Our Honourable HRD minister has shaken and stirred the academic fraternity and raised several baffling questions like those mentioned above by his announcement of a facelift of the entrance examination system to engineering colleges in our country. Mr. Kapil Sibal’s decision to unify the multitude of tests that keeps a student hopping and skipping in his quest for technical education clearly aims at reducing the burden of the already over laden student. But in doing so, a huge question-mark has been stamped upon the future of that Holy Grail of all examinations, the Joint Entrance Examination. And to say that this has become a bone of contention among the public would be an understatement.

Opinions are divided. Both sides have their own arguments to defend or attack the reforms and decisions that have been proposed. But even the most vocal supporter of this decision cannot deny the fact that for the past 45 years, the JEE has been a keystone of the Indian education system. Yes, doing away with all examinations will for sure reduce the burden on the students. But the underlying implications cannot be overlooked.

The JEE – with its unique design which separates the quickest, sharpest and the cleverest academic minds from the thousands of aspirants every year- is to a large extent responsible for creating and maintaining the brand IIT. With a single test in place, the toughness is unlikely to be comparable to that of the JEE. Add to this the large number of students who appear for the exam, and this will unquestionably lead to quite a few students having comparable results. The problem then would be effective judgment and interpretation of these results. Among students having such highly analogous results, how does one ensure that the IITs will only get the cream of the crop, the kind of students the JEE has provided in the past? For if this is not ensured, then the unified entrance test will be failing the IITs and not fulfilling its purpose- which the JEE has been so efficiently carrying out since its inception.

Another proposed reform that perhaps might give the students sleepless nights is the decision to include the class 12 examination marks as a merit list criterion for admission to the IITs. India is a land of diversities and I wouldn’t be wrong if I said that even our education system is no exception to this rule. With each state having its own Board of Education, apart from the Central and International Boards, there are close to 40 different educational standards throughout the country. Each Board judges the students’ acumen and skill in a way that is quite different from the others. It is a natural inference that there will be poor correlation among the results of different boards and thus the class 12 marks would make poor criteria for judgement. Take a look at what happened in DU earlier this year and the futility of this exercise shall come to light.

Pundits say that this hurdle can be vaulted over using the process of ‘normalization’ of the results across all board. However this process has a loop-hole that has already been exploited in the past. What, I ask, is to stop the board officials of every state from inflating the marks of their students just so that they can make it to the IITs? ‘Wait!’, you say. ‘Already exploited? Would anyone actually dare to do that?’ All you need to do is look at the case of BITS, Pilani who had adopted this process. Lo and behold, suddenly one day they find 70 percent of their students are from the same state. The consequence? Discarding of this method and reinstating of the good ol’ entrance exam.

Lastly, combine these two proposals and you have a worrisome scenario in the offing. If the future of a student hinges on just one exam, one can only imagine the level of cut-throat competition that shall arise out of this. Such competition will only serve to reassure the dominance of coaching classes. They’ll spawn and generate by the dozen – not only for the entrance test, but also for class 12 boards and who knows, maybe even for the class 10 boards to prepare the students from an early age. Also, the current system does allow a student several rolls of the dice if he misses out on previous opportunities. The single-exam pattern, however, leaves a lot to luck. One bad day, a few incorrect answers and clang! All doors shut in a single stroke.

There are several other limitations that could be pointed out but the only thing that we say is- no system is perfect. Your intentions are noble,Mr Sibal and we do not doubt them. But the need of the hour is to make sure that the meritorious students are assured of the place that they deserve and that they do not lose out because of any reason whatsoever. The JEE, in spite of all its defects and shortcomings, has been doing that with nothing short of splendid results. At this juncture, it is time we ask ourselves what is better – a process that has obvious flaws and yet has been tried, tested and successful or a new-fangled one that has both visible and unseen imperfections to it?

A brainchild of KGP alum, Prateek Agarwal (09 CS), GuruKools is a chat-room that aims to connect both students and alums of KGP.  It builds up on the familiar DC++ chat interface and efforts are on integrating GuruKools with the DC main chat. At present, apart from thechat, the site features a news-board and a Guess-The-Word game room. Special chat sessions with alumni where students can query CAT, GRE and placements funda are being planned.

You can register your nick here : http://www.gurukools.com/index.php

The counselling centre has been making every effort to identify students who are prone to loneliness and depression, with a network of representatives in each hall. Here’s hoping we can prevent such disasters in the future.

• Sections tweaked : Data Interpretation and Quantitative Ability have been merged into one. This is one of two sections on the new test, the other comprising Logical Reasoning and Verbal Ability.

• No turning back: Each section will have 30 questions each – with an on-screen timer counting down the allotted 70 minutes. You can only move on from a section once you’re through with it – the new test doesn’t allow you to return to the previous section. Including a fifteen minute tutorial at the beginning, the examination duration stands at 2 hours and 35 minutes – giving candidates a total of five minutes more exam time than the 2010 version.

