Abstract

Multilingualism in India's Education System: Insights from NEP 2020

Dr. M. Nivedita

Volume: 15 Issue: 3 2025

Abstract:

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 introduces a transformative approach to education in India, emphasizing multilingualism as a core component of the learning process. Recognizing the country’s linguistic diversity, the policy advocates for the use of the mother tongue or regional languages as the medium of instruction, particularly up to Grade 5 or ideally Grade 8. This approach is grounded in cognitive linguistic research, which highlights the advantages of early education in one’s native language for better conceptual understanding and later language transfer. While prioritizing multilingualism, the NEP acknowledges the importance of English in higher education, technology, and global communication. The policy aims to create a balance between preserving linguistic traditions and ensuring global competence. By fostering multilingual and multicultural education, the NEP envisions a generation of students who are deeply rooted in their cultural identity while also equipped to engage in an interconnected world. In this sense that this article focuses on NEP 2020 that offers a vision for bilingual education and that reconciles India’s diverse linguistic landscape with the demands of globalization, fostering both local and global competency among students.

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