NEP at 6: Big spend, uneven gains in India's classrooms
India has now completed six years of NEP 2020. The policy, introduced to bring about a major overhaul of the education system, appears to have achieved some progress, but the amount of money spent has been enormous. Questions still remain over the future course of NEP 2020, as better infrastructure and many of the promised reforms are yet to materialise. Let's discuss.
Today marks the 6th anniversary of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. As the government continues to implement several reforms, including the three-language formula, a question arises: How much has it spent, and how has that money been utilised? The Government of India's budget for education (both Higher and School) has gone up by 64% since 2018, but education spending has come down to 2.4% of GDP, compared to 4.6% in 2012.
This major shift over the past decade has led critics to question the government's priorities.
NEP 2020, a complete overhaul of India's education system, proposes numerous reforms that appear difficult for the Central government to implement, at least for now. In a detailed analysis, the India Today Digital team found that the Central government has spent over Rs 3 lakh crore on NEP 2020-related initiatives over the last five years. (The number could vary, as the government's data is based on budget allocations.)
This includes spending on several schemes that directly benefit students while also focusing on improving educational infrastructure.
Despite allocating such significant funds, implementation has emerged as the government's biggest challenge.
MORE MONEY, BIGGER AMBITIONS
The Union government's education budget has witnessed a steady rise over the last few years.
The allocation for the Ministry of Education has increased by nearly 64% since 2018, reaching over 1.28 lakh crore in the Union Budget 2025-26, the highest ever in absolute terms.
However, viewed against India's rapidly expanding economy, the picture changes.
Public expenditure on education continues to hover around 2.5–3% of GDP, significantly below the 6% target recommended first by the Kothari Commission in 1966 and reiterated by NEP 2020 itself. UNESCO and several education experts have consistently recommended governments spend between 4% and 6% of GDP on education.
In other words, the education budget has grown—but so has the economy. The denominator has kept pace with the numerator.
Or as critics put it: the budget has become larger, but education's slice of the national pie hasn't become much thicker.
3 LAKH CRORE AND COUNTING
An analysis of Union Budget documents by India Today Digital shows that the Centre has allocated over 3 lakh crore towards programmes linked directly or indirectly to NEP implementation over the last five financial years. The figure includes flagship schemes under the Ministry of Education and other NEP-related initiatives.
The actual expenditure may vary as revised estimates and utilisation certificates continue to be updated.
The money has flowed into initiatives including:
- advertisement
Samagra Shiksha
PM SHRI Schools
NIPUN Bharat
PM-USHA
Digital learning platforms like DIKSHA and SWAYAM
Academic reforms through UGC and AICTE
Teacher training programmes
Research and innovation initiatives, including the National Research Foundation, are also discussed in the NEP 2020. Yet, the policy's most transformative ideas continue to face the oldest obstacle in Indian governance: implementation.
The National Education Policy was not merely a school reform document. It attempted to redesign India's education ecosystem from the age of three onwards.
Among its biggest reforms were:
Replacing the 10+2 structure with the 5+3+3+4 model, integrating early childhood education.
Promoting education in the mother tongue or regional language, preferably till Class 5. Introducing experiential and competency-based learning instead of memorisation.
The policy also places major emphasis on Indian Knowledge Systems, encouraging institutions to integrate traditional sciences, philosophy, arts and indigenous knowledge into curricula.
Supporters describe it as an attempt to blend ancient wisdom with modern education.
Critics argue the real challenge is ensuring these ideas translate into meaningful classroom practices rather than remaining policy documents.
HOW FAR HAS NEP TAKEN INDIA?
Six years later, the answer depends on where one looks. The easiest reforms have moved the fastest. Curriculum revisions, digital platforms, teacher training modules and university regulations have seen measurable progress.
The harder reforms, language policy, infrastructure upgrades, foundational literacy, teacher availability and classroom transformation, continue to vary dramatically across states.
Education, after all, is a subject shared between the Centre and states.
While the Centre drafts policy, states build classrooms, recruit teachers, print textbooks and ultimately implement reforms.
The result has been uneven progress across the country.
"The 5+3+3+4 structure has given us a more coherent way to think about a child's progress, and the exposure to fields like AI and applied sciences which would have been unthinkable a decade ago. Together, these shifts have helped schools rethink how children learn and grow. But intent and execution are different journeys — and the second takes longer," says Manisha Malhotra, Director-Principal, Satya School Gurugram.
