VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html NEW DELHI: The Bihar State Transgender Welfare Board on Wednesday approved a proposal to construct a temple dedicated to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with a board member saying the prime minister had given the transgender community “respect and rights”.The proposal was moved by board member Ranjan Singh during the maiden meeting of the board, which functions under the Bihar government’s Social Welfare Department.”Since the transgender community in Bihar does not have a temple of its own, I proposed to build a temple for Narendra Modi because he gave us respect and rights. The proposal received the support of all members and was approved by the board,” Singh told PTI.The Bihar government constituted the Bihar State Transgender Welfare Board in August last year to safeguard the rights of the transgender community and undertake measures for its social development and empowerment.According to Singh, Wednesday’s meeting was the first gathering of the board after the implementation of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019.”Today’s meeting marked the first gathering of the Bihar State Transgender Welfare Board following the enactment of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, which provided the transgender community with institutional representation in the state secretariat,” Singh said.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosPoJK Burns Amid Violence And Protests: Why The World’s Silence And The Crisis Matter To IndiaFirst Direct Freight Train to Nepal! 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Try these 9 desi lunch dishes that pack 14–22g proteinHow to grow and care for lucky bamboo: An easy step-by-step guide for beginners123Hot PicksMCC new rulesJalen HurtsDelhi Lakshmi YojanaTN CM Vijay’s new officeRussian sanctions billCWG 2026 GamesSmartphone exportsTN supplementary resultsNew anti-paper leak billTop TrendingKangana RanautJantar Mantar ProtestKarnataka SuicideBJP MLA Yashpal Suvarna ArrestGurgaon Road RageAbhijeet Dipke Marriage ProposalsUGC PG ProgrammeWeather TomorrowPalani Mutt Temple Land CaseStock Market Up Irish musician Glen Hansard passes away at 56 after fatal motorbike accident in Dublin; Taoiseach Micheal Martin shares condolences Google Job Experience: She got her dream job at Google, but says the reality was different: Indian employee shares honest experience Virgo Monthly Nadi Horoscope (August 2026): Surya Grahan May Test Friends, Gains, and Ambitions Quote of the day by Marie Curie: “I am among those who think that science has…” – an inspiring story behind her famous words on science and beauty ‘I’ve been in Russia for 4 months’: Bihar man questions being named in NEET protest FIR Half of England declared in drought as July records near-zero rainfall | World News Karnataka bags lion’s share of electronics startup fund; 90 of 128 firms based in state NEW DELHI: Karnataka has emerged as the biggest beneficiary of the Centre’s Electronics Development Fund (EDF), accounting for 90 of the 128 companies backed under the scheme and nearly two-thirds of the total investment made by its associated venture funds.The eight “daughter funds” supported by EDF invested Rs 1,335.77 crore in 128 startups and companies as of June 30, the electronics and information technology ministry told Lok Sabha on Wednesday. Of these, 77 firms were working in electronics system design and manufacturing and 51 in information technology.Bengaluru alone accounted for 89 companies — 56 in electronics manufacturing and 33 in IT — while one company was based in Belagavi. Together, Karnataka-based firms received Rs 854.54 crore, or about 64% of the total investment.Telangana was a distant second, with seven Hyderabad-based companies receiving Rs 129.97 crore. Eight companies in Mumbai and Pune received Rs 142.48 crore, while six Delhi firms were allotted Rs 99.2 crore. Five Chennai companies received Rs 62.24 crore.The remaining investments went to companies in Haryana, Kerala, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. No company from Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu figured among the beneficiaries, according to the state-wise data submitted in Parliament.EDF was established as a “fund of funds”, with the government investing Rs 257.77 crore in eight professionally managed, Sebi-registered venture funds. These funds subsequently deployed more than five times that amount in technology companies. The supported firms have collectively raised around Rs 22,553.82 crore and created or acquired 373 intellectual-property assets, the ministry said.Companies were selected on the basis of their innovation potential, indigenous technology development, capacity to create intellectual property, the technical strength of their founding teams and the commercial scalability of their business models.Canbank Venture Capital Fund Ltd manages EDF, while the electronics ministry is its anchor investor. The fund completed its investment phase in February 2024 and is now in the divestment phase. Its daughter funds continue to monitor the operational performance, market growth and technological progress of the companies they backed.