Ministry of Human Resource Development

Important Schemes and Policies

Draft National Education Policy, 2019

Seeks to address the challenges of: (i) access, (ii) equity, (iii) quality, (iv) affordability, and (v) accountability faced by the current education system.

Key Highlights

Extending the RTE Act to include early childhood education and secondary school education, thereby extending the coverage of the Act to all children between the ages of three to eighteen years. Currently, the RTE Act provides for free and compulsory education to all children in the age group of six to fourteen years.

There should be no detention of children till class eight. Instead, schools must ensure that children are achieving age-appropriate learning levels.

State Census Examinations for students of classes three, five and eight to track students’ progress throughout their school experience.

To reduce the stress levels of students, the Committee recommended restructuring the board examinations to test only core concepts, skills and higher order capacities.

Restructuring of higher education institutions into three types: (i) research universities focusing equally on research and teaching; (ii) teaching universities focusing primarily on teaching but conducting significant research as well; and (iii) colleges focusing only on teaching in undergraduate education.

Setting up of the National Higher Education Regulatory Authority which would replace the existing individual regulators in higher education, including professional education.

Pradhan Mantri Innovative Learning Program (DHRUV)

To identify and encourage talented children to enrich their skills and knowledge

NISHTHA – National Initiative for School Heads’ and Teachers’ Holistic Advancement

To improve learning outcomes at the elementary level through an Integrated Teacher Training Programme.

Education Quality Upgradation and Inclusion Programme (EQUIP)

A five-year vision plan aiming at ushering transformation in India’s higher education system by implementing strategic interventions in the sector over five years (2019-2024).

Sets out to deliver further on principles of Access, Inclusion, Quality, Excellence and enhancing employability in Higher Education.

Deeksharambh

It is a Student Induction Programme aimed to help new students feel comfortable and get accustomed to the new environment by inculcating in them the ethos and culture of the institution.

PARAMARSH

A scheme to mentor institutions seeking National Assessment and Accreditation Council accreditation.

Institutions of Eminence (IoE)

10 institutions in public sector and 10 institutions in private sector have been declared as IoE.

Each Public institute (IoE) will be eligible to receive Rs. 1000 crore during next 5 years.

Scheme for Transformational and Advanced Research in Sciences (STARS)

Launched in February, 2019. To be implemented, monitored and managed by IISc, Bangalore.

For promoting translational, India-centric research in Sciences.

With the key objective of supporting socially relevant research, the following 6 basic thrust domains have been identified: Physics, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Nanosciences, Data Sciences & Mathematics and Earth Sciences.

Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA)

It is a centrally sponsored scheme launched in October 2013 that aims at providing strategic funding to higher education institutions throughout the country.

Impactful Policy Research in Social Science (IMPRESS)

To support social science research in the higher educational institutions and to enable research to guide policymaking.

SWAYAM 2.0

Launch of SWAYAM 2.0 with enhanced features and facilities.

To offer Online Degree Programmes through SWAYAM by Top Ranking Universities.

SWAYAM 1.0 was Launched in July 2017 with the Objectives of equal access to quality education, increase GER in Higher Education from 26 to 30 in next 5 years.

Key Features of SWAYAM 2.0 –

Higher Scalability and Performance

Enhanced features for faculty and students

Improved assessment and evaluation

Internationalisation

Translation to Indian languages

Local chapters and mentors

Offering of On-line Degrees