Union Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan addresses NCERT’s 65th Foundation Day

Union Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan today addressed the 65th Foundation Day of NCERT and launched a host of initiatives, including Diksha 2.0. He also released a book on the life and contribution of 100 great personalities of Odisha—‘Utkal Jananinkara Sujogya Santana’.

The 65th Foundation Day celebration of NCERT was graced by the presence of several eminent dignitaries, Shri Sanjay Kumar, Secretary DoSEL Ministry of Education; Shri 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 the Ministry of Education and NCERT.

Shri Dharmendra Pradhan expressed happiness at being with the NCERT family and inaugurating a host of new educational initiatives. Extending his best wishes to NCERT, Shri Pradhan described it as an iconic institution at the heart of India’s educational system. He said that NCERT has been a pillar of the nation’s educational landscape, shaping the destinies of generations of students with unparalleled commitment and dedication.

Calling NCERT not just an institution but a ‘Gyan-Kumbh’, he highlighted its immense contribution to nation-building through education since its inception. He urged NCERT to embrace its role as a change leader by adopting a new avatar—reform-oriented, tech-driven, and focused on global best practices.

The Minister underlined that building a Samridhh Bharat by 2047 would be possible only if students were encouraged to develop critical and creative thinking skills. He urged NCERT to promote multilingualism to foster critical thinking in the Amrit Peedhi and to work towards transforming knowledge into competency. Shri Pradhan expressed confidence that NCERT would drive educational reforms, bring a paradigm shift in teaching and learning, and play a pivotal role in realizing the vision of a Samridhh Bharat.

Highlighting the government’s focus on technology-driven learning, Shri Pradhan spoke about DIKSHA 2.0, the upgraded digital platform that is fully responsive and compatible with multiple devices. It offers structured lessons, adaptive assessments, and AI-powered tools like Read Aloud and translation of text files in 12 Indian languages. He also shared first-hand feedback from students who have benefitted from DIKSHA, noting how the platform is facilitating learner-specific education and empowering teachers and students alike.