Inclusive Education in India (1947–2021)

Abstract

Inclusive education is both a right and a strategy to eliminate educational disparities by integrating children from all backgrounds—including those with disabilities, from marginalized communities, and linguistic and gender minorities—into mainstream education. In India, the post-independence era witnessed significant evolution in educational policy from segregation to integration, and ultimately, toward inclusive approaches. This paper reviews key phases of inclusive education in India from 1947 to 2021, focusing on constitutional commitments, policy reforms such as the National Policy on Education (1986), the Right to Education Act (2009), the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (2016), and the National Education Policy (2020). It also explores the socio-economic and institutional challenges impeding inclusive practices and proposes policy recommendations for achieving a fully inclusive education system.

Keywords- Inclusive Education, Disability, RTE Act, NEP 2020, Educational Policy, Equity, Marginalized Groups, India, Special Needs, Educational Access