NKC - Squarespace

National Knowledge Commission Report to the Nation 2006 -‐ 2009

Government of India

Ú.ATIONAL+NOWLEDGE#OMMISSION -ARCH

0UBLISHEDBY .ATIONAL+NOWLEDGE#OMMISSION 'OVERNMENTOF)NDIA $HARMA-ARG #HANAKYAPURI .EW$ELHI WWWKNOWLEDGECOMMISSIONGOVIN

#OPYEDITING DESIGNANDPRINTING .EW#ONCEPT)NFORMATION3YSTEMS0VT,TD .EW$ELHI WWWNEWCONCEPTINFOCOM

Foreword

4HE.ATIONAL+NOWLEDGE#OMMISSION.+# ISPLEASED TOSUBMITITSlNAL2EPORTTOTHE.ATION)TISESSENTIALLY ACOMPILATIONOFOURVARIOUSREPORTSFROMTO 4HE #OMMISSION WAS SET UP BY THE 0RIME -INISTER $R -ANMOHAN 3INGH TO PREPARE A BLUEPRINT TO TAP INTOTHEENORMOUSRESERVOIROFOURKNOWLEDGEBASESO THAT OUR PEOPLE CAN CONlDENTLY FACE THE CHALLENGES OF THE ST CENTURY 7E WERE CONSCIOUS THAT THIS WAS A DAUNTING TASK WHICH REQUIRED NOT ONLY RESOURCES AND TIME BUTALSOABOLDVISIONANDALONG TERMFOCUSON SPEEDYIMPLEMENTATION !T THE HEART OF .+#S MANDATE ARE lVE KEY AREAS RELATED TO !##%33 #/.#%043 #2%!4)/. !00,)#!4)/.3AND3%26)#%37EHAVEADDRESSED THEQUESTIONOFHOWTOBUILDAKNOWLEDGESOCIETYFROM THESE PERSPECTIVES WITH PARTICULAR FOCUS ON ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE 5NDER THESE lVE FOCUS AREAS WE HAVE COVEREDVARIOUSSUBJECTSRELATEDTO2IGHTTO%DUCATION ,ANGUAGE 4RANSLATION ,IBRARIES .ATIONAL +NOWLEDGE .ETWORK 0ORTALS (EALTH)NFORMATION.ETWORK 3CHOOL %DUCATION 6OCATIONAL%DUCATIONAND4RAINING (IGHER %DUCATION -ORE 3TUDENTS IN -ATHS AND 3CIENCE 0ROFESSIONAL %DUCATION -ORE 1UALITY 0H$S /PEN AND $ISTANCE %DUCATION /PEN %DUCATION 2ESOURCES )NTELLECTUAL0ROPERTY2IGHTS ,EGAL&RAMEWORKFOR0UBLIC &UNDED2ESEARCH .ATIONAL3CIENCEAND3OCIAL3CIENCE &OUNDATION )NNOVATION %NTREPRENEURSHIP 4RADITIONAL (EALTHSYSTEMS !GRICULTURE %NHANCING1UALITYOF,IFE AND% GOVERNANCE )N MOST OF THESE AREAS WE ORGANISED 7ORKING 'ROUPS CONSISTING OF DOMAIN EXPERTS FROM THE GOVERNMENT ACADEMIA INDUSTRY CIVIL SOCIETY MEDIA AND OTHERS TO MAKE THE ENTIRE PROCESS DEMOCRATIC TRANSPARENT AND PARTICIPATIVE4HE 7ORKING 'ROUPS WERE REQUESTED TO HAVE VARIOUS CONSULTATIONS AND PREPARE A WHITE PAPER FOR DISCUSSION AND DEBATE AT THE #OMMISSION "ASED ON THIS METHODOLOGY A lNAL SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS WAS AGREED UPON BY THE MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE #OMMISSION !S A RESULT WE BELIEVE THAT THESE RECOMMENDATIONSREmECTANDINCORPORATETHECONCERNS

ANDASPIRATIONSOFDOMAINEXPERTSANDOTHERCONCERNED STAKEHOLDERS )N THE LAST THREE YEARS .+# HAS SUBMITTED AROUND RECOMMENDATIONS ON SUBJECTS IN THE FORM OF LETTERS TO THE 0RIME -INISTER4HESE HAVE BEEN WIDELY DISSEMINATED IN OUR 2EPORTS TO THE .ATION SEMINARS CONFERENCES DISCUSSIONS AND COVERED BY NATIONAL AND REGIONAL MEDIA 4HESE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE ALSO ACCESSIBLE THROUGH THE .+# WEBSITE IN LANGUAGES !S PART OF OUR OUTREACH PROGRAM WE HAVE ORGANISED VARIOUS CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS IN COLLABORATION WITHUNIVERSITIES COLLEGES SCHOOLS #)) &)##) !)-! ANDOTHERS7EHAVEALSOBEENREACHINGOUTTOVARIOUS 3TATE 'OVERNMENTS TO DISCUSS RECOMMENDATIONS AND ASSOCIATED IMPLEMENTATION AT THE STATE LEVEL 4HE RESPONSEFROMMOSTOFTHESTATESHASBEENVERYGOOD 4HE 50!S COMMITMENT TO .+#S 6ISION IS REmECTED IN THE TH &IVE 9EAR 0LAN ADOPTED BY THE .ATIONAL $EVELOPMENT #OUNCIL 4HE 0LAN PLACES HIGH PRIORITY ON EDUCATION AS A CENTRAL INSTRUMENT FOR ACHIEVING RAPID AND INCLUSIVE GROWTH WITH SPECIlC EMPHASIS ON EXPANSION EXCELLENCE ANDEQUITY4HISISREmECTEDINTHE PROPOSEDALLOCATIONOF2STRILLION AFOUR FOLDINCREASE OVERTHE4ENTH0LAN4HESHAREOF%DUCATIONINTHETOTAL 0LANWILLACCORDINGLYINCREASEFROMTOPERCENT REPRESENTING A CREDIBLE PROGRESS TOWARDS THE TARGET OF PER CENT OF '$04HE VISION OF THE 0RIME -INISTER ANDSUPPORTOFOURLEADERSHIPFROMACROSSTHEPOLITICAL SPECTRUMISINDEEDLAUDABLE4HISISALANDMARKINITIATIVE INTHEHISTORYOFGOVERNMENTPLANNING7EBELIEVETHAT THE EDUCATION AGENDA OUTLINED IN THE TH 0LAN IS A CRITICALSTEPTOWARDSREALISINGTHEOBJECTIVEOFANEQUITABLE SOCIETY)TISALSOFUNDAMENTALTOOURCONTINUINGGROWTH EMPLOYMENT GENERATION INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT ANDOTHERDEVELOPMENTALPRIORITIES 7HILE RELEASING THE lRST .+# 2EPORT TO THE .ATION IN *ANUARY THE 0- EMPHASISED THAT THE #OMMISSION hMUST BE INVOLVED IN ENSURING THE IMPLEMENTATIONOFTHEIRINNOVATIVEIDEASv4HEFOCUSOF

OURWORKHASBEENONENSURINGTHATWHILETHE#ENTRAL 'OVERNMENT DESIGNS APPROPRIATE STRATEGIES SUPPORTED BY lNANCIALALLOCATIONSTOIMPLEMENTOURRECOMMENDATIONS WE ENGAGE SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH DIVERSE STAKEHOLDERS TO BUILD A GROUNDSWELL OF FAVOURABLE OPINION AND ASSIST PREPARATION OF IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES AT THE GRASSROOTS#ONTINUINGDIALOGUEWITHAWIDEANDDIVERSE SETOFSTAKEHOLDERSHASBEENACRITICALPARTOFOURPROCESS BOTHINTHEFORMULATIONOFTHERECOMMENDATIONSANDIN THESUBSEQUENTDISSEMINATION 2EGARDINGIMPLEMENTATION WElNDTHATTHEREISINDEED AGREATDEALOFENTHUSIASMANDEMPHASISONEDUCATIONAS AMEANSOFACHIEVINGPERSONALGROWTHANDDEVELOPMENT 4HEGROWINGASPIRATIONSOFCHILDRENANDPARENTSACROSS THECROSS SECTIONOFSOCIETYAREREmECTEDINANINCREASING DEMAND FOR EDUCATION WHICH HAS FAR EXCEEDED THE SUPPLY4HEREISSTILLRESISTANCEATVARIOUSLEVELSINTHE GOVERNMENTTONEWIDEAS EXPERIMENTATION PROCESSRE ENGINEERING EXTERNAL INTERVENTIONS TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY DUE TO RIGID ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURES WITHTERRITORIALMINDSETS!SARESULT THEREALCHALLENGE LIESINORGANISATIONALINNOVATIONWITHNEWREGULATORY FRAMEWORKS NEWDELIVERYSYSTEMSANDNEWPROCESSES)N THEIRABSENCE INCREASINGRESOURCESCOULDWELLRESULTIN MOREOFTHESAMETHINGSBEINGREPLICATED/URCOUNTRY ISTOOLARGE TOOCOMPLEXANDTOODIVERSEFOR@ONESIZE lTS ALL SOLUTIONS $ECENTRALISATION AND COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION AT THE LOCAL LEVEL WOULD BE THE KEY TO DEVISINGEFFECTIVEPROGRAMSFORIMPLEMENTATION 7E HOPE THAT OUR RECOMMENDATIONS lND ENTHUSIASM AND SUPPORT AT VARIOUS LEVELS AT 3TATE AND #ENTRAL 'OVERNMENTFORSPEEDYIMPLEMENTATION7EBELIEVETHAT IMPLEMENTATIONISTHEKEYINGOINGFORWARDTOADDRESS THETHREEFUNDAMENTALCHALLENGESRELATEDTODEMOGRAPHY DISPARITYANDDEVELOPMENT+NOWLEDGE EDUCATION AND INNOVATIONSARECRITICALTOPROVIDEOPPORTUNITIESFORTHE POOR AND UNDERPRIVILEGED TO REDUCE DISPARITIES IN OUR

SOCIETY 4HESE ARE EQUALLY IMPORTANT TO EXPEDITE THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPMENT AND TO IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY EFlCIENCY ANDREDUCECOST4OGETTHEREALDEMOGRAPHIC DIVIDENDS WE NEED TO EMPOWER AND EDUCATE THE MILLION YOUNG BELOW THE AGE OF THROUGH PROPER EDUCATION TO BUILD FUTURE GROWTH AND PROSPERITY4HE DESTINYOF)NDIAISINTHEIRHANDS 7HILE MAKING THE RECOMMENDATIONS WE HAVE BEEN GUIDED BY HOW KNOWLEDGE WILL IMPACT THE LIVES OF ORDINARY PEOPLE OF )NDIA 7E ARE CONSCIOUS THAT KNOWLEDGE IS ABOUT FARMERS HAVING ACCESS TO ACCURATE INFORMATIONABOUTWATER LAND WEATHERANDFERTILISERS STUDENTS HAVING ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATION AND JOBS SCIENTISTS HAVING ACCESS TO LABORATORIES INDUSTRY HAVING ACCESS TO SKILLED WORK FORCE AND PEOPLE FEELINGEMPOWEREDWITHGOODGOVERNANCEINAVIBRANT DEMOCRACY &INALLY )WANTTOTHANKALLTHEMEMBERSANDOURYOUNG ASSOCIATES FOR THEIR EXCEPTIONAL HARD WORK DEDICATION AND ONGOING SUPPORT ) WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE MEMBERS OF VARIOUS 7ORKING 'ROUPS AND WORKSHOPS THE0LANNING#OMMISSION THE0RIME-INISTERS/FlCE AND VARIOUS OTHER INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANISATIONS IN THEGOVERNMENTANDINDUSTRYFORTHETHEIRCONTRIBUTION ANDSUPPORT !S WE HAVE SAID IN THE PAST THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE .ATIONAL +NOWLEDGE #OMMISSION ARE REALLY A CALL TO ACTION )T IS TIME TO ACT AND IMPLEMENT THESE RECOMMENDATIONSNOW

3AM0ITRODA #HAIRMAN .ATIONAL+NOWLEDGE#OMMISSION

Contents

/6%26)%7

)NTRODUCTION

4ERMSOF2EFERENCEAND/RGANISATION

-EMBERS

-ETHODOLOGY

.+#3NAPSHOT

3UMMARYOF2ECOMMENDATIONS

2%#/--%.$!4)/.3

!##%33

2IGHTTO%DUCATION

,ANGUAGE

4RANSLATION

,IBRARIES

+NOWLEDGE.ETWORK

(EALTH)NFORMATION.ETWORK

0ORTALS

#/.#%043

3CHOOL%DUCATION

.OTEON3CHOOL%DUCATION

6OCATIONAL%DUCATIONAND4RAINING

(IGHER%DUCATION

.OTEON(IGHER%DUCATION

!PPOINTMENTOF(EADSOF)NSTITUTIONS

,EGAL%DUCATION

-EDICAL%DUCATION

-ANAGEMENT%DUCATION

%NGINEERING%DUCATION

/PENAND$ISTANCE%DUCATION

/PEN%DUCATIONAL2ESOURCES

-ORE4ALENTED3TUDENTSIN-ATHSAND3CIENCE

.OTEON-ORE4ALENTED3TUDENTSIN-ATHSAND3CIENCE

-ORE1UALITY0H$S

.OTEON-ORE1UALITY0H$S

#2%!4)/.

.ATIONAL3CIENCEAND3OCIAL3CIENCE&OUNDATION

,EGAL&RAMEWORKFOR0UBLIC&UNDED2ESEARCH

)NTELLECTUAL0ROPERTY2IGHTS

)NNOVATION

%NTREPRENEURSHIP

!00,)#!4)/.3

4RADITIONAL(EALTH3YSTEMS

!GRICULTURE

%NHANCING1UALITYOF,IFE

3%26)#%3 % GOVERNANCE

.+#)-0!#4

+NOWLEDGE)NITIATIVESINTHE%LEVENTH&IVE9EAR0LAN

&OLLOW5PON.+#2ECOMMENDATIONS

.+#3TATE,EVEL)NITIATIVES

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!..%852%))#/.35,4!4)/.3

Overview Report to the Nation

1

Introduction

+

NOWLEDGEHASBEENRECOGNISEDASTHEKEYDRIVING FORCE IN THE ST CENTURY AND )NDIAS ABILITY TO EMERGE AS A GLOBALLY COMPETITIVE PLAYER WILL SUBSTANTIALLYDEPENDONITSKNOWLEDGERESOURCES4OFOSTER GENERATIONALCHANGE ASYSTEMICTRANSFORMATIONISREQUIRED THATSEEKSTOADDRESSTHECONCERNSOFTHEENTIREKNOWLEDGE SPECTRUM 4HIS MASSIVE ENDEAVOUR INVOLVES CREATING A ROADMAPFORREFORMOFTHEKNOWLEDGESECTORTHATFOCUSES ON ENHANCING ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE FUNDAMENTALLY IMPROVINGEDUCATIONSYSTEMSANDTHEIRDELIVERY RE SHAPING THERESEARCH DEVELOPMENTANDINNOVATIONSTRUCTURES AND HARNESSINGKNOWLEDGEAPPLICATIONSFORGENERATINGBETTER SERVICES3UCHAKNOWLEDGEREVOLUTIONTHATSEEKSTOBUILD CAPACITYANDGENERATEQUALITYWILLENABLEOURCOUNTRYTO EMPOWERITSHUMANCAPITALnINCLUDINGTHEMILLION BELOWTHEAGEOF/URUNIQUEDEMOGRAPHICDIVIDEND OFFERS A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY AS WELL AS A DAUNTING CHALLENGE WHICH REQUIRES CREATIVE STRATEGIES FOR A NEW KNOWLEDGEORIENTEDPARADIGM +EEPING THIS SCENARIO IN MIND THE .ATIONAL +NOWLEDGE #OMMISSION .+# WAS CONSTITUTED IN *UNE BY THE 0RIME -INISTER $R -ANMOHAN 3INGH UNDER THE #HAIRMANSHIP OF -R 3AM 0ITRODA TO PREPARE A BLUEPRINT FOR REFORM OF OUR KNOWLEDGE RELATED INSTITUTIONS AND INFRASTRUCTURE WHICH WOULD ENABLE )NDIA TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OFTHEFUTURE4HE4ERMSOF2EFERENCEOF.+#ARE  "UILDEXCELLENCEINTHEEDUCATIONALSYSTEMTOMEET THEKNOWLEDGECHALLENGESOFTHESTCENTURY AND INCREASE )NDIAS COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE IN lELDS OF KNOWLEDGE  0ROMOTE CREATION OF KNOWLEDGE IN 3CIENCE 4ECHNOLOGYLABORATORIES



)MPROVE THE MANAGEMENT OF INSTITUTIONS ENGAGED IN)NTELLECTUAL0ROPERTY2IGHTS  0ROMOTEKNOWLEDGEAPPLICATIONSIN!GRICULTUREAND )NDUSTRY  0ROMOTE THE USE OF KNOWLEDGE CAPABILITIES IN MAKING GOVERNMENT AN EFFECTIVE TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE SERVICE PROVIDER TO THE CITIZEN AND PROMOTE WIDESPREAD SHARING OF KNOWLEDGE TO MAXIMISEPUBLICBENElT 4OTAKEITSMANDATEFORWARDTHE#OMMISSIONFOCUSED ON lVE KEY ASPECTS OF KNOWLEDGE ENHANCING ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE REINVIGORATING INSTITUTIONS WHERE KNOWLEDGECONCEPTSAREIMPARTED CREATINGAWORLDCLASS ENVIRONMENT FOR CREATION OF KNOWLEDGE PROMOTING APPLICATIONS OF KNOWLEDGE FOR SUSTAINED AND INCLUSIVE GROWTH AND USING KNOWLEDGE APPLICATIONS IN EFlCIENT DELIVERY OF PUBLIC SERVICES 3PECIlC FOCUS AREAS WERE IDENTIlED TO REALISE EACH OF THESE OBJECTIVES .+# CARRIEDOUTWIDESTAKEHOLDERCONSULTATIONS INPARTICULAR ENGAGING NON GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS AND EXPERTS IN THE FORM OF 7ORKING 'ROUPS WHILE FORMULATING RECOMMENDATIONS )N THREE YEARS .+# HAS SUBMITTED RECOMMENDATIONS ON FOCUS AREAS IN THE FORM OF LETTERS TO THE 0RIME -INISTER4HESEHAVEBEENWIDELYDISSEMINATEDINTHREE COMPILATIONS @2EPORT TO THE .ATION @2EPORT TOTHE.ATIONASWELLAS@4OWARDSA+NOWLEDGE 3OCIETY WHICH IS A COMPILATION OF THE EDUCATION RECOMMENDATIONS4HERECOMMENDATIONS ALSOACCESSIBLE THROUGH THE .+# WEBSITE HAVE BEEN WIDELY DEBATED .+# HAS ALSO REACHED OUT TO 3TATE 'OVERNMENTS FOR DEVELOPINGKNOWLEDGEINITIATIVESATTHESTATELEVEL

Report to the Nation

3

Terms of Reference and Organisation 4HE .ATIONAL +NOWLEDGE #OMMISSION .+# WAS CONSTITUTEDONTH*UNEASAHIGHLEVELADVISORY BODY TO THE 0RIME -INISTER OF )NDIA 4HE VISION FOR .+#WASARTICULATEDBY$R-ANMOHAN3INGH 0RIME -INISTEROF)NDIA INTHEFOLLOWINGWORDS h4HETIMEHASCOMETOCREATEASECONDWAVEOFINSTITUTION BUILDING AND OF EXCELLENCE IN THE lELDS OF EDUCATION RESEARCHANDCAPABILITYBUILDINGv 4HE4ERMSOF2EFERENCEOF.+#ARE "UILDEXCELLENCEINTHEEDUCATIONALSYSTEMTOMEET THEKNOWLEDGECHALLENGESOFTHESTCENTURY AND INCREASE )NDIAS COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE IN lELDS OF KNOWLEDGE  0ROMOTE CREATION OF KNOWLEDGE IN 3CIENCE 4ECHNOLOGYLABORATORIES  )MPROVE THE MANAGEMENT OF INSTITUTIONS ENGAGED IN)NTELLECTUAL0ROPERTY2IGHTS



0ROMOTEKNOWLEDGEAPPLICATIONSIN!GRICULTUREAND )NDUSTRY  0ROMOTE THE USE OF KNOWLEDGE CAPABILITIES IN MAKING GOVERNMENT AN EFFECTIVE TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE SERVICE PROVIDER TO THE CITIZEN AND PROMOTE WIDESPREAD SHARING OF KNOWLEDGE TO MAXIMISEPUBLICBENElT .ATIONAL +NOWLEDGE #OMMISSION HAD A DESIGNATED TIME FRAME OF THREE YEARS FROM ND /CTOBER TO ND /CTOBER WHICH WAS EXTENDED TO ST-ARCH



4HElNAL2EPORTOF.+#CONTAINSTHEFULLTEXTOFALL THE RECOMMENDATIONS SUBMITTED BY THE #OMMISSION INTHELASTTHREEYEARS)TALSOINCLUDESFOLLOWUPONTHE RECOMMENDATIONS BASELINE lGURES ON THE KEY FOCUS AREASASWELLASDETAILSOF.+#CONSULTATIONS

Organisation .+#CONSISTSOFEIGHT-EMBERS INCLUDINGTHE#HAIRMAN!LL-EMBERSPERFORMTHEIRDUTIES ONAPART TIMEBASISANDDONOTCLAIMANYREMUNERATION 4HE-EMBERSAREASSISTEDINTHEIRDUTIESBYASMALL4ECHNICAL3UPPORT3TAFF4HE#OMMISSION ISALSOFREETOCO OPTEXPERTSTOASSISTINTHEMANAGEMENTOFITSTASKS 4HE 0LANNING #OMMISSION IS THE NODAL AGENCY FOR THE .+# FOR PLANNING AND BUDGETING PURPOSESASWELLASFORHANDLING0ARLIAMENTSUBMISSIONSORRESPONSES

Prime Minister

Planning Commission

4

National Knowledge Commission

NKC Chairman Members Staff

Ministers/ States

Members

-R3AM0ITRODA#HAIRMAN -R 0ITRODA HAS SPENT FOUR DECADES IN THE WORLD OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS HAVINGPIONEEREDITSUSEASAMEANS TO EXPEDITE THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPMENT AND NATION BUILDING AND IN BRIDGING THE GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS DIVIDE (IS PROFESSIONAL CAREER HAS BEEN DIVIDED BETWEEN THE THREE CONTINENTS OF .ORTH !MERICA !SIA AND %UROPE AND HE HAS RECEIVED INTERNATIONAL ACCLAIM FOR USING TELECOMMUNICATIONS AS A TOOL FOR NATIONALDEVELOPMENT

(EWASAMEMBEROFTHE3CIENCE!DVISORY#OUNCILTO THE 0RIME -INISTER OF )NDIA AND THE 5+ !DVISORY "OARD OF 2ESEARCH #OUNCILS ! RECIPIENT OF THE 0ADMA 6IBHUSHAN AND AN (ONORARY 0ROFESSOR AT THE #HINESE !CADEMY OF 3CIENCE $R'ANGULYHASAUTHOREDTHREEBOOKSn)NDUSTRYAND ,IBERALISATION 3TRATEGIC-ANUFACTURINGFOR#OMPETITIVE !DVANTAGE AND "USINESS $RIVEN 2$ -ANAGING +NOWLEDGETO#REATE7EALTH

$R0"ALARAM

!S !DVISER TO 0RIME -INISTER 2AJIV 'ANDHI -R0ITRODAHELPEDTOBUILD)NDIASTELECOMMUNICATIONS ANDINFORMATIONTECHNOLOGYINFRASTRUCTURE(EWASTHE FOUNDING #HAIRMAN OF THE 4ELECOM #OMMISSION IN )NDIAANDHEADEDTHE.ATIONAL4ECHNOLOGY-ISSIONSON $RINKING7ATER ,ITERACY )MMUNISATION /ILSEEDSAND $AIRY)NTHESEROLES HEMADEANOTABLECONTRIBUTIONTO )NDIASDEVELOPMENTALPLANNINGANDPOLICYAPPROACHES -R0ITRODAHASOWNEDANDRUNSEVERALCOMPANIESIN THE5NITED3TATESAND%UROPEASANINVENTORHEOWNS MORETHANPATENTSWORLDWIDE(EISALSOARECIPIENT OFTHE0ADMA"HUSHAN

0ROFESSOR 0 "ALARAM IS A 0ROFESSOR OF -OLECULAR "IOPHYSICS AND CURRENTLY THE $IRECTOR OF THE )NDIAN )NSTITUTE OF 3CIENCE "ANGALORE 0RIOR TO THIS HE WAS ,ECTURER !SSISTANT 0ROFESSOR !SSOCIATE 0ROFESSOR #HAIRMAN -OLECULAR "IOPHYSICS5NIT AND#HAIRMAN $IVISION OF "IOLOGICAL 3CIENCES AT THE )NSTITUTE (IS MAIN RESEARCH INTERESTS ARE IN BIO ORGANIC CHEMISTRY ANDMOLECULARBIOPHYSICS(EISTHEAUTHOROFOVER RESEARCHPAPERS(ERECEIVEDHIS-3CFROM))4+ANPUR AND0H$IN#HEMISTRYFROM#ARNEGIE -ELLON 0ITTSBURGH 53!

$R!SHOK'ANGULY

0ROFESSOR "ALARAM IS A &ELLOW OF THE )NDIAN !CADEMY OF 3CIENCES )NDIAN .ATIONAL 3CIENCE !CADEMY AND THE 4HIRD 7ORLD !CADEMY OF 3CIENCES 4RIESTE )TALY 0ROFESSOR "ALARAM HAS RECEIVED MANY AWARDS AND HONOURSINRECOGNITIONOFHISWORK INCLUDINGTHE3HANTI 3WARUP"HATNAGAR0RIZE #3)2 !LUMNI!WARD FOR%XCELLENCEIN2ESEARCH ))3C 47!3!WARD IN #HEMISTRY '$ "IRLA !WARD FOR 3CIENTIlC 2ESEARCH AND THE 0ADMA 3HRI AWARDED BY THE 'OVERNMENTOF)NDIA

$R 'ANGULY IS THE #HAIRMAN OF &IRSTSOURCE ,TD AND !"00VT,TD ANDA$IRECTORONTHE#ENTRAL"OARDOF THE 2ESERVE "ANK OF )NDIA SINCE .OVEMBER (E HEADSHISOWNCONSULTINGCOMPANY 4ECHNOLOGY.ETWORK )NDIA0VT,TD(EALSOCURRENTLYSERVESASANON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOROF-AHINDRA-AHINDRA 7IPRO,TD4ATA!)' ,IFE)NSURANCE#O,TDAND)#)#)+NOWLEDGE0ARK (EISAMEMBEROFTHE0RIME-INISTERS#OUNCILON4RADE AND )NDUSTRY AS WELL AS THE )NVESTMENT #OMMISSION $R'ANGULYSPROFESSIONALCAREERSPANNEDYEARSWITH 5NILEVER0LC.6(EWASTHE#HAIRMANOF(INDUSTAN ,EVER ,TD FROM TO AND A MEMBER OF THE 5NILEVER"OARDFROMTO WITHRESPONSIBILITY FORWORLDWIDERESEARCHANDTECHNOLOGY

0ROFESSOR"ALARAMCURRENTLYSERVESONMANYCOMMITTEES OFTHE'OVERNMENTOF)NDIA ANDISA-EMBER 3CIENCE !DVISORY #OMMITTEE TO THE 5NION #ABINET "OARD OF 2ESEARCH IN .UCLEAR 3CIENCE OF $!% !DVISORY "OARD OF#3)2AND3CIENTIlC!DVISORY#OUNCILTOTHE0RIME -INISTER(EHASBEENTHE%DITOROFh#URRENT3CIENCEv FOROVERTENYEARS Report to the Nation

5

$R*AYATI'HOSH $R'HOSHISA0ROFESSOROF%CONOMICSAND#HAIRPERSON OF THE #ENTRE FOR %CONOMIC 3TUDIES AND 0LANNING 3CHOOLOF3OCIAL3CIENCES *AWAHARLAL.EHRU5NIVERSITY AND IS AN ALUMNUS OF $ELHI 5NIVERSITY *AWAHARLAL .EHRU5NIVERSITYANDTHE5NIVERSITYOF#AMBRIDGE(ER RESEARCH INTERESTS INCLUDE GLOBALISATION INTERNATIONAL TRADEANDlNANCE EMPLOYMENTPATTERNSINDEVELOPING COUNTRIES MACROECONOMICPOLICY ANDISSUESRELATEDTO GENDERANDDEVELOPMENT (ER PUBLISHED WORKS INCLUDE #RISIS AS A #ONQUEST ,EARNING FROM %AST !SIA 4HE -ARKET THAT &AILED ! $ECADE OF .EOLIBERAL %CONOMIC 2EFORMS IN )NDIA AND 7ORKAND7ELL BEINGINTHE!GEOF&INANCECO AUTHORED WITH0ROF#0#HANDRASHEKHAR 3HEWASTHEPRINCIPAL AUTHOR OF THE 7EST "ENGAL (UMAN $EVELOPMENT 2EPORT WHICH RECEIVED THE 5.$0 !WARD FOR EXCELLENCEINANALYSIS ANDNUMEROUSACADEMICPAPERS 3HE IS A REGULAR COLUMNIST FOR LEADING JOURNALS AND PERIODICALS$R'HOSHISINVOLVEDINMANAGINGSEVERAL PUBLICINFORMATIONWEBSITES AFOUNDEROFTHE%CONOMIC 2ESEARCH &OUNDATION AND IS THE %XECUTIVE 3ECRETARY OF )NTERNATIONAL $EVELOPMENT %CONOMICS !SSOCIATES )$%!3 AN INTERNATIONAL NETWORK OF HETERODOX DEVELOPMENT ECONOMISTS 3HE CHAIRED THE !NDHRA 0RADESH #OMMISSION ON &ARMERS 7ELFARE IN AND CONTINUES TO BE CLOSELY INVOLVED IN WORKING WITH PROGRESSIVEORGANISATIONSANDSOCIALMOVEMENTS

$R$EEPAK.AYYAR $R .AYYAR IS 0ROFESSOR OF %CONOMICS AT *AWAHARLAL .EHRU5NIVERSITY .EW$ELHI%ARLIER HEHASTAUGHTAT THE5NIVERSITYOF/XFORD THE5NIVERSITYOF3USSEX AND THE)NDIAN)NSTITUTEOF-ANAGEMENT #ALCUTTA0ROFESSOR .AYYARWAS6ICE#HANCELLOROFTHE5NIVERSITYOF$ELHI FROMTO(EALSOSERVEDAS#HIEF%CONOMIC !DVISERTOTHE'OVERNMENTOF)NDIAAND3ECRETARYINTHE -INISTRYOF&INANCE

6

INCLUDE )NDIAS %XPORTS AND %XPORT 0OLICIES -IGRATION 2EMITTANCES AND #APITAL &LOWS 4HE )NTELLIGENT 0ERSONS 'UIDETO,IBERALIZATION'OVERNING'LOBALIZATION)SSUES AND)NSTITUTIONS3TABILITYWITH'ROWTH-ACROECONOMICS ,IBERALIZATIONAND$EVELOPMENT4RADEAND'LOBALIZATION AND,IBERALIZATIONAND$EVELOPMENT 0ROFESSOR.AYYARIS#HAIRMANOFTHE"OARDOF'OVERNORS OF THE 5.5 7ORLD )NSTITUTE FOR $EVELOPMENT %CONOMICS2ESEARCH (ELSINKIANDIS6ICE0RESIDENTOF THE)NTERNATIONAL!SSOCIATIONOF5NIVERSITIES 0ARIS(E HASALSOSERVEDASA-EMBEROFTHE"OARDOF$IRECTORS OF THE 3OCIAL 3CIENCE 2ESEARCH #OUNCIL IN THE 5NITED 3TATES AND#HAIRMANOFTHE!DVISORY#OUNCILFORTHE $EPARTMENT OF )NTERNATIONAL $EVELOPMENT 1UEEN %LIZABETH (OUSE 5NIVERSITY OF /XFORD (E WAS A -EMBER OF THE 7ORLD #OMMISSION ON THE 3OCIAL $IMENSIONOF'LOBALIZATION

-R.ANDAN.ILEKANI /NE OF THE FOUNDERS OF )NFOSYS 4ECHNOLOGIES ,TD -R .ILEKANI IS THE #O #HAIRMAN OF THE "OARD OF $IRECTORS(EHASFORMERLYHELDTHEPOSTOF-ANAGING $IRECTOR 0RESIDENT AND #HIEF /PERATING /FlCER AT )NFOSYS -R .ILEKANI CO FOUNDED )NDIAS .ATIONAL !SSOCIATION OF 3OFTWARE AND 3ERVICE #OMPANIES .!33#/- (E IS 6ICE #HAIRMAN OF 4HE #ONFERENCE"OARD )NC ANINTERNATIONALRESEARCHAND BUSINESS MEMBERSHIP ORGANISATION AND -EMBER OF THE ,ONDON "USINESS 3CHOOLS !SIA 0ACIlC 2EGIONAL !DVISORY "OARD (E HAS SERVED AS #HAIRMAN OF THE 'OVERNMENT OF )NDIAS )4 4ASK &ORCE FOR THE POWER SECTOR (E WAS A MEMBER OF THE INSIDER TRADING SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE 3ECURITIES AND %XCHANGE "OARD OF )NDIA 3%") AND OF THE 2ESERVE "ANK OF )NDIAS !DVISORY 'ROUP ON CORPORATE GOVERNANCE (E IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE REVIEW COMMITTEE OF THE *AWAHARLAL .EHRU.ATIONAL5RBAN2ENEWAL-ISSIONANDSERVESON THE"OARDOF2EUTERSASANON EXECUTIVEMEMBER

(EWASEDUCATEDAT3T3TEPHENS#OLLEGE 5NIVERSITYOF $ELHI4HEREAFTER ASA2HODES3CHOLAR HEWENTONTO STUDYAT"ALLIOL#OLLEGE 5NIVERSITYOF/XFORD WHEREHE OBTAINEDA"0HILANDA$0HILIN%CONOMICS(EHAS RECEIVED THE6+26 2AO !WARD FOR HIS CONTRIBUTION TORESEARCHIN%CONOMICS(EISAN(ONORARY&ELLOWOF "ALLIOL#OLLEGE /XFORD

(IS MANY HONOURS INCLUDE &ORTUNE MAGAZINES @!SIAS "USINESSMENOFTHE9EARAWARDALONGWITH)NFOSYS #HAIRMAN-R.2.ARAYANA-URTHY THE#ORPORATE #ITIZEN OF THE 9EAR !WARD AT THE !SIA "USINESS ,EADER !WARDS AND0ADMA"HUSHAN )NAND HEWASNAMEDAMONGTHE@7ORLDS-OST2ESPECTED "USINESS,EADERSINAGLOBALSURVEYBY&INANCIAL4IMESAND 0RICEWATERHOUSE#OOPERS

(E HAS PUBLISHED MORE THAN PAPERS IN ACADEMIC JOURNALS AND IS THE AUTHOR OF BOOKS WHICH

-R.ILEKANIBECAMEONEOFTHEYOUNGESTENTREPRENEURS TO JOIN GLOBAL LEADERS ON THE PRESTIGIOUS 7ORLD


%CONOMIC &ORUM 7%& &OUNDATION "OARD IN *ANUARY

$R3UJATHA2AMDORAI $R 3UJATHA 2AMDORAI IS A 0ROFESSOR AT THE 3CHOOL OF -ATHEMATICS 4ATA )NSTITUTE OF &UNDAMENTAL 2ESEARCH 4)&2 3HE HAS HELD VISITING POSITIONS IN SEVERAL UNIVERSITIES AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS AROUND THE WORLD #URRENTLY SHE IS A VISITING 0ROFESSOR AT THE #HENNAI -ATHEMATICAL)NSTITUTE $R 2AMDORAI IS A RECIPIENT OF THE 3HANTI 3WARUP "HATNAGAR !WARD AND THE )#40 3RINIVASA 2AMANUJAN -EDALAWARDEDBYTHE.ORWEGIAN!CADEMYOF3CIENCE AND,ETTERSFORHERRESEARCHINALGEBRAICNUMBERTHEORY 3HEHASBEENINVOLVEDWITHISSUESRELATEDTOEDUCATION AND RESEARCH ESPECIALLY RESEARCH IN THE PURE SCIENCES IN )NDIA 3HE HAS AUTHORED SEVERAL RESEARCH PAPERS IN INTERNATIONALLY REPUTED JOURNALS AND HAS COLLABORATED WIDELYINHERRESEARCHWORK3HEISTHECO AUTHORWITH 0ROF*#OATES OF#YCLOTOMIC&IELDSAND:ETA6ALUES

$R!MITABH-ATTOO 0ROFESSOR-ATTOOISA$OCTORATEIN)NTERNATIONAL2ELATIONS FROMTHE5NIVERSITYOF/XFORD 5NITED+INGDOM(EIS THEFORMER6ICE#HANCELLOROFTHE5NIVERSITYOF*AMMU (E WAS ALSO 0ROFESSOR OF )NTERNATIONAL 2ELATIONS AT *AWAHARLAL.EHRU5NIVERSITYANDCONCURRENTLY$IRECTOR OFTHE#ORE'ROUPFORTHE3TUDYOF.ATIONAL3ECURITY 0ROFESSOR -ATTOO IS ON THE 'OVERNING #OUNCIL OF THE 0UGWASH#ONFERENCEON3CIENCEAND7ORLD!FFAIRS ON THE"OARDOFTHE)NDIA !FGHANISTAN&OUNDATIONANDTHE 0RESIDENTOFTHE*AMMUAND+ASHMIRCHAPTEROF30)# -!#!9 0ROFESSOR-ATTOOHASBEENONTHE'OVERNING#OUNCILOF THE.UCLEAR3CIENCE#ENTREAMEMBEROFTHE3TANDING #OMMITTEEOFTHE!SSOCIATIONOF)NDIAN5NIVERSITIESAND ONTHE%XECUTIVE#OUNCILOFSEVERAL5NIVERSITIES(EHAS BEEN THE RECIPIENT OF SEVERAL NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL AWARDSANDWAS TILLRECENTLY AMEMBEROF)NDIAS.ATIONAL 3ECURITY #OUNCILS !DVISORY "OARD )N HE WAS CONFERREDTHE0ADMA3HRIBYTHE'OVERNMENTOF)NDIA


7

Methodology  )DENTIlCATIONOFKEYFOCUSAREAS  )DENTIlCATIONOFDIVERSESTAKEHOLDERSANDUNDERSTANDINGMAJORISSUES 

#ONSTITUTIONOF7ORKING'ROUPSANDORGANISINGOFWORKSHOPSSEMINARS EXTENSIVECONSULTATIONSWITHCONCERNED EXPERTSANDSTAKEHOLDERS



#ONSULTATIONWITHADMINISTRATIVE-INISTRIESTHE0LANNING#OMMISSION



$ISCUSSIONIN.+#TOlNALISERECOMMENDATIONSINTHEFORMOFLETTERTOTHE0-FROMTHE#HAIRMAN



,ETTERTO0-CONTAININGKEYRECOMMENDATIONS lRSTSTEPS lNANCIALIMPLICATIONSETCSUPPORTEDBYTHERELEVANT EXPLANATORYDOCUMENTSBY.+#



$ISSEMINATIONOFRECOMMENDATIONSTO3TATE'OVERNMENTS CIVILSOCIETYANDOTHERSTAKEHOLDERS



)NITIATINGTHEIMPLEMENTATIONOFTHERECOMMENDATIONSUNDERTHEAEGISOFTHE0RIME-INISTERS/FlCE



#OORDINATINGANDFOLLOWINGUPIMPLEMENTATIONOFPROPOSALS

Working Groups ,IBRARIES ,ANGUAGE +NOWLEDGE !PPLICATIONS IN !GRICULTURE (EALTH )NFORMATION .ETWORK (IGHER %DUCATION -EDICAL %DUCATION ,EGAL %DUCATION -ANAGEMENT %DUCATION %NGINEERING %DUCATION 4RADITIONAL (EALTH 3YSTEMS -ORE 3TUDENTS IN -ATHS AND 3CIENCE /PEN AND $ISTANCE %DUCATION 5SING +NOWLEDGEFOR%NHANCING1UALITYOF,IFE

Surveys )NNOVATION (EALTH )NFORMATION .ETWORK 4RADITIONAL (EALTH 3YSTEMS %NTREPRENEURSHIP -ORE1UALITY0H$S

8


Workshops/Seminars ,ITERACY 4RANSLATION .ETWORKS 3CHOOL %DUCATION -USLIM %DUCATION 6OCATIONAL %DUCATION /PEN AND $ISTANCE %DUCATION )NTELLECTUAL 0ROPERTY 2IGHTS 3CIENCE AND 4ECHNOLOGY !GRICULTURE /PEN %DUCATION 2ESOURCES 0ORTALS 1UALITYOF,IFE -ORE1UALITY0H$S

Methodology

4

HE METHODOLOGY FOLLOWED BY THE .ATIONAL +NOWLEDGE#OMMISSIONINVOLVESIDENTIlCATION OFFOCUSAREASINTHElRSTINSTANCE4HISSELECTION ARISES FROM WIDE CONSULTATION WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE GOVERNMENT !FTER THE IDENTIlCATION OF FOCUS AREAS 7ORKING 'ROUPS OF SPECIALISTS AND PRACTITIONERS ARE CONSTITUTED 7ORKING 'ROUPS TYPICALLY CONSIST OF lVE TOTENEXPERTS ANDMEETPERIODICALLYOVERTHREETOFOUR MONTHS IN ORDER TO PREPARE A REPORT 7ORKING 'ROUP REPORTSAREONEOFTHEINPUTSUSEDBYTHE.+#DURING DELIBERATIONSTOFRAMEITSRECOMMENDATIONS)NADDITION WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS ARE HELD PERIODICALLY ALONG WITH INFORMAL CONSULTATIONS WITH CONCERNED EXPERTS ANDSTAKEHOLDERSTOGETASBROAD BASEDAPOINTOFVIEW ASPOSSIBLE &OLLOWINGTHIS .+#-EMBERSDISCUSSTHEISSUESRAISED DURING #ONSULTATIONS AND IN THE 7ORKING 'ROUP 2EPORTS TO lNALISE RECOMMENDATIONS !FTER SEVERAL ROUNDS OF DELIBERATIONS A LETTER IS SENT TO THE 0RIME -INISTERCONTAININGKEYRECOMMENDATIONS7IDESPREAD DISSEMINATION OF .+# RECOMMENDATIONS TO 3TATE 'OVERNMENTS CIVILSOCIETYANDOTHERSTAKEHOLDERSTAKES PLACE AFTER THE RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED BYTHE0RIME-INISTERANDTHERELEVANTMINISTRIES4HE

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS UNDER THE AEGIS OF THE 0RIME -INISTERS /FlCE IS THEN INITIATED ALONG WITH COORDINATION AND FOLLOW UP WITH VARIOUS IMPLEMENTINGAGENCIES+EYSTEPSINCLUDE  )DENTIlCATIONOFKEYFOCUSAREAS  )DENTIlCATION OF DIVERSE STAKEHOLDERS AND UNDERSTANDINGMAJORISSUESINTHEAREA  #ONSTITUTION OF 7ORKING 'ROUPS AND ORGANISING OF WORKSHOPSSEMINARS EXTENSIVE FORMAL AND INFORMALCONSULTATIONSWITHCONCERNEDEXPERTSAND STAKEHOLDERS  #ONSULTATIONWITHADMINISTRATIVE-INISTRIESTHE 0LANNING#OMMISSION  $ISCUSSIONIN.+#TOlNALISERECOMMENDATIONSIN THEFORMOFLETTERTOTHE0-FROMTHE#HAIRMAN  ,ETTER TO 0- CONTAINING KEY RECOMMENDATIONS lRSTSTEPS lNANCIALIMPLICATIONSETCSUPPORTEDBY THERELEVANTEXPLANATORYDOCUMENTSBY.+#  $ISSEMINATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS TO 3TATE 'OVERNMENTS CIVILSOCIETYANDOTHERSTAKEHOLDERS  )NITIATING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS UNDER THE AEGIS OF THE 0RIME -INISTERS/FlCE  #OORDINATINGANDFOLLOWINGUPIMPLEMENTATIONOF PROPOSALS


9

NKC Snapshot 2ECOMMENDATIONSSUBMITTEDIN         

,IBRARIES 4RANSLATION ,ANGUAGE .ATIONAL+NOWLEDGE.ETWORK 2IGHTTO%DUCATION 6OCATIONAL%DUCATION4RAINING (IGHER%DUCATION .ATIONAL3CIENCEAND3OCIAL3CIENCE&OUNDATION % GOVERNANCE

2ECOMMENDATIONSSUBMITTEDIN           

(EALTH)NFORMATION.ETWORK 0ORTALS /PEN%DUCATIONAL2ESOURCES ,EGAL%DUCATION -EDICAL%DUCATION -ANAGEMENT%DUCATION /PENAND$ISTANCE%DUCATION )NTELLECTUAL0ROPERTY2IGHTS )NNOVATION 4RADITIONAL(EALTH3YSTEMS ,EGAL&RAMEWORKFOR0UBLIC&UNDED2ESEARCH

2ECOMMENDATIONSSUBMITTEDIN 

3CHOOL%DUCATION %NGINEERING%DUCATION  -ORE4ALENTED3TUDENTSIN-ATHSAND3CIENCE  -ORE1UALITY0H$S  %NTREPRENEURSHIP 

2ECOMMENDATIONSSUBMITTEDIN  

10

+NOWLEDGE!PPLICATIONSIN!GRICULTURE +NOWLEDGE!PPLICATIONSFOR%NHANCING 1UALITYOF,IFE


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11

Summary of Recommendations !##%33

A FOCUS ON PROMOTING TRANSLATION ACTIVITIES ACROSS THECOUNTRY4HE-ISSIONWOULDUNDERTAKEAHOST OF ACTIVITIES SUCH AS SETTING UP A STOREHOUSE OF INFORMATIONONALLASPECTSOFTRANSLATION PROVIDING QUALITY TRAINING AND EDUCATION FOR TRANSLATORS AND CREATING AND MAINTAINING VARIOUS TOOLS FOR TRANSLATION

0

ROVIDING ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE IS THE MOST FUNDAMENTALWAYOFINCREASINGTHEOPPORTUNITIES OFINDIVIDUALSANDGROUPS4HEREFORE ITISESSENTIAL TOREVITALISEANDEXPANDTHEREACHOFKNOWLEDGEINSOCIETY )NTHISCONTEXT.+#HASSUBMITTEDRECOMMENDATIONS ONAREASSUCHAS2IGHTTO%DUCATION LIBRARIES LANGUAGE TRANSLATION PORTALSANDKNOWLEDGENETWORKS 





2IGHT TO %DUCATION 4HE TH #ONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ACT MADE THE 2IGHT TO %DUCATION A &UNDAMENTAL 2IGHT (OWEVER TO ENHANCE UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATION FOR )NDIAN CHILDREN .+# RECOMMENDS THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR A CENTRAL LEGISLATION AFlRMING THE 2IGHT TO %DUCATION4HISMUSTENTAILAlNANCIALPROVISION REQUIRING THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE THE BULK OF THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS NEEDED FOR REALISING THE 2IGHT TO %DUCATION 4HE LEGISLATION SHOULD ALSO LAY DOWN MINIMUM STANDARDS OF QUALITY IN SCHOOL EDUCATION AND FOR IT TO BE EFFECTIVE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE 'OVERNMENT AT DIFFERENT LEVELS MUSTBERECOGNISEDANDMADEJUSTICIABLE ,ANGUAGE)NTHECURRENTSCENARIOANUNDERSTANDING ANDCOMMANDOVERTHE%NGLISHLANGUAGEISAMOST IMPORTANTDETERMINANTOFACCESSTOHIGHEREDUCATION EMPLOYMENTPOSSIBILITIESANDSOCIALOPPORTUNITIES .+# THEREFORE RECOMMENDS THAT THE TEACHING OF %NGLISHASALANGUAGESHOULDBEINTRODUCED ALONG WITHTHElRSTLANGUAGEEITHERMOTHERTONGUEORTHE REGIONALLANGUAGE OFTHECHILD STARTINGFROM#LASS ) &URTHER .+# HAS ALSO FOCUSED ON THE NEED TO REFORMTHEPEDAGOGYOF%NGLISHLANGUAGETEACHING AND THE USE OF ALL AVAILABLE MEDIA TO SUPPLEMENT TRADITIONALTEACHINGMETHODS 4RANSLATION)NAMULTILINGUALCOUNTRY TRANSLATION SHOULD PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN MAKING KNOWLEDGE AVAILABLE TO DIFFERENT LINGUISTIC GROUPS .+# HAS RECOMMENDEDDEVELOPINGTRANSLATIONASANINDUSTRY ANDSETTINGUPA.ATIONAL4RANSLATION-ISSIONWITH



,IBRARIES4OREVAMPTHE,IBRARYAND)NFORMATION 3ERVICES ,)3 SECTOR .+# HAS RECOMMENDED A COMPREHENSIVE CENSUS OF LIBRARIES MODERNISING MANAGEMENT OF LIBRARIES TO ENSURE GREATER COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION INCLUDING MODELS FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS IN ,)3 DEVELOPMENT AND LEVERAGING )#4 FOR VARIOUS APPLICATIONS &OR SUSTAINED ATTENTION TO THE SECTOR .+# HAS RECOMMENDED THE SETTING UP OF AN INDEPENDENT .ATIONAL #OMMISSION ON ,IBRARIES WHICH WOULD STREAMLINEALLDEVELOPMENTINITIATIVESINTHESECTOR



.ATIONAL+NOWLEDGE.ETWORK4HEKEYTOSUCCESSFUL RESEARCH TODAY DEMANDS LIVE CONSULTATIONS DATA ANDRESOURCESHARING4OWARDSTHISEND .+#HAS RECOMMENDED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A HIGH END .ATIONAL +NOWLEDGE .ETWORK CONNECTING ALL OUR KNOWLEDGE INSTITUTIONS IN VARIOUS lELDS AND AT VARIOUSLOCATIONSTHROUGHOUTTHECOUNTRY THROUGH AN ELECTRONIC DIGITAL BROADBAND NETWORK WITH GIGABITCAPACITY



0ORTALS .+# HAS ALSO PROPOSED THE CREATION OF NATIONAL WEB BASED PORTALS ON CERTAIN KEY SECTORS SUCH AS 7ATER %NERGY %NVIRONMENT 4EACHERS "IODIVERSITY (EALTH !GRICULTURE %MPLOYMENT #ITIZENS 2IGHTS ETC4HE PORTALS WOULD SERVE AS A SINGLEWINDOWFORINFORMATIONONTHEGIVENSECTOR FOR ALL STAKEHOLDERS AND WOULD BE MANAGED BY A CONSORTIUM CONSISTING OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM A WIDE RANGE OF STAKEHOLDERS TO ENSURE THAT THEY HAVEANATIONALCHARACTER.+#HASFACILITATEDTHE SETTING UP OF lVE PORTALS ON 7ATER CHAMPIONED BY!RGHYAM4RUSTON%NERGY CHAMPIONEDBY4HE %NERGY2ESEARCH)NSTITUTE4%2) ON%NVIRONMENT Report to the Nation

13

CHAMPIONED BY THE #ENTRE FOR 3CIENCE AND %NVIRONMENT#3% ON4EACHERS CHAMPIONEDBY THE!ZIM0REMJI&OUNDATIONANDON"IODIVERSITY CHAMPIONED BY THE !SHOKA4RUST FOR 2ESEARCH IN %COLOGYANDTHE%NVIRONMENT!42%% 

(EALTH )NFORMATION .ETWORK 4HE DEVELOPMENTS IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY HAVE CREATED NEW OPPORTUNITIESFOR ENHANCING THE EFlCIENCYOFHEALTHCAREDELIVERY.+#BELIEVESTHAT THECOUNTRYNEEDSTODEVELOPAWEB BASEDNETWORK CONNECTING ALL HEALTH CARE ESTABLISHMENTS IN BOTH PRIVATEANDPUBLICSECTORS7HENFULLYFUNCTIONAL ALL HEALTHCARETRANSACTIONSWILLBERECORDEDELECTRONICALLY ANDTHISDATAWILLBEAVAILABLEINTHEHEALTHDATAVAULT TO AUTHORISED USERS WHEN THEY NEED IT AND WHERE THEYNEEDIT&ORTHISPURPOSEACOMMON%LECTRONIC (EALTH2ECORD%(2 BASEDONOPENSOURCESOLUTIONS NEEDSTOBECREATEDANDDISSEMINATEDWIDELY

#/.#%043 +NOWLEDGE CONCEPTS ARE ORGANISED AND DISSEMINATED THROUGH THE EDUCATION SYSTEM %DUCATION IS THE KEY ENABLER FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INDIVIDUAL AND FOR ALTERING THE SOCIO ECONOMIC LANDSCAPE OF A COUNTRY 4HEREFORE .+#SWORKHASFOCUSEDONREVAMPINGTHE EDUCATIONSECTOR.+#SCONCERNWITHMANYASPECTSOF THE )NDIAN EDUCATION SYSTEM COVERS SCHOOL EDUCATION HIGHEREDUCATION PROFESSIONALEDUCATION ANDVOCATIONAL EDUCATION 

14

3CHOOL %DUCATION -AKING ACCESS TO GOOD SCHOOL EDUCATIONAREALITYWILLREQUIREMAJOREXPANSIONATTHE ELEMENTARYANDSECONDARYLEVELSANDIMPROVEMENT IN THE QUALITY OF SCHOOLS .+# HAS THEREFORE PROPOSED GENERATIONAL CHANGES IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WHICH WOULD ENCOURAGE DECENTRALISATION LOCAL AUTONOMY IN MANAGEMENT OF SCHOOLS AND mEXIBILITY IN DISBURSAL OF FUNDS 4O IMPROVE QUALITYANDGENERATEACCOUNTABILITY .+#HASALSO RECOMMENDED IMPROVING SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE AND REVAMPING SCHOOL INSPECTION WITH A GREATER ROLE FOR LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS AND GREATER TRANSPARENCY IN THESYSTEM&URTHER WHEREVERFEASIBLE )NFORMATION AND #OMMUNICATION4ECHNOLOGY SHOULD BE MADE MORE ACCESSIBLE TO TEACHERS STUDENTS AND THE ADMINISTRATION.+#HASALSOEMPHASISEDTHENEED FOR REFORMS IN THE CURRICULUM AND EXAMINATION SYSTEMS BY MOVING AWAY FROM ROTE LEARNING TO A CRITICAL UNDERSTANDING OF CONCEPTS AND lNALLY IMPROVEMENTINFACULTY




6OCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING 6%4 4O IMPROVEVOCATIONALEDUCATIONANDTRAINING6%4 .+#S RECOMMENDATIONS FOCUS ON INCREASING THE mEXIBILITYOF6%4WITHINTHEMAINSTREAMEDUCATION SYSTEM .+# HAS ALSO EMPHASISED THE NEED TO EXPANDCAPACITYTHROUGHINNOVATIVEDELIVERYMODELS INCLUDINGROBUSTPUBLICPRIVATEPARTNERSHIPS'IVEN THATONLYPERCENTOFTHECOUNTRYSLABOURFORCEIS INTHEORGANISEDSECTOR ENHANCINGTRAININGOPTIONS AVAILABLE FOR THE UNORGANISED AND INFORMAL SECTOR WILL BE CRITICAL FOR ENHANCING THE PRODUCTIVITY OF THEBULKOFOURWORKINGPOPULATION)TISNECESSARY TO ENSURE A ROBUST REGULATORY AND ACCREDITATION FRAMEWORK ALONG WITH PROPER CERTIlCATION OF VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING 4HIS WILL ALLOW EASIER MOBILITY INTO HIGHER EDUCATION STREAMS ENHANCINGTHEVALUEOFSUCHTRAINING



(IGHER %DUCATION )N HIGHER EDUCATION .+# RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE FOCUSED ON THE THREE KEY ASPECTS OF EXPANSION EXCELLENCE AND INCLUSION .+#HASRECOMMENDEDINCREASING'%2INHIGHER EDUCATION TO AND ABOVE BY )N ADDITION TO INCREASED PUBLIC SPENDING THIS WOULD INVOLVE DIVERSIFYING THE SOURCES OF lNANCING TO ENCOURAGE PRIVATE PARTICIPATION PHILANTHROPIC CONTRIBUTIONS AND INDUSTRY LINKAGES 4O BRING ABOUT THIS EXPANSION .+# HAS SUGGESTED THE CREATION OF UNIVERSITIESBY PARTLYBYRESTRUCTURING THE EXISTING ONES )N ORDER TO REDUCE THE CURRENT BARRIERS TO ENTRY .+# HAS RECOMMENDED SETTING UP AN )NDEPENDENT 2EGULATORY !UTHORITY FOR (IGHER%DUCATION)2!(% WHICHWOULDBEATAN ARMSLENGTHFROMALLSTAKEHOLDERSANDWOULDACCORD DEGREE GRANTING POWER TO UNIVERSITIES 4O ENSURE QUALITY .+# HAS CALLED FOR REFORM OF EXISTING UNIVERSITIES TO ENSURE FREQUENT CURRICULA REVISIONS INTRODUCTION OF COURSE CREDIT SYSTEM ENHANCING RELIANCE ON INTERNAL ASSESSMENT ENCOURAGING RESEARCH ANDREFORMINGGOVERNANCEOFINSTITUTIONS &URTHER THEREISANURGENTNEEDTORESTRUCTURETHE SYSTEM OF AFlLIATED UNDERGRADUATE COLLEGES WHICH NOLONGERPROVIDESAVIABLEMODELFORQUALITYHIGHER EDUCATION.+#HASALSOSUGGESTEDCREATINGMODELS FORCOMMUNITYCOLLEGESTHATPROVIDECREDITANDNON CREDITCOURSESLEADINGTOTWOYEARASSOCIATEDEGREES 4HESEWOULDINCLUDEGENERALEDUCATIONPROGRAMSAS WELLASEMPLOYMENTORIENTEDPROGRAMS CREATINGTHE mEXIBILITY FOR STUDENTS TO PURSUE HIGHER EDUCATION LATERINLIFE.+#BELIEVESTHATALLDESERVINGSTUDENTS SHOULDHAVEACCESSTOHIGHEREDUCATION IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR SOCIO ECONOMIC BACKGROUND 7HILE THE

GOVERNMENT HEAVILY SUBSIDISES UNIVERSITY EDUCATION BY KEEPING FEES LOW THERE IS BETTER VALUE CREATED FOR THIS SUBSIDISATION BY ENSURING WELL FUNDED SCHOLARSHIPSANDAFlRMATIVEACTIONTHATTAKES INTO ACCOUNTTHEMULTIDIMENSIONALITYOFDEPRIVATION 



-ORE 4ALENTED 3TUDENTS IN -ATHS AND 3CIENCE 4O REJUVENATE SCIENCE EDUCATION AND RESEARCH IN THE COUNTRY .+# CONSIDERS IT CRUCIAL TO ATTRACT MORESTUDENTSINMATHSANDSCIENCE4OENCOURAGE THIS .+#HASRECOMMENDEDLAUNCHINGAMASSIVE SCIENCE OUTREACH PROGRAM UPGRADING AVAILABLE INFRASTRUCTURE REVITALISING THE TEACHING PROFESSION ANDREVAMPINGTEACHERTRAININGATALLLEVELS 0ROFESSIONAL%DUCATION4HEPROFESSIONALEDUCATION STREAMSAREPLAGUEDBYTHEPROBLEMSSIMILARTOTHE HIGHEREDUCATIONSYSTEM.+#HASRECOMMENDED THAT THE PRESENT REGIME OF REGULATION IN ALL PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION STREAMS INCLUDING MEDICAL LEGAL MANAGEMENTANDENGINEERINGEDUCATION BE REPLACEDBYSUBGROUPSONDIFFERENTSTREAMSUNDER THE PROPOSED INDEPENDENT REGULATOR4HIS WOULD HAVETOBEACCOMPANIEDBYINDEPENDENTMULTIPLE ACCREDITATIONAGENCIESTHATPROVIDERELIABLERATINGS /THER MEASURES FOR IMPROVING PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION INCLUDE ALLOWING GREATER AUTONOMY TO INSTITUTIONS REFORMING THE CURRENT EXAMINATION SYSTEM DEVELOPING CONTEMPORARY CURRICULA AND ENCOURAGINGRESEARCH



-ORE 1UALITY 0H$S 4O INVIGORATE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENTINTHECOUNTRY .+#HASRECOMMENDED STEPS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF 0H$S )T HAS SUGGESTED MASSIVE INVESTMENT IN EDUCATION AND RESEARCHATALLLEVELS TOGETHERWITHRENOVATIONAND REFORMOFTHEUNIVERSITYSYSTEM ANDTHEFOSTERINGOF AGLOBALOUTLOOKINRESEARCH&URTHER STEPSHAVETO BETAKENTOREJUVENATETHEDOCTORALPROGRAMACROSS DISCIPLINESANDDEVELOPVIGOROUSINDUSTRY ACADEMIA INTERACTION.+#HASALSORECOMMENDEDTHESETTING UPOFA.ATIONAL2ESEARCH-ISSIONWHICHWILLCREATE THEREQUIREDRESEARCHECOSYSTEMINTHECOUNTRY



/PEN AND $ISTANCE %DUCATION AND /PEN %DUCATIONAL2ESOURCES$EVELOPMENTOFOPENAND DISTANCEEDUCATIONANDOPENEDUCATIONALRESOURCES ISIMPERATIVETOACHIEVETHEOBJECTIVESOFEXPANSION EXCELLENCE AND INCLUSION IN HIGHER EDUCATION -ORE THAN ONE lFTH OF THE STUDENTS ENROLLED IN HIGHER EDUCATION ARE IN THE /PEN AND $ISTANCE %DUCATION STREAM .+# RECOMMENDATIONS ON

DISTANCEEDUCATIONFOCUSONCREATINGANATIONAL)#4 INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVING REGULATORY STRUCTURES DEVELOPING WEB BASED COMMON OPEN RESOURCES ESTABLISHINGACREDITBANKANDPROVIDINGANATIONAL TESTING SERVICE 4O SUPPLEMENT THIS .+# ALSO RECOMMENDSTHATTHEPRODUCTIONOFQUALITYCONTENT AND LEVERAGING GLOBAL OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES NEEDSTOBEFOCUSEDONINACOMPREHENSIVEMANNER 7ENEEDTOENCOURAGEOPENACCESSFORALLMATERIAL RESEARCHPAPERS BOOKS PERIODICALSETC

#2%!4)/. 0RODUCING NEW KNOWLEDGE AND PROTECTING EXISTING RESOURCES IS CRITICAL FOR A NATION TO COMPETE IN THE GLOBAL KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY4HIS MAKES IT IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER ALL ACTIVITIES THAT LEAD TO THE CREATION OF KNOWLEDGEDIRECTLYORHELPINPROTECTINGTHEKNOWLEDGE THAT IS CREATED .+# HAS THEREFORE EXAMINED ISSUES SUCHASINNOVATIONSYSTEMSINTHECOUNTRY SCIENCEAND TECHNOLOGY ACTIVITIES AND THE REGIME OF )NTELLECTUAL 0ROPERTY2IGHTS 

)NTELLECTUAL0ROPERTY2IGHTS&OR)NDIATOBECOME AGLOBALKNOWLEDGELEADER WEWOULDNEEDTOBEAT THEFOREFRONTOFCREATINGKNOWLEDGE4HISREQUIRES AFAVOURABLEECO SYSTEMTHATNOTONLYPROTECTSTHE INGENUITYOFTHECREATORBUTALSOREWARDSKNOWLEDGE CREATION THROUGH COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS )N ORDERTOFACILITATETHECREATIONOFKNOWLEDGE.+# HAS RECOMMENDED SCALING UP EFFORTS TO BUILD A WORLD CLASS )02 INFRASTRUCTURE INCLUDING STEPS TO MODERNISE THE PATENT OFlCES AND BUILDING GLOBAL STANDARDS)02TRAININGIN)0/FlCESASWELLASIN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS NEEDS TO BE INTENSIlED AND )02 #ELLS NEED TO BE DEVELOPED )N ADDITION .+# HAS RECOMMENDED ESTABLISHING NEW STRUCTURES SUCH AS A SEPARATE )02 4RIBUNAL A NATIONAL INSTITUTION FOR CUTTING EDGE )02 POLICY ANDA'LOBAL4ECHNOLOGY!CQUISITION&UND.+# RECOMMENDATIONSALSOHIGHLIGHTTHENEEDTOPROTECT TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE CREATE INCENTIVES FOR IT AND ALSO EXPLORE MECHANISMS FOR IDENTIlCATION OF KEY )02ISSUESINNEWTECHNOLOGYAREAS



,EGAL&RAMEWORKFOR0UBLIC&UNDED2ESEARCH4O REVITALISERESEARCHINUNIVERSITIESANDGIVEANIMPETUS TOPUBLICFUNDEDRESEARCH THEREISAREQUIREMENTFOR ENACTINGALEGISLATIONTHATWOULDGIVEUNIVERSITIESAND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS OWNERSHIP AND PATENT RIGHTS OVERINVENTIONSARISINGOUTOFGOVERNMENTFUNDED RESEARCH4HISWILLCREATEANENABLINGENVIRONMENT


15

FOR COMMERCIALISATION OF SUCH INVENTIONS THROUGH LICENSINGARRANGEMENTSWHEREINVENTORSWOULDALSO BEALLOWEDTORECEIVEASHAREOFTHEROYALTY 

16

.ATIONAL3CIENCEAND3OCIAL3CIENCE&OUNDATION !.ATIONAL3CIENCEAND3OCIAL3CIENCE&OUNDATION .333& HASBEENRECOMMENDEDBY.+#TOLOOKAT ALLKNOWLEDGEASONESEAMLESSENTITY4HEOBJECTIVES OFTHE.333&WOULDBETOSUGGESTPOLICYINITIATIVES TO MAKE )NDIA A LEADER IN THE CREATION AND USE OF NEW KNOWLEDGE IN ALL AREAS OF NATURAL PHYSICAL AGRICULTURAL HEALTH ANDSOCIALSCIENCES



)NNOVATION )NNOVATION IS A KEY DRIVER OF GROWTH BASED ON KNOWLEDGE INPUTS .+# CONDUCTED AN EXTENSIVESURVEYONTHESTATUSOFINNOVATIONINTHE COUNTRY .+#S )NNOVATION 3URVEY REVEALS THAT INNOVATION IS EMERGING AS ONE OF THE KEY FACTORS IN )NDIAS ECONOMIC GROWTH WHERE BOTH LARGE lRMSAND3-%SHAVEINCREASEDINNOVATIONRELATED REVENUES4HESTRATEGICPRIORITISATIONOFINNOVATION HAS ALSO INCREASED SIGNIlCANTLY SINCE THE START OF ECONOMICLIBERALISATION#RUCIALlRMLEVELSTRUCTURES AND PROCESSES PLAY A KEY ROLE IN INNOVATION BUT SKILL SHORTAGE ARISING OUT OF LACK OF EMPHASIS ON EXPERIMENTATIONPROBLEM SOLVING IN THE CURRICULA IS A CRITICAL BARRIER 4HERE IS ALSO NEED FOR MORE EFFECTIVE SYNERGY BETWEEN INDUSTRY GOVERNMENT THEEDUCATIONALSYSTEM 2$ENVIRONMENTANDTHE CONSUMER



%NTREPRENEURSHIP %NTREPRENEURSHIP HAS BEEN RECOGNISEDASAKEYDRIVERFORWEALTHCREATIONAND EMPLOYMENT GENERATION 'IVEN ITS IMPORTANCE .+# UNDERTOOK A STUDY TO EXPLORE FACTORS THAT HAVEPROMOTED%NTREPRENEURSHIPIN)NDIAASWELLAS OTHERSWHICHCOULDFACILITATEEVENGREATERGROWTHOF %NTREPRENEURSHIP"ASEDONTHESTUDY SEVERALPOLICY RECOMMENDATIONS WERE SUGGESTED 4HESE INCLUDE CREATION OF A SUPPORTIVE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT THROUGHMEASURESSUCHASASINGLEWINDOWSYSTEM COMPOSITEAPPLICATIONFORMETCANDSETTINGUPOFNEW INSTITUTIONALMECHANISMSSUCHASSPECIALCOMMERCIAL COURTS AND ,IMITED ,IABILITY 0ARTNERSHIPS .+# HAS ALSO SUGGESTED FACILITATING INFORMATION mOWS BYCREATINGONE STOPSHOPS WEBBASEDPORTALSAND INFORMATION HANDBOOKS FOR ENTREPRENEURS AND GIVINGINCENTIVESFORSEEDCAPITALFUNDING&URTHER CREATIONOFENTREPRENEURSHIPCLUBSANDINCUBATION CENTRES INCREASE IN INDUSTRY ACADEMIA SYNERGIES ANDINTRODUCTIONOFENTREPRENEURSHIPINSCHOOLAND COLLEGESYLLABUSHASBEENRECOMMENDED


!00,)#!4)/.3 +NOWLEDGE CAN BE PRODUCTIVELY APPLIED TO PROMOTE TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE ENHANCE QUALITY OF LIFE AND FACILITATERELIABLEANDREGULARmOWOFINFORMATION4HIS REQUIRESSIGNIlCANTINVESTMENTINGOAL ORIENTEDRESEARCH ANDDEVELOPMENTALONGWITHDELIVERYMODELSTHATCAN SIMPLIFYPROCESSESWITHINANINDUSTRY)NITIATIVESINTHE AREAS OF AGRICULTURE LABOUR AND TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE CANDEMONSTRATETHATKNOWLEDGECANBEVERYEFFECTIVELY APPLIEDFORTHEBETTERMENTOFTHECOMMUNITY 

4RADITIONAL(EALTH3YSTEMS)NDIAHASANIMMENSELY RICHANDCOMPLEXINDIGENOUSMEDICALHERITAGE.+# HASRECOMMENDEDTHATMAJOREFFORTSBEUNDERTAKEN TO PROVIDE QUALITY EDUCATION IN TRADITIONAL MEDICINE%VIDENCE BASEDAPPROACHESSHOULDALSOBE INTRODUCEDINTOTHECURRENTEDUCATIONALFRAMEWORK POSSIBLY THROUGH INSTITUTIONS OF THE STANDARD OF ))3C ))4AND!))-3 WITHCOMMENSURATElNANCIAL OUTLAYS.+#RECOMMENDATIONSFOCUSONTHENEED FORSTRENGTHENINGRESEARCHTHROUGHCONCERTEDHIGHER INVESTMENTS AND MORE RIGOROUS METHODOLOGIES ENSURINGINTERNATIONALLYACCEPTABLESTANDARDISATION ANDDOCUMENTATIONOFHERBALMEDICATIONS PROMOTING CLINICALTRIALS ALONGWITHADHERINGTOAWORLD CLASS CERTIlCATIONPROCESS!NOTHERASPECTHIGHLIGHTEDIN THE.+#RECOMMENDATIONSISTHENEEDTOCREATEA SUITABLE)02FRAMEWORKFORBETTERPROTECTIONOFTHE SOURCESOFTRADITIONALMEDICALKNOWLEDGE WHILEAT THE SAME TIME ENSURING THAT SUFlCIENT INCENTIVES ARE CREATED FOR COMMERCIALISATION OF TRADITIONAL MEDICINES



!GRICULTURE .+# RECOGNISES THAT THE CHALLENGES FACING )NDIAN AGRICULTURE CAN ONLY BE ADDRESSED THROUGHACOMPREHENSIVEPACKAGEOFMEASURETHAT INCLUDES AN EMPHASIS ON ENHANCED KNOWLEDGE GENERATIONANDAPPLICATION.+#HASRECOMMENDED CONCRETE STEPS TO MODERNISE AND STIMULATE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS COORDINATE RESEARCHANDMAKERESEARCHSUPPORTMOREmEXIBLE )T HAS ALSO RECOGNISED THE NEED FOR IMPROVING THE ORGANISATION OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH DIRECTING MORE RESEARCH TO NEGLECTED AREAS PROVIDING MORE EFFECTIVE INCENTIVES FOR RESEARCHERS AND REFORMING THE CURRICULA IN AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITIES &URTHER TO IMPROVE THE SCOPE AND EFlCIENCY OF EXTENSION .+#HASSTRESSEDMAKINGKNOWLEDGEAPPLICATIONSIN AGRICULTURE COMMUNITY DRIVEN AND FARMER LED AND SHIFTINGTHEFOCUSTOPROVIDEANINTEGRATEDRANGEOF SERVICES.+#HASALSORECOMMENDEDRESTRUCTURING

THE !GRICULTURAL 4ECHNOLOGY -ANAGEMENT !GENCY !4-! TOMAKEITMOREDECENTRALISED PARTICIPATORY AND LOCALLY RESPONSIVE AND ENHANCING THE ROLE OF PRIVATEPLAYERSINAGRICULTURALEXTENSIONDELIVERY

IN GOVERNMENT SERVICES % GOVERNANCE IS ONE OF THE WAYS IN WHICH CITIZENS CAN BE EMPOWERED TO INCREASE TRANSPARENCYOFGOVERNMENTFUNCTIONING 



%NHANCING 1UALITY OF ,IFE .+# HAS FOCUSED ON KNOWLEDGE APPLICATIONS FOR ENHANCING THE WELL BEING OF COMMON PEOPLE ESPECIALLY IN RURAL AREAS 4OWARDS THIS END .+# HAS RECOMMENDED THE SETTING UP OF 0ANCHAYAT 'YAN +ENDRAS 0'+S THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY WHICH WOULD ENSURE EFlCIENT IMPLEMENTATION OF .2%'! AND WOULD EVENTUALLY DEVELOP INTO RESOURCE CENTRES TO DEMONSTRATE BEST PRACTICES EVOLVE LOCAL SOLUTIONS AND PROVIDE A PLATFORM FOR CONVERGING DIFFERENT SOCIALSECTORPROGRAMS.+#HASALSORECOMMENDED CONCEPTUALISING FRESH PERSPECTIVES IN TOOL DESIGN TO IMPROVE DIGNITY OF LABOUR AND ENSURE SKILLFUL ENGAGEMENTANDENHANCEDPRODUCTIVITY

3%26)#%3 &OR THE CREATION OF A TRUE KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY THE AVAILABILITY OF EFlCIENT KNOWLEDGE SERVICES FOR CITIZENS ISCRITICAL ESPECIALLYFORENHANCINGCITIZEN GOVERNMENT INTERFACE4ECHNOLOGYPROVIDESUSWITHANOPPORTUNITY TO ENSURE ACCOUNTABILITY TRANSPARENCY AND PROlCIENCY

% GOVERNANCE4OENHANCETHEEFlCACYOFDELIVERY OF SERVICES BY THE GOVERNMENT .+# HAS REITERATED THAT E GOVERNANCE SHOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY NOT MERELY FOR COMPUTERISATION OF AGE OLD PROCESSES BUT A STEP TOWARDS RE THINKING OUR SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES TO ENSURE GREATER EFlCIENCY AND CITIZEN ORIENTATION .+# RECOMMENDATIONS FOCUS ON RE ENGINEERING GOVERNMENT PROCESSES TO CHANGE THE BASIC PATTERN OF GOVERNANCE FOR SIMPLICITY TRANSPARENCY PRODUCTIVITY AND EFlCIENCY 4HEY HIGHLIGHT THE NEED FOR DEVELOPING COMMON STANDARDS AND DEPLOYING A COMMON PLATFORM INFRASTRUCTUREFORE GOVERNANCE&URTHER TO IMPORTANTSERVICESTHATMAKEACRITICALDIFFERENCE TOCITIZENSMAYBESELECTED SIMPLIlEDANDOFFERED AS WEB BASED SERVICES ALONG WITH BEGINNING ALL NEWNATIONALPROGRAMSLIKE"HARAT.IRMAN 2URAL %MPLOYMENT 'UARANTEE 3CHEME ETC WITH WELL ENGINEERED E GOVERNANCE IMPLEMENTATION AND WEB INTERFACE 4HIS WILL ENSURE SPEEDY DELIVERY PRODUCTIVITY AND EFlCIENCY OF SERVICES MAKING THEM CITIZEN CENTRIC AND ENSURING THAT THE RIGHT PEOPLEGETTHEBENElTS


17

Follow Up on NKC Recommendations

"

Y FOCUSING ON THE lVE ASPECTS OF THE KNOWLEDGE PARADIGM .+#HASCREATEDANEXTENSIVEROADMAP FORTHEFUTURE4HE'OVERNMENTSATTHE#ENTREAND 3TATEARETAKINGSTEPSFORTHESUCCESSFULIMPLEMENTATIONOF THESEPOLICYSUGGESTIONS4HE'OVERNMENTSCOMMITMENT TO .+#S VISION IS REmECTED IN THE %LEVENTH &IVE 9EAR 0LAN WHERE .+#S INPUTS HAVE BEEN INCORPORATED IN FORMULATINGTHEBROADCONTOURSOFTHE0LAN 4HE %LEVENTH &IVE 9EAR 0LAN PLACES HIGH PRIORITY ON EDUCATION AS A CENTRAL INSTRUMENT FOR ACHIEVING RAPID AND INCLUSIVE GROWTH WITH SPECIlC EMPHASIS ON EXPANSION EXCELLENCE AND EQUITY 4HIS IS EVIDENT FROM THE PROPOSED ALLOCATION OF 2STRILLION AFOURFOLDINCREASEOVERTHE4ENTH0LAN 4HESHAREOFEDUCATIONINTHETOTAL0LANWILLACCORDINGLY INCREASEFROMPERCENTTOPERCENT )NITIATIVES TO IMPROVE SCHOOL EDUCATION IN THE 0LAN INCLUDEREORIENTING3ARVA3HIKSHA!BHIYANWITHASTRONG RIGHTSFOCUSTOMAKE2IGHTTO%DUCATIONAREALITY5NDER THE 3CHEME FOR 5NIVERSAL !CCESS AND 1UALITY AT THE 3ECONDARY3TAGE NEWHIGHQUALITYMODELSCHOOLS ARETOBESETUP WITHATLEASTONESCHOOLINEACHBLOCK 4HE lRST STREAM WILL CONSIST OF PUBLIC FUNDED SCHOOLS;IN+6S+ENDRIYA6IDYALAYAS ANDIN .6S .AVODAYA6IDYALAYAS TEMPLATE= TO BE LAUNCHED IN THE %DUCATIONALLY "ACKWARD "LOCKS WHICH HAVE A SIGNIlCANT3# 34 /"#AND-INORITYPOPULATION4HE SECONDSTREAMOFABOUTSCHOOLSWOULDBESETUP THROUGH0UBLIC0RIVATE0ARTNERSHIPINOTHER"LOCKSWITH EMPHASIS ON GEOGRAPHICAL DEMOGRAPHIC GENDER AND SOCIALEQUITY-ODALITIESFORTHEREMAININGSCHOOLS HAVENOTYETBEENlNALISED 4O STRENGTHEN VOCATIONAL EDUCATION A NEW 3KILL $EVELOPMENT -ISSION UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE 0RIME-INISTER WITHANOUTLAYOF2S CRORE WILL AIMATOPENINGNEWINDUSTRIALTRAININGINSTITUTES )4)S ANDPOLYTECHNICS NEWVOCATIONALSCHOOLS AND NEW 3KILL $EVELOPMENT #ENTRES ! 3KILL $EVELOPMENT #ORPORATION WILL ALSO BE CREATED BY THE 'OVERNMENTWITHTHEACTIVEPARTICIPATIONOFTHEPRIVATE SECTORTOGIVESPECIALTRAININGTOYOUNGMENANDWOMEN WORKERSANDTECHNICIANS )N (IGHER AND 4ECHNICAL %DUCATION THE FOCUS OF THE %LEVENTH 0LAN IS ON EXPANSION INCLUSION AND RAPID

18


IMPROVEMENTINQUALITYBYENHANCINGPUBLICSPENDING ENCOURAGING PRIVATE INITIATIVES AND INITIATING THE LONG OVERDUE MAJOR INSTITUTIONAL AND POLICY REFORMS 4HE %LEVENTH0LANAIMSATEXPANSIONWITHTHEESTABLISHMENT OF NEW UNIVERSITIES &URTHER NEW ))4S NEW ))-S NEW)))4S NEW)NDIAN)NSTITUTESOF3CIENCE 3CHOOLSOF0LANNINGAND!RCHITECTURE .)4S NEWDEGREECOLLEGESANDNEWPOLYTECHNICSWILLALSO BESETUP)NESTABLISHINGTHESEINSTITUTIONSTHESCOPEFOR 0UBLIC 0RIVATE 0ARTNERSHIP WILL BE EXPLORED4HE 0LAN ALSO RECOGNISES THE NEED FOR THE REVIEW OF REGULATORY INSTITUTIONSSUCHASTHE5'# !)#4% -#)AND"#) 3UBSEQUENTLY A(IGH,EVEL#OMMITTEEHASBEENSETUP TOSUGGESTASPECIlCREFORMSAGENDAINTHISCONTEXT&OR REJUVENATIONOFRESEARCHIN5NIVERSITIESA.ATIONAL3CIENCE %NGINEERING2ESEARCH"OARDISPROPOSED!PROVISION OF2S CROREHASBEENMADEINTHE%LEVENTH0LAN FORAN@%DUCATION-ISSIONTHROUGH)#4TOLEVERAGETHE POTENTIALOF)#4TOENHANCETHE'ROSS%NROLMENT2ATIO '%2 IN(IGHER%DUCATION4HE0LANALSOENVISAGESTHE SETTING UP OF A .ATIONAL +NOWLEDGE .ETWORK .+. INTERCONNECTING ALL KNOWLEDGE INSTITUTIONS IN THE COUNTRYWITHGIGABITCAPABILITIES FORSHARINGRESOURCES AND RESEARCH 4O OPERATIONALISE THE lRST PHASE OF THE .+. INSTITUTIONSWOULDBELINKEDUP 4HE 0LAN ALSO MAKES A COMMITMENT TO IMPROVE PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND CREATE A .ATIONAL 4RANSLATION -ISSIONFORPROMOTING4RANSLATOREDUCATIONINCLUDING SPECIALISED COURSES IN TRANSLATION TECHNOLOGY 4HE 'OVERNMENT HAS APPROVED THE SETTING UP OF A .ATIONAL 4RANSLATION -ISSION WITH AN OUTLAY OF 2S CRORE FOR THE 0LAN PERIOD UNDER THE AEGIS OF THE #ENTRAL )NSTITUTE OF )NDIAN ,ANGUAGES #)), -YSORE4HEPROCESSFORLAUNCHINGA.ATIONAL-ISSION ON,IBRARIESISALSOUNDERWAY %MPHASISHASALSOBEENLAIDONSTRENGTHENINGTRADITIONAL HEATH SYSTEMS SUCH AS !953( IN THE .ATIONAL HEALTH PROGRAMS AND IMPROVING )02 WITH THE ULTIMATE AIM OF ENHANCING THE OUTREACH OF !953( HEALTH CARE IN AN ACCESSIBLE ACCEPTABLE AFFORDABLE AND QUALITATIVE MANNER 0ROVISIONSFORSTRENGTHENING)02INTHE%LEVENTH0LAN INCLUDEUNDERTAKINGTHESECONDPHASEOFMODERNISATION OF )0 OFlCES 4HIS WOULD SPECIlCALLY SEEK TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT TRAINING

AND AWARENESS AND ALSO INFRASTRUCTURE BESIDES REGULAR UPDATINGOFTHE)4FACILITIES 4HE %LEVENTH 0LAN ALSO RECOGNISES THE NEED FOR AN APPROPRIATE LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK FOR INCENTIVISING THE INNOVATORS AND COMMERCIALISATION OF PUBLIC FUNDED2$WHERETHE'OVERNMENT THERECIPIENTS OF FUNDS THE INVENTOR AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC BENElT FROM THE PROTECTION AND COMMERCIALISATION OF )0 !"ILLONTHESUBJECTISEXPECTEDTOBEINTRODUCEDIN THE0ARLIAMENT 5NDERSTANDINGTHEIMPORTANCEOFINNOVATION THE0LAN EMPHASISESTHENEEDFORA.ATIONAL)NNOVATION0OLICY

WHICH ENCOURAGES COMPETITION AMONG ENTERPRISES GREATERDIFFUSIONOFKNOWLEDGEANDINCREASEDSUPPORT TOEARLYSTAGETECHNOLOGYDEVELOPMENTINITIATIVESAND GRASSROOTSLEVELINNOVATORS .+#RECOMMENDATIONSONE 'OVERNANCEWEREBROADLY ENDORSEDBYTHEGOVERNMENTANDINCORPORATEDINTOTHE .ATIONAL E 'OVERNANCE 0LAN .E'0 !S PART OF THE 0ROGRAM-ANAGEMENT3TRUCTUREFORTHEIMPLEMENTATION OF.E'0 THE#ABINETAPPROVEDTHESETTINGUPOFA"ODY UNDER THE #HAIRPERSONSHIP OF THE 0RIME -INISTER TO PROVIDELEADERSHIP PRESCRIBEDELIVERABLESANDMILESTONES AND TO MONITOR PERIODICALLY THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE.E'0


19

Recommendations Report to the Nation

21

Access to Knowledge 2IGHTTO%DUCATION ,ANGUAGE 4RANSLATION ,IBRARIES +NOWLEDGE.ETWORK (EALTH)NFORMATION.ETWORK 0ORTALS

Right to Education /CTOBER

.

