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The National Council of Educational Research and Training (<keyword id="20255499" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ncert" source="keywords">NCERT</keyword>) will release a new syllabus and textbooks for Classes 3 to 6 while there will be no change in the <keyword id="19917193" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="curriculum" source="keywords">curriculum</keyword> and textbooks for other grades for the academic year 2024-25 commencing from April 1, according to <keyword id="19976140" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cbse" source="keywords">CBSE</keyword> officials. The NCERT has informed the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) that new syllabi and textbooks for classes 3 and 6 are currently under development and will soon be released, the CBSE said in a communication sent to affiliated schools. <br /><br />"Consequently, schools are advised to follow these new syllabi and textbooks for classes 3 and 6 in place of textbooks published by NCERT till the year 2023," said <keyword id="20215578" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="joseph-emmanuel" source="keywords">Joseph Emmanuel</keyword>, Director (Academics), CBSE. <br /><br />"Additionally, a bridge course for class 6, and concise guidelines for class 3 are being developed by the NCERT for facilitating a seamless transition for students to new pedagogical practices and areas of study aligned with new curriculum framework, 2023. These resources will be disseminated to all the schools online once they are received from NCERT. <br /><br />"The Board will also organize capacity-building programs for school heads and Teachers to orient them with the new teaching learning perspectives as envisioned in NEP-2020," he added in the letter. <br /><br />In a revision of the National Curriculum Framework (<keyword id="21063963" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ncf" source="keywords">NCF</keyword>) after 18 years, the Ministry of Education had last year notified the changes. The NCF had undergone four revisions in the past - in 1975, 1988, 2000, and 2005. <br /><br />The council is in process of preparing new school textbooks in line with the new national curriculum framework for school education (NCF-SE) 2023 as a part of the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. <br /><br /> "There will be no change in the Curriculum and textbooks for other classes for the academic year 2024-25 commencing from April 1, 2024," he said. <br /><br />The NCF for the foundational stage (FS) was launched by the Ministry of Education in 2022 and according to the curriculum framework, the NCERT developed and collected the learning-teaching material (LTM). <br /><br />Toys, puzzles, puppetry, posters, flash cards, worksheets and attractive storybooks are part of the "<keyword id="21063964" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="jaadui-pitara" source="keywords">Jaadui Pitara</keyword>" launched by the Ministry of Education for learning at the foundational stage. <br /><br />In 2022, the NCERT had rationalised the syllabi of classes 6 to 12 to "reduce the content load" on students in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. <br /><br />Among the changes, reflected in new textbooks published last year, the council had removed chapters on Mughal courts, 2002 Gujarat riots, cold war, references of Mughal emperors, and Emergency and periodic table. <br /><br />While the council maintained there was no selective omission of topics, the rationalisation exercise had created a political controversy with leaders from opposition parties alleging the ruling dispensation was "erasing history".<br /><br /><strong>SEE ALSO:<br /><br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/oneplus-12-review/articleshow/108723955.cms">OnePlus 12 review: A feature-packed device with promising battery back-up</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/jsw-group-and-saic-motors-jv-jsw-mg-motor-india-set-to-up-production-to-3-lakh-vehicles-a-year-with-a-new-car-every-3-6-months/articleshow/108647799.cms">JSW Group and SAIC Motor’s JV ‘JSW MG Motor India’ set to up production to 3 lakh vehicles a year with a new car every 3-6 months</a><br /><br /></strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/asus-rog-strix-scar-16-review/articleshow/108514221.cms"><strong>Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 review – powerful gaming laptop with a cool design</strong></a><br />

New curriculum, books for grades 3-6 from 2024-25, no change in syllabus for other classes: CBSE

The Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad (<keyword id="3444279" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="upmsp" source="Orion">UPMSP</keyword>) has decided that 100 per cent of the syllabus would be taught to students from this academic session.<br /><br />The decision will be implemented in all 28,000 schools affiliated with the <keyword id="119108" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="up-board" source="Orion">UP Board</keyword>.<br /><br />During the pandemic, the board had reduced the syllabus by 30 per cent for Classes 9 to 12. The practice continued till the last academic session.<br /><br />However, from the new session, the entire syllabus will be taught in all subjects. The new session will start on April 1.<br /><br />UP Board secretary <keyword id="4814406" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="divyakant-shukla" source="Orion">Divyakant Shukla</keyword> said, "During the last two years, due to Covid-19, regular teaching and learning in schools were disrupted. Keeping in view the interest of the students, the course committee recommended the curtailment of 30 per cent of the annual course. Under this, the curriculum in schools was shortened. Now, as the conditions have returned to normal, 100 per cent of the syllabus will be taught from the new academic session."