IIRF Ranking 2026: JNU Surpasses DU and Jamia, IIT Bombay and IIM Ahmedabad Lead Nation's Top Institutions The International Institutional Ranking Framework (IIRF) released its 2026 rankings, highlighting the top universities, engineering colleges, and MBA institutes in India. This year, the Delhi and Mumbai-based institutions maintained their dominance, while private institutions also made significant strides in the competition. The rankings reflect a blend of academic excellence, research output, industry collaboration, and placement records, offering students a comprehensive guide to higher education options. In the engineering category, IIT Bombay retained its position as the top institution, followed by IIT Madras and IIT Delhi. These institutes are celebrated for their rigorous academic programs, cutting-edge research facilities, and strong industry partnerships. IIT Kharagpur and IIT Kanpur secured the fourth and fifth positions, respectively. The rankings underscore the continued prominence of public engineering institutions in India’s educational landscape. For MBA programs, IIM Ahmedabad emerged as the leader, reaffirming its reputation as a premier management institute. The institute’s success is attributed to its robust academic structure, industry engagement, and high placement rates. In the private sector, SP Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR) in Mumbai claimed the top spot, while XLRI Jamshedpur in Jharkhand secured the second position. Both institutions are known for their global exposure, industry connections, and strong alumni networks, making them preferred choices for aspiring management professionals. The rankings also highlighted the growing competitiveness of private institutions in engineering education.#iit_bombay #jnu #iirf_ranking_2026 #iim_ahmedabad #spjimr
Maharashtra Unveils India’s First ‘Water 7/12’ System to Track Every Drop Maharashtra is set to become the first state in India to implement a groundbreaking “Water 7/12” system, a comprehensive initiative designed to scientifically record, audit, and regulate water usage. The system, modeled after the traditional land record document known as the Saatbara (7/12) land extract, aims to create structured records of water availability, usage, inflow, outflow, and balance at the gram panchayat and watershed levels. The proposal was reviewed at a high-level meeting chaired by revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule at Mantralaya on Monday, following directives from chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. The meeting brought together senior officials from the revenue, rural development, water conservation, and water supply departments to discuss the framework’s implementation. The initiative seeks to address the long-standing absence of a structured water accounting system in the state. While Maharashtra already maintains an extensive land documentation system through the 7/12 extract, officials noted that no parallel mechanism exists for systematically documenting and monitoring water resources. This gap has made it difficult to regulate consumption, enforce accountability, or accurately assess local water stress. The proposed system will initially be piloted in selected regions before a broader rollout across the state. The concept of a “Water Audit” and “Water Balance Sheet” was developed by AqVerium in collaboration with IIT Bombay water expert Avinash Kadam and economist Uday Nair. The framework outlines an annual classification and auditing process in three stages to generate transparent, data-driven assessments of local water reserves.#maharashtra #iit_bombay #devendra_fadnavis #chandrashekhar_bawankule #aqverium
First Phase of Rs332 Crore Ajni Laxman Jhula Bridge Likely to Miss Pre-Monsoon Deadline Nagpur: The first phase of the Rs332 crore Ajni Laxman Jhula bridge, a six-lane twin cable-stayed structure designed to replace the 125-year-old British-era Ajni railway overbridge (RoB), is expected to miss its pre-monsoon completion deadline. The project, managed by Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (MRIDC), has faced multiple delays due to design modifications, complex construction over a busy railway line, and challenges in securing statutory approvals for the cable-stayed structure. The bridge, also known as “Laxman Jhula,” is being constructed in phases to accommodate two-way traffic on one side while the second carriageway is built after demolishing the existing RoB. MRIDC has completed two major abutments on either side of the railway tracks, with work on the central pylon currently underway. According to sources, two of the three supports for the bridge have been completed, while the middle pylon is expected to take approximately one month to finish. Pre-casting of slabs and preparation of girders are also progressing. Despite these advancements, significant work remains, and MRIDC has not yet announced a revised timeline. Sources suggest the first phase may now be completed by the end of the year, pushing back the original deadline of the pre-monsoon period. The existing Ajni RoB, located between Ajni and Khapri railway stations on the Nagpur-Wardha section of Central Railway, has long been a traffic bottleneck due to its outdated design. Construction of the replacement bridge began in April 2023, with the initial target for opening one side of the bridge set for October 2025.#nagpur #iit_bombay #ajni_laxman_jhula_bridge #ajni_railway_overbridge
