International publishers agree to partner in introducing UG textbooks in Indian languages: UGC chairman

NEW DELHI: University Grants Commission (UGC) chairman Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar met international publishers today to introduce undergraduate-level English textbooks in Indian languages. The UGC has formed an apex committee to prepare a road map and work towards bringing out textbooks in different Indian languages.

The UGC chairman said, “Today met representatives from Wiley India, Springer Nature, Taylor & Francis, Cambridge University Press India, Cengage India, and McGraw-Hill India to discuss bringing out Undergraduate English textbooks in Indian languages.”

In a latest development, “All the international publishers have expressed their willingness to partner in this national mission,” he added.

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) on November 29 launched the Engineering Book Discussion calendar in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) to make technical education accessible in Indian mother tongues.

The council had initiated the technical book writing scheme in the year 2021-22 to provide study material in Indian languages.

All the international publishers have expressed their willingness to partner in this national mission. UGC has formed an Apex committee to prepare a road map and work towards bringing out textbooks in different Indian languages. pic.twitter.com/YJ9V7tTajb

— Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar (@mamidala90) December 7, 2022

Some states have also started initiatives to translate textbooks in Indian languages. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath announced that some medical (MBBS) and engineering courses will be available in Hindi too from the upcoming year.

The Madhya Pradesh government’s pilot project launched three MBBS subject textbooks in Hindi, several states have also announced to impart MBBS, engineering education in the regional languages.