Implementing NEP 2020 key to becoming a developed nation: Education Minister

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, while speaking at a Letter of Intent (LOI) handover ceremony with the University of Liverpool, reiterated the importance of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in India’s journey toward becoming a developed nation.

Highlighting India’s current Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education, Pradhan noted it stands at around 26-27%, with the NEP targeting a 50% GER within the next five years. “Today, the number of students in India is 300 million, with 40 million in higher education. We have over 1,200 universities and 50,000 colleges. To meet the aspirations of our youth and the goals of a developed India, the GER must be significantly improved,” he said.

The minister emphasised the role of education in national progress, linking it directly with India’s economic ambitions. “India is currently the world’s fourth-largest economy. By 2047, we aim to become a developed nation, as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. To achieve that, implementing NEP is crucial. We must look beyond borders, embrace global standards, and move away from functioning in isolation,” he stated.

The event also marked a milestone in international academic collaboration, with the University of Liverpool receiving the UGC’s approval to establish its first foreign university campus in Bengaluru by 2026.

The NEP 2020, approved on July 29, 2020, replaced the 1986 education policy. It aims to transform the education system by making it more flexible, inclusive, and globally aligned. One of its significant features includes giving students the freedom to choose languages based on their interests, ending the compulsion of learning specific languages.

The minister’s remarks underline the NEP’s role as a foundation for India’s transformation into a knowledge-driven, developed nation.