The oldest university of education in the Ancient India is Nalanda and Takshasila. Nalanda University was established by Kumara Gupta. Nalanda University was destroyed by Bakhtiyar Khilji.
The new Nalanda University was setup at Rajgir in Bihar (2010). The Nalanda University was formally inaugurated in 2014 September by Sushama Swaraj (Ex External Affairs Minister).
The ancient University Takshasila was located at Rawalpindi (Pakistan).
Buddhist learning in India during the Pala dynasty is Vikramasila. Vikramasila was established by Dharmapal.
The Santiniketan was established by Rabindranath Tagore (in 1901). The Santiniketan was renamed as Visva Bharati in 1921. Motto of Visva Bharati University is Tatra visvam bhavatyekanidam (where the world makes a home in a single nest). The Chancellor of Visva Bharati University is Prime Minister.
Asiatic Society for Asiatic study was established in 1784 in Kolkata by William Jones.
First College in India is CMS College Kottayam (1817).
First women's college in India is Bethune College (1879).
First Medical College in India is Kolkata.
In 1825, Vedantha College was set up by Raja Ram Mohan Roy.
In 1877, Muhammadan Anglo oriental college was set up by Syed Ahmed Khan.
In 1920, Muhammedan Anglo Oriental College was renamed as Aligarh Muslim University.
Education is included in Concurrent list of the Constitution. It is included in the Concurrent list by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment of 1976. Before 1976, Education was in State List.
Lord Macaulay's minute (1835) made English the medium of instruction in government schools and colleges.
The first comprehensive plan for the spread of education in India was Wood's Despatch (1854). It made medium of instruction English for Higher studies and vernacular at school levels. The Governor General of India at the time of Wood's Despatch is Dalhousie. The Magna Carta of education in India is also Wood's Despatch.
The Universities of Calcutta, Bombay and Madras were set up in 1857 (According to Wood’s despatch). The Governor General at the time when Universities of Calcutta, Bombay and Madras was set up is Lord Canning.
Punjab University was set up in 1882.
Allahabad University was set up in 1887.
New policy of Education was announced in 1986.
The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act has come into force on April 1, 2010
NEEM is National Elementary Education Mission. It is formed in 1995 aims at Universalisation of Elementary Education.
Open University in India was established under the recommendation of G. Parthasarathi Committee. Largest Open University in India is IGNOU (Indira Gandhi National Open University).
IGNOU was set up under an act of Parliament in 1985. India's first sign language institute established by IGNOU is Indian sign Language Research and Training Centre, New Delhi. The Motto of IGNOU is “The people's university”. The Head Quarters of IGNOU is at Delhi. The educational TV channel of IGNOU is Gyan Darshan.
The committee related to the establishment of IIT is Nalini Rajan Sarkar Committee. First IIT in India is Kharagpur (West Bengal - 1951). The name IIT was given by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. There are 23 Indian Institute of Technologies (IITs) in India. They are at Mumbai, Chennai, Kanpur, Delhi, Kharagpur, Roorkee, Guwahati, Rupnagar, Bhubaneswar, Hyderabad, Gandhinagar, Patna, Jodhpur, Mandl, Indore, Varanasi, Palakkad, Tirupati, Dhanbad, Bhilal, Goa, Jammu and Dharwad.
There are 20 Indian Institute of Managements (IIMs). They are at Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, Kozhikode, Indore, Shillong, Ranchi, Rohtak, Raipur, Trichy, Udaipur, Kashipur, Nagpur, Amritsar, Bodh Gaya, Sirmaur, Vishakhapatnam, Sambalpur and Jammu.
First IIM in India is Kolkata (1961 Nov. 13).
First IIM in Kerala is Kozhikode (1998).
First town in India to achieve full literacy is Kottayam (1989).
The first Indian District to achieve full literacy is Ernakulam (1990).
The first State to become fully literate is Kerala (1991).
SCERT is State Council for Educational Research and Training.
NCERT is National Council for Educational Research and Training formed in 1961.
