National Knowledge Commission-14: Knowledge Commission
proposals by October, says Chairman, National Knowledge Commission
Knowledge Commission proposals by October, says Mr Sam Pitroda,
Chairman, National Knowledge Commission, according to a news report.
The news report also says that the panel is hopeful of making a mark
in education, administration and research. Check the news report* at
_____________________________________________________________________
*Knowledge Commission proposals by October: Pitroda
Special Correspondent
Panel hopeful of making a mark in education, administration and
research
NEW DELHI: The Knowledge Commission, set up recently with Sam
Pitroda at the helm, plans to come out with its first set of
recommendations by October this year to facilitate far-reaching
changes in the field of governance and education.
Action points
Briefing newspersons on Thursday after the commission's first
meeting, which was also attended by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,
Mr. Pitroda said: "We will not come out with a voluminous report
that gathers dust. We will come out with the first set of action
points by October."
Mr. Pitroda said the commission, which is to work in phases during
its three-year term, was hopeful of making a mark in the fields of
education, administration and research. "We are planting seeds that
will produce results in 20 years," he said, giving an indication of
the long-term planning that is required for such ventures to yield
tangible results.
The commission, he said, would function within the existing
government structures. "We will identify action items and push it
through Ministries," he said. In this regard, six Ministries have
been identified which would work closely with the commission.
Apart from six Ministries and the Planning Commission, where it is
to function from, the commission proposes to hold consultations with
other stakeholders also, such as industry associations and non-
governmental organisations.
Asked as to what transpired during the commission's meeting, Mr.
Pitroda said that nothing much concrete emerged, as it was the first
meeting. "We just put the process of consultation in place," he said.
(Source: Knowledge Commission proposals by October: Pitroda, The
Hindu, August 5, 2005, Friday, National,
http://www.hindu.com/2005/08/05/stories/2005080503961300.htm
(accessed: August 5, 2005)
Saturday, August 06, 2005
NKC-13: Shake up the present system, says Chairman, NKC
National knowledge Commission-13: Shake up the present system, says
Chairman, National Knowledge Commission (NKC)
Shake up the present system, says Mr Sam Pitroda, Chairman, National
Knowledge Commission (NKC), according to a news item published in
the Indian Expres, August 5, 2005, Friday, p-6, National Network.
Check the news item* at
http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=75700
(accessed: August 5, 2005)
Dr D.C.Misra
August 5, 2005.
_____________________________________________________________________
*Shake up the present system: Pitroda
Sam's way: Add centres for liberal arts, subtract cumbersome
processes
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
Posted online: Friday, August 05, 2005 at 0212 hours IST
NEW DELHI, AUGUST 4: A good ``shake-up'' of the present
system is what Knowledge Commission chairman Sam Pitroda prescribed
on Thursday while outlining a tentative roadmap for building a "new
India through e-governance".
Members of the Commission had met for three days before making a
presentation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today on the plans
they had in mind.
Briefing the media after their presentation, Pitroda said the
Commission would be working on ways to ``shake up the present
system'' and would list a host of recommendations for the PM and
his Cabinet.
Hinting at some of the plans that could constitute phase-I, he
stressed the need for a greater number of institutions like the
Harvards and Oxfords of the world teaching liberal arts. Without
undermining the importance of institutes like the IITs, he said such
institutes were key to creating of tomorrow's leaders.
The Commission chairman pointed to what he called a dire need to
standardise and streamline the 20 most important processes currently
in use, including those for land records, birth certificates and
ration cards. Citing the process of filing applications in
triplicate, Pitroda asked: ``Why do we need three applications
that need to be attested by gazetted officers?'' The application
processes, he said, some of which were designed during the British
Raj, need to be redesigned. Instead, he suggested a standard format
for such processes and e-governance as the effecting tool.
The Knowledge Commission, scheduled to submit the first set of its
recommendations to the PM by October, will also look at wider issues
such as ensuring e-mail security, building additional medical
institutions, protection of traditional knowledge, and even putting
in place a system encouraging innovation by the scientific
community.
Raising productivity and efficiency while cutting costs were the
motives behind their recommendations, Pitroda explained. It was too
early to estimate the cost of implementing their recommendations, he
said, adding that it would take 20 years for their plans to bear
fruit.
(Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi, August 5, 2005, Friday,
National Network, p-6, http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?
content_id=75700 (accessed: August 5, 2005)
Chairman, National Knowledge Commission (NKC)
Shake up the present system, says Mr Sam Pitroda, Chairman, National
Knowledge Commission (NKC), according to a news item published in
the Indian Expres, August 5, 2005, Friday, p-6, National Network.
Check the news item* at
http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=75700
(accessed: August 5, 2005)
Dr D.C.Misra
August 5, 2005.
_____________________________________________________________________
*Shake up the present system: Pitroda
Sam's way: Add centres for liberal arts, subtract cumbersome
processes
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
Posted online: Friday, August 05, 2005 at 0212 hours IST
NEW DELHI, AUGUST 4: A good ``shake-up'' of the present
system is what Knowledge Commission chairman Sam Pitroda prescribed
on Thursday while outlining a tentative roadmap for building a "new
India through e-governance".
Members of the Commission had met for three days before making a
presentation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today on the plans
they had in mind.
Briefing the media after their presentation, Pitroda said the
Commission would be working on ways to ``shake up the present
system'' and would list a host of recommendations for the PM and
his Cabinet.
Hinting at some of the plans that could constitute phase-I, he
stressed the need for a greater number of institutions like the
Harvards and Oxfords of the world teaching liberal arts. Without
undermining the importance of institutes like the IITs, he said such
institutes were key to creating of tomorrow's leaders.
The Commission chairman pointed to what he called a dire need to
standardise and streamline the 20 most important processes currently
in use, including those for land records, birth certificates and
ration cards. Citing the process of filing applications in
triplicate, Pitroda asked: ``Why do we need three applications
that need to be attested by gazetted officers?'' The application
processes, he said, some of which were designed during the British
Raj, need to be redesigned. Instead, he suggested a standard format
for such processes and e-governance as the effecting tool.
The Knowledge Commission, scheduled to submit the first set of its
recommendations to the PM by October, will also look at wider issues
such as ensuring e-mail security, building additional medical
institutions, protection of traditional knowledge, and even putting
in place a system encouraging innovation by the scientific
community.
Raising productivity and efficiency while cutting costs were the
motives behind their recommendations, Pitroda explained. It was too
early to estimate the cost of implementing their recommendations, he
said, adding that it would take 20 years for their plans to bear
fruit.
(Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi, August 5, 2005, Friday,
National Network, p-6, http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?
content_id=75700 (accessed: August 5, 2005)
Thursday, August 04, 2005
NKC-12: Create a Department of Knowledge at the Centre.
NKC-12: India's National Knowledge Commission – 12: Create a Department of Knowledge at the Centre and place it under the Prime Minister
Should there be a Ministry of Knowledge (MOK) or Department of Knowledge (DOK) or Department of Knowledge Management (DKM) at the Centre? The question assumes importance in the wake of Indian Prime Minister launching the time-bound national knowledge commission (NKC) on August 2, 2005 in New Delhi. It is a common practice in government to create a ministry or department acknowledging the importance of a subject or when the government wishes to take a major initiative.
The business of government in India is conducted through its ministries/departments. Currently the Indian government conducts its business through some 50 ministries and/or departments (55 ministries/52 departments, to be precise). Note that there are many ministries, which do not have any departments. Similarly there are departments, which are not part of any ministry.
Recent years have seen creation of many new ministries in India like Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs and Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region and departments like Department of Information Technology, Department of Bio-Technology and Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. To add yet another ministry or department to the business of government, therefore, requires careful consideration.
Knowledge is widely recognized today as the prime mover of accelerated socio-economic development worldwide. It is the only way in which a developing country like India can competently face challenges on the path of its accelerated development. Also, states in India look toward the centre for leadership and guidance in new and emerging areas, in this case knowledge.
Time is, therefore, ripe for creating an appropriate mechanism at the centre for promoting and making best use of knowledge. Such a mechanism has become all the more necessary for providing ministerial oversight over the national knowledge commission (NKC) on day-to-day basis, more so as the national knowledge commission (NKC) has been given a long tenure of three years.