Rs195 hike takes commercial LPG cylinder cost to Rs2,255 Nagpur: The public sector undertaking (PSU) oil marketing companies have increased the rates of 19kg commercial LPG cylinders by Rs195, taking it to Rs2,255 per unit. However, despite the higher pricing, availability remains an issue, say sources in the business, including dealers. There is a demand for as much as 40,000 metric tonne LPG in a month in the city. Even as there is no dearth of supply for establishments like hospitals, orphanages and educational institutions, hotels and eateries are only being supplied sparingly, said sources. Dealers have reported receiving lesser supplies for commercial buyers, though oil marketing companies acknowledge that panic booking by domestic consumers is also contributing to the supply disruption. This has affected the overall supply to all sectors, as both domestic and commercial LPG cylinders are filled from the same common pool. The situation has created a bottleneck, with commercial users facing significant challenges in securing adequate stock. The shortage has sparked discussions about alternative solutions to mitigate the crisis. One such initiative is the development of indigenous technology by IIT Bombay to address the LPG scarcity. The university has introduced a method that converts fallen leaves into cooking fuel, aiming to reduce reliance on traditional LPG sources. This innovation is seen as a potential long-term solution to the problem, though its immediate impact on the current supply chain remains to be seen. The price hike has also raised concerns about the affordability of LPG for commercial users, particularly small businesses and restaurants. With the cost of a single cylinder now exceeding Rs2,255, many establishments are struggling to manage their expenses.#nagpur #iit_bombay #oil_marketing_companies #lpg_cylinder #commercial_users
Three IIT-Bombay students died in a fatal crash on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway after attempting to overtake a container truck near the Bhatan tunnel. The incident occurred around 8:35 am on Thursday, leaving the group of six students, including the three deceased, trapped in the wreckage of their Volkswagen Polo. Highway traffic police used cutting tools to extricate the victims before transporting them to MGM Hospital in Kamothe, where they were confirmed dead. The accident was first reported by a bus driver, who witnessed the collision. The students were traveling in a rented Volkswagen Polo, which collided with the rear of a container truck while attempting to overtake it. The impact was severe, causing the car to flip multiple times and collapse into a twisted mass of metal. An FIR has been registered against an unidentified individual based on a complaint filed by Hitesh Kumar Meena, another student in a different vehicle. Police are reviewing CCTV footage to determine the exact circumstances, including whether overspeeding or driver fatigue contributed to the crash. The deceased students were identified as Omkumar Nitin Borse, 23, from Malegaon; Shreyansh Naresh Sharma, 20, from Jaipur; and Lay Prashant Deshbhratar, 21, from Nagpur. Borse, a second-year aerospace engineering student, was known for his passion for cricket, swimming, and campus innovation. He had served as the event co-ordinator for IIT Bombay’s entrepreneurship cell and hostel secretary. Sharma, a final-year mechanical engineering student, aspired to become an IAS officer and was described by his father as a “brilliant child” who dedicated significant effort to securing his IIT admission. He was also active on campus and involved in sports and music. Deshbhratar, a second-year physics student, was from Nagpur.#iit_bombay #mumbai #mumbai_pune_expressway #bhatan_tunnel #volkswagen_polo
