Lok Sabha Question No. 27 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-04
Subject: PARAKH
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Vinod Kumar Sonkar, Bhola Singh, Sukanta Majumdar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 27 ANSWERED ON - 04/12/2023

## PARAKH

## 27. SHRI VINOD KUMAR SONKAR: SHRI BHOLA SINGH: DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  proposed  to  set  up  Performance  Assessment,  Review  and Analysis  of  Knowledge  for  Holistic  Development  (PARAKH),  to  oversee  the  process  and conduct  periodic  tests  like  the  National  Achievement  Survey  (NAS)  and  State  Achievement Surveys;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the PARAKH has been launched under the National Education Policy (NEP)-2020 to develop a standard-setting body to advise school boards regarding new assessment patterns and latest research, and promote collaborations between them and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the ETS, which conducts key tests such as TOEFL and GRE, have been chosen by the Government for setting up the regulatory platform;
- (e) if so, the details thereof;
- (f) whether PARAKH will be able to bring 'uniformity' in assessment across the boards in 36 States and UTs despite the diverse school education system due to geographic differences and multiple languages; and
- (g) the other steps being taken by the Government in this regard?

## A N S W E R

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SMT. ANNPURNA DEVI)

(a) to (g):National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 under Para 4.41 envisions 'to set up a National Assessment Centre, PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development),  as a standard-setting body under Ministry of Education (MoE) that fulfils the basic objectives of setting norms, standards, and guidelines for student assessment and evaluation  for  all  recognized  school  boards  of  India,  guiding  the  State  Achievement  Survey (SAS) and undertaking  the  National  Achievement  Survey  (NAS),  monitoring  achievement  of learning  outcomes  in  the  country,  and  encouraging  and  helping  school  boards  to  shift  their assessment patterns towards meeting the skill requirements of the 21st century in consonance with the stated objectives of this Policy. This Centre will also advise school boards regarding new assessment patterns and latest researches, promoting collaborations between school boards. It will also become an instrument for the sharing of best practices among school boards, and for ensuring equivalence of academic standards among learners across all school boards.' National Assessment Centre, PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review and Analysis of Knowledge for  Holistic  Development)  was  set  up  in  NCERT  as  an  independent  constituent  unit  vide Notification  no.  1-4/2012-EC/  101-  164  of  NCERT  dated  8th  Feb,  2023,  to  fulfil  the  basic objectives  of  setting  norms,  standards,  guidelines  and  implement  activities  related  to  student assessment along with other tasks as mandated by Para 4.41 of NEP, 2020. Educational Testing Services  (ETS)  has  been  hired  by  NCERT  to  assist  in  establishing  and  operationalizing PARAKH.

PARAKH has undertaken State Educational Achievement Survey 2023, a study on equivalence across the boards and is actively involved in development of Holistic Progress Card for all four stages outlined in the NEP 2020: Foundational, Preparatory, Middle and Secondary stages.

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