Gold prices may move up

upwards up in next few months

Arunav Sinha, TNN | Jul 14, 2013, 02.51PM IST

LUCKNOW: Gold prices will inch up again steadily and will hover between Rs 26,500 and Rs 27,500 in the next few months before crossing Rs 28,000 per ten grams again around November-December on the back of end-user demand coming from the peak of the wedding season, an ASSOCHAM study on gold trends has indicated.

As the over-hyped concerns of tapering of the easy money in the near future said the ASSOCHAM president Rajkumar Dhoot have eased, the gold is already building demand even in the global markets. A sharp correction in the prices from a high of around USD 1800 per troy ounce to about USD 1200 is also motivating major central banks in the world to build on their gold reserves. 

Even in the international markets, the end-user demand is seen at these levels and downside is not significant. 

However, the domestic demand in India would now for the next few months would largely be driven by the end-users as some of the pure-play investors have burnt their fingers after betting excessively on the yellow metal and investing with bullish outlook even when it was selling in excess of Rs 33,000 per 10 grams. 

"Though the gold exchange-traded funds are a small fraction of the overall bullion trade, investors in the ETFs have lost significantly and are not expected to return for some time. However, once prices cross again the Rs 28,000 mark these investors would return as most of the them follow the trend and are not contrarian in nature," the study noted. 

An earlier ASSOCHAM study had predicted that prices of gold could slide to Rs 25,000 per 10 grams. "Our assessment was done before the government had increased the customs duty and put other import restrictions through banking channels. Gold did breach the sub-26,000 mark and if the customs duty impact is factored in, the ASSOCHAM projections were on the dot," added Dhoot.

The latest version of the study takes into account the new factors that have come into play in the last 7-10 days. 

"We tend to disagree with the general discourse among analysts who say that the gold has lost its flavour in favour of equities largely on the back of improvement in the US economy. Even if the assumption that the US economy is improving is correct, then the next consequence would be increase in inflation in the American economy. At that point of time, gold will again be seen as a safe haven against inflation," the study pointed out. 

The ASSOCHAM study was based on inputs from several domestic and international analysts and those in the bullion trade and fund managers. 

Continuing pressure on rupee will also influence the gold prices in the domestic market as the landed price would increase with currency depreciation. 

Encouraged by low prices, India's gold imports had seen a huge rise to 162 tonnes in May giving anxious moments to the policy makers as it was exerting pressure on the country's current account deficit. 

However, a persistent downward trend in prices and some punishing import restrictions kept investors away in June and the imports are estimated to be less than 50 tonnes. Imports in the coming months would remain subdued at least till the marriage season in November-December. 

Additional pricing pressure on the upward side would also be helped by supply restrictions and it is expected that the quantity of recycled precious metal would increase for jewellery making. 

"Hordes of gold coins and medallions collected by the middle class families would find way into the melting furnace of jewellers for meeting the jewellery needs for wedding," the study noted adding that it would not be easy for the Indian tradition of wearing, collecting and investing in gold to go away. 

One of the main problems for the middle class investors is the lack of enough investment avenues. 

Inflation linked bonds are new products and have not been fully understood; fixed deposits do not save you against inflation; dislike among the retail investors for equity market is at a new high because there are instances where investors' wealth has been eroded by 90 per cent in the last 2-3 years. 

Debt market is beyond the comprehension of retail investors. All these factors combine together to make middle income group rush to the gold as a safe haven.

India's poor standing on the FDI inflows front

Sikkim- they will, they can do!!!

