Back in July 2020, when the National Education Policy (NEP 2020) was launched, it wasn’t just another reform - it was a bold promise. A promise to change how India learns, thinks, and teaches. The NEP 2020, the first major policy overhaul in over three decades, came with ambitious goals: make learning holistic, student-centric, flexible, and rooted in Indian values.

From kindergarten to college, the new education policy aimed to uproot decades of outdated practices and rebuild the system on values like creativity, flexibility, and equity. Five years later, we’re all asking the same question: Has the NEP policy really delivered on what it promised?

Let’s walk through the journey-achievements, gaps, and the road ahead.

What the New Education Policy Set Out to Do

At its core, the NEP policy wanted to bring learning closer to life. Not just marks and memory games, but curiosity, skill, and inclusivity. Some of the most ambitious goals included:

• A 5+3+3+4 structure, replacing the old 10+2 model, with more emphasis on early childhood care and education (ECCE).
• Teaching in mother tongue or regional language till Class 5.
• A multidisciplinary, flexible curriculum with no hard lines between science, commerce, or humanities.
• Integration of coding, critical thinking, and vocational training from an early stage.
• Revamped higher education with multiple entry-exit points, an Academic Bank of Credits, and less regulatory clutter.

The core philosophy? Education should be accessible, equitable, and aligned with real-world skills.

Achievements: What’s Worked So Far?

The new education policy has kickstarted several key initiatives-especially in foundational learning and digital access.

1. Foundational Literacy & Numeracy

Under the NIPUN Bharat Mission, the government aims to ensure all children achieve basic reading and math skills by Grade 3 by 2026-27. As of 2024, over 90 lakh students have been assessed through FLN tools, with 56% achieving expected learning outcomes in early grades.

2. Curriculum Reforms & Bilingual Learning

• The new NCF (National Curriculum Framework) for foundational years was launched in October 2022.
• Programs like Vidya Pravesh and Jaadui Pitara are used in over 20 states to make early learning more fun and contextual.

3. Higher Education Revamp

• The Common University Entrance Test (CUET) was introduced in 2022, with over 19 lakh applicants in 2024 alone.
• The Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) has enrolled over 30 lakh students, allowing them to carry credits across universities.
• IIT Madras and IIM Bangalore now offer interdisciplinary UG programs, blending tech, arts, and design.

4. Teacher Training and PM SHRI Schools

• Over 46 lakh teachers trained through NISHTHA.
• PM SHRI Schools (14,500+ model schools) are being set up with ₹27,360 crore funding over 5 years to showcase NEP policy best practices.

5. Digital Learning

• Platforms like DIKSHA and PM e-Vidya saw exponential growth. DIKSHA alone has over 9 billion learning sessions logged since 2020 (source).
• Over 15 lakh schools are now geo-tagged and digitally profiled under the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+).

Challenges: Where Has the Policy Fallen Short?

1. Uneven Rollout Across States

• States like Tamil Nadu and Kerala have shown resistance to CUET and the 5+3+3+4 structure, citing autonomy and regional diversity.
• Only 8 states have fully adopted the new foundational curriculum so far.

2. Mother Tongue Instruction-Ideal or Impractical?

• While promoting local languages makes sense for young learners, urban schools and multilingual families face practical hurdles.
• A survey by NCERT (2023) found that only 36% of schools are ready to implement mother tongue instruction due to lack of trained teachers and resources.

3. Digital Divide Still Looms Large

While digital platforms like DIKSHA and SWAYAM have scaled up, over 25% of rural students still lack access to smartphones or stable internet.

GEO Context: How India’s Diversity Shapes the NEP Policy

India’s vast cultural and linguistic diversity means that a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work. The new education policy acknowledged this-allowing states to tailor implementation.

For example:

• Northeast states are using tribal languages and visual learning modules.
• Madhya Pradesh & Gujarat have led in foundational literacy, whereas Kerala has invested more in higher education flexibility.

This localization is key - but also complicates uniform execution.

Has NEP 2020 Moved the Needle? Impact Snapshot

• Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education rose from 26.3% in 2018-19 to 28.4% in 2022-23.
• Female enrolment crossed 50% in undergraduate programs-a first in Indian history.
• Dropout rates in early grades have dropped by 8%, thanks to NIPUN and ECCE-focused reforms.

Still, experts believe the real test of the NEP policy lies in long-term outcomes, not just input metrics.

What’s Next: Goals for the Coming Years

Here’s what the NEP’s second chapter looks like:

• Unified Higher Education Body (HECI) to replace UGC, AICTE, NCTE and make regulation simpler.
• Expansion of PM SHRI Schools: 14,500 model schools with smart classrooms, holistic learning, and vocational integration.
• Scaling up Vocational Education to reach 50% of students by 2025.
• Bridging the urban-rural digital education gap with NEP-aligned EdTech solutions.

The Verdict: Has the New Education Policy Delivered?

Five years since conception, the new education policy has certainly changed the narrative - from memorization to skill-building, from rigidity to flexibility. But the delivery has been uneven and sometimes lost in translation.

• To truly make an impact, the next phase must focus on:
• Greater state-level support and coordination,
• Consistent funding and teacher empowerment,
• And more importantly-bridging the equity gap across geographies and income levels.

The NEP policy isn’t a short sprint - it’s a marathon. And while we’ve taken strong early strides, the finish line is still far ahead. The groundwork is laid. The next five years will determine whether this policy can move from paper to possibility, and from possibility to permanent progress.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)

Q1. What is the New Education Policy 2020 in India?
The new education policy (NEP 2020) is a comprehensive reform introduced by the Indian government to transform the education system from foundational to higher levels, focusing on flexibility, skill development, and equity.

Q2. What are the key features of the NEP policy?
Key features include a new 5+3+3+4 structure, teaching in regional languages till Class 5, multidisciplinary learning, CUET for college admissions, and a focus on foundational literacy and vocational training.

Q3. Has the NEP policy achieved its goals after five years?
The NEP policy has made progress in foundational learning, teacher training, and higher education reforms. However, implementation is uneven across states, and challenges remain.

Q4. What are the criticisms of the new education policy?
Critics cite practical issues with mother-tongue instruction, digital divides, lack of uniform rollout, and concerns over centralization through CUET and HECI.

Q5. What lies ahead for NEP implementation in India?
Future plans include full-scale deployment of PM SHRI schools, vocational training for 50% of students by 2025, and replacing existing regulatory bodies with HECI.