Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Education addresses a parliamentary inquiry regarding the implementation of a high-quality multidisciplinary education system. The response details initiatives undertaken by the central and state governments, the CBSE, UGC, AICTE, and NCERT towards achieving the goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, aligned with the UN's SDG4. These initiatives include infrastructure development, regulatory changes, teacher training programs, and curriculum reforms.
Key Points / Main Content:
Infrastructure and Financial Support:
* The UGC has provided substantial grants to UGC-funded Central Universities for capital assets: Rs. 637.25 crore (2022-23), Rs. 835.00 crore (2023-24), and Rs. 994.32 crore (2024-25).
* Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) Phase III, now Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM USHA), launched in June 2023 to fund State Government universities and colleges in underserved areas, improving quality and adherence to norms.
Regulatory and Policy Initiatives:
* CBSE has revised Affiliation Bye-Laws to align with NEP 2020, ensuring transparency, quality assurance, and simplified procedures, mandating essential infrastructure norms.
* UGC has notified regulations on Academic Bank of Credit, academic collaboration with foreign HEIs, autonomous status for colleges, minimum instruction standards for degrees, and the establishment of foreign HEI campuses in India.
* UGC has notified the National Credit Framework and the National Higher Education Qualification Framework.
* Guidelines issued by UGC cover multiple entry/exit in academic programs, transforming HEIs into multidisciplinary institutions, and internship-embedded degree programs.
Teacher Training and Development:
* CBSE mandates 50 hours of annual training for teachers and has established the Centre of Excellence (CoE) network.
* The Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Program (MMTTP) is being implemented through 144 Malaviya Mission Centres to enhance teacher skills.
* AICTE's ATAL Academy has trained faculty members in emerging areas through 1900 Faculty Development Programs.
Curriculum and Affiliation:
* NCERT has developed and disseminated the National Curriculum Framework for School Education and the National Curriculum Framework for the Foundational Stage.
* UGC notified National Higher Education Qualifications Framework (NHEQF) on 11.05.2023
* CBSE re-engineered its affiliation process through SARAS 6.0 for transparency and efficiency; guidelines for new schools are available online.
* Based on the principles of NHEQF, UGC has notified Curriculum and Credit Framework for Undergraduate Programmes and Curriculum and Credit Framework for Postgraduate Programmes.
Impact Analysis:
State Governments:
* Impact: Responsible for providing quality education alongside the central government; subject to funding and guidelines from centrally sponsored schemes like PM USHA; expected to implement the National Curriculum Framework.
* Action Required: Align state education policies with NEP 2020; utilize available central funding to improve educational institutions; implement the National Curriculum Framework.
Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE):
* Impact: Responsible for implementing revised affiliation bye-laws, ensuring teacher training, and overseeing the new affiliation process through SARAS 6.0.
* Action Required: Enforce revised affiliation bye-laws; ensure schools meet infrastructure norms; provide and monitor teacher training; maintain SARAS 6.0 for new school affiliations.
University Grants Commission (UGC):
* Impact: Responsible for distributing grants to central universities, notifying and implementing regulations related to academic credit, collaboration with foreign HEIs, and curriculum frameworks.
* Action Required: Continue providing financial support; implement and enforce new regulations; promote multidisciplinary education; ensure quality standards in autonomous colleges.
Higher Education Institutions (HEIs):
* Impact: Subject to new regulations on academic credit, collaboration, and curriculum; expected to transform into multidisciplinary institutions.
* Action Required: Adapt academic programs to align with new regulations; explore collaborations with foreign HEIs; implement multiple entry/exit options; participate in internship-embedded degree programs.
Teachers:
* Impact: Required to undergo training programs to enhance skills and adapt to new educational approaches.
* Action Required: Participate in required training programs (e.g., Malaviya Mission, ATAL Academy); implement new teaching methodologies.
New Schools Applying for Affiliation:
* Impact: Subject to the re-engineered affiliation process through SARAS 6.0 and must meet revised infrastructure and quality standards.
* Action Required: Follow the guidelines available on the SARAS 6.0 portal; meet all infrastructure and quality standards outlined in the revised affiliation bye-laws.
Key Entities Referenced
National Education Policy NEP 2020: A national policy by the Government of India aimed at transforming the education system. It is mentioned throughout the document as a key initiative.
University Grants Commission UGC: A statutory body in India responsible for the coordination, determination and maintenance of standards of university education.
Central Board of Secondary Education CBSE: A national level board of education in India for public and private schools, controlled and managed by the Government of India.
Academic Bank of Credit: A digital repository that holds the academic credits earned by students, facilitating credit transfer and recognition.
Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Program MMTTP: A teacher training program aimed at enhancing the quality of faculty in Higher Educational Institutions.
