Guru Nanak varsity curriculum to align with NEP: Bains

Education minister Harjot Singh Bains on Friday stated that Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) will introduce 50 skill-based courses, dual degree programs with foreign institutes, and an Ethical AI Centre from the 2025-26 session to enhance its academic standards.

- HT Correspondent

CHANDIGARH: Education minister Harjot Singh Bains on Friday stated that Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) will introduce 50 skill-based courses, dual degree programs with foreign institutes, and an Ethical AI Centre from the 2025-26 session to enhance its academic standards.

Responding to Amritsar North legislator Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh's starred query during question hour in the budget session, Bains said the curriculum will be aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, featuring an interdisciplinary approach, the academic bank of credits, and multi entry-multi exit programmes.

"Quality control will be ensured through the Internal Quality Assurance Cell. The university will also promote research, industrial training, start-ups, and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) among faculty," he said. Kanwar Vijay also drew the minister's attention to the issue of contractual teachers.

He highlighted that the School of Financial Studies has nine regular and 26 contractual and part-time teachers. Similarly, the Punjabi department has three regular and seven contractual and part-time teachers, the English department has four regular and seven contractual and part-time teachers and the computer science department has six regular and 22 contractual heads of departments with the vice-chancellor of GNDU.

PRTC to induct 550 buses in its fleet: minister

PRTC has initiated the process to purchase 450 ordinary, 100 midi buses and hire 100 ordinary buses under the kilometre scheme in financial years 2025-26 and 2026-27.

Transport minister Laljit Singh Bhullar stated this in response to Budhlada MLA Budh Ram's question regarding a massive shortage of PRTC buses in his constituency and the resultant closure of rural routes.