NATIONAL EDUCATION POLICY OF INDIA 2020 AND ITS ROLE IN ENSURING EQUAL ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATION FOR ALL STUDENTS

Stepanov Viktor Ivanovich, Stepanova Natalya Viktorovna

This study analyzes the key principles and mechanisms of the National Education Policy of India 2020 in the context of ensuring equal access to quality higher education. The study aims to identify fundamental approaches to overcoming educational inequality and creating an inclusive higher education system for all social groups. The methodological basis of the work is based on a comprehensive analysis of educational policy documents and scientific literature on the issues of social equality in education. Particular attention is paid to the study of strategies for supporting socially and economically disadvantaged groups of the population, including scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other marginalized communities. The analysis identified the main areas of reforming the higher education system, including expanding public funding, developing scholarship programs, creating high-quality educational institutions in remote regions and ensuring linguistic diversity in the educational process. The results of the study demonstrate the significant potential of the Indian experience for modernizing the educational systems of other countries, in particular Russia, where issues of ensuring equal access to quality education remain relevant in the context of socio-economic differentiation of society.

Keywords:India, National Education Policy 2020, universities, students, ensuring equal access, quality education