Kevadia, Gujarat | July 11, 2025
In a landmark gathering of academic leaders, the Ministry of Education concluded a two-day Vice-Chancellors’ Conference of Central Universities in Kevadia, Gujarat on July 11, 2025. Attended by Union Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of State for Education Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, and senior officials from the Ministry, the conference provided a robust platform for peer learning, policy alignment, and forward planning under the transformative National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
The event brought together Vice Chancellors from leading central institutions, who engaged in intensive dialogue on reshaping higher education to meet the needs of a digitally empowered and globally competitive India by Viksit Bharat 2047.
Dr. Majumdar: “Vice-Chancellors are the Torchbearers of India’s Intellectual Destiny”
In his keynote address at the concluding session, Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, MoS for Education, emphasized the pivotal role of Vice-Chancellors in steering India’s intellectual growth. Citing Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s vision of unity and education, he stated that NEP 2020 is not just a reform but a renaissance rooted in Indian values and global aspirations.
He highlighted major achievements driven by NEP 2020, such as:
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32% growth in female higher education enrolment (from 1.57 crore in 2014–15 to 2.07 crore in 2021–22)
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Integration of technology in education via SWAYAM, now issuing nearly 9 lakh certificates annually
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JEE, NEET, CUET being offered in 13 regional languages to foster multilingualism
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India’s best-ever performance in the QS World University Rankings 2026, with 54 Indian institutions ranked
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Over 2.75 crore students registered under the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC)
Dr. Majumdar urged Vice-Chancellors to accelerate NEP implementation, strengthen research ecosystems, encourage industry collaboration, and promote inclusivity and excellence as core institutional values.
Secretary (HE) Dr. Vineet Joshi: “Institutionalize the Transition, Without Delay”
Delivering the closing remarks, Dr. Vineet Joshi, Secretary (Higher Education), articulated the structural changes required for full NEP implementation. He emphasized that new systems such as the National Higher Education Qualification Framework (NHEQF), National Credit Framework (NCrF), and the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP) must be institutionalized thoughtfully, yet swiftly.
Key expectations outlined included:
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Embedding SWAYAM, APAAR, and SAMARTH into daily academic and administrative functions
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Ensuring digital inclusion, credit portability, and blended learning
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Agile, data-driven, and citizen-centric governance
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Fostering diversity and inclusion in faculty and student bodies
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Promoting Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) and Bharatiya Bhashas through active student engagement and strategic integration
Dr. Joshi also announced that each Central University would prepare a strategy paper aligned with Viksit Bharat 2047, incorporating themes like multidisciplinary integration, IKS mainstreaming, digital skilling, and innovation-led campus initiatives.
Conference Highlights: Strategy, Equity, Innovation, and Global Engagement
The conference focused on five key pillars of NEP 2020: access, equity, quality, affordability, and accountability.
Day 1 Sessions:
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Structural Reforms: Implementing NHEQF, NCrF, and FYUP for flexible and multidisciplinary education
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Future of Work: Aligning curricula with global job trends and emerging tech skills
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Digital Education: Role of platforms like SWAYAM, SWAYAM Plus, and APAAR in expanding access
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Equity in HEIs: Addressing socio-cultural and regional disparities
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IKS and Language Integration: Promoting indigenous knowledge and Bhartiya Bhasha in higher education
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e-Governance: Institutional transformation through SAMARTH digital systems
Day 2 Sessions:
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Research and Innovation: Strategies under ANRF, PMRF, and Centres of Excellence
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Ranking and Accreditation: Strengthening NAAC, NIRF, and global benchmarking
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Internationalisation: Expanding Study in India and enabling FHEI campuses in India
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Faculty Development: Leveraging Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Programme (MMTTP) for pedagogical excellence
Universities Represented and Institutional Collaboration
The conference featured participation from premier institutions such as:
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University of Delhi, JNU, BHU, Visva-Bharati, Jamia Millia Islamia, IGNOU, TISS, Nalanda University
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Central Universities of Jharkhand, Tripura, Kashmir, and Assam
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Kendriya Hindi Sansthan and South Asian University
These universities shared experiential insights on implementing NEP initiatives, fostering a spirit of collaboration and knowledge exchange across India’s diverse academic ecosystem.
Conclusion: A Blueprint for Transforming Indian Higher Education
The Vice-Chancellors’ Conference in Kevadia was not merely an academic forum—it was a strategic step toward reimagining India’s higher education landscape in alignment with NEP 2020 and the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047. From structural reforms and digital transformation to equity and global positioning, the conference laid the foundation for systemic, sustainable, and inclusive change in higher education.
As Dr. Majumdar aptly stated, Vice-Chancellors are indeed the torchbearers of India’s intellectual destiny, and their collective leadership will be instrumental in steering the nation’s knowledge ecosystem toward global eminence.
Source: PIB
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