Excellence in Higher Education in India: A Comparative Study on Nep-2020 and National Educational Policies

The NEP 2020 was accepted by the Union Cabinet of India on 29 July, 2020. The Ministry of Human Resource Development formed a committee headed by former ISRO Chairman Dr. K. Kasturirangan, who outlined the vision of India’s new education system. The New Education Policy addresses challenges faced by current education system such as Quality, Affordability, Equity, Access and Accountability. To become a developed society, India, not only requires a vibrant economy driven by knowledge but also a new society where justice and human values prevail. After the independence, education was largely controlled by the central government but then became a joint effort by the central and the state governments through a constitutional amendment in 1976. India as a country is still afflicted by high percentage of illiteracy and high rate of dropouts. The previous policies on education have focused largely on issues of access and equity. In this paper an attempt has been made to enquire whether the unfinished agenda, especially of higher education, is appropriately dealt with in the National Education Policy 2020 and suggest those areas to make it more inclusive Education Policy.