Common test, NCERT books issues keep HRD mandarins busy in 2012

Kapil Sibal, who termed the single nationwide test for engineering programmes as his "dream", did realise it before he made way for M M Pallam Raju as the HRD Minister in October but not before he faced stiff resistance from the IITs who

vetoed his plans.

The premier institutes, however, agreed to adopt it subsequently under a compromise formula though several states are yet to embrace it.

While the ministry was dealing with the issue, some offending cartoons and content in NCERT textbooks kicked off a row during Budget Session of Parliament, with several Mps demanding their removal. Two NCERT textbook advisors resigned while a committee set up to examine the content was accused of not arriving at a consensus among the members on removal of a host of cartoons.

Amid all these, two to three cartoons were removed by NCERT before revised textbooks could be supplied to students.

The Ministry during the year had to also confront with protests from states like Tamil Nadu and others about "objectionable" content in textbooks.

Another highlight of the year gone by was the passage of the Copyright Act (Amendment) Bill, 2012 amid rare show of unanimity in both the houses of Parliament. This will give a fresh lease if life to

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