Lok Sabha Question No. 218 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-04
Subject: Flexibility to Education System by NEP
Ministry: Education
Asked by: S. Jagathrakshakan

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 218 ANSWERED ON 04.12.2023

## Flexibility to Education System by NEP

## 218. SHRI S. JAGATHRAKSHAKAN:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  National  Education  Policy  (NEP)  2020  is  proving  a  catalyst  in  giving India's education system a new dimension and making it globally inspirational;

(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(c) whether the NEP 2020 has brought unprecedented flexibility to the education system and its curricular revamp bridged gaps between different streams and activities, creating a more balanced and integrated educational framework; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b): National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) aims to address the many growing developmental imperatives of our country. The Policy proposes the revision and revamping of all aspects of the education structure, including its regulation and governance, to create a new system that is aligned with the aspirational goals of 21st century education, including Sustainable  Development  Goal-4,  while  building  upon  India's  traditions  and  value systems.

(c)  &  (d):  One  of  the  fundamental  principles  of  the  National  Education  Policy 2020 is flexibility,  so  that  learners  have  the  ability  to  choose  their  learning  trajectories  and programmes, and thereby choose their own paths in life according to their  talents  and interests. Further, NEP 2020 provides for no hard separations between arts and sciences, between  curricular  and  extra-curricular  activities,  between  vocational  and  academic streams, etc. in order to eliminate harmful hierarchies among, and silos between different areas of learning. In this direction, National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage

(NCF FS) and National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) have been launched which are more balanced and integrated educational frameworks.

Similarly, in higher education, National Credit Framework (NCrF) and National Higher Education  Qualification  Framework  provides  broad-based  multi-disciplinary  /  interdisciplinary, holistic education with flexible curricula, creative combination of subjects, multiple pathways, establishing equivalence,  facilitate national and international mobility by utilizing the platform of   Academic Bank of Credit (ABC); thus, enabling life-long learning  and  recognition  of  prior  learning  in  cohesion  with  the  multiple  exit/  entry guidelines.

Several  other  initiatives  to  ensure  flexibility  have  been  taken  such  as  Guidelines  for Multiple Entry and Exit in Academic Programmes offered in the HEIs to pave the way for seamless student mobility, between or within degree-granting HEIs and facilitate students to choose their learning trajectory; Guidelines for pursuing two Academic Programmes simultaneously to facilitate multiple pathways to learning involving both formal and nonformal education modes trajectory; Curriculum and Credit Framework for Undergraduate Programs to facilitate  flexibility  to  move  from  one  discipline  of  study  to  another,  one institution to another, switch to alternative modes of learning (offline, ODL, and Online learning, and hybrid modes of learning.

All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has revamped the existing curriculum and launched outcome based model curriculum. Student internship has been redefined and made mandatory. Model curriculum has also been prepared for courses in emerging areas viz. Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Block Chain, Robotics, Quantum Computing,  Data  Science,  Cyber  Security,  3D  Printing  &  Design  and  Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality.

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