National Knowledge Commission 2009

1. National Knowledge Commission2009 National Knowledge Commission Government of India

2. The National Knowledge Commission (NKC) was constituted as an advisory body to the Prime Minister to help restructure knowledge related institutions and infrastructure to meet the challenges of the 21st Century with a focus on meeting the aspirations of the 550 million young in an increasingly global knowledge society Vision National Knowledge Commission Government of India

3. Organization PM NKC CHAIRMAN PLANNING COMMISSION MINISTRIES / STATES MEMBERS SUPPORT STAFF National Knowledge Commission Government of India

4. Commission Members • Mr. Sam Pitroda (Chairman) • Prof. P. Balaram • Dr. Ashok Ganguly • Prof. Jayati Ghosh • Dr. Deepak Nayyar • Mr. Nandan Nilekani • Dr. Sujatha Ramdorai • Prof. Amitabh Mattoo National Knowledge Commission Government of India

5. Advisors • Mr. S. Regunathan • Dr. Kiran Datar • Dr. Kumud Bansal • Mr. C N S Nair National Knowledge Commission Government of India

6. Methodology Identify focus areas/target groups Consultations – formal and informal Background research and analysis Constitution of Working Groups Internal deliberations of NKC Finalization of recommendations Submission to PM in the form of letter to PM Widespread dissemination Implementation National Knowledge Commission Government of India

7. Knowledge Pentagon Access Services Concepts Application Creation National Knowledge Commission Government of India

8. Focus Areas (I) ACCESS • Right to Education • Literacy • Translation • Libraries • Language • Networks • Portals CONCEPTS- EDUCATION • School • Vocational • Higher • Professional • Open and Distance • More Talented Students in Maths and Science • More Quality Ph.Ds National Knowledge Commission Government of India

9. Focus Areas (II) CREATION • Innovation & Entrepreneurship • Intellectual Property Rights • Science & Technology APPLICATION • Traditional Knowledge • Agriculture • Small & Medium Scale Enterprises SERVICES • e-Governance National Knowledge Commission Government of India

10. Access Challenges Development Concepts Services Knowledge Pentagon Demography NKC Strategy Disparity Applications Creation Knowledge Network Libraries School Education Vocational Education Higher Education Innovation Agriculture Health e-Governance National Knowledge Commission Government of India

11. Recommendations Submitted 2006 • Libraries • Translation • Language • Knowledge Network • Portals • Right to Education • Higher Education • Vocational Education • National Science and Social Science Foundation • Legal Framework for Public Funded Research • e-Governance National Knowledge Commission Government of India

12. Libraries • Conduct a survey of all State libraries • Modernize and Network public libraries • Digitization • Library Charter: NKC has recommended a Library Charter which outlines a holistic approach for the development of the entire Library and Information sector • Singapore model: (guiding principles) • Libraries for life- Knowledge for Success • Libraries should serve the needs of the whole community • Libraries power the knowledge based economy National Knowledge Commission Government of India

13. Translation • Provide impetus for developing translation as an industry • Identify knowledge based texts in different languages (Indian and Foreign) at all levels, and translate them into languages of Education in India, in a time bound manner • Support various translation activities through fellowships, subsidies and grants for travel, publication, and research to individuals and institutions including publication enterprises • Promote incorporation of translated material into syllabi of schools, colleges and universities National Knowledge Commission Government of India

14. Language • Introduce English, along with the first language starting from Class I in school • Modify pedagogy of language learning/ teaching • Train all school teachers in English language (especially at the primary level) regardless of subject expertise through vacation training programmes or other short-term courses • Induct graduates with high proficiency in English and good communication skills without formal teacher-training qualifications • Use all available media for Language learning including audio-visual, print etc National Knowledge Commission Government of India

15. Knowledge Network • Interconnect all universities, libraries, laboratories, hospitals and agricultural institutions to share data and resources across the state • To begin with, existing commercial networks may be utilized, eventually sliding into a hybrid network with a central Core of a relatively few nodes, and an outer network constituted by practically each one of the other operators’ network • One time capital support should be given to user institutions to set up Fast Ethernet LAN • A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) consisting of major stakeholders should manage the day to day working National Knowledge Commission Government of India

16. Network Priorities • e-Governance • Education & Research • Higher Education & Research Institutes • School Education • Secondary Education • Primary Education • Health • Libraries • e-Commerce National Knowledge Commission Government of India

17. Portals Create national web based portals for basic needs on certain key sectors such as Water, Energy, Environment, Education, Food, Health, Agriculture, Employment, Citizens’ Rights etc Management by a consortium consisting of representatives from a wide range of stakeholders Provide access to government held data Encourage collaborative funding Portals on Water, Energy, Environment, Teachers and Biodiversity have been developed Water Portal has been developed by Arghyam Trust; the Energy Portal developed by TERI; Environment Portal developed by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE); Teachers Portal developed by the Azim Premji Foundation; Biodiversity Portal developed by ATREE National Knowledge Commission Government of India

