BUSINESS & TRADE EXIM POLICY, 2003
On March 31, 2003, the country’s Export-Import policy for 2003 was announced by commerce Minister Arun Jaitley. The policy, which clearly demonstrates newfound confidence in dealing with globalised world, waives actual user restriction on import of capital goods that are less than 10 years old. This means easier access to capital goods and is expected to help manufacturing sectors like textiles, which are due for an overhaul. At the same time, this is bad news for the Indian capital goods sector. About 90 percent of the capital goods used in India are second-hand imports.
The policy comes in the midst of uncertainty created by the Iraq war. Yet, the minister appeared unfazed and announced an annual growth target of 12% to push exports up to $80 billion by 2007.
Boost to Services Sectors, One of the biggest features of the policy is a shift of focus from merchandise to services. The policy – mainly of relevance to merchants in the past, and only since 2002 to farmers and artisans—underwent modifications in order to provide incentives to the growing number of service providers in a variety of areas and not just in computer software. The Exim policy gives incentives, such as entitlement to duty-free imports up to 10% of the average export during the past three years, to lawyers, doctors, accountants, architects, engineering consultants, urban planners, parame3dics, R&D people, hoteliers, tour operators, education and health care providers, musicians, showbiz persons and a host of others who aspire to make the world their market.
Service providers, who have a minimum income of Rs 10 lakh a year in foreign exchange, can import equipment, inputs and consumables duty-free, worth one-tenth of their earnings.
Direct Oil Imports.
The policy also allows stand-lone oil marketing companies, companies which have marketing rights to directly import petrol and diesel, to import refined products for sale through their networks, bypassing State owned companies like IOC.
WAR ON IRAQ ‘DEPLORED’ AT LAST BY THE LOK SABHA
On April 8, 2003, the Lok Sabha unanimously passed a resolution deploring the attack by the United States of America, the United Kingdom and their allies on Iraq and called for an end to the war.
The resolution, passed in Hindi, uses the word ninda, generally translated as ‘condemn’.
The resolution, was moved by the Speaker, Mr Manohar Joshi, the wording of which was accepted by the Opposition and the government after two days of intense discussion. It said that the war in Iraq was not acceptable to India, as the military campaign had not received the UN mandate. “Thus the House demands that war should be immediately stopped and the allied forces should go back. The UN should ensure that the integrity of Iraq is maintained and the reconstruction of Iraq should be under the supervision of the UN”, the resolution said.
ARE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN INDIA RESULTING IN SOCIAL DISPARITY?
Education has a special place in India and like any other social sector this sector this sector is also actively assister by the State. Due to poor literacy rate in the country at the time of independence, the achievements in this field have not been too impressive. The literacy rate, which was just 18.33 per cent in the 1951 Census, increased marginally to 28.30 percent in the 1961 Census. The latest Census of 2001 recorded the literacy rate of 65.28 per cent, which is less than most of the developing countries in the world. One distinct feature of Indian education system is the coexistence of two types of education. While there is a large network of schools being run by the government, most imparting elementary education in Hindi or local language, there is a large number of so-called public schools imparting the education in English medium. Over the Years, there has been a rat race among the people in the urban and sub-urban areas to educate their children in the public schools. It is felt by many that this dual system of education is creating a dichotomy in the society, which may have far-reaching consequences.
Arguments for the View.
(a) Public school education is normally more expensive and cannot be afforded by the poorer sections of society. Hence, it is the well-to-do segment of society that generally goes in for public school education. As a result most of the times rural poor hate to be content with rural education, creating a dichotomy.
(b) As a British legacy, in India any person fluent in English is still perceived as a well educated one and people who are even more proficient in other Indian languages are not considered to be at par with such people. To change this type of mind-set, the dual system of education must be stopped by banning the so called ‘public schools’.
(c) Children of most of the people at the helm of affairs and at the apex of policy-taking study in public schools and they do not realize the weaknesses of the government schools. As a result there is hardly any scope for improvement in these schools. Subtle improvement would come if the public schools are banned and only government education is available for the wards of policy-makers and the Ministers.
(d) Public schools teach more of western culture and values to the children than Indian ethos. This dilute4s the sense of belonging to the country among the students. For this reason also, the public school education must be dispensed with.
(e) Improving the standards of education is the felt need in the country at present. So long as the public schools continue to co-exist along with the government schools, there is hardly an chance of improving the education in near future and duality in the society would continue.
Arguments Against the View.
(a) It would be wrong to ban the public schools without effecting any improvement in the government schools. This would be a retrograde step, as it would further lower the education standards.
(b) The public schools are catering to a particular segment of society and it would be wrong to deny this facility to the concerned people, by banning the public schools, without any alternative.
(c) Most of the new inventions in the field of science and technology, as well as the global knowledge base, are available in English language and Indian languages are not developed to the extent of deriving optimum benefit out of such inventions and knowledge. It would adversely affect the advancement of science and technology in the country if public schools were banned.
(d) Minorities in India have the right to promote educational institutions for the advancement of their own community. English-speaking minorities like the Christians and Anglo-Indians have the right to promote educational institutions for the betterment of their community. Hence, English medium schools or the public schools may be difficult to ban.
Rather than thinking of banning the public schools, it would be appropriate to upgrade the standards of schools run by the government.
AGRICULTURE SUBSIDIES
The objective of giving subsidies to agriculture was to support the poor and marginal farmers to get cheaper inputs and reasonable remuneration for their produce. It was also aimed at eliminating the middlemen. With growing incomes and the number of people below poverty line falling significantly, there appears to be no rationale for subsidies.
The prime objective of all types of subsidies is to give support initially during the infancy stage and then allow the sector concerned to grow to face the competition. Agriculture has been enjoying the government support for over five decades now and it is time that it is allowed to take on the global competition.
Ensuring the food security was one of the reasons for governmental support to agriculture in the initial years. but now the situation in different. Food grain production is at comfortable level and the buffer stocks are much above the required levels. Under such a scenario, there appears to be no need to give extra support to the agriculture.
Rising fiscal deficit is one serious problem that is being faced by the Union government at present. One of the major causes of high fiscal deficit is the huge expenditure on agricultural subsidies.
With fourteen normal monsoons in a row, the country may be feeling complacent. But if the rainfall averages of the early eighties were repeated, India could be in for a serious problem. Hence, without creating adequate irrigation facilities and other capital investment, it would be wrong to withdraw support of subsidies.
RESERVATION IN SERVICES
India is welfare State and the Indian Constitution assigns and responsibility to the government to look after the interests of socially and economically disadvantaged groups of Indian society. Optimum welfare of the society can be ensured only when the downtrodden and the under privileged are adequately assisted by the government. Among other Fundamental Rights, the Indian Constitution provides that every citizen shall have the right to equality. Among other Fundamental Rights, the Indian Constitution provides that every citizen shall have the right to equality. Article 16 of the Constitution specifically provides that there shall be equal opportunity to all the citizens in matters relating to employment or appointment to any office under the State. But at the same time, Article 16(4) of the Constitution provides that the State may reserve any post or appointment in favor of any backward classes, which are not represented adequate in the State services. Further, Article 335 Provides that the claims of the members of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes shall be taken into consideration in the matter of appointments to the services under the State, consistent with the maintenance of efficiency of administration. It is under these provisions that reservations for certain categories are made by the government. But at the same time, the Fundamental Rights also provide for removal of untouchability and abolitio0n of titles. Some people, therefore, argue that the provision of reservation in services is not actually helping the really deserving people.
Arguments For the view
(a) The objective of reservation in services was noble but after over five decades of reservation for the specified categories, it appears that there is no need to reserve seats for any community.
(b) Reservation in services creates a distinction among the public servants who are sub-divided in tow categories for their entire life. the reservation continues to keep both the groups separated during their entire service and keeps them reminding of their respective castes. Hence, instead of reducing the caste feeling, reservation, in fact increases the caste.
(c) The real objective of the present day politician is not the upliftment of the socially underprivileged people, but to ensure that they get votes of the concerned castes in the next election. When people are treated as vote banks and not the human beings, the policy of reservation loses its focus.
(d) The benefit of reservation is now being taken by the sons and the grand sons of those who got the benefit during fifties and sixties. the poor Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes are not in a position to compete with their well-to do cousins in the competitions. Hence, the benefit of reservation is not reaching the desired target group.
(e) The thrust of the policy must therefore be on providing facilities like coaching, scholarships and free education and not on reservation.
Arguments Against the View
(a) The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes had been exploited for centuries and it would be wrong to presume that reservation in services for five decades would undo the injustice done to them over centuries.
(b) Social justice and equity is one of the policy hallmarks of Indian polity, Indian Constitution is socialist in nature. The policy of reservation is nothing nut an expression of Indian democracy in the most befitting manner.
(c) In Indian society, even today social prestige is linked with the government job to a great extent, particularly in the rural and semi-urban areas. Hence, with a view to help the reserve categories overcome their social disadvantages, it is desirable that the policy of reservation be continued for some more time.
(d) In every professional course or job in which there are reservations, the concession is only at the entry level. Hence, there is no compromise with the standards due to reservations.
