At the USISPF India Leadership Summit 2024 in New Delhi, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan stressed the transformative potential of the National Education Policy (NEP) in molding India’s future and unlocking the country’s demographic advantage. He emphasized the NEP’s focus on preparing India’s youth to become responsible global citizens, underscoring its role in driving India’s growth trajectory in the coming decades.
Pradhan highlighted the NEP’s goal to build a skilled and confident youth, equipped with competencies rather than just degrees. “NEP has completed four years. It is a philosophical document to produce globally responsible citizens. India is a country of young population, and for the next three decades, this demographic dividend will be with India. The primary focus of NEP 2020 is to create a vision, instill confidence among students, and develop competencies because competency is more important than degrees and certificates,” he said.
He also projected that India would become the global economy’s growth engine within the next two decades, attributing this to NEP-driven reforms in education. “NEP-led transformations are taking place in India’s education system, playing a pivotal role in transforming our young demography into future-ready, responsible global citizens. In the next two decades, India will drive the global economy. The NEP’s priority areas—such as technology integration in education, promoting Indian languages, fostering research & innovation, and a focus on employability skills—position India well to harness its demographic dividend,” he added.
Pradhan further emphasized India’s global collaborations under the NEP, aiming to elevate research and educational standards. “The NEP is set to have a global impact,” he asserted, noting that India is working closely with international institutions and governments to advance research.
The Minister also discussed the ongoing efforts to make education inclusive, equitable, affordable, and of high quality for all. He mentioned India’s invitation to foreign universities to establish campuses within the country, as over a million Indian students pursue higher education abroad. “We are inviting foreign universities to open their campuses in India. A large number of Indian students are going overseas for higher studies. Around a million youngsters are pursuing education in different parts of the world,” he remarked.
With the NEP at its core, India is on track to reshape its educational landscape, preparing its youth to lead both domestically and globally.
