The National Education Policy 2020 introduces transformative reforms for India's higher education system. This mixed-method study examines how colleges implement NEP provisions and contribute to the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision of national development. Data was collected from 75 institutions affiliated with Savitribai Phule Pune University through surveys, interviews, and focus groups. Findings reveal varying adoption levels: skill-based courses (31% advanced) and digital integration (27% advanced) show greatest progress, while multiple entry-exit mechanisms (8% advanced) lag behind. Urban colleges demonstrate significantly higher implementation than rural counterparts (p<0.001). Key challenges include infrastructure gaps, limited faculty training, and affiliation constraints. The study proposes a strategic implementation framework and concludes that successful NEP adoption requires differentiated support for rural institutions and systematic faculty development.
Rajput et al. (2026) studied this question.