Dharmendra Pradhan

July 29, 2025 4:19 AM

Govt approves 1.46 lakh smart classrooms across India under ‘Samagra Shiksha’

A total of 1,46,040 smart classrooms have been approved across India under the centrally sponsored Samagra Shiksha scheme, the Lok Sabha was informed on Monday. In response to a query on digital learning infrastructure in rural areas, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that the initiative covers all States and Union Territories, with thousands of smart classrooms already established. According to the data, Maharashtra has 5,155 smart classrooms, Madhya Pradesh 9,531, and the Unio...

July 17, 2025 11:44 AM

Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurates University of Southampton’s India campus in Gurugram

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday inaugurated the India campus of the University of Southampton in Gurugram This marks the first foreign university to establish a campus in India under the University Grants Commission’s new regulations, Describing the event as a “momentous milestone” in the internationalisation of education under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, Pradhan said the development also deepens the education pillar of the India–UK strategic part...

June 15, 2025 10:52 AM

NEP 2020 key to making India a global education hub: Dharmendra Pradhan

Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan said on Saturday that National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 envisions India as a global study destination, offering premium education at an affordable cost. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of positioning India as a global knowledge hub the country is encouraging top international universities to establish campuses here, while empowering Indian higher education institutions to expand globally. He was speaking at an event titled ‘M...

April 2, 2025 1:24 PM

NEP 2020 policy of the people, by the people and for the future of people: Dharmendra Pradhan

Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday hit out at Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, saying that corruption and governance deficit were the defining features of the country’s educational past, and the NEP 2020 represents a decisive break from this inglorious past. In a newspaper article published in The Hindu and shared by the Minister on his X handle, he stated that NEP 2020 is not merely an education reform but “an intellectual decolonisation that India had awaited for a l...

March 10, 2025 4:39 PM

Dharmendra Pradhan defends NEP, questions Tamil Nadu’s opposition to language policy

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday questioned the Tamil Nadu government's staunch opposition to the National Education Policy (NEP), defending the Centre's position on the policy and the PM Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme. Speaking outside Parliament, Pradhan said, "The Government of India recently held discussions with the Tamil Nadu government, and a compromise was found. If Tamil Nadu agrees, we have no objection to providing them PM SHRI allocations. In Tamil Na...

February 21, 2025 2:18 PM

NEP not imposing Hindi in Tamil Nadu: Dharmendra Pradhan after Stalin’s letter to PM Modi

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday strongly criticized Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin's letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of raising "imaginary concerns" driven by political motivations. Addressing a press conference, Pradhan emphasized that the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is not imposing any language on a state. "One point I want to re-emphasize is that the NEP is not recommending imposition of any language on the respective students of a state. That ...

February 17, 2025 3:36 PM

Union Government committed to implementing NEP: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday reaffirmed the Central government’s commitment to implementing the National Education Policy (NEP), countering the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government's accusations of language imposition and withholding of funds for the policy's rollout. Pradhan emphasized that the NEP, envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, promotes a level-playing field for students through a common educational platform while respecting linguistic diversity. “NEP gives...

January 7, 2025 12:24 PM

Education minister Pradhan releases draft UGC regulations 2025 for teacher appointments and promotions

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan unveiled the draft UGC (Minimum Qualifications for Appointment and Promotion of Teachers and Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education) Regulations, 2025, at a ceremony in New Delhi on Monday. Addressing the gathering, Pradhan highlighted the transformative nature of the draft regulations, emphasizing that they would introduce flexibility, inclusivity, and dynamism to the Indian higher ed...

December 17, 2024 8:02 PM

NTA to focus only on entrance exams for higher education, says Dharmendra Pradhan

The National Testing Agency (NTA) will conduct only entrance exams for higher education institutions from 2025, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Tuesday. He clarified that NTA will no longer conduct recruitment examinations. "We are working towards technology-driven entrance exams that ensure zero error and minimize irregularities," Pradhan said while addressing reporters at his residence. He also announced the restructuring of NTA to improve its efficiency and cre...

December 17, 2024 3:58 PM

India’s school education advances in infrastructure and digital access: Dharmendra Pradhan

India's school education system has seen steady progress over the past decade, with key initiatives focused on infrastructure development, digital inclusion, promotion of regional languages, and equity in education. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan outlined these developments, emphasizing the holistic growth in school education under the government’s leadership. Pradhan highlighted advancements in school infrastructure between 2013-14 and...