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By:

Bhaskar Nath Biswal

13 May 2026 at 8:30:30 pm

Why India’s Classrooms Must Teach Money

When Jio’s IPO drew a record one crore applications, the market celebrated a milestone. Millions of ordinary households, many of them first-time investors, are now willing to put their savings into the stock market. Yet in many classrooms, when a teacher mentions the news, students nod politely without understanding what an IPO is, why a share has a price or what one crore applications means. That gap between a nation that is investing and a generation that does not understand investing is...

Why India’s Classrooms Must Teach Money

When Jio’s IPO drew a record one crore applications, the market celebrated a milestone. Millions of ordinary households, many of them first-time investors, are now willing to put their savings into the stock market. Yet in many classrooms, when a teacher mentions the news, students nod politely without understanding what an IPO is, why a share has a price or what one crore applications means. That gap between a nation that is investing and a generation that does not understand investing is the real story here. Ineffective Education Financial education in India remains an afterthought. Our schools spend years on algebra, trigonometry and chemical equations, but a student can complete twelve years of schooling without learning how compound interest works, how a loan is priced or why inflation quietly erodes savings. Commerce and economics are electives, usually chosen by only a section of students, and even there, the treatment is often theoretical, built around definitions to memorise rather than decisions to make. Surveys by India’s financial regulators and independent agencies have repeatedly found that only about one in four adults is financially literate. Official bodies such as the Reserve Bank of India, SEBI and the National Centre for Financial Education have launched awareness drives and a national strategy, and these deserve credit. But awareness campaigns reach people after they have already started making money decisions, often badly. The IPO boom shows that finance is no longer a closed club of brokers in Mumbai. The sector now offers careers in wealth management, financial planning, equity research, risk analysis, insurance, banking, fintech, regulation and data-driven investing. Many of these roles need not be confined to metros or elite institutions but require trained, trustworthy people in every district, including smaller cities, where demand for honest financial guidance far exceeds supply. A student who learns early how markets work may become an analyst, a certified planner, an entrepreneur or a policymaker. Even a student who chooses a completely different path will benefit in daily life. A young person who understands budgeting, saving, insurance and credit is less likely to fall into a debt trap, a loan-app scam or a ‘guaranteed returns’ scheme sold on social media. At the national level, the case is stronger still. A financially aware population channels savings into productive investment instead of idle cash or unproductive gold, strengthens capital markets and becomes more resilient during economic shocks. A country aspiring to become a major economy cannot afford to have most of its citizens sitting out the system that drives that growth. Ground Reality The difficulty is that good intentions meet a crowded curriculum, overworked teachers and an examination-centred culture. Most teachers have never been trained to explain money matters, and textbooks that cover them can feel dry and disconnected from real life. Rural and small-town students face a further barrier, since access to practical exposure, such as a demat account, a mutual fund SIP or even a bank visit, is limited. There is also a risk running in the opposite direction. A wave of influencers now promotes trading as a shortcut to wealth, and young people, excited by stories of quick gains, rush into risky products without grasping them. The very surge that makes the Jio IPO so impressive could, without guidance, produce a generation burned by speculation and put off investing for life. India needs to move from occasional awareness camps to structured financial education that runs through schooling. Basic concepts such as saving, interest, budgeting and risk should be woven into mathematics and social science from the middle-school years, with a dedicated, practical subject in senior secondary classes. Colleges, whatever the stream, should offer a compulsory introductory course in personal finance so that engineers, artists and doctors alike leave with a working understanding of money. Regulators, banks and market institutions can partner with schools to provide trusted material in regional languages. Above all, the focus should be on judgement, not jargon: teaching young people to ask where returns come from, what the risks are and who benefits from the advice. One crore applications for a single IPO should inspire pride, but also responsibility. If we want such participation to be informed rather than impulsive, and our young people to see finance as a rewarding career rather than a mystery, we must begin where every lasting change begins: in the classroom. (The writer is a former college Principal and Founder of Supporting Shoulders, an Odisha-based non-profit Trust. Views personal.)

