Textbooks published by the National Council of Education and Research (NCERT) for middle and high school classes in India have omitted some chapters that were, till recently, thought to be necessary for the development of scientific temper among children. Among the most noticeable of all deletions are the chapters on evolution and the chapter on the Periodic Table of Elements from the Class 9 and Class 10 science textbooks. NCERT has called these deletions a curriculum “rationalisation” exercise necessitated by the Covid pandemic.Faith-based denunciations of Darwin’s theory of evolution have gone on ever since the publication of On the Origin of Species in November 1859. The creation of man by god has always been among the most well-guarded and preserved fables of several religions and religious societies. Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Algeria and Oman do not teach evolution in schools or universities. In Egypt and Tunisia, evolution is taught but it is presented as an “unproven hypothesis”. Not very long ago, some states in the United States had either banned the teaching of evolution or decided to teach it alongside “creationism”. It required several landmark judgments of the country’s supreme court to block the restrictions on teaching evolution. Louisiana, Florida, Colorado and Tennessee wanted to pass a law/bill giving teachers the option to not teach evolution. Thus, the opponents of Darwin seem to share a common thread of obscurantism and conservatism. Not surprisingly, the opposition is geography agnostic.It is important to emphasise why evolution needs to be taught at the school level in India. In a country which reels under the burden of institutionalised caste and various other forms of inequalities, teaching evolution from an early stage helps to shape critical minds and sharpen arguments against institutionalised discrimination. After Karl Marx gifted Darwin his book, Capital (Vol I), the scientist wrote back, “Though our studies have been so different, I believe that we both earnestly desire the extension of knowledge and that this, in the long run, is sure to add to the happiness of mankind”. Reading and understanding the evolution of humans beyond the fables of religious manuscripts is happiness indeed.NCERT claims that the post-Covid “rationalisation” only involves the removal of repetitions. Chapters on evolution have, indeed, been retained in Class 11 and 12 science curricula. Even then, this approach is somewhat irrational for two reasons.First, the teaching of evolution will be limited now to students who take up science in Class 11. The data from the 2016 report of the National University of Education, Planning and Administration, shows that the school dropout rate at the secondary school level in India varies between 17 to 27 per cent with gender, caste and economic reasons playing an important role. The 75th round of National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) data also shows that 74 per cent of the population, 18 years and above, dropped out of school before reaching Class 12. Many young students could lose an opportunity to study evolution after the NCERT’s rationalisation exercise.Second, teaching evolution to primary or secondary school children is about more than imparting scientific knowledge. It is part of the holistic scientific development which children should undergo at school. To make the child accustomed to the basics of evolution is broadening her horizon to understand the process of life beyond the realms of socio-religious cliches. It generates ideas and enhances rational thinking. It imparts the ability to question the status quo. Science helps society by asking uncomfortable questions about itself and initiating debates. The NCERT should have emphasised this inexhaustible power of science.In a consumerist world, nations work through optics. Notwithstanding its attempts to make India a Hindu Rashtra, the government wants to appear good to the rest of the world. The deletion of evolution from school textbooks is, therefore, bad optics. The prestigious scientific journal, Nature has done an editorial on the rationalisation exercises. It notes that in recent times India is taking pride in its ancient knowledge. The editorial then goes on to say “India is not the only post-colonial country grappling with the question of how to honour and recognise older or Indigenous forms of knowledge in its school curricula. New Zealand is trialling the teaching of Maori ‘ways of knowing’ — matauranga Maori — in a selection of schools across the country. But it is not removing important scientific content to accommodate the new material, and for good reason”.NCERT has failed to see that “good reason”.The writer is Professor, Department of Orthopaedics, AIIMS, New Delhi.Views are personal
In the game of musical chairs, which is the defining hallmark of Nepali politics, Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda”, the Maoist leader, is in his fourth innings as prime minister since 2008. His recent visit to India from May 31 to June 3 was also his fourth as PM and arguably his most successful. Part of the reason may lie in the evolution of Prachanda himself from a revolutionary leader to a seasoned politician, more nuanced and supple in his approach. What he said about the change in his outlook in 2016 was much more in evidence during his current visit to India.Referring to the strained relations with India during his first term as PM in 2008-9, he had said in 2016: “At that point, the impact of the revolution and war was very strong on my mind. I needed more time to understand the nuances of politics. After the ups and downs of the past decade, I think I will be able to strengthen relations between our two countries with more maturity.”The personal transformation was also evident in his donning of the traditional Nepali national dress, daura suruwal, for formal occasions on the visit. Earlier he would only wear western dress to emphasise the