject expertise. Reportedly, Dr. Mehta is disappointed with the outcome and is hesitant to take charge of the position, choosing instead to continue in her current role. This has raised fundamental concerns over how administrative decisions are being made in one of Bihar’s oldest and most reputed universities.

The full list of appointments made through the lottery includes:

Dr. Suheli Mehta (Home Science, Magadh Mahila College) → Principal, Commerce College

Prof. Anil Kumar (Chemistry) → Principal, Patna College

Prof. Alka Yadav (Home Science) → Principal, Patna Science College

Prof. Nagendra Verma (History) → Principal, Magadh Mahila College

Prof. Yogendra Kumar Verma → Principal, Patna Law College

The appointments were made following a process initiated by the Bihar State University Service Commission (BSUSC), which had prepared a merit-based panel after interviews and scrutiny. However, instead of assigning principals to colleges based on qualifications and institutional needs, the final step — allotment of colleges — was done through a random draw. This, the authorities argue, was intended to maintain neutrality and prevent external influence, especially given the history of allegations around favoritism and political interference in college postings.

However, critics argue that while transparency is important, randomization undermines the principle of merit — especially in academia, where leadership and subject expertise play a vital role in shaping institutional quality. Educational institutions are not lottery booths, critics say, and reducing high-level academic appointments to chance weakens the very foundations of governance and planning in higher education.

One of the strongest criticisms came from BSP Chief Mayawati, who called it an attack on the dignity of education and demanded central government intervention. Student groups, teacher associations, and academics across Bihar echoed similar concerns. Many have called for a rollback of the appointments and a restructuring of the process based on academic alignment, leadership ability, and institution-specific needs.

In a significant development, the Patna High Court intervened on May 20, 2025, putting a temporary stay on the lottery-based appointment process. The court questioned the need for such a system in the case of principal appointments and sought clarification from the university and state education department. The next hearing was scheduled for June 16, but before the court could deliver a final verdict, the appointment orders were reportedly issued in early July. Whether this move violated court orders remains unclear.

The case of Dr. Suheli Mehta, in particular, exposes the flaws in the system. She is widely seen as one of the most deserving candidates — not only due to her subject matter expertise but also her administrative experience. Assigning her to a commerce-focused institution with little alignment to her academic background is being viewed as both a professional mismatch and a personal insult. Her reluctance to accept the position serves as a symbolic protest against the entire process.

At its core, this issue raises a larger question: Can chance ever be a substitute for competence? While transparency must be ensured, it cannot come at the cost of logical and educational suitability. By handing over such crucial appointments to a lottery, the university may have invited short-term neutrality but at the cost of long-term institutional stability.

In conclusion, Patna University’s experiment with a lottery-based appointment system has become a cautionary tale. It reflects the danger of overcorrecting for past administrative failures with simplistic solutions that may compromise academic integrity. As the matter continues to be debated in the courts and academic circles, it remains to be seen whether wisdom and merit will eventually find their rightful place in Bihar’s higher education landscape.

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Rohan Priyadarshi

Roahn Priyadarshi is a journalist, content creator, and video editor with a passion for storytelling across digital platforms. With a sharp eye for detail and a creative approach to multimedia production, Roahn blends journalistic integrity with compelling visuals to engage and inform audiences. Whether reporting on current events, creating impactful video content, or crafting narratives for social media, he brings a dynamic and versatile voice to every project.

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Education

CBSE Board Exams 2026: Dates & Subject Overview

Published

1 hour ago

October 30, 2025

Prachi Sharma

The CBSE has officially released the datesheet for the Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations for the academic session 2025-26. The written examinations for both classes are scheduled to begin on 17 February 2026.

Important Dates

For Class 10, Phase 1 of the board exams will run from 17 February to 9 March 2026.

A second opportunity (Phase 2) for Class 10 is set between 15 May and 1 June 2026.

For Class 12, the exams are scheduled to span from 17 February to early April 2026 (with sources indicating up to 4 April 2026) for the main theory papers.

Subject-Wise Highlights for Class 10

Here are some of the specific subject dates for Class 10 (first phase) from the draft datesheet:

Mathematics: 17 Feb 2026 (Tuesday)
Social Science: 21 Feb 2026 (Saturday)
Science: 25 Feb 2026 (Wednesday)
Hindi: 27 Feb 2026 (Friday)
English: 2 Mar 2026 (Monday)
Other Languages / Electives: Early March, e.g., 6 March 2026.

Subject Stream Overview for Class 12

For Class 12, the detailed dates vary by stream (Science, Commerce, Humanities) and subject. A few indicative subject-dates (tentative) are as follows:

Geography (Arts stream): ~24 Feb 2026
Economics (Arts/Commerce): ~19 Mar 2026
English (All streams): ~11 Mar 2026
Business Studies (Commerce): ~22 Feb 2026

(Note: These dates are indicative; the final PDF should be checked for exact subject-codes and dates.)

Exam Timing & Mode

Exams will be held in pen-and-paper mode (offline).

Typical start time is 10:30 a.m. for most subjects.

Some subjects (e.g., skill-based, automotive, fine arts) may have different timings.

Key Instructions for Students & Schools

Students must download the official PDF of the datesheet from the CBSE website and verify subject-code, date and time.

Schools will finalise and submit the list of candidates (LOC) and ensure all internal assessments/practicals are completed as per schedule.

