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Age limit for Entrance Exams

Disclaimer: All views expressed here are in nature of an academic debate only

There is an upper age limit imposed by the exam committee of a certain national level entrance exam. Last year, this limit was challenged by a couple of students who had crossed the age limit. A court judgment was passed in favor of the students and they were allowed to appear for the exam. However, there have been media reports which claim that the judgment notwithstanding, the age limit rule might still be enforced this year.

This article aims to explore the need for such a rule. The contrary opinion has not been discussed here. Valid opinions against the one expressed here are welcome.

There are literally thousands of students who have just completed their school education and look forward to enter the education system in some of the premier institutions of this country. The average age of such aspirants would be in the 17-19 year range. Although there may be candidates who have completed 20 years of age, the numbers who would fall in this category would be minuscule.

Suppose the age limit is removed - what could happen? What is a large number of 20+ (age) candidates appear and crack the examination? With the merit-system in place, what if none (or a few) 12th pass outs get admissions? Wouldn't it be unfair for the younger aspirants?

In absence of an age limit (and no bar on number of attempts), what is to prevent a candidate from repeatedly trying his (her) luck till (s)he cracks the exam?

 While there may be legitimate reasons as to why an older candidate wishes to join the course, these must be taken on a case to case basis. Certain strict rules regarding the eligibility of candidates over a certain age can be added as exceptions to the age rule. One condition could be the number of attempts that such a candidate is allowed.

While no system is perfect, it is worth thinking about the rationale behind certain rules and how to deal with genuine cases where the rule reduces one's chances at a good future.

GK - Current Affairs (21 November 2014)

Sanskrit Bharati - an RSS outfit - wants the HRD ministry to make teaching of Sanskrit compulsory in CBSE-affiliated schools till Class 12.

India pushes for entry into elite nuclear groups Click here to read entire article

Sixty one India fishermen on board 11 boats were arrested by the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency Click here to read entire article

Mullaperiyar water level touches 142 feet for first time in 35 years Click here to read entire article

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe dissolved the lower house of Japan's parliament on Friday, paving the way for a general election next month. Click here to read entire article

The Supreme Court-appointed Special Public Prosecutor in 2G cases, Anand Grover, on Thursday said there was credibility in the allegations of the NGO, Centre for Public Interest Litigation, accusing the CBI Director Ranjit Sinha of shielding the accused in the 2G spectrum investigation. Click here to read entire article

Pakistan and Russia on Thursday signed a military cooperation agreement to deepen their defence ties and vowed to translate their relationship in “tangible” terms during the first visit of a Russian Defence Minister in 45 years. Click here to read entire article

N. Ram, former Editor-in-Chief of The Hindu and chairman of Kasturi and Sons, publishers of The Hindu, has been selected for the first N. Ramachandran Foundation Award. Click here to read entire article

Reading - for beginners

Some time back, on a public forum, a non-reader has asked for some good books to be recommended. In tune with my own tastes, I suggested a few authors. However, the person felt that the content of the books were - at times - explicit and hence, not suitable for young readers. Now, although I did not feel then, that Archer, Sheldon and Grisham were explicit authors, I understand the discomfiture that a person would feel in reading a 'single' line of 'such content' in a 500 page novel.

A few days back, one of the teachers at my organization recommended 'Enid Blyton' to some first time readers. And that switched on the light bulb in my head!

Of course! The count less hours of fun that I had (when I was 6-7 years old) with Malory Towers, The Famous Five and the Secret Seven was amazing. This was the right kind of content to be recommended to someone who was ultra-prudish about the 'morality' of the content of 'those English type books'.

What did I do next? Well, as anyone who knows me would predict, I logged on to my favorite e-commerce website (no free promos for them here) and ordered entire box sets of Malory Towers, The Famous Five, The Secret Seven and The Naughtiest Girl at School.

JFYI, I've been devouring these books at the rate of about 1.5 books per day!

Current Affairs (12 November 2014)

• Pizza Hut has announced a change in their brand and plans to unveil a new logo.
• Senior BJP legislator Haribhau Bagde has been elected as new Speaker of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on 12 November 2014.
• Public Service Broadcasting Day was observed across India on 12 November in memory of Gandhi’s visit to AIR to address refugees from Pakistan.
• National Education Day (NED) was observed on 11 November to mark of the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.
• Kerala became the first state in the country to have 100 percent bank accounts for all families under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna (PMJDY).
• Salgaocar FC won Durand Cup on 8 November 2014. They are the Durand Cup champion for the third time.
• Long Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LRSAM) Barak 8 missile, the missile co-developed by India and Israel was successfully test fired in Israel.
• The Bar Council of India (BCI) re-elected Mannan Kumar Mishra and S. Prabakaran as Chairman and Co-chairman respectively.
• The US Navy SEAL, Robert O’Neill, who killed Osama bin Laden on 2 May 2011 during Operation Neptune Spear revealed his identity.
• President conferred the Jnanpith Award 2013 on eminent Hindi poet Kedarnath Singh for his outstanding contribution towards Indian literature.
• Hanumappa Sudarshan of Karuna Trust on 4 Novenber 2014 won the 10th India Social Entrepreneur of the Year 2014 award.
• China Unveils Mars Rover After India’s Successful Mangalyaan

