Dharmendra Pradhan Calls on NCERT to Lead Education Reforms at 65th Foundation Day

New Delhi- Union Education Minister  Dharmendra Pradhan today addressed the 65th Foundation Day celebrations of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), urging the institution to take on the mantle of a reform-oriented and technology-driven change leader in India’s education sector.

The event was attended by several distinguished dignitaries including Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL), Ministry of Education; Chamu Krishna Shastry, Chairman, Bharatiya Bhasha Samiti; Prof. Dinesh Prasad Saklani, Director, NCERT; Prof. M. Jagadesh Kumar, Chairperson, UGC; Dr. Sreedhara Panicker Somanath, Former Chairman, ISRO; and Prof. J. S. Rajput, Former Director, NCERT, along with senior officials from NCERT and the Ministry.

During the programme,  Pradhan launched DIKSHA 2.0, the upgraded digital learning platform, and also unveiled the book “Utkal Jananinkara Sujogya Santana”, which highlights the lives and contributions of 100 eminent personalities from Odisha.

Expressing his appreciation for NCERT’s work, the Minister described the council as a ‘Gyan-Kumbh’, a knowledge hub that has been instrumental in shaping generations of Indian students. He emphasized that NCERT has not only built a strong foundation for the nation’s education system but has also played a vital role in national development through its academic contributions.

Calling for a forward-looking approach,  Pradhan encouraged NCERT to adopt global best practices and leverage technology to strengthen its role in nation-building. He noted that creating a prosperous India by 2047 would require cultivating critical thinking and creativity among students, while also promoting multilingual education to foster deeper learning and competency-based outcomes.

Speaking about DIKSHA 2.0, Pradhan highlighted its new features such as structured learning modules, adaptive assessments, and AI-enabled tools like “Read Aloud” and real-time text translation in 12 Indian languages. He shared feedback from students and teachers who have already benefited from the platform, underlining its role in delivering personalized, learner-specific education and supporting teachers with digital resources.

The Education Minister concluded by expressing confidence that NCERT will continue to play a pivotal role in transforming India’s teaching and learning ecosystem and help realize the vision of a Samridhh Bharat by 2047.