Schools are adapting fast as highlights experts, but more time it will take to improvise and become visible.
Several states have enthusiastically adopted NEP recommendations, while others have resisted aspects such as the three-language formula, turning education into yet another arena of India's federal politics.
Few provisions of NEP have generated as much political debate as the three-language formula.
The policy officially states that no language will be imposed and emphasises flexibility.
Yet, states such as Tamil Nadu have continued opposing the proposal, arguing that it indirectly encourages Hindi at the expense of regional linguistic autonomy.
The debate has frequently moved beyond classrooms into Parliament, election campaigns and social media.
Ironically, while policymakers debate which language students should learn, many government schools continue to struggle with shortages of teachers capable of teaching even one language effectively.
THE CHALLENGE OF DIGITAL DIVIDE
The COVID-19 pandemic forced schools and colleges across India to move online almost overnight, making digital education one of the biggest priorities for the government. Under the National Education Policy (NEP), platforms like DIKSHA, SWAYAM and PM eVidya became the backbone of online learning, offering digital textbooks, recorded lectures, teacher training and free courses to millions of students and teachers.
However, access to digital education is still far from equal.
Data from the National Sample Survey and several education reports shows that these gaps remain one of the biggest hurdles in taking online education to every child.
Experts say that launching digital platforms is only one part of the solution. Unless every student has access to electricity, the internet and an affordable device, the dream of smart classrooms will remain out of reach for millions.
NEP 2020 was introduced a few years ago with the aim of delivering a better education system for students.
Has it succeeded? So far, infrastructural challenges continue to pose one of the biggest and most persistent hurdles for the government. Lakhs of crores have already been spent, but India is still waiting for the sweeping transformation that was envisioned under NEP 2020.
Today marks the 6th anniversary of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. As the government continues to implement several reforms, including the three-language formula, a question arises: How much has it spent, and how has that money been utilised? The Government of India's budget for education (both Higher and School) has gone up by 64% since 2018, but education spending has come down to 2.4% of GDP, compared to 4.6% in 2012.
This major shift over the past decade has led critics to question the government's priorities.
NEP 2020, a complete overhaul of India's education system, proposes numerous reforms that appear difficult for the Central government to implement, at least for now. In a detailed analysis, the India Today Digital team found that the Central government has spent over Rs 3 lakh crore on NEP 2020-related initiatives over the last five years. (The number could vary, as the government's data is based on budget allocations.)
This includes spending on several schemes that directly benefit students while also focusing on improving educational infrastructure.
Despite allocating such significant funds, implementation has emerged as the government's biggest challenge.
MORE MONEY, BIGGER AMBITIONS
The Union government's education budget has witnessed a steady rise over the last few years.
The allocation for the Ministry of Education has increased by nearly 64% since 2018, reaching over 1.28 lakh crore in the Union Budget 2025-26, the highest ever in absolute terms.
However, viewed against India's rapidly expanding economy, the picture changes.
Public expenditure on education continues to hover around 2.5–3% of GDP, significantly below the 6% target recommended first by the Kothari Commission in 1966 and reiterated by NEP 2020 itself. UNESCO and several education experts have consistently recommended governments spend between 4% and 6% of GDP on education.
In other words, the education budget has grown—but so has the economy. The denominator has kept pace with the numerator.
Or as critics put it: the budget has become larger, but education's slice of the national pie hasn't become much thicker.
3 LAKH CRORE AND COUNTING
An analysis of Union Budget documents by India Today Digital shows that the Centre has allocated over 3 lakh crore towards programmes linked directly or indirectly to NEP implementation over the last five financial years. The figure includes flagship schemes under the Ministry of Education and other NEP-related initiatives.
The actual expenditure may vary as revised estimates and utilisation certificates continue to be updated.
The money has flowed into initiatives including:
Samagra Shiksha
PM SHRI Schools
NIPUN Bharat
PM-USHA
Digital learning platforms like DIKSHA and SWAYAM
Academic reforms through UGC and AICTE
Teacher training programmes
Research and innovation initiatives, including the National Research Foundation, are also discussed in the NEP 2020. Yet, the policy's most transformative ideas continue to face the oldest obstacle in Indian governance: implementation.
The National Education Policy was not merely a school reform document. It attempted to redesign India's education ecosystem from the age of three onwards.
Among its biggest reforms were:
Replacing the 10+2 structure with the 5+3+3+4 model, integrating early childhood education.
