Apropos of ‘Medical education needs a clean-up’; suggestions like including school board marks for selection in medical colleges, a separate entrance test for every state and private colleges holding their own tests appear impractical. NEET was introduced to overcome the above-mentioned shortcomings. Admissions based on school board marks can’t ensure fairness. Likewise, separate entrance tests across numerous states would multiply administrative challenges. Allowing private medical colleges to conduct their own entrance tests would commercialise medical education. Change for the sake of change can prove disastrous. All available resources should be directed towards making NTA efficient.
Rajesh Goyal, Chandigarh
Nurture critical thinking
Apropos of ‘Nehru’s legacy of science & right to question’; the former PM understood that India’s progress depended not merely on political freedom but on the development of a scientific temper. Unfortunately, the present regime appears more focused on glorifying mythology and promoting emotional narratives than nurturing critical inquiry and evidence-based thinking. In an age dominated by misinformation, India urgently needs to revive Nehru’s vision of scientific temper to strengthen innovation and lead the nation towards genuine progress.
Balbir Singh Kakkar, Jalandhar
Quality matters, not quantity
Refer to ‘Effects of Agnipath scheme’; the proportional strength of Agniveers vis-a-vis regular soldiers will keep on increasing every year. Probation is the best method of selecting the best workers. This method is seldom used because of its high cost. We are incurring that cost in training our Agniveers, but we send 75 % of them out because of the binding 25% limit. We must decide upon a cut-off based on quality and not quantity.
Lt Col Harbhaj Singh (retd), Hisar
Water diversion plan not viable
Refer to ‘Government mulls diverting Indus water to HP’; the proposal of diverting the flow of the Chandra river to the Beas is not a technically and economically viable decision. The Chandra is fed mostly by the melting snow, not rain. By diverting this water to the Beas, all hydro projects on the Chenab will be deprived of water flow, resulting in lesser power generation. Diversion of water to the Beas basin will have very little impact on Pakistan because flow in the Chenab at the Akhnoor barrage from May to September varies from 30,000 to 5 lakh cusecs. 1.10 MAF of additional flow in Bhakra and Pong dam reservoirs will hardly be able to meet the existing deficiency of water faced by Punjab and Rajasthan.
RN Malik, Gurugram
Double whammy for students
Refer to ‘Re-evaluation mess’; it’s hard to imagine students’ plight who have worked hard for months preparing for the Class 12 CBSE examination. The future of young students seeking college admissions rests on these marks. After NEET paper leaks, the chaotic CUET mess has been a double whammy for them. Their future hangs in balance as they are forced to deal with uncertainty.
Mona Singh, by mail
Restrict quota benefits
Refer to ‘Reservation reset’; it is a matter of grave concern that the children of SC IAS/IPS/IFS officers and other elite services snatch the rights of the marginalised sections. It is necessary to exclude such groups from reservation benefits. The poor continue to remain immersed in poverty and remain ignored. Indian politics revolves around the caste factor; none of the political parties dares to speak against this issue, fearing an adverse impact on their vote bank.
Raj Kumar Kapoor, Ropar
