Outcome of Paris Climate Summit

Paris Agreement was recently adopted by 195 countries of UNFCCC, which agreed to take
measures to control climate change.
We had written 4 explainers for a comprehensive coverage and they can be read here

Roadmap For Paris Climate Talks: Part I

Roadmap For Paris Climate Talks: Part II

Roadmap For Paris Climate Talks: Part III

As we move ahead, lets take a look at this agreement with respect to various dimensions and
debates, which are going on in the international sphere.
When this agreement will enter into force?
The agreement in Paris will come into effect only after 2020 when the Kyoto Protocol, an
existing international mechanism to deal with climate change, comes to an end.
What is the temperature goal?
The agreement says that its objective is to keep the global temperature rise below 2 degree
Celsius, but pursue efforts to keep it below 1.5 degree Celsius from pre-industrial times.
It also says that IPCC will come with a special report in 2018 on the impacts of global
warming of 1.5 degree Celsius and above pre-industrial levels. <IPCC reports form the
scientific basis on which the world is taking climate action>
Lets analyse the implications

Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing Countries (SIDCs)
were demanding that the rising temperature be kept under 1.5 degree Celsius from
pre-industrial times.

LDCs fear that cost of adaptation will be high, if the temperature is allowed to risee
upto 2 degree Celsius.

What about Finance and Technology Transfer ?

Finance
Developed nations have been asked to provide financial resources, but $ 100 bn mark does
not figure in the agreement. $ 100 bn has been shifted to the decision text, which is a list of
all decisions taken at the conference.
Developing countries are also asked to raise financial resources, even as voluntary effort.<
This was one of the demands of the developed countries to widen the base of countries who
will provide financial resources>

There has to be a balance between the mitigation and adaptation needs of the developing
countries, while allocating financial resources.
Technology
The developed countries to abide by their promises to provide technology development and
transfer, and capacity building to developing countries.
Why is it a matter of concern?

Paris Agreement is a permanent document, while the decisions of the conference can
be modified.

This gives a message that developed nations will provide $ 100 bn every year from
2020, but they will not increase it annually, as demanded by developing countries.

Carbon Neutral, by when?

The agreement says that, world should peak emissions as soon as possible and achieve
abalance between sources and sinks of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the second half of this
century.
This means that to limit the amount of GHG emitted by human activity to the same levels
which can be absorbed naturally such as trees, soil, ocean, etc beginning 2050.
What happens to INDCs?
In the run-up to the Paris conference, 186 countries submitted their INDCs, giving
information about the climate actions they planned to take until 2025 or 2030. INDCs would
henceforth be called only Nationally Determined Contributions.
Every country needs to communicate NDCs every 5 years. Each NDC has to
be progressively more ambitious than the previous one.
However, NDCs are not legally binding, i.e. the targets set by nations will not be binding
under the Paris Climate Agreement. <India, China and South Africa were unwilling to sign
up for this condition because they felt that it could hamper economic growth and
development>
What is Global Stocktake?

It refers to a proposed a 5-yearly review of the impact of countries climate change

actions.

It will assess whether the net result of the climate actions being taken was consistent
with the goal of keeping the increase in global average temperature from preindustrial times to within 2 degree Celsius.

It is mandatory for every country to participate in the global stocktake, the exercise
will not assess whether actions of any individual country are adequate or not.

The best part of global stocktake is that it will also assess whether developed countries are
adequate help to developing countries by providing money and technology.
Is Differentiation principle at Stake?
Experts are divided on whether developed countries succeeded in their effort to do away with
concept of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities.
The Paris agreement firmly anchors differentiation for developing countries. At many
places, differentiation is achieved by having different kind of commitments for developed
and developing countries.
Developed countries are expected to take the lead on mitigation and support, while
developing countries are expected to take actions within the context of their sustainable
development and poverty eradication imperatives.
Lets see what is the other point of view.

All parties have to report NDCs every 5 years.

There is no differentiation in reporting, inventory of GHGs and progress made in

implementation of NDCs.< Inventory is basically a list of all units which release
GHGs>

The stocktake is universal for aggregate actions and it will happen in 2023 and every
5 years henceforth.

Developed countries are asked to take absolute economy-wide emission reduction

targets, while developing countries will enhance mitigation efforts, but are
encouraged to move towards economy-wide reduction in the light of national
circumstances.

UN security council: US supports Indias bid for permanent membership

Reiterating support for Indias quest to enter the elite club, Power said, Let me affirm
that we support a reformed UN Security Council that includes India as a permanent
member.
1. US Permanent Representative to UN, Samantha Power, expressed US governments
support for Indias bid to become a permanent member at a reformed UNSC.
2. She favours increased consultations between peacekeeper troop-contributing
countries and UNSC.
3. UN is going to take a call on the renewal of the mandate of some of peacekeepers.
4. US strongly advocates efforts to institute periodic assessment of troops deployment in
peacekeeping missions.
The Indian Express
September 16, 2015
Time for G4 leaders to assert themselves
1. There is increasing hope among G4 members with the negotiations now moving to
atext-based one, which will bring more clarity on the respective positions of
countries.
2. There are many opponents to the expansion of the UNSC, but the most vociferous of
them are China and Pakistan.
3. The G4 took shape in 2004 when leaders of all the 4 countries issued a joint
statement, kicking off their campaign for U.N. reforms.
4. Since 2008, the U.N.s Inter-Governmental Negotiations have been negotiating text
for U.N. reforms.
The Hindu
September 15, 2015
UNSC reforms: Historic, pathbreaking for India
1. India is a strong contender for a permanent UN seat if the Security Council gets
expanded,one of the most significant reforms being discussed.

2. 70th session of the UN General Assembly chose the path of text-based

negotiationsfor carrying out Security Council reforms and, for this purpose, adopted
a negotiating text by consensus.
3. Security Council,the top decision-making body, which has 15 members including five
permanent members China, Russia, the US, the UK and France.
4. US and Russia have been supporting Indias bid, China has been against any
expansion of the Security Council.
5. Once the draft is agreed upon by the UN member countries, it will be put to vote at
the General Assembly, where a two-thirds vote is needed to pass it.

