Page 113 - Academic and Research Book_WEB

independent lives. Thus, “Value-based education will include the development of humanistic,
ethical, constitutional, and universal human values of truth (satya), righteous conduct (dharma),
peace (shanti), love (prem), nonviolence (ahimsa), scientific temper, citizenship values, and also
life-skills; lessons in seva/service and participation in community service programmes will be
considered an integral part of a holistic education” (ibid.: 33).

• Included under the best practices for learning, assessment, wellness, ethical inputs and outcomes
have been considered vital (ibid.: 38).
• Given the indispensable, all-encompassing and disruptive nature of technology, ethical issues,
resolution and preventing unethical practices have been considered essential for classroom,
continuing and online education. This is especially relevant to ethical issues surrounding the
development and deployment of AI-based technologies” (ibid.: 58, 59).
NEP 2020 is therefore based on an ethical, futuristic perspective and at the same time, is deep rooted
in the best of the past and present, to equip young learners and their mentors for becoming global
leaders of the 21st century. It is the fulfillment of a longstanding promise by our Honorable Prime
Minister, Sri Narendra Modi in the Election Manifesto of 2014. NEP 2020 targets restoring quality
10
in academics through critical thinking, experiential and application-based learning, flexibility
in learning, focus on life skills, a multidisciplinary approach, and continuous review. It endorses
universality, globalization of Indian ideas, talent identification, and transformation of India into
a global knowledge economy. The requirement for quality in academics has been reinforced by the
STARS Project (Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States, which underscores quality-
based learning outcomes, was lauded by Union Minister for Home Affairs, Shri Amit Shah, as a
landmark day in the Indian Education Sector. To paraphrase Benjamin Franklin —An investment in
quality academics pays the best dividends.

In the Final Analysis

The best policy decisions filter down to the individuals, who at every level constitute, make, or
break a society, a country, or a civilization. Ethical behaviour is often called for at times when there
is no witness, although the consequences maybe far reaching. On 1 July, 1958, a paper credited to
Charles Darwin and Alfred Wallace was read out in the Linnaean Society entitled, “On the Tendency
of Species to form Varieties; and on the Perpetuation of Varieties and Species by Natural Means of
Selection.” The former writes in his biography, “…. my plans were overthrown, for early in the
summer of 1858 Mr. Wallace, who was then in the Malay Archipelago, sent me an essay, “On the
Tendency of Varieties to Depart Indefinitely from the Original Type”; and this essay contained exactly
the same theory as mine…” Shell-shocked as he was at having his life’s work preempted, he did not
to tear up a letter from a sick man and deny its existence. He turned to his friends Joseph Dalton
Hooker and Charles Lyell for advice. “I was at first very unwilling to consent, as I thought Mr. Wallace
might consider my doing so unjustifiable, for I did not then know how generous and noble was his
disposition.” Darwin considered his own part badly written and not fit for publication. Wallace’s essay,
on the other hand, was admirably expressed and quite clear. Nevertheless, their joint productions
excited very little attention (Maitra and Tandon, 2009). True scientific temper and endeavour are built
on the foundation of such ethical acts and on acknowledging the merit beyond oneself.

Quality, merit, ethics, authenticity, and impartiality are qualities that should ideally be synonymous
with academics. They allow academics to acknowledge change and move beyond dogmatic and
fanatical adherence to the past, irrespective of the knowledge or its creator. Consequently, records and
repositories of knowledge are vital custodians of the past and present, and these must be synonymous
with integrity and a deep commitment to ethical practices. Room for correction of genuine errors,

102 | University Grants Commission