Lok Sabha Question No. 334 (STARRED), answered on 2025-03-24
Subject: Bal Bhavan and National Level Nurseries under NEP
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Adv Gowaal Kagada Padavi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO- 334 ANSWERED ON 24/03/2025

## Bal Bhavan and National Level Nurseries under NEP

## *334. ADV GOWAAL KAGADA PADAVI:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) the main features of the National Education Policy;
- (b) whether the Government has set any target to establish Bal Bhavans in all the districts across the country under the said Policy;

(c) if so, the details thereof for the State of Maharashtra especially in Nandurbar Lok Sabha Constituency;

- (d) whether the Government plans to build national level institutes for children in nurseries in accordance with NEP;
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (f)  the  details  of  funds  allocated  for  this  project  and  the  time  by  which  it  is  likely  to  be established?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF EDUCATION

## (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

(a) to (f):  A statement is laid on the table of the House.

## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  TO  (f)  OF  THE  LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 334 FOR REPLY ON 24.03.2025 ASKED BY ADV  GOWAAL  KAGADA  PADAVI,  HON'BLE  MEMBER  OF  PARLIAMENT REGARDING BAL BHAVAN AND NATIONAL LEVEL NURSERIES UNDER NEP

(a):    National Education Policy 2020, paves way for transformational reforms in school and higher education systems in the country. The main features of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 are as follows:

- (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  extracurricular 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) Robust  and  transparent  processes  for  recruitment  of  teachers  and  merit-based performance;
- (xi) Setting up of State School Standards Authority (SSSA);
- (xii) Exposure of vocational education in school and higher education system;
- (xiii) Increasing GER in higher education to 50%;
- (xiv) Holistic and Multidisciplinary Education with multiple entry/exit options;
- (xv) Common Entrance Exam for Admission to HEIs;
- (xvi) Establishment of Academic Bank of Credit;
- (xvii) Setting up of Multidisciplinary Education and Research Universities (MERUs);
- (xviii) Setting up of National Research Foundation (NRF);
- (xix) Single regulator for higher education;
- (xx) Expansion of open and distance learning to increase Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER);
- (xxi) Internationalization of Education;
- (xxii) Phasing out of system of affiliated colleges through graded autonomy;
- (xxiii) Teacher Education in multi-disciplinary environment;
- (xxiv) Creation of 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.
- (xxv) Achieving 100% youth and adult literacy;
- (xxvi) Multiple mechanisms with checks and balances will combat and stop the commercialization of higher education
- (xxvii) All education institutions will be held to similar standards of audit and disclosure as a 'not for profit' entity;
- (xxviii) The Centre and the States will work together to increase the public investment in Education sector to reach 6% of GDP at the earliest.

(b) & (c): The National Bal Bhavan (NBB) provides affiliation to State Bal Bhavans who apply for the same and fulfil the requisite criteria of NBB. To expand its outreach, NBB affiliates  eligible  organizations  nationwide,  subject  to  fulfilling  the  terms  and  conditions prescribed by the Board of Management of NBB. Currently, 127 Bal Bhavans across India are  affiliated  to  NBB.  Out  of  these,  6  State  Bal  Bhavan  are  situated  in  Maharashtra  in Mumbai, Dhule, Nagpur and Aurangabad.

(d) to (f): There is no such plan under consideration in the Ministry. However, NEP 2020 emphasizes  the  importance  of  Early  Childhood  Care  and  Education  (ECCE)  as  the foundation of lifelong learning and development, targeting children from age 3 onwards. It recommends universal access to quality ECCE through a play-based, flexible, and multifaceted  curriculum  that  focuses  on  cognitive,  emotional,  and  physical  development.  The policy integrates ECCE with primary education by introducing the new 5+3+3+4 curricular structure, where the first five years form the foundational stage.

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