revolutionary break with feudal tradition. Another first was his visit to the Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain to offer prayers. This would have laid to rest any residual misgivings in the BJP government about having to deal with an unreformed, and possibly dangerous, communist.Prachanda was justifiably satisfied with the results of his visit. He dispensed with the raising of contentious issues which would detract attention from the opportunities for substantive progress. The revision of the India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1950 was not raised, perhaps for the first time in recent years. The report of the Eminent Persons’ Group, available since 2018, which has recommendations the Indian government is not enthusiastic about, such as turning the existing open border into a regulated one, was not pursued though pressed on by other Nepali politicians in advance of the visit. The inconvenient issue of the recruitment of Nepali Gurkha soldiers by the Indian Army, in the wake of the Agnipath scheme adopted by India, was apparently not part of the talks. The Nepali demand is that the Gurkha recruits from Nepal be exempted from the four-year tenure laid down under the scheme.In the three one-to-one meetings that Prachanda reportedly had with PM Modi, several significant outcomes were achieved. These include a long-term agreement which is targeted at 10,000 MW of power supply to India in a 10-year time frame against the current 450 MW. Nepal will be able to supply initially about 40 MW of power from India to Bangladesh, which is an important breakthrough. The ambitious Pancheshwar 5,000 MW hydro-project, which has been on the cards since 1996, is to be fast-tracked but, given the record so far, one should not hold one’s breath. The Transit Treaty between the two countries has been renewed and Nepal has now been given access to India’s inland water transport network which will enhance its connectivity with India and presumably to Bangladesh, though this has not been specifically stated. The existing Motihari (India)-Amlekhganj (Nepal) petroleum products pipeline will now be extended to Chitwan and a second pipeline from Siliguri (India) to Jhapa (Nepal) has been agreed upon. These will greatly enhance Nepal’s energy security and provide it with efficient, safe, and secure supplies.Several cross-border rail connectivity projects which have been completed or are under construction and the existing and proposed border Integrated Checkpoints (ICP) will ease travel and cargo movement between the two countries. The overall sense one gets is that the political and psychological barriers that have long hampered cooperation between the two countries have diminished. PM Modi reflected this new, more positive mood when he said that borders should not become barriers to cooperation.Prachanda could not but bring up the border issue between the two countries, particularly the extravagant and unilateral claim suddenly made in May 2020 for nearly 350 sq km of territory in the Lipulekh area. This greatly enlarged the original 35 sq km of disputed territory in the upper reaches of the Kali River. There is no way India can concede on this issue. It also involves a sensitive stretch of border with China. Nepal has locked itself into a rigid position by incorporating the additional claim into its constitution and issuing new maps. Prachanda must know this. In agreeing to address all outstanding issues including the border issue in bilateral deliberations, PM Modi has been sensitive to Prachanda’s political compulsions.India has been deeply concerned about China’s increasing presence and political intervention in Nepal’s domestic politics. Though this has not been acknowledged, China did figure in the talks Prachanda had with India’s National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval soon after he arrived in Delhi and later with PM Modi himself. India has not hesitated to use its leverage over Nepal to dissuade it from getting locked into major Chinese-assisted infrastructure projects. There has been a persistent refusal to purchase power from Chinese-assisted power projects or even those which have been set up with Chinese machinery and equipment. It is difficult to see how this may be enforced since once power enters the grid it is fungible. It may require direct and dedicated transmission lines from non-Chinese aided or Chinese-built power projects to India, but this is not an efficient or cost-effective way to manage cross-border transmission. It appears that India did not concede on thisissue.Chinese plans for infrastructure development in Nepal, such as the proposed Shigatse (Tibet)-Kathmandu rail link, have stalled mainly because Nepal wants these to be financed through grants rather than loans. The example of Sri Lanka and now Pakistan, which have fallen into a debt trap allegedly through over-exposure to expensive Chinese financing, has introduced a degree of caution not only in Nepal but among other South Asian countries as well. This has created space for India to expand its profile once again in its neighbourhood and Nepal is no exception.Prachanda’s visit marks a more positive and hopeful turn in India-Nepal relations and he deserves credit for that.The writer is a former Foreign Secretary and a former ambassador to Nepal
