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Tuesday, February 02, 2021

Education Budget 2021: Stress on research and innovation, less focus on digital education; here’s how experts reacted

 Education Budget 2021: In the Union Budget 2021 presented today by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, major announcements have been made in the education sector — from apprenticeship programme to skill graduates to a central university in Leh. The budget also highlighted the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP), and stressed on strengthening higher education, innovations and research.

Though institutes heads have welcome the budget, many experts are unhappy for less focus on the digitisation of education. Here are the reactions:

No tax relief for service providers

India’s future lies in its ability to train and up-skill its youth and in turn create a highly skilled employable workforce, which is ready for the future. However, the budget did not do much to support this vision nor did it present new reforms for the higher education sector.For instance, for the adoption of the National Education Policy which was announced in July 2020, higher education institutions will have to invest in technology and training. But the budget missed out on introducing any measures to support the adoption of NEP. It also missed out on bringing in methods to fast-track digitisation of education that could have helped the country improve its GER and bring in many more aspirants into the fold of higher education.

One of the other aspects which required immediate attention, but was overlooked is providing tax relief for service providers in the sector which could have brought down the cost of education for the learners.

The only silver lining was the proposal to amend the Apprenticeship Act – a focus towards degree apprenticeship programs can help create a new form of education that solves the problem of employability, higher education financing and skill development. The budgetary allocation towards research shall be helpful in bringing a cultural shift in higher education – quality research projects driven by Indian institutions can prove extremely beneficial for the country in the long run.”

— Shantanu Rooj, Founder & CEO, Schoolguru Eduserve 

Emphasis on research will rejuvenate existing infrastructure

The Union Budget 2021 has accorded the much-needed importance to research and innovation ecosystem of India with a budget outlay of Rs 50,000 crore to be spent over a period of five years. It is heartening to learn that the finance minister emphasised on ‘Innovation, Research & Development ’ as one of the six important pillars of the Budget. It will not only help rejuvenate the existing infrastructure but also ensure that the overall research ecosystem of the country is strengthened with focus on identified national-priority thrust areas.

NEP’s plans to set up Higher Education Commission of India, improve digital infrastructure, collaboration with foreign institutions along with the announcement for skill training partnerships with countries like Japan and the UAE are a sign of the government’s renewed focus on reinvigorating the country’s human capital.

The launch of the investment clearance cell and the proposal to incentivise the incorporation of One Person Companies (OPC) will also encourage individuals as well as startups with entrepreneurial potential.

— Prof Debashis Chatterjee, Director, IIM-Kozhikode

Skill initiatives will boost employability quotient

The budget will boost the government’s drive to promote higher education. The allocation of Rs 50,000 crore in the research and development sector in the next five years is an indication of India heading in its endeavour towards becoming a global tech infused innovation hub — an important step towards “Atmanirbhar Bharat”. The allocation of Rs 8,000 crore for National Mission on Quantum Computing and Technology will help in establishing our strength in this upcoming technology of the future.

The skilling initiative announced in the budget will explore the untapped potential amongst the Indian youth, boosting their employability quotient, he said.

— Abhay Karandikar, Director, IIT-Kanpur, 

Increased expenses of electronic product is a problem

This is a realistic budget and the allocations for health, education, and skill development are really good initiatives. We were expecting digitalisation in education but increasing expenses of mobile and electronic products will lead to hurdles in education and this is a step backward in digital India. This budget will be a boost for healthcare and infrastructure and will strengthen NEP. The FM has allocated over Rs 3,000 crore funds with a forward-looking training plan towards the success of Atmanirbhar Bharat. Opening a college in Leh, collaboration with Japan for training and inter-training programmes to facilitate transfer of Japanese industrial and vocational skills, techniques and knowledge are positive signs. Though the government made a move by increasing the number of universities, amendments in the apprenticeship training scheme and training scheme, this may not be enough for the world’s largest young population with 600 million people under the age of 25 years.

