Current Affairs - Education

IIT Madras launched Phiball, an innovative three-team variant of basketball, on August 29, 2026, coinciding with the eve of National Sports Day. Designed by Prof. Sathyanarayana N. Gummadi, Dean of Students at IIT Madras, Phiball combines elements of basketball and netball and is played on a circular 26-metre-diameter court with three goal posts. The game has unique rules, including a 24-second shot clock, a maximum of three dribbles per possession, and a restricted no-offence zone beneath the rim. The name Phiball is inspired by the Golden Ratio, approximately 1.618. The sport is also designed to be affordable and accessible for grassroots participation.

Netflix partnered with the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) to provide scholarships for 100 students and strengthen India’s AVGC-XR talent pipeline. Announced on August 26, 2026, the scholarship covers up to 80 per cent of the fees for professional, industry-ready programs. The curriculum includes diploma and certificate courses in areas such as Visual Effects Mastery, Interactive Comics, Media Tech Workflow, and E-Sports & Gaming Management. Netflix provided direct input for designing specialised courses to align them with global industry standards. The initiative supports India’s growing creative sector and contributes to the development of the country’s Orange Economy.

IIT Kharagpur conferred the Nina Saxena Excellence in Technology Award 2026 on Dr Nishanth Dongari on August 18, 2026, during its Platinum Jubilee foundation day. Dr Dongari, an Associate Professor at IIT Hyderabad and founder of PURE Energy, was recognised for developing PuREPower, India’s first all-in-one integrated Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). The system combines solar charging with lithium-ion storage and features an automatic switchover in under 10 milliseconds, along with AI-driven battery management. The Nina Saxena Award is presented annually by IIT Kharagpur to recognise outstanding technical innovation and commercialisation.

IIT Delhi was the highest-ranked Indian institution in the QS World University Rankings 2027, securing the 118th position globally after climbing five places. It was followed by IIT Bombay at 134th, IIT Madras at 170th, IIT Kharagpur at 205th and IISc Bengaluru at 221st. India’s representation in the rankings has expanded significantly, with 52 institutions featured in 2027 compared with just 11 in 2015. The growth reflects improvements in higher education, research, innovation and institutional development, supported by policy initiatives including the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

Ludhiana launched the Maitri Sanskar Value Education Programme on August 10, 2026, as a three-year pilot initiative in 12 government schools. The programme is being implemented through a partnership between the District Administration and the MaitriBodh Parivaar Charitable Trust. It aims to develop values such as integrity, compassion, responsibility, and respect among students. The initiative uses workbooks, storytelling, experiential activities, teacher training, and continuous assessment to strengthen emotional well-being and life skills. Ludhiana is located in Punjab and is a major industrial centre, popularly known as the “Manchester of India.”