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorManash Pratim GohainManash Pratim Gohain is a seasoned journalist with over two decades at The Times of India, where he has built a rich body of work spanning education policy, politics, and governance. Renowned for his incisive coverage of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, accreditation reforms, and skilling initiatives, he has also reported on student politics, urban policy, and social movements. His political reportage—both reflective and news-driven—adds depth to his writing, bridging policy with public impact. Through his 2,500 articles and related outlets, he has emerged as a trusted voice in national discourse, particularly in linking education reform to broader societal change.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosPoJK Burns Amid Violence And Protests: Why The World’s Silence And The Crisis Matter To IndiaFirst Direct Freight Train to Nepal! 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The government says no fault has been found in the Air India Boeing 787 fuel control switch, while the crash investigation continues.Parliament has cleared a Bill extending legal protection to Vande Mataram, making insults punishable on par with the national anthem.Rahul Gandhi used a Parliament debate on the anti-paper leak Bill to back student protests and level fresh allegations against the government. The Centre rejected Rahul Gandhi’s claims over police action during the NEET protests, insisting only tear gas was used and demanding an apology. Russia has charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with aiding terrorism, escalating its crackdown on online platforms amid the Ukraine war.Here are your top stories of the day.Government says no fault found in Air India Dreamliner fuel switchThe Centre has informed Parliament that inspections found no abnormality in the fuel control switch locking mechanism of the Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner that crashed after take-off from Ahmedabad in June 2025. Officials said examination of the broader thrust control module is still underway, while the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau continues to investigate all possible causes before publishing its final report. Read full storyRajya Sabha clears Bill extending legal protection to Vande MataramThe Rajya Sabha has passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which seeks to give Vande Mataram the same statutory protection as the national anthem. If enacted, intentionally insulting the national song, preventing its singing or disrupting its rendition could attract up to three years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both. Read full storyRahul Gandhi backs student protests during Parliament debateLeader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi praised the nationwide NEET-UG protests during a Lok Sabha debate on the anti-paper leak Bill, calling them a reflection of students’ aspirations. He criticised the education system, accused the RSS of influencing the ministry and alleged that Union home minister Amit Shah authorised action against student protesters, triggering protests from the treasury benches. Read full storyCentre rejects Rahul’s allegations over NEET protest crackdownThe government dismissed Rahul Gandhi’s allegations that Amit Shah authorised police excesses against student protesters, saying no shots were fired during the July 20 demonstrations and that only tear gas was used. Union ministers demanded that Gandhi apologise and provide evidence, while the Speaker also intervened over remarks later ruled unparliamentary and expunged from the record. Read full storyRussia charges Telegram founder Pavel Durov with aiding terrorismRussia’s Federal Security Service has charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with aiding terrorist activities and placed him on an international wanted list, alleging the platform failed to remove content linked to Ukrainian intelligence agencies and extremist groups. The move marks the latest step in Moscow’s tightening control over digital platforms and could expose Durov to life imprisonment if convicted in Russia. Read full storyGet the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosLok Sabha Passes Anti-Paper Leak Bill Amid Ruckus Over Rahul’s ‘Shooting’ Charge Against Amit Shah’Put Pellets Into Blood Of Our Students,’ Rahul Gandhi’s Attack On Hm Shah In LS Sparks Uproar’Student, Idiot, Andhbhakt’: Rahul Gandhi’s ‘3 Categories’ Remark Sparks Row In Lok SabhaPoJK Burns Amid Violence And Protests: Why The World’s Silence And The Crisis Matter To IndiaFirst Direct Freight Train to Nepal! 