<br /><br />The UP Board secretary added that the secondary schools are back to their regular routine after two years and hence, there is no justification left for the curtailment of the syllabus.<br /><br />The UP Board has also laid emphasis on paying attention to extra-curricular activities for the all-around development of the students from the new session.<br /><br /><strong>SEE ALSO:<br /><a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/eating-handful-of-nuts-seeds-daily-can-lower-heart-risk-by-25/articleshow/98902762.cms">Eating handful of nuts &amp; seeds daily can lower heart risk by 25%</a><br /></strong><a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/indias-tap-water-quality-is-improving-but-very-few-are-confident-of-drinking-it-without-purifying/articleshow/98902417.cms"><strong>India’s tap water quality is improving but very few are confident of drinking it without purifying</strong></a><br />

UP schools back to 100% syllabus for the first time since pandemic

<p dir="ltr"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div>Want to expand your mind? A little bit of effort every day goes a long way.</p><p dir="ltr"><span>In the Quora thread, </span><span><a href="http://www.quora.com/What-would-you-do-to-be-a-little-smarter-every-single-day">"What would you do to be a little smarter every single day?"</a>,</span><span> readers shared the habits they follow to fuel their brains.</span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Here are some simple actions that could help you become a smarter person.</span></p><h3 dir="ltr">1. Come up with 10 ideas every day.</h3><p dir="ltr">Think about how to reduce poverty, how to solve a daily problem you have, interesting movie ideas, or anything. It doesn't matter what subject your ideas fall into, as long as you're working your brain and your idea muscles. Your list might even lead to a new startup idea or writing subject. -<a href="http://qr.ae/AZHxN">Claudia Azula Altucher</a></p><h3 dir="ltr">2. Read the newspaper.</h3><p dir="ltr">It will help you become more aware of the important things happening around the word. You'll learn to form your own opinions and connect the dots between seemingly unrelated things. You'll also have a lot more to talk about at parties or with friends. -<a href="http://qr.ae/AZN9U">Manas J Saloi</a></p><h3 dir="ltr">3. Play devil's advocate.</h3><p dir="ltr">Take something you recently learned and generate a unique opinion on it that wouldn't immediately come to mind. Try to support it with evidence, and be open to the idea that new evidence will change your opinion. Repeat this every day, and you'll become much better at thinking outside the box.</p><p dir="ltr">If you're feeling stuck, try reading and critically evaluating the editorial section of papers. They will help you understand how other people form arguments and express their opinions. -<a href="http://qr.ae/AcwvQ">Peter DePaulo</a></p><h3 dir="ltr">4. Read a chapter in a fiction or non-fiction book.</h3><p dir="ltr">Aim to read a book a week. You can always find pockets of time to read, whether on your daily commute or while you're waiting in line. Goodreads is a great way to keep track of everything you read and to also find a community of other readers.</p><p dir="ltr">Fiction books are great for understanding characters and getting absorbed into another perspective, while non-fiction books are great for introducing you to new topics, from politics to psychology. -<a href="http://qr.ae/AZHxN">Claudia Azula Altucher</a></p><p dir="ltr"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div></p><h3 dir="ltr">5. Instead of watching TV, watch educational videos.</h3><p dir="ltr">Sometimes, it's more fun to watch things about a subject you love than to read about it, and you can learn a lot from other people's experiences.</p><p dir="ltr">You can find fun, educational videos on Khan Academy or watch TED talks. You can also find good ones on Youtube's channel <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/destinws2">SmarterEveryDay.</a> In videos, the information is often presented in a digestible, memorable way, so you can be assured they'll stick. -<a href="http://qr.ae/AcHM3">Hendrik Sleeckx</a></p><h3 dir="ltr">6. Subscribe to feeds of interesting information. </h3><p dir="ltr">Follow interesting voices on Facebook and Twitter, so you'll always learn something new when you look at your newsfeed or dashboard. <span style="line-height: 1.5em;">For example, if you want to keep up with the latest news in science and technology, subscribe to the <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;cad=rja&amp;uact=8&amp;ved=0CB8QFjAA&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FIFeakingLoveScience&amp;ei=H2zFU4D2Msq-sQTij4KoCg&amp;usg=AFQjCNFPGYC-s8ItfHmSqpx5H1nRHexajA&amp;bvm=bv.70810081,d.cWc">"I Fucking Love Science"</a> page on Facebook. </span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">You can also follow email newsletters, such as Cal Newport's <a href="http://calnewport.com/blog/">Study Hacks</a> and <a href="http://www.todayifoundout.com/">Today I Found Out.</a> -</span><a href="http://qr.ae/Ac22U">Saurabh Shah</a></p><h3 dir="ltr"><span style="background-color: #ffffff;">7. Check in with your favorite knowledge sources. </span></h3><p dir="ltr"><span style="background-color: #ffffff;">Ever</span>y day, scroll through Quora, Stack Overflow, specialty blogs, or any other sources that satiate your hunger for knowledge. This is an extremely easy habit, because other users are curating the content for you, so all you have to do is follow the ones who write about topics interesting to you. Try using Pocket to save articles for later reading, and then try to get through them before going to sleep at night. -<a href="http://qr.ae/AZN9U">Manas J Saloi</a></p><h3 dir="ltr">8. Share what you learn with other people.