Why is it important to become a permanent member of Security council?

The Indian Express
August 13, 2015
India bid for permanent seat suffers blow
1. US, Russia, China oppose UNSC reform talks which could have set a dialogue
in motion.
2. US remains opposed to any alteration or expansion of the veto.
3. India received support from France and the UK, the two remaining permanent
members of Security Council.
The Economic Times
May 18, 2015
Support our bid for a permanent UNSC seat: India to China
India has 2 major expectations from China (among other things):
1. Wants to become a member of the 44-nation NSG which controls the civil nuclear
technology trade regime.
2. Wants China to back its bid for a permanent seat in a reformed U.N. Security Council.

NATIONAL ACTION PLAN ON CLIMATE CHANGE

Lets know more about NAPCC?

1. Indias first National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) outlining existing and
future policies and programs addressing climate mitigation and adaptation.
2. The plan identifies 8 core national missions running through 2017.
3. It directs ministries to submit detailed implementation plans to the Prime Ministers
Council on Climate Change by December 2008.
4. The plan identifies measures that promote development objectives while also
yielding co-benefits for addressing climate change effectively.
8 Core Missions are

National Solar Mission

National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency

National Mission on Sustainable Habitat

National Water Mission

National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem

National Mission for a Green India

National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture

National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change

Custom
December 9, 2015
Green energy targets remain a mirage
Just about half of that target was met, according to the CAG.
1. An audit report tabled in Parliament showed that government had failed to meet its
targets for scaling up use of renewable energy sources under National Action Plan
on Climate Change (NAPCC).

2. The NAPCC had envisaged raising renewable energy sources to 8 per cent of the
national energy mix for electricity by 2012-13 and 9 per cent by 2013-14.
3. The national achievement for purchase of electricity from renewable energy sources
in those 2 years was only 4.28 per cent and 4.51 per cent, respectively.
4. Except for Tamil Nadu and Himachal Pradesh, none of the 24 States it reviewed
had fixed their renewable purchase obligations.
The Hindu
September 15, 2015
Another development task for India
Even with a focused approach, India will face several challenges, external and internal, in
implementing selected Sustainable Development Goals.

1. The SDG agenda negotiated by the UN membership over the past three years is,
perhaps, the most ambitious roadmap ever drawn up by the world body.
2. It lists 17 goals ranging from Goal 1 End poverty in all its forms everywhere to
Goal 17 Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global
Partnership for Sustainable Development and a staggering 169 targets that need to
be monitored and implemented by 2030.

3. In contrast, the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), adopted by countries

in 2000 to reduce extreme poverty by 2015, had a mere eight goals and 18 targets
less than half and around one-tenth of the SDG goals and targets respectively.
4. Domestic efforts of a single country China , that pulled more people out of poverty
than any other.
5. Today, India is home to more than 30% of the global estimate of over 1 billion people
who live in extreme poverty.
6. A single Indian state Uttar Pradesh (UP),accounts for 8% of the worlds population
living in extreme poverty.
7. Externally, India will have to raise adequate resources and also acquire the
necessarytechnology to help achieve its SDG objectives.
8. In particular, the panchayat, which will be crucial to ensuring inclusion at the local
level, remains the weakest link.
9. Finally, NITI Aayog, which also has the task of monitoring progress on
implementation of the SDGs, will have to innovate to keep track of all 169 targets.

These formidable challenges notwithstanding, were India to succeed in addressing them, it

will not only help achieve the SDGs, but would also put India on the path of becoming
aglobal power.
Live Mint
September 11, 2015
Approval of National Offshore Wind Energy Policy
1. Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) authorized as the Nodal Ministry
foruse of offshore areas within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
2. National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) has been authorized as the Nodal Agency
fordevelopment of offshore wind energy in the country.
3. Helps in attaining energy security and achievement of the NAPCC targets.
4. Worldwide, wind energy is accepted as one of the most developed, cost-effective and
proven renewable energy technologies.

Discuss National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) targets and success?
PIB

March 31, 2015

NGT cant settle issues on climate change, says MoEF
1. The NGT has the jurisdiction over all civil cases where a substantial question relating
to environment is involved.
2. These cases can arise out of The Water Act, The Water Cess Act, The Forest
(Conservation) Act, The Air Act, The Environment Protection Act, The Public
Liability Insurance Act & The Biological Diversity Act.
3. When an environmentalist asked for the records of steps taken by the Govt. on
NAPCC, the center replied with this
4. India is a signatory to the UNFCC & is not under obligations to NGT on that.

SEIZING THE DEMOGRAPHIC DIVIDEND IS THAT SO EASY

One big reason for low productivity in industry is that most new jobs have been in
construction and that around 85% of the workforce is in the informal sector. Illustration:
Shyamal Banerjee/Mint
We all know India needs to rapidly create more manufacturing jobs for the masses, for the
demographic dividend to not turn into a demographic nightmare.
That was the objective behind the National Manufacturing Policies of past governments,
repackaged into the Make in India programme. The popular consensus is that all India
needs to do is to make its land, tax and labour laws more business-friendly, improve its
infrastructure and slash red tape for a manufacturing revival and for creating jobs for its
largely unskilled workforce.
In the Economic Survey for 2012-13, prepared under the auspices of Raghuram Rajan, then
the governments chief economic adviser, theres a chapter on Seizing the Demographic
Dividend.
It captures the nub of the problem when it says, While industry is creating jobs, too many
such jobs are low productivity, non-contractual jobs in the unorganized sector, offering low
incomes, little protection and no benefits. Service jobs are relatively high productivity, but
employment growth in services has been slow in recent years.
One big reason for low productivity in industry is that most new jobs have been in
construction and that around 85% of the workforce is in the informal sector.
The solution: build infrastructure, create incentives for businesses to grow, reform labour
laws to help create large businesses in the high-productivity organized sector and invest in
apprenticeship, skill development and education.
But there are reasons why the malaise in manufacturing runs deeper.
Consider the chapter on What to Make in India: Manufacturing or Services? in the
Economic Survey for 2014-15, prepared under the stewardship of Arvind Subramanian, the
current governments chief economic adviser. It discusses the reasons for the lack of success
in the manufacturing sector and focuses on one of them: inappropriate specialization away

