Exam Paper Leakages : Set to rise ?

Leakages of exam papers – especially for SSC exam – are decades old

But these are set to go up dramatically !

Indian Express ( 06 March ) carries following news :

SSC leak : Why are Group B govt job hopefuls angry ?

http://indianexpress.com/article/explained/ssc-leak-why-are-group-b-govt-job-hopefuls-angry-5087287/

Highlights :

What is the so-called “SSC scam”?

Students from various parts of the country have been protesting since February 27 against the alleged leak of questions of the Combined Graduate Level (CGL) exams conducted by SSC from February 17-22.

What kind of exams does the SSC conduct?

The body was constituted in 1975 as Subordinate Services Selection Board [ SSC  ]under the Department of Personnel and Training of the central government, and re-designated as Staff Selection Commission in 1977.

It recommends candidates for recruitment to various Class III ( now called  Group C  ) posts in Ministries/Departments of the central government and in subordinate offices

How many of you remember that the Government had totally “ done away / eliminated “ job interviews for Group B / C / D , vacancies , starting Jan 2016 ?

Now , if there are no job interviews , what will decide issue of an appointment letter ?

Obviously , it will have to be the “ Percentage of Marks “ obtained in those exams conducted by the Subordinate Services Selection Board [ SSC  ]  !

So , a candidate’s chance ( of lending a job in B / C / D groups ) solely depends on how well they answer those questions in that exam paper !

In our country where for each vacancy in Group C / D , some 1,000 youth apply, this ( getting your answers perfectly right ) , is a matter of “ Life and Death “ !

Any doubt that , as long as your mark-sheet constitutes the ONLY qualifying attribute for getting a job , exam paper leakages will thrive ?

For more on this subject, read :

NOINTERVIEWS FOR B / C / D ?  [ 25  Oct 2015  ]

https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2015/10/no-interviews-for-b-c-d.html

 

Worldrecord in Nepotism ?  [  26  Feb  2018  ]

https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2018/02/world-record-in-nepotism.html

 

08  March  2018

www.hemenparekh.in / blogs

 

Passports ( #PNB #NiravGate #Fugitive )

Economic Times ( 06 March ) carries following news :

PSBs may be told to take passport details for loans above Rs 50 crore

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/psbs-may-be-told-to-take-passport-details-for-loans-above-rs-50-crore/articleshow/63176821.cms

Highlight :

The finance ministry may ask state-run lenders to seek the certified passport details of borrowers with an exposure of Rs 50 crore and above to help prevent them fleeing the country in case of default or wrongdoing of any kind, a senior government official said.

 

This comes as the government is expected to table the Fugitive Economic Offenders bill in the ongoing session of parliament. The idea is under deliberation, the official said. 


“We are trying to ensure a more effective coordination between banks, intelligence agencies and other government departments,” he said.

“In cases where banks feel that there is some fraudulent activity in a particular account, they can inform the agencies in advance.” 

The government is of view that such information sharing may help prevent defaulters and fraudsters from leaving the country to evade banks and investigating agencies 

Considering that the fugitives always plan their departures from India , months or years in advance, it is most likely that they have managed to get passports of some other countries , as well

But invariably , they would have an Indian passport to start with

But just getting passport details won’t prevent his escape , since our government agencies are notorious for their snail pace of action !

So , can something else be done ?

Here is what I wrote 2 YEARS ago ( and sent as email to concerned ):

“ By automatic freezing of personal bank accounts of ALL those who signed the loan document ( takers  &  givers ) , the moment any repayment instalment  becomes overdue by ONE DAY ?

And automatic / instant revoking of PASSPORT , without having to approach Supreme Court  ? “

=================================

For detailed proposal , read :

 

 NPA ? or is itNPB ?  [ 08 March 2016 ]

 

https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2016/03/npa-or-is-it-npb.html

Word of caution :

When talking of that “ Information Sharing “ and “ Effective Coordination “ , keep the humans out of the picture !