The apex body for school education in India is NCERT.
The International University established by the eight member nations of SAARC is South Asian University (SAU). The South Asian University (SAU) is located at New Delhi. SAU started its operations from 2010.
India's first broadband network on EDUSAT for schools is VICTERS (Virtual Class Technology on Edusat for Rural Schools).
The Indian Government programme aimed at the universalisation of elementary education of making free and compulsory education to children of age 6-14 is SSA (Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan)
District Primary Education Programme (DPEP) was launched in 1994. The first state to introduce DPEP is Uttar Pradesh.
The scheme introduced to bring about substantial improvement in Primary Schools by providing all basic amenities is Operation Blackboard. Operation Blackboard was launched in 1987-88.
The Education concept of kindergarten was proposed by Friedrich Frobel.
The Education concept of montessori method proposed by Maria Montessori.
The Educational system Nai Talim was proposed by Mahatma Gandhi.
The Wardha Scheme of Education was also proposed by Mahatma Gandhi.
The concept of Sainik School was proposed by V.K. Krishna Menon.
The first state in India that makes physical education part of school curriculum is Kerala.
The first state in India to start chess programme in schools is Gujarat (2nd Tamil Nadu).
NLM (National Literacy Mission) was launched on May 5, 1988.
Netaji Subhash Saksharata Mission was launched to eradicate illiteracy in the Country.
The highest literate state in India is Kerala (Second place goes to Mizoram.).
The Central Advisory Board on Education, (CABE) the highest advisory body was established in 1920.
CABE advices the central & state governments for Education related matters.
The 86th Constitutional Amendment on December 14, 2002 mandates Free and Compulsory Education for all children in the age group of 6-14. The article added by the 86th Constitutional Amendment is Article 21 A.
‘Bharat Shiksha Kosh’ was launched officially on 9 January 2003. It was started to facilitate donations including smaller amounts from India and abroad for implementing projects/ programmes connected with the education sector.
World’s first Petroleum & Energy Studies University is at Uttaranchal.
National Council for Teacher Education was established in 1995 to achieve planned and co-ordinated development of Teacher Education system.
National Bal Bhavan was founded by Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru in 1956 for children in the age group of 5-16 years. It is under Ministry of Human Resource Development.
The National Programme of Nutritional support of Primary Education (NPSPE) is popularly known as Mid-Day Meal Scheme. Mid-Day Meal Scheme was started on August 15, 1995.
The education programme launched in Rajasthan with the collaboration of Sweden is Lok Junibish.
The Jayaprakash Narayan National Centre for Excellence in Humanities is established in the state, Madhya Pradesh.
The National Centre for Himalayan Studies is established in Uttarakhand.
The new teachers training programme to infuse new training tools and motivate teachers is Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya Teachers Training Programme.
The National University for Police Sciences and International Security (NUPSIS) was established in the state, Kerala.
India's first science school launched in 2013 is Vikram Sarabhai Science School (Kochi).
Centrally sponsored scheme for Introduction of Yoga in Schools was launched in 1989 -90.
A co-educational residential school called Jawaharlal Navodya Vidyalaya was established in 1986.
Central Institute of English & Foreign Language (CIEFL) is at Hyderabad.
Central Institute of Indian Languages is in Mysore.
Indian Council for Historical Research (ICHR) New Delhi was set up in 1972.
The Indian Council of Philosophical Research (ICPR), New Delhi was set up in 1977.
The Indian Institute of Advanced Studies (IIAS) of Shimla was set up in 1965.
The Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) is in New Delhi.
Indian government has launched Saakshar Bharat Mission for Female Literacy on 8th September 2009.
Rajiv Gandhi Aviation University is in Raibareli (UP).
Atal Bihari Vajapayee Hindi University is in Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh).
University that has Radio Station of its own is Vallabhai Patel University (Gujarat).
National Mission for Secondary education launched in 2009 to improve the quality of education in secondary level is Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan
NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council) was setup in1994.
