The New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has sparked political debates over the three-language formula, but a crucial objective has been largely overlooked—raising education expenditure to 6% of India’s GDP.
Education Funding: The Core Challenge
Achieving this target would require doubling the current government spending on education. However, progress has been slow:
- Central government expenditure on education remains stagnant at 0.3-0.4% of GDP.
- State and union territory spending has been stuck at 2.5-2.6% of GDP since 2019-20, even before NEP 2020’s implementation.
This shortfall limits the potential impact of quality reforms, infrastructure development, teacher training, and digital education initiatives proposed in the policy.
Beyond Language: Addressing Education Quality
While linguistic concerns dominate discussions, experts stress that education quality and accessibility depend on increased public investment. Key areas needing attention include:
- Infrastructure development for schools and higher education institutions
- Teacher training and recruitment to bridge faculty shortages
- Expansion of digital learning resources
- Stronger research funding for higher education
Without adequate funding, the ambitious goals of NEP 2020—universal education access, skill-based learning, and global competitiveness—may remain unfulfilled.
Way Forward
For NEP 2020 to bring meaningful change, policymakers must shift focus from language debates to financial and structural reforms. A sustained increase in education expenditure is essential for achieving long-term educational transformation in India.
