Kothari Commission UPSC Notes: Need, Objectives & Recommendations

Kothari Commission 1964-66 is also known as National Education Commission. The Government of India established this ad hoc commission to investigate all aspects of the Indian educational system, create a general framework for education, and make recommendations for rules and policies to develop guidelines for the education sector in India. The head of the Kothari Commission was Daulat Singh Kothari.

Kothari Commission UPSC is one of the most important topics for the UPSC IAS exam. It covers a significant part of the governance subject in the Mains General Studies Paper-II syllabus and General Studies Paper-1 of the UPSC Prelims Syllabus.

UPSC aspirants must understand the Kothari Commission and its objectives. The Kothari Commission plays a significant role in India's policy-making and educational planning.This topic will be helpful for the upcoming UPSC Civil Service Exam. Check the following article on Kothari Commission to know more about its objectives and the recommendations made by the commission on the education system in India.

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What is the Kothari Commission?

The Kothari Commission was a turning point in India's education history. Known as the Indian Education Commission 1964-66, it aimed to reform the entire education system. The Government of India established the National Education Commission (1964–1966), also known as the Kothari Commission, as an ad hoc commission to review all facets of the Indian educational system, develop a general pattern of education, and provide recommendations for guidelines and policies to advance education in India. The head of the University Grants Commission at the time, Professor Daulat Singh Kothari, was chosen to lead this educational committee. The committee's core group included 17 people in addition to him. Twenty international education professionals from various countries made up the Kothari Education Commission's consultation panel.

The Kothari Commission gave key recommendations on structure, curriculum, and equality in education. Its impact is still felt today. The main objectives of the Kothari Commission were clear and focused. Towards the end of the third five-year plan, the educational commission called Kothari Commission was appointed with the following objectives:

• To review the educational system comprehensively to initiate a new and more determined effort at scholarly reconstruction.
• Formulating an educational pattern and policies would develop education at all aspects and stages and recommend the same to the Government of India.

Structure Proposed by Kothari Commission 1964-66

The Kothari Commission 1964-66 proposed a new structure to make education uniform across India.

• 10 years of school education: 5 years primary, 3 years upper primary, 2 years secondary
• 2 years of higher secondary

• 3 years of university degree

• This 10+2+3 system became the foundation of modern Indian schooling.

Study the Education System In India During British Rule here.

Need For Kothari Commission (1964-66)

The Kothari Commission was set up in 1964. It submitted its report in 1966. The Kothari Education Commission was felt to be necessary after some flaws in the nation’s current educational system, such as:

• The idea of national reconstruction is not mentioned in the educational system.
• The education system does not give adequate importance to agriculture.
• The educational system did not prioritise the development of students’ moral and spiritual values.
• The academics part was emphasized too much.
• The education system does not focus on the formation of character.

Study Various Commissions and their Recommendations here.

Task Forces and Working Groups of Kothari Commission

The Kothari Commission is also known as the Indian Education Commission. The Commission consisted of 12 task forces:

• School Education,
• Higher Education,
• Technical Education,
• Agricultural Education,
• Adult Education,
• Science Education and Research,
• Teacher Training and Teacher Status,
• Student Welfare,
• New Techniques and Methods,
• Manpower,
• Educational Administration and,
• Educational Finance.
• In addition to the task force, it also had seven working groups:
  • Women’s Education,
  • Education of Backward Classes,
  • School Buildings,
  • School-Community Relations,
  • Statistics,
  • Pre-Primary Education, and,
  • School Curriculum.

Also, check out the Right to Education Act (RTE) article here.

Kothari Commission Recommendations

The Kothari commission report was submitted on 29th June 1966 to M.C.Chagla, the then minister of education. The information consists of 4 volumes in which 19 chapters are dealt. The Kothari Commission report became a guiding document for the National Policy on Education.

The Kothari Commission proposed a total of 23 recommendations to reform the education system in India. These recommendations encompassed various aspects of education, including:

• Identifying shortcomings in the current education system.
• Establishing clear goals for education.
• Enhancing teaching methodologies.
• Improving textbooks.
• Designing a well-rounded curriculum.
• Elevating educational standards and structures.
• Ensuring the well-being of students.
• Focusing on women's education.
• Providing guidance and counseling services.
• Addressing challenges in supervision and inspection.
• Implementing the three-language formula.
• Incorporating distance education.
• Adhering to selective admission criteria.
• Expanding vocational education.
• Integrating moral and religious education.
• Granting autonomy to universities.
• Enhancing teacher education.
• Promoting adult education.
• Defining the aims and functions of universities.
• Tackling administrative issues.
• Incorporating work experience in education.
• Addressing higher education enrollment.
• Improving evaluation methods.

These recommendations put forth by the Kothari Commission aimed to reshape and enhance the educational landscape of India comprehensively.

Key Highlights on the Kothari Commission Recommendations 

Some of the recommendations are listed in the table below.

Also, check the Hunter education commission here.

Implemented Recommendations of Kothari Commission

The Government of India implemented some of the important recommendations of the Kothari Commission by including them under the National Policy on Education. Some of them are as follows,

• Adoption of 10+2+3 years pattern of educational structure.
• Free and compulsory education should be provided to all children up to the age of 14, fulfilling Article 45, a directive principle of the Indian Constitution.
• Implementation of three-language formula and development of Sanskrit and regional languages.
• Adoption of a common school system for equalization of educational opportunity across the country.
• High priority is to be given to science education and research. Also, importance should be given to the development of education for agriculture and industry.
• To improve the physical fitness and sportsmanship of the students, gaming and sports activities should be promoted.

These Kothari Commission 1964-66 objectives recommendations helped shape India’s modern education framework. 

Education is the most powerful instrument for the development of any country. This fact was realized long back by the leaders of the Indian Independence movement, who emphasised the spread of education in the country. It is essential to reconstruct the country's education system based on recommendations made by the Kothari Education Commission to achieve economic and social development. 

Also, check the article on the National Human Rights Commission here.

Important Facts about the Kothari Commission for UPSC

The Kothari Commission was the first comprehensive education commission in independent India. It introduced the 10+2+3 system and emphasized equality, quality, and productivity in education.

• The Kothari Commission (1964-66) was appointed to assess India's educational system and recommend a national pattern of education and the policies and principles that would develop education at all levels.
• Kothari commission is famous for creating policies and guidelines for developing education in India.
• Though the commission was authorized to look into and make recommendations on legal and medical education, they were excluded by the commission.
• Twelve task forces and seven working groups were set up by the commission to study various issues and problems related to the education system.
• Some of the recommendations made by the commission were included in the National Policy on Education, 1968.

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