HOW IS THE INDIAN PRESIDENT ELECTED
The President is elected by an electoral college consisting of the elected members of both Houses of Parliament and the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of the States. Only elected members from part of the Electoral College, not those nominated to any of the relevant legislative bodies. For the forthcoming presidential elections, there are a total of 4,896 electors, consisting of 543 Lok Sabha members, 233 Rajya Sabha members and 4,120 MLAs.
A formula laid down in the Constitution determines the number of votes each elector commands. The basic principle governing the formula is of proportional representation. In other words, the attempt is to ensure that each legislator’s votes reflect the population he actually represents.
The formula attempts to achieve this as follows: The population of each State is divided by 1,000 and then by that State. The system also tries to ensure a balance between the value of votes of parliamentarians and State legislators. Hence, the next part of the formula takes this number 549,474- and divides it by the total number of elected MPs, which is 776, to work out the value of all MPs? votes equals 708 multiplied by 776, which is 549,408. The grand total of votes in the Electoral College thus adds up to 1,098,882 a little over a million.
The population figure to be considered is the relevant census tally under the Constitution. However, since the 1974 presidential elections, the 1971 census has formed the basis for the calculation.
Each elector marks his ordered preference for the candidates in the fray. At the first count, only the first preference votes are tallied. If any of the candidates at this stage secur3es more than the required “quota” of votes, he or she wins. The “quota” is simply one more than half the total valid votes polled by all the candidates put together, that is a majority of votes. If no candidate reaches the quota after the first round of counting, the candidate with the least votes at that stage is eliminated and th4e second preference marked by those voting for him are added on to the votes of the relevant candidates. This process is continued with each subsequent round till one of the candidates reaches the “quota” and is declared the winner.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY THE IMPENDING EVOLUTION
The concept of computers and their use in Information Technology (IT) was alien to India before mid eighties. But the introduction of computers in India by late eighties made India one of the front runners in the field of IT, at least in the developing countries. India has made rapid strides in the field of software development and IT-enabled services in defence, space research, telecommunication and meteorology. But, more than the government, it was the corporate world in India that took lead in IT and IT-enabled services in their day to day life and it appears that IT would play an important role in rapid development of India in the decades to follow.
In the modern era of globalisation, information is the power. Hence, IT has an enormous influence on today’s global economy. The competitiveness of Indian economy and its well being is closely linked to its ability to innovate and participate in the IT sector. After the great Industrial Revolution of the Europe, it is the IT revolution that has swept the world. Knowledge-based services sector has emerged as one of the most important for the developed countries, but is also equally important for the developing countries like India, as it has the potential to enhance the competitiveness of the key industries.
IT has significant applications in the fields of macro economic planning, public administration, decision making, education, health care, energy conserva5tion, environmental management, etc. In other words, government citizen interface can be improved enormously by introducing what is know as e-governance (electronic governance). This requires simultaneous changes in work culture and goal orientation, along with changes in the existing processes. Use of IT-enabled services in most of the above services not only makes the delivery system more efficient , but also improves significantly the quality of delivery. It also results in transpare4ncy and efficiency.
Commerce and industry also use the IT-enabled processes and office automation systems to a great extent. Industrial applications of IT range from product designing, product processes, inventory management and distribution systems. IT-enabled services are also used extensively in marketing and sales. Commerce and web marketing are the two concepts of recent origin that use IT in marketing the goods in every nook and corner of the world. IT applications in commerce also include e-banking, use of plastic cash (credit cards), use in stock exchanges, gaining global information, export management, etc.
India’s software industry is one of the most spectacular success stories in the recent years. No other developing country has been able to match India in this regard. Indian software and IT professional are among the most sought after ones in the entire world. India’s IT software companies have the capacity to provide efficient software solutions with the cost and quality advantage using the state of-the-art technologies. IT boom in India has also resulted in setting up of call centers, medical transcription facilities, revenue accounting and back office operation facilities. New dot com companies have also flooded the Indian IT scenario. The info tech stocks have left the Indian stock marke5ts bullish. With a view to provide the IT-enabled solutions in a more organized manner, the software and IT companies in India have formed a National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) to provide service to the clients as well as the government. Many State governments have hired NASSCOM to provide them with consultancy services for their e-governance initiatives.
1. The period was mid eighties. Most common people were living a common life, struggling to make it better with the help of technology.
2. Then all of sudden, we heard a magic word “e-mail”. It was sending the mail electronically.
3. Then little later came the instant messaging service, where you could exchange message with multiple participants simultaneously.
4. Then came internet telephony followed by web camera for videophones. the most pleasant part of this was the costs were extremely low. This was the big bang impact of IT in our day-to-day life.
5. The IT industry is moving into so many lateral fields that it has made a huge impact on human culture or convenience. To name few:-
Smart homes
E-Government
Hotels
Mobile Phones
Sensor clothes etc.
6. Technology keeps opening up new markets and mostly it is just the limitation of the imagination that stops people from finding a new niche
E-GOVERNANCE
Government procedures are fraught with insurmountable complications and remain mystified for a common man. The concept of e-governance aims at bringing more efficiency in government by using IT enabled services, reducing corruption by bringing in more transparency in decision making and making it people friendly by simplifying the procedures. All the governmental activities necessarily include citizen-government interface, which can be improved remarkably by making use of IT under a broad umbrella of e-governance.
Connectivity is the key to e-governance. Before any e-governance initiative is taken, all the Districts, Subdivisions, Tehsils / Talukas and Developmental Blocks must be linked through computer networking. Important centers of governance, like the State Headquarters and zonal offices should preferably be linked by videoconferencing facilities. All the departments are required to by linked to their district and field-level offices. After the desired levels of connectivity are established, there is a need to have data warehouses in each district. The government and district websites should give adequate information about government departments, rules and procedures and these should be available to a common man at click of the mouse. Use of SMART cards in transport sector can immensely improve the delivery system in this vital sector.
Once the required services are computerized, the process of e-governance requires that the users should be provided with the outlets from where they could access the government services. Computer owning population with Internet facilities would not have any problem in this regard. But such outlets for general public may have to be encouraged in the form of cost-effective cyber cafes in large numbers.
Under such a scenario, the citizen must be able to apply for any government owned service on a computer and delivery is also to be ensured electronically. Rules and procedures for all kinds of applications are to be made available on the government website and the waiting list, if any, should also be on the web.
Once all the services affecting the government citizen interface are computerised, the next step could be providing electronically enabled identity cards. This would not only integrate the databases on human resources, but would also facilitate prevention of crimes and guarantee of peaceful life to the peace loving citizens. The IT revolution would, thus not only help the trade, industry, commerce, stock markets, social sector and the globalization, but would also ensure a much better life for the citizens of the country.
ELECTIONS IN JAMMU & KASHMIR
A chance for a new beginning the election in Jammu and Kashmir have very appropriately been hailed as the triumph of democracy. More than that, they also signify a triumph of the political sagacity and courage of the Kashmiris, and an emphatic assertion of their preference for a peaceful and negotiated settlement of the Kashmir issue within a democratic framework.
The election results threw up some surprises. At one level the fractured mandate is a clear rejection of the National Conference, which had a hegemony of sorts in Kashmir politics for decades, at another level it is also a relatively clear victory for the Congress and a new group of less than three years’ standing, the People’s Democratic Party (led by former Union Home Minister as also a former congress leader Mufti Mohammad Sayeed). The two parties that together bagged 36 of the 87 seats in the House will now govern the State, sharing power between themselves and with the smaller groups and independents.
Numerically, elections for the 87 seats in J&K gave a hung assembly with the ruling National conference emerging as the largest single party-though its tally reduced from 58 in 1996 to 28 seats, with party president Omar Abdullah being defeated in Gander bal – his family’s traditional constituency¾at the hands of the People’s Democratic party candidate.
While the Congress based its claim on the convention that the largest group leads the coalition, PDP President Mufti Mohammed Sayeed insisted on leading the government because the wounded Valley gave them the mandle, to which all its 16 MLAs belong.
Ultimately, on October 26, after a fortnight-long war of nerves, the Chief Minister ship issue was resolved and Congress agreed to have the PDP President, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir on a rotational basis of three years.
ROLE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY IN INDIAN CONTEXT
Biotechnology is the buzzword these days. With breath we are waiting to see how the revolutionary strides that biotechnology has been making in agriculture, medicine and industry are going to change the shape of things for the better. Though in a state of infancy in India, the prospects that Biotechnology offers in India are both paramount and path breaking. No doubt, biotech business is increasing exponentially, with major thrust into human health, agriculture, veterinary, medicine and environmental management.
For a country like India, where odds and opportunities happily co-exit, biotechnology products can provide vital benefits to a large number of people affected by immunological, genetic and oncology related disorders. On the agricultural biotech front, higher yields and new crop varieties will benefit farmers. People at larger will benefit from cleaner and greener technologies that enzymes and bioremediation provide.
With biotechnology perception and programming, there is every likelihood of India becoming a global player in many fields.
