Modi's Educational Reforms and the Colonial Remnants in the Recent Critique of NEP

National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, in fact, delves into the broader vision than thought by some and underpins transformative reforms.

- RAGHAVENDRA P. TIWARI

While some argue that the policy undermines federalism, public education, and secularism, a closer examination reveals that NEP 2020 is a strategic initiative aimed at revitalizing India's educational landscape by restoring to its rich intellectual heritage, aligning with global best practices, and fostering self-sustaining institutions.

Historically, India had a comprehensive knowledge system that ensured the effective transfer of a holistic episteme from generation to generation. A smooth transition of this tradition to the modern day needs was hampered by successive colonial interferences and colonial remnants even after Independence. This led to several glaring gaps in the modern education systems. Recognizing the urgent need to bridge these gaps, the Modi government introduced several groundbreaking reforms aimed at enhancing the quality, accessibility, flexibility and skill orientation of education across India.

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is more than a reform—it is a civilizational reset that seeks to position India as a true Vishwaguru, or global knowledge leader. While the policy is rooted in global best practices, it also aims to restore India's intellectual traditions that were systematically sidelined under colonial rule. However, its opposition comes from the intellectual class, long conditioned by Western academic frameworks, who view any effort to decolonize education as a threat to their ideological stronghold. This critique is not just about policy—it is a deeper battle for India's intellectual sovereignty.

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