**Executive Summary:**
This document summarizes the Indian government's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3535 regarding the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, answered on August 11, 2025. It details the initiatives undertaken by the Ministry of Education, state governments, and various educational bodies to implement the policy. The response outlines skill development courses, steps taken for implementation, and the approach to adopting mother tongue as a medium of instruction in elementary education.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **NEP 2020 Implementation:**
* Implementation is a continuous process with different timelines, principles, and methodologies.
* Both central and state governments share responsibility for providing quality education.
* Various educational bodies are actively involved in implementing NEP 2020.
* **Skill Development Integration:**
* NEP 2020 emphasizes integrating skill development with mainstream education.
* Vocational education exposure is promoted in middle and secondary schools.
* Financial assistance is provided to States/UTs for NSQF aligned skill courses for students in classes 9th to 12th under Samagra Shiksha.
* NSQF level aligned Job Roles JRs are implemented with a focus on new age skills.
* National Credit Framework (NCrF) has been launched integrating creditization of learning across education sectors.
* NCrF removes distinction between vocational and general education enabling mobility between them.
* **Transformative Changes in Education:**
* **School Education Initiatives:** PM SHRI, Samagra Shiksha, NIPUN Bharat, Vidya Pravesh, PM eVIDYA, DIKSHA, NCF FS, Jadui Pitara, PARAKH, NISHTHA, Vidya Samiksha Kendra, ITEP, NPST, NDEAR, ULLAS, etc.
* **Higher Education Initiatives:** NCrF, NHEQF, Curriculum and Credit Framework for Undergraduate Programme, Multiple Entry and Exit, Multidisciplinary Institutions, pursuing two Academic Programme simultaneously, APAAR ID, PM-Vidyalaxmi scheme, revised ODL Online Education regulations, SWAYAM platform, new SWAYAM Plus portal, SAMARTH, Professor of Practice guidelines, supernumerary seats for international students, enhanced international rankings, embedding Indian Knowledge system.
* **Mother Tongue as Medium of Instruction:**
* NEP 2020 promotes multilingualism and encourages the use of mother tongue/local language as the medium of instruction up to at least Class 5, preferably up to Class 8.
* Various initiatives have been implemented to advance early literacy and multilingual education.
* Development of primers in Scheduled and Non-Scheduled languages.
* Initiatives like Bhasha Sangam, Bhartiya Bhasha Utsav, and Bharatiya Bhasha Summer Camp.
* Language and cultural handbooks for Classes 6 to 9.
* Jaadui Pitara and eJaadui Pitara for play-based early education in 22 Indian languages.
* DIKSHA platform offers multilingual digital content in 36 languages.
* PM eVidya initiative has expanded with curriculum-aligned content in various Indian languages and ISL.
* 4Year Integrated Teacher Education Programme ITEP with a focus on multilingual pedagogy.
* Bharaitya Bhasha Pustak Pariyojana for translation of textbooks in 22 Indian languages.
**Impact Analysis:**
* **Ministry of Education:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for overall policy implementation and coordination with states and other educational bodies.
* *Action Required:* Continue to develop and implement initiatives, monitor progress, and provide guidance to stakeholders.
* **State Governments:**
* *Impact:* Equally responsible for providing quality education and implementing NEP 2020 within their respective jurisdictions.
* *Action Required:* Align state-level policies with NEP 2020, implement skill development programs, and promote mother tongue education.
* **Educational Institutions (Universities, Colleges, Schools):**
* *Impact:* Required to adopt and implement NEP 2020 guidelines and frameworks.
* *Action Required:* Integrate skill development courses, offer multidisciplinary programs, facilitate multiple entry and exit options, and promote the use of mother tongue as a medium of instruction.
* **Students:**
* *Impact:* Benefit from a more holistic and skill-integrated education system.
* *Action Required:* Engage in skill development programs, explore multidisciplinary learning opportunities, and leverage available resources for financial support.
* **Teachers:**
* *Impact:* Require training and development to effectively implement NEP 2020.
* *Action Required:* Participate in training programs such as NISHTHA and ITEP, adopt innovative teaching methods, and promote multilingualism in the classroom.
* **Regulatory Bodies (UGC, AICTE, NCTE, NCERT, CBSE):**
* *Impact:* Responsible for developing and enforcing regulations and guidelines aligned with NEP 2020.
