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Indian Express
2 days ago
- General
- Indian Express
DASA, CSAB Special Round Counselling 2025: NIT Rourkela calls for applications starting July 30
DASA, CSAB Special Round Counselling 2025: The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela, the host institute for DASA and CSAB 2025, has called applications from students for the Direct Admission of Students Abroad (DASA) and Central Seat Allocation Board (CSAB)-Special round starting from July 30. The Institute has set up a common registration process for eligible candidates seeking admission to undergraduate programmes at NITs, IIITs, IIEST, SPAs, other technical institutions funded by central or state governments and some other institutes for the academic year 2025-26. The link for the same is: Eligible students will be able to log in to the portal using their JEE (Main/ Advanced/ JoSAA 2025) credentials. Registration link: Registration open date: July 30 Last date for payment and document upload: August 3 by 5 pm Last date to respond to queries raised during DASA document verification: August 6 Final deadline for locking seat choices: August 7, by 8 PM –Round 1 – August 9 at 5 PM –Round 2 – August 14 at 5 PM –Round 3 – August 19 at 5 PM Candidates who have confirmed their seats have to report physically at their allotted institutes between August 20 and August 23. It is important to note that the physical reporting dates are tentative; candidates have to contact the respective institute for the actual dates of physical reporting. DASA 2025 will facilitate direct admissions for eligible students having JEE Main 2025 ranks to institutes through a merit-based system. Eligible students from various countries, including NRIs and OCI/PIOs, can apply for undergraduate engineering, architecture, and planning programmes in India. A student applying under DASA must be born on or after 1st October 2000. Non-Resident Indian (NRI) applicants must have completed at least 2 years of education abroad (Classes 11 and 12 or equivalent) in the past 8 years. –30 National Institutes of Technology (NITs) –IIEST Shibpur –13 Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) –3 School of Planning and Architecture (SPAs) –30 Technical Institutes funded fully or partially by the central or a state government (Other-GFTIs) and a few other institutes 1. DASA (Non-SAARC) – Students from all countries except SAARC nations – NRIs are also included in this category 2. DASA (SAARC) – Students from SAARC countries, excluding India – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka 3. CIWG Category (Children of Indian Workers in the Gulf) – NRIs whose parents work in any of the following Gulf countries: United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia. Details are available on the website. The CIWG seats are approximately one-third of the total seats allocated in DASA 2025. CSAB-Special round is for Indian citizens (including those from all reservation categories such as GEN-EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, ST, and PwD) and OCI/PIO(I) candidates. The candidates who could not get a seat via JoSAA, or withdrew, or want to upgrade after JoSAA, can apply for the CSAB Special round. Through CSAB-Special 2025, the eligible candidates will be able to access these technical institutes, including: –31 National Institutes of Technology (NITs) –IIEST Shibpur –26 Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) –3 School of Planning and Architecture (SPAs) –44 Technical Institutes funded fully or partially by the central or a state government (Other-GFTIs) 1. Open and Gen -Economically Weaker Section (EWS), Other Backward Classes – Non-Creamy Layer (OBC-NCL), Scheduled Cast (SC) & Scheduled Tribes (ST) 2. Persons with Disabilities (PwD) variants of each category 3. Female supernumerary seats With a unified registration and choice option, candidates will be able to select any of the following options: combined DASA and CSAB-Special participation. Additionally, reservation benefits are applicable only under CSAB-Special and not in DASA. For more information on DASA and CSAB Special 2025, students can visit:
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Pakistan, BD vow to deepen bilateral ties
Pakistan and Bangladesh have pledged to strengthen bilateral relations after Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met with Bangladesh's Adviser on Foreign Affairs, Touhid Hussain, on the sidelines of the International Conference on the Two-State Solution at the United Nations in New York on Monday. This marks the fourth high-level interaction between the two countries since October 2024, indicating a renewed momentum in Pakistan-Bangladesh ties following years of strain. According to a statement issued by the Foreign Office, the two leaders conducted a comprehensive review of bilateral relations and reaffirmed their shared commitment to enhancing political, economic and cultural cooperation. They also agreed to promote connectivity and people-to-people exchanges, with plans to facilitate high-level bilateral visits in the near future. Both sides expressed deep concern over the grave humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the ongoing Israeli military aggression against Palestinians. They underscored their unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people and stressed the need for meaningful outcomes from the ongoing conference on the two-state solution. Ties between Islamabad and Dhaka have witnessed a notable thaw since the ouster of Sheikh Hasina's government in August last year, which had long maintained a tough posture on Pakistan over historical grievances. The change in government in Dhaka has allowed for more pragmatic and forward-looking engagement between the two South Asian Muslim-majority nations. Last week, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi visited Dhaka, where he