Right to Education Act
THE intention of RTE Act towards a compulsory and inclusive elementary education is undoubtedly prudent. What needs to be seen is the extent of universal acceptance it can garner.
The Government has also held consultations at various fora with the State Governments and various other stakeholders such as academicians, and civil society activists, including meeting with the State Education Ministers and Central Advisory Board on Education (CABE). The Government has also issued various Guidelines on implementation of the RTE Act, including procedure for admission in schools, seeking relaxation of teacher qualifications under section 23(2) of the RTE Act, and maintaining the mandatory Pupil-Teacher Ratio (PTR) in school which is in accordance with the norms and standards specified in the Schedule of the RTE Act.
The Right to Education (RTE) Act came into force with effect from April 1, 2010. Free and compulsory elementary education was made a fundamental right, under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution (86th Amendment), in December 2002. The 'Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Bill’ which represents the consequential legislation, was drafted in 2005 and introduced in the Rajya Sabha on December 15, 2008.
The same was revised within a year to become the ‘Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 once it got assent of the President on August 26, 2009. The RTE Act, as the name suggests, provides for free and compulsory education for all children in the age group of six to fourteen years.
The same was revised within a year to become the ‘Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 once it got assent of the President on August 26, 2009. The RTE Act, as the name suggests, provides for free and compulsory education for all children in the age group of six to fourteen years.
The Draft Bill was an outcome of wide ranging discussions, which included consideration by the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) comprising Ministers of Education of all States and Union Territories (UT), discussion in a High Level Group constituted by Prime Minister, and preparation/circulation of a Model Right to Education Bill. The RTE also took into consideration the concerns of teachers’ associations and the civil society organisations.
The RTE Act is a detailed and comprehensive piece of legislation that extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu & Kashmir. The Act includes provisions related to schools, teachers, curriculum, evaluation, access and specific division of duties and responsibilities of different stakeholders. In the past fourteen months of its implementation, select states/UT (seven States and equal number of Union Territories) have notified the act in their respective jurisdiction. The seven States are Sikkim, Orissa, Manipur, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bihar. Others such as Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya are likely to implement RTE soon.
Act Impact
With the Act coming into effect, India becomes one among 135 countries of the World to have a Constitutional provision for free and non-discriminatory education for everyone. However, the report says, there are some countries that continue to charge primary school fees despite the legal guarantee of free education. Though the age bracket for RTE in India is 6-14, Chile in Latin America provides free education for a period of 15 years to a child. It gives free and compulsory education to children in the age group of 6 to 21 years. Countries such as Canada, France, Norway and Spain, are among other 19 nations, that give free of cost education for a duration of 10 years, ranging from the age of 5 to 15 or 6 to 16 years.
The Key features of the Act:
- Every child from 6 to 14 years of age has a right to free and compulsory education in a neighbourhood school till completion of elementary education (class I to class VIII).
- Where a child above six years of age has not been admitted in any school (or has been admitted but not completed his/her elementary education), then he/she shall be admitted in a class appropriate to his/her age
- RTE provides for prescribed norms and standards relating to infrastructure, pupil-teacher ratios, school working days, teacher working hours and other quality parameters.
- For carrying out the provisions of this Act, the appropriate government and the local authority shall establish, within such area or limits of neighbourhood, as may be prescribed, a school, where it is not established, within a period of three years from the commencement of the Act
- The appropriate government shall ensure timely prescribing of curriculum and courses of study for elementary education and provide training facility for teachers. It also provides for Curriculum and evaluation procedure conforming to values enshrined in the Constitution and ensuring all round development of the child through a system of child-friendly and child-centred learning
- The Central and State governments shall have the concurrent responsibility for providing funds
- Unaided schools must take in 25 percent of their class strength from “weaker sections and disadvantaged groups’, sponsored by the government. The expenditure so incurred will be reimbursed to the extent of the per-child expenditure incurred by the State, or the actual amount charged from the child, whichever is less.
- RTE Act ensures minimum qualifications for a person to be eligible for appointment as a teacher
- No school or person shall, while admitting the child, collect any capitation fee and subject the child or his/her parents or guardian to any screening procedure (a method for selection for admission of a child, in preference over another, other than a random method).
