Education GK: Awards, Days, Firsts and Literacy

What to remember

• Teachers' Day is on 5 September, the birthday of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. The National Teachers' Awards (Shikshak Puraskar) are given around this day.
• National Education Day is 11 November (birthday of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, independent India's first education minister) and International Literacy Day is 8 September.
• Literacy in the Census means a person aged 7 years or above who can read and write with understanding in any language.

Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and Teachers' Day

Dr. S. Radhakrishnan was born on 5 September 1888 in a village that was then in the Madras Presidency. He was a philosopher and teacher who became the first Vice-President of India and later the second President of India. He received the Bharat Ratna. He also served as Vice-Chancellor of Andhra University, which links him to Andhra Pradesh, and later as Vice-Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University. He chaired the University Education Commission set up soon after Independence (also called the Radhakrishnan Commission).

When friends and students asked to celebrate his birthday, he suggested that it be observed as Teachers' Day. India has celebrated Teachers' Day on 5 September since the early 1960s.

National Teachers' Awards (Shikshak Puraskar)

• Given by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, to outstanding school teachers (and, in recent years, to some head masters and teacher educators).
• Presented around 5 September by the President of India in New Delhi.
• The awards began in the late 1950s.
• Selection is done through a State-level and then a national-level process (self-nomination and a jury).
• States also give their own State Best Teacher Awards on Teachers' Day. In AP these are given on 5 September by the State.

Important education days

Note that Teachers' Day (5 Sept, India) and World Teachers' Day (5 Oct) are different.

Firsts in education

• First Education Minister of independent India: Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.
• First Vice-President and second President: Dr. S. Radhakrishnan (a teacher by profession).
• First girls' school in India (by Indian efforts): started in Pune by Savitribai Phule and Jyotirao Phule; Savitribai is widely known as India's first woman teacher. Fatima Sheikh worked alongside them.
• Commission on secondary education: the Mudaliar Commission (Secondary Education Commission).
• Commission that gave the 10+2+3 pattern: the Kothari Commission (Education Commission).
• University Education Commission: Radhakrishnan Commission.
• Wood's Despatch: often called the "Magna Carta of English Education in India"; it recommended universities in the presidency cities and a department of education in each province.
• Macaulay's Minute: supported English as the medium for higher education in British India.
• Wardha scheme / Basic Education: Mahatma Gandhi's idea of learning through craft; the Zakir Husain Committee prepared the plan.
• Universities in the Telugu region: Andhra University (Visakhapatnam) was the first university of the Andhra region. Sri Venkateswara University (Tirupati) and Acharya Nagarjuna University are other well-known State universities. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University and Telugu University are other important institutions in the wider Telugu region.

Landmark policies and programmes (national)

Literacy: concepts you must know

• Census definition: a person aged 7+ who can both read and write with understanding in any language is literate. A person who can only read is not literate.
• Literacy rate: literates as a percentage of the population aged 7 and above (called the effective literacy rate). The crude literacy rate is calculated on the total population.
• Gender gap: male literacy is higher than female literacy in India; policy attention, such as scholarships, residential schools and girls' toilets, aims to narrow it.
• Literacy programmes: National Literacy Mission (late 1980s), Total Literacy Campaigns, Saakshar Bharat (adult education, with focus on women), and the New India Literacy Programme (ULLAS) for adult learners.
• Rankings and figures change with each Census or survey. Do not memorise percentages without the source and year; use the latest official release.

Constitutional and legal landmarks

• Article 21A: Right to education for children aged 6-14.
• Article 45: Directive Principle on early childhood care and education.
• Article 51A(k): Fundamental Duty of parents or guardians to provide opportunities for education to children aged 6-14.
• Article 30: Right of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions.
• RTE Act: came into force on 1 April 2010.

Teachers' Day in schools

On Teachers' Day, senior students often take the role of teachers for a day. Schools hold cultural events and honour retired teachers. The day is also used by governments to announce teacher awards. A trainee teacher should understand the message: the teacher is a guide for the whole life of a learner, not only a giver of marks.

Educators worth remembering

Global bodies

UNESCO is the UN agency for education, science and culture. UNICEF works for children's rights and education. The Right to Education is also part of the global Sustainable Development Goal 4, which calls for inclusive and equitable quality education for all.