Gun Violence in America

Writer: Vishwas Pethe
Vishwas Pethe
Dec 27, 2024
3 min read

Updated: Jan 2, 2025

Gun Violence in America

On December 16, 2024, tragedy struck Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, where a 15-year-old student, Natalie Rupnow, fatally shot a fellow student and a teacher before taking her own life. Six others were injured, with two in critical condition. This devastating event is a grim reminder of the United States' ongoing struggle with gun violence, particularly in schools.


A Long History of Gun Ownership in America

The issue of gun violence in the United States cannot be discussed without acknowledging its deep-rooted history of gun ownership. The right to bear arms is enshrined in the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, adopted in 1791, which states: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”


Initially, this amendment was intended to empower citizens to form militias for self-defense during a time when standing armies were distrusted. Over the centuries, however, the interpretation of the Second Amendment has evolved. Today, it is often cited as a justification for individual gun ownership, a concept reinforced by landmark court cases such as District of Columbia v. Heller (2008), which affirmed an individual's right to own firearms for self-defense.


Gun culture is deeply ingrained in American society, with nearly 400 million firearms in civilian hands—more guns than people. This level of accessibility, coupled with a powerful gun lobby led by organizations like the National Rifle Association (NRA), has made significant legislative reform difficult.


Gun Violence in Numbers

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), firearms cause approximately 40,000 deaths annually in the United States—equivalent to 109 deaths per day. This figure includes homicides, suicides, and accidental shootings. Among children and teenagers, firearms are now the leading cause of death, surpassing motor vehicle accidents.


School shootings are a particularly horrifying aspect of gun violence in America. Since 1990, there have been over 800 incidents in K-12 schools, resulting in more than 500 deaths and over 1,000 injuries. High-profile tragedies such as the Columbine High School massacre (1999), the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting (2012), and the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School attack (2018) have shocked the nation and the world, yet meaningful reforms remain elusive.


A Global Comparison

The United States stands out among developed nations for its high rate of gun violence. In countries like Australia, Canada, and much of Europe, strict gun control measures have significantly reduced firearm-related deaths. For example: By contrast, the firearm-related death rate in the United States is 12.2 per 100,000 people, significantly higher than other developed nations. The prevalence of guns and the lack of uniform gun control laws contribute to this disparity.


Challenges in Addressing Gun Violence

Efforts to reduce gun violence in the U.S. have faced significant obstacles. One of the most notable is the prohibition of federal funding for gun violence research. In 1996, Congress passed the Dickey Amendment, effectively barring the CDC from studying gun violence as a public health issue. Although the funding ban was partially lifted in 2019, its legacy has left the country with a limited understanding of the causes and solutions to gun violence.


Advocates have long called for measures such as:

• Universal Background Checks: Closing loopholes in gun sales to ensure that all firearm purchases are subject to background checks.

• Safe Storage Laws: Requiring gun owners to store firearms securely to prevent unauthorized access.

• Bans on Certain Firearms: Prohibiting the sale of assault-style weapons, which are often used in mass shootings.


The Debate Over Gun Rights and Reform

The debate over gun control in the United States often pits the rights of gun owners against the need for public safety. Opponents of stricter gun laws argue that restrictions infringe on constitutional rights and fail to address the root causes of violence, such as mental health issues. Proponents, however, point to the success of gun control measures in other countries and the overwhelming public support for policies like background checks.


A Way Forward

Despite the challenges, there is growing momentum for change. Grassroots organizations, survivors of gun violence, and some lawmakers are advocating for comprehensive reforms. The Madison school shooting serves as a stark reminder of the urgency of these efforts. As the nation grapples with its gun violence epidemic, it must look to both its history and the experiences of other countries to find a path toward a safer future.


(The author is a resident of US. Views personal.)

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