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Aarti’s mother Sujatha Vijayakumar takes an indirect dig at Ravi Mohan with cryptic husband-wife posts amid the legal divorce battle Leo Monthly Nadi Horoscope (August 2026): Solar Eclipse and Nag Panchami May Test Your Inner Power ‘One more thank you left to say’: Sachin Tendulkar pays emotional tribute to coach Ramakant Achrekar on Guru Purnima Trump announces top civilian honour for teen lifeguard who saved boy at California beach Parliament is speaking GenZ NEW DELHI: “The Leader of the Opposition had gone ‘MIA’. ‘FOMO’ perhaps explains why he eventually went and sat outside the Prime Minister’s residence.” These are the words of 69-year old Union minister Jitendra SIngh, who was addressing the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.Until recently, these words belonged to Instagram comment sections, meme pages, K-pop fan communities and WhatsApp chats. This week, however, they echoed through the halls of Parliament. Watch ‘Students Want Justice, Not Charity’: Priyanka Gandhi’s Explosive Speech On Paper Leaks Rocks LSDuring the Monsoon session, MPs infused their speeches with Gen Z slang and internet catchphrases while taking on political rivals, discussing governance and framing arguments around issues ranging from education to development.BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj, while defending the Centre’s policies, urged the Opposition to “clock it” — a Gen Z phrase meaning to recognise or acknowledge something. “Where Congress created a policy vacuum, Modi clocked it, if I may borrow the language of Gen Z, and created a solution. All the Opposition did was chase political opportunism,” she said, explicitly acknowledging that she was borrowing from the vocabulary of younger generations.BJP’s Tejasvi Surya reached for another popular internet expression, calling the Opposition “delulu” — shorthand for “delusional” — suggesting its criticism of the government was detached from reality.Not to be left behind, Congress MP Deepender Hooda, during debate on anti-paper leak in Lok Sabha, slipped in ‘Kuchu Puchu’ and viral internet catchphrase “Vasteguna Huiya” in a swipe at Centre. “Aaj mera birthday hai toh please kuchu-puchu isteefa de do naaa (Today is my birthday, so please resign cutie pie),” he remarked, giving example of slogans at the recent student protests.Meanwhile, Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Eknath Shinde labelled the Opposition as suffering from “FOMO” — the “Fear of Missing Out” — and even described it as “MIA” (Missing in Action), implying that the Opposition was scrambling to remain politically relevant after missing key opportunities.It was an unusual moment.As Hooda put it, the GenZ with Bhagat Singh’s slogan of ‘Inquilab Zindabad’, turned it into ‘Vastaguna huiya’ when they protested against the government.Parliament, traditionally associated with constitutional language, Hindi idioms and literary references, suddenly sounded like an Instagram comment thread.What these words mean and where they come fromThe internet has a way of making words travel across continents, cultures and generations. Many expressions that now dominate Gen Z conversations were born in niche online communities long before they entered mainstream discourse.Clock ItUnlike many internet expressions, “clock it” has a much older cultural lineage. The phrase traces its roots to African-American and LGBTQ+ ballroom culture in the United States, where “to clock” someone meant to notice, identify or call out something—often a flaw or inconsistency.Popularised through drag culture and shows such as RuPaul’s Drag Race, the expression later migrated to TikTok and Instagram, where Gen Z adopted it to mean “spot the truth” or “call it as it is”.Vasteguna Huiya The phrase traces its roots to the viral meme “Can I get a Hoya?”, in which a teenager shouted the line in an exaggerated tone. In India, content creators gave the meme a local twist by replacing the original phrase with the nonsensical-sounding “Vasteguna Huiya”.The humour lay not in the words themselves—they have no literal meaning—but in the confused reactions they elicited. From there, the phrase spread rapidly across Instagram memes, reels and comment sections before making its way into the CJP student protests. Kuchu Puchu”Kuchu Puchu” does not have a single, traceable origin like “delulu” or “FOMO”. Instead, it evolved organically from baby talk, a simplified, affectionate style of speech used by parents, grandparents and couples across many Indian languages.The phrase is