+# BELIEVES THAT PROVIDING UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO QUALITY SCHOOL EDUCATION IS A CORNERSTONE OF DEVELOPMENT AND A MINIMUM NECESSARY CONDITION FOR ANY PROGRESS TOWARDS MAKING )NDIA A KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY .+# IS IN THE PROCESS OF EXTENSIVE CONSULTATIONSANDWILLMAKEDETAILEDRECOMMENDATIONSON VARIOUSISSUESRELATINGTOSCHOOLEDUCATIONATALATERDATE (OWEVER AT THIS POINT .+# WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND SPECIlCALLY TO THE RECENT INITIATIVE OF THE #ENTRAL 'OVERNMENT OF SENDING A MODEL 2IGHT TO %DUCATION "ILLTOTHE3ECRETARIESOF3TATE%DUCATION$EPARTMENTS WITHINCENTIVESFORTHE3TATE'OVERNMENTSTOENACTTHIS BILL .+# HAS PERUSED THE BILL AND CONSULTED WITH A WIDERANGEOFEXPERTSANDEDUCATIONISTS)TFEELSTHATTHE MODELBILLISmAWEDFORANUMBEROFREASONS ANDMOST IMPORTANTLYTHATSUCHLEGISLATIONMUSTBEENFORCEDBYTHE #ENTRAL'OVERNMENTFOLLOWINGUPONTHECOMMITMENT MADEINTHE#ONSTITUTIONAL!MENDMENT!RTICLE! .+# RECOGNISES THAT THERE MAY BE CONCERNS ABOUT FEDERALISM SINCE SCHOOL EDUCATION IS DOMINANTLY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE 3TATE 'OVERNMENTS AT PRESENT (OWEVER IT FEELS THAT THIS MATTER CAN BE RESOLVED THROUGHANAPPROPRIATECENTRALLEGISLATIONWHICHTAKES INTOACCOUNTTHEFOLLOWINGPROPOSALS

#ENTRAL,EGISLATION ,EGISLATION AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL IS REQUIRED TO AFlRM THE 2IGHT TO %DUCATION WHICH IS A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT MANDATEDBY!RTICLE!3INCEITCANNOTBEDEPENDENT UPON WHICH STATE A CITIZEN LIVES IN A MODEL BILL SENT TOBEENACTEDINDIVIDUALLYBY3TATE'OVERNMENTSISNOT ADEQUATE TO MEET THE CONSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE'OVERNMENTOF)NDIA4HEREFORE ACENTRALLEGISLATION SHOULDBEENACTEDALONGTHELINESOFTHE0ANCHAYATI2AJ !MENDMENT !CT REQUIRINGTHESTATESTOENACT2IGHTTO %DUCATION"ILLSWITHINASPECIlEDTIMEPERIOD ANDWITH THEPRIMARYlNANCIALRESPONSIBILITYFORTHISRESTINGWITH THE#ENTRAL'OVERNMENT

&INANCIAL#OMMITMENT 4HE #ENTRAL 'OVERNMENT MUST PROVIDE THE BULK OF THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS REQUIRED TO ENSURE THE 2IGHT TO %DUCATION4HEREFORETHEREMUSTBElNANCIALPROVISIONIN THECENTRALLEGISLATION REQUIRINGTHE#ENTRAL'OVERNMENT TO SHARE THE REVENUES OF THE 0RARAMBHIK 3HIKSHA +OSH WITH 3TATE 'OVERNMENTS AND TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL RESOURCESASREQUIREDTOMEETTHEREQUIREMENTOFENSURING THE RIGHT TO ALL CHILDREN %STIMATES FOR THE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES REQUIRED TO ACHIEVE THE GOAL OF UNIVERSAL ELEMENTARYEDUCATIONCURRENTLYRANGEFROMPERCENT TOPERCENTOF'$0 DEPENDINGONTHECRITERIAUSED (OWEVER THEREQUIREDlNANCIALRESOURCESARELIKELYTOBE ATTHELOWERENDOFTHESEESTIMATES SINCETHEREISALREADY CLOSETOUNIVERSALPROVISIONINSEVERALSTATESANDTHEREHAS BEEN RECENT PROGRESS IN PROVIDING MORE ACCESS THROUGH THE3ARVA3HIKSHA!BHIYANINOTHERSTATES

4IME&RAME 4HE STATE LEVEL LEGISLATION SHOULD SPECIFY THE PERIOD WITHINWHICHUNIVERSALEDUCATIONOFREASONABLEQUALITY ISSOUGHTTOBEACHIEVED PREFERABLYWITHINTHREEYEARS 4HE MODEL BILL DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY TIME FRAME FOR ADOPTIONANDIMPLEMENTATIONOFTHEPROVISIONS

3CHEDULEOF.ORMSAND3TANDARDS 4O ENSURE A MINIMUM QUALITY OF EDUCATION IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE A SCHEDULE OF NORMS FOR ALL SCHOOLS TOFOLLOW4HEMODELBILLDOESNOTHAVESUCHASCHEDULE OFNORMS ANDTHEREISNOSPECIlCATIONOFTHEMINIMUM QUALITYOFEDUCATIONTHATSCHOOLSSHOULDPROVIDE4HERE ISONLYAREFERENCETO@EQUITABLEQUALITYWITHOUTDElNING THE PARAMETERS OF QUALITY 7HILE ENSURING QUALITY IS A COMPLEXMATTER CERTAINNORMSREGARDINGINFRASTRUCTURE NUMBEROFTEACHERSPERSCHOOLANDPERSTUDENT TEACHING METHODS AND OTHER FACILITIES MUST BE ADHERED TO AS NECESSARYCONDITIONS


25

3PECIlCATIONFOR4EACHERS 3INCE TEACHERS ARE CRITICAL TO ENSURING THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION ITISPARTICULARLYIMPORTANTTOLAYDOWNWELL DElNEDBUTmEXIBLENORMSFORTHEMINIMUMQUALIlCATIONS OF TEACHERS 4HE MODEL BILL HAS NO SPECIlCATION OF A TEACHER OR THE QUALIlCATIONS AND IN SERVICE TRAINING NEEDED FOR THE POSITION ! TEACHER IS ONLY DElNED AS A PERSON WHO TEACHES IN THE CLASSROOM )T IS NECESSARY TO SPECIFYNORMSFORTEACHERQUALIlCATIONANDTRAINING

*USTICIABILITY !NY RIGHT INCLUDING THE 2IGHT TO %DUCATION IS ONLY MEANINGFUL IF IT IS JUSTICIABLE (OWEVER IN THE MODEL BILL SENT TO 3TATE 'OVERNMENTS THE ONUS IS PLACED ON PARENTSORGUARDIANSOFTHECHILD4HERESPONSIBILITYOF THE'OVERNMENT ATDIFFERENTLEVELS MUSTBERECOGNISED AND MADE JUSTICIABLE 4HE EXAMPLE OF THE .ATIONAL 2URAL%MPLOYMENT'UARANTEE!CT.2%'! COULDBE USEDINTHISCONTEXT

2EDRESSAL-ECHANISM 4OENSUREJUSTICIABILITY AREDRESSALMECHANISMSHOULDBE OUTLINEDANDANAPPROPRIATEPROCEDUREMUSTBESETINPLACE FORSTUDENTSORPARENTSINCASETHERIGHTISNOTUPHELD

5NIVERSAL3CHOOLING 3CHOOLEDUCATIONMUSTBEPROVIDEDTOALL4HISNECESSARILY ALSOREQUIRESTHATCHILDRENOFTHEDISADVANTAGED LANDLESS AND MINORITY COMMUNITIES MUST ALSO BE INTEGRATED ALONG WITH CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES OR SPECIAL NEEDS 4HERE SHOULD BE NO DISTINCTION MADE IN TERMS OF THE TYPE OF SCHOOLING PROVIDED WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT SYSTEM FOR CHILDREN FROM DIFFERENT SOCIAL ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS 4HE MODEL BILL HAS THE POTENTIAL OF CREATING A PARALLEL AND DISCRIMINATORY SYSTEMOFSCHOOLINGWHICHCANRESULTINSTRATIlCATIONOF THE EDUCATION SYSTEM FOR CHILDREN FROM DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIESANDBACKGROUNDS BECAUSEITREQUIRESONLY PROVISIONOFNON FORMALEDUCATIONINSUCHCASES RATHER THANMANDATINGTHEPROVISIONOFREGULARSCHOOLING /BVIOUSLY IN ALL CASES THE SCHOOL SYSTEM SHOULD BE mEXIBLEENOUGHTOCATERTOPARTICULARNEEDSOFSTUDENTS .+# CAN OFFER DETAILED EXPLANATIONS ON THESE POINTS #ONTINUING TO CONSULT WITH STAKEHOLDERS AND EXAMINE

OTHER ISSUES IN RELATION TO SCHOOL EDUCATION IT IS FOCUSSING IN PARTICULAR ON THE QUESTIONS OF HOW TO ENSUREBETTERQUALITYACROSSTHEBOARDTHEINSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURES AND FORMS OF CONTROL BY LOCAL COMMUNITIES THATCOULDCONTRIBUTETOIMPROVEDQUALITYOFSCHOOLING ISSUESRELATEDTOCOMMONSCHOOLINGANDNEIGHBOURHOOD SCHOOLS ENSURING ADEQUATE QUANTITY AND QUALITY OF SCHOOLTEACHERS ESPECIALLYINSPECIlEDAREAS.+#WILL MAKE A BROADER SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS ON SCHOOL EDUCATIONINTHENEARFUTURE )N A SUBSEQUENT LETTER TO THE 0RIME -INISTER .+# REITERATEDTHATTHEPROPOSEDCENTRALLEGISLATIONON24% MUSTINCLUDEAlNANCIALCOMMITMENTONTHEPARTOFTHE #ENTRAL'OVERNMENT.+#BELIEVESTHATTHEPOTENTIAL EXPENDITURE ON THIS IS PROBABLY LESS THAN HAS BEEN ESTIMATEDEARLIER4HE+APIL3IBAL#OMMITTEETHATHAD PREPAREDTHE#!"%DRAFTHADESTIMATEDANEXPENDITURE OF 2S CRORE FOR THE PERIOD (OWEVER THISWASBASEDONPOPULATIONPROJECTIONSFOR THE FUTURE THAT HAVE SINCE BEEN REVISED DOWNWARDS BY THE #ENSUS OF )NDIA &OR EXAMPLE CURRENT POPULATION PROJECTIONSSUGGESTTHATTHEREWILLBEATLEASTMILLION LESS CHILDREN IN THAN THE EARLIER PROJECTIONS USED BY THE 3IBAL #OMMITTEE HAD INDICATED 4HIS IN TURN MEANS A SIGNIlCANT REDUCTION IN THE ESTIMATED COSTS FOR UNIVERSAL SCHOOLING 5SING THE SAME PER CAPITA SPENDING WITH THE NEW POPULATION PROJECTIONS GIVES A TOTAL COST FOR THE lVE YEAR PERIOD OF 2S CRORE BASED ON DIVISION OF 33! 4HIS AMOUNTS TO AN AVERAGE OF JUST ABOVE 2S CROREPERANNUM WHICHISMUCHLESSTHAN PERCENTOF'$0ANDALSOLESSTHANPERCENTOFTOTAL CENTRALGOVERNMENTSPENDING )N THIS CONNECTION .+# WOULD ALSO LIKE TO EXPRESS ITS CONCERN ABOUT THE RECENT DECISION OF THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENTTOREDUCETHECENTRALFUNDINGFORTHE3ARVA 3HIKSHA!BHIYANFROMPERCENTTOPERCENT4HERE IS A FEAR THAT THIS MAY LEAD TO A SHARP CURTAILMENT OF PROGRESSTOWARDSUNIVERSALSCHOOLEDUCATION ESPECIALLY IN THE MORE BACKWARD STATES WHERE THE GAP IS GREATER )T IS WORTH NOTING THAT STATE GOVERNMENTS ARE ALREADY INCURRING THE BULK OF SCHOOL EDUCATION EXPENDITURE .+#STRONGLYRECOMMENDSTHAT INADDITIONTOPER CENTOF33! THE#ENTRESHOULDPROVIDEALLTHENECESSARY FUNDINGTOENSURETHE2IGHTTO%DUCATIONINTHOSESTATES WHERETHESTATEGOVERNMENTISALREADYSPENDINGATLEAST PERCENTOFITSTOTALBUDGETONSCHOOLEDUCATION

)FTHECENTREPROVIDESPERCENTOFTHESPENDINGFOR33! THEADDITIONALCOSTWOULDBE2S CROREOVERTHETH0LANPERIOD THATIS AROUND2S CROREPERANNUM

#URRENTLY THERATIOOFCENTRALGOVERNMENTTOSTATEGOVERNMENTSPENDINGFORSCHOOLEDUCATION INCLUDING33! IS)FMID DAYMEALSARE INCLUDED ITIS

26


Language /CTOBER

4

HE .ATIONAL +NOWLEDGE #OMMISSION HAS EMPHASISED THE IMPORTANCE OF AN INCLUSIVE SOCIETY AS THE FOUNDATION FOR A KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY .+# HAS ALSO RECOGNISED THE SIGNIlCANCE OF LANGUAGE NOT ONLY AS A MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION OR A MEANS OF COMMUNICATION BUT ALSO AS A DETERMINANT OF ACCESS !N UNDERSTANDING AND COMMAND OVER THE %NGLISH LANGUAGE IS A MOST IMPORTANT DETERMINANT OF ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION EMPLOYMENT POSSIBILITIES AND SOCIAL OPPORTUNITIES 3CHOOL LEAVERS WHO ARE NOT ADEQUATELYTRAINEDIN%NGLISHASALANGUAGEAREALWAYS ATAHANDICAPINTHEWORLDOFHIGHEREDUCATION-ORE OFTENTHANNOT TEACHINGISIN%NGLISH%VENIFITISNOT INMOSTSUBJECTS BOOKSANDJOURNALSAREAVAILABLEONLY IN%NGLISH!NDTHOSEWHODONOTKNOW%NGLISH WELL ENOUGH lND IT EXCEEDINGLY DIFlCULT TO COMPETE FOR A PLACE IN OUR PREMIER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS 4HIS DISADVANTAGE IS ACCENTUATED FURTHER IN THE WORLD OF WORK NOTONLYINPROFESSIONALOCCUPATIONSBUTALSOIN WHITE COLLAROCCUPATIONSOVERALL 4HIS REALITY IS NOT LOST ON OUR PEOPLE WHO RECOGNISE THAT THE %NGLISH LANGUAGE IS A CRITICAL DETERMINANT OF ACCESSTO ANDOPPORTUNITIESFORABETTERLIFE!VAILABLE INFORMATION SUGGESTS THAT MIDDLE INCOME OR LOWER INCOME HOUSEHOLDS SPEND A LARGE PROPORTION OF THEIR MODESTINCOMEONSENDINGTHEIRCHILDRENTORELATIVELY EXPENSIVE %NGLISH MEDIUM SCHOOLS 3UCH EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIESFORCHILDRENAREAPRIORITYTHATISALMOST AT PAR WITH HEALTH CARE FOR THE FAMILY "UT THERE ARE A VERY LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO SIMPLY DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES FOR SUCH INVESTMENT 4HE OUTCOME IS EXCLUSION7EBELIEVETHATINCLUSIONISPOSSIBLETHROUGH PUBLICPROVISION

4HERE IS AN IRONY IN THE SITUATION %NGLISH HAS BEEN PARTOFOUREDUCATIONSYSTEMFORMORETHANACENTURY 9ET%NGLISHISBEYONDTHEREACHOFMOSTOFOURYOUNG PEOPLE WHICHMAKESFORHIGHLYUNEQUALACCESS)NDEED EVENNOW NOMORETHANONEPERCENTOFOURPEOPLEUSE ITASASECONDLANGUAGE LETALONEAlRSTLANGUAGE 4HESEREALITIESCANNOTBECHANGEDOVERNIGHT"UT.+# BELIEVESTHATTHETIMEHASCOMEFORUSTOTEACHOURPEOPLE

ORDINARYPEOPLE %NGLISHASALANGUAGEINSCHOOLS%ARLY ACTIONINTHISSPHERE WOULDHELPUSBUILDANINCLUSIVE SOCIETY AND TRANSFORM )NDIA INTO A KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY )NJUSTYEARS ITWOULDPROVIDETHECOUNTRYSSCHOOL LEAVERSWITHFARMOREEQUALACCESSTOHIGHEREDUCATION AND THREE TO lVE YEARS THEREAFTER MUCH MORE EQUAL ACCESSTOEMPLOYMENTOPPORTUNITIES 4HE#OMMISSIONENGAGEDININFORMALCONSULTATIONSON THISSUBJECTWITHAWIDERANGEOFPEOPLEINGOVERNMENT ACADEMIA MEDIA AND INDUSTRY )T CONSULTED SOME #HIEF -INISTERS IN THE STATES )T CONSULTED -EMBERS OF 0ARLIAMENT )T CONSULTED PEOPLE IN PROFESSIONS SUCH AS MEDICINE AND LAW AS WELL AS CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS 4HEREWASUNANIMITYTHATTHISCANANDSHOULDBEDONE ! 7ORKING 'ROUP WAS CONSTITUTED TO WORK OUT THE MODALITIESINTERMSOFlRSTSTEPS4HEREPORTSUBMITTEDBY THISGROUPWASUSEDASANINPUTIN.+#SDELIBERATIONS .+# RECOMMENDS THAT THE TEACHING OF %NGLISH AS A LANGUAGE SHOULD BE INTRODUCED ALONG WITH THE lRST LANGUAGE EITHER THE MOTHER TONGUE OR THE REGIONAL LANGUAGE OFTHECHILD STARTINGFROM#LASS)INSCHOOL 4HIS PHASE OF LANGUAGE LEARNING SHOULD FOCUS ON USING BOTH LANGUAGES TO CREATE MEANINGFUL LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR THE CHILD WITHOUT DISPROPORTIONATE EMPHASISONGRAMMARANDRULES .+# RECOGNISES THAT NINE 3TATES OF WHICH SIX ARE IN THENORTH EAST ANDTHREE5NION4ERRITORIESHAVEALREADY INTRODUCED%NGLISHASACOMPULSORYSUBJECTFROM#LASS )ONWARDS)NADDITION ASMANYAS3TATESANDTHREE 5NION 4ERRITORIES HAVE MADE %NGLISH A COMPULSORY SUBJECT ATDIFFERENTSTAGESINPRIMARYSCHOOL BY#LASS 6 AT THE LATEST (OWEVER THE IMPLEMENTATION IS SLOW ANDTHEQUALITYOF%NGLISHLANGUAGETEACHINGISSIMPLY NOT GOOD ENOUGH 4HE SUPPORT SYSTEMS SUCH AS THE NUMBEROFTEACHERSORMATERIALSFORTEACHING ARENEITHER ADEQUATE NOR APPROPRIATE .+# IS RECOMMENDING A FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE THAT SEEKS TO INTRODUCE NATIONWIDE THETEACHINGOF%NGLISHASALANGUAGEFROM #LASS)ONWARDS4HISISNOTMEANTTOBEASTAND ALONE ADD ONSUBJECT BUTISMEANTTOBEINTEGRATEDINTOTHE SCHOOLCURRICULUM Report to the Nation

27

,ANGUAGELEARNINGCANNOTBESEPARATEDFROM ANDMUST BEINTEGRATEDWITH CONTENTLEARNING4HEREFORE %NGLISH SHOULDALSOBEUSEDTOTEACHSOMENON LANGUAGE CONTENT SUBJECTS STARTINGFROM#LASS)))INSCHOOL4HECHOICE OF SUBJECTS FOR THIS PURPOSE CAN BE LEFT TO SCHOOLS DEPENDINGONTHEPROlCIENCYOFTEACHERSANDAVAILABILITY OFMATERIALS4HISWOULD INEFFECT CREATEMULTI MEDIUM SCHOOLS )T WOULD ALSO HELP REDUCE THE DIVIDE BETWEEN %NGLISH MEDIUM SCHOOLS AND REGIONAL LANGUAGE MEDIUMSCHOOLS 4HEPEDAGOGYOFLANGUAGELEARNINGASWELLASTEACHING SHOULD BE SUITABLY CONTEXTUALISED TO LEND MEANING TO REAL SITUATIONS AND DAILY LIVES -OREOVER ASSESSMENT SHOULD BE BASED ON PROlCIENCY RATHER THAN SPECIFYING ACHIEVEMENTTARGETSTHATREWARDMASTERYOFSINGLETEXTS ACQUIREDTHROUGHROTELEARNING4OTHISEND A.ATIONAL 4ESTING 3ERVICE .43 FOR CERTIlCATION OF LANGUAGE COMPETENCEASWELLASRECRUITMENTOFLANGUAGETEACHERS SHOULDBESETUP )N ORDER TO MEET THE REQUIREMENT FOR A LARGE POOL OF %NGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHERS GRADUATES WITH HIGH PROlCIENCY IN %NGLISH AND GOOD COMMUNICATION SKILLS SHOULD BE INDUCTED WITHOUT FORMAL TEACHER TRAINING QUALIlCATIONS 4HEY COULD BE SELECTED THROUGH AN APPROPRIATE PROCEDURE DEVELOPED BY THE .ATIONAL4ESTING 3ERVICE AND THEN GIVEN A SHORTnTERM ORIENTATION4HENEARLYFOURMILLIONSCHOOLTEACHERSALL OVER THE COUNTRY REGARDLESS OF THEIR SUBJECT EXPERTISE ESPECIALLY TEACHERS AT THE PRIMARY LEVEL SHOULD BE TRAINEDTOIMPROVETHEIRPROlCIENCYIN%NGLISHTHROUGH VACATION TRAINING PROGRAMS OR OTHER SHORT TERM COURSES-OSTTEACHERTRAININGPROGRAMSARENOTBASED ON A REAL ASSESSMENT OF NEEDS OF TEACHERS 4HUS THE ENTIRE TEACHER TRAINING SYSTEM CATERING TO PRE SERVICE AND IN SERVICE TRAINING THAT EXISTS TODAY INCLUDING TRAININGFORLANGUAGETEACHING NEEDSTOBETHOROUGHLY REVIEWED RECOGNISING THE CENTRALITY OF LANGUAGE IN THECURRICULUM ! MULTIPLICITY OF %NGLISH TEXTBOOKS SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TO ADDRESS THE DIVERSITY OF %NGLISH LANGUAGE

28


ENVIRONMENTSINTHECOUNTRY(OWEVER TOENSURETHAT CERTAIN STANDARDS ARE MAINTAINED BENCHMARKS MAY BE LAID DOWN FOR THE CONTENT OF TEXTBOOKS AT EACH STAGE &OR THIS PURPOSE AN EXPERT GROUP SHOULD BE SET UP TO DEVELOP PEDAGOGICALLY SOUND %NGLISH TEXTBOOKS FOR EVERY LEVEL FROM #LASS ) TO 8))4HESE SHOULD BE USED AS MODELS BY STATES AND MADE FREELY AVAILABLE ON THEWEBTOALLOWEASYACCESS7HILETHE3TATE#OUNCIL FOR %DUCATIONAL 2ESEARCH AND4RAINING 3#%24 MAY CONTINUETOBEANODALAGENCYFORTEXTBOOKDEVELOPMENT FORSTATEBOARDSCHOOLS THEWRITINGOFTEXTBOOKSNEEDS TOBEFURTHERDECENTRALISED4OMAKETHEEXERCISEMORE COLLABORATIVE CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS WITH EXPERTISE IN THE DOMAIN SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN DEVELOPING TEXTBOOKS 3INCE LANGUAGE LEARNING TAKES PLACE NOT ONLY THROUGH DIRECT INSTRUCTION BUT ALSO THROUGH ASSIMILATIONFROMTHEENVIRONMENT THECLASSROOMNEEDS TO BE EQUIPPED WITH APPROPRIATE SUPPLEMENTARY AUDIO VISUAL AND PRINT MATERIAL 2ESOURCE LIBRARIES COULD BE SET UP IN EVERY CLASSROOM COMPRISING OF A COLLECTION OF BOOKS MAGAZINES NEWSPAPERS AUDIOVISUAL MATERIAL ANDPOSTERS APPROPRIATETOTHEAGEOFTHESTUDENTS ON A VARIETY OF SUBJECTS ,ANGUAGE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES SHOULD ALSO BE CREATED OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM THROUGH SPECIlCBI LINGUALRADIOAND46CHANNELS WHICHCOULD BE INTRODUCED FOR FORMAL AND INFORMAL TEACHING AND LEARNINGOF%NGLISH+NOWLEDGECLUBSCOULDBEFORMED TODISCUSSANDDISSEMINATEKNOWLEDGEASWELLASEXTEND THE USE OF %NGLISH OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM 'IVEN THAT LANGUAGELEARNINGREQUIRESEXTENSIVERESOURCES ACENTRALLY SPONSOREDSCHEMEOFlNANCIALASSISTANCEFORDEVELOPING %NGLISH LANGUAGE RESOURCES TEACHERS AND MATERIALS SHOULDBEINSTITUTEDTOADDRESSTHISREQUIREMENT 3TATE 'OVERNMENTS WOULD NEED TO BE EQUAL PARTNERS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS IDEA .+# THEREFORE PROPOSES THAT THE 0RIME -INISTER DISCUSS THIS MATTER WITHALL#HIEF-INISTERSATTHE.ATIONAL$EVELOPMENT #OUNCIL TOFORMULATEA.ATIONAL0LANFORTHETEACHING OF %NGLISH AS A LANGUAGE IN ADDITION TO THE REGIONAL LANGUAGE STARTINGIN#LASS)4HISWOULDALSOENSURETHAT ATTHEENDOFTWELVEYEARSOFSCHOOLING EVERYSTUDENTIS PROlCIENTINATLEASTTWOLANGUAGES

Translation 3EPTEMBER

4

HEREISANURGENTNEEDTOEXPANDTHEQUANTITY AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF TRANSLATION OF DIFFERENT TYPES HUMAN MACHINE AIDED OR INSTANT AND IN DIFFERENT DOMAINS LITERARY SCIENTIlC TECHNICAL BUSINESS THAT WOULD PROVIDE GREATER ACCESS TOKNOWLEDGEACROSSTHECOUNTRY4HECURRENTFACILITIES AVAILABLE ARE INADEQUATE AND LESS THAN WHAT IS SOCIALLY REQUIRED4HERE IS LATENT UNRECOGNISED DEMAND WHICH ISNOTBEINGMETBECAUSEOFINCOMPLETEANDASYMMETRIC INFORMATION)NADEQUACYOFINFORMATION COMPOUNDED BY THE LACK OF COORDINATION BETWEEN POTENTIAL USERS ALSO LEADS TO MARKET FAILURES 4HERE IS INADEQUATE DISSEMINATION OF GOOD QUALITY TRANSLATIONS WHICH WOULD PROVIDE A BENCHMARK AND CREATE INCENTIVES FOR MORE PRIVATE ACTIVITY IN THIS AREA 4HIS THEREFORE REQUIRES SOME AMOUNT OF PUBLIC INTERVENTION NOT AS APERMANENTFEATURE BUTASASETOFMEASURESTOKICK STARTAPROCESSOFENCOURAGINGPRIVATEINITIATIVESOTHAT THELARGECOMMERCIALLYVIABLEPROVISIONOFHIGHQUALITY TRANSLATION IN DIFFERENT AREAS BECOMES FEASIBLE 4HE DIRECTANDINDIRECTEMPLOYMENTGENERATIONPOTENTIALOF TRANSLATION ACTIVITIES IS VERY HIGH AND COULD ABSORB A SUBSTANTIALPARTOFEDUCATEDUNEMPLOYEDYOUTH "ASED ON THESE INSIGHTS .+# FORMED A 7ORKING 'ROUPLEDBY$R*AYATI'HOSHTOBRINGTOGETHERPEOPLE AND AGENCIES INVOLVED IN TRANSLATION PUBLISHING AND DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES4HEY INCLUDED REPRESENTATIVES OF SOME OF THE RELEVANT GOVERNMENT BODIES ACADEMICS LANGUAGE EXPERTS PUBLISHERS TEACHERS AND OTHERS ASSOCIATEDWITHTRANSLATIONACTIVITIESIN)NDIA4HEYMET SEVERALTIMESFORWORKSHOPSANDCONSULTATIONS !S A RESULT OF THEIR WORK AND DISCUSSIONS .+# RECOMMENDSTHEFOLLOWING

0ROVIDEIMPETUSFORDEVELOPINGTRANSLATIONASAN INDUSTRYINTHECOUNTRY'OINGBYTHEEXPERIENCES OFOTHERCOUNTRIES INACOUNTRYLIKE)NDIAWITHITS MANY LANGUAGES AS WELL AS THE HUGE POTENTIAL FOR FOREIGNLANGUAGETRANSLATION THEENTIRETRANSLATION INDUSTRY HAS THE POTENTIAL EVENTUALLY TO EMPLOY BETWEEN ANDHALFAMILLIONPEOPLE

%STABLISH A STORE HOUSE OF INFORMATION ON ALL ASPECTS OF TRANSLATION INVOLVING )NDIAN LANGUAGES AND MAKE THIS AVAILABLE BY CREATING MAINTAINING ANDCONSTANTLYUPDATINGINFORMATIONONTRANSLATIONS PUBLISHED TRAINING PROGRAMS TRANSLATION TOOLS INSTRUMENTSANDNEWINITIATIVES ANDFACILITIESSUCH [email protected] 0ROMOTEPRINTEDASWELLASVIRTUALPUBLICATIONOF WORKS ON TRANSLATION STUDIES PROVIDE A CLEARING HOUSEFORALLTRANSLATIONACTIVITIES BOTHINTHEORETICAL ANDAPPLIEDSUBJECTS INASMANY)NDIANLANGUAGES ASPOSSIBLE #REATEANDMAINTAINVARIOUSTOOLSFORTRANSLATION INCLUDING DIGITAL TOOLS LIKE 4HESAURI "ILINGUAL $ICTIONARIES AND SOFTWARE FOR TRANSLATION )N ADDITION PROMOTEMACHINETRANSLATION LEVERAGING EMERGINGTECHNOLOGIESTOPROVIDEARAPIDANDLARGE VOLUMEOFTRANSLATIONATARELATIVELYLOWCOST 0ROVIDE QUALITY TRAINING AND EDUCATION FOR TRANSLATORS4HISCOULDBEDONETHROUGHSHORTTERM TRAINING PROGRAMS COURSE PACKAGES FOR TRANSLATORS THAT COULD BE INCORPORATED IN LANGUAGE TEACHING PROGRAMS AND FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS AND RESEARCH PROJECTSTOENCOURAGEQUALITY4HEREISALSONEEDFOR GUIDANCEINTHEMETHODOLOGYOFTRANSLATIONANDFOR ACTIONTOENRICHTEACHINGANDTRAININGACTIVITIESIN TRANSLATIONSTUDIES 4RANSLATEPEDAGOGICMATERIALSATALLLEVELSINCLUDING PRIMARYONWARDSTOTERTIARYEDUCATION SPECIlCALLY INNATURALANDSOCIALSCIENCES 0ROJECT )NDIAN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES WITHIN 3OUTH !SIA AND OUTSIDE THROUGH HIGH QUALITY TRANSLATION 3ETUPANATIONALWEBPORTALONTRANSLATIONASAONE STOPSHOPFORALLINFORMATIONONTRANSLATIONANDTO PROVIDEAFORUMFORDIALOGUEBYCREATINGABULLETIN BOARDFORPEOPLETOPOSTQUESTIONSANDANSWERS Report to the Nation

29

/RGANISEANNUALNATIONALCONFERENCESONTRANSLATION TOTAKESTOCKOFACTIVITIESANDINITIATIVESINTHElELD FOR EXPERTS INDUSTRY AND PRACTITIONERS IN THE lELD TOCONFER 0ROMOTE BOOK LAUNCHES FESTIVALS FELLOWSHIPS ANDPRIZESANDENCOURAGECOLLABORATIVETRANSLATION WORK ASWELLASLONG TERMMULTI TRANSLATORPROJECTS AND ORGANISE WORKSHOPS FOR TRANSLATORS TO INTERACT ANDEXCHANGEVIEWSANDEXPERIENCES .+#FEELSTHATINORDERTOACHIEVETHESEGOALSASRAPIDLY AND EFlCIENTLY AS POSSIBLE THE 'OVERNMENT OF )NDIA MAYESTABLISHA.ATIONAL4RANSLATION-ISSION.4- WHICH WOULD TAKE UP THESE TASKS IN A SYSTEMATIC WAY 4HE.4-WOULDBEARELATIVELYSMALLBODYINTERMSOF ITS OWN INFRASTRUCTURE AND BE mEXIBLE IN ORGANISATION BUT WOULD HAVE A BUDGET SUFlCIENT TO ENABLE IT TO CARRYOUTTARGETEDFUNDINGINIDENTIlEDAREAS)TWOULD NOT FUNCTION IN A CENTRALISED WAY BUT WILL REQUIRE INVOLVEMENTOFSTATEANDLOCALLEVELS ANDCO ORDINATION WITH MANY DIFFERENT AGENCIES 3INCE IMMEDIATE REQUIREMENTS MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM FUTURE NEEDS NOT ONLYINTERMSOFTRANSLATIONACTIVITIESBUTALSOTHENATURE OFINTERVENTIONSREQUIRED THE.4-SHOULDBEmEXIBLE

30


ANDRESPONSIVETOCURRENTANDFUTURESOCIALREALITIESAND MARKETCONDITIONS )T IS ENVISAGED THAT A .ATIONAL 4RANSLATION -ISSION PERFORMING THESE ACTIVITIES COULD BE SET UP DURING THE TH0LAN WITHAPROPOSEDBUDGETOF2SCROREFORTHE ENTIRE0LANPERIODAROUND2SCROREFORORGANISATIONAL COSTS MANPOWER AND SCHOLARSHIPS AND AROUND 2S CROREFORALLOTHERACTIVITIES WHICHWOULDINVOLVEFUNDING OTHER COLLABORATING INSTITUTIONS OR PARTIES $EPENDING UPON THE EXPERIENCE DURING THE TH 0LAN PERIOD THE EXTENTOFTHISSUPPORTCOULDBEENHANCEDSUBSEQUENTLY)N ADDITION THE.4-WOULDREQUIRESOMEONE TIMESUPPORT FORCREATINGANDDEVELOPINGTHENECESSARYINFRASTRUCTURE ! PROPOSAL ON THESE LINES WAS SENT TO THE 0LANNING #OMMISSION WHICH MADE SOME FURTHER SUGGESTIONS ON THE ORGANISATION AND STRUCTURE OF THE .ATIONAL 4RANSLATION-ISSION 4RANSLATION ACTIVITIES SHOULD BE SEEN IN TANDEM WITH THEPLANTOINCREASEACCESSTO%NGLISHLANGUAGETRAINING ACROSSTHEPOPULATION ANDTHEPROMOTIONOF%NGLISHIN SCHOOLEDUCATIONATTHEPRIMARYLEVEL"OTHAREASPECTS OFTHEGOALOFINCREASINGACCESSTOKNOWLEDGE

Libraries $ECEMBER

0

UBLICLIBRARIESPLAYAPIVOTALROLEINDISSEMINATION OF KNOWLEDGE AND ARE AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF THE FOUNDATION OF A KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY4HEREISWIDESPREADAGREEMENTTHATTHEREISAN URGENTNEEDFORREFORMINTHE,IBRARIESAND)NFORMATION 3ERVICES ,)3 SECTOR 3EVERAL INITIATIVES IN THIS REGARD HAVE ALREADY BEEN TAKEN BY THE 'OVERNMENT .+# HAS CONSULTED EXTENSIVELY WITH DIVERSE STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDINGA7ORKING'ROUPOFEXPERTSANDPROFESSIONALS .+#S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FORMULATING STRATEGIES IN THE,)3SECTORAREASFOLLOWS

OFTHECOUNTRYINTHEAREAOF,)3MANAGEMENT ANDTAKE NECESSARYSTEPSTOMEETTHECOUNTRYSREQUIREMENTTHROUGH ,)3 EDUCATION AND TRAINING 4O KEEP THE ,)3 SECTOR ABREASTOFLATESTDEVELOPMENTS NECESSARYENCOURAGEMENT SHOULDBEGIVENTORESEARCHAFTEREVALUATINGTHERESEARCH STATUS IN THIS lELD %STABLISHING A WELL EQUIPPED INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCED TRAINING AND RESEARCH IN LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE AND SERVICES WOULDPROVIDETHENECESSARYIMPETUSTOTHISTASK

3ET5PA.ATIONAL#OMMISSION ON,IBRARIES

)N THE CHANGED CONTEXT IT IS NECESSARY TO ASSESS THE MANPOWERREQUIREMENTSFORDIFFERENTTYPESOFLIBRARIES AND DEPARTMENTS OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE KEEPING IN MIND JOB DESCRIPTIONS QUALIlCATIONS DESIGNATIONS PAY SCALE CAREER ADVANCEMENT AND SERVICECONDITIONS

!PERMANENT INDEPENDENTANDlNANCIALLYAUTONOMOUS .ATIONAL#OMMISSIONON,IBRARIESSHOULDBESETUPBY THE#ENTRAL'OVERNMENTASASTATUTORYBODYTOADDRESSTHE INFORMATIONANDLEARNINGNEEDSOFTHECITIZENSOF)NDIA 4O LAUNCH THE PROCESS IN A MISSION MODE A .ATIONAL -ISSIONON,IBRARIESSHOULDBESETUPIMMEDIATELY FOR APERIODOFTHREEYEARS

0REPAREA.ATIONAL#ENSUSOF!LL ,IBRARIES ! NATIONAL CENSUS OF ALL LIBRARIES SHOULD BE PREPARED BY UNDERTAKING A NATION WIDE SURVEY #OLLECTION OF CENSUSDATAONLIBRARIESWOULDPROVIDEBASELINEDATAFOR PLANNING4HE4ASK &ORCE THAT HAS BEEN SET UP BY THE $EPARTMENTOF#ULTUREFORTHISPURPOSESHOULDBEGIVEN lNANCIALANDADMINISTRATIVESUPPORTTOIMPLEMENTTHIS ACTIVITY AND COMPLETE THE SURVEY ON A PRIORITY BASIS WITHINONEYEAR 5SERNEEDSANDREADINGHABITSSHOULD BEPERIODICALLYSURVEYEDATTHENATIONALLEVELASPARTOF THE.ATIONAL3AMPLE3URVEY

2EVAMP,)3%DUCATION 4RAINING AND2ESEARCH&ACILITIES 4HEPROPOSED-ISSION#OMMISSIONON,IBRARIESMUST ASSESS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE THE MANPOWER REQUIREMENTS

2E ASSESS3TAFlNGOF,IBRARIES

3ET5PA#ENTRAL,IBRARY&UND ! SPECIlED PERCENTAGE OF THE #ENTRAL AND 3TATE EDUCATIONBUDGETSMUSTBEEAR MARKEDFORLIBRARIES)N ADDITION A#ENTRAL,IBRARY&UNDSHOULDBEINSTITUTED FOR UPGRADING EXISTING LIBRARIES OVER A PERIOD OF YEARS4HEINITIALFUNDINGFROMTHE'OVERNMENTMAYBE 2S CRORES WHICHMAYBEMATCHEDBYTHEPRIVATE SECTORTHROUGHCORPORATEPHILANTHROPY4HISFUNDSHOULD BEADMINISTEREDBYTHE.ATIONAL-ISSION#OMMISSION ON,IBRARIES

-ODERNISE,IBRARY-ANAGEMENT ,IBRARIES SHOULD BE SO ORGANISED AND THE STAFF SO TRAINEDTHATTHEYBECOMERELEVANTTOUSERCOMMUNITIES INCLUDING SPECIAL GROUPS IN EVERY RESPECT !LSO TO OPTIMISE RESOURCES EFFORTS SHOULD BE MADE TO SYNERGISE THE STRENGTHS OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF LIBRARIES THROUGH INNOVATIVE COLLABORATION .+# PROPOSES THE CREATION OF A MODEL ,IBRARY #HARTER A LIST OF SERVICES TO BE PERFORMED BY LIBRARIES A ,IBRARY .ETWORK AND A .ATIONAL 2EPOSITORY FOR "IBLIOGRAPHIC2ECORDS Report to the Nation

31

%NCOURAGE'REATER#OMMUNITY 0ARTICIPATIONIN,IBRARY -ANAGEMENT )T IS NECESSARY TO INVOLVE DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS AND USERGROUPSINTHEMANAGERIALDECISION MAKINGPROCESS FORLIBRARIES0UBLICLIBRARIESMUSTBERUNBYLOCALSELF GOVERNMENT THROUGH COMMITTEES REPRESENTING USERS OF THE LIBRARY 4HESE COMMITTEES SHOULD ENSURE LOCAL COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND SHOULD BE AUTONOMOUS ENOUGH TO TAKE INDEPENDENT DECISIONS TO CONDUCT CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAMS ,IBRARIESSHOULDINTEGRATEWITHALLOTHERKNOWLEDGE BASED ACTIVITIESINTHELOCALAREATODEVELOPACOMMUNITY BASED INFORMATIONSYSTEM)NTHERURALSECTOR THERESPONSIBILITY FOR VILLAGE LIBRARIES OR #OMMUNITY +NOWLEDGE #ENTRES MUSTLIEWITHTHE0ANCHAYATS4HESESHOULDBESETUPIN CLOSEPROXIMITYORONTHEPREMISESOFSCHOOLS

0ROMOTE)NFORMATION #OMMUNICATION4ECHNOLOGY )#4 !PPLICATIONSIN!LL,IBRARIES 4HE CATALOGUES OF ALL LIBRARIES SHOULD BE PUT ON LOCAL STATE AND NATIONAL WEBSITES WITH NECESSARY LINKAGES 4HIS WILL ENABLE NETWORKING OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF LIBRARIES AND SETTING UP OF A .ATIONAL 2EPOSITORY OF "IBLIOGRAPHIC 2ECORDS AND A CENTRALISED COLLABORATIVE VIRTUAL ENQUIRY HANDLING SYSTEM USING THE LATEST )#4 4OENABLEEQUITABLEANDUNIVERSALACCESSTOKNOWLEDGE RESOURCES LIBRARIESSHOULDBEENCOURAGEDTOCREATEMORE DIGITALRESOURCESBYDIGITISINGRELEVANTREADINGMATERIAL INDIFFERENTLANGUAGES WHICHCANBESHAREDATALLLEVELS 0EER REVIEWED RESEARCH PAPERS RESULTING FROM PUBLICLY FUNDEDRESEARCHSHOULDALSOBEMADEAVAILABLETHROUGH OPENACCESSCHANNELS SUBJECTTOCOPYRIGHTREGULATIONS )T IS RECOMMENDED THAT OPEN STANDARDS AND FREE AND OPENSOURCESOFTWAREMAYBEUSEDFORTHEABOVE

32


&ACILITATE$ONATIONAND -AINTENANCEOF0RIVATE#OLLECTIONS 4HERE ARE NUMEROUS RICH PRIVATE AND PERSONAL COLLECTIONS IN )NDIA WHICH NEED TO BE IDENTIlED DOCUMENTEDANDPRESERVEDFORPOSTERITY7HILETHEREIS ANEEDTOCREATEADECENTRALISEDMODELFORIDENTIlCATION OFPERSONALCOLLECTIONS ITISALSONECESSARYTOSENSITISE ORGANISATIONS TO RECEIVE AND PRESERVE DONATIONS OF PERSONAL COLLECTIONS THROUGH A SIMPLIlED PROCESS 4HE .ATIONAL -ISSION#OMMISSION MAY SET UP A COMMITTEE ON PRIVATE AND PERSONAL COLLECTIONS UNDER THE CHAIRPERSONSHIP OF AN EMINENT SCHOLAR 3INCE SPECIAL FACILITIES FOR MAINTAINING PRIVATE OR PERSONAL COLLECTIONS ARE NOT EASILY AVAILABLE IT IS SUGGESTED THAT REGIONAL CENTRES WITH SPECIlC MANDATESBESETUPINDIFFERENTPARTSOFTHECOUNTRY FORTHISPURPOSE

%NCOURAGE0UBLIC 0RIVATE 0ARTNERSHIPSIN,)3$EVELOPMENT 0HILANTHROPIC ORGANISATIONS INDUSTRIAL HOUSES AND OTHER PRIVATE AGENCIES SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED THROUGH lSCAL INCENTIVES TO SUPPORT EXISTING LIBRARIES OR SET UP NEWLIBRARIES4HEINGENUITYOFCIVILSOCIETYMAYALSOBE UTILISEDTOPREPARENECESSARYINFRASTRUCTURETOMEETTHE SPECIAL)#4NEEDSOFTHE,)3SECTOR )N ORDER TO FACILITATE THE COORDINATED DEVELOPMENT OF LIBRARIES ACROSS DIFFERENT SECTORS AND TO PROVIDE THE LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK REQUIRED LEGAL SUPPORT AND lNANCIALBACKINGTOTHELIBRARYSECTOR THE'OVERNMENT COULD IN COURSE OF TIME CONSIDER INCLUDING LIBRARIES IN THE #ONCURRENT ,IST OF THE #ONSTITUTION OF )NDIA 4HIS SHOULD BE DONE WITHOUT IN ANY WAY ABROGATING THE EXISTING RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE STATES TOWARDSLIBRARIES

Knowledge Network $ECEMBER

.

+#STRONGLYFEELSTHATTOOPTIMALLYUTILISETHE POTENTIALOFINSTITUTIONSENGAGEDINGENERATION AND DISSEMINATION OF KNOWLEDGE IN VARIOUS AREAS SUCHASRESEARCHLABORATORIES UNIVERSITIESANDOTHER INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING INCLUDING PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTIONS IT IS IMPORTANT TO CONNECT THEM THROUGH A HIGH SPEED BROADBAND NETWORK )N ORDER TO EXPLORE THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY AMONG SUCH INSTITUTIONS .+# SPENT SIX MONTHS STUDYING VARIOUS ISSUES AND ALTERNATIVES %XTENSIVE CONSULTATIONS WITH EXPERTS POTENTIAL USERS TELECOM SERVICE PROVIDERS GOVERNMENT OFlCIALS AND VARIOUS EDUCATIONALANDRESEARCHINSTITUTIONSPROVIDEDINSIGHTS ONTHEREQUIREMENTS IMPLEMENTATIONISSUESANDBENElTS OFCREATINGANINTEGRATEDNATIONALKNOWLEDGENETWORK 4HE PURPOSE OF SUCH A KNOWLEDGE NETWORK GOES TO THE VERY HEART OF THE COUNTRYS QUEST TO BUILD QUALITY INSTITUTIONS WITH REQUISITE RESEARCH FACILITIES AND TO CREATE A POOL OF HIGHLY TRAINED PERSONS #ONSIDERING THE MAGNITUDE OF THE CHALLENGE .+# BELIEVES AN IMMEDIATE OBJECTIVE OF THE NETWORK WILL BE TO SHARE THE EXISTING CONTENT COURSEWORK EXPERTISE IDEAS INNOVATIONS EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES AVAILABLE IN THE LIMITED NUMBER OF CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE WITH A WIDER GROUPOFINSTITUTIONS EDUCATORSANDSTUDENTS 'LOBALLY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES AND INNOVATIONS ARE INCREASINGLY MULTIDISCIPLINARY AND COLLABORATIVE AND REQUIRE SUBSTANTIAL COMPUTATIONAL POWER 4HE KEY TO SUCCESSFUL RESEARCH TODAY IS LIVE CONSULTATIONS DATA SHARING AND RESOURCE SHARING 4HEREFORE IT IS ESSENTIAL TO PROVIDE BROADBAND CONNECTIVITYTOOURKNOWLEDGEINSTITUTIONSTOIMPROVE ACCESS QUALITYANDQUANTITYOF2$ACTIVITIES 4HE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE IS TO INTERCONNECT ALL OUR KNOWLEDGEINSTITUTIONSINVARIOUSlELDS ANDATVARIOUS LOCATIONSTHROUGHOUTTHECOUNTRY THROUGHANELECTRONIC DIGITAL BROADBAND NETWORK WITH ADEQUATE CAPABILITIES ANDACCESSSPEEDTOENCOURAGESHARINGOFRESOURCESAND COLLABORATIVERESEARCH

.+#COMMISSIONEDANEXPERTTOEXAMINEWHATITWOULD TAKETOCREATEANATIONALKNOWLEDGENETWORK.+#ALSO HELDDETAILEDDISCUSSIONSWITHTHEOFlCEOFTHE0RINCIPAL 3CIENTIlC!DVISER03! TOTHE'OVERNMENTOF)NDIA4HE DISCUSSIONSYIELDEDACONSENSUSONTHEOPTIMALAPPROACH TOBEADOPTEDFORSETTINGUPSUCHANETWORK WHETHERITIS FORABROADRANGEOFINSTITUTIONSASENVISAGEDBY.+#OR ASPECIlCCOMMUNITYOF3CIENCEAND4ECHNOLOGY34 RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS "ASED ON THE VARIOUS DISCUSSIONS .+#RECOMMENDSTHEFOLLOWING

.ATIONAL+NOWLEDGE.ETWORK "UILD A NATIONAL KNOWLEDGE NETWORK WITH GIGABIT CAPABILITIES TO CONNECT ALL UNIVERSITIES LIBRARIES LABORATORIES HOSPITALS AND AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTIONS TO SHARE DATA AND RESOURCES ACROSS THE COUNTRY4HIS WILL ULTIMATELYREQUIREPROVISIONOFCONNECTIVITYTOAROUND NODESCOVERINGALLMAJORINSTITUTIONS4HEACTUAL IMPLEMENTATION COULD BE IN PHASES TARGETING TO NODESINTHElRSTPHASE(OWEVER THEDESIGNOF THENETWORKWILLHAVETOBEBASEDONTHElNALNETWORK 4HE PRIORITISATION OF THE NODES FOR IMPLEMENTATION PURPOSESSHOULDBEONTHEBASISOFTHEINSTITUTIONSWHICH ARE MOST LIKELY TO USE THE NETWORK FROM DAY ONE AND WHICHWOULDBEABLETODEMONSTRATETHEBENElTS"ASED ONADETAILEDANALYSISOFTHECOUNTRYSEXISTINGOPTIClBRE INFRASTRUCTUREANDTECHNOLOGIESAVAILABLE ITISESTIMATED THATATO NODENETWORKCANBECOMMISSIONED WITHINTHREETOSIXMONTHS

/PTIONS 7IDE CONSULTATIONS WITH EXPERTS AND TECHNOLOGY PROVIDERSSUGGESTTHATTHEREAREFOURPOSSIBLENETWORKING OPTIONS  4HE lRST ONE INVOLVES HIRING DARK lBRES THAT HAVE BEEN EXTENSIVELY LAID OUT BY VARIOUS TELECOMSERVICEPROVIDERSANDLIGHTINGTHEM  4HE SECOND INVOLVES LIT lBRES AND DIFFERS FROM THE lRST IN NOT REQUIRING TRANSMISSION EQUIPMENTPROCUREMENTANDITSMAINTENANCE


33



4HE THIRD INVOLVES USING EXISTING COMMERCIAL NETWORKS MAKING CAPITAL INVESTMENT IN EQUIPMENT UNNECESSARY )T REQUIRES MINIMUM MAINTENANCEANDOPERATIONSORGANISATION  4HEFOURTHISAHYBRIDAPPROACHWHERETHE#ORE CONSISTSOFTWOLAYERSINWHICHTHEINNERHIGHER SPEEDLAYERISWHOLLYOWNEDBYTHESTAKEHOLDERS WHILETHELOWERLAYERISPROVIDEDBYCOMMERCIAL SERVICEPROVIDERS &ROM THE VIEWPOINT OF COST THE THIRD APPROACH BASED ONTHEUTILISATIONOFTHEAVAILABLECOMMERCIALNETWORKS APPEARS TO BE MOST ATTRACTIVE TO START WITH 4HIS IS BECAUSE THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURE IS NEGLIGIBLE IF THE OPERATOR CHOSEN HAS A WELL ESTABLISHED NETWORK WHICH ISBEINGUSEDBYALARGENUMBEROFEXISTINGCUSTOMERS (OWEVER LACK OF EXPERIENCE OF ARCHITECTURAL mEXIBILITY ANDSECURITYASPECTSOFVIRTUALPRIVATENETWORKS60.S SETUPONACOMMERCIALBASIS DONOTALLOWPROSPECTIVE USERS TO BE ENTIRELY COMFORTABLE WITH THIS APPROACH 4HEREFORE .+#RECOMMENDSTHATEXISTINGCOMMERCIAL NETWORKSBEUTILISED3UBSEQUENTLY FEEDBACKFROMTHIS EXERCISECOULDENABLEASHIFTTOAHYBRIDNETWORKWITHA CENTRAL#ORE PREFERABLYOFARELATIVELYFEWNODES ANDAN OUTERNETWORKCONSTITUTEDBYPRACTICALLYEACHONEOFTHE OTHEROPERATORSNETWORKS

!RCHITECTURE 4HE NETWORK SHOULD CONSIST OF A #ORE USING )NTERNET 0ROTOCOL )0 AND -ULTI 0ACKET ,ABELED 3ERVICES -0,3 TECHNOLOGY AN !GGREGATION OR $ISTRIBUTION NETWORK AND AN !CCESS OR %DGE NETWORK LINKING THE INSTITUTIONSLOCALAREANETWORK,!. TOTHE#ORE4HE #ORENETWORKCOULDBEASINGLEHIERARCHYORATWO STAGE +NOWLEDGENETWORKWITHAHIGHERSPEEDNETWORKATTHE TOPTOACCOMMODATEARCHITECTUREmEXIBILITYANDSECURITY CONCERNSINA60. BASEDCOMMERCIAL)NTERNET0ROTOCOL -ULTI 0ROTOCOL ,ABEL 3WITCHING )0 -0,3 NETWORK 4HE DETAILED SPECIlCATION OF THE NETWORK WILL HAVE TO BE DRAWN UP WITH A VIEW TO INVITING BIDS FOR SPEEDY IMPLEMENTATION4HENETWORKSHOULDBEIMPLEMENTED IN PHASES 4HE lRST PHASE SHOULD COVER ABOUT INSTITUTIONS AND SHOULD BE COMMISSIONED IN THREE TO SIXMONTHS

#ONGRUENCEWITH% GOVERNANCE 4HEQUESTIONOFWHETHERTHENETWORKFOR% GOVERNANCE AND THE +NOWLEDGE .ETWORK SHOULD BE ONE SINGLE NETWORKASSUMESIMPORTANCEANDRELEVANCEDEPENDING

34


UPON THE APPROACH ADOPTED FOR THE REALISATION OF THE NETWORK )N THE RECOMMENDED APPROACH IN THE lRST PHASE NAMELY60.SONCOMMERCIAL-0,3NETWORKSON $ENSE 7AVELENGTH $IVISION -ULTIPLEXING $7$- THISQUESTIONBECOMESIRRELEVANTBECAUSESEVERAL60.S CANBECREATEDONACOMMERCIALNETWORKANDTHEYCOULD BEENTIRELYUN CORRELATED ASMAYBETHECASEWITHTHESE TWONETWORKS4HISQUESTIONWOULDASSUMEIMPORTANCE ONLYIFTHECOUNTRYWERETOIMPLEMENTAPURELYOWNED NETWORKONLIGHTEDlBRES/NTHEOTHERHAND EVENIN THEHYBRIDAPPROACH THE% GOVERNANCENETWORKWITHAN ENTIRELYDIFFERENTGEOGRAPHICALSPREADANDMUCHLOWER BANDWIDTHREQUIREMENTS CANBEREALISEDAS60.SAND THE SECURITY AND mEXIBILITY COULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE INNERCORE4HEISSUEOFCONGRUENCEOFTHETWONETWORKS THEREFORE NO LONGER REMAINS IMPORTANT AND THE TWO ASPECTSCANBETOTALLYDE LINKED

3ECURITYAND0RIVACY -ETHODS WILL HAVE TO BE EVOLVED BOTH AT THE TIME OF COMMISSIONING OF THE NETWORK AS WELL AS DURING OPERATIONS TOENSURESECURITYOFDATAALONGWITHPRIVACY ANDCONlDENTIALITY!CCESSTODATAFROMTHE$ATA#ENTRE OF A GIVEN INSTITUTION SHOULD BE UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE INSTITUTION BEING ADDRESSED !N ARRANGEMENT FOR AUTHENTICATIONANDAUTHORISATION WITHTHEPARTICIPATION OF THE CONNECTED INSTITUTIONS IS ESSENTIAL TO LAUNCH THENETWORK

/NE TIME3UPPORTFOR,!.S 4HE PROPOSED BROADBAND NETWORK ENVISAGES HIGHER ACCESS BANDWIDTH AND THEREFORE ALMOST ALL USER INSTITUTIONSWILLHAVETOUPGRADETHEIRNETWORKSTOBE ABLETOCATERTOTHESESPEEDS7HILESEVERALINSTITUTIONS MAY HAVE THE RESOURCES FOR DOING THIS A LARGE NUMBER WILL NEED ONE TIME CAPITAL SUPPORT TOSET UP &AST %THERNET ,!. &%,!. WHICH INCLUDES EXPENDITUREONROUTERS SWITCHESANDOPTIClBRECABLE ONTHECAMPUS

#OSTS 4HE +NOWLEDGE .ETWORK INITIALLY PROPOSED TO BE LAUNCHED ON EXISTING COMMERCIAL NETWORKS WILL THEREFORE INVOLVE A RECURRING COST OF 2S LAKH PERINSTITUTIONCONNECTED AMOUNTINGTO2S CRORESANNUALLYFORINSTITUTIONSINTHElRSTPHASE )NADDITION THEREWILLBEAONE TIMECAPITALINVESTMENT INUPGRADINGTHE,!.SOFTHESEINSTITUTIONSTOA

-BPS CAPABILITY &AST %THERNET ,!. 4HEREAFTER BASED ON FEEDBACK THE INSTALLATION OF THE INNER CORE NETWORKOF'BPSORHIGHERCAPABILITYWILLBETAKEN UP4HIS WILL INVOLVE A CAPITAL INVESTMENT OF AROUND 2S CRORESONAOR NODE)NNER#ORENETWORK ITS 'IGABIT CONNECTIVITY TO THE COMMERCIAL )0 -0,3 NETWORKS AS ALSO DIRECT CONNECTIVITY TO A FEW USERS WHOAREPARTICULARLYCONCERNEDABOUTTHESECURITYAND INTERNETWORKING EXPERIMENTS 4HIS EXPENDITURE WILL BE INCURRED OVER A PERIOD OF TIME 4HERE WILL BE AN ADDITIONAL RECURRING EXPENDITURE FOR THIS )NNER #ORE ON HIRING LARGE BANDWIDTHS FROM BANDWIDTH SERVICE PROVIDERS4HISAMOUNTWILLDEPENDONTHENUMBEROF NODESANDTHENEGOTIATEDORBID BASEDPRICE

/RGANISATION 4O ENSURE DAY TO DAY COORDINATION OPERATION AND EFlCIENT UTILISATION .+# RECOMMENDS ESTABLISHING A 3PECIAL 0URPOSE 6EHICLE 306 CONSISTING OF MAJOR STAKEHOLDERS 3UCH AN 306 SHOULD HAVE PROFESSIONAL EXPERTSPOOLEDFROMVARIOUSSTAKEHOLDERINSTITUTIONSFOR COORDINATING AND GUIDING VARIOUS PRIVATE VENDORS FOR SPEEDYIMPLEMENTATION4HEPOLICY SECURITYANDOVERALL MANAGEMENTSHOULDBETHERESPONSIBILITYOFTHE306AND THEOPERATIONALSUPPORTREQUIREMENTSSHOULDBEMETBY THEINDUSTRY/NEOFTHECOMPELLINGREASONSFORSUCHA MECHANISMISTOPROVIDEASSURANCETHATTHEUSEOFCYBER SPACEWILLINNOWAYCOMPROMISETHESECURITYCONCERNS OFTHECOUNTRY

/WNERSHIP 4HE+NOWLEDGE.ETWORKSHOULDBEOWNEDBYTHE306 CONSISTINGOFMAJORSTAKEHOLDERS'OVERNMENTOWNERSHIP ISNOTDESIRABLE DESPITETHEFACTTHATSUBSTANTIALFUNDING WILLBEFROMTHE'OVERNMENT BECAUSE  )T IS THE 'OVERNMENTS POLICY TO WITHDRAW FROM DIRECTOPERATIONSANDMAINTENANCEACTIVITIESINTHE )#4SECTOR  4HETYPEOFTRAINEDMANPOWERNEEDED THOUGHNOT LARGE ISINGREATDEMANDINTHEMARKET ANDTHEREFORE WILLREQUIRESPECIALREMUNERATIONANDINCENTIVES

3PECIAL'ROUP .+# RECOMMENDS THE SETTING UP OF A SPECIAL 7ORKING 'ROUP OF EXPERTS TO lNALISE SPECIlCATIONS IMPLEMENTATIONPLANS COSTESTIMATES ANDNETWORKPLANS AS WELL AS TO CARRY OUT THE ACTUAL TASK OF PROCUREMENT ANDCOMMISSIONINGOFTHENETWORK4HISGROUPWILLALSO ESTABLISHTHE306NEEDEDFORRUNNINGTHENETWORKONA DAYTODAYBASIS .+# BELIEVES THAT A .ATIONAL +NOWLEDGE .ETWORK INTERCONNECTING OUR KNOWLEDGE INSTITUTIONS AND INFRASTRUCTUREWITHACCESSSPEEDSOFMBPSANDMORE WILL GIVE A MAJOR PUSH TO COLLABORATIONS AND SHARING NEEDEDTOENHANCETHEQUALITYOFOUREDUCATION RESEARCH ANDAPPLICATIONSANDATTHESAMETIMEWILLEMPOWEROUR PEOPLETOBECOMPETITIVEINTHEGLOBALECONOMY


35

Health Information Network

.

ATIONAL +NOWLEDGE #OMMISSION .+# IS CONVINCEDTHATEXTENSIVEUSEOF)4INHEALTH CARE WILL PROMOTE THE DELIVERY OF EFlCIENT HEALTH CARE IN THE COUNTRY (OWEVER AS THE USE OF )4 IN THE MANAGEMENT OF HEALTHCARE AND MEDICAL KNOWLEDGEWILLINCREASE THEHEALTHCAREESTABLISHMENTS WILL DEVELOP AND USE THEIR OWN HEALTH )4 SYSTEMS )T HAS BEEN THE EXPERIENCE OF WESTERN COUNTRIES THAT THESE INDIVIDUALLY DEVELOPED SYSTEMS ARE OFTEN NOT INTEROPERABLEWITHOTHERESTABLISHMENTS WHICHMAKES THEHEALTHCARESYSTEMINEFlCIENTANDEXPENSIVE.+# BELIEVESTHAT)NDIAHASAUNIQUEOPPORTUNITYTOLEARN FROMTHEWORLDEXPERIENCEANDADOPTONLYTHEPROVEN BESTPRACTICESINTHElELD )NTHISCONTEXT.+#CONSTITUTEDAWORKINGGROUP UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF $R .+ 'ANGULY #HAIRMAN )NDIAN#OUNCILFOR-EDICAL2ESEARCH)#-2 TOSTUDY THEUSEOF)4INFUTUREHEALTHCARE4HEWORKINGGROUP STUDIED THE FUTURE NEED CONDUCTED SEVERAL MEETINGS ANDDELIBERATIONS ANDHELDCONSULTATIONSWITHVARIOUS NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS .+# BELIEVES THAT THEUSEOF)4INHEALTHCARENEEDSANATIONALDIRECTION FORITSPROPERIMPLEMENTATIONANDMAKESTHEFOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONSFORDEVELOPINGA(EALTH)NFORMATION .ETWORK

)NITIATE$EVELOPMENTOF)NDIAN (EALTH)NFORMATION.ETWORK )NDIANEEDSTODEVELOPAWEB BASEDNETWORK CONNECTING ALL HEALTH CARE ESTABLISHMENTS IN BOTH PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTOR 7HEN FULLY FUNCTIONAL ALL HEALTH CARE TRANSACTIONSWILLBERECORDEDELECTRONICALLYANDTHISDATA WILLBEAVAILABLEINTHEHEALTHDATAVAULTTOAUTHORISED USERSWHENTHEYNEEDITANDWHERETHEYNEEDIT 4HE PROPOSED +NOWLEDGE .ETWORK WITH GIGABIT CAPABILITIES MAY PROVIDE THE BACKBONE AND NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE ON WHICH THE (EALTH )NFORMATION .ETWORK MAY RIDE 4HE NETWORK WILL BE A @HUB AND SPOKEMODEL!LLHEALTHCAREESTABLISHMENTSINADISTRICT WILLCONNECTTOACENTRALDATAREPOSITORYATTHEDISTRICT 36


/CTOBER

LEVEL!LLTHEDISTRICTNODALDATAREPOSITORIESWILLCONNECT WITHASTATELEVELDATABANK WHICHINTURNWILLCONNECT WITHACENTRALDATABANK 4HERESHOULDBEACTIVEINVOLVEMENTOFPRIVATEANDPUBLIC HEALTHENTITIESTOEFFECTIVELYADDRESSTHECREATIONOFTHIS NETWORK PORTALS ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS HEALTH DATA VAULT SECURITY PRIVACYANDOTHERRELATEDISSUESINFUTURE WHICHWILLENCOURAGETHEPARTICIPATIONOFTHEFOLLOWING  #ITIZENS  (EALTHCAREPROVIDERSANDPLAYERS  %DUCATION RESEARCHINSTITUTIONSANDINVESTIGATORS  'OVERNMENTDEPARTMENTSANDINSTITUTIONS  0UBLICHEALTHAGENCIESAND.'/S  0HARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY AND MEDICAL DEVICE MAKERS  4ELEMEDICINEINSTITUTIONS  3OFTWAREANDHARDWAREDEVELOPERS 4HE READY AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION WILL ACCRUE ENORMOUS BENElTS TO PUBLIC HEALTH PLANNING MEDICAL EDUCATION COST CONTROL MEDICAL RESEARCH DRUG DEVELOPMENT PREVENTIONOFFRAUD DISASTERMANAGEMENT ANDIMPROVEDPATIENTCARE

%STABLISH.ATIONAL3TANDARDSFOR #LINICAL4ERMINOLOGYAND(EALTH )NFORMATICS &OR A WEB BASED INTEROPERABLE NATIONAL GRID IT IS IMPERATIVE TO HAVE COMMON CLINICAL NOMENCLATURE OR ELSEDISPARATEPROGRAMSDEVELOPEDBYTHEINDUSTRYWILL NOTBEINTEROPERABLE4HECLINICALSTANDARDSWILLESTABLISH ACOMMONLEXICONTOBEUSEDINELECTRONICTRANSACTIONS 4HISWILLENABLEALLGEOGRAPHICALLYSCATTEREDENTITIESTO COMMUNICATE IN ONE COMMON LANGUAGE AND FACILITATE DATA TRANSMISSION AND COLLECTION )T IS IMPORTANT TO DEVELOP COMMON NOMENCLATURE STANDARDS FOR THE TRADITIONALMEDICALSYSTEMS ASLARGENUMBERSOFPEOPLE DEPENDONTHESESYSTEMSFORTHEIRMEDICALNEEDS"ESIDES THE COMMON CLINICAL LANGUAGE ADOPTION OF A COMMON NATIONALSTANDARDINHEALTHINFORMATICSWILLFACILITATETHE MESSAGING COLLATIONANDANALYSISOFDATA

#REATEA#OMMON%LECTRONIC (EALTH2ECORD%(2 !N ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORD %(2 IS THE RECORD OF A PERSON FROM BIRTH TO DEATH WHERE ALL HEATH CARE ENCOUNTERS ARE RECORDED (EALTH TRANSACTIONS ARE PRESENTLY RECORDED IN A PAPER FORMAT LIKE A HOSPITAL PATIENT CHART PRESCRIPTIONS LABORATORY TESTS ETC4HE TECHNOLOGY TO CAPTURE AND STORE THIS INFORMATION ELECTRONICALLYALREADYEXISTSANDHASBEENDEVELOPEDBY MANY PRIVATE AND PUBLIC ORGANISATIONS IN )NDIA &OR UNIFORM DATA CAPTURE STORAGE AND SUBSEQUENT USE IT IS RECOMMENDED TO CREATE A COMMON NATIONAL %(2 BASED ON COMMON CLINICAL AND )4 STANDARDS 4HE RECORDSHOULDBEABLETOCAPTUREDATAGENERATEDBYTHE @TRADITIONAL MEDICINE HEALTH PROVIDERS 4O PROMOTE THEEARLYADOPTIONOFTHEHEALTH)4 THIS%(2MAYBE GIVENFREEOFCOSTORATSUBSIDISEDRATESTOALLUSERS4HE OTHER )4 TOOLS AND APPLICATIONS CAN BE DEVELOPED BY THE PRIVATE INDUSTRY AND SHOULD BE COMPATIBLE WITH THENATIONAL%(2

&RAME0OLICIESTO0ROMOTE5SEOF )4IN(EALTH#ARE 4HEUSEOF)4INHEALTHCARENEEDSANIMPETUSFROMTHE GOVERNMENTOTHERWISETHEDEVELOPMENTANDPENETRATION WILL BE SLOW AND ARBITRARY 4HESE POLICIES SHOULD BE FORMED NOT TO HAMPER BUT PROMOTE THE HEALTH )4 BUSINESS IN THE COUNTRY AND GENERATE EMPLOYMENT IN THIS SECTOR4HE #ENTRAL 'OVERNMENT SHOULD DECLARE A TIME PERIOD AFTER WHICH ALL TRANSACTIONS IN HEALTH CARE IN THE COUNTRY WILL BE IN ELECTRONIC FORMAT 3UFlCIENT TIME SHOULD BE GIVEN FOR THE HEALTH ESTABLISHMENTS TO ADOPT ELECTRONIC TRANSACTION .+# FEELS YEARS IS AN ADEQUATE TIME FOR ALL PARTIES TO EVOLVE ELECTRONIC TRANSACTIONSAFTERWHICHALLHEALTHESTABLISHMENTSSHOULD BEABLETOCOMPLY

#REATE!PPROPRIATE0OLICY &RAMEWORKTO0ROTECT(EALTH $ATAOF#ITIZENS 4HE INTEGRITY OF DATA AT THE PRIMARY DATA COLLECTION SITE WILL DETERMINE THE USEFULNESS OF THIS ENTERPRISE 4O ENSURE THAT ONLY CORRECT PATIENT AND OTHER HEALTH DATAISCOLLECTED ITISOFUTMOSTIMPORTANCETOGAINTHE CONlDENCEOFTHECITIZENSTHATTHEIRHEALTHDATAWILLNOT BEMISUSEDBYTHEHEALTHPROVIDERS INSURANCECOMPANIES

EMPLOYERSANDTHEGOVERNMENT"OTHTECHNOLOGICALAND LEGAL FRAMEWORK IS IMPORTANT TO ACHIEVE THIS 7HILE ENCRYPTION ANONYMITYANDOTHER)4SECURITYMEASURES SHOULDBEINPLACEITISALSOIMPORTANTTOHAVERULESIN PLACE )T IS IMPORTANT TO MAINTAIN CONlDENTIALITY AND SECURITYOFTHEPERSONALHEALTHDATAANDTOGOVERNTHE ACCESSANDUSEOFDATA

-EDICAL)NFORMATICSTOBE0ART OF-EDICALAND0ARAMEDICAL #URRICULUM -EDICALEDUCATIONNEEDSTOTAKEFULLADVANTAGEOFTHE POWER OF )#4 ! WELL STRUCTURED HEALTH INFORMATICS CURRICULUM NEEDS TO BE MADE AN INTEGRAL PART OF MEDICAL EDUCATION AT ALL LEVELS "ASIC )#4 FACILITIES SUCHASGOODQUALITYACCESSTO)NTERNETANDE *OURNALS NEEDTOBEMADECOMPULSORYFORALLMEDICALCOLLEGESIN THECOUNTRY&ORCAPACITYBUILDING )#4TOOLSSHOULD BE EFFECTIVELY DEPLOYED TO TRAIN THE LARGE NUMBER OF HEALTH WORKERS 3HORT AND MEDIUM TERM COURSES NEED TO BE DEVELOPED AND MADE AVAILABLE ON THE NET TOADDRESSTRAININGNEEDSOFALLHEALTHWORKERSINTHE lELD )T SHOULD BE MADE AFFORDABLE ACCESSIBLE AND EASILY AVAILABLE FOR SMALL PLAYERS 4HERE IS A NEED TO EVOLVECOMMONFORMATSFORDATAREPORTINGTOFACILITATE )4 ENABLEMENT OF MEDICAL MANPOWER AT ALL LEVELS %DUCATION RELATED PORTALS SHOULD ALSO BE SET UP FOR TRAININGOFMEDICALMANPOWER

#REATEAN)NSTITUTIONAL &RAMEWORKFOR)MPLEMENTATION !N AUTONOMOUS BODY WITH THE -INISTRY OF (EALTH SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTING THEPROJECTINATIMEBOUNDMANNER4HISBODYSHOULD BE AUTONOMOUS AND A NON PROlT ORGANISATION WITH REPRESENTATION FROM PRIVATE PUBLIC AND VOLUNTARY SECTORS!LLSTAKEHOLDERSSHOULDBEREPRESENTEDINTHIS BODYANDITSHOULDHAVETHERESOURCESTOPROMOTEAND IMPLEMENTTHEPLAN)TSHOULDALSOHAVETHEAUTHORITY TOENSURETHESMOOTHFUNCTIONINGOFTHE)NDIAN(EALTH )NFORMATION.ETWORK 4HEOBJECTIVESFORTHISINSTITUTIONALBODYWILLBE 4OFORMULATEANIMPLEMENTATIONPLAN  4OCOORDINATETHEPARTICIPATIONOFALLSTAKEHOLDERS  4O CREATE LINKAGES WITH E GOVERNANCE MEDICAL EDUCATIONNETWORK 

)T MAY BE MODELED AFTER THE #ANADIAN (EALTH )NFOWAY WHICH IS A NON PROlT AUTONOMOUS BODY FUNDED BY THE FEDERAL AND PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTSIN#ANADA


37

     

38

4OENSURElNANCIALVIABILITYOFTHEPROJECT 4OSETUPACOMPREHENSIVEANDINTERACTIVENATIONAL HEALTHPORTAL 4OSUGGESTCOMMONNATIONALSTANDARDS 4OPROTECTCONlDENTIALITYANDSECURITYOFDATA 4OFACILITATETHEOWNERSHIP ACCESSANDmOWOFDATA 4OMAINTAINANDUPGRADETHESYSTEMINFUTURE


4HE NEXT STEP IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF )NDIAN (EALTH )NFORMATION .ETWORK IS TO FORMALISE THE INSTITUTIONAL BODYWITHAPPROPRIATEPROFESSIONALPEOPLEWITHDOMAIN EXPERTISE ADEQUATEBUDGET TIMETABLES ANDMEASURABLE MILESTONESTOIMPLEMENTTHESERECOMMENDATIONS4HE BODY MAY CONSIDER CONDUCTING PILOT PROGRAMS BEFORE SCALINGATTHENATIONALLEVEL

Portals *ANUARY

2

ECOGNISING THAT THE )NTERNET CONSTITUTES A POWERFULANDDEMOCRATICSOURCEOFINFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE THE .ATIONAL +NOWLEDGE #OMMISSION .+# DELIBERATED ON WAYS TO CREATE A SERIESOFWEBPORTALS4HESEWEBPORTALSSHOULDBECOME ADECISIVETOOLINTHEPOPULARMOVEMENTSINSUPPORTOF THERIGHTTOINFORMATION DECENTRALISATION TRANSPARENCY ACCOUNTABILITYANDPEOPLESPARTICIPATION )NORDERTOINCREASEOPENNESSANDENHANCEACCESSIBILITY .+# RECOMMENDS THE CREATION OF WEB PORTALS TO AGGREGATE ORGANISE AND PRESENT RELEVANT AND USEFUL CONTENT IN LOCAL LANGUAGES IN A HIGHLY UNIFORM CUSTOMISABLE USER FRIENDLY AND PERSONALISED WAY FOR SEVERALKEYAREASRELATEDTOBASICHUMANNEEDS)NTHIS CONTEXTTHE#OMMISSIONRECOMMENDSTHEFOLLOWING

#REATE.ATIONAL0ORTALSFOR"ASIC .EEDS .ATIONALWEB BASEDPORTALSSHOULDBESETUPONCERTAIN KEY SECTORS SUCH AS 7ATER %NERGY %NVIRONMENT %DUCATION &OOD (EALTH !GRICULTURE %MPLOYMENT #ITIZEN2IGHTSETC4HESEWOULDSERVEASASINGLEPOINT OF ACCESS FOR CONSOLIDATED INFORMATION APPLICATIONS AND RESOURCES ON THE SECTOR AND WILL CATER TO A WIDE SPECTRUM OF USERS FROM CITIZENS ENTREPRENEURS SMALL SCALE INDUSTRIES STUDENTS PROFESSIONALS RESEARCHERS LOCALPRACTITIONERSETC

-ANAGEMENTAND/WNERSHIPBY #ONSORTIUM 7HILE THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE A KEY PARTNER IN THE INITIAL SET UP THE PORTALS SHOULD BE MANAGED BY A CONSORTIUM WITH ADEQUATE REPRESENTATION FROM A WIDE RANGEOFSTAKEHOLDERSFROMTHESECTORINCLUDING.'/S 2ESEARCHAND3CIENTIlC'ROUPS !CADEMIC)NSTITUTIONS !DVOCACY'ROUPS 'OVERNMENT!GENCIES$EPARTMENTS )NTERNATIONAL"ODIES /THER&UNDING!GENCIES 0RIVATE 3ECTOR 4ECHNOLOGY %XPERTS %DUCATORS E ,EARNING EXPERTSETC

4HISWILLENSURETHAT  4HE PORTAL REMAINS A DYNAMIC REPOSITORY OF INFORMATION FROM MULTIPLE SOURCES TO AGGREGATE CONTENT  ! COLLABORATIVE MODEL IS ADOPTED SO THAT ALL STAKEHOLDERSSUCHASCITIZENS .'/S BUSINESSESETC PARTICIPATE IN THE CREATION COLLABORATION SHARING ANDDISCUSSIONSINARICHANDMEANINGFULWAYSUCH THAT INFORMATION CANNOT BE MONOPOLISED BY ANY ONEGROUP  4HE PORTAL WOULD HAVE GREATER COMMUNITY OWNERSHIPINORDERTOENSUREITSSUCCESS  %XPERIENCES TECHNOLOGY PROCESSES ETC WOULD BE SHAREDBETWEENVARIOUSPORTALS

%STABLISH0ROCEDURES ! SET OF PROCEDURES SHOULD BE FOLLOWED FOR SETTING UP 0ORTALS  !GREEMENTONTHESUBJECTAREA  )DENTIlCATIONOFCHAMPIONLEADORGANISATIONS  3UBMISSIONOFPROPOSALONARCHITECTUREOFTHEPORTAL BYTHECHAMPIONORGANISATIONSFORCONSIDERATIONOF THE#OMMISSION  )DENTIlCATION OF STAKEHOLDERS AND PARTNERS AND SETTINGUPOFFRAMEWORKFORPORTALMANAGEMENT  $EVELOPMENTOFCONTENT  ,AUNCHOF0ORTAL  $EVELOPMENTOFRICH USEFULANDRELEVANTCONTENT 4HECYCLEISEXPECTEDTOTAKEBETWEENNINEMONTHSTO AYEARTOCOMPLETE ATTHEENDOFWHICHAPORTALWOULD BE PUT IN PLACE WHICH COULD THEN CONTINUOUSLY BE ENHANCED POPULATEDANDPROMOTED

0ROVIDE!CCESSTO'OVERNMENT (ELD$ATA 4HERE ARE A HOST OF ISSUES RELATED TO DATA FOR A PORTAL SUCH AS SOURCING VALIDATION QUALITY AND FORMATS 4HE GOVERNMENTISAMAJORSOURCEOFEXTENSIVEDATAONVARIOUS SECTORS!LLGOVERNMENTDEPARTMENTSSHOULDEASILYMAKE


39

AVAILABLE DATA SETS THEY HAVE IN A DIGITAL FORMAT TO THE PORTALCONSORTIUM$ATAFROMDIFFERENTSECTORSNEEDSTO BE ANALYSED HOLISTICALLY SO THAT PLANNING BECOMES MORE DATA DRIVENANDREmECTSTHEGROUNDSITUATION4HISMEANS THAT DATA THAT IS TRADITIONALLY COLLECTED AND MANAGED SEPARATELY UNRELATEDTOEACHOTHER SHOULDNOWBESEEN TOGETHER4HEREARENOPLATFORMSORMECHANISMSCURRENTLY INPLACETOALLOWTHISTOBEDONEEASILY#LEARGUIDELINES SHOULD BE DEVELOPED UNDER WHICH THIS DATA COULD BE SOURCED IN APPROPRIATE FORMATS AND REGULARLY UPDATED 4HE 2IGHT TO )NFORMATION MAY MAKE THIS EASIER BUT IT CONTINUESTOBEALONGDRAWNPROCESS4HESEPROCEDURES NEEDTOBESTREAMLINEDANDMADESIMPLER

%NCOURAGE#OLLABORATIVE&UNDING 4HE 0ORTAL EFFORT CAN ESCALATE QUICKLY AS THE SCALE OF CONTENT PARTNERSHIPS AND THE SCOPE IS VERY LARGE4HE ISSUE OF FUNDING FOR THE EFFORT INCLUDES BIG LINE ITEMS LIKE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT MAP PREPARATION DATA GATHERING DEVELOPING APPLICATIONS CONTENT CREATION ORGANISING AND COORDINATING PARTNERSHIPS 3OLUTIONS NEEDTOBEEVOLVEDDEPENDINGONTHESECTORINQUESTION 3EVERALPOSSIBILITIESINCLUDINGPUBLICPRIVATEPARTNERSHIPS AND NEW BUSINESS MODELS SHOULD BE EXPLORED 4HE GOVERNMENT MAY ALSO LOOK AT PROVIDING SOME PUBLIC MONEYFORTHESEEFFORTSTHROUGHGRANTS

2EFORM-APPING0OLICY 4HEADVANCEINCOMPUTERBASED'EOGRAPHIC)NFORMATION 3YSTEMS ')3 HAS GIVEN MAPPING AND USE OF MAPS A HUGE IMPETUS IN VARIOUS lELDS 4HE ABILITY TO MAKE SENSEOFLARGEAMOUNTSOFINTERRELATEDDATAINSPATIALAND ATTRIBUTEFORMHASHELPEDINVISUALDECISIONMAKINGIN VARIOUS AREAS SUCH AS !GRICULTURE 4RANSPORT $ISASTER -ANAGEMENT ETC !N UNAMBIGUOUS MAPPING POLICY COUPLEDWITHCLEARGUIDELINESFORUSEOFSPATIALDATAARE NECESSARYTOSHARE')3DATAANDTHEREBYMAXIMISETHE USEOFCUTTINGEDGETECHNOLOGYANDAPPLICATIONS5NDER THE NEW MAPPING POLICY ANNOUNCED IN -AY THERE IS STILL SOME AMBIGUITY ABOUT PUBLISHING OF ')3 MAPSONTHE)NTERNETBY.'/S 'OVERNMENTANDOTHER DEVELOPMENTORIENTEDAGENCIES2ICH')3BASEDCONTENT IN VARIOUS SECTORS LIKE 7ATER (EALTH %DUCATION ETC CANBEDELIVEREDBYVARIOUSORGANISATIONSANDBODIESIN ORDER TO SHARE INFORMATION FOSTER AN INFORMED DEBATE AND ALLOW FOR MORE EFFECTIVE PLANNING 4HE MAPPING

