Higher Education In India & How can NEP2020 Transform It?

India holds third place when it comes to higher education, next to the United States and China. The chief regulatory authority at the tertiary education level is the University Grants Commission, which imposes its standards and guides the government. Also, it helps in maintaining coordination between the center and the state. Moreover, the accreditation for higher education is managed by 15 autonomous institutions verified by the University Grants Commission (UGC). 

In this post, we will cover the future of higher education in India and how NEP2020 can transform it. So, let’s get started; 

Current Status of Higher Education In India 

According to the latest 2011 Census, approximately 8.15% (98.615 million) of Indians are graduates. Additionally, the Union Territories of Chandigarh and Delhi top the list with 24.65% and 22.56% of graduates. (Source: Wikipedia)

No doubt, education is the most powerful weapon, and everyone should be armed with it. In the past few years, the department of education has added approximately 20,000 colleges and more than 8 million students from 2000–01 to 2010–11.  

As of 2020, India has more than 1000 universities in its treasure. On the other hand, India has 54 central universities, 416 state universities, 125 deemed universities, 361 private universities, and 159 Institutes of National Importance. It includes AIIMS, IIMs, IIITs, IISERs, IITs, and NITs.

Apart from this, if we talk about other institutions, India has 52,627 government degree colleges, private colleges, standalone institutes, and post-graduate research institutions.

Future of Higher Education In India

Presently, the United States is one of the best study destinations in the world, and it holds the first position with its world-renowned education system. However, India endures third place in global academic education as some of the Indian universities rank among the top universities in the world, such as IISc Bengaluru, IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, Chandigarh University, and more. 

After reviewing the current status of higher education in India, what do you think - Can India meet the higher education standards to become an education hub for the whole world? The Union Cabinet of India has newly introduced National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 to restructure the educational system in India. The NEP2020 policy focuses on providing quality education to students that meet global education standards.

National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 - Overview

On 29 July 2020, the Union Cabinet of India approved the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. It outlines the vision of India's new education system. The NEP2020 replaces the former NEP1986, and it has a broad framework for primary education, higher education, and vocational training for both rural and urban areas of India. Moreover, the policy aims to transform the education system in India by 2040. 

How NEP2020 Can Transform Higher Education In India?

The goal and vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is to strengthen the higher education system in India. It aims to create an India-centric education system that contributes to displaying our nation as an education hub for the world by implementing high-quality education standards. 

Now let us see how the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 can transform the education system in India:

India Encouraging Foreign Universities to Set Up their Campuses

First of all, the NEP2020 aims to encourage foreign universities to set up their campuses in India for higher education. Now, the question is - How can foreign universities contribute to the future of higher education in India? The NEP2020 aims to give a chance to top-performing Indian universities to set up their campuses in foreign countries and the foreign universities to set up campuses in India in order to promote India as a global study destination. 

According to the NEP 2020, if everything went according to the plan, then the day is not far when you will see Harvard in Hyderabad, an Oxford in Kolkata, and Princeton in Mumbai, and top Indian Universities like Chandigarh University in foreign countries. This exchange of ideas and resources not only boosts the Indian economy but also improves higher education in India.

Expanding into a Global Study Destination

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 focuses on a total restructuration of the education system starting from the primary level to the higher degree level. The restructuring at the bachelor’s and above levels is similar to the system followed in the United States and China. Also, the NEP2020 concentrates on the adoption of an interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary procedure for the advancement of higher education in India. All these things help the Indian educational system to meet international standards. Along with this, it offers flexibility to the students to choose from a variety of courses from different disciplines.

Key Takeaways

Therefore, we can say that the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is all set to transform the higher education system in India. Moreover, the NEP2020 is a great move by the Union Cabinet of India to make India a global study destination.