ABSS 2025 Marks Five Years of NEP with Ambitious Reforms, Global Collaborations

The Akhil Bharatiya Shiksha Samagam (ABSS) 2025 commenced today with great fervour at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, as India celebrated the fifth anniversary of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Inaugurated by Union Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, the mega conclave brought together policymakers, educators, academicians, industry leaders, students, and representatives from over 13 states and Union Territories to reflect on the progress of NEP 2020 and strategize for a future-ready, inclusive, and globally aligned Indian education system.

The Samagam is more than a ceremonial gathering; it is a robust review of India's transformation in education over five years under NEP 2020 and a roadmap toward “Viksit Bharat @2047”, with education as the driving force.

Tribute and Opening Ceremony

The event opened with a floral tribute to Padma Vibhushan Dr. K. Kasturirangan, architect of NEP 2020, recognizing his unparalleled contributions to Indian education and space science. School children from Kendriya Vidyalayas set the tone with a cultural performance, followed by the reading of a special message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi by Minister of State Shri Jayant Chaudhary.

Key Address by Shri Dharmendra Pradhan: “From Policy to Practice”

In his keynote address, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan celebrated NEP 2020 as Prime Minister Modi’s transformative vision and emphasized its role as a national mission. He outlined how NEP has reached classrooms, campuses, and communities, reshaping education through innovation, Indian values, multilingualism, and inclusivity.

“NEP 2020 is the most potent tool to realize Viksit Bharat. Every classroom must become a catalyst for creativity and meaningful learning,” he said. The Minister highlighted how NEP now anchors efforts in early childhood care, school education, skilling, and global partnerships.

Major Initiatives Launched at ABSS 2025

Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL)

• CBSE & NVS Infrastructure: New CBSE Regional Office in Patna and JNV dormitories and staff quarters inaugurated across 10 states.

• Kendriya Vidyalayas (KV): Inauguration of new KVs in Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, J&K, and Uttarakhand.

• NCERT: Foundation stones laid for the new NCERT HQ in New Delhi and Regional Institute of Education in Nellore.

• PM JANMAN & DAJGUA Hostel Projects:

  • PM JANMAN: 75 hostels laid across 8 states.

  • DAJGUA: 309 hostels initiated across 12 states—empowering over 1 million PVTG residents.

Digital Platforms

• TARA App: AI-powered app to assess reading fluency in Grades 3–8 across 1200 schools; over 7 lakh students assessed.

• My Career Advisor App: Offers personalized career guidance covering 1000+ career pathways.

• SHVR (Swachh Evam Harit Vidyalaya Rating): A new 5-star rating system to assess school cleanliness, water, sanitation, and sustainability.

Department of Higher Education (DoHE) Highlights

Curricular Innovation

• IIT BHU & IIT Delhi:

  • IIT BHU introduces flexible multidisciplinary B.Tech. pathways.

  • IIT Delhi launches revamped UG, PG, and PhD curricula emphasizing outcome-based learning, sustainability, and AI.

• ViBe Platform (IIT Ropar): Continuous active learning platform using AI for real-time engagement and adaptive learning.

Language and Knowledge Initiatives

• Web-based Local Language Proficiency Portal by NTS-India: Tests in 22 Indian languages assessing LSRW skills.

• Bhasha Sagar App: Learn any Indian language using another Indian language—without needing English as an intermediary.

• IKS Encyclopaedic Sanskrit Dictionary & KoshaSHRI Portal:

  • Traces 15 lakh Sanskrit words across 1500 ancient texts.

  • Digitized through C-DAC with AI-based tools for collaborative development and public access.

Global Collaborations – Foreign University Campuses in India

In a historic development under NEP’s internationalization push, four leading foreign universities presented Letters of Intent (LoIs) to establish campuses in India:

1. Western Sydney University (WSU), Australia – Greater Noida Courses: Business Analytics, Marketing, MBA in Innovation & Supply Chain.

2. Victoria University (VU), Australia – Noida Courses: Business, Data Science, Cyber Security, MBA, IT.

3. La Trobe University, Australia – Bengaluru Courses: Computer Science (AI, Software Eng.), Public Health, Finance, Marketing.

4. University of Bristol, UK – Mumbai Courses: Joint degrees with Indian institutions in AI, design, innovation, and analytics.

AI Apprenticeships and Skilling

Under the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS), AI Apprenticeships were launched for 1 lakh students across domains like Healthcare, Education, Manufacturing, and BFSI. The government will support this ₹500 crore initiative with private sector participation. Graduates will receive ₹9,000/month, diploma holders ₹8,000/month as stipend.

Infrastructure Dedications and Groundbreakings

Key infrastructure projects dedicated or initiated:

• IIT Bombay’s DSSE Building and Hostel

• Central Universities in Andhra Pradesh, Jammu, and Punjab

• Lecture Halls and Hostels across MANIT-Bhopal, MNIT-Jaipur, NIT Jalandhar, NITK-Surathkal, NIT Delhi

• Centre of Excellence for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at NIT Raipur

Exhibition & Thematic Sessions

The event featured an exhibition of best practices and innovations across themes of experiential learning, AI-driven education, sustainability, and community engagement. Models from Prerana, Atal Tinkering Labs, Vidyanjali, and ULLAS were prominently displayed.

Four thematic sessions focused on:

• Use of Bharatiya Bhasha in education

• Prime Minister's Research Fellows (PMRF)

• Achieving 100% GER in Secondary Education

• Role of AI in Teaching & Learning

A National Mission in Motion

Shri Pradhan concluded the day by affirming that ABSS 2025 is a national declaration of India's commitment to building a Viksit Bharat through quality, inclusive, and forward-thinking education. He urged every stakeholder—from ministries to classrooms—to align with NEP 2020’s transformative vision and make every child’s education journey meaningful, creative, and future-ready.