Paper Title: NEP 2020 And The Indian Philosophy of Holistic Education
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Abstract:
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 marks a significant transformation in the Indian education system by emphasizing holistic, multidisciplinary, and learner-centered education. The policy seeks to revive India’s rich educational heritage while addressing contemporary educational challenges. The concept of holistic education, deeply rooted in Indian philosophical traditions, focuses on the balanced development of the physical, intellectual, emotional, moral, social, and spiritual dimensions of human personality. Ancient Indian educational systems, as reflected in the Vedas, Upanishads, Buddhist traditions, and the educational thoughts of Swami Vivekananda, Rabindranath Tagore, Mahatma Gandhi, and Sri Aurobindo, emphasized the integral development of the individual. The policy’s focus on character formation, critical thinking, creativity, and social responsibility reflects the Indian view of education as a means for self-realization and societal well-being, rather than mere acquisition of information or vocational skills. Methodologically, this study employs documentary and philosophical analysis of NEP 2020 and related Indian Knowledge System (IKS) literature to explore their epistemological and pedagogical continuities. This paper examines NEP 2020 through the lens of Indian philosophical traditions that have long emphasized the integrated development of the individual—intellectual, moral, emotional, physical, and spiritual. Rooted in the Indian Knowledge System, concepts such as Vidya (true knowledge), Panchakosha (fivefold development of the self), Dharma (ethical responsibility), and Sahajik Shiksha (natural and experiential learning) provide a philosophical foundation for the policy’s holistic orientation.The study explores how NEP 2020’s emphasis on multidisciplinary education, flexibility in learning pathways, experiential and competency-based pedagogy, and value- oriented education resonates with ancient Indian educational ideals evident in the Gurukul tradition and classical philosophical texts.By situating NEP 2020 within the broader framework of Indian philosophical thought, this study argues that the policy represents an effort to reclaim indigenous educational wisdom while addressing modern educational challenges. The paper concludes that NEP 2020’s holistic vision, grounded in Indian philosophy, offers a culturally rooted yet globally relevant model for educational reform in the twenty-first century.
Keywords:NEP 2020, Holistic Education, Indian Philosophy, Indian Knowledge Systems, Experiential Education, Value-Based Education, Multidisciplinary Education, Educational Reform
DOI Link – https://doi.org/10.63431/AIJITR/3.III.2026.4-10
Review By – Dr. Parimal Sarkar and Dr. Amit Adhikari