Union Cabinet Approves New Education Policy (NEP) 2020; Renames HRD Ministry as Education Ministry

The Union Cabinet has approved the new National Education Policy (NEP), to introduce several changes in the Indian education system, both at school to college level.
This NEP 2020 will replace the 34-year-old NEP, which was framed in 1986 and revised only once in 1992.
The Cabinet has also approved to rename the HRD Ministry as Education Ministry.
The committee which suggested changes in the education system under the NEP, was headed by former ISRO chief K Kasturirangan.

Important Highlights of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020

There would be a single regulator for all higher education institutions, except for legal and medical colleges.
MPhil would be discontinued.
National Educational Technology Forum (NETF) would be created to ramp up digital learning.
E-courses will be developed in eight regional languages initially and virtual labs will be developed.
Top 100 foreign colleges will be allowed to set-up campuses in India.
Home language/mother tongue/regional language will be the medium of instruction upto Class 5
School curriculum will be reduced to core concepts and there will be integration of vocational education from class 6
Class 10, 12 board exams will be based on knowledge application and focus will be on testing concepts
National Assessment Centre- ‘PARAKH’ has been created to assess the students.
Target to increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education including vocational education from 26.3 pc (2018) to 50 pc by 2035. At least 3.5 crore new seats will be added to higher education institutions.