Bhubaneswar The system is changing, and the outcomes are becoming visible. The National Education Policy (NEP) has ushered in a revolution in the education sector across India. There has been a significant improvement in the quality of education. From primary to higher education, a transformational change has taken place. The NEP prioritizes making education accessible and inclusive for all. Keeping in view the demands of the time, the policy emphasizes equipping the new generation with essential skills. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a developed India is being actively realized through the effective implementation of the NEP.
In the past, government universities lacked proper infrastructure, and private universities were promoted even without proper land or assessment. In 2009, 44 private universities were granted deemed university status without adequate evaluation—an act that tainted the image of higher education with corruption. Despite efforts by UGC and AICTE to ensure excellence in education, the then government appeared complacent. Heroes like Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad, and Veer Savarkar were deliberately omitted from textbooks, depriving the youth of inspiring stories from our glorious past.
Under the Modi government, over the last 11 years, the education system has reached new heights. Earlier governments had neglected the sector. With increasing global competition, investments are now being made in vocational skills and technical knowledge. Until recently, India followed the outdated 1986 education framework. To align with the times and to make India a “Vishwaguru” (global leader in education), a new National Education Policy has been formulated and is now implemented in states including Odisha.
A critical review of the education system shows that corruption and government apathy had once gripped it.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan stated that the Modi government, with a futuristic vision, designed the NEP after extensive consultations with diverse segments of society. The policy focuses on accessibility, equality, quality, affordability, and accountability. He emphasized that this policy is “of the people, by the people, and for the people’s future.”
Pradhan highlighted that since the Modi government came to power and NEP 2020 was introduced:
54% of children have enrolled in schools.
Women’s empowerment through education has reached new levels. The enrollment of girl students increased by 38%, reaching 2.18 crore in the 2022–23 academic year.
Enrollment among Muslim girl students rose by 57%.
Girls’ success rate in board exams has surpassed boys.
135% more women are now pursuing PhDs.
In subjects like science, vocational education, engineering, and mathematics, 43% of students are girls.
Women now constitute over 44% of educators in the country, signifying their increasing role in the education sector.
Educational Achievements:
Enrollment of SC students in higher education has increased by 50%.
Enrollment of tribal students has risen by 75%, and by 54% among OBCs.
There has been a 38% growth in girl student enrollment.
Per-child expenditure on education has risen to ₹14,000.
With the implementation of NEP, a new era of quality and transformation in education has begun. In rural schools across the country, 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) have been established. Over the next 5 years, another 50,000 ATLs will be set up.
According to Pradhan, to advance higher education, the government is ensuring adequate support for universities. The number of Indian universities ranked among the world’s top 500 is increasing. Research publications have grown by 88%, while India’s indicators in innovation have…