New Delhi, Feb 5 (IANS): The Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry on Monday began its second phase of National Assessment Survey (NAS), for examining the learning capabilities of approximately 20 lakh Class 10 students from 45,000 schools around the country.

"Second cycle of NAS is underway today, wherein 20 lakh Class 10 students from 45,000 plus schools are being assessed. This is the largest assessment on state of education done anywhere in the world," HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar said in a tweet.

Under the first phase, about 20 lakh students of Class 3, 5 and 8 were assessed on several learning outcomes. The assessment -- which was conducted last year -- published its report in January, conceding that "quality of educational outcomes is far from equal across the country".

Javadekar said his Ministry would be "preparing a time-bound action plan for improving the quality of education" based on the NAS results.