COMMON regulator for higher education institutions, discontinuation of MPhil programs part of National Education Policy

Under The  National Education Policy 2020 announced  on Wednesday, July 29 ,  there will be a single regulator for higher education institutions, multiple entry and exit options in degree courses and MPhil programmes will be discontinued. There  will be common  board exams and  entrance exams for universities. Briefing media  on the policy after it was  approved by the Union Cabinet, Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said it is important, as for 34 years there were no changes in India’s  education policy. Education  Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said, New Education Policy 2020 will prove to be a milestone in the making of New India. The Cabinet has also approved changing the name of the Human Resources Development Ministry to Education Ministry. Secretary Higher Education Amit Khare said, NEP 2020 aims to increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education including vocational education from 26.3 per cent in 2018 to 50 per cent by 2035.At least 3.5 crore new seats will be added to higher education institutions. The policy envisages broad based, multi-disciplinary, holistic Under Graduate education with flexible curricula, creative combinations of subjects, integration of vocational education and multiple entry and exit points with appropriate certification. The Higher Education Secretary said, affiliation of colleges is to be phased out in 15 years and a stage-wise mechanism is to be established for granting graded autonomy to colleges. It is envisaged that every college would develop into either an autonomous degree-granting college, or a constituent college of a university. 
Secretary, School Education and Literacy, Anita Karwal said, Board exams will be low stake and the focus will be on testing concepts and knowledge application. Home language, mother tongue or regional language to be medium of instruction up to class 5. Ms Karwal said, school curriculum will be reduced to core concepts and there will be integration of vocational education from class 6. (image courtesy: Business Insider India)