Farewell speech by ssc student.

Good morning respected principal, teacher and all my dear friends. Friends are you felling happy or sad, today? I guess happy because today we will be setting forth from here and take up the task of establishing ourselves and sad because we may never meet again.

Friends, farewell speeches significant departures. School is like our second home where we shaped for our future. More than half of our life has been spent within these walls.             Today we have to  say 'Goodbye' to It., Goodbye is not forever. Goodbyes are inevitable. Goodbye isn't the end. It’s just a way of saying "I'll miss you till we meet again." And we will meet again.

  When we used to get up early in the morning, we knew what we had to go to school. But now that school has ended that routine will get disrupted. I haven't quite imagined life without going to school. In vacations, you like the fact that you don't have to go to school at first, but at the end of the vacation you are eager to go back to school. Imagine a vacation that will last forever. Can you stay away from school then? If we don't come to school, how will we tease our friends or bunk periods or roam in the corridors?

   2 years ago, my parents admitted me in this school, expecting me to come out with a bundle of certificates, learn good manners, make life-long friends and be a good citizen. So did yours. Because of the wonderful teachers we have got good manners and I am sure everyone will be good citizens. We have made life-long friends and we all are at least going to have a passing certificate. Other than that the school has given us ample of opportunities to get certificates.
   I do not know that whether I will meet my friends in future or not but sure to get connected with them through social media websites like Face book, email, snapchat, insta, whatsapp etc. Even though we promise that we will keep in touch, sometimes we can't. People drift apart. Friendships are lost. But what's lost can be found. All you need is the perfect memory. So make the best use of this time and make tones of memories to remember these good times by.
   But today, we must say Goodbye to this school. Not only a good bye but also a Thank you. A Thank you for all it has taught us may it be discipline, studies, manners, humility and much more.  I would like to say thank to the teachers for everything and my all the friends  for their love and friendship. I also would like to say sorry for my all the bad behaviors. I wish all the best to my dear friends to face the first great challenge in our lives, our the ssc examinations and come out with flying colors, making our school proud.

Thank you for lending me your patient ear . 

    

Will Startup India work smoothly towards success?

Introduction:

PM Narendra Modi brought in good hope for the entrepreneurs of India when he announced the ‘Startup India campaign’ and the action plans included in it are indeed promising good future for those venturing in startups. New policies and initiatives are being made to help these entrepreneurs invest safely and profitably in new business ventures.

The intention of the Modi government is that of successful business and development in India indeed but nurturing startups is no piece of cake, especially in India where business runs from the point of view of profit generating and no risking.

There are numerous challenges that would try to curb the initiative of the government down to nadir but the hope in PM’s efforts and envisioning of a better future is generating optimism in entrepreneurs across the country. It would be interesting to watch them strive with perseverance towards making this campaign a success story.

Yes:

1. Funding: What actually makes startups lag behind in the beginning is lack of funds. They begin with low investment due to which production slows down to minimal. Now that the government has announced a fund of Rs. 10,000 crore with an initial corpus of Rs. 2,500 crore, it should be a good news for startups to expand their venture towards productivity and reasonable investments in their respective fields. Manufacturing, agriculture, health and education sectors are going to benefit hugely from this. The government will also pick ten incubators based on their worth and grant them Rs. 10 crore each as financial help to further develop their infrastructure.

2. Tax exemption: Taxation becomes a burden on startups striving to make profits. In the action plan for Startup India, they will receive exemption from tax for a period of three years which is more than enough for an initiative to prove its worth. The companies will be able to retain capital gains and utilize the same towards expansion and development of their ventures. This exempt will be subject to non-distribution of dividend by the startup.

3. Relaxed norms: The norms of “prior experience/turnover” will be given a relaxation for these startups as long as they are capable of handling their own manufacturing and other requisites for their initiative. Too many norms for qualifying also made it difficult for wannabe entrepreneurs to get involved in opening a startup that would be registered by the government bodies and get exempt from PSUs.

