Context:

• India’s National Education Policy (NEP) is driving transformational change in higher education by reforming regulation, expanding flexibility in degree pathways, strengthening research, and promoting multidisciplinary and holistic learning.
• With the world’s largest youth population, the quality of India’s higher education will critically shape its economic growth, social mobility, and global standing.

Key Policy Backdrop:

• NEP 2020: It emphasises on multidisciplinary education, flexibility, research, innovation, and global engagement.
• Comparative insight: China’s sustained state focus on higher education highlights the importance of consistent policy direction and institutional trust—a lesson relevant for India.

Major Shifts in Indian Higher Education:

• Institutionalisation of the research ecosystem:
  • Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF): It focuses on long-term scientific research and industry–academia collaboration.
  • ₹1-lakh-crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme: It promotes private-sector participation and market-ready innovation.
  • Significance: Together, they creates a dual-track research model—basic research and applied innovation.
• Institutional innovation and academic reforms:
  • Curricular changes: New undergraduate programmes (e.g., IIMs). Inclusion of well-being, life skills, apprenticeships.
  • Degree flexibility: Introduction of four-year undergraduate programmes with exit options. Bachelor’s with Honours in Research for global competitiveness.
• Institutional capacity building: For example, new interdisciplinary schools at Ashoka University.
  • Global recognition: (QS World University Rankings 2026)
    • 54 Indian universities featured (up from 11 in 2015 and 46 in 2025).
    • India is the 4th most represented country and fastest-rising G20 nation.
• Changing global mobility landscape:
  • Over 1.25 million Indian students study abroad (MEA data).
  • Challenges: Visa restrictions, geopolitics.
  • Emerging trend: Foreign universities entering India. Indian institutions expanding overseas.
  • Implication: Need for high-quality domestic alternatives and globalised higher education.

Emerging Priorities for the Next Phase:

• Regulatory reform - Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025:
  • It proposes a single apex regulatory structure with independent councils for regulation, standards, and accreditation.
  • It addresses fragmentation and overlapping mandates. This is crucial as private institutions cater to almost two third of students.
  • Significance: Enables holistic, multidisciplinary education. Ensures transparency, benchmarking, and public disclosure of quality.
• Integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI):
  • AI transforming learning processes, teaching methods, and institutional administration.
  • India’s diversity offers scope for context-sensitive AI leadership.
  • Ministry of Education’s 4 AI Centres of Excellence: Education, Health, Agriculture, and Sustainable Cities.
• Renewed focus on science education:
  • Challenges: Limited exposure and lack of hands-on learning.
  • Required interventions: Makerspaces, industry–startup engagement, and experiential and practice-oriented science education.
  • Goal: Build a deep-tech and innovation-ready talent pool.

Challenges and Way Ahead:

• Fragmented regulatory architecture: Ensure regulatory consolidation.
• Uneven quality across institutions: Achieve 50% Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) by 2035.
• Limited physical capacity of campuses: Treat higher education as national infrastructure.
• Gaps in science exposure and practical training: Leverage digital and internet expansion for scalable learning.
• Trust deficit between state and private institutions: Technology-enabled delivery, high academic standards, and state–institution collaboration (public and private).

Conclusion:

• India stands at a pivotal moment in its higher education journey. With NEP-led reforms, the direction is clear and momentum is building.
• Achieving a Viksit Bharat will depend on sustained implementation, mutual trust, and an unwavering commitment to educational excellence—positioning India not just as a mass educator, but as a global knowledge leader.