Lok Sabha Question No. 385 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-05
Subject: Improvement in Education System by National Education Policy
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Satyadev Pachauri

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 385 ANSWERED ON 05.02.2024

## Improvement in Education System by National Education Policy

## †385 . SHRI SATYADEV PACHAURI:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a)  the  changes  which  took  place  in  the  education  system  after  the  implementation  of  the  New Education Policy which was brought to improve the education system in India;

(b)  whether  the  Government  is  aiming  to  make  India  a  global  knowledge  superpower  thereby making it one of the leading countries in the world in terms of education and research; and

(c)  the  efforts  being  made  by  the  Ministry  to  promote  equality  and  inclusion  in  the  field  of education?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b):  National Education Policy 2020 envisions an education system rooted in Indian ethos that contributes directly to transforming India, that is Bharat, sustainably into an equitable and vibrant knowledge society, by providing high-quality education to all, and thereby making India a global knowledge superpower.

A  number  of  transformative  changes  has  taken  place  both  in  school  and  higher  education  after announcement of NEP 2020. In School Education  changes includes introduction of early childhood care  and  education;  emphasis  on  Foundational  Literacy  and  Numeracy;  National  Curriculum Framework for all levels,  extensive use of technology to enable multi-mode access to education; Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing (DIKSHA); Teacher Education Programme in Multidisciplinary  environment;  Performance  Assessment,  Review,  and  Analysis  of  Knowledge  for Holistic  Development;  National  Digital  Education  Architecture  (NDEAR)  for  creating  a  unifying national  digital  infrastructure;    'New  India  Literacy  Programme  or  ULLAS'  targeting  all  nonliterates aged 15 years and above, etc.

Similarly  in  higher  education,  various  transformative  changes  include  providing  much-needed flexibility,  allowing  creative  combination  of  subjects,  providing  multiple  pathways,  establishing equivalence  and  mobility  to  the  students  through  National  Credit  Framework  (NCrF),  National Higher Education Qualification Framework, Academic Bank of Credit (ABC), multiple entry/exit; offering of  courses  and books / course materials in Indian Languages; entrance exams such as JEE, NEET,  CUET  are  conducted  in  13  Indian  languages;  use  of  technology  to  enhance  access  to education and for administration and governance of Universities and HEIs; permitting learners to avail  upto  40%  credit  Courses  from  SWAYAM  platform;  industry  academia  collaboration  for internships and to develop courses and curriculum to meet the industry and societal needs, offering of  industry-aligned courses; promoting Indian and Foreign HEIs setting of campuses abroad and in India respectively; enhanced reputation of the Indian HEIs in international ranking; embedding of Indian Knowledge system in the education etc.

To achieve global standards of quality and foster culture of research & innovation, regulations on foreign HEIs setting up campuses in India, regulations on academic collaboration between Indian & foreign HEIs have been issued. Regulations providing autonomous status to colleges, guidelines for admission & supernumerary seats of international students in UG & PG level course in Indian HEIs have also been issued to that effect. Ministry of Education releases funds under different research schemes such as Uchchatar Avishkar Yojana (UAY),  Impacting Research Innovation and Technology (IMPRINT), Scheme for promotion of Research and Academic Collaboration (SPARC), Scheme  for  Transformational  and  Advanced  Research  (STARS),  etc.,  for  promotion  of  research ecosystem of country's Higher Education Institutes.

As a result of consistent effort,  Indian HEIs/Universities have substantially improved their global ranking  in  last  9  years  with  45  HEIs/  Universities  ranked  in  Quacquarelli  Symonds  (QS)  World University  Ranking 2024 as against 09 in QS 2014 ranking.  India remains the most represented higher education system with 148 universities out of 856 featured in the QS World University- Asia Rankings 2024   and has also contributed the highest number of 37 new entrants. 7 Indian Institutes were amongst the top 100 Asian universities with 5 IIT's, 1 - Central University and IISc. Indian Universities have achieved the second best regional results in the Papers-per-Faculty metric among the Higher Education systems with more than 10 universities ranked. India achieves its best average score  for  the  Staff-with-PhD  indicator,  signalling  strong  research  output  and  a  highly  qualified faculty body and showing the potential for Indian institutions to enhance their global standing. 44 courses, in their respective subject categories, have been ranked among the Global top 100 in QS Rankings 2023.  As per R&D statistics at a glance 2022-23, India occupies 3rd rank in terms of the number of PhDs awarded in Science and Engineering (S&E). As per Scimago Journal & Country rank number of publication in all discipline in 2022 is more than 2.73 lakhs as compared to 1.45 lakhs publication in 2015. As per IP India Annual Report filing of patents has increased from 42,763 in 2014-15 to 66,440 in 2021-22, i.e., more than 55% increase in a span of 8 years and there has been  nearly  5  times  increase  in  grant  of  patents  in  2021-22  (30,073)  as  compared  to  2014-15 (5,978). India has improved its Global Innovation Index Ranking from 76 th rank in 2014 to 40 th rank in 2023.

(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 proposes special emphasis to be  given  on  Socially  and  Economically  Disadvantaged  Groups  (SEDGs).  Accordingly,  the Government  has  been  taking  various  initiatives  for  making  higher  education  accessible  to  the socially and economically marginalized sections such as scholarships / fellowships offered to SC/ST students, fee exemption or partially reimbursed; 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Section; reservation for SC/ST/OBC; preparatory classes for SC/STs for appearing in JEE exam; JEE exam being conducted in local / regional languages.

The  Government  has  mandated  all  Centrally  Funded  Institutions  to  comply  with  the  statutory provisions of the Central Education  Institutes (Reservation in Admission) Act, 2006, as  amended from time to time, for admission of reserved category candidates to various programmes.

'Accessibility  Guidelines  and  Standards  for  Higher  Education  Institutions  and  Universities'  have been issued by UGC to develop an inclusive mechanism to provide an accessible environment for persons with disabilities including persons with Specific Learning Disabilities (SLDs).