NEP 2020 Reforms: Education Gains Since 2014
Why in the news
A commentary praised the change in India’s education system since 2014, crediting the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 for ending an older, static framework.
Key facts
- Earlier framework: from 1986, tweaked in 1992; flaws included weak governance, lower funding for public universities, degree-mill private institutions, political meddling in university leadership and one-sided textbook history.
- Per-child government spend grew 130%, from ₹10,780 (2013-14) to ₹25,043 (2021-22).
- Women are 43% of STEMM workforce; research output is up 88% since 2015; 11 universities sit in the QS top 500.
- Coding starts in middle school.
| Indicator | Earlier | Later |
|---|---|---|
| Female teachers | 38.6% (2014) | 44.23% |
| GII rank | 76 (2014) | 39 (2023) |
Innovation and languages
- Over 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs in rural areas; 50,000 with broadband planned in five years.
- Anusandhan National Research Foundation links research with industry.
- 8,000+ institutions use Indian Knowledge Systems content; Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Yojana offers 15,000 textbooks in 22 languages.
- The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers’ Cadre) Act, 2019 was said to end biased hiring against SC/ST/OBC candidates.
Exam angle
- Policy: NEP 2020, five pillars.
- Scheme: Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Yojana.
- Related: Atal Tinkering Labs, Anusandhan NRF.