The Nipun Bharat Mission, or the National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy, has been launched by India’s Ministry of Education under the National Education Policy 2020. This program aims to ensure that every child in India achieves foundational literacy and numeracy by the end of Grade 3.
Nipun Bharat focuses on transforming the dull education system into an integrated, enjoyable, inclusive, and engaging experience. It guides educators to develop study plans that enhance students’ literary and basic language skills.
Additionally, as part of comprehensive education, it aims to retain students until they complete their foundational education, improve learning or training modules, enhance teacher capacity, and track each child’s progress. The mission’s goals are set to be achieved by 2026-27.
Expected outcomes include enabling children to maintain foundational skills in the classroom, thereby reducing dropout rates and improving transition rates from primary to upper primary and secondary stages. Activity-based education and a conducive learning environment will enhance the quality of education. Innovative teaching methods, such as toy-based and experiential learning, will be utilized in classroom operations, making learning an enjoyable and engaging activity.
Intensive capacity building for teachers will empower them and provide greater autonomy in selecting pedagogical approaches. By focusing on various developmental areas such as physical and motor development, socio-emotional growth, literacy and numeracy, cognitive development, and life skills— which are interrelated and interconnected—overall development of the child will be reflected in a comprehensive progress card.
Children will need to achieve a rapid pace of learning, which can positively impact later life outcomes and employment. Since almost every child enters early classes, focusing at that level will benefit socio-economically disadvantaged groups, ensuring equitable and inclusive access to quality education.