Skies Over, Now Its A Star

Captain Yasmin Iqbal Bhutia on board

15 Feb, Gangtok : Voice of Sikkim

 The state of Sikkim geographically though it’s small but the state harness potential people who have made a remarkable achievements in vivid field of interests and challenges. More promising aspect of the state of Sikkim is that courageous women have begun exploring the horizon caving out successive stories, those are the ones who are leaving examples and inspirations for the children of tomorrow. The frontier of gender based inequality then and now has been conceded by women; every now and then the women are encroaching slowly but steadily.
Among such inspiring success stories today a yet another courageous woman of Sikkim has successfully scaled; of which society must applause for the struggle, hard work and dedication.
In the previous episode VoiceofSikkim covered up the success story of Juhi Palmo Chettri hailing from Namchi in South Sikkim who bagged an opportunity to become first commercial pilot of state , she too had completed her flying training in USA in 2013.
In the same year as well as month of 2008 Miss Yasmin Iqbal Bhutia hailing from Gangtok missed the opportunity to grasp the state sponsored pilot training, but her father Late Md Iqbal Bhutia encouraged his daughter to go ahead with the training however it takes from his capacity. Yasmin and her father took off to Hyderbabad on July 2008 where Yasmin fortunately got enrolled in the India’s renowned Rajiv Gandhi Aviation Academy also known as Wing’s Aviation Academy.
A 24 years old proud captain daughter of Md Iqbal Bhutia and Smt Mariam Iqbal Bhutia did her schooling from St Joseph Convent in Kalimpong till Class X and she completed her XI , XII in Science Stream from Dr Grahams Homes Kalimpong in the year 2008. A caring father who always dreamt to see his daughter fly high assisted daughter to go for a pilot training even though ‘Unluckily’ she couldn’t through state sponsorship.
It was barely a month after she gets an admission in flying academy at Hyderbabad a big shock left Yasmin and her family in despair , her father passed away leaving mother, herself and her younger brother behind. With just a month she’d started training at Hyderabad the whole world turned heavy on her head but having whole dream of father to accomplish the destiny, Yasmine’s mother stood as a strong pillar to confront every challenges. It was an embarrassing situation but when the dedicated mother, a woman stood against all situation to tackle every bit of challenges then nothing can stop her. Yasmin gives all credits to her hardworking mother, she managed everything so well and she even didn’t let us realize pain even for a single second, Yasmin says. ‘The struggle she did for us after father passed away makes us feel very proud’.
Yasmin to VoS narrates her struggle during the training period which took her nearly 4 years to complete , with the determination and a dream of father in her eyes she gazed at the sky with a bold courage that she’d conquer the limits. She said that training was rigorous , as many trainees who had enrolled slowly walked out without completing the training. According to her she along with her another mate was only two female in the group of 10 during the pass out year. ‘One cannot just leave off on half way when the dream smears in the mind completely, it varies person to person but to me it was a challenge as well. In the infinity skies surrounded in between the clusters of cloud one shouldn’t feel completely directionless, direction don’t matter unless one reinforce through it to find a way courageously ’, she said to VoS.
‘However there was struggle but good number of best instructors in the institution never let our mind blogged with impossibility. We undergone through various program and skill building classes during the period of flying training, we even had a crush with scores of hard moments but we resisted and controlled such situations clogging our direction by our mind power and wisdom, that’s what is taught to us. There’s absolutely nothing to fear with height or any sort of mental retardation during the flight, it’s a reason some people think looking at the cockpit having strange looking widgets and gears, those when mastered will obey your commands, she said.
I completed my flying academy as a licensed Pilot early months of 2013 itself but due to delay in availing licenses from DGCA I had to wait for longer time, but now I am happy that I possess both Commercial Pilot License and Private Pilot License. I have yet to fly P68C which is a double engine next month which will be my first hand on, I have been trained with Cessna 152 and Cessna 172 which are single engine planes. After that I will lookout for a prospect as pilot in private aviation, she said.

VoiceofSikkim with Captain yasmin Iqbal Bhutia at her residency in Gangtok, 15 Feb 2014

Captian Yasmin Iqbal Bhutia is also a nature lover, she admits that she is fond of gardening but living in Gangtok town at MG marg such space isn’t available but she don’t hesitate when it come to preserving of greenery. She reveals her hobbies starting from playing guitar, watching movies, sharing fun time with children, singing and reading books.
Interestingly VoS gets some history clear, that Captain Yasmin who is also a granddaughter of Sikkim’s pioneering woman doctor then in 60’s late Dr. Fatimah Ibhrahim during the regime of Chyogal.
Today women are far scaling in various aspect compared to men, women are dominating men somehow or in a vast margin. Society should come out from narrow thinking of gender biased work culture, and women must diligently come out from such stigma, nothing is impossible when one commits. I feel Sikkim women are accelerating ahead; I am following various success stories of our women doing breakthrough progress and achievements. That is a reason to ponder that in coming time women will far breach men in many fields. It is also a governance which matters since that makes women strong, if encouragement is given to women in wide aspects then surely the women will prove that they are capable to do anything. The nicest thing about our state is that government encourages women which unlikely are observed elsewhere, she tells VoS.
On asking that if all children can fly like you one day ?, Captain Yasmin said that opportunity door in Sikkim is open, provided the people understand what they must opt for their career as well as be dedicated, state government is imparting series of programs which are beneficial for everyone here.
No matter tomorrow Captian Yasmin Iqbal Bhutia like another daughter will succeed challenging yet another milestone making state proud, one thing that tickle minds of people as well as children is that ‘Women are doing at their best and will cross frontiers and barriers where hypothetical male dominated societies have failed!’.
Buck up parents and orthodox thinkers , the culture rests there and then a new society will germinate where gender inequality will find no place at all, then high and low of last depreciated society will churn into ashes of never returning back phoenix! Give a prominence and priority to women, let’s see them flying with their wings wide over unbound skies with their capabilities , they will, they can do!!!