believed to be a playful variation of words like “kuchi kuchi,” “guchu puchu,” “kuchi poo,” and similar rhyming expressions that mimic the sounds babies make. Such reduplicative words are common in Hindi, Bengali, Tamil and several other Indian languages, where they are used as terms of endearment for children, pets or romantic partners.In recent years, “kuchu puchu” was revived and popularised by Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts and meme pages, where it took on a new, often sarcastic meaning. Calling someone “kuchu puchu” can imply that they are overly pampered, babied, innocent or treated with excessive affection.Its popularity surged during the CJP-led student protests, where protesters and social media users used “kuchu puchu” satirically to poke fun at political leaders and institutions.FOMOUnlike most Gen Z slang, FOMO predates social media. The acronym, standing for “Fear of Missing Out”, entered popular vocabulary in the early 2000s as psychologists and marketers described the anxiety people felt when they believed others were enjoying experiences they were not part of.Instagram amplified the phenomenon, turning FOMO into one of the defining emotions of the social media age. Today, the term is used far beyond personal life—to describe everything from investment trends to political strategy.MIAOriginally a military abbreviation for “Missing in Action”, MIA has been repurposed by internet users to describe people who suddenly disappear from conversations, social media or public life.DeluluPerhaps the most recognisable Gen Z word today, “delulu” is a shortened version of “delusional”. It first gained popularity within K-pop fandoms, where devoted fans jokingly described unrealistic fantasies—such as believing their favourite idol secretly loved them—as being “delulu”.Over time, the term evolved beyond fandom culture to describe anyone perceived as wildly optimistic or disconnected from reality. Today, it has become a staple of political banter, where opponents routinely accuse each other of being “delulu”.Why Gen Z language mattersThe timing of Parliament’s linguistic makeover is not accidental.The recent protests spearheaded by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) over NEET examination paper leaks were organised as much on Instagram and X as they were on the streets. Protesters used memes, short-form videos, viral hashtags and internet humour to mobilise students and simplify complex issues around examination reforms.For many young Indians, politics is now consumed through Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts and meme pages rather than lengthy parliamentary speeches or television debates. Viral clips often carry more influence than hour-long discussions.Taking notice of the same after massive protests, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also advised his Cabinet to engage with the youth on Instagram through reels and interactive sessions. “Young people are just on Instagram. This is a potential segment of citizens that we all need to connect with,” he said.India’s demographic profile makes this shift even more significant. With one of the world’s youngest populations and millions of first-time voters entering the electorate every election cycle, speaking the language of youth has become a political strategy as much as a communication style. Parliament has always borrowed popular languageAlthough Gen Z slangs in Parliament may sound dramatic, Parliament has always reflected the language of its times.In the early decades after Independence, speeches frequently quoted verses from the Bhagavad Gita, couplets by poets like Mirza Ghalib, Allama Iqbal. Hindi literary works were seen as a mark of oratorical skill.Long before MPs began saying “delulu” or “clock it”, Parliament had embraced the language of popular culture. Bollywood dialogues have long been used to simplify political arguments, inject humour and produce memorable sound bites.Rahul Gandhi’s dig at GST by calling it “Gabbar Singh Tax” transformed a complex debate on GST into a phrase instantly understood across India, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi invoked the character “Mausi” from the Sholay to mock the Congress party during his address in Parliament on July 2, 2024. He teased the opposition over their electoral defeat by mimicking a dialogue: “Arey Mausi, teesri baar toh haare hain, par moral victory toh hai na!” (Oh Mausi, we have lost for the third time too, but it’s a moral victory, right?). Watch 'Arre Mausi Hero Toh…': PM Modi Turns To 'Sholay' To Target Rahul Gandhi In Lok SabhaIn another instance, BJP MP Kangana Ranaut brought DDLJ’s iconic dialogue ‘Ja Simran, jeele apni zindagi’ to life while addressing women’s reservation bill in Lok Sabha. Watch Kangana Ranaut quotes DDLJ’s iconic line in Parliament, sparks