NEW DELHI: The Modi government’s much-touted new education policy is set to miss yet another deadline on Wednesday as the fourth extension given to a committee, constituted to draft it, comes to an end.
Sources in the Union Human Resources Development Ministry said the committee under former ISRO chairman K Kasturirangan had been signalled to go slow in the election season.
“As the code of conduct for Assembly elections in five states is on, we are not in a position to make headway in that direction,” said a senior HRD official.
“Also the committee wanted some more time as it is holding detailed consultations with states.”
The panel was set up in June 2017 and was supposed to submit its report by December, but was given an extension till March 2018. Later, it was given another extension till August, which was again extended by two months.
Ministry sources said the education policy might not be announced in the government’s current term of as it would not want to anger any camp.
Apart from Kasturirangan, the committee has eight members, including mathematician Manjul Bhargava. According to people familiar with the matter, the panel’s likely suggestions may not be implemented even in the next academic year.
The government had earlier come up with a draft policy, formulated by a panel headed by former cabinet secretary TSR Subramanian during Smriti Irani’s term as HRD minister. But after Prakash Javadekar replaced her, the new committee was set up.
Deadline extended thrice, report not final
The Kasturirangan panel set up to draft the policy was set up in June 2017 and was supposed to submit its report by December, but was given three extensions, the latest one expiring today.