Instead consider the following :

·         As soon as there is a “ Loan Instalment Repayment “ gets delayed ( even by a single day ) , concerned bank’s server ( computer ) , sends alerts to the Servers of SEBI / RBI / ED / SFIO / MEA / Passport Office etc

Once that instalment gets repaid, the alert will get reversed – automatically by the server

·         MEA server will , in turn , send out alerts to the Embassies / Consulates of all Foreign Countries located in India, requesting them not to issue any type of VISA to the concerned bank-loan borrower till alert gets cancelled / reversed

·         Server of the Passport Office sends out alerts to the servers of all the Airports / the Airport Authority of India / all the Airlines flying international routes

·         If the fugitive tries to buy a ticket for any foreign destination , Airlines’ Servers will not issue ( even if tried Online )

·         If he has already purchase a ticket in advance, Check-in Counters will refuse to print a Boarding Pass ( even a Mobile-based boarding pass )

·         Web sites of each lending bank will carry full details of all the loans extended to all borrowers – along with DEFAULT STATUS shown in RED

·         Each borrower company must have a Corporate Web Site where it must display full details of all loans taken from various banks along with repayment details of each instalment ( - like RERA requirement  ?  Why not ? )

Harsh  ?

Not considering that the Indian citizens have lost all faith in government agencies !

They would rather depend upon the Computers and Internet to do a better / faster / fool-proof and an impartial job of preventing the fugitives from fleeing

Dear Shri Jaitleyji ,

Please entrust any software start-up to build such a “ IndiaStack “ centred application

They will do it in 2 months !

 Believe me,  Prevention is better than Cure  !

07  March  2018

www.hemenparekh.in / blogs

Logical to Lease

Business Line ( 03 March ) carries following news :

“ With prices skidding, electric buses on road to making a mark “

https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/with-prices-skidding-electric-buses-on-road-to-making-a-mark/article22911695.ece

Highlight :

In the case of outright purchase, the Centre provides 60 per cent subsidy and the rest is provided by the State road transport corporations.

With most of the RTCs under financial stress, they are looking at GCC, where the buses would be operated and maintained by the supplier at a fixed cost per km.

The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has finalised Goldstone-BYD, where six others were in fray, for 40 buses, where the corporation will pay ₹37.5 per km.

Just to compare this with other luxury bus service, it works out to about ₹50 a km.

 Likewise, TSRTC has also chosen Goldstone for supply of 40 buses in Hyderabad, also under GCC.

The BMTC had invited tenders for 150 e-buses and it expects to get ₹1 crore as subsidy per bus from the Centre.

A source pointed out that while at ₹85 lakh, the EVs’ cost compares with some of the luxury diesel buses, their durability has to be tested in tough Indian conditions.

“If these manage to achieve similar reliability and durability, in major metros like Delhi, where there is growing concern about vehicular pollution, the entire fleet may be upgraded to EVs. We believe they are robust and durable as they have far less moving parts,” the source pointed out.

The Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises had extended a subsidy of ₹437 crore to 11 cities under the FAME India for the launch of electric vehicles to encourage the States to invite tenders.

While Tata Motors will supply 190 electric buses, Goldstone, which partnered Chinese major BYD, will provide 290 buses.

It was proposed to offer 40 buses for each city under the pilot project. However, TSRTC in Hyderabad has decided to take 100 buses, Bengaluru is considering 150 buses, and Mumbai is sticking to 40.

While Ahmedabad is in the process of finalising, in the case of Delhi, where the courts have directed it to consider EVs, they are likely to come up with a much larger tender of procuring about 1,000 buses, another source requesting anonymity said.

In the meantime , in Mumbai , BEST Committee member, Ravi Raja said :

“ Financial mismanagement has driven this body to the current state. BEST immediately needs to buy over 1,000 new buses . But unfortunately , it does not have money to pay the salaries to its staffers “

A report in Hindustan Times ( 04 March ) reads :

The BEST had proposed wet leasing of buses in which the contractor will take care of driver, fuel and maintenance of buses

It was expected to bring savings of Rs 700 – 800 crore, but BEST panel had rejected the proposal earlier

It later on sanctioned most of the reform proposals including wet leasing of more than 450 buses

How much can EESL save if , instead of “ buying “ those 10,000 Electric cars , it were to “ lease “ out the same ?

