Dharmendra Pradhan

'Under NEP, courses till Class 5 will be provided in 22 Indian languages'

The government will provide study materials till Class 5 in 22 Indian languages as the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 puts a special emphasis on the mother tongue, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said here on Tuesday. We have decided to provide the curriculum till fifth standard in 22 Indian languages listed in the Constitution. Study materials of the foundational stage, be it textbook, playbook or play-based material, will be prepared in 22 languages of the Indian Constitution using technology, Pradhan said. Pradhan was here at the launch of the three-day Future of Learning Collaborative' conference by city's Anant National University and the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education. Talking to reporters, Pradhan said that the mother tongue and local language are a special feature of the NEP. He said that the decision was taken at a meeting chaired by him on Monday to review the study materials for the foundational stage under the new National ..

Education ministry preparing guidelines for students' mental wellbeing

The Education Ministry is preparing a comprehensive framework of operational guidelines to safeguard the mental and emotional well-being of students, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Monday. The education and skill development minister asserted that there should be zero tolerance for any discrimination in educational institutions across the country. "The ministry is preparing a comprehensive framework of operational guidelines to safeguard the mental and the emotional well-being of students which will holistically cover schools to higher education institutions," Pradhan said. "The framework will institutionalise safeguards and mechanisms that can ensure comprehensive protection to students from any threat or assault -- physical, social, discriminatory, cultural, and linguistic; causing psychological distress leading to self-harming and self-destructive tendencies among students," he said. Pradhan on Monday chaired a high-level review meeting focusing on the mental wellness

Discussed pendency of Australian visa applications: Dharmendra Pradhan

The pendency of Australian visa applications from Indians has been discussed again at a bilateral forum, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Thursday. The minister discussed the issue with his Australian counterpart Jason Clare, who is on a visit to India till March 5. "After the COVID-19 pandemic, the visa process for students and the workforce had significantly slowed down. Last year, the Australian government assured us to add more manpower and enhance the ease of the process," Pradhan told reporters on the sidelines of an event here. "The pendency of four lakh visa applications from Indians has been reduced in the last five months. Still a sizeable number is pending. The issue was again discussed at the bilateral forum when we spoke of student mobility," he added. Clare is leading a delegation of Australian higher education leaders to promote institutional partnerships and boost the collaboration between the two countries. His visit builds on Pradhan's trip to

Wollongong university's campus in GIFT City to be operational in 2023

The University of Wollongong's campus in Gujarat's GIFT City is expected to be operational by the end of this year and admit the first batch of students, Australian Education Minister Jason Clare announced on Thursday. The campus will initially start "small" and offer finance and STEM courses, said Clare, who is on a visit to India till March 3. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday announced that two Australian varsities -- Wollongong and Deakin -- would open their campuses in GIFT City. "The University of Wollongong has signed a Letter of Intent with the Indian government and we are hopeful that the campus in GIFT City will be operational by end of this year and start admitting first batch of students," Clare told PTI on sidelines of an event. The minister, however, did not share a timeline for setting up of Deakin University's campus. "More details will be available during the Australian Prime Minister's visit next week," he said. Responding to a question ab

India to become global skills hub 'very soon': Dharmendra Pradhan

India will soon be the global skills hub, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Tuesday, underlining the importance of investment in education and skill development to ensure people have the knowledge and required capabilities to capture opportunities in 21st century. The Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship was speaking at an event for collaboration between National Skill Development Corporation, and Hotel and Tourism Management Institute (HTMi), Switzerland. NSDC and HTMi envision to support the hospitality and tourism industry with large numbers of well-trained hospitality professionals, through the Swiss Apprentice Education and Training Mode. This partnership will assist students make a career in the hospitality sector and narrow the existing gap between the demand and supply of skills across the globe. Pradhan said investments in education and skill development of "our people are imperative to ensure that they have required knowledge and capabilities to ...