Promoting education in the mother tongue or regional language, preferably till Class 5. Introducing experiential and competency-based learning instead of memorisation.
The policy also places major emphasis on Indian Knowledge Systems, encouraging institutions to integrate traditional sciences, philosophy, arts and indigenous knowledge into curricula.
Supporters describe it as an attempt to blend ancient wisdom with modern education.
Critics argue the real challenge is ensuring these ideas translate into meaningful classroom practices rather than remaining policy documents.
HOW FAR HAS NEP TAKEN INDIA?
Six years later, the answer depends on where one looks. The easiest reforms have moved the fastest. Curriculum revisions, digital platforms, teacher training modules and university regulations have seen measurable progress.
The harder reforms, language policy, infrastructure upgrades, foundational literacy, teacher availability and classroom transformation, continue to vary dramatically across states.
Education, after all, is a subject shared between the Centre and states.
While the Centre drafts policy, states build classrooms, recruit teachers, print textbooks and ultimately implement reforms.
The result has been uneven progress across the country.
"The 5+3+3+4 structure has given us a more coherent way to think about a child's progress, and the exposure to fields like AI and applied sciences which would have been unthinkable a decade ago. Together, these shifts have helped schools rethink how children learn and grow. But intent and execution are different journeys — and the second takes longer," says Manisha Malhotra, Director-Principal, Satya School Gurugram.
Schools are adapting fast as highlights experts, but more time it will take to improvise and become visible.
Several states have enthusiastically adopted NEP recommendations, while others have resisted aspects such as the three-language formula, turning education into yet another arena of India's federal politics.
Few provisions of NEP have generated as much political debate as the three-language formula.
The policy officially states that no language will be imposed and emphasises flexibility.
Yet, states such as Tamil Nadu have continued opposing the proposal, arguing that it indirectly encourages Hindi at the expense of regional linguistic autonomy.
The debate has frequently moved beyond classrooms into Parliament, election campaigns and social media.
Ironically, while policymakers debate which language students should learn, many government schools continue to struggle with shortages of teachers capable of teaching even one language effectively.
THE CHALLENGE OF DIGITAL DIVIDE
The COVID-19 pandemic forced schools and colleges across India to move online almost overnight, making digital education one of the biggest priorities for the government. Under the National Education Policy (NEP), platforms like DIKSHA, SWAYAM and PM eVidya became the backbone of online learning, offering digital textbooks, recorded lectures, teacher training and free courses to millions of students and teachers.
However, access to digital education is still far from equal.
Data from the National Sample Survey and several education reports shows that these gaps remain one of the biggest hurdles in taking online education to every child.
Experts say that launching digital platforms is only one part of the solution. Unless every student has access to electricity, the internet and an affordable device, the dream of smart classrooms will remain out of reach for millions.
NEP 2020 was introduced a few years ago with the aim of delivering a better education system for students.
Has it succeeded? So far, infrastructural challenges continue to pose one of the biggest and most persistent hurdles for the government. Lakhs of crores have already been spent, but India is still waiting for the sweeping transformation that was envisioned under NEP 2020.
Today marks the 6th anniversary of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. As the government continues to implement several reforms, including the three-language formula, a question arises: How much has it spent, and how has that money been utilised? The Government of India's budget for education (both Higher and School) has gone up by 64% since 2018, but education spending has come down to 2.4% of GDP, compared to 4.6% in 2012.
This major shift over the past decade has led critics to question the government's priorities.
NEP 2020, a complete overhaul of India's education system, proposes numerous reforms that appear difficult for the Central government to implement, at least for now. In a detailed analysis, the India Today Digital team found that the Central government has spent over Rs 3 lakh crore on NEP 2020-related initiatives over the last five years. (The number could vary, as the government's data is based on budget allocations.)
This includes spending on several schemes that directly benefit students while also focusing on improving educational infrastructure.
Despite allocating such significant funds, implementation has emerged as the government's biggest challenge.
MORE MONEY, BIGGER AMBITIONS
The Union government's education budget has witnessed a steady rise over the last few years.
The allocation for the Ministry of Education has increased by nearly 64% since 2018, reaching over 1.28 lakh crore in the Union Budget 2025-26, the highest ever in absolute terms.
However, viewed against India's rapidly expanding economy, the picture changes.
Public expenditure on education continues to hover around 2.5–3% of GDP, significantly below the 6% target recommended first by the Kothari Commission in 1966 and reiterated by NEP 2020 itself. UNESCO and several education experts have consistently recommended governments spend between 4% and 6% of GDP on education.
