National Education Policy (NEP) 2020
Key Targets and School Education Reforms
The National Education Policy 2020, approved by the Union Cabinet on July 29, 2020, is India's first new education policy in 34 years (replacing the 1986 policy). For school education, NEP 2020 introduces a new 5+3+3+4 curricular structure replacing the traditional 10+2 system, expands the age of compulsory education to cover 3–18 years (from 3 through Class 12), and places heavy emphasis on foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) by Grade 3.
- Policy approved: July 29, 2020
- New school structure: Foundational (5 years, ages 3–8), Preparatory (3 years, ages 8–11), Middle (3 years, ages 11–14), Secondary (4 years, ages 14–18)
- Expands age of coverage: from 6–14 (RTE Act) to 3–18 years
- NIPUN Bharat mission (launched 2021): targets universal foundational literacy and numeracy by end of Grade 3 by 2026–27
- Target: Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) at secondary level to reach 100% by 2030
- Emphasis on mother tongue/regional language as medium of instruction up to Grade 5
- Proposes multidisciplinary approach, vocational integration from Grade 6, and holistic assessment replacing rote testing
● Tracked since February 19, 2026 · last seen May 12, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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