from Indias natural comparative advantage and toward skill intensive activities. Indias
natural comparative advantage lies in making use of its vast pool of unskilled labour. Instead
of doing that, Indian manufacturing as well as services is skill intensive. That automatically
means there arent enough decent jobs for the unskilled masses.
How difficult will it be to reverse this process? The survey says it would be a historydefying achievement because there arent many examples of such reversals of deindustrialization. The magnitude of the task can be gauged from what would have to change
in India: from building the infrastructure that supports low-skill intensive manufacturing to
reforming a whole spectrum of rules that discourage hiring unskilled labour and achieving
economies of scale. Subramanian says the alternative is to train the Indian workforce so that
they can graduate to skill-intensive jobs. That is no doubt necessarywitness the constant
grouse of Indian business that they cant find skilled personnel. But the cost of this skill
intensive model, says the Economic Survey, is that one or two generations of those who are
currently unskilled will be left behind without the opportunities to advance. In short, without
explicitly saying so, this Economic Survey has a rather gloomy take on the Make in India
programme.
But, even if we succeed in this history-defying task, that may not be enough. A recent
research report by Citigroups Johanna Chua says the fragmentation and unbundling of global
value chains, which have been responsible for the growth of manufacturing in many low-cost
countries and burgeoning world trade in goods, is slowing. She cites an International
Monetary Fund (IMF) research paper published earlier this year (Constantinescu, C. et
al. The Global Trade Slowdown: Cyclical or Structural?) which said, Long-term trade
elasticity rose sharply in the 1990s, but declined significantly in the 2000s even before the
global financial crisis. These results suggest trade is growing slowly not only because of slow
growth of gross domestic product (GDP), but also because of a structural change in the tradeGDP relationship in recent years. Available evidence suggests the explanation may lie in the
slowing pace of international vertical specialization. The proliferation of global value chains
may have run its course.
Thats not all. The increasing use of robotics in manufacturing has led to a renewed
onshoring of production and the Citi report says the manufacturing cost advantages of this
industrial robotic revolution will likely tilt more favourably towards some developed
economies and existing manufacturing hubs in emerging markets like China, rather than new
emerging ones like India and Indonesia. Summing it up, if the Economic Surveys, the IMF
research paper and the Citigroup economists are right, the Make in India programme will

face strong headwinds. In fact, the Citi report explicitly says, There is now a real risk
latecomers to industrializationmany EM (emerging market) economies, including both
India (Modis Make in India plan) and Indonesia (Jokowis plan to revive manufacturing),
let alone Factory Africawill find it harder to create sufficient higher productivity
manufacturing jobs. And all this, of course, is apart from the massive industrial overcapacity
in China and its impact on other countries.
The silver lining, according to the Citi report, is that cross-border trade in services is still
growing rapidly and India will be a key beneficiary.
The political ramifications of these trends could well be explosive. While the highly skilled
top layer of the Indian population will continue to find a global market for their services, the
vast mass of the population will struggle to find jobs. Recall the recent news about 2.3
million applicants, including post-graduates and doctorates, vying for the post of 368 jobs for
government peons in Uttar Pradesh. The upshot is that inequalities in Indian society, already
high with 1% of the population hogging 53% of its wealth according to a Credit Suisse
report, will widen even further, with widespread disaffection among the masses.

A demographic shock sweeps the globe

1. The historic reversal: Phenomena where old outnumber the kids and it appears
irreversible
2. It began in 1995 in Italy & will spread to 56 nations, economies as diverse as New
Zealand and Georgia, by 2030
3. The turning point will take place in 2020 in the Cuba and South Korea, followed five
years later in Thailand and the US
4. By 2075, the global population is forecast to pass the demographic milestone
5. Social security: The prospect of longer lives is a good thing but problems arise when
a shrinking work force cannot foot the pension bill
6. While the political choices are unsavoury increase taxes or cut benefits
governments are running out of time to act
Business Stan
November 9, 2015
What do we mean by demographic dividend?

1. Indias Demographic Dividend has been a global talking point for quite some time.
2. People use the term without even knowing what it actually mean!
3. In easy terms, while the whole world is aging, India has a significant percentage of
population in the young age category.
4. Technically, falling birth rates + increased longevity ensures that a large chunk of
population is in the working age (15-59 years).
Custom
November 9, 2015
Seizing the Demographic Dividend. Is that so easy?
1. Not really.
2. Theres a chapter with a similar name in the Economic Survey for 2012-13. It
captures the nub of the problem when it says the following:
3. While industry is creating jobs, too many such jobs are low productivity, noncontractual jobs in the unorganized sector.
4. These jobs offer low incomes, little protection and no benefits.
5. Service jobs are relatively high productivity, but employment growth in services has
been slow.

POPULATION OF INDIA
Man is the creator of all the wealth, said Karl Marx, and without man, all other
resources remain ideal. Thus, man is the central focus points of all development efforts. Man
produces wealth and wealth is produced for the use of mankind. Hence, population of a
country is a crucial factor in the development of its economy. The literal meaning of
population is the whole number of people or inhabitants in a country or region. Among the
countries, India ranks second in population and seventh in land area. It has 15% of the
population and 2.3% of the area of the world.Indias national income which is barely two
percent of the total global income clearly shows the tremendous strain of population.

