New Delhi: The Ministry of Education, in a debate during the Winter Lok Sabha Session on December 16, 2024, provided detailed updates on the progress and financial outlay related to the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Questions raised by MP Captain Viriato Fernandes centered around budget allocation, expenditure and the state of rollout of NEP in schools and colleges across the country. The Minister of State for Education, while replying, shed light on the financing mechanism, state-wise implementation and infrastructure development.
How much has been spent on the new education policy brought by the government?
The Comprehensive Education Plan launched in 2018 and revised for NEP 2020 has been an essential element for the implementation of the policy. The initiative integrates interventions such as early childhood care and education (ECCE), vocational training, and digital infrastructure upgrading.
The data shows that the amount under the overall education scheme has continuously increased in the last three financial years. In 2022-23, ₹ 44,493.94 crore was allocated as central share for this scheme with the objective of implementing NEP 2020. This allocation increased marginally from ₹ 44,813.41 crore to ₹ 45,830.21 crore in 2023-24. The continued increase in funding reflects the government’s efforts to support school education initiatives aligned with the NEP framework.
In addition, the PM SHRI (School for Rising India) initiativeIntroduced in September 2022, the NEP complements holistic education by creating model schools that demonstrate the components. PM SHRI schools, which are designed to serve as model institutions for implementing NEP practices. In 2023-24, the first year of the initiative, an allocation of Rs 2,520.46 crore was made. This figure saw a significant increase in the following year, with an allocation of ₹ 5,921.71 crore for 2024-25. Here is an overview of the increase.
The Union Government also launched the Prime Minister’s Higher Education Campaign (PM-USHA) in June 2023. This centrally sponsored scheme targets underserved areas and emphasizes quality improvement in state universities and colleges. The total budget outlay for 2023-24 to 2025-26 is ₹ 12,926.10 crore.
The main expenses include:
- ₹540.56 crore disbursed to States/UTs in the last two years.
- 119.17 crore has been released in the current financial year.
NEP in Action: Basic Literacy, Smart Classrooms, and Flexible Higher Education Pathways
Implementation of the NEP involves coordinated efforts between ministries, regulatory agencies and state departments. The Minister of State highlighted several transformative initiatives:
School Education: Programs like Nipun Bharat aim to ensure basic literacy and numeracy for students up to class 3. ICT infrastructure, smart classrooms, and vocational education are being prioritized.
Higher Education: Measures include the introduction of the National Credit Framework (NCrF) and Automated Student IDs (APAAR), as well as reforms to enable multiple entry-exit points in academic programmes.
NEP 2020: Growing Budgets, Gradual Progress, and Continuing Challenges
Statistics surrounding the implementation of NEP 2020 reveal a mixed picture of progress and gaps. Over the past three years, funds under major schemes such as comprehensive education have shown steady growth, rising from ₹44,493.94 crore in 2022-23 to ₹45,830.21 crore in 2024-25. These allocations underpin efforts to improve basic literacy, expand ICT infrastructure and promote vocational education through Nipun India.
Similarly, the PM SHRI initiative saw a significant increase in budget, from ₹ 2,520.46 crore in 2023-24 to ₹ 5,921.71 crore in 2024-25. This increase reflects the government’s commitment to create model schools reflecting NEP principles. Additionally, the PM-USHA scheme, launched to enhance state universities in 2023, has been allocated ₹ 12,926.10 crore for three years. However, actual disbursements remain modest, with only ₹540.56 crore released so far, raising questions about the pace of implementation. Overall, while the data reflect intent and incremental progress, systemic challenges remain.