A number of heritage schools have set up base in India. But the central question is rarely asked: How much of the British school will actually travel? The Indian branch may carry the same name but without reproducing the same institution

MUMBAI: In Gurgaon, a school carrying the name of Queen Elizabeth is preparing to open its gates. In Bengaluru, pupils already walk beneath the banner of Harrow. Pune has Wellington; Bhopal, Shrewsbury. In Hyderabad, Sagebrook, in partnership with Whitgift, has completed its first round of admissions. Another British grammar school, founded nearly five centuries ago, is now drawing up plans for Bengaluru. And Highgrove Education is going to Uttar Pradesh.The British have returned to India. This time, through school gates.There is no colonial officer at the blackboard. The new intermediaries are Indian education companies, real-estate developers and investment groups partnering with some of Britain’s oldest schools.“The transaction is wrapped in the language of global learning, leadership, heritage and international exposure,” said an expert watching the sector. But what is being imported is not merely a curriculum. It is a name and the history, prestige and the social aspiration that come with it.Queen Elizabeth’s School, established in Barnet in 1573, is scheduled to open its Gurgaon campus this month. The original institution is especially notable because it is a state-funded grammar school in England. But a school supported by public money at home will, in effect, lend its centuries-old heritage to a premium institution overseas.It is a curious reversal of history.Francis Joseph, India CEO of Dubai-based GEMS Education which operates schools in 10+ countries, calls arrival of British school franchises interesting, but says it carries an obligation. “Every global education brand entering India must remember one fundamental truth: schools are local learning communities, deeply rooted in culture, traditions, local languages and aspirations of the communities they serve,” he said.Swati Popat Vats, director of Inspirenext Learning Foundation, points to colonial education’s long shadow. One of colonialism’s most enduring legacies, she said, was the belief that imported knowledge was inherently superior to indigenous capability.Independent India has spent decades building confidence in its own education. “It would be unfortunate if education once again created a hierarchy in which foreign is assumed to mean better and Indian is viewed as needing validation from elsewhere,” she said.In Bengaluru, Harrow International School has placed one of British education’s most recognisable names on Indian soil. Even the uniform carries the weight of tradition: it includes a hat.Harrow’s appeal lies partly in its 450-year history. Founded under a royal charter during Elizabeth I’s reign, it counts statesmen and writers among its alumni. For Indian families, one name has particular resonance: Jawaharlal Nehru. That history is not decorative. It is central to the proposition. It’s the principal item being sold.“For Harrow School, however, this was never simply about establishing more schools. It was about extending the reach of a distinctive educational philosophy and finding communities that value an education which prepares young people not only for university, but for life,” said Caroline Pascoe, head of the institution in Bengaluru.In Pune, Wellington College International operates with the identity of Wellington College in England. In Bhopal, Shrewsbury International School India has introduced a British boarding-school model. The symbolism is almost too neat: a tradition once designed to educate an empire’s governing class is now being adapted for the children of India’s corporate elite.Royal Grammar School Guildford has partnered with the Ryan Group to establish four schools in India. The first, RGS Guildford Bengaluru, is expected to open in 2028.Hyderabad’s Sagebrook International offers another variation. It is not a transplanted British school, but advertises a partnership with Whitgift School, founded in 1596. “Ours is a collective model, not a prescriptive one. We feel there is a market for quality education with so many GCCs being set up and Indians from around the world returning home,” said Sagebrook founder Praveen Raju.But the central question is rarely asked: how much of the British school will actually travel? A crest can cross continents instantly. A curriculum can be licensed. Teachers can be trained, inspected and reviewed.Yet the Indian branch may carry the same name without reproducing the same institution. There is also a question of access. In Britain, Queen Elizabeth’s School is a selective state school. In Gurgaon, its international branch belongs to the premium private-school market. The name travels easily across borders; the social model does not.Joseph said schools must remain custodians of India’s heritage, values and aspirations. The future, he argued, belongs not to schools that are merely international, but to those combining global excellence with local relevance.These arrivals are not a residue of British rule. They represent commercial revival of British prestige. The old empire governed India. The new one invoices Indian parents.

The Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) has also given a call for a strike, with 12,000 doctors set to boycott emergency services starting Thursday and OPD services from Wednesday. (Representational image)

MUMBAI: A government resolution (GR) on Monday paved the way for homeopaths to be registered, enabling them to prescribe modern medicines. The GR had directed MMC to begin registering homeopaths who had completed a one-year certificate course.However, not a single registration had been approved through the day and the first registration was done by 8.30pm. Soon after the GR, IMA’s call for a strike on Tuesday had received a lukewarm response throughout the city, with most clinics and OPD services functioning as usual.The GR has formed a committee to set-up a grievance me­chanism in case of negligence by homeopath, but until then, there is no framework to deal with such cases.Dr Shivkumar Utture, an IMA member and past MMC president, said that the move will have life-threatening consequences for the common people. The call for a first strike was issued late Monday, but many doctors were unaware of it.On Tuesday afternoon, Dheeraj Kumar, secretary of medical education, invited the IMA for further discussions.Dr Utture said the association was asked to keep emergency services functioning.“We were clear that this is our last option, to be used only if the MMC proceeds with registrations,” he said. The strike would also be extended to the Association of Medical Consultants (AMC), which includes specialty doctors.The Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) has also given a call for a strike, with 12,000 doctors set to boycott emergency services starting Thursday and OPD services from Wednesday.The move would impact government hospitals across the state. Moreover, over 2,000 resident doctors from four BMC-run medical colleges have also announced a strike on OPD services for Wednesday, and a further course of action will be decided based on developments of the day.Currently, 2,500 applications from homeopaths have been pending since last year. About 10,000 more have completed the one-year certificate course in pharmacology, which serves as the basis for granting these registrations.Speaking to the press as part of a debate at the Mumbai Press Club, Bahubali Shah, administrator of the homeopathic council, said there is no telling if the final order would be passed, as the case has been ongoing for the last 12 years.On the other hand, Dr Jayesh Lele, who was representing the IMA, said the rush to allow registrations before the final order is to fill up seats in private homeopathic colleges, many of which have political links.

The proposal was cleared by the BEST committee on Tuesday

Mumbai : In a significant step towards strengthening passenger and road safety, the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) Undertaking has launched a special safety sensitisation and training drive for approximately 5,200 Wet Lease bus drivers across Mumbai.The initiative follows a special meeting convened with all Wet Lease Operators on 24 July 2026 in the wake of the recent accident at Mankhurd. During the meeting, BEST management emphasized the need for enhanced safety measures and the importance of strict adherence to safe driving practices by all drivers operating buses under the Wet Lease model.The comprehensive training programme has been designed to reinforce defensive driving techniques and promote greater awareness of road safety standards. Key areas of focus include maintaining lane discipline, avoiding lane cutting, adherence to prescribed speed limits, keeping safe distances from other vehicles, and ensuring the complete prohibition of mobile phone use while driving. Drivers will also be sensitised to the importance of alertness, responsible behaviour on the road, and compliance with traffic regulations.The campaign will be conducted in coordination with Wet Lease operators across all BEST depots as well as at the Dindoshi Training Centre. The programme will include counselling sessions, safety briefings, interactive discussions, and practical training modules aimed at improving driving skills and decision-making under various traffic conditions.BEST management has reiterated that passenger safety remains its top priority and has directed all Wet Lease operators to ensure active participation of their drivers in the training programme. The Undertaking believes that continuous training, regular counselling, and sustained sensitisation efforts are essential to fostering a strong safety culture among drivers.Through this special drive, BEST aims to further strengthen operational safety standards, reduce the likelihood of accidents, and enhance the overall reliability and safety of Mumbai’s public transport system, ensuring a safer commuting experience for millions of daily passengers.Ends

