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$1.6 trillion in student debt: Federal loan collections restart May 5 as repayment campaign begins – The Times of India

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.6 trillion in student debt: Federal loan collections restart May 5 as repayment campaign begins – The Times of India


Education Department launches repayment push as student loan defaults near 10 million. (AP Photo)

The US Department of Education has announced that it will resume collections on defaulted federal student loans starting May 5, 2025. This marks the first time in over four years that the department, through its Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA), will actively pursue defaulted borrowers, ending a pandemic-era pause that began in March 2020.
The restart is part of a broader effort to move the nation’s $1.6 trillion student loan portfolio back into repayment and restore long-term sustainability to federal lending programs. The Department’s new approach is also intended to protect taxpayers from absorbing the cost of unpaid loans, emphasizing that borrowers—not the public—are ultimately responsible for repaying debts incurred to finance their education.
A return to repayment after years of delay
While Congress had already required borrowers to begin repaying student loans in October 2023, the Biden-Harris Administration extended the collection pause, creating what federal officials now describe as a “confusing limbo” for borrowers. According to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, this delay allowed delinquency and default rates to worsen while giving borrowers misleading impressions about potential loan forgiveness.
The Department’s new policy seeks to restore clarity and accountability. “American taxpayers will no longer be forced to serve as collateral for irresponsible student loan policies,” said Secretary McMahon. She noted that executive actions from the previous administration could not constitutionally cancel debt, and that hundreds of billions of dollars had already been transferred to taxpayers.
The scope of the student loan crisis
Currently, more than 42.7 million borrowers owe over $1.6 trillion in federal student debt. Of these, more than 5 million borrowers are in default, having failed to make payments for over 360 days—many for more than seven years. An additional 4 million borrowers are in late-stage delinquency, with payments overdue by 91 to 180 days. If trends continue, almost 10 million borrowers could be in default within a few months, representing nearly 25 percent of the total loan portfolio.
Only 38 percent of borrowers are currently repaying their loans on schedule. The remainder are either delinquent, in an interest-free forbearance or deferment, or in grace periods or school enrollment status. Another 1.9 million borrowers have been unable to enroll in repayment plans due to a processing freeze implemented in August 2024 under the previous administration. The Department is working with federal loan servicers and expects application processing to resume in May 2025.
Collections and borrower outreach efforts
Beginning May 5, 2025, the Department will reactivate the Treasury Offset Program in partnership with the US Department of the Treasury. This program enables the federal government to collect on defaulted loans by withholding federal tax refunds, Social Security payments, and other federal disbursements. Borrowers in default will be contacted via email over the next two weeks and encouraged to reach out to the Default Resolution Group to explore repayment options, including income-driven repayment (IDR) plans or loan rehabilitation.
Later in the summer, the Department will begin sending notices in preparation for administrative wage garnishment. Additionally, guaranty agencies will be authorized to initiate involuntary collection actions on loans issued through the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program.
All collections activity will comply with provisions outlined in the Higher Education Act, which mandates that student and parent borrowers must be given sufficient notice and opportunity to resolve their loans voluntarily before more aggressive steps are taken.
Support for struggling and current borrowers
To support borrowers during this transition, FSA will launch a nationwide communications campaign to ensure that all affected individuals are informed about their repayment responsibilities and available support resources. The campaign will utilize email, social media, and direct outreach through partners such as schools, financial aid administrators, college access organizations, and third-party servicers.
FSA will also introduce tools to help borrowers make informed decisions about repayment. These include a revamped Loan Simulator, an AI-powered assistant named Aiden, and extended hours for federal loan servicers. A new streamlined IDR process will also go live, allowing borrowers to enroll more quickly and removing the annual income recertification requirement.
The Department has made it clear: there will be no mass loan forgiveness moving forward. Its focus will instead be on restoring “commonsense and fairness” to the student loan system—ensuring that repayment resumes in a structured, lawful, and supportive manner for borrowers while safeguarding the interests of American taxpayers.





