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In Lok Sabha, Union education minister speaks about plans to set up 'Vedic board'

The board will have blended education including both Vedic studies, modern subjects

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan | PIB/PTI

In a written reply before Lok Sabha, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had said that a school board with a mix of "Vedic and modern subjects" is being considered by the Maharshi Rashtriya Ved Vidya Pratisthan (MSRVVP), Ujjain, a body under the MHRD.

"The Central government has only two School Boards namely Central Board of Secondary Education [CBSE] and National Institute of Open Schooling [NIOS]. However, MSRVVP, Ujjain, an autonomous body under the ministry of education, has given permission for a private board for blended education including both vedic studies and modern subjects. MSRVVP, Ujjain, is also considering setting up another board for oral vedic traditions with modern subjects," Pradhan said.

On June 15, the Rajasthan government had announced that it will soon set up a Vedic Education and Sanskar Board to revive the knowledge of Sanskrit scriptures and Vedas. A committee, formed to define aims, objectives and functioning of the board, has submitted its report to the state government, Minister of State (MoS) for Sanskrit Education Subhash Garg said, adding modules will be presented before the board based on the report. He said the Vedic board would come into function after approval from Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. 

The Congress government, in its election manifesto for 2018 state assembly elections, had promised to set up the board and to take measures in order to promote Sanskrit language. In January this year, Gehlot announced to expedite the process to encourage students to carry out research on Vedas. By taking such initiatives, the Congress-led regime in the state was performing better than the previous BJP government, the MoS said.