Executive Summary:
This document is a response to a parliamentary question regarding the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in Punjab schools. NEP 2020, announced on July 29, 2020, envisions full operationalization between 2030 and 2040, with a subsequent review. Implementation primarily falls under the purview of States and Union Territories, with the central government providing support through schemes like Samagra Shiksha and PM SHRI.
Key Points / Main Content:
NEP 2020 Implementation Overview:
* NEP 2020 was announced on July 29, 2020, with full operationalization targeted for 2030-40.
* The policy implementation responsibility primarily lies with State and UT governments.
* A comprehensive review will be undertaken after the decade of 2030-40.
Central Government Initiatives:
* Alignment of Samagra Shiksha with NEP 2020 recommendations.
* NIPUN Bharat Mission: Focus on foundational literacy and numeracy by the end of Grade 2.
* VidyaPravesh Guidelines: Three-month play-based school preparation module.
* PM eVIDYA: Unifying digital education efforts for multi-mode access.
* DIKSHA: One Nation One Digital Platform for eBooks and eContents.
* Launch of NCFFS and Jaadui Pitara: Play-based learning for ages 3-8.
* National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF SE).
* PARAKH: Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development.
* NISHTHA: Training for school heads and teachers.
* Vidya Samiksha Kendra.
* Integrated Teacher Education Programme.
* National Professional Standards for Teachers (NPST).
* National Digital Education Architecture (NDEAR).
* New India Literacy Programme (ULLAS): Targeting non-literates aged 15+.
* PM SHRI Scheme: Developing 14,500 exemplar schools.
Punjab Implementation (supported by Samagra Shiksha and PM SHRI):
* Pre-primary classes in all primary schools, including rural areas.
* NIPUN Bharat Mission implementation for FLN by Grade 2.
* Promotion of early childhood education activities.
* Mother tongue (Punjabi) instruction in early grades.
* Optional languages: Sanskrit, French, German, and Urdu at the senior secondary level.
* Bilingual classroom instruction (Punjabi, English, Hindi).
* Development and dissemination of learning materials in Hindi, Punjabi, and English.
* Teacher Professional Development under NISHTHA training modules.
* Adoption of initiatives like DIKSHA and approval of 5 TV channels under PM eVidya.
* Promotion of learning outcomes-based assessments.
* Participation in PARAKH-led national assessments like NAS.
* Implementation of PM SHRI scheme in 347 schools.
Financial Allocation for Punjab (FY 2025-26):
* Samagra Shiksha: Total Budget - Rs. 135071.94 lakh, Digital infrastructure support - Rs. 818.48 lakh
* PM SHRI: Total Budget - Rs. 6673.2 lakh, Digital infrastructure support - Rs. 69 lakh
* Training of teachers: Rs 30590.64 lakh
* Total: Rs. 2007.5 lakh
Impact Analysis:
State of Punjab:
* Impact: Responsible for implementing NEP 2020 guidelines and initiatives within schools, including curriculum changes, teacher training, and digital infrastructure development. Receives financial and technical support from the central government through Samagra Shiksha and PM SHRI schemes.
* Action Required: Continue implementing NEP 2020 aligned initiatives, utilize allocated funds effectively, and ensure alignment with national standards while catering to regional needs.
Teachers:
* Impact: Subject to training and capacity building programs under NISHTHA to align with NEP 2020 goals. Expected to implement new teaching methodologies, assessment reforms, and integrate digital tools in classrooms.
* Action Required: Participate in training programs, adapt teaching methods to incorporate play-based learning, multilingualism, and competency-based assessments.
Students:
* Impact: Benefit from improved foundational literacy and numeracy through NIPUN Bharat, access to digital resources via DIKSHA and PM eVIDYA, and a curriculum aligned with NEP 2020 principles.
* Action Required: Engage with new learning materials and digital resources, participate in assessments, and embrace multilingualism.
Ministry of Education, Government of India:
* Impact: Responsible for providing financial and technical support to States and UTs for NEP 2020 implementation, monitoring progress, and ensuring alignment with national goals.
* Action Required: Continue to provide support through centrally sponsored schemes, monitor implementation progress, and conduct comprehensive reviews as planned.
Key Entities Referenced
National Education Policy NEP 2020: A national policy by the Government of India outlining the vision and principles for the education system.
Punjab: A state in India where the implementation of NEP 2020 in schools is being assessed.
