Gujarat launches PARAKH Cell to shift school assessments toward competency-based learning

Gujarat has launched a state-level PARAKH Cell to move school assessments toward competency-based learning and introduced DigiLocker access for Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets after results are declared.

Education Minister Pradyuman Vaja inaugurated the PARAKH Cell at the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board headquarters in Gandhinagar and launched the digital mark-sheet facility as part of the state's implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

Vaja said the NEP was driving changes across India's education system and that Gujarat was working to ensure quality education alongside a transparent assessment framework.

"With the launch of the PARAKH Cell, students will be freed from rote learning and move towards competency-based education," Vaja said.

Under the new DigiLocker facility, students who appear for Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations will be able to access their digital mark sheets after the results are announced. The documents can be downloaded through the DigiLocker app.

The Gujarat government has already uploaded the mark sheets of around one crore students who appeared for examinations between 2021 and 2026 on DigiLocker.

The digital records are expected to make the process of verifying educational documents faster and simpler for students seeking higher education and employment opportunities in India and abroad.

Vaja said the use of technology in education would further strengthen the state's education system. He also congratulated the Education Department and Gujarat Board officials for completing the digitalization process through coordinated efforts.

The PARAKH Cell will operate at the state level under the framework of PARAKH, or Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development.

PARAKH was established by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) as the National Assessment Centre.

The state-level cell will work on developing competency-based question banks and assessment tools under the PARAKH framework. It will also support the implementation of the Holistic Progress Card (HPC), with adaptations to suit Gujarat's language and curriculum requirements.

The cell will further provide training and guidance to teachers and question paper setters on contemporary assessment methods. The initiative is aimed at strengthening assessment practices and moving them away from an emphasis on rote learning.

Technology will also be used to make the assessment process more transparent and robust. This includes PARAKH ITMS, which will support the modernization of assessment practices in the state.

The launch was attended by Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board Chairman MA Pandya, Gujarat State Board of School Textbooks Chairman Manubhai Pavra and GSEB Secretary RR Vyas, along with board officials and employees.