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Indian Students Recalibrate Overseas Medical Choices as New Destinations Gain Ground

3 min readNew DelhiJun 9, 2026 01:55 PM IST IIT Jammu launches Unified Engineering BTech programme for the 2026-27 academic year.The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jammu has introduced a new BTech programme called Unified Engineering, designed for students who want to move beyond conventional single-discipline engineering pathways. The programme is open to JEE Advanced aspirants and offers a fully redesigned, hands-on curriculum that integrates multiple engineering domains. For more information, candidates can visit the official portal of IIT Jammu at iitjammu.ac.in. The programme emerges from a recognition that the lines between mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering are increasingly blurring as technology evolves. Rather than confining students to isolated departments, Unified Engineering is structured to help them connect ideas across disciplines and apply them to complex, real-world problems. For more information on the JoSAA counselling, students can visit the IE Education Portal.The curriculum is built around a Grand Challenge framework that emphasises teamwork, innovation, and real-world impact over traditional rote learning. Students will gain expertise in transformative domains including Artificial Intelligence, Intelligent Systems, Robotics, Smart Mobility, Electric Vehicles, and Sustainable Energy Technologies. Generative AI tools are also integrated into the learning environment as part of a future-ready education model. “We wanted to create a programme where learning feels like an active engineering experience rather than a classroom chore. Unified Engineering is built to give students the mindset, skills and adaptability they need to lead the next generation of tech innovation,” said Dr. Navneet Kumar, Programme Chair, Unified Engineering, IIT Jammu. Graduates will be prepared for cross-functional roles including systems engineers, product development engineers, automation specialists, and AI professionals. The programme is backed by IIT Jammu’s active placement network and its upcoming innovation park, providing students with direct exposure to startups and top global companies including Amazon, Samsung, Intel, Siemens, ABB, Nokia, TCS, IBM, and Hitachi Energy. Similarly, in IIT Jodhpur has also introduced a four-year Bachelor of Science programme in Mathematics and Computing for the academic year 2026-27. The programme is primarily designed to bridge theoretical mathematical frameworks and modern computational applications. This would further equip the graduates with skills in applied mathematics, algorithm design, programming and data analytics, making them ready for successful careers across technology, finance, data science, and research. The introduction of new programmes across IITs has been widely welcomed as a step toward aligning technical education with the demands of an evolving industry landscape. The variety of programmes on offer has grown steadily in recent years.

Indian ExpressJun 9

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upscwrites2025

UPSC 2025 AIR 6 Zinnia Aurora writes: ‘How a failed attempt taught me to stand up again’

Ctrl+F. Ctrl+V. No results. Three keystrokes that shattered my UPSC dream on a grey June morning in 2023.On June 12, I was travelling back home in a car when the Civil Services Preliminary Examination result PDF appeared on my mobile screen. I already knew that the examination had not gone well, but like every aspirant waiting for a result, I held on to a faint hope that somehow things would work out. With a thumping heart and trembling hands, I opened the Notes app where I had saved my roll number. I pasted it into the search bar and waited for the screen to respond. It did, just not in the way I had hoped. I remember that moment with unusual clarity. I was sitting beside my mother, and our car had stopped at the traffic signal near Gyarah Murti in Delhi. While the red light blinked ahead, my eyes drifted towards the iconic sculpture depicting the Dandi March.In an instant, months of preparation, expectations, sacrifices and difficult decisions seemed to collapse into that single line on a PDF. Yet I did not allow any of it to show on my face. My mother’s smile was not something I was prepared to break. We reached home, I told my parents that I had failed, and life appeared to move on. Internally, however, the weeks that followed were far more turbulent than the result itself. I had left a job, declined admission offers and invested heavily in a dream that had not materialised. More than disappointment, what I experienced was a profound questioning of self. The examination had exposed weaknesses I did not know existed and shattered assumptions I had quietly carried about my own abilities. Looking back, it was one of the most humbling experiences of my life. The examination that forces you to meet yourself The Civil Services Examination has a peculiar way of forcing individuals to confront themselves. While it is popularly viewed as a test of knowledge, serious aspirants know that knowledge is only one part of the equation. The examination tests resilience, adaptability, emotional stability and discipline. It pushes candidates into situations where excuses stop working and honest introspection becomes unavoidable. In that sense, the examination often teaches lessons about self-governance long before it teaches governance. Most aspirants do not undergo this transformation immediately. I certainly had not. Like many young people, I initially viewed failure as something that happened to me rather than something that could teach me.Story continues below this ad Zinnia shares a picture of her study table as she tells aspirants why it is important to stand up after failure.It took time to realise that setbacks derive meaning not from the pain they inflict but from the lessons they leave behind. The challenge is not to sit with failure and repeatedly revisit it. The challenge is to stand up against it. What Gyarah Murti taught me That is where the imagery of Gyarah Murti unexpectedly returned to my thoughts. The sculpture commemorates the Dandi March and depicts individuals walking towards a goal far greater than themselves despite uncertainty, hardship and overwhelming odds. As I reflected on that image, I began to appreciate a simple truth — none of those figures could have known exactly what lay ahead, yet they continued moving forward because the cause demanded perseverance. Preparation for the Civil Services Examination evokes a wide spectrum of emotions. Over the years, aspirants experience hope, anxiety, excitement, frustration, admiration, self-doubt and pride, often within the span of a few months.Story continues below this ad The journey is rarely linear. Yet it is these fluctuations that give meaning to eventual success. Without setbacks, achievement would carry little significance. Zinnia shares a picture of the traffic signal where she found an unexpected message about resilience and moving forward.As Percy Bysshe Shelley famously observed, “Our sweetest songs are those that tell of saddest thought.” Many aspirants dis