heated debate on women’s bill rowCricket metaphors soon followed, with terms like “hitting a six”, “playing on the back foot” or being “clean bowled” by the Opposition. Finance ministers have described Budgets as “innings”, while election victories and defeats have routinely been framed as cricket matches.In many ways, Gen Z slang is simply the latest chapter in this evolution. Parliament has never existed in a linguistic vacuum; it has always absorbed the language spoken beyond its walls.Language keeps evolvingEvery generation believes the next one’s vocabulary sounds strange.Words like “cool”, “awesome”, “dude” and “LOL” were once dismissed as youthful fads before becoming mainstream. Today’s internet lexicon follows the same trajectory.Many Gen Z expressions have travelled remarkable distances—from Korean pop fandoms to American drag culture, from gaming communities to TikTok trends—before landing in Indian political discourse. Their journey illustrates how digital platforms have accelerated the movement of language across borders and cultures.Not every slang term will survive. Internet vocabulary evolves at dizzying speed, with new words replacing old ones every few months. But some expressions inevitably escape their online origins to become part of everyday speech.When lawmakers adopt them, it signals that these words have crossed into the mainstream.When Bansuri Swaraj paused to say, “if I may borrow the language of Gen Z”, she acknowledged something larger than a passing linguistic trend.Politics is no longer communicated solely through ideological speeches or parliamentary rhetoric. It increasingly competes in the same digital ecosystem as influencers, meme pages and viral videos, where relatability often matters as much as reasoned argument.Whether that makes parliamentary debate more accessible or more performative remains open to debate. But one thing is clear: as India’s politics becomes increasingly digital, the House is learning to speak not just to Gen Z, but increasingly like Gen Z.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorNatasha SinghPrincipal Digital Content ProducerEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosPoJK Burns Amid Violence And Protests: Why The World’s Silence And The Crisis Matter To IndiaFirst Direct Freight Train to Nepal! How One Railway Journey Could Transform India-Nepal TradeDelhi Police Denies ‘Mystery Truck’ Conspiracy Linked To Chalo Sansad ProtestTwo Army Personnel Injured In Suspected Landmine Explosion Near LoC In Uri’Most Filthy Type Of Man’: Rahul, Priyanka Gandhi Attack Pralhad Joshi; Massive Ruckus In ParlWhy Delhi-NCR Flooded Again As Four Weather Systems Combined With Years Of Planning Failures’Students Want Justice, Not Charity’: Priyanka Gandhi’s Explosive Speech On Paper Leaks Rocks LSMizoram Minister Opens Up On Drug Menace, Myanmar Border, Disaster Readiness & Ties With Centre”You Removed One Pradhan To Save The PM”: Paper Leak Bill Triggers Massive Showdown In ParliamentPolice Diary Reportedly Reveals RAF Fired Anti-Riot Guns During Jantar Mantar Protest | Watch123PhotostoriesFrom alleging ex-wife Shweta Tiwari’s affair with her Kasautii co-star Cezanne Khan to claiming he Wasn’t allowed to meet their daughter; Raja Chaudhary makes serious allegationsHollywood celebs who spoke about their ADHD, dyslexia and other mental health issues5 Plants you think are attractive, but are actually invasive in natureHansika Motwani’s ultra-luxurious Mumbai home: Glam dressing room, grand living area and more”Your child is always watching you”: 7 everyday parenting habits that unknowingly shape every Indian child’s futureWant more blooms? Prune these 5 garden plants in AugustWhy Indians have added ghee to hot rice for generations, according to scienceThe truth about Kumkumadi tailam: Know why it doesn’t deliver the same results for everyoneLeftover rotis? Try these 9 desi lunch dishes that pack 14–22g proteinHow to grow and care for lucky bamboo: An easy step-by-step guide for beginners123Hot PicksMCC new rulesJalen HurtsDelhi Lakshmi YojanaTN CM Vijay’s new officeRussian sanctions billCWG 2026 GamesSmartphone exportsTN supplementary resultsNew anti-paper leak billTop TrendingKangana RanautJantar Mantar ProtestKarnataka SuicideBJP MLA Yashpal Suvarna ArrestGurgaon Road RageAbhijeet Dipke Marriage ProposalsUGC PG ProgrammeWeather TomorrowPalani Mutt Temple Land CaseStock Market Up Jul 29, 2026, 18:00 IST Anti-Paper Leak Bill: New anti-paper leak bill passed in Lok Sabha: Here’s all you need to know French DJ Kavinsky passes away at 50; President Emmanuel Macron pays tribute: ‘French pride forever’ Most tourists miss these incredible border villages; PM Modi wants young Indians to change that GST boost: Maharashtra emerges as India’s top state tax contributor ‘Donate your $1 trillion fortune by 2036’: Nobel economist challenges Elon Musk after his ‘money won’t matter’ prediction | World News India Exports DigiLocker and UPI Payment Systems to Kenya and Cuba | India News Bihar TRE 4 recruitment: Education Department sends requisition for 32,388 teacher posts to BPSC Reba Monica John blessed with a baby girl, name her Kiara Joseph, ‘Bigil’ actress shares first adorable pictures Corporate job vs content creation: What’s better? 