NEP 2020 resonates with India's civilizational values: Vice President Dhankar
New Delhi: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar said on Monday that National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 aligns with India's civilizational values and prioritizes self-awakening through education, beyond just skills. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar. (File Photo)
Addressing the inaugural session of the 99th annual meet and national conference of vice chancellors, organised by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) at Amity University, Noida, Dhankar recalled his experiences when he was West Bengal governor from July 2019 to July 2022 and associated with the development of NEP 2020, which 'has really changed the landscape of our education.' He said that the policy was shaped by the inputs of thousands across the nation.
'The policy resonates with our civilizational spirit, essence, and ethos. It is a bold reaffirmation of India's timeless belief that education is the awakening of the self, not just for education of skills. I have firmly believed that education is a great equaliser. Education brings about equality as no other mechanism does. Education decimates inequities. As a matter of fact, education gives life to democracy,' he said.
NEP 2020 was launched by the union government on July 29, 2020 with an aim to transform the country's education system — aligning it with needs of the future while keeping it 'rooted in Indianness'. The NEP 2020, which replaced an education policy that had been in place since 1986, recommended a major overhaul in India's education system at all levels from school to higher education.
Dhankar appealed to vice-chancellors of universities to ensure that campuses have space for disagreement, debate, dialogue and discussion.
'Our universities are not meant to just hand out degrees. The degrees must carry great weightage. Universities must be sanctuaries of ideas and ideation, crucibles of innovation. These places have to catalyse big change. That responsibility lies on the vice-chancellors in particular and academia in general. I appeal to you, there must be space for disagreement, debate, dialogue and discussion. That is how the mind cells are activated…,' he said.
The Vice President also paid his tribute to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ideologue Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee on his 'Balidan Diwas', calling it a 'great day in the history of our nation.' Recalling Mookerjee's role in Jammu and Kashmir's integration, Dhankhar said that Jana Sangha founder in 1952 gave the slogan 'Ek Vidhan, Ek Nishan aur Ek Pradhan hoga desh mein, do nahin honge.'
'We suffered from Article 370 for too long. It bled us and the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Article 370 and the draconian Article 35A deprived people of their basic human rights and fundamental rights. …Article 370 does not exist now in our Constitution. It was abrogated on August 5, 2019, and the legal challenge to the Supreme Court failed on December 11, 2023. I therefore cannot be at a more befitting place than this to pay tribute to one of the finest sons of our soil. My tributes to him,' he added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
38 minutes ago
- Time of India
CM Saini urges vice-chancellors to emphasise skill devp progs to boost youth employability
Chandigarh: Nayab Singh Saini on Monday called upon the vice-chancellors of universities across the state to lay special emphasis on skill development programmes aimed at enhancing the employability of the youth. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He emphasised that universities should collaborate with industries to bridge the gap between education and employment. Each university should run at least 10% of its programmes in collaboration with industrial partners. Saini outlined the state govt's vision to establish a Model Skill College and a Model Skill School in every district of Haryana. He said these institutions will focus on providing specialised skill education to students, equipping them with practical expertise to thrive in the competitive job market. He reiterated the govt's commitment to fostering a skilled workforce that aligns with the demands of modern industries and contributes to the overall economic growth of Haryana. He also asked V-Cs to align their strategies with the key dimensions of the NEP to foster innovation and holistic development. He further urged universities to maximise their contributions towards realising the vision of Viksit Bharat-Viksit Haryana, thereby playing a pivotal role in the socio-economic progress of the state and the nation. The CM said the Haryana State Research Fund (HSRF) was established to promote research across higher education institutions in the state. With an initial allocation of Rs 20 crores, HSRF is the first-of-its-kind to encourage innovative research efforts. He emphasised the importance of quality assurance in higher education by urging all universities and their affiliated colleges to obtain NAAC accreditation. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He highlighted the need for faculty development, comprehensive student guidance, and active involvement in social projects as institutional priorities. Box: Tribute to Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Saini paid tribute to Bharatiya Jana Sangh's founding president, Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee, on his Balidan Diwas. The CM offered floral respects at Dr Mookerjee's statue and also planted a sapling to give a message of environmental conservation. Speaking on the occasion, the CM said that Dr Mookerjee's ideas, patriotism, and supreme sacrifice are still a source of inspiration for every Indian. He recalled how Dr Mookerjee stood firmly for the unity of the nation, stating, "There cannot be two Prime Ministers, two flags, or two constitutions in one country. " Due to his tireless efforts, the 'permit system' implemented in Jammu and Kashmir ended, strengthening the bond of unity. MSID:: 122028168 413 |
