Lok Sabha Question No. 1690 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-13
Subject: National Education Policy, 2020
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Kripanath Mallah

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1690 ANSWERED ON 13.02.2023

## National Education Policy, 2020

## 1690. SHRI KRIPANATH MALLAH :

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a) the salient features of the National Education Policy, 2020;

- (b) whether the Government has launched any mission under NEP 2020 within the country;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and

(d) the details of the target set and the achievements made so far along with its response?

## ANSWER

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

(a): Salient features of National Education Policy 2020 are annexed.

(b) to (d): In pursuance of the goals and objectives of the NEP 2020, several initiatives have been started in School Education viz. National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy (NIPUN Bharat) for ensuring foundational literacy and numeracy by  the  end  of  Grade  3,  Vidya-Pravesh  -  Guidelines  for  Three-month  Play-based  School Preparation Module; Indian Sign Language as a Subject at secondary level by National Institute of  Open  Schooling;  NISHTHA  (National  Initiative  for  School  Heads'  and  Teachers'  Holistic Advancement) 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 Integrated Teacher Training Programme for different stages of school education for Teachers, Head Teachers/Principals and other stakeholders in Educational Management; SAFAL (Structured Assessment for Analysing Learning Levels) for competencybased assessment in CBSE schools for grades 3, 5 and 8, etc.

Similarly,  in  Higher  Education,  various  initiatives  /  reforms  have  been  carried  out  such  as Academic Bank of Credit (ABC); Multiple Entry/Exit in Academic Programmes; Transforming Higher Education Institutions into Multidisciplinary Institutions; Common Universities Entrance Test; Online and ODL Education;  First Year Engineering Programmes in Regional Languages; Academic  Collaboration  between  Indian  and  Foreign  Higher  Educational  Institutions  to  offer Twinning,  Joint  Degree  and  Dual  Degree  Programmes;  Pursuing  two  Academic  Programmes simultaneously;  Establishment  of  Research  and  Development  Cells  in  HEIs;  Professor  of Practice; Curriculum and Credit Framework for Undergraduate Programme, etc.

The  National  Education  Policy  2020  (NEP  2020)  provides  different  timelines  as  well  as principles  and  methodology  for  its  implementation.  As  per  NEP  2020,  implementation  of  the Policy requires multiple initiatives and actions, which will have to be taken by multiple bodies in a synchronized and systematic manner. NEP also provides for careful planning, joint monitoring and collaborative implementation by Central and States for execution of this policy. Accordingly, Ministry  of  Education,  State  Governments,  education-related  Ministries,  the  regulatory  and implementing bodies of school and higher education such as University Grants Commission, All India  Council  for  Technical  Education,  National  Council  for  Teacher  Education,  National Council  of Educational Research  and  Training, Central Board  of  Secondary  Education, Universities/Colleges/Schools  etc.  have  started  taking  initiatives  for  implementation  of  NEP 2020.

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## Annexure referred to in Part (a) of the reply to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1690 answered on 13.02.2023 asked by Shri Kripanath Mallah, Hon'ble Member of Parliament regarding 'National Education Policy, 2020'

## Salient features of National Education Policy 2020

- (i) Ensuring Universal Access at All Levels of schooling from pre-primary school to Grade 12;
- (ii) Ensuring quality early childhood care and education for all children between 3-6 years;
- (iii) New Curricular and Pedagogical Structure (5+3+3+4);

(iv) No hard separations between arts and sciences, between curricular and extra-curricular activities, between      vocational and academic streams;

- (v) Establishing National Mission on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy;

(vi) Emphasis on promoting multilingualism and Indian languages; The medium  of instruction  until  at  least  Grade  5,  but  preferably  till  Grade  8  and  beyond,  will  be  the  home language/mother tongue/local language/regional language.

(vii) Assessment reforms - Board Exams on up to two occasions during any given school year, one main examination and one for improvement, if desired;

(viii) Setting up of a new National Assessment Centre, PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development);

(ix) Equitable and inclusive education - Special emphasis given on Socially and Economically Disadvantaged   Groups (SEDGs);

(x) A separate Gender Inclusion fund and Special Education Zones for disadvantaged regions and groups;

- (xi) Robust and transparent processes for recruitment of teachers and merit based performance;
- (xii) Ensuring availability of all resources through school complexes and clusters;
- (xiii) Setting up of State School Standards Authority (SSSA);
- (xiv) Exposure of vocational education in school and higher education system;
- (xv) Increasing GER in higher education to 50%;
- (xvi) Holistic and Multidisciplinary Education with multiple entry/exit options;
- (xvii) NTA to offer Common Entrance Exam for Admission to HEIs;
- (xviii) Establishment of Academic Bank of Credit;
- (xix) Setting up of Multidisciplinary Education and Research Universities (MERUs);
- (xx) Setting up of National Research Foundation (NRF);

(xxi) 'Light but Tight' regulation;

(xxii) Single overarching umbrella body for promotion of higher education sector including teacher education and excluding medical and legal educationthe Higher Education Commission  of  India  (HECI)-with  independent  bodies  for  standard  setting-  the  General Education Council; funding-Higher Education Grants Council (HEGC);  accreditationNational Accreditation Council (NAC); and regulation- National Higher Education Regulatory Council (NHERC);

(xxiii) Expansion of open and distance learning to increase Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER).

- (xxiv) Internationalization of Education

(xxv) Professional Education will be an integral part of the higher education system. Standalone technical universities, health science universities, legal and agricultural universities, or institutions in these or other fields, will aim to become multi-disciplinary institutions.

(xxvi) Teacher  Education  -  4-year  integrated  stage-specific,  subject-  specific  Bachelor  of Education

(xxvii) Establishing a National Mission for Mentoring.

(xxviii) Creation  of  an  autonomous  body,  the  National  Educational  Technology  Forum (NETF)  to  provide  a  platform  for  the  free  exchange  of  ideas  on  the  use  of  technology  to enhance learning, assessment, planning, administration. Appropriate integration of technology into all levels of education.

(xxix) Achieving 100% youth and adult literacy.

(xxx) Multiple mechanisms with checks and balances will combat and stop the commercialization of higher   education.

(xxxi) All education institutions will be held to similar standards of audit and disclosure as a 'not for profit'  entity.

(xxxii) The Centre and the States will work together to increase the public investment in Education sector to    reach 6% of GDP at the earliest.

(xxxiii) Strengthening of the Central Advisory Board of Education to ensure coordination to bring overall   focus on quality education.

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