Education

The Union government is considering shifting the NEET-UG exam, currently held in offline mode, to an online format. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan confirmed that discussions with the Health Ministry are ongoing, and a decision will be made soon. The change, if implemented, will take effect in 2025. Additionally, Pradhan announced that NCERT textbook prices for certain classes will be reduced from the next academic year, with the printing capacity of textbooks set to increase significantly. New curriculum-based textbooks for classes 9 to 12 will also be available by the 2026-27 academic session.

Starting in 2025, the National Testing Agency (NTA) will focus exclusively on conducting entrance exams for higher education institutions, such as NEET and JEE, while discontinuing its role in recruitment exams. This shift follows recommendations from a high-level panel and aims to improve transparency and efficiency in the examination process. Recruitment exams previously managed by the NTA will be transferred to other agencies. The Ministry of Education is expected to announce further details on the transition plan soon.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated the Grand Finale of Smart India Hackathon (SIH) 2024, emphasizing the crucial role of youth innovation in shaping a "Viksit Bharat" (Developed India). The event, which is being held across 51 centers nationwide, features over 1,300 student teams tackling real-world challenges posed by government ministries, PSUs, and industries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also interact with participants on December 11, 2024. This year’s hackathon, the largest ever, focuses on key themes like Healthcare, Sustainability, and Smart Technologies, showcasing India's growing innovation ecosystem.

The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the opening of 85 new Kendriya Vidyalayas and 28 new Navodaya Vidyalayas across the country. This initiative aims to provide affordable, high-quality education to over 82,000 students. The total estimated cost for the new Kendriya Vidyalayas and the expansion of one existing school in Karnataka is approximately Rs. 5,872 crore. With 1,256 functional KVs serving 13.56 lakh students, this expansion is part of the government's ongoing effort to enhance the nation's educational infrastructure.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has unveiled the Draft UGC (Minimum Standards of Instructions in the Award of UG and PG Degrees) Regulations 2024, proposing transformative changes to undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) education in India. Key reforms include biannual admissions, flexible entry requirements for students from any academic background, and the option to pursue dual-degree programs. The regulations also allow for accelerated and extended degree options, giving students the flexibility to shorten or lengthen their academic journeys. UGC Chairman M. Jagadesh Kumar emphasized that these reforms aim to decouple discipline-specific requirements, promoting a more inclusive and multidisciplinary education system aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.