The promises are many: disease resistant and high-yield crops can bring cheers on the faces of Indian farmers besides solving the world’s food problems; new medicines and drug delivery system can help cure diseases and prevent genetically inherited disorders and new enzymes can make industrial production more efficient and cost effective. With a well-educated, highly skilled, English-speaking workforce, India can give quality results at lower costs, most aptly assisted by a formidable reputation in IT.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY POLICY, 2003
LAUNCHING his government’s Science and Technology Policy, 2003, at the opening of the 90th Indian Science Congress in Bangalore, Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee laid the road map for making India a developed nation with science and technology driven inputs.
As a first step, the government will make budgetary commitments to raise he level of investments on science and technology to at least 2 per cent of the GDP by the end of the 10th Five-year Plan. To achieve this, the private sector has to “steeply increase” its investments in research and developments, the policy document said.
The policy document is the first in 20 years. India had a scientific policy resolution in 1958 that was updated in 1983.
The new policy document has called for a certain percentage of the overall allocation for socio-economic ministries to be devoted to science and technology programmes and activities. It says that the Stats would be encouraged to establish linkages with national institutions for solving their regional and local specific problems.
The policy also promises that scientific institutions would be substantially strengthened, “debureaucratised”, given full autonomy and flexibility.
To encourage quality and productivity, mobility of scientists and technologists between industry, academic institutions and research laboratories would be “ensured”, it says.
The Indian Institutes of Technology, Indian Institutes of Management and select other institutions will be encouraged to launch comprehensive programmes for technology management.
FUNCTIONS OF FINANCE COMMISSION AND ADDITIONAL TERMS FOR 12th FINANCE COMMISSION
Articles 270,273, 275 and 280 of the Constitution provide for the constitution of a Finance Commission every five years, to recommend to the President of India certain measures regarding distribution of financial resources between the Union and the States. Article 280 provides that the Finance Commission shall recommend to the President the percentage of net proceeds of income tax, which should be assigned by the Union to the States, and the manner in which such a share of the States is to be distributed among them. The recommendations of the Finance Commission, when accepted, remain valid for a period of five years before which next Finance Commission is appointed.
As per the Constitution, it is the duty of the Finance Commission to make recommendations to the President on the following:
(I) Distribution between the Union and the States, of net proceeds of taxes, which are to be distributed among them.
(II) Distribution of their share among the States.
(III) The principles governing grants-in-aid of the Union revenues to the States.
(IV) The measures to augment there sources of the States to supplement the resources of Panchayati Raj Institutions (73rd amendment).
(V) The measures to augment the resources of the States to supplement the resources of municipalities in the States (74th amendment).
(VI) Any other matter referred to the Commission by the President of India.
Till now, reports of 11 Finance Commissions have been implemented. Eleventh Finance Commission under the chairmanship of an eminent economist, Prof A.M. Khusro, was the first to consider additional terms of the references inserted vide the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment. In October 2002, the government of India finalized the terms of reference for the 12th Finance Commission. Though the Chairman was not named immediately yet it has been decided that the 12th Finance Commission would submit its report by July 31, 2002, so that the recommendations could be included in the Union Budget for 2004-05. Over and above the terms of references prescribed in the Constitutions, the 12th Finance Commission has also been asked to review the finances of the Centre as well as States. The Commission would also recommend ways and means by which the government may restructured the State finances and manage their yawning fiscal deficits.
LINKING OF MAJOR RIVERS
In response to the observations of the Supreme Court of India to take positive measures to interlink all the major rivers of the country within next ten years, the government has responded in a very positive manner. Mooted in the name of Dastur Plan, by an engineer called Dastur, as a permanent solution to the problems of floods, droughts and floods security, the proposal was further improved by Dr K.L Rao, an eminent irrigation expert, in early sixties. But the successive governments thereafter continued to ignore this long-term solution to this recurring problem of Indian economy.
While Dastur Plan aimed at linking all major rivers into one massive canal, Rao’s plan has three major links¾ one in the South and two in the North. Southern Water Grid proposes to interlink Southern rivers like the Mahanadi, the Godawari, the Krishna, the Cauvery, the pennar and the Vaigai, which would provide surplus waters of the Mahanadi and Godawari flowing into the Bay of Bengal to the deficit areas of Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. Northern link is proposed in the east, which aims at linking the Brahamputra, the Ganga, the Mahanadi and the Subarnarekha to benefit the water deficit areas of West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa and Assam. Second Northern link proposes to inter link the Gandak, the Ghaghara, the Sarda, the Yamuna to Rajasthan and Sabarmati with a view to benefit the States like Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Uttaranchal, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Bihar and Jharkhand.
The envisaged advantages are manifold. While the devastation caused by floods every year would come to an end, the nation would also be able to use valuable resources of water to its optimum. the water could be used for irrigation, and even for drinking in deficit areas. Interlinking would also improve the level of depleting ground water. Indian agriculture would be revolutionized by improved access to irrigation, as over 30 percent of the cultivable lands presently fed by rain would get adequate water for irrigation. Not only agricultural output would increase substantially the incidence of rural poverty would also come down drastically.
POLLUTION CONTROL
With rapidly increasing population pressure, the problem of environmental pollution has become extremely acute in the recent years. While the denudation of the forests is directly linked to the growing needs of the increased population for fuel, fodder and timber, air and water pollution are the other areas of concern to the environmentalists. Emission of pollutants in the air largely comes from transport sector, domestic households and industrial sectors. With rapidly increasing economic activity, transportation, urbanization and population pressure some believe that in the modern day world it may be extremely difficult to keep the pollution under check.
As science and technology is advancing, man is coming out with new methods and technologies to combat the menace of pollution. Developments are also taking place in devising better means of pollution check.
Awareness about pollution has gone up considerably in the recent past. Various international conventions and protocols are being introduced to focus on environmental pollution in general. Hence, it is wrong to say that it is difficult to control pollution in the modern day world.
All governments have separate ministries and departments to tackle this serious problem. New rules and regulations are being framed to keep a check on pollution. Hence with growing modernization, pollution levels are also being controlled to a larger extent.
Scientists are coming out with new alternatives to overcome the problem of pollution. Diesel is being replaced by Compressed Natural Gas (GNG), petrol with lead-free petrol, fuel wood with Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and thermal power with hydroelectric power. The pollution is this being kept under control even despite modernization.
ECONOMIC PLANNING IN A GLOBALISED ECONOMICS
Within a few years of independence, India chose the Soviet model of economic growth by opting for Five Year Plans. Up to the seventh Five-year Plan there was no material change in the economic policies of the country. the policies aimed at the equitable redistribution of the national resources, heavier taxation burden on the rich, provision of subsidized goods and services to the poorer sections of the society, welfare of the poor and the downtrodden, restrictions on inflow of foreign capital investments, complete regulation of the econmy, prominent role of the public sector in the industrial development, administered prices for many goods and services, etc. after the onset of the policy of reforms and globalization in 1991, the Eighth Plan (1992-97) witnessed some changes and along with Ninth Five-year Plan (1997-02) the very direction of economic planning in India was changed.
India is a developing country with almost 27 percent of its population still living below the poverty line. The government needs to prepare and implement policies for upliftment of this section of population to achieve the real economic development, for which economic planning is essential.
India is a socialist country. Indian Constitution gives certain socio-economic responsibilities to the State, which can only be fulfilled through planning and regulatory mechanism.
Economic planning is a process that seeks to utilize the scarce economic resources in an optimum manner. Even after attaining high levels of economic growth, the resources would continue to be scarce when compared to the needs. Hence, the economic planning cannot be done away with .
Declaration of the economy also needs economic planning. Some goals always have to be kept in mind if performance appraisal of any kind is to take place
GROWING IRRELEVANCE OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Most of the 191 member countries could hardly do anything to avert the unnecessary Gulf War II, despite opposition by majority of the United Nations (UN) member nations. The allied forces of the United States of America (USA) the United Kingdom (UK) and Australia, with utter disregard to the world opinion, went with their plan to unseat Saddam Hussein, even at the cost of killing thousands of innocent Iraqis. But, the most serious casualty of the war is going to be the credibility and relevance of the UN.
The UN was set up in 1945, as a global organization with the major objective of saving the future generations from the scourge of war. The other objectives are to uphold dignity and worth of humanity to establish conditions under which respect for international law and treaties could be maintained and to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom.
Upto the decade of eighties, the UN continued to play an important role in achieving its objectives. But, after the disintegration of the erstwhile USSR, the USA has emerged as the only major economic and military super power.
The recent developments in the world has put a big question mark on effectiveness and relevance of the UN, during the process of the disintegration of the erstwhile USSR, and dismantling of the communism from the East Europe, the UN failed to prevent bloodshed in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The genocide in Kosovo was worse. Increasing terrorism in Chechnya is yet another example of ineffectiveness of the UN. Continued human rights violations by Israel in Palestine has not resulted in any UN intervention worth its name, notwithstanding the historic self-rule pact of 1994. Nor has the UN attempted any long lasting peace plan for the Middle East, which continues to be a potential region for a future World War.
After September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Centre towers in the USA, the entire world became conscious of curse of terrorism in the world. The US action against Taliban regime after that is history. Almost every country in the world, supported the allied forces led by the USA for throwing the Taliban regime out of Afghanistan. In fact, it was only after 9/11 tragedy that the world woke up to the reality of terrorism effecting the entire world.
