Bhubaneswar, May 4: The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is being hailed as a transformative reform that will play a crucial role in realizing the vision of a “Developed Odisha” by 2036 and a “Developed India” by 2047. Governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati emphasized this during the inauguration of a national-level workshop on the “Implementation of NEP 2020 and Higher Education Reforms” on Sunday, where he was the chief guest.
The Governor stated that NEP 2020 provides a clear roadmap to build a strong, inclusive, and future-ready education system that leverages India’s demographic advantage. He highlighted that this policy will empower economic growth, social progress, and global leadership. Describing the workshop as both timely and forward-looking, he added that it reflects India’s commitment to strengthening education as a foundation for national progress and human development.
Speaking on India’s historical contributions, the Governor noted that the country has long been a center of knowledge, wisdom, and intellectual leadership, making significant advances in mathematics, astronomy, medicine, and literature. He further stressed that modern education must cultivate critical thinking, creativity, adaptability, and interdisciplinary learning.
NEP 2020 aligns traditional education with the needs of the 21st century, encouraging experiential learning, holistic development, and multidisciplinary approaches. The Governor acknowledged the commendable efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in formulating this forward-looking policy. Since its active implementation in Odisha from August 2024, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj have been recognized for successfully driving its execution in the state.
Governor Kambhampati highlighted Odisha’s key initiatives under NEP 2020, including curriculum restructuring, competency-based education, promotion of cleanliness, accountability, and inclusive development. He also praised reforms aimed at enhancing equity in higher education, including the University (Amendment) Act and measures to protect faculty cadres.
On this occasion, Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj presented recommendations for NEP 2020 implementation and proposed future action plans. Prof. Shrirup Goswami of Utkal University’s Department of Geology submitted a report on discussions from the two-day workshop held on May 2–3. Arvind Agrawal, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Higher Education Department, delivered the welcome address.
