Lok Sabha Question No. 1277 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-25
Subject: National Digital University
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Raghu Ramakrishna Raju Kanumuru

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1277 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.07.2022

## National Digital University

## 1277.   SHRI KANUMURU RAGHU RAMA KRISHNA RAJU:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  National  Digital  University  can  solve  the  problem  of  shortage  of  seats  in educational institutions in the country;
- (b)   if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether the Government is focusing on five aspects related to education - universalization of quality  education,  skill  development,  urban  planning,  internationalization  and  (Animation Visual Effects Gaming Comic) AVGC; and
- (d)   if so, the details thereof and progress made by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (DR. SUBHAS SARKAR)

(a) & (b) Govt of India in its Budget 2022-23 has announced establishment of Digital University to provide  access  to  students  across  the  country  for  world-class  quality  universal  education  with personalised learning experience at their doorsteps. This will be made available in different Indian languages and ICT formats. The University will be built on a networked hub-spoke model, with the hub building cutting edge ICT expertise. The best public universities and institutions in the country will collaborate as a network of hub-spokes.

As highlighted in the PM's address at post-budget webinar on the Education and Skill sector, there is great  potential  in  the  National  Digital  University  that  can  completely  address  the  problem  of shortage of seats in educational institutions in the country. Through the National Digital University, there will be unlimited seats for every subject preparing the youth for the current and future needs of learning and re-learning.

(c)  & (d) Governments focus, as mentioned in  PM's address at post-budget webinar 2022-23 on Education and Skill sector, along the five aspects related to education and progress there-in, are as under:-

Universalization of Quality Education to expand our education system, improve its quality and increase the capacity of the education sector.

University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued Open and Distance Learning (ODL) Programmes and  Online  Programmes  regulations  (Sep  2020),  followed  by  amendments  (July  2021),  and guidelines (Jan 2022) to allow HEIs to offer online and ODL programmes based on institutional quality. 60 HEIs offer 353 programs through these regulations under online mode.

Skill Development to develop a digital skilling ecosystem in the country.

A digital skilling portal  https://1crore.aicte-india.org/ for skilling, reskilling, upskilling, internship, apprenticeship,  and  employment  to  One  Crore  students  in  the  Emerging  Technologies  has  been launched by AICTE on 6 th June 2022.

Urban Planning and Design to integrate the ancient experience and knowledge of India with our education today.

AICTE  has  revised  the  model-curriculum  for  Town  &  Country  Planning  in  2022  by  giving emphasis on subjects associated with ancient experience and knowledge of India.

Internationalization to encourage World-class foreign universities to come to India and institutes associated with fin-tech to invest in our industrial areas, like Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT) City.

The  regulations  in  this  regard  are  being  finalised  by  International  Financial  Services  Centre Authority (IFSCA).

Animation  Visual  Effects  Gaming  Comic  (AVGC) to  harness  Indian  talent  in  the  global employment market.

A sub- committee on education, under national AVGC Task-Force, is chaired by All India Council for Technical Education and has identified various interventions including curriculum reforms for pedagogical innovations for the sector.

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