18. Right to Education A legislation on Right to Education must be enforced by the central government following upon the commitment made in the Constitutional Amendment Article 21A A financial provision requiring the central government to provide the bulk of the additional funds needed to ensure the Right to Education must be there in the Central legislation, The responsibility of the Government, at different levels, must be recognized and made justiciable National Knowledge Commission Government of India

19. Higher Education • Recommendations focus on Expansion, Excellence and Inclusion in the Higher Education System • Expand capacity by establishing new universities and lowering entry barriers for setting up the same - Attain a gross enrolment ratio of at least 15 per cent by 2015 • Establish 50 National Universities as exemplars offering a variety of disciplines and admitting students on an all India basis • Create models for community colleges that provide credit and non credit courses leading to two year associate degrees. These would include general education programmes as well as employment oriented programmes. National Knowledge Commission Government of India

20. Higher Education • Restructure the system of affiliated undergraduate colleges • Establish an Independent Regulatory Authority for Higher Education (IRAHE) with the authority to accord degree granting powers to higher education institutions • Multiple accreditation agencies must be licensed by the IRAHE to assess quality • Promote enhanced quality and accountability through stringent information disclosure norms, up gradation of infrastructure, salary differentials etc • Set up a State Board of Undergraduate Education as an affiliating body for new colleges/institutions National Knowledge Commission Government of India

21. Higher Education • Improve quality in existing colleges through: • Governance reforms • Mechanism for frequent curricula revisions • Greater reliance on internal assessment • Shift to a course credit system • Encouraging research • Up gradation of infrastructure • Salary differentials to attract and retain talented faculty • Peer evaluation of faculty National Knowledge Commission Government of India

22. Higher Education • Diversify sources of financing, encouraging private participation as well as philanthropic contributions • Ensure access for all deserving students through well funded scholarships and affirmative action that takes into account multi dimensionality of deprivation National Knowledge Commission Government of India

23. Vocational Education • Increase the flexibility of VET within the mainstream education system • Quantify and monitor the impact of vocational education • Increase resource allocation to vocational education • Expand capacity through innovative delivery models • Enhance the training options available for the unorganized and informal sector • Ensure a robust regulatory and accreditation framework • Ensure proper certification • Undertake a re-branding exercise National Knowledge Commission Government of India

24. National Science & Social Science Foundation Set up a National Science and Social Science Foundation (NS3F) which will look at all knowledge as one seamless entity The objectives of the NS3F would include: suggest policy initiatives to make India a leader in the creation and use of new knowledge in all areas of natural, physical, agricultural, health, and social sciences. ensure that science and technology are maximally used for betterment of the lives of our people National Knowledge Commission Government of India

25. Legal Framework for Public Funded Research • To create more incentives for R&D, NKC has recommended the enactment of legislation that would create a uniform legal framework for government funded research in the country • The proposed legislation should give universities and research institutions ownership and patent rights over inventions arising out of government funded research • The proposed legislation should create an enabling environment for universities and research institutions to commercialize such inventions through licensing arrangements where inventors would also be allowed to receive a share of the royalty • The proposed enactment should also incorporate important safeguards for exceptional circumstances where the government could be given 'march in rights' to protect the public good National Knowledge Commission Government of India

26. E- Governance • Re-engineer government processes first, to change basic governance pattern for simplicity, transparency, productivity and efficiency • Develop common standards, encouraging wherever possible open source software implementations and open standards • Deploy a common platform and national infrastructure for e-governance providing nationwide secure broadband infrastructure and associated hardware, software and hosting facilities with easy access at all levels • Select 10 to 20 important services that make a critical difference, simplify them and offer them as web-based services • Create an appropriate central focused organization with structures that can operate in mission mode to ensure implementation of NeGP. The organization should have adequate representation from industry and government National Knowledge Commission Government of India

27. Recommendations Submitted 2007 • Letters submitted to Prime Minister • Management Education • Medical Education • Legal Education • Health Information Network • Traditional Health Systems • Intellectual Property Rights • Open Educational Resources • Open and Distance Education • Report on “Innovation in India” National Knowledge Commission Government of India

28. Professional Education • Governance reforms: Introduce autonomy in local colleges of professional education • Establish independent and multiple accreditation agencies for all professional institutions • Promote quality through curriculum revision according to new developments and evaluation reforms to focus on critical thinking and problem solving and research • Promote research by creating vibrant Ph.D. programmes and making universities the hub of research • Faculty Development: Open training centres to train and update faculty with latest developments in their profession National Knowledge Commission Government of India

29. Professional Education • Expand seats in nursing, paramedics and pharmacy streams • A three tiered structure consisting of a one year diploma course, a three year B.Sc course and a three year Master’s course may be introduced in Public Health • Introduce medical informatics as a course in medical colleges • Introduce courses for non-traditional management streams eg. agri business, rural banking, public utilities etc. • Create mechanisms for integrating science and engineering education • Encourage industry-academia interaction to enhance employability • Improve access to professional education through appropriate financial help National Knowledge Commission Government of India

30. Health Information Network and Traditional Health Systems • Initiate Indian Health Information Network Development (IHIND) by creating a web-based network, connecting all health care establishments in both private and public and public sector • Establish national standards for clinical terminology and health informatics • Create a common electronic health record (EHR) • Promote use of IT in health care • Form public-private partnership for a financially viable plan National Knowledge Commission Government of India

