City Pulse

The Union Cabinet approved a new National Education Policy on July 29^th after a 34-year gap. The new policy has taken some bold steps in its long-term vision and comprehensive framework for focusing on the quality of education for schools and colleges across the country. The NEP is the first policy formulated by the BJP government in the 21^st century. The approved plan presentation to the parliament is pending for a future date.

The Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) will be a single overarching umbrella body for regulation, standard-setting accreditation, and funding. It plans to replace several regulatory bodies ensuring a level playing field for private and public players. They have also proposed the setting up of foreign universities in India. Students can rejoice as the new policy recommends no rigid separations between arts and sciences, between curricular and extra-curricular activities, between vocational and academic streams. They can select subjects of their liking across the streams. They also plan to introduce a three or four-year undergraduate degree program with entry and exit options, credit transfer system, and the abolition of the MPhil program.

Meant to transform the system by 2040, the NEP is a policy and not a law. Its implementation depends on further regulations by states and centre as education is a concurrent subject.