Evaluating the NEP 2020 Vision For Higher Education In India: A Critical Perspective

PRITI GOSWAMI; SUSMITA SAU

doi:10.70454/IJMRE.2025.05033

Authors

PRITI GOSWAMI Resource Person, Department of Education Kidderpore College Author
SUSMITA SAU Resource Person, Department of Education Kidderpore College Author https://orcid.org/0009-0000-2588-4867

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70454/IJMRE.2025.05033

Keywords:

Higher Education Policy in India, 21st Century Education Reforms, Equity and Access in Higher Education, Multidisciplinary and Vocational Education, Internationalization of Indian Education

Abstract

The National Education Policy 2020 has brought a revolutionary change in the education system of India. Emphasis is placed on each stage of education. This study seeks to analysis how the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) supports student-focused and skill-oriented higher education, while also assessing the inclusive strategies it proposes for diverse social groups within the higher education sector. Education is about access, equity, quality, affordability, and accountability. The emphasis will be on learning, regardless of the student. Along with education, moral development and holistic development have also been said about. The study used only secondary sources such as authoritative government publications and policy documents, research journal articles, and reliable online sources. It explores the key ideas, goals and potential impacts of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 through a systematic analytical approach.

References

[1] Agarwal, P. (2021). Reimagining Indian higher education: NEP 2020 and beyond. Economic and Political Weekly, 56 (6), 34–40.

[2] Bandyopadhyay, K. (2020). The role of technology in transforming higher education: Insights from NEP 2020. Journal of Educational Technology Systems, 49 (2), 191–202. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047239520934010

[3] Chakrabarti, R. (2021). Multidisciplinary education and NEP 2020: A paradigm shift. University News, 59 (12), 17–23.

[4] Ghosh, S. (2021). Equity and inclusion in higher education: Addressing gaps through NEP 2020. Social Change, 51(2), 226–234.

[5] https://doi.org/10.1177/00490857211007316

[6] Government of India. (2020). National Education Policy 2020. Ministry of Human Resource Development. https://www.education.gov.in/sites/upload_files/mhrd/files/NEP_Final_English_0.pdf

[7] Iyer, N. (2021). Liberal education in NEP 2020: Rethinking Indian higher education. Indian Journal of Educational Research, 10 (1), 48–56.

[8] Joshi, K. M. (2020). NEP 2020: Internationalization of higher education in India. Indian Journal of Public Administration, 66 (4), 607–620.

[9] https://doi.org/10.1177/0019556120946265

[10] Kumar, A. (2021). The multidisciplinary approach to higher education: NEP 2020 initiatives. Educational Quest: An International Journal of Education and Applied Social Science, 12 (1), 5–10.

[11] https://doi.org/10.30954/2230-7311.01.2021.2

[12] Kumar, K. (2021). Higher education reforms in India: Insights from NEP 2020. International Journal of Educational Development, 81, 102375. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2020.102375

[13] Mehta, B. (2021). Vocational education and NEP 2020: Bridging the skill gap. Journal of Vocational Education and Training, 73 (3), 432–448. https://doi.org/10.1080/13636820.2021.1882945

[14] Mishra, S. (2020). Quality assurance in higher education under NEP 2020. Asian Journal of Distance Education, 15 (2), 163–170.

[15] https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1424261.pdf

[16] Prasad, V. S. (2021). NEP 2020 and the future of higher education in India. University News, 59(5), 3–7.

[17] https://kuey.net/index.php/kuey/article/download/5259/3659/11002

[18] Raj, U., & Lal, R. (2020). National Education Policy 2020 and its impact on higher education. International Journal of Creative Research Thoughts, 8 (9), 2323–2327.

[19] https://www.ijcrt.org/papers/IJCRTU020092.pdf

[20] Sen, S. (2021). Funding reforms in higher education: Prospects under NEP 2020. Economic and Political Weekly, 56 (13), 15–18.

[21] https://www.education.gov.in/sites/upload_files/mhrd/files/NEP_Final_English_0.pdf

[22] Sharma, P. (2021). NEP 2020: Towards a student-centric higher education system. Journal of Education and Practice, 12 (7), 45–52.

[23] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/383825554_Student-centered_Approaches_in_NEP_2020_A_Paradigm_Shift_from_Rote_Learning_to_Critical_Thinking_in_Indian_Education

[24] Sharma, R. (2021). Research and innovation ecosystem in higher education: NEP 2020 perspectives. University News, 59 (20), 12–19.

[25] DOI:10.5281/zenodo.10845051

[26] Singh, A., & Mishra, S. (2021). Impact of NEP 2020 on Indian higher education: Opportunities and challenges. Higher Education for the Future, 8 (1), 103–118. https://doi.org/10.1177/2347631120983462

[27] Tilak, J. B. G. (2020). Higher education policy in India in transition: NEP 2020. Journal of Indian Education, 46(2), 5–20.

[28] https://doi.org/10.1177/0019556120946265

[29] Yadav, R. (2023). National Education Policy 2020: A way ahead. International Journal of Research Publicationand Reviews, 4(7), 1971–1978.

[30] https://ijrpr.com/uploads/V4ISSUE7/IJRPR15493.pdf

[31] Ministry of Education, Government of India. (2020). National Education Policy 2020. https://www.education.gov.in/sites/upload_files/mhrd/files/NEP_Final_English_0.pdf

[32] Verma, P., & Kapoor, S. (2021). Governance and regulatory framework in NEP 2020 for higher education. Journal of Education Policy, 36(5), 663–679. https://doi.org/10.1080/02680939.2020.1842349

[33] Yadav, D. (2021). Transformative vision of NEP 2020 for higher education in India. ShanlaxInternational Journal of Education, 9(2), 1–5.

[34] https://doi.org/10.34293/education.v9i2.3664

[35] All India Survey on Higher Education AISHE( 2022). https://aishe.gov.in/aishe/viewDocument.action?documentId=276

[36] Haque, M. I. (2024). Positive and negative impacts of the New Education Policy 2020. Ideal Research Review, 80(I), 44–47.

[37] https://journalirr.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Md.-Imbesatul-Haque-11.pdf

[38] National Council of Educational Research and Training. (2025). Five-day free Indian Sign Language (ISL) course launched under NCERT. Ministry of Education

[39] https://islrtc.nic.in/ncert-books-in-isl/

[40] National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). (2025.). Relevant report on mother tongue education.

[41] https://forumias.com/blog/preschool-children-should-learn-in-mother-tongue-ncert-curriculum/#:~:text=About%20the%20curriculum:%20*%20The%20curriculum%20is,subjected%20to%20rote%20learning%2C%20tests%20and%20examinations.

[42] DIKSHA. (n.d.). Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing. (2025)

[43] https://diksha.gov.in/

[44] All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). (2025). Reports on skill development and professional training.

[45] https://www.aicte-india.org/

[46] Neurosciences (NIMHANS). (2025 .) Reports on mental health services in educational institutions.

[47] https://nimhans.ac.in/

[48] Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. (2025). Mental health service initiatives.

[49] https://main.mohfw.gov.in/

[50] UNICEF India. (n.d.). Quality education. UNICEF India(2025)