31. Health Information Network and Traditional Health Systems • Traditional medicine education needs urgent reforms to improve quality • Support non-government initiatives in traditional health systems • Promote research in traditional medicine • Digitize traditional knowledge • Initiate re-branding of traditional health systems National Knowledge Commission Government of India

32. Intellectual Property Rights • Build a world class IPR infrastructure with steps to modernize patent offices with computerization, e-filing, process re-engineering, human resource development, transparency, documentation etc. • Intensify IPR training in IPR Offices and educational institutions and create IPR Cells • Establish an IPR Tribunal, a national institution for cutting edge IPR policy and a Global technology Acquisition Fund National Knowledge Commission Government of India

33. Open and Distance Education & Open Education Resources • To promote Distance Education create a national ICT infrastructure • Develop web based common open resources • Establish a credit bank and provide a national testing service • Regulation to be performed by a sub committee under the proposed IRAHE • Leverage global open educational resources in a comprehensive manner and encourage open access for all educational material National Knowledge Commission Government of India

34. Recommendations Submitted 2008 • Letters submitted to Prime Minister • School Education • More Talented Students in Maths and Science • Engineering Education • More Quality Ph.Ds • Entrepreneurship National Knowledge Commission Government of India

35. School Education • Decentralization, community participation and greater local autonomy in the management of schools • Develop and strengthen enabling and regulating mechanisms for private schools • Create database and tracking system for schools and school going children • Promote greater coordination amongst departments for school education • Revamp school inspection with greater role for local stakeholders • Restore dignity of school teachers and revamp teacher training programmes and institutes • Promote use of ICT in schools • Devise curricular and examination reforms especially at the Board level in light of NCF 2005 National Knowledge Commission Government of India

36. Maths and Science Education • Launch a massive science outreach programme aimed at students and their parents – Introduce Mobile labs and establish science centers • Expand undergraduate seats in good institutes • Revamp teacher training at all levels and promote development of teaching aids • Restructure masters and graduate degrees to promote career flexibility after graduation • Reform science curriculum content and increase research component • Re-brand and promote careers in basic sciences National Knowledge Commission Government of India

37. More Quality Ph.Ds • Massive investment in education and research at all levels • Launch a national publicity campaign to attract the best young minds • Initiate major academic and administrative reforms in universities to enable research environments • Ensure quality of doctoral work and academic research to match global standards • Encourage private investment in education, research and innovation • Set up more quality undergraduate teaching institutions • Foster a global outlook in research through collaborations National Knowledge Commission Government of India

38. Entrepreneurship • Implement measures such as single window system, deemed clearance, single composite application form, etc. • Simplify administrative procedures in order to reduce time taken as well as ease processes of company registration, filing of taxes, property registration, etc. • Provide a single point for access to statutory, legal, regulatory information as well as information on funding, subsidies and other government benefits • Create web-based portals and information handbooks for entrepreneurs • Improve physical infrastructure- roads, railways, ports, airlines, power, telecom- for smooth operation of business activity • Encourage ‘Entrepreneurship’- introduction of ‘entrepreneurship’ in school and college syllabus, entrepreneurship clubs, incubation centres, etc. National Knowledge Commission Government of India

39. Recommendations Submitted 2009 • Agriculture • Enhancing Quality of Life National Knowledge Commission Government of India

40. Agriculture • NKC has recommended concrete steps to modernize and stimulate agricultural research institutions, coordinate research and make research support more flexible. • NKC has stressed on improving the organisation of agricultural research, directing more research to neglected areas, providing more effective incentives for researchers and reforming the curricula in agricultural universities. • To improve the scope and efficiency of extension, NKC has stressed making knowledge applications in agriculture community-driven and farmer-led and shifting the focus to provide an integrated range of services. • NKC has also recommended restructuring the Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) to make it more decentralised, participatory and locally responsive, and enhancing the role of private players in agricultural extension delivery. National Knowledge Commission Government of India

41. Enhancing Quality of Life • NKC has focused on knowledge applications for enhancing the well being of common people, especially in rural areas. • Towards this end, NKC has recommended the setting up of Panchayat Gyan Kendras (PGKs) throughout the country which would ensure efficient implementation of NREGA and would eventually develop into resource centres to demonstrate best practices, evolve local solutions and provide a platform for converging different social sector programmes. • NKC has also recommended conceptualising fresh perspectives in tool design to improve dignity of labour and ensure skillful engagement and enhanced productivity. National Knowledge Commission Government of India

42. PM’s Comments “ NKC recommendations on Libraries, Translation, Knowledge Networks, National Portals, Higher Education, Vocational Education are timely and merit immediate attention” “ NKC should not see its role only in terms of guiding reforms in government policy. It must be involved in ensuring the implementation of its innovative ideas. It must finally serve as the lighthouse for society, showing the way forward in the knowledge century” “ The Commission should take its ideas across the country and build consensus” National Knowledge Commission Government of India

43. www.knowledgecommission.gov.inThank You National Knowledge Commission Government of India