India's education ministry to make study material available in regional languages
In a significant move, study material for all school and higher education programs will now be made available in Indian languages, as per the directives outlined in the 8th schedule of the Constitution. This decision aligns with the recommendations of the National Education Policy, emphasizing multilingualism to encourage students to study in their native languages, promoting better learning outcomes. Studying in one's language can provide a natural opportunity for students to think without any language barriers.
The Ministry of Education has issued an order stating that all major bodies such as the University Grants Commission (UGC), All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), and Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), along with Central Universities (CU) and National Institutes of Technology (NITs), are directed to make study material available in Indian languages over the next three years.
Implementation of National Education Policy 2020 This move is in line with the National Education Policy 2020, which strongly advocates leveraging the vast linguistic diversity of India for social, cultural, economic, and educational development. Availability of study material in local languages is expected to enrich the multilingual heritage and promote its effective utilization for the nation's development.
Examinations in Regional Languages Government initiatives in the past two years have been focusing on translating engineering, medical, law, undergraduate, postgraduate, and skill development books through an artificial intelligence-based app into over 30 languages. These books are accessible through the e-Kumbh portal. In the school education ecosystem, study material in many Indian languages, including more than 30 regional languages, is already available. Competitive exams such as the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE), National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), Common Entrance Tests (CETs), and others are already being conducted in 13 Indian languages.