- All schools except private unaided schools are to be managed by School Management Committees with 75 per cent parents and guardians as members.
- All schools except government schools are required to be recognised by meeting specified norms and standards within 3 years to avoid closure.
- The National or the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights shall examine and review the safeguards for rights provided by or under the RTE Act and inquire into complaints relating to child’s right to free and compulsory education
Implementing the RTE
The means for implementation of the main provisions of the RTE Act is the revised Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) programme. The Government approved an outlay of Rs. 2,31,233 crore for the implementation of the combined RTE-SSA programme for 2010-11 to 2014-15 and revised the fund sharing pattern between the Centre and States in the ratio of 65:35 (90:10 for the North Eastern States). At the instance of the government, the National University for Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA) has prepared estimates for additional requirement of funds for a 5-year period from 2010-11 to 2014-15 for the implementation of the provisions of the RTE Act, which works out to Rs 1,71,484 crores. Central SSA outlays for 2010-11 have also been enhanced from Rs. 15,000 crore to Rs. 19,000 crore.
In addition, there are three external funding agencies, namely World Bank,Department for International Development (DFID) and European Commission (EC) that provide support to the SSA programme. Under the SSA, the private firms, corporate sector, and the civil society organisations are encouraged to contribute to elementary education through partnership within the broad parameters of the State policy.
Representations have been received from the State Governments/UTs on various issues relating to implementation of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009. Some of these issues include request for additional resources for its implementation, clarification on certain provisions of the RTE Act, etc.
Various steps have been taken by the government to implement the RTE in a proper manner. These include:
- Framing subordinate legislation called model rules as guidelines to states for the implementation of the Act and notifying the RTE Rules, 2010
- Taking the help of National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) as the academic authority to lay down teacher’s qualifications which were notified on August 23, 2010.
- Asking the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), as the academic authority, to lay down the curriculum and evaluation procedure
- Having a National Advisory Council (NAC) under the Act.
- Taking steps to align the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan norms with the provisions of the RTE Act.
Rationale for admitting 25 percent of Children from EWS
Of the several implications of RTE implementation, one of the most debated issue is that of unaided schools having to admit a quarter EWS children in class-I.
Of the several implications of RTE implementation, one of the most debated issue is that of unaided schools having to admit a quarter EWS children in class-I.
Education, considered as an act of social engineering should ensure that children of socio-economically weaker section must feel at home in private schools. And for this it is necessary that they form a substantial proportion or critical mass of the class they join. It is for this reason that the RTE Act provides for admission of 25 percent children from disadvantaged group/weaker sections in class I only, As children admitted to class-I move to the next class, new children get admitted to class-I and so on till they complete 8 years of elementary education. Teachers and children who are used to a selective, homogeneous classroom environment cannot be expected to develop the required attitude and behaviour required in heterogeneous class overnight.
Issues galore
As a matter of concern, several private schools have challenged the constitutional validity of the RTE Act in the Supreme Court saying that the government is trying to enforce reservation and regulate affairs of private unaided and minority educational institutions. Though there is a lot more expectation from both the centre and local government to implement and monitor the RTE Act, there are various viewpoints and critique (see Box) that different stakeholders need to review for an effective RTE to become a reality.
It is pointed out that there have been persistent views by some eminent educationalist that Common Schooling System (CSS) model is a better way which factors into account not only quantitative but also qualitative aspect of primary education, which the RTE Act fails to take into account. CSS model which would have marked a radical departure from prevailing education model; conjectures glaring socio-economic inequality from the very start of child education. For this to happen government is required to raise public sector expenditure on education to at least 6 percent of GDP as long promised by it on an urgent basis.
CRITIQUES OF RTE
- Since all schools (except government) are required to meet specified norms and standards within 3 years to avoid closure, the RTE Act penalises the private schools for lacking infrastructure. There should be efforts to find mechanisms to infuse public resources in these schools. Norms for buildings, number of working days, teacher workload, equipment, library and extra-curricular activities are prescribed only for unaided schools. Only an obligatory teacher-student ratio is prescribed for both types of schools.
- School Management Committees comprising 75 percent parents/guardians can adversely affect the existing management structure of schools.