4. Ease of registration: There will be a single point registration facility for new enterprises joining the league. It will be made easier via a mobile app that will allow startups to get registered in a day. Other facilities like clearance, approval, and applying for registration will also work from the same portal. These companies will be able to self-certify compliance on nine labors and other environmental laws through the same app along with a relaxation from inspection for three years.

5. Easing risk: Startups would be able to move out of the venture if they want to do so within a period of three months from the registration. There will be limited liability and the company will have the freedom of closing up within the aforementioned period if they feel that the initiative will not prove to be worthy of all the efforts to be made in future. Experimenting with knowledge is a good thing – at least you get to keep trying and not sit back and wait for an opportunity to present itself before you.

No:

1. Competing with Silicon Valley: Indian startups have for a long time waited for the government to recognize the caliber of new initiatives and to provide them assistance when needed but have been ignored for long. Now that the government is jumping between them, they must catch up carefully and not just try to compete with Silicon Valley since our business environment differs and the government has to cater to our respective needs instead of leading by example of Silicon Valley.

2. Global arena: Since we are a late entry into the startup campaign and we are also trying to be in the global competition for startup development, India has to outdo the other countries that have been in the race for long. Brazil and many other countries have made huge investment for their startups to prosper. Chances are that we might fund them enough but not cater to their respective demands for growth that would let them wound up sooner or later.

3. Recognizing our caliber: We need to work on our own key strengths instead of jumping into anything that could create profit. Manufacturing sector is not one of our strengths given that the global market for manufacturing is far ahead of us with their latest technologies and approach. Agriculture is our strength but we lack proper investment and distribution of funds for them. Heath and education needs to be augmented but at our own required level. New initiatives in these sectors won’t be much of a success unless we bring with them a change to look up to and appreciate – something that we have been lacking.

4. Selecting the right candidate: There would be too many applicants in the race to get approval for government assistance but selecting the worthier of them is going to be a task of great difficulty. Funding the unworthy will only waste resources while the deserving will keep waiting to get an approval. The selection should be based solely on the merits of the entrepreneurs and not by what they show as their action plan. They should have experience, rationality, skills and efficacy to lead an enterprise.

Conclusion:

Startup India could be a successful stride by the government towards promoting and developing business ventures that would further promote ‘Make in India’ and ‘Digital India’ campaigns but there are challenges that should be tactfully handled, leaving no room for wastage of fund and ill-distribution of funds.

Once the mobile app portal opens, there will be a rush of entrepreneurs for registering their businesses. It should be better if the government primarily decides upon a team of successful entrepreneurs to select the worthy candidates. Any sort of biasness in this matter would waste this earnest and praiseworthy initiative by Modi Government.
A few years from now, India could be a strong and self-sufficient nation if our deserving startups could get the required assistance to open up new 

8 Tips to dress up for a Group Discussion and Interview!

It is true that your attire gives a sense of your attitude & composure to the interviewer. Whether its a GD or PI, your dressing style can make a difference to your selection.

First impression is the last impression. Be it a corporate meeting or a social party, the first noticeable thing about you would be you what you wear and how do you carry it. 

Your attire exhibits not only your self-respect but also your attitude & behavior. 

Let’s take a look at what a good dress for a formal set up like GD/PI should be like - 

A. Tips for men:

1. Formal outfit
When it comes to dressing for GD/Interview, comfort is equally important along with precise formal clothing.

The most common and acceptable way for men to dress for any corporate meeting would be sharply ironed formal shirt and trouser. A well matched tie on top of formals would be even better.

Avoid casual dressing like jeans and T-shirts. It just reflects that you are not taking the things seriously enough.

2. Color combination
Formal shirt, suit, pant, tie and blazer with a decent color combination of socks and shoes form a prefect blend of formal clothing for men.

Color combination plays a vital role in formal dressing. Prefer light colors such as light gray, sky blue, peach, pista, white, off-white, etc. as they represent calmness and are not distractive. 

Wearing a completely light or dark colored dress would not be a good choice. It is always better to prefer the combination of light and dark colors for a descent dressing. E.g. Wear dark colored blazer and trouser along with a light color formal shirt.

The color of your socks should match well with the colour of your trousers. Do not sport white socks with a black trouser.