According to the 2011 census, the total population of India was around 1210 million
(121.0 crore) as against 1028 million (102.8 crore) persons in 2001. From this, it is clear that
Indias population is increasing at a vast rate. Is population a boon or a curse? Indias
population explosion is a curse and is damaging to the development of the country and its
society. Population of India is a big problem of Indian economic growth. India, on verge of
becoming a developed country, I still, a developing one. The reason behind
is-Overpopulation.
The main factors affecting the population change are the birth rate, death rate and
migration. The population growth potential in India is high on two counts: first the base
population is large and second, a reduction of death rate without a corresponding decline in
the birth rate is highly improbable. Mortality has become primarily a function of the
application of medical science and can be spectacularly reduced by measures of sanitary
reform, better transportation and distribution facilities. Reducing the birth rate is a much
more complex matter involving radical social adjustment which has hitherto been resistant to
change. Unfortunately, the death rate is declining, and there are reasonable chances that it
will continue to decline owing to continuing improvements in the sanitary and health
conditions of the masses. This implies that if birth rate does not fall, the gap between birth
and death rates will continue to widen and India will be faced with the danger of a rapidly
increasing multitude, or what is often called the population explosion. Thus rapidly
increasing population of India is a result of prevailing high birth rates and a large decline in
the death rate.
Population change= (Births + Immigration) (Deaths + Emigration)
The resources do not increase as the population increases. India currently faces a
vicious cycle of population explosion and poverty. One of the most Important reasons for this
population increases in India is poverty. Due to poverty, the infant mortality rate among such
families like food and medical resources. Thus, they produce more children assuming that not
all of them would be able to survive. The end result is a mounting increase in the population
size of India. The practice of early marriage is another factor for continues increase in birth
rate. A large majority of girls in India are married during the most fertile period 15 and18
years of age. This gives a wider reproductive period and continues to high birth rate.
Widespread improvident maternity (child bearing by mothers who have already borne three
or more children) and lack of conscious family planning have also kept birth rate in India
very high.
Death rate in India has declined over the past few decades due to a number of factors
such as the control of epidemics, due to widespread increase in medical and health facilities.
Many dreaded diseases of the past like malaria and TB have been brought under control while
smallpox, etc. have been completely eradicated. Therefore, it is clear that India is passing
through a period of population explosion due to her continuing high birth rate and a sharp
fall in the death rate.
Due to increased population, the educational facilities are very scarce. A lot of
families prefer having a son rather than a daughter. As a result, a lot of families have more

children than they actually want or can afford, resulting in increased poverty, lack of
resources, and most importantly, an increased population. Hence,illiteracy and lack of
awareness creates a thought that having more children, will give a secure future to the parents
and the society, but, what is the use if the children themselves do not get the desired
facilities? What is the use, if they will be the burden for the society? The answer lies within.
They can serve the country only if they get the desired facilities like food, shelter and most
importantly-Education. With the spread of education and family consciousness, it is
expected that more and more people will take recourse to birth control measures thus
reducing the birth rate in future.
India, being a developing country, has a limited number of jobs available. With the
increasing population, unemployment rates are bound to rise even further. Resources are
always limited. And in a developing and highly populous country like India, resources are
even scarcer. Population explosion results in the shortage of even the most basic resources
like food. If India will not control its population very soon we will have problem of feeding
this huge population very soon. Either we need to learn to manage human resources quickly
or we need to decrease our population growth rate ASAP. We as Indian citizen need to
understand our responsibilities. India is free democratic country this does not mean that
citizens do not have some responsibility.
The population increase has lead to air and water pollution, unemployment, poverty,
lack of educational resources, and even malnourished women and children. The technological
development of India has lead not only to medical advancements, but also to an increase in
the number of factories, that has lead to air and water pollution. According to an article by the
World Bank Organization, Delhi, the capital of India is one of the worlds most polluted
cities. As the population increased grows, more and more forests are cleared.
Rapid population growth is an obstacle to Indias economic development. India today
is grossly populated. And since the country is short of capital and technology to fully exploit
its resources, it means that most of the Indians live in poverty, face unemployment and suffer
from ill health. No wonder that in spite of half a century of development, over a fourth of
Indias population lives below poverty line. It is now universally agreed that an effective
control of population growth is necessary if our development effort is to yield any result.
How Indias population hinders the development of an economic growth. The following ways
are: Increasing population has eaten up much of the additional income that has been
generated in the economy during the five-year plans; fast growing population has resulted in
a serious shortage of food; increasing burden of unproductive population; population growth
hampers the growth of capital formation; it lowers the labour efficiency. It shows that Indias
population is overpopulated.
Rapid population growth has thus hampered economic growth in India and this
prevented any substantial reduction in poverty of the masses. But poverty itself is also the
cause of rapid population growth. The problem of Indias population affects almost every
aspect of economic life and has a profound significance for the future of the country. The
government of India has been organizing several programs for limiting the increase in

population and has been spending millions of dollars on controlling the birth rate.Some of the
programs have been successful; still to reach the sustainable rate. Among such measures are
included spread of education that enables people to think and take rational decision regarding
family size; expansion in employment facility for women that makes them economically
more independent and capable of making effective rational choices regarding the number of
children they would like to have without compromising their economic status; reduction in
infant mortality rate; expanding education for the female children and providing them equal
access to their all socio-economic needs as are provided to the male children thus removing
the gender bias; raising the age of marriage; and propagation of family planning and small
family norms.
Today India is 2nd largest country in terms of population. Now a days increasing
population of India is a big problem. Increasing population in India without any limit is one
of the problems behind the lacking development in the country. In India, unchecked growth
of the population is more of a hindrance to the development of the economy. The major
factors affecting the population increase of India are the rapidly increase birth rate and
decreasing death rates. Birth rates will fall only when people themselves realise the evils of
large family and volunteer for family planning. Family planning means having babies by
choice not by chance. The success of family planning greatly depends on women and their
status. Thus, it is imperative for the women to be educated so that they can decide on the
number of children they want and be aware of the available birth control measures.
A proper population policy should aim at two things- rapid economic development of
the country and check on the further growth of our numbers. The government of India has
adopted several measures to control the birth rate through the family planning measures.
Family planning is the best method of achieving the second desideration. Thus family
planning implies conscious effort at limiting the size of the family.
To conclude the chronic and widespread misery of the Indian people is due to the existence of
too many people for the available means of subsistence and situation gets worse instead of
better. A rapidly increasing population aggravates the poverty, worsens the unemployment,
reduces the per capita income proportion of unproductive people, hampers capital formation
and makes the people inefficient. The population of India has been explored and discovered
to be acute and speedily growing more serious. Therefore, an all efforts have to be made to
reduce the birth rate through comprehensive programme of family planning so that sufficient
resources are released for the economic development of the country.

