National Education Policy 2023 (NEP 2023: Highlights, Reforms & Objectives

The National Education Policy 2023 (NEP 2023) is India’s landmark education reform that restructures schooling into a 5+3+3+4 model, replaces the 1986 policy, and aims to make learning holistic, flexible, and skill-based.

Since its release in 2020, the National Education Policy, or NEP, has been a beacon for transformative initiatives in the Indian education system. Implementing the NEP 2020 has set Indian education on a progressive path wherein we can hope to build an education ecosystem aligned to international standards. Among the most noteworthy changes brought about by NEP are curriculum-aligned learning, instruction in regional languages, integration of technology in education, and promotion of vocational and skill-based learning in India.

As we strive to build a forward-looking and more inclusive education system, the national education policy continues to get updated and refined with each passing year. This year, we also saw the roll-out of the new education policy for 2023.

What is the New Education Policy 2023?

The New National Education Policy 2023 is designed with a vision of holistic education, empowered by adopting modern training methods and education technology and including practical and contemporary skills in the education system. It also includes enabling Indian students to hone their creative, analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills while actively pursuing digital literacy.

What are the Objectives of New Education Policy 2023 – Goal of NEP

The primary purpose of NEP 2023 is to raise the education standard in Indian schools and colleges and align it with the global level of education. It aims to improve the learning experience in our schools to enable India to emerge as a leader in knowledge-based sectors. The new education policy 2023 seeks to enhance the quality of education and make it equivalent to international standards.

NEP Educational Stages

1. Foundational Stage (5 Years) – The foundational stage starts from the first year of education, including 3 years of pre-primary or Anganwadi schooling, followed by classes 1 and 2. This stage is devoted to building a strong foundation and essential skills. Children between the ages of 3 and 8 fall into this category.
2. Preparatory Stage (3 Years) – Students in classes 3 to 5 will be given learning opportunities for fundamental concepts such as speaking, reading, writing, physical education, art, science, languages, and mathematics. Students between the ages of 8 to 10 years are included in this stage.
3. Middle Stage (3 Years) – From 11 to 13 years, students in the Indian education system will learn more abstract concepts in mathematics, sciences, social sciences, arts, and humanities. Classes 6 to 8 are in this category of the education system.
4. Secondary Stage (2 Years) – The secondary stage of the NEP 2023 includes children aged 13 to 18. This stage is classified into two parts: classes 9 and 10. Classes 11 and 12 are in the second part. The four years of this stage are devoted to multi-disciplinary learning driven by depth and critical thinking. There are various subject options available to students in the secondary stage.

New Education Policy 2023: Major Reforms

1. Foundational Literacy and Numeracy – The new education policy aims to achieve foundational literacy and numeracy among students by 2025. It will ensure a strong base among all students for higher stages of education.
2. Revamped Education Structure – To reduce the stress of assessments among young students, examinations will only be held in classes 2, 5, and 8. It is expected to reduce the burden and frequency of assessments to improve student morale. Board exams for standards 10th and 12th will be held bi-annually in objective-descriptive formats.
3. Interdisciplinary Curriculum – Schools will be encouraged to follow an interdisciplinary curriculum and multilingual education to nurture diverse skills and knowledge among their students.
   Also Read: Interdisciplinary Approach in Teaching
4. Coding and Experimental Learning – Experimental learning encourages children to be curious and learn new concepts by doing rather than reading. Adopting experimental learning approaches in the Indian education system is expected to enhance practical understanding. Children will also be introduced to basic coding concepts from the 6th standard.
5. Health Focus – The new education policy also urges schools to focus on students’ well-being from a young age. The midday meal scheme will be extended to include breakfast. Schools will also welcome counsellors and social workers to work with their students to promote physical and mental well-being.
6. Holistic Development Focus – The NEP 2023 aims to establish an education system emphasising students’ holistic development. Multiple dimensions of learning positively influence the student’s overall growth and cognitive, emotional, and societal development.
   Also Read: Holistic Education Guide
7. Early Foundational Learning – Prioritising early childhood education ensures students get the proper learning opportunities to develop strong foundations for further education.
8. New Curriculum Structure – One of the most significant reforms of the NEP 2023 is the 5+3+3+4 structure for primary and secondary education. It promotes experiential learning, emphasising practical knowledge, skill-based learning, and holistic development during school years.
9. Tech-Driven Education – The NEP 2023 is focused on using technology to create new and innovative learning experiences. Platforms like DIKSHA will be implemented at all levels to improve access to quality education.
10. Adaptive Evaluation System – The policy specifies rethinking assessments to make them stress-free and adaptive rather than summative. It will allow students to get a comprehensive evaluation that tests knowledge and not the ability to recall.
11. Teacher Training – Continuous training and development of teachers to promote professional development and enable them to improve their delivery and classroom management skills. It will help align teachers to evolving education practices.
12. Inclusivity & Equity – NEP 2023 aims to create an education system that offers equal learning opportunities to all students irrespective of their socioeconomic background, physical barriers, or learning ability.

