New Delhi: Marking the 5-year National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the Centre will announce major reforms to accreditation systems for higher education institutions by shifting to a binary model that replaces existing multi-tier grading systems – “uncertified” binary model. This means that institutions are no longer ranked against one another, but are evaluated against a uniform minimum standard.Anvil also has the launch of a new “Bharatiya Bhasha” digital tool for direct translation between Indian languages. Additionally, the government will operate the centre for AI excellence in education, as announced in the 2025 union budget.These announcements are scheduled to take place on Tuesday at a national event commemorating the fifth anniversary of NEP-2020 here in front of senior ministers, education scholars and state representatives.The new accreditation model aims to simplify the process and encourage wider participation amongst higher education institutions (HEIs). Unlike previous frameworks that rated institutions (A++, A, B, etc.), new binary systems require institutions to meet basic benchmarks to qualify as “certified.” An official from the senior education ministry said, “This change was designed to address many HEI resistance to apply for certification due to uncertainty regarding efforts to engage and ensuring positive performance.”This change is inspired by concerns about the reliability and participation of the current accreditation system, particularly following the recent debate over the functioning of the National Assessment and the Council for Accreditation (NAAC). The inconsistent grading patterns and allegations of opaqueness drew criticism from academics and policymakers, prompting a rethinking of the process.Describing the new approach in detail, authorities said: “Under the new model, all institutions that meet benchmark criteria will be treated equally in the first phase. Grading from 1 to 5 continues in the second phase, which is scheduled to begin in the next five to six months. The agency will register grade ladders in order from grade 1 based on verified performance data – starting from grade 1. ”Data validation relies on triangulation methods to ensure accuracy using multiple sources and tools, excluding direct NAAC involvement. Instead, only nationally important government agencies and institutions engage in verification, with no physical inspections.“Bharatiya Bhasha” digital tool allows for seamless translation between Indian languages without routing through English. For example, it allows for direct translation from Assam to Tamil. In higher education, the Center for AI Excellence in Education will be officially launched to support the research and integration of AI tools in teaching and learning. For schooling, announcements are expected to be made on targeted infrastructure improvements and increased access, including new buildings for Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodaya Vidyalayas with corresponding financial support.
