Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, inaugurated the Pradhan Mantri Colleges of Excellence, a significant educational initiative built at a cost of Rs 486 crore, covering all 55 districts of Madhya Pradesh. The inauguration took place in Indore, with notable dignitaries, including Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav and Union Minister Smt. Savitri Thakur, in attendance.
Addressing the inaugural event, Shri Amit Shah emphasized the crucial role of education in building a developed India by 2047. He highlighted Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s foresight in introducing the New Education Policy (NEP) in 2020, designed to cater to the nation’s educational needs for the next 25 years. The NEP aims to create a globally competitive educational environment while preserving India’s rich cultural heritage and languages.
Shri Shah outlined the NEP’s emphasis on holistic development over mere degree acquisition. The policy integrates the ‘syllabus of academics’ with the ‘syllabus of life,’ encouraging students to think ‘out of the box’ and move away from traditional rote learning. Recognizing the digital age, the NEP includes provisions for practical, skill development, and vocational training, preparing students for careers in the Internet, Artificial Intelligence, and Data Analytics.
Congratulating the Madhya Pradesh government, Shri Shah lauded the state for being the first to implement the NEP and for translating engineering and medical science curricula into the mother tongue. This initiative has made higher education accessible to many students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The newly inaugurated Pradhan Mantri Colleges of Excellence offer students the flexibility to study multiple disciplines according to their interests, including Biotechnology, Computer Science, Culture, and Arts. Students can simultaneously pursue diplomas in diverse subjects, allowing a commerce student with an interest in technology to also study related courses.
Courses like B. Ed and B. Sc Agriculture have been introduced, linking youth with agriculture and self-employment opportunities. Collaborative efforts with institutions like IIT Delhi have connected various diploma and certificate courses, further enhancing the educational ecosystem. Additionally, the Madhya Pradesh Hindi Granth Academy’s book centres have been established in all 55 colleges.
Shri Amit Shah urged the youth to set clear goals and work diligently to achieve them, stressing that time wasted without a purpose is lost forever. He encouraged students to embrace hard work, which is essential for laying the foundation of success. Highlighting the NEP’s focus on innovation over memorization, he called on the youth to aim for comprehensive personal and academic growth.
Indore, already recognized for its achievements in various sectors, is now poised to become an education hub. Shri Shah acknowledged the city’s advancements in pharma, automobile, textile, and food processing industries, with education joining the ranks as a new frontier of excellence.
The inauguration of the Pradhan Mantri Colleges of Excellence marks a significant milestone in India’s educational journey. With the NEP at its core, these institutions aim to nurture a generation ready to lead India to global prominence by 2047. As Shri Amit Shah concluded, today’s youth are the torchbearers of tomorrow, and their education is the foundation of a developed and prosperous India.