P.C. Chhabra- Executive Director, Sanskriti University

Source: Indian Express, 1/02/21

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James Wilson, the British economist who presented India’s first ‘budget’

 In 1859, as the British Crown was still recovering from the injuries caused to it by the mutiny of 1857, it appointed a Scottish businessman to find a solution to India’s financial crisis. James Wilson, better known at that time as the founder of The Economist newspaper, had a credible presence in England for his firm grasp over economic theory and policy as well as a practical knowledge of commercial affairs. Karl Marx in his ‘Capital’ had described Wilson as ‘an economic mandarin of high standing’.

Wilson would go on to present the first-ever budget in India in 1860. He is credited with introducing a financial budget in India framed upon the English model. Although Wilson’s budget did receive some criticism for not taking into consideration Indian conditions, it did lay down the foundations of the way in which several economic institutions in India would go on to function, especially that of the income tax.

Who was James Wilson?

Wilson was born in Hawick, a town at the Scottish borders in 1805, to a Quaker family. At the young age of 16, he became an apprentice at a hat factory. While he worked through the day, Wilson would spend the nights reading up on economics.His father, a woollen manufacturer, went on to buy the factory for Wilson and his brother. In 1824, the two brothers shifted the business to London where it flourished.

During the economic crisis of 1837, Wilson lost most of his wealth. He sold most of his remaining property to avoid bankruptcy.

A decade later in 1853, Wilson founded the Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China, which later became the Standard Chartered Bank in 1969.

A strong critic of the Corn Laws which imposed heavy restrictions on imported food and grain, Wilson in 1843 founded The Economist as a newspaper to campaign for free trade.

Wilson’s intellectual engagements with the economic issues of the time were reflected in his writings including ‘The influence of Corn laws’ (1839), ‘Fluctuations of currency’ (1840) and ‘Capital, currency and banking’ (1847).

He entered the House of Commons as a Liberal member of Parliament from Westbury in 1847. Given his economic expertise, Wilson was appointed Secretary of the Board of Control, which oversaw the activities of the EIC in British India. Incidentally, he played a leading role in the organisation of railway construction in India during this period. He also served as the Financial Secretary to the Treasury from 1853 to 1858.
In August 1859, Wilson resigned from his seat in the Parliament as he was sent off to India, to remodel the country’s financial system which remained battered after the Mutiny.

What were the changes brought about by Wilson’s budget of 1860?

The crisis being faced by the British empire post the Mutiny is well evidenced by the enormous increase in annual military expenses. “The annual expenditure for the army, military police, new levies, police, and military public works went up from R. 13.2 crores (1856-57), to Rs. 17.2 crores (1857-58) and Rs. 24.7 crores (1858-59) and in the same period the debts of the government of India increased by 36 percent,” writes historian Sabyasachi Bhattacharya in his book, ‘The Financial foundations of the British Raj: Ideas and interests in the reconstruction of Indian public finance (1858-1872).Reacting to the needs of the time, Wilson wrote, “reforms become possible only when an emergency arises. Such an emergency has now arisen and reform and changes are now possible that have not been possible in our day.”

As the Indian Finance Member, the man appointed to solve the Mutiny crisis, Wilson resolved to introduce major institutional changes and hoped to ensure the influence of economic principles in the financial management of India. The major proposals made by Wilson included taxing the trading classes, a government paper currency, reform of the financial system with budgets, estimates and auditing, creation of a civil police, and a department for public works and roads. He is also credited for having set up a military finance commission and a civil finance commission.

Wilson presented his budget on February 18, 1860. He introduced three kinds of taxes- income tax, license tax and tobacco duty. However, only the first one went through, as the other two were dropped on the demand of the governor-general of India, Charles Canning.

The budget did receive some criticism, chief among them being from the governor of Madras, Charles Trevelyan, found Wilson to be too ‘theoretical’ with a tendency to ignore ‘Indian conditions’. Wilson’s biographer, Walter Bagehot, however, acknowledged the thought put by him in formulating the budget: “Although the people had to be gently led towards the path of economic science, yet he wished to show the kindest consideration towards the thought and sentiments springing from their historical antecedents.” Bhattacharya in his book notes that Wilson “took enormous care to establish the view that income tax was in consonance with the ancient Hindu laws codified in Manusmriti.”Wilson died the same year he presented the budget, having contracted dysentery in the scorching heat of Calcutta. Despite the prominent public role he played in the economic history of India, he was buried inconspicuously at the Scottish cemetery in Mullick Bazaar in Calcutta. It was only in 2007 that the grave happened to be discovered by C P Bhatia, a joint commissioner of income tax who was researching for a book on India’s taxation history.

