NEP 2020 and Federalism in India: Balancing Centralization and State Autonomy in Education Governance

Abstract

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is a landmark reform aimed at transforming India's education system, but its implications for federalism have sparked significant debate. This study critically examines the policy’s impact on State autonomy, financial resource allocation, and linguistic federalism. NEP 2020 introduces centralized regulatory frameworks, such as the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) and the National Curriculum Framework (NCF), which may limit the decision-making powers of State governments. The policy’s emphasis on standardized testing and national-level educational oversight raises concerns about reduced flexibility for regional education governance. Additionally, the three-language formula has faced resistance from non-Hindi-speaking States, highlighting linguistic challenges in a federal structure. The study argues that while NEP 2020 seeks to enhance education quality, its success depends on a cooperative federalism approach, ensuring that national educational objectives align with regional diversity and autonomy in policy implementation.

Keywords:- NEP 2020, Federalism, State Autonomy, Centralization, Education Governance, Language Policy.