Quick memory aids

• Two September dates: 5th for Teachers' Day (Radhakrishnan) and 8th for Literacy Day.
• Two November dates: 11th for Education Day (Azad) and 14th for Children's Day (Nehru).
• Two January dates: 12th for Youth Day (Vivekananda) and 24th for Girl Child Day and International Day of Education.
• Education commissions by theme: Radhakrishnan for universities, Mudaliar for secondary schools, Kothari for the whole system.
• Dates mentioned for awards: Shikshak Puraskar is linked with 5 September, not with 11 November.

Other well-known education awards and honours

Teachers and institutions are honoured through many routes: National Teachers' Awards by the Central Government, State Best Teacher Awards by State governments, and Swachh Vidyalaya type recognition for clean school campuses. Awards for students include National Talent Search Scholarship and Bal Puraskar for children's achievements. Remember the body that gives each award, since this is a common question type.

Exam traps

• 1. Teachers' Day vs World Teachers' Day: 5 September (India) vs 5 October (world).
• 2. National Education Day vs Teachers' Day: 11 November (Azad) vs 5 September (Radhakrishnan).
• 3. Children's Day vs Youth Day: 14 November (Nehru) vs 12 January (Vivekananda).
• 4. International Literacy Day vs National Science Day: 8 September vs 28 February.
• 5. GER vs NER: GER includes all ages; NER includes only official-age children.
• 6. Mudaliar vs Kothari: Mudaliar looked at secondary education; Kothari looked at the whole system and gave 10+2+3.
• 7. Radhakrishnan Commission vs Kothari Commission: university education vs overall education.
• 8. Crude vs effective literacy rate: total population vs population aged 7+.

One-liners

• 1. Teachers' Day is 5 September.
• 2. Radhakrishnan was a Vice-Chancellor of Andhra University.
• 3. National Education Day is 11 November.
• 4. Maulana Azad was the first Education Minister of independent India.
• 5. International Literacy Day is 8 September.
• 6. Savitribai Phule is known as India's first woman teacher.
• 7. The Kothari Commission recommended the 10+2+3 pattern.
• 8. The Radhakrishnan Commission studied university education.
• 9. Wood's Despatch is called the Magna Carta of English education in India.
• 10. The Census counts as literate a person aged 7+ who can read and write with understanding.
• 11. Article 21A gives the Right to Education.
• 12. National Teachers' Awards are called Shikshak Puraskar.

Practice questions

1. Teachers' Day is observed in India on

   1. 5 October
   2. 5 September
   3. 11 November
   4. 14 November
   Answer

   B. 5 September

   5 September is the birthday of Dr. S. Radhakrishnan.

2. Teachers' Day commemorates the birthday of

   1. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
   2. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
   3. Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
   4. Jawaharlal Nehru
   Answer

   C. Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan

   Radhakrishnan suggested that his birthday be observed as Teachers' Day.

3. National Education Day is observed on

   1. 24 January
   2. 8 September
   3. 5 September
   4. 11 November
   Answer

   D. 11 November

   It marks the birthday of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.

4. International Literacy Day is observed on

   1. 8 September
   2. 28 February
   3. 5 October
   4. 5 September
   Answer

   A. 8 September

   UNESCO proclaimed 8 September as International Literacy Day.

5. Who was independent India's first Education Minister?

   1. Dr. Zakir Husain
   2. Dr. S. Radhakrishnan
   3. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
   4. Jawaharlal Nehru
   Answer

   C. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad

   Azad was the first Education Minister.

6. Who is widely known as India's first woman teacher?

   1. Annie Besant
   2. Sarojini Naidu
   3. Pandita Ramabai
   4. Savitribai Phule
   Answer

   D. Savitribai Phule

   Savitribai Phule taught in the girls' school started in Pune.

7. The Kothari Commission is associated with the recommendation of the

   1. 10+2+3 pattern
   2. Three-language dropping
   3. Basic education scheme
   4. Wardha scheme
   Answer

   A. 10+2+3 pattern

   The Education Commission (Kothari) recommended 10+2+3.

8. The Radhakrishnan Commission studied

   1. Adult education
   2. University education
   3. Secondary education
   4. Primary education
   Answer

   B. University education

   It was the University Education Commission.

9. The Mudaliar Commission studied

   1. Secondary education
   2. University education
   3. Technical education only
   4. Primary education only
   Answer

   A. Secondary education

   It is also called the Secondary Education Commission.

10. Wood's Despatch is often called the

    1. Bill of Teachers' rights
    2. Constitution of Universities
    3. Charter of Basic education
    4. Magna Carta of English education in India
    Answer

    D. Magna Carta of English education in India

    It laid the base of the modern education system under British rule.