Indian ExpressJun 16

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upscgetschhattisgarh

UPSC Key: Bilateral Investment Treaties, SIPRI Yearbook 2026 and Solar power

Chhattisgarh received investment proposals worth Rs 9,580 crore across sectors such as data centres, semiconductors and GPU architecture, solar energy equipment, textiles, and pharmaceuticals at the state Investors Connect held in Hyderabad on Sunday. Seven major organizations submitted proposals that are expected to generate around 7,800 direct jobs, underscoring growing investor confidence in the state’s industrial ecosystem and policy framework.Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai handed over “Invitation to invest letter” to the prospective investors, marking a significant step in the state’s efforts to position itself as a preferred destination for technology-led and manufacturing investments. Sai said Chhattisgarh is emerging as a preferred investment destination, supported by streamlined approvals, a robust single-window system, strong infrastructure and industry-friendly policies. Inviting Hyderabad-based companies, particularly in the IT, pharmaceutical and logistics sectors, to invest in the state, he assured them of policy support and a business-friendly environment, adding that Chhattisgarh has “rolled out the red carpet” for investors.“Hyderabad’s journey from an emerging IT destination to a global technology and innovation hub is inspiring. Chhattisgarh is working on a similar roadmap, and we are already witnessing encouraging results in sectors such as IT, manufacturing and services,” Sai said while addressing the gathering at hotel Park Hyatt. Inviting investors to explore opportunities in the state, he noted that Chhattisgarh has organized investor outreach programmes across major Indian cities as well as in countries such as Japan and South Korea. These efforts have so far resulted in investment proposals worth more than Rs 8 lakh crore, he said. Highlighting the state’s industrial strengths, Sai said Chhattisgarh is emerging as a leader in green steel production and is rapidly strengthening its position as a national power hub. The state has received investment proposals worth Rs 3.5 lakh crore in the energy sector, he added. Chhattisgarh Commerce and Industries Minister Lakhan Lal Dewangan and prominent industrialists, investors, and business representatives from southern India were present at the event Key Investment Proposals The largest investment proposal has come from Hypernext Data Center Limited. The company has expressed its intent to invest Rs 4,200 crore to establish a modern data center in Chhattisgarh, which is expected to generate approximately 250 jobs.Story continues below this ad Feegrade and Company Private Limited has proposed an investment of Rs 2,912 crore in the cement sector. This investment has the potential to provide employment to around 4,000 people. The cement industry is a key pillar of infrastructure development and is likely to boost local economic activities. Nivai Labs Private Limited has shown interest in investing Rs 1,000 crore in the semiconductor and GPU infrastructure sector. This investment, involving cutting-edge technology, will help integrate the state into the emerging digital and electronics economy and create approximately 200 jobs. SG Mart Limited, operating in the solar energy equipment manufacturing sector, has proposed an investment of Rs 700 crore. The company is engaged in manufacturing solar structure components, and this project is expected to provide employment to about 450 people. This investment is also viewed as a significant step towards promoting green energy. Shri Saravana Mills Private Limited has expressed its intent to invest Rs 528 crore in the textile industry. This project could provide employment to approximately 2,500 people. As the textile industry is a labor-intensive sector, it will create new job opportunities for the youth and women.Story continues below this ad Kabra Drugs, a company in the pharmaceutical sector, has proposed an investment of Rs 200 crore. The company is engaged in pharmaceutical manufacturing and healthcare-rela

