‘No rule to retire at 75’: Mohan Bhagwat quashes Modi exit buzz

Agencies

August 28, 2025

New Delhi, Aug 28: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has dismissed speculation that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will “retire” after turning 75 next month, reiterating there is no such rule within either the BJP or its ideological mentor.

Speaking to reporters Thursday evening, Mr Bhagwat — who himself turns 75 six days before the Prime Minister — clarified, “I never said I will retire, nor that someone else should retire at 75. We will do what the Sangh tells us.” His remarks come as the RSS marks its centenary year.

The BJP, too, has consistently denied the existence of any age-related restriction. The Union Cabinet already includes members over that notional threshold — such as 80-year-old Jitan Ram Manjhi, the MSME Minister.

Ahead of the 2024 election, the opposition repeatedly taunted the BJP over a supposed “75-year cut-off,” claiming Mr Modi would be ineligible to contest. Home Minister Amit Shah pushed back firmly, insisting the Prime Minister would not step aside. He also clarified earlier comments from 2019 — when the party dropped several veterans — as election strategy, not a formal rule.

Opposition leaders, however, continue to invoke the age debate. AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal recently alleged, “He (Mr Modi) will retire next year. He is only seeking votes to make Amit Shah the Prime Minister.”

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Mangaluru’s KPT becomes India’s first autonomous govt polytechnic

News Network

January 23,2026

Mangaluru: The Karnataka Government Polytechnic (KPT), Mangaluru, has achieved autonomous status from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), becoming the first government polytechnic in the country to receive such recognition in its 78-year history. The status was granted by AICTE, New Delhi, and subsequently approved by the Karnataka Board of Technical Education in October last year.

Officials said the autonomy was conferred a few months ago. Until recently, AICTE extended autonomous status only to engineering colleges, excluding diploma institutions. However, with a renewed national focus on skill development, several government polytechnics across India have now been granted autonomy.

KPT, the second-largest polytechnic in Karnataka, was established in 1946 with four branches and has since expanded to offer eight diploma programmes, including computer science and polymer technology. The institution is spread across a 19-acre campus.

Ravindra M Keni, the first dean of the institution, told The Times of India that AICTE had proposed autonomous status for polytechnic institutions that are over 25 years old. “Many colleges applied. In the first round, 100 institutions were shortlisted, which was further narrowed down to 15 in the second round. We have already completed one semester after becoming an autonomous institution,” he said. He added that nearly 500 students are admitted annually across eight three-year diploma courses.

Explaining the factors that helped KPT secure autonomy, Keni said the institution has consistently recorded 100 per cent admissions and placements for its graduates. He also noted its strong performance in sports, with the college emerging champions for 12 consecutive years, along with active student participation in NCC and NSS activities.

Autonomous status allows KPT to design industry-oriented curricula, conduct examinations, prepare question papers, and manage academic documentation independently. The institution can also directly collaborate with industries and receive priority funding from AICTE or the Ministry of Education. While academic autonomy has been granted, financial control will continue to rest with the state government.

“There will be separate committees for examinations, question paper setting, boards of studies, and boards of examiners. The institution will now have the freedom to conduct admissions without government notifications and issue its own marks cards,” Keni said, adding that new academic initiatives would be planned after a year of functioning under the autonomous framework.

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