National Knowledge CommissionBy : Hemlata Shinde

D .Y. Patil School of EducationM.A Education –Sem III (2016-17)

Contents Introduction Objectives Organizational Structure Commission Members Methodology RecommendationsControversies Follow Up Actions

Introduction The  NKC was constituted on 13th June 2005

with a time-frame of three years, from 2nd October 2005 to 2nd October 2008. As a high-level advisory body to the Prime Minister of India, the National Knowledge Commission has been given a mandate to guide policy and direct reforms, focusing on certain key areas such as education, science and technology, agriculture, industry, e-governance etc. Easy access to knowledge, creation and preservation of knowledge systems, dissemination of knowledge and better knowledge services are core concerns of the commission.

• The overarching aim of the National Knowledge Commission is to enable the development of a vibrant knowledge based society. This entails both a radical improvement in existing systems of knowledge, and creating avenues for generating new forms of knowledge.

• Greater participation and more equitable access to knowledge across all sections of society are of vital importance in achieving these goals.

In view of the above, the NKC seeks to develop appropriate institutional frameworks to:

• Strengthen the education system, promote domestic research and innovation, facilitate knowledge application in sectors like health, agriculture, and industry.

• Leverage information and communication technologies to enhance governance and improve connectivity.

• Devise mechanisms for exchange and interaction between knowledge systems in the global arena.

Objectives

Organizational Structure

Members1. Mr. Sam Pitroda (Chairman)

2. Prof. P. Balaram

3. Dr. Ashok Ganguly

4. Prof. Jayati Ghosh

5. Dr. Deepak Nayyar

6. Mr. Nandan Nilekani

7. Dr. Sujatha Ramdorai

8. Prof. Amitabh Mattoo

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

Knowledge Pentagon

Development

Demography

Disparity

Access

Concepts

CreationApplications

Services

Knowledge Network Libraries School Education Vocational Education Higher Education Innovation Agriculture Health e-Governance

NKC Strategy

Knowledge Pentagon

Challenges

Setting up a National Commission on libraries

Provide impetus for developing translation as an industry

Teaching of English as a language should be introduced, along with the first language, starting from class I in school

Recommendations

Build a national knowledge network to connect 5,000 nodes across institutions

Central legislation is required to affirm the Right to Education

Place vocational education entirely under the Ministry of Human Resource Development

Recommendations

Create more universities Change system of regulation for

higher education A National Science and Social

Science Foundation to be established to suggest policy initiatives

Re-engineer government processes before computerisation and develop common standards for services and transactions with citizens

Recommendations

In May 2006 the Commission spoke out against the Human Resource Development Ministry's plans to increase quotas for backward castes in institutions such as the IITs. 

A difference of opinion also took place between Dr. P.M.Bhargava and rest of the commission members in early 2007, which resulted in reconstitution of the commission.

Controversies

Majority of Vice-Chancellors had rejected the policy direction given in NKC report to nation 2006 on the Higher Education during the discussion on the NKC report in the 82nd Annual meeting of the Association of Indian Universities.

Controversies

Libraries Based on the recommendations of NKC, the Department of Culture (DoC) proposed setting up a National Mission for Libraries (NML) in the XI Plan as a Central Sector Scheme. The EFC memo is under revision by the DoC and is being restricted to Rs. 180 crore earmarked for the same during the XI Plan. The NML will cover libraries under the DoC and the activities under it will include: National Census of Libraries; Modernisation including networking of Libraries under DoC; establishing Knowledge Centres and Digital Libraries.

Follow Up Actions

TranslationThe Government has approved the setting up of a National Translation Mission (NTM) with an outlay of Rs. 75 crore. The CIIL, Mysore is the nodal agency implementing the Mission.

English language teachingTwenty five states have already introduced English as a subject from Class I. With the help of NCERT and CIEFL, the MHRD is guiding English Teaching in schools in the states/UTs by developing appropriate curriculum, materials and training of teachers with skills in English.

Follow Up Actions

Integrated national knowledge network During 2008-09 Rs. 100 crores has been allocated for the National Knowledge Network (NKN) which proposes interconnecting all knowledge institutions in the country with gigabit capabilities, for sharing resources and research. A high level committee (HLC) constituted by the Department of Information and Technology (DIT), under the chairmanship of the Principal Scientific Adviser, was set up to operationalise the network. The design of NKN was prepared by a Technical Advisory Committee set up by the HLC, and the initial implementation is being managed by NIC (under DIT).

The network is ready for roll out and is awaiting a formal launch. The network would be operationalised in two phases. The core and distribution network covering 1000 nodes with gigabit capacity would be set up in the first phase and this process has already started. The network is scalable and coverage can grow up to 10,000 nodes/institutions.

Follow Up Actions

Right to education The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Bill, 2008 has been introduced in the Parliament.

Vocational Education and Training (VET) For expansion, redesign and quality enhancement of VET in the country a three tier structure has been constituted in July 2008 under the National Skill Development Mission (NSDM)

Follow Up Actions

Higher and technical education To expand capacity and improve quality of higher education, the Government has sanctioned the setting up of 15 new Central Universities and 14 new Universities based on world-class standards.

The Committee for Rejuvenation and Renovation of Higher Education has been set up for the review of UGC/AICTE.

The Science and Engineering Research Board Bill 2008 has been introduced in the Parliament.

Follow Up Actions

E-governanceThe XI Plan envisages the creation of core infrastructure such as SWAN (State Wide Area Network), Common Service Centres (CSCs) and State Data Centres (SDCs) for creation of a common service delivery platform

SWAN has been implemented in 6 states/ UTs till date and in 18 states implementation is in process.

Till date SDCs have been approved for 26 states by the Government.

Under the approved CSC scheme which envisages establishing over 100000 CSCs across India, 20,558 CSCs have been rolled out. The process for roll out for another 250968 CSCs has also been initiated.

Follow Up Actions

Thank You