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Karishma Tanna and Varun Bangera welcome their first child on the auspicious day of Guru Purnima | In 2018, an undocumented migrant scaled a Paris apartment building to save a four-year-old boy hanging from a fourth-floor balcony, earning the nickname ‘Spider-Man of Paris’ | World News Times Samman Dehradun 2026: A tribute to brave hearts from Sainya Bhoomi | India News RCB become first IPL franchise to cross $300 million in brand value UPPSC PCS registration deadline extended: Check new dates to submit application here Ram Charan visits Coimbatore Ayyappa temple after successful wrist surgery; see pic here 5 Plants you think are attractive, but are actually invasive in nature Vande Mataram Bill 2026 explained: What changes and what punishment it proposes China has built a 582-ton giant magnet to help its ‘Artificial Sun’ confine plasma hotter than 100 million°C NEW DELHI: More than one lakh schools across India are functioning with a single teacher, with Andhra Pradesh alone accounting for over 16,000, government data has revealed, highlighting severe deployment gaps despite the country’s overall pupil-teacher ratio remaining within national norms.According to UDISE+ data for 2025-26, India has 1,00,843 single-teacher schools across all management categories. Andhra Pradesh tops the list with 16,357 such schools — more than 16% of the national total — followed by Jharkhand with 9,827 and Maharashtra with 9,269.Karnataka has 8,042 single-teacher schools, Uttar Pradesh 7,874, Rajasthan 7,200 and West Bengal 6,769. Together, the seven states account for nearly 65% of all schools in the country operating with only one teacher.The problem is spread across regions rather than being confined to poorer or geographically difficult states. Telangana has 4,793 such schools, Tamil Nadu 3,957 and Assam 3,159. Himachal Pradesh has 3,128, Uttarakhand 2,655 and Chhattisgarh 2,461.At the other end, Kerala reported 67 single-teacher schools, Nagaland 35, Sikkim 31, Ladakh 28, Delhi seven and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands one.The figures were provided by minister of state for education Jayant Chaudhary in response to a Rajya Sabha question on teacher vacancies. While the question sought data specifically for government schools, the annexure on single-teacher institutions covers schools under all managements.The ministry did not provide state-wise sanctioned posts or vacancies, saying recruitment, service conditions and deployment of teachers were handled by state governments and Union Territory administrations. It attributed vacancies to retirement, resignation, creation of posts, staff rationalisation and changing enrolment, including in rural, tribal and aspirational districts.The Centre said states were regularly advised to fill posts through transparent, merit-based recruitment and use technology for forecasting teacher requirements. Financial support was also provided under Samagra Shiksha to maintain prescribed pupil-teacher ratios.The ministry cited national pupil-teacher ratios of 19 at the primary level, 17 at upper primary, 15 at secondary and 23 at higher secondary — all within the limits envisaged under the National Education Policy. However, the single-teacher-school data indicates that favourable national averages continue to conceal sharp local imbalances in teacher availability.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorManash Pratim GohainManash Pratim Gohain is a seasoned journalist with over two decades at The Times of India, where he has built a rich body of work spanning education policy, politics, and governance. Renowned for his incisive coverage of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, accreditation reforms, and skilling initiatives, he has also reported on student politics, urban policy, and social movements. His political reportage—both reflective and news-driven—adds depth to his writing, bridging policy with public impact. Through his 2,500 articles and related outlets, he has emerged as a trusted voice in national discourse, particularly in linking education reform to broader societal change.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosPoJK Burns Amid Violence And Protests: Why The World’s Silence And The Crisis Matter To IndiaFirst Direct Freight Train to Nepal! 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