Sensex outperforms all global indices in dollar terms over last decade

Industrial growth: All down, barring electricity

Farm exports to grow slowly in FY14

Life wiped out from earth in just 60,000 years!

IANS  |  Washington  

February 11, 2014 Last Updated at 18:14 IST

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In a ground-breaking study, researchers have found it may have taken only 60,000 years to kill over 90 percent of all life on earth.

This is the most precise study yet of the Permian mass extinction - the greatest die-off in the past 540 million years.

The new timescale is based on more precise dating techniques.

It indicates that the most severe extinction in history may have happened more than 10 times faster than scientists had previously thought.

"We have got the extinction nailed in absolute time and duration," said Sam Bowring, the Robert R. Shrock professor of earth and planetary sciences at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

How do you kill 96 percent of everything that lived in the oceans in tens of thousands of years?

"It could be that an exceptional extinction requires an exceptional explanation," he added.

In addition to establishing the extinction's duration, Bowring and team also found that 10,000 years before the die-off, the oceans experienced a pulse of light carbon - which likely reflects a massive addition of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.

This dramatic change may have led to widespread ocean acidification and increased sea temperatures by 10 degrees Celsius or more, killing the majority of sea life, said the study.

But what originally triggered the spike in carbon dioxide?

"It is clear that whatever triggered extinction must have acted very quickly," added Seth Burgess, lead study author and a geochemist at MIT.

"It was fast enough to destabilise the biosphere before the majority of plant and animal life had time to adapt in an effort to survive," he added.

The researchers visited Meishan in China - a region whose rock formations bear evidence of the end-Permian extinction.

They sampled rocks from this area as well as from nearby alternating layers of volcanic ash beds and fossil-bearing rocks.

The researchers determined a much more precise 'age model' for the end-Permian extinction, which now appears to have lasted about 60,000 years - with an uncertainty of 48,000 years - and was immediately preceded by a sharp increase in carbon dioxide in the oceans.

The Permian mass extinction marks the end of the Permian geologic period, which ended approximately 252 million years ago.

More than 96 percent of marine life and 70 percent of land species perished.

By comparison, 85 percent of life died off during the dinosaur-killing extinction at the end of the Cretaceous period, 66 million years ago.

"We have refined our approach and now we have higher accuracy and precision. You can think of it as slowly spiraling in toward the truth," said Bowring in the study published in the journal National Academy of Sciences.

Six Indian think tanks figure among the top 150 global think tanks

Six Indian think tanks figure among the top 150 global think tanks, according to the "2013 Global Go To Think Tanks Report" of Pennsylvania University's Think Tanks and Civil Societies Programme (TTCSP). At 268, India had the fourth largest number of think tanks after the US 1828, China 426, and United Kingdom 287.

The seventh annual 2013 Global Think Tank Index, considered the most comprehensive ranking of the world's top think tanks was released here last week at a media event in Washington DC, hosted by the World Bank.

Regional events also took place in over 30 global cities to announce the report, which was translated into 13 languages including Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish and Turkish.

"In the world filled with tweets and sound bites that are often superficial and politically charged, it is critical to know where to turn for sound policy proposals that address the complex policy issues that policymakers and the public face," said James McGann, director of the programme.

"This Index is designed to help identify and recognize the leading centres of excellence in public policy research around the world."

The Brookings Institution ranked top of the Global Think Tank list for the sixth consecutive year. It was followed by Chatham House (United Kingdom), Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (US), Centre for Strategic and International Studies (US) and Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) (Sweden).