</h3><p dir="ltr">If you find someone to debate and analyze ideas with, you can add to each other's knowledge and gain new perspectives. Also, when you can explain ideas to someone else, it means you've definitely mastered the concept. You can even share what you learn without directly talking to someone. Many people like to start blogs so they can engage others in online dialogue. -<a href="http://qr.ae/AcKwX">Mike Xie</a></p><p dir="ltr"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div></p><h3 dir="ltr">9. Make two "To Do" lists: one of work-related skills you want to learn now, and another of things you want to achieve in the future.</h3><p dir="ltr">Google Docs is a convenient way to keep track of your lists. For both, decide what you want to learn, compile sources that will teach you these skills, and then work on them each day.</p><p dir="ltr">For example, if you work in a computer-science related field, your first list might suggest you learn something new in Python one day or that you try using MongoDB another day.</p><p dir="ltr">For your second list, you can think about long-term goals, such as whether you want to go into marketing or architecture. Write down the small steps you need to take to reach that goal, whether it's by reading the experts in those fields or taking classes at a local college. -<a href="http://qr.ae/AZN9U">Manas J Saloi</a></p><h3 dir="ltr">10. Write an "I Did" list.</h3><p dir="ltr">At the end of each day, write down what you completed. This will help you feel better about all the things you accomplished, especially if you're feeling discouraged. It will also help you reflect on how productive you were and how you can re-structure your to-do lists for the next day. -<a href="http://qr.ae/AZHxN">Claudia Azula Altucher</a></p><h3 dir="ltr">11. Start a "Stop Doing" list.</h3><p dir="ltr">To clear out the mental clutter, take note of the mindless ways you spend your time. Break old habits, and make time for new, better ones. As <a href="http://www.farnamstreetblog.com/2014/07/jim-collins-stop-doing-list/">Warren Buffett says</a>, "The difference between successful people and very successful people is that very successful say 'no' to almost everything." -<a href="http://www.quora.com/What-would-you-do-to-grow-a-little-intelligent-and-knowledgeable-every-single-day/answer/Shane-Parrish-2?srid=iXqa&amp;share=1">Shane Parrish</a></p><h3 dir="ltr">12. Write down what you learn.</h3><p dir="ltr">You can start a blog or use an app like Inkpad to help you keep track of everything you learn. Not only will this be a great way to keep a record of everything you're doing, but it's also a good source of motivation to keep you accountable. You will want to learn more if you know that at the end of the day you'll have to write about it. -<a href="http://qr.ae/AZN9U">Manas J Saloi</a></p><h3 dir="ltr"><span style="color: #000000;">13. Stimulate your mind. </span></h3><p dir="ltr"><span style="color: #000000;">Going on a daily run is a great way to get your brain flowing and to keep your mental health in shape. It's also a great way to think through difficult decisions or process new information.</span> -<a href="http://qr.ae/AcF2Z">Rick Bruno</a></p><p dir="ltr"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div></p><h3 dir="ltr"><span style="color: #000000;">14. Take online courses. </span></h3><p dir="ltr"><span style="color: #000000;">Check out this list of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/free-online-courses-for-professionals-2014-7" target="_blank">the most popular online courses for professionals</a>. Make sure you don't overload yourself; commit to one to two and truly focus on them. The syllabus will also keep you on track, so you know you will be doing something every day, whether it's listening to a lecture or working on an assignment.</span><span style="color: #000000;"> </span>-<a href="http://qr.ae/AZN9U">Manas J Saloi</a></p><h3><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">15. Talk to someone you find interesting. </span></span></h3><p><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Even if they're strangers, don't be afraid to approach them. Ask about their interests and how they discovered them. Oftentimes, you learn the most from people you barely know. </span></span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">-</span><a href="http://qr.ae/AZN9U">Manas J Saloi</a></p><h3 dir="ltr"><span style="color: #000000;">16. Hang out with people who are smarter than you. </span></h3><p dir="ltr"><span style="color: #000000;">Spend as much time as you can with smart people. Every day, you should strive to have a coffee date or walk with someone who inspires you.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span style="color: #000000;">Always be humble and willing to learn. Ask as many questions as possible. If you are always around people who are more knowledgeable than you, you'll have no choice but to learn more.