National Education Policy 2020 – Reforms In Indian School Education System

Rote learning, the bane of Indian education, is finally being shown the door and is proposed to be replaced by competency-based learning and development of students which tests higher-order skills such as analysis, critical thinking and conceptual clarity. The long-awaited National Education Policy 2020 ("NEP 2020"), was announced by the Union Cabinet on July 29, 2020. The NEP 2020 is promoted as the first education policy of the 21st century with an objective of revising and revamping the Indian education structure and move towards creation of new system that is aligned with the aspirational goals of 21st century education. NEP 2020 is based on the principle that education must not be restricted to development of cognitive skills i.e., 'fundamental skills' of literacy and numeracy and 'higher-order' cognitive skills such as critical thinking and problem solving. Instead the education system must focus on development of 'soft skills' of a child, i.e. social