The annual budget to provide interest-free loans to 10 lakh students would be increased to Rs 2,200 crore in next three years, said Union Minister for Human Resource Development Javadekar, addressing the 2nd Higher Education Human Resource Conclave here.  

Union minister and senior BJP leader Prakash Javadekar termed Rahul Gandhi as a "directionless leader" and said the Congress president has no facts and no evidence against government over the Rafale deal.

"We have asked IITs and IIMs to come together and create an agency which we can use to expedite the process of accreditation," the minister told reporters on the sidelines of the 4th World Summit of Accreditation here.

The jury will select the best teachers for the award on the basis of their style of teachings and innovations and revolutionary changes in education system.

His remarks came in the wake of an interim order of the Madras High Court on May 30 asking the Centre to instruct state governments to reduce the weight of children's school bags and do away with homework for classes 1 and 2.   

Refuting the allegations leveled by Kumaraswamy, HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar termed the Rs 100-crore charge as 'imaginary', and exuded confidence of forming government in the state.

Javadekar claimed that Congress state president GA Mir's comments were similar to BJP ministers who have been sacked. "Why isn't Rahul Gandhi taking action against his own party leader," the BJP leader questioned. 

"There should be a limit to political acrimony. He is doing politics over the matter of development. He should not go to the extent of saying that the BJP is attacking Andhra," Javadekar said.

The party is also demanding a judicial probe by a high court judge into the matter, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said.

The Delhi Police has formed a special investigation team (SIT) for the investigation in CBSE paper leak.

Meanwhile, angry parents and student took to Twitter for venting their anger and displeasure.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has granted full autonomy to 62 higher educational institutions, including five central and 21 state universities, which maintained high standards, HRD minister Prakash Javadekar said.

The news will bring cheers to school students parents and teachers burdened by the heavy curriculum.

Prakash Javadekar said the school syllabus was more than that of BA and B.Com courses, and it needed to be reduced by half so that students get time for other activities for their all-round development.

Addressing the media here, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said that the government's alertness brought the fraud into light.

Facing the charge of practising "soft Hindutva", Congress president Rahul Gandhi today defended his visits to temples and religious places, asserting that he would continue it.

The Prime Minister Research Fellowship scheme for 1,000 B.Tech students for pursuing PhD courses at IITs and IISc will help convert brain drain into brain gain, Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar said today.

Heaping praises on Narendra Modi, Javadekar also said, “Rajiv Gandhi said poor gets Rs 15 from the Rs 100 that I send. Now poor gets full Rs 100 that Modi ji sends”.

Satyapal Singh had said at an event in Aurangabad last week that that Charles Darwin's theory of evolution was "scientifically wrong" and needs to be changed in school and college curriculum.

Gujarat will got to polls in two phases on December 9 and 14. Counting will take place on December 18.