Thus, not only the effectiveness of the UN has declined, but its credibility has also been in doubt, as it has to look forward to the USA for advice, guidance and even the finance.
URBANISATION
Rural poverty, rural unemployment, rural infrastructure, rural health and sanitation, rural industries, cottage industries, etc, have been the main problem areas relating to rural development of the country. Till recently, urbanization was not considered to be a serious problem. But is the recent past, with growing urbanisation, urban development has emerged as a subject that needs specific attention and policy interventions if world class urban standards are to be achieved in the Indian cities.
Though economic deprivation may be less acute in urban areas than that in rural parts, yet the impact of non economics factors in urban population is more pronounced. Growth of urbanisation has also been slower than what was anticipated about 10 years ago. As per the Tenth Plan document, around 29 per cent of Indian population lives in urban areas and a vast majority out of this population is deprived of basic civic amenities. Unfortunately, most of the problems are tackled in ad-hoc manner, and there is a lack of serious urban planning. As a result, increasing pressure on urban environment is taking its toll on quality of life of out urban population.
There has been inadequate coverage in the fields of urban sanitation, employment generation, housing and water supply. The main reason is lack of financial resources. As a result, slums have come up in almost all urban settlements and general hygiene and sanitation conditions are very poor. Health care in urban areas also needs more attention. The quality of drinking water in most of the towns and cities is poor. Creation of new assets in the urban areas and upgrading the old ones has been two main problems of urbanisation.
Scheme like Nehru Rozgar Yojana, Integrated Development of small and Medium towns (IDSMT), Mega City Scheme, Environment Improvement in Urban Slums (EIUS) and Urban Mapping are some of the more recent ones, aimed at employment generation, environmental improvement, sanitation and overall development of urban areas in the country. Attempts have been made to integrate small and medium towns, where land may not be a scarce resource as compared to that in metropolitan and mega cities.
Urban planning, therefore, has to become anticipatory in nature and should be based upon an integrated approach that could address to multifarious dimensions of urban development.
VALUE ADDED TAX
It has finally come. The announcement of the Finance Minister during his Budget speech for the Union Budget 2003-04, to introduce the Value Added Tax (VAT) in all the States, replacing the existing sales tax and purchase tax, had put to rest all the speculations that the introduction of VAT may be deferred once again. Emerging as the mainstay of tax systems of over 120 countries of the world during the past about four decades, VAT has several distinct advantages over the existing system of taxation. All the State governments were expected to complete the required spadework enabling its introduction in the entire country by April 1, 2003. However, the delay in in acting appropriate State laws and large scale protests by the traders has resulted in further delay in implementing VAT. Now, its is expected that VAT will be implemented by majority of States by July 2003.
As per the Constitution of India, the State governments are empowered to tax the sale of goods within their own territories. All the State governments till recently had their State Sales Tax Acts under which sales tax had been levied and collected.
Toying with idea of a comprehensive and uniform VAT in the country, the Centre finally decided to go ahead with VAT from 2003-04 financial year, though the spade work for the same had been continuing for quite some time VAT, as the name suggests, is the tax on value addition at every stage of trade and manufacturing of a product.
ADULT EDUCATION
1. The UNESCO definition of a literate person is “The person who can with understanding both read and write a short simple statement relevant to his everyday life”.
2. Since 1965, when Edn Minister’s Conference at Tehran adopted a resolution to observe International Literacy Day on 8th Sep every year, UNESCO has relentlessly pursued the cause of adult literacy. It affected India more then any other nation in the world.
3. The major break through in Indian Adult Educational efforts came in 1977 when prodded and funded by UNESCO, the national government undertook a comprehensive ‘National Adult Edn Programme’ which for the first time introduced it uniformly throughout the introduced it uniformly throughout the country with specific target.
4. During 1986-88, a new Edn policy was formulated with concomitant change in Adult Edn.
5. A National Literacy Mission was established which launched total literacy campaign in 1990 throughout the country with the goal of making 100 million adults functionally literate.
6. UNESCO along with the Indian policy makers are making the right type of strategy to achieve the full literacy objective.
ANGER AND OUR BEHAVIOUR
There are four main reasons why it is advisable to spend some time reflecting on the nature of angry behaviour:-
(a) It can help us become more aware of the behavioural signals we are using which could produce an anger response in others.
(b) It can help us to spot signals which denote the presence of anger in others.
(c) It can help us become more aware of the anger which we may ourselves be feeling, but repressing and denying.
(d) It can help us identify the appropriate styles of behaviour to use when we want to express out anger assertively.
BRAIN DRAIN
1. This refers to the literal draining of human resources from the native soil to a foreign land.
2. Resentment building up against this virtuality, recent phenomenon can be attributed to the fact that one’s own nation is to profit from a person’s learning and skills, all acquired by him using native resources.
3. Poor infrastructure highly inadequate remuneration and poor job satisfaction all contributing to brain.
4. Unless the root causes are not dealt with primarily, it is senseless to violently protest against it.
5. Creation of a level playing field in the native land can go a long way in restricting the brain drain and in due course of the time altogether do away with it.
CAS AND ITS EFFECT
1. Bombarded by all manner of information correct and otherwise consumers are now marking time till the CAS is implemented to see whether it will be wor5th investing in a set top box. The broad esters who had urged the postponement of CAS by a year have now suddenly fallen in line after some not so subtle hearts.
2. Government says that the cable operators have to show up to 70 free to air channels for Rs 72/-; in addition to this following conditions have also been imposed.
(a) Set top boxes will cost between Rs. 2000/- and Rs.3000/- after duty reduction.
(b) It will not allow charging of Rs. 50/- for main channel and Rs. 60/- for the bouquet.
(c) Broadcasters have to specify indl. pay channel rates by June 15.
3. But the Ground Reality is:-
(a) The limit of Rs. 70/- was a verbal announcement, not mandated in the May 8 notification.
(b) The ministry has reduced customs duty from 50% to 5% only till July 31.
(c) If bundling happens, the I & B minister says he will invoke the law, “You leave it to me”.
(d) Star TV and Sony say they will announce the pay channels only when they are ready.
CHILD LABOUR
1. Children constitute 36% of India’s population bulk of them still suffer from malnutrition, poverty, disease and cruel exploitation through forced child labour.
2. India has largest number of child labourers.
3. Asia tops the list with 44.6 million children at work followed by Africa with 23.6 million and Latin America with 5.1 million.
4. Child labour creates a labour force which is ill-equipped in terms to compete in today’s globalised economy.
5. Child labour is necessary for the poor family’s survival but the crux of the problem is that child labour is not desirable in the interest of either the family or society.
6. The most reprehensible aspect of child labour is the sheer exploitation f children in certain sectors where the children slog for long hrs in most unhygienic and hazardous conditions.
7. The measures taken so far by Government are just drops in the ocean.
8. Unless we mount a planned crusade against child labour, it will continue to remain as one of the stumbling block to young human resource development.
DISINVESTMENT
1. Long a source of controversy, privatization is rapidly becoming a matter of course. Since the start of privatization in 93, India has sold, number of Government run firms to private hands.
2. The steady progress of such sales is the one bright spot on an otherwise mediocre economic report card.
3. Disinvestment Minister Arun shourie has done, lot of effects to push privatization despite opposition from labor unions, political parties and some of the Governments own ministers.
4. India’s enormous public sector was a key element of the country’s socialist past. Until Shourie get started, the Government was running everything, from hotels to aluminum smelters to airlines, may of them badly. Over the past decade the Government had reduced its stake in some such concerns, in a bid to generate much needed cash. There is little economic rational behind Government making bread or cars or running hotels as it is not Governments role. Government needs to get out of the business of business.
5. Inter ministerial disputes, Ideological differences, and ego clashes have slowed down the breakneck pace at which shourie had started disinvestment process.
6. The need of the hour is to implement disinvestment policies with gusto. Money raised by disinvestment can be utilized for upliftment and betterment of social sector.
DISINVESTMENTS
The onset of the process of reforms in early nineties triggered the reforms in the Central Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) were set up primarily to bridge the gab of private investment in certain sectors with long gestation period needing high volume of investment and yidding low returns. Further, the aim was also attempted. But over the past few decades the weakness of the PSUs began to come to the fore. Their inherent inefficiencies, lack of professionalism, lack of accountability, political and bureaucratic interference, etc. began to hug the policy makers. Hence, it was decided by the government to disinvest its equity out of the Central PSUs in a phased manner and eventually privatize them. Initially, the disinvestments began in a piece-meal manner and small percentages of equity of the PSUs were sold out. Then came the Ministry of Disinvestments and resultant decision to disinvest government equity out of PSUs were to induct the earlier method. The main objectives of the decision to disinvest government equity out of PSUs were to induct professionalism, better and efficient decision making and accountability. It was also realized that since private capital was now coming forth in almost all the fields, the government should gradually withdraw itself from business ventures. Further, the proceeds of disinvestments were also to be used for strengthening of industrial sector. Many, however believe that there objectives have not been met.
DRUG ABUSE
What is a drug?
Drugs are chemicals composed of certain kinds of molecules which could intrude into the body’s community of molecules & have a chemical influence on the way bodily activities take place. Many drugs influence the brain.
Drug Abuse
Usages of excess amounts of unprescribed & prohibited drugs as of practice could be called drug abuse.
