Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Speaks on NEET, CBSE 3 Language Policy in 6th Edition of Jagran Bharat Education Conclave and Awards 2026

Global Responsibility and India's Heritage

Speaking at the conclave, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan highlighted the value of India's ancient knowledge systems and stated that the National Education Policy (NEP) serves as a medium to carry this legacy forward.
Referencing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent successful visit to five countries, Pradhan remarked:
"Today, India is fulfilling its responsibility not just toward its own citizens, but toward the entire world."

The Three-Language Model and Local Heritage

The Education Minister strongly advocated for primary education in the mother tongue up to Class 5, suggesting that students can focus on three languages after the sixth grade.

• International Comparisons: He cited the education system of the Netherlands to stress the need for strengthening mother-tongue-based education in India.
• Cultural Legacy: Drawing an example from Puri in his home state of Odisha, he described the Konark Sun Temple as a magnificent symbol of India's cultural and intellectual heritage. He concluded this segment by expressing his gratitude to Jagran for organizing the event.

Stance on NEET, OSM, and Tech-Driven Education

Addressing critical academic administration issues, Dharmendra Pradhan discussed the NEET examination and the transition to On-Screen Marking (OSM).

• NEET Examination: He stated that canceling the NEET examination was a necessary step to protect the interests of millions of students who had prepared and appeared for the exam with complete honesty and dedication. He reassured that the government makes decisions keeping the welfare and future of every student in mind.
• Technological Reforms: Discussing CBSE and the broader schooling system, Pradhan noted that adopting OSM is the need of the hour. He emphasized that embracing new technologies is vital, as technology-driven learning will secure and strengthen the future of education.

Fostering Innovators, Not Just Interpreters

Dharmendra Pradhan elaborated on the Three-Language Model, pointing out that a majority of nations worldwide deliver primary and foundational education in their native languages. Scientific research consistently proves that mother-tongue-based schooling fosters innovation and creative thinking in children.
"Teaching only foreign languages turns children into interpreters, whereas India needs youth who can become innovators and lead the nation with fresh, original thinking."- Dharmendra Pradhan
To support this, he shared a CBSE statistic revealing that only 1 percent of total students appearing for board exams opt to study foreign languages.