Source: Indian Express, 1/02/21

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Monday, February 01, 2021

Quote of the Day

 

“A nation’s strength ultimately consists in what it can do on its own, and not in what it can borrow from others.”
Indira Gandhi
“एक देश की शक्ति अंततः इस में निहित है कि वह स्वयं क्या कर सकता है, इसमें नहीं कि वह दूसरों से क्या उधार ले सकता है।”
इंदिरा गांधी
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What are Neglected Tropical Diseases?

 Recently, India joined the world and Light Up Qutub Minar as a sign of unity to combat the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NDT).

Highlights

  • This was done to mark the second annual World NTD Day that will be observed on January 30th.
  • The World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day highlights the global community’s commitment to end the diseases.
  • The NDT diseases cause immeasurable suffering among the most marginalized communities of the world.
  • On the occasion of World NTD day, 50 landmarks representing the 25 nations of the world will be lit up. They will celebrate how far the world have come together in beating the NTD.

What are Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD)?

  • The NTDs are a diverse group of communicable diseases that prevail in tropical and subtropical conditions.
  • These diseases affect more than one billion people every year. In combating the disease, the countries invest billions of dollars every year.
  • The Populations who are living in poverty, where there is no adequate sanitation, those who are in close contact with infectious vectors, domestic animals & livestock are highly affected by such diseases.
  • As per the WHO major NTDs are: Buruli Ulcers, Chagas Disease, Dengue, Chikungunya, Sleeping Sickness (Human African Trypanosomiasis), Hansen’s Disease (Leprosy), Trachoma Mycetoma, chromo-blastomycosis, deep mycoses etc.

NTD cases in India

  • As per the data, one in five people across the world are affected by NTD.
  • India is home to the world’s largest absolute burden of 11 of the major neglected tropical diseases.

World NTD Day

It is an awareness day that addresses the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). World NTD Day was celebrated on January 20, 2020 for the first time.  The date, January 30, marks the anniversary of the 2012 London Declaration on NTDs. The London declaration had unified the partners across sectors, countries and disease communities for a greater cooperation, investment and action on NTDs.

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What is “Blue Jet Lightning”?

 The Scientists from the International Space Station (ISS) have observed a bright-blue lightning bolt that is shooting upward from the thunderclouds. Such blue jets are hard to observe from the ground because the electrical discharges emerge from the tops of thunderclouds. But from space, one can easily observe the phenomenon.

Highlights

  • The instrument at the space station had captured a blue jet shooting from the thunderstorm cell near a small island in the central Pacific Ocean on February 26, 2019.
  • Scientists had observed the five intense flashes of blue light.
  • Each of the lighting lasting about 10 to 20 milliseconds.
  • After that, the blue jet moved out from the cloud towards a narrow cone shape stretching into the stratosphere.

What are blue jets?

  • Blue jets are initiated as “normal” lightning discharges.
  • It emerges between the upper positive charge region in a thundercloud and a negative screening layer above the charge region.
  • The positive end network fills the negative charge region and after that the negative end fills the positive charge region.
  • After that, the positive end exits the cloud and starts propagating upward.
  • Earlier, it was believed that blue jets are directly related to lightning flashes but it is the result of the hails.
  • The blue jets are brighter than sprites and are blue in colour.
  • The blue colour of the jets is the result of blue and near-ultraviolet emission lines from neutral and ionized molecular nitrogen.
  • The blue jets were recorded on October 21, 1989 for the first time.

Thunderstorm

It is also known as an electrical storm or a lightning storm. It is characterized by the presence of lightning and the acoustic effect on the Earth’s atmosphere that is thunder. This phenomenon is usually taking place in the cumulonimbus cloud, the thunderstorm is also accompanied by strong winds and heavy rain. It could also lead to snow, sleet, or hail.

Cumulonimbus Cloud

It is a dense and towering vertical cloud. This cloud is formed by the water vapor which is carried by the powerful upward air currents.