NEP 2020 vs NEP 2023 — What Is the Difference?

A common source of confusion for schools and educators is the relationship between NEP 2020 and NEP 2023. They are not two separate policies — but they are meaningfully distinct in what they represent.

NEP 2020 is the foundational policy document approved by the Union Cabinet on July 29, 2020, outlining the vision, principles, and long-term goals for transforming India’s education system. It replaced the National Policy on Education of 1986 after 34 years — the most comprehensive overhaul of Indian education in a generation. [SOURCE: Ministry of Education, Government of India]

NEP 2023 refers to the active implementation phase that gathered momentum through the 2023–24 academic year. The key instrument driving this implementation is the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023 — released by NCERT in 2023 — which translates NEP 2020’s broad vision into specific, stage-by-stage guidelines for curriculum design, pedagogy, assessment, and learning outcomes across all four school stages. [SOURCE: NCERT NCF-SE 2023]

In simple terms: NEP 2020 set the destination; NCF-SE 2023 and the 2023–24 rollout built the road.

Here is how the two compare across the dimensions that matter most for schools:

Teacher Policy Revisions Under NEP 2023

Under the recent national education policy reforms, teachers must fulfill a more engaging role and have specific qualifications before any school hires them. By 2030, it will be mandatory for all teachers to have a four-year bachelor of education degree (B Ed.) to qualify as a teacher. The policy has also revised the recruitment process to create a more transparent and equitable teacher hiring experience.

The 5+3+3+4 Structure: What Does it Mean?

1. Holistic Cognitive Growth – The new structure aims to improve the comprehensive cognitive development among Indian students. The learners will be encouraged to experiment, explore, and learn through play from a young age.
2. Optimised Schooling Phases – The framework enriches a student’s learning journey from kindergarten to the secondary levels. It was not possible to optimise the school phases in the previous 10+2 framework.
3. Right to Education – The 5+3+3+4 structure of schooling is expected to aid and improve the implementation of the right to education. The previous structure only included children between 6 and 14, but the new structure included children ages 3 to 18. It ensures continuous and equitable access to education and upholds the right to education.
4. Enhanced Student Foundations – The new structure emphasises the significance of foundational learning. It offers students the chance to actively build a strong foundation of the concepts they must apply in the higher stages of learning.
5. Improved Student Retention – Implementing the 5+3+3+4 structure is expected to improve student retention rates. Institutions are being urged to foster longer academic careers to aid this objective.
6. Versatile Benefits – The new education policy of 2020 and the reforms of 2023 aim to create an education system that offers more than knowledge to its learners. Rather, an education ecosystem that touches every aspect of a student’s personality, including academic, social, emotional, and physical development.
7. Positive Impact on Literacy – India has been striving to improve literacy and build a better-educated population. The new education structure can help us achieve this by positively impacting literacy rates.
8. Forward-Looking Approach – Creating a new foundational education structure reflects a progressive education administration mindset. It can help India align its education system with the evolving needs of society and the demands of the 21st century.
9. Comprehensive Preparation – The new education structure prepares students for the future by covering a wider age range. Better cognitive development equips them to face the challenges of higher education, career pursuits, and life.
10. National Development – The 5+3+3+4 structure can improve our education system to create skilled and well-rounded citizens of our country. Such individuals can do more for the development of our nation and contribute meaningfully to our economy. In the long run, this shift in our education system can lead to better prosperity and growth for India.

NEP 2023 Implementation — Progress and Challenges

India’s National Education Policy is ambitious by any measure. But ambition at the level of a national policy must eventually translate into practice across 14.89 lakh schools [SOURCE: UDISE+ 2021–22, education.gov.in], serving more than 26 crore students — from well-resourced urban private schools to under-served rural government institutions. That translation is underway, and progress is real. So are the challenges.

