Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has announced that nearly all states in India are actively implementing the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020), even those initially hesitant but using different terms. Speaking at the inauguration of IInvenTiv 2024, the country’s largest R&D Innovation Fair, Pradhan highlighted the event’s expansion beyond IITs and outlined plans to extend research and development opportunities to tier-2 and tier-3 cities. He challenged the perception that only IITs represent quality institutions.
Pradhan expressed satisfaction with the widespread adoption of NEP 2020, emphasizing its philosophical and historical significance. The event, showcasing extensive participation from Higher Education Institutions and industry, aims to become an iconic platform in the technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship sector. Responding to questions about extending R&D to tier-2 and tier-3 cities, Pradhan emphasized inclusivity, rejecting the notion that IITs are the sole quality institutions and highlighting achievements from diverse backgrounds.
The ‘IInvenTiv’ event provides a level playing field, acknowledging contributions from both IITians and non-IITians. In his address, Pradhan emphasized India’s historical legacy of innovation and underscored the country’s commitment to research, innovation, and entrepreneurship as key drivers of transformation. He noted modern India’s leveraging of technology to achieve new heights and its determination to attain the goal of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (developed India) by 2047. Pradhan highlighted the world’s recognition of the ‘Indian Model of Development,’ emphasizing its rooted, futuristic, and sustainable progress.
