The India Today Education Conclave 2026 brought together educators and education experts from across the country to discuss changing trends and challenges in education, including changes in classrooms and the learning process. A significant point raised during the discussions was the issue of access to schools in India, which has largely been resolved; however, serious crises still exist regarding the learning process among students.

Wilma Wadhwa, director of the ASER Center, pointed out that high enrollment numbers have masked the underlying problems of weak learning outcomes for a long time. Despite reaching higher classes, many students struggle with basic literacy and numeracy skills, particularly in subjects like mathematics. This scenario highlights a growing concern that simply achieving higher enrollment is not enough if the quality of education and understanding of fundamental concepts remain inadequate.

The impact of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the Nipun Bharat Mission was also a focal point, with evidence of improvement in foundational literacy and numeracy in recent years. However, Wadhwa noted that the pace of learning declines significantly after primary education, leading to persistent gaps in children's understanding that hinder their future prospects, directly contributing to girls being less engaged in the job market despite educational advancements.