The Indian government recently introduced the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Bill in Lok Sabha to completely reshape how universities and colleges operate. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced this reform would simplify regulations and help Indian institutions compete globally. However, the proposal has sparked intense debate across the country.

Why Does India Need This Change?

Currently, India has nearly 60,000 educational institutions, including 1,200 universities. Despite this growth, the system faces major problems. Multiple regulators like UGC, AICTE, and NCTE often overlap in their functions. Consequently, institutions deal with repeated paperwork and conflicting guidelines.

For instance, teacher education institutions report to NCTE for standards but also run programs under UGC rules. This creates unnecessary confusion and wastes time. Moreover, the current system makes it difficult for universities to adopt modern teaching methods quickly.

What Will Replace the Old System?

The Bill proposes dissolving existing regulators and creating one apex body with three independent councils:

The Three-Council Structure

Furthermore, these councils will work independently but coordinate through the apex body. This structure aims to eliminate conflicts of interest and duplication of work.

Key Features of the Reform

The Bill introduces several important changes:

• Greater autonomy for universities to design courses
• Interdisciplinary learning options across different fields
• Student feedback as a critical component of accreditation
• Transparent data available publicly for all institutions
• Strict action against fake universities and fraudulent practices
• New credit system to support reskilling and upskilling

Additionally, the government plans to introduce a fresh ranking framework alongside the existing NIRF system. This will help students make better choices about their education.

Funding: A Major Change

Notably, the regulatory body will no longer control funding. Instead, the Ministry of Education will directly handle grants to institutions. Officials explain this separation reduces conflicts of interest. Nevertheless, regulatory reports will heavily influence funding decisions.

The Debate: Support vs. Concerns

Supporters argue:

• The reform simplifies complicated regulations
• It aligns with the National Education Policy 2020 goals
• Universities gain flexibility to innovate
• One framework means less paperwork

Critics worry:

• Too much power is concentrated in the central government
• State universities might lose autonomy
• Federal balance could weaken
• Teachers’ groups fear reduced institutional freedom

Opposition MPs have particularly raised concerns about centralization. They question whether states will maintain meaningful control over their universities. Meanwhile, student organizations demand wider consultation before passing the Bill.

What Happens Next?

A 31-member Joint Parliamentary Committee will examine the Bill thoroughly. The committee must submit its report by the end. During this time, they will hold consultations with various stakeholders.

Minister Pradhan emphasizes the Bill won’t disturb state universities’ functioning. He says education remains on the Concurrent List, meaning both the center and the states share responsibility. Therefore, the reform focuses on coordination rather than taking over state powers.

In conclusion, the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Bill represents India’s ambitious attempt to modernize higher education. While the government promises simplified regulations and global competitiveness, critics demand careful scrutiny to protect institutional autonomy. The coming weeks will determine whether this reform achieves its goal of creating a world-class education system or becomes another point of federal tension.

A massive Statue of Liberty replica collapsed in Guaíba, southern Brazil, during a powerful storm on Monday, December 15, 2025. Furthermore, the incident occurred at approximately 3 pm when strong winds exceeding 90 kmph struck the region. The dramatic fall captured on video quickly went viral across social media platforms worldwide.

The Structure and Location

The replica stood approximately 24 meters tall (78 feet) in the parking lot of a Havan retail megastore. Additionally, the structure sat on an 11-meter pedestal, making the total height nearly 40 meters. Moreover, the statue was installed near a fast-food outlet in a busy commercial area.

Quick Facts About the Replica:

How the Collapse Happened?

Severe weather conditions hit Rio Grande do Sul state as a cold front moved through the area. Consequently, meteorologists recorded wind gusts reaching up to 100 kmph in some locations. The intense winds pushed against the tall structure until it could no longer stand upright.

Footage showed the statue leaning forward under the wind’s force before completely toppling over. Subsequently, the head of the replica shattered into pieces upon hitting the ground. Meanwhile, vehicles continued moving on the nearby busy road as the structure fell.

Video footage shows a forty-meter-tall replica of the Statue of Liberty, located across from a McDonald’s within the parking lot of a Havan in the Brazilian city of Guaíba, one of several dozen replicas of the statue located throughout the country, collapsing during a wind and… pic.twitter.com/kUid9lwA3b

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) December 15, 2025

Safety Measures and Response

Fortunately, no injuries occurred during the incident. Havan company officials confirmed that the parking area was nearly empty at the time. Therefore, the quick response helped prevent any harm to customers or staff.