</span> -<a href="http://qr.ae/AZN9U">Manas J Saloi</a></p><h3 dir="ltr"><span style="color: #000000;">17. Follow your questions. </span></h3><p dir="ltr"><span style="color: #000000;">If you see or hear about something cool, don't just let the moment pass. Follow up - pursue your curiosity and find the answer to your question. -</span><a href="http://qr.ae/AcKwX">Mike Xie</a></p><h3 dir="ltr"><span style="color: #000000;">18. Use a word-of-the-day app. </span></h3><p dir="ltr"><span style="color: #000000;">You will increase your vocabulary, which can help you in competitive tests like the SAT or GRE, or even just sound more eloquent in daily interactions. </span></p><p dir="ltr"><span style="color: #000000;">You can also try to learn new vocabulary in a different language. Every day, try to add five to 10 more words to the foreign language you are trying to pursue. You can use LiveMocha, Basuu, or DuoLingo. </span>-<a href="http://qr.ae/AZN9U">Manas J Saloi</a></p><h3 dir="ltr"><span style="color: #000000;">19. Do something scary. </span></h3><p dir="ltr"><span style="color: #000000;">"Getting out of our comfort zone always makes us wiser." Every day, push yourself a little further. Try public speaking by joining a ToastMasters class, lead a meeting by volunteering a proposal at work, or reach out to someone you really admire by sending a quick letter or email.</span> -<a href="http://qr.ae/AZHxN">Claudia Azula Altucher</a></p><h3 dir="ltr">20. Explore new areas.</h3><p dir="ltr">If you can't travel every day, at least try to find something new within your hometown. You'll meet different people, learn new facts, and understand something new about the world. It's a lot more productive than staying at home and watching TV. -<a href="http://qr.ae/AZN9U">Manas J Saloi</a></p><p dir="ltr"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div></p><h3 dir="ltr">21. Play "smart" games.</h3><p dir="ltr">Some games, like chess and Scrabble, expand your mind. Challenge yourself when you play them. For example, play Scrabble without a dictionary. You can also solve puzzles via games like Sudoku, 2048, and Doors. -<a href="http://qr.ae/Ac22U">Saurabh Shah</a></p><h3 dir="ltr">22. Set aside some time to do nothing.</h3><p dir="ltr">Oftentimes, sitting in silence can help you get inspiration and reflect on your day. -<a href="http://qr.ae/AZHxN">Claudia Azula Altucher</a></p><h3 dir="ltr">23. Adopt a productive hobby.</h3><p dir="ltr">If you have something you can work on every day, from knitting to fly fishing, you can actively learn more just from doing. For instance, you may try to play a new piece of music every day, read a physics textbook, write a few more pages in your novel, or learn a new computer skill. -<a href="http://qr.ae/Acod1">Mayank Rajput</a></p><h3 dir="ltr">24. Apply what you learn.</h3><p dir="ltr"><span>If you recently learned a new coding skill or how to play an instrument, make sure you are using that skill in your life as often as possible. Learning by doing is one of the most effective ways to become smarter. -</span><span></span><span><a href="http://qr.ae/AcAMk">Himanshu Pal</a></span></p><h3 dir="ltr"><span>25. Exercise, and eat a healthy diet. </span></h3><p dir="ltr">Opt for <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/food-and-productivity-2014-3">brain foods</a> to fuel your thinking, and avoid alcohol and heavy meals that will make you sluggish. When your energy dips, take a walk. "The more blood flowing into your brain, the better your performance. Great thinkers like Mahatma Gandhi and Charles Darwin were famous for their long walks." -<a href="http://qr.ae/0xUCS">Janne Piiroinen</a></p><p dir="ltr"><em>This is an update of an article originally written by Maggie Zhang.</em></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-make-good-first-impression-science-body-language-2015-4">Scientists figured out how to avoid making a bad first impression</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="QyeGE1bjqy83ve-kK24C5BgWXh4_Kmxj" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

25 daily habits that will make you smarter

(Eds: Adds inputs on labour sector) <p> New Delhi, May 1 () Amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant lockdown, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday deliberated on how the labour force can propel India's growth and reviewed the performance of the aviation and power sectors, with a focus on reducing costs and making them more efficient.</p><p> "We discussed ways through which this (labour) sector can power India's growth," the prime minister tweeted.</p><p> He said deliberations were held on labour welfare during the meeting. </p><p> The migrant labourers are one of the most hard hit segments during the coronavirus-induced lockdown as they had been out of jobs.</p><p> The meeting came in a day when trains were run to carry them to their home states.</p><p> Reviewing the power sector, the prime minister underlined its importance in propelling the economy.</p><p> The need for an effective enforcement of contracts to attract private investment was also discussed.</p><p> At the review of the civil aviation sector, it was decided that the country's air space should be effectively used in a manner that the flying time for travellers is reduced and airlines save costs.</p><p> The meet also reviewed the strategies that could help make India's civil aviation sector more efficient.</p><p> "For generation of more revenue as well as to bring in more efficiency at the airports, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has been asked to expedite the process of handing over of six more airports on PPP basis by commencing the tender process within three months," a statement said.</p><p> The civil aviation sector meeting, which was attended by Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri among others, also reviewed the e-DGCA project, aimed at bringing in more transparency in the Directorate General of Civil Aviation's office and helping all stakeholders by reducing the processing time for various licences and permissions.</p><p> "It was also decided that all reform initiatives taken by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the organisations under it should proceed in a time-bound manner," the statement said.