“Turning Policy into Practice: The Role of Indian Publishers in Advancing NEP 2020’s Vision of Green Education”

Abstract

This research delves into the essential journey of translating policy intopractice by examining how India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 can be actualized through the integration of sustainability and environmental consciousness into school education. While NEP 2020 strongly advocates for embedding ecological awareness and green skills from early childhood to secondary education, its effective implementation remains hindered by infrastructural gaps, limited curricular flexibility, and a shortage of trained educators.

Crucial to bridging this gap is the often overlooked yet powerful role of Indian school book publishers. As the primary vehicles of curriculum delivery, publishers hold the potential to transform policy ideals into engaging, accessible, and age-appropriate learning materials that resonate with students across diverse geographies. This study assesses how textbook development—when aligned with the spirit of NEP 2020—can foster a culture of sustainability from the ground up.

The research also evaluates the impact of the Samvaw Academy of Green Education (SAGE), which has pioneered eco-literacy efforts by collaborating with grassroots organizations and developing innovative, pedagogically sound content. By examining SAGE’s initiatives alongside the publishing sector’s responsibilities and potential, the study highlights scalable strategies for embedding green education into mainstream learning.

In doing so, this paper contributes to the national discourse on environmental education, offering a roadmap for how school publishers, educators, and institutions can collectively nurture a generation of environmentally responsible citizens equipped to face future ecological challenges.