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The Economics Society at SRCC represents the college through its academic and equally fun filled program, and is one of the few societies that is active all around the academic year. It has been making constant endeavours to encourage and tap among students the enthusiasm relating to the realms that Economics, as a social science, has the power to effect. Commitment to Innovation has always given thrust to the society to take up initiatives and broaden its horizons; guided by such notions, the Society is organizing a National Level Summit in the ambit of ‘SHRI RAM ECONOMICS SUMMIT’ on the 8-9th February 2013 and its Annual National Level Economics Festival, ECOSTASY’13 on the 11 & 12th of February 2013. SRES’13– The economics that we learn inside classrooms is one thing, the economic research that one does is another. But nothing can be compared to the change in outlook that one would acquire, the cumulus of exchanges that one will enjoy, the experience that one would accumulate through The Shri Ram Economics Summit. The past years having been marked with tough times on the economic front and a lot of policymaking amidst the socio-political confusion, this makes, ‘Current Macroeconomic Issues in India’ the most apt theme for the summit as it leaves room for rigorous debating and discussions with much to grasp. Two days of the summit will include lectures given by some of the most renowned economists of the country in the Speaker Sessions, each focussing on a different theme like capital inflows, agrarian crisis and CSR; an immensely engrossing Panel Discussion, set on the on-going national debate of ‘Subsidising Mechanism: PDS or Cash Transfer’. The list of speakers/panellists includes- Dr. C Rangarajan, Chairman, PM’s Economic Advisory Council; Dr. Ashok Gulati, Chairman, CACP; Mrs. Utsa Patnaik & Mr. CP Chandrashekar, from JNU; Reetika Khera, IIT-D; Ms. Mythili Bhushanmurth, ET and Mr. Praveen Jha, JNU. Visit: www.shrirameconsummit.in for more details and registrations. ECOSTASY’13– Block your calendars and reschedule your appointments. It’s here. And it’s back with a bang. Ecostasy is one of the largest Economics festivals at the undergraduate level in India providing a platform for exchange of ideas and information amongst the brightest minds in the country. Attracting a footfall of over 5000 last year, it witnessed extensive participation of esteemed colleges from all across India- Loyola’s, Chennai, St. Xaviers, Kolkata and Christ University, Bangalore et al. The members of the Economics society have planned a multitude of exciting events for you to challenge your skills in competitions simulating real life situations. Test your stock market transaction skills in a classic and engaging mock stocks game, “Share Dare” and get your analytical mind together to crack a brainstorming series of cases in “Econo-vincere”, the case-study competition. Not only that, you also get to play your way through a live Monopoly board, get an opportunity to unleash the journalist within you in an economics-centered field investigation project. There are lots more action-packed events lined up, which are certainly going to make you put on your thinking caps and step into the shoes of economists. To top it all off, the prize money at Ecostasy has been one of the highest that is offered among Economics based inter-college competitions in the country. To register yourself, log on to www.srccecosoc.com.]]>

The Economics department of Hindu College kick started its economics fest “Le Economiste” on 30th January. The three day fest promised a plethora of competitions like Monopolist , Mock economy , J-A-M, Doodle, photography, AD MAD, scavenger hunt, presentations and FIFA. The first event of the day started at around 9 am with a quiz on economics. Around 15 teams from all over Delhi University registered and there was an estimated participation of close to hundred students on DAY 1. This was followed by “The monopolist”, in which participants were given questionnaires centered on general economic knowledge and crosswords that dealt with economic terms and processes. Towards the latter half of the day, “Just a minute” or JAM as it is commonly known, was held. The competition was bilingual, but Hindi showed its colloquial dominance as both the first and second prize winners  Mohit and Prabhanshu gave their speeches in Hindi. Charvi Jain and Mahesh of Hindu College were close competitors. The Third of the economics festival of Hindu College “L’Economiste ’13” was sweet and short. It started at ten thirty in the morning with the final round of the three-day event – The Monopolist. The fifth round of the board game ended with Hansraj College in first place. Ad Mad followed this: termed “great fun” by the participants, it was a lively event with Satyawati College proclaimed as the winners. The fest ended at 1.30 with a closing lecture by Dr. Jayati Ghosh, a renowned economist and professor at Jawahar Lal Nehru College. Talking about “economic reforms and the way forward”, she captured the attention of all present. A brilliant orator, she left the “children of the reforms” thinking about the growth and development of our country. She stressed on the need for our generation to realize the tasks at hand. Dr. Jayati Ghosh stated that though the growth in income was immense, it was not sustainable and went on to explain why: talking about the reforms of the past, and how we took the “easy way out”. She left the enthusiastic learners thinking about creative methods to remedy the mistakes of the past, suggesting the need to shift from a “profit led” growth to an “employment led” growth. The organizers who clad in formals looked content as they headed out for lunch, soaking in the success of the festival. It was a brilliant end to a brilliant fest!   Adita Bhatia             &        Siddhi Goyel [email protected]      [email protected] Image credits: Ishika Gupta ]]>