</p><p> Later, in a tweet, Modi said aspects relating to the aviation sector were reviewed at the meeting.</p><p> "This includes ways to make airports more efficient and integrating the sector with latest technological advancements," he said.</p><p> The civil aviation sector has been severely hit by the coronavirus pandemic, which has forced governments around the world to impose restrictions on the movement of people and virtually shut flight operations.</p><p> Reviewing the power sector, Modi asked officials to work towards ensuring round-the-clock supply of electricity to all consumers.</p><p> At the meeting on the power sector and the impact of COVID-19 on it, the prime minister also discussed various long-term reforms for enhancing the sustainability, resilience, and efficiency of the sector.</p><p> Measures to improve the viability of distribution companies, including tariff rationalisation and a timely release of subsidies, along with an improved governance, were discussed as well, a statement said.</p><p> Taking to Twitter, the prime minister said, "The focus is on enhancing sustainability, resilience and improving efficiency."</p><p> The statement said the discussions included measures regarding ease of doing business, propagation of renewables, flexibility in the supply of coal, the role of public-private partnerships and boosting investment in the power sector.</p><p> The meeting was attended by the home minister, finance minister and Minister of State for Power, Skill and New and Renewable Energy R K Singh, the statement said.</p><p> The prime minister also reviewed the education sectorin which special emphasis was given on the use of technology in the education sector and enhancing learning and adapting by the use of technology such as on-line classes, education portal and class-wise broadcast on dedicated education channels.</p><p> Several educational institutions have used on-line tools to help students with their syllabus during the coronavirus-induced lockdown which has now been extended for two more weeks beginning May 4.</p><p> Modi had held a series of meetings on Thursday to discuss strategies to attract foreign investment, promote local manufacturing and boost the economy that has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and the nationwide lockdown to curb its spread.</p><p> He had reviewed the state of investments, the defence and aerospace sector, and the mine and minerals sector. </p><p> The government had first imposed a 21-day nationwide lockdown beginning March 25 and later extended it till May 3. The lockdown shut businesses, stopped air and rail travel, and restricted the movement of people and goods.</p><p> The near-complete halt in economic activity may result in the country seeing a contraction in the GDP growth rate in the April-June quarter, some analysts have predicted.</p><p> In late March, the government had announced a Rs 1.7-lakh crore stimulus package comprising free foodgrains and cooking gas to the poor and cash doles to poor women and elderly people.</p><p> A second package, aimed at industries, particularly the small and medium enterprises that have been hit hard by the lockdown, is said to be in the works and is likely to be announced shortly.</p> The lockdown was extended by two weeks on Friday. The second phase of the lockdown was otherwise to end on May 3.  KR JD NAB  SMNSMN

Amid coronavirus crisis, PM deliberates on sector-wise measures to boost growth

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>(US Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jensen Stidham)</span></p><p class="caption">Capt. Michael Slotten, a 61st Fighter Squadron F-35 student pilot, climbs into an F-35 Lighting II at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, July 7, 2017.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul><li><strong>The Air Force has been warning about its growing pilot shortage for some time.</strong></li><li><strong>But a government report has found that the Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy all have significant shortfalls.</strong></li><li><strong>The service branches' stop-gap approaches have created additional problems for pilots, hurting quality of life and affecting retention, the report warns.</strong></li></ul><p><br />Air Force officials have been warning about <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/air-force-pilot-shortage-crisis-getting-worse-2017-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the force's dire pilot shortage</a>, and a recent Government Accountability Office report illustrates just how bad the shortfall has gotten.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.gao.gov/assets/700/691192.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> assesses the gaps between the actual number of fighter pilots that the Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy have and the number of positions they are authorized to have.</p><p>Each service branch reported fighter-pilot shortages that have grown worse in recent years. "Service officials attributed these gaps to aircraft readiness challenges, reduced training opportunities, and increased attrition of fighter pilots due to career dissatisfaction," the report says.</p><p>The Air Force had at least 92% of its fighter-pilot positions filled between 2006 and 2010, an 8% gap, and 104% of what it needed in 2011, a 4% surplus. But the gap has grown since 2012 and is currently the biggest of the three military branches, at 27%.</p><p>The Air Force, which has undertaken a number of training and retention initiatives, projected its shortfall to last through fiscal year 2023.