Tina Khatri

Around 16,500 Class 12 students across Madhya Pradesh, including nearly 1,500 from Indore, will appear for the Central Board of Secondary Education supplementary exam on July 15. The exam comes after lower pass percentages linked to on-screen marking. Most students aim to clear compartment subjects or improve scores for college admissions.

Private schools in Indore say delayed reimbursements under the Right to Education (RTE) Act are causing serious financial stress. Schools are awaiting ₹150–200 crore for the 2024–25 session, while some dues from 2023–24 also remain pending. The MP Private School Association has urged the state government to ensure timely payments to help schools meet salary and operational expenses.

World Women's Bodybuilding Championship gold medallist Vandana Thakur visited Indore's Deaf Bilingual Academy to inspire students with her journey, but left impressed by their confidence and determination. She spoke about fitness, discipline and consistency, while students shared their experiences through sign language and artwork.

As Shravan begins, Indore's Gen Z is exploring spirituality through music, satsangs and kirtan gatherings. Youth-led devotional events are blending bhakti with social interaction, creating a trend called “Shiva Bhakti Clubbing”. Experts say such activities provide emotional balance, community bonding and relaxation while helping youngsters reconnect with traditions in a modern way.

More than 1,000 runners participated in the ninth 12-Hour Tiranga Stadium Run at the DAVV synthetic track on Sunday. Ankit Sharma won the men's 12-hour title with 290 laps, while Rajani Singh topped the women's category with 253 laps. Participants came from Mumbai, Surat, Noida, Delhi and other cities.

Forest Department records show only five snakes were rescued or seized in 2026, the lowest figure in five years. Despite restrictions, snake charmers were seen carrying live snakes in Mahunaka, Rajwada, Annapurna and Labaria Bheru during Nag Panchami. Officials formed three teams, rescued five snakes and advised charmers to use replicas instead.

MPBSE has revised the 2026-27 exam pattern for Classes 9 to 12, adopting a CBSE-style approach focused on reasoning and conceptual understanding. Class 10 will have a 75-mark paper with 30 objective marks, while Class 12 non-practical papers will carry 80 marks. Students and teachers expressed mixed reactions to the changes.

Indore recorded the highest number of beneficiaries under Madhya Pradesh's laptop incentive scheme, with 6,434 Class 12 meritorious students qualifying for a ₹25,000 grant. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav will launch the single-click transfer benefiting 1.22 lakh students statewide. Government institutions contributed significantly, while urban areas accounted for 58% of Indore's eligible students.

Madhya Pradesh recorded India's highest forest-land diversion between 2014-15 and 2023-24, with 38,552.61 hectares approved for non-forestry use, according to MoEFCC data submitted to Parliament. The state accounted for 22.23% of India's total, with mining, irrigation and infrastructure among major drivers of diversion.

Free Press, in association with Daly College Business Management, felicitated city educators at a Teachers' Day event at Free Press House. Speakers highlighted teachers' growing responsibility amid AI, Gen Z and Gen Alpha, stressing values, empathy and lifelong learning. Educators shared their experiences, emphasising discipline, life skills, character-building.