40


POLICYNEEDSTOALLOWFORSUCHACCESSANDPROVIDECLEAR GUIDELINES

%NHANCE)NTERNET0ENETRATIONAND !CCESS !T THIS STAGE THE USE OF 0ORTALS MAY BE LIMITED BY THE LOW)NTERNETPENETRATIONINTHECOUNTRY WHERELESSTHAN PERCENTOFPOPULATIONHASACCESSTO)NTERNET4OADDRESS THISCHALLENGEITISESSENTIALTHATTHEPORTALTEAMSHOULD WORKPROACTIVELYWITH.'/AND'OVERNMENTNETWORKS USEMASSDISTRIBUTIONSCHANNELSLIKERADIO TELEVISIONAND THEPRINTMEDIATOENSURETHISKNOWLEDGEISLEVERAGEDTO PRECIPITATE CHANGE ON THE GROUND4HERE NEEDS TO BE A lRMCOMMITMENTTOSUPPORTALTERNATENON WEBOUTREACH METHODS THAT MAKE THIS KNOWLEDGE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL SECTIONSOFSOCIETYTHEDIGITALHAVESANDHAVENOTS !NALTERNATE)4TECHNOLOGYCANSUPPORTTHOSEWHODO NOTHAVE)NTERNETACCESS4HISCALLSFORALOCALLYRESIDENT TOOL THAT IS RUN ON A DESKTOP 0# WHICH CAN PROVIDE INFORMATION AND RUN APPLICATIONS PERTAINING TO SPECIlC TOPICS 3INCE THESE APPLICATIONS ARE NOT RELYING ON THE )NTERNETORSTORINGINFORMATIONATADISTANTSERVER THEYCAN BEUSEDLOCALLYATTHESITEWITHOUTNETWORKCONNECTIVITY 3UBSEQUENTLY ITWOULDBEUSEFULTOBEABLETOCONNECTTO ASERVERTOUPLOADLOCALDATAORDOWNLOADUPDATESAND INFORMATION 4HESE SOFTWARE THICK CLIENT APPLICATIONS CANBETHESOURCEOFBOTTOM UPDATA SINCE.'/SAND INDIVIDUALSCANUPLOADLOCALDATAOVERTHE)NTERNETFOR ANALYSISATACENTRALSERVER4HISPROVIDESANALTERNATIVE BOTTOM UPWAYOFCOLLECTINGlNEGRAINEDLOCALDATAINA CONTINUOUSMANNER 4HEPORTALWILLTHUSADDRESSTHENEEDSOFAVERYDIVERSE SPECTRUMOFUSERSFROMRESEARCHERSANDPOLICYMAKERS TOLOCALPRACTITIONERSATTHEGROUNDLEVELWHOSTANDTO BENElTGREATLYFROMTHECOMPREHENSIVEAVAILABILITYOF INFORMATIONONASECTORRELEVANTFORTHEMINANOPEN ANDTRANSPARENTMANNER

4RANSLATEINTO)NDIAN,ANGUAGES 4HEPORTALSSHOULDBETRANSLATEDINTOALL)NDIANLANGUAGES TOREACHAWIDERAUDIENCE)NTERACTIVEAPPLICATIONSAND E LEARNING CONTENT MUST BE MADE AVAILABLE IN LOCAL LANGUAGESFORITTOBERELEVANT

Knowledge Concepts School Education Vocational Education and Training Higher Education Legal Education Medical Education Management Education Engineering Education Open and Distance Education Open Educational Resources More Talented Students in Maths and Science More Quality Ph.Ds


41

School Education &EBRUARY

%

NSURING QUALITY SCHOOL EDUCATION TO ALL IS THE FOUNDATION UPON WHICH ANY FURTHER ADVANCES TOWARDS A KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY MUST BE BASED .OTING THE CRUCIAL IMPORTANCE OF SCHOOL EDUCATION THE .ATIONAL +NOWLEDGE #OMMISSION HELD A SERIES OF WORKSHOPS AND CONSULTATIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY INVOLVING A VERY WIDE RANGE OF STAKEHOLDERS TO DISCUSSISSUESOFQUANTITY QUALITYANDACCESSINSCHOOL EDUCATION .+# RECOGNISES THAT THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR SCHOOL EDUCATION IS BORNE BY THE 3TATE 'OVERNMENTS ANDTHEREFOREANYPOLICYCHANGESMUSTBEWITHTHEFULL PARTICIPATIONANDINVOLVEMENTOFTHESTATES.EVERTHELESS .+# BELIEVES THAT POSITIVE CHANGES IN SYSTEMS OF SCHOOLING WILL REQUIRE THE ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT OF THE #ENTRAL'OVERNMENTASWELLAS3TATE'OVERNMENTS NOT ONLY IN THE MATTER OF PROVIDING RESOURCES BUT ALSO IN PROMOTINGORGANISATIONALANDOTHERCHANGES .+#HASANUMBEROFSUGGESTIONSANDRECOMMENDATIONS COVERINGTHEDIFFERENTASPECTSOFSCHOOLEDUCATION BUT THEESSENTIALTHRUSTCANBESUMMARISEDINTERMSOFMORE RESOURCES MOREDECENTRALISATIONANDMOREmEXIBILITY

#ENTRAL,EGISLATIONFORTHE2IGHT TO%DUCATION BACKEDBY&NANCIAL #OMMITMENT .+# ENDORSES THE SPEEDY ENACTMENT OF A CENTRAL LEGISLATION THAT WILL ENSURE THE RIGHT OF ALL CHILDREN IN THE COUNTRY TO GOOD QUALITY SCHOOL EDUCATION UP TO #LASS 6))) SUPPORTED WITH lNANCIAL COMMITMENTS OF THE #ENTRAL AND 3TATE 'OVERNMENTS 4HIS OBVIOUSLY REQUIRESSUBSTANTIALLYINCREASEDPUBLICSPENDINGFORBOTH ELEMENTARYANDSECONDARYSCHOOLEDUCATION WHICHMUST BESEENASAPRIORITYAREAFORSPENDING#URRENTLYSCHOOL EDUCATIONISHIGHLYSEGMENTED EVENINGOVERNMENT RUN INSTITUTIONS ASARESULTOFTHEPARALLELTRACKOFhEDUCATION CENTRESv IN SOME STATES 4HESE SEPARATE SYSTEMS MUST BE INTEGRATED TO GIVE ALL CHILDREN ACCESS TO SCHOOLS OF ACCEPTABLE QUALITY WHICH WILL OBVIOUSLY REQUIRE ADDITIONALSPENDING

-ORE&EXIBILITYIN$ISBURSALOF &UNDS (OWEVER THEREISASTRONGCASEFORCHANGESINTHEMANNER INWHICHSUCHEXPENDITUREISINCURRED4HECURRENTNORMS FORCENTRALGOVERNMENTDISBURSALTOSTATESOFFUNDSFOR ;INCLUDINGFOR3ARVA3HIKSHA!BHIYAN33! =THEPLANNED 35##%33PROGRAMFORSECONDARYEDUCATIONANDOTHER CENTRALSCHEMES ARETOORIGIDANDMUSTBEMADEMORE mEXIBLE.+#STRONGLYRECOMMENDSASYSTEMOFFUNDS TRANSFERANDACCOUNTINGTHATWILLALLOWFORREGIONALAND OTHERDIFFERENCESASWELLASCHANGINGREQUIREMENTSOVER TIME ANDTHEREBYALLOW3TATE'OVERNMENTSTOUSETHE RESOURCES IN THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY4HERE SHOULD ALSO BE GREATER mEXIBILITY IN DISBURSING FUNDS DOWN TO THE SCHOOLLEVELANDAGREATERDEGREEOFAUTONOMYOFLOCAL LEVELMANAGEMENTINTHEUSEOFFUNDS4HENORMSAND RULESSHOULDALLOWSCHOOLSTOADAPTTOLOCALCONDITIONS ANDMEETPARTICULARREQUIREMENTSOFTHEIRSTUDENTS

$ECENTRALISATIONAND'REATER ,OCAL!UTONOMY #OMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IS AN IMPORTANT INSTRUMENT TO ENSURE ACCOUNTABILITY AND IMPROVE THE DAY TO DAY FUNCTIONING OF SCHOOLS 4HIS IN TURN MEANS THAT THE MANAGEMENT OF SCHOOLS INCLUDING THE USE AND MANAGEMENTOFFUNDS SHOULDBEDECENTRALISEDTOLOCAL AUTHORITIESASFARASPOSSIBLE WHETHERTHEYBEPANCHAYATS 6ILLAGE %DUCATION #OMMITTEES OR MUNICIPALITIES AND TO 3CHOOL "OARDS THAT HAVE REPRESENTATION OF ALL STAKEHOLDERSINCLUDINGPARENTS

%XPANSIONOF&UNCTIONAL,ITERACY .+# WOULD LIKE TO STRESS THE CONTINUING IMPORTANCE OFAFOCUSONEXPANDINGFUNCTIONALLITERACYAMONGTHE POPULATION )LLITERACY REMAINS A MAJOR PROBLEM EVEN AMONGTHEAGEGROUP YEARS ANDTHEREFORELITERACY PROGRAMS MUST BE EXPANDED RATHER THAN REDUCED AND GIVENADIFFERENTFOCUSTHATISDIRECTEDTOWARDSIMPROVING LIFE SKILLS AND MEETING FELT NEEDS ESPECIALLY BUT NOT ONLY AMONGTHEYOUTH Report to the Nation

43

0LANNINGFOR3CHOOL)NFRASTRUCTURE )T IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT LAND IS AN ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENT OF SCHOOLS AND THIS REQUIREMENT IS LIKELY TO INCREASE IN THE NEAR FUTURE GIVEN THE EXPANSION IMPLIED BY DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGES AND NEED TO ENSURE UNIVERSALSCHOOLING4HEREFORE URBANMASTERPLANSAND LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS MUST EXPLICITLY INCORPORATE THE PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR SCHOOLING INCLUDING PROVISIONSFORPLAYGROUNDSANDOTHERSCHOOLFACILITIES

%NABLINGAND2EGULATING -ECHANISMSFOR0RIVATE3CHOOLS 3INCE PRIVATE SCHOOLS PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE PROVISIONOFEDUCATION THEREISNEEDFORBOTHENABLINGAND REGULATINGMECHANISMSTOBEDEVELOPEDANDSTRENGTHENED FOR THEM 4HERE SHOULD BE TRANSPARENT NORM BASED AND STRAIGHTFORWARD PROCEDURES FOR THE RECOGNITION OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS TO REDUCE HARASSMENT AND BUREAUCRATIC DELAY 4HERE SHOULD ALSO BE TRANSPARENT CRITERIA AS FOR THE DISBURSEMENT OF AID FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO SOME SELF lNANCING SCHOOLS ESPECIALLY THOSE WHICH CATER TO UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN AND CLEAR NORMS WITH RESPECT TO THE ABILITY OF SCHOOL MANAGEMENTS TO RAISE RESOURCES FROM OTHER SOURCES4HE MONITORING OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN TERMS OF ENSURING A TRANSPARENT ADMISSIONS PROCESS REGULATIONOFFEESTRUCTURES ASWELLASMEETINGMINIMUM SET STANDARDS FOR QUALITY OF TEACHING AND INFRASTRUCTURE ALSOREQUIRESATTENTION4HEPOSSIBILITYOFGREATEREXCHANGE BETWEENSCHOOLS INCLUDINGMENTORINGOFONESCHOOLBY ANOTHER SHOULDBEALLOWEDANDENCOURAGED

$ATABASEON3CHOOL%DUCATION %DUCATIONALPLANNINGANDMONITORINGAREMADEMUCH MOREDIFlCULTBECAUSEOFTHELACKOFCOMPREHENSIVEAND ACCURATEDATAONSCHOOLS SCHOOL AGECHILDRENANDACTUAL ATTENDANCEOFBOTHSTUDENTSANDTEACHERS4HECOLLECTION ANDSPEEDYDISSEMINATIONOFACCURATEANDCURRENTDATA ONSCHOOLINGMUSTBEMADEAPRIORITY)TISNECESSARYTO CREATE A COMPLETE DATABASE ON SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL AGE CHILDRENSOASTOTRACKTHEACTUALCOVERAGEANDQUALITY OF SCHOOLING AT DIFFERENT LEVELS AND TO MAKE IT WIDELY AVAILABLEINATIMELYMANNER3UCHDATACOLLECTIONMAYBE MADEANESSENTIALPARTOFTHEFUNDALLOCATIONFORSCHOOL EDUCATION WITHAPPROPRIATEINSTITUTIONALMECHANISMS

44

SCHOOLINGCREATESCONFUSION UNNECESSARYREPLICATIONAND POSSIBLYINCONSISTENTSTRATEGIESACROSSDIFFERENTSCHOOLS 4HEREMUSTBEGREATERCO ORDINATIONBETWEENDIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS OF GOVERNMENT ON SCHOOL EDUCATION POLICY EVENWHILEENSURINGMOREAUTONOMYTOTHELOCAL MANAGEMENTOFSCHOOLS

.ATIONAL%VALUATION"ODYFOR -ONITORING1UALITY %DUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION ALSO NEEDS TO BE MORE CONSCIOUSOFACTUALLEARNINGOUTCOMESATDIFFERENTLEVELS WHICH WILL DETERMINE BOTH POLICY AND FUNCTIONING .+#THEREFOREPROPOSESANATIONALEVALUATIONBODYTO MONITOR THE QUALITY OF BOTH GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS USING A RESULTS BASED MONITORING FRAMEWORK BASEDONASHORTLISTOFMONITORABLECRITERIATHATINCLUDE BOTHPROCESSANDOUTCOMEINDICATORS

2EVAMPING3CHOOL)NSPECTION 4HESYSTEMOFSCHOOLINSPECTIONNEEDSTOBEREVAMPED ANDREVITALISED WITHAGREATERROLEFORLOCALSTAKEHOLDERS AND GREATER TRANSPARENCY IN THE SYSTEM 4HE SOLUTION DOES NOT LIE IN SIMPLY EXPANDING THE SYSTEM n RATHER WE NEED TO DEVELOP SYSTEMS TO ENSURE MEANINGFUL MONITORING INCLUDING PROVISION OF GREATER FACILITIES TO SCHOOL INSPECTORS A SEPARATION OF INSPECTION OF QUALITATIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE ASPECTS TRANSPARENCY IN THE CRITERIA OF INSPECTION AND GREATER INVOLVEMENT OF LOCALSTAKEHOLDERS

4EACHERSAND4EACHER4RAINING 4EACHERSARETHESINGLEMOSTIMPORTANTELEMENTOFTHE SCHOOLSYSTEM ANDTHECOUNTRYISALREADYFACINGASEVERE SHORTAGE OF QUALIlED AND MOTIVATED SCHOOL TEACHERS AT DIFFERENT LEVELS )T IS URGENT TO RESTORE THE DIGNITY OF SCHOOL TEACHING AS A PROFESSION AND PROVIDE MORE INCENTIVESFORQUALIlEDANDCOMMITTEDTEACHERS.ON TEACHINGOFlCIALDUTIESSUCHASELECTORALACTIVITIESSHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO INTERFERE WITH THE TEACHING PROCESS &ORUMSTHATALLOWANDENCOURAGETEACHERSTOEXCHANGE IDEAS INFORMATION AND EXPERIENCES INCLUDING A WEB BASEDPORTAL SHOULDBEDEVELOPED

-ORE#O ORDINATIONBETWEEN $EPARTMENTS

!T THE SAME TIME THERE SHOULD BE TRANSPARENT SYSTEMSFORENSURINGACCOUNTABILITYOFSCHOOLTEACHERS !S FAR AS POSSIBLE TEACHERS SHOULD BE RECRUITED TO PARTICULARSCHOOLS

4HE MULTIPLICITY OF MANAGEMENT STRUCTURES AND GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS THAT CURRENTLY GOVERNS

4HE TRAINING OF TEACHERS IS A MAJOR AREA OF CONCERN AT PRESENT SINCEBOTHPRE SERVICEANDIN SERVICETRAININGOF


SCHOOLTEACHERSISEXTREMELYINADEQUATEANDALSOPOORLY MANAGED IN MOST STATES 0RE SERVICE TRAINING NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED AND DIFFERENTLY REGULATED IN BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS WHILE SYSTEMS FOR IN SERVICE TRAININGREQUIREEXPANSIONANDMAJORREFORMTHATALLOWS FORGREATERmEXIBILITY

2EFORMSINTHE#URRICULUMAND %XAMINATION3YSTEM #URRICULUMREFORMREMAINSACRITICALLYIMPORTANTISSUEIN ALMOSTALLSCHOOLS3CHOOLEDUCATIONMUSTBEMADEMORE RELEVANTTOTHELIVESOFCHILDREN4HEREISNEEDTOMOVE AWAY FROM ROTE LEARNING TO UNDERSTANDING CONCEPTS DEVELOPING GOOD COMPREHENSION AND COMMUNICATION SKILLSANDLEARNINGHOWTOACCESSKNOWLEDGEINDEPENDENTLY 4HISALSOREQUIRESSUBSTANTIALCHANGESINTHEEXAMINATION SYSTEM ESPECIALLYAT"OARDLEVELBUTALSOEARLIER

5SEOF)NFORMATIONAND #OMMUNICATION4ECHNOLOGY 7HEREVERFEASIBLE )#4SHOULDBEMADEMOREACCESSIBLE TO TEACHERS STUDENTS AND ADMINISTRATION FOR LEARNING TRAINING RESEARCH ADMINISTRATION MANAGEMENT MONITORING ETC 4HIS REQUIRES THE PROVISION OF MORE FACILITIESSUCHASCOMPUTERSASWELLASCONNECTIVITYAND BROADBAND FACILITIES #OMPUTER AIDED LEARNING ALSO REQUIRESTRAININGOFTEACHERSANDOTHERSTAFFINORDERTO MAKETHEBESTUSEOFTECHNOLOGY

%NGLISH,ANGUAGE4EACHING 0ROlCIENCYIN%NGLISHISWIDELYPERCEIVEDASANIMPORTANT AVENUE FOR EMPLOYMENT AND UPWARD MOBILITY WHICH ALSO GREATLY FACILITATES THE PURSUIT OF HIGHER EDUCATION 4HE INCORPORATION OF %NGLISH INTO THE CURRICULUM THROUGHTHETEACHINGOF%NGLISHASALANGUAGEIN#LASS )ANDTEACHINGOFONEOTHERSUBJECTIN%NGLISHMEDIUM IN LATER CLASSES REQUIRES MAKING PEDAGOGICAL CHANGES TO CONTEXTUALISE LANGUAGE LEARNING INCREASING THE AVAILABILITYOF%NGLISHLANGUAGETEACHERSANDPROVIDING MORE BILINGUAL AND SUPPLEMENTARY TEACHING MATERIALS !T THE SAME TIME MULTI LINGUALITY MUST BE PROMOTED ANDLANGUAGEISSUESMUSTBEEXPLICITLYTAKENONBOARDIN DESIGNINGSCHOOLCURRICULAANDMETHODSOFPEDAGOGY

)NTERVENTIONSTO%NSURE!CCESSOF %DUCATIONALLY$EPRIVED#ATEGORIES 3PECIAL INTERVENTIONS ARE NECESSARY TO ENSURE GREATER ACCESSTOEDUCATIONOFEDUCATIONALLYDEPRIVEDCATEGORIES AND SOME PROPOSALS FOR THIS ARE DEVELOPED IN MORE DETAILINTHEACCOMPANYING.OTE/BVIOUSLY SPECIlC MEASURESAREREQUIREDTOENSUREGREATERENROLMENTAND RETENTION OF GIRL STUDENTS %DUCATION OF 3# CHILDREN MUSTBEAPRIORITY WHICHNECESSITATESBOTHmEXIBILITY OF APPROACH AND AVOIDANCE OF DISCRIMINATION 4HE ACCESSOFCHILDRENFROM3CHEDULED4RIBESREQUIRESMORE mEXIBLE AND SENSITIVE SCHOOLING STRATEGIES ,ANGUAGE ISSUESMUSTBEEXPLICITLYTAKENONBOARDINDESIGNING SCHOOL CURRICULA AND METHODS OF PEDAGOGY 3PECIAL STRATEGIESAREREQUIREDTOENSUREGREATERACCESSTOSCHOOLS FORCHILDRENINBACKWARDREGIONS REMOTELOCATIONSAND DIFlCULTTERRAINS/FlCIALSTRATEGIESFORENSURINGBETTER ACCESSOF-USLIMCHILDRENTOSCHOOLINGAREEXCESSIVELY FOCUSEDONMADRASASWHICHCATERTOONLYATINYMINORITY OFSUCHCHILDRENTHEEMPHASISSHOULDBEONCREATING ENABLINGCONDITIONSFOR-USLIMCHILDRENINTHEGENERAL SCHOOL SYSTEM #HILDREN OF SEASONAL MIGRANTS REQUIRE SPECIAL CONDITIONS AND EFFORTS TO ENSURE CONTINUOUS ACCESS TO SCHOOLING 3IMILARLY LABOURING CHILDREN REQUIRE INCENTIVES AND BRIDGE COURSES 4HE NEEDS OF PHYSICALLYDISADVANTAGEDCHILDREN ASWELLASTEACHERS HAVETOBEFACTOREDINMORETHOROUGHLYINPROVISIONS FORSCHOOLEDUCATION 4HEREISWIDEDIVERSITYACROSSSTATESINTERMSOFPROGRESS TOWARDSACHIEVINGUNIVERSALELEMENTARYEDUCATION AND ALSODIVERSITYWITHINSTATESWITHRESPECTTOTHEQUALITYOF SCHOOLEDUCATION"UT.+#BELIEVESTHATTHESEPROPOSALS WHICH REQUIRE THE ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT OF THE #ENTRAL 'OVERNMENTASWELLAS3TATE'OVERNMENTS WILLGOSOME WAYINTERMSOFENSURINGUNIVERSALACCESSTOELEMENTARY EDUCATION WIDERACCESSTOSECONDARYEDUCATIONASWELL ASBETTERQUALITYANDGREATERRELEVANCEOFALLSCHOOLING 'IVENTHESTRONGSYNERGIESBETWEENTHISANDOTHERAREAS SUCH AS LIBRARIES TRANSLATION KNOWLEDGE NETWORKS ETC THESE SUGGESTIONS SHOULD BE SEEN IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHERRECOMMENDATIONSTHATHAVEALREADYBEENMADEIN THESEOTHERAREAS ASPARTOFASYSTEMATICSETOFKNOWLEDGE INITIATIVESFORTHEYOUNG


45

Note on School Education

4

46

HE 0RIME -INISTER HAS REPEATEDLY EMPHASISED THAT ENSURING QUALITY SCHOOL EDUCATION TO ALL IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PRIORITIES OF THE GOVERNMENT ANDTHE.ATIONAL+NOWLEDGE#OMMISSION HASALSORECOGNISEDTHECRUCIALSIGNIlCANCEOFTHISASTHE FOUNDATIONUPONWHICHANYFURTHERADVANCESMUSTBE BASED.+#HASHELDASERIESOFWORKSHOPSAROUNDTHE COUNTRY ADDRESSINGISSUESOFQUANTITY QUALITYANDACCESS IN SCHOOL EDUCATION AND TRIED TO INVOLVE A VERY WIDE RANGEOFSTAKEHOLDERSINTHECONSULTATIONS

SHOULDTHEREFOREBESEENINCONJUNCTIONWITHTHEOTHER RECOMMENDATIONSTHATHAVEALREADYBEENMADEINTHESE AREAS ASPARTOFASYSTEMATICSETOFKNOWLEDGEINITIATIVES FORTHEYOUNG

.+# RECOGNISES THAT THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR SCHOOL EDUCATION IS BORNE BY THE 3TATE 'OVERNMENTS AND THEREFORE ANY POLICY CHANGES MUST BE WITH THE FULL PARTICIPATION AND INVOLVEMENT OF THE STATES !LSO THEREISWIDEDIVERSITYACROSSSTATESINTERMSOFPROGRESS TOWARDSACHIEVINGUNIVERSALELEMENTARYEDUCATION AND ALSO DIVERSITY WITHIN STATES WITH RESPECT TO THE QUALITY OF SCHOOL EDUCATION .EVERTHELESS .+# BELIEVES THAT POSITIVECHANGESINSYSTEMSOFSCHOOLINGTHATWILLENSURE UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO ELEMENTARY EDUCATION WIDER ACCESS TO SECONDARY EDUCATION AS WELL AS BETTER QUALITY AND GREATERRELEVANCEOFALLSCHOOLING WILLREQUIRETHEACTIVE INVOLVEMENTOFTHE#ENTRAL'OVERNMENTASWELLAS3TATE 'OVERNMENTS3UCHINVOLVEMENTISNECESSARYNOTONLYIN THEMATTEROFPROVIDINGRESOURCESBUTALSOINPROMOTING ORGANISATIONALANDOTHERCHANGES.+#HASANUMBEROF SUGGESTIONSANDRECOMMENDATIONSCOVERINGTHEDIFFERENT ASPECTS OF SCHOOL EDUCATION BUT THE ESSENTIAL THRUST CAN BE SUMMARISED IN TERMS OF MORE RESOURCES MORE DECENTRALISATION AND MORE mEXIBILITY /UTLINED BELOW ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT AREAS OF POSSIBLE INTERVENTION .+#ISAWARETHATWHILESOMEPROPOSALSARENEW OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE FOUND EXPRESSION IN DIFFERENT WAYS IN PREVIOUS REPORTS AND STUDIES (OWEVER .+# HASCHOSENTOREITERATETHEMBECAUSETHEYARESTILLCRUCIAL ANDRELEVANT

.+# STRONGLY ENDORSES THE SPEEDY ENACTMENT OF A CENTRALLEGISLATIONTHATWILLENSURETHERIGHTOFALLCHILDREN INTHECOUNTRYTOGOODQUALITYSCHOOLEDUCATIONUPTO #LASS6)))7EALSOBELIEVETHATTHISSHOULDBEEXTENDED TO COVER UNIVERSAL SCHOOLING UP TO #LASS 8 AS SOON AS POSSIBLE .+# HAS EMPHASISED THAT A VIBRANT GOOD QUALITY AND UNIVERSALLY ACCESSIBLE GOVERNMENT SCHOOL SYSTEMISTHEBASICFOUNDATIONUPONWHICHTHESCHOOLING SYSTEMINTHECOUNTRYMUSTREST

.+#WOULDALSOLIKETOEMPHASISETHATTHEREAREVERY STRONG SYNERGIES BETWEEN THESE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SCHOOL EDUCATION AND OTHER PROPOSALS OF .+# WITH RESPECT TO LIBRARIES TRANSLATION NETWORKS LANGUAGE IN SCHOOLS AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION 4HESE SUGGESTIONS

.+# HAS ALREADY EXPRESSED CONCERN ON THE RECENT DECISION OF THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT TO REDUCE THE CENTRAL FUNDING FOR THE 3ARVA 3HIKSHA !BHIYAN 33! FROM PER CENT TO PER CENT4HIS MAY LEAD TO A SHARPCURTAILMENTOFPROGRESSTOWARDSUNIVERSALSCHOOL


1UANTITYAND2ESOURCES 3UBSTANTIALLYINCREASEDPUBLICSPENDING ISREQUIREDFORBOTHELEMENTARYAND SECONDARYEDUCATION

4HEREFORE THIS MUST BE SUPPORTED WITH A lNANCIAL COMMITMENTOFTHE#ENTRAL'OVERNMENT INSUCHAWAY ASTOENSURETHATTHERIGHTTOQUALITYSCHOOLEDUCATION ISPROVIDEDTOALLCHILDRENOFTHECOUNTRY REGARDLESSOF WHICHSTATETHEYARERESIDINGIN4HISNECESSARILYREQUIRES ASIGNIlCANTEXPANSIONOFTHERESOURCESTOBEPROVIDED TOELEMENTARYSCHOOLEDUCATION7HILETHEGOVERNMENT HAS INCREASED ALLOCATIONS FOR SCHOOL EXPENDITURE THE AMOUNTSARESTILLFARBELOWWHATISREQUIREDTOACHIEVE UNIVERSALSCHOOLEDUCATIONOFREASONABLEQUALITYFORALL 4HISISEVENMORETRUEBECAUSEOFTHENEEDTOUPGRADE THE h%DUCATION #ENTRESv THAT ARE OPERATING IN MANY STATESTOPROPERSCHOOLSTHATMEETALLTHENORMSINTERMS OF TRAINED TEACHERS MINIMUM FACILITIES ETC4HEREFORE .+# STRONGLY RECOMMENDS A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN #ENTRAL'OVERNMENTALLOCATION

EDUCATION ESPECIALLY IN THE MORE BACKWARD STATES WHERE THE GAP IS GREATER )T IS WORTH NOTING THAT 3TATE 'OVERNMENTS ARE ALREADY INCURRING THE BULK OF SCHOOL EDUCATION EXPENDITURE .+# STRONGLY FEELS THAT IN ADDITIONTOPERCENTOF33!FUNDS THE#ENTRESHOULD PROVIDE ALL THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING REQUIRED TO ENSURE THE2IGHTTO%DUCATIONINTHOSESTATESWHERETHESTATE GOVERNMENTISALREADYSPENDINGATLEASTPERCENTOF ITSTOTALBUDGETONSCHOOLEDUCATION !TTHESAMETIME THEIMPORTANCEOFINCREASEDSPENDING ON SECONDARY EDUCATION IS GREATER THAN EVER BEFORE 4HERE IS A HUGE SHORTAGE OF MIDDLE AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS WHICHISONEOFTHEIMPORTANTREASONSFORTHE LOWRATESOFRETENTIONAFTER#LASS6#URRENTLY SECONDARY EDUCATION IS MASSIVELY UNDER FUNDED WHICH IN TURN CREATES NOT ONLY ABSOLUTE SHORTAGES BUT ALSO PROBLEMS OF INADEQUATE QUALITY IN MANY GOVERNMENT SECONDARY AND HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOLS 4HE AIM SHOULD BE TO REACH UNIVERSAL SECONDARY SCHOOL EDUCATION WITHIN A MAXIMUM OF YEARS 'IVEN THE DEMOGRAPHICS THIS IMPLIESTHATEXPENDITUREONSECONDARYSCHOOLINGMUST BE INCREASED BY SEVERAL MULTIPLES WITHIN THE NEXT TWO YEARS INDEED BY AT LEAST lVE TIMES THE CURRENT LEVEL IF THE#!"%ESTIMATESAREUSED#URRENTLY MANYPRIMARY SCHOOLSAREBEINGUPGRADEDTOSECONDARYSCHOOLSTATUS WITHOUTPROVISIONOFSUFlCIENTTEACHERS ROOMSANDOTHER PEDAGOGICALREQUIREMENTS WHICHSEVERELYCOMPRISESON THEQUALITYOFSUCHSECONDARYEDUCATION4HENORMSFOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS WHICH INCLUDE NOT ONLY PROVISION FOR SPECIALISED SUBJECT TEACHERS BUT ALSO FOR SCIENCE LABS COUNSELLINGETC MUSTBESTRICTLYADHEREDTOWHEN NEWSCHOOLSARECREATEDANDWHENPRIMARYSCHOOLSARE UPGRADED

5RBANPLANNINGANDLOCALPLANNING MUSTEXPLICITLYINCORPORATETHEPHYSICAL REQUIREMENTSFORSCHOOLING INCLUDING PROVISIONSFORPLAYGROUNDSANDOTHER SCHOOLFACILITIES )T IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT LAND IS AN ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTOFSCHOOLS ANDTHISREQUIREMENTISLIKELYTO INCREASEINTHENEARFUTUREGIVENTHEEXPANSIONREQUIRED BYDEMOGRAPHICCHANGESANDTHENEEDTOENSUREUNIVERSAL SCHOOLING)NTHECONTEXTOFRAPIDURBANISATION IT HAS BEENFOUNDTHATURBANCONGLOMERATIONSOFTENCOMEUP WITHOUT ADEQUATE PROVISION FOR ENSURING THE PHYSICAL SPACE REQUIRED FOR SCHOOLS IN THE VICINITY 4HIS IS PARTICULARLYAPROBLEMINNEWSETTLEMENTSWITHQUICKLY INCREASINGDENSITYOFPOPULATION NOTONLYINLARGECITIES BUTALSOINSMALLERTOWNSANDFASTGROWINGVILLAGES4HIS

MAKES IT DIFlCULT TO ESTABLISH SCHOOLS WHERE REQUIRED AND TO ENSURE THAT SCHOOLS ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE ALL THE NECESSARY FACILITIES INCLUDING SPORTS lELDS ETC )T IS ESSENTIALTHATTHEURBANLANDUSEPOLICIESANDREGULATIONS IN ALL STATES AND MUNICIPALITIES EXPLICITLY FACTOR IN THE PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS OF SCHOOLS IN AREAS OF A CERTAIN POPULATIONDENSITY 3IMILARLYINRURALAREAS THEREMUSTBEADEQUATEPROVISION FOR LAND FOR SETTING UP SCHOOLS IN AREAS THAT SURPASS A CERTAIN POPULATION DENSITY )N RURAL AREAS WITH LOW POPULATIONDENSITY DIFlCULTTERRAINOREXTREMECLIMATIC CONDITIONS THE GOVERNMENT MAY CONSIDER SETTING UP RESIDENTIALSCHOOLS WHICHCOULDALSOADDRESSTHEPROBLEM OFMIGRANTLABOURERSANDNOMADICPOPULATIONS

4HENORMSFORCENTRALGOVERNMENT DISBURSALTOSTATESOF3ARVA3HIKSHA !BHIYAN33! FUNDSANDOTHERCENTRAL SCHEMESFORSCHOOLEDUCATIONARETOO RIGIDANDMUSTBEMADEMOREmEXIBLE 4HECURRENTSYSTEMOFFUNDSTRANSFERANDTHEACCOUNTING RULES CREATE UNNECESSARY RIGIDITIES THAT OFTEN DO NOT ALLOWTHE3TATE'OVERNMENTSTOUSETHEMONEYINTHE MOSTEFlCIENTORDESIRABLEWAY ANDALSOLEADTOLESSTHAN COMPLETEUTILISATIONOFTHEBUDGETARYALLOCATION 3OMEOFTHESEPROBLEMSINCLUDE  VERYRIGIDNORMSONUNITCOSTSANDWHATISALLOWED IN TERMS OF SPENDING THAT DO NOT RECOGNISE THE DIVERSEREQUIREMENTSOFDIFFERENTSTATESORPARTICULAR REGIONS  INADEQUATE lNANCIAL PROVISIONS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE SUCHASBUILDINGSETC ESPECIALLYFORSOMESTATESAND CITIES WHICH LEADS TO THE CREATION OF POOR QUALITY INFRASTRUCTURE  ANINmEXIBLEACCOUNTINGSYSTEMTHATDOESNOTALLOW TRANSFERRING FUNDS ACROSS HEADS TO MEET PARTICULAR OR CHANGING REQUIREMENTS AND THEREFORE INHIBITS FULL UTILISATION AND ALSO PREVENTS SYNERGIES FROM DEVELOPING  INSUFlCIENT ALLOCATION FOR REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE OFINFRASTRUCTURE  TREATINGRURALANDURBANSCHOOLSINTHESAMEMANNER EVEN THOUGH THE REQUIREMENTS ARE OFTEN VERY DIFFERENT FOR EXAMPLE URBAN GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS MAYREQUIREDIFFERENTINFRASTRUCTUREANDFACILITIESIN ORDERTOATTRACTSTUDENTS AND  TREATINGALLDISTRICTSANDGEOGRAPHICALAREASINTHESAME MANNER REGARDLESS OF THE DEGREE OF BACKWARDNESS TOPOGRAPHICAL CONDITIONS ETC 4HIS IS ESPECIALLY A


47

PROBLEMFORSCHOOLSINHILLYORHEAVILYFORESTEDAREAS ORTHOSEWITHPOORPHYSICALCONNECTIVITY FORWHICH PERCAPITAALLOCATIONSARETHESAMEASFOROTHERMORE ACCESSIBLEAREAS  PROBLEMS IN THE TIMING OF FUND TRANSFER AS WELL AS UNCERTAINTIES IN FUND PROVISION CREATED BY THE INSISTENCEONMATCHINGFUNDSANDTHEFACTTHATPLAN CEILINGSKEEPCHANGINGEVERYYEAR .+# STRONGLY RECOMMENDS A LESS RIGID AND MORE mEXIBLE SYSTEM OF FUNDS TRANSFER AND ACCOUNTING THAT WILLALLOWFORREGIONALANDOTHERDIFFERENCESASWELLAS CHANGING REQUIREMENTS OVER TIME AND THEREBY ALLOW 3TATE 'OVERNMENTS TO USE THE RESOURCES IN THE MOST EFFECTIVEWAY4HISRECOMMENDATIONISBOTHFORTHE33! ANDFORTHEPLANNED35##%33PROGRAMFORSECONDARY EDUCATION AND ALSO FOR OTHER CENTRALLY SPONSORED SCHEMESRELATINGTOSCHOOLEDUCATION

4HERESHOULDBEGREATERmEXIBILITYIN DISBURSINGFUNDSDOWNTOTHESCHOOLLEVEL ANDAGREATERDEGREEOFAUTONOMYOFLOCAL LEVELMANAGEMENTINTHEUSEOFFUNDS %VENWITHINTHESTATES THENORMSFORFUNDDISBURSALAND THE REQUIREMENTS ARE OFTEN VERY TIME CONSUMING AND BREED DELAYS AND UNNECESSARY RIGIDITIES 4HERE SHOULD BE RECOGNITION OF DIFFERENCES IN PER CAPITA RESOURCE REQUIREMENT ACCORDING TO PARTICULAR CRITERIA SUCH AS GEOGRAPHICAL AND SPATIAL CHARACTERISTICS THE PRESENCE OF CHILDRENWITHSPECIALNEEDS SEASONALITYANDOTHERFEATURES )NADDITION THEREISASTRONGCASEFORPROVIDINGGREATER AUTONOMY TO LOCAL LEVEL MANAGEMENT OF SCHOOLS INCLUDINGLOCALLYELECTEDBODIES SCHOOLBOARDS 6ILLAGE %DUCATION#OMMITTEESETC INTHEUSEANDMANAGEMENT OF FUNDS SUBJECT TO SOME OVERALL CRITERIA 7ITHIN THE STIPULATEDNORMSFOREXPENDITURE THERESHOULDBESCOPE FORGREATERmEXIBILITYINTHEUSEOFFUNDSINRESPONSETO LOCALNEEDSANDLOCALINNOVATION

4HERESHOULDBETRANSPARENT NORM BASED ANDSTRAIGHTFORWARDPROCEDURESFORTHE RECOGNITIONOFPRIVATESCHOOLS ASWELL ASFORTHEDISBURSEMENTOFAIDFROMTHE GOVERNMENTTOSELFlNANCINGSCHOOLSAND THEABILITYOFSCHOOLMANAGEMENTTORAISE RESOURCESFROMOTHERSOURCES 0RIVATESCHOOLSPLAYASIGNIlCANTROLEINDISPENSINGSCHOOL EDUCATION )T IS ESTIMATED BY .5%0! THAT AROUND PERCENTOFSCHOOLSINTHECOUNTRYAREPRIVATELYOWNED

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ANDMANAGED WHILEINSOMEURBANAREAS PRIVATESCHOOLS CATERTOAVERYLARGEPROPORTIONOFSCHOOLGOINGCHILDREN 4HEIR ROLE MUST BE RECOGNISED AND THOSE PROVIDING QUALITY EDUCATION SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED ESPECIALLY WHENTHEYCATERTOLESSPRIVILEGEDCHILDREN (OWEVER MANY PRIVATE SCHOOLS HAVE IDENTIlED THE TIMECONSUMINGPROCEDURESFORRENEWALOFRECOGNITION FROMTHEGOVERNMENT WHICHHAVETOBEUNDERTAKENAT RELATIVELYFREQUENTINTERVALS ASASOURCEOFHARASSMENT )T IS NECESSARY TO SIMPLIFY THE RULES AND REDUCE THE MULTIPLICITYOFCLEARANCESREQUIREDFORPRIVATESCHOOLS BY DEVELOPINGAMODALITYFORCOORDINATEDPOINTOFCLEARANCE ASFARASPOSSIBLE4HEREISALSOACASEFORINCREASINGTHE TIME PERIOD FOR WHICH RECOGNITION IS GRANTED TO SUCH SCHOOLS ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH A PROVEN TRACK RECORD 4RANSPARENCYINDEALINGSBETWEENTHEGOVERNMENTAND PRIVATESCHOOLSWILLALSOBEAIDEDIFTHEINFORMATIONON RULES AND CRITERIA FOR REGISTRATION AND THE RESULTS OF ALL SCHOOLAPPLICATIONSFORGRANTINGOFRECOGNITIONAREMADE PUBLICINANACCESSIBLEFORM INCLUDINGBYMAKINGTHE RELEVANTINFORMATIONAVAILABLEONWEBSITES 4HOSECHARITABLESCHOOLSTHATPROVIDEQUALITYEDUCATION TO CHILDREN FROM UNDERPRIVILEGED AND MARGINALISED SECTIONSOFSOCIETYDESERVEENCOURAGEMENT ANDMAYBE CONSIDEREDFORRECEIPTOFGOVERNMENTRESOURCES ACCORDING TO TRANSPARENT AND NORM BASED PROCEDURES (OWEVER ALL MECHANISMS OF GOVERNMENT AID DISBURSEMENT TO PRIVATELYRUNSCHOOLSSHOULDBETRANSPARENTLYCONDUCTED ANDACCORDINGTODElNEDNORMS 4HEREISAWIDESPREADPERCEPTIONTHATGOVERNMENTRULES CURRENTLYREDUCETHEABILITYOFSCHOOLMANAGEMENTSTO RAISE RESOURCES FROM OTHER SOURCES FOR THE EXPANSION OF INFRASTRUCTURE OR TO PROVIDE OTHER FACILITIES 4HIS VARIES ACROSS STATES BUT IN GENERAL IN MOST STATES THE CURRENT SYSTEM DOES ALLOW SCHOOLS TO RAISE FUNDS FROM DONATIONS RESOURCESEXTENDEDFROMTHEPANCHAYATAND OTHERSOURCES(OWEVER ITISIMPORTANTTOENSURETHAT THE AVAILABLE mEXIBILITY FOR SCHOOL MANAGEMENT TO RAISE RESOURCES SHOULD BE WIDELY KNOWN AND PUBLICISED )N ADDITION INNOVATIVE METHODS OF RAISING ADDITIONAL RESOURCESCOULDBEALLOWEDANDENCOURAGED&OREXAMPLE SCHOOLS PARTICULARLY IN URBAN AREAS COULD USE ASSETS SUCHASBUILDINGSDURINGNON SCHOOLHOURSTOGENERATE ADDITIONALFUNDSTOIMPROVETHEQUALITYOFFACILITIES

)LLITERACYREMAINSAMAJORPROBLEM ANDTHEREFORELITERACYPROGRAMSCANNOT BEIGNOREDORGIVENLESSIMPORTANCE %XPENDITUREONTHE.ATIONAL,ITERACY

-ISSION.,- MUSTBEEXPANDEDRATHER THANREDUCED ANDGIVENADIFFERENTFOCUS 4HE SHIFT IN POLICY FOCUS FROM THE .ATIONAL ,ITERACY -ISSION.,- TOTHE3ARVA3HIKSHA!BHIYANHASLED TOADECLININGEMPHASISONTHENEEDTOENSUREUNIVERSAL FUNCTIONAL LITERACY (OWEVER ACCORDING TO THE #ENSUS A SIGNIlCANT PROPORTION OF THE POPULATION n NEARLY HALF OF ALL FEMALES AND ONE QUARTER OF MALES n REMAINSFUNCTIONALLYILLITERATE!CCORDINGTOTHE.33/ A SIGNIlCANT PROPORTION OF HOUSEHOLDS IN MORETHANAQUARTERINRURAL)NDIAANDNEARLYPER CENTINURBAN)NDIA HAVENOLITERATEMEMBER4HELACK OF FUNCTIONAL LITERACY IS MUCH MORE MARKED AMONG WOMEN THOSE RESIDING IN BACKWARD AREAS AND THOSE FROM MARGINALISED SOCIAL GROUPS !LSO A SIGNIlCANT PROPORTION OF YOUNG PEOPLE n AROUND PER CENT OF THEAGE COHORTOF YEARSnISFUNCTIONALLYILLITERATE SINCETHEYWERETOOOLDTOBENElTFROMTHE33!ANDALSO SLIPPEDTHROUGHTHENETOFTHELITERACYPROGRAMS4HIS ISOFGREATCONCERNBECAUSESUCHPEOPLEWILLCONTINUETO BEACTIVECITIZENSFORTHENEXTHALFCENTURYANDTHEREFORE MUST NOT BE DENIED THE CAPACITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES THATCOMEFROMBEINGLITERATE .+#THEREFORERECOMMENDSTHEFOLLOWINGMEASURESFOR LITERACY  %NSURE GREATER FUNDS FOR THE .,- INCLUDING PROVISIONFORMOREPEDAGOGICALRESOURCESINCLUDING NOT ONLY )#4 BUT ALSO LOCALLY GENERATED TEACHING MATERIAL AS WELL AS LOCAL HIRING OF TEMPORARY STAFF WHEREVERREQUIRED  %NCOURAGETHE.,-TOSHIFTTOCREATING#ONTINUING %DUCATION #ENTRES IN BOTH RURAL AND URBAN AREAS TO IMPART FUNCTIONAL LITERACY THAT IS OF RELEVANCE ANDINTERESTTOTHOSEWHOARECURRENTLYILLITERATEOR RECENTLYLITERATE ASWELLASPROVIDEFURTHERLEARNING MATERIAL AND OTHER RESOURCES AND FACILITIES TO THE NEWLYLITERATE  /RIENTTHEPOST LITERACYANDCONTINUINGEDUCATION PROGRAMS TO THE EMOTIONAL PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICALNEEDSOFADULTSRATHERTHANCHILDREN INCORPORATING ISSUES REGARDING CITIZENS RIGHTS HUMANRIGHTS SEXEDUCATION HEALTHANDLIVELIHOOD GOVERNMENTPROGRAMSETC  5SE A VARIETY OF METHODS TO ENSURE FUNCTIONAL LITERACY WHICH COMBINE MORE CENTRALISED SCHEMES BASED ON )#4 AND OTHER NEW TECHNOLOGY WITH CONTINUOUSWORKATTHELOCALLEVELBASEDONACLEAR INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURE 7HILE NEW TECHNOLOGIES SUCH AS )#4 PROVIDE IMPORTANT NEW METHODS FOR IMPARTINGLITERACYINASHORTTIME THEYNECESSARILY

HAVEALIMITEDROLE4HEYCANNOTBESEENASSTAND ALONE QUICK lX SOLUTIONS BUT MUST BE COMBINED WITHOTHERMETHODS  -OVETOASUSTAINABLESYSTEMOFLITERACYGENERATION THATDOESNOTRELYONUNDERPAIDhVOLUNTEERvLABOUR ALONE WHICHTHEREFOREINVOLVESBUDGETARYPROVISION FORBETTERREMUNERATIONFORLITERACYWORKERS  #REATE SYNERGIES BETWEEN .,- AND THE PROPOSED 3KILL $EVELOPMENT -ISSION WHILE TAKING LOCAL NEEDS AND lELD REQUIREMENTS INTO ACCOUNT &OR EXAMPLE IN SOME PRIMARILY AGRARIAN ECONOMIES UNDUE EMPHASIS ON INDUSTRIAL SKILLS IN )4)S MAY BE INCONGRUOUS WHILE HORTICULTURAL AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRYSKILLSMAYBEMORERELEVANT

%ARLYCHILDHOODEDUCATIONISEXTREMELY IMPORTANTANDMUSTBEUNIVERSALISED 4HERE ARE TWO ASPECTS TO ENSURING THE UNIVERSALISATION OFEARLYSCHOOLINGANDPRE SCHOOLEDUCATION4HElRSTIS THESYSTEMATICEXTENSIONOFBALWADISWITHTRAINEDSTAFF TOHANDLECHILDPEDAGOGY4HESECONDISTHEPROVISIONFOR ONEYEAROFPRE SCHOOLINGINALLINSTITUTIONSOFELEMENTARY EDUCATION"OTHOFTHESEHAVEIMPLICATIONSFORRESOURCE ALLOCATIONANDRECRUITMENTOFTHEREQUISITESTAFF

4HECOLLECTIONANDSPEEDYDISSEMINATION OFACCURATEANDCURRENTDATAONSCHOOLING MUSTBEMADEAPRIORITY)TISNECESSARY TOCREATEACOMPLETEDATABASEONSCHOOLS ANDSCHOOL AGECHILDRENSOASTOTRACKTHE ACTUALCOVERAGEANDQUALITYOFSCHOOLING ATDIFFERENTLEVELS ANDTOMAKEITWIDELY AVAILABLEINATIMELYMANNER3UCHDATA COLLECTIONMAYBEMADEANESSENTIAL PARTOFTHEFUNDALLOCATIONFORSCHOOL EDUCATION WITHAPPROPRIATEINSTITUTIONAL MECHANISMS )NDIA HAS AN EXTENSIVE AND REGULAR MECHANISM OF DATA COLLECTION FOR PRIMARY EDUCATION (OWEVER ITS METHODOLOGY AND USE LEAVE MUCH TO BE DESIRED &OR EXAMPLE AT PRESENT THERE IS NO RELIABLE METHOD FOR ESTABLISHING WHICH CHILDREN ARE IN SCHOOLS $ATA COLLECTION IS TOO EXTENSIVE TIME INTENSIVE AND DONE ALMOSTENTIRELYBYTEACHERS RATHERTHANBYINDEPENDENT AND SPECIALISED PERSONNEL 4HERE IS MINIMAL CROSS TABULATION COORDINATIONANDCROSSREFERENCINGOFDATA 4HE RESULTS ARE TYPICALLY REVEALED TO ADMINISTRATORS SCHOOLSETCTOOLATETOBERELEVANTnOFTENSEVERALYEARS AFTERTHESURVEYTAKESPLACE)TISIMMENSELYDIFlCULTEVEN FOR STAKEHOLDERS AS WELL AS OTHER CONCERNED CITIZENS


49

TO ACCESS THE DATA LYING WITH OFlCIAL SOURCES DESPITE REPEATEDREQUESTS )T IS NECESSARY TO HAVE A SYSTEM TO PROVIDE RELIABLE SCHOOLEDUCATIONSTATISTICSWHICHMUSTBETRANSPARENTLY FORMULATED AND FREELY AVAILABLE TO ALL 4HIS REQUIRES MECHANISMSTHATAREINCORPORATEDINTOTHEFUNDINGFOR ALL SCHOOL EDUCATION AT CENTRAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT LEVELS4HESE WOULD ENSURE DATA COLLECTION AND ACCESS PROVIDE UP TO DATE INFORMATION AS RAPIDLY AS POSSIBLE MAKEITMORERELEVANTFORPLANNINGANDIMPLEMENTATION ANDMOREACCESSIBLEFOREVERYONE4HEFOLLOWINGGOALS ARERELEVANTINTHISCONTEXT  4HEPROCESSOFDATACOLLECTIONMUSTBESTREAMLINED MADELESSTIMECONSUMINGANDMORERELEVANT  ! COMPREHENSIVE MAPPING IS REQUIRED OF SCHOOLS AND CHILDREN OF SCHOOL GOING AGE SO AS TO HAVE ACCURATE INFORMATION ON WHICH CHILDREN IN WHICH LOCALITIESAREENROLLED ANDATTENDINGWHICHSCHOOLS ASWELLASTHOSENOTENROLLED4HISWOULDALSOMAP OUTLOCALITIESWHERETHEREAREHIGHRATESOFDROPOUT ANDORNON ENROLMENT  !TRACKINGMECHANISMFORALLSCHOOLCHILDRENSHOULD BE SET UP TO TRACK THEIR INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL GOING STATUS ANDPROGRESSINSCHOOL4HISTRACKINGSHOULD COVERBOTHGOVERNMENTSCHOOLSANDPRIVATESCHOOLS 4HISWOULDENSUREUNIVERSALACCESSFORCHILDRENINALL LOCATIONS ASWELLASFORGIRLSANDSPECIlCCATEGORIES !TRACKINGMECHANISMWILLALSOFACILITATECHECKING FORDROPOUTSANDRELATEDPROBLEMS ANDALLOWFOR SPEEDY INTERVENTION TO ADDRESS SUCH PROBLEMS )T SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THERE ARE ALREADY ONGOING INITIATIVESINTHISREGARDINSOMESTATES WHICHCAN BEREPLICATEDANDSCALEDUP  $ATA COLLECTED FOR THE PURPOSES OF PLANNING MUST PROVIDE ALL THE RELEVANT INFORMATION 4HIS IS ALSO IMPORTANT WITH RESPECT TO INFORMATION ON INFRASTRUCTURE PROVISION FOR EXAMPLE THE NUMBER OF ROOMS SHOULD ALSO MENTION WHETHER THESE ARE ELECTRIlEDWHEREAVAILABILITYOFTOILETSISDESCRIBED THERESHOULDALSOBEINFORMATIONONTHEAVAILABILITY OFWATERINTHETOILETS  3AFEGUARDS MUST BE INSTITUTED AGAINST hCREATIVE READJUSTMENTvOFDATA WHICHISACOMMONPROBLEM GIVEN THE STRUCTURE OF INCENTIVES AND THE FACT THAT THE DATA ARE MOST OFTEN PROVIDED BY THE TEACHERS OR SCHOOL MANAGEMENT 4HIS REQUIRES THAT DATA SHOULDBECOLLECTEDBYINDEPENDENTAGENCIESASFAR AS POSSIBLE OR NECESSARILY SUBJECT TO FREQUENT AND RANDOMCROSS CHECKS  )#4 MUST BE INTEGRATED FOR DATA COLLATION AND MANAGEMENT WHEREVER REQUIRED ! LOCAL AREA

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NETWORKWITHDIGITALENTRYPROVISIONSCOULDBESET UPTOMAKEITEASIERFORTHETEACHERSANDOTHERSWHO PROVIDEANDUSETHEDATA  4HEDATATHUSCOLLECTEDMUSTBEFREELYAVAILABLEAND EASILYACCESSIBLE PROVIDEDONDEDICATEDWEBSITESIN ADDITIONTOTHEUSUALMEANSOFPUBLICATION  -ORE SPECIALISED MICRO LEVEL SURVEYS AND RESEARCH SHOULD BE COMMISSIONED 4HERE SHOULD ALSO BE ATTEMPTS TO BRING TOGETHER OTHER RELEVANT RESEARCH FOREASYACCESSBYPRACTITIONERS

1UALITYAND-ANAGEMENT #URRENTLYSCHOOLEDUCATIONISHIGHLY SEGMENTED EVENINGOVERNMENTRUN INSTITUTIONS ASARESULTOFTHEPARALLEL TRACKOFhEDUCATIONCENTRESvINSOME STATES4HESESEPARATESYSTEMSMUSTBE INTEGRATEDTOGIVEALLCHILDRENACCESSTO SCHOOLSOFACCEPTABLEQUALITY4HISWILL REQUIREADDITIONALSPENDING )N A NUMBER OF STATES FUNDS UNDER VARIOUS SCHEMES 33! %'3 AND !)% WERE USED TO CREATE h%DUCATION #ENTRESv3HIKSHA+ENDRAS RATHERTHANPROPERSCHOOLS 4HESETYPICALLYINVOLVEhTEACHERSvWHOAREESSENTIALLYLOCAL WOMENWHOHAVEJUSTPASSED#LASS6)))OREVEN#LASS6 INSOMECASES ANDAREPAIDBETWEEN2STO2S PERMONTHINTHEDIFFERENTSTATES4HEYTYPICALLYRECEIVE NOTRAININGORATWO WEEKTRAININGATBEST ANDMAYHAVE TO TEACH MULTI GRADE CLASSES OFTEN IN SINGLE ROOMS4HE PROPORTIONOFCHILDRENINSUCHSCHOOLSVARIESWIDELY BUT THEALL)NDIAAVERAGEAMOUNTSTOAROUNDPERCENTOF TOTALENROLMENTINPRIMARYEDUCATION ACCORDINGTOTHE 0LANNING#OMMISSION!LLSUCHCHILDRENAREDESCRIBEDIN THEOFlCIALSTATISTICSASENROLLEDINSCHOOLS EVENTHOUGH GOINGTOAN%DUCATION#ENTRECANNOTBETREATEDASSCHOOL ENROLMENT ON PAR WITH THE PROPER SCHOOLS AND SUCH INSTRUCTORSDONOTMEETTHEREQUIREDNORMSFORTEACHERS #URRENTLY 3TATE 'OVERNMENTS ALLOW THESE PARALLEL AND DEEPLYUNEQUAL SYSTEMSOFSCHOOLINGTOCONTINUETOBE RUNBYDIFFERENTDEPARTMENTSnhPROPERSCHOOLSvBYTHE %DUCATION$EPARTMENT ANDEDUCATIONCENTRESUNDERTHE PANCHAYATSANDTHEREFOREBYTHE0ANCHAYAT$EPARTMENT 4HENEEDTOINTEGRATETHESETWOPARALLELSYSTEMSMUST BEEXPLICITLYRECOGNISED4HISREQUIRESSPECIALBUDGETARY ALLOCATIONS FOR UPGRADATION AND QUALITY IMPROVEMENT OFTHE%DUCATION#ENTRESTHROUGHBETTERINFRASTRUCTURE AS WELL AS INTENSIVE TRAINING OF EXISTING TEACHERS AND ADDITIONALEMPLOYMENTOFADEQUATENUMBERSOFQUALIlED TEACHERSnALLOFWHICHWILLHAVElNANCIALIMPLICATIONS

!TTHESAMETIME PLANNINGFORSCHOOL EDUCATIONMUSTTAKEINTOACCOUNTTHEECOLOGY OFEDUCATIONnTHENEEDTOADJUSTSCHOOL SYSTEMSTOAGRO CLIMATICANDOTHERLOCAL VARIATIONS 4HISREQUIRESmEXIBILITYWITHRESPECTTOSCHOOLTIMINGS VACATIONS TEACHERRECRUITMENTnBUTWITHOUTSACRIlCING QUALITY .ORMS FOR SCHOOLS MUST RECOGNISE THE POSSIBILITYOFREGIONALANDLOCALDIFFERENCESASWELLASTHE PARTICULARREQUIREMENTSOFCERTAINCOMMUNITIES SUCHAS NOMADICGROUPS TRIBALCOMMUNITIES SHORT TERMMIGRANT HOUSEHOLDSETC

3CHOOLMANAGEMENTMUSTBE DECENTRALISEDASFARASPOSSIBLE $ECENTRALISATION OF THE MANAGEMENT OF SCHOOLS COMBINED WITH COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE INSTRUMENT FOR ENSURING ACCOUNTABILITY IMPROVING THE DAY TO DAY FUNCTIONING OF SCHOOLS AND ALLOWING FOR mEXIBLE RESPONSES TO LOCAL REQUIREMENTS 4HEREFORE THERE SHOULD BE DEVOLUTION OF AUTHORITY TO LOCAL LEVELS WHETHER TO PANCHAYATS 6ILLAGE %DUCATION #OMMITTEES OR MUNICIPALITIES 3CHOOL -ANAGEMENT #OMMITTEES THAT INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVES OF ALL STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDING PARENTS AND TEACHERS SHOULD BE EMPOWERED TO MAKE MANY DECISIONS 3OCIAL AUDITS OF SCHOOLSSHOULDBESUPPORTEDANDENCOURAGED

4HEREISAMULTIPLICITYOFMANAGEMENT STRUCTURESANDGOVERNMENTDEPARTMENTS INTHEADMINISTRATIONOFSCHOOL EDUCATION4HISCREATESCONFUSION UNNECESSARYREPLICATIONANDPOSSIBLY INCONSISTENTSTRATEGIESACROSSDIFFERENT SCHOOLS4HEREMUSTBEGREATER CO ORDINATIONBETWEENDIFFERENT DEPARTMENTSOFGOVERNMENTONSCHOOL EDUCATIONPOLICY EVENWHILEENSURING MOREAUTONOMYTOTHELOCALCOMMUNITY INMATTERSOFDAY TO DAYMANAGEMENT OFSCHOOLS #URRENTLYSCHOOLSARERUNORFUNDEDANDMONITOREDNOT ONLYBYTHE#ENTRALAND3TATE'OVERNMENTS BUTALSOBY DIFFERENTDEPARTMENTSWITHIN3TATE'OVERNMENTSnTHE %DUCATION $EPARTMENT THE 0ANCHAYAT $EPARTMENT THE $EPARTMENT FOR 4RIBAL 7ELFARE THE $EPARTMENT FOR -INORITY 7ELFARE ETC 4HIS CREATES OVERLAPPING AND CONmICTING STRUCTURES OF AUTHORITY AN EXCESS OF BUREAUCRATIC TANGLES UNNECESSARY REPLICATION OF SOME

ACTIVITIES AND EVEN REPLICATION OF ENROLMENT IN SOME CASES DIFFERENT GUIDELINES AND DIFFERENTIAL STANDARDS FORACCEPTABLEQUALITYANDOTHERSORTSOFCONFUSION&OR EXAMPLE IN THE RURAL AREAS OF SEVERAL STATES THE LOCAL 0ANCHAYATI 2AJ )NSTITUTION 02) RUNS PARALLEL TO THE 33! RUN 6ILLAGE %DUCATION #OMMITTEE 6%# 4HE EXACTREMITOFEACHISNOTCLEARANDTHEPOLICYINTENTIONS OFBOTHBECOMEDILUTEDINTHEPROCESS )T IS NECESSARY TO MAKE SYSTEMATIC EFFORTS TO INTEGRATE OR AT LEAST CO ORDINATE THE ACTIVITIES OF THESE SEPARATE MANAGEMENT STRUCTURES 4HE PRECISE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF EACH LOCAL LEVEL AND STATE LEVEL DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE CLEARLY SPECIlED BUT EVEN MORE THAN THAT THERE SHOULD BE SOME SORT OF PRESSURE FOR THESEDIFFERENTBODIESTOWORKTOGETHERASFARASPOSSIBLE ANDPROVIDEACOMMONANDEQUALSCHOOLING%DUCATION POLICY MUST BE PART OF THE INTEGRATED FRAMEWORK OF DECENTRALISEDPLANNING )N THE DAY TO DAY MANAGEMENT OF SCHOOLS IT IS ALSO NECESSARY TO WORK TOWARDS SEGREGATING TEACHERS FROM MANAGERS IN THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION !T THE SAME TIME ASNOTEDABOVEINPOINT) THEDECENTRALISATION OF AUTHORITY IS CRITICAL IN IMPROVING AND MAINTAINING THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION 4HEREFORE THE LOCAL LEVEL MANAGEMENTOFSCHOOLS INCLUDINGLOCALLYELECTEDBODIES SCHOOLBOARDS 6ILLAGE%DUCATION#OMMITTEES MUSTBE ALLOWED A SIGNIlCANT DEGREE OF AUTONOMY IN HANDLING MATTERSRELATINGTOTHEIRSCHOOLS INCLUDINGNOTONLYTHE EXACTALLOCATIONOFFUNDS BUTALSOOTHERMATTERSRELATING TOSCHOOLFUNCTIONINGANDMONITORINGOFTEACHERSETC

4HEREISNEEDFORANATIONALBODYTO MONITORTHEQUALITYOFBOTHGOVERNMENT ANDPRIVATESCHOOLS TOENSURETHAT MINIMUMSTANDARDSAREMETINTERMSOF LEARNINGOUTCOMES #URRENTLY THERE IS NO SYSTEMATIC AND CONTINUOUS FEEDBACKONTHEACTUALIMPACTANDOUTCOMEOFVARIOUS EDUCATIONALSCHEMESANDINITIATIVES ORTHEACTUALQUALITY OF EDUCATION IMPARTED IN SCHOOLS 4HERE IS A STRONG CASEFORATESTINGBODYATTHENATIONALLEVELFORQUALITY ASSESSMENT OF SCHOOLS ! RESULTS BASED MONITORING FRAMEWORK WITH DUE PROCESS INDICATORS AND OUTCOME INDICATORS NEEDS TO BE EVOLVED 4HIS SHOULD BE BASED ON A SHORT LIST OF MONITORABLE CRITERIA 4HESE SHOULD INCLUDE lXED INFRASTRUCTURAL REQUIREMENTS ENROLMENT AND ATTENDANCE AS WELL AS OUTCOME INDICATORS SUCH AS LEARNING LEVELS ACHIEVED IN CERTAIN BASIC AREAS SUCH AS LANGUAGE SKILLS AND NUMERACY ETC 3UCH A PROCESS OF


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ASSESSMENT NEEDS TO BE APPLIED TO ALL SCHOOLS n BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE (OWEVER THE TESTING OF STUDENTS MUSTNOTINVOLVETOPICSORQUESTIONSTHATPROVIDE ANY INCENTIVES FOR ROTE LEARNING 4HE TRACKING MECHANISM SHOULD IDEALLY BE CONCERNED WITH THE PROlLE OF SKILL ATTAINMENTOFEACHSTUDENT 3INCESCHOOLEDUCATIONISLARGELYASTATESUBJECT BUTITIS ALSOIMPORTANTTOACHIEVEMINIMUMSCHOOLINGNORMSAT THENATIONALLEVEL THEINSTITUTIONALFRAMEWORKFORTHIS COULD BE AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL WITH STATE SUBSIDIARIES 4HEROLEOFTHISTESTINGBODYWILLSIMPLYBETOPROVIDE INFORMATIONONTHERESULTSOFITSASSESSMENTS WITHTHE 3TATE 'OVERNMENTS FREE TO ACT UPON THIS INFORMATION 4HERESULTSOFSUCHREGULARTESTSMUSTBEMADEPUBLICLY AVAILABLEINAFORMATACCESSIBLETOALL INCLUDINGWEBSITES 4HEMONITORINGOFPRIVATESCHOOLS INTERMSOFENSURING A TRANSPARENT ADMISSIONS PROCESS REGULATION OF FEE STRUCTURES AS WELL AS MEETING MINIMUM SET STANDARDS FOR QUALITY OF TEACHING AND INFRASTRUCTURE ALSO REQUIRES ATTENTION4HEREISCURRENTLYNOEXACTDATAONTHENUMBERS AND ENROLMENT OF UNRECOGNISED PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTRY THEIRFEESTRUCTUREORADMISSIONSPOLICY ORTHEIR STANDARDS OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND QUALITY 0RIVATE SCHOOLS SHOULDBECOMETHESUBJECTOFREGULATIONANDINSPECTION WITHINASETFRAMEWORKWHICHISUNIVERSALLYAPPLICABLE

4HESYSTEMOFSCHOOLINSPECTIONNEEDS TOBEREVAMPEDANDREVITALISEDINMOST STATES WITHAGREATERROLEFORLOCAL STAKEHOLDERS 4HE CURRENT INSPECTION SYSTEM IS OVERBURDENED AND INADEQUATE WITHASMALLNUMBEROFINSPECTORSREQUIRED TO COVER A LARGE NUMBER OF SCHOOLS OFTEN SPREAD OVER WIDEPHYSICALAREAS4HESOLUTIONDOESNOTLIEINSIMPLY EXPANDING THE SYSTEM n RATHER WE NEED TO DEVELOP SYSTEMS TO ENSURE MEANINGFUL MONITORING .+# RECOMMENDSTHATTHESTRATEGYFORTHEREVITALISATIONOFTHE SCHOOLINSPECTIONSYSTEMSHOULDINCLUDETHEFOLLOWING  ,OCAL STAKEHOLDERS SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN THE MONITORING OF SCHOOLS WHETHER IN THE FORM OF 6ILLAGE%DUCATION#OMMITTEES PARENTASSOCIATIONS OROTHERSUCHBODIES  4HE NUMBER OF INSPECTORS NEEDS TO BE INCREASED IN MANY STATES AND THEY MUST BE PROVIDED THE FACILITIESTOUNDERTAKETHEIRACTIVITIESPROPERLY SUCH ASTRANSPORT COMMUNICATIONSDEVICESETC  4HEINSPECTORSTHEMSELVESMUSTBEACCOUNTABLETO THE STAKEHOLDERS OF THE AREA THROUGH APPROPRIATE CHECKSANDBALANCES

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4HE CRITERIA FOR INSPECTION THE DATES ON WHICH INSPECTION OF PARTICULAR SCHOOLS HAS TAKEN PLACE ANDTHERESULTSSHOULDBEMADEPUBLICLYAVAILABLE INCLUDINGBYPOSTINGONWEBSITES  4HEMONITORINGANDINSPECTIONOFSCHOOLSMUSTBE SEPARATED FROM SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION AS THE TWO FUNCTIONSREQUIRECOMPLETELYDIFFERENTORIENTATIONS  4HECRITERIAFORINSPECTIONSHOULDINCLUDENOTONLY INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES AND TEACHER PRESENCE BUT ALSOMINIMUMSTANDARDSFORQUALITY

4HEDIGNITYOFSCHOOLTEACHINGASA PROFESSIONMUSTBERESTORED ANDATTHE SAMETIMETHERESHOULDBETRANSPARENT SYSTEMSFORENSURINGACCOUNTABILITYOF SCHOOLTEACHERS 4EACHERSCONSTITUTETHEBASICFOUNDATIONOFTHESCHOOL EDUCATION SYSTEM (OWEVER THERE IS A GENERAL DECLINE IN MORALE AMONG SCHOOL TEACHERS ESPECIALLY THOSE IN PRIMARYSCHOOLS ANDCONSEQUENTLYITISNOLONGERSEEN AS AN ATTRACTIVE PROFESSION FOR QUALIlED YOUNG PEOPLE 4WOTYPESOFPUBLICPERCEPTIONS ALSOPROPAGATEDINTHE MEDIA AND AMONG OFlCIALDOM CONTRIBUTE TO THE LOW MORALE AMONG SCHOOL TEACHERS lRST THAT ANYONE CAN TEACH AND NO PARTICULAR PEDAGOGICAL SKILLS OR TRAINING AREREQUIREDSECOND THATINANYCASEMOSTTEACHERSDO NOTWORKMUCHANDAREFREQUENTLYABSENTFROMSCHOOL 7HILE THE LATTER MAY BE THE CASE FOR A RELATIVELY SMALL MINORITYOFTEACHERS MOSTSCHOOLTEACHERSARECOMMITTED TOTHEIRPROFESSIONEVENIFTHEYHAVETOFUNCTIONUNDER VERYDIFlCULTCONDITIONS(OWEVER THEYAREALSOSUBJECT TOMANYOTHERPRESSURESSUCHASPOLITICALPRESSUREAND OBLIGATIONS TO PERFORM NON TEACHING DUTIES WHICH CAN PREVENT THEM FROM FULlLLING THEIR TEACHING DUTIES ADEQUATELY )TISESSENTIALTOENSURETHATQUALIlEDTEACHERSAREHIREDAND PROVIDEDWITHTHENECESSARYINCENTIVESTOENABLETHEMTO WORKBETTER4HEPROFESSIONALSTATUSOFTEACHERSSHOULD NOT BE DILUTED AND ALL DRIVES AT RECRUITING UNTRAINED TEACHERSMUSTBECHECKED ALTHOUGHITISIMPORTANTTO ALLOWFORmEXIBILITYINRECRUITMENTOFTEACHESFORSPECIlC SUBJECTSSUCHASART CRAFTANDLIVELIHOODSKILLS4HEUSE OFPARA TEACHERSMUSTBETREATEDASASTRICTLYTRANSITIONAL MEASUREUNTILPROPERSCHOOLSAREESTABLISHED 4HEIMPOSITIONOFAWIDERANGEOFNON TEACHINGDUTIES SUCHASTHATOFMANNINGPOLLBOOTHSANDCOLLECTINGDATA FORSURVEYSETC CUTSINTOTHEAVAILABLETEACHINGTIMEAND ALSOUNDERMINESTHEPROFESSIONALSTATUSOFTEACHERS4HESE ACTIVITIESSHOULDBESHAREDOUTAMONGAWIDERRANGEOF

PUBLIC EMPLOYEES OR EVEN THOSE HIRED SPECIlCALLY FOR THEPURPOSE ANDTHEBURDENOFSUCHWORKONTEACHERS MUSTBEREDUCED3PECIlCALLY UNEMPLOYEDLOCALYOUTH ANDRECENTLYRETIREDPEOPLEMAYBECONSIDEREDFORSUCH ACTIVITIESASFARASPOSSIBLE 4HERECRUITMENTOFTEACHERSFROMTHELOCALITYHASMANY ADVANTAGES AS THEY CAN BECOME ACCOUNTABLE TO THE COMMUNITY AND HAVE ADDED STAKES IN IMPROVING THE QUALITYOFEDUCATIONINTHEIRSCHOOLS)NCASESWHERELOCAL LANGUAGEORDIALECTISDIFFERENTFROMTHESTATELANGUAGE TEACHERS FAMILIAR WITH THE LOCAL LANGUAGE ARE LIKELY TO MAKEBETTERTEACHERS .+# PROPOSES THAT TEACHERS SHOULD BE RECRUITED TO PARTICULARSCHOOLSASFARASPOSSIBLE!TTHEVERYMINIMUM SCHOOL TEACHERS SHOULD BE APPOINTED TO A PARTICULAR LOCATIONFORAMINIMUMlXEDTERMOFATLEASTlVEYEARS SINCE A MAJOR PROBLEM CITED BY MANY TEACHERS IN THE GOVERNMENTSCHOOLSYSTEMISTHATOFFREQUENTTRANSFERS 4HESPECIlCCASEOFATTRACTINGTEACHERSTOREMOTEAND BACKWARDAREASISCONSIDEREDBELOWUNDER!CCESS 4HERE SHOULD BE INCREASED ATTEMPTS TO IMPROVE PUBLIC RECOGNITION OF THE CONTRIBUTION OF SCHOOL TEACHERS THROUGHVARIOUSINCENTIVESSUCHASMORELOCAL STATE LEVEL ANDNATIONALAWARDSETC )TISNECESSARYTOMONITORTHEEMOLUMENTSANDWORKING CONDITIONS OF TEACHERS IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS WHICH VARY SUBSTANTIALLY AND PREVENT EXPLOITATION OF TEACHERS BY PRIVATESCHOOLEMPLOYERSASFARASPOSSIBLE (OWEVER IN ADDITION TO IMPROVING THE WORKING CONDITIONS OF TEACHERS IT IS ALSO NECESSARY TO INSTITUTE MEASURES TO PROVIDE GREATER ACCOUNTABILITY OF SCHOOL TEACHERS NOT ONLY TO THEIR SUPERIORS BUT TO STUDENTS PARENTS AND THE LOCAL COMMUNITY #URRENTLY ANY MENTIONOFINCREASINGTEACHERACCOUNTABILITYISVIEWED WITH HOSTILITY AND SUSPICION BY TEACHERS THEMSELVES 3UCHANOUTLOOKNEEDSTOBECHANGED4HEREISCLEARLY A NEED FOR GREATER ACCOUNTABILITY OF TEACHERS TO THE COMMUNITYANDTHESCHOOL ANDTHISWILLBEFACILITATED BY GREATER DECENTRALISATION OF SCHOOL MANAGEMENT TO LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS AS HAS BEEN SUGGESTED ABOVE 4HIS SHOULDBEACCOMPANIEDBYRECOGNITIONOFTHECONCERNS OFTEACHERSANDALLOWINGTHEMMORESPACETOBEACTIVE INSCHOOLMANAGEMENTANDSCHOOLACTIVITIES4HEACTUAL ADMINISTRATIVEARRANGEMENTSWHEREBYTHISISDONESHOULD BELEFTTOBEDECIDEDATTHESTATEANDLOCALLEVEL3YSTEMS OFSELF EVALUATIONANDPEEREVALUATIONOFTEACHERSSHOULD BEENCOURAGED

4HETRAININGOFSCHOOLTEACHERSIS EXTREMELYINADEQUATEANDALSOPOORLY MANAGED0RE SERVICETRAININGNEEDSTOBE IMPROVEDANDREGULATED WHILESYSTEMS FORIN SERVICETRAININGREQUIREEXPANSION ANDMAJORREFORMINALLSTATES "OTHPRE SERVICEANDIN SERVICETEACHERTRAININGPROGRAMS FACEMAJORPROBLEMSATPRESENT ATTHENATIONALLEVELAND INALMOSTALLSTATES7ITHRESPECTTOPRE SERVICETRAINING THEREISAPROLIFERATIONOFPRIVATECOLLEGESAWARDINGTHE "%D DEGREE AND THESE ARE INADEQUATELY MONITORED OR REGULATED ! SIGNIlCANT PROPORTION OF THOSE WHO RECEIVE"%DDEGREESDOSOTHROUGHCORRESPONDENCEOR DISTANCELEARNINGCOURSES WHICHINVOLVEABSOLUTELYNO PRACTICALEXPOSURE)NANYCASE CLASSROOMEXPERIENCEIS UNDERPLAYEDINSTANDARD"%DCOURSES!TTHESAMETIME THEEMPLOYMENTOFADHOCTEACHERSANDTHOSEWITHOUT EVEN HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS AS TEACHERS IN THE PARALLEL STREAMPERPETUATESTHENOTIONTHATITISNOTNECESSARYFOR SCHOOLTEACHERSTOHAVESYSTEMATICANDPROLONGEDPRE SERVICETRAINING )N SERVICE TRAINING SHOWS PROBLEMS OF INADEQUATE QUANTITY UNEVEN QUALITY OUTDATED SYLLABI AND POOR MANAGEMENT!VERYLARGEPROPORTIONOFSCHOOLTEACHERS IN THE COUNTRY HAVE RECEIVED NO IN SERVICE TRAINING AT ALL)NANYCASE MANY$)%4SARECURRENTLYUNDERSTAFFED DEMORALISED AND INCAPABLE OF GIVING GOOD QUALITY TRAINING TO TEACHERS )N PART THIS IS BECAUSE TEACHER TRAINING POSITIONS ARE OFTEN OCCUPIED BY THOSE WHO HAVE NOT THEMSELVES BEEN SCHOOL TEACHERS )N MANY STATESTHEADMINISTRATIONOF$)%4SISLEFTTOBUREAUCRATS WHO VIEW THIS AS A PUNISHMENT POSTING AND HAVE NO PEDAGOGICAL EXPERIENCE &URTHER $)%4S TYPICALLY LACK ADEQUATEINFRASTRUCTURALFACILITIES%VENWHENIN SERVICE TRAININGISREGULARLYHELD THEREISNOMECHANISMWHICH CAN MONITOR THE IMPACT OF IN SERVICE TEACHER TRAINING COURSESONTHESUBSEQUENTTEACHING LEARNINGPROCESSIN THECLASSROOM-OST3#%24STHEMSELVESHIRECONTRACT TEACHERS SINCE THERE ARE VERY FEW QUALIlED AND REGULAR TEACHERS AND LECTURERS4HESE THEREFORE lND IT DIFlCULT TO SUPERVISE FUNCTIONS AT THE BLOCK LEVEL UNLESS THEIR NUMBERSAREGREATLYINCREASED&UNDSARENEEDEDFROM THECENTRALGOVERNMENTFORHUMANRESOURCEDEVELOPMENT ATTHISLEVEL .+# THEREFORE SUGGESTS THE FOLLOWING FOR TEACHER TRAINING  )NSTITUTIONS PROVIDING PRE SERVICE TEACHER TRAINING AND GRANTING "%D DEGREES SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO THESAMEREGULATORYAUTHORITY ANDTHERESHOULDBE


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ADEQUATE MONITORING OF THE TRAINING PROVIDED BY PRIVATEORGANISATIONS 4HEBUDGETARYALLOCATIONFORTEACHERTRAININGNEEDS TO BE ENHANCED AND MADE EXPLICIT AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENTPROVISIONSAREREQUIREDFORTHIS 4HEREHASTOBEGREATERmEXIBILITYINTHEMODALITIES OFTEACHERTRAINING$IVERSESTRATEGIESSUCHASGREATER USE OF )#4 6ISITING 4RAINERS AND EMPOWERING LOCAL TRAINERS WHO WOULD VISIT SCHOOLS SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED 3TATE LEVEL TEACHER TRAINING NEEDS TO BE REVAMPED IN MOST STATES 4HE SYSTEM OF $)%4S NEEDS TO BE RESTRUCTURED )N SOME SMALLER STATES THERE IS A STRONG CASE FOR ONE STATE LEVEL INSTITUTION FOR TEACHER TRAINING )N OTHER STATES THE $)%4S NEED TOBESTRENGTHENEDANDUNDERGOSTRUCTURALCHANGES 4HEFACULTYOF3#%24S 3)%SAND$)%4SMUSTBE EXPANDED ANDINCLUDEEXPERIENCEDSCHOOLTEACHERS 4HE USE OF CONTRACT TEACHERS MUST BE KEPT TO A MINIMUM)NADDITION THELINKBETWEENUNIVERSITY DEPARTMENTS AND SCHOOL TEACHING NEEDS TO BE STRENGTHENED 4HE ADMINISTRATIVE HIERARCHIES WITHIN $)%4 AND 3#%24 HAVE TO BE RESTRUCTURED SO THAT THERE IS A CLEAR SEPARATION OF PERSONNEL ENGAGED IN ADMINISTRATIVE AND ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES 4HIS DISTINCTIONISCURRENTLYBLURREDINMOSTSTATES 4HETEACHERTRAININGCOURSESHOULDNOTBESEENIN TERMS OF A lNITE PERIOD OF TIME BUT AS A PROCESS BY WHICH THE QUALITY OF TEACHING AND LEARNING IN THE CLASSROOM CAN BE REGULARLY IMPROVED IN A CONTEXTTHATFOSTERSANATTITUDEOFLIFELONGLEARNING 4HEREFORE THERESHOULDBEAMECHANISMFORFEEDBACK AND SUBSEQUENT INTERACTION BETWEEN TEACHERS AND THE TRAINING INSTITUTES ESPECIALLY FOR PEDAGOGICAL TECHNIQUESTHATARENEWORREQUIREMORECONTINUOUS INNOVATIONFROMTHETEACHER #URRENTLY IN SERVICE TRAINING IS OFFERED THROUGH PRE DETERMINEDTHEMESWHICHTRIVIALISETHEROLEOF PERSONAL MEANING WHILE UPHOLDING REQUIREMENTS DICTATED BY EDUCATIONAL REFORM AGENDAS 'REATER FREEDOMOFCHOICEWOULDHELPTOINCREASEPERSONAL INITIATIVE AND ABSORPTION OF TRAINING INPUTS .+# THEREFORE SUGGESTS THE PROVISION OF SHORT TERM IN SERVICECOURSESINBOTHCONTACTANDDISTANCEMODE THATTEACHERSCANCHOOSEFROM4HESECOULDINCLUDE COURSES DEVELOPED OUTSIDE THE $)%43#%24 STRUCTURE SUBJECTTOATHOROUGHREVIEWOFQUALITY )NADDITIONTOBEINGMADEMOREmEXIBLE IN SERVICE TEACHING COURSES NEED TO BE INCENTIVISED POSSIBLY BY MAKING ATTENDANCE AT AND COMPLETION OF SUCH COURSESPREREQUISITESTOPROFESSIONALADVANCEMENT


