Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has strongly defended the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, calling it a landmark reform that departs from the shortcomings of the past. In a detailed article published in The Hindu and shared on his X handle, Pradhan criticised previous governments for their mismanagement of the education sector, stating that corruption and governance failure had long defined the system.
According to Pradhan, NEP 2020 is not just a reform—it is “an intellectual decolonisation that India had awaited for a long time.” He described it as a policy of the people, by the people, and for the future of the people. Prime Minister Narendra Modi echoed these sentiments, calling it India’s intellectual renaissance.
Responding to Pradhan’s post, PM Modi wrote that NEP 2020 is helping India become a self-reliant and globally competitive nation through education and innovation.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi criticised the current education system, accusing the Modi-led government of following an agenda with “damaging consequences.” She identified “centralisation, commercialisation, and communalisation” as key problems. In response, Pradhan published a detailed rebuttal, presenting what he called the “true picture” of India’s educational progress.
Breaking from the Past
Pradhan argued that India’s education system had stagnated for decades, with the last major policy update taking place in 1986 and a minor revision in 1992. While other nations adapted to rapid global changes, India remained stuck in outdated frameworks.
He asserted that this inaction was no accident. Instead, it reflected a deliberate attempt to preserve colonial-era mindsets and resist technological progress. He cited multiple issues from that time—underfunded public universities, unregulated private institutions, and political interference in educational appointments.
As an example, Pradhan referred to the 2009 “Deemed University” scandal, where 44 private institutions received university status without adequate evaluation, and many were later found guilty of financial misconduct.
Shifting Toward Excellence
Under NEP 2020, the focus has shifted to access, equity, quality, affordability, and accountability. Pradhan stressed that this policy was shaped by extensive public consultations, making it the most democratic education policy in Indian history.
He noted that the new policy aims to dismantle rigid, elitist structures and replace them with inclusive frameworks. As a result, higher education enrolment has increased significantly—by 50% among Scheduled Castes, 75% among Scheduled Tribes, and 54% among OBCs since 2014–15.
Women’s Empowerment in Education
The policy also places a strong emphasis on gender equity. According to Pradhan, female enrolment across all levels of education grew by 38.8%, reaching 2.18 crore in 2022–23. Among Muslim women, enrolment rose by 57.5%.
Moreover, women now make up 43% of all STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine) students. In PhD programs, women’s participation has surged by 135%. Female teachers now represent 44.23% of the teaching workforce, up from 38.6% in 2014.
Boosting Infrastructure and Outcomes
Pradhan reported that per-child government expenditure increased by 130%—from ₹10,780 in 2013–14 to ₹25,043 in 2021–22. Government schools are being modernised with updated infrastructure, holistic teaching practices, and support systems. As a result, dropout rates and the number of out-of-school children have declined, while pupil-teacher ratios and learning outcomes have improved.
Preparing for the Future
NEP 2020 also prepares students for a changing world. It introduces coding from middle school, promotes multidisciplinary learning, and encourages innovation through rural hubs. More than 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs have already been established, and plans are in place to set up 50,000 more over the next five years.
In higher education, the policy aims to make institutions financially sustainable. India now has 11 universities in the QS World Rankings top 500—an impressive improvement from the past. Research output has risen by 88% since 2015, and India now ranks 39th in the Global Innovation Index, up from 76th in 2014.
The Anusandhan National Research Foundation has also been established to support innovation in collaboration with industry and academia.
Restoring Indian Languages and Traditions
Another key reform is the revival of Indian languages and knowledge systems. Pradhan said the decades-long focus on English is being replaced with support for native languages.
Through the Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) initiative, over 8,000 institutions have adopted IKS curricula. Under the Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Yojana, 15,000 books—both original and translated—will be published in 22 Indian languages.
Advancing Social Justice
To address historical injustices, the government passed the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers’ Cadre) Act in 2019. This law ensures that SC, ST, and OBC candidates get fair opportunities by considering the entire institution as one unit during recruitment, rather than treating each department separately.
Additionally, the outdated “None Found Suitable” clause, which often blocked reserved-category candidates, has been removed. This guarantees that vacancies are not unfairly converted into non-reserved positions.
Looking Ahead
According to Pradhan, the government remains committed to building a “Viksit Bharat” where education empowers every citizen. “The decade ahead will witness an educational renaissance that honours India’s past while fearlessly embracing the future,” he said.
He concluded by stating that NEP 2020 is not just a reform—it is India’s long-awaited intellectual decolonisation. This, he believes, will launch India into the league of developed nations.