- No disciplinary action is chartered under RTE for teachers in view of their absence or non-adherence to teaching norms.
- The Act places no restriction on the fees that may be charged by unaided private schools ostensibly set up as a Society or Trust but, de facto set up to make money.
- Ambiguity with respect to schools admitting a quarter of their class strength from EWS and disadvantaged groups (there is no clear definition and verification of EWS/DA); not addressing the supply-demand gaps in admitting children from neighbourhood; non-clarity on mechanism for reimbursement; non-monitoring etc., and no criterion for arriving at the 25 per cent figure.
- There is nothing in the Act or its model rules and regulations that can prevent unaided private schools from charging students for activities that are not mentioned in the Act.
- Outcomes of RTE Act have been overestimated in the light of existing schema of inefficient, fraudulent and unaccountable institutions of education in the country
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2011
National Policy for Senior Citizens
The Government had constituted a Committee on 28.1.2010 under the Chairpersonship of Smt. Mohini Giri, to inter-alia draft a new national policy on older persons. Other members of the Committee were:
(i) Shri. M. M. Sabharwal, President Emeritus, Helpage India;
(ii) Dr. K. R. Gangadharan, Chairman, Heritage Foundation;
(iii) Smt. Shielu Sreenivasan, President, Dignity Foundation;
(iv) Representatives of Ministries of Health & Family Welfare, Rural Development, Finance, Home and Women & Child Development; and
(v) Principal Secretaries/Secretaries in charge of Welfare of Senior Citizens of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Delhi, Maharashtra and West Bengal.
(vi) Joint Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment as Member Secretary.
The Committee submitted the draft National Policy on Senior Citizens 2011 on 30.3.2011 which inter-alia, accords priority to the needs of senior citizens aged 80 years and above, elderly women, and the rural poor. Some of the salient policy objectives are to:
• Mainstream the concerns of senior citizens, especially older women, and bring them into the national development debate;
• Promote income security, homecare services, old age pension, healthcare insurance schemes, housing and other programmes/ services;
• Promote care of senior citizens within the family and to consider institutional care as a last resort;
• Work towards an inclusive, barrier-free and age-friendly society;
• Recognize senior citizens as a valuable resource for the country, protect their rights and ensure their full participation in society;
• Promote long term savings instruments and credit activities in both rural and urban areas;
• Encourage employment in income generating activities after superannuation;
• Support organizations that provide counseling, career guidance and training services; etc.
The Committee also suggested the areas of intervention to be made by Central/ State Governments towards implementation of the policy objectives.
The draft Policy has been circulated to State Governments, seeking their comments. It has also been placed on the Ministry’s Website (www.socialjustice.nic.in) for information of the general public and feedback, if any. The draft policy will be finalized after the process of consultation with State Governments and concerned Central Ministries/ Departments is completed.
(i) Shri. M. M. Sabharwal, President Emeritus, Helpage India;
(ii) Dr. K. R. Gangadharan, Chairman, Heritage Foundation;
(iii) Smt. Shielu Sreenivasan, President, Dignity Foundation;
(iv) Representatives of Ministries of Health & Family Welfare, Rural Development, Finance, Home and Women & Child Development; and
(v) Principal Secretaries/Secretaries in charge of Welfare of Senior Citizens of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Delhi, Maharashtra and West Bengal.
(vi) Joint Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment as Member Secretary.
The Committee submitted the draft National Policy on Senior Citizens 2011 on 30.3.2011 which inter-alia, accords priority to the needs of senior citizens aged 80 years and above, elderly women, and the rural poor. Some of the salient policy objectives are to:
• Mainstream the concerns of senior citizens, especially older women, and bring them into the national development debate;
• Promote income security, homecare services, old age pension, healthcare insurance schemes, housing and other programmes/ services;
• Promote care of senior citizens within the family and to consider institutional care as a last resort;
• Work towards an inclusive, barrier-free and age-friendly society;
• Recognize senior citizens as a valuable resource for the country, protect their rights and ensure their full participation in society;
• Promote long term savings instruments and credit activities in both rural and urban areas;
• Encourage employment in income generating activities after superannuation;
• Support organizations that provide counseling, career guidance and training services; etc.