Shreysi Mehndiratta, who has scored 98%, stood second in SRCC. “I was just not expecting these marks. Although the exams went well, no one expects to get in 90s, not in Economic Honours at least.” She added, “I can’t really say if DU is doing this just to prove that the semester system is any good because I’m not sure if the result has been the same for all the courses.” On asking her how she changed her mind from engineering to Economic (Honours) even after having science without Economics in school, she said, “I always had an interest in the subject (Economics) and I got the marks to get into the best college for the course.”   Rachit Dua, one of the students who scored 99%, is studying in SRCC. When asked about the result he said, “I was expecting somewhere around 95%, but definitely not a 99%. The paper’s difficulty level was quite normal. It wasn’t very difficult and it wasn’t even easy.” On asking whether he thinks it has been done to vindicate the efficacy of the semester system, he said, “Well, It can be. You never know.” Gaganpreet Kaur Chadha of SRCC who also scored 99% said, “I was expecting somewhere around 85% as that is the highest anyone expects in Economic Honours, from what I’ve heard. The 99% was quite a surprise really.” When asked further about the unusual result she said, “I think the checking must have been very lenient as there are so many who have scored well. And the papers were also quite easy. So I too feel that this has been done by DU in order to show that changing to the semester system was the right thing to do.” Milan Bindal of Hindu College is the third top scorer. She said, “Was I expecting this result? No! In previous years, the top scores had gone up to 90. I was aiming for a 92. My only objective was to secure first rank in the University. To be honest, the result is a little shocking. Although I do think students have been rewarded this time for their efforts; moderating doesn’t mean you deduct marks that students deserve in the first place. There was tremendous pressure on us from day 1 and I think that has helped our result. I couldn’t get through SRCC by one mark and I’m glad I joined Hindu College. The faculty has done a great job in giving us a lot of extra time apart from the college hours. The exams were easy and I don’t think we’’ll have such scores in the coming semesters. Also social networks like Facebook don’t fascinate me and I guess that helps me remain focussed. I want to do my majors from London School of Economics.”  ]]>

This brings us back to the University. The University obviously has the capacity to induce such a jump and the motive too. It needed something to redeem itself and support its decision to implement the semester system. Thus many people are of the opinion that the University itself has engineered the fiasco. If such is the case, the University must surely be cursing itself. Is it totally oblivious to the first and the most important law followed by all cheaters the world over, to wit, ‘never get a ninety’?

It is very clear why the University cannot make a habit of playing a Santa for its students. Colleges the world over follow a certain calibration of marks and if all of a sudden students start scoring 99 per cent regularly; that calibration may not apply to DU. LSE for example admits students scoring above 70 per cent. I cannot see the college continuing to do the same for DU unless the current crop of first years proves to be full of raving geniuses, our University scores might lose all their credibility.  ]]>

Just when you thought The Great Indian Education System couldn’t spring any more surprises, out comes DU’s first semester results. If 100% cut-offs for admissions raised eyebrows, these results are a whole new bolt from the blue. While the highest for English (Honours) was a never-heard-of-before 78%, three Economics (Honours) students top scored with a staggering 99 per cent.

Is this the dawn of a whole new era of the super-geeks in DU, or a people-pleasing attempt by the University board to show how well the semester system does for its students?

Ms Nandini, an Economics teacher from Miranda House certainly believes it is the latter, “It’s [99 per cent in Eco] absolutely shocking! These were not multiple choice type papers. The marks don’t show what actually went on in the classrooms, the kind of pressures on us. Teachers had specific instructions not to fail anyone. Internal assessment records had to be submitted before the terms ended! All this is just an attempt by the University to prove the efficacy of the semester system to everyone. The students are happy, but the University is only belittling the [Honours] degree! Oxford, other foreign schools won’t recognize us anymore!”

Mr. Krishan Kumar, another Economics teacher from Sri Venkateswara College, seemed less appalled, “This semester had the scoring papers – Maths, Statistics and Principles of Economics. The explanatory technical papers only begin the third semester onwards. Besides, though the highest score may be this much, number of first divisions in Maths is quite low.”

As for the students, several echo similar viewpoints. However, the overall mood of the community is one of gross disbelief.

Professors from colleges including SRCC, Miranda House and St Stephens are now even considering filing RTI applications to review the answer sheets of students who obtained the highest scores. Click here for the full story

Click here  for exclusive interviews of the Economics Honours toppers

Here are some of the student responses as expressed on Facebook…

Yes DU, we get it! The semester system is ‘perfect’! You don’t have to go CBSE to prove it

99% Ok…this aint the cut off for Srcc…but first sem’s highest score in eco(hons)…

DU GIVING CBSE TOPPERS A RUN FOR THEIR MONEY….!!!

?99 highest in eco. 80 and 90 percent distributed like langar

Dear DU,
I hope you’re also planning on being Santa in June.
Sincerely, 3rd year student who just got a half-hour lecture from her parents.

Ankita Dhanda
[email protected]  

 

 

The Second Annual Vinod Chowdhury Debate, organized by the Economics Society, was held on the 3rd and 4th of September at St. Stephens College.

The close-ended motion for the Preliminary Debate was: ‘This house believes that economics makes rational fools of men’. There were 26 speakers from various colleges including SRCC, Hansraj, LSR, Miranda House, Kirori Mal and DSE.

The motion for the Final competition was: “This house believes that small things are beautiful”, this topic to be engaged with only in relation to Economics. The judges were Ms. Das and Ms. Somnathan, both Professors at Delhi School of Economics.

Results:

1st: Vishwajoy of Ramjas College, who spoke for lower taxes on cigarettes

2nd: Gagandeep, from DSE

3rd: Prithvi and Anwesha of St. Stephen’s College