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4HERE IS NEED FOR CURRICULAR REFORM IN BOTH PRE SERVICE AND IN SERVICE TEACHER TRAINING 4HE CURRICULUM SHOULD BE FRAMED IN WAYS THAT ARE DIRECTLYRELEVANTTOTEACHERSANDTHEREQUIREMENTSOF PARTICULARCLASSROOMSITUATIONS SUCHASMULTIGRADE TEACHING SPECIAL NEEDS OF lRST GENERATION LEARNERS ETC 4HIS MEANS THAT CURRICULA SHOULD BE FRAMED WITH GREATER INPUTS FROM TEACHERS THEMSELVES AND THEIRPRACTICALREQUIREMENTSINTHECLASSROOM  )#4MUSTBEINCORPORATEDMOREFULLYINTOTEACHER TRAININGPROGRAMS WHICHINTURNLEADSTO)#4BEING USEDMOREFREELYINTHECLASSROOM  )TISNECESSARYTODEVELOPCONTENTFORANDACCESSTO OPENEDUCATIONALRESOURCESFORTEACHERTRAINING

)TISIMPORTANTTODEVELOPANDNURTURE LEADERSHIPFORMANAGINGSCHOOLS %VEN TALENTED INDIVIDUALS WHO COULD BE SUITABLE FOR THETASKSOFSCHOOLMANAGEMENTNEEDTOBETRAINEDFOR THIS PURPOSE 3UCH CAPACITY BUILDING WOULD CREATE A POOLOFPOTENTIALPRINCIPALSORHEADS4HEREARESEVERAL WAYS IN WHICH THIS CAN BE DONE 3TATE 'OVERNMENTS COULDASSIGNSUCHTRAININGTOEXISTINGINSTITUTIONSSUCH AS 3#%24S OR 3)%S LEVERAGING THE EXPERTISE AVAILABLE IN .AVODAYA 6IDYALAYAS +ENDRIYA 6IDYALAYAS OTHER GOVERNMENTSCHOOLSANDPRIVATESCHOOLS3UCHTRAINING PROGRAMS AS WELL AS RE TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR EXISTING PRINCIPALS COULD ALSO SEEK THE EXPERTISE OF SPECIALISTS INMANAGEMENTEDUCATION!LSO INDIVIDUALMENTORING PROGRAMSFORSCHOOLLEADERSCOULDBEEVOLVED

4HEPOSSIBILITYOFGREATEREXCHANGE BETWEENSCHOOLS INCLUDINGMENTORING OFONESCHOOLBYANOTHERSHOULDBE ALLOWEDANDENCOURAGED 4HE CURRENT SYSTEM CREATES MANY DISTINCTIONS AND PREVENTS INTERACTION BETWEEN SCHOOLS4HERE IS A NEED TOCONSTITUTEMECHANISMSOFEXCHANGEANDINTERACTION BETWEEN STUDENTS AND TEACHERS OF DIFFERENT SCHOOLS )N ADDITION SCHOOLSTHATWISHTODOSOSHOULDBEALLOWED TO EXERCISE THE OPTION OF BEING @MENTORED BY ANOTHER SCHOOLTOIMPROVEFACILITIESANDTEACHINGMETHODS

#URRICULUMREFORMREMAINSAN IMPORTANTISSUEINALMOSTALLSCHOOLS 3CHOOLEDUCATIONMUSTBEMADEMORE RELEVANTTOTHELIVESOFCHILDREN4HEREIS NEEDTOMOVEAWAYFROMROTE LEARNING TOUNDERSTANDINGCONCEPTS GOOD COMPREHENSIONANDCOMMUNICATION

SKILLSANDLEARNINGHOWTOACCESS KNOWLEDGEINDEPENDENTLY 3UCCESSIVE #OMMISSIONS AND #OMMITTEES SET UP BY THEGOVERNMENTHAVEEMPHASISEDTHENEEDTOMAKETHE CURRICULUMMOREINTERESTING RELEVANT CREATIVEANDUSEFUL FORSTUDENTS4HE.ATIONAL#URRICULUM&RAMEWORK ALSOCLEARLYARTICULATEDSUCHANAPPROACH.EVERTHELESSIT APPEARSTHATINAMAJORITYOFSCHOOLSACROSSTHECOUNTRY ASIGNIlCANTEMPHASISONROTE LEARNINGANDMEMORISING FACTSREMAINSTHENORM!LSO THEREISEVIDENCEOFCHILDREN BEINGOVERBURDENEDWITHTOOMUCHDETAILANDANEXCESS OFSCHOLASTICREQUIREMENTSATTHEELEMENTARYLEVEL )TISIMPORTANTTOORIENTSTUDENTSTOWARDSINDEPENDENT AND CONTINUOUS LEARNING 4HIS MAKES IT ESSENTIAL TO MAKEGREATEREFFORTSTOCHANGETHEATTITUDETOLEARNING ANDKNOWLEDGE)THASBEENNOTEDINSEVERALSTATESTHAT LEARNING RESULTS HAVE IMPROVED CONSIDERABLY UPON PROVIDINGINPUTSFORCOMMUNICATIONANDCOMPREHENSION INLANGUAGEANDBASICMATHEMATICALSKILLSUSINGACTIVITY BASEDANDIMAGINATIVEPEDAGOGICALSTRATEGIES4HEFOCUS OF PRIMARY SCHOOLING IN PARTICULAR MUST BE ON GOOD LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS BASIC FOUNDATION MATHS AND INCULCATION OF SELF LEARNING AND CRITICAL EXAMINATION THROUGH INNOVATIVE TEACHING METHODS &OR LANGUAGE TEACHING IN PARTICULAR THERE SHOULD BE MUCH GREATER EMPHASIS ON COMMUNICATION SKILLS AT A PRACTICALLEVEL )T IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO ENSURE THAT THE CURRICULUM CONTAINS LOCALLY RELEVANT CONTENT THAT CHILDREN CAN RELATETOTHEIROWNLIVES&OREXAMPLE INCERTAINPARTSOF THECOUNTRYSUCHAS BUTNOTONLY THE.ORTHEAST THE CURRICULUMATBOTHPRIMARYANDSECONDARYLEVELSCOULD ALSOINCLUDETRAININGINDISASTERMANAGEMENT ESPECIALLY FORmOODS WHILEINOTHERPARTSOFTHECOUNTRYRESPONSES TO EARTHQUAKES MAY BE MORE RELEVANT )N RURAL AREAS HORTICULTURE AND PISCICULTURE TECHNIQUES SHOULD BE INCLUDEDINTHESYLLABUS#O CURRICULARREADINGMATERIAL SHOULDBEPROPAGATED SUCHASCHILDRENSBOOKSWITHLOCAL STORIESANDHISTORIESTOSTRENGTHENTHELINKAGESBETWEEN SCHOOLANDHOME 4OMAKESECONDARYSCHOOLEDUCATIONMORERELEVANT AND ALSOADDRESSTHEPROBLEMOFDROPOUTS .+#RECOMMENDS THE SETTING UP OF ,IVELIHOOD #ENTRES IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS THAT WOULD IMPART PRACTICAL EMPLOYABLE SKILLS AND PROVIDE CAREER COUNSELLING TO STUDENTS !LL SCHOOL CHILDRENSHOULDBEENCOURAGEDTOBEINVOLVEDINSOME PRACTICALACTIVITIESTHATREQUIREWORKINGWITHTHEHANDS 4HESE ACTIVITIES SHOULD NOT BE TREATED AS CATERING TO A

PARALLELSTREAM BUTSHOULDBEPROVIDEDTOALLSTUDENTS AND INTEGRATED WITH THE OVERALL SYLLABUS /NCE AGAIN LINKS WITH THE 3KILL $EVELOPMENT -ISSION SHOULD BE DEVELOPEDWHEREVERPOSSIBLE

#HANGESINTHEEXAMINATIONSYSTEMARE REQUIRED ESPECIALLYAT"OARDLEVELBUT ALSOEARLIER TOENSURETHATTHEPRESSURE FORROTE LEARNINGISREDUCED 4HE CURRENT OVER EMPHASIS ON DETAILS MEMORISING OF FACTSANDSIMILARABILITIESRATHERTHANONUNDERSTANDING AND ACCESSING KNOWLEDGE INDEPENDENTLY IS REmECTED IN THE PATTERN OF EXAMINATIONS "OARD EXAMINATIONS IN WHICHMARKSAREAWARDEDBASEDONTHEABILITYTORECALL LOTSOFDETAILSORONRAPIDITYOFRESPONSEORONTHEABILITY TODOLARGENUMBERSOFSUMSINALIMITEDPERIODTHROUGH PRACTICE IN PATTERN RECOGNITION ARE NOT SUFlCIENTLY DISCRIMINATORY AND MAY END UP PROVIDING MISLEADING RESULTS4HEYALSOPUTPRESSUREONSCHOOLSTOENSURETHAT MEMORYANDPATTERNRECOGNITIONSKILLSAREDEVELOPEDAT THEEXPENSEOFGENUINEUNDERSTANDING 4HIS IS ALSO REmECTED IN THE PATTERN OF ANNUAL EXAMINATIONS WHICH MANY SCHOOLS CONTINUE TO RUN EVEN IN JUNIOR CLASSES SUCH AS #LASS ))) AND #LASS 6 0ERFORMANCE IN SUCH EXAMINATIONS THEN BECOMES THE BASIS FOR CHOOSING STUDENTS WHO WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR SCHOLARSHIPS OR GAIN ENTRANCE TO .AVODAYA 6IDYALAYAS ANDSIMILARSCHOOLS&ORCINGCHILDRENTOUNDERGOALARGE NUMBEROFEXAMINATIONSINDIFFERENTSUBJECTS WITHAN EMPHASISONMEMORYRATHERTHANCOMPREHENSION MUST BEDISCOURAGEDATTHEPRIMARYLEVEL &ORCURRICULUMREFORMTOBESUCCESSFUL ITISNECESSARY TO MAKE MAJOR CHANGES IN THE EXAMINATION SYSTEM 4HIS APPLIES EQUALLY TO SOME OF THE NATIONAL SCHOOL BOARDS SUCH AS #"3% AND THE STATE LEVEL BOARDS )T IS ALSO CRUCIAL TO PUSH FOR SUCH REFORM IN THE ANNUAL EXAMINATIONS HELD BY SCHOOLS WHERE THE TESTING MUST BE FOCUSED ON LANGUAGE AND COMPREHENSION NUMERIC AND QUANTITATIVE SKILLS AND ABILITY TO USE KNOWLEDGE CREATIVELY

.EWTECHNOLOGIES ESPECIALLYBUTNOT ONLY)#4 SHOULDBEUSEDASMUCHAS POSSIBLETOREDUCECOSTS ENABLEMORE EFFECTIVEUSEOFRESOURCES ANDPROVIDE WIDEREXPOSURETOSTUDENTSANDTEACHERS 4HEUSEOF)#4ASATEACHINGANDLEARNINGDEVICENEEDS TOBEMORElRMLYINCORPORATEDINTOTHECLASSROOM"OTH


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TEACHERSANDSTUDENTSNEEDTOBEFARMOREFAMILIARWITH )#4 ANDGETPRACTICALEXPERIENCEOFWEBBASEDRESEARCH 4HEREFORE )#4 SHOULD BE MADE MORE ACCESSIBLE TO TEACHERS STUDENTS AND ADMINISTRATION FOR LEARNING TRAINING RESEARCH ADMINISTRATION MANAGEMENT MONITORING ETC 4HIS REQUIRES THE PROVISION OF MORE FACILITIES SUCH AS COMPUTERS AS WELL AS CONNECTIVITY AND BROADBAND FACILITIES #OMPUTER AIDED LEARNING ALSO REQUIRESTRAININGOFTEACHERSANDOTHERSTAFFINORDERTO MAKETHEBESTUSEOFTHETECHNOLOGY

4HEREISNEEDFORAWEB BASEDPORTALFOR TEACHERSTOEXCHANGEIDEAS INFORMATION ANDEXPERIENCES !FORUMFORTEACHERSNEEDSTOBEDEVELOPEDWHERETHEY MAY INTERACT SHARE EXPERIENCES AND IDEAS4HIS NEEDS TOBEINCORPORATEDINTOTEACHERTRAININGPROGRAMS AND ALSO PROVIDED GENERALLYFORIN SERVICETEACHERS ! WEB BASEDTEACHERSPORTALCANPLAYANIMPORTANTROLEASSUCH ANETWORKINGFORUM

!CCESS 3PECIALSTRATEGIESAREREQUIREDTOENSURE GREATERACCESSTOSCHOOLSINBACKWARD REGIONS REMOTELOCATIONSANDDIFlCULT TERRAINS 4HEREISATREMENDOUSSHORTAGEOFTEACHERSANDALSOGREAT DIFlCULTYINENSURINGMINIMUMSCHOOLINGINFRASTRUCTURE IN SOME AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY DEPRIVED OR HAVE DIFlCULT TOPOGRAPHICAL CONDITIONS $ISTANCE AND DIFlCULTY OF PHYSICAL ACCESS ARE IMPORTANT REASONS FOR SCHOOLDROPOUT ESPECIALLYINSUCHAREAS3OMETIMESITIS ALSOTHECASETHATSUCHAREASAREINHABITEDBYPARTICULAR COMMUNITIES WITH THEIR OWN LANGUAGE OR DIALECT THAT ISDIFFERENTFROMTHESTATELANGUAGE)NORDERTOENSURE ACCESS TO SCHOOLS FOR CHILDREN IN SUCH AREAS SPECIAL MEASURESMUSTBETAKEN .+# RECOMMENDS THE FOLLOWING MEASURES FOR SUCH AREAS  &INANCIALNORMSFORSCHOOLSINSUCHLOCATIONSMUST BE DIFFERENT FROM THOSE IN MORE ACCESSIBLE AREAS AS THEY WILL REQUIRE ADDITIONAL RESOURCE ALLOCATION BASEDONPARTICULARCONDITIONS  3PECIAL INCENTIVES INCLUDING A lNANCIAL INCENTIVE SUCHASAhHARDSHIPBONUSv NEEDTOBEPROVIDED FOR TEACHERS TO TAKE UP JOBS IN SUCH AREAS 4WO DIFFERENT MODELS MAY BE CONSIDERED n ONE BASED ON RECRUITING LOCAL TEACHERS ON A PERMANENT BASIS

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FOR A JOB IN A PARTICULAR SCHOOL WITHOUT TRANSFER ANDANOTHERBASEDONATRANSFERPOLICYTHATDIVIDES LOCATIONS INTO HARDMIDDLEEASY CATEGORIES AND ALLOWS TEACHERS TO ROTATE AMONG THEM AT SPECIlED INTERVALS)DEALLY THERESHOULDBEATLEASTONELOCAL TEACHERANDONENON LOCALTEACHERTOENSURESOME VARIATION LOCALACCEPTABILITYANDQUALITY  2ESIDENTIALARRANGEMENTSMUSTBEMADEFORTEACHERS INSUCHLOCATIONS BYPROVIDINGQUARTERSNEXTTOOR NEARTHESCHOOL4HECOSTOFBUILDINGSUCHQUARTERS SHOULD BE FACTORED INTO THE COSTS OF THE SCHOOL BUILDING  4HERE ARE SOME GEOGRAPHICAL ZONES ESPECIALLY IN MOUNTAINOUS REGIONS THAT ARE PLAGUED BY UNIQUE PROBLEMS DUE TO VAST TRACTS OF LAND DIFlCULT TOPOGRAPHY ANDASPARSEANDNOMADICPOPULATION )N SUCH AREAS WELL EQUIPPED RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS SHOULDBESETUPINSTEADOFINSISTINGONASCHOOLIN EVERYHABITATION4HESESCHOOLSMUSTBEEQUIPPED TOLOOKINTOTHENEEDSOFVERYYOUNGCHILDRENLIVING AWAYFROMTHEIRFAMILIES

-EASURESAREREQUIREDTOENSUREGREATER ENROLMENTANDRETENTIONOFGIRLSTUDENTS 4HEHIGHDROPOUTRATEOFGIRLSESPECIALLYFROM#LASS6 ONWARDSISAMATTEROFGREATCONCERN/NEMAJORREASON AS NOTED ABOVE IS THE SHEER LACK OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS NEARBY AS PARENTS ARE RELUCTANT TO SEND GIRLS TO TRAVEL LONGDISTANCESTOSCHOOL(OWEVER SOCIALCONDITIONING ANDOTHERCONSTRAINTSALSOPLAYAROLE3OMEPOLICIESTO ADDRESSTHISINCLUDE  3PECIALINCENTIVESFORGIRLSINSECONDARYEDUCATION WHERE THESE ARE REQUIRED THEY ARE NOT REQUIRED EVERYWHERE IN ADDITION TO FREE TEXTBOOKS AND UNIFORMS SUCHASBICYCLES  'IRLS ONLYSCHOOLSESPECIALLYINPARTICULARAREAS  !N ENHANCED SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME ESPECIALLY FOR GIRLS WITHPARTICULAREMPHASISONGIRLSFROMSOCIALLY DEPRIVEDGROUPS  4HENEEDFORSEPARATEANDFUNCTIONALTOILETSFORGIRLS INALLSCHOOLS WITHACCESSTOWATER ISVERYIMPORTANT ESPECIALLYBUTNOTEXCLUSIVELYINURBANAREAS

,ANGUAGEISSUESMUSTBEEXPLICITLYTAKEN ONBOARDINDESIGNINGSCHOOLCURRICULA ANDMETHODSOFPEDAGOGY ,ANGUAGEHASBEENFOUNDTOBEAHIGHLYALIENATINGFACTOR INTHEEDUCATIONOFMANYSCHOOLCHILDREN PARTICULARLY AMONGSTMINORITIES TRIBALCOMMUNITIESWITHLANGUAGES WITHOUTASCRIPT ASWELLASLINGUISTICMINORITIESINMOST

STATES-ANYCHILDRENRESENTTHEIMPOSITIONOFTHESTATE LANGUAGE AS THE MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION OR AS SECOND LANGUAGEINSCHOOL -ORETEACHERSFORTEACHINGMINORITYLANGUAGESMUSTBE APPOINTEDINGOVERNMENTSCHOOLSTOINCREASETHEINTAKEOF CHILDRENFROMMINORITYLANGUAGECOMMUNITIES1UALIlED TEACHERSFROMTHELOCALCOMMUNITYANDTHEREFORESPEAKING THE SAME LANGUAGE MUST BE RECRUITED ON A LARGER SCALE ASAMEANSOFENCOURAGINGRETENTIONAMONGSTTHOSEWHO FEELMARGINALISED ASWELLASAMEANSOFBRINGINGGREATER COMMUNITYCONTROLINTHESCHOOL4HISWOULDALSOACTASA BOOSTTOCONlDENCE ANDPROVIDEROLEMODELSTOSTUDENTS FROMDISADVANTAGEDBACKGROUNDS

4HETEACHINGOF%NGLISHSHOULDBE INTRODUCEDALONGWITHTHElRSTLANGUAGE STARTINGFROM#LASS)INSCHOOL 0ROlCIENCY IN %NGLISH IS WIDELY PERCEIVED AS AN IMPORTANT AVENUE FOR EMPLOYMENT AND UPWARD MOBILITY WHICH ALSO GREATLY FACILITATES THE PURSUIT OF HIGHEREDUCATION4HEINCORPORATIONOF%NGLISHINTOTHE CURRICULUM THROUGH THE INTRODUCTION OF %NGLISH AS A LANGUAGEIN#LASS)ANDTHETEACHINGOFONEOTHERSUBJECT IN%NGLISHMEDIUMINLATERCLASSES REQUIRESPEDAGOGICAL CHANGES TO CONTEXTUALISE LANGUAGE LEARNING INCREASING THEAVAILABILITYOF%NGLISHLANGUAGETEACHERSANDTHOSE WHOCANTEACHATLEASTONESUBJECTIN%NGLISH ASWELLAS BILINGUALANDSUPPLEMENTARYTEACHINGMATERIALS !T THE SAME TIME SCHOOL EDUCATION MUST COMMIT TO PROMOTING MULTI LINGUALITY GIVEN THE MULTILINGUAL NATUREOFOURCOUNTRY

4HEREISNEEDTORE ORIENTOFlCIAL STRATEGIESFORENSURINGBETTERACCESSOF -USLIMCHILDRENTOSCHOOLING !REASWITH-USLIMMAJORITYPOPULATIONHAVETENDEDTO BE OVERLOOKED IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF GOVERNMENT EDUCATIONALSCHEMES)NADDITION WITHAFEWEXCEPTIONS THERE HAS BEEN LESS PRIVATE INITIATIVE IN THIS REGARD !S A CONSEQUENCE -USLIMS AS A COMMUNITY HAVE ACCESS TOFEWERGOVERNMENTSCHOOLS GIRLSSCHOOLS ANDHIGHER EDUCATIONALINSTITUTIONS )TISIMPORTANTTORECTIFYTHISGAPANDENSUREADEQUATE PUBLICEXPENDITURETOENSURETHATTHEPHYSICALANDSOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR SCHOOLING IS MADE AVAILABLE 4HIS MEANS THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD HAVE A MINORITY COMPONENTINALLITSSCHOOLDEVELOPMENTSCHEMESAND

BUDGET OUTLAYS WHICH SHOULD BE IN PROPORTION TO THE MINORITYPOPULATION 4HE STRATEGY CANNOT BE BASED SOLELY ON MORE PUBLIC RESOURCESPROVIDEDTOMADRASASFORTHEIRMODERNISATION ASACCORDINGTOTHE3ACHAR#OMMITTEE2EPORT PER CENT OF -USLIM CHILDREN DO NOT ATTEND MADRASAS FOR SCHOOLING )NDEED IF THE MODERNISATION OF MADRASA EDUCATION IS THE ONLY POLICY FOR INCREASING ACCESS FOR -USLIM SCHOOL CHILDREN TO MODERNISED EDUCATION IT WILLONLYRESULTINTHEIRBEINGFURTHERISOLATED )TISIMPORTANTTOENSURETHATCHILDRENFROMALLMINORITIES AND SOCIALLY DEPRIVED GROUPS ARE NOT DISCRIMINATED AGAINSTINTHEPROCESSOFATTENDINGSCHOOL4HISMUSTBE ANACTIVEANDCONCERTEDCAMPAIGN INWHICHSYLLABIAND CURRICULUMARECHECKEDTOAVOIDPREJUDICE TEACHERSARE SENSITISEDANDINSTANCESOFDISCRIMINATIONAREPUNISHED 4HISALSOREQUIRESGRIEVANCEREDRESSALMECHANISMSATTHE SCHOOLLEVELANDALSOATHIGHERLEVELS

4HEACCESSOFCHILDRENFROM3CHEDULED 4RIBESREQUIRESMOREmEXIBLEANDSENSITIVE SCHOOLINGSTRATEGIES 4RIBALCHILDRENFACEPROBLEMSOFINADEQUATEGEOGRAPHICAL ACCESS DISCRIMINATIONATSCHOOLANDISSUESOFLANGUAGE WHICH HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED EARLIER BUT ARE ESPECIALLY RELEVANTINTHESECASES4RIBALSTUDENTSHAVETOCOMPETE WITH3#STUDENTS OFTENATADISADVANTAGETOTHEFORMER !LLOFTHESEMUSTBEADDRESSEDATTHELOCALLEVELASWELLAS ATTHEDISTRICTANDSTATELEVEL %VERY STATE SHOULD HAVE AN EDUCATION POLICY FOR TRIBAL AND MINORITY EDUCATION WITH A LONG TERM VISION OF EVENTUALINTEGRATIONINTOTHEMAINSTREAM 2ATHERTHANSETTINGUPSEPARATESCHOOLSFORTHOSEWHO HAVE DROPPED OUT BECAUSE THEY FELT DISCRIMINATED AGAINST TEACHERS SHOULD BE BETTER SENSITISED TO THE NEEDSOFSTUDENTSFROMSUCHCOMMUNITIES ASWELLASTHE PARTICULARNEEDSOFlRSTGENERATIONLEARNERS 4HEISSUEOFLANGUAGEISPARTICULARLYIMPORTANTINAREAS WITHTRIBALPOPULATION ANDCAREMUSTBETAKENTOlND ANDTRAINTEACHERSWHOCANDEALWITHCHILDRENINTHEIR OWNLANGUAGE RATHERTHANFORCINGTHEMTOADJUSTTOTHE REGIONALLANGUAGE

%DUCATIONOF3#CHILDRENMUSTBEA PRIORITY BUTWITHTHEREQUIREDmEXIBILITY ANDAVOIDANCEOFDISCRIMINATION Report to the Nation

57

4HEPOINTSMADEEARLIERWITHRESPECTTODISCRIMINATION ARE ESPECIALLY VALID ALSO FOR 3# CHILDREN AND MUST BE ADDRESSEDINSIMILARWAYS )N ADDITION SCHOLARSHIPS SHOULD BE INCREASED AND PROVIDED TO MUCH LARGER NUMBERS OF $ALIT CHILDREN ALONGWITHOTHERPROVISIONSSUCHASFREETEXTBOOKSUPTO #LASS8ANDOTHERINCENTIVES

#HILDRENOFSEASONALMIGRANTSREQUIRE SPECIALCONDITIONSANDEFFORTSTOENSURE CONTINUOUSACCESSTOSCHOOLING 3EASONALANDSHORT TERMMIGRATIONISAMAJORCAUSEFOR EARLYDROPOUTSANDNONENROLMENT)NORDERTOENSURE THATSUCHCHILDRENHAVEACCESSTOAQUALITYANDCOMPLETE EDUCATION THEIR ECONOMIC INSECURITY HAS TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WHILE FORMULATING EDUCATIONAL SCHEMES 4ENTSCHOOLSANDMOBILESCHOOLSMUSTBEMADEAPART OFTHEURBANLANDSCAPEFORMIGRANTCHILDREN WHILERURAL SCHOOLSALSOHAVETOBEMADEAWAREOFTHENEEDTOADMIT MIGRANT CHILDREN 4HIS REQUIRES A SIGNIlCANT CHANGE IN THE WAY THAT SCHOOL ADMISSIONS AND ENROLMENT ARE CARRIEDOUT ASWELLASGREATERSENSITIVITY mEXIBILITYAND EFFORT ON THE PART OF THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION ALL OF WHICHREQUIREHARDANDSOFTRESOURCES)TISNECESSARYTO IDENTIFYGOODPRACTICESINTHISREGARDWHICHCANSERVEAS AMODELTOBEEMULATEDELSEWHERE

,ABOURINGCHILDRENREQUIREINCENTIVESAND BRIDGECOURSES 3OME SORT OF MONETARY STIPEND MAY HAVE TO BE PAID TO LABOURING CHILDREN TO BRING THEM INTO SCHOOLS )N ADDITION SYNERGIES MUST BE CREATED WITH .2%'! TO LOOK INTO SCHOOL EDUCATION CONCERNS OF LABOURING CHILDREN 0RE SCHOOL SYSTEMS LIKE BALWADIS AND ANGANWADIS MUST BE STRENGTHENED SO THAT A SCHOOL GOING HABIT CAN BE INGRAINED AS WELL AS PROVIDING A SPACE FOR SMALL CHILDREN TO BE CARED FOR WHILE THEIR ELDER SIBLINGS MAY GO TO SCHOOL !LTERNATIVE #ENTRES

58


FOR%DUCATIONMUSTBEUTILISEDSPECIlCALLYTOPROVIDE BRIDGE COURSES AIMED AT DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS AND CLASSESFORDROPOUTS(OWEVER THEUSEOF!LTERNATIVE #ENTRES FOR %DUCATION MUST BE NO MORE THAN IN A TRANSITION CAPACITY !)% SHOULD NOT BECOME THE ONLY OPTION FOR ACCESS TO POOR SCHOOL CHILDREN FOR A SCHOOLEDUCATION 3TUDY #ENTRES MUST BE PROVIDED FOR lRST GENERATION LEARNERSANDSEASONALMIGRANTSASASPACEWHICHISMORE CONDUCIVE TO LEARNING THAN WHAT MAY BE AVAILABLE AT HOME4HESEMAYALSOBEUSEDASCOMMUNITYCENTRES LIBRARIESETC

4HENEEDSOFPHYSICALLYDISADVANTAGED CHILDREN ASWELLASTEACHERS HAVETO BEFACTOREDINMORETHOROUGHLYIN PROVISIONSFORSCHOOLEDUCATION 4HE GOAL IN ALL SCHOOLS SHOULD BE INCLUSIVE EDUCATION WHICHMEANSTHATALLSYSTEMSMUSTBEORIENTEDTOALLOW THE GREATEST POSSIBLE ACCESS TO CHILDREN WITH DIFFERENT NEEDSANDABILITIES4HISREQUIRESSUBSTANTIALCHANGESIN BOTH INFRASTRUCTURE AND PEDAGOGICAL METHODS 3CHOOL BUILDINGSMUSTHAVEPROVISIONSFORACCESSANDNAVIGATION FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED THE PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED ETC4EACHERSMUSTBETRAINED SENSITISEDANDEMPOWERED TO DEAL WITH CHILDREN WITH DIFFERENT ABILITIES IN THE CLASSROOMSITUATION 7HILE THIS IS THE ULTIMATE GOAL IT MUST ALSO BE RECOGNISED THAT CURRENT SCHOOLING PATTERNS ARE NOT ALWAYS CONDUCIVE TO BRINGING OUT THE FULL POTENTIAL OF PHYSICALLYDISADVANTAGEDCHILDREN ANDTHEREFORE THERE ISSTILLACASEFORSPECIALSCHOOLS4HEREISAPERCEPTION THATGOVERNMENTMECHANISMSMAYNOTBEBESTSUITEDTO PROVIDESUSTAINEDANDSYMPATHETICSUPPORTFORLEARNERS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND SEVERELY DISABLED CHILDREN SUCHASTHEBLIND )NTHISCONTEXT ITMAYBEBETTERTO IDENTIFYAPPROPRIATEANDWILLINGINSTITUTIONSOUTSIDETHE GOVERNMENTWHOMAYBECOMEPARTNERS

Vocational Education and Training

.

+# CONSIDERS 6OCATIONAL %DUCATION AND 4RAINING6%4 TOBEANIMPORTANTELEMENT OF THE NATIONS EDUCATION INITIATIVE )N ORDER FOR 6%4 TO PLAY ITS PART EFFECTIVELY IN THE CHANGING NATIONAL CONTEXT AND FOR )NDIA TO ENJOY THE FRUITS OF THE DEMOGRAPHIC DIVIDEND THERE IS AN URGENT NEED TO REDElNE THE CRITICAL ELEMENTS OF IMPARTING VOCATIONAL EDUCATIONTOMAKETHEMmEXIBLE CONTEMPORARY RELEVANT INCLUSIVE AND CREATIVE4HE 'OVERNMENT IS WELL AWARE OFTHEIMPORTANTROLEOF6%4ANDHASALREADYTAKENA NUMBEROFIMPORTANTINITIATIVES4HROUGHCONSULTATIONS WITH INDUSTRY GROUPS ACADEMICS CIVIL SOCIETY AND PRACTITIONERS .+#HASDELIBERATEDONWAYSANDMEANS TO STRENGTHEN THESE INITIATIVES AND RECOMMENDS THE FOLLOWINGLONGANDSHORT TERMSTRATEGIES

0LACEVOCATIONALEDUCATION ENTIRELYUNDERTHE-INISTRYOF (UMAN2ESOURCE$EVELOPMENT -(2$ )N VIEW OF THE ROLE OF 6%4 IN HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENTANDIMPORTANCEOFITSLINKAGESWITHOTHER STREAMS OF EDUCATION THE 'OVERNMENT MAY CONSIDER PLACING ALL ASPECTS OF 6%4 UNDER -(2$ #URRENTLY 6%4 FALLS UNDER THE PURVIEW OF -(2$ AS WELL AS THE -INISTRY OF ,ABOUR WHICH LEADS TO FRAGMENTED MANAGEMENT OF THE 6%4 FRAMEWORK -(2$ MAY CONSIDERSETTINGUPA.ATIONAL)NSTITUTEFOR6OCATIONAL %DUCATION 0LANNING AND $EVELOPMENT TO FORMULATE STRATEGY ADVISETHE'OVERNMENT ANDUNDERTAKERESEARCH ANDDEVELOPMENTINAREASPERTAININGTOTECHNOLOGYAND WORKFORCEDEVELOPMENT

)NCREASETHEmEXIBILITYOF6%4 WITHINTHEMAINSTREAMEDUCATION SYSTEMTHROUGHTHEFOLLOWING STEPS I !SPECTS OF GENERAL EDUCATION SUCH AS NUMERACY SKILLS SHOULDBERETAINEDIN6%4ASFARASPOSSIBLE TO

$ECEMBER

ENABLESTUDENTSTORETURNTOMAINSTREAMEDUCATION ATALATERSTAGE II #OURSES IN TRAINING INSTITUTES AND POLYTECHNICS SHOULDHAVEDISTINCTTRACKSFORSTUDENTSOFDIFFERENT EDUCATIONALATTAINMENTS III %NTRYREQUIREMENTSFORCERTAINTRADESSHOULDREmECT THE REQUIREMENT OF THE TRADE AS APPROPRIATE FOR INSTANCE THE ENTRY REQUIREMENT OF #LASS 8 COULD BE RELAXED TO #LASS 6))) IN SOME CASES 3TUDENTS SHOULDBEPERMITTEDMULTIPLEENTRYANDEXITOPTIONS INTHEVOCATIONALEDUCATIONSTREAM IV ,INKSSHOULDBEESTABLISHEDBETWEENTHEVOCATIONAL EDUCATION STREAM AND SCHOOL EDUCATION AS WELL AS HIGHEREDUCATION V #OURSES DEVOTED TO CERTAIN SKILLS TRAINING AT THE PRIMARYANDSECONDARYLEVELSHOULDBEINTRODUCED INALLSCHOOLS VI 6OCATIONAL TRAINING SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE IN VARIOUSLITERACYANDADULTEDUCATIONSCHEMES VII3CHEMES FOR LIFELONG SKILL UP GRADATION THROUGH SHORTTRAININGPROGRAMS SHOULDBEINTRODUCED VIII4HERESHOULDBEAPROVISIONFORGENERATINGACADRE OFMULTI SKILLEDPERSONS

1UANTIFYANDMONITORTHEIMPACT OFVOCATIONALEDUCATION $ATASHOULDBECOLLECTEDPERIODICALLYANDANALYSEDIN ORDERTOASSESSTHEIMPACTOFTRAININGONEMPLOYABILITY %MPIRICAL EVIDENCE ON WAGE PREMIUM OR OTHER ADVANTAGESENJOYEDBY6%4GRADUATES SEATUTILISATION IN TRAINING INSTITUTES NATURE OF EMPLOYMENT POST TRAINING ANDTHEEFlCACYOFVARIOUSSCHEMESISESSENTIAL FOR CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT ! DETAILED EXERCISE OF MANPOWERANALYSISISANECESSARYSTEPTOUNDERSTANDING THE NATURE AND QUANTUM OF DEMAND FOR 6%4 AND THE MISMATCH BETWEEN THE SKILLS OF 6%4 CERTIlCATE HOLDERS AND THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE LABOUR MARKET 4HIS EXERCISE MAY BE UNDERTAKEN BY THE PROPOSED .ATIONAL)NSTITUTEFOR6OCATIONAL%DUCATION0LANNING AND$EVELOPMENT


59

)NCREASERESOURCEALLOCATIONTO VOCATIONALEDUCATION

3TRENGTHENTHECURRENT INSTITUTIONALSTRUCTURE

)N PER CAPITA TERMS VOCATIONAL EDUCATION COSTS MORE THAN GENERAL EDUCATION HOWEVER PUBLIC EXPENDITURE ON VOCATIONAL EDUCATION HAS BEEN EXTREMELY LOW AS COMPARED TO GENERAL SECONDARY EDUCATION 'IVEN THE DEMAND FOR SKILLED MANPOWER IN MANUFACTURING AND SERVICES THE 'OVERNMENT SHOULD AIM TO SPEND AT LEAST PER CENT OF ITS TOTAL PUBLIC EXPENDITURE ON EDUCATION ON VOCATIONAL EDUCATION 3OME OPTIONS THATMAYBECONSIDEREDFORRAISINGADDITIONALFUNDSTO lNANCEAMODERNISED6%4SCHEMEARE I %NHANCINGFEES COUPLEDWITHSTUDENTLOANSCHEMES 4HIS WOULD ALSO MAKE 6%4 INSTITUTIONS MORE RESPONSIVETOMARKETNEEDS II 2AISING FUNDS THROUGH A CESS ON EMPLOYERS FOR INSTANCETWOPERCENTOFSALARIESOFALLEMPLOYEES AS IN3INGAPORE III -AKING IT OBLIGATORY FOR COMPANIES TO lNANCE PUBLICVOCATIONALEDUCATIONANDTRAININGPROGRAMS ASIN+OREA

4HE EXISTING )NDUSTRIAL 4RAINING )NSTITUTES )4)S AND )NDUSTRIAL4RAINING#ENTRES)4#S AREWIDELYRECOGNISED TOFACEPROBLEMSSUCHASPOORQUALITYTRAINERS LACKOF mEXIBILITY AND OUTDATED INFRASTRUCTURE -EASURES TO IMPROVETHEEXISTINGINSTITUTIONSAREASFOLLOWS I %XTENTOFFUNCTIONALAUTONOMYMUSTBEINCREASED )4)SSHOULDBEGIVENMOREPOWERTOSTRENGTHENAND ADAPTTHEIRTRAININGPROGRAMSTOBETTERMEETLOCAL MARKETNEEDS II )NDICATORSOFINTERNALANDEXTERNALEFlCIENCYSHOULD BEDEVELOPEDBYTHEPROPOSED.ATIONAL)NSTITUTE TOINCENTIVISEGOODPERFORMANCE III -ODULES ON LITERACY NUMERACY COMMUNICATION SKILLS ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND OTHER GENERAL SKILLS RELEVANT TO WORKPLACE REQUIREMENTS MUST BE INTRODUCEDINALLCOURSES IV $IFFERENTTRACKSWITHINCOURSESFORDIFFERENTLEVELS OFSPECIALISATIONSHOULDBEINTRODUCED V 3TUDENTSSHOULDBEOFFEREDINCENTIVESSUCHASTOOLS MEMBERSHIP OF TRADE ASSOCIATIONS ETC AS PART OF THEIRDEGREEORDIPLOMA VI )NDUSTRYANDTRADEINVOLVEMENTSHOULDBEENHANCED NOTONLYATTHEINTERNSHIPSTAGE BUTALSOATTHETIME OFEXAMINATIONSANDPLACEMENTS VII #URRICULA SHOULD BE CONSTANTLY MONITORED AND UPDATED VIII 4HESKILLSANDCOURSESOFFEREDSHOULDBEREVIEWED PERIODICALLY4HENUMBEROFSKILLSCURRENTLYOFFERED NEEDSTOBEINCREASED IX 4EACHINGSHOULDBECONDUCTEDIN%NGLISHASWELLAS LOCALLANGUAGES X )NFRASTRUCTURESHOULDBEREGULARLYUPGRADED XI 1UALITYOFTEACHINGSHOULDBEDRASTICALLYIMPROVED

%XPANDCAPACITYTHROUGH INNOVATIVEDELIVERYMODELS )NORDERTOMEETTHEBURGEONINGREQUIREMENTSOFSKILLED AND UNSKILLED LABOUR A MASSIVE INCREASE IN QUANTITY OF TRAININGISNEEDED4HE'OVERNMENTCOULDEXPLORENEW DELIVERYMODELSTOINCREASECAPACITYSUCHASPUBLICPRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS DECENTRALISEDDELIVERY DISTANCELEARNINGAND COMPUTERISEDVOCATIONALTRAINING!TTHESAMETIME THE 'OVERNMENTMUSTINTRODUCECERTAINMINIMUMSTANDARDS AS A MEASURE OF QUALITY AND ENSURE THAT ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE6%4INSTITUTIONSADHERETOTHESE

%NHANCETHETRAININGOPTIONS AVAILABLEFORTHEUNORGANISEDAND INFORMALSECTOR 4HE GREATEST CHALLENGE LIES IN PROVIDING TRAINING FOR POTENTIAL ENTRANTS IN THE UNORGANISEDINFORMAL SECTOR WHICH ACCOUNTS FOR THE LARGEST PROPORTION OF EMPLOYMENT 3YSTEMATIC EFFORTS NEED TO BE MADE TO IMPART THE SKILLS REQUIRED BY THE UNORGANISED SECTOR 4HESE SHOULD BE FORMALLY INTRODUCED IN THE CURRICULA ANDPRACTICALTRAININGCOURSES)NORDERTOACHIEVETHIS THE'OVERNMENTSHOULDACTASAFACILITATORANDPROVIDE lNANCIALSUPPORT4HISASPECTOF6%4ISCRITICALFORTHE SUCCESSOFTHESYSTEMASAWHOLE

60


%NSUREAROBUSTREGULATORYAND ACCREDITATIONFRAMEWORK )N ORDER TO ACHIEVE THE DESIRED MODERNISATION AND EXPANSION ACRITICALASPECTWILLBETOREGULATEENTRYOF NEW INSTITUTIONS AND ACCREDITATION OF ALL INSTITUTIONS .+# THEREFORE RECOMMENDS THAT AN INDEPENDENT REGULATORY AGENCY FOR 6%4 BE ESTABLISHED 4HIS BODY WOULD LICENSE ACCREDITATION AGENCIES AND PRESCRIBE STANDARDS FOR CERTIlCATION 4HE PROCEDURES AND METHODOLOGIESADOPTEDBYTHEBODYWOULDNEEDTOBE SIMPLEANDTRANSPARENTTOENSUREUNHINDEREDGROWTHIN THESECTOR

%NSUREPROPERCERTIlCATION !TPRESENT THEPROCESSOFCERTIlCATIONISHANDLEDBYTHE .ATIONAL#OUNCILFOR6OCATIONAL4RAINING.#64 IN ASSOCIATIONWITH3TATE#OUNCILSFOR6OCATIONAL4RAINING 3#64S #LEAR DEMARCATION BETWEEN THE ROLES OF THE .#64 THE 3#64S AND THE $IRECTORATE 'ENERAL OF %MPLOYMENT AND 4RAINING IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE PROPER FUNCTIONING OF THE CERTIlCATION PROCESS )N ORDER TO ENSURE RECOGNITION OF CERTIlCATION BY EMPLOYERS BOTH IN)NDIAANDABROAD ANELECTRONICDATABASEOFCERTIlED TRAINING PROVIDERS AS WELL AS ELECTRONIC IDENTIlCATION FOR CERTIlED WORKERS SHOULD BE INTRODUCED %LECTRONIC IDENTIlCATION SHOULD CONTAIN INFORMATION REGARDING SKILLS AND QUALIlCATIONS AND EVENTUALLY OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION AS WELL ABOUT CERTIlED INDIVIDUALS AND CANBEUSEDTOFACILITATEMOBILITYOFWORKERS ENCOURAGE BANKLINKAGESANDENTREPRENEURIALINITIATIVES

5NDERTAKEARE BRANDINGEXERCISE )T IS WIDELY RECOGNISED THAT A CRUCIAL PROBLEM WITH VOCATIONAL TRAINING IN )NDIA IS A NEGATIVE ASSOCIATION

WITH MANUAL LABOUR )N ORDER TO MATCH THE MODERN REQUIREMENT OF THE SKILLS AND COMPETITIVENESS OF THE WORKFORCE AMASSIVERE BRANDINGEXERCISEISOFTHEHIGHEST PRIORITY4HIS COULD BE THE PRIME TASK OF THE RECENTLY ANNOUNCED.ATIONAL3KILLS-ISSION)NITIATIVESSUCHAS REPLACING THE USE OF TERMS LIKE @VOCATIONAL EDUCATION BY@SKILLDEVELOPMENTAREASTEPINTHERIGHTDIRECTION 4RAINING INSTITUTES SHOULD TRY TO CHART OUT A CAREER PATHFORTHEIRSTUDENTSANDINTRODUCEENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAININGMODULES )TISCRUCIALTOSIGNIlCANTLYINCREASEPUBLICANDPRIVATE INVESTMENT IN 6%4 (OWEVER A DETAILED ANALYSIS OF MANPOWERREQUIREMENTSINTERMSOFNUMBERS SKILLSAND COMPETITIVENESSISESSENTIALBEFOREFORMULATINGAMASTER PLAN AND DECIDING THE QUANTUM OF EXPENDITURE IN THE TH0LAN!ROBUSTFRAMEWORKPUTINPLACEASAVISIBLE ANDDEDICATEDRESOURCEINTHE-(2$ISAPRE REQUISITE TO ENSURING QUALITY AND FACILITATING SIGNIlCANT PRIVATE INVESTMENT AND PARTICIPATION -OST IMPORTANTLY THE QUALITYASWELLASTHEIMAGEOF6%4NEEDSTOBEACTIVELY PROMOTEDINORDERFORITTOBEVIEWEDASCOMPARABLETO GENERALSECONDARYEDUCATION ANDASRELEVANT


61

Higher Education .OVEMBER

(

IGHER EDUCATION HAS MADE A SIGNIlCANT CONTRIBUTION TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SOCIAL PROGRESS AND POLITICAL DEMOCRACY IN INDEPENDENT)NDIA"UTTHEREISSERIOUSCAUSEFORCONCERN ATTHISJUNCTURE4HEPROPORTIONOFOURPOPULATION IN THERELEVANTAGEGROUP THATENTERSTHEWORLDOFHIGHER EDUCATION IS ABOUT PER CENT4HE OPPORTUNITIES FOR HIGHEREDUCATIONINTERMSOFTHENUMBEROFPLACESIN UNIVERSITIESARESIMPLYNOTADEQUATEINRELATIONTOOUR NEEDS ,ARGE SEGMENTS OF OUR POPULATION JUST DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION 7HAT IS MORE THE QUALITYOFHIGHEREDUCATIONINMOSTOFOURUNIVERSITIES LEAVESMUCHTOBEDESIRED &OUNDATIONS ARE CRITICAL .+# BELIEVES THAT AN EMPHASISONEXPANSIONANDREFORMOFOURSCHOOLSYSTEM IS NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT EVERY CHILD HAS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO ENTER THE WORLD OF HIGHER EDUCATION )T IS ENGAGED IN CONSULTATIONS ON SCHOOL EDUCATION ANDWILLSUBMITRECOMMENDATIONSINTHISCRUCIALAREA IN DUE COURSE )N THIS RECOMMENDATION IT FOCUSES ON HIGHER EDUCATION .+# HAS ENGAGED IN FORMAL AND INFORMAL CONSULTATIONS ON THE ISSUE WITH A WIDE RANGEOFPEOPLEINTHEWORLDOFHIGHEREDUCATION)N ADDITION ITCONSULTEDCONCERNEDPEOPLEINPARLIAMENT GOVERNMENT CIVIL SOCIETY AND INDUSTRY #ONCERNS ABOUTTHEHIGHEREDUCATIONSYSTEMAREWIDELYSHARED 4HEREISACLEAR ALMOSTUNANIMOUS VIEWTHATHIGHER EDUCATION NEEDS A SYSTEMATIC OVERHAUL SO THAT )NDIA CAN EDUCATE MUCH LARGER NUMBERS WITHOUT DILUTING ACADEMIC STANDARDS )NDEED THIS IS ESSENTIAL BECAUSE THE TRANSFORMATION OF ECONOMY AND SOCIETY IN THE STCENTURYWOULDDEPEND INSIGNIlCANTPART ONTHE SPREADANDTHEQUALITYOFEDUCATIONAMONGOURPEOPLE PARTICULARLYINTHESPHEREOFHIGHEREDUCATION)TISONLY ANINCLUSIVESOCIETYTHATCANPROVIDETHEFOUNDATIONS FORAKNOWLEDGESOCIETY 4HE OBJECTIVES OF REFORM AND CHANGE IN OUR HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM MUST BE EXPANSION EXCELLENCE AND INCLUSION .+# RECOGNISES THAT MEANINGFUL REFORM OF THE SYSTEM WITH A LONG TERM PERSPECTIVE IS BOTH COMPLEXANDDIFlCULT9ET ITISIMPERATIVE 62


)%XPANSION #REATEMANYMOREUNIVERSITIES 4HEHIGHEREDUCATIONSYSTEMNEEDSAMASSIVEEXPANSION OFOPPORTUNITIES TOAROUNDUNIVERSITIESNATIONWIDE THAT WOULD ENABLE )NDIA TO ATTAIN A GROSS ENROLMENT RATIOOFATLEASTPERCENTBY4HEFOCUSWOULD HAVE TO BE ON NEW UNIVERSITIES BUT SOME CLUSTERS OF AFlLIATEDCOLLEGESCOULDALSOBECOMEUNIVERSITIES3UCH EXPANSIONWOULDREQUIREMAJORCHANGESINTHESTRUCTURE OFREGULATION

#HANGETHESYSTEMOFREGULATIONFORHIGHER EDUCATION 4HE PRESENT REGULATORY SYSTEM IN HIGHER EDUCATION IS mAWED IN SOME IMPORTANT RESPECTS4HE BARRIERS TO ENTRY ARE TOO HIGH 4HE SYSTEM OF AUTHORISING ENTRY IS CUMBERSOME 4HERE IS A MULTIPLICITY OF REGULATORY AGENCIES WHERE MANDATES ARE BOTH CONFUSING AND OVERLAPPING4HE SYSTEM AS A WHOLE IS OVER REGULATED BUT UNDER GOVERNED .+# PERCEIVES A CLEAR NEED TO ESTABLISH AN )NDEPENDENT 2EGULATORY !UTHORITY FOR (IGHER%DUCATION)2!(% 4HE)2!(%MUSTBEATAN ARMSLENGTHFROMTHE'OVERNMENTANDINDEPENDENTOF ALL STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDING THE CONCERNED -INISTRIES OF THE'OVERNMENT  4HE)2!(%WOULDHAVETOBEESTABLISHEDBYAN!CT OF0ARLIAMENT ANDWOULDBERESPONSIBLEFORSETTING THECRITERIAANDDECIDINGONENTRY  )TWOULDBETHEONLYAGENCYTHATWOULDBEAUTHORISED TOACCORDDEGREE GRANTINGPOWERTOHIGHEREDUCATION INSTITUTIONS  )T WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MONITORING STANDARDS ANDSETTLINGDISPUTES  )TWOULDAPPLYEXACTLYTHESAMENORMSTOPUBLICAND PRIVATEINSTITUTIONS JUSTASITWOULDAPPLYTHESAME NORMSTODOMESTICANDINTERNATIONALINSTITUTIONS  )TWOULDBETHEAUTHORITYFORLICENSINGACCREDITATION AGENCIES  4HE ROLE OF THE 5NIVERSITY 'RANTS #OMMISSION 5'# WOULD BE RE DElNED TO FOCUS ON THE

DISBURSEMENT OF GRANTS TO AND MAINTENANCE OF PUBLICINSTITUTIONSINHIGHEREDUCATION4HEENTRY REGULATORY FUNCTIONS OF THE !LL )NDIA #OUNCIL FOR 4ECHNICAL%DUCATION!)#4% THE-EDICAL#OUNCIL OF)NDIA-#) ANDTHE"#)WOULDBEPERFORMED BYTHE)2!(% SOTHATTHEIRROLEWOULDBELIMITED TOTHATOFPROFESSIONALASSOCIATIONS

)NCREASEPUBLICSPENDINGANDDIVERSIFY SOURCESOFlNANCING 4HEEXPANSIONOFOURSYSTEMOFHIGHEREDUCATIONISNOT POSSIBLEWITHOUTENHANCEDLEVELSOFlNANCING4HISMUST NECESSARILYCOMEFROMBOTHPUBLICANDPRIVATESOURCES  3INCE GOVERNMENT lNANCING WILL REMAIN THE CORNERSTONE GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR HIGHER EDUCATIONSHOULDINCREASETOATLEASTPERCENTOF '$0 OUTOFATOTALOFATLEASTPERCENTOF'$0FOR EDUCATIONOVERALL  %VEN THIS WOULD NOT SUFlCE FOR THE MASSIVE EXPANSIONINHIGHEREDUCATIONTHATISANIMPERATIVE )TISESSENTIALTOEXPLOREOTHERPOSSIBILITIESTHATCAN COMPLEMENTTHEINCREASEINPUBLICEXPENDITURE  -OST PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES ARE SITTING ON A LARGE RESERVOIR OF UNTAPPED RESOURCES IN THE FORM OF LAND)TSHOULDBEPOSSIBLETODRAWUPNORMSAND PARAMETERS FOR UNIVERSITIES TO USE THEIR AVAILABLE LANDASASOURCEOFlNANCE  )T IS FOR UNIVERSITIES TO DECIDE THE LEVEL OF FEES BUT AS A NORM FEES SHOULD MEET AT LEAST PER CENT OF THE TOTAL EXPENDITURE IN UNIVERSITIES4HIS SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO TWO CONDITIONS lRST NEEDY STUDENTSSHOULDBEPROVIDEDWITHAFEEWAIVERPLUS SCHOLARSHIPSTOMEETTHEIRCOSTSSECOND UNIVERSITIES SHOULD NOT BE PENALISED BY THE 5'# FOR THE RESOURCESRAISEDFROMHIGHERFEESTHROUGHMATCHING DEDUCTIONSFROMTHEIRGRANTS IN AID  )NDIASHOULDNURTURETHETRADITIONOFPHILANTHROPIC CONTRIBUTIONS THROUGH CHANGES IN INCENTIVES FOR UNIVERSITIESANDFORDONORS!TPRESENT THEREISAN IMPLICITDISINCENTIVEINBOTHTAXLAWSANDTRUSTLAWS 4HESELAWSSHOULDBECHANGEDSOTHATUNIVERSITIES CANINVESTINlNANCIALINSTRUMENTSOFTHEIRCHOICE AND USE THE INCOME FROM THEIR ENDOWMENTS TO BUILDUPACORPUS  5NIVERSITIES SHOULD ALSO SEEK TO TAP OTHER SOURCES SUCH AS ALUMNI CONTRIBUTIONS AND LICENSING FEES 4HERE IS NEED TO CREATE SUPPORTIVE INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISMS THAT ALLOW UNIVERSITIES TO ENGAGE PROFESSIONALlRMSFORTHISPURPOSE  )T IS ESSENTIAL TO STIMULATE PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN EDUCATION AS A MEANS OF EXTENDING EDUCATIONAL

OPPORTUNITIES)TMAYBEPOSSIBLETOLEVERAGEPUBLIC RESOURCES ESPECIALLYINTHEFORMOFLANDGRANTS TO ATTRACTMORENOT FOR PROlT PRIVATEINVESTMENT

%STABLISH.ATIONAL5NIVERSITIES .+# RECOMMENDS THE CREATION OF .ATIONAL 5NIVERSITIESTHATCANPROVIDEEDUCATIONOFTHEHIGHEST STANDARD !S EXEMPLARS FOR THE REST OF THE NATION THESE UNIVERSITIES WOULD TRAIN STUDENTS IN A VARIETY OF DISCIPLINES INCLUDING HUMANITIES SOCIAL SCIENCES BASICSCIENCES COMMERCEANDPROFESSIONALSUBJECTS AT BOTHTHEUNDERGRADUATEANDPOST GRADUATELEVELS4HE NUMBERISALONG TERMOBJECTIVE)NTHESHORTRUN IT ISIMPORTANTTOBEGINWITHATLEASTSUCHUNIVERSITIES IN THE NEXT THREE YEARS .ATIONAL 5NIVERSITIES CAN BE ESTABLISHED IN TWO WAYS BY THE 'OVERNMENT OR BY A PRIVATE SPONSORING BODY THAT SETS UP A SOCIETY CHARITABLETRUSTOR3ECTIONCOMPANY 3INCE PUBLIC lNANCE IS AN INTEGRAL CONSTITUENT OF UNIVERSITIES WORLDWIDE MOST OF THE NEW UNIVERSITIES SHALL NEED SIGNIlCANT INITIAL lNANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THE 'OVERNMENT %ACH UNIVERSITY MAY BE ENDOWED WITHASUBSTANTIALALLOCATIONOFPUBLICLAND INEXCESS OF ITS SPATIAL REQUIREMENTS4HE EXCESS LAND CAN BE A SUBSEQUENT SOURCE OF INCOME GENERATION %XCEPTIONS NEEDTOBEMADEINEXISTINGINCOMETAXLAWSTOENCOURAGE LARGEENDOWMENTS4HERESHOULDBENORESTRICTIONON THE UTILISATION OF INCOME IN ANY GIVEN PERIOD OR IN THE USE OF APPROPRIATE lNANCIAL INSTRUMENTS 4HESE UNIVERSITIESSHOULDHAVETHEAUTONOMYTOSETSTUDENT FEELEVELSANDTAPOTHERSOURCESFORGENERATINGFUNDS 4HE .ATIONAL 5NIVERSITIES .+# PROPOSES WILL ADMIT STUDENTS ON AN ALL )NDIA BASIS 4HEY WILL ADOPT THE PRINCIPLE OF NEEDS BLIND ADMISSIONS 4HIS WILL REQUIRE AN EXTENSIVE SYSTEM OF SCHOLARSHIPS FOR NEEDY STUDENTS 5NDERGRADUATE DEGREES IN THE .ATIONAL 5NIVERSITIES IN ATHREE YEARPROGRAM SHOULDBEGRANTEDONTHEBASISOF COMPLETINGAREQUISITENUMBEROFCREDITS OBTAINEDFROM DIFFERENT COURSES 4HE ACADEMIC YEAR WILL THEREFORE BE SEMESTERBASEDANDSTUDENTSWILLBEINTERNALLYEVALUATED AT THE END OF EACH COURSE4RANSFER OF CREDITS FROM ONE .ATIONAL 5NIVERSITY TO ANOTHER WOULD ALSO BE POSSIBLE !NAPPROPRIATESYSTEMOFAPPOINTMENTSANDINCENTIVESIS REQUIREDTOMAXIMISETHEPRODUCTIVITYOFFACULTYINTHESE .ATIONAL 5NIVERSITIES 3TRONG LINKAGES WOULD BE FORGED BETWEENTEACHINGANDRESEARCH UNIVERSITIESANDINDUSTRY ANDUNIVERSITIESANDRESEARCHLABORATORIES4HE.ATIONAL 5NIVERSITIESSHALLBEDEPARTMENT BASEDANDSHALLNOTHAVE ANYAFlLIATEDCOLLEGES


63

))%XCELLENCE

2ESTRUCTUREUNDERGRADUATECOLLEGES

2EFORMEXISTINGUNIVERSITIES

4HE SYSTEM OF AFlLIATED COLLEGES FOR UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION WHICHMAYHAVEBEENAPPROPRIATEYEARS AGO IS NO LONGER ADEQUATE OR APPROPRIATE AND NEEDS TOBEREFORMED4HEREISANURGENTNEEDTORESTRUCTURE THE SYSTEM OF UNDERGRADUATE COLLEGES AFlLIATED TO UNIVERSITIES  4HEMOSTOBVIOUSSOLUTIONISTOPROVIDEAUTONOMY TO COLLEGES EITHER AS INDIVIDUAL COLLEGES OR AS CLUSTERS OF COLLEGES ON THE BASIS OF CRITERIA THAT HAVEBEENSTIPULATED(OWEVER THISWOULDPROVIDE ASOLUTIONFORALIMITEDPROPORTION ORNUMBER OF UNDERGRADUATECOLLEGES  3OMEOFTHESEAFlLIATEDCOLLEGESCOULDBEREMODELLED ASCOMMUNITYCOLLEGES WHICHCOULDPROVIDEBOTH VOCATIONALEDUCATIONANDFORMALEDUCATION  ! #ENTRAL "OARD OF 5NDERGRADUATE %DUCATION SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED ALONG WITH 3TATE "OARDS OF 5NDERGRADUATE%DUCATION WHICHWOULDSETCURRICULA AND CONDUCT EXAMINATIONS FOR UNDERGRADUATE COLLEGESTHATCHOOSETOBEAFlLIATEDWITHTHEM4HESE "OARDSWOULDSEPARATETHEACADEMICFUNCTIONSFROM THEADMINISTRATIVEFUNCTIONSAND ATTHESAMETIME PROVIDEQUALITYBENCHMARKS  .EW UNDERGRADUATE COLLEGES COULD BE ESTABLISHED AS COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND BE AFlLIATED WITH THE #ENTRAL"OARDOF5NDERGRADUATE%DUCATIONOR3TATE "OARDSOF5NDERGRADUATE%DUCATION ORWITHSOME OFTHENEWUNIVERSITIESTHATAREESTABLISHED

4HE ENDEAVOUR TO TRANSFORM HIGHER EDUCATION MUST REFORMEXISTINGINSTITUTIONS3OMEESSENTIALSTEPSARE  5NIVERSITIES SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REVISE OR RESTRUCTURECURRICULAATLEASTONCEINTHREEYEARS  !NNUAL EXAMINATIONS WHICH TEST MEMORY RATHER THANUNDERSTANDING SHOULDBESUPPLEMENTEDWITH CONTINUOUSINTERNALASSESSMENTWHICHCOULDBEGIN WITHAWEIGHTOFPERCENTINTHETOTALTOBERAISED TOPERCENTOVERASTIPULATEDPERIOD  .+#PROPOSESATRANSITIONTOACOURSECREDITSYSTEM WHEREDEGREESAREGRANTEDONTHEBASISOFCOMPLETING AREQUISITENUMBEROFCREDITSFROMDIFFERENTCOURSES WHICHPROVIDESSTUDENTSWITHCHOICES  5NIVERSITIESMUSTBECOMETHEHUBOFRESEARCHONCE AGAIN TO CAPTURE SYNERGIES BETWEEN TEACHING AND RESEARCH THAT ENRICH EACH OTHER 4HIS REQUIRES NOT ONLY POLICY MEASURES BUT ALSO CHANGES IN RESOURCE ALLOCATION REWARDSYSTEMSANDMINDSETS  4HEREMUSTBEACONSCIOUSEFFORTTOATTRACTANDRETAIN TALENTED FACULTY MEMBERS THROUGH BETTER WORKING CONDITIONSCOMBINEDWITHINCENTIVESFORPERFORMANCE  4HE CRITERIA FOR RESOURCE ALLOCATION TO UNIVERSITIES SHOULDSEEKTOSTRIKEAMUCHBETTERBALANCEBETWEEN PROVIDINGFORSALARIESORPENSIONSANDPROVIDINGFOR MAINTENANCE DEVELOPMENTORINVESTMENT)TSHOULD ALSORECOGNISETHEIMPORTANCEOFACRITICALMINIMUM TO ENSURE STANDARDS AND STRATEGIC PREFERENCES TO PROMOTEEXCELLENCE  4HE ELEMENTS OF INFRASTRUCTURE THAT SUPPORT THE TEACHING LEARNING PROCESS SUCH AS LIBRARIES LABORATORIESANDCONNECTIVITY NEEDTOBEMONITORED ANDUPGRADEDONAREGULARBASIS  4HEREISANACUTENEEDFORREFORMINTHESTRUCTURES OF GOVERNANCE OF UNIVERSITIES THAT DO NOT PRESERVE AUTONOMYANDDONOTPROMOTEACCOUNTABILITY-UCH NEEDSTOBEDONE BUTTWOIMPORTANTPOINTSDESERVE MENTION 4HE APPOINTMENTS OF 6ICE #HANCELLORS MUSTBEFREEDFROMDIRECTORINDIRECTINTERVENTIONS ON THE PART OF GOVERNMENTS FOR THESE SHOULD BE BASEDONSEARCHPROCESSESANDPEERJUDGMENTALONE 4HE SIZE AND COMPOSITION OF 5NIVERSITY #OURTS !CADEMIC #OUNCILS AND %XECUTIVE #OUNCILS WHICH SLOW DOWN DECISION MAKING PROCESSES AND SOMETIMES CONSTITUTE AN IMPEDIMENT TO CHANGE NEEDTOBERECONSIDEREDONAPRIORITYBASIS  4HE NEED IS FOR SMALLER UNIVERSITIES WHICH ARE RESPONSIVE TO CHANGE AND EASIER TO MANAGE AND THESESHOULDBECREATED

64


0ROMOTEENHANCEDQUALITY 4HE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM MUST PROVIDE FOR ACCOUNTABILITY TO SOCIETY AND CREATE ACCOUNTABILITY WITHIN !N EXPANSION OF HIGHER EDUCATION WHICH PROVIDESSTUDENTSWITHCHOICESANDCREATESCOMPETITION BETWEEN INSTITUTIONS IS GOING TO BE VITAL IN ENHANCING ACCOUNTABILITY  4HERE SHOULD BE STRINGENT INFORMATION DISCLOSURE NORMSFORALLEDUCATIONALINSTITUTIONSSUCHASTHEIR lNANCIAL SITUATION PHYSICAL ASSETS ADMISSIONS CRITERIA FACULTY POSITIONS ACADEMIC CURRICULA AS ALSOTHEIRSOURCEANDLEVELOFACCREDITATION  %VALUATIONOFCOURSESANDTEACHERSBYSTUDENTSASWELL ASPEEREVALUATIONOFTEACHERSBYTEACHERSSHOULDBE ENCOURAGED  4HEREMUSTBEAFOCUSONUPGRADINGINFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVINGTHETRAININGOFTEACHERSANDCONTINUOUS ASSESSMENTOFSYLLABIANDEXAMINATIONSYSTEMS  )T IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT TO ENHANCE THE )#4 INFRASTRUCTURE7EBSITESANDWEB BASEDSERVICESWOULD

IMPROVE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ! PORTAL ON HIGHER EDUCATION AND RESEARCH WOULD INCREASE INTERACTION AND ACCESSIBILITY ! KNOWLEDGE NETWORK WOULDCONNECTALLUNIVERSITIESANDCOLLEGESFORONLINE OPENRESOURCES  )T MAY BE NECESSARY TO RETHINK THE ISSUE OF SALARY DIFFERENTIALSWITHINANDBETWEENUNIVERSITIESALONG WITHOTHERMEANSOFATTRACTINGANDRETAININGTALENTED FACULTYMEMBERS3UCHSALARYDIFFERENTIALSBETWEEN AND WITHIN UNIVERSITIES COULD BE EFFECTIVE WITHOUT BEINGLARGE  )T IS NECESSARY TO FORMULATE APPROPRIATE POLICIES FOR THE ENTRY OF FOREIGN INSTITUTIONS INTO )NDIA AND THE PROMOTION OF )NDIAN INSTITUTIONS ABROAD WHILEENSURINGALEVELPLAYINGlELDFORFOREIGNAND DOMESTICINSTITUTIONSWITHINTHECOUNTRY  4HESYSTEMOFHIGHEREDUCATIONMUSTRECOGNISETHAT THEREISBOUNDTOBEDIVERSITYANDPLURALISMINANY SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND AVOID A UNIFORM @ONE SIZElTSALLAPPROACH4HISSENSEOFPLURALISM MUST RECOGNISE RATHER THAN IGNORE OR SHY AWAY FROM SUCHDIVERSITYANDDIFFERENTIATION

))))NCLUSION %NSUREACCESSFORALLDESERVINGSTUDENTS %DUCATION IS THE FUNDAMENTAL MECHANISM FOR SOCIAL INCLUSIONTHROUGHTHECREATIONOFMOREOPPORTUNITIES )T IS THEREFORE ESSENTIAL TO ENSURE THAT NO STUDENT IS DENIED THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN HIGHER EDUCATIONDUETOlNANCIALCONSTRAINTS.+#PROPOSES THEFOLLOWINGMEASURES  )NSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO ADOPT A NEEDS BLIND ADMISSIONS POLICY4HISWOULDMAKEITUNLAWFULFOREDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONSTOTAKEINTOACCOUNTANYlNANCIALFACTOR WHILEDECIDINGWHETHERORNOTTOADMITASTUDENT  4HEREMUSTBEAWELL FUNDEDANDEXTENSIVE.ATIONAL 3CHOLARSHIP 3CHEME TARGETING ECONOMICALLY

UNDERPRIVILEGEDSTUDENTSANDSTUDENTSFROMGROUPS THATAREHISTORICALLY SOCIALLYDISADVANTAGED

!FlRMATIVEACTION ! MAJOR AIM OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM MUST BE TOENSURETHATACCESSTOEDUCATIONFORECONOMICALLYAND HISTORICALLYSOCIALLYUNDERPRIVILEGEDSTUDENTSISENHANCED INASUBSTANTIALLYMOREEFFECTIVEMANNER  2ESERVATIONSAREESSENTIAL BUTTHEYAREONLYAPART ANDONEFORM OFAFlRMATIVEACTION  $ISPARITIESINEDUCATIONALATTAINMENTSARERELATED TO CASTE AND SOCIAL GROUPS BUT ARE ALSO STRONGLY RELATED TO OTHER INDICATORS SUCH AS INCOME GENDER REGION AND PLACE OF RESIDENCE 4HERE IS NEEDTODEVELOPAMEANINGFULANDCOMPREHENSIVE FRAMEWORK THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE MULTI DIMENSIONALITY OF DIFFERENCES THAT STILL PERSIST &OR EXAMPLE A DEPRIVATION INDEX COULD BE USED TO PROVIDE WEIGHTED SCORES TO STUDENTS AND THE CUMULATIVE SCORE COULD BE USED TO SUPPLEMENT A STUDENTSSCHOOLEXAMINATIONSCORE .+#S RECOMMENDATIONS REQUIRE ACTION AT THREE DIFFERENTLEVELSREFORMSWITHINEXISTINGSYSTEMS CHANGES INPOLICIES ANDAMENDMENTSIN ORTHEINTRODUCTIONOF NEWSTATUTESORLEGISLATION4HESUGGESTEDCHANGESWOULD ALSOBEIMPLEMENTEDATTHREEDIFFERENTLEVELSUNIVERSITIES STATEGOVERNMENTSANDTHE#ENTRAL'OVERNMENT )TISIMPORTANTTORECOGNISETHATTHEREISAQUIETCRISISIN HIGHEREDUCATIONIN)NDIAWHICHRUNSDEEP4HETIMEHAS COMETOADDRESSTHISCRISISINASYSTEMATICANDFORTHRIGHT MANNER.+#SRECOMMENDATIONSCONSTITUTEANIMPORTANT BEGINNING THE CHANGES SUGGESTED WOULD MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE/FCOURSE THEPROCESSOFREFORMANDCHANGE ISCONTINUOUS4HEREISMORETOBEDONE AND.+#WILL CONTINUETOTHINKABOUTNEXTSTEPS BUTITEMPHASISESTHE URGENCYOFTHESITUATION BECAUSE)NDIASFUTUREDEPENDS ONIT)TISIMPORTANTTOACTHEREANDNOW


65

Note on Higher Education )NTRODUCTION

4

HE SPREAD OF EDUCATION IN SOCIETY IS AT THE FOUNDATION OF SUCCESS IN COUNTRIES THAT ARE LATECOMERS TO DEVELOPMENT )N THE QUEST FOR DEVELOPMENT PRIMARYEDUCATIONISABSOLUTELYESSENTIAL BECAUSEITCREATESTHEBASE"UTHIGHEREDUCATIONISJUST AS IMPORTANT FOR IT PROVIDES THE CUTTING EDGE !ND UNIVERSITIESARETHELIFE BLOODOFHIGHEREDUCATION)SLANDS OFEXCELLENCEINPROFESSIONALEDUCATION SUCHAS)NDIAN )NSTITUTES OF 4ECHNOLOGY ))4S AND )NDIAN )NSTITUTES OF-ANAGEMENT))-S AREVALUABLECOMPLEMENTSBUT CANNOT BE SUBSTITUTES FOR UNIVERSITIES WHICH PROVIDE EDUCATIONALOPPORTUNITIESFORPEOPLEATLARGE

66

)TISCLEARTHATTHESYSTEMOFHIGHEREDUCATIONIN)NDIA FACESSERIOUSCHALLENGES)TNEEDSASYSTEMATICOVERHAUL SO THAT WE CAN EDUCATE MUCH LARGER NUMBERS WITHOUT DILUTINGACADEMICSTANDARDS4HISISIMPERATIVEBECAUSE THE TRANSFORMATION OF ECONOMY AND SOCIETY IN THE STCENTURYWOULDDEPEND INSIGNIlCANTPART ONTHE SPREADANDTHEQUALITYOFEDUCATIONAMONGOURPEOPLE PARTICULARLYINTHESPHEREOFHIGHEREDUCATION)TISONLY ANINCLUSIVESOCIETYTHATCANPROVIDETHEFOUNDATIONSFOR AKNOWLEDGESOCIETY

4HERECANBENODOUBTTHATHIGHEREDUCATIONHASMADE ASIGNIlCANTCONTRIBUTIONTOECONOMICDEVELOPMENT SOCIALPROGRESSANDPOLITICALDEMOCRACYININDEPENDENT )NDIA )T IS A SOURCE OF DYNAMISM FOR THE ECONOMY )T HAS CREATED SOCIAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE )T HAS FOSTERED THE VIBRANT DEMOCRACY IN OUR POLITY )T HAS PROVIDEDABEGINNINGFORTHECREATIONOFAKNOWLEDGE SOCIETY "UT IT WOULD BE A MISTAKE TO FOCUS ON ITS STRENGTHSALONE)THASWEAKNESSESTHATAREACAUSEFOR SERIOUSCONCERN

4HE CHALLENGES THAT CONFRONT HIGHER EDUCATION IN )NDIA ARECLEAR)TNEEDSAMASSIVEEXPANSIONOFOPPORTUNITIESFOR HIGHER EDUCATION TO UNIVERSITIES NATIONWIDE THAT WOULDENABLE)NDIATOATTAINAGROSSENROLMENTRATIOOFAT LEASTPERCENTBY)TISJUSTASIMPORTANTTORAISE THEAVERAGEQUALITYOFHIGHEREDUCATIONINEVERYSPHERE!T THESAMETIME ITISESSENTIALTOCREATEINSTITUTIONSTHATARE EXEMPLARSOFEXCELLENCEATPARWITHTHEBESTINTHEWORLD )NTHEPURSUITOFTHESEOBJECTIVES PROVIDINGPEOPLEWITH ACCESSTOHIGHEREDUCATIONINASOCIALLYINCLUSIVEMANNERIS IMPERATIVE4HEREALISATIONOFTHESEOBJECTIVES COMBINED WITH ACCESS WOULD NOT ONLY DEVELOP THE SKILLS AND CAPABILITIESWENEEDFORTHEECONOMYBUTWOULDALSOHELP TRANSFORM)NDIAINTOAKNOWLEDGEECONOMYANDSOCIETY

4HEREIS INFACT AQUIETCRISISINHIGHEREDUCATIONIN)NDIA THATRUNSDEEP)TISNOTYETDISCERNIBLESIMPLYBECAUSE THERE ARE POCKETS OF EXCELLENCE AN ENORMOUS RESERVOIR OFTALENTEDYOUNGPEOPLEANDANINTENSECOMPETITIONIN THEADMISSIONSPROCESS!ND INSOMEIMPORTANTSPHERES WE CONTINUE TO REAP THE BENElTS OF WHAT WAS SOWN IN HIGHER EDUCATION YEARS AGO BY THE FOUNDING FATHERS OFTHE2EPUBLIC4HEREALITYISTHATWEHAVEMILESTOGO 4HEPROPORTIONOFOURPOPULATION INTHEAGEGROUP THATENTERSTHEWORLDOFHIGHEREDUCATIONISAROUND PERCENT WHICHISONLYONE HALFTHEAVERAGEFOR!SIA 4HEOPPORTUNITIESFORHIGHEREDUCATION INTERMSOFTHE NUMBEROFPLACESINUNIVERSITIES ARESIMPLYNOTENOUGH IN RELATION TO OUR NEEDS 7HAT IS MORE THE QUALITY OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN MOST OF OUR UNIVERSITIES REQUIRES SUBSTANTIALIMPROVEMENT

7E RECOGNISE THAT A MEANINGFUL REFORM OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM WITH A LONG TERM PERSPECTIVE IS BOTH COMPLEXANDDIFlCULT9ET ITISIMPERATIVE!NDWEWOULD SUGGESTTHEFOLLOWINGBUILDINGBLOCKSINTHISENDEAVOUR &IRST ITISESSENTIALTOREFORMEXISTINGPUBLICUNIVERSITIES AND UNDERGRADUATE COLLEGES 3ECOND IT IS NECESSARY TO OVERHAULTHEENTIREREGULATORYSTRUCTUREGOVERNINGHIGHER EDUCATION 4HIRD EVERY POSSIBLE SOURCE OF lNANCING INVESTMENT IN HIGHER EDUCATION NEEDS TO BE EXPLORED &OURTH ITISIMPORTANTTOTHINKABOUTPRO ACTIVESTRATEGIES FOR ENHANCEMENT OF QUALITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION &IFTH THETIMEHASCOMETOCREATENEWINSTITUTIONSINTHEFORM OF.ATIONAL5NIVERSITIESTHATWOULDBECOMEROLEMODELS AS CENTRES OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE 3IXTH THE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM MUST BE SO DESIGNED THAT IT PROVIDES ACCESSTOMARGINALISEDANDEXCLUDEDGROUPS


5NIVERSITIES 5NIVERSITIESPERFORMACRITICALROLEINANECONOMYAND SOCIETY4HEYCREATEKNOWLEDGE4HEYIMPARTKNOWLEDGE !NDTHEYDISSEMINATEKNOWLEDGE5NIVERSITIESMUSTBE mEXIBLE INNOVATIVEANDCREATIVE4HEYMUSTBEABLETO ATTRACTTHEBESTTALENTWHETHERTEACHERSORSTUDENTS4HEY MUST HAVE THE ABILITY TO COMPETE AND THE MOTIVATION TOEXCEL7ECANNOTEVENCONTEMPLATEATRANSFORMATION OFOURHIGHEREDUCATIONSYSTEMWITHOUTREFORMINOUR EXISTINGUNIVERSITIES 4HERE IS HOWEVER A SERIOUS CAUSE FOR CONCERN ABOUT UNIVERSITIESIN)NDIA4HENUMBEROFPLACESFORSTUDENTSAT UNIVERSITIESISSIMPLYINADEQUATE4HEQUALITYOFEDUCATION ATMOSTUNIVERSITIESLEAVESMUCHTOBEDESIRED4HEGAP BETWEENOURUNIVERSITIESANDTHOSEINTHEOUTSIDEWORLD HASWIDENED!NDNONEOFOURUNIVERSITIESRANKAMONG THEBEST SAYTHETOP INTHEWORLD4HESYMPTOMSARE CLEARLYVISIBLE EVENIFWEDONOTWISHTODIAGNOSEWHATAILS OURUNIVERSITIES/FCOURSE EVERYPROBLEMDOESNOTEXIST EVERYWHERE!NDTHEREAREEXCEPTIONS"UTTHEFOLLOWING PROBLEMSARECOMMONENOUGHTOBEACAUSEFORCONCERN &IRST CURRICULA WHICHHAVEREMAINEDALMOSTUNCHANGED FORDECADES HAVENOTKEPTPACEWITHTHETIMES LETALONE WITH THE EXTENDING FRONTIERS OF KNOWLEDGE 3ECOND LEARNING AND CREATIVITY ARE AT A DISCOUNT IN A SYSTEM OF ASSESSMENT THAT PLACES A PREMIUM ON MEMORY RATHER THANUNDERSTANDING4HIRD THEMILIEUISNOTCONDUCIVE TOANYTHINGBEYONDTHECLASSROOM FORITISCAUGHTINA TO SYNDROME &OURTH THE ACADEMIC CALENDAR IS NO LONGER SACROSANCT FOR CLASSES OR FOR EXAMINATIONS ASTHEREARESLIPPAGESINSCHEDULESSOMUCHSOTHAT AT SEVERAL PLACES CLASSES IN THE TIMETABLE ARE NOT HELD AND RESULTS ARE OFTEN DECLARED WITH A TIME LAG OF TO MONTHS&IFTH THEINFRASTRUCTUREISNOTONLYINADEQUATE BUTALSOONTHEVERGEOFCOLLAPSE3IXTH THEBOUNDARIES BETWEEN DISCIPLINES HAVE BECOME DIVIDING WALLS THAT CONSTITUTE BARRIERS TO ENTRY FOR NEW DISCIPLINES OR NEW COURSES WHILE KNOWLEDGE IS DEVELOPING MOST RAPIDLY AT THEINTERSECTIONOFDISCIPLINES3EVENTH THEIMPORTANCE ATTACHED TO RESEARCH HAS ERODED STEADILY OVER TIME %IGHTH THE VOLUME OF RESEARCH IN TERMS OF FREQUENCY OF PUBLICATION AND THE QUALITY OF RESEARCH REmECTED IN THEFREQUENCYOFCITATIONORTHEPLACEOFPUBLICATION ON BALANCE ISSIMPLYNOTWHATITUSEDTOBE.INTH ASIN MOST PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS THERE IS LITTLE ACCOUNTABILITY BECAUSE THERE ARE NO REWARDS FOR PERFORMANCE AND NO PENALTIES FOR NON PERFORMANCE 4ENTH STRUCTURES OF GOVERNANCEPUTINPLACEYEARSAGOARENOTRESPONSIVE TOCHANGINGTIMESANDCIRCUMSTANCESBUTTHESYSTEMIS READILYSUBVERTEDBYVESTEDINTERESTS

)T IS DIFlCULT ENOUGH TO PROVIDE A COMPLETE DIAGNOSIS OF WHAT AILS OUR UNIVERSITIES )T IS EVEN MORE DIFlCULT IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE TO OUTLINE A SET OF PRESCRIPTIONS FOR OUR UNIVERSITIES .EVERTHELESS IT IS CLEAR THAT A REFORM OFEXISTINGINSTITUTIONSMUSTBEANINTEGRALPARTOFOUR ENDEAVOURTOTRANSFORMHIGHEREDUCATION7ERECOGNISE THAT THIS IS EASIER SAID THAN DONE %VEN SO WE BELIEVE THAT REFORMS IN THE FOLLOWING SPHERES ALONG THE LINES SUGGESTED BY US ARE NOT ONLY POSSIBLE BUT WOULD ALSO MAKEADIFFERENCE .UMBER AND SIZE )NDIA HAS ABOUT UNIVERSITIES 4HIS NUMBER IS SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH WITH REFERENCE TO OURNEEDSINHIGHEREDUCATION ORINCOMPARISONWITH #HINAWHICHHASAUTHORISEDTHECREATIONOFNEW UNIVERSITIES IN THE LAST THREE YEARS 9ET SOME OF OUR UNIVERSITIESAREMUCHTOOLARGE FORENSURINGACADEMIC STANDARDS AND PROVIDING GOOD GOVERNANCE 7E NEED TO CREATE MORE APPROPRIATELY SCALED AND MORE NIMBLE UNIVERSITIES4HEMORALOFTHESTORYISNOTONLYTHATWE NEED A MUCH LARGER NUMBER OF UNIVERSITIES SAY NATIONWIDE BY BUT ALSO THAT WE NEED SMALLER UNIVERSITIES WHICH ARE RESPONSIVE TO CHANGE AND EASIER TOMANAGE #URRICULUM 4HE SYLLABI OF COURSES IN UNIVERSITIES WHICH REMAIN UNCHANGED FOR DECADES NEED TO BE UPGRADED CONSTANTLY AND REVISED FREQUENTLY 4HE LAWS OF INERTIA REINFORCED BY RESISTANCE TO CHANGE MUST BE OVERCOME 5NIVERSITIES SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REVISE OR RESTRUCTURECURRICULAATLEASTONCEINTHREEYEARS4HESE REVISIONS MUST BE SUBJECTED TO OUTSIDE PEER REVIEW BEFOREIMPLEMENTATION4HEPROCESSFORSUCHREVISIONS SHOULD BE STREAMLINED AND DECENTRALISED WITH MORE AUTONOMY FOR TEACHERS THROUGH A CHANGE IN STATUTES WHEREVER NECESSARY &OR EXISTING SYSTEMS OFTEN ACT AS MAJOR IMPEDIMENTS TO A TIMELY OR SPEEDY REVISION OF CURRICULA4HERE SHOULD BE SOME MODE OF CENSURE FOR DEPARTMENTS OR UNIVERSITIES THAT DO NOT UPGRADE THEIR COURSES REGULARLY )T NEEDS TO BE RECOGNISED THAT IT IS VERY DIFlCULT TO INTRODUCE NEW COURSES OR INNOVATIVE COURSESINUNIVERSITIESBECAUSEOFDEPARTMENTALDIVIDES !PPROPRIATEINSTITUTIONALMECHANISMSSHOULDBEPUTIN PLACETORESOLVETHISPROBLEM !SSESSMENT 4HE NATURE OF ANNUAL EXAMINATIONS AT UNIVERSITIES IN )NDIA OFTEN STImES THE TEACHING LEARNING PROCESS BECAUSE THEY REWARD SELECTIVE AND UNCRITICAL LEARNING 4HERE IS AN ACUTE NEED TO REFORM THIS EXAMINATIONSYSTEMSOTHATITTESTSUNDERSTANDINGRATHER THANMEMORY!NALYTICALABILITIESANDCREATIVETHINKING SHOULD BE AT A PREMIUM ,EARNING BY ROTE SHOULD


