Board examination marks could soon carry greater significance in admissions to medical and engineering courses, with the Centre reportedly considering a proposal to assign 50% weightage to board scores alongside entrance examinations such as NEET and JEE.

The proposal is part of a broader set of education reforms aimed at reducing the pressure associated with high-stakes examinations and making the admission process more balanced.

Education Ministry panel reviewing admission reforms

According to sources, the proposal is being examined by the Ministry of Education’s nine-member committee that was constituted last year. The panel was tasked with studying students’ growing dependence on coaching institutes, the rise of “dummy schools”, and concerns over fairness in major entrance examinations.

The committee is exploring several measures to improve the existing admission system while reducing the emphasis on a single examination.

Why the reforms are being considered

The discussions come in the wake of multiple controversies involving the examination system, including reported evaluation errors and paper leak incidents. These developments have sparked a wider debate over the credibility and reliability of high-stakes entrance examinations.

To address these concerns, the committee is considering giving 50% weightage to board examination marks in the admission merit process.

Other changes under consideration

Apart from increasing the role of board examination scores, the panel is also examining several other reforms.

These include aligning entrance examinations more closely with school syllabi to reduce students’ dependence on coaching centres, allowing multiple attempts for entrance tests, and gradually introducing adaptive, on-demand computer-based examinations.

Current admission process

At present, admissions to medical and engineering programmes are primarily based on candidates’ performance in entrance examinations such as NEET and JEE. Students are also required to secure the prescribed qualifying marks in their board examinations to become eligible for these entrance tests.

The proposed reforms are currently under consideration, and no final decision has been announced.

Consumers hoping for cheaper petrol and diesel may have to wait a little longer, with Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri indicating that any reduction in fuel prices will depend on whether international crude oil prices remain low over the next two to three months.

The minister said oil marketing companies (OMCs) are currently processing crude oil purchased during the peak of the West Asia conflict, when global prices were significantly higher. As a result, the recent decline in crude oil prices has not yet translated into lower retail fuel prices.

Price cut depends on sustained decline in crude oil

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Puri said a discussion on reducing petrol and diesel prices would become relevant only if global crude prices continue to remain at lower levels for a sustained period.

He explained that the crude oil being refined today was largely purchased around two months ago, when prices were elevated due to geopolitical tensions. Since oil companies procure crude well in advance, the impact of lower international prices is reflected only after a delay.

According to the minister, if the current trend of softer crude prices continues for another two to three months, the situation could be reviewed. However, he described any immediate expectation of a fuel price reduction as hypothetical.

Oil companies absorbed massive losses during West Asia conflict

Puri said state-run oil marketing companies collectively incurred losses of Rs 74,781 crore up to June 30 after selling petrol, diesel and LPG below their actual cost during the period of high crude oil prices triggered by the West Asia conflict.

Despite the sharp rise in global crude prices, he said India kept domestic fuel price increases relatively limited compared to several other countries.

The minister noted that while petrol prices increased by nearly 20 per cent in many developed nations and around 35 per cent in neighbouring countries, the increase in India was restricted to about 5.58 per cent during the crisis period.

He also highlighted that fuel supplies remained uninterrupted across more than 1.07 lakh retail fuel outlets between late February and the end of June.

Nayara Energy cuts fuel prices

Private fuel retailer Nayara Energy reduced petrol prices by Rs 5 per litre and diesel prices by Rs 3 per litre across its retail network from July 1, becoming the first major retailer to announce a price cut after international crude prices eased.

However, Puri clarified that Nayara’s decision should not be viewed as a broader trend across the sector. He said the company had earlier raised petrol prices by Rs 5 per litre during the crude price surge and has now effectively rolled back that increase.

In contrast, state-run oil marketing companies had not increased retail fuel prices during the crisis, leaving them with little room for a similar rollback.

Why lower crude prices haven’t reached consumers yet

Global crude oil prices had crossed 110 US dollars per barrel during the Iran-related conflict, significantly increasing procurement costs for Indian refiners.

Prices started easing only in the second half of June after an agreement helped de-escalate the conflict. Since crude oil is generally purchased at least two months before it is refined into petrol and diesel, the fuel currently being supplied is based on earlier, more expensive purchases.

As a result, consumers may have to wait before any sustained decline in international crude oil prices is reflected at fuel stations.

The alleged attempt to destabilise the Vijay-led TVK government has triggered a major political confrontation in Tamil Nadu, with the ruling alliance and the opposition accusing each other of engaging in horse-trading and attempts to influence legislators.

The controversy intensified after Chennai Police arrested three people on Wednesday following a complaint by a TVK MLA, who alleged that he was offered ₹35 crore by representatives of a consultancy firm in exchange for supporting a move against the Assembly Speaker. According to the allegations, one of those arrested is reportedly associated with DMK MLA Senthil Balaji and his brother, Ashok.

An FIR has also been registered against Ashok, the brother of Senthil Balaji, over allegations that he attempted to bribe TVK MLA N. Elaiyaraja.

TVK accuses DMK of targeting its MLAs

TVK alleged that the DMK has been attempting to lure its legislators for several weeks in an effort to destabilise the government.

Tamil Nadu minister and senior TVK leader CTR Nirmal Kumar claimed that several TVK MLAs, along with legislators from alliance partners, had been approached over the past 40 days. He alleged that the party had now been “caught red-handed” after the police action and accused the DMK of trying to purchase the support of a TVK MLA for ₹35 crore.

Nirmal Kumar also alleged that a close associate of Senthil Balaji had threatened a TVK legislator and further claimed that former chief minister MK Stalin and Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi were attempting to create a political crisis. He rejected allegations that the TVK itself was involved in horse-trading, asserting that the ruling alliance remained secure with the support of its partners.

According to the allegations cited by agencies, the purported plan involved securing the simultaneous resignation of 15 TVK MLAs to bring down the Vijay-led government.

Opposition rejects allegations

The DMK dismissed the accusations, alleging that the Vijay-led government was trying to divert attention from its own shortcomings.

DMK leader TKS Elangovan said the government had failed to fulfil its promises and claimed that the TVK alliance itself was engaged in horse-trading. He questioned the allegation that the DMK would seek to engineer political instability under the present circumstances.

The AIADMK also criticised the ruling party, accusing it of attracting legislators from rival parties while questioning its commitment to public welfare. AIADMK chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami said that political manoeuvring and shifting alliances had overshadowed governance.

Alliance partners support TVK government

The TVK’s alliance partners backed the government during the controversy.

Congress MP Praveen Chakravarty questioned why the DMK was allegedly seeking to bring down the government instead of remaining in the opposition, asking why it was in such a hurry to return to power.

VCK leader SS Balaji also reiterated his party’s support for the TVK government for its full five-year term. While stating that he was not aware of the specific allegations regarding attempts to poach legislators, he said that encouraging MLAs to resign was not a healthy democratic practice and reaffirmed the alliance’s commitment to the government.