Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday, 22 July 2026, addressed a two-day national conference of state education ministers convened by the Ministry of Education, focusing on the progress of centrally sponsored school education schemes and the roadmap ahead as the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 approaches its sixth anniversary on 29 July 2026.

Addressing the gathering, Pradhan said the conference reviewed progress on Samagra Shiksha, PM SHRI, PM POSHAN, and NIPUN Bharat, and discussed suggestions received from states along with the action plan going forward. 'केंद्र और राज्यों की साझेदारी ही इन पहलों के प्रभावी क्रियान्वयन का सबसे मजबूत आधार है' ['The partnership between the Centre and states is the strongest foundation for the effective implementation of these initiatives'], he said.

Context

The conference comes days before the sixth anniversary of NEP 2020, which was approved by the Union Cabinet on 29 July 2020, replacing a policy framework that had been in place since 1986. The minister framed school education as the most critical pillar of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Viksit Bharat 2047' vision — a long-term national development goal targeting a developed India by the centenary of independence.

Pradhan noted that the country's approximately 30 crore school-going children are at the centre of this effort, with emphasis on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN), mother-tongue-based instruction, skill development, sports, innovation, scientific thinking, and community participation in schools — all aligned with NEP 2020 priorities.

Policy Backdrop

Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, launched in 2018-19 by merging three earlier schemes — Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan, and Teacher Education — serves as the primary financial and administrative vehicle for school education reform. NIPUN Bharat, launched in 2021, targets universal foundational literacy and numeracy by 2026-27, making the current juncture a critical assessment point.

PM SHRI (Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India) aims to develop over 14,500 model schools that demonstrate NEP 2020 practices, while PM POSHAN — the renamed mid-day meal programme — supports school attendance through nutritional coverage. Atal Tinkering Labs, introduced in 2016 under the Atal Innovation Mission, are also being expanded as part of the innovation push in school education.

Stakeholders and Impact

State education departments are central to this exercise, as centrally sponsored schemes require state co-funding and administrative delivery. Pradhan underscored that the conference was not merely a review platform but, in his words, 'विकसित भारत के लिए साझा संकल्प का महत्वपूर्ण माध्यम' ['an important medium of shared resolve for a Viksit Bharat'].

The direct beneficiaries are the approximately 30 crore students enrolled in Indian schools, whose foundational learning outcomes, nutritional support, and access to innovation infrastructure are shaped by the schemes under review. Community participation in school governance is also being strengthened as a structural priority under NEP 2020.

What's Next

The 29 July 2026 sixth anniversary of NEP 2020 is expected to serve as a formal milestone for progress reporting on implementation across states. The ministry is likely to accelerate state-level action on PM SHRI school expansion and push for measurable FLN outcomes ahead of the NIPUN Bharat target year of 2026-27.

Going forward, the experiences, innovations, and working models shared by states at this conference are expected to feed into a revised action plan, with the Centre-state partnership model remaining the primary implementation mechanism for delivering quality, inclusive, and future-oriented education to every child.