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BE AT A DISCOUNT 3UCH REFORM WOULD BECOME MORE FEASIBLE WITH DECENTRALISED EXAMINATION AND SMALLER UNIVERSITIES"UTASSESSMENTCANNOTANDSHOULDNOTBE BASED ON EXAMINATIONSALONE4HEREISACLEARNEEDFOR CONTINUOUSINTERNALASSESSMENTWHICHEMPOWERSTEACHERS AND STUDENTS ALIKE JUST AS IT BREATHES LIFE BACK INTO THE TEACHING LEARNINGPROCESS3UCHINTERNALASSESSMENTWOULD ALSOFOSTERTHEANALYTICALANDCREATIVEABILITIESOFSTUDENTS WHICH ARE OFTEN A CASUALTY IN UNIVERSITY ADMINISTERED ANNUALEXAMINATIONS4OBEGINWITH INTERNALASSESSMENT COULDHAVEAWEIGHTOFPERCENTINTHETOTALBUTTHIS SHOULDBERAISEDTOPERCENTOVERTIME #OURSECREDITS4HEPRESENTSYSTEMISCHARACTERISEDBY TOO MANY RIGIDITIES AND TOO FEW CHOICES FOR STUDENTS 5NIVERSITIES THAT ARE SMALLER OR RUN SEMESTER BASED SYSTEMS ARE OBVIOUSLY MORE mEXIBLE %VEN IN LARGE UNIVERSITIES HOWEVER ITISNECESSARYTOINTRODUCEGREATER DIVERSITYANDMOREmEXIBILITYINCOURSESTRUCTURES4HIS WOULD BE THE BEGINNING OF A TRANSITION TO A COURSE CREDITSYSTEM WHEREDEGREESAREGRANTEDONTHEBASISOF COMPLETINGAREQUISITENUMBEROFCREDITSFROMDIFFERENT COURSES %VERY STUDENT SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO EARN A MINIMUMNUMBEROFCREDITSINHISHERCHOSENDISCIPLINE BUTSHOULDHAVETHEFREEDOMTOEARNTHERESTFROMCOURSES INOTHERDISCIPLINES)TISESSENTIALTOPROVIDESTUDENTSWITH CHOICESINSTEADOFKEEPINGTHEMCAPTIVE 2ESEARCH 7E ATTEMPTED TO CREATE STAND ALONE RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS PAMPERED WITH RESOURCES IN THE BELIEF THAT RESEARCH SHOULD BE MOVED OUT OF UNIVERSITIES )N THE PROCESS WE FORGOT AN ESSENTIAL PRINCIPLE4HERE ARE SYNERGIESBETWEENTEACHINGANDRESEARCHTHATENRICHEACH OTHER!NDITISUNIVERSITIESWHICHARETHENATURALHOME FOR RESEARCH 7HAT IS MORE FOR UNIVERSITIES RESEARCH IS ESSENTIALINTHEPURSUITOFACADEMICEXCELLENCE)TISTIMETO REVERSEWHATHAPPENEDINTHEPASTANDMAKEUNIVERSITIES THEHUBOFRESEARCHONCEAGAIN4HISWOULDNEEDCHANGES IN RESOURCE ALLOCATION REWARD SYSTEMS AND MINDSETS 3UBSTANTIALGRANTSSHOULDBEALLOCATEDFORRESEARCH4HE PROVISIONSOFTHESEGRANTSSHOULDBECOMPETITIVEANDTHE CRITERIAFORTHESEGRANTSSHOULDBEDIFFERENTFROMTHEUSUAL CRITERIAFORNON PLANANDPLANGRANTS &ACULTY 4HERE MUST BE A CONSCIOUS EFFORT TO ATTRACT ANDRETAINTALENTEDFACULTYMEMBERS4HISISNECESSARY BECAUSE TALENTED STUDENTS WHO ARE POTENTIAL FACULTY MEMBERSHAVECHOICESTHATAREFARMOREATTRACTIVEINOTHER PROFESSIONSIN)NDIAORINTHEACADEMICPROFESSIONOUTSIDE )NDIA)TISNECESSARYTOPROVIDEWORKINGCONDITIONSIN THEFORMOFOFlCESPACEANDRESEARCHSUPPORTCOMBINED WITHHOUSING"UTITMAYNOTBESUFlCIENT4HISMUST

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BE COMBINED WITH SOME INCENTIVES AND REWARDS FOR PERFORMANCE 4HERE IS HOWEVER ANOTHER DIMENSION TOTHEPROBLEM5NIVERSITIESDONOTALWAYSCHOOSETHE BEST IN PART BECAUSE OF NATIVE SONDAUGHTER POLICIES WHICHLEAVETHEMTOSELECTTHEIROWNFORMERSTUDENTS 4HISTENDSTOLOWERQUALITYANDFOSTERPAROCHIALISATION IN UNIVERSITIES 4HEREFORE CROSS POLLINATION BETWEEN UNIVERSITIES SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED )T MAY BE WORTH INTRODUCINGACEILING SAYONE HALFOREVENONE THIRD ON THE PROPORTION OF FACULTY MEMBERS THAN CAN BE HIRED FROMWITHINTHEUNIVERSITY4HISWOULDALMOSTCERTAINLY ENGENDERGREATERCOMPETITIONANDMORETRANSPARENCYIN FACULTYAPPOINTMENTS &INANCES4HEREISASERIOUSRESOURCECRUNCHINUNIVERSITIES WHICH LEAVES THEM WITH LITTLE lNANCIAL mEXIBILITY )N GENERAL ABOUTPERCENTOFMAINTENANCEEXPENDITUREIS ONSALARIESANDPENSIONS/FTHEREMAININGPERCENT AT LEAST PER CENT IS ABSORBED BY PREEMPTIVE CLAIMS SUCH AS RENTS ELECTRICITY TELEPHONES AND EXAMINATIONS 4HEBALANCE LESSTHANPERCENT ISNOTEVENENOUGH FORMAINTENANCELETALONEDEVELOPMENT,ABORATORIESAND LIBRARIESLANGUISHWHILEBUILDINGSCRUMBLE"UTTHATISNOT ALL )N MOST UNIVERSITIES PLAN INVESTMENT EXPENDITURE IS LESS THAN PER CENT OF NON PLAN MAINTENANCE EXPENDITURE 3UCH A SMALL PROPORTION OF INVESTMENT IN TOTAL EXPENDITURE CAN ONLY MORTGAGE THE FUTURE )T IS DOINGSO4HETIMEHASCOMEFORSOMESTRATEGICTHINKING ONTHERE ALLOCATIONOFBUDGETSFORUNIVERSITIESWITHSOME ALLOCATION FOR DEVELOPMENT GRANTS AND ON NEEDS OTHER THANSALARIES4HECRITERIAFORRESOURCEALLOCATIONSHOULD SEEKTOSTRIKEAMUCHBETTERBALANCEBETWEENPROVIDING FOR SALARIESPENSIONS AND PROVIDING FOR MAINTENANCE DEVELOPMENTINVESTMENT4HESECRITERIASHOULDRECOGNISE THEIMPORTANCEOFACRITICALMINIMUMTOENSURESTANDARDS ANDSTRATEGICPREFERENCESTOPROMOTEEXCELLENCE )NFRASTRUCTURE4HEELEMENTSOFINFRASTRUCTURETHATSUPPORT THE TEACHING LEARNING PROCESS MOST DIRECTLY NEED TO BE MONITORED AND UPGRADED ON A REGULAR BASIS4HIS MEANS ATTENTION PARTICULARATTENTIONTOLIBRARIESANDLABORATORIES INADDITIONTOCLASSROOMS SPORTSFACILITIESANDAUDITORIUMS )T IS IMPERATIVE THAT UNIVERSITIES PROVIDE BROADBAND CONNECTIVITYTOALLSTUDENTSANDTEACHERSINCAMPUSES)N PARALLEL INFORMATIONTECHNOLOGYSYSTEMSSHOULDBEUSEDFOR ADMISSIONS ADMINISTRATION AND EXAMINATIONS ALONG WITH OTHERRELEVANTWEBSERVICESFORCAMPUSCOMMUNITIES!ND ASSOONASPOSSIBLE ADIGITALINFRASTRUCTUREFORNETWORKING UNIVERSITIESSHOULDBEPUTINPLACE 'OVERNANCE 4HERE IS AN ACUTE NEED FOR REFORM IN THE STRUCTURES OF GOVERNANCE OF UNIVERSITIES 4HE

PRESENTSYSTEMISmAWED/NTHEONEHAND ITDOESNOT PRESERVEAUTONOMY/NTHEOTHER ITDOESNOTPROMOTE ACCOUNTABILITY4HEAUTONOMYOFUNIVERSITIESISERODED BY INTERVENTIONS FROM GOVERNMENTS AND INTRUSIONS FROM POLITICAL PROCESSES 4HIS MUST BE STOPPED !T THE SAME TIME THERE IS NOT ENOUGH TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITYINUNIVERSITIES4HISMUSTBEFOSTERED)TIS EXCEEDINGLYDIFlCULTTOPROVIDEGENERALISEDPRESCRIPTIONS 3OME STEPS WHICH WOULD CONSTITUTE AN IMPORTANT BEGINNING ARE CLEAR &IRST THE APPOINTMENTS OF 6ICE #HANCELLORS SHOULD BE BASED ON SEARCH PROCESSES AND PEERJUDGMENTALONE4HESEMUSTBEFREEDFROMDIRECT OR INDIRECT INTERVENTION ON THE PART OF GOVERNMENTS /NCEAPPOINTED 6ICE#HANCELLORSSHOULDHAVEATENURE OFSIXYEARS BECAUSETHEEXISTINGTENUREOFTHREEYEARSIN MOSTUNIVERSITIESANDlVEYEARSINCENTRALUNIVERSITIESIS NOTLONGENOUGH3ECOND THESIZEANDCOMPOSITIONOF 5NIVERSITY #OURTS !CADEMIC #OUNCILS AND %XECUTIVE #OUNCILS SLOWS DOWN DECISION MAKING PROCESSES AND SOMETIMES CONSTITUTES AN IMPEDIMENT TO CHANGE 5NIVERSITY #OURTS WITH A SIZE OF PLUS WHICH ARE MOREARITUALTHANSUBSTANCE COULDBEDISPENSEDWITH ,ARGE !CADEMIC #OUNCILS DO NOT MEET OFTEN %VEN WHEN THEY MEET DECISIONS ARE SLOW TO COME 4HUS 3TANDING#OMMITTEESOF!CADEMIC#OUNCILS WHICHARE REPRESENTATIVE SHOULDBECREATEDFORFREQUENTMEETINGS ANDEXPEDITIOUSDECISIONS4HE6ICE #HANCELLORSHOULD THEN FUNCTIONASA#HIEF%XECUTIVE/FlCERWHOHASTHE AUTHORITYANDTHEmEXIBILITYTOGOVERNWITHTHEADVICE AND CONSENT OF THE %XECUTIVE #OUNCIL WHICH WOULD PROVIDE CHECKS AND BALANCES TO CREATE ACCOUNTABILITY 4HIRD EXPERIENCE SUGGESTS THAT IMPLICIT POLITICISATION HASMADEGOVERNANCEOFUNIVERSITIESEXCEEDINGLYDIFlCULT AND MUCH MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO ENTIRELY NON ACADEMIC INTERVENTIONS FROM OUTSIDE4HIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE RECOGNISED AND ADDRESSED IN A SYSTEMATIC MANNER NOT ONLYWITHINUNIVERSITIESBUTALSOOUTSIDE PARTICULARLYIN GOVERNMENTS LEGISLATURESANDPOLITICALPARTIES

4HIS SYSTEM OF AFlLIATED COLLEGES FOR UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN APPROPRIATE lFTY YEARS AGO IS NEITHER ADEQUATE NOR APPROPRIATE AT THIS JUNCTURE LETALONEFORTHEFUTURE)TISCUMBERSOMETO MANAGE!NDITISDIFlCULTTOENSUREMINIMALACADEMIC STANDARDS ACROSS THE BOARD 4HE PROBLEM HAS AT LEAST THREEDIMENSIONS&IRST ITIMPOSESANONEROUSBURDEN ON UNIVERSITIES WHICH HAVE TO REGULATE ADMISSIONS SET CURRICULA AND CONDUCT EXAMINATIONS FOR SUCH A LARGE NUMBER OF UNDERGRADUATE COLLEGES 4HE PROBLEM IS COMPOUNDED BY UNEVEN STANDARDS AND GEOGRAPHICAL DISPERSION 3ECOND THE UNDERGRADUATE COLLEGES ARE CONSTRAINED BY THEIR AFlLIATED STATUS IN TERMS OF AUTONOMYANDSPACE WHICHMAKESITDIFlCULTFORTHEM TO ADAPT TO INNOVATE AND TO EVOLVE 4HE PROBLEM IS PARTICULARLY ACUTE FOR UNDERGRADUATE COLLEGES THAT ARE GOOD FOR BOTH TEACHERS AND STUDENTS ARE SUBJECTED TO THE@CONVOYPROBLEMINSOFARASTHEYAREFORCEDTOMOVE ATTHESPEEDOFTHESLOWEST4HEREISALSOAPROBLEMFOR UNDERGRADUATECOLLEGESTHATARENOTSOGOOD ORAREPOOR BECAUSEUNIVERSITIESCANNOTADDRESSTHEIRSPECIALNEEDSOR UNIQUEPROBLEMS4HIRD ITISDIFlCULTTOSETCURRICULAAND ASSESSPERFORMANCEFORSUCHALARGENUMBEROFSTUDENTS WHERE THERE IS SUCH A LARGE DISPERSION IN PERFORMANCE ATSCHOOLBEFOREENTERINGCOLLEGE4HISREALITYTENDSTO MAKE COURSES LESS DEMANDING AND EXAMINATIONS LESS STRINGENTACROSSTHEBOARD)NFACTTHEDESIGNOFCOURSES ANDEXAMINATIONSNEEDSTOBEmEXIBLERATHERTHANEXACTLY THESAMEFORLARGESTUDENTCOMMUNITIES

5NDERGRADUATE#OLLEGES

4HEMOSTOBVIOUSSOLUTIONISTOPROVIDEAUTONOMYTO COLLEGES EITHERASINDIVIDUALCOLLEGESORASCLUSTERSOF COLLEGES

5NDERGRADUATEEDUCATION WHICHACCOUNTSFORABOUT PERCENTOFTHEENROLLEDSTUDENTS ISTHELARGESTCOMPONENT OFOURHIGHEREDUCATIONSYSTEM)TISIMPARTEDTHROUGH COLLEGES WHERE STUDENTS ENROL FOR lRST DEGREES IN !RTS 3CIENCEOR#OMMERCE4HEREAREATOTALOFABOUT UNDERGRADUATE COLLEGES /F THESE A MERE COLLEGES AREAUTONOMOUS4HEREST ASMANYAS COLLEGES AREAFlLIATEDTO ORCONSTITUENTIN UNIVERSITIES/N AVERAGE EACH UNIVERSITY HAS MORE THAN AFlLIATED COLLEGES BUTTHEREARESOMEUNIVERSITIESEACHOFWHICH HASMORETHANAFlLIATEDCOLLEGES

4HERE IS AN URGENT NEED TO RESTRUCTURE THE SYSTEM OF UNDERGRADUATE COLLEGES AFlLIATED TO UNIVERSITIES )N DOING SO IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAKE A DISTINCTION BETWEEN UNDERGRADUATE COLLEGES THAT ALREADY EXIST AND UNDERGRADUATE COLLEGES THAT WILL BE ESTABLISHED IN THE FUTURE )T IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT UNDERGRADUATECOLLEGESAREAFmICTEDBYPROBLEMSWHICH AREVERYSIMILARTOTHOSETHATAFmICTUNIVERSITIES

)NDIVIDUAL COLLEGES #OLLEGES WITH A PROVEN RECORD OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND EFlCIENT ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONING CAN BE GRANTED AUTONOMY IN TERMS OF ACADEMIC SELF GOVERNANCE %XISTING AFlLIATED OR CONSTITUENT COLLEGES SHOULD BE GRANTED AUTONOMY IN PHASESAFTERDUEASSESSMENTBYPROFESSIONALACCREDITATION BODIES!REVIEWOFPERFORMANCEOFTHESECOLLEGESSHOULD BEINSTITUTIONALISEDANDTHEYMAYBEGRANTEDUNIVERSITY STATUS ON THE FULlLMENT OF STATED CRITERIA OF ACADEMIC


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ANDADMINISTRATIVEPERFORMANCE4HECOLLEGEAUTHORITIES SHOULD BE GIVEN lNANCIAL AUTONOMY WITH REGARD TO INTERNAL ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES (OWEVER EXISTING METHODSOFlNANCINGSHOULDBERETAINED)NOPERATIONAL TERMS THEN THEAUTONOMYWOULDBEACCORDEDINSETTING OFCURRICULUMANDEVALUATIONOFSTUDENTS #OLLEGECLUSTERS!UTONOMYCANBEPROVIDEDTOCLUSTERS OFCOLLEGES SELECTEDONTHEBASISOFCRITERIASUCHASSIMILAR STANDARDS OR GEOGRAPHICAL PROXIMITY 4HESE COLLEGES COULD THEN FORM A GROUP COMPLEMENTING EACH OTHER OFFERINGDIFFERENTCOURSESBETWEENTHEM)NTIME THESE CLUSTERSCOULDBEUPGRADEDTOUNIVERSITIES4HECOURSE CREDITSYSTEMCANBEIMPLEMENTEDINTHESEAUTONOMOUS CLUSTERS WHEREBYDIFFERENTCOLLEGESOFFERSEMESTER BASED COURSESONACREDITSYSTEMANDCREDITSCANBETRANSFERRED ACROSS COLLEGES ! MECHANISM FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF COURSES ACROSS COLLEGES AND FOR THE RESOLUTION OF PROBLEMSSHOULDBEINSTITUTIONALISEDWITHPROVISIONFOR REPRESENTATIONINCOMMITTEES 3UCHAUTONOMOUSCOLLEGES ORCLUSTERSOFCOLLEGES WOULD CONSTITUTE A PART OF THE UNIVERSITIES WE PROPOSE NATIONWIDE BY )T MUST BE RECOGNISED HOWEVER THAT THIS IS AT BEST A LIMITED SOLUTION4HERE ARE TWO DISCERNIBLEPROBLEMS 4HElRSTPROBLEMWITHTHEMODELOFAUTONOMOUSCOLLEGES ISTHEPRINCIPAL AGENTPROBLEMOFPROVIDINGAUTONOMY AS AN OPTION )T BECOMES NECESSARY TO DISTINGUISH BETWEENTHEMOTIVATIONSANDTHECAPABILITIESOFCOLLEGES 7E NEED TO MAKE A DISTINCTION BETWEEN COLLEGES THAT WISHTOBECOMEAUTONOMOUSBUTDONOTDESERVETO AND COLLEGES THAT HAVE THE CAPABILITIES TO BE AUTONOMOUS BUTDONOTWISHTOOPTFORAUTONOMY&ORCOLLEGESTHAT WISHTOBECOMEAUTONOMOUSBUTMAYNOTBESUITABLE CLEAR CUT CRITERIA SHOULD BE PUT IN PLACE AS A lLTERING MECHANISMFORCOLLEGESWISHINGTOATTAINAUTONOMOUS STATUS CRITICAL NUMBER OF FACULTY AND DISCIPLINES GOVERNANCE TRACK RECORD IN TERMS OF STUDENTS FACULTY AND RESEARCH ADMINISTRATIVE COMPETENCE MEASURED BY UTILISATION OF GRANTS REGULARITY OF AUDITS OFlCE RESOURCES AND ACCOUNT MAINTENANCE CONTRIBUTION TO UNIVERSITY PROCESSES INFRASTRUCTURAL FACILITIES AND RATINGS IF AVAILABLE BY ACCREDITATION AGENCIES &OR COLLEGESTHATCANBEAUTONOMOUSBUTDONOTWISHTOBE APPROPRIATE INCENTIVES HAVE TO BE DESIGNED ESPECIALLY FOR THE TEACHING STAFF TO ENCOURAGE A MOVE TOWARDS AUTONOMY )NSTITUTIONAL INCENTIVES RELATING TO FUNDING ANDRESOURCEGENERATIONANDPROFESSIONALINCENTIVESFOR STAFF INCLUDING POSITIONS OF PROFESSORS RESEARCH GRANTS ANDGREATERMOBILITYSHOULDBEPROVIDED

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4HE SECOND PROBLEM WITH THE MODEL OF AUTONOMOUS COLLEGES IS THAT IT WOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION FORALIMITEDPROPORTION ORNUMBER OFUNDERGRADUATE COLLEGES 4HERE WOULD BE A SIGNIlCANT NUMBER OF UNDERGRADUATECOLLEGESTHATWOULDREMAINBECAUSETHEY MAYNOTHAVETHECAPABILITIESTOBECOMEAUTONOMOUSOR JOINANAUTONOMOUSCLUSTER4HEOBVIOUSSOLUTIONWOULD BEFORTHISLATTERGROUPTOCONTINUEASAFlLIATEDCOLLEGES WITHTHEIRPRESENTUNIVERSITIES)NTHATEVENT PROBLEMS WILL PERSIST NOT ONLY FOR THESE UNDERGRADUATE COLLEGES BUTALSOFORTHEIRAFlLIATINGUNIVERSITIES.EVERTHELESS A PROPORTIONOFTHESEUNDERGRADUATECOLLEGESWILLCONTINUE TOBEAFlLIATEDTOTHEIRPRESENTUNIVERSITIESONTHEBASIS OF STIPULATED CRITERIA4HERE ARE TWO OTHER POSSIBILITIES THATCOULDBEEXPLORED 4HE lRST POSSIBILITY IS THAT SOME OF THESE AFlLIATED COLLEGES COULD BE REMODELLED AS COMMUNITY COLLEGES 4HESECOLLEGESCOULDPROVIDEBOTHVOCATIONALEDUCATION THROUGHTWO YEARCOURSESANDFORMALEDUCATIONTHROUGH THREE YEAR COURSES 4HIS WOULD SERVE THE NEEDS OF A PARTICULARSEGMENTOFTHESTUDENTPOPULATIONBETTER4HEY COULD FOCUS ON PROMOTING JOB ORIENTED WORK RELATED SKILL BASEDANDLIFE COPINGEDUCATION4HESECOMMUNITY COLLEGESCOULDPROVIDEAUNIQUEOPPORTUNITYTOPROVIDE HOLISTICEDUCATIONANDELIGIBILITYFOREMPLOYMENTTOTHE DISADVANTAGED 4HE SECOND POSSIBILITY IS THAT WE ESTABLISH A #ENTRAL "OARD OF 5NDERGRADUATE %DUCATION ALONG WITH 3TATE "OARDS OF 5NDERGRADUATE %DUCATION WHICH WOULD SET CURRICULAANDCONDUCTEXAMINATIONSFORUNDERGRADUATE COLLEGES THAT CHOOSE TO BE AFlLIATED WITH THEM4HESE "OARDSWOULDSEPARATETHEACADEMICFUNCTIONSFROMTHE ADMINISTRATIVEFUNCTIONSANDATTHESAMETIMEPROVIDE QUALITY BENCHMARKS 'OVERNANCE WOULD BECOME MUCH SIMPLER )T IS POSSIBLE THAT SOME OF THE EXISTING UNDERGRADUATE COLLEGES PARTICULARLY THOSE THAT ARE AT SOMEGEOGRAPHICALDISTANCEFROMTHEIRPARENTUNIVERSITY MAYWISHTOAFlLIATETHEMSELVESTOTHESE"OARDS .EWUNDERGRADUATECOLLEGESAREBOUNDTOBEANINTEGRAL PART OF THE EXPANSION OF OPPORTUNITIES IN HIGHER EDUCATION 7HERE WOULD THESE BE LOCATED )T WOULD BE DIFlCULT FOR THEM TO BECOME AUTONOMOUS COLLEGES WITHOUTATRACKRECORD)TMAYBEPOSSIBLEFORSOMETO JOIN A CLUSTER OF AUTONOMOUS COLLEGES BUT THIS WOULD BE MORE THE EXCEPTION THAN THE RULE )T WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE FOR THEM TO AFlLIATE WITH EXISTING UNIVERSITIES WHICH ARE ALREADY OVERLOADED (ENCE THERE ARE THREE POSSIBLE OPTIONS FOR NEW UNDERGRADUATE COLLEGES TO COME &IRST THEY COULD BE ESTABLISHED AS COMMUNITY

COLLEGES 3ECOND THEY COULD BE AFlLIATED WITH THE #ENTRAL "OARD OF 5NDERGRADUATE %DUCATION OR 3TATE "OARDSOF5NDERGRADUATE%DUCATION4HIRD THEYCOULD BEAFlLIATEDWITHNEWUNIVERSITIESTHATAREESTABLISHED 4HERE ARE OF COURSE ISSUES RELATED TO GOVERNANCE CURRICULA EXAMINATIONS COURSECREDITSANDACCESSWHICH ARISE IN THE CONTEXT OF UNDERGRADUATE COLLEGES 4HESE HAVEBEENDISCUSSEDINTHECONTEXTOFUNIVERSITIESINTHE PRECEDINGSECTIONOFTHISNOTE

2EGULATION 4HERE IS A CLEAR NEED TO ESTABLISH AN )NDEPENDENT 2EGULATORY!UTHORITYFOR(IGHER%DUCATION)2!(% 3UCH A REGULATORY AUTHORITY IS BOTH NECESSARY AND DESIRABLE )T IS NECESSARY FOR TWO IMPORTANT REASONS &IRST IN )NDIA IT REQUIRES AN !CT OF ,EGISLATURE OF 0ARLIAMENT TOSETUPA5NIVERSITY4HEDEEMEDUNIVERSITYROUTEIS MUCHTOODIFlCULTFORNEWINSTITUTIONS%NTRYTHROUGH LEGISLATIONALONE ASATPRESENT ISAFORMIDABLEBARRIER 4HE CONSEQUENCE IS A STEADY INCREASE IN THE AVERAGE SIZEOFEXISTINGUNIVERSITIESWITHASTEADYDETERIORATION IN THEIR QUALITY 4HE ABSENCE OF COMPETITION ONLY COMPOUNDSPROBLEMS3ECOND ASWESEEKTOEXPANDTHE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM ENTRY NORMS WILL BE NEEDED FORPRIVATEINSTITUTIONSANDPUBLIC PRIVATEPARTNERSHIPS 4HE INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR THIS PURPOSE MUST BE PUTINPLACEHEREANDNOW )TISDESIRABLEFORFOURIMPORTANTREASONS&IRST ITWOULD MINIMISECONmICTSOFINTERESTASITWOULDCREATEANARMS LENGTH DISTANCE FROM STAKEHOLDERS 3ECOND IT WOULD REPLACE THE PRESENT SYSTEM WHICH IS OVER REGULATED BUT UNDER GOVERNED THROUGH MORE APPROPRIATE FORMS OF INTERVENTION4HIRD IT WOULD RATIONALISE THE EXISTING SYSTEM WHERE MANDATES ARE BOTH CONFUSING AND OVERLAPPING &OURTH IT WOULD DISPENSE WITH THE MULTIPLICITYOFREGULATORYAGENCIESTOPROVIDEASINGLE WINDOWCLEARANCE 4HE PRESENT REGULATORY SYSTEM IN HIGHER EDUCATION IS mAWED IN MANY RESPECTS4HE BARRIERS TO ENTRY ARE TOO HIGH 4HE SYSTEM OF AUTHORISING ENTRY IS CUMBERSOME !ND THERE ARE EXTENSIVE RULES AFTER ENTRY AS THE 5'# SEEKS TO REGULATE ALMOST EVERY ASPECT OF AN INSTITUTION FROM FEES TO CURRICULUM 4HE SYSTEM IS ALSO BASED ON PATENTLY IRRATIONAL PRINCIPLES 4HE 5'# !CT SECTION A SUGGESTSTHATPERMISSIONFORRECEIVINGGRANTSWILL BEACCORDEDONLYIFTHE#OMMISSIONISSATISlEDTHATTHE

EXISTINGINSTITUTIONSINTHESTATEARENOTADEQUATETOSERVE THE NEEDS OF THE STATE4HE OTHER REGULATORS SAY IN THE SPHEREOFPROFESSIONALEDUCATION AREOFTENINCONSISTENTIN THEIRADHERENCETOPRINCIPLES4HEREARESEVERALINSTANCES WHERE AN ENGINEERING COLLEGE OR A BUSINESS SCHOOL IS APPROVED PROMPTLY INASMALLHOUSEOFAMETROPOLITAN SUBURB WITHOUT THE REQUISITE TEACHERS INFRASTRUCTURE OR FACILITIES BUT ESTABLISHED UNIVERSITIES EXPERIENCE DIFlCULTIESINOBTAININGSIMILARAPPROVALS3UCHEXAMPLES CAN BE MULTIPLIED4HESE WOULD ONLY CONlRM THAT THE COMPLEXITY THEMULTIPLICITYANDTHERIGIDITYOFTHEEXISTING REGULATORYSTRUCTUREISNOTCONDUCIVETOTHEEXPANSIONOF HIGHEREDUCATIONOPPORTUNITIESIN)NDIA )NSUM THEEXISTINGREGULATORYFRAMEWORKCONSTRAINSTHE SUPPLYOFGOODINSTITUTIONS EXCESSIVELYREGULATESEXISTING INSTITUTIONSINTHEWRONGPLACES ANDISNOTCONDUCIVE TO INNOVATION OR CREATIVITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION 4HE CHALLENGEISTHEREFORETODESIGNAREGULATORYSYSTEMTHAT INCREASES THE SUPPLY OF GOOD INSTITUTIONS AND FOSTERS ACCOUNTABILITY IN THOSE INSTITUTIONS !N INDEPENDENT REGULATORHASTOBETHECORNERSTONEOFSUCHASYSTEM 4HEPROPOSED)2!(%WILLRATIONALISETHEPRINCIPLESON WHICHENTRYISREGULATED4HEREARETWOASPECTSTOTHIS RATIONALISATIONWHATISTOBEREGULATEDANDWHATARETHE PRINCIPLESUSEDFORREGULATION )NHIGHEREDUCATION REGULATORSPERFORMlVEFUNCTIONS %NTRY LICENCE TO GRANT DEGREES !CCREDITATION QUALITY BENCHMARKING $ISBURSEMENT OF PUBLIC FUNDS !CCESSFEESORAFlRMATIVEACTION ,ICENCE TOPRACTICEPROFESSION )NDIA IS PERHAPS THE ONLY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD WHERE REGULATIONINFOUROFTHElVEFUNCTIONSISCARRIEDOUTBY ONEENTITY THATIS THE5'#4HEPURPOSEOFCREATING AN)2!(%ISTOSEPARATETHESEFUNCTIONS4HEPROPOSED )2!(%SHALLBERESPONSIBLEFORSETTINGTHECRITERIAAND DECIDINGONENTRY)TWOULD INADDITION LICENSEAGENCIES TOTAKECAREOFACCREDITATION4HEROLEOFTHE5'#WILL BE LIMITED TO DISBURSING PUBLIC FUNDS )SSUES OF ACCESS WILLBEGOVERNEDBYSTATELEGISLATIONONRESERVATIONSAND OTHER FORMS OF AFlRMATIVE ACTION !ND PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONSMAY INSOMEINSTITUTIONS SETREQUIREMENTS TODETERMINEELIGIBILITYFORCONDUCTINGAPROFESSION!LL OTHERREGULATORYAGENCIESSUCHASTHE!)#4%WILLNEED TO BE ABOLISHED WHILE THE -#) AND THE "#) WILL BE LIMITEDTOTHEIRROLEASPROFESSIONALASSOCIATIONS4HESE PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS COULD CONDUCT NATIONWIDE EXAMINATIONS TO PROVIDE LICENCES FOR THOSE WISHING TO ENTERTHEPROFESSION


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4HE SECOND ASPECT OF REGULATION IS THE PRINCIPLE USED TO REGULATE4HE )2!(% WILL DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY FOR SETTINGUPANEWINSTITUTIONBASEDONTRANSPARENTCRITERIA RATHERTHANDISCRETIONARYCONTROLS)TSMAINROLEWOULD BE TO EXERCISE DUE DILIGENCE AT THE POINT IT APPROVES A LICENCE TO GRANT DEGREES )N DOING SO IT WOULD ASSESS THE ACADEMIC CREDIBILITY AND THE lNANCIAL VIABILITY OF THE PROPOSED INSTITUTION ON THE BASIS OF INFORMATION SUBMITTEDINACCORDANCEWITHTHESTIPULATEDCRITERIA)T WILLAPPLYEXACTLYTHESAMENORMSTOPUBLICANDPRIVATE INSTITUTIONS JUST AS IT WILL APPLY THE SAME NORMS TO DOMESTICANDINTERNATIONALINSTITUTIONS 4HE)2!(%WOULDBECONSTITUTEDASFOLLOWS)TWOULD HAVE A #HAIRPERSON AND SIX -EMBERS 4HE TENURE OF THE#HAIRPERSONWOULDBESIXYEARS4HETENUREOFTHE -EMBERS WOULD ALSO BE SIX YEARS /NE THIRD OF THE -EMBERS OF THE !UTHORITY WILL RETIRE EVERY TWO YEARS 4HE #HAIRPERSON WOULD BE A DISTINGUISHED ACADEMIC FROM ANY DISCIPLINE WITH EXPERIENCE OF GOVERNANCE IN HIGHEREDUCATION4HE-EMBERSWOULDBEDISTINGUISHED ACADEMICSDRAWNFROMTHEFOLLOWINGSETSOFDISCIPLINES PHYSICALSCIENCES LIFESCIENCES SOCIALSCIENCES HUMANITIES ANDPROFESSIONALSUBJECTSSUCHASENGINEERING MEDICINE LAW OR MANAGEMENT 4HE )2!(% COULD HAVE SOME PART TIME MEMBERS OR STANDING COMMITTEES DRAWN FROM ACADEMIA TO ADVISE THE !UTHORITY IN EACH OF THE AFORESAID SETS OF DISCIPLINES4HE #HAIRPERSON AND THE -EMBERS OF THE )2!(% WOULD BE APPOINTED BY THE 0RIME -INISTER BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF A 3EARCH#OMMITTEE 4HE)2!(%WOULDHAVETOBEESTABLISHEDBYAN!CTOF 0ARLIAMENT)TWOULDBETHEONLYAGENCYTHATWOULDBE AUTHORISED TO ACCORD DEGREE GRANTING POWER TO HIGHER EDUCATIONINSTITUTIONS)TWOULDALSOBERESPONSIBLEFOR MONITORINGSTANDARDSANDSETTLINGDISPUTES)TSHOULDALSO BETHOUGHTOFASTHEAUTHORITYFORLICENSINGACCREDITATION AGENCIES4HE)2!(%MUSTBEATANARMS LENGTHFROM THE GOVERNMENT AND INDEPENDENT OF ALL STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDINGTHECONCERNED-INISTRIESOFTHE'OVERNMENT 4HE!CTSOFTHE5'# !)#4% -#)AND"#)WOULD HAVETOBEAMENDED4HEROLEOFTHE5'#WOULDBERE DElNEDTOFOCUSONTHEDISBURSEMENTOFGRANTSTO AND MAINTENANCEOF PUBLICINSTITUTIONSINHIGHEREDUCATION 4HEENTRYREGULATORYFUNCTIONSOFTHE!)#4% THE-#) AND THE "#) WOULD BE PERFORMED BY THE )2!(% SO THATTHEIRROLEWOULDBELIMITEDTOTHATOFPROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS 4HESE PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS COULD CONDUCT NATIONWIDE EXAMINATIONS TO PROVIDE LICENSES FORTHOSEWISHINGTOENTERTHEPROFESSION

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&INANCING 4HEEXPANSIONOFOURSYSTEMOFHIGHEREDUCATION WHICH ISBOTHNECESSARYANDDESIRABLE ISNOTPOSSIBLEWITHOUT lNANCING&ORANINCREASEINSUPPLYOFQUALITYEDUCATION DEPENDSUPONANINCREASEININVESTMENTWHICH INTURN REQUIRESlNANCIALRESOURCES4HEREARESEVERALSOURCESOF SUCHlNANCING 'OVERNMENT SUPPORT 4HERE IS NO SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATIONINTHEWORLDTHATISNOTBASEDUPONSIGNIlCANT PUBLICOUTLAYS!NDGOVERNMENTlNANCINGWILLREMAIN THECORNERSTONEOFANYSTRATEGYTOIMPROVEOURSYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION 4HE PRESENT SUPPORT FOR HIGHER EDUCATION AT PER CENT OF '$0 IS SIMPLY NOT ADEQUATE )N FACT OVER THE PAST DECADE IN REAL TERMS THERE HAS BEEN A SIGNIlCANT DECLINE IN THE RESOURCES ALLOCATEDFORHIGHEREDUCATION INTHEAGGREGATEASALSO PERSTUDENT)NANIDEALWORLD GOVERNMENTSUPPORTFOR HIGHEREDUCATIONSHOULDBEATLEASTPERCENT IFNOT PERCENTOF'$0 FROMATOTALOFPERCENTOF'$0 FOR EDUCATION 4HIS IS EASIER SAID THAN DONE "UT THE GOVERNMENTSHOULDENDEAVOURTOREACHTHESELEVELSBY %VENTHISMAGNITUDEOFSTATElNANCING HOWEVER WOULD NOT SUFlCE FOR THE MASSIVE EXPANSION IN HIGHER EDUCATIONTHATISANIMPERATIVE4HEREFORE ITISESSENTIAL TO EXPLORE A WIDE RANGE OF POSSIBILITIES WHICH CAN BE COMPLEMENTSTOTHEINCREASEINPUBLICEXPENDITURE "ETTERASSETMANAGEMENT-OSTPUBLICUNIVERSITIESARE SITTINGONALARGERESERVOIROFUNTAPPEDRESOURCESINTHE FORMOFLAND)NEFFECT WITHSOMEIMAGINATION MANYOF OURUNIVERSITIESCANBECONVERTEDINTOINSTITUTIONSTHAT ARE SIMILAR TO LAND GRANT UNIVERSITIES %ACH UNIVERSITY SHOULDTHUSHAVEANINNOVATIVEASSETMANAGEMENTPLAN 3UCHPLANSSHOULDBEINCONSONANCEWITHOBJECTIVESOF UNIVERSITIES!TTHEMOMENT HOWEVER UNIVERSITIESHAVE NOSTRATEGYINTHISSPHERE!NDTHEREISCONSIDERABLEROOM TOTHINKINSTRATEGICTERMSABOUTTHEUSEOFPHYSICALASSETS INTHEPOSSESSIONOFUNIVERSITIES)TSHOULDBEPOSSIBLETO DRAW UP NORMS AND PARAMETERS FOR UNIVERSITIES TO USE THEIRLANDASASOURCEOFlNANCE 2ATIONALISATIONOFFEES/NANAVERAGE FEESCONSTITUTE LESS THAN PER CENT OF TOTAL EXPENDITURE IN OUR UNIVERSITIES !ND IN MOST UNIVERSITIES FEES HAVE REMAINEDUNCHANGEDFORDECADES)NTHEORY UNIVERSITIES HAVETHEFREEDOMTODECIDEONFEES)NPRACTICE HOWEVER UNIVERSITIES HAVE NOT EXERCISED THIS FREEDOM IN PART BECAUSEOFSOMEGENUINECONCERNSABOUTACCESSBUTIN LARGERPARTBECAUSEOFTHERHETORICANDPOPULISMINTHE

POLITICAL PROCESS4HE PROBLEM HAS BEEN COMPOUNDED BY THE 5'# METHOD OF PROVIDING GRANTS IN AID TO BRIDGETHEDIFFERENCEBETWEENINCOMEANDEXPENDITURE #ONSEQUENTLY THERE IS NO INCENTIVE FOR UNIVERSITIES OR COLLEGES TO RAISE INCOME THROUGH HIGHER FEES AS THAT SUM WOULD BE DEDUCTED FROM THEIR 5'# OR 3TATE GOVERNMENT GRANTS4HELOWFEESINPUBLICUNIVERSITIES WITHOUT ANY MEANS TEST HAVE MEANT UNQUANTIlABLE BENElTS FOR UNINTENDED BENElCIARIES "UT PRIVATE PLAYERSANDFOREIGNINSTITUTIONSHAVENOTBEENRESTRAINED INCHARGINGFEESTHATTHEMARKETCANBEAR4HETIMEHAS COMETORETHINK ASWEHAVENOCHOICEBUTTORATIONALISE FEES)TISFORUNIVERSITIESTODECIDETHELEVELOFFEESBUT AS ANORM FEESSHOULDMEETATLEASTPERCENTOFTHETOTAL EXPENDITUREINUNIVERSITIES)NADDITION FEESNEEDTOBE ADJUSTEDEVERYTWOYEARSTHROUGHPRICEINDEXATION3UCH SMALL CONTINUOUS ADJUSTMENTSWOULDBEABSORBEDAND ACCEPTEDFARMOREEASILYTHANLARGE DISCRETECHANGESAFTER APERIODOFTIME4HISRATIONALISATIONOFFEESSHOULDBE SUBJECTTOTWOCONDITIONSlRST NEEDYSTUDENTSSHOULD BEPROVIDEDWITHAFEEWAIVERPLUSSCHOLARSHIPSTOMEET THEIRCOSTSSECOND UNIVERSITIESSHOULDNOTBEPENALISED BY THE 5'# FOR THE RESOURCES RAISED FROM HIGHER FEES THROUGHMATCHINGDEDUCTIONSFROMTHEIRGRANTS IN AID 0HILANTHROPICCONTRIBUTIONS)TISCLEARTHATWEHAVENOT EXPLOITEDTHISPOTENTIAL)NFACT THEPROPORTIONOFSUCH CONTRIBUTIONSINTOTALEXPENDITUREONHIGHEREDUCATION HASDECLINEDFROMMORETHANPERCENTINTHESTO LESSTHANPERCENTINTHES)TSHOULDBEPOSSIBLE TO NURTURE THIS TRADITION OF PHILANTHROPY THROUGH CHANGES IN INCENTIVES FOR UNIVERSITIES AND FOR DONORS )NTHEPRESENTSYSTEM THEREISANEXPLICITDISINCENTIVE )F UNIVERSITIES MOBILISE RESOURCES FROM ELSEWHERE THEY ARE IN EFFECT PENALISED THROUGH A MATCHING DEDUCTION INTHEIRGRANT IN AID7HATWENEEDTODOISEXACTLYTHE OPPOSITE5NIVERSITIESWHICHMOBILISERESOURCESTHROUGH CONTRIBUTIONSSHOULDBEREWARDEDWITHMATCHINGGRANTS IN AID!TPRESENT THEREISALSOANIMPLICITDISINCENTIVEIN BOTHLAXLAWSANDTRUSTLAWS%NDOWMENTSOFUNIVERSITIES CANONLYBEPLACEDINSPECIlEDSECURITIESWHERERATESOF RETURNARELOWANDBARELYKEEPUPWITHRATESOFINmATION 7HAT IS MORE TRUSTS MUST SPEND PER CENT OF THE INCOMESTREAMFROMTHEENDOWMENTINTHESAMEYEAR SOTHATONLYPERCENTOFTHEINCOMESTREAMCANBE USEDTOBUILDUPTHECORPUSINTHEENDOWMENT4HESE LAWSSHOULDBECHANGEDSOTHATUNIVERSITIESCANINVESTIN lNANCIALINSTRUMENTSOFTHEIRCHOICEANDUSETHEINCOME FROMTHEIRENDOWMENTSTOBUILDUPACORPUS /THER SOURCES /BVIOUSLY UNIVERSITIES MUST NOT BE DRIVENBYCOMMERCIALCONSIDERATIONS"UTITWOULDBE

BOTH PRUDENT AND WISE TO TAP OTHER SOURCES SUCH AS ALUMNICONTRIBUTIONS LICENSINGFEES ORUSERCHARGESFOR FACILITIES IN UNIVERSITIES USED BY PEOPLE FROM OUTSIDE 7ENEEDTOCREATESUPPORTIVEINSTITUTIONALMECHANISMS THATALLOWUNIVERSITIESTOENGAGEPROFESSIONALlRMSFOR THIS PURPOSE -OBILISING RESOURCES EVEN FROM FORMER STUDENTS ISATASKTHATCANNOTBEPERFORMEDBYACADEMICS BECAUSE IT NEEDS SPECIALISED TALENTS AND EXPERIENCE #URRENT5'#PRACTICEALSOPENALISESUNIVERSITIESFORANY RESOURCESMOBILISEDWITHAMATCHINGDEDUCTIONFROMTHE GRANTS IN AID PROVIDED TO THE INSTITUTION 2ATHER THAN PENALISING UNIVERSITIES FOR RAISING RESOURCES THE 5'# SHOULDINCENTIVISETHEM)NADDITION UNIVERSITIESMUST HAVETHEAUTONOMYANDmEXIBILITYTOMOBILISERESOURCES FROM ELSEWHERE BY CREATING OR USING APPROPRIATE INSTITUTIONALMECHANISMS 0RIVATEINVESTMENT)NTHREEPROFESSIONSnENGINEERING MEDICINE AND MANAGEMENT n THERE HAS BEEN A DE FACTO PRIVATISATION OF EDUCATION SO THAT TWO THIRDS TO THREE FOURTHS OF THE SEATS ARE IN PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS "UT PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN UNIVERSITY EDUCATION WHERE MORETHANPERCENTOFOURSTUDENTSSTUDY ISALMOST NEGLIGIBLE)TISESSENTIALTOSTIMULATEPRIVATEINVESTMENT INHIGHEREDUCATIONASAMEANSOFEXTENDINGEDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES 7E MUST RECOGNISE THAT EVEN WITH THE BESTWILLINTHEWORLD GOVERNMENTlNANCINGCANNOTBE ENOUGHTOSUPPORTTHEMASSIVEEXPANSIONINOPPORTUNITIES FORHIGHEREDUCATIONONASCALETHATISNOWESSENTIAL 0UBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS )T MIGHT BE POSSIBLE TO LEVERAGEPUBLICFUNDING ESPECIALLYINTHEFORMOFLAND GRANTS TOATTRACTMORENOT FOR PROlT PRIVATEINVESTMENT 4HEPRESENTSYSTEMOFALLOTMENTOFLAND WHEREPOLITICAL PATRONAGE IS IMPLICIT DISCOURAGES GENUINE EDUCATIONAL ENTREPRENEURS AND ENCOURAGES REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS IN DISGUISE )N PRINCIPLE IT SHOULD BE POSSIBLE TO SET UP NEWINSTITUTIONSINHIGHEREDUCATION NOTJUSTMORE))4S AND ))-S BUT ALSO MORE UNIVERSITIES AS PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS WHERE THE GOVERNMENT PROVIDES THE LAND ANDTHEPRIVATESECTORPROVIDESTHElNANCES3UCHPUBLIC PRIVATEPARTNERSHIPSWHICHPROMOTEUNIVERSITY INDUSTRY INTERFACEWOULDALSOSTRENGTHENTEACHINGANDRESEARCH )NTERNATIONAL STUDENTS )NDIA IS NOT AN ATTRACTIVE DESTINATION FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS NOT EVEN AS MUCH AS IT USED TO BE YEARS AGO )T IS TIME FOR US TO MAKE A CONSCIOUS ATTEMPT TO ATTRACT FOREIGN STUDENTS TO )NDIA FOR HIGHER EDUCATION 4HIS WOULD ENRICH OUR ACADEMIC MILIEU 4HIS WOULD ENHANCE QUALITY4HIS WOULD BE A SIGNIlCANT SOURCE OF lNANCE %VEN FOREIGN STUDENTS CHARGED FEES AT AN


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AVERAGE RATE OF 53 PER ANNUM WOULD YIELD 53 BILLION THE EQUIVALENT OF 2S CRORE PER ANNUMINCURRENTPRICESATCURRENTEXCHANGERATES4HE OTHERSIDEOFTHECOINISPERHAPSEVENMOREIMPORTANT %STIMATESSUGGESTTHATTHEREAREABOUT STUDENTS FROM)NDIASTUDYINGABROAD)FTHEIRAVERAGEEXPENDITURE ONFEESANDMAINTENANCEIS53 PERSTUDENTPER YEAR )NDIANSTUDENTSOVERSEASARESPENDING53BILLION THEEQUIVALENTOF2S CROREPERANNUMINCURRENT PRICESATCURRENTEXCHANGERATES4HISHASANENORMOUS POTENTIALASASOURCEOFlNANCEFORHIGHEREDUCATIONIN )NDIA IF ONLY WE COULD CRATE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTSWITHINCREASEDPLACESANDENHANCEDQUALITYIN OURSYSTEM

1UALITY 4HEINTRODUCTIONOFANINDEPENDENTREGULATORINHIGHER EDUCATION THEREFORMOFEXISTINGPUBLICUNIVERSITIESAND THE CREATION OF NATIONAL UNIVERSITIES TAKEN TOGETHER WOULDCONTRIBUTETOENHANCEMENTOFQUALITYINHIGHER EDUCATION "UT THIS NEEDS TO BE SUPPORTED WITH SOME PRO ACTIVE STEPS THAT WOULD FOSTER QUALITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION !CCOUNTABILITY4HEQUALITYOFHIGHEREDUCATIONDEPENDS ONAWIDERANGEOFFACTORS"UTACCOUNTABILITY ATEVERY LEVEL IS A CRITICAL DETERMINANT 4HE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM MUST THEREFORE PROVIDE FOR ACCOUNTABILITY VIS Í VIS THE OUTSIDE WORLD AND CREATE ACCOUNTABILITY WITHINTHESYSTEM!CCOUNTABILITYOFUNIVERSITIES MUST NOTBECONFUSEDWITHCONTROLOFTHESTATE)NSTITUTIONAL MECHANISMS BASEDONCHECKSANDBALANCES CONSTITUTE THEMOSTEFFECTIVESYSTEMFORTHISPURPOSE4HEESSENTIAL OBJECTIVE OF ACCOUNTABILITY TO SOCIETY MUST BE TO EMPOWERSTUDENTSTOTAKEDECISIONSRATHERTHANSIMPLY INCREASETHEPOWEROFTHESTATE3TIPULATEDPERFORMANCE CRITERIAORINSPECTIONSAREFORMSOFCONTROL7ENEEDTO CREATESYSTEMSTHATENABLESTUDENTS ORTHEIRPARENTS TO CHOOSEBETWEENANDASSESSUNIVERSITIES #OMPETITION4HESUPPLYCONSTRAINTONHIGHEREDUCATION ISANIMPEDIMENTTOACCOUNTABILITY7HENSTUDENTSHAVE RELATIVELY FEW CHOICES INSTITUTIONS HAVE GREATER POWER OVER THEM !N EXPANSION OF HIGHER EDUCATION WHICH PROVIDESSTUDENTSWITHCHOICESANDCREATESCOMPETITION BETWEEN INSTITUTIONS IS GOING TO BE VITAL IN ENHANCING ACCOUNTABILITY 3UCH COMPETITION BETWEEN INSTITUTIONS WITHIN)NDIAIS OFCOURSE ESSENTIAL"UTTHESIGNIlCANCE OF COMPETITION FROM OUTSIDE )NDIA MORE QUALITATIVE THAN QUANTITATIVE MUST NOT BE UNDERESTIMATED &OR THIS PURPOSE WE MUST FORMULATE APPROPRIATE POLICIES

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FOR THE ENTRY OF FOREIGN INSTITUTIONS INTO )NDIA AND THE PROMOTION OF )NDIAN INSTITUTIONS ABROAD 3UCH POLICIES MUST ENSURE THAT THERE IS AN INCENTIVE FOR GOOD INSTITUTIONS AND A DISINCENTIVE FOR SUB STANDARD INSTITUTIONSTOCOMETO)NDIA4HEPRESENTREGIMEDOES THEOPPOSITESUB STANDARDPLAYERSRUSHINWHILEPREMIER UNIVERSITIES STAY AWAY AS THEY CARE MORE ABOUT THEIR AUTONOMYANDWISHTOSETBENCHMARKSFORTHEMSELVES (OWEVER A LEVEL PLAYING lELD SHOULD BE ENSURED AND ALLRULESTHATAPPLYTODOMESTICINSTITUTIONSSHOULDALSO BEAPPLICABLETOFOREIGNINSTITUTIONS!TTHESAMETIME POLICIESMUSTENCOURAGERATHERTHANDISCOURAGE)NDIAN INSTITUTIONSTOCREATECAMPUSESABROADNOTASBUSINESS OPPORTUNITIESBUTASCOMPETITIONOPPORTUNITIESINTHEIR QUEST FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE /F COURSE EXPANSION ABROADSHOULDNOTBEATTHECOSTOFDOMESTICPROVISION EITHERATPRESENTORINTHEFUTURE !CCREDITATION 3O FAR WE HAVE SOUGHT TO CREATE ACCOUNTABILITYBYINCREASINGTHEPOWERSOFGOVERNMENT REGULATORS9ET ITHASDONELITTLETOIMPROVETHEQUALITY OFHIGHEREDUCATION#ONSIDER FOREXAMPLE THE.ATIONAL !CCREDITATION AND !SSESSMENT #OUNCIL .!!# 4HIS SYSTEMHASTHREECHARACTERISTICSWHICHSIGNIlCANTLYERODE ITSCREDIBILITY&IRST ITGRANTSONEINSTITUTION THE.!!# MONOPOLY POWER OVER ACCREDITATION 3ECOND .!!# ITSELFDOESNOTHAVETHECAPACITYTORATEALLTHEINSTITUTIONS )THASRATEDJUSTABOUTPERCENTOFTHETOTALNUMBER SOFAR4HIRD THEMETHODOLOGYOF.!!#ISMUCHTOO DISCRETIONARY)NSTEADOFVESTINGONEINSTITUTIONCREATED BYTHESTATEWITHMONOPOLYPOWER THE)2!(%MAYBE EMPOWEREDTOLICENSEANUMBEROFACCREDITATIONAGENCIES PUBLICANDPRIVATE TODOTHERATINGS)NDOINGSO THE REGULATORWOULDSETSTANDARDSFORTHEM4HISWILLNEED TOBEACCOMPANIEDBYSTRINGENTINFORMATIONDISCLOSURE NORMS FOR ALL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS INCLUDING THE SOURCEANDLEVELOFTHEIRACCREDITATION4HERAPIDGROWTH IN HIGHER EDUCATION PARTICULARLY IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR HAS CREATED A STRONG NEED FOR EMPOWERING STUDENTS AND PARENTS WITH RELIABLE INFORMATION FROM A CREDIBLE ACCREDITATIONPROCESS4HISSYSTEMCANBESUPPLEMENTED WITHTHECREATIONOFSELF REGULATORYBODIESINTHEHIGHER EDUCATIONSYSTEMANDTHEFREEDOMTOSEEKRECOGNITION FROMGLOBALACCREDITATIONSYSTEMS )NTERNAL SYSTEMS )N MOST UNIVERSITIES THE MAIN STAKEHOLDERS STUDENTS ARE MINIMALLY PART OF ANY MECHANISM FOR ACCOUNTABILITY /BVIOUSLY STUDENT EVALUATIONS NEED TO BE USED WITH CARE %VEN SO THEY CANBEPARTOFABASELINESETOFACCOUNTABILITYMEASURES WHICHCOULDATLEASTESTABLISHWHETHERCLASSESSCHEDULED INTHETIMETABLEAREHELD"UTTHATISNOTALL%VALUATION

OFCOURSESANDTEACHERSBYSTUDENTSISALSONEEDED JUSTAS MUCHASWENEEDPEEREVALUATIONOFTEACHERSBYTEACHERS 3UCH INTERNAL SYSTEMS OF EVALUATION WOULD STRENGTHEN ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE TEACHING LEARNING PROCESS 4HESE MUST BE COMBINED WITH INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISMS FOR ACCOUNTABILITYINOTHERDIMENSIONSOFUNIVERSITYSYSTEMS )NFORMATION !LMOST EVERYWHERE INFORMATION IN THE PUBLICDOMAINISANIMPORTANTSOURCEOFACCOUNTABILITY (IGHEREDUCATIONSHOULDBENOEXCEPTION4HERESHOULD BE DISCLOSURE NORMS FOR UNIVERSITIES AND INSTITUTIONS IMPARTING HIGHER EDUCATION4HEY SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO PLACE BASIC INFORMATION RELATING TO THEIR lNANCIAL SITUATION PHYSICAL ASSETS ACCREDITATION RATINGS ADMISSIONSCRITERIA FACULTYPOSITIONS ACADEMICCURRICULA ANDSOON INTHEPUBLICDOMAIN4HISWOULDEMPOWER STUDENTSANDPARENTSANDENABLETHEMTOMAKEINFORMED CHOICES)NFORMATION ALONGWITHCOMPETITION FOSTERED BYINCREASEDSUPPLY WILLCLOSETHEACCOUNTABILITYLOOP )NCENTIVES %VEN IF WE CANNOT INTRODUCE PENALTIES FOR NON PERFORMANCE IT IS NECESSARY TO INTRODUCE REWARDS FOR PERFORMANCE 7E MUST OF COURSE RECOGNISE THAT UNIVERSITIES ARE DIFFERENT FROM THE HIERARCHICAL WORLDS IN GOVERNMENTS AND CORPORATE STRUCTURES 4HE WEB OFINCENTIVESISFARMORESUBTLE%VENSO THETIMEHAS COMETOTHINKOFSALARYDIFFERENTIALSWITHINANDBETWEEN UNIVERSITIESASAMEANSOFATTRACTINGANDRETAININGTALENTED FACULTY MEMBERS 4HE SALARY DIFFERENTIATION AMONG TEACHERSWITHINTHESAMEUNIVERSITYNEEDSTOREmECTTHE OPPORTUNITY COSTS FOR TEACHERS IN SOME DEPARTMENTS 4HIS WILL HELP RETAIN TALENT IN SOME DISCIPLINES WHERE REMUNERATION IN THE MARKET IS MUCH HIGHER THAN IN OTHERSUBJECTS3ALARYDIFFERENTIATIONMAYENABLESOME UNIVERSITIES TO DEVELOP CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE IN SOME DISCIPLINES!TTHESAMETIME ITISIMPORTANTTOENSURE THAT DISCIPLINES WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL FOR A GOOD LIBERAL EDUCATIONSUCHASSOCIALSCIENCESANDHUMANITIES ASWELL ASBASICSCIENCESWHICHARENOTNECESSARILYREWARDEDBY THE MARKET ARE GIVEN APPROPRIATE INCENTIVES TO ATTRACT BOTH TEACHERS AND STUDENTS 3UCH SALARY DIFFERENTIALS BETWEEN AND WITHIN UNIVERSITIES COULD BE EFFECTIVE WITHOUTBEINGLARGE)NDEED THEREISAGOODREASONTO STIPULATE A MAXIMUM RATIO FOR DIFFERENCES IN SALARIES BETWEEN FACULTY MEMBERS SO AS NOT TO THREATEN THE IDENTITY OF THE PROFESSORIATE /BVIOUSLY UNIVERSITIES CANNOTCOMPETEWITHSALARIESELSEWHERE BUTTHEYSHOULD ENDEAVOURTOPROVIDEACOMFORTABLEMINIMUMFORALL WITH SOME PREMIUM FOR THOSE WHO PERFORM )T IS ALSO IMPORTANTTOTHINKOFOTHERINCENTIVES SUCHASHOUSING GOOD FACILITIES FOR TEACHING AND RESEARCH AND SOME mEXIBILITYFORNON TEACHINGPROFESSIONALACTIVITIESSOLONG

ASTHESEDONOTIMPINGEONTHEPRIMARYRESPONSIBILITIES TOTHEINSTITUTION $IFFERENTIATION 7E HAVE TO RECOGNISE THAT THERE IS BOUND TO BE DIVERSITY AND PLURALISM IN ANY SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION 4HEREFORE IN A COUNTRY AS LARGE AS )NDIA WECANNOTAFFORDTOADOPTTHEPRINCIPLETHATONE SIZE lTS ALL 7E MUST ALLOW DIVERSITY TO BLOSSOM4HIS COULDHAVEMANYDIMENSIONSCURRICULUM SPECIALISATION INSTITUTIONAL ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS COMPOSITION AND SO ON 3IMILARLY DIFFERENTIATION IS INEVITABLE IF NOT NATURAL %VEN IF WE DO NOT WISH TO RECOGNISE IT SUCH DIFFERENTIATIONISAREALITY3TUDENTSANDPARENTSHAVECLEAR PREFERENCES POSSIBLY IMPLICIT RANKINGS BASED ON THEIR PERCEPTIONS DERIVED FROM AVAILABLE INFORMATION /UR SENSE OF PLURALISM MUST RECOGNISE RATHER THAN IGNORE OR SHY AWAY FROM SUCH DIVERSITY AND DIFFERENTIATION )TISCHARACTERISTICOFEVERYHIGHEREDUCATIONSYSTEMIN THE WORLD &OR HIGHER EDUCATION IS ABOUT A QUEST FOR EXCELLENCE)TIS ATLEASTINPART ABOUTDISTINCTIONAND NOTALWAYSABOUTLEVELLING4HEINSTITUTIONSWHICHEXCEL ARETHEIMPORTANTPEAKSTHATRAISETHEAVERAGE4HEYARE ALSOROLEMODELSOTHERSSEEKTOEMULATE!NDINSTITUTIONS THATBECOMESUCHROLEMODELSCOULDMENTORANDGUIDE OTHERSELECTEDINSTITUTIONS

.ATIONAL5NIVERSITIES 7E NEED TO CREATE SUBSTANTIAL ADDITIONAL CAPACITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION FOR ACHIEVING A QUANTUM JUMP IN THE GROSS ENROLMENT RATIO FOR A RAPIDLY EXPANDING POPULATIONOFYOUNGPEOPLE)TWOULDBEEXPEDITIOUSTO DOSOBYSIMPLYEXPANDINGONOUREXISTINGEDUCATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE ! FUNDAMENTAL PARADIGM SHIFT IN OUR UNDERSTANDING OF QUALITY AND STANDARDS IN HIGHER EDUCATION HOWEVER REQUIRES CREATING COMPLETELY NEW INSTITUTIONS THAT OPERATE UNCONSTRAINED BY THE CURRENT INSTITUTIONALANDREGULATORYFRAMEWORK7ERECOMMEND THE CREATION OF UP TO .ATIONAL 5NIVERSITIES THAT CAN PROVIDE EDUCATION OF THE HIGHEST STANDARD !S EXEMPLARS FOR THE REST OF THE NATION THESE UNIVERSITIES SHALLTRAINSTUDENTSINAVARIETYOFDISCIPLINES INCLUDING HUMANITIES SOCIAL SCIENCES BASIC SCIENCES COMMERCE AND PROFESSIONAL SUBJECTS AT BOTH THE UNDERGRADUATE ANDPOST GRADUATELEVELS4HENUMBERISALONGTERM OBJECTIVE)NTHESHORTRUN ITISIMPORTANTTOBEGINWITH ATLEASTSUCHUNIVERSITIESINTHENEXTTHREEYEARS)TIS WORTH NOTING THAT THE .ATIONAL 5NIVERSITIES NEED NOT ALLBENEWUNIVERSITIES3OMEOFTHEEXISTINGUNIVERSITIES COULD ALSO BE CONVERTED INTO .ATIONAL 5NIVERSITIES ON THE BASIS OF RIGOROUS SELECTION CRITERIA TO ACT AS EXEMPLARS7ERECOGNISETHATTHERECOULDBEAHUMAN


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RESOURCECONSTRAINTIFFACULTYMEMBERSARENOTAVAILABLE INADEQUATENUMBERSTOESTABLISHTHESEUNIVERSITIES"UT FOR SUCH CENTRES OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE IT SHOULD BE POSSIBLETOATTRACTTALENTFROMAMONGTHOSEWHOCHOOSE OTHER PROFESSIONS IN )NDIA OR THE ACADEMIC PROFESSION OUTSIDE)NDIA

INCLUDINGWRITTENWORKANDPERSONALSTATEMENTS ASALSO INTERVIEWS !T THE POSTGRADUATE LEVEL ADMISSIONS SHALL BEBASEDONACOMBINATIONOFTHEAPPLICANTSACADEMIC RECORD APPLICATIONMATERIALS INTERVIEWSANDACADEMIC ORPROFESSIONALREFERENCESTHATINDICATEHISHERAPTITUDE FORFURTHERSTUDIESINTHERELEVANTDISCIPLINE

.ATIONAL 5NIVERSITIES CAN BE ESTABLISHED IN TWO WAYS BY THE GOVERNMENT OR BY A PRIVATE SPONSORING BODY THAT SETS UP A 3OCIETY #HARITABLE4RUST OR 3ECTION #OMPANY3INCEPUBLIClNANCEISANINTEGRALCONSTITUENT OFUNIVERSITIESWORLDWIDE MOSTOFTHENEWUNIVERSITIES SHALL NEED SIGNIlCANT INITIAL lNANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THE GOVERNMENT4HIS COULD BE IN SEVERAL FORMS %ACH UNIVERSITYMAYBEENDOWEDWITHASUBSTANTIALALLOCATION OF PUBLIC LAND IN EXCESS OF ITS SPATIAL REQUIREMENTS 4HEEXCESSLANDCANBEASUBSEQUENTSOURCEOFINCOME GENERATION ITSVALUERISINGOVERTIMEDUETOTHEGROWING STATUREOFTHEUNIVERSITY)NTHECASEOFPRIVATELYEXECUTED #HARITABLE4RUSTS EXCEPTIONSNEEDTOBEMADEINEXISTING )NCOME 4AX LAWS TO ENCOURAGE LARGE ENDOWMENTS )N PARTICULAR THERESHOULDBENORESTRICTIONONTHEUTILISATION OFINCOMEINANYGIVENTIMEPERIOD THE4RUSTSSHOULD BEALLOWEDTOINVESTTHEIRFUNDSINlNANCIALINSTRUMENTS OFTHEIRCHOICE ANDALLPROCEEDSFROMTHESALEOFCAPITAL ASSETS SHOULD BE EXEMPT FROM CAPITAL GAINS TAX4HESE UNIVERSITIESSHALLHAVETHEAUTONOMYTOINVESTINlNANCIAL INSTRUMENTSOFTHEIRCHOICE BYEMPLOYINGPRIVATEFUND MANAGERS IF REQUIRED !PPROPRIATE MECHANISMS ALSO NEEDTOBEPUTINPLACEFORTHEOPTIMALMANAGEMENTOF PHYSICALASSETS LIKELABORATORIES LIBRARIES CLASSROOMSAND OTHERFACILITIES&INALLY THESEUNIVERSITIESSHALLHAVETHE AUTONOMYTOSETSTUDENTFEELEVELSANDTAPOTHERSOURCES FOR GENERATING FUNDS SUCH AS INDUSTRY COLLABORATIONS OVERSEASOPERATIONS ASALSOCOMMERCIALUSEOFUNIVERSITY FACILITIESANDALUMNINETWORKS

5NDERGRADUATE DEGREES IN THE .ATIONAL 5NIVERSITIES SHALLHAVEADURATIONOFTHREEYEARSSOTHATTHESEAREIN CONFORMITYWITHTHEDURATIONOFUNDERGRADUATECOURSES ELSEWHEREIN)NDIA)NTHElRSTYEAR STUDENTSSHALLHAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO STUDY FOUNDATION ANALYTICAL AND TOOLSCOURSESBEFORECHOOSINGASPECIlCDISCIPLINEINTHE SECONDYEAR4HEYSHALLALSOHAVETHEOPTION ATTHEEND OFTHESECONDYEAR OFCOMPLETINGANINTEGRATEDlVE YEAR MASTERSDEGREE$EGREESSHOULDBEGRANTEDONTHEBASIS OF COMPLETING A REQUISITE NUMBER OF CREDITS OBTAINED FROM DIFFERENT COURSES %ACH STUDENT SHALL BE REQUIRED TOEARNAMINIMUMNUMBEROFCREDITSINHISHERCHOSEN DISCIPLINE ANDSHALLHAVETHEFREEDOMTOEARNTHEREST FROM COURSES IN OTHER DISCIPLINES 4HE ACADEMIC YEAR SHALLTHEREFOREBESEMESTER BASEDANDSTUDENTSSHALLBE INTERNALLYEVALUATEDATTHEENDOFEACHCOURSE4RANSFEROF CREDITSFROMONE.ATIONAL5NIVERSITYTOANOTHERSHALLALSO BEPOSSIBLE!WIDEVARIETYOFCOURSESSHALLBEOFFERED IN TRADITIONAL ACADEMIC DISCIPLINES EMPLOYMENT ORIENTED SPECIlC AREAS AND CROSS CUTTING COMPETENCIES 3YLLABI SHALL BE REVISED EVERY YEAR TO KEEP UP WITH CHANGES AND CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS IN VARIOUS DISCIPLINES $EPARTMENTSTHATDONOTUPDATETHEIRSYLLABUSFORTWO CONSECUTIVEYEARSSHALLBEASKEDTOPROVIDEJUSTIlCATION 3TUDENTSSHALLHAVETHEOPTIONOFTAKINGUPINTERNSHIPS INPRIVATECOMPANIESORRESEARCHINSTITUTIONSINLIEUOFA CERTAINNUMBEROFCREDITS

4HE .ATIONAL 5NIVERSITIES WE PROPOSE SHALL ADMIT STUDENTS ON AN ALL )NDIA BASIS 4HEY SHALL ADOPT THE PRINCIPLE OF NEEDS BLIND ADMISSIONS THEREBY ENSURING THAT AN APPLICANTS ABILITY OR INABILITY TO PAY SHALL NOT INmUENCETHEADMISSIONDECISIONMADEBYAUNIVERSITY &URTHER ONCEADMITTED THEUNIVERSITYSHOULDENSURETHAT NOSTUDENTHASTOFOREGOHISHERPLACEDUETOlNANCIAL CONSTRAINTS 4HIS WILL REQUIRE A HOST OF SCHOLARSHIPS FREESHIPS BURSARIES AND AWARDS FOR ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS !T THE UNDERGRADUATE LEVEL A NATIONWIDE TEST THAT OBJECTIVELY MEASURES THE VERBAL QUANTITATIVEANDANALYTICALABILITIESOFAPPLICANTSSHALLBE ADMINISTEREDBYANINDEPENDENTTESTINGBODY!DMISSIONS SHALL BE BASED ON A COMBINATION OF #LASS 8)) RESULTS SCORES FROM THE NATIONWIDE TEST APPLICATION MATERIALS

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!NAPPROPRIATESYSTEMOFAPPOINTMENTSANDINCENTIVES IS REQUIRED TO MAXIMISE THE PRODUCTIVITY OF FACULTY IN THE.ATIONAL5NIVERSITIES4HERESHALLBESCOPEFORSALARY DIFFERENTIALS BETWEEN .ATIONAL 5NIVERSITIES AND ALSO BETWEENDISCIPLINES&ACULTYTRAININGWILLBECONTINGENT ON PERIODICAL REVIEWS OF RESEARCH OUTPUT AND STUDENT EVALUATION 4HE MOST ACCOMPLISHED FACULTY MEMBERS SHALL BE ENCOURAGED TO TEACH UNDERGRADUATE COURSES 4HERE SHALL BE NO CAREER ADVANCEMENT SCHEMES AND APPOINTMENTS AT EVERY LEVEL SHALL BE THROUGH OPEN COMPETITION4HETOTALNUMBEROFFACULTYPOSITIONSMAY BESPECIlED BUTTHERESHOULDBECOMPLETEmEXIBILITYIN CHOOSING THE LEVEL AT WHICH FACULTY APPOINTMENTS ARE MADE SOTHAT FORTALENTEDFACULTYMEMBERS CAREERPATHS ARENOTCONSTRAINEDBYTHENUMBEROFVACANCIES)NORDER TO MAINTAIN THE QUALITY OF THE .ATIONAL 5NIVERSITIES MECHANISMSSHOULDBEINPLACETOMONITORANDEVALUATE

THEPERFORMANCEANDPROGRESSOFTEACHERSINCLUDINGPEER REVIEWS4HEPROCEDURESANDRESULTSOFTHESEEVALUATIONS WILLBEOPENANDTRANSPARENT 4HERESEARCHOUTPUTSOFTHESEUNIVERSITIESSHALLBEVITAL CONTRIBUTORSTO)NDIASSOCIOECONOMICDEVELOPMENTAND PROGRESSINSCIENCEANDTECHNOLOGY3TRONGLINKAGESSHALL BE FORGED BETWEEN TEACHING AND RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES ANDINDUSTRY ANDUNIVERSITIESANDRESEARCHLABORATORIES 4HE .ATIONAL 5NIVERSITIES SHALL BE DEPARTMENT BASED AND SHALL NOT HAVE ANY AFlLIATED COLLEGES %ACH DEPARTMENT WILL ADMINISTER UNDERGRADUATE AND POST GRADUATE COURSES .ONTEACHING FUNCTIONS SHOULD BE OUTSOURCED WHEREVER POSSIBLE AND A MAXIMUM RATIO OF SHOULD BE MAINTAINED BETWEEN NON TEACHING AND TEACHING STAFF %ACH UNIVERSITY SHOULD APPOINT AN INTERNAL OMBUDSMAN FOR THE REDRESSAL OF FACULTY STAFF STUDENTANDPUBLICGRIEVANCES!DMINISTRATIVEPROCESSES WHEREVER POSSIBLE SHOULD BE STREAMLINED AND MADE TRANSPARENTANDACCOUNTABLEBYTHEUSEOFINFORMATION ANDCOMMUNICATIONSTECHNOLOGY

!CCESS %DUCATIONISANESSENTIALMECHANISMFORINCLUSIONTHROUGH THECREATIONOFSOCIALOPPORTUNITIES)TIS THEREFORE ESSENTIAL THATINADDITIONTOENSURINGTHATNOSTUDENTISDENIEDTHE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN HIGHER EDUCATION DUE TO lNANCIALCONSTRAINTS ACCESSTOEDUCATIONFORECONOMICALLY AND HISTORICALLY SOCIALLY UNDERPRIVILEGED STUDENTS IS ENHANCEDINASUBSTANTIALLYMOREEFFECTIVEMANNER %CONOMICBARRIERSTOHIGHEREDUCATIONCANBEADDRESSED BY ENSURING lNANCIAL VIABILITY FOR ALL STUDENTS WANTING TO ENTER THE WORLD OF HIGHER EDUCATION 4HIS CAN BE DONE THROUGH TWO STRATEGIES /NE IS TO ADOPT A NEEDS BLIND ADMISSIONS POLICY 4HIS WOULD MAKE IT UNLAWFUL FOR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ANY lNANCIALFACTORWHILEDECIDINGWHETHERORNOTTOADMIT ASTUDENT%VERYINSTITUTIONWILLBEFREETOUSEAVARIETY OFINSTRUMENTSTOACHIEVETHISAIMSCHOLARSHIPSORCROSS SUBSIDIES )N ADDITION ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS WOULD BE ABLE TO SET A FEE OF THEIR OWN CHOICE SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONTHATTHEREAREATLEASTTWOBANKSTHATAREWILLING TOlNANCETHEENTIRECOSTOFEDUCATIONATTHATINSTITUTION WITHOUTANYCOLLATERALOTHERTHANTHEFACTOFADMISSION 4HE COST OF EDUCATION INCLUDES NOT JUST FEES BUT ALSO REASONABLELIVINGEXPENSESINCLUDINGCOSTSSUCHASHOSTEL ANDMESSFEESANDANYOTHEREXPENSESASSOCIATEDWITHTHE COURSE OF STUDY 3INCE COMMERCIAL BANKS MAY BE WARY OF FUNDING ECONOMICALLY DEPRIVED STUDENTS ESPECIALLY

IN NON PROFESSIONAL COURSES WE NEED A WELL FUNDED AND EXTENSIVE .ATIONAL 3CHOLARSHIP 3CHEME TARGETING ECONOMICALLYUNDERPRIVILEGEDSTUDENTSANDSTUDENTSFROM HISTORICALLY SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED GROUPS PARTICULARLY STUDENTSFROMRURALANDBACKWARDAREAS4HESUCCESSOF THISPROPOSALDEPENDSONGENEROUSGOVERNMENTSUPPORT &ORINSTANCE THEGOVERNMENTSHOULDENDEAVOURTOMAKE AVAILABLE ABOUT SCHOLARSHIPS FOR SUCH STUDENTS 4HESESCHOLARSHIPSSHOULDBESETATALEVELWHERESTUDENTS AREEMPOWEREDTOGOTOANYINSTITUTIONOFTHEIRCHOICE 7E ALSO NEED TO UNDERTAKE MORE PROACTIVE FORMS OF AFlRMATIVEACTIONTOENSUREINCLUSIONOFMARGINALAND EXCLUDEDGROUPS2ESERVATIONSAREESSENTIALBUTTHEYARE APART ANDONEFORMOF AFlRMATIVEACTION$ISPARITIES INEDUCATIONALATTAINMENTSARERELATEDTOCASTEANDSOCIAL GROUPS BUTAREALSOSTRONGLYRELATEDTOOTHERINDICATORS SUCHASINCOME GENDER REGIONANDPLACEOFRESIDENCE !CCESS TO QUALITY HIGHER EDUCATION IS FURTHER LIMITED FOR STUDENTS FROM CERTAIN TYPES OF SCHOOLS 4HEREFORE DEPRIVATION OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IS A MULTI DIMENSIONALPROBLEMANDATTENTIONNEEDSTOBEPAIDTO DIFFERENTSALIENTLEVELSOFDEPRIVATIONFACEDBYSTUDENTS ! MEANINGFUL AND COMPREHENSIVE FRAMEWORK WOULD ACCOUNTFORTHEMULTIDIMENSIONALITYOFDIFFERENCESTHATSTILL PERSIST3UCHADEPRIVATIONINDEXCOULDPROVIDEWEIGHTED SCORESTOSTUDENTSANDTHECUMULATIVESCORECOULDBEUSED TOSUPPLEMENTASTUDENTSSCHOOLEXAMINATIONSCORE!FTER ADDINGTHESCOREFROMTHEDEPRIVATIONINDEX ALLSTUDENTS COULDCOMPETEFORADMISSIONS 4HEINDICATORSNEEDTOBEEASILYIDENTIlABLEANDVERIlABLE FORTHESYSTEMTOWORKEFFECTIVELY4HEYSHOULDCOVERTHE DIFFERENTTYPESOFDISADVANTAGESTHATASTUDENTCOULDFACE ATTHESCHOOLLEVEL ANDWHILEAPPLYINGFORADMISSIONSTO HIGHEREDUCATION4HISSYSTEMSERVESTHEDUALPURPOSE OFCONSIDERINGVARIOUSDISADVANTAGESANDENSURINGTHAT ARESERVEDCATEGORYSTUDENTWHOHASOTHERWISEENJOYED OTHERBENElTSDOESNOTGETGREATPREFERENCEATTHETIME OFADMISSIONS )LLUSTRATIVE INDICATORS OF BACKWARDNESS THAT NEED TO BE MEASURED BY SUCH AN INDEX COULD INCLUDE SOCIAL BACKGROUND COVERING CASTE KEEPING IN VIEW REGIONAL VARIATIONS RELIGIONANDGENDER FAMILYEDUCATIONHISTORY FAMILY INCOME TYPE OF SCHOOL DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND BETWEEN SCHOOLS FROM DIFFERENT LOCATIONS THE MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION PLACEOFRESIDENCEDISTINGUISHINGBETWEENURBANANDRURAL AREASANDACCOUNTINGFORREGIONALDEPRIVATIONBYSORTING DISTRICTS ALONG AN INDEX OF INFRASTRUCTURE OR ACCESS TO SOCIALBENElTSANDPHYSICALDISABILITY


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Appointment of Heads of Institutions

4

HE RECENT MEASURES INTRODUCED BY THE GOVERNMENT LEADING TO A MAJOR EXPANSION OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION SECTOR ARE PROBABLY AMONG THE MOST IMPORTANT STEPS IN MAKING )NDIA GLOBALLY COMPETITIVE IN THE LONG RUN %XPANSION AND INCLUSIVENESS DRAWINGLARGERSECTIONSOF)NDIANSINTOTHE ARENAOFKNOWLEDGECREATIONANDUTILISATIONWILLBETHE KEYDRIVERSTOABETTERFUTURE 4HE .ATIONAL +NOWLEDGE #OMMISSION WOULD LIKE TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE CENTRAL ROLE OF GOVERNANCE STRUCTURES IN ALLOWING THESE NEW INSTITUTIONS TO GROW RAPIDLY EFlCIENTLYANDPRODUCTIVELYANDALSO TOREVIEW PROCEDURESINSOMEOFOURBESTEXISTINGINSTITUTIONSLIKE ))4S ))-S #ENTRAL5NIVERSITIESAND!))-3 )T IS IMPERATIVE TO SEPARATE GOVERNANCE MECHANISMS FROMTHEDAY TO DAYOPERATIONSOF-INISTRIES INORDERTO PROTECTFUNCTIONALAUTONOMY INITSFULLESTSENSE.+# WOULDLIKETODRAWATTENTIONTOTHEFOLLOWINGIDEAS 4HEAPPOINTMENTOF$IRECTORS6ICE#HANCELLORSOF THENEW))4S ))-S ))3%2S #ENTRAL5NIVERSITIES !))-3MUSTBEMADEBYA3EARCH#OMMITTEETHAT HAS AN INDEPENDENT #HAIR CAPABLE OF EXERCISING THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF JUDGMENT 4HE DIRECT

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!PRIL

INVOLVEMENTOFADMINISTRATIVEMINISTRIESCANRESULT INUNFORTUNATESITUATIONS 4HEPROCEDUREFORAPPOINTMENTOFTHE#HAIRPERSON ANDMEMBERSOFGOVERNING#OUNCILS"OARDSNEEDS TO BE CAREFULLY CRAFTED IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT INSTITUTIONS HAVE THE BENElT OF THE WIDEST INPUTS FROMACADEMIAANDSOCIETY 4HE INVOLVEMENT OF THE #HAIR OF THE 'OVERNING "OARDANDATLEASTTWOINDEPENDENTMEMBERSINTHE SELECTIONOFTHE$IRECTOR6ICE#HANCELLORWILLENSURE SMOOTHFUNCTIONINGATLATERSTAGESOFANINSTITUTIONS DEVELOPMENT !PPOINTMENTSOFHEADSOFINSTITUTIONSMUSTBEMADE WELLINADVANCEOFAVACANCYARISING SOTHATASMOOTH TRANSITIONISEFFECTED)NVIEWOFlXEDTENURES THEREIS NOREASONTHATTHISCANNOTBEDONEINALLINSTITUTIONS 4HE PROPOSAL FOR AN INDEPENDENT REGULATORY BODY FOR HIGHER EDUCATION WAS ALSO ADVANCED BY THE #OMMISSIONASANEXPRESSIONOFITSCONCERNATTHE DETERIORATINGAMBIENCEOFINSTITUTIONSOFLEARNINGIN MANYPARTSOFTHECOUNTRY

