NEP critical creative thinking – UGC NET Question

NEP 2020 highlights the importance of developing critical and creative thinking among all students, irrespective of their principal field of study. Exposure to arts and humanities is seen as a way to cultivate these abilities by broadening perspectives and encouraging reflection. The stem refers to this purpose of such exposure, so “critical and creative” thinking is the most accurate completion. Hence, Option C is correct.

Option A:
Narrow thinking suggests limited viewpoints and unwillingness to question assumptions, which conflicts with NEP’s goal of open-minded inquiry. Therefore, Option A is incorrect.

Option B:
Mechanical thinking implies rigid, repetitive approaches without imagination, which is contrary to creativity and critical analysis. Thus, Option B is incorrect.

Option C:
Option C is correct because arts and humanities exposure is intended to broaden perspectives and foster both critical analysis and creativity as per NEP 2020’s holistic education vision.

Option D:
Purely rote thinking is based on memorisation without understanding—something NEP 2020 explicitly criticises and seeks to move away from. Therefore, Option D is incorrect.