Kothari Commission

[UPSC Notes]
What is Kothari Commission 1964-66?
Kothari Commission was formed on July 14, 1964, with the major aim of increasing the level of
real education in the country. It collects all the necessary information for uplifting the Indian
education system. The collected data is then presented to the Indian Government. Along with
this, the Kothari commission is also responsible for making appropriate recommendations for
effectively formulating the Education policy.

Overview of Kothari Commission 1964-66

The highlights of the Kothari Commission 1964-66 are as follows-

Highlights Details

Kothari Commission official name National Education Commission, 1964

Kothari Commission was formed on July 14, 1964

Total Members of Kothari Commission 17

Chairman of Kothari Commission Dr Dulat Singh Kothari (D.S Kothari)

Headquarters of Kothari Commission New Delhi, India

Reports submitted on June 29, 1966

Need of the Kothari Commission

Kothari Commission was introduced to develop the existing education system. The government
observed a lot of defects in the education system and felt a strong need to come up with a
commission that would help the education system bloom in the correct way. The following
needs led to the formation of the Kothari commission in India-
• The Indian education system was not giving appropriate significance to the agriculture
system.
• The academics was divided into a lot of portions.
• The Indian education system doesn’t hold the idea of National reconstruction.
• There was no emphasis on providing spiritual or moral; values to enhance the character
formation of the students.

Objectives of the Kothari Commission

Seeing the need to change the education system in india, the Kothari commission was
established with the major objectives listed below-
• It aims to find a general pattern of education in India and evolve it in a better way.
• It works to provide policies and guidelines for developing Indian education.
• Examine every aspect ( even at a smaller level) of the Indian education sector
• It had its emphasis on two primary domains of education. These are legal education and
medical education.

Recommendations of the Kothari Commission

There were 23 recommendations of the Kothari Commission that aims to improve the quality of
the education system in India. These can be summarised as improving the quality of Textbooks,
improvement in curriculum, and objectives for national education, restructuring of education
structure, enhancing the mode of teaching, and improving the status of teachers.
The critical 23 recommendations of the Kothari Commission are as follows-
• Evaluation
• Higher Education – Enrollment
• Work Experience
• Administrative Problems
• University – Aims, Objectives, and Functions
• Adult Education
• Teacher Education
• University Autonomy
• Education on Morals and Religion
• Vocational Education
• Selective Admission
• Distance Education
• Three language formula
• Problems of Supervision and inspection
• Guidance and counseling
• Education of women
• Physical welfare of students
• Educational structures and standards
• Curriculum
• Textbook
• Methods of Teaching
• Aims of the education
• Defects in the existing education system
Here is the brief detail on the important recommendations of the Kothari Commission (1964-
1966) is as follows-
• There was a provision for compulsory and free education to all - It came out with a
provision that every child aged 6 to 14 years.
• It was of the idea that there must be three language formula, i.e., all the schools at the
state level must promote three languages which include English, Hindi, and any regional
language in case of the states where Hindi is not a speaking language.
• It focuses on the promotion of regional languages, Sanskrit, and other international
languages along with others.
• It has recommended to provide a good and favorable work environment for the teachers.
Along with this, it also favors the funding necessary to conduct education smoothly.
 • It promoted the education of the tribal, backward classes, girls, and physically and
mentally disturbed kids.
• It is recommended to put the focus on maths and science as they are a vital part of
modern education.
• It forced on setting up reforms to enhance an individual's education at the University
level. It includes the measures like putting special attention on research at the PG level
and services like labs, libraries, and funds.

Kothari Commission Report

After the tenancy of the Kothari Commission, the report was sent to the government depending
on comparative research in two years (1964 to 1966). The report was submitted on 29 June
1996. The report of the Kothari Commission was divided into four different sections. These
are-
• Section 1- This section of the report deals with the problems related to the general
education system.
• Section 2- Section 2 of the Kothari Commission report deals with the education of the
students at different stages.
• Section 3- Section 3 of the report is responsible for the implementation of the various
programs and recommendations suggested by the Kothari Commission.
• Section 4- Section 4 of the report deals with the supplementary papers.
Also, the commission suggested that there is no need for reforms to develop the education
system in India. Along with this, it suggested that the education system need not be
transformed. Instead, it should be noted that the education provided to the students must relate
to their aims, needs, life, and dreams.

Advantages of the Kothari Commission

After the Kothari Commission report, there were a lot of significant changes in the existing
education sector. These were
• The bill for the National education policy was passed in the Parliament under the
leadership of Indira Gandhi.
• The new National Education Policy came into being that changed the aligned of the
education system into the 10+2+3 pattern.
• Also, the Kothari commission was responsible for influencing the National Policy on
Education in 1986.
• The education system got separated into two boards- the Central board and the state
board.

Disadvantages of the Kothari Commission

Though the Kothari Commission was successful in bringing on the changes in the education
system. It cannot be denied that it has a lot of demerits. The disadvantages or demerits of the
Kothari Commission are as under-
• Lack of explanation- It suggested a few solutions but doesn’t give an explanation for its
implementation or how to achieve it.
• Huge financial investment- The transformation of the education system, as per the
Kothari Commission, requires a lot of financial investment.
• Conflicting- There were many people who thought that most of the recommendations
by the Commission were controversial and may lead to conflicts in the future.

• Positions of the head- There was no recommendation or suggestion over the head of
the schools or colleges.