The Committee also suggested the areas of intervention to be made by Central/ State Governments towards implementation of the policy objectives.
The draft Policy has been circulated to State Governments, seeking their comments. It has also been placed on the Ministry’s Website (www.socialjustice.nic.in) for information of the general public and feedback, if any. The draft policy will be finalized after the process of consultation with State Governments and concerned Central Ministries/ Departments is completed.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2011
National Manufacturing Policy
The Cabinet approved the revised proposal of the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Ministry of Commerce and Industry to put in place a National Manufacturing Policy.
The Cabinet in its meeting held on 15" September 2011 considered the National Manufacturing Policy and directed that the policy may be considered by a Group of Ministers (GOM) for further harmonizing the differences in some inter-ministerial positions notably relating to Ministry of Labour and Employment and the Ministry of Environment and Forests. The GOM in its meeting held on 14th October 2011 has resolved the relevant issues. A revised note incorporating the recommendations of the GOM has been approved by the Cabinet today.
The major objectives of the National Manufacturing Policy are to increase the sectoral share of manufacturing in GOP to at least 25% by 2022; to increase the rate of job creation so as to create 100 million additional jobs by 2022; and to enhance global competitiveness, domestic value addition, technological depth and environmental sustainability of growth.
The policy has been formulated after detailed consultations with the industry; subject matter experts; State Governments and the concerned Ministries/Departments of the Government of India. The policy envisages specific interventions broadly in the areas of industrial infrastructure development; improvement of the business environment through rationalization and simplification of business regulations; development of appropriate technologies especially green technologies for sustainable development and skill development of the younger population.
Industrial infrastructure development is envisaged not only generally but also through the creation of large integrated industrial townships called National Investment and Manufacturing Zones (NIMZs) with state-of-the-art infrastructure; land use on the basis of zoning; clean and energy efficient technologies; necessary social and institutional infrastructure in order to provide a productive environment to persons transitioning from the primary to the secondary and tertiary sectors. The land for these zones will preferably be waste infertile land not suitable for cultivation; not in the vicinity of any ecologically fragile area and with reasonable access to basic resources.
It is envisaged to ensure compliance of labour and environmental laws while introducing procedural simplifications and rationalization so that the regulatory burden on industry is reduced. The interventions proposed are generally sector neutral, location neutral and technology neutral except the attempt to incentivize green technology for sustainable development No subsidies are proposed for individual units or areas. The basic thrust is to provide an enabling environment for tapping the potential of the private sector and the entrepreneurial skills of the younger population.
The contribution of the manufacturing sector at just over 16% of India`s GOP is much below its potential and a cause of concern especially in the context of other Asian countries in similar stages of development. This also has its socio-economic manifestations and prevents India from fully leveraging the opportunities of globalization. India is a young country with over 60% of its population in the working age group. With over 220 million people estimated to join the work force in the next decade, the manufacturing sector will have to create gainful employment for at least half this number. With a view to accelerating the growth of the manufacturing sector, the manufacturing policy proposes to create an enabling environment suitable for the sector to flourish in India.
The Cabinet in its meeting held on 15" September 2011 considered the National Manufacturing Policy and directed that the policy may be considered by a Group of Ministers (GOM) for further harmonizing the differences in some inter-ministerial positions notably relating to Ministry of Labour and Employment and the Ministry of Environment and Forests. The GOM in its meeting held on 14th October 2011 has resolved the relevant issues. A revised note incorporating the recommendations of the GOM has been approved by the Cabinet today.
The major objectives of the National Manufacturing Policy are to increase the sectoral share of manufacturing in GOP to at least 25% by 2022; to increase the rate of job creation so as to create 100 million additional jobs by 2022; and to enhance global competitiveness, domestic value addition, technological depth and environmental sustainability of growth.
The policy has been formulated after detailed consultations with the industry; subject matter experts; State Governments and the concerned Ministries/Departments of the Government of India. The policy envisages specific interventions broadly in the areas of industrial infrastructure development; improvement of the business environment through rationalization and simplification of business regulations; development of appropriate technologies especially green technologies for sustainable development and skill development of the younger population.
