"NEP-aligned" appears on every ed-tech brochure in India, usually without anyone explaining what it refers to. Here is the substance.
What the policy actually emphasises
NEP 2020 introduces coding and computational thinking from the middle stage (around Grade 6), and repeatedly stresses experiential, hands-on learning over rote memorisation.
Note the word: emphasises. NEP is a policy framework, not a purchase order. It does not mandate a specific kit, vendor or lab configuration.
What that means practically
- Coding cannot be a club activity for a handful of students. It needs to sit in the timetable.
- Assessment has to reward building and problem-solving, not memorised definitions.
- Technology should show up inside science and maths, not only in a separate computer period.
- Teacher capability is the binding constraint.
A reasonable starting point
Begin with the grades where the policy is most explicit - Grade 6 upward - and get one year of teaching genuinely working before expanding downward.