INTRODUCTION
 

After the new Union Cabinet was sworn in in April, 1957, a Presidential order recognising some Ministries of the Government of India was issued on 17th April 1957. The former Ministry of Education was renamed Ministry of Education and Scientific Research. The Scientific Research Division of the former Ministry of Natural Resources and Scientific Research and its subordinate offices were transferred to the new Ministry of Education and Scientific Research, that was reconstituted in July, 1957. The reconstituted Ministry now consists of three Departments, namely,(i) Department of Education, (ii) Department of Cultural Activities and Physical Education, and (iii) Department of Scientific Research and Technical Education.

Department of Education: The Second Five-Year Plan in so far as it concerns Education envisages the provision of a minimum standard of education for the maximum number of citizens wit in the limited resources available. Educational activities have made further headway during 1957-58, the second year of the Plan, though financial stringency has hampered the progress of some of the schemes.

A Conference of Education Ministers held In September, 1957 endorsed the recommendation of the Planning Commission that education for the age-group 6-11 should be made free, universal and compulsory by the end of the Third Plan period at the latest. An All-India Council for Elementary Education to prepare programmes for the early introduction of free and compulsory Elementary education has been set up. The Government of India have advised State Governments and Union Territories to introduce free and compulsory Primary education immediately in a few N.E.S. blocks as pilot projects.

The National Institute of Basic Education was established In February, 1956 and has completed some research schemes on crafts and Basic education. The Standing Committee of the Central Advisory Board of Education on Basic Education at its meeting in August, 1957 recommended the integration of Post-Basic education with Secondary education. A committee has been set up to evolve methods of effective integration. The Government of India have offered financial assistance to State Governments for the establishment of Basic schools at Post-Basic or Secondary level And a Central

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Basic school financed entirely by the Centre is proposed to be estab- lished at Delhi.

Central assistance to the extent of Rs. 624.715 lakhs has been given to various State Governments as first and second instalments of the grant for 1957-58 for schemes of Pre-Primary, Basic, Elementary, Women's Social and Audio-Visual Education and Union Territories were provided with Rs. 8.09 lakhs for such schemes. The scheme of improving salaries of teachers at the Primary stage, Initiated in 1956-57 with the offer of Central assistance has been extended to teachers at the Middle stage. Under the 'Scheme to relieve Educated Unemployment' so far during 1957-58 Rs. 44,60,647 have been sanctioned as 'Central assistance under this scheme.

The National Fundamental Education Centre will undertake, from March, 1958, a programme of training District Social Education Organisers responsible for coordinating all Social education activities in their areas, and Principals of Janta Colleges. Against the target of one Social Education Organiser per district by the close of the Second Plan period, posts for 117 such organisers have been sanctioned. The production of literature for neo-literates and children has received increased impetus in various Prize Competitions held by the Ministry and in such schemes as the Production of Model and Popular Books, Literary Workshops and Purchase of Social Education Literature.

The Advisory Committee on Libraries is expected to complete the work of surveying existing conditions in libraries and making recommendations by March 1958. Inaugurated in August, 1957, the National Book Trust has started functioning and has tentatively drawn up its short and long term publication programmes.

Field work on the Educational Survey of India is expected to be completed by the end of March, 1958 and the final report in most of the States, to be available by the end of June, 1958.

In Secondary education, 575 schools have so far been converted Into Multipurpose and 109 into Higher Secondary schools. A sum of Rs. 1.91 crores was given to State Governments by September, 1957 for schemes on Secondary education.

The All-India Council for Secondary Education set up during 1956- 57 has opened 29 Extension Services Departments in various Training colleges in the country in addition to 23 set up during the First Plan period.

The Conference of Education Ministers held in September 1957 endorsed the report of the Committee appointed to work out

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estimates of expenditure for the introduction of the three-year degree course at Universities and their affiliated colleges. The Committee recommended that the expenditure should be shared between the Central Government and the University Grants Commission on the one hand, and the State Governments and private enterprise on the other. Thirty Universities have so far either introduced the three-year degree course or accepted the scheme in principle.

Grants amounting to Rs. 4.69 lakhs were given to various non- Hindi speaking State Governments and Union Territories for the development of Hindi. Many new schemes such as, the preparation of terminological indices, investigation of terminological material, Organisation of debates between non-Hindi-speaking and Hindi-speaking schools and colleges, holding of seminars of Hindi teachers etc. have been included in the Second Five Year Plan, in addition to those already being carried out. Morpho-phonemic analyses of various Indian languages are being done in various Universities before a suitable system of shorthand is evolved. First lists of Technical Terms in Hindi in nine subjects have been finalised, and revised first lists of terms for 16 subjects are awaiting the Government's approval. 50,000 terms have so far been evolved. With a view to publishing a Dictionary of words common to Hindi and other languages, bilingual glossaries have been and are being prepared.

Scholarship schemes administered by the Government of India, Scholarships and Fellowships offered by the United Nations and Unesco and under the Colombo Plan and Point Four Programme have been in operation to promote the studies of Indian nationals abroad. In addition, scholarships and fellowships offered by 12 Foreign Governments and 11 Foreign Organisations and Institutions were utilised. Several schemes of the Government of India are also under operation offering facilities for study in India to scholars of various foreign countries.