In other words, the education budget has grown—but so has the economy. The denominator has kept pace with the numerator.
Or as critics put it: the budget has become larger, but education's slice of the national pie hasn't become much thicker.
3 LAKH CRORE AND COUNTING
An analysis of Union Budget documents by India Today Digital shows that the Centre has allocated over 3 lakh crore towards programmes linked directly or indirectly to NEP implementation over the last five financial years. The figure includes flagship schemes under the Ministry of Education and other NEP-related initiatives.
The actual expenditure may vary as revised estimates and utilisation certificates continue to be updated.
The money has flowed into initiatives including:
Samagra Shiksha
PM SHRI Schools
NIPUN Bharat
PM-USHA
Digital learning platforms like DIKSHA and SWAYAM
Academic reforms through UGC and AICTE
Teacher training programmes
Research and innovation initiatives, including the National Research Foundation, are also discussed in the NEP 2020. Yet, the policy's most transformative ideas continue to face the oldest obstacle in Indian governance: implementation.
The National Education Policy was not merely a school reform document. It attempted to redesign India's education ecosystem from the age of three onwards.
Among its biggest reforms were:
Replacing the 10+2 structure with the 5+3+3+4 model, integrating early childhood education.
Promoting education in the mother tongue or regional language, preferably till Class 5. Introducing experiential and competency-based learning instead of memorisation.
The policy also places major emphasis on Indian Knowledge Systems, encouraging institutions to integrate traditional sciences, philosophy, arts and indigenous knowledge into curricula.
Supporters describe it as an attempt to blend ancient wisdom with modern education.
Critics argue the real challenge is ensuring these ideas translate into meaningful classroom practices rather than remaining policy documents.
HOW FAR HAS NEP TAKEN INDIA?
Six years later, the answer depends on where one looks. The easiest reforms have moved the fastest. Curriculum revisions, digital platforms, teacher training modules and university regulations have seen measurable progress.
The harder reforms, language policy, infrastructure upgrades, foundational literacy, teacher availability and classroom transformation, continue to vary dramatically across states.
Education, after all, is a subject shared between the Centre and states.
While the Centre drafts policy, states build classrooms, recruit teachers, print textbooks and ultimately implement reforms.
The result has been uneven progress across the country.
"The 5+3+3+4 structure has given us a more coherent way to think about a child's progress, and the exposure to fields like AI and applied sciences which would have been unthinkable a decade ago. Together, these shifts have helped schools rethink how children learn and grow. But intent and execution are different journeys — and the second takes longer," says Manisha Malhotra, Director-Principal, Satya School Gurugram.
Schools are adapting fast as highlights experts, but more time it will take to improvise and become visible.
Several states have enthusiastically adopted NEP recommendations, while others have resisted aspects such as the three-language formula, turning education into yet another arena of India's federal politics.
Few provisions of NEP have generated as much political debate as the three-language formula.
The policy officially states that no language will be imposed and emphasises flexibility.
Yet, states such as Tamil Nadu have continued opposing the proposal, arguing that it indirectly encourages Hindi at the expense of regional linguistic autonomy.
The debate has frequently moved beyond classrooms into Parliament, election campaigns and social media.
Ironically, while policymakers debate which language students should learn, many government schools continue to struggle with shortages of teachers capable of teaching even one language effectively.
THE CHALLENGE OF DIGITAL DIVIDE
The COVID-19 pandemic forced schools and colleges across India to move online almost overnight, making digital education one of the biggest priorities for the government. Under the National Education Policy (NEP), platforms like DIKSHA, SWAYAM and PM eVidya became the backbone of online learning, offering digital textbooks, recorded lectures, teacher training and free courses to millions of students and teachers.
However, access to digital education is still far from equal.
Data from the National Sample Survey and several education reports shows that these gaps remain one of the biggest hurdles in taking online education to every child.
Experts say that launching digital platforms is only one part of the solution. Unless every student has access to electricity, the internet and an affordable device, the dream of smart classrooms will remain out of reach for millions.
NEP 2020 was introduced a few years ago with the aim of delivering a better education system for students.
Has it succeeded? So far, infrastructural challenges continue to pose one of the biggest and most persistent hurdles for the government. Lakhs of crores have already been spent, but India is still waiting for the sweeping transformation that was envisioned under NEP 2020.