The proposal was cleared by the BEST committee on Tuesday

Mumbai: BEST general manager Sonia Sethi on Tuesday announced a massive Rs 28,000 crore BEST Kayapalat (transformation) project aimed at restoring the utility’s financial health and making it self-reliant. One of the key points in the plan is increasing FSI of BEST depot land from 1.3 to 7, thereby ensuring more revenue through premium FSI.The proposal was cleared by the BEST committee on Tuesday. The proposal will now be sent to the BMC, which will forward it to the Urban Development Department before placing it before the state cabinet for final approval.Another key point in the transformation plan includes the development of public parking facilities,creating 36,000 car parking spaces for Mumbai at the depots, and social infrastructure including schools, hospitals, art museums,theatres, sports centres and cultural centres and not just malls and commercial offices coming up at BEST properties across the city, she said.According to Sethi, the BEST has proposed Transit oriented development (Tod) at all bus depots across city so that they get more FSI — from 1.3 to 7. As per TOD, developers can leverage an increased FSI up to 7 within a 500-meter radius as has been done in the Metro-3 underground project. The premium FSI charges will be handed over to BEST — ensuring that it earns a huge revenue from the Transformation Project.“The upfront premium generated through the project will be used to clear liabilities, pay pending dues of retired and serving employees, and support the purchase and operation of BEST-owned buses. We plan to purchase 5,000 buses and recruit more drivers and conductors,” she mentioned at the panel meeting.The proposal envisages the creation of dedicated corpus and recurring funds to meet future financial commitments while reducing dependence on external financial assistance, said Sethi. “BEST is burdened with an accumulated deficit of over Rs 7,300 crore and liabilities exceeding Rs 14,300 crore. The administration has also estimated that procuring and operating 5,000 self-owned buses and meeting employee-related commitments would require an additional Rs 13,500 crore. Together, the undertaking would need nearly Rs 28,000 crore to achieve long-term financial stability,” she said.To address this challenge, BEST has proposed implementing the project through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model on a Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) basis. A key feature of the proposal is that ownership of all BEST land parcels will remain entirely with the undertaking, while private participation will be used to generate funds and modernise infrastructure.The BEST will secure permissions for mixed land use from the UD department while also looking at a lease of 49+49 years as has been done by the transport department for MSRTC land parcels across the state.BEST officials said the transformation project could help secure the undertaking’s future while enabling it to deliver modern, efficient and sustainable services to Mumbai’s commuters.The transformation plan has been prepared in line with directions from the chief minister and deputy chief minister, who also heads the Urban Development department. Sethi said the undertaking’s financial position has become increasingly unsustainable, making structural reforms unavoidable.

The state government has reduced its Transport Department headquarters plan from sixteen stories (Image used for representational purpose only)

MUMBAI: The state govt has cut down its grand plans of a 16 storey high-rise to house the Transport Department’s head quarters due to height restrictions imposed by the Navy.Instead, the state govt has approved Rs 67 crore for the construction of the new Transport Commissioner’s Office (Parivahan Bhavan) which will be a four storey building with a 2-floor basement on Worli’s Sir Pochkhanwala Road. The Transport Commissioner’s office is currently housed in a rented space in the MTNL Building in Fort.In 2025, CM Devendra Fadnavis had performed the ground-breaking ceremony for ‘Parivahan Bhavan’ which will be the first dedicated headquarters for the transport department, which has been operating from rented premises for 85 years.The state govt had picked a plot in Worli for the Transport Commissioner’s office and administrative approval was given for the construction of a 16 storey building at a cost of Rs 179 crore in 2022. However, as per the 2011 guidelines of the Ministry of Defence, the Western Naval Command objected to the height of the building on security grounds and refused approval for construction, officials said. The new building will be constructed by the state Public Works Department (PWD).“As per the guidelines, a four-storey construction can be constructed on the proposed site. Accordingly, the Transport Commissioner submitted revised plans and estimates in 2025. A meeting of the High Level Committee of Secretaries was held in June this year led by Chief Secretary Rajesh Agarwal for giving approval to construction of govt buildings.Considering the monsoon season and the distance of the plot from the sea, the revised cost of construction was estimated to be around Rs. 67.83 crore. So the previous administrative and financial approval was canceled and fresh administrative/financial approval was given,” an Govt Resolution (GR) stated.In 2022, the Rs 179-crore project had got its approval from the state govt, which even issued a GR for the construction work to commence. Officials said Rs 50 crore was already earmarked for the project for 2022-23 and work was expected to start but height restrictions from the Navy had stalled the project.“Performed Bhoomi Pujan of the Transport Commissioner Office, ‘Parivahan Bhavan,’ in Worli, Mumbai, marking a new milestone in enhancing Transport Dept infrastructure. The department contributes significantly to the state’s progress through modern technology, effective implementation of the Motor Vehicles Act, and public welfare initiatives,” CM Fadnavis had said in a post on X after performing the ground breaking ceremony.

