Prof K S Chandrasekar
NEP focuses on multidisciplinary and a holistic education across the sciences, social sciences, arts, humanities, and sports for a multidisciplinary world in order to ensure the unity and integrity of all knowledge. The NEP 2020 recommends the use of digital resources such as e-books, e-journals, and other online learning materials to supplement traditional classroom teaching. This will enable students to access high-quality learning resources and engage in self-paced learning. The blended mode in terms of theory and practical can help students to embrace the avocation that can be a boon to J&K. This is needed since the students with Four year honours degree in research will be able to pursue Ph.D. in their relevant area. In order to do so, they should possess 7.5 CGPA at the completion of their fourth year degree with dissertation completed during the eighth semester. This literally follows the USA pattern of study and even though they have MS degree being offered including that of UK, it’s only Ph.D. that’s considered most important by the scholars in these countries than MS degree. Many of the IITs in our country practised this Ph.D. degree after the completion of B.Tech degrees of respective IITs, this programme was not accepted equivalent to Ph.D. degrees being offered by Universities considering it was after the Master’s degree. IITs went for this programme to attract the talent into the research areas since most of the BTech opt for employment or pursue higher studies like MBA in IIMs.
Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) was set up by the Central government is spearheading the unique research initiatives by attracting younger generation researchers to pursue their passion with adequate funding. As per DST, The ANRF aims to seed, grow and promote research and development (R&D) and foster a culture of research and innovation throughout India’s universities, colleges, research institutions, and R&D laboratories. ANRF will act as an apex body to provide high-level strategic direction of scientific research in the country as per recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP). ANRF will forge collaborations among the industry, academia, and government departments and research institutions, and create an interface mechanism for participation and contribution of industries and State governments in addition to the scientific and line ministries. ?50,000 Crore fund established to boost research and innovation in India, is a key recommendation of the National Education Policy 2020 and is designed to be a centralized body that facilitates and funds research across academia, industry, and government. The contribution of the Central government has been pegged at Rs. 14,000 Crore while the remaining 36,000 Crore will be garnered from public sector enterprises, industry, foundations, and international research organisations.. The Central government has already allowed top ranked World universities to set up campuses in India to promote research. Deakin University, and the University of Wollongong have already set up campuses and some more are in the process of setting up including University of York, Illinois Institute of Technology, University of Aberdeen, University of Southampton, Coventry University to name a few. This in fact will ensure the reduction in the number of students who go abroad for studies.
A university according to NEP 2020 means a multidisciplinary institution of higher learning that offers undergraduate and graduate programmes, with high quality teaching, research, and community engagement. It also proposes Research intensive universities. This can be done by elevating research institutes in our country into universities and bring them under the Higher Educational Committee of India (HECI). UPA government earlier proposed World class Universities and the NDA government has brought world class universities in India and ensuring all universities in India whether public or private to compete with these international universities.
MERUs (Multidisciplinary Education and Research Universities) proposed as part of NEP is a welcome move to enhance research and development in India. The various Cluster Universities in India can be made into the MERU with adequate funding which will encourage state governments to have more cluster universities and that will spearhead research even in the remotest corners of the country. Research hubs in Universities can provide needed equipment and resources. For every three districts in India, there is a need for one university to act as a nodal university which can offer research hubs in collaboration with industries. Patenting and incubation centers needs to be incorporated in research universities as we push for more patents and ensuring startups across industries.
NEP 2020 promotes stronger partnerships and collaborations between industry and academia to create an interface between the Indian talent pool and industry needs, driving innovation and entrepreneurship. By focusing on skill components in school levels, it would be better to synergize talent with industry at the college or university level. The NEP2020 actually seeks to imbibe a culture of inquiry, innovation, and practical learning experiences within HEIs to address societal and industrial needs which were absent and discrete in our country. One area which definitely requires support is Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS). There is a need for higher order research to unearth the forgotten contributions of our Sages, Kings and Saints so that we reclaim the lost glory. 32 IKS centers have been set up to catalyze original research, education and dissemination of IKS. 64 high end inter-disciplinary research like ancient metallurgy, ancient town planning and water resource management, and ancient rasayanshastra projects are being undertaken. Around 3227 internships on IKS have been offered and are going to be added to the IKS repository. As of July 2023, around 2500 HEIs and 300 Universities have embraced the vision of NEP 2020 by establishing R&D Cells on their campuses which will pay dividends within a decade.
Reforms such as the Ph.D. Degree Regulations 2022 ensured flexible and inclusive research pathways. Ph.D. enrolment has doubled to 2.34 lakh by 2022-23, with female enrolment rising by 135.6%. India ranked 3rd globally in research publications in 2024, with output rising 142% since 2015. This has significantly raised the stature of Indian Universities in QS and THES ranking. Innovation has surged-patent filings reached 92,168 in 2023-24, with HEIs contributing 25% of these. The KAPILA programme advanced IP literacy with over 10,800 patents filed and 71,000+ faculty/students trained. Under the Institutions of Eminence scheme, 12 higher educational institutions are driving industry-linked R&D, technology transfer and start-up incubation, positioning India on the global research map.
Aligned with the vision of NEP 2020, the central government is strengthening the innovation and startup ecosystem within higher educational institutions through the establishment of Institution’s Innovation Councils (IICs). These councils promote applied research, ideation, and entrepreneurship by offering platforms for prototype development, incubation, and industry collaboration. As of now, 16,051 IICs have been set up across India, driving innovation through mentorship, hackathons, and innovation challenges, there by positioning higher educational institutions as catalysts in India’s journey towards becoming a global innovation hub.
We have since completed 5 years of the implementation of NEP. However, most of the states and union territories have started the same after stakeholder interactions only by 2022. Hence the five years will be complete only by 2027. Then only we will start understanding the real impact on research and development. A country can wish to be a developed one, only when their research and development reflects in societal needs and industrial promotions. A Viksit Bharat is not far as we have embarked on this journey well in advance and as the PM Modiji’s dream of Viksit Bharat by 2047 can well be achieved well before the time.
(The author is Vice Chancellor, Cluster University of Jammu)
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