• Grace Marks: IIMs at Rohtak, Lucknow Raipur have announced that grace marks will be added to the overall CAT scores of girls and non-engineers when the candidates are shortlisted for their GD and PIs, supposedly in an effort to correct the bias towards engineers and the male domination in the IIMs.

In an exclusive interview with The Scholars’ Avenue, Prof. Janakiraman Moorthy of IIM Calcutta, professor and the CAT 2011 convenor, spoke about the revised pattern:

Prof. Moorthy : We have been meaning to separate Quant (and DI) and verbal (and LR) sections for a while now, but weren’t able to do so in the paper-based test because of implementation issues. The aim is to check both verbal and quantitative proficiency, and imposing separate time limits is important to achieve the end.

TSA: Thoughts on girls and non-engineers receiving grace marks?

Prof. Moorthy: (laughs) It is a measure undertaken only by certain IIMs. IIM Calcutta, for one, does not have plans to implement these relaxations. You can find the individual selection criteria for each of the IIMs on their respective websites.

TSA: With the CAT exam spread over so many days, how is test difficulty normalized?

Prof. Moorthy: The prepared questions are sorted by difficulty, and equal numbers of all types of questions are included in each test in an attempt to make difficulty uniform for all examinees.

Mr. Ritesh Gucchait, the coach responsible for orchestrating a turnaround in Water Polo fortunes last year, is quite optimistic about his team’s chances this time around, “We practice daily, from 6 pm to 9 pm, an hour more than last year. The routine includes swimming up to 1600 meters, followed by shooting practice. We then work on skill development and match tactics.” To add to the team’s convenience, the pool remains closed to non-players (this being to the chagrin of those looking for a casual swim). The team has been getting match practice, playing a professional state-level team from Midnapore in a series of matches. Performance reviews show that the team is riding on a strong defence, though a low goal conversion rate remains an area of concern. As Water Polo is an aggressive contact sport and players have almost no protective gear, such matches will serve to toughen players up against below-the-belt (no pun intended) tactics frequently employed by opponents.

Although three important players from last year – Ahmed, Abhilash and Suraj Dandekar – have graduated, the team thinks they are playing better than ever before and confidence is at an all-time high. More importantly, the unit is performing cohesively “The team is bonding very well, both on and off the pool”, Mr Gucchait said. Add to that the home advantage (and the pressure of expectations) and you have a highly motivated team that is aware of the challenge and hopes to do its best.

The races in the Aquatics event are rather unpredictable, as just one prodigal swimmer in an inspired run of form can turn things around in the largely individualistic events. However, superfinal year student Chirag Fialoke, who has many inter-IIT records to his name, is playing his last tournament, and should be raring to leave a mark.

With the diamond jubilee year getting off to a historic start, what with the campus getting a thorough makeover and the PM handing out medals, these skillful swimmers will look to join the party. They have been working hard, and The Scholars’ Avenue wishes them the best of luck.

The Scholars’ Avenue had a chance to catch up with officials at the Civil Works Department, who updated us on the status of the various construction projects happening around us.

Student Activity Centre

• The entire construction of the SAC complex is over; finishing work is in progress.
• Gymnasium is up and running, rooms for Springfest and Kshitij teams are functional.
• Squash court requires a maple wood finish, rubber surfaces need to be fixed on badminton courts.
• Work is expected to be complete by the end of August, well in time before the Inter-IIT meet.

Basketball Courts, Swimming Pool

• Facelift in progress at basketball court, volleyball court, Gnan Ghosh stadium and swimming pool .
• Will be ready in time for the Inter IIT Sports Meet.

Nalanda Complex

• Two blocks of the complex are ready.
• Thirty classrooms, planned in Slot 1, will be ready for usage in a couple of months.
• Sixty classrooms are expected to be completed by December; a total of eighty-eight classrooms planned.
• Some classrooms have been designed in semi-circular fashion; others will be rectangular in shape.
• New features include laptop connections provided below each seat.
• Sample study to be conducted in end-August, based on which further plan and design of the classrooms in the complex will be carried out.
• Since the Nalanda Complex is not a part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, work has been temporarily de-prioritized causing a slight delay.

First Year Laboratory Complex

• Physics and Basic Electronics Labs are ready; only transfer of equipment from the older labs to new location remains.
• Finishing work in Language and Electrical labs is expected to be complete by September.

Tagore Open Air Theatre

• Renovation is complete – TOAT has been given a new lease of life.
• Freshly renovated green rooms, toilets, extensive electrical wiring and waterproofing.
• TOAT should comfortably handle crowds for the next 20-25 years atleast.

Lal Bahadur Shastri Hall of Residence

• 140 rooms of LBS are ready, with postgraduate students programme currently accommodated.
• Remaining work expected to be complete by the end of the year, including 667 rooms for residential purposes and a few special rooms like a yoga room etc.
• All rooms will be allotted on a triple sharing basis.

