The essence of Human Resource Development (HRD) is education, which plays a significant and remedial role in balancing the socio-economic fabric of the Country.
The origin of the Indian Education Department dates back to pre-independence days when for the first time a separate department was created in 1910 to look after education.
However, soon after India achieved its Independence on 15th August, 1947, a full-fledged Department of Education, under the Ministry of Human Resource Development, was established on 29th August 1947.
The nomenclature and responsibilities of the Education Department has undergone changes from time to time since Independence.
The MHRD works through two departments:
(i)Department of School Education & Literacy
(ii)Department of Higher Education
While the Department of School Education & Literacy is responsible for development of school education and literacy in the country, the Department of Higher Education takes care of what is one of the largest Higher Education systems of the world, just after the United States and China.