RE-ENVISIONING GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION THROUGH THE LENS OF NEP 2020

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 sets forth a forward-looking agenda for transforming India’s education system, situating Global Citizenship Education (GCED) as a guiding principle to promote holistic, values-based, and globally relevant learning. This paper examines GCED from philosophical, international, and Indian policy perspectives, drawing on global frameworks such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 4.7) and India’s civilizational ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. GCED is analyzed as a multidimensional educational approach that integrates cognitive, socio-emotional, and behavioural competencies, enabling learners to critically engage with global challenges while acting with empathy and ethical responsibility. The discussion highlights the centrality of teacher preparedness, the role of capacity-building programs, and the need for innovative pedagogies such as experiential learning, project-based inquiry, cultural exchanges, and interdisciplinary integration. National-level strategies, including curriculum co-design, technology-enabled international collaborations, and embedding GCED into teacher education, are explored in depth. The paper concludes that realizing NEP’s vision for GCED requires sustained policy commitment, cross-sector collaboration, and a pedagogical shift towards critical consciousness and global solidarity.