Published: Tuesday, September 16, 2025
CBSE Discontinues Additional Subject Option from 2026 Exams
The Central Board of Secondary Education has decided to discontinue the 'additional subject' option for private candidates starting from the 2026 board examinations, affecting both Class 10 and Class 12 students. Data reveals that 2,768 private candidates registered for this option in 2025, with 78% (2,161 candidates) appearing for the examination.
Declining but Consistent Usage
In 2024, a smaller number of 2,225 private candidates registered for the additional subject option, with approximately 74% (1,657 candidates) actually appearing for the examination. For Class 10, 375 private candidates registered in 2025 with 311 appearing, while in 2024, 267 candidates appeared out of 330 registrations.
The additional subject option allowed students to take examinations in subjects they hadn't studied during their regular Class 11 and 12 coursework, but needed for specific entrance examinations. For instance, students who studied Physics, Chemistry, and Biology could take Mathematics as an additional subject to qualify for engineering entrance exams like JEE.
Board's Rationale and Student Concerns
A senior CBSE official explained that the board decided to eliminate this option because marks for internal assessments cannot be assigned when private candidates register for additional subjects. The official emphasised that CBSE focuses on schooling rather than merely conducting examinations.
Students who have taken gap years specifically to appear for additional subjects in 2026 have criticised the decision, stating that the board should have communicated this change earlier. They argue that removing this option eliminates the flexibility that had previously enabled many students to meet entrance examination requirements.
Arunachal Pradesh Establishes Second Medical College with 100 MBBS Seats
The Directorate of Medical Education, Training & Research, Arunachal Pradesh, has initiated the establishment of the state's second medical college at Namsai, with completion expected within seven years. The project will be executed under a Public-Private Partnership model with an estimated cost of ₹356.60 crore.
Infrastructure Development and Expansion
The new medical college will utilise the existing district hospital in Namsai, which currently has approximately 100 beds. The expansion plan includes adding 320 beds, bringing the total capacity to about 420 beds. The college will offer 100 MBBS seats, doubling Arunachal Pradesh's total medical education capacity to 200 seats.
Currently, the state operates one medical college—the Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (TRIHMS) in Naharlagun, which initially started with 50 MBBS seats and was later expanded to 100. Chief Minister Pema Khandu had announced plans for this second medical college in November 2024, also indicating future expansion with a third college planned for Pasighat.
Strategic Healthcare Education Development
The tender process will determine the private partner meeting both the Arunachal Pradesh government and the Union Health Ministry requirements. This development represents significant progress in addressing medical education access in India's northeastern region and reducing the need for students to seek medical education opportunities outside the state.
Bihar Makes Student Credit Card Loans Completely Interest-Free
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced a major reform to the Bihar Student Credit Card Scheme, eliminating interest charges for all applicants and extending repayment periods to ease the financial burden on students and families.
Comprehensive Financial Relief
Previously, the scheme charged 4% interest for general applicants while women, differently-abled, and transgender students enjoyed a reduced 1% rate. Under the new policy, all education loans up to ₹4 lakh will be completely interest-free for students who have passed Class 12 and want to pursue higher studies.
The repayment timeline has also been significantly extended to make loan servicing more manageable. Loans up to ₹2 lakh, previously requiring repayment in 60 monthly instalments (five years), can now be repaid over 84 monthly instalments (seven years). For loans above ₹2 lakh, the repayment period has increased from 84 instalments (seven years) to a maximum of 120 instalments (ten years).
Impact on Higher Education Access
The scheme, launched on October 2, 2016, under the 07 Nishchay Yojana, has already supported thousands of Bihar students in accessing higher education. Kumar emphasised that these changes aim to ensure "the maximum number of students of the state can get higher education" while boosting young people's morale to shape their own future alongside that of the state and country.
Indian B-Schools Achieve Global Recognition on LinkedIn's MBA Rankings
Four Indian business schools have secured positions in LinkedIn's 2025 Top MBA Programs list, with the Indian School of Business (ISB) achieving a historic breakthrough by rising to 5th position globally, sharing space with elite institutions like Stanford University (1st) and Harvard University (2nd).
Comprehensive Indian Representation
ISB's rise from 6th position last year to 5th in 2025 represents a significant achievement for Indian management education. Three IIMs also secured top-20 positions worldwide: IIM Calcutta at 16th, IIM Ahmedabad at 17th, and IIM Bangalore at 20th position.
Madan Pillutla, Dean of ISB, noted that their one-year Post Graduate Programme not only imparts skills but also fosters learnability, with the growing community of over 20,000 ISB alumni worldwide testifying to how the program enriches careers well beyond classroom learning.
Global Significance and Methodology
LinkedIn's MBA rankings utilise real-world outcomes data across five pillars: hiring and demand, advancement ability, network strength, leadership potential, and diversity. With senior leaders holding MBAs increasing 32% since 2010 and entrepreneurs with MBAs rising 87%, these rankings reflect the degree's growing value in career development.
Nirajita Banerjee, Senior Managing Editor and Career Expert at LinkedIn News India, emphasised that while curriculum is important, the networks, confidence, and sense of possibility that accompany an MBA can shape careers for decades, explaining the methodology's focus on practical outcomes rather than academic metrics alone.
Sources
- The Indian Express. (2025, September 16). Over 2700 private candidates registered for CBSE 'additional subject' in 2025; option to be discontinued from 2026 exams. Retrieved from https://indianexpress.com/article/education/over-2700-private-candidates-registered-for-cbse-additional-subject-in-2025-option-to-be-discontinued-from-2026-exams-10252921/
- The Indian Express. (2025, September 16). Arunachal begins work on state's second medical college with 100 MBBS seats; Namsai hospital set for 320-bed expansion. Retrieved from https://indianexpress.com/article/education/neetug-2026-arunachal-pradesh-state-medical-college-100-new-mbbs-seats-namsai-district-hospital-bed-expansion-tomo-riba-institute-of-health-and-medical-sciences-10251252/
- India Today. (2025, September 16). Bihar makes student credit card loans interest free for all applicants. Retrieved from https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/news/story/bihar-makes-student-credit-card-loans-interest-free-for-all-applicants-2788204-2025-09-16
- India Today. (2025, September 16). 4 Indian B-schools on LinkedIn's global top MBA list, ISB in top 5. Retrieved from https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/best-colleges/story/iims-isb-linkedins-global-top-mba-programmes-list-2788063-2025-09-16
