Teacher Education Reforms under NEP 2020: A Critical Analysis

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 heralds a transformative shift in India’s education landscape, placing teacher education at its core. Recognizing teachers as pivotal agents of change, NEP 2020 proposes comprehensive reforms aimed at overhauling teacher preparation, professional development, curriculum, assessment, and quality assurance. This paper critically examines the vision, key components, strengths, limitations, and implementation challenges of teacher education reforms under NEP 2020. It also maps the implications of these reforms for policy, institutions, teacher educators, and pre-service and in-service teachers. Finally, it offers recommendations to strengthen execution and ensure that the reforms meaningfully contribute to building a competent, reflective, and innovative teacher workforce.