India's Centre for Civil Society (CCS) ranked 50th on this list. It was followed by Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis (IDSA) (102); Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) (105), The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) (107); Observer Research Foundation (114) and Development Alternatives (140).

America's Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) was ranked top among Defence and National Security Think Tanks. It was followed by RAND Corporation (US) and International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) (UK).

Three Indian think tanks figured in this category. These were: Institute of Defence Studies & Analyses (38), Centre for Land Warfare Studies (48) and Observer Research Foundation (52)

Brookings Institution (US), Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (US) and Chatham House (CH) (United Kingdom) were rated top three Foreign Policy and International Affairs Think Tanks.

Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies was the lone Indian think tank in this category at 54th spot.

Three Indian think tanks figured among top non-US think tanks. These were: Centre for Civil Society (CCS) (51), Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) (54) and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) (81).

The Asia Pivot: Old Policy, New Name
February 10th, 2014

Washington’s re-engagement with the Asia Pacific, or “Asia pivot,” is not as new as the US media and some political commentators have made it out to be. It has long been US policy to prevent the emergence of a single power dominating the Asia Pacific region, and US planners have carefully maintained a regional balance of power since the days of the Cold War. The result is a longstanding US military, diplomatic, and economic presence throughout the region, much of which predates any mention of a “pivot.” The Arab Spring and its aftermath have not distracted Washington from the importance of playing a leading role in the Asia-Pacific region. The belief that US military engagement in Afghanistan and subsequently Iraq involved a substantive shift away from Asia is simply erroneous.

Modi Lauds Sikkim’s Developmental Growth

Modi lauds Sikkim’s developmental growth

9 Feb, Gangtok :Source: Voice of Sikkim. The 8th sister among the North East States, the tiny Himalayan State of Sikkim gets an appreciation notes from the Bharatiya Janta Party BJP PM candidate Shri Narendra Modi. During the public interaction in Assam by Shri Modi he told that ‘if tiny state Sikkim can do tourism in big way then why not Assam’ signifies that Shri Modi is somewhere inspired by the developmental growth of Sikkim, the word of praise from the most promising leader comes up as bolts from the blue since majority youths of whole nation as well as Sikkim follow PM candidate Shri Modi’s news each day. The significance of the Modi’s statement brings a joy among the people of Sikkim basically the youths , youths have started thanks giving comment in Facebook to Shri Modi for apprising tiny state from his core of the heart.
Sikkim a landlocked state in North East is hardly understood by center in many occasions, the rapidly growing tiny state in vivid sectors of infrastructural development is the national icon due good governance writes one user in Social Media Page. A peaceful state having no any unhealthy reports of terrorism and brawl, a perfect prudence of model state, the Sikkim has long way delivered successive growth making a dome of peace loving citizens.
In the today’s world of globalization and industrialization the state has aligned itself at par delivering calculated growth keeping the environment and ecology at top priority, the Initiative of the Chief Minister Shri Pawan Chamling the ‘State Green Mission SGM’ and ‘Organic Mission 2015′ is also a major achievement which several other states of nation are following and realizing the importance, following a mission the ‘Pakka’ Houses for all Below Poverty Line BPL families of the state turns a big success furthermore by 2015 the state will bear no any ‘Kuchha’ house and shall become the country’s No.1 state to have a RCC ‘Pakka’ house under Chief Minister’s Rural Housing Mission CMRHM is dream of the visionary Chief Minister Shri Chamling. State has given a blue print to the world in terms of development though it receives optimum attention from the center, the infrastructures developments are growing up with pace, sooner the state will be linked with main land via Railway and Air connectivity for which construction are going on on war foot mode.

Sikkim , the least populous state , with 610,577 inhabitants in 2011 census has the highest 100% sanitation coverage in the country setting an example for others to follow .

innovation in INDIA- Very insignificant

As per R&D spending data for 2011 (the latest available), the US maintained its status as the leader of innovation. This is because the country's R&D spend remained the highest - at just below 30% - of the global R&D spend. This is hardly surprising given that the rise in status and power of the US in the global economy in the past several decades has been a result of its focus on innovation. What is more interesting, however, is that while the US still leads the field as compared to others, its R&D share since 2001 has declined. This has been due to increasing investments being made by other countries. And also due to the fact that the US itself is not innovating as much as it once used to. In the meanwhile, China has been making rapid strides in innovation, while India still lags far behind. 

