Goaltide Daily Current Affairs 2022
Current Affair 1:
Growth story of medical education in India
India is one of the nations with a large health infrastructure in the world. India ranks 10th in the Medical Tourism Index (MTI), 2020-21, out of the 46 destinations studied. It stands at 6th in the quality of facilities and the services in the MTI index.
In this story, we look at the growth story of medical education in India and the changing patterns of migration towards foreign universities. Data is collated from the Annual Reports of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Annual Reports of the National Board of Examinations, and questions raised in the parliament.
68% growth of medical colleges in India during the last decade
There is a significant growth in the number of medical colleges across India over the last decade. In 2010-11, the number of medical colleges, including private and government, was 334, which increased to 404 by 2014-15 and stands at 562 in 2020-21. This amounts to a 68% growth in the number of colleges in these 10 years. Accordingly, the number of medical seats at the ‘Under Graduate’ (UG) level increased from 41,500 in 2010-11 to 86,649 in 2020-21. Similarly, the number of seats at the ‘Post Graduate’ (PG) level increased from 21,100 in 2010-11 to 42,015 in 2020-21.
Around 60% of the seats are in just 8 states:
While there is a significant expansion in the medical colleges in India, this expansion has not been equitable. Out of the total 86,649 medical seats, nearly 51,262 seats are located just in 8 states, translating to around 60% of the total seats. The Empowered Action Group (EAG) States comprising of Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh account for only 27% of the total medical seats in India.
‘Per Seat’ competition in NEET is rising
National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) had undergone significant changes from its inception. History dates to 1987, when the first All-India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT) was conducted for admissions into government colleges in India. In 2010, the then Medical Council of India proposed NEET as a single examination for admission into all colleges under the ‘Regulations on Graduate Medical Examination, 2010’.
There is a common misconception that students move to foreign universities to escape the competition in NEET, however, this is not true. As per the National Medical Commission, any student wishing to pursue education abroad on or after 2018, shall have to mandatorily qualify in NEET.
Increase in students appearing & passing Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE)
As per the answer given to the parliament, the number of Indian students going abroad for studies has been increasing. This figure was 3,71,506 in 2016 which grew to 5,88,931 in 2019. This data includes all students pursuing any kind of education abroad.
However, any student who did their medical education in foreign countries other than Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America, and who wishes to practice medicine in India are required to qualify for the FMGE exam. It is a statutory requirement under section 13(4A) of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 and is conducted by the National Board of Examination (NBE).
What are some of the important issues concerning Medical Education?
Fee regulation: One of the primary challenges of medical education is affordability. The cost for medical examination in private institutions in India can be anywhere between Rs. 50 lakhs and a few crores, while the same would be around Rs. 30 lakhs from foreign universities. The primary quantum of such hefty fees is the capitation fee, which is acknowledged by several committees.
The following is an excerpt from the Yashpal committee report that was set up to advise on ‘Renovation and Rejuvenation of Higher Education’ in 2008.
Accordingly, the government tried to bring a legislation, ‘The Prohibition of Unfair Practices in Technical Educational Institutions, Medical Educational Institutions and Universities Bill, 2010’ to protect the interests of the students admitted. The legislation sought to prohibit the capitation fee. But with the dissolution of the government in 2014, this bill got lapsed.
The NITI Aayog preliminary committee on Reform of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956, also talks about the fee regulation. It calls for achieving a balance between promoting institution founders’ interests as well as students’ interests. Accordingly, it recommended that the National Medical Commission (NMC) should be empowered to regulate fees for seats not exceeding 40% of the capacity.
However, the NMC act 2019 act empowers the NMC to determine the fees in 50% of the seats in private and deemed to be universities.
Current Affair 2:
Growth story of medical education in India
India is one of the nations with a large health infrastructure in the world. India ranks 10th in the Medical Tourism Index (MTI), 2020-21, out of the 46 destinations studied. It stands at 6th in the quality of facilities and the services in the MTI index.
In this story, we look at the growth story of medical education in India and the changing patterns of migration towards foreign universities. Data is collated from the Annual Reports of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Annual Reports of the National Board of Examinations, and questions raised in the parliament.
68% growth of medical colleges in India during the last decade
There is a significant growth in the number of medical colleges across India over the last decade. In 2010-11, the number of medical colleges, including private and government, was 334, which increased to 404 by 2014-15 and stands at 562 in 2020-21. This amounts to a 68% growth in the number of colleges in these 10 years. Accordingly, the number of medical seats at the ‘Under Graduate’ (UG) level increased from 41,500 in 2010-11 to 86,649 in 2020-21. Similarly, the number of seats at the ‘Post Graduate’ (PG) level increased from 21,100 in 2010-11 to 42,015 in 2020-21.
