JOBS AND EDUCATION
Freedom or fear? Obama’s campus call spurs a reckoning over what’s worth defending – The Times of India
Higher education has found itself shackled in the political crosshairs in the United States. Ironically enough, the very nation renowned for imparting top-notch education is grappling with an opaque future. Former US President Barack Obama’s recent address at Hamilton College was not just a speech but a clarion call. With poise and precision, he posed a question beyond the corridors of college. As the Trump administration tightens its financial grip on elite universities—cutting off funds, issuing probes, and accusing institutions of bias—Obama’s words cut through the noise like the sounding of an alarm. As education in America seems to be in jeopardy, a question that takes centre stage is: What, in the face of intimidation, is truly worth defending? The stakes are not merely fiscal; they are foundational.
Endowments as shields
Obama did not mince words. Universities, he said, must look in the mirror: Are they upholding their values, or buckling under political pressure? If their principles are intact, then it’s time to put their money where their mission is. “That’s why we got this big endowment,” he quipped, reminding institutions that endowments aren’t museum pieces—they’re shields in times of siege.
Lawrence Summers, Obama’s former Treasury Secretary and a past president of Harvard, echoed the sentiment. Writing in The New York Times, Summers argued that even donor-restricted funds could, in a genuine emergency, be reallocated. “Believe me,” he wrote, “When I say that ways can be found in an emergency to deploy even parts of the endowment that have been earmarked by their donors for other uses.”
Cancel culture, or conversation?
But Obama’s message did not only take government as the target audience. He turned his gaze inward, challenging universities to revisit how they handle dissenting speech. In an era when controversial speakers are screamed at or disinvited, Obama reminded students that freedom is a two-way street, it is a dialogue and not a monologue. “Even if I find their ideas obnoxious,” he wrote on Medium, “You let them speak—and then you tell them why they’re wrong. That’s how you win the argument.”
His stance struck a nerve, as many students and faculty across the nation wrestle with where to draw the line between inclusion and ideological intolerance. The freedom to speak, Obama insisted, must not be mistaken for freedom from being challenged.
Federal pressure mounts
The backlash against universities is not unfolding in a vacuum. Columbia University recently saw $400 million in grants and contracts vanish. The University of Pennsylvania had $175 million suspended. Harvard is under federal review for $9 billion in affiliations. To many, it feels less like oversight and more like punishment.
Principles over profit
Obama’s words have turned into a litmus test for leadership. Brown, Princeton, and other elite institutions have begun to speak out—but is it enough? The former president warned that playing it safe is no longer a viable strategy. In times like these, neutrality is complicity. Whether in university boards or law firm boardrooms, the choice is the same: protect your principles or risk becoming a cautionary tale.
Obama has advised legal professionals to stick to their principles also facing political heat even if it costs the business. The message spelled out in black and white. When the ground begins to shift, the only way to remain standing is to be rooted in something deeper than convenience.
Safeguarding the soul of the university
In the final reckoning, Obama’s challenge is less about politics and more about purpose. It’s about courage under fire and the ability of institutions—academic or otherwise—to hold the line when it matters most.
The test now is not survival but integrity. Because freedom, as history teaches, is not lost in a single blow. It erodes silently when fear goes unchallenged and values are left undefended. The moment to take a stand is not tomorrow. It is now.
JOBS AND EDUCATION
RRB ALP CBT 2 mock test link 2025 activated, exam on May 2 and 6: Check how to attempt here – The Times of India
The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) has activated the mock test link for the RRB Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP) CBT 2 Exam 2025. Candidates preparing for the Computer-Based Test (CBT) 2 can now access the mock test on the official websites of regional RRBs. This initiative is aimed at familiarising candidates with the exam pattern, interface, and environment ahead of the actual test.
The RRB ALP CBT 2 exam 2025 will be conducted on May 2 and May 6, 2025, revised from the earlier schedule of March 19 and 20. The recruitment drive is being conducted to fill 5,696 ALP posts across Indian Railways.
