Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Education responded to questions regarding the adoption of the National Credit Framework (NCrF) in Gujarat's Universities and Colleges. Gujarat has aligned its higher education reforms with the NCrF and the National Higher Education Qualifications Framework (NHEQF). Twelve state public universities and all 66 private universities in Gujarat have implemented the new credit structure from the Academic Year 2023-24. The SWAYAM Plus platform, launched on February 27, 2024, offers learning and certification programs to enhance skills.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **National Credit Framework (NCrF) and National Education Policy (NEP) 2020:**
* NCrF aims to make education more holistic, flexible, and integrated across academic, skill, and vocational education.
* It allows for creditization of learning in academics, vocational skills, and experiential learning.
* NCrF removes distinctions and establishes academic equivalence between vocational and general education.
* **Implementation in Gujarat:**
* Gujarat has aligned with NCrF and NHEQF, issuing directions in July 2023 for undergraduate programs based on UGC guidelines.
* 12 State Public Universities implemented the new credit structure from the Academic Year 2023-24.
* All 66 private universities in Gujarat have adopted the framework.
* **National Higher Education Qualifications Framework (NHEQF):**
* UGC released NHEQF guidelines in May 2023.
* Gujarat has directed all universities to adopt and implement NHEQF.
* **SWAYAM Plus Platform:**
* Launched on February 27, 2024, in collaboration with IIT Madras and industry partners.
* Offers learning and certification programs for reskilling and upskilling.
* Over 400 courses in 16 sectors are available.
* More than 3 lakh learners have enrolled as of July 25, 2025.
* **National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS):**
* Imparts on-the-job training to enhance employability.
* Engaged 12.94 lakh apprentices from FY 2020-21 to 2024-25.
* Over 5.23 lakh apprentices were engaged for FY 2024-25.
Impact Analysis:
* **Universities and Colleges in Gujarat:**
* *Impact:* Required to adopt and implement the NCrF and NHEQF frameworks, integrating skill-based and vocational credits into degree programs.
* *Action Required:* Implement the new credit structure as per UGC guidelines and NHEQF directives.
* **Students/Learners:**
* *Impact:* Access to more holistic, flexible, and integrated education with opportunities for creditization of various learning experiences. Access to SWAYAM Plus for upskilling and reskilling.
* *Action Required:* Utilize the SWAYAM Plus platform for skill augmentation and explore apprenticeship opportunities through NATS.
* **Government of Gujarat:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for overseeing the implementation of NCrF and NHEQF in higher education institutions across the state.
* *Action Required:* Ensure all universities comply with the directives for adopting NCrF and NHEQF, monitor progress, and support institutions in their implementation efforts.
* **Ministry of Education, Government of India:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for the overall policy framework and initiatives like NCrF, NHEQF, SWAYAM Plus and NATS.
* *Action Required:* Continue to develop and refine the NCrF and NHEQF frameworks, support the SWAYAM Plus platform, and expand the NATS scheme to enhance employability.
Key Entities Referenced
National Credit Framework: A comprehensive credit framework encompassing elementary, school, higher and vocational education training, integrating creditization of learning in various dimensions.
Gujarat: A state in India that has aligned its higher education reforms with the National Credit Framework (NCrF) and the National Higher Education Qualifications Framework (NHEQF).
National Higher Education Qualifications Framework: A framework for higher education qualifications, with which the Government of Gujarat has aligned its higher education reforms.
University Grants Commission: An organisation that jointly developed the National Credit Framework (NCrF) and released the guidelines for the National Higher Education Qualifications Framework (NHEQF).
National Education Policy 2020: A policy that envisages making education more holistic, flexible, and integrated across academic, skill, and vocational education.
IIT Madras: An Indian Institute of Technology that collaborated with the Ministry of Education and industry partners to launch the SWAYAM Plus platform.
SWAYAM Plus: A platform offering high-quality learning and certification programs in partnership with leading industry and academic experts to studentslearners.
National Apprenticeship Training Scheme: A scheme implemented by the Ministry of Education to impart on-the-job training and enhance the employability of youth.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2429
ANSWERED ON 04.08.2025
National Credit Framework in Universities/Colleges
2429. Shri Dhaval Laxmanbhai Patel:
Will the Minister of Education be pleased to state:
(a) the status of adoption of the National Credit Framework (NCrF) in Universities and Colleges
across Gujarat;
(b) whether skill-based or vocational credits are being integrated into degree programs in Gujarat;
and
(c) the details about extent of alignment with the National Higher Education Qualifications
Framework (NHEQF) in 2024-25?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)
(a) to (c): The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 envisages to make education more holistic,
flexible, and integrated across academic, skill, and vocational education. In alignment with this
vision, the National Credit Framework (NCrF) has been launched as a comprehensive credit
framework encompassing elementary, school, higher and vocational education & training,
integrating creditization of learning in various dimensions i.e. academics, vocational skills and
experiential learning including relevant experience and proficiency/ professional levels acquired.
The NCrF has been jointly developed by University Grants Commission (UGC), All India Council
for Technical Education (AICTE) and National Council for Vocational Education & Training
(NCVET) among others and it provides for creditization of all learning and assignment,
accumulation, storage, transfer & redemption of credits, subject to assessment; removes distinction
and establishes academic equivalence between vocational & general education while enabling
mobility within & between them.
As per the information provided by the Government of Gujarat, Gujarat state has proactively
aligned its higher education reforms with the National Credit Framework (NCrF) and the National
Higher Education Qualifications Framework (NHEQF). Gujarat Government has issued directionsand Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in July 2023 for the implementation of the Curriculum
and Credit Framework for Undergraduate Programmes, based on UGC’s NCrF guidelines. Further,
12 State Public Universities in Gujarat have implemented the new credit structure from the
Academic Year 2023-24 and all 66 private universities in Gujarat have adopted the framework.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) released the guidelines for the National Higher
Education Qualifications Framework (NHEQF) in May, 2023. Accordingly, Government of
Gujarat, has issued directives to all universities in the state for the adoption and implementation
of the NHEQF.
The Ministry of Education, Government of India in collaboration with IIT Madras and eminent
Industry Partners, have launched the SWAYAM Plus platform on 27th February 2024. The
platform offers high-quality learning and certification programs in partnership with leading
industry and academic experts to students/learners, helping them reskill, upskill and become
employment-ready. The Ministry of Education and IIT Madras have signed more than 65 MoUs
with the leading industry partners. As of 25th July, 2025, more than 400 Courses in 16 different
sectors are available on the platform, and more than 3 lakh learners have enrolled for their Skill
augmentation.
The Ministry of Education has implemented National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS)
to impart on-the-job training and enhance the employability of youth. In the last 5 financial years,
i.e. from FY 2020-21 to 2024-25, the NATS scheme has engaged 12.94 lakh apprentices. For FY
2024-25, over 5.23 lakh apprentices have been engaged.
***