**Executive Summary**
This document is an answer given in Lok Sabha on 08/12/2025, responding to questions regarding the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. It addresses the government's stance on compulsory education, the timeline for complete implementation, and requirements for school registration and affiliation. The NEP 2020 implementation is envisioned to be operationalized in the decade of 2030-40.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **NEP 2020 Restructuring:**
* The NEP 2020 proposes modifying the existing 10+2 structure of school education.
* A new pedagogical and curricular structure of 5+3+3+4 is planned, covering ages 3-18.
* **Curricular Framework:**
* The curricular framework is guided by the 5+3+3+4 design.
* This consists of the Foundational Stage (ages 3-8), Preparatory Stage (ages 8-11), Middle Stage (ages 11-14), and Secondary Stage (ages 14-18).
* **National Curriculum Framework:**
* The National Curriculum Framework for the Foundational Stage (NCF-FS) and National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) have been launched.
* **Implementation & Governance:**
* Education is under the concurrent list of the constitution.
* The majority of schools are under the administrative control of State and UT Governments.
* State and UT Governments are responsible for school registration, board affiliation, and the major implementation of NEP 2020, including prescribed norms and standards.
* **UDISE+ Platform:**
* UDISE+ is a unified platform for streamlined data reporting by schools providing formal or special education.
* It gathers credible and comparable data using a standardized 'Data Capture Format'.
* It is monitored and maintained at block, district, state, and national levels.
* **Timeline for Implementation:**
* The operationalization of the entire policy is envisioned for the decade of 2030-40.
* A comprehensive review will be undertaken after this period.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Schools**
* **Impact**: Schools will need to adapt to the new 5+3+3+4 pedagogical and curricular structure. Schools may be required to conform to the registration and affiliation guidelines set by State and UT Governments.
* **Action Required**: Schools should understand the implications of NEP 2020, align their curriculum and pedagogy, and comply with registration and affiliation requirements. Schools must actively report data through the UDISE+ platform.
**Stakeholder: State and UT Governments**
* **Impact**: State and UT Governments are responsible for the administrative oversight and implementation of NEP 2020 in schools within their jurisdiction.
* **Action Required**: State and UT Governments need to formulate and implement guidelines for school registration, board affiliation, and ensure compliance with the new curricular and pedagogical structure.
**Stakeholder: Department of School Education and Literacy**
* **Impact**: In charge of launching the National Curriculum Frameworks and defining timelines for implementation.
* **Action Required**: Ensure that the National Curriculum Frameworks stay aligned with the NEP, revise/adapt any time lines that are set, and undertake comprehensive reviews to ensure compliance and progress.
Key Entities Referenced
National Education Policy (NEP) 2020: A comprehensive policy framework to transform the Indian education system. The question specifically asks about NEP 2020's provisions for primary and higher education, including compulsory education and registration.
Department of School Education and Literacy: The department under the Ministry of Education responsible for launching the National Curriculum Frameworks and addressing school education and literacy matters.
Ministry of Education: The central ministry responsible for education policy and administration, including the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
National Curriculum Framework for the Foundational Stage (NCF-FS): A curricular framework launched by the Department of School Education and Literacy to guide the educational structure in the foundational years.
National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE): A curricular framework launched by the Department of School Education and Literacy.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 1286
ANSWERED ON 08/12/2025
Primary and Higher Education under NEP 2020
1286. Shri Adhikari Soumendu:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government proposes compulsory primary and higher education system
under National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in the country;
(b) if so, the time by which education system is likely to come into complete effect;
(c) whether each and every school have to get individual State registration and board
affiliation with single entity under NEP 2020 policy rules and law; and
(d) if so, the details thereof along with the time by which the schools which are
running/operating under single school name and single registration with single UDISE in
different places should constitute/rename with new name for registration and affiliation under
single individual identity thereto?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)
(a) to (d): National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 envisages modification of the extant 10+2
structure in school education with a new pedagogical and curricular restructuring of
5+3+3+4 covering ages 3-18. Accordingly, the curricular and pedagogical structure and the
curricular framework for school education is to be guided by a 5+3+3+4 design, consisting
of the Foundational Stage (3 years of Anganwadi/preschool + 2 years in primary school in
Grades 1-2; both together covering ages 3-8), Preparatory Stage (Grades 3-5, covering ages
8-11), Middle Stage (Grades 6-8, covering ages 11-14), and Secondary Stage (Grades 9-12
in two phases, i.e., 9 and 10 in the first and 11 and 12 in the second, covering ages 14-18).
Additionally, the National Curriculum Framework for the Foundational Stage (NCF-
FS) and National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) has been launched
by the Department of School Education and Literacy. NEP 2020 provides different timelinesas 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.
Further, Education is in the concurrent list of the constitution and majority of the
schools are under the administrative domain of the respective State and UT Government.
The registration of the state schools and their affiliation with the respective Boards comes
under the purview of the respective State and UT Government. Furthermore, the major
responsibility of implementation of NEP 2020 following prescribed norms and standards also
falls under the domain of the respective States and UT Governments.
UDISE+ is a unified platform, facilitating streamlined data reporting by schools
providing formal as well as special education that are recognized by the government, and
affiliated to recognised state, national, international or private school education boards (such
as CBSE, ICSE, Cambridge etc.). It was developed with the objective to collate credible and
comparable information collected using a standardized 'Data Capture Format' across the
country through online, real-time mode in an efficient manner. This comprehensive school
education database is monitored and maintained at block, district, state, and national levels.
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