Let the specialness of India's old institutions wither away as they take in quota-kids and people with unfamiliar surnames -- for if we are honest, that specialness was built on social exclusivity and little else writes Dhananjay Dhurandhar.

After she failed in her grade ten examinations, Aarti Naik would've ended up being a domestic help like most of her classmates but chose to fight the situation she was in. Today she teaches schoolgirls from her neighbourhood for free lest they fail in their examinations and in life.

There was a clear polarisation of Christian and (especially) Muslim votes in favour of the UDF. This caused enough misgivings to start a consolidation of Hindu votes behind the LDF, says T V R Shenoy.

In a world of high stakes where one film can make or break careers, the critic lays himself on the line when giving his opinion, says Suparn Verma.

NMIMS Management Aptitude Test (Commerce) or NMAT (C) is scheduled for Sunday May 15. More than 10,000 students are likely to take this test to three years' BBA and Bcom (Hons) programmes.

In an online chat with Get Ahead readers Ajay Antony of T.I.M.E, course director, discussed the tips and strategies to crack the AIEEE slated on May 1. Here is the unedited chat transcript.

In an online chat on April 15 Ryan Pereira, Himanshu Dev and Behrooz Avari, Educational Advisors with United States India Educational Foundation answered readers' queries related to US higher education system, application process, shortlisting universities, admission tests, recommendation letters, effective statement of purpose, applying for financial aid, organising successful applications and classroom culture. Here's the unedited transcript.

In an online chat on April 19, Ashish N of EducationAisle gave tips to Get Ahead readers on how they can get a high score in GMAT. Here's the unedited chat transcript.

'Are we losing this race too? Will the Chinese outstrive us, even if they don't outsmart us?'

14-year-old Salam Siddiqui on why he finds Mae Jemison, the first African American woman to go to outer space, inspiring

US President Barack Obama on Tuesday delivered his State of the Union speech in the US Congress. Here's the transcript:

Children need to learn how these choices are made. In a household that has limited income, running a tight budget might be the only way to allocate money.

From merely testing aptitude, the famed entrance test Opening the doors to hallowed B-Schools for graduate programmes in business and management is attempting in 2012 to test learning styles.

This is just a tedious exercise in studio filmmaking.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday distanced himself from the WikiLeaks cable emanating from the United States embassy in Delhi relating to alleged human rights violations in Kashmir in 2005 and indirectly blamed the then government led by opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

As the final countdown to CAT 2010 begins, Vinayak Kudva of IMS Learning Resources tackles some of the most frequently asked questions during this stage.

Vinayak Kudva, IMS Learning Resources, addresses some of the most frequently asked questions CAT candidates have in the last month of prep.

'What India needs more than anything else is an in-command Singh, who assiduously shepherds a difficult slippery path with good footwork and adroit balance. Instead we have a hamstrung leader struggling with a difficult diverse set of issues.'

We bring you readers' stories about their favourite, most inspirational teachers.

In the week leading up to Teacher's Day on September 5, we bring you readers' stories about their favourite, most inspirational teachers.

Brussels' gently warm summer days draw thronging crowds out to Cinquantenaire Park, a generous green sprawl a stone's throw away from the European Union headquarters. The scents of vanilla and caramel float from waffle vendor vans and the excited shrieks of toddlers mucking about in sandpits punctuate the air.

How did the industry fare overall in the past six months? Let's find out.

SSC topper: Enjoy what you study and don't take stress

We invited readers to share their college recommendations to the Class of 2010 -- the colleges with the best teachers, facilities, study programmes. Here we present the responses we recieved for colleges in West Bengal.

Ask the salesperson, and you may have a tough time filtering the hardsell to arrive at a meaningful decision, if you are uninitiated.

With Father's day coming up on June 20, we invited readers to share their favourite memories of their dad with us. Here are some of the responses we received. Share yours!

Youngest ever Indian to crack IIT entrance exams at 14, Sahal Kaushik and his mother Ruchika Kaushik speak about his success mantras and what

Rahul Patil lives in Mumbai's slums and has designed a trophy for the first ever LeapVault Change Leadership Awards. Abhishek Mande visits his house and feels humbled.

Amit Bansal, career counselor and trainer who heads PurpleLeap, hosted a chat with Get Ahead readers on April 9, 2010. For those of you who missed the chat, here's the unedited chat transcript.

Here's how you must teach financial literacy to your children.

It's official. Indian students are better than their British counterparts in schools, even in subjects like English.

To assist aspiring MBAs in their preparation, students at IIM Lucknow have come together to pool their experiences of the admissions process and present these tips.

The IIT JEE is coming up on April 11 and we asked readers who have taken the test in previous years to share their tips on how to score well in the exam. Here we publish some of the responses we received.

This topper scored 96.2 percent in her Class XII board examinations. We get her to spill the beans on her dreams, her school, favourite subject and much more to help you get ahead in the exams this year.

Every batch of students tends to make similar mistakes, year after year. So, this list of common slips, blunders, errors and doubts will help you memorise tricky Math concepts, better and end all confusion.

Next month, India's homegrown Arjun tank will take on the new Russian T-90 in a long-awaited comparative trial.

Antariksh Bothale, who scored 98.2 percent in Class XII in 2007, is of the belief that with proper guidance and hard work, anyone can do well in board exams. Here's his advice to students.

Author Ruskin Bond never attended college, and educated himself in second hand bookshops. Amrita Bose chats with the author about his school days, writing and his love for India.

The point is not how to predict the markets, which no one can actually do, but how to keep ourselves prepared for unforeseen losses.

The transient nature of life is reflected in ancient Indian designs, says Sarita Sarvate.