Mumbai: It has been six months since the death of Ajit Pawar, and after a period of sympathetic silence towards his widow and political heir, deputy chief minister Sunetra Pawar, the gloves gradually seem to be coming off in the political arena. The latest barb aimed at her came from outside the NCP, with the Congress referring to Sunetra as a “gungi gudiya” (mute doll), which in turn led to the NCP barging into the Congress office here on Tuesday to demand an apology.There were demonstrations by the NCP in Thane and Pune as well. By evening, Sunetra, too, had given a bite: “When the time comes, I will give a fitting response.”The Congress remark had come after an NCP MLA was seen calling an end to questions at a press conference held by Sunetra.Sunetra has so far managed to persevere over internal party leadership rumblings, and may again have the upper hand in the latest, intra-party exchange of heat as the Congress was forced on the back foot by public and political opinion, including from within the party.The irony of the situation is that the term the Congress used against Sunetra was once used by critics against one of its own, former prime minister Indira Gandhi, when she began her political innings in 1966.The state Congress had posted a clip from Sunetra Pawar’s press conference on Monday, showing MLA Dhananjay Munde shutting down questions from reporters about the law and order situation in Beed. Its comment on X read: “How long will Sunetra Pawar remain a gungi gudiya (silent doll)?”NCP politician Chhagan Bhujbal said such a comment was not expected from the Congress and said the party condemned it. “When Indira Gandhi started out in politics, people in the party would mock her as gungi gudiya. But in a short time, she broke Pakistan into two,” he said.The term gungi gudiya was first used against Indira Gandhi, the daughter of first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, by socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia in 1966 when she became prime minister following the death of Lal Bahadur Shastri.Dhananjay Munde clarified that he had not tried to run the show at the press conference. “I asked her not to speak because it was not a press conference of questions and answers. Only a memorandum was being given,” he said.Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis called the Congress comment “shameful”. “The Congress has descended to a very low level. They are getting no response from people and want to be in the news,” he said.Deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde sought an apology. “Sunetra Pawar is Maharashtra’s first woman deputy chief minister. In 2024, they had insulted ladki bahins and they taught them a lesson. This is an insult to all the women in the state and the Congress should immediately apologise,” he saidState Congress chief Harshavardhan Sakpal defended the comment. “There is no need for an apology because it was not an insult but a political comment. Even Indira Gandhi was once called a gungi gudiya. However, through her achievements, she created an identity as Durga. Sunetratai should also demonstrate becoming a Durga through her achievements,” he said.Congress politician Prithviraj Chavan was critical of the comment. “Sunetra Pawar is actively engaged in politics and holds the responsibility of a constitutional position in the state. It is not right to speak about her in a way that lowers the level of discourse. Of course, we expect a response from her through actions as well,” he said.NCP (SP) politician Rohit Pawar said Ajit Pawar had set high expectations, “Ajitdada was an aggressive and outspoken leader and now that is the public’s expectation. But no one can be like him,” he said.