Samagra Shiksha: A Centrally Sponsored Scheme by the Government of India for school education, aligned with the recommendations of NEP 2020.
NIPUN Bharat: National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy, a program focused on ensuring foundational literacy and numeracy.
PM eVIDYA: A program to unify digital/online/on-air education efforts for multi-mode access to education.
DIKSHA Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing: A national digital platform for eBooks and eContents.
National Curriculum Framework for School Education NCF SE: A framework addressing the educational journey up to the secondary stage.
Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India PM SHRI Scheme: A scheme to develop selected schools as exemplar schools showcasing NEP 2020 initiatives.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 137
ANSWERED ON 21/07/2025
Implementation of NEP 2020 in the Schools of Punjab
137. Shri Charanjit Singh Channi:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) whether the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has been fully implemented in schools in the
country;
(b) if so, the details of current status of its implementation in different States;
(c) the key measures undertaken for implementation of NEP 2020 in the schools of Punjab, particularly
in rural and Government-run institutions; and
(d) the allocation of funds, training of teachers, curriculum changes and digital infrastructure support
provided to Punjab under NEP 2020?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)
(a) and (b): The National Educational Policy (NEP 2020) was announced on 29th July 2020 and
provides different timelines as well as principles and methodology for its implementation. It also
envisions operationalization of the entire policy in the decade of 2030-40, following which another
comprehensive review will be undertaken. Education is in the concurrent list of the Constitution and
major responsibility of implementation of NEP 2020 following prescribed norms and standards falls
under the domain of the States and UT Governments.
A number of transformative changes have taken place in School Education after announcement
of NEP 2020 such as alignment of Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Samagra Shiksha with the
recommendation of the NEP; National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and
Numeracy (NIPUN Bharat) for ensuring foundational literacy and numeracy by the end of Grade 2;
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 Jaadui Pitara for play-based learning teaching material tailored for children
between the age group of 3 to 8 years; National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-
SE) to address the entire educational journey up to secondary stage. PARAKH (Performance
Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development); NISHTHA (National
Initiative for School Heads' and Teachers' Holistic Advancement) Elementary, Secondary,Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) & Early Childhood Care & Education (ECCE); 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 nonliterates age 15 years and above, etc.
Furthermore, Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) Scheme has been launched
with an aim to develop more than 14,500 selected schools as exemplar schools that offer leadership to
other schools in the neighbourhood, showcasing all the initiatives of NEP 2020. These schools reflect
all components guided by the NEP 2020.
(c) and (d): As informed by the State of Punjab, following initiatives aligned with NEP 2020 are
being actively implemented, under the umbrella of Centrally Sponsored Schemes of Samagra Shiksha
and PM SHRI, with continued Financial and Technical support from the Department of School
Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education, Government of India:
1. Implementation of pre-primary classes in all primary schools of Punjab including rural areas.
2. Foundational Literacy and Numeracy: The NIPUN Bharat Mission is being implemented with focus
on achieving FLN by Grade 2. Early childhood education activities are being promoted in all
primary school of Punjab
3. Multilingualism and Mother Tongue Instruction: Teaching in the mother tongue/Punjabi is already
being practiced in early grades. In context to Multilingualism State has already been already taken
the following initiatives:
Sanskrit, French, German and Urdu languages are also implemented as optional Subject at Sr.
secondary level.
Most of time classroom instructions are given bilingually and students have option to choose
one medium from Punjabi, English and Hindi
Teaching-learning materials and resources have been developed and disseminated in Hindi,
Punjabi, and English, catering to regional language needs.
Training modules and digital content have also been translated into these languages
4. Teacher Training and Capacity Building: Teacher Professional Development is being carried out
under the NISHTHA training modules aligned with NEP goals.
5. Digital and Tech-based Education: The State has adopted initiatives like DIKSHA. State has also
approved 5 TV channels under PM e-Vidya.
6. Assessment Reforms: Learning outcomes-based assessments are being promoted. Punjab
participated in PARAKH-led national assessments like NAS and is incorporating competency-based
evaluation in line with NEP directives.
7. Implementation of PM SHRI scheme in 347 schools of Punjab.
The details of funds allocated to the State of Punjab under Samagra Shiksha and PM SHRI scheme for
Financial Year 2025-26 are as under:
(Rs. in lakh)
Samagra Shiksha PM SHRI
Digital Digital
Training of Training of
Total Budget infrastructure Total Budget infrastructure
teachers teachers
support support
135071.94 818.48 6673.2 30590.64 69 2007.5
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