SCERT (State Council Educational Research and Training) was set up in 1994.
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan was founded by K.M. Munshi (founded in 1938).
The scheme of development for higher education in India initiated in 2013 by Govt. of India is Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA)
Navodaya Vidyalaya is present all over India, except the state, Tamil Nadu.
UGC (University Grants Commission)
UGC was established on December 28, 1953.
UGC became a statutory organ by an Act of Parliament in 1956.
The University Grants Commission provides funds for government recognised universities and colleges.
The Headquarters of UGC is in New Delhi.
UGC -NET (National Eligibility Test) exams for the appointments of teachers in colleges and universities to be conducted by CBSE (former NET exams conducted by UGC). UGC was formerly inaugurated by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. UGC was set up by the recommendation of the commission, Radhakrishnan Commission. The Motto of UGC is Gyan “Vigyan Vimuktaye”.
UGC was setup in the First Five Year Plan. The First Chairman of UGC is Dr. Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar.
EDUCATION COMMISSIONS
Charter Act : In 1813, through the Charter Act, the British government sanctioned to the Company a lakh of rupees for educational development.
Hunter Commission (1882-83) : It is the first education commission in India. Hunter Commission was appointed to study about Primary and Secondary education. Hunter Commission was appointed by Lord Rippon.
Sergeant Commission (1944) : It was a full fledged education plan for the future educational reconstruction in India. This scheme has a historical impact as it was the first challenge to enlarge a National system for education in India.
Radhakrishnan Commission (1948-49). It is the first introduced education commission in Independent India. Radhakrishnan Commission was appointed to reform the University Education in the Country. It recommended 12 years of Pre-University Education. The University Grants Commission was set up in 1953 as recommended by Radha Krishnan Commission.
Mudaliar Commission (1952) : Mudaliar Commission put forward the idea of multipurpose school and recommended an 11-year pattern of school education. Mudaliar Commission is popularly known as Secondary Education Commission.
Kothari Commission (1964-66) : Kothari Commission was set up to advice on the national pattern of education. It recommended free, universal and compulsory education upto age of 14; three language formula - Mother tongue, Hindi and English and development of Regional languages.
National Policy on Education : The central government of India formulated the National Policy on Education (NPE) in 1986 and also reinforced the Programme of Action (POA) in 1986.
FIRST UNIVERSITIES IN INDIA
First University in India is Calcutta University.
First Woman's University in India is Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey Women's University (Mumbai, established by D.K. Karvey).
First Medical University in India is Vijayawada.
First Liberal Arts University in India is Tagore University for Liberal Arts (Pune).
First Yoga University in India is Lakulish Yoga University (Ahmedabad).
First Pravasi University is in Bangalore.
First Open University in India is B.R. Ambedkar Open University (Andhra Pradesh Open University).
First agricultural University in India is Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture & Technology (Uttarakhand).
First University for the physically handicapped is Jagadguru Rambhadracharya Handicapped University (Uttar Pradesh).
First Sports University in India is Pune.
First University to start Distance Education Course is Delhi University.
First Tribal University in India is Indira Gandhi National Tribal University Amarkantak (Madha Pradesh).
First Law University in India is National Law School of India University Bangalore.
First Budget Study Centre in India is K.M. Mani Centre for Budget Studies (by CUSAT University).
First Defence University in India is Indian National Defence University located in Binola Village of Gurgaon of Haryana.
DEEMED UNIVERSITY
Deemed University is a status of autonomy granted by Department of Higher Education on the advice of UGC under the UGC Act.
The state with most deemed Universities in India is Tamil Nadu.
First deemed University in India is Indian Institute of Science Bangalore.
First deemed University in Kerala is Kerala Kalamandalam (Thrissur).
Lakshmibai National College of Physical Education is at Thiruvananthapuram (Kariavattom).
Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education is at Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh).
IMPORTANT DAYS
National Education Day : November 11 (Birthday of Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad, the first Education Minister of India)
National Teachers Day : September 5 (Birthday of Dr. Radha Krishnan)
