MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)
(a) & (b): Yes, Madam. The National Policy on Education 1986, as amended in 1992, has been the guiding document for the policies of the Central Government in the education sector. The Government has been following National Policy on Education 1986, as modified in 1992, which provides for National System of Education implying that up to a given level, all students, irrespective of caste, creed, location or sex, have access to education of a comparable quality. The National System of Education envisages a common educational structure. The 10+2+3 structure has now been accepted in most parts of the country. However, in the last twenty years, the education scenario has seen a monumental change with the emergence of several new paradigms like rights based approach to elementary education, the endeavour to extend universalization to secondary education, reshape the higher education scenario and its impact on the innovation environment and providing an impetus to skill development through vocational education in the context of the emergence of new technologies in a rapidly expanding economy placed in a globalised environment.
The Government proposes to formulate a New Education Policy aimed at meeting the challenges posed by lack of quality, research and innovation in our educational institutions.
(c) to (e): In accordance with the National Policy on Education (NPE), the National System of Education envisages a common educational structure. It is based on the National Curriculum Framework which contains a common core along with other components that are flexible. Further, the Universities have the necessary autonomy, subject to NPE and University Grants Commission (UGC) Regulations, in the matter of framing of syllabi and curriculum as per their Acts, Statutes and Ordinances.
The UGC is a statutory body established in 1956 through the UGC Act, 1956 for the purpose of funding as well as coordinating, determination and maintenance of quality standards in higher education or research in Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs). UGC has made the accreditation of HEIs mandatory, issued regulations for affiliation of colleges to Universities, laid down the minimum qualification for appointment to teaching positions, minimum standards for grant of first degree, Master’s degree, M.Phil / Ph. D degree, etc. across Universities and Colleges. The UGC has also laid down regulations for promotion of equality and grievance redressal in HEIs. The UGC also specifies a list of degrees, in accordance with Section 22(3) of the UGC Act, 1986, to be awarded by the Universities and Deemed to be Universities. In addition to these Regulations, the UGC has separately laid down Regulations for monitoring of standards in Deemed to be Universities and Private Universities, considering the special needs of these class of institutions.
All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) was established by an Act of Parliament in 1987 with a view to promote proper planning and coordinated development of technical education system throughout the country. AICTE helps promotion of qualitative improvements in technical education in relation to the planned quantitative growth and regulates proper maintenance of norms & standards and matters connected therewith. The technical education covers programmes of education, research, training in Engineering & Technology, Architecture, Town Planning, Management, Pharmacy, Applied Arts and Crafts and other related areas of Engineering & Technology.
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