* *Action Required:* Develop and update curriculum frameworks, accreditation standards, and assessment methods.
Key Entities Referenced
National Education Policy, 2020: A national policy document by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, that provides a framework for education from primary to higher education.
University Grants Commission: A statutory body established by the Government of India for the coordination, determination and maintenance of standards of university education in India.
All India Council for Technical Education: A statutory body and a national-level council for technical education under the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education.
National Council for Teacher Education: A statutory body of the Indian government set up under the National Council for Teacher Education Act, 1993 in 1995 is to formally oversee standards, procedures and processes in the Indian education system.
National Council of Educational Research and Training: An autonomous organisation of the Government of India which assists and advises the Central and State Governments on policies and programmes for qualitative improvement in school education.
Central Board of Secondary Education: A national level board of education in India for public and private schools, controlled and managed by the Union Government of India.
Samagra Shiksha: A centrally sponsored scheme of the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education, for providing quality education with an inclusive and equitable classroom environment.
National Skill Qualification Framework: A competency-based framework that organizes all qualifications according to a series of levels of knowledge, skills and aptitude.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3535
ANSWERED ON 11.08.2025
Implementation of NEP 2020
†3535. Dr. Manna Lal Rawat:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) the details and the names of universities and educational institutions implementing the National
Education Policy, 2020 in the country, State-wise;
(b) whether any skill development courses is being run under the said policy and if so, the details
thereof;
(c) the steps taken to implement the National Education Policy, 2020 in the country; and
(d) the manner in which the initiative of adopting mother tongue as medium in elementary education
is being implemented?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)
(a): Implementation of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is a continuous process. NEP 2020
provides different timelines as well as principles and methodology for its implementation. Education
being in the concurrent list of Constitution, Centre and States are equally responsible for providing
quality education to all. Accordingly, Ministry of Education, State Governments, education-related
Ministries, the regulatory and implementing bodies of school and higher education such as University
Grants Commission, All India Council for Technical Education, National Council for Teacher
Education, National Council of Educational Research and Training, Central Board of Secondary
Education, Universities/Colleges/Schools etc. have taken initiatives for implementation of NEP
2020.
(b): The NEP 2020 lays emphasis on integrating skill development with mainstream education by
embedding vocational and practical skills across school and higher education, removing hard
separations between vocational and academic streams. NEP also calls for exposure to vocational
education at early stages in middle and secondary schools.
In pursuance of NEP 2020 and under the Skill Education component of the Centrally Sponsored
Scheme ‘Samagra Shiksha’ financial assistance is provided to State/UTs for offering National
Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) aligned skill courses to the students from class 9th to
12th. At the Secondary level i.e., Class IX and X, skill modules are offered to the students as
an additional subject. At Sr. Secondary level, i.e., Class XI and XII, skill courses are offeredas a compulsory (elective) subject. Exposure of prevocational education at Upper Primary
level, 10 bagless days etc. have been included under Innovation component of Samagra
Shiksha. Under Samagra Shiksha, NSQF level aligned Job Roles (JRs) are implemented with
a focus on new age skills like Industry 4.0, Web 3.0, AI/ML, AR/VR, Climate Change, Green
Economy, and Energy Transition.
Further, the National Credit Framework (NCrF) has been launched as a comprehensive credit
framework encompassing elementary, school, higher, and vocational education & training,
integrating creditization of learning in various dimensions i.e. academics, vocational skills and
experiential learning including relevant experience and proficiency/ professional levels
acquired. The NCrF has been jointly developed by University Grants Commission (UGC), All
India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and National Council for Vocational
Education & Training (NCVET) among others and it provides for creditization of all learning
and assignment, accumulation, storage, transfer & redemption of credits, subject to assessment;
removes distinction and establishes academic equivalence between vocational & general
education while enabling mobility within & between them.