Creating a full-fledged ministry of knowledge may, however, be a costly proposition. On the other hand, creating an office for knowledge or creating knowledge as an item of government business and then assigning it to a ministry or department may also diminish the importance of knowledge. The solution, therefore, lies in between. Create a department of knowledge and place it under the prime minister. A minister of state can no doubt assist the prime minister as, for example, is currently the case with the Department of Personnel and Training.
Dr D.C.Misra
August 4, 2005
Should there be a Ministry of Knowledge (MOK) or Department of Knowledge (DOK) or Department of Knowledge Management (DKM) at the Centre? The question assumes importance in the wake of Indian Prime Minister launching the time-bound national knowledge commission (NKC) on August 2, 2005 in New Delhi. It is a common practice in government to create a ministry or department acknowledging the importance of a subject or when the government wishes to take a major initiative.
The business of government in India is conducted through its ministries/departments. Currently the Indian government conducts its business through some 50 ministries and/or departments (55 ministries/52 departments, to be precise). Note that there are many ministries, which do not have any departments. Similarly there are departments, which are not part of any ministry.
Recent years have seen creation of many new ministries in India like Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs and Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region and departments like Department of Information Technology, Department of Bio-Technology and Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. To add yet another ministry or department to the business of government, therefore, requires careful consideration.
Knowledge is widely recognized today as the prime mover of accelerated socio-economic development worldwide. It is the only way in which a developing country like India can competently face challenges on the path of its accelerated development. Also, states in India look toward the centre for leadership and guidance in new and emerging areas, in this case knowledge.
Time is, therefore, ripe for creating an appropriate mechanism at the centre for promoting and making best use of knowledge. Such a mechanism has become all the more necessary for providing ministerial oversight over the national knowledge commission (NKC) on day-to-day basis, more so as the national knowledge commission (NKC) has been given a long tenure of three years.
Creating a full-fledged ministry of knowledge may, however, be a costly proposition. On the other hand, creating an office for knowledge or creating knowledge as an item of government business and then assigning it to a ministry or department may also diminish the importance of knowledge. The solution, therefore, lies in between. Create a department of knowledge and place it under the prime minister. A minister of state can no doubt assist the prime minister as, for example, is currently the case with the Department of Personnel and Training.
Dr D.C.Misra
August 4, 2005
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
NKC-11: Indian Prime Minister launches knowledge commission
India's National Knowledge Commission-11: Indan Prime Minister launches knowledge commission, says India had the potential to become "the knowledge engine of the world."
The Indian Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, said that India had the potential to become "the knowledge engine of the world" if it exploited its vast youth power and drew foreign investment to broaden its knowledge base while launching India's recently setup national knowledge commission in its first meeting on August 2, 2005 in New Delhi according to a press report. Check the full press report, reproduced below* for convenience, at
http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=2&theme=&usrsess=1&id=85129
Dr D.C.Misra
August 3, 2005
_____________________________________________________________________________________*PM launches knowledge commission
Statesman News Service
NEW DELHI, Aug. 2. – The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, said today that India had the potential to become "the knowledgeengine of the world" if it exploited its vast youth power and drewforeign investment to broaden its knowledge base.
"In the next few decades, India will have the world's largestset of young people. Even as other countries age, India will remain a country of young people," he said at the first meeting of the Knowledge Commission constituted recently. While sounding sanguine throughout his speech, the Prime Minister, however, pondered and cautioned: "But these youth can be an asset only if we invest in their capabilities. A knowledge-driven generation will be an asset. Denied this investment, it will be a social and economic liability. Hence, we must invest in building the knowledge base of the coming generations."
India has more than 250 universities, many more research and development institutions and the world's largest chain ofpublicly funded laboratories. In addition, 350,000 engineers and 5,000 Ph.D graduates each year, he noted. "With such a vast poolof qualified, English-speaking scientific and technological manpower, India must have the ambition to become a large base of research and development activity. We should be able to attract global investment into research and development activity at home. I think we should put in place the required legal and physical infrastructure that can attract more foreign investment in research activity." "Our universities and centres of excellence arefalling behind the best in the world, both in terms of human capital and physical infrastructure. The time has come to create a second wave of institution building and of excellence in the field of education, research and capacity building in India so that we are better prepared for the 21st century," he said.
____________________________________________________________________________________(Source: Statesman News Service (2005): PM launches knowledge commission, The Statesman, New Delhi, August 3, Wednesday, p-5, India, http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=2&theme=&usrsess=1&id=85129 (accessed: August 3, 2005)
The Indian Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, said that India had the potential to become "the knowledge engine of the world" if it exploited its vast youth power and drew foreign investment to broaden its knowledge base while launching India's recently setup national knowledge commission in its first meeting on August 2, 2005 in New Delhi according to a press report. Check the full press report, reproduced below* for convenience, at
http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=2&theme=&usrsess=1&id=85129
Dr D.C.Misra
August 3, 2005
_____________________________________________________________________________________*PM launches knowledge commission
Statesman News Service
NEW DELHI, Aug. 2. – The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, said today that India had the potential to become "the knowledgeengine of the world" if it exploited its vast youth power and drewforeign investment to broaden its knowledge base.
"In the next few decades, India will have the world's largestset of young people. Even as other countries age, India will remain a country of young people," he said at the first meeting of the Knowledge Commission constituted recently. While sounding sanguine throughout his speech, the Prime Minister, however, pondered and cautioned: "But these youth can be an asset only if we invest in their capabilities. A knowledge-driven generation will be an asset. Denied this investment, it will be a social and economic liability. Hence, we must invest in building the knowledge base of the coming generations."
India has more than 250 universities, many more research and development institutions and the world's largest chain ofpublicly funded laboratories. In addition, 350,000 engineers and 5,000 Ph.D graduates each year, he noted. "With such a vast poolof qualified, English-speaking scientific and technological manpower, India must have the ambition to become a large base of research and development activity. We should be able to attract global investment into research and development activity at home. I think we should put in place the required legal and physical infrastructure that can attract more foreign investment in research activity." "Our universities and centres of excellence arefalling behind the best in the world, both in terms of human capital and physical infrastructure. The time has come to create a second wave of institution building and of excellence in the field of education, research and capacity building in India so that we are better prepared for the 21st century," he said.
____________________________________________________________________________________(Source: Statesman News Service (2005): PM launches knowledge commission, The Statesman, New Delhi, August 3, Wednesday, p-5, India, http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=2&theme=&usrsess=1&id=85129 (accessed: August 3, 2005)
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
NKC-10: Knowledge commission to meet in first week of August in Delhi
NKC-10: India's National Knowledge Commission –10: Knowledge commission to meet in first week of August in New Delhi, To launch an allout attack on multiple fronts.
India's National Knowledge Commission is going to meet in the
first week of August in New Delhi to discuss issues related to
knowledge production, use and dissemination. The commission,
according to its chairperson plans "to launch an allout attack on
multiple fronts." Read an account of Amit Chanda's talk with the
chairperson, reproduced below* for convenience, at:
Chanda, Amit (2005): Talking about a knowledge revolution, The Times
of India, New Delhi, July 25, Monday, Education Times, pp 1&7,
http://epaperdaily.timesofindia.com/Daily/skins/TOI/navigator.asp?
Daily=TOIM#TOP(accessed: July 25, 2005).
Dr D.C.Misra
July 25, 2005
______________________________________________________________________
*Q & A
Talking about a knowledge revolution
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Tech Czar Sam Pitroda is back as the chairman of the National
Knowledge Commission to prepare India to meet knowledge challenges in
the 21st century. Pitroda talks to Amit Chanda about his new role
---------------------------------------------------------------------
The architect of India's telecommunication revolution Sam Pitroda is
back in business. This time, Pitroda, however, will be spearheading
the National Knowledge Commission (NKC) as chairperson, constituted
by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in April this year to prepare the
country to meet knowledge challenges in the 21st century. The
commission is going to meet in the first week of August in the
Capital to discuss issues related to knowledge production, use and
dissemination.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
What is the mandate of the National Knowledge Commission?
---------------------------------------------------------------------
The commission — comprising P M Bhargava as vice-chairperson and
members Nandan Nilekani of Infosys, educationists Deepak Nayyar,
Ashok Ganguly, Andre Beteille, Jayati Ghosh and Pratap Bhanu Mehta
—
will be looking at building excellence in the educational system to
meet the knowledge challenges and increase India's competitive
advantage in fields of knowledge.We seek to promote creation of
knowledge in science and technology laboratories, improve the
management of institutions engaged in Intellectual Property Rights or
IPR and promote knowledge applications in agriculture and industry.