RIGHT TO EDUCATION
TSR Subramanian committee recently came with a draft proposal for the new
education policy.
The panel has recommended significant interventions such as:

Amending the Right to Education (RTE) Act to bring back detention of students after
Class V, and

Making minority schools reserve 25% seats for candidates of economically weaker
sections (EWS)

It has called for restrictions on campus politics, and recommended extending the
scope of RTE to cover pre-school education, and

of the Mid Day Meal Scheme to secondary education.

The report has criticised governments for interference in important appointments,

especially that of Vice-Chancellors.

Some of the proposals of the committee have generated a lot of debate over the potential
shape of the new policy.
Lets discuss some of these policy implications along with context from the past:

Background of education policy in India

What are the key legacies of NEP I and II?

How has the implementation been?

Recommendations of the new committee

Analysis of the new recommendations

Criticism/ challenges

Way ahead

Background of education policy in India

India had two policies on education in the past- in 1968 and 1986

It serves as a comprehensive framework to guide the development of education in the

country and offers the government of the day an opportunity to leave its imprint on
the countrys education system

The policy provides a broad direction and state governments are expected to follow
it.However, its not mandatory. For eg. Tamil Nadu, even today, does not follow the
three-language formula prescribed by the first education policy in 1968

What are the key legacies of NEP I and II?

The 10+2+3 (10 yrs secondary school + 2 years high school + 3 yrs of undergraduate
education) structure of education, and the three-language formula followed by a majority of
schools are among the most enduring legacies of the first national education policy.
The prioritisation of science and mathematics in education is another.
The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Mid Day Meal Scheme, Navodaya Vidyalayas (NVS schools),
Kendriya Vidyalayas (KV schools) and use of IT in education are a result of the NEP of 1986.
How has the implementation been?

NEP 1986 was implemented better.

The government failed to bring out a proper Programme of Action, and

implementation was hamstrung by the shortage of funds.

Education in 1968 was a State subject, and the Centre had little role in how the
policy would be implemented. This led to poor implementation.

The second NEP came after the Constitutional Amendment of 1976 which made
education a concurrent subject and the Centre accepted wider responsibility and
introduced a number of programmes in line with the policy.

Recommendations of the new committee

1) An Indian Education Service (IES) should be established as an all India service with
officers being on permanent settlement to the state governments but with the cadre
controlling authority vesting with the Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry.
2) The outlay on education should be raised to at least 6% of GDP without further loss of
time.
3) There should be minimum eligibility condition with 50% marks at graduate level for
entry to existing B.Ed courses. Teacher Entrance Tests (TET) should be made compulsory for
recruitment of all teachers. The Centre and states should jointly lay down norms and
standards for TET.

4) Compulsory licensing or certification for teachers in government and private schools

should be made mandatory, with provision for renewal every 10 years based on
independent external testing.
5) Pre-school education for children in the age group of 4 to 5 years should be declared as a
right and a programme for it implemented immediately.
6) The no detention policy must be continued for young children until completion of class V
when the child will be 11 years old. At the upper primary stage, the system of detention shall
be restored subject to the provision of remedial coaching and at least two extra chances
being offered to prove his capability to move to a higher class
7) On-demand board exams should be introduced to offer flexibility and reduce year end
stress of students and parents. A National Level Test open to every student who has
completed class XII from any School Board should be designed.
8) The mid-day meal (MDM) program should now be extended to cover students of
secondary schools. This is necessary as levels of malnutrition and anaemia continue to be
high among adolescents.
9) UGC Act must be allowed to lapse once a separate law is created for the management of
higher education. The University Grants Commission (UGC) needs to be made leaner and
thinner and given the role of disbursal of scholarships and fellowships.
10) Top 200 foreign universities should be allowed to open campuses in India and give the
same degree which is acceptable in the home country of the said university.
Analysis of the new recommendations

source

A new policy after 3 decades: The new education policy, which is coming after a gap
of almost three decades, is expected to give a direction to the education sector in India
which has grown in proportion but suffers from quality concerns.

Covers qualitative & quantitative challenges: It provides solutions to several

challenges of the sector, including quality in both school and higher education,
employability challenge, regulation of private education, internationalisation of higher
education and a possible restructuring of education regulators like University Grants
Commission and All India Council of Technical Education.

Open the gates: The entry of foreign institutions will help to bring the level of
education in India at par with global standards.

Restructure UGC: UGC has become inefficient over the years due to politicization
and other factors. There is a need of a complete overhaul of its organizational
structure. The committee has tried to take significant steps in this direction.

Relook at the no detention stance: The no dtention policy over the years has failed
to achieve the objectives with which it was introduced. The provision of restoration of
detention in upper primary stage will enable to instill the fear of exam process in
students which will make them take learning and study seriously rather than just
attending school.

Learnings from the ASER: The ASER shows the data about the poor level of
learning in India. The detention is expected to improve learning outcomes in the
country.

The barring of students from political and religious debates is expected to reduce
the anarchy in the education campuses which have become very common in the
present scenario.

Criticism/ challenges

Historically, campuses have been crucibles of leadership. College and university

students are active citizens with voting rights to general, assembly and local body
elections. It is absurd and even undesirable to expect them to be insulated from
political ideas and debates.

It is doubtful if scrapping UGC or any institution is the remedy needed for Indias
higher education system, according to some critics.

The changes suggested by the committee cannot be brought in a day or two. So

thinking that the education system will be reformed in a short span of time is
something imaginary and needs to be thought upon.

India needs to improve the amount it spent on the education if it needs to implement
these changes. Considering the funds available with the sector and the shortage of
manpower at various levels, it is difficult to implement these changes.

