The 3Cs that haunt Indian education today, Pg 6

Centralisation of Power in Education

• NEP 2020 used to enforce centralised control, weakening State role.
• Central Advisory Board of Education not convened since 2019.
• States coerced into implementing PM SHRI scheme using Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) funds.

Commercialisation of Education

• NEP promotes private sector entry via models like school vouchers and EdTech.
• EWS reservation and public education funding undermined.
• UGC's Draconian Draft Guidelines 2025 push for central control in VC appointments.

Communalisation Concerns

• Changes to NCERT textbooks to suit majoritarian narratives.
• Erasure of pluralistic content like Mughal history, constitutional values, Preamble, etc.
• Textbook revisions tied to RSS ideological inputs.

Analysis & Way Forward

• The 3Cs Centralisation, Commercialisation, Communalisation pose structural threats to federalism and inclusive education.
• Calls for renewed consultation with States, autonomy for institutions, and safeguarding secular educational values.

Mains Mock Question:

"Critically evaluate the impact of NEP 2020 on federalism and inclusiveness in Indian education. What are the challenges posed by centralisation and commercialisation?"