Lok Sabha Question No. 104 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-11-25
Subject: Scheme to improve Quality of Education
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Murari Lal Meena

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 104 ANSWERED ON 25.11.2024

## Scheme to improve Quality of Education

## †104 Shri Murari Lal Meena:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  formulated  any  special  scheme  to  improve  the  quality  of education in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and its objectives;
- (c) whether priority is given to the students of any specific category under the scheme, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether any budget provision has been made for the scheme; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)

(a) and (b): Improving the quality of education across all levels from primary to university level is a continuous and ongoing process. After announcement of National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020), a number of transformative changes have taken place both in school and higher education. In School Education several initiatives have been taken such as PM SHRI (PM Schools for Rising India)  for  upgradation  of  schools;  Samagra  Shiksha  for  providing  quality  education  with  an inclusive and equitable classroom environment for all children; 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;  PM  e-VIDYA  to  unify  all  efforts  related  to  digital/online/on-air education to enable coherent multi-mode access to education, DIKSHA (Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing) as One Nation One Digital Platform having e-Books and e-Contents, launch of National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage (NCF FS) and Jadui Pitara for playbased  learning  teaching  material  tailored  for  children  between  the  age  group  of  3  to  8  years; PARAKH  (Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development);  NISHTHA  (National Initiative for School Heads' and Teachers' Holistic Advancement)  1.0, 2.0 and 3.0;  Vidya  Samiksha  Kendra; Integrated Teacher Education Programme;  National  Professional  Standards  for  Teachers  (NPST);  National  Digital  Education Architecture  (NDEAR)  for  creating  a  unifying  national  digital  infrastructure  to  energise  and catalyse the education ecosystem, implementation of a scheme 'New India Literacy Programme or ULLAS' targeting all non-literates age 15 years and above, etc.

In Higher Education, various initiatives / reforms have been carried out such as National Credit Framework  (NCrF)  and  National  Higher  Education  Qualification  Framework  (NHEQF)  in conjunction with guidelines / regulations like Curriculum and Credit Framework for

Undergraduate Programme; Multiple Entry and Exit in Academic Programme offered by Higher Education  Institutions;  Transforming  HEIs  into  multi-disciplinary  Institutions;  pursuing  two Academic  Programme  simultaneously;  Automated  Permanent  Academic  Account  Registry (APAAR ID)  of individual student which will act as lifelong identity to track their educational journey and achievements from, pre-primary to higher education; introduction of PM-Vidyalaxmi scheme  to  provide  financial  support  to  meritorious  students inter-alia  enabling  collateral  free, guarantor free loan through a simple, transparent and  student-friendly and  entirely digital application process; revised regulation of ODL / Online Education; permitting up to 40% credits in regular courses using SWAYAM platform;  launch of new SWAYAM Plus portal with aim to enhance skill and upskilling and reskilling of existing manpower employed in different sectors; Integration of technology in administration of HEIs from admission to grant of degree through SAMARTH; guidelines on Professor of Practice to enable HEIs to work with industry experts; guidelines  for  supernumerary  seats  for  admitting  students  from  abroad  in  Indian  HEIs  and permitting HEIs for two admission cycles in an academic year; enhanced reputation of the Indian HEIs in international ranking; embedding of Indian Knowledge system in the education etc.

(c): National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) aims to ensure that no child loses opportunity to learn and excel because of the circumstances of birth or background. It has taken into account the concerns of the Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs) which includes female and transgender  individuals,  Scheduled  Castes,  Scheduled  Tribes,  OBCs,  minorities  and  other categories.  This  policy  aims  at  bridging  the  social  category  gaps  in  access,  participation,  and learning outcomes in school education as well as in higher education.

(d) and (e): The Centre and the States / UTs work together to increase the public investment in Education sector to reach 6% of GDP. Various schemes/projects/programmes run by Ministry of Education have been aligned with NEP 2020. As far as Central Government is concerned, Budget allocation from the year 2021-22 to 2024-25 is given below:-

| Year                            | 2021-22   | 2022-23     | 2023-24     | 2024-25     |
|---------------------------------|-----------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
| Budget Allocation (Rs.in Crore) | 93,224.31 | 1,04,277.72 | 1,12,899.47 | 1,21,117.77 |