Bridging NEP 2020 and SDGs: Pathways to Inclusive and Sustainable Education

Abstract A revolutionary change to India's educational system, the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020, seeks to advance inclusivity, quality, equity, and holistic development. Simultaneously, universal access to fair and lifelong learning is emphasized by the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 4, on Quality Education. By connecting policy components, such as transdisciplinary education, skill development, digital literacy, and environmental awareness, with global sustainability targets, this study investigates how NEP 2020 and SDGs align. Drawing on international best practices, this study analyses implementation issues, gaps, and strengths using secondary data and policy analysis. Improving access to marginalized groups, closing the digital divide, advancing gender equality, and incorporating sustainability into curricula are important areas of focus. Although NEP 2020 is generally in line with the SDGs, the results indicate that strong monitoring using SDG indicators, infrastructure development, teacher capacity building, and sufficient funding are necessary for success. Stronger NEP–SDG synergy can promote inclusive, future-ready education, improve employability, and further India's sustainable development commitments, according to the findings of the study.