# India NEP 2020 education expansion > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/india-nep-2020-education-expansion > Updated: 2026-08-01T20:27:12.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2. In early July 2026 the Indian government announced that the Smart Village programme would broaden rural internships under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Within the following month the rollout was extended to a wider skill‑based and digital learning agenda. Skill education was incorporated into the centrally‑funded Samagra Shiksha scheme for classes VI‑XII, with pre‑vocational activities for lower secondary and accredited skill courses for higher grades. Higher‑education institutions were urged to create community colleges, Bachelor of Vocation programmes, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Centres and an Apprenticeship Embedded Degree Programme for 2025, linking classroom study with industry apprenticeships. New courses in emerging technologies—artificial intelligence, data science, cyber security, quantum and space technology, sustainable energy, IoT, robotics and semiconductors—were introduced. Digital platforms such as PM eVidya and DIKSHA were deployed to improve access to quality education in rural, remote and tribal areas. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-01: India expands skill and digital learning under National Education Policy India’s Ministry of Education is integrating skill education into Samagra Shiksha, launching vocational courses, apprenticeship degrees and digital platforms to broaden learning under the NEP 2020. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/india-expands-skill-and-digital-learning-under-national-education-policy ### 2026-07-04: India's Smart Village Movement expands rural internships under NEP 2020 Smart Village Movement's rural internships in Meghalaya align with India's NEP 2020, placing 35 students in hands‑on projects and emphasizing mentorship over mere exposure. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/indias-smart-village-movement-expands-rural-internships-under-nep-2020 --- Cite as: India NEP 2020 education expansion. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/india-nep-2020-education-expansion