The Uttar Pradesh Board examinations, initially scheduled for February 24, 2025, have faced postponement exclusively in Prayagraj due to the concurrent Maha Kumbh festival. This decision was confirmed by the UP State Minister of Secondary Education, Gulab Devi, who emphasized the need to avoid disruptions both for the massive influx of pilgrims attending the religious event and the students affected by the exams.
A staggering total of over 54 lakh students were set to participate in the Class 10 and 12 examinations across 8,140 centers, making it imperative to maintain focus on the students’ well-being during the current festive week. The exams for Class 10 reportedly involved around 27.32 lakh students and 27.05 lakh for Class 12. Gulab Devi articulated the ministry's decision, noting, “57 crore people have taken holy dips at Maha Kumbh. To avoid the effect on Maha Kumbh as well as the students, the exams scheduled for 24th February have been postponed only in Prayagraj… the dates will be announced later.”
Meanwhile, the long-awaited negotiations for the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) are set to resume on the same day, February 24, after being halted for about eight months. UK’s Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds, is scheduled to meet Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal. Established negotiations began back on January 13, 2022, and included 13 rounds completed by December 2023. The recent pause resulted from parliamentary elections within the UK, which put the discussions on hold as the new government settled.
Negotiators are expected to address previously covered ground and aim to expedite the agreement’s closure to boost bilateral trade and investment, which has already seen significant growth, climbing from USD 20.36 billion to USD 21.34 billion from 2022-23 to 2023-24. The goal of the agreement revolves around eliminating or considerably reducing customs duties on maximum traded goods, promoting easier renegotiation of service trade, and facilitating investments. The Indian side demands enhanced access for skilled professionals such as those from IT and healthcare sectors, alongside market access for various goods at no customs duty.
On the flip side, the UK seeks reductions on import duties for products like Scotch whiskey, electric vehicles, lamb meat, and confectioneries. Reports claim the UK is equally interested in deepening its visibility and operational capacity within various Indian service sectors including telecommunications and financial services. Considering the recent decision by Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to propose raising the foreign investment limit to 100 percent within the insurance sector, the atmosphere for negotiations appears promising.
Shifting dynamics also took center stage within the political sphere as newly elected members of the eighth legislative assembly of Delhi prepared to take their oaths on February 24, with Chief Minister Rekha Gupta moving to formalize the motion to appoint BJP MLA Vijender Gupta as the Speaker of the House. The assembly’s agenda included significant discussions surrounding the tabling of 14 pending reports from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) evaluating the performance of the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.
Rekha Gupta emphasized the importance of these reports, hinting at the growing tensions between AAP and BJP. The BJP accused AAP of negligence concerning the reports, claiming they contained evidence of corruption—a charge AAP denies, accusing BJP of political manipulation. Atishi, the previous AAP leader, remarked, “It is routine procedure. The BJP is making it seem they have presented the CAG reports. Whatever is there in the reports, it will be out before the people of Delhi.”
The assembly convenes under the presiding pro-tem Speaker Arvinder Singh Lovely, tasked with maintaining order until the election of the official Speaker. This session is charged with tensions from the recent election, where the BJP secured 48 out of 70 seats, marking their first stint of control over the assembly, pushing AAP to opposition status for the first time after years of their stronghold.
Across the board on February 24, 2025, the events unfurling mark significant changes within the educational, trade, and political landscapes of India. Each development intertwines with significant national themes, emphasizing the interplay between culture and governance, market interactions, and the imperative of maintaining educational integrity amid religious significance. With the new Delhi Assembly's duties commencing and the trade discussions with the UK being revived, the path forward promises pivotal changes for stakeholders involved.