JOBS AND EDUCATION
4 things to know about Trump’s push to dismantle the Department of Education and its impact on US students – The Times of India

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at dismantling the US Department of Education, fulfilling a long-standing campaign promise. The order, which targets reducing the federal government’s role in education, has raised concerns about its potential consequences for students across the country. While the president cannot entirely eliminate the department without Congressional approval, he has begun a significant reduction of its staff and functions.
The executive order, which aims to shift more power to state governments, has sparked debate over the future of federal education programs, funding, and oversight. Here are four key things to know about the push to dismantle the Department of Education and its potential impact on US students.
Cuts to staff and funding for low-income students
Under Trump’s plan, nearly 50% of the Department of Education’s workforce is set to be cut. As reported by CNN, this includes layoffs and voluntary buyouts, with major reductions affecting key offices like the Office for Civil Rights. This will severely impact the department’s ability to protect students from discrimination and monitor issues like antisemitism, racism, and discrimination against students with disabilities.
The Department of Education is a major provider of funding to US school districts, particularly those serving low-income students. It provides more than $18 billion annually to support schools in high-poverty areas. The department’s Title I program alone serves about 26 million low-income students, and advocates are concerned that these cuts will lead to reduced support for students who need it most.
Impact on students with disabilities
The Department of Education also provides essential services for students with disabilities. As CNN reported, the agency helps fund programs for students with disabilities, including schools for the deaf and blind, and ensures the enforcement of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This provides more than $15 billion in annual support to 7.4 million students.
Trump’s plan calls for shifting these services to the Department of Health and Human Services, which has less expertise in education. As quoted by the CNN, Mia Ives-Rublee of the Center for American Progress warned that this shift could make it more difficult for students with disabilities to access the services they need, leading to “a radical change in the way we provide or don’t provide services to disabled students.”
Concerns over student loan management
The Department of Education currently manages a student loan portfolio totaling $1.8 trillion. However, the executive order has left questions about the future of this massive portfolio, especially since about 40% of loans are past due, as reported by CNN. Initially, the administration suggested moving the student loan management functions to the Treasury Department or the Small Business Administration, but sources within the administration have indicated that these plans have not been fully developed.
Local control over school curriculum
Despite concerns about broader changes to education, the executive order will not directly affect the curriculum in US schools. As noted in the original legislation that created the Department of Education, local and state governments retain control over school curricula. Therefore, the executive order is unlikely to result in direct changes to what students learn in the classroom.
The push to dismantle the Department of Education is one of the most significant efforts to reshape federal education policy in recent history. While the full scope of the changes remains unclear, students and educators are bracing for potential disruptions to vital programs and services.
JOBS AND EDUCATION
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 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.
JOBS AND EDUCATION
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.
JOBS AND EDUCATION
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:
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:
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