Education in India is being internationalised with implementation of NEP

The implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) is internationalising the education system in India for global good, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Tuesday. The minister made the remarks at the International Education Fair of Jammu and Kashmir, organised by Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology in New Delhi. "With the implementation of NEP, education in India is being internationalised for the global good. I encourage all our universities to join efforts to establish India as a global study destination," he said. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stressed upon the need to have more international students to make the youth of India aware of developments on the global front. "In a globalised world, it's absolutely essential that young people of India are fully aware of what's happening in the world & there is no better way to do that than having international students among you," he told the gathering. "Today, India has projects

Mamata govt has turned 'Shiksha' into 'Ashiksha': Dharmendra Pradhan

Talking to reporters here in Kolkata, Pradhan said, "In Mamata Banerjee government, 'Shiksha' (education) has been turned into 'Ashiksha' (lack of education)

91% Indian students feel professional certification will help them in jobs

Ninety-one per cent Indian students believe that a professional certification will help them succeed in their job while 96 per cent felt it will help them get a employment after graduation, according to a new survey. The study conducted by online learning platform Coursera also found that employers in India place a higher value on professional certificates when making hiring decisions than their counterparts in Australia, the UK, Germany and France. Nearly 5,000 students and employers across 11 countries -- Australia, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the UAE, the UK and the US -- were surveyed as part of the study. "Ninety-six per cent of surveyed Indian students (versus 90 per cent of students worldwide) believe that earning a professional certificate will help them stand out to employers and get a job after graduation," the survey report stated. It added that 92 per cent of surveyed employers in India -- compared to 88 per cent globally -- believe that

Dharmendra Pradhan expresses concern over Odisha's law and order situation

Expressing concern over the law and order situation in Odisha, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday said the state government has no clue why an on-duty policeman shot dead health minister Naba Kishore Das. Talking to reporters, Pradhan said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who also holds the Home portfolio, has not spoken publicly on the killing of the influential minister other than condoling his death. "No one has a clue why an on-duty policeman shot dead a minister from point blank range with a gun provided by the government. And one week after the incident, the DG is saying 'we have hope in Jagannath'. It shows the law and order situation of the state," he said. Das, 60, breathed his last on January 29 evening, hours after he was shot by the policeman at Gandhi Chhak in Brajrajnagar area of Jharsuguda district, where he had gone to attend an event. "There is no clarity on the role of the retired high court judge who has been assigned to monitor the investigation. The reti

Petroleum Minister Pradhan says will contest elections from Odisha in 2024

Union minister and Rajya Sabha MP Dharmendra Pradhan, has expressed desire of contesting elections from Odisha in 2024. Assembly elections are due in the coastal state next year, along with the Lok Sabha polls. I have already requested the party (BJP) I will contest this time, Pradhan said at an event organised by The New Indian Express here. However, he did not make it clear whether he will contest assembly or Lok Sabha polls. I am a strong believer of democracy, I believe in political homework and political hard work, not just management. To continue my connect with the common masses, I think the best way is to contest polls, Pradhan told PTI on Tuesday. Pradhan was elected to the Odisha Assembly in 2000 and to the Lok Sabha from Deogarh Parliamentary seat in 2004, when the BJP was in alliance with Biju Janata Dal. However, Pradhan lost the Assembly elections in 2009 after the BJP-BJD alliance broke. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2012 and for a second term in 2018. To

BharOS: Know about indigenous OS successfully tested by union ministers

The BharOS operating system is said to benefit one billion (100 crore) smartphone users in India by offering a more secure and private proposition

Union ministers test 'BharOS' operating system developed by IIT-Madras

Union ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Ashwini Vaishnaw successfully tested "BharOS", an indigenous operating system developed by IIT Madras, on Tuesday. "Poor people of the country will be the main beneficiary of a strong, indigenous, dependable and self-reliant digital infrastructure. 'BharOS' is a successful step towards data privacy," Pradhan said. BharOS was developed by JandK Operations Private Limited (JandKops), which has been incubated at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras. The system can be installed on commercial off-the-shelf handsets. BharOS services are currently being provided to organisations that have stringent privacy and security requirements and whose users handle sensitive information that requires confidential communications on restricted apps on mobiles. Such users require access to private cloud services through private 5G networks. BharOS comes with no default apps. This means that users are not forced to use apps that they may not be familiar

Centre open to views on new education policy, says Dharmendra Pradhan

The National Education Policy is not a document containing few pages but has lot of new features for the benefit of students, said Union Education and Skill Development Minister Dharmendra Pradhan

India to be manufacturing economy to realise 'Make in India' goal: Pradhan

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday said India has to become a manufacturing economy for achieving the 'Make in India' goal. He said India currently has the momentum to achieve it. "Until India becomes a manufacturing economy, it will continue to buy goods from others as a purchasing economy," the minister, who also holds the skill development and entrepreneurship portfolio, said. Addressing a programme on 'Purvodaya - an instrument for Act East policy', Pradhan said economic empowerment in the eastern region has to be achieved by providing employment. "India will get the demographic dividend for the next 15 years, which eastern India will get for 25 years," he said. The minister said India has not only made strides on the political and diplomatic fronts, but also made a mark by providing COVID vaccines to 140 countries, of which 40 received those as a gift. Commending Kolkata's role as a centre of renaissance in India over the last three centuries, he said the