All India Council for Technical Education AICTE: A statutory body and a national-level council for technical education, under Department of Higher Education.
Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan RUSA: A centrally sponsored scheme to fund State Government universities and colleges. Now called Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM USHA).
National Council of Educational Research and Training NCERT: An autonomous organisation of the Government of India which provides guidance and support to schools in curriculum development.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1354
ANSWERED ON- 28/07/2025
High Quality Multi-disciplinary Education System
1354. Shri Kalyan Banerjee:
Will the Minister of Education be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has received any suggestions and report from State Governments
to introduce same pattern of education system in the country by 2030, if so, the details thereof;
(b) the details of initiatives taken for educational development in terms of infrastructure,
regulations, training to teachers etc;
(c) the details of proposal of the Government to initiate National Education Policy (NEP) 2020
under SDG4 of UN Department of Enrolment and Student Administration (DESA) for new
schools applied for central board affiliation and the instructions for registration process and or
planning to setup schools therein; and
(d) the details of curriculum to achieve new highest quality multi-disciplinary education systems
thereto?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)
(a) & (b): Education being in the concurrent list of Constitution, Centre and States are equally
responsible for providing quality education to all. Accordingly, Ministry of Education, State
Governments, education-related Ministries, the regulatory and implementing bodies of school
and higher education have taken initiatives for implementation of NEP, 2020.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has informed that it mandates
essential infrastructure norms for affiliation. CBSE has also revised the Affiliation Bye-Laws to
align with NEP 2020, ensuring transparency, quality assurance, and simplified procedures. The
CBSE also mandates 50 hours of annual training for teachers and has established the Centre
of Excellence (CoE) network across the country.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has informed that it has released grants
amounting to Rs. 637.25 crore, Rs. 835.00 crore and Rs. 994.32 crore to UGC funded Central
Universities under capital assets during the financial years 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25
respectively. The initiatives taken by UGC towards implementation of NEP, 2020 include
notification of Regulations on (i) Academic Bank of Credit, (ii) Academic collaboration with
foreign Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) for Joint and Dual Degree Programmes, (iii)
Conferment of Autonomous Status upon Colleges and Measures for Maintenance of Standards
in Autonomous Colleges, (iv) Minimum Standards of Instruction for the Grant of Undergraduate
Degree and Postgraduate Degree and (v) Setting up and Operation of Campuses of Foreign
Higher Educational Institutions in India; notification of National Credit Framework, and NationalHigher Education Qualification Framework; and issuance of guidelines on (i) Multiple Entry and
Exit in academic programmes, (ii) transforming HEIs into multi-disciplinary institutions, (iii)
Internship/apprenticeship embedded degree program etc.
To enhance the quality of faculty in Higher Educational Institutions, Malaviya Mission
Teacher Training Program (MMTTP) has been re-envisioned and is being implemented through
144 Malaviya Mission Centres. These centres are enhancing the capacity and skills of teachers
through various training programmes.
The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) Teachers Learning (ATAL)
Academy has also imparted training to faculty members on emerging niche areas such as AI,
IoT, ML, DL, AR/VR, Robotics, Block Chain Management across 1900 Faculty Development
Programs.
Further, the Department of Higher Education has launched the third phase of Rashtriya
Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) as Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-
USHA) in June 2023 to cater to needs of educationally unserved/underserved areas. It is a
Centrally Sponsored Scheme aimed at funding specific State Government universities and
colleges, including in the rural areas, so as to improve their quality by ensuring their conformity
to prescribed norms and standards.
(c): The National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 is aligned to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development and aims to transform India into a vibrant knowledge society and global
knowledge superpower by making both school and college education more holistic, flexible,
multidisciplinary, suited to 21st century needs and aimed at bringing out the unique capabilities
of each student.
To operationalize the goals of the NEP, 2020 in alignment with SDG4, CBSE has re-
engineered its affiliation process through the School Affiliation Re-engineered Automation
System (SARAS) 6.0. This online system ensures transparency, efficiency, and accountability,
reducing procedural burdens and enabling easier access to affiliation for new schools.
Guidelines for new prospective schools intending to apply for CBSE affiliation are available at
https://saras.cbse.gov.in/saras/manuals/SARAS_MANUAL_6_0.pdf.
(d): As a follow up of NEP-2020, the National Council of Educational Research and Training
(NCERT) has developed National Curriculum Framework for School Education and National
Curriculum Framework for the Foundational Stage and disseminated across the States/Union
Territories.
In order to facilitate multi-disciplinary learning, the UGC has also notified National Higher
Education Qualifications Framework (NHEQF) on 11.05.2023. Based on the principles of
NHEQF, UGC has notified Curriculum and Credit Framework for Undergraduate Programmes
and Curriculum and Credit Framework for Postgraduate Programmes.
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