With an objective to strengthen the educational system in the country, President Ram Nath Kovind on January 29, 2018 said that the Union Government is working with commitment for the same.

“Education provides the foundation for building the future of the nation and my government is committed to strengthening and modernising school and higher education system in the country,” the president said in his maiden address to the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament.

Saying that the government has approved setting up of a ‘National Testing Agency’ to conduct all examinations of higher educational institutions in the country, he said over 2400 ‘Atal Tinkering Labs’ under ‘Atal Innovation Mission’ have also been approved to inculcate the spirit of entrepreneurship and creativity in children.

“My Government has approved setting up of a ‘National Testing Agency’ as an autonomous and self-sufficient organization to conduct all examinations of higher educational institutions in the country,” he said, adding, “My Government has approved over 2400 ‘Atal Tinkering Labs’ under ‘Atal Innovation Mission’, in order to inculcate a spirit of entrepreneurship and creativity in children at an early age.”

The president said the government is working on a project to set up 20 ‘Institutes of Eminence’ with the financial assistance of INR 10 thousand crore and highlighted that a law has also been enacted to provide autonomy to all ‘Indian Institutes of Management’ to upgrade them further.

“To ensure a bright future for the youth, my government is working actively towards setting up of 20 ‘Institutes of Eminence’,” he said, adding, “Under this Mission, selected public sector institutions will be provided financial assistance of INR 10 thousand crore.”

“A law has also been enacted to provide autonomy to all ‘Indian Institutes of Management’ in order to upgrade them further,” he further added.

Talking about working for the welfare of people with disability, the president said a provision in the ‘Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016’ has been made with 4 per cent reservation in government jobs and 5 per cent reservation in higher education for Divyang jan.

“There are more than 2 crore 50 lakh Divyang jan in our country. My Government is continuously working with utmost sensitivity towards their empowerment and economic inclusion,” he said, adding, “Government has enacted the ‘Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016’ with the provision of 4 per cent reservation in government jobs and 5 per cent reservation in higher education for Divyang jan.”

“In the last three years, over 6 thousand camps have been organised benefitting more than 9 lakh needy Divyang jan with necessary aids and assistive devices,” he further added.

Saying that the government is making efforts for the educational empowerment of the minorities, the president said the ‘National Medical Commission Bill’ in the Lok Sabha has also been introduced to bring quality and transparency in medical education.

“Committed to ‘Empowerment and not Appeasement’, my government is making intensive efforts for economic, social and educational empowerment of the minorities,” he said, adding, “To ensure quality and transparency in medical education, the government has also introduced the ‘National Medical Commission Bill’ in the Lok Sabha.”