The Economics Association of Sri Venkateswara College is organizing its Annual National Economics Summit; Bliss Point 2006 from the 28^th to the 30^th of November 2006. The event bears witness to competition among the top Colleges from all over India.

Initiated in 1994, Bliss Point provides a platform to students to debate and discuss Economics and Finance related issues of National and International importance. It has grown in these twelve years to a level where we can proudly say that it has developed from Delhi based festival to a National event providing the much-needed space for the students of our country to exchange their ideas.

You are invited to kindly participate in this three daylong summit, to be held on the 28th, 29th and the 30th of November 2006.

We look forward to your involvement and further cooperation to make BLISS POINT- 2006 a grand success.

SCHEDULE

Day 1: 28th November, 2006

Inaugural Address 10:00 AM onwards
Dr. A. Sankara Reddy, Principal

Key Note Address
Dr. Deepak Nayar, PrProfessorf Economics, Jawaharlal Nehru University

SIDDHARTH MEMORIAL DEBATE 11:30 AM onwards

BOARDROOM BUZZ 12:00 noon onwards

KAUMUDI DIMRI MEMORIAL 12:30 PM onwards
ESSAY WRITING COMPETITION

Day 2: 29th November, 2006

KEYNOTE ADDRESS: 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Dr. Kirit Parikh, Member, Planning Commisision
Govt. Of India

PANEL DISCUSSION - Energy Policy Challenges for India
10:30 AM onwards

MODEL UNITED NATIONS 12:00 noon onwards

BUDDING ECONOMIST 12:30 PM onwards

GROUP DISCUSSION 2:30 PM onwards

Day 3: 30th November, 2006

MODEL UNITED NATIONS 12:00 noon onwards

QUIZ - a - MARK 12:00 noon onwards

AD-MAD 12:30 PM onwards

SIDDHARTH MEMORIAL DEBATE

Date: 28th November 2006
Time: 11:00 a.m. onwards

Instituted in the memory of one of the star debaters of our college, the Siddharth Memorial debate continues to attract participation from some of India’s best debaters.

Motion

“This House believes that a World Characterized by Free Trade would be far better than a World Characterized by Trade Barriers.”
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Rules and Regulations

1. A team of 2 participants will take part in the event; one speaking for the motion, the other against.
2. The time limit allotted to each speaker would be 4 minutes (3+1).
3. Each speaker will face 1 interjection.
4. No cross questioning will be allowed.
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Prize Categories

Best Team Rs. 4,000
Second Best Team Rs. 3,000
Best Speaker Rs. 2,500
Second Best Speaker Rs. 2,000
Best Interjector Rs. 1,000


For Registration and Queries; Contact
Gaurav Chiplunkar 9871989440
Stuti Rawat 9868170071

BOARDROOM BUZZ

Date: 28th November 2006
Time: 12:00 noon onwards

Do you have it in you to become a young manager equipped with qualities of leadership, management, prompt and effective decision-making? Can you utilize your managerial skills to unravel the big business dilemmas faced at the boardroom level? Whatever be your answer to above questions, we provide you an apt form to discover the right answer.

The event is divided into two stages. In the first stage there will be a qualifying objective questionnaire testing your current business awareness. Highest scoring 12 teams will proceed to the second stage in which they will be provided a case study on a complicated business dilemma at the higher level of management. The selected teams are then given one hour to prepare a power point presentation unfolding their solution to the same. They then need to make their presentation to the judges in the stipulated time period. In the second stage, teams will be evaluated on their acumen to get to the bottom of the problem and arrive at the best solution possible through their managerial aptitude. The teams will be marked on their presentation skills as well.
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Rules and Regulations

1. Each team will have maximum of 2 members.
2. Teams can register online at blisspoint2006@gmail.com or through phone and on the spot registration is also acceptable 15 minutes before the event starts.
3. Only the first 12 high scoring teams in the objective test can proceed to the next round.
4. Time allotted for the business questionnaire will be 15 minutes and for the presentation of power point will be 8+4 minutes per team.
5. The college will provide the computers.
6. The power point presentations will be copied form the particular computers of the teams by the organizers and will be displayed on the LCD projector in the seminar room where the teams will make their presentations.
7. The teams will face interjection from both the audience and the judges.
8. The highest scoring team of the final round will be the winner. It is noted here that the questionnaire round is only qualifying; it does not have any carry forward points.