Industrial infrastructure development is envisaged not only generally but also through the creation of large integrated industrial townships called National Investment and Manufacturing Zones (NIMZs) with state-of-the-art infrastructure; land use on the basis of zoning; clean and energy efficient technologies; necessary social and institutional infrastructure in order to provide a productive environment to persons transitioning from the primary to the secondary and tertiary sectors. The land for these zones will preferably be waste infertile land not suitable for cultivation; not in the vicinity of any ecologically fragile area and with reasonable access to basic resources.
It is envisaged to ensure compliance of labour and environmental laws while introducing procedural simplifications and rationalization so that the regulatory burden on industry is reduced. The interventions proposed are generally sector neutral, location neutral and technology neutral except the attempt to incentivize green technology for sustainable development No subsidies are proposed for individual units or areas. The basic thrust is to provide an enabling environment for tapping the potential of the private sector and the entrepreneurial skills of the younger population.
The contribution of the manufacturing sector at just over 16% of India`s GOP is much below its potential and a cause of concern especially in the context of other Asian countries in similar stages of development. This also has its socio-economic manifestations and prevents India from fully leveraging the opportunities of globalization. India is a young country with over 60% of its population in the working age group. With over 220 million people estimated to join the work force in the next decade, the manufacturing sector will have to create gainful employment for at least half this number. With a view to accelerating the growth of the manufacturing sector, the manufacturing policy proposes to create an enabling environment suitable for the sector to flourish in India.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2011
INDIA AT A GLANCE
General Profile
Area : 3.3 Million sq. km
Location: The Indian peninsula is separated from mainland Asia by the Himalayas. The Country is surrounded by the Bay of Bengal in the east, the Arabian Sea in the west, and the Indian Ocean to the south. India occupies a major portion of the south Asian subcontinent.
Geographic Coordinates: Lying entirely in the Northern Hemisphere, the Country extends between 8° 4' and 37° 6' latitudes north of the Equator, and 68°7' and 97°25' longitudes east of it.
Indian Standard Time: GMT + 05:30
Telephone Country Code: +91
Capital: New Delhi
Border Countries: Afghanistan and Pakistan to the north-west; China, Bhutan and Nepal to the north; Myanmar to the east; and Bangladesh to the east of West Bengal. Sri Lanka is separated from India by a narrow channel of sea, formed by Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar.
Coastline : 7517 km encompassing the mainland, Lakshadweep Islands, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
Climate: The climate of India can broadly be classified as a tropical monsoon one. But, in spite of much of the northern part of India lying beyond the tropical zone, the entire country has a tropical climate marked by relatively high temperatures and dry winters. There are four seasons - winter (December-February), (ii) summer (March-June), (iii) south-west monsoon season (June-September), and (iv) post monsoon season (October- November)
Terrain: The mainland comprises of four regions, namely the great mountain zone, plains of the Ganga and the Indus, the desert region, and the southern peninsula.
Natural Resources: Coal, iron ore, manganese ore, mica, bauxite, petroleum, titanium ore, chromite, natural gas, magnesite, limestone, arable land, dolomite, barytes, kaolin, gypsum, apatite, phosphorite, steatite, fluorite, etc.
Government Type: Democratic Republic with a Parliamentary system of Government.
Administrative Divisions : 28 States and 7 Union Territories.
Constitution: The Constitution of India came into force on 26th January 1950. The Constitution of India is the fountain source of the legal system in the Country.
Executive Branch: The President of India is the Head of State, while the Prime Minister is the Head of the Government and runs office with the support of the Council of Ministers who forms the Cabinet.
Legislative Branch: The Federal Legislature comprises of the Lok Sabha (House of the People) and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) forming both the Houses of the Parliament.
Judicial Branch: The Supreme Court of India is the apex body of the Indian legal system, followed by other High Courts and subordinate Courts.
Demographic Profile
Population (Census 2011): 1210.19 Million
Males: 623.72 Million,
Females: 586.46 Million)
Birth Rate (2001 census): 24.8 Percent
Death Rate (2001 census): 8.9 Percent
Density of Population (Census 2011) : 382 Persons per square kilometer
Females : 66.9 Years
Ethnic Groups: All the five major racial types - Australoid, Mongoloid, Europoid, Caucasian, and Negroid find representation among the people of India.
