As we step into 2026, India’s ambitious National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, a blueprint for transforming the country’s education ecosystem, stands at a pivotal juncture. Five years after its launch, structural reforms have started reshaping schooling and higher education, but ground-level implementation reveals uneven progress.
While policymakers celebrate milestones like expanding higher education enrollment and global outreach, the realities of infrastructure gaps, uneven resource allocation, and socio-economic inequities continue to test the policy’s transformative promise.
Overhauling the Structure & Curriculum: From 10+2 to 5+3+3+4
One of the most visible early impacts of NEP 2020 has been the transition from the old 10+2 structure to the 5+3+3+4 educational model, designed to better align schooling stages with children’s cognitive development.
This model integrates Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) including pre-school components traditionally delivered by Anganwadis into the formal education system, making foundational learning more holistic and age-appropriate.
This restructuring has led to more emphasis on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN), experiential learning, and reduced curricular overload. However, reports indicate that progress varies widely between states and is slower in many rural or resource-constrained regions, underscoring persistent disparities.
Higher Education: Flexibility Meets Reality
NEP 2020 also envisions a reimagined higher education system, one that is multidisciplinary, flexible, and globally competitive. Key reforms include;
- Multiple entry and exit options in undergraduate programmes.
- Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) enabling credit accumulation and transfer across institutions.
- A shift from rigid, single-discipline degrees to cross-disciplinary learning paths.
- Abolition of the University Grants Commission (UGC) model in favour of the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) with a focus on regulation, accreditation, and academic standards.
However, while these systemic changes aim to modernise higher education, implementation is uneven.
Many colleges and universities, particularly in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, lack the infrastructure, faculty expertise, and administrative bandwidth to fully adopt flexible curricula and credit mobility frameworks. According to surveys, only a minority of institutions have operationalised core reforms like multiple entry-exit systems, reflecting ground-level constraints on adoption.
Assessment Reform: PARAKH & Holistic Evaluation
The NEP’s commitment to moving away from rote learning towards competency-based education has gained traction through the National Assessment Centre, PARAKH. Instead of emphasizing high-stakes exams, PARAKH promotes 360-degree holistic report cards that assess critical thinking, applied skills, and socio-emotional competencies.
This holistic approach has begun influencing classroom assessment practices but faces challenges in scalability and teacher training. Educators need deep-dive professional development to adapt to these assessment frameworks. Otherwise, traditional examination mindsets persist, especially in resource-limited contexts.
Digital and Vocational Education: Progress Amid a Digital Divide
NEP 2020 promotes digital learning platforms and vocational education starting as early as Class 6 to prepare students for future skill needs. Initiatives like DIKSHA, the government’s national digital education platform, and online courses hosted on SWAYAM have enabled millions of learners to access educational content in multiple languages.
Yet, digital readiness remains a bottleneck. Less than 60% of Indian schools are reported to have functional computers, and only around half have reliable internet access, a stark reminder of the digital divide that undermines equitable implementation.
Vocational training, an integral part of NEP, is on the upswing too, with government schools increasingly offering skill-based courses ranging from IT and retail to healthcare and mindfulness. However, shortages of trained instructors and adequate facilities limit the reach and effectiveness of such programmes.
Implementation Bottlenecks: Funding, Teachers & Infrastructure
Despite its holistic vision, NEP 2020’s ambitious pledges, notably raising public education spending to 6% of GDP, remain unrealised. Actual expenditures continue to hover below this target, straining efforts to build infrastructure, modernise campuses, and invest in teacher training at scale.
Teacher preparation is a linchpin for successful educational transformation, yet many educators still lack comprehensive training to implement new pedagogies, digital tools, and assessment methods. Without substantial investment in teacher empowerment, NEP’s pedagogical goals risk stagnation.
Opening Doors: Foreign Universities & Internationalisation
One of the most forward-looking aspects of NEP 2020 is its encouragement of foreign universities to establish campuses in India and engage in deeper global collaborations.
New regulatory frameworks (such as the UGC Foreign HEI regulations) now permit top-ranked global institutions, particularly those ranked within the top 500 globally, to open branch campuses in Indian cities, often with academic autonomy.
Examples include institutions from the UK, Australia, and other countries setting up or finalising plans for campuses in hubs like GIFT City and Gurugram, a shift that could drastically expand high-quality, globally recognised education within India’s borders.
Foreign Universities Establishing Campuses Across India (Updated 2026)
India’s higher education landscape is undergoing a structural shift, with several globally ranked foreign universities setting up or actively planning independent campuses. This momentum is largely driven by reforms under the National Education Policy (NEP), which enables leading international institutions to operate in India under a regulated framework.
Why This Trend Matters.
The entry of foreign universities signals;
- Greater global exposure for Indian students
- Access to international curricula & pedagogy
- Reduced need for overseas relocation
- Boost to India’s education & research ecosystem
Institutions are primarily targeting high-demand, future-focused disciplines such as STEM, business, finance, and artificial intelligence.
