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Why investing in school readiness is critical to achieving the Viksit Bharat goal

The challenge is no longer one of policy intent — the blueprint for a world-class ECCE system exists within the NEP 2020. The task now is implementation fidelity.

India’s economic growth depends fundamentally on the quality of its human capital. As the nation targets Viksit Bharat by 2047, success requires a highly productive, skilled, and healthy workforce.

Investment in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), from gestation to age eight, is therefore not a social cost, but a high-return economic investment. 

Research confirms that early childhood investments can yield up to 13% annual return on investment, far surpassing returns from later education or job training (Heckmen et al. 2016). These years form the cognitive and socio-emotional foundation for lifelong productivity.

The policy nudge: From survival to school-readiness

Recognising this, the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 restructured the schooling system, establishing the Foundational Stage (ages 3 to 8) as the first five years of formal learning. This shift replaces the previous 10 2 structure with a pedagogical approach that is flexible, play-based, and activity-oriented.

At the heart of this restructuring is the recognition of the importance of school readiness – the point at which a child has developed the essential motor skills (such as physical coordination and fine motor control for writing), socio-emotional skills (including managing feelings, self-control) and cognitive skills (including early literacy, numeracy, and executive functions) required to flourish in a formal school setting. By focusing on these developmental milestones, the NEP 2020 aims to bridge the transition from informal care to structured learning.

The NEP 2020 did not emerge in a vacuum; it is the culmination of decades of incremental policy pushes that have redefined the ECCE landscape in the country. India’s journey began with the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) in 1975, which established a national network for maternal and child health. Over time, the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009 and the National ECCE Policy, 2013 expanded this mandate, shifting focus from........

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