3. Accessories and make-up
Accessories are the added advantage to look good along with the formal dressing.

When it comes to dressing for GD/Interview, you can wear a wrist-watch, pen, etc as these are important accessories.

Belt is one of the important accessories in formal dressing. The color of your belt and color of your shoes should match. Try to combine black shoes along with black belt and brown shoes along with brown leather belt.

Avoid sporting spiky hair, earrings, bracelets in a formal meeting. 

4. Neatness is more important than cost – Make sure that whatever you are wearing is clean and well ironed. It is not at all necessary to sport costly clothes. The interviewers focus is on your attitude and not on the cost of your dress. 

B. Tips for women:

1. Formal outfit
The well draped plain cotton sari is always considered as classic Indian formal wear in any situation for women. However, if you are not comfortable wearing a saree, it is absolutely okay to wear a light coloured, neat and well ironed salwar suit with a dupatta.

If you would like to dress yourself the western way, you can wear a formal trouser with a smart formal shirt which fits comfortably. A formal shirt with or without a formal jacket on a formal skirt can also be worn.

2. Color combination 
A pair of white formal shirts in your closet would be the best choice. White formal shirt can be worn with all other dark colors.

A white and black pattern formal dress is another good choice to dress for GD/PI.

Wearing a light color formal shirt along with a dark color blazer and a dark color skirt would also be the great choice.

If you decide to dress yourself the Indian way, choose a light colored saree or salwar suit. 

3. Accessories and make-up should be decent.
Your jewelry and hair accessories should be minimum for the formal dressing. You should use only those accessories which are not flashy, distracting, or shiny.

Women should prefer natural shades of make-up and nail polish to your skin tone. Avoid unusual colors and long nails. Ensure that your nails are well groomed and the nail polish is not chipping out. 

4. Footwear – Make sure that your footwear is comfortable. Avoid wearing high heels which you may find difficult to manage. At the same time, avoid wearing footwear which make any kind of noise while walking. 

Hanging threads, torn pockets, or ink stains look messy and awkward. Similarly unpolished shoes, smelly socks, dirty nails, messy hair, bad breathe, body-odor reflect badly on you. 

How you wear your clothes is as important as what you wear at a formal set up. As we said earlier, rather than the cost of your clothes, it is your neatness that impresses the selectors more.

People Don't Fail, They Give Up

People Don't Fail, They Give Up!

There is a big difference between failing and giving up. However, the line which separates both failure and giving up is foggy. Often we find it difficult to differentiate which is the cause and which is the result. People often get confused whether they fail that is why they give up or they give up that is why the fail.

We often see people more successful than us and lose confidence. It is difficult to achieve even the attainable goals due to the low confidence. This is why a large number of people are not able to achieve their goals. They stop their success journey mid-way and think why did they not achieve their goals?

Giving up is the reason!

1. Careless Goals: People often set goals they don't even care about or which are too ambitious to achieve during the given time. They always say that they want to achieve a particular thing but do not commit themselves to achieve it. 

2. Very tight timelines: Even if the aim is set, it takes time to reach there. We often work with a mindset that this task should take this much time. Sometimes, the things do not go as per our calculations and if the goal is not achieved within our decided time frame, we give up mid-way. However, the fact of the matter is that if we had put in a little more time, we could have been there!

3. No Hard Work: Success or achievement is not an easy task. It takes a lots of efforts, time & commitment to put forward our true potential.

We might underestimate the difficulty level of a task in the beginning but it might actually require more resources & efforts to get embodied. If we are not willing to work hard than the set level, we are highly likely to give up mid-way and call it a failure while we have actually given up.

4. Distractions: Today, there are so many distractions that can distract people from their path. These distractions could be things like electronics gadgets, social media other people, etc. These distractions consume our time and energy & we give up mid-way. Can we call it a failure?

5. Not worth the result: Many a times, we realize midway that the efforts we are putting in are not worth the result and we give up. Can this be termed as failure?

People do fail!

1. Cheating on the way: Many a times we are really willing to put in the hard work and time to achieve our goals. However, we set unrealistic goals which make us fail. 