11. Children's Day in India is observed on

    1. 5 September
    2. 14 November
    3. 12 January
    4. 24 January
    Answer

    B. 14 November

    14 November is Jawaharlal Nehru's birthday.

12. National Youth Day, the birthday of Swami Vivekananda, is on

    1. 28 February
    2. 14 November
    3. 12 January
    4. 5 September
    Answer

    C. 12 January

    12 January is observed as National Youth Day.

13. In the Census, a person is counted as literate from the age of

    1. 7 years
    2. 3 years
    3. 10 years
    4. 5 years
    Answer

    A. 7 years

    The Census counts the population aged 7 and above for literacy.

14. The Right to Education as a Fundamental Right is under Article

    1. 19
    2. 45
    3. 21A
    4. 51A(k)
    Answer

    C. 21A

    Article 21A covers ages 6-14.

15. The National Teachers' Awards, called Shikshak Puraskar, are given by the

    1. UGC
    2. Ministry of Education
    3. NCTE
    4. Election Commission
    Answer

    B. Ministry of Education

    They are given by the Union Ministry of Education and presented by the President.

16. National Science Day is observed on

    1. 8 September
    2. 5 September
    3. 11 November
    4. 28 February
    Answer

    D. 28 February

    28 February marks the discovery of the Raman Effect.

17. Andhra University is located at

    1. Visakhapatnam
    2. Tirupati
    3. Guntur
    4. Kurnool
    Answer

    A. Visakhapatnam

    Andhra University is at Visakhapatnam.

18. World Teachers' Day, observed internationally, falls on

    1. 14 November
    2. 5 September
    3. 8 September
    4. 5 October
    Answer

    D. 5 October

    It is different from India's Teachers' Day.

19. Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) is calculated by using

    1. Only official-age enrolment
    2. Enrolment of all ages in a stage divided by the population of the official age group
    3. Only the number of teachers
    4. Only the number of schools
    Answer

    B. Enrolment of all ages in a stage divided by the population of the official age group

    GER counts all enrolled children regardless of age.

20. Net Enrolment Ratio (NER) counts

    1. Children of all ages
    2. Only dropouts
    3. Only children of the official age group enrolled in the stage
    4. Only adult learners
    Answer

    C. Only children of the official age group enrolled in the stage

    NER is limited to official-age children.

21. The crude literacy rate is calculated on the

    1. Total population
    2. Population aged 7 and above
    3. Population of school-going age only
    4. Population of urban areas
    Answer

    A. Total population

    The effective literacy rate uses the population aged 7+.

22. The effective literacy rate is calculated on the

    1. Total population
    2. Population aged 7 and above
    3. Children below 6
    4. Teachers only
    Answer

    B. Population aged 7 and above

    It excludes the children below 7.

23. Saakshar Bharat was mainly a programme for

    1. Higher engineering
    2. Teacher recruitment
    3. Pre-school children
    4. Adult literacy, especially of women
    Answer

    D. Adult literacy, especially of women

    Saakshar Bharat was an adult education programme focused on women.

24. The idea of Basic education (Nai Talim) learning through craft is associated with

    1. Jyotirao Phule
    2. Maria Montessori
    3. Mahatma Gandhi
    4. Rabindranath Tagore
    Answer

    C. Mahatma Gandhi

    Gandhi proposed Basic education; the Zakir Husain Committee prepared the plan.

25. Macaulay's Minute supported English as the medium of

    1. Higher education in British India
    2. Pre-school education
    3. Adult literacy
    4. Mother-tongue schooling
    Answer

    A. Higher education in British India

    It favoured English-medium Western learning.

26. Which statement about Dr. S. Radhakrishnan is correct?

    1. He was the first Education Minister
    2. He served as Vice-Chancellor of Andhra University
    3. He drafted the RTE Act
    4. He founded Navodaya Vidyalayas
    Answer

    B. He served as Vice-Chancellor of Andhra University

    He was Vice-Chancellor of Andhra University and later of BHU.

27. A person who can only read but cannot write is

    1. Counted as highly literate
    2. Counted as a child
    3. Not counted as literate in the Census
    4. Counted as literate
    Answer

    C. Not counted as literate in the Census

    The Census requires both reading and writing with understanding.

28. Kendriya Vidyalayas are mainly meant for

    1. Only tribal children
    2. Only girls
    3. Only college students
    4. Children of transferable government employees
    Answer

    D. Children of transferable government employees

    KVs give a common curriculum to children of transferable staff.

