Introduction

Education policies shape the intellectual and social fabric of a nation. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is a landmark reform in India, aiming to transform the educational landscape. However, policies, when designed at the top, often struggle to bridge the gap between intent and execution. The role of policymakers, the real-world impact of NEP 2020, and its potential consequences on childhood need a thorough, ground-level examination.

The Impression of NEP 2020: A Progressive Vision or a Structural Burden?

NEP 2020 envisions a holistic, flexible, multidisciplinary education system, moving away from rote learning to conceptual understanding. It aims to integrate vocational education, implement mother tongue instruction, and emphasize skill development. While these goals seem progressive, the real question remains: How effectively can they be implemented across India’s diverse educational landscape?

Many educators and institutions have welcomed the policy’s emphasis on creativity, critical thinking, and foundational learning. However, in practice, its execution faces roadblocks such as infrastructure gaps, teacher training deficiencies, and regional disparities. Ground surveys across various states reveal that many schools, particularly in rural and remote areas, lack the resources to adapt to the policy’s demands.

Policymakers and Their Role: Are They True Educationist?

Education policies should ideally be shaped by those with deep experience in teaching and learning. However, in most cases, they are driven by bureaucrats and politicians who may lack firsthand knowledge of classroom realities. Decisions are often based on theoretical frameworks rather than practical insights.

A true educationist understands that reform is not just about changing curricula but about ensuring that teachers are empowered, students are engaged, and the learning environment is conducive. Unfortunately, many policymakers remain disconnected from ground realities, formulating policies that may not align with the needs of diverse student populations.

A Nationwide Ground Survey: Bridging the Policy-Practice Gap

To assess the actual impact of NEP 2020, a ground survey was conducted across urban, semi-urban, and rural schools. The findings highlight significant disparities:

1. Urban vs. Rural Divide: Schools in metropolitan areas are better equipped to adopt NEP reforms, while rural schools struggle with a lack of trained educators and digital infrastructure.
2. Mother Tongue Instruction Challenge: While the policy promotes early education in the mother tongue, many schools lack trained teachers fluent in regional languages, leading to inconsistencies in implementation.
3. Teacher Preparedness: Many teachers express concerns over the additional burden of adapting to new teaching methodologies without adequate training and support.
4. Vocational Training Implementation: Though NEP promotes vocational education from an early stage, schools often lack the infrastructure or partnerships needed for effective execution.

These findings emphasize that while NEP 2020 is well-intentioned, its success depends on grassroots-level execution, continuous monitoring, and support structures.

Can We Snatch Childhood Due to This Policy?

One of the unintended consequences of NEP 2020 could be the pressure it places on young students. The emphasis on foundational literacy and numeracy, skill-building, and frequent assessments might lead to increased academic stress. Childhood is a critical period for exploration, creativity, and play, yet rigid policy enforcement could accelerate the race for performance, leaving little room for holistic growth.

Educators must strike a balance—ensuring students gain essential skills without compromising their emotional and psychological well-being. Learning should be a joyful experience, not a race dictated by standardized assessments and policy mandates.

The Way Forward: Constructive Implementation and Policy Refinement

For NEP 2020 to truly transform education, certain key steps must be taken:

1. Involving Educators in Policy-Making: Teachers and educational experts should be actively involved in shaping and refining policies.
2. Robust Teacher Training Programs: Comprehensive and continuous teacher training is essential to translate policy goals into classroom success.
3. Localized Implementation Strategies: Education cannot have a one-size-fits-all approach. State and district-level adaptations should be encouraged based on ground realities.
4. Monitoring and Feedback Mechanisms: A structured review system should ensure that policy adjustments are made based on real-time challenges faced by schools.
5. Preserving Childhood: The learning process should nurture curiosity, creativity, and emotional well-being rather than pushing students into a rigid framework too early.

Real-World Implications: Student Suicides and Mental Health Challenges

India has witnessed a troubling rise in student suicides, often linked to academic stress. In 2020, the National Crime Records Bureau reported that over 12,500 students died by suicide, averaging 34 deaths daily. This number increased to more than 13,000 in 2021, indicating a persistent and growing issue.

The relentless pursuit of academic excellence, societal expectations, and fear of failure contribute significantly to this crisis. The NEP 2020’s emphasis on foundational literacy, numeracy, and frequent assessments, while well-intentioned, may inadvertently exacerbate these pressures if not implemented with care.

Government Initiatives: Counselling Cells in Schools

Recognizing the critical need to address student mental health, the government launched the “Manodarpan” initiative under the AatmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan in July 2020. This program aims to provide psychosocial support to students, families, and teachers across the country. A national toll-free helpline (844-844-0632) was established to offer assistance on mental health concerns and other psychosocial issues.

The NEP 2020 also acknowledges the Importance of mental health, advocating for the establishment of support centers and career counselors in educational institutions to ensure students’ physical, psychological, and emotional well-being.

Balancing Educational Reforms and Student Well-being

While the NEP 2020 introduces progressive changes, it is imperative to implement these reforms thoughtfully to prevent unintended consequences on students’ mental health. Educational institutions must prioritize creating a supportive learning environment that fosters curiosity and joy, rather than undue stress.while the NEP 2020 holds the promise of transforming Indian education, its success depends on careful execution that prioritizes students’ mental and emotional well-being. By integrating robust support systems and fostering a nurturing educational environment, we can ensure that the policy benefits students without compromising their mental health. The mental health crisis among students in India is a pressing concern, with numerous cases highlighting the severe impact of academic pressure and societal expectations.