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
Marathi mandatory in Maharashtra, not Hindi: Minister Ashish Shelar
Mumbai: Mumbai BJP chief and Maharashtra Minister of Cultural Affairs and Information Technology Ashish Shelar on Monday claimed the ongoing controversy over the introduction of Hindi as a third language in Marathi and English schools for classes 1 to 5 is unrealistic, unreasonable and illogical. He clarified that Marathi is mandatory and not Hindi in all medium schools. Ministers clarification comes amid strong protests by the opposition and various organisations accusing the state government of betrayal by imposition of Hindi as a third language. 'In Maharashtra, only Marathi has been made compulsory. Hindi has not been introduced as a mandatory third language from Class 1. In fact, our government has removed the earlier compulsion of Hindi from Classes 5 to 8, and instead, made it available as an optional alternative -- alongside several other language choices. Therefore, the ongoing discussion around the issue is unrealistic, unreasonable and illogical,' said minister Shelar. "We are staunch supporters of the Marathi language and equally committed to the interests of students," asserted the minister at the press conference. Shelar said: "We welcome the discussions. Criticism arising from misunderstanding is acceptable in a democracy. Some people are also taking to protests, which is their right." Minister Shelar clarified the misconceptions and false narratives surrounding the introduction of Hindi as a third language. He emphasised: "The BJP has always been a strong proponent of Marathi and student welfare. In Maharashtra, only Marathi has been made mandatory. No other language has been imposed. Previously, Hindi was compulsory from Class 5 to 8, but this mandate has now been removed. Hindi is now only offered as one of the optional third language choices from Class 1 to 5, and with flexibility in selection." Shelar explained that 15 languages have been made available under the third-language option, and Hindi is just one of them, proposed considering the availability of teaching resources and learning material. 'A comprehensive study was conducted on this matter. A committee of government officers and over 450 experts from the linguistic and academic fields deliberated for over a year and prepared a draft. This draft was opened for public suggestions and objections, receiving over 3,800 responses. After analysing them, a steering committee submitted a report to the government recommending Hindi as one of the optional third-language choices,' said the minister. He pointed out that the National Education Policy (NEP) does not mandate any particular third language but recommends choosing it as per need. "Had the BJP intended to impose Hindi or any language, we would have done so when finalising the NEP. Hence, the accusations made against our intentions are completely baseless and irrational," he said. Referring to the historical context, he said: "The three-language formula was introduced in 1968. The 1964 and 1966 education commission reports recommended learning Hindi as the third language for national integration. Hence, the current debate is unreasonable." He added that there are 9,68,776 students enrolled in Class 1 under the Maharashtra State Board, of which 10 per cent study in non-Marathi medium schools. An additional 10 per cent are enrolled in CBSE and other boards. Due to the 2020 mandate for Marathi, these 20 per cent of students now study three languages -- English, their native language and Marathi. "If we decide to limit students from Marathi-medium schools to just two languages, it will lead to academic inequality. The new NEP emphasises skill development and diverse learning, awarding extra academic credits for subjects like arts and languages, which are counted in the Academic Bank of Credits. Students who don't learn a third language will fall behind by at least 10 per cent in earning these credits," Shelar said. He further said that national-level competitive exams, though conducted in 22 languages, often expect a third language. If Maharashtra doesn't offer this option, our students will be disadvantaged compared to those from other states. He also made it clear that he would not be responding to any political questions during the press conference, which was specifically held to present the facts on the language issue and its relevance to students' welfare. He added that political responses to allegations can be given later as needed.