Factors Contributing to this Epidemic
Pressure from associates.
Curiosity
Early availability
Example & attitude of parents
Retaliation against parents.
How drug use Become a Habit
The indulgences of smoking tobacco, drinking liquor & consumption of marijuana constitute a tragic combination by which a person becomes tolerant of his own conduct which becomes a habit.
Prevention of Drug Abuse
Love and attention of parents towards children.
Awareness programmes on literature on use of drug.
Enforcement of laws relating to manufacture, trafficking and sale of drugs.
G-8 SUMMIT
Summit of the group eight (G-8) United States, Japan, Germany, Britain, Canada, Italy, and Russia. They warned Iran and North Korea against pursuing programmes of weapons of mass destruction. They called on both country, to comply with international nuclear safeguards.
The warnings to Iran and North Korea were strengthened on the insistence of the United States. North Korea’s failure to abide by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards was described by the statement as a clear breach of North Korea’s International obligations.
The G-8 reaffirmed their commitment to international agreement suc as the NPT, the chemical weapons and convention and called upon the world community to become party to them.
GLOBAL TERRORISM
1. Prof. Samuel Huntington’s ‘clash of civilisations’ has now become some sort of a literal Tran global terrorist farce being enacted on the global stage.
2. Significant factors contributing to the growing menace:-
(a) Religious fanaticism (9/11)
(b) Machiavellian politics (Central Asian Oil, Tug-of-war b/n Alaskan and Persian oil companies etc)
(c) Political /Geographical factionalism (Indo-Pak border dispute, Serbs-Albanian clash, IRA struggle, Algerian separatism, growing LTTE clout etc.)
(d) Mafia-underworld terrorist links (notorious terrorists operation from Lisbon, Dawood Ibrahim calling the shots from Dubai etc).
3. Terrorism has never been a monolithic entity. It derives its life force from stupededous media focus (Israeli-Palestinian atrocities).
4. Global war spearheaded by U.S. itself smacks of a terrorist tinge.
5. Cold War, was one of the earliest manifestations of subtle terrorism. A bitter world truth brought out in Dallas’ infamous remark to Nehru:’ your non-alignment lacks in morality’. (Sir Clairol’s Wells Of Power)
6. International Relation theory is today a prisoner of intellectual warfare. Countering resurgence of extremely ethnically selfish thought processes is the need of the hour.
7. The new world order envisaged by George Bush Sr. at the time of the First Gulf War, is ironically caught in the throes of the chaotic vision.
GOVERNOR CM RELATIONS
1. The relationship of governor and CM is based on the relation that has been constitutionally established between the President and PM.
2. Governor is the constitutional head of the state; CM is elected by people of the state and is appointed by the Governor.
3. Governor appoints the other ministers of the state on the advice of the CM and the ministers hold office during the pleasure of the Governor.
4. Council of ministers headed b the CM aid and advice the Governor in exercise of his functions.
5. Certain discretionary powers which Governor has, which gies him the power to overrule the decisions of others are as follows:-
(a) In an assembly where no party has a majority the Governor has the power to invite the person who in his opinion is most likely to provide a stable govt he may also invite the leader of the second largest party to form the govt.
(b) When there is recommendation by the CM to dissolve the assembly if he has lost the majority, the Governor finally decides whether to dissolve the house or find an alternative govt.
HOW CAN BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION BE LESSENED IN OUR COUNTRY
1. In the present scenario bribery and corruption continue to cause the havoc in our lives. It is widely prevalent among the rich, the middle class and the poor alike. People have become more greedy and materialistic. Money has become the yardstick to measure the worth of a human being. Human greed has become limitless.
2. Following steps can be helpful in lessoning these menaces:
(a) Inculcation the moral values right from childhood.
(b) Leaders should be role models.
(c) Severe punishment to be given to the culprits.
(d) Lok ayuktas/ lok adalats at Taluk /district level.
(e) Do away with red tapism.
(f) Reduce paper work and bureaucracy.
(g) Simplify the complicated rules & regulations.
(h) Regular disbursement of salaries to govt employees.
(j) Implementation of Integrity Pact.
(k) Create more employment opportunities.
(l) Education should be job oriented.
(m) Reorganize and re-energize with good leadership and systems.
SINO – INDIA RELATIONS
1. China and India have been friendly neighbours since ancient times. Historical records show that the Sino-Indian relations can be traced back to 2nd century B.C.
2. In the mid 1950s, the slogan “Hindi-Chini Bhai Bhai”, which mean s the Indian and Chinese people were brothers, was known to every household.
3. The leaders of our two countries jointly initiated the famous five Principles of peaceful coexistence. After 1962, there was a cooling period in bilateral relations.
4. In 1976, China and India resumed accrediting ambassadors to each other. The end of 1988 saw the visit of late Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi to China, which brought the relations of the two countri9es into a new stage of development.
5. In 1996, Chinese President Jiang Zemin paid a state visit to India, which was the first one by a Chinese Head of State since the establishment of Sino-Indian diplomatic relations.
6. India’s relations with China boosted after the diminishing phase of India’s nuclear tests in 1998, when the Indian Prime minister visited China on a five days tour recently, resulting in an improvement of bilateral relations and trade related issues.
IRAQ AFTER SADDAM
1. The US-British coalition thundered into Iraq and the region and took charge of Baghdad, both the land and people. In the whole process, there has been massive destruction of not only Iraq but also its rich cultural heritage dating back to nearly 700 years ago. After ravaging the Iraqi national museum in the aftermath of the fall of Baghdad on April 15, looters and arsonists ransacked and burnt down Iraq’s national library, leavin rare precious books in ashes.
2. US President signed on a $ 50 billion expenditure Bill for the war and related efforts in Iraq, on April 16. But this appropriated money is only the initial tab for the conflict, which is expected to run into billions of dollars over the next several years. Bush signs the Bill in the Oval office where he addressed employees of the Boeing Corporation on issues of national security and issues of Iraq on their economy.
3. The American presence in Iraq is likely to prolonged. Infrastructure, law and order which has collapsed, are to be revived. the battle for the reconstruction of Iraq has just begun.
NATIONAL HEALTH POLICY – 2003
1. Since the last national health policy – 1983. three have been marked changes in the determinant factors relating to the health sector. Some of the policy initiates outlines then have yielded results, while, in several other areas, the outcome has not been as expected.
OBJECTIVES OF NHP -2003
2.. Objectives are as follows:-
(a) Gradual convergence of all health programmes under a single field administration.
(b) Kick starting the revival of the primacy health system through the decentralized health system.
(c) Setting up of an organized urban primacy Health case structure establishment of full equipment trauma to reduce accident mortality.
(d) Establishing a network of decentralized mental health services.
(e) Priority to school health programmes which aim at preventive health edn and health check ups among children.
(f) Private entrepreneurship will be encouraged in the field if medical research.
(g) Highest priority to the funding of programme relating to women’s Health.
Comments. The attainment of improved health levels would be significantly depending on population stabilization.
PAKISTAN BLACKMAILS INDIA AND THE WORLD
“We shall continue to export terrorism across LOC and International border in to Jammu and Kashmir and elsewhere in India. In other words, India and the rest of the world have no choice, but suffer the endless infiltration we have started almost two decades ago. You have to choose between endless terrorism leading to slow death or sudden death triggered by nuclear blast”. This is what Pakistan has conveyed to India and the rest of the world.
India brought to the notice of USA and other affected countries that Pakistan was and is the epicenter of world terrorism.
What is happening around the world is unabashed appeasement of the “rogue state” of Pakistan that has threatened India and the world with nuclear blackmail if India dares to stop infiltration across Loc by force.
ROLE OF MEDIA IN A DEMOCRACY
1. Democracy means the government of the people, for the people and by the people.
2. Right to freedom is a vital part of the fundamental rights. There is no other way of expressing oneself than through the written word i.e. print media.
3. In a democratic country, the media as the mirror of the society plays a high profile role between the government and the governed in the contrast to a country ruled by a dictator.
4. Media’s reach is vas and makes its presence felt everywhere. the media makes the people fully aware of the programmes, policies, and the activities of the government. Similarly, they keep the government informed of the reaction of the people, their problems, grievances, hopes and aspirations.
5. The media has a special and utmost responsibility to take over the role of spokesman on behalf of the people who are mostly engulfed in poverty illiteracy and thus are inarticulate.
6. In a democracy, where ideas and majority opinions prevail, the media thus serves as a bridge between the govenment and the people. The press which is adorned with the apt title of the fourth pillar of democracy, has been performing a significant role is free societies.
SARS
1. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, a viral disease caused by a deadly member of cold family. It has a mortality rate of 5% SARS is treated with an antiviral.
2. It does spread through:-
(a) Droplets released while coughing.
(b) Infected object could also spread infection.
3. Its symptoms are fever more than 1000 c and symptoms appear up to 10 days later. It is tested on DNA based test called PCR.
4. Masks to be used are:-
(a) Three-layer mask.
(b) An EU871T
(c) An N-95
5. It can be avoided by Screening for SARS at pint of entry. India is a risk because:-
(a) SARS loves crowds.
(b) SARS could be mistaken for the life.