Way ahead

The report has tried to address all substructures of the larger pedagogical
superstructure. Though it is quite ambitious in its approach, it raises valid concerns
and puts forward some very important recommendations.

It contains much for ensuring a robust education system. Will this new policy be
implemented? Will its recommendations solve a major educational crisis in the country, or
will they become the subject of a greater political battle? The questions are yet to be
answered.

Joint Family System in India: Characteristics, Advantages and Disadvantages!

In a Joint Family System basically all the members of the family live together under one roof
and are related to each other.
Property belongs to the family as a whole and all family income is pooled together. In this
system everyone learns according to his capacity and gets according to his needs and
requirements. The whole family has a common Kitchen.
Characteristics of Joint Family:
The chief characteristics of joint family are as follows.
(1) Large Size:
The fiats characteristic of the joint family is its large size. A single family consists of only the
husband, wife and their children. But a joint family consists of parents, children, grandchildren and other near relatives along with their women members. It is a group of which
several basic families live together at one and the same time.

(2) Joint Property:

In a joint family, the ownership, production and consumption of wealth takes place on a joint
basis. It is a co-operative institution. Similar to a joint stock company, in which there is a
joint property. The head of the family is like trustee who manages the property of the family
for the material and spiritual welfare of the family members. The total earnings of all the
family members are pooled together.
(3) Co-operative Organisation:
The basis of Joint Family System is cooperation. A joint family consists of a large number of
members and if they do not co-operate with one another it is not possible to maintain the
organisation and structure of the joint family.
(4) A Productive Unit:
This feature of joint family is found among agricultural families. All the members work at
one and the same field. They do the sowing and harvesting of the crops together. Even in the
case of artisan classes all the members of a joint family do one and the same function.
(5) Mutual Rights and Obligations:
The rights and obligations of the members of joint family are the same. None except the head
of the family has special privileges. Every member of the family has equal obligations. If one
female member works in the kitchen, the other does the laundry work, and the third one looks
after the children. There is a rotation of duties as well.
Advantages of Joint Family System:
The following are the advantages of joint family system,
(i) Economy:
The collective cooking, shelter and consumption brings down the cost of expenditure. Since
things are consumed in large quantities they are secured at economic prices. Within small
means a large family can be maintained if it lives jointly.
(ii) Division of Labour:
It secures the advantages of the division of labour. Every member in the family is given work
according to his abilities without being taxed unduly. Every phase of family life is managed
by all members including women and children.
(iii) Social Insurance:
In the joint family the orphans find a comfortable asylum instead of being thrown out.
Similarly, widows are assured of their proper living for whom remarriage in India is
unthinkable. The joint family acts as a social insurance company for the old, sick and
incapacitated.

(iv) Social Virtues:

It fosters great virtues like sacrifice, affection, co-operation, spirit of selflessness, broad
mindedness among its members and makes the family a cradle of social virtues. Under the
care of elders the undesirable and antisocial tendencies of the young are checked and they are
prevented from going astray. They learn of exercise self-control. All members learn to obey
family rules and respect their elders.
(v) Opportunity for Leisure:
It provides opportunities for leisure to the members. The female members divide the
household work and finish it within a little time spending the rest of it in leisure.
(vi) Socialism:
According to Sir Henry Maine, the joint family is like a corporation where trustee is the
father. Everyone in the joint family works according to his capabilities but obtains according
to his needs. Thus it realises the socialistic ideal, from each according to his ability, to each
according to his needs.
(vii) It Provides Minimum Existence:
In joint family, each member earns according to his capacity and gets according to his needs.
Thus each member is assured of food, shelter and clothing.
Disadvantages of Joint Family System:
The main disadvantages of the system are said to be following:
(i) Society is the Sufferer:
In a joint family, members do not put in maximum efforts. Therefore, their full potentials are
not realised. As a result society suffers.
(ii) It Perpetuates Orthodoxy:
The head of the family is generally the old man who is not ready to accept changes and break
customs and traditions which the family is pursuing for years.
(iii) Leads to Quarrels:
A joint family is usually unwieldy. Temperaments of members are bound to differ and in an
unwieldy family, time and again interest of the members in one way or the other is bound to
be forgotten. This leads to family disputes.
(iv) Hindrance in Development:
Sometimes progress and development of members is hindered since protection is available at
every stage. The whole environment of the family is not congenial for growth of the
individual because he is bound down by the minutest rules and regulations framed by the

head of the family who looks upon men and women as children even when they obtain
adulthood.
(v) Home for Idlers:
Joint family is the home for idlers and drones as the non-earning members do not want to
earn their livelihood. When a person can eat comfortably without exerting himself, he is
unlikely to indulge in any strenuous activity. Mostly in the joint family it happens that some
people work hard and earn money, while others comfortably enjoy it.

Disintegration of Joint Families

Silent changes have been taking place in the family life of India for the last few decades. The
old joint family system have been disintegrating and in their places nuclear families, each
with three or four members are coming into being. There have been several causes that have
been provoking disintegration of our old extended families.
First, the spread of female education has been galvanizing the outlook of women about life.
In most cases when an educated girl enters her husbands family as a bride she can hardly
reconcile herself to the old ideas of her domineering mother-in-law. Consequently she desires
to set up her independent establishment of her own.
Secondly, disparity in the income of brothers provides an incentive for disintegration of big
families. The brother or brothers who have decent income are tempted to have a separate
establishment tastefully decorated and richly furnished with modern amenities and luxuries.
Thirdly, thanks to globalization and e-mail which have turned the world into a global village.
European consumerism dazzles our life and it prompts the affluent members of a family to
come out of the old way of life and indulge in rat race.
Fourthly, the girls who come to the same family as brides are brought up in their paternal
homes in different social, cultural and sometimes political environments and consequently
they cannot pull together. So they often like to live apart from each other to avoid
bitter encounters.
Now as a result of the break-up of the joint family the people who suffer most are the old
parents and the unemployed members. Sometimes the old parents are to fend for themselves
or to opt to live in a home for the old. It is a fact that a nuclear family lives in economic
solvency. But if any emergency crops up, the small family finds few helping hands to share
their trouble. Besides, the child or the children of a nuclear family live isolated from the
mainstream of society and so they often grow as strangers to fellow feeling.