</p><h2>Growing shortfalls and falling retention</h2><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/usairforce/15226534250/in/photolist-ptJuug-qgGdgo-prYGQC-a4TSMR-pcvYq7-pu1PBX-qkoPfm-pZbNod-pZknfP-pjLnSm-r58wJ8-pjZAM2-a4TMiX-qZAxLf-egbLEZ-iTdiJq-pjZxhr-a4TSzT-a4TKDZ-a4THWP-ptZ5dG-a4WCWJ-a4TMUX-pcvY9A-CuZLN7-EGu9rQ-LMCyBb-LUcfdE-a4TJRR-fhdcZo-a4WHzs-a4WFLA-a4WCLE-a4TQYg-a4WHES-a4TUSx-wrRBrc-DAZWoA-pcwrzA-BJW8wn-a4TUXa-qyGQ2U-LQ9cUB-Ldxawz-Ldxarp-JRsqgB-KF4qAL-KB3jaa-KhLVTU-KF4q9d">US Air Force photo</a></span></p><p class="caption">Maj. Gen. Jay Silveria, U.S. Air Force Warfare Center commander, walks out to an F-35A Lightning II with Lt. Col. Matt Renbarger, 58th Fighter Squadron commander, before his final qualification flight Sept. 26, 2014, at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>Each branch has different levels at which the difference between authorized positions and actual staff levels becomes a shortage. Air Force officials told the GAO that "their established practice is that pilot communities with less than 100 percent of authorizations are considered to be insufficiently staffed."</p><p>Changing authorization levels led to <a href="https://www.military.com/daily-news/2018/04/12/crisis-one-fourth-fighter-pilot-jobs-not-filled-watchdog-finds.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">an excess</a> in some Air Force career fields in 2011, but an increase in authorized positions in the past few years has led to a growing shortfall among fighter pilots - from 192, or 5% of authorized positions, that year to 1,005, or 27% of authorized positions, in 2017. (The Air Force said at the end of 2017 that its total shortage was "<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/air-force-pilot-shortage-crisis-getting-worse-2017-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">around 2,000</a>" pilots.)</p><p>"According to briefing documents prepared by the Air Force, this gap is concentrated among fighter pilots with fewer than 8 years of experience," the report notes.</p><p>Air Force officials told the GAO that between 2006 and 2017, "fighter pilot gaps were generally limited to non-operational positions, such as staff assignments at Air Force headquarters or combatant commands."</p><p>But the GAO also found that the Air Force had been unable to fill all its operational positions since fiscal year 2014, with the gap between the operational positions it needed to fill and the actual staffing levels it had growing from 39 pilots, or 1% of authorizations, in 2014 to 399 pilots, or 13%, in 2017.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>GAO</span></p><p class="caption">The Air Force's fighter-pilot shortfall has grown significantly over the past several years.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>Several factors have contributed to these shortfalls, in particular reductions to overall active-duty military end strength.</p><p>Service officials said that personnel reductions after the 2008 drawdown in Iraq and cuts to funding stemming from the 2011 Budget Control Act both helped reduce the number of fighter pilots in the military.</p><p>The Air Force shed 206 fighter pilots in order to meet initial demand for pilots of unmanned aerial systems in 2011 and 2012 and then lost 54 more to early-retirement incentives in 2014 and 2015. That was compounded by changes to force structure - the decline in active and reserve Air Force fighter squadrons from 134 in 1989 to 55 in 2017 has reduced the opportunities newly trained pilots have to gain flying experience.</p><p>These factors have <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/air-force-has-a-pilot-shortage-due-to-lack-of-training-resources-2017-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">helped create a bottleneck</a> in the Air Force's training pipeline. The service has more pilots entering than it has resources to train. According to the GAO report, between 2006 and 2017 the Air Force trained 12% fewer new fighter pilots than its target amount.</p><p>"Fighter pilots told us that the need to prioritize the staffing of experienced pilots to deploying squadrons has limited the number of experienced personnel available to train newer pilots at home stations," the report says.</p><p>A fighter pilot needs about five years of training to be qualified to lead flights, which costs between about $3 million to $11 million depending on the type of aircraft they're being trained to fly, according to Air Force officials.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>GAO</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>Those training issues are exacerbated by the reduction in aircraft, as longer maintenance times for legacy aircraft, like the F-16 or F-15, leave fewer aircraft available for training. (A shortage of maintainer crew members <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/air-force-adding-maintainers-but-training-and-experience-take-longer-2018-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">has also hamstrung the Air Force</a>, though it has made progress adding more of those personnel.)</p><p>The services have also struggled to retain pilots.</p><p>The GAO found that the number of Air Force pilots signing retention contracts fell from 63% in 2013 to 35% in 2017 - despite the service increasing its maximum aviation bonus contract to $225,000 at the start of 2013, which was the highest amount offered by any of the military service branches.</p><h2>Stop-gap measures</h2><p>Officials from the service branches told the GAO they had used various tactics to address their pilot shortfalls, including longer and more frequent deployments, putting senior pilots in junior positions, and "prioritizing staffing fighter pilots to flying positions that require fighter pilot-specific technical skills."</p><p>The service branches has also tried to compensate for fighter-pilot shortages by drawing on pilots from other career fields.