(c): A number of transformative changes have taken place both in school and higher education after
announcement of NEP 2020. In School Education several initiatives have been taken such as PM
SHRI (PM Schools for Rising India) for upgradation of schools; Samagra Shiksha for providing
quality education with an inclusive and equitable classroom environment for all children; National
Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy (NIPUN Bharat) for
ensuring foundational literacy and numeracy by the end of Grade 3; Vidya-Pravesh–Guidelines for
Three-month Play-based School Preparation Module; PM e-VIDYA to unify all efforts related to
digital/online/on-air education to enable coherent multi-mode access to education, DIKSHA (Digital
Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing) as One Nation One Digital Platform having e-Books and e-
Contents, launch of National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage (NCF FS) and Jadui
Pitara for play-based learning teaching material tailored for children between the age group of 3 to 8
years; PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic
Development); NISHTHA (National Initiative for School Heads' and Teachers' Holistic
Advancement) 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0; Vidya Samiksha Kendra; Integrated Teacher Education Programme;
National Professional Standards for Teachers (NPST); National Digital Education Architecture
(NDEAR) for creating a unifying national digital infrastructure to energise and catalyse the education
ecosystem, implementation of a scheme “New India Literacy Programme or ULLAS” targeting all
non-literates age 15 years and above, etc.
In Higher Education, various initiatives / reforms have been carried out such as National Credit
Framework (NCrF) and National Higher Education Qualification Framework (NHEQF) in
conjunction with guidelines / regulations like Curriculum and Credit Framework for Undergraduate
Programme; Multiple Entry and Exit in Academic Programme offered by Higher Education
Institutions; Transforming HEIs into multi-disciplinary Institutions; pursuing two Academic
Programme simultaneously; Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR ID) of
individual student which will act as lifelong identity to track their educational journey and
achievements from, pre-primary to higher education; introduction of PM-Vidyalaxmi scheme to
provide financial support to meritorious students inter-alia enabling collateral free, guarantor
free loan through a simple, transparent and student-friendly and entirely digital application process;revised regulation of ODL / Online Education; permitting up to 40% credits in regular courses using
SWAYAM platform; launch of new SWAYAM Plus portal with aim to enhance skill and upskilling
and reskilling of existing manpower employed in different sectors; Integration of technology in
administration of HEIs from admission to grant of degree through SAMARTH; guidelines on
Professor of Practice to enable HEIs to work with industry experts; guidelines for supernumerary
seats for admitting students from abroad in Indian HEIs; enhanced reputation of the Indian HEIs in
international ranking; embedding of Indian Knowledge system in the education etc.
To create awareness and discuss innovative ideas for NEP implementation, a series of workshops /
consultation-cum-review meetings have been held with States/UTs, Educational Institutions, other
stakeholders from time to time.
(d): The NEP 2020 emphasizes the promotion of multilingualism and encourages efforts to keep
Indian languages vibrant. It focusses on promotion of all Indian languages, and recommends,
wherever possible, the use of the mother tongue/ local language as the medium of instruction at least
up to Class 5, and preferably up to Class 8.
The Department of School Education and Literacy has implemented several key initiatives
to advance early literacy and multilingual education across India such as development of 117
primers in 22 Scheduled and 99 Non-Scheduled languages, along with 52 additional primers in
local and mother tongues by NCERT and CIIL. Initiatives such as Bhasha Sangam (featuring 100
commonly used sentences in 22 languages), Bhartiya Bhasha Utsav, and the Bharatiya Bhasha
Summer Camp (a 28-hour flexible program focused on language and cultural learning) have
fostered greater linguistic and cultural awareness among students. Additionally, 16 language and
cultural handbooks for Classes 6 to 9 have been developed to reflect regional identities.
Innovative tools like Jaadui Pitara and its AI-enabled digital version, e-Jaadui Pitara,
have introduced inclusive, play-based early education in 22 Indian languages, with support for
Indian Sign Language (ISL). DIKSHA platform now offers multilingual digital content in 36
languages. The PM e-Vidya initiative has expanded to 200 DTH TV channels with vision of “One
Nation, One Digital Platform”, delivering curriculum-aligned content in various Indian languages
and ISL, enhancing reach and inclusivity of rural areas. Teacher education has also seen major
advancements, notably through the introduction of the 4-Year Integrated Teacher Education
Programme (ITEP) with a focus on multilingual pedagogy.
In the Budget 2025-26, Government has announced Bharaitya Bhasha Pustak Pariyojana for
translation of textbooks and study materials for the subjects being offered for schools and higher
education shall be made available in 22 Indian languages in digital form.
******