Will give one more month for inputs on draft National Education Policy: HRD Minister Nishank

Replies to question by MP Derek O’Brien in Rajya Sabha

Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank made the statement in the Rajya Sabha in response to a question by All-India Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien on the draft national education policy. File photo

The deadline for submission of comments by the public on the draft National Education Policy (NEP) would be extended by a month from the existing last date of July 1, Union Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

The Minister made the statement in response to a supplementary question from Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien, who suggested that the time frame for seeking replies be extended. Mr. O’Brien asked whether the government had held any meetings or sought suggestions from the State governments on the draft policy, since education was a subject on the concurrent list.

The Minister replied that consultations had been conducted at every level, including with MPs, and that the draft had been put in the public domain for feedback.

A committee, chaired by former ISRO chief Dr. K. Kasturirangan, had submitted the draft policy to the HRD Ministry on May 31.

As per a government statement that day, the National Policy on Education, 1986, that had been modified in 1992, needed changes to meet the current and future needs of the youth.