The New Education Policy has been approved by the Union Cabinet on 29 July 2020. The policy has introduced several changes in the Indian education system from school to college levels and paving a way for top foreign universities to come to India, and top Indian institutions to go global.

The Cabinet also approves to change the name of HRD Ministry (Human Resource and Development Ministry) to Education Ministry.

Public spending on education by State and Centre to be increased to 6% of GDP (2018-19 budgets was 3% of GDP, expanding the budget by almost double of current spending)

Education policy in India was last revised in 1992.

Key points of the new policy are-

Higher Education:

1. NEP 2020 introduces four-year undergraduate degrees with multiple entry and exit options and establishes a common higher education regulator (except medical and Legal courses) with fee fixation for both private and public institutions.
2. Flexible, holistic, multi-disciplinary UG courses of three to four year duration (with flexible exit points)
3. One to two year PG programme
4. MPhil courses will be discontinued and undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD level will be interdisciplinary
5. It will allow top foreign universities to set up campuses in India. “A legislative framework facilitating such entry (of foreign universities) will be put in place, and such universities will be given special dispensation regarding regulatory, governance, and content norms on par with other autonomous institutions of India”

1. A new regulator- the Higher Education Commission to replace University Grants Commission. New umbrella regulator for all higher education institutions except medicine and courses in law
2. College affiliation system to be phased out in 15 years

School Education:

1. Introduction of new school structure to adopt 5+3+3+4 pattern (current structure is 10+2)
2. Board exams to test only core capacities and competencies. Board exams to be easier and redesigned
3. 6^th standard onward vocational courses available for students to choose from and from 8^th to 11^th standard students can choose subjects
4.  Universalisation of class 3 to 10 by 2030
5.  Mission to ensure literacy and numeracy skills by 2025
6.  Mother tongue as medium of instruction (Grades one to five) where possible though this needs to be understood in greater detail
7.  New curriculum to include twenty first century skills like coding, gender inclusion and vocational integration from class six

Administrative changes:

1. Public spending on education by State and Centre to be increased to 6% of GDP
2. Ministry of Human Resources Development to be renamed as Ministry of Education
3. Separate Technology unit to develop digital resources

The NEP aims to increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education including vocational education from 26.3% to 50% by 2035. It aims to provide more flexibility and subjects and removes rigid separation between streams like arts, sciences curricular or extra-curricular activities. It emphasises on medium of instruction to be in mother tongue until 5^th standard and exposing students to different languages from the foundational stages.   

If you have any questions please write to Aatreyee Guha Thakurta (Regional Marketing and Communications Manager, International Education Services, South Asia).

Read more at:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/77250887.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/cabinet-approves-new-national-education-policy-key-points/articleshow/77241129.cms

https://www.hindustantimes.com/education/new-education-policy-2020-highlights-key-takeaways-of-nep-to-make-india-a-global-knowledge-superpower/story-eIXTkJrcNJHhXdshWDpu1I.html