1. Choose the correct option from the given options and complete the statements.
(1) The scientist who developed the Param-8000 supercomputer –
(a) Dr Vijay Bhatkar
(b) Dr R. H. Dave
(c) P Parthasarathy
(d) None of the above
Answer.
(a) Dr. Vijay Bhatkar
(2) The magazine Jeevan Shikshan is published by the following institute –
(a) Balbharati (b) University Education Commission (c) MSCERT
Answer.
(c) MSCERT
(3) The educational institution called IIT is famous for education in the area of –
(a) Agriculture (b) Medicine
(c) Skilled managers (d) Engineering
Answer.
(d) Engineering
2. Complete the activity as per the given instruction.
(1) Complete the table below with details about individuals in the education field and their work.
Answer.
| Individual | Work |
| First education minister of India | Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. |
| Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishna | Chairman of the University Education Commission |
| Prof Sayyad Rauf | Preparation of common state-wide curriculum for Std. I to VII for Maharashtra. |
| Anutai Wagh | Kosbad Project |
(2) Obtain information about the National Council of Educational Research and Training, from the internet, and present it in the form of a timeline.
Answer.
| 1st September 1961 | The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) was established in Delhi. |
| 27th January 1967 | The Maharashtra State Bureau of Textbook Production and Curriculum Research (Balbharati) was established in Pune. |
| 1986 | The National Policy on Education was adopted. |
| 1988 | The ‘Primary Education Curriculum was prepared. |
| 1995 | The Competency-based primary education curriculum. |
| 1975 | India met with success in its attempt to use a satellite for the purpose of education. |
| 1970 | The United Nations declared the year 1970 as the International Education Year. A seminar was organised in New Delhi and led to the establishment of an open university. |
| 1974 | The government appointed a committee under the chairmanship of P. Parthasarathy |
3. Explain the following statements with reasons.
(1) The District Primary Education Programme was undertaken.
Answer.
(i) In 1994, the District Primary Education Programme (DPEP) was started with the objective of universalisation of primary education. It was implemented in seven States including Maharashtra.
(ii) The plan envisaged 100% attendance in primary schools, arresting student drop-out, education for girls and for the physically handicapped.
(iii) It included programmes such as research on and evaluation of primary education, alternative education, creating societal awareness, etc.
(2) The NCERT was established.
Answer.
(i) National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) was established in Delhi on the 1st of September 1961.
(ii) Its main objective is to help the Central Government in matters of school education in the context of a comprehensive policy and in implementing educational schemes. The NCERT was given the responsibility of educational research and development, training, extension, educational programmes, restructuring of school curriculum and textbooks.
(iii) It has played a central role in designing school curricula and textbooks with the cooperation of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).
(iv) It provides guidance and cooperation in the area of primary and secondary education to the state governments.
(v) It has been involved in designing workbooks and handbooks for teachers, in teacher training, in developing teaching-learning techniques and conducting talent search examinations at the national level.
(3) The farmers were benefited by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute.
Answer.
(i) The Indian Agricultural Research Institute was given the status of a University in 1958 and work began in departments such as the development of the agriculture sector, research, well-equipped laboratories, soil science, agricultural sciences, economic botany and other departments.
(ii) Research also began on wheat, pulses, oilseeds, vegetables and many other problems.
(iii) Its most significant achievement is the fundamental research it has conducted on the methods of taking multiple crops in a year, which has been of great benefit to farmers.
4. Write short notes on-
(1) Indira Gandhi National Open University
Answer.
(i) Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) was established with the objective that the stream of education should make
its way into every average household of the country.
(ii) The United Nations had declared 1970 as the International Education Year. In the same year, a seminar was organised in New Delhi on the subject of Open University by the Government of India Departments of Education and Social Welfare, Information and Broadcasting, University Grants Commission along with UNESCO. The idea of establishing an open university evolved in this seminar.
(iii) In 1974, the government appointed a committee under the chairmanship of P. Parthasarathy and the Open University took shape on 20 September, 1985 in accordance with its recommendations and suggestions. It was named after Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Those who are unable to get a college education in the formal way are given concessions in eligibility criteria, age and other conditions for admission to this university.
(iv) In 1990, the IGNOU started an audio-visual distance education programme through Akashvani and Doordarshan. It conducted more than one thousand curricula of various branches.
It provides facilities for education through 58 training centres in the country and 41 centres in foreign countries.
(2) Kothari Commission
Answer.
(i)In 1964 a Commission was appointed under the Chairmanship of Dr D. S. Kothari. Dr J. P. Naik made valuable contributions to the work of this Commission.