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NEET UG 2025 exam city intimation slip released on neet.nta.nic.in, admit card expected by May 1: Check direct link here – The Times of India

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NEET UG 2025 exam city intimation slip released on neet.nta.nic.in, admit card expected by May 1: Check direct link here – The Times of India


NEET UG 2025: Exam city slip available now, exam on May 4

NEET UG city intimation slip 2025 out: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the Advance City Intimation Slip for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) UG 2025, a crucial step for over 23 lakh medical aspirants preparing for the undergraduate medical entrance exam. The slip, available as of April 23, 2025, informs candidates of their allotted exam city, enabling them to plan travel and accommodation logistics. The NEET UG 2025 exam is scheduled for May 4, 2025, and the admit card is expected to be released by May 1, 2025. Here’s everything you need to know about the latest updates, exam details, and more.
The NEET UG 2025 City Intimation Slip was made available on the official NTA website, neet.nta.nic.in, on April 23, 2025, earlier than the anticipated date of April 26. Candidates can download the slip by logging in with their application number and date of birth. The slip specifies the exam city but does not include the exact exam center address, which will be detailed in the admit card. This advance notification helps candidates, especially those assigned centers far from home, arrange travel plans well in advance. The exam will be conducted across 552 cities in India and 14 cities abroad, totaling 566 exam cities, with approximately 5,000 exam centers.
Admit Card Release Date
The NEET UG 2025 admit card is slated for release on or before May 1, 2025, as confirmed by the NTA. Candidates can download it from neet.nta.nic.in using their application number and date of birth or password. The admit card is a mandatory document for exam entry, containing critical details such as the candidate’s name, roll number, exam center address, reporting time, and exam day guidelines. Aspirants are advised to verify all details on the admit card and contact the NTA helpline immediately if discrepancies are found. The admit card will also be emailed to candidates’ registered IDs.
Exam Timings, Shifts, and Mode
NEET UG 2025 will be conducted on May 4, 2025, in a single shift from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM IST, with a duration of 3 hours. Candidates must report to their exam centers by 1:30 PM, as late entries will not be permitted. The exam will be held in pen-and-paper (offline) mode, featuring 180 compulsory multiple-choice questions (MCQs) across Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (Botany and Zoology). Unlike previous years, the 2025 exam reverts to the pre-Covid format, eliminating optional questions. The test will be conducted in 13 languages, including English, Hindi, and regional languages like Tamil, Telugu, and Assamese.
Direct link to download the NEET UG city intimation slip 2025
Approximate Participation
NEET UG remains India’s largest undergraduate medical entrance exam, with an estimated 23 lakh candidates expected to participate in 2025. This number is slightly lower than the 24 lakh registrations in 2024, though the NTA has not released official figures. The exam facilitates admission to over 1 lakh MBBS seats, 27,618 BDS seats, 52,720 AYUSH seats, and other medical courses across 612 medical and 315 dental colleges in India, including 1,899 AIIMS and 249 JIPMER seats.
Key Instructions for Candidates
Candidates must carry a printed admit card, a valid photo ID (e.g., Aadhaar, PAN card), and a passport-sized photograph matching the one uploaded during registration. The city intimation slip is not a substitute for the admit card and cannot be used for exam entry. Aspirants are advised to visit their exam center a day prior to familiarize themselves with the location and avoid last-minute hassles. Prohibited items include electronic devices, and candidates must adhere to the NTA’s dress code and exam day guidelines.
Next Steps
Following the exam, the NTA will release provisional answer keys in the fourth week of May 2025, with results expected by June 14, 2025. Counseling for All India Quota and state quota seats will commence in July 2025, managed by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) and state authorities, respectively. Candidates are urged to stay updated via neet.nta.nic.in and prepare diligently for the exam, which remains a gateway to prestigious medical institutions across India.





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Tennessee legislature adjourns after passing DEI restrictions – The Times of India

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Tennessee legislature adjourns after passing DEI restrictions – The Times of India


Tennessee’s Republican-controlled legislature closed its session Tuesday by pushing through a decisive set of bills targeting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. In a crescendo of conservative policymaking, lawmakers dismantled long-standing frameworks meant to bolster representation in government and higher education, replacing them with a strict meritocratic model. Central to the legislative finale was a bill that directly targets the infrastructure of DEI. The measure orders the dissolution of state and local offices tasked with promoting diversity, mandates the elimination of identity-based criteria for board appointments, and instructs the removal of demographic benchmarks in employment policies across public institutions.