Religions: According to the 2001 census, out of the total population of 1,028 million in the Country, Hindus constituted the majority with 80.5%, Muslims came second at 13.4%, followed by Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and others.
Languages: There are 22 different languages that have been recognised by the Constitution of India, of which Hindi is an Official Language. English has by law been designated the language for official purposes.
Literacy Rate (Census 2011): 74.04 Percent
Males: 31.98 Percent,
Females: 49.10 Percent
Economic Profile
Gross Domestic Product during 2010-11: US$ 1597.5 billion (Rs 72.6 trillion)
Per capita income during 2010-11: US$ 1226.4 (Rs 54,835)
Forex Reserves (for the week ended June 24,2011): US$ 309 billion
Exports (May 2011): US$ 25.9 billion
Exports (April-May 2011-12): US$ 49.8 billion
Imports (May 2011): US$ 40.9 billion
Imports (April-May 2011-12): US$ 73.7 billion
Amount of FDI inflows (for April 2011): US$ 3.1 billion
Cumulative amount of FDI inflows (from April 2000 to April 2011): US$ 132.8 billion
Sectors attracting highest FDI inflows:
Services Sector (21 per cent), Computer Software & Hardware (8 per cent), Telecommunications (8 per cent), Housing & Real Estate (7 per cent), Construction Activities (Including Roads & Highways) (7 per cent), Automobile Industry (5 per cent),Power (5 per cent), Metallurgical Industries (3 per cent), Petroleum & Natural Gas (2 per cent), Chemicals (other than fertilizers) (2 per cent).
Top Investing Countries:
Mauritius (42 per cent), Singapore (10 per cent), U.S.A (7 per cent), U.K (5 per cent), Netherlands (4 per cent), Japan (4 per cent), Cyprus (4 per cent), Germany (2 per cent), France (2 per cent), U.A.E (1 per cent).
Area : 3.3 Million sq. km
Location: The Indian peninsula is separated from mainland Asia by the Himalayas. The Country is surrounded by the Bay of Bengal in the east, the Arabian Sea in the west, and the Indian Ocean to the south. India occupies a major portion of the south Asian subcontinent.
Geographic Coordinates: Lying entirely in the Northern Hemisphere, the Country extends between 8° 4' and 37° 6' latitudes north of the Equator, and 68°7' and 97°25' longitudes east of it.
Indian Standard Time: GMT + 05:30
Telephone Country Code: +91
Capital: New Delhi
Border Countries: Afghanistan and Pakistan to the north-west; China, Bhutan and Nepal to the north; Myanmar to the east; and Bangladesh to the east of West Bengal. Sri Lanka is separated from India by a narrow channel of sea, formed by Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar.
Coastline : 7517 km encompassing the mainland, Lakshadweep Islands, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
Climate: The climate of India can broadly be classified as a tropical monsoon one. But, in spite of much of the northern part of India lying beyond the tropical zone, the entire country has a tropical climate marked by relatively high temperatures and dry winters. There are four seasons - winter (December-February), (ii) summer (March-June), (iii) south-west monsoon season (June-September), and (iv) post monsoon season (October- November)
Terrain: The mainland comprises of four regions, namely the great mountain zone, plains of the Ganga and the Indus, the desert region, and the southern peninsula.
Natural Resources: Coal, iron ore, manganese ore, mica, bauxite, petroleum, titanium ore, chromite, natural gas, magnesite, limestone, arable land, dolomite, barytes, kaolin, gypsum, apatite, phosphorite, steatite, fluorite, etc.
Political Profile
Country Name: Republic of India ; Bharat GanrajyaGovernment Type: Democratic Republic with a Parliamentary system of Government.
Administrative Divisions : 28 States and 7 Union Territories.
Constitution: The Constitution of India came into force on 26th January 1950. The Constitution of India is the fountain source of the legal system in the Country.
Executive Branch: The President of India is the Head of State, while the Prime Minister is the Head of the Government and runs office with the support of the Council of Ministers who forms the Cabinet.
Legislative Branch: The Federal Legislature comprises of the Lok Sabha (House of the People) and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) forming both the Houses of the Parliament.
