As on date, NEP 2020 has notched tangible wins. GER in higher education climbed to 28.4% nearing 50% target. NCERT's NCF for Early Childhood (2022) and School Education (2023) integrate experiential learning; 200+ schools adopted bagless days. Vocational integration reached 40% students via Skill India-NEP synergies, with 90 lakh MSMEs benefiting

As India commemorates National Education Day on November 11, honoring the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the first Education Minister of independent India, it is an appropriate moment to reflect on the transformative potential of education in nation-building. This year, the spotlight falls on the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, a landmark reform unveiled after 34 years, replacing the 1986 policy. Envisioned as a blueprint for a "vibrant knowledge society," NEP 2020 seeks to align India's education system with 21st-century imperatives, including the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4) for inclusive and equitable quality education. Rooted in Indian values and ethos while embracing global best practices, the policy promised all round development, equity, and innovation. Yet, its journey from inception to implementation has been marked by debates, achievements, and hurdles.

Post-independence, education became a tool for nation-building, but systemic lethargy persisted. India's educational policies have evolved through pivotal commissions and reforms.  The Kothari Commission (1964–1966), chaired by D.S. Kothari, laid the foundation for the first National Policy on Education (NPE) in 1968. This policy advocated a 10+2 structure, emphasized science and technology for self-reliance, and called for 6% of GDP allocation to education—a target yet unmet. It introduced common schooling to reduce disparities but struggled with implementation amid resource constraints.

The NPE 1986, under Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and modified in 1992, shifted focus to "Operation Blackboard" for primary infrastructure and the District Primary Education Programme (DPEP) for universalization. It expanded open universities like IGNOU and rural models inspired by Gandhi's Nai Talim. However, rote learning, urban-rural divides, and low enrollment—especially for girls and marginalized castes—plagued the system. By the 2010s, with India's demographic dividend peaking (65% under 35), gaps in employability, innovation, and equity demanded radical change.

In January 2015, the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD, now Ministry of Education) formed a committee under T.S.R. Subramanian to review education. Its 2016 report highlighted issues like outdated curricula and regulatory constraints. Building on this, in June 2017, a 9-member Drafting Committee chaired by Dr. K. Kasturirangan—former ISRO chief—was constituted. Over two years, it consulted stakeholders, receiving inputs from over 2 lakh gram panchayats, 6,600 blocks, and experts. The Draft NEP 2019, a 484-page document, was released for public feedback, incorporating multilingualism and vocational integration which was approved by the Union Cabinet on July 29, 2020.

Development and key features

NEP 2020's development was participatory, drawing from global models like Finland's play-based learning and Singapore's skills focus, while indigenizing through Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS). Structured into four parts—School Education, Higher Education, Other Key Areas, and Implementation—it proposes a 5+3+3+4 structure for school years (ages 3–18), replacing 10+2 to align with cognitive stages: Foundational (3–8 years, play-based), Preparatory (8–11, language focus), Middle (11–14, inquiry-driven), and Secondary (14–18, multidisciplinary).

Core objectives include universal foundational literacy/numeracy by 2025 via a National Mission, 100% Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in school by 2030, and 50% in higher education by 2035. It promotes equity for Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs)—girls, SC/ST/OBC, minorities, disabled—through scholarships, special zones, and Gender Inclusion Funds

Higher education sees multidisciplinary universities (3,000+ students), multiple entry/exit (certificate after 1 year, degree after 3/4), and an Academic Bank of Credits. he Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) streamlines regulation into four verticals: accreditation, funding, standards, and oversight. Vocational education integrates across levels, targeting 50% exposure by 2025 via NSQF-aligned courses.