)NSUMMARY .+#BELIEVES THATGOVERNANCEISSUESMAY BE CENTRAL TO ANY DEBATE ON IMPROVING THE STATUS OF HIGHEREDUCATIONIN)NDIA

Legal Education /CTOBER

4

HE .ATIONAL +NOWLEDGE #OMMISSION WHILE DELIBERATING ON ISSUES RELATED TO KNOWLEDGE CONCEPTS RECOGNISES LEGAL EDUCATION AS AN IMPORTANT CONSTITUENT OF PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION 4HE VISION OF LEGAL EDUCATION IS TO PROVIDE JUSTICE ORIENTED EDUCATIONESSENTIALTOTHEREALISATIONOFVALUESENSHRINED INTHE#ONSTITUTIONOF)NDIA)NKEEPINGWITHTHISVISION LEGALEDUCATIONMUSTAIMATPREPARINGLEGALPROFESSIONALS WHO WILL PLAY DECISIVE LEADERSHIP ROLES NOT ONLY AS ADVOCATES PRACTISING IN COURTS BUT ALSO AS ACADEMICS LEGISLATORS JUDGES POLICY MAKERS PUBLIC OFlCIALS CIVIL SOCIETYACTIVISTSASWELLASLEGALCOUNSELSINTHEPRIVATE SECTOR MAINTAININGTHEHIGHESTSTANDARDSOFPROFESSIONAL ETHICS AND A SPIRIT OF PUBLIC SERVICE ,EGAL EDUCATION SHOULDALSOPREPAREPROFESSIONALSEQUIPPEDTOMEETTHE NEWCHALLENGESANDDIMENSIONSOFINTERNATIONALISATION WHERE THE NATURE AND ORGANISATION OF LAW AND LEGAL PRACTICEAREUNDERGOINGAPARADIGMSHIFT&URTHER THERE ISNEEDFORORIGINALANDPATHBREAKINGLEGALRESEARCHTO CREATENEWLEGALKNOWLEDGEANDIDEASTHATWILLHELPMEET THESECHALLENGESINAMANNERRESPONSIVETOTHENEEDSOF THECOUNTRYANDTHEIDEALSANDGOALSOFOUR#ONSTITUTION !S PART OF A CONSULTATIVE PROCESS .+# CONSTITUTED A 7ORKING 'ROUP OF EXPERTS INCLUDING DISTINGUISHED MEMBERSOFTHE"AR THEBENCHANDACADEMIAUNDERTHE CHAIRMANSHIPOF*USTICE-*AGANNADHA2AOTOSUGGEST NECESSARY MEASURES TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LEGAL EDUCATIONIN)NDIA"ASEDONFURTHERCONSULTATIONSWITH STAKEHOLDERS .+#HASPROPOSEDTHEFOLLOWING

2EGULATORY2EFORM!.EW 3TANDING#OMMITTEEFOR,EGAL %DUCATION ! NEW REGULATORY MECHANISM UNDER THE )NDEPENDENT 2EGULATORY!UTHORITYFOR(IGHER%DUCATION)2!(% VESTED WITH POWERS TO DEAL WITH ALL ASPECTS OF LEGAL EDUCATION AND WHOSE DECISIONS ARE BINDING ON THE INSTITUTIONS TEACHING LAW AND ON THE UNION AND STATE GOVERNMENTS SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED 4HE 3TANDING #OMMITTEE FOR ,EGAL %DUCATION MAY CONSIST OF PERSONS INCLUDING EMINENT LAWYERS MEMBERS OF THE "AR #OUNCIL OF )NDIA "#) JUDGES ACADEMICS

REPRESENTATIVES FROM TRADE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY ECONOMISTS SOCIAL WORKERS STUDENTS AND OTHERS AND IT MUST AIM AT REVAMPING LEGAL EDUCATION TO MEET THE NEEDSANDCHALLENGESOFALLSECTIONSOFSOCIETY !TTHETIMEOFENACTMENTOFTHE!DVOCATES!CT IT WASENVISAGEDTHATLEGALEDUCATIONWOULDONLYPRODUCE LAWYERS FOR THE COURTS AND ACCORDINGLY THE "#) HAD BEENENTRUSTEDWITHTHELIMITEDROLEOF@PROMOTINGLEGAL EDUCATION AND LAYING DOWN MINIMUM STANDARDS OF LEGALEDUCATIONREQUIREDFORSTUDENTSWHO@AREENTITLED TOPRACTICE)NTHELASTYEARS ANDPARTICULARLYAFTER LIBERALISATION IN THE ENTIRE CONCEPT OF LEGAL EDUCATION HAS CHANGED CONSIDERABLY 4ODAY LEGAL EDUCATION HAS TO MEET NOT ONLY THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE"ARBUTALSOTHENEWNEEDSOFTRADE COMMERCEAND INDUSTRY INTHECONTEXTOFGROWINGINTERNATIONALISATION OFTHEPROFESSION4HENEEDFORIMPROVEMENTINOVERALL QUALITY TO MATCH GLOBAL STANDARDS HAS BECOME EVEN MORESALIENTWHENVIEWEDFROMSUCHAPERSPECTIVE)N LIGHT OF THE CHANGED SCENARIO IN THE LAST YEARS AND THE EXISTING GAPS AND DElCIENCIES IN OVERALL QUALITY IT IS CLEAR THAT THE "#) HAS NEITHER THE POWER UNDER THE!DVOCATES!CT NORTHEEXPERTISETOMEETTHE NEW CHALLENGES BOTH DOMESTICALLYANDINTERNATIONALLY )TIS THEREFORE NECESSARYTOCONSTITUTEANEWREGULATORY MECHANISMWITHAVISIONBOTHOFSOCIALANDINTERNATIONAL GOALS TODEALWITHALLASPECTSOFLEGALEDUCATIONANDTO CATER TO THE NEEDS OF THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE4HE "#)WOULDHOWEVERCONTINUETOEXERCISEITSPOWERSTO RECOMMEND MINIMUM STANDARDS REQUIRED FOR PRACTICE INTHECOURTS&URTHER THE"#)WOULDCONTINUETOENJOY ITSPOWERSOFDISCIPLINESOFARASTHEMEMBERSOFTHE"AR ARECONCERNED

0RIORITISE1UALITYAND$EVELOP! 2ATING3YSTEM 4HEREISANEEDTODEVELOPANINDEPENDENT2ATING3YSTEM BASEDONASETOFAGREEDCRITERIATOASSESSTHESTANDARDOF ALLINSTITUTIONSTEACHINGLAWASAMECHANISMTOENSURE CONSISTENT ACADEMIC QUALITY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY 4HECRITERIAFORRATINGWOULDBEEVOLVEDBYTHE3TANDING Report to the Nation

79

#OMMITTEEFOR,EGAL%DUCATIONWHILETHERATINGWOULD BE DONE BY INDEPENDENT AGENCIES LICENSED BY )2!(% FORTHEPURPOSE2ECOGNITIONCOULDBEEITHERGRANTED ORWITHDRAWNONTHEBASISOFSUCHRATINGS4HERATING RESULTSSHOULDBEREVIEWEDANNUALLY REGULARLYUPDATED MONITOREDANDMADEAVAILABLEINTHEPUBLICDOMAIN

#URRICULUM$EVELOPMENT #URRICULUMSHOULDBEMADECONTEMPORARY INTEGRATED WITH OTHER DISCIPLINES ENSURING REGULAR FEEDBACK FROM STAKEHOLDERS!UTONOMYMAYBEGRANTEDTOUNIVERSITIES .ATIONAL,AW3CHOOLS.,35S ANDOTHERLAWSCHOOLS TO DECIDE THE CORE AND OPTIONAL COURSES TO BE OFFERED 4HISISADEPARTUREFROMCURRENTPRACTICEWHERETHE"#) LARGELY DETERMINES CURRICULA AND SYLLABI ! COMMITTEE SHOULDBEFORMEDTHATINCLUDESFACULTYANDPRACTITIONERS ANDSEEKSSTUDENTFEEDBACKTODISCUSSCURRICULA SYLLABI AND READING MATERIAL OF ALL CORE AND OPTIONAL COURSES ANDDEVISEA@MODELSYLLABUSFORALLCOREANDOPTIONAL COURSES,AWSCHOOLSANDUNIVERSITIESWOULDBEFREETO USEANDDEPARTFROMTHE@MODELSYLLABUS ,AW TEACHING MUST BE INTERWOVEN WITH RELATED CONTEMPORARY ISSUES INCLUDING INTERNATIONAL AND COMPARATIVELAWPERSPECTIVES4HECURRICULAANDSYLLABI MUSTBEBASEDINAMULTIDISCIPLINARYBODYOFSOCIALSCIENCE AND SCIENTIlC KNOWLEDGE #URRICULUM DEVELOPMENT SHOULD INCLUDE EXPANDING THE DOMAIN OF OPTIONAL COURSES PROVIDINGDEEPERUNDERSTANDINGOFPROFESSIONAL ETHICS MODERNISINGCLINICCOURSES MAINSTREAMINGLEGAL AID PROGRAMS AND DEVELOPING INNOVATIVE PEDAGOGIC METHODS,EGALEDUCATIONMUSTALSOBESOCIALLYENGAGED ANDSENSITISESTUDENTSONISSUESOFSOCIALJUSTICE

%XAMINATION3YSTEM 4HE PREVAILING EXAMINATION SYSTEMS MAY BE REVISED ANDEVALUATIONMETHODSBEDEVELOPEDTHATTESTCRITICAL REASONINGBYENCOURAGINGESSENTIALANALYTICAL WRITINGAND COMMUNICATION SKILLS 4HE END SEMESTER EXAMINATION SHOULDBEPROBLEM ORIENTED COMBININGTHEORETICALAND PROBLEM ORIENTED APPROACHES RATHER THAN MERELY TEST MEMORY0ROJECTPAPERS PROJECTANDSUBJECTVIVA ALONG WITHANEND SEMESTEREXAMINATIONTOBECONSIDEREDAS PEDAGOGICMETHODSIMPERATIVEFORIMPROVINGQUALITY

-EASURESTO!TTRACTAND2ETAIN 4ALENTED&ACULTY 4O ATTRACT AND RETAIN TALENTED FACULTY BETTER INCENTIVES INCLUDINGIMPROVINGREMUNERATIONANDSERVICECONDITIONS

80


MAY BE INTRODUCED )T MAY BE NECESSARY TO THINK OF SALARY DIFFERENTIALS WITHIN AND BETWEEN UNIVERSITIES AND LAW SCHOOLS ALONG WITH OTHER MEANS OF ATTRACTING AND RETAINING TALENTED FACULTY MEMBERS 3UCH SALARY DIFFERENTIALS BETWEEN AND WITHIN UNIVERSITIES AND LAW SCHOOLSCOULDBEEFFECTIVEWITHOUTBEINGLARGE4HISWILL HELPRETAINTALENTINLEGALACADEMIAWHERETHEPROBLEMOF INADEQUATEREMUNERATIONISFARMOREACUTETHANINOTHER DISCIPLINES3ALARYDIFFERENTIALSCOULDBECONSIDEREDASA MEANSTORETAINQUALITYTALENTANDALSOPROMOTEACULTURE OFEXCELLENCE 4O FOSTER QUALITY AND CREATE BETTER INCENTIVES THERE IS ALSO NEED TO REMOVE FETTERS ON FACULTY THAT PERTAIN TO OPPORTUNITIES IN LEGAL PRACTICE SUCH AS CONSULTANCY ASSIGNMENTSANDLEGALPRACTICEINCOURTS 4HESEREFORMS NEED TO BE INTRODUCED IN A BALANCED REASONABLE AND REGULATED MANNER TO ENSURE ADEQUATE INCENTIVISATION FORFACULTYWITHOUTCOMPROMISINGONTHEMAINTENANCE OF CONSISTENT ACADEMIC QUALITY !S A FURTHER INCENTIVE IT IS NECESSARY TO CREATE BETTER OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT OF ACADEMIA IN THE SHAPING OF NATIONAL LEGALEDUCATIONPOLICY 4HERE IS ALSO NEED TO RECONSIDER EXISTING PROMOTIONAL SCHEMES AND AVENUES TO PROMOTE MERITORIOUS FACULTY MEMBERS /THER INCENTIVES FOR FACULTY INCLUDE FULLY PAID SABBATICALS ADEQUATE (OUSE 2ENT !LLOWANCE (2! INSTITUTINGAWARDSTOHONOURREPUTEDTEACHERS AND RESEARCHERS AT NATIONAL AND INSTITUTIONAL LEVELS mEXIBILITY TO APPOINT LAW TEACHERS WITHOUT HAVING AN ,,- DEGREE IF THE INDIVIDUAL HAS PROVEN ACADEMIC OR PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS FACULTY EXCHANGE PROGRAMS WITHLEADINGUNIVERSITIESABROADANDUPGRADINGEXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE

$EVELOPING!2ESEARCH4RADITION IN,AW3CHOOLSAND5NIVERSITIES #REATING A TRADITION OF RESEARCH IN LAW SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES IS IMPERATIVE IF )NDIA HAS TO TRANSFORM ITSELF FROM BEING ONLY A CONSUMER OF AVAILABLE LEGAL KNOWLEDGE TO BEING A LEADING PRODUCER IN THE WORLD OF NEW LEGAL KNOWLEDGE AND IDEAS 4HE FOLLOWING MEASURESAREREQUIREDTODEVELOPSUCHASERIOUSCULTURE OF RESEARCH EMPHASISING ANALYTICAL WRITING SKILLS AND RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AS INTEGRAL ASPECTS OF THE ,," PROGRAM CREATING EXCELLENT INFRASTRUCTURE INCLUDING RESEARCH FRIENDLY LIBRARY FACILITIES AVAILABILITY OF COMPUTERS AND )NTERNET DIGITISATION OF CASE LAW ACCESS TO LATEST JOURNALS AND LEGAL DATABASES AVAILABLE WORLDWIDE RATIONALISING THE TEACHING LOAD TO LEAVE

FACULTYMEMBERSSUFlCIENTTIMEFORRESEARCHGRANTING SABBATICAL LEAVE TO FACULTY TO UNDERTAKE RESEARCH CREATINGINCENTIVESIFRESEARCHRESULTSINPEERREVIEWED PUBLICATIONS EITHER THROUGH ADDITIONAL INCREMENTS BEYONDTHE5'#SCHEME ORINANYOTHERAPPROPRIATE MANNER INSTITUTIONALISING PERIODIC FACULTY SEMINARS ESTABLISHINGQUALITYPEER REVIEWEDJOURNALSPRESCRIBING RESEARCH OUTPUT AS ONE OF THE CRITERIA FOR PROMOTION CREATING A DATABASE OF CITATIONS TO IDENTIFY THE MOST CITED AND INmUENTIAL WRITINGS AS WELL AS CONSIDERING SUCH DATA FOR PROMOTION PURPOSES ESTABLISHING PREREQUISITES SUCH AS A MANDATORY DISSERTATION IN THE ,,- PROGRAM A PRE REGISTRATION PRESENTATION AND A COURSEINMETHODOLOGYFOR-0HILAND0H$PROGRAMS RESPECTIVELY AND ESTABLISHING FOUR NEW CENTRES FOR ADVANCEDLEGALRESEARCH

#ENTRESFOR!DVANCED,EGAL 3TUDIESAND2ESEARCH#!,3!2 4HEREISNEEDTOSETUPFOURAUTONOMOUS WELLNETWORKED #ENTRES FOR !DVANCED ,EGAL 3TUDIES AND 2ESEARCH #!,3!2 ONE IN EACH REGION TO CARRY OUT CUTTING EDGE RESEARCH ON VARIOUS ASPECTS OF LAW AND ALSO SERVE ASATHINK TANKFORADVISINGTHEGOVERNMENTINNATIONAL ANDINTERNATIONALFORA4HE#!,3!2SWOULDMAINTAIN ADEQUATE LINKAGES AND INSTITUTIONALISED INTERACTION OPPORTUNITIES WITH LAW SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES INCLUDINGCONTINUINGLEGALEDUCATIONFORFACULTY3OME OTHERSPECIlCFUNCTIONSANDOBJECTIVESOFTHESECENTRES WOULD INCLUDE PUBLISHING A PEER REVIEWED JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL QUALITY FACILITATING MULTI DISCIPLINARY APPROACHES TO LAW INSTITUTIONALISING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SCHOLARS IN RESIDENCE ORGANISING WORKSHOPS AND UNDERTAKINGIN DEPTHRESEARCHONNEWANDDEVELOPING AREASOFLAW %ACH#!,3!2WOULDREQUIREANINITIALINVESTMENTOF AROUND 2S CRORE TO BUILD AN ACADEMIC COMPLEX CONFERENCE FACILITIES A WORLD CLASS LIBRARY AND OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE4HESEINSTITUTESWOULDALSONEEDTOBE PROVIDEDWITHANANNUALBUDGETTOTHETUNEOF2S CROREFORSALARIES FELLOWSHIPS ADMINISTRATIVEEXPENSES AND RELATED EXPENSES4HE INITIAL INVESTMENT AND THE ANNUAL BUDGETS SHOULD BE BORNE BY THE CENTRAL AND RESPECTIVE STATE GOVERNMENTS THAT WOULD HOST THE #!,3!2 RESPECTIVELY BUT THE #!,3!2S SHOULD GRADUALLY AIM AT lNANCIAL SELF SUSTENANCE THROUGH INNOVATIVElNANCIALMETHODS

&INANCINGOF,EGAL%DUCATION )TISFORLAWSCHOOLSANDUNIVERSITIESTODECIDETHELEVELOF FEESBUTASANORM FEESSHOULDMEETATLEASTPERCENT OFTHETOTALEXPENDITUREINUNIVERSITIES4HISSHOULDBE SUBJECTTOTWOCONDITIONSlRST NEEDYSTUDENTSSHOULD BEPROVIDEDWITHAFEEWAIVERPLUSSCHOLARSHIPSTOMEET THEIRCOSTSSECOND UNIVERSITIESSHOULDNOTBEPENALISED BY THE 5'# FOR THE RESOURCES RAISED FROM HIGHER FEES THROUGH MATCHING DEDUCTIONS FROM THEIR GRANTS IN AID4HECENTRALANDSTATEMINISTRIESMAYALSOBEURGED TO ENDOW CHAIRS ON SPECIALISED BRANCHES OF LAW 3TATE lNANCINGCANBECOMPLEMENTEDWITHENDOWMENTSFROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR INCLUDING SYNERGISTIC ARRANGEMENTS SUCH AS APPROPRIATE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS )NCENTIVES SUCH AS TAX HOLIDAYS FOR DONATIONS ABOVE A HIGHMINIMUMTHRESHOLDBYTHECORPORATESECTORMAYBE CONSIDERED)NSTITUTIONSSHOULDBEGIVENTHEAUTONOMY TOEVOLVETHEIROWNINNOVATIVEMETHODSOFlNANCINGTO MAXIMISEINFRASTRUCTUREANDRESOURCEUTILISATION

$IMENSIONSOF)NTERNATIONALISATION "UILDING WORLD CLASS LAW SCHOOLS TODAY WILL REQUIRE CREATIVELY RESPONDING TO THE GROWING INTERNATIONAL DIMENSIONSOFLEGALEDUCATIONANDOFTHELEGALPROFESSION WHEREITISBECOMINGINCREASINGLYNECESSARYTOINCORPORATE INTERNATIONALANDCOMPARATIVEPERSPECTIVES ALONGWITH NECESSARY UNDERSTANDING OF DOMESTIC LAW 3UGGESTED INITIATIVES TO PROMOTE SUCH INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES INCLUDE BUILDING COLLABORATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH NOTED FOREIGN UNIVERSITIES FOR AWARD OF JOINTDUAL DEGREESlNDINGWAYSOFEVOLVINGTRANSNATIONALCURRICULA TO BE TAUGHT JOINTLY BY A GLOBAL FACULTY THROUGH VIDEO CONFERENCING AND )NTERNET MODES AS WELL AS CREATING INTERNATIONAL FACULTY INTERNATIONAL COURSES AND INTERNATIONALEXCHANGEOPPORTUNITIESAMONGSTUDENTS

4ECHNOLOGYFOR$ISSEMINATIONOF ,EGAL+NOWLEDGE &OR MAXIMUM DISSEMINATION OF LEGAL KNOWLEDGE ALL INFORMATIONAVAILABLEINTHE)NDIAN,AW)NSTITUTE),) 3UPREME#OURT,IBRARY )NDIAN3OCIETYFOR)NTERNATIONAL ,AW)3), ASWELLASTHOSEOFALLLAWSCHOOLS UNIVERSITIES ANDPUBLICINSTITUTIONSINTHECOUNTRY BENETWORKEDAND DIGITISED3UCHNETWORKINGISINADDITIONTOTHENEEDFOR ADEQUATEINFRASTRUCTURESUCHASCOMPUTERS LAWJOURNALS LEGALDATABASESANDEXCELLENTLIBRARIESINTHEINSTITUTIONS TEACHINGLAW


81

Medical Education /CTOBER

4

HE QUALITY THE QUANTITY DISTRIBUTION AND AVAILABILITY OF HUMAN RESOURCES FOR THE HEALTH SECTORIN)NDIAATPRESENT NEEDTOBEIMPROVED SUBSTANTIALLY TO DELIVER CARE DRIVEN RURAL ORIENTED AND EQUITABLE HEALTH SERVICES /VER THE YEARS HEALTH RELATEDEDUCATIONANDTRAININGHASBECOMEMOREURBAN ORIENTED DOCTOR CENTRIC AND TECHNOLOGY DRIVEN 4HE ENVIRONMENT OF MEDICAL EDUCATION NEEDS TO BE BOTH NATIONALLYSENSITIVEANDGLOBALLYCOMPETITIVE4OREALISE THESE OBJECTIVES OUR MEDICAL EDUCATION SYSTEM NEEDS RADICALREFORMS 4HE .ATIONAL +NOWLEDGE #OMMISSION THEREFORE CONSIDEREDITIMPERATIVETOCARRYOUTACOMPREHENSIVE APPRAISAL OF THE SYSTEM &OR THIS PURPOSE A 7ORKING 'ROUPWASCONSTITUTEDWHICHINCLUDEDSOMEOFTHEMOST DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION IN )NDIA CHAIREDBY$R3NEHA"HARGAVA FORMER$IRECTOR !))-3"ASEDONTHEINPUTSPROVIDEDBYTHE7ORKING 'ROUP AND FURTHER CONSULTATIONS WITH CONCERNED STAKEHOLDERS .+#RECOMMENDEDTHEFOLLOWING

2EGULATIONAND!CCREDITATION 2EGULATION !TPRESENT MEDICALEDUCATIONIN)NDIAISREGULATEDBY THE -EDICAL #OUNCIL OF )NDIA -#) 4HIS SYSTEM OF REGULATIONISNEITHERADEQUATENORAPPROPRIATETOMEET THE NEEDS OF THE PROFESSION4HEREFORE IN CONFORMITY WITH .+# RECOMMENDATIONS ON (IGHER %DUCATION A 3TANDING #OMMITTEE WITHIN THE STRUCTURE OF THE )NDEPENDENT2EGULATORY!UTHORITYFOR(IGHER%DUCATION )2!(% MAYBECONSTITUTED4HEPRIMARYFUNCTIONOF THE3TANDING#OMMITTEEWILLBETOENSURETHATMEDICAL PRACTICEANDTEACHINGAREUPDATEDANDREVISEDREGULARLY AND MINIMUM QUALITY STANDARDS ARE MAINTAINED 4HE MEMBERS OF THE 3TANDING #OMMITTEE WOULD INCLUDEFACULTYFROMRECOGNISEDUNIVERSITIES PRACTISING PHYSICIANS MEMBERS OF CIVIL SOCIETY STUDENTS AND A DIRECTOR FROM AUTONOMOUS INSTITUTIONS REPRESENTING EDUCATORS 4HE #HAIRMAN AND THE MEMBERS OF THE 3TANDING#OMMITTEEWOULDBEACCOUNTABLETO)2!(% 82


4HE 3TANDING #OMMITTEE WOULD LOOK INTO MANPOWER PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT BASED ON DISEASE PROlLE DOCTOR POPULATIONRATIOANDSKILL MIXRATIO

0ROFESSIONAL#OUNCILS 4HE)NDIAN-EDICAL#OUNCIL!CTSHOULDBEAMENDEDSUCH THAT-#)FUNCTIONSONLYASAPROFESSIONALASSOCIATION WITH POWERS TO CONDUCT NATIONWIDE EXAMINATIONS ANDTOPROVIDELICENSESFORTHOSEWHOWISHTOJOINTHE PROFESSION3IMILARCHANGESARENEEDEDFORALLTHEOTHER #OUNCILS VIZ .URSING #OUNCIL 0HARMACY #OUNCIL $ENTAL#OUNCILAND2EHABILITATION#OUNCIL

!CCREDITATION )2!(% SHOULD BE EMPOWERED TO LICENSE SUITABLE AGENCIES FOR ACCREDITATION !CCREDITATION AGENCIES COULD AWARD DIFFERENT DEGREES OF ACCREDITATION SUCH AS h&ULLv h0ROVISIONALv OR h/N 0ROBATIONv AND HAVE THE POWER TO DE RECOGNISE )NSTITUTIONS WOULD HAVE TO ENSURE TRANSPARENCY IN THEIR ADMISSION PROCESSES ABLE ANDRESPONSIBLEFACULTIES AMULTIDISCIPLINARYACADEMIC LEARNING ENVIRONMENT TRANSPARENCY IN ASSESSMENT OF STUDENTS AND CLOSE LINKAGES WITH REGIONAL HEALTH CARE ANDDELIVERYSYSTEMS INORDERTOBEACCREDITED

!DMISSION 0OLICIESOFADMISSIONANDFEESTRUCTUREOFPRIVATECOLLEGES HAVE TO BE REGULATED NOT ONLY TO STOP THEM FROM BECOMING SOURCES OF POLITICAL AND lNANCIAL POWER BUT ALSOTOARRESTFALLINGSTANDARDS4HERESHOULDBEONLYONE !LL)NDIA#OMMON%NTRANCE4ESTFORALLSTUDENTSWHO WOULDLIKETOGETADMISSIONTO3ELF&INANCING-EDICAL #OLLEGES 3INCE THE #"3% CONDUCTED EXAMINATION FOR THE PER CENT !LL )NDIA QUOTA IN 'OVERNMENT -EDICAL #OLLEGES IS TAKEN BY A VERY LARGE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THISWOULDAPPEARTOBETHEIDEALEXAMINATION WHOSE AMBIT CAN BE EXPANDED !LL SELF lNANCING -EDICAL #OLLEGES SHOULD ANNOUNCE THEIR FEES IN THEIR PROSPECTUS SO THAT STUDENTS CAN MAKE THEIR CHOICE FOR ADMISSION)NFORMATION4ECHNOLOGYSHOULDBEUSEDTO

INCREASE TRANSPARENCY AND EFlCIENCY IN THE ADMISSION EXAMINATION ADMINISTRATION TEACHING CONTENTDELIVERY ANDOTHERRELATEDPROCESSES

1UALITY #URRICULUM !LLINSTITUTIONSMUSTCONSTITUTE#URRICULUM#OMMITTEES THAT PLAN CURRICULA AND INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS WHICH ARE REGULARLY UPDATED4HE STRUCTURE AND COMPOSITION OFTHECURRICULUMMUSTDESCRIBETHECONTENT SCOPEAND SEQUENCINGOFTHECOURSES INCLUDINGTHEBALANCEBETWEEN CORE AND OPTIONAL COURSES )NTEGRATION OF )#4 IN THE LEARNING PROCESS IS ESSENTIAL )NCORPORATING NEW SKILLS LIKEMANAGEMENT DISCIPLINESLIKEHEALTHECONOMICSAND FRONTIERAREASLIKEBIOINFORMATICSSHOULDBECONSIDERED

3TANDARDS4EST !N INDEPENDENT AND STANDARDISED .ATIONAL %XIT %XAMINATION AT THE END OF YEARS OF STUDY IS ESSENTIAL TO CONDUCT A NATIONAL LEVEL ASSESSMENT OF SKILLSANDKNOWLEDGE4HE.ATIONAL%XIT%XAMINATION COULDBECONDUCTEDIMMEDIATELYAFTERTHE5NIVERSITY EXAMINATION AND WOULD ALSO SERVE AS A POSTGRADUATE ENTRANCEEXAM

)NTERNSHIP!SSESSMENT 4HE INTERNSHIP YEAR MUST BE ASSESSED TO ENSURE SKILL DEVELOPMENT 4HE CURRENT PRACTICE OF STUDENTS CONTINUING TO STUDY IN THE INTERNSHIP YEAR WITHOUT GOING TO CLINICS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED 4HERE MUST BE COMPULSORY ROTATION FROM THE TEACHING HOSPITAL TO THE COMMUNITY AND DISTRICT HOSPITAL DURING THE INTERNSHIPPERIOD$URATIONOFTHETERMINTHEDISTRICT HOSPITAL SHOULD BE SIX MONTHS IN THE #OMMUNITY (EALTH #ENTRE THREE MONTHS AND IN THE TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL THE REMAINING THREE MONTHS %ACH INTERN SHOULDBEASSIGNEDAhMENTORvATTHEDISTRICTHOSPITAL ANDTHECREDITSSHOULDBEBASEDONTHEASSESSMENTBY THE MENTOR 4HE ENTRANCE TO POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMS SHOULDBEBASEDONASUMMATIONOFTHEPRE POST INTERNSHIPEXAMINATIONS

#ONTINUING%DUCATION 4HEREISANEEDTOREVAMP#ONTINUING-EDICAL%DUCATION #-% BASED ON DISTANCE LEARNING !LL PROFESSIONALS SHOULDBEREQUIREDTOUNDERGOARE CERTIlCATIONPROCESS EVERYlVEYEARS WHICHCANBEEVALUATEDBYCREDITSEARNED

THROUGH#-%)#4CANBEUSEDEXTENSIVELYTOPROVIDE #-%ATTHECONVENIENCEOFTHELEARNER

&ACULTY$EVELOPMENT 4EACHING !TTRACTING AND RETAINING QUALITY FACULTY SHOULD BE ACCORDED TOP PRIORITY -EASURES SUCH AS OPPORTUNITIES TO ATTEND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES REGULARLY SABBATICALS DUAL APPOINTMENTS REWARDING RESEARCH FAST TRACK PROMOTIONS AND DISSOCIATING REMUNERATION FROM GOVERNMENT PAY SCALES SHOULD BE EXPLORED !LL INSTITUTIONS MUST CLEARLY LAY DOWN EXACT DElNITIONS OF WHATCONSTITUTESCONmICTOFINTERESTFORFACULTYMEMBERS INPUBLICMEDICALCOLLEGES WHOHAVEAPRIVATEPRACTICE IN ADDITION TO THEIR OFlCIAL DUTIES AND RECEIVE A FULL TIMETEACHERSSALARY4HOSEWHOmOUTTHESEREGULATIONS SHOULDBEPENALISED

2ESEARCH 7ITH A VIEW TO ENCOURAGING RESEARCH IN MEDICINE A -ENTORED -EDICAL 3TUDENT 2ESEARCH 0ROGRAM SHOULD BESETUPASACATALYSTTOINTRODUCEMEDICALSTUDENTSTOA POTENTIALCAREERINPATIENT ORIENTEDCOMMUNITY ORIENTED RESEARCHINCLUDINGINTERDISCIPLINARYRESEARCH4WOPOINTSOF ENTRYINTO0H$PROGRAMSSHOULDBECONSIDEREDONEAFTER -""3ANDANOTHERAFTER-$DEPENDINGONTHESTUDENTS INTEREST4HEGOVERNMENTSHOULDFACILITATESETTINGUPOF RESEARCH CENTRES IN MEDICAL COLLEGES 6ALIDATING )NDIAN 3YSTEMSOF-EDICINEUSINGBIO SCIENCESTOOLSSHOULDFORM ANINTEGRALCOMPONENTOFTHERESEARCHEFFORT

4RAINING &IVE 2EGIONAL #ENTRES FOR TEACHER TRAININGFACULTY DEVELOPMENTSHOULDBESETUPSOTHATTEACHERSFROMTHE OUTLYINGREGIONSCANBESENTTOTHESECENTRESPERIODICALLY FORUP GRADATIONOFTHEIRTEACHINGSKILLS

0OST GRADUATE%DUCATION 'ENERAL0HYSICIANS 4HE MEDICAL PROFESSION NEEDS TO BE STRUCTURED LIKE A PYRAMIDWITHTHEBASEMADEUPOFGENERALPHYSICIANS !T PRESENT THERE IS LITTLE IF ANY SPACE FOR SUCH DOCTORS IN POST GRADUATE COURSES 4HEREFORE WE SUGGEST THAT ADEQUATE REPRESENTATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO GENERAL PHYSICIANSWHILECARRYINGOUTEXPANSIONOFPOST GRADUATE SEATSSUCHTHATPERCENTSEATSARERESERVEDFORGENERAL


83

PHYSICIANS.EWSTREAMSFORPOSTGRADUATIONSHOULDBE LOOKEDATBASEDONNEEDS

!DMISSIONS !DMISSION TO POST GRADUATE COURSES SHOULD BE DONE ON THE BASIS OF CREDITS RECEIVED IN THE .ATIONAL %XIT %XAMINATION AND PRE AND POST INTERNSHIP CLINICALLY ORIENTED EXAMS AFTER INTERNSHIP 4HERE IS A NEED TO RESERVEPOST GRADUATESEATSUPTOPERCENTOFTOTAL AVAILABLESEATS FORGRADUATESWHOHAVEWORKEDINRURAL AREASFORATLEASTTHREEYEARS

0HARMACY

2EGIONAL"ALANCE

0HARMACY EDUCATION SHOULD BE POPULARISED AND THE NUMBER OF SEATS FOR PHARMACY EDUCATION SHOULD BE INCREASEDSUBSTANTIALLY'RADUALPHASINGOUTOFUNTRAINED PHARMACISTSSHOULDBECONSIDERED

,OCATION0RIORITIES

0ARAMEDICS

4HENUMBEROFMEDICALCOLLEGESINRELATIONTOPOPULATION INSOMESTATESISMUCHHIGHERTHANINOTHERSTATES4HE #ENTRAL'OVERNMENTSHOULDAIDNEWCOLLEGESINTHESE STATES TO ADDRESS THIS REGIONAL DISPARITY &OR INSTANCE NORTH EASTERN STATES REQUIRE URGENT ATTENTION IN THIS CONTEXT 4HE #ENTRAL 'OVERNMENT CAN DEVELOP A LIST OF PRIORITY SITES FOR ESTABLISHING NEW COLLEGES WHERE THE IMPACT OF NEW CLINICAL FACILITIES WOULD BENElT THE SURROUNDINGRURALPOPULATION

4HE ROLE OF 0ARAMEDIC WORKERS SHOULD BE EXPANDED ! 0ARAMEDICAL #OUNCIL NEEDS TO BE IMMEDIATELY ESTABLISHED WHICHWOULDPREPARETRAININGPROGRAMSFOR MULTISKILLANDSPECIALITYTECHNICIANSANDOVERSEETHEIR DELIVERYANDQUALITY0ARAMEDICS SUCHASCOMPOUNDERS DRESSERS AND LABORATORY TECHNICIANS CAN ALSO PERFORM PUBLIC HEALTH FUNCTIONS SUCH AS HEALTH EDUCATION PROVIDING IMMUNISATION AND lRST AID 3UCH A HEALTH WORKER COULD BE TRAINED THROUGH VOCATIONAL TRAINING AT THE HIGHER SECONDARY LEVEL FOLLOWED BY A ONE YEAR DIPLOMA#AREERPATHSSHOULDBEBUILTINTOTHEIRSERVICE IN ORDER TO RETAIN THEM BECAUSE INTERNATIONAL DEMAND ISHIGH

2OLE-ODELS &URTHERATLEASTONEINSTITUTIONSHOULDBEIDENTIlEDIN EACHSTATETHATCANSERVEASACENTREOFEXCELLENCE AND ROLEMODELFORTHEOTHERINSTITUTIONSOFTHESTATE4HESE INSTITUTIONSSHOULDHAVESTATE OF THE ARTINFRASTRUCTURAL EQUIPMENTSUCHASRESEARCHLABORATORIES TEACHERTRAINING FACILITIES AND LIBRARIES AS WELL AS TALENTED FACULTY OF ADEQUATESTRENGTHTOACTASACOMMONRESOURCEANDALSO TOSERVEASABENCHMARKOFEXCELLENCE -EDICAL EDUCATION CANNOT BE STAND ALONE )T REQUIRES SUPPORT IN THE FORM OF TRAINED NURSES PHARMACISTS PARAMEDICWORKERS)TMUSTALLALSOSERVETHEESSENTIAL PURPOSE OF DELIVERING HEALTH CARE TO THE PEOPLE 4HEREFORE .+# ALSO SET OUT SOME RECOMMENDATIONS ONEDUCATIONFORSUPPORTINGSERVICESANDPUBLICHEALTH

%DUCATIONFOR3UPPORT3ERVICES .URSING 4HEREISANEEDTOCREATEADDITIONALCAPACITYFORTRAINING NURSINGSTAFF)NADDITION EVERYDISTRICTHOSPITALSHOULD HAVE ATTACHED TO IT A NURSING SCHOOL WHICH OFFERS

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DIPLOMA IN NURSING SPECIlCALLY TO OPERATE PRIMARY HEALTH CENTRES AS NURSE PRACTITIONERS ! CAREER GROWTH PATHWAY SHOULD BE ENSURED FOR NURSES AFTER A SPECIlC PERIOD OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARE SERVICE &OR GRADUATE NURSES IN CITY HOSPITALS SPECIALISED COURSES FOR FAMILY NURSE PRACTITIONERS NURSE ANESTHETISTS AND IN AREAS OF TERTIARYCAREARERECOMMENDED


0UBLIC(EALTH %DUCATION !THREETIEREDSTRUCTURECONSISTINGOFAONEYEARDIPLOMA COURSE ATHREEYEAR"3CCOURSEANDATHREEYEAR-ASTERS COURSE MAY BE INTRODUCED 4HESE PROGRAMS CAN BE ATTACHED TO DEPARTMENTS OF #OMMUNITY -EDICINE IN ALLMEDICALCOLLEGESFORPROVIDINGHANDSONTRAINING!LL UNIVERSITIES ALLDISTRICTHOSPITALSANDTHE0UBLIC(EALTH &OUNDATIONOF)NDIACANRUNTHEM

!3(! 4HEROLEOF!CCREDITED3OCIAL(EALTH!CTIVISTS!3(! NEEDS TO BE RE CONCEPTUALISED WITHIN THIS FRAMEWORK AND!3(!MUSTBEVIEWEDASANACCESSIBLEANDEFFECTIVE HEALTHWORKER4HETRAININGPERIODOFTHE!3(!NEEDS TOBELENGTHENEDFROMITSCURRENTDURATION3TEPSSHOULD BE TAKEN TO REVIEW THE SYSTEM OF REMUNERATION AND IMPROVETHEWORKINGCONDITIONSOFTHE!3(!WORKERS

Management Education /CTOBER

-

ANAGEMENTEDUCATIONHASSEENPHENOMENAL GROWTHINTHEPASTSIXYEARSWITHTHENUMBER OF INSTITUTIONS PROVIDING UNDERGRADUATE ANDPOST GRADUATELEVELCOURSESRISINGTOOVER/F THESE MORETHANWEREADDEDAFTERTHEYEAR 4HISHASBEENPOSSIBLELARGELYDUETOTHEENTREPRENEURIAL INITIATIVE OF PROMOTERS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE EVER INCREASING DEMAND FOR MANAGEMENT GRADUATES HENCE MANAGEMENTEDUCATION5NFORTUNATELY THISHASALSOLED TO AN EXPLOITATIVE AND COMMERCIAL ENVIRONMENT WITH QUALITYBEINGCOMPROMISED2EGULATORYFOCUSONLYON PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE RATHER THAN RESEARCH QUALIlED FACULTYANDRELEVANCEOFCOURSESHASCREATEDAMISMATCH BETWEENSUPPLYANDDEMAND !S A PART OF ITS CONSULTATIVE PROCESS .+# CONSTITUTED A 7ORKING 'ROUP OF EXPERTS FROM ACADEMIA AND INDUSTRY UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF -R 0- 3INHA "ASED ON THE 7ORKING 'ROUPS INPUTS AND CONSULTATIONS WITH CONCERNEDSTAKEHOLDERS .+#PROPOSEDTHEFOLLOWINGSET OFINITIATIVES

.EW2EGULATORY&RAMEWORK .+# ADVOCATES GOOD GOVERNANCE RATHER THAN THE PREVALENT SYSTEM OF A PRIOR CONTROL BEING EXERCISED BY !)#4% IN THIS SPHERE4HE CURRENT REGULATORY REGIME FOCUSES ON PUNITIVE ACTIONS RATHER THAN ON NURTURING INSTITUTIONS .+# PROPOSES THAT AN AUTONOMOUS 3TANDING #OMMITTEE FOR -ANAGEMENT %DUCATION BE SETUPUNDERTHE)NDEPENDENT2EGULATORY!UTHORITYFOR (IGHER %DUCATION )TS MAIN ROLE WOULD BE TO EXERCISE DUE DILIGENCE AT THE POINT IT APPROVES A LICENSE TO GRANT DEGREESDIPLOMAS )N DOING SO IT WOULD ASSESS THE ACADEMIC CREDIBILITY AND THE lNANCIAL VIABILITY OF THE PROPOSED INSTITUTION ON THE BASIS OF INFORMATION SUBMITTEDINACCORDANCEWITHTHESTIPULATEDCRITERIA)T WILLAPPLYEXACTLYTHESAMENORMSTOPUBLICANDPRIVATE INSTITUTIONS JUST AS IT WILL APPLY THE SAME NORMS TO DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS )T WOULD IN

ADDITION LICENSEAGENCIESTOTAKECAREOFACCREDITATION /THERRESPONSIBILITIESOFTHE3TANDING#OMMITTEEWILL BE TO COLLATE AS WELL AS COMMUNICATE INFORMATION ON -ANAGEMENT %DUCATIONAL %NTITIES -%%S SET UP AN INFORMATIONEXCHANGECONDUCTDEMANDFORECASTINGOF MANAGERIALMANPOWERANDDEVELOPANDMAINTAINALOW COSTE MONITORINGSYSTEM

'RADING)NSTITUTIONS 4HE3TANDING#OMMITTEEWILLSTIPULATEGRADINGNORMS AND NOMINATE INDEPENDENT RATING AGENCIES TO ASSESS AND CATEGORISE -%%S -USHROOMING PRIVATE -%%S NECESSITATE A RELIABLE RATING SYSTEM TO HELP THE MARKET FUNCTION BETTER ENABLING STUDENTS AND EMPLOYERS TO COMPARE DIFFERENT -%%S (ENCE A TWO STAGE RATING PROCESS IS RECOMMENDED )N THE lRST STAGE RATING COVERINGINFRASTRUCTUREMAYBEMANDATEDBEFOREAN-%% CANADMITSTUDENTS4HESECONDSTAGEWOULDCONSISTOF RATINGOFQUALITYADMISSIONPROCESS TEACHING RESEARCH ANDPUBLICATIONS WHICHSHALLBECONDUCTEDEVERYTHREE YEARSTOENSUREACCOUNTABILITY'RADINGNORMSFOREACH OF THESE STEPS SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED IN CONSULTATION WITH EXPERTS #2)3), AND )#2! WERE CONSULTED IN THE PROCESS AND THEY HAVE AGREED TO UNDERTAKE RATING OF -%%S4HE 3TANDING #OMMITTEE SHALL DECIDE ON A FAIRANDTRANSPARENTMECHANISMTODEALWITHCONmICTING POINTSOFVIEWBETWEENARATINGAGENCYANDAN-%%

!CCREDITATION &OR-%%SWHICHWISHTOGOBEYONDRATING THE3TANDING #OMMITTEE SHALL DETERMINE THE CRITERIA AND THE PROCESSES OF ACCREDITATION IN CONSULTATION WITH EXPERTS FROMACADEMIAANDINDUSTRY-ENTORINGTOHELP-%%S SUSTAINQUALITYSTANDARDSSHOULDBEANINTEGRALPARTOF THE PROCESS 3ELECT INTERNATIONAL ACCREDITATIONS MAY ALSO BE RECOGNISED "RANDING OF ACCREDITATION SIMILAR TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS SUCH AS )3/ MAY BE CONSIDEREDTOENCOURAGE-%%STOPURSUEEXCELLENCE

)N VIEW OF THE VARIETY OF INSTITUTIONS DELIVERING MANAGEMENT EDUCATION -%% IS USED TO COVER ALL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS )NSTITUTES $EPARTMENTS !FlLIATEDAND!UTONOMOUSCOLLEGES $EPARTMENTSIN$EEMED5NIVERSITIES 0RIVATE"USINESS3CHOOLSETC


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)MPROVE!CCESS

&ACULTY$EVELOPMENT

)N ADDITION TO THE FRAMEWORK OF AFlRMATIVE ACTION ALREADYINPLACE WESUGGESTIMPROVINGACCESSBASEDON WORK EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATIONAL LOANS .+# BELIEVES THAT MANAGEMENT EDUCATION CAN BE MADE AVAILABLE TO A MUCH WIDER STUDENT COMMUNITY BY ADOPTING A TWO PRONGEDAPPROACH&IRST WESUGGESTTHATMOREWEIGHTAGE BEASSIGNEDTOWORKEXPERIENCEINADMISSIONS4HISWOULD HELPINOVERCOMINGDISADVANTAGESFACEDBYPROSPECTIVE STUDENTSDUETOLACKOFPROlCIENCYIN%NGLISH3ECONDLY STEPSMAYBETAKENTOENSUREEASIERACCESSTOEDUCATIONAL LOANSTHROUGHBANKS$EFAULTCONCERNSCANBEADDRESSED IFTHERESPECTIVE-%%ANDTHElRSTEMPLOYERCOOPERATE WITH THE BANKS -%%S MUST ALSO OFFER SCHOLARSHIPS TO SOCIALLYDISADVANTAGEDSTUDENTS

.ON AVAILABILITY OF ADEQUATE PROlCIENT FACULTY IS A MAJOR CONSTRAINT FOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTH OF QUALITY MANAGEMENT EDUCATION IN )NDIA !N AUTONOMOUS lNANCIALLY SOUND AND ACADEMICALLY CREDIBLE INSTITUTE WITH ACTIVE SUPPORT FROM THE LEADING MANAGEMENT INSTITUTES INDUSTRY AND 'OVERNMENT SHOULD BE SET UPFORFACULTYDEVELOPMENT3TANDARDSFORCURRICULUM COVERING THE ENTIRE SPECTRUM NEED TO BE SET !CTIVE INVOLVEMENTOF-%%FACULTYINTRAINING CONFERENCES INDUSTRYENGAGEMENTANDCURRICULUMREVISIONSHOULD BE ENCOURAGED 'IVEN THE CURRENT DEMAND SUPPLY GAP ADDITIONALFACULTYWOULDNEEDTOBEATTRACTEDBY APPROPRIATEINCENTIVES

3OCIAL#ONTEXT )TISESSENTIALTOWIDENTHESCOPEOFMANAGEMENTSTUDIES ANDENHANCEITSRELEVANCE  3ENSITISE MANAGEMENT EDUCATION TO OUR UNIQUE SOCIO CULTURALSITUATIONBYINCLUDING)NDIASPECIlC CASE STUDIES IN THE CURRICULUM REmECTING OUR DIVERSITYANDINCORPORATINGTRADITIONALWISDOM  )NTEGRATEMANAGEMENTWITHOTHERKNOWLEDGESOURCES ANDINCREASERESEARCHFUNDINGFORMANAGEMENTAND SUPPORTINGDISCIPLINES7ITHGLOBALISATION THENEED FORMANAGEMENTEDUCATIONTOPURSUEAWIDERSCOPE ANDREALISEAMOREWHOLESOMEIMPACTONSOCIETYHAS INCREASED-ANAGEMENTDEPARTMENTSINUNIVERSITIES SHOULDTHEREFOREDRAWUPONKNOWLEDGESOURCESIN OTHERDEPARTMENTS  %NCOURAGE -%%S TO DESIGN AND OFFER EXECUTIVE PROGRAMS FOR GOVERNMENT OFlCIALS .'/S AND DEFENCE PERSONNEL 3HORT TERM COURSES FOR GOVERNMENTOFlCIALSWILLHELPTHEMINTHEIRROLEAS ECONOMICMANAGERS  2EVAMPTHEEXISTING"ACHELORSDEGREEINMANAGEMENT THE"ACHELORSIN"USINESS!DMINISTRATION TOCATER TOTHEBURGEONINGNEEDOFMANAGEMENTGRADUATES #OMPULSORY APPRENTICESHIP IN ORGANISATIONS AND STUDY OF UNDER MANAGED SECTOR AREAS SHOULD BE INCLUDED AS PART OF THE PROGRAM 4HE CURRENT BOOKISH NATURE OF THE CURRICULUM IS NOT SUFlCIENT TOPREPARESTUDENTSFORJUNIORMANAGEMENTLEVELS  $ISTANCE LEARNING HAS CONSIDERABLE POTENTIAL IN THIS DOMAIN 7E THEREFORE NEED TO FULLY REALISE THEPOTENTIALOF/NLINE-ANAGEMENT0ROGRAMSTO BRIDGETHEDEMAND SUPPLYGAP

86


-ENTORING 4O ACHIEVE EXCELLENCE IN THE lELD OF MANAGEMENT .+# RECOMMENDS THAT ALL THE LEADING -ANAGEMENT )NSTITUTIONS ADOPT -%%S FOR MENTORING AND UPGRADATION OF QUALITY &UNDING AND OTHER MODALITIES CANBEMUTUALLYWORKEDOUTBETWEENTHEINSTITUTIONS

.EW)NSTITUTIONS 4HERE IS A NEED FOR A NEW WAVE OF MANAGEMENT INSTITUTIONS WHICH WILL FOCUS ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP LEADERSHIPANDINNOVATION4HESEINSTITUTIONSWILLENABLE TOLAUNCH)NDIAINTOTHEGLOBALARENA WITHOUTTHELEGACY ASSOCIATEDWITHOPERATINGINAPROTECTEDENVIRONMENT 4HESEINSTITUTIONSSHOULDSETNEWSTANDARDSANDBECOME ROLE MODELS FOR -%%S THAT HAVE THE DESIRE TO BECOME LEADERS IN THE GLOBAL MARKET PLACE )NCENTIVES NEED TO BE PROVIDED TO )NDIAN ENTREPRENEURSCORPORATES TO SET UP INSTITUTIONS OF EXCELLENCE ON THEIR OWN OR IN COLLABORATIONWITHFOREIGNUNIVERSITIES7ECOULDALSO CONSIDERALLOWINGREPUTEDFOREIGNUNIVERSITIESTOENTER THISlELD REGULATIONSFORTHEMBEINGATPARWITHPRIVATE INSTITUTIONS

!UTONOMY !LL EXISTING MANAGEMENT INSTITUTES EXCLUDING MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENTS IN UNIVERSITIES SHOULD REGISTER WITH THE 3TANDING #OMMITTEE OF )2!(% AND BE ACCORDED INDEPENDENT STATUS )N THE CASE OF -%%S SETUPBY#ENTRALAND3TATEGOVERNMENTS GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE TREATED AS A PROMOTER 2EGISTERED INSTITUTES WILLBENElTFROMTHE3TANDING#OMMITTEESMENTORING

AND BETTER FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES APART FROM OTHER ADVANTAGESASSOCIATEDWITHAUTONOMY

'OVERNANCE .+#RECOMMENDSABOARDOFGOVERNORSFORALL-%%S CONSISTING OF PER CENT INDEPENDENT MEMBERS AS THERE ARE INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS UNDER #OMPANY ,AW 4HE KEY FOCUS OF THE GOVERNING BOARD SHOULD BE TO CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVE QUALITY OF EDUCATION AND RESEARCH &OR THIS PURPOSE THEY WOULD HAVE TO MAXIMISETHERESOURCEFUNDINmOWSANDALLOCATESPEND THEM PURPOSIVELY AND EFlCIENTLY 4HE "OARD SHOULD ENCOURAGE FACULTY TO PUBLISH REPUTED JOURNALS AND PUBLICATIONS OBTAINREGULARFEEDBACKFROMSTUDENTSON TEACHING LEARNINGPROCESS OBTAINRECRUITERFEEDBACKFOR IMPROVING QUALITY INSTITUTIONALISE FACULTY EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND ENCOURAGE FACULTY TO WRITE )NDIA BASED CASE STUDIES 4HE APPOINTMENT OF $IRECTORSOFPUBLIC-%%SSHOULDBEFREEDFROMDIRECT ORINDIRECTINTERVENTIONSONPARTOFTHEGOVERNMENTS FOR THESE SHOULD BE BASED ON SEARCH PROCESSES AND PEER JUDGEMENT ALONE ,IKEWISE THE APPOINTMENT OF DIRECTORS OF PRIVATE -%%S SHOULD BE BASED ON A TRANSPARENT SELECTION PROCESS 4HIS WOULD OF COURSE

BE ACCOMPANIED BY ENHANCED ACCOUNTABILITY BASED ON PERFORMANCE INDICATORS AND INDEPENDENT EXTERNAL EVALUATION

.ON TRADITIONAL-ANAGEMENT %DUCATION 4HENEEDFORBETTERMANAGEMENTINEDUCATION HEALTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT CO OPERATIVES AND CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONSANDSOONHASOFTENBEENFELT(OWEVER THE EXPERIENCEOFGRADUATESOF)NSTITUTEOF2URAL-ANAGEMENT AND)NSTITUTEOF&ORESTRY-ANAGEMENTSHOWSTHATALACK OFADVANCEMENTOPPORTUNITIESINTHE'OVERNMENTACTSAS ABARRIERTOTHESUCCESSOFSUCHPROGRAMS4HEREISANEED TOESTABLISHCAREEROPPORTUNITIESINPUBLICMANAGEMENT AND SYSTEMATISE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION POLICIES 3TRUCTUREOFFEESFORTHESECOURSESSHOULDBEFORMULATED INACCORDANCEWITHEARNINGOPPORTUNITIES7EALSONEED TO ENCOURAGE REPUTED -%%S TO DEVELOP SPECIALISED COURSESFORAGRI BUSINESS RURALBANKING PUBLICUTILITIES REGULATORY AGENCIES AND SERVICES SECTOR IN THE COMING YEARS AS PRIVATE PLAYERS ENTERING THIS SPACE WOULD CREATEDEMANDFORTHESAME4HE3TANDING#OMMITTEE SHOULDUNDERTAKEASTUDYINTHISlELDTOINSTITUTIONALISE THESEPROGRAMS


87

Engineering Education -AY

%

NGINEERINGEDUCATIONISAMONGTHEKEYENABLERS OFGROWTHFORTRANSFORMING)NDIASECONOMY4HE QUALITY OF TEACHING AND RESEARCH IN THIS SPHERE WILLPLAYACRITICALROLEINTHEEMERGENCEOFOURCOUNTRY AS A GLOBAL KNOWLEDGE LEADER )T WILL ALSO PROVIDE VITAL INPUTSFORENHANCINGPRODUCTIVITYACROSSSECTORS)NTHE PAST TWO DECADES WE HAVE SEEN AN EIGHT FOLD INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF INSTITUTIONS IMPARTING ENGINEERING EDUCATIONATTHEUNDERGRADUATELEVEL9ET THEREARESOME FUNDAMENTALISSUESTHATNEEDTOBEADDRESSED ! GLARING REGIONAL IMBALANCE HAS EMERGED IN THE AVAILABILITYOFENGINEERINGEDUCATION4WO THIRDSOFTHE ENGINEERING INSTITUTIONS ARE LOCATED IN FOUR SOUTHERN STATES PLUS-AHARASHTRA EVENTHOUGHTHEYACCOUNTFOR LESSTHANONE THIRDOFTHEPOPULATION4HEREISMUCHLESS ACCESSFORTHEYOUTHINUNDER PROVIDEDSTATES PARTICULARLY BECAUSEONLYPERCENTOFTHETOTALSEATSAREAVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO COME FROM OUTSIDE THE STATE )T WOULD BEWORTHWHILETOSTUDYWHETHERTHEREAREANYCULTURAL OR REGION SPECIlC FACTORS THAT INmUENCE THE CHOICE OF ENGINEERINGASACAREERINSOMESTATESANDNOTELSEWHERE 4HISCOULDHELPMAKETHESPREADOFSUCHCOLLEGESMORE EVENNATIONWIDE 3EVERAL RECENT STUDIES HAVE mAGGED THE PROBLEM OF UNEMPLOYABILITY OF ENGINEERING GRADUATES LARGELY BECAUSECURRICULUMANDSYLLABIARENOTQUITECOMPATIBLE WITHINDUSTRYREQUIREMENTS&URTHER THESTANDARDSOFA VERYLARGEPROPORTIONOFINSTITUTIONSATTHEBOTTOMOFTHE PYRAMIDHAVEALSOBEENFOUNDTOBEABYSMAL%VENGOOD INSTITUTIONSAREPLAGUEDBYDElCIENCYOFQUALITYSTUDENTS AT POST GRADUATE AND RESEARCH LEVEL4HE PROBLEMS ARE COMPLEXANDDEEPROOTED4HESITUATIONCALLSFORANEW PARADIGM IN REGULATION ACCREDITATION GOVERNANCE AND FACULTYDEVELOPMENT !SPARTOFITSCONSULTATIVEPROCESS .+#CONSTITUTEDA 7ORKING'ROUPOFEXPERTSFROMACADEMIAANDINDUSTRY UNDERTHECHAIRMANSHIPOF0ROF-3!NANTH $IRECTOR ))4#HENNAI4HE'ROUPHASALSOCONSIDEREDTHEINPUTS PROVIDED BY THE EARLIER COMMITTEES ON THIS SUBJECT CHAIREDBY2!-ASHELKAR 522AO AND 88


02AMA2AO 4HESTUDYCONDUCTEDBY0ROFESSORS "ANERJEEAND-ULEYOF))4"OMBAY HASALSOBEEN TAKENINTOACCOUNT"ASEDONINPUTSFROMTHE7ORKING 'ROUPANDCONSULTATIONSWITHOTHERSTAKEHOLDERS .+# PROPOSESTHEFOLLOWINGSETOFINITIATIVES

2EFORMINGTHE2EGULATORY &RAMEWORK !S STATED IN OUR EARLIER RECOMMENDATIONS RELATING TO (IGHER %DUCATION THERE IS A NEED TO ESTABLISH AN )NDEPENDENT2EGULATORY!UTHORITYFOR(IGHER%DUCATION )2!(% TOCOVERALLSTREAMS4HEROLEOFTHE3TANDING #OMMITTEE ON %NGINEERING %DUCATION UNDER )2!(% WOULDBETOEXERCISEDUEDILIGENCEATTHEPOINTITAPPROVES ENTRY FOR AN INSTITUTION TO GRANT DEGREESDIPLOMAS 4HE MEMBERS OF THE #OMMITTEE SHOULD COMPRISE EMINENT EDUCATIONISTS EDUCATION ADMINISTRATORS AND MANAGEMENT SPECIALISTS DRAWN FROM INDUSTRY 4HE #OMMITTEE WOULD FOLLOW TRANSPARENT AND UNIFORM PROCESSES UNDERTHEOVERALLSUPERVISIONOF)2!(%4HE #OMMITTEE SHALL ALSO DETERMINE THE CRITERIA AND THE PROCESSESOFACCREDITATIONANDLICENSEMULTIPLEAGENCIES FORTHESAME!MECHANISMFORRANKINGOFINSTITUTIONS TO ENABLE STUDENTS TO TAKE INFORMED DECISIONS AT THE TIME OF ADMISSIONS BY STIPULATING GRADING NORMS AND NOMINATING INDEPENDENT RATING AGENCIES ALSO NEEDS TO BEESTABLISHED4HESEINITIATIVESWILLENABLETHE!LL)NDIA #OUNCIL FOR 4ECHNICAL %DUCATION !)#4% TO FOCUS ON IMPORTANT ISSUES SUCH AS CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT PEDAGOGY FACULTYDEVELOPMENTETC

)MPROVING'OVERNANCEOF )NSTITUTIONS )NORDERTOENCOURAGEGREATERmEXIBILITYANDAUTONOMY THEREISANEEDTOPROGRESSIVELYDOAWAYWITHTHESYSTEM OF AFlLIATION OF ENGINEERING INSTITUTIONSCOLLEGES TO UNIVERSITIES 7HERE FEASIBLE THEY SHOULD BE GIVEN FULL AUTONOMY 4O ATTAIN GREATER TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IT SHOULD BE MADE COMPULSORY FOR ALL ENGINEERING INSTITUTIONS TO DISPLAY INFORMATION ABOUTTHEIRBUILDINGS LABS FACULTY INTAKEOFSTUDENTS

PERFORMANCE OF STUDENTS RECOGNITION STATUS AND PLACEMENTS ONTHEIRWEBSITES!SEMPHASISEDBY.+# REPEATEDLY APPOINTMENTSOF(EADSOF)NSTITUTIONSMUST BE MADE THROUGH THE PROCESS OF A 3EARCH #OMMITTEE THAT HAS AN INDEPENDENT #HAIR AND IS AT AN ARMS LENGTH FROM THE GOVERNMENT 4HE DIRECT INVOLVEMENT OFADMINISTRATIVEMINISTRIESINTHEPROCESSCANRESULTIN UNFORTUNATESITUATIONS

!TTRACTINGAND2ETAINING&ACULTY

ABILITY %NGLISH COMMUNICATION AND PROGRAMMING FUNDAMENTALS )NDUSTRY PARTICIPATION TO DISCUSS REAL LIFE CASE STUDIES SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED ,ABORATORY COURSESMUSTBEREVAMPEDTODEVELOPAHEALTHYATTITUDE TOWARDS EXPERIMENTAL WORK %NVIRONMENT MUST BE CREATED TO ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN CO CURRICULARACTIVITIES

)NTEGRATING3CIENCESAND %NGINEERING%DUCATION

4HE MOST SERIOUS CHALLENGE IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION ISTHEDEARTHOFWELL QUALIlEDFACULTY3EVERALMEASURES MUSTBEUNDERTAKENINTHISDIRECTION  )NSTITUTIONSSHOULDBEENCOURAGEDTOCREATEADJUNCT POSITIONSANDINVITEPROFESSIONALSFROMINDUSTRYAND RESEARCHINSTITUTIONSTOPARTICIPATEINTHETEACHING PROCESS  4HE CRITERION OF HOLDING A 0H$ FOR TEACHING UNDERGRADUATESTUDENTSMAYBERELAXEDTO-ASTERS DEGREES WHICH ARE SPECIlCALLY DESIGNED WITH MORE COURSEWORKINLIEUOFTHESIS3PECIALEFFORTSSHOULD BEMADEATTHEUNDERGRADUATELEVELTOIDENTIFYAND MOTIVATETHOSEWHOHAVETHEPOTENTIALASWELLASTHE INCLINATIONTOWARDSTEACHING  )NCENTIVESLIKEBETTERSALARY MODERNINFRASTRUCTURE BETTERLIVINGANDWORKINGENVIRONMENT POSSIBILITY OFSECONDMENTTOINDUSTRYDURINGVACATIONSSHOULD BEMADEAVAILABLE  3HORTAGE OF FACULTY COULD ALSO BE OVERCOME BY INNOVATIVEUSEOF)NFORMATION#OMMUNICATION 4ECHNOLOGY AND /PEN %DUCATIONAL 2ESOURCES /%2S BY LEVERAGING THE CONTENT AVAILABLE FROM THEBESTUNIVERSITIESACROSSTHEWORLD  3EVERALINITIATIVESNEEDTOBEUNDERTAKENTOIMPROVE TRAININGANDPROFESSIONALDEVELOPMENTOFTHEFACULTY ! TWO WEEK TEACHER INDUCTION TRAINING COURSE SHOULD BE MADE COMPULSORY ! ONE DAY REGIONAL WORKSHOPONTEACHINGLEARNINGPROCESSESSHOULDBE ARRANGEDASAPARTOFTHEACADEMICCALENDAR#OURSE DEVELOPMENT SHOULD BE MADE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE TRAINING PROGRAMS CONDUCTED BY !CADEMIC 3TAFF#OLLEGES"ETTEROPPORTUNITIESMAYBECREATED FORCONTINUINGEDUCATIONUSINGTHEDISTANCEMODE

7E HAVE ENTERED A PERIOD IN HISTORY WHERE THE DISTINCTIONBETWEENSCIENCESANDENGINEERINGHASALLBUT DISAPPEARED3CIENCESAREATTHEHEARTOFENGINEERING4O THATEXTENTTHEREISNODISTINCTIONBETWEENTHETWO)N ORDERTOREDUCETHEPERCEIVEDGAPBETWEENSCIENCESAND ENGINEERING WENEEDTOCREATEMECHANISMSTHATALLOW MOBILITYBETWEENTHETWOSTREAMS/NEOPTIONCOULDBE TOSTARTFOURYEARUNDERGRADUATEPROGRAMSINSCIENCES INITIALLY IN INSTITUTES OF EXCELLENCE WHERE FACILITIES FOR SCIENCE PROGRAMS ALREADY EXIST 4HIS WOULD ENABLE PURSUINGDOCTORALPROGRAMSINSCIENCEANDTECHNOLOGY WITHOUTA-ASTERSDEGREE

#URRICULUM2EFORM

)N ORDER TO ATTAIN GREATER ALIGNMENT OF ENGINEERING EDUCATION WITH EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FREQUENT DIALOGUEWITHINDUSTRYANDGOVERNMENTTHROUGHSEMINARS ANDWORKSHOPSISNECESSARY4OENHANCEEMPLOYABILITY SUMMER INTERNSHIPS SHOULD BE MADE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE CURRICULUM 2ESTRICTIVE PROVISIONS AND THE ELABORATE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK OF THE !PPRENTICESHIP

4HECURRENTCURRICULUMSHOULDBEMODIlEDTOPROVIDE GREATER mEXIBILITY INTER DISCIPLINARY PERSPECTIVE AND CHOICE OF ELECTIVES4HE FOCUS IN THE TEACHINGLEARNING PROCESSSHOULDBEONINTEGRATINGSKILLSSUCHASPROBLEM SOLVINGANDLOGICALREASONING PROCESSORIENTATION LEARNING

%NCOURAGING2ESEARCH 3EVERALINITIATIVESARENECESSARYTOPROMOTERESEARCHIN ENGINEERINGDISCIPLINES  6IBRANT AND WELL FUNDED 0H$ PROGRAMS WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTERNATIONAL EXPOSURE SHOULD BEROLLEDOUTTOATTRACTSTUDENTSWHOCURRENTLYGO ABROADFOR0H$S  4HENEWACADEMICANDRESEARCHINSTITUTIONSBEING ESTABLISHED SHOULD BE SO LOCATED THAT THEY CAN OPTIMISE MUTUAL COLLABORATION ,IKEWISE EXISTING ACADEMICINSTITUTIONSWITHACTIVERESEARCHPROGRAMS SHOULDBESUPPORTEDTOSETUPHIGH TECHINDUSTRIAL RESEARCHPARKSINTHEVICINITYOFTHEIRCAMPUSES  5NIVERSITIES MUST BECOME THE HUB OF RESEARCH ONCE AGAIN TO CAPTURE SYNERGIES BETWEEN TEACHING ANDRESEARCH4HISWILLREQUIRECHANGESINRESOURCE ALLOCATION REWARDSYSTEMSANDMINDSETS

)NDUSTRY !CADEMIA)NTERACTION


89

!CT HAVE INHIBITED INDUSTRY FROM ADEQUATELY USINGTHEAPPRENTICESHIPSCHEMEFORHONINGTHESKILLSOF ENGINEERINGGRADUATES#LAUSESNEEDTOBEINCORPORATED IN THE !CT THAT WILL ENABLE TRAINING IN MULTIPLE SKILLS NOT JUST A SPECIlC TRADE AND ALLOW ENTRY TO AND EXIT FROM THE SCHEME AT DIFFERENT POINTS IN THE EDUCATION ANDCAREERCYCLE,IKEWISE INDUSTRYNEEDSTOENCOURAGE CONTINUINGEDUCATIONPROGRAMSFORTHEIREMPLOYEESBY COLLABORATING WITH APPROPRIATE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTES !CADEMIAANDINDUSTRYSHOULDENGAGEINJOINTRESEARCH TO ENCOURAGE INNOVATION AND COMPETITIVENESS IN THE GLOBALECONOMY

)MPROVE!CCESS 7HILE THE GOVERNMENT WOULD NEED TO ESTABLISH NEW INSTITUTIONS IN THE UNDER PROVIDED STATES IT MUST BE EMPHASISEDTHATTHERECENTPROLIFERATIONOFENGINEERING INSTITUTIONS IN THE SOUTHERN STATES IS LARGELY THE RESULT OF PRIVATE INITIATIVES ! FRAMEWORK FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS SHOULD THEREFORE BE DEVELOPED IN COLLABORATIONWITHTHECONCERNEDSTATESTOESTABLISHNEW QUALITYINSTITUTIONS

90


-ENTORING %LITE INSTITUTIONS SHOULD CONSIDER SOME ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES SUCH AS ADOPTING A FEW ENGINEERING INSTITUTIONSOFTHEIRCHOICEANDHELPINGTHEMRAISETHEIR STANDARDS CREATING AND MAKING AVAILABLE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN FOR USE OF ALL STUDENTS ANDCONDUCTINGDISTANCEEDUCATIONCOURSES ESPECIALLY FOR STUDENTS AT THE POST GRADUATE LEVEL AND WORKING PROFESSIONALS )N PARTICULAR THE EXISTING ))4S COULD MENTORTHENEWONESBEINGESTABLISHED4HELATTER IN DUE COURSE COULD PLAY A SIMILAR ROLE VIS Í VIS OTHERS 3IMILARLY .ATIONAL )NSTITUTES OF 4ECHNOLOGY AND 2EGIONAL%NGINEERING#OLLEGESCOULDPLAYAMENTORING ROLE FOR SELECTED ENGINEERING INSTITUTIONS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE REGIONS -ENTORING BY ITS DElNITION IS A VOLUNTARYACTIVITY BUTIFWECANCREATEANATMOSPHERE WHEREINSTITUTIONSOFDISTINCTIONFEELASENSEOFCALLING IN THE INTEREST OF THE LARGER NATIONAL GOOD IT WOULD TRANSFORM OUR EDUCATION 4HE CHANGES AND REFORMS PROPOSEDABOVEARENECESSARYTOBRINGABOUTAQUALITATIVE TRANSFORMATIONINENGINEERINGEDUCATIONTOMEETPRESENT ANDFUTURENEEDS

Open and Distance Education

4

HE .ATIONAL +NOWLEDGE #OMMISSION .+# BELIEVESTHATARADICALREFORMOFTHESYSTEMOF/PEN AND$ISTANCE%DUCATION/$% ISIMPERATIVETO ACHIEVETHEOBJECTIVESOFEXPANSION INCLUSIONANDEXCELLENCE INHIGHEREDUCATION4HESIGNIlCANCEISOBVIOUS&ORONE MORE THAN ONE lFTH OF THE STUDENTS ENROLLED IN HIGHER EDUCATION ARE IN THE /$% STREAM &OR ANOTHER /$% HAS AN ENORMOUS POTENTIAL TO SPREAD HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES BEYOND THE BRICK AND MORTAR WORLD "UT THEREAREREASONSFORCONCERN&IRST THEQUALITYOFHIGHER EDUCATIONPROVIDEDINLARGESEGMENTSOF/$% PARTICULARLY INCORRESPONDENCECOURSESINUNIVERSITIES LEAVESMUCHTOBE DESIRED3ECOND ITISNOTSUFlCIENTLYRECOGNISEDTHAT/$% PROVIDESEDUCATIONALOPPORTUNITIESNOTONLYTOTHOSEWHO DISCONTINUEFORMALEDUCATIONONACCOUNTOFECONOMICOR SOCIALCOMPULSIONS BUTALSOTOYOUNGSCHOOLLEAVERSWHO ARESIMPLYUNABLETOSECUREADMISSIONINTHEFORMALSTREAM ATUNIVERSITIES)TISTIMETOADDRESSTHESEPROBLEMS4HERE ISACLEARNEEDTOIMPROVETHEQUALITYOF/$%ANDTOMAKE IT MORE APPROPRIATE TO THE NEEDS OF SOCIETY )T IS JUST AS IMPORTANT TO EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES IN HIGHER EDUCATION THROUGHTHEUSEOFTECHNOLOGYIN/$%)TWOULDNOTBE POSSIBLETOATTAINAGROSSENROLMENTRATIOOFPERCENT BY WITHOUT A MASSIVE EXPANSION IN /$% )N THIS ENDEAVOUR WEMUSTNOTFORGETTHAT/$%ISSEENASINFERIOR TOCONVENTIONALCLASSROOMLEARNING4HISPERCEPTION AND THEREALITY BOTHNEEDCHANGE7EMUSTREALISETHAT/$%IS NOTSIMPLYAMODEOFEDUCATIONALDELIVERY BUTANINTEGRATED DISCIPLINEENGAGEDINTHECREATIONOFKNOWLEDGE )N LIGHT OF THE ABOVE .+# CONSTITUTED A 7ORKING 'ROUPCOMPOSEDOFDISTINGUISHEDEXPERTSINTHISlELD CHAIREDBY0ROF2AM4AKWALE FORMER6ICE #HANCELLOR )'./5 "ASED ON INPUTS PROVIDED BY THE WORKING GROUP AND CONSULTATIONS WITH STAKEHOLDERS .+# RECOMMENDEDTHEFOLLOWINGREFORMS

#REATEANATIONAL)#4 INFRASTRUCTUREFORNETWORKING /$%INSTITUTIONS !NATIONAL)NFORMATIONAND#OMMUNICATION4ECHNOLOGY )#4 INFRASTRUCTUREMUSTBESETUPTHROUGHGOVERNMENT

.OVEMBER

SUPPORT FOR NETWORKING ALL /$% INSTITUTIONS )N THIS REGARD WE RECOMMEND THAT THE DIGITAL BROADBAND +NOWLEDGE .ETWORK PROPOSED BY .+# SHOULD HAVE PROVISIONFORINTERCONNECTINGTHEMAJOR/$%INSTITUTIONS ANDTHEIRSTUDYCENTRESINTHElRSTPHASEITSELF%VENTUALLY MINIMUMCONNECTIVITYOF-BPSMUSTBEEXTENDEDTO THESTUDYCENTRESOFALL/$%INSTITUTIONS!NATIONAL)#4 BACKBONE WOULD ENHANCE ACCESS AND E GOVERNANCE IN /$% ANDENABLETHEDISSEMINATIONOFKNOWLEDGEACROSS ALLMODES THATIS PRINT AUDIO VISUALAND)NTERNETBASED MULTIMEDIA

3ETUPA.ATIONAL%DUCATION &OUNDATIONTODEVELOPWEB BASED COMMONOPENRESOURCES ! .ATIONAL %DUCATIONAL &OUNDATION WITH A ONE TIME INFUSION OF ADEQUATE FUNDS MUST BE ESTABLISHED TO DEVELOP A WEB BASED REPOSITORY OF HIGH QUALITY EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES /PEN %DUCATIONAL 2ESOURCES /%2 MUSTBECREATEDONLINETHROUGHACOLLABORATIVE PROCESS POOLINGINTHEEFFORTSANDEXPERTISEOFALLMAJOR INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION4HE /%2 REPOSITORY WOULDSUPPLYPEDAGOGICALSOFTWAREFORVARIOUSPROGRAMS RUNTHROUGH/$%ANDBEAVAILABLEFORUTILISATIONBYALL /$% INSTITUTIONS !N ENABLING LEGAL FRAMEWORK THAT WOULD ALLOW UNRESTRICTED ACCESS WITHOUT COMPROMISING INTELLECTUALAUTHORSHIPMUSTBEDEVISEDFORTHISPURPOSE

%STABLISHA#REDIT"ANKTOEFFECT TRANSITIONTOACOURSECREDIT SYSTEM 4RANSITION TO A COURSE CREDIT SYSTEM MUST BE CARRIED OUTTOENABLETHELEARNERTOUNDERTAKEPROGRAMSACROSS ALL/$%INSTITUTIONSANDDISCIPLINES!SAPARTOFTHIS PROCESS ANAUTONOMOUSCREDITBANKMUSTBEESTABLISHED FORSTORINGANDlLINGCREDITSACQUIREDBYEVERYLEARNER )NADDITION ADMISSIONCRITERIAANDTHESYSTEMOFCREDITS SHOULDBEASmEXIBLEANDADAPTABLEASPOSSIBLE0ROVISIONS MUSTBEMADEFORMULTIPLEENTRYPOINTSANDEXITPOINTS A mEXIBLE TIME TABLE AND ASSESSMENT MECHANISMS FOR SUPPORTINGLIFE LONGLEARNING Report to the Nation

91

%STABLISHA.ATIONAL%DUCATION 4ESTING3ERVICEFORASSESSING/$% STUDENTS !N AUTONOMOUS .ATIONAL %DUCATION 4ESTING 3ERVICE .%43 MUST BE ESTABLISHED THROUGH LEGISLATION AND INVESTED WITH FUNCTIONAL POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR ASSESSINGALLPOTENTIALGRADUATESIN/$%4HISUNIlED EXAMINATION SYSTEM WOULD TEST THE LEARNERS ABILITY TO PERFORM INTELLECTUAL AND PRACTICAL TASKS !LL COURSES DEGREESANDACTIVITIESOFFEREDTHROUGH/$%SHOULDBE CERTIlEDTHROUGHTHISSYSTEM

&ACILITATECONVERGENCEWITH CONVENTIONALUNIVERSITIES 4HELACKOFCONVERGENCEBETWEENPROGRAMSRUNBYOPEN UNIVERSITIESANDCORRESPONDENCECOURSESOFFEREDBYTHE DISTANCE EDUCATION WINGS OF CONVENTIONAL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IS A CAUSE OF GREAT CONCERN 2ATHER THAN FUNCTION AS PARALLEL SYSTEMS AT ODDS WITH EACH OTHER OPENUNIVERSITIESMUSTFORGEORGANISATIONALALIGNMENTS WITHCONVENTIONALUNIVERSITIESGEAREDTOWARDSCOMMON GOALSANDSTRATEGIES4HEYMUSTENGAGEEACHOTHERIN THECOLLABORATIVECREATIONOFPEDAGOGICALRESOURCESVIA /%2ANDITSDELIVERYALONGSHAREDMODES0ROGRAMS AND COURSES OFFERED BY EACH SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO THE SAME STRINGENT NORMS OF QUALITY ASSURANCE4HIS IMPLIES THAT THE DISTANCE EDUCATION DEPARTMENTS OPERATING WITHIN CONVENTIONAL UNIVERSITIES MUST BE ENCOURAGED TO PUT CORRESPONDENCE COURSES THROUGH THE .%43 FOR PURPOSES OF ASSESSMENT !T THE SAME TIME UNIVERSITIESMUSTALSOENSURETHATTHEIRDISTANCE EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE NOT STAND ALONE BUT SHOULD BENElT FROM REGULAR INTERACTION WITH UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENTSINCONCERNEDDISCIPLINES4HEAIMOFSUCH CONVERGENCE IS TO EVENTUALLY ENABLE LEARNERS TO MOVE FREELYFROMONESYSTEMTOTHEOTHER

3ETUPARESEARCHFOUNDATION TOSUPPORTRESEARCHACTIVITY IN/$% !NAUTONOMOUSANDWELL ENDOWED2ESEARCH&OUNDATION MUST BE ESTABLISHED TO COMMISSION AND FACILITATE MULTIDIMENSIONAL AND MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH IN /$% )N ADDITION A FAVOURABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR RESEARCH MUST BE CREATED BY SETTING UP INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE LIBRARIES DIGITAL DATABASES AND ONLINE JOURNALS HOLDING REGULAR WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS GRANTING SABBATICAL LEAVE FOR UNDERTAKING RESEARCH ESTABLISHING A PEER REVIEWED JOURNAL TO PROVIDE A PLATFORM FOR

92


PUBLICATION FOR SCHOLARS AND OTHER SUCH MEASURES ! ROBUSTRESEARCHENVIRONMENTISESSENTIALTOACCORD/$% VALUEASADISCIPLINE ASOPPOSEDTOITBEINGCONSIGNED TOA@MODE

/VERHAULTRAININGPROGRAMSFOR EDUCATORS 4RAINING AND ORIENTATION PROGRAMS MUST BE CONCEPTUALISEDTOENABLEEDUCATORSANDADMINISTRATORSTO EFFECTIVELYUTILISETECHNOLOGYTOCATERTODIVERSELEARNERS INTERESTS 4HE CONTENT OF THE TRAINING MODULES MUST PROMOTE FAMILIARITY WITH THE THEORIES AND PRACTICES OF SELF LEARNING4HEIRDELIVERYSHOULDTAKEPLACETHROUGH SEVERAL MODES INCLUDING WEB SUPPORTED AUDIO VISUAL AND FACE TO FACE INTERACTION ON A REGULAR BASIS WITH EXPERTS PRACTITIONERSANDPEERS-OSTIMPORTANTLY THESE PACKAGES MUST BE UPDATED REGULARLY AND ADMINISTERED DIRECTLY 4HE "%D CURRICULUM MUST ALSO BE REVISED UPDATEDANDMADETOEMPHASISETHEORIESANDPRACTICES OFSELF LEARNING

)NCREASEACCESSFORLEARNERSWITH SPECIALNEEDS 3PECIAL %DUCATION #OMMITTEES MUST BE SET UP IN ALL /$% INSTITUTIONS TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF LEARNERS WITH DISABILITIES AS WELL AS SENIOR CITIZENS 4HESE COMMITTEES MUST DEVISE MECHANISMS TO ENSURE THEIR PARTICIPATION AND PROVIDE EFFECTIVE MECHANISMS FOR MONITORING EVALUATION OF POLICIES AND COLLECTION OF FEEDBACK !DMISSION CRITERIA AND TIME TABLES MUST BE mEXIBLEENOUGHTOPROVIDEDIVERSEOPTIONSFORMEETING PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS TO DIFFERENTLY ABLE LEARNERS AND SENIORCITIZENS0EDAGOGICALTOOLSANDCOMPONENTSFROM THE OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES MUST BE ADAPTABLE TO ALTERNATIVEFORMATSFORSPECIALLEARNINGNEEDS4HISCOULD INCLUDE FOREXAMPLE "RAILLE COLOUR CONTRASTTEXTSAND VOICERECORDINGSFORTHEVISUALLYDISABLED

#REATEANEW3TANDING#OMMITTEE FORTHEREGULATIONOF/$% !T PRESENT THE $ISTANCE %DUCATION #OUNCIL $%# UNDER)'./5ARBITRATESSTANDARDSANDDISBURSESFUNDS FOR/$%INSTITUTIONSACROSSTHECOUNTRY.+#BELIEVES THAT THIS ARRANGEMENT CANNOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE AND APPROPRIATE REGULATION ! NEW REGULATORY MECHANISM MUST BE ESTABLISHED BY APPOINTING A 3TANDING #OMMITTEE ON /PEN AND $ISTANCE %DUCATION UNDER THE )NDEPENDENT 2EGULATORY !UTHORITY FOR (IGHER %DUCATION)2!(% PROPOSEDBY.+#4HISSTATUTORY

BODYWOULDBERESPONSIBLEFORDEVELOPINGBROADCRITERIA FOR ACCREDITATION AS WELL AS LAYING DOWN STANDARDS FOR QUALITYASSURANCE)TWOULDBEACCOUNTABLETOSTAKEHOLDERS ATALLLEVELSANDTO)2!(% ANDHAVEREPRESENTATIONFROM PUBLIC PRIVATE AND SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS INVOLVED IN THE EDUCATIONANDDEVELOPMENTSECTORS4HESEINCLUDETHE CENTRALOPENUNIVERSITY STATEOPENUNIVERSITIES PRIVATE OPENUNIVERSITIES CONVENTIONALEDUCATIONINSTITUTES AS WELLASCHAIRPERSONSOFTHESPECIALISEDBODIESTOBESETUP TOLOOKINTOINFRASTRUCTURALREQUIREMENTSOF/$% )NADDITION TWOSPECIALISEDBODIESSHOULDBEESTABLISHED UNDERTHEAEGISOFTHE3TANDING#OMMITTEE I ! 4ECHNICAL !DVISORY 'ROUP WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE )4 SECTOR TELECOM SPACE AND INDUSTRY SHOULDBECONSTITUTEDTOPROVIDEGUIDELINES ENSURE mEXIBILITY AND TRACK THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN APPLICATION4HEMOSTIMPORTANTFUNCTIONWOULDBE TODEVISECOMMONSTANDARDSFORLABELLINGLEARNING CONTENTDEVELOPEDBYDIFFERENTAGENCIESINORDERTO SUPPORT INDEXING STORAGE DISCOVERY AND RETRIEVAL OF THIS CONTENT BY MULTIPLE TOOLS ACROSS MULTIPLE REPOSITORIES II !N !DVISORY 'ROUP ON 0EDAGOGICAL #ONTENT -ANAGEMENTSHOULDBESETUPTOPROVIDEGUIDELINES ON CURRICULAR CONTENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF REPOSITORIES EXCHANGEOFMATERIAL ACCESSTOSTUDENTS ANDOTHERSUCHISSUES 4HE 3TANDING #OMMITTEE ON /PEN AND $ISTANCE %DUCATIONWOULDALSOSERVEASTHENODALAGENCYFORTHE

.ATIONAL%DUCATIONAL&OUNDATIONONOPENEDUCATIONAL RESOURCES THE .ATIONAL %DUCATION 4ESTING 3ERVICE .%43 ANDTHE#REDIT"ANK

$EVELOPASYSTEMFORQUALITY ASSESSMENT 2ELIABLE EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT IS VALUED BY EMPLOYERS STUDENTSANDOTHERSTAKEHOLDERSINTHEGIVENCONTEXTOFA MARKETDRIVENECONOMY)NVIEWOFTHIS ARATINGSYSTEM TOASSESSTHESTANDARDOFALLINSTITUTIONSIMPARTING/$% MUST BE EVOLVED AND MADE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE 4HE 3TANDING #OMMITTEE WOULD STIPULATE GRADING NORMS AND INDEPENDENT RATING AGENCIES WOULD BE LICENSED BY )2!(% TO CARRY OUT THIS FUNCTION )N ADDITION IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT EVERY /$% INSTITUTION HAS AN INTERNAL QUALITY ASSURANCE CELL TO ENSURE THAT STATUTORY QUALITYCOMPLIANCESAREREGULARLYMET %STABLISHMENT OF THE NEW ORGANISATIONS PROPOSED ABOVE NAMELY THE .ATIONAL %DUCATION 4ESTING 3ERVICE THE #REDIT "ANK THE .ATIONAL %DUCATIONAL &OUNDATIONFORDEVELOPINGCOMMONOPENRESOURCES THE 4ECHNICAL !DVISORY 'ROUP AND THE !DVISORY 'ROUP ON 0EDAGOGICAL #ONTENT -ANAGEMENT WOULD INITIALLY REQUIRE lNANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THE GOVERNMENT!DDITIONALlNANCESFORNETWORKING/$% INSTITUTIONS AND CREATING ACCESS CENTRES DEVELOPING TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR EDUCATORS AND ADMINISTRATORS AND PROVIDING SCHOLARSHIPS AND SERVICES FOR NEEDY STUDENTSWOULDALSOBEREQUIRED


93

Open Educational Resources URSUCCESSINTHEKNOWLEDGEECONOMYHINGES TO A LARGE EXTENT ON UPGRADING THE QUALITY OF AND ENHANCING THE ACCESS TO EDUCATION /NEOFTHEMOSTEFFECTIVEWAYSOFACHIEVINGTHISWOULD BE TO STIMULATE THE DEVELOPMENT AND DISSEMINATION OF QUALITY /PEN !CCESS /! MATERIALS AND /PEN %DUCATIONAL 2ESOURCES /%2 THROUGH BROADBAND )NTERNET CONNECTIVITY 4HIS WOULD FACILITATE EASY AND WIDESPREADACCESSTOHIGHQUALITYEDUCATIONALRESOURCES AND DRASTICALLY IMPROVE THE TEACHING PARADIGM FOR ALL OURSTUDENTS!SAPARTOFITSCONSULTATIVEPROCESS .+# CONSTITUTED A 7ORKING 'ROUP OF EXPERTS INCLUDING DISTINGUISHEDMEMBERSFROMTHEACADEMIA GOVERNMENT PRIVATE SECTOR AND USERS TO SUGGEST NECESSARY MEASURES TOIMPROVETHEQUALITYOF/PEN!CCESSIN)NDIA.+# CONSULTATIONS WITH STAKEHOLDERS HELPED IDENTIFY A FEW KEYREFORMPROPOSALSWHICHAREELABORATEDASFOLLOWS

/

,EVERAGEGLOBALOPENEDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

3UPPORTTHEPRODUCTIONOFQUALITY CONTENTBYASELECTSETOF)NDIAN INSTITUTIONS

%NCOURAGEOPENACCESS

!SETOFKEYINSTITUTIONSSHOULDBESELECTEDANDEXPERTS REPRESENTING DIVERSE KNOWLEDGE AREAS LIKE AGRICULTURE ENGINEERING MEDICINE ARTS HUMANITIES SCIENCE EDUCATION ETC SHOULD BE ASKED TO DEVELOP STANDARDS BASEDCONTENT WHICHCANBECUSTOMISEDTODIVERSEUSER NEEDS4HISSHOULDBEMADEAVAILABLENOTONLYTO)NDIAN INSTITUTIONS BUT ALSO FOR GLOBAL USE 4HE EFFORTS MADE THROUGH THE PROJECT OF -INISTRY OF (UMAN 2ESOURCES $EVELOPMENT n .ATIONAL 0ROGRAM ON 4ECHNOLOGY %NHANCED ,EARNING .04%, FOR CREATION OF /%2 IN THE AREAS OF %NGINEERING AND 4ECHNOLOGY SHOULD BE APPLIEDINOTHERAREASOFEDUCATIONALSO4HECONTENTIN THE REPOSITORIES SHOULD BE MULTIMEDIA INTERACTIVE AND AVAILABLEINDIFFERENTREGIONALLANGUAGES4HESEPROJECTS SHOULDCOVERAWIDERANGEOFSUBJECTSMENTIONEDABOVE 4OSPEEDUPTHECREATION ADAPTATION ANDUTILISATIONOF /%2 IT IS NECESSARY TO LAUNCH A @.ATIONAL % CONTENT AND#URRICULUM)NITIATIVE

94

.OVEMBER


3USTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF QUALITY CONTENT RELEVANT TO)NDIAISADIFlCULTANDEXPENSIVEPROPOSITION GIVEN THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF VARIOUS SECTORS IN OUR EMERGING KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY %MERGING INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL INITIATIVES ARE OFFERING QUALITY EDUCATIONAL CONTENT AS OPEN RESOURCES )T IS VITAL FOR )NDIA TO LEVERAGE THESE INITIATIVES AS THEY ARE READILY AVAILABLE FORADOPTIONANDADAPTATIONANDTOSERVEASAMODEL FOR FURTHER INDIGENOUS CONTENT PRODUCTION .+# FOUNDTHATTHEREAREALREADY FREEKNOWLEDGE REPOSITORIES AVAILABLE ACROSS THE WORLD4HE .ATIONAL +NOWLEDGE #OMMISSION IS SEPARATELY DISSEMINATING THISINFORMATIONTHROUGHITSWEBSITE

/PEN !CCESS MATERIAL STIMULATES RESEARCH AND HELPS STUDENTS TEACHERS AND RESEARCHERS ACROSS THE WORLD 4HEREFORE AT THE POLICY LEVEL ALL RESEARCH ARTICLES PUBLISHED BY )NDIAN AUTHORS RECEIVING SUBSTANTIAL GOVERNMENTORPUBLICFUNDINGMUSTBEMADEAVAILABLE UNDER /PEN !CCESS AND SHOULD BE ARCHIVED IN THE STANDARD /! FORMAT AT LEAST ON HISHER WEBSITE !S A NEXT STEP A NATIONAL ACADEMIC /! PORTAL SHOULD BE DEVELOPED 4HE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ALLOCATE RESOURCES TOINCREASETHECURRENTDIGITISATIONEFFORTSOFBOOKSAND PERIODICALS WHICH ARE OUTSIDE COPYRIGHT PROTECTION 3EPARATE FUNDING SHOULD BE ALLOCATED TO DEVELOP A NEW HIGH QUALITY /#2 SOFTWARE PACKAGE SO THAT NEW AND OLD FONTS IN MANY DIFFERENT )NDIAN LANGUAGES CAN BE CONVERTED INTO )3#)!3#) CODE AND /! PORTALS AND SERVERS COULD BE UPGRADED REGULARLY !PPROPRIATE lNANCIAL RESOURCES SHOULD BE EARMARKED FOR THESE ENDEAVOURS4HISWILLALSOFACILITATEMACHINETRANSLATION OFTHESEVALUABLERESOURCES

$EVELOPNETWORK ENABLEDDELIVERY INFRASTRUCTURE !LONG WITH THE NATIONAL INITIATIVE FOR CONTENT DEVELOPMENT WE MUST DEVELOP A NETWORK ENABLED DELIVERY INFRASTRUCTURE WITH A FOCUS ON TWO PRIMARY AREAS ACCESS AND DELIVERY &OR ACCESS TO THE NETWORK HIGH BANDWIDTH CONNECTIONS ACROSS INSTITUTIONS AND A NATIONALBACKBONETHATPROVIDESADVANCEDNETWORKING CAPABILITIES ARE MAJOR REQUIREMENTS !DDITIONALLY CONNECTIVITYTOGLOBALNETWORKSISESSENTIAL$ELIVERYOF THE /%2 CONTENT WOULD BE DONE THROUGH DISTRIBUTED REPOSITORIESOFEDUCATIONALRESOURCES

#REATEAFACULTYANDINSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENTPROGRAM &ACULTYDEVELOPMENTANDTEACHERTRAININGISTHEPRIMARY AREATHATNEEDSTOBEADDRESSEDINORDERTOREALISETHE BENElTS OF EXTENDED ACCESS AND IMPROVED QUALITY THROUGH /%2 4HE TRAINING PROGRAM MUST DEVELOP DOMAIN COMPETENCIES AND TEACHING SKILLS USING NEW EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES4HE TRAINING WILL ALSO HELP DEVELOPERSOFNEW/%2ANDINCONTEXTUALISINGEXISTING EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES #ENTRES AT SPECIlC INSTITUTIONS SHOULD BE IDENTIlED SO THAT THE FACULTY OF THESE

INSTITUTIONS WILL EVENTUALLY OWN MODIFY AND EXPAND /%2 REPOSITORIES 4HESE MUST BE INTEGRATED INTO UNIVERSITYCURRICULAANDORGANISATIONALSTRUCTURES4HE AVAILABILITYOFLEARNINGMANAGEMENTSYSTEMSANDOTHER QUIZZING AUTHORINGANDCOLLABORATINGTOOLSSHOULDBE INCREASED4HEEVALUATIONSYSTEMSHOULDBEBASEDON THEUSEOFTHECONTENTANDTHEPEDAGOGYIN/%24O IMPLEMENT AND MONITOR THE ABOVE RECOMMENDATIONS URGENTLY AND EFlCIENTLY THE 'OVERNMENT OF )NDIA MAY DESIGNATE A SUITABLE ORGANISATION OR ESTABLISH A NEWINSTITUTIONWITHNECESSARYMANDATETOACHIEVETHE ABOVEOBJECTIVES4HISINSTITUTEMAYSERVETHEFOLLOWING FUNCTIONS       

0ROVIDE LEADERSHIP AND COORDINATION OF NETWORK BASEDOPENEDUCATIONRESOURCES 3ELECT INSTITUTIONAL COLLABORATIONS FOR DEVELOPING CONTENT $EVELOPADOPTIONSUPPORTSTRATEGIES 2ECOMMEND AND MONITOR STANDARDS FOR CONTENT DEVELOPMENTANDADOPTION !DVISE ON POLICY IMPLICATIONS VIS Í VIS LICENSING INTELLECTUALPROPERTYRIGHTSETC )DENTIFY AND SET BENCHMARKS BASED ON GLOBAL BEST PRACTICES %STABLISH RELATIONSHIPS WITH GLOBAL /! AND /%2 INITIATIVES


95

More Talented Students in Maths and Science

!