Not only the students facing deportation from Canada are undergoing financial stress and anxiety but also their helpless parents in Punjab who are spending sleepless nights worrying about their beleaguered children caught in the “fake college offer letter” mess for no fault of theirs.Lovepreet Singh, a student facing deportation in Canada, left for the North American country in 2017 for higher education. Upon arriving, he discovered that the offer letter provided by the college was fake, despite having paid a part of the first semester fee amounting to Rs 3.65 lakh, apart from other expenses.He then approached the Canadian authorities for temporary permission to continue staying in his dream destination. However, he recently received an expulsion order scheduled for June 13.Fortunately, on Saturday, the Canadian government temporarily halted the deportation orders, giving hope to Lovepreet and his family.“For the past six years we haven’t been able to sleep properly ever since our son left for Canada in 2017,” said Sarabjit Kaur, Lovepreet’s mother, while speaking to The Indian Express from Chatamla village in Punjab’s Ropar district. She expressed her distress, stating that her son is caught between the devil and the deep blue sea.Lovepreet has spent six years in Canada, enduring a significant financial burden, and now faces deportation. She said if he is deported, his career and life will be ruined as it will indicate a black mark against him for no fault of his. His chances of going to other countries will be at stake.Also, starting afresh in India after being deported won’t be easy, she added. Joga Singh, a small farmer and Lovepreet’s father, fears that his son’s dream of settling in Canada will be shattered if he is deported. He believes that the government should not only punish the fraudulent agents responsible for this mess but also investigate the role of Canadian colleges that provide fake offer letters to students from Punjab.Vinay Sally, another student from Batala (Gurdaspur district), is also sailing in the same boat. He aspired to pursue higher studies in Canada after completing his B.Pharm in Punjab. However, he too received a fake offer letter from Jalandhar-based agent Brijesh Mishra’s firm, Education Migration Services. Sally’s dreams were shattered when he realised that the seat he was promised was not available at the intended college.The agent only refunded Rs 3 lakh out of Rs 12 lakh paid to him, leaving Sally in a debt of $20,000 as he had to arrange for his fee. Despite his struggles, Sally managed to complete his studies in “digital marketing”, but he still aspires to pursue a course in pharmacy to work in his field. However, he is burdened with financial obligations due to his deportation case’s huge expense. Ajmer Singh, father of Balbir Singh from Amritsar, faced a similar situation when his son went to Canada in 2018. Ajmer Singh had to sell a portion of his land to fund his son’s education.The news of deportation has devastated their family. These are not isolated cases. Hundreds of parents in Punjab are suffering from depression and stress upon learning that their wards, along with 700 other students, are facing deportation from Canada due to the fraudulent actions of their travel agents. Most of these parents are knee-deep in debt. Today they are just praying for justice for their children and punishment for those responsible for their predicament.After the Canadian government halted the deportation orders for the time being, Punjab NRI Affairs Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal assured that the government will make every effort to stop the deportation of these students from Canada and provide them free legal assistance as well.The minister has already reached out to the Indian and Canadian officials to resolve these students’ issues. After the deportation issue came to the fore in March, the Jalandhar police had filed an FIR against Brijesh Mishra and his associates.A look out circular (LOC) was issued against Mishra on March 21. Mishra, who had previously been arrested for immigration fraud, managed to open a new company and continue his fraudulent activities. The police have charged Mishra and his accomplices under various sections of the IPC.The families bearing the brunt of this fraud are urging authorities on both sides to deliver justice and bring the culprits to book. They say that their children possess legal documents to prove their qualifications, required IELTS scores, and fee payment receipts. Failure to punish the agents responsible for this mess could put thousands of other students from Punjab in similar situations in the future, they add. The Punjab-origin MPs in Canada have also come forward to assist the embattled students.
Some Indian students in Canada facing the prospect of deportation on charges of obtaining visas using fake admission letters have received “stay orders” from Canadian authorities, government sources said on Sunday.India has repeatedly been urging Canadian authorities to be fair and take a humanitarian approach since the students were allegedly victims of some agents.The sources also said that the actual number of Indian students facing deportation from Canada is much less than 700.“Most of these students had gone to Canada during 2017-2019. After completing their studies, some of them obtained work permits, while others continue to study in Canada,” said a source.India has been taking up the matter with Canadian authorities, in Canada and in New Delhi.External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also took up with matter with his Canadian counterpart.“Canadian authorities were repeatedly urged to be fair and take a humanitarian approach since the students were not at fault,” said the source cited above.“It was also pointed out that there were gaps in the Canadian system and a lack of diligence, owing to which the students were granted visa and also allowed to enter Canada,” it added.In the last few days, Canadian parliamentarians across political parties have spoken in support of the students. Immigration Minister Sean Frasier has indicated that Canada is actively pursuing a solution for international students who are facing uncertainty, the sources said.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged the need for fair treatment of the students.“Some students have recently received stay orders on their deportation notices,” the source said.“It is welcome that the consistent efforts by the government of India has been instrumental in the Canadian government adopting a humane approach and taking on board the perspective of the students,” the source said.
