Published: Tuesday, September 2, 2025
NEET UG Counselling Round 2 Schedule Revised by MCC
The Medical Counselling Committee has released a revised schedule for NEET UG Counselling 2025 Round 2, with updated dates now available on mcc.nic.in. The registration process for Round 2 will begin on September 4 and close on September 9, while choice filling will be available from September 5 to 9, with choice locking scheduled between 4 PM and 11:55 PM on September 9.
Seat allotment will be processed between September 10 and 11, with the Round 2 seat allotment result declared on September 12, 2025. Candidates allotted seats must report to their respective institutes between September 13 and 19, followed by data verification from September 20 to 21.
Extended Resignation Facility and State Quota Updates
MCC has extended the resignation facility for Round 1, allowing candidates to withdraw from their allotted seat without losing the security deposit until September 3 at 5 PM. After this deadline, resignations will incur penalties.
The state counselling quota schedule has also been revised, with Round 2 taking place from September 4 to September 12 and the last date of joining set as September 19. Round 3 will begin on September 24 and conclude on October 3, followed by verification and reporting processes.
Supreme Court Seeks Larger Bench Review on Minority Schools' RTE Exemption
The Supreme Court has referred the matter of minority schools' exemption from the Right to Education Act to a larger bench, expressing concerns about the 2014 Pramati Educational and Cultural Trust verdict. A bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and Manmohan noted that the exclusion has created a "fertile ground for misuse" and may have "jeopardised the very foundation of universal elementary education".
Constitutional Questions for Review
The court observed that exempting minority institutions from the RTE Act leads to fragmentation of the common schooling vision and weakening of inclusivity and universality envisioned by Article 21A. The bench highlighted that while the RTE Act ensures children basic infrastructure, trained teachers, books, uniforms, and mid-day meals, minority schools excluded from its purview are not necessarily bound to provide these facilities.
The Supreme Court framed four critical questions for the larger bench, including whether the Pramati judgment requires reconsideration, whether the RTE Act infringes minority rights under Article 30(1), the effect of non-consideration of Article 29(2), and whether the entire RTE Act should have been declared ultra vires regarding minority rights.
Interim Directions
Until the larger bench decides the matter, all schools except those established and administered by minorities must comply with the RTE Act provisions. The court also provided relief for teachers, allowing those with less than five years of service to continue until superannuation without qualifying for the Teachers' Eligibility Test, while in-service teachers with more than five years remaining must qualify TET within two years.
IIT Madras Alumnus Creates Revolutionary Dyslexic Math Kit
The Madras Dyslexia Association, founded by IIT Madras Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient D Chandrashekar, has introduced "Count on Me," a comprehensive remedial toolkit designed to support children with learning difficulties in mathematics. The resource is already in use in 50 schools across Chennai and has shown effectiveness for all learners by transforming abstract concepts into structured, hands-on learning experiences.
Comprehensive Four-Component System
The Count on Me toolkit comprises four main components designed to address diverse learning needs. Sixty-four colour-coded graded booklets progress step-by-step through addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, later expanding to fractions and decimals. The Red, Yellow, Green, and Blue levels mark increasing difficulty, allowing for structured teaching, reinforcement, and fluency testing cycles.
Evaluation checklists provide teacher-friendly sheets that break down math skills into smaller parts, enabling instructors to identify gaps and plan targeted remediation. The manipulatives and guides include curated hands-on tools with instructional booklets and video support, making numbers tangible and providing practical classroom methods. A comprehensive teacher's e-manual explains the toolkit's philosophy, challenges faced by students with dyscalculia, and strategies for intentional session planning.
Three Decades of Inclusive Education Experience
The toolkit reflects MDA's thirty years of work in inclusive education, building on classroom experience, research practices, and teacher collaboration. Founded in 1992 by parents, educators, and philanthropists, MDA has worked with schools to create resource rooms and train educators. The initiative serves as both a teaching aid and a policy reminder that children struggling with numbers are not poor learners but students needing the right approach.
IIT Madras Avishkar Hyperloop Achieves Global Recognition
Team Avishkar Hyperloop from IIT Madras has secured the top-ranked position in Asia and fourth place globally at the European Hyperloop Week 2025, held in Veendam, Netherlands, from July 14-20. The student-led team, founded in 2017 under IIT Madras' Centre for Innovation, won first place in Socio-Economic Research and second place in Technical Research for its aerodynamic analysis of Hyperloop systems.
Advanced Hyperloop Pod 8.0 Technology
At EHW 2025, the team showcased its eighth-generation Hyperloop Pod 8.0, featuring cutting-edge innovations including a hybrid propulsion system combining Linear Synchronous Motor for thrust and Linear Induction Motor for efficient cruising. The pod incorporates custom in-house motor controllers and DC-DC converters for improved reliability and power efficiency.
Additional features include a modular chassis for load handling and easy component replacement, advanced dampers and shockwave mitigation systems for smooth travel, and a passenger mock-up cabin designed to simulate real-world Hyperloop travel comfort and aesthetics. Safety-driven features include redundant high-voltage battery stacks and active cooling systems.
Asia's Largest Test Track and Future Vision
Beyond competitions, the 70-student team has created Asia's largest Hyperloop test track at Thaiyur, near Chennai, in partnership with IRCTC and TuTr Hyperloop. This infrastructure enables the team to push boundaries in scalable, sustainable high-speed transportation development.
The team's consistent international success includes being the only Asian team to qualify for SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Competition finals in 2019, winning the Most Scalable Design Award in 2021, and achieving multiple podium finishes in recent years. Their achievements have drawn praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
Sources
- The Indian Express. (2025, September 2). NEET UG Counselling 2025: Round 2 choice-filling from Sept 5, check revised schedule. Retrieved from https://indianexpress.com/article/education/neet-ug-counselling-2025-round-2-schedule-revised-choice-filling-dates-10225523/
- The Indian Express. (2025, September 2). Minority Schools & RTE: SC seeks larger bench review on 2014 verdict. Retrieved from https://indianexpress.com/article/education/minority-schools-rte-sc-seeks-larger-bench-review-on-2014-verdict-10225650/
- India Today. (2025, September 2). Difficulty with maths? IIT Madras alumnus creates remedial kit for dyslexic students. Retrieved from https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/news/story/iit-madras-alumnus-designs-remedial-kit-for-dyslexic-students-with-math-problems-2780620-2025-09-02
- India Today. (2025, September 1). IIT Madras' Avishkar Hyperloop bags top spots at European Hyperloop Week 2025. Retrieved from https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/news/story/iit-madras-avishkar-hyperloop-bags-top-spots-at-european-hyperloop-week-2025-2780056-2025-09-01
