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This refers to the protests against the aptitude test for the civil services prelims. The arguments for and against the CSAT paper are one-sided. Those who are for the test seem to think the UPSC can do no wrong.
First, it is not correct to say that the paper in question is of 10th class standard; in 2012, even top coaching institutes got at least 4-5 questions wrong in their keys. Secondly, by failing to rationalise the cut-off criteria, the UPSC allowed CSAT to have more weightage vis-à-vis the general studies paper.
The reading comprehension part caused great disaffection among rural students. Is it any surprise then that more students from urban background and less from rural backgrounds have made the grade in the last three years?
Vishwanath V
Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh
Speak up
With reference to the article, “Time to axe the Planning Commission?” by Ashok Jha (July 28), suppose Yojana Bhavan is emptied out, what next? It is very easy to offer stray thoughts. Even if the name of the Planning Commission is changed, what then? It’s been suggested that the new commission can have two wings, one for perspective planning and the other for implementation. The question is who will look after implementation? Had experts spoken up earlier, there would have been no perceived need to abolish the Planning Commission.
SC Aggarwal
New Delhi
This august body has to its credit historical achievements like the Five-Year Plans. Nevertheless there is need to revisit its composition, functions, responsibilities and relation vis-à-vis the government of the day. The Commission should be entrusted only with preparing plans for the development of various sectors using the latest data. Implementation and monitoring should be the job of a separate body. The Government should set up a body of experts to go into the issue of re-forming the planning body and restructuring it.
TR Anandan
Coimbatore
Boost their confidence
This refers to the editorial, “Cash isn’t king” (July 28). TCS has shown an exemplary gesture to other listed companies which have long been sitting on idle cash year after year. Hopefully, the funds will be used for financing existing or new ventures. This will certainly revive investor sentiment. Cash-rich companies need to mull over the channels through which surplus cash can be used efficiently. Exhausting the cash by way of dividend is the right way to boost confidence among the investors. The absence of adequate and timely dividend may pull investors out of the stock market. Also, the excess cash amassed by some companies needs to be invested either in their own ventures or channelised towards cash-starved .
S Lakshminarayanan
Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu
It is true that Tata Sons will become richer by ₹9382 crore and retail investors will get around ₹3300 crore. However there is an outgo of dividend tax of ₹2200 crore and the Government becomes a single major beneficiary without any investment in the company. If the real purpose of the company is to make use of the surplus funds, it could have been done in a better tax efficient way by cross holding or direct investment by TCS itself. In a sense the shareholder value has gone down by ₹2200 crore by this payment of dividend.
S Kalyanasundaram
Chennai
Don’t be myopic
This refers to the article “Setting the target right”. My friend was a Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan supervisor. Suddenly he told me he was joining as head master in a government high school. When I made enquiries, I discovered that the SSA project was short of funds and so the scheme was being scaled down.
Infrastructure and education are sectors where we need to spend more money. Regarding deficits we should focus on the long-term, instead of looking at the short end of the curve. Ignoring education is doing disservice to the nation and deficits cannot be blamed for that.
CR Arun
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