Central University of Punjab Celebrates Sixth Anniversary of NEP 2020 with Expert Lectures and Quiz Competition

Central University of Punjab Celebrates Sixth Anniversary of NEP 2020 with Expert Lectures and Quiz Competition

Bathinda 29 July ( PDL ) : The NEP SAARTHI Cell of the Central University of Punjab (CU Punjab) organized a series of academic activities, including expert lectures and the NEP-2020 Knowledge Quest Quiz, to commemorate the sixth anniversary of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The celebrations commenced on July 28, 2026, with an expert lecture by Prof. S.K. Bawa, Former Vice-Chancellor of Guru Kashi University. Addressing the newly appointed faculty members on the theme "Best Practices in Higher Education Institutions as per NEP 2020," she emphasized that teaching should go beyond one-way lectures and encourage dialogue and active participation in the classroom. She urged teachers to act as mentors, build students' confidence, and create a positive learning environment where learners feel comfortable expressing their ideas, asking questions, and learning from their mistakes. She added that nurturing confident and self-reliant students is one of the key objectives of NEP 2020.

On July 29, 2026, the second expert lecture was delivered by Prof. Vipan Pal Singh, Head, Department of English, on "Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) and the Revival of Indigenous Epistemologies." He highlighted India's rich intellectual heritage and emphasized that NEP 2020 promotes the integration of Indian Knowledge Systems into higher education to make learning more holistic, relevant, and value-based. Prof. Singh said that the ultimate goal of education is the welfare of humanity. He explained the concept of Panchakosha and stressed the importance of yoga and the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita in fostering a balanced, ethical, and meaningful life. A major highlight of the programme was the NEP-2020 Knowledge Quest Quiz Competition, in which students enthusiastically participated and demonstrated their understanding of the objectives, reforms, and guiding principles of the National Education Policy 2020. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd position holders were awarded cash prizes.

Vice-Chancellor Prof. Raghavendra P. Tiwari described NEP 2020 as a transformative initiative for higher education. He emphasized the need to adopt interactive, inquiry-based, and student-centric teaching practices that promote critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving. He urged teachers to continuously update their subject knowledge and pedagogical skills while embracing the role of mentors. Stressing the importance of multidisciplinary education, he called for developing learners with deep disciplinary expertise as well as a broad understanding across multiple fields. Marking this occasion, Prof. Tiwari also delivered an online expert lecture at ABSS 2026, being held at NIT Kurukshetra, on "Bharatiya Bhasha and the Indian Knowledge System." He highlighted the importance of Indian languages in preserving the nation's knowledge traditions and underscored their role in promoting culturally rooted and inclusive education. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Prof. Monisha Dhiman, Coordinator, NEP SAARTHI, who thanked the distinguished speakers, faculty members, students, and the organizing team for their active participation and for making the celebration of the sixth anniversary of NEP 2020 a grand success.