Prof. N. Lokendra Singh, Vice Chancellor of Manipur University, participated in the two-day Vice Chancellors’ Conference of Central Universities held at Kevadia, Gujarat from July 10 to 11, 2025. The high-level event was organized by the Ministry of Education to mark five years of the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and to strategize the future course of Indian higher education.
The conference brought together Vice Chancellors from across India, including academic heads from leading Central Universities. Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of State for Education Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, and senior ministry officials were present at the event.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. N. Lokendra described the conference as a significant milestone in the evolution of higher education in India. He emphasized that the two-day discussions covered ten core aspects of digital education and institutional transformation. Prof. Lokendra also stated that he is currently serving as a member of a committee comprising five Central Universities working on key NEP initiatives.
The conference focused on reviewing institutional progress and aligning universities with NEP’s future goals under three broad themes: Strategic Alignment, Peer Learning, and Forward Planning. Deliberations addressed topics such as the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP) under the National Higher Education Qualifications Framework (NHEQF), curriculum reforms to suit emerging job markets, digital platforms like SWAYAM and AAPAR for credit transfers, the SAMARTH e-governance model, and ranking and accreditation systems.
Other important themes included inclusive education, promotion of Indian Knowledge Systems and Bhartiya Bhasha, and research initiatives like the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), PM Vidya Lakshmi, and Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship (PMRF).
The conference outcome is expected to shape a comprehensive roadmap for higher education institutions in their contribution toward achieving a developed India by 2047 under the vision of Viksit Bharat.