The New Education Policy brought out by the Narendra Modi government has got some significant features.

The Ministry of HRD, which has now been renamed as the Ministry of Education, said that the medium of instruction till Grade 8 and beyond will be the home language or mother-tongue or local language or regional language. "Starting from the foundational stage, children will be exposed to different languages with a particular emphasis on the mother tongue," the Policy mentions.

Commenting on the policy, a Minister said, "Since most of the learning happens in the mother tongue, we ensured that wherever possible, the medium of instruction until at least Grade 5, but preferably till Grade 8 and beyond, will be the home language/mother-tongue/local language/regional language."

The NEP also introduces the 5+3+3+4 system in school education. It also introduces new 4-year courses, single point common regulatory system, fee fixation and common norms within the board regulatory framework.

Besides, multiple entry and exit points in higher education have been introduced.

To ensure that quality education reaches students of every section of the society, "a special joint task force will be constituted to increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education."

The policy focuses on mother tongue, Sanskrit, vocational training and sign language. From Special Education Zones to Academic Bank of Credit and Indian Institute of Translation & Interpretation, they have been introduced to ensure big changes.

"Teachers will be recruited through robust and transparent processes. Promotions will be merit-based, and a mechanism will be developed for multi-source periodic performance appraisals," the government said.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the policy will ensure "affordable quality education, access for all, research collaboration etc." She added, "Global top 100 universities to be facilitated to set up in India. Indian universities to set up abroad."

The policy's Gender Inclusion Fund will "ensure no child is devoid of education due to birth or background. This will provide quality education for all girls as well as transgender students - an important step towards inclusive education," as per Union Minister Smriti Irani.