Ministry of Education (India) facts for kids
Branch of Government of India
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Ministry of Education
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| Formed | 15 August 1947 |
| Jurisdiction | Government of India |
| Headquarters | Shastri Bhawan, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Road, New Delhi |
| Annual budget | ₹112,899 crore (US$19 billion) (2023–24) |
| Minister responsible |
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| Deputy Ministers responsible |
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| Child agencies |
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The Ministry of Education (MoE) is a very important part of the Government of India. Its main job is to make sure that the National Policy on Education is followed. This policy guides how education works across the country.
The Ministry of Education has two main parts. One part is the Department of School Education and Literacy. This department looks after education from primary school all the way to higher secondary school. It also helps with adult education and teaching people to read and write. The other part is the Department of Higher Education. This department handles education at universities, technical schools, and manages scholarships for students.
Currently, Dharmendra Pradhan is the Minister of Education. He is a member of the group of ministers who lead the country. India has had a Ministry of Education since 1947, right after it became independent. In 1985, its name was changed to the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD). But in 2020, when a new education policy was announced, the name was changed back to the Ministry of Education.
Contents
What is the National Education Policy?
The National Education Policy (NEP) is like a big plan for education in India. The newest one, NEP 2020, was approved on 29 July 2020. It replaced an older policy from 1986. Under NEP 2020, the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) became the Ministry of Education (MoE) again. This new policy also brought in many new ideas and organizations to improve education.
School Education and Literacy
The Department of School Education and Literacy works to improve school education and literacy across India. It oversees many important organizations, including:
- Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE): This board conducts exams for many schools.
- Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS): These are central government schools.
- National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT): This group creates textbooks and study materials.
- National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS): This helps students who want to study without going to a regular school.
- Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS): These schools are for talented students, mostly from rural areas.
Higher Education in India
The Department of Higher Education looks after education after school, like college and university. It can give special status to educational places, making them "deemed universities." This happens with advice from the University Grants Commission (UGC).
India has one of the largest higher education systems in the world. This department works to bring top-notch education and research chances to Indian students. This helps them do well on a global level. The government also works with other countries to improve education.
Technical education in India comes from three main types of institutions:
- Those funded by the Central Government.
- Those funded by State Governments.
- Those that are self-financed.
Some well-known centrally funded institutions include:
- IITs (Indian Institutes of Technology)
- IIMs (Indian Institutes of Management)
- NITs (National Institutes of Technology)
- IISc Bangalore (Indian Institute of Science)
- IISERs (Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research)
- IIITs (Indian Institutes of Information Technology)
How the Department of Higher Education is Organized
The Department of Higher Education is split into several parts called bureaus. Most of its work is done through over 100 independent organizations.
Universities and Higher Education
This section includes important bodies like:
- University Grants Commission (UGC): This group helps fund and set standards for universities.
- Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR): This council supports research in social sciences.
- Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR): This council supports historical research.
- Many Central Universities across India.
Technical Education
This part deals with technical and engineering education. It includes:
- All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE): This council plans and develops technical education.
- Council of Architecture (COA): This council regulates architectural education.
- The famous Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and NITs.
- Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) for management studies.
- Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs) for science education and research.
- Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) for IT education.
- School of Planning and Architecture (SPAs) for planning and architecture studies.
Goals of the Ministry
The main goals of the Ministry of Education are:
- To create the National Policy on Education and make sure it is followed carefully.
- To plan how education grows, making sure more people can go to school and that the quality of education improves everywhere. This includes helping areas where it's hard to get an education.
- To pay special attention to groups that might face challenges, like the poor, girls, and minority communities.
- To offer financial help, such as scholarships or loan support, to students who need it.
- To encourage working with other countries and organizations like UNESCO to make education better in India.
MoE's Innovation Cell
The Ministry of Education has an Innovation Cell (MIC). It was started in 2018 to encourage new ideas, starting new businesses, and creative thinking in colleges and universities across India.
Key Programs by MIC
- Smart India Hackathon (SIH): A nationwide event where students solve real-world problems using technology.
- Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements (ARIIA): This ranks colleges and universities based on how much they encourage innovation.
- Institution's Innovation Council (IICs): These are groups within colleges that promote innovation among students and teachers.
- National Innovation and Start-up Policy (NISP): A policy to help students and teachers create their own startups.
National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF)
In 2016, the Ministry of Human Resource Development (now MoE) started ranking Indian colleges and universities. This system is called the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF). It helps students and parents see how different institutions perform. Many top colleges, including IITs and IIMs, take part in these rankings.
See also
- Minister of Education (India)
