ENHANCING SKILL-BASED EDUCATION IN INDIA : A COMPREHENSIVEANALYSIS WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THENATIONAL EDUCATION POLICY 2020

In the 21st century education should be delivered not only in the theoretical dimension, but also skills (practical), employability skills, entrepreneurship, innovation, digital competence and ability to lifelong learning. Vocational and skill-based education is mentioned explicitly in the National Education Policy 2020 by looking forward to its inclusion in the mainstream school and higher education. According to the policy, at least 50% of the students need to be exposed to the vocational education by 2025, which aims to eliminate the rigid dichotomy of academic and vocational education (Ministry of Human Resource Development [MHRD], 2020). Only secondary data are used in this paper to study enhancement of skill-based education in India within the framework of NEP 2020. The study has descriptive & analytical nature based on policy documents, Government Reports, Ministry of Education documents, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship documents, UDISE+, AISHE, ILO, UNESCO, OECD & Other secondary sources. It exposes the concept and the development of skill education, status of vocational education in India, challenges to employability, government initiatives and the implementation challenges.