29. Navodaya Vidyalayas are meant for

    1. Talented children, mostly from rural areas
    2. Children of defence staff only
    3. Adult learners
    4. Pre-school children
    Answer

    A. Talented children, mostly from rural areas

    JNVs are residential schools for talented rural children.

30. Article 30 gives the right to

    1. Reservation of seats
    2. Free textbooks for all
    3. Teacher transfers
    4. Minorities to establish and administer educational institutions
    Answer

    D. Minorities to establish and administer educational institutions

    Article 30 protects minority educational institutions.

31. Operation Blackboard aimed to

    1. Run mid-day meals
    2. Set up universities
    3. Improve basic facilities in primary schools
    4. Train adult teachers
    Answer

    C. Improve basic facilities in primary schools

    It provided classrooms, teachers and teaching material to primary schools.

32. Consider the following statements: 1. Teachers' Day is on 5 September. 2. World Teachers' Day is also on 5 September. Which of the statements is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    A. 1 only

    World Teachers' Day is on 5 October, so statement 2 is false.

33. Consider the following statements: 1. National Education Day is on 11 November. 2. It honours Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the first Education Minister. Which of the statements is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    C. Both 1 and 2

    Both statements are correct.

34. Consider the following statements: 1. The Mudaliar Commission studied university education. 2. The Radhakrishnan Commission studied university education. Which of the statements is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    B. 2 only

    Mudaliar studied secondary education, so statement 1 is false.

35. Consider the following statements: 1. The Kothari Commission recommended the 10+2+3 pattern. 2. Wood's Despatch is called the Magna Carta of English education. Which of the statements is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    C. Both 1 and 2

    Both statements are correct.

36. Consider the following statements: 1. A person who can only read is counted as literate in the Census. 2. The Census counts literacy from age 7. Which of the statements is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    B. 2 only

    Reading and writing both are needed, so statement 1 is false.

37. Consider the following statements: 1. GER can include children outside the official age group. 2. NER includes only official-age children. Which of the statements is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    C. Both 1 and 2

    Both statements are correct.

38. Consider the following statements: 1. Children's Day is on 12 January. 2. National Youth Day is on 14 November. Which of the statements is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    D. Neither 1 nor 2

    The dates are interchanged; both statements are false.

39. Consider the following statements: 1. Shikshak Puraskar is given by State governments only. 2. The National Teachers' Awards are presented by the President. Which of the statements is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    B. 2 only

    The national awards are given by the Union Ministry of Education.

40. Consider the following statements: 1. Savitribai Phule started a girls' school in Pune. 2. Basic education was Phule's plan. Which of the statements is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    A. 1 only

    Basic education (Nai Talim) is associated with Gandhi, so statement 2 is false.

41. Consider the following statements: 1. Article 21A is the Right to Education for ages 6-14. 2. Article 51A(k) is the duty of parents to educate children aged 6-14. Which of the statements is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    C. Both 1 and 2

    Both statements are correct.

42. Consider the following statements: 1. Dr. Radhakrishnan was Vice-Chancellor of Andhra University. 2. He later became the second President of India. Which of the statements is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    C. Both 1 and 2

    Both statements are correct.

43. Match the days (P-S) with their dates (a-d). P. Teachers' Day Q. Literacy Day R. Education Day S. Children's Day a. 8 September b. 14 November c. 5 September d. 11 November

    1. P-c, Q-a, R-b, S-d
    2. P-c, Q-d, R-a, S-b
    3. P-a, Q-c, R-d, S-b
    4. P-c, Q-a, R-d, S-b
    Answer

    D. P-c, Q-a, R-d, S-b

    Teachers' Day 5 Sep, Literacy Day 8 Sep, Education Day 11 Nov, Children's Day 14 Nov.

44. Match the commissions (P-R) with their focus (a-c). P. Radhakrishnan Q. Mudaliar R. Kothari a. Secondary education b. Whole system, 10+2+3 c. University education

    1. P-c, Q-a, R-b
    2. P-a, Q-c, R-b
    3. P-b, Q-a, R-c
    4. P-c, Q-b, R-a
    Answer

    A. P-c, Q-a, R-b

    Radhakrishnan-university, Mudaliar-secondary, Kothari-whole system.

45. Consider the following statements: 1. National Science Day is on 5 September. 2. International Literacy Day is on 28 February. Which of the statements is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    D. Neither 1 nor 2

    The dates are interchanged; both statements are false.