held talks with his Bangladeshi counterpart, Lt Gen (R) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury. The two sides reached a landmark agreement to grant visa-free entry to holders of diplomatic and official passports – a move widely seen as symbolic of growing mutual trust and a step toward easing travel restrictions for future trade and official exchanges. With regional dynamics shifting, particularly in light of China's rising influence and the decline of traditional regional groupings such as SAARC, Pakistan and Bangladesh appear to be recalibrating their foreign policy strategies. Both countries are now exploring issue-based cooperation focused on development, trade and strategic autonomy, moving beyond historical baggage. The recent engagements also reflect Pakistan's broader diplomatic push to reconnect with South Asian neighbours, strengthen Muslim world solidarity and project a more constructive role in regional diplomacy. Since the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina government, Bangladesh's interim administration has removed restrictions on Pakistani diplomats and imports, giving a fresh impetus to bilateral ties.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Jaishankar Bursts Trump's 'Bubble' on Indo-Pak Truce, Tears Into Cong's Track Record Against Terror
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar shattered all speculation in the Lok Sabha, making it clear: 'There was no phone call between PM Modi and US President Donald Trump between April 22 and June 17.' The message? Trump's claim that he used trade deal to strike ceasefire deal between India and Pakistan is false. In a fiery statement in the Lok Sabha, Jaishankar laid out India's sharp, strategic and uncompromising foreign policy after the deadly Pahalgam terror attack. 'Our red lines were crossed,' he said, announcing a series of unprecedented steps: Suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, expulsion of Pakistani military advisors, closure of the Attari check post, and a freeze on SAARC visa exemptions. Jaishankar revealed how India retaliated militarily, and diplomatically isolated Pakistan. He disclosed that Pakistan tried backchannel peace, but India demanded official requests through DGMO. The global fallout? TRF, the group behind the attack, was designated a global terrorist organisation, thanks to India's push with the US and UNSC.#operationsindoor #moditrump #pmmodi #donaldtrump #moditrumpphonecall #jaishankar #pahalgamattack #indiaforeignpolicy #pakistan #terrorism #unsupport #trf #induswaterstreaty #loksabha #opsindoordebate #toi #toibharat #bharat #trending #breakingnews #indianews Read More
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Balochistan's rare earths: Pakistan's gamble in the great power race
China and Pakistan are reportedly advancing plans to create a new regional bloc to replace the long-standing but functionally ineffective South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). A trilateral meeting in Kunming on June 19, 2025—between China, Pakistan, and Bangladesh—marked the first step toward formalising this China-led initiative, with Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Afghanistan also being courted to join. This raises a crucial question: Why is such an initiative being pursued now? A security personnel stands guard along a street near the site of a school bus bombing in the Khuzdar district of Balochistan province.(AFP/File) At the heart of this renewed regional alignment lies a game-changing revelation: Pakistan—particularly its restive province of Balochistan—is estimated to hold between $6 to $8 trillion worth of untapped mineral wealth, including strategically vital rare earth elements (REEs) like dysprosium, terbium, and yttrium. These elements are indispensable to the global green transition, as they are used in electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, advanced defence technologies, and next-generation electronics. Balochistan's ophiolite-rich terrain, especially in the Muslim Bagh and Khuzdar regions, is believed to harbour significant deposits of heavy rare earth elements (HREEs), now in intense international demand. However, despite the immense resource potential, Pakistan's capacity to extract and process these minerals remains severely constrained. According to Abdul Bashir, chief geologist at Koh-e-Daleel Minerals, Pakistan currently lacks the sophisticated extraction technology, skilled expertise, and financial resources needed to process these critical minerals domestically. Without proper laboratory testing and beneficiation, the continued export of raw ore could result in the loss of billions in potential national revenue in the years to come. This gap between mineral abundance and extraction capability has triggered a fresh race among global powers to partner with Islamabad. At the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum held in Islamabad in April 2025, delegations from the US, China, Saudi Arabia, and the European Union expressed strong interest in large-scale mining partnerships. For Washington, this was not just about investment—it marked a strategic shift aimed at diversifying away from China, which currently controls about 90% of the global REE supply chain. Led by Eric Meyer from the US Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, the US delegation sought to position Pakistan as a new critical minerals partner. To accelerate this mineral pivot, Pakistan has signed lobbying contracts worth $450,000 a month with US firms linked to key figures from former President Trump's administration, such as his former bodyguard Keith Schiller, compliance chief George Sorial, and economic adviser Everett Eissenstat. Their mandate spans both economic and defence cooperation—promoting rare earth investments while also seeking military support. Meanwhile, China, with its $60 billion footprint in Pakistan