The National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) is a comprehensive policy framework approved by the Union Cabinet of India on July 29, 2020, outlining the vision for a new education system in the country. Its origin lies in the need to overhaul the education structure that had been governed by the previous National Policy on Education, 1986, for 34 years. The policy was drafted by a committee led by former ISRO Chief Dr. K. Kasturirangan, with the goal of transforming India into a vibrant knowledge society and a global knowledge superpower, aligning with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The NEP 2020 works by introducing major structural and pedagogical reforms. In school education, it replaces the 10+2 curricular structure with a 5+3+3+4 model, which brings the age group of 3-6 years under the formal school curriculum for the first time. A key provision is the focus on achieving universal foundational literacy and numeracy by 2025. For higher education, the policy proposes a broad-based, multi-disciplinary undergraduate program of 3 or 4 years with multiple entry and exit options, such as a Certificate after 1 year or a Bachelor's with Research after 4 years. It also aims to increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education to 50% by 2035.
The policy connects to the institutional structure of the government by replacing the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) with the Ministry of Education. It also proposes the establishment of the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) as a single umbrella body for higher education, which is intended to replace the existing University Grants Commission (UGC). The policy also mandates that a 4-year Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) will be the minimum degree qualification for school teachers by 2030. The most significant change is the replacement of the National Policy on Education, 1986, with the new policy, while the constitutional status of education as a Concurrent List subject remains the same.