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
FATF's Pak challenge: Tracing routes of funds
At one level it seems like a huge win for India. At least one major body has focused on the Pahalgam terror attack rather than the operation that followed it, and ensuing calls for restraint. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the foremost authority on money laundering and terrorist finance, has not just condemned the terror attack, but, last week, resolved to launch a probe noting that it could not have been carried out 'without money and the means to move funds between terrorist supporters'. Unlike various groups asking for proof of who did the attack, the FATF proposes to find it for itself. The Pulwama terror attack that killed 40 security personnel happened even as Islamabad was threatened with blacklisting. (Waseem Andrabi/HT) The FATF was formed in 1989 by the G-7 countries, the European Commission and eight others (who are not listed), to combat money laundering, including 'terrorist financing and the financing of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction'. Over the years, it steadily increased its mandate to include all manner of actors including narcotics networks. India joined in 2010, after a rigorous examination of its banking systems, a review which happens periodically to protect the global system from danger. In 2024, India again got an 'outstanding' report for its financial stability and probity, though the FATF warned about 'non-profit' associations being used for terrorist finance. A number of NGOs were shut down, causing a cry of illiberalism. Pakistan, on the other hand, was put on a 'grey list', which means its financial systems have significant deficiencies, three times: Once in 2008, and taken off the list in two years after some improvements; again in 2012 for not curbing terrorist financing among other things; and again in 2018 for the same reason. This time it kept it there until October 2022, during which period Islamabad sentenced Lashkar-e-Taiba leader Zaki ur Rehman Lakhvi to five years imprisonment, Hafiz Saeed to 33 years in jail, and set in place legislation including an Anti-Terrorism Act (Amendment) Bill, 2020 which updated the legal definition of terrorism to international standards. A legislation was introduced to bring Pakistan's laws in line with the UN laws on terrorist financing, 20 years after Resolution 1373 had been enacted, and further gave the State Bank of Pakistan a degree of autonomy to implement much of this. That was when Imran Khan was in office, against an Opposition which feared their large unaccounted funds would come under scrutiny. Khan, who had a clean record on corruption, warned that going onto the 'black list' would mean an economic crash. A country on the black list is sealed off from the rest of the world in financial terms and faces serious difficulties in securing loans. At that time, Pakistan's external debt was 37.6% of GDP! But terrorism did not stop. The Pulwama terror attack that killed 40 security personnel happened even as Islamabad was threatened with blacklisting. It paused after India retaliated with air strikes deep inside Pakistan for the first time. Subsequently, government reports showed a significant drop in infiltration attempts from 216 incidents in 2019 to 53 in 2022 (according to MHA reports). But terrorist tactics simply shifted. Narcotics trafficking long associated with terrorism in Punjab returned. According to reports, some 251 transborder sorties by drones brought in weapons and drugs, this time mostly methamphetamine and derivatives from Lahore, even as underground tunnels were spotted along the international border. Second, terrorist groups became smaller in size but better trained and equipped. The personnel could live off the land for months in thick forests and were equipped with phones that evaded mobile towers. Then Pahalgam happened. As the FATF swoops in, two things matter. The first is whether our forces have managed to crack the communication system of terror groups to trace the source areas. That is vital. Second, Pakistan, despite the Taliban's crackdown on opium cultivation, seems to be able to access vast amounts of meth, as seen in the 300-kg seizure in April 2025 off the Gujarat coast. Pakistan also has money to continuously raise not just its defence budget — now far above the mandated 1.9% of its GDP when pensions are included — but also the pay of parliamentarians (by 138%) and defence personnel. Then, the FATF has to examine how Chinese funds are coming in to support the army, since none of it is evident in the budget papers. The FATF may also find other sources of financing, from outside the country. The sum of all this is to find out why Pakistan doesn't seem to care even if access to international financial assistance, crucial for it, is cut off. If Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's call for peace has some basis, he could start by emulating Indian initiatives like linking national identity cards with bank accounts, use its very capable investigative agencies to root out terrorist accounts, and those of 'charitable' organisations such as the highly suspect Al Khidmat Foundation. The army will, of course, oppose this. But major financial institutions must back the politicians, by linking aid with democracy. Otherwise nothing at all will move forward. Meanwhile, India had better look at hawala networks at home. Money has no nationality and no morals, and it could be used by hostile agencies as well. Time to get cracking for our own interests. Meanwhile, the Sharifs might actually find the going easier as terrorists are curtailed, and the army's powers with it. Tara Kartha is director (research), Centre for Land Warfare Studies. The views expressed are personal.