Indian ExpressJun 14

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Politics

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statebank2026

82.94% candidates clear POLYCET 2026 in Telangana

Minister for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Dansari Anasuya Seethakka. File | Photo Credit: SIDDHANT THAKUR The Telangana government has decided to formally convey its objections to the proposed VB-G RAM-G scheme that the Centre plans to implement from July 1, Minister for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Danasari Anasuya Seethakka said on Saturday. She also said that a final decision on the implementation of the scheme would be taken after consultations with Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and the State Cabinet.The Minister said the State would write to the Union government outlining its concerns over the new policy, which has already been opposed by the Telangana Legislative Assembly through a resolution. The decision comes amid reports that the Centre is urging States to adopt the scheme from July 1.Ms. Seethakka reviewed the issues to be raised in the communication with officials, including Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Special Chief Secretary Dana Kishore, Commissioner Divya Devarajan, Special Commissioner Srilakshmi, Joint Commissioner Narasimhulu and others, at a meeting.During the review, officials informed the Minister that implementation of the new policy was linked to the release of 60% of the funds required for the employment guarantee programme from the Centre. They also pointed out that several States had already initiated steps for implementation and issued notifications in this regard. The meeting discussed the approaches being adopted by other States.Ms. Seethakka said allocating employment days on a normative basis instead of according to demand was not appropriate. She also proposed that the Centre withdraw the provision mandating a 60-day break in employment works during the agricultural season.She observed that the monsoon season coincides with plantation and afforestation activities undertaken through employment guarantee works in Telangana. Imposing a 60-day suspension during this period would disrupt programmes such as ‘Vanamahotsavam’ and plantation drives, which are in line with the Centre’s environmental objectives, she said.The Minister further noted that agricultural operations in tribal and hilly regions do not extend for 60 days continuously, making the proposed provision impractical in such areas. Interrupting ongoing works for two months would adversely affect development activities. She also demanded that the Centre bear the entire expenditure on ongoing employment guarantee works, buildings and other infrastructure projects until their completion. She said the State would seek postponement of the scheme’s implementation to allow greater flexibility for States.At the same time, the Minister clarified that if implementation of the VB-G RAM-G policy became unavoidable, the State government would ensure that workers did not suffer losses. Officials have been instructed to prepare a framework under which the State could compensate labourers for any adverse impact arising from the new policy, she added. Published - June 13, 2026 11:24 pm IST

The HinduJun 13

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upscnationalcontent

Content of national importance, security clearance for key posts: Whats in IB ministrys draft rules for TV, radio

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests What’s the ongoing story: For the second time in less than 48 hours, India Friday summoned the US charge d’affaires (CDA) and lodged a “strong protest” over the series of attacks by US naval forces on commercial vessels carrying Indian mariners in the Gulf of Oman. Key Points to Ponder: — How is the global shipping industry being impacted due to the war? — What are the challenges of seafarers in war torn regions? — Maritime security and the safety of seafarers are a major concern in the Strait of Hormuz area. Elaborate. — What are shadow fleets? — What do you understand about the Indian flag ship? — Why did the US attack the commercial oil thanker? — What are the challenges in reaching a peace deal between Iran and the USA? — What are the steps needed to be taken by countries like India to ensure maritime security in these regions? Key Takeaways: — On Thursday, the government confirmed the death of three Indian seafarers, reported missing a day earlier from MT Settebello after it was attacked — of the 24 Indians on board, 21 were rescued. — The MEA, which usually doesn’t use the word “summoning” for calling in foreign diplomats, said in a statement: “The US Charge d’Affaires, Mr Jason Meeks, was summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs today…” — The war in West Asia, triggered by the US-Israeli attack on Iran on February 28 and the subsequent naval blockade near the Strait of Hormuz, have jeopardised Indian lives and livelihoods, apart from the economic impact. — Since Indian seafarers are part of the global shipping industry, they have become casualties in the ongoing conflict. At least 13 Indians have been killed since the start of the war, and one remains missing. — The strait is the key channel through which 20 percent of the global energy supply passes in large carriers. Qatar, UAE, Kuwait have all been negatively impacted by the closure of the strait, and that has led to a global rise in prices of oil and gas, and impacted the supply of LPG to India and other countries. Do You Know: — The United States and Iran are expected to sign a memorandum as early as Sunday, likely in Geneva, that could reopen the Strait of Hormuz and halt fighting across multiple fronts in the Gulf, according to Reuters sources familiar with the negotiations. — As the war continues, and ships continue to find themselves stranded near the Strait of Hormuz, industry stakeholders are warning of the increasing risk of “abandonments” — when shipowners cease all support to their crew and ships. — Indians, who make up about 15% of the world’s seafarer workforce — the second biggest share by nationality — top the list of “abandoned seafarers”. — Indian seafarers top abandonment lists owing to a mix of socioeconomic pressures, systemic flaws in recruitment, and a surge in fraudulent practices, says Bahri. — In India, the Directorate General of Shipping is responsible for verifying the credentials of ships, their owners and recruitment and placement agencies. But the shipping community alleges that lax regulatory oversight is behind issues such as abandonment. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍War in West Asia spotlights a growing risk for Indian seafarers: Abandonment 📍US, Iran may sign Geneva memorandum by Sunday as Hormuz reopening nears Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme: Why is maritime security vital to protect India’s sea trade? Discuss maritime and coastal security challenges and the way forward. (UPSC CSE 2025) EXPLAINED How trust underpins India’s ties with France Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affectin

