‘NEP a game changer; technology democratising education’: Union Minister Jitendra Singh | THE WEEK Education Conclave 2026

Calling this period the "best phase" for India's education sector, Union Minister for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh on Wednesday said that technology-driven reforms and the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) have fundamentally transformed learning opportunities for young Indians, making education more accessible and inclusive than ever before.

Speaking at THE WEEK Education Conclave 2026 in New Delhi, Singh linked the transformation in the sector to the broader vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who completed 4,399 days in office on Tuesday, making him India's longest-serving prime minister.

According to Singh, one of the most significant changes brought about in recent years has been the democratisation of education through technology. "In order to make education accessible, there has been a democratisation of society, and this happens because of the optimum use of technology," he said.

The minister noted that students today have access to resources and opportunities that were once limited to those living in metropolitan cities or able to afford expensive coaching institutions. Digital platforms, online learning tools and easier access to educational content have levelled the playing field, allowing talent from every corner of the country to compete on equal terms.

Highlighting changing trends in competitive examinations, Singh pointed to examples of students succeeding without conventional coaching support. Referring to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examinations, he said many successful candidates today clear the prestigious exam without attending coaching classes.

He also cited instances of students cracking highly competitive engineering entrance examinations through self-study and disciplined preparation. "We are seeing UPSC aspirants who did not take coaching at all. There are students who have cracked IIT examinations by studying 14 hours a day for eight months," he said.

For Singh, these examples reflect a larger shift in India's educational landscape, where determination and access to knowledge are increasingly becoming more important than geography or financial background.

The minister described the National Education Policy as a major turning point in this transformation. Introduced to make learning more flexible, multidisciplinary, and skill-oriented, the policy has sought to move beyond rote learning and prepare students for a rapidly evolving world.

"The National Education Policy has been a game changer," Singh said, adding that it has helped align education with the aspirations and requirements of a modern economy.

The minister also expressed optimism about the next generation of scientists emerging from India's universities and research institutions. According to him, the quality of young scientific talent entering the ecosystem today is unlike anything seen before.

"The young scientists we are getting now are very different and very bright," he said, underscoring the growing interest among students in innovation, research, and technology-driven careers.

As India positions itself as a global technology and innovation hub, Singh argued that skilling young people would remain central to nation-building. He said the objective should not merely be to provide educational opportunities but to ensure that students are equipped to convert those opportunities into meaningful achievements.

"How best a student avails an opportunity is not just an opportunity but a reward," Singh said.