When the National Education Policy 2020 was announced, most discussions centred on its larger vision, multidisciplinary learning, coding in schools, mother tongue instruction, experiential classrooms, reduced rote learning, and a more future-ready education system. Today, the conversation is gradually shiftingfrom policy frameworks and discussions tohow these changes are beginning to shape students’ actual learning experiences in classrooms across India.

Across urban schools, emerging private institutions, and even several state-aligned systems, classrooms are gradually moving away from one-way teaching toward more interactive, skill-based, and application-focused learning. The shift is not happening uniformly, and challenges around infrastructure and teacher preparedness still remain, but the change is far more visible in 2026 than it was a few years ago. A student solving a real-world business problem in mathematics, participating in collaborative science simulations, recording multilingual oral assignments, or answering case-study-based questions instead of memorised responses would have sounded experimental not too long ago. Today, many of these practices are steadily becoming part of everyday classroom learning and reflect how NEP 2020 is being interpreted across schools.

The Way Classrooms Function is Evolving
Classrooms today are slowly moving beyond the traditional style of learning where students mainly studied to score marks in exams. The focus is now becoming more practical and understanding-driven. Schools are encouraging students to think critically, solve problems, analyse situations, and apply concepts in everyday life instead of simply memorising textbook answers. This changing approach is also reflected in CBSE’s 2025–26 assessment formats, which now include more application-based and competency-focused questions.

At the same time, technology has become a key part of how NEP is being implemented on the ground. Smart classrooms are no longer limited to digital boards or screens. Schools are increasingly building integrated learning ecosystems where lesson planning, assessments, adaptive practice, coding exposure, STEM activities, teacher support tools, and multilingual learning can function together within one connected framework.

This is where structured digital learning platforms are beginning to play a much larger role in Indian education.

Many schools today are adopting systems that combine curriculum-aligned digital content, AI-enabled assessments, interactive learning modules, real-time analytics, experientiallearning activities within everyday classroom teaching. Several platforms are also helping schools align more closely with competency-based education by offering question banks and assessments designed around application-driven learning outcomes rather than memorisation.

The demand for these integrated ecosystems has grown rapidly because NEP implementation is no longer being viewed only as policy compliance. Schools are increasingly expected byparents, education boards, and competitive academic expectations to demonstrate measurable learning outcomes while also preparing students with future-ready skills.

As a result, classrooms are becoming far more blended in nature.

Classrooms today are becoming far more interactive and technology-driven than before. A teacher may start a chapter with visual storytelling, move into group discussions, use interactive assessments to check understanding, and later assign AI-supported practice exercises based on different learning levels. Coding activities, STEM labs, gamified learning, and competency-based worksheets are now slowly becoming part of everyday classroom learning rather than separate extracurricular activities.

Teacher preparedness, in fact, has become one of the biggest focus areas of NEP implementation. Several states, including Maharashtra, Haryana, and others,have increased annual teacher training requirements to 50 hours to help educators adapt better to competency-based learning models.Another major focus area under NEP 2020 has been foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN), in the early years of schooling. Schools are increasingly paying attention to ensuring that students develop strong reading, writing, language comprehension, and basic mathematical skills at an early stage rather than moving ahead with learning gaps.

At the same time, schools are also placing greater emphasis on skill-based, interdisciplinary and experiential learning. Financial literacy, entrepreneurship, communication skills, and design thinking are being introduced much earlier in the academic journey. Indian states like Uttar Pradesh have also started promoting “learning by doing” models in schools through hands-on activities and practical learning methods.

Implementation Continues To Remain Uneven
India’s education system is extremely large and diverse, which means the pace of change is not the same everywhere. While some schools are quickly adopting AI-enabled classrooms, digital learning tools, and learning outcome-based teaching methods, many others are still dealing with basic challenges such as limited infrastructure, poor internet connectivity, lack of teacher training, and shortage of resources. As a result, the implementation of NEP 2020 continues to look very different across institutions and regions. There are also ongoing conversations around how competency-based assessments should actually be designed and standardised. Conversations among students across online academic communities also show that many learners are still getting used to newer exam patterns that focus more on problem solving, and application of concepts rather than straightforward recall. Even with these challenges, one thing is becoming increasingly clear — NEP 2020 is no longer just a policy being discussed at education events and conferences. Its impact is now gradually becoming visible in the way classrooms function, students are assessed, technology is used in learning, and teaching methods are evolving across schools in India.

The Indian Classroom Today Looks Very Different
The Indian classroom today looks very different from before. Learning is no longer focused only on textbooks and exams. Students are being encouraged to ask questions, think independently, work together, and apply concepts in practical situations. Teachers are also moving beyond traditional teaching methods and becoming facilitators who guide discussions and hands-on learning. At the same time, schools are being evaluated not just by marks, but by how well they prepare students with practical skills and future-ready thinking. The pace of change may differ across schools, but the impact of NEP 2020 is becoming increasingly visible in classrooms across India.

Views are personal

The author, Monica Malhotra Kandhari, is Managing Director, AASOKA (by MBD Group)

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