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)