Around 60% of the seats are in just 8 states:
While there is a significant expansion in the medical colleges in India, this expansion has not been equitable. Out of the total 86,649 medical seats, nearly 51,262 seats are located just in 8 states, translating to around 60% of the total seats. The Empowered Action Group (EAG) States comprising of Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh account for only 27% of the total medical seats in India.
‘Per Seat’ competition in NEET is rising
National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) had undergone significant changes from its inception. History dates to 1987, when the first All-India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT) was conducted for admissions into government colleges in India. In 2010, the then Medical Council of India proposed NEET as a single examination for admission into all colleges under the ‘Regulations on Graduate Medical Examination, 2010’.
There is a common misconception that students move to foreign universities to escape the competition in NEET, however, this is not true. As per the National Medical Commission, any student wishing to pursue education abroad on or after 2018, shall have to mandatorily qualify in NEET.
Increase in students appearing & passing Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE)
As per the answer given to the parliament, the number of Indian students going abroad for studies has been increasing. This figure was 3,71,506 in 2016 which grew to 5,88,931 in 2019. This data includes all students pursuing any kind of education abroad.
However, any student who did their medical education in foreign countries other than Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America, and who wishes to practice medicine in India are required to qualify for the FMGE exam. It is a statutory requirement under section 13(4A) of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 and is conducted by the National Board of Examination (NBE).
What are some of the important issues concerning Medical Education?
Fee regulation: One of the primary challenges of medical education is affordability. The cost for medical examination in private institutions in India can be anywhere between Rs. 50 lakhs and a few crores, while the same would be around Rs. 30 lakhs from foreign universities. The primary quantum of such hefty fees is the capitation fee, which is acknowledged by several committees.
The following is an excerpt from the Yashpal committee report that was set up to advise on ‘Renovation and Rejuvenation of Higher Education’ in 2008.
Accordingly, the government tried to bring a legislation, ‘The Prohibition of Unfair Practices in Technical Educational Institutions, Medical Educational Institutions and Universities Bill, 2010’ to protect the interests of the students admitted. The legislation sought to prohibit the capitation fee. But with the dissolution of the government in 2014, this bill got lapsed.
The NITI Aayog preliminary committee on Reform of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956, also talks about the fee regulation. It calls for achieving a balance between promoting institution founders’ interests as well as students’ interests. Accordingly, it recommended that the National Medical Commission (NMC) should be empowered to regulate fees for seats not exceeding 40% of the capacity.
However, the NMC act 2019 act empowers the NMC to determine the fees in 50% of the seats in private and deemed to be universities.
Current Affair 3:
The 10 Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns (10YFP)
At the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), in June 2012, the world’s Heads of States adopted the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns (hereafter the 10YFP). This followed their reaffirmation that “fundamental changes in the way societies produce and consume are indispensable for achieving global sustainable development” (Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, 2002).
The 10YFP is a global framework for action to enhance international cooperation and accelerate the shift towards sustainable consumption and production (SCP) patterns in both developed and developing countries. The framework supports capacity building, and facilitates access to technical and financial assistance for developing countries for this shift.
The 10YFP aims at developing, replicating and scaling up SCP and resource efficiency initiatives, at national and regional levels, decoupling environmental degradation and resource use from economic growth, and thus increasing the net contribution of economic activities to resource efficiency and productivity, poverty eradication, social development and environmental sustainability.
Current Affair 4:
Will soaring oil prices cause ‘stagflation’ in India?
With ref to the above article: A very good read on what exactly is stagflation and its cause and the present situation of Indian economy and whether we are into stagflation or not.
Most of the article is self-explanatory but I would like to elaborate on just one point. There is a potential/trend growth of every economy which is basically the sustainable growth at which the economy can grow in real terms for long. That potential/trend growth was around 8%/9% till 2017. But due to covid-19 pandemic there has been some structural changes in the economy and due to which out potential/trend growth may have come down to 5%/6%.
Stagflation is about higher inflation combined with stagnation/slowdown/less growth in economy. Now, this fall in growth (stagnation) is measured from the trend/potential growth. So, if our economic growth is less than the trend growth for quite some time and there is higher inflation then we can call it 'stagflation'. BUT, if the trend/potential growth itself has come down (due to structural changes because of covid-19 i.e. loss/closure of some kind of industries/jobs) to 5%/6% then we do not call it stagflation.
For example, in US, the trend/potential growth is 3%/4%................So, if inflation is higher in US and economy is growing at 3% you cannot call it stagflation because 3% is their trend growth. But for India, if it is growing at 3% for some time and inflation increases to double digits then we can say it as stagflation.
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