India scores poor on innovation

*2007 is the latest data available for India

HSBC Purchasing Managers Index still below 50

India's services sector has seen contraction over the last seven months. As today's chart shows, the HSBC Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) for services sector has been below 50 over the last 7 months. Though it witnessed a slight recovery in the month of January this year and stood at 48.3, it was still below the benchmark figure of 50. It may be noted that any reading below 50 is a sign of contraction. 

Service sector: Going through its ups and downs

Slowdown in retail & wholesale trade, telecommjunications and real estate sector was the primary reason for contraction in the index. Further, increased competition and weak confidence added to the woes. The index movement is based on the general economic environment and hiring activity in the services sector. The hiring activity, in turn, will increase if businesses expect new orders. If new orders fail to materialize the index is likely to remain below the critical 50 level mark in the near future as well. 

SIKKIM EMERGING PARAGLIDING DESTINATION OF THE COUNTRY

Adventure lovers from different parts of the world are making a beeline  for  thrilling experience in Sikkim for adventure holidays in foot hills of Himalayas . Increasing number of  foreign visiting paragliding pilots are showing interest to spend their flying holiday in Sikkim

The state which  is fastly  emerging  as paragliding destination of  the country  has  turned  into heaven for tourists on  one of the final settlements on the brink of a vast and desolate mountain region, uninhabited apart from  occasional groups of trekkers.

Sikkim  is fastly  turning out to be one of the hotspots for the adventure sport in the country due to  excellent launching sites  and ridges according to a cross-section of paragliders. The state gained   popularity among the paragliding community  after the   successful  organization of first Sikkim Paragliding Festival at  “beautiful flying site"  Bulbuley Dara by Tourism & Civil Aviation Department of Sikkim    in association with Paragliding Association of India [PAI] and Sikkim Paragliding Adventure Sports Co-operative Society Limited in the year  2012..Around 60 Indian and International paragliding pilots  took to the skies  in   various  events like Free Flying event, Spot Landing contest, Acro Show, Tandem Flights etc  during the four days  festival. 

 The sikkim  emerged  on the  paragliding map  of the country    after state govt sponsored 30  local youths for basic paragliding training     in  Manali in himachal pradesh during the year 2008  under   "Chief Minister Self Employment and Capacity Building Program"  to promote adventures tourism in big way in the state .Then after formation of "Sikkim Paragliding Adventure Sports Cooperative Society"  in year 2010,the Organization conducted the intermediate and advance training of the pilots at Bir/Billing( Himachal Pradesh), Kamshet(Pune) and Pokhara(Nepal), with certified schools and Instructors 

 At present the state has more than 35  qualified  commercial pilots who are conducting paragliding sessions at   the backdrop of mountain ranges  in  its three  paragliding sites at  Bulbuley dara , Ranka ,Chakung .  Four  Sikkimese paragliding pilots  have already  participated in international level events  like Nepal Open Championship, and Himalayan open Championship. which  played an instrumental role in promoting Sikkim as the preferred venue at international level  . Sikkimese paragliding pilots are also providing training and  technical expertise at various other places of north eastern states  to  promote the adventures sports in entire  north eastern  region . At present around 100 youth is associated with the paragliding events which generates annual economic  activities  of around  one crore in a year .The state govt plans to actively associate around 500 youths with the paragliding sports   by  developing   two more modern  paragliding sites at Yumthang  and Soren with latest world class facilities  by spending 10 crore Rs  during  the 12 th five year plans.The state govt  plans to develop at least two paragliding sites with latest safety ,medical and infrastructural facilities  at each district of the state  by the year 2020 to  attract the international tourists  to  new areas said Sikkim Chief Minister Sh Pawan Chamling  

The various para gliding associations registered with department of tourism are providing Tandom , High Fly, Medium fly flight services of different durations   from various sites on reasonable rates .

The state has  registered  6000 paragliding tourists in last three  years. The state registered only 500 paragliding tourist during first year and its number increased steadily each year .The state has    set target to attract  5000 paragliding tourist each year  by  the year 2020 by creating modern facilities .The state govt aims to generate annual  economic activities  of  Rs 10 crore from paragliding events by the year  2020  said Sikkim Tourism Minister Sh Shri Bhim Prasad Dhungel 

The state govt is planning to   expand and beautify the existing takeoff at Bulbuley dara and Chakung, so that the carrying capacity of the takeoff increases, as the number of Sikkimese pilots is increasing and numbers of tourist coming to fly is on rise.

