The Idea of a Multidisciplinary University: Implementing NEP-2020 in Indian Higher Education

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 envisions a transformative restructuring of Indian higher education through the creation of multidisciplinary universities that dissolve rigid disciplinary boundaries. The policy promotes an ecosystem of learning in which the sciences, social sciences, arts and vocational streams coexist and complement one another. This paper explores the practical and policy dimensions of implementing this vision within India’s complex higher education landscape. It examines the theoretical underpinnings of multidisciplinary education, the challenges of translating policy into practice and the role of institutional innovation in this context. The hypothesis guiding this paper is that the success of NEP-2020’s multidisciplinary framework depends on the alignment of institutional autonomy, governance reform, and faculty capacity-building. Drawing on examples from emerging Indian universities, such as Ashoka and Azim Premji, as well as reforms at IIT Delhi and the University of Delhi, this study argues that genuine transformation requires not only policy endorsement but also a cultural shift in academic governance and pedagogical philosophy. Through a qualitative and policy-oriented analysis, the paper concludes that while NEP-2020 provides a visionary roadmap, its realization hinges on sustained investment, flexibility in curriculum design and the creation of a truly inclusive academic environment.