Prize Categories

Best Team Rs. 3,000
Second Best Team Rs. 2,000
Third Best Team Rs. 1,500

For Registration and Queries; Contact
Amrit Deorah 9891651589
Gaurav Kohli 9891593678

Aditya Dugar 9891809596

KAUMUDI DIMRI MEMORIAL ESSAY WRITING COMPETITION

Date: 28th November 2006
Time: 12:30 p.m. onwards

Rules and Regulations

1. Essay writing is an individual event.
2. The topic will be given on the spot.
3. The time given for writing the essay will be one hour.
4. The word limit for the essay will be 1000 words.
5. Entries by mail or e-Mail will not be entertained.
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Prize Categories

First Rs. 1,500
Second Rs. 1,000

For Registration and Queries; Contact
Lavina Bansal 9810814838

MODEL UNITED NATIONS

29th November 2006 12:00 noon onwards
30th November 2006 10:00 a.m. onwards

Country Selection
Each participant must refer to the Country Representation Matrix and choose the country he/she wishes to represent. Four country preferences may be indicated in the Registration Mail. Not more than three entries will be accepted from an institution and allotment of countries will be made on a first come first serve basis However, the final discretion in making the allotment of the country rests with the conference staff.

Committee Under Simulation
Economic and Social Council

How to Register
To register please Email us at blisspoint2006@gmail.com your Name, Institution Name and Country Preference by 22nd November 2006.

Dates to Remember
Last date for submission of Registration 22nd November 2006.
Last date for submission of Position Papers 20th November 2006.
Dates of the conference 28th & 29th November 2006

Country Representation Matrix


Albania
Algeria
Argentina
Armenia
Australia
Azerbaijan
Bangladesh
Belgium
Belize
Benin
Brazil
Canada
Chad
China
Colombia
Congo
Costa Rica
Cuba
Dem Rep of Congo
Denmark
Ecuador
France
Germany
Greece
India
Indonesia
Ireland
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Kenya
Malaysia
Mauritius
Mexico
Mozambique
Namibia
Nicaragua
Nigeria
Pakistan
Panama
Philippines
Poland
Republic of Korea
Romania
Russian Federation
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
South Africa
Spain
Thailand
Turkey
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United Republic of Tanzania
United States of America


Topics

1. WTO Reforms
2. Digital Divide: Transfer of technology from Developed to Developing Nations

Maximum Number of Participants from each college is four.
Selection will be made on first come first serve basis.

Position Papers

All delegates are required to submit position papers prior to the conference. Each position paper should relate to a topic on the agenda, and define the topic’s relationship to the country’s national interests.

Length: Position papers are a maximum of one page for each topic within the committee.

What the position paper should include
The paper should include a brief introduction and a comprehensive breakdown of the country’s position on the topics that are being discussed within the committee. An excellent position paper includes:
I. A clear statement of policy on each topic.
II. The country’s background on the topic, including:
· Political and/or foreign policy;
· Action taken by your government in relation to the topic;
· Actions your government has supported or not supported;
· Resolutions and declarations that your country supports;
· Quotes taken from speeches made by heads of government;

The Position paper should be typed out in Font Arial and Size 12. Refer to the sample position paper. Deadlines: Position papers should reach by November 15, 2006.
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Prize Categories

Best Delegate Rs. 2,500
Best Position Paper Rs. 1,000

Please Note: There are 4 Best Delegate and 3 Best Position Paper Awards

For Registration and Queries; Contact
Kartik Pental 9910453205
Meera Parthasarthy 9810514490

Sample Position Paper

Delegate: Simon Boule
College: Robinson College
Country: The Kingdom of Denmark
Committee: Commission on Human Rights
Topic: Freedom of Religion

The freedom to practice one’s professed faith is protected under early United Nations doctrines including the Charter and the Declaration of Human Rights. However, violations of freedom of religion are still being committed in every region of the world. Denmark believes that such violations exist despite protests from the governments of states where religious intolerance is believed to exist. Repeatedly, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have addressed this committee regarding the numerous instances of religious intolerance they have experienced worldwide. The Special Rapporteur of the Commission of Human Rights has recently published reports on his findings in this area and has called for action. The Committee must heed his call before further outbreaks over religious intolerance, such as in Kosovo, threatens the international community once more. Furthermore, Denmark asserts that forcing people to flee from their homeland in order to escape religious persecution is an atrocious human rights violation that is reminiscent of a war that once turned the states of the world against each other. In Denmark, 97% of those affiliated with a church are Evangelical Lutheran. Although there is also a small minority of Catholics and other Protestants, Denmark has not experienced difficulty in toleration of these minority religions.

Denmark was one of the first to sign the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, which declares that the state should not impose one cultural (or religious) standard for its people. Under Danish law, no person may be denied civil or political rights or political liberty because of his or her religious beliefs. In public schools, parents are given the option of excluding their children from Evangelical Lutheran religious instruction. Denmark does not recognize religious traditions or cultural aspects as an argument against following universal human rights. Such an argument would violate the major principles that the United Nations was founded upon. By signing the Declaration of Human Rights, states have agreed to respect the universal rights that the U.N. has set forth for humankind. Denmark is aware that suppression of religious freedom does, unfortunately, occur within the borders of the European Union. Reports have been issued that expose religious intolerance in countries within this coalition. Denmark is appalled, but is confident that E.U. countries will work together to remedy this serious problem. Denmark urges the formation of an educational plan of action which would help spread religious tolerance worldwide. Denmark acknowledges the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, but would like to see additional treaties created. This treaty could be, drafted at a global summit that would convene for the sole purpose of addressing this pressing issue. Denmark also proposes that 2005 be designated as the International Year of Religious Liberty in order to further spread the message of tolerance.