  Paragliding services in the state are also being diversified  after the Sikkim Paragliding Festival  and a  new  hike and fly route in west Sikkim has been established . A new paragliding route  from Phoktey dara(Nepal/India) border and  Dentam.has also been identified .

Source: Resident Commissioner,Sikkim Hs, New Delhi

Brand value of Tata Group

In this highly competitive age and globalization, visibility matters. Over time, the companies world over are focusing on branding and marketing rather than just on products or services. And the new one to join the bandwagon is 236 year old Tata Group. As per an article in Livemint, Tata Group will be launching new global communication campaign. This is first such effort by the group. While Tata Group hardly needs an introduction in India, the company is now focusing on global presence. After all, its global operations add more than 60% to the topline. And this is one of the messages that the group wants to send across. The other agenda is to establish the brand globally for virtues such as trust and transparency . In 2013, the group's brand value has been estimated at US$ 18.2 bn by Brand Finance Plc. Since 2010, the brand value has gone up by 62%. Further, it has scaled up in the ranking order, from 65 in 2010 to 39 in 2013. 

Now that the Indian economy is facing a tough time, it is time that the group focuses on making the most of its globally diversified presence. We believe that the move is well timed. Further, now that the group is expanding footprints globally and working with people belonging to different cultures, a uniform communication structure is crucial. 

Brand value of Tata Group

Delhi: Cost of buying and selling power

Delhi: Cost of buying and selling power

* includes cost of purchase from gencos and transmission cost.

Vice President Addresses 2nd Thinkedu Conclave in Chennai

The Vice President of India Shri M. Hamid Ansari has said that it is estimated that over half of our population of 1.2 billion is under the age of 30 years and that by 2020, the average Indian will be only 29 years of age, compared with 37 in China & USA, 45 in Western Europe and 48 in Japan. Addressing at the closing of the “2nd THINKEDU Conclave – 2014” organised by the New Indian Express in Chennai, Tamil Nadu today, he has said that this would mean that India will have one of the youngest populations in the world. Consequently, the provision of high quality, relevant education for all, at primary, secondary and higher levels, including professional, technical and vocational education, would have to be at the centre of our efforts to create an inclusive knowledge society. By the same logic, shortcomings or failure in the effort could transform this potential ‘demographic dividend’ into a possible nightmare, of a ticking demographic time-bomb, with all its economic and social consequences. 

He said that a newer factor is the emerging profile of private education providers. Some figures are indicative of the change. The recently published Annual Status of Education Report 2013 indicates that private school enrollment even in rural areas has gone up from around 18% in 2006 to 29% in 2013. Other reports show that around 60% of total enrolments in higher education are now in private institutions. Exceptions apart, the quality deficit is also cutting across the public-private divide. 

Referring to Holistic Education, the Vice President said that the origins of the idea can be traced in all cultures. It encompasses a wide range of philosophical orientations and pedagogic practices. Its focus is on wholeness, on interconnectedness of experience and reality. It is important to comprehend it in the context of our times and in our preset-day pre-occupation with identifying education and skills with market forces and employability. As a consequence, human values and all that goes to make us better human beings are neglected. The challenge therefore is to negate it by an alternate approach. 

He opined that according to some, education that inculcates values for living in harmony with oneself and one’s natural and social environment, as well as the universal human values, inherent in the human nature, could be defined as holistic. It is essentially an education concerned with both individual freedom and social responsibility. As the philosopher Plato put it, the mark of an educated person is the willingness to use one’s knowledge and skills to solve the problems of society. 

The Vice President said that Holistic Education instills students with a proactive social conscience. It equips them to live creatively, responsibly, and harmoniously in a society and become agents of change for a better society. It implies that each academic discipline provides and celebrates a rich perspective on the rich, complex, integrated phenomenon of life. Its relevance also derives from the need to address the newer challenges to human security emanating from a combination of socio-economic and political factors such as globalization, materialism, consumerism, commercialization of education and myriad threats due to climate change, pandemics, environmental degradation, terrorism, to name a few. 

