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The initiative was unveiled by Secretary Sanjay Kumar on March 31, 2026, at Kartavya Bhavan-2 in New Delhi. This move is considered an important step in strengthening inclusive career guidance under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Equal Opportunities for All Students
This initiative aims to provide equal access to career-related information and guidance to all students across the country, especially those with special needs. The Career Cards have been developed in collaboration with UNICEF India, NCERT (including CIET and PSSCIVE), Pratham Education Foundation and the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD).
Boost to NEP 2020 Goals
During the event, Sanjay Kumar highlighted that the initiative is aligned with NEP 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE 2023). Its objective is to enable every learner whether general or with special needs to explore and choose from diverse educational and career pathways. He emphasized that for India to become a knowledge-based and inclusive society, every student must be given equal opportunities to grow.
Focus on Improving the School System
The Secretary stressed the need for timely identification, assessment, and monitoring of children with special needs within the school system. He also highlighted the importance of increasing the number of trained teachers and enhancing their capacity. In this regard, NCERT, SCERT and DIET will jointly develop dedicated training modules to better equip teachers to support such students.
Special Focus on Skill Development
He further noted that skill development is a core pillar of NEP 2020. The government aims to ensure that by 2030, every student passing Class 12 possesses at least one essential skill. PSSCIVE is expected to play a key role in strengthening inclusive skill development, especially for children with special needs.
How Career Cards Will Help
These Career Cards are designed to introduce students to various career options at an early stage. Each card provides simple information about job roles, responsibilities, required qualifications and possible career pathways. This will help students make informed decisions based on their interests and abilities.
The cards will also serve as a valuable tool for teachers and counsellors, helping them guide students in planning their academic and career journeys effectively. Designed to be simple, attractive and user-friendly, the cards ensure easy understanding for all learners.
Expansion of Earlier Initiative
Earlier, NCERT, in collaboration with UNICEF, had launched a Career Guidance Book with 500 Career Cards at the Akhil Bharatiya Shiksha Samagam on July 29, 2024. Building on that effort, around 150 Career Cards have now been specially adapted for children with disabilities.
Available in Braille and Inclusive Formats
These new Career Cards have been designed to be accessible to all. Notably, they are also available in Braille format, enabling visually impaired students to benefit from them easily.
A Major Step Towards Inclusive Education
This initiative reflects the government’s commitment to making education more inclusive and accessible. It will not only empower children with special needs but also enable them to actively contribute to the nation’s development. In the coming years, this initiative is expected to play a crucial role in opening up new opportunities in education, skill development and employment.