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>US Air Force/Master Sgt. Jeffrey Allen</span></p><p class="caption">F-16 Fighting Falcons from the Arizona Air National Guard's 162nd Wing fly an air-to-air training mission against student pilots April 8, 2015.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>The Air Force, for example, has drawn on mobility pilots - those that fly cargo and refueling aircraft - to fill instructor roles for basic training to free up fighter pilots for duties elsewhere.</p><p>But fliers and squadron leaders told the GAO that these measures have had deleterious effects. Pilots and squadron leaders also said that some of these efforts to mitigate pilot shortages had helped drive down retention</p><p>A high operational tempo has limited the opportunities senior pilots have to train with junior pilots, which in turn limits the opportunities the service branches have to grow the number of pilots with specific qualifications. This also cuts into the services' ability to rebuild readiness. Air Force officials said "high deployment rates ... have resulted in less time for squadrons to complete their full training requirements because high deployment rates mean that there are fewer aircraft available for training at home stations."</p><p>Moreover, increasing individual deployments undercut family stability, pilots said, affecting satisfaction with their careers.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>(US Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Manuel J. Martinez)</span></p><p class="caption">Maj. Tyler Ellison, a Thunderbirds pilot, administers the oath of enlistment to enlist Florida's newest airmen during the Sun 'n Fun International Fly-in and Expo Air Show at Lakeland, Florida, April, 25, 2015.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>The Air Force has taken steps to mitigate the effects the pilot shortage has had on pilots' quality of life.</p><p>It has stood up teams dedicated to finding and implementing dozens of initiatives to reduce the fighter-pilot shortage.</p><p>"For example, as the result of one initiative, 126 contractors have been placed in fighter squadrons to assist with administrative tasks and reduce workload for fighter pilots," the GAO notes.</p><p>Air Force training squadrons have also taken steps to better apportion resources, including consolidating instructors among training units and altering the training process and syllabus, according to <a href="http://aviationweek.com/defense/severe-f-16-instructor-pilot-shortage-takes-toll-training" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a February report by Aviation Week</a>, but those shifts still put a strain on pilots and aircraft and represented "a leap into the unknown" for the units.</p><p><span>The GAO report also noted that the service branches had not reevaluated fighter-squadron requirements to reflect change conditions, the increased workload, and the effects of the increasing use of unmanned aircraft.</span></p><p><span>"Air Force officials told us that metrics that inform squadron requirements ... have not been increased because the Air Force is instead prioritizing the effort to recapitalize its fleet of fighter aircraft," the report said, adding that officials said they were also re</span><span>assessing fighter-pilots' nonoperational requirements, focusing on finding which ones could be reassigned to other pilots.</span></p><p>The report made recommendations for each branch, advising the Air Force to reevaluate those squadron requirements, "to include updating current assumptions of fighter pilot workload, and assessing the impact of future incorporation of [unmanned aerial systems] platforms into combat aviation."</p>     <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/f-22-most-dangerous-jet-fighter-20-years-united-states-air-force-2017-9">Watch the F-22 in action - the most dangerous jet fighter in the US Air Force for the last 20 years</a></h3>        <div>                    </div>    </div>

The US Air Force is short more than one-quarter of the fighter pilots it needs, according to a government report

<p class="p1"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image"></div><p></p></div></div>What does it take be the manager of the best-returning hedge fund of 2014? For Ralph Kruger, the Arcstone Capital managing director who <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/2014s-top-performing-hedge-funds-2015-2">holds that title</a>, the answer is courage and independence.</p><p class="p1"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Kruger, who took the No. 1 spot with a 225% annual return, according to hedge fund researcher </span><a href="https://www.preqin.com/">Preqin</a><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">, spent seven years in the Air Force and flew for American Airlines as captain of a Boeing 767 before turning to finance.</span></p><p class="p1">"If you get it wrong, there's no one around" to blame, he told Business Insider. "If you're a fighter pilot, you're pretty independent anyway."</p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Today, Kruger splits his time between Mauritius, where he's headquartered, Maryland, where his children live, and India, where his $25 million "Passage to India Opportunity Fund" makes its investments. Business Insider caught up with him by phone while he was on a recent visit to Mumbai.</span></p><h3 class="p1">Unusual beginnings</h3><p>Anyone surprised that an India-focused hedge fund became the top performer in 2014 should take a look at the Sensex, the Bombay Stock Exchange's benchmark index, which <a href="http://www.nasdaq.com/article/sensex-rises-for-fourth-day-20141231-00045">rose</a> about 30% throughout the year. While that can largely be chalked up to investor excitement over last year's election of pro-business Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kruger got into India long before the trend began.