During the period under review, 66 educational publications and eight statistical publications were brought out. The inaugural number of 'Youth', a quarterly journal on Youth Welfare, Physical Education and Sports appeared for the first time in September, 1957.

Cultural Activities and Physical Education: The Report of the Sanskrit Commission appointed to make recommendations to improve Sanskrit education is under consideration. The schemes to establish an Institute of Indology and Collection and Preservation of Rare and Ancient Manuscripts were considered in 1957-58, by

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the Committee appointed for this purpose, and its recommendations are under consideration.

A scheme to develop modem Indian languages other than Hindi has been included in the Second Five-Year Plan at a total cost of Rs. 20 lakhs. Details of this scheme have yet to be finalised. An amount of Rs. 13,60,178 was sanctioned up to December, 1957 to Cultural, Educational and Literary Organisations of all-India status.

The three Akadamis, the Sahitya Akademi, Sangeet Natak Akadami and Lalit Kala Akadami continued their activities during the period under review. A total sum of Rs. 18,16,275 has been provided for their activities during 1958-59.

A wide range of activities in External Cultural Relations designed to promote mutual good-will and understanding between India and other countries was carried out during the year. Cultural Agree- ments were concluded with Poland and Rumania. The activities included the sending of delegates to participate in the 2500th Anniversary Celebrations of the Lord Buddha in Cambodia and Thailand, the 250th Anniversary Celebrations of the Founding of the Technical University at Prague and International Congress of Orientalists in Germany, sending Indian Hockey team to participate in the Afghan Jashan celebrations and Indian poets and musicians for Republic Day Celebrations in Nepal and inviting cultural delegations from Nepal, the U.S.S.R., Rumania, Bhutan and Mongolia to India.

In the field of Physical education, the chief event was the esta- blishment of the Lakshmibai College of Physical Education at Jhansi. It started functioning from 17th August, 1957. The Advisory Board of Physical Education and Recreation set up originally in 1950 was reconstituted on a broader basis. A Committee to work out a programme and syllabus of Health Education and Nutrition for Primary and Secondary schools and for Training Colleges was set up. It has been proposed to extend the scope of the National Discipline Scheme, originally intended only for schools of displaced persons, to other schools in three selected regions of the country.

The Fourth Inter-University Youth Festival was organised at New Delhi from 1st to 10th November, 1957 on a scale larger than before. In addition to continuing activities like granting financial assistance for students' tours, holding Dramatics and Youth Leadership Camps etc., the Work relating to the 'Survey of Living Conditions of Students' was taken in hand. This is a pilot survey and will be conducted in a few selected Universities.

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Up to December 1957, a sum of Rs. 27.5 lakhs was sanctioned for holding 886 Labour and Social Service Camps with the participation of 96,113 campers. These camps are held in rural areas, the campers doing manual labour that 'is of service to the community. An amount of Rs. 3.02 lakhs was sanctioned up to December, 1957 to five Universities and five State Governments for Campus Work Projects, such as construction of recreation halls-cum-auditoria, swimming pools, open air theatres etc. In such projects the staff and students of the institution concerned compulsorily render skilled and unskilled labour.

Scientific Research and Technical Education: Progress in regard to Technical education was fully maintained during the year. So far 19 selected existing engineering colleges and 40 polytechnics have been expanded into larger units resulting in 2,538 additional seats for degree courses and 4,485 additional seats for diploma courses.

Grants amounting to Rs. 54 lakhs are expected to be disbursed to non-Government scientific and technical institutes by the end of the year. These grants are paid for the development and expansion of post-graduate courses, of affiliated colleges, the development of instructional facilities, establishment and development of specialised courses such as Printing Technology, Industrial Administration, Ore dressing etc., the expansion of training facilities in Mining Engineering.

Of the three central institutes proposed to be set up during the Plan period, the Administrative Staff College established at Hyderabad during 1956-57 has started functioning. The college conducts three courses a year and admission to the first batch took place in December 1957.

The Survey of India continued to carry out topographical and geodetic surveys and preparation of related maps.

The Sibpur Herbarium was taken over from the Government of West Bengal by the Botanical Survey of India. The Herbarium will form the nucleus of the proposed Central National Herbarium

The Zoological Survey of India continued to carry out faunistic surveys in Rajasthan, South India, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal. Research in various problems of systematics, ecology and zoogeography was also conducted.

The Hindi edition of the National Atlas of India was published during the year. Insets Included, the' Atlas contains 96 maps, depicting the socioeconomic picture of the country. Work relating

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to the preparation of the English edition of the Atlas was taken in hand.

The development of various scientific research institutes, labo- ratories and scientific societies was continued by the provision of technical assistance and grants-in-aid.

During the year four additional Vigyan Mandirs were set up bringing the total to 18 Vigyan Mandirs.

A separate Annual Report is being published for the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (that is an autonomous body) of its activities and the activities of National Laboratories during 1957-58.