India is entering a decisive phase in education reform, guided by the transformative National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020). The reforms are designed not merely as incremental changes but as a systemic reorientation of India’s educational philosophy, blending traditional knowledge with modern global standards. This review provides a comprehensive mapping of India’s education roadmap, analysing schemes, institutions, financing mechanisms, research ecosystems, and global partnerships that together propel India’s journey towards becoming a knowledge superpower by 2047, coinciding with its centenary of independence.

1. National Education Policy 2020: The Foundation of Reform

Historical Context

• India’s education policies prior to NEP 2020 (1968 and 1986, with the 1992 modification) were content-heavy, exam-driven, and largely unidimensional.
• NEP 2020 represents the first education policy of the 21st century, emphasizing multidisciplinary learning, vocational integration, digital pedagogy, and internationalization.

Pillars of NEP 2020

• Access: Universalization of education from ages 3–18 through the 5+3+3+4 curricular structure.
• Equity: Focus on socially disadvantaged groups (SC, ST, OBC, minorities, gender, geography).
• Quality: Conceptual learning, experiential pedagogy, flexible curricula, and integration of vocational and arts education.
• Affordability: Financial aid, scholarships, and credit transfer systems to reduce economic barriers.
• Accountability: Transparent governance through National Educational Technology Forum (NETF) and State School Standards Authority (SSSA).

Structural Innovations

• Holistic Multidisciplinary Education: Flexible entry/exit in higher education with Academic Bank of Credits (ABC).
• Teacher Training: National Professional Standards for Teachers (NPST).
• Digital Push: Expansion of DIKSHA, SWAYAM, and blended learning models.

2. School Education: Laying the Foundation for Excellence

(a) NIPUN Bharat Mission

• Launch: 2021 under the Ministry of Education.
• Target: Every child achieves foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) by Grade 3 by 2026–27.
• Interventions:
  • Teacher training modules in local languages.
  • Learning Outcomes Dashboard for real-time monitoring.
  • Integration with Digital Infrastructure for School Education (DIKSHA).
• Global Benchmarking: Comparable to UNESCO’s Global Education 2030 Agenda (SDG 4).

(b) PM SHRI Schools (Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India)

• Launched: September 2022.
• Budget: ₹27,360 crore (2022–27).
• Coverage: 14,500+ schools to act as “lighthouse institutions”.
• Features:
  • Digital smart classrooms, AI-enabled labs.
  • Emphasis on Indian heritage, arts, yoga, and values.
  • Eco-friendly practices (rainwater harvesting, solar power).
  • Community linkages: Each PM SHRI school mentors 4–5 neighboring schools.
• Impact: Model for scaling best practices nationwide.

(c) Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS)

• Objective: Address educational exclusion among tribal students.
• Growth: From 123 schools (2013–14) to 477 schools by 2024–25.
• Future Plan: One EMRS in every tribal block with 50% tribal female representation.
• Cultural Relevance: Curriculum incorporates tribal art, language, and traditions, strengthening identity.

3. Accelerated Growth in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)

Institution Type	2014-15	2024-25	Increase	% Growth
Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)	51,534	70,683	19,149	37.2%
Universities	760	1,338	578	76.1%
Colleges	38,498	52,081	13,583	35.3%
IITs	16	23	7	43.8%
IIMs	13	21	8	61.5%
AIIMS	7	20	13	185.7%

Key Insights

• University growth (76%) indicates India’s push towards regional distribution of higher education.
• IITs & IIMs Expansion: Infrastructure expansion worth ₹11,828.79 crore under IIT Phase-B projects.
• AIIMS Multiplication: Nearly tripled, integrating medical education with telemedicine, research, and outreach.
• Regional Equity: Growth concentrated in Tier-II/Tier-III cities, reducing urban-rural divide in access.

4. Financing Quality Education: Widening Access

(a) PM Vidyalaxmi Scheme (2024)

• Goal: No deserving student is denied higher education due to financial constraints.
• Loan Coverage: Up to ₹10 lakh, subsidized for weaker sections.
• Unique Feature: Special provisions for students excluded from existing schemes.

(b) Central Sector Interest Subsidy (CSIS)

• Eligibility: Families with annual income ≤ ₹4.5 lakh.
• Support: Interest subsidy during moratorium on loans up to ₹10 lakh.

(c) Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme for Education Loan (CGFSEL)

• Guarantee: 75% of education loan up to ₹7.5 lakh.
• Impact: Encourages banks to provide collateral-free loans, reducing dropouts.

5. Infrastructure and Academic Excellence

(a) Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA)

• Disbursement: ₹21,590.59 crore released (as of 2024).
• Institutions Covered: 106 premier HEIs including IITs, IIMs, IISERs, and Central Universities.

(b) Institutions of Eminence (IoE)

• Concept: 20 institutions (10 public, 10 private) to be globally competitive.
• Autonomy: Academic, administrative, and financial freedom.
• Impact: Accelerated rise in global rankings.

(c) Global Rankings

• QS Rankings: From 13 Indian institutions (2015) to 54 (2026) in top global QS rankings.
• Global Innovation Index: Jump from 76th (2014) to 39th (2024).

6. Specialized Universities: Catalysts of Sectoral Growth

• Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (2022) – India’s first logistics and transport university, with MoU with Airbus.
• Indian Institute of Creative Technology (IICT), Mumbai – Focus on AVGC-XR (Animation, VFX, Gaming, XR).
• National Forensic Sciences University (2020) – World’s first dedicated forensic university with global campuses planned.

7. Nalanda University: Heritage Meets Modernity

• Revival: Symbol of India’s ancient knowledge tradition, re-established in 2010.
• New Campus (2024): Net-zero, powered by solar energy, rainwater harvesting, and green architecture.
• Global Partnerships: Supported by East Asia Summit nations; a hub for civilizational studies, peace, and sustainability.

8. Promoting Research & Innovation: Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF)

• Budgetary Allocation: ₹50,000 crore for first 5 years (2023–28).
• Mandate: Coordinate research, set national priorities, link academia with industry.
• Vision: Develop India into a top-3 global R&D power by 2047.
• Structure: Modeled on NSF (USA) and UKRI (UK).

9. Globalization of Indian Education

• Foreign IITs:
  • IIT Madras campus in Zanzibar (2023).
  • IIT Delhi campus in Abu Dhabi (2024).
• Study in India Program: Scholarships to attract students from 150+ countries.
• MoUs Signed: With 51 countries for student and faculty mobility.

Conclusion: India’s Path to Knowledge Superpower

India’s reforms represent not just quantitative expansion, but qualitative reorientation:

• Policy Backbone: NEP 2020 as a flexible, holistic framework.
• Equity & Inclusion: Tribal, rural, and marginalized groups prioritized.
• Global Standing: Institutions rising in world rankings, export of education (IIT campuses abroad).
• Research Culture: ANRF, IoEs, and HEFA creating a knowledge-driven economy.
• Future Goal: By 2047, India aims to be among the top 3 global knowledge economies, blending ancient wisdom with modern science.

References

• Ministry of Education, Government of India (AISHE Report).
• NEP 2020 Policy Document.
• HEFA Annual Report.
• PIB Press Releases & Budget 2024–25 Note.
• QS World University Ranking.
• Global Innovation Index Report.