India to become a "Global Knowledge Superpower" National Education Policy (NEP) 2020

Earlier in February 2020, the Union Budget of India 2020-21 was presented by The Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Amount of Rs 99,300 crore was allocated for the Education sector, proposing a new National Education Policy this year.

The Union Cabinet approved NEP in July 2020.

AIM of NEP2020

1) To make India a “Global Knowledge Superpower” to promote India as a global study destination providing premium education at affordable costs.

2) To increase the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) in higher education including vocational education from 26.3% to 50% by 2035.

(Adding a minimum of 3.5 crore new seats to higher education institutions)

KEY POINTERS OF NATIONAL EDUCATION POLICY 2020.

     1)      NEP 2020 suggests a Single Regulator for higher education except law and medical courses.

Impacting access, equity and quality of education positively.  Complex nomenclature of higher education institutions(HEIs) such as ‘deemed to be university’; ‘affiliating university’; ‘affiliating technical university’; ‘unitary university’ all shall pass out in years and will be simply ‘University’.  NEP lays down that by 2040 all HEIs shall aim to become Multidisciplinary(i.e.) by 2030 at least 1 large multidisciplinary institute in or near every district.

2)      NEP 2020 to make provisions to allow Foreign Universities to come to India.

 Top 100 Indian Universities’ quality will be improved in order to attract foreign students. Also allowing these Indian Universities to set up campuses abroad. Since our universities are

allowed to go abroad, India is also allowing top 100 World Universities to come to India.

  (This policy includes curbing of commercialization of these foreign universities(i.e.) if there is surplus, no fund will be taken out of education to open any business ventures in India from these universities).

3)      International Student Office at each institution hosting foreign students will be set up.

 4)      Higher education institutions to move towards continuous and comprehensive evaluation.

Less stress on board. Creation of National Assessment Center - PARAKH - Common College       Entrance Test based on core competency to be implemented from 2021 academic year, New University Entrance Test for college admissions to be implemented in 2022 academic year.

     5)      Learning to happen using Home Language, Mother Tongue and Regional Language as medium of instruction until Class 5 but preferably till Class 8.

6)      NEP 2020 provides students with increased flexibility in subjects and there will be no rigid separation between Arts and Science or Curriculum and Extra Curriculum etc.

    7)      MERU’s (Multidisciplinary Education and Research Universities) will be set up as Model Public Universities for holistic and multidisciplinary education at par with IITs, IIMs, etc.

     8)      Academic Bank of Credit(ABC) to be established to digitally store the academic credits earned.

 9)      Establishment of National Research Foundation(NRF) will improve Research and Quality of education.

     10)   Gender inclusion fund, provisions for SC and ST, other backward sections. And formation Special Education Zones Policy for backward regions.

The National Education Policy 2020 is definitely a change for the betterment of Indian Education System as it provides every student an equal opportunity to shine better in the future.