The NPST is a public statement of what constitutes teaching quality and what is required to improve the educational outcomes of students in India. These standards are a set of guiding statements that define the expectation of the role of a teacher at different levels of expertise at different stages of a career. The standards also defines effective teaching and the competencies required to practice as a teacher in 21st century schools at each stage of teaching career.

The NPST will also inform the design of pre-service teacher education programmes. This could be then adopted by States and determine all aspects of teacher career management, including tenure, professional development efforts, salary increases, promotions, and other recognitions. Promotions and salary increases will not occur based on the length of tenure or seniority, but only on the basis of such appraisal. The professional standards will be reviewed and revised in 2030, and thereafter every ten years, on the basis of rigorous empirical analysis of the efficacy of the system.