Technology is pivotal: Platforms like DIKSHA and SWAYAM enable blended learning, AI for assessments, and digital equity for remote areas. Teacher training mandates a 4-year B.Ed., 50 hours annual CPD, and National Professional Standards. The National Research Foundation (NRF) boosts R&D, funding interdisciplinary work. Financing commits to 6% GDP spend, with phased implementation via state clusters and school complexes for resource sharing.

pectrum of perspectives

NEP 2020 has polarized opinions, reflecting India's diverse stakeholder ecosystem. Proponents like Prime Minister Narendra Modi called it a shift from "what to think" to "how to think," empowering youth for Atmanirbhar Bharat. Dr. Kasturirangan emphasized flexibility, clarifying no language imposition. JNU Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit and Jamia Millia Islamia's Najma Akhtar praised its groundbreaking equity focus. Industry leaders, via Observor Research Foundation (ORF) and National Research Foundation (NRF) bridging knowledge-policy gaps.

Conversely, opposition voices critique centralization. Congress's Shashi Tharoor welcomed intent but flagged implementation woes. DMK's M.K. Stalin decried Sanskrit's "compulsory" push as anti-Tamil. Left parties like CPI(M)'s Sitaram Yechury accused it of ignoring academics and commercializing education. Feminists note gendered English access barriers, disadvantaging girls in public schools. Regional viewpoints varied: Southern states fear Hindi hegemony, while rural educators like those in Bihar decry privatization eroding public systems.

Criticisms: Hurdles in the path to equity

Despite acclaim, NEP 2020 faces sharp critiques. Foremost is commercialization: Encouraging public-private partnerships and foreign universities risks excluding SEDGs, exacerbating inequality. The Right to Education Forum argues it dilutes RTE 2009 by not legally mandating universal 3–18 schooling, relying on state discretion. Language policy sparks controversy: Mother-tongue instruction may hinder English proficiency and job mobility in a global economy, especially in multilingual states. A section of critics decry merit-based admissions undermining reservations, ignoring caste discrimination.

Challenges: Navigating the road ahead

Implementation gaps loom large: Hasty rollout during COVID ignored infrastructure deficits; overburdened Anganwadis can't deliver Early Childhood Care and Education(ECCE). Funding remains elusive—actual spend hovers at 3.1% GDP versus 6% pledged. NEP's ambitions confront stark realities. Federal tensions persist: Non-BJP states like Tamil Nadu delay over language fears; only 60% states fully onboard by 2025. Infrastructure lags—rural schools lack labs; teacher shortages (10 lakh vacancies) hinder 4-year B.Ed. rollout.

Funding crunch: Post-COVID fiscal strains cap spend at 4.6% GDP; mobilizing 6% needs tax reforms. Digital inequities: 50% rural households offline, per 2024 surveys, amplify divides. Monitoring voids: No robust metrics yet for SDG4 progress. Teacher resistance: Hierarchical mindsets clashed with NEP's empathy-driven pedagogy, as noted by educators on X. Privatization risks school closures (20,000+ since 2020), per critics. Multilingual curricula strain diverse dialects; ethical AI integration demands frameworks.

Achievements: Milestones in first five years

As on date, NEP 2020 has notched tangible wins. GER in higher education climbed to 28.4% nearing 50% target. NCERT's NCF for Early Childhood (2022) and School Education (2023) integrate experiential learning; 200+ schools adopted bagless days. Vocational integration reached 40% students via Skill India-NEP synergies, with 90 lakh MSMEs benefiting. DIKSHA (Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing) is a national platform for school education, hit 5 crore users. Another online portal SWAYAM (Study Webs of Active-Learning for Young Aspiring Minds ) offered courses in 12 Indian languages and democratized access. Teacher training surged—UGC's Malaviya Mission trained 1 lakh faculty; 4-year B.Ed. piloted in 100 institutions.

NEP 2020 stands as a bold reimagination, evolving from colonial shadows to a holistic, inclusive paradigm. Its origins in consultative reforms, development through stakeholder synergy, and features like 5+3+3+4 structure signal promise. While viewpoints range from celebratory to cautionary, achievements like rankings surge and digital reach affirm progress. Yet, criticisms on equity and challenges in funding demand vigilant course-correction. As we mark National Education Day, NEP 2020 reminds us: Education is not mere literacy but empowerment.