The National Education Policy 2020 (NEP) identifies ‘conflict of interest’ as the core issue of the current regulatory framework. It states in paragraph 8.2, “all main functions of governance and regulation of the school education system - namely, the provision of public education, the regulation of education institutions, and policymaking - are handled by a single body, i.e., the Department of School Education or its arms. This leads to conflict of interests and excessive centralized concentration of power; it also leads to ineffective management of the school system…”

This diagnosis is not abstract. It is embedded in a vast, fragmented, and overwhelmingly input-driven regulatory architecture. Our research identifies 145 state Acts and 101 corresponding rules governing K–12 education, as well as the Right to Education Act, 2009. Each state also operates through a dense “School Code”, comprising executive orders, circulars, and compliance mandates. These rules are deeply prescriptive, regulating everything from licensure and admissions to staff employment, with limited focus on what ultimately matters: student learning.

The NEP calls for a fundamental reset. In paragraph 8.1, it recommends, “the goal of the school education regulatory system must be to continually improve educational outcomes... regulation must aim to empower schools and teachers with trust, enabling them to strive for excellence and perform at their very best…”

To realise this vision, the NEP in paragraph 8.5 proposes a structural separation of powers, an approach long adopted in sectors such as telecoms, aviation, and insurance. It recommends clear separation of functions:

1. The Department of School Education will focus on overall monitoring and policymaking.

2. The Directorate of School Education will focus on operation and service provision.

3. Setting up a new body, the State School Standard Authority (SSSA) as an independent regulator for all schools: public, private, and philanthropic.

For states, this transition requires action on what we call the 4Rs:

1. Review existing laws and landscape

2. Rethink regulation with outcomes at the centre

3. Reform by designing an independent SSSA

4. Regulate through a new, coherent, “light but tight” legal framework

But reform must begin with clarity. States need a clear map of their current regulatory design before they can redraw it. To support this process, the Centre for Civil Society has launched the State Regulatory Profile (SRP) on Education series. We have published SRPs for Delhi, Jharkhand, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Nagaland, and most recently, Bihar.

The Bihar SRP reveals a regulatory framework that is dense yet fragmented, dominated by the Bihar Education Code and overlapping mandates that increase compliance burdens while diluting accountability. The emphasis remains on inputs rather than outcomes. Our report recommends establishing an independent SSSA to consolidate regulations, clarify institutional roles, and reduce discretionary overreach, aligning the state’s governance framework with the spirit of the NEP.

With a new state government in Bihar with a full mandate, the moment is opportune. We hope our work serves as both a mirror and a blueprint, helping states move toward a regulatory system that enables learning outcomes rather than only administrative compliance.

6 Mar 2026

eBaithak on " The Monetary Crises Ahead and Why Gold is the Solution" with Shanmuganathan

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7-8 Mar 2026

Digital Teacher Workshop 
-ISPP, Hauz Khas

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Liberty & Society Seminar for Content Creators

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Researching Reality 2026

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Colloquium On Migration  was hosted in Mumbai (27-28 Feb) brought together 18 students including PhD scholars, and experts, creating a space for learning, discussion, and exchange of ideas on migration issues.

In February, 110 students (including 90 Betiyan Scholars) across seven institutes in Jharkhand and Goa strengthened their career readiness through six transformative sessions on STEM, AI, personal branding, financial literacy, resilience, and career pathways.

The Savitribai Phule Speaking Bee 2026 mobilised 100+ students from 14 schools across Uttar Pradesh and Delhi in a structured English-speaking competition, significantly strengthening articulation, stage confidence, and applied communication skills among Grades 1–8 learners.

Why legal provisions are necessary to curb the power of trade unions: MH Mody

‘समाजवादी ढांचा’ और लोकतंत्र लंबे समय तक साथ नहीं चल सकते: मीनू मसानी

Capitalism isn’t responsible for mass unemployment. Look at Japan, Singapore: BS Iyer

कल्याणकारी राज्य देश के लिए सामाजिक और आर्थिक आपदा: जीएन लवांडे

1. Senior Associate – Fundraising

2.  Senior Associate, Digital Marketing & Communications

3. Senior Associate, CCS Academy

4. Senior Associate, Language Learning Lab (LLL), Policy Impact and Outreach

5. Senior Associate, Finance