Context: 

Recently, a prominent NRI has said that India should work on ways to become a knowledge republic. 

About Knowledge Republic:

• Knowledge has a crucial role in building India’s republic. The knowledge republic must comprise knowledge in economy, society and even in diplomacy. 
• It represents India’s collective desire to learn and apply that learning, the ability to learn and create systems of learning, and the know-how Indians have gathered as a civilisation.

Concern: Why is India still at a crossroads in building a knowledge republic?

• Resource Constraints: 
  • Right after Independence, the environment of resource constraints and weak economic growth kept India from becoming a knowledge republic. 
  • At that time India has been busy with setting priorities in order.
• Eventually, India has come out of those traps and has expressed itself globally as a leading nation.

Why is it time for India to become a knowledge republic?

• India’s young demographic profile (window of opportunity): India still has undisputed strength that will continue at least in the foreseeable future.
• The paradox at the global level: The world at present is facing a) ecological crises in times of improved living standards, b) rising inequality in times of large wealth creation, c) depression and loneliness in times of a growing population, and d) humans losing to machines in times of rapid innovation.
  • India, in this situation has emerged on the world stage as a responsible power and trustworthy partner.
• India’s civilisational heritage: Indian civilisation always revered knowledge. For instance, India’s richness of languages, the vastness of scriptures, the lore of ancient universities and the living tradition of rishis are testimony to the nation’s respect for knowledge.

What should be done to make India a knowledge republic?

• Make the domestic environment competitive: The government has to double the investment in youth talent through education, strengthen avenues for research and innovation and continue policy reforms that lead to its gainful occupation, including entrepreneurship. This will also showcase India’s talent to global markets.
• Inculcate knowledge in governance: Indian society’s reverence for knowledge should be acknowledged and leveraged in policymaking and nation-building.

Conclusion:

• Becoming a knowledge republic is a worthy choice as a unified objective of nationhood, especially for India. 
• Worship of knowledge can pave the way for a modern republic. It is time for India to choose that path and move ahead.

                                                                                                                                                            News Source:  Live Mint