Imagine, you want to lose weight and are willing to put in time and efforts to make it real, but if you do not control your diet and eat fatty food, will you be able to achieve the figure you wanted?

2. No time to research: Many a times we do not do our research properly before starting on a task. With incomplete information, things do look easy but when we enter into the water, we realize that the water is too deep. This is failing before starting and can’t be called giving up!

3. Starting over-excited: Every task we take up requires a proper research and execution plan. If we start over excited, we might start with a lot of energy and vigour but not anticipating things before beginning makes things look difficult and we give them up. This is a failure on our planning and execution part!

4. Not applying our knowledge: Many students really study hard but are not able to apply their knowledge while writing the paper. This could be because of nervousness, low confidence or whatever we may call it. However, this is a failure to use our knowledge at the place for which we worked hard.

5. Opponent might be stronger: We see in many team or individual sports that the player fails despite the effort from his end. He has worked hard, is willing to face the opponent but the opponent might be really more skilled and experience. In such a situation, you might not give up but actually fail!

Conclusion:

Determination and optimism are the main strengths to make our goal a reality. If we want to succeed at a task, however small it may be, we need to ensure that we are committed. At the same time, we also need to see the reality and attainability of our goals. This reduces the chances of giving up midway and terming it as a failure!

Cricket v/s football – What’s your preference?

Introduction:

While football is the game for everyone across the globe, we Indians would always stick to our ardent craze for cricket. Though, in the past few years we have also been showing inkling of preference for football, nothing beats the fan following to cricket.

“Come on! India, let’s football” is the ringing tune this year, exposing to the world a good population of India who have a die hard craze for football too.

Amid all the adrenaline rush that audience experience while cheering for their team against another country, say our very favorite neighbor, there is somewhere a small but powerful proportion of people who would switch to football any day once India gets into the international league. Lesser support to football over cricket could perhaps be the reason why we may be experiencing a deficit of excellent players in this sport from India.

Cricket:

1. The team factor: The very reason why cricket must have gained popularity in earlier days could have been our own team playing vigorously well and making us proud. Right from Kapil Dev’s extraordinary cricket to the present finesse of MS Dhoni, our team never let us down. There is an incomparable pride in seeing them win, our tricolor flying high in other countries and the entire world standing to attention when our national anthem plays. No matter how much someone would support Liverpool, it can never compare to the kind of proud feeling one gets when Team India wins a cup.

2. Better disciplined: Cricketers are always better disciplined than footballers. They don’t fake injuries only to divert attention. They don’t throw toys out of crib like footballers rolling on ground. Our cricketers are always the fine gentlemen with heads held high and ready to accept whatever comes their way. They don’t shed tears at every occasion just to make audience go ‘awww’ and behave like over-grown kids, neither do they pick brawls like adolescent in need of proper guidance.

3. Courtesy at its best: Isn’t it exquisite to watch players congratulating the opposite team for their win? Can football ever come close to the way Virat Kohli praised Pakistani Bowler Amir after the recent match? No? I thought so. While on the other side we see footballers angry and ready to brawl if given a chance. There are moments when players lose their calm but it doesn’t take the entire management to handle the situation like it happened with Wayne Rooney.

4. Dressed to impress: Cricketers are far better dressed than footballers who look to have just gotten out of bed and put on their overused tee and shorts and decided to wear their running shoes for a change. One look at a cricketer in his elegant kit is enough to make one rise and swell with pride. With the helmet and pad, and his weapon of attack, the players look like one ready to battle soldier. Lionel Messi might make the fans swoon with attraction but for a cricket fan, Brett Lee still wins the race and will never be a thing of the past no matter what.

5. Variations: Cricket is far more interesting with so many ways in which one could bat or ball. There are so many rules and guidelines which only make the game more strategic and fun. There are so many things that can happen in the last over while I would personally say that football is all about a bunch of boys running after a ball trying to get it across a net. It just ceases to impress me.

Football:

1. The universal game: Cricket is the game of British. Even to this day only those nations that were once ruled by British play the game of cricket. Cricket was introduced by British when they saw uprising and revolt in the nations where they ruled. That answers why Germans and Chinese never played cricket. However, football is cherished everywhere around the world. Not a single nation can deny playing it or lacking fans for this game.

