National Education Policy 2020

The basics

• The Union Cabinet approved NEP 2020 on 29 July 2020.
• It replaced the 1986 policy, which had been revised in 1992.
• A committee led by K. Kasturirangan drafted it.
• The old Human Resource Development Ministry was renamed the Ministry of Education.

The 5+3+3+4 school structure

• The old 10+2 system is replaced by four stages.
• Foundational (ages 3–8): three years of preschool plus Classes 1–2.
• Preparatory (ages 8–11): Classes 3–5.
• Middle (ages 11–14): Classes 6–8.
• Secondary (ages 14–18): Classes 9–12.
• The aim is to bring early childhood care into the school system.

A flexible degree

• The Four-Year Undergraduate Programme has several exit points.
• One year gives a certificate. Two years give a diploma.
• Three years give a degree. Four years give a degree with research.
• Students can mix science, arts and commerce subjects.

Tools that make it work

• The Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) stores a student’s credits and lets them move between institutions.
• APAAR is a unique 12-digit student ID, linked to ABC, DigiLocker and Aadhaar.
• As of June 2026, over 26 crore verified APAAR IDs had been generated.
• NEP also plans a single higher-education regulator and a National Research Foundation.

Language and vocational learning

• NEP recommends teaching in the mother tongue or regional language until at least Class 5, wherever possible.
• Vocational exposure is meant to start by Class 6, with internships.
• It targets at least half of learners getting vocational exposure by 2025, with schools working with ITIs, polytechnics and local industry.
• Board exams are meant to become less stressful, with a chance to retake.

The targets and the gap

• NEP aims for a Gross Enrolment Ratio of 50% in higher education by 2035. It was 26.3% at approval.
• It recommends public education spending of 6% of GDP.
• Actual spending has stayed nearer 3.5–4%.
• A policy goal and a funded reality can stay apart for years.

Why states push back

• Education is on the Concurrent List. States run most schools.
• So a national policy depends on state consent.
• Language is the most sensitive part. See The States Reorganisation Commission.
• The wider balance is in Centre-State Relations and Regionalism in India.

Slow adoption

• By early 2025, over 105 universities, including 19 central universities, had adopted NEP reforms.
• Uptake elsewhere has been slower.
• Equity gaps like girls’ schooling still need separate action. See Girl-Child Education in India.
• For the wider system, see Education in India.

Funds versus the formula

• The Centre withheld ₹2,151.59 crore of Samagra Shiksha funds from Tamil Nadu. This is its 60% share of a ₹3,585.99 crore outlay for 2024–25.
• Release was tied to the state adopting NEP 2020 and joining PM SHRI. Source: Swarajya.
• Tamil Nadu calls this a breach of cooperative federalism.
• From 2026–27, the three-language formula makes a third language compulsory from Class VI. Several non-Hindi states fear Hindi imposition. Source: The Federal.
• Telangana’s state universities resolved to implement NEP 2020 from 2026–27. Source: Telangana Today.
• Link: Smart Cities and AMRUT also run on Centre–state funding conditions.