Changes in edu policy aimed at making India Vishwaguru:HRD Min

Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal on Tuesday said the proposed changes to the national education policy (NEP) were aimed at making the country "Vishwaguru" (teacher of the world).

Speaking at the maiden convocation of IIT-Tirupati here, he said it was the dream of the government to develop a robust education system that elevated the country as as a world leader.

"...We have initiated changes in the policy which has been followed for the past 33 years. We want to develop a robust system that makes us reach summits," Pokhriyal said addressing graduands.

"That is our dream, to make India Vishwaguru (educator of the world)... We want to show the world our leadership qualities again by strengthening the education system," he added.

A total of 103 B.Tech and an M.S degree students graduated in the convocation of the IIT-Tirupati, which is functioning from a temporary campus since 2015.

The HRD minister listed out some of the provisions of the draft NEP, which is presently in the stage of seeking public opinion, such as setting up of national research foundation for promotion of research among others.

He said India can become a developed country only if required efforts were put in the field of scientific research and technology development.

The country is performing well in 'space' and 'IT', he said adding "at this juncture, our aim should be to become a global innovation leader in science and technology."
Lauding IIT graduates as forerunners in start-ups, the minister said, "...booming technologies like automation, Artificial Intelligence... will be meaningful only when we make use of these to improve the social and economic condition of ordinary citizens."