Here are my calculations :

------------------------------------------------------

EESL : Lease cars , do not Buy !  [ 16  Aug  2017  ]

https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2017/08/eesl-lease-cars-do-not-buy.html

--------------------------------------------------------

To Buy or not to Buy ?  [  11  Oct  2017  ]

https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2017/10/to-buy-or-not-to-buy.html

===============================

 

Of course , it is a different matter that :

 

#   Only some 300 / 500 Electric cars have been delivered by TATA Motors so far

#   The order for setting up of 4,000 EV battery charging stations is not finalized

#   Only  2 / 3 Charging Stations have come up in NCR in past 3 months

 

07  March  2018

www.hemenparekh.in / blogs

SFIO summons ? #PNB #NiravModi

Here are today’s headlines :

PNB fraud : ICICI, Axis Bank Chiefs get summons from SFIO

http://www.dnaindia.com/business/report-pnb-fraud-icici-axis-bank-chiefs-get-summons-from-serious-fraud-investigation-office-2591407

Extract :

" Both Kochhar and Sharma sent their representatives today. Officials from the other banks will be also called for questioning," sources said.

Common Man’s interpretation :

Who cares ?  Ask our deputies – lawyers

Extract :

In a reply to stock exchanges, ICICI Bank said it is a part of the working capital lender consortium, adding its exposure is not the highest

Common Man’s interpretation :

·        What is an exposure of a few hundred crores of rupees  ?  Peanuts !

·        It was a “ working capital loan “ – not real money of shareholders !

·        We did not do it alone – all by ourselves !

Axis bank response to the SFIO summons :

“ Our exposure to these entities is just Rs 200 crores and we are not the LEADER in the consortium “

Meaning :

“ Hey ! Why chase us ? Go after the LEADER !  or after those Public Sector Banks

We are neither owned by the government , nor answerable to it since this was not tax payer money . We will ensure that shareholders don’t ask uncomfortable questions during AGM “

  

My Take :

Even if technically , those CEOs of Private Sector Banks can get away by deputing their subordinates to go and meet SFIO , the message that they seem to be sending to 1.3 billion Indian citizens is loud and clear :

“ Send all the summons that you care .

Like  #NiravModi   #MehulChoksi   #Gitanjali  #KartikChidambaram etc  , we too are ABOVE THE LAW of the land . “

07  March  2018

www.hemenparekh.in  / blogs  

Common Sense ? Let Robots excel !

Times of India ( 05 Feb ) carries following news :

 Next crash course for machines :  ‘ Common Sense ‘

Microsoft’s co-founder Paul Allen said that he was pumping an additional $125 million into his non-profit computer research lab for an ambitious new effort to teach machines “common sense.”

 In the years and decades to come, the lab hopes to create a database of fundamental knowledge that humans take for granted but machines have always lacked.

“To make real progress in AI, we have to overcome the big challenges in the area of common sense,” said Allen, who founded the software giant Microsoft in the 1970s with Bill Gates.

Today, machines can recognize nearby objects, identify spoken words, translate one language into another and mimic other human tasks with an accuracy

But these machines struggle with other basic tasks. Though Amazon’s Alexa does a good job of recognizing what you say, it cannot respond to anything more than basic commands and questions. When confronted with heavy traffic or unexpected situations, driverless cars just sit there.

AI “recognizes objects, but can’t explain what it sees. It can’t read a textbook and understand the questions,” said Oren Etzioni, a former University of Washington professor who oversees the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence. “It is devoid of common sense.”

To understand why it is not merely important but vital for the survival of the human race that robots quickly acquire this “ Common Sense “ , read :

ArtificialIntelligence or Natural Stupidity ?  [  06  Nov  2017  ]

https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2017/11/artificial-intelligence-or-natural.html

06  March  2018

www.hemenparekh.in / blogs