A Critical Study of NEP 2020 - Salient Features and Challenges in the Higher Educational System

Well defined and futuristic education policy is essential for a country at college levels due to the reason that education leads to economic and social progress. Different countries adopt different education systems by considering the tradition and culture and adopt different stages during their life cycle at college education levels to make it effective. The National Education Policy 2020 (NEP) 2020, which was approved by the Union Cabinet of India on 29 July 2020, outlines the vision of India’s new education system. The new policy replaces the previous National Policy on Education, 1986. The policy is a comprehensive framework for elementary education to higher education as well as vocational training in both rural and urban India. The policy aims to transform India’s education system by 2021. Shortly after the release of the policy, the government clarified that no one will be forced to study any particular language and that the medium of instruction will not be shifted from English to any regional language. The language policy in NEP is a broad guideline and advisory in nature; and it is up to the states, institutions, and schools to decide on the implementation. The new policy introduced many reforms in the Indian education system beginning with reformation at central level and renaming the Ministry of Human Resource and Development to Ministry of Education. The NEP proposes revision and revamping of education structure, including its regulation and governance, to create a new system aligning with the inspirational goals of 21st century education. The NEP Proposes sweeping changes including opening up of Indian higher education to foreign universities, dismantling of the Universities Grants Commission and the All India Council for Technical Education. The policy, while focusing on various facets of education, also tries to bridge the gap between education and technology. The biggest highlights of the NEP 2020 are that there would be single regulation for higher education institutions with setting up of Higher Education Commission of India that will eventually replace the existing regulatory bodies like the UGC or AICTE. The long-term plan of the policy is to do away with the current system of colleges affiliated to universities and numerous tiny colleges that are pedagogically unviable and financially costly would be merged with larger HEIs. The NEP 2020 aims to address various gaps existing in the education system of India and through this policy, India is expected to achieve sustainable development goal 2030 by ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education.