Five Years In: NEP 2020 Pushes Higher Education Enrolment to 28.4% and Counting

Image Source : Press Release:Press Information Bureau

As the National Education Policy 2020 marks its fifth anniversary, India’s higher education landscape shows signs of steady transformation. Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education has climbed to 28.4%, up from 27.3% in 2020–21 and 24.6% in 2017–18, reflecting the policy’s growing impact.

Key Milestones and Progress

Total enrolments have reached 4.46 crore, a 30% increase since 2014–15
Female enrolment has surged by 38%, now surpassing male GER
PhD registrations have risen sharply, especially among women and SC/ST communities

The Vidyashakti Scheme aims to double STEM enrolment from 3.3% to 7% by 2029, with 10,000 Rural Interaction Centres planned

Policy Targets and Strategic Vision

NEP 2020 sets a goal of 50% GER by 2035, with a fiveyear action plan targeting 39% by 2028–29

Focus areas include:

Multidisciplinary curricula and flexible degree pathways
Integration of Indian knowledge systems and digital skilling
Expansion of vocational education and internships
The Panch Sankalp framework guides universities toward inclusive, globally competitive ecosystems

Challenges and Forward Momentum

Outreach remains critical, especially in rural and underserved regions
The Ministry of Education is pushing for improved foundational learning and early exposure to jobrelevant skills
Central universities are being urged to adopt a studentfirst approach, with strategy papers due for the next phase of NEP implementation

Sources: Sansad TV, Times of India, Ministry of Education, Press Information Bureau, Buddy4Study.