Parliament Question: Criteria for Journals of Higher Education

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 134 ANSWERED ON 01/12/2025 Criteria for Journals of Higher Education 134. Shri R K Chaudhary: Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state: (a) the eligibility criteria fixed for selecting the journals for the higher level education adopted by UGC; (b) whether there is any software to tackle with the Artificial Intelligence (AI), if so, the details thereof alongwith the criteria and selection procedure of such software by the UGC; (c) whether the Government has any plan to induce job oriented courses in the syllabus of the students of matriculation and senior secondary classes, if so, the details thereof; (d) the details of the Government plan for improving early childhood care and education (ECCE), especially for socio-economically disadvantaged children in the country; and (e) the details of the basis for launching double board exams policy in schools across the country? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR) (a) The University Grants Commission (UGC) has developed suggestive parameters for choosing peer-reviewed journals by faculty members, students and the Higher Education Institutions. The same was notified on 16th July, 2025 and is available at https://www.ugc.gov.in/pdfnews/6124898_Public-Notice-CARE-Journals.pdf (b) The UGC has notified the UGC (Promotion of Academic Integrity and Prevention of Plagiarism in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2018, under which all HEIs are required to check theses and dissertations through plagiarism-detection software approved by the institution, the same is available at https://www.ugc.gov.in/pdfnews/7771545_academic-integrity- Regulation2018.pdf. Further, based on the recommendation of Sub-Committee, National Steering Committee (NSC) of e-ShodhSindhu, the Ministry of Education (MoE), Govt. of India, has initiated a programme "ShodhShuddhi" which provides access to Plagiarism Detection Software (PDS) to all Universities/Institutions in India.Under the ShodhShuddhi scheme of the MoE, the Information and Library Network Centre (INFLIBNET), Gandhinagar, had provided Plagiarism Detection Software (PDS) to 1160 plus Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) across India. (c) The Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSE&L) provides financial support for implementing the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Samagra Shiksha since 2018-19. Skill Education is one of the components under Samagra Shiksha scheme. The scheme aims at integrating Skill Education with general academic education in all Secondary/Senior Secondary schools which is in alignment with the objective of NEP 2020; enhancing the Employability and Entrepreneurial abilities of the students, providing exposure to work environment; and generating awareness amongst students about various career options so as to enable them to make a choice in accordance with their aptitude, competence and aspirations. The scheme covers Government and Government aided schools. Additionally, the scheme has a provision for providing exposure to skill education to students of Classes VI - VIII with an aim to provide opportunities to the students to orient themselves with the skills required for the various occupations in a sector and to equip them to make informed choices while selecting their subjects in higher classes. Under Skill Education component of ‘Samagra Shiksha’, NSQF aligned skill courses are offered to the students from Class IX to XII in the schools covered under the scheme, which has been aligned with the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF). At the Secondary level i.e., Class IX and X, skill courses are offered to the students as an additional subject. At Sr. Secondary level, i.e., Class XI and XII, skill courses are offered as a compulsory (elective) subject. As of now, 138 Job Roles have been approved for introduction as Skill courses to school students for Class IX to XII. 36,465 schools have been approved under the skill education component of Samagra Shiksha, out of which the skill education has so far been implemented in 25,140 schools with the reported enrolment of 35,56,330 students. (d) As per para 1.1 of NEP 2020, universal provisioning of quality early childhood development, care, and education must be achieved as soon as possible, and no later than 2030, to ensure that all students entering Grade 1 are school ready. Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) is generally defined as the period from birth to 8 years of age. This stage is divided into three sub-stages i.e., 0-3 years, 3-6 years (Preschool stage) and 6 to 8 years (Grade I and II). The ages 3 to 8 years covers 5 years of education continuum named as Foundational Stage under NEP 2020. For the first time, 3 years of preschools (Balvatika) recognized as a continuum of education in the 5+3+3+4 structure where the foundational stage is 3 years of preschool and grade 1 & grade 2. The NEP 2020 indicated an increased focus on the universalization of ECCE. Under Samagra Shiksha, a flagship scheme of the Ministry of Education, focus has been given on the pre-school education. To ensure equitable quality education and universal access for all, the scheme extends support from pre-school to class 12. The Scheme reaches out to girls and children belonging to Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs).Several key Initiatives have also been taken by DoSE&L including the launch of the following: (i) A dedicated mission ‘National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy (NIPUN Bharat Mission)’ on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy for ensuring that every child in the country necessarily attains foundational literacy and numeracy by the end of Grade 2. (ii) National Curricular Framework for Foundational Stage (NCF-FS) providing a structure for the syllabus, Training of Teachers, Learning Teaching Material (LTM), etc. (iii) A 3-months play based ‘School Preparation Module and Guidelines’ for Grade 1 named ‘Vidya Pravesh’ to promote school preparedness in all children coming to Grade-1 from diverse backgrounds (Balvatika, Anganwadi Centers (AWCs), at home, private play schools etc.), to ensure a smooth transition of children to Grade-1. (iv) Jaadui Pitara (JP), a collection of Learning Teaching Material (LTM) for 3 to 8 years age group. (v) E-Jaadui Pitara (e-JP), an app and website with integration of the latest technology with play-based pedagogy and a way to disseminate the learning of JP and transcend it beyond the four walls of the classroom. (vi) “Guidelines for co-location of Anganwadi Centers with schools” for better convergence & seamless admission to Grade 1” jointly with Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Women & Child Development. (e) Para 4.37 of National Education Policy-2020 stipulates that “To further eliminate the ‘high stakes’ aspect of Board Exams, all students will be allowed to take Board Exams on up to two occasions during any given school year, one main examination and one for improvement, if desired”. CBSE has decided to implement the policy of two Board Examinations in Class X from 2026 examinations in its affiliated schools in India and 26 countries abroad. *****