The committee will also promote the use of knowledge capabilities in
making the government an effective, transparent and accountable
service provider to the citizen.
The committee members have shared documents on different issues. The
three-day meeting which is going to take place in the Capital in the
first week of August will witness our future course of action and how
we are going to achieve our objectives. We will be coordinating with
concerned ministries like Ministry of HRD, Ministry of Science &
Technology, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of
Agriculture and Ministry of IT to achieve our goals. This will help
us to form an overview and then report to the Prime Minister. We plan
to develop a set of deliverables by October 2 and make public a 36-
month plan from October 2, 2005 to October 2, 2008.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
The commission will focus on matters related to management of
knowledge areas. How are you going to define the parameters?
-------------------------------------------------------------------
The focus is on creation of knowledge, its dissemination and its
utilisation in health, education and many areas. The focus will also
be on life cycle of knowledge, and how it's used when you are a
child, a youth, and old age.
We will talk about quality education which could be at primary,
secondary or higher level and how it can be linked with research and
devel opment, linkages with industry, integration and its application
in university system.
If we want to emerge as a knowledge society we also have to think
about institutions, which need to be created to accelerate the spread
of knowledge in our country. There will be focus on e-governance and
e-learning at tehsil, district and state levels. We will talk about e-
files, multiple accesses and interlinking of all departments through
single system.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
You once said that accessibility rather than density should be the
focus of telecom reforms in the country. Will you follow a similar
out-of-box thinking to bring reforms in education as well?
--------------------------------------------------------------------
The focus is on how knowledge can be used to improve lives and
provide jobs to a large number of people. For example, how knowledge
can be used to provide additional training and tools to upgrade an
electrician's skills and productivity. Twenty years ago when we
embarked on the telecom dream, everyone felt that it was like a pipe
dream. There were 20 questions asked on why telecom and not health,
education, water and many more. Our idea was to provide accessibility
to people in the form of PCO. If you plant the right seed now, the
results will only show after 20 to 30 years.
The climate is right now to bring a revolution in the management of
knowledge as well. We have to start discussing issues at local level
too. We are a country of one billion people but we do not have enough
think-tanks which can discuss issues like water, health and
education. All these issues will be discussed in detail.
The idea this time would be to pick an issue and push it forward. It
could be literacy, higher education, S&T, rural education. We plan to
launch an allout attack on multiple fronts.
______________________________________________________________________
(Source: Chanda, Amit (2005): Talking about a knowledge revolution,
The Times of India, New Delhi, July 25, Monday, Education Times, pp
1&7,
http://epaperdaily.timesofindia.com/Daily/skins/TOI/navigator.asp?
Daily=TOIM#TOP (accessed: July 25, 2005)
India's National Knowledge Commission is going to meet in the
first week of August in New Delhi to discuss issues related to
knowledge production, use and dissemination. The commission,
according to its chairperson plans "to launch an allout attack on
multiple fronts." Read an account of Amit Chanda's talk with the
chairperson, reproduced below* for convenience, at:
Chanda, Amit (2005): Talking about a knowledge revolution, The Times
of India, New Delhi, July 25, Monday, Education Times, pp 1&7,
http://epaperdaily.timesofindia.com/Daily/skins/TOI/navigator.asp?
Daily=TOIM#TOP(accessed: July 25, 2005).
Dr D.C.Misra
July 25, 2005
______________________________________________________________________
*Q & A
Talking about a knowledge revolution
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Tech Czar Sam Pitroda is back as the chairman of the National
Knowledge Commission to prepare India to meet knowledge challenges in
the 21st century. Pitroda talks to Amit Chanda about his new role
---------------------------------------------------------------------
The architect of India's telecommunication revolution Sam Pitroda is
back in business. This time, Pitroda, however, will be spearheading
the National Knowledge Commission (NKC) as chairperson, constituted
by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in April this year to prepare the
country to meet knowledge challenges in the 21st century. The
commission is going to meet in the first week of August in the
Capital to discuss issues related to knowledge production, use and
dissemination.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
What is the mandate of the National Knowledge Commission?
---------------------------------------------------------------------
The commission — comprising P M Bhargava as vice-chairperson and
members Nandan Nilekani of Infosys, educationists Deepak Nayyar,
Ashok Ganguly, Andre Beteille, Jayati Ghosh and Pratap Bhanu Mehta
—
will be looking at building excellence in the educational system to
meet the knowledge challenges and increase India's competitive
advantage in fields of knowledge.We seek to promote creation of
knowledge in science and technology laboratories, improve the
management of institutions engaged in Intellectual Property Rights or
IPR and promote knowledge applications in agriculture and industry.
The committee will also promote the use of knowledge capabilities in
making the government an effective, transparent and accountable
service provider to the citizen.
The committee members have shared documents on different issues. The
three-day meeting which is going to take place in the Capital in the
first week of August will witness our future course of action and how
we are going to achieve our objectives. We will be coordinating with
concerned ministries like Ministry of HRD, Ministry of Science &
Technology, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of
Agriculture and Ministry of IT to achieve our goals. This will help
us to form an overview and then report to the Prime Minister. We plan
to develop a set of deliverables by October 2 and make public a 36-
month plan from October 2, 2005 to October 2, 2008.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
The commission will focus on matters related to management of
knowledge areas. How are you going to define the parameters?
-------------------------------------------------------------------
The focus is on creation of knowledge, its dissemination and its
utilisation in health, education and many areas. The focus will also
be on life cycle of knowledge, and how it's used when you are a
child, a youth, and old age.
We will talk about quality education which could be at primary,
secondary or higher level and how it can be linked with research and
devel opment, linkages with industry, integration and its application
in university system.
If we want to emerge as a knowledge society we also have to think
about institutions, which need to be created to accelerate the spread
of knowledge in our country. There will be focus on e-governance and
e-learning at tehsil, district and state levels. We will talk about e-
files, multiple accesses and interlinking of all departments through
single system.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
You once said that accessibility rather than density should be the
focus of telecom reforms in the country. Will you follow a similar
out-of-box thinking to bring reforms in education as well?
--------------------------------------------------------------------
The focus is on how knowledge can be used to improve lives and
provide jobs to a large number of people. For example, how knowledge
can be used to provide additional training and tools to upgrade an
electrician's skills and productivity. Twenty years ago when we
embarked on the telecom dream, everyone felt that it was like a pipe
dream. There were 20 questions asked on why telecom and not health,
education, water and many more. Our idea was to provide accessibility
to people in the form of PCO. If you plant the right seed now, the
results will only show after 20 to 30 years.
The climate is right now to bring a revolution in the management of
knowledge as well. We have to start discussing issues at local level
too. We are a country of one billion people but we do not have enough
think-tanks which can discuss issues like water, health and
education. All these issues will be discussed in detail.
The idea this time would be to pick an issue and push it forward. It
could be literacy, higher education, S&T, rural education. We plan to
launch an allout attack on multiple fronts.
______________________________________________________________________
(Source: Chanda, Amit (2005): Talking about a knowledge revolution,
The Times of India, New Delhi, July 25, Monday, Education Times, pp
1&7,
http://epaperdaily.timesofindia.com/Daily/skins/TOI/navigator.asp?
Daily=TOIM#TOP (accessed: July 25, 2005)
Saturday, July 23, 2005
NKC-9: Review of Mehta (2005a): Regulating Higher Education, etc., The Indian Express, New Delhi, July 14-16.
NKC-9: India's National Knowledge Commission-9: Review of Mehta
(2005a, 2005b and 2005c): Regulating Higher Education, Critiquing the
Regulatory Regime and How to build Quality Institutions, The Indian
Express, New Delhi, July 14-16.
This is a series of three articles by Dr Pratap Bhanu Mehta,
President, Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi on the state of
higher education in India. In the first part,* the author points out
to the mismatch of supply and demand with the thrust of regulatory
regime to diminish rather than increase supply, in the second part,**
to the regulatory regime, which concentrates on motives and
intentions rather than the likely outcomes and in the third part***
the author suggests a number of measures for improving quality of
higher education in India. This series assumes importance as the
author – Dr Mehta- is Member-Convener of recently constituted India's
National Knowledge Commission (NKC) and building excellence is one of
its terms of reference and his views may have a bearing upon the
deliberations of the commission.
