National Education Policy 2020: Reforms Affecting Higher Education and Research
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, approved by the Union Cabinet on July 29, 2020, replaced the National Policy on Education of 1986. The policy aims to raise the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education, including vocational training, from 26.3% in 2018 to 50% by 2035. It restructures regulatory bodies, degree programs, accreditation systems, and research funding to create a multidisciplinary higher education system.
Regulatory Architecture: Higher Education Commission of India
Single Overarching Regulator
The policy proposes the establishment of the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) as an umbrella body for all higher education, excluding medical and legal education. HECI replaces existing regulatory bodies such as the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).
Four Verticals of HECI
- National Higher Education Regulatory Council (NHERC): Serves as the single-point regulator for the higher education sector, including technical education.
- National Accreditation Council (NAC): Functions as a meta-accreditation body to oversee institutional grading based on basic norms and public disclosures.
- Higher Education Grants Council (HEGC): Handles financing and funding allocations for higher education institutions.
- General Education Council (GEC): Frames expected learning outcomes and formulates the National Higher Education Qualification Framework (NHEQF).
Institutional Restructuring and Autonomy
Three-Tier Categorization of HEIs
The policy reorganizes all Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) into three distinct categories by 2040:
- Research-Intensive Universities: Place equal emphasis on high-quality research and teaching.
- Teaching-Intensive Universities: Focus primarily on high-quality teaching across disciplines while conducting research.
- Autonomous Degree-Granting Colleges: Focus on undergraduate teaching and granting degrees independently.
Phasing Out the Affiliation System
NEP 2020 replaces the college affiliation system with a phased mechanism of graded autonomy over 15 years. Complex institutional nomenclatures such as ‘Deemed to be University’, ‘Affiliating University’, and ‘Unitary University’ are replaced by the single term ‘University’. Every district in India aims to have at least one large multidisciplinary HEI by 2030.
Academic Reforms and Flexible Learning Pathways
Multiple Entry and Exit Options
Undergraduate degree programs transition to a 3 or 4-year duration with flexible entry and exit points:
- Completion of 1 Year: Awarded a Certificate in the chosen field or discipline.
- Completion of 2 Years: Awarded an Advanced Diploma.
- Completion of 3 Years: Awarded a Bachelor’s Degree.
- Completion of 4 Years: Awarded a Multidisciplinary Bachelor’s Degree, or a Bachelor’s Degree ‘with Research’ if a rigorous research project is completed.
Academic Bank of Credits
The Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) is a digital repository established under UGC regulations. ABC stores academic credits earned by students from registered HEIs, allowing credit transfers and enabling multi-point entry and exit across institutions.
Multidisciplinary Education and Research Universities
Model public universities called Multidisciplinary Education and Research Universities (MERUs) are established at par with IITs and IIMs to set global standards for holistic education. Single-stream institutions are gradually phased out to integrate arts, humanities, sciences, and vocational studies.
Research and Internationalization Initiatives
Anusandhan National Research Foundation
Following the recommendations of NEP 2020, Parliament passed the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) Act in 2023. ANRF seeds, grows, and promotes research, innovation, and enterprise across universities, colleges, and research institutions.
Discontinuation of M.Phil
The M.Phil degree program is discontinued under NEP 2020. Students can directly enter Ph.D. programs after completing a 4-year undergraduate degree with research or a Master’s degree.
Internationalization of Higher Education
Top 100 foreign universities in global rankings are facilitated to establish campuses in India under a specialized regulatory framework. High-performing Indian universities are encouraged to set up overseas campuses.
Summary of Key Targets and Regulatory Bodies
| Component / Reform Area | Target / Body Proposed | Primary Function or Milestone |
| Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) | 50% by 2035 | Target covers higher education including vocational streams |
| Apex Regulator | HECI | Umbrella body excluding medical and legal streams |
| Regulation Vertical | NHERC | Single-point regulator for higher education |
| Accreditation Vertical | NAC | Meta-accreditation body for institutional grading |
| Financing Vertical | HEGC | Funding and financing of higher education |
| Standard Setting Vertical | GEC | Formulates National Higher Education Qualification Framework |
| Research Apex Body | ANRF | Seeds and finances research across academic institutions |
| Credit Transfer System | Academic Bank of Credits | Digitally stores and transfers academic credits |
Key Exam-Oriented Facts
- NEP 2020 sets a target to add 3.5 crore new seats to higher education institutions by 2035.
- The K. Kasturirangan Committee drafted the National Education Policy 2020 submitted to the government in May 2019.
- HECI excludes medical and legal education from its regulatory scope.
- M.Phil degrees were formally phased out under NEP 2020 higher education guidelines.
- The National Research Foundation Act 2023 established ANRF to operationalize the research vision of NEP 2020.
- IIT Madras established an offshore campus in Zanzibar, Tanzania, and IIT Delhi established a campus in Abu Dhabi, UAE under the internationalization strategy.
- Public expenditure on education is targeted at 6% of GDP through joint contributions of the Centre and States.
