Question

Given below are two statements: Assertion (A): Since last five years the Government of India is spending six percent of GDP on education. Reason (R): The NEP 2020 reiterates Kothari Commission's recommendation to spend six percent of GDP on education. Choose the most appropriate answer.

• A. Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
• B. Both (A) and (R) are correct but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
• C. (A) is correct but (R) is not correct
• D. (A) is not correct but (R) is correct

Hint:

A recommendation to spend \(6\%\) of GDP on education is different from actually spending \(6\%\) of GDP.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Question:

• This question involves an Assertion and a Reason regarding India's public spending on education and policy recommendations.

• We need to check if the government actually spends 6% of its GDP on education and if NEP 2020 recommends this target based on the Kothari Commission.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:

• Evaluating Assertion (A): While the Government of India has committed to increasing education funding, actual public spending on education (combined center and states) has remained around 3% to 4.5% of GDP over the last five years. It has not yet reached the 6% of GDP target. Thus, Assertion (A) is factually incorrect.

• Evaluating Reason (R): The Kothari Commission (1964-66) was the first to recommend that public investment on education should be increased to at least 6% of GDP to ensure quality and equity in education. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 explicitly reiterates this recommendation, urging both the Center and States to work together to reach this 6% of GDP target. Thus, Reason (R) is correct.

• Since Assertion (A) is incorrect but Reason (R) is correct, the correct choice is Option (D).

Step 3: Final Answer:
The correct option is (D).