Five Years of NEP 2020: Achievements, Missed Opportunities, and the Path to Universal Education in India
Five Years of NEP 2020: Achievements, Missed Opportunities, and the Path to Universal Education in India
Introduction
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, launched on July 29, 2020, represents a transformative vision for India’s education system, aiming for universal school education (100% Gross Enrolment Ratio [GER] by 2030) and a 50% GER in higher education by 2035. On its fifth anniversary, the Akhil Bharatiya Shiksha Samagam (ABSS) 2025, held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, celebrated NEP’s milestones. The seminar, organized by the Ministry of Education, featured a keynote address by Union Minister of Education Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, who emphasized NEP 2020 as a cornerstone of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India). This article, drawing on data from UDISE+, Samagra Shiksha, and the document 29th July, 2025 5th Year of NEP,2025.pdf, critically evaluates NEP’s achievements, missed opportunities, and the feasibility of achieving its GER targets. It examines changes in government schools and aligns with the mission of Education for All in India, a platform dedicated to data-driven educational insights.
Akhil Bhartiya Shiksha Samagam 29th July 2025 5th Year of NEP 2020
Five Years of NEP 2020: Major Achievements in Indian Education
Review of Literature
NEP 2020 replaces the 1986 National Policy on Education, introducing a 5+3+3+4 school structure, multidisciplinary higher education, and mother-tongue instruction. Arun et al. (2022) praise its holistic approach but highlight infrastructure deficits and uneven state-level implementation. Kumar et al. (2021) emphasize the need for 6% GDP expenditure on education, a goal unmet as of 2025. The Economic Survey 2022-23 notes progress in Samagra Shiksha but flags data gaps in out-of-school children (OOSC) estimates. Prof. Arun C. Mehta’s work on UDISE+ underscores secondary-level challenges, while the ABSS 2025 document highlights initiatives like PM JANMAN and KoshaSHIRI, reflecting NEP’s inclusivity and digital focus.
Achievements of NEP 2020
1. Enrolment and Structural Reforms
NEP 2020’s 5+3+3+4 framework has integrated Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), boosting primary GER to 93% by 2022-23. Samagra Shiksha, supported by robust data systems like UDISE+, has funded infrastructure and teacher training. Initiatives like PM JANMAN, launched in November 2023, have sanctioned about 492 hostels for 85,250 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) students, enhancing access for marginalized communities.
| Year | Primary GER (%) | Secondary GER (%) | Higher Secondary GER (%) | Higher Education GER (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-13 | 98.2 | 74.5 | 50.1 | 21.5 |
| 2016-17 | 96.9 | 76.8 | 52.3 | 25.2 |
| 2020-21 | 94.8 | 76.9 | 53.8 | 27.3 |
| 2022-23 | 93.0 | 77.4 | 56.2 | 28.4 |
Source: UDISE+ and AISHE Reports
2. Digital and AI Integration
The ABSS 2025 showcased digital initiatives like the KoshaSHIRI Portal, digitizing 15 lakh Sanskrit words, and the My Career Advisor App, offering personalized career guidance. UDISE+, strengthened by decades of expertise, ensures real-time data for policy monitoring. Internet connectivity in schools rose from 24.6% (2020-21) to 32.1% (2023-24).
3. Inclusive Education
PM JANMAN addresses PVTG education needs, with 492 hostels covering 5,088 habitations. This aligns with NEP’s equity focus, supported by data-driven planning to ensure access for marginalized communities.
4. Higher Education Internationalization
Letters of Intent (LoIs) with universities like Western Sydney University, presented at ABSS 2025, mark progress in globalizing higher education. Flexible curricula at IIT Delhi and the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) have boosted higher education GER to 28.4%.
5. Akhil Bharatiya Shiksha Samagam 2025
The ABSS 2025, where Shri Dharmendra Pradhan delivered the keynote address, celebrated NEP’s fifth year. Pradhan emphasized NEP as a tool for ‘Viksit Bharat,’ urging stakeholders to transform classrooms into hubs of creativity and nation-building. The event featured tributes to Dr. K. Kasturirangan and showcased initiatives like KoshaSHIRI and PM JANMAN through exhibitions.
