Inclusive Education Key to Viksit Bharat: Dharmendra Pradhan Says

The Viksit Bharat vision under which India has set the target of becoming a developed nation is based on one major pillar: education that reaches every child, no matter what. Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan highlighted this point while addressing the audience in New Delhi and declared that education that is inclusive and equitable must be in the core of the country’s progress.

Pradhan pointed out that education should not only be a way of teaching. Its role should be that of a protector of dignity, creator of equal opportunity, and builder of self-reliance for every student. He placed the view that the education system is successful only when it caters to all learners including those with barriers due to disability, learning challenges, or no support at home.

The Minister delivered these remarks during the opening of the three-day Inclusive Education Summit 2026 in New Delhi. The summit, organized by the Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL) under the Ministry of Education, will take place from January 21 to 23, 2026. He called the summit a symbol of the country’s united determination to construct a sensitive, accessible, and inclusive education system.

At the same time the summit was launching, Pradhan opened the exhibition that highlighted technology-driven assistive devices for the Children with Special Needs (CwSN). Learning tools that enable students to learn better, communicate more easily, and thus take part in the school activities and classroom with more confidence were the features which the exhibition tried to highlight.

Pradhan during his speech said that inclusive education should not be viewed as a single scheme or a limited program. Rather, he termed it a national resolve that is closely tied to the Prime Minister’s message of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas. He also remarked that the number of disabilities recognized under Indian policy has risen from six to 21, which is an indication of the changing and expanding policy of the country regarding inclusion.

Among the issues raised by him was the early detection of learning difficulties such as dyslexia and dyscalculia. He claimed that early identification can make a great difference in a child’s learning journey. He further mentioned that inclusive education demands shared accountability from schools, families, and society.

Later, Pradhan took a tour of the exhibition area and expressed his gratitude for the assistive solutions made by Indian start-ups, he referred to them as innovative and world-class. He also made it clear that branding of Divyang population with dignity and equal opportunities calls for a constant job through empowering legislation, inclusive policies, and accessible infrastructure coupled with continuous innovation.

DoSEL Secretary Sanjay Kumar was one of the speakers at the event. He linked directly the inclusive education with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. He said NEP 2020 is meant to protect every child and sets a goal of 100 percent gross secondary enrollment by 2030. Also, he stated that inclusion is more than just access, and that decent learning outcomes, social development, safety, and early identification of learning disabilities are vital especially in the foundational period of education.

Smt. A. Srija, Economic Advisor to DoSEL, delineated that the summit is geared towards tackling the whole of the spectrum of inclusive education. This consists of early detection, learning participation, skills enhancement and estate of being able to take on jobs. There will also be talks around inclusive assessment, exam accommodations, and the possible pathways that support skill-building and employment for children with special needs (CwSN).

The summit is a gathering of policymakers, States and Union Territories, national institutions, education boards, experts, civil society organizations, startups, and industry partners. The intention is to bolster inclusive education policies and practices that are in line with NEP 2020 and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016.