2. More thrill and excitement: In the short duration of time that football takes, there is far more thrill and excitement than cricket which is usually longer and not as exciting all the time, especially if your own team isn’t playing on that day. With football, it is exactly the opposite. No matter which team you hail for, each game session will always hold its own thrill for an ardent football fan.

3. Fittest players: While cricket is a very forgiving game where players need not be exceptionally fit and well-built, football requires rigorous training and a well maintained physique in order to be a well accomplished player. They are more active and have to keep running around the whole time which requires far more stamina and speed. There is not much running around required for cricket where players simply have to hold their positions and wait for their turns to run after the ball. Football requires so much from each player at the same time. They have to be defending, sliding and tackling and trying to score all the same time.

4. The purist game: Cricket is not much of a pure game than the advertisement burlesque that it has become, let’s face it. Football is a purist game. There is a reason why it is called the joga bonito or the game beautiful game. There is no stopping the game in between even if it rains, snows or storms. Cricket comes to a stop as soon as it starts showering, disappointing audience gathered at the stadium to a great extent.

5. The rising academies: All bigger cities in India have opened academies by Manchester unites, Barcelona, Liverpool and Arsenal. With all these investments running high, there are big hopes that soon we will be having our very own Messi evolving from India. The football leagues have been supported and bought by celebrities and sports personalities alike. It just shows the kind of support football is garnering amid youngsters and adults too.

Conclusion:

There seems to be no conclusion to the debate of which is a better sport between cricket and football. Each of them appeals people differently. Some might prefer watching or playing cricket for its strategies while some might like football for the adrenaline rush that accompanies.

Players of both the games require specific skills and trainings. They are both very accomplished in their fields. They have fame and equally enthusiastic fan following. They might differ largely but at the end of the day, they have their own share of limelight and popularity in every country.

While football might not be all that appealing to larger audience in India, it is to be noted that it is fast gaining momentum with time. It won’t be long until we could be finding the sport as appealing as cricket is today, though there is no replacing one with the other.

Virtual Reality – Help or Harm?

Introduction:

Gone are the days when debate revolved around the reel and real life of people. The new thing is reality v/s virtual or a combination of both called ‘Virtual Reality.’ The tech junkies are swooning all over the new devices of virtual reality or VR to experience whatever they want without having to go anywhere or do anything at all.

While the smaller headsets of VR are already available, India might soon be open to experience Oculus Rift and HTC Vive. These will take gaming to a new level, an experience beyond imagination. Be the hero of your own games and feel the exhilaration of entering the virtual gaming world while cozying in your living room. Sit in your virtual land of snowfall or sunshine and enjoy a virtual meal there.

While virtual reality might seem a delight of a kind, we have a whole lot of wiser men worrying about the harmful effects this next generation of tech device might bring along. We have parents worrying for the right reason. They have yet to get hold of their kids addicted to Smartphones and here is something so much better to allure them.

Help:

1. Connecting people: Chatting and video calling over social network is going to be a thing of the past with virtual reality taking you instantly to meet the people you want to speak to in person. You don’t need to travel all the miles to be with your family. Distance would no longer matter when you can be with the people you want to stay connected to while staying afar for making a career.

2. Training without risking: Army personnel would no longer have to risk their lives to experience combats in different kind of environment and situations. Training them would be so much better, easier and fun with no real danger. Other professionals would also benefit training with virtual reality especially doctors, architectures, engineers, and aviation and naval officers.

3. Tourism without travelling: You might want to see the world, its various wonder cities and numerous monuments far away from your reach and expenses. With virtual reality, Paris would come to you to witness the special moment of your life and Vegas would no longer be an unfulfilled dream for you. A real life experience of seeing through the streets and corners of your favorite destination will only be a headset away with these amazing devices.

4. Gaming like never before: For all the gamers of the world, virtual reality will be the best thing ever. Fight Zombies and vampires – make the unreal that you believe in appear real before you. Let the force be strong with you and be the Commander in Star Wars – a dream come true experience of every game lover. Everything that you thought was just confined to your Xboxes could now come out and join you in the rendezvous of celebrating virtual reality.

