The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has introduced sweeping changes to India’s education system since 2014. Key initiatives like the **National Education Policy (NEP) 2020** and repeated revisions to **NCERT textbooks** have triggered nationwide debates. Critics — including opposition leaders, academics, and state governments — accuse these reforms of pushing a **Hindu nationalist (Hindutva) agenda**, centralizing power, imposing Hindi and Sanskrit, promoting privatization, and distorting historical facts. The government and NCERT defend them as essential modernization, syllabus rationalization (especially post-COVID), and a return to Indian knowledge traditions.
Below is a clear, structured breakdown of the most controversial reforms, based on diverse sources including *The Wire*, *The Guardian*, *Al Jazeera*, *BBC*, *The Hindu*, and *Times of India*.
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## 1. National Education Policy (NEP) 2020
Launched in July 2020, NEP 2020 replaced the 34-year-old 1986 policy. It introduced a **5+3+3+4 schooling structure**, multidisciplinary higher education, multiple entry-exit options, vocational training from Class 6, and a strong emphasis on Indian languages.
### Major Points of Controversy
- **Hindi and Sanskrit Imposition**
The three-language formula and promotion of Sanskrit are seen as forcing Hindi on non-Hindi states. Tamil Nadu CM **MK Stalin** called it a “Hindutva policy” that undermines regional languages. As of 2025, Tamil Nadu and Punjab continue to resist implementation.
- **Privatization and Inequality**
Critics warn that NEP encourages fee hikes, commercialization, and weakens public education — making quality learning inaccessible to marginalized communities.
- **Implementation Roadblocks**
Teacher shortages, rigid curricula, and low budget allocation (~2.4–2.5% of GDP) have delayed progress. Core frameworks remain incomplete five years after launch.
- **Ideological Tilt**
Emphasis on ancient Indian (Vedic) knowledge systems is accused of sidelining modern, secular, or scientific education.
- **2024–2025 Updates**
- Abolition of the *no-detention policy* for Classes 5 and 8
- 2025 declared the “year of reforms” amid exam paper leaks and institutional restructuring
> **Supporters’ View**: NEP offers a forward-looking roadmap for skill development, early childhood education, and global competitiveness.
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## 2. NCERT Textbook Revisions (2014–2025)
Since 2014, NCERT has revised school textbooks multiple times — with major changes in 2022–23 and continuing into 2025. Key deletions include:
- Mughal empire history
- 2002 Gujarat riots
- Darwin’s theory of evolution (later partially restored)
- RSS bans under Congress governments
- Cold War references
- Dalit writers and caste-based struggles
### Core Controversies
| Issue | Criticism |
|-------|-----------|
| **Saffronisation of History** | Muslim rulers downplayed; Hindu nationalist narratives amplified |
| **Erasing Sensitive Events** | 2002 Gujarat riots (when Modi was CM) removed from Class 12 Political Science |
| **Anti-Science Moves** | Evolution theory and periodic table elements briefly dropped |
| **Lack of Transparency** | Scholars disowned books; NCERT claimed “rationalization” |
> In August 2025, reports confirmed further alignment of textbooks with **BJP-RSS ideology**.
> **Defenders’ Argument**: These changes correct “leftist distortions” from previous Congress-era textbooks.
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## 3. Other Significant (and Controversial) Changes
| Reform Area | Key Changes | Controversy |
|-------------|-------------|-----------|
| **Higher Education** | UGC replacement, foreign university entry, push for mega multidisciplinary universities | Centralization, reduced public funding, favoritism toward private players |
| **Institutional Control** | Politically aligned appointments in DU, JNU, etc. | Erosion of academic autonomy |
| **Ideological Integration** | Promotion of Vedic education, yoga, moral science | Seen as undermining secularism |
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## Public and Political Backlash
- **Protests and Legal Challenges**: Students, teachers, and opposition parties have staged demonstrations.
- **State Resistance**: Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Kerala, and West Bengal refuse full NEP adoption.
- **Scholarly Outcry**: Over 300 academics condemned textbook changes as an “assault on secular education.”
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## Conclusion: A Divided Legacy
As of **November 2025**, BJP’s education reforms remain deeply polarizing. While the government claims they empower students and reclaim India’s civilizational heritage, critics view them as a systematic attempt to reshape young minds through ideology, not evidence.
> **The battle over India’s classrooms is far from over.**
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*This article is based on reports from The Wire, The Guardian, Al Jazeera, BBC, The Hindu, Times of India, and official government statements (2020–2025).*
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