Parliamentary committee seeks clear framework for engaging states on NEP

The parliamentary standing committee overseeing Education, Women, Children, Youth, and Sports has emphasized that stronger collaboration between the Union government and state administrations is essential for the smooth execution of the National Education Policy (NEP).

It has advised the Ministry of Education to put in place a well-defined framework for engaging with states, especially those that remain skeptical about certain provisions.

According to the panel’s latest report, the NEP can only succeed if state governments are fully on board, as education is a subject shared by both the Centre and the states under the concurrent list.

While the ministry has acknowledged this shared responsibility, the committee pointed out that it has yet to clarify how it plans to work with states that oppose elements of the policy, particularly in higher education.

The committee warned that without a formal system to address disagreements, the rollout could face delays or be uneven across regions.

It also raised concerns over the absence of a structured channel for gathering feedback on the policy’s implementation.

At present, universities decide on their own how to share inputs, which the panel described as a missing link in ensuring policymakers hear from those directly affected.

To address this, the committee proposed a centralized nationwide tracker at the university level to follow the pace of adoption, flag obstacles, and give real-time updates to both state and central agencies.

It also called for a dedicated mechanism allowing universities, teachers, and students to contribute their experiences and suggest improvements.

“The committee reiterates, in the strongest possible terms, the need for a structured system for gathering input from all sides,” the report said.

Launched in 2020, the NEP set out to overhaul India’s education system from school to higher education.

Four years later, the debate is less about the policy’s vision and more about the practical steps needed to make it work in a diverse federal setup.