Student protest erupts at Presidency University over delayed UG admissions
Members of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) continued their sit-in demonstration at Kolkata’s Presidency University on Friday, demanding the immediate commencement of undergraduate admissions and timely publication of entrance examination results. The protest, which began on Thursday, centres around the delay in announcing the results of the Presidency University Bachelor’s Degree Entrance Test (PUBDET), conducted by the West Bengal Joint Entrance Examinations Board (WBJEEB). Students allege that the prolonged wait has created uncertainty and anxiety among aspirants seeking admission to one of West Bengal’s premier institutions. Speaking to reporters, SFI leader Bitan Islam said the delay was unjustified and could affect the academic calendar. “We are demanding the immediate publication of PUBDET results and commencement of the undergraduate admission process. The university and the WBJEEB cannot remain silent while thousands of students are in limbo,” he said. Islam also called for the release of application forms for the Presidency University Master’s Degree Entrance Test (PUMDET), which is also pending. “Both undergraduate and postgraduate aspirants are suffering due to administrative inertia. Presidency University must intervene and pressure the board to expedite the process,” he added. Dozens of students have occupied a section of the university campus, holding placards and shouting slogans demanding transparency and urgency in the admission process. While the university administration has not issued an official response, insiders suggest the delay stems from procedural issues between the university and the entrance board. The Presidency University, a historic institution known for its academic excellence, draws students from across the state. The protest highlights growing concern over bureaucratic delays in West Bengal’s higher education system, especially as colleges and universities aim to resume normal schedules following disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Karnataka Unveils Rs 1,000 Crore Quantum Mission to Build $20 Billion Economy by 2035, Bengaluru to be more Hitch city in India
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced the launch of the Karnataka Quantum Mission (KQM), backed by a Rs 1,000 crore ($120 million) fund, aimed at developing a $20 billion quantum technology economy in the southern Indian state by 2035. Speaking at the inaugural edition of the ‘Quantum India Bengaluru’ summit, Siddaramaiah said the initiative forms a core part of Karnataka’s Quantum Vision 2035 and seeks to position the state as the “Quantum Capital of Asia.” “As the world marks 2025 as the International Year of Quantum, Karnataka is taking a decisive step forward with the launch of the Quantum Mission,” Siddaramaiah said at the event organised by the Karnataka Science and Technology Promotion Society (KSTePS) and the Department of Science & Technology, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc)’s Quantum Technology Initiative (IQTI). The mission aims to generate 10,000 high-skilled jobs, support cutting-edge research and development, and attract global partnerships, he added. A Quantum Technology Task Force will be set up to shape policy, while the state will also develop dedicated infrastructure including quantum parks, a Q-City innovation hub, and specialised manufacturing zones to support startups and component makers. “Q-City will do for quantum technology what Bengaluru did for the IT revolution in India,” Siddaramaiah said. Karnataka’s strategy rests on five key pillars: talent development, R&D, infrastructure creation, industry support, and international collaboration. The government plans to introduce quantum skilling programmes in over 20 colleges and support 150 PhD fellowships annually to create a strong talent pipeline. The mission also includes plans to build India’s first Quantum Hardware Park, four innovation zones, and a dedicated fabrication line to enable domestic production of quantum components. The state aims to develop 1,000-qubit processors and test real-world applications in healthcare, defence and cybersecurity, Siddaramaiah said.
CPIM alleges, YouTube & facebook blocking Videos criticising economic policies, labels move as ‘digital censorship’
The West Bengal unit of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has accused social media giant Facebook of blocking the upload of a party-produced video highlighting the plight of migrant workers from the state, calling it a case of “digital censorship” and “ideological bias” against left-wing content. The 2-minute-32-second video, titled “Ora Kaj Kore” (“They Work”), was created by the CPIM state committee’s IT cell. The video seeks to question why lakhs of people from West Bengal are forced to migrate to other states for work and blames both central and state governments’ economic policies for the unemployment crisis in the state. Despite multiple attempts, party leaders say they were unable to upload the video on Facebook, which reportedly flagged several phrases as problematic. According to Sayandeep Mitra, a senior CPIM state committee member, the video was also denied promotion on YouTube due to the use of words like “class struggle”, “revolution”, “imperialism”, and “capitalism must be destroyed”. “Facebook is now afraid of the ghost of Marxism,” Mitra told The Statesman. “While the platform allows violent rhetoric from ruling parties and communal hate speeches to circulate, any content that highlights the struggles of workers or criticises capitalism is treated as dangerous.” He alleged that social media platforms have been complicit in shaping a narrative aligned with the political status quo—particularly what he called the “binary politics” of the BJP and Trinamul Congress. According to CPIM leaders, the video was designed to bring public attention to questions such as: Why is there no work in West Bengal? Why are workers forced to migrate? Who is responsible for this economic stagnation? Sources within the party said Facebook suggested “softer” alternatives for words like “class struggle” (to be replaced with “worker mobilisation”) and advised against using phrases such as “overthrow capitalism” or “take to the streets”. “It’s like being told to say ‘pleasant greetings’ instead of ‘revolution’,” Mitra quipped, adding, “Had Salil Chowdhury been alive today, even his timeless protest songs would’ve been flagged as unsafe.” CPIM argues that this selective filtering reflects the deepening alliance between authoritarian states and global tech platforms, which increasingly act to suppress working-class resistance and anti-imperialist narratives. The video in question portrays the lives of migrant workers from West Bengal, their harsh realities, and the socio-economic reasons that compel them to leave their homes. The party insists the content was factual, non-violent, and within the bounds of public discourse. This isn’t the first time the Left has accused digital platforms of bias. CPIM says their growing support among working classes—visible in both street-level movements and digital engagement—is being deliberately suppressed. The party sees the episode as part of a broader trend: a shrinking digital space for dissenting voices, particularly those that challenge neoliberal economic models and call for systemic change. Facebook, owned by Meta Platforms Inc., has not responded publicly to the allegations at the time of publishing.