Immediate Actions Taken:

• Area cordoned off immediately after the collapse.
• Specialist teams sent to remove debris within hours.
• Technical inspection scheduled to determine the exact cause.
• The affected section was closed while other areas remained open.
• Local Civil Defence teams secured the perimeter.

Mayor Marcelo Maranata praised the swift response at the site. He confirmed that local teams worked alongside state Civil Defence officials to ensure public safety. Additionally, authorities checked for any additional damage to nearby structures.

Storm Impact Across the Region

The same storm system affected much of Rio Grande do Sul state. Other areas reported hail, damaged roofs, fallen trees, and temporary power outages. Furthermore, heavy rain caused partial flooding on some streets throughout the region.

Earlier that day, Civil Defence authorities issued a red alert warning for severe winds. They urged residents to stay indoors, disconnect electrical devices, and secure doors and windows. Moreover, emergency messages sent directly to mobile phones warned people about the approaching dangerous weather.

Technical Certification and Investigation

Havan stated that the structure had required technical certification when installed in 2020. However, authorities will conduct a thorough technical assessment to understand what caused the collapse. Similarly, they will recommend steps to prevent similar incidents at other locations.

The company operates several Havan stores across Brazil with similar Statue of Liberty replicas outside their facilities. Therefore, this incident raises questions about the structural safety of other replicas during extreme weather conditions. Weather experts expect conditions to improve from Tuesday, although some rain may continue in the coming days.

The match took place at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai on December 16, 2025, as part of the ACC Under-19 Asia Cup. Furthermore, India came into this match after a comprehensive 90-run victory over Pakistan. Malaysia won the toss and chose to field first, hoping to restrict the strong Indian batting lineup.

Explosive Start by Indian Openers

Ayush Mhatre and Vaibhav Suryavanshi provided a flying start for India. Moreover, Mhatre welcomed bowler Muhammad Akram by cutting his first ball for four. Additionally, he smashed three boundaries in the opening over alone, helping India score 15 runs without loss.

Opening Partnership Highlights:

Mhatre departed early after scoring 14 runs from just 8 balls. However, Suryavanshi continued his aggressive approach and dominated the Malaysian bowlers completely.

Suryavanshi’s Quickfire Fifty

Vaibhav Suryavanshi reached his half-century in only 25 deliveries, showcasing exceptional power-hitting ability. He smashed three sixes and five fours during his innings. Furthermore, his aggressive stroke-play put enormous pressure on the Malaysian bowling attack from the start.

Nevertheless, his brilliant innings ended when Muhammad Nurhanif took a stunning catch at long-on. Suryavanshi attempted to hit Muhammad Akram straight against the wind. Consequently, Nurhanif completed an excellent catch while maintaining his balance inside the rope.

Middle-Order Resilience

After Suryavanshi’s dismissal, Vedant Trivedi and Abhigyan Kundu built a crucial partnership. Initially, both batsmen focused on rotating the strike and playing sensibly. Then, they gradually increased the scoring rate as they settled at the crease.

Key Partnership Statistics:

• 50-run partnership: Achieved in 51 balls
• 100-run partnership: Completed smoothly
• Trivedi’s fifty: Scored from 56 balls
• Kundu’s fifty: Reached in just 44 deliveries

Trivedi brought up his half-century after being dropped by captain Deaaz Patro at cover. Moreover, he celebrated by pulling the next ball for four. Meanwhile, Kundu accelerated beautifully, punching drives through mid-off and clipping boundaries through midwicket.

Malaysian Bowling Efforts

Malaysia tried using spinners to slow down India’s scoring rate. Jaashwin Krishnamurthi bowled tight overs with good flight. Similarly, Hamzah Panggi put pressure on the batsmen through the middle overs. However, the Indian pair handled the spin bowling confidently.

Malaysia’s Bowling Performance:

• Muhammad Akram: 2 wickets
• Nagineshwar Sathnakumaran: 1 wicket
• Spinners: Controlled the middle overs
• Fielding: One dropped catch by captain

Match Context and Tournament Standing

India entered this match maintaining a perfect record in the tournament. Previously, they had defeated Pakistan comprehensively thanks to outstanding performances from Kanishk Chouhan and Deepesh Devendran. Therefore, the team wanted to continue their winning momentum.

This victory helps India secure a spot in the semifinals scheduled for Friday. Additionally, the India national under-19 cricket team vs Malaysia demonstrated India’s batting depth and ability to post competitive totals consistently throughout the Asia Cup 2025.