Missed Opportunities
1. High Dropout Rates
Secondary dropout rates remain high at 12.6% (2023-24), impeding the 100% GER target. Transition losses from primary to secondary levels are significant.
| Year | Secondary Dropout Rate (%) |
|---|---|
| 2020-21 | 14.2 |
| 2021-22 | 13.8 |
| 2022-23 | 13.1 |
| 2023-24 | 12.6 |
Source: UDISE+ Reports
2. Infrastructure Deficits
Only 68% of government schools have functional electricity, and 45% lack adequate sanitation. Anganwadi centres for ECCE face resource constraints.
3. Funding Shortfalls
Education spending remains at ~3 to 4 % of GDP, far below NEP’s 6% target, limiting infrastructure and teacher recruitment.
4. Out-of-School Children (OOSC)
UDISE+ 2023-24 estimates 47.4 million OOSC, a barrier to universalization. Lack of household surveys limits accurate interventions.
5. Implementation Delays
The National Curriculum Framework for Teacher Education (NCFTE) is delayed, impacting teacher quality. State-level resistance hinders uniform implementation.
Changes in Government Schools (2020–2025)
Government schools increased from 1.03 million (2020-21) to 1.05 million (2023-24), with new facilities like lecture halls and hostels. Rural schools lag, with only 30% having internet access. Over 2 million teachers are trained annually under Samagra Shiksha, but single-teacher schools face challenges. Digital platforms like DIKSHA are expanding, though connectivity gaps persist. Initiatives like PM JANMAN have improved access for marginalized groups.
Feasibility of GER Targets
School Education (100% GER by 2030)
Primary GER (93%) is near universal, but secondary (77.4%) and higher secondary (56.2%) GERs are concerning. High dropout rates and 47.4 million OOSC make the 2030 target challenging. Samagra Shiksha and PM JANMAN are critical, but increased funding and OOSC-focused interventions are needed.
Higher Education (50% GER by 2035)
The GER of 28.4% reflects progress, but scaling to 50% requires massive infrastructure and faculty expansion. Rural access and employability gaps remain hurdles.
Critical Commentary
NEP 2020’s vision, celebrated at ABSS 2025, has driven enrolment and digital transformation, but implementation gaps persist. Shri Dharmendra Pradhan’s call for creative classrooms is inspiring, yet funding shortages and high dropout rates threaten progress. Data-driven planning, supported by UDISE+, is vital, but reliance on incomplete data limits accuracy. Government schools have improved, but rural-urban disparities and delayed frameworks like NCFTE hinder systemic change. To achieve NEP’s targets, India must prioritize:
- Increased Funding: Reach 6% GDP expenditure.
- Targeted Retention Strategies: Reduce secondary dropouts and OOSC.
- Data Enhancement: Integrate household surveys with UDISE+.
- State Alignment: Address political resistance for uniform implementation.
Concluding Observations
Five years post-NEP 2020, India has advanced in enrolment, digital integration, and inclusive education, as celebrated at ABSS 2025 where Shri Dharmendra Pradhan underscored NEP’s role in nation-building. However, high dropout rates, infrastructure gaps, and funding shortfalls pose challenges to achieving 100% GER in school education by 2030 and 50% in higher education by 2035. Strengthening data systems, increasing investment, and ensuring state-level coherence are critical to realizing NEP’s vision.
Suggested Readings
- Mehta, A. C. (2023). The State of Muslim Education in India: A Data-Driven Analysis. Education for All in India.
- Arun et al. (2022). Evaluating NEP 2020: Promises and Challenges. SAGE Journals.
- Kumar, K. et al. (2021). Funding Gaps in NEP 2020 Implementation. Journal of Educational Policy.
- Ministry of Education. (2025). Akhil Bharatiya Shiksha Samagam Report.
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