The University Grants Commission (UGC) officially highlighted elite Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) across India as part of its ongoing “NEP SAARTHI Corner” national campaign. Prominent educational hubs, including the IIS Deemed to be University, Jaipur in Rajasthan; the Model Institute of Engineering and Technology (MIET); and the Cluster University of Jammu in Jammu and Kashmir, are actively leading grassroots academic reforms.

The designated student ambassadors, known as NEP SAARTHIs (Student Ambassadors for Academic Reform in Transforming Higher Education in India), are peer educators tasked with breaking down policy complexities and executing strategic campus initiatives to drive the adoption of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

National Education Policy 2020: Strategic Campus Deployment 

The latest institutional showcase targets a selective, cross-regional cohort of premier campuses spearheading student-led dialogues:

  • Northern & Western Institutional Hubs:
    • Rajasthan: IIS Deemed to be University | University of Engineering & Management (UEM), Jaipur.
    • Jammu & Kashmir: Model Institute of Engineering and Technology | Cluster University of Jammu.
  • Southern Hubs: Krishna University, Madanapalle Institute of Technology & Science, Shri Gnanambica Degree College, SRKR Engineering College, and Vikram Simhapuri University across Andhra Pradesh.
  • Tech & Liberal Arts Entities: Atria University (Karnataka), Assumption College (Kerala), and Manipal Academy of Higher Education (Karnataka).

On-Ground Operations and Student Mandates

According to the official UGC UTSAH Portal Guidelines, selected campus ambassadors manage a diverse operational portfolio to transform structural targets into localised actions:

  • Setting Up NEP Help Desks: Providing face-to-face policy navigation support during institutional fests and admissions.
  • Fostering Structural Dialogues: Establishing direct feedback channels connecting students, college management, and the UGC body.
  • Executing Awareness Frameworks: Hosting localised street plays (Nukkad Nataks), competitive debates, and interactive policy quizzes.
  • Amplifying Social Footprints: Creating targeted digital campaigns to crowdsource ongoing student feedback.

What is the NEP SAARTHI initiative?

NEP SAARTHI is a UGC initiative that involves students in promoting awareness and implementation of NEP 2020 reforms.

Who can become a NEP SAARTHI?

Students pursuing certificate, diploma, undergraduate, or postgraduate programmes can be nominated as NEP SAARTHI.

What is the role of NEP SAARTHI students?

NEP SAARTHIs spread awareness about NEP 2020, organise activities, guide students, and collect feedback on education reforms.