NEP 2020 has redefined the purpose of education

The NEP 2020 has redefined the purpose of education “by shifting focus from rote learning to holistic and multidisciplinary development,” says Praveen Singh, CEO AASOKA by MBD Group in an exclusive interaction with Bizz Buzz.

1. The NEP 2020 envisions transforming India into a knowledge-driven society. How is its focus on holistic, multidisciplinary, and skill-based education reshaping classrooms across the country?

The NEP 2020 has redefined the purpose of education by shifting focus from rote learning to holistic and multidisciplinary development. Classrooms are turning into dynamic spaces where students think critically, collaborate, and apply knowledge to real-world contexts. This nurtures creativity, problem-solving, and adaptability, skills vital for a knowledge-driven society.

With the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) promoting engaging and inclusive learning, forward-thinking platforms are integrating NEP principles through experiential learning modules, AI-driven analytics, and skill-based content. These tools empower teachers to personalise instruction and make learning more interactive, ensuring technology enhances rather than replaces the human touch.

The result is a gradual yet powerful transformation; Indian classrooms evolving into inclusive, future-ready learning ecosystems built on curiosity, confidence, and connection.

2. With AI education set to begin from Class 3 by 2026–27, how will early exposure to artificial intelligence and computational thinking change the way young learners approach problem-solving and creativity?

Implementing AI education from Class 3 is a foundational step towards making India's future students ready for a digital-first world. The reform aligns with NEP 2020’s vision of experiential and skill-based learning, ensuring that children develop cognitive, emotional, and social readiness along with early exposure to technology-driven concepts. Early exposure to AI and computational thinking encourages curiosity, creativity, and logical reasoning, helping children see technology as a tool for innovation rather than intimidation.

Many progressive education platforms, are already enabling this transition with adaptive assessments, student growth prediction, and hands-on simulations that make learning tangible even in resource-limited schools. It also

lays the groundwork for AI readiness through play-based pedagogy. Its screen-free button-based coding bot, experiential learning kits, and multidisciplinary activities nurture critical thinking, problem-solving, and computational skills from an early age. By combining foundational learning with interactive STEM experiences, these tools helps children intuitively grasp the logic behind technology long before they formally study it.

Together, these reforms are shaping a generation that doesn’t just use technology but understands and creates it, driving India’s journey toward a knowledge-driven economy.

3. The CBSE is training over one crore teachers to integrate AI in classrooms. What strategies are being adopted to ensure that teachers not only understand AI tools but also use them to personalise learning effectively?

The real success of AI in classrooms lies in empowering teachers, not replacing them. CBSE’s initiative to train over one crore educators ensures they can confidently integrate AI tools for personalised, meaningful learning.

Modern teacher training goes beyond tool use. It focuses on digital literacy, data interpretation, and understanding how AI augments human judgment in teaching. Continuous Professional Development (CPD) sessions and expert-led workshops help educators convert learning analytics into actionable insights. Educators across the country are increasingly receiving training in AI analytics, personalised lesson planning, and digital teaching methodologies to enhance classroom engagement.

These initiatives ensure educators remain central to the transformation; empowered, not replaced, by technology.

Modern learning platforms now feature AI-powered tools such as AI Quizzes, AI Question Generator, and Student Growth Prediction, enabling teachers to assess learning outcomes more effectively and provide targeted interventions based on individual performance.

The goal is simple yet profound: create confident, tech-savvy teachers who make learning more adaptive, engaging, and human.

4. Game-based learning and emotional intelligence tools are redefining how students engage with academics. How can gamification be integrated into mainstream curricula to make learning more experiential and emotionally enriching?

Gamification is changing classrooms into places of engagement, curiosity, and emotional growth. By integrating storytelling, challenges, and rewards into lessons, teachers innovate the learning process to be both fun and meaningful. And, while all of these aspects are enjoyable, gamification develops essential learning skills such as teamwork, empathy, and critical thinking which help students develop emotional connections with what they learn.

Effective integration of gamification requires teachers to act as facilitators, guiding students through experiences that blend academics and emotion. Innovative platforms embed game mechanics such as interactive simulations and gamified quizzes.

This approach creates a low-pressure learning environment that builds confidence, resilience, and motivation turning education into an experience that nurtures both intellect and empathy.

5. As the NEP emphasises technology integration, how can emerging technologies like AI, AR/VR, and adaptive learning platforms make education more inclusive for students from diverse linguistic and socio-economic backgrounds?

Emerging technologies like AI, AR/VR, and adaptive learning platforms are bridging gaps across linguistic, geographical, and socio-economic boundaries. These innovations customise learning by adapting to each student’s pace and style, ensuring access to quality education regardless of background.

AI-driven analytics can support teachers in customising lessons for individual students; AR/VR improves the ability to present abstract concepts through immersive hands-on learning experiences. Adaptive platforms that offer content in multiple languages and offline modes help create equity in a classroom that is diverse.

Many Education platforms also combines these technologies to deliver immersive and inclusive learning aligned with NEP 2020 and the National Curriculum Frameworks. Features such as offline accessibility, real-time performance tracking, and teacher support tools are helping make education more equitable and accessible across diverse regions.

By empowering educators and localising content, such edtech platforms are ensuring that every learner, from metros to remote towns, can thrive in a connected, equitable world.

6. Data-driven education is gaining momentum in India. How can schools and policymakers leverage learning analytics and AI insights to improve student outcomes while ensuring data privacy and ethical use of technology?

Data-driven learning is changing the way schools improve educational outcomes. Using AI-powered analytics, educators can identify learning gaps, individualise instruction, and measure progress in real time, without compromising on data privacy.

It is critical to develop clear governance frameworks regarding consent, anonymization, and responsible use of information to maintain trust. Equally important is training teachers to interpret insights meaningfully rather than relying solely on automation.

Leading EdTech platforms providde real-time learning analytics that help schools track student progress, identify learning gaps, and personalise instruction. Administrators can also access insights on subject performance, teaching effectiveness, and retention trends, enabling data-backed strategies that improve overall learning outcomes. Its predictive analytics project student growth based on performance trends, helping teachers plan timely interventions.

7. India’s education system is entering a phase of rapid digitisation through AI-mediated classrooms, digital assessments, and STEAM programs. How can policymakers and edtech innovators collaborate to build a future-ready education ecosystem that balances technology with human connection?

The educational space in India is undergoing a transformational renaissance with AI, STEAM learning, and adaptive platforms redefining learning. To maintain this momentum, policymakers and EdTech innovators will need to join forces and understand how technology can augment access and equity, and also maintain the human side of education.

Policymakers can establish frameworks for equitable access, while innovators design technology that amplifies teacher impact rather than replacing it.

Next-generation learning platforms embody this balance by integrating AI and personalised learning tools while keeping teachers central to the learning process.

This partnership between innovation and empathy is the foundation of a truly future-ready education ecosystem, one that blends human connection with digital capability to prepare students for the world ahead.

By Mr. Praveen Singh, CEO of AASOKA by MBD Group.EoM.