(c) SARS is still evolving.
(d) Patients prefer private doctors.
DOPING IN SPORTS
Introduction
Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympic games, was one of the first to point out the necessity of protecting sports from the dangers threatening it as an institution.
What is Doping?
Doping is intake of chemical substances and using methods which could enhance performance of sports people. Dope tests are conducted before the event. Every winner is tested after the event.
Extent of Doping
“Doping is Everywhere”. It may not be widespread in disciplines where you do not need to use power, but in weight lifting and running you frequently tend to adopt unacceptable ways.
Why do sportsman Resort to Doping
Potential can be increased by increasing the bloods Oxygen transfer capacity.
Present Detection Techniques
(a) First Stage. It is based on immunological or
Radio immunological methods.
(b) Second Stage. It consists of informally identifying the
substance detected during first stage.
How it is tested
Blood and urine samples are collected which are tested for banned substance.
Indian Doper’s Gallery
Aparna Popat (Badminton); W Kunjarani Devi (Weightlifting); Seema (Athletics); Sunita Rani (Athletics).
STRESS MANAGEMENT
1. Definition. “Non specific responses of a human being to any demand
made upon the body”.
(a) Stress is too much work and too little relaxation.
(b) Stress is hostility for others.
(c) Stress is too little income, chasing too may outgoings.’
2. Classification of Stress: -
(a) Acute stress- Builds up suddenly (Telegrams)
(b) Chronic Stress- As against acute stress (Political instability)
(c) Physical and Mental stress- (Lack of sleep accident)
(d) Eustress Dis-stess- (Positive Stress Negative Stress)
3. Causes of stress: -
Professional –e.g.: - Bad boss, Negative staff.
Personal/Family –e.g.: - Marital Discord, Financial problems.
Organisational –e.g.: - Self-respect, Annual medical board.
Environmental –e.g.: - Operational factors, administrative, factors.
4. Effects of Stress: -
Burnout.
Poor moral.
Making blunder.
TENTH FIVE-YEAR PLAN
1. Every Five Year Plan is conceived on the bedrock of high expectation of avoiding part mistakes and implementing new ideas in order to build a more prosperous India.
2. The plan has taken on a fresh look in the light of the different innovations introduced during the Vajpayee regime, especially in the areas of information technology, bio technology, infrastructure, tourism etc.
3. The plan approved on 5th October 2002. PM, Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the chairman of the planning commission.
4. The plan has set for the following major objectives: -
Reduction of poverty ratio by 5% point by 2007.
High employment opportunity.
All children to complete 5 years of schooling by 2007.
Reduction in gender gaps in literacy and wage ratio by at least 50% by 2007.
Reduction in decadal rate of population growth.
Increase in literacy rate to 75% within the plan period.
Reduction of Infant Mortality rate and Maternal Mortality Ratio.
Increase in forest and tree cover.
(j) Cleaning major polluted rivers.
All villages to have access to have sustained access to potable drinking water.
5. The plan focuses in ways and means of correcting the regional imbalances.
6. The plan lays great emphasis in agriculture.
7. Emphasis on high quality employment opportunity such as construction, real estate and housing, transport, modern retailing, entertainment, IT and other range of new services.
TIME MANAGEMENT
1. Time management is fundamental conclusive tool of improving personal effectiveness to generate an overwhelming positive reaction towards life’s challenges.
2. Time management adds to the important idea of prioritization of clarifying values and of comparing the relative worth of activities based on their relationship to those values of focuses on certain goals.
3. It also includes the concepts of daily planning of making a specific plan to accomplish those goals and activities determined to be of greatest worth.
4. People are now realizing that “effective” scheduling and control of time are often counter productive.
5. Time management is sometimes defined as managing ourselves.
NAVODAYA VIDYALAYA
Introduction
The Navodaya Vidyalaya system is a unique experiment in the annals of school education in India. It selects talented rural and backward children and attempts to provide them with quality modern education comparable to the best in a residential school setting. Such education enables the students from rural areas to compete with children from urban areas on an equal footing as well as form the next generation of leaders from the rural areas.
The scheme started with two Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas in 1985-86, and has now grown to 430 schools covering as many districts in 30 states and Union Territories.
Objectives
The objectives of the Navodaya Vidyalaya scheme are :-
(a) To provide good quality modern education, including a strong component of culture, inclusion of values, awareness of the environment, adventure activities and physical education to the talented children predominantly from the rural areas.
(b) To ensure that all students of Navodaya Vidyalaya attain a reasonable level of competence in three languages as envisaged in the three Language Formula.
(c) To serve as focal points for improvement in quality of school education in general.
Salient Features
The salient features of Navodaya Vidyalaya are :-
(a) Good quality modern education for talented children predominantly from rural areas.
(b) Candidates - at least 75% rural and at most 25% urban.
(c) Reservation of seats for students from SC & ST categories in proportion to their population in the district .
(d) Reservation of seats for girls - 30%.
(e) Co-education including boarding and lodging as well as expenses on uniforms, text books, stationery etc.
(f) Affiliated to CBSE.
(g) Admission in class VI only through objective type tests designed and conducted by CBSE in the concerned district.
(h) Implementation of three language formula.
(j) Regional language as a medium of instruction for the first three years followed by Hindi/English.
(k) 30%of students in class IX from a Vidyalaya located in a linguistic area, spend one academic year in a Vidyalaya in a different linguistic region to promote national integration through understanding of the diversity and plurality of the country's culture and society.
(l) Sports, games and activities that help in the overall personality development of children are being encouraged in planned manner.
(m) Location - usually in rural areas. On the basis of offer of cost free land and rent free temporary buildings by State/UT Governments.
Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti
Navodya Vidyalayas are run by the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti which is an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department of Education. The Chairman & Vice Chairman of the Samiti are Hon'ble Minister of HRD and the Minister of State in the Ministery of HRD respectively. The Samiti functions through an executive committee and is responsible for the management of all affairs and funds of the Samiti, and has the authority to exercise all powers of the Samiti.
Organisational Structure
The executive head of the administrative pyramid is the Director who executes the policies laid down by the Samiti's executive committee. He/She is assisted by Jt Directors, Dy Directors and Asst Directors. The Samiti has established 10 Regional Offices for the administration of Navodaya Vidyalaya under their jurisdiction.
Procedure for Admission
Admission in NVs takes place on the basis of a selection test designed and conducted by the CBSE. The medium of the test is the medium through which the candidates studied and passed class - V. The papers in which the test is conducted are Mental Ability, Language and Arithmetic.
Medium of Instruction
In view of the fact that most of the students admitted were taught earlier through the medium of the mother tongue/regional language, instruction is provided through the same medium upto class - VIII with due emphasis on the teaching of English and Hindi as language subject. Thereafter, the common medium of instruction in all the NVs is Hindi for social studies and Humanities, and English for Mathematics and Science.
Ever since its inception in 1985, the Navodaya Vidyalayas have been doing yeoman's service, predominantly to the talented rural children, by providing them quality modern education. Such education enables them to compete with the students from urban areas on an equal footing. Navodaya Vidyalayas have, thus, grown from strength to strength with 430 schools till date covering as many districts in 30 States and Union Territories.
INDO-NEPAL RELATIONS
INTRODUCTION
1. The only Hindu Kingdom in the world, Nepal is well recognized as a country of Lord Buddha ( birth place of Buddha), country of Mt. Everest (Sagarmatha, highest peak of the world) and country of brave people (which has earned international recognition for bravery in the I and II world wars). A beautiful mountainous country, Nepal is situated in the central Asia, occupying a key terrain between two major powerful countries, China to the north and India to the south east and west.
2. Since time immemorial, the people of India and Nepal have maintained friendly relations based on mutual understanding, faith and close cooperation. These two countries have ancient and traditional ties. The majority of Indian people as well as the Nepalese, believe in Hinduism and Sanatan dharma. Sita , Rama and Buddha are celebrated religious gods common to both cultures.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
3. Prithivi Narayan Shah laid the foundation of the modern state of Nepal in 1769. He was a descendant of a ruling Rajputana family. His ancestors had fled to the Nepalese hills from Hindustan at the time of the Muslim invasion.
4. After the golden period of Prithivi Narayan Shah, while India was under the British rule, Nepal was being ruled by the Rana family. India became independent in 1947 from the British rule. Nepal gained independence from the Rana rule in 1951 with the help of India. His Majesty late King Tribhuvan, who was in self imposed exile in India came back with Indian support to drive away the despotic Ranas. Modern Indo Nepal relations began after the both countries attained freedom. The Royal Nepalese Embassy is located at Barakhamba road New Delhi of India and the Embassy of the people Republic of India is located at Lajimpat Kathmandu of Nepal.
5. Further the degree of political freedom that Indian and Nepalese people have been bestowed is unique in itself. Literally, no Indian and Nepalese need to possess a visa to enter in each others territories. However, keeping in mind the growing threat of terrorism and terrorist activities, recently both governments have mutually agreed to visit upon procurement of valid identification documents for air travel.
TRADE AND TRANSIT
6. Apart from martial (military) relations, a vital role has been played by the trade and transit factors in maintaining healthy relations between the two countries.