He emphasized that helping students learn to appreciate, demonstrate sensitivity and skills in fulfilling their share of responsibility as citizens towards shaping of a better society is an important national objective. Our education system would therefore have to vigorously promote and instill in our youth and students the ideals embedded in our Constitution so that they become better and more responsible citizens of tomorrow. 

Following is the text of Vice President’s address : 
“I thank Shri Prabhu Chawla and the New Indian Express for inviting me today to this Conclave, to share my thoughts on The Path to Holistic Education. Needless to say, this question and its wider implications are becoming a critical determinant in the progress and prosperity of our country. It is a beckoning challenge that has to be faced. 

I understand that over the last two days there have been lively discussions on various aspects of education by distinguished panelists from all walks of life. These would undoubtedly provide valuable inputs in helping us chart the way forward. Since I do not have the benefit of all that has transpired in this Conclave, this audience will forgive me for talking about education before I talk about holistic education. 

The impulse comes from the nature of our society, the present stage of its development, and the size and structure of our population. It is estimated that over half of our population of 1.2 billion is under the age of 30 years and that by 2020, the average Indian will be only 29 years of age, compared with 37 in China & USA, 45 in Western Europe and 48 in Japan. 

This would mean that India will have one of the youngest populations in the world. Consequently, the provision of high quality, relevant education for all, at primary, secondary and higher levels, including professional, technical and vocational education, would have to be at the centre of our efforts to create an inclusive knowledge society. 

By the same logic, shortcomings or failure in the effort could transform this potential ‘demographic dividend’ into a possible nightmare, of a ticking demographic time-bomb, with all its economic and social consequences. 

The criticality of the problem raises three questions: 

• Is our educational system, in all its segments, in a position to respond meaningfully to the requirements posed by the emerging situation? 
• Why do we find ourselves in this position? 
• What is the corrective, and the time span visualized for it? 
In regard to the first question, the answer is an emphatic no. It is sustained by candid data in expert reports and civil society assessments. At the primary, secondary and tertiary levels, facilities have expanded, enrolment has increased, but quality has declined. A principal reason for this the inability of the state – principally at local or state levels - to provide physical infrastructure for the new levels of enrolment as well as failure on the part of all to pay sufficient attention to curricula reform and teacher and teaching quality. 

The second question unavoidably brings forth a tale of woe. The Annual Status of Education Report, 2010 posed a question: “is the child who enrolled in Std 1 in 2006, and who has reached Std 5 today, in a better position than his or her counterpart who was in Std 5 in 2006?” The Report’s answer was that “the impact of five years of schooling on the child who entered in 2005 is not much different from that on the child who entered Std 1 in 2001. If anything, the ability to read seems to have dropped over the five year span.” The Report concluded that “unless there is focus on improving measurable learning outcomes, they do not change.” 

The same Report for 2012 says much the same thing, asserting that levels of reading and mathematics “at every level were not only poor but declining in many States.” 

So the question in regard to school education is whether the Right to Education (guaranteed as a Fundamental Right by the 86th Amendment of 2002) remains confined merely to a right to school? This, exceptions apart, finds a reflection in higher school levels. 

It is therefore difficult to disagree with the conclusion of Jean Drèze and Amatya Sen that “the enormity of the price India is paying for its failure to put in place a well-functioning schooling system is becoming increasingly clear.” 

As a result of this lack of attention to quality, new entrants to higher education are often unprepared to absorb undergraduate teaching in colleges and universities. Consequently, and in order to accommodate the less capable, undergraduate teaching often begins at sub-standard levels. Its impact is pervasive. Mediocrity thus prevails, with both the teachers and the taught wallowing in it. 

Nor are matters any better in higher university education since the input determines the output in good measurement. As early as 1949 the Radhakrishnan Commission reported ‘an uneasy sense of the inadequacy of the present pattern’ of higher education. Almost six decades later in 2007 the National Knowledge Commission found the existence of what it termed a quiet crisis in higher education that runs deep. It concluded that the time has come to address this crisis in a systematic and forthright manner. 

The overall impact of the resulting picture is adequately reflected in the various employability assessments in the public domain as also in the modest quantity of scientific research emanating from institutions of higher education and research. 

In response to the third question, therefore, the candid answer lies in admitting the need for far reaching correctives in the education sector in a time bound manner, perhaps no longer than four to five years period. This is a societal and economic security imperative that cannot be evaded. 

