The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 marked a major shift in India’s education system after more than three decades. It aimed to make learning more holistic, flexible, and skill-based, right from early childhood to higher education. Now, five years later, the policy’s implementation is being reviewed across states, with several new schemes, pilot projects, and curriculum changes already in place.
I chose to write about this topic because NEP 2020 affects every student, teacher, and parent in India. Whether it’s the shift to a 5+3+3+4 structure in school education or the push for mother tongue-based learning in the early years, these changes have long-term consequences. It’s important to know what’s actually been done, what remains on paper, and where we’re headed. With multiple announcements and launches by the Education Ministry, it’s easy to get lost in headlines. This article breaks down the key progress points and challenges in a simple, clear format for anyone trying to understand the big picture.
Key Achievements Under NEP 2020 So Far
In the last five years, several changes have been rolled out, some at the national level and some through state-led initiatives. Here are the major updates:
School Education
- Foundational Literacy & Numeracy (FLN): The NIPUN Bharat Mission was launched to make sure all children can read and do basic maths by Class 3.
- Curriculum Redesign: New NCERT books and curriculum are being created based on the 5+3+3+4 format. Some states like Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh have already started implementing it.
- Mother Tongue Emphasis: Efforts are on to use regional languages in early grades, especially for government school students.
- Bagless Days & Vocational Training: Schools are introducing activity-based learning and basic vocational exposure from Class 6.
- Coding and Life Skills: CBSE and other boards have started integrating coding, financial literacy, and design thinking at the middle school level.
Higher Education
- Multidisciplinary Universities: The goal is to set up at least one large multidisciplinary institution in every district by 2030. Some institutes like IITs, DU, and BHU have started offering flexible, multi-subject courses.
- Academic Bank of Credits (ABC): Allows college students to earn, transfer, and stack credits, so they can change courses or rejoin later.
- National Higher Education Qualifications Framework (NHEQF): Designed to bring all degrees under one common structure.
- Common Entrance Test (CUET): Now used widely across central universities to reduce board exam pressure and offer a single platform for admission.
Digital Push and Language Inclusion
- DIKSHA Platform: Digital content for students and teachers is available in over 33 Indian languages.
- PM eVidya and Swayam: These platforms are helping students access lessons online and through TV/radio.
- Bilingual Textbooks: Several states have started printing bilingual NCERT textbooks (like Hindi-English or Kannada-English) for easier understanding.
Where Are the Challenges?
While there’s been clear movement on several fronts, a few challenges still remain:
| Issue | Current Status |
|---|---|
| Teacher Training | Only partial implementation, especially in rural areas |
| Early Childhood Education | Many anganwadis still lack proper resources or trained staff |
| School Dropouts | NEP aims to bring dropouts back, but the numbers are still high post-pandemic |
| Vocational Training | Only a small percentage of schools offer hands-on exposure |
| Multilingual Content | Still not consistent across states or available for higher classes |
The policy has good intentions, but success depends on coordination between Centre and states. Also, teacher vacancies, lack of infrastructure, and digital inequality remain big hurdles.
My View and What Lies Ahead
As someone who has seen both urban and rural schools, I can say NEP 2020 has started good conversations — especially about flexibility, life skills, and making school less stressful. But talking about change and actually seeing it on the ground are two different things. While some students now learn coding or music alongside science, many others still sit in overcrowded classrooms with no electricity.
In the next five years, the focus should be on bridging this gap — not just with money but also with strong monitoring. Policy needs to go beyond Delhi and reach the last government school in a tribal village. That’s when NEP 2020 will really show its power.