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Current Affairs – February 01, 2021

 

India

President launches first round of Pulse Polio Programme 2021

President Ram Nath Kovind on January 30, 2021 launched the countrywide Pulse Polio Programme for 2021 by administering polio drops to children less than five years old at the Rashtrapati Bhawan. The Polio National Immunization Day (NID), also known as the “Polio Ravivar”, was observed on January 31.

73rd death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi observed Martyrs’ Day

The 73rd death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi was observed as Martyrs’ Day on January 30, 2021. He was assassinated on this day in 1948.

ISRO Chief inaugurates satellite developed by engineering students in Coimbatore

ISRO Chief K. Sivan inaugurated a private satellite, developed by a group of 12 students of Sri Shakthi Institute of Engineering and Technology in Coimbatore at the cost of Rs 2.5 crore. The academic satellite will be launched on February 28 from Sriharikota Range by PSLV C-15. The satellite will study Internet of Things (IoT) among other subjects.

Economy & Corporate

Nepal awards 679 MW Lower Arun Hydropower Project to India’s SJVN

A meeting of the Investment Board Nepal (IBN), whose Chair is Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, decided to award the 679-Megawatt Lower Arun Hydropower Project to Indian public sector company Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) under the build, own, operate and transfer (BOOT) delivery method.

14 new minor forest produce (MFP) items included under MSP scheme

The government has decided to include 14 new minor forest produce (MFP) items under the mechanism for marketing of minor forest produce through minimum support price (MSP) scheme to provide remunerative and fair prices to tribal gatherers of forest produces. Newly included items are Tasar Coccoon, elephant apple dry, bamboo shoot, Malkangani seed and wild dry mushroom among others.

World

EAM S. Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Tony Blinken hold talks on phone

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and the U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken have spoken over phone recently during which the two leaders discussed issues of mutual concern, including COVID-19 vaccination efforts, regional developments and next steps in expanding bilateral ties.

U.N. urges countries to repatriate children of Islamic State extremists from Syria

The U.N. counterterrorism chief is urging countries to repatriate the 27,000 children stranded in a massive camp in northeastern Syria, many of them sons and daughters of Islamic State extremists who once controlled large swathes of Iraq and Syria. Vladimir Voronkov told an informal meeting of the U.N. Security Council on January 29, 2021 that “the horrific situation of the children in Al Hol (camp) is one of the most pressing issues in the world today.”

UN Chief receives first dose of COVID-19 vaccine in New York City

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has received his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Guterres, 71, received the first dose of the Moderna vaccine at a New York City public school on January 28, 2021.

Bangladesh sends 3rd atch of Rohingya refugees to Bhashan Char Island

The third batch of Rohingya refugees living in camps at Cox’s Bazar district sailed for relocation at the newly developed facility at the Bhashan Char island in Bangladesh on January 29, 2021. Rohingya are living in refugee camps in Bangladesh after fleeing the military crackdown in the Rakhine province of Myanmar in August 2017.

Russia: Vladimir Putin signs bill to extend nuclear treaty with US

Russian President Vladimir Putin on January 29, 2021 signed a bill into law ratifying a five-year extension of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) with the US. The validity period of the New START will be extended by five years to February 5, 2026.

Dutch chemist Paul Crutzen, who warned of ozone hole, dies at 87n

Dutch chemist Paul Crutzen, who warned of ozone hole and was awarded the 1995 Nobel Chemistry Prize, died at the age of 87 on January 28, 2021. Crutzen’s science clearly drove political action. A 1987 treaty, known as the Montreal Protocol, led to a worldwide phase-out of ozone-eating chemicals, including the chlorofluorocarbons used in refrigeration and other applications.

Sports

Ladakh: First Zanskar Winter Sports and Youth Festival concludes

In Kargil Ladakh, the first ever Zanskar Winter Sports and Youth Festival, 2021 concluded at Munskit Chumik Zanskar on January 30, 2021. The Festival featured various cultural and sports activities like ice hockey, snow skiing, horse riding, yak riding, ice climbing, snow sculpture, archery matches.

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Economic & Political Weekly: Table of Contents

 

Vol. 56, Issue No. 5, 30 Jan, 2021

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