‘One-sided monologue, no discussion’: Harjot Bains terms Centre’s NEP event in Delhi ‘disappointing’

The Union minister virtually laid the foundation stone for five infrastructure projects, funded through the Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA). These include academic block, 600-seater boys hostel, 400-seater girls hostel, 100-seater international students hostel and V-C’s residence.

Several of these buildings are designed in compliance with GRIHA-IV norms, incorporating green, energy-efficient, and sustainable features such as sensor-based lighting, solar energy systems, aseismic structures, zero-waste water systems, and full accessibility for differently abled persons.

Addressing the gathering virtually, Pradhan said, “NEP 2020 has reached classrooms, campuses, and communities, ushering reforms in early childhood care, foundational literacy, and holistic education”.

He lauded the proactive role of higher education institutions in implementing NEP 2020, particularly in advancing multidisciplinary education, digital inclusion, skill development, and inclusive learning. He highlighted the notable improvements in rural learning outcomes through initiatives like the NIPUN Bharat Mission and emphasized that this progress is the result of collective efforts by educators, students, institutions, and state governments.

V-C Tiwari said that these developmental projects will propel CUP towards becoming a world-class institution with state-of-the-art facilities for teaching, research, and student well-being.

Bains, however, said that as Punjab’s education minister he was “deeply disappointed” by the event held at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi. “Education Ministers from across India were invited—but the entire event turned into a one-sided monologue. No discussion at all. This should have been a platform to address: attacks on regional languages like CBSE excluding Punjabi as a main subject (reversed only after Punjab’s strong protest). NEP’s deeper agenda of eroding states’ rights. No national roadmap for AI, coding, data science in education,” Bains said in a post on X.

Talking about the July 25 roof collapse at a school in Rajasthan’s Jhalawar in which seven students were killed, Bains said it was “most painful” that there neither was any mention of the incident nor any dialogue on preventing such incidents. “Such events, without honest dialogue on education, remain ceremonial—not transformational,” he added.

Centre encroaching on rights of states under NEP guise: Bains

Later in a statement, Bains said that the “Centre was overstepping its boundaries and encroaching on states’ rights through new education policy.”

He said that despite Punjabi being one of the 22 scheduled languages under the Constitution, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) had initially included it as an optional subject alongside foreign languages like Thai, German and Mandarin. He said that it was only after Punjab government registered strong protests that Punjabi was included as a main subject.

He said that the Centre had claimed that the NEP would promote regional languages but contrary to these claims, they were placed under the category of optional subjects which was undermining the status of regional languages.

The minister said that Punjab government has already announced to frame its own education policy and it will be formed soon.