75th Independence Day 2022: India's Journey In Education Sector, From 18.3% Literacy Rate To 77.7%

India has reached a long way in the 75 years since its independence, improving its literacy rate from 18.3 percent in 1951 to 77.7 percent in 2017-18. This is an amazing achievement, and it’s thanks to the hard work and dedication of the Indian people.

India has reached a long path since achieving independence 75 years ago on August 15, 1947. Whether it’s economy, infrastructure, science, technology, or education, the country has progressed in every field. Education has been a robust contributor to the growth of India in the post-Independence era.

Indians, including Sundar Pichai, Satya Nadella, Parag Agarwal, Lena Nair, Shantanu Narayen, Ajaypal Singh Banga, and Indra Nooyi among others being CEOs of top multinationals have also proved that the country’s education system has progressed or performed better than most of the countries in the world.

After 200 years of colonial rule, India set up a planning commission in 1950 to prepare a blueprint for the development of education in India. Various plans were drawn after that, and the primary goals of these plans were to eradicate illiteracy, achieve universal elementary education, and establish vocational and skill training programs among others.

After 200 years of colonial rule, India set up a planning commission in 1950 to prepare a blueprint for the development of education in India. Various plans were drawn after that, and the primary goals of these plans were to eradicate illiteracy, achieve universal elementary education, and establish vocational and skill training programs among others. However, it wasn’t until recently that the government began to focus on achieving these goals through technology-driven solutions.

India got independence in 1947, and 20 years later the first education policy was announced in 1968. The second education policy came 20 years after that, in 1986. The 1986 education policy mostly announced minor changes to the 1968 education policy. So that means that the current education policy (NEP 2020) comes after 52 years.

India at 75: Key outcomes in Education

• In 1950-51, there were 0.41 girls for every boy in classes 1 to 8. Now girls outnumber boys in school education with 1.02 girls for every boy.
• The literacy rate in India has jumped from 18.3% in 1951 to 77.7% (2017–18).
• In 1950-51, there were 578 colleges in India, which have now increased to 42,343.
• The tally of medical colleges presently stands at 612 which was 28 in 1951.
• In 1951, India had one IIT and now the count has increased to 23.

At the period of independence, female education was not deemed important and people were also hesitant to educational institutions. In 1950-51, there were 0.41 girls for every boy in classes 1 to 8. Now, according to the government, girls outnumber boys in school education with 1.02 girls for every boy.