(ii)The Commission also recommended the 10+2+3 pattern for secondary, higher secondary and university education. This system was implemented from 1972.
(iii)The Commission also suggested a uniform national system of education, the inclusion of the mother tongue, Hindi and English in education, as well as continuing education, adult education, education by correspondence and open universities to make education trickle down to the lowest rungs of society.
(iv)It also recommended increased provision in the government’s budget for expenditure on education of neglected sections like the scheduled castes and tribes. Maharashtra government adopted the 10+2+3 pattern in 1972 and conducted the first Std X Board exam in 1975.
(3) Bhabha Atomic Research Centre
Answer.
(i) Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) has conducted valuable research in the fields of nuclear physics, solid state physics, spectroscopy, chemical and life sciences.
(ii) It also started a school to train scientists for setting up nuclear reactors.
(4) Balbharati
Answer.
(i) The Maharashtra State Bureau of Textbook Production and Curriculum Research (Balbharati) was established in Pune on 27 January 1967.
(ii) Balbharati prepares textbooks for school children. Textbooks are made in eight languages, namely, Marathi, Hindi, English, Urdu, Kannad, Sindhi, Gujarati and Telugu. ‘Kishor’, a monthly magazine for children, is also published by Balbharati.
5. Answer the following questions in detail.
(1) Which programmes were included in the Operation Blackboard scheme?
Answer.
(i) The government made funds available to help improve the standard of the schools and to fulfil minimum educational needs such as at least two proper classrooms, toilets, one of the two teachers to be female, a blackboard, maps, laboratory apparatus, a small library, a playground, sports equipment, etc. This scheme helped the primary education system to gain some momentum.
(ii) In 1994, this scheme was expanded and provision was made for one additional classroom and for appointing one more teacher in schools with an enrolment of more than 100 students, with priority given to girls’ schools, schools with a majority of scheduled caste and tribe students and schools in rural areas.
(iii) It was also made binding upon the State government to appoint female teachers to fifty per cent of the posts in schools.
(2) What role do the agriculture schools/ colleges play in the development of agriculture?
Answer.
(i) The Indian Agricultural Research Institute was given the status of a University in 1958 and work began in departments such as the development of the agriculture sector, research, well-equipped laboratories, soil science, agricultural sciences, economic botany and other departments. Research also began on wheat, pulses, oilseeds, vegetables and many other problems.
(ii) Its most significant achievement is the fundamental research it has conducted on the methods of taking multiple crops in a year, which has been of great benefit to farmers.
(3) Describe with examples the progress that India has made in the field of medicine.
Answer.
(i) The Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) was established for conducting research in the medical field. It was given the responsibility of cooperating with universities, medical colleges, government and non-government research institutes and giving them guidance and financial support for research activities.
(ii) Twenty-six centres were started in different parts of the country for research on various diseases. Their research has made it possible to control tuberculosis and leprosy.
(iii) The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) was established to give further impetus to advanced education and research in medicine.
(iv) It was given the responsibility of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in medicine. Colleges for undergraduate and postgraduate education in most branches of medicine, good research facilities and well- equipped hospitals are the significant features of this institute.
(v) The institute also provides medical treatment to the common people at nominal rates. It has established special colleges for training in nursing, and super-speciality centres for treatment of disorders of the heart, brain and eyes.
(vi) For further development of the medical field, the Medical Council of India was restructured in 1958 and was entrusted with the task of determining criteria for quality of medical education, its supervision and inspection.
(vii) These institutes have the responsibility of conducting research on various diseases, developing tests and standardisation of medicines.
(4) Write a note on the curricular and co-curricular activities conducted in your school.
Answer.
(i) Languages – Our school motivates us to participate in theatres or plays organised on works of Shakespeare and Munshi Premchand. We also take part in elocution and poetry recitation competitions to enhance public speaking. Our school makes every child read the newspaper headlines from Marathi and English dailies in the auditorium turn wise.
(ii) Maths and Science – Scientific experiments mentioned in our textbook are practically performed by each of us under the supervision of our teachers. On Sundays, our Math teachers take special classes on Vedic Maths. Our school has also organised trips to Nehru Planetarium and ‘Jantar Mantar’ to give us an understanding of the astronomical aspects of science. Every year our school conducts Homi Bhabha scholarship exam. A display of the best 25 science projects is done in the school hall.
(iii) Social Studies – Field studies are taken up to explain to us the topography of Indian landscapes. The school library holds a large number of book and documentaries over world history trips to museums and historical places.