A disorganized family can be caused by parents placing too much responsibility on their
children. When parents overburden their children the parents reduce their role in the family as

a support system for the child. This upsets the balance of the family unit and leads to family
disorganization. With less support coming from the parents, the highest level of organization
becomes the individual.
When a family loses a significant member like a spouse, the family can also become
disorganized. The loss of a family member creates a vacuum in the support structure of the
family. That loss creates disorganization because other family members now must take up the
burden of the missing person. When a mother dies, the father then has to take over the
responsibilities the mother took on. In a typical nuclear family this includes spending a
greater amount of time with the children, time the father may not have due to his work
schedule.
Family disorganization can also be caused by violent or abusive habits: physical abuse,
sexual abuse and emotional abuse. These abusive behaviors break down the family's ability to
remain organized and function as a whole.

Secularism

Introduction

In sociological terms Secularism stands for an ideology and has ideological connotations but
the usage of term in India does not conform to this ideological positions. Theoretically, all
that is there in the world: beliefs, dogma, myths etc.are either Sacred or Secular.
Sacred, which is dealing with religion hence all traditional societies are sacred as they are
based on religion. Secular, on the other hand carries three properties:
1. Separation between State and Church.
2. Emphasis on Earthly rather on Divinity.
3. Rational Outlook.

However, Secularism evolves into a very varied outlook. Some consider it to be separation
between Church and State while some consider it to be value neutral and Multi Religious
i.e. mutual respect towards all religion. Some consider it to be anti-religion while some
consider it to be non-religious ( Nehruvian Concept). Some consider it to a prerequisite for
a modern State while some raised question on its very existence. Few regard it as antimajoritism while few consider it to be an appeasement policy for Minorities.
But in all this vague meaning, one version came out separate and in fact suitability matches
with the very multi-ethnic Indias definition of Secularism, i.e. the Sarvo Dharma
Sambhava, or the Gandhian concept of Secularism which meant EQUAL REPSECT TO
ALL RELIGION AS WELL NON-RELIGIOUS.
In simple words it connotes that public life and matter of governance, religion should not
dictate the Socio-Political Decisions. In these backgrounds, it encompasses two specific
features:
1. Differentiation: Economy and State are separated from Religion.
2. Privatisation: It includes the very rational and scientific outlook where religion
entirely becomes part of Private domain of an Individual.
Origin
Societies are not born secular rather it undergo transformation from traditional society to
secular one. This transformation is brought by a process called Secularization.
Secularization could be defined as a process of social change in which public influence of
religion declines and it is replaced by rational outlook with private orientation. Hence,
citing Western Societies example, one can understand that Religion still exist but get confined
to private domain.

Indian Secularism and Provisions

The very concept is enshrined in the PREAMBLE, connotes the normative order. Indian
Union seeks to promote secularization process by:
1. Abolishing ritual inequality, untouchability.
2. Throwing open all institution and religious places to all classes and sections.
3. Reform of Hindu Personal Laws.
4. Abolishing any kind discrimination on religious lines.
5. Secularising the content of text books, materials thereby promoting scientific outlook.
6. Bringing in socio-economic development.

Indian Secularism: Limitations and Progress

The process of secularization operates through 3 factors:

1. Education
2. Legislation
3. Social Reform
Education: If imparted on scientific and rational lines, it gives rose to rational thinking
process. However if we take Indian scenario, education was imparted through religious
institutions-Pathshala, Madrasa etc. Which are itself attached, mostly, to temples, mosques,
then the very secular outlook is difficult to derive.
However, with emergence of modern educations, formal education and change in content of
education even with medium of instruction, the very rational outlook is developing.
Legislation: A crucial factor but if supported by proper motivation and social environment, it
may not give good results. Even our country has gone secular by legislative fiats without
support from Society Environment. Behind the very secularism and national unity lies the
variety of parochial, narrow minded and unscientific feelings that threaten to tear the
secular fabric of our country.
Social Reform: Social movement for social reforms is a potent weapon for the promotion of
process of secularization. It does mental conditioning and prepares society to accept social
changes. Whatever degree of secularism our society has achieved it owes a lot to social
reforms and movements.
Along with these factors, Urbanization and Industrialization also plays an important role
in secularization process. It loosens the in-group feeling and present newer rational causeeffect alternatives.

Conclusion
Secularism reflects the way of life and connotes the ethical conduct, applicable to
Individual, Society and State. The mutual hobnobbing between these three, i.e. Individual
clinging to its faith, prevalence of mutual respect to all religion between all levels of society
and State observing equidistant towards all religion, will not only strengthen the
Constitutional Safeguards but will also ensure the sense of security and belongings which
no Constitution can guaranty.
Further it also reflects the sense of fraternity, unity among the citizens thereby generate the
feeling of WE: the very core central word of Preamble.

Communalism
One of the most striking feature of Indias current socio-political scenario is the explosion
of communalism in the face of New Economic Policy and Globalization. It is threatening to
the very social fabric of Indian Society. It is a highly complex phenomenon in pluralistic
India.
Its dictionary meaning connotes freedom of solidarity, a positive domain but in practise it
is not so. The historians describe it as a false consciousness or state of consciousness or
colonialist knowledge. Sociologically, it is an attempt to establish a relative identity. The
socio-political analyst relate it with the game of power created by religious leaders, who play
the cords of suspicion so well that religion emerges as a smoke screen blurring the visibility
of believes.
In simple terms, it refers to the antagonism practised by the members of one community
against the people of other community and religion. It is an ideology based on the belief
that society is divided into religious communities whose interest differ and are opposed to
each other and thus antagonistic in nature. India is a land of multiple faiths and religions
leading often to violence and hatred among the people. Those who fan this religious violence
do not consider religion as a moral order but use it as a means and weapon to pursue their
political ambitions. Communalism essentially leads to violence as it is based on mutual
religious hatred.
Scholars have identified six dimension of Communalism : assimilations, welfarist, retreatist,
retaliatory, separatist, and successionist. The occurrence of it not only undermines the
heritage of composite culture but also makes the ideology of secularism look pale and
exhausted.
Communalism essentially has following main features :
1) It is based on orthodoxy.
2) It is exclusive in outlook, a communalist considers his own religion to be superior to
other religions.
3) It is based on intolerance.
4) It also propagates intense dislike of other religions.
5) It stands for elimination of other religions and its values.
6) It adopts extremist tactics including use of violence against other people
Factors for Growth of Communalism