RRB ALP CBT 2 mock test 2025: How to attempt
Candidates can follow these steps to appear for the ALP CBT 2 mock test:
Step 1. Visit the official website of the regional RRB.
Step 2. Click on the ‘RRB ALP CBT 2 Exam 2025 Mock Test’ link on the homepage.
Step 3. A new tab will open; click Sign In (no login credentials are required).
Step 4. Choose your preferred language for the test.
Step 4. Begin the mock test and click Submit after completion.
Alternatively, candidates can access the mock tests through here.
RRB ALP 2025: Exam pattern CBT 2
The RRB ALP CBT 2 exam comprises two parts—Part A and Part B—with a total duration of 2 hours and 30 minutes. The details are as follows:
RRB ALP 2025: Minimum qualifying marks 2025
The minimum pass marks for Part A are as follows:
- Part B is qualifying in nature and all candidates must score at least 35%, irrespective of category.
- Only Part A marks will be considered for shortlisting to the next stage, provided Part B is qualified.
JOBS AND EDUCATION
CFA Level 3 February 2025 result declared, pass rate rises to 49%: Check how to access score cards and other details here – The Times of India
The Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute has announced the CFA Level 3 February 2025 result today, April 22, 2025. Candidates who appeared for the exam can check their results by logging into the official CFA Institute website, cfainstitute.org.
This year’s pass rate for the Level 3 February exam stands at 49%, marking a 1% increase compared to the 48% pass rate recorded in the August 2024 session.
A total of 11,131 candidates worldwide attempted the CFA Level 3 exam in February 2025.
CFA Level 3 February 2025 result: Steps to check
Candidates can follow these simple steps to access their CFA Level 3 result:
Step 1. Visit the official website of CFA Institute, cfainstitute.org.
Step 2. Click on the login option and sign in with your CFA Institute ID and password.
Step 3. Navigate to your candidate dashboard.
Step 4. Your CFA Level 3 February 2025 result will be displayed.
Step 5. Download and save a copy for future reference.
Alternatively, candidates can check their results through the link provided here.
The institute has stated on its website that it will also email the results to candidates after 6:30 PM today, April 22, 2025.
CFA Level 3 exam February 2025: A broad overview
The CFA Level 3 exam focuses on portfolio management and wealth planning, requiring candidates to demonstrate in-depth analytical and evaluative skills. It is the final level in the CFA Program, and passing it qualifies candidates to earn the CFA charter after meeting other eligibility criteria including work experience and membership requirements.
JOBS AND EDUCATION
JIPMAT 2025 admit card released, exam on April 26: Check direct link to download hall tickets and other details here – The Times of India
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the JIPMAT 2025 admit card today, April 22, 2025, for candidates appearing in the Joint Integrated Programme in Management Admission Test (JIPMAT). Registered candidates can now download their hall ticket from the official website, exams.nta.ac.in by logging in with their application number and date of birth. The entrance exam is scheduled to be held on April 26, 2025, in a single shift from 3 PM to 5:30 PM in computer-based mode.
The JIPMAT is conducted for admission into the five-year Integrated Programme in Management (IPM) offered by IIM Jammu and IIM Bodh Gaya for the academic year 2025–26.
JIPMAT 2025 admit card: How to download
Candidates appearing for the JIPMAT 2025 exam can follow the steps as given here to access and download their admit card:
Step 1. Visit the official NTA website at exams.nta.ac.in/JIPMAT.
Step 2. Click on the link for JIPMAT 2025 admit card on the homepage.
Step 3. Enter your application number and date of birth in the login window.
Step 4. Click the submit button.
Step 5. Your JIPMAT admit card 2025 will appear on the screen.
Step 6. Download the admit card and take a printout for exam day.
Alternatively, candidates can download their admit cards by clicking on the link provided here.
JIPMAT 2025: Exam pattern and structure
The JIPMAT 2025 exam will consist of a total of 100 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) divided into three sections:
- Each question will carry equal marks.
- The total exam duration is 2 hours and 30 minutes.
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