For Class 10 students: the two-phase system allows a second attempt within the same academic year (Phase 2) for improvement.

For Class 12 students: ensure you check your stream’s subject-specific schedule, as subjects differ widely.

While the schedule shared here reflects the latest released information, students and schools are advised to refer to the official CBSE datesheet PDF on cbse.gov.in for the final, authoritative version with subject-codes and centre details. Preparation plans should be structured accordingly with the dates above, allowing for revision, rest days, and subject-wise focus.

Education

CBSE Releases Datesheet for Class 10 and 12 Board Exams 2026

Published

2 hours ago

October 30, 2025

Prachi Sharma

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has officially released the final datesheet for the Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations for the academic session 2025–26. According to the notification, the board exams will commence from February 17, 2026, and will continue until March 9, 2026, for Class 10, and April 4, 2026, for Class 12. The detailed timetable is available on the official website of CBSE at cbse.gov.in.

This year’s datesheet has been released well in advance, nearly 110 days before the commencement of exams. CBSE stated that the early release aims to give students sufficient time for systematic preparation and revision. The board has also ensured that the schedule provides adequate gaps between major subjects, enabling students to manage their study plans effectively.

The Class 10 board exams will be conducted from February 17 to March 9, 2026, with major subjects like English, Science, Mathematics, Social Science, and Hindi spaced strategically to allow better preparation time. Meanwhile, the Class 12 exams will be held from February 17 to April 4, 2026, covering streams such as Science, Commerce, and Humanities. The examinations will be conducted in pen-and-paper mode in a single shift — starting at 10:30 a.m. and concluding at 1:30 p.m.

CBSE officials also highlighted that practical examinations and internal assessments will begin earlier, particularly for schools in winter-bound regions, where practicals are likely to start in January 2026. Schools following the regular calendar will conduct practicals shortly before the written exams.

The board emphasized that the 2026 examination schedule was carefully designed to avoid clashes with national-level entrance tests such as JEE and NEET. This ensures that students appearing for multiple competitive exams can plan their study and travel schedules without unnecessary stress. Furthermore, the board reiterated that the List of Candidates (LOC) submission, internal assessments, and project work should be completed well before the exam dates to avoid discrepancies.

CBSE has also reminded schools and parents to check all student details such as name, subjects, and date of birth while submitting exam forms. Any error in these details could lead to issues during the issuance of admit cards or declaration of results. Students are advised to download the official PDF of the datesheet from the CBSE website and verify the timings and subject codes carefully.

This year, the board has also continued its focus on providing two-phase opportunities for Class 10 students, ensuring that those who miss or fail in the first phase can reappear without losing an entire academic year. This flexibility reflects CBSE’s ongoing efforts to make the examination process more student-friendly and inclusive.

The early release of the CBSE 2026 datesheet has been widely appreciated by schools and education experts. It allows both students and institutions to structure their academic calendars, revision schedules, and pre-board exams accordingly. For parents, this early notice helps in managing logistics, travel plans, and exam preparation environments at home.

The official CBSE statement reads, “The schedule has been carefully planned to provide sufficient gaps between exams of important subjects and to align with various entrance examinations, ensuring minimal overlap.” The CBSE has also cautioned students to rely only on official communication and the verified document available on its website.

The detailed CBSE Datesheet 2026 for both Class 10 and Class 12 can be accessed and downloaded from the official website cbse.gov.in. Students are encouraged to keep a printed copy of the schedule for reference and adhere strictly to the guidelines mentioned by the board.

Admissions

UGC-NET December 2025 Notification Released: Registration Open, Exam Scheduled from December 31 to January 7

Published

1 week ago

October 22, 2025

Prachi Sharma

UGC-NET December 2025: Registration begins for the national eligibility exam — prepare now for Assistant Professor and JRF opportunities.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has officially released the notification for the UGC-NET December 2025 examination. The registration process began on October 7, 2025, and will continue till November 7, 2025, through the official website ugcnet.nta.nic.in. Candidates will be allowed to make corrections in their submitted forms between November 10 and 12, 2025, as per the NTA schedule. The exam is scheduled to take place from December 31, 2025, to January 7, 2026, in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode across multiple cities in India.

According to the official NTA notice, the examination will be conducted for 85 subjects, assessing candidates for eligibility for Assistant Professorship and the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF). The UGC-NET remains one of the most competitive national-level exams in the higher education sector, serving as a crucial qualification for teaching and research positions in universities and colleges across India.

The application fee has been fixed at ₹ 1,150 for the General category, ₹ 600 for General-EWS and OBC-NCL candidates, and ₹ 325 for SC, ST, PwD, and Third-Gender applicants. Candidates are advised to verify their Aadhaar, UDID, and category certificates before applying to avoid any discrepancies during verification or later stages of the admission process.

NTA has also issued an advisory urging aspirants to ensure all personal and academic details are accurate while submitting the application form. Admit cards will be released closer to the exam date, followed by the result declaration tentatively in the last week of January 2026.

The UGC-NET exam consists of two papers — Paper 1 (General Teaching and Research Aptitude) and Paper 2 (Subject-specific). Both papers are conducted in a single session of three hours without any break. Candidates are advised to visit the official website regularly for updates on the admit card release and city intimation slip.

This year’s notification marks a major milestone for aspirants seeking academic and research careers in India. With registration now open, candidates are encouraged to complete the process before the last date to avoid last-minute issues and begin their final phase of preparation in earnest.