At a glance
India’s national education policy, approved in 2020, which replaces the National Policy on Education of 1986. It sets the direction for both school and higher education, and national school programmes since 2020, such as NIPUN Bharat and the new curriculum frameworks, are steps to put it into practice.
For schools, its main changes are a 5+3+3+4 structure that brings ages 3 to 6 into school education, a priority on foundational literacy and numeracy, teaching in the home language where possible, and assessment that tests understanding rather than memory.
Education is on the Concurrent List, so the Centre and the States and Union Territories implement the policy together.
Key steps so far: NIPUN Bharat (2021), the curriculum framework for the foundational stage (2022), the national assessment centre PARAKH (2023), and the curriculum framework for school education (2023) (as of October 2026).
Goals
Key goals of NEP 2020 for school education
The policy sets goals for every stage of school, from the early years to Grade 12.
Universal access
Bring every child into school, with a 100% Gross Enrolment Ratio from pre-school to secondary level by 2030, and bring out-of-school children back into education.
Early childhood care and education
Provide quality early childhood care and education for all children no later than 2030, so that every child entering Grade 1 is ready for school.
Foundational literacy and numeracy
Make reading, writing, and basic arithmetic by Grade 3 the highest priority, through a national mission.
A 5+3+3+4 structure
Replace the 10+2 structure with four stages, Foundational, Preparatory, Middle, and Secondary, for ages three to 18.
A broader, flexible curriculum
Reduce content to core essentials and remove hard separations between arts and sciences, curricular and extracurricular activities, and academic and vocational streams.
Home language and multilingualism
Wherever possible, teach in the home language, mother tongue, local language, or regional language until at least Grade 5, and preferably till Grade 8 and beyond.
Vocational education from Grade 6
Give every student hands-on exposure to vocational skills from Grade 6, including internships.
Assessment for learning
Move from rote, exam-centred testing to regular, competency-based assessment, with a holistic progress card and a national assessment centre, PARAKH.
Teachers and teacher education
Set National Professional Standards for Teachers and make a four-year integrated Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) degree the minimum teaching qualification by 2030.
Equity and inclusion
Close gaps in access and learning for socio-economically disadvantaged groups, including through Special Education Zones in areas with large disadvantaged populations.
Technology in education
Use technology to improve teaching, learning, assessment, planning, and administration, with guidance from an autonomous National Educational Technology Forum (NETF).
Source: National Education Policy 2020, Ministry of Human Resource Development, and the Press Information Bureau (29 July 2020).