STRONGFOUNDATIONINTHEPURESCIENCESISESSENTIAL TOTRANSFORM)NDIAINTOAKNOWLEDGESUPERPOWER 5NFORTUNATELY AS THE ECONOMY GROWS FEWER STUDENTSAREOPTINGFORTHEPURESCIENCES4HISHASLED TOATALENTCRUNCH SERIOUSLYIMPEDINGTHEDEVELOPMENT OFTHEFUTUREGENERATIONOFSCIENTISTSANDTEACHERS7E ARE AWARE THAT THIS IS A WORLDWIDE PHENOMENON BUT COUNTRIESLIKE#HINAAND3OUTH+OREA HAVINGINVESTED PRUDENTLY IN SCIENCE EDUCATION ARE NOW BEGINNING TO REAPRICHDIVIDENDS )NTHISCONTEXT .+#CARRIEDOUTWIDECONSULTATIONSWITH EXPERTSTHROUGHASERIESOFWORKSHOPSANDINTERVIEWS! WORKINGGROUPOFEMINENTPERSONSWASALSOCONSTITUTED TOCONSIDERALLASPECTSOFTHEPROBLEM"ASEDONTHESE INPUTS .+#HASFORMULATEDASETOFRECOMMENDATIONS TOATTRACTANDRETAINTALENTEDSTUDENTSINBASICSCIENCES WHICH ARE SUMMARISED IN THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPHS .+#HASCHOSENTOREITERATESOMEOFTHEPROPOSALSWHICH OVERLAP WITH THE VIEWS OF OTHER EXPERT GROUPS .+# WOULDLIKETOSTRESSTHATTHISMATTERISEXTREMELYURGENT AND A RAPID IMPLEMENTATION IS NOW CRUCIAL TO EFFECT A PARADIGMCHANGEINTHElELDOF3CIENCEEDUCATIONAND RESEARCHINTHECOUNTRY

)NVESTINUPGRADINGAND EXPANDINGTHEEXISTING INFRASTRUCTUREANDPROMOTE SHARINGOFAVAILABLERESOURCES 5NIVERSITY DEPARTMENTS AND LEADING UNDERGRADUATE SCIENCE COLLEGES SHOULD BE GENEROUSLY FUNDED TO UPGRADE THEIR STAFF AND FACILITIES 4O ENCOURAGE GOOD DEPARTMENTS @#ENTRESOFEXCELLENCESHOULDBEIDENTIlED WITH COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW AND EVALUATION PROCEDURES IN PLACE4O CREATE A CRITICAL MASS OF SCIENTISTS IN EACH SCIENCESTREAMUNDERGRADUATESEATSSHOULDBEINCREASED INGOODINSTITUTESANDUNDERGRADUATEPROGRAMSSHOULD BE INTRODUCED AT INSTITUTES WHERE ONLY POST GRADUATE TEACHINGISCURRENTLYUNDERTAKEN)NNOVATIVEMETHODS FOR SHARING RESOURCES AND FACULTY BETWEEN INSTITUTES ANDUNIVERSITIESNEEDTOBEEVOLVED!TTHESAMETIME UNIVERSITY MANAGEMENT AT ALL LEVELS SHOULD BE MADE 96


-AY

MOREPROFESSIONALANDSENSITIVETOWARDSWORKINGINAN ACADEMICANDRESEARCHENVIRONMENTTOPROMOTEOPTIMAL UTILISATIONOFRESOURCES

2EVITALISETHETEACHINGPROFESSION TOATTRACTANDRETAINQUALITY TEACHERS 4HE WORKING CONDITION OF TEACHERS NEEDS TO BE DRASTICALLY IMPROVED 2EWARDS AND RECOGNITION SHOULD BE PUBLICISED AND GIVEN AT ALL LEVELS 4EACHERS AT THE SCHOOL AND COLLEGE LEVEL SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO DEVELOPINNOVATIVETEACHINGMETHODS2ESEARCHSHOULD BE PROMOTED IN COLLEGES BY BUILDING LINKAGES BETWEEN COLLEGESANDRESEARCHINSTITUTIONS!CADEMICAUTONOMY AND mEXIBILITY SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED &URTHER A MENTORINGPROGRAMFORYOUNGFACULTYMEMBERSSHOULD BE STARTED IN UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES -ANY RESERVED FACULTYPOSTSREMAINVACANTINTHEABSENCEOFINNOVATIVE OR mEXIBLE APPOINTMENT MODES TO lLL THESE POSTS CREATING ENORMOUS PRACTICAL DIFlCULTIES IN TEACHING 4HERE IS A NEED TO START A SYSTEMATIC AFlRMATIVE CAMPAIGNTORECTIFYTHISSITUATION9OUNGSTUDENTSWHO CANEVENTUALLYlLLTHESEPOSTSCOULDBESELECTEDFROMAN EARLYAGEANDNURTUREDANDTRAINEDCAREFULLYTOINDUCT THEMINTOACAREERINTEACHING

2EVAMPTEACHERTRAININGATALL LEVELSANDPROMOTEDEVELOPMENT OFTEACHINGAIDSTORETAINSTUDENT ATTENTIONINCLASSROOMS ! SYSTEMIC CHANGE IN SCIENCE PEDAGOGY FROM PRIMARY AND HIGH SCHOOL LEVELS IS REQUIRED4HERE IS A NEED TO LAUNCH A LARGE SCALE IN SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM FOR ALL SCIENCE TEACHERS BASED ON THE INITIATIVE UNDERTAKEN BY 3CIENCE ACADEMIES !T THE UNDERGRADUATE LEVEL THE PRESENTMETHODOFFACULTYTRAININGCONDUCTEDBY3TAFF 4RAINING )NSTITUTES#ENTRES SHOULD BE REVIEWED AND REVAMPED )N ADDITION THERE IS A NEED TO PROVIDE A PLATFORM FOR LIFE LONG SKILL ENHANCEMENT OF TEACHERS 4EACHER ORGANISATIONS LIKE THE )NDIAN !SSOCIATION OF 0HYSICS4EACHERSSHOULDBESTRENGTHENEDANDlNANCIALLY

SUPPORTEDSOTHATTHEYCANBECOMELEADERSINDEVELOPING NEW TEACHING METHODOLOGIES AND MAKE SIGNIlCANT CONTRIBUTIONSTOCONTENTANDEVALUATIONREFORMS

2ESTRUCTUREMASTERSANDGRADUATE DEGREESTOPROMOTECAREER mEXIBILITYAFTERGRADUATION 4OBRINGGRADUATEDEGREESINSCIENCEATPARWITHOTHER PROFESSIONAL STREAMS A FOUR YEAR "ACHELOR IN 3CIENCE mEXIBLE AND MODULAR IN NATURE IS PROPOSED 4HIS DEGREECOURSESHOULDBEAPTLYBRANDEDANDDEVISEDSO THAT IT IS SIGNIlCANTLY STRONGER THAN THE REGULAR THREE YEARPROGRAM)TSHOULDENABLESTUDENTSASPIRINGFORA RESEARCH CAREER TO DIRECTLY ENTER A 0H$ PROGRAM &OR OTHERS IT SHOULD PROVIDE THEM WITH MEASURABLE VALUE ADDITIONSLIKEINTERDISCIPLINARYSKILLS NICHESKILLSREQUIRED IN INDUSTRY OR RIGOROUS TRAINING IN SCIENCE EDUCATION SCIENCECOMMUNICATIONETC4OENSURETHESUCCESSAND ACCEPTABILITYOFSUCHPROGRAMS THECOURSECONTENTMUST BEPLANNEDINCONSULTATIONWITHDIVERSEEXPERTGROUPS AND IMPLEMENTED AT INSTITUTIONS WITH A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF SUCCESS 3IMULTANEOUSLY THE EXISTING "3C AND-3CCOURSESSHOULDBEREFORMED4HEINTEGRATED lVE YEAR -3C PROGRAM SHOULD HAVE THE PROVISION TO BEINTEGRATEDWITHTHE0H$PROGRAMSOTHATTHETOTAL EFFECTIVETIMESPENTFORA0H$ISREDUCED

2EFORMTHESCIENCECURRICULUM CONTENTINLINEWITHTHECHANGING WORLDANDINCREASERESEARCH COMPONENTATALLLEVELS 4HERE IS AN URGENT NEED TO REDUCE INFORMATION LOAD OF CURRICULUM AT THE HIGHER SECONDARY LEVEL #OURSES SHOULDBEMADEENGAGINGANDTHEAMOUNTOFHANDS ON WORKATALLLEVELSSHOULDBEINCREASED"OOKSSHOULDBE WRITTEN BY TEACHERS WHO TEACH THE SUBJECT AND NOT BY CURRICULUM COMMITTEES 0EDAGOGY SHOULD BE MODIlED TOIMPARTCREATIVITYANDGLOBALVISIONTRAINING!VENUES FORRESEARCHSHOULDBEINCREASEDATALLLEVELS

2ADICALCHANGESAREREQUIRED INTHEEVALUATIONSYSTEMTO ENCOURAGESCIENTIlCTHINKINGAND PROMOTEBETTERUNDERSTANDINGOF BASICSCIENCECONCEPTS 4HE SYSTEM SHOULD MOVE FROM EXAMINATION BASED EVALUATION TO MORE OPEN ASSESSMENT MECHANISMS -EMORY COMPREHENSION AND CREATIVITY SHOULD BE GIVEN EQUAL IMPORTANCE IN EVALUATIONS #ONTINUOUS

ASSESSMENT AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL WILL REDUCE DEPENDENCE ONYEAR ENDEXAMINATIONS4OENABLETHEMODIlCATIONS INTHEEVALUATIONPROCESS TEACHERSNEEDTOBETRAINEDIN NEWMETHODSOFEVALUATION

0ROMOTEACCESSTOQUALITYSCIENCE EDUCATIONALMATERIALATALLLEVELS 4HERE IS A NEED TO DISSEMINATE HIGH QUALITY SCIENCE EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL AND SELF LEARNING AIDS IN LOCAL LANGUAGESTOASSISTSTUDENTSFROMNON %NGLISHMEDIUM EDUCATION BACKGROUND /NE IMPORTANT FACTOR WHICH HAS TO BE KEPT IN MIND WHILE TRANSLATING INTO LOCAL LANGUAGESISTHATTHETECHNICALSCIENTIlCTERMSSHOULD BERETAINEDIN%NGLISH4HISWILLMAKEITEASIERTOMIGRATE TO%NGLISHMEDIUMTEACHINGINSCIENCESATHIGHERLEVELFOR THESTUDENTS3PECIALTEACHINGAIDSNEEDTOBEDEVELOPED FORTRIBALCHILDRENANDCHILDRENFROMRURALBACKGROUNDS TOATTRACTTHEMTOWARDSSCIENCE4RIBALSCHOOLSSHOULDBE EQUIPPEDWITHTEACHERSWHOARETRAINEDINPEDAGOGICAL METHODSSUITEDTOTHESPECIALNEEDSOFTRIBALCHILDREN

2E BRANDANDPROMOTECAREERSIN BASICSCIENCES %XISTING CAREERS IN SCIENCES NAMELY TEACHING AND RESEARCH SHOULD BE MADE MORE ATTRACTIVE 4HERE IS A NEED TO INCREASE SALARIES IN THIS lELD TO REmECT THE SHORTAGE OF SKILLED MANPOWER AND TO ATTRACT STUDENTS TOWARDS A CAREER IN SCIENCE 3CIENCE COLLEGES SHOULD COLLABORATE WITH RESEARCH INSTITUTES AND INDUSTRY FOR CAMPUS PLACEMENTS -ORE MODULESCOURSES COULD BE DESIGNED WHICH PREPARE STUDENTS FOR EMPLOYMENT IN INDUSTRY 4HE FOUR YEAR BACHELORS COURSE OFFERED BY QUALITY INSTITUTES SHOULD DISPEL THE MYTH THAT SCIENCE BACHELORSAREINANYWAYLESSEMPLOYABLETHANGRADUATES FROM OTHER PROFESSIONAL STREAMS 2ESEARCH INSTITUTES SHOULDCOLLABORATEWITHPROFESSIONALSTREAMSTOPURSUE AND CREATE MORE OPPORTUNITIES .EW INSTITUTES WILL CREATE A DEMAND FOR QUALITY SCIENCE 0H$S AND THESE CAREEROPPORTUNITIESNEEDTOBEPUBLICISED

,AUNCHAMASSIVESCIENCEOUTREACH PROGRAMAIMEDATSTUDENTSAND THEIRPARENTS ! SCIENCE POPULARISATION PROGRAM SHOULD BE LAUNCHED TOEFFECTIVELYCOVERCHILDRENACROSS)NDIA4HISPROGRAM SHOULD BRING ALL POPULAR SCIENCE ACTIVITIES UNDER ONE UMBRELLA FOR RAPID IMPLEMENTATION AND REPLICATION OF SUCCESSFUL INITIATIVES ! LARGE CHAIN OF SCIENCE TALENT CELLS SHOULD BE CREATED AND EACH SCHOOL SHOULD BE


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FUNDED TO OPEN A SCIENCE CLUB 4HE EFFECTIVENESS OF MOBILELABSINREACHINGTHERURALSTUDENTSANDTEACHERS IS VERY HIGH 2EPLICATION OF THE !GASTYA )NTERNATIONAL &OUNDATIONSMOBILELABPROGRAM WITHPOSSIBLEPUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP MODE FOR IMPLEMENTATION SHOULD BECONSIDEREDFORVARIOUSSTATES

%NCOURAGEINDUSTRYPARTICIPATION INPROMOTINGSCIENCESATALLLEVELS !S RESEARCH BASED INDUSTRIES mOURISH IN )NDIA MORE AND MORE COMPANIES WILL NEED EMPLOYEES QUALIlED IN BASIC SCIENCES THUS CREATING OTHER ATTRACTIVE CAREER OPPORTUNITIESINSCIENCE)NDUSTRYSHOULDBEENCOURAGED TO SPONSOR STUDENTS FOR -ASTERS AND 0H$S IN SCIENCE ANDALSOINTERNSHIPSOFLONGERDURATIONININDUSTRYFOR POSTGRADUATESTUDENTS3CIENCEUNDERGRADUATESSHOULD

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BEEXPOSEDTOVARIOUSAPPLICATIONSOFSCIENCEININDUSTRY THROUGH SEMINARS AND POPULAR SCIENCE LECTURES BY INDUSTRYLEADERS!CADEMICINSTITUTIONSSHOULDDEVELOP GROUPSATEACHINSTITUTEWHICHSPECIALISEINDEVELOPING NOVEL FUNDING MECHANISMS INVOLVING INDUSTRY AND EXPLOREOTHERPOSSIBLEMODESOFINDUSTRYPARTICIPATION )NDIAHASALONGANDRICHHISTORYATTESTINGTOTHEHIGH TALENTS OF )NDIANS IN SCIENCE4O BRING BACK THE GLORY THAT THE PURE SCIENCES ONCE HELD IN THE MINDS OF THE STUDENTS ANURGENTRESTRUCTURINGOFTHEENTIRESYSTEMIS NEEDED4HESERECOMMENDATIONSAREJUSTTHEBEGINNING OFASYSTEMICOVERHAULPROCESS REQUIRINGGREATSUPPORT FROM THE GOVERNMENT AND COMMITTED INDIVIDUALS 4HE CRUCIAL INGREDIENT FOR ENSURING SUCCESS WOULD BE AN EFFECTIVE MISSION ORIENTED PLATFORM FOR DELIVERY 4HEREFORE A.ATIONAL3CIENCEAND-ATHEMATICS-ISSION ISPROPOSED

Note on More Talented Students in Maths and Science

0

URE SCIENCES FORM THE BEDROCK OF ALL APPLIED SCIENCES!DVANCEMENTINSCIENCESISANECESSARY CONDITION FOR FUTURE TECHNOLOGICAL REVOLUTIONS 7HILEINNOVATIVESCIENCEANDSCIENTIlCDISCOVERIESHAVE THE POTENTIAL OF ENABLING A QUANTUM LEAP IN HUMAN CIVILISATION PURSUIT OF SCIENCES PROMOTES A CULTURE OF OPEN MINDEDNESS AND RATIONALITY )NDIA HAS A RICH HERITAGE IN ABSTRACT THINKING AND HAS CONTRIBUTED TO SCIENTIlC DISCOVERIES SINCE ANCIENT TIMES !S )NDIA VENTURESINTOTHESTCENTURYANDSEEKSTOESTABLISHITSELF ASAKNOWLEDGESUPERPOWER ITISESSENTIALTHATASTRONG FOUNDATIONINSCIENCEISlRMLYINPLACE4HISWILLHELPTHE NATION IN BUILDING EXCELLENCE IN TECHNOLOGY ACHIEVING SELF RELIANCE AND IN PROPELLING ECONOMIC GROWTH AND PROSPERITY CONSEQUENTLY RAISING THE LIVING STANDARDS OFALLITSCITIZENS9ET ASTHEECONOMYPROGRESSES ITHAS BECOMEINCREASINGLYDIFlCULTTOENSUREASUSTAINEDINPUT OF FRESH YOUNG SCIENTISTS AND EDUCATIONISTS INTO THE SYSTEM4HISSITUATIONHASBECOMEPARTICULARLYALARMING INTHEPURESCIENCES3INCEDEVELOPINGCOMPETENCEINTHE BASICSCIENCESHASALONGINCUBATIONTIME ITISIMPORTANT THATTHISPROBLEMBEADDRESSEDWITHALACRITY3CIENCEAND -ATHEMATICSARELIVINGSUBJECTSWHICHGROWRAPIDLYAND GIVERISETONEWAREASWHICHBUILDONOTHEREXISTINGAREAS 4HEREFORE THEYNEEDACONSTANTINPUTOFFRESHANDYOUNG TALENT)TISWORTHWHILETONOTETHATDEVELOPINGCOUNTRIES LIKE #HINA AND 3OUTH +OREA HAVE INVESTED MASSIVELY IN SCIENCE EDUCATION IN THE PAST FEW DECADES AND ARE REAPING ENORMOUS BENElTS TODAY IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTANDGLOBALSTANDINGINSCIENCE 4HE 0RIME -INISTER HAS REPEATEDLY STRESSED THE IMPORTANCEOFMAKING3CIENCEAPREFERREDDISCIPLINEOF STUDY FOR STUDENTS AND HAS ALSO POINTED OUT THE NEED FORBOTHAQUALITATIVEANDQUANTITATIVEEXPANSIONINTHE POOLOFSCIENCESTUDENTS4HESTRATEGYFORTHEPROMOTION OF SCIENCE EDUCATION IN THE TH 0LAN AIMS AT A EXPANDINGANDSTRENGTHENINGTHE3CIENCE4ECHNOLOGY BASE IN OUR UNIVERSITIES AND B PROMOTING EXCELLENCE

THROUGH COMPETITIVELY SECURED FUNDING AT CENTRES FOR ADVANCEDRESEARCH )NTHISCONTEXT .+#CONDUCTEDWORKSHOPSANDEXPERT INTERVIEWSTOANALYSETHEISSUEANDRECOMMENDSTEPSTO ATTRACT AND RETAIN TALENTED STUDENTS IN BASIC SCIENCES ! WORKING GROUP OF EMINENT MEMBERS REPRESENTING UNIVERSITIES SCIENCE COLLEGES RESEARCH INSTITUTES INDUSTRY AND .'/S WAS CONSTITUTED TO LOOK INTO THE IDEASINGREATERDETAIL ANDTHIS.OTEISARESULTOFTHESE DELIBERATIONS "ROADLY THE RECOMMENDATIONS CAN BE SUMMARISED AS BETTER INFRASTRUCTURE AND PEDAGOGY CURRICULAR AND STRUCTURAL REFORMS IMPROVED ACCESS RE BRANDING OF SCIENCE CAREERS MASSIVE OUTREACH AND GREATERINDUSTRYPARTICIPATION7EAREGLADTONOTETHAT SOMERECENT5'#INITIATIVESAREINLINEWITHAFEWOF THESERECOMMENDATIONS7EAREAWARETHATWHILESOME OFTHEPROPOSALSBELOWARENEW VARIOUSEXPERTGROUPS HAVEPREVIOUSLYMADEPROPOSALSWHICHOVERLAPINSPIRIT AND CONTENT WITH THE OTHERS4HEY ARE REITERATED HERE BECAUSE IT IS FELT THAT THESE PROPOSALS NEED FAST TRACK IMPLEMENTATION FOR EFFECTING A CHANGE IN 3CIENCE %DUCATIONWHICHISCRITICALANDURGENT

2ESOURCES 2ECOMMENDATION)NVESTINUPGRADINGAND EXPANDINGTHEEXISTINGINFRASTRUCTUREAND PROMOTESHARINGOFAVAILABLERESOURCES 3CIENCE IS A CAPITAL INTENSIVE SUBJECT AND ITS PURSUIT REQUIRES GOOD INFRASTRUCTURE ADEQUATE RESOURCES AND REGULAR MAINTENANCE OF THE SAME &URTHER BETTER INFRASTRUCTUREWILLPLAYAVITALROLEINATTRACTINGSTUDENTS TOWARDSSCIENCES )SSUES 4HE CONDITION OF BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE IN MOST SCIENCE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES REMAIN LARGELY UNATTRACTIVE AND UNINSPIRING TO TODAYS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT WHO HAS AN ARRAY OF OTHER ATTRACTIVE OPTIONS

(IGHER%DUCATIONIN3CIENCEAND2ESEARCH$EVELOPMENT4HE#HALLENGES!ND4HE2OAD!HEAD ).3!AND)!3 !TTRACTING9OUNG 0EOPLETO#AREERSIN3CIENCE /FlCEOF03! 2EPORTON5NIVERSITY3CIENCE%DUCATION )!3


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WHILE CHOOSING HIS HER CAREER "ASIC INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE CLASSROOMS AND BUILDINGS AND ESSENTIAL LABORATORY EQUIPMENTDETERIORATEDUETOLACKOFPROPERMAINTENANCE 4HISCREATESAGRIMATMOSPHEREFORSTUDENTSANDTEACHERS WHOAREINTERESTEDINPURSUINGPURESCIENCES

BEEXTENDEDTOCOLLEGESWITHAPROVENTRACKRECORD)N FACT ACOMPREHENSIVEFUNDINGMECHANISMNEEDSTOBE INPLACEWHICHWILLCOVERCAPITALASWELLASMAINTENANCE EXPENSES WORKRELATEDlELDTRIPSFORSTUDENTS SUPPORT TOPUBLISHARTICLESETC

"ASICINFRASTRUCTURE4HENUMBEROFSEATSPRESENTLY AVAILABLEINGOODINSTITUTESFORBACHELORSORINTEGRATED MASTERSINSCIENCEISLIMITED4HEREISANEEDTOEXPAND SEATSATENTRYLEVELINSCIENCEDISCIPLINESTOCREATEACRITICAL MASSOFSCIENTISTSINEACHSTREAM3UBSTANTIALEXPANSION OFCAPACITYOFBACHELORSPROGRAMINALLGOODINSTITUTES ISREQUIRED4HESTARTINGOF))3%2SISASTEPINTHERIGHT DIRECTIONANDITISCRUCIALTHATTHEYSUCCEEDINSETTINGAN EXAMPLE#ARESHOULDBETAKENTHATWHILEEXCELLENCEIS CULTIVATEDINTHEM ITSHOULDNOTLEADTOTHEIRISOLATION

3HARINGRESOURCES-ANYVALUABLEFACILITIESARENOT OPTIMALLYSHAREDAMONGRESEARCHINSTITUTES LABORATORIES ANDUNIVERSITIES4HEFUNDINGAGENCIESSHOULDPROMOTE THE FORMATION OF CENTRES FOR SHARED INSTRUMENTATION BY FACILITATING A CONSORTIUM APPROACH &ULL mEDGED LABORATORIES WITHIN THE CAMPUSES OF OUR UNIVERSITIES AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS CAN BE SET UP 'REATER COLLABORATION SHOULD BE PROMOTED BETWEEN RESEARCHINSTITUTESANDUNIVERSITIESTHROUGHAPPROPRIATE INCENTIVES&URTHER COLLEGESWHICHDONOTHAVEADEQUATE INFRASTRUCTURESHOULDFORMCLUSTERSWITHNEARBYCOLLEGES AND INSTITUTES TO SHARE LABORATORY RESOURCES ESPECIALLY EXPENSIVEEQUIPMENT

! CONTINUUM OF INSTITUTES IN QUALITY IS NEEDED 7HILE THEREARE))3%2SONONEEND ANDGOVERNMENTSCIENCE COLLEGES ON THE OTHER END THERE IS A NEED TO START UNDERGRADUATE COURSES AT UNIVERSITIES AND OTHER PLACES WHICH CURRENTLY OFFER ONLY POST GRADUATE EDUCATION IN SCIENCES TO COMPLETE THE CONTINUUM OF INSTITUTES FOR STUDENTS WITH VARYING ABILITIES 3ELECT UNIVERSITIES CAN OFFER "ACHELORS HONOURS FOUR YEAR COURSE n DETAILED LATER WITHANOPTIONTODIRECTLYMOVETO0H$PROGRAM AFTERSUCCESSFULCOMPLETIONOFHONOURS )NDEPENDENT BUT STANDARDISED ACCREDITATION OF SCIENCE DEPARTMENTS AND REGULAR EVALUATION OF ACCREDITED INSTITUTIONS IS NECESSARY !CCREDITATION AGENCIES SHOULD BE SUFlCIENTLY SUPPORTED TO CARRY OUT REGULAR EVALUATIONS4HISRATINGINFORMATIONWILLHELPSTUDENTS TOTAKEINFORMEDDECISIONSWHENTHEYCHOOSETHEIRPLACE OF STUDY4HIS WILL ALSO SERVE TO DIRECT PUBLIC FUNDING WHEREITISMOSTOPTIMALLYUTILISED

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3CHOLARSHIPS 4HE NUMBER OF DIRECT SCHOLARSHIPS TO MERITORIOUS STUDENTS LIKE +609 +ISHORE 6IGYANIK 0ROTSAHAN9OJANA SHOULDBEINCREASEDTOCOVERALARGER STUDENT POPULATION 4O ENLARGE THE POOL OF SCIENTIlC MANPOWER AND FOSTER RESEARCH IN THE SCIENCES THE 'OVERNMENTOF)NDIAHASANNOUNCEDAPROGRAMENTITLED h)NNOVATION IN 3CIENCE 0URSUIT FOR )NSPIRED 2ESEARCHv ).30)2% 4HE).30)2%PROGRAMSHOULDBELAUNCHED ASSOONASPOSSIBLE

5NIVERSITYDEPARTMENTSSHOULDBEGENEROUSLYFUNDEDAND UPGRADEDWITHSTAFFANDFACILITIES4OBEGINWITH AFEW DEPARTMENTSCOULDBEIDENTIlED APLANPREPAREDFORTHEIR CONVERSIONTOCENTRESOFEXCELLENCEANDTHENCONTINUAL MONITORINGOFTHEPROGRESSCOULDBEUNDERTAKEN4HIS TASKCANBEACCOMPLISHEDBYEITHER5'#ORDIRECTLYBY -(2$,EADINGUNDERGRADUATESCIENCECOLLEGESSHOULD BE CHOSEN TO PROVIDE THEM WITH ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE AND TURN THEM INTO CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE #LUSTERS OF UNDERGRADUATECOLLEGESSHOULDMAKEACENTRALISEDREQUEST THROUGHUNIVERSITYFORCOMPREHENSIVEFUNDING

!UTONOMY AND mEXIBILITY h! UNIVERSITY IS ABOUT LEARNINGTHATMOULDSALIFETIME LEARNINGTHATTRANSMITSTHE HERITAGEOFTHEMILLENNIA LEARNINGTHATSHAPESTHEFUTUREv 7HILEEFlCIENTUNIVERSITYADMINISTRATIONSHOULDFACILITATE THIS BUREAUCRATICSTRANGLEHOLDANDPOLITICALINTERFERENCE VITIATES THE ACADEMIC ENVIRONMENT CREATING A WAR OF NERVES BETWEEN ACADEMICIANS AND THE ADMINISTRATORS 5NIVERSITIES HAVE TO BE lNANCIALLY ACCOUNTABLE TO THE GOVERNMENT BUTTHEACADEMICMATTERSSHOULDBEUNDER THE SOLE PURVIEW OF THE UNIVERSITY BODIES !T PRESENT EVEN ACADEMIC MATTERS LIKE STARTING NEW INNOVATIVE COURSESHAVETOBEAPPROVEDBYTHESTATEGOVERNMENTS 4HESE PROPOSALS DO NOT SEE THE LIGHT OF THE DAY EVEN AFTER SEVERAL YEARS !CADEMIC AUTONOMY IS ESSENTIAL TO CONTEMPORISESYLLABUSANDMAKEITMORERELEVANT4HE ADMINISTRATIONATALLLEVELSSHOULDBEMADETRANSPARENT PROFESSIONAL AND SENSITISED TOWARDS WORKING IN AN ACADEMICANDRESEARCHENVIRONMENT

5'# HAS A PROVISION TO PROVIDE GRANTS TO THE UNIVERSITIES FOR PROVIDING lNANCIAL SUPPORT TO THE FACULTY FOR TRAVEL OR TO ORGANISE SEMINARS4HIS SHOULD

4O FACILITATE TEACHING IN UNIVERSITIES BY RESEARCH SCIENTISTS SUPPORTING INFRASTRUCTURE SHOULD BE CREATED INUNIVERSITIESFORVISITINGPROFESSORS&URTHER 5NIVERSITY


ANDRESEARCHINSTITUTEFACULTYMEMBERSSHOULDBEGIVENTHE mEXIBILITY OF TAKING SABBATICALS FOR TEACHING IN COLLEGES DOING WORK IN EDUCATIONAL lELD AND FOR POPULARISING SCIENCEAMONGCHILDREN TEACHERSANDCOMMUNITIESINRURAL ANDURBANAREAS!PPROPRIATECHECKSANDBALANCESCANBE PUTINPLACETOENSURETHATTHEORGANISATIONSWHERETHE FACULTYMEMBERSCHOOSETOWORKAREINDEEDBENElTING FROMTHEIRPARTICIPATION

NEEDTOBEHIKEDACROSSTHEBOARD2EWARDSSHOULDBE INSTITUTEDFORGOODTEACHINGBASEDONSTUDENTFEEDBACK IN COLLEGES 4HE REWARDS SHOULD BE GIVEN AT ALL LEVELS AND SHOULD BE ORGANISED WITH SUFlCIENT PUBLICITY )NNOVATIONINTEACHINGSHOULDBEENCOURAGEDTHROUGH APPROPRIATEINCENTIVES4HEPRACTICEOFINSTITUTINGCHAIRS LIKE .ATIONAL 0ROFESSORS SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO SCHOOL ANDCOLLEGETEACHERSTOO

4HERE IS A HORDE OF GRANT DISBURSING GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND ORGANISATIONS 2ESEARCHERS SEEKING FUNDS FOR THEIR PROJECTS HAVE TO MANOEUVRE ACROSS ALL THESEADMINISTRATIVEHASSLESTOGETFUNDS!WEBPORTAL WHICHBRINGSALLRELEVANTFUNDINGINFORMATIONTOGETHER SHOULDBELAUNCHED!DMINISTRATIVEPROBLEMSANDDELAYS CREATEDBYFUNDINGAGENCIESSHOULDBEDONEAWAYWITH #OMPETITIVE PROCESS FOR GRANTS SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED 0RINCIPLES OF E GOVERNANCE SHOULD BE INCORPORATED TO PROMOTETRANSPARENCYINTHESYSTEM

0ROFESSIONALDEVELOPMENT3CHOOLTEACHERSSHOULD BE PROVIDED WITH AVENUES TO DISCUSS NEW PEDAGOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS&ORINSTANCE THEYSHOULDBEENCOURAGED TODOPROJECTSINLABORATORIESINCOLLEGESDURINGVACATION TIME #OLLEGES CAN BE GIVEN SEPARATE FUNDS TO RUN SUCH PROGRAMS 3CHOOL TEACHERS SHOULD BE SUFlCIENTLY INCENTIVISEDTODEVELOPNEWEXPERIMENTSANDACTIVITIES TOBEUSEDATSCHOOLLEVEL

2ECOMMENDATION2EVITALISETHETEACHING PROFESSIONTOATTRACTANDRETAINQUALITY TEACHERS 4HEWORKINGCONDITIONSFORSCIENCETEACHERSATALLLEVELS SHOULD BE IMPROVED -ASSIVE EFFORTS ARE NEEDED NOT ONLYTOMAKETEACHINGANATTRACTIVEPROFESSIONFORYOUNG SCIENCETRAINEDPROFESSIONALS BUTALSOTOREVIVETHEDESIRE TOTEACHANDINSPIRESTUDENTSINEXISTINGTEACHERS )SSUES 4HE BASE SALARY OF TEACHERS IS LOW &URTHER REWARDANDRECOGNITIONMECHANISMSDONOTEXIST"ASIC INFRASTRUCTUREISINADEQUATEANDPOORLYMAINTAINED)N ADDITION SYSTEMATIC POLITICISATION OF UNIVERSITIES HAS CONTRIBUTEDTOTHEDETERIORATINGENVIRONMENT/VERALL THEMORALEOFTHETEACHERSISSEVERELYAFFECTED4EACHING IS TAKEN UP BY UNINSPIRED PRACTITIONERS WHO DO NOT COMMUNICATE THE PASSION FOR DOING SCIENCE 3HORTAGE OF TEACHERS IN COLLEGES RESULTS IN ADDITIONAL BURDEN OF TEACHING LOAD LEAVING LITTLE ROOM FOR INNOVATION IN TEACHING 4HE PRACTICE OF CONTRACTUAL TEACHING WITHOUTAPPROPRIATEREMUNERATIONHASCREATEDITSOWN PROBLEMS!CCESSTOGOODLIBRARIES TEACHINGAIDSETCIS NOT AVAILABLE #OLLEGE TEACHERS DO NOT GET EXPOSURE TO NEWESTDEVELOPMENTSINTHEIRlELDS!CADEMICFREEDOM ANDmEXIBILITYISLACKINGINTHEPRESENTRIGIDSYSTEM 2EWARDSANDRECOGNITION4HETEACHINGPROFESSION HAS BEEN SEVERELY UNDERMINED IN RECENT YEARS AND THE WORKING CONDITIONS OF TEACHERS NEEDS TO BE DRASTICALLY IMPROVED )T IS ESSENTIAL THAT TEACHERS ARE GIVEN DUE RECOGNITION FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIETY 3ALARIES

4EACHINGLOADINCOLLEGESSHOULDBELIGHTENEDTOPROVIDE SCOPEFORPROFESSIONALDEVELOPMENT4HERESHOULDBEA PROVISIONOFRESEARCHFACILITIESINALLCOLLEGESORASYSTEM WHEREININTERESTEDCOLLEGETEACHERSCANAVAILOFNEARBY RESEARCHFACILITIES!CCESSTOJOURNALSANDINTERNETBASED LEARNINGMUSTBEPROVIDED.EWFACULTYMEMBERSSHOULD BEGIVENLIGHTERTEACHINGLOADANDASTARTUPGRANTFOR RESEARCH4HISWILLENABLETHEMTOESTABLISHTHEMSELVES INTHEIRCHOSENRESEARCHAREA4HEREISANEEDTOINCREASE ACADEMIC FREEDOM AT ALL LEVELS !CADEMIC AUTONOMY IS IMPORTANT IN RETAINING TEACHERS 4EACHERS SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED AND EMPOWERED TO TRY NEW PEDAGOGICAL TOOLS &LEXIBILITY IS IMPORTANT TO CONTEMPORISE CLASSROOM LEARNINGANDMAKEITMOREENGAGING -ENTORING!MENTORINGPROGRAMFORYOUNGFACULTY MEMBERS SHOULD BE STARTED IN UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES %XPERIENCEDFACULTYMEMBERSCANMENTORJUNIORMEMBERS ONISSUESRELATEDTOSTARTINGNEWRESEARCHPROJECTS GRANT APPLICATIONWRITINGETC4HEYCANSHARETIPSONDIFFERENT ASPECTS OF CLASSROOM TEACHING LIKE SYLLABUS PLANNING MANAGINGTHECLASSESETC0EEREVALUATIONOFTEACHINGAND EXCHANGEOFIDEASONPEDAGOGYSHOULDBEENCOURAGED -ANYRESERVEDFACULTYPOSTSREMAINVACANTINTHEABSENCE OFINNOVATIVEORmEXIBLEAPPOINTMENTMODESTOlLLTHESE POSTS4HISLEADSTOEXCESSSTRAINANDTEACHINGLOADON THEEXISTINGTEACHERS)NADDITION THISHASCONTRIBUTED TO THE GRADUAL DECAY AND DEATH OF MANY DEPARTMENTS OF PURE SCIENCES IN COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AROUND THECOUNTRY WHICHWEREONCEFAMOUSFORTHEIRSCIENCE TEACHING4HEREISANEEDTOSTARTASYSTEMATICAFlRMATIVE CAMPAIGN TO RECTIFY THIS SITUATION 9OUNG STUDENTS WHO CANEVENTUALLYlLLTHESEPOSTSSHOULDBESELECTEDFROMAN


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EARLYAGEANDNURTUREDCAREFULLYTOINDUCTTHEMINTOA CAREERINTEACHING3PECIALMENTORPROGRAMSWITHHIGHLY INDIVIDUALISED ATTENTION SHOULD BE AN IN BUILT PART OF THISPROGRAM

2ECOMMENDATION2EVAMPTEACHERTRAINING ATALLLEVELSANDPROMOTEDEVELOPMENTOF TEACHINGAIDSTORETAINSTUDENTATTENTIONIN CLASSROOMS !SYSTEMICCHANGEINSCIENCEPEDAGOGYFROMPRIMARYAND HIGHSCHOOLLEVELSISREQUIRED4EACHINGSHOULDBEMADE MORE INQUIRY BASED )T SHOULD RAISE CURIOSITY CONVEY THEEXCITEMENTOFSCIENCEANDENABLEUNDERSTANDINGOF NATURETHROUGHEXPERIMENTS )SSUES 5NIMAGINATIVE SCIENCE TEACHING HAS PROMOTED ROTELEARNING THEREBYDOUSINGTHEVERYSPIRITOFENQUIRY THATASTUDYOFSCIENCESHOULDNURTUREINYOUNGMINDS 4EACHING IS ACCOMPANIED BY A LIMITED NUMBER OF DEMONSTRATIONS AND ACTIVITIES 3CIENCE IS PROJECTED AS AN ABSTRACT DIFlCULT SUBJECT TO ITS YOUNG PRACTITIONERS 4HEREISNOEFFORTONTHEPARTOFTHESYSTEMTOENGAGE STUDENTSINTHEPROCESSOFSCIENTIlCENQUIRY%MPHASIS ISNOTLAIDONTHOROUGHUNDERSTANDINGOFFUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS )NSTEAD STUDENTS ARE OVERLOADED WITH MORE ANDMOREINFORMATION4HISISALSOENCOURAGEDBYTHE CURRENT EVALUATION SYSTEM AND VARIOUS COMPETITIVE EXAMINATIONBODIES 4EACHERTRAINING4OHELPTEACHERSKEEPPACEWITH RECENT ADVANCES IN THEIR SUBJECTS AND NEW PEDAGOGIC TOOLS THERE IS A NEED TO LAUNCH LARGE SCALE IN SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM FOR ALL SCIENCE TEACHERS 4RAINING TEACHERS IS NECESSARY BECAUSE AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL THEYAREEXPECTEDTOTEACHGENERALSCIENCECOURSES THOUGHTHEYMIGHTHAVERECEIVEDTRAININGINONLY ONE OF THE DISCIPLINES 4HE DELIVERY MEDIUM SHOULD BE CLASSROOMBASED SUPPORTEDBYMATERIALSBASEDON)#4 6IDEO CONFERENCINGSESSIONSCANBEVERYUSEFUL3CIENCE ACADEMIES HAVE LAUNCHED SUCH A TRAINING PROGRAM AND THIS CAN SERVE AS A MODEL FOR OTHER INSTITUTES 4HE IN SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM FOR TEACHERS NEEDS TO BE REVAMPED 4HE FREQUENCY OF TRAINING SHOULD BE INCREASED 4EACHER TRAINING INSTITUTES SHOULD BE MEASURED ON THEIR PERFORMANCE BASED ON OUTCOMES %VERY TRAINING SCHOOL CAN BE LINKED TO NEARBY SCHOOLS FOR THIS PURPOSE4HE PERFORMANCE OF STUDENTS CAN BE TAKEN AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR MEASURING THE PERFORMANCE OF TEACHERS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TRAINING SCHOOL !PART FROM FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS INQUISITIVENESS CREATIVITY PROBLEM SOLVING AND RESEARCH ORIENTATION SHOULD BE

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INCLUDED IN TEACHING !T THE UNDERGRADUATE LEVEL THE PRESENTMETHODOFFACULTYTRAININGCONDUCTEDBY3TAFF 4RAINING )NSTITUTES#ENTRES SHOULD BE REVIEWED AND THETRAININGSYSTEMWITHLECTURESALONESHOULDBEDONE AWAYWITH4HEREISANEEDTOREVAMPTHE2EFRESHERAND /RIENTATION COURSES CONDUCTED UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF 5'#4HE NEED IS TO PROVIDE A PLATFORM FOR LIFE LONG SKILLENHANCEMENTOFTEACHERS $EDICATEDTRAININGCENTRESCANBEESTABLISHEDATRESEARCH INSTITUTESUNIVERSITIES FOR ADVANCED LEVEL COURSES ! DATABASEOFGOODTEACHERSSHOULDBECREATEDSOTHATTHEY CANBETAPPEDFORDISCUSSIONFORUMS VIDEO CONFERENCING SESSIONSANDFORLIVEINTERACTIONSWITHTRAINEES,ECTURES OFGOODTEACHERSSHOULDBERECORDEDANDMADEAVAILABLE IN#$SORONINTERNETFOREASYACCESSIBILITY7EBENABLED DISCUSSION FORUMS SHOULD BE PROMOTED 4EACHERS SHOULDBECONNECTEDWITHONEANOTHERSOTHATINTIME TEACHERORGANISATIONSCANBECOMELEADERSINDEVELOPING NEW TEACHING METHODOLOGIES AND MAKE SIGNIlCANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO CONTENT AND EVALUATION REFORMS 7ELL ESTABLISHED ASSOCIATIONS LIKE )NDIAN !SSOCIATION OF 0HYSICS 4EACHERSANDOTHERSLIKETHENASCENT)NDIAN!SSOCIATIONOF 4EACHERS IN "IOLOGICAL 3CIENCES SHOULD BE STRENGTHENED BY APPROPRIATElNANCIALANDOTHERSUPPORT 4EACHINGAIDS7ITHTHEADVENTOFNEWTECHNOLOGY THEREISANEEDTODEVELOPBETTERTEACHINGAIDSTOMAKE CLASSROOMS LIVELIER 4HERE IS AN ARRAY OF OPEN SOURCE MATERIALAND)#4AIDEDTOOLS WHICHCANMAKECLASSROOM TRANSACTIONS IN MATH AND SCIENCE MORE ENGAGING AND PARTICIPATORY!TPRESENT ITISFELTTHATNEITHERTHETEACHERS NOR STUDENTS ARE FULLY FAMILIAR WITH THESE RESOURCES -ULTIMEDIA SHOULD BE APPROPRIATELY USED AND EASILY REPLICABLEHANDSONACTIVITIESTODEMONSTRATESCIENTIlC CONCEPTSSHOULDBEMADEPARTOFREGULARTEACHING4HE (OSHANGABAD 3CIENCE 4EACHING 0ROGRAM SHOULD BE EMULATEDBYTHETRAININGSCHOOLSTOENABLETEACHERSTOUSE THESECONCEPTSINTHEIROWNSCHOOLS6IRTUALLABORATORIES PROGRAM SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED AND SCALED UP SO THAT SCHOOLS WHICH ARE IN A POSITION TO BENElT FROM SUCH EXPERIMENTSHAVETHEOPPORTUNITYTODOSO 3OMEEXTERNALMEASURESTORAISEQUALITYOFSCIENCE TEACHING  'OOD TEACHERS CAN OFFER COMMON COURSES IN AN INSTITUTE CLUSTER 4HIS WILL ENABLE ACCESS TO GOOD TEACHINGFORALARGENUMBEROFSTUDENTSANDPROVIDE THEMWITHANOPTIONOFHOSTOFELECTIVES  "RIGHTYOUNGFACULTYSHOULDBEATTRACTEDWITHHIGH SALARIES4HISWILLINJECTMUCHNEEDEDFRESHBLOODIN OURUNIVERSITIES



2ESEARCHERS IN )NDIA AND ALUMNI IN RESEARCH INSTITUTES ABROAD SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO TEACH 4HEYAREBESTPOSITIONEDTOCONVEYTHEEXCITEMENT OFSCIENCE  3CHEMES THAT PERMIT UTILISATION OF THE SKILLS OF TALENTEDTEACHERSANDSCIENTISTS WHOHAVEREACHED FORMALRETIREMENTAGE WILLBEANIMPORTANTSTEPIN MAINTAINING STANDARDS IN MANY DISCIPLINES WHICH HAVEBEENHARDHITBYDECLININGRECRUITMENTSOVER THEYEARS  5NIVERSITIES SHOULD BE GIVEN lNANCIAL SUPPORT TO ATTRACTGOODTEACHERSANDRESEARCHERSFROMINSTITUTES IN )NDIA OR ABROAD FOR PERIODS RANGING FROM ONE SEMESTERTOANACADEMICYEARORSO TOHELPINTRODUCE TEACHINGINNEWlELDS

))3CIENCEEDUCATIONINSCHOOLSAND COLLEGES 2ECOMMENDATION2ESTRUCTUREMASTERSAND GRADUATEDEGREESTOPROMOTECAREERmEXIBILITY AFTERGRADUATION 3TRUCTURALREFORMSINCOURSESARENEEDEDTOSTREAMLINE AVAILABLE OPTIONS AND PRESENT STUDENTS WITH MULTIPLE OPTIONS0REFERENCESOFSTUDENTSWHOINTENDTOPURSUEA CAREERINRESEARCHWILLBEDIFFERENTFROMTHOSEWHOWANT TOWORKININDUSTRYIMMEDIATELYAFTERGRADUATION-ANY STUDENTSMAYWANTTOPURSUEAMOREGENERALISEDSCIENCE COURSE WHILE OTHERS MAY PREFER A HIGHLY SPECIALISED COURSE FOCUSED ON A PARTICULAR STREAM )SSUES 4HE PRESENTCOURSESOFSTUDYAVAILABLEATVARIOUSCOLLEGESAND UNIVERSITIESINVOLVEREPETITIONATEACHLEVEL4HISAFFECTS STUDENTSINTERESTADVERSELY4HEREISANEEDTOINTEGRATE COURSECURRICULUMFROMSENIORSECONDARYLEVELTOMASTER LEVELINSCIENCES-OSTOFTHE"3CCOURSESINTHECOUNTRY FAIL TO PROVIDE A WIDER CONCEPTUAL BASE IN DIVERSE DISCIPLINES OF 3CIENCE AND THUS SEVERELY LIMIT hINTER DISCIPLINARYv CAPABILITY OF THE GRADUATING STUDENTS )N THEABSENCEOFEXTENSIVELABORATORYWORK THEGRADUATES DO NOT KNOW HOW TO ACTUALLY DO AN EXPERIMENT AND WITHOUT ANY SELF UNDERTAKEN EXPLORATORY EXPERIMENTAL WORK THEYALSOFAILTOLEARNHOWTOASKNEWQUESTIONS FORRESEARCH 4O BRING A GRADUATE DEGREE IN SCIENCE AT PAR WITH OTHER STREAMS A FOUR YEAR "ACHELORS IN 3CIENCE COURSE IS PROPOSED4HIS DEGREE COURSE SHOULD BE APTLY BRANDED SOTHATITGAINSMORESIGNIlCANCETHANTHEREGULARTHREE YEAR PROGRAM4O ENSURE THE SUCCESS AND ACCEPTABILITY OF THIS PROGRAM THE COURSE CONTENT MUST BE PLANNED IN CONSULTATION WITH DIVERSE EXPERT GROUPS AND

IMPLEMENTEDATINSTITUTIONSWITHAPROVENTRACKRECORD OFSUCCESS4HElRSTTWOYEARSOFTHISCOURSEWOULDBE COMMONFORALLSTUDENTS4HESTUDENTSMAYCHOOSETHEIR STREAMS BASED ON INTEREST AND PERFORMANCE AFTER TWO YEARS)FTHECOURSEISOFFEREDINANINSTITUTEUNIVERSITY WHEREENGINEERINGCOURSESAREALSOOFFEREDTHERECANBE APROVISIONOFmEXIBILITYTOMOVEFROM"3CTO"4ECH &URTHER A STUDENT COULD ALSO CHOOSE TO TAKE A YEAR INTEGRATED"3CPLUS"%DCOURSEINCOLLEGESWHERESUCH AFACILITYISAVAILABLE!FOURYEAR"3C"%D0ROGRAM IS A MORE EFFECTIVE TRAINING PROGRAM THAN THE CURRENT PRACTICEOF"%DAFTERCOMPLETING"3C&UNDINGOFTHIS PROGRAMSHOULDBEGIVENSPECIALATTENTION5NIVERSITIES 3CIENCE COLLEGES MUST BE ENCOURAGED TO RUN SUCH PROGRAMS )F THE STUDENT DOES NOT OPT FOR "%D THEN SHECANEITHERDOARESEARCHPROJECTINlNALYEARORTAKE UPEMPLOYMENTFRIENDLYMODULESLIKECLINICALRESEARCH STATISTICSETC 4HEEXACTDURATIONOFTHECOURSENEEDNOTBElXEDBUT SHOULD BE BASED ON CREDITS 4HUS IF A BRIGHT STUDENT COMPLETES THE REQUIREMENT OF ALL NECESSARY CREDITS A SEMESTER BEFORE SHE COULD DO ADDITIONAL ADVANCED COURSES IN THE REMAINING PERIOD !LSO IF THE PLACE S HE IS STUDYING OFFERS -3C AND 0H$ THERE SHOULD BE mEXIBILITYTOSTARTEARNINGCREDITSFORTHEMASTERSCOURSES SUCHTHATTHETOTALEFFECTIVETIMESPENTIN"3C-3CIS REDUCED ANDTHESTUDENTCANDIRECTLYOPTFOR0H$ATTHE END OF THE COURSE4HE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ENCOURAGE UNIVERSITIESAND))4S))3%2SRESEARCHINSTITUTESTOSTART ABROADBASEDUNDERGRADUATEDEGREEPROGRAMINSCIENCE "ASEDONTHECOURSECREDITSSTUDENTSACQUIRE THEDEGREE CANBEAPTLYNAMEDLIKE"ACHELORIN-ATHEMATICSAND #OMPUTER3CIENCE "ACHELORIN#HEMISTRYAND"IOLOGY ETC (IGHLY SPECIALISED COURSES LIKE "IOTECHNOLOGY OR "IOINFORMATICS AT UNDERGRADUATE LEVEL SHOULD BE AVOIDED)NSTEADTHEEMPHASISSHOULDBEONBROADBASED KNOWLEDGEOFVARIOUSSCIENCESTREAMS 4HEYEARREGULAR"3CCOURSESHOULDBEREFORMED )NTHElRSTYEAR THEPROGRAMSHOULDINCLUDECOURSESIN ALLMAJORDISCIPLINESOFSCIENCE SOTHATALLSTUDENTSLEARN THEBASICSOFhPHYSICALv hLIFEvANDhEARTHvSCIENCES4HESE COURSES SHOULD ADVANCE THE STUDENTS UNDERSTANDING BEYOND THE LEVEL WHERE THE FOCUS IS MORE ON INFORMATION DUE TO LIMITED EVALUATION METHODOLOGY h$ElCIENCYvCOURSESMAYNEEDTOBEPLANNEDFORTHOSE WHO HAVE NOT STUDIED -ATHEMATICS OR "IOLOGY AT THE LEVEL)NTHESECONDYEAR ASTUDENTMAYSELECTTHREE MAINSUBJECTSHOWEVER ABOUT PERCENTOFCREDITS SHOULD BE EARNED THROUGH COURSES FROM OTHER STREAMS EG A STUDENT OF h0HYSICS-ATHSv STREAM MAY TAKE


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SOME COURSES IN "IOLOGICAL%ARTH SCIENCES AND VICE VERSA )N THE lNAL YEAR THE STUDENT MAY SELECT ONE SUBJECT -AJOR SUBJECT OUT OF THE THREE STUDIED IN THE SECOND YEAR !GAIN PER CENT CREDITS SHOULD BE OBTAINED THROUGH COURSES IN OTHER STREAMS 4HESE SHOULDALSOINCLUDECOURSESDESIGNEDTOIMPROVEhSKILLSv LIKECOMPUTERPROGRAMMING STATISTICS INSTRUMENTATION OPTICALELECTRONIC ETC !LL SCIENCE COURSES MUST INCLUDE TO PER CENT CREDITSINLABORATORYANDlELDWORKWHEREAPPLICABLEAS IN%ARTHSCIENCESANDSOMEAREASIN"IOLOGICALSCIENCES ANDTHELABORATORYEXERCISESSHOULDBEPLANNEDINSUCHA MANNERTHATSTUDENTSHAVEOPPORTUNITIESFORhHANDSONv TRAINING ANDACERTAINPROPORTIONOFPRACTICALSSHOULDBE hOPEN ENDEDvSOTHATSTUDENTSCANLEARNTOBEINNOVATIVE EXPLORATORY4HEhOPEN ENDEDvEXERCISESMAYALSOBEIN FORM OF hPROJECTSv WHICH SHOULD INCLUDE BESIDES THE ACTUALSTUDY PREPARATIONOFAFORMALREPORT#AREMUST BEEXERCISEDTOENSURETHATTHEPRACTICALSDONOTBECOME hRITUALSvORhDEMONSTRATIONSv ANDPROJECTREPORTSDONOT GETREPLICATEDFROMONEBATCHTOTHENEXT )TISALSODESIRABLETHATLANGUAGECOURSESAREINTRODUCED ATLEASTFROMTHEVIEWPOINTOFPRESENTATIONOFDATAETC IN SCIENTIlC REPORTSPAPERS )N ADDITION THE STUDENTS SHOULDALSOBEENCOURAGEDTOTAKESOMEEXTRACREDITSIN COURSESINOTHERFACULTIES LIKE!RTS 3OCIAL3CIENCESETC TODEVELOPAMOREINTEGRATIVEPERSONALITY4OENCOURAGE COMMUNICATIONSKILLS EACHSTUDENTSHOULDBEREQUIRED TO GIVE AT LEAST ONE SEMINAR ON A CURRENT TOPIC IN THE lNALYEAROF"3C 4HE INTEGRATED -3C OFFERED BY MANY INSTITUTES SHOULD BE MADE MORE mEXIBLE 4HE PROGRAM SHOULD OFFER MORE ELECTIVE CHOICES FOR STUDENTS4HE PROGRAM SHOULD BE RESTRUCTURED SO THAT THE STUDENTS HAVE THE OPTION TO PURSUE A PART OF THEIR TRAINING OUTSIDE THE MOTHERINSTITUTE4HISISBEINGFOLLOWEDSUCCESSFULLYIN INSTITUTES LIKE ")43 0ILANI &URTHER A STUDENT SHOULD HAVE THE mEXIBILITY TO MAJOR IN A SCIENCE STREAM AND OBTAINAMINORINENGINEERINGORTECHNOLOGYORANOTHER SCIENCESTREAM4HEPROGRAMSHOULDHAVETHEPROVISION TOBEINTEGRATEDWITHTHE0H$PROGRAMOFFEREDBYTHE INSTITUTESOTHATTHEEFFECTIVETIMESPENTIN"3C-3C 0H$REDUCES!LSOTHEINTEGRATED-3CSHOULDHAVE A PROVISION OF EXIT FOR A STUDENT AFTER YEARS WITH A "3C DEGREE !S AN INTEGRATED -3C COURSE BY ITS VERY NATUREWILLHAVEAMAJORINTERDISCIPLINARYCOMPONENT ITSHOULDBERUNININSTITUTESORUNIVERSITIESWHICHHAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO PROVIDE SUCH mEXIBILITY 3TUDENTS SHOULDHAVETHEOPTIONTOSTUDYAWIDEVARIETYOFSUBJECTS

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BEFORECHOOSINGTHEIRTHESISTOPIC!CLUSTEROFINSTITUTES INTHESAMELOCALITYCANCOMETOGETHERTOPRESENTAND OFFERSUCHABOUQUETOFCOURSES 0REMIERENGINEERINGINSTITUTESSHOULDBEENCOURAGED TOOFFERACOMBINEDMASTERSDEGREEINTECHNOLOGYAND SCIENCES TO LURE SOME STUDENTS TO SCIENCES &LEXIBILITY TO CHANGE STREAMS FROM ENGINEERING AND MEDICINE TO SCIENCESANDVICEVERSASHOULDBEBUILTIN-ASTERSAND DOCTORATESINPURESCIENCESSHOULDBEOPENTOGRADUATE ENGINEERING AND MEDICINE STUDENTS 2EMEDIAL COURSES CANBERUNBYPREMIERINSTITUTESTOBRIDGETHEGAPINTHE KNOWLEDGEOFPROFESSIONALDEGREESTUDENTS4HE")43 0ILANIMODELISWORTHSTUDYINGINTHISCONTEXT&REQUENT INTERACTIONS WITH STUDENTS OF ENGINEERING AND MEDICAL STREAMS ARE IMPORTANT TO EXPOSE AND ENABLE STUDENTS TOCONTRIBUTETOINTERDISCIPLINARYRESEARCH)NTERACTIONS CANBEPLANNEDINTHEFORMOFRESEARCHPROJECTS STUDENT SEMINARS AND CONFERENCES ON RECENT ADVANCES IN EACH DISCIPLINEWHEREPARTICIPATIONISOPENTOALL

2ECOMMENDATION2EFORMTHESCIENCE CURRICULUMCONTENTINLINEWITHTHECHANGING WORLDANDINCREASERESEARCHCOMPONENTATALL LEVELS 4HERE IS A NEED TO CHANGE THE BALANCE OF CONTENT IN FAVOUROFHANDS ONACTIVITIESANDRESEARCHATALLLEVELS )NCREASEINEXPERIMENTALLEARNINGWILLINCREASESTUDENT INTERESTINSCIENCE#ONTENTDEVELOPMENTACTIVITIESALSO NEED TO BE ALTERED TO CATER TO ALL SEGMENTS OF STUDENT POPULATION )SSUES &IRSTLY THE CURRICULUM LOAD AT SCHOOL LEVEL HAS SIGNIlCANTLYIMPACTEDTHEUNDERSTANDINGOFFUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS )NmEXIBILITIES IN THE COURSE CURRICULUM LACK OF APPLICATION ORIENTED CONTENT AND POORLY DESIGNED LABORATORY COURSES HAVE MADE SCIENCES UNATTRACTIVE 3ECONDLY EMERGING TECHNOLOGY HAS RESHAPED AND CONTINUESTORESHAPEEVERYDISCIPLINERAPIDLY#OMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE WILL REST WITH THOSE WHO HAVE LIFE LONG SELF LEARNINGSKILLSANDHUMANISTICGROUNDINGANDNOTWITH THOSE STUFFED WITH MOST INFORMATION 'LOBALISATION DEMANDSINDIVIDUALSWHOCANCOPEWITHEXPLODINGAND CHALLENGING LANDSCAPES OF THE FUTURE WORLD4HERE IS A NEEDTOMODIFYTHECURRENTEDUCATIONSYSTEMTOADAPT TOCHANGINGNEEDSOFSOCIETY 2EDUCTIONOFLOAD4HEREISANURGENTNEEDTOREDUCE INFORMATION LOAD OF CURRICULUM AT HIGHER SECONDARY LEVEL #OURSES SHOULD BE MADE ENGAGING AND NOT VERY HEAVY&UNDAMENTALSSHOULDBEEMPHASISEDBYPROVIDING

MORE BACKGROUND AND APPLICATION RELATED PROBLEMS ON EACHCONCEPT #ONTENTREFORMS4HEAMOUNTOFHANDS ONWORKAT ALLLEVELSSHOULDBEINCREASED4OMAKESCIENCESINTERESTING LOCALENVIRONMENTCANBEMADEAPARTOFLEARNING3TUDENTS CANAPPLYPRINCIPLESOFSCIENCETOSOLVELOCALPROBLEMS 4HIS CAN BE COORDINATED WITH LOCAL SCIENCE BODIES 'ROUP ACTIVITIES HANDS ON TRAINING STUDENT SEMINARS PROJECTCAMPSINSUMMERSSHOULDBEENCOURAGEDATALL LEVELS,ABORATORYCOURSESSHOULDFOLLOWACONTINUUM 4OAIDLEARNINGBYINQUIRY MOREEXPLORATORYMETHODS MUST BE INCORPORATED INTO THE CURRICULUM ! LARGER NUMBEROFEXPERIMENTS KITSANDMULTIMEDIATEACHING AIDSSHOULDBECREATEDUSING ASFARASPOSSIBLE LOCALLY AVAILABLE MATERIALS WITH ACCOMPANYING DO IT YOURSELF BOOKS-OSTTEXTBOOKSATSCHOOLLEVELDONOTDESCRIBE THEDETAILSOFEXPERIMENTSANDTEACHERSAREOFTENNOTSURE HOWTODOTHEEXPERIMENTSORWHYTHEIREXPERIMENTSFAIL nITSHOULDBEENSUREDTHATPRACTICALMANUALSEXPLAINING DETAILS SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE $ETAILS ABOUT WHERE THEREQUIREMENTSKITITEMSCANBEAVAILABLEANDEXPECTED COSTSHOULDBEPROVIDED3TUDENTSSHOULDBEENCOURAGED TOEXPERIMENTINACREATIVE UNFETTEREDFASHION4HISCALLS FORCHANGESINTHECURRICULUM TEACHINGANDATTITUDEOF SCHOOLADMINISTRATORSNOTVIEWINGLABSORINSTRUMENTS ORCHEMICALSASPRIZEDPOSSESSIONSETC "OOKSSHOULDBEWRITTENBYTEACHERSWHOTEACHTHESUBJECT ANDNOTBYCURRICULUMCOMMITTEES!CULTUREOFWRITING BOOKS NEEDS TO BE DEVELOPED -ASS COLLABORATION FOR CONTENT DEVELOPMENT SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED 4HE GOVERNMENT SHOULD PROMOTE )NDIAN EDITION OF LATEST BOOKSINSCIENCE

!TTHEUNDERGRADLEVEL THISCANBEDONETHROUGHPOPULAR SCIENCE LECTURES 2ESEARCH INSTITUTES AND UNIVERSITIES SHOULD COLLABORATE TO LAUNCH ATTRACTIVE PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS4HESESPECIALISEDCOURSESWILLHELPINCHANNELLING STUDENT INTEREST TOWARDS SCIENCES 3CIENTISTS SHOULD BE INCENTIVISEDFORTEACHING)FTHERESEARCHINSTITUTESHAVE ADEQUATE TEACHING INFRASTRUCTURE SOME OF THEM CAN RUN SIX MONTHS RESIDENTIAL COURSES AT THEIR PREMISES ANDOFFERRESEARCHTRAININGINTHElNALSEMESTERTOPOST GRADUATESTUDENTS 5NDERGRADUATE SUMMER FELLOWSHIPS SHOULD BE POPULARISED AND INCREASED IN NUMBER 4HE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMCURRENTLYRUNBYSCIENCEACADEMIESANDOTHER RESEARCHINSTITUTESSHOULDBEINTEGRATEDANDPOPULARISED SOTHATSTUDENTSHAVEUNIFORMACCESSTOINFORMATIONAND OPPORTUNITYTODOAPROJECTATAPREMIERINSTITUTE ! h5NIVERSITY )NNOVATION &UNDv CAN BE CONSTITUTED TO PROMOTE PROJECTS BY COLLEGE UNIVERSITY RESEARCHERS SHOWINGPOTENTIALFORINNOVATION4HEFUNDINGSYSTEM SHOULD BE INTENSIVELY PEER REVIEWED4HESE INNOVATIVE GRANTS SHOULD BE CLOSELY MONITORED IN TERMS OF PERFORMANCE WITH A PROVISION FOR EARLY TERMINATION IF MILESTONES ARE NOT ACHIEVED /N THE SAME LINES THE #OLLEGE3CIENCE)MPROVEMENT0ROGRAMCANBEPROMOTED 4EACHERSSHOULDCOMETOGETHERTODESIGNANDFABRICATE NEWLABEXPERIMENTS

2ECOMMENDATION2ADICALCHANGESARE REQUIREDINTHEEVALUATIONSYSTEMTOENCOURAGE SCIENTIlCTHINKINGANDPROMOTEBETTER UNDERSTANDINGOFBASICSCIENCECONCEPTS

4OBEREADYFORTHEEVERCHANGINGSCIENTIlCWORLD WE SHOULDDEVELOPANDIMPARTCREATIVITYTRAININGTHATISTHE ABILITY TO SYNTHESISE CONCEPTUALLY 0EDAGOGY SHOULD BE MODIlEDTOENTAILSUCHTRAINING4OEMPOWERSTUDENTS TOFACEFUTURECHALLENGESIMPOSEDBYGLOBALISATION GLOBAL VISIONTRAININGSHOULDBEIMPARTEDTOSTUDENTS3TUDENT EXCHANGEPROGRAMSSHOULDBEINCREASEDASINTERNATIONAL STUDENTSBRINGFRESHPERSPECTIVECRUCIALFORTURNINGOUT GLOBALCITIZENS

)SSUES 4HE PRESENT EVALUATION SYSTEM TESTS MEMORY INSTEADOFCOMPREHENSION)TDOESNOTPROMOTECREATIVE THINKING OR PROBLEM SOLVING 4HE SELECTION PROCESSES DISCOUNT ORIGINALITY IN THOUGHT INNOVATIVE ABILITY AND PASSION FOR HANDS ON SCIENCE4HESE ELEMENTS ARE FAR MORE IMPORTANT FOR A CAREER IN RESEARCH 4HE FUN OF STUDYING SCIENCE HAS BEEN FORGOTTEN IN THE CURRENT COMPETITIVESCENARIOWHERESCIENCESTUDENTSAREFOCUSSED AT SOLVING PROBLEMS WHICH APPEAR IN VARIOUS ENTRANCE EXAMINATIONSINTHESHORTESTPOSSIBLETIME

)NCREASING AVENUES FOR RESEARCH !S STUDENTS ADVANCE IN THEIR STUDIES WHETHER UNDERGRADUATE OR GRADUATE THEYSHOULDBEFREQUENTLYEXPOSEDTOPEOPLE WHOAREIMMERSEDINSOLVINGSERIOUSPROBLEMSINGLOBAL CHANGE ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT PHARMACEUTICALS BIOLOGYANDBIOTECHNOLOGY lNANCE CRYPTOGRAPHY AND COMMUNICATIONAGAINWITHOUTDILUTIONOFSTANDARDS

!LTERNATIVEEVALUATIONMETHODOLOGIES4HESYSTEM SHOULDMOVEFROMEXAMINATIONBASEDEVALUATIONTOMORE OPEN ASSESSMENT MECHANISMS -EMORY COMPREHENSION AND CREATIVITY SHOULD BE GIVEN EQUAL IMPORTANCE IN EVALUATIONS-OREWEIGHTAGESHOULDBEGIVENTOROUND THE YEAR HANDS ON ACTIVITIES AND LABORATORY WORK #ONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT AT SCHOOL LEVEL WILL REDUCE


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DEPENDENCE ON YEAR END EXAMINATIONS )F WE COULD DEVELOP A SYSTEM WHERE A HOLISTIC RECORD OF STUDENT PERFORMANCE FROM SCHOOL TO COLLEGE IS MAINTAINED THEN THIS CAN BE USED AS AN ALTERNATIVE OR ADDITIONAL INPUTTOENTRANCEEXAMINATIONSFORENTRYINTOVARIOUS INSTITUTESAFTERHIGHERSECONDARYLEVEL !TTHECOLLEGELEVEL INTRODUCTIONOFSEMESTERSYSTEMWILL REDUCE THE ANXIETY RELATED TO YEAR END EXAMINATIONS )NTERNAL ASSESSMENT SHOULD BE INCREASED AND GIVEN MORE WEIGHT )NTERNAL ASSESSMENT SHOULD FOCUS ON EXPERIMENTAL PROJECTS WHICH WILL CREATE DEMAND FOR LABORATORIES 4HIS IN TURN WILL LEAD TO DEMAND FOR BETTER LABORATORY FACILITIES AND CONSEQUENTLY IMPROVED INFRASTRUCTUREINALLCOLLEGES/THERMEASURESWHICHWILL ENCOURAGESTUDENTSTOGOBEYONDROTELEARNINGAREOPEN ENDED EXAMINATIONS WHICH TEST COMPREHENSION RATHER THANMEMORYANDOPENBOOKEXAMINATIONSFOCUSINGON PROBLEMSOLVINGANDCRITICALTHINKING'ROUPTESTINGAND lELD WORKBASEDTESTINGSHOULDBEUSEDEXTENSIVELY %NABLERS4OENABLETHEMODIlCATIONSOFEVALUATION PROCESS TEACHERSNEEDTOBETRAINEDINNEWMETHODSOF EVALUATION!CADEMICCALENDARSHOULDBESTRICTLYADHERED TO4HERE IS A NEED TO INCREASE THE TEACHER TO STUDENT RATIO TO ENSURE BETTER INTERACTION AND ASSESSMENT ! RATIO OF SHOULD BE TARGETED /NE CAN LOOK AT A UNIlED.ATIONAL,EVELTESTINGATMIDSCHOOLLEVELAND AFTER SCHOOL COMPLETION TO REDUCE LOAD OF COMPETITIVE EXAMS ON STUDENTS !NOTHER IMPORTANT APPLICATION OF SUCHTESTINGCOULDBETOBRINGFORTHAREASWHERETEACHERS NEEDTOBETRAINED

2ECOMMENDATION0ROMOTEACCESSTOQUALITY SCIENCEEDUCATIONALMATERIALATALLLEVELS 4O ATTRACT MORE TALENTED STUDENTS TO -ATHS AND 3CIENCE ITISESSENTIALTOENSUREACCESSTOQUALITYSCIENCE EDUCATIONTOALLSTUDENTS4HEREISANEEDTODISSEMINATE HIGHQUALITYEDUCATIONALMATERIALINLOCALLANGUAGESTO ASSIST STUDENTS FROM NON %NGLISH MEDIUM EDUCATION BACKGROUND%DUCATIONALMATERIALSSHOULDBEPROVIDED TOALLATSUBSIDISEDRATES )SSUES4HEQUALITYOFEDUCATIONINSCIENCESACROSSTHE COUNTRYVARIESWIDELY-ANYMERITORIOUSSTUDENTSHAVE NOACCESSTOQUALITYEDUCATION4HEREISALARGESECTION OFSTUDENTPOPULATIONWHICHRECEIVESSCHOOLEDUCATION INLOCALLANGUAGES4HESESTUDENTSDOWONDERFULLYWELL INTHESCIENCESTILLGRADUATELEVELWHERETHEMEDIUMOF INSTRUCTIONREMAINSVERNACULAR"UTATPOSTGRADUATEAND HIGHERLEVELSBECAUSEOFTHEMONOPOLYOF%NGLISHLANGUAGE