Judicial Branch: The Supreme Court of India is the apex body of the Indian legal system, followed by other High Courts and subordinate Courts.
National Days:
- 26 th January (Republic Day)
- 15 th August (Independence Day)
- 2 nd October (Gandhi Jayanti; Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday)
Demographic Profile
Population (Census 2011): 1210.19 Million
Males: 623.72 Million,
Females: 586.46 Million)
Birth Rate (2001 census): 24.8 Percent
Death Rate (2001 census): 8.9 Percent
Density of Population (Census 2011) : 382 Persons per square kilometer
Life expectancy at Birth (As of September 2005) :
Males : 63.9 Years,Females : 66.9 Years
Ethnic Groups: All the five major racial types - Australoid, Mongoloid, Europoid, Caucasian, and Negroid find representation among the people of India.
Religions: According to the 2001 census, out of the total population of 1,028 million in the Country, Hindus constituted the majority with 80.5%, Muslims came second at 13.4%, followed by Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and others.
Languages: There are 22 different languages that have been recognised by the Constitution of India, of which Hindi is an Official Language. English has by law been designated the language for official purposes.
Literacy Rate (Census 2011): 74.04 Percent
Males: 31.98 Percent,
Females: 49.10 Percent
Economic Profile
Gross Domestic Product during 2010-11: US$ 1597.5 billion (Rs 72.6 trillion)
Per capita income during 2010-11: US$ 1226.4 (Rs 54,835)
Forex Reserves (for the week ended June 24,2011): US$ 309 billion
Exports (May 2011): US$ 25.9 billion
Exports (April-May 2011-12): US$ 49.8 billion
Imports (May 2011): US$ 40.9 billion
Imports (April-May 2011-12): US$ 73.7 billion
Amount of FDI inflows (for April 2011): US$ 3.1 billion
Cumulative amount of FDI inflows (from April 2000 to April 2011): US$ 132.8 billion
Sectors attracting highest FDI inflows:
Services Sector (21 per cent), Computer Software & Hardware (8 per cent), Telecommunications (8 per cent), Housing & Real Estate (7 per cent), Construction Activities (Including Roads & Highways) (7 per cent), Automobile Industry (5 per cent),Power (5 per cent), Metallurgical Industries (3 per cent), Petroleum & Natural Gas (2 per cent), Chemicals (other than fertilizers) (2 per cent).
Top Investing Countries:
Mauritius (42 per cent), Singapore (10 per cent), U.S.A (7 per cent), U.K (5 per cent), Netherlands (4 per cent), Japan (4 per cent), Cyprus (4 per cent), Germany (2 per cent), France (2 per cent), U.A.E (1 per cent).
Indian States & UTs:
States
| Andhra Pradesh | Arunachal Pradesh |
| Assam | Bihar |
| Chhattisgarh | Goa |
| Gujarat | Haryana |
| Himachal Pradesh | Jammu and Kashmir |
| Jharkhand | Karnataka |
| Kerala | Madhya Pradesh |
| Maharashtra | Manipur |
| Meghalaya | Mizoram |
| Nagaland | Orissa |
| Punjab | Rajasthan |
| Sikkim | Tamil Nadu |
| Tripura | Uttarakhand |
| Uttar Pradesh | West Bengal |
Union Territories
| Andaman & Nicobar | Chandigarh |
| Daman & Diu | Dadra & Nagar Haveli |
| Delhi | Lakshadweep |
| Puducherry | |
Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana
The "Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana" is being implemented on pilot basis, for integrated development of 1000 SC majority villages in five States. State-wise central assistance released in the last two years and the current year is as follows:
S.No
|
State
|
Central assistance released (Rs. incrore)
| |||
2009-10
|
2010-11
|
2011-12
|
Total
| ||
1
|
Assam
|
-
|
10.10
|
Nil
|
10.10
|
2
|
Bihar
|
1.3
|
21.425
|
"
|
22.725
|
3
|
Himachal Pradesh
|
-
|
22.725
|
"
|
22.725
|
4.
|
Rajasthan
|
1.4
|
21.325
|
"
|
22.725
|
5.
|
Tamil Nadu
|
1.3
|
21.425
|
"
|
22.725
|
Total
|
4.0
|
97.00
|
Nil
|
101.00
| |
The Scheme aims at integrated development of selectedvillages :-
(i) primarily, through convergent implementation of existing Central and State Schemes, and
(ii) through `Gap-filling` Central assistance for meeting such requirements of the selected villages as can not be met through (i) above.