5. A therapy for the unfortunate: Imagine the kind of happiness that a handicapped or disabled person could experience with virtual reality giving them the feeling of being capable of doing anything and everything they ever wanted to. Hope, for them, is the best medicine. Stress could be fought with happiness, no matter virtual or real. If it can bring you joy then it should be a keeper. Doctors and therapists could use virtual reality to help patients come out of their distressed state of mind.

Harm:

1. Burn pockets or burn with envy: The whooping large sum of money that could bring you this virtual box of happiness and help can either burn a hole in your pocket or will leave you burning with desire and envy when your friends get one. The high pricing is going to be a problem in the Indian market where majority of people won’t be able to afford these fancy tech gadgets. There will be a feeling of being left out when everyone around the world would be talking virtual reality.

2. Addiction: Whoever thinks that gaming addicts are only something we see and hear about in news, hasn’t met one clearly. They are obsessed with their gadgets and forget the world outside, ignore their responsibilities, eat junk and become obese and gradually lose everything they had including job. Now imagine what virtual reality could do to people. They could get so used to living in the virtual world of dreams that bring them happiness that they would completely shut themselves out of the real world. It would be alluring enough to make them think outside the virtual world.

3. Deception: The virtual world, however gratifying it may appear, will be a deception of reality. Seeing and believing things that are not real could be harmful in many a ways. People you connect to over the internet are not always real but when they could utilize the tools of virtual reality to fool you for what you see, deciding between truth and trickery would be more difficult than ever. People might easily fall for traps set by anti-social miscreants who are always on the lookout for innocents ready to be brainwashed. Cons will see a brand new setup with virtual reality.

4. Health issues: People have reported motion sickness with prolonged usage of virtual reality. Doctors also fear that people could develop worthlessness and low self-esteem when they confine themselves to the virtual world.

5. Simulation is not the same as real setup: Training people in the virtually simulated environment where they are aware of no risk and apprehensions would be less benefitting than real life training that is essential before facing the professional world. At the same time another concern would be to determine if someone doing well in a virtual training would show the same aptitude in a real situation of the same level. 

Conclusion:

Virtual Reality is the next big thing, no doubt, but we need to remember that with every new hobbyhorse comes new threats and challenges. Keeping your personal life in privacy was never a concern before social media came up. Similar anticipations are natural for this new sensational device that promises an out of the world experience.

A developing technology that it still is, will bring in new excitements and we must keep in check that we limit our usage of the new tech gadget to a minimum. We could benefit largely from virtual reality if only we could keep checking and assessing our reality from time to time.
We would also need to be extra careful to avoid falling for traps that could invade our privacy and get hold of our confidential information. Hackers will find new ways to threaten our secrecy and we will need to be wise and smart enough to not let them have the privilege of disturbing our lives.

OPEN BOOK EXAMS ......

Open book exams - A better option at board level.

Introduction:

The education system in our country at board levels is always under the scanner, sometimes for the grading system and sometimes for being biased towards the learn-by-heart kind of students. Last year we saw the viral pics of Bihar board examination where parents of students appearing the exams resorted to debauched cheats.

HRD ministry has urged the state and central boards to contemplate opting for open-book examinations at secondary and senior secondary levels of board assessment. Yes, our HRD ministry has been in more controversies than reformative measures in the field of education but that aside, this could be a change worth considering.

Open-book exams let students take help from the textbooks and their notes. The questions would not be based on “memorize and produce the same” but on testing how well the students understand the concept and their capability to apply the same while solving questions.

Yes:

1. Schools in our country are producing more leaners than utilizers. We are taught to learn-by-heart and produce the same in the examinations, regardless of whether or not we understand the concept. While some are born smarter and use their skills in paying more attention to the concept, more students find it easy to learn and produce when they can’t understand. Rote memory still gets the upper hand in our examination system and that is not a good thing especially when conceptualization is compromised.