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INSCIENCEEDUCATION THEYFACESERIOUSPROBLEMS4HEY HAVETOPUTALOTMOREEFFORTTOUNDERSTANDCONCEPTSIN THE%NGLISHLANGUAGEATAHIGHERLEVELOFTENMAKINGIT DIFlCULTTOCOPEWITHTHECOURSEWORK 3TUDYMATERIAL4HECURRENTSTUDYMATERIALAVAILABLE AT BACHELORS AND POST GRADUATE COURSES IN SCIENCE IS LIMITED AND DOES NOT PROMOTE OR ENABLE SELF LEARNING FOR STUDENTS 3ELF LEARNING AIDS WILL INCREASE ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATION AND HENCE SHOULD BE PROMOTED )NTERNATIONALLYAVAILABLECOURSESINDIFFERENTSTREAMSCAN BEADAPTEDFORLOCALUSE)NCENTIVESFORPEOPLETOCREATE SUCH MATERIAL IN ACADEMIA SHOULD BE PROVIDED SO THAT PEOPLEAREENCOURAGEDTOTAKEUPSUCHWORKWILLINGLY &URTHER LECTURESOFTEACHERSREPUTEDFORTHEIRTEACHING SHOULD BE RECORDED AND DISSEMINATED ALL OVER THE COUNTRY ENABLINGSTUDENTSANDTEACHERSTOHAVEACCESS TOQUALITYEDUCATIONMATERIAL 4RANSLATION ,ANGUAGE SHOULD NOT ACT AS A BARRIER IN SCIENCE TEACHING 4O BRING SUCH STUDENTS TO LEVEL PLAYING GROUND APART FROM %NGLISH LANGUAGE LESSONS THERE IS A NEED TO ARRANGE SPEEDY AND WIDESPREAD DISSEMINATION OF BASIC SCIENCE EDUCATION MATERIALS IN LOCAL LANGUAGES 4HESE COURSES SHOULD BE DESIGNED TO FACILITATE UNDERSTANDING OF FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS IN THE LOCAL LANGUAGES AND ALSO PROVIDE A BRIDGE TOWARDS SUBSEQUENTSTUDIESINTHE%NGLISHLANGUAGE2ESOURCES SHOULDBEPROVIDEDTOTRANSLATETHEBESTSCIENCEBOOKS IN LOCAL LANGUAGES )NTERNET DISSEMINATION OF THESE TRANSLATEDBOOKSSHOULDBECARRIEDOUT4OAIDCONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING SCIENCE LECTURES IN LOCAL LANGUAGES CAN BEPREPAREDBYGOODSCIENCETEACHERSCAPABLEOFDOING SO4HESE LECTURES CAN BE RECORDED AND DISTRIBUTED TO LIBRARIESOFALLSCIENCETEACHINGCOLLEGESANDUNIVERSITIES ANDMADEFREELYAVAILABLEONTHEINTERNET!STHEREISAN URGENTNEEDFORTHISTASKTOBECARRIED ITISIMPORTANT THAT THE RIGHT AGENCIES AND PEOPLE BE IDENTIlED AND NETWORKEDTOCARRYOUTTHISWORKINANORGANISEDAND COMPREHENSIVEMANNER/NEIMPORTANTFACTORWHICHHAS TOBEKEPTINMINDWHILETRANSLATINGINTOLOCALLANGUAGES IS THAT THE TECHNICAL TERMS SCIENTIlC TERMS SHOULD BE KEPTIN%NGLISH4HISWILLMAKEITEASIERTOMIGRATETO %NGLISH MEDIUM TEACHING IN SCIENCES AT HIGHER LEVEL FORSTUDENTS 3PECIAL NEEDS OF 4RIBAL CHILDREN %ARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION IS VERY IMPORTANT AS THE BRAIN DEVELOPS THE FASTEST UP TILL SIX YEARS OF AGE )N THIS CONTEXT SPECIAL TEACHINGAIDSNEEDTOBEDEVELOPEDFORTRIBALCHILDRENAS THEYARENOTEXPOSEDTOMODERNTECHNOLOGYLIKERESTOF THECHILDREN-OTIVATIONFORLEARNINGHASTOBECREATED

BYPROVIDINGEXPOSURETOSCIENTIlCDEVELOPMENTS4RIBAL SCHOOLSSHOULDBEEQUIPPEDWITHTEACHERSWHOARETRAINED INPEDAGOGICALMETHODSSUITEDTOSPECIALNEEDSOFTRIBAL KIDS4HEYSHOULDBEWELLVERSEDINLOCALTRIBALDIALECT 3CIENCESUBJECTSSHOULDBETAUGHTINLOCALLANGUAGETILL MID SCHOOLLEVEL(OWEVER THETEACHERSHOULDEXPLAIN FUNDAMENTALCONCEPTSINTRIBALDIALECTTOENSURESOUND CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING 4RIBAL DIALECT CAN BE USED FOREVALUATIONPURPOSESTOOATLOWERLEVELS.UTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTSOFTRIBALCHILDRENSHOULDBETAKENCAREOFF -IGRATIONISAMAJORPROBLEMWHICHHINDERSEDUCATION OF TRIBAL CHILDREN (OSTEL FACILITIES SHOULD BE PROVIDED FOROLDERSTUDENTSTOENSURECONTINUITYINLEARNING

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)))#AREER/PPORTUNITIES /UTREACH AND)NDUSTRY0ARTICIPATION 2ECOMMENDATION2E BRANDANDPROMOTE CAREERSINBASICSCIENCES 4HE PRIME REASON THAT STUDENTS OPT FOR PROFESSIONAL COURSES IS THE PERCEPTION THAT THERE ARE NO ATTRACTIVE CAREEROPPORTUNITIESINSCIENCES4HEREISANURGENTNEED ONTHEPARTOFALLSCIENCETEACHINGCOLLEGES UNIVERSITIES ANDINSTITUTESTOBETTERBRANDTHECAREERSINSCIENCEAND TO SPREAD AWARENESS OF INCREASING CAREER OPPORTUNITIES INBASICSCIENCES )SSUES&INANCIALUNATTRACTIVENESSATALLLEVELSISAMAJOR REASONFORTHEDOWNFALLOFINTERESTINSCIENCE4HETWO MAIN OCCUPATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH PURE SCIENCES ARE TEACHINGANDRESEARCH"OTHCAREERSNOLONGERCARRYTHE RESPECTANDRECOGNITIONINSOCIETYASTHEYUSEDTO4HE lNANCIAL ATTRACTIVENESS OF JOBS IN OTHER STREAMS PULLS STUDENTSAWAYFROMSCIENCES0ARENTALANDPEERPRESSURE DE MOTIVATESEVENINTERESTEDSTUDENTS #URRENTCAREERS%XISTINGCAREERSINSCIENCES NAMELY TEACHINGANDRESEARCH SHOULDBEMADEMOREATTRACTIVE BY PROVIDING BETTER EMOLUMENTS SECURITY OF TENURE ACADEMIC FREEDOM AND FACILITIES *OINT APPOINTMENTS WITHIN THE COUNTRY AND APPOINTMENT OF EMINENT SCIENTISTSINSUCHAREASFROMOTHERCOUNTRIESUNDERLONG TERM VISITING PROFESSORSHIPS SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO 0H$SNEEDTOBERESTRUCTUREDTOENSUREBETTERSTIPENDS FORLONGERDURATIONANDSECUREDPOSTDOCS)TISVITALTHAT ALLSUCHRECOMMENDATIONSOFAPPOINTMENTSANDSALARY STRUCTURESHAVEAVISIBLECOMPONENTOFACCOUNTABILITYIN THEIRIMPLEMENTATION 3OMEOTHERSUGGESTIONSTOATTRACTSTUDENTSTOCAREERS INSCIENCES

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)NFORMATIONABOUTJOBOPPORTUNITIESFORINDIVIDUALS WITH A MASTER OR DOCTORATE QUALIlCATION IN PURE SCIENCES SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE ON A PORTAL .EWOPPORTUNITIESINEMERGINGlELDSLIKElNANCIAL MATHEMATICSETCSHOULDBEAPPROPRIATELYMARKETED #OMPANIESWORKINGINTHESElELDSSHOULDBEINVITED TODELIVERTALKSINSCIENCECOLLEGES 3CIENCE COLLEGES SHOULD COLLABORATE WITH RESEARCH INSTITUTESANDINDUSTRYFORCAMPUSPLACEMENTS#AREER CELLS NEED TO BE ESTABLISHED #LOSE INTERACTION WITH INDUSTRYANDRESEARCHINSTITUTESISNEEDEDTOPROJECT TYPE EXPERTISELEVELANDAMOUNTOFMANPOWER !DDITIONAL TRAINING AT BACHELORS LEVEL HAS ALREADY BEEN SUGGESTED FOR INCREASED EMPLOYABILITY -ORE MODULESCOURSESCOULDBEDESIGNEDWHICHPREPARE STUDENTS FOR EMPLOYMENT IN INDUSTRY 3TUDENTS SHOULDHAVETHECHOICETOTAKESUCHCOURSESWHILE PURSUING BACHELORS 4HE YEAR BACHELORS COURSE OFFEREDBYGOODINSTITUTESWILLDISPELTHEMYTHTHAT SCIENCE BACHELORS ARE IN ANY WAY LESS EMPLOYABLE THAN GRADUATES FROM OTHER PROFESSIONAL STREAMS 4HEABILITYOFLIFELONGLEARNINGSHOULDBEINSTILLED INSTUDENTS4HISSHOULDBEMARKETEDWELLTOATTRACT COMPANIESTOEMPLOYSCIENCEBACKGROUNDSTUDENTS .EW OPPORTUNITIES IN SCIENCE STREAMS NEED TO BE DEVELOPED 2ESEARCH INSTITUTES SHOULD COLLABORATE WITHPROFESSIONALSTREAMSTOPURSUEANDCREATEMORE OPPORTUNITIES 2ESEARCH IN EMERGING AREAS SHOULD BE SYSTEMATICALLY DEVELOPED 2ESEARCH ACTIVITIES IN RESEARCH LABORATORIES AND UNIVERSITIES NEEDS TO BE MASSIVELY INCREASED 'OVERNMENT SHOULD PROVIDE ALL POSSIBLE INCENTIVES TO ENCOURAGE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENTINEVERYSECTOROFTHEECONOMY ,ARGERESEARCHGROUPSSHOULDBEDEVELOPED4HESE GROUPSSHOULDFOCUSONTAKINGANIDEAFROMBASIC RESEARCHTOMARKETREADYAPPLICATION3UCHGROUPS CANBEPARTIALLYFUNDEDBYINDUSTRY4HESEGROUPS SHOULD LOOK AT PROBLEMS WHICH AFFECT A LARGE SECTIONOFSOCIETYANDDEVISEPLANTOCOMEUPWITH SOLUTIONS9OUNGRESEARCHERSSHOULDBERECRUITEDIN SUCH INITIATIVES 4HESE RESEARCH GROUPS SHOULD BE HEADEDBYAWELLKNOWNSCIENTISTWHOISCAPABLEOF ATTRACTINGYOUNGDOCTORATES .EW INSTITUTES WILL CREATE A DEMAND FOR 0H$S ! STUDY ON SHORTAGE OF SKILLED MANPOWER IN SCIENCE SHOULDBECOMMISSIONEDBY$344HEREISANEEDTO INCREASESALARIESINTHISlELDTOREmECTTHESHORTAGEOF SKILLEDMANPOWER-ORESTUDENTSWILLBEATTRACTEDTO PURSUEBASICSCIENCESIFTHEYREALISETHATTHEREWARDS IN SCIENTIlC PROFESSION ARE NOT CONTROLLED BY lXED PAYSCALESBUTSHOWANUPWARDTRENDASAREmECTION OFTHESCARCITYOFTALENTINTHElELD


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4RAINEDTECHNICIANS3HORTAGEOFTRAINEDTECHNICIANS FORSCIENCELABORATORIESHASRESULTEDINPOORMAINTENANCE OFLABORATORIESACROSSUNIVERSITIES COLLEGESANDINSTITUTES !PPROPRIATE VOCATIONAL COURSES MAY BE DESIGNED AND INTRODUCEDINAREASTHATCANPROVIDEDIRECTEMPLOYMENT 4HISMAYREQUIREAGOODANALYSISOFLOCALINDUSTRIALAND OTHERREQUIREMENTS3OMEGENERALEXAMPLESAREI "IO -EDICAL,ABORATORY4ECHNIQUESII "IOINFORMATICSIII #OMPUTER!PPLICATIONSIV ,ABORATORY4ECHNIQUESFOR 0HYSICS#HEMISTRY LABS ETC 4HESE COURSES NEED TO BE SO DESIGNED THAT THE STUDENTS MAY BE READY FOR GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT4HESECOURSESCANALSOBEOFFEREDTOSTUDENTS WHOARESTILLPURSUINGTHEIR"3CASADDITIONALCOURSES -ENTORING PROGRAM ! STRUCTURED PROGRAM FOR MENTORINGSTUDENTSINSCIENCESHOULDBEINTRODUCED)TWAS FELTTHATTHESTUDENTSINLOWERCLASSESINDIFFERENTSCHOOLS ACROSSTHECOUNTRYAREINTIMIDATEDBYTHEIRSCIENCEAND MATH TEACHERS BECAUSE OF THE TEACHERS ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE STUDENTS OR THE TEACHERS GAP IN KNOWLEDGE !S A RESULT STUDENTS FEEL INHIBITED IN ASKING QUESTIONS4HIS INTURN LEADSTOTHEDEVELOPMENTOFACOMPLEX WHICHIS DETRIMENTAL FOR ACADEMIC PROGRESS /N THE OTHER HAND IFGOODSTUDENTSOFHIGHERCLASSES ATLEASTYEARSOLDER COME FORWARD TO ASSIST THE YOUNGER STUDENTS THE LATTER WOULDBENElTBYPEERLEARNINGASTHISISASSOCIATEDWITHA WITHASENSEOFEASEANDFREEDOM4HE9OUNG)NSTRUCTORS PROGRAMOF!GASTYA)NTERNATIONAL&OUNDATIONISAMODEL WHICHCOULDBEREPLICATEDINTHISCONTEXTATALLLEVELS4HIS PROGRAM WILL INSTILL CONlDENCE IN SENIOR STUDENTS AND LEADTOTHEIRHOLISTICDEVELOPMENTTOO 4HEPROGRAMCANBESTARTEDATlRSTINSCHOOLSWHEREA FEWHOURSEVERYWEEKAREKEPTASIDEFORCLOSECONTACTS LIKE INFORMAL TUTORIALS BETWEEN GROUPS OF SENIORS AND JUNIORS 3UCH A TUTORIAL PROGRAM SHOULD BE EXPANDED LATER TO COVER STUDENTS QUESTIONS ON CAREERS 3CHOOL TEACHERS CAN BE TRAINED TO ACT AS CAREER COUNSELORS 3TUDENTS DOUBTS REGARDING UNCERTAINTY IN PURSUING A CAREERINSCIENCESHOULDBEEFFECTIVELYDEALTWITH

2ECOMMENDATION,AUNCHAMASSIVE SCIENCEOUTREACHPROGRAMAIMEDATSTUDENTS ANDTHEIRPARENTSINPARTICULAR 4HEDECLININGINTERESTINSCIENCESISAWIDERPHENOMENON ANDNEEDSTOBEADDRESSEDCOMPREHENSIVELY,ARGESCALE SCIENCEPOPULARISATIONPROGRAMSARENEEDEDTOREESTABLISH THEPASSIONTHATSCIENCEONCEGENERATED4HEOBJECTIVES OFSCIENCEPROGRAMSSHOULDINCLUDE  4O SPARK CURIOSITY AND IMBIBE SCIENTIlC WAY OF THINKING

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4O SPREAD AWARENESS ABOUT LATEST DISCOVERIES AND THEIRIMPACTONSOCIETY  4ODISCUSSISSUESRELATEDTOADVERSEEFFECTSOFSCIENTIlC DEVELOPMENTS  4OPROMOTESCIENCEASAMEDIUMOFSOCIO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT  4O GLORIFY CAREERS IN SCIENCE 4HE MEDIA PARENTS AND STUDENTS SHOULD BE SENSITISED TO THE VARIOUS CAREER OPTIONS AND JOB SITUATIONS AVAILABLE TO STUDENTSCOMINGOUTOFSCIENCESTREAMS4HISWOULD ENCOURAGEMORESTUDENTSTOSCIENCEANDREVERSETHE ALARMINGTRENDOFLACKOFINTERESTINBASICSCIENCES !LARGESCIENCEPOPULARISATIONPROGRAM!SCIENCE POPULARISATIONPROGRAMSHOULDBELAUNCHEDTOCOVER MILLIONCHILDRENEFFECTIVELYACROSS)NDIA4HISPROGRAM SHOULDINCLUDEALLTHEOBJECTIVESMENTIONEDABOVE!PART FROM MONEY IT WILL REQUIRE COMMITTED PEOPLE WITH VISIONANDCAPACITYTOWARDSEXECUTION4HEIMPORTANCE OF THIS PROGRAM NECESSITATES CONSIDERATION OF OUT OF THE BOX ORGANISATION AND SERVICE DELIVERY ALTERNATIVES 4HISPROGRAMSHOULDBRINGALLPOPULARSCIENCEACTIVITIES UNDER ONE UMBRELLA FOR EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION AND REPLICATIONOFSUCCESSFULINITIATIVES 3CIENCECELLS CENTRESANDMOBILELABS!LARGECHAIN OF SCIENCE TALENT CELLS SHOULD BE CREATED %ACH SCHOOL SHOULDBEFUNDEDTOOPENASCIENCECLUB!NETWORKOF GOODTEACHERS LABORATORYFACILITIESANDREADINGRESOURCES CONNECTINGLIKEnMINDEDSTUDENTSINEVERYTOWNCITYIS NEEDED4HESCHOOLSCIENCECLUBSCANBETHENNETWORKED TOTHELOCALCENTRESOFSCIENCE4HELOCALSCIENCECENTRES SHOULDHAVEEXPERIMENTALMODELSTODEMONSTRATEBASIC SCIENCECONCEPTS4HECENTRESWOULDBEEQUIPPEDWITH PERSONNELTOEXPLAINANDANSWERQUESTIONSOFSTUDENTS 0ROVISION SHOULD BE MADE TO FACILITATE VISITS TO THIS SCIENCE CENTRE BY CONNECTED SCIENCE CELLS4HE #ENTRE WOULDACTASANhANCHORvFORTHERESTOFTHESTATESSCIENCE ACTIVITIES AND MOBILE LAB PROGRAMS WHICH WOULD BE DISPERSED ACROSS RURAL TALUKS )N GENERAL THE VARIOUS STATE GOVERNMENTS SHOULD FACILITATE BUILDING OF MORE ENGAGINGANDINTERACTIVESCIENCEPARKSANDMUSEUMSFOR LEARNINGSCIENCEOUTDOORS 4O TAP TALENT FROM RURAL )NDIA SPECIAL EFFORTS NEEDED 3CIENCE PROGRAMS FOR RURAL CHILDREN SHOULD BE STARTED nBOOKGRANTS COMPUTERGRANTSETCCANBEGIVENAPART FROM DIRECT SCHOLARSHIP 4HE EFFECTIVENESS OF MOBILE SCIENCELABSINREACHINGRURALSTUDENTSISVERYHIGHANDTHE PROGRAM SHOULD BE REPLICATED ACROSS )NDIA 4HE !GASTYA )NTERNATIONAL&OUNDATIONSMOBILELABPROGRAMSHOULD BE STUDIED IN THIS REGARD ! SUITABLE PUBLIC PRIVATE

PARTNERSHIPMODECANBEWORKEDOUTWHEREACOMPANY CANSPONSORTHECAPITALCOSTOFTHEMOBILELABSINRETURN FOR SOME MINIMAL PUBLICITY LIKE LOGO ETC ON THE VAN 4HE'OVERNMENTUNDERITS3ARVA3HIKSHA!BHIYANCAN SPONSOR THE OPERATING COSTS OF MOBILE LABS TO REACH RURAL SCHOOLS 3UCH A MODEL IS RUNNING SUCCESSFULLY IN MANY DISTRICTS OF +ARNATAKA !PART FROM MOBILE SCIENCE LABS LIKE IN VANS SUCH LABS CAN ALSO BE PUT IN COACHES OF PASSENGER TRAINS RUN IN THE INTERIOR REGIONS OFTHECOUNTRYBY)NDIAN2AILWAYSANDINBUSESOF3TATE 4RANSPORT#ORPORATIONS -OBILE SCIENCE LIBRARIES SIMILAR TO MOBILE SCIENCE LABORATORIES CAN ALSO BE PROMOTED 4HESE SHOULD HAVE CHILD FRIENDLY VOLUMES ON INTERESTING TOPICS INCLUDING SCIENCE lCTION !LTERNATIVELY CHILDRENSPUBLIC LIBRARIES SHOULDBEOPENEDALLOVERTHECOUNTRYBYTHEGOVERNMENT 4HESECOULDLENDOUTBOOKSTOSCHOOLSANDOTHERREGISTERED INSTITUTIONSINBULK SAYORMOREBOOKSATATIMEFOR SAYAMONTHnTHISCOULDBEUSEFULSINCEEXPECTINGEACH SCHOOLTOBEABLETOIDENTIFYANDPURCHASESUITABLEBOOKS ISUNREASONABLE'OODBOOKSCOULDBEIDENTIlEDFOREACH STATEANDPURCHASEDINBULKFORBYTHEPUBLICLIBRARIES ,OCAL SCIENCE PROGRAMS 7HILE WE NEED TO BUILD A VERY STRONG MACHINERY TO PROMOTE SCIENCES SCIENCE RESEARCHINSTITUTES SCIENCEACADEMIESANDLOCALSCIENCE ORGANISATIONS AND SCIENTISTS ROLE MODELS IN THEIR INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN THIS TASK OF NATIONBUILDING3CIENCESHOULDBEUSEDASAMEANSTO ENGAGESTUDENTSINAVARIETYOFEXTRACURRICULARACTIVITIES 3CIENCE EXHIBITIONS SCIENCE COMPETITIONS AND POPULAR SCIENCE LECTURES CAN BE ORGANISED BY LOCAL SCIENCE ORGANISATIONS TEACHERS ASSOCIATION GROUP OF SCHOOLS TOPROMOTEAPPLICATIONOFWHATSTUDENTSLEARNINTHEIR ENVIRONMENT $IFFERENT VENTURES TO ENCOURAGE AND POPULARISESCIENCE SUCHASMOBILEVANS SCIENCECENTRES INTERACTIVEEXHIBITS WORKSHOPSANDACTIVITYCENTRESFOR CHILDRENSHOULDBESUPPORTEDlNANCIALLY *OURNALS AND POPULAR SCIENCE MAGAZINES CAN PLAY AN IMPORTANTROLEINSPREADINGTHESCIENTIlCTEMPERAMONG CITIZENSMUSTBEMOREAGGRESSIVELYENCOURAGED ESPECIALLY AMONGCOLLEGEGOINGSTUDENTS4HECOUNTRYNEEDSMANY MORE CHILD FRIENDLY SCIENCE MAGAZINES ESPECIALLY IN LOCAL LANGUAGES 46 PROGRAMS LIKE @4URNING 0OINT AND @1UEST THAT WERE HUGELY POPULAR AND PROVIDED A PLATFORMTURNINGPOINT FORASKING@SCIENTIlCQUESTIONS FORCHILDRENANDADULTSALIKESHOULDBEPROMOTED 3CIENCEPROGRAMSFOCUSEDATNON METROSTUDENTSSHOULD BELAUNCHED,OCALLANGUAGESSHOULDBEUSEDINSCIENCE

DISSEMINATION3CIENTISTSSHOULDCOMMUNICATEMORETO MASSES THROUGH THE MEDIA ! NATIONAL SCIENCE PORTAL PROMOTING SCIENCE CONTESTS ETC CAN BE CREATED 4HE 'OVERNMENTCANMANDATEOUTREACHPROGRAMSASPARTOF GRANTAPPLICATIONS 4HE #HILDREN 3CIENCE #ONGRESS ORGANISED BY THE $EPARTMENT OF 3CIENCE AND 4ECHNOLOGY IS A LAUDABLE EFFORT )TS SCALE SHOULD BE EXPANDED AND MORE SCHOOLS SHOULD BE INCLUDED )NFORMATION SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE AND SHOULD BE READILY ACCESSIBLE AT ALL HIGH SCHOOLS AND JUNIOR COLLEGES ABOUT CAREERS IN 3CIENCE AND THIS SHOULD BE PUBLICISED AMONG THE TEACHERS AT THESELEVELS0ROGRAMSLIKE6IGYAN-ANTHAN9ATRAOFTHE -ADHYA0RADESH'OVERNMENT 3CIENCECENTREPROPOSED BY !SSAM 'OVERNMENT 3CIENCE CITY CONCEPT OF 4AMIL .ADUAND'UJARAT'OVERNMENTETCAREALSOGOODEFFORTS ANDSHOULDBEREPLICATEDACROSS)NDIAWHEREVERPOSSIBLE

2ECOMMENDATION%NCOURAGEINDUSTRY PARTICIPATIONINPROMOTINGSCIENCESATALLLEVELS )NDUSTRYPARTICIPATIONISIMPORTANTINMAKINGSCIENCES POPULAR!SRESEARCHBASEDINDUSTRIESmOURISHIN)NDIA MOREANDMORECOMPANIESWILLNEEDEMPLOYEESQUALIlED INBASICSCIENCES4HISWILLVISIBLYPROVIDEMOREATTRACTIVE CAREEROPTIONS )SSUES 4HE CURRENT INDUSTRY PARTICIPATION IN SCIENCE EDUCATIONISVERYLOW)TNEEDSTOBEINCREASEDMANIFOLD #OMPANIES NEED TO REALISE THAT THEIR INVESTMENT IN SCIENCE EDUCATION IS A LONG TERM INVESTMENT FOR THEIR OWNBENElT 3ELECTCOMPANIES WHICHEMPLOYRESEARCHSCIENTISTS CAN COME FORWARD TO OFFER JOBS TO 0H$ STUDENTS POST COMPLETION OF THEIR DOCTORAL DEGREE )DEALLY THIS COMMITMENT SHOULD BE MADE AT THE TIME WHEN A PROSPECTIVE0H$STUDENTISDECIDINGABOUTJOININGTHE DEGREEPROGRAM3OMEINDUSTRIESAREALREADYDOINGTHIS IN#OMPUTER3CIENCE)NDUSTRYCANSPONSOR0H$SFOR STUDENTS AFTER SETTING SOME CERTAIN MINIMUM CRITERIA OR IT CAN HIRE STUDENTS AT MASTERS LEVEL AND PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPSTOPURSUE0H$INCHOSENlELDS )NDUSTRY INTERNSHIPS OF LONGER DURATION FOR POST GRADUATE STUDENTS SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED FOR STUDENTS WHO INTEND TO PURSUE A CAREER IN INDUSTRY 4HIS WILL ENABLETHEMTOLEARNWORKPLACESKILLSASWELLASEXPOSE THEMTOLATESTTECHNOLOGIESANDRESEARCHMETHODOLOGIES )NDUSTRYSHOULDALSODEVISEMETHODSTOOPTIMALLYUTILISE THESTUDENTSSTAYINTHEIRWORKPLACE


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!TBACHELORSLEVEL EMPLOYABLESKILLSLIKECOMPUTER TRAINING COMMUNICATIONSKILLSETCSHOULDBEINCLUDED IN THE CURRICULUM 5NDERGRADUATES SHOULD BE EXPOSED TO INDUSTRY PROBLEMS THROUGH SEMINARS AND POPULAR SCIENCE LECTURES BY INDUSTRY LEADERS 4HIS WILL ENGAGE STUDENTSINSCIENTIlCISSUESANDMOTIVATETHEMTOSOLVE SOMEOFTHESEPROBLEMSINTHEFUTURE 4EACHINGAIDS)NDUSTRYCANPARTICIPATEINCREATING STUDYMATERIALWHICHCANBEDIRECTLYUSEDBYSTUDENTS 3ELF LEARNING SHOULD BE PROMOTED AT ALL LEVELS 4HE MASSIVE EFFORTS REQUIRED IN TRANSLATING SCIENCE STUDY MATERIAL INTO LOCAL LANGUAGES CAN BE UNDERTAKEN BY COMPANIESWHICHHAVESOMEEXPERTISEINTHISlELD )NDUSTRYSPONSORSHIPSFORSCIENCEFAIRS LABORATORIES SCIENCE CENTRES AND MOBILE LABS SHOULD BE SOUGHT ! MUTUALLY BENElCIAL PARTNERSHIP CAN BE WORKED OUT BETWEENUNIVERSITIES .'/SANDINDUSTRIESTOPROMOTE SCIENCE POPULARISATION PROGRAMS )NDUSTRY SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO INVEST IN BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE AND MAINTAININGTHEMINUNIVERSITIESANDALSOINPROVIDING SCHOLARSHIPSTODESERVINGSTUDENTS5NIVERSITIESSHOULD INTERACTWITHINDUSTRYINTERMSOFNEEDS EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS ETC )N )NDIA A FEW TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES HAVE STARTEDEXPLORINGPOSSIBLESYMBIOTICRELATIONSHIPSWITH UNIVERSITIESINRECENTYEARS4HISNEEDSTOBESTRUCTURED AND MASSIVELY ENCOURAGED &URTHER IF THE ACADEMIA

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DESIRESINDUSTRYCO OPERATION ITHASTOMOVEAWAYFROM EXAMINATIONORIENTATION)NTER DISCIPLINARYAPPROACHIS NEEDEDTOHANDLEPARTNERSHIPPROJECTS4HISSHOULDBE FACILITATED !CADEMIC INSTITUTIONS SHOULD DEVELOP GROUPS AT EACH INSTITUTE WHICH SPECIALISE IN DEVELOPING NOVEL FUNDINGMECHANISMSINVOLVINGINDUSTRY4HEACADEMIA ONITSPARTSHOULDRUNCOURSESTOTRAININDUSTRYPERSONNEL )T SHOULD TAKE UP INDUSTRY SPONSORED PROJECTS FOR EFFECTIVEINTERACTION!CADEMICINSTITUTESSHOULDINVITE INDUSTRYTOVISITINSTITUTESANDDEMONSTRATEFACILITIESTO CREATECONlDENCEINTHEINDUSTRYPEOPLE5NIVERSITIESCAN CREATE INTERFACE BODIES FOR EFFECTIVE RESEARCH WORK 3UCH COLLABORATIVEWORKWILLGENERATEFUNDSFORUNIVERSITIESTOO )N SHORT RESTRUCTURING OF THE ENTIRE SYSTEM IS NEEDED TO BRINGBACKTHEGLORYTHATTHEBASICSCIENCESONCEHELDINTHE MINDSOFTHESTUDENTS-ANYOFOURRECOMMENDATIONSON INFRASTRUCTURE AUTONOMY ACCESS EVALUATIONANDPEDAGOGY HAVE SYNERGIES WITH .+# RECOMMENDATIONS ON HIGHER EDUCATION SCHOOL EDUCATION LIBRARIES TRANSLATION AND OPENEDUCATIONALRESOURCES7EHAVEHIGHLIGHTEDTHEMOST IMPORTANT THINGS WHICH HAVE TO BE IN PLACE TO WORK THE SYSTEMAROUND7EBELIEVETHATTHEIMPLEMENTATIONOFALL THESERECOMMENDATIONSINACOORDINATEDFASHIONWILLCHARGE THE SYSTEM TO ACT AS A MAGNET TO ATTRACT STUDENTS TOWARDS BASICSCIENCES

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THE -ASTERS OR 0H$ DEGREES (OWEVER IT IS NOW WIDELYRECOGNISEDTHATTHESTUDENTSEMERGINGFROMTHE UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS ARE ILL PREPARED FOR A RESEARCH CAREER4HEFOLLOWINGSTEPSAREPROPOSEDTOADDRESSTHIS  )NTRODUCTION OF WELL PLANNED FOUR YEAR COURSES TO ENABLEDIRECTENTRYINTO0H$PROGRAMS  %NCOURAGEMENT OF VARIOUS MEASURES TO ENSURE MULTIPLE SOURCES OF INPUT OF TALENTED PEOPLE INTO THEACADEMICPROFESSION  #REDITPORTABILITYACROSSANETWORKOFINSTITUTIONS


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%NABLEVIGOROUSINDUSTRY ACADEMIAINTERACTION )N THE MODERN CONTEXT THERE IS A CRYING NEED FOR A HEALTHY AND ENLIGHTENED CO OPERATION BETWEEN PRIVATE INDUSTRY AND ACADEMIA WHICH REPLACES THE EXISTING FEELINGSOFDOUBTANDMISTRUST7HILEINDUSTRYSHOULD RECOGNISE THAT SUPPORT FOR EDUCATION IS BENElCIAL UNIVERSITIES SHOULD TAKE COGNIZANCE OF THE CHANGING NEEDS OF PRIVATE ENTERPRISE IN PLANNING NEW COURSES 4HISCOULDBEACHIEVEDBYTHEFOLLOWINGMEASURES  ! POLICY FRAMEWORK FOR MEANINGFUL 0UBLIC 0RIVATE 0ARTNERSHIP IN UNIVERSITIES AND CONCERTEDEFFORTSTONURTURE)NDUSTRY !CADEMIA INTERACTIONS  %NCOURAGING PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN EDUCATION RESEARCHANDINNOVATION BACKEDBYAPPROPRIATE TAXATIONMEASURES  0ROMOTING COLLABORATION BETWEEN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT UNITS WITHIN INDUSTRY AND UNIVERSITIES

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Note on More Quality Ph.Ds

2

ESEARCH IS AN ACTIVITY BASED ON INTELLECTUAL INVESTIGATIONANDHASTHEPURPOSEOFDISCOVERING INTERPRETING ANDREVISINGHUMANKNOWLEDGEAND EXPERIENCEONVARIOUSASPECTSOFLIFE)TISCRUCIALFORTHE OVERALLDEVELOPMENTOFHUMANSOCIETY!STHEECONOMIC PARADIGMUNDERGOESACHANGEINTHEGLOBALISEDWORLD FUTUREECONOMICPROGRESSWILLINCREASINGLYBEAFUNCTION OFTHEINTELLECTUALCAPITALTHATANATIONCANCREATE4HIS IN TURN DEPENDS CRUCIALLY ON THE QUALITY OF ACADEMIC RESEARCHTHATISDONEINTHENATION4HUS IF)NDIAISTO PLAY A KEY ROLE IN THE ENVISAGED KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY OF THE WORLD A SIGNIlCANT INVESTMENT IN RESEARCH ACCOMPANIEDBYSUSTAINEDVISIONANDPOLICYISVITALTO ACHIEVEALONGTERMCOMPETITIVEADVANTAGE7HILETHE IMPORTANCEOFRESEARCHANDDEVELOPMENTINSCIENCEAND TECHNOLOGYISINCREASINGLYRECOGNISED BASICRESEARCHIN MANY OTHER AREAS LIKE ECONOMICS MANAGEMENT SOCIAL SCIENCES ARTSETCPLAYANEQUALLYIMPORTANTROLEINTHE OVERALLDEVELOPMENTANDWELL BEINGOFANATION

(ISTORICALLY )NDIA HAS HAD AN ENVIABLE STANDING IN THE WORLD OF RESEARCH (OWEVER THE CURRENT SITUATION IS UNSATISFACTORY ACROSS MULTIPLE DIMENSIONS AND THE REASONSFORTHISAREMANIFOLD!NIMPORTANTFACTORWHICH IMPACTS THE QUALITY AND QUANTUM OF RESEARCH IS THE SCARCITYOFTALENTEDANDDEDICATEDMANPOWERENGAGEDIN RESEARCH7ENEEDQUALIlEDDOCTORATESFOROURRESEARCH LABORATORIES TO TEACH AND ENGAGE IN RESEARCH IN OUR UNIVERSITIESANDTOWORKFORRESEARCHANDDEVELOPMENT INALLSECTORSOFTHEINDUSTRY4HENUMBEROFRESEARCHERS IN)NDIAWASPERMILLIONINHABITANTSCOMPAREDTO IN#HINAANDIN53!IN4HEGROWTHIN THENUMBEROFDOCTORATESHASBEENONLYAMODESTPER CENTIN)NDIAFROM COMPAREDTOPERCENT IN#HINADURINGTHESAMEPERIOD4HECURRENTSTATEOF AFFAIRSTHUSREQUIRESURGENTPOLICYINTERVENTION 2ESEARCH IN ANY AREA REQUIRES CONTINUOUS INTELLECTUAL ENGAGEMENTALONGWITHAPASSIONFORIDEASANDCREATIVE THINKING 7E THUS NEED TO CREATE A SYSTEM WHERE THESE QUALITIES ARE NURTURED AND ENCOURAGED THEREBY h-EASURESOF0ROGRESSOF3CIENCEIN)NDIAv 2EPORTBY.)34!$3

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PROVIDINGAPOOLOFSTUDENTSWISHINGTOPURSUEDOCTORAL STUDIES 3IMULTANEOUSLY IT MUST BE ENSURED THAT ONCE THEYACQUIREA0H$ FURTHEREMPLOYMENTOPPORTUNITIES AREATTRACTIVE4HISISESSENTIALTOJUSTIFYTHEAMOUNTOF TIMEANDEFFORTINVESTEDINDOCTORALRESEARCH EVENMORE SOINTODAYSMODERNWORLDWHERETHEREAREMANYOTHER SEEMINGLY EASIER AND MORE LUCRATIVE CAREER OPTIONS 7HILE ACHIEVING A CRITICAL MASS OF RESEARCHERS IN THE COUNTRY IS IMPORTANT IT IS NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT QUALITYSTANDARDSAREMAINTAINEDATTHESAMETIME 7ITH THIS OBJECTIVE .+# INITIALLY CONDUCTED A WIDE SPREADSURVEYACROSSTHECOUNTRYANDABROAD!DETAILED QUESTIONNAIREWASSENTTOALLTHEUNIVERSITIES ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND OTHERSTAKEHOLDERS-ORETHANPEOPLERESPONDEDTO THE SURVEY ! ONE DAY WORKSHOP WAS ALSO HELD WHERE PROMINENTMEMBERSFROMDIVERSEINDUSTRIES ACADEMIC ANDRESEARCHINSTITUTIONSANDUNIVERSITIESDELIBERATEDON THESE ISSUES 4HIS NOTE CAPTURES THE MAIN SUGGESTIONS THAT EVOLVED FROM THESE CONSULTATIONS 3OME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW HAVE SYSTEMIC LINKAGES TO THE PREVIOUS .+# RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE AREAS OF EDUCATION ENTREPRENEURSHIP INTELLECTUALPROPERTYRIGHTS KNOWLEDGENETWORKANDATTRACTINGTALENTEDSTUDENTSTO -ATHSAND3CIENCE

0ART!!TTRACTINGPOTENTIALDOCTORAL STUDENTS )NORDERTOSUSTAINRESEARCHINTHELONGTERMANDFORIT TO mOURISH CREATING A CRITICAL MASS OF RESEARCHERS AND ACADEMICSISOFTHEFOREMOSTIMPORTANCE3ERIOUSPOLICY INTERVENTIONSAREREQUIREDTOENSURETHATTHISISACHIEVED WITHINASPECIlEDTIMEFRAMEINTHECOUNTRY

2ECOMMENDATION#REATEGREATERAWARENESS ANDACCEPTANCETOWARDSPURSUINGTEACHING ANDRESEARCHASACAREER BYCOMMUNICATING THEOPPORTUNITIESANDEXCITEMENTATA BROADERLEVEL

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!WARENESS

EDUCATION AND LEARNING RESOURCE MATERIALS SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TO ALL !T THE SAME TIME IT IS IMPORTANT THAT TARGETED INITIATIVES BE UNDERTAKEN TO IDENTIFY TALENTED STUDENTS AND TO PROVIDE THEM WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR GREATER EXPOSURE LEARNING ANDBRIDGINGLANGUAGEGAPS  7OMEN AND ESPECIALLY THEIR PARENTS MUST BE MADE AWAREOFTHEPOSSIBILITIESANDmEXIBILITIESTHATARESEARCH CAREER OFFERS AND SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED THROUGH TARGETEDINITIATIVESTOWARDSSUCHACAREERPATH

!CCEPTANCE 

-EDIA 4HE MEDIA HAS AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY IN BRINGINGABOUTAFUNDAMENTALCHANGEINATTITUDEANDIN THENATIONSCONSCIOUSNESSONTHISISSUE  3HORT AND ENGAGING TELEVISION OR RADIO PROGRAMS RELATEDTORESEARCHCANBEAIREDATPRIMETIME  .EWSCHANNELSSHOULDHIGHLIGHTANDPUBLICISEVARIOUS ACHIEVEMENTSOFACADEMICSANDOTHERSCIENTISTS  0RINTANDELECTRONICMEDIASHOULDBEENCOURAGEDAND INCENTIVISEDTOWARDSPROMOTIONANDENGAGEMENTOF THEINTELLECT

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4HEREAREVARIOUSOTHERMEANSTOINCREASETHEAWARENESS OFSOCIETYATLARGE  !NNUAL 2$ SHOWS CAN BE HELD WHERE LEADING RESEARCHINSTITUTESANDCOMPANIESINTERACTWITHTHE PUBLIC THEREBYPROVIDINGAWIDEREXPOSURE  -USEUMS EXHIBITIONS AND POPULAR LECTURES ARE OTHERAVENUESTHROUGHWHICHPUBLICATTENTIONCAN BEENGAGED4HESESHOULDBEENCOURAGEDATASMANY PLACES AS POSSIBLE &OR THIS PURPOSE THE RESOURCES ANDINFRASTRUCTUREOFVARIOUSEDUCATIONALINSTITUTIONS THROUGHOUTTHECOUNTRYSHOULDBEUSED  !CADEMIC SOCIETIES SHOULD BE GENEROUSLY FUNDED ANDMEMBERSSHOULDBEENCOURAGEDTOPARTICIPATE INTHEOUTREACHPROGRAMS  )NSCHOOLSANDCOLLEGES CAREERAWARENESSWORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS HIGHLIGHTING RESEARCH CAREERS SHOULD BEHELDREGULARLY  )MPORTANT ACADEMIC EVENTS AND VISITS OF REPUTED ACADEMICSTO)NDIASHOULDBEPUBLICISEDANDSHARED WITH THE ENTIRE EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITY THROUGH THE USE OF VARIOUS CHANNELS4HIS WILL HELP CREATE ENTHUSIASMINTEACHERS STUDENTSANDALSOACQUAINT SOCIETYWITHACADEMIA  4ALENT RESIDING IN RURAL AREAS REMAINS COMPLETELY UNTAPPED BECAUSE OF VARIOUS REASONS "ASIC

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.OBEL0RIZEWINNERS REPUTEDACADEMICSANDOTHER SCIENTISTSSHOULDCOMMUNICATEANDPUBLICISETHEJOY ANDOPPORTUNITIESINARESEARCHCAREER 3CHOOL TEACHERS PLAY A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN ORIENTING STUDENTS AS WELL AS THEIR PARENTS (ENCE TEACHERS SHOULD BE TRAINED AND ENGAGED IN THIS ENDEAVOUR 0ARENT 4EACHER !SSOCIATIONS PROVIDE A PLATFORMWHEREROLEMODELSCANINTERACTWITHBOTH PARENTSANDTEACHERSATTHESAMETIMEANDINCREASE THEIRACCEPTANCETOWARDSRESEARCH /PENCOMPETITIONSANDPROJECTSATDIFFERENTLEVELS SHOULD BE CONCEPTUALISED ENCOURAGED AND WIDELY PUBLICISED )NDUSTRY CAN BE INVOLVED IN SUCH ACTIVITIES 2ECOGNISING GOOD RESEARCH WORK IS IMPORTANT FOR TWOREASONS)TGIVESASENSEOFPRIDETOTHERESEARCHER ASWELLASENCOURAGESOTHERSTODORESEARCH(ENCE VARIOUS MEANS OF RECOGNITION SUCH AS AWARDS FELICITATIONS PUBLICITYETCSHOULDBETAKENUPATALL LEVELS (IGHER LEARNING ALONG WITH RESEARCH AND INNOVATION PLAYSANIMPORTANTROLEINDEVELOPMENT OFKNOWLEDGEAREAS)TSIMPACTONSOCIETYNEEDSTO BEPUBLICISEDWIDELY "OTH THE MONETARY AND NON MONETARY ASPECTS OF A RESEARCH CAREER ESPECIALLY THE ACCOMPANYING ACADEMICFREEDOMANDTHEINTERNATIONALNATUREOF RESEARCH SHOULDBECOMMUNICATEDTOSTUDENTS

2ECOMMENDATION%XPOSEUNDERGRADUATE ANDPOSTGRADUATESTUDENTSTOCUTTINGEDGE RESEARCHANDENGAGETHEMINSERIOUSRESEARCH WHEREVERPOSSIBLE )SSUES 4HE MAJOR DECISION POINTS WHERE A STUDENT DECIDESTOPURSUEDOCTORALSTUDIESARETOWARDSTHElNAL YEAROFEITHERANUNDERGRADUATEORAMASTERSPROGRAM 4HESE STUDENTS ARE OFTEN NOT WELL EXPOSED TO VARIOUS RESEARCHOPPORTUNITIESANDHENCEREMAINUNTARGETED


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5NDERGRADUATE 2ESEARCH ! GOOD UNDERGRADUATE TEACHING PROGRAM IS VITAL FOR GROOMING PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS TOWARDS RESEARCH #URRENTLY OUR EDUCATION SYSTEMREMAINSLARGELYUNIMAGINATIVEANDMONOTONOUS WITHASTRESSONROTELEARNINGANDWITHPROBLEMSHANDED DOWNTOSTUDENTS7IDE RANGINGREFORMSTHATENCOMPASS PEDAGOGY OF TEACHING CURRICULUM AND EVALUATION ARE A PRE REQUISITE TO NURTURE AND ENCOURAGE INTERESTED STUDENTSTOWARDSARESEARCHPATH  2ELEVANCE AND APPLICATION PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN ATTRACTING APPLIED RESEARCHERS WHILE GENERAL ABSTRACTION AND CHALLENGE ATTRACT THEORETICAL RESEARCHERS 4AKING THIS INTO ACCOUNT A JUDICIOUS MIX OF PROJECTS AND COURSES MAY BE DESIGNED OF WHICH ONE KIND OFFERS AN EXPOSURE TO REAL LIFE PROBLEMS FROM THE INDUSTRY ECONOMY ETC AND ANOTHERIMPARTSFOUNDATIONALTRAININGINTHEORETICAL ASPECTSOFTHESUBJECT  #OURSESTHATORIENTSTUDENTSTOWARDSRESEARCHNEED TO BE SPECIlCALLY DESIGNED AND MADE PART OF THE CURRICULUM !N IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF THESE COURSESSHOULDIMPARTKNOWLEDGEONIDENTIFYINGAND DElNINGPROBLEMS VARIOUSRESEARCHMETHODOLOGIES ANALYTIC METHODS AND PRESENTATION4EAM PROJECTS COMPRISINGOFDIFFERENTDISCIPLINESCANBEINTRODUCED AS AN OPTIONAL COURSE FOR STUDENTS4HIS COULD BE COMBINEDWITHCHANGESINSYLLABUSTHATALLOWONE RESEARCH BASEDCOURSEEVENATUNDERGRADUATELEVEL  3UMMER INTERNSHIPS SUMMER SCHOOLS WORKSHOPS COMPETITIONS SHOULD ALL BE ENCOURAGED %XCITING UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH PROJECTS THAT CAN INVOLVE LARGER NUMBER OF STUDENTS SHOULD BE ROLLED OUT 4HE VACATION PERIOD SHOULD BE UTILISED TO PROVIDE UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS WITH A COMPREHENSIVE TRAININGCOMPRISINGOFEXPOSURETOPROBLEMSINRURAL AREAS INDUSTRIALTRAINING RESEARCHPROJECTINACADEMIC OR RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS AND AN EXPOSURE TO FOREIGN UNIVERSITIESTHROUGHVARIOUSMEANSSUCHASEXCHANGE PROGRAMS $34 )#332 AND OTHER ORGANISATIONS CANFUNDAPROGRAMOFSMALLRESEARCHPROJECTSTOBE UNDERTAKEN AT UNDERGRADUATE LEVEL WHICH WOULD INTRODUCESTUDENTSTOTHEACTUALPRACTICEOFRESEARCH  4EACHERSNEEDTOBETRAINEDTOPROMOTERESEARCHAND SHOULDBEINCENTIVISEDTOCREATEINNOVATIVEPROJECTS WHEREUNDERGRADSCANPARTICIPATE  %XPOSURETOANDACQUAINTANCEWITHFRONTIERRESEARCH SHOULDBEFACILITATED /VERALL UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION NEEDS TO BE STRENGTHENED IN THE COUNTRY #REATIVITY SHOULD BE

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MUCHNEEDEDFRESHENERGYINTORESEARCHBYEXPOSUREAND INDUCTIONTORESEARCHATANEARLYSTAGE (OWEVER MANY PRECAUTIONS NEED TO BE TAKEN WHILE DESIGNINGTHEINTEGRATEDCOURSE FORINSTANCE  #URRICULUM MUST BE PLANNED WELL AND SUBJECT TO PERIODIC REVIEWS )T SHOULD HAVE A PROVISION FOR MULTIPLE EXCHANGE SEMESTERS WHICH WILL ENABLE WIDEREXPOSURE INTERACTIONANDEXCHANGEOFIDEAS  3ELECTION PROCEDURE SHOULD TAKE RESEARCH APTITUDE INTOCONSIDERATION  4HEPROGRAMHOWEVERSHOULDHAVEMULTIPLEEXITAND PLACEMENTOPPORTUNITIES4HERESHOULDBEENOUGH mEXIBILITYPROVIDEDTOSTUDENTSSOTHATWHILEOPTING FORANINTEGRATEDCOURSE ASTUDENTSHOULDNOTFEEL THATTHEYAREBONDEDBYITFORSEVENTOEIGHTYEARS )NVIEWOFALLTHESEREQUIREMENTS ITISSUGGESTEDTHATA RESTRICTEDPILOTBELAUNCHEDATSELECTINSTITUTIONS4HIS PROGRAMISESPECIALLYDIRECTEDTOWARDSSCIENCESTREAMS

4HUSITISIMPORTANTTHATWHILEDECIDINGREMUNERATIONS OPPORTUNITYCOSTSAREFACTOREDIN  4HERE SHOULD BE A REGULAR UPGRADATION OF THE AMOUNT OF FELLOWSHIPS OFFERED FOR 0H$S AND IN GENERALFORTHEENTIREACADEMICPROFESSION  6ARIOUS FORMS OF ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION SHOULD BEEXPLORED  4EACHING ASSISTANTSHIP TO BRIGHT 0H$ STUDENTS SHOULD BE PROVIDED TO ADD TO THEIR EARNINGS4HIS WOULD ALSO HAVE THE ADDITIONAL BENElT OF TRAINING ANDPREPARINGTHEMFORACAREERINACADEMICSAND TEACHING 4HIS IS VITAL CONSIDERING THE CURRENT SERIOUS SHORTAGE OF COMPETENT FACULTY BEING FACED BYOURINSTITUTIONSOFLEARNING  /THER POSSIBLE METHODS COULD INCLUDE SUMMER PROJECTS SUMMER INTERNSHIPS IN INDUSTRY AND INVOLVEMENT IN ORGANISATIONAL WORK AS PART OF ACADEMICS  3UBSIDISEDHEALTHINSURANCE HOMELOANSETCCOULD BELOOKEDAT  'ENEROUSTRAVELGRANTSSHOULDBEENSURED

,INKING RESEARCHERS AT ALL LEVELS 7ITHIN AN INSTITUTION RELATIONSAMONGDIFFERENTLEVELSOFSTUDENTS EG UNDERGRADUATE POSTGRADUATE AND 0H$ SHOULD BE FOSTERED 4HIS COULD BE ACHIEVED BY JUDICIOUSLY MIXINGSTUDENTSINPROJECTS!PARTFROMFACILITATINGPEER LEARNING IT PROVIDES A LEARNING PLATFORM FOR POTENTIAL DOCTORALSTUDENTS

! GOOD PLACEMENT OFlCE FOR 0H$S SHOULD BE GIVEN PRIORITY IN ALL UNIVERSITIES AND INSTITUTIONS 4HEY SHOULD HAVE TIE UPS WITH VARIOUS UNIVERSITIES RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS INDUSTRIES AT THE REGIONAL NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONALLEVEL

!COMPREHENSIVE.ATIONAL0ROJECTSAND2ESEARCHPORTAL ISHIGHLYRECOMMENDED4HISISESSENTIALFORCONNECTING STUDENTSANDRESEARCHERSATALLLEVELS FACILITATINGFORMATION OF VIRTUAL PEER GROUPS DISSEMINATING INFORMATION RELATEDTOVARIOUSPROJECTSANDSCHEMES ANDPROVIDING INFORMATIONOFVARIOUSPOSITIONSFORDOCTORATESETC

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ENTICEMANYSTUDENTSTOENROLINADOCTORATEPROGRAM 4HUS AVIRTUALCIRCLECANBECREATED 4HE OPPORTUNITY COST OF PURSUING A 0H$ IS VERY SIGNIlCANT FOR THIS TARGET GROUP (ENCE A FAVOURABLE PROPOSAL NEEDS TO BE DESIGNED WHICH NOT ONLY ALLOWS BUTALSOENCOURAGESEMPLOYEESTOGOFORA0H$4HERE SHOULD BE -EMORANDUM OF 5NDERSTANDING -O5 BETWEENTHEPARTNERINGINSTITUTIONANDTHEINDUSTRY4HE -O5COULDINCLUDETHECLAUSETHATTHECOMPANYPAYS THEIRSALARYDURINGTHEPERIODOF0H$4HE2ELIANCE,IFE 3CIENCES2,3 MODELISNOTEWORTHYINTHISASPECT2,3 HASAMECHANISMWHEREBYITSEMPLOYEESMAYPURSUEA DOCTORATE DEGREE AT -UMBAI 5NIVERSITY ")43 0ILANI ALSO RUNS A DOCTORATE PROGRAM FOR PROFESSIONALS 4HE PROGRAMHASIN BUILTmEXIBILITIESWHICHATTRACTSPEOPLE FROM INDUSTRY AND SIMULTANEOUSLY HAS A VERY STRONG SCRUTINYSYSTEMTOENSUREQUALITY0H$S /NE IMPORTANT FACTOR THAT SHOULD BE KEPT IN MIND IS THATACADEMICFREEDOMISMAINTAINEDANDANENABLING ENVIRONMENTISCREATEDWHEREINPROSPECTIVEGUIDESAND DOCTORALSTUDENTSFROMINDUSTRYCANINTERACT 4HIS WILL ALSO POTENTIALLY ATTRACT THOSE BRIGHT STUDENTS WHO CHOSE TO WORK IN INDUSTRY BECAUSE OF ATTRACTIVE lNANCIALPACKAGES

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FORTEMPORARY YETlNANCIALLYVERYATTRACTIVEPOSITIONS FROM SUCH A POOL 3UCH CENTRALISATION OF RESOURCES WILL LEAD TO BETTER INFORMATION DISSEMINATION AND EFFECTIVERESOURCESHARING ,ONGERTERMOFFERSCOULDBEMADETO0$&SBYINCLUDING TEACHING AS A VITAL COMPONENT )N MANY UNIVERSITIES A PURELY POST DOC RESEARCH POSITION IS NOT RECOGNISED AS TEACHINGEXPERIENCEWHILEMAKINGFACULTYAPPOINTMENTS  %FFECTIVE UTILISATION OF THE 0$&S IN UNIVERSITIES SHOULD BE FACILITATED BY mEXIBLE AND INNOVATIVE APPOINTMENTMODES4HISCANPROVIDEAMEANSOF UPGRADINGUNIVERSITYDEPARTMENTSINGENERAL ANDALSO ADDRESSINGTHEFACULTYSHORTAGE4EACHINGEXPERIENCE WILL ALSO INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES OF EMPLOYMENT IN UNIVERSITIESAFTERPOSTDOCTORALWORK  -OBILITYACROSSORGANISATIONSSHOULDBEFACILITATED DURING POST DOC TENURE ! GROUP OF lVE TO SIX UNIVERSITIES CAN BE FORMED WITH AN UNDERSTANDING THAT A 0H$ OF ONE UNIVERSITY CAN DO A POST DOC AT ANOTHER )NTERNATIONAL PEER REVIEW MECHANISMS CANBEESTABLISHEDFOR0$&S/VERALL THISCALLSFOR GREATERCOORDINATIONAMONGUNIVERSITIESANDRESEARCH INSTITUTES BETTER SHARING OF RESOURCES AND FOR CONVERGENCEOFTEACHINGANDRESEARCHEXPERIENCE

0ART"1UALITY !QUALITYDEGREEWHICHISUNIVERSALLYRECOGNISEDASSUCH AND WHICH IS ACQUIRED AFTER CONSISTENT HARD WORK AND APPLICATION OF MIND BOTH ACTS AS A MAGNET TO ATTRACT TALENTED STUDENTS AND INSPIRES AWE IN THE MINDS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC )T IS THEREFORE ESSENTIAL THAT DOCTORAL PROGRAMS IN THE COUNTRY ASPIRE TO ATTAIN THE HIGHEST STANDARDSOFEXCELLENCE!TPRESENT THEQUALITYOFRESEARCH OUTPUT IN THE COUNTRY IS COMPLETELY UNEVEN ACROSS INSTITUTIONS7HILE ITISNECESSARYTOMAINTAINTHEHIGH QUALITYSTANDARDSINELITEINSTITUTIONS ITISSIMULTANEOUSLY IMPERATIVE TO ENCOURAGE THE TRANSITION TO CUTTING EDGE RESEARCH IN OTHERS )T IS ALSO CRUCIAL THAT QUALITY IN THE OUTPUT OF ACADEMIC RESEARCH IS ENSURED BY A VARIETY OF METRICSLIKEPUBLICATIONSINPEER REVIEWEDJOURNALSWITH GOOD IMPACT FACTOR ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES LIKE WORKSHOPS ANDCONFERENCES PATENTS TECHNOLOGYTRANSFERACTIVITIESETC

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RESEARCH UNDERTAKEN AT A MAJORITY OF INSTITUTIONS IN THE COUNTRYISHOWEVERSOLOWTHATITDETERSPOTENTIALSTUDENTS %NTRY LEVEL SCREENING 5SUALLY AN ENTRY LEVEL EXAMINATION IS CONDUCTED TO ENSURE GOOD QUALITY OF THE INTAKE OF DOCTORAL STUDENTS ! PROSPECTIVE DOCTORAL STUDENTSAPTITUDEANDATTITUDETOWARDSRESEARCHSHOULDALSO BECONSIDEREDALONGWITHOTHERQUALIlCATIONS!TALLTIMES ADHERENCETOGOODSTANDARDSATTHEENTRYLEVELISESSENTIAL  -ULTIPLE PATHWAYS SHOULD BE USED TO lLL RESEARCH POSITIONS  &LEXIBILITY SHOULD BE GIVEN TO UNIVERSITIES FOR CONDUCTINGTHEIROWNENTRANCEEXAMINATIONS  ! DEMONSTRATED RESEARCH POTENTIAL SHOULD BE GIVEN DUE CONSIDERATION )F AN APPLICANT HAS PUBLISHED A GOOD QUALITY RESEARCH PAPER lLED A PATENT ETC HIS HER APPLICATION SHOULD BE ACCORDINGLYCONSIDERED  &OR WORKING PROFESSIONALS WHO MAY lND IT DIFlCULTTOPASSANENTRYLEVELTEST OTHERmEXIBLE METHODSOFASSESSMENTSHOULDBEPUTINPLACE  /NLINE TESTING OF STUDENTS SHOULD ALSO BE WORKED OUT4HIS IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT TO ATTRACTPOTENTIALSTUDENTSFROMABROAD  %XAMINATIONS  4ESTINGAPTITUDEFORRESEARCHSHOULDBEMADEAN INTEGRALPARTOFTHESELECTIONPROCESS!PARTFROM AWRITTENEXAMINATION APERSONALINTERVIEWWILL BEGREATLYUSEFUL  3YLLABUS AND QUALITY OF THE CURRENT .%4 EXAMINATIONNEEDSTOBEMASSIVELYREFORMED  5NLIMITEDATTEMPTSSHOULDBEALLOWEDTOPASS THEQUALIFYINGEXAMINATION  !S THE BORDERS BETWEEN DISCIPLINES ARE GETTING INCREASINGLYBLURRED ITISIMPORTANTTOEXAMINE THE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR LATERAL ENTRY ACROSS DISCIPLINES  !DEQUATE CARE SHOULD BE TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT SCREENINGMETHODSARETRANSPARENTANDOBJECTIVE 0RE 0H$ COURSES )T IS IMPORTANT TO IDENTIFY AND BRIDGE THE GAPS BETWEEN THE PRESENT AND THE REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE OF A DOCTORAL STUDENT .ATIONAL 0RE 0H$ PROGRAM)NORDERTOUTILISETHELIMITEDPOOLOFTALENTED FACULTY ANATIONAL0RE 0H$PROGRAMOFSUITABLEDURATION RUNBYMAJORNATIONALINSTITUTIONSCANBELAUNCHED4HE PROGRAM WOULD HELP IN BROADENING THE PERSPECTIVE OF A FUTURE DOCTORAL STUDENT AND ALSO INCREASE NETWORKING WITHIN THE RESEARCH COMMUNITY 4HE NECESSARY INFRASTRUCTUREFORSUCHANINITIATIVENEEDSTOBECREATED  )TSHOULDINVOLVEQUALIlEDRESEARCHERSWHOSHOULD BESUFlCIENTLYINCENTIVISEDTOTEACHINTHETRAINING

PROGRAMS/THERDISTINGUISHEDSPEAKERSCANALSOBE INVITEDFORDELIVERINGLECTURES  1UALIlED APPLICANTS WITH A 0RE 0H$ DEGREE CAN RETURN TO THEIR RESPECTIVE HOME INSTITUTIONS ONCE THEIRTRAININGISOVER  4HEPROGRAMSHOULDBETAILOREDTOCATERTODIFFERENT DISCIPLINES AND SHOULD INCLUDE A STUDY OF LATEST TRENDS IN PARTICULAR STREAMS )T SHOULD ALSO TRAIN STUDENTSINANALYTICALSKILLS RESEARCHMETHODOLOGY INSTRUMENTUSE DISSERTATIONWRITINGETC &OR STUDENTS REGISTERING FOR A 0H$ DIRECTLY AFTER A BACHELORSDEGREE THEIMPORTANCEOFA0RE 0H$PROGRAM INCREASES )T WOULD NOT ONLY IMPART STUDENTS WITH NECESSARY BACKGROUND TRAINING BUT ALSO EXAMINE THEIR RESEARCHAPTITUDE)NANINTEGRATEDDOCTORATEPROGRAM 0RE 0H$CANSERVEASONEOFTHEEXITPOINTS4HE0RE 0H$ DEGREE COULD BE RECOGNISED AS A QUALIlCATION TO TEACHUNDERGRADUATECOURSES 2$LABORATORIESCANPREPARETEACHINGMATERIALFOR0RE 0H$COURSES,ECTURENOTESSHOULDBEMADEAVAILABLEON THEINTERNET THEREBYENSURINGWIDERACCESSIBILITY4HIS WILL ALSO CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS GREATER ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL AMONG STUDENTS AND FACULTY !T THEINDIVIDUALLEVEL THEGUIDESMUSTGIVESUFlCIENTSELF STUDYCOURSEWORKTOSTUDENTS

2ECOMMENDATION#REATEEFFECTIVE MONITORINGANDASSESSMENTMECHANISMS DURINGTHECOURSEOFDOCTORALRESEARCHAND ENCOURAGEBROADERENGAGEMENTWITHRESEARCH )SSUES2ESEARCHIN)NDIAISCARRIEDOUTSOLELYONTHEBASIS OF INTERNAL MOTIVATION %FFECTIVE EXTERNAL MECHANISMS WHICHENSUREGOODQUALITYOFRESEARCHLARGELYDONOTEXIST !TTHESAMETIME THEREARENOSUFlCIENTMECHANISMSTO GUARANTEEBROADERENGAGEMENTWITHRESEARCH 4OENSUREEFFECTIVEMONITORINGANDASSESSMENTMECHANISMS  3TUDENTS MUST BE CONTINUOUSLY MONITORED AND MENTORED TO ENSURE THAT THE RESEARCH OUTPUT IS OF REQUISITEQUALITY2EGULARSEMINARSBYSTUDENTSWILL ENSURE THAT THE STUDENTS ADHERE TO THEIR RESEARCH WORKPLANANDSHOWPROGRESS2EGULARREPORTINGIN LABMEETINGSCOULDBEUSEDFORINFORMALFEEDBACK  %XPERIMENTALPROJECTSSHOULDBEMONITOREDTHROUGH A WELL MAINTAINED LOG BOOK 4HE GUIDE SHOULD INSIST AND REGULARLY CHECK WHETHER LOG BOOKS ARE MAINTAINED  )NDEPENDENTCOMMITTEESCANALSOBESETUPBEFORE WHICH THE STUDENTS MAKE REGULAR PRESENTATIONS


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!NYSUCHCOMMITTEESHOULDPROVIDEFEEDBACKAND COUNSEL THE DOCTORAL STUDENTS %XTERNAL CO GUIDES FROMINDUSTRYOTHERINSTITUTESCOULDFACILITATEAWAY TOENSUREBETTERMONITORING  !NYMECHANISMUSEDFORMONITORINGSHOULDCHECK FOR POSSIBILITIES OF PLAGIARISM &URTHER TO ENABLE AN OVERALL HEALTHY RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT 0H$ STUDENTS SHOULD BE TAUGHT ETHICS AND STANDARDS OF ACADEMICRESEARCHASPARTOFCURRICULUM "EFORE DESIGNING ANY NEW MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT MECHANISMS ITISIMPORTANTTOIDENTIFYWHYTHEEXISTING ONESHAVEFAILEDANDTHELESSONSLEARNTSHOULDBETAKEN INTOACCOUNT 4OPROMOTEBROADERENGAGEMENTWITHRESEARCH  2EGULAR INTERACTION AMONG THE RESEARCHERS SHOULD BE FACILITATED THROUGH GROUP MEETINGS RESEARCH SEMINARS ETC !T SOME PLACES LAB GROUP MEETINGS AREHELDEVERYWEEKINWHICHEACHSTUDENTPRESENTS ANDDISCUSSESHISHERWORKWITHTHEENTIREGROUP  7IDER EXPOSURE TO RESEARCH IN THE FORM OF PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES WORKSHOPS SEMINARS ETC WILL STRENGTHEN THE STUDENTSRESEARCHBASEANDSHOULDBEENCOURAGED  *OURNAL CLUBS WHERE STUDENTS DISCUSS ARTICLES OTHER THANTHOSEINTHEIROWNAREASOFRESEARCHPROVIDEA MEANSTOBROADENTHEACADEMICHORIZONOFSTUDENTS  -ENTORING DOCTORAL STUDENTS FOR MEANINGFUL PARTICIPATION BY MEANS OF POSTER PRESENTATIONS INDIVIDUALLYORINGROUPS GROUPDISCUSSIONSWOULD PROVIDE FURTHER IMPETUS IN HELPING THE STUDENTS TOWARDSGAININGCONlDENCEABOUTTHEIRRESEARCH)T WILL ALSO LEAD TO A LARGER NETWORKING AMONG PEERS ANDESTABLISHEDRESEARCHERSFROMAROUNDTHEWORLD

2ECOMMENDATION#OMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENTOFDOCTORALTHESISANDWIDER DISSEMINATIONOFRESEARCHWORK )SSUES /FTEN THERE IS NO OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT OF DOCTORAL THESIS THUS LEADING TO THESES OF POOR QUALITY 4HE EVALUATION COMMITTEE DOES NOT SUBJECT THE THESIS TOASTRICTSCRUTINY4HEREISAHUGEPROBLEMOFUNEVEN QUALITY ACROSS INSTITUTIONS AND THIS IS PARTICULARLY MARKEDINTHE3OCIAL3CIENCESAND(UMANITIES EVENTO THEPOINTWHERE0H$SCANBEhPURCHASEDvONTHEBASIS OFMINIMALWORKINSOMEPLACES /NE OF THE FUNDAMENTAL REQUIREMENTS FOR RUNNING A QUALITY DOCTORAL PROGRAM IS TO HAVE A STRONG FACULTY INVOLVED IN FRONT LINE EXCITING RESEARCH )T IS EQUALLY

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IMPORTANT THAT REPUTED EXAMINERS ARE APPOINTED TO VALIDATETHEQUALITYOFOUTPUTOFRESEARCHTHESIS  !COMBINATIONOFINTERNALANDEXTERNALEXAMINERS SHOULD BE USED TO MAKE THE SYSTEM MORE ROBUST 4HENAMESOFMEMBERSOFTHERESPECTIVEEVALUATION COMMITTEE SHOULD BE ATTACHED TO EACH APPROVED THESIS)TISIMPORTANTTOBRINGTRANSPARENCYINTHE SYSTEMANDATTENTIONTOQUALITY  /PEN DEFENCE OF THESIS COULD BE MANDATED )F A STUDENT FAILS TO DEFEND HISHER WORK SUITABLY A SECOND DEFENCE CAN BE PLANNED AFTER SIX MONTHS (ONOURABLE EXIT OPTIONS SHOULD BE PROVIDED FOR DOCTORALSTUDENTS  0UBLICATIONS IN QUALITY RESEARCH JOURNALS SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED /PEN PEER REVIEW OF PUBLICATIONS SHOULDBEAIMEDAT  0H$ THESIS SHOULD BE UPLOADED ON THE INTERNET PREFERABLY ON THE PROPOSED .ATIONAL 2ESEARCH 0ORTAL)NANYEVENT OPENANDFREEACCESSTORESEARCH OUTPUTINARCHIVESANDOTHERDIGITALMEDIARESOURCES SHOULDBEMADEMANDATORY !LTERNATIVESYSTEMSTOGRANTA0H$CANBEEXPLORED!S PRACTISEDTHESEDAYSIN'ERMANY lVEPUBLISHEDPAPERS IN PEER REVIEWED JOURNALS SHOULD BE DEEMED SUFlCIENT TOACQUIREA0H$4HISDOESNOTSTIPULATEREGISTRATION TIMELIMITORSUPERVISION3UCHSTUDENTSSHOULDPUBLISH INREPUTEDANDINTERNATIONALLYRECOGNISEDJOURNALS AND THESE PAPERS MAY BE REVIEWED COLLECTIVELY BY A PANEL OF EXAMINERS AT LEAST TWO FROM DEVELOPED COUNTRIES AND TWO FROM )NDIA )F A MINIMUM OF THREE PASS THE STANDARDS TEST 0H$ DEGREE MAY BE AWARDED TO THE STUDENTANDSHOULDBERECOGNISEDINTHEEXISTINGSYSTEM 3UCH INNOVATIVE AND ALTERNATIVE SYSTEMS NEED TO BE EXPLOREDANDPUTINTOPRACTICE

0ART#.URTURINGARESEARCH ENVIRONMENT )NORDERFORRESEARCHTOmOURISH ITISVITALTHATTHEENTIRE ACADEMICSYSTEMBEMADEMORECONDUCIVEANDVIBRANT 5NIVERSITIESARETHENATURALHOMESFORACADEMICRESEARCH THE WORLD OVER AND IT IS VITAL THAT RESEARCH CULTURE BE BROUGHT BACK TO OUR UNIVERSITIES /THER STAKEHOLDERS LIKE INDUSTRY AND GOVERNMENT CAN PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLEINTHISENDEAVOUR

2ECOMMENDATION%NABLEUNIVERSITY ENVIRONMENTTOPRODUCEQUALITY0H$S )SSUES 6ARIOUS COMPULSIONS IN EARLY POLICY MAKING IN THE POST INDEPENDENT ERA LED TO A LARGE NUMBER OF

STAND ALONE RESEARCH INSTITUTES )T IS NOW INCREASINGLY BEING RECOGNISED THAT SEPARATION OF RESEARCH AND TEACHINGHASBEENATTHECOSTOFCREATINGAGOODRESEARCH ENVIRONMENTINTHEUNIVERSITIES7EHAVEALREADYLOSTA COUPLEOFGENERATIONSOFTALENTBECAUSEOFTHERESULTING BREAKDOWN IN THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM 4HE PRESENT ACADEMIC ENVIRONMENT IN MANY UNIVERSITIES REMAINS LARGELYUNATTRACTIVEFORRESEARCHERS &ACILITATING RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES IN UNIVERSITY ENVIRONMENT 5NIVERSITY REFORMS ARE URGENTLY NEEDED ANDANINTEGRALPARTOFTHISSHOULDBEAIMEDATENABLING A RESEARCH CULTURE IN UNIVERSITIES ! VIBRANT RESEARCH ATMOSPHERE IN THE UNIVERSITIES WILL DElNITELY ATTRACT MORE STUDENTS TOWARDS RESEARCH 4HE MOST ESSENTIAL ENABLERSFORSUCHANENVIRONMENTINCLUDETHEPRESENCE OFAFACILITATINGADMINISTRATION TALENTEDFACULTYANDTHE AVAILABILITYOFADEQUATERESEARCHFACILITIES #ONDUCIVE ADMINISTRATION /FTEN UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION ITSELF MILITATES AGAINST CREATING CONDITIONSCONDUCIVETORESEARCH4HISISLARGELYBECAUSE OF THE CENTRALISATION OF DECISION MAKING RESTRICTIONS ONFACULTYAUTONOMYANDIMPOSITIONOFRIGIDlNANCIAL RULESTHATMAKEShMANAGINGvPROJECTSVERYDEMANDING !DMINISTRATION SHOULD BE SENSITIVE TO ACADEMIC NEEDS AND SHOULD AIM TO ENCOURAGE AND HELP FACULTY TO DELIVER BETTER RESULTS )N ORDER TO ENABLE A FAVOURABLE ADMINISTRATIVEENVIRONMENT ITISESSENTIALTO  %NSUREACAPABLEADMINISTRATIONHEADEDBYANABLE 6ICE#HANCELLORAND2EGISTRAR  'RANTAUTONOMYINMAKINGRECRUITMENTSTOACHIEVE HIGHERSTANDARDS  5NDERTAKE STEPS TO COMPLETELY ERADICATE POLITICS ANDINBREEDINGINTHESYSTEM  3IMPLIFY BUREAUCRATIC PROCEDURES TO MAKE THE SYSTEMMORERESPONSIVE TRANSPARENTANDEFlCIENT  0ROVIDE TECHNICAL HELP OR GUIDANCE TO POTENTIAL UNIVERSITY RESEARCHERS FOR WRITING GRANT APPLICATIONS #OLLABORATION FOR SHARING RESOURCES AND EXPERTISE )T IS VITAL TO PROVIDE RESEARCHERS WITH THE REQUIRED INFRASTRUCTURE TO CARRY OUT THEIR RESEARCH WORK 5NIVERSITIES SHOULD BE GIVEN ADEQUATE FUNDS FOR UPGRADINGINFRASTRUCTURE/FTEN THELACKOFFUNDSACTS ASAHURDLEINBUILDINGANDMAINTAININGCAPITAL INTENSIVE INFRASTRUCTURE (ENCE SHARING OF INFRASTRUCTURE WITH JOINT RESPONSIBILITY OF MAINTENANCE AMONG INSTITUTES SHOULD BE GREATLY ENCOURAGED &OR BETTER MEANINGFUL SHARINGOFPHYSICALASWELLASINTELLECTUALINFRASTRUCTURE AMONGINSTITUTIONS

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#OLLABORATIONSHOULDBEFORMALISEDBYENTERINGINTO ALLIANCES SIGNING-O5SETC .EW RESEARCH AND ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS SHOULD BE CO LOCATEDASMUCHASPOSSIBLE ,IBRARY FACILITIES ACCESS TO JOURNALS ELECTRONICALLY ETC SHOULD BE PROVIDED FREELY 4HE UPCOMING .ATIONAL+NOWLEDGE.ETWORKSHOULDBELEVERAGED FORTHISPURPOSE 4OPDOWNSYSTEMICLINKAGESFROMELITEINSTITUTIONS TOUNIVERSITIESANDTOCOLLEGESSHOULDBEESTABLISHED ANDENCOURAGEDTOENSURECAPACITYBUILDING *OINTDOCTORALRESEARCHWHERESTUDENTSAREALLOWED TOSELECTGUIDEANDCO GUIDESFROMACROSSACADEMIC ANDRESEARCHINSTITUTIONSSHOULDBEUNDERTAKEN 2ESEARCH INSTITUTES CAN ALLOCATE SUB PROJECTS TO UNIVERSITIESTOBEGINWITH )NTER DISCIPLINARY PROJECTS INVOLVING MULTIPLE AGENCIESSHOULDBEEXPLORED 5'# SHOULD PROMOTE CONFERENCES WITH INDUSTRY ANDRESEARCHINSTITUTESTOENABLECONVERSIONOFIDEAS INTORESEARCHTOBEIMPLEMENTEDATUNIVERSITIES

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%RROR ANALYSIS UP TO AND INCLUDING CALCULATION OF ERRORBARSSHOULDBEESSENTIALREQUIREMENTFOREACH EXPERIMENT  4RAINING SHOULD INCLUDE MAINTAINING LAB JOURNALS ANDTECHNICALCOMMUNICATIONSKILLS 4HISWILLHELPINGUIDINGTHETALENTTOWARDSHARD CORE EXPERIMENTALSCIENCES #HANGES IN THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM TO ENCOURAGE RESEARCH AND GOOD TEACHING "OTH TEACHING AND RESEARCH SHOULD BE PROMOTED BY CREATING MECHANISMS WHICH PROVIDE FREEDOM ENCOURAGE INNOVATION AND RECOGNISEANDREWARDGOODWORK'OODTEACHINGPLAYS ANIMPORTANTROLEINENCOURAGINGSTUDENTSTOPURSUEAN ACADEMICCAREERANDTHISASPECTISOFTENUNRECOGNISED  &ACULTY SHOULD HAVE SUFlCIENT RESOURCES TO CARRY OUTRESEARCHASWELLASTEACHINGACTIVITIES4EACHERS SHOULDBEESPECIALLYENCOURAGEDTOCREATEINNOVATIVE TEACHING MATERIAL AND FOR PROVIDING WIDE SPREAD ACCESS  'OODWORKINGCONDITIONSAREABSOLUTELYESSENTIALIN CREATINGAVIBRANTACADEMICENVIRONMENT  &REE mOW OF RESEARCHERS BETWEEN INDUSTRY AND ACADEMIA SHOULD BE INITIATED 3ABBATICALS TO WORK IN INDUSTRY FOR ACADEMICIANS AND VICE VERSA FOR INDUSTRYEMPLOYEESSHOULDBEINSTITUTED3UFlCIENT PROVISIONSSHOULDBEMADEFORGRANTINGSABBATICALS TOFACULTYFORUNDERTAKINGRESEARCH  ,IBERAL RULES SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO FOR PROVIDING FACULTY MEMBERS WITH THE mEXIBILITY TO HOLD DUAL APPOINTMENTS BETWEEN 2$ INSTITUTIONS AND UNIVERSITIES  &LEXIBILITY IN EXTRAMURALLY FUNDED PROJECTS TO UNIVERSITY BASED INVESTIGATORS SHOULD BE GIVEN SO THATTHEYCANTRAVELANDPARTICIPATEININTERNATIONAL MEETINGSWORKSHOPS  4HERESHOULDBEPROVISIONSFORMENTORINGOFYOUNG FACULTY BY ESTABLISHED SCIENTISTS WHICH INVOLVES SPENDING BRIEF PERIOD AT THE MENTORS LABORATORY INSTITUTE  4O INCENTIVISE RESEARCH PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL FOR PROMOTIONS SHOULD GIVE A HIGHER WEIGHTAGE TO RESEARCH  ! COMPONENT OF FUNDING SHOULD BE USED FOR REWARDINGGOODTEACHERSANDRESEARCHERS  3EPARATE RESEARCH WING IN UNIVERSITIES COULD BE DEVELOPED WITH AS FEW BUREAUCRATIC HURDLES AS POSSIBLE'ROUPRECRUITMENTWITHASPECIlCMANDATE OF DEVELOPING FRONTIER AREAS IN RESEARCH SHOULD BE EXPLORED

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&LEXIBILITY SHOULD BE ACCOMPANIED WITH A COMPONENT OF ACCOUNTABILITY THE NORMS OF WHICH SHOULD BE PERIODICALLYREVIEWED 2EDUCTION OF TEACHING LOAD 4HERE IS A SERIOUS SHORTAGE OF FACULTY ACROSS INSTITUTIONS &URTHER WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF TEACHING POSTS IN COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIESREMAININGVACANT THEREISSEVERESTRESSONTHE EXISTINGFACULTY!LSO INTHECURRENTSYSTEM THEWHOLE PROFESSION OF TEACHING HAS BEEN SEVERELY UNDERMINED WITHCONTRACTTEACHINGINCOLLEGESBECOMINGMOREAND MOREACCEPTABLE4EACHERSHAVENOTIMEORINCLINATION TOPARTICIPATEINANYTHINGINNOVATIVEWHICHHASLEDTOA LACKOFINVOLVEMENTANDENTHUSIASMINTHEWHOLESYSTEM THEREBYLEADINGTOGRADUALDECAYANDDEGRADATION)TIS CRUCIAL THAT THESE ISSUES ARE ADDRESSED AND ACTED UPON WITHTHEUTMOSTSENSEOFURGENCY 3OMESTEPSTHATCOULDBEUNDERTAKENTOREDUCETEACHING LOADARE  $UPLICITYOFCOURSESSHOULDBEAVOIDED4HISCALLS FOR GREATER INTERDEPARTMENTAL COLLABORATION AT THE LEVEL OF INDIVIDUAL INSTITUTION )NTER INSTITUTIONAL COLLABORATIONTO OFFER COMMON COURSES CAN ALSO BE WORKEDOUTBYMEANSOFSHARINGCREDIT  ,ECTURESCANBEDELIVEREDTOALARGECLASSCOMBINED WITH TUTORIAL SESSIONS IN SMALLER BATCHES OF STUDENTS  0OSITIONS OF !DJUNCT &ACULTY MUST BE CREATED AND STRENGTHENED 0EOPLE FROM RESEARCH INSTITUTES INDUSTRY ABROADETCSHOULDBEINVITEDTOTEACHFEW COURSESEVERYSEMESTER3ERVICESOFRETIREDPROFESSORS CANALSOBEUSED4HISWILLALSOBRINGINMUCHNEEDED FRESHINPUTSFROMOUTSIDEINTOTHEUNIVERSITY  0$&S AND 0H$ STUDENTS SHOULD BE EFFECTIVELY UTILISED IN TEACHING OR TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIPS 3PECIALLY BRIGHTSTUDENTSSHOULDBEALLOWEDASWELL ASENCOURAGEDTOTEACHJUNIORCLASSES  )#4 SHOULD BE USED EXTENSIVELY FOR TEACHING WHEREVER APPROPRIATE 4HIS WILL GIVE ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL TO A LARGER SECTION OF THESTUDENTCOMMUNITY  )SSUESREGARDINGNEWRECRUITMENTSHOULDBESORTED OUT AND NEW APPOINTMENTS SHOULD BE MADE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE !DEQUATE FACILITIES FOR RESEARCH SEEDMONEY HOUSINGANDINCENTIVESFORSPONSORED RESEARCHSHOULDBEOFFEREDTOATTRACTNEWFACULTY $ATA COLLECTION ORGANISATION AND ACCESS 7HILE THEREARENUMEROUSAGENCIESINVOLVEDINDATACOLLECTION RELATED TO DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF (IGHER %DUCATION AND

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(OWEVER SOME CAUTION NEEDS TO BE OBSERVED WHILE SETTINGUPNEWRESEARCHUNIVERSITIES  !N ABLE DIRECTOR IS ESSENTIAL FOR DEVELOPING A NEW INSTITUTE  4HESE UNIVERSITIES SHOULD NOT BECOME ISOLATED ISLANDSOFEXCELLENCE  &ACULTY WILL REMAIN THE MOST SERIOUS ISSUE IN EXPANSIONANDAPPROPRIATESTEPSSHOULDBETAKENIN THISDIRECTION  3ERIOUS INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE EXISTING SYSTEM SHOULDBEUNDERTAKENINORDERTOIDENTIFYTHEGAPS ANDTOENSURETHATMISTAKESARENOTREPEATED 3IMULTANEOUSLY ACOMPREHENSIVEPROCESSOFREPAIRAND REFORMSWITHINTHEEXISTINGSYSTEMSHOULDBEINITIATED 4HIS CAN TAKE THE INITIAL FORM OF IDENTIFYING SELECT DEPARTMENTSCOLLEGESUNIVERSITIES WITH A POTENTIAL FOR SUBSTANTIALIMPROVEMENT&UNDSSHOULDBEINVESTEDIN UPGRADINGANDMONITORINGTHEPROGRESSOFTHESE6ITAL COMPONENTSOFTHISEXERCISEARETRANSPARENCY ACADEMIC AUTONOMYANDESTABLISHMENTOFSYSTEMATICLINKAGES #OLLEGESWITHINUNIVERSITIESWHICHAREENGAGEDINQUALITY TEACHING AND RESEARCH PROJECTS SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED AND SUPPORTED WITH FREE ACCESS TO FUNDS INVESTMENT OF INFRASTRUCTURE MORE ACADEMIC AND ADMINISTRATIVE AUTONOMY ! USEFUL METRIC FOR EVALUATION OF COLLEGES COULDBETHEPLACEMENTOFITSSTUDENTSATRESEARCHAND ACADEMICINSTITUTIONSWITHINANDOUTSIDEOFTHECOUNTRY /NTHEWHOLE THERESHOULDBEANOVERALLEMPOWERMENT OFCOLLEGESPROVIDINGQUALITYUNDERGRADUATEEDUCATION

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PROVIDING FACILITATING ADMINISTRATION AS WELL AS MAINTAININGBESTSTANDARDSINRESEARCH

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