The National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) represents a landmark reform in India's education system with the potential to reshape educational governance, academic structures, and the role of educational institutions in national development. One of the emerging themes within contemporary educational reforms is the integration of sustainable development principles into teaching, research, and institutional governance. Sustainable development emphasizes a balanced approach toward economic growth, environmental protection, and social equity. Education is widely recognized as a key driver for achieving these objectives because it shapes knowledge systems, innovation capacity, and responsible citizenship. This research paper critically examines the relationship between NEP 2020 and sustainable development from an interdisciplinary academic perspective. The study explores how NEP 2020 promotes sustainability through curriculum reforms, environmental education, research innovation, community engagement, and skill development. The paper also analyzes the role of higher education institutions in promoting sustainability through interdisciplinary research and sustainable institutional practices. The study adopts a doctrinal and analytical research methodology using secondary sources such as policy documents, international sustainability reports, research articles, and academic literature. The analysis highlights that NEP 2020 provides a conceptual framework capable of aligning India's education system with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, the effectiveness of this alignment depends on institutional capacity, governance mechanisms, faculty training, and sustained policy commitment. The paper concludes that education policy reforms such as NEP 2020 can significantly contribute to sustainable development when supported by interdisciplinary research, collaborative governance, and long‑term policy implementation.
Raju Shamrao Gurav (Tue,) studied this question.