Why in the News?

It has been five years since the introduction of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 which replaced the 1986 National Policy on Education.

About the National Education Policy, 2020:

• Origin: Drafted by a committee chaired by Dr. K. Kasturirangan under the Ministry of Education.
• 5 Core Pillars: Based on Access, Equity, Quality, Affordability, and Accountability.
• Vision: Seeks to build a knowledge society by unlocking every learner’s potential.
• Global Link: Aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 (Education for All).

Key Provisions:

• [A] School Education:

• • Curriculum Structure: Introduces 5+3+3+4 design (Foundational to Secondary), replacing 10+2.
  • ECCE Focus: Early Childhood Care and Education via Jaadui Pitara kits and play-based learning.
  • Vocational Training: Begins from Grade 6 with internships.
  • Basic Literacy & Numeracy: Achieved through National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy.
  • Language Medium: Emphasis on mother tongue/regional language up to Grade 5.
  • Assessment Reform: Launch of Performance Assessment, Review and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development (PARAKH) as a national evaluation centre.

• [B] Higher Education:

• • Four-Year Degree: Multidisciplinary courses with multiple exit points.
  • Credit Bank: Academic Bank of Credit ensures credit mobility across institutions.
  • Research Boost: National Research Foundation supports innovation and research.
  • Single Regulator: Higher Education Commission of India proposed (pending law) to replace multiple bodies.
  • Language Promotion: Establishment of Indian Institute of Translation and Interpretation for Indian languages.

Implementation Initiatives:

• Foundational Mission: NIPUN Bharat aims to achieve basic literacy and numeracy by Class 3.
• Unified Credit System: Rollout of Academic Bank of Credit and National Credit Framework.
• Common Entrance: Common University Entrance Test introduced for fair UG admissions.
• Early Prep: Vidya Pravesh – a 3-month play-based module for Grade 1 entrants.
• Tech Education in Regional Languages: Promoted by the All-India Council for Technical Education.
• Digital Backbone: National Digital Education Architecture launched to support e-learning.
• SAFAL Assessments: Structured competency-based testing in Grades 3, 5, and 8 by Central Board of Secondary Education.

Key Achievements:

• Curriculum and Textbooks: NCERT released new content for Classes 1–8.
• ECCE Adoption: Early childhood curriculum implemented in several states.
• Language Expansion: Regional language instruction expanded at foundational levels.
• Academic Flexibility: Credit-based transfer systems in use via Academic Bank of Credit and National Credit Framework.
• Global Presence: Indian Institutes such as Indian Institute of Technology (Zanzibar) and Indian Institute of Management (Dubai) now abroad.
• International Collaboration: Foreign universities invited to set up campuses under new regulations.

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