Sufficient budgetary allocation has been made for the Scheme, as per existing norms.
E-Panchayats
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj proposes to extend the benefits of information and communication technology (ICT) to all sections of the rural population of the country through e-Panchayat Mission Mode Project (MMP), the centrally sponsored scheme for e-governance in Panchayati Raj Institutions(e-PRIs).The scheme will bring about improved governance and improved service delivery through the Panchayats and enable greater accountability of Panchayati Raj Institutions to the community and other authorities. In this project an expenditure of Rs. 48.66 crore has been made for preparation of Information & Services Need Assessment (ISNA), State Detailed Project Report (DPR), Business Process Re-Engineering (BPR) and Software Development.
Under the aforesaid scheme, all Village and Block Panchayats are proposed to be provided with ICT infrastructure, including broadband connectivity. Appropriate software applications will also be deployed so as to enable Panchayats to meet the service needs of various stakeholders such as citizens, States/UTs and the Central Government. Induction of ICT at the Panchayats level on such a large scale will eventually result in building ICT culture at the level of the masses and enable rural public linkage to access the external world of knowledge and markets.
Under the aforesaid scheme, all Village and Block Panchayats are proposed to be provided with ICT infrastructure, including broadband connectivity. Appropriate software applications will also be deployed so as to enable Panchayats to meet the service needs of various stakeholders such as citizens, States/UTs and the Central Government. Induction of ICT at the Panchayats level on such a large scale will eventually result in building ICT culture at the level of the masses and enable rural public linkage to access the external world of knowledge and markets.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2011
National Electronic Mission
The Minister of State for Communication and Information Technology, Shri Sachin Pilot today informed Lok Sabha in written reply to a question that the Government proposes to set up National Electronic Mission on the recommendation of Task Force on Information Technology. The Task Force has made 198 recommendations.
The Task Force has suggested several measures for rapid growth of the industry and has outlined a roadmap for the industry in the medium and long-term. According to the Task Force, with suitable policy initiatives in place, the software and services sector has the potential to grow from USD 58.7 billion in 2009 to USD 105 billion by 2014 and USD 225 billion by 2020, with exports growing from USD 46.3 billion in 2009 to USD 82 billion by 2014 and USD 175 billion by 2020. Similarly, the electronics hardware production in the country is projected to grow from USD 20 billion in 2009 to USD 100 billion by 2014 and USD 400 billion by 2020. This includes experts of USD 4 billion in 2009 growing to USD 15 billion by 2014 and USD 80 billion by 2020.
In the software and services sector the employment generation (direct and indirect) is projected to grow from 10.2 million in 2009 to 15.9 million by 2014 and 30.0 million by 2020 and is electronics hardware sector, it is projected to grow from 4.4 million in 2009 to 16.1 million by 2014 and 27.8 million by 2020.
The Task Force has suggested several measures for rapid growth of the industry and has outlined a roadmap for the industry in the medium and long-term. According to the Task Force, with suitable policy initiatives in place, the software and services sector has the potential to grow from USD 58.7 billion in 2009 to USD 105 billion by 2014 and USD 225 billion by 2020, with exports growing from USD 46.3 billion in 2009 to USD 82 billion by 2014 and USD 175 billion by 2020. Similarly, the electronics hardware production in the country is projected to grow from USD 20 billion in 2009 to USD 100 billion by 2014 and USD 400 billion by 2020. This includes experts of USD 4 billion in 2009 growing to USD 15 billion by 2014 and USD 80 billion by 2020.
In the software and services sector the employment generation (direct and indirect) is projected to grow from 10.2 million in 2009 to 15.9 million by 2014 and 30.0 million by 2020 and is electronics hardware sector, it is projected to grow from 4.4 million in 2009 to 16.1 million by 2014 and 27.8 million by 2020.
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