Dr D.C.Misra
July 23, 2005
___________________________________________________________________
*Mehta, Pratap Bhanu (2005a): Regulating Higher Education, The Indian
Express, New Delhi, July 14, Thursday, p-9, Part-I),
http://www.indianexpress.com/archive_frame.php
**Mehta, Pratap Bhanu (2005b): Critiquing the Regulatory Regime, The
Indian Express, New Delhi, July 15, Friday, p-9, Part-II),
http://www.indianexpress.com/archive_frame.php
***Mehta, Pratap Bhanu (2005c): How to build Quality Institutions,
The Indian Express, July 16, Saturday, p-9, Part-III)
http://www.indianexpress.com/archive_frame.php
(2005a, 2005b and 2005c): Regulating Higher Education, Critiquing the
Regulatory Regime and How to build Quality Institutions, The Indian
Express, New Delhi, July 14-16.
This is a series of three articles by Dr Pratap Bhanu Mehta,
President, Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi on the state of
higher education in India. In the first part,* the author points out
to the mismatch of supply and demand with the thrust of regulatory
regime to diminish rather than increase supply, in the second part,**
to the regulatory regime, which concentrates on motives and
intentions rather than the likely outcomes and in the third part***
the author suggests a number of measures for improving quality of
higher education in India. This series assumes importance as the
author – Dr Mehta- is Member-Convener of recently constituted India's
National Knowledge Commission (NKC) and building excellence is one of
its terms of reference and his views may have a bearing upon the
deliberations of the commission.
Dr D.C.Misra
July 23, 2005
___________________________________________________________________
*Mehta, Pratap Bhanu (2005a): Regulating Higher Education, The Indian
Express, New Delhi, July 14, Thursday, p-9, Part-I),
http://www.indianexpress.com/archive_frame.php
**Mehta, Pratap Bhanu (2005b): Critiquing the Regulatory Regime, The
Indian Express, New Delhi, July 15, Friday, p-9, Part-II),
http://www.indianexpress.com/archive_frame.php
***Mehta, Pratap Bhanu (2005c): How to build Quality Institutions,
The Indian Express, July 16, Saturday, p-9, Part-III)
http://www.indianexpress.com/archive_frame.php
Sunday, July 17, 2005
NKC-8: Ministerial working groups to assist the knowledge commission in India
NKC-8: India's National Knowledge Commission-8: Six ministerial working groups to assist the knowledge commission
India’s knowledge commission will address its terms of reference through working groups (WGs) to be constituted by the Ministry connected with each term of reference vide Planning Commission,
Government of India, New Delhi, notification of July 13, 2005.As many as six ministerial working groups will assist the knowledge commission. Such working groups will be set up by
(i)Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) on building excellence in the educational system to meet the knowledge challenges of the 21st Century,
(ii)Ministry of Science and Technology (MST) on promoting research in science and technology,
(iii)Ministry of Commerce and Industry on Improving the management of institutions engaged in intellectual property rights (IPRs),
(iv)Ministry of Agriculture on promoting knowledge applications in agriculture,
(v)Ministry of Commerce and Industry on promoting knowledge applications in industry, and
(vi)Department of Information Technology (DIT) on promoting the use of knowledge capabilities to make the government effective, transparent, accountable and public-oriented.
It appears that the knowledge commission may not undertake any original work but may deliberate on the reports of the ministerial working groups (WGs) and make its recommendations to the Prime
Minister. It is noteworthy that all the members of the knowledge commission are part-time. Policy formulation / intervention is thus likely to depend to a large extent upon the deliberations of these
working groups (WGs) rather than the individual expertise of the members.. It is also, however, not known if any Ministry or Department has onstituted the concerned working group (WG) so far or not.
Dr D.C.Misra
July 17, 2005
India’s knowledge commission will address its terms of reference through working groups (WGs) to be constituted by the Ministry connected with each term of reference vide Planning Commission,
Government of India, New Delhi, notification of July 13, 2005.As many as six ministerial working groups will assist the knowledge commission. Such working groups will be set up by
(i)Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) on building excellence in the educational system to meet the knowledge challenges of the 21st Century,
(ii)Ministry of Science and Technology (MST) on promoting research in science and technology,
(iii)Ministry of Commerce and Industry on Improving the management of institutions engaged in intellectual property rights (IPRs),
(iv)Ministry of Agriculture on promoting knowledge applications in agriculture,
(v)Ministry of Commerce and Industry on promoting knowledge applications in industry, and
(vi)Department of Information Technology (DIT) on promoting the use of knowledge capabilities to make the government effective, transparent, accountable and public-oriented.
It appears that the knowledge commission may not undertake any original work but may deliberate on the reports of the ministerial working groups (WGs) and make its recommendations to the Prime
Minister. It is noteworthy that all the members of the knowledge commission are part-time. Policy formulation / intervention is thus likely to depend to a large extent upon the deliberations of these
working groups (WGs) rather than the individual expertise of the members.. It is also, however, not known if any Ministry or Department has onstituted the concerned working group (WG) so far or not.
Dr D.C.Misra
July 17, 2005
Friday, July 08, 2005
NKC-7: Designate a CKO in each Ministry/Department at the Centre and in the States
NKC-7: India's National Knowledge Commission-7: Designate a Chief Knowledge Officer (CKO) in each Ministry/Department at the Centre and in the States
Irrespective of when and how India’s knowledge commission commences its work (I have so far not come across any public announcement in this regard), a chief knowledge officer (CKO), not below the rank of a joint secretary, should be designated in each ministry/department at the centre. A joint secretary (JS) in a ministry or department at the centre is a member of the senior management group (SMG) of the ministry/department and typically heads a division or two. In certain ministries, for example, in Ministry of Agriculture and in Ministry of Industry, there is a post of Joint Secretary (Policy Planning). This officer can very appropriately be designated as chief knowledge officer (CKO) in addition to his own duties.
Each ministry/department at the centre also has an administrative reforms (AR) division or section. Such administrative reforms (AR) division or section should also be placed under the charge of the chief knowledge officer (CKO). Similarly, the information technology (IT) division or section should also be placed under the charge of the chief knowledge officer (CKO). Likewise the National Informatics Centre (NIC) staff in the ministries/departments at the centre should also report to the chief knowledge officer (CKO) for making use of the nationwide information and communication technology (ICT) network called NICNET.
Similarly, an officer not below the rank of commissioner (equivalent in rank to a joint secretary at the centre) should be designated as chief knowledge officer (CKO) in the states. Again, note that no suggestion is being made to “create” a new post (which would further add to administrative cost). On the other hand, it is suggested to designate an existing officer as a chief knowledge officer (CKO) in addition to his existing work. But who should be designated as a chief knowledge officer (CKO) in states?
Each state by now has a secretary (information technology) (IT). His job is to assist in information technology (IT) policy formulation and implementation and to promote introduction of egovernance. Often, and very rightly too, the department of administrative reforms is also placed under his charge so that a holistic, instead of fragmentary, view of egovernance could be taken. Also, an important domain of the public sector knowledge management (PSKM) is egovernance, which has been accepted worldwide as an instrument of change and transformation. Ideally, therefore, secretary (information technology) in the states should be designated as chief knowledge officer (CKO) in the states. The state informatics officer (SIO) of the National Informatics Centre (NIC) should also report to the state chief knowledge officer (CKO).
What should be the function of state chief knowledge officers (CKOs)? First, they should act as contact points/liaison officers for the newly constituted knowledge commission. Secondly, they should identify knowledge requirements of various departments and their subordinate organisations. Thirdly, they should launch pilot “knowledge projects” with high “pay offs,” replicability and scalability, and demonstration value. Fourthly, they should generally promote the concept of “knowledge capital” as an instrument of accelerated social and economic development. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, the chief knowledge officer (CKO) should capture, codify and exploit knowledge within the state governments for greater public good.
Dr D.C.Misra
July 8, 2005
Irrespective of when and how India’s knowledge commission commences its work (I have so far not come across any public announcement in this regard), a chief knowledge officer (CKO), not below the rank of a joint secretary, should be designated in each ministry/department at the centre. A joint secretary (JS) in a ministry or department at the centre is a member of the senior management group (SMG) of the ministry/department and typically heads a division or two. In certain ministries, for example, in Ministry of Agriculture and in Ministry of Industry, there is a post of Joint Secretary (Policy Planning). This officer can very appropriately be designated as chief knowledge officer (CKO) in addition to his own duties.
