JOBS AND EDUCATION
Is the American dream for students crumbling under the weight of the tariff war? – The Times of India
Countless students across the globe grow up dreaming of America. Not for its skylines or celebrities. But for its classrooms. The Ivy Leagues and sprawling classrooms of American universities reverberate with a promise of intellectual freedom, imparting top-notch education. But that dream, carried by the world’s brightest minds, is getting fractured under the immense strain of a tariff war that shows no signs of relenting.
Recently, President Donald Trump imposed sweeping new tariffs of 10% on all imports, with punitive rates of up to 50% for countries deemed to have major trade imbalances. Framed as an act of economic preservation—a bold stroke to enshrine domestic industry and reset global trade terms—the administration has painted it as a patriotic pivot. But in this high-stakes recalibration, one truth has been shrugged under the carpet of political crisis: The collateral damage is not restricted to shipping docks or steel mills. It has pierced the very heart of American academia—reaching deep into its libraries, lecture halls, and dormitories.
As geopolitics devolves into a tug-of-war over tariffs, the American Dream is shackled in the crossfire. It now stands battered at the water’s edge, witnessing the aspirations of international students evaporate in the heat of a trade conflict they never signed up for. The ivory tower, once a symbol of promise, is fast translating into a labyrinth.
A policy meant for manufacturers, felt by students
The tariffs, enacted under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977, have hit developing economies hardest. Bangladesh, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Myanmar—nations that are not only major exporters of goods to the US but also home to tens of thousands of students who aspire to study in American institutions—now face punitive import taxes of up to 50%.
These countries don’t just send textiles and electronics—they send human potential. In 2023–24 alone, the US hosted over 277,398 students from China and 331,702 students from India, according to media reports. These students contribute billions to the US economy.
Yet, under the garb of economic nationalism, they have been pushed to the brink and left to suffer.
The rising cost of opportunity
An average international student already pays full tuition- often two to three times what in-state students pay- without access to US federal aid. Now, with the cost of essential goods such as laptops, lab equipment, and economics skyrocketing in the state, thanks to new tariffs, the noose of financial strain is further tightening.
A modest laptop that once cost $600 may now exceed $750 or more when manufactured in Vietnam or China. Import costs for technical equipment—critical for engineering and science students—have soared. Even second-hand academic supplies are being rerouted through tariff-exempt countries, increasing both price and delay.
The damage may be hidden, but it is real. Deferred admissions are surging. Enrollment from tariff-hit countries is dropping. As the financial crisis exacerbates, the talent pipeline of the US – one of its greatest assets providing vital global advantages- is silently drying up.
Education as collateral in a political war
Tariffs were formulated as economic weapons. But students are not strategic threats. They are not trade competitors. Rather, they are non-negotiable assets. Yet, by failing to exclude educational assets from tariff lists, the US government has effectively pushed the students into a long-term collateral damane in a battle over trade surplus.
Furthermore, the signal this sends globally is deeply reverberating. American education was once viewed as open, aspirational, and attainable for those willing to work for it. Today, it is being re-scripted as transactional, inaccessible, and politically weaponised.
Tariffs are hitting the job market too
The new tariffs, as high as 50% on goods from key student-sending countries like Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka, are not just economic pressure tools—they are destabilizing supply chains, raising costs, and prompting corporate pullbacks.
US-based companies reliant on global sourcing are cutting costs. And one of the first casualties of cost-cutting? International hiring.
Tech giants that once hired international graduates in droves are reassessing expansion. Manufacturing firms are delaying or cancelling internships for foreign students. Start-ups devoid of financial cushion and more vulnerable to price fluctuations in imported components are increasingly risk-averse about sponsoring visas.
The result: International students who spend tens of thousands of dollars on American degree are graduating in the once-called “land of opportunity” having meagre opportunities for them than promised.
The psychological cost
Keeping aside the logistical and economic ordeals, there lies a deeper immutable toll: Disillusionment. For international students, the American dream is not restricted to education. It is about showcasing talent and unleashing potential. It is hinged with planting roots in a meritocratic system that celebrated and championed hard work
But when you have invested for years, accrued student debt, and graduated with honours, only to move out of the “dream country” as your visa ran out or your job offer fell through. It doesn’t feel like a geopolitical challenge or bureaucratic failure. It feels like deception and betrayal.
The message is clear in black and white: Even if you learn here, do not expect ot belong here.
The ethical hypocrisy of “America First”
Silicon Valley cannot continue to celebrate its commitment to freedom, meritocracy, and innovation while simultaneously building financial barriers to sideline the very people who seek those values. The current tariff regime doesn’t just undermine trade – it undermines trust.
American classrooms that once were a sanctuary of talent from every nook of the globe is a saga of the past and no longer an economic reality.
This is not the “America First” strategy. It is “America Alone.”
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:
| 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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