</p><p>A SUNY graduate, Kruger flew in the Air Force from 1980 to 1987, first as a fighter pilot and then as support on an F-71 spy plane. He said the experience gave him "very good insight on how governments interact."</p><p class="p1">Then he joined American Airlines as a commercial captain and flew to Rio, Sao Paolo, Buenos Aires, Bogota, and throughout Europe. He also joined the Air National Guard and, from 1989 to 1991, attended the Columbia Business School full-time for his MBA.</p><p class="p1">Jet-setting around the world taught Kruger a lot about emerging markets, and what to look out for as an investor, things like how inflation looks on the ground.</p><p class="p1">"In Argentina and in Venezuela, how it looks is on the menu," he said - restaurant menu prices he saw were written in pencil because they changed so regularly.</p><p class="p1"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_left"><div><div class="image"></div><p></p></div></div>But one place Kruger never traveled to as a pilot was India. It was not until later, while working as a portfolio manager at Maryland-based Marathon Capital Management, that he began reading about the investment opportunities there.</p><p class="p1">When Kruger did pay the country a visit, in 2005, he said, "I wanted to invest my own money in India."</p><p class="p1">He was attracted by the market's untapped potential combined with a surprising resemblance to US markets. For one thing, the BSE is well established (the oldest in Asia, it opened in 1875); then there is the huge number of listed companies in India (some 5,000 total); plus the Securities and Exchange Board of India, which monitors insider trading and fraud; and the fact that India is an English-speaking democracy.</p><h3 class="p1">'The only guy in the room'</h3><p class="p1">Sold on India, Kruger opened Arcstone Capital with a rough start: It was 2008, the peak of the market, and he'd raised only $1.5 million. ("The idea of starting an international fund that invests in India with $1.5 million is not a good idea," he said. "It's just not.")</p><p class="p1">Though he struggled to gain investors during the financial crisis and in its aftermath, he survived. Now he manages about $25 million for small family offices and private banks, and high-net-worth people. Kruger's investors all have some international travel experience, which gives them a bigger, more global perspective, and helps them better understand each other. U<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">nlike most institutional investors in India, he spends time traveling long distances to meet with virtually unknown companies. In fact, the majority of stocks he buys have no other institutional investors, domestic or international.</span></p><p class="p1">"That's why it's inefficient down there," he said.</p><p class="p1">Arcstone does its own research and looks for those inefficiencies, which Kruger said usually lie in stocks just below the top 100. In his words: "I'm not the smartest guy in the room, but I'll tell you what - I like it when I'm the only guy in the room."</p><p class="p1">Right now, Kruger's portfolio consists of about 20 small- and mid-cap companies, each with top-line growth of roughly 20%, bottom-line growth of about 30%, and very little debt. (The average debt-to-equity ratio is about 0.6, he said.)</p><p class="p1">And it's going well. Passage to India became the top-performing Indian fund in 2012, and in 2014 it completely stole the show.</p><h3 class="p1">'I read a lot'</h3><p class="p1"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image"></div><p></p></div></div>Kruger runs shop from his remote Le Morne, Mauritius, home overlooking the Indian Ocean. There, he likes to get in his morning market research early, over a cup of coffee, before going for a run, a swim, or some windsurfing.</p><p class="p1">It's a nice escape from the information overload that he says can drag money managers down - lengthy talks with broker-dealers and meetings with investors and managers.</p><p class="p1">"When I'm sitting in Mauritius, it's all good information. It's very little noise," he said.</p><p class="p1">He has other thoughts on how to best use his time. "I read a lot. For me, if you wanna be a good investor, read."</p><p class="p1">His syllabus ranges from 16th- and 17th-century European history ("This war, that war, this king, that king - they all had unsustainable debt," as he says), to contemporary Indian politics. And on that front, Kruger sees positive change. A fan of both Modi and Central Bank Gov. Raghuram Rajan, he likens those men to Ronald Reagan and Paul Volcker. "Both those guys are long-term thinkers and doers," Kruger said.</p><p class="p1">He applauds Rajan for reducing inflation to levels safe enough for rate cuts. And while Modi critics say the prime minister is acting too slowly on reforms, Kruger believes he's "getting down in the nitty-gritty, the nuts and bolts, the slow, methodical marathon that real reform needs that isn't necessarily visible."</p><p class="p1">Kruger predicts at least nine years of accelerated growth for India, but admits things are not yet perfect there.</p><p class="p1">"I mean, India is totally mismanaged," he said. "There is so much inefficiency - and that's the opportunity."</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/shark-tank-daymond-john-key-good-business-2015-1">'Shark Tank' Investor Daymond John Reveals The Key To A Good Business</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="VmZW92cjrClaZlSLV8Mnp58-QrE8W_9t" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

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