Leading Foreign Universities in India (AY 2026-27)
- Deakin University (Australia) at GIFT City, Gujarat (2024)
- University of Wollongong at GIFT City, Gujarat
- University of Southampton (UK) at Gurgaon, Haryana
- Queen’s University (Belfast, UK) at GIFT City, Gujarat
- University of Liverpool (UK) at Bengaluru
- Western Sydney University (Australia) at Gr. Noida, UP
- University of Bristol (UK) at Mumbai
- University of Aberdeen (UK) at Mumbai
- University of York (UK) at Mumbai
- Instituto Europeo di Design (Italy) at Mumbai
- University of Western Australia (Australia) at Mumbai and Chennai
- Illinois Institute of Technology (USA) at Mumbai
India is poised to become a major destination for transnational education. As policy frameworks mature (NEP) and early campuses stabilise, more top-tier global universities are expected to enter the market, deepening competition and raising academic benchmarks.
Indian Universities and Institutions Setting Campuses Abroad
Parallel to this, Indian institutions are also internationalising through offshore campuses abroad, including in the UAE, Tanzania, and the UK, fostering global mobility and strengthening academic branding.
Top Indian higher education institutions, particularly Institutions of Eminence (IoE) and IITs, are establishing international campuses to expand their global footprint, driven by NEP 2020 guidelines.
- IIT Madras: Launched a campus in Zanzibar, Tanzania.
- IIT Delhi: Established a campus in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE): Operates campuses in Dubai.
- BITS Pilani: Established a campus in Dubai.
- SP Jain School of Global Management: Operates campuses in Dubai, Singapore, and Sydney.
- Amity University: Operates a campus in Dubai.
- SRM Institute of Science and Technology: Operates a campus in Dubai.
Policy and Strategic Drivers
NEP 2020 & IoE Scheme: The New Education Policy 2020 promotes the internationalization of education, allowing top-tier Indian institutions (IoEs) to set up campuses abroad to enhance their global ranking and reach.
Regulatory Framework: The University Grants Commission (UGC) allows these expansions, requiring them to maintain academic standards comparable to their Indian counterparts.
Knowledge Export: The initiative marks a shift from India solely being a source of international students to becoming a global education hub, providing cost-effective, high-quality education to foreign students and the diaspora.
Strategic Focus: Expansion is currently focused on regions with high demand for technical education, particularly the Middle Ea
The India-EU FTA 2026 and Student Mobility
The India–EU Free Trade Agreement 2026, concluded in January 2026, strengthens student mobility with uncapped, multi-year, multi-entry visas and a three-year post-study work permit.
A one-stop hub in New Delhi aims to process 90% of visas within 30 days. The deal also expands research collaboration and introduces a pathway for Social Security Agreements, positioning the EU as a leading destination for Indian students.
Key Impacts on Student Mobility (2026–2027)
- Visa & Work Permit Upgrades: Uncapped, multi-year, multi-entry visas improve certainty and flexibility.
- Post-Study Work Access: A three-year work permit supports career opportunities in Europe.
- Visa Processing: Faster approvals via the New Delhi one-stop hub.
- Academic & Research Mobility: Boosted joint degrees and innovation partnerships.
- Social Security Integration: Future agreements to protect pension/healthcare benefits.
- Competitive Alternative: EU gains appeal amid tighter US/UK/Canada rules.
- Education & Skills Dialogue: Focus on qualification recognition and credit transfers.
The Road Ahead: Challenges and Opportunities
NEP 2020 has undoubtedly shifted India’s education discourse towards skills, flexibility, global alignment, and inclusion. Enrollment in higher education continues to grow, digital platforms have broadened access to learning, and global academic linkages are accelerating.
However, transformational change at scale requires overcoming stubborn implementation hurdles;
- Bridging infrastructure and digital gaps across socio-economic strata.
- Translating policy frameworks into classroom practice.
- Expanding robust teacher training and pedagogical support.
- Mobilising adequate funding to match NEP’s long-term vision.
As India marches toward 2030 goals such as universal foundational learning and global competitiveness, it must consistently invest in equitable systems that empower every learner, regardless of geography or background.
Conclusion
NEP 2020 has catalysed a paradigm shift in Indian education from restructuring schooling stages to enabling a flexible, globally connected higher education ecosystem. Yet the reality check in 2026 reveals that policy vision is further ahead than on-the-ground implementation.
Achieving truly inclusive, high-quality education demands sustained effort, strategic investment, and collaborative governance across states, institutions, and communities.
If India can address these bottlenecks, NEP 2020 has the potential to make the nation not only an education hub for its youth but also a globally respected knowledge superpower.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 5+3+3+4 structure under NEP 2020?
It replaces the old 10+2 schooling model and realigns education into five stages: Foundational (5), Preparatory (3), Middle (3), and Secondary (4), to match learning needs at different ages.
How has higher education changed under NEP 2020?
NEP promotes multidisciplinary learning, flexible degrees with multiple entry/exit options, credit transfer systems like the Academic Bank of Credits, and global collaborations.
Are foreign universities operating in India under NEP regulations?
Yes, foreign HEIs rated in top global rankings can establish campuses in India, bringing globally recognised programmes and potential for collaborations.
What role does PARAKH play in assessment reform?
PARAKH drives a transition toward competency-based evaluation and holistic report cards, moving away from rote exam formats.
Is India spending the recommended 6% of GDP on education?
As of 2026, public spending remains below the 6% target, which limits infrastructure upgrades, teacher development, and digital expansion.