Each ministry/department at the centre also has an administrative reforms (AR) division or section. Such administrative reforms (AR) division or section should also be placed under the charge of the chief knowledge officer (CKO). Similarly, the information technology (IT) division or section should also be placed under the charge of the chief knowledge officer (CKO). Likewise the National Informatics Centre (NIC) staff in the ministries/departments at the centre should also report to the chief knowledge officer (CKO) for making use of the nationwide information and communication technology (ICT) network called NICNET.
Similarly, an officer not below the rank of commissioner (equivalent in rank to a joint secretary at the centre) should be designated as chief knowledge officer (CKO) in the states. Again, note that no suggestion is being made to “create” a new post (which would further add to administrative cost). On the other hand, it is suggested to designate an existing officer as a chief knowledge officer (CKO) in addition to his existing work. But who should be designated as a chief knowledge officer (CKO) in states?
Each state by now has a secretary (information technology) (IT). His job is to assist in information technology (IT) policy formulation and implementation and to promote introduction of egovernance. Often, and very rightly too, the department of administrative reforms is also placed under his charge so that a holistic, instead of fragmentary, view of egovernance could be taken. Also, an important domain of the public sector knowledge management (PSKM) is egovernance, which has been accepted worldwide as an instrument of change and transformation. Ideally, therefore, secretary (information technology) in the states should be designated as chief knowledge officer (CKO) in the states. The state informatics officer (SIO) of the National Informatics Centre (NIC) should also report to the state chief knowledge officer (CKO).
What should be the function of state chief knowledge officers (CKOs)? First, they should act as contact points/liaison officers for the newly constituted knowledge commission. Secondly, they should identify knowledge requirements of various departments and their subordinate organisations. Thirdly, they should launch pilot “knowledge projects” with high “pay offs,” replicability and scalability, and demonstration value. Fourthly, they should generally promote the concept of “knowledge capital” as an instrument of accelerated social and economic development. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, the chief knowledge officer (CKO) should capture, codify and exploit knowledge within the state governments for greater public good.
Dr D.C.Misra
July 8, 2005
Thursday, June 30, 2005
NKC-4: Knowledge Commission to co-operate with multilateral agencies
NKC-4: India's National Knowledge Commission-4: Commission looks forward to co-operating with multilateral agencies, think tanks and universities
India’s National Knowledge Commission looks forward to co-operating with multilateral agencies, think tanks and universities in India and abroad, according to its chairman Sam Pitroda. Says Pitroda: “We look forward to cooperating with the World Bank and other multilateral agencies as well as with think tanks and universities in India and abroad as the Commission works to harness knowledge for India’s development and realize its potential to become a major knowledge power." Check the statement at
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/NEWS/0,,contentMDK:20560802~menuPK:51062075~pagePK:34370~piPK:34424~theSitePK:4607,00.html
Dr D.C.Misra
June 30, 2005
India’s National Knowledge Commission looks forward to co-operating with multilateral agencies, think tanks and universities in India and abroad, according to its chairman Sam Pitroda. Says Pitroda: “We look forward to cooperating with the World Bank and other multilateral agencies as well as with think tanks and universities in India and abroad as the Commission works to harness knowledge for India’s development and realize its potential to become a major knowledge power." Check the statement at
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/NEWS/0,,contentMDK:20560802~menuPK:51062075~pagePK:34370~piPK:34424~theSitePK:4607,00.html
Dr D.C.Misra
June 30, 2005
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
India's National Knowledge Commission-3: Good that the commission means business
India's National Knowledge Commission-3:Good that the knowledge commission means business but the commission must avoid to become a super-ministry.
It is good that India’s newly appointed national knowledge commission means business. This is reflected in commission’s innovative business procedure. The government appears to have prescribed an innovative two-tiered approach for the conduct of commission’s business.
At the top-level commission’s work will be guided by a national steering group (NSG) under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister with 1. Minister of Human Resource Development, 2. Minister of Agriculture, 3. Minister of Commerce and Industry, 4. Minister of Communication and Information Technology, 5. Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, and Minister of State, Science and Technology, as its members. The ministers associated with the national steering group are those whose ministries are concerned with the terms of reference of the commission.
At the second tier, the 8-member commission, which has multi-disciplinary expertise, will deliberate on its terms of reference and seek guidance from the national steering group (STG). At this tier laterally, there will also be working groups (WGs) in the concerned departments / ministries which will hopefully provide necessary inputs to the commission to enable it to deliberate on its terms of reference and make appropriate recommendations to the national steering group (NSG). Much will depend upon how these working groups (WGs) are constituted and what mandate is given to them. Also, and lastly, at the this tier itself laterally, there will be a technical support group (TSG) “to be staffed by young recruits, hired on contract from premier educational institutions in the country.” What support will this group provide to the commission, however, is unclear.
Government has prescribed a unique procedure for the knowledge commission. Typically, such commissions in government are one-shot affair. The commissions collect necessary facts and figures, deliberate on its terms of reference, make recommendations to the government within a specified time period and then become functus officio. On the acceptance of their recommendations by the concerned department / ministry, the concerned department / ministry implements the accepted recommendations. It appears that in the case of the knowledge commission, the commission will make its recommendations to the government piecemeal, obtain government’s orders on them from time to time and then oversee their implementation. If this be the case then the knowledge commission must tread this path very carefully lest it treads on the toes of the departments / ministries which will surely, and understandably, defend their well-guarded turfs.
This is a genuine danger and the knowledge commission must resist the temptation to yield to it. Let the concerned departments / ministries be the implementing agencies, which they are. The knowledge commission must only be a recommendatory or advisory body and should in no case assume any implementing responsibility. If it does so, it will be perceived as a super-department or super-ministry, which can only have unproductive results as the commission will not be able to secure the loyalty of public personnel working under the administrative control of other departments / ministries.
Dr D.C. Misra
June 22, 2005
A Reader writes: 6/12/2005 2-11 p.m.
Subject: India’s National Knowledge Commission: Oh! billion Gods! Save this Country from inactive commissions!
Dear Dr. D.C. Misra,
I never knew there was such as - National Knowledge Commission - existing in India!. Wow ! We have so many commissions the act of which never reach the grass roots.
I worked in the Information and Communication Technology Sector since 1988 to date But not a single soul from either Government and nor Non Government ever contacted me to ask what is your dream? what you want to do for the nation? how much did you suffer by putting yourself at work in grassroot level?
ICT in India ? Can it really penetrate at Grass Root Level and Empower the Common Man?
What is the use of such commissions which do not have any meaning for its existence nor its actions?
Oh! billion Gods ! Save this Country from inactive commissions!
Er. Hemanta
--- "Dr D.C.Misra" wrote:
> Cyber Quiz: NKC-1:India's National Knowledge
> Commission-1: Its Composition: High time it launches its website
>
>
My Comments:
My dear Er Hemanta,
I appreciate your good work and share your concerns. However, there is no need to be cynical about it. We have high expectations from the knowledge commission. Let us help it in its deliberations and all of us can contribute to its success. Hopefully it will meet our expectations.
Dr D.C. Misra
June 22, 2005
It is good that India’s newly appointed national knowledge commission means business. This is reflected in commission’s innovative business procedure. The government appears to have prescribed an innovative two-tiered approach for the conduct of commission’s business.
At the top-level commission’s work will be guided by a national steering group (NSG) under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister with 1. Minister of Human Resource Development, 2. Minister of Agriculture, 3. Minister of Commerce and Industry, 4. Minister of Communication and Information Technology, 5. Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, and Minister of State, Science and Technology, as its members. The ministers associated with the national steering group are those whose ministries are concerned with the terms of reference of the commission.
At the second tier, the 8-member commission, which has multi-disciplinary expertise, will deliberate on its terms of reference and seek guidance from the national steering group (STG). At this tier laterally, there will also be working groups (WGs) in the concerned departments / ministries which will hopefully provide necessary inputs to the commission to enable it to deliberate on its terms of reference and make appropriate recommendations to the national steering group (NSG). Much will depend upon how these working groups (WGs) are constituted and what mandate is given to them. Also, and lastly, at the this tier itself laterally, there will be a technical support group (TSG) “to be staffed by young recruits, hired on contract from premier educational institutions in the country.” What support will this group provide to the commission, however, is unclear.