7 Given the geographical location of Nepal as a buffer country, much of its economic activities center around transit and trade, in which a key role is played by its neighbouring countries, be it India, China or Bangladesh.
8. Infact, Trade and Transit factors have played a major role in cementing relations between India and Nepal. More than 75 percent of Nepalese trade centers around India. The Trade and Transit Treaty signed between the two countries had allowed for easy and accessible exchange of commodities between them which however had expired in August 1976. In June 1987 Nepal and India signed another agreement to establish a joint commission for the promotion of economic cooperation between the two countries. However delay in the renewal of trade and transit treaty with India had caused considerable hardship to the people of Nepal in 1989, which was resolved in early 1990 with mutual understanding.
9. The renewal of the Treaty of Trade and Agreement of Cooperation to control unauthorized trade between India and Nepal on December 3, 1996, has been taken as a milestone in trade relations between these two friendly nations. After signing of this Treaty, Nepalese entrepreneurs have got better access to Indian markets. This in turn speeds up the process of industrialization in the Kingdom of Nepal. Due to the demographic, political and religious similarities between the two nations, the welfare of the people of Nepal and Indian states bordering Nepal is closely inter linked and is of reciprocal nature . Seen in this light, India’s decision to allow Nepal to use Kakarvitta Phulbari Bangladesh route to enhance its trade links with Bangladesh is of immense significance to both countries.
10. The Committee of Trade Transit and Cooperation Control meeting of the two neighbours were held in New Delhi on Aug 18, 2002. At this meeting both nations agreed to tackle several irritants in bilateral trade, including cut in custom duty performance on Indian goods as well as continuing discrimination against export of cars from India. India also agreed to consider Nepal’s request for increasing the tariff rate quota on copper. The two sides then agreed on a bilateral investment protection and promotion agreement.
11. On the other side, Nepal is well known for its water resources. Nepal’s rivers are being exploited for hydroelectric power production. If both countries can come to a satisfactory agreement on harvesting Nepal’s water resources for mutual benefit, this would mean income for Nepal and power for India. I would like to quote here one statement made by the Nepalese Ambassador for India Dr. Bhekh Bdr. Thapa “Nepal’s natural resources can not be only a sources disaster along the border, we must frame a policy for preventing natural calamities and harnessing Nepal’s rivers for energy.”
INDIAN ASSISTANCE TO NEPAL
13. India has been of great assistance to Nepal right from 1951. Indian assistance to Nepal ranges from road construction, water resources, health services to agriculture development .The major aid projects to Nepal are:
(a) Raxsul to Ktm road construction.
(b) East west Mahendra highway construction.
(c) Sunauli Pokhara highway construction.
(d) Construction of Trisuli Devighat hydroelectric power.
(e) Construction of western Gandak canal.
(f) Construction of Kosi barrage and canal.
(g) Construction of more than 20 irrigation projects.
(h) Established industrial states in Nepalgunj, Dharan, Rajbiraj and Patan
(j) Construction of Bir hospital at kathmandu.
(k) Construction of B.P. Koirala institute of helth sciences at Dharan.
(l) Assistance to Nepal for the development of several agro based projects.
BILATERAL TREATY
16. The following bilateral treaties have been signed till date .
(a) Treaty of Peace and Friendship 1950.
(b) Agreement of Kosi Project in 1954.
(c) Multi propose Gandak Project Treaty in 1957.
(d) Mahakali (Pancheswar) Treaty in 1992.
(e) More than ten treaties of Trade and Transit have been signed till date since 1950.
NEPAL FOREIGN POLICY
Nepal was admitted as a UN member in 1955. Both India and Nepal (with other five countries) are member of SAARC countries, and the association’s permanent secretariat was established in Kathmandu in 1987. Founder of modern Nepal, the late King Prithivi Narayan Shah equated ´Nepal to a Yam (a root vegetable) which lies between two big stones. That ‘Dibya Upadesh’ is relevant even today. Nepal is a wholly independent Non Aligned country, whose foreign policy is based on the Non Aligned policy.
PRESENT SITUATION
19. His late Majesty King Birendra had visited India on the occasion of the 49th Republic day as a chief guest. This indicates India’s deep respect for the Nepalese monarchy. The Present King His Majesty Gyanedra Bir Bikram Shah had visited India in June, last year. He met president K.R. Narayan, P.M. Vajpayee, opposition leader Soniya Gandhi and other major political leaders. In the business meeting that followed, India expressed its readiness to promote investments in areas such as tourism, hydropower and trade in Nepal. Since the very beginning, India has always backed the monarchy in Nepal with high esteem and supported whole-heartedly the need to strengthen democracy, monarchy and sovereignty of Nepal.
The present Indian Chief of Army Staff General N.C.Vij visited the Nepalese Army Chief and senior Army officers, last April in Kathmandu. He had discussions with senior Royal Nepalese Army officers on issues of bilateral military cooperation. India provides security related assistance to Nepal. This visit signifies the traditional ties between the Nepalese and Indian armies. Just a few months ago an expedition to Mt. Everest was undertaken, as a joint
Indo Nepalese Army venture. Recently, Indian government decided to give 75 crore Rupees aid to Nepal for construction of a hospital.
21 Indian full-fledged support to Nepal on different fronts shows that India is always with Nepal and its people to repel any force, threatening the sovereignty of Nepal. In recent times, when the country is reeling under the shadow of Maoist terror, India has come out with helping hands to assist Nepal in combating the Maoist menace. The Eight year’s old Maoist armed struggle against the government forces, has ultimately brought the nation at a cross roads, where many innocent people have lost their lives including loss of property worth billions of rupee
22. As India has played a key role with Nepal to achieve development targets in the last four decades, today’s Indo- Nepal joint ventures in several aspiring projects have set monuments to that vision of friendship and cooperation. In recent days, Nepal has made a decisive drive towards modernization and industrialization where India has fully backed up Nepal to achieve success at her every endeavor.
CONCLUSION
23. Along the way, so many difficulties and misunderstandings have come, whether it was the delay in the renewal of Trade and Transit Treaty between two countries in 1989 or the anti Indian demonstration in Nepal on accounts of misinterpreted statements of Hrithik Roshan or the hijacking of the Indian Airlines flight in 1999 from Kathmandu. It is amazing and good to note that even during such troubled moments. It was easier to overcome difficulties by co-operation and mutual understanding. There is no doubt that our relations have not only been maintained, but also have been cemented by the historical, traditional, cultural and religious ties between the two country’s people with each other, since time immemorial.
24. It is strongly believed that no force can ever threaten the friendly ties of India and Nepal, as Indo Nepal relations have been cemented with faith, honesty and mutual understanding.
INDIA AND WTO
1. The four day ministerial meeting of the world Trade Organisation (WTO), was held in Cancun (Mexico) in Sept 2003. The round of meeting in Doha is scheduled to end in 2005. Cancun meet is the last opportunity for the participating countries including India to break the deadlock in the Doha round of trade negotiations and to save that round from collapse.
2. There is a redeeming feature for India. China has recently been admitted to WTO. It has promised to coordinate with India in all future negotiation at WTO. But USA has imposed certain conditions on China. “The objectives with which WTO was created, have been largely achieved. The advanced countries now want to use the WTO agency to promote their own developmental interests. The attempt must be resisted strongly. “Says the foremer Vice-Chancellor of Jodhpur University Dr. BM Bhatia”,
3. India’s Role-
India is in the position to play the leadership role for developing countries in the future WTO negotiations. It must master all the strength at its command and gain support of all developing countries in effectively playing that role.
3. The developing world wants development through trade. The world commercial policies should be so reformed as to give a period of protection to agricultural and industry of poor countries, so that they stand in competition. Is this asking for a sacrifice from developed countries? No. This is a policy of enlightened self-interest which the developed countries should be wise enough to pursue.
PRIVATISATION OF HIGHER EDUCATION
Higher Education is one of the most important instruments of change and progress. It is the foundation on which the pillar of modern society rusts. It implies cultivation of the mind to make life tolerable and becomes an important constituents of a good citizenship.
This was the school of thought when we prided ourselves on being a socialists state committed to the welfare of the people. But time has changed now. The economic environment has undergone a sea change since the 1960s and 1970s. In the new economic environment higher education, for better or worse, is a huge, yet untapped market wherein, Oxford, Harvard, MIT and, closer home, even the IITs are being marked as brands.
Privatisation of Higher Education is inevitable to file the financial “black holes” with some hope of return or recovery in National Income. India spend approximately 4% of their (GNP) Gross National Product higher education, which is proving too much for the Government of India. And this subsidization has now became a bad economics for country. Brain drain from medical graduates and IIT, is an old age problem yet it is clearly one of the important reasons why subsidies on education do not make any sense. This is the sorry state of affairs the Government hopes to remedy by privatising higher education. The Government now wants universities to generate their own fundng resources. Specialised technical schools are expected to have tie-ups with multinational corporation. Recognition has been accorded by the University Grants Commission (UGC). All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and other regulatory bodies to a host of new job oriented courses like MCA, MTA, BBA, BCA etc which a decade ago were non existence or not considered mainstreem. What is more interesting is that most of these courses are provided by private institute. Now the question arises is whether genuinely gifted students will be lift behind in this rush for privatisation of higher education because of their economic conditions. No, because the Government cannot shrug off its innate responsibility towards such meritorious students. Privatisation is after all not inimical to the concept of welfare state that India proclaims to be.
