Important National Education Policies and Reforms

India’s education system has been shaped by a series of national policies and reforms aimed at expanding access, improving equity, and raising learning standards. For Prelims revision, the focus should be on policy milestones, structural changes, and major programmes that guide school and higher education.

Evolution of National Education Policies

• 1968 National Policy on Education: Formulated under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on the basis of the Kothari Commission (1964–1966), it called for a common school system, the 10+2+3 structure, and a target of spending 6 percent of GDP on education.
• 1986 National Policy on Education: The second NPE focused on removing disparities and equalising opportunities, especially for women, Scheduled Castes, and Scheduled Tribes.
• Operation Blackboard: Launched under the 1986 policy to provide essential physical facilities in primary schools.
• Programme of Action, 1992: The 1986 policy was modified through this programme to update implementation measures.
• NEP 2020: The National Education Policy 2020 replaced the 1986 policy and seeks to transform India’s school and higher education systems.
• Policy basis: NEP 2020 was drafted using the recommendations of committees led by T.S.R. Subramanian and Dr. K. Kasturirangan.

NEP 2020: Major Structural Changes

• 5+3+3+4 structure: NEP 2020 replaces the traditional 10+2 system with a new curricular framework.
• Foundational Stage: Covers ages 3–8, including preschool and classes 1–2.
• Preparatory Stage: Covers classes 3–5.
• Middle Stage: Covers classes 6–8.
• Secondary Stage: Covers classes 9–12.
• Policy intent: The reform emphasises competency-based learning, flexibility, and better integration between school and higher education.

National Credit Framework and Learning Mobility

• National Credit Framework (NCrF): It is designed as a unified framework to integrate school, higher, and vocational education.
• Credit assignment: Credits can be earned for classroom teaching, online learning, sports, and certified vocational training.
• Academic mobility: The framework supports accumulation, storage, and redemption of credits, making entry and exit between courses easier.
• Equivalence with skills: NCrF links formal education with vocational competencies under the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF).
• Lateral and vertical movement: Students with vocational certificates can move into degree programmes, improving mobility across learning pathways.
• University adoption: The source notes adoption across 196 universities, reflecting growing institutional use of the framework.
• Baalpan ki Kavita: A Ministry of Education initiative that invites multilingual submissions of rhymes and poems for children aged 3 to 8 to strengthen early language and cognitive development.

APAAR ID and Student Data Governance

• APAAR ID: The Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry is a lifelong digital student ID.
• Academic linkage: It is connected to the Academic Bank of Credits for storing digital degrees, diplomas, and report cards.
• Scale: More than 33.74 crore APAAR IDs have been registered, according to the source.
• CBSE requirement: CBSE has mandated APAAR ID for Class IX and XI board registrations from the 2026–27 academic session.
• Consent safeguard: Parent consent forms must include an opt-out or refuse option, keeping the process voluntary.
• Data protection: Student data under APAAR is governed by the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.

Major Centrally Sponsored Schemes and Funding

• Union Budget 2026–27: The Department of School Education and Literacy was allocated ₹83,562 crore.
• PM SHRI: This centrally sponsored scheme aims to upgrade over 14,500 government schools into model institutions by 2026–27.
• NEP alignment: PM SHRI schools are expected to reflect NEP 2020-aligned pedagogical practices.
• Selection status: The source states that 13,092 schools had been selected under PM SHRI as of July 29, 2026.
• PM-YUVA 3.0: A mentorship scheme for young authors under 30 years of age.
• Financial support: Selected participants receive a scholarship of ₹50,000 per month for six months.
• Theme: The scheme encourages research and writing on national history and heritage.

Key Prelims Takeaways

• Constitutional shift: Education was moved from the State List to the Concurrent List by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976.
• Spending target: The 6 percent of GDP target for education was first associated with the Kothari Commission and later reiterated in NEP 2020.
• 1968 policy: It introduced the 10+2+3 structure and the idea of a common school system.
• 1986 policy: It focused on equity and included Operation Blackboard for primary schools.
• NEP 2020: It replaced the 1986 policy and introduced the 5+3+3+4 curricular structure.
• NCrF: It enables credit-based flexibility across academic and vocational learning.
• APAAR: It functions as a lifelong digital academic identity linked to the Academic Bank of Credits.