Government has prescribed a unique procedure for the knowledge commission. Typically, such commissions in government are one-shot affair. The commissions collect necessary facts and figures, deliberate on its terms of reference, make recommendations to the government within a specified time period and then become functus officio. On the acceptance of their recommendations by the concerned department / ministry, the concerned department / ministry implements the accepted recommendations. It appears that in the case of the knowledge commission, the commission will make its recommendations to the government piecemeal, obtain government’s orders on them from time to time and then oversee their implementation. If this be the case then the knowledge commission must tread this path very carefully lest it treads on the toes of the departments / ministries which will surely, and understandably, defend their well-guarded turfs.
This is a genuine danger and the knowledge commission must resist the temptation to yield to it. Let the concerned departments / ministries be the implementing agencies, which they are. The knowledge commission must only be a recommendatory or advisory body and should in no case assume any implementing responsibility. If it does so, it will be perceived as a super-department or super-ministry, which can only have unproductive results as the commission will not be able to secure the loyalty of public personnel working under the administrative control of other departments / ministries.
Dr D.C. Misra
June 22, 2005
A Reader writes: 6/12/2005 2-11 p.m.
Subject: India’s National Knowledge Commission: Oh! billion Gods! Save this Country from inactive commissions!
Dear Dr. D.C. Misra,
I never knew there was such as - National Knowledge Commission - existing in India!. Wow ! We have so many commissions the act of which never reach the grass roots.
I worked in the Information and Communication Technology Sector since 1988 to date But not a single soul from either Government and nor Non Government ever contacted me to ask what is your dream? what you want to do for the nation? how much did you suffer by putting yourself at work in grassroot level?
ICT in India ? Can it really penetrate at Grass Root Level and Empower the Common Man?
What is the use of such commissions which do not have any meaning for its existence nor its actions?
Oh! billion Gods ! Save this Country from inactive commissions!
Er. Hemanta
--- "Dr D.C.Misra"
> Cyber Quiz: NKC-1:India's National Knowledge
> Commission-1: Its Composition: High time it launches its website
>
>
My Comments:
My dear Er Hemanta,
I appreciate your good work and share your concerns. However, there is no need to be cynical about it. We have high expectations from the knowledge commission. Let us help it in its deliberations and all of us can contribute to its success. Hopefully it will meet our expectations.
Dr D.C. Misra
June 22, 2005
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
India's Knowledge Commission sans `knowledge worker' or `knowledge economy.'
India's National Knowledge Commission-2:Its Terms of Reference:
Knowledge Commission sans `knowledge worker' or `knowledge economy.'
India's National Knowledge Commission has the following terms of reference: The Commission will advise the Prime Minister on matters relating to institutions of knowledge production, knowledge use and knowledge dissemination.
The main terms of reference of the Commission, referred to as the "knowledge pentagon, include: (i) Building excellence in the educational system to meet the knowledge challenges of the 21st Century, (ii) Promote research in Science and Technology, (iii) Improve the management of institutions engaged in Intellectual
Property Rights, (iv) Promote knowledge applications in agriculture and industry, and (v) Promote the use of knowledge capabilities to make the government effective, transparent, accountable and public-oriented.
It will also explore ways in which knowledge can be made more widely accessible in India for maximum public benefit.
The danger to treat `knowledge' as a `commodity'(which it is not) to be produced (knowledge is created, not produced), used and disseminated (the natural order here is `dissemination' followed by `use' and not the other way) should be avoided by the knowledge commission. Moreover, in social and development context it is the `usable knowledge' (practical utility), which matters to the people and not the `knowledge for its own sake' (intellectual pursuit). When it has been proposed that the knowledge commission `will also explore ways in which knowledge can be made more widely accessible in India for maximum public benefit,' this term of reference presuppose existence of (usable) knowledge, which need not always be the case. The general perception is that not many 'knowledge institutions' (universities, research institutes / laboratories) have a ready storehouse of (usable) knowledge for dissemination among the people.
The main terms of reference of the knowledge commission can be grouped into five categories in brief: (i) excellence in educational system, (ii) research in science and technology, (iii) management of intellectual property rights (IPRs) institutions, (iv) knowledge applications in agriculture and industry, and (v) good governance.
These main terms of reference of the knowledge commission have two striking features. First, their inter-sectoral nature. Usually in government, such commissions or their lesser entities, (high powered) committees, are sectoral in nature, say, confined to a sector like education, agriculture, industry, etc. The multi-sectoral terms of reference of knowledge commission will require an expertise of a very high order for inter-sectoral co-ordination. The knowledge commission
as constituted at present does not have such an expertise though it does have a former member of the Indian administrative service who resigned from the service to pursue academic interests and till recently was vice chancellor, Delhi university and as such has to be treated more of a specialist rather than a generalist.
Secondly, and more importantly, India is perhaps the first and so far the only country in the world which has set up a (national) knowledge commission. This is a laudable step. The terms of reference of the knowledge commission, however, do not explicitly recognize the `knowledge worker' or `knowledge economy' or `knowledge society.' This is worrisome not only because many Indians are spearheading the
ongoing information revolution and India itself is a notable contributor to and beneficiary of the (new) `knowledge economy' but because creation of the national knowledge commission is a unique opportunity in which the knowledge commission can have a vision of Indian `knowledge society' based on `knowledge economy' and driven
by `knowledge workers' and prepare a plan of action to realize the vision in a definite time-frame. No commission, which calls itself, `knowledge' commission can afford to ignore these basic concepts, which are driving the ongoing information revolution worldwide.
Dr D.C.Misra
June 15, 2005
Knowledge Commission sans `knowledge worker' or `knowledge economy.'
India's National Knowledge Commission has the following terms of reference: The Commission will advise the Prime Minister on matters relating to institutions of knowledge production, knowledge use and knowledge dissemination.
The main terms of reference of the Commission, referred to as the "knowledge pentagon, include: (i) Building excellence in the educational system to meet the knowledge challenges of the 21st Century, (ii) Promote research in Science and Technology, (iii) Improve the management of institutions engaged in Intellectual
Property Rights, (iv) Promote knowledge applications in agriculture and industry, and (v) Promote the use of knowledge capabilities to make the government effective, transparent, accountable and public-oriented.
It will also explore ways in which knowledge can be made more widely accessible in India for maximum public benefit.
The danger to treat `knowledge' as a `commodity'(which it is not) to be produced (knowledge is created, not produced), used and disseminated (the natural order here is `dissemination' followed by `use' and not the other way) should be avoided by the knowledge commission. Moreover, in social and development context it is the `usable knowledge' (practical utility), which matters to the people and not the `knowledge for its own sake' (intellectual pursuit). When it has been proposed that the knowledge commission `will also explore ways in which knowledge can be made more widely accessible in India for maximum public benefit,' this term of reference presuppose existence of (usable) knowledge, which need not always be the case. The general perception is that not many 'knowledge institutions' (universities, research institutes / laboratories) have a ready storehouse of (usable) knowledge for dissemination among the people.
The main terms of reference of the knowledge commission can be grouped into five categories in brief: (i) excellence in educational system, (ii) research in science and technology, (iii) management of intellectual property rights (IPRs) institutions, (iv) knowledge applications in agriculture and industry, and (v) good governance.
These main terms of reference of the knowledge commission have two striking features. First, their inter-sectoral nature. Usually in government, such commissions or their lesser entities, (high powered) committees, are sectoral in nature, say, confined to a sector like education, agriculture, industry, etc. The multi-sectoral terms of reference of knowledge commission will require an expertise of a very high order for inter-sectoral co-ordination. The knowledge commission
as constituted at present does not have such an expertise though it does have a former member of the Indian administrative service who resigned from the service to pursue academic interests and till recently was vice chancellor, Delhi university and as such has to be treated more of a specialist rather than a generalist.
Secondly, and more importantly, India is perhaps the first and so far the only country in the world which has set up a (national) knowledge commission. This is a laudable step. The terms of reference of the knowledge commission, however, do not explicitly recognize the `knowledge worker' or `knowledge economy' or `knowledge society.' This is worrisome not only because many Indians are spearheading the
ongoing information revolution and India itself is a notable contributor to and beneficiary of the (new) `knowledge economy' but because creation of the national knowledge commission is a unique opportunity in which the knowledge commission can have a vision of Indian `knowledge society' based on `knowledge economy' and driven
by `knowledge workers' and prepare a plan of action to realize the vision in a definite time-frame. No commission, which calls itself, `knowledge' commission can afford to ignore these basic concepts, which are driving the ongoing information revolution worldwide.
