1.7.3 The National Apprenticeship Scheme has been extended to engineers and technicians of SAARC Member countries.

1.7.4 A High Power Committee was constituted in June, 1996 to review the progress made by the RECs and also suggest further changes to strengthen their working. The report is expected by 30th April, 1997.

1.7.5 In addition to advanced department like Aero-space, Bio- mass, Biomedical, Chemical, Metallurgical and other Engineering Sciences, the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore has also set up Super Computer centre with an Internet hookup. More than 43 departments/centres/units covering a wide range of Engineering & Basic Science disciplines have been connected to the super computing facility.

1.7.6 The Super Computer Education and Research Centre (SERC) in the institute is engaged in research on the development of computer Aided Design tools to assist in designing sophisticated high speed digital signal processing chips. The research activities include real-time and database systems, VLSI systems, high-performance algorithms, computer graphics, Braille printer design (DOW), computer architecture, software engineering, operating systems and high performance numerical computing.

17.7 Further, the Centre has several ongoing/completed sponsored research and consultancy projects such as,

- Multimedia Applications

- LSI/VLSI Design Centre (DOE)

- System and VLSI Design for Digital Television (DOE)

- Technical Advice and Guidance on Information Technology Plan

- System Evaluation (C-MMACS)

- Multimedia and visualization techniques

- Software engineering with special emphasis on issues like specification, design, integration maintenance, testing and management of large software, information integrity.

Technology Development Missions

1.7.8 The Government has launched this Scheme under which projects in seven generic areas of strategic significance are being implemented in mission mode by 5

IITs/IISc. Bangalore. The seven generic areas as approved by the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) are :

1 Food Processing Engineering

2 Integrated Design and Competitive Manufacturing

3 Photonic Devices and Technologies

4 Energy Efficient Technologies and Devices

5 New Materials

6 Communication Networking & Intelligent Automation

7 Genetic Engineering & Bio-technology

1.7.9 These missions have earned wide acceptance and confidence among Industries as is evident from the number of mouse signed for development and know-how transfer of various technologies/products by them. Through the scheme, an unique example of industry-institute partner ship has been established.

Scholarships

1.8.0 The Department continued to implement a number of Scholarship Schemes for giving assistance to meritorious and needy students to pursue higher education in India as well as abroad.

International Cooperation

1.9.1 The Indian National Commission for Cooperation with UNESCO (INC) with its Secretariat in the Department of Education has been contributing significantly to UNESCO's work particularly in the formulation and implementation of its programmes including the Participation Programme. Indian National Commission for UNESCO also continue to provide effective intellectual inputs in UNESCO's Regional Programmes.

1.9.2 Measures were taken to strengthen External Academic Relations by close monitoring of the implementation of the education component of more than 97 bilateral cultural exchange programmes and other collaboratory arrangements. Minister level Delegations from Australia, Ethiopia and Sechellas visited India.

Development And Promotion of Languages

1.10.1 Languages being the most important medium of communication and education their development occupies an important place in the National Policy on Education and programme of Action. Therefore, promotion and development of the Hindi and other 17 Indian languages listed in the Schedule VIII of the Constitution including Sanskrit and Urdu on the one hand and English as well as other foreign languages on the other hand have received due attention. In fulfilling this constitutional responsibility, the Department of Education monitors the functioning of its subordinate offices and autonomous organisations.

1.10.2 The Kendriya Hindi Sansthan, Agra continued the implementation of the scheme of appointment and training of Hindi teachers in non-Hindi speaking States/UTs. The Central Hindi Directorate continued preparing bilingual, trilingual and multilingual dictionaries. Hindi-Persian, Hindi-Indonesian, Hindi-Sinhalese and Hindi Samyukta Rashtra Bhasha Khosh are under publication. About 325 (approximately) lakhs persons have been enrolled for teaching Hindi through correspondence courses of the Directorate.

1.10.3 Central Institute of Indian Languages, Mysore played and effective role in the training of teachers from Hindi speaking areas in Modern Indian Languages apart from conducting research in the areas of language analysis, language pedagogy, language technology and language views. In order to bring out improvement in the standards of teaching/learning of English, the Govt. of India continued its programmes of financial assistance to Regional Institutes of English and English Language Teaching Institutes of different States. There are at present, 2 Regional Institutes of English and 9 English Language Teaching Institutes.

1.10.4 The Bureau for Promotion of Urdu, a subordinate office of this Ministry has been converted into the National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language w.e.f. 1st April, 1996 for the promotion of Urdu language through its schemes and projects.

1.10.5 National Council for Promotion of Sindhi Language has been set up as an autonomous body for promotion, development and propagation of Sindhi language.

1.10.6 A Centrally Sponsored Scheme of financial assistance to States/UTs for appointment of Modern Indian Language teachers (other than Hindi) in Hindi speaking areas was launched in 1993-94 with an outlay of Rs. 3.00 crores for the 8th Plan period and continued in the year under report.

Copy Right and Neighbouring Rights

1.11.0 During the year, India actively participated in the activities of the World Intellectual Property Organisation, especially in the meetings relating to the preparation of new treaties on copyright and neighboring rights. Initiative was also taken to strengthen enforcement of copyright laws in the country.