NEP and community service in HEIs – UGC NET Question

NEP 2020 encourages HEIs to integrate community service and service learning into academic programmes, so that students apply their knowledge in real contexts while contributing to social development, sometimes with credit-bearing components.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because excluding community service from academic programmes ignores its educational and civic value as highlighted in NEP.

Option B:
Option B is correct as it captures NEP’s idea of structured, meaningful community engagement tied to student learning and credits.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect; NEP wants students themselves to engage with communities, not restrict service only to staff.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because treating community service purely as punishment undermines its positive developmental and societal purpose.