Dr D.C.Misra
June 15, 2005
Saturday, June 11, 2005
India's National Knowledge Commission-1: Its Composition: It is a well-balanced, coherent team reflecting diversity of expertise
India's 8-member National Knowledge Commission has the following composition: 1. Mr Sam Pitroda (Chairperson), 2. Dr P.M. Bhargava (Vice-Chairperson), 3. Mr Nandan Nilekani, Member, 4. Dr. Deepak Nayyar, Member, 5. Mr Ashok Ganguly, Member, 6. Dr. Andre Beteille, Member, 7. Dr. Jayati Ghosh, Member, and 8. Dr. Pratap Bhanu Mehta, Member.
It is a reasonably sized commission, neither very small nor unwieldy, thus capable of carrying out its deliberations as a coherent team in time-bound professional manner. It is also well balanced in its composition reflecting a diversity of expertise and critical frontiers of knowledge. Hopefully, the deliberations of the commission will bear the expertise of Mr Sam Pitroda (telecom), Dr P.M. Bhargava (molecular biology), Mr Nandan Nilekani (information technology), Dr. Deepak Nayyar (higher education), Mr Ashok Ganguly secondary education), Dr. Andre Beteille (sociology), Dr. Jayati Ghosh (economics) and Dr. Pratap Bhanu Mehta (political science).
A notable omission is that of Secretary or Member-Secretary of the commission. It is not known as to how the commission proposes to conduct its business in his absence or without a secretariat or office. So far no public announcement has been made about the location of commission's office or its contact person. As a result those desirous of making contributions to the deliberations of the commission are disappointed. Notable official websites like India Image or that of Planning Commission are also silent about it. It is high time the commission launches its website which should also have an open discussion forum as the commission, among other things, proposes to build a more open society and more open economy.
Dr D.C.Misra
June 11, 2005
It is a reasonably sized commission, neither very small nor unwieldy, thus capable of carrying out its deliberations as a coherent team in time-bound professional manner. It is also well balanced in its composition reflecting a diversity of expertise and critical frontiers of knowledge. Hopefully, the deliberations of the commission will bear the expertise of Mr Sam Pitroda (telecom), Dr P.M. Bhargava (molecular biology), Mr Nandan Nilekani (information technology), Dr. Deepak Nayyar (higher education), Mr Ashok Ganguly secondary education), Dr. Andre Beteille (sociology), Dr. Jayati Ghosh (economics) and Dr. Pratap Bhanu Mehta (political science).
A notable omission is that of Secretary or Member-Secretary of the commission. It is not known as to how the commission proposes to conduct its business in his absence or without a secretariat or office. So far no public announcement has been made about the location of commission's office or its contact person. As a result those desirous of making contributions to the deliberations of the commission are disappointed. Notable official websites like India Image or that of Planning Commission are also silent about it. It is high time the commission launches its website which should also have an open discussion forum as the commission, among other things, proposes to build a more open society and more open economy.
Dr D.C.Misra
June 11, 2005
Saturday, May 21, 2005
NEWS: INDIA'S NATIONAL KNOWLEDGE COMMISSION TO DEVELOP PLAN OF ACTION BY
INDIA'S NATIONAL KNOWLEDGE COMMISSION TO DEVELOP PLAN OF ACTION BY
OCTOBER 2, 2005 ______________________________________________________________________________
As reported to this group yesterday (Message 592 of April 30, 2005), India has
taken a unique step to set up a "National Knowledge Commission (NKC)." Here are
some of its its salient features as reported in the print media:
India's National Knowledge Commission (NKC): Plan of Action
India's National Knowledge Commission (NKC) with Mr Sam Pitroda as Chairman and
Dr P.M.Bhargawa, a molecular biologist, as Vice Chairman has to develop a
concrete plan of action by October 2 this year, and it has to be implemented in
the next 36 months by October 2, 2008, when the Commission will wind up,
submitting a report on tasks done, according to a news report.*
Terms of Reference
The main terms of reference of the Commission, referred to as the Knowledge
Pentagon, include:
(i) Building excellence in the educational system to meet the knowledge
challenges of the 21st Century,
(ii) Promote research in Science and Technology,
(iii)Improve the management of institutions engaged in Intellectual Property
Rights,
(iv) Promote knowledge applications in agriculture and industry, and
(v) Promote the use of knowledge capabilities to make the government effective,
transparent, accountable and public-oriented. Check the details of this news
item, reproduced below for convenience.*
Background
The Indian Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh announced on January 12, 2005 in
Kolkata that the Government will create a "Knowledge Commission," to strengthen
the roots and sinews of India's capacity and capability-building, so that India
is better prepared for the challenges of the 21st Century. Check this news item
in The Hindu Busiess Line, January 13, 2005, Thursday at
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/01/13/stories/200501130357030
0.htm.
THE QUESTION:
CAN THIS GROUP, AS A THINK TANK, CONTIBUTE TO THE DELIBERATIONS OF THE
COMMISSION, SAY, BY SUBMITTING A MEMORANDUM TO IT ON ITS TERMS OF REFERENCE [AND
OF COURSE ANY ISSUE CONSIDERED RELEVANT TO IT]?.
ANY IDEA AS TO HOW TO PROCEED FURTHER IN THE MATTER?
Notes:
1.The proposed memorandum may be finalised by the Group and presented to the
Commission by a fixed date, say, latest by Monday, May 9, 2005.
2.All the deliberations on the subject should be online only.
3.If sufficient response is not received from the Group,the proposal may be
dropped.
Guiding Principle for the Memorandum:
All knowledge is useless if it does not serve any social good.
Dr D.C.MISRA
May 1, 2005
______________________________________________________________________________
*APPENDIX
Education to get a Pitroda dose
Sam back as chairman of national commission with aim to make
India `knowledge power'
BHAVNA VIJ-AURORA
Posted online: Saturday, April 30, 2005 at 0144 hours IST
NEW DELHI, APRIL 29: Having headed the Technology Mission during the tenure of
late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, the Gandhi family's favourite technocrat Sam
Pitroda is back as Chairman of the National Knowledge Commission set up by the
UPA Government.
And once again Pitroda will be rendering his services free of cost,not drawing
any salary like other members of the Commission.Comprising experts in various
fields, the Commission will advise Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on
policy-related matters regarding the management of knowledge areas. It will
primarily focus on refurbishing, reviving and redeploying the entire education
system so
that it can build new knowledge resources.
Believed to be the brainchild of Pitroda himself, the Commission will have
molecular biologist Dr P.M. Bhargava as the Vice-Chairman. The other members
would be chosen by Pitroda. The aim of the NKC, according to the PMO, is to
establish India as a ``knowledge power''in the world.
``The Commission has to develop a concrete plan of action by October 2 this
year, and it has to be implemented in the next 36 months by October 2, 2008,
when the Commission will wind up, submitting a report on tasks done,'' disclosed
an official.
The main terms of reference of the Commission, as approved by the Cabinet — and
referred to as the Knowledge Pentagon — include building excellence in the
educational system to meet the knowledge challenges of the 21st Century; promote
research in Science and Technology; improve the management of institutions
engaged in Intellectual Property Rights; promote knowledge applications in
agriculture and industry; and to promote the use of knowledge
capabilities to make the government effective, transparent, accountable and
public-oriented.
Working groups from various related ministries — HRD, Science and Technology,
Commerce and Industry, Agriculture, and Information Technology — will be
associated with the functioning of the Commission. Moreover, ministers in charge
of the various ministries will be part of a National Steering Group, headed by
the PM, to oversee the Commission's work.
Sources said technical support would be provided to the Commission by a group of
10 young recruits, hired from premier educational institutions like the IIMs and
IITs. The Planning Commission would act as the nodal agency for the NKC as
regards to administrative work, handling logistics, planning and for budgeting
purposes.
(Source: Vij-Aurora, Bhavna (2005): Education to get a Pitroda dose, The Indian
Express, New Delhi, April 30, 2005, Saturday, p-5, available:
http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=69486).