Society plays a very important role in the genesis of communalism. One cannot divide the
society unless it is divisible along the certain fault lines. These fault lines do exist in feudal
societies but dont play the politically divisive role they do in colonial or capitalist society,
which are more competitive. Indian Society was never homogeneous. It was highly diverse
religiously, culturally, caste-wise and linguistically but there was no hardship among these
groups. The phenomenon began with the establishment of British Rule in India. Most
scholars agree that communalism is a modern phenomenon and not a medieval
phenomenon.
Factors responsible for its growth are :
1

Divide and Rule Policy of British: It spread the feeling of distrust among them.

Political Organisation: Communal Organisation which have created hatred among

the people. Its truly the root cause of communalism.

Inertia in Government: When Government does not take proper steps at proper time,
communalism spreads.

Ineffective handling of Riots: State Government has been proved ineffective in

handling communalism riots.

Sociology of Communalism in India

Social cleavage existed earlier but turned hostile in British period. Three reasons are
predominant for this: the divisive policy of British; competitive nature of colonial political,
social structure; and the backwardness of colonial society with stunted economic
growth.
Due to all this, fault lines were sharpening and communal consciousness was emerging
among the Hindus and Muslim elite. The Hindu elite welcomed the British rule as liberal
one and began to aspire for higher administrative jobs. The Muslim elite-mostly feudal- on
the other hand, considered the British Rule an unmitigated disaster as they lost power and
suffered the most during the retaliatory action by British after 1857 uprising. And thus
conflict about sharing power arose between the Hindus and Muslim elite.
Communalism is not a product of religious hostilities. It is a result of political and
economic struggles for a share in power and resources between the educated elite. In the
independent India, the universal franchisee changed the scenario of entire political process.
Increased participation in political process made minorities and lower caste people
understand the importance of their vote and they began to make increased demand, thus
changing the dynamics of political change. And this added a new dimension to
communalism, which we had inherited from the British Period. Economic change also added
to social strife. Election in India has become an end in itself and narrow self and political
interest rather than larger national interests became more important. Number Game in
pluralistic society became apparent. Further capture of political organization by cultural
and sectarian organization is also a case in point

Communalism is also a majorly urban phenomenon, where the deprived and frustrated
poor people indulge in loot and plunder whenever opportunity arises. And communal riot
provided an opportunity for both. But recent Gujarat Riots and Mujaffarnagar Riots has
shaken all sensible, justice loving and secular people of country. Some reports even described
them as ethnic cleansing done under the supervision of State.
The rapid expansion of markets and market forces has also contributed to the growing
communalization of Indian Society. The market forces are pushing out spirituality from
religion and transforming religion into a saleable commodity. Significantly, religious festivals
in different areas are undergoing a change. They used to take place in localised manner. But
now they are more catching with commercial interest. This further increases the communal
consciousness in the society.
Communal Violence
Most communal riots prior to 1947 were rooted in the divide and rule policy of the British
colonial rule. But after the partition of the country, sections of the Indian elite from both the
communities are also to be blamed for the problem. Communal violence in independent India
has been caused by many factors. Some general factors are :
First the class divisions of our society and the backwardness of our economy has resulted in
uneven development of the economy. It is the upper classes of the less-developed
communities that have enjoyed the fruits of limited growth and hence it is they who have
also enjoyed political power. Over a period of time some sections among this elite developed
a sense of rivalry vis--vis their counterparts in other communities. In order to draw
support from the masses of theirown community, these leaders have often encouraged
communal feelings to strengthen their political support.
Communal violence also increases because communal parties carry on religious
propaganda in an offensive manner, thereby creating ill-will among the members of the
various communities. The political parties in India which adopt a communal attitude should
be blamed for encouraging communal feelings which often cause communal violence.
Apart from these general factors, some specific local causes also account for communal
violence in India. First, because the power of smugglers and criminal gangs, local rivalries
between traders of different communities often leads to such violence. Large cities are
also prone to periodic communal riots because of the power of smugglers and criminal gangs.
The communal violence after the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1993 is an example.
Secondly, communal riots occur in towns which have a history of communal riots.
Aligarh and Hydrabad, among other cities, suffer from this trend. Presence of a large
proportion of religious minorities increases political rivalry between the upper strata of both
these communities who often appeal to their communal identity to gain support.
Whatever may be the cause of communal violence, whenever it occurs, it immediately
attracts attention of the nation. In our society class identities still remain submerged under
caste and communal identities. With economic problems becoming important, the ruling elite

of our country manages to convert economic problems like poverty unemployment, price rise
etc. into caste and communal ones. People should be careful not to be influenced by such
tactics. Economic problems of the people, like-poverty and unemployment must be resolved
in the country before the problem of communal violence can be totally eliminated
Fight against Communalism
The long term remedy for fighting communalism lies in initiating the process of de
communalising the people at all levels. If Communalism is an ideology then it cannot be
suppressed by force. An ideology is to be fought at all level of ideas. An honest educational
and cultural policy along with the use of media is required to educate the members of Society
towards the danger of Communalism. Positive aspect of literacy could also be exploited for
same. Education System must be free from Communal Ideas. Further Preventing
Communalisation of State and Political Elites as well as Civil Society is also crucial.
Communalism has to be fought right from the socialization of children in the families and
here parents would be playing a crucial role.