Indian ExpressJun 13

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UPSC Key: BrahMos, Domestic Solar Cell Mandate, and Illegal Sand Mining in Chambal

Read the article. Then crack the quiz.Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.Mains Examination: General Studies-II, III: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India., Science and Technology, indigenization of technology and developing new technology.What’s the ongoing story: In the first official confirmation of India selling the BrahMos missiles to Vietnam, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said Saturday that a deal has been signed with the southeast Asian nation for the supply of the missiles, adding that a similar deal with Indonesia is in “final stages”. Key Points to Ponder: — BrahMos missile: Know the background and history development. — What are the key features of the BrahMos missile? — What is the strategic significance of BrahMos? — What are the different versions of BrahMos? — The BrahMos missile is named after which two rivers? — What are cruise missiles? — Know the terms and differences between infrasonic, subsonic, supersonic, ultrasonic, etc. — What do you understand by stealth technology? — What are India’s important precision-guided long-range weapons and drones? — What are the major defence agreements of India in the recent past? Key Takeaways:Story continues below this ad — Singh, who is in Singapore to attend the Shangri-La Dialogue, made the comments in response to a question on potential buyers of the missile system. — “My understanding is that with both Indonesia and with Vietnam, the deal is in the final stages… In fact, for Vietnam, I understand that it has already been signed, probably not publicly announced, but it’s already been signed,” he said. — Signing a contract worth nearly 375 million dollars, The Philippines had become the first foreign buyer of the BrahMos missile system from India in 2022. In March, Indonesia had also said that it had entered into an agreement with India to procure the BrahMos missile system. — The details of the deals with Indonesia and Vietnam are yet to be made public. Singh said countries generally sell sophisticated weapon systems and platforms to nations they regard as friendly partners.Story continues below this ad — He said India has a strong commitment to the ASEAN nations, adding: “…we treat all of you as ‘friendly foreign countries’ with whom we can share advanced defence technologies”. — He told delegates that India was ready to work with partners across the region and beyond to build resilient supply chains and trusted defence partnerships besides securing maritime commons. — He said India had undertaken major reforms in defence production, innovation and exports over the past decade, adding that the sector had been opened to greater private-sector participation. Do You Know: — BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, which have been operationalised in all three defence services, are built by BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture between India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya.Story continues below this ad — BrahMos is a two-stage missile with a solid propellant booster engine. Its first stage brings the missile to supersonic speed (meaning faster than sound) and then gets separated. The liquid ramjet or the second stage then takes the missile closer to three times the speed of sound in cruise phase. The missile has an extremely low radar signature, making it stealthy, and it can follow a variety of paths. — BrahMos missiles operate at close to Mach 3 speed in the cruise phase, which ensures reduced flight time, lower dispersion of targets, and quicker engagement time and non-interception. — The missile operates on a ‘Fire and Forget Principle’, adopting varieties of flights on its way to the target. As per its website, cruising altitude could be up to 15 km and terminal altitude as low as 10 metres. The missile carries a conventional warhead weighing 200-300 kg. — The range of some BrahMos missiles for land and ship attacks have been ne