Centre to spend Rs 8,400 cr for foodgrain distribution among poor in Odisha

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday claimed that the Centre spends Rs 8,400 crore for distribution of the food grain among poor people in Odisha while the state government's expenditure in this regard is only Rs 185 crore per annum. Pradhan, the Union Education minister who hails from Odisha, told reporters that the Centre will spend Rs 700 crore per month which amounts to Rs 8,400 crore annually to provide free rice for 3.25 crore people of Odisha under the food security scheme. He, however, urged the state government to ensure that the poor beneficiaries get the "Modi rice" without any hurdles. According to a decision taken by the Union Cabinet last month, the Narendra Modi government would provide free food grain to the people for one year under Pradhan Mantri Garib Anna Kalyan Yojana (PMGKAY). "Odisha's 3.25 crore people will be covered under the PMGKY and will get free of cost rice for one year," Pradhan said. The Union minister said of the 4.5 crore Odisha's ...

Need greater synergy among skill development schemes of ministries: Pradhan

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday called for creating greater synergy among skill development schemes of all ministries, further aligning skill development efforts and fast-tracking implementation to create impact-at-scale. The Minister for Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship chaired the 3rd meeting of the steering committee of the National Skill Development Mission. "Discussions centred around skill development schemes, skill gap analysis and skill mapping, connecting Indian youth to global opportunities, developing curriculum to reflect emerging trends and creating synergy between different portals related to skill development," an official statement said. In the meeting, Pradhan discussed the progress made and the roadmap ahead in the skill development efforts. "The minister discussed various issues such as creating a convergence of skill development schemes, skill gap analysis and skill mapping, connecting Indian youth to global opportunities, ...

BJP will raise voice against misrule of BJD govt in Odisha: Pradhan

Union minister and senior BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan said the saffron camp would focus on strengthening its booth-level organisation in Odisha and voice against misrule of the BJD government in the state in a bid to oust the Naveen Patnaik-led dispensation from power in the 2024 assembly elections. Describing 2023 as a crucial year for the BJP, Pradhan, considered as the saffron camp's face in the eastern state, said party workers will reach out to the people across the state to convey messages of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and party president JP Nadda. The union education minister said that the BJP is well prepared to contest early elections in the state. The BJP has a two-point programme in focus. The first one is about strengthening the party's organisation at all the 37,000 booths across the state and the second is to remain vocal against the misrule of the BJD government, Pradhan said on Tuesday on the sidelines of a programme. He also said

Learning incomplete without country's art, culture and heritage: Pradhan

Noting that learning is incomplete unless it is blended with the country's art, culture and tradition, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Tuesday said India's Presidency of G-20 is an opportunity to showcase our rich ideology and heritage before the global community. Pradhan said this after inaugurating the Rastriya Kala Utsav in Odisha capital Bhubaneswar organized by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Education. There is a strong link between art and culture in our education system. An effort is on to include art and culture in curriculum, Pradhan said the gathering of academicians, teachers and students in the four day Rastriya Kala Utsav, which will continue till January 7. The students, teachers and other stakeholders of 36 states and union territories have participated in the Kala Ustav which continues since 2015. As many as 38 troupes with about 800 student-participants will perform in the ...

Bihar minister slams Pradhan, says BJP wants to change country's history

A day after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that the history of the country is wrongly written, Bihar Finance Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary slammed him

Students will be taught 'corrected' version of Indian history soon: Pradhan

Students across the country will be taught the "corrected" version of Indian history under the National Education Policy (NEP) from Vasant Panchami on January 26, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Tuesday. Speaking at a programme organised jointly by the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) and RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Itihas Sankalan Yojana, the minister said books are being re-published with new compositions and these books will give clarity to the world about India. "Students across the country will be taught a corrected version of Indian history under the National Education Policy from January 26 on the occasion of Vasant Panchami. The NEP will provide us with many opportunities. Mother tongue has been given priority in the NEP. Imparting education without giving priority to the mother tongue is meaningless," he said. "We must give a new global perspective to India's ancient culture and civilisation in the 21st century. Books are being re-published with