Quota norms for NET

By Pervin Malhotra

Q. I’m very confused about the new reservation norms for NET takers. Could you please simplify these for me? — Javed Rehman

A. Sure, let me explain this in simple language. In the earlier system, top 15 per cent of candidates from each category qualified for Assistant Professor posts. As the cut-off marks for General category candidates was higher than those of the Reserved categories, fewer General category students qualified. UGC data estimates that over the past two decades 68-92 per cent of CBSE NET qualifying candidates were from the Reserved categories.

In answer to a plea filed in the Kerala HC, the Court asked UGC to examine past data and come up with new norms that would provide a level-playing field for ALL candidates (that also comply with the government’s Reservation Policy).

UGC has now decided to declare 6 per cent of the total number of candidates as NET qualified (i.e. eligible for Assistant Professorship). So, for instance if 1, 00,000 (1 lakh) candidates appear for the exam, then 6,000 candidates will be declared as ‘NET qualified’. To THIS list of NET qualified candidates, the Reservation Policy as per government rules will apply – i.e.  27 per cent for OBCs (from non-creamy layer); 15 per cent for SCs; 7.5 per cent for STs and 3 per cent for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).

Hope this helps.

Maths Olympiad

Q.My daughter who is in Class X loves maths and scores full marks in all her tests. Please suggest how to encourage her to take this interest further. Although I am a single working mother with limited means, I would really want to see her excel. — Kamini Dutta

A.The ability to enjoy mathematics is a gift not everyone’s endowed with. If your daughter has a talent and passion for maths, she needs all the encouragement she can get. To begin with, make sure she participates in the International Mathematics Olympiad, which is one of the most prestigious problem-solving contests for high school “mathletes” the world over (111 participating countries in IMO 2017). The three-step competition starts off with the CBSE’s Group Mathematical Olympiad which is held region-wise by each state. Pre-trial camps are also conducted for aspiring competitors. The Pre-Regional Math Olympiad is a 2-hour test of 16 questions (5 points each) – all of which need to be answered.

The Top 30 students short-listed from the Pre-RMO as well as those from the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya and the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan are invited to participate in the Regional Math Olympiad. Those who successfully clear it can proceed for the Indian National Mathematical Olympiad (INMO) conducted by the National Board of Higher Mathematics in January.

Finally, those selected at the National level get to participate in the prestigious International Mathematical Olympiad which is held in a different country each year (IMO 2018 will be in Romania). I suggest you contact your school principal for details.

Any student studying in Class IX-XII can participate in this event.

Iincidentally, exceptionally bright Class VIII students are also permitted to participate.

Each school can sponsor only five students who are selected strictly on the basis of a screening test conducted by the school itself.

The syllabus as well as previous years’ question papers can be easily accessed on the internet.