Indian ExpressMay 31

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Custodial killings ‘worst kind of crime’: Jharkhand High Court raps state government; fresh probe ordered in over 260 cases

Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Structure, organisation and functioning of the Executive and the JudiciaryWhat’s the ongoing story: Addressing concerns over undue delay in pronouncement of judgments reserved by judges, the Supreme Court issued directions Friday to all high courts to pronounce verdicts within three months of hearing the case and to “display extra promptitude” in cases of personal liberty and bail. — What are the reasons for delay in pronouncing judgements reserved by judges? — What are reserved judgements? — What is the status of India’s judiciary system? — What are the reasons for the pendency of cases? — What are the main areas that need immediate attention? — Suggest steps that can be taken to reduce pendency of cases. — What are the recent measures adopted by the judiciary to decrease the pendency of cases?Story continues below this ad — Understand the integrated judiciary system of India and how is it different from America and India. — What are the different types of bail? — What are the issues concerning undertrials? Key Takeaways: — A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said the directions were intended to strengthen the judicial administration and ensure timely delivery of judgments. — Among the key directions, the Supreme Court said that bail applications should be heard and the order should preferably be pronounced and uploaded the same day. If it is reserved, it should be pronounced the next day and uploaded on the website. — The Supreme Court also called for reasoned judgments pronounced in open courts to be uploaded on the High Court website within 24 hours.Story continues below this ad — The directions came on a petition filed by four convicts serving life sentences whose criminal appeals had been reserved by the Jharkhand High Court in 2022 but the verdicts were pronounced three years later. While deciding their plea, the Supreme Court chose to address what it described as a wider institutional issue affecting courts across the country. — The Court said that orders in cases seeking bail or suspension of sentence should be communicated to the jail authorities as soon as it is pronounced, and that the undertrial or convict must be released, preferably the same day or at most the next day. — The bench also said that at the end of every month, an automated list of reserved judgments that remain pending must be generated and placed before the Chief Justice of the High Court, with a copy to the bench concerned. — If a judgment is not delivered in three months of reserving the order, the Registrar General must place the matter before the Chief Justice, who is then required to bring the delay to the notice of the bench concerned within two weeks, the top court said.Story continues below this ad — A similar string of directions, aimed at improving access to justice were issued in a 2001 case, Anil Rai v. State of Bihar, in which the Supreme Court noted that delivering judgments long after arguments had concluded could affect public confidence in the judicial process. Do You Know: — Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), Indian criminal statutory law, Section 2(1)(b), “bail” means release of a person accused of or suspected of commission of an offence from the custody of law upon certain conditions imposed by an officer or Court on execution by such person of a bond or a bail bond. — According to the fourth edition of the India Justice Report (IJR) 2025, in judiciary there is a 20 per cent increase in pending cases, crossing the five-crore mark; shortages in court halls; vacancies in the high courts and district courts that stand at 33 per cent and 21 per cent respectively. — There is also an increase in the average workload in district courts – 2,200 cases per judge, while case clearance rate is at 94 per cent. This leads to a slower pace of justice and erodes public confidence in the justice system.Story continues below this ad — In prisons, overcrow

Indian ExpressMay 30

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2026upscanswer

CBSE Class 12 results: Re-evaluation cost reduced to Rs 100 per answer book; on-screen marking foolproof, transparent, says ministry

2 min readNew DelhiMay 27, 2026 05:29 PM IST Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) has created history by announcing the final semester engineering exam results just 10 minutes after the exam ended. The results were jointly released by VTU Vice-Chancellor Prof S Vidyashankar and Registrar (Evaluation) Prof U J Ujwal. A total of 56,192 students appeared for the BE and BTech final semester examinations conducted by Visvesvaraya Technological University. The examination concluded at 5:30 pm on Friday, and the results were announced within 10 minutes, at 5:40 pm. The university recorded an overall pass percentage of 99.98 per cent.According to the university, the entire evaluation process was completed eight days earlier than in previous years, setting a new record. Earlier, VTU had announced results within one hour of the completion of examinations. This year, the results were also sent directly to students through mobile phones. Speaking on the occasion, Vice-Chancellor S. Vidyashankar said VTU has consistently adopted technology-driven processes and described the quick declaration of results as proof of the university’s student-focused approach. He said announcing results within 10 minutes of the exam’s completion was a major task and credited the administrative staff, examination section, and affiliated colleges for making it possible. He added that final-year students wait for results for employment opportunities and higher education admissions, and therefore the university ensured that the results were declared quickly. Result history: – In May 2025, results for the 2021 batch (50,321 students) were announced within one hour of exam completion. – In May 2024, results for the 2020 batch (37,011 students) were announced within 3 hours.Story continues below this ad – In 2023, results for the 2019 batch (43,662 students) were announced two days after the exam. Registrar (Evaluation) Prof. U.J. Ujwal added: “We adopted digital evaluation of answer scripts and prepared in advance to announce results quickly. With everyone’s cooperation, this was possible.” Students can see the result in this website results.vtu.ac.in.