Current Affairs (11 Nov 2014)

• Japanese Telecom Giant SOFTBANK to invest USD 627 Million in Snapdeal
• Appointment: 
• Surya Prakash as Chairman, Prasar Bharti Board
• D J Pandiyan as New Chief Secretary of Gujarat
• Devendra Fadnavis as Chief Minister of Maharashtra
• Rahiv Mehrishi as Union Finance Secretary
• Sundar Pichai as New Product Chief of Google
• Guy Scott as Acting President of Zambia (on death of President Michael Sata)
• Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare announces TB Mission 2020
• India re-elected to UN Economic and Social Council
• Pankaj Advani wins IBSF World Billiards Championship

PM Narendra Modi's Council of Ministers (11 Nov 2014)

CABINET MINISTERS

1. Rajnath Singh: Home Affairs

2. Sushma Swaraj: External Affairs, Overseas Indian Affairs

3. Arun Jaitley: Finance, Corporate Affairs, Information & Broadcasting

4. M Venkaiah Naidu: Urban Development, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, Parliamentary Affairs

5. Nitin Jairam Gadkari: Road Transport and Highways, Shipping

6. Manohar Parrikar: Defence

7. Suresh Prabhu: Railways

8. DV Sadananda Gowda: Law & Justice

9. Sushri Uma Bharati: Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation

10. Najma A Heptulla: Minority Affairs

11. Ramvilas Paswan: Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution

12. Kalraj Mishra: Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises

13. Maneka Sanjay Gandhi: Women and Child Development

14. Ananthkumar: Chemicals and Fertilizers

15. Ravi Shankar Prasad: Communications and Information Technology

16. Jagat Prakash Nadda: Health & Family Welfare

17. Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati: Civil Aviation

18. Anant Geete: Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises

19. Harsimrat Kaur Badal: Food Processing Industries

20. Narendra Singh Tomar: Mines, Steel

21. Chaudhary Birender Singh: Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Drinking Water and Sanitation

22. Jual Oram: Tribal Affairs

23. Radha Mohan Singh: Agriculture

24. Thaawar Chand Gehlot: Social Justice and Empowerment

25. Smriti Zubin Irani: Human Resource Development

26. Harsh Vardhan: Science and Technology, Earth Sciences

MINISTERS OF STATE 

27. General VK Singh: Statistics and Programme Implementation (Independent Charge), External Affairs, Overseas Indian Affairs

28. Inderjit Singh Rao: Planning (Independent Charge), Defence

29. Santosh Kumar Gangwar: Textiles (Independent Charge)

30. Bandaru Dattatreya: Labour and Employment (Independent Charge)

31. Rajiv Pratap Rudy: Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (Independent Charge), Parliamentary Affairs

32. Shripad Yesso Naik: AAYUSH (Independent Charge), Health & Family Welfare

33. Dharmendra Pradhan: Petroleum and Natural Gas (Independent Charge)

34. Sarbananda Sonowal: Youth Affairs and Sports (Independent Charge)

35. Prakash Javadekar: Environment, Forest and Climate Change (Independent Charge)

36. Piyush Goyal: Power (Independent Charge), Coal (Independent Charge), New and Renewable Energy (Independent Charge)

37. Jitendra Singh: Development of North Eastern Region (Independent Charge), Prime Minister's Office, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space

38. Nirmala Sitharaman: Commerce and Industry (Independent Charge)

39. Mahesh Sharma: Culture (Independent Charge), Tourism (Independent Charge), Civil Aviation

40. Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi: Minority Affairs, Parliamentary Affairs

41. Ram Kripal Yadav: Drinking Water & Sanitation

42. Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhary: Home Affairs

43. Sanwar Lal Jat: Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation

44. Mohanbhai Kalyanjibhai Kundariya: Agriculture

45. Giriraj Singh: Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises

46. Hansraj Gangaram Ahir: Chemicals & Fertilizers

47. GM Siddeshwara: Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises

48. Manoj Sinha: Railways

49. Nihalchand: Panchayati Raj

50. Upendra Kushwaha: Human Resource Development

51. Radhakrishnan P: Road Transport & Highways, Shipping

52. Kiren Rijiju: Home Affairs

53. Krishan Pal: Social Justice & Empowerment

54. Sanjeev Kumar Balyan: Agriculture

55. Manuskhbhai Dhanjibhai Vasava: Tribal Affairs

56. Raosaheb Dadarao Danve: Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution

57. Vishnu Deo Sai: Mines, Steel

58. Sudarshan Bhagat: Rural Development

59. Ram Shankar Katheria: Human Resource Development

60. YS Chowdary: Science and Technology, Earth Science

61. Jayant Sinha: Finance

62. Col Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore: Information & Broadcasting

63. Babul Supria (Babul Supriyo) Baral: Urban Development, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation

64. Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti: Food Processing Industries

65. Vijay Sampla: Social Justice & Empowerment

(Source: PIB)