Such a corrective is essential not only to bring our educational levels to the requirements of the globalised world of the 21st century but also to provide gainful, productive employment to our teeming millions, raise income levels, eliminate poverty and reduce inequality in our midst. It would in turn promote durable peace, comprehensive security, inclusive development and social cohesion in our society. 

A newer factor is the emerging profile of private education providers. Some figures are indicative of the change. The recently published Annual Status of Education Report 2013 indicates that private school enrollment even in rural areas has gone up from around 18% in 2006 to 29% in 2013. Other reports show that around 60% of total enrolments in higher education are now in private institutions. Exceptions apart, the quality deficit is also cutting across the public-private divide. 

II

It is in this context that I propose to discuss today the concept of ‘holistic education’. 

What is holistic education? The origins of the idea can be traced in all cultures. It encompasses a wide range of philosophical orientations and pedagogic practices. Its focus is on wholeness, on interconnectedness of experience and reality. It is important to comprehend it in the context of our times and in our preset-day pre-occupation with identifying education and skills with market forces and employability. 

As a consequence, human values and all that goes to make us better human beings are neglected. The challenge therefore is to negate it by an alternate approach. 

According to some, education that inculcates values for living in harmony with oneself and one’s natural and social environment, as well as the universal human values, inherent in the human nature, could be defined as holistic. It is essentially an education concerned with both individual freedom and social responsibility. As the philosopher Plato put it, the mark of an educated person is the willingness to use one’s knowledge and skills to solve the problems of society. 

Holistic Education instills students with a proactive social conscience. It equips them to live creatively, responsibly, and harmoniously in a society and become agents of change for a better society. It implies that each academic discipline provides and celebrates a rich perspective on the rich, complex, integrated phenomenon of life. 

Its relevance also derives from the need to address the newer challenges to human security emanating from a combination of socio-economic and political factors such as globalization, materialism, consumerism, commercialization of education and myriad threats due to climate change, pandemics, environmental degradation, terrorism, to name a few. 

How are these concepts and principles to be put into operation in our educational system? 

I do believe that given the plurality and richness of the belief systems in our society, a common framework for all citizens is posited in the Constitution, in the principles listed in its Preamble and in the Fundamental Duties mentioned in Article 51A. It provides the guidelines of a value system from which a holistic system of education could and should emanate. Any other approach, no matter how high-minded, would inevitably lapse into sectional quibbling so characteristic of mindsets in our society. 

The corrective needs to begin at the school level. A good model, yet to be fully implemented, is the National Curriculum Framework of 2005. It articulated the need for education to reaffirm our commitment to the concept of equality amidst diversity, mutual interdependence of humans to promote values that foster peace, humaneness and tolerance in a multi-cultural, multi-religious, multi-lingual, multi-ethnic society. 

The challenge is to encourage the unleashing of creative energy that resides in every child. The child is a born and natural learner whose own initiatives can be used as a resource by an imaginative teacher. A pre-requisite is to make the child free of fear, trauma and anxiety and help the child to express views freely. It is at this stage that the seeds of scientific temper, humanism and curiosity can be inculcated, and carried forth in middle and senior school levels and beyond it to college and university. 

A critical aspect of correctives pertains to teacher quality, teacher training, and teacher-commitment. Much has happened to discredit a once noble calling in our society. It has been said that no person can be a good teacher unless he or she has feelings of warm affection towards the pupils and a genuine desire to impart to them what the teacher believes to be of value. A commitment to professional calling and feeling of intellectual independence and conscious avoidance of prejudice is thus essential. 

Needless to say, such a far reaching a corrective would be successful only if it has the cooperation and support of parents, guardians and community members The capacity to think, and to make choices, has to be inculcated in all, along with a desire to excel and a reluctance to forsake mediocrity. 

Helping students learn to appreciate, demonstrate sensitivity and skills in fulfilling their share of responsibility as citizens towards shaping of a better society is an important national objective. Our education system would therefore have to vigorously promote and instill in our youth and students the ideals embedded in our Constitution so that they become better and more responsible citizens of tomorrow. It should, at the same time, be unambiguously clear that our objective is good education with a holistic content rather than the verbiage of the latter as a substitute for the former, or an excuse for its shortcomings. We have the potential to achieve it given the resolve and commitment by all concerned. 

I congratulate the organizers for this initiative and venture to hope that it would further the debate on this crucial aspect of our national life. Jai Hind.”