Textbook Rollout — What Has Been Released

The most visible sign of NEP 2023’s implementation is the phase-wise introduction of new NCERT textbooks aligned with NCF-SE 2023:

• 2023–24: New textbooks introduced for Class 6, with a revised syllabus including vocational education and updated India-focused content
• 2024–25: Updated textbooks released for Classes 1, 2, 3 and 6 across all subjects including Mathematics, Languages, Science, Social Sciences, Arts, Physical Education, and Vocational Education
• 2025–26: NCERT published updated textbooks for Classes 4, 5, 7 and 8
• Ongoing: Revision of textbooks for Classes 7, 9, and 11 being undertaken by the National Syllabus and Teaching Learning Material Committee (NSTC) with a focus on competency-based learning, self-learning, and reduced content load

Early Signs of Progress

Despite the scale of the challenge, there are measurable early indicators that NEP’s reforms are beginning to have effect:

• The ASER 2024 report recorded the most significant improvement in foundational reading and arithmetic proficiency among government school students in two decades — with Std III students showing a remarkable surge in basic literacy and numeracy. Education researchers have linked these gains, at least in part, to targeted FLN (Foundational Literacy and Numeracy) interventions under NEP 2020 and the NIPUN Bharat mission [SOURCE: ASER 2024, asercentre.org]
• PARAKH conducted the State Educational Achievement Survey (SEAS) on November 3, 2023 across 30 states and union territories, assessing approximately 8.5 million students in Grades 3, 6, and 9 — providing a national baseline for competency-based evaluation [SOURCE: PARAKH/NCERT, extramarks.com/blogs/schools/parakh/]
• The Union Budget 2025–26 allocated ₹1,28,650 crore to education — the highest in India’s history — with ₹78,572 crore directed specifically to school education and literacy, and ₹7,500 crore under the PM SHRI initiative to upgrade 14,000+ schools as model NEP-aligned institutions [SOURCE: indiabudget.gov.in]

Key Implementation Challenges

Progress notwithstanding, translating a 484-page policy framework into consistent classroom practice across India’s deeply diverse school landscape is a complex, multi-year undertaking. Here are the most significant challenges currently being navigated:

1. Uneven state-level adoption — and active resistance in some states

Implementation has proceeded at markedly different speeds across states. Several states — including Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh — have adopted NCERT textbooks directly. Goa was among the first to formally align its government school curriculum with the NEP framework.

However, not all states have embraced the rollout. Tamil Nadu has strongly resisted the NEP — particularly its language policy provisions — and West Bengal has also offered resistance. The Union Government has withheld funds under the centrally-sponsored Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) scheme for states not complying with NEP implementation requirements. Karnataka, meanwhile, reconstituted its own State Education Commission after an initial alignment exercise, choosing to plan its own curriculum path [SOURCE: thewire.in, July 2025].

This variation means that students in different states are receiving markedly different educational experiences under the same national policy — a fundamental equity concern.

2. Teacher training at scale remains the critical bottleneck

Every reform envisioned by NEP 2023 — from activity-based learning to competency-based assessment — depends on teachers who understand and can execute the new pedagogy. NEP requires teachers to complete at least 50 hours of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) annually [SOURCE: NEP 2020, Para 5.18, education.gov.in]. NISHTHA (National Initiative for School Heads’ and Teachers’ Holistic Advancement) training programmes have reached millions of teachers through DIKSHA and SWAYAM platforms — but training depth and classroom translation remain inconsistent, particularly in rural and semi-urban schools.

The 4-year integrated B.Ed. — mandatory for all new teachers by 2030 — is also still being phased in. NCERT has launched specific online courses (such as the Diploma in Teaching of Science, available at ncertx.in) but these are optional and non-qualifying for recruitment purposes.

3. Textbook availability gaps for higher classes

While new NCERT textbooks are being released class by class, the rollout is not yet complete. As of 2025–26, updated books are available for Classes 1–8 across most subjects — but Classes 9–12 remain on the older framework for most subjects while revisions continue. Schools in the secondary stage are therefore being asked to align with NEP’s pedagogical vision (competency-based, experiential, multidisciplinary) without yet having the updated textbooks that would make that alignment straightforward [SOURCE: educationforallinindia.com/five-years-of-ncert-textbook-revisions-2022-to-2026/].

4. Early childhood education infrastructure gaps

NEP 2023 formally extends compulsory schooling from the age of 6 to age 3 — bringing early childhood care and education (ECCE) into the mainstream school framework through the Foundational Stage (ages 3–8). This requires qualified ECCE-trained teachers, age-appropriate infrastructure, and effective coordination between Anganwadi centres and primary schools under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) network. In many states — particularly rural ones — this infrastructure is still being developed, creating a gap between what the policy envisions and what is currently deliverable.

