MHRD Renamed to Ministry of Education as Cabinet Approves NEP

The new National Education Policy (NEP) aims to overhaul several aspects of the education system.

Schools in Haryana will reopen in July in a phased manner with Classes 10-12 resuming first.

(Photo Courtesy: The News Minute)

The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) will be renamed as the Ministry of Education, Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ announced at a Cabinet briefing on Wednesday, 29 July.

At the briefing, the broad contours of the new National Education Policy (NEP), which has been approved by the Union Cabinet, were laid out. The new policy aims to overhaul several aspects of India’s education system, both at the school level as well as at the higher education level.

Aiming to bring changes at all levels of education, the draft policy was formulated by a committee headed by former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman Dr K Kasturirangan and submitted to the minister last year.

College Dropouts Can Rejoin Course, Won’t Need Fresh Admission

Under the multiple entry programme, if a student drops out of a degree programme in the second or third year, he/she will not have to seek fresh admissions upon return at a later stage, as the government would now follow a system of credit bank, which would fix a gap period for students, the Centre announced on Wednesday,

In schools, activity-based learning would be encouraged and students from class six and above would be taught coding to improve mathematical efficiency. Similarly, vocational training would be provided to students in classes six and above, where they can intern with a local skillsperson.

Board exams can be held twice a year and report cards of students would be based on self, peer and teacher review.