through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), is moving to consolidate its own position. For Beijing, Balochistan is a linchpin in its broader strategy to secure long-term access to critical minerals. However, the path to extraction is fraught with security risks. In 2024 alone, over 800 people were killed in nearly 500 militant attacks in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa—the very provinces that hold most of Pakistan's high-value mineral deposits. To reassure investors, Pakistan's military has stepped in forcefully. Army chief and field marshal Asim Munir has declared that 'economic security is now a pillar of national security,' promising full-scale military protection for mining zones. But the growing militarisation of mineral development is not without social and political costs. In 2025, two controversial laws—the Balochistan Mines and Minerals Act and the Mines and Minerals Harmonization Act—were passed with limited public debate These laws effectively centralised control under the federal government through the creation of a Mineral Investment Facilitation Authority (MIFA) reporting to the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC). This federal architecture undermines the country's 18th Amendment, which gives provinces authority over natural resources. In effect, Balochistan has been sidelined in the decision-making over its own resources. Equally troubling is the absence of any requirement for community consultation or profit-sharing with tribal populations, repeating the exclusionary patterns that have historically fuelled discontent in the region. The Reko Diq project is a prime example. Once stalled by legal battles over exploitative contracts, it is now being revived under Canadian firm Barrick Gold, with a projected output of $74 billion over 37 years. While it could reshape Pakistan's economy, serious concerns remain: Will Balochistan's impoverished residents benefit? And how will the water-intensive copper and lithium mining impact one of the world's most water-stressed regions? Some estimates warn extraction could consume up to 40% of local water supplies, worsening ecological strain and community tensions. Pakistan's mineral moment has clearly arrived—but whether it leads to equitable development or replicates extractive and exclusionary practices of the past will depend on policy choices made now. With external debt over $130 billion and the mining and sector contributing just 3.2% to GDP, Islamabad needs urgent foreign investment. But that capital must be aligned with transparent governance, environmental safeguards, and local benefit-sharing—not with attempts to recreate a regional stability institution that lacks legitimacy and inclusive representation. This article authored by Hriday Sarma, senior fellow, South Asia Democratic Forum, Brussels.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
South Asian University: A global campus for regional excellence
1 2 South Asian University (SAU), established jointly by the eight SAARC nations, represents a shining example of regional cooperation and educational diplomacy. Proposed at the 13th SAARC Summit in 2005 and operational since 2010, the university was envisioned as a centre of excellence to foster academic collaboration and cultural unity across South Asia. Located in a modern, fully residential 100-acre campus in Maidan Garhi, New Delhi, SAU provides world-class education to students from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. This University is currently under the bright vision of the President, Prof. K. K Aggarwal. President, Prof. K. K Aggarwal. Diverse and expanding academic structure SAU currently offers postgraduate and doctoral programmes through five key faculties: Economics, Legal Studies, Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Mathematics and Computer Science, and Social Sciences, which include departments like Sociology and International Relations. The university envisages plans for new faculties in Earth System Sciences, Management, Humanities, Physical and Chemical Sciences, and a Faculty of Undergraduate Studies. Introducing the virtual campus The Virtual Campus of South Asian University's mission is to provide world-class business education through its MBA, Executive MBA, and BBA programs byintegrating the intellectual capital of globally renowned faculty with advanced digital pedagogy. The Virtual Campus aims at AI, Data Science and digital business education. The focus will be on expanding the global faculty network, enhancing digital teaching capabilities, and establishing a Virtual Centre for Excellence in Business Research. Introducing the Faculty of Arts and Design In addition to this, the Faculty of Arts and Design, which aims to foster creativity, communication skills, and cultural awareness has been inaugurated on January 31, 2025, by Hon'ble President Prof. K.K. Aggarwal. This Faculty currently offers skill-based short-term certificate courses in Cinematography, Visual Communication, Hindi Language Proficiency, and South Asian Music (ITSA). Infrastructure and campus development SAU's lush green campus in South Delhi provides a modern, eco-friendly, and secure environment. Facilities include residential hostels, faculty housing, a well-equipped library, laboratories, seminar halls, and performance spaces that foster learning and innovation. The campus architecture—designed through a regional competition—is inspired by South Asian aesthetics, promoting a sense of belonging and unity. Global recognition and alumni success Degrees from SAU are recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) in India and by educational bodies across SAARC nations. SAU alumni are excelling globally—pursuing research, policy work, teaching, and professional careers at reputed institutions and organizations. Their success speaks volumes about the quality of education and academic mentorship provided at SAU.
