Vidya Bharati maps NEP push, scales up ‘India-centric’ education network

NEW DELHI: RSS affiliate Vidya Bharati Akhil Bharatiya Shiksha Sansthan on Tuesday outlined an expansion roadmap anchored in “culture-linked, India-centric education”, even as it flagged its growing scale with over 24,000 institutions and 33 lakh students nationwide.The organisation said it is strengthening grassroots outreach while aligning its pedagogy with the National Education Policy (NEP). The network currently operates across 684 districts through 11 regional offices and 46 provincial committees, positioning itself among the country’s largest non-governmental education providers.Addressing the media, all-India general secretary Deshraj Sharma said education must remain rooted in India’s cultural traditions while preparing students for global challenges. “Students should stay connected to their roots and contribute effectively to nation-building,” he said.The organisation highlighted its parallel service outreach, noting that over 2.5 lakh students are receiving free foundational education through thousands of ‘Sanskar Kendras’, aimed at bridging basic literacy gaps among underprivileged groups. In rural and tribal regions, Ekal Vidyalayas are being used to combine education delivery with community awareness programmes.Vidya Bharati said its schooling model emphasises a mix of physical education, yoga, music, Sanskrit and value-based learning, alongside mother tongue instruction and its ‘Panchpadi’ teaching method. It also reported setting up 507 Atal Tinkering Labs to promote innovation and scientific thinking among students.Officials added that teacher training and curriculum alignment efforts are underway to operationalise NEP goals at the school level, with a focus on “Bharat-centric” content delivery.The organisation will hold its annual general meeting from April 3–6 in Delhi, where around 350 representatives are expected to take decisions on future academic and organisational priorities.