UPSC CSE Prelims Result 2023: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) today declared the Civil Services preliminary exam result 2023. Candidates can check the results at the official website – upsc.gov.inThis year, the preliminary exam was conducted on May 28. A total of 14624 candidates have been recommended by the commission. Those who qualify will now appear for mains which will be held from September 15. Along with Civil Services, the commission has also declared the results of India Forest Services exam.The candidature of these candidates is provisional. In accordance with the Rules of the Examination, all these candidates have to apply again in the Detailed Application Form-I (DAF-I) for the Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2023. The dates and important instructions for filling up of the DAF-I and its submission will be announced in due course.Eligible candidates are permitted six attempts at the CSE. However, candidates belonging to SC and ST category are permitted unlimited attempts while OBC candidates can give nine attempts. PwBD candidates belonging to general and EWS category are also permitted for nine attempts.
Earlier this year in March, the news of ChatGPT failing the UPSC Prelims 2022 made rounds on the internet. People were amused but not surprised to know that even ChatGPT could not crack the IAS Exam; it is one of the toughest examinations in the world with more than 10 Lakh applicants on an average, and the success rate is only 1%.Ensuring Difficulty Through UnpredictabilityYear by year, UPSC sustains the difficulty level of the Civil Services Exams by altering question types, patterns, themes, subtopics, ratio of questions from different sections, and other aspects of Prelim & Main papers that no coaching or teacher can certainly predict. One may say that this unpredictability is a clever strategy adopted by UPSC to stay one step ahead of the candidates and coaching institutes.For instance, in the Main Examination 2022, the essay paper surprised the candidates by introducing philosophical prompts in the entire paper. The tilt towards philosophical essays has put many aspirants in trouble as these kinds of questions need to be answered through a different approach than the essays based on current affairs.New Trends in Prelim 2023This year’s CSE Prelim paper substantially deviated from the past year trends and patterns. Nobody had expected that there would be 18 questions of Assertion and Reason (AR) type. “In 2022, no AR question was asked in the paper and there were less than five of them in the preceding years. These kinds of questions are quite time-consuming, and they used to be important about 10-15 years ago. UPSC seems to have brought back this trend now. It implies that there is a need to understand the subjective interpretation of topics,” says Satya Prakash (HOD, UPSC, Disha Publication).According to the analysis done by Disha Experts, the UPSC has increased its focus on Geography, International Relations, and Polity. There were more map-based questions in the exam than ever. There is a shift from direct questions towards concept-based questions. There is also an increase in current as well as applied based questions. However, the most notable feature of Prelims 2023 is that about 46 questions have a “Unique Option Pattern” like Only One, Only Two, All Three, And None. As a result, it is impossible to use Elimination Techniques in these questions which were frequently applied by candidates earlier.In the GS Paper 2 (CSAT), Quantitative Aptitude questions were found to be of moderate difficulty. However, the Reading Comprehension part was lengthy.How to Deal with Changing CSE Trends?If unpredictability is the rule of UPSC, deep conceptual understanding combined with practice is the key to gaining confidence and overcoming surprises in the exam.Core subject knowledge and an analytical bent of mind will help you score where techniques like elimination and guessing won’t work. You gain in-depth knowledge of a topic when you look at it from multiple perspectives. Such a vantage point can only be offered by previous year questions of all past years that you can attempt after finishing each topic, such as Disha’s 29 Years Civil Services IAS Prelims Topic-wise Solved Papers 1 & 2 by Mrunal Patel.Another obvious but often ignored advice is that one should not leave an entire subject/topic to focus on others as many of the questions are actually amalgamation of one or more topics. This, in turn, means that you need a strong conceptual understanding, especially to deal with Unique Option type questions where elimination trick is impossible to use.A mastery of NCERT concepts will also help, not only to build a strong foundation for advanced concepts but to make connections for Mains answer writing too.Study from resources that provide complete, integrated coverage of old and new NCERT concepts while presenting content in one-liner format to save your precious time. For instance, Disha’s NCERT Digest series will really get you sorted.Furthermore, Disha’s unique TextGuides series have been designed to build strong conceptual base of aspirants along with providing ample practice. TextGuides are the only books in the market that come equipped with ‘Expert’s Advice’ – a unique feature that tells you what to study, which topics are important and how to frame answers. These exam oriented TextGuides can be trusted to qualify Mains papers in a single attempt!In view of the latest exam trends, your grasp on Geography and Maps will substantially impact your overall score. You need more than just an Atlas to prepare this important section. Disha has recently introduced ‘Master Geography Through Maps’ with PYQs and Expert’s Advice which can definitely help you in this direction.UPSC Exam is the test of your knowledge and determination. So, persevere in your efforts and study with a solid strategy in place. Seek books that act as your mentors too. Explore Disha’s complete range of Civil Services books here which are read and recommended by toppers: Buy 2023 Civil Service Exam Preparation Books– Disha Publication