(Source: http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/cyberquiz/message/593)
OCTOBER 2, 2005 ______________________________________________________________________________
As reported to this group yesterday (Message 592 of April 30, 2005), India has
taken a unique step to set up a "National Knowledge Commission (NKC)." Here are
some of its its salient features as reported in the print media:
India's National Knowledge Commission (NKC): Plan of Action
India's National Knowledge Commission (NKC) with Mr Sam Pitroda as Chairman and
Dr P.M.Bhargawa, a molecular biologist, as Vice Chairman has to develop a
concrete plan of action by October 2 this year, and it has to be implemented in
the next 36 months by October 2, 2008, when the Commission will wind up,
submitting a report on tasks done, according to a news report.*
Terms of Reference
The main terms of reference of the Commission, referred to as the Knowledge
Pentagon, include:
(i) Building excellence in the educational system to meet the knowledge
challenges of the 21st Century,
(ii) Promote research in Science and Technology,
(iii)Improve the management of institutions engaged in Intellectual Property
Rights,
(iv) Promote knowledge applications in agriculture and industry, and
(v) Promote the use of knowledge capabilities to make the government effective,
transparent, accountable and public-oriented. Check the details of this news
item, reproduced below for convenience.*
Background
The Indian Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh announced on January 12, 2005 in
Kolkata that the Government will create a "Knowledge Commission," to strengthen
the roots and sinews of India's capacity and capability-building, so that India
is better prepared for the challenges of the 21st Century. Check this news item
in The Hindu Busiess Line, January 13, 2005, Thursday at
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/01/13/stories/200501130357030
0.htm.
THE QUESTION:
CAN THIS GROUP, AS A THINK TANK, CONTIBUTE TO THE DELIBERATIONS OF THE
COMMISSION, SAY, BY SUBMITTING A MEMORANDUM TO IT ON ITS TERMS OF REFERENCE [AND
OF COURSE ANY ISSUE CONSIDERED RELEVANT TO IT]?.
ANY IDEA AS TO HOW TO PROCEED FURTHER IN THE MATTER?
Notes:
1.The proposed memorandum may be finalised by the Group and presented to the
Commission by a fixed date, say, latest by Monday, May 9, 2005.
2.All the deliberations on the subject should be online only.
3.If sufficient response is not received from the Group,the proposal may be
dropped.
Guiding Principle for the Memorandum:
All knowledge is useless if it does not serve any social good.
Dr D.C.MISRA
May 1, 2005
______________________________________________________________________________
*APPENDIX
Education to get a Pitroda dose
Sam back as chairman of national commission with aim to make
India `knowledge power'
BHAVNA VIJ-AURORA
Posted online: Saturday, April 30, 2005 at 0144 hours IST
NEW DELHI, APRIL 29: Having headed the Technology Mission during the tenure of
late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, the Gandhi family's favourite technocrat Sam
Pitroda is back as Chairman of the National Knowledge Commission set up by the
UPA Government.
And once again Pitroda will be rendering his services free of cost,not drawing
any salary like other members of the Commission.Comprising experts in various
fields, the Commission will advise Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on
policy-related matters regarding the management of knowledge areas. It will
primarily focus on refurbishing, reviving and redeploying the entire education
system so
that it can build new knowledge resources.
Believed to be the brainchild of Pitroda himself, the Commission will have
molecular biologist Dr P.M. Bhargava as the Vice-Chairman. The other members
would be chosen by Pitroda. The aim of the NKC, according to the PMO, is to
establish India as a ``knowledge power''in the world.
``The Commission has to develop a concrete plan of action by October 2 this
year, and it has to be implemented in the next 36 months by October 2, 2008,
when the Commission will wind up, submitting a report on tasks done,'' disclosed
an official.
The main terms of reference of the Commission, as approved by the Cabinet — and
referred to as the Knowledge Pentagon — include building excellence in the
educational system to meet the knowledge challenges of the 21st Century; promote
research in Science and Technology; improve the management of institutions
engaged in Intellectual Property Rights; promote knowledge applications in
agriculture and industry; and to promote the use of knowledge
capabilities to make the government effective, transparent, accountable and
public-oriented.
Working groups from various related ministries — HRD, Science and Technology,
Commerce and Industry, Agriculture, and Information Technology — will be
associated with the functioning of the Commission. Moreover, ministers in charge
of the various ministries will be part of a National Steering Group, headed by
the PM, to oversee the Commission's work.
Sources said technical support would be provided to the Commission by a group of
10 young recruits, hired from premier educational institutions like the IIMs and
IITs. The Planning Commission would act as the nodal agency for the NKC as
regards to administrative work, handling logistics, planning and for budgeting
purposes.
(Source: Vij-Aurora, Bhavna (2005): Education to get a Pitroda dose, The Indian
Express, New Delhi, April 30, 2005, Saturday, p-5, available:
http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=69486).
(Source: http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/cyberquiz/message/593)
Friday, May 20, 2005
News: India to set up Knowledge Commission
Indian Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh declared on January 12, 2005
in Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) the Government's decision to create
a "Knowledge Commission', to strengthen the roots and sinews of
India's capacity and capability-building, so that India is better
prepared for the challenges of the 21st Century.
(Source: *The Hindu Business Line, Internet Edition, January 13, 2005,
Thursday,
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/01/13/stories/200501130357030
0.htm)
Dr D.C.Misra
January 14, 2005.
(Source: http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/cyberquiz/message/355)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
*Govt to create knowledge commission: PM
Our Bureau
Kolkata , Jan. 12
THE Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh on Wednesday declared the Government's decision to create a `knowledge commission', to "strengthen the roots and sinews of our capacity and capability-building, so that we are better prepared for the challenges of the 21st Century."
Speaking at the inaugural plenary session of the CII Partnership Summit 2005, the Prime Minister said the commission would be a catalyst in setting ambitious knowledge targets and enabling agencies to attain these. Clarifying that this was the new exercise thought of by the Government to innovate and rejuvenate "our knowledge institutions", he said the agenda of the commission will be shaped by a knowledge pentagon with five areas of action, to increase access to knowledge for public benefit, develop new concepts of higher education, rejuvenate science and technology institutions, enable application of knowledge by industry to enhance manufacturing competitiveness and encourage intensive use of knowledge-based services by the Government to empower citizens.
Urging reorientation of Indian industries to create application of knowledge to increase productivity, gain competitive advantage and improve the conditions of people engaged in work, the Prime Minister said, "above all, we must become not merely a knowledge producing society but a knowledge-sharing and knowledge-consuming society."
Access to knowledge will strengthen liberal democracy at the grassroots, he pointed out.
Suggesting that building a knowledge-economy and knowledge-society was the only way to meet the challenge of globalisation, he said, "I want business leaders as well as our political and intellectual leaders to work with the Knowledge Commission so that we can build a more open society and a more open economy."
in Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) the Government's decision to create
a "Knowledge Commission', to strengthen the roots and sinews of
India's capacity and capability-building, so that India is better
prepared for the challenges of the 21st Century.
(Source: *The Hindu Business Line, Internet Edition, January 13, 2005,
Thursday,
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/01/13/stories/200501130357030
0.htm)
Dr D.C.Misra
January 14, 2005.
(Source: http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/cyberquiz/message/355)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
*Govt to create knowledge commission: PM
Our Bureau
Kolkata , Jan. 12
THE Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh on Wednesday declared the Government's decision to create a `knowledge commission', to "strengthen the roots and sinews of our capacity and capability-building, so that we are better prepared for the challenges of the 21st Century."
Speaking at the inaugural plenary session of the CII Partnership Summit 2005, the Prime Minister said the commission would be a catalyst in setting ambitious knowledge targets and enabling agencies to attain these. Clarifying that this was the new exercise thought of by the Government to innovate and rejuvenate "our knowledge institutions", he said the agenda of the commission will be shaped by a knowledge pentagon with five areas of action, to increase access to knowledge for public benefit, develop new concepts of higher education, rejuvenate science and technology institutions, enable application of knowledge by industry to enhance manufacturing competitiveness and encourage intensive use of knowledge-based services by the Government to empower citizens.
Urging reorientation of Indian industries to create application of knowledge to increase productivity, gain competitive advantage and improve the conditions of people engaged in work, the Prime Minister said, "above all, we must become not merely a knowledge producing society but a knowledge-sharing and knowledge-consuming society."
Access to knowledge will strengthen liberal democracy at the grassroots, he pointed out.
Suggesting that building a knowledge-economy and knowledge-society was the only way to meet the challenge of globalisation, he said, "I want business leaders as well as our political and intellectual leaders to work with the Knowledge Commission so that we can build a more open society and a more open economy."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
