Lok Sabha Question No. 81 (STARRED), answered on 2021-07-26
Subject: Webinar on Harnessing Education, Research and Skill Development
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Bidyut Baran Mahato, Ravi Kishan Shukla

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 81 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2021

## Webinar on Harnessing Education, Research and Skill Development

## *81. SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO: SHRI RAVI KISHAN:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- a) whether  the  Government  has  organised  a webinar  on 'Harnessing Education, Research and Skill Development for an Atmanirbhar Bharat' in the recent past;
- b) if so, the details thereof along with the details of participant Ministries/ Departments in the said Webinar;
- c) whether the Government proposes to set up a National Research Foundation;
- d) if so, the details thereof along with the funds earmarked for the purpose and the extent to which this initiative will strengthen the governance structure of the research related institutions  and  will  improve  linkages  between  R&D,  academia  and  industry  in  the country;
- e) whether  the  Government  also  proposes  to  promote  more  and  more  use  of  local languages  in  education,  research  and  skill  development  under  the  new  National Education Policy; and
- f) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF EDUCATION (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

- (a) to (f): A statement is laid on the table of the House.

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  TO  (f)  OF  THE  LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 81 FOR 26-07-2021 ASKED BY SHRI BIDYUT BARAN  MAHATO  AND  SHRI  RAVI KISHAN,  HON'BLE  MEMBERS  OF PARLIAMENT REGARDING WEBINAR ON HARNESSING EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT.

(a): Yes, Sir.

(b): A Webinar was held on 3-03-2021 on the subject 'Harnessing Education, Research and Skill Development for an Atmanirbhar Bharat' to bring together all Ministries/Departments concerned with the education sector to brainstorm on way for fast and co-ordinated effort for implementation  of  budget  announcements  for  the  FY  2021-22.  Department  of  Higher Education, Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Department of Biotechnology, Department of Space,  Department  of  Defence  Research  and  Development  and  Ministry  of  Earth  Science participated  in  the  webinar.  In  addition,  industry  representatives  and  sectoral  experts  also participated in the webinar. The Webinar was inaugurated by the Hon'ble Prime Minister.

There  were  6  parallel  sessions  in  the  webinar  on  the  themes  (i)  Promoting  Research  and Innovation in a Multidisciplinary Environment, (ii) Using Glue Grant To Develop Education Hubs,  (iii)  Deep  Ocean  Mission,  (iv)  Making  India  Skill  Capital  Of  The  World,  (v) Reinvigorating Human Capital through Excellence in Education and Multilingualism and (vi) Augmenting Learning Through Digital Education.

(c ):  Yes, Sir.

(d): The total outlay of National Research Foundation (NRF) is ` 50,000 crore over a period of five years. It ensures that the overall research ecosystem of the country is strengthened with focus on identified national-priority thrust areas. Of the ` 50,000 crore, ` 10,000 crore will be through additional earmarked allocation to the NRF over 5 years. The remainder will come from  joint  research  programmes  with  ministries,  states  and  other  partners,  including  the industry in a mutually agreed manner.

One  of  the  main  objectives  of  NRF  is  to  seed,  grow  and  facilitate  research  at  academic institutions, particularly at universities and colleges, where research capacity is currently in a nascent  stage.  It  will  also  fund  and  support  high-impact,  large-scale,  multi-investigator, multi-institution and, in some cases, interdisciplinary or multi-nation projects in collaboration with  relevant  Ministries,  Departments,  and  other  Governmental  and  non-Governmental entities, especially industry.

(e) & (f): Yes, Sir. The Government has announced National Education Policy, 2020 (NEP) on  29-07-2020  after  34  years  which  envisages  to  promote  more  and  more  use  of  regional languages in education. In this regard, Government has taken a number of steps including:

- i. NEET  which  was  being  conducted  in  11  languages  will  now  be  conducted  in  13 languages.
- ii. JEE (Main) which was being conducted in 3 languages will now be conducted in 13 languages.
- iii. Imparting  technical  education  in  certain  AICTE  approved  technical  institutions  in  8 Regional languages  from the academic session 2021-2022 on pilot basis.
- iv. Translation  of  reference  materials  for  courses  of  engineering  in  regional  languages under  SWAYAM  (Study  Webs  of  Active  Learning  for  Young  Aspiring  Minds) Government's own Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) platform, which has been offering  online  courses  in  disciplines  such  as  Science,  Engineering  &  Technology, Humanities & Social Sciences, Law, Management etc.
- v. All  India  Council  for  Technical  Education  (AICTE)  Approval  Process  Handbook (APH)  2021-22  permitting  institutes  to  apply  for  running  programs  in  regional languages.
- vi. AICTE  has  developed  a  tool called 'AICTE  Translation  Automation  Artificial Intelligence  Tool' to  translate  English  language  online  courses  into  eleven  different languages like Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Telugu, Tamil, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Punjabi, Assamese & Odia for access to a more significant number of students in the rural area.
- vii. MOU has been concluded between the Govt of Haryana and AICTE towards publishing of 1,000 books in Hindi.
- viii. Student Induction Program (SIP) of three-weeks is now a mandatory part of curriculum for students of first year in engineering. AICTE has initiated steps for the conduct of 21-days  induction program  for  students in regional  language.  AICTE  has  also commenced the translation of study material and manual in regional languages for the benefit of students and faculty.
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