Theme T111 · Governance

Education policy: NEP, RTE, higher education, exams

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What UPSC asks

Questions ask welfare obligation vs strategic investment, aims of the Public Examinations Act 2024, RTE's inadequacy, NEP 2020 and SDG-4, Amartya Sen's reforms in primary education and health, foreign universities, and autonomy of IITs and IIMs.

Prepare these

• NEP 2020: 5+3+3+4, foundational literacy, multidisciplinary higher education, HECI
• RTE Act 2009: provisions, 25% quota, learning outcomes gap (ASER)
• Higher education quality and foreign campuses (UGC rules)
• Institutional autonomy (IIM Act 2017)
• Public Examinations Act 2024 scope
• Education as human capital (link inclusive growth)

Answer writing

• Use ASER/AISHE data
• Show the policy, the gap, then reforms

Directive words in these PYQs: Critically (2), Discuss (2), Evaluate (1), Analyse (1), Examine (1), Suggest (1).

Linked themes

Builds on: study these first

These come earlier in the roadmap. Questions in this theme use them.

Comes back later in

Later themes that take this one further.

Syllabus lines covered

• GS2-L13 — Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

All 7 PYQs, newest first

1. GS2202615 marks · 250 wordsGS2-GOV-05-M2026-S01

   Should education be treated primarily as a welfare obligation of the state or as a strategic investment for building a globally competitive, knowledge-driven nation? Critically evaluate

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2. GS2202415 marks · 250 wordsGS2-GOV-05-M2024-Q11

   What are the aims and objects of recently passed and enforced, The Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024? Whether University/State Education Board examinations, too, are covered under the Act?

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3. GS2202215 marks · 250 wordsGS2-GOV-05-M2022-Q18

   The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 remains inadequate in promoting an incentive-based system for children’s education without generating awareness about the importance of schooling. Analyse.

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4. GS22020GS2-GOV-05-M2020-S01

   National Education Policy 2020 is in conformity with the Sustainable Development Goal-4 (2030). It intends to restructure and reorient education system in India. Critically examine the statement.

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5. GS22016GS2-GOV-05-M2016-S02

   Professor Amartya Sen has advocated important reforms in the realms of primary education and primary health care. What are your suggestions to improve their status and performance?

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6. GS22015GS2-GOV-05-M2015-S01

   The quality of higher education in India requires major improvements to make it internationally competitive. Do you think that the entry of foreign educational institutions would help improve the quality of technical and higher education in the country? Discuss.

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7. GS22014GS2-GOV-05-M2014-S01

   Should the premier institutes like IITs/IIMs be allowed to retain premier status, allowed more academic independence in designing courses and also decide mode/criteria of selection of students. Discuss in light of the growing challenges.

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