Case Studies from Jammu and Kashmir

Afeena Firdous In October 2022, Afeena, a 21-year-old student from Bandipora district, pursuing a Bachelor’s in Radiology and Imaging Technology at Mewar University in Rajasthan, died by suicide in her hostel room.

Rising Suicide Rates. Jammu and Kashmir have witnessed a significant increase in suicide attempts. In 2021, 586 cases were reported, up from 472 in 2020. The region recorded over 450 suicides in 2020, the highest in a decade, totaling 3,024 suicides from 2010 to 2020.

Case Studies from the Rest of India

IIT-Delhi Incidents In late 2023, IIT-Delhi reported multiple student suicides within a short span. Notably, 21-year-old Panav Jain, a final-year BTech student, died by suicide at his residence. This was the third such case at IIT-Delhi in four months, following the deaths of Anil Kumar and Ayush Ashna.

Kota’s Coaching Hub Crisis. Kota, Rajasthan, known for its coaching centers, has seen a disturbing trend of student suicides. In the first 22 days of 2025 alone, six students died by suicide. The intense academic environment and pressure to succeed in competitive exams like JEE and NEET contribute to this crisis.

The Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs), established to provide quality education to talented students from rural areas, have faced significant challenges concerning student mental health. Between 2013 and 2017, 49 students died by suicide across various JNV campuses, with approximately half belonging to Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities. In response to these alarming incidents, the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS) recruited 1,176 counselors to provide mental health support to students. Additionally, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) took suo motu cognizance of the situation, issuing a notice to the Ministry of Human Resource Development to address the issue.

Despite these interventions, challenges persist. In February 2024, it was reported that 25 JNV students had died by suicide over the previous five years, with a significant number from SC and ST backgrounds. These incidents underscore the critical need for comprehensive mental health support within educational institutions. While steps have been taken to address the issue, ongoing efforts are essential to ensure the well-being of all students.

These incidents underscore the critical need for comprehensive mental health support within educational institutions. While steps have been taken to address the issue, ongoing efforts are essential to ensure the well-being of all students.

Government Response

In response to the escalating mental health issues among students, the Indian government launched the “Manodarpan” initiative under the AatmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan in July 2020. This program provides psychosocial support to students, families, and teachers across the country. A national toll-free helpline (844-844-0632) was established to offer assistance on mental health concerns and other psychosocial issues.

Here’s a refined version of your case study examples for you’re article, maintaining the essence while presenting them in a more structured and impactful way:

Mental Health Crisis Among Students: A Case Study-Based Perspective

By: Hilal Ahmad Ganai, PGT Biology

The growing mental health challenges among students in residential schools, particularly in Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs), are a matter of deep concern. Through my personal experiences as a teacher, I have witnessed alarming incidents that highlight the urgent need for mental health awareness and systemic reform in our education policies.

Case Study 1: A Child Lost in the Wilderness

A 6th-grade student, overwhelmed by homesickness and academic pressure, resorted to an extreme escape—crossing the school fence and disappearing into the jungle for three nights. Without food, water, or shelter, she survived in the wild, where monkeys were seen around her. This incident underscores the emotional turmoil that young students face when they struggle to cope with separation from their families and the rigid structures of hostel life.

Case Study 2: Petrol as an Escape from Reality

In another JNV, a student, unable to handle stress and possibly influenced by peer behavior, resorted to consuming petrol extracted from a bike—using it as an intoxicant. This dangerous act sheds light on how students, in the absence of proper emotional support, turn to self-destructive means to escape their inner struggles.

Case Study 3: Alcohol Misuse in a School Laboratory

A particularly shocking case involved female students accessing alcohol from the biology laboratory for recreational purposes. What started as an experiment turned into an act of rebellion—an attempt to seek relief from the immense academic and personal pressures they faced. This incident raises questions about not just supervision and discipline but also the deep-rooted stressors that lead students to such measures.

What Are We Cultivating in Our Schools?

These cases are not isolated incidents but symptoms of a larger crisis. The rigid academic system, the immense parental expectations, and a lack of mental health support contribute to such extreme behaviors. If students feel unheard and overwhelmed to the extent that they take such steps, it is a clear indication that we are failing them.

Conclusion

These cases underscore the urgent need for comprehensive mental health support systems within educational institutions. While policies like the NEP 2020 aim to reform education, their implementation must prioritize students’ mental and emotional well-being to prevent such tragedies. NEP 2020 carries the promise of revolutionizing Indian education, but its effectiveness hinges on thoughtful execution and continuous adaptation. While policymakers set the framework, it is educators, students, and parents who bring it to life. A policy disconnected from classroom realities will remain a mere document. True transformation requires an inclusive, research-driven, and child-centric approach, ensuring that education remains a pathway to knowledge rather than an imposed burden. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 aims to revolutionize India’s educational framework by promoting holistic and flexible learning approaches. However, its implementation has raised concerns regarding increased academic pressure and its impact on students’ mental health.

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