NEP 2020 and 50% GER Target: Why India Needs a Federated Strategy

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has set a big goal for India’s higher education system. It wants to raise the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) — the number of young people (18–23 years) in colleges and universities — from 28.4% to 50% by the year 2035. This means that about 33 million more students need to join higher education in the next decade.

This is not just a small change. It is a major social shift. But reaching this goal will not be possible with one single plan for the whole country. India is too diverse for a uniform approach. Each State has different challenges and opportunities, and those differences must guide the strategy.

For example, Tamil Nadu is already very close to the national target, while States like Bihar are still far behind. Clearly, what works in Tamil Nadu may not work in Bihar. That is why experts say the policy must be federated — the Union government can set the main target, but States must design their own plans to reach it.

If India wants to achieve the 50% GER target, it needs state-specific strategies that expand access to colleges, improve quality, and include every section of society.