NATIONAL EDUCATION POLICY 2020 AND ITS ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF FORMAL VOCATIONAL EDUCATION IN INDIA

Stepanov Viktor Ivanovich, Stepanova Natalya Viktorovna

This article analyzes the transformation of India's vocational education system in the context of the implementation of the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP). The study explores the historical background to the development of vocational training, beginning with the period of institutionalization in the 1950s and 1960s, and highlights systemic challenges such as social stigma and low youth enrollment. Particular attention is paid to the strategic guidelines of NEP 2020, which aim to integrate vocational education into the mainstream education system through early career guidance, the creation of a network infrastructure, and the implementation of the National Qualifications Framework. The conclusion emphasizes that the success of the reform depends on overcoming infrastructural and sociocultural barriers, and its implementation contributes to the development of a qualified workforce for the country's sustainable economic growth.

Keywords:vocational education, National Education Policy 2020, India, education integration, social stigma, National Qualifications Framework, education reform.