For a closer look at foundational learning under NEP, read our guide on the NIPUN Bharat Mission

5. Assessment reform: mindset change is the hardest part

PARAKH’s establishment and the move toward holistic progress cards and competency-based assessment represent a genuine structural shift from the annual board exam culture. But structural changes in assessment frameworks are meaningless if students, parents, and teachers continue to orient their efforts toward rank-based, marks-heavy evaluation. The fear of board exams — particularly at Classes 10 and 12 — remains deeply embedded. Biannual board exams (offering students two attempts from 2025–26) are a step forward, but the broader cultural shift required for continuous, reflective assessment is a decade-long undertaking, not a policy notification.

6. Governance and institutional continuity

In March 2025, the Supreme Court took suo motu cognizance of a controversy involving NCERT textbook development procedures, criticising the NCERT for issuing curriculum content without proper multi-level approvals, and flagging that the National Syllabus and Teaching Learning Material Committee (NSTC) — responsible for developing syllabi and textbooks for Classes 3–12 — had not been reconstituted in over 16 months [SOURCE: businessupturn.com, March 2025]. This points to a broader need for stronger institutional governance frameworks to ensure the sustained, credible delivery of NEP’s curriculum reform agenda.

Despite these challenges, the direction of change is clear and largely positive. The highest education budget in India’s history, the ASER 2024 improvements in foundational learning, and the phased rollout of new NCERT textbooks all signal that the machinery of implementation is moving — even if unevenly. Schools that proactively align with NEP’s pedagogy, invest in teacher development, and engage constructively with new assessment frameworks will be better positioned as implementation deepens toward the 2030 target.

For schools looking to understand what NEP-aligned classroom practice looks like in detail, read our guide on the 5+3+3+4 school structure.

How Extramarks Support Schools to Adhere to the NEP 2023?

S. No.	Highlights of NEP 2023	Extramarks Support
1	Emphasis on conceptual understanding rather than rote learning	Diagnostic tests
		Smart learning module
		Animated learning gauge
		Power questions
		Guided learning sessions
2	Educators must try to recognise each student’s unique capabilities and learning needs.	Rich multimedia modules combine text, audio, video & activities. Thus, it caters to all types of learners – auditory, visual, and kinesthetic for average and fast learners.
		Career Assessment Program- Personalised aptitude test
3	Building critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving abilities among learners	Activities, custom interactives, practice interactives, Interactive simulation
		Power questions
4	Encouraging integrated pedagogy: Multi-disciplinary & holistic education ensures unity and integrity of all knowledge.	Making subject projects
		Stretch out activities
		Socio-emotional learning
5	New curriculum structure: 5+3+3+4	Foundational learning: Extra edge, play hub
		Preparatory stage: Concepts in action, simulation activities, interactive activities
		Middle stage: Interactive activities, Extra edge, HOTS
		Secondary stage: multi-disciplinary projects, Interactive activities, HOTS, Concepts in action
6	Establishing a National Mission on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN)	Phonic Tree
		Fun with Phonetics
		Vedic Mathematics
		Modules on Reading, writing, speaking and counting with practice worksheets.
		Conceptual skills modules to cover essential topics.
		Standalone activities to develop FLN
7	Assessment to focus on core concepts, higher order and foundational skills	Robust Assessment Centre
		Customisable exam templates
		Provision to add questions repository
		Power Questions to ace the concept
		Offline & Online assessment
8	AI-based software to track student progress	Insightful reports to track student’s performance throughout the year
		Recommended chapters and topics for every test
9	Integration of Online and Digital Education	An integrated ecosystem of all learning solutions- Teacher App & Student App
		Web and App-based login
		Provision to access in-school & and the school
10	Minimum 50 hours of Continuous Professional Development for teachers and school leaders	Extramarks Teacher Training Program with Teacher’s Assessment ensure continuous professional development of the teaching staff.

The new National Education Policy 2023 is designed with a vision of a progressive, flexible, and inclusive education system. The mission is to establish an education ecosystem wherein students gain useful skills to build better lives for themselves and those around them.

The world of education is evolving, and learning needs have changed. The NEP 2023 is an effort to bring our education system to par with the developed world while maintaining academic rigour and holistic growth.

Last Updated on March 19, 2026