‘India’s Talent Pool A Force For National, Global Good’

Source– The post is based on the article “India’s Talent Pool A Force For National, Global Good” published in “The Times of India” on 5th September 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- Social Issues – Issues related to development and management of education

News– The National Education Policy 2020 is a comprehensive framework aimed at creating inclusive, well-rounded, and forward-looking education in India.

What are the focus areas of National Education Policy 2020?

Mother tongue- One of its primary objectives is to prioritize learning in a student’s mother tongue. It fosters a strong conceptual understanding and clarity.

This emphasis on mother tongue education is intended to complement the use of link languages. It is designed to ensure that students have smooth educational journeys.

Internationalization of higher education- The National Education Policy 2020 aims to position India as a leading destination for advanced studies

It is doing so by promoting activities such as faculty and student exchanges, research collaborations, teaching partnerships, and the establishment of mutually beneficial MoU with foreign nations.

For instance, IIT Madras and IIT Delhi have already signed MOUs to establish their foreign campuses in Tanzania and Abu Dhabi, respectively.

Fostering collaboration between industry and academia is another key focus of the National Education Policy.

The objective of creation of the National Research Foundation is to facilitate research within academic institutions.

The government is dedicated to ensuring a business-friendly environment and conducive atmosphere for research activities.

India has established educational partnerships with major countries, including the United States, Australia, Japan, and Europe.

Initiatives such as the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) and the Quad Fellowship are actively promoting increased collaboration in high-technology areas.

Standardization and skill development- Standardization plays a crucial role in aligning India’s education system with global standards and skills.

Under the National Education Policy, the National Curriculum Framework for School Education has been introduced. It sets specific learning standards, content, pedagogical methods, and assessment criteria.

Similarly, a National Credit Framework has been established to encompass various academic practices within a credit bank.

Skill development has been integrated into the school curriculum. It has become an integral part of the credit framework.

What is the potential of skill development for India?

India boasts a young population. It has over 600 million people aged between 18 and 35, and approximately 65% of them under the age of 35.

Leveraging this demographic advantage and nurturing a multi-disciplinary, multi-skilled, critically thinking, and future-ready workforce is the top priority.

India is currently experiencing a remarkable shift in the fields of skill development and entrepreneurship. It is the third-largest startup ecosystem globally and has over 100 unicorn startups.

This trend is not limited to major cities. Smaller towns are also contributing to India’s innovation and startup landscape.

Individuals equipped with both education and skills can play a pivotal role in today’s knowledge-based economy.

They have the potential to make significant contributions to nation-building through groundbreaking innovations, scientific discoveries.