For weeks, there has been a build-up of an imminent union cabinet expansion in India. On 7 July, Prime minister Modi announced a major reshuffle, increasing the cabinet size to 77 (excluding the PM) from the earlier 53. Some prominent Ministers handling key sectors have been replaced by new set of leaders causing a major shake up to the Council of Ministers. It is being seen as a move to balance politics and governance in preparation to the various state elections next year and the national elections in 2024.
Dharmendra Pradhan is the new Union Education Minister and the Union Minister of Skills Development Entrepreneurship Development. He was previously Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and spearheaded successful delivery of a government initiative which was one of the main reasons that got the government re-elected for the second time. Prior to this, he was Minister of Steel and before that Minister of Skills Development. He has been in active politics since 2000 and is regarded as someone who delivers.
Comments from British Council:
It is an interesting development to have a single Minister oversee the two key Ministries that are in ways quite interconnected and deals with young people. We can expect much more integration between the two Ministries as a result of this, and further thrust towards flexible movement for students from vocational education to higher education and vice versa. This will also mean vocational learning and apprenticeships will be strengthened in schools and higher education institutions which is likely to require technical and consultancy support in setting up curriculum, industry engagement and quality assurance framework. These can be possible opportunities for international partnerships.
It is believed that Pradhan was brought in to speed up implementation of National Education Policy and accelerate other areas like setting up of a new regulatory body – the Higher Education Commission of India for standard-setting, accreditation, regulation, and funding for colleges and universities, filling up several Vice Chancellor vacancies of central universities and premier Indian Institute of Technology etc. All these areas have a bearing on the internalisation of higher education ambition of India. The regulation ecosystem is key to facilitate and streamline international collaborations, enable decisions on joint degrees, twinning programmes and mutual recognition of qualification making it conducive to TNE opportunities.
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