From Rote Learning to Creative Expression: NEP 2020 and the Future of Art Education

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 envisions a radical shift in India’s educational landscape by moving away from rote memorization toward holistic, creative, and experiential learning. Art education is central to this transformation, as it fosters creativity, critical thinking, cultural awareness, and emotional intelligence. This paper examines the role of art education in fulfilling NEP 2020’s vision, focusing on how it can transform classrooms into spaces of innovation, inclusivity, and expression. Through a review of literature, the study highlights the pedagogical significance of integrating art into mainstream education, the challenges in implementation, and possible strategies to overcome them. It concludes that art education, if systematically implemented, can nurture 21st-century competencies and empower learners to balance knowledge, skills, and values in alignment with India’s cultural heritage and global demands.