The Union Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the University Grants Commission (UGC), has launched a transformative initiative known as ASMITA (Augmenting Study Materials in Indian languages through Translation and Academic Writing) aimed at producing 22,000 books in 22 scheduled Indian languages over the next five years. This ambitious project, inaugurated by Sanjay Murthy, Secretary of Higher Education, marks a significant stride towards promoting Indian languages within the education system and it aligns closely with the objectives outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
ASMITA represents a joint effort between the UGC and Bharatiya Bhasha Samiti, a committee under the ministry dedicated to advancing Indian languages in education. The project’s primary objective is to establish a robust ecosystem for translating existing study materials and creating new academic content across various disciplines in higher education. The UGC outlined its target of developing 1,000 books in 22 languages, culminating in a total of 22,000 books, thereby enriching the educational resources available in Bharatiya Bhasha.
UGC Chairperson M Jagadesh Kumar highlighted that the initiative includes the production of 1,800 textbooks covering Arts, Science, and Commerce streams by June 2025. To ensure the project’s success, the UGC has identified 13 nodal universities to lead the initiative, supported by member universities from various regions. A Standard Operating Process (SOP) has been established for the book-writing process in each assigned language. This SOP includes the identification of nodal officers and authors, allocation of titles, subject and program coordination, writing and editing, manuscript submission, review and plagiarism checks, finalization, designing, proofreading, and e-publication.
In addition to ASMITA, the ministry also unveiled Bahubhasha Shabdakosh, a multi-language dictionary designed to capture and utilize indigenous words, phrases, and expressions across modern domains such as IT, industry, research, and education. Developed in collaboration with the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL) and Bharatiya Bhasha Samiti, this dictionary aims to preserve and promote the richness of Bharatiya languages in contemporary contexts.
These initiatives shows the commitment of the government to revitalizing Indian languages within the educational framework, fostering linguistic diversity, and enhancing access to quality education in languages reflecting India’s cultural heritage and regional diversity. By integrating ASMITA and Bahubhasha Shabdakosh into the educational landscape, the ministry and UGC aim to empower learners and educators alike, catalyzing a broader cultural and educational renaissance across the country.
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