From representation to “qualification”

Lawmakers also gave final approval to a companion bill barring public agencies, including higher education institutions, from making hiring decisions based on an individual’s race, ethnicity, sex, or age. Instead, agencies must rely solely on “merit,” “qualifications,” veteran status, or lawful eligibility. The law repositions Tennessee firmly within a growing conservative ideology that views demographic consideration as antithetical to fairness.

A policy echo of Trump-era ideology

The Tennessee legislation is not occurring in a vacuum. It mirrors initiatives launched under President Donald Trump, whose administration sought to link the distribution of federal funds to the exclusion of DEI policies. That precedent laid the groundwork for state-level action—Tennessee now becomes a key player in actualizing that agenda.

Boards to lose identity-based representation

Beyond hiring practices, the new laws strike directly at identity-based governance structures. Requirements that certain public boards maintain racial, gender, or age representation have been deleted. Critics argue this strips underrepresented communities of vital political visibility; proponents counter that appointments should be blind to personal characteristics and based on perceived competence alone.

Opposition raises alarm bells

Civil rights advocates and education leaders have condemned the bills, warning they will reverse decades of effort to correct systemic inequalities. Others fear the chilling effect these moves could have on recruitment, retention, and morale within public service sectors.

Higher education in the crosshairs

Public universities—long champions of diversity offices and equity initiatives—are now under pressure to restructure or eliminate these arms. The University of Tennessee system and others will be forced to reexamine staff positions, student programs, and scholarship criteria that once relied on DEI frameworks.

A new conservative doctrine emerges

Tennessee’s Republican-controlled legislature closed its session Tuesday by pushing through a decisive set of bills targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. In a crescendo of conservative policymaking, lawmakers dismantled long-standing frameworks meant to bolster representation in government and higher education, replacing them with a strict meritocratic model.

DEI programs dismantled statewide

Central to the legislative finale was a bill that directly targets the infrastructure of DEI. The measure orders the dissolution of state and local offices tasked with promoting diversity, mandates the elimination of identity-based criteria for board appointments, and instructs the removal of demographic benchmarks in employment policies across public institutions.





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AIIMS INI SS July 2025 registration underway, window closes on May 6: Check direct link to apply and important details here – The Times of India

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AIIMS INI SS July 2025 registration underway, window closes on May 6: Check direct link to apply and important details here – The Times of India


The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi has opened the online application window for the Institute of National Importance Super-Speciality Test (INI SS) July 2025 session. Interested and eligible candidates can submit their applications through the official website, iniss.aiimsexams.ac.in, on or before May 6, 2025.
The entrance examination will be conducted on May 24 for admission into Doctorate of Medicine (DM)/Master of Chirurgiae (M.Ch.) courses at leading medical institutions including All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), and Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST).

AIIMS INI SS 2025: Eligibility criteria and age limits

To apply for the AIIMS INI SS July 2025, candidates must fulfill the following eligibility conditions:

  • Must possess MD/MS or DNB in a relevant specialty.
  • Must complete the qualifying degree by July 31, 2025.

Upper age limit as on July 1, 2025:

Institute Age Limit
AIIMS (All Branches) 35 years
PGIMER, Chandigarh 45 years
NIMHANS, Bengaluru 37 years
SCTIMST, Trivandrum 40 years
JIPMER, Puducherry No limit

Age relaxations:

  • OBC: 3 years
  • SC/ST: 5 years
  • Ex-Servicemen/ECOs: 5 years

AIIMS INI SS 2025: How to apply

Candidates can follow the steps given here to complete the application process:
Step 1. Visit the official portal, iniss.aiimsexams.ac.in
Step 2. Click on ‘New Registration’ for fresh applicants.
Step 3. Fill in the registration form and personal details carefully as guided by the portal.
Step 4. Submit the form and download the confirmation page for future reference.
Alternatively, candidates can click here to submit their applications for AIIMS INI SS 2025.

AIIMS INI SS 2025: Important dates

Candidates must adhere to the official schedule to avoid missing any deadlines. Key dates for the AIIMS INI SS July 2025 session are:

Event Date
Online Registration Begins April 22, 2025 (Tuesday)
Last Date to Apply May 6, 2025 (Tuesday)
Application Status Update May 13, 2025
Last Date to Submit Required Documents May 16, 2025
Admit Card Release May 20, 2025
CBT Exam Date May 24, 2025 (Saturday)
Course Commencement July 1, 2025
Last Date for Admission August 31, 2025





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