Gyan Bharatam Manuscript Mission, UQ-IIT Delhi PhD, JEE Main 2026 Registration & UGC Fake Universities Alert

Oct 27, 2025

Published: Monday, October 27, 2025

20 Institutes Join Gyan Bharatam Mission for Manuscript Digitisation

The Union Ministry of Culture's flagship Gyan Bharatam Mission formalised partnerships with approximately 20 institutions across India on October 25, 2025, to conserve, digitise, and promote the country's vast manuscript heritage, according to an official announcement. A senior official stated that while the first batch of 20 institutions signed Memorandums of Understanding, around 30 more are expected to follow in the coming days.

Strategic Partnerships and National Digital Repository

Among the participating institutions are the Asiatic Society, Kolkata; University of Kashmir, Srinagar; Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, Prayagraj; and the Government Oriental Manuscript Library, Chennai. The initiative was announced in this year's Union Budget and aims to identify, document, conserve, and digitally preserve India's manuscript wealth through a unified digital platform called the National Digital Repository (NDR).

Under the project structure, institutes have been classified as either Cluster Centres or Independent Centres. Cluster Centres will oversee manuscript-related activities for themselves and up to 20 partner institutions, while Independent Centres will focus solely on their own collections. The Mission will provide an overall framework, funding, technological support, monitor progress, approve work plans, and ensure quality checks through third-party verification.

Implementation Framework and Quality Assurance

Each participating centre will establish a dedicated Gyan Bharatam Cell to handle tasks including survey, cataloguing, conservation, translation, and outreach, serving as a liaison for coordination between institutions. Funding will be released in two stages: the first instalment, constituting 70% of the sanctioned budget, will be provided after approval of the annual plan, while the remaining 30% will be released only after institutions submit detailed progress and expenditure reports, utilisation certificates, and quality verification statements.

Last month, the Culture Ministry organised its first-ever international conference on Indian manuscripts titled "Reclaiming India's Knowledge Legacy through Manuscript Heritage." Officials stated the Mission builds on that effort by ensuring India's traditional knowledge, long preserved in fragile manuscripts, is safeguarded and shared with future generations.

University of Queensland-IIT Delhi Open Joint PhD Applications for July 2026

The University of Queensland, Australia, and the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi have announced the opening of Expressions of Interest for their Joint Doctor of Philosophy Programme, commencing in July 2026, according to a press release. The collaborative programme offers candidates opportunities to undertake research under the supervision of academics from both institutions while experiencing the academic environments of India and Australia.

Program Structure and International Exposure

PhD candidates will spend one year at UQ's Brisbane campus and three years at IIT Delhi, gaining international research exposure. The programme supports students with fellowships, research travel grants, and relocation assistance, with students having access to both institutions' academic facilities and resources. Graduates will be awarded a joint PhD degree from UQ and IIT Delhi upon successful completion.

Applications are invited from candidates across diverse disciplines, including Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Humanities, and Social Sciences. Expressions of Interest can be submitted online until 7 PM (IST) on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, via the official website uqiitd.org/study.

Information Sessions and Scholarship Support

Online information sessions will be organised on November 11, 2025 (registration at shorturl.at/QQoIe) and December 10, 2025 (registration at shorturl.at/vjVp1). These sessions will help students obtain more information about programme structure, eligibility, and the application process.

The Academy accepts applications twice a year, with round 1 opening around February for July intake commencement, while round 2 opens in September for January intake commencement of the following year. Last year, all UQ-IITD PhD applicants were offered scholarships for the duration of their candidature for up to four years based on full-time study load. The UQ-IITD Research Academy has also partnered with The Weir Group to support research in slurry transportation through a new PhD project.

JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Registration Process Begins

The National Testing Agency is expected to commence the registration process for JEE Main 2026, scheduled to begin in October 2025, according to official announcements. Candidates interested in applying for the Joint Entrance Examination can access the registration link via the official website at jeemain.nta.nic.in once activated.

Examination Schedule and Structure

Session 1 is set to take place from January 21 to 30, 2026, with Session 2 scheduled from April 1 to 10, 2026. JEE Main comprises two papers: Paper 1 is held for admission to undergraduate engineering programs (BE/BTech) at NITs, IIITs, CFTIs, and other institutions recognised by participating state governments, also serving as a qualifying exam for JEE Advanced required for IIT admission. Paper 2 is conducted for candidates seeking admission to BArch and BPlanning courses across India.

Historical Context and Support Services

In 2025, JEE Main was held in January and April, with the January session conducted from January 22-30 and the April session from April 2-8. Last year, registration started on January 2, followed by the availability of city intimation slips. For queries or assistance regarding JEE Main 2026, candidates can contact the National Testing Agency through nta.ac.in and jeemain.nta.nic.in, or reach the NTA Helpdesk at 91-11-40759000 or email jeemain@nta.ac.in.

UGC Declares 22 Institutions as Fake Universities

The University Grants Commission has declared 22 institutions as fake, operating without proper recognition and falsely presenting themselves as legitimate universities, according to the latest official notification. These entities are not authorised to confer degrees under the UGC Act, 1956, making any qualifications obtained from them academically and professionally invalid.

Recent Case and State-Wise Distribution

The recent case involves the Institute of Management and Engineering in Kotla Mubarakpur, Delhi. UGC clarified that this institute is neither established under any Central or State Act nor recognised under Sections 2(f) or 3 of the UGC Act, rendering its engineering degrees invalid for academic or professional use.

According to the list shared by the Commission as of October 2025, Delhi has the highest number of fake universities, followed by Uttar Pradesh. In an earlier notification in March 2022, UGC also included two universities in Kerala and Karnataka as fake institutions.

Contrast with Legitimate Distance Learning Providers

In contrast to these fraudulent operations, UGC has approved 101 universities and 20 Category-I institutions to offer open and distance learning (ODL) programmes for the academic year 2025-26, commencing in July-August. This approval provides students with legitimate pathways for distance education from recognised institutions.