Equity and Inclusion under NEP 2020 for Achieving SDG-4 in Indian Higher Education

This paper looks at how the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in India is in line with Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG-4) in higher education, specifically the aspects of equity, inclusion, and lifelong learning. The paper evaluates the correlations between NEP-2020 provisions and SDG-4 targets, evaluates the structural issues of implementation, and determines the degree through which national reforms can support inclusive and equitable tertiary education by 2030, using policy analysis based on the use of qualitative data (supported by secondary data). Results show that NEP-2020 has both radical and gradual aspects, which provide a great opportunity to increase access and skills, but have limited opportunities regarding funds, digital inequalities, institutional capability, and socio-cultural limitations. The paper provides a conceptual gap between global development policies and national education reforms and offers evidence-based policies to enhance the pathway of India towards SDG-4 achievement.