Evolution of Education Policy in India: A Critical Analysis with Special Reference to Gender and Higher Education

Ruby Ojha

Journal of Global Economy, 2026, vol. 22, issue 1, 13-32

Abstract: Education has been a central instrument of nation-building and social transformation in India. Since independence, the Indian state has introduced a series of education policies aimed at expanding access, improving quality, and promoting equity across diverse social groups. This paper critically examines the evolution of India’s National Education Policies—1968, 1986 (with the Programme of Action, 1992), and 2020—with a particular focus on their objectives, structural reforms, and implications for women’s participation in higher education. Using a historical–policy analysis approach, the study highlights the progressive shift from access-oriented frameworks to inclusion-driven and transformative educational reforms. The paper argues that while earlier policies laid foundational principles of equality, the National Education Policy 2020 represents the most comprehensive and systemic attempt to address gender disparities, interdisciplinarity, research orientation, and global competitiveness in Indian education.

Keywords: National Education Policy; India; higher education; gender equality; women empowerment; education reforms (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I21 I24 I25 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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