Published: Friday, September 19, 2025
CAT 2025 Registration Deadline Tomorrow: Last Chance for MBA Aspirants
The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2025 registration closes tomorrow, September 20, at 5 PM, marking the final opportunity for MBA aspirants to apply for admission to India's premier Indian Institutes of Management. The registration, administered by IIM Kozhikode under Convener Professor P N Ram Kumar, was extended by one week from the original September 13 deadline.
Examination Structure and Fee Details
CAT 2025 will be conducted on November 30 in three sessions across approximately 170 cities nationwide. The 120-minute computer-based test evaluates candidates across three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Quantitative Ability (QA), and Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR).
The registration fee is ₹1,300 for candidates belonging to SC, ST, and PwD categories, while all other applicants pay ₹2,600. Candidates must select five preferred test cities from a dropdown menu, with allotment subject to availability. CAT 2025 admit cards will be available for download from November 5.
IIM Selection Criteria Variations
Each IIM employs distinct criteria for candidate shortlisting beyond CAT scores, considering academic records, work experience, and diversity factors. Older IIMs like Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Calcutta often prioritise CAT scores more heavily, while newer IIMs balance performance with factors including work experience and academic achievements in Classes 10, 12, and graduation. Generally, percentile scores above 90-99 are essential for securing interview calls, depending on the specific IIM.
CBSE Announces Comprehensive Reforms for 2026 Board Examinations
The Central Board of Secondary Education has implemented multiple significant changes for the 2026 academic session, fundamentally altering examination structures and assessment methodologies across different grade levels.
Two-Term Examination System for Class 10
CBSE will introduce a two-term examination system for Class 10 starting in 2026, with the first 'main' board examination conducted in mid-February 2026, followed by a second exam in May 2026. This represents a major shift from the traditional single examination format.
Special provisions have been established for students representing India in national or international sports events or Olympiads. Sports students can only take special exams during the second cycle in May, with no separate examinations after the first cycle. Students must complete the List of Candidates (LOC) for the main exam as usual, while compartment students will have exams in February or March 2026.
Open-Book Assessments and STEM Subject Levels
Beginning with the 2026-27 academic session, CBSE will introduce Open-Book Assessments (OBAs) for Class 9 students. This initiative follows a pilot study conducted in late 2023 across select schools for Classes 9 to 12, approved by the board's Governing Body in June.
The board plans to extend its two-level model for Science and Social Science subjects to STEM subjects at the higher secondary level, starting with Class 11 in 2026-27. This approach offers basic and advanced levels, allowing students to choose appropriate difficulty levels based on their career aspirations.
Additional Policy Changes
CBSE has reaffirmed the mandatory 75% attendance requirement for Class 10 and 12 board examinations in 2025-26. The board has discontinued the 'additional subject' option for private candidates from 2026, stating that focus should be on comprehensive schooling rather than examination flexibility.
New infrastructure requirements include mandatory installation of high-resolution CCTV cameras with audio-visual recording capabilities across all key school campus areas. Schools must also establish dedicated 'sugar boards' to promote awareness about reducing excessive sugar consumption among students.
SBI Launches Platinum Jubilee Asha Scholarship Worth ₹90 Crore
The State Bank of India Foundation has launched its Platinum Jubilee Asha Scholarship program, committing ₹90 crore in FY26 to support 23,230 meritorious students from underprivileged backgrounds across India. Applications are open until November 15, 2025, through the official portal sbiashascholarship.co.in.
Comprehensive Financial Support Structure
The scholarship covers students from Class 9 through postgraduate programs, offering financial assistance ranging from ₹15,000 to ₹20,00,000 annually until course completion. Dedicated categories support various educational levels: school students (Classes 9-12), undergraduate and postgraduate students at NIRF top 300 or NAAC A-rated institutions, scholars at IITs and IIMs, students pursuing medical courses, students aspiring to study abroad, and SC/ST students pursuing master's and higher education abroad at top 200 QS ranking universities.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must be Indian nationals who have secured at least 75% marks or 7.0 CGPA in the previous academic year. Family income requirements differ by education level: school students must have a family income of ₹3 lakh or less, while college students must have a family income of ₹6 lakh or less.
SBI Chairman Challa Sreenivasulu Setty emphasised the initiative's alignment with India's development goals, stating the scholarship aims to create a strong ecosystem around scholars, empowering them to become "torchbearers of progress and contribute meaningfully to the vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047".
Punjab Launches Overseas Scholarship Scheme for Disadvantaged Communities
Punjab Cabinet Minister Dr Baljit Kaur announced a comprehensive overseas scholarship scheme supporting children from Scheduled Caste communities and landless agricultural labourers to pursue higher education abroad. The initiative targets families with annual incomes below ₹8 lakh.
Extensive Financial Coverage
The government will cover all educational and living expenses, including visas, tickets, tuition fees, annual maintenance allowance of ₹13.17 lakh per year, and contingency allowance of ₹1.35 lakh. The program includes 30% reservation for female aspirants and provides access to a list of 500 top-ranked global universities.
Eligibility criteria require candidates to have secured at least 60% marks in graduation and be under 35 years of age. Minister Kaur assured complete government support, stating, "We stand firmly by the children of low-income families and will provide complete support for those who want to pursue higher education abroad".
Strategic Social Development Focus
The scheme specifically addresses educational disparities affecting marginalised communities while promoting international exposure and skill development. By targeting SC communities and landless agricultural labourers, Punjab demonstrates a commitment to inclusive development and breaking intergenerational poverty cycles through higher education access.
Sources
- The Indian Express. (2025, September 19). CAT 2025 Registration: Application process closes on September 20, register at iimcat.ac.in. Retrieved from https://indianexpress.com/article/education/cat-2025-registration-last-date-application-iimcat-ac-in-10258860/
- The Indian Express. (2025, September 19). CBSE Exams 2026: From 2 board exams to open book assessments – new rules this year. Retrieved from https://indianexpress.com/article/education/cbse-board-exams-2026-changes-rules-two-exams-additional-subjects-stem-open-book-exam-10256928/
- The Indian Express. (2025, September 19). SBI's Platinum Jubilee Asha Scholarship 2025: Application opens for students; who can apply & eligibility. Retrieved from https://indianexpress.com/article/education/sbi-platinum-jubilee-asha-scholarship-2025-application-opens-students-who-can-apply-eligibility-10259196/
- The Indian Express. (2025, September 19). Overseas scholarship scheme for children of low-income families to study abroad: Punjab minister. Retrieved from https://indianexpress.com/article/education/study-abroad/overseas-scholarship-scheme-children-low-income-families-study-abroad-punjab-minister-10258807/