2. The reason why we believe what we see and hear in media reports, regardless of whether it is true or a mere gimmick, is because we were taught to believe in what is legible and tangible. We do not ponder upon the ways of life that have been thrust upon us for centuries. We would simply call it tradition and the most repeated exclamation of all – “that’s how it has always been.” Did we care to think why it needs to be the way it is? Not all of us would!

3. We have all read about global warming, environment pollution and its effects, the utter need of cleanliness in society but we do lack an insight into these concepts for we just read and wrote and confined it to the theories. Our students need to think and then visualize what it would be like to apply the knowledge in real life practices. Open book examination will promote these things that are much needed for the future of our country.

4. The assessment system that Indian boards follow do not help differentiate between highly meritorious students and average students since question papers are usually easy and of the rote and produce type. Too many students score highest percentages which further makes it difficult during college selection procedures. Open book exams would have categories of easy, moderate and difficult set of questions that will test the understanding and problem solving skills of students on varied levels.

5. Our education system is seriously lacking skill and value orientation, not to mention the kind of stress that students face due to the vast syllabus. Instead of focusing on understanding the concept, students are more concerned about covering the entire syllabus only to the extent of answering the kind of questions that are expected to be asked. Open-books tests would boost confidence of the students and they would concentrate more on understanding the context rather than memorizing them. Lesser psychological stress would also enhance the learning capability to good extent. 

No:

1. Open books exams are not easier as some would think. The questions are complex and not to the point unlike the common exams that have direct answers. The question paper is so designed to cross check the understanding of students, having books and notes open in front of them would do nothing more than boost confidence. Average students and low meritorious students would feel more stressed than ever and that would show adversely on their grade sheets.

2. Open books exams are meant to test the understanding of the students and the theories in the textbooks are of no help unless they are well acquainted about the context. The time allotted to solve the paper is most likely to be lowered as reported by students who have faced open-book exams at other levels, while the answers would need to be well briefed. More stress for students with low IQ!

3. The overconfident lot of students would simply give up hard work for exams. Copying, or so would many think, is an easy work and with the books open students would simply pay no heed towards memorizing certain things that are needed to be learnt. Since the question paper would be divided into sections of easy, average and hard, these students would easily pass the examination simply covering the easy lot that would be stress-free with the books open.

4. Students who would face open book examinations at secondary and senior secondary boards would get used to it and would plea the same system when they go for higher studies. They would face difficulty when they will have to sit for competitive exams where similar system would not prevail. Imagine students ignoring the part where they learn the mathematical formulae or chemical symbols. They would hardly pay attention to these by-hearting parts and would face problems later.

5. While knowledge and understanding is important, it cannot be denied that memorizing certain things is also crucial. Students would stop the habit of memorizing which would slowly make it difficult for them to memorize things later. These skills need to be developed and not done away with completely. Open book examinations have been a controversial topic for a certain reason and those reasons need to be considered before bringing in any such change.

Conclusion:

Open-book examination might have its aces but the shortcomings are also not negligible. Only with proper weightage to these aspects board exams could be expected to have this changed system of evaluation. However, given that this would be a new concept for students, it should rather be introduced to students in classes 9 and 11 so that they would know what to expect.

Along with understanding of the concept and questions that would need utilizing of the knowledge of students, it should also be noted that teachers be made ready to evaluate students based on their understanding and not on a one answer-question system.

If HRD ministry succeeds in introducing the open-book examination system along with taking care of the disadvantages that could prevail, this system would be a good change in the education system of our country. India will then produce more innovators and opportunity creators than job-oriented diplomats.

Make in India or Invent in India

Make in India or Invent in India- Which is more important?

At the 103rd Indian Science Congress, 4 out of 5 Nobel laureates indicated that Make in India mantra should change to Invent in India for attaining greater heights. The leaders of the academic world felt that India should focus on discovering and inventing, not just making on its own.

So, which is a better pitch for expanding the field of the Indian growth story? Make in India or Invent in India? When it comes to the future of the country, is the Make in India mantra the right path for success on the road to economic evolution? Let’s find out what the knowledge pundits say and how far it makes sense for India.

Invent in India should be the mantra!

1. India should focus on discovering - Discovery and inventions enable that products can be made within the country. This ensures that whether we want to pursue Make in India or associated programs like Digital India and Start Up India, India must first discover inventions that are of importance.

