Integrated GS: 2016-17 [New Document]: GS-II- 17: Current Topics in Education and Human Resources

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1. What were the major implications of moving “Education” from state list to concurrent list in the seventh schedule of the constitution? Discuss keeping in view the past National Education Policies of India.
2. Discuss the salient features of draft National Education Policy, 2016. To what extent, this policy addresses the problems of the elementary, middle and higher education in the country? Discuss.
3. Examine the current infrastructure in Professional Military Education (PME) in India. Do you agree with the criticism that the proposed Indian National Defence University (INDU) is an unwanted superimposition on current system? Discuss critically.
4. Some express the concern that the Indian National Defence University (INDU) may become yet another dysfunctional bureaucratic monolith. While keeping the draft INDU Bill in focus, critically examine the design and framework around this proposed university.
5. What is the rationale behind proposed Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA)? While discussing its functions and funding, examine its financial viability prospects.
6. While enumerating the parameters of ranking in National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) adopted by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), critically examine importance of such rankings.
7. What are the various issues around Teachers Training in India? Discuss in the light of various initiatives under National Education Mission towards the same.
8. To what extent, the GIAN initiative has been able to achieve its stated objective? Discuss.
9. Despite the fact that the constitution of India has not prescribed any educational qualifications to contest for the Parliament and the State Assemblies; various states in India have prescribed minimum qualifications for Panchayat elections. How it affects our grassroot democracy? Discuss while putting Supreme Court observations in light.
10. Can expansion of MOOCs solve the fundamental inadequacies of Indian Higher Education? What are the challenges? Discuss.
11. “Instead of increasing the private participation in education sector, focus should be on making public schools as good as private ones.” Discuss critically while analyzing the pros and cons of private sector participation in the education sector.
12. “There is high level of inequality in learning outcomes wherein only a small proportion of students are able to acquire good learning.” While focussing on reasons, suggest ways to improve learning outcomes in the country.
13. Despites of its advantages, NEET has been in centre of severe criticism, particularly of its not being pragmatic in character. Discuss critically.
14. Analyze the major challenges to skilling in India. Do you think that creation of a separate ministry has helped to impart formal skill certification to more people in the country? Discuss.
15. What do you understand by Choice Based Credit System (CBCS)? What are its advantages and criticisms? Discuss.
16. Examine the link between techno-centered development approach and Higher education in India? What are the challenges to it? Also suggest reforms to enhance the quality of higher education.
17. What are the major proposals of draft National Education Policy, 2016 towards Right to Education? Do you think that these proposals conflict with the intent of the RTE act? Examine Critically.
18. While elucidating major barriers which stand in the way of girls education, discuss the efforts being made in this direction, along with your suggestions.
19. Discuss with examples the advantages of Community Schooling in the country. To what extent, community schooling can fill the gap in elementary education in the country? Analyze.
20. The no-detention policy has been successful in preventing drop-outs as there is remarkable increase in enrolments in schools. However, the policy has backfired due to several loopholes. Discuss.
21. Successive governments have failed to achieve a 6% of GDP expenditure target for education sector. While keeping in view the limited resources at disposal of the central government, give suggestions to achieve this target.