Abstract

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is hailed as a transformative framework for India’s education system emphasizing flexibility multidisciplinary learning and global competitiveness. However its implementation in higher education by 2023 raised concerns about social equity. This paper examines how NEP 2020 affects marginalized groups focusing on access affordability and inclusivity. It argues that while NEP envisions democratization of education the growing privatization and unequal infrastructure across states risk deepening inequalities rather than reducing them.