Opinion | From Unrest to Reform: Modi Government’s Educational Push for India’s Students

For decades, Indian students bore the burden of a school system that looked to be at odds with their dreams. Inflexible curricula, old teaching techniques, and a pervasive disconnection between school and the real world meant that many drifted through school aimlessly. Examinations turned into sources of stress instead of possibilities, and calm of mind was something few students could enjoy.

This upheaval was all the more tangible in places such as Jammu and Kashmir, where education was not only a challenge—but a war zone. There, the stones thrown on sidewalks were oftentimes an outward expression of inner angst. Young people, denied access to proper education and purposeful participation, became mired in a cycle of discontent and insurgency. Their uprising was not against the establishment, per se, but against decades of institutional disregard. But over the last decade, the story has changed.

The Modi government, since its coming to power, has given a huge priority to education—not as an industry, but as a pillar for the development of the nation. From classrooms of schools to online platforms, from teacher orientation to mental health, the government has launched a range of initiatives aimed at giving strength to India’s students. At the center of this change lies the National Education Policy 2020, a historic overhaul that aims to integrate education as a more holistic, inclusive, and versatile process. It encourages mother-tongue-based learning in early childhood, streamlines curriculum content, adds vocational education from Grade 6, and provides multiple exit points in higher education. NEP 2020 doesn’t reform merely—it reimagination. It emphasizes critical thinking, creativity, and practical skills to equip students for a world far, far away from the blackboard.

To bring policy into practice, the government introduced PM SHRI Schools, which upgraded more than 14,500 schools to model schools with NEP’s best practices. These schools are being provided with smart classrooms, state-of-the-art labs, and environmental sustainability and digital literacy as emphasis areas. Complementary initiatives such as NIPUN Bharat also seek to prepare all children in the nation to attain foundation literacy and numeracy at the end of Grade 3. For the smallest learners, Vidya Pravesh provides a play-based preparatory curriculum to transition learners into formal education more smoothly and with greater enjoyment. In Kashmir and other sensitive regions, such schemes play a critical role in rebuilding trust and consistency in learning environments that were once fragmented or disrupted.

Realising that no school system can improve beyond the quality of their teachers, the government launched NISHTHA, a massive teacher training program. At the same time, platforms like DIKSHA offer online content, lesson plans, and assessment tools—making learning materials available even in remote locations. For Kashmir students, frequently cut off by geography or political unrest, such digital platforms have proved revolutionary.

For higher educates and students gearing up for professional careers, the government has launched SWAYAM Plus, a platform providing industry-aligned online courses aimed at enhancing employability. The NIRF Rankings, implemented for creating transparency and competition among higher education institutions, have prompted colleges across the nation to enhance infrastructure, faculty, and academic performance. Scholarship and support schemes such as the PM Vidyalakshmi Scheme provide meritorious students, particularly those belonging to economically weaker sections of society, with access to scholarships and loans for studying further in premier institutions.

In a nation where emotional well-being is usually neglected, the government’s introduction of Manodarpan was a huge change. It provides psychological counseling to students, teachers, and parents—recognizing the increase in stress levels, particularly post-pandemic. Activities such as PRERNA, an annual residential camp for high school students chosen to participate, encourage leadership, creativity, and hands-on learning. And for those who never got the opportunity to go to school, a second chance is now being offered through the ULLAS literacy mission, reaching out to people aged 15 and above.

Among the most innovative public engagements launched during this period is Pariksha Pe Charcha—a yearly interaction in which Prime Minister Modi speaks to students, parents, and educators about exam pressure, mental health, and being mindful. It displays a human element, so infrequently witnessed on a large scale in Indian education politics, and promotes frank dialogue concerning learning and self-improvement.

Of course, this has not been without controversy. Certain scholarships and schemes, including the National Talent Search Examination (NTSE) and the National Means Cum Merit Scholarship, have experienced stagnation or budget reductions in recent years—posting questions about equity and long-term access for disadvantaged students. But in the bigger picture, change is occurring.

For the Indian student—whether sitting in a crowded metro classroom, a back-of-beyond school, or a borderlands region like Kashmir—the past decade has been one of change from neglect to investment, from rote to relevance, and from despair to direction. The initiatives offer more than academic structure introduced by the government of Modi—they provide dignity, vision, and hope. And for a generation previously stuck between stones and silence, hope might just prove the most potent lesson of all.

The writer is a student at Amar Singh College and can be reached at sarmadhilal07@gmail.com