JEE Mains 2026 Session 2 City Intimation Slip Live Updates Candidates are awaiting the release of the JEE Main 2026 April exam city intimation slip, which was initially scheduled for the second week of March. However, as the third week of March has passed, no official update has been provided. The National Testing Agency (NTA) plans to conduct the JEE Main session 2 exam for paper 1 (BE/BTech) and papers 2A and 2B (BArch and BPlanning) starting April 2 and continuing until April 9. The official website, jeemain.nta.nic.in, will activate links for the city intimation slips once they are available. The JEE Main 2026 admit cards are expected to be released three to four days before the exam begins. Results for the April session are set for April 20. During the application process, candidates could select up to four preferred exam cities based on their current and permanent address states. The NTA aims to assign candidates to their preferred cities in the order listed in their application form, though logistical constraints may result in a different allocation. The agency also emphasized efforts to accommodate candidates with disabilities (PwD/PwBD) for the April session. The JEE Advanced 2026 exam, for qualified JEE Main candidates, will be held on May 17. It will consist of two sessions on the same day: Paper 1 from 9 am to 12 pm and Paper 2 from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm. Participation in both papers is mandatory for eligibility in the merit list. Other updates include the IIT Mandi’s summer residential programme, HIMSHIKHAR 2026, which will run from May 16 to May 18. IIT Bombay’s hostel mess menus have been revised due to an LPG cylinder shortage, effective since March 14. BITS Pilani announced a Rs 2.#iit_bombay #nta #jee_main_2026 #iit_mandi #bits_pilani
CEED 2026 M.Des Results to Be Announced Tomorrow; Scorecards Available Starting March 10 The results for the Common Entrance Examination for Design (CEED) 2026 for the Master of Design (M.Des) program will be declared on March 4, 2026, on the official website ceed.iitb.ac.in. Candidates are instructed to log in using their registered ID and password to access their results. The scorecards for the examination will be made available for download starting on March 10, 2026, and will remain accessible until July 31, 2026. The cutoff for Part A, which determines eligibility for Part B evaluation, was released on February 5, 2026. Candidates who successfully clear Part A and secure a merit rank will be eligible to apply for M.Des programs at Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and other participating institutions that share CEED results. For any queries or clarifications, candidates are advised to contact the CEED team at ceed@iitb.ac.in. It is emphasized that using alternative email addresses may lead to delays in responses. Key details regarding the CEED 2026 result include: Result Declaration Date: March 4, 2026 Scorecard Availability: March 10 to July 31, 2026 Part A Cutoff Release: February 5, 2026 Admission Eligibility: Candidates who pass Part A and achieve a merit rank can apply for M.Des programs at IITs and other result-sharing institutes. To download the CEED 2026 scorecard, candidates must visit the official website, navigate to the "Candidate Portal" or "Result" section, and log in with their registered credentials. The scorecard should be saved for future reference. Qualified candidates who receive a valid merit rank may proceed to apply for M.Des admissions at IITs and other participating institutes. Each institution will issue its own admission notice, application form, and deadline.#iit_bombay #ceed_2026 #iitb_ac_in #iisc_bangalore #iit_delhi
CEED 2026 Result Released for M.Des Candidates The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) has officially released the CEED 2026 result for candidates who appeared in the entrance exam on January 18, 2026. The result is now available on the official CEED website, ceed.iitb.ac.in, and can be accessed using the candidate’s registered login ID and password. The result declaration date is March 4, 2026, marking the culmination of the admission process for the Master of Design (M.Des) program. Candidates who qualified for the M.Des program will receive their scores, with Part-A and Part-B marks displayed. However, Part-B marks will only be visible to shortlisted candidates, who will also be assigned a rank. The CEED 2026 result includes details such as the total number of candidates who appeared, the number of qualifiers, category-wise qualifying marks, and the validity of the scorecard. The scorecard, which will be released on March 10, 2026, remains valid for one year from the date of declaration. To download the result, candidates must log in to the CEED portal using their registered email and password. The result will be displayed in a downloadable format, and a printout is recommended for record-keeping. It is important to note that the Part-A responses of candidates will no longer be accessible after the result is declared. Additionally, there is no provision for re-evaluation or re-totalling of scores, and requests for such actions will not be entertained. The CEED 2026 exam was conducted in 27 cities, with the exam pattern divided into five sections: Sketching, Creativity, Form Sensitivity, Visual Sensitivity, and Problem Identification. Each section carries 20 marks, totaling 100 marks. The final score is calculated using a weighted formula: 0.25 × Part-A marks + 0.75 × Part-B marks.#iit_bombay #ceed_2026 #master_of_design #common_rank_list #rohit_ravindra_waghmare
