What are the major developments of Indian education after independence?

Q.   What are the major developments of Indian education after independence?

After India gained independence in 1947, adult education emerged as a critical policy focus to address the high rates of illiteracy and promote socio-economic development. The government's initial efforts were driven by the recognition that an educated population was essential for democracy, modernization, and national integration. The first significant policy shift came with the launch of the First Five-Year Plan (1951–1956), which introduced Social Education programs aimed at adult literacy, civic awareness, and vocational skills. However, progress was slow due to limited infrastructure and resources. The Second Five-Year Plan (1956–1961) expanded on this by linking adult education with community development initiatives and rural upliftment programs. A major shift occurred with the introduction of the National Adult Education Programme (NAEP) in 1978, which aimed to provide functional literacy to 100 million illiterate adults between the ages of 15 and 35. The program emphasized participatory learning and local community involvement but faced challenges in implementation due to funding constraints and administrative inefficiencies. The National Policy on Education (NPE) of 1986 marked a turning point by recognizing adult education as a distinct sector and introducing the concept of a Total Literacy Campaign (TLC), which sought to involve volunteers, local governments, and NGOs in large-scale literacy drives. The Saakshar Bharat Programme, launched in 2009, further expanded the focus from basic literacy to include financial, digital, and legal literacy, targeting women and marginalized communities. The New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 reinforced the importance of lifelong learning, proposing the integration of adult education with skill development and digital learning platforms to address the evolving needs of the workforce. Over the decades, India’s adult education policy has transitioned from a narrow focus on literacy to a broader agenda encompassing life skills, empowerment, and social inclusion, reflecting the changing socio-economic landscape and the increasing role of technology and globalization

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