Indian ExpressMay 27

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UPSC Mains Answer Practice GS 1: Gandhi–Tagore Ideological Differences and India’s AI Innovation Challenge Week 153

UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative for the practice of Mains answer writing. It covers the essential topics of static and dynamic parts of the UPSC Civil Services syllabus covered under various GS papers. This answer-writing practice is designed to help you as a value addition to your UPSC CSE Mains. Attempt today’s answer writing on questions related to topics of GS-1 to check your progress.Gear up for UPSC Prelims 2026—Practice smarter, revise faster, and succeed with our Special Quiz Magazine. (Click Here)What were the ideological differences between Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore regarding nationalism, modernity, and the path of India’s development. QUESTION 2 “Globalisation in the age of Artificial Intelligence is increasingly creating a divide between technology producers and technology consumers.” In this context, discuss the challenges before India in becoming an AI innovation hub rather than merely a market and infrastructure provider. QUESTION 1: What were the ideological differences between Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore regarding nationalism, modernity, and the path of India’s development. Relevance: The Gandhi–Tagore ideological engagement is important for understanding diverse strands of Indian nationalism, debates on modernity, and competing visions of development during the freedom struggle. It is relevant for GS-1 topics related to modern Indian history, socio-cultural reform movements, and intellectual currents in colonial India. Note: This is not a model UPSC answer. It only provides you with a thought process which you may incorporate into the answers. Introduction:Story continues below this ad — Gandhi and Tagore shared an enduring friendship that lasted from 1914-15 till the latter’s death in 1941. But they also shared profound disagreements about political, social and economic matters. — No object symbolised their deepest philosophical differences more than the charkha. Tagore recoiled from Gandhi’s insistence that every true Indian must spin, while Gandhi remained unwavering in his belief that spinning carried deep moral and symbolic significance. Body: You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer: — The conflict between them, despite a deep friendship rooted in respect, was probably inevitable. The first signs appeared in 1915, when Gandhi visited Shantiniketan after returning from South Africa. They disagreed on a range of topics — from nationalism to education and politics.Story continues below this ad — The gap grew after the Amritsar Massacre, when Gandhi initiated movements such as Non-Cooperation. Tagore worried these movements would lead to blind nationalism. Instead, he renounced his knighthood in protest. — In the aftermath of a devastating earthquake in Bihar in 1934, Gandhi called the calamity a “divine chastisement for the great sin we [upper castes] have committed against… Harijans”. Tagore did not agree. — “They had differences on fundamental philosophical questions, which led to disputation about many political, social, and economic matters,” wrote historian Sabyasachi Bhattacharya in his 1997 book The Mahatma and The Poet: Letters and Debates between Gandhi and Tagore 1915-1941. — As Gangeya Mukherji notes in Gandhi and Tagore: Politics, Truth and Conscience (2016), many biographers see Tagore as more outspoken and willing to take risks than Gandhi, since he issued public statements even when he risked punishment under the Defence of India Act during a period of strong state repression. By mid-1921, their disagreements were being openly expressed through speeches, essays and letters. Conclusion: — Tagore was not opposed to the charkha as a means of meeting a basic human need. What troubled him was the excessive importance it had acquired in Gandhi’s political and moral programme.Story continues below this ad — Yet Tagore approached this disagreement with visible reluctance. He openly acknowledged, “It is extremely distasteful to me to have

Indian ExpressMay 9

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UPSC Key: AI in diplomacy, OPEC and Digital Arrest

Arrest those indulging in violence: CEC Gyanesh Kumar The Times of India

The Times of IndiaMay 7

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