BUDDING ECONOMIST

Date: 29th November 2006
Time: 12:30 p.m. onwards

Calling all Edmund Phelps and Amartya Sens in the making!

Script a short essay on an economic issue of our choice. If your work is among the best essays received by us, you shall be invited to present a paper on the same before our panel of economists. This shall be followed by an objective test to access your familiarity with the subject and finally a short personal interview. If you succeed in proving your mettle in each stage of the competition, you shall be our new Budding Economist.

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Rules and Regulations

· This is a multi-stage competition with elimination at each stage. For the first two stages, participants will have to work in teams of two individuals representing their college. In the final two stages, the competition shall be between individuals.

· In Round I, participants are required to submit a short essay of about four hundred words on one of the four economics based topics suggested by us. The same should be mailed in to us at the earliest on blisspoint2006@gmail.com. The best twelve teams will be invited to the next round. The last date for submitting entries is 24th November 2006

· In Round II, the teams will be required to present a paper on the same topic as their essay before our panel of judges. Participants shall be provided LCD projectors for the same

Time limit: 15 minutes
· 12 minutes for presentation
· 3 minutes for interjection

The best six teams shall move on to the next round.

· In Round III, the teams will be split up into individual participants. These twelve participants will be required to take an objective written test. The test will judge the participants on their grasp of economic concepts, particularly in the areas of statistics, microeconomics and macroeconomics. The best six individual participants shall move on to the final round.

· In Round IV, our panel of judges will interview the participants. The format for the same is entirely the discretion of the panel. The Budding Economist shall be chosen after this final round.

Topics for Essays & Presentation

1. The tug of war between the Finance Ministry and the Planning Commission over more resources for Plan projects worsened, with deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia saying he was keen on getting more money for the Eleventh Plan rather than belt-tightening to meet deficit targets. The finance ministry on the other hand does not want to slip on the deficit target laid out under the FRBM Act.
What do you feel? Should the Deputy Chairman have his way with more funds as urgently needed for development issues or should the finance minister, arguing that fiscal prudence is the need of the hour, have his way. Prepare a presentation supporting your views.

2. Recent weeks have seen considerable debate on the cost and efficacy of special economic zones that has put the two Cabinet ministers - P Chidambaram (Finance Ministry) and Kamal Nath (Commerce Ministry) - furiously at loggerheads over the SEZ policy. The Union commerce ministry claims that SEZs will bring an additional investment of Rs 100,000 crore and will create 500,000 additional jobs. The finance minister on the other hand claims that the tax exemptions will cost the government Rs 158,000 crore.
You are perturbed about the effects that SEZs will have on the Indian economy. Prepare a presentation clarifying your stand on the SEZ issue and defend your stand by bringing the advantages/disadvantages to the forefront.

3. The setting up of a six-member panel headed by former RBI deputy governor SS Tarapore, to draw up the road map to capital account convertibility (CAC) has brought the issue once again to the front-burner. Should India embrace full CAC? Prepare a presentation arguing whether India should pave the way for greater, and ultimately, full Capital Account Convertibility or not.

4. There has been considerable debate on the feasibility of using foreign exchange reserves for infrastructure development. Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia had repeatedly suggested using foreign exchange reserves for infrastructure financing. You are required to prepare a presentation giving your views on this issue. Take a stand on the desirability of utilizing foreign exchange reserves for augmenting the much-needed infrastructure, and through your presentation, convince the judges on your stand.
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Prize Categories

Budding Economist Rs. 2,500
Best Presentation Rs. 2,000
II Best Presentation Rs. 1,500
Finalist (5) Rs. 1,000 each

For Registration and Queries; Contact
Shruti Mehrotra 9818672806
Ravi Saraogi 9911051320
Tania Jacob 9891556707
Gaurav Chiplunkar 9871989440

GROUP DISCUSSION

Date: 29th November 2006
Time: 02:30 p.m. onwards

Rules and Regulations
1. It is an individual event.
2. The topic will be given on the spot.
3. The number of rounds in this event will be subject to the number of participants.
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Prize Categories

First Prize Rs. 1,500
Second Prize Rs. 1,000
Third Prize Rs. 750

For Registration and Queries; Contact
Arpan K. Ganguly 9891146468
Aditya Dugar 9891809596