2. More takers for science - Invent in India will galvanise more takers for science in the field. Science is to be taught at a young age so that talent can be caught on early. Invent in India has the power to make brain drain into brain gain for the country, thereby paving the way to prosperity.

3. Inventions need to be passed onto startups for growth - Inventions need to be drawn from universities and passed on to start ups and this will encourage talent in abundance. Engineering may be a popular choice, but it is ultimately science which drives the engineering. The need for cultural change will only be met if science is encouraged in schools, colleges and universities.

4. Need for thrust on indigenous innovations and inventions - Make in India should be replaced by Discover, Invent and Make in India because in order to make in India you need to invent first. To invent, there is need for more scientific discoveries in India so that the nation can focus on new inventions, technologies and products which equip it to compete on the world stage.

5. Invent in India will revive the Indian startup story - Innovating in India will pave the way for innovations to come out of universities and research centres and form part of entrepreneurial ventures and startups. Investment in R and D is crucial for India to develop. Despite increase in India’s economic growth and the doubling of GDP within the last 10 years, financial allocation for R&D has not changed much in recent times. Growth is merely a flat curve, according to the Nobel laureates, because of failure to invest in Invent in India.

6. India needs more HR in science and engineering - Encouraging more youths to take up studies in science, the subject needs to be taught at a very early age. If taught earlier, it will encourage a preference and deeper understanding of science which will galvanise growth in the Indian subcontinent. Backing sustained investments by advancements in basic science and fostering a spirit of curiosity is a sure recipe for the country’s success.

7. India can compete on the world stage - If Invent in India is adopted, the country can have new discoveries and understanding of science which translates into applied science and technologies. This is a necessary goal for India’s success. This is because to make India competitive in today’s world, one has to invent new products and technologies in the nation. Basic science is the foundation for innovations and applications and challenges for democracy in India include taking up the long term cause of science and R&D.

8. Indian R&D needs freedom - If you want to have scientific exploration and untamed scientific curiosity, Invent in India is a must. The view should be to protect the freedom of scientists so that future democracies like India can hold their own against emerging economies as well as the developed world. Financial schemes are also a must for real talent to enter science at an early age and become a world leader in due course. 

Make in India can get quick results!

1. Make in India will increase number of jobs - A positive impact on employment will be apparent once the Make in India programme is effectively implemented. Make in India will increase the number of jobs while Invent in India will only increase the knowledge of the country.

2. It will boost tourism -Make in India will ensure that tourism in the nation receives a boost because more foreign travellers will be attracted to India as a destination for quality goods. Apart from medical tourism, retail tourism is the last trend to catch on and Make in India could really capitalise on this.

3. Infrastructure development will be possible - Make in India realises the great Indian dream of having adequate infrastructure for a growing population. Make in India has the capacity to create more infrastructure through massive generation of resources resulting from increase in manufacturing.

4. Make in India will spur education - Make in India will not only generate jobs, but also improve the state of training and education in the country. This will foster progressive attitudes and consequent economic growth.

5. Economic growth will be possible - Make in India will ensure that growth receives a boost and India is firmly set on the path to economic prosperity. Economic development is possible if there is impetus for growth and Make in India provides this essential ingredient for national success.

6. Inventing & Discoveries require time – While inventions and discoveries are extremely important, the research for them is a time consuming job. Make in India can provide the immediate fuel to get the economy running.

Conclusion

Discover, Invent and Make in India should definitely be the new mantra because it unites the economic growth of Make in India with the knowledge boost of Invent in India. No discovery is complete without manufacturing growth and no invention is valuable till it finds application in human society. The same goes for intensive increase in manufacturing activities. If there is low domestic demand and competition from Made in China, Make in India will face an early demise. Amalgamating Invent in India with Make in India is the cure for this. Rather than bitter pills, scientific remedies that encourage human creativity and use intelligence are required for India to grow into a truly progressive country. While bitter pills are needed for short term recovery, only lasting scientific innovation can bring about desired long term changes.

Whats your take...? Make in India or Invent in India!!