So, the privatisation of higher education should not be a means of unbridled profit-making, nor for dumbling standard education. A national level committee should draw up the key area for privatisation & formulate an action plan. Our goal should not merely be ‘ Education for All’ but ‘Quality Higher Education for All’
SAVING NATIONAL HERITAGE
India is dotted with world heritage sites. The national heritage is a mirror of the country’s own identity. It is a fact that the national heritage is not only vast and varied but also unique in itself. Its presentation though is a complex task but is very important in order to make its continuity possible.
The Government and Supreme Court have taken steps and are responsible for protection of our national heritages like,
a) Quitab Minar ascribed to Qutub-ud-din Aibak
b) Humayun’s tomb, in Delhi built under the supervision of Humyun’s widow
c) Hamida Begum
d) Ajanta caves, in north east Mumbai
e) Ellora caves or Elephanta as named by Portuguese 10 Km from Mumbai.
f) Lal Quila, in Delhi
g) Khajuraho, in Madhya Pradesh.
But on the other hand the idea of building a ‘fun city’ tool precedence over reviving the time-honoured glory of the white mausoleum by removing industries from the vicinity of the Taj as well as the fumes emanating from the Mathure Refinery that have given a yellowish tint to the monument.
In the 198 Act, no work whatsoever can be carried out within radius of 300 metre of any protected monument without the specific approval of the central government or the Archaeological Survey of India. Still two bridges and a footbridge were built within the protected area of Hampi thus losing its status show with monuments like Taj. Deli’s Red Fort has also been vandalized in a similar fashion by building army barracks there.
Our country is vast, and equally large in number are its monuments. So not only the government but individuals as well as the community have an important role to play in this direction. Awareness about this rich heritage will help in presenting it for posterity. We must keep in Mind that a World Heritage Site is the property of the community of nations, not just of India.
SPUROUS DRUGS
1. Spurious or counterfeit drugs are a public menace. They can cause grievous injury or even death. According to World Health organization (WHO) 2002 statistics 35% of the world’s spurious drugs are produced in India, followed by Nigeria with 23 percent. It is doing brisk business in North India.
2. Even if these drugs do not endanger lives they can leave the patient seriously ill. Drug resistance develops when patients consume drugs with inadequate potency forcing them to look for costlier new generation drugs.
3. The government has recently decided to take actions against this industry. This is in time with the recommendations made by the Mashelkar committee. It has been noticed that the drug control infrastructure both at the state & central levels grossly inadequate to tackle the menace. It has been fount that eleven states do not have laboratories for testing drugs, no adequate drugs or equipment. The fake drugs involve antibiotics, drugs for tuberculosis, malaria & cough syrups.
4. It is found that the size of fake pharma industry is 10-20 percent of real one. India is emerging as major global producer of spurious drugs, accounting for the third of world’s fake industry. For, the Indian laws are not geared to parish the guilty; at most the illegal producers or sellers can be booked under section 420 for fraud and get out on bail in no time.
5. Major Manufacturing Hub
6. North India is the major manufacturing hub for pharma fakes. Most of them are based in Delhi, UP, Haryana & Bihar. States like Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan are slowly trying to grab a larger size of this blood money trade. The cuomying aspect is that fakers use the tallest printing and packaging technology, making it almost impossible task to figure out the real fox from the imitation.
7. Reusage of drugs past their expiry date is another menace. Filling spurious drugs in used medicine bottles is another modus operand.
8. Mashelkar Committee Report makes the sensible suggestion that the pharmaceutical industry should work closely with the government & also have a surveillance mechanism. Educating wholesalers & retailers to identify spurious drugs is another suggestion. One of the ways to beat the counterfeiters is to use advanced packing technology.
9. Need of the hour.
(a) Consumers have a crucial role to play in arresting the proliferation of spurious drugs. Bay drugs only from reputed & registered chemist, insist on bill with batch no clearly mentioned.
(b) It is believed that country needs an autonomous national drug authority which is either quasi government or autonomous & has the power to gather intelligence, conduct raids, & coordinate bet. Police, legal agencies. Mashelkar Committee has suggested centralization of drug administration, manufacture, distribution & sale.
UNIFORM CIVIL CODE
1. The term civil code is used to cover the entire body of laws governing rights relating to property and otherwise inn personal matters like marriage, divorce, maintenance, adoption and inheritance. The demand for a uniform Civil Code essentially means unifying all these “personal laws” to have one set of secular laws dealing with these aspects that will apply to all citizens of India irrespective of their religion, caste, creed etc.
2. The Supreme Court has recently underlined the need fore parliament of to enact a Uniform Civil Code to govern personal laws of all religions. It said this was necessary to promote national integration. While hearing a case pertaining to whether a Christian has the right to bequeath property to a charity, the court regretted the fact that the state has not yet implemented a Uniform Civil Code.
3. The perception that a Uniform Civil Code would necessitate changes in only Muslim Personal Law is quite incorrect.
4. The demand for a Uniform Civil Code has acquired communal overtones which have over – shadowed the innate merits of the proposal. The talk of a Uniform Civil Code, in the absence of uniformity in most of the other laws prevailing in the country, is redundant. The fact is, neither does India require nor is it possible or practicable to have a Uniform Civil Code governing all the communities. The country already has optimal civil code governing all the communities. The country already has optimal civil code in the form of the special Marriage Act.
WORLD WATER FORUM
1. Water crisis lies at the heart of our survival and that of our planet earth. This concern led to representatives of 166 countries to assemble at Third World Water Forum between mar 16 to 23 in Kyoto, Japan.
2. World Water Forum tackles water related problems. It is actually a political initiative to avoid water – wars and ensure balanced water – sharing between nations. It is concerned in following areas.
Global Water Resources
Water resources will steadily decline because of population growth, pollution
and expected climate change. This will intensify conflicts between states as there as 261 international river basins, involving 145 nations.
Health and Economics
More than 2.2 million people die each year from diseases related to contaminated drinking water and poor sanitation.
Agricultural Needs
About 25, 000 people die every day from hunger. World water forum pledges to
Halve this proportion by 2015 by increasing irrigation water by 14 percent.
Ecological Consequences
Most water bodies across the world are not deemed fit for use due to nutrient,
metal and agricultural pollution. Besides 227 large rivers are fragmented by dams etc. Animal and plant life in water is also threatened.
Hydropower
Hydropower is the most important and widely used renewal source of energy.
World Water Portal
This would provide seamless access to wide body of water information.
World Water Forum would look in all these areas and ensure balanced water development in all parts of world.
SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES
1. Special Economic Zones or SEZs are specifically delineated duty free enclaves deemed to be foreign territories for the purposes f trade operations and duties and tariffs. They can be set up by any private, public or joint sector undertaking but all statuary functions are under government control.
2. In India SEZ were introduced in Apr 2000 by the then commerce minister Murasoli Maran. Eight existing Export Promotion Zones (EPZs) have been converted into perfunctorily functional SEZs namely
Mumbai – Santa Cruz
Kochi, Kandla, in Gujarat
Chennai
Vishakhapatnam
Falta in W. Bengal
Noida in UP.
3. SEZs are to be benefited by following concessions:
Exemption from customs, excise and service tax on inputs like capital goods, fuel
etc.
SEZ units to benefit from cheaper, uninterrupted power.
No need to go through SEBI. Producers can sell directly to SEZ units.
Liberal power generation norms.
Infusion of modernized technologies.
4. The concept of SEZ has been taken from China. But it is more successful in China than India. In India, Sezs are taken as means to augment export volumes and not as a trade liberalization initiative. For success of SEZ it is important that India orients its policy towards inducing investments and import f modern machinery and technologies and not on developing exports. If developed intelligently SEZ can help in -
Energising economic growth
Employment generation
Poverty alleviation
Spurring overseas trade.
Boosting exports
INDIA AS SOUTH ASIAN LEADER
India is undergoing rapid and probably positive change and is taking its ixpected place as one of the three major countries of India. India has become a nuclear weapon state and it has been able to maintain its pluralist, secular democracy. South Asia is gradually moving towards the curious regional structure of what might be called the unipolar hegemony in the region. The emerging power differential may States has been lift India into prominence as an Asian greet power
India as an emerging Power
India, along with other South Asian a stalwart contribute to the United Nations Peacemaking Operations, but it lacks air and sealift capabilities.
Balance of power
There has been a remarkable improvement in Indo-US relations in the last few years, nuclear irritant nonetheless.
Kashmir and India
While India is emerging as a major Asian power, it is threatened by instability in its own region, American ties to India will always be shaped by the latters relations with Pakistan. Hence there is a long way before India can be considered as the global power.
Nuclear power states
There is a tendency in the west to see India’s claim for nuclear power state as somewhat old-fashioned which still regards nuclear weapons as the key indicator of power.In the changed global scenario, India, as has been acknowledged by world leaders holds the key role to stability in South Asia, may the entire world. With the economic scientific and technological strides it has taken since the 1990s, India has emerged as a true South Asian leader
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