B R Ambedkar Hall of Residence

• Part of BRH will be completed in coming months; students might be accommodated by December 2011.
• BRH will have all single rooms, instead of the triple rooms that LBS has.
• With approximately 1500 rooms, hall is expected to be completed by June 2012.

Chanakya Hall of Residence

• Construction work is yet to start at this hostel for VGSOM students.
• Soil testing and other groundwork has been completed and approved
• Hall will be built on a BOT (Build Operate Transfer) basis.

VVIP Guest House

• Located next to Kendriya Vidyalaya, a heritage building is being converted to a VVIP Guest House.
• The Guest House will have six plush executive rooms and a lobby
• The Prime Minister will be the first person to reside in the new facility.

Calcutta Guest House

• IIT Kharagpur’s guest house in Salt Lake, Kolkata is being renovated .
• From ten rooms earlier, it now has sixteen rooms with additional dormitories on the top floor.
• The facility is also a tiny educational centre, with some classes on short term courses held there.
• The Guest House will accommodate members of the Prime Minister’s contingent.

Plans for the opening ceremony
While each year certain occasions special to the Institute are conducted on a befitting level, we can expect to see them take place on a different level next time. The Convocation is planned to be held on the Foundation Day, 18th of August, with possibly the PM as the Chief Guest.

The evening of 17th is when it is proposed that former Directors, Deputy Directors and Chairmen of the BOG will be invited and honoured, acknowledging their hard work and vision for the institute. Prof. Mathur also proposes that some ‘tempo building program’ such as a quiz or debate be held to make the guests feel at ease and involved. He is also looking for a script for a 15-20 minute light and sound show with the idea of depicting the history of Kgp via lasers projected on smokescreens.

Some of what else is in store

• Special posts, covers, envelopes and cancellations will be available for a day. One can send posts using this stationery via a special post stand. These will later go into a postal museum.
• An exhibition train will be launched on the 18th which will visit 50 destinations around the country in a span of 3 months. It will showcase the IIT system of education. We’re still in talks with the Ministry of Railways regarding this.
• Special conferences and symposia will be held around the year. Prof. Mathur’s idea is that all of them use similar themed stationary and similar bags. Mementos bearing the 60 years’ celebrations logo will be given to all guests.
• Speakers- including Nobel Laureates- are being invited for talks. This list of speakers will be available before the end of this session.
• Different subcommittees are in charge of overseeing various events. There’s a publication committee, which will be bringing out monthly volumes highlighting aspects of the institute history. Department specific committees will be bringing out monographs highlighting department achievements and 60 years’ worth of research.The Inter-IIT itself is being handled by the Gymkhana.

The Diamond Jubilee calendar is up on the internal notice board is being updated regularly. There’s more yet come. Expect a detailed report from our side next July.

Student Support:
My Imprint aims to resolve issues related to quality of life- it will encourage improvement of student related campus amenities. Areas to be covered are:

• · Student amenities / infrastructure
• · Student participation in global competitions
• · Financial aid to needy students

Brand Building:
Addressing the critical matter of international branding of the institute, the Institutional Development (ID) Program aims to fill-in gaps in the brand and present a world-class IIT. Taking into account statistics which speak of a correlation between world ranking and endowments, the ID Program aims to build such endowment funds.

Institutional Development:
The ID Program is designing programs in other arenas such as procuring R&D projects. The GoI will run a matching program especially for IIT KGP wherein it will match the funds raised by IIT, hence multiplying the fund generated. The interest from these endowment funds could be utilized for other projects.

How will the Alumni Cell recongize an Imprint?
Public recongition of contribution, a demonstration of gratitude and encouragement to other alumni, will be realized via:

• ·Featuring donors’ profiles on the Alumni Cell web portal.
• · Acknowledging major donors in institute publications.
• ·Keeping the members of the Imprint community connected to the Alumni Cell job portal.
• ·On-campus tour for donors and free hospitality during campus visits.

Accountability:
An Annual Report will be released in the month of August every year which will have details of funds generated, expenditure made, channels of expenditure, progress in work thereof and fund planning and closing balance. The Alumni Annual Report will reflect the difference made by the Imprint.

Shreyoshi Ghosh
(Corporate Communication Executive)
Email: shreyoshi@adm.iitkgp.ernet.in
PH: 03222-282236

Vishnu Rajeev
(General Secretary – Students’ Alumni Cell)
Email: r.rajeevvishnu@gmail.com
GSM: 9775194669

Drishti Guin
(General Secretary – Students’ Alumni Cell)
Email: drishtiguin.corp@gmail.com
GSM: 9775550964

National Service Scheme, IIT Kharagpur in collaboration with Sub-Divisional hospital, Kharagpur  has organized a blood donation camp this Sunday. All healthy individuals within the age group of 18 – 60 years and with a body weight of at least 45 kgs are welcome to participate in this voluntary camp. The blood collected will be donated to Government Blood Banks in the vicinity.

Details of the camp are as follows:

For further information, please visit this link.