• It aims at making “India a global knowledge superpower”.  
• It replaces the thirty-four-year-old National Policy on Education, 1986, modified in 1992 (NPE 1986/92). 
• The Ministry of Education formed a committee under Dr. K Kasturirangan, which outlined this new policy.  
• 5 foundational pillars: Access, Equity, Quality, Affordability, and Accountability. 
• It is only the 3rd major revamp of the framework of education in India since independence. 
• It advocates for a comprehensive education system reform, aligning with 21st-century goals and Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4). 

Salient Features

• Universal Access: NEP 2020 focuses on universal access to school education, including pre-school to secondary levels. 
• Early Childhood Education: The 10+2 structure will shift to a 5+3+3+4 system, bringing 3-6-year-olds under school curriculum, with a focus on Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE). 
• Multilingualism: Mother tongue or regional language will be the medium of instruction till Grade 5, with options for Sanskrit and other languages. 
• Indian Sign Language (ISL) will be standardized. 
• Inclusive Education: Special emphasis on Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs), support for children with disabilities, and establishment of "Bal Bhavans." 
• Elimination of Barriers: The policy promotes a seamless education system with no rigid distinctions between arts and sciences, curricular and extracurricular activities, and vocational and academic streams. 
• GER Enhancement: Aim to increase Gross Enrolment Ratio from 26.3% to 50% by 2035, adding 3.5 crore new seats. 
• Research Focus: Creation of National Research Foundation to boost research culture and capacity. 
• Language Preservation: Support for Indian languages, including an Institute of Translation and Interpretation (IITI) and strengthening language departments. 
• Internationalization: Facilitation of international collaborations and entry of top-ranked foreign universities. 
• Funding: Joint efforts to increase public investment in education to 6% of GDP. 
• PARAKH Assessment Center: The establishment of PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development) as a national assessment center signifies a significant step towards competency-based and holistic assessment in education. 
• Gender Inclusion Fund: Emphasizing the importance of gender equality in education and supporting initiatives to empower disadvantaged groups. 
• Special Education Zones: They are envisioned to address the specific needs of disadvantaged regions and groups, furthering the policy's commitment to equitable access to quality education for all. 
• Major Initiatives 
  • PM Schools for Rising India (SHRI) 
  • National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy (NIPUN) Bharat Mission   
  • PM e-VIDYA 
  • National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage (NCF FS) 
  • Jadui Pitara 
  • National Initiative for School Heads' and Teachers' Holistic Advancement (NISHTHA) 
  • National Digital Education Architecture (NDEAR) 
  • IIT campuses